The Fear that Prevades...

Those of you reading the title are wondering if I've lost my dictionary. Nope, just coining a term: prevade, what comes before invade. It's a bastardized form of the word pervade, meaning to be spread throughout. As we begin this new year, we begin with hope. Don't we? Every new something should begin with hope. This new year, the incoming congress hopes to destroy the inroads that the last one made to end or at least lessen the devastation of the middle class and the rights of all people. See..... there's hope for you. my goal is to make 2011 my year of hope. Hey, if hollywood is right, it's all going to end in 2012 anyway, may as well enjoy life while it's here! I saw this vid, and though it's a few months old it seemed still so very real and valid. Check it out.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Something tells me this New Year is going to have an attitude!

conformity

Hello my friends; As you who have followed this stumbling adventure, and as you others that may have read my side bar, I have been struggling to understand the difference between the lies I've told myself, my peers and my relatives, and the truth that lives within my soul. It was a difficult admission for me to realize that I am attracted to boy parts and not so much to girl parts. It has been an even greater difficulty to make that change in my life. So, I think, I study, I look and try to learn. One once said that if you free your mind then your ass will surely follow. A second but similar struggle, I've really run into a wall in dealing with Scottie's last challenge when speaking about the man who is behind bars for supposedly leaking to that wiki person where Scottie asked "what do we do about this [his abusive captivity]. I say all of that to introduce a vid I found on conformity. I will put up the link, but I am also going to try to put up the vid. It is long, somewhat dry, but if you can get past the academic drone, some of the questions that suddenly come crashing into my mind, and surely yours, are very interesting. For instance: Why does it take so damn long for simple things, like dadt and gay marriage, to be resolved and allowed to fly? They are obvious issues, and yet the loud minority seems to be the strongest. Why is there debate on Global Warming? Either it is or it ain't...call it. For that matter, why is it that arguments in the political sphere have little to do with fact, but people will quote you the by-lines with clear threat in their voices should you disagree. And, why do I find that I sometimes agree when I doubt what I'm agreeing to? Have I grown that weary? How has the "fair and balanced" (choke) "reporting" of fox news, which you likely read in Scottie's ToyBox, effected the way things have gone in this country and the way people think? Have you noticed the repeating catch phrases in the republican speakers? There is a reason for that. It has little to do with the truth. Why is Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Rielly, and that whole clan of mouths so successful? Why is it that I know more about the hygene habits of know-nothing celebrities than I know about the wars in Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, Darfur, Pakistan, ...do I need to go on?....after watching the news? How is it that I still find myself allowing other's opinions to influence my life, even in ways that make me unhappy? Shouldn't I be beyond this? You will surely have other questions....I didn't list all that I have. But, I think I did find an answer to Scottie. If you are reading, Scottie, here is the best answer I can come up with: Climb to the roof-tops, in blogger-form, and scream it as loud as you are able: THIS IS WRONG! Then, say it again, and again, and again. Encourage others to say it. Please take a moment, see the vid...it's less than 10-min., and the man says you will be less likely to be conforming after watching it. Not a cure, but awareness is its' own panacea. Here is the link...I can't seem to post the vid. http://www.wimp.com/conformityvideo/

The Grinch in Charities form...

I guess I can't be too surprised, and yet it pisses me off. The charity calls, and why is it that they always come from the "out of area" part of town, or so says my caller id? I received a call yesterday, and having learned a bit I now ask questions. The first question: Who are you and for which charity are you calling? Well, I got the name of the charity. I suspect the call was coming from a second company. So, I told the nice man that I would look up his charity and if he felt confident that his charity would meet approval he could call back in a couple of days and we would discuss it. He asked if I wanted the charity's web site? I laughed and told him that wouldn't be necessary, I would look it up. He seemed discouraged when he hung up. Here's why... The charity, which purports that it's primary recipient is children suffering from leukemia, has received an "F" rating by the BBB and other raters. Of course, its own site is full of praise. My point: No matter how good the charity sounds, do your homework. It took me very little time to work through the fluff and find the meat of this charity. It was rotten.

Now that Christmas is done...

Well, Christmas is over. The presents are all unwrapped and even the returns have been made. So, now we have to wonder if Santa has brought us the gifts we always wanted.

I have to laugh at myself a bit today. My parents left on their yearly migration, barking and snapping as they went with time-outs in the midst of it all for hugs goodbye. I'll see them again when the flowers are in bloom. And, danged if I don't find myself missing them. Even the dog is mopey. Go figure.

So, time to ask ourselves, did Santa bring the gift we really want?

I find that my soul is lonely for one beautiful and bold. One who will hold me in the night, when it's cold.

My heart is weary for the often times so many mothers cry when their son, a soldier, dies.

My hands feel useless when hunger I see, cramping the stomach of one so wee.

So I ask Santa, to return all my gifts. I realize I've forgotten so many things for my lists.

Let us open Peace. Let us unwrap Love. Let us light up forgiveness like stars up above.

Let us sing about Hope. Let us drink to Harmony. Let every cup floweth over in Plenty.

Let my Hand reach out to Your's, and Your's to Another.

Let us Give Thanks and Hug, like Brothers.

I don't know if Santa will honor such requests. I hope so.

Ask away. It couldn't hurt. Let your own requests be written below.

Have a very Happy New Year, my friends. With hugs; randy.