Reality – Page 4 – Harbor Lights Ministries

Jelly or Juice?

jelly_jellybeans

Well, according to an article by Fox News, Jelly Belly is being sued by a woman in California (no surprise here…California=wackadoodles!) because she didn’t know that the jelly beans had sugar in them. WHAT?

So, right off the bat, I am going to throw this information out with a “You Are A Moron” attached! Simply because we, as Common Sense people, can see the reality of this on the surface…without having to dive into the meat of the matter. Or, in this case, the jelly!

Jelly Belly has a product called “Sports Beans” that contain (somehow) extra carbs, electrolytes, and vitamins. Because, all good things that are not good for you should have good stuff in them, right? So, as the story goes, the ‘beans’ have what is called ‘evaporated cane juice’. And, it seems, that this lady, AND the FDA, deem that ingredient as misleading…that someone can construe that as “healthy” and “sugar-free”.

“You Are A Moron”. First off, I’m pretty accurate in saying that there are many ‘juices’ out there that contain sugar. I am also pretty confident that sugar is from cane…as in sugar cane. And, I’m gonna venture further to assume that cane juice is made from sugar cane, and, even if evaporated (which takes out the moisture and leaves the crystals), is still…sugar. Hmmmm…..so, in conclusion…..Jelly Belly’s Sports Beans are, in fact, NOT SUGAR FREE!

Now, I mentioned before that she has the FDA backing this false advertising claim. According to the article from Fox News, “In May 2016, the FDA announced that the term “juice” should not be used unless referring to that of a fruit or vegetable, and that calling sugar “evaporated cane juice” is in fact misleading to consumers.”

Well…I’m surprised we haven’t opened a congressional investigation into this heinous crime!!!

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Let’s just call this situation what it really is: STUPIDITY! Common Sense is once again being cast out of society and being replaced with Common Stupidity! Come on people! Really stop and think here. This isn’t about the shock of finding that candy has sugar in it, nor is it about some woman wanting her 15 minutes of fame and some money…this is about the continual decline of standard thinking!

I say ‘standard’ and ‘thinking together because once-upon-a-time, common sense was rampant upon the earth. People actually stopped and thought things through…on their own…without governmental assistance or direction! Weird, huh?

But, sadly, those days are fading faster than a sunset. It has almost become so common now days to say and do the ridiculous that “jaw hit the ground” descriptor will soon be the way of the dinosaur…extinct! Please….for the love of God…don’t let this happen!!!

Think, people…think! Jelly Belly is a candy manufacturer. They make candy. Candy has sugar in it unless it clearly say “sugar-free”. We have known this since the beginning of dawn! And to be so shocked and horrified by this late-in-life discovery that candy has sugar in it…well, to her and others like her, I say…SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP! Grow up. Wake up. Stop acting like the spoiled little brat and get a life/clue/reality!

Time to take these coddled people with nothing better to do but whine and complain and stick them in their safe-place, shut the door, lock it, and throw away the keys! Harsh? Yes…because life is real and if you cannot handle the reality of candy having sugar in it, you sure as heck are going to have a miserable existence outside of your little bubble…(and remember: bubble gum has SUGAR in it…unless clearly marked SUGAR FREE!)

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Ichabod: Where did the Glory go?

The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. -C. S. Lewis

As many permit themselves comfort from the woes of this world, there exists a jagged edge that they drift dangerously close to, careless to the reality of the fall that awaits them. As gloomy as this sounds, I must persist in casting some reality toward you in the hopes of jarring your slumber!

In ancient biblical times, wars existed between the factions of believers in God and believers of everything else. Though the spiritual realm has its casualties, there was also an effect to the physical as well. Death tolls in these wars, per the accounts of history and Bible, were in the 10’s of thousands! The followers of God, the Israelites, had won a fair share of battles, but also suffered great defeats as well. In most cases, the stories relayed the importance of God and his following his commandments.

In one particular situation, Israel was facing one of their great foes, the Philistines. In 1 Samuel chapter 4, the Israelites had taken a beating and decided to bring up the Ark of the Covenant to the battle front. This represented God’s presence more than anything. The wild cheers of elation rallied the troops and even the Philistines feared God showing up. But…to no avail. Israel got their butt kicked and the enemy ran off with the Ark.

The high priest and judge of Israel, Eli, lost two of his sons in the battle. That information, along with the Ark being taken, literally killed the poor guy. His daughter-in-law was so despondent about the losses that she gave birth and died. The midwife names the boy Ichabod, meaning ‘the glory of the Lord has departed’. Great start to life! (Sarcasm intended!)

It seems historically that when a people decide on their own volition of self first, it isn’t too long afterward that their demise hits. The United States of America was essentially founded on a basis of the Bible as the core moral and spiritual compass. The founding fathers forged our first governing documents on the whole of scripture, keeping that, with God, all things are possible. But, as with any great nation, corruption seeps in…slowly, assuredly, and with a purpose of demise. Even the learned institutions, such as Harvard and Yale, started out as seminary schools teaching the Bible! Yet, now, you would be fortunate to find scripture anywhere within the walls of the university. We are on the safest road to hell!

So, how did this happen? How did we get to this drowning point? The primary place to point out the failing is our own ‘churches’. Now, I am not going to get all denominational or call out particular names. That is not the intent of this. But, I will shake a fist to any and all who claim Christianity as their faith, yet deny the Bible as the word of God. Without the Bible, we do not have the compass of direction. Without the Bible, we do not have instructions. Without the Bible, we do not have a reference point to keep ourselves on the correct path!

All that said, when we cast aside His Words to us, we begin to wander aimlessly. We become “I Chabod”….without the Glory. When we are travelling and feel uncertain about our direction, we consult a map. Now days, we are constantly looking to our smart phones for information and direction. Well, the Bible is our map. The Bible is our smart phone that has all the answers we need. And without it…well, we rely on our own understanding. Our own views. Our own mess!

The father of lies, the great deceiver, has crept into the fabric of God-fearing churches and cast doubts, dissensions, and destruction from within. And since pushing aside the Bible as the beacon of truth, these churches have turned into social clubs and feel-good parties…with no truth being taught! Whitewashed Tombs! Pretty on the outside, empty and dead on the inside!

Mark 7:9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!”

The churches today (not all) have essentially rejected the Bible as the Word and have, instead, decided that soft, gentle talks regarding social issues are more important than knowing God and His Word! And with the disregard of God’s Word as authoritative and commanding, man has put himself in God’s place and now determines what is and what isn’t sin! What was once revered as Gospel has since become edited so as not to offend anyone! Sins are acceptable and they just avoid talking about His Words and commands!

The Glory has departed! And with His departing, so has His hand which has held back the enemies of God’s people!

One of the greatest preachers of all time, Jonathan Edwards, in 1741 preached a sermon that shook the very core of believers and unbelievers alike. That sermon, titled “Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God” was filled with fire and brimstone that convicted people to remedy, or assure, that their relationship with God was of utmost importance! We have fallen so far from that reverence, passion, and belief in the God of the Bible, creator of all things, through his Son, by which we have forgiveness and restored fellowship.

“There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.“ – Edwards

So, I ask: Why? Why has the Word of God been rejected by the very people who claim to believe in God? Why have we allowed His Glory to depart from us? Are we so delusional as to think that God would never cast anyone into hell? Because, if we are sitting at such a comfort level, in disbelief of God’s wrath, as to think that…I really suggest you reconsider what His Words really do say! There is no free rides to Heaven! The Bible is very clear on that! His own people, the Israelites, were destroyed in a battle because of their own complacency and denial of His Supremacy! YOU are no different. The church is no different.

God has never promised to save us from Hell, except for those contained in Christ through the covenant of Grace. – Edwards

The churches have rejected God’s Word. The Glory has departed. Man stands alone on a wayward path leading toward destruction of soul: hell.

I guess I challenge anyone to look at their ‘churches’ and ask the question: Do they fully accept God’s words as complete revelation from God, or are they picking and choosing what they want to keep and what they don’t? It literally is an “all or nothing” situation. You either believe in the Bible or you don’t. And, as Edwards based his sermon from in scripture, ‘their foot shall slip in due time’ (Deut 32:35), there isn’t a middle ground with God. You (and the church) are either hot or cold. Lukewarm is the path that leads to destruction.

Who am I today…?

Label: A word or phrase that describes someone or something.

One of the many definitions of the word ‘Label’. A word that is cast about in our society today with a variety of intent. People like labels, people hate labels, people feel the need to label, people want labels removed. This word has become the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” trigger.

Any given day, at any given time, you can hear and see labels being tossed around with such complacency…yet as quickly as used, are being cause to charged emotional reactions.

There are simple labels cast upon people, individuals, such as ‘black’ or ‘white’ to denote skin color. The popular labels used to designate affiliations such as ‘democrat’ or ‘republican’. The newer generational labels to describe, such as ‘gay’ or ‘straight’. All these types are scrutinized to see if they are using the label as a means of identification to good or if it is a tool to castigate someone ‘different’.

The funny part about labels is how they show the hypocrisy of people. Humanity is so quick to charge themselves as this or thus, but when labeled by others, they anger at the thought of being pigeon-holed! Really? I’m confused! You want to be labeled, but get upset when you are? Huh?

So, that being said, our world has taken things to such an extreme of stupidity now regarding labels. People want to be labeled as non-labeled. The “I identify as…” generation has promoted the label of ‘ambiguous’.

am·big·u·ous

amˈbiɡyo͞oəs/

adjective: ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made.

Ok. I get that you don’t want to be labeled with a political affiliation or a particular religion or even an ethnic background. It doesn’t change who you are! With or without a label, you are who you are inside and out and people are going to identify you one way or another.

I’m gonna draw the line at a point though. Gender.

So, you are trying to push on me that you are neither male or female? This is where my Common-Sense-Meter is jumping off the scales! I don’t care how flaky and extreme you are, but, the facts are facts. You have a penis, you are a male. You have a vagina, you are a female. You can lop it off or add one on all you want, but the fact of the matter still remains: You ARE what you were born with!

I use this Bradley Manning person that is in the news as an example. Aside from him (yes, I am using the proper pronoun to describe this human) being a traitor to the country; aside from our government allowing him to be associated with our army; aside from him whining and demanding that he wants to play dress up in girls clothes…aside from all that, he is still MALE.

You pee standing up, you use the men’s room. Putting on a dress doesn’t make you any more a woman than putting lipstick on a pig changes the animal. The label doesn’t change who or what you are!

“But, I was born with the wrong parts.” “I’m a woman trapped in a man’s body.” “I identify as a….”

Sorry. Not gonna buy into that game. You want to play dress up and act a certain way because you have ‘feelings’ for the same-sex, go right ahead. But, don’t you drag me into accepting this. Not my circus, not my monkeys! I don’t have to accept you playing gender games anymore than you have to accept me as a good writer. We all play pretend from time to time, but I will not be forced into accepting every and any label people want to attach to themselves!

Today, I am this…tomorrow, I think I’ll be that!

The issue here, folks, is not that you have to believe the same way as everyone else, the issue comes down to how your beliefs or claims or labels are pushed on others. I believe in the Bible as the inerrant word of God…but that doesn’t mean you better make concessions for me in all ways because of this! Think about the common sense level we are talking about here! There has to be a point where the spiral is stopped! Everything is getting pushed so far to the extremes that the free-for-all of lunacy is a blurred and borderless line! Where does it stop?

I’m going to leave that to moral judgement. I have my line…and it is a pretty fair line at that. Considering all of the labels that people love/hate out there, I figure that common sense and a moral base need to be used to filter reality from the label-land of make-believe!

1 Cor 13:11 says “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”

Good advice.

Looks like we got us a convoy…

Hello (insert name here)!

I want to first thank you for our time together this morning! It was absolutely wonderful of you to take the lead in our convoy of commuters, all heading to our places of employment. You really held a steady and sure pace!

I remember back in the day, driving in military convoys throughout the world! The commander’s words to “keep convoy integrity” tight. The constant checking in the rearview mirrors to assure that the person behind me was still in sight and close by. The speeds were always relegated to the last vehicle’s pace, so as to leave no one behind! Ah, yes…a tight-knit unit we were!

The only slight drawback to our convoy, though, is that WE ARE NOT A CONVOY! We are traffic on a freeway! We are pressing toward a goal, solo, without worry about the fellow behind us!

I want to take a quick minute to just say that I completely support our traffic laws and do take into consideration that 70 means 70. Believe me, I know that many take 70 as a ‘suggestion’. And, on occasion, I have taken liberty to adjust my driving speeds a wee-bit faster than the posted signs. But, that is not to say that 80 is acceptable. And, neither is 60!

With all that said, my dear slow pace-car driver…I would like to offer you a suggestion; GET OFF OF THE ROADS!

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The string of cars that were bottlenecked behind you were not there to support your make-up applying, breakfast eating, cell phone texting, drive-at-your-leisure morning! They were there because you are traveling well under the posted speed limits, in the ‘passing lane’, with no one in front of you for well over a mile!

Road rage is all the rage these days! The unfortunate result from that rage is sometimes horrific violence. People have such selfish attitudes whilst driving that it can easily enrage others, simply because they have their own selfish attitudes. Once someone has entered into their vehicle, that metal wrapped around them becomes a cocoon of sorts. The world outside is of little relevance and that it’s all about “me” and whatever “I” want.

So, let’s have little or no regard for anyone else around! Who cares if your actions upset the balance of traffic! The balance of humanity!

Xtesb1r

So, feel free to pat yourself on the back, worry not about anyone else out there, because it’s all about you! Your freeway. Your hallway. You’re the king/queen/prince/princess! Just do as you please! Lead that convoy of unsuspecting travelers at your pace! We’ll wait! Stand in the middle of aisle while you’re playing on your phone! We’ll wait!

I mean, time is not important…it’s not like we are living in the last days, or anything like that!

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ²For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

So, carry on!

See ya on the roads tomorrow!

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Missing: Common Sense

Xtesb1r It has been such a long time. So many things have happened that alter one’s thinking patterns toward new paths. This, in, and of itself, is a good thing. Continually traipsing wayward down roads leading to unfulfilled chaos is no way to live life! Remember, many moons ago, that I started this blog to root out the evil that worms its way into society, destroying the one semblance of necessity that we, as a people, need to survive: Common Sense!

What has happened between then and now is no small matter! It appears that the world has continued the downward spiral it was on…not slowing one iota! Hmmmmm…..what to do, what to do!

Fortunately, our moribund society is salvageable! Not because we have a new President. Not because morals have made a resurgence. And, not because a news/commentary talking head has said so! We are salvageable because we have believers! There are many of us still walking forward believing that we can do better! There are many sides to every issue, good and bad, that attempts to sway our grasp of solution. Unfortunately, the bad can often outweigh the good and implement a course that creates a bigger monster than before.

Take the example of my favorite monster of all…Godzilla! Now, before you start casting judgments my way, keep in mind that as a child of the…ummm…..era a while ago, Godzilla movies were fun, campy Japanese creations that pitted a man-made catastrophe against the society we cherished. That humanity was above all, including nature…even God, Himself, and could tamper with our life-existence was pointed out to be our arrogancy! So, I guess what I am saying is that, even though we still continue to exist as a society of arrogant, selfish, and indulgent fools, the monsters we create will not just go away because we say so!

Not everyone walks on the side of the monsters, though! We can still grasp at the true solution to many of societies problems. By embracing Common Sense, we have the weapons and shields needed to crush the monsters of stupidity!

One example of this, not to get too political, is Minnesota’s Governor and the “criteria” to conform to federal mandates of a “real ID”. I’m not completely sure what the whole fuss is about the real ID thing in respects to what I carry in my wallet: a valid Minnesota Driver’s License. The state issued that to me after showing that I can pass a written test and drive a car around a test track. It also acts to identify me to various agencies and such because it has my picture. Well, the argument continues with our state geniuses about passing this “real ID” thing so that we would then be able to fly using the special “real ID”. One hold up here in the great state of Minnesota is that our Governor thinks that people who are illegally in the country should be able to get a driver’s license as well.

I’ll let that soak in for a minute. Let the Common Sense flow within you. Look at the situation through the Common Sense Lenses!

Why, on God’s green earth, would you give someone who is in the country illegally a valid state identification? Well, according to our state ‘leader’, it will make them safer drivers and reduce accidents. (Shall I pause here and let that reasoning soak in as well, or just continue since we all can easily understand the dumbfounded thinking?)

Dear Gov;

Please explain to me how giving someone, who doesn’t obey the laws of the United States of America, a driver’s license is going to make them a better driver? Please explain how said person is going to suddenly become a conscientious member of society with a photo ID that, for all intents and purposes, cannot be verified…since they are probably not running around with other forms of legal identification to back up the driver’s license?

Thank you in advance,

The Legal People of the United States of America/Minnesota Chapter

Just a wild thought…..but, Common Sense would indicate that they shouldn’t have a driver’s license, which is a given privilege to the citizens. And, here is your definition of citizens:

cit·i·zen

ˈsidizən,ˈsidisən/

noun

noun: citizen; plural noun: citizens; noun: cit.

a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.

I’m just going to close with this: Because you stand in a yard, it doesn’t make you a resident. Because you travel down the road, it doesn’t make you a car. Because you swim in the water, it doesn’t make you a fish. And, because you are within the borders of a land, it doesn’t make you a legally recognized subject or national of that place.

This is only one example of our missing Common Sense….but, we still have many who view life through the lenses of it! People, we can alter the path, change the direction, and turn the ship around and make this a better world…..all with a little help from our friends, and Common Sense!

Following a thread…

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Ever-consuming-insanity! Nothing better than politics, slanted media, chaotic violence, finger-pointing accusations, and your everyday, run-o’-the-mill mayhem to motivate us all to get out of bed and dive in to the day-to-day fun!!

Now that all the gloom and doom has been thrust out front, I want to dial it back and focus on something even more important: Flossing!

Turns out, per a recent article by the writer Catherine Saint Louis in the New York Times (Aug 2, 2016), that the “… latest dietary guidelines for Americans, issued by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, quietly dropped any mention of flossing without notice. This week, The Associated Press reported that officials had never researched the effectiveness of regular flossing, as required, before cajoling Americans to do it.”

Well then. Just that part right there has put all the brakes onto my crusades for Common Sense and setting the world back straight! How can I take another step forward with this new knowledge in front of me? After all the years, (and, yes, very few visits to the dentist), of “cajoling” by dentists to floss, I started religiously flossing about a year ago. Actually, it has almost become an obsession. Actually, if I can’t find my Plackers Micro-Mint Dental Flossers, I start envisioning revolution on a global scale! What have I become, and is it all for naught? UGH!!!

It’s one thing to cruise through this world having to constantly watch for the oncoming idiots, morons, and dummies day-to-day, but now we are having our trust in the ‘experts’ crumble before our very eyes! Trust is a needed commodity to survive in today’s world, and when that trust is ruined…well, it almost feels like you are now leaping out of a plane without a parachute! (Exception taken with the crazy guy and his recent jump into a net!)

Remember the old line “I have trust issues because of raisins in cookies, looking like chocolate chips!”? Well, now I can add dental floss to that mix! It’s bad enough that trust of government and other tyrannical officials has long been shattered…but to lose faith in dentistry? We are quickly becoming moribund! Sliding down the slippery slope to doom!

The question remains: What do we do with this new knowledge? Do we wait it out and hope that some bright group comes along with a study to say “hold on folks, turns out that we really do need to floss”? Are we prepared to run into battle and get the “truth” from all the doctors and dentists who tell us ‘an apple a day…’? Do we just roll over and give up? And, if we do give up, what is to become of the dental floss industry? The jobs, the people, the floss?

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I, for one, do intend to continue on with my zeal for the floss. Studied, or not…I have found ample evidence within my mouth that supports the program of flossing! After all, what is the alternative? Carry parts of previous meals with you throughout the day? I might not be in the mood for a piece of onion to dislodge whilst enjoying a delicious piece of pie! Nor am I a fan of flashing a smile and sharing the menu of my earlier consumables! Let’s face it, removing the evidence of breakfast before a conversation allows us to focus on the discussion better…rather than doing tongue-yoga trying to manipulate some food remnant discreetly.

To each their own! But, I do declare this to be a matter more pressing than whether some reality television person humped this or said that. I’d much rather know if our government officials conducted their talks while tongue-hunting a piece of bacon stuck between a couple of molars! And, if they were, why didn’t they get the string out and remove it? Did they stop just because there hasn’t been any “official” studies done? Maybe there is a tie-in to Common Sense here.

Perhaps we have become too dependent on ‘officials’ telling us what we should and shouldn’t do. Maybe we need to break free of the bonds and think for ourselves. To think outside the directives given to us by the powers that be might actually lead us to strengthening our knowledge! Not that we can all become scientists and doctors and dentists…but to be able to stand on our own two feet when the experts are wrong!

That doesn’t mean we remove all the warning labels just yet….the earth population would drop exponentially! Let’s face it…there exists stupid out there! This needs to be a slow, educational process. After-all, the dumbing down of people didn’t happen overnight! It’s taken decades of manipulation, subliminal advertising, and threats to health and welfare to get to this point! But, we really are not that stupid that we need to have our hands held by big brother everyday!

Let’s stand, remove the blinders, look at the light, think, and, above all, FLOSS!

(Disclaimer: The author is not, nor has never been, affiliated with any dentistry organization and/or oral hygiene company/manufacturer. So, settle down! I’m not getting a dime out of this blazing endorsement of Plackers or any sort of flossing materials!)

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Altered States (or… lies your computer tells you)

I have to find some humor in the technological advancements we have today. As much as the science and technology growth has “improved” our lives (still not sure who’s definition we are using there…), there is just as much damage that is occurring from it as well.

Someone shared with me a “glitch” that was found in our technology. No, it isn’t something as large as from the movie “War Games” where the computer is preparing to launch a nuclear device. This was something that could be considered small, yet indicative of changes that could affect future generations. A friend had downloaded the classic piece of literature “War And Peace” onto their Nook e-reader. Now, I will confess right here and now that I am in no way an expert on the world of e-readers. I’m still a fan of holding a real book! But I do like the notion of having several books available into one ‘machine’.

So, anyway, this copy of “War And Peace” was downloaded from the Barnes and Noble site for the grand price of 99 cents! A bargain! Yet the bargain came with a price. It seems that there was some word replacements made within the story. Not by the publisher or anyone else. It was done through the technology! The word “kindle”, as in ‘tending a fire’, is used about 8 times throughout the classic volume of writing. The makers of the Nook are in fierce competition with Amazon’s Kindle. The Nook technology removed the word “kindle” and replaced it with the word “nook”. That’ll teach them!

So now instead of “kindled” the fire, you “nook’d” the fire! Gotta love it! I have to imagine that if our technology ever becomes self-aware, it won’t try to destroy the human population as it has been presented in science fiction movies. No, they will try to destroy each other thanks to the competition of marketing!

If you can picture the future of humanity, studying the great pieces of literature, with the (un)necessary alterations being accepted as the original text? It’s been done before! The Bible has seen more alterations than a wedding dress shop!

So, what’s next? How about Dickens’ classic Great Expectations becoming Great Clips. Or perhaps Stevenson’s Treasure Island getting Casino added at the end of the title. Maybe Washington Irving’s classic The Sketch Book Of Gregory Crayon will have Gregory removed and replaced with Crayola! Next thing you know, the computers will get politically neutral and change Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to A Holiday Carol! Ugh!

Alright Cannon, let’s not get too carried away! Back on topic! (As if there was one…..).

Point is, there comes a time when we lose the humanity by allowing machines to do the thinking for us. So many examples of that leading to catastrophe have been displayed in movies, television, and books. Our legacy to the future generations is to ensure that they never lose sight of where we came from. That is why it is so important that we maintain history factual and unedited. The slightest alteration in script could mean the difference from what was once considered evil to now being considered good.

History is our story. We have worked hard to preserve it, teach it, and learn from it. There are three things that a computer should never replace: human touch, human emotion, and human history.

Paint Me Some Common Sense!

It has been a very long time since I have been on here to post my words about the lack of common sense in our world today and the craziness that has replaced said common sense. I apologize to my readers for this large gap in writing. My only defense has been that the overwhelming amount of chaos, frivolity, and just-plain-stupidity that has been rampant throughout the world lately has overloaded my thought process!

Our mission of Thinking-Before-Reacting and Use-Common-Sense has been pushed aside in favor of time travel back to the Land That People Forgot. That place where crazy reigned supreme, people were filled with disrespect for one another, and lack of reasoning was prevalent. You all are aware of my huge plea to “learn from history”! We have a colorful past of mistakes and errors to show us what doesn’t work! Let’s use it! But, sadly, no. It appears to be just the opposite. Instead of learning from the past, let’s just take our whole mentality and re-create that era. Let’s just live daily the things that we fought so hard to change for the better.

A painter starts with small brush strokes, outlines the various parts of the canvas, details in the colors to bring out the images they strive for. But before the brush touches the paint, the finished product is pictured in the mind. In order to make that picture become reality, the artist must know what the finished product will look like. So, too, we need to have that “big picture” view. See the whole before we can understand the parts. When we plant our focus on a small portion, make a judgement of the big picture just based on that small portion…well, often our view is incomplete, inaccurate, and inadequate.

What creates such dissension in this world is that the narcissism of so many has narrowed their view to just a portion of reality. Since they are so convinced that the world is all about them, they conclude things based on that narrow viewpoint. Now multiply that narrow-mindedness to millions and millions, put it on television and internet, and you have successfully destroyed common sense. Take out rational thinking and you have nullified respect. Eliminate caring and you have the world as it is today.

I don’t want to be the downer, the negative, the bringer of bad news. My intent is not to depress you, dear reader! The intent is to recharge you! The intent is to revitalize you into pushing for changes in this blinded world we live in! We have had so many paintings presented to us from the past…big pictures that show our bad, that from it we can do good. But we cannot just focus on a small part of those pictures….no! We need to step back, see the painting as a whole, and learn from what it says!

Opening up the narrow and seeing the whole allows us to make rational decisions, use common sense when addressing issues, and, most of all, care! It takes us away from the mistakes of our past and allows us the opportunity to be respectable people. I haven’t written for some time, partly out of overload, but partly out of confusion. There are so many decent people in this world, and yet the media fronts the rotten tomatoes.

One of my favorite quotes from the movies is Donald Sutherland’s character in Kelly’s Heroes. He would always tell Gavin MacLeod’s character to “stop with all the negative waves”.

Very applicable, I’d say! How about some “positive waves”!

Will The Real You Please Stand Up?

I am a doctor. I am a detective. I am an athlete. I am a scientist. I am a rock star. I am a comedian. I am all this and more.

I am a talentless whiner. I am a user of people. I am a deceiver of businesses. I am an attention junkie. I am all this and more.

After I turn off the television, I sit in isolation. Quiet surrounds me I’m left with my thoughts. The mind scrambles to register all that it witnessed. Who am I? Can I heal? Do I solve? Am I famous? Do I need accolades? Where’s my mansion? Who am I?

Filled with inexplicable amounts of make-believe, we find ourselves not ourselves. The constant watcher of others, we soon lose identity and believe ourselves someone else. Reality is scripted and fiction is true-to-life. Separating ourself from the box becomes too painful and we elect to base life upon the results of edited production. The need to immerse our comings and goings on what someone else is takes over. Who am I?

Why is there such a fascination with living vicariously through others, whether fact or fiction? Have we become so dissolution with ourselves, our potential, that we abandon the future we can make all for the fantasy of another? We are so entrenched in emulating that ‘original’ is becoming archaic. Gene Roddenberry may have discovered our futures by the creation of an alien race called the Borg for the Star Trek franchises. They are a fictional race of cybernetic organisms that “assimilate” other beings into their “collective”. In other word, much like the content on our t.v.’s, they absorb people and make us a part of themselves.

We are not too far from that, actually. Lacking the flying spaceships and science fiction effects, we have this continual desire to “be like” this person or that. The old days of boys wanting to grow up and be like their hero’s such as the Lone Ranger and brave knights, or the little girls wanting to become princesses and movie stars, has evolved into obsessions that are suffered even by adults. We seek to replace our doldrums for excitement…our meanial for fame! The power to be living in our skin, but as someone else.

So we sit day after day, seeking to be someone else, somewhere else. We look inward and want to change outward. We feel a lacking inside and reach for transformation, even if it is only a fantasy. At the cost of being accusatory, I suggest we are all, to some degree or another, under this urge. We start out as ourselves, become disillusioned with who we are due to pressure to conform, and eventually all but abandon who we are. Who we become depends on who we covet.

Not that being inspired by others’ achievements to become better is a bad thing. On the contrary, it can be a great thing! Isn’t it said that imitation is the highest form of flattery? Sure! But what on television is there that is worth imitation?

May I direct the audience to reality t.v.? No, it’s ok…you can shake your head in disbelief. A very understandable reaction when you look at the characters on there through your Common Sense Glasses! Come on folks! These people are out there! Be afraid, be very afraid!

The fact that many are loose in the world without a good pair of Common Sense Glasses is scary! They cannot see the shallow and conceited manners of many on television. They are blinded to the arrogance of the actors, (…and yes, reality t.v. is nothing but actors). But because of the flamboyant and over-the-top nature of the characters, some think that the make-believe is a better existence and want to do the same.

With a good fitting of Common Sense, you start to see through the fake and fluff. You understand that life isn’t an everyday party without consequences. You see that accountability is on the individual, not the production staff. Directors and camera crews don’t alter your life by edits and filters…you are you, right to the very end!

If science fiction has taught us anything, it’s that you need to have your guard up at all times. Aliens from far and near are trying to absorb you into their world, and unless you see them for who they really are, you will fall prey and lose self. Wear your Common Sense Glasses, see the world as it really is, and protect yourself from the lure of illusion. Stand on your own two feet and be who you are! You can still enjoy life, and I believe life will enjoy the real you!

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Purse Spelunking

A model presents a creation at the Michael Kors Spring 2011 collection during New York Fashion Week — Be Afraid!

At this point, I need to step forward for all men and convey a concern. Actually, it is a deep-seeded worry, (some would say fear). I talking about purses. You all know what they are. The over-the-shoulder tote that allows women (and sadly, some men…just sayin’…) to have ready access to necessities for the day. Everyone has seen them. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and designs. The trend these days leans toward the luggage-sized variety. No matter what style or type, it is the one accessory that rarely seems to be left behind.

As for the contents of said purses, that remains purely individual choice. Cell phones, keys, tissues, make-up, pictures, and wallets seem to comprise the more common items likely found within. There are also the coin collectors, the junk junkies, the dirt delighters, and the toy toters. Now, add larger bags to the equation and you have ample room to include so much more that the term ‘heavy hauler’ takes on a new meaning!

Back to my initial statement of concern and worry for men. Most men understand the old embarrassment of having to be seen in public holding the purse while the lady is trying on clothes or in need of both hands for one thing or another. Uncomfortable and awkward are the descriptors here. But a deeper horror begins to take shape when we are asked– nay, told, to retrieve something from the caverns of The Purse! (Cue dramatic, scary music!) Before you begin the adventure of Purse Spelunking, let me share some important do’s and don’t’s that could just save you from intense dangers!

Some people are adept at exploring wild caves as a recreation. This is called spelunking or caving. Going into a woman’s purse is not too different from that, with the main difference being the objects one might encounter. You see, deep within the well that makes up The Purse, lies a myriad of tunnels and pitfalls where darkness consumes unsuspecting objects. Many have entered, few have returned. Trust me when I tell you that preparation could save a hand…or more!

The foremost thing that must be understood is that the outside of the purse is deceiving as to its true depth and width inside. Never underestimate, as that is the folly of man! Prepare as if you were entering the largest cave system in the world! Rappelling gear, rope (as much as you can carry), survival gear (in case you find yourself in there longer than anticipated), a good pair of shoes to keep your footing (you might find a pair or two in the purse, but beware that heels don’t make good climbing shoes), a good light source with plenty of back up power (the last thing you want to lose is light down there), and protective eye wear (Lord knows what sharp objects you could run into).

Upon entering the cavern, you may initially be frightened by the many pockets that lead into darkness. Stay strong! The sight of large winged creatures soaring from side to side could easily lead you to believe that you stepped into a land that time forgot, but rest assured…you are only in a purse! This is not to say that all you encounter will be new. No, things will appear that entered in a long time ago. Don’t be startled by stale gum, half eaten cough drops, hardened lip balm, corroded hair clips, or coins that contain images of Caesar. These are all just ghosts of travels-past. Spelunking in a purse will dredge these up!

Remember to focus on the task at hand. Don’t be swayed and distracted by the curiosities that pop out of different annexes within. What looks like a food item could, in reality, be a carefully wrapped napkin holding the remnants of a meal long forgotten! It’s important to know the item you seek intimately. You don’t want to mistake something down here for something else! Retrieving some Tylenol? Don’t touch items that are not in a protective container. Contamination is a prevalent problem down here. You might think that the loose M&M’s look good, but could actually be ibuprofen with lip gloss melt on them!

Time is of the essence! The longer you remain inside, the greater the chance of getting lost and being added to the curios that remain behind. Don’t put yourself in that position. Keep a “get in, get out” motto coursing through your brain at all times. Keep your eyes open and be aware of what your hands are near. There are objects in here that will break skin and lead to infections. That nail file may be rounded on one end but could easily hide mini scissors on the other! Take no chances!

Above all, always have an exit strategy! If you feel something isn’t right, get out! Guys, you are not trained experts in Purse Spelunking. You don’t just thrust your arm into a dark, potentially hazardous pocket without doing your research first. Narrow down your quest by having the instigator give you specifics: which pocket? front or back? left, right, or center? zipper or snap? If the item isn’t in plain view upon approach, now is the time to decide if you truly need it right now. Is this something that can wait for a more experienced spelunkers, such as the owner of the purse?

Preparation is key and keeping your guard is imperative. There are dangers at every turn and unless you are ready to face them in the purse, it may be best to avoid it for your safety.