Monday Musings...
What a Monday it is...NINE HUNDRED POSTS...I can barely believe it.
And our first (noticeable) snow showers this morning in Indiana as well...who'da thunk?
I didn't think I could find all that much to blog about, but many times, all we really have to do is look around us...and things will pretty much WRITE THEMSELVES.
Well, I always have to thank Tim & Andy, who nudged me into getting my own blog. They're still wondering WTH they created. They got me posting on their blog, and soon, some others.
Then, I figured why take up all that space on other folks' blogs...share and share alike, right?
I mean, I can waste space HERE, instead of somewhere else...LOL.
So, THIS blog is the result.
(Whew)...and it's been quite the journey thus far.
I will admit that there are days that I just want to roll over and steal a few more winks, but the cats see that never happens...(thanks guys...you don't know HOW MUCH I really appreciate it).
But like I said, all I have to do is look out the old window, or pick up the newspaper, or flip to a news channel, and there 'ya go...something to either comment or debase.
And that can be MOST liberating first up in the morning...trust me.
Next, I have to thank EVERY one of you who stop on by here, be it daily, weekly, or even monthly.
I have "met" some fantastic people right HERE (and at other blogs). Hell, I even met some people IN PERSON...and you KNOW who you are...(Bwahahahahaha).
But it's YOU people...the READERS that drive this "bus". Your comments serve as a catalyst for keeping me on MY toes.
I'm here only to pick out "points of interest" along this journey we all call LIFE.
Think of me as a tour guide to the human condition.
I think that meeting so many souls (in so many places) over these 57 years kind of allows me a certain viewpoint.
And I haven't even travelled all that much, geographically-speaking.
I'm saving all that for my NEXT life.
There are some that would view this blog as some narrow-minded, "racist", and overly cynical soapbox...
Fine by me, if that's what YOU believe...you're entitled TO that belief.
Others (including myself) know such is NOT the case.
Yeah, I tend to call people out when they NEED calling out, and I am certainly NOT "politically-correct"...(heaven forbid). I will only provide THE truth (and not "my" truth) here, and you readers probably have figured that out by now.
(And if you haven't, you bring over a pizza or two...and we'll chat. I have the refreshments covered).
I will admit to being cynical, but only where cynicism is warranted.
Face it, the world is a BIG place, and our universe even BIGGER, so a few cynics here and there aren't really going to change the scope of the whole infinite picture, are we?
When it comes to "race", we're all pretty much of ONE race, if you believe in the HUMAN race, or if you believe the religious perspective that says in the Bible that we ALL are part of the 12 tribes of Benjamin. Either way, there we are, hmm?
But know this...ALL races that walk this planet have THEIR OWN SHARE of terminally stupid morons running around.
NO ONE...is exempt. It's just that some races want to achieve a monopoly on idiocy, that's all.
And some are honestly getting it down pat...nothing succeeds like success, right?
But anyway, here we all are, on this digital landscape...nothing more than a crapload of "0"s and "1"s which bring us together almost daily. That itself is remarkable.
If there is one thing I really enjoy about life, it's that there are STILL things in the world that amaze me (aside from he aforementioned dumb-asses - they just make me laugh my butt off).
And there are just as many things (and people) that disappoint me.
The challenge is striking that balance...that accord with the GOOD...and the BAD.
We can learn from either. Many of our "bad" aspects are those that are part of our strength.
It's the tempering of our bad side BY our good side that produces the "final product", as it were.
We can never be ALL GOOD...and we can never be ALL BAD, either (although there are some out there trying their damnedest).
Knowledge, wisdom, morality, accountability, responsibility, honestly, loyalty...all these serve as our guides through life. There are more, and they usually are part of the facets of humanity I just mentioned.
In any case, when THESE are applied to oneself, it becomes the deciding factor between doing good...or doing not so good.
Without these traits, we are lost.
With them, we can not only help ourselves, but also one another.
Seems too simple...but it works.
Now...believe it or not...we do have other news.
-- How about a NON-religious Christmas tree at the White House (how paganly politically-correct of them)...
-- Or how's about grading TEACHERS by STUDENT performance (rather then that nasty knowing the subject matter and teaching the syllabus stuff)? Remember, we're ALL "winners" in this New World Order being foisted upon us (except for the educators, who look to get the crap end of this stick). Well, according to this FEDERAL stimulus package for the states, if you want (your own) MONEY, you do as "they" say, otherwise, YOU "fail"...nice huh?
-- The Copenhagen Summit on Climate starts TODAY...(those wacky Danes...who knew that THEY are not really "green" when it comes to tossing their OWN trash out, hmm?)
So you can see, it's never all about THIS blog...we've got a helluva lot more fish to fry, and the pans are waiting to get filled.
Lastly, let's not forget that SIXTY-EIGHT years ago TODAY was the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan.
At the rate we're losing veterans of that attack (as well as the rest of WW2), it shall not be long before no on will be left to tell the stories that need telling.
Also remember that it was THIS attack which galvanized our nation into a war machine, out producing the rest of the world combined. It was a time when real Americans stepped up to the plate. They sacrificed personally, so that our troops (and allies) didn't have want or need as they beat back the Axis powers that sought world domination.
Again, we find ourselves "at war", if not in the Middle East, then on our very streets (and even with our own government) with similar powers of evil, intent on dominion over those who pursue such things as FREEDOM...and LIBERTY.
And again, we are called to sacrifice.
Even during a time of year when we are out buying presents, we should attempt to give to our fellow man, who might be in dire need of life's basics.
We might not need that Playstation as much as that family at church needs a loaf of bread, or a gallon of milk.
We might not need that 3G phone, as much as the homeless people at the shelter need some clothing to stave off the winter chill.
We might not need to buy that other expensive "toy", when there are folks out there whose only desire is to be fed...or clothed, or get warm...things most of us take for granted.
Let's not forget the four-footed friends among us as well.
A small donation, or a bag of dog or cat food to the local animal shelter goes a long way, too.
We CHOOSE (and pull belts a bit tighter) to do without, so that others do not HAVE to...that's what makes Americans great.
After 900 posts here, I think you know there are MANY of us that feel the same way.
And that keeps us strong in our beliefs.
So, here's to (hopefully) at least another hundred posts.
Have a great day, do good to someone, and...as always,
Stay safe out there, America.
What a Monday it is...NINE HUNDRED POSTS...I can barely believe it.
And our first (noticeable) snow showers this morning in Indiana as well...who'da thunk?
I didn't think I could find all that much to blog about, but many times, all we really have to do is look around us...and things will pretty much WRITE THEMSELVES.
Well, I always have to thank Tim & Andy, who nudged me into getting my own blog. They're still wondering WTH they created. They got me posting on their blog, and soon, some others.
Then, I figured why take up all that space on other folks' blogs...share and share alike, right?
I mean, I can waste space HERE, instead of somewhere else...LOL.
So, THIS blog is the result.
(Whew)...and it's been quite the journey thus far.
I will admit that there are days that I just want to roll over and steal a few more winks, but the cats see that never happens...(thanks guys...you don't know HOW MUCH I really appreciate it).
But like I said, all I have to do is look out the old window, or pick up the newspaper, or flip to a news channel, and there 'ya go...something to either comment or debase.
And that can be MOST liberating first up in the morning...trust me.
Next, I have to thank EVERY one of you who stop on by here, be it daily, weekly, or even monthly.
I have "met" some fantastic people right HERE (and at other blogs). Hell, I even met some people IN PERSON...and you KNOW who you are...(Bwahahahahaha).
But it's YOU people...the READERS that drive this "bus". Your comments serve as a catalyst for keeping me on MY toes.
I'm here only to pick out "points of interest" along this journey we all call LIFE.
Think of me as a tour guide to the human condition.
I think that meeting so many souls (in so many places) over these 57 years kind of allows me a certain viewpoint.
And I haven't even travelled all that much, geographically-speaking.
I'm saving all that for my NEXT life.
There are some that would view this blog as some narrow-minded, "racist", and overly cynical soapbox...
Fine by me, if that's what YOU believe...you're entitled TO that belief.
Others (including myself) know such is NOT the case.
Yeah, I tend to call people out when they NEED calling out, and I am certainly NOT "politically-correct"...(heaven forbid). I will only provide THE truth (and not "my" truth) here, and you readers probably have figured that out by now.
(And if you haven't, you bring over a pizza or two...and we'll chat. I have the refreshments covered).
I will admit to being cynical, but only where cynicism is warranted.
Face it, the world is a BIG place, and our universe even BIGGER, so a few cynics here and there aren't really going to change the scope of the whole infinite picture, are we?
When it comes to "race", we're all pretty much of ONE race, if you believe in the HUMAN race, or if you believe the religious perspective that says in the Bible that we ALL are part of the 12 tribes of Benjamin. Either way, there we are, hmm?
But know this...ALL races that walk this planet have THEIR OWN SHARE of terminally stupid morons running around.
NO ONE...is exempt. It's just that some races want to achieve a monopoly on idiocy, that's all.
And some are honestly getting it down pat...nothing succeeds like success, right?
But anyway, here we all are, on this digital landscape...nothing more than a crapload of "0"s and "1"s which bring us together almost daily. That itself is remarkable.
If there is one thing I really enjoy about life, it's that there are STILL things in the world that amaze me (aside from he aforementioned dumb-asses - they just make me laugh my butt off).
And there are just as many things (and people) that disappoint me.
The challenge is striking that balance...that accord with the GOOD...and the BAD.
We can learn from either. Many of our "bad" aspects are those that are part of our strength.
It's the tempering of our bad side BY our good side that produces the "final product", as it were.
We can never be ALL GOOD...and we can never be ALL BAD, either (although there are some out there trying their damnedest).
Knowledge, wisdom, morality, accountability, responsibility, honestly, loyalty...all these serve as our guides through life. There are more, and they usually are part of the facets of humanity I just mentioned.
In any case, when THESE are applied to oneself, it becomes the deciding factor between doing good...or doing not so good.
Without these traits, we are lost.
With them, we can not only help ourselves, but also one another.
Seems too simple...but it works.
Now...believe it or not...we do have other news.
-- How about a NON-religious Christmas tree at the White House (how paganly politically-correct of them)...
-- Or how's about grading TEACHERS by STUDENT performance (rather then that nasty knowing the subject matter and teaching the syllabus stuff)? Remember, we're ALL "winners" in this New World Order being foisted upon us (except for the educators, who look to get the crap end of this stick). Well, according to this FEDERAL stimulus package for the states, if you want (your own) MONEY, you do as "they" say, otherwise, YOU "fail"...nice huh?
-- The Copenhagen Summit on Climate starts TODAY...(those wacky Danes...who knew that THEY are not really "green" when it comes to tossing their OWN trash out, hmm?)
So you can see, it's never all about THIS blog...we've got a helluva lot more fish to fry, and the pans are waiting to get filled.
Lastly, let's not forget that SIXTY-EIGHT years ago TODAY was the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan.
At the rate we're losing veterans of that attack (as well as the rest of WW2), it shall not be long before no on will be left to tell the stories that need telling.
Also remember that it was THIS attack which galvanized our nation into a war machine, out producing the rest of the world combined. It was a time when real Americans stepped up to the plate. They sacrificed personally, so that our troops (and allies) didn't have want or need as they beat back the Axis powers that sought world domination.
Again, we find ourselves "at war", if not in the Middle East, then on our very streets (and even with our own government) with similar powers of evil, intent on dominion over those who pursue such things as FREEDOM...and LIBERTY.
And again, we are called to sacrifice.
Even during a time of year when we are out buying presents, we should attempt to give to our fellow man, who might be in dire need of life's basics.
We might not need that Playstation as much as that family at church needs a loaf of bread, or a gallon of milk.
We might not need that 3G phone, as much as the homeless people at the shelter need some clothing to stave off the winter chill.
We might not need to buy that other expensive "toy", when there are folks out there whose only desire is to be fed...or clothed, or get warm...things most of us take for granted.
Let's not forget the four-footed friends among us as well.
A small donation, or a bag of dog or cat food to the local animal shelter goes a long way, too.
We CHOOSE (and pull belts a bit tighter) to do without, so that others do not HAVE to...that's what makes Americans great.
After 900 posts here, I think you know there are MANY of us that feel the same way.
And that keeps us strong in our beliefs.
So, here's to (hopefully) at least another hundred posts.
Have a great day, do good to someone, and...as always,
Stay safe out there, America.