anotherlook

Photo courtesy of MSNBC

There has been a constant move to discredit climate change and now that those in opposition of this theory have stooped to hacking into computers to prove their point the controversy over climate change has reached a new height. But do the words in these stolen e-mails change the very real threat of global warming?

Science is a discipline which seeks to clarify the physical and natural world and phenomena by using systematic observations and experiments. Scientists are the people designated to perform these observations and experiments. Science is not a definitive discipline and like politics there are various opinions.

Fact is that the earth is warming and there are visible results of this warming. Part of this warming cycle is inevitable and part is manmade. The bottom line is that, the part that is the “natural cycle” which has a lot to do with the sun cycle can not be avoided and there were safeguards that prevented the intrusion of the sun’s natural expulsion of toxic gases, as well as dangerous rays, from reaching the earth. This safeguard is known as the ozone layer.

The man made culprit is known as greenhouse gases and could be avoided or at least curtailed. Not only do greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare of people, according to the EPA, but they also threaten the natural safeguard that has been “created” to safeguard earth from the strong rays of the sun which sustains human life.

Although I do have to admit that the actions of some scientist involved in the discussion of global warming have be suspicious, as garnered through these hacked e-mails as it relates to the Freedom of Information Act, I can not ignore the fact that they were not the only voices regarding climate control/global warning as even NASA has pictures of the hole in the ozone layer that has been caused, reportedly, by greenhouse gases.

According to other research I have done, in the year 2012, the earth wobbles on its axis, the sun travels into the dark rift of the Milky Way Galaxy and it may take 30 years to emerge from the dark rift, causing a mini ice age that could offset global warming.

Other research shows that the solar minimum of the current sun cycle is at an all time low going days without the “normal” display of sunspots. The current sun cycle is suppose to be at solar maximum in the year 2012, with the highest number of sun spots visible for the current “sunspot cycle.”

Because of the scarcity of the sunspot minimum, scientists are seeking to understand the “whys” of the lack of sunspots. Obviously, the sun is doing something different this cycle and you have to wonder why this is happening. Will this lack of sun cycle activity have a direct bearing on the earth’s temperature? Does the lack of sunspots during this current sun cycle have anything to do with the extreme cold weather that is being experienced in Texas and California were record snowfalls have occurred in recent weeks?

More importantly, will the natural procession of the physical and natural world correct itself from what has been occurring with global warming or will mankind’s’ excesses of greenhouse gases throw off the natural balance and plunge the earth into a catastrophe that can not be undone?

As you criticize the scientist you need to recognize the dangers as well. Something different is happening in the sky above; in the very sun that gives growth, warmth and light to life forms here on earth. Part of the danger is just that, the natural procession but part is, indeed, manmade and that part can have devastating consequences on the natural balance of what is inevitable.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Photo courtesy of Crime Library

There will be no degree for Meredith Kercher, a college student studying in Italy. There will be no walk down the isle in love and in marriage. There will be neither career, nor children, nor life after November 1, 2007. The dark haired beauty’s life ended on the bedroom floor of the cottage she shared with Amanda Knox. Kercher was found drenched in blood having had her throat slashed after being viciously raped.

While the rape can not be one hundred percent confirmed based on the testimony of Rudy Hermann Guede who has been given a 30-year prison sentence for his encounter, which he states was consensual sex, with Meredith on the night of her murder, the murder is real and the life of Meredith has ended forever.

However, here in America, the story seems to be more about Amanda Knox and less about the death of Meredith Kercher. Amanda Knox, who has been found guilty of orchestrating the murder of Meredith Kercher, has disturbingly been the main focus of this outrageous crime as the American public takes pity on an American child convicted of the brutality against Kercher in a foreign land.

Although Amanda has been portrayed as a victim of the Italian police who could not speak the Italian language proficiently during her interrogation, she did study Italian, German, and Japanese at the University of Washington and gave her plea to the court in fairly fluent Italian.

Excelling in her coursework during high school to the point of winning a partial scholarship to Seattle Preparatory School, one can only imagine that she carried these study habits with her when she attended the University of Washington which also leads you to believe that she had a clear understanding of the language and knew precisely what was being said to her during the interrogation phase of the investigation into the death of Meredith.

This coupled with the fact that she not only lied from the beginning regarding where she was at the time of the murder and had, at one point actually falsely accused her former employer of the crime speaks loudly to the fact that she had something to hide in the murder of Meredith Kercher.

As friends and supporters of Amanda Knox imply that this beautiful, sweet and innocent young lady could not possibly have had anything to do with the murder of Meredith Kercher, I say this is the same thing friends and family said about the Fort Hood murderer. I say you never know what is truly clicking in someone else’s mind.

Reading about who she was as a teenager, an overweight, mousy, awkward soccer playing child who did not have a boyfriend until she was 19 and then having back to back lovers until she ran into Raffaele Sollecito, who confesses himself to a fascination with “extreme sex” and looking into her eyes, I do not see this little miss innocent beauty that the news media keeps referring to as poor little Amanda Knox.

What I see is a jealous hearted, manipulative, sexually turned out, insecure exhibitionist who has convinced herself that she can lie her way out of this situation by blaming the black man, any black man for the crime that I believe in my heart that she and Raffaele are guilty of.

Just because someone has blossomed into a fairly decent looking women does not mean they do not carry the pains and insecurities of their teenage life with them. Depending on how they internalized their experiences as a teenager determines to a large degree the jealousies and the manipulations they partake in as adults.

But to hear the reports on the news, this “beautiful, blonde, blue eyed young girl” could not possibly be guilty, on any level, of this crime and the Italians are incompetent people who tarnished the investigation from the start.

Since when did looks have anything to do with whether a person is capable of crime – ask little Caylee Anthony, oh that’s right she is dead as well by the hands of her nice looking psychopath mother Casey Anthony.

For an in depth read, on this crime against Meredith Kercher, which I garnered some information from, go to Crime Library and decide for yourself. I took serious offense as I watched the news portray Amanda in a light I did not see in her eyes, while only mentioning Meredith as an afterthought so I went to Crime Library to read for myself the details of this crime and from what I see in Amanda’s eyes and what I read, I believe Amanda is where she belongs.

R.I.P. Meredith Kercher

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Exercise Booklet for Writers

Photo courtesy of CNN.com

After watching “Killings at the Canal” last night on CNN, I have serious issues with the arrest and imprisonment of three soldiers who were charged and convicted of killing, what they perceived to be, four Iraqi insurgents. I have bigger issues with the obvious flaws in the rules of war that have been instituted in a warzone ripe with mixed emotions amongst the Iraqi people about United States involvement. I also have to wonder if these rules of war carry over to the war in Afghanistan as well.

I sympathized with the soldiers’ reasoning for killing these perceived insurgents and the frustration they must endure because of these flawed rules of war as they watch friends dying. According to what has thus far been a reality, after being engaged in firefights for several hours with the enemy and then succeeding in capturing them, those enemy insurgents are released within 2-3 days based on “not enough evidence” to hold them.

I question the rationale of “the rules of war” being imposed on these brave soldiers, some of whom have been deployed to this violent environment not once, not twice but three times. The rule of war that caused this action involves the non acceptance of U.S. service members’ statements of insurgent activity being proof enough to hold captured insurgents.

Instead the detention facility requires at least two witness statements from Iraqis in order for any charges to be valid. Therefore, according to the United States military, of the 87,011 insurgents captured, 76,985 have been released.

Are the rules of war being perceived by American soldiers as putting their life in danger repeatedly by the same people, once captured but immediately released? Out of over 87,000 insurgents capture in Iraq, the majority have been released citing “not enough evidence” to hold them.

If they were truly insurgents, captured in the midst of battle and they were set free, how many of them ended up killing American soldiers after their release? How many times must an American soldier put his life at risk fighting the same insurgents who were once capture but released, once again to wage war and murder Americans in their country? How many American soldiers have lost their lives as a result of setting these insurgents free for “lack of evidence?”

I am dismayed by the sentences these three soldiers received for doing what they have been sent to war to accomplish, rid the Iraqi citizens of the fear as well as the violence these insurgents are creating by eliminating the enemy as these insurgents have become.

As the UN questions the legality of the use, by the United States, of drones citing the fact that these drones, in a search and destroy mission of hunting down terrorist and killing them may violate international law in its indiscriminately killing of innocent people, these three soldiers made a justifiable decision to kill four people after being fired upon and discovering these four Iraqi men in a house containing a small weapons cache, where the barrage of gun fire was coming from.

They did not kill “innocent people” as drones are being cited for doing, they had reasonable assurance that those in the house were guilty of the barrage of gunfire they had endured. They also had reasonable assurance, based on previous experience that if taken in, these insurgents would be released to fight again within a few days. While they played judge, jury and executioner, if they had killed these four men as they were under fire, these insurgents would still be dead but justifiably dead so that would have been ok?

To compare this action with the Abu Ghraib prison incident, as the interrogators attempted to do, is like comparing apples and dogs, there is no comparison. To repeatedly bring insurgents into custody and the following week have to again do battle with them because they have been released, is entirely too much to ask of these soldiers. However to get sentences of twenty (20) years to life for eliminating the enemy is offensive to what I consider justice especially when their commanding officer was the motivating voice of this so called crime.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Photo courtesy of MSNBC

As Fort Hood gunman, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, is charged with 13 counts of pre-meditated murder after years of visible signs of his discontent with serving America, Federal prosecutors seized four U.S. mosques and a Fifth Avenue skyscraper which was owned by a nonprofit Muslim organization allegedly controlled by the Iranian government.

Situated in four major cities across the United States, New York City, Maryland, California and Houston, these establishments have been accused of funneling millions of dollars, yearly, back to Iran in support of Iran’s nuclear program. My question becomes what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan when America is, in effect, allowing money to be made by Iran, for decades, to support their nuclear programs as well as accused, by the United States government of bankrolling terrorism.

More importantly, The United States has long suspected the Alavi Foundation which used a front company known as Assa Corp of being behind this arrangement of earning money in America to send back to Iran.

As I was reading this article on MSNBC this morning and noting how long this situation has been going on, with the blessings of the United States government who has had knowledge of the situation all along, I became appalled at just what this implies on a larger scale.

Could it be that, because of the failed nuclear talks with Iran and the fact that Iran has recently detained and charged three Americans hikers with crimes in Iran, America has decided to press an issue that never should have been happening on America soil in the first place?

According to this article “For two decades, the Alavi Foundation’s affairs have been directed by various Iranian officials, including Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations, in violation of a series of American laws,” this according to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

I am one who does not believe in coincidence and therefore I am having a hard time trusting that this seizure just happened to come to a head at this particular time when the negotiations between Iran and the United States have stalled. Instead, this is no more than the United States blackmailing Iran in an attempt to obtain a negotiating chip in their dealings with Iran to stop all nuclear programs and release the American “hostages” they are now holding.

Even with the timing in question, my question is how could this so called “investigation” of the Alavi been going on for this long without a specific outcome prior to yesterday. Like the article states, “Suspicion about the Alavi Foundation transcends three administrations” where millions/billions of dollars have been earned on American soil in support of not only Iran’s nuclear programs but Iran has been accused of support for militants whom we are sending our kids to fight.

On top of all of this information and in spite of the time involved in the “investigation, the U.S. government is patting itself on the back stating that this is one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures in U.S. history.

I would say it’s a little too late since we have supplied Iran with the funds to create its nuclear weaponry and essentially put this instruments of war in the hands of a man who is violent, vindictive and has demonstrated his hate for America. It is a little too late because it makes the appearance that we are supplying financial support to the very people we are sending our kids off to fight – essentially we, not the insurgents, Taliban or al-Qaeda are murdering our own.

I’m sorry this is very disconcerting but more than that, this whole scenario is un-fucking believable. All I have to say is we need to be getting our troops out of this murderous situation that we have been funding for years. Those people are probably laughing their behinds off at the ignorance of the Americans and pocketing any and all aid we are giving them for use in fighting for their “cause” as they symbolically spit in our faces.

If you can not perceive this as a very real possibility as both Iran and Afghanistan’s elections were both subjected to fraud, deception and violence, I feel sorry for your incompetence but more importantly for the troops who have given their lives for the madness we have created.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Walgreens Tampons with Biodegradable Applicator Super 40ea.

Photo courtesy of MSNBC

To all the troops that have served and are serving this country, the United States of America, I wish you a safe Veterans Day but more than that I write this corny poem in support of your mission for I know that freedom is not free and peace is nothing more than an allusion.

To all the troops in foreign lands, I applaud you
And give verbal acknowledgment for all you do.
But also by the swelling of my heart in pride,
Thankful that you are on our side.

I cheer for you and wish you well
I pray that you will never fail,
Stay safe my friend until the end
You are brave and strong, loving and kind
And never are you far from my mind

Your sacrifices, and they are many, are known
As you set, just the right tone.
You are willing to lay down your life and fight
For what you believe in your heart is right.
In darkness and the light
You survive conflict and blight.

For all the troops who served their time
You are like a permanent ray of sunshine
Brightly shining in memory of wars gone by
Those who have left us, like twinkling stars,
Shining brightly in the midnight sky

To all of you, I admire you, trust in you
And care that, in the moment or for the moment
You are willing to give your life in atonement
For injustices and wrongs that have been done,
Too brave to run, no battles do you shun.

You lend aid to those who know only struggles and strife
You keep us safe and stand for what is good, in this life
And though your sorrows are great, in my heart you rate
All the recognition of this date
So let me, among many, say

Happy Veterans Day!!!

May God cover you with the armor of protection
And keep those who mean you harm at bay until the next rotation.

Stay Strong, Fight The Wrong And Make It Back To Where You Belong

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Heart of a Champion

An insightful American Indian saying goes “Do not judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.” Based on this quote, I am having a hard time understanding why many whites, during this “teachable moment” are expressing so much anger in the blogs, tweets, comments etc.

Since race has reared its ugly head in what is being called a “teachable moment” with the arrest of Louis Gates, CNN has hosted many conversations regarding this matter. Two days ago they did a segment which posed the question “Does Your Doctor Judge You Based On Your Color?”

The consensus, based on several studies found that doctors do indeed show biases when it comes to treatment. In one case it was proven that “African-American cardiac patients were less likely than whites to receive a lifesaving procedure called revascularization, where doctors restore the flow of oxygen to the heart.” It was noted that “all of the patients had Medicare, which covers the costs of revascularization.”

Other studies proved “It’s absolutely proven through studies that a black man and a white man going to the hospital with the same complaint will be treated differently” however these biases did not stop there but included studies indicating that “doctors were significantly more likely to recommend lifesaving drugs when they thought the patient was white than when they thought the patient was black.”

Color was not the only bias shown to patients. Studies also show that doctors can be biased against patients because of their body size see the discussion on weight bias here:

Study on Weight Bias

I have to applaud CNN for attempting to open up dialogue regarding something that has been ripping the seams of the American fabric for decades. Even with this open dialogue, and noting the various attitudes and beliefs from both sides of the argument, there are those that still cling to “what is” by throwing insults, accusations and denials.

Statements can be made that speak to a collective realm (applying to a number of individuals taken together ‘in general’) causing those with issues on the subject of racism to take these statements personal rather than to remove the ego they carry with them and view the words objectively.

What amazes me most about this is the reaction of some white American’s and the anger they display when blacks verbalize what they feel or have experienced in white America. The anger I do not understand based on the saying quoted above.

While this incident with Gates has incited heated comments on both sides of the fence, blacks are speaking from their personal experiences while whites are speaking with anger on what someone who has experienced the racism feels - a bit irrational it seems.

Where does this anger come from? Is this anger justified? How can you be angry at someone for expressing their experiences and how those experiences have made them feel when your experiences as a member of the white race have been so very different? How can you sit in judgment of me when you have never lived my life?

Tim Wise, a prominent “white anti-racist” writer has a book out called White Like Me. Wise was a guest speaker on CNN yesterday in their open dialogue on race in America. Tim expressed some of the same concepts I have been forced to write about lately but I was shocked and amazed to hear the words he spoke yesterday based on the words I have been hearing and reading coming from whites as they post their anger filled post and comments across the web.
White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son

A description of the book is as follows with a critique of the book from a black perspective that follows the description.

“In White Like Me, Tim Wise offers a highly personal examination of the ways in which racial privilege shapes the lives of most white Americans, overtly racist or not, to the detriment of people of color, themselves, and society. The book shows the breadth and depth of the phenomenon within institutions such as education, employment, housing, criminal justice, and healthcare. By critically assessing the magnitude of racial privilege and its enormous costs, Wise provides a rich memoir that will inspire activists, educators, or anyone interested in understanding the way that race continues to shape the experiences of people in the U.S. Using stories instead of stale statistics, Wise weaves a narrative that is at once readable and scholarly, analytical and accessible.”

A critique by Kenita Jalivay

“Although I agree with the vast majority of the posts regarding the quality and insight of Wise’s White Like Me, I think that, as a community of readers, teachers, activists and concerned citizens who loathe racial injustice, we must take care not to exalt Wise as THE authority on race and privilege in this country (basing this on another post that used similar language). Many African American scholars and writers - W.E.B. DuBoise, David Walker, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Sonia Sanchez, Gwendolyn Brooks and Amiri Baraka - have been saying the same thing (from the black perspective) that Wise does in his book, and decades BEFORE Wise did. While I applaud Wise’s courage, I think that we shouldn’t fall into another white privilege trap, which is to exalt a white person for a revolutionary work on race, when this same type of revolutionary writing was done by people without privilege years ago. I would hate to think that we can only accept admissions of white privilege from whites, when people of color - who have suffered from it - took risks and challenged racism when the topic was far from vogue (dangerous, actually). There are many great thinkers and writers of color out there; read Wise, but supplement your knowledge from those who are survivors, too.
Peace to my fellow activists of EVERY hue.”

As of late, I have been harassed, called a racist by individuals who have taken one word or phrase and made an issue out of the word or phrase instead of showing any type of understanding of what was basically being said – yet they continue to come back to my post and leave irrational comments and judgments. My suggestion is read a relevant book on the issues of race and then maybe we can talk otherwise spare me the useless words.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

The Beatles ‘Let It Be’ Poster

As I watched news coverage of the gang rape of an eight-year old girl perpetrated by Liberian refugees, living in Arizona, I was stunned at the implications that were made by the newscaster that this was a ‘carry over’ from their experiences in Liberia. The indignation seemed to imply that these things just do not happen here in America as they spoke to the President of Liberia via telephone.

I listened to the report while in the back of my mind I was disturbingly aware of the classification of “TSO” (teenage sex offenders) here in the United States. I know for a fact that in a number of neighborhoods, they have group homes for TSO’s in America.

Although this awareness has only recently come to my attention it has allowed me to see that this is not simply a problem facing other countries that may use “rape” as a form of warfare but it happens here, among American youth at an alarming rate.

The President of Liberia, being put on the spot by newscasters here in America, issued a statement denouncing this heinous act and stating that the country (Liberia) was trying to mend its issues with sexual violence.

While the details of this heartbreaking crime are indeed troubling, with the victim being only eight-years old, the oldest of the perpetrators being only 14-years old and the youngest of the four perpetrators being 9-years old, I am simply saying that America needs to clean up its own backyard before standing in judgment and indignation of another country.

What is most disturbing and heartbreaking about this story of rape is that the eight-year old victim has been shunned by her Liberian family and is now in foster care – living with strangers - while the oldest perpetrator will be facing charges as an adult. The girl’s parents have criticized her and even blamed her for bringing shame on the family, this according to police. However, when asked by CBS 5 News, the girl’s father did say he wanted his daughter back.

Clearly, with the background of the country these kids came from and the reaction of the victim’s family, extensive counseling is needed in the lives of all five of the children involved as well as the families of those involved. The callousness of the victim’s family to shun their 8-year old daughter after such a traumatic experience and the very act of rape is indicative of serious internal “problems.”

My question becomes if it is “common practice” to put American youth, who have committed crimes of this nature, sometimes equally as violent, into group homes, what would be the fairness or the purpose in trying this 14-year old as an adult knowing from whence he came.

Having mixed emotions regarding this practice of group homes for TSO’s in America based on my understanding of the recidivism of sexual offenders, this is an option for youths in America and an option that should be extended to this 14-year old perpetrator as well. Perhaps when caught and treated at an early age, the rate of recidivism declines or at least this is the hope of the courts as they place more and more teenage sex offenders in group homes rather than youth authority prisons.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Condolence Basket Deluxe Large - Kosher

Something that is becoming very suspicious to me is while Republicans (the party of “no”) try to force your attention away from many of the deceptive practices of the United States government during their “power days” by criticizing and placing stumbling blocks in the path of the current administration, some of these things are surfacing and are serious wrong doings.

When you look at the things done by the previous administration and the lack of oversight on different levels, I believe you will find that there were a lot of shady things that were happening over the last eight years;

Coupled with this, every other week, or at the very least when important matters are on the table for Congress/Senate to decide, there is a renewed cry out against President Obama’s “citizenship” even though newspapers posted his birth in the Hawaiian newspaper and the people in charge of records in Hawaii have verified and verbalized his birth happening in Hawaii.

Not to mention the vetting process, I am certain Obama went through prior to any nomination to run for President of the United States. Republicans are on a mission to stall any process Obama puts forth including the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor. I would not be surprised if Republicans were not behind this cry for proof of citizenship in some way; a cry that was demonstrated in angry tones at a “townhall meeting” yesterday.

The more I witness the ugliness of Congress, the more I realize just how slimy politicians are and the less respect I hold towards Republicans because they are truly showing who they really are and how they play the game. But what is most pitiful is that they can not see how desperate and obvious they are becoming now that they do not have someone in office who is willing to cover up their behavior or play the game of “business as usual” with them.

California’s budget solved through what are for the most part accounting schemes and budget cuts, in the areas of education and social services with a possible release of 27,000 inmates back into society, instituted by a Republican Governor, speaks volumes regarding government’s true interest in the people they govern yet we the people applaud this kind of behavior as long as we don’t have to pay higher taxes; negating the future of our children we seemed so concerned with during stimulus/debt conversations.

I even heard a comment made by a guest on CNN/Lou Dobbs news that behind closed doors Republicans make it known that they intend to play this “political game” against any proposal placed on the table by Obama. This shows to a large degree their attitude towards “we the people.”

Evidence of this blindsiding is also seen in the new bill introduced by a Republican Senator from South Dakota to eradicate “states” rights to uphold gun control in their specific states by allowing the “concealed carry” law to be implemented across state lines. This is a desperate effort by Republicans to enforce what they believe to be a “fundament right” of people to bear arms but it over looks the states right to dictate what is right for their state based on the crime rate they hold.

Republicans have been operating on this level for so long and getting away with it that they are not wise enough to chose another way of operating and those gullible Americans who are still caught up in race, even though they voted for change, are slowly returning to what is comfortable to them – business as usual but citing the fact that people are basically just uncomfortable with Obama politics.

I am shocked and amazed at the things I see happening in this country today. The fact that Louis Gates can be arrested in his home even after showing proof, by state issued identification with his picture and address on the identification, should have led the officer in charge to simply apologize “sorry about the mix up” and walk away regardless of any angry words that may have been spoken by Louis Gates - the officer could have diffused the confrontation by simply saying “sorry”.

Louis Gates did not attack the officer, he was understandably upset at the thought of being harassed in his own home based solely on the color of his skin in a predomantly white neighborhood and while he may have hesitated to prove his identity - he did eventually prove it and the police officer should have just left. My second question has to do with money laundering.

Are Credit Cards An Effective Means Of Money Laundering?

I find the practices of Aspire Card suspicious, indicative of money laundering and wonder just what part of that card was influenced by government’s inability to properly screen, potential money laundering schemes; government’s oversight of a game played against our economic system by foreigners who could very well be working against us. What I find most suspicious is the fact that not once have I spoken to anyone at Aspire Card who speaks English with a proficiency.

I know this is way off track but this is something that has my mind traveling down a dark road in an effort to understand. Shortly after the election last year, Aspire Card cancelled numerous accounts with no explanation. The list of people posting complaints against Aspire Card is growing on the web. Any paid balance that was on the card was immediately removed. In some cases additional charges or debits where placed on the cards making it easier to eventually go over the credit line.

When you call to have these charges removed, the people answering the phone act as if they do not understand English and the monthly charges are not immediately removed from your card, forcing your account balance over the limit without having the cushion of the money you had previously paid towards your balance then being charge over the limit fees in addition.

The timing of these cancellations is very strange to me. I find myself wondering if these cards were issued by people from the Middle East (that is the accent over the phone), militants whose aim was to prosper from Americans in a deceptive way to finance their cause, like some of the websites that have collected, fraudulently, money from people looking to work from home; where is government oversight or Homeland Security investigations in matters like these. Aspire Card should be investigated by the federal government as a possible money laundering network for terrorist groups as far as I’m concerned along with some of these work at home websites.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Motorcycle Goggles Dirt Bike Goggles EYGPeeWeeRed

An old saying regarding love goes like this: “If you love something set it free, if it comes back to you it’s yours, if it doesn’t it wasn’t meant to be.” While there is wisdom in those words sometimes the difficulty involved weighs your heart down. This story demonstrates the power of those words and I thought I would share this story with you.

I read an article this morning that kind of touched by heart. After sixteen years, two people where reunited in a love that lasted through time. As a foreign exchange student in southwest England, Carmen Ruiz-Perez met and fell in love with Steven Smith. After a year-long relationship, they became engaged.

Life happened and Carmen ended up moving to France and the relationship ended. Steve never forgot the love they shared though and a few years later he attempted to contact her by mail through her mother’s address in Spain. Carmen was not at home at the time and her mother placed the letter on the mantle and apparently forgot about it.

Time passed, the letter slipped behind the fireplace and life went on. Eventually, builders who were removing the fireplace located the missing letter over a decade later and it was put into the hands of Carmen.

Steve had reached out to her all those years ago and she had missed the call, or so she must have thought after reading the letter. She wanted to call him right away, but she felt too nervous. Curiosity I image made her know deep down that she would make that call soon; and she did.

They scheduled a meeting, Steve and Carmen, and Steve describes the meeting in terms of, it was as if time had stood still. Running across the airport and landing in each other’s arms, looking into each other’s eyes and kissing as though sixteen years had not passed by. They are now a married couple living the life they had planned, all those years ago.

Love makes you weak in the knees, gives you palpitations of the heart and makes life so much more worth living. True love never dies or so they say; true love, a connection of two souls combining into one spirit; pretty heady stuff. Some people go through life without one true love while others seem to find “many,” – is this a case of “love the one you’re with?” This story seems to imply that if it was meant to be time takes care of it and it will be. Still in some cultures marriage is arranged and love comes later.

Whatever the case for you, once you find love, cherish it and through the good and the bad remember love and the capacity to love, on any level, is a gift; be aware also before you “chase” that love away that another saying goes “you never miss a good thing until it’s gone!”

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Embroidered Jersey Dress

Time and time again people try to cover up the ugliness that is in their soul with niceness, failing to realize that who they are consistently comes shinning through every time. It comes through in motivation, in intent, in insincerity. Your ugliness shines through in the words you choose to verbalize your experiences, the jokes you think are funny. Your inner thoughts and feelings are constantly on display by your very persona and you can not hide these characteristics by wrapping them up in niceness.

People are always amazed at my ability to see who they are. I had one friend tell me I must have been touched by an alien (rather than an angel) while others have told me I need to stop trying to analyze everything and learn how to live. Still others will confirm my take on any and everybody else but when my analysis of them comes to light they deny and sometimes get angry at what I have to say.

I am always amazed at an individual’s capacity to deceive and deny themselves; their half hearted attempts at hiding who they are while I recognize, even in this denial that deep within themselves they know who they are. The first step towards change is acknowledgement.

When you think there are elements of yourself that are not conducive to your positive concepts or self image, when you have to dress up what you say with insincere words in an attempt to hide what is real and you think change is needed, you first need to acknowledge through verbalization or inside meditation that change is needed. Point being that if you have to hide who you are behind insincere niceties then even you know, under the layers of denial, that something is not right.

I think it is pitiful that in the white world, when the going gets rough, the racism gets strong because in the racism is familiarity a good feeling of superiority, power and comfort found in the irrational belief that they are somehow better. Truth is your racist attitudes are more of a burden, a blemish on your soul and a scar upon your heart than an uplifting enhancement of your character and your racist attitudes shine brightly in the glow of the noon day sun eclipsing the brightness of the sun with the dark ugliness in your soul.

Even though I try not to let racism bother me, it always stabs at my heart and turns my stomach but I refuse to let it alter who I am. While I truly feel sorry for those who are motivated by hate and racism, I can not help the very real affect of it touching my very soul and I thank God that I do not carry with me the hate that rules the life of so many in the world.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

All Shall Perish - Awaken The Dreamers CD