That 4-Letter Word

Hate – yup, that one.  I have seen it off and on my entire life.  However, now I see it a bit differently. Here’s why:

This last election was a very temper-driven one, as Shakespeare said, “Full of Sound and fury, signifying nothing” (Macbeth, I believe).

I look at our nation right now and I don’t see that much has changed.  It is just as anger-filled as it was with Pres, Obama.  People think that his 8 years were directed toward peace and some tenderness.  They, apparently, weren’t listening to the shouting going on behind the scenes, the Republicans who were very unhappy with the results of the presidency.  Even now, those words ring out.

And for those now screaming about the Republicans and Obama rip, don’t forget the “quiet, calm” Democrats screaming and yelling and starting fights at Republican conventions.  Don’t forget all the hate-filled words tossed out now at the current president, Donald Trump.  Yes, all that has changed is the sides.  Hate still reigns.

Not totally what I was going to write about, but I do let my words go where they might.  This all stemmed from a very emotional TED talk:  Revolutionary Love .

You watch all 22 minutes and see if she doesn’t make you either tear up or, at least, think about the way it all is.  Hate is not much of an answer.

I said it started with the TED talk, but what really did it was another wonderful dating site wonder.  Here, I had another woman who wrote tons of wonderful stuff, things I was interested in, a person I wanted to know.  Then, her last line in her profile:

“If you voted for Trump, pass me by.”

I don’t remember if I actually did it, but I know I really thought about writing her back and saying, “Please change your profile and put the last line first.  You will waste less of my time.”

What angered me was not that she did not want to go out with Trump supporters.  That is as much her right as mine to date younger women or non-BBWs.  Both are fine.  So are older women and BBWs.  I have said this.  It is just a preference.  My statement may have sounded the same.  I ask that if you are older or BBW you know that you might not be my preference, however, I have spoken to and been interested in both.  People are people.  You cannot make a blanket statement.  I put those preferences in there because if I decide to meet an older woman or a BBW, then I want to be the one to choose.  I do see that either can be a very wonderful, beautiful person whom I would be lucky to know and, perhaps, even luckier to date.  But I just don’t want to be inundated with them in my inbox.  Let me look and decide on my own. I feel the same for the women who do not wish to date someone who voted for Trump – your choice.

However, that is not the problem here.  The problem is that I mention that there is nothing inherently wrong with BBWs or older women (at least, I try to make that effort).  The women who I read who do not want to see a Trump voter do not acknowledge that a person who supports or voted for President Trump can be a worthwhile person.  They, basically, hate anyone who voted for him.  I have said many times that I don’t fully agree with President Trump’s stands/views.  I do support LBGTQ.  I am fine with single-sex marriages. I am not in favor of just sending all refugees back to their countries (though, if you read, Trump isn’t either).  I have problems with a lot of his stands.  However, I did not want Ms. Clinton at the helm of our country.  It was something I could not support.  And, after watching Donald Trump overcome such odds in the Primary, I felt he would be our best chance of keeping her out.  Do I hate Hilary?  No…I don’t hate anyone.  I just think her agenda does not go well with an America that is what I wish to see in America.  Is President Trump’s vision mine?  No.  But, I think we will survive his presidency better.  It was a matter of degrees.  That is what I wish people would see in place of just hate.

Hate is filling our streets.  We are angry at so much and taking it out on any target we are given that is deemed acceptable by someone we believe in.  Hate.  A four-letter word.  I hope (another 4 letter word) that we will set the hate aside and go more in the direction of Love (yet another).  Be the change…Ghandi was right.  We had to do it.  No one else may.

Namaste,

Scott

Perhaps, the Time for Worry is Now…

It takes a lot to worry me anymore. The stroke miraculously removed the ability for me to excessively worry. That’s been good. Now, I have been “concerned” with this mess between US and Russia. I don’t even fully understand it. However, it has begun to worry me as a FB article says that our attack on a Syrian air force base is one step from clashing with Russia, even though we warned Russia and all of their troops were removed from the affected area. This animated article shows me what even my stroke-enhanced brain could not ignore.

Nuclear Weapons Now

Namaste, (Always remember God is with us)

Scott

Centering Our Trust

Source: Google search – licensed for reuse Click pic for page

I have to admit that I got a bit frightened today (truth be told, I still am, just a little).  “Why” do you ask?  I spend a decent portion of my morning looking at various news clips on the Net.  Tonight, I watched TV (Fox News) with my Dad for over an hour.  I did not sleep well last night, so I am just, shall we say, a bit frazzled and worse for wear.  Still, here is some of the news over the past few days:

1)  Two trains collided in another country.

2)  Miss (one of the States) had her crown removed because, even though she was honest, they say “now” that she will be too old at the end of the year.

3)  Parts of the government want impeachment proceedings to begin against Obama.

4)  Two students had made plans for a massive school shooting.

5)  Thousands of immigrants from Mexico are flooding into the US – we aren’t sure what to do with them.

6)  A man is going to be tried for killing his own child (baby) by leaving him in a sweltering hot car for seven hours.

7)  Miley Cyrus is, apparently, losing her appeal to today’s crowd.

8)  The fight is still going on hard even after the Hobby Lobby decision on birth control coverage.

9)  Severe Storms are all over.

10)  A man was attacked by a shark.

11)  Truckers are “rolling coal” in protest.

12)  The war-like problems in both Russia and Iraq.

These are just the ones I could recall in about 10 minutes without going back and looking.  I know there are many more.  I also know bad news sells more than good news.  However, the deal is it began to seem to me we are losing control all over the globe.  The world of man seems to be falling apart and we seem to be helping it along.

Then I began to think.  I began to ask the question of where to center my trust.  This is not a plea to anyone to alter their beliefs; I simply want to tell how I deal with it all.  For the most part, I am very calm and fairly rational.  I don’t tend to worry a lot, especially since my stroke.  But I did tonight; I lost my focus on trust.

I do believe in God.  I don’t really see God in the same way that organized religions do.  For one thing, I don’t see God as judgmental.  I also don’t see man as particularly sinful – I really don’t believe in sin.  What I do believe in, though, is a God in whom I can place all my trust.  Truly, I believe God has the world “in His hands.”  He watches over us and protects us; He listens to our prayers.  I see Him as a Friend, as a Guide, and as a Center of Trust.

I forgot that tonight.  Call it tired or whatever.  I simply let my guard down and slipped a bit.  It’s back up now.  I remember all the times I have prayed and the best happened.  I remember all the times that it all “worked out” in the end.  I remembered the little beautiful things that truly make life on this old planet worth it.  Let’s try:

1)  A rainbow

2)  A cat purring

3)  The taste of a fresh piece of fruit

4)  The feeling of a first kiss

5)  Finishing a task that was worthwhile

6)  Holding hands

7)  Clean sheets

8)  The smell of toast

9)  The lifting of depression

10)  A smile

11)  A beautiful scene in a movie

12)  The smell of the forest after a rain

Try to think of those things and be depressed or sad or distrusting.  It is really hard – I am not sure it can even be truthfully done.

What are the things you can think of that lift your spirits?

Namaste,

Scott

How to Get Lost and Enjoy It!

Source: Google images – copyright allows reuse

Being bloggers, the majority of us spend a great deal of time online. I have a routine each morning which consists of:

Log on –

1)      Check my amazon accounts for sales

2)      Check my dating site (just in case)

3)      Check my email (usually about 40)

4)      Check my Blog site

I do these while eating breakfast at my computer. Now, that really doesn’t look like much, but there is a problem with number 4: my email. My email consists of moving things to different folders, reading them, or deleting them. It all depends on what they are. I usually save blog emails, family emails, friends emails (unless they are mult-sends), and those dealing with money. I get several news feed emails. In these, I look at the links to see if I would enjoy reading any of them. There are usually about 15 links. I, normally read about 6-10 of them.

This morning I went through my usual routine. When I finished, I looked at the clock and realized that I had been online for nearly 3 hours just to do my morning routine! This led to me realizing just how much time a person can spend online and not even know it. I have people who get upset (not sure why they get upset that I do this) that I spend so much time online. I mean, really, does it hurt them? Anyway, I hear people getting upset with children who spend so much time with online games. Being a gamer myself, I understand completely. I logged in last night to play just a bit of “Fallout 3”. I did my little bit and looked up to see that I had been playing for 2 hours! The time just went by and I truly did not know it.

All that has been said to prepare for tonight’s excitement. Here are ten things, with links when possible, of what I learned in the past 48 hours online:

1)      Even a teen should not fake that she’s a member of a terrorist organization and call the airlines! http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/218754/dutch-teenager-actually-arrested-for-tweeting-fake-terrorist-threat-to-american-airlines/

2)      There is a company that lived and died while I was blissfully unaware of the process. http://www.trippapparel.com/tag/clinckle

3)      There are several movies coming out in the next 6 months whose trailers really make you want to watch, but you can’t be certain if they will be any good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VccFcuDclhQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVt32qoyhi0

4)      There are some young ladies that should not be dated (due to their daddy)! http://www.upworthy.com/a-dad-gets-a-standing-ovation-for-what-he-says-to-boys-who-want-to-date-his-daughter-well-played?c=reccon1

5)      Airline safety is a laughing matter! http://www.ijreview.com/2014/04/129644-attendant-takes-flight-entertainment-new-level-hilarious/

6)      Graphene is going to be awesome! http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/bend-it-charge-it-dunk-it-graphene-the-material-of-tomorrow/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

7)      A person changes a lot in 4 minutes – if it covers 14 years. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/beautiful-timelapse-shows-dutch-girl-grow-baby-teenager-article-1.1755689

8)      Denzel Washington was almost known as a racist. http://www.upworthy.com/denzel-once-turned-down-a-movie-role-so-racist-he-thinks-it-could-have-changed-his-career?c=reccon1

9)      Ellen D. had a strange guest on her show to illustrate photoshop. http://www.upworthy.com/you-know-those-models-with-unrealistic-bodies-ellen-had-one-on-her-show-yep-totally-impossible

10)  Yes, I laughed too. Now, so many years later, I learn more of the truth about the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit. http://www.upworthy.com/ever-hear-about-the-lady-that-spilled-coffee-on-herself-at-mcdonalds-then-sued-for-millions?c=reccon1

This is, of course, only a small amount of what I covered, but it should show why I lost 2.5 hours in the mix.

How about you? Can you get lost on the net? What do you learn about? Is it a waste?

 

Namaste,

Scott

And Now, the News!

If you haven’t had time for the news lately, I will help you condense it all!  Here are 25 news items I have read recently.  At one phrase per item, you can catch up quickly!

News Clips that are taking the world by storm…

1)       Woman sues Capt Crunch – says crunch berries not real!

2)      Blind Golden Retriever – Ray Charles – has FB page and 19,000 friends!

3)      Python Massage big hit!

4)      Snail Facial works well?

5)      Man messes up Disney proposal

6)      Two guys and a shark share small boat

7)      Sushi Bar goes adults only

8)      Woman finds out BF cheating – puts his stuff in various locations

9)      Female goes inside to get out of storm – hit by lightning anyway

10)    English Kate shows baby bump

11)    Miley poses nude for charity

12)   Man swims Detroit river drunk – may get up to $25,000 fine

13)   OJ makes parting statement in court case – may get in trouble again

14)   Couple pulls $1million lottery scratch off from trash

15)   Child covers sibling in diaper cream to keep out sun

16)   Moose stuck in swing set – Ranger frees him

17)   Global warming debate heats up

18)   Justin Bieber pees in bucket

19)   Huge mosquitoes infest Florida

20)   Sharon Stone stuns at 55 in bikini

21)   Bees bungle plane departure

22)   Woman sleeps on man’s lap in plane for hours

23)   Psychic has man wanting refund for $212,000 arrested

24)   Thief caught – stuck in chimney

25)   Dead woman wakes up as surgeons prepare to take “donated” organs

_______________

Namaste,

Scott