Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Note To My FaceBook Followers: I'm Sorry For Bringing Politics into A Room That Use To Be Fun

"There's a time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest." 
- Ecclesiastes 3:2


Good Day World!

There's a time and place for everything.

In the last year, I've watched FaceBook degenerate into a partisan political place where friends and family turn upon one another like crazed badgers.

It's this damn election!

I have to admit that I've been just as guilty as others who post nasty memes and try to demean those who don't agree with me.

I apologize.

There's nothing wrong with writing about politics, but there is a time and place for everything. FaceBook was not meant to be a political room where people can romp around and spout hateful partisan slogans.

FaceBook was meant to be a way to positively connect with people. Family and friends. I've discovered, and re-connected, with a lot of people since I joined.

It still brings me pleasure to see what my friends and family are doing. But it is time for me to take stand: 

I will no longer post partisan crap on FaceBook.

I'll keep my political dialogue in my blog where it belongs. It's a great outlet for taking on politics in general.

I hope that others who see themselves going down that same political path I was on in FaceBook will pause, and reconsider. There's enough polarity in our society today. 

Let's make FaceBook a safe - and fun - place to be again.

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

Monday, October 10, 2016

Presidential Debate Part II: Fear and Loathing at Washington University in Missouri


                                        Good Day World!

If you have children I hope you didn't let them watch the second presidential debate.

It was unreal.

If Hunter S. Thompson were alive today and covering this campaign, this election would have exclipsed his manifesto, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas!

Debate Part II: Wallowing in Mud and Lies

It's pretty sad that the main topic of the debate centered around illicit sex, cheaters, and disrespecting women. If you thought Debate I was bad, then you must of been reeling after last night's verbal firefight.

I've seen mud-slinging in presidential elections since I started voting in 1972, but nothing comes close to the full-on mud bath I've witnessed thus far in this election.

I certainly hope the third debate will be rated TV Mature Audiences only.

I'm embarrassed for America today. The world is watching the decline of Democracy and the Republic with disdain, amusement, and concern.

Instead of putting up our best and brightest to lead this great country, we have brought forth two of the worst major party candidates in modern history.

It looks like America is going to pay a steep price for the next four years. Let's hope we all survive it.

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

Sunday, October 9, 2016

White Evangelicals Tout Trump, a Non-Christian, Because They Believe His Lies

Good Day World!

My question today is, do White Evangelicals really believe Donald Trump cares about them or their beliefs?

What in Trump's history indicates he's religious? Trick question. Nothing.

The world has watched his hedonistic antics since the late 70's and there's no evidence of God being in his life. 

I've watched Evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell Jr., Paula White, and James Dobson disregard Trump's historical lack of interest in religious issues, his anti-women and racist rants, the Muslim ban, his anti-immigrant bashing and his constant lying.

What's going on? Any one of these leaders can rattle off the 10 Commandments but none of them seem to think they apply to Trump. 

Why else would they support him? Well...there is that matter of Hillary Clinton (a Methodist all of her life) who is a Democrat. The White Evangelical brand is very strict about not voting for Democrats.

I suppose they think it's a bigger sin than electing the anti-Christ Donald Trump. In order to vote for Trump evangelicals have to ignore most of the tenants of their religion.

Can you say hypocrisy?

Televangelist Frank Amedia, who recently served in a volunteer capacity as a Trump "liaison" between the campaign and evangelicals, told his listeners to prepare for The Second Coming.

"If we could see into the havenlies right now," Amedia said in a recent interview, "We would see a skirmish going on that I believe is the beginnings of the preparation of the way of the coming of the Lord."

He may be right if Trump, aka the anti-Christ, is elected president. Which leaves me wondering why evangelicals would even think about voting for Trump if they believed that?

It appears Trump can walk down a street, shoot someone (his own words) and make promises to evangelicals he'll never keep...and some people will still vote for him.

Now,that's scary.

Related: The Trump Tape That Exposes His True Opinion of Women

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

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Why Corporations Get Away With Hiding Cash in Bermuda and The Cayman Islands

Good Day World!

Donald Trump thinks he's a genius because he gamed the tax system and is not paying taxes. 

He's not alone however.

American corporations routinely stash cash overseas in two islands so they don't have to pay taxes. Like Trump, these corporations are gaming the federal tax system which needs to be changed.

Hiding money in a office box in Bermuda is a good way to avoid paying taxes if your a corporation, or even a rich individual. 

You may be wondering why Bermuda and the Caymans are so attractive to big corporations. For starters, according to a recent study  they have little in the way of a tax system.

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires publicly held corporations, to disclose how they interact with the federal tax system — how much they pay in U.S. taxes, how much they pay abroad, how much cash they hold abroad for tax purposes. 

But guess what? No one is enforcing these requirements or the corporations wouldn't do it. It's going to take a re-write of the Federal Tax Laws - and enforcement - to stop corporations from hiding money abroad to avoid paying taxes.

Right now, it's easier to stash corporate funds in these two islands than it is to get a library card, according to Matt Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Meanwhile, the rest of America is paying taxes. That, my friend, is not right!

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

Friday, October 7, 2016

Could Hurricane Matthew Be The October Surprise Trump Needs?


                                                Good Day World!

Millions of Americans are on edge as Hurricane Matthew slams into Florida today. 

Lives, and votes are on the line.

I can't emphasis enough how important it is for the Obama administration to respond quickly to the state's expected needs. 

If there's any controversary about how relief efforts are handled, the Republican nominee for President, Donald Trump, will seize upon the chance to convince voters he could have done better.

With the election mere weeks away, Trump could use an October surprise as he's been sinking in the polls again since losing his first debate with Hillary Clinton.

Dire predictions spurred a mass exodus in Florida Wednesday as Gov. Rick Scott warned people not to stay there and try to ride the storm out. 

About 1.5 million Floridians all up and down the coast have been evacuated and 3,500 members of the National Guard have been activated.

Related:

How Hurricanes Have Disrupted and Defined Past Elections

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

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Need a Good Laugh, Or Two? Read On...

Good Day World!

Need a good laugh?

Read on...

A couple was going on vacation but his wife was on a business trip so he went to the destination first and his wife would meet him the next day.

When he got to the hotel he decided to send his wife a quick email.

Unfortunately, when typing her address, he mistyped a letter and his email was directed to an elderly preacher's wife whose husband had passed away the day before.

When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.

At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

"Dearest Wife, 
Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.

P.S. Sure is hot down here.

(via http://academictips.org/blogs/funny-short-stories/)
------------------------------------

OLD SCHOOL BASKETBALL

I don't know if you noticed last season, but five NBA players were fined for having shorts that were too long..they went below their knees.

Does anyone remember the NBA in the 70's and 80's?

Basketball players used to play in Speedos and halter tops!
------------------------------------

ALONZO BODDEN ON POLITICALLY CORRECT COMEDY

"A joke is either funny or it's not funny. If I hear a funny joke, you know what I do? I laugh, that's what I do. I don't start a focus group to see who got hurt by the joke."

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

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Divided We Fall: Will America Survive This Election?

Good Day World!

America had a pretty good run for 240 years, but the noble experiment is exploding as we watch in horror.

The wealthy are moving to consolidate their power as a billionaire runs for the presidency. Visions of no taxes for the 'job-makers" are dancing in their greedy little heads.

Partisan politics have not only polarized our government into bowing before brands - no matter how corrupt and loathsome - but they have lost any veneer of civility in the election process.

The bar has been set so low by followers of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, that it's no longer safe to let your children follow the toxic campaign.

And it couldn't come in a worst time in our history.

Racial unrest has become a front-and-center topic. Immigration is a subject bitterly fought over. More have-nots are giving up hope for a better life.

Slithering to the top of the toxic brew in this election is the alt-right support for Donald Trump. Neo Nazi's and klansmen are crawling out from beneath their rocks and basking in the air of legitimacy Trump is giving them.

Read The Alt-Right Will Rise And Fall With Donald Trump

Will America survive this election? 

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

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

It's Never Too Late To Start All Over Again

"It's never too late to start all over again
To love the people you caused pain
And help them learn your name
Oh no, not too late
It's never too late to start all over again."
-Steppenwolf

Good Day World!

Tuesday testimonial time.

I've had to start all over again a couple of times in my life. The first time was the transition from civilian (19 years-old/photo) to soldier. 

Coming back from Vietnam in 1970 was a jarring transition. From playing pickup basketball in gyms to humping through jungles full of enemies, my world spun like a top.

When I got back in "the world" I had to suddenly adjust from combat to being a civilian again. Hard times. I drifted for several years, roaming from job-to-job, from state-to-state, and from my nightly nightmares.

Long story short. I fell in love and got married. That was the start of a journey that took me back from the edge of sanity to college and a career as a journalist.

The story doesn't end there however.

After 20 years of working in newspapers and magazines, PTSD got the better of me. I could no longer work and descended back to the dark places in my brain that pulled me - screaming - back into the jungle.

It took over two decades to get to the place that I can now say is a good one. I can honestly say I've learned how to live with my PTSD. It'll never go away, but there are many things I can do to save my day.

That's it folks. I sincerely mean it when I say, It's never too late to start all over again.

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

Monday, October 3, 2016

Alarming Buzz On Bees: 7 Types Now On Endangered Species List

Good Day World!

Albert Einstein once prophetically remarked, "Mankind will not survive the honeybees' disappearance for more than four years."

Today, humans worldwide are facing the loss of the global honeybee population.

U.S. Adds 7 Types of Bees To The Endangered Species List For The First Time

The consequence of a dying bee population impacts us all at the highest levels on the food chain, posing an enormously grave threat to human survival.

Death and Extinction of the Bees

Think about it. There is no other single animal species that plays a more significant role in producing the fruits and vegetables that we all take for granted.

Here's Why All The Bees Are Dying

You don't see the subject of the rapidly declining worldwide bee population on the mainstream media very often. Perhaps some people don't want us to be concerned. I'm not sure.

It seems to me however, that the disappearing bee community should be a concern that we're ALL TALKING About.

What can you do to help?

Why We Need To Save The Bees + 10 Things You Can Do To Help

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

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Who Knew Frankentrump Would Turn On His Creators? A Film Buff?


                                        Good Day World!

It took decades for the Republican party to piece together their creation, Frankentrump.

Last year the GOP happily declared "It's alive! It's alive!" when Frankentrump walked over his competition in the primaries.

In an interesting case of life reflecting art, we see the Frankenstein monster and Donald Trump merge - created by conflicting forces - and become the embodiment of the grand spectacle the GOP hoped to stage in order to gain back the presidency.

Sociologists say many Americans are feeling they have little control over their lives.

Republicans have taken this sense of helplessness, and anger, and have used it for the last thirty years to tell their supporters that they should be angry about blacks, immigrants, big government, Muslims, terrorists, and a host of other issues that have nothing to do with the problems they face daily.

Frankentrump emerged fullblown from this steady indoctrination, becoming their leader. But the established Republicans that created him found that they couldn't control him.

The GOP found out, too late, that Frankentrump was never really their monster.

He was influenced by them, but belonged to the legions of angry under-educated white men waiting to create chaos.   

He knew interesting is preferable to informed or reasonable or lucid. That's why he goes off-script so often and riffs on stage like a stand-up comedian.

That approach didn't work out well however. That was evident during the First Presidential Debate with Hillary Clinton (9/26):


Analysis: Hillary Clinton's Studies for Debate With Donald Trump Pay Off




Meanwhile establishment Republicans are hunkered down in their offices waiting. In shock. Waiting, and hoping that Frankentrump doesn't complete his mission of destruction if elected.

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

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...