Just Get Over It!

And so with the flip of a calendar page, football is back, and so are they. Many people absolutely hate them. Despise their ways. Jealousy abounds their success. Superior confidence on their part is mistaken for arrogance. Their secrecy is longed for by other teams. They've been called cheaters, the favored team, the commissioner's pet team, cocky, unsportsmanlike, just to name a few. But all of this and much more not even worthy of mention cannot take away from the cold, hard, unmistakable fact that the New England Patriots are back. Whether they have a successful season or not will be determined on the field. Experts say they are the favored team, but getting past all that, they have to play the games. All the talk in the world won't change this, and like any of you reading this who may have your deserved allegiances to YOUR team, I still maintain MINE for Tom Brady and company.

"You Lie"

And with those two words, President Obama's speech the other evening was interrupted rudely by South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson. The President, while taken by surprise, continued on as he should have. Of course, this is not anything new, as previous Presidents were also subjected to this kind of rudeness. Now, while I may not be an Obama supporter, and disagree with his methods of rule, he is still my President and the office itself should command respect. I hope these incidents serve as lessons to Obama supporters, many of whom probably were on the giving end towards previous administrations. Joe Wilson issued an apology for his rudeness, and while being caught up in the emotion of the moment, Mr. Wilson should never forget that it's about the office, not the individual.

An Unforgetable Day

Today begins as it customarily does for me with a 9 am wake up in order that I may take the first of five pills in the morning. A half hour later, I make my way down to the kitchen for breakfast, after which the remainder of my medication is popped. Today I manage to find myself off from work, so I can adjust my gears into the relaxation mode. With rain infesting our part of the country, the mode will remain lazy throughout the day. But all of this seems minuscule when compared to how many people in the rest of the country will be spending their day.

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, The Pentagon in Washington, and that peaceful field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It will be a day of remembering for many; of how some of them suffered on that beautiful September day with the loss of a loved one, or the loss of innocence when it comes to our children. Maybe it's the reminder to all of us of what the true meaning of life really is, and how precious our short time on this earth can be.

For whatever reason we chose to remember 911, we should do so by taking a few moments to refocus our views on how more than a thousand people were condemned to death on that day for simply going to work and living their lives. Along with time, memories can fade, and the 911 attacks should never become part of that equation.

Remembering 911

On September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the 911 attacks, the Tear Drop Memorial pictured here was dedicated in Bayonne, New Jersey just across the Hudson River from the New York skyline. Donated by Russian artist Zurab Tesesetei and the Russian people, the memorial serves as a reminder of the struggle against world terrorism. Today we observe the eighth anniversary of the attacks, and I have chosen to feature this memorial as the focal point of my posting. I personally have found that its' design helps promote both healing and peace. In addition to the teardrop being aligned with the Statue of Liberty, the base wall is adorned with the names of the victims who lost their lives on that tragic day.

What Teleprompter?

My customary stint at the keyboard this morning yielded me an exceptional e-mail. My thanks to my dear cousin Joan for passing this one on to me. This You Tube video features an eleven year old young lady delivering an American Freedom speech in Florida this past July 4th. There is clearly no teleprompter being used, and it even looks like she has no script. If liberals are afraid of Sarah Palin, they had better add this young lady to the mix. If she is this passionate and well versed at this age, imagine the future that could be awaiting her as a public servant. I have attached the link to this incredible video below for your listening pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHieqM1hKsg

Too Little Too Late

I read in this morning's news that the exact location of Michael Jackson's tomb will be kept secret 'forever'. Well, don't you know that really is a bit of news that I couldn't live without knowing. The reason given by an unidentified source is that it will keep away paparazzi and the like. Isn't this whole CIA tactic being implemented in a 'cart before the horse' manner? Why would so much effort go into protecting him from harm's way now when the time he really needed this was when he was still alive? No one seemed to pay much (if any) attention to his critical needs then. Now that the autopsy results have painted a rather clear picture of Michael Jackson's life behind the scenes, getting him the help he really needed is a rather mute point. I'm not stating that this would have been an easy thing to do, after all he was a 50 year old adult who should have known right from wrong. But with his celebrity status always getting in the way of conscientious decisions, he should have been protected from his number one enemy....himself! All the security and attention to protecting him at this stage in time is now and forever will be proving to be too little too late.

Compassion?

This week the government of Scotland released the lone person convicted of bringing down Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbee Scotland over 20 years ago. Hundreds of innocent travelers, many of them Americans, lost their lives in this horrific incident. The bomb was carried aboard the flight in a suitcase and was set to detonate over the ocean. However, because the flight was late, it wound up being brought down over the Scottish town destroying many homes and killing people on the ground as well. The convicted terrorist was diagnosed with colon cancer which has been classified as terminal. Because of this, the government of Scotland approved the release on compassionate grounds. Compassion, really? Has the criminal shown any compassion on his own part? His arrival in Libya to cheers and confetti doesn't show me any remorse, let alone compassion. Has he even voiced his regret......to anyone? What about the families of the victims....any compassion thrown in their direction? The law has been mocked big time! And last but not least comes the victims themselves. When is their release to their families expected? Oh, that's right, their remains have already been released to their families. Not very compassionate, if you ask me.

Do You Sense?

Does anyone in this reading audience sense that something is terribly wrong here? Things just aren't taking a turn for the better of late. The health care issue currently haunting the current administration is taking all kinds of turns, and mostly in the wrong direction. Seems that it really is a difficult sell to the American public, who are not buying it one bit. The thousands of pages only have tons of legal jargon to offer even the most degreed professionals. And if this is not enough to make anyone uneasy, today it was reported that since July 1st, 60,000 members of AARP have cancelled their memberships. When the old and wise take such a stand, we had better pay attention!

A Second Chance

By the time halftime arrived in the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, the announcement about Michael Vick's signing with the Eagles had been made. While it may have struck many as a surprise, the knowledge that he would soon wind up being a part of a team was never in doubt. But how do people really feel about this, and can they justify it in their minds? Michael Vick, once the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, was an up and coming athlete with multiple talents that only few young men dream about. His love of professional football would resonate in his ability to do things on the field that few of his caliper could. However, all this would take a back seat to the revelation that would one day shock the sporting world. Vick would eventually be tried and convicted of funding and operating a dog fighting ring at his Virginia home, where in addition to the fights, dogs would be killed as a result of their poor performance. For this horrific crime, he was sentenced to two years in prison. But this was only the beginning of Vick's fall from grace. The Atlanta Falcons would release him, heavy fines were imposed upon him, and his endorsements either stopped coming or were terminated. He would soon become bankrupt, and the National Football League suspended him indefinitely. With all of this, probably the worse punishment would be his inability to continue to play football. Vick served his sentence quietly and without appeal for eighteen out of the twenty-four months he was sentenced. Once released, he served an additional period of house arrest, working a $10.00 an hour construction job during this time. Eventually, his road back began to take shape. While incarcerated he had plenty of time to reflect on his actions and made the commitment to make amends for his short comings. He joined up with the Humane Society and PETA and became a spokesman for them, speaking to inner city kids about the consequences of his mistakes. The NFL then decided to partially reinstate him, clearing the way for him to sign with a team. While many teams expressed no interest in his services for fear of public outcries, a few teams actually entertained the possibility of having Michael Vick on their roster. Today, as I drove to work, I listened to Michael Vick's news conference and was taken by his sincerity and openness about what he had done, and his taking responsibility for it. We as Americans are a forgiving nation that generally believes in giving people second chances. The rest is up to Michael Vick!

A Crime To Remember

Today, August 9, 2009, marks the 40th anniversary of what is still viewed as one of the most horrific crimes in history, the Sharon Tate murder. That morning in the peaceful Benedict Canyon suburb of Los Angeles, ex-convict Charles Manson and his followers arrived at 10050 Cielo Drive, and when they departed they would leave behind carnage beyond belief. A housekeeper, arriving for her morning shift would discover the bodies of actress Sharon Tate, pregnant with her unborn son, and four other people brutally murdered throughout the sprawling compound. Manson and three other family members remain incarcerated to this day and every year of parole eligibility has brought them denials, as should be the case. Only the death penalty being ruled unconstitutional has kept them alive all these years.

An Ignored Child

Perfect title for this post, don't you think? Now that I've become a victim of history on my other blog, I don't get to this corner as often. This morning I sat here sadly having awaken to reality once again, having just returned from my favorite place....the ocean. Why is it that vacations are so stressful in their own ways? Many of us spend extra time getting everything in order at home so that we can go on vacation, and when we return, we feverishly catch up to get back on track again. That alone probably makes you wonder why you went in the first place. But, while you're there, it all comes together to make it seem worthwhile. I managed to get in two days of golf, how I did is quite another story, however. But for anyone who might play occasionally, seeing different scenery seems to make the game more interesting. Of course, vacation time wouldn't be complete without a little cycling, which I tried to get in as often as I could. The funny thing about me is that even though I love the ocean, I manage to keep my distance, so to speak. Of my eight days at the beach, only one saw me actually taking a dip in the big 'o', with the rest finding me in the more convenient pool. The reality of it is that it must be such things as the relaxing sound of the tide coming in thru your window at night that contribute to the overall atmosphere. And who could go on without mentioning the seafood? I mean, who goes to the ocean and eats pizza? I realize there are those who do, but I can't bring myself to dining out at a steakhouse when I find myself at a place where seafood is a specialty. And now the only thing probably left to ponder is whether I would look at all of this in a different light if I were a seaside resident. Until that happens, however, I will continue to look forward to my next trip to the beach.

Why?

News coming across the wire this morning described how the police in North Carolina have shot and killed the serial killer who had been tormenting that state. Now, make no mistake about my personal view on this issue; I couldn't be more pleased that this low life is off the map. But the question we should ALL be asking is: "Why, with a rap sheet that is 25 pages long, was this creature allowed to be released from prison, to begin with?" All the deaths that resulted from this killer being on the loose can be blamed on the system, or should I say the lack of it! (Note to readers: The killer's name was purposely omitted, as per my policy of not promoting their agenda.)

The Michael Jackson Funeral

In case anyone out there has not heard as of yet, the king of pop, Michael Jackson has died on June 25th, and is scheduled to be laid to rest tomorrow. My point, obviously, is that we've heard just about all there is to hear over the last 9 days or so, and now I think it's time to give this poor guy a decent burial. Tomorrow, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, a memorial service is scheduled for Jackson, and the attraction is nothing less than sensational. With anyone attending this service having to fork up $25, we are now seeing just what Michael Jackson meant to anyone associated with his inner circle.......MONEY! We can all understand the magnitude of a celebrity like Michael Jackson and the impact that his passing away has had on his many many fans. But all the indecision and bickering between parties in charge, including the family, with regard to everything from his funeral to his very resting place has turned a sad occasion for many into a circus for the masses!

They Come In Bunches

It is often said that deaths come in threes. Well if you go back the past eight days, that figure was better than doubled in the entertainment community. On June 23rd, we received word of the passing of Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson's sidekick on the original Tonight Show, who was 86. Two days later on the 25th, we lost 62 year old Farrah Fawcett to cancer, which she had been battling for the past three years. Within hours of Fawcett's death came the shocking news of the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson, who was only 50 years old. On June 27, Gale Storm, age 87, of television's 'My Little Margie' fame died of natural causes. The following day, Las Vegas stand up comedian Fred Travalena was struck with a heart attack and passed at the age of 66. Also on the 28th, the Oxi Clean man himself, Billy Mays also died of a heart attack. Mays was 49. And today, the entertainment community lost 97 year old Karl Malden. Best known for his starring role in the tv series 'The Streets of San Francisco', Malden's cause of death was not disclosed. To say I've had enough would be an understatement!

Westboro Baptist Church

Today the United States Supreme Court upheld the right of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church to continue their tasteless protests at the funerals of US servicemen. Chants like 'Your son is going to hell', and 'Your son is a murderer' are freely shouted directly at the families at the funeral services. These people, supposedly Christians, should be spreading the word of God, but looks to me like this particular loser bunch failed to get the message. This is not a Christian church, or any kind of church, for that matter. These cold, thoughtless, unkind, non-caring individuals, from the pastor on down, are sinners in my book. They could care less about helping people. They're all about sensationalism, and a poor example of it, at that. If I were a Baptist, I would give conversion serious consideration.