Frito-Lay, Inc.: Proving again that 'you can't eat just one'!

"InDecision Points": Poor, Georgie, he worked so hard on his new book!

Cam Cardow, Copyright 2010 Cagle Cartoons

Sarah Palin: To "club" or not to "club"

Dora's Book of the Month: November: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Half Broke HorsesThis is an awesome book, an awesome read!

It is a true-life novel about Lily Casey Smith - who happens to be the author's grandmother. At age six Lily helped her father break horses, then at age fifteen she left home to teach in a frontier town. Later as a wife and mother, Lily runs a vast ranch in Arizona where she survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy - but despite a life of hardscrabble drudgery (as is described in a post literary review, which also garnered the book five stars ★★★★★), Lily Casey Smith remains a woman of indomitable spirit.

Dora's Book of the Month: October: Fahrenheit - 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit - 451 (1953)

Indeed a classic. The book, as always, is way better than the movie. The book contains better details and explanations. In a way the book is more frightening than the movie. Not in a scary or horror movie sense, but as a reminder that our rights are always threatened. A reminder that as American citizens we should all be fully aware of all the things that the government (all branches), politicians, political parties, and private citizens may be doing (to us) which limits or tries to take away our freedoms and abilities.
Fahrenheit - 451 (1966), the book, was awesome and a little bit ahead of its time. How? Well, although there are no book burnings spurred on by the government in present-day America, however, in Texas the Board of Education is trying to re-write history and denounce certain books due to their content. Plus, many private citizens are in agreement and wrongfully encouraging the very ignorant idea. But that is another story for another day in itself.
The book, perhaps reminds us that government control of what we read, believe and such is not a far-fetched idea. That the government can often patrol certain aspects in our lives - sometimes it is obvious and sometimes it is not, but as citizens we must be fully aware of all things as they occur and stand up in protest when our rights are impeded and infringed.
The movie, Fahrenheit - 451 (1966), is okay - a bit cheesy, but okay. It was also a little bit ahead of its time as it showed us bits of cinematic trickery (without CGI - lol) ala mise en scène! If you'll also notice, in the movie, there were television sets very similar to the flat screen HD teles which have taken us by storm these past few years. Still good viewing and the actors were good - overly dramatic but those were the times.

*** As always - read the book (first) ***

GOOD READING TO ALL!

Dora's Book of the Month: September: CZARS: RUSSIA'S RULERS FOR OVER ONE THOUSAND YEARS By James P. Duffy & Vincent L. Ricci

CZARS: RUSSIA'S RULERS FOR OVER ONE THOUSAND YEARSThis book depicts the history of Russia's history into four distinct periods:
1) First period: Ascendancy of Kiev (now known as the Ukraine)
2) Second period: Russia's new political center...from Vladimir to Moscow
3) Third period: The reign of Ivan the Great: the "autocrat"
4) Fourth period: Viking Prince Rurik to the House of Romanov (the last Czars)
***

I read it last year, but wanted a refresher course for personal reasons. As an avid follower and reader of Russian history, this book gave me an enlightened view of Russia and much of its history which I had not read about before, not in this kind of detail - that is!

Not very different than my own heritage. How - you ask?

Well in a simplified explanation, my own Hispanic (Mexican) history is often difficult to research mainly because the lack of education, thus an inability to read and to write, which clearly made it difficult for my ancestors to keep hand-written documentation of their early years. Most of the accounts are based on folk tales and hear-say. Researching our genealogy is a challenging and an arduous task for that reason alone (illiteracy) and details often murky and obscure as to what really occurred versus what may not have.
Similar issues with the Slavs, early on they had no written language with which to be able to record their own history. Most of their history was chronicled from folk tales as well that were handed down from one generation to the next. It was not until Christian missionaries arrived in the latter part of the 9th century that Russia's history was officially recorded on paper. Prior to that, we can only assume that the stories as once told long ago by the people (Slavs) then documented was less than certain. As the book states most of the data either "diluted, lost or embellished in the process".
My Mexican heritage and our early history as much uncertain same as the early years of the Slavs history being uncertain. Most of our history unable to be confirmed or refuted - good or bad - we are simply stuck with early historical accounts based on folklore and such.
Anyway, this book was a good one to read, and I do recommend it to those with interests in history (Russian or overall history). I enjoyed it although it is geared more towards education as it is entirely information-based with lots of historical facts, dates, etc... It can be a 'dry-read' for some, but if history is your forte, then this is your book.

Dora's Book of the Month: August: DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron (with Bret Witter)

DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the WorldDewey was an abandoned kitten who would one day become world-famous. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. He was found the next morning by library director Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Named Dewey Readmore Books, the little cat won her heart, and won over the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next 19 years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility (for a cat), and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most. In this inspiring, moving story, Myron tells how Dewey became more than just a friend; as his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally worldwide, he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

Pros and Cons: OR Prose verses Cons: Defining them first!

Definition of PROSE:

1. the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse. 2. matter-of-fact, commonplace, or dull expression, quality, discourse, etc. 3. Liturgy . a hymn sung after the gradual, originating from a practice of setting words to the jubilatio of the alleluia.

Definition of VERSE:

1. (not in technical use) a stanza. 2. a succession of metrical feet written, printed, or orally composed as one line; one of the lines of a poem. 3. a particular type of metrical line: a hexameter verse. 4. a poem, or piece of poetry. 5. metrical composition; poetry, esp. as involving metrical form. 6. metrical writing distinguished from poetry because of its inferior quality: a writer of verse, not poetry. 7. a particular type of metrical composition: elegiac verse. 8. the collective poetry of an author, period, nation, etc.: Miltonian verse; American verse. 9. one of the short conventional divisions of a chapter of the Bible.

Meaning of it all:
Prose is considered one of the two major literary structures, with the other being verse. Prose lacks the more formal metrical structure of verse that is almost always found in traditional poetry. Poems often involve a meter and/or rhyme scheme. Prose, instead, comprises full, grammatical sentences, which then constitute paragraphs and overlook aesthetic appeal. Some works of prose do contain traces of metrical structure or versification and a conscious blend of the two literature formats is known as prose poetry. Similarly, any work of verse with fewer rules and restrictions is known as free verse. Verse is considered to be more systematic or formulaic, whereas prose is the most reflective of ordinary (often conversational) speech.

SB 1070: Judge Intervenes Today: Blocks Parts of Bill:

Read the full story here:

Judge rules to block provisions of Ariz. law

She moves to hold requirement that officers check immigration

Dora's Book of the Month: July: THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova

THE HISTORIAN(from a post book review)

In this riveting debut of breathtaking scope, a young girl discovers her father's darkest secret and embarks on a harrowing journey across Europe to complete the quest he never could -- to find history's most legendary fiend: Dracula. When a motherless American girl living in Europe finds a medieval book and a package of letters, all addressed ominously to "My dear and unfortunate successor..." she begins to unravel a thread that leads back to her father's past, his mentor's career, and an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright: a hunt that nearly brought her father to ruin and may have claimed the life of his adviser and dear friend, history professor Bartholomew Rossi. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the historical Dracula, have to do with the 20th century? Is it possible that Dracula has lived on in the modern world? And why have a select few historians risked reputation, sanity, and even their lives to learn the answer? So begins an epic journey to unlock the secrets of the strange medieval book, an adventure that will carry our heroine across Europe and into the past -- not only to the times of Vlad's heinous reign, but to the days when her mother was alive and her father was still a vibrant young scholar. In the end, she uncovers the startling fate of Rossi, and comes face to face with the definition of evil-- to find, ultimately, that good may not always triumph.

America: Get with the times already!

Get with the times my dear America, after all football is the most celebrated and the most popular game in the entire world. Yes, America, there is another game named football and it does not consist of our usual American-type football game requiring an 11 man roster on defense, offense and special teams. This world-wide game of football requires plenty of endurance, power, and the need for each player to be involved in all aspects of the game. Someone once said: “a football player (referring to the game coined as such in the United States) can play football but he cannot play soccer; however, a soccer player can play both sports with no problem”. True or not, I casually smirk as I think on that comment and am more apt to lean towards believing it than not.
Anyway, whether or not the USA –as a whole- ever tries to learn this great game of football -or stops calling it soccer which is doubtful but understandably so- and whether it ever embraces it as the rest of the world has is irrelevant in my story.
FIFA World Cup 2010 has arrived and its popularity keeps growing and shows no sign of slowing down or even diminishing. In ending I ask more Americans to support Team USA and give football (hmm, I meant soccer for you) a chance.

FIFA World Cup 2010: The Games Must Go On!

In South Bend Notre Dame wins one for the “The Gipper” (George Gipp), but in South Africa, Team Bafana Bafana wins one for Madiba.

As the world comes together to celebrate the beginning of FIFA World Cup 2010, there is so much pride and so much anticipation brewing through-out hallowed football walls everywhere.
My story involves the ups and downs of life and how it seems that any sporting event at some point or another is hit with what I call “the human factor”.
Such “human factor” reared its ugly head already in this event in the early hours of Friday morning near Johannesburg when a car accident took the life of Nelson Mandela’s 13 year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani Mandela (picture above). I am not sure about the circumstances surrounding it so I will not write about that. In few words which I hope contain some wisdom, great compassion, due respect, but certainly no apathy, what has happened has happened and that is all that I need to say about that.
In my own love of the game of football (soccer) and having been an avid follower for over 15 years, I was watching anything on t.v. which pertained to this 2010 World Cup. Early this week there was a bit of perplexity or ambiguity spread about regarding whether or not 91 year-old Nelson Mandela would show up for the opening game. After all, we all know what he did for his country back when they won their first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1995…Madiba himself was there – he was always there. Speculation would lean on the side that he would be at the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to see his beloved South Africa go head-to-head as the under-dogs versus Mexico. The Nelson Mandela Foundation (earlier this week) said he would be there, but one of his family members said “no”. Sad to say that fate would intervene and make that decision for him following the World Cup Opening Ceremonies in Johannesburg.
I am certain that it was with a heavy heart that Mr. Mandela watched the game from his own home. Torn apart as would be expected by his love of his country, the game and what he had just lost.

Note:
Bafana Bafana - It is a term of endearment which means "the boys the boys".
Madiba – This is the name of the clan of which Mr Mandela is a member. A clan name is much more important than a surname as it refers to the ancestor from which a person is descended. Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who ruled in the Transkei in the 18th century. It is considered very polite to use someone’s clan name.

Pres. OBAMA: Hate Groups - Where Were Those Groups During the "W" Reign?!!

I posted the following data to my facebook wall tonight as a means to let people know how stupid, ignorant and dangerous ones actions and words can be. I am not sure how many of my FB friends will grasp the idea behind my posting, not sure I really care; but if they want to debate it, I welcome them with open arms. My goal really was to wake some people up - for them to see what their actions and words can lead to, that they should think twice about what they do and to be accountable for it. I also hope that maybe I can get some of my FB friends to delete their membership into any of these hate groups and to view things a little differently because things now really are no worse than when "W" reigned. Our economy started to collapse during his reign and got really bad by 2007, our freedom was attacked (9/11), our freedoms were truly dimished (Patriot Act). BUT immediately following a Republican reign over the White House and a Black, Democratic President having been overwhelmingly elected, it is only Pres. Obama whom gets treated like a commie, a thief, an illegal alien, a socialist. Please spare me, people. Anyway, below is what I posted, plus, I am including the web site (they speak of the groups who are wanting Pres. Obama to die) which I was referring to via a link (its URL): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x272508

...i never, never, liked the previously 'selected' president "W", but i never wished for his death. bailouts occurred (started) during his reign, the 'patriot act' occurred under his reign, 9/11 occurred during his reign, big government was at its peak during his reign - not many good came out of his reign. hate groups, grassroots mov...ement groups were NOWHERE TO BE FOUND during his reign like now. even if a hate group existed during those grueling 8 years, no way would my consicence and morals allow me to join - they only incite hatred and violence. at most, i did join the "impeach g.w.bush group". i find groups like the one referred to via the link below and ppl who follow them quite sad and disappointing. we should be better than that. as if ppl like timothy mcveigh need anymore reason to do stupid things. BTW, Timmy did not bomb the Murrah bldg thus killing 168 innocent ppl for any cause, purpose or incident...he was just a scared, lonely, hate-filled narcissistic thug. besides, if part of his m.o. was that he was mad over the davidian incident at waco...well, timmy, let me remind you that david koresh was a child molester, a rapist and his group was stockpiling. militias like the armed forces still fall under fed law that the President is their Commander in Chief. (FYI...i fully support the right to bear arms). BTW, you seriously cannot hate the govt and love the military. the military is part of govt as are policemen, firemen, postal carriers. it is not the structure or our laws but some ppl (politicians, poli-pundits, and radicals) who make the govt bad, and we can make it good but not with violence. violence makes this a sad world to reside in, and if my post makes you indignant, don't read them anymore. it is my right to post, afterall, i am not inciting violence. be creative and post on your own wall - just don't throw stones - no one lives in glass houses, never did-never will.

Genealogy Quagmire: The Lack of Family Documentation Through-out The Years.

Celebrating My Latino Culture: Project 2040: Genealogy Quagmire: The Lack of Family Documentation Through-out The Years.

TRUE DEFINITIONS: Present day, so-called Grass-roots Movement Groups

The true meaning of certain groups who believe that they are the only true Patriots yet some prove too cowardly to say what they really mean!

BIRTHERS: Radicals who hate anyone not of Aryan descent. Deep down, these people truly admired Hitler (who was a so-called Christian himself) and secretly wish to become his followers of late. These birthers would also love to go back pre-1968 when they truly ruled the U.S. This group is the one I mostly have a problem with and refuse to take them serious or to justify their anger and violent behavior with a duplicated attack - verbal or otherwise. They are ignorant and we are supposed to disregard those types.

TRUTHERS: Honestly, they just want the truth behind the 9/11 attacks. They would like to see “W” and his cronies in the administration at the time be held accountable for questionable actions leading up to the attacks and then to the start of a needless war against a sovereign nation all in the name of “payback”. Yeah, right, “payback” – call it what it really was – control over oil and wealth for those who aided the admin! “W” and his cronies all need a good, old-fashioned “whoop ass”. To the likes of one ignorant Sarah Palin, “W”, Cheney, and their supporters…“how’s all that oil working out for ya?”!!!

TEA PARTY MOVEMENT: Pissed off Americans who are tired of huge government bail-outs of corporate America; the bail-outs which began during the “W” reign but have been more readily scrutinized under President Obama. Taxation without representation…sure I understand that. At least members of the TP Movement have their basic rights. Ask the LGBT community how they fair during these hard economic times? Ask the LGBT community how they pay exorbitant amount of taxes just so that people involved with the TP can vote to deny them their rights. Marriage is supposedly sacred. Yeah, right, hardly so. Most LGBT couples in a relationship stay together longer, are more committed to one another, more committed to the family and more likely to heed the meaning of the word fidelity. LGBT couples do not share the same rights and privileges as members of the TP Movement. If your spouse becomes ill, you have the right to make life-changing/life-saving decisions for him/her, but an LGBT couple is chastised and thrown out of the room. They pay taxes for such crude and neanderthal-like treatments. TP Movement, I see your point but do you have to be so ignorant, radical, loud and violent in trying to get your point across?!! (rhetorical). Bottom line, the TP Movement is as racist as the birthers are and worse. The TP blames too many taxes, bail-outs and health care as the reason behind their cause when in actuality they are like the birthers who are pissed off at the fact of a Black man in the White House. Surely they remember times being worse during the "W" reign. The TP Movement automatically reverts to screams of bloody-murder ala socialism. They don’t want to share their wealth with the less fortunate. I understand that. No one asked them to completely and totally finance and support the poor, they are just being asked to act like the Christians they claim to be and lend a hand. I hate involving Christianity (I firmly believe in a true separation of church and state) but since the TP Movement claims it to be part of their foundation, I too shall go to that "place". Oh, and providing health care for over 35 million Americans just pisses off the TP Movement. Are they scared that for once in this country that everyone will have equal treatment on the health care scale. That the minorities, the low class, the no class, the poor, the tired will be on the same level as them and that the elimination of such scum will be minimized because fewer have to die from lack of medical attention and affordability? (rhetorical). Jesus would be for health care and He is probably totally disappointed and pissed off at such negative actions by these people. Did they learn nothing from biblical teachings to treat others fair and equal? (r) I do not wear my limited Christian beliefs on my sleeve, but I d0 know right from wrong, and therefore I do not get irate at lending a hand to those less fortunate especially when my own home has been so greatly rewarded. Some of the TP Movement members go around all indignant of so-called socialism with one hand making a fist and the other hand guarding their money. Reminiscent of a three year-old as he goes around not wanting to play fair nor to share his toys while all the time reciting the words…“MINE, MINE, MINE!”

My friend said it best the other day…

~Tea (Party) is bitter these days, I will take Coffee (Party) - it's much sweeter!~

Arizona: LULAC Finds New Immigration Law Unconstitutional

April 15, 2010

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 833-6130 ext. 16

The law will lead to more racial profiling and discrimination.

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization, will sue to block an Arizona immigration bill as unconstitutional should Gov. Jan Brewer sign it into law.
“We are horrified," said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. "This law opens the doors to racial profiling. It requires police officers, if they form a 'reasonable suspicion' that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person’s immigration status.”
LULAC is opposed to an existing program known as 287(g) allows local police to enforce federal immigration laws, contending that it has been ineffective and subject to abuse. LULAC has always opposed involving local police in immigration matters because they do not have the resources or training to enforce immigration law.
First Lady Michelle Obama in a trip to Mexico today stressed that immigration reform is necessary and that more Democrats and Republicans should support its enactment.
“We're seeing children who are trying to cross the border just to reconnect with their parents, and their family members and their lives are at risk,” said Rosales. “A strong immigration reform policy would help alleviate some of those challenges.”
Until Congress passes an immigration reform bill, states will continue to take matters into their own hands and communities and families will remain separated.
LULAC is the largest and older Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. For more information on LULAC, visit www.lulac.org.

“The History and Practices of St. Patrick’s Day”

Read full story click here: Why we really wear green, why we pinch those who do not wear green, etc...

Icon: Does Anyone Really Know What It Means Anymore?

First of all, thanks to Sara for including my quote (verbatim) on her "Tortillas Quemadas Blog" as I wrote it on my FB wall. I was so pissed off when the Academy left off Farrah as well in their Memorial Tribute to actors we lost in 2009. I clearly remember us asking one another...'did they leave out Farrah or did we not see her photo?'...'surely they (academy) would not leave her off, after all, they did include Michael'. Again, it was this AH of an entertainer who took the limelight away from our beloved Farrah. Enough of MJ tributes already. MJ should be of no importance here and the fact that he was remembered during the American Academy Awards (AAA: what an acronym) Memorial Tribute sans Farrah Fawcett just makes me livid.

MJ is "persona non grata" in my book. I have had a bad dislking of him dating back to 1995.  I grew up liking his music, but his character flaws (1993) ultimately proved too much for this one-time fan so I dismissed him as a musical artist in my book by 1995 especially after he started putting out awful music.  The main reason for my complete abadonment of MJ as one of my fav artisits was after his second accusation of child molestation and stint in court (2005). Jesus Juice is not my flavor of the day. Having been molested by a family member when I was a little girl does not leave me with any kind of sympathy for the likes of the Wacko-kid. "He loves kids too much"...that came from his own mouth in his ignorant and so not believeable attempt at justifying why he loved having kids (little boys) around him all the time. It may have been a reason I could accept until he admitted he slept with these little boys. Now what reason could any adult have for sleeping with little kids like that?!! (rhetorical)...I don't know any adult who would do such a thing. Not even in a family does one do that if the child in question is clearly not your son or daughter. You just do not do that, and it sickens me that MJ admitted to having done that with other people's kids and so many other people did not even think twice about it or worse yet, it did not sicken them enough to want to forget the likes of this guy...Michael, who much like Peter Pan, did not want to grow up. Just because a person of ill character dies does not warrant anyone pay him any kind of respect or tribute like thousands did for MJ when he died last June 2009.  I disliked him long ago and just because he died, it did not mean I was going to go against my own beliefs and ethics and pretend he was a person of good morals or feel any kind of sympathy for him.  Thousands of people had bad childhoods, MJ, but they never put other people's children in harms way, never abused them or never used them and then add it all up to not having had a childhood.  Hell, most children in this world never had or never will have childhoods.  Millions don't even have a home, millions have no parents, and every single day these millions of poor people suffer with not very much to eat if anything at all to eat.  What in the F--K made you so damned special, MJ? (rhetorical).  I stopped listening to his music long ago, even before I knew Sara in 1996, who some people may believe is the person who, in some weird, bewitching way had something to do with why I quit liking MJ.  Like I don't have a mind of my own.  People who know me should clearly know that I have free-thought and have never been afraid to say what I feel or how I feel, and that I am seldom influenced by what others think or say!   That I do my own research and reach a conclussion to all things in life all on my very own.  MJ died a long, long time ago dating back to the mid 90's for me. Yes, Siree, I feel a little perturbed that some people may think I quit liking MJ because of Sara. SO NOT TRUE! I stopped liking or following MJ long, long ago. I have never encouraged any of my nieces or nephews to listen to his music - certainly NOT after 1995.  I am sure if one asked any of them post 1995, they would all agree that I never played MJ music in their presence or advised them to listen to his music.  If I had kids of my own, I would NOT-NOT-NOT encourage them to listen to MJ much less to like him or to think this guy was ever a musical genius. Many have said that Hitler was a genius, but we do not regard him in the way people regard MJ now after he died. Matter of fact, it is a proven fact that many of the serial killers were of genius level, and we also do not consider them heros by any means. So why after MJ died did so many people forget every negative thing he did? I remember living the ordeals of MJ the first time he was publicly accused of child molestation (I backed him up and defended him that first time).  I also remember the second time which was the final breaking straw for this person, I could not go on defending him when my gut instinct said otherwise. In remembering everything so vividly and how it bothered me somewhat the first time MJ went to court and how it just made me want to throw up the second time he went to court to answer for those charges, it does not bode well with me that he was ever an innocent person. He was filthy rich and had it all yet he succombed to such hideous and negative ways of living his life. I remember seeing interviews with his family, mainly Janet, in which they all worried about him and his need to be around children. I remember they said they would often plea with MJ to stop having kids around him all the time. Janet even said it bothered her that he had such a need. I also remember his family saying they missed MJ and wondered why he chose to stay away from them and why, after he had those kids of his own, why MJ did not allow the kids to be around his family. It seems MJ had long ago kicked his family out of his life and when he died, his family acted like they loved each other so much and that they were all so close. That made my stomach turn as well. But, they have an excuse. After all, they are his family and sometimes family tends to turn a blind eye to a loved one even when said loved one has fallen short of being a good person or  law-abiding. The Jackson family now feels that they have to put up a front to appear like a "loving, true blue American family" in hopes that everyone forgets what their past family life was really like.  They have another good reason for trying to appear as a good family...MONEY.  And they seem to be able to rake in as much money now than when MJ was alive.  But, as people who were watching from the outside - not being blood related - why or how could so many people have forgotten how shady MJ's past was and how inappropriate his behavior was which lead to people accusing him of being a child molester!...(rhetorical)!  And Oh boy, I can hear how some will defend MJ and curse his accusers especially because some of his accusers took money from MJ.  It was indeed hush money and it may have been wrong for the accusers to take it, but how would we defend the action if money were waived around in our respective faces to remain "mum".  Many people already stay quiet during times of "alleged child molestation" when no money is being offered so why think it would be different if money was offered.  9 out of 10 people would take the money.  The person with the money and the fame is the one with all the power.  Personally, the offering of money by MJ to his accusers makes him look way more guilty.  Maybe MJ did not physically molest those kids, but sleeping with them makes him guilty in my book. It is just sickening to no avail when I think of that in itself. Like I said, having no kids myself puts me in a position of wanting to care for other's kids and making sure no harm comes their way. Having endured years of torment with what my uncle was doing to me when I was a child and no one was around to help me or to defend me and me being too scared to tell on him, I have no patience or empathy for the likes of one MJ. I was sad when he died. I mourned his songs; the original songs true to MJ himself dating back to his "Black and White" (1991) album. Any and all music post "Black and White" was IMO just awful and not worthy. I was also sad that this guy died the way he did. In the end, I personally do not blame his doctor(s), I blame him. How stupid are we in this society if we keep blaming everyone else for all the rotten things which happen to us instead of us accepting part blame or full blame. Blaming others is why this society is so screwed up and why we do not learn anything from previous mistakes. The only reason I felt bad for MJ was because he never had the opportunity to change and to live a decent life. To me, he will always be the entertainer who made music I loved in the late 70's, 80's and half way into the 90's. He will never be an icon in my book. He left behind such a blemished legacy that I can only remember that he was NEVER comfortable in his own skin, he had issues loving his family and he loved kids way, way, way too much for me to think it innocent. I remember MJ's trials w/no tribulations, and his court trials..."lest we forget"!  My gosh, I remember so much of the bad that it compeltely overpowers any of the good. Charles Manson paints good portraits, but because of what he did (or made others do in his name), I would not buy one of those pics and then hang it on my wall and call it art and then encourage my kids to follow the man or his art. I am not sure why so many people have chosen to forget what MJ really was. It disappoints me even more when I see people with kids who want their kids to be MJ fans and followers. I would never encourage my nieces and nephews to follow that guy (MJ) who had such a perverted guise anymore than I would tell them stories of that one uncle of mine who was very perverted himself and then try to paint a positive light when speaking of him. I would never allow that uncle the excuse of "loving kids too much". So, if I would not make such allowances for my own family (BTW: that uncle was not a blood relative of mine), why would I ever make excuses for a shady character like MJ whom is clearly someone that I never even met.  As a person (MJ) who was twice plagued by child molestation charges (and, yes, found innocent in court the second time but monies were exchanged for an out-of-court settlement the first time) but refused to do anything by which to reverse the negative image which he left behind for all to judge the actions, he made himself a huge target for future controversy and for people like myself to believe he had issues associated with children that normal people do not have.
In ending this story and posting it to blog, I will be brazen and bold enough to rightly state and reiterate that Michael Jackson is NOT an ICON.

Excerpt below is copied from an ABC online story written by JIM AVILA, CHRIS STRATHMANN and KATIE ESCHERICH, June 26, 2009:

 http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MichaelJackson/story?id=7936528&page=1 

Jackson twice faced serious allegations of child abuse, allegations he always strenuously denied. A multimillion dollar settlement was reached in the first case in 1993, and Jackson was found not guilty in a circus of a criminal trial in 2005. But that ordeal left him deeply in debt and under suspicion for the remaining years of his life. Many felt he had been convicted in the court of public opinion.

And the Oscar Goes TO: Sandra Bullock

Defining the parties: CONSERVATIVES versus LIBERALS

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Let's Move: FOR HEALTHIER KIDS

AMERICA’S MOVE to RAISE a HEALTHIER GENERATION of KIDS!

Children: To Have or Not To Have!

While I sit here pondering my role in this life, I am watching the old 1995 movie Nine Months which stars Julianne Moore and a very young Hugh Grant - whom is one of my favorite English actors. Anyway, the synopsis of the movie is a about a man not yet ready to venture into the yarns of fatherhood but whose girlfriend, after finding out she is pregnant, ends up really wanting to have the baby. The young Child Psychologist played by Grant is not at all in the same spiritual or mental place as his girlfriend is as the movie progresses and is scared stiff about becoming a father. The soon-to-be-mother character played by Moore is a dance instructor and she soon learns that her excitement about becoming a parent is not shared by her boyfriend and the fireworks begin.

I find myself being extremely compassionate towards the man because he was told by the girlfriend that not much would change by her pregnancy then wham, the man discovers so many changes around each corner of his life – too many changes. I also feel badly for the woman because she is understandably excited and overjoyed at bringing a baby into the world only to find her partner at odds with the idea. In the end everything is fine as is often the fairy-tale conclusion with Hollywood movies, but this person is left wondering ‘what if’?!!

Let me explain, I am in my early 40’s and never had a child. Those who know me know my story about the miscarriage I had over 21 years ago. Had the circumstances been different, I would now be Mom to a 20 year old boy. The pregnancy was a surprise and the person whom I was married to was like the Hugh Grant character in that he was rather immature and not very empathetic towards others feelings and a huge failure at putting others needs/wants ahead of his own.

Anyway, after the miscarriage, I decided I needed to do something different with my life and I left the marriage. Until this very day, my motherly instincts have never kicked in as is the case with so many women. My maternal clock was idle I suppose and I never went around paranoid that I would run out of time to have children. Now do not get me wrong, had the opportunity arisen, I would have stepped up to the plate, but it never did. I love children. I believe I would have made an excellent mother. I am attentive towards other people’s children and believe that they are just little adults and one needs to treat them with much respect. The love we give them should be a given, but so should respect. I have always had a great rapport with children and have been able to handle the most difficult ones when others failed.

I have always admitted that my selfishness was the main reason which kept me from having children or adopting them. I am not ashamed to say that because it is true and I firmly believe that most people feel that way but would be quick to deny it. In my admittance of such a thing, I am proud that I was able to acknowledge those feelings and instead focus on other important things in my life.

So what of my legacy - as many will probably question. Well, it may not be embedded in another human being who is of my own body, but it is derivative of everything I have done in this world. Those things may or may not include the many blogs I write, the content writing and stories which I post for other media avenues, the novel(s) I am currently focusing on. Those things may be simple and not so important to those who do have children, but those things are my children – my babies, and I am proud of them all. But let’s not forget other parts of my legacy for which I am certain many would agree are genuine and important, the philanthropy in which I have partaken of in the past and taking care of my family when they were in need or just because I wanted to do so. Then there are my own nieces and nephews whom are as close to my own children in how much I adore and love them. I believe I have been able to form good relationships with them – some more than others. I believe I have helped form positive impressions upon them to help them grow as adults, and into productive and influential members of society. That they all place importance on family no matter what and no matter what their definition of family might be.

Yes, indeed, my maternal clock may not have tick-tocked itself into the realms of motherhood as like with other women, but my life to-date is just fine. The ole proverbial clock was not broken either. Instead, my inner-workings lead me to a much different path and in the end; I believe it was just as gratifying for me. I love my family and I do place it high on my list of priorities, but there is always room for making sure one takes care of #1 and our own needs before we can do right by others. I was fortunate to be on this path and I do not question it and neither do I look back over my shoulders questioning it or second guessing it. I guess I am lucky like that.
So the 'what if' question which I was left querying about this a.m. as I watched Nine Months is...  just wondering what my son would have done with his life, what kind of person would he have been, things of that nature.  I am not regretful of never having had children - I only miss not having known my son.  No matter if I had had more kids, none would have replaced my first-born.  Therefore - I am okay not having any, and status quo is just fine for me...no regrets...none whatsoever!  Life is good "as is"!

The Freedom Riders: New Documentary Recounts Historic 1961 Effort to Challenge Segregated Bus System in the Deep South

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Republicans Aren’t Sitting As Pretty As They Think | The New Republic

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HAPPY 2010

The professionals at the American Literacy Council say it is to be pronounced 20-10 not two thousand and ten.  The latter form is supposedly illiterate.  I prefer the 20-10 one anyway because it sounds more sci-fi 'ish and more futuristic.  Whatever, right?!!! 

ANYHOW--- Here's wishing all a Happy 20-10!!!

May the recession end, the politicians figure out a way to reform health-care to benefit everyone, and may any/all catastrophes which occur world-wide this year (as they are certain to do) remind us ALL to be more compassionate - not tolerant, but accepting!!!

2010 BCS National Championship (my prediction and my theory)

I first posted the theory data on my Facebook wall yesterday and today, I predicted the outcome of tonight’s college championship game. I was merely testing a theory I heard during the "Mike and Mike in the Morning Show" on Monday morning at 5 AM. I awoke laughing my head off as usual at the comedic banter for which Greeny and Golic are known.

They spoke about sport’s superstitions which often accompanies all players and fans. Apparently Greeny's dad did not want to change his vacation & flight plans to attend the next NY Jets game because in changing plans, he may jinx the team's ability to win another game versus the Cincy Bengals (this time a playoff game). Greeny had first brought up the idea for his dad to change his plans in order to help his dad save some time because his dad was going to have to make two separate trips on separate days almost half-way across the country to see the playoff game in person. Greeny then had second thoughts after his dad explained the jinx theory and changed his mind as well and agreed with his dad to leave vacation and flight plans “as is”.

The dos Mikes went on about other superstitions and it reminded me how I also have some pretty quirky ones of my own. For me though - in order to "meet my fears" and to spite my own idiosyncrasies which are my superstitions, I tend to do the complete opposite of what my superstition devils feed into my ears and into my thoughts. Most often I despite them and I end up on the short end of the stick, per se.

Here is some data about what I mean:

1) When I tell someone which team I am supporting, 2 out of 3 times they win...thus; I am 70-30 with voicing my beliefs even though I have promised myself I would not make any vocal predictions. Going forward I need to keep my opinions to myself and not tell anyone what I think. Except concerning Texas Tech…I am always on their side.

2) When I write down which team I am supporting, 1 out of 3 times they win...thus, I am 30-70 when I write down my predictions. I seriously need to stop writing down my predictions for the Karma Gods are out to spite me.

This time around I decided to try something new with a team whose results really do not concern me at all. I told everyone that the University of Texas Longhorns were going to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide and win the 2010 BCS National Championship. I wrote it down as well as a “fearless prediction”. I am actually more in favor of the Tide to win for obvious reasons surrounding the last time Texas played and almost lost to the Cornhuskers of Nebraska had it not been for that “one second incident”.

I am not buying into the idea that Texas is totally going to fall apart and not give ‘Bama a run for their money, but neither am I convinced that Texas can win this game - if they do it will be close. No matter which team wins, it will be close and low scoring. Colt McCoy, who had my support for Heisman, is not your ordinary player. He is clutch when the opportunity calls for it and when the situation demands it. His favorite target at WR is Jordan Shipley (6th year senior-ala red-shirt due to previous IR status); Jordan is not one to give up either. The UT kicker is definitely clutch to boot, pardon the pun. These UT guys will combine to give the Tide a good fight. However, there might be way too many weapons on the ‘Bama side, offense and defense, so I fear that the ‘Horns will be unable to keep their 17 game win steak alive after tonight’s game and will fall a bit short of winning the national championship.

After the game is over, I will post my real “fearless prediction” for this game as I did 4 weeks ago via ESPN when I entered their 2010 College Bowl Mania contest. I had the ability to change my prediction for this game up thru today, but I never once waivered. I kept the score as I chose it 4 weeks ago especially when I was not too impressed with UT’s Big 12 Championship last-second victory over the ‘Huskers. However, I also chose to keep the score close for a couple of reasons. I saw something in Coach Nick Saban as he downplayed having beaten Florida during their SEC Championship game. Nick seemed confused or maybe surprised at their win no matter how many points they won by, he seemed shocked. Nick himself appeared to not want to predict anything about the national championship game, and I don’t believe that he refrained from commenting too much about the game or their opponents even after they knew it would be Texas because he is a classy guy. Nick seemed plagued by the very superstitions which hinder all fans and he wanted to say as little as he could. There was something else I saw in Saban’s eyes a couple of days later after their SEC title game…a bit of fear…maybe the fear which reminded him of the fact that 32 days would lie in wait until the national championship would take place and it would be sufficient time for UT to fix their issues - enough time for UT to give ‘Bama a tough time and maybe even beat them. UT won’t go out so easily and lose as badly as sport’s pundits and 74% of the nation believes they will. UT may lose, but it won’t be by a landslide. At the end of the game, Alabama might win and if they do, they will -should- appreciate their victory even more.

Team Leach Rally Data

Alright guys, we want this rally to be MASSIVE, and in order to keep doing what we're doing, we have to keep spreading the word! Our new target is those who do not have facebook. Here's what you can do...

Go to: http://www.shinerbock.com/Team%20Leach%20Flyer.pdf

print off as many as you want or can.  Shove them in mailboxes in your neighborhood, put them on people's windshields, put them in magazines, newspapers, ANYTHING to get people to see it.  Put one in YOUR car for people to see.  Anyway you can to spread the word would be absolutely amazing!

TEAM LEACH!!

Note" A very special "thank-you" to Lauren Guerrero Gongora.  A fellow facebook friend and Texas Tech fan/alumnus.  Lauren first posted the above data via an FB evite today (01-06-10).  She was gracious enough to allow me to post the data on my blogs.

Fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor Petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/Firetrev/

To: ESPN/ABC

In light of ESPN's dismissal of Trev Alberts, we the people urge that the ABC/ESPN network "finish the job" and fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor.

Like Trev, Mr. James and Mr. Taylor have no redeeming value to justify their presence on television. We are so sickened by their "analysis" that we are taking this opportunity to demand their removal. Please restore the sanctity of college football and "finish the job".

(view the web site to see the many hundreds who have signed already)

ALABAMA : 2010 BCS National Champions!

Alabama Crismson Tide: 35
University of Texas Longhorns: 17
This was my true prediction from 12-05-09
I officially wrote it down on this blog on 01-04-10 at 6:00 AM
following the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" show!