I'm tired of 'conversations,' it's time to for action!

Good Day World!

I'm sick of hearing the phrase, "We need to have a conversation about..." (Fill in the blank).

Last week, our country was ripped apart when two black men (separate cases) were shot by white police officers; and when five police officers were killed in a sniper attack by a black man who wanted to kill, "as many white cops as possible."

The inevitable response from Black Lives Matters was to protest. Once again, the group's leaders and followers are talking about the need to have a "national conversation," about black men being shot by white cops.

For the record, we have been talking about this problem since the 1960s. So, with all the national conversations we've had over the last fifty years on racial conflict, why are we still talking about it?

Police officers nationwide feel like they're under siege. In 2012, the FBI recorded the deaths of 49 officers killed on duty.

This year, there's already been 58 deaths in the line of duty (as of 7/7/16). That leaves five more months to add to the deadly count.

Where have conversations gotten us?

Pease don't tell me, or a black man, that we've made a lot of progress in race relations the last half century. Facts fracture that notion.

Please don't tell police officers that they shouldn't be worried that each day may be their last one. That every case with a black man may lead to a national incident.

In addition: 

There has been countless conversations about gun control. Everytime a mass murder happens - now a regularity every year - politicians and the public have conversations about gun control. 

Nothing ever happens because the Republican dominated Congress has it's heads so far up the NRA's ass, it can't here the cries of the average American who wants to see some action...any action, that would deter crazies with semi-automatic weapons.

Instead...all we get are conversations in the mass media, and social media. Everyone talks up a storm, but no progress is ever made.

The million dollar question is, "What can we do about it?"

In our last presidential election in 2012, experts say only 57% of Americans bothered to vote. That tells me that a sizeable chunk of Americans aren't voting.

The only way we are going to get action on racial unrest, and gun control, is to elect people who represent a majority of Americans. Not the majority of half of America.

This is a watershed year for politics and progress. The need to get leaders supported by a real majority of Americans has never been greater.

Please vote. Get your friends and family to vote. If you've never voted before, let this be the year you start. We must elect leaders who will take action.

The time for conversations is long gone.

Time for me to walk on down the road... 

Okay, let's talk about nicknames...

Good Day World!
                           
Do you have a nickname?

When I was in elementary school back in the stone age when we used stone tablets instead of texting, there was one kid who literally stood out from the rest of us. 

He was at least a head taller than any other kid in school. He was as tall as the teachers. Everyone but the teachers called him “Bean Pole.” 

We always asked him "what the weather was like up there?” while chuckling at our cleverness. I can’t recall his real name. He was a mild-mannered individual who took the daily razzing, and his nickname, in easy stride. 

Bean Pole’s story illustrates one way we get a nickname: someone gives us one based upon our physical characteristics.

How many 300- pound “Tinys” have you known? 

Sometimes it’s desirable to have a nickname. It can symbolize acceptance, affection, and a form of endearment.

Nicknames have a long history in Indian society where most people have a nickname (call name or affection name) that’s not related to their proper name.

One of my favorite is “Bablu.” I just like saying it. “Bablu…Bablu,“ it flows like poetry. 

And how about those Aussies? From poetic to ironic, they’re known for nicknames like “Bluey” for a person with red hair. 

Usually, someone else gives us our nickname.

Sometimes nicknames come from ethnic backrounds. When I worked at Ford Motor company as an automation tender/welder in 1972, I noticed we had a lot of foreign-sounding (translation: Eastern European) names on the timecards when I punched in and out.

I often called for one electrician, whose nickname was “Ski,” to come see what was wrong on our production line when something wasn‘t working properly. Or, if the line went down for unknown reasons. 

If I’d had to say his full last name every time we needed help, we wouldn’t have made our production quotas! Ski was neatly stitched on his white uniform pocket just above his real name, signaling he was okay with the nickname.

He pronounced his full last name for me once and I asked him if anyone ever got it right? “My wife,” he replied happily.
  
Right about now you’re probably asking, “Dave, what is the origin of the term “nickname”? Where does it come from?”

In a nutshell, after extensive hours of research and repeated caffeine binges, I discovered the compound word for nickname is ekename, literally meaning “additional name,” and first mentioned in European manuscripts in 1303.

It (nickname) came from an old English phrase eaca (increase) and by the fifteenth century, the syllables of the phrase became “an ekename” which led to “nekename.” A spelling transformation over the ensuing years eventually gave us “nickname.”

Of course it’s more complicated than that, but you get the idea. I was going to share my wife’s and my endearing nicknames for each other, but when I mentioned that to her the room suddenly got cold!

Did you know that John Wayne’s nickname "The Duke" came from a dog his family owned that used to follow him about?

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Road To Recovery: Compassion and Compromise

Good Day World!

Two of the hallmarks of a great civilization are the ability of elected leaders to compromise and pass laws to benefit the general public, and a sense of unity among a population that produces compassionate acts and attitudes.

Without these two basic foundations, chaos beckons and governments eventually fall apart, victims of internal strife that seizes the country and undermines the mortar that holds it together. 

America is under assault from polarizing forces hell-bent on confrontation, and destruction. 

Congress' inability to function shows it's a victim of venomous partisan propaganda that doesn't allow for any middle ground.

Compromise is dead. It's a dirty word. What all great statesman in every civilization had going for them was their ability to compromise and to move forward. America has lost that.

Instead, our country is like a ship moored at port without a captain to take it to sea.

Racial divide is splitting the seams of compassion and people have quit looking at each other as equals.

The people who are trusted to keep the peace are fighting a losing battle. Police brutality and racial bias are thorns in the side of our society. 

Lack of respect for the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday for the common good, is too common. What happens when that thin "blue line" can no longer function for lack of support?

Chaos. Anarchy. The fall of the Republic. 

It doesn't have to be that way. It's up to all Americans to convince the sloths in Washington D.C. that they want progress, not ideologically babbling that serves no purpose but to put up barriers.

As for compassion...we can make a point of practicing it. Making it a part of our life. We can treat each other as equals instead of enemies of a different color.

It's starts with one person. Will it be you?

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Good News, the Bad News: ISIS Propaganda Under Assault, Still Sliming the Internet

Good Day World!

The good news today; Islamic State propaganda being spread on Twitter has plunged 45% in the past two years.

This image provided by the State Department shows an image of a teddy bear with Arabic writing and message saying Islamic State "slaughters childhood," 'kills innocence," "lashes purity" or "humiliates children." The Islamic State group’s Twitter traffic has plunged 45 percent in the past two years, the Obama administration says, as the U.S. and its allies have countered messages of jihadi glorification with a flood of online images and statements about suffering and enslavement at the hands of the extremist organization. (State Department via AP)

The bad news; Daesh is still lurking on Twitter, FaceBook, and YouTube.

So What Have We Done About it?

The U.S. and its allies have countered messages of jihadi glorification with a flood of online images and statements about suffering and enslavement at the hands of the extremist organization, according to a recent AP report.

Two years ago the U.S. formed an international coalition to fight ISIS. The stated goals are: military action, and cutting off foreign fighters and finances, confronting the group's extremist ideology and stemming the militants' growing popularity in the Arab world.

Information obtained by AP shows a 6-1 ratio of anti-ISIS content online compared with pro-ISIS content. That's better than last year.

To give you an idea, when pro-ISIS accounts are discovered now, they have about 300 followers each. Back in 2014, such accounts had 1,500 followers each. according to data gathered by AP.

One of the reasons I'm bringing up this progress report against ISIS is that I'm tired of hearing some people say this administration isn't trying hard enough to destroy the extremist group.

Unlike what you hear from demogogue's like Donald Trump, we are waging all out war against ISIS. Trump's simplistic bomb ISIS and attack ISIS by leveling half of the Arab world is just a display of ignorance.

We have a long and trying road ahead in this war, because in the end, it's a war of words and extreme ideology - and not a conventional war against an enemy who will stand and fight us.

I think that's something all Americans should be aware of. In this election cycle lies overlap lies to disguise real intents.

It's up to reasoning and mature adults equipped with knowledge, and not with inflamed emotions, to help this country fight it's greatest enemy today.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Confessions of a Reformed Liar: Any of This Sound Familiar to You?

Good Day World!

Let's settle something right now...everyone lies at one time or another in their life.

Show me a man, or woman, who claim to have never lied, and I'll show you a liar.

A lie is a lie, no matter how you dress it up.

I've known people who classify their lies (as if the very act somehow exonerates their action) into categories. Actually, I'm one of those people.

Big fat lies. White lies. Little lies. Almost lies. The categories are as diverse as the people who use them to explain their reasons for lying.

I'm pretty sure the first time I lied was to save my hide from a spanking by blaming my brother for something bad, dangerous, or something just plain stupid, that I did.

I catagorize that tactic as the survival lie.

As I grew older and became interested in girls, I lied about my sexual experiences even though I was a virgin. 

I categorize that lie as the cool lie, and strongly suspect most of my friends used it too.

When I was a teenager, I lied about my age all the time. Whether it was to impress a girl, or get inside a theatre showing Adults Only movies, I claimed to be 21 when I was as young as 16.

I categorize those lies as casual lies. 

When I was in my 20s I lied about my experience to get jobs.

The survival lie again.

I was in my early 50's before I finally quit lying about things. It wasn't easy. Telling the truth never is, despite the claims of some authors.

It's a big relief not to have to remember cover-up lies or other daily lies anymore. I've run out of reasons for lying. Now, for better or worse, I tell the truth in all things.

FYI: Not everyone wants to hear the truth!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

TGIF! This has been the craziest week ever!

Good Day World!

Last night five Dallas police officers were murdered by a black sniper.

A dozen officers were shot
during what had been a peaceful protest in Dallas over the recent deaths of Alton Sterling, a black man shot by white officers, and Philando Castile, another black man  also killed by police officers.

"It was the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11," according to NBC News.

***

The announcement this week that the much anticipated FBI director's report on Hillary Clinton being "extremely careless" but not guilty of wrong-doing, has further polarized Congress. 

James Comey, FBI Chief, was roundly backed by the Republicans as being the best man to look into Hillary Clinton's transgressions and settle the case once and for all.

They sang Comey's praises...right up until they heard his decision not to go after Clinton. Suddenly, Comey was summoned to appear before the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to "explain" his actions.

***

It's been really painful to watch one of my favorite all time comedians, Bill Cosby, embroiled in sex charges. He was in court this week: 

Bill Cosby Back in Court for Sex Case Hearing

***

Speaking of celebrities, but on a positive note this time,

Sulu Will Be Married and Gay in 'Star Trek Beyond': Report.

"Star Trek Beyond," the latest of the "Star Trek" movies, will show Hikaru Sulu with a husband and a daughter, according to a report by Australia-based Herald Sun newspaper.

***

Of course, many other things happened this week. I just selected an ecelectic assortment to demonstrate some highs and lows.

TGIF! Maybe next week will have more highlights, and less lowlights.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

GOP Convention: Getting Tickets at Trump's 1-Ring Circus Should Be Easy

Good Day World!

The heyday for circuses has passed.

All is not lost however, as Donald Trump plans on putting on a circus worthy of Barnum and Bailey, or The Ringling Brothers.

Up to this election cycle, the event sponsored by the GOP was called the National Convention.

Trump promised to transform the national convention this year into a circus, complete with performing clowns and snake oil dealers. Being a showman first, and foremost, the Donald is busy lining up acts.

It hasn't been easy. The list of the most influential Republicans in the party willing to speak at Trump's circus has dwindled down to practically no one!

The following were asked to attend/or speak and they all turned down the offer.

Latest refusal not related to the circus: Two Potential Trump VPs Just say No


The above is just a short list to give you an idea of how many prominent Republicans aren't going to be eating popcorn at Trump's Circus.

"It's very important to put some showbiz into a convention, otherwise people are going to fall asleep," Trump said in a recent interview.

But Ringmaster Trump's vision of a "Winners Evening" isn't going to be so easy. Thus far, every famous athlete contacted by him - from Boxer, Mike Tyson, to NASCAR chief Brian France, to legendary former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, have other plans that weekend. 

Even the musicians are finding other gigs that weekend. Lee Greenwood, who has performed his hit "God Bless the USA" at several GOP conventions, has refused to say if he's going to attend.

Ted Nugent's spokeswoman told the Washington Post that Ted's skipping the convention, "due to our intensive concert touring schedule."

It's not looking good for the 3-Ring Circus Trumpie is trumpeting.

 He does have a backup plan.

He's going to have at least three Trump family members give a speech. Oh, and his wife Melanie "may" say something too. With her Slovenian accent they better plan on providing a translator!

That ought to bring the audience to their feet!

If Trump didn't make all of his delegates pay out of their own pocket (Bernie Sanders is crowd-funding to pay his delegates way to the Democratic Convention), he'd have a stronger audience supporting him.

It's looking a lot like a 1-ring circus featuring the Trump family, and whatever Republicans can be induced/bribed to attend, and or, speak.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Have you ever danced naked in the rain?

Good Day World!

Did you ever...

...shove something up your nose when you were little?

...get a ride in the back of an old pickup truck full of stinky trash?

...say, "never" - and then had to do it anyway?

...find something unexpected (like money?) while looking for something else?

...fart to music?

...try to share facts with a Republican?

...dance naked in the rain?

...sharpen a drill?

...hear about a politician more stupid than Donald Trump?

...dig for gold?

...change a baby's diaper?

...ride in a roller coaster?

...eat beans because that's all you could afford?

...stand up against a bully?

...tell someone you love them?

Because if you have, you've been living a full life!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

One Year Ago Pandora's Box Was Opened: We're Seeing the Results Today

Good Day World!

Sometime last year, Pandora's box was opened.

Let me tell you a little bit about Pandora's box.

The phrase comes from Greek mythology. The "box" was actually a large jar given to Pandora which contained all the evils in the world.

One day Pandora had a brain fart and opened the jar letting out all the evils, only leaving "Hope" inside once she had closed it again.

When Donald Trump declared he would build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico last year, he opened up a box full of evil ideas and crushed any notions of civility for the presidential race.

White Supremacists, and the KKK, are having a field day supporting Trump's racial attacks against Latinos, Blacks, and Muslims.

Lies,like flies, are always plentiful in any political race, but this election cycle has produced a plethora of them. More lies than truths. Truth has became a casualty in the name of partisanship.

The Republican party has unleashed the Prince of Lies and is now regretting it. Barely half of the party can bring themselves to support him. But the party brand is deemed more important than anything else and the game goes on.

Don't tell me that the Republican party was ready for the consquences of supporting a blatant narcissist, con man, racist, and egomaniac.

By allowing Trump to run on the Republican ticket the party opened Pandora's box, and forgot to leave any hope behind.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Continental Congress Declared Independence on July 2nd, So Why Do We Celebrate It on July 4th?

                               Good Day World!

In America we're celebrating the 4th of July, a patriotic holiday, today...

A lot of people think the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4th. Wrong! July 2nd was when we actually declared our independence.

July 4th was when the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. 

July 4th became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August.

It's also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation.

July 4th was the date people remembered.

In 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4th to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas.

So, now you now you know the rest of the story.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Lie or Dare: The New Political Game

Good Day World!

Everyone knows how to play Truth or Dare, right?

This election cycle has introduced a variation of the wildly popular parlor game: Truth or Dare. It's called Lie or Dare.

It's really easy (translation, a brain-dead politician can handle it) to play. Each political contestant has the choice of completing a challenge, or telling a lie. Be ready for some whoppers. 

Dares are challenges that must be completed by the contestant that they were given to. There's a penalty if a Dare is not completed.

As in, "I dare you to pass a gun control law." 

That penalty will be decided by all the politicians playing.
With no limits on what a penalty can be expect pandemonium.

Like what I expect to see in the Republican Convention  on July 18th thru the 21st.

Warning! It's no fun if people pick lies all the time. There should be a limit on lies. Say, five. Oh yea! 

And a time limit! Pols have a bad habit of droning on about meaningless shit.

Lie or Dare is being played right now in Congress and during this election. As a matter of fact...

Time for me to walk on down the road...