The Choice

I am exhausted.

I pause to take a good look into the mirror and examine why.

Why have a stopped reading my blogs? I read only the news these days.

Why am I usually feeling angst, anger, frustration and fear? I read only the news these days.

Why am I tired and distracted? I read only the news these days.

Why have I started feeling defeated and depressed? I read only the news these days.

Why do I only read the news these days? Because I’ve allowed the fear and alarm that is being spewed every single moment to enter into my psyche and alter my thoughts, dreams and values.

I have a choice. I can choose to continue down the slope I’m on and into a bad spiral, or I can choose to make another choice.

This morning for the first morning in recent memory, I chose to start my day by starting a book I’ve been wanting to read. I got my coffee, spinach smoothie and plain oatmeal and read as I consumed my daily breakfast.  By no coincidence the book I started today is appropriately named The Choice  by Dr. Edith Eva Egar.

My day started better. I read, I thought and I felt better. I blog to share, but I also blog to reinforce. Reinforce, inside of me, the better choice I just made.

I am better equipped to help myself, my family, my friends, my community, my country and my world if I put my oxygen mask on first. My oxygen is positivity and the good that still really does surround me. Through that I can find light.

It’s that time in San Diego!

San Diego Pride 2019 starts now!

WooHoo! 🏳️‍🌈

Keep porn on Tumblr

Porn.

To me porn is art.

Art is for enjoyment.

I am on Tumblr for the porn.

Tumblr has allowed porn since it’s inception and now wants to restrict artistic expression? Seriously?

If you are of a like mind and wish to add your name to a change.org petition for Tumblr to stay true to its roots then click the link below:

Click Here

Tumblr with restricted art? Not a good move, not a good Tumblr.

 

An Inspiration

Verklempt I am.

Inspired  I am.

Courage. Vulnerability. Truth. Grief. Honor.

Leadership. Patriotism. Integrity.

Honesty. Reality. Respect.

Understanding. Cooperation. Humility. Equality. Democracy. Justice. Service.

There is a greater good. Let’s strive toward that.

We reflect with gratitude for the example given to us by Senator McCain as well as that shared by the speakers above.

Godspeed.

“We call BS”

If you haven’t seen this, Fearsome reccomends you stop, sit, watch, listen and feel. It is well worth the 10 minutes.

If this resonates with you and your values, please follow her lead and “Call BS”.

This young girl is courageous and an inspiration that I hope many follow, including myself. May she inspire you.

Humanity needs more just like her. I believe there are more, many more.

I take this moment to encourage more to speak up, speak out and to take action.

Snatching smut

According to the Washington Post a certain administration in Washington DC has commanded that the CDC, Centers for Disease Control, must refrain from using certain words in their reporting. These words include science-based and evidence-based.

No freakin’ kidding.

As reported by the Washington Post please read for yourself:

The Trump administration is prohibiting officials at the nation’s top public health agency from using a list of seven words or phrases — including “fetus” and “transgender” — in any official documents being prepared for next year’s budget.

Policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta were told of the list of forbidden words at a meeting Thursday with senior CDC officials who oversee the budget, according to an analyst who took part in the 90-minute briefing. The forbidden words are “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based” and “science-based.”

In some instances, the analysts were given alternative phrases. Instead of “science-based” or ­“evidence-based,” the suggested phrase is “CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes,” the person said. In other cases, no replacement words were immediately offered.

The question of how to address such issues as sexual orientation, gender identity and abortion rights — all of which received significant visibility under the Obama administration  – has surfaced repeatedly in federal agencies since President Trump took office.

Vera Carp from our favorite fictional town of Tuna Texas seems to have infiltrated the current administration.

 

Truth

from a courageous Republican.

Thank you Senator Flake. May your words inspire many more to follow in your leadership. It’s time to stand for values, American values. It’s time to speak out, speak up and speak truth.

Squeeeeeee!

Fearsome and I are most definitely Team Trixie!

WooHoo!

Truth

Frederica Wilson’s full speech at the dedication of the FBI building in Miami/Dade.

“Bigotry or White supremacy, in any form, is blasphemy against the American creed” …George W. Bush

Fearsome and I hereby express our gratitude to our 43rd President for standing up and speaking out. It’s about time that leaders, current and past, of our country say something. There is a point of silence at which they become complicit and will therefore be just as guilty as the perpetrators of the crime.

Kudos George W. Bush for speaking out today. May his inspiration lead others to step in line behind true American values. The moral ground of our democracy is at stake.

If you haven’t watched or heard this speech do yourself a favor and hit play. It’s worth your time no matter what your political affiliation.

The Iconic Boeing 747

First released in 1968, Boeing’s 747 was, and still is, an engineering marvel.

United is retiring their 747 fleet for more fuel efficient 777 & 787 aircraft and fuel efficiency is a definately valid reason. Other airlines will continue to fly them so the iconic look will still be seen in larger international ports. However their numbers may continue to dwindle as technology changes.

I’ve only flown the 747 six times in all of my travels on these routes:  Miami to Aruba, San Diego to London, Los Angeles to Sydney. Thus far it is my favorite airliner. The adjectives roomy and majestic come to mind. I even know the layout well enough that I have a favorite seat. I’ll miss this mighty bird for she gave me many wonderful memories.

Hero

Carmen Yulín Cruz, Mayor of San Juan Puerto Rico (United States of America for those who skipped class during geography and American History.)

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Hero as:

noun:  A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Carmen Yulín Cruz is a Hero. Carmen Yulín Cruz is a leader. Fearsome applauds her for taking ownership of the title given to her by a certain President.

The time to talk about gun control is now. Period.

It’s time. Whether you are for it or against it. It’s time to fucking talk. To stay silent only let’s all those just injured, to have been injured in vain. To stay silent only lets all those murdered to die in vain. Meaningless, yes their injury and their death will be meaningless.

Do I believe that all guns should be illegal? No I don’t.

Do I believe all guns should be taken away? No I don’t.

Do I own a gun? No I don’t.

Do I know how to shoot a gun? Yes I do.

Have I ever been a member of the NRA? Yes I have.

Am I a member of the NRA now? No I am not.

Do I believe in gun control? Yes I do.

Do I believe that people have a right to own guns? Yes I do.

Do I believe that people have a right to own automatic weapons or assault rifles or machine guns or silencers? No, I do not.

Do I believe in background checks? Yes I do.

Do I believe that some people should be prevented from owning guns? Yes I do.

Do I believe in limits on the number of guns one can own? Yes I do.

Do I believe that people should be able to stockpile unlimited amounts of ammo? No I don’t.

Do I believe that limiting guns through sensible controls will stop all crime? No I don’t.

Do I believe that limiting guns through sensible gun controls will reduce violence, crime and mass shootings? Yes I do.

Do I believe gun control will lead to a safer society? Yes I do.

Will I let all those innocent mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends, and lovers die in vain without speaking my truth? No I will not.

Am I going to write my Senator, Congressperson, Governor and state legislator about initiating gun control bills and passing responsible gun control legislation? Yes I am.

As Fearsome Beard has done in the past, I will post links below for your convenience to look up and contact your representatives so that you may voice your opinions as well.

If our leaders will not talk about gun control when it really matters I feel we should hold all of their feet to the fire. I believe we should let them know that now is the time to talk. Now is the time to discuss and work towards a safer place that we all may live in without the fear.

Courage and strength is saying something when you see something.

Silence is just fucking complicit.

Why sit there stunned, mourning, angry, hurt, fearful and silent? Do something.

Contact your Senator.

Contact your Representative.

Contact your Governor.

Contact the White House.

Contact your state legislators.

Thank you in advance for your courage. Thank you in advance for standing up. Thank you in advance for making yourself heard. It all starts with each of us standing up and speaking our truth.

No My Dear Politician, Love and Prayers Are Not Enough

If you are fed up with this BULLSHIT then watch this and follow Jimmy’s lead. Love and prayers aren’t going to stop the senseless killings, good legislation and sensible gun control laws can.

Powerful.

Don’t be distracted by what they are saying, watch what they are doing

Today while we were distracted by all the other flying bullshit…the justice department quietly filed an amicus brief in a federal U.S. Court of appeals stating that the 1964 civil rights act DOES NOT PROTECT LGBT citizens.

Read more HERE.

By taking this stance the Department of Justice is saying that LGBTQ can be descriminated against in housing, employment, healthcare and beyond. The DOJ is saying that I can be descriminated against simply because I don’t fuck the opposite sex, that essentially I do not have any civil rights.

They are going after ALL of us and all of our civil rights. They are doing it right now. They aren’t doing it tomorrow, they are doing it now.

First it was the Muslims, then the Mexican & Central Americans and the immigrants, now the Trans and all LGBT. Who’s next? Almost everyone is next. Unless YOU take a stand for justice now you, YES YOU, are either under fire now or you are next.

Speaking out, speaking up

Trea sums it up

Arrest the disabled!

“Take them to jail. How dare they try to save their own healthcare. Why don’t they just get a job?”

Apparently senator Mitch McGreed and his staff have no use for free speech, differing opinions and for those pesky disabled people who stand to lose their healthcare.

“Off with them ” The Senator and his staff say …

If you aren’t rich Mitch McGreed, nor his staff, wants to see or hear from you. In fact if you aren’t rich they don’t give a damn about you, except for taking away your safety net so they can give it to the rich.

If you give a Fuck about yourself, your fellow humans, your children, or even the Fucking planet we live on…

Contact  your senator by clicking HERE

and then click THIS to contact your congress representative

and don’t forget your governor by clicking this BUTTON

This country is no longer the leader of the free world, but just another place for the rich to park their money and look down their noses at the poor … pity.

Where does chocolate milk come from?

Milk

Cocoa

and Sugar…

But 16 million, yes 16,000,000, American adults believe it comes from brown cows. Seriously…BROWN COWS. You can read more about that in The Washington Post by simply clicking right HERE.

Also of note in that same enlightening article about the state of American intelligence, is the statistic that 1 in 5 American adults is blissfully unaware that hamburger is actually made from cows as well.

Wow. Just WOW.

Travelous interrupterous

So I land in Dulles for a short layover on way to Ft. Lauderdale. When I turn my phone on it explodes with texts asking if I am ok. It seems that this happened…

5 dead and 8 injured at Delta baggage claim in Ft. Lauderdale airport.

I should have already boarded my plane to fly there. However the plane that I fly there on is sitting on the tarmac there, full of passengers coming here, waiting to take off. The FTL airport is still closed so who knows when it will take off and when I will get to board it to head there.

While I am having the minor inconvenience of travelous interrupertous (my how spell check hates me when I make up my own words) there are families and friends grieving the loss of the five Delta passengers who died at the hands of a crazy man and eight others injured in the hospital. I pray for them. Yes I do pray.

It seems that the gunman had just flown in on a Delta flight, picked up his bag from the luggage carousel, retrieved the gun from his checked bag and opened fire. Seriously. Crazy lives amoung us. Sorry folks but that is horrible. Innocent travelers possibly on their way to a vacation of their dreams, coming home, visiting friends & family, working on a business trip, returning from a deployment overseas or maybe even going on a honeymoon …dead at the luggage carousel because some crazy asshole fucker had a gun in his checked bag.

A fucking gun in a fucking checked bag on a fucking airplane.

Soapbox. Yep I stepped on it.

Now I’ll get back off of it.

So several hours late or maybe tomorrow morning I will finally arrive at my destination of Ft. Lauderdale Florida, my second home. I will stand at a luggage carousel waiting for my bag. I will shed tears. I will remember poor souls I never met. I’ll pray for the loved ones in mourning. I’ll feel gratitude that I was not there at that moment. I will be grateful I was spared and had the minor inconvenience of having to wait here at the United Club outside of Washington DC at the Dulles airport.

Tell your loved ones you love them. Tell them now, and tell them often. Stop smell the roses, take time, value the important things and never ever forget the blessing that is this very moment.

Product Review

I’m an apple products kind of guy. I drank the Kool-aid when I traded the old blackberry in for my first iPhone 4 about 6  years ago. Since then I made the complete change over and now have an iPad Air, iPad Pro and a MacBook Pro. Superior products that I find worth the costs.

I was due an upgrade on my iPhone 6 but thought why? The 7 looks the same and I don’t need a better camera and although the water-resistant feature would be nice, I have never damaged an iPhone with liquid.

Then my lightening port gave me an issue so I decided instead of using the insurance which had a deductible, I’d just use the cash molecules for the deductible for an upgrade to the 7.

WOW. Apple does it again. It may look the same but the phone is a surprisingly wonderful upgrade from the 6. From the new home button technology to the sound and the speed this is a well done upgrade.

I didn’t even know I wanted one and  now I’m glad I did. Kudos to Apple. The iPhone 7 is worth it.