Friday, March 30, 2012

Racism


30 March 2012

First off, I was going to write my thoughts on the Trayvon Martin case then I decided against it because I don’t think people really want to hear it. Instead, I think that for today I would like to voice my thoughts on racism or rather, my thoughts on certain characteristics of racism and I would like to present them to you “Jeff Foxworthy” style. Secondly, if you are offended by rampant use of the word “dumbass” then I suggest you read no further and go back to your Facebook page. Here goes!

If you think you are a better person than anyone else because your skin color is lighter than others then you my friend, are a dumbass.

If you think you and members of your race are the only ones to have ever been subjected to racism, then you are a dumbass.

If you think that white people are the only ones capable of inflicting racism on another then you are a dumbass.

If you think that racism is specific to the southeast area of the continental United States then you are a seriously huge dumbass.

If you think that nothing can happen to a black person without them screaming “Racism!” then you are a dumbass.

If you think that racism is the cause for every bad thing that happens in your life, then you are a dumbass.

If you think you know everything about what happened to Trayvon Martin and that you possess the necessary insight to determine that racism caused his death and allowed the shooter to go free, then you just may be a dumbass.

If you think wearing a hoodie anywhere or having a picture taken of you wearing a hoodie is going to help solve anything, then you are a dumbass.

If you think the media does not exploit events with sensationalism or if you think they are reporting the truth or even all the facts of anything, then you are a dumbass.

If you think racism is not a problem in this country, then you are a dumbass.

I could go all day but hopefully you get the idea of what I think about the subject. Racism is a fool’s game and is borne of mistrust and ignorance. It’s hard to stay focused on solving problems when we have too many outside forces trying to deflect our energies with their hate based agenda. I know that nothing I can say will or can fix anything but I can say that there is always hope. We can always dream.

Have a Blessed Day Ya’ll!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Religion of Peace

29 March 2012

This past weekend I received an email containing a YouTube video of Libyans protesting the burning of Koran by desecrating World War II graves of fallen Allied troops. They even felled a cross at the head of the gravesite. Of course, I am upset about this. It is upsetting to see their graves and markers destroyed for any reason. When I first viewed the video clip, I was outraged. My mind filled with feelings of revulsion and the strong desire to extract vengeance for the defenseless fallen heroes and their families. I entertained visions of our sending a Company of Marines backed by an Air Wing and a squadron of bomb laden B-52’s to do repairs on the cemetery after laying waste to any and all living within Libyan borders.

It wouldn’t take much for us to subdue any military force in the Arab-Muslim world. We have already demonstrated what a concentrated military offensive conducted by our forces can do. Despite its appeal, I know that military action is not the answer here.  We are heavily involved in the Arab-Muslim world but I think we need to re-evaluate that. Do we really need to be so involved in the region? Is it really worth it to us as a nation to be involved in the Arab-Muslim world? We spend heavily to build infrastructure, opportunity and growth in their countries. At a cost of taxpayer money and most importantly American lives and we don’t even get understanding in returning. 

Western society has gone to great measures to ingratiate and welcome the Muslim world. America was founded on the principal of religious freedom for all. We have done so especially with the Muslim religion to the point that we take God out of the classroom and public halls so as not to offend anyone. A move that I feel violates my rights. We welcome them into our communities with open arms and provide them all the freedoms as we do all Americans. We build their mosques here and in their home countries and they use those same mosque’s to preach how we are the infidels and we are the evil ones and how we are the haters and how we should be annihilated if we not bend to their will and their religion. How many plots are hatched in the safe confines of their mosques? How many terrorists are given refuge? Western society, America, has done and does so today, so very much to bridge gaps between us and Islam and for what? We confine those engaged in hostile activities against our forces, they use their Koran to pass messages and plan resistance. We confiscate the books they hide behind and destroy those books, so now we are the poisonous ones.  The Christian Bible has been burned many times by those opposing it and it still lives today. The Koran will survive. The teachings of Muhammad will endure unscathed, of this I have faith. Pity some Muslims do not share my faith in the strength of their own religion.

Frankly I am tired of their crap. If they want to fight us then ok, let’s fight! Let’s wage war. But let us dictate the course, nature and speed of this war. Come out from your mosques, from behind the backs of your women and children. If neither side has the desire to do that, then I say let’s leave them. It’s what they want. It is also the first thing we should do if we truly want to make inroads with the Arab-Muslim world. They wish to be left alone. No doubt, they will use their oil as a weapon against us at the first opportunity but let’s leave them anyway. We don’t need their oil and without that bargaining chip, what is the value of their lands? Beyond oil what strategic value do they really have that we need to waste precious American lives for?  

Is there a better way, a higher lesson here? I’m not really sure. I am just so very tired of hearing their hypocritical crap and I am tired of our people losing their lives for the cause. Despite my rantings here I am not fearful of Islam and I respect the Muslim faith. I would like to study it further and learn more about it as I would the Jewish faith as well. I am no xenophobe. I am proud that I live in a country where we welcome our Muslim brothers and sisters and give them every opportunity to practice their faith. As a Christian man, I accept all as friends until they prove otherwise and I forgive them even then.  As I have said before, I never refuse a friend. I know that as a country, we will continue our efforts to appease and to peacefully coexist with the Nation of Islam. Still, I am saddened because in the end, I think the only place we will meet with our differences settled is with them lying on their backs, our gun barrels to their chest, on the dusty plains of Megiddo. This despite our best efforts to avoid it and their best efforts to bring it about.

Have a Blessed Day Ya’ll!

Related Links:

YouTube video showing the desecration of the graves:

Report on the event by the British Daily Mail on 2 March 2012:

Report on the event by the Toronto Star on 5 Mar 2012:

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

American Idol


28 March 2012

Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest tell us every year that this season’s crop of finalists is the best they have ever had. Really? I don’t agree with that and I doubt seriously they believe those words themselves. I think the current talent pool needs some work. I have been watching Idol since season six when Jordan Sparks won. I thought she was good and deserved the win. I can’t say the same for some of the winners of the subsequent seasons.  I mean I really think Adam Lambert should have won over Season 8’s Kris Allen, Crystal Bowersox is a way better artist than Lee DeWyze in season 9. Season 10’s winner, Scotty McCreery, is good but as far as artistry, is he any better than the runner-up Lauren Alaina or my favorite from last year Pia Tuscano? I am not so sure.

As for the remaining contestants for this season, I am not sure we have an outright favorite yet. It seems to change weekly perhaps as it should. But I think the hands down favorite is most likely Colton Dixon. I think he has talent and has a promising future ahead of him as a musician. I think Steven Tyler was right in regarding him as a true musician. I agree, he labors at his art and it reflects in his work. My favorite so far I think is Hollie Cavanaugh. She has a great voice in a Celine Dionne sort of way and she can certainly sing her hits. But she’s not so good outside of that realm of “power” tunes. Her inability to master the low ranges will keep her from going too far in this competition. I really like Phillip Phillps. He’s a good artist but he’s getting repetitive. Every week he sounds the same and ends every song with a trademark growl and scream. Dave Matthews he is not and I hope we see something of Phillip Phillips true soul. Because I know he has a lot of it in him. Joshua Ledet could go far in this competition but he needs to get away from the warbling screaming gospelness of music and take on the songs as they were intended. I say that only because we need to see his true range and versatility. Like Phillips, he tends to stick to his comfort zone and when he does step out, it hasn’t been too good. He is a good singer and a fantastic gospel talent, don’t get me wrong on that. Same thing applies to Skylar Laine, this seasons Reba. Good country sound and I love her energy but step outside that zone and let’s see what ya got! Of course, there’s nothing wrong with putting a country sound unique to Skylar on everything. That wouldn’t be taken negatively either!

Elise Testone is very good. But she relies too much on Adele’s style to come off as anything more than a hack. I think her attitude sucks too. She’s lightened up some but clearly in the early rounds she was festering with diva-ishness and attitude. This world has enough of those and I fear that her maturity could get in the way of her commercial or professional success. Notice how I differentiated between the two. Jessica Sanchez, her voice is good yet undisciplined. Sanchez can sing Whitney, that’s about it. She tends to scream when going for the high notes and loses her breath as a result. The last two contestants, Heejun Han and Deandre Brackensick, are simply outclassed. Heejun has some good core talent but his accent interferes some and his humor is starting to wear thin on people. I liked what he did last week with the Billy Joel song but he needs to adopt a more serious approach. Deandre is just plain awful and is only there because of his hair and purported “cuteness” in a Sanjaya Malakar kind of way.

The thing about American Idol is that they are not looking for someone to be an artist. They are looking for someone to mold into a commercial success and they are using this show, and America, as a beta testing platform to get the value of their corporate dollar. I don’t think that’s a good thing for some of the younger talent coming out. If you are serious about becoming a true artist then American Idol may not be the way you want to go. Some have done well. Kelly Clarkson is a huge commercial success and that suits her niche ell. Carrie Underwood is another huge success. Some of the runner ups have fared very well, Chris Daughtry comes to mind as does the aforementioned Adam Lambert. I hope to hear more from Crystal Bowersox and Pia Tuscano. These are artists that have taken their commercial opportunity and are crafting a good professional, artistic career. I hope the young talent of today can use their example as role models and provide us with some much needed entertainment.

Yup! This world needs entertainment. So I will tune in to the show tonight and watch and vote.  My wife and I watch every week and we make a night of it, preparing snacks and getting all excited about it. We talk about the artists and discuss our thoughts on how well they perform. It is good fun for us. Tonight we will see Heejun Han’s last performance, followed by Deandre, Hollie, Joshua, Skylar, Phillip, and Elise in roughly that order. The final two this year will come down to Colton and Jessica and I have little doubt that Colton probably should win but it will most likely be Jessica. One never knows what will happen when it comes to tallying the winner of American votes.

Have a Blessed Day Ya’ll!!!


Related Links:

Wikipedia list of American Idol finalists:

The Official American Idol Website:


Today’s “Did Ya Know”: It’s “National Something-on-a-Stick Day”!!! Ya luv you some kebabs??? How about a nice fudgesicle??? Today anything on a stick gets its day in the sun! You can put anything on a stick! In fact, if you or someone you know is in a bad mood, you can say “GUT GAWD, does he have a stick up his butt or what???” That’s right! I can be the “something” on “Something-on-a-Stick” Day!!!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Time Off

26 March 2012

Hello! Just wanted to pass on that I am taking a few days off to recharge and revitalize. Truth be told, I pulled a neck muscle while sneezing and it really hurts. Also I have a full day of cardiac stress testing,ECG's and ultrasound procedures on my carotids scheduled for Wednesday, March 28th,  and, while I do not need to "prepare" for it, I do like to chill. See you soon and wish me luck.

Don

Friday, March 23, 2012

My Life as a Donkey


23 March 2012

I have been called an ass before. And you know what? I wish I was an ass! If I was an ass I could just stand around all day chewing on some grass and hay and shaking my tail. I'd love to have a tail. I'd have the best tail in town!

If I was an ass, I could give little kids a ride or maybe some old peoples too. That would be cool. Maybe after I gave people rides, they’d give me a little kiss on my cheek. Maybe people would think it was good luck to kiss me!! My owners could tell people to come kiss their ass for good luck!

I could carry some supplies around for people and maybe even start a business for my owners. I could hear my owners now as they ride me around, “Hey I gotta get off my ass and get some groceries delivered!”

If I was having a slow day and people couldn’t get me to move, they could build a fire underneath me! I’m sure my owners would agree that the best way to get your ass moving is to start a fire underneath it. Of course, knowing me the way I do, that when it was cold outside, I would want to warm my butt by the fire! That would teach people a lesson about irony. They would see me and think “Wow, an ass warming his butt by the fire.”

Come to think of it, being an ass would be a pretty nice thing. I think we sometimes take an ass for granted and we should be more appreciative of the ass. They have served a noble and useful purpose since the beginning of time. Helping mankind throughout eternity! So call me an ass and I will swell with happiness! I will hoist my head up and bray, howl, or whatever it is that they do, in complete ass pride!!! No matter what, I think I will continue being me and if that means being an ass, I am ok with that.

Have a Great Day Ya’ll!!


Today’s “Did Ya Know”: It is “National Puppy Day”!!!!!! We have progressed as a society now to the point that we have a special day for puppies!!!!! I like puppies. They’re cute! Until they pee on the floor then they’re trouble!!!! I know that my wife and I both want puppies and today would be a great day for us or anyone else to go out and get a puppy! Adopt a puppy at a local animal shelter or pound!!! Puppies can make all the bad things in the world less bad and more manageable! How about puppy breath? What are your thoughts on puppy breath?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Miami Dolphins

22 March 2012

For those of you that know me, you know I am a die-hard Miami Dolphin fan. I bleed aqua and orange. I have been a fan of the NFL since 1969. I was a Kansas City Chiefs fan until 1971 during the Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game, I saw Dolphins Running Back Larry Csonka pound his way to the end zone. He carried three Chiefs defenders on him and still ran. Back in those days the goal posts were at the front of the end zone. He ran headfirst into the goalpost and fell to the ground. He got up immediately, looked down at the three Chiefs defenders still lying on the ground, said something and trotted off the field handing the ball to the referees. I was hooked from that point on.

That was the “Longest Day” in NFL history and that game is hailed as one of the finest playoff games to have ever been played in league history. Since then we have won two Super Bowls, had the “perfect season” by going undefeated for the whole regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl and have appeared in the Super Bowl a total of five times. That equates to winning the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship 5 times. An AFC East division team, we have our division title 13 times and have appeared in the playoffs for a total of 22 times. I don’t think that’s too bad for a team that’s only been in existence for 46 years. Our history insists that we be included in any conversation regarding winning NFL teams.

But the last few years have brought much woe to my beloved Miami Dolphins. A negative climate fostered by several unsuccessful campaigns and losing efforts have contributed to a downward trend in ticket sales and revenue, The fan base for Miami has become more and more disenfranchised with the franchise. Season ticket sales have been down since 2006, reportedly down by 30,000! Fans are protesting in front of the Dolphins training facility in Davie Florida. What’s causing all the hubbub?  Fans are demanding the firing of team General Manager Jeff Ireland who is accused of gross mismanagement of the team. People are upset over owner Stephen Ross’s mishandling of the team as well. Blown draft picks, quality players being released or traded for no real gain. We traded one of the leagues finest slot receivers, Wes Welker, to our division rival New England Patriots! We just released one of the leagues better defensive backs, Yeremiah Bell, because it was felt he was getting old. He’s 34 and last season ranked 3rd in the league for DB’s in tackles.  He’s been the team’s leading tackler for the past four seasons! We traded WR Brandon Marshall, our main deep threat, for two third round draft picks this year. Sure he was a diva and possibly carried negativity into the locker room, but dang, two third round picks was all he was worth?

So now, after three failed attempts to bring in free agent quarterbacks, the word on the street is that no one wants to play in Miami. And people are stating it’s the front office, specifically Jeff Ireland. The Dolphins are the laughing stock of the league. This doesn’t sit well with me and I am not so sure Miami deserves to be in this position. Free agency is far from over and the draft hasn’t even started. Does Jeff Ireland really deserve the scorn being heaped upon him now? Some athletes and those associated with the league attest to the negative side of his character. That he is not a good man, not trustworthy and not one you want to do business with. In 2010 Jeff Ireland interviewed WR Dez Bryant before the draft, asking him if his mother was a prostitute. Had I been the owner, I would have fired him then and there over that. I can’t speak to his character as a man. I can only say I think he needs to do better at being a GM now instead of later. His primary job is fielding a team that can compete and win. It is his job to give Coach Philbin and his staff the tools to win. So has he done that?

I’m going to say yes. He has done that. With Ireland we have acquired a quarterback that has demonstrated the capability to win for our team. I’m talking about Matt Moore. He’s not a headline act but he is more than capable of getting our team down the field. He has acquired RB Reggie Bush from New Orleans, obtained the services of former Canadian football star Jerome Messam, untested here but anybody that can rush for 1000+ yards in the CFL just might do very well here. Ireland has helped our team build an impressive offensive line and a defense that has garnered much respect across the league consistently. All in all, the Miami Dolphins have most of the pieces in place now to field a strong team and I believe they could be contenders this year. We need just a few tweaks here and there and those are in spots that we can do well in the draft. With the extra draft picks we got from the Marshall-Chicago trade, we can increase our potential strength in OL, secondary and QB positions. I don’t blame owner Stephen Ross for wanting an elite QB. Who wouldn’t take a chance at getting Peyton Manning? Truth is, it’s not going to kill our season if we don’t get him and I am not so sure he is going to do well in Denver or anywhere. As for the Dolphins not getting Matt Flynn or Alex Smith, I don’t think we are missing much. Flynn is untested. Smith is not much better, if at all, than Matt Moore. We signed David Gerrard who is good but coming off major back surgery. If he can compete, is he going to be any better than Moore? Probably not but we got him at a bargain price and his presence is good for any rookie QB we get and is even better to have as backup. Beyond Manning, was there any QB available out there really worthy of a lot of attention? So in our highly publicized search for a QB, we came up with “nothing” but I’m thinking we are in good shape and I think the Dolphins know it.

Great shape. We have freed up some cap space, traded for extra draft picks and just need to concentrate on a few positions that we need to build on, positions we can do so via the draft. So I am going to reserve further judgment until after the draft and free agency periods. Jeff Irelands character may be in question and that may be deservedly so but for now, I am going to give him a break, have some patience and pray that maybe, just maybe, he really does know what he’s doing, despite history dictating otherwise.  I know what you’re probably thinking but this is what I have to go with! It’s hard being a Fin-Fan!!! When I go to the store to buy tuna, I choose Dolphin free brands but right now, more than anything, it is my Dolphins that desperately need some Tuna in them.

Have a Blessed Day Ya’ll!

Related Links:

Miami Sun-Sentinel article on the fan protest of 20 march 2012:

NFL.com article on Matt Flynn’s choice of Seahawks over Dolphins:

ESPN article on Jeff Irelands response to the protest: