I haven't posted a blog in some time. I had twin boys in October and turns out it'll take up most, if not all, of your time. I changed so much over the past five months yet here I sit still cynical.
As a stay-at-home mom I've spent some quality time in the front of the boob-tube, both night and day, and let me tell you, there's a lot of crap on there. Now, I'm no stranger to questionable viewing. I enjoy the likes of "Family Feud" and some shitty movies now and then. However, yesterday I was scanning the menu and noticed "Mrs. Doubtfire" was on. As I was in need of a laugh I clicked OK. Easy humor for a stressful day, sounds good right? Even if my boys have psycho-billy-freakouts, I've seen this movie many times so I'll know what's going on. It was all sunshine and rainbows until the commercials came on and I noticed "Swamp Pawn" followed by an advertisement for "Party Down South." I was confused. What channel was I on? I looked and it said CMT as in Country Music Television. What do these creatures have to do with Country Music?
On "Swamp Pawn" a little person was rubbing lotion on the bald head of an older gentleman. Huh? On "Party Down South," redneck youngsters were living la vida loca a la Jersey Shore. I don't understand how there are people living in the United States today who enjoy shows like these. Maybe they will only have one season but did you know 8.5 million people tuned in to "Duck Dynasty" in January. To make matters worse, this absurd number is down 28% from their season premiere the year before. What is wrong with people?
Think about the amazing television gracing the airwaves and those shows recently airing their series finales. "True Detective," "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife," "Dexter" (although its finale was disappointing) ... do people who watch shows like "Duck Dynasty" or all those Housewives shows watch shows like "True Detective," and, if so, can they tell the difference in quality? I like mindless entertainment like the rest of them but I want to actually be entertained.
Is America getting dumber? Do people like the cast of "Duck Dynasty" or do they think they're stupid and enjoy watching their exploits?
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Filibusters Are Stupid: Politics, Ted Cruz, Wasting Time
The other day I logged onto Facebook and, lo and behold, people were talking politics. Not surprising since social media gives everyone a license to be experts on everything and anything. Subject of the day was Obamacare and Ted Cruz, R-Texas.At a dinner the other week a friend of mine, who heads human resources for a county, explained in detail the Affordable Care Act (which almost everyone refers to as Obamacare) because she had to become an expert on the comprehensive healthcare reform. So, I wouldn't say I'm an expert, like her, but I probably know a lot more than most of America because I became informed instead of watching the latest episode of "Honey Boo Boo."
So, back to Ted Cruz. He is being described as a "folk hero" for rightwingers since he took it upon himself to deliver a 21-hour talkathon, discussing everything from his love for White Castle hamburgers to "Star Wars." Cruz wanted to prevent Senators from opening debate on a House-passed bill to keep the government open past Monday and to strip out a provision in that bill that would defund Obamacare.
It's not likely this will happen yet he is still being praised, especially by the Tea Party. It's interesting he targeted Republicans as much as the Democrats in his 21-hour babblethon.
You know, I could go on about Republicans, the Tea Party, Democrats, Obamacare or Ted Cruz. Especially Cruz's politics as he is anti-gay, pro-life and pro-gun because he isn't just pro-gun, he's a gun fanatic. This past March, an announcement was made by Cruz and U.S. Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee threatening to filibuster any legislation that entails gun control. Filibuster.
Why on earth are filibusters allowed? Twenty-one hour talkathons? Being lauded for babbling on about your love for tiny burgers? How pathetic. America the beautiful is in shambles. We are out of money, yet still trying to solve world problems. There are so many concerns in America today yet the people we elect can't play nice so they waste time and can't compromise? How pathetic. How can anything be solved? Did we elect children or adults?
So, back to Ted Cruz. He is being described as a "folk hero" for rightwingers since he took it upon himself to deliver a 21-hour talkathon, discussing everything from his love for White Castle hamburgers to "Star Wars." Cruz wanted to prevent Senators from opening debate on a House-passed bill to keep the government open past Monday and to strip out a provision in that bill that would defund Obamacare.
It's not likely this will happen yet he is still being praised, especially by the Tea Party. It's interesting he targeted Republicans as much as the Democrats in his 21-hour babblethon.
You know, I could go on about Republicans, the Tea Party, Democrats, Obamacare or Ted Cruz. Especially Cruz's politics as he is anti-gay, pro-life and pro-gun because he isn't just pro-gun, he's a gun fanatic. This past March, an announcement was made by Cruz and U.S. Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee threatening to filibuster any legislation that entails gun control. Filibuster.
Why on earth are filibusters allowed? Twenty-one hour talkathons? Being lauded for babbling on about your love for tiny burgers? How pathetic. America the beautiful is in shambles. We are out of money, yet still trying to solve world problems. There are so many concerns in America today yet the people we elect can't play nice so they waste time and can't compromise? How pathetic. How can anything be solved? Did we elect children or adults?
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Jaden Smith: Open Mouth, Insert Foot
As an adult, I typically look to actors and actresses to please me as they are monkeys for my enjoyment. Perform well in your TV show or movie, make me forget about life for a while and, for actresses, show me some fashion. Aside from that, I don't think of them as real people. As for the teenage/young adult actors/actresses, they don't hit my radar -- twerking, yolo, swag ... I have no idea what any of this means.
Now, I didn't always feel this way. As an impressionable teenager and young adult, I definitely looked to celebrities for more. However, especially in today's age, with Beliebers and all sorts of morons, it's a slippery slope. There's Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where celebrities can connect with their young fans, which is dangerous if said celebrity is a moron -- all technology I was without when growing up.
This is why I was disappointed with Jaden Smith's recent wisdom on education (because we all want to know what he thinks about education in America ... ) -- although, I'm not surprised. Jaden tweeted to his more than 4.5 million followers, “School Is The Tool To Brainwash The Youth” and “If Newborn Babies Could Speak They Would Be The Most Intelligent Beings On Planet Earth.” Earlier, he Tweeted, "If Everybody In The World Dropped Out Of School We Would Have A Much More Intelligent Society."
Hmm ... this is stupid, especially since he and his look-a-like sister, Willow, are home-schooled after leaving a school funded by their parents (it closed in June because of lack of funding) that used a teaching method developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Cue the Twilight Zone music.
Is anyone surprised he's a good friend of super-baby Justin Bieber and is dating a Jenner/Kardashian? Also his movie career is a little ... well ... pathetic. He made his debut in "The Pursuit of Happyness" (produced by, narrated by and featuring his dad, Will Smith), followed by a remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still," remake of "The Karate Kid" (produced by his father), "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," and "After Earth" (produced by his parents, story by his dad and featuring his dad). He was also in a sitcom, "All Of Us" (created by his parents) and an episode of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." He's also danced on a couple music videos (including his sister's "I Whip My Hair Back and Forth" aka Yuck) and put out some singles because he's apparently a rapper. He's best known as being Will and Jada's kid.
Can you say silver spoon?
What would happen if the reality TV wannabes flooding the teenage population of the U.S. listened to this moron and dropped out of school? Would their millionaire celebrity parents swoop in and save the day, putting them in a movie and paying for them to put out a crap rap album? Oh wait ... the majority of these kids aren't rich. Their parents aren't celebrities. If they drop out of school, they will hardly have any job opportunities.
Hmm, Jaden. What would your god L. Ron Hubbard think of that? Way to go Jada and Will Smith, you've raised someone who contributes nothing to society.
You could argue he's 15 and no one cares what a 15-year-old says but, with a audience of 4.5 million people, we should be afraid for the future of society.
You could argue he's lashing out against government funded schools. Well, guess what folks! The majority of American youth have to attend these schools because their parents can't afford to send them to private school or, in the Smith case, fund a school just for them. Does Jaden have a concept of what it's like to be a normal human being? He's never been to a normal school. His life is a fairytale.
Also, he and his family are Scientologists so ... yeah ...
Now, I didn't always feel this way. As an impressionable teenager and young adult, I definitely looked to celebrities for more. However, especially in today's age, with Beliebers and all sorts of morons, it's a slippery slope. There's Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where celebrities can connect with their young fans, which is dangerous if said celebrity is a moron -- all technology I was without when growing up.
This is why I was disappointed with Jaden Smith's recent wisdom on education (because we all want to know what he thinks about education in America ... ) -- although, I'm not surprised. Jaden tweeted to his more than 4.5 million followers, “School Is The Tool To Brainwash The Youth” and “If Newborn Babies Could Speak They Would Be The Most Intelligent Beings On Planet Earth.” Earlier, he Tweeted, "If Everybody In The World Dropped Out Of School We Would Have A Much More Intelligent Society."
Hmm ... this is stupid, especially since he and his look-a-like sister, Willow, are home-schooled after leaving a school funded by their parents (it closed in June because of lack of funding) that used a teaching method developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Cue the Twilight Zone music.
Is anyone surprised he's a good friend of super-baby Justin Bieber and is dating a Jenner/Kardashian? Also his movie career is a little ... well ... pathetic. He made his debut in "The Pursuit of Happyness" (produced by, narrated by and featuring his dad, Will Smith), followed by a remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still," remake of "The Karate Kid" (produced by his father), "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," and "After Earth" (produced by his parents, story by his dad and featuring his dad). He was also in a sitcom, "All Of Us" (created by his parents) and an episode of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." He's also danced on a couple music videos (including his sister's "I Whip My Hair Back and Forth" aka Yuck) and put out some singles because he's apparently a rapper. He's best known as being Will and Jada's kid.
Can you say silver spoon?
What would happen if the reality TV wannabes flooding the teenage population of the U.S. listened to this moron and dropped out of school? Would their millionaire celebrity parents swoop in and save the day, putting them in a movie and paying for them to put out a crap rap album? Oh wait ... the majority of these kids aren't rich. Their parents aren't celebrities. If they drop out of school, they will hardly have any job opportunities.
Hmm, Jaden. What would your god L. Ron Hubbard think of that? Way to go Jada and Will Smith, you've raised someone who contributes nothing to society.
You could argue he's 15 and no one cares what a 15-year-old says but, with a audience of 4.5 million people, we should be afraid for the future of society.
You could argue he's lashing out against government funded schools. Well, guess what folks! The majority of American youth have to attend these schools because their parents can't afford to send them to private school or, in the Smith case, fund a school just for them. Does Jaden have a concept of what it's like to be a normal human being? He's never been to a normal school. His life is a fairytale.
Also, he and his family are Scientologists so ... yeah ...
Monday, September 9, 2013
50 Shades of Grey: Charlie Hunnam, Dakota Johnson, An Unlikely Story - Is This What Women Fantasize About?
After the media flurry over Charlie Hunnam being cast as Christian Grey in the film adaption of E. L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey," I figured I'd give the book a go -- yes, I know it came out in 2011. Better late than never.
At 269 pages (halfway there), I can see why "Fifty Shades" lovers are upset. I don't see Hunnam as complicated billionaire Christian Grey. Perhaps it's because I've only seen him in "Sons of Anarchy" and "Pacific Rim," but he seems more tough guy than control freak, dominant sex fiend. I don't know who I envision other than a young Christian Bale (his character is reminiscent of Bale's in "American Psycho") but I'll be interested to see if Hunnam can pull it off because he's a cutie.
With that out of the way, why is this book so popular? Is it because it's directed towards women and it includes taboo items our pretty little heads aren't supposed to think about -- like talk of whips, butt plugs, bondage, vaginal fisting, anal sex? We aren't supposed to even know what that stuff is, right? If we read this then we are living on the edge! I ask this because the premise is far from likely, reminding me of a Penthouse letter detailing scenarios which obviously never occurred.
A young woman, Anastasia Steele, is about to graduate college and has never had sex, never masturbated and never gotten drunk -- she's more interested in English literature and drinking like an adult. She is clumsy and unsure of herself, not popular with guys, yet she's beautiful and attracts the attention of a drop-dead gorgeous late-20s billionaire who borders on obsessed. He is a master pianist, can fly a helicopter, uses his money to help combat world hunger, and enjoys good wine and classical music. He's never had a normal relationship with a woman, including what he describes as vanilla sex and the layman describes as sex. He's never even slept next to a woman yet he lets his borders down for her because isn't that what always happens in women's literature -- we have an unattainable man we are able to change. We'll be the one to make him settle down, we'll be the one he opens up to about his difficult childhood. Oh, did I mention he's into S&M? Like really into S&M. Like the old Ludacris song, "Whips, chains, handcuffs ... smack a little booty with my belt." Of course he's gorgeous, has a generous penis and makes her reach orgasm constantly, like rub her nipples and she's shooting off like a rocket to Pleasure Land, like she has her first wet dream because he's unleashed her sexuality. She becomes obsessed with him and is turned on by a glance from her lover.
I find it hard to believe a virgin, so virginal she doesn't masturbate, agrees to become a submissive in an S&M scheme with a man she hardly knows. Oh wait, they have an electric connection and blah blah blah. I find this book to be a predictable romance spiced with S&M taboo-ness. Also, could this be more of a "Twilight" rip off -- young, demure girl who is awkward yet doesn't know she's beautiful and becomes a desirous object to an unattainable, eccentric man. Maybe I should relax and enjoy the ride -- some of the sex scenes have been decent (I don't know how much will make the movie) -- but I can't help but feel E. L. James is laughing at me and women everywhere.
At 269 pages (halfway there), I can see why "Fifty Shades" lovers are upset. I don't see Hunnam as complicated billionaire Christian Grey. Perhaps it's because I've only seen him in "Sons of Anarchy" and "Pacific Rim," but he seems more tough guy than control freak, dominant sex fiend. I don't know who I envision other than a young Christian Bale (his character is reminiscent of Bale's in "American Psycho") but I'll be interested to see if Hunnam can pull it off because he's a cutie.
With that out of the way, why is this book so popular? Is it because it's directed towards women and it includes taboo items our pretty little heads aren't supposed to think about -- like talk of whips, butt plugs, bondage, vaginal fisting, anal sex? We aren't supposed to even know what that stuff is, right? If we read this then we are living on the edge! I ask this because the premise is far from likely, reminding me of a Penthouse letter detailing scenarios which obviously never occurred.
A young woman, Anastasia Steele, is about to graduate college and has never had sex, never masturbated and never gotten drunk -- she's more interested in English literature and drinking like an adult. She is clumsy and unsure of herself, not popular with guys, yet she's beautiful and attracts the attention of a drop-dead gorgeous late-20s billionaire who borders on obsessed. He is a master pianist, can fly a helicopter, uses his money to help combat world hunger, and enjoys good wine and classical music. He's never had a normal relationship with a woman, including what he describes as vanilla sex and the layman describes as sex. He's never even slept next to a woman yet he lets his borders down for her because isn't that what always happens in women's literature -- we have an unattainable man we are able to change. We'll be the one to make him settle down, we'll be the one he opens up to about his difficult childhood. Oh, did I mention he's into S&M? Like really into S&M. Like the old Ludacris song, "Whips, chains, handcuffs ... smack a little booty with my belt." Of course he's gorgeous, has a generous penis and makes her reach orgasm constantly, like rub her nipples and she's shooting off like a rocket to Pleasure Land, like she has her first wet dream because he's unleashed her sexuality. She becomes obsessed with him and is turned on by a glance from her lover.
I find it hard to believe a virgin, so virginal she doesn't masturbate, agrees to become a submissive in an S&M scheme with a man she hardly knows. Oh wait, they have an electric connection and blah blah blah. I find this book to be a predictable romance spiced with S&M taboo-ness. Also, could this be more of a "Twilight" rip off -- young, demure girl who is awkward yet doesn't know she's beautiful and becomes a desirous object to an unattainable, eccentric man. Maybe I should relax and enjoy the ride -- some of the sex scenes have been decent (I don't know how much will make the movie) -- but I can't help but feel E. L. James is laughing at me and women everywhere.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Christopher Lane, Delbert Belton murdered: Race - Why Does America Only Care About Trayvon Martin
Christopher Lane. Have you heard this name? No? What about Delbert "Shorty" Belton? No bells ringing in your head? Nothing on the news?
Christopher Lane, 23, was gunned down by three teens (two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old) in Duncan, Okla. while he was out jogging last week. They shot Lane in the back from a moving vehicle because ... well, as the police chief described it, the teens decided to kill somebody at random. One of the teens said, "We were bored and didn't have anything to do, so we decided to kill somebody." Some media outlets are mentioning a gang initiation but this is only a theory.
It was a "thrill kill" by two black teens and one white teen. One of the black teens Tweeted "With my niggas when it's time to start taken life's" before the murder. He also Tweeted back in April, "90% of white ppl are nasty. #HATE THEM." Their names are James Edwards Jr. (the Tweeter), Chancey Luna and Michael Jones. Have you heard these names? No?
Christopher Lane was a promising baseball player from Australia who was here on a college scholarship. After his murder, former Australian deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer called on Australians to boycott the United States because of our lax gun laws and violence.
But let's not forget about Delbert "Shorty" Belton (too bad you probably don't know who he is in the first place), the 88-year-old World War II veteran who was wounded at Okinawa. He was recently beaten to death outside the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, Wash. -- he had serious injuries to his head. It was a random attack by two black youths between the ages of 16 and 19, according to video surveillance. Belton was waiting outside for a friend because he did not want her to walk home alone.
Knock, knock, anybody home? After Trayvon Martin was killed, you couldn't turn on the TV without hearing about it but now? Where's the outrage? Where's the #justiceforchristopher or #justicefordelbert on Twitter? Anybody? Do we not care because the victims were white and the majority of the perpetrators were black? Would we care if it was black-on-black crime? Would we only care if it was white-on-black crime? Do we not care because the media hasn't told us to care?
It's interesting the Rev. Al Sharpton and President Barack Obama, who were so vocal during the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case, are silent. Don't white people matter?
Christopher Lane, 23, was gunned down by three teens (two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old) in Duncan, Okla. while he was out jogging last week. They shot Lane in the back from a moving vehicle because ... well, as the police chief described it, the teens decided to kill somebody at random. One of the teens said, "We were bored and didn't have anything to do, so we decided to kill somebody." Some media outlets are mentioning a gang initiation but this is only a theory.
It was a "thrill kill" by two black teens and one white teen. One of the black teens Tweeted "With my niggas when it's time to start taken life's" before the murder. He also Tweeted back in April, "90% of white ppl are nasty. #HATE THEM." Their names are James Edwards Jr. (the Tweeter), Chancey Luna and Michael Jones. Have you heard these names? No?
Christopher Lane was a promising baseball player from Australia who was here on a college scholarship. After his murder, former Australian deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer called on Australians to boycott the United States because of our lax gun laws and violence.
But let's not forget about Delbert "Shorty" Belton (too bad you probably don't know who he is in the first place), the 88-year-old World War II veteran who was wounded at Okinawa. He was recently beaten to death outside the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, Wash. -- he had serious injuries to his head. It was a random attack by two black youths between the ages of 16 and 19, according to video surveillance. Belton was waiting outside for a friend because he did not want her to walk home alone.
Knock, knock, anybody home? After Trayvon Martin was killed, you couldn't turn on the TV without hearing about it but now? Where's the outrage? Where's the #justiceforchristopher or #justicefordelbert on Twitter? Anybody? Do we not care because the victims were white and the majority of the perpetrators were black? Would we care if it was black-on-black crime? Would we only care if it was white-on-black crime? Do we not care because the media hasn't told us to care?
It's interesting the Rev. Al Sharpton and President Barack Obama, who were so vocal during the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case, are silent. Don't white people matter?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
George Zimmerman, Paula Deen, Big Brother: Racism is alive and well in America
Do you watch the George Zimmerman trial live on TV or your computer? Do you follow every update and news article relating to the case? Do you discuss it with your friends and family?
Why?
The Facebook statuses and Tweets from people who, pretending they have magical law degrees from Juris Superstar Happy-Time University, have it all figured out make me want to cry for America. A majority of these people are only concerned about this case because Trayvon Martin is black and so are they or they're not black but want everyone to know how color-blind they are when it comes to race. Trayvon is black, Zimmerman is not, so you care. There. I said it. The elephant in the room. If this young man was any other race or if this was a crime between people of the same race the concern would plummet. If people like Nancy Grace and the opportunists of the world didn't suck this trial for all it's worth, the concern would plummet. It's disgusting.
Do I know if George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin because of his race or some other ignorant reason? No and neither do you America. That's why we have a court system. We don't know what happened because we were not there. All we know is Geraldo Rivera and his big mustache told us, "You can't rehabilitate the hoodie," Trayvon was carrying a pack of Skittles which is supposed to make him an innocent lamb, NBC played an edited clip of Zimmerman on the Today Show that was taken out of sequence, Zimmerman was some sort of neighborhood vigilante wannabe (maybe), and Florida has a Stand Your Ground Law.
What's also sad is if George Zimmerman is found not guilty by a jury of his peers (this is the same state that let Casey Anthony go free), black people across America will riot. How is this not racist? How is only caring about a trial because the victim is black not racist? OJ Simpson ring a bell? The media is eating this up like chocolate cake, egging on the ignorant across the nation to rise up and get angry over hypothetical, fear-mongering nonsense. They discuss the trial more and more because they know we will listen and salivate. We want justice for Trayvon even though we don't know him and never will. We hate George Zimmerman even though we don't know him and never will. Are the laws in Florida a little kooky? Maybe. That's why I don't live in Florida and am not in political office.
We are quick to listen to what the media tells us and make a decision, which is ignorant. Paula Deen is awful. Why? Well because we heard she said this or that or something else from saying the n-word to wanting slaves at a party. What actually happened? Lisa Jackson, a former employee of restaurants owned by Deen and her brother, Earl "Bubba" Hiers, filed a lawsuit alleging racial and sexual discrimination. Lisa Jackson. Do you know her? No. Should we believe her? I don't know. Deen admitted she's used the n-word, which is awful. However, what about the numerous black people, including rappers, who use the n-word liberally? I'm not saying Deen's use of the n-word is OK because it's not, just as I'm not defending George Zimmerman. It's 2013 for goodness sakes, wake up Paula. However, how come the n-word is OK sometimes and not other times? There's a racist on "Big Brother" apparently (my better half and I were surprised people actually still watch this show but whatever) but that's taken a back seat to the Save Trayvon Crusade.
When is America going to wake up? When are people going to choose what they support and care about not based on race but on injustice? What about the three women found after being held captive for 10 years? Do people even care about them anymore? What about letting our children listen to people like Justin Bieber, who urinate into restaurant mop buckets and curse out former presidents because they're spoiled jerks? Is he a role model? I think not. Are our children going to grow up to be reality television crazed morons who listen to everything the media tells them? Let's hope not.
Why?
The Facebook statuses and Tweets from people who, pretending they have magical law degrees from Juris Superstar Happy-Time University, have it all figured out make me want to cry for America. A majority of these people are only concerned about this case because Trayvon Martin is black and so are they or they're not black but want everyone to know how color-blind they are when it comes to race. Trayvon is black, Zimmerman is not, so you care. There. I said it. The elephant in the room. If this young man was any other race or if this was a crime between people of the same race the concern would plummet. If people like Nancy Grace and the opportunists of the world didn't suck this trial for all it's worth, the concern would plummet. It's disgusting.
Do I know if George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin because of his race or some other ignorant reason? No and neither do you America. That's why we have a court system. We don't know what happened because we were not there. All we know is Geraldo Rivera and his big mustache told us, "You can't rehabilitate the hoodie," Trayvon was carrying a pack of Skittles which is supposed to make him an innocent lamb, NBC played an edited clip of Zimmerman on the Today Show that was taken out of sequence, Zimmerman was some sort of neighborhood vigilante wannabe (maybe), and Florida has a Stand Your Ground Law.
What's also sad is if George Zimmerman is found not guilty by a jury of his peers (this is the same state that let Casey Anthony go free), black people across America will riot. How is this not racist? How is only caring about a trial because the victim is black not racist? OJ Simpson ring a bell? The media is eating this up like chocolate cake, egging on the ignorant across the nation to rise up and get angry over hypothetical, fear-mongering nonsense. They discuss the trial more and more because they know we will listen and salivate. We want justice for Trayvon even though we don't know him and never will. We hate George Zimmerman even though we don't know him and never will. Are the laws in Florida a little kooky? Maybe. That's why I don't live in Florida and am not in political office.
We are quick to listen to what the media tells us and make a decision, which is ignorant. Paula Deen is awful. Why? Well because we heard she said this or that or something else from saying the n-word to wanting slaves at a party. What actually happened? Lisa Jackson, a former employee of restaurants owned by Deen and her brother, Earl "Bubba" Hiers, filed a lawsuit alleging racial and sexual discrimination. Lisa Jackson. Do you know her? No. Should we believe her? I don't know. Deen admitted she's used the n-word, which is awful. However, what about the numerous black people, including rappers, who use the n-word liberally? I'm not saying Deen's use of the n-word is OK because it's not, just as I'm not defending George Zimmerman. It's 2013 for goodness sakes, wake up Paula. However, how come the n-word is OK sometimes and not other times? There's a racist on "Big Brother" apparently (my better half and I were surprised people actually still watch this show but whatever) but that's taken a back seat to the Save Trayvon Crusade.
When is America going to wake up? When are people going to choose what they support and care about not based on race but on injustice? What about the three women found after being held captive for 10 years? Do people even care about them anymore? What about letting our children listen to people like Justin Bieber, who urinate into restaurant mop buckets and curse out former presidents because they're spoiled jerks? Is he a role model? I think not. Are our children going to grow up to be reality television crazed morons who listen to everything the media tells them? Let's hope not.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Abercrombie & Fitch, Michael Jeffries Only Wants The Beautiful People: Duh
Maybe you've heard, maybe not since in the scope of world affairs it isn't important or shocking, but Abercrombie & Fitch is in the middle of a media firestorm.
Abercrombie & Fitch refuses to sell clothing larger than a size 10/L (as they have done forever) because CEO Mike Jeffries (who looks like a scarier Bruce Jenner - yes, scarier) only wants "good looking people" to wear his brand -- coming from a 2006 interview with Salon. You may be thinking what I was thinking when I heard this news - how is this anything new? They've been doing this for years! He said this years ago!
Well a Philadelphia-based writer recently penned a letter about how she was bullied in high school by kids who wore Abercrombie & Fitch - um, bitch please, weren't we all? Anyway, here's the abridged version:
A Note to Michael Jeffries, CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch.
Mike,
I write to you in response to the recent media outburst surrounding your unfortunate decision to further declare the exclusions that exist in your soft-core porn clothing store, Abercrombie & Fitch. I read your statements, your comments, your beliefs and I’ve let them sink in for a few weeks. In fact, I initially decided not to respond at all since I have always chosen to not shop at your store anyway. The fact that your store doesn’t make or sell clothing higher than a size 10 or a “L” is actually news to me. I think your store, quite literally, stinks.
Now, I worked at Guest Services inside of my local mall and I had to deal with the customers who complained about the abundance of musky stench that infects the sinuses of each passer-by, but I did not write you then. I heard that you were targeting girls as young as eight years old in your campaigns over the years, sending them your pornographic catalogs and full-knowingly attempting to engage them into becoming sexual, “cool” teens who would shop at your store, but I did not write you then. But when you specifically called out my plus size ass in your latest statements, Mike, I’m ready to write.
You see, I told you, I’m polite to the point where it makes me uncomfortable to just call you “Mike” (but I’m over it). I know I’m polite because I’ve met impolite people (this is you). I think back to high school, where I attended a “well-off” private, Catholic, college preparatory school. I think of the kids who, when they weren’t wearing a uniform, sported your clothing. I regret to inform you that “cool” doesn’t exactly come to mind, but “expulsion”, “bully”, “pretzel thrown at me at lunch”, and “harassment” actually do. They were ALL on the football team and I bet you, Mike, find them to be cool.
You see, it was the kids wearing your clothing who thought they were so unstoppably “cool” (because you told them they are) that they could therefore harass girls all throughout our class-- girls of all different shapes and sizes. They thought they could write derogatory comments across one girl’s driveway at home, and they were expelled. They thought that they could call the girls at home at night, plaguing them with hurtful words and hysterical laughter, and they were suspended.
I’m 27 years old, Mike, and I received a social media message from one of these bullies just last year, with a wink face… that’s it, just a wink face. It was a cruel reminder, a hurtful flashback.. a wink is all it takes to tell me, almost TEN YEARS after high-school graduation and the last time we saw each other, that he still is teasing me, he is still mean, he is still a bully, he is still SO COOL, and he wanted me to know.
When I re-visited your outrageous commentary today, I discovered the long list of rules that you require that your private jet flight attendants fulfill.
I can’t say I won’t buy your products because, as I’ve said, I never did and, secondly, you’ve excluded me from being able to do so anyway. I know there is currently a young all-American man who is clothing the homeless by donating his A&F clothes because your claims sicken him too, Mike. I know there are a bunch of moms, fully disregarding the former money spent on your clothing, rallying up mounds of their kids’ clothes that display your A&F tags, and ridding of them.
And I’ve got news for you, Mike… in the world, girls with huge hooters are INCREDIBLY cool, and they may require an “XL”.
Get with it,
Colleen Radano
Obviously this woman didn't write this letter so Mike could "get with it." She wrote it for attention because Mike will never "get with it." Why should he? People buy his clothing and he's rich enough to buy plastic surgery until his face falls off and then he's rich enough to buy a new face. (I'm picturing a skin mask a la Buffalo Bill but ... that's just me). In conclusion, he has no reason to "get with it."
Anyway, this woman needs to stop obsessing over high school bullies. I got bullied in high school - as a 6' tall woman, it was likely to happen. A lot of people got bullied in high school and are still getting bullied in high school. My children will probably meet a bully or two along their grade school career. That's life. I used to get pissed about it from time to time but realized (years ago) it's not worth it to obsess over the past.
Yes, I think it's stupid a company can profit off alienating customers but Mike Jeffries has been doing this for years and it seems to be working! Perhaps many of the customers simply like the clothing, perhaps not and it's more of a label thing. He's found the niche - the popular, thin, rich people who are obsessed with image. Too bad it's not against the law and probably won't end.
Yes, I couldn't wear Abercrombie & Fitch. First off, it's expensive. Second off, the only clothing of theirs I fit into was a mens Medium. A generous family member bought me a couple items when I was young (in mens sizes) so I could wear the label but that's about where my relationship with A&F starts and ends. I wear a size 12 shoe and a lot of well-known companies don't carry that size. Maybe they don't want Big Foot (aka me) wearing their shoes, maybe not. I don't care. I shop at the stores that carry my size.
Yes, the canine cologne stench coming out of Hollister and A&F nauseates me but I don't go to the mall enough to fall victim to this absurdness because the mall sucks. Too many people, too much hassle.
Yes, their clothing targets young girls and urges them to sexualize themselves, which is disgusting. Pornographic? Possibly, although I think this chick's idea of porn and mine are quite different. Parents need to have honest and open conversations about this type of thing when it's brought up because it's going to happen whether A&F sells slutty clothing or not.
Yes, I'm not what Mike would define as one of his "good looking people" to wear his brand. I'm too old and I'm too curvy. Cest la vie.
Abercrombie & Fitch only wants the beautiful people but think about this ... when have you seen a clothing ad with an ugly model? Maybe they all aren't supermodels but they're attractive and thin. Interesting ...
The real issue with this whole drama is teaching our children to be happy with who they are on the INSIDE. Promoting self-esteem and self-confidence. Promoting the idea you don't need an Abercrombie & Fitch wardrobe and if someone thinks you do to be cool then that someone isn't worth your time. Promote healthy choices, from nutrition to exercise to peer pressure and sexuality. Don't be who someone expects you to be, whether it's this bitter chick or Michael Jeffries, be who you want to be because that's what makes YOU happy.
Frankly, if you aren't happy with a company, then boycott them. I think it's bizarre that Chic-fi-la spends money to promote anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality causes so I don't buy their food (it's not that good anyway). That's my decision.
I can't wear A&F - the age and size factors. There's a lot of things I can't do. What can I do? Be happy with who I am and live my life. Mike Jeffries is a dickhead but face it, he's always been a dickhead and will always be a dickhead. How pathetic.
Abercrombie & Fitch refuses to sell clothing larger than a size 10/L (as they have done forever) because CEO Mike Jeffries (who looks like a scarier Bruce Jenner - yes, scarier) only wants "good looking people" to wear his brand -- coming from a 2006 interview with Salon. You may be thinking what I was thinking when I heard this news - how is this anything new? They've been doing this for years! He said this years ago!
Well a Philadelphia-based writer recently penned a letter about how she was bullied in high school by kids who wore Abercrombie & Fitch - um, bitch please, weren't we all? Anyway, here's the abridged version:
A Note to Michael Jeffries, CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch.
Mike,
I write to you in response to the recent media outburst surrounding your unfortunate decision to further declare the exclusions that exist in your soft-core porn clothing store, Abercrombie & Fitch. I read your statements, your comments, your beliefs and I’ve let them sink in for a few weeks. In fact, I initially decided not to respond at all since I have always chosen to not shop at your store anyway. The fact that your store doesn’t make or sell clothing higher than a size 10 or a “L” is actually news to me. I think your store, quite literally, stinks.
Now, I worked at Guest Services inside of my local mall and I had to deal with the customers who complained about the abundance of musky stench that infects the sinuses of each passer-by, but I did not write you then. I heard that you were targeting girls as young as eight years old in your campaigns over the years, sending them your pornographic catalogs and full-knowingly attempting to engage them into becoming sexual, “cool” teens who would shop at your store, but I did not write you then. But when you specifically called out my plus size ass in your latest statements, Mike, I’m ready to write.
You see, I told you, I’m polite to the point where it makes me uncomfortable to just call you “Mike” (but I’m over it). I know I’m polite because I’ve met impolite people (this is you). I think back to high school, where I attended a “well-off” private, Catholic, college preparatory school. I think of the kids who, when they weren’t wearing a uniform, sported your clothing. I regret to inform you that “cool” doesn’t exactly come to mind, but “expulsion”, “bully”, “pretzel thrown at me at lunch”, and “harassment” actually do. They were ALL on the football team and I bet you, Mike, find them to be cool.
You see, it was the kids wearing your clothing who thought they were so unstoppably “cool” (because you told them they are) that they could therefore harass girls all throughout our class-- girls of all different shapes and sizes. They thought they could write derogatory comments across one girl’s driveway at home, and they were expelled. They thought that they could call the girls at home at night, plaguing them with hurtful words and hysterical laughter, and they were suspended.
I’m 27 years old, Mike, and I received a social media message from one of these bullies just last year, with a wink face… that’s it, just a wink face. It was a cruel reminder, a hurtful flashback.. a wink is all it takes to tell me, almost TEN YEARS after high-school graduation and the last time we saw each other, that he still is teasing me, he is still mean, he is still a bully, he is still SO COOL, and he wanted me to know.
When I re-visited your outrageous commentary today, I discovered the long list of rules that you require that your private jet flight attendants fulfill.
I can’t say I won’t buy your products because, as I’ve said, I never did and, secondly, you’ve excluded me from being able to do so anyway. I know there is currently a young all-American man who is clothing the homeless by donating his A&F clothes because your claims sicken him too, Mike. I know there are a bunch of moms, fully disregarding the former money spent on your clothing, rallying up mounds of their kids’ clothes that display your A&F tags, and ridding of them.
And I’ve got news for you, Mike… in the world, girls with huge hooters are INCREDIBLY cool, and they may require an “XL”.
Get with it,
Colleen Radano
Obviously this woman didn't write this letter so Mike could "get with it." She wrote it for attention because Mike will never "get with it." Why should he? People buy his clothing and he's rich enough to buy plastic surgery until his face falls off and then he's rich enough to buy a new face. (I'm picturing a skin mask a la Buffalo Bill but ... that's just me). In conclusion, he has no reason to "get with it."
Anyway, this woman needs to stop obsessing over high school bullies. I got bullied in high school - as a 6' tall woman, it was likely to happen. A lot of people got bullied in high school and are still getting bullied in high school. My children will probably meet a bully or two along their grade school career. That's life. I used to get pissed about it from time to time but realized (years ago) it's not worth it to obsess over the past.
Yes, I think it's stupid a company can profit off alienating customers but Mike Jeffries has been doing this for years and it seems to be working! Perhaps many of the customers simply like the clothing, perhaps not and it's more of a label thing. He's found the niche - the popular, thin, rich people who are obsessed with image. Too bad it's not against the law and probably won't end.
Yes, I couldn't wear Abercrombie & Fitch. First off, it's expensive. Second off, the only clothing of theirs I fit into was a mens Medium. A generous family member bought me a couple items when I was young (in mens sizes) so I could wear the label but that's about where my relationship with A&F starts and ends. I wear a size 12 shoe and a lot of well-known companies don't carry that size. Maybe they don't want Big Foot (aka me) wearing their shoes, maybe not. I don't care. I shop at the stores that carry my size.
Yes, the canine cologne stench coming out of Hollister and A&F nauseates me but I don't go to the mall enough to fall victim to this absurdness because the mall sucks. Too many people, too much hassle.
Yes, their clothing targets young girls and urges them to sexualize themselves, which is disgusting. Pornographic? Possibly, although I think this chick's idea of porn and mine are quite different. Parents need to have honest and open conversations about this type of thing when it's brought up because it's going to happen whether A&F sells slutty clothing or not.
Yes, I'm not what Mike would define as one of his "good looking people" to wear his brand. I'm too old and I'm too curvy. Cest la vie.
Abercrombie & Fitch only wants the beautiful people but think about this ... when have you seen a clothing ad with an ugly model? Maybe they all aren't supermodels but they're attractive and thin. Interesting ...
The real issue with this whole drama is teaching our children to be happy with who they are on the INSIDE. Promoting self-esteem and self-confidence. Promoting the idea you don't need an Abercrombie & Fitch wardrobe and if someone thinks you do to be cool then that someone isn't worth your time. Promote healthy choices, from nutrition to exercise to peer pressure and sexuality. Don't be who someone expects you to be, whether it's this bitter chick or Michael Jeffries, be who you want to be because that's what makes YOU happy.
Frankly, if you aren't happy with a company, then boycott them. I think it's bizarre that Chic-fi-la spends money to promote anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality causes so I don't buy their food (it's not that good anyway). That's my decision.
I can't wear A&F - the age and size factors. There's a lot of things I can't do. What can I do? Be happy with who I am and live my life. Mike Jeffries is a dickhead but face it, he's always been a dickhead and will always be a dickhead. How pathetic.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Ariel Castro pleads not guilty: Cleveland kidnapping, why pleading innocent makes sense
I was surfing Twitter and what to my wondering eyes did appear: "ALERT: Ariel Castro's lawyer reveals kidnapping suspect's plea." Along with most Americans, I follow this shocking case. I figured he'd plead guilty, given the circumstances, and was shocked to find he's done just the opposite.
According to an article in the New York Daily News, who nicknamed him the Cleveland Creep, Castro's attorneys had this to say:
"I can tell you that Mr. Castro is extremely committed to the well being and positive future for his daughter, who he loves dearly ... And if people find that to be a disconnect from what he's alleged to have done, then the people will just have to deal with it. We just know how he feels about his little girl."
"The initial portrayal by the media has been one of a 'monster' and that's not the impression that I got when I talked to him for three hours ... I know that family members who have been interviewed by the media have expressed that as well."
Apparently we the people want to demonize this man but we don't "know the whole story," which will be "disclosed as the case progresses." What could be his excuse for the house of horrors (also compared to conditions endured by prisoners of war) police found and what about the three young women and one child (who he fathered) who pointed their fingers at him? Are we supposed to believe these women are lying? Did they want to be chained and held captive (there were chains fixed to the walls and dog leads hanging from the ceiling)? If he was so nice why did the women suffer injuries such as bed sores, malnutrition, hearing loss, joint and muscle damage? The upstairs bedrooms were furnished with only a mattress on the floor and padlocks on the outside ...
As for the 6-year-old, this reminds me of wilding Craster from "Games of Thrones" who marries his daughters, has children with them but feeds the male offspring to the mysterious White Walkers and keeps the female offspring so he can marry them later on. In a nutshell, gross. Was he planning to rape her as well? He loved her so much he had her mother birth her in a plastic kiddie pool? If that's not love, I don't know what is ...
When I first read his attorneys' remarks, I was upset. It's unfortunate all this time and money will be spent trying someone we all know is guilty but doesn't have the stones to admit his wrong-doing -- he had the stones to kidnap, repeatedly rape and enslave those young women in a populated area (allegedly). I understand everyone is innocent before proven guilty (although this New York Daily News article has Castro signed, sealed and delivered on a one-way ticket to hell by way of lethal injection and I'm pretty close to this conclusion as well) and everyone has the right to legal counsel, but you'd think this man would make it easier on everyone and plead guilty considering the evidence.
However, I soon realized his not guilty plea makes sense.
This isn't me or you or someone sane-ish. This is a mentally sick man. He is intelligent but lacks a moral compass. Of course his attorneys couldn't tell he's mentally sick even though they spoke with him for three hours. He lived a lie for 10 years, what's three hours with two attorneys? The truth only came out because one young woman was courageous enough to attempt an escape! How much longer would those women be held if she didn't try to escape and her neighbor didn't help? Castro kidnapped three young women and probably lays the blame on them because they were the ones who got into his car -- similar to serial killers who murder/rape prostitutes because, to them, they aren't human beings. Allegedly, Castro repeatedly raped these women, held them captive with chains and leashes, abused them physically and mentally (especially the one he starved and punched in the stomach when she became pregnant with his child - apparently five times. She is being referred to as his "main punching bag"). Who knows what else he did because 10 years is a long time. Of course pleading not guilty makes sense for him because he doesn't believe he did anything wrong. He's crazy!
All I can hope for these young women is justice and the ability to salvage a future because the American public will forget about them quickly!
According to an article in the New York Daily News, who nicknamed him the Cleveland Creep, Castro's attorneys had this to say:
"I can tell you that Mr. Castro is extremely committed to the well being and positive future for his daughter, who he loves dearly ... And if people find that to be a disconnect from what he's alleged to have done, then the people will just have to deal with it. We just know how he feels about his little girl."
"The initial portrayal by the media has been one of a 'monster' and that's not the impression that I got when I talked to him for three hours ... I know that family members who have been interviewed by the media have expressed that as well."
Apparently we the people want to demonize this man but we don't "know the whole story," which will be "disclosed as the case progresses." What could be his excuse for the house of horrors (also compared to conditions endured by prisoners of war) police found and what about the three young women and one child (who he fathered) who pointed their fingers at him? Are we supposed to believe these women are lying? Did they want to be chained and held captive (there were chains fixed to the walls and dog leads hanging from the ceiling)? If he was so nice why did the women suffer injuries such as bed sores, malnutrition, hearing loss, joint and muscle damage? The upstairs bedrooms were furnished with only a mattress on the floor and padlocks on the outside ...
As for the 6-year-old, this reminds me of wilding Craster from "Games of Thrones" who marries his daughters, has children with them but feeds the male offspring to the mysterious White Walkers and keeps the female offspring so he can marry them later on. In a nutshell, gross. Was he planning to rape her as well? He loved her so much he had her mother birth her in a plastic kiddie pool? If that's not love, I don't know what is ...
When I first read his attorneys' remarks, I was upset. It's unfortunate all this time and money will be spent trying someone we all know is guilty but doesn't have the stones to admit his wrong-doing -- he had the stones to kidnap, repeatedly rape and enslave those young women in a populated area (allegedly). I understand everyone is innocent before proven guilty (although this New York Daily News article has Castro signed, sealed and delivered on a one-way ticket to hell by way of lethal injection and I'm pretty close to this conclusion as well) and everyone has the right to legal counsel, but you'd think this man would make it easier on everyone and plead guilty considering the evidence.
However, I soon realized his not guilty plea makes sense.
This isn't me or you or someone sane-ish. This is a mentally sick man. He is intelligent but lacks a moral compass. Of course his attorneys couldn't tell he's mentally sick even though they spoke with him for three hours. He lived a lie for 10 years, what's three hours with two attorneys? The truth only came out because one young woman was courageous enough to attempt an escape! How much longer would those women be held if she didn't try to escape and her neighbor didn't help? Castro kidnapped three young women and probably lays the blame on them because they were the ones who got into his car -- similar to serial killers who murder/rape prostitutes because, to them, they aren't human beings. Allegedly, Castro repeatedly raped these women, held them captive with chains and leashes, abused them physically and mentally (especially the one he starved and punched in the stomach when she became pregnant with his child - apparently five times. She is being referred to as his "main punching bag"). Who knows what else he did because 10 years is a long time. Of course pleading not guilty makes sense for him because he doesn't believe he did anything wrong. He's crazy!
All I can hope for these young women is justice and the ability to salvage a future because the American public will forget about them quickly!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Door-to-door search violation of Fourth Amendment? Boston Marathon bombing, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, freedom
Haven't written a post in a while ... maybe that means there's no reason to bitch. Signs point to me being lazy because there's always something to bitch about!
The Boston Marathon Bombing Aftermath - what's the deal with people complaining about government involvement, i.e. Watertown on lock down while they tracked down the terrorists, door-to-door searches. People have been bitching and moaning about freedom and rights. Don't tread on me, give me liberty or give me death, Obama's turning the country into a Nazi state (are Jews and the "unwanted" being murdered and enslaved?) blah blah blah.
People who bitch about freedom and rights are typically cowards who have never needed to use their precious guns to defend themselves and have never been in a town where two terrorists were running around using explosives as weapons - in a standoff with police they set off bombs! Bombs! The whizzing sound of bullets, pop pop pop, the boom of shrapnel filled explosives. Is this Watertown, Mass. or Afghanistan?
People have their panties in a twist, more specifically, because the door-to-door search of the bombing suspects was (to them) a violation of the fourth amendment. The Fourth Amendment protects against search and seizure of private property without a warrant but there is an exception under critical circumstances. Terrorists critical enough for you?
Armored vehicles, tanks, heavily armored law enforcement -- what is this, "1984" or a police state?
The ACLU reported they received complaints but none from people whose homes were ACTUALLY searched. You know what? If there is a crazed terrorist running through my town - please, be my guest. Search my home because I have nothing to hide and maybe Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found his way into my home through a window or something ... who knows! I could help find him! Don't people want to help law enforcement? Don't people want to do whatever is in their power to find this man?
Luckily the brave men and women killed Tamerlan Tsarnaev and found (with the help of one Watertown resident) Dzhokhar, risking their lives while we sat at home, glued to our TVs and radios, bitching and moaning about freedom because it's so easy. It's so easy to log on Twitter or Facebook and complain and rant about liberty. How dare they lock down Watertown! How can they do that? What is this? This is the beginning of the end!
These people don't want the government and police telling them what to do, what to think, how to live but when a serial killer or terrorist is on the loose in their neighborhood -- let's see what happens then!
The Boston Marathon Bombing Aftermath - what's the deal with people complaining about government involvement, i.e. Watertown on lock down while they tracked down the terrorists, door-to-door searches. People have been bitching and moaning about freedom and rights. Don't tread on me, give me liberty or give me death, Obama's turning the country into a Nazi state (are Jews and the "unwanted" being murdered and enslaved?) blah blah blah.
People who bitch about freedom and rights are typically cowards who have never needed to use their precious guns to defend themselves and have never been in a town where two terrorists were running around using explosives as weapons - in a standoff with police they set off bombs! Bombs! The whizzing sound of bullets, pop pop pop, the boom of shrapnel filled explosives. Is this Watertown, Mass. or Afghanistan?
People have their panties in a twist, more specifically, because the door-to-door search of the bombing suspects was (to them) a violation of the fourth amendment. The Fourth Amendment protects against search and seizure of private property without a warrant but there is an exception under critical circumstances. Terrorists critical enough for you?
Armored vehicles, tanks, heavily armored law enforcement -- what is this, "1984" or a police state?
The ACLU reported they received complaints but none from people whose homes were ACTUALLY searched. You know what? If there is a crazed terrorist running through my town - please, be my guest. Search my home because I have nothing to hide and maybe Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found his way into my home through a window or something ... who knows! I could help find him! Don't people want to help law enforcement? Don't people want to do whatever is in their power to find this man?
Luckily the brave men and women killed Tamerlan Tsarnaev and found (with the help of one Watertown resident) Dzhokhar, risking their lives while we sat at home, glued to our TVs and radios, bitching and moaning about freedom because it's so easy. It's so easy to log on Twitter or Facebook and complain and rant about liberty. How dare they lock down Watertown! How can they do that? What is this? This is the beginning of the end!
These people don't want the government and police telling them what to do, what to think, how to live but when a serial killer or terrorist is on the loose in their neighborhood -- let's see what happens then!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
I'm dying, even the dog senses it: Death, dying, afterlife, Heaven, Hell, asteroids - even outerspace is trying to kill us
Another week is coming to a close. Tell me baby, what's on your mind? The weekend, sweet hot Valentine's Day lovin, happy hour, a Whitman's sampler with a map, hours of uninterrupted sleep, life, the universe and everything? How about death?
Yeah. Death.
I have an odd view on death. Maybe it's because I grew up with a family member who passive aggressively wanted to die her entire life: "I'm dying, even the dog senses it." Who says that? What kind of person replies to a Merry Christmas greeting with "I wish I were dead?" Decades later, she's still alive with the same false wish.
Maybe it's because I think too much and can't base my life around someones take on an old, frequently edited and often interpreted collection of tales - i.e. The Bible.
Maybe because my father told me constantly to question everything.
Maybe because a 150-foot wide asteroid will buzz our swiftly turning planet Friday (today) while everyone is busy surfing the net at work and wondering if Honey Boo Boo's mom is going to join "Dancing With The Stars" or if hottie-hot-hot-stuff Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman is gay (he sings, he dances ... have you seen his scary wife - is she his beard?). People are too busy uploading photos of Valentine's Day roses and chocolates and sharing romantic plans and Tweeting and Facebooking their sweethearts sweet nothings so everyone knows they aren't a loser loner on the Day of Hearts or perhaps, passive aggressively or not so passively, loudly hating the annual holiday because they are a loner Dottie, a rebel. This all reminds me of the beginning to "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy."
According to NASA (you know, that important agency politicians don't want to fund), this is the closest documented encounter of an asteroid this large - not counting the ones that made impact with Earth in the past (comforting). The asteroids that buzzed closer were smaller and burned up in the atmosphere, which the rubes of the world love like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Look Brandi and LeAnn, it's magic in the sky!
Did you know a smaller asteroid passed within 140,000 miles of Earth in December or were you too busy Christmas shopping and pretending to believe in God by going to church for the first, and only, time all year?
The big bad asteroid - DA14 - will come within 17,500 miles of Earth - the moon is 238,900 miles away for all you big brains out there. It's capable of blasting a crater equivalent to hundreds of Hiroshima atomic bombs. What's scarier is scientists believe there are tens to hundreds of thousands similar but undiscovered objects - most with dimensions in the hundreds of feet - hurtling through space right this very second.
NASA is confident DA14 will not hit Earth but ... is anyone out there scared? Mr. Herman, paging Mr. Herman, Mr. Herman, you have a telephone call at the front desk. I have read so many complaints and so much praise for President Barack Obama's speech, Speaker of the House John Boehner's dry mouth, Pope Benedict XVI's exit, Kim Kardashian and Kayne West's demon child, Kate Middleton's baby bump controversy, guns guns guns ... what about the asteroid? Bueller? Bueller? Anything other than shtick referencing the movie "Armageddon" ... ?
Oh wait, no one wants to talk about that because it's scary so let's just pretend all is well like Kevin Bacon did in "Animal House."
The asteroid reminds me of death. Not in the obvious way (asteroid hits Earth = we could die) but in its unpredictability, especially with the recent news of a large meteor blowing up as it entered the Earth's atmosphere over Mother Russia - a shockwave shattered windows, rocked buildings and injured hundreds. I could die today. There, I wrote the words and now the thought is real. I can't wrap my head around that, which is probably why I can't wrap my head around all aspects of religion except to love God and your neighbor. Couple this fear of death with the fact something from outer space could hurtle to Earth and kill us all and there's nothing we or Bruce Willis (cue "Armageddon" shtick) can do and I'm feeling a bit uneasy.
So, as I struggle to figure out what happens after death, should I follow the path of many heathens and stop thinking about it because, obviously, it's a given and no one has documented evidence what takes place so philosophizing is pointless. There's nothing I can do to stop an asteroid or a crazed murderer or old age and I can't Highlander-ize myself so I should fuggedaboutit.
Or, is this wonder, this pursuit of knowledge the one thing separating us from other animals. We think, we scrutinize, we wonder, we question - isn't this the meaning of being human? If we stopped wondering, would life lose meaning? Would we become savages? Is there a Heaven free from pain, a hellfire blazing with cruelty and suffering or are we reincarnated like the cycle of the seasons? Or, the option which scares me the most, is there nothing? Lights off, game over, nothing ...
Yeah. Death.
I have an odd view on death. Maybe it's because I grew up with a family member who passive aggressively wanted to die her entire life: "I'm dying, even the dog senses it." Who says that? What kind of person replies to a Merry Christmas greeting with "I wish I were dead?" Decades later, she's still alive with the same false wish.
Maybe it's because I think too much and can't base my life around someones take on an old, frequently edited and often interpreted collection of tales - i.e. The Bible.
Maybe because my father told me constantly to question everything.
Maybe because a 150-foot wide asteroid will buzz our swiftly turning planet Friday (today) while everyone is busy surfing the net at work and wondering if Honey Boo Boo's mom is going to join "Dancing With The Stars" or if hottie-hot-hot-stuff Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman is gay (he sings, he dances ... have you seen his scary wife - is she his beard?). People are too busy uploading photos of Valentine's Day roses and chocolates and sharing romantic plans and Tweeting and Facebooking their sweethearts sweet nothings so everyone knows they aren't a loser loner on the Day of Hearts or perhaps, passive aggressively or not so passively, loudly hating the annual holiday because they are a loner Dottie, a rebel. This all reminds me of the beginning to "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy."
According to NASA (you know, that important agency politicians don't want to fund), this is the closest documented encounter of an asteroid this large - not counting the ones that made impact with Earth in the past (comforting). The asteroids that buzzed closer were smaller and burned up in the atmosphere, which the rubes of the world love like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Look Brandi and LeAnn, it's magic in the sky!
Did you know a smaller asteroid passed within 140,000 miles of Earth in December or were you too busy Christmas shopping and pretending to believe in God by going to church for the first, and only, time all year?
The big bad asteroid - DA14 - will come within 17,500 miles of Earth - the moon is 238,900 miles away for all you big brains out there. It's capable of blasting a crater equivalent to hundreds of Hiroshima atomic bombs. What's scarier is scientists believe there are tens to hundreds of thousands similar but undiscovered objects - most with dimensions in the hundreds of feet - hurtling through space right this very second.
NASA is confident DA14 will not hit Earth but ... is anyone out there scared? Mr. Herman, paging Mr. Herman, Mr. Herman, you have a telephone call at the front desk. I have read so many complaints and so much praise for President Barack Obama's speech, Speaker of the House John Boehner's dry mouth, Pope Benedict XVI's exit, Kim Kardashian and Kayne West's demon child, Kate Middleton's baby bump controversy, guns guns guns ... what about the asteroid? Bueller? Bueller? Anything other than shtick referencing the movie "Armageddon" ... ?
Oh wait, no one wants to talk about that because it's scary so let's just pretend all is well like Kevin Bacon did in "Animal House."
The asteroid reminds me of death. Not in the obvious way (asteroid hits Earth = we could die) but in its unpredictability, especially with the recent news of a large meteor blowing up as it entered the Earth's atmosphere over Mother Russia - a shockwave shattered windows, rocked buildings and injured hundreds. I could die today. There, I wrote the words and now the thought is real. I can't wrap my head around that, which is probably why I can't wrap my head around all aspects of religion except to love God and your neighbor. Couple this fear of death with the fact something from outer space could hurtle to Earth and kill us all and there's nothing we or Bruce Willis (cue "Armageddon" shtick) can do and I'm feeling a bit uneasy.
So, as I struggle to figure out what happens after death, should I follow the path of many heathens and stop thinking about it because, obviously, it's a given and no one has documented evidence what takes place so philosophizing is pointless. There's nothing I can do to stop an asteroid or a crazed murderer or old age and I can't Highlander-ize myself so I should fuggedaboutit.
Or, is this wonder, this pursuit of knowledge the one thing separating us from other animals. We think, we scrutinize, we wonder, we question - isn't this the meaning of being human? If we stopped wondering, would life lose meaning? Would we become savages? Is there a Heaven free from pain, a hellfire blazing with cruelty and suffering or are we reincarnated like the cycle of the seasons? Or, the option which scares me the most, is there nothing? Lights off, game over, nothing ...
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