Wait...We're Asking Only Pro Athletes To Be Better Role Models?

Our Flag, our National Anthem, our Country, our Soil, our Air, our Water, our Wildlife, our People, our Heritage, our Trees, our Flowers, our Insects, our Food, our Supplies, our Health Care, our Safety, our Constitution; our "American Dream", our Economy, our Honor, our Integrity, our Strength, our Diplomacy, our Generosity, our Freedom, our Republic, our Brave Who Serve...and on and on and on it goes.

You'll notice I've capitalized each item, as I think each is deserving of the 'respect' that capitals help to depict and convey. I don't try to 'rate' them in priority or importance, since I believe they are all crucial to helping all of us "Make America Great Again!"

ALL of what America holds dear should be "respected" (and that word might need real scrutiny and refined definition) by all Americans, in my (humble) opinion. 

Not only those things which reflect a sense of 'symbolism' (flag, anthem, etc.), but also those things which reflect the very Culture and Spirit and Backbone and 'Ulterior Motives' and 'Honorable Goals' of every American who ever shed their Blood, Sweat, and Tears to "Make Our Country Great" in the first place.

Yes, again I capitalize.

While it is crucial that Americans have the Freedom To Choose, and Freedom To Show Respect (or not?), I believe it is also crucial that Americans know they will not be persecuted, prosecuted, or otherwise 'punished' for holding to, and expressing, Personal Rights, Beliefs and Sentiments toward "life in America", unless, of course, it causes others undue harm or danger or fear or hurt or psychological distress or suspicion or paranoia or offense or is anti-politically-correct or...or...or...

WAIT.......

READ MORE

Click images for imprinting on
T-shirts, mugs, and more!

IS Our World Going To Hell In A Hand-Basket?

Sometimes, when we stop and think about some of the hard times and unrest and violence and suffering and despair and disease and all the rest of the 'negativity' our current world is going through, it is easy to draw some very 'negative conclusions', one of which is sometimes expressed using the fairly common phrase:

"The world is going to Hell in a hand-basket!"

If we think our current-evil-world is less than perfect, I think we can rest assured that we are right in that assessment, because we hear and see 'real-time' information about the entire world and all its troubles and woes and strains and stresses that threaten to tear us completely apart; when we really should be trying harder to become closer.


However, if we compare today's current-evil-world with what we know about how earlier humanity existed, we might want to rethink how that common phrase applies today (or doesn't), since we have made some "progress" in some arenas (IMhO).

For example...

READ MORE

Hey Google - You Owe Me 47 Cents!

Check out my "WOW" Collection at Zazzle.

Hoo-boy!

What a strange and puzzling saga. 


It's true...Google™, or, more precisely, Google Play™ owes me 47 cents, because they mistakenly deemed my Google Play music artist account there was "abandoned", and allegedly sent the meager revenues -- which had built up after months of 'nano-penny' music-streaming subscription fees for plays and/or downloads of some of my tracks -- to my home state's escheat system. 

Imagine that!?

Huh?

OK, so I know this sounds a bit weird, and you might be wondering why I would bemoan such a small thing, or why my music artist account had only gleaned a mere 47 cents and appeared as though it had been 'abandoned' to whomever was responsible for making the decision to clean up such things in the Google Play system.

So what? It's only 47 cents! Give it up already!

Ahh..."therein lies the rub"...

READ MORE

Click image for imprinting on
T-shirts, mugs, and more!

 

Amphibology - Political Correctness, Double-speak, Fakeness, or Everyday Lingo?

Every time we converse with others, we "tailor" our conversations; generally, and specifically, right? 

In general, we decide (perhaps subconsciously?) what level of vocabulary, what depth of detail, and various other 'options' to fit the circumstances, based on our "audience".

Specifically, we decide (likely, more 'consciously') how to 'embellish' the verbal conversing - by way of particular gestures and other "body language"; eye-contact, stance, pose, smiles, grimaces, hand (and other body part) movements, and the like. 


These things we do according to our perception of exactly who we are conversing with, and perhaps which topic we are conversing about, and other similar factors.

OK, so what does this have to do with "amphibology" and the rest of the title of this posting?

Hmmm...?

READ MORE

What's In A Handshake? President Trump And Chancellor Merkel

A couple of weeks ago, I saw some news relating to a meeting between President Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Washington D.C.

Unfortunately, I cannot even say I know a thing about why they were meeting, since the small piece of news I happened to catch was primarily engaged in making commentary about what was seemingly a refusal by President Trump to shake Chancellor Merkel's hand...on camera.

As I watched the clip, I remember thinking: "This can't be real. Why would he refuse to shake hands?" 


But, as the camera ran, the scene did appear to become a bit "awkward", as evidenced by 'light talk', facial expression, and body language...even by Angela Merkel.

Oh yeah...what was that meeting about again?? Hmmm...

READ MORE

Editor's update 4/12/17: Revised title and other references to "Prime Minister", as Angela Merkel's title is "Chancellor" of Germany. 

President Trump's First Speech To Congress - How GREAT Was It?

Well,I watched an online version of President Trump's speech to Congress, and I cannot say I am overly "thrilled", nor am I overly "disappointed". 

I thought it was more or less "par for the course" in overall context, given some of the things we've experienced with his unique style already, except his tone was definitely much more "Presidential" and he was 'engaging'...(IMhO).

I thought President Trump gave a very heart-felt speech (which he alluded to early on, and I think he means it); filled with his typical positive and forward-looking hopes to 

"Make America Great Again!"

(™?)

While some things Mr. Trump spoke about actually made me "cringe", some other things made me "smile", so I have to conclude that I, personally, felt as though he was genuine, even if I do not agree with all of his tactics and policies.



I actually made notes as I was listening to and watching President Trump give his speech, with an ear for some things I can latch onto that I am confident might actually contribute to making America great again, and I'd like to comment here on the "highlights" I jotted down...for what it's worth. 

READ MORE

AMER1CA POSTER
by w1z111

Eight Billionaires Own More Than 3.6 Billion Poorest People?

Well, it's out there. The data has been collected and analyzed, and it turns out it is apparently True (yes, with a capital "T") that just eight (8) of the world's wealthiest people actually have more collective worth than three billion, six hundred million of the poorest people on the planet. This means that the 3.6 Billion poorest people own the equivalent of less than $120 each. 

That's right...

$426B / 3.6B = $118.33 
per person.

 I hardly know what else to say. I can't begin to try understanding it all, because it goes against so much of what I (personally) hold as 'near and dear', regarding things like "haves and have nots", and how skewed things seem to be these days.

So, is this "fair"? Is this "equitable"? Are our economic systems and governing rules somehow that far out of touch with real world issues and problems, to allow things to become so 'broken', where so many are (seemingly) 'ignored' and are given few "breaks", while so few are (seemingly) 'pampered' and are given more "breaks" than the 'little-people'?

READ MORE