Tit for Tat

The monster is your agenda

2011-12-10T05:56:00.003-05:00

After watching this perverse video by Verizon with my 14yr old daughter her words summed it up best. "Daddy this is the most sexist thing I have ever seen". I always knew I had a clear thinking, intelligent young woman in my midst.

If you wish to make a complaint and have this piece of biased propaganda removed

Politely contact Bob Varettoni, Executive Director of Media Relations:
 Telephone: (908) 559-6388
 Email: robert.a.varettoni@verizon.com

Shrodinger`s Rapist is a Sexist

2011-11-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

I was out for a walk the other evening and as I was fast approaching an elderly woman I realized that she might be scared of me. So just before I came near her I coughed to announce my coming. Here is what transpired.

Me: I hope I didnt startle you.

Her: Oh, dont worry young man I saw you coming a while back.

Me: Well Im glad I didnt scare you.

Her: Why would you scare me

Me: Well I thought you might think Im a rapist and I could hurt you.

Her: I can take care of myself. By the way, how do you know whether or not I have a gun in my bag.

Me: Hmm, I dont, but lets be real, Im much bigger than you and I could probably easily overpower you and take the gun away.

Her: My, my that is quite the pocket full of assumptions you have. Chuck Norris thought the same thing of me back in the seventies. It wasnt until he ended up on his back at Bruce`s club that he learned differently.

Me: You fought Chuck Norris at Bruce Lee`s club.

Her: Sure did, havnt you ever heard of Jeet Kune Do

Me: Of course I have, how old are you

Her: Didnt your mama ever tell you its not polite to ask a woman her age. Now open that door for me sonny.

Me: Yes Mam.

Calling all Male Feminists!

2011-10-14T09:25:00.006-04:00

Which man are you, and how can you be sure?

Four words that make my heart skip a beat.

2011-10-08T16:11:00.001-04:00

I've got your back................

Thanks Babe, Ive got yours too.

Hot wife, some things never change................

2011-08-10T11:49:00.001-04:00

I had the opportunity to go to a high school reunion recently. It had been almost 30yrs since I had seen the bulk of these people. Obviously many of us have changed, well, physically at least. When I graduated I was a whopping 130lbs. Needless to say I wasnt a chick magnet back then. In fact I dont really remember having a real steady girlfriend during those years. I did though have a crush on a girl for a couple of those years. She danced with me once at one of the school functions and I was hooked. Unfortunately she wasnt, so for the remaining time I pined away hoping she would have a change of heart, that did not happen. So here I am 30yrs later hoping I would bump into her again. She wasnt quite what I remembered but I still wanted her to meet my "hot" wife. I guess I figured if I could show my wife off it would redeem me in some sense. Funny how some of our dysfunctions never leave us. So, the big moment arrives and I see here in line waiting to get a beer. I look and around and wifee is nowhere to be seen, Im going to have to go it alone. "Hi, remember me?" She replies, "yes". Oh, I now revert back to my teenage self, "I guess I will talk to you later" and proceed to walk away. I am now frantically looking for wifee to back me up and then I start to laugh. Holy shit, youre still a loser. Regardless of what you have, some things just

never change unless you change them. I will be booking an appointment with my therapist this week. :)

Under your bed...........

2011-07-11T19:49:00.001-04:00

I remember my youth and the stories you would hear about the "monsters under your bed". Of course we grew to realize it was just a way to tease or keep children fearful. It seems the idea lives on even in some adults. Most people dont get assaulted or raped but you regularly hear feminists talk about the fear of walking down the streets. When I hear this I wonder how many have actually been raped or assaulted, I wonder how many have known the real sting of pain? The truth is, it seems more like a political stance for certain individuals to bring attention to their causes. This post is born of frustration of all these people who dont know shit. Woman or man, this is a post to all of you out here who know some of the monsters are REAL .

Game face: What do you present?

2011-07-02T10:06:00.000-04:00

The power of a look is sometimes terrifying. In certain instances this is exactly what is hoped for. As I watch this video I am awe struck by its power. The intent of the one team is evident on the faces of both. Intimidation, fear, dominance is all there for us to see. I remember back when I was young and I knew that if I could create a certain 'look' that I may be able to keep certain individuals from hurting me. You see, most times fights are either won or lost way before anyone throws a punch. If you instill a certain unease or doubt in your opponent you may not even have to fight. This was a craft I came to perfect. The problem is, when developing such a strategy it is not so easy to turn on and off as needed, so I found myself being asked on many occasions, why are you so angry? The reality was in stressful or tense situations I subconsciously put on my game face, even though it was not called for. This talent/curse has been the bane of my adult life and I hope to one day get it under control. I dont doubt that sometimes it is needed, I just want to be able to determine when I put it on.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity
And in the end we are what we pretend to be"_ Jerry Cantrell

Happy Birthday(14) to my little girl...............Well she aint so little anymore

2011-04-13T12:35:00.000-04:00

You make me proud and full of joy just by your very existence. Have a great Day.

Love Dad

Road rage and Internet anonymity

2011-04-06T11:39:00.000-04:00

I have noticed some similarities between anonymous posters on blog sites and people who exhibit aggressive behaviour while driving. For whatever reason, it seems these people act in ways they typically wouldnt if they were face to face with you. I think the reasoning behind it is similar to that of drivers in that they have this protective shield around them. How many times have we watched people swerve, give the finger, roll down their window and swear at their fellow highway travellers. Most times its based on some small infraction that may or may not have even been intentional. I think we should all try to remember, like beginner drivers, not all bloggers have the same skills. I question whether these individuals would act this way if they left their real names when posting or if they were walking behind you instead of driving. I think the answer for most is pretty obvious.

Domestic Violence: Equality and justice for all or something like that.

2011-03-20T19:12:00.002-04:00

WARNING
Contains non politically correct material

Ok everyone, take a DEEP BREATH……………
Gallows humour it seems, is for people who when presented with enough pain and suffering need to just laugh about it. I think I reached this point after one week discussing domestic violence on Feminist and MRA sites. During this time I have been taught that patriarchy and feminism aren’t really about sex or gender but are a way of thinking or a form of system, really? I have been called Mangina(minus the multiple orgasms), a sexist ignorant pig troll, misogynist,feminist and a host of other lovely things. I even got banned from an MRA site(hmm, maybe those guys really did get beat by a woman). All this talk got me thinking about shelters and the need to protect everyone. I know that Feminists have worked hard at getting the government to implement these facilities for women. It seems now that MRA's feel the need for men also. I decided to put together a list for all of us. Afterall if any of us have suffered abuse dont we all need protection too?

Domestic Violence Shelters list for:

1. HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN: Heterosexual men need not apply as you are the reason we are here in the first place. Homosexual women are welcome if you are comfortable with us being that we are women. Homosexual men, sorry, you scare us too, afterall you are a man.

2. HETEROSEXUAL MEN: Heterosexual Women need not apply as they are the reason we are here in the first place. Homosexual men are welcome if you are comfortable with us being that we are men. Homesexual women, sorry, you scare us too, afterall you are a woman. On second thought, homosexual men, you kind of freak us out too.

3. HOMOSEXUAL MEN: Homosexual Men need not apply as they are the reason we are here in the first place. Homosexual women are welcome. Heterosexual women are welcome if you are comfortable with us being that we are men. Heterosexual men, sorry, you scare us too, afterall you are a man.

4. HOMOSEXUAL WOMEN: Homosexual women need not apply as they are the reason we're here in the first place. Homosexual men are welcome. Heterosexual men are welcome if you are comfortable with us being that we are women. Heterosexual women, sorry, you scare us too, afterall you are a woman.

Just as I was finishing my list I heard my barefoot pregnant wife yell from the kitchen, “Honey, dont forget the Transexuals and Transgender people.” Ouch, my brain hurts.

Anger: My friend and foe, My shield and spear?

2011-03-12T13:59:00.003-05:00

I think back to the days when life was supposed to be free and easy. The time when innocence was sweet and gentle. That time was so long ago that it eludes my memory. Many of my early memories shattered that innocence. Fear, intimidation, violence shaped much of my world. This was a time when the people I would look to for protection, were either eerily silent or they were the perpetrators of my nightmares. I cant remember the exact moment my friend arrived but I do remember the feeling of strength that he imparted on me. He was a blessing I prayed deeply for. Someone to protect me from the big bad world. He supplied the courage to endure the pain and not crumble under its oppressive weight. In the beginning he made me high with confidence and it let me feel that I could take on all(almost) my enemies. For a time my life was made right. No longer would I be the victim, his support had made me impregnable. He was my Friend and shield. There were glimpses of the other side of his personality which confused me though. I recall the time when I lashed out at others who I deemed inferior. I was able to reconcile this because I had now become more popular. I seemed to have the respect I had so long desired. People were no longer picking on me, they actually liked me, or so I thought. It took some time but eventually the people who liked me before my friend had come along, no longer wanted any part of me. They seemed truly nervous or scared to associate with me. Again, I was able to ignore the signs that my new found friend may actually be a foe. Daily we worked together, me on the physical and he on the mental. I was sharpening my skills as a fighter and rather than just using them for defense I now initiated more contact. I was a spear, powerful, deadly. I exacted revenge on individuals from the past and shared my new found power with some new people. It has been many years since my friend entered my life, though he is still here we rarely hang out anymore and when we do it is usually on our own time. I now hang out with some new friends. :)

I listened to this on the way home today and thought it was appropriate for the post. Enjoy.

Can equality and pro choice(as used today) coexist?

2011-02-28T14:27:00.000-05:00

Scenario #1

A husband and wife planned to have a baby together. Fortunately for them they got pregnant quickly. At each stage they shared the experience, though the husband could not imagine what it was like having life form in his belly. He did envy(slightly) his wife for this experience. They watched intently the ultrasound, together they counted the fingers and toes. After finding out the sex of the baby they came up with a name that both loved. Soon after this the husband became distant, he seemed disconnected. No longer did he want to hear about his future child. When the wife confronted him he explained why he was distant. Over the last several weeks he began seeing someone else. He no longer wished to have this child. He had a new love in his life and had no room for children. He asked his wife for a divorce and for her to abort the fetus.

Questions:

1. Does he have a right to make her abort her child?
2. Should he be held accountable for financial support after the child is born?

Scenario #2

A husband and wife planned to have a baby together. Fortunately for them they got pregnant quickly. At each stage they shared the experience, though the husband could not imagine what it was like having life form in his belly. He did envy(slightly) his wife for this experience. They watched intently the ultrasound, together they counted the fingers and toes. After finding out the sex of the baby they came up with a name that both loved. Soon after this the wife became distant, she seemed disconnected. No longer did she want to talk about her future child. When the husband confronted her she explained why she was distant. Over the last several weeks she began seeing someone else. She no longer wished to have this child. She had a new love in her life and had no room for children. She asked her husband for a divorce and planned on aborting the fetus.

Questions:

1. Does he have the right to prevent her from aborting his child?
2. Should she be accountable financially for any pain and suffering she causes him?

Love is not a feeling but an Action!

2011-02-12T13:47:00.002-05:00

I remember the feeling, the sweaty palms, my heart racing, goosebumps. It felt right, so I said it, "I love you". How many times I jumped the gun. Rather than see how this person would treat me I raced to the conclusion that I loved them based on these feelings. There have been several who were special in my life but as the Years have passed and much water under the bridge, I have come to realize what love really is. I have watched my wife stand by me when I am down. I have watched her tirelessly working to ensure our family is taken care of. She is strong when I need and gentle and loving for us all. Her dedication and support inspires me to be a better man. I am still learning what love really is but I now know what it isnt. I truly hope my children experience the thrill of connection and many times I still get giddy when I am with my wife but LOVE is what we do, not what we feel.

"Love is what is left, when after, 'Being in love', has burned away"

Happy Valentines Day
for the love of my life

When the wife is right!

2011-02-03T17:18:00.000-05:00

Some days you need a reminder of what you believe. Thanks for the reminder Honey! Pretty fun vid to look back on.

Well I've said it before, and I'll say it again
You get nothin' for nothin', expect it when
You're back seat drivin' and your hands ain't on the wheel
It's easy to go along with the crowd
And find later on that your say ain't allowed
Oh that's the way to find what you've been missin'

So I'm heading out to the highway
I got nothin' to lose at all
I'm goin' to do it my way
Take a chance before I fall
A chance before I fall

You can hang in a left or hang in a right
The choice it is yours to do as you might
The road is open wide to place your biddin'
Now, wherever you turn, wherever you go
If you get it wrong, at least you can know
There's miles and miles to put it back together

And I'm heading out to the highway
I got nothin' to lose at all
I'm goin' to do it my way
Take a chance before I fall
A chance before I fall

Makin' a curve or takin' the strain
On the decline, or out on the wane
Oh everybody breaks down sooner or later
We'll put it to rights, we'll square up and mend
Back on your feet to take the next bend
You weather every storm that's comin' at 'tcha

And I'm heading out to the highway
I got nothin' to lose at all
I'm goin' to do it my way
Take a chance before I fall
A chance before I fall

Thank God the apple fell very far from the Tree.............

2011-02-01T20:29:00.001-05:00

A big congrats to my beautiful daughter for being accepted into a International Baccalaureate Program at Colonel By highschool. You are AWESOME. Kisses from dad.

Im usually an optimist..................

2011-01-25T06:04:00.000-05:00

Some weeks are better than others......

Though its not quite as bad as this vid. SMILE.

Headache Remedy

2011-01-18T17:57:00.001-05:00

I was dumbfounded by a recent comment by my WONDERFUL wife. She suggested a little bit of loving for me, but then the truth came out. "I think it will help me with my headache, she quipped". Headache? headache? Let me tell you about a headache!! This got me thinking, would a guy ever be able to get away with this self serving comment? "Honey, I think Im prepared to give you a little loving because I believe it might help my headache". No way, no how is that going to get you past first base. Now, dont get me wrong, its not like Im going to pass up on the opportunity, but really.
Honey, do you need anymore help with your headache?

Narco Terrorists/Collateral Damage

2011-01-05T14:05:00.000-05:00

After years of Narco Terrorism, causing death and despair, the Canadian military, with the help of the Mexican military, has decided to rid the world of this scourge. Pinning the terrorists in small communities along the Mexican/American border the two armies move in for the kill. Unfortunately, with the help of corrupt individuals on both sides of the border, the terrorists flee to safe haven in towns on the American side. With the help of informants the powerful Canadian military locates the exact positions of the Narco Terrorists. Though they are now in a sovereign nation the Political and Military influence exerted by the Canadians demands that the Americans allow controlled air strikes within their borders. As the information has been relayed to the Canadian military it releases unmanned, remote controlled drones to bomb these targets. Even though many of the terrorists are killed there is an unfortunate by product of these attacks. Dozens if not hundreds of innocent civilians are maimed or killed. The Canadian government acknowledges these as an unfortunate circumstance but they stand by their actions. Afterall, Narco Terrorism needs to be dealt with regardless of the potential cost. Back in Canada on the nightly news hundreds of young angry Christian Americans burn Canadian flags and shout death to the Canadians. Canadian citizens are confused as to why their "Allies" would do such a thing.

***DISCLAIMER***

This story is completely fictional. Any relation to ongoing
world events is purely coincidental.

Party Crashers: Everyone loves to Celebrate

2010-12-15T10:31:00.006-05:00

I imagine the look on the face of Ooog the caveman who's partying down with his wife Ooogette when Org decides he wants to join the party. I wonder if he could be classified as the original party crasher. If not, we do have another moment in history when someone decided they wanted in on the festivities. That my friends would be the "Christians". You see, Jesus wasnt born on Dec. 25, I think some God named Mithras has that claim(though I could be wrong). Jesus was born in the springtime(at least that is the conclusion of most historians). I guess someone decided that a great time to announce the coming of "their" god would be at someone else's party. Think about it, people are drunk, they are generally in a very positive mood and there would be lots and lots of very amenable persons. Brilliant! So for all you secular people who dont subscribe to religious ideas, why dont you just take this Christmas as your own. Oh wait, you already did that. Happy Holidays.

If only.....................

2010-12-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

This touched my spirit today, Enjoy!

Out of my League.........3/4NS

2010-11-20T13:00:00.001-05:00

Some of my friends think I married out of my league, what do you think? (Click on her Pic)

Raise your hands up in the Air!

2010-11-17T14:16:00.006-05:00

Doesn't anybody know how to walk anymore?
Doesn't anybody know what a radio is for ?
Doesn't anybody wear their hair down low ?
Doesn't anybody know? doesn't anybody know?

Doesn't anybody hate it when the street light.. turns red?
Doesn't everybody want five more minutes in bed ?
Doesn't anybody, doesnt anybody have a letter to send ?
Doesn't everybody wish to have just one more friend ?

Cause eveybody wants, and everybody needs
Everybody asks for one more piece
Everybody wants to hear someone say please
Cause everybody takes, and everybody steals
Everybody cries when something feels
Everybody's looking for the drug that heals

Doesn't anybody wanna take another shot at me ?
And go ahead the gun is loaded and the bullets are for free
Doesn't everybody spray perfume to cover up a smell ?
Doesn't anybody know where I go to get some air?

Cause everybody wants, and everybody needs,
Everybody begs for self esteem
Why don't you get your mind out of the past
And everybody takes and everybody steals,
Everybody's been kicked by other heels

Please raise your hands up in the air..

Yeah..why don't you raise your hands up in the air
Why don't you raise your hands up in the air

Cause everybody wants...

Doesn't anybody know how to walk anymore?
Doesn't anybody know what a radio is for ?
Doesn't anybody wear their hair down low ?
Doesn't anybody know? doesnt anybody know?

Cause everybody wants

RANTING: Left or Right you pretty much all sound the same.

2010-11-02T11:18:00.002-04:00

Watching the Political discourse on Fox or CNN pretty much reminds me of this song.

Gucci, I thought I heard you about the 2:05 minute mark. :)

Cherry Pickers.......................

2010-10-27T14:31:00.001-04:00

I've always wondered how the chick could tie the stem with her tongue? Equally baffling for me is how certain individuals label themselves “Conservative” even though many of their actions speak otherwise.

Now I understand that we all have certain values and for many of us those values would be deemed conservative but what do you call those people when their other actions show a completely different viewpoint? You can be pro life, same sex marriage, right to bear arms, lower taxes, which are all typically conservative values. But what happens when you have other interests, such as, porn, profanity or ostentatious displays(bling for contemporary people). I have a pretty hard time listening to people swearing more than a drunken sailor who has been at sea for 6 months or the individuals who like to role play about being “spanked by daddy” and then keeping the film in their lockbox for future viewings(hope the kids or parishioners don't find it), and then they tell you that they are conservative. Showing others that you have more and better stuff isn't a typical conservative trait, nor is it nice.

The point I'm trying to make is we all like to label others or ourselves, but doesn't that do a disservice to the person we are? What happens when we don't line up completely with that label, does that make you less of a person? Of course not! What demeans you is when you try to deny the fact that you are multi-dimensional and you label yourself based on a typical polarizing political viewpoint.

I think the individuals who call themselves Conservative or Liberal are like the chick with the cherry, they must have a forked tongue.

An interesting side note. Rupert Murdoch owner of Fox News Network and the leading conservative newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, was pulling in more porn money through a satellite company than Playboy made with its magazine, cable, and Internet businesses combined.

I wonder if he's Liberal or Conservative??

Multi Culturalism is a Misnomer.

2010-09-16T12:23:00.001-04:00

Here in Canada we pride ourselves on being "Multicultural". True enough we have Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese and many other cultures that live here, but are we truly a multicultural society? I sure do love some good old fashion Humus. Also, who doesnt like the effects of some belly warming Saki. Garlic spare ribs with some egg rolls are also delicious. These days I have even taken a liking to Bollywood dancing. For years I have always liked training Karate and Judo. Seeing that we incorporate many aspects of other cultures into ours does that mean we are truly "Multicultural"? I think not. For the truth is, even though I love many aspects of these cultures there are many things that I dont want to be incorporated into ours. I wonder how many women would like a Clitoridectomy? This is a horrific cultural practice in some African nations. I would imagine some of us like to get stoned(smoking pot), but Im not so sure they want to be "stoning" their daughters like the cultural practice that happens in some middle eastern countries. Though bollywood is a great Indian cultural practice do any one of us want to apply the ancient tradition of Sati that some hindu communities practice? I would imagine Gloria Steinem would not be in any hurry to burn herself alive if her hubby died. The truth is we cannot truly be multicultural. Sure we can incorporate certain traditions that make our culture prosper in many areas, but there has to be a dominant cultural practice. Our culture has and is growing past supertitious beliefs and religious interference in the lives of our citizens. We are truly becoming a society that is based on the rule of law that protects the rights and lives of its population. I think that we all need to look closely at how much other "cultures" are going to shape our future for our children. If not, we may lose the culture we have worked so hard to build.

Nine Lives.....................#1

2010-08-16T14:11:00.000-04:00

Recently I was reminiscing about events in my life that could have easily turned for the worse. Fortunately nothing dire happened but it sure did seem like I was using up some of my "Nine Lives". Hope you enjoy both the humour and foolishness of some of my youthful indiscretions.

Back in my early twenties several of my friends and I used to frequent a local strip club to play pool for money and beers. I know, I know, but really, it was for money and beers. The scenery was definately a plus though. During one of my games I was embroiled in a heated debate over a shot that I took. It turned out the gentleman I was playing with did not agree with my position. During the course of our disagreement it came out that he was a member of a motorcycle gang that I was not familiar with. My friends knew of them but I was ignorant of their actual status. My conversation with the biker went something like this.

Me: Let me guess, youre a Hell's Angel wanna be.

Biker: Do you not know who we are????

Me: What, just some stupid motorcycle gang!

Biker: (stares me down) You know what, its your lucky night.

He then proceeds to walk away. By this time my friends in the corner were turning white with fear. They yelled at me for being a fucking idiot. They then proceeded to tell me that the "Outlaws" were actually a rival of the Hells Angels and that they ran the strippers in and out of the clubs in that area. For the next several weeks I stayed away from that establishment and thanked my lucky stars I wasnt swimming with the Fishies that evening. I guess some days its better to be lucky than smart.

Gallows Humour

2010-08-10T22:07:00.002-04:00

Many years ago before I became a Massage Therapist I had a job as an orderly at a local rehab hospital. I was 20yrs old and full of life. One evening as I was doing my rounds I came into a room and proceeded to put up the bed rails of the patients. One of the patients requested that I leave his down and come back later to put it up. I figured I was going on break soon, so I said I would do it after that. When I returned to the room I found that he was no longer breathing. I was a little out of sorts to say the least. I felt ill equipped to begin CPR, so I went to the front desk to tell the Head Nurse of my predicament. She screamed "Doctor Heart" and there was a flurry of activity. They attempted to revive the gentleman but too much time had elapsed and he was declared dead on the spot. It was then that I and several others had to prepare this man for the morgue. We were all new to the experience of dealing with death and the tension was palpable. It was at that moment I decided to try to "lighten" the moment. Seeing as the man was a double amputee(legs) due to his diabetes I remarked, "Where are we going to put the Toe Tag"? Unfortunately that little joke did not go down to well. Never to be put off by a simple failure I tried again shortly after. We were in the midst of moving the body from the bed to a guerney when all of a sudden there was a raspy growl from the body. The nursing assistant then yelped and dropped him back on the table. At that moment I remarked, "He's Alive". After a collective groan I realized my future as a stand up comic would not become a reality.

The Fight................does it ever end?

2010-08-04T09:41:00.000-04:00

The blows rained down on me, but unlike raindrops they stung. The only moisture I could feel were the teardrops that flowed down my cheeks. "Please, stop! I dont want it anymore". There was a pause, a brief reprieve. Just as I was beginning to feel relief, the words that echo in my ears came out. "You Fucking Faker". SMACK!

Certain moments in our lives shape us. They leave indelible imprints that forever cast a shadow over us. In the previous post I touched on how our habits affect us. Though I no longer physically fight I seem to be drawn to combat of other sorts. Certain verbiage pushes buttons that I did not know still existed. Though I have worked hard at tearing down the walls it is obvious that some are still standing. I see and hear things that many cannot understand. Once in a while a run across a fellow traveller who understands me. I see it in their eyes or hear it in their words, The fighter.............

First we make our habits............Then our habits make us.

2010-08-03T08:25:00.000-04:00

Who are we? It seems we are the sum total of what we do. Sure we may have genetic predispositions to certain behaviours, but does that mean this is who we are. The more I see myself, the more I see that I am what I do. I mean that the things I consistently act on seem to create the person that I am. Throughout my life I have attempted to modify or correct negative behaviours or on the other hand continue with the positive behaviours. Yet, even with this awareness I now realize I only succeed in positive change when I make it a habit. I think I need more practice in certain areas. Today I will be more proactive with certain habits. How about you?

Damn those immigrants!

2010-07-27T12:06:00.000-04:00

The other day the wife decided to go for a pedicure. We have a small place in a mall close to our place of business. It is run by a local Vietnamese family. As my wife was sitting waiting for her pampering she overheard the mother(owner) of the business talking with her daughter. It turns out the daughter had taken a leave of absence from her job(Lawyer) to help her mom run the family business. So over the course of the next 30 to 40 min my wife had an enlightening conversation with a fellow business owner. It went something like this.

Wife: So how's business?

Owner: No good. People no like work!

Wife: Are you having staffing problems? I know we certainly are.

Owner: Yes, too many lazy and greedy. English, white canadian women no like work hard. Sorry lady, no mean you.

Wife: Thats ok, Im French Canadian.

Owner: Yes, you work better.

Wife: So do you find this kind of behaviour with all employees?

Owner: No, mostly White Canadian women. But American white women worse!

Owner: Lady, you look too good. You shouldnt dress nice like that. Your employee's will think you rich and want more money for less work.

Wife: Thanks for the advice.

After that little discussion the wife was at least happy that she looks good. Even though we're not rich.

Damn those immigrants and their family values and work ethic, they are giving us a Bad name.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-07-14T22:51:00.000-04:00

Just had a great Birthday with my wife. She actually golfed with me and lost the bet. Hmmmm, now the challenge is to wake her up and collect on it(very difficult when you have french wifey who likes her sleep). So I guess I will just drink and sing to myself. Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee, happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeee, happy birthday you old f...er, happy birthday to meeeeeeeeee.

Freedom! Dont touch my free...Oops I mean Limited Choice.

2010-07-14T08:48:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed how many people in the West think they have freedom? The fact is, what we do have is limited choice. Now, I do realize our choices are much greater than most nations in the world, but all the same they are still limited. If we dont like what our leaders are doing, we, in theory have the opportunity to vote them out. It is here that our idea's on freedom get a little murky. The determining factor in our society in regards to freedom of choice is something called the "all mighty dollar". Whoever has more of these definately has more freedom to choose. There was a time when being the biggest and baddest on the block gave you the right to the most freedom, but now it is all pretty much based on whoever has the most bucks. Democracy is a misnomer for our society. Capitalism and Consumerism are the driving forces. Any attempt to change our political situations is immediately met by the stark reality that finances determine who gets the most airplay and opportunity to share their values with the average voting individual. It doesnt matter what your party affiliation is. If they have the most dollars they have the bigger chunk of freedom of choice. In order for a party to have a large bank account they obviously have to have people with deep pockets to help fund their campaigns. Do you ever wonder how those lovely altruistic people or companies get paid? They get more FREEDOM. Freedom to choose how and when their lovely ideas get put into play. In Canada(and the USA) the majority of the population did not want to go to war in Afghanistan or Iraq. Was this ever put to a vote in our democratic nations? Nope! I wonder who then wanted this to happen? Could it be the people who have more freedom of choice and more financial gain determined this outcome? Since the recent economic downturn who has been given more freedom. It sure as shit isnt the less fortunate! Pretty much all the bailout money has seeped into the pockets of the most fortunate. Now how's that for freedom? Harper, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Trudeau, and all the other leaders of our great nations have one thing in common. They have the most Freedom to do as they please because someone behind them has the most bucks. Have a nice limited choice day and dont forget to pay your Taxes, someone needs more Freedom.

SHOW ME THE MONEY...........shhhh, Dont tell me where it comes from

2010-07-09T23:21:00.000-04:00

11 million illegal immigrants in the good old USA. Damn thats a lot of crooks. Well, in all fairness lets say only 60% of them actually work for the syndicate. I guess the other 40% have a good old fashion "legal" job. You know, the one that gives you a weekly salary doing the shit work that the average joe american doesnt want to do. So, you have to love the constant bellowing, I earn my own money, I work hard, I am a self made person. I wonder though, all those people who have made millions and invested their money to make more, have they ever invested in a company that employs the "criminal element" of their society? Honestly, does anyone truly know how and where each company derives its profit from? How many times do we we get fruit from our local farmer and assume that he/she only hires citizens? Do we actually know for a fact that any of the products produced are guaranteed to come from citizens and not illegal immigrants? The bigger question is, do want to know? Its easy to sit in Ivory towers and preach down on the "others". The cars we drive, the video's we watch, ice cream, toilets cleaned. How many of these are done by the undesirables? Does anyone have the answer? Im sure I could name a couple. ;)

Conservatives like their Titties...........

2010-06-29T23:40:00.000-04:00

*Disclaimer*
I actually like these fellow bloggers for we have much in common. ;)

A couple of blogging acquaintances or friends(hopefully) have made me aware of how important it is for some people to have a label to describe themselves. These wonderful people, Gucci and Sage like themselves to be known as Conservatives. Now, I can probably agree with them on some of their political views how they might be able to see themselves in such a light but I am a little mystified when it comes to some of their actual behaviours. You see outside of their politics they sure do seem pretty liberal as evidenced by these Interesting and Conservative posts. Well, I wonder what Real Republicans like good ole Ronald and Nancy would think of this behaviour, seems to me Conservative wouldnt be the first word to come to mind.
One thing I have come to realize in my few short years is that Labels don't do us Justice. We are so richly layered with beliefs and behaviours, that trying to encapsulate it with words such as Democrat, Liberal, Conservative or Republican seem to fail miserably. It seems my new friends think of me as a Liberal and in some ways my behaviours reflect that but deep down inside I guess Im just a small "c" conservative. Afterall, I sure do like some Titties.

Really, Its a Man's World.......Yeah, right!

2010-06-21T12:10:00.000-04:00

Do you remember those special days, those days when all you could do was try to get your mom's attention. "Look Mommy, I built a sand castle just for you." or maybe it was as simple as riding your bike. "Hey Mommy, Im a big boy now, I can ride my bike without any help".
As we slowly aged things started to change. No longer did we only try to please Mom, we now had a different female to attract. We started working out to make ourselves more manly. We took better care of ourselves, paid more attention to our hygiene. Geez, we even started to comb our hair. Next thing you knew we were even attempting to woo that special someone. Poetry, nice music, we tried everything to make ourselves look special. It wasnt long after that we knew it would take something more to seal the deal. We needed to get a job to get the special car that could transport that special someone to all the cool places we dreamed about. It was hard work, but damn, she was worth it. The plan seemed to work but the older we got the more discerning she became. Education, Job advancement, home hunting, the list goes on. If it was up to us, beer and crackers and the hammock would be fine. Nope, you had to become a connoisseur of wine and a creative dinner planner. Intrique, seduction, LOVE making. Oh my God what ever happened to us men? One thing I tell you, WOMAN.

So tell me, Really, who's World is It?

My name is John and Im a Gasoholic

2010-05-26T16:15:00.002-04:00

I never realized it would get this far. Sure my first experience was fun, driving around in our new car was great. But I always went back to my bike, it kept me in great shape. Riding around until the evening without a care in the world. The air was fresh and my lungs breathed it in fully. Who knew what the future would hold. I guess the first time I was aware of its pull was when I reached 16. I was now able to drive on my own and I was acutely aware of how it made me feel. I was becoming a man, the chicks were going to love me. I would be able to take them places I could never have done before. My self esteem was soaring higher with each drive. Little did I know though, I was becoming an Addict and my addiction was Gasoline. Not only am I poisoning myself but I am making everyone else around me sick too. It is so subtle, most people I know would say Im fine and I dont have a problem. But the only word that comes to my mind when they say this is "Codependent". You see it seems were all in this together yet none of us are willing to look at our "little" problem. Sure the birds and water creatures may have an issue, but were ok, right? Our "save a tree" bumper stickers fill us with pride. Even our recycling makes us puff our chests out. But is anyone really willing to give up their car? I doubt it! Maybe its time for Step 1.

Step 1

We admitted we were powerless over GASOLINE- that our lives have become unmanageable.

Hi, My name is John and Im a Gasoholic.

I married a Model..............Really, I did! :)

2010-05-18T15:36:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know, this is a pretty juvenile post. But I know most of us guys(at least the ones who are willing to admit it) remember bragging about one day marrying a model. Well as of last weekend it became a literal truth. My wife was walking in a local mall when after leaving a clothing store she was approached in the corridor by the manager. At first she wondered if she accidentally took some clothing without paying. It turns out the manager had an unusual request. They were having a fashion show that weekend and the woman wondered if my wife would be willing to partake in it as one of their clothing models. At first she felt a little shy, but being the trooper that she is she decided to give it a try. She did a fabulous job! Unfortunately I dont have pictures of the actual event, but I do have some taken from a professional photographer last May in the Dominican Republic.

So without further ado here's my Model Wifeee.

The Ultimate Feminist!

2010-05-07T17:39:00.000-04:00

No burning the bra's. No complaining about equal rights. Widowed at 30yrs old, left to manage 3 kids, ages 20months, 4yrs, 7yrs. Returned to school and received a Masters Degree after 8yrs of sacrifice and dedication. The primary care giver and educator and financial provider. My MOMMY, the Ultimate Feminist.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Will Jesus Christ save my sorry Ass?

2010-04-03T19:45:00.000-04:00

I think the question that every Christian first needs to answer is this.

Do you believe that a talking snake convinced a woman to deceive her mate into eating an apple? And because of this the rest of the world are shitheads for all of eternity(which is a pretty long time).

Take your time before you answer.

Taking a Break.

2010-02-16T23:18:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who have shared with me on this blog. I am taking a break. I will continue reading all of your blogs and I might even comment occasionally. Au Revoir.

WOO......Why it may work and why science cant prove it.

2010-01-14T10:55:00.006-05:00

I have been blogging for about 3 yrs now and have listened to many people talking about health care. In many instances there is a side that is very much againsnt what they called "Woo" or "alternative" therapies. By this, they mean many of the touch based therapies such as, Acupuncture, Reiki, Therapeutic touch, Chiropractic and also my profession, Massage Therapy. It seems that unless science conclusively backs up certain treatments then many of these individuals want nothing to do with it. If there is some anecdotal evidence showing some success they many times pass that off as just a "placebo". I wonder though, whats the difference if your pain relieved by placebo or a drug? Also isnt it common that many of the drugs only work for some people and not all? Why is it that someone would feel more certain of a therapist using ultrasound for a muscle strain when many times physical touch has the same benefit. I believe this belief system actually has hurt much of our health care system and is in dire need of an overhaul.
I am going to point out that there are many things that science(to this point) is unable to accurately measure. So because of this I believe that many of these so called "Woo" therapies are actually beneficial and vital to our health.
When assessing these touch based therapies is it possible to account for many of the emotional factors that come into play when being treated?

Empathy
Trust
Compassion
Nurturing

If any or all of these emotions are not outwardly apparent to the patient, wouldnt it stand to reason that they may be hesistant or resistant to the therapists performing their treatment? And if so, wouldnt that factor in to the quantifiable results of the treatment? How from a science perspective do we measure these powerful forces? It is similar to friendship. Why are some people our friends and others are not? How do you scientifically measure it? So, is it more likely that a therapist that is trusted and liked more capable of getting better results than one that isnt?
There is another area I believe to be beyond science(at this moment), and that is the calibre of treatment being performed. There are multiple reasons why this may be the case when a therapy is being applied.

Pressure
Awareness
Body Type
Sensitivity
Technical Skill

A major factor that plays into my profession is the skill of the therapist and the response of the patient. What I mean by this is that many patients that I see dont respond to my techniques but do respond to another therapist. Does that mean I am not a good therapist? Of course not, it just means I am not the "right" therapist for those individuals. Now I ask you this, how would we be able to measure this scientifically and have it relatable to the therapy rather than the therapist? It has been very apparent to me in my profession that certain individuals respond to certain techniques. There are so many factors that play into this that I wonder if it is even remotely possible(at this time) to scientically measure it.
If I go see any of these so called "Woo" therapies with pain and I leave feeling better and my life returns to a relatively normal existence, I dont really care whether science says that is "real" or a "placebo". All I know is that Im pain free. Im sure there are millions of people who would agree.
For all those that dont, I suggest you get a Massage and Chill out(science agrees with that one).

Rules, Play by the Rules!

2010-01-07T12:14:00.002-05:00

This post was inspired by my fellow blogger Sabio Lantz at this post. Here is a small exerpt.

www.triangulations.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/2448/

" I laugh at my mind constantly. She (my mind) is so silly, so primitive, so deluded, so stubborn, so dull. I mean, how many times have I told her something is not true or not so and yet she keeps coming back with the same perceptions and conclusions. She is totally unruly."

What game do you play?

I find it interesting that when we come to blog with others we forget what game they are playing and by what rules they play. We then attempt to insert our rules into their game. This is true for most of us, be it Atheist, Theist, Deist or what have you. Sometimes its like a football player coming to a baseball game. The collisions may be fun to watch but they have little to do with the actual game being played. I wonder, if there is not a consensus on the game and the rules, is it actually possible to enjoy playing?

In any game are the rules absolute?

The rallying cry of the absolutist. "Its not fair, youre not playing by the rules". Is it possible for anything to be absolute? Regardless of what game we play or subject we study there is always something we let slide by. Using football as an example again, there are many times that players hold other players(which is against the rules). Now because it may not have been blatant the referee will overlook it and allow them to continue to play. When involved in our blogging discussions many times we overlook the rules of engagement. Scientists demean Creationists because science doesnt back their story. The problem with this is many Creationists are not playing by those rules. The flip side to this scenario is blatantly obvious too. Faith isnt part of the rules for Scientists. Is it any wonder that they have a hard time playing together? Different games with different rules.

Is cheating or stretching the rules bad?

Interestingly enough, even within a certain domain(game) the rules very often get stretched a bit. This is very evident when looking at multiple versions of the same Theistic doctrine. Seems there are many ways to play a similar game. Funny thing is, Science isnt immune to this way of thinking either. Many times things dont react(scientifically) exactly the way the scientists first thought. So like any good gamer they adapt to the situation and add or subtract some "Rules". I guess we could consider that Evolution.

Evolution or Adaptation

When looking at each others belief system it may be prudent to realize that they cant be absolute. Because just as we are evolving, so are our beliefs. There only seems to be one absolute to life and that is it does not remain static, it is always in flux.

So the next time you feel your mind to be a little "unruly", just remember she may not be playing the same game you are.

EAT, DRINK and be MERRY

2009-12-24T17:46:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

For all my Christian Theist blogger pals.

HAPPY HOLY DAYS

For all my other religionist blogger pals.

And for all you heathen, without morals or ethics Atheist blogger pals.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Dont get too drunk. :)

2 Ears, One mouth, Im starting to get it.

2009-12-12T17:44:00.000-05:00

Im out for dinner with my beautiful wife, you know the one with the great smile, beautiful lips and eyes and awesome wit......Oops I digress. So we're having a wonderful time and our server is excellent. We end up having a good conversation with him about what we do for a living, which then gets into a discussion about his schooling and why he is taking the courses that he is enrolled in. He shares some personal information about his obesity as a youth and how he now would like to help others overcome similar challenges. He is now in excellent shape. At the end of our dinner(and a couple of drinks), we end up talking a little more about our ideas on health and wellness. It was at this moment that I made a remark about a therapist I was seeing and how I had a hard time listening to them because of their morbid obesity. I articulated that I felt because of their obesity they would not be of benefit to me. Instantly the server's demeanour changed. I totally missed why that would be and continued to talk. My wife remarked about it after we left and I realized that I was too busy talking about my thing, that I missed the fact that I hurt someone in this exchange. Had my 2 ears been open earlier I would have known better than to engage in a conversation about obesity and my negative view on it. This experience has made me realize that I need to be more aware of what people say and not how I say things. Humbling for sure.

Thanks to Luke and Jay for there shout outs on Community and accountability.

Ignorance is Bliss. ;)

2009-11-30T09:20:00.005-05:00

Am I ignorant because I believe, or do I believe because of my ignorance? The way I see it, I have 2 choices. I can choose to believe that this Universe that I see, with all its beauty and despair and overall awesomeness, is either:

1. A random fortuitous happening.

OR

2. A creation with purpose and intelligence.

Now because of my ignorance I cannot know for sure which of these 2 options is true. So with my limited perspective I have decided to postulate an idea. I believe we were created with a purpose. This does not mean that I disregard all the benefits that science has in showing the inner workings of this Universe. Au Contraire, I actually believe that our scientists will one day prove my theory to be correct. To have a position that goes against mine does not automatically mean it is correct either. It is just that, an opinion. For thousands of years we have postulated, formulated and corrected many theories. I suspect this to be part of our human condition. Who knows, maybe its part of our Evolutionary process. So here I am, somewhat blissful in my ignorance, how about you!

DENIAL: Isnt that a river in Egypt?

2009-11-25T12:24:00.002-05:00

Human nature, the need to be in the know. We all seem to gravitate to a belief system that purports to "know" what is going on. Black or white, true or false, wrong or right. Each of us choose a system that works for us. Yet isnt it true that we are all somewhat in the dark on matters? Even when we come to certain conclusions about life havn't we all found later on that it wasnt quite what we assumed it was. This is very common in religious/spiritual ideas, but it is also very common in science too. Many times the new formula replaces the old. It seems, for the most part, that nothing is absolute. I wonder then, wouldnt it be better to try and take from each others belief systems the parts that work and try to implement them into our own existence? I own this way of thinking also and am starting to feel fatigued by the conversations that lead me to think I know better than the next person. Anybody out there have any ideas on how we can all change that behaviour? Atheist, agnostics, Theist, Deists, Realists, Nihilists. We all seem to belong to one of these families. Do you think it possible for us all to belong to the human family?

"They had a meeting for functional families and only 2 showed up. They were both in DENIAL"
;)

Reality and Scientific Proof

2009-11-06T09:24:00.002-05:00

So lil Titfortat and lil Luke are playing in the sandlot when all of a sudden Luke steals Tat's shovel. "Jesus Christ Luke, gimme back my shovel". Smack, Luke punches Tat in the arm. "Dont take the Lords name in vain". "Owwwww that really hurt" Tat says as he rubs his arm.
Have you ever noticed how whenever we seem to get hurt we instinctively/intuitively know to rub it to help make the pain go away? It wasnt until recent years that Science has shown the mechanisms behind why this is a fact. My question is, did it take science to make that Truth real? And how many other intuitions or instincts are real but as of yet dont have the Science to verify them. Hmmmmmmmmm.

Saying "Goodbye" to Religion

2009-10-23T17:11:00.002-04:00

I have noticed many Atheists are actually prior Theists. The irony of saying "goodbye" to their former faith is that the term "goodbye" is actually a contraction of "God be with you". Some things you read, really do make you smile.

:)

Blowing Smoke

2009-08-30T18:21:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been at it again. TitforTat with a Christian in regards to religion. Afterwards I had an epiphany. Religion is an awful lot like Smoking. You know that pastime don't ya. Granted about 20% of us knew better and never touched the stuff, but the rest of us tried it out at one point or another. Though we knew it had a poisonous element to it, the social aspect was all too inviting. The first time trying it may have had you choking a little bit, but surprisingly it also had quite the euphoric effect. Very confusing for sure, on one hand toxic and on the other, nurturing. Well for many of us it didnt take long to notice how partaking in it started to affect our health and the health of the ones around us. It was probably this awareness that allowed us to make the break and stop the nasty habit. Unfortunately there is a core percentage of individuals who continue to breath it in. These individuals believe it is their right to do as they please regardless of the noxious fumes it emits to the rest of the population. They are so deeply entrenched in their addiction that they cant see how even a little bit of it damages them and the rest of the population. They have developed communities of like minded people. They gather together in the cold, at parties and even praise it after sex. Im not sure if you can ever cure them of it, as they have invested too much time and would be unwilling to make the change. Even given insurmountable evidence they continue to deny and think that its ok. The best we can do is make it public policy to ensure that the activity is not partaken of in public. Leave it to the private institutions, if they wish to engage in this harmful behaviour, then so be it. I gained this insight after breathing in the Holy Smoke, Oops I mean spirit. Time to have them Butt out of our public lives.

The clockmaker may not exist, but prayer can still help us Tick.

2009-08-12T06:23:00.002-04:00

Now let's get one thing straight. I am not suggesting that you can pray to some unknown deity and have a limb replaced or a dead person resuscitated, but does that mean there is no benefit to prayer? I would say not. There are several ways in which prayer can directly and indirectly help. Afterall the primary reason it can be effective comes directly from a faith perspective.

Hebrews 11

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

For many Christians and I would imagine people of other faiths, prayer is exactly this. They are convicted and truly believe that their words will be heard. And it is in this belief that the wonders can some times happen. We many times see this effect when someone takes a placebo drug. They truly believe that it will be affective and for some reason this helps alter their body chemistry which in turn leads to some types of healing. Science hasnt quite figured out why or how this happens but that shouldnt negate its potential benefit. So I bet you are asking, how can prayer be effective from person to person? Well, again this is based on their faith. If someone truly believes that their G-d will heal them, then obviously the more people that pray for them, the more comforted they become and the potential for them to access their own healing system becomes enhanced. Add to that when being prayed for directly, many times the prayor will lay their hands on the prayed for. The reason for the sometimes benefit is two fold here.

1. Touch affects our central nervous system, releasing feel good and pain relief hormones.(We see this with premature babies, the ones that are touched grow 40% faster)

2. The emotional connection to others who care for you also has a powerful effect. It definately makes you feel loved and cared for, which in turn can lead to healing.

The point of all this is, many Prayers are not only physically beneficial, they are emotionally beneficial as well. So for all you G-dless athiests ;), the next time some one says they would like to pray for you, give it a whirl(regardless if you have faith), you may enjoy the laying on of hands. And here in North America, couldn't we all use a little more touch and caring that doesnt have anything to do with sex.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

Heaven is an Amusement Park

2009-08-04T10:48:00.003-04:00

How could I have been so blind? All these years discussing, thinking and subconsciously waiting for heaven to pop up, little did I know that it is located just north of Toronto, Canada on highway 400. Here we all were, waiting for the joy to begin. Black, white, red, yellow and brown. Young and old, male and female. All faiths gathered together for one thing. FUN, pure unadulterated JOY. Sure there were moments of Nausea, but fortunately the man with the "Jesus will save you tattoo" had some pepto bismol. Also, I could see the fear in the eyes of the Muslim woman covered by her niqab just before we started down the Vortex. I calmly reassured her everthing would be fine and to just be brave for a moment. The next time our eyes met she had tears of joy in them. Her thankful glance warmed my heart. Cousins sat with their nieces and nephews who were afraid, while mom and dad relived their youth on the Behemoth. Even more unbelievable was when the white supremacist had to ride with the black man because his buddies filled the seats and left him odd man out. At the end of that ride they were both hollering and laughing about how great the ride was. Seems in the midst of Joy we forget how to hate. Drop your hat, someone picks it up for you. Lose your balance and there were many to lend you an arm. Laughter and joy were everywhere. And while some cried, there were words of support from others. Sometimes in the midst of our search we fail to see what is directly in front of us.
I guess the Magic Man Jesus nailed it when he said this.

Luke 17:21 (English Standard Version)

nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

Indoctrination.......Practice makes perfect, no perfect practice makes perfect.

2009-07-29T06:07:00.002-04:00

Years ago while watching a martial artist perform I remarked to my sensei how good he was at his kicks. Sensei then states, " No he's not, just watch him carefully". "Ah you are right, he telegraphs his kicks". Sensei then says, "Yes and he's perfect at it". The point he was trying to make is that we can even practice mistakes and get very good at them.
As human beings we all seem to have our own views or perceptions about the world and how it functions. Most of us developed these while we were younger and very impressionable. They typically were given to us by the people closest to us, and unfortunately many of these views have had negative outcomes in our lives. Body image, self esteem, spiritual beliefs, trust, the list goes on. In a sense we were indoctrinated into someone else's perception of the world. I know for myself I learned very early that the world was combative. You had to be tough, fight for yourself, and make sure no one saw your weakness. Unfortunately for years I practiced that belief system and became good at it. It has been a long process of re-training myself but I have slowly become better at another view of the world. One that is more loving, more supportive and friendly. I still hope to one day perfect that belief.

Im curious fellow bloggers, what are you good at?

Boys will be Boys.............

2009-06-25T21:53:00.002-04:00

What does our world say to us. I know as I look at my daughters world she will have to deal with ideas that pertain to whether she is Pretty enough, thin enough, sexy enough. How she navigates this world will ultimately come from her. I hope that I can help with that. Now what does our world say to me and my fellow males? Are you tough enough, big enough, strong enough? The questions and the pressures are no less than our female counterparts, but they are extremely different. I dont remember when I realized that I was being judged by my fellow males about who I was and who I was to be. Early on I saw that there was a pecking order of sorts. If you were bigger and stronger you were the first to be picked for the team. But if you were smaller and weaker you waited, hoping you werent the last to be chosen. Though all may not have experienced the same lesson the feeling is exactly the same. Do you measure up. Because we are more physical by nature(though there are exceptions), early on Boys test other boys. They grapple, poke, prod, tease.......they are attempting to figure out who is the Alpha male. Though we may not all partake in this game, we all do know what is at stake. What is it that makes us play, but more importantly, what is it that takes some to the outer edge ?

Sticks and Stones..................

2009-06-23T15:43:00.003-04:00

Part One

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me."

We all remember this little diddly. Isnt it interesting how wrong it is. Violence is so much more than physicality. Some of the worst violence we know is the type that tore a strip off our spirit. The words of a loved one or rival that hit at our most sensitive part did much more damage than any punch could ever do. I am going to post a series over the next little while on Violence. I am going to try and explore and explain how it has shaped me and my worldview, both for the good and for the bad. I would love to hear from others on their experiences.

HELP, what are the rules?

2009-06-15T22:14:00.002-04:00

So I have been blogging for about a year now and I am wondering are there any rules to abide by? I mean if I get on a blog and someone posts a post, is it fair game to respond to it. Also is it fair game to respond to the responses of that post? Are public posts sometimes private? Should I refrain from leaving a response to a comment about a post in case I may offend the responder to that post? I mean there seems to be so many variables that I'm wondering if someone has the answer. I sometimes feel that I have stepped over some imaginary line and I cant step back. Help me, I've fallen and I cant get up. PLEASE oh Great moderator of the Blogging World, Give me the TRUTH!!!!!

Im Certain of my Uncertainty.

2009-06-11T21:39:00.002-04:00

Grant me the serenity,
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

I accept the fact that I cant know it all. I wish I could. Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? Who/what created me? These questions seem to invade my thoughts on more than one occasion and not only that but I seem to be attracted to people who think they know the answers. Christians, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, it seems there are many people in the know. How do they do it? How do they keep a straight face when saying that "their" belief is the right way? I wonder why so many of us need to know for certain and are not comfortable enough with the mystery that life is. Here's a prayer for all from my daughter and I.

We will win,
Why, we'll tell you why.
Because we have faith, courage and enthusiasm.
G-d, thank you for this day,
bless our mothers and fathers
and help us have another wonderful day tomorrow.
Amen.

We are off! (Almost)

2009-05-22T04:13:00.002-04:00

Great idea!! I think me and the wife will follow Doug and his wife. Rawk, we'll see you in a week.

That really is a F.....g Bear!!

2009-05-12T10:33:00.005-04:00

This post was inspired by my blogging friend Yael. She was reminiscing about things she had done in her life and I decided to share this amusing story. During my teenage years I was heavily involved in wrestling. At one point I was actually pretty good. Mind you in this instance it was obvious that my Testosterone far outweighed my talent. Passing through town one weekend was a small "Wrestling troupe", kind of like a tiny version of WWE. Also included with the so called "real" wrestlers, they had a "wrestling bear" and if anyone out there was brave(stupid) enough they could come up and challenge it. Well this is where I decided that I could take on the bear. I was 15 and chalk full of Bravado and minus a few brain cells. Reminds me of the joke, "Instant Idiot, just add testosterone." So before my rational brain could kick in, I jumped into the ring. There was a hardy round of applause. I guess everyone but me knew what was about to happen. The trainer in the ring informed me about no punching or kicking. Of course I knew that, I was an Olympic wrestler, just the suggestion was offensive. He then proceeded to tell me what the bear could(would) do to me. I was undaunted, afterall I was undefeated up to that point of the year. Well, here I was standing 15 feet away from a real live bear, though it was muzzled and declawed it was quite an imposing figure. My first thought was, "Oh my G-d, thats a fu..... Bear. So here I wade into battle, the bear reaches out with its paw to grab me and Wham it strikes me in the nose. Just as quickly as I realize Im bleeding the freaking thing now has me by the neck and is pulling me quickly to the ground. In my delusional mind I believe I can stop it but I fail to consider that it outweighs me by 300 pounds and quickly I am face down and pinned. The trainer comes over and then gets the beast off of me. Ah the joy of youth. Makes for some lasting impressions to say the least.

We're in Traffic

2009-05-01T10:06:00.002-04:00

So I have been having many discussions with my 12yr old daughter lately and I marvel at how much she has grown. I did get a little wistful of those younger years that seem to pass us by so quickly. I thought I would share this humorous story.

My daughter and I were in the car a while back having a discussion on G-d and the idea of heaven. I remarked that I believe we can create both a heaven and hell on earth and that its not some far away place. I remarked that I thought we were in heaven today. We slowly started coming to a stop because of the backup of traffic. It was at that moment that my daughter said, "No daddy, were not in heaven, we're in Traffic!!" Have a nice day.

Daddy, what is "dirty sex"?

2009-04-22T10:24:00.002-04:00

And here we have it, my introduction into sex education with my daughter. I have been having discussions with my daughter on sexuality and I recently noticed she was a little uncomfortable with me asking the questions, so I invited her to ask me instead. So she then proceeds to go, "Dad, um, ah, well ok I'll just ask...."What is dirty sex?". Im thinking "oh my god, what did you say". I try to keep a straight face, my first thought being, "Have you been talking to Denise" lol. So I bet youre all wondering how I can make this discussion about religion? Well first off, after I recovered from the shock of the question, I had to ask myself where the idea of "dirty sex" came from. I realized that its origins are from religion. Firstly the idea that sex outside of marriage was deemed "sinful" or "evil". It then morphed into certain sexual acts as being "sinful" or dirty. Now obviously there are some sexual acts that are debasing or "dirty" so to speak, but in the context of a loving relationship why do we still use the phrase "dirty sex" when describing our sex life? It is not only the religious who use this phrase, I hear it from just as many secular people as well. The great thing about my daughters question is that it naturally evolved into discussing such things as Trust, Commitment, Love, Safety and many other issues that help us to have healthy relationships that involve sexuality. I hope for my daughter that she has all options available to her, including abstinence. All are tools that can help her navigate the world of sexuality and relationships. I will remind you though, when talking with your children be prepared for what they may ask. "Out of the mouth of babes"

Which way do you swing?

2009-04-14T14:17:00.005-04:00

I recently have been having some interesting discussions on Homosexuality and Sin as viewed from the Christian perspective on Nakedpastor.com It got me thinking about how we used to view people who are left handed. Now back in the day of my parents and before, it was viewed in a negative light. It seems much of this viewpoint was taken because of Biblical material. It seems that many positive references are given to right handed people, e.g. "The right hand of the lord doeth valiantly, the right hand of the lord is exalted" (Psalm 118 vv15,16). Also the left is commonly held with disdain as noted by this, "The left hand does worst in the parable of the sheep and goats. The sheep are set on Christ's right hand and the goats on the left. Those on the right inherit the kingdom of god while those on the left depart into everlasting fire". For years the Nuns tried to "correct" people who were left handed because of the misguided belief that there was something wrong with them. Now fortunately we have grown in our understanding of the brain and how genetic predispositions work. Unfortunately it doesnt seem to hold true for some Christians in regards to Homosexuality. They still hold firm to the idea that it is a "Sin" to be gay and that it is some kind of character flaw. They seem to disregard the evidence that is pointing to the genetic markings of gay people. A gay person is no different than a heterosexual individual other than their brain has them attracted to the same sex. I wonder if it is a wiring, like that of a "Left" handed individual. If so, how can that be considered bad? I hope for the day when people can view other individuals like a Baseball coach/manager would view rookies at spring training.

Rookie: "I bat right"
Coach: "Very good Son"

Rookie: "I bat left"
Coach: "You will have a unique role on this team."

Rookie: "Im a switch hitter."
Coach: "Oh my God, you are Divine."

Bloody Cross, Bloody mess: Making sense of the senseless

2009-03-31T08:57:00.004-04:00

Have you ever had the feeling that everything is going to work out just fine? You know, the sense that in the midst of your pain it will all come together for good. I know that sense, that feeling. It doesnt happen very often but when it does it just feels, well, for lack of a better word, Divine. I get this sense that this is exactly what the Jesus story is about. More than being a story of bloody sacrifice it is a story of "knowing" that everything will work out fine. The story doesnt deny pain or try to gloss over the struggle. What it does do for me is acknowledge that in the midst of this pain we can be different. We can rise above our pettiness, hurts, anger and resentments. The story shows a man who has almost complete confidence in the fact that in the grand scheme of things, he's OK. He is willing to show us by example how to live our lives and then with the ultimate conviction he is willing to die for it. He has figured out that there is an eternal life, that there is more than what we can see or touch. Now remember there are some moments when the doubt creeps in, afterall he is human like you or I. Yet in his awareness of safety he is able to rise above those doubts and show us another way. In the story we see someone care for others, love his enemies, take part in our struggles. And while doing all of this not allowing himself to partake in the nastiness that this life can also offer. I see so often in this world, people who are committed to seeing life from its painful parts, in the Jesus story I see one who decided to see the good parts and acknowledge that we do have life abundantly even when our bodies die.

Coexist: Does the moderate voice fan the flames of the extremist mind?

2009-03-25T11:19:00.007-04:00

Islam and Christianity, the two main religions of the world. At the heart of both there is no idea of Coexistence. In fact both are pretty explicit in that, both the believers and non-believers will be divided. Now I know the moderate voices from both try their best to Coexist, but are they being honest with themselves? It may be the extremist who speaks loudest in regards to division. We all know the words, "saved, damned, heathen, infidel" and it is painfully obvious that it is a "Us vs Them" mentality. Yet it seems the moderate voice does not acknowledge the roots of their religious faith. In fact by avoiding the obvious nature of division of what they believe, do they not fuel the flames of the extremist mind? I will acknowledge that the more liberal voices can be heard espousing love and community, but while this is happening the extremist is spewing hatred and division. The interesting thing is, they both garner their views from the same book(Bible/Koran), depending on the faith. I think it needs to be asked, "If your core is the same, is the message of Coexistence possible?" It seems the house is burning yet no one is willing to stand up and yell "FIRE"

Tithe or Tip....What would Jesus do?

2009-03-14T06:58:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day here in Ottawa. My awesome wife and I decided to go for a walk in the market. We stopped by a favourite pub of ours to have a pint and do some people watching. We had the pleasure of being served by a wonderful hostess named Angela. Before she returned with our drinks we talked about how friendly she was and how it seemed that this person had a pretty hard life. We all talked when she got back and found out she was 27yrs old with 11 and 6yr old boys. There was no mention of a father and we got the impression she was going at it alone. She was joyous with all people who came in. A treat for sure. We decided to give this women a great tip for the goodness she shared with us. This led the wife and I into a discussion on Tithing and Jesus. We thought that Jesus was a man of the people. He would frequent market places, share his heart with others and give all that he could to make his immediate world better. His humanity was evidenced not by being in a Church and giving his Tithe. It could be seen by the very fact that he was a man of the people and for the people. When Christians sit in a pew and listen to someone preach on how G-d expects them to give 10% of there salary, does anyone actually get to see where most of that money goes? Over 80% of it is used to take care of the expenses of the Church. Heating, hydro, salaries, maintenance. The bulk of the money is used to finance a structure. Now who is this for? Are the people who are starving or just making ends meet getting the bulk of this money. NO WAY. The wife and I were given an opportunity this day to see how our sharing can actually make someone elses world a better place. Sure we didnt get the band and singers, we didnt get an inspirational story from a preacher, we didnt get to hear how G-d will bless us with abundance. What we did get, was our hearts warmed and our spirits lifted knowing we shared something with a fellow human.

I think Jesus would have been a BIG TIPPER.

The Sins of the Fathers(Generational Crap)

2009-03-06T09:25:00.002-05:00

A famous Greek had a quote that was borrowed from the Old Testament that I believe has a profound truth in it. Though it may not have been written with this idea initially.

"The gods visit the sins of the fathers upon the children."
Euripides, Phrixus
Greek tragic dramatist (484 BC - 406 BC)

Now we all are aware that passed down from generation to generation is the genetic makeup of our families. Blue/Brown eyes, Blond/Red hair, Tall/short etc. But more importantly, passed down, is the emotional baggage that we as humans fail to deal with. These lingering hurts, resentments, and remorse are the "Sins" that end up haunting our children. Now it is true that we cannot shield our children from all the pains in life, but we do have a huge impact on what we give them. Im sure that we have all had that "Eureka" moment while watching or listening to our children do something and realize exactly where it comes from. Not only is it their behaviours or postures, but many times it is exactly the fears and pains that we have not come to grips with. Failure to deal with our own pain guarantees that our children will experience not only their own traumas, but ours as well. If we truly want the best for our children then doesnt that automatically mean we need to do the best for ourselves? So does it not behoove us to deal with our own "baggage" first and then help our children with theirs? My challenge to all of us is this. Break the chain, BE WELL.

How long is TOO long?

2009-02-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

Well it seems the days are getting longer and as we all know spring and summer are just around the corner. Now for most of us that just means the weather gets nicer, the air is warmer, flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining and everything is just more colourful. But there is a dilemma that faces every man come springtime, and that would be the new clothing or lack there of worn by most women. You see, men seem to be more hardwired to the visual than women do. So every year I approach spring and summer with both excitement and trepidation. I know without a doubt I will be presented with some very stunning visual disturbances along my otherwise peaceful day. Now let me get one thing straight. My wife is a damn fine looking woman, and I am very much in love(lust) with her, its just that nature has implemented this system that has my eyes being diverted on occasion. Its interesting that it also seems that the women of the world are quite aware of this predicament and do their very best to feed this insatiable beast. I am very hard pressed to think that every woman dresses for themselves or other woman. Its not like the whole of the female species is gay. So obviously the intent is for us. They want us to look. The delicate touches put there to accentuate all the right curves is obvious. Other than having a neon light above, it seems to scream out, "Hey, take a look at this". Now here is my question for both the men and women out there.

How Long is TOO Long??

What would the Teenage Jesus do?

2009-02-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

I do not think Jesus ever directly said he did not sin, this seems to have been implied by other writers. So with that said,I have always wondered about the teenage Jesus. We know so little about this man's life. Most information is based on his final 3yrs of mortal existence and a few references to him as a child. But what happened when the testosterone hit? He is supposed to be fully human, so how do you think he handled the hormone surges? Afterall we do know he did express anger as an adult(righteous or not). So what do you think was on his mind when he was checking out the nice looking Jewish girls? I can just imagine if he was fully human he might have joked to his friends, "check out those melons".

Equality the aim? Guess again!

2009-02-12T06:29:00.000-05:00

It has been many years since the beginning of the feminist movement. And though it has made many gains it still has a way to go. In the past it was obvious that women were treated as inferiors. They were paid less than a man, yet did the equal amount and quality of work. In divorce cases they were usually left with the short end of the stick. Before legalized abortion, womens lives were threatened with back room abortions. Its impressive how far we've come as a culture. There is still room for improvement though, and not all of it is in regards to equality for women. There is a voice out there that is not being heard. This voice is that of the genuine father. It is true that a womans body is her own, yet in the event of her becoming pregnant it is forgotten that it took someone else for this to occur. What happens to the father of a fetus(child) that is about to be aborted? His voice is not heard, the determination is left solely up to the woman. Is this fair or equal treatment? There are good men out there that are left in an emotional wasteland because their concerns are not being heard. They are helpless, and yet this is considered the way it should be. Another example is in the case of child support, when it was clearly agreed upon that the couple would not have a child. If the woman then decides to change her mind and get pregnant without the consent of the father, he is then legally required to pay support. Is this fair? Is this not a similar type of oppression that women faced years ago? In both these instances the father has no rights, he is at the mercy of the woman. Is this a type of inequality that we want our culture to promote? If inequality is not right for women, how can it be right for men? Lastly in the event of a divorce, typically it has been the woman who gets primary custody. Now I know this has changed drastically in the past decade, but it still has room for improvement. We should not judge all fathers based on the ones who are negligent. There are many good, upstanding men who want equal treatment in the rearing of their children. It is a common mistake to assume that women make better nurturers than fathers. My hope is that we are treated as equals in all areas. The truth is, there are good and bad apples in both genders.

They may be rights, but are they right?

2009-02-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

I've recently been discussing fertility treatments and potential limits on it. The conversation then ventured into abortion and women's rights and their bodies. In the news there was a woman who bore 8 children do to fertility treatments, she also already has 6 children. The comment I responded to was that maybe this woman has mental issues and that potentially, fertility treatments should be legislated and limited. I remarked, "if that was the case, shouldnt abortion then be held to the same standard?" My example was a woman who had 10 abortions and was unwilling to practice safe sex and would continue to use abortion as a means of birth control. This example is just as ridiculous and potentially harmful as the woman who now has 14 children. Both are extreme examples of abusing certain "rights". My question is, "Is it right that women have complete control over what they do with their bodies?"

Egad, Im a Polygamist!!

2009-02-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

Let me explain how this came to be. I have been married for 4 yrs and recently I've discovered that I am actually married to 4 different women.

Wife #1

Ah the wife who laughs at all my jokes. The one who thinks I'm the best thing since sliced bread. This wife allows me to be king(temporarily that is). The passion we have knows no bounds. We are in sync emotionally, intellectually and physically. WOW the freaking SEX is awesome.

Wife #2

She is somewhat more sensitive. I tread ever so lightly with my remarks. Though she is still very connected to me, the link is not quite as strong. I now know that we make LOVE, not so much have SEX. My jokes have lost some of their luster. All in all we are still very connected but I am aware that I need to watch my behaviour more closely. I'm soooo confused, whats happening??

Wife #3

Well now, Attila the Hun has nothing on this lady. Watch what you say or its "Off with your Head". Her glare strikes fear in my heart. Jokes, what's that? Life is serious business. I suggest we take a DEEP BREATH, Uh Oh.................

Wife #4

I now have my nurturing hat on. I summon all my strength to be the most Loving husband I can. Usually I fail miserably as I can't even begin to fathom the changes she endures. Whew thank god I'm a Man. "Wahhhhhh, you never understand, I wish you could feel what I feel". Oops sorry honey, I'll go get a chick flick.

I can't imagine having more than 4 wives. ;)

The Feminists that informed my world, didnt need to burn their Bras

2009-01-26T09:12:00.000-05:00

I think back to the early women in my life. Though life may not have always treated them fairly or equally, it didnt matter, they rose above that and took life on its terms and made it wonderful for all of their loved ones(which included friends and neighbours). The 3 women I am going to pay Homage to all had a profound impact on my life, here are a few words about each one of them.

1. Granny: this is how we all remember her. A woman who lived through the depression, 2 world wars and countless other challenges in life. She usually brought love and strength to the people in her life. When her husband was away at war she ran the house, as well as working in the factory to insure a good income for her family. She was a strong woman who let you know where the line was and not to cross it. Though we all respected her, none of us feared her, because along with her strength came an incredible amount of Love. I never heard her complain, even as the arthritis ravaged her body. She always had a place for her children and grandchildren and she was as loyal as they come. Her life sure wasnt perfect but in no way did she think it was unfair to her. She is the first of the feminists I have known.

2. Auntie Joyce: Ever wish you had a second mother? Well I was fortunate enough to have one. She is another incredibly strong woman, mind you its no wonder considering who her mother was. When we were young boys we had chance to watch a woman physically work along side her husband and build a cottage for her family. She would wrestle with us and kick our butts. No chance that we would beat this "girl", she was just too tough. At 60yrs old she joked with me that she could still take me out. I looked in her eyes and remembered thinking, maybe she could, lol. On top of keeping us in check, Auntie Joyce gave us incredible amounts of Love and Nuturing. We are blessed.

3. My Mommy: This is how my brother and sister referred to her. I remember in Highschool my brother and I calling her mommy and some friends went to tease us, after the look they got from my brother they quickly stopped. Life definately wasnt fair to my Mom, though she married and had 3 healthy children, life then showed how unequal it can sometimes be. At 30 her husband died, leaving her alone to raise 3 young children. Over the years we have watched the ultimate feminist. She went back to school obtaining a Masters Degree all the while raising her family and working. She was caregiver, income provider, educator, peacemaker, but mostly she was Mommy. The challenges my mother has had were always met with resolve and dignity. She is a shining example of how one can respond to the inequities of life. The people in her life have been blessed by her presence. This poem is for you Mom.

"All the endless days and nights, you watched me grow
Trying to show me and have me say no
It seemed I learned nothing or not quite enough
But the greatest gift you gave me
You taught me how to love
And for that I thank you."

Who would have imagined? A secular man enjoying a Scriptural world.

2009-01-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine was curious how someone who grew up in a secular world could be so interested in discussing Religion and Scripture. I never really gave it much thought, I just assumed everyone would be interested. LOL, boy was I wrong. I grew up without any religious views on the world. As a family we never went to church or synagogue or mosque. There were never discussions on God, nor were there any on what may have started the universe as we know it. But looking back I see that my family has an inate sense of Spirituality. I think I have always known in my heart that there is a creative driving force. I just dont buy into any one belief. What draws me to reading and discussing scripture is that its essence is more about how to live life. The people who have penned these wonderful writings are just like you and I. They have experienced what we are experiencing in our lives, and in many instances they have excellent ideas on how to deal with them. Even the times when they didnt deal well with their situations, we can learn from that also. The Poetic nature of these writings has also been a pull for me. It speaks of the Humaness of us all that we try to find practical and creative ways to deal with our "not knowing". We all seem to have a rhythm that our hearts beat to, what your "choice" of music is depends on your spirit, just remember though, its all of us that are playing the instruments.

"Truth is one, the Sages speak of it by many names"

When pain knocks at the door, is it a welcome guest?

2009-01-20T04:35:00.000-05:00

Do you ever notice how most of us try to avoid painful stuff without necessarily taking a look at whats happening and what purpose it may serve. I have been having several discussions lately and the common theme is how to avoid pain. Isnt the focus of most of our spiritual and Ideological beliefs based on this idea. Christianity and other religions enforce the idea if you have the right belief you will avoid eternal pain. Communism tends to be based on the belief that we can avoid the pain of being taken advantage of if we all work together equally. Life has this Dual element to it(Pain and Pleasure). I think back to my youth, I was a small kid, I grew up in a violent enviroment. One aspect that came out of those painful times is that I became physically stronger. I developed the strength to not only protect myself but I now have the ability to protect my Loved ones. Had I not had those early experiences this would not be the case. Many of our artists creations are born of despair. Poetry, music, Art and countless other ideas came from pain, without it they would not have materialized. A blogging friend(Yael) has pointed out on several occasions that part of who we are includes our painful parts. Without them we would not be who we are. Now I am not saying to enjoy the pain(unless youre a masochist lol), but the point is dont try to avoid it, learn from it. So with that said, when my crusty old friend comes knocking I think I will invite him in and ask "What do you have to teach me today"

Just Wondering?

2009-01-13T23:06:00.000-05:00

I was thinking. In the midst of a really good orgasm, do you think an Atheist yells, "Oh my God, Dont stop, Im coming"

What does it take?............Effort.

2009-01-06T08:58:00.000-05:00

We all wonder what makes a great relationship. The common belief is that if we just find the "right" person, our "soul mate" everything will work out fine. The truth is that all our relationships require effort. It is an effort to communicate, compromise and on the really challenging days just plain getting along is tough. I love the feeling of being in "Love", I like the high, just as Im sure most of us do. But is that what a real relationship is about? I think the feeling is more about nature making sure that we procreate. The real relationship begins when that "high" becomes more moderate. It is in that frame that we need some Effort. This post is for all those people who Love, and in their Love they hopefully show it with their Effort. Somedays I need that reminder too.

The two of us are one of a kind

A combination aint easy to find

Why do I get a feeling from you

Things aint right?

Do you need something new?

Knowing how both of us live

Leaves us so little to give

If I could grow wingsI would do anything

Just to keep you with me

Cant you see?

If I could fly high

I would give you the sky

Dont you make that mistake

What does it take?

It's not like I've been mean to you

Its not like I've got something better to do

The life I live you'll never understand

If you fly with me we'd never have to land

Its easy to live hard and fast

But inside we know it wont last

Oh yeahhhhhhh

Knowing how both of us live

Leaves us so lilttle to giveYeahhhhhh

What does it take?

Who's playing....Who cares?......Why extreme atheism and religion dont sound right!

2009-01-03T10:21:00.000-05:00

Do you ever notice how the extremes of atheism and religion seem to be so rooted in structure. Its like they are both filled by people who crave rules, regulations and verifiable outcomes. It reminds me so much of people who, while listening to music, miss the rhythm because their so focused on how it was made.

Me: Hey guys want to hear an awesome song?

Religionist: Isnt it amazing the blessing God has bestowed on his Musicians, we should be thankful.

Atheist: Ah cut the crap,We should be thankful that these people are disciplined and hardworking to take the time to learn the notes and how to play the instruments.

Me: I find it incredible how sometimes music can be so comforting and soothing.

Atheist: Thats because when the sound hits your eardrum it creates a physiological response in your brain that in turn causes a release of Serotonin and Endorphins that calm your central nervous system.

Religionist: Oh here we go again. How can you not see that it is actually the spirit of God entering your body and helping to create the peace on earth that believers are born to have.

Me: What about when the music is a little more raucous and it makes me more lively and full of energy.

Religionist: Oh you may want to be careful, depending on the music, that could be the work of the Devil. You know how he uses that rock stuff to gain entry.

Atheist: Is it just me or is he nuts? Actually the response caused by that type of music is usually just a release of adrenalin or in the case of young guys probably Testosterone lol.

Religionist: Stop trying to deny the presence of the Lord.

Atheist: Stop smoking those funny cigarettes.

Me: Whooooa Boys. Why dont you guys just put a cork in it. You do realize that most of us just like to,

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

Heres a Vid I hope you all Love. Watch Jeff go, some people dont need to be able to read it, they just get it. Oh and for all the Purists out there, sometimes the remake is better than the original.

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps

I look at the floor and I see it need sweeping

Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you how to unfold your love

I don't know how someone controlled you

they bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning

While my guitar gently weeps

With every mistake we must surely be learning

Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know how you were diverted

you were perverted too

I don't know how you were inverted

no one alerted you

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps,

I look at you all

Still my guitar gently weeps

Shouldnt the question be, Why Evil, not How?

2008-12-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

I wonder if it is possible to take a look at the early beliefs of Christianity and be Logical? I find it interesting that the basis for "Original Sin" is taken from a Jewish story and Jews dont believe in Original Sin. So lets see what Adam and Eve are guilty of.

Genesis 2:16-17

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

So let me get this straight, if Adam hasnt eaten from the tree yet, how can he have any knowledge of good and evil? It seems to me he is being judged while not having been given the proper skills to know the difference. That seems blatantly unfair. But lets back up for one minute. Adam is doing ok, but God thinks he should have a playmate, obviously God would know if Adam is lonely(so much for perfection in the company of God), so Eve is now created. Now again I would like to point out, these 2 individuals are with God in a Garden of perfection, they have everything they need, BUT they desire something more, even though they were explicitly told not to take it.

Genesis 3:2-3

"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

So here we have God saying dont touch this tree or you will die, but how in the world can we expect them to understand the consequence of that act if they still dont have the knowledge of Good and Evil? Isnt that the same as telling a baby to not do something without giving them the skills to understand why? Now even more shocking than not having the proper information on Good and Evil, it also seems God created them with desire for something other than what they have. Wow this is pretty Logical so far.

Ok now it gets really Freaky. Here come the Christians to add something to the story that wasnt in the original, because of what Adam and Eve have done, all the successive generations of humans will be blamed for it, hence "Original Sin". So let me get this straight, because of something my great, great, great........grandfather did(who by the way, didnt understand why it was wrong), I now get blamed for it also. I have no choice in the matter, I am guilty by default. Doesnt this logic get more impressive as we go? This interpretation of the story and its affects on people who believe(and indirectly the ones who dont) is just so profoundly Unjust.

But wait it now gets even more "Logical". Jesus is now to be the "messiah" that the Jews foretold of and he would take the stain of original sin and save us all. Forget the fact that the Jews dont believe it, it becomes Logical because Christians say it is. The really interesting part about this is, not only is Jesus the Messiah, hes also God incarnate. At this moment I think we may want to back up a little bit. The original story concerning the Messiah has no reference to him being "God Incarnate" in fact, this is Blasphemous to the Authors and followers of the 1st story. So here we have one group of people, taking another groups story and then re-telling it the way they think it should be read, regardless if that is not the way it was intended!

This is sooooo convoluted. Mind you I never was very Logical.

So let me get back to the title of the post. Do any of us "know" why Evil seems to be present in the world? I dont need to know the "How"

Crystal Ball, Crystal Clear? For those of us who like the Question.

2008-12-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

This post was inspired by my internet friend Doug at Freestyle road trip. Ive recently been following several blogs that seem to have similar threads. It seems the whole bunch of us are all wondering the same thing and with that wonder we all seem to profess to have a crystal ball, or at least the desire to get one. Its funny reading from atheists, Jews, Christians, Deists and many more, that we all have the same wish. To at least have a glimpse of what its all about. This song is for Doug and his Mid life questions. Happy 40th Doug.

I used to like to walk the straight and narrow line

I used to think that everything was fine

Sometimes Id like to sit and gaze for days through sleepless dreams

All alone and trapped in time

I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me

Or am I even in its mind at all

Perhaps Ill get a chance to look ahead and see

Soon as I find myself a crystal ball

Tell me, tell me where Im going

I dont know where Ive been

Tell me, tell me, wont you tell me

And then tell me again

My heart is breaking, my bodys aching

And I dont know where to go

Tell me, tell me, wont you tell me

Ive just got to know

Crystal ball

Theres so many things I need to know

Crystal ball

Theres so many things Ive got to know,

Crystal ball

Are we so Bad that we need to be Saved?

2008-12-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

After several recent conversations, it got me thinking(again). Are we really such bad people that we need to be "Saved". I mean ,like really, do the majority of us continually do crappy stuff to each other, everyday all day long? I like to think that my fellow Human has just as many Good moments as they do bad, and if that is the case then why do many Christians feel the need to see themselves as inherently bad? Im wondering fellow bloggers, do you see yourselves as inherently bad or good?
Hope you like the vid. ;)

Respect or Fear?

2008-11-25T10:53:00.000-05:00

Fight, fight were the words everyone was yelling. I hurriedly rushed to the center of the crowd of students. It was I who was to do combat. I was a skinny little kid, my opponent was older and bigger. I was terrified! We both jockeyed for position and then wham it hit me. A direct punch to my head, rather than thinking that hurt, my first thoughts were. "Mark hits a lot harder than you do". It was at that moment I knew I would punish my foe. I made him pay for my pain and suffering that had been doled out to me for years. The crowd took notice. For weeks afterwards I was congratulated and revered for my punching prowess. It was at that moment that my delusion began, I now thought I was Respected but little did I know that it was only Fear. Fear that I may do that to one of them. It took me years to realize the error of my thinking, but in that time I hurt many an opponent not realizing the one I hurt the most was myself. I am healthier now than ever before, but every once in a while I want people to respect me and the old me creeps back into my thoughts. Thank God I have matured ;)

I have been thinking lately about the religious Gods that most of us pray to. Do we Respect them because of their Loving aspects or is it actually because we fear the repercussions if we dont. It seems to me the concept of Jesus was that he layed his life down for us, as any Loving parent would. I understand that sacrifice as I would do anything for my daughter. In fact if need be I could sacrifice my life for her. The thing is the concept that Jesus illustrates seems to have been perverted. There was a time Im sure when people saw the idea and new it was about Love, but now it seems most have learned to attribute fear to it. Fear that you will not be included unless you do as God says. Fear that you will be punished if you dont do the right thing, believe the right thought. I understand those fears. I understand completely from both sides, they are not born of Respect.

Tell me, do you Respect your God or Fear it?

A(absent).. D(dad)... D(disease)

2008-11-03T14:12:00.000-05:00

"Hello Mrs. T, as you know little Johnny sure does have a lot of energy, hes curious, active, and quite talkative, he must be quite a handful at home." "I know, his Dad died young and Im finding Im just not up to the things he would love to do." "I totally understand, its a good thing hes the only boy in the class without a father, Im not so sure I could handle too many boys with that kind of energy."

So many years have passed since I was that age. I am saddened to see that there are many more boys who have to live with what I did. Now not all fathers have died, and this is what makes it even more tragic. Some just dont care enough to be active participants in their sons life, and others, because of their situations are denied their rights as fathers. What these situations are doing is creating a generation of drugged up kids(Ritalin). Now I know what I am suggesting is controversial but I think we need to ask ourselves, "are the boys of today physiologically challenged because of Nature or because of Nurture(lack of men)?" I know that how I respond to the world is very different than how my female counterparts respond. I also know that as a male if we are not allowed to express our inherent natures then it will surely come out in some other dysfunctional manner. This nature has to be nurtured not only by our mothers but most importantly by our fathers. How we as boys learn to traverse the road from boyhood to manhood is lead primarly from our fathers.

Now I have these questions, In the pursuit of equality for Women have we unintentionally discriminated against our boys? Has the pendulum swung too far in the opposite direction? Are we feminizing are boys?

What kind of Christian are you?

2008-10-22T14:12:00.000-04:00

I got this idea after reading a Post written by an internet friend(Jason) at Societyvs.wordpress.com, he wrote the post for de-conversion.com. From what I have gathered by reading the blogs of Jason I would consider him a good man. He has many admiral qualities and is respectful and polite. In my opinion he exemplifies the goodness that Christianity can offer. Now dont get me wrong, there is much in that religion that causes strife and discord, but as I read the bulk of his words I would make the claim that he uses it for the betterment of his life and others. As I have been reading a lot on Christianity lately, I have come to the conclusion there is no real definitive description for what a Christian is. It seems that there are countless interpretations and viewpoints on what it means to be Christian.

Catholic, presbyterian, pentecostal, baptist, Universalist, liberal, conservative, evangelical.........and the list goes on. It seems everyone decides to cherry pick scripture and work their beliefs around that. Sure there may be some points that most agree on, but really its a hodge podge, as Im sure it is with all religions. So I have decided to be Christian, and in the following few paragraphs I will show you what I am going to base my beliefs on. They will all be Bible Based though. Here goes.

1. 1 John 4:16 (English Standard Version)

16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

I think that this is as good a starting point as any, if there is a Creator Im sure it would be Loving. Afterall Im a parent and I love my kids too.

2. John 12:32 (English Standard Version)

32And I,when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

You gotta love this one. From the mouth of Jesus. Hes going to take care of Everybody. I mean damn, we dont have to worry about faith vs works, sprinkled or dunked, Evangelical vs Catholic. Its like WOW, were all ok.

3. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (English Standard Version)

21but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Use that brain.How can we not expect things to make sense, I mean like, really, who here isnt going to research something after thinking, "man that just doesnt make sense." It sure helps when you read all those Nasty scriptures and realize a Loving creator would never do that kind of shit. This scripture has really helped me see how many people actually try to use the Bible for there own purposes( go figure).

4. Galatians 6:7-10

Galatians 6:7-10 (English Standard Version)

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Damn, you reap what you sow. Its like who/whatever made this Universe had a format. If you do certain behaviours or actions, they will come back to you. Now thats just freaking genius! I believe its the old adage "what goes around, comes around idea". I am sure we can all relate to that one, especially if you have Kids.

5. Matthew 7:1-5

Judging Others 1"Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Firstly this one is for all you "nice" Christians who are going to jump all over me for Cherry Picking, I hope none of you live in glass houses. On a second note, couldnt we all live by this one. And if we did, do we not "know" the world would be much much better.

I wrote this to show how if I wanted, I could be Christian too. I would be no different than anyone else who reads the bible and trys to inform his/her life by it. The "FACT" is you cant live the bible 100% literally, anyone who believes they can is at best delusional, at worst Homicidal.

Im not sure if most people know this, but the term Christian was first used as a slur. I see how that has come full circle as many, many people who have had terrible experiences with the faith now see it the same. For all the people hurt by the assholes of the religion, just remember, they are not real Christians, LOL Oops.

Grace........We all could use a little of that.

2008-10-20T14:03:00.000-04:00

Though I do not consider myself Christian as I dont believe Jesus to be God, I am still in awe of many of the writings attributed to the Bible and its writers. One such writer has talked greatly on something called "Grace". What a beautiful concept, isnt that something we all wish we would get once in a while?" Havnt we all screwed up so badly we just wish someone would say "Dont worry is all right?" I love it when my wife tells me she loves me and forgives my bull.... I think St. Paul rambles on about how such an idea of "Grace" is applied, but hey, I forgive him.

Enjoy the vid.........It pretty much sums up Grace for me.

Duality, Whats up with that?

2008-10-09T12:09:00.000-04:00

Man/Woman, Happy/Sad, Good/Bad, Night/Day........Im sure we've all noticed how everything in this world seems to have its opposite. If man did not have woman he would cease to exist, just as woman would without man.Our bodies require both positive and negative ions for nervous input. Its without a doubt necessary for everything in this world to have an opposite for the continuation of life as we know it. My question is, why do you think that is? I would love to hear from Philosophers, Scientists and just plain old folks who think they have the reason. Then lets see where that takes us. By the way try to limit the quoting of Scriptures of any faiths, Im looking more at how your own brain works it.

Heres a couple of Videos that pretty much show our Dual Natures. Hope you enjoy.