Ten Things Of Thankful ... Like A Poltergeist, I'm Back!!!

I’m really shocked by our news providers in the United States.

I guess I should be thankful that we have them at all, but, then again, one has to question the news they choose to provide.  

It’s kind of like saying, 

“Hey, there’s a new restaurant going up on the corner … 

oh, it’s a McDonalds.  Bleck!”

For example, take early this week.  There were multiple disasters on which to report.  The Gaza Strip War continued, Hurricane Bertha hit the Bahamas, two hurricanes were aimed at Hawaii, mudslides in the San Bernadina Valley in California stranded thousands, a Chinese earthquake and mudslide killed more than 300, a tornado hit the major metro area of Istanbul, Turkey, and a Bangladesh ferry collapsed with more than 200 on board (over 100 remain missing).  You might think those would be the top stories that the news agencies would cover.

Then again, you must remember the mentality of the modern day newscaster in the states.  

Instead, these were some of the top stories being covered:

1)  Guess what America’s top ten party schools are

     (if you’re sober enough to guess, you’re not attending one),  

2)  Sandra Bullock is Hollywood’s highest paid actress

    (at least outside of the porn industry),

3)  Rare lobster rescued from grocery store

    (get ready for another “hero” story to arrive soon),

4)  Joan Rivers shows her softer side

     (no, she didn’t bare her butt),

    … and who could forget the most important story of the week …

5)  51% of Americans don’t like their Congressmen

    (this is new news???).

This goes along with my philosophy that we are raising future generations of stupid people in the United States through environmental conditioning. Since most educated people are waiting until later in life to have children, the uneducated are the ones creating a major population boom. Soon, they'll all be looking to the educated saying, "How the hell do we feed all these kids we have?" And, when the educated look at them and say, "You should have thought of that when you were pumping like rabbits", the uneducated will retaliate with violence and kill them. We will have come full circle and return to the days of the cavemen!

Like I said, “Stupid people!”

But, most of them can play video games like they’re going out of style!!!

(And, I’m not talking Pac Man or Donkey Kong!)

Perhaps, one day, the world’s future will be decided by kids playing video games.  There’s already been a movie somewhat based on that concept called “Ender’s Game.”  A group of selected youth play a game that ends up almost completely disposing of another world’s population.  Harrison Ford portrays a character that could just about be classified as a bad guy.  

Damn, there went my respect for Hans Solo!

Could this be a near future scenario?  Could we use kids as warriors and push the adults into the background?  Could video game processes and operation be a college degree area in the years ahead?

Or, could there just be an exceptional number of teenage carpel tunnel patients awaiting free medical assistance from the O-Bam-Bama's of the future?

If the doctors treating it are as educated as their patients, we might as well pull out the old “Operation” game of the 60’s, 70's and 80’s and hope we don’t touch the edge of the incisions with the metal tweezers!  ZZZZZZZZZZZZap!!!!!!"

If you remember this game, you are definitely
over the hill ... get used to it!

Anyway, I’ve been away from Ten Things of Thankful for a while.  In other words, I’ve been too damn busy at work to take the time to write.  (Shame when that happens, isn’t it?)  But, in complete disregard of popular opinion, I’m making my return here today.  

My sis, Lizzi, has been very understanding of my absence (she doesn’t read my stuff either, so don’t feel bad) and has not been whipping me with the cat ‘o nine tails as often as she once did.  (Guess she’s getting to old and the arthritis is affecting her swing.)  It’s been nice, but every once in a while, I have to return just to pester everyone with my version of being thankful.

So, without further ado, let the pestering begin!!!

“Hell, I guess I’m gonna have to be thankful for…”

I like that young stuff ... well, I used to
like that young stuff ... well I kind of
remember liking that young stuff ...
damn, too many drugs!

1)  Charles Manson.  Since the late 60’s, Charlie has been a constant reminder about the end of the Peace, Love, Dove Generation.  After manipulating others through drugs and mind control techniques, he persuaded several members of “The Family” to go on a two night killing spree that left seven dead.  We have seen movies, read books, and seen interviews for over 40 years concerning the events and trial.  One would think that enough would be enough.

Fooled you!  Charlie again enters the news again as he’s found true love.  A 25 year old young lady has fallen for the 79 year old prisoner.  Fallen, so hard, that there is talk of wedding bells in the air.  However, let us not be whisked away by a tale of romance just yet.

Let’s think about this.  

1. There are no conjugal visits in California prisons for convicted murderers, so she never has to worry about his saggy ass pumping her, if he could even get it up!  
2. Manson’s name and trademark are worth millions.  Even though he hasn’t been able to capitalize on it while in jail, there’s no reason why she couldn’t after the old bastard kicks the bucket!  Do we see Cupid’s arrows being replaced with dollars signs in the eyes of the beloved?  
3. Sounds like a reality show in the making.  “How my heart was broken by a man I could never touch.”  I think it’s got the Jersey bunch shaking with fear as they worry about the ratings war!

So, thank you, Charlie!  Thank you for being the one asshole in the world that every stupid person can look up to and say, “See mom, if I don’t go to school, treat people like dirt and manipulate everyone I can, and get people to kill for me, I could be just like him!”

And Charlie, stay away from Honey Boo Boo!!!

Geeesh!!!  

2)  Ice Cream Bars.  Don’t ask me why.  Just open the package on one and go to town on it.  You’ll soon understand.  (Just stay away from Walmart’s Ice Cream Sandwiches.  They’re known to survive the fires of Hell without melting, which really makes one wonder if we’re talking Ice Cream or asbestos here!)

3)  The movie “Noah.”  I never knew there were giant stone creatures in the tale of Noah’s ark.  “God, please, tell me what else was left out of the Bible before Hollywood 

surprises me again!”

4)  The Ebola Disease.  We need a 

killer virus to kill off half the stupid people in the world.  This may just be it!

Ebola Virions ... looks kind of like the
inside of the Aliens pod hive, doesn't it?
Where's Sigourney Weaver anyway?

Now, the story goes that Ebola was confined to a small space in West Africa.  People that caught it were dying without fail.  So, what does the State Department decide to allow?  Of course, let’s bring this Ebola to the United States and treat infected personnel here!  We can’t keep individuals from stealing jets and crashing into skyscrapers, but we can easily contain germs we cannot see!  Duhhhhhhh!   (I seriously hope the decision makers in this are the first to go!)

I would love to see all of our beloved (?) politicians make personal appearances with those that are infected.  Why, they can even pledge their life insurance money to furthering the research of a cure for this dreaded alien Ebola.  And, let’s not forget allowing all CEO’s that have multi-million dollar buy-outs in their contracts an opportunity to take every infected individual a sample of their products and personally explain how they can benefit by them.

Making the world a better place is really easy, isn’t it?

6)  Diet A&W Cream Soda. Again, “I don’t know why I love you like I do, I don’t know why I just do….”    

(Excuse me while I belch.)

5)  NFL Preseason Games.  No one cares who wins since the results don’t count on the official record.  So, how dare they call them games!  All they’re actually doing is practicing against someone they don’t see every day so when the coaches get ready to fire a bunch of these guys they’ll have an excuse to do it.  However, the common male viewer also benefits as he has a chance to practice his “Yes, Dears” while perfecting his wife ignoring skills before the real season starts!  (Now that's a REAL Game!!!!)

7)  Papa John’s Pulled Pork Barbecue Pizza.  Add onions to the regular toppings and you’ve got a constipation creator for days!!!  (Hell, if you’re lactose intolerant, go to Subway and tell them, “No Cheese, Please!”)

This was taken during my fat
and stupid years.  Guess What?
I'm no longer fat!!

8)  Britney Spears.  Recently, Britney released a photo of her abs supposedly erasing the last ten years of her life.  Damn, she’s still a stupid bitch!  Abs do not erase marrying a loser, ignoring her kids, forgetting her panties for the press shots, slandering other performers, and just doing stupid thing after stupid thing.  (Maybe we can get her to next do a personal performance for the Ebola infected!)   

9)  Good friends with computer repair skills.  Okay, so I did the stupid thing and bought a new PC a couple of weeks ago after having used a laptop with two multi input USB input hubs for months.  And, “Yes”, I hate Windows 8.  
(Just for the record.)

However, I did find a friend that diagnosed and fixed my old computer for a very minimal fee.  Now I have three laptops and two PC’s to rely on.  All I need to do is grow a few more sets of hands and eyes and I’ll be able to visit and comment on blogs the way I used to do before the 70 hour work weeks became the norm.  (“Yes, dear, I’m happy I have a job.  Yes, dear, it’s bringing in money.  Yes, dear, football is on right now.”)

10)  Tattoos.  Some people love ‘em, some people hate ‘em, and some of us could care less about them.  There’s a new report stating that in addition to the usual infections and problems they can create (Hepatitis, staph infections, and the super bug known as MRSA), some of the ink now being used can carry extreme bacterial infections.

Eye Candy For The Ladies!

So, if you enjoy fevers, shaking chills and sweats, and possible circulatory and heart problems, go ahead and get that flaming Satan devil inside of the blooming, burning flower being held in Garfield’s groin, tramp stamp tattoo.  You’re supporting the tattoo industry, as well as the medical industry at the same time, and they thank you for it! Cha-Ching!!!

Eye Candy For The Guys!

* * * * * * * * *

That wraps up another edition of my version of Ten Things Of Thankful.  If you enjoyed this, I thank you and hope that you’ll take a few minutes to leave a glowing and wondrous comment.  If you felt this uncalled for, well, just wait until my next installment.  I tend to grow more sarcastic with age!

Ciao!!!

FTSF: Temporarily Closed For Repairs

The Time Has Come!

(No, it's not the 

 end of the world.)

It's been a very tough decision.  Yet, several factors have gone into this.  

Hopefully, you'll understand.

No, I'm not giving up blogging forever!  (Lord, that's the last thing I ever plan on doing.)  

However, I am going to have to take a break from the circuit.

You've probably already figured out something wasn't right, haven't you?

I used to be one of the most loyal blog visitors to all those that visited mine, as well as others.  (Of course, that was before Janine started writing 37 blogs a day!) But, recently, things haven't quite been that way.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at you feeling as though I'm becoming a blog writer that doesn't even visit the efforts of others that I've become very close to in many ways.  But, that couldn't be further from the truth!

There are actually three factors that have led me to make the decision that's been made:

1. I feel guilty.  With my current employment, things are exceptionally hectic.  I've been able to read some of your blogs on my phone during the day, but commenting is an employment "no-no", as you well know.  I really haven't deserted you, but without commenting, you don't really know that.  I've tried to comment at night after I get home, but after a twelve hour day (sometimes six days a week), I'm doing good to make it through the evening meal without nodding out. (And, "NO", I'm not smoking that stuff anymore, so put that thought out of your mind.)  I can't expect you to comment on mine if I'm not commenting on yours ... as it's not fair ... and it also doesn't correspond with the FTSF rules.  
2. My eyes are giving me trouble again.  As you may be aware, I recently had my eyes give me fits with double vision, blurriness, and partial blindness.  The doctors thought they had it taken care of.  (So much for doctors thinking!)  Anyway, it's coming back.  There are times where I can't even read your blogs with my screen at a magnified view.  So, instead of continuing to strain them, I've got to give them a rest, get them taken care of (hopefully "right" this time), and do what I've got to do to keep my vision.  (Damn, getting old is a pain in the ass, to say the least!)
3. The home is in need of attention.  I've put many things on hold this last year as I've been writing.  Now, they're starting to catch up with me.  I've got to take some time to get them repaired before the house is a shambles (getting pretty close already, lol).  Very little time to do this is available with the schedule I'm working, and especially when you add in the writing and commenting.  

So, my options really are limited at this time.  To put forth the time I feel necessary to be a good fellow blogger and writer is simply not possible.  My vision won't allow me to do it and my wife is beginning to remind me about things around the house a little too often.  

Thus, I'm going to take about 

a month and a half off.

Don't shoot me, please!

I will be back June 1st at the latest.  Hopefully, some things will go better than planned (healing, etc.) and I'll be able to return sooner.  (I may even drop by from time to time just to bust the bubbles of those that are happy I'm gone, muhahahaha!!!)

Now, since that's out of the way, let's get to my last FTSF for a while.  I'll try to visit your blog this week and comment, as long as the vision holds out.  If I don't comment immediately, remember, I'm probably still reading it ... it just may take me a few days to do so.

So, here's the obligatory JPEG of the rules and the wonderful people that host this event.

Now, here's the prompt (or sentence to finish if you're picky about such phraseology):

"If I could live anywhere, I'd live ..."

Okay, now this is where I come in with my response.

...in the past as a time traveler.

Just imagine, knowing what you now know about all the atrocities that took place in the past, and being able to travel through time to actually stop them from occurring.

My, you do look like a
pizza delivery boy, Adolf!

Why, a person could go to Germany and shave off Hitler's mustache while giving him a haircut.  Without his signature caterpillar, he'd be mistaken for a pizza delivery boy, robbed by the Nazi Party, and turn into a baby circumsizing specialist for the local Jewish community!  World War II would never have occurred!

Think about it.  I could go back to the 50's and become a small plane pilot.  When the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens came to fly to the next show on that fateful night, I could've cancelled the flight and kept them alive producing Rock 'n Roll music into the current time, keeping the crap (and rap) that's on the radio today from ever having been heard!

Hey Charlie, I got some really good
stuff for you tonight!
Feel like bridge hopping?

A person could even be a drug pusher in the 60's, and provide Charles Mansion with some acid so mind blowing he'd think Helter Skelter was the name of an obscene halter top, lead him to develop a strong interest and get into porno films, be physically embarrassed during his first nude audition, and go out and jump off the San Francisco Bay Bridge.  Sharon Tate could have gone on making lousy movies, Jay Sebring charging too much money for lousy haircuts, and Abigail Folger and her boyfriend could have had coffee beans of their own!  

One could be the first to write an epic "How To" book on proper parenting for future generations!  By doing that, it would beat all the fake "mind doctors" that pushed permissiveness, video game experimentation, and religious mockery.  Just think, there would be no need for Political Correctness as manners and common sense would be common nature!  (Okay, so I'm hoping for miracles on this one.)

Think of being able to point out the boxcutters in the pockets of the 911 hijackers to security ... being able to stop Harry Whittington from going hunting and getting shot by Vice President Cheney in 2006 ... and even stop Kristen Stewart from messing around on Robert Pattinson while filming Snow White and the Huntsman.  (Nawww ... she's not worth the time token it would take to get there.)

Imagine ... free birth control pills in the drinks of the potential mothers of today's politicians ...  Ex-Lax in the pastry cooked for Oprah ... and proper vision care provided free of charge to all college basketball referees!   The would could be so wonderful!

No nuclear weapons would ever have been invented, special interest groups would have forever been banned from politics, and greed would be looked at as an evil.  Instead, man could learn to live together, politicians would actually work to help those they represent, and everyone could have their fair share for a fair day's work.  Nature would be looked upon as a gift from God worth preserving, police would only be necessary to direct traffic when the electricity went out during a storm, and everyone would chip in and help when a disaster occurred.  

This couldn't be done by only one person.  No, I'm not that naive.  But a group of persons, working together in complete secrecy to change the course of history, could create a Utopia for all to reside and thrive.  Families could be happy, communities loyal, and countries working hand in hand.

And if that didn't work, and time traveling was out of the question, 

well, how about the Bahamas?

I can see me in my speedo on the tropical beach, frolicking in the glowing sun of the afternoon, enjoying Pina Coladas endlessly with gorgeous tropical females.

Hmmmmmm!  Maybe I'll take the Bahamas!

See y'all in a month and a half!

Monsters And Maniacs, Could You Be One?

Does evil hold your attention?

Do you find yourself drawn to watching graphic movies and documentaries that you know will create a problem with your sleeping habits?

Why do you watch them?

Do you want to be frightened?  Do you seek to experience the adrenalin rush that fear and evil provides?  Or, is it that your curiosity pulls you towards the morbid, or dark side of life?

You know, the type of evil violence your parents always warned you
might happen if you didn't get home before dark!

I'm not talking of stories of werewolves and vampires ripping the throats out of their victims. 

I leave those to Kristen Stewart!

Instead, real blood, gore, and mayhem that real life crazies provide.  True life tales of surviving the maniacal assaults of desperate madmen who kill for either the twisted, psychological thrill of holding the power of death in their hands, or because they think it necessary for them to escape possible imprisonment.

U.S. Army Sniper.
Public Domain Photo

Sound like someone you know?

Since the dawn of time, people have been killed for many reasons.  Wealth, power and religion have ended the lives of millions.  Wars have been fought to justify the insane greed of rulers who wanted to own it all.  Of course, most of the rulers had armies do the majority of the killing for them.  Does that make it right?

If so, how big does the army 
have to be?

CHARLES MANSON
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:
Flickr_upload_bot

Charles Manson had an army of sorts.  They called it the "family".  We all know the story.   His reason wasn't money ... it was power.  

How far would you go

 to become Top Dog?

Is there an internal desire inside of you that lingers ... holding a deep grudge for someone that inflicted either tremendous physical or mental injury to you in times passed?  Would you like to see them suffer under the hands of a professional torture expert?  Would their screams of agony satisfy your desires, or would you want them to suffer the affects of a razor slicing layer after layer of skin off of every limb of their body, with death as a final result?

No, I'm not advertising for business.  
That's not my line of work.

I'm only curious how far you would really go? (It's always nice to know one's friends, lol.) Would anger and desperation allow you to proceed beyond the realm of social conditioning, or would you recognize your actions and allow guilt to cease them prior to completion?

I’d prefer you not answer that question.  One never knows who may be watching.  

Especially with tags like this blog is going to have.  (lol)

Sunbathing in the Bahamas ...

could you do what it takes to get there?

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons 

Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Could you kill for money?

Not the convenience store clerk for $36 type of money, but the huge amounts we only dream of.  Five, ten, twenty million dollar type of amounts.   Could you do it?  Would you do it?   How desperate would you have to be?

Just think ... life in the Bahamas ... daily sunbathing on the beautiful white sand beaches ... tropical drinks in hand ... living the life of luxury.  Why, there's even cabana boys and girls to service your personal needs exactly the way you like them serviced.   

I sense your breathing is getting shallow and faster just thinking about it.  

Easy now!  Slow down!

Could you do it?  

Would you be able to plan it out like the Colorado assassin did in the theater last year?  Could you simply burst inside and start shooting like he did?  Something like 22 people were killed.  Now, because of his careful, advance planning, an insanity plea has been filed on behalf of the accused.  

Yet, in the actions of a sane person, he:

1. intricately planned out the crime, 
2. ordered and purchased all the weapons, 
3. preceded the act by requesting mind doctor assistance (minimally, I might add), 
4. meticulously set complicated booby traps in his apartment, 
5. costumed himself to project an image of insanity,
6. hid his insanity so well that his "mind doctor" mother couldn't detect it, and
7. timed his entrance perfectly for the first action scene in the movie.  

However, we're now supposed to believe that this person was insane.  Many still believe this intelligent young man did it to simply prove he could beat the system.  And, he just might!

Could you do it as well?

Could you play the Norman Bates role as convincingly as Anthony Perkins?

Or, will you become the Janet Leigh character in the next hotel you stay?

Many that would like to be on the jury in this person's trial.  Most feel as though he planned this act as a personal power challenge to see if he could outsmart the system and get away with it.  Many have stated they would love to give him the death penalty.  

In a way, isn't that killing?   

Or, is it the religious philosophy of an eye for an eye?

Nothing like religion to bring about 

a peaceful solution, is there?

So, how about you?  What would it take to get you to kill?  Think about it for a second.  Don't think you could do it?  

Well, what if:

1. your children were being attacked?
2. you were experiencing a violent home invasion?
3. you were walking home and were attacked by a maniac or a gang?
4. you were bullied without mercy for years?
5. you were watching a shooter fire round after round at a playground?

 Still don't think you do it?  

Maybe you ought to think about it.

Given the right circumstances, we all could.  

That’s right ... the lady in the grocery store that keeps stopping in front of you could be ready to snap and attack you with a can of creamed corn. Or, how about the convenience store clerk that has gone off the deep end and is ready to drown you in artificial coffee creamer?    Maybe, that guy tailgating you the black Honda CR-Z has a vendetta against Prius drivers and is searching for his next victim.  Perhaps, even the school principal is awaiting the next parent / teachers conference to get back at all the idiots that can't raise children properly! (I might join them if that were the case, lol.)

Are you getting closer to going over the edge, too?  

Do you even know how close you really are?

Could the fear you feel while watching the movies and documentaries be tempting you to become one of the players instead of the watchers?   Could your quest for adrenalin drive you closer and closer to the edge?  Is the video game you're playing be the conditioning tool you need to see life only as a 500 point score?  Could you be the next one we’re watching the documentary about?  

What would it take?

*** Disclaimer:  This is a post to simply make you think a little.  I had originally intended to make this blog post much more humorous.  However, in attempting to do so, I found it either not fitting well, sounding somewhat too lighthearted, and less meaningful.  The sarcasm added is to allow some of the tension a chance to escape, but still, the final question, "What would it take?" is one that does require much internal soul searching.  The answer isn't easy, nor one that we wish to find.  Yet, in today's world, may be a necessary evil to discover.  Peace!