Mass killings

    Why is anyone shocked the acts of an obviously evil man. It's a sad day when you send your happy cheerful child to kindergarten and return to find out a madman went nuts.

     Obviously there is no way to console anyone who experiences such a tragedy, but we all know that no one needs  an AR-15 or Sig Sauer assault rifle, now if he got off one hundred rounds " which has been reported". It's not likely he did it with two handguns. These weapons are made for war and nothing else. So there are only two ways to approach this.
1. Ban civilians from purchasing them, because no one know's who will snap at any time, it's unpredictable.
2. We wait until the wrong person get's killed and the pendulum swings completely in the opposite direction.
Now I understand it's interpreted differently as to the Constitution But when the Constitution was written they didn't have guns that fire 500-1000 rounds in a minute.

    I am a card carrying member of the NRA, so I'm not asking to get rid of private ownership, but if you think about it, it's kind of cowardice to use those types of weapons against civilians. It takes no skill, all you're doing is spraying people. It takes skill to use a handgun or a rifle. The ideal weapon for home protection is a shot gun, any officer will tell you this.

     So who or how many deaths will it take to end this madness. Law makers aren't concerned enough about the welfare of their constituents. My prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.
AMF...

Gravity

     Why is it that in space small particles such as salt and sugar will clump together? Large bodies such as the moon and earth effect one another as well.

     Well then you may ask why do some meteors hit Earth and others merely skip off the outer atmosphere despite the disparity in mass, well I think it's partially due to trajectory but I also believe it has to do with the proximity to the planet. In the recent past we have had a few near misses.  Some that were visible with the naked eye, yet (luckily) they didn't hit us, why?

     I don't think it's gravity ( alone ) pulling or pushing the penny from the table to the ground when it falls from a table. It falls because there is no medium to stop it falling. Had the Astronaut put a penny in with the sugar and salt experiment aboard the ISS I'd wager the penny would not have clumped up with the particles, they may have clumped to one another and then to the penny but not vice-versa.

     I think that there is a proportional value of mass and trajectory ( possibly other factors ) that determines what we call gravity. Now as I have said before i'm not a physicist or a mathematician, just a guy with idea's. Perhaps this view has already been put out there, I'm just putting forth an idea I haven't read about or seen on one of the science channels. Maybe it's valid and someone can do something with this to answer some fundamental questions about the nature of gravitational fields both on a universal and the sub-particle level.

Kenneth G, Penn
AMF...

why are we here?

      While I don't know, I do have a a few theories. Purely chance. Or we were seeded here as an experiment. Now let's look at both theories. A-cum's Razor say's that the simplest explanation is the one that's most likely to be true. Now it's up to decide which makes the most sense.

    Chance in my opinion makes the most sense. We've been hit by numerous comets and meteors which we now know carry water and the most basic's of the beginning of life. Is it really so hard to believe in evolution?

    Now if we were seeded here, by GOD or aliens I feel is more unlikely. While their are many planets out there, they would have to be many years ahead of us in technology just to get here. But this should not be completely discounted as many civilizations have records showing them knowledge of astronomy and mathematics's during antiquity. I don't believe for a minute that these were fabricated or made up, these people drew what they believe they saw. Take the Sumerians as an example, provided they have been dated properly, it's a clear sign that some thing ex-terrestrial in nature had an influence. So I am not writing that theory off, my only problem is why haven't they come back? I believe UFO's are real but why not come down and shake hands? Only in experiments do you merely observe your experiment.

     So what's the answer, I have no idea. I being one who believes in empirical data. I tend to go for the scientific explanation of the world. Let me know what your thoughts are, whether you agree or disagree...
AMF...

American Exceptionalism

     [American Exceptionalism] Who first came up with this bullshit slogan. Are we so arrogant to think we are the king of the world? Our military does far exceed any other nations on Earth. As far as moral high ground, I think we have a long way to go.

     Technically America is an Empire and as so many in the past have fallen so will we. Before you say love it or leave it, I am a Patriot and it's been said since this country was formed we [The People] must always be prepared to defend ourselves against the tyranny of the state. We have so many Government agencies [ many do redundant tasks] that it's hard to know who is doing what. Even worse who is controlling what they are doing?

     Our last President who actually showed compassion, decency, respect and true leadership was LBJ. After that Nixon finally made it in and his China visit notwithstanding all but admitted he was a failure. Ford was, well lets just say a klutz. Carter got screwed before he could get anything done because of those damn Iranians. Then the 80's kicked in and we had a puppet movie star. It was Reagan BTW who started the whole anti union thing when he fired all the striking ATC's. I knew then it was the beginning of the end for unions. You also thank him for the beginnings of deregulation. Bush Sr. did a fairly good job. Clinton came in and continued where Reagan left off, but he did get us a lot of jobs. Bush Jr. should be stricken from the Presidential roles as Dick Cheney was his puppet master. This brings us to Obama.  He'll get a few more things done in his second term but not everything promised.

     No President since LBJ will ever be able to take Congress in hand and tell them to get off the asses and remember who they work for. Many Politicians today are so concerned with power and therefore money that they will do or say just about anything to hang on to those cushy jobs of theirs. America is going through a growth spurt [not in economic prosperity] but maturity. And the kids of today are learning their lessons from the likes of M. Romney, the Koch brothers, Mr. Adelson and hundreds of other old white men who yearn for the 1950's. Or they are so hung up playing t-ball or guitar hero that they don't realize losing is a part of life.   You keep shielding your kids from the real world, one of two things will occur in the next 200 years. They will believe the American Exceptionalism model and keep trying to turn the whole world into some kind of world america or we will be back in caves. Why caves, because when you have 1 guy bigger than everyone else, sooner or later the bully will push them too far and they'll all gang up on you!
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Our Founding Fathers...

Penn’s Perspective: Our Founding Fathers...: Do any of you really know about who the founding fathers were and what they stood for?         Our Founding fathers were: Rich, Law breaki...

Our Founding Fathers...

Do any of you really know about who the founding fathers were and what they stood for?
   
   Our Founding fathers were: Rich, Law breaking, older white men.  They deemed Slavery was fine, women had no rights and that they could have their own personal concubines "Look up Thomas Jefferson" if they wished!  They also felt "for the most part that religion was about the worst thing that humankind had to endure! These are FACTS, please feel free to research this information!

  I Love seeing women at Tea party gatherings saying they want to go back to the way the Founding Fathers meant things to be.  Well ladies here are a few things you'd have to give up: Birth Control, Reporting abuse by your husband, The right to vote, Free Assembly, interracial marriage. Is this really what you want?

  Well Mr. Romney has made it very clear how he feels about women's rights and Ryan is just as bad if not worse. If you feel being disenfranchised and staying home with babies is the route for women, then vote Romney.  If you feel the top 1% deserve to pay LESS IN TAXES, then vote Romney. 

  On the other hand if you are educated or even sensible, you won't stand for this crap.  No matter how good their hairdo's look. Go to Mr. Romney's site and read what he has in store for the middle class and the military.  Do you realize our military is bigger than the next 8 largest militarizes COMBINED! Hell, I'd be paranoid to, after all we attacked Iraq for no good reason. We are a war mongering country and it shouldn't be that way. Romney has already stated that he'd use military force on Iran. Think about that for a minute, what will that accomplish aside from pissing off the other extremest in the country not to mention Russia and China.

  By the way, Russia and China hold so much of our debt right now that if they cared to they could bankrupt us tomorrow, let's use diplomacy and not guns.  You go that route everyone loses...
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: The Rapture...

Penn’s Perspective: The Rapture...:    Delusion is defined as:  false belief: a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence, especially as a symp...

The Rapture...

   Delusion is defined as: false belief: a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence, especially as a symptom of a psychiatric condition.

   What's more likely?  Did God create us or did we create God?  Well it's nice to think that there's an Alpha and Omega but really isn't it a bit silly?  God has a plan for us all, God works in mysterious ways.  Both sayings I'm sure you're familiar with but if God does exist do you really think it has any concern for you whatsoever!  It is running the entire universe.  Also the world is not four thousand years old!  Hell I can go outside right now and dig about 10-12 feet down and find a rock that's older than that!   It's done with a process called carbon dating.

   Listen, I have nothing against you Christians who choose to believe this nonsense but just know you're gonna have a long long wait for the rapture.  Not to mention only a limited number will be called, of all the Christians, what makes you so special that you believe that you'll be amungst the chosen?  

   All the holy books were written by men, human men!  Wise human men but men none the less.  As humankind hasn't really changed since those times what makes you think that they are absolutely right in the words they wrote?  Many people fall prey to cults every year, sadly many of them believe so greatly in the nonsense their leader spews out, that they voluntarily commit suicide.  Now I will give them prop's for dedication but come on.  Does Jesus or Muhammad really need martyrs?

   While no man is perfect, Reptiles (ie. Republicans) use the Christian right to help them get into office.  As far as I'm concerned this is spelled out clearly in the Constitution, freedom from religious tyranny

and the separation of Church and State.  So let's recap.  Conservative Christians are delusional and they are being lead around by the nose by idiots who think they can be your Sheppard!  Look I'm a lapsed Catholic so I understand the pull the Holy books have.  I believe that something happens when we die but I'm not gonna put stock in a book written two thousand years ago!  So use your "God" given brains and don't believe everything you read.  After all the creation of Eve is told two different ways in the first two chapters!

AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Progeny...

Penn’s Perspective: Progeny...: Hello all,     No I didn't die, I was just consumed with finishing my manuscript.  Hopefully it will be in a book store near you soon.   ...

Progeny...

Hello all,
    No I didn't die, I was just consumed with finishing my manuscript.  Hopefully it will be in a book store near you soon.

   Now, to the point.  How many of you REALLY think about the future your children will inherit prior to actually having them?

   The world as we know it now, will not exist in fifty years.  You may choose not to believe it but sometimes fact's are painful.  Don't be overly panicked, the world probably won't go through an Armageddon like event but there will be changes to the world that not even technology will be able to overcome.

    The steps we should be taking now to lessen the dramatic effects of what's to come are fought by both Governments and private corporations vested in the status quo.  I am not anti carbon based energy, it is our (The US's) most bountiful energy resource, but contrary to what you see on TV we are not utilizing carbon sequestration technology and fracking for natural gas is not being monitored as it should due to deep cut's in the EPA's budget.  Science has proven through empirical data and peer review that climate change is real and it's not a matter of if it's cyclic or if we humans are doing it.  The issue we face is are we going to help or hinder this process?

   I don't think there is a conservative out there who thinks or will admit that climate change is real and won't do so until they walk out to their car and find that it's 110 degrees in winter in Michigan!  These people are so pro business and so anti revenue generation (via taxation) that they are blinded by what is glaringly apparent to any sane and reasonable person.

   That's the background, now back to the point, your children.  Do you know that of all the water on the planet, only 1% is fresh and drinkable.  That does not include desalinization plant's.  Florida and California both are utilizing this technology as well as other countries around the world.  Soon the north pole will have no ice covering during it's summer season which comes sooner and sooner each year, if you haven't notice.  Resources will begin to become more and more scarce and if you understand anything about supply and demand economics,
then you should understand that as demand for a scarce commodity rises, so does the price of said commodity.  Thankfully scientist's have discovered the reason for the European bee die off but as of yet they have no means of controlling the parasite from infecting the bees.  Bees are needed for pollination in case you were curious, without them our ability to grow food becomes nearly impossible.

   Now if you choose to have children, please be sure you can send them to college and maybe they can be part of the solution.  On the other hand if you're an idiot and married Betty Lou, your third cousin, please wear a condom.  Having kids for the sake of it, is out of fashion, it's not vogue and will only exacerbate an already sad state of affairs.
AMF...

Hope in the fight against climate change...

    Is it just me or have you also noticed that the weather is going schizo.  95 degree's in May in Michigan, I remember when we still could have snow on the ground during the last weeks of May.

    Now I don't know where you stand on climate change, but you gotta admit with tornado season seemingly turning into a year round event that something is changing.  It seems to me that there are two schools of thought on this 1. It is real or 2. it's not real, merely a cyclic event that the Earth does from time to time.

    I'll play devils advocate and say ok, it's not real.  I think that we can all acknowledge the fact that CO2 is building up in the atmosphere at greater levels then we've ever seen before.  Let's just say man has nothing to do with it, it's still happening.  Wouldn't it be wise to adopt a proactive stance in curbing the CO2 just the same?

    Now let's not be total morons for two minutes.  We have been actively monitoring CO2 emissions since the sixties.  Not to mention the information we have from drill samples from Antarctica.  Fact CO2 levels correlate with temperatures.  As CO2 levels spike and drop, so do the temperatures on Earth.

    The clean coal ad's you see on TV in this country are a joke.  The Coal industry in this country hasn't built a singe REAL Carbon capture and storage facility yet.  However it's not all bad new's, Europe and Australia are looking at investing heavily on this Technology.  WWF [World Resources Institute] along with several petroleum giants are preparing to build the largest CCS [Carbon Capture and Storage] facility in the world in Australia, so keep your fingers crossed.   There may be hope for us yet.
AMF...

Use words not violence

   The right to free speech is a great amendment.  But that's all it is, speech.  No one should get upset about requesting peace.  As the song goes: Nothing comes from violence, nothing ever could.  The US has found this out in many entanglements, they had the best intentions but mistakes do occur and our asses got kicked on more than one occasion, sadly.  So Let's all reflect on our own lives and give peace a chance, that's my motto.
AMF all...

Bacteria is coming for you...

   Hey you guy's wanna hear something that's gonna make you laugh?  While bacteria isn't something that comes up in most conversations you really should think about the little guy's.
 
   I know this sounds like a boring topic it really isn't.  Why?  Glad you asked.  The human body is an incubator for these microbes, you literally have trillions of them in or on you right now.  Here's the rub, they are supposed to be there, we have what's called a symbiotic relationship.  They help us and we help them, it's worked out great for years.  Now there are some very nasty, even deadly ones out there: Meningitis and e-coli just to name a couple.

   Both can be deadly, one can be prevented by simply washing your hands (I'll let you guess), the other is usually spread via bodily fluids or close contact with someone who is already infected.  Now do you realize that in most all animal meat you eat the feed has antibiotics in them.  As do most soaps nowadays, even tissues.  Big industry and some larger chemical companies would have you believe that unless you kill every single germ you'll get sick and croak.

  Anti bacterial's are exactly what they are advertised as, and if we make ourselves too sterile, guess what?  Our defenses are lowered and when a new bug comes along and one will (they always do) we're fucked.  All I'm saying is don't make everything you purchase based on seeing anti bacterial on the label.  It may save your life one day.  Also free range animals, while more expensive are actually better for you.
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Politics is Power

Penn’s Perspective: Politics is Power:    Maybe I'm just frustrated because my new phone won't sync with my email account but I thought I'd take a minute and let you in on a few t...

Politics is Power

   Maybe I'm just frustrated because my new phone won't sync with my email account but I thought I'd take a minute and let you in on a few things.
   Now if you've ever read anything written by me you know I have very little confidence in the intellectual capacity of the American public.  I do not however think I've explained why, I will attempt to do so now.  If the following statement is true about you then you will understand what I am bitching about.
   If you feel more comfortable eating a pizza, drinking a beer and watching Lifetime, SportsCenter or worse something on MTV (except the cartoons) then you do about discussing the environment, US governmental policies and the Geo-political destabilization that is currently happening, then I am writing about your ignorance.
   I keep begging and pleading with you guy's to wake up!  Yes this Kony caricature is important but that's a fucking world away and I was always taught to clean your own home before criticizing others.  Doesn't matter if you're Liberal, Moderate or Conservative, we are all being duped by a corrupt Government that's playing a masterful hand of bait and switch.  I honestly don't know if it's a conspiracy or if they are all just like minded but it's happening.  It's always been this way but today it's more insidious then in the past and I say this because the lies were mainly for our protection, example:  Hide under your desk or in a ditch if a nuclear bomb goes off.  Now as there was really no safe place to be in the event of a nuke attack it's kinda of a justifiable lie just to keep moral up.  Today it's completely about GREED and RULING the world, I mean as the only real super power left, the balance is out of kilter and truthfully we are less safe now then during the cold war.
   The next time you go out consider buying a Time or Newsweek magazine and read them, occasionally turn on the science channel.  Don't depend on Cnn or Fox etc...  They don't have any credible investigative Journalist who dig deeper than the Whitehouse Press Secretary.
   Entertainment \ Infotainment is fun and enjoyable, hell I enjoy the idea of an X-Box, personally I rather do a puzzle but I won't let it take up so much of my time and energy that I won't spend Sunday morning watching GPS on Cnn, which I highly recommend by the way.
Wake up soon, this election is pivotal.
AMF...

Entropy

  The Universe as we know it is constantly falling apart.  It was absolutely perfect and stable prior to "The Big Bang".

  Chaos in and of itself is very beautiful to watch if not deadly to be a part of.  The word recycle say's it all.  All the matter in the Universe right now is all that there ever has been or ever will be.   It (matter) cannot be created or destroyed.

  A lesson can be learned from this both on a macro (Universal) and micro (Earthly or even your neighborhood) scale.  There is only a finite amount of material to go around before it has to be reused.  The Universe shows us this time and again, when a star explodes the materials are regenerated into particles that are shot out into space to become everything from amino acids, carbon to the building blocks for a new star to humans.  For some reason (maybe it's because of the opposable thumb thing) we think we can continually use the new materials and not worry about this nagging little problem of finite resources.  Did you know most of the gold you wear has been recycled many times over since it made it to your neck?

  The planet even does this, Earthquakes and Volcanoes.  You think those are just photo opp's?  No it's the Earth regenerating itself over and over again.  As the main virus on this planet can't we take a hint and recycle everything possible?  I mean all glass, paper, plastic, metal, composting.  Not saying it won't be difficult but is anything worthwhile simple?  I've been begging you folks to wake up for a long time now yet it just doesn't sink in.

   We think technology will save us but think about it, 30-35 years ago there were 3 maybe 4 networks, simple.  Today you can watch virtually 500 channels while riding on the subway.  It's getting more complicated and therefore moving more and more towards chaos.
You've been warned.
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: It's our world...Seriously

Penn’s Perspective: It's our world...Seriously:    Been on a hiatus, apologies to all concerned.  No one is perfect, the best you can do is find someone with your level of weirdness and se...

It's our world...Seriously

   Been on a hiatus, apologies to all concerned.  No one is perfect, the best you can do is find someone with your level of weirdness and settle in for a while.   Not suggesting marriage, I'm twice divorced.  Just looking for a companion.
   Well every year for the past 3, my resolution for the New Year has been the same.  I challenge myself to be a better human being.   It's actually working.  I ride a bike to anywhere that's within a five mile radius.  Provided I don't have to carry anything overly heavy, ie: grocery shopping.  It's great exercise and I've lost 35 pounds since last November.  Absolutely true.  I have begun eating more fresh meats and veggies.  Amazingly I am beginning to enjoy cooking.  Cut out all fast food.
   Still working on the cancer sticks but I am in better shape now then I was 10 years ago.  Cholesterol is down and blood pressure as well.  Think about the little things you can do to help yourself and maybe a little something for the planet at the same time.   This will likely be the only pleasantry I write for the rest of the year, so enjoy.
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Oh, Say can you see..

Penn’s Perspective: Oh, Say can you see..: Well can you see? Here's the thing, I have a ten point plan to fix America in ten years, I shit you not! First we need a minor discussi...

Oh, Say can you see..

   Well can you see?  Here's the thing, I have a ten point plan to fix America in ten years, I shit you not!  First we need a minor discussion about Americans.  We are "for the most part" humane, moral and ethical.  No better or worse than any other country except we shout, we are better than everyone else, not a smart idea.  Boy's and Girl's I implore you to get involved with whatever you are passionate about, no matter what it is.  I promise you they can use your help.  So this weeks topic, fixing America in ten years, it can be done.  I shit you not but it will take all of us and we should send this message to DC ASAP.
1. No upper manager can earn more than 100% of the average working wage of employees of their Organization.
2. Drill anywhere and everywhere but responsibly.
3. Open the keystone pipeline, just take the proper precautions against a possible spill.
4. Take a break on the rhetoric, both parties, it's annoying, confusing and destructive.  Not to mention it seems like America is an idiotocracy during election years.  No one can do all they promise as the President does not WRITE THE LAWS.  THAT'S CONGRESS!  By the way, we will have to increase TAX REVENUE and SOON!
5. Give Iran space, you back any dog in a corner they will bite to kill, to get out of it.
6. Stop attempting to punish behavior, you cannot legislate behavior, only punish it.  We all know how well that's worked out.
7. Repeal the Patriot act, it's bullshit and un-American.
8. Stop the war on drug's.  You cannot win!
9. Our military is bigger than the next 13 largest militarizes in the world combined!, are we expecting an Alien invasion?  Let's tone it down a bit and run SS,Medicare and Medicaid responsibly or do away with SSI all together and kill off all the short bus people cruel but honest!
10. Legalize MJ and Prostitution and tax it, un Godly amounts of revenue will come from it.
   Few if any of these will happen as most Americans are still PURITANICAL ASSHOLES WHO CANNOT TELL YOU WHO MARGARET THATCHER IS.  Wake up, please before it's all said and done.  It will be here before you know it!!!!
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: My Truth

Penn’s Perspective: My Truth: I am a humble, reasonably intelligent 46 year old man. I have no progeny and currently without female companionship. While I am alone, ...

My Truth

   I am a humble, reasonably intelligent 46 year old man.  I have no progeny and currently without female companionship.  While I am alone, I am not very lonely.  I am twice divorced, one was a great woman the first a total waste of biochemistry.  I like to think I am an honest person, I am flawed.  Occasionally I drink too much and I smoke but beyound that I am level headed and logical about most things.  I am a staunch believer in the scientific method and enjoy a spirited discussion on most any topic.  I love surf and turf and am of three ethnic derivations.  I was baptized in the Roman Catholic church but am lapsed in my faith.  I believe non Earth bound creatures are plausible, most likely possible considering the sheer size of the Galaxy let alone the Universe as a whole.  Have they been here, who knows.  If so it wasn't with Chemical rockets as we use today.
   Sometimes we just need to pour our hearts out, hoping someone is listening  "in this case reading".  I know I come across as brash, pessimistic, self righteous even arrogant at times in my writings.  Well you know what they say about judging...  The state of human nature stays on my mind constantly, I shouldn't care.  I read facebook and twitter and everyone seems to have a dog to chat about or moaning about the weather or a relationship status.  I personally don't give a fuck about that or much of anything else with the exception of why is man so absolutely evil in his relationship towards his fellow man.   I watch the news and I see RED.  Then I will go meditate or look out the window and contemplate the sheer joy and beauty that is nature and I calm down.
   I think of my existence being no more important to the Galaxy as the slime on an earthworm is to the bird who will eat it on a warm rainy day.  I think Plato got it right with his Cave theory and I believe in Occam's razor.  So what really matters?  Politics, Religion, Wealth, Family, Sex, Life or Death?  I am no authority on anything but I do know that these 7 issues are what consume most of our thoughts and emotions.
   I am trying so hard to find the overall goodness that should be an innate quality in us all yet I reach for that which isn't seemingly there. I will probably go to my deathbed hoping for that, I dream of it yet it's always a disappointment when I see the world as it is when I awaken.
   If you are a lost kindred spirit and just wanna chat sometime "as no one ever comments on theses post's" feel free to reach out.  I'm always around, usually with some single malt and a camel.
Regards,
EveryManAndNoMan@comcast.net

False Idolitry

    Hello Again, yes I'm back with a few words of wisdom for all you "so called" Christians out there.  You ever wonder why celebrities are called stars?  Well I think it has something to do with their stature, as if they are so great they belong in the realm of the stars above.  Maybe it's an ego thing.  Note, no one else except film actors receive this title which is also odd.  Occasionally it is used for someone who is at the pinnacle of their career or someone who made a great breakthrough but usually when you hear star you think of Hollywood.
   This brings me to the OVERWHELMING! coverage of the Whitney Huston death.  Seriously, was anyone that surprised?   She was a train wreck waiting to happen.  Now I'm not heartless, she was a great singer and did good charity work but in the end she was just a singer \ actress.  Yet if you followed the news lately you might think we landed humans on Mars or better yet Jesus has returned.  But no, a celebrity died and the entire planet grieved. Well the Bible say's a few words about idolizing anyone other than God, so be careful or you might incur God's wrath.
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Let's all fight...

Penn’s Perspective: Let's all fight...: Yeah sounds silly and I don't mean anything by the title other than to get your attention. No, religion or politics this week. Figured...

Let's all fight...

   Yeah sounds silly and I don't mean anything by the title other than to get your attention.   No, religion or politics this week.  Figured I could spare a week to just discuss us, you know people.
   You hear so many horrific stories on the news about what people are doing to one another I think we sometimes forget we are human(e) at all.  I took both an intro to psychology and sociology class in college and I just cannot wrap my head around what's going one.  Am I alone in this?
   Kids killing adults, adults killing adults and kids and worst of all kids killing kids.  Is it the air, the water, video games?  It's none of those things and we all know it.  It's not even the schools or even the parents for that matter.
    I have a theory, ever heard of subliminal messaging?  Basically it's when a message is relayed to you without you being conscience or fully aware of it.  There is also a little item called repetition.  Now if we add these two together what do you get?  Well not a day goes by where some dysfunctional idiot doesn't say America is the Greatest country on Earth.  Why not say we aspire to be the Leading nation on Earth.   Now most any Behavioral shrinks will tell you if something is repeated over and over ad nauseam, the behavior will sink in and be adapted by most anyone.
    I will give you a few examples:  Any Church and The Military.   Since between those two most of our population is covered (and since they overlap quite a bit, there is no need for other examples).  My point is they tell you what to do over and over and rarely does anyone question this.   Now think about our children all day long hearing "by birthright they are not only live in the best country but have the best values and morals of anyone else".   No wonder it gives kids an overwhelming sense of entitlement.  Our country pretty much sticks it's nose in where ever it wants and does what it wants.  And you ask why the people settle issues with guns?  It's the American way.
AMF...

The universe has a sense of humor

   If you believe in God well that's good for you if it makes you happy.
If you believe the Earth is only two thousand years old or so well then you're just a moron.
   If you believe in Evolution as first described by Darwin then I have the answer to the meaning of life.  Darwin's theory dealt with survival of the fittest, various mutations often give a species an advantage, then they survive and thrive.  So by this logic, mankind is either a fluke or just a genetic roll of the dice.  Either way our lives aren't worth the chemicals we are created from.  Which is about $75.00 so just know the next time someone asks what your worth tell em.
( Or aliens dropped us off here as a weird experiment)
   That's to cynical, the meaning of life is nothing.  It's just a random string of interconnected events that we worry about or enjoy.  Then we die and our chemicals are returned to the planet.
AMF..
 

Growing Pains

   Posit:  When you're young, you have the thoughts and idea's of a child.  Now let's follow that train of thought a bit further.   Guess which country of all the modern industrial nations is the youngest?
   If you guessed the USA you're right.   As children grow they pick up habits from their parents, teachers and peers.  As you are aware many children are amicable and many are rebellious.
   America is the child of many peoples and cultures Native Americans, The French, Spanish and The English, not in order of their influence.   All these other peoples have been around for centuries and have matured overtime.   We don't have this advantage.  We are young, immature and we are the rulers of the planet.   Do you see what's wrong with this equation?
   If you cannot see it, think of it this way:  It's like giving a toddler a loaded gun.   They have no idea on it's proper use and will most likely hurt their self or someone else.   America has a great many teriffic qualities but suddenly we find ourselves mired in bullshit that we created ourselves.  Quite a few dictators have been propped up by us, this isn't broadcast on the evening news but dig a bit and you'll find it.
   We are a reactionary country, when something major happens we immediately swing the pendulum to the opposite end.  People we live in a Republic, semi Democratic with both Capitalist and Socialist aspects.  This seems to have worked well from FDR to Jimmy Carter but soon people got uber greedy and the whole thing ended up crashing around us.  Pray long and hard before this next election, it's gonna mold the country for several years to come.
AMF...

President Ahmadinejad, please take the loss on this one...

   Did you know you can trace nearly all wars back to one of two reasons: Ideology or Religion.
   Now we "Human Beings" being blessed as the most reasonable minded animals on the planet, it would seem as if we could reason our way out of killing and maiming each other.  But alas it seems simpler to just stab, shoot or blow each other to death.  Well the easy way isn't usually the best method to solving a problem.  Usually there are talks prior to the incident, back channel discussions, innuendo's and threats but in my heart I think once a nation feels it is pushed to the brink it will fight back, no matter how big the force against them.
   I bring this up now as I feel we are endanger of falling into this deadly sand trap yet again.  Iran seems hell bent on having a nuclear program and a majority of free nations are intent on stopping them.   Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran who is the public Face of the all powerful Holy leader Ali Khamenei seem hell bent to keep their nuclear ambitions alive and well.   Now, if the IAEA inspectors come away and say the Iranians enrichment program is purely for legitimate medical usage I am not sure where things may go.  If on the other hand and personally, I believe if they see everything Iran has things will not go smoothly.  We all know the near \ middle east is a powder keg.   If you add the regimes rhetoric regarding Israel along with their lying about the enrichment program we may have no choice but to choose war.  It's called: when an immovable object hits an unstoppable force.  So what's the answer?   Turn Iran into a glass parking lot, or will they continually allow the Inspectors to do their jobs?   Only the future will tell but if history is an indicator count on war.   
   This will more than likely turn into the final world war, if you count all the various allegiances with other countries we're all kinda screwed if this happens.  Truthfully I don't know what the right answer is, I just know I don't wish to be reduced to a black shadow. Think about it.
AMF...













                            

Is there a wealth distribution problem?

Well for as long as you can go back in history there have always been the wealthy, the middle class and the poor.

    The real wealth of this country comes from the land and it's people.  What America is going through right now is a brain drain and a culture of greed.  People are competitive by nature, there will always be Alpha personalities [overbearing over achievers with highly narcissistic personalities].  The only thing to keep these megalomaniacs in check is the rule of law and regulation.  This applies to anyone who is at the precipice of their particular profession.  If we continue to ignore our most valuable resource, "the kids" by letting them playing non competitive sports and coddling them the future of our country is screwed.  Our current model of schooling was developed after WWII aside from a computer or two in the classrooms and a lack of extracurricular activities not much has changed since then. Now since the wealthy have this education thing covered it's the rest of us who need to stand up and be heard.  China and Korea are kicking our asses in math and science.  There is an excellent website to help you kids with this:  http://www.khanacademy.org/ . this site is free, so get your kids off of playstation for 10 minutes and get their science and math scores back into the 90th percentile!
     Can someone explain to me how school districts are broke.  Weren't the Lotteries and the Casinos supposed to help fund education?   Some school districts have shrunk have no funding cut's and they need more money, I don't get it.  Factually if I am ever blessed with a child I will home school them.  With unemployment as high as it is perhaps "if you have the ability" you should give home schooling a try.
AMF...

Oh, America...

  Hello All, 
     it's me again.  You ever wonder why Republicans are are always so very angry and up tight?  Well the answer very simply is because they never get laid.  Did you see that poll that said most Republicans have only had 0-1 sexual partners.  If I fell into that category I'd be pissed and uptight too but if I lied and cheated on my wife I'd look stressed out also.   It's a no win for these tight asses.   Now if you've been married as long as Ron Paul you don't think of sex anymore so he get's a pass, besides he's a Libertarian.   In his youth I'm sure he sowed his wild oats.  So I say, let's give a shout out to getting laid as frequently as possible.  BTW, please get off the God schtick, you all are pandering and it's repugnant.
AMF...

Megalomaniacal behavior

   The seven deadly sins are listed as: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and lastly Pride.  All Alpha personalities have all these to a degree.   Now the seven Cardinal virtues are: Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness and lastly humility.  Some Alpha's also have more than a few of these qualities.
   Now if you compare the list, if you are an even minded person, you want a person who has more of the latter than the former.   Yet year after year we get to select from these creatures of destruction.   Whether it's local, county, state or federal governmental level.  I am not condemning all politicians but those who believe in American Exceptionalism are totally full of shit.  
   We have done as much evil as any other country on the planet but it's ok because GOD has our back.  Seriously!  The "founding fathers" wanted church and state SEPARATED for a reason.   They saw first hand what religious tyranny had on governments.  In fact "all you history scholars" Thomas Jefferson rewrote the Bible.  His version was as follows: The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract the doctrine of Jesus by removing sections of the New Testament containing supernatural aspects as well as perceived misinterpretations he believed had been added by the Four Evangelists.
    
      So all you born again \ evangelical zealots who swear by the 


founding father should check out how Jefferson really felt about the 


Bible as written.  More to the point LISTEN very carefully to what the 


Republicans are saying as well as their past, it formed the person they 


are now and it's a good indicator as to how they will perform in the


future.  

Brief history of the Homo Erectus...

    Did you know the planet we live on is only about 4.5 billion years old.   We have been here from 1 million to 100,000 years depending on who you ask.   Alligators have been alive longer than we have, as have sharks.   My points is that in geologic time we are but infants.   In the short period of time we've been here, we have done more damage than all the other species combined!
    Now since we are "presumably" the most intelligent creatures ever created should we not be the most responsible of all the creatures before us?   Now I don't know what side you come down on the God Vs. no God argument nor the global warming fact.   I do know myself and my beliefs however.   Since we are the only beings capable of doing something regarding our natural resources, shouldn't we!   There is no reason why everything recyclable isn't.   Every metal can, every piece of glass and every piece of plastic and paper. 
    You don't think it's important, just wait till your grand kids are of age.   You will look back and say how could we have been so stupid?   This is what geologic time refers to, the time it will take for your grandchildren to arrive is less than a millionth of a second in geologic time and yet look at how much damage or how much we can repair if we choose to.   We are standing at the abyss folks, do we look in, get vertigo and leave ourselves on the path we are on like the Lemmings or do we take a step back, reconsider our existence and that of our prodigy and make some positive changes fast.

I'm selling out ...

   Well I am sure you may have seen this coming, well we are here.   That's right your advocate for a better life is going to the Dark Side.   I have decided it is the only way to gain respect and fiscal stability.   I will still write about everything I give a damn about but since you guy's aren't reading anyway, take no notice.   I may occasionally applaud corporate greed and mass deportations "not talking about the proud people of Mexico".  
    This is what you have done to me with your apathy and self centered attitudes btw Christmas shouldn't just come once a year as it should be defined.   Just for the record I am a baptized Roman Catholic.   I think they are a bit backwards in their thinking about certain aspects of modern life but once you're in a club it's hard to quit.
    Why get so pissed off now?   Very simply our Democratic option can't get shit done due to Congress and the Republican field are clowns. The next four years are gonna be a circus and just remember I tried to warn you.   There's an old saying, "IF YOU DON'T STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING"  This is currently my America and I am ashamed that such great peoples are being moved around on a checker board.   I would have written chess but that's too complicated for most you!
AMF...

Penn’s Perspective: Happy New Year!!!

Penn’s Perspective: Happy New Year!!!: Hello All, I am eagerly watching news on the Iowa Caucus and a thought occurred to me. Evangelical Christians, yes the born again bunc...

Happy New Year!!!

Hello All,
   I am eagerly watching news on the Iowa Caucus and a thought occurred to me.   Evangelical Christians, yes the born again bunch.   How exactly do you get born again.    Do people run around torching people and then a religious ceremony is performed, hence "born again"?   Yes I am being cynical but they are an easy mark.   The point I am attempting to make is a simple one.  Religious Hypocrisy.   We in America have the only real God.   Seriously, if you aren't Christ centered you are up for all kinds of hostile comments and even actions.
   Now let's compare, In the Bible "the Christian holy book" We have creation and a lot of good ideals to live by.   Please note that the original Christians were Jews.   Now let's look at the Koran.  It Is in my opinion a much more inclusive book and it too is proclaimed to be the word of God.   Both have huge followings.   I don't think religious fervor is wrong  but fanaticism is all together different.  Both think they are right and preach so.   Honestly, I think they are both good books and have useful information in them but come on why would God give different information to different people?   Doesn't make any sense.   Once you understand that, religious tolerance is the only way to go.   So think about it.   By the way the Koran actually mentions Jesus more than Mohammed.   It's true.   So show a bit of tolerance and let 2012 be a much better year than those in the past.