Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Tested Truths: 2013, a year in review

Tested Truths: 2013, a year in review:   How do you review a year like this last one, one that will end mercifully at midnight tonight? So much murder and hatred throughout the wo...

2013, a year in review

  How do you review a year like this last one, one that will end mercifully at midnight tonight? So much murder and hatred throughout the world, and plenty right here at home. How do we make sense of it? The answer is a simple one, and yet we will look for ways to complicate it, and we will point fingers at each other and look elsewhere to place the blame. Simply put, the culprit is evil, and evil has had a banner year! Evil does exist, and it is a living breathing entity who remains alive by feeding on us. We allow it to thrive by ignoring it, and for those who bring evil thoughts to a physical reality? Those poor souls are only pawns, because evil chooses the insane and the hopelessly stupid to carry out its agenda.
  But what of this country, what of the good ole U S of A? How can we stand together against something as powerful as evil when we are so hopelessly divided about almost everything? Surely, what we don't need is more partisan politics! We have been torn in half by the extremes of this current administration, and yet, the extremists from the other side clamor for their turn?
If we are to have any hope at all for the future, it cannot come from Four more of the same, whether that same calls itself Democrat, or Republican! What is needed is a uniter, someone who is non beholden to any political party or it's agenda! Except for those who make their living from divisiveness, most all Americans look for someone who knows how to compromise, someone who looks only for the best ideas, regardless of the political affiliations of the person whose idea it was. If there is to be any real hope for this country, we must be willing to change how we do business. If all we accomplish in the upcoming 2016 presidential election is a simple change of the controlling party, then we will have four more of the same, only in a different wrapper? If the extremism that has divided us has taught us anything, it is that it doesn't work! All extremism accomplishes, is to devide us, and a country so divided is almost without power. Again, what is needed is a uniter, not a divider, someone who the entire country can rally behind! But the wheels are already in motion, and the New York Times placed the first palm leafs at the feet of the next to be coronated? Whether it is enough to wash Hillary's bloody hands, still remains to be seen? But if she is to be annoited as the next Democratic nominee, it doesn't mean that a Republican, any Republican is the answer? If all that we do is elect an anti Democrat, who does nothing to unite us, then perhaps we should hoist the white flag above the White House, because we are truly doomed! Too mellow dramatic you say? Then you don't understand the power of evil, and that if we are to have any chance at all against something so powerful, we must be united once again as one!  

Friday, December 27, 2013

Tested Truths: Sit down and type it Ed,

Tested Truths: Sit down and type it Ed,:   I had meant to write you all on Christmas Day, but you might say that logistics got in the way? It wasn't for lack of trying mind you,...

Sit down and type it Ed,

  I had meant to write you all on Christmas Day, but you might say that logistics got in the way? It wasn't for lack of trying mind you, as I have three in the hopper, or three in the can if it was film? But the timing wasn't right, I couldn't get to the computer, it wasn't my fault!
  I find that it isn't a good thing to write them without printing them, because I wind up tearing them apart! And if incessant editing wasn't bad enough, more often then not, they don't get printed at all. Usually for one of two reasons? Either I figure that they weren't good enough, or, this one more often then not, I figure, What's the use?  
  But anyway, I have some time now, so I am typing this one before it winds up like the others? Here is what happened at our Christmas schwaree just the other day. We have Christmas every year, and this year it was just the immediate family! In years gone by, just family could sometimes erupt into arguments, but certainly not this year, as this one was better then I remember for a long time! This year, we all got along great, and there wasn't even any cheap shots taken! Poifect? So I'm watching these family members as they passed the full length mirror that we have in our hallway hanging on a door. Looking at the mirror more then the passing people, I thought, isn't a mirror the perfect metaphor for seeing the two sides of life, That which is outside the mirror is true life, and on the other, that which is inside the mirror, is just an image? A perfect likeness, but it can never be correct. Because what you see in the mirror is all wrong, its backwards, not life at all, but counterfeit life. But also, the linear plane of a mirror is a way to view that dividing line of good and evil? Let me explain. Again, taking my family as an example. The reflections in that mirror on Christmas day were as life should be, life as God intended! But on the other side of that mirror, where everything is backward, whispers would have been hidden, and hurt feelings could have brought the opposite.  Had that mirror shown anger and harsh words, then evil would have triumphed over good. If you believe there is good, then you must agree that there is also the opposite. Evil is the underbelly of life, and all that divides from it, is the flat glass of a mirror!
  A very belated Merry Christmas to you all! I can't help but wonder how many responded to my prayer? I prayed that each of you, before you dug into your food, took a moment to reflect on the reason for the celebration.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Tested Truths: Feed Back

Tested Truths: Feed Back:   Whispers crying out so softly, and yet they echo in the trees. Alone alone, so always alone he cried. What is to become of me, are my hope...

Feed Back

  Whispers crying out so softly, and yet they echo in the trees. Alone alone, so always alone he cried. What is to become of me, are my hopes and dreams to fall by the wayside? What purpose is there in all of this, and why should I care? Have I been chosen to tell them something, something that most cannot understand? The bringer of bad news is not often welcome. But if his heart is sound then his reasoning good!
  Just returning from a walk outside in the mist, the landscape was a perfect black and white. But I think color film would have been better, as it would show the green flag of the golf course, and it would have been a nice contrast.
  But I say all that to say this, In todays mail I received the software to convert my Apple to be able to write in word perfect. So now I have no more excuses, its no longer the time to procrastinate. Besides, its probably just the kick in the ass I needed! It is time to get serious, it is my New Years resolution, I have to make some money here! Anyway, it is being published by Westbow Publishing, and I'm in the hands of a very capable young lady named Brittany. It's going to be a twelve part series, on the life and times of Dr. George Zoot. A Sci-Fi action thriller, sure to keep you bolted to your seat! At first I thought for ages twelve and up, but I think I'll make it eight and up? I still haven't picked the title yet, but I'm thinking of two? The Continuing Saga of Dr. Zoot, or, The Strange Adventures of Dr. Zoot. Which one do you think? Come on G+ers, I'm looking for some feed back here!


I would be lieing if I were to tell you that I don't have my doubts about just how many I will sell? Before I wrote the above post, I went to my analytics page, and according to that, I had a grand total of one page view today, One! Geesh, I hope I can at least cover my expenses? Please buy my book, daddy wants to go to the Keys!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Tested Truths: The business of Ducks

Tested Truths: The business of Ducks:   Though I will go out of my way to be politically incorrect, still there are times that I get caught up in its stupidity! Take this article...

The business of Ducks

  Though I will go out of my way to be politically incorrect, still there are times that I get caught up in its stupidity! Take this article for instance, I have corrected it three times and written it twice, and I never do that? I just type what I think, trying to keep it less then a page, push the publish button, and let the pieces fall as they may! But not on this one, this is a tough one, in that it is easy to let your anger bleed out into your sentences. The subject that is all in your face right now, the one that you are already tired of hearing about, is the hysteria over Duck Dynasty and A&E? Because it is not a free speech issue, in that under our capitalist society, companies are free to do business as they see fit. It was refreshing that a reasonable spokesman for the gay community spoke out intelligently about the subject. Far too often, the voice that the gay community shows to the public are the radical, in your face type of kooks! Let me point out the obvious, and tell you that people are much more tolerant of the former. Afterall, where does common decency come into play? Mugging it up and groping each other in public is disgusting even if it is a heterosexual couple! If you truly want respect, you must first act respectively.  
  I spoke earlier about anger, so let me explain that. There is an arrogance in the gay community, which basically tells others, that our sin is different, or special in some way? Let us say that there is something to the bad gene story, in that, you are gay because it is in your ancestral blood. Is that also so for addiction? Again, lets assume that this is true? And lets take it a step further, and say that your first homosexual act was inevitable because of that gene? The same being true for me, in that my defective gene led me to my first shot of heroin, and that the accompanying addiction was inevitable too?
  Now in order to be true to this little example, we must agree that our behavior is outside the accepted norms of society. Easy for the addict, but not so for the homosexual? Why, on what premise? Certainly not from the Bible's perspective. I mean there can be no misunderstanding the word abomination! So you don't believe in God, what is you're reasoning then? Do you call on the natural world for your reason? Male and female is to propagate the species, so no logic can be found there either. Lastly, lets look to science? Does the scientific community assure that such behavior isn't odd?
But again, we come to the basis of the real argument, that being, that somehow, your lifestyle is different, and exempt from the morals of society? And this is where I get angry! Whether it was an errant gene or something else, there came a time when it was me who stuck the needle in, it was me, and no one else. So its sin, plain and simple, and whether you agree or not makes no difference. But here's a plan, Jesus loves sinners, so climb down off your high horse, get down here in the mud, and wallow around with the rest of us!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Tested Truths: Rock and Roll, a brief history

Tested Truths: Rock and Roll, a brief history:   It came wailin out of the backwoods of Tennessee, with roots deep in places like Chicago, Detroit and New York City. A true American art f...

Rock and Roll, a brief history

  It came wailin out of the backwoods of Tennessee, with roots deep in places like Chicago, Detroit and New York City. A true American art form, because like the American people, it was a mutt by musical standards? A conglomeration of all that had gone before it. I believe that the term Rock and Roll was first coined by a DJ named Alan Freid? Before that, the sound was called, Boogie Woogie, Be Bop and Scat! But this new music caused quite a scare with older Americans, when first brought to the public eye from a kid named Elvis Presley. The guy gyrated his hips while singing songs similar to what blacks listened to, and this was a matter of concern then, as racism was widespread! It was a real scandal for the times, and campaigns to eradicate the new sound culminated in record smashing!
But the music survived, and evolved into what was to be the next big change? The so called British invasion was ushered in at first by the Beatles, quickly followed by the Rolling Stones and many others. It was acclaimed as a new sound, but it wasn't really. At the time, the music was going through  a faze of heavy orchestrations, with some music even incorporating violins? But what the Beatles and others said was, Hey, do you remember Rock and Roll? All that is needed are drums, a rhythm and a bass guitar, and someone good enough to play lead. Piano optional? Simple right, not new, just back to basics! This happened because while we Americans were listening to Percy Faith, British kids were listening to guys like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, and Chuck Berry!
But the biggest boost that this new old sound got came from technology, as FM stereo was in its infancy, and these new bands took full advantage of it. While the artist dabbled into Rock fusions with other genres like folk and Country, Jazz and the Blues, new recording technologies were also emerging like multi track recording. At this time, Rock moved onto the FM stereo stations and the new type of DJ who understood the music they played. While Pop music which we called Bubble Gum was relagated to Am and the top forties?
  The last of the changes is what brought about much of todays music. Michael Jackson was the first to effectively combine music and dance. His live performance of Billy Jean was pure genius! But sadly, for most who followed his lead, the music has become secondary to the dancing? Where true Rock and Roll goes from here is anyones guess? But one thing is for sure. If Rock and Roll is to survive as an artform, it must come from the musicians who play it, and certainly not from those who lip sync and dance to it. Long live Rock and Roll!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Tested Truths: The Auspices of Time

Tested Truths: The Auspices of Time:   What are the auspices of time, and where is it's abode? Time and age live together in lockstep with each other, each moving ever forwa...

The Auspices of Time

  What are the auspices of time, and where is it's abode? Time and age live together in lockstep with each other, each moving ever forward, one tick at a time. Isn't it both age and time that wear away the mighty mountains? Who is it that contols their time? Does anything get better with time, who among you can understand its' meaning?
  Tell me if you know, says the Mighty One, Who among you can explain it to me? Only the holy of God knows the answer, For they have become aware by the asking, and I will hold no knowledge from them says He. Infinity, eternal awareness, Life eternally, forever with Him! Amen.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Tested Truths: George

Tested Truths: George:   This one is straight from the hip. I can put poor George off for no longer! George is the World War Two veteran that I interviewed a while...

George

  This one is straight from the hip. I can put poor George off for no longer! George is the World War Two veteran that I interviewed a while back. George stormed the beaches of Normandy, and George was most proud of the fact that he would soon be 96, and that would make him the first to have reached that lofty mark in his family! I'll beat them all he said!
It was hard to get him to talk about his experiences there, but of what little that he told me, he wanted it known that he was no hero! George, God bless George! A humble man, like many of the greatest generation. The passing of the George's' of this life, is a sad passing indeed! They lived through the great recession, and when duty called over seas, they all answered the bell! The pride and the dignity expressed by George should make the rest of us feel ashamed! Honor, he was a man of honor. He loved his family, and when the war was over, he went about raising that family.
He was evasive on some things, not only about the war, but even of his name, I never did get a straight answer? But I believe it was something similar as Gronkowski, and that everyone called him Gronk? So for my very poorly researched biography of a true American hero, raise your glasses this Christmas and toast George Gronk! The fellas all called me Gronk he said, and suddenly I was in the water? I just looked straight ahead to a spot on the beach. I didn't look to my left or my right, I just went straight for that spot!
  Going straight for the spot, focus and a clarity of purpose. Any job worth doing is worth doing right. Honor, Respect, Love of family! These things are all but gone in our society, sad, so sad. So thank you Gronk, thank you for your service, and thank you for being you!
I don't know if George made his ninety-sixth birthday, but if he didn't, it would be the first time he failed at anything.

Tested Truths: Rejection

Tested Truths: Rejection:   Waiting and looking, but not a shadow was cast, there was no inkling of any response. The offer went out, but it was met with only silence...

Rejection

  Waiting and looking, but not a shadow was cast, there was no inkling of any response. The offer went out, but it was met with only silence? No reason was given for the lack of response, and none had been asked for. The offerer must move on, and the reasons for why the rejection must not be dwelt on. Better dismissed, and left to be of no importance. This occurs in life with some frequency, and is true in every circumstance. Whether it be a hand extended in the simple act of friendship, or of a love offered and rejected? All have felt the sting of rejection, and it hurts!
  But what of the offer of God? Eternal life, eternal bliss, bathed in Wisdom forever, is what He offers! But how much thought, if any, do you put into considering the promises of eternal life? Do you deny yourself thinking about it because you think the subject to be too complex for you? It isn't really you know, because the truth is quite simple!
You either by faith, believe that God is exactly who he says he is, or, by faith that there is nothing beyond this life, you reject this? To dismiss the reality of God, simply because you think the subject too difficult, is no reason to reject anything, and certainly not a subject of such dire consequence! Look for God as an intellectual challenge. Look for him, and challenge him, asking all of your questions. I can assure you that he is more then up to the task! The simplest way to find God is by reading about him, and the easiest way to read about him is in the Book of John. A short read that is not hidden in the nuances of poetry, but is more straight forward. The only thing that you must remember when reading the opening lines of the first chapter, is that Jesus is the word!      

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Tested Truths: Nonsense

Tested Truths: Nonsense:   It happened just the other day, and it brought with it that old uncomfortable feeling? Its' funny when it does happen, because even th...

Nonsense

  It happened just the other day, and it brought with it that old uncomfortable feeling? Its' funny when it does happen, because even though it has happened to us all before, it is just something that we never get better at?
  Sorry, but this one has lost its' appeal, and it probably wasn't worth the trouble anyway? It was going to be another one of those where I never get to the point. One that we dance around, but one that is never identified one just done to intentionally frustrate. I do it for fun I suppose? I have at times done it face to face, in an actual conversation, but I am careful to not let it go on too long, maybe a short paragraph of it, rather then a full page.
  So. Winter is upon us. You know its' winter when you look forward to temperatures in the thirties! With the coming of winter comes Hanukkah and Christmas. After that, we look forward to the New Year, and the Super Bowl! Then, it is the time for the deep winter freeze, and our thoughts turn to the coming of spring!
But in keeping with the title, just remember that it is upon you before you even know it?

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Tested Truths: The Relevance of Time

Tested Truths: The Relevance of Time:   The relevance of time, is that it can be reduced to moments, and then accordingly, your perspective, as to those moments as they pass, is ...

The Relevance of Time

  The relevance of time, is that it can be reduced to moments, and then accordingly, your perspective, as to those moments as they pass, is extremely personal. No one sees things in the same way that you do.
Now the time that we are all accustomed to is the twenty four hour clock. Sixty seconds to a minute, sixty minutes to an hour and so on.
  Time passes for us in this way, it is the way that we view history also. The dates assigned to historical events have all come from the same sixty second time clock that we use. Historical events are played out within this time frame.
  But what if we were to look at time differently, what if we could slow the process down? What if you could train your bodies clock to see things as moments rather then events? Let's use this, what you are reading right now as an example? While you are reading this, many moments are passing by. Each event is made up  as moments, and time is a series of moment snapshots. Now that may sound a little vague, so let's install a sort of timing device then shall we? Suppose that as you read, each syllable that you process is one second? Now remember, this is a new clock, and so you can assign the sixty method or not? The point is, that your life's time is divided into moments. As to what you do with those moments, is totally up to you! The words that you read, will bring about thoughts in line with your perspective, and this will form your opinions, and your opinions say a lot about who you are.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Tested Truths: An open letter to President Obama

Tested Truths: An open letter to President Obama: Dear sir,   I like all of the civilized world mourn the passing of Nelson Mandella. He truly was one of the greatest leaders that the world...

Tested Truths: An open letter to President Obama

Tested Truths: An open letter to President Obama: Dear sir,   I like all of the civilized world mourn the passing of Nelson Mandella. He truly was one of the greatest leaders that the world...

An open letter to President Obama

Dear sir,
  I like all of the civilized world mourn the passing of Nelson Mandella. He truly was one of the greatest leaders that the world has ever known. He was a man of peace because he was a man of God!
His greatness comes not from the fact that he endured a quarter century behind bars, nor does it come from his courage to stand up to the evil that was apartheid. The greatness comes from the fact, that after all that he endured, that he forgave, and that kind of forgiveness can come only from God. But the consuming beauty of the man was that he brought that so terribly divided country together, he united them! So successful was he in uniting them, that even those whose job it was to administer apartheid, now sing praises at his passing!
  He was a true man of the people, and was humble enough to know that it wasn't about him, nor was it about his race, but because he saw only his country, and he knew that a nation divided could not stand.
He embraced democracy, and he loved freedom, and not many knew as he did, just how dear freedom is!
  Which brings us to you sir, as it is only natural to compare you with him because of the obvious similarities of the offices that you hold, both the first in your respective countries. I, like so many other whites, voted for you because we thought that it was time for this great nation to elect a man of color.
We thought this because we hoped that because you were black, that you could heal the racial divide, and end the scourge of racism once and for all!
  The bible tells us that God places kings and presidents, and so you were given the chance to end racism in this great land. If you were to take on this task, and you are successful at it, then your legacy will be that of one of our greatest presidents. But your legacy will not come from cramming socialized medicine down the throats of Americans.
  But if you were to use Mr. Mandella as your guide, and spend you're remaining three years in office working to unite us, rather then divide us, then and only then will your legacy be that of one of our greatest presidents. Not as a black president, but as an American President!  
 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Tested Truths: Mortimer

Tested Truths: Mortimer:   With that, the great sand covered shell turned and moved off. John followed after. The morning sun felt good on his face, and he started t...

Mortimer

  With that, the great sand covered shell turned and moved off. John followed after. The morning sun felt good on his face, and he started to collect himself. He had about a million questions that he wanted to ask, but he decided to use a little humor to get one of them. You know where I come from, he said, turtles don't talk. What should I call you anyway? Craning his neck a bit, the old fella answered and said, I am not a turtle, I am a tortoise. Turtles have no reason to talk. Because they spend most of their time in the water, and man being a land animal, I suppose that there was no reason for it. My name is Mortimer.
  The old tortoise quickened his pace now, and headed for  the shade of a line of palm trees. The shade did look inviting, and John followed along, all the time asking questions as he walked by Mortimer's side. But Mortimer did not answer, in fact, he spoke not at all? So John stopped asking, figuring that the old boy would stop in the shade just ahead, and that he would ask some more once they were rested. But the old tortoise did not stop in the shaded glen, but continued on to a clearing with tall thick grasses. Halfway across this field, Mortimer suddenly stopped, settled into the cushy grasses and fell immediately to sleep! Stunned, John looked around. Around him everywhere were mounds just like Mortimers' and none of them was talking either?