TGIF

Note to World.

Colleen Explains It All

To the people upset by the phrase "Black Lives Matter" and counter with "All Lives Matter." In theory all lives do matter but as long as there is racism and bigotry in this county white lives matter more than black lives. Maybe you would not get so upset if you thought of the "Black Lives Matter" slogan as a shortened version of the phrase "Black Lives Matter Just As Much As White Lives"......or....maybe you could stop pretending that you don't know what "Black Lives Matter" means and just shut the hell up.

Enough

I woke-up this morning to the news that 5 police officers were assassinated in Dallas, TX during what had been a peaceful protest rally against police violence. All I could do was cry. When is enough, enough? Stop the violence. Stop the hatred. Stop the political bullshit. This country is in serious trouble. It's time we all start showing each other the respect we each deserve just for being fellow human beings. So stop. Just stop. Please, stop.

Changes In Attitudes

 Nothing remains quite the same.
-Jimmy Buffett,  Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes



Last night when the NBC Nightly News did their report on the assassination of British Member of Parliament Jo Cox by a crazed killer, they began this way:

"There are shock waves in the U.K. and across the world after a rising star member of of Parliament, a young mother of two, was brutally ambushed and killed after meeting with constituents."

"A young mother of two." When it comes to sexism it's the little things that are telling. For NBC News the important thing was not her name but the fact that she was a mother. Do you think if male MP or US Senator had been murdered NBC would put the fact that he was a father of two in the opening paragraph?

This may seem like a trivial detail to you but it brought back memories of when news stories about African-Americans were always written this way, "John Doe, Negro,.." or "Jane Doe, Colored,..." making a person's skin color the defining part of him or her. By putting "a young mother of two" in their opening paragraph NBC is implying that Jo Cox being a mother is the defining part of both her and all women just as skin color was the defining part of all African-Americans back in the dark ages before the first Civil Rights Movement.

Jo Cox was killed because of her work and because she was a member of Parliament, which in itself was a remarkable accomplishment (Right now, there are only 190 women in Parliament out of 659 members). Jo Cox was a Member of Parliament who happened to also be a mother, Jo Cox was not a Mother who also happened to be a Member of Parliament. When our society finally understands the difference between these views of women we will be closer to the gender equality women are due as human beings and American citizens. 

NBC News report here.
 

Love And Mercy

I was sittin' in a crummy movie with my hands on my chin
Oh the violence that occurs seems like we never win

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was lyin' in my room and the news came on T.V.
A lotta people out there hurtin' and it really scares me

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was standin' in a bar and watchin' all the people there
Oh the lonliness in this world well it's just not fair

Hey love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy tonight

Love and mercy

Yaaaah! We Scored A 70!

Wait, that's not good.

You Can't Heal What You Refuse To Confront

I've decided I want to be a faith healer. Only instead of yelling, "Be healed!" while slamming my palm into someone's forehead, I would yell, "Get some f***ing sense!"

By which I mean show some compassion, empathy, and humbleness toward your fellow man. You know, the way Jesus always acted.

What Do You Know, I've Been Doing It All Wrong

The above advice came from this book.

A section of the original page.

I'm A Deviant

Is This A Circle? How Shapes Can Predict Your Tolerance Of  'Deviancy''

Daily News Says What I've Been Thinking

Update:
Senate Republicans vote down bill that would block people on terror watch list from buying guns 

The Doors Of Perception

What Americans Get Wrong: survey reveals biggest misconceptions. (Numbers across bottom are percentages.)

There Is No More Neutrality In The World

You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.
-Unknown

 -Andy McClure

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

We Wish You A Rapey Christmas

I see Bloomingdale's department store hired some frat boys to create their Christmas catalog this year.

Washington Post article here.

Dogs And Cats Living Together!

Three Views Of Last Night's Republican Debate

1. One view of last night's debate from a British newspaper.

2.  Another view of last night's debate from this side of the Atlantic.

3. My view- when you have lame candidates, you are bound to get some lame questions and even more lame answers.

No Beer, Coke

October 28, 1919, the National Prohibition Act (a.k.a. The Volstead Act) went into effect giving Federal and state governments the power to enforce the 18th amendment. The 18th amendment banned the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors in the United States.

"A Man's Drink, A Woman's Drink, Everybody's Drink,  Coca-Cola"- 1919 Coke Ad

Black Friday Changing?

"Tomboy Of The Air"

October 23, 1910, Blanche Stuart Scott ( (1885 – 1970) becomes the first woman in the US to solo an aircraft. She was also the only woman taught to fly by aviation pioneer and aircraft builder Glenn Curtis.

At the end of 1980 the US Postal Service issued an commemorative stamp in honor of Blanche Stuart Scott.

Flyspray, Showsheen And Pine Shavings

October 22, 1881, the first National Horse Show is held at the original Madison Square Gardens in New York City.