New years eve celebrations seem distinctly subdued this year. Maybe everybody is broke. Maybe we are still worn out from Christmas. Maybe we all of sudden grew up.
I blame the networks. Say what you will about the major broadcast networks, but they still set the tone for the nation. They tell us what to think, when to be happy, when to be sad, how we feel about certain occurrences or whether or not we even give a shit about it.
I remember when I was a kid the new year's eve celebration was hyped to hell and back for three straight days. The show would come on at seven o'clock and function as a veritable roll call for a who's who of every major and minor musical act, starlet wannabe and aging used to be celebrity. Now I guess they are too embarrassed to hype anything that makes you go "who?".
Now the show comes at 10 o'clock, gets interrupted by the 11 o'clock news before it kicks in for a final 45 minute burn through the midnight celebration and a, count 'em, full fifteen minutes thereafter.
Sigh!
But I guess I'm one to talk, I'm here sipping on store brand sparkling cider watching this crap thinking who in their right mind would want to be in the midst of that. I suppose naivete and innocence is the engine that powers the world.
Happy New Year everybody!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
anger and passion
are two branches from one treE
they are twins at cross purposeS
anger will only destroY
and passion cannot be defeateD
they are twins at cross purposeS
anger will only destroY
and passion cannot be defeateD
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Peace on earth, good will toward all
Regardless of how your religion (or lack thereof) dictates that you celebrate (or not) the holiday season, I wish you love, peace, joy, happiness and prosperity in the coming year.
In my home we celebrate Christmas and we believe in Santa Claus. If you do not, that's your call, but I hope you will allow me and mine to revel in the joy of the day. And allow me to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
It is necessary that you believe in something or you are left with nothing. Yeah, I know it seems irreconcilable, a bearded old man in a red suit bringing toys to good little boys and girls around the world seems such a strange custom in light of a world filled with degradation, hunger, poverty and war. But this suffering is exactly why we need something to lift us up above all of our despair. Which is to say you've got to believe in something, why not believe in something good, however you define it.
Santa has brought immense joy to our family for generations. And now, my adult children still expect Santa to bring surprises and still find joy in even the simplest things. I expect them to carry the tradition to the next generation.
Christmas is never perfect and oftentimes is a sad and lonely affair, but each Christmas is always the best Christmas ever just because it is Christmas. There was a time when my children were kept away from me during Christmas. But Christmas is in your heart and it must go on even if you don't feel the spirit of it all just yet. Sometimes you just have to celebrate Christmas with whomever happens to be close at hand (even if they aren't on your preferred guest list). However, some Christmas holidays just stand out from the rest and you know they will hold a special place in your memory forevermore.
Christmas cannot be found at a store in the mall (or on Amazon.com) it is found simply by sharing yourself. There is nothing wrong with a gift given from the heart. But if all you have is over priced crap from the mall you are not there yet. During this holiday season I urge you to share a happy moment with those around you and to look for your source of joy.
I truly hope you find it.
In my home we celebrate Christmas and we believe in Santa Claus. If you do not, that's your call, but I hope you will allow me and mine to revel in the joy of the day. And allow me to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
It is necessary that you believe in something or you are left with nothing. Yeah, I know it seems irreconcilable, a bearded old man in a red suit bringing toys to good little boys and girls around the world seems such a strange custom in light of a world filled with degradation, hunger, poverty and war. But this suffering is exactly why we need something to lift us up above all of our despair. Which is to say you've got to believe in something, why not believe in something good, however you define it.
Santa has brought immense joy to our family for generations. And now, my adult children still expect Santa to bring surprises and still find joy in even the simplest things. I expect them to carry the tradition to the next generation.
Christmas is never perfect and oftentimes is a sad and lonely affair, but each Christmas is always the best Christmas ever just because it is Christmas. There was a time when my children were kept away from me during Christmas. But Christmas is in your heart and it must go on even if you don't feel the spirit of it all just yet. Sometimes you just have to celebrate Christmas with whomever happens to be close at hand (even if they aren't on your preferred guest list). However, some Christmas holidays just stand out from the rest and you know they will hold a special place in your memory forevermore.
Christmas cannot be found at a store in the mall (or on Amazon.com) it is found simply by sharing yourself. There is nothing wrong with a gift given from the heart. But if all you have is over priced crap from the mall you are not there yet. During this holiday season I urge you to share a happy moment with those around you and to look for your source of joy.
I truly hope you find it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Post racial huh?
OK, so now I am seriously contemplating changing the name of this blog to "What the hell is wrong with you people"
What do:
1. Tiger Woods
2. Bill Clinton
3. John McCain
4. Todd Palin
5. Bill Gates
6. Nicolas Sarkozy
all have in common.
That's right, they all like white women.
And within this august list of notables, who is the only one being given shit about it.
OK careful now, think before you respond.
Mmmmmmm Hmmm, that's what I thought.
What do:
1. Tiger Woods
2. Bill Clinton
3. John McCain
4. Todd Palin
5. Bill Gates
6. Nicolas Sarkozy
all have in common.
That's right, they all like white women.
And within this august list of notables, who is the only one being given shit about it.
OK careful now, think before you respond.
Mmmmmmm Hmmm, that's what I thought.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
It's out of our hands
Generally preferring to keep this blog vague and ambiguous so as to let folks do their own thinking, I don't really like to get into specific discussions on the issues of the day. But it's my blog and so I guess I can write whatever I damn well please. So here is a question for you anti war protest types.
What the hell is wrong with you people?
There was no choice here. Afghanistan don't give a damn who you voted for. Do you people honestly think that you your monkey ass or your family will be spared when they attack again. The reality is that hippies and fat cats alike are all targeted for death without regard for your position on the issues. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but we all pretty much have to work with the same reality.
Just because you convene a committee, facilitate a frank and open discussion and call for a show of hands doesn't mean that anything was ever up for a decision. It's called theater for a reason. Everybody can put up their hands but there is only one vote that counts. But there was nothing really to vote on. And the taunts about dithering were cynical expressions of that reality.
I am not some right wing military industrial complex type itching to start a couple wars in order to refill the coffers. And I am not saying that there are no risks. But the man has signaled that he gets it. People will die and this cannot become the open ended shit hole that was Vietnam. That acknowledgment is about as good as it's going to get.
It's not that there were no good choices, there weren't any choices to be made. I don't think we can leave and we sure as hell cannot leave the existing troops hanging out there by themselves. All of this was decided years ago at ground zero et al. War and security is not something you turn on and off like a light switch or pick and choose what you want like a lunch buffet. The decisions we make today affect our situation for years to come. You don't take a nation to war on another continent and then go oops, never mind, my bad. It just don't work that way. Don't pull the thang out unless you plan to bang. Don't even bang unless you plan to hit somethang.
Here's another question for you, where do roadside bombs come from?
Once you figure that one out you can gather up your little signs and take your protests on the road. But you better pack a lunch and wear your prison sandals.
You people are playing checkers and the rest of the world is playing that multidimensional thing with 3 or 4 playing levels that Spock played on the Enterprise. This ain't about you. Nobody gives a damn what you want. Personally, I prefer we keep them sombitches busy over there looking for drones until we can figure out just what their particular issues are (maybe they want flat screen TVs or something). No one wants war except, perhaps, maybe those who stand to profit from it. But in this regard left wing nut jobs are just as dangerous as right wing nut jobs.
If somehow they manage to pull this thing off in Afghanistan and figure out the proper fuel to oxygen mix maybe the American prestige that was diminished in Vietnam can be redeemed from stabilizing a country that has resisted stabilization for thousands of years. But it is not helpful to have the left wing protesting the wrong thing and the right wing issuing taunts.
But I could be wrong
What the hell is wrong with you people?
There was no choice here. Afghanistan don't give a damn who you voted for. Do you people honestly think that you your monkey ass or your family will be spared when they attack again. The reality is that hippies and fat cats alike are all targeted for death without regard for your position on the issues. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but we all pretty much have to work with the same reality.
Just because you convene a committee, facilitate a frank and open discussion and call for a show of hands doesn't mean that anything was ever up for a decision. It's called theater for a reason. Everybody can put up their hands but there is only one vote that counts. But there was nothing really to vote on. And the taunts about dithering were cynical expressions of that reality.
I am not some right wing military industrial complex type itching to start a couple wars in order to refill the coffers. And I am not saying that there are no risks. But the man has signaled that he gets it. People will die and this cannot become the open ended shit hole that was Vietnam. That acknowledgment is about as good as it's going to get.
It's not that there were no good choices, there weren't any choices to be made. I don't think we can leave and we sure as hell cannot leave the existing troops hanging out there by themselves. All of this was decided years ago at ground zero et al. War and security is not something you turn on and off like a light switch or pick and choose what you want like a lunch buffet. The decisions we make today affect our situation for years to come. You don't take a nation to war on another continent and then go oops, never mind, my bad. It just don't work that way. Don't pull the thang out unless you plan to bang. Don't even bang unless you plan to hit somethang.
Here's another question for you, where do roadside bombs come from?
Once you figure that one out you can gather up your little signs and take your protests on the road. But you better pack a lunch and wear your prison sandals.
You people are playing checkers and the rest of the world is playing that multidimensional thing with 3 or 4 playing levels that Spock played on the Enterprise. This ain't about you. Nobody gives a damn what you want. Personally, I prefer we keep them sombitches busy over there looking for drones until we can figure out just what their particular issues are (maybe they want flat screen TVs or something). No one wants war except, perhaps, maybe those who stand to profit from it. But in this regard left wing nut jobs are just as dangerous as right wing nut jobs.
If somehow they manage to pull this thing off in Afghanistan and figure out the proper fuel to oxygen mix maybe the American prestige that was diminished in Vietnam can be redeemed from stabilizing a country that has resisted stabilization for thousands of years. But it is not helpful to have the left wing protesting the wrong thing and the right wing issuing taunts.
But I could be wrong
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