ACIDIC CLEANSING

2011-12-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Was listening to a discussion on a "Christian" station. It took me a few hours to realize what was so grotesque about the "Christian" support of parents' decisions to cut off, as it were, their gay children. It seemed to be the ultimate case of late term abortion. I suspect that those parents' vision might have been impaired by the beam(s) they neglected to cast out of their own eyes (Matt 7:5).Moreover their judgment stands to scoff at the endless mercies that have been afforded parents and children through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. Your lights cannot shine through the pungent odor of your haughtiness.Your dignified self-righteousness repels instead of attracts souls. Repent! God is not pleased.

Financial Priorities

2011-12-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while. Maybe it's the Christmas Season upon us that has drawn me back. Nah. Probably has more to do with having a strategically placed vacation day today. But welcome reader(s). I've been having quite a roller coaster ride these past few months. There was a period of a couple weeks of being flat broke. I've been close before, but up until a couple of weeks ago, had not experienced having $0.00 on hand or in the bank. On my way to subzero, paying my tithes honestly was a priority. I've heard people testifying about doing that. It truly sounded pretty far fetched, to say the least. But I got to do it. Paid my tithes knowing that some other stuff was not going to get paid. And that put things in perspective like never before. Stretching oneself to maintain a good credit rating can become a very irrational endeavor. Having a good credit rating will be of little import if you've failed to pay yourself enough to have food to eat, gas to get to work, or toiletries to keep your hygiene up to snuff. And as long as they're getting paid, your creditors, like pimps all over the country, couldn't care less what you had to do to bring them their *&%$#@@! money! Such a simple notion, but you would think that I invented it! God, family, me, then, you! I can't afford to get it confused again. My creditors are going to be pissed with me until my change comes. God will have my back beyond the end of time as we know it. And you might know that if God never did anything else for me, He's already done enough.But I can say the same thing about my family. I pray that my financial priorities will stay in order going forward.

2011-03-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

Pompous Idiotic Tyrannical (PIT) Christie

One has to wonder if PIT Christie has ever really seriously given thought to everything that factors into students' performance in class, and more specifically, in testing. I'm sure that there are many who would be better equipped to go into more depth with this topic than I. But I will discuss a few things that are pretty obvious to those who aren't intoxicated with power, over which teachers have little if any control. Teachers don't decide which students possess an X-box, Nintendo, or Play Station, nor how much time is spent with those, T.V., or D.V.D's versus homework. Teachers don't have licenses to referee or mediate domestic unrest, quarrels, or physical altercations in students' homes. Teachers, unlike parents or guardians, don't get to implement reward systems in homes. Teachers can't make neighborhoods safer. Teachers can't influence where education lies on students' list of priorities. For some students part time jobs that pay money trump any messages coming from teachers. The bottom line is that there are too many things outside of the control of teachers that potentially impact students' performance. Ignoring these other influences and doggedly tearing into teachers like a Pit Bull might gain some political points among the me me me voters. But changing teachers without affecting the other factors that influence student performance will do little else. There are numerous studies that look at factors that influence student performance. I wonder how many PIT has read. Some are available right on the Internet. But you don't have to read or do a study to figure out that it's idiotic to punish teachers for their students' poor performance!

2010-11-30T23:09:00.000-08:00

I'll be the first to admit that some American traditions are retarded and a pain in the butt. But generally striving towards more rather than less tolerance, is a custom that should be heralded. It's bizarre watching traditional American customs disintegrating in the name of political correctness and tolerance of others' traditions that have often emanated from far more intolerant social regimes. So Americans, eager to not offend might be too trigger happy when it comes to accommodating the de-identifying of the baby country. The insidious or noble effort to make America a thing of complete neutrality, without personality or color appears to benefit from this country's oblivion. The U.S.A. really does not need to be attacked when it can be systematically dismantled.

2010-05-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) is a worldwide community of volunteers dedicated to exploring and sharing peaceful and effective ways to deal with conflict and violence.

Alternatives to Violence Workshop in Philadelphia

May 28-30, 2010

Friday 28: 4:30 – 8:00 pm

Saturday 29: 9:00 am – 6:30 pm

Sunday 30: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Please note: A commitment to participate in all workshop sessions throughout the weekend is required.

Location: Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center

2646 Kensington Avenue (a few steps South of Lehigh)

This AVP workshop is open to the public.

Registration: On or before May 23. Space is limited.

Fee: $5.00. This fee is set to cover costs of materials, snacks, and Saturday’s light lunch. Scholarships are available.

ALL ARE WELCOME: Teachers, Social Workers, Community Organizers, People of Faith, Police, Parents, Youth, and… Anybody seeking real alternatives to violence!

For more information contact Jorge Aráuz: 215-421-5811, cityquake@aol.com

2010-05-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

A lot of us seem to recognize the slave mentality when we see it. But, accentuating the positive, there's another dynamic that should be noted. It's an innovative spirit that, in some ways can be seen as reacting to the very prevalent "massa" mentality. That mentality loathes innovation in the very ones that it seeks to oppress. But if necessity is the mother of invention, then it makes sense that oppression begats innovation. And still we rise.

2009-12-04T20:44:00.001-08:00

That'll teach me to leave the sound on on my pc while asleep. I was dreaming that I was in the classroom of one of those uniquely profound professors. He was writing some life principals that you know are going to be remembered for life. Well I was awakened by an IM while he was on principal # 4. And it's the only one that I remembered from the dream!
#4: Think of your students as your children and you won't do or say anything harmful to you or them in the classroom. I think I paraphrased the anonymous professor. But I guess I inadvertently picked up another life lesson. Turn off the #$*@ electronics when you're supposed to be asleep. I promise you 1 -3 were really deep. But they're lost with all of those other things heard in a dream and blended into the abyss.

2009-10-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

Once again SEPTA, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is threatening a strike. Mind you that I think the majority of large companies are pimps. So workers fighting back is not really my beef. The problem is that SEPTA's workers don't give a good crap about how badly they inconvenience riders, not their management. This comes at a time when weather conditions are deteriorating. Conveniently this latest threat is being waived at riders during unprecedented circumstances. The Philadelphia Phillies are in the World Series. The World Series in Philadelphia without public transportation would make the city a national spectacle, a title which it deserves for putting up with SEPTA's shit for so many years! SEPTA's union has used the riders as bargaining chips or hostages periodically with impunity. Unless the riders are loving this being SEPTA's hoe thing, then they need to take this rare opportunity to throw it back at SEPTA. At at time when lots of us are suffering due to a poor economy, this organization, like a whiny spoiled brat, wants to be an exception.

2008-12-30T23:29:00.000-08:00

The "NO" inside

I guess we tend to refer to the "no" as our conscience, but I thought it warranted a little more specificity. That's because our consciences can ramble on with rationalizations, exceptions, and debates. And quite frankly, our consciences, were they a little less subconscious, would often no doubt mimic schizophrenia. The "no", on the other hand, which for the sake of this discussion, I'll assume is a special segment of the conscience, is very definitive and unwavering. I think that if you can be honest with yourself, you would have to admit nearly hearing the "no" at times because it is just that powerful. Nevertheless, despite its awesome potency, the nearly audible "no" is frequently overwhelmed by the oft confused vacillations of the greater conscience. The result is a conscious decision to override the "no".

The consequences of overriding the "no" is what makes this discussion worth having. Some will argue that because what's done is done, and because ultimately the choices that we make are generally not subconscious, but very much conscious by the time we make them, discussing that voice inside is an exercise in futility. I contend that by taking a look at what's going on when we make the decision to muzzle the "no" we might find a way to give the "no" a bit more leverage in these internal contests. I'm confident that there are very few if any "sane" adults who have not had regrets about overriding the "no". Our current circumstances usually are in some way affected by those decisions. This is not to say that the "no" is an infallible prognosticator of our destiny. But, in general, it's probably safe to say that it is those decisions not to transform the ethereal "no" into a verbalization or action that we tend to rehearse in out minds and to regret.

The "Just Say No" campaign is a great example of a unified effort to empower the "no" that exists in probably every mature individual. It is an acknowledgment that there is a great benefit to converting this internal intentionality into actions or words. And now I would like to join ranks with those who view rehearsing regrets as a useless endeavor. We can not change the past. But hopefully, having had this discussion will give your "no" some traction in your next crossroad. Because it seems that, while the greater conscience is focused on the here and now, the "no" seems to have been transported into the future and gotten a quick glimpse of the potential repercussions of the decisions about to be made. The "no" inside is powerless. It has to be released into the atmosphere for its energy to help steer our courses. Writing this has made me feel like I've strengthened my "no", but only after the next test will I really know if that's the case.

2007-10-09T02:27:00.000-07:00

Being A Thug

(Disclaimer: The liberal over usage of certain words and phrases often attributed to the subjects of this blog, is not an attempt to influence the reader's opinions( Lies))

Yo, who wouldn't wanna be a thug yo?

Bein a thug mean neva havin to say i'm sorry yo

Thugs don't have to say excuse me yo

And we don't need to say thank you when you do somethin for us yo or give us somethin yo

Yo we don't have to look both ways before crossin the street, or move out of the way of moving vehicles.

Thugs don't have to do what we say we gonna do. We do what we feel like doin at the time yo

Cry? get real yo. das for bytches yo.

Yo we wear the same clothes yo, so don't act like you didn't know we wasn't gonna move out DA way when you was driving down da street yo.

Yo don't worry bout our lungs being fucked up by da time we turn fawty. Got ta have dem smokes yo.

Yo what's da difference between yo front lawn and a trash can? DAMN! stop ackin like a bytch yo.

Oh yeah and feelings are for bytches yo. My dawgz don't have none. And I don't either yo. But don't be callin a niggah retarded yo. Nigga don't like dat shyt. I go to college.

I'm about me yo. You better be about you.

You might not know it, but you you need a THUG!

2007-08-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hillary's Bushisms

Champion of feigned remorse
All apologies come with complimentary caveats in fine print.
Would also have the USA at war with a middle eastern flea( intuitionally challenged)
Questionable understanding of how words translate into dead fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, mothers, and sisters.
Patronizing all (Pay attention and you'll see exactly what I refer to)

2007-07-04T00:26:00.000-07:00

BEWARE. LIKE OVERLY ANXIOUS FLIES AND WORMS OF THE DEAD, PREHISTORIC HARBINGERS PREMATURELY CELEBRATE YOUR COURSE AND SPEED.

2007-05-24T03:15:00.000-07:00

NOBODY'S SAYING THAT THEY'RE

NOT OFF THE CHAIN BUT....

WOULD THE OUTCOME HAVE BEEN

THE SAME IF THEY WERE WHITE FAGS?

http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=101806

These dudes were foolish to think that they could do what they did OR ANYTHING ELSE, legal or illegal as black as they are, in a predominantly white neighborhood. I suppose they're too young to realize that even being on their best behavior would receive stepped up scrutiny under the circumstances. Why weren't the storm troopers knocking on the business owner's doors? Why wasn't there video of him? And what would we find if ALL of the "appalled" neighbors' homes were under surveillance? And what about their businesses? This is food for thought and a window into the mind of someone capable of seeing things from more than one perspective. You can react to this with affected pious disdain, but remember that the problem with hypocrisy is not so much that it selectively addresses evils, but that it deliberately or sometimes delusionally ignores evil in the process.

2007-05-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

I used to wonder why MOST Jewish people would endure the crap they've historically faced in this country, when it's so easy for them to choose to blend in with non Jews. I've come to the conclusion that it's about embracing their heritage and choosing, despite substantial negative consequences to exercise the right to just be ones self. So being black,gay, and completely grown up(but forever learning),I do feel some kind of way when the black gay community comes up short in the intestinal fortitude department when compared to Jewish people. But even more troubling is the twisted thinking that glorifies the lack of pride and appreciation for our own heros and our own selves.
Just to nip some juvenile retorts in the bud, let me say that a lot of you are a lot more clockable than you believe. Instead of disparaging those who are out, you should thank them. Because your being DL is a choice not a necessity because of those out people. They are creating a boundary between what society in general can or can't get away with in its dealing with gay people.

2007-04-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

The monkey in the white house continues to defy the will of the people of his country, assuming that he's not the ultimate sleeper agent, sent to demoralize the once indisputable most powerful nation in the world. While some of our citizens continue to feast on the propaganda, demonizing the "what do I see with my own eyes" test, others see clearly a country that proposed to inflict shock and awe upon a minuscule mosquito of a nation, suffering from a self-inflicted state of confusion, isolation, and disdain.

I'm not that old. But I do remember the days when the leader of this country understood that he was not the ultimate authority. In those days, it would have been a conflict of interest to resent and belittle the very document that that leader, like so many servicemen who've died in battle, swore to defend. And yet there are many who yell patriotism when defending one who applauds their continued state of denial. Their inability to just step back and "do the math", as it were, precludes them from demanding a real answer to the question "what would constitute a victory in Iraq?" What could happen there that would justify the countless tragedies? What could happen there that would forgive the lies that served as the catalysts for an unjust sacking, plundering, and infection of a nation? I hope for a day when I can say that my fellow citizens woke up... a day when epiphany arrives with the loss of the child of a stranger who lives thousands of miles away, not only at the loss of ones own child. But America, the giant who sleeps, and who some thought had been awakened, yet sleeps in her arrogance, condescension, and ambivalence. Sleep on USA. Sleep on. Rome was not built in a day. But in less days she crumbled. Nothing lasts forever.

2007-04-17T03:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate it when you hire someone to do a job and they just don't get it? That would describe the democrats in congress. Stop pussy footing with the retard in the white house. No acquiescing! The fool doesn't negotiate with terrorists, unless they already have the big bomb. So congress, don't negotiate with the national embarassment. Stop thinking about 2008. Take a stand. Test the will of the people to make that murderous bastard a true LAME DUCK? Where does W stand on the murderous tyrant list these days? ( http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/

2006-10-06T01:34:00.000-07:00

Being the Master of Your Vehicle

This is a reference to the concept of being more concerned for the passenger occupying the shells called "our" bodies as opposed to placing primary focus on the shell, which everyone knows will eventually stop functioning and rot.

Everything that you can see is something that will cease to exist as you conceptualize it. The things that you can not see have no cause to cease to exist. Your passenger, your soul, is one example.

Imagine yourself lying still in a very comfortable bed. Now imagine each of your senses fading away completely. First your sight, then hearing, taste, smell, and lastly feeling. You can't feel the comfortable bed beneath you. You're just there, experiencing nothing external to your body. Nevertheless, with all of your sensors off, your brain hypothetically, would let you know that you still exist. This "you" that can still engage in a self assuring monologue does not have any physical properties and can not be seen. So it falls into the category of things that have no cause to cease to exist. This is your passenger. It is obviously more valuable than the shell that it exists in, because it's immortal. Yet it is normally ignored.

The ultimate proof for the cynic will be when the demise of the muscle called the brain is added to the above mental exercise. Their theory is that this would be the end of the game. But if their theory is incorrect, their former passengers will still have to exist somewhere!

So is your vehicle driving you or are you in control of it? Should you appease your body, which will be a memory in 70 or 80 years, or your soul, which will require a home forever?

2006-09-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Praise 103.9 fm this morning and apparently there was an ongoing discussion relating to former NJ Governor Jim McGreevy's interview on the Oprah Winfrey show. Well I caught neither the Oprah show nor the discussion, but I was fortunate enough to catch a caller eagerly taking advantage of the opportunity to air grievances on a topic which included the subject matter of homosexuality.
I'm assuming that her hatred was too overwhelming for her to realize that she was off topic. But I guess she should be cut some slack since, apparently learning that a Philadelphia elementary school plans to make October gay and lesbian day caused this poor reverend to suffer symptoms somewhat similar to those expressed by women experiencing morning sickness.

Undoubtedly the school's intention is to promote tolerance. And it's this and any other call for tolerance that so upsets the modern day Pharisees and Sadducees. Most likely the reverend will not be teaching the congregation or her own children tolerance. And she has the audacity to lash out at a school for trying to pick up her and her cohorts' slack. Well her tirade prompted my own which follows (notice accurate biblical references):

With regard to evangelist Jackson's response to her learning about Fulton elementary's alleged plan to make the month of October "gay and lesbian month" , I say "...and the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery...what sayest thou?" "...He...said unto them, He that is without sin...first cast a stone at her"

The Bible is very clear about the fact that God is more concerned about the self righteousness and hypocrisy of the so called saints than he is about sinners behaving like sinners. In fact in Chronicles 7:14 places the responsibility for the "ailing land" square in the hands of his people, ie the people of God.
Furthermore Reverend Jackson's ranting and disgust is representative of the attitude of many in the ministry and does nothing whatsoever towards drawing gays and lesbians to Christ. I'll be listening to your broadcast to see if I hear anything of the love of Jesus being put forward. Many so called Christians say that they love when even the biggest fool on the planet can see the hatred oozing from their loins.
I have to add that the church's phoniness has to be a foul odor in the nostrils of God. It is in mine!

2006-09-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

MUSLIM,PENTECOSTAL,BAPTIST,..BUT GAY!!

What do all of these people have in common? Well I don't know. That's why I'd like to get it from the sources. My assumption is that the majority of each of their religious institutions despise their sexual preference. I also assume that there's little love lost among the gay community for these individuals' religious institions. Well I am admittedly doing a lot of assuming. But my own experiences are what prompted my speculation about this issue. I'm guessing that for many this isn't that easy to respond to or even to read. But some dialogue here could prove to be informative, enlightening, and undoubtedly therapeutic for the "victims" as well as the curious. Oh I said "victims" didn't I? Well I'm thinking that being raised in a manner that's oppositional to your concept of yourself or a significant part of yourself and being placed in a (hardly)demilitarized zone as an ambassador or sacrafice, rings of victimization. I'm not really finished with this, but I'm tired. Not really sure that my point has been made. Probably not since I don't feel like anything's been gotten off of my chest.

2006-07-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

TALKIN TO THE WALLS 101

Behind the walls you will find cashiers who are too distracted to ring up your purchase correctly, give you the correct change, or remember or concede to saying thank you.

Behind the walls you will find young black and latino men who are too gangsta to be respectful or too cool to be considerate.

Behind the walls you will find preachers who are too antiseptic to risk becoming contaminated by feeding the flock and and who are too forgetful to be empathetic.

Behind the walls leaders strategize against followers, oblivious to the inevitable irony that ensues from creating neutralized and emasculated subordinates.

Behind the walls leaders follow followers.

Behind the walls incompetence is the court jester and is given center stage to juggle sensitive and delicate valuables.

Behind the walls some pay with their lives so that others might not be slightly inconvenienced.

Behind the walls the majority is right even when it's wrong.

Behind the walls weak and vulnerable beliefs generate a motivation to suppress all other ideas.

Behind the walls there are men who prefer sex with men but who think that they're something other than gay.

Behind the walls "masculine" men think they're "better" than feminine men.

Those behind these walls see no wall at all. If you see these walls, then talk to them. For it's by the affirmation of their existence that these walls will begin to crumble.

2006-04-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE A WUSS?

(One boogie man's perspective)

Do you, your friends, neighbors, and pets have more to say about the treasonous behavior of the commander in chief than your congressmen and senators? We now know that the presidents' inaction upon the revelation of top aides' involvement in the outing of a C.I.A. agent was due to his own complicity and sponsorship of their illegal activities. But that kind of begs the question of whether or not other national elected officials were also complicit. Only a few seem to be saying very much on the topic.

Well that's all water under the bridge. Or so you would think, by our representatives' amnesia. I've attempted to find out from my congressman where this issue falls on his priority list, and if it's not at the top or near the top, what's more important than dealing with a murderous traitor who's running the country. But as with every other time I've tried to contact representative Chaka Fattah, I've gotten zero feed back. See if you can twist an answer out of your rep: http://www.house.gov/ . I would have attempted to query the senators from Pennsylvania, but for the fact that I can imagine those two combating over which is next in line to lick the president's testicles, assuming they aren't as imaginary as Iraq's WMD's.

If your representative is shaking in the shadows of the Bush Administration, then he or she needs to be reminded that we the people also pay Bush's salary and that collectively we are the real boogie man.

2006-03-01T22:55:00.000-08:00

Paralysis of fear and ignorance

Like stunned deer watching rapidly approaching headlights, America stands immobilized by the confused, yet persistent onslaught of its tyrannical dictator. Many or those not caught up in the headlights, idly watch the scene play out, having been duped into believing some version of the absurd notion that conscious, voluntary inflicting of pain and suffering upon the masses will one day have some medicinal effect(trickle down?). [If I hurt you now we'll all be better off in the future] In the absence of real rhyme or reason, the tyrant, with impunity and no remorse, ravages the land and the people. Ironically because of fear (of what is already being done to them) and the inability to grasp the big picture, the victims cooperate with abusers.

2006-01-24T02:51:00.000-08:00

I'm really starting to wonder though, if none of the people we are attracted to is the right one. Do you suppose there's some undiscovered law that guarantees that those you are attracted to will be a mismatch, if not immediately, then eventually? Maybe we should pursue those we're not attracted to? Really starting to wonder.

2006-01-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Beyond Crisis Management
(An indictment against immediate gratification)

Starting the year 2006 with an average murder rate of greater than one per day in the city of brotherly love, there's little debate about whether or not something drastic is needed in Philadelphia to address this problem of raging murders.
So I can not be critical of Mayor Street for contemplating a request for assistance from the PA State Troopers and the PA National Guard in this effort. This is a response to the realization that past measures have not been effective in controlling the murder rate. Another way of putting this is that everything that has been tried in the past has failed. Unfortunately, sending in "the troops" is a measure that says you can get what you want through force or the threat of force. If this is the only response that were to receive serious effort and funding then we essentially disqualify ourselves as honest advocates of non-violence, anger management, conflict resolution, etc. It would be completely hypocritical, but, sadly typical for us to publicly and financially abandon precepts that we try to instill in the youth. Incidentally, because the vast majority of these murders that have constituted this crisis were unlikely a part of any organized affront, it's unclear how the presence of the guard or state troopers could be expected to impact the problem in a positive way. But, understandably, something has to be done

There must be a recognition across the board that the real problems are ignorance, ineffective communication, and a love for immediate gratification. The perpetrators of violent crimes have surrendered to the idea that they are incapable of achieving their goal(s) by other means and they do not have the patience to explore other options. Government officials routinely set poor examples when it comes to resolving conflict.Countries go to war primarily due to the ineptitude of their leaders. Unless a country or a person is acting in self defense, then violence is an admission of inadequacy. It says that the victims' power over the perpetrator is so great that the victims' existence detracts from the perpetrators' existence.
I do understand that something has to be done. But I suggest that while we are in crisis mode we take advantage of an opportunity to amass support for attacking the underlying causes of these manifestations of ineptitude and hopelessness. While the shadow of these tragedies looms overhead let's take advantage of the momentum that they have spawned. As potential victims of senseless crime, perhaps we should all focus our imaginations on a day when crime prevention is actually focused on preventing crime as opposed to dealing with suspects, perpetrators, and convicts. In order for that to happen we will have to address the ignorance that limits the arsenal of many people for dealing with conflicts. We will also need to address the affinity for immediate solutions to complex questions.

There are hotlines for people who are contemplating suicide, people relapsing into drug abuse or thinking about it, and for women who decide that they don't want there newborn infants. Is there a hotline for a person to call when they're hotter than the line and angry enough to be contemplating a violent resolution to a problem that is obviously resolvable by other means? If so, is there adequate funding given to this preventative tool, comparable to say the "safe streets" project, which incidentally, I'm in favor of? And, if there is, are people aware of its existence?

There are numerous measures that could be implemented that would address a culture of crime as opposed to apprehension of those who've already perpetrated offenses and smoke and mirrors "tough on crime" penalties. District attorney Lynn Abraham surprised me by acknowledging that law enforcement alone cannot resolve these issues. I applaud her for stating that on at least two occasions. But it's time for lawmakers to catch on to this and really run with it aggressively. If leaders are not proactive about addressing fundamental causal factors, then who's expected to step up? Cries for more police are cries of surrender!

2006-01-16T03:23:00.000-08:00

Today I was propositioned by a person seeking DL men to interview for a book he's in the process of writing. I could have just said no, like the anti-drug slogan. But why just say no? Why waste the opportunity to add a reason? Well the door was openened and the following is my reply:

Thanks for opening up the opportunity for me to let you know that I absolutely do not fit the type you're looking for. Being DL is a selfdeprecatory, self-defeating phenomenon. It disgusts me to the core that people would limit where they go, who they associate with, and whose alliance they have in order to appease a segment of the population that hates their guts. The DL population promotes and supports people in power (politicians, preachers, etc), who, many times, might very well be getting theirs in privately, while publicly supporting policies that slowly detract from the ability of gays and lesbians right to live in peace. When I think of DL men, I visualize an undercover homosexual standing idly while he observes a fatal gay bashing. That's just what comes to my mind.

So the moral of the story is, don't come at me for an interview too early in the morning. Just kidding. Now I don't live in a vacuum. I know that there are numerous reasons that men choose to live on the low. But underlying each of these reasons is cowardice. This fact should at least be acknowledged. Instead being DL is insanely viewed as a badge of honor in some circles of the gay community. This is ironic since it is actually the epitome of acquiescence to shame. Unfortunately, the DL phenomenon, in my opinion, threatens to usher the gay community in a regressive march towards a time when homosexuals were treated much worse.

I'm also aware of the marketability of the topic these days. I can't blame a person for trying to make a buck. But capitalizing on a groups' mass neurosis or psychosis seems to me a bit sinister. It's true to say that the DL phenomenon is what it is, so writing about it or doing third rate flicks about it is merely telling the story. But it's not telling the entire story and it's doing nothing to mitigate the unfortunate status quo. Keeping who you are under wraps, makes it easier for those so inclined to continue making your life miserable. Your co worker might not be so frivolous with anti-gay rhetoric, or anecdotes, if he or she knew that the supervisor is gay. But the sup is on the low. And the straight supervisor might not be so tolerant of inappropriate anti-gay slurs if he knew that his son's gay or that his manager's gay. One may never know because for the time being it's "to the rear MARCHING" towards oppression and silence to the beat of a self perpetuating drum of defeat.

2006-01-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

These are the words I imagined my departed friend speaking to me in his usual upbeat, motivational speaker tone: "Whassup big man? Don't cry! Be tough. Be tough for my little sister"

Though we drifted apart we were still in each other's hearts. As I embraced his sister to comfort her in her grief, she imparted words that embraced and comforted me. She whispered "you know he loved you very much" A million doves flew out of me carrying little pieces of the hurt. Simultaneously, there was an awkwardness that was clearly the result of he and I having drifted apart.

The moral of this series is don't be taken aback if I should hug you and tell you that I love you. My soul can not endure too many more "if only's" or "what if's". Instead, I hope that you will feel complemented by my desire to be close to you.

When have you last taken in the ocean, the mountains, or a forest? When have you last deeply inhaled a fulfilling friendship or relationship? These are things that you must savor or you will risk forgetting to live. Life is to be lived today. While we plan for fantastical future days that frequently never materialize we must not forsake or trivialize the present. Accentuate the positive today. No matter how small that positive thing is, amplify it as absurdly as you like to the point that it drowns out the negative. It's your prerogative. It's your day. Love it no less than you love the vision that you've created for the future.

2006-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

If you're gonna blog, how could you debate with yourself about whether or not to write about the loss of one of the best friends you've ever had? But that's what I found myself doing. I guess I was thinking that it would be better to wait until I had digested this a little more, since it was only last night that I found out of his death. For years we were white on rice enough for many people to assume that we were brothers or at least cousins. And while I anticipate the concentrated weirdness that's likely to ensue from those trying to untangle the conundrum they've created by making assumptions instead of asking questions, I would be aggravating my own personal drama if I failed to offer my condolences to his mother and sister.

I guess anyone who's lost someone who was close has experienced the regret of not having said this or that. Well over the 31 years that we knew each other, I think we said quite a bit to each other. And although I have this feeling that we were a few thousand conversations in arrears, I'm happy to have had those that we did have. It's rare when you meet a person with whom no topic of conversation is off limits. It's a shame that we allowed life to slowly seep in to separate us. It happens all the time though. Mounting responsibilities, Time restraints. Finances, competing priorities cause us to distance ourselves from unique situations that have nurtured our expressiveness, imagination, and humanity. Because we voluntarily choose bricks and stones over love and spirituality, we miss invaluable experiences and insights that causes material things to pale in comparison. More often than not we're not very fond of the path to those things we want to accumulate and once we've reached the pinnacle and experience the accompanying anticlimactic fizzle, depression often follows as we realize that those things are not satisfying.

2005-12-31T05:25:00.000-08:00

BOOBY TRAPS!!

I'm sure that this post will have the best chance so far of pissing someone off and or making someone turn on me, but it's my truth. You'll get over it. And by the way if this one upsets you or your stomach then please do tune in again for further posts. In my humble opinion I'm only abrasive to those who have rough edges that need smoothing down.

I'm very hopeful that all who might read this will take or have taken sufficient caution not to fall into any of the booby traps out there waiting around the new year. You may be right in thinking that having a little buzz has an insignificant impact on your ability to operate your vehicle, but you're not right if you think that it's not enough to land you in jail with a DUI. For many of us a DUI translates into looking for another job sooner than planned. If you're one of us who has found that finding a job out here is easier said than done, imagine how you will have exacerbated that situation by sporting a DUI, arrest, and jail time.

I did call them booby traps, and that is really what I want to focus on. There are countless and growing ways for "good", hard working, law abiding citizens to acquire a criminal record these days. If you're not aware of this, then please just take my word for it. You don't have to be a bad person to get jail time. A simple mistake, an oversight, or a misjudgment can lead to the shock of your life. You do have to watch your step constantly. You do have to step gingerly. And you do have to be guarded about certain of your affairs and associations.

I'm guessing that I haven't lost too many of you yet. But hang on. It's coming. But first consider this. Forget the DUI thing. You know the deal with that. If you plan to drink and drive you're gambling with disaster. But what about all of the youngins and not so youngins out there driving without insurance, driver licenses, or proper registration. Foolish you say? Well ultimately that's probably true in most cases. But consider those who have these infractions who must drive to get back and forth to work. What about SEPTA( South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority for those not from around these parts)? You don't know SEPTA if you think it can be relied upon to get you back and forth to an inconveniently located job with inconvenient hours and lack of flexibility or tolerance for tardiness or missed days. SEPTA is pathetic and for too many people it's not a realistic alternative.

So assuming that these individuals have responsibilities, expenses, and bills that are as unrelenting as most of ours, the pressure is on to drive despite not having all of these things in order. As difficult as it is for the majority of people to find another job, especially one that matches ones expenditures, quitting the job would probably prove to be problematic. Well clearly getting all of the vehicle requirements is the simple answer. And for those who I know personally in this predicament, all very responsible people who have erred in the past and are paying for their mistakes, this is the option of choice. For each of them, however, the magnitude of fines, tickets, etc, etc, is too overwhelming. I've learned that telling them "well just pay the fines, just pay the tickets, just get it registered..." is futile not to mention pretty thoughtless. They chisel away at the fines, which are often relatively monumental. In the interim they run the gauntlet. A broken taillight, a malfunctioning signal light, a breakdown, an accident, a missed stop sign, could all serve as precursors to jail time for these bruthas.

Did I say bruthas? Yeah. I admit that that could be because that's who I associate with predominantly. I admit that I have not done a study or anything resembling one, but from my experience it's bruthas who fall into this predicament the most. Now I'm very skeptical about the notion that bruthas are in violation more. My belief is that bruthas pay the piper more in this and in every other situation in which there is interaction with the (in)justice system in the USA. I don't know a soul who I could ask to loan me $2000 for tickets and fines. $2000 is just a random figure that I tossed out there. I know of people with larger totals than that. I think that the reason bruthas pay the piper more is that they rarely know the right people as is seldom the case with their Caucasian counterparts. If you know the right people, tickets disappear. Fines were never issued. Judgments are stricken or mitigated. I don't know many bruthas who know the right people. I also don't know many bruthas who know people with the spare cash lying around to throw at these trifling nuisances. Everyone may run a gauntlet, but the gauntlet bruthas run is lethally laden with deadly daggers and spikes. Now it gets a little uglier. . .

I won't completely lay out my outlook on things in this blog (not intentionally at least). But this will undoubtedly give you a window into my perspective. Booby traps hinder the progress of the adversary. Tactically placed, they hinder significant progress and effectively eliminate any possibility of momentum being built up. Now of course they have the potential to annihilate the individual who's unfortunate enough to stumble upon it. But accumulatively, each individual's demise or neutralization has an overall potentially crippling effect on the group.

Skipping to the end now. When you come across bruthas who do time in jail(horrifying), get a record resulting from relatively petty violations, and who drastically reduce their ability to compete in the job market, I want you to think booby trap. Don't focus so much on the individual scenarios. Don't get into analyzing the thought processes of the individuals. By doing so you miss the big picture. Although it is indeed the individual who falls into the trap, the setting of these traps is strategic. It helps to maintain the status quo. It serves the purpose of hindering the progress of oppressed groups. It maintains an uneven playing field. This is indeed a conspiracy theory. But I'm convinced that the architects of this conspiracy have enough self perpetuating instruments in place so that keeping the wheels turning does not require the players to be cognizant of their roles. Consequently many who are guilty of making this disparity possible are inclined to throw you an honest stupid look. In order to ever be able to grasp this it will be necessary to dispense with searching for intentions and focus instead on causes and effects.

2005-12-30T02:44:00.000-08:00

Okay this is all relatively new for me. Fortunately, right off the bat I came across two stellar bloggers that made me immediately recognize what all the hype is about. Marz is a prolific young writer who spares no words. Incisive and obviously comfortable writing on any topic, he's already a writer. If he's not published, then dagnabbit, he should be. Marz, hopefully, one day you'll turn over in bed and decide that you want to change the world. I've known you for what 3 days? Already convinced that you have what it takes to do that. The few posts of D-place have been sufficient to re-introduce me to an artistic side of myself that I've apparently allowed life to gradually siphon away. I'm ecstatic about the possibilities, the newness. This has been like a rebirth, and I've undoubtedly just scratched the surface. Wow! Just felt like shouting.

It's about free and relaxed communication. Being exposed to expression in which the thing that is thought is the thing that is said or written is refreshing beyond words. I feel like I'm hooked. And that's rarely a good thing. In this case I think is a great thing.

2005-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

The "Religious" Right

Why are they so WRONG?

IMHO evangelicals should practice leading by example, ie practicing the following scripture: Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Instead what we see is doomed for failure attempts at coercion and manipulation of laws. They have become blatant in their expressions of hatred for various groups and individuals. Terribly ironic, since the one who they purport to follow, Jesus Christ, did not even hate the ones who betrayed him. If one disregards the hypocritical rhetoric proceeding from the mouths of their leaders, it will be evident that the agenda of the religious right is one of promoting hatred and discord. Just check out Pope Pat Robertsons' quote: "Christianity needs an image makeover," Robertson continued. "No more of that simpering, turn-the-other-cheek stuff. I like the kick-butt, take-no-prisoners approach popularized by the Spanish inquisitors. Now, they knew how to be tough!"

That thinking and attitude appear to me to be diametric to those of Jesus.

Well there should be no doubt that I'm not a big fan of the Christian Confused nor the Religious Ridiculous movements. They have no intention of adhering to the Bible, the basis of Christianity, only asserting their will through political means, and selectively legislating their misinterpretations of the Bible. Despite my bias, due almost entirely to their hypocrisy, I'm confident that if they even picked just one testament of the Bible and practiced it uniformly, they would gain my respect though, most likely not my allegiance.

I won't be holding my breath for that event to occur.

2005-12-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

Ye Olde Progressive Bloge: Entitlement Programs: a policy of victimization

2005-12-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

Ye Olde Progressive Bloge: A Day Late and a Dollar Short?

2005-12-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

Justus

2005-12-26T05:53:00.000-08:00

Check this out. This cool, intelligent youngin peaked my interest enough to get me to try this.

My Teenage Years: HEAD CUTTING