I Rest My Case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaxECcTjCuw

Unsubstantiated Rumors

Hey,Folks...
When some Hatemongering Wingnut includes you on an email trail that espouses an ideology which is, at best, ludicrous, please do a little research before perpetuating it. There have been numerous horse-hockey messages flying around lately, denouncing President Obama and his foreign policy and they all smell of Right Wing Republican scare tactics. This Party's modus operandi seems to have shifted of late. They've become a group "for whom politics has ceased to be about principles and is now all about smearing opponents with false accusations about their nationalities and their patriotism.", to quote Alex Singleton of the London Daily Telegraph.
What I'm suggesting is that, before you forward that kind of nonsense to everyone in your address book, please make an attempt to verify the information. Quite often it has no basis in the truth. When you present such drivel to others as "Fact", it only serves to make you appear to be a mindless moron who has no sense of reality.
Thanks!

Hey, Goobers - get a load of this...

The most important thing for us to do is to improve our diplomatic standing on a global level. It has been 'Murika's heavy-handed, imperialist way of "spreading Deemocracy" that has caused the Muslim world to hate us so. Obama is a REAL diplomat, and for that, he is taking a ton of heat from the Goobers, yet reverence and respect toward others is exactly what we need to correct our world profile. He deserves another term based simply on his poise and grace on the world stage.

Tea Baggers

Need I say more?

Can You Imagine...

It's frightening to think that the sheep in the GOP think that this ignorant, smarmy pinhead who doesn't even know basic geography could be capable of running this country! The last smarmy pinhead they elected (TWICE, as you may recall) sucked us into the position in the worldview where we now find ourselves! It is taking a polished diplomat to bring some credibility back to our reputation on the global stage. While he is attempting to do that, and at the same time working toward providing healthcare for all Americans, these same people are sniping and carping about his so-called "wimpiness" in world matters. Well Folks, I gotta tell you - PEACEFUL DIALOG is the only way to open up the hearts of others. THAT is what will return this country to its reputation as a TRUE World Power and a beacon for peace! If we are unable to take care of our citizens here at home, how can we even be thought of as a compassionate entity to others? Imagine how your life might be without all of the rhetoric...

New Surroundings

Simply put, I'm glad to be working where I am now. After one of the most oppressive years in recent memory, my environment is matching my inner feelings. I'm tempted to contact Human Resources to lodge a complaint about my former boss (he deserves it) but I probably won't, since his own karma will eventually come back to bite him in the ASS!!! If not that, then his piss-poor people skills will push someone else to blow the whistle on him.
Just glad it's now over for me so I can move ahead!

Dear Friends...

When two dear friends have a tangle with each other, it can be quite unnerving for them and for uninvolved observers. I rarely, if ever interfere in the affairs of others. These things need to work themselves out (or not, depending on the situation). But that's not to say that I won't express an oninion or two on the matter...


Pickle and Bacon - you are both extremely strong-willed individuals. Neither one is afraid to say what you think or feel. I'd like to believe that those are among the qualities that brought you two together in the first place. There are times when we all say things that we regret. I understand that it's one thing to forgive and another to forget...and in fact, forgetting may not be possible. But it isn't really neccessary - forgiving another for things that were said or done is all we need to do. Accepting one another, warts and all, is what true friendship is about.

Disagreements happen all the time, but good relationships CAN endure. I'd like to think that yours WILL.

No Way Out...

How many of us are aware of the effects of karma? Yeah, I know that word usually conjures negative thoughts; "Man, karma's a bitch, ain't it?" While that sentiment is all too true, there are other positive aspects to it as well. The truly good and selfless acts that we perform on a daily basis are rewarded by the universe, just as surely as the heartless actions of evil that we witness are punished through karmic retribution. Even if we don't see it immediately, good attracts good and evil attracts evil. The key to seeing the truth of this concept in action is patience. The way to win over your enemies is to simply outlive them. They will eventually have to pay the piper. Remember, "Time wounds all Heels"!

Sad Days...

Losing Howard Zinn and J.D. Salinger in the same week. Sadness great, yet not unbearable, their loss to the literary world cannot be minimized. Zinn for bringing us a more accurate accounting of this country's past, present and future (A Peoples History of the United States) and Salinger for writing the most censored and second-most taught book in American High Schools (Catcher in the Rye).
Rest in Peace, Gentlemen.

Good Morning!

Wakey, wakey...and I'm referring to your brain. Have you ever considered the damage caused by overindulging in certain chemical compounds? Not just those that you buy from friends, coworkers or bartenders, but the meds that Dr. Feelgood prescribes...if you find that you are incapable of performing simple motor tasks, you are likely overmedicated. Add to that list the inability to form complex sentences or process linear thoughts through to a logical conclusion, and you may be in trouble. If you are driving, working (I'm being generous here, Folks), or simply interacting with others while under the influence, you're not doing anyone any good! Wake the hell up or get the EFF out!

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Attention All Bloggers:
Kindly refrain from utilizing poor grammar, punctuation and spelling. It causes undue stress to those of us with above average intelligence. Furthermore, please educate yourselves in proper word usage - you're vs your - too / to / two - I think you can see where I'm leading. And, if all else fails, do not blog while under the influence.

Blog, blog, blog!

Got something to say? I don't...at least at the moment.
Stay tuned...

That Time of Year...

In late December, our modern traditions lean toward kindness, charity, goodwill to others, peace and love. But delving further back, I've learned that the Winter Solstice is one of the oldest known holidays in human history. As the shortest day (and longest night) in the northern hemisphere, it signals the first day of Winter but can also be seen as the start of a New Year. Many of the most ancient stone structures made by human beings were designed to pinpoint the precise date of the solstice. The stone circles of Stonehenge were arranged to receive the first rays of midwinter sun.

So, is it coincidence that all of the "Big Three" celebrate their highest of holy days at the same basic time? Obviously not. Solstice celebrations extend back aproximately 30,000 years, back to a time before the dawn of the agrarian age. Back to when we were "hunter / gatherers". When we looked to the universe as the giver of all things - a source of mystery and wonder, but also the great provider. Have we lost that sense of appreciation for the gift of life? Have not the World's religions attempted to stake claim and appropriate this season as their own? Preposterous notions, all! If the God of Abraham is indeed the foundation of Islam, Judism and Christianity, why do so many practitioners disagree with one another so strongly?

I feel that we must return to the true "reason for the season", and be thankful for the opportunity to make causes for our own happiness. It is unnecessary to curse the "unbelievers" (those who think differently) who are uninterested in following any number of outmoded belief systems. Take a tip from the Ancients - be grateful for being alive and celebrate the start of a (hopefully) truly New Year!

Reasons to be Cheerful...

For me, having my mother out of the nursing home and back in the community is, first and foremost, the best Holiday present I could have received. It's been a LONG year for her (and me), but as it rings to a close we are thankful for her return to (mostly) independent living.

Also, as a father, having my two sons gainfully employed has been a blessing. Mike was on pins and needles all summer and happy to be recalled by his School District for an even better position than last year. Rich was out of work for eight months after being screwed-over by his former employer. He finally found a job that fits his sensibilities and work ethic and is now working joyfully.

As for me, having a completely loving wife is something for which I am eternally grateful. Her support and encouragement brings me overwhelming joy DAILY. Realizing that I hold the key to changing my karma and the ability to overcome any obstacle that appears in my path is what spurs me on.

I am truly fortunate to be alive and able to make positive causes for the future. After all, "I like the Future. I'm in it!"

Holidaze

Does anybody else feel as I do about the holidays? Not overwhelming joy, not fear and loathing, not benign acceptance - just a general unease. Dickens referred to Christmas as "a fine excuse for picking a man's pocket every 25th of December." On that point I am in agreement. But only to a point. Charity and "good works" can be practiced on that date, but it can also be observed on the other 364 days of the year as well. No, what I'm referring to is the crass commercialism that attempts to tell us that it's our right, nay our duty to overextend ourselves in order to buy gifts for a friend or loved one. Well Folks, I'm here to tell you that that just ain't so.
Here's an interesting tidbit, the real St. Nicholas lived in the fourth century, and he was the archbishop of Myra in Lycia (which is now Turkey). There are all kinds of stories about him, but one of the most famous is that there was a poor man who could not afford a dowry for his three daughters, which meant they would have to be abandoned to prostitution. St. Nicholas didn't want to humiliate the man by giving him charity in public, so he left purses of gold in the man's house at night — according to one version of the story, he dropped them down the chimney, and in another, one of the daughters had set out her stockings to dry and the gold was put in them. And so St. Nicholas, the bringer of anonymous gifts, inspired Jolly Old St. Nick, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus.
So, during this season, consider performing some simple act of kindness for a friend or relative. If you are in a position to do so, bring food and laughter to someone who is homebound, or consider donating to a local food bank. At the least, simply choose to be kind to a stranger in need.
The universe will thank ya for it!
BTW - I'm oficially sick of Christmas music.

The Mystery of Irma Vep

An interesting send-up of Victorian Parlor dramas now playing at Court Theatre in Hyde Park. Performed as a two-man play with a cast of characters ranging from a maid, groundskeeper, Lord and Lady of the manor and a couple of others (who shall necessarily remain undisclosed). Certainly better than most of the works in last year's Goodman Theatre season. Lots of yuks, great costumes and set, sound and light design. Quite a bit of humor directed at the grownups in the crowd. Much scenery chewing by both actors along with rapid-fire costume and character changes throughout. I will reveal nothing of the plot, other than to tell you that the subject matter should appeal to many current pop-culture fans.
See it if you can.

And So It Goes...

Well, Folks - another Thanksgiving Day has come and gone. For many, it was indeed an opportunity to eat like Hogzilla, gulping down everything in sight. (I myself eat like the kudzu - slowly, steadily and stealthily. When I am finished, anything that is left is probably not edible, and if so, it is likely not very appetizing...)

Seriously, lots of us celebrate the bounty that we have in our lives. We are grateful for the opportunity to share a huge, festive meal with family and friends. We are thankful (as were the earliest settlers) to have made it through to another harvest season and to be able to look back fondly on another year's passing...

But this year, a toast went 'round my family's table, "Let's give thanks for Squanto, the Native American chief who fed the ill-prepared colonists and saved them from certain starvation in their first winter on this continent."

And I thought, Hell Yes - we SHOULD thank him today and EVERY day. Better late that never. After all, the only thanks we gave him at the time was to destroy his villages when *GASP* some Puritans decided that they would prefer to stay among the natives...Just think of it - Imagine this exchange:
"Hey, thanks for the Grub. By way of thanks, we give you smallpox, STD's and alcoholism to practically wipe out your people. Oh, by the way, we'll send troops to burn your villages and kick your A$$, too!"

So, whenever you think about all the wonderful things you have in your world, be thankful for just being alive!

Oh, and listen to this for a different perspective on the story...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRb4CY5-KE

(Cut and Paste if necessary)

Why don't people eat the ends of the bread loaf?

Thank you, Alicia. I presume that you are referring to the "crust slices" that many folks discard.

You surely are aware that prior to disposing of these annoyances, they are usually "worked around" from the time the package is first opened until the entire remainder of the loaf is thrown out.

I think that, for some reason, people believe that the first edible piece is three or four slices in. I'm not quite sure why they feel that way, but...

It seems like a terrific waste of food, I prefer to eat them toasted, with peanut butter and strawberry preserves...even better with sausage gravy. I mean, there's enough fat in the gravy - who needs biscuits to boot? They are also outstanding for dunking in Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper soup.

Waste them if you like, but don't cry about the cost - it's your loss.

I Like the Future - I'm In It!

There's something to be said for reading other people's random thoughts. One can often gain vast insight into their mental state.

Many folks out in the ether are battling depression, substance abuse, various difficulties to say the least. Others are wallowing in their own puke, not really fighting or even attempting to fix what's wrong. Some attempt to fill the void with countless distractions (sex, drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, golf, alcohol, therapy, Professional Sporting Events - you name it)! Now, I'm not here to judge ANYBODY. Neither am I saying that these kinds of indulgences are inherently wrong. If what you're doing takes away some of the pain, even for a little while, then it has some merit.

What I am putting out is that those things DO NOT make any fundamental change in your life. Looking within gives one far more insight into the present situation. It can also lead to strong indications of what you need to do to change your FUTURE and the way your Universe is perceived.

The Beginning...

Hello - We're glad you made it. Welcome to the FUTURE!!