Sorry Brett. I'm not going to be a big Favre fan at this point. I've been a dedicated, hard-working defender of the man for years, but not now. I draw the line at his killing a turkey for the purpose of pulling a prank on a fellow team member. I know it seems funny, hhahahaha, but no, it's not funny to intentionally kill an innocent life just to make someone or in his case several, laugh. It wasn't funny and it was indeed tantamount to what Michael Vick did, only this was a turkey and not a dog.
Brett, you don't have to prove you're a man by killing animals? I can understand hunting. I get that, but only if the hunter is going to also eat the animal! I have recently become a vegetarian, but I call myself a psuedo vegetarian because I will still eat chicken or turkey. I don't believe in the senseless killing of any life be it an animal or a human. I think I could fall under the category of a spider killer perhaps, but I won't go out of my way to kill one. If one is invading my house and I can't pick it up and put it outside easily - maybe then if it has crooked legs and looks like a killer.
Brett Favre - I have to say it; you're an awesome player, you're a great person probably to many - but you just lost my MVP vote. I think you said it best a few years back when you told the media that children have no business using you as a role model. This act of violence and animal cruelty just proved it.
Good bye Favre.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Sandra Bernhard - Has Issues
Sandra Bernhard as seen on AOL - not my picture.
I'm not usually political - well, I am, but I'm not usually rude. I don't often stand up and say "Hey, pay attention to MY point of view and I'm just going to say really stupid things about people I don't like" - but I'm standing up today. I'm standing up for myself, and for those who have been raped, those who have been hurt, those who have been the victims of violence and saying that Sandra Bernhard was really rude, out of line, and in my experienced opinion - REALLY STUPID. I've been stupid before, so that's where the experience statement came from. She was trying to get a laugh, OK, I get it - she was trying to put down Palin, I get that too. I wouldn't, but she can, it's a free country - but you don't insult victims and you put victims at jeopardy AGAIN to get your cheap cheap laugh from who? People who haven't been raped? Maybe the rapists? Sandra Bernhard stated (about a month ago) that Sarah Palin would be "gang-raped" if she visited New York City - and then, because she wanted to pull the race-card "IN MY OPINION" she sadly added "by my big black brothers" - c'mon! STOP IT!
I did stand up for 4 years - I pulled out a lot of cards; the youth card (I was young) the Southern Belle (I was one) and I made fun of my dad because he's from Arkansas, I said he was related to himself - but you know what - that was in 1980 and I don't think the community that we live in today would stand for what I was saying back then - well, they would, but they wouldn't all laugh, and I may not even attempt to do that again - unless maybe I was in Arkansas and tested the waters first. Or, I could possibly stack the audience with REAL relatives of my dad - which would actually be just about everyone in DeQueen...and no, that wasn't a slam, it was true - Collin Raye! (There's a cousin I could be caught kissin'!)
Anyway - I don't go around saying it - I don't go around making it a statement - but I was raped in 1981. It was somewhere between a date-rape and a friend-rape. I'm not sure, but it was ugly, violent, and terrible - I don't blame the women's shelter that cut Sandra Bernhard from being a donor or a "friend" for cutting her - I'd have asked her for a formal apology! She shouldn't have to be asked.
Well, I have to say - when I'm asked to speak at venues for the betterment and advocacy for Victims of Violent Crimes - I will REMEMBER this stupid and ignorant statement from a hurtful woman's message and I will do everything I can to uplift and encourage them. You just can't walk into a crowd of any size and not find someone who hasn't been hurt - or known someone close to them that has been. It is my opinion, so I wrote it on this blog - but Sandra Bernhard should NOT be supported by anyone in any community for any reason - her negative statements and her gut-level gross deliveries should have been a warning to anyone buying a ticket. I hope they got them at a drastically reduced rate.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Laine Ciotti's - New Erotica Writer
Laine Ciotti (is that your real name?) is actually a personal friend of mine. Like me she is an author and she has been established in one genre that has been successful for her. She has however, because she's really cool and interesting, been known to write the occasional erotic story or two and pass them on papers folded over to me in the local Starbucks. We were nearly kicked out a few weeks ago trying to one-up each other from the steamy, sensual good words on the pages we exchanged.
I am pleased to announce that I have talked my new friend into writing a few (hopefully more) erotic tales, brieflettes she calls them, for the internet crowd to enjoy. I envy her in a way because I would like to be able to publicly express myself in new, fun, adventurous ways but with my connection to Faith I find it a bit out of character and perhaps best left to the girls to read on Pyrate Nites and to my friend over a little Joe. Actually, there was a time that I would have liked to do something over Little Joe Cartright! Oh, she went there! OK..here is the link to her site, I hope you find it fun and a bit thrilling. My comments for my friend have been withheld for a while; I would like to see where she's going with this blog of hers so that I can better prepare myself to be out sold in the bookstores as well as out written at the coffeehouse.
www.sensualgoodness.blogspot.com Stop blushing Laine, you're going to be a hit!
I am pleased to announce that I have talked my new friend into writing a few (hopefully more) erotic tales, brieflettes she calls them, for the internet crowd to enjoy. I envy her in a way because I would like to be able to publicly express myself in new, fun, adventurous ways but with my connection to Faith I find it a bit out of character and perhaps best left to the girls to read on Pyrate Nites and to my friend over a little Joe. Actually, there was a time that I would have liked to do something over Little Joe Cartright! Oh, she went there! OK..here is the link to her site, I hope you find it fun and a bit thrilling. My comments for my friend have been withheld for a while; I would like to see where she's going with this blog of hers so that I can better prepare myself to be out sold in the bookstores as well as out written at the coffeehouse.
www.sensualgoodness.blogspot.com Stop blushing Laine, you're going to be a hit!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
People and Their Agendas
I wasn't going to do this blog. I was trying to keep it inside of me and just be polite. I can't do that any longer. I've been polite too long. It may shock a few of you (those who really don't know me) to find out that I have a bit of a jealous streak inside of me. If you're one of my former students then it won't shock you at all. To be my former student means that you are MY student. You will ALWAYS be MY student, and my level of loyalty and protection to one of MINE is extreme.
Being a Celtic woman may have something to do with the decision to say my piece. Being a Scorpio may have even more to do with it, but I've just simply been the woman on the sidelines smiling, and saying "That's OK, another time" just a bit too damn long. It's time you heard what I have to say, and this blog won't get onto the comedy blog, because there's nothing funny about it.
On June 23, 2003 I decided to tell the world about a little dog that I thought would make people happy. She certainly made my family happy. It wasn't just because she could stand up and walk on her back legs, to be honest with you we didn't think a thing about that. We worked with her, yes, we trained her. She did walk on her own, but that's not what we had in mind when we called the newspapers and the local news crew to come out and film her. We wanted to show off her inner power - her determination to not let anything get her down. We had NO IDEA that she would end up being the only dog in the world that walks upright on her back legs. She was to us, the most incredibly happy dog and a beacon of light to the neighbors because some of them had expressed to us how she made them think twice about their own petty little problems.
That was then. Since that day Faith has been featured on Ripley's, Sony's television shows such as Ricki Lake. She's been invited to Montel, Maury, The Early Show, The Today Show (we didn't do it) and yes, she was invited by Lettermen's group to do "Stupid Pet Tricks". I think that was the first time I stood on the side with my little polite smile and cordially said no thank you. This ability that my dog has to walk upright is not stupid, and it is not a trick. I have turned Lettermen down three times, but everywhere we go people say she's been on that show. I suppose she has technically they talked about her.
I was so moved by this dog that I wrote a book about how she helped our family when we were struggling through hard times. She (or actually her testimony) helped to inspire me to want to tell others about her, and hey - get this, they SAID they wanted to help spread the message too. I was asked to do the Oprah show. I recorded my B-roll, I was just about to get on the plane to meet her when her producer called me to tell me they were reneging on promoting my book. They were not going to mention my book as it wasn't conducive to promoting Oprah! If you watch the show I didn't show up. I sent my daughters instead. I was the one standing on the sidelines politely smiling. I'm not smiling anymore. A promise is a promise and I kept mine. I allowed them to showoff my dog.
I was happy to let Faith be on these shows and I was happy to do them as well because some of them (The Early Show especially) allowed me to say some of what I had been promised I would get to say. It just seems to me that with just about everyone of these shows you're promised this, and when you get there, the producers aren't really in charge, the director doesn't want you talking, the executives upstairs don't want to hear about your book - or your ideas, they just want to see the little puppet (oops, I mean puppy) walk around on her two legs and see her smiling. She's still actually polite, I'm not so polite anymore.
I've been pulled out to NYC to do a show but they didn't want to fly my dog in the cabin - OH, but they wanted her to walk on their stage! They wanted her to walk on their stage, but they didn't want her in the green room - she's a dog. I looked the producer in the eyes and said "Good Bye". My dog stayed with me and her agent in a secondary room - but oh, did you see her strut on their stage...perfectly?
We go to these shows and we're put in hotels. We get picked up, and we get carted off to the show. At that point anything can happen. Maybe they want us to stay in a room for three hours but not talk to other guests - maybe they want us to sit for three hours and not let the dog out to pee - you never know when they'll need us on stage. They give me contracts to sign stating, literally stating, that if I'm hurt on their stage it's not their fault. They didn't like me much - I struck through most of these contracts with a legal pen, must be the paralegal in me. Must be the education, must be something. I can't believe people would accept these contracts at face value for what - to be seen on TV...without being paid?
Oh, did I mention you don't get paid to be on Oprah, Montel, Maury, etc. I had to explain to them that I was missing work, if they wanted me they were at least replacing that - it cost me the Ellen Show in 2005. But they still want my dog to walk on their stage...so they can show off her inner strength? Not really - just so they can get a bump in ratings. Before any more shows decide to call me, and after this blog you probably won't, but that's OK - I'm tired of letting you exploit my dog. Do me this; tell the truth to the audience - tell them what she does now because she's able to stand on her own two feet. She doesn't really entertain the masses, she goes to USOs, she goes to hospitals, depressed people, injured people, hurting people, and she goes to the little girl down the street that lost her mother last week - she makes people change their minds about killing themselves.
Hey, maybe you could produce a film Oprah, maybe you could direct it Montel? Maybe one of you, if you really wanted to, could call the right person and get the story out there, not the story about a little dog that walks - OK, that's cool and everything, but you know what - God didn't put her in my house because I could train her to stand up. I had no experience at all with that, what I had was determination, devotion, perseverance, and dogged mindedness to never say no! That's why God put her in my house - and I'm not shutting up about this book to movie deal either. You hosts, you producers, your movie makers, you who have oogled, and giggled about how cute my little dog is, those of you who cried because she brought a joy to your soul - those of you with the backing to do it - because I don't have it - get up off your butts and give your audience something NO ONE ELSE has - the real story!
I say it to God all the time. If I was blessed financially I would have written, produced, and directed the best damn movie out there for Lifetime, HBO, someone who can take this story and share it with the world - without politely smiling! I'm not standing on the side any longer just thanking you for bringing us out. YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR PART. I brought the dog, YOU produce the story! Oh, and if you even THINK for one second that I want a bunch of money for it you're WRONG. It's not about money damnit, it's about doing the right thing when it hits you in the face and you're just too self-centered and absorbed to see it. Does it really take a teacher from Oklahoma to school you on what you know is within your capacity to do? I can't do this by myself. YES, I can write it - I did write it. I can't produce it, and it needs to be done.
So - no more pansy answers. No more sweet little excuses. If you're able to do what YOU promised you would love to do - DO IT. Maybe it's easier to think of me as the loving soul that trained Faith to walk - but it's more realistic to know that I'm the woman that forced and trained kids to read, write, and communicate when they had been given NO CHANCE at all. My students (and you know who you are) went from making 10 and 11's on their ACTS to making 19-20, and if that's not high enough for you, if you're looking for 30-34 scores, know this - they weren't able to speak English two years before they took their tests! No, I'm not the sweet stand-by type. I do what I say I will do, and I'm not waiting any longer. I don't care if Faith ever shows up on another television show to thrill and tantalize an audience. She was put on this Earth to change souls and move hearts. We're doing our part - do yours.
Call me.
Being a Celtic woman may have something to do with the decision to say my piece. Being a Scorpio may have even more to do with it, but I've just simply been the woman on the sidelines smiling, and saying "That's OK, another time" just a bit too damn long. It's time you heard what I have to say, and this blog won't get onto the comedy blog, because there's nothing funny about it.
On June 23, 2003 I decided to tell the world about a little dog that I thought would make people happy. She certainly made my family happy. It wasn't just because she could stand up and walk on her back legs, to be honest with you we didn't think a thing about that. We worked with her, yes, we trained her. She did walk on her own, but that's not what we had in mind when we called the newspapers and the local news crew to come out and film her. We wanted to show off her inner power - her determination to not let anything get her down. We had NO IDEA that she would end up being the only dog in the world that walks upright on her back legs. She was to us, the most incredibly happy dog and a beacon of light to the neighbors because some of them had expressed to us how she made them think twice about their own petty little problems.
That was then. Since that day Faith has been featured on Ripley's, Sony's television shows such as Ricki Lake. She's been invited to Montel, Maury, The Early Show, The Today Show (we didn't do it) and yes, she was invited by Lettermen's group to do "Stupid Pet Tricks". I think that was the first time I stood on the side with my little polite smile and cordially said no thank you. This ability that my dog has to walk upright is not stupid, and it is not a trick. I have turned Lettermen down three times, but everywhere we go people say she's been on that show. I suppose she has technically they talked about her.
I was so moved by this dog that I wrote a book about how she helped our family when we were struggling through hard times. She (or actually her testimony) helped to inspire me to want to tell others about her, and hey - get this, they SAID they wanted to help spread the message too. I was asked to do the Oprah show. I recorded my B-roll, I was just about to get on the plane to meet her when her producer called me to tell me they were reneging on promoting my book. They were not going to mention my book as it wasn't conducive to promoting Oprah! If you watch the show I didn't show up. I sent my daughters instead. I was the one standing on the sidelines politely smiling. I'm not smiling anymore. A promise is a promise and I kept mine. I allowed them to showoff my dog.
I was happy to let Faith be on these shows and I was happy to do them as well because some of them (The Early Show especially) allowed me to say some of what I had been promised I would get to say. It just seems to me that with just about everyone of these shows you're promised this, and when you get there, the producers aren't really in charge, the director doesn't want you talking, the executives upstairs don't want to hear about your book - or your ideas, they just want to see the little puppet (oops, I mean puppy) walk around on her two legs and see her smiling. She's still actually polite, I'm not so polite anymore.
I've been pulled out to NYC to do a show but they didn't want to fly my dog in the cabin - OH, but they wanted her to walk on their stage! They wanted her to walk on their stage, but they didn't want her in the green room - she's a dog. I looked the producer in the eyes and said "Good Bye". My dog stayed with me and her agent in a secondary room - but oh, did you see her strut on their stage...perfectly?
We go to these shows and we're put in hotels. We get picked up, and we get carted off to the show. At that point anything can happen. Maybe they want us to stay in a room for three hours but not talk to other guests - maybe they want us to sit for three hours and not let the dog out to pee - you never know when they'll need us on stage. They give me contracts to sign stating, literally stating, that if I'm hurt on their stage it's not their fault. They didn't like me much - I struck through most of these contracts with a legal pen, must be the paralegal in me. Must be the education, must be something. I can't believe people would accept these contracts at face value for what - to be seen on TV...without being paid?
Oh, did I mention you don't get paid to be on Oprah, Montel, Maury, etc. I had to explain to them that I was missing work, if they wanted me they were at least replacing that - it cost me the Ellen Show in 2005. But they still want my dog to walk on their stage...so they can show off her inner strength? Not really - just so they can get a bump in ratings. Before any more shows decide to call me, and after this blog you probably won't, but that's OK - I'm tired of letting you exploit my dog. Do me this; tell the truth to the audience - tell them what she does now because she's able to stand on her own two feet. She doesn't really entertain the masses, she goes to USOs, she goes to hospitals, depressed people, injured people, hurting people, and she goes to the little girl down the street that lost her mother last week - she makes people change their minds about killing themselves.
Hey, maybe you could produce a film Oprah, maybe you could direct it Montel? Maybe one of you, if you really wanted to, could call the right person and get the story out there, not the story about a little dog that walks - OK, that's cool and everything, but you know what - God didn't put her in my house because I could train her to stand up. I had no experience at all with that, what I had was determination, devotion, perseverance, and dogged mindedness to never say no! That's why God put her in my house - and I'm not shutting up about this book to movie deal either. You hosts, you producers, your movie makers, you who have oogled, and giggled about how cute my little dog is, those of you who cried because she brought a joy to your soul - those of you with the backing to do it - because I don't have it - get up off your butts and give your audience something NO ONE ELSE has - the real story!
I say it to God all the time. If I was blessed financially I would have written, produced, and directed the best damn movie out there for Lifetime, HBO, someone who can take this story and share it with the world - without politely smiling! I'm not standing on the side any longer just thanking you for bringing us out. YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR PART. I brought the dog, YOU produce the story! Oh, and if you even THINK for one second that I want a bunch of money for it you're WRONG. It's not about money damnit, it's about doing the right thing when it hits you in the face and you're just too self-centered and absorbed to see it. Does it really take a teacher from Oklahoma to school you on what you know is within your capacity to do? I can't do this by myself. YES, I can write it - I did write it. I can't produce it, and it needs to be done.
So - no more pansy answers. No more sweet little excuses. If you're able to do what YOU promised you would love to do - DO IT. Maybe it's easier to think of me as the loving soul that trained Faith to walk - but it's more realistic to know that I'm the woman that forced and trained kids to read, write, and communicate when they had been given NO CHANCE at all. My students (and you know who you are) went from making 10 and 11's on their ACTS to making 19-20, and if that's not high enough for you, if you're looking for 30-34 scores, know this - they weren't able to speak English two years before they took their tests! No, I'm not the sweet stand-by type. I do what I say I will do, and I'm not waiting any longer. I don't care if Faith ever shows up on another television show to thrill and tantalize an audience. She was put on this Earth to change souls and move hearts. We're doing our part - do yours.
Call me.
Having an Opinion Doesn't Mean I'm Mad
I was expressing my opinion about something yesterday and the man I was with (thank you God, not a date) asked me why I was so mad about the issue. I wasn't mad about anything - and this is in my opinion, another opinion that I'll have to get to later.
Being able to discuss an issue, an interest or a disinterest, doesn't make the party who dissents a hater. Here's what I said. I had just seen the comment that singer "Jewel" had made on the silly knock-off show Nashville Stars. OK...don't even get me started on reality shows, I think my family would be a great subject but to say I'd actually allow it is something different all together. I can't even imagine the "OPINIONS" I would have at that point. Anyway, there must have been something going on in Tennessee because Jewel addresses a candidate and says something stupid. She tells the person (I didn't see the show, just the clip on Yahoo News) that they have to take the stage, and they have to "own" the audience, and they have to "murder" them. I think she meant "kill" them, but it came out wrong. It always does when you're on camera and you're not expecting every last word that comes out of your mouth to be recorded and released. I've said worse.
So, I was walking around with this guy yesterday and I said to him "Jewel's comment on Nashville Stars was like something Paula would say on Idol. I don't watch that show either, but even if I don't watch it I'm bombarded with their idiosyncrasies". His retort (and yes, it was a retort) was "Why are you so mad about it?" His comment didn't even FIT the statement I made. I hadn't shown a face, I hadn't wrinkled my nose, I had absolutely no change of voice, there was nothing to indicate that I was upset about Jewel or the show itself. I just said I was bombarded with their statements when I don't even watch the shows. He wouldn't shut up!
Finally, because I don't like to fight, I don't like confrontation, and I don't accept petty conversation - I looked at him and said "It's a damn good thing we brought separate cars", and with that I walked to mine and left. No, I didn't accept his phone calls later that night, and I won't accept another invitation to go for a walk with him either - it's just my opinion, but people don't always have to be in conflict. They don't always have to have a side to pick when a statement is made. Sometimes you just want conversation and maybe it's me, but I don't ever want to spare with anyone verbally. I'm not into that. I just said something and he pipes up with a defensive statement geared and aimed at making me look defensive.
Can you tell why I'm not dating? Is it difficult to figure out? I go to the grocery store and shop for food. While I'm there I see a couple whose obviously been married too long. He doesn't open the door for her, she doesn't wait for him, they don't really care about each other - their conversations ended years ago, it's all about the winner of the argument at this point - and that's where it starts. If she (or he) were to make a general statement the other would jab back with something defensive - WHY? I will probably NEVER date again. Not if that is what I have to look forward to. I'm far too loving, too giving, too romantic, too caring to allow that to be the way my cherished gift ends up. I'd rather be alone.
Just because I have an opinion about something doesn't make me mad about the facts surrounding the opinion. If I say I don't think Obama is the man for the job it doesn't mean I hate black people. It doesn't mean I think younger Senators aren't capable of job advancement - I just don't think that particular man is the man we need in office. Here's another opinion - they're free today, I'm just throwing them out there: McCain isn't the man either. Oh, another opinion...just because I say that neither of these two men are the ones for the job doesn't mean (certainly doesn't mean) that I want Hilary! I think a woman could be the President. I think the right woman could be, but I haven't seen her yet. I want Colin Powell! Can we just write his name in the ballot and be done with it?
OK, bottom line: Let people have statements and let them have opinions. Think twice before engaging someone in an argument. I'm too old to spare - I just walked away, and I'll never walk that path again the same way.
Being able to discuss an issue, an interest or a disinterest, doesn't make the party who dissents a hater. Here's what I said. I had just seen the comment that singer "Jewel" had made on the silly knock-off show Nashville Stars. OK...don't even get me started on reality shows, I think my family would be a great subject but to say I'd actually allow it is something different all together. I can't even imagine the "OPINIONS" I would have at that point. Anyway, there must have been something going on in Tennessee because Jewel addresses a candidate and says something stupid. She tells the person (I didn't see the show, just the clip on Yahoo News) that they have to take the stage, and they have to "own" the audience, and they have to "murder" them. I think she meant "kill" them, but it came out wrong. It always does when you're on camera and you're not expecting every last word that comes out of your mouth to be recorded and released. I've said worse.
So, I was walking around with this guy yesterday and I said to him "Jewel's comment on Nashville Stars was like something Paula would say on Idol. I don't watch that show either, but even if I don't watch it I'm bombarded with their idiosyncrasies". His retort (and yes, it was a retort) was "Why are you so mad about it?" His comment didn't even FIT the statement I made. I hadn't shown a face, I hadn't wrinkled my nose, I had absolutely no change of voice, there was nothing to indicate that I was upset about Jewel or the show itself. I just said I was bombarded with their statements when I don't even watch the shows. He wouldn't shut up!
Finally, because I don't like to fight, I don't like confrontation, and I don't accept petty conversation - I looked at him and said "It's a damn good thing we brought separate cars", and with that I walked to mine and left. No, I didn't accept his phone calls later that night, and I won't accept another invitation to go for a walk with him either - it's just my opinion, but people don't always have to be in conflict. They don't always have to have a side to pick when a statement is made. Sometimes you just want conversation and maybe it's me, but I don't ever want to spare with anyone verbally. I'm not into that. I just said something and he pipes up with a defensive statement geared and aimed at making me look defensive.
Can you tell why I'm not dating? Is it difficult to figure out? I go to the grocery store and shop for food. While I'm there I see a couple whose obviously been married too long. He doesn't open the door for her, she doesn't wait for him, they don't really care about each other - their conversations ended years ago, it's all about the winner of the argument at this point - and that's where it starts. If she (or he) were to make a general statement the other would jab back with something defensive - WHY? I will probably NEVER date again. Not if that is what I have to look forward to. I'm far too loving, too giving, too romantic, too caring to allow that to be the way my cherished gift ends up. I'd rather be alone.
Just because I have an opinion about something doesn't make me mad about the facts surrounding the opinion. If I say I don't think Obama is the man for the job it doesn't mean I hate black people. It doesn't mean I think younger Senators aren't capable of job advancement - I just don't think that particular man is the man we need in office. Here's another opinion - they're free today, I'm just throwing them out there: McCain isn't the man either. Oh, another opinion...just because I say that neither of these two men are the ones for the job doesn't mean (certainly doesn't mean) that I want Hilary! I think a woman could be the President. I think the right woman could be, but I haven't seen her yet. I want Colin Powell! Can we just write his name in the ballot and be done with it?
OK, bottom line: Let people have statements and let them have opinions. Think twice before engaging someone in an argument. I'm too old to spare - I just walked away, and I'll never walk that path again the same way.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Something From Nothing
If God decided to He could make something out of nothing. A great deal of Christians think this is exactly what He did when He created Earth, Heaven, blah blah blah. Maybe, maybe not. The scientific facts remain that nothing can come from nothing. If there was indeed a Big Bang Theory (and what does it really matter, we're here already. Does it really matter how we got here?). Can there be massless particles which somehow form, commune, gather, or even exist wherein something out of nowhere (literally no-where) comes out of it, through it, into it, whatever, and then BANG!
It doesn't stand to reason, human reason that is, that something came from nothing and then it was started - taking millions or billions of years (and remember there was no existence of time, so what do they know of its length?) to form a thing, a plant, a bug, a slime ball which eventually became every last person, every last animal, every last planet, and every last anything that we have today. Sorry, I don't buy that. I know, I'm only one silly little human with the biased background of being raised in the Church, being force-fed the Creation theory, but still - it doesn't make sense to me to believe in the something from nothing theory. Nevertheless, IF God decided to do that He could. I just don't think He did.
I say it again - what does it matter? There's some guy out there, I won't even try to find you his name, he's a brilliant idiot who thinks that he can himself rearrange molecules to the point that they don't exist and then he wants to recreate the Big Bang Theory. I don't know, don't you think we've had enough fun with bombs and their makeup? Do you think this guy is going to do it in a vacuum Dan Brown style in a tube first? And if he succeeds? Oh, pick me, pick me, I know the answer to this one - one of us will use it to take over the world, be the best, the baddest, the biggest, and the Alpha-human and destroy everything that doesn't agree with us!
I'm all for progress, I'm all for science. I'm even all for trying to understand what's really going on in this world - but here's a thought: Can we just teach kids to read and write for a while? Can we focus on the basics of working together, recycling, getting out of each other's way if it appears there could be a cultural or religious conflict - I don't know, maybe we should consider the past 10,000 years if we don't consider the millions and billions it took to be created, the last 10,000 years have been pretty scary human-wise. Heck back in Habakkuk's day (Bible lesson) the prophet bitched about the unfair treatment the Israelites received from God because the non-believers, those Babylonians (Iraq/Iran today) were not being punished by God as much as they were being - the prophet was pointing out to God (5,000 years ago) that while the Israelites weren't perfect they were at least serving God - why be punished?
Seems to me that there really have been significant progress in some areas of our existence, I don't think the Babylonians or the Israelites of Habakkuk's time were wiping their backsides with softer than soft Charmin. I don't think they were looking each other up on MySpace to discuss plans for mergers and realigning boundaries and borders - - but the bottom line is, we're all still bitching about things not being fair and not being perfect. It's never going to be perfect - what is perfect? Whose perfect would it resemble if it was perfect?
There is no such thing as nothing. There is no such thing as something coming out of nothing. Can we move on? We're here - maybe we should try to find the oil stored in places we know we can get to. Maybe we could focus a bit more on the spiritual rather than the ritual, and hey - I bet the edges of our rough lives would trim down a little if we only ACCEPTED a few others...but I dream. I dream, and I hope. It's only my opinion, but if we stopped trying to find out WHY we're here and focused on WHAT to do now, we could do some good work WHILE we're still here.
I'm just saying if I get caught up in a Bigger Than Big Bang and I'm no longer here to bitch, you may actually miss me.
It doesn't stand to reason, human reason that is, that something came from nothing and then it was started - taking millions or billions of years (and remember there was no existence of time, so what do they know of its length?) to form a thing, a plant, a bug, a slime ball which eventually became every last person, every last animal, every last planet, and every last anything that we have today. Sorry, I don't buy that. I know, I'm only one silly little human with the biased background of being raised in the Church, being force-fed the Creation theory, but still - it doesn't make sense to me to believe in the something from nothing theory. Nevertheless, IF God decided to do that He could. I just don't think He did.
I say it again - what does it matter? There's some guy out there, I won't even try to find you his name, he's a brilliant idiot who thinks that he can himself rearrange molecules to the point that they don't exist and then he wants to recreate the Big Bang Theory. I don't know, don't you think we've had enough fun with bombs and their makeup? Do you think this guy is going to do it in a vacuum Dan Brown style in a tube first? And if he succeeds? Oh, pick me, pick me, I know the answer to this one - one of us will use it to take over the world, be the best, the baddest, the biggest, and the Alpha-human and destroy everything that doesn't agree with us!
I'm all for progress, I'm all for science. I'm even all for trying to understand what's really going on in this world - but here's a thought: Can we just teach kids to read and write for a while? Can we focus on the basics of working together, recycling, getting out of each other's way if it appears there could be a cultural or religious conflict - I don't know, maybe we should consider the past 10,000 years if we don't consider the millions and billions it took to be created, the last 10,000 years have been pretty scary human-wise. Heck back in Habakkuk's day (Bible lesson) the prophet bitched about the unfair treatment the Israelites received from God because the non-believers, those Babylonians (Iraq/Iran today) were not being punished by God as much as they were being - the prophet was pointing out to God (5,000 years ago) that while the Israelites weren't perfect they were at least serving God - why be punished?
Seems to me that there really have been significant progress in some areas of our existence, I don't think the Babylonians or the Israelites of Habakkuk's time were wiping their backsides with softer than soft Charmin. I don't think they were looking each other up on MySpace to discuss plans for mergers and realigning boundaries and borders - - but the bottom line is, we're all still bitching about things not being fair and not being perfect. It's never going to be perfect - what is perfect? Whose perfect would it resemble if it was perfect?
There is no such thing as nothing. There is no such thing as something coming out of nothing. Can we move on? We're here - maybe we should try to find the oil stored in places we know we can get to. Maybe we could focus a bit more on the spiritual rather than the ritual, and hey - I bet the edges of our rough lives would trim down a little if we only ACCEPTED a few others...but I dream. I dream, and I hope. It's only my opinion, but if we stopped trying to find out WHY we're here and focused on WHAT to do now, we could do some good work WHILE we're still here.
I'm just saying if I get caught up in a Bigger Than Big Bang and I'm no longer here to bitch, you may actually miss me.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Advice From Non-Parents - Bring Your Salt
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This is Caity Baby, Baby Caity. She's just about to make me bald...and I love her.
No Joking - if you don't have children please don't tell me how to raise mine. The only exception to this opinion may rest with a woman named Trudy, who has a pretty good grip on the behavior of children from diligent observation of her own 30-40 nieces and nephews, but really - even Trudy wouldn't try to go by any written book (well, maybe the Bible, but its not exactly specific in every scenario either). Those of you who do have kids know exactly what I'm talking about. We (parents) have put forth every effort possible, every good effort, every presumably great intention and BAM, we get side swiped by the kid! It happens. Kids happen! There should be a bumper sticker that reads "No, you don't get a manual, deal with the kid!"
Over the past 18 years I've really just about had enough advice from just about everyone, and to be honest, I'm not going to give 2 seconds notice to anyone who hasn't given birth, gone through the early stages, raised the toddler themselves, and attended every PTA meeting, Parent-Teacher conference, games, cheer leading, fights, training bras, boys and toys, not to mention the real stuff; the behavior! Kids are going to live, they're going to push your buttons daily. Some kids push your buttons every hour if you give them a chance to. I don't mind advice, I welcome good strong guidance, but do not attempt to schmooze me with your book knowledge, your college-educated guess, or your "saw-it-on-Dr. Phil" mentality. Give me your experiences, give me your failures, give me your celebrations, and give me your prayers and your support.
No two kids live their lives the way you and I did. You and I didn't live our lives the same - how can we expect our kids to listen 23 hours out of the day? (I couldn't even think of saying 24/7 - we're all too smart for that!) Kids don't think like adults, and if you don't think like an adult you can't be expected to always act like one. If you don't act like one, and you're acting more like a kid, don't you think it would take a person with experience - maybe one that had not only been a kid him or herself, but one that had been through similar situations - that's what I want. I want good discussion. I want numbers, I want proof...I don't want statistics. My darling is by no means a number...unless that number is #1. She's quite unique.
So, there you have it. If you approach me with your "I-don't-actually-have-any-kids-but-I-know-what-yours-needs" attitude, I may not think much like an adult momentarily - I may actually revert to my own immature hand gestures temporarily, but you can be sure of one thing; I won't trust your judgement - it isn't proven. I'd have better luck just listening to my own kid and getting her ideas on what to do with her, how to train her, how to discipline her - and you know what? At nearly 18, she's actually pretty on-track with that one. I take back what I said; she doesn't have any kids and I'd listen to her. She's the only one....and Trudy!
This is just one of my opinions.
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