If everyone was as generous with themselves we could eliminate turning to charities or government. The takeaway I got from this. She's grateful. Something I too must reflect on whenever I see those with less then myself. We (my self included at times) assume things about other people without knowing the circumstances which they find themselves.
What makes this woman truly great is she never judges. She only sees their need. Then provides what she can to help get them through the day. She is a role model how we as individuals and as a nation should respect each other. With all the food on this earth nobody should go hungry. This won't solve all the world's problems but it's a good start. This simple act of kindness could go a long way towards bringing about world peace. Even the fiercest predatory animals won't attack each other when they're well fed.
Eating is the one thing we all share in common. Talking to one another over a meal is a great way to begin understanding our differences. No one understood this better then Anthony Bourdain.
Wow this gives me a whole new perspective. Up till now I've always thought of them as gravitational giants sucking in everything and warping time until they could no longer be seen or escape. Compressing them all into one great big dense ball of hopelessness. However in this article one theory has it black holes are a place where nothing whatsoever exist. In other words a utter void of nothingness. In this scenario all matter and energy would cease to exist.
Another theory (I favor) has it they could be similar to a donut hole having a galaxy revolving around it. If this hypothesizes were correct upon matter straying into a black hole it would end up someplace else. A place where it would no longer be observable to us. I tend to think it is possible since a number of black holes are shooting out enormous jets of energy. We have no idea from where. I also believe it would explain our universe's ever increasing speed postulated to be from some sort of inexplicable 'dark matter'. Could it be from the other side of the hole someplace else?
Not all black holes eject energy. Some only draw it in. Thus we may have two types. One going someplace else. Another someplace else to here. There's a supposed unlimited number of black holes we have yet to discover. If all of this is true we couldn't possibility ever come to know the true extent of existence. Putting this in human terms. If I were the creator and wanted to protect my species I couldn't imagine a better way to keep them apart so they couldn't destroy each other.
I'll admit when it comes to the possibility of wormholes, I was more drawn to the "Stargate" series
...over that of Steven King's more negative miniseries "The Langoliers".
Once these people arrive accompanied in shackles to the airport won't exactly allow them a whole lot of options. I have no faith whatsoever they will brought back to detention if the government fails to deliver if unable to find their missing kid(s).
If this turns out to be a another trick like falsely promising a judge could reunite them there's no telling what else they're willing to lie about.
I have a few stories of mine own to tell.. A lot has changed. They no longer award shotguns, parrots/parakeets, lizards, cigarettes and the like so at least they have that going for them. Sorry to be a party pooper but if someone truly wants a stuffed bear, candy bar or goldfish I'm not certain these are the best places to get them.
Perhaps the most satisfying part is still being able to dunk that big mouth clown in the water. Who doesn't enjoy that. This year I heard there will be two. One featuring Hillary the other Trump. No not really, but looks like it would be a big money maker to me. Maybe could switch them out for news hosts from time to time. Hey if they do-- keep in mind you heard it here first :-)
SeminoleHeights restaurant "Dunks Trump" to benefit Planned Parenthood
Other then the immigration issue I found it very enlightening peoples' outrage is greater then just about anything else this administration does. Never mind deficits, trade wars or any other issue. A surefire way to get about a bazillion comments in social media and a whole bunch TV airtime is stimulate people's outrage over Sarah's Friday night failed meal plans.
I do have a couple of points to make. First off the restaurant workers should just shut up and cook. If things keep going this direction one day ambulance workers may refuse to treat a patient for any number of reasons. A repair man refuse to fix a car or do work inside a home. That said, right or wrong the owner should have known she personally, employees and the business itself could experience all kinds of hell by rubbing any of Trump's minions the wrong way.
Even though Sarah tweeted, " I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully..." she knowingly painted a target on the place by posting the name and the location of the restaurant. She damn well knew the hatred which would ensue. Doesn't seem "respectful" to me. Appears more like revenge. Course daddy had to chime in as did FOX News by repeatedly displaying screen shots of the restaurant, it's name and location.
My final analysis. Sarah could have kept her mouth shut and went some place who appreciated her business. Instead she and her FOX News buddies are teaming up to make damn sure this restaurant owner and her employees receive the kind of retributions they feel are deserved. This doesn't excuse the restaurant owner from acting like a jerk. BUT--
when members of the White House and FOX News come after someone they feel insulted by we all should be concerned how powerfully treacherous these people are.
Normally I refrain posting too much about my daughter's job at the hospital. Today I'll make an exception.
Today her patient lashed out calling her a "fucking asshole". Another's family made repeated physical contact while speaking to her. As if cleaning crap between sweaty fat butt cheeks and administering critical care weren't enough she has to put up with this nonsense !
UGLY AMERICANS It's not like it's the first time she had to deal with many of the negative aspects of the job, but it's becoming increasingly uglier. Often times I'd like to think most of the trolls on social media sites are the exception on how most people conduct themselves in "real life". However it's becoming increasingly apparent to me we are becoming uglier as a whole. She's been doing this job for almost 20 years. With each passing year this is becoming nastier to deal with.
She and her coworkers handled it well up until this year. This is the 2nd time she broke down and cried. Some of her fellow workers did as well since the beginning of the year. A few taking time off or quitting. Never having done so before.
As a result I find myself becoming less tolerant. I really truly wish I wasn't becoming this way towards others.
I find myself drawing further into myself as a way of coping. What a damn shame.
Here' Another Story Which Helps Explain My Recent Attitude There's a close friend of ours who works fulltime but spends nearly all her waking hours trying to help reduce the stray cat population. She (at her own expense) sets traps for stray cats. Has them neutered/spayed. Tries to find forever homes or releases them back to where they came from. Many of the so-called forever homes she finds return them for some pretty lame reasons making it even harder on her. Recently she used a social media site who claimed many of her posts were deleted because of complaints. People complaining obviously are too damn stupid to realize she's not just repurposing cats without spading or neutering them first. They've accused her of contributing to the ever increasing number of cats. Damnit--she's doing just the opposite !
Others have been passing around her address and phone number assuming they can drop their cats off like she's some sort of cat woman harboring a huge cat population in her home (she only has 3). When she tries to explain how they too can help reduce the population by doing what she does they disappear like magic. Sometimes this woman is out of town for days at a time with little to no sleep. She surely doesn't need this kind of aggravation when she returns home.
As I listen to this sermon I can't help but think how America is treating those seeking immigration having their families torn apart. Change up his thoughts on blacks and transpose them for how America is now treating Latinos from South America. American policy has now shifted towards establishing policies and laws that once discriminated against African Americans now redirecting our ugliness towards these Latinos seeking refuge.
Today's policies towards families are even more harsh then those in our past. During the war we created Japanese internment camps. To this day many denounce our actions. What we didn't do was separate families.
Rev. Wright's sermon made it clear although countries and their laws come and go our creator never changes. If our country wants to enjoy God's continued blessing we ought not to be slapping God in the face by picking and choosing which among all the people he created our laws deem worthy. Some may postulate if God didn't want a certain segment around he could easily wipe them off the face of the earth. Some say he did just that often in the past. If it's true-- we better tread lightly. We could be playing with fire.
Then There's This Since this immigration thing ignited I've come to realize a few things about human nature. There's two sides in varying degrees. In one camp you have people with open minds. The other with closed. Forget about liberals, conservatives, Republicans, Democrats or anything else which seems to divide. There exist only the closed minded and open minded both equally divided. Putting it more plainly. One group consist of acceptance. The other non-acceptance.
There's no amount of intellectual reasoning, emotional appealing or argument over facts that can influence the closed minded. A truly open minded person avoids engaging with such people realizing the futility. Instead focusing on expanding their further understandings. Possibly changing their positions upon gaining further knowledge.
If the human race is to progress it depends on those with open minds. Far too many times throughout the ages people were persecuted if they dare question the status quo. This caused mankind to stagnate sometimes for centuries. Some blame church doctrines or governmental laws at the time. The REAL FAULT lies within the people with closed minds who supported these institutions. Some feared change. Others had selfish reasons. Still others were steeped in ignorance. Whatever their reasoning's human progress became stymied. Most resulted in unnecessary human suffering through imprisonments and wars.
Unfortunately I'm very doubtful any of us has the ability to influence the number of open minded or closed minded individuals living on earth at any given time. Perhaps this lies in the hands of unknown powers far greater then we as to how many will be hard wired one way or the other.
(1) Trump won't sign it because he not only doesn't like Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) but... (2) Trump hates giving up his power even more. (3) Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) left his intentions be known if it manages to get out of the 'Senate Finance Committee' he will block it from coming up for a vote.
And Corker knows it too (June 12, 2018)
So What Have We Learned Kids? This (like many other things this president has taken to do on his own) won't be challenged by this congress. Thus encouraging this president to take even greater control over measures once traditionally held by congress. In so doing congress is ceding it's powers as well as their responsibilities to the executive branch. The reason they fail to act I believe is so they can avoid blame if/when things go down the toilet.
In my opinion this not only make many congressional members enablers but cowards as well. Legislative members whose only goal seems to be getting reelected unscathed. So too a damn shame how congress now turns over it's responsibilities to provide for this nation's check and balance to the judicial branch. Then they even have the gall to bitch and moan when judges are forced to make the hard decisions for them.
Right now all the big decisions being made are by government agencies (by the 1,000's), Trump himself and the judicial branch. If/when all this heads south no doubt there will be lots of members of congress pointing their fingers playing the blame game. The thing to keep in mind just because congress didn't do something doesn't mean they shouldn't be held accountable for their inaction for not doing so
It's almost come to the point we no longer need congress. They've done nothing towards addressing unelected officials' directives in federal agencies whose regulations number in the 10,000's affecting us far more directly then any other sector in the federal government. The only major legislation congress passed since Trump was elected was defunding the federal revenues through their tax cuts. Meanwhile did nothing on campaign finance reform, immigration, medicare, social security, healthcare, controlling drug prices, environment, education, energy, balancing the budget and just about everything else I can think of importance to the American people. Instead spent nearly all their time investigating their opponents when they're not spouting off on TV. What a worthless lot they've become.
What I'd like to see change (A wish list). Each and everyone of these seat warmers be required to come up with at least one original significant clean bill of their own each year. Receive a grade on the number of their bills which passed. Anything less then a 10% would disqualify them from running for reelection. Anything more would allow them to run as often as they desired. I'd also like to see open primaries where voters could choose any candidate of their liking irregardless of party affiliation. A 10 years residency requirement (or something similar) living fulltime in the state they wish to represent. Both the senate and house should be 4 year terms. In the house 2 years is too short. They're perpetually campaigning. Limit campaign fundraisers to 4 events a year. They should busy themselves doing the work of the people. Those are a few for now. I'm sure I could come up with more if I thought more about this.
The only thing I could add is I'd like us to become more of a democracy then the republic composed of representatives we have now. Meaning-- I'd like to see a lot more none binding ballot questions asked when we vote. Maybe a dozen or more at least. Voters would always have the option to skip them, but I think it could prove useful to the candidates being elected into office. It also would encourage greater participation knowing it was a way to have their voices heard above others when it comes to governmental decisions,
"The hourly wage needed to make a modest two-bedroom apartment affordable is $22.10 – more than three times the minimum wage. Given that the average hourly wage of renters in the U.S. currently stands at $16.88, it’s clear the gap between wages and affordability is stark. "
If you click on the article you will find a map indicating the required hourly wage to afford the average two bedroom apartment in each state.
Looking over the statistics I can honestly say I'd be SOL if I was starting out today right after high school. Even if I went to college I would have those extra expenses to deal with I didn't back in 1966. Fortunately I had the good sense to pay off our mortgage early years ago otherwise I'd be in a world of hurt.
If we decided to sell our home and rent it would be a disaster. After deducting the expenses of selling our home in the West End of Allentown even with Social Security income we would be out of money in 10 years at today's rents (not accounting for increases). The only way I could stretch that out is if water, cable and electric were included. We gave up my 28 year old van, eliminated all gift giving and our health insurance. Most definitely things I wouldn't be willing to do.
Currently I budget for taxes, water and homeowners insurance on this home $532 a month. For sure there's no way we could find a apartment for that price. Not to mention we have 2,200 SqFt of living space. Some may say what about repairs? Well for damn sure in no way does it cost us $1,000 a month for those.
While I consider myself lucky to lived in the era I did I can't help but empathize for these younger workers coming up behind me. Several things have changed mostly the fault of government. It allowed corporation after corporation to merge enabling them to gain advantage over workers by leaving fewer choices in the job market. At the same time government legislation failed to pass sensible minimum wage standards and reduced workers rights in a number of ways. Government failed to pass laws preventing companies from hiring "at-will" employees without restriction. Passed several laws in states crippling unions by allowing so-called "open shops". So too allowing companies to tie workers hands by forcing their complaints be settled by company appointed arbitrators.
I know there's a lot out there who are dead set against government regulations. But if you think government regulations suck wait till you see what these companies will do once totally free to do whatever they want with their workers. Disgruntled workers won't stand a chance against these huge corporations and their lawyers. Government is the only force big enough to stand in their way.
If younger workers wish to find themselves fortunate as myself they need to do what many of us did.
I've posted many times these same words. It bears repeating.
When I began many years ago before there was an internet I used my dial up to connect to other computers through our telephone lines to one another. In those days there was no such thing as 'caller ID'. So we both were quite safe.
Since then a lot has changed. As the internet began to evolve we long time users were warned to stay anonymous as possible. The reason being not every neighborhood was safe just as it is in the so-called real world. Not only friendlies are out there but lots of bad actors as well. Yet people still continue to take unnecessary risks.
Some in the past found photos they uploaded to Facebook and other sites were used on dating and porn sites. Countless more had their names attached to spoofed accounts. Still others had their social media accounts hijacked because of stolen passwords.
I cannot fathom why people still continue to believe somehow they are immune, Once photos and other information is stolen it can never be taken back. It remains out there in the vast expanse of the internet forever. This is why I remind everyone how important it is to avoid making oneself vulnerable in the first place.
I don't think we missed a one of Tony's shows. What I liked best was his travelogue exposing in all it's raw honesty the various areas and it's peoples. He was the real deal.
CBS Sunday Morning: Anthony Bourdain 2007
I had considered him the Charles Kuralt for this era because of his well spoken words and travels amongst everyday people.
While I was wandering around on the net today I came across this clip. It immediately brought back all the great feelings having seen it live onstage back in 2005 at the Hilton Theatre in NYC. It still strikes me how designers were so creative to have imagined crafting an actual flying car. So too how producers held back saving the most amazing part for last. The part where the car flies up over some 15 or 20 feet past the stage into the audience. I can't ever imagine it ever returning to Broadway again being the prop was sold. Hence making this even a more special memory for me.
Even though it ran 285 performances on Broadway producers didn't recoup their $15 Million investment.
The last I heard Anthony Garofalo owner of the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania bought the car back in 2015 although I'm not sure he still has it.
In case no one noticed I starting posting over a week ago little to nothing relating to negativity. I like so many others found my attention drawn towards those things making the loudest noise. So much so I lost focus on the greater good going on all around us. With this and my future posts I no longer intend to engage by adding to the noise. Instead I plan to concentrate my efforts towards all things which won't contribute further to polarizations.
If this is what you want start looking elsewhere.
There's already an over abundance of this kind of stuff. Hopefully I can provide a bit of an alternative.
