Saturday, September 10, 2022

American Grifters: From Politicians to Pastors - How Do They Get Away with Ripping People Off?

When I look at the successful grifters in America ripping people off I wonder what the common denominator is that makes people easy fund-raising targets.

Is it blind faith?

Is it naivety?

Is it fear?

Is it stupidity?

Is it because some people live in an alternate reality?

What would you call Trump supporters who send him money whenever he asks for it?

The Department of Justice is investigating Trump's PAC for lying to donors about where their money was going... to a defense fund that didn't even exist! Instead, their hard-earned money was put into a slush account for the greatest grifter in American history.

Trump knows no bounds as demonstrated when he stole top secret files, including one file with nuclear information on another country.

What would you call religious followers who enrich evangelical mega pastors offering tickets to Heaven via donations so they can get an extra jet to travel around in?

You may recall that Osteen was once the center of a scandal where $600,000 dollars that had disappeared from the churches coffers was accidently discovered at Osteen's Houston Church by a plumber fixing a toilet wall.

The plumber told the church leadership about his find. Osteen was questioned by the police about the suspicious concealment of the money, as well as its disappearance in 2014.

In 2014, Houston's Crime Stoppers offered a $25,000 reward for help in locating the money. They still haven't caught the mystery thief. Osteen is still busy grifting. 

Despite being investigated for fraud and worse crimes, grifters like Trump or Joel Osteen  manage to thrive. 

Both are famous con men in their own lanes. Secular and religious. Both abuse power for person gratification. Both continue to lie to their loyal followers despite proof that they're being ripped off.

The above are just two examples - albeit dramatic ones - of how successful grifters are in America today. With the help of the internet, it's become a golden age for grifters.

After looking at as many reasons as I could come up with to explain why people allow themselves to become victims... I still don't understand all of the dynamics involved. Does anyone out there?

As it stands, the greatest friend of con artists is lack of knowledge.

Friday, September 9, 2022

Life is Unprecedented: Get Over It!

I'm tired of hearing how everything is unprecedented lately.

News flash! Life is unprecedented.

Something new happens every day.

Listening to political pundits of all stripes breathlessly describe the unprecedented idea of indicting a president for major crimes against the nation has become tiring.

We've never had a president try to overthrow a national election either. We never had a president who stole top secret nuclear files and took them home with him. We never had a more corrupt president in the republic's history.

All unprecedented.

So why quibble about what'll happen if Trump is indicted and convicted? What will happen if he gets away with those crimes?

I enjoy watching "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough even though I don't always agree with him. When Joe agreed with former attorney general Bill Barr that indicting Trump could ultimately do more harm than good my jaw dropped.

Are you kidding me?

Joe warned that indicting Trump will motivate the next Republican administration to indict the next Democratic predecessor.

Say it ain't so Joe... normally you're more clear-headed than that. Did you stop to consider the next Republican regime will go after Democrats like honey badgers no matter what they do while in power?

I agree with what political commentor John Heilemann said on the show.

"I can't believe that you would want to see the other precedent, which is that a president could leave office, steal a bunch of documents, take them to their private home, including top secret nuclear files... and we're going to let that president get away with that?" 

Fact is both are unprecedented

As it stands, life is unprecedented... get over it! 

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Don't Be Afraid of Letting Your Imagination Run Wild

Do you allow your imagination unfettered access as a means of creating solutions?

Are you aware that a good imagination provides people with hope?

The power of imagination transcends reality sometimes, allowing you to see opportunities for transformation and change you were otherwise missing.

Imagination is magical. Spend time watching a young child play sometime and you will experience firsthand the magic that comes from imagination.

Our imagination has the ability to ignite our passion. As adults we reluctantly work in a world of responsibility and practicality that dictates how we live, breath, and experience life. By dreaming of what could be (instead of what is) it reminds us of what it feels like to be passionate.

What's happened in the 21st century is that we lost the connection to passion and purpose in life and replaced it with survival and responsibility.

The good news is our imagination can create positive changes in our future. When we venture out into our imagination to focus on reality that we want to experience, the energy is set in motion and positive changes can be possible.

When it comes to creative artists and scientists, they have one thing in common; they can think outside the box by allowing their imaginations the freedom to grow and evolve.

Let's face it. Sometimes reality just sucks!

Watching the news and hearing about the violence, crime, sickness, and sadness in the world is enough to make anyone believe that the world is falling apart.

By falling into the trap of "what is" and believing that this is the way the world works, we become victims and relinquish our creative abilities. Choosing to use our imagination as means of creation provides us all with hope.

A very practical genius, Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is everything. It is the preview for life's coming attractions."

That same stable genius also said, "Reality is an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

As it stands, realizing that we all have an escape valve and the means to make changes in our lives within us by embracing our imagination is magical.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Memo to Political Pundits: Quit Calling Everything Trump Does a 'Game Changer.'

In the current state of political 

polarization and chaos engulfing the country I keep hearing (and reading) that every time Trump gets caught committing a crime it's a game changer.

If that were the case the game would have been over a long time ago.

The latest hyperbolic claim is Trump is in big trouble because a top-secret nuclear file on another nation was discovered in his beach resort home, Mar-a-Lago.

GAME CHANGER! the headlines and newsrooms have been trumpeting since the Washington Post released the "bombshell" (another word I have issues with) nuke story.

To begin with Trump already has so many charges and cases tied up in court what's one more piece of evidence that will be tied up in the judiciary system for years?

To be clear, nothing in Trump's criminal career as the nation's first Con Man in the Oval Office, was a game changer. The Russia investigation. Two impeachments (something that has never happened to prior presidents), inciting an insurrection in an attempt to steal the 2020 election, and now what?

Espionage, obstruction of justice, and destruction of government files are possible charges floating around at the Department of Justice.

There's simply no good reason to call anything a game changer when it comes to Trump. He works the courts like a mob boss. Because he appointed 223 federal judges during his regime, he expects them to come up big for him when he's dragged into their courts.

Like Judge Cannon (appointed and confirmed days before Trump left office) allowing for a Special Master in the case of the FBI and Trump over government classified and top-secret files.

In essence the judge handed down a decision that had no legal merit because she didn't want to hurt Trump's reputation! 

Pause... I can't stop laughing. What reputation?

You heard that right. It stinks to high heaven while exposing Trump's cronies in higher places like the judicial system. 

This concentrated attempt to overthrow our republic is all just a game for Trump. As a former failed game show host, he knows how to play games with people's minds and emotions.

Political pundits need to understand that there is no one game changer that will put Trump behind bars. It's going to be an accumulative effect of indictments and convictions before that happens.

Now if his final appeal - after multiple convictions - goes to the Supreme Court all bets are off. He appointed three of them just in case he ever had to overturn any charges against him.

Now, their decision would certainly be a game changer for our democracy.

As it stands, hitting a walk-off home run in the 9th inning is a game changer. The term works better with sports.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

An Anal Analysis: What Do You Think About Perineum Sunning?

It's no secret (after all it's been around for years) but I'll bet you never heard of tanning your butthole for better health. 

Maybe you have, but in the off case you didn't, read on.

If you're a TikToker you may be aware of Perineum Sunning (sounds official, doesn't it?) because it's trending recently.

The murky origin of the fad involving pointing one's butt and genitals at the sun is suspect because it could be an offshoot of some wellness cult, or just one big fat joke!

Like... "When the mooooon... is in the seventh house... And Uranus... aligns with the Sun...."

Thus far I haven't met someone who admits to tanning their butthole. BUT... I have met Hispanics who confess to bleaching their buttholes. True story. I've been told it's a "beauty" thing and not to worry my little head about it.

Facts: Like opinions everyone has a butthole. There are millions of people running around like rogue buttholes stinking up our society with conspiracies. 

In an era where MAGA politicians have their heads up their buttholes, it's a badge of honor. Better yet, the further they have their heads up Trump's bloated butt the better.

If we're going to talk about buttholes the subject of stink has to come up. Listen... the cure for stinking buttholes is a mainstream subject. 

Who knew? Ads on TV and in publications proudly display little jars of cream that'll make you butthole smell like flowers. Or, whatever.

Back to tanning butts. One thing that comes to mind is getting a sunburned butthole. What level of hell would that put you through?

I'll bet there's Yoga groups and health nuts who greet the rising sun by laying back, raising both legs, and pointing their buttholes skyward. Not a pretty sight but who cares? It's their way of communing with nature.

As it stands, I'll stick to pruning pot plants as my way to commune with nature.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Trump Cults 'Big Lie' Meets Super Joe

Who was that man speaking?

It was the President of the United States.

So, what's happened to soft talking Joe, the grandfatherly figure? 

He's gone. At least for now. His replacement is a grizzled warrior ready to go to war with the enemies of freedom to protect our democracy. Clad with the armor provided by recent favorable ratings in the polls Joe is going on the offensive.

The speech he gave last week in front of Independence Hall was probably the greatest speech he's made since becoming a politician.

No more tiptoeing through the tulips. Joe identified Trump and his cult followers as enemies within America. Clark Kent came out of the phone booth and Super Joe emerged.

It proves you can teach an old dog new tricks. Joe has never been a charismatic politician, but his speeches at Independence Hall and on Labor Day in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania show that he has the "makings" (as my grandmother use to say) of a more dynamic politician than he's previously showed us.

One of the little things I noticed was that Joe paused a little longer to allow the clapping to reach a crescendo. Before he had a bad habit of speaking before the applause subsided. Kudos to his PR team for that adjustment.

Separating mainstream Republicans from MAGA Republicans, Joe drew a straight line between reality and dangerous fiction. 

As President Biden said, "Maga followers don't believe they have to follow the laws of the land and if they lose an election, they respond with violence and conspiracies to overthrow the results." 

It's something mainstream Republicans have never done before. I'll give them that. That in itself should worry the whole country.

"As Joe framed it, we're fighting for the "Soul of the Country." Despite his critics, Biden has been able to pass a lot of important bills in his first two years. 

As it stands, I think the stark contrast between Trump's cult and the rest of mainstream America is going to lead to unexpected wins - not just for the Democrats, but for all Americans - in the midterms. 

Sunday, September 4, 2022

I'm Still Waiting For...

I'm still waiting for...

... the return of reality to our society. 

Where alternate universes no longer exist alongside facts.

... the Los Angeles Lakers to become contenders again.

... Ted Cruz to start a campaign against a fictional character - Donald Duck, to try and go one up on Ron DeSantis's rabid attacks against Mickey Mouse.

... Marijuana to be made America's National Plant and have it taken off that stupid Schedule One classification (the highest threat to users) the government has cursed it with.

... NASA to prioritize looking for another planet mankind can escape to before we finish destroying this one. A return to the Moon is beyond stupid.

... Hunter Biden to produce proof that Lindsey Graham and Matt Gaetz have been secretly running a pedophile ring for years.

... Kayleigh McEnany (former Press Secretary for Trump) to tell the truth.

... a renaissance of reason to overcome the political damage, misinformation and outright lies that threaten our entire education system.

... a good reason for treason. Let me know if you can think of one.

... Dennis the Menace to grow up and join the Trumplican Party.

... Godzilla to have a rematch against King Kong whose been claiming their last fight on film was fake.

... Mitch McConnell to retire to the rafters of an old barn somewhere in Kentucky to be with his owl family.

... Trump to finally be held accountable (indicted) for his numerous crimes and convicted in all of them.

As it stands, it's not easy being patient, is it?

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Just When You Thought You've Heard Everything: Throwing Bikes into Waterways is a Worldwide Trend

Today we're going to look at the strange trend (on at least three continents) of people tossing their bikes into waterways.

Why? Good question, but no one has the definitive answer. I won't leave you hanging, however. There are different theories why perfectly functional bikes are being tossed into waterways.

Before going any further you could try Googling the phenomena to get additional background into this worldwide trend... or you can settle for a condensed version here by me. 

You can also go on YouTube and listen to people tell you about the satisfaction of watching your bike slip below the surface of the water. Bike tossing videos are hot.

Let's go back to why...

One theory is it's a mass example of vandalism. I wouldn't bet on that one. At best, vandals probably make a limited contribution to the trend.

The fact is bike programs are proliferating across the world. These bike share programs are sponsored by banks or some sort of corporate sponsor with their logos on the mudguards.

Because they're not an individual's bike the share riders have no problem tossing a bike sponsored by a company into the water. It must really be satisfying.

In China people say the reasons they throw bikes into the water are because they violate their privacy. Say what? Apparently, the shared bike programs keep track of their riders with apps on their mobile phone.

Sending the bikes to watery graves is an expression of regaining their freedom. In the 19th century, the bicycle was viewed as an emancipatory machine, a vehicle of liberation that gave them a new kind of mobility.

In Amsterdam, 15,000 bikes are pulled from canals each year. The city is considered one of the world's leading bicycle cities and its numerous canals are the ideal environment for dunking or drowning bicycles. Authorities say it's not unusual for drunks to heave their bikes into the water. 

Beyond that, no one knows why so many bikes are thrown into the waterways. It's so bad that the city has what they call "bicycle fisherman" dredging bicycles out of the canals.

Bike rental businesses in Rome, Italy are simply going out of business because too many of their bicycles were being thrown into the Tiber.

I researched the United States to see if we are going along with this worldwide trend and was unable to find any examples. However, I did find that throwing electric motor bikes into waterways was a thing back in 2019-2020.

As it stands, just when you thought you heard everything, something new always pops up.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Who Else is Sick of Hearing Rumors of War?

Republican lawmakers are spreading rumors of war if our former president is indicted... for any of his crimes.

American military strategists research rumors of war around the world, weighing in if they think the United States needs to get involved as a matter of national security.

In our politics war is a central theme 

War against Women

War on Democracy

War of Words

Another Civil War

War for the soul of America

War against liberals and conservatives

The War against the Deep State

and so forth...

It sure would be nice if everyone could just sit back, take a deep cleansing breath, and leave the word war out of their vocabulary, especially when it comes to heated political arguments.

I'm going to go Biblical on you for a moment and pass on a passage from Matthew 24:3

Jesus's disciples asked him "Tell us... what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?"

Jesus responded, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars" (Matthew 24-6) ... See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet."

My interpretation is, don't worry about what will happen in the future. Live for today because you can't change anything.

So, when we hear these dire rumors and threats of future wars, we need to put them into prospective. Political rhetoric has always been harsh and threatening. While it can lead to a civil war, it doesn't mean we'll have another one.

I realize there are no guarantees in life, but it doesn't mean we should live in fear. Life is too short for that.

As it stands, the good news is we have freedom of choice when it comes to choosing between negative and positive input in our lives.

Thursday, September 1, 2022

What Was Your Most Embarrassing Moment?

Let's all just get real and admit we've had humiliating and embarrassing moments in our lives where we wished we were invisible.

I read an article about the parents of one ten-year-old girl who must have wished they were invisible at a Red Lobster Restuarant. Their daughter decided she felt bad for all the lobsters in the tank, took a chair and smashed the tank to free them. Mission accomplished. 

The parents were told not to ever come back again. I'm surprised they weren't sued. 

Can you imagine how embarrassed they must have been tiptoeing around live lobsters on the way out of that restaurant?

Moving on...

One of my favorite embarrassing stories involves my darling wife of 48 years, Shirley. She and two of her friends were driving back to northern California (Eureka) from San Francisco a decade ago when they all needed to stop for a potty break.

They found a shopping center right off the 5 Freeway and went into a store to use their facilities. On the way back to the car, after leisurely stopping and checking items out they were in the parking lot when one of the ladies started laughing...

"You have a toilet paper tail Shirley," she shrieked with laughter while pointing at her bum. My thoroughly humiliated wife will never get to forget that incident because of those two friends... and me!

All right. It's my turn.

Once upon a time I was a sleepwalker (six years old) and it often put me in awkward circumstances. But none were more embarrassing than the night I peed on my birthday cake!

Allow me to explain. My parents and Aunt and Uncle were sitting around the kitchen table and drinking beer long after I went to bed. 

At one point I walked past them and went straight for the refrigerator. Before anyone could react, I opened it, dropped my shorts and sprayed the contents within - which included the remnants of my birthday cake.

My father guided me back (I was still asleep) to my bedroom. From that day on it became family lore. The good news is I'm no longer embarrassed.

The fact is I've had lots of embarrassing moments during my seven decades. I'm strangely proud of them and chalk them up to lessons in life. 

Memories...

--- the time I was at a college journalism awards banquet and took a fork full of baked potato with Horseradish on it (spoiler - I hate Horseradish) and was in the process of spewing it up on the table when my name was called out for writing the best Sports story of the year. Needless to say, all eyes were on me.

--- my first date with Shirley when I took her to a fancy restaurant in Hollywood and was trying to act suave and worldly and almost led her into a janitor's closet instead of the dining room!

--- in high school I went on a surfing double date with a girl in one of my classes along with my sister and her boyfriend (who had a station wagon). I'm not going to bore you with how the date came about. Instead, I'll cut right to the chase...

I was not a surfer. Nor had I ever tried to surf. My sister's boyfriend was a surfer (who lucky for me had an extra surfboard) and said he could teach me how. The bottom line is I wanted to impress my bikini clad date.

As usual, my 16-year-old hubris didn't allow for me to consider that I might look like an ass out in those breakers. 

In record time I wiped out. Again. And again, until the last time when my nose collided under pressure with the tip of the board. Blood spurted out instantly. As I looked out toward the beach, I saw my sister and the girl I wanted to impress laughing they're asses off!

Did I mention it was first and last time she went on a date with me?

Listen.

Try remembering your most embarrassing moments and you may be surprised at your attitude toward them now. The very least that will happen is you'll smile.

As it stands, I believe that we all need to be humiliated at times just to stay real.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Searching for Laughter in a Grim World

It's harder than ever to laugh about something during these grim times of social unrest and increasing climate disasters. That's a given.

The Search for Laughter

Reader's Digest features a monthly section titled, "Laughter is the best medicine." Start your search for humor there.

Experts say that laughter is a great form of stress relief... and that's no joke. It's not going to cure all ailments, but recent research shows the positive things laughter does offer.

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. 

Here's a few examples: (Source - Mayo Clinic)

* It stimulates many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released from your brain.

* It activates and relives your stress response. A good hearty laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The payoff leaves you feeling relaxed.

* It soothes tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Are you afraid you lost your sense of humor or never really had an easy time laughing? Don't worry about it!

Humor can be learned

You can keep humor on your horizon by watching funny TV shows, movies, and reading books and magazines devoted to humor. There're many other ways like going to humorous web sites to get a good chuckle.

I've found that sharing my humorous situations with others quickly strips away my tensions. When you laugh at yourself people are likely to laugh with you. 

A great example would be comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield. I dare you to listen to one of his routines and not laugh so hard you get short of breath!

Okay. It's time to turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile... and then laugh! Even if it feels forced. How do you feel afterwards? Are your muscles less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or even buoyant?

As it stands, it's a wonder that our brains have a built-in stress relief system.

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...