A New Head??

I’ve been writing so many personal posts lately, opinionated pieces ranting at the world, emotional writings as I attempt to find my place in the world, pretty much anything that has touched me, or touched a nerve with me. In a way I feel like I have strayed from my intent in starting this blog. While I know I began with no set direction, I feel as if I should have made more of an effort to inform rather than opine. So today I thought about what issues I believe the populace is most uninformed about, and boy did I come up with a list. There are so many issues in play today that peoples only exposure to is what they hear on the boob tube. How can you formulate an intelligent opinion on anything if the only exposure you have had is someone elses biased opinion? Where are the facts, the evidence, the statistics? Rhetoric and talking points make for easy listening, however they do not make for informed choices nor opinions.

That being said I have decided to make a concentrated effort to post more informative pieces. Pieces sourced to enable the reader easier access to research so that they no longer must rely on anothers biased opinion when making a decision. I will strive to cite unbiased sources when I can, however I will make sure to note any which lean a particular direction so that one can go into their research knowing that what they read may not be 100% impartial. I will try to not only explain the facts and details behind every issue but also expose the rhetoric so many have accepted as truth.

So far I have a few ideas which I personally would like to cover, but am open to any suggestions anyone may have.

Here’s what I have plans for…

• Second Amendment/Gun Control :: What freedoms does the second amendment actually give the citizenry, what limits are in place, pertinent SCOTUS rulings, pending legislation, talking points and rhetoric used by both sides of the issue to sway voters.
• Higher Education :: What it takes to obtain a college education, costs to obtain a degree, ability to achieve once in college, disparity in enrollments among different socioeconomic subgroups, facts not fiction as to the ease/lack of ease with which it can be done
• Government Sponsored Social Programs :: Who and how they serve, how much is spent, how fraud effects them, reforms of the past and their outcome, separating the truth from the tale tales in regards to what the parties state.
• Campaign Reform :: How political campaigns are currently run and financed, the use of advertisements, funding limits, clarity and transparency of the process, lack of motivation among politicians.

As I stated above, these are just a few of the topics I am going to attempt to cover. They are all important issues in America today, some of them elsewhere as well. While this is by no means an all inclusive list, it gives me somewhere to start. Unfortunately each entry will take a bit of time for I honestly plan to make sure each is as factual as possible with all necessary sources to back it up. So since I will not be mass producing these by any means I will get probably one out per week if I am lucky. In the meantime In will continue to post rants, tirades, tearjerkers, and more likely than not some humorous writings as well seeing as how my life can be one big joke at times. Hopefully you will all bear with me through my growing pains, I promise I will do my best to make it worth it.

Stop It NOW! (post for 1.20.2012)

I am so frustrated as of late. For once not with myself though. Rather I am being driven over the edge by the ignorance, hate, and apathy I encounter daily when dealing with all types of people. Society is in the toilet just waiting for someone to flush it to oblivion. People are so self-absorbed, egotistical, intolerant and down right nasty. No longer is civility an admired trait. People would much rather attack and condemn each other for not conforming, not adhering to a narrow-minded belief structure. People hate simply to hate, for no other reason. We have become a society of independent sheep, unwilling to take the time out to help our fellow man, to aid them in gaining knowledge and skills. Society is ruled by a select group of bigoted elitists who fill the flocks belly with lies and rhetoric all designed to pen them in, the herd them towards their own slaughter.

I look around me and see intelligence, for I choose to only associate with those who have an open mind. Unfortunately at the same time I see this intelligence, this light is being snuffed out by the drooling of the rabid sycophants. Fewer and fewer people are choosing to stand up, to stand apart from the simpering masses. Perhaps it is out of frustration at not making headway, not making inroads into the flock. Possibly they are tired of trying and not getting anywhere, tired of offering sight to the blind only to be ignored. Maybe just maybe they have deemed society unworthy of saving, a waste of time and energy. Lord help us if that is the reason, because then we are truly screwed.

Personally I cannot give up, I cannot allow blind hatred to win. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, a masochist per se, however I have not yet lost all faith, I still hold on to a glimmer of hope no matter how fast it fades. That being said I need to say a few things, get them off my chest in the hopes that maybe, just maybe they will reach through the fog which shrouds so many in ignorance….

• There is no single right way, in fact there are many different ways to achieve what is best for society, but all of them require acting like an adult, putting aside our differences and working together.
• Politics should not be a popularity contest, it should be based on merit above all else. Stop electing Narcissist simply because their speech writers excel at pretty rhetoric. Start holding those you support accountable instead of simply chastising those you oppose because your demagogues told you to do so.
• There are many gods (including the null god), many religions, no single one is right for everyone, so stop condemning those who do not share your beliefs. Do you honestly believe your intolerance does anything positive whatsoever? That it will gain you access to heaven faster than those you label heathens? Try again Sparky, it won’t.
• The media LIES, a lot. Stop swallowing the infotainment they provide as gospel. If you’re reading this, obviously you have internet, therefore the means to check out the veracity of anything you are told. Use your brain to formulate your own opinions rather than having them spoonfed to you by some paid pundit.
• We are all created equal, no matter what you think. Skin color, gender, sexuality, etc… etc… have no role in deciding ones worth. Let the actions and words of the individual stand for said individual. To do otherwise is simply exposing your own personal ignorance to the world.
• Compromise is NOT a dirty word, neither is cooperation. Stop aligning yourself with those looking to divide us along political, religious, economic, lines. Rather seek out those who truly want to unite us, not simply those who fallaciously claim to want unity.
• Educate yourself. It doesn’t take money to learn, it simply takes time and effort. You must want to increase your knowledge in order to do so. Stop blaming others for the fact you are too lazy to achieve what you desire.
• Stop the Hate, simple as that. Stop hating because you are told/taught to hate. Stop hating because you fear what you hate. Stop hating because you do not understand what you hate. Hate is a wasted emotion, wasted time, wasted energy. Just stop it.

As I said, I am not ready to give up on the world. There is too much promise in life to allow defeat. We all face difficulty in our lives that we cannot control, however we can control how we react to it, how we manage it, how we move on from it. We need to stop all this pettiness, this childish sandbox behavior. We are far too intelligent as a whole to allow the downfall of society to happen. Enough’s enough, time to put on the big boy pants and start acting like a member of the human race rather than as a Christian/Atheist/Muslim/Democrat/Republican/Asian/African-American/Caucasian, etc… etc…

We’re all in this together, one goes down we all will.

Completely Senseless…

I am so so SO fucking tired of the senseless waste of life. I arrived home from dropping my daughter off at the bus stop yesterday to news of a shooting in a local community. A shooting in a high school. A tragedy which could have been prevented, couldn’t it? Five students were shot, three have passed away. Why? Why are there three dead young men, cut down before they had a chance to live? Is it as some have said the result of bullying? He wasn’t even a student at the school where he went on his rampage, he was simply there to switch buses. What the sam hell is wrong with this world where we believe violence is the only answer? This has to stop and stop now.

Parents, TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN!! Be a parent, don’t think it can’t happen to you. Teach your children not to bully, to stand up for themselves and others. Listen to your kids, take care of them, treasure them, stop letting them fall to the shadows because you are to self absorbed in your own drama. Just stop it, please…

Just An Average Ordinary Day

Today was absolutely gorgeous outside, it didn’t start out so pretty but it sure has ended that way. The sun was shining, most of the snow has melted, it was warmer than usual for this time of year, at least here it was. Only downside was the wind, which wasn’t so bad, or wouldn’t have been, if I had followed my daughters example and pulled my hair back. Suffice to say I came home to a 20 minute session with the hair brush lol. Anyways, back on topic….. Once Anna got home from school I asked her how much homework she had and when she told me I decided we could put it off until later this evening and asked her if she felt like going to the park so I could take some pictures. Little did she know I planned on catching shots of her, not the nature I so obsessively stalk.

It’s only a five minute or so walk to the park from our apartment, so I decided to let Anna handle the camera as we made our way the few blocks to the playground. Being just like her mother of course she felt the need to capture some images, and if I do say so myself, they are pretty damn good…..

A single leaf laying discarded on the asphalt

A pair of fallen pine cones along the edge of the sidewalk

Anna's capture of a bare fallen twig against the monochromatic ground

Random leaves nested in the awakening grass

As you can see, she has quite they eye for composition, at least in this mothers biased opinion. Her shots may be quite ordinary in elements, but are extraordinary all the same. Whether she decides to pursue photography or not, is up to her, all I ask is that she enjoy it as long as she does. That being said, by the time the last shot above was taken we had reached the park, and I lost her to the playground. Really, what camera could compete with slides, monkey bars, and a cute little boy?

Once Anna had handed over the camera I cranked up my music and began shooting. Whether fortunately or unfortunately for me, Anna soon realized I was not there capturing images of the sky like I almost always do. Thankfully though playing with the adorable little boy she met there took precedence over posing for pictures so I was lucky to get some excellent candid shots. Hopefully you all enjoy them as well….

My monkey acting like a monkey, just hanging out

Anna caught in mid-flight as she runs towards the edge

A candid of my favorite subject supposedly hiding under the playground equipment

As you can see I have an affinity for black and white photography. I just feel they tend to be far more evocative when shooting people, especially children. There is no distraction of color, just simple clean lines and readily apparent emotions. It doesn’t hurt though that I have an extremely gorgeous and photogenic subject to work with.

All in all it was a very productive trip. I got to feed my shutter addiction, Anna got to feed hers as well as get some playtime in, and we both enjoyed a springlike respite from the gray skies of winter. Nothing grand has to take place in order to enjoy a magnificent day, all you have to do is take what you have and work with it. Try it sometime, trust me, it will be worth it.

Brightest Light

While I can be a prolific writer at times, three separate blog entries in one day is a record of sorts for me. I don’t know why I am writing yet again, other than some weird compulsion to cast my thoughts into written words. The problem is, I am not fully aware of what it is I am being seemingly driven to write about. While there is a somewhat foggy sensation of a topic somewhere in the back of my head, I cannot see it clearly nor decipher what it is, yet. So I figure I will write a bit in hopes of unlocking my thoughts or at least cleaning away a bit of the fog surrounding them. Perhaps this desire to pontificate is in part due to the fact I had such a great day. A normal day, but great nevertheless. Nothing spectacular happened, didn’t go anywhere amazing, simply spent the day at home, with the kids, doing typical Sunday stuff. Maybe that’s why it was so great, because it was so normal, so average, so everyday. No drama, no stress, no negativity whatsoever. Lord knows I have been in dire need of a day like today. Well what do you know, I know what to write. Off we go…

As anyone who follows my blog knows, I have been up and down more than a yo-yo lately, through it all though there have been those around me who have done all they can to reach out and steady me, keep me from staying down. For that I am grateful. However there is one in particular who has gone far above and beyond regular friendship. One who has made it their mission to make sure I am alright, taking time out of their life to pull me back, rein me in, keep me out of harms way. Someone who refuses to allow me to think the worst. Whether it be the worst of the situation, the worst of others, or most importantly the worst of myself. I have no clue why I have been blessed to have someone this amazing in my life, but I am beyond grateful. The problem is, how do you repay such kindness, such compassion? How do you thank someone for giving you strength when yours was lacking, hope when yours was obscured by darkness, compassion to sooth your soul? A simple thank you just won’t cut it, not by a long shot.

I think I have it figured out though, I think I have realized how to repay the kindness shown to me over and over again. What I will do, what I must do, is be the person inside, the person they see me to be, the person beneath the layers of disdain, self loathing, cowardice. That is not to say I will change who I am, for I will not, I will simply do my best to be the real me that they uncovered through their sheer force of will and never-ending tenacity. The person that they see when they look at me, not the shell I have become to myself. I’m sure I will slip, lose my way, but I am just as positive they will be there to pick me up, dust me off, get me back on the path and moving forward again. I only hope one day they realize just how much they mean to me and how eternally gratefully I am to have them in my life.

Don’t Keel Over…

Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think

~Christopher Robin to Winnie The Pooh~

Have you ever noticed some of the simplest, yet most apt, life lessons are found in children’s literature? Case in point, the above quote written by A.A. Milne speaking through Christopher Robin. At that age, this is inherent knowledge to us. We have yet to feel the boundaries society, family, friends, etc… place upon us in the name of protecting us, keeping us grounded. It is the age when we still believe we can do anything. We can be Superman. Unfortunately, society does not want Supermen, it does not want those who believe they can be anything they want. Society has gone from being people working together towards a common goal, to a group of jealous, petty individuals who cannot stand to see someone other than themselves succeed. God forbid, someone works hard and achieves more than you. God forbid someone knows more than you. God forbid someone isn’t afraid of their own shadow and ventures out into the real world to challenge themselves and the preconceived notions of others. Screw this, society can kiss my ass. That being said, lets start at the top…

Bravery is not lack of fear, for even the bravest man is afraid at times. Bravery is the act of facing your fears, looking them straight in the eye and overcoming them as best you can. Bravery is not about being tough, being a “manly man”, bravery is about overcoming obstacles no matter how daunting they may seem. Fear is normal, everyone is afraid at times, what separates the strong from the weak is the desire to overcome, to work around, to eliminate the fear. Going through life afraid is not living, it is nothing more than merely existing. Existence isn’t enough, it can’t be enough. We are so so much more than just a blob of carbon taking up space, we are all here for a reason, never forget that.

Strength is not merely a physical attribute, but more often than not that is what comes to mind when we picture a strong person. Straining muscles, massive bulk, sweating, all images we associate with strength. All too often we overlook inner strength, the quiet resoluteness possessed by those who are driven to overcome anything in their path. Being strong does not always appear as what it is. Walking away from a bad situation is strength, fighting it out is not. Continuing on when all seems lost is the forte of the strong. We never know just how truly powerful we are until we are brought to our knees. Then true strength reveals itself.

Intelligence is a gift, a gift which is squandered by far too many. Intelligence isn’t getting good grades, scoring high on a test, getting into the best schools. There are millions of intelligent people who never went to college, never did well in school, never had the opportunities to be accepted by society as intelligent. True intelligence lies in putting what we have learned into action. Using our gifts to help others. Intelligence is not looking down on someone simple because they do not have the honors you have received. It is not telling someone they are stupid because they do not know how to do something. Those who are truly intelligent use their gifts in ways to not only promote themselves, but uplift those around them. Those who feel the need to look down upon others for not having achieved the same levels of so called success as they did are not intelligent, and they know it. It is why they act as self-important as they do, because they know they have nothing real to back up their bluster, their bravado.

Bravery, Strength, Intelligence. We all possess these attributes, each to a differing degree depending on the individual in question, but they are there make no doubt about it. What we need now is to embrace these qualities, bring them forth to share with the world. No longer hide them under a basket, away from the eyes of others simply because we have been conditioned by a callous, jealous, petty society to do so. I want to witness your bravery. I want to marvel at your strength. I want to sit in awe of your intelligence. I hope that I can inspire the same desire in you. For if we all were to celebrate the capability of each other rather than condemning our world would be a much better place for everyone. I will do my part, the rest is up to you…

I am Braver than I ever believed

I am Stronger than I ever seemed

I am Smarter than I ever thought

I will remember, I will never forget.

Sunday Morning…..

Sun is shining, birds are singing, snow is melting (unfortunately), looks to be the start of a glorious Sunday. Which one can only hope is an accurate preview of the week to come. This is not my daily entry, I just wanted an excuse to post

I’ll actually write something worthwhile later, I hope….

Now for your listening enjoyment…

The Dangers Of…

Dammit, dammit, dammit, once again I am at a loss for what to write about. Perhaps it is due to the fact I am running on very little sleep, who knows. I do know I have to get a post out today because I honestly do want to follow through with my resolution to write every day. I’ve scanned the news and nothing piqued my interest. Same with youtube, facebook, deviant, etc…. Nothing is inspiring me, not one damn thing and it is driving me nuts. I could fall back on my standard and vent about one aspect or another of politics, but I pretty much did that yesterday so… no. Really not in the mood to delve into the twisted depths of my psyche so a personal post is out of the question as well. Could write about the kids, but then there is the risk of straying into personal territory. I hate when I get like this, I really freaking do. I feel so damn confused, like I’m walking around in a daze. Oh dammit. Looks like it’s gonna be personal after all… shit.

I hate being sleep deprived, it always leads to a state like this. Not knowing whether I am coming or going, unable to focus on anything mundane. I do it to myself though, usually with the help of a RockStar Slushie … or three. Anymore it’s out of force of habit rather than a conscious choice. I know I should stop, but they’re just so damn tasty lol. Anyways, enough with that tangent, back to my state of confusion. It’s as if I’m in a state of semi awareness, where I can see what is going on around me, simply not actively participate in it. It wouldn’t be so bad if I did not have things on the agenda for today. Unfortunately I do not get a lazy day that often where I can simply drift. Lord knows I would love one, that I need one, they just come around rarely. Now I have descended into inane rambling, oh good googly boogly. Next thing you know I’ll be talking about the fact my mother still has her Christmas tree up (she really does, and it’s a live tree, or was at one point).

I think I should cut this entry short before I completely drive myself to drink another RS Slushie. However I will leave you with some excellent musical entertainment which really sums up the point of this post and how I feel….

Our Turn…

Yet again I have encountered an individual who has deemed himself worthy of putting me in a box, slapping a label on and shipping me off to where he erroneously seems to think I fit. All because I had the audacity to disagree with his narrow minded, bigoted, ignorant views. This isn’t the first time I have encountered this particular form of asshattery, nor will it be the last, but it doesn’t make it any less tedious to deal with. While I can somewhat understand the desire of the individual to belong to a group, I cannot grasp where the blind hatred for those that choose not to join, to affiliate, comes from. Is it jealousy? Fear? Something else entirely? Even though I do not understand what inspires such ire, I do know that it is not a good thing, that it does nothing even remotely positive in the grand scheme of things.

Perhaps it is just me, but it seems society has become far too reliant on the clique mentality and lost sight of the individual. No longer is the uniqueness of the individual a prized commodity, rather it is the object of mockery and scorn. Those of us who think for ourselves and refuse to march in lockstep with the lemmings of the world are treated with disregard, disdain and often outright malevolence. Our choice to remain independent of the collective, avoid the perils of group think, puts a gigantic target on our backs, marking us for attack by any and all who believe that their way is the right way, the only way. Whether it be in life, politics, religion, or society in general, our world is filled with nation upon nation of sheep, bleating their lives away as they blindly follow the shepherd, never stopping to realize they are preparing themselves for their own slaughter.

The multitudes have become whores of the media, letting themselves, their votes, their opinions, be pimped out to the highest bidder. No longer are these individuals formulating their own opinions based on independent research, logical deduction and concrete facts, rather they are being spoonfed their beliefs by some paid demagogue. The hunger with which they swallow this swill is both frightening and distressing. If they only were to put this passion behind a search for truth, no matter what truth that may be, this world would not be in the dire straits in which it currently resides. Were humanity able to shed the cloak of affiliation and stand independently, not only could we change the world, we would thrive while doing so. Unfortunately at this time apathy, trepidation, and a plethora of other irrational idiosyncrasies prevents this.

I will never mindlessly follow, I simply do not have it in me. Perhaps this is why I am so frustrated when I see others acting as lemmings, following each other off the cliff without a backwards glance. I just can’t comprehend what is going through their minds. How they can live with themselves knowing deep down their own personal idiocy and lack of character has played a role in the downfall of society? What frustrates me all the more is the fact that it wasn’t always this way. Independent thought used to be treasured, revered, appreciated. Thinking for oneself was an admirable trait, a sign of strong character. When did it become bastardized into the stain it is seen as today? Why? Why did society allow it? What fundamental change took place which turned otherwise intelligent individuals into mindless drones unable to formulate their own thoughts, own opinions, make decisions for themselves? Why did they turn over complete control of their lives and spirits to some meaningless leader who has no interest in what is best for them, only what is best for himself?

Something needs to be done, playing follow the leader with our future is destroying any hope we have over ever rectifying all the damage which has been done. People need to stand up and hold themselves accountable for their role in the demise of society. While personal responsibility is the first step, by no means it is the only one, for after becoming accountable for oneself it is time to hold those you have allowed to speak for you accountable. Force them to defend their poor choices, their decisions motivated by selfishness and greed. Force them to own their part of the damage they have done. Make them see how their behavior is to blame, make them see that passing the blame off on another does not absolve them of their misdeeds. After doing that , then the real work begins.

There are no easy solutions, no quick fixes. While the damage is not irreparable it is immense and will take time, effort, and cooperation to mend. Now is the time for the independent thinkers among us to step forward, to stand up and offer differing viewpoints, fresh perspectives, innovative ideas. We can no longer let those who find the security and safety of the flock to be preferable, to be the ones controlling our future. The sheep have had their day, they blew their chance. Now it is our turn, and what a turn we shall have…

Oorah (post for 1.19.2012)

I’m not quite sure how to start this particular blog for a few reasons, the biggest being that I want to do justice to the subject matter for I hold it dear. You see, today I have decided it is long past time for me to do a piece on the US Military. As the daughter of a veteran, and the mother of a future Marine, I am extremely supportive of those who have sacrificed of themselves so selflessly in order to serve our country.

Unfortunately, lately I have been coming across more and more ignorance with regards to those who feel the need to bash those that serve. Not only does it sicken me, it enrages me. I don’t expect people to share my views on the military and those that serve our nation, I simply expect them to respect them. People who sit around on their high horses bashing those they have no understanding of are the epitome of ignorance at best. If you do not wish to serve your country so be it, however you have no right to disparage those you have never met that do serve. The reason you can act like an asinine prick is because of those very men and women you take great glee in attacking. Where this vile hatred comes from I do not know, however I do know it speaks more of the lack of character of the speaker than of those they disrespect.

Our government has done things I do not agree with nor support in regards to our military, however I am intelligent enough to see that these decisions were not made by our service men and women, rather for them. To blame the individual for doing their job simply because you do not like the boss so to speak is petty and childish. If you have a problem with what our elected officials are doing or have done, take it up with them and them alone. Do not misappropriate your anger by attacking those who chose to stand up and serve their country. I am so tired of arm chair analysts pontificating about subjects that they know nothing of. Unless you are willing to put yourself in harms way and fight for your country, you have NO RIGHT to say anything whatsoever to those that do other than THANK YOU.

If I have offended anyone I truly do not give a flying rats ass for it is my right to speak my mind just as it is your right to bask in your self important ignorance. However be forewarned, next time you exercise your “rights” in a way which offends me and dishonors those who are better Americans than you can ever hope to be, I will expose you for the ignorant asshat you are.