Burn All The Books.  Burning books is good.  Books introduce subversive ideology into the minds of our young. Raid the libraries,  set Barnes & Noble ablaze, Nuke the educational institutions (oh yeah, institution – that’s a bad word, right? Cool.)

According to statements by Florida preacher Terry Jones, God wants our soldiers to die.  God wants Terry and his army of toothless inanity to enrage the muslim world, whilst our armed forces, our sons and daughters are in the crosshairs, brilliant.

At least Al Qaeda thought it was brilliant, because it proved to galvanize uneducated, disconnected communities against the west, which serves their purposes very well. I mean really, you know how your flock would react if they learned that muslims down  the street were burning bibles, right?

General David Petraeus publicly stated that it was a BAD idea.  But don’t listen to him Terry, he’s only in charge and actually has responsibility for our sons, our daughters, our mothers and our fathers fighting in that part of the world.  General Petraeus lives and breathes this issue, day in and day out. You, Terry, on the other hand have responsibility for their souls.  Thank God.  Because you’ve traveled extensively over there and are well aware of the situation, right Terry?

So for God’s sake, don’t listen to Petraeus.  You have God on your side.

Were Jesus alive, he’d be standing right next to you, holding his Bic Lighter ready to torch the next copy, because that was his way, right?

I distinctly remember reading the “Search & Destroy” scripture, the “We’ll all live, after we kill you” scripture, the “Slash each cheek with a bowie knife” scripture.  Sure, those were my favorites.

Hey, Terry…

Please don’t consider that your country was actually founded on the freedom of religion, naw, that just weakens your argument.  Besides, your parishioners don’t read that shit anyway (and they’re not the sharpest tools in the shed, but you already knew that, huh Terry).  The constitution was written by a bunch of mutinous malcontents.  Imagine, being forced to follow one particular god, one religion…

Thank god you’re not bound by such incredulous notions, right Terry?

Some pinko hippie might suggest that by reading the satan-saturated text, one could learn about a culture that constitutes a large percentage of the world’s population, and use it to one’s advantage, but such aspirations are obviously misguided and obtuse.  (do you need a minute to google “obtuse” Terry?)

Because someone of your obvious mental superiority and worldly wisdom would surely recognize the far-reaching repercussions of their actions, right?

Obviously God has a greater plan.  You’ve spoken to him, right?  God is aware that the seemingly innocuous action of setting fire to the tantamount symbol of an immense portion of the world populations belief system won’t negatively affect my cousin in Afghanistan, right.  I can count on you Terry, right?

Should my cousin direct their amen to God, or you Terry?

I was never retained, considered nor ever acted as CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP).  But, neither was I fired or, ummm.. “asked to leave”.

Successful management is a skill.  It encompasses a great deal of expertise, intuition and savvy regardless of the industry.  Success or failure can often be attributed to the adherence and respect given to basic principles.  Because let’s face it, if you don’t know the basics you’re going to lose.

Sometimes a single action, isolated in your consciousness, can be more telling than a mountain of press releases, reports or relentless spin.

When I read that struggling HP CEO Carly Fiorina, towards the ineloquent end of her embattled albeit short tenure, had fired three executives at 5 AM over the phone, I knew.

What do you call that kind of move other than cowardice?

Her reign as a media darling, which became pivotal points in her career, were sociologically well timed but what bearing did that have on her actual job performance?  Because quite frankly, she sucked at managing.  At a time when tech was blowing sky high, leading one of the most successful, well-funded, long-term companies in tech history, she managed to keep earnings and stock shares flat.

U.S. Senate? Really?

So now she wants a hand in running California, whoopee!!  My assessment of her is based on a single action, which is legitimate, because it’s something I never did in my 30 years managing, and would’ve never considered.  But don’t listen to me, read the comments of HP employees on their former boss:

http://www.carly-fiorina.com/hp-employees-on-carly-fiorina/gbook.php

And if that’s not enough, look at some of the media drivel she puts her name on. Seriously, the first time I viewed this clip, I thought surely it was a Monty Python skit.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is it with these millionaires that think, all of a sudden, they know what’s best?…oh wait….I know…

EGO

Since politics have existed, slogans aren’t used because they’re factual, but because they alter the view of the constituent.

Advocates for one issue/bill/candidate or another will beat you about the head and neck with slogans because they’ve learned that if you hear it enough, your subconscious will buy in.

Never mind the truth, never mind intelligent objectivity and reasonable debate, “WE WANT THE WORLD AND WE WANT IT NOW!”

If you are simply a mindless troll who garners the bulk of your information from half-read headlines and TV and suffer from the affliction of lop-sided opinions fed to you by a single partisan viewpoint, then bail.  This will not interest you.

Sure I’m picking on Meg Whitman in this post, but no one is beyond reproach. And the idea is to get YOU to think for yourself.  Don’t be an armrest.  You know what happens when a group of citizens sit around and complain about everything but don’t participate?

“   ”

(nothing, start learning chinese because you’re not even a blip)

Making it Harder to Create Jobs

Time to dissect a statement or two from the Whitman campaign attacking California Attorney General and Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown.

In a recent TV commercial, Meg Whitman asserts that Brown makes it harder to create jobs and has “1,100 attorneys ready to sue over government regulations”.

First of all, on the face of it, what the hell does that mean?

There’s no context stated or implied.

The snippet in quotation marks was made at a Democratic convention in San Jose in 2008, and was in reference to companies who don’t comply with environmental standards (can you say BP or Massey?).  It had nothing to do with jobs.  But let’s not allow the facts to get in the way.

Record unemployment

Whitman’s ad touts 11% unemployment as “Record Unemployment”.  Really?  Today, under a republican governor, unemployment is at 12.3%.  During the great depression California’s unemployment went from 3% to 25% almost overnight.

So which record exactly is she referring to?

Jerry Brown, Bell and Oakland

In a direct mail piece, Whitman assimilates the payroll/pension scandal in Bell, California to Brown’s stint as mayor in Oakland.  The mailer asserts that when Brown was mayor the number of city workers who earned over $200k increased by 740% and that the number of city workers earning over $100k grew by 47.5%.

First, they don’t mention that California Attorney General Jerry Brown is currently investigating the Bell payroll/pension scandal.

Second, the  jump was attributed to a small pool of employees – most of them firefighters – who were chalking up more than $100,000 annually in overtime in the 2005-06 fiscal year. Two years before that, five Oakland city employees made more than $200,000. In 2005-06, that number jumped to 42. Of Oakland’s top 25 earners that year, all but four were firefighters. The others were police officers, an engineer and former city administrator Deborah Edgerly, who Jerry Brown hired.

Third, none of those came close to the 1.5 million dollars that ex-city manager Robert Rizzo made or the $450k salary of police chief Randy Adams.

BTW: the city of Bell is pissed that Whitman exploited them for her ad.

Look, if you’re not willing to at least consider insightful discourse or an exchange of ideas amongst those in your community who share your ultimate objectives (you know, a better place to live and raise your family), then why not just join the Taliban?  I’m sure you’ll find like minded individuals there.

peace

Just so I have this right,

A billionaire who hasn’t voted in 26 years suddenly decides she’s the most qualified to run California.

Immeasurable arrogance aside, let’s pretend for a moment there’s a moral preponderance for civic duty (which to date hasn’t been proven in any way).

Regardless of party affiliation, she’s spending too much of her own money.

Is that a precedent that needs to be set?

Does the state need  to be run by the person with the most money?

Imagine the possibilities.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wow, another politician politically dodging questions and futilely attempting to divert the conversation.

How refreshing.

The Whistleblowers infiltrated the 2nd City Council Art Gallery and Performance Space in Long Beach for a performance that can only be referred to as their first.  What do you want, a critique? Figure it out for yourself:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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The clip below is a song called Saint Marys.  I applaud Fitzgerald’s  for having the cajones to feature bands like the Strangers, however like other clubs of this ilk, sound and lighting can be a challenge.  The band was tight, the set was consistent and the performance was passionately energetic.

Watch for these guys because their star is on the rise.

Click here to view the embedded video.

http://www.myspace.com/strangersstrangers

Black and rancid

Or when the dog doesn’t like you,

Fangs poised, growling, bloodshot eye whites, tiny pupils fixated on your slightest tremble.

Hate and disrespect are easy.

Love is Hard.

She knew I was calling, why didn’t she answer, why doesn’t she call back, she says she loves me…

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who can remember the exact moment 33 years later, delicious details intact

who wrote frequent long letters after she’d moved far away,  dreams & desires gush across handwritten pages colored with odd drawings, who jumped at every opportunity to be with her even though separated by more than a hundred miles

what does it say about a man who recognized early the unattainable reality, but refused to accept it and resigned himself to quiet longing and absurd optimism

what does it say about a man who expressed his intention to love her while still teenagers, depth and breadth full, and though she convincingly announced her insatiable appetite to explore and experiment, declaring her utter lack of interest in commitment, his love for her endured, evolved and amplified

what does it say about a man who was well aware that the motive behind her summertime visit was to meet a lover who wasn’t that into her, and that she’s here now because it’s convenient while she’s working it out, and it hurts like hell  but he does it anyway to spend moments with her

what does it say about a man who eagerly lurched at every opportunity to be with her, even when it was just to watch her go into a back room at a party at an unknown address with some guy to snort coke.  He was never invited, and wasn’t considered until a ride was needed at the end.

what does it say about a man who had girlfriends, but thought of her constantly.

what does it say about a man who thinks he finally has a chance, elated at the prospect that she’s finally moving back, who searches the newspapers and drives the streets looking for a place for her near him, who believes that she’s finally coming around, after an eternity, who wrote him that it was possible, but “we’d have to take it slow”, so he plans for her and helps her move.  Who makes a date on a Saturday night after work, who shows up at the designated time, who walks into a party and asks where she is, who is directed upstairs and climbs up a dropdown ladder leading to the loft with hope and smiles and when the bedsheet covering the hatch is removed finds her naked with Bob, a guy he knew in high school.  An image burned so excruciatingly deep in his memory it depresses him today (not a figurative today – today actually – you pick the day)

Who stumbled out weeping and swore never, never again..
~
What does it say about a man who years later, is haunted by dreams of her silky black hair, smile that outshines the sun and sensual supple skin that melts his hand. Who begins shaking uncontrollably and breaks out in a cold sweat believing he sees her in line at a grocery store.

Not her…still had to sit.. for a minute.

Time passes…

What does it say about a man who hears her voice on his answering machine late at night, she’s alive in San Diego but doesn’t leave a number, so he strikes out, tearing into a city of millions hoping, needing, believing that somehow he’ll find her with only enduring true love to guide him

A hapless year dwindles and dies…

What does it say about a man who is engaged to his girlfriend of 7 years, who answers an alcohol and drug inspired phone call at 4am and knows from the sweet air he sucks through the phone line a hundred miles away that his life is irrevocably modified forever…again.

Whose heart inflates, spilling through orifices, but doesn’t bleed

Who drops life and speeds to her rescue, unapologetic and with an epic voracious thirst

What does it say about a man who in a blink walks away from everything he knows to build a life with a woman he hasn’t seen in years, but believes in

Who actually physically floated for months after his long lost love, his heart, his reason to be, finally held him and kissed his lips.
~
What does it say about a man who changed his dream to care for her, to support her through victorious battles with addiction, mania, illness and self-loathing

Who went where she wanted to go, because she had to

Who understands, cherishes and exults the greatest gift possible that she bestowed upon him – the gift of human life

Who cries today in gratitude for the family she gave him – who is grateful every breath, every day
~
What does it say about a man who recognized the limitations of his career choice, who did the math, wanted more for the future of his family and began actively pursuing that goal, sacrificing precious time to serve a long range greater good

Who struggled with his own demons in the pursuit, but kept his eye on the prize

Whose sole motivation was to gain an advantage for those who depend on him

Who was walking gingerly along the tightrope of life when suddenly the ends unraveled and the world came crashing up, crushing his feet and confidence.
~
What does it say about a man whose rudder was abruptly grotesquely ripped from the stern of his life, who needed support but was too proud, or too stupid to verbalize it, and instead sank the boat
~
What do you do?

Do you dig in and help out or do you run like hell?

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(48 year-old son, Dave,  is driving his 71 year-old mother, Donna to the store. )

Dave:

Yeah, I had that 65′ Buick, used keep stalling on me.  Figured out rust chips from the gas tank kept plugging up the fuel filter.

I’d travel with 2 pencils, a screwdriver and a spare fuel filter.  Whenever it’d stall, I’d pull over, pop the hood, unscrew the clamps on the fuel filter, stick the pencils into the lines on either side of the filter so gas didn’t leak, put in the spare fuel filter and I was back on the road in four minutes.

Donna:

We used to have an Olds convertible when you guys were little..

Dave:

I remember that car.

Donna:

Brakes were shot – driving you guys around on the ice with no brakes, shish!

Dave:

And you were probably drunk.

Donna:

I always had a few belts before getting into that car. Are you kidding?

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~~

She’ll look into your eyes and see you

Not where you came from, but where you’re coming from

Not what you do, but what you are

She’ll find you even when you don’t know where you are

She’ll find you, then she’ll bring you out

The best you, not the one you think you’re supposed to be

After you’re finished fighting with yourself, she’ll chuckle a little and you both will share a moment.

You won’t forget.

She may not always win

But she will never be defeated.

~~

She had one love.

One.

ONe lOVe in her life

oNE true love

one only one

one ever

one forever

And it wasn’t meant to be.

The two only ever had each other in reality

In the reality that exists beyond the feebleness of perception

There was ever only each other to turn to in truly life changing situations,

There was ever only each other they could/would rely on

There was ever only one number to dial

each others

then he died.

We all saw it coming, We all knew, didn’t matter, still sucked.

She did everything a spouse would do, not an ex-spouse, which she was

Didn’t matter

ex on paper, life-partner in reality

Not the reality you’re familiar with,

The reality that exists beyond the feebleness of perception.

But why her?

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