Many Americans can't understand why people from other countries don't like us. After all, we're wealthy, technologically advanced, nearly a democracy (actually, we're a representative republic), we dress well, wear perfumes and colognes, give modestly to charities and don't eat our young.
While relaxing today after a round of Wi exercising, I tunes into a couple of college football games. I don't support any particular team, either college or professional - I usually cheer for the underdog. But today while remoting between Arizona vs Stanford and LSU vs Florida, I found myself hoping LSU would defeat Florida in the worst way. It wasn't because of the state or university or ranking or even uniform colors. It was because during the game, actually, early in the game, a couple of plays in a row resulted in a player from LSU staying on the ground after sustaining some type of injury.
In the past, when a payer from either team goes down the crowd would come to a hush while the downed player received medical attention. Once up and leaving the field, either under their own power or with help, the crowd would cheer in support of the wounded warrior. This is a contact sport, with large, powerful young men pounding each other for hours. Sure, they wear protective equipment, but the human body is not designed to take that kind of abuse under any circumstances.
Now, when the players from LSU were lying on the ground getting attention, the crowd from Florida began to boo - both times. One of the players couldn't walk off the field and needed to be assisted to the sideline and the Florida fans booed. What is their problem? Where is the sportsmanship? Where's the decency? Where's the American compassion? Where's the appreciation for the players' efforts?
In the grand scheme of things, hell, in the weeny scheme of things, this game means nothing! It won't cure an illness. It won't bring about world peace. It won't feed the hungry or house the homeless. It's a football game - emphasis on game. The one thing it is supposed to do is build character - players and viewers meeting on the gridiron in the spirit of entertaining competition.
But the fans of Florida University have sullied not only the residents of Florida, but of Americans. It makes us look ugly. It shows a remarkable lack of class. It represents the ideal that Americans must win at any cost. If it takes an opponent to get injured - so be it. If we win by getting a bad call from the officials - so be it. If we need to cheat to win - so be it. All that matters is that we get the win. Sportsmanship? - out the window.
This attitude is represented as well in our politics. We need to lie to win - so be it. We need to cheat to win - so be it. We need to hurt others to win - so be it. As long as we win, we can live with ourselves.
So, we are the Ugly Americans - but we are winning! So be it!
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Choice...Small Government
Everyone is clamoring for smaller government, less intrusion in our lives, allowing us to make more choice for ourselves . . . unless, of course, we are talking about government overseeing our private lives - who we can and can't marry, when women can stop a pregnancy, who can serve in combat roles, whether or not you can vote, etc.
I just learned that 31 states demand the mother who gives birth to the child of a rapist must allow the rapist to retain parental rights. Imagine that - you are raped and the state says you have to bring you child to the rapist for parental visits, forcing you the deal with the person who raped you for 18 years. I spent many years in Virginia, home to the current ultra-sound governor. it's no wonder he thinks the way he does. if he was raised in Virginia, he was raised in a state where a man cannot legally rape his wife. she is considered property and must surrender herself to him at his request or demand. I would venture that many states have similar laws still on their books - no one bothered to remove them - just a silly law, like no donkey riding on Sundays through the streets of Norfolk. So, why bother to take it out of the Virginia state law book?
I am breaking my own rule by even broaching the topic of rape and abortion, as I am a man, and it is highly unlikely that I will be raped and impossible to face the difficult decision of abortion personally. But, I am married and am a firm believer in social justice and equality. I fail to see the justice or equality in men making decisions about women's bodies, their choice and rights.
Recently, a congressman started a fury over the abortion debate by using the term "legitimate rape" and claiming a woman can control her body to reject the sperm of her rapist, thus avoiding pregnancy and the decision to abort. It has become a hot topic, perhaps the defining topic of this year's election process, as the same doctor that this congressman cites as evidence for his rape and pregnancy claim, is the same man Mitt Romney chose in 2007 as his advisor on abortion. And, the congressman coauthored two pieces of legislation regarding abortion with the republican vice presidential nominee, Paul Ryan.
This gets us back to smaller government. Romney and Ryan claim that government intrudes too much and too often into our personal and private lives, yet they have chosen to annoint themselves as the leaders ready to decide a woman's most difficult choice and force her by law to give birth to a rapist's child, where, in 31 states, she would be forced again by law to interact with her rapist regarding their child's future. Smaller government indeed.
I think it's time to become totally politically and racially incorrect. I know from experience, that when people have to make decisions based on something happening in their own back yard versus the neighborhood down the road, their opinions are quite different. So, let's make this personal: What if your fifteen-year-old daughter were raped by someone of a different race that worships satan?
Knowing that your daughter would have to take that child for a monthly visit with the child's father for the next eighteen years, would you deny your daughter the right to say "no" again to her rapist? Can't imagine that? How about your sister is taken advantage of by a professor after a night of drinking - date rape? She has one more year to go before getting her degree and has already been offered a job. Should she give up everything she has been working toward for 20 years because she was taken advantage of? How about your wife? What if your wife were attacked in a parking lot, raped and impregnated? Would you want to help raise the child while sharing visitation rights with her rapist? Rape is an extreme invasion of a woman's body - one no man can actually imagine. and abortion most likely her most agonizing decision of her life - remember, first and foremost -it's her life - not yours, not the zygote's, not the sperm's, not the egg's - the woman's - her body - her mind.
As a matter of respect, I would refer decisons that affect only women to women.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
I just learned that 31 states demand the mother who gives birth to the child of a rapist must allow the rapist to retain parental rights. Imagine that - you are raped and the state says you have to bring you child to the rapist for parental visits, forcing you the deal with the person who raped you for 18 years. I spent many years in Virginia, home to the current ultra-sound governor. it's no wonder he thinks the way he does. if he was raised in Virginia, he was raised in a state where a man cannot legally rape his wife. she is considered property and must surrender herself to him at his request or demand. I would venture that many states have similar laws still on their books - no one bothered to remove them - just a silly law, like no donkey riding on Sundays through the streets of Norfolk. So, why bother to take it out of the Virginia state law book?
I am breaking my own rule by even broaching the topic of rape and abortion, as I am a man, and it is highly unlikely that I will be raped and impossible to face the difficult decision of abortion personally. But, I am married and am a firm believer in social justice and equality. I fail to see the justice or equality in men making decisions about women's bodies, their choice and rights.
Recently, a congressman started a fury over the abortion debate by using the term "legitimate rape" and claiming a woman can control her body to reject the sperm of her rapist, thus avoiding pregnancy and the decision to abort. It has become a hot topic, perhaps the defining topic of this year's election process, as the same doctor that this congressman cites as evidence for his rape and pregnancy claim, is the same man Mitt Romney chose in 2007 as his advisor on abortion. And, the congressman coauthored two pieces of legislation regarding abortion with the republican vice presidential nominee, Paul Ryan.
This gets us back to smaller government. Romney and Ryan claim that government intrudes too much and too often into our personal and private lives, yet they have chosen to annoint themselves as the leaders ready to decide a woman's most difficult choice and force her by law to give birth to a rapist's child, where, in 31 states, she would be forced again by law to interact with her rapist regarding their child's future. Smaller government indeed.
I think it's time to become totally politically and racially incorrect. I know from experience, that when people have to make decisions based on something happening in their own back yard versus the neighborhood down the road, their opinions are quite different. So, let's make this personal: What if your fifteen-year-old daughter were raped by someone of a different race that worships satan?
Knowing that your daughter would have to take that child for a monthly visit with the child's father for the next eighteen years, would you deny your daughter the right to say "no" again to her rapist? Can't imagine that? How about your sister is taken advantage of by a professor after a night of drinking - date rape? She has one more year to go before getting her degree and has already been offered a job. Should she give up everything she has been working toward for 20 years because she was taken advantage of? How about your wife? What if your wife were attacked in a parking lot, raped and impregnated? Would you want to help raise the child while sharing visitation rights with her rapist? Rape is an extreme invasion of a woman's body - one no man can actually imagine. and abortion most likely her most agonizing decision of her life - remember, first and foremost -it's her life - not yours, not the zygote's, not the sperm's, not the egg's - the woman's - her body - her mind.
As a matter of respect, I would refer decisons that affect only women to women.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Second Amendment
In light of the recent senseless slayings in Colorado, I stopped again to wonder when Americans would take a serious look at gun regulation. First let's examine the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, written when the definition of arms included muskets, hatchets, knives, swords, spears, bows & arrows and rocks.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
So, people in the Militia, should be armed to keep foreign governments from forcing their laws and rules upon them. And, in the event of an attack from some foreign entity, the people, who are members of the Militia by birth, can gather their arms and secure their free State.
Does anyone really believe the brilliant people who penned the Constitution ever imagined a world where automatic rifles and grenades and bazookas and rocket launchers would be part of one's personal arsenal? I think not.
Let's look at the phrase, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." Actually, guns rarely kill people, bullets kill people. So, even for those in blinders who claim automatic rifles are for hunting and target shooting, ignoring the mental erection they get every time they fire their weapons, there should be some semblance of intellect that tells them magazine clips with 30 or more rounds are at the least unnecessary to get your rocks off at the range and is definitely overkill to gather meat for the family weekend at the cabin.
And do not all Americans possess the right to not bear arms and still feel safe in their theater, or school, or political gathering? While crazy people will still show up and use their legally obtained sporting equipment meant for their act of duty in the Militia, and possibly kill people in a crowd, their carnage could be limited with sensible legislation that does not infringe upon the gun bearer's rights.
To further deter mass murderers from seeking notoriety, we could pass legislation under a terrorism clause that any person who takes the lives of more than one person at any single event never have their name offered to the public. Seal their identity and you may take away their incentive. Besides being homicidal maniac, completely out of their minds or under an extreme narcotic influence, what other motivation can these mass murderers have than infamy and notoriety?
If legislators are too afraid of the NRA to take away extreme weaponry or outrageous magazine clips, then take away their fame and identity.
But for God's sake - DO SOMETHING!
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
So, people in the Militia, should be armed to keep foreign governments from forcing their laws and rules upon them. And, in the event of an attack from some foreign entity, the people, who are members of the Militia by birth, can gather their arms and secure their free State.
Does anyone really believe the brilliant people who penned the Constitution ever imagined a world where automatic rifles and grenades and bazookas and rocket launchers would be part of one's personal arsenal? I think not.
Let's look at the phrase, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." Actually, guns rarely kill people, bullets kill people. So, even for those in blinders who claim automatic rifles are for hunting and target shooting, ignoring the mental erection they get every time they fire their weapons, there should be some semblance of intellect that tells them magazine clips with 30 or more rounds are at the least unnecessary to get your rocks off at the range and is definitely overkill to gather meat for the family weekend at the cabin.
And do not all Americans possess the right to not bear arms and still feel safe in their theater, or school, or political gathering? While crazy people will still show up and use their legally obtained sporting equipment meant for their act of duty in the Militia, and possibly kill people in a crowd, their carnage could be limited with sensible legislation that does not infringe upon the gun bearer's rights.
To further deter mass murderers from seeking notoriety, we could pass legislation under a terrorism clause that any person who takes the lives of more than one person at any single event never have their name offered to the public. Seal their identity and you may take away their incentive. Besides being homicidal maniac, completely out of their minds or under an extreme narcotic influence, what other motivation can these mass murderers have than infamy and notoriety?
If legislators are too afraid of the NRA to take away extreme weaponry or outrageous magazine clips, then take away their fame and identity.
But for God's sake - DO SOMETHING!
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
What's The Rush?
Haven't written in a while. enough time has passed to allow people with pens, computers and microphones to expose their focused insanity.
Congreesswoman Michele Bachmann pontificating about Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin, claiming she is a member of an extremist Islamic organization. Her evidence? - her name is Huma. That would be like linking the congresswoman to a now defunked rock band or taking credit as the subject of Paul McCartney's song. The saddest part? - people elected her - people who probably drive, making them some of the most dangerous people on earth - next to, of course the people who elected Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the listeners of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
I'm not talking about people who err in judgement periodically - we are all guilty of those feats. I am referring to people who require absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing before condemning someone on heresay, gossip and innuendo.
Arpai, the misguided egomaniacal Arizona sheriff, has taken it upon himself to find someone to declare President Obama's birth certificate counterfeit. This is after a republic author researched Obama;s background for a tell-all book and found the accusation to be ludicrous. But evidence won't stop Arpaio, after all, he's only sworn to uphold the law, not follow it. His hatred and prejudice runs so deep that he will stop at nothing to discredit the leader of the free world.
Speaking of hatred and prejudice, enter Beck and Limbaugh, extraordinary mudslingers. Beck has an excuse - he's bonkers. Limbaugh might want to hise behind his drug addiction to pain killers, but his recent claim that the new batman movie's villain is named Bane because of Romney is further evidence that he belongs in the Beck funny farm. There was a comic book character named Bane in a batman comic created in January 1993, long before Romney was officially running for politics. Limbaugh's assertion that it is based on Romney's corporate rading company, Bain is not only utterly false, but a blatant lie.
Across the world in a place of happiness, Nelson Mandela turned 94. the man who would be president of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison as a political prisoner of apartheid - and, upon his release forgave his oppressors - saying if he held any ill will, they would have won.
I don't want to begrudge people the opportunity to step up to the microphone or slap the keyboard to express their views. After all, I am an example of the right to freedom of speech. I would simply ask people who listen to those who claim to be in the know while berating others without any fact or evidence should themselves refrain from accepting the accusations void of veracity.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Congreesswoman Michele Bachmann pontificating about Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin, claiming she is a member of an extremist Islamic organization. Her evidence? - her name is Huma. That would be like linking the congresswoman to a now defunked rock band or taking credit as the subject of Paul McCartney's song. The saddest part? - people elected her - people who probably drive, making them some of the most dangerous people on earth - next to, of course the people who elected Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the listeners of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
I'm not talking about people who err in judgement periodically - we are all guilty of those feats. I am referring to people who require absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing before condemning someone on heresay, gossip and innuendo.
Arpai, the misguided egomaniacal Arizona sheriff, has taken it upon himself to find someone to declare President Obama's birth certificate counterfeit. This is after a republic author researched Obama;s background for a tell-all book and found the accusation to be ludicrous. But evidence won't stop Arpaio, after all, he's only sworn to uphold the law, not follow it. His hatred and prejudice runs so deep that he will stop at nothing to discredit the leader of the free world.
Speaking of hatred and prejudice, enter Beck and Limbaugh, extraordinary mudslingers. Beck has an excuse - he's bonkers. Limbaugh might want to hise behind his drug addiction to pain killers, but his recent claim that the new batman movie's villain is named Bane because of Romney is further evidence that he belongs in the Beck funny farm. There was a comic book character named Bane in a batman comic created in January 1993, long before Romney was officially running for politics. Limbaugh's assertion that it is based on Romney's corporate rading company, Bain is not only utterly false, but a blatant lie.
Across the world in a place of happiness, Nelson Mandela turned 94. the man who would be president of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison as a political prisoner of apartheid - and, upon his release forgave his oppressors - saying if he held any ill will, they would have won.
I don't want to begrudge people the opportunity to step up to the microphone or slap the keyboard to express their views. After all, I am an example of the right to freedom of speech. I would simply ask people who listen to those who claim to be in the know while berating others without any fact or evidence should themselves refrain from accepting the accusations void of veracity.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Let Whitney Houston Go
The Lifetime channel has approved the taping of the Houston Family Chronicles, designed to follow surviving family members of Whitney Houston. According to recent reports, the show will star Whitney's sister-in-law and manager Pat Houston and Pat's daughter Rayah, as well as Whitney's Houston's brother Gary, daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother Cissy Houston.
While some producers claim the show's content will be aimed at showing the healing process of the family since Whitney's death by following their daily routine of continuing grief and reveal how the are growing and moving along as a family.
Interestingly, Whitney's mother, Cissy, gave the green light to proceed with the project, expressing a concern for Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina and her upcoming singing career. Pat Houston has said the show was in the works while Whitney was alive - perhaps a take-off on the failed reality show where Whitney and her husband at the time, Bobby Brown, exposed the debased lifestyles of both of the entertainers in the every day lives.
So this is what entertainment has come to . . . voyeurism and stalking. A person reaches super star status and her family is left to wonder what will become of them now that there is void too big to fill any other way than with their own fame and fortune found vicariously through the death of their meal ticket.
So, careers may be launched and talents may be discovered that may not have been realized without the death of Whitney Houston. The benefits are far reaching even beyond the grave.
Perhaps a DNA Ancestry test could prove that I was sired by someone famous and now that I have realized that fact cameras should follow me around to see how I deal with my new found grief.
After all, I just released a CD last November at 57 years-of-age and could use a boost to convince people to go to my music website at http://Rainbows-Angels.com and appreciate the music because I am the survivor of somebody who was once famous. My dad was a super star, bigger than Elvis, bigger than the Beatles, bigger than Dylan and Hendrix - I just don't know who he was. But that shouldn't matter. I should be successful anyway because he was my father.
Well, I have to go now. I am working on another CD and need to work on the songs before all the cameras and paparazzi arrive to follow my every move.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
While some producers claim the show's content will be aimed at showing the healing process of the family since Whitney's death by following their daily routine of continuing grief and reveal how the are growing and moving along as a family.
Interestingly, Whitney's mother, Cissy, gave the green light to proceed with the project, expressing a concern for Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina and her upcoming singing career. Pat Houston has said the show was in the works while Whitney was alive - perhaps a take-off on the failed reality show where Whitney and her husband at the time, Bobby Brown, exposed the debased lifestyles of both of the entertainers in the every day lives.
So this is what entertainment has come to . . . voyeurism and stalking. A person reaches super star status and her family is left to wonder what will become of them now that there is void too big to fill any other way than with their own fame and fortune found vicariously through the death of their meal ticket.
So, careers may be launched and talents may be discovered that may not have been realized without the death of Whitney Houston. The benefits are far reaching even beyond the grave.
Perhaps a DNA Ancestry test could prove that I was sired by someone famous and now that I have realized that fact cameras should follow me around to see how I deal with my new found grief.
After all, I just released a CD last November at 57 years-of-age and could use a boost to convince people to go to my music website at http://Rainbows-Angels.com and appreciate the music because I am the survivor of somebody who was once famous. My dad was a super star, bigger than Elvis, bigger than the Beatles, bigger than Dylan and Hendrix - I just don't know who he was. But that shouldn't matter. I should be successful anyway because he was my father.
Well, I have to go now. I am working on another CD and need to work on the songs before all the cameras and paparazzi arrive to follow my every move.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Friday, May 11, 2012
Bachmann Turncoat Overdrive
Well, Michelle Bachmann not only ran for the office of President of the United States while holding a dual citizenship to Switzerland, home of the world's most sexually liberal and homeland to her husband, but she called for an investigation of Congress to see who was Unamerican. The woman who believes you can scare the homosexuality out of someone and took government subsidies to prove it, was, since 1978, through marriage, a citizen of Switzerland. She made it official this week when she and her husband announced their marriage to the Swiss consulate. Should Ms. Bachmann choose to visit her other country, she would find there are many bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, saunas and organizations specifically dedicated to the GBLT population. And she would find universal healthcare, although universal healthcare would by definition men covering every living entity in the universe - no country can cover that, even with the best of intentions.
Earlier this week, Bachmann announced that she had become a citizen of Switzerland a month earlier, using her husband’s dual U.S.- Swiss nationality to secure fast-track naturalization. She added that the couple’s three youngest children were also now Swiss citizens. In an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann explained that her family often visits Switzerland — in particular the picturesque region of Thurgau where her husband’s ancestors came from. “Our family loves it when we come because everyone brings home a big bag of chocolate, and everyone’s very happy,” she told reporters in Switzerland. She added “it’s tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland.” Evidently, she didn't find her way to Zurich or Geneva, where these establishments abound.
Now - she's not. She denounced her Swiss citizenship amongst a backlash of criticism from the right, the Tea Party and late night talk show hosts. But the Swiss have not lodged a complaint - no word on her children yet. After all, this is the woman who gave us: "Literally, if we took away the minimum wage—if conceivably it was gone—we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level."
"I look at the Scripture and I read it and I take it for what it is. I give more credence in the Scripture as being kind of a timeless word of God to mankind, and I take it for what it is. And I don't think I give as much credence to my own mind, because I see myself as being very limited and very flawed, and lacking in knowledge, and wisdom and understanding. So, I just take the Bible for what it is, I guess, and recognize that I am not a scientist, not trained to be a scientist. I'm not a deep thinker on all of this. I wish I was. I wish I was more knowledgeable, but I'm not a scientist."
"No one that I know disagrees with natural selection — that you can take various breeds of dogs ... breed them, you get different kinds of dogs," she said. "It's just a fact of life. ... Where there's controversy is (at the question) 'Where do we say that a cell became a blade of grass, which became a starfish, which became a cat, which became a donkey, which became a human being?' There’s a real lack of evidence from change from actual species to a different type of species. That's where it's difficult to prove."
“I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs, we have more women in the workforce than any other state.”
I could go on, but I need a carbonated drink. This person ran for President of the United States and got at least one vote - now that's scary.
I wonder if any of the press is going to ask her if she believes her children should retain their dual citizenship. Probably not, especially those liberal, attacking media.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Earlier this week, Bachmann announced that she had become a citizen of Switzerland a month earlier, using her husband’s dual U.S.- Swiss nationality to secure fast-track naturalization. She added that the couple’s three youngest children were also now Swiss citizens. In an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann explained that her family often visits Switzerland — in particular the picturesque region of Thurgau where her husband’s ancestors came from. “Our family loves it when we come because everyone brings home a big bag of chocolate, and everyone’s very happy,” she told reporters in Switzerland. She added “it’s tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland.” Evidently, she didn't find her way to Zurich or Geneva, where these establishments abound.
Now - she's not. She denounced her Swiss citizenship amongst a backlash of criticism from the right, the Tea Party and late night talk show hosts. But the Swiss have not lodged a complaint - no word on her children yet. After all, this is the woman who gave us: "Literally, if we took away the minimum wage—if conceivably it was gone—we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level."
"I look at the Scripture and I read it and I take it for what it is. I give more credence in the Scripture as being kind of a timeless word of God to mankind, and I take it for what it is. And I don't think I give as much credence to my own mind, because I see myself as being very limited and very flawed, and lacking in knowledge, and wisdom and understanding. So, I just take the Bible for what it is, I guess, and recognize that I am not a scientist, not trained to be a scientist. I'm not a deep thinker on all of this. I wish I was. I wish I was more knowledgeable, but I'm not a scientist."
"No one that I know disagrees with natural selection — that you can take various breeds of dogs ... breed them, you get different kinds of dogs," she said. "It's just a fact of life. ... Where there's controversy is (at the question) 'Where do we say that a cell became a blade of grass, which became a starfish, which became a cat, which became a donkey, which became a human being?' There’s a real lack of evidence from change from actual species to a different type of species. That's where it's difficult to prove."
“I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs, we have more women in the workforce than any other state.”
I could go on, but I need a carbonated drink. This person ran for President of the United States and got at least one vote - now that's scary.
I wonder if any of the press is going to ask her if she believes her children should retain their dual citizenship. Probably not, especially those liberal, attacking media.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Voice
Just finished watching the results for The Voice. Enjoyed most of the show - could have done without the Justin Bieber sort of rap song, but was blown away by Lady Antebellum - seems all they can do is write and perform hits. Jermaine Paul was definitely the best performer on the show throughout, although Chris Mann may have had the best voice. It seems that at the end of every show my wife and I watched, we ended up talking about the judges, either the rambling from CeeLo, the pausing from Adam, the team support from Blake or the outfits of Christina. Much like the judges on American Idol, the personalities get caught up in their own egos and tend to distract from the show. At least on The Voice we avoid the words "dude" and "pitchy" and advice about the song not mattering and yet the song was "the wrong choice."
On Idol, we are drawn to Steven Tyler's androgynous outfits and J-Lo's skirt length and Randy's dedication to a lack of fashion. On The Voice the main distraction is Chrisitna Aguilera's wardrobe or lack-there-of. Tonight was the most amazing - from the waist up, Aguilera looks out of sorts - plenty of cake, but a white shirt buttoned up to hide her amazing and usually exposed cleavage. Then, she struts to the stage to console her artist and reveals her bottom, clad in some very expensive looking set of designer Depends. From that moment on, the show became anticlimactic - and there were still the other three contestants left. I just couldn't wait for the cameras to focus back on her butt. I mean, I wanted Jermaine to win and thought I would be excited about the finish, but I just kept hoping to get another long look at that underwear.
What was she thinking? Didn't any of the other judges care enough about her to tell her - OMG! What are you wearing? Do you know we're on television? Do you know this is a singing contest? At least J-Lo keeps her trunk junk mostly covered.
How sad that Jermain was upstaged on his big night by a fanny pack. I hope he goes on to record wonderful songs and is a great success. I'm not sure the producers were thinking straight when they asked him to perform again at the end of the show while crying with and hugging his family members who were brought on stage. Juliett Simms seemed surprised that she didn't win. I was surprised she made it that far. Each of her performances has moments of brilliance combined with moments of flatness. If she can control her pitch problems, she may have a future in the industry. Chris was technically the best voice, but limited in his song selection. Tony Luca shined and has a future in the business with the right band and songs.
I still feel Idol has a better selection of singers this year. I believe Phillip will go on to a magical mystery tour, Jessica will hit the cabaret, Holly will receive a Tony in her future and Joshua will win the Idol finale. Hopefully, he will record and revive a bunch of James Brown tunes. maybe someone will take one of those too-tight jackets off of him while he performs before it is over.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
On Idol, we are drawn to Steven Tyler's androgynous outfits and J-Lo's skirt length and Randy's dedication to a lack of fashion. On The Voice the main distraction is Chrisitna Aguilera's wardrobe or lack-there-of. Tonight was the most amazing - from the waist up, Aguilera looks out of sorts - plenty of cake, but a white shirt buttoned up to hide her amazing and usually exposed cleavage. Then, she struts to the stage to console her artist and reveals her bottom, clad in some very expensive looking set of designer Depends. From that moment on, the show became anticlimactic - and there were still the other three contestants left. I just couldn't wait for the cameras to focus back on her butt. I mean, I wanted Jermaine to win and thought I would be excited about the finish, but I just kept hoping to get another long look at that underwear.
What was she thinking? Didn't any of the other judges care enough about her to tell her - OMG! What are you wearing? Do you know we're on television? Do you know this is a singing contest? At least J-Lo keeps her trunk junk mostly covered.
How sad that Jermain was upstaged on his big night by a fanny pack. I hope he goes on to record wonderful songs and is a great success. I'm not sure the producers were thinking straight when they asked him to perform again at the end of the show while crying with and hugging his family members who were brought on stage. Juliett Simms seemed surprised that she didn't win. I was surprised she made it that far. Each of her performances has moments of brilliance combined with moments of flatness. If she can control her pitch problems, she may have a future in the industry. Chris was technically the best voice, but limited in his song selection. Tony Luca shined and has a future in the business with the right band and songs.
I still feel Idol has a better selection of singers this year. I believe Phillip will go on to a magical mystery tour, Jessica will hit the cabaret, Holly will receive a Tony in her future and Joshua will win the Idol finale. Hopefully, he will record and revive a bunch of James Brown tunes. maybe someone will take one of those too-tight jackets off of him while he performs before it is over.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Too Fat To Write
Okay, according to hospitals in Texas, I can't work there. My BMI, whatever the heck that is, is not within the acceptable range for me to even push a broom down the hallways of Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas. So, rather than bring me in and use me as an example, helping me to lose weight and be in better health, they refuse to consider my application altogether. Following their regulation that an employee's appearance “should fit with a representational image or specific mental projection of the job of a health care professional,” including an appearance “free from distraction,” I will be sending myself a pink slip. Not being a fan of pink, I may send myself a slip of another color with the same intent. I am not fit to write for my own paper, the Sedona Excentric.
Perhaps if I could learn to write while walking, I could shed some of these unwanted pounds. I did lose a bunch of weight not long ago, but that was due to diverticulitis. I lost a couple of pounds when fasting for my colonoscopy also. Funny, I watch friends of mine consume fatty, unhealthy, sugary foods and never gain a pound. i walk by the bakery section of a grocery store and can feel my belt tightening. I have reduced the amount of alcohol, sugar, carbs, red meat, and increased my exercise routine just to maintain the weight I carry now. If I break that chain, I gain. Living the lifestyle that I choose now and knowing that I could be refused employment really chafes my chaps.
Weight discrimination is not illegal in 49 of the 50 states in America. That's correct. You can be gay, republican, black and female and be protected, but not fat. So, if you are a gay, black, female republican and fat, you had better shed some pounds if looking for work in Texas. In a country that finds itself populated by obese citizens, America is going to have to take a long look in a wide mirror and rewrite some of its anti-discriminatory laws. Take Mr. X as an example. Mr. X get screwed by his state government who fired him because they refused to take federal stimulus funding. After collecting unemployment and being depressed for nearly a year and sitting around eating Twinkies and drinking Yoo-Hoos, Mr. X gains enough weight to tilt his BMI (body mass index) to the point of being declared unemployable because he's now too fat to work, making him more depressed and sending him to the store for Twinkies and Yoo-Hoos. Now Mr. X has had his insurance cancelled because his employer paid program has expired and so has his Cobra plan. Having to get insurance on his own will be near impossible if the Supreme Court decides the new American Health Plan is unconstitutional, since he will have a pre-existing condition of obesity.
I haven't eaten fast food in years and have switched to soy burgers and sweet potato fries baked in the oven and yet I am going to have to fire myself. It feels like I gained a couple of ounces just sitting here writing this blog. I hope I give myself a second chance and, if I show that I'm trying even harder to lose weight and tighten my mass, I will hire myself back - at least on a part-time basis. Of course, the benefits include living with the boss' wife. If I lose that perk, I may have to sue myself. See me in court?
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Perhaps if I could learn to write while walking, I could shed some of these unwanted pounds. I did lose a bunch of weight not long ago, but that was due to diverticulitis. I lost a couple of pounds when fasting for my colonoscopy also. Funny, I watch friends of mine consume fatty, unhealthy, sugary foods and never gain a pound. i walk by the bakery section of a grocery store and can feel my belt tightening. I have reduced the amount of alcohol, sugar, carbs, red meat, and increased my exercise routine just to maintain the weight I carry now. If I break that chain, I gain. Living the lifestyle that I choose now and knowing that I could be refused employment really chafes my chaps.
Weight discrimination is not illegal in 49 of the 50 states in America. That's correct. You can be gay, republican, black and female and be protected, but not fat. So, if you are a gay, black, female republican and fat, you had better shed some pounds if looking for work in Texas. In a country that finds itself populated by obese citizens, America is going to have to take a long look in a wide mirror and rewrite some of its anti-discriminatory laws. Take Mr. X as an example. Mr. X get screwed by his state government who fired him because they refused to take federal stimulus funding. After collecting unemployment and being depressed for nearly a year and sitting around eating Twinkies and drinking Yoo-Hoos, Mr. X gains enough weight to tilt his BMI (body mass index) to the point of being declared unemployable because he's now too fat to work, making him more depressed and sending him to the store for Twinkies and Yoo-Hoos. Now Mr. X has had his insurance cancelled because his employer paid program has expired and so has his Cobra plan. Having to get insurance on his own will be near impossible if the Supreme Court decides the new American Health Plan is unconstitutional, since he will have a pre-existing condition of obesity.
I haven't eaten fast food in years and have switched to soy burgers and sweet potato fries baked in the oven and yet I am going to have to fire myself. It feels like I gained a couple of ounces just sitting here writing this blog. I hope I give myself a second chance and, if I show that I'm trying even harder to lose weight and tighten my mass, I will hire myself back - at least on a part-time basis. Of course, the benefits include living with the boss' wife. If I lose that perk, I may have to sue myself. See me in court?
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Friday, March 23, 2012
Enough . . .
It's sad that we have trouble having an honest dialogue in this country when it comes to gun ownership. Never mind the vast number of injuries and deaths caused by children playing with their parents' guns that weren't properly stored and the number of guns children use to purposefully take the lives of other children or the domestic arguments that end up with someone using a gun; let's talk about lobbyists.
I wonder how many people know what a lobbyist actually does. They roam the legislative halls and wine and dine politicians or their aides or family members disguised as experts in their field. You see, most politicians are just like us - they don't have a clue about most topics - they rely on others to educate them and inform them to allow them to display the appearance that they know why they voted yea or nay on any given piece of legislation. And, if they are on a committee, why they offered a piece of legislation. While the majority of legislators are former attorneys, they are still not versed well enough on issues to render an intelligent opinion until one is given to them.
Before we get to the National Rifle Association, let's look at another lobby - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. It is no accident that the legal blood alcohol level was lowered nationally from .1 to .08. It wasn't proposed by the collective conscience of Congress. MADD members are out to outlaw alcohol. If they were sincere about removing people who have had too much to drink from driving, they would have worked for a law that would force people to be given a ride when they reach a point of driving inhibition. If bars and restaurants are going to make a profit from selling alcohol, they should be prepared to get their customer home safely. But no legislation has even entertained that prospect.
People will continue to drink and bars and restaurants will continue to be driving distances away from the consumer. Perhaps one answer is a bar on every corner. People who imbibed in the recent past, used to live in apartments in the city within walking distance or a short cab ride from their favorite watering hole. Heck, some people had apartments above the bars they frequented. Then came the suburbs. What makes MADD so powerful? Numbers! MADD can threaten the term of any politician. The threat of a campaign lauched with the goal of ending the career of a politician and, if your numbers are large enough, you've got their vote.
Numbers! It's what can make Unions powerful - that's why governors around the country are trying to bust them. They couldn't care less about the money union members make or the benefits the have. They care about the massive voting power. Numbers! Numbers is the reason politicos have been pitting poor Blacks in America against poor Hispanics. Imagine the voting power of those two groups of Americans united behind one politician or another. Polarization is purposeful. There is strength in unity. Civil rights laws and laws protecting and respecting women and minorities only came about because of unity. The NAACP at the time of civil stuggles in America in the fifties and sixties was made up of many white folk - many of them Jewish. Civil rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Women's rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Those in power, usually white men, did everything they could to retain that power - the power to write the laws and enforce them.
Power, politics, white men - enter the National Rifle Association. They would have you believe by their name alone that they represent hunters and those who choose to defend themselves and their families with some type of rifle. After all, they are a rifle association. But look at some of the laws they convince legislators to write and pass - state to state (even that is not national). They worked on laws to allow guns in schools, guns in bars, concealed weapons without special permits, Stand Your Ground right to kill laws. Perhaps they should change their name . . . Allow Cop Killing Bullets Association; Twenty-Bullet Clips Automatic Handgun Association; Fun With Assault Rifles Association. A lobby by any other name . . .
Groups with a recognizable membership wield recognizable power. Imagine a group with so many members they can effect any and every political outcome being infused with cash from groups with boatloads of money and you understand America's political system in a nutshell. In a nutshell, how appropriate. If Americans don't unite, corporations and groups of single-minded memberships will continue to run the country, from City Hall to Congress. People have seen how powerless the office of President of the Unted States can be when the goal of Congress is to see the President fail - even at the recession of a nation.
Now, we have a situation in Florida where a law, possibly ghost-written by lobbyists for the NRA, has been used to influence police decisions immediately following the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager. The shooter was allowed to remain free and retain his weapon and never given an alcohol or drug test, while the responding officers tested the dead man. One has to wonder what the motivation was behind those decisions and lack of actions of those police officers. It's not the job of police officers to determine guilt or innocence, but that's what they became. There are many players involved in this tragedy.
So, let's not let the slaying of Trayvon Martin be used as just another polarizing racial issue, but rather as a way of bringing us all together to stop the infused hatred, paranoia and distrust being perpetuated by those in powerful positions. We need to stop using the word WAR so loosely and instead recognize the source behind all the suppression and negativity and take away their power - with our voting power.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
I wonder how many people know what a lobbyist actually does. They roam the legislative halls and wine and dine politicians or their aides or family members disguised as experts in their field. You see, most politicians are just like us - they don't have a clue about most topics - they rely on others to educate them and inform them to allow them to display the appearance that they know why they voted yea or nay on any given piece of legislation. And, if they are on a committee, why they offered a piece of legislation. While the majority of legislators are former attorneys, they are still not versed well enough on issues to render an intelligent opinion until one is given to them.
Before we get to the National Rifle Association, let's look at another lobby - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. It is no accident that the legal blood alcohol level was lowered nationally from .1 to .08. It wasn't proposed by the collective conscience of Congress. MADD members are out to outlaw alcohol. If they were sincere about removing people who have had too much to drink from driving, they would have worked for a law that would force people to be given a ride when they reach a point of driving inhibition. If bars and restaurants are going to make a profit from selling alcohol, they should be prepared to get their customer home safely. But no legislation has even entertained that prospect.
People will continue to drink and bars and restaurants will continue to be driving distances away from the consumer. Perhaps one answer is a bar on every corner. People who imbibed in the recent past, used to live in apartments in the city within walking distance or a short cab ride from their favorite watering hole. Heck, some people had apartments above the bars they frequented. Then came the suburbs. What makes MADD so powerful? Numbers! MADD can threaten the term of any politician. The threat of a campaign lauched with the goal of ending the career of a politician and, if your numbers are large enough, you've got their vote.
Numbers! It's what can make Unions powerful - that's why governors around the country are trying to bust them. They couldn't care less about the money union members make or the benefits the have. They care about the massive voting power. Numbers! Numbers is the reason politicos have been pitting poor Blacks in America against poor Hispanics. Imagine the voting power of those two groups of Americans united behind one politician or another. Polarization is purposeful. There is strength in unity. Civil rights laws and laws protecting and respecting women and minorities only came about because of unity. The NAACP at the time of civil stuggles in America in the fifties and sixties was made up of many white folk - many of them Jewish. Civil rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Women's rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Those in power, usually white men, did everything they could to retain that power - the power to write the laws and enforce them.
Power, politics, white men - enter the National Rifle Association. They would have you believe by their name alone that they represent hunters and those who choose to defend themselves and their families with some type of rifle. After all, they are a rifle association. But look at some of the laws they convince legislators to write and pass - state to state (even that is not national). They worked on laws to allow guns in schools, guns in bars, concealed weapons without special permits, Stand Your Ground right to kill laws. Perhaps they should change their name . . . Allow Cop Killing Bullets Association; Twenty-Bullet Clips Automatic Handgun Association; Fun With Assault Rifles Association. A lobby by any other name . . .
Groups with a recognizable membership wield recognizable power. Imagine a group with so many members they can effect any and every political outcome being infused with cash from groups with boatloads of money and you understand America's political system in a nutshell. In a nutshell, how appropriate. If Americans don't unite, corporations and groups of single-minded memberships will continue to run the country, from City Hall to Congress. People have seen how powerless the office of President of the Unted States can be when the goal of Congress is to see the President fail - even at the recession of a nation.
Now, we have a situation in Florida where a law, possibly ghost-written by lobbyists for the NRA, has been used to influence police decisions immediately following the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager. The shooter was allowed to remain free and retain his weapon and never given an alcohol or drug test, while the responding officers tested the dead man. One has to wonder what the motivation was behind those decisions and lack of actions of those police officers. It's not the job of police officers to determine guilt or innocence, but that's what they became. There are many players involved in this tragedy.
So, let's not let the slaying of Trayvon Martin be used as just another polarizing racial issue, but rather as a way of bringing us all together to stop the infused hatred, paranoia and distrust being perpetuated by those in powerful positions. We need to stop using the word WAR so loosely and instead recognize the source behind all the suppression and negativity and take away their power - with our voting power.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Can I Get An Amen?
I just saw a new poll taken in Mississippi and Alabama that showed the majority of republicans planning to vote believe that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, is a Muslim. Inspite of the fact that he converted to Christianity, attended a Christian church with his wife and family, was sworn in to the office using the Bible and continues to claim he has accepted Jesus as his savior.
What is it with these people? Isn't it bad enough that there are movies, songs, books, cartoons and comedians constantly reminded the rest of the world just how ignorant residents of the deep south in the United States are regarding any topic but NASCAR standings and "cheesy grits?" I was raised in Virginia, sadly becoming more southern each day. I remember the confederate flags across the trucks' back windows, shading the gun racks and the rampant prejudice that came with the "The South is going to rise again" bumper stickers. Maybe, it's just as simple as one of their comedic heroes, Ron White, put it - You Can't Fix Stupid.
I attended high school in 1968, a year after the school integrated. I was small and got slammed against lockers often. I was even hung upside down and swung from my ankles by a couple of bullies in front of classmates. One day while a large white male was slamming me into a locker, a black student happened by. He was Calvin, the fullback of our football team and a bass in the choir where I sang tenor and alto as a freshman. Calvin slammed the bully against the wall and told him to pick on someone his own size. I guess the word got out that Calvin was my friend because the bullies backed off somewhat after that incident. I never properly thanked Calvin, although at the time I would probably have kissed his class ring.
I carried some of that taught prejudice with me into my adult years. I found it wasn't easy to unlearn something that been ingrained in you most of your life. I was fortunate enough to play music with black musicians in Norfolk in my twenties. I remember smoking a joint on a corner in the projects in Norfolk and being told by the drummer that times had definitely changed since my high school days. "There were times your white face wouldn't have been welcomed here," he offered with a sly grin. We ended up performing in an all-black nightclub one weekend. I looked around and immediately thought, I get it. I get what being a minority might feel like. Not that I could really understand being black in America in one weekend, but it was eye opening.
Back to the white southerners who continue to brandish hatred and prejudice -u even if just through economics. Christians of every denomination, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Protestant, Mormon, etc. send out missionaries to convert the world to their religious views - to save them - from what I'm still not sure. I am a recovering Catholic, being taught that whistling in the house was calling the devil and punishment for cursing could include burning your hands in the oven. Religion with zeal? I find it difficult to understand how my fellow Americans could believe that all non-Christian people around the globe can be converted to their Christian faith, but the President of the United States could not. More than just a bit hypocritical. They send emissaries to convert Muslims, Jews, Athiests, Pagans and anyone else who has yet to join their club, but yet won't accept that President Obama had already converted. It would seem there is no way they can wrap their heads around the fact that the President of the United States is black - actually he is more pecan tan - because his mother was white.
I am trying to be a proud American - being made difficult by the rampant prejudice that is pervading our country to this day - be it against Hispanics or African Americans. I am proud when we stand together to help strangers during tragedies and extend a hand to the needy without questioning one's beliefs. I live in a world of hope - a hope that we can accept each other's differences with respect and understanding, perhaps even learning something from someone with those differing views.
In spite of all the mess I see and hear being spewed in the name of religion, I find myself a more spiritual man than ever. Perhaps that's why I was given songs to record in the name of Music for Social Change.
Wishing us all . . . love!
Peace - Ho'oponopono
What is it with these people? Isn't it bad enough that there are movies, songs, books, cartoons and comedians constantly reminded the rest of the world just how ignorant residents of the deep south in the United States are regarding any topic but NASCAR standings and "cheesy grits?" I was raised in Virginia, sadly becoming more southern each day. I remember the confederate flags across the trucks' back windows, shading the gun racks and the rampant prejudice that came with the "The South is going to rise again" bumper stickers. Maybe, it's just as simple as one of their comedic heroes, Ron White, put it - You Can't Fix Stupid.
I attended high school in 1968, a year after the school integrated. I was small and got slammed against lockers often. I was even hung upside down and swung from my ankles by a couple of bullies in front of classmates. One day while a large white male was slamming me into a locker, a black student happened by. He was Calvin, the fullback of our football team and a bass in the choir where I sang tenor and alto as a freshman. Calvin slammed the bully against the wall and told him to pick on someone his own size. I guess the word got out that Calvin was my friend because the bullies backed off somewhat after that incident. I never properly thanked Calvin, although at the time I would probably have kissed his class ring.
I carried some of that taught prejudice with me into my adult years. I found it wasn't easy to unlearn something that been ingrained in you most of your life. I was fortunate enough to play music with black musicians in Norfolk in my twenties. I remember smoking a joint on a corner in the projects in Norfolk and being told by the drummer that times had definitely changed since my high school days. "There were times your white face wouldn't have been welcomed here," he offered with a sly grin. We ended up performing in an all-black nightclub one weekend. I looked around and immediately thought, I get it. I get what being a minority might feel like. Not that I could really understand being black in America in one weekend, but it was eye opening.
Back to the white southerners who continue to brandish hatred and prejudice -u even if just through economics. Christians of every denomination, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Protestant, Mormon, etc. send out missionaries to convert the world to their religious views - to save them - from what I'm still not sure. I am a recovering Catholic, being taught that whistling in the house was calling the devil and punishment for cursing could include burning your hands in the oven. Religion with zeal? I find it difficult to understand how my fellow Americans could believe that all non-Christian people around the globe can be converted to their Christian faith, but the President of the United States could not. More than just a bit hypocritical. They send emissaries to convert Muslims, Jews, Athiests, Pagans and anyone else who has yet to join their club, but yet won't accept that President Obama had already converted. It would seem there is no way they can wrap their heads around the fact that the President of the United States is black - actually he is more pecan tan - because his mother was white.
I am trying to be a proud American - being made difficult by the rampant prejudice that is pervading our country to this day - be it against Hispanics or African Americans. I am proud when we stand together to help strangers during tragedies and extend a hand to the needy without questioning one's beliefs. I live in a world of hope - a hope that we can accept each other's differences with respect and understanding, perhaps even learning something from someone with those differing views.
In spite of all the mess I see and hear being spewed in the name of religion, I find myself a more spiritual man than ever. Perhaps that's why I was given songs to record in the name of Music for Social Change.
Wishing us all . . . love!
Peace - Ho'oponopono
Saturday, March 3, 2012
What's the Rush?
One has to wonder whether Rush Limbaugh is popping pills again, or is just completely meshugana - still. Third-year Georgetown University law student, Sandra Fluke recently testified about the need for health insurance to cover birth control medication for women. Fluke testified to a Congressional committee on Feb. 23. The previous week, a Republican-controlled House committee had rejected Democrats' request that she testify on the Obama administration's policy requiring that employees of religion-affiliated institutions have access to health insurance that covers birth control. Instead, Representative Darrell Issa of California, the committee's chair, summoned a men-only panel of so-called experts representing a variety of faiths to make the dialogue purely about religion, not birth control or women's access to medication covered by their health insurance.
Fluke said that Georgetown, a Jesuit institution, does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan and that contraception can cost a woman more than $3,000 during law school. She spoke of a friend who had an ovary removed because the insurance company wouldn't cover the prescription birth control she needed to stop the growth of cysts.
Following her reported testimony, Limbaugh proceeded to call Ms. Fluke a slut and a prostitute, demanding she produce videos of herself having sex. The saddest part is not only is this guy a complete pig, a disgrace to humankind, a buffoon with a microphone, but people actually listen to his misogynistic tirades and corporations pay to support his continuing to unapologically berate anyone who does not agree with his warped views. As do many men in positions of self-ordained power that feel threatened by the mere existence of a sex that can give birth and nurse and nurture their offspring. Men typically want to take that power away from women - men will decide when and how women have sex and if they become impregnated, they'll decide, through the government, that she must carry to term - no matter the circumstance or medical conditions of the woman or fetus. Men are now even trying to rewrite science, claiming a zygote is a person. A zygote? The big bang? Do people realize that by declaring a zygote a person, laws can be written to make it a crime to destroy any fertilized eggs held in petri dishes and fertility clinics?
I remember being groomed to be a Catholic and being told that masturbation was a sin because I was releasing my sperm somewhere other than in a vagina, with no chance of procreation. Sad to say, masturbation is the only sex most boys and many men are going to have. As Woody Allen says, at least masturbation is having sex with someone you love. This pious declaration comes from the same people who brought us alter boys - misspelled purposefully. I have had recent conversations with Catholics who are not worried that their priest is gay - doesn't bother them. However, no way should a woman be ordained or should priests be allowed to marry - after all, the vow of chastity is sacrosanct. Give me a break. As a recovering Catholic, I am disturbed that Newt Gingrich tauts his religiosity after his actions with his current wife - another Catholic who knowingly committed adultery with him - this is like the political tiffanys of sin because it involves a lot of lying to maintain the relationship.
Then there are the other political wannabes - Rick Santorum, one of the Republican presidential contenders seeking to oppose Obama, commented to CNN about Limbaugh's remarks. "He's being absurd," Santorum said. "But that's, you know, an entertainer can be absurd."
So, afraid to disturb the status quo, Santorum tucks his rebukes of Limbaughs inane and disturbing remarks under his sweater vest and quietly waves to his supporters who agree that contraception should not be allowed under any conditions. And, since he wants to bring his faith to the Washington political arena, he must, to be a good and faithful Catholic, agree with his leader, the Pope, that there should be no in-vitro fertilization allowed. The Pope considers it selfish to want to bear children if nature has made it medically impossible. How dare you? Just take somebody else's unwanted child. Will Santorum bring this religious righteous indignation to the White House were he to be ordained? And since Gingrich has converted, he would need to bring the same rules and regulations with him in order to be a good Catholic.
Then there is Mitt Romney. While campaigning in Ohio for the Republican presidential primary, Romney was asked about Limbaugh's comments and craftily (for him) steered his answer away from the uproar.
"It's not the language I would have used," Romney said after a campaign event in Cleveland. "But I'm focusing on the issues that I think are significant in the country today and that's why I'm here talking about jobs in Ohio." So, Romney would not have called Ms. Fluke a slut or prostitute - perhaps jezebel or floozie or just a loose woman - something more retro.
Limbaugh continued to ramble for days, shoveling his drivel to his, hopefully dwindling, audience without realizing he had absolutely no clue what female contraception is. He assumed that each time a woman had sex, she had to take some type of contraception - like it was Viagra or something. What a moron. Speaking of Viagra, isn't that medication to make men stiff covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare? Thank goodness Limbaugh didn't make an appeal for nursing homes to release sex tapes of men showing off their proud Viagra-aided johnsons. Perhaps his ubiquitous cigar is his personal phallus to comfort him when he is alone on his sound cloud. No videos, please.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Fluke said that Georgetown, a Jesuit institution, does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan and that contraception can cost a woman more than $3,000 during law school. She spoke of a friend who had an ovary removed because the insurance company wouldn't cover the prescription birth control she needed to stop the growth of cysts.
Following her reported testimony, Limbaugh proceeded to call Ms. Fluke a slut and a prostitute, demanding she produce videos of herself having sex. The saddest part is not only is this guy a complete pig, a disgrace to humankind, a buffoon with a microphone, but people actually listen to his misogynistic tirades and corporations pay to support his continuing to unapologically berate anyone who does not agree with his warped views. As do many men in positions of self-ordained power that feel threatened by the mere existence of a sex that can give birth and nurse and nurture their offspring. Men typically want to take that power away from women - men will decide when and how women have sex and if they become impregnated, they'll decide, through the government, that she must carry to term - no matter the circumstance or medical conditions of the woman or fetus. Men are now even trying to rewrite science, claiming a zygote is a person. A zygote? The big bang? Do people realize that by declaring a zygote a person, laws can be written to make it a crime to destroy any fertilized eggs held in petri dishes and fertility clinics?
I remember being groomed to be a Catholic and being told that masturbation was a sin because I was releasing my sperm somewhere other than in a vagina, with no chance of procreation. Sad to say, masturbation is the only sex most boys and many men are going to have. As Woody Allen says, at least masturbation is having sex with someone you love. This pious declaration comes from the same people who brought us alter boys - misspelled purposefully. I have had recent conversations with Catholics who are not worried that their priest is gay - doesn't bother them. However, no way should a woman be ordained or should priests be allowed to marry - after all, the vow of chastity is sacrosanct. Give me a break. As a recovering Catholic, I am disturbed that Newt Gingrich tauts his religiosity after his actions with his current wife - another Catholic who knowingly committed adultery with him - this is like the political tiffanys of sin because it involves a lot of lying to maintain the relationship.
Then there are the other political wannabes - Rick Santorum, one of the Republican presidential contenders seeking to oppose Obama, commented to CNN about Limbaugh's remarks. "He's being absurd," Santorum said. "But that's, you know, an entertainer can be absurd."
So, afraid to disturb the status quo, Santorum tucks his rebukes of Limbaughs inane and disturbing remarks under his sweater vest and quietly waves to his supporters who agree that contraception should not be allowed under any conditions. And, since he wants to bring his faith to the Washington political arena, he must, to be a good and faithful Catholic, agree with his leader, the Pope, that there should be no in-vitro fertilization allowed. The Pope considers it selfish to want to bear children if nature has made it medically impossible. How dare you? Just take somebody else's unwanted child. Will Santorum bring this religious righteous indignation to the White House were he to be ordained? And since Gingrich has converted, he would need to bring the same rules and regulations with him in order to be a good Catholic.
Then there is Mitt Romney. While campaigning in Ohio for the Republican presidential primary, Romney was asked about Limbaugh's comments and craftily (for him) steered his answer away from the uproar.
"It's not the language I would have used," Romney said after a campaign event in Cleveland. "But I'm focusing on the issues that I think are significant in the country today and that's why I'm here talking about jobs in Ohio." So, Romney would not have called Ms. Fluke a slut or prostitute - perhaps jezebel or floozie or just a loose woman - something more retro.
Limbaugh continued to ramble for days, shoveling his drivel to his, hopefully dwindling, audience without realizing he had absolutely no clue what female contraception is. He assumed that each time a woman had sex, she had to take some type of contraception - like it was Viagra or something. What a moron. Speaking of Viagra, isn't that medication to make men stiff covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare? Thank goodness Limbaugh didn't make an appeal for nursing homes to release sex tapes of men showing off their proud Viagra-aided johnsons. Perhaps his ubiquitous cigar is his personal phallus to comfort him when he is alone on his sound cloud. No videos, please.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Forgiveness . . .
"I don't know what [his] final moments were like, but I can't worry about it," Demetrius' mother Phyllis Ferguson told ABC News in an exclusive interview. "You have to accept things done and move on." The parents of Ohio school shooting victim Demetrius Hewlin said today they forgive suspected gunman T.J. Lane for shooting their son, noting sadly that Demetrius was often late for school but not late enough that day. When asked what she would say to the suspected shooter, Ferguson said, "I would tell him I forgive him because, a lot of times, they don't know what they're doing. That's all I'd say."
"I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God's grace is new each and every day," she said. "Until you've walked in another person's shoes, you don't know what made him come to this point."
When I grow up, I want to be like Phyllis Ferguson. To be able to forgive someone who has taken the life of your child for no reason at all and not immediately lash out with violent vengeance and no remorse is beyond pedestrian comprehension. There is some serious love emanating from this soul. What a joy it must have been to be her son and grow up with that love.
There's a line from a West Wing episode - The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels. While I watch the numerous posts of today's loss of singer Davy Jones from The Monkies, I wonder where the RIPs are for the children gunned down at yet another school or the people who lost their lives to the storms in the night or the nameless, faceless, hundreds who, for no cause of their own will die each day.
We say we are a Christian country, yet we stand idly by while profiteers poison our food and pollute our waters and air and destroy our planet. What is so Christian about lying about others for personal gain? I thought one of the 10 Commandments was not to bear false witness against your neighbor. Does that not include political oponents? Of yeah, and the one about committing adultery - multiple times? And what about being your brother's keeper or turning the other cheek or extending a helping hand to those in need? Are immigrants not in need? Are dug addicts not in need? Are prositutes not in need? Are people unemployed not in need? Are people losing their homes not in need?
We can't expect people in other countries to follow their good books and live a pious life if we can't lead by example, can we? I have yet to read every religious epistle or gospel or beatitude for every religion, but I would wager that each is filled good versus evil and the the preference being good.
Walked in his shoes - Phyllis Ferguson actually wondered to herself what this other child could possibly have gone through in his short time on earth to cause such devastation. She found the love inside to empathize with the killer of her son. Phyllis Ferguson - that's who I want to be like when I grow up.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
"I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God's grace is new each and every day," she said. "Until you've walked in another person's shoes, you don't know what made him come to this point."
When I grow up, I want to be like Phyllis Ferguson. To be able to forgive someone who has taken the life of your child for no reason at all and not immediately lash out with violent vengeance and no remorse is beyond pedestrian comprehension. There is some serious love emanating from this soul. What a joy it must have been to be her son and grow up with that love.
There's a line from a West Wing episode - The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels. While I watch the numerous posts of today's loss of singer Davy Jones from The Monkies, I wonder where the RIPs are for the children gunned down at yet another school or the people who lost their lives to the storms in the night or the nameless, faceless, hundreds who, for no cause of their own will die each day.
We say we are a Christian country, yet we stand idly by while profiteers poison our food and pollute our waters and air and destroy our planet. What is so Christian about lying about others for personal gain? I thought one of the 10 Commandments was not to bear false witness against your neighbor. Does that not include political oponents? Of yeah, and the one about committing adultery - multiple times? And what about being your brother's keeper or turning the other cheek or extending a helping hand to those in need? Are immigrants not in need? Are dug addicts not in need? Are prositutes not in need? Are people unemployed not in need? Are people losing their homes not in need?
We can't expect people in other countries to follow their good books and live a pious life if we can't lead by example, can we? I have yet to read every religious epistle or gospel or beatitude for every religion, but I would wager that each is filled good versus evil and the the preference being good.
Walked in his shoes - Phyllis Ferguson actually wondered to herself what this other child could possibly have gone through in his short time on earth to cause such devastation. She found the love inside to empathize with the killer of her son. Phyllis Ferguson - that's who I want to be like when I grow up.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Friday, February 24, 2012
To Protect and Serve
An Arizona man has been arrested for keeping a raccoon he rescued and adopting him as a pet. I don't use names, so I'll just say, this guy risked his own life by jumping into the Colorado (naming rivers is okay) to save a drowning raccoon. He nurses the animal for a while and the raccoon, Sonny (can use raccoons names, also) hangs around, much like the cat I took in 15 years ago from a tree. It seems you can keep a raccoon as a pet in Arizona, but you must first obtain an "exotic animal license."
This guy, Sonny's hero, checked online for rules about befriending a raccoon and didn't see the clause requiring the license. One day, while walking with Sonny on his shoulder, a neighbor called Arizona Game and Fish - the site where you can learn that raccoons are the one animal that can be killed with a firearm at night. I should be careful divulging that kind of information in this gun happy state - people might start using it as a defense - I thought my husband was a raccoon rummaging though our trash - well it was dark and he was wearing a furry housecoat. Of course, the law implies that you have to shoot the raccoon, not beat them to death with the firearm, so, people be forewarned.
Raccoons typically live about 15 years, similar to domesticated cats and dogs. Had Sonny been rescued and set into the wild and been picked up by Game and Fish or the Himane Society, he most likely would be put to death. To date, Sonny and his adoptive guardian are both behind bars now. I'm sure the neighbor who called it in feels safer now knowing that someone who lives nearby who would sacrifice his own safety to rescue an animal he didn't know is locked up. Is the world really a safer place with this guy incarcerated? I think not. But, I have to admit, if I see that tattling neighbor drowning, I would jump in to save them, but I would then set them free to roam the wilderness and not bring them into my warm, cozy home.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
This guy, Sonny's hero, checked online for rules about befriending a raccoon and didn't see the clause requiring the license. One day, while walking with Sonny on his shoulder, a neighbor called Arizona Game and Fish - the site where you can learn that raccoons are the one animal that can be killed with a firearm at night. I should be careful divulging that kind of information in this gun happy state - people might start using it as a defense - I thought my husband was a raccoon rummaging though our trash - well it was dark and he was wearing a furry housecoat. Of course, the law implies that you have to shoot the raccoon, not beat them to death with the firearm, so, people be forewarned.
Raccoons typically live about 15 years, similar to domesticated cats and dogs. Had Sonny been rescued and set into the wild and been picked up by Game and Fish or the Himane Society, he most likely would be put to death. To date, Sonny and his adoptive guardian are both behind bars now. I'm sure the neighbor who called it in feels safer now knowing that someone who lives nearby who would sacrifice his own safety to rescue an animal he didn't know is locked up. Is the world really a safer place with this guy incarcerated? I think not. But, I have to admit, if I see that tattling neighbor drowning, I would jump in to save them, but I would then set them free to roam the wilderness and not bring them into my warm, cozy home.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Whitney Houston
I put Whitney Houston in the top 10 of female vocalists, along with Barbara Streisand, Mariah Carey, Eva Cassidy, Enya , Sarah Brightman, Maria Callas, Janice Joplin, Judy Garland and Annie Lennox. I realize I left out your favorite, but it's my blog. My favorite would be Eva Cassidy. While Whitney Houston surely died at a young age, Maria Callas died at 53, Judy Garland at 47, Eva Cassidy died at 33 and Janice Joplin died at 27 (as did Amy Winehouse). Too often, people we admire are taken from us too soon. Add males to the mix with Elvis, John Lennon, Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Jim Morrison and actors and actresses and the list gets much longer. I watched her service on television with appreciation for her contribution to music. I rewatched The Bodyguard and listened to some of her most popular songs with the same awe as when I first heard them. I continue to watch youthful girls attempting to emulate Whitney Houston on televised singing contests, all hoping to reach not only the notes she belted out with ease, but the life she apparently lead. Like many of the entertainment icons who passed before her, Whitney Houston became ensnarled in the world of drugs and alcohol to maintain the high fame bestows upon the stars.
There are few who escape the temptation of the pleasures thrust upon them - getting drugs on the street may be seedy and dangerous, but they seem to be made readily available for the rich and famous. Instead of dwelling on the lifestyle she and so many others lead, I prefer to listen to the gift they were given and chose to share with others. The moving sounds and emotions offered by these magnificent talents to me far overrides their personal life trials.
So much has been left behind by these superstars for us to enjoy, whether it be songs or movies. Sometines it's comforting to take a weekend and play some old records or watch some old movies and pay homage to those who crossed over too soon for us to comprehend. And so, this weekend, it's listening to Eva Cassidy and watching the Wizard of Oz with some courage, a heart and a brain.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
There are few who escape the temptation of the pleasures thrust upon them - getting drugs on the street may be seedy and dangerous, but they seem to be made readily available for the rich and famous. Instead of dwelling on the lifestyle she and so many others lead, I prefer to listen to the gift they were given and chose to share with others. The moving sounds and emotions offered by these magnificent talents to me far overrides their personal life trials.
So much has been left behind by these superstars for us to enjoy, whether it be songs or movies. Sometines it's comforting to take a weekend and play some old records or watch some old movies and pay homage to those who crossed over too soon for us to comprehend. And so, this weekend, it's listening to Eva Cassidy and watching the Wizard of Oz with some courage, a heart and a brain.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Friday, February 17, 2012
Toaday I signed a few of Facebook petitions, one to Walmart to stop selling Monsanto GMO products, one to tell the governor of Virginia (the state I spent nearly 30 years in) to vetoe legislation to force pregnant women considering an abortion to be subjected to an invasive vaginal sonagram without their consent (as a rider bill to one that says conception begins at the zygote stage). I also posted a FB message from Be The Match to encourage people to sign up as a bone marrow donor. And, I started my own petition to tell the National Restaurant Association to cease using styrofoam - a toxic, unnecessary biproduct.
There were posts from friends with music videos and uplifting messages and informative posts I look forward to reading. This is what I thought Facebook would be - a social networking site where people can become informed, enlightened, entertained and involved.
I have to say, however, that I don't enjoy personal messages sent between two characters posted on the public pages. Either they haven't figured out that personal comments can be sent to individuals and kept off public pages or that they can simply use their email and not bombard the pages with pictures of their baby, or their dinner or information about which mall they are shopping at and what they bought.
I have enjoyed many of today's posts, as they are people using this medium to advance society for what they feel is people's betterment - readers can choose to agree or not, but at least they are attempting to engage the FB public in an event we all can possibly share, rather than a personal diatribe.
So, to those who wish to enlighten, entertain, inform and educate, I look forward to your posts. To those of you who wish to share your latest picture at the beach with your family - use email or skype or personalize and define your posts, please.
I do want to save the world, I just don't know how and must rely on my FB friends for help. I have a page dedicated to Music for Social Change, but I don't send pictures of my breakfast (as good as it was) or my great neice or nephew (as much as I love them) or my cat (who happens to be Jewish) or even my wife holding a shirt (because she loves clean clothes). The again, perhaps I'm the one who doesn't get it. Maybe the people trying to enlighten, educate, entertain and involve others are taking up space that should be otherwise used for trivial pursuit.
Well, at least the personal message people don't have to worry about Google following them around.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
There were posts from friends with music videos and uplifting messages and informative posts I look forward to reading. This is what I thought Facebook would be - a social networking site where people can become informed, enlightened, entertained and involved.
I have to say, however, that I don't enjoy personal messages sent between two characters posted on the public pages. Either they haven't figured out that personal comments can be sent to individuals and kept off public pages or that they can simply use their email and not bombard the pages with pictures of their baby, or their dinner or information about which mall they are shopping at and what they bought.
I have enjoyed many of today's posts, as they are people using this medium to advance society for what they feel is people's betterment - readers can choose to agree or not, but at least they are attempting to engage the FB public in an event we all can possibly share, rather than a personal diatribe.
So, to those who wish to enlighten, entertain, inform and educate, I look forward to your posts. To those of you who wish to share your latest picture at the beach with your family - use email or skype or personalize and define your posts, please.
I do want to save the world, I just don't know how and must rely on my FB friends for help. I have a page dedicated to Music for Social Change, but I don't send pictures of my breakfast (as good as it was) or my great neice or nephew (as much as I love them) or my cat (who happens to be Jewish) or even my wife holding a shirt (because she loves clean clothes). The again, perhaps I'm the one who doesn't get it. Maybe the people trying to enlighten, educate, entertain and involve others are taking up space that should be otherwise used for trivial pursuit.
Well, at least the personal message people don't have to worry about Google following them around.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Grammys 2012
Let's review - Adele cleaned up at the 2012 Grammys. Why? Perhaps best put by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters - the music needs to come from your heart and your head. Adele - no glitz, no glammer, no fire and flaspots, no strings hanging from the ceiling, no weird and wild costumes, no humping by scantily clad gyrating dancers - just melodic thoughtful lyrics sung with feeling and a genuinely gifted voice - heart and head. Not only is she talented, but she is genuine - the real deal. She accepts her award for Best Album and announces to millions of viewers that she has some snot coming out of her nose. I am so delighted that she won, not just because of her music, but because of her honesty. She hasn't been diverted by the junk fame piles onto musicians. She was in love, got her heart broken and sang the story - without all the eye candy diversions.
Some of the other winners that never even made it to the telecast were: Jazz Instrumental Album: “Forever,” Corea, Clark & White, Improvised Jazz Solo: “500 Miles High,” Chick Corea. You would think one performance by Chick Corea rather than two dancing skits by Chris Brown. If jazz was too complicated for the average listener perhaps these winners would have offered a little more variety to the stage: Reggae Album: “Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life,” Stephen Marley, or Pop Instrumental Album: “The Road From Memphis,” Booker T. Jones, or Blues Album: “Revelator,” Tedeschi Trucks Band. It would seem the fans, who obviously bought a boat load of albums by Adele, are more sophisticated in their appreciation of the art of music than the producers of the television event. Hopefully, the Grammy producers of the 2013 event will demand that all artists perform live - even if they have to dance a lot. Rihanna, Chris Brown used to date - perhaps they also shared a lip-syncing coach. But the best lip-syncing goes to Taylor Swift who sings a sing where she complains nobody sings live anymore - not too swift if you ask me. Adele made it about the music again - not the red carpet poses in gowns missing material; not the outfits no escort would be caught in a motel lounge in; not the Crayola colored hair; but the MUSIC!
I thought Bruno Mars showed that he is loaded with talent and is up and coming even though he is already there. He would have made James Brown proud. The harmonies of The Civil Wars (strange name) were spot on and should have lasted longer than the look-at-me performance offered by Swift. Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston was masterful, emotional and a true compliment to popular hit by Houston. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson were good vocally, but lacked chemistry, as did Tony Bennet and Carrie Underwood. Sir Paul McCartney showed he can still write great love songs and can still rock the house with the closing performance. His choice of Joe Walsh on acoustic gutiar was smart, given Eric Clapton performs on the record. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt were first rate, both showing thier vocal talent and feel for a good song. Katy Perry seemed to want to show she could be a welter-weight, lip-syncing Lady Gaga. The Beach Boys' harmonies were fabulous, but I thibk there were quite a few more singers than original members, and Brian Wilson dropped the end of a verse early - but they have been around so long most of the Staples Center crowd wasn't born when they had their first hit.
Nicki Minaj - what can I say? - a failed attempt at theatrics and anti-catholic exorcist crap with no end game. I was confused by The Boss' opening song "We Take Care of Our Own." It was, I thought, a sequal to "Born in the USA" but I didn't get it. Now that I have looked at the lyrics, I see that he was not talking about government coming to the aid of those in need - the reference to the flag is what threw me - but I see he was referring to people taking care of one another. Now I can't wait for some politico to adopt the song as their theme at their rallies. Break out the lawyers, Bruce.
That's about all I call recall from the 2012 Grammys. Perhaps next year I'll have wine instead of Buffalo wings - lots of wine.
RIP Whitney Houston, Etta James and the myriad talent lost, but not forgotten!
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Some of the other winners that never even made it to the telecast were: Jazz Instrumental Album: “Forever,” Corea, Clark & White, Improvised Jazz Solo: “500 Miles High,” Chick Corea. You would think one performance by Chick Corea rather than two dancing skits by Chris Brown. If jazz was too complicated for the average listener perhaps these winners would have offered a little more variety to the stage: Reggae Album: “Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life,” Stephen Marley, or Pop Instrumental Album: “The Road From Memphis,” Booker T. Jones, or Blues Album: “Revelator,” Tedeschi Trucks Band. It would seem the fans, who obviously bought a boat load of albums by Adele, are more sophisticated in their appreciation of the art of music than the producers of the television event. Hopefully, the Grammy producers of the 2013 event will demand that all artists perform live - even if they have to dance a lot. Rihanna, Chris Brown used to date - perhaps they also shared a lip-syncing coach. But the best lip-syncing goes to Taylor Swift who sings a sing where she complains nobody sings live anymore - not too swift if you ask me. Adele made it about the music again - not the red carpet poses in gowns missing material; not the outfits no escort would be caught in a motel lounge in; not the Crayola colored hair; but the MUSIC!
I thought Bruno Mars showed that he is loaded with talent and is up and coming even though he is already there. He would have made James Brown proud. The harmonies of The Civil Wars (strange name) were spot on and should have lasted longer than the look-at-me performance offered by Swift. Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston was masterful, emotional and a true compliment to popular hit by Houston. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson were good vocally, but lacked chemistry, as did Tony Bennet and Carrie Underwood. Sir Paul McCartney showed he can still write great love songs and can still rock the house with the closing performance. His choice of Joe Walsh on acoustic gutiar was smart, given Eric Clapton performs on the record. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt were first rate, both showing thier vocal talent and feel for a good song. Katy Perry seemed to want to show she could be a welter-weight, lip-syncing Lady Gaga. The Beach Boys' harmonies were fabulous, but I thibk there were quite a few more singers than original members, and Brian Wilson dropped the end of a verse early - but they have been around so long most of the Staples Center crowd wasn't born when they had their first hit.
Nicki Minaj - what can I say? - a failed attempt at theatrics and anti-catholic exorcist crap with no end game. I was confused by The Boss' opening song "We Take Care of Our Own." It was, I thought, a sequal to "Born in the USA" but I didn't get it. Now that I have looked at the lyrics, I see that he was not talking about government coming to the aid of those in need - the reference to the flag is what threw me - but I see he was referring to people taking care of one another. Now I can't wait for some politico to adopt the song as their theme at their rallies. Break out the lawyers, Bruce.
That's about all I call recall from the 2012 Grammys. Perhaps next year I'll have wine instead of Buffalo wings - lots of wine.
RIP Whitney Houston, Etta James and the myriad talent lost, but not forgotten!
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Twitter A Felony in Oregon?
Oregon - a state that, were it in the physical locatiion of New Mexico, I would move to in a heart beat, has reared its Republican ugly head (and one wayward Democrat) and proposed criminalizing the organizing of civil disobediance: Oregon's Senate Bill 1534- being debated today, would criminalize what they call, "aggravated solicitation applicable to use of electronic communication to solicit two or more persons to commit specific crime at specific time and location."
This is the state I always held up as an example of individual rights and freedom without excessive and unwarranted government intervention. No longer - the state that has the hutspah to ban styrofoam has the inane wherewithall to consider a bill that would make it felonious to gather people through social media - you know - FB, Twitter, et al, if during the gathering a crime were committed. So, if Occupy Oregon happened, and I summoned people to a place and time to protest and a crime - that crime being civil disobediance -were committed, I could be held responsible. That's fascist crap.
According to Wikipedia: The earliest recorded incidents of collective civil disobedience took place during the Roman empire. Unarmed Jews gathered in the streets to prevent the installation of pagan images in the Temple in Jerusalem. Some modern day examples of civil disobediance may include: trespassing at a nuclear-missile installation, bringing medicine to Iraq without permission of the government, sitting in a tree to prevent it from being chopped down, gathering at sit-ins to protest Monsanto's alteration of life. By summoning friends to aprticipate in these events, I could be arrested and jailed in Oregon. I thoug republican wanted smaller government with less interference in in Americans' personal lives - oh wait - corporations don't want to be Occupied. Enter big brother to save the day - even in a progressive state like Oregon. What a perfect place to start - if they can pass it there, they can pass it in every state - then they will ask homeland security to monitor every tweet and posting so they can protect the interests of their contributors - the human corporations.
I hope the good people of oregon fight this and get rid of these crooked politicians, drugged by the money they recieve and replace them with people who believe capitalism should have a conscience.
Of course, to get around their stupid law, should it pass, one would simply invite the masses to gather one at a time.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
This is the state I always held up as an example of individual rights and freedom without excessive and unwarranted government intervention. No longer - the state that has the hutspah to ban styrofoam has the inane wherewithall to consider a bill that would make it felonious to gather people through social media - you know - FB, Twitter, et al, if during the gathering a crime were committed. So, if Occupy Oregon happened, and I summoned people to a place and time to protest and a crime - that crime being civil disobediance -were committed, I could be held responsible. That's fascist crap.
According to Wikipedia: The earliest recorded incidents of collective civil disobedience took place during the Roman empire. Unarmed Jews gathered in the streets to prevent the installation of pagan images in the Temple in Jerusalem. Some modern day examples of civil disobediance may include: trespassing at a nuclear-missile installation, bringing medicine to Iraq without permission of the government, sitting in a tree to prevent it from being chopped down, gathering at sit-ins to protest Monsanto's alteration of life. By summoning friends to aprticipate in these events, I could be arrested and jailed in Oregon. I thoug republican wanted smaller government with less interference in in Americans' personal lives - oh wait - corporations don't want to be Occupied. Enter big brother to save the day - even in a progressive state like Oregon. What a perfect place to start - if they can pass it there, they can pass it in every state - then they will ask homeland security to monitor every tweet and posting so they can protect the interests of their contributors - the human corporations.
I hope the good people of oregon fight this and get rid of these crooked politicians, drugged by the money they recieve and replace them with people who believe capitalism should have a conscience.
Of course, to get around their stupid law, should it pass, one would simply invite the masses to gather one at a time.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Class Warfare
While watching the repulican cage fighting, I can't help but feel a sense of desperation across the board as the rhetoric ratchets up and the mud slinging and name calling continues. Was feeling relieved that my brother is in Florida, while I sit quietly in Arizona. Then our governor seemed to miss having the cameras flashing in her direction and stiuck her finger in the face of the leader of the free world. It doesn't matter what party the President belongs to or if local political yocals don't agree with his or her politics, it is still the most respected political seat in the world. I saw the cartoons go up immediately - one with Governor Brewer protrayed as the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of OZ and another with her illiterate quote explaining her reason for the finger. It seems as though people everywhere are clamouring for their 15 seconds of fame - it used to be 15 minutes, but that was before the internet. This blog is already old news - just thought the topic worthy of mentioning.
Then this guy who claims to represent the enitre republican party - Priebus - compares the President of the United States to the captain of the recently sunk Italian cruise ship. I think you have the right to disagree about pretty near any topic with someone without calling them names - to me that's the class warfare - people who have to revert to name calling to win the favor of others completely lacks class. America is suffering from a lack of class. I remember people talking about actors, sports figures, politicians, co-workers, neighbors and friends as "a class act" or somebody who "had a lot of class." You don't hear that much anymore. So, here's the challege in the future, America - instead of out-mouthing one another with epithets, let's try to out-class each other. Wouldn't that be something? A country where people were proud of their government and their politicians, where trustworthiness and honesty were the words used to describe candidates? When candidates make a claim about another, they should have to state where they got their information from. The same should hold true for all of those phony ads run by super-pacs. Americans should be allowed to know who paid for them and from what source they got their information. There have been enough political careers launched from lies - it's time Americans' votes were fact based. Let's put an end to class warfare and clean up our act America - and let's start at home.
That's all for now . . .
Then this guy who claims to represent the enitre republican party - Priebus - compares the President of the United States to the captain of the recently sunk Italian cruise ship. I think you have the right to disagree about pretty near any topic with someone without calling them names - to me that's the class warfare - people who have to revert to name calling to win the favor of others completely lacks class. America is suffering from a lack of class. I remember people talking about actors, sports figures, politicians, co-workers, neighbors and friends as "a class act" or somebody who "had a lot of class." You don't hear that much anymore. So, here's the challege in the future, America - instead of out-mouthing one another with epithets, let's try to out-class each other. Wouldn't that be something? A country where people were proud of their government and their politicians, where trustworthiness and honesty were the words used to describe candidates? When candidates make a claim about another, they should have to state where they got their information from. The same should hold true for all of those phony ads run by super-pacs. Americans should be allowed to know who paid for them and from what source they got their information. There have been enough political careers launched from lies - it's time Americans' votes were fact based. Let's put an end to class warfare and clean up our act America - and let's start at home.
That's all for now . . .
Thursday, January 5, 2012
New Song
Have a close friend who went through a messy divorce. Listening to his stories brought about a couple lines leading to the beginnings of a new song. The lines came to me while driving down the road. Had to keep repeating them so I wouldn't forget them.
Just finished delivering hard copies of the January issue of the Sedona Excentric - this July will make 24 years. It will be uploaded later today - need a break.
So glad the Iowa Caucus is over - what a suspense-filled evening - wait that was a rerun of Monk. I understand people are not pleased with the lack of progress to improve the middle class status in America, but i just can't find it in my head or heart to blame President Obama for it all. I think he would be hailed if just one crooked banker were indicted.
Amazingly, hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent in the coming months on political contests. I thought there wasn't any money. Apparently, there are hundreds of millions of dollars to toss at politicians to buy their favor. If corporations have that kind of money to buy politicians, maybe they have more to buy jobs.
I firmly believe corporate raiders are secretly hoping Obama wins, because a republican win would fuel the fire that is Occupy Wall Street. Speaking of OCW, perhaps it is time for them to come to agreeance on what goal they would ultimately like to achieve. Here's hoping spring comes soon, bringing warmer weather and fresh bodies.
Ho'oponopono
That's all for now . . .
Just finished delivering hard copies of the January issue of the Sedona Excentric - this July will make 24 years. It will be uploaded later today - need a break.
So glad the Iowa Caucus is over - what a suspense-filled evening - wait that was a rerun of Monk. I understand people are not pleased with the lack of progress to improve the middle class status in America, but i just can't find it in my head or heart to blame President Obama for it all. I think he would be hailed if just one crooked banker were indicted.
Amazingly, hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent in the coming months on political contests. I thought there wasn't any money. Apparently, there are hundreds of millions of dollars to toss at politicians to buy their favor. If corporations have that kind of money to buy politicians, maybe they have more to buy jobs.
I firmly believe corporate raiders are secretly hoping Obama wins, because a republican win would fuel the fire that is Occupy Wall Street. Speaking of OCW, perhaps it is time for them to come to agreeance on what goal they would ultimately like to achieve. Here's hoping spring comes soon, bringing warmer weather and fresh bodies.
Ho'oponopono
That's all for now . . .
Monday, January 2, 2012
Music for Social Change
Well, it seems Cee Lo Green decided to change a line in John Lennon's "Imagine" as a New Year's tribute.
The "nothing to kill or die for / and no religion, too" became "nothing to kill or die for / and all religions true."
Unfortunately, as well meaning as Mr. Green was, he missed the sentiment of the line. More deaths have been caused in the name of religion than for any other reason, cause or gain. The impact of the words from "Imagine" asks everyone to do just that - imagine. Imagine there was one less reason to kill or die for - religion - not imagine religions being true to their followers and continuing the hatred and prejudice being perpetuated in churches, cathedrals, mosques, synagogues, chapels and any other place people gather to convince each other that their belief system is the one, "true" belief system favored by God. I believe John Lennon, a man I deeply admire, was, in a very artistic way, asking us to look deeper within and question whether any belief system would ask you to take the life of another. Clearly, if your religion does indeed promote violence, it would serve the universe well for you to Imagine there was "nothing to kill or die for / and no religion, too."
Peace
Ho'oponopono
That's all for now . . .
The "nothing to kill or die for / and no religion, too" became "nothing to kill or die for / and all religions true."
Unfortunately, as well meaning as Mr. Green was, he missed the sentiment of the line. More deaths have been caused in the name of religion than for any other reason, cause or gain. The impact of the words from "Imagine" asks everyone to do just that - imagine. Imagine there was one less reason to kill or die for - religion - not imagine religions being true to their followers and continuing the hatred and prejudice being perpetuated in churches, cathedrals, mosques, synagogues, chapels and any other place people gather to convince each other that their belief system is the one, "true" belief system favored by God. I believe John Lennon, a man I deeply admire, was, in a very artistic way, asking us to look deeper within and question whether any belief system would ask you to take the life of another. Clearly, if your religion does indeed promote violence, it would serve the universe well for you to Imagine there was "nothing to kill or die for / and no religion, too."
Peace
Ho'oponopono
That's all for now . . .
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