Stimulate Me Until I Come and Recover

Courtesy of solea

Yes I need to be stimulated until I come and recover. It’s not what you think though. Unless your a $1000 call girl named Juanita Epstein then it is exactly that.

Seriously though folks I have been incubating this one for a couple of weeks and I think I am ready to let it hatch and take flight. I know they have some major Brainiacs there in Washington D.C. working hard on solutions to rejuvenate this stalled economy. However I’d like to put my idea, as simplistic as it may be, out there for consideration. After I’m done then you guys can tell me what you think. OK? Alright here it is.

Since the government is in the mood to give money away and bail out every greedy bastard and their wayward industry why not try this stimulus plan and see if it helps.

1. F*** the banks! They’ll always find a way to make money. Instead why not do something worth while with that $80 billion dollars. Lets really stimulate the economy by paying 1/2 of all mortgages written in the last 10 years. Why? This way the banks get an infusion of cash, mortgage debt is lowered and home owners have more spendable cash.
2. F*** the auto manufacturers! Let them fail this way they can get rid of the unions. In this day of litigation the unions are not really necessary to protect the interests of the common laborer. Believe me, people know where to go when they feel their rights are being trampled upon. Also if step 1 were followed then people would have some money to purchase new automobiles. Hell they might even cost less now that the domestic auto manufacturers do not have pay those exorbitant hourly wages, pensions and medical benefits.
3. Legalize marijuana. Admit that you were wrong and start cashing in on Americas multi-billion dollar crop.

There you have it, 3 easy steps to stimulate the economy until it recovers. After it recovers let it bask in the warm after glow of triple digit profits and capitalist short sightedness for a while before you go and f*** it again.

Buckets, Ugly Sluts & Slip-on Uggs

Buckets

Buckets courtesy of Bo Mackinson

Why must we as a society label and categorize every aspect of our existence? Moderate, conservative, liberal, the left, the right, gay, straight, bi, black, white, and other.

We have created so many buckets to contain ourselves that we will eventually lose sight of what we were trying to set ourselves apart from. Dang it we even have buckets within buckets.

What’s wrong with just existing? Living each day to the full and accepting and if need be rejecting people as you encounter them? Life is for living not subdividing!

Ugly Sluts

Courtesy of gwalton1

Out and about this weekend I came across two young women. Probably in the their very early 20s. What caught my eye, from a distance, at night with very bad lighting, were curvy bodies, high heels and the chatter of young women. Like any male I had to investigate. So I did. I felt like a fish that swallowed a lure. So like most men that have been let down by their own foolishness I to had to blame the women.

Slip-On Uggs

Courtesy of Moodahocka's camera phone

Really what is the point of an Ugg slipper, slide, or mule? Isn’t the rationale behind Uggs is that it’s a very warm boot or shoe? If it’s cold enough outside to wear Uggs then wear Uggs. Does having your heel hang out really make that much of a difference?

Follow My Lead

Follow the Leader

This is the first time in my career where I have the opportunity to work with some one who has climbed up through the ranks and is willing to share their experience with those subordinate to them. However I must say  that not every manager is a leader, despite how well they manage their staff.

Leadership and management are not always synonymous. I guess when you really break down the definitions of each this becomes even more apparent. Would you agree with me in saying that leadership is about having vision and being able to work with a team to accomplish that vision? Whereas management would be more of keeping a team working but not necessarily working towards a greater purpose. I think leadership, at least good leadership, will encompass management skills. Management perhaps is a discipline that may not have leadership.

Leadership often involves taking risks. The willingness to go out on a limb to acheive an objective. Whereas management is more about keeping the status quo, making sure that things continue to run as smoothly as possible. That said I can see why CEOs and other high ranking executives are considered the leadership of an organization. The vision rests with them and they coordinate the efforts of the organization to realize that vision. They lead the organization to the vision. Much like a general will lead his troops to victory or defeat. The vision is either realized or not.

There are countless books on leadership and how to lead and strategies for leading. I think what it all really comes down to is having a vision and being willing to accept the risks, consequences and rewards of moving to fulfill that vision. Without that you are still following in the footsteps of others.

$1000 Sex vs. $100 Sex

Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts

Image courtesy of Seattlepi.com

Now that I have your attention, the real title of this entry is Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts.

I know you guys are smart enough to realize this is by no means a taste test comparison of two the nations leading coffee brands. This is more of a look at the mind set that often comes into play when discussing ones favorite brew. Just for full disclosure I prefer Starbucks.  I have tried the others, D&D, 7-11, various diners, break room and even instant coffee. It does not bother me that the majority of the folks do not like Starbucks. Is it not about choice? What does bother me though is that the non Sbux drinkers will deride us for spending more on something that we enjoy. As if all pallets were the same. Should that be the case why not a monochromatic world and season less food? There is no comparison, for better or worse, between the various brews.  Yes it is all coffee just like $100 sex and $1000 sex is still sex. But what do I get for the $1000 that I do not get for the $100.

• Environment – I can enjoy my cup of joe in an environment that suits my lifestyle.
• Choice – Sbux provides me with a constant variety of new flavors and blends to try.
• Class – This is not about the people per se but more about the experience. Sbux educates its customers. You either get it or you don’t.

You see my point. Although ultimately sex is sex and each provider will produce the same outcome (snicker snicker) but perhaps for the $1000 I am in a posh hotel and not in the back seat of a car. Perhaps for the $1000 I am with an educated, worldly and entertaining host. For the $1000 I had the chance to pick from a selection of the most beautiful and talented women for which to satisfy my carnal desires.

Continuing with my prostitution metaphor. Perhaps I tried the $100 street walker and by some good fortune also got to experience the $1000 call girl. Yes they both performed the same service but as I described above what made the difference was how it was offered. Maybe for some those differences are irrelevant but for others they are deal breakers.

I guess all I am saying is that there are choices out there.  The ones you choose are just that, the ones you chose. Let me enjoy my $2 cup of coffee and I’ll let you enjoy your $1 cup of coffee. After we are done with our hot aromatic beverage we can bask in the warm after glow of post consuption satisfaction.

With the tough economic times perhaps making it yourself is actually the best course of action. If you choose to do so why not learn a little bit about how to make a really good cup of coffee. Here is a good place to start…

He’s Baaaaaack vs

Connect by Underestimated

“Many people spend more time developing their excuses than developing themselves.  Would you like successful excuses or a successful self?” Jihan Thomas

Quickly, folks. That’s how I feel about religions and their followers. They spend more time focusing on what not to do than actually doing something worth while. Religion is an obstacle to spirituality and humanity. Being spiritual has nothing to do with what arcane laws you choose to follow because you feel that is how your salvation is secured. Spirituality is the process by which you connect with and better the lives of the people around you.

Nuff said. Peace!

100 Right Answers

Illusion

A friend of mine recently related a story that I found some what interesting at many levels. He was having a discussion with his father about world matters and the role that religion has played in exacerbating many of the problems we currently see. His father went on the say that these things are all portents to the rapture and that he feels that the rapture is imminent. Concurring with this sentiment my friend then states that part of the problem is that everyone feels that their belief system is the correct one and will defend it fervently. Upon hearing this his father immediately got defensive and felt some how he was being told that he is in the latter group, despite the fact that his son repeated several times that he was in full agreement with his father’s beliefs.

What is it about these faith based systems that causes mankind to abandon rationale reasoning? I was often told to never try to argue with irrational people. Time and time again this has proved to be sound advice. Could it be that religion and faith based belief systems are irrational? That they can not be approached with logic and soundness of mind? Are the believers so forgone that they can not even begin to consider the very logical possibility that they just might be wrong?

All other things in life require supporting evidence before they are accepted as truth. Yet in faith based belief systems you just accept what has been taught for generations and never question its authenticity.

Long sigh. I give up.

It Just Does Not Add Up

Has anyone ever stopped to think about the dumb ass things people say when tragedy strikes? Perhaps I am just to disconnected from the warm and fuzzy side of my brain but this shit is really working on my nerves! You fucking spiritual zealots, especially you neo-Christians, espouse the teachings of Christ so fervently but you omit in your daily lives the one thing that was a constant under current of his teachings. Common sense. 

Tell me some one please how much sense does the following quote make. In reference to the recent death of a co-pastor a person being interviewed responded with this, “…God never makes a mistake. He needed another flower and he got one…” What the fuck is that? So what you are telling me is that the deity that you hold in such reverence, the creator of the known universe and the object of your worship could not find a more humane way to promote his servant to a more lofty position? That your god was fucking toiling in the heavenly soil and decided to pluck a bulb from mankind and transplanted it to his celestial garden. Should we thank him that he did not require a shrub or fucking tree?

You dumb ass mother fuckers need get a grip. Being spiritual minded regardless of sect or religion is not an excuse for sheer stupidity. Personally, considering that this woman died in a fucking auto accident, I would rather it be said that she caused displeasure to whatever god she worshipped and he killed her ass rather than some meaningless bullshit about god needing a flower. Lets take this back to the days of tribalism and the virgin sacrifices to appease the “fire god” (volcano). Has any one considered the fact that shit just happens? Is that to hard to deal with? What is so difficult about comprehending that shit happens and it happens to good people too? None of us are beyond its reach.

Perhaps I am being overly rational. Yet I still see the “shit happens” explanation so much easier to grasp than the “god needed a flower” or “god had a purpose” bullshit. You see with the “shit happens” explanation I find it so much easier to find the answers. To identify the events, causes and reasons behind tragedy. Shifting blame to the unknown, well thats just plane stupid. I wish George Carlin was still alive to add his commentary on this subject. Alas god needed a funny angel.

Life is precious, so when a life is lost should we not at least extend the respect of acknowledging that fact? Why is it necessary for you to try to add more of an explanation to the obvious?

My resting words, shall be “Shit happened”. Engraved for all to see and hopefully understand.

The Grass Is Greener

I have never considered myself to be a gardener, nor do I really enjoy doing yard work. Weeding, seeding, cultivating, watering and feeding the vegetation, whether eatable or not, is not my idea of a good time. Yet there are those of you out there that receive a great deal of joy and satisfaction from toiling in the soil. To you folks I tip my hat. Not because you are doing something that is so noble but in the fact that you have found contentment in something that is as natural as breathing. I believe you have found a way to get reconnected to an existence that for the most part is as gone as the T-Rex.

You see I can now attest to the fact that the grass was greener on the other side. Why? Because that bloke put the effort in to get it that way. Now that I understand what it takes to get green grass my lawn will get greener with the envy that is thrown its way. I say all that to make this point. I love my freaking lawn! Last year it looked liked the blasted Sahara desert. There were large bare spots, like a balding men, all over the lawn from where I had removed pools of river rock. I guess some one fancied them Zen like. Do you know what several hundred pounds of stone does to soil? It compacts it and makes it hard like concrete. I do not care how much seed and Scotts you put down nothing is going to grow. Should something grow it is tantamount to a bald man with a comb-over.

So last year I purchased about 6 square yards of topsoil and began the process of cultivating my lawn. After the top soil was down I tackled the sprinkler system. It took me most of the spring and early summer to repair/replace all of the heads and the numerous leaks but I did it. It was repaired just in time for me to seed.  Well not much grew. The bare spots began to fill in like a bald guy on Rogain. It was a start though. This year is another story. Hell my lawn looks like its on HGH. Yeah I got out there early this year. Fed it early . Seeded early. Fed it more and some more. Sprinkler system only needed 2 heads replaced. No leaks. OK and more rain than Noah saw. The rain came late this year (doesn’t that sound like something from Little House On the Prairie) but it has not stopped. My lawn is so thick and green I sometimes just go outside to stare at it. It’s like sneaking a peep at the hot chick or hot guy you see in the grocery store. You just have to go back down the aisle you left to see them one more time.

Now when I look at my neighbors lawns I don’t feel so bad. I don’t have that lawn envy. In fact now that I am a lawn expert I kind poke fun at them and their gradient green lawns. Seriously though. It is amazing how good a small ass thing like a decent lawn can make you feel. I say decent because although its green and thick it still does not measure up to the perfectly manicured lawns around it. But thats OK. I still feel damn good that I was able to bring it back. Ressurect it from its dismal state to its emerald elegance.

I guess that it took something like this, getting green grass, to remind me that it only takes a little effort sometimes to get big results.

The Problem With Thinking Outside Of The Box

The problem with thinking outside of the box is that your perspective changes and you are usually the only one outside of the box. Damn it people! WTF?

“I wanna go home, I just wanna get along with my life – Lenny Kravitz – I Want To Go Home

Life is short. Play hard!

Looking Back (But Not In Turns)

It is somewhat amusing and very scary when you take take a moment to reflect on your current position in life. When I say position I mean more of a high level overview and not specific to just one context. The majority of us will always fill as though we could be doing better, but the biggest room is the room for improvement, while some of us will feel that things are where they should be. I am not sure where I stand. On one hand I look at my current position and feel that I could have done better. Ok let me be honest the disappointment is in the fact that I am not doing better. This is not to say that I am not doing well.  You see herein lies my quandry. I find it easier to grasp air than I do obtaining contentment. Why is that? I look at others and their willingness to accept their position, their lot in life, and what seems to be a relative degree of reconcilliation with it and by a larger token what seems to be a greater degree of peace with that and feel a sense of resintment towards them. How dare they choose aquiessence over the struggle for more. Then it dawns on me, we are conditioned to push, conditioned to feel and think that we need and are entitled to more. More hurt, more heartache, more stress, more disappointment. Yes there is truth in the saying less is more. There is no harm in looking back to see how you much have progressed or regressed in some instances. I guess it all boils down to how you feel about where you are at and where you will be. Just be careful, the more time you spend looking back means the more likely you are to miss what is front of you.

About the picture. I usually attempt to make the pictures meaning overt as it relates to the post. Either in context or through the mood. I know some of you may not see the correlation between the motorcycle and the post. Piloting a motorcycle is very different that driving a car. The motorcycle and its driver truly become one unit. The slightest change in the riders position is transmitted to the bike. One of the first lessons you are taught when first learning to ride a motorcyle is to turn your head. The bike will go where your head is turned. When you see the sport bike riders racing around the track at 200+ mph and taking those turns with the bike only inches from the ground, they are never looking straight ahead. They must in order to successfully negotiate those turns look through the turn. They can not afford to look back. A quick glance over the should upon exiting the turn is typically all that they will give because at this point they must set up mentally and physically for the next scenario.