You know what I don't understand? I don't understand what seems to an utter lack of regard for human life in this day and age. Just from today's news, I have four examples of what I mean.
Home Invasion Mastermind Found Guilty
Custody Battle May Have Led To Shooting Rampage
Body Of 6 Week Old Infant Found In Woods
Body Found At Waste Facility
Now that you have read these articles, dear readers, and are sufficiently disgusted, do you see my point? I realize that humans have killed each other since the beginning of time, but am I alone in thinking that the crimes are more frequent and more horrific than in the past? Do we no longer have respect for the gift of life? It almost seems like our species has become desensitized to violence and death. It as if murder has been glamorized, and the killers try to be as cruel as possible.
How did we get here, ladies and gentlemen? What has happened to our society? What has happened to us as human beings? As for me, I feel that the continued focus of so many people on themselves, and themselves only, with no regard to others or others' feelings. What do you think, friends?
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Before You Pass Judgement........................
Pray don't find fault with the man that limps or stumbles along the road unless you have worn the shoes he wears or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt though hidden from away from view or the burden he bears, placed on his back, might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who is down today unless you have felt the blow that caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know.
You may be strong but still the blows that were his if dealt to you in the selfsame way at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too!
Don't be too harsh with the man that sins or pelt him with word or stone unless you are sure--yea, doubly sure--that you have no sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you as it did to him when he went astray it might cause you to falter too.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt though hidden from away from view or the burden he bears, placed on his back, might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who is down today unless you have felt the blow that caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know.
You may be strong but still the blows that were his if dealt to you in the selfsame way at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too!
Don't be too harsh with the man that sins or pelt him with word or stone unless you are sure--yea, doubly sure--that you have no sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you as it did to him when he went astray it might cause you to falter too.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Is Scott Brown A Male Chauvinist?
The latest kerfuffle emerging from the highly entertaining 2012 election year involves a spat between incumbent Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Democratic frontrunner Elizabeth Warren. In 1982, Sen. Brown posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine and used the proceeds to help pay for his education. During a recent debate among the Democratic contenders to face Brown in November, a question was asked regarding how the potential challengers paid for their education in light of Brown baring all 29 years ago. Much to the delight of the crowd, Ms. Warren responded that she "kept her clothes on". After hearing of Warren's remark, Brown later retored, "Thank God."
Brown and Warren Spar Over Nude Photo Shoot
Was Sen. Brown's comment in bad taste? Certainly so. Is he a male chauvinist? I find that highly unlikely. To me, this was an off the cuff quip that most likely does not reflect any sexist attitudes on Brown's behalf. (For the record, I have no issue with his posing nude either.)
However, I think this speaks to a deeper issue. Why in 21st Century America are we still basing our opinions and forming judgements of women based on their appearance? There is an old saying that basically says that men will listen to other men and then decide if they like what they hear, but men will look at a woman and decide if they like what they see before paying any attention at all to what she says. I can't tell you how many times my criticism of Sarah Palin has been greeted with "Yeah, but she's hot" from my male readers. Are we to base our opinions of Ms. Palin, or any other female in the public eye, on her sex appeal? Have we not progressed beyond this type of Neanderthal thinking?
The fact of the matter is this, friends and frenemies. Women are equal members of our society from the boardroom to the hallowed chambers of government to Wall Street to Main Street. They deserve respect, dignity, appreciation, and equal opportunity. What they do not deserve is to be judged in any way on their physical attributes.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Brown and Warren Spar Over Nude Photo Shoot
Was Sen. Brown's comment in bad taste? Certainly so. Is he a male chauvinist? I find that highly unlikely. To me, this was an off the cuff quip that most likely does not reflect any sexist attitudes on Brown's behalf. (For the record, I have no issue with his posing nude either.)
However, I think this speaks to a deeper issue. Why in 21st Century America are we still basing our opinions and forming judgements of women based on their appearance? There is an old saying that basically says that men will listen to other men and then decide if they like what they hear, but men will look at a woman and decide if they like what they see before paying any attention at all to what she says. I can't tell you how many times my criticism of Sarah Palin has been greeted with "Yeah, but she's hot" from my male readers. Are we to base our opinions of Ms. Palin, or any other female in the public eye, on her sex appeal? Have we not progressed beyond this type of Neanderthal thinking?
The fact of the matter is this, friends and frenemies. Women are equal members of our society from the boardroom to the hallowed chambers of government to Wall Street to Main Street. They deserve respect, dignity, appreciation, and equal opportunity. What they do not deserve is to be judged in any way on their physical attributes.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Twatwaffles Of The Week
And away we go.............................
First, my friends, we have a Dicknozzle Of Douchebaggery: The suits that control the New York Yankees who recently suspended long time (35 years) beer vendor (yes, you read that correctly BEER VENDOR), Steve Lazarus for engaging in some playful banter with Boston Red Sox, and former Yankee, pitcher, Alfredo Aceves. Lazarus was accused of "harassing" Aceves and was escorted from Yankee Stadium as if he had engaged in criminal activity.
New York Yankee Beer Vendor Punished For Joking With Red Sox Pitcher
Folks, I love the Yankees, and I HATE the Red Sox. I understand this is one of the greatest, most heated rivalries in professional sports; but for the love of Pete, they punished a beer vendor for cracking a joke with an opposing player, who I should note played along with the joke like a good sport. Unbelievable.
Number Five: Former Vice-President Dick Cheney who recently said that the Obama administration owed the Bush administration "an apology" for their criticism of the Bush administration for their conduct after 9/11.
Cheney Says Obama Owes Bush Administration An Apology
How about this, Mr. Vice-President? Those of us, myself included, who routinely criticised you and President Bush will apologize to you as soon as you apologize for trampling the Constitution, ignoring civil rights, and invading the wrong country. Fair enough?
Number Four: An unidentified 16 year old Ohio high school football player who is alleged to have placed a tack in his glove and subsequently punctured the hands of 27 opposing players during the traditional post game handshake. The victims all received tetanus shots after the incident.
Football Player Pricks The Hands Of Opposing Players
Dear readers, this has to be one of the most disturbing acts of an individual "athlete" that I have seen in years. Not only did the offending player not even play in the game, but the fact that his act also tarnished the cherished tradition of showing sportsmanship and appreciation to your opponents after a game only makes it that much more repulsive.
Number Three: Dr. Robert Jeffress, the pastor of a Dallas megachurch, who showed the religious tolerance that the Christian Right in this country is so well known for when he stated that Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is in a "cult" while endorsing Texas Governor Rick Perry's run for the Republican presidential nomination. In his defense, Perry did say that he doesn't believe that Romney is a cultist; but since Jeffress has made this statement before, I don't see how Perry could have been surprised.
Pastor Who Endorsed Perry Say Romney Is In A Cult
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have studied quite a bit of Constitutional Law at the university level, and I have yet to find the part that requires the president to be a Christian. What I did find, however, was the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom in the nation. While the same amendment protects Jeffress' statement, and while I will defend his right to say it to my dying breath; comments like his only go to inflame the religious bigotry and intolerance shown by the Christian Right in America. It is counterproductive and intolerant. This country was founded on the right to religious freedom, and the religious right must not be allowed to erode this fundamental right of every citizen.
Number Two: In another example of religious bigotry, a Southwest airlines crew who removed Irum Abbasi, a Muslim woman, from a flight to San Jose when a crew member thought she said "It is a go" into her cell phone. She actually said, "I've got to go." As if this weren't bad enough, after the TSA cleared Abbasi to fly, Southwest would not let her reboard the flight because a crew member was "uncomfortable" having her on the plane. Perhaps a better solution would have been to leave the uncomfortable crew member behind.
Muslim Woman Removed From Flight Sues Southwest Airlines
Lest we forget that Southwest also removed film director Kevin Smith from a flight for being "too fat" and Green Day frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, because his pants were "saggy". But, hey, they don't charge bag fees!!!! Seriously, folks, do we really think anyone who wasn't wearing traditional Islamic clothing would have been treated this way for such an innocuous incident? I think not. I understand that Muslim extremists (key word) were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. I also understand that mainstream Muslims were not. It is too bad that Southwest doesn't understand this as well.
Number One: Duewa Lee , 35, of Sacramento, CA, who has been charged with ten counts of endangering the life or health of a child, and one count of torture for allegedly beating her 12 year old step-daughter as well as burning her with an iron and using a stapler on her ears.
Woman Accused Of Torturing 12 Year Old Girl
I say it week in and week out folks. I don't make this stuff up. I just report it.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
First, my friends, we have a Dicknozzle Of Douchebaggery: The suits that control the New York Yankees who recently suspended long time (35 years) beer vendor (yes, you read that correctly BEER VENDOR), Steve Lazarus for engaging in some playful banter with Boston Red Sox, and former Yankee, pitcher, Alfredo Aceves. Lazarus was accused of "harassing" Aceves and was escorted from Yankee Stadium as if he had engaged in criminal activity.
New York Yankee Beer Vendor Punished For Joking With Red Sox Pitcher
Folks, I love the Yankees, and I HATE the Red Sox. I understand this is one of the greatest, most heated rivalries in professional sports; but for the love of Pete, they punished a beer vendor for cracking a joke with an opposing player, who I should note played along with the joke like a good sport. Unbelievable.
Number Five: Former Vice-President Dick Cheney who recently said that the Obama administration owed the Bush administration "an apology" for their criticism of the Bush administration for their conduct after 9/11.
Cheney Says Obama Owes Bush Administration An Apology
How about this, Mr. Vice-President? Those of us, myself included, who routinely criticised you and President Bush will apologize to you as soon as you apologize for trampling the Constitution, ignoring civil rights, and invading the wrong country. Fair enough?
Number Four: An unidentified 16 year old Ohio high school football player who is alleged to have placed a tack in his glove and subsequently punctured the hands of 27 opposing players during the traditional post game handshake. The victims all received tetanus shots after the incident.
Football Player Pricks The Hands Of Opposing Players
Dear readers, this has to be one of the most disturbing acts of an individual "athlete" that I have seen in years. Not only did the offending player not even play in the game, but the fact that his act also tarnished the cherished tradition of showing sportsmanship and appreciation to your opponents after a game only makes it that much more repulsive.
Number Three: Dr. Robert Jeffress, the pastor of a Dallas megachurch, who showed the religious tolerance that the Christian Right in this country is so well known for when he stated that Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is in a "cult" while endorsing Texas Governor Rick Perry's run for the Republican presidential nomination. In his defense, Perry did say that he doesn't believe that Romney is a cultist; but since Jeffress has made this statement before, I don't see how Perry could have been surprised.
Pastor Who Endorsed Perry Say Romney Is In A Cult
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have studied quite a bit of Constitutional Law at the university level, and I have yet to find the part that requires the president to be a Christian. What I did find, however, was the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom in the nation. While the same amendment protects Jeffress' statement, and while I will defend his right to say it to my dying breath; comments like his only go to inflame the religious bigotry and intolerance shown by the Christian Right in America. It is counterproductive and intolerant. This country was founded on the right to religious freedom, and the religious right must not be allowed to erode this fundamental right of every citizen.
Number Two: In another example of religious bigotry, a Southwest airlines crew who removed Irum Abbasi, a Muslim woman, from a flight to San Jose when a crew member thought she said "It is a go" into her cell phone. She actually said, "I've got to go." As if this weren't bad enough, after the TSA cleared Abbasi to fly, Southwest would not let her reboard the flight because a crew member was "uncomfortable" having her on the plane. Perhaps a better solution would have been to leave the uncomfortable crew member behind.
Muslim Woman Removed From Flight Sues Southwest Airlines
Lest we forget that Southwest also removed film director Kevin Smith from a flight for being "too fat" and Green Day frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, because his pants were "saggy". But, hey, they don't charge bag fees!!!! Seriously, folks, do we really think anyone who wasn't wearing traditional Islamic clothing would have been treated this way for such an innocuous incident? I think not. I understand that Muslim extremists (key word) were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. I also understand that mainstream Muslims were not. It is too bad that Southwest doesn't understand this as well.
Number One: Duewa Lee , 35, of Sacramento, CA, who has been charged with ten counts of endangering the life or health of a child, and one count of torture for allegedly beating her 12 year old step-daughter as well as burning her with an iron and using a stapler on her ears.
Woman Accused Of Torturing 12 Year Old Girl
I say it week in and week out folks. I don't make this stuff up. I just report it.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Death Of An Icon
Let me see if I have this straight. Steve Jobs, may he rest in peace, created overpriced toys for adults who have a cornucopia of everything, and his untimely death is greeted by banner headlines, breaking news updates, a massive amount of media attention, social media websites filled with expressions of grief, and mourning usually set aside for an elder statesman or revered religious leader.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fred J. Shuttlesworth, a civil rights icon, who was bombed, beaten, repeatedly arrested, and hailed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., passed away Wednesday, and his death barely registers a blip in the media, on the Internet, or in the blogospere.
Rev. Shuttlesworth Biography
What does that say about who we in America consider to be heroes? What does this say about our priorities in this country? While I agree that Mr. Jobs was a brilliant, innovated, upstanding, and passionate man; does he warrant more accolades than a man who put his life on the line on a day to day, hour to hour, basis to fight for African American equality? I think not, and I think it speaks volumes about how shallow, historically ignorant, self-centered, and self-absorbed American society really is.
RIP, Rev. Shuttlesworth. You are in a far better place now, and your legacy will live on forever.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fred J. Shuttlesworth, a civil rights icon, who was bombed, beaten, repeatedly arrested, and hailed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., passed away Wednesday, and his death barely registers a blip in the media, on the Internet, or in the blogospere.
Rev. Shuttlesworth Biography
What does that say about who we in America consider to be heroes? What does this say about our priorities in this country? While I agree that Mr. Jobs was a brilliant, innovated, upstanding, and passionate man; does he warrant more accolades than a man who put his life on the line on a day to day, hour to hour, basis to fight for African American equality? I think not, and I think it speaks volumes about how shallow, historically ignorant, self-centered, and self-absorbed American society really is.
RIP, Rev. Shuttlesworth. You are in a far better place now, and your legacy will live on forever.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Seven Simple Truths
Seven rules to help you stay positive:
Rule #1
Wait to worry - only 8% of what we worry about ever comes
true
Rule #2
Keep an attitude of gratitude - count your blessings and jot
them down.
Rule #3
Your health is your wealth - if you lose your health, you
lose everything. Exercise, get enough sleep and eat healthier.
Rule #4
Joy boomerangs - do something for someone else; the good you
do boomerangs back to you.
Rule #5
Learn to say "no" - we have limits to our time,
interests and energy.
Rule #6
Understand the power of discipline - hold yourself
responsible for higher standards.
Rule #7
Surround yourself with positive people - find people who
will challenge you, believe in you and inspire you.
Attitudes are contagious - is yours worth catching?
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Does The Calendar Control What You Wear?
You know what I don't understand? I don't understand why, on a gorgeous, sunny 75F (24C) day in West Lafayette, IN, I observed people wearing jackets and sweaters. Mind you, this was in the middle of the afternoon when it was wonderfully warm and sunny. Why in heaven's name would someone wear a jacket and/or sweater? Is it because the calendar says "October"? The thermometer still says 75F (24C).
I just don't get that. Is 75F (24C) cooler in October than in June because I will be you good money that these same people would have been wearing shorts and T-shirts if this were spring instead of fall? Of course, I've seen people wear sweatshirts inside a 70F (22C) office because it is cold outside. It is cold outside, but it is still warm in the office. Why wear a sweatshirt inside in the winter when you wear a short sleeve shirt in the same office in the summer? I've yet to see anyone freeze to death during their five minute walk from the car to the building. Humans truly are odd creatures, aren't they?
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
I just don't get that. Is 75F (24C) cooler in October than in June because I will be you good money that these same people would have been wearing shorts and T-shirts if this were spring instead of fall? Of course, I've seen people wear sweatshirts inside a 70F (22C) office because it is cold outside. It is cold outside, but it is still warm in the office. Why wear a sweatshirt inside in the winter when you wear a short sleeve shirt in the same office in the summer? I've yet to see anyone freeze to death during their five minute walk from the car to the building. Humans truly are odd creatures, aren't they?
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
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