Friday, January 27, 2012

Who exactly are Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and the great Barack Obama?

I'veRon  heard all kinds of talk in regards to the presidential hopefuls and a lot of it is black and white ignorant b.s.
Barry O shouldn't be re-elected because he's done a horrible job and done everything wrong. Every single thing. He hates the military, he hates people who work and wants us all to be lazy and Muslim like he is!
Newt-y Gingrich, old Newty old pal, wouldn't make a good president because he's a womanizer and a liar. He could care less about becoming president and is just feeding his already over-inflated ego.
Mitt Romney -- aka R-Money aka Ron Mexico -- wouldn't make a good president because he's Mormon and would, upon taking oath of office, require everyone to become a Mormon. Yikes! That's scary because I don't even know what that means! Frightening!
Rick Santorum -- aka The Sanitarium Slinger -- wouldn't be a good prez because he hates women, non-whites, gays and sex in general and would make us all become abstinent. We will all eventually go crazy with sex-madness and blow up the world in a fit of rage ... well no one really said this, but I wouldn't be surprised. (This is how rumors start).
Ron Paul -- aka Dr. No (also see Dr. Veto) -- wouldn't make a good president because he's a complete looney nut-job and hates the government. His economic policies are outrageous ... (interesting people are always talking about Ron Paul's big ideas and how fabulous they are but don't seem to know specifically what these "ideas" involve). Anyway, if his middle name started with an I, then his nickname could be RIP, which is totally gangster. RIP gonna click click click to your dome beeatch! Respect and vote!
What morons we are. We sit in our living rooms like sheep, listening to every word that comes out of the mouths of these men and eat it up like chocolate candy. Mmm mmm good! Me want more! We watch TV news and believe every word. We fall in line. But, then again, who are we supposed to trust?
I figure, we need to pick the lesser of evils because no one, especially these men, is perfect. No one has all the answers. I feel like everyone should know this but, obviously, this isn't the case.
But I wonder ... why do they want to be president? Because they can do a good job and turn America around or for selfish reasons like feeding their ego? Oh, Mr. President, your limo is here. Oh Mr. President, please excuse me while I kiss your great big ass. Pucker up buttercup! Of course their intentions aren't purely one thing but a bit of this and that like a crock pot dish with a bulk of something -- i.e. I am feeling kinda questionable about being president but, overall, I want to save the country (saving the country is the pork shoulder of this crock pot goodness).
Who are these men? What do they want from us? You could listen to every speech, hang on to every word. You could listen to every interview, snicker at each joke, sigh at each emotional moment, but is this really them or contrived b.s. by a dedicated speech writer?

Too many Republican presidential debates ... Gingrich, Romney, Paul, Santorum Meet Word Quota

How many Republican presidential debates have there been so far this go-around? 10? 20? Recently, it feels like there are debates a few times a week with the media hanging on to every word, Tweeting and publishing everything these clowns spit out! What is left to discuss? Haven't the presidential hopefuls had enough chance to share their "wisdom" and plans for the future of America?
The first debate was hosted by FOX News (shocker) and held May 5, 2011 in Greenville, S.C. Now, eight months later, there have been 19 prominent debates. Nineteen with a few planned for the next couple months! I'm not counting interviews on various news channels and lesser prominent speaking engagements because they are not debates. I am strictly talking nationally-televised debates. What in the world is going on? Again, what is left to debate about?
Who even watches these things? I sure as hell don't. For those who do, for those who wonder why I don't, this is why -- talk is cheap. And this ain't no loose liberal I-love-Barry-O rant because I don't listen to his speeches either. Talk is cheap, plain and simple. Anybody can become an eloquent and persuasive speaker (cough cough, Barack Obama, cough cough). Think about your day-to-day routine. How much b.s. do you throw around to coworkers, strangers, family, friends? Duh.
These men have speech writers, they have countless individuals coaching them on what to say, how to react ... shit, they even teach them how to smile.
Ok. Big smile now! Let me see those pearly whites. Ok, not a clownish smile, more like a friendly smile. Like I-love-everyone smile but not like a stoner, like ...
Why are there so many debates? Is this more than in years past or has it been shoved down our throats more violently? Oh no, a Democrat is in office! Republicans unite! It's a shame this happens every term when a Democrat is elected and this is all they could come up with.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Racism & Social Media: Is the Facebook & Twitter Revolution Making Us Jerks?

The Internet has been a safe haven to voice opinions -- controversial or not -- for years. You can somewhat anonymously broadcast your views from the comfort of your home on anything -- from your opinion of U.S. President Barry O to the bizarre name Jay-Z and Beyonce chose for their baby girl (which sounds like an endangered plant life found in the Amazon jungle). No face-to-face confrontation, just type it in, hit send and fuggedaboutit. Yeah, with today's technology a computer nerd can quickly sniff your ass out but it's highly unlikely anyone would go to the trouble unless you're linked to a serious crime -- terrorism, child pornography, murder.
So, you're probably thinking ... uh duh! This isn't a new notion you damn blubbering cynic.
I know. However, it hit home the other day when I signed on to Facebook and noticed an uproar over racism. He said, she said abound ... an old friend's status update cried racism, pinpointing the culprit and asking why on Earth this is still an issue. It's 2012!
Of course being the somewhat catty yet moderately nosy woman I am, I investigated. This is the status update in question:
Martin luther king day!?!? Shit, I say we kill 4 more and take the whole WEEK OFF!!!! lol
First thoughts? That's inappropriate, especially considering with Facebook your views and comments are connected with your "face" so there is no anonymity. I felt an uncomfortable tingling hum throughout my body, specifically my stomach, like I was 8-years-old again and my mom and dad were fighting while I feebly sat and pretended not to hear their harsh insults. Like I was at my local watering hole enjoying an adult beverage and the company of friends when an argument broke out across the room. Confrontation -- in person or on the Internet -- makes me uncomfortable.
The status update did not result in an "lol" from me or from many of the people who commented -- I refrained from doing so. Instead, it started a shit storm of angry rants about race, especially relationships between blacks and whites. People spewed hate, profanity and vicious threats. A few peacemakers chimed in but were quickly tossed aside, one described as a "fake-ass wannabe Ghandi." Pitchforks were out, torches were blazing!
So ... I began to wonder ... is this what people are like or are we hiding behind the shield of Facebook and Twitter -- not necessarily anonymous but safely tucked away from face-to-face confrontation. Typing in insults as quickly as they pop into our minds, hitting send and then regretting it soon after. Maybe human beings aren't made for social media. Maybe the gut feeling we get before making a comment to someone is what stops us from the part of ourselves we try to keep under wraps -- you know the excuse, that's not really what I'm like. The uncomfortable feeling when staring into another person's face, when being physically confronted, saves us from ourselves. Without this fight or flight scenario, we freely dabble in sexting with idiots who forward our dirty birdie photos to everyone in their address book, we text message and post status updates in a joking manner that can easily be taken the wrong way ... yeah, your dirty joke you posted on Facebook was funny, sort of, but did your 70-year-old aunt think it was funny or your mom? Facebook isn't just for the young and the restless anymore.
Let's be honest here folks, a lot of people are uncomfortable with others from a different race. Picture an average white person in a room full of black people or vice versa. This isn't a racist observation, it's a fact. However, for the most part the odd man out, white or black, wouldn't spout hateful comments or confront others as easily as they might online. This goes for all sorts of things, not just race. Twitter and Facebook wars, fights over likes and dislikes, people, movies, music, books, etc.
Of the 200+ comments made to the above mentioned status update concerning the late and great MLK, the one making the most sense came from a black man who wrote, "You would never say that to my face or the face of any black person." The author of the update responded to all the threats and upheaval, saying he was only kidding and those who know him well would know he's not racist. He said it's an old joke -- Doug "The Greaseman" Tracht said it on air in 1985 and got in a lot of trouble -- and he didn't mean killing four other black men.
So, is the culprit racist, is he stupid or both? Is the Facebook & Twitter revolution making us jerks?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Living in a throw away society: How do we start caring?

We are a society of litterers.
People tossing trash out car windows while cruising down the road after making sure no narks are creeping -- anything from sucked dry cans of Budweiser Select (nothing Select about that piss water) to fast food wrappers to full bags of straight-up trash. Just keep on truckin' my friend. No need to worry about who or what it affects because it ain't you so who cares? Out of sight, out of mind.
Raise your hand if you litter. Why do you do it? Too lazy or impatient to find a trash can? Too embarrassed to return home with an empty, grease stained bag from McDonald's because you know it will upset your spouse.
You cheated on your diet again?! How could you? Don't you think I want to eat a Big Mac? Don't you think I want a McFlurry? You gotta be stronger than the food! Show it who's boss!
Maybe you didn't raise your hand. Maybe you don't throw trash out your car window or on the ground as you walk down the street ...
Ooooh, Shelly's out, walking down the street, 10 times a week. I read it. I said it. I stole my momma's credit. I'm cool. I'm hot. Sock me in the stomach three more times.
Do you recycle? Do you throw away items that could be donated to charity or used by others? Do you waste things -- resources like water or gasoline? Are you anti-leftover and throw away uneaten food?
How do we start caring about others? How do we start caring about our footprint on the Earth? We cruise down the road in our over-sized, penis-enlarging SUVs with DVDs blaring while yapping away on our cell phones - meaningless conversations that could wait until we get home or see the person again. We keep lights on in our home when we aren't in the room, we take long showers, we throw leftovers in the trash along with recyclables. From an outsiders view it would look like we don't give a damn, like we are a wasteful society of gluttonous snobs.
I ain't trying to preach like I'm free from sin. No one is, especially not me or you. I watch those ASPCA commercials with Sarah McLachlan and her sad voice like everyone else and get emotional.
I'm a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.
However, instead of dialing up them digits and donating, I turn the channel when I hear her song "Angel" start up because I know nothing good is coming, no siree. I am weary of charities ... Salvation Army, Save the Children, blah blah blah ... wondering where my money will go. I donate clothing and other items to Goodwill to get the tax write off. I ain't no angel. But I wonder. How did we get like this?
We litter and we live inward in a throw away, don't-care-about-others society. Yeah, I donate to the American Diabetes Association but it's because I have a family member with diabetes and the donations I fork over are pretty sporadic and only when they ask for moolah. Maybe it's because there are so many places to donate, so many causes to support -- we can't dedicate ourselves to them all. But I can't help but believe people who donate or helps others don't do it out of the goodness and kindness in their 3-sizes too big hearts. This ain't Dr. Seuss with happy endings and weird looking creatures spouting rhymes. People do kind things so they can tell others about it and gloat. They want people to notice, they want to post it on Facebook and Twitter. They want people to think, "Wow. Joe Schmo sure is swell!" How many people do you know who do kind things and take no credit? Those type of people are unique.
When you hear about unfortunate things happening to others -- accidents, sickness -- what's your first thought? You're thankful it's not you. It's all related -- littering, wasting resources, not caring about others -- but why do we do it? The way we were raised? Changing of the times, culture and morals? Is it only going to get worse?