Wednesday, July 31, 2019
August 2019
It's important to know I'm still alive. Perhaps I'll give this blog a go. I let it die a quiet death about a dozen years ago before anyone knew about it. Hmmm, allow me to ponder.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
David Letterman's Farewell
Long time no blog. ..
DL signed off last night after about 33 years. Just wanted you to know that. Time marches on eh? My kids will probably get all wistful in a few decades when these news kids on the late night block decide to finally go the way of the Carsons and Lettermans. What a treasure. For whatever faults or shortcomings they have had, these titans of our living rooms work their butts off for our viewing pleasure. And here's an irrelevant photo to honor Mr. David Letterman.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
RELIGION
My neighbor died. Howard tinkered in his garage across the street until his wife called him back inside. He was always upbeat and bright-eyed til his dying day. A gathering was held at his church in Pacific Beach and that event marked a rarity indeed, since church never much interested me.
But this gathering of loved ones remembering my kind neighbor was the very best side of religion. A higher meaning, and such deep, loving fellowship created a spirit to usher Howard away and into the next realm. To meet death with beauty and peace is a commodity that's not easily concocted.
So even though religion is utter bullshit, I totally get it. I've FELT the power. But enriching people's souls seems not near enough return for the terrible cost wrought by millions of people steadfastly ignoring earthly realities. Many religious critics cite the bloody legacy of wars between faiths through the centuries however, my memory sucks so i can crucify religion using ONLY the Iraq War. An alcoholic turned born-again Christian surrounded by corrupt advisers were only half the disaster. Let's not forget that to con our nation into a needless war that cost more lives than the attack Iraq had nothing to do with . . a dim public was equally important (and therefore, equally responsible).
It's not a stretch to compare our acceptance of deities without any evidence with oh, our blind acceptance of weapons of mass destruction without any evidence. Critical reasoning would have saved, get this, a civilization, thousands of American soldiers, and (Repubs will like this one) a couple TRILLION dollars! Religion extinguishes critical thought. And our responsibility as humans who want to progress our species OR as Americans groping for guidance on policy is to employ this awesome power of thought. Only with this weapon can we ever figure shit out. As a commodity, reason actually trumps spirituality.
But this gathering of loved ones remembering my kind neighbor was the very best side of religion. A higher meaning, and such deep, loving fellowship created a spirit to usher Howard away and into the next realm. To meet death with beauty and peace is a commodity that's not easily concocted.
So even though religion is utter bullshit, I totally get it. I've FELT the power. But enriching people's souls seems not near enough return for the terrible cost wrought by millions of people steadfastly ignoring earthly realities. Many religious critics cite the bloody legacy of wars between faiths through the centuries however, my memory sucks so i can crucify religion using ONLY the Iraq War. An alcoholic turned born-again Christian surrounded by corrupt advisers were only half the disaster. Let's not forget that to con our nation into a needless war that cost more lives than the attack Iraq had nothing to do with . . a dim public was equally important (and therefore, equally responsible).
It's not a stretch to compare our acceptance of deities without any evidence with oh, our blind acceptance of weapons of mass destruction without any evidence. Critical reasoning would have saved, get this, a civilization, thousands of American soldiers, and (Repubs will like this one) a couple TRILLION dollars! Religion extinguishes critical thought. And our responsibility as humans who want to progress our species OR as Americans groping for guidance on policy is to employ this awesome power of thought. Only with this weapon can we ever figure shit out. As a commodity, reason actually trumps spirituality.
Friday, August 26, 2011
TX Gov. Perry and ATT?
Interesting excerpt from CREDO, supposedly a more "progressive" cell phone company.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has some extremist—and dangerous—ideas. He's open to Texas seceding from the United States. He believes Social Security is "a Ponzi scheme." He doesn't believe in global warming, but believes in teaching "intelligent design" to kids. He's anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. And he opposes the federal income tax, which provides 45% of government revenue.
Then there are Perry's friends. They include neo-Confederates who've proudly endorsed him in Texas elections, preachers like John Hagee, who believes the Holocaust was the fault of Jews, and ultra-right businessmen Harold Simmons and Bob J. Perry, funders of the deceptive Swift Boat ads in 2004, who gave $1.1 million and $2.5 million to Perry's campaigns since 2000.
Speaking of the company he keeps, there's AT&T, which has contributed $462,739 to him since 2000.1 What's more, AT&T spent $18,349 to sponsor a lunch last December at a conservative summit and distribute 700 copies of Fed Up!, Perry's book which contains some of his most extremist ideas.2 Why?
CREDO Mobile fights right-wing extremists like Rick Perry. Join CREDO Mobile, America's only progressive phone company.
Now, I've never heard of CREDO but if Verizon buddies-up to whack jobs like Perry, you can bet I'll check em out!
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has some extremist—and dangerous—ideas. He's open to Texas seceding from the United States. He believes Social Security is "a Ponzi scheme." He doesn't believe in global warming, but believes in teaching "intelligent design" to kids. He's anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. And he opposes the federal income tax, which provides 45% of government revenue.
Then there are Perry's friends. They include neo-Confederates who've proudly endorsed him in Texas elections, preachers like John Hagee, who believes the Holocaust was the fault of Jews, and ultra-right businessmen Harold Simmons and Bob J. Perry, funders of the deceptive Swift Boat ads in 2004, who gave $1.1 million and $2.5 million to Perry's campaigns since 2000.
Speaking of the company he keeps, there's AT&T, which has contributed $462,739 to him since 2000.1 What's more, AT&T spent $18,349 to sponsor a lunch last December at a conservative summit and distribute 700 copies of Fed Up!, Perry's book which contains some of his most extremist ideas.2 Why?
CREDO Mobile fights right-wing extremists like Rick Perry. Join CREDO Mobile, America's only progressive phone company.
Now, I've never heard of CREDO but if Verizon buddies-up to whack jobs like Perry, you can bet I'll check em out!
Friday, August 19, 2011
DROPPING DEAD
Lately I've thought about the good side of death. Specifically the sudden variety that has been happening around me lately. Sudden, unannounced deaths. A guy steps into a jacuzzi. Another guy plops down on his favorite living room chair after a night at the theater. Yet another is upstairs changing for dinner in his hotel room. And in an instant, these awesome life stories suddenly end. Heart, brain, whatever. Mr. Reaper has been active around me lately.
Anyways, we all know the horrible, tragic part about suddenly dying. I think that going through the person's stuff must rank among the very worst things loved ones must do. But let's not forget the CARPE DIEM side of this. That we never know when our final heartbeat will thump is, let's just say it, AWESOME. That drives us.
It's amazing how laughably short is a human life span. I figure we American's might get about 79 years of quality, conscious living! So, that's why today's technologies are all the more interesting in the face of such insane brevity of life. Blogs, Face Book and all the things to come may serve as a way to stretch out our time on this planet. I've heard of sites that allow us to send emails about our death and even special love notes to loved ones and future loved ones that our silly little life span bars us from meeting. Cool beans I say. I like the idea of expanding ourselves a little beyond our biology.
Anyways, we all know the horrible, tragic part about suddenly dying. I think that going through the person's stuff must rank among the very worst things loved ones must do. But let's not forget the CARPE DIEM side of this. That we never know when our final heartbeat will thump is, let's just say it, AWESOME. That drives us.
It's amazing how laughably short is a human life span. I figure we American's might get about 79 years of quality, conscious living! So, that's why today's technologies are all the more interesting in the face of such insane brevity of life. Blogs, Face Book and all the things to come may serve as a way to stretch out our time on this planet. I've heard of sites that allow us to send emails about our death and even special love notes to loved ones and future loved ones that our silly little life span bars us from meeting. Cool beans I say. I like the idea of expanding ourselves a little beyond our biology.
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