Jack Kerouac via Lisa Bearnes Richey
So MANY controversies – so little time.
On 60 Minutes last night, Lesley Stahl spoke with Margarita Simonyan — the head of Russia’s state-owned news network. At one point, Margarita Simonyan said (paraphrased) “The U.S. prides itself on allowing freedom of speech. What happened to it? What has happened to the United States?”
She raises a very good point. I never remember such discord before in our country. I don’t remember many instances of not allowing someone to speak, although I do remember instances where the Ku Klux Klan announced they would be in a location and protesters coming. A good yell was had by all. No one listened to anyone who disagreed with them, but I don’t remember property damage or bloodshed. My memory may be faulty.
My point is that it seems that –
One example – Women – particularly in Hollywood – are speaking up about sexual abuse they have suffered in the past, insisting that things change and that the men responsible be punished. I think this has been a long time coming and that powerful men should be learning that, along with increased power comes greater responsibility to be respectful of those around them or be ready to lose it all.
Some women, though, have accused men of abuse and rape, only to be proven liars – sometimes years later. They have ruined men’s reputation and lives. If/when it is known that they accused falsely, though, nothing seems to happen to them! I can’t believe that a woman merely has to accuse someone in order to ruin them. Now THAT is power! People who falsely accuse should be sent to prison with THEIR reputation in ruins, or something equivalent – maybe some way of trying to make it up to the person they wronged.
People who are abused should feel free to speak up about the wrong and get help with making the abusers pay for their crime. Falsely accusing someone should come with STIFF penalties. Otherwise, it will get to the point where no smart man will EVER consent to being alone with a female for any reason, fearing their lives could be ruined.
Our country is divided on too many issues to count. The people holding different views are really hostile, some threatening to end the lives of people who oppose their views. This is NUTS!
May 2018 bring awareness, of what we’re losing, bigger brains and ears, and more tolerance.
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
“Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
tpkorean.wordpress.com
Warning: These three conditions – stupidity, doofosity, and obtusity – are contagious. Read on at your own peril. –
I know this personally, as I committed an act of doofosity just the other day. Instead of making SURE I knew to which account a money transfer site was linked, I ASSUMED I knew and transferred money. The Vice President of our local bank was kind enough to call me, letting me know that the account that the money was supposed to come out of didn’t have the required funds. When I figured out what I had done, I was really embarrassed. Rozanne was very tactful about my doofosity, saying she would transfer the money from where it was to where it should be so that the transaction could occur…
I don’t think I’m alone in committing acts like this. I do know that I commit more of them as I ‘mature.’ But, as George Carlin said, “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” I, at least, have the excuse of diminishing brain cells, but I wonder about all the other people who can’t use that excuse?
I read or listen to the news and am amazed (and depressed) by so many things I’m overwhelmed. My age might also be causing me to have less patience, and I know for a fact that there is no lower limit on ‘dumb,’ but so many people are WORKING at it! Every once in awhile I hear someone discuss a topic using a well-reasoned argument citing facts to support it. That’s becoming rarer than hen’s teeth (to coin a phrase.)
I’ll stop my rant (my mom always told me – “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” but I’ll leave you with this thought –
“Beauty fades, dumb is forever.”
― Judy Sheindlin, Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever
Filed under Attitude, Favorite Quotes, Pet Peeves
Marguerite Duras via World Literature Today via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Reading is FUNdamental
kingofwallpapers
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.” ~ Neil Gaiman, British author
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
Shannon Hale, The Goose Girl via Lisa Bearnes Richey
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
We put up our “Happy New Year” mailbox decoration with Calvin & Hobbes today. I’ve still had to ‘think’ a bit when writing a check to get 2017 on it. NOW – another year has whizzed past my head, making my hair blow!
“My Wish for you in 2018:
May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires.
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words …….
May 2018 be the best year of your life!!!” ~ Source Unknown
American Hippie via Kitchen Crafty Fun via Stephanie Youmans Wilson
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
Amber said, “WOOF!” quickly, then threw off the antler head band and tried to eat it.
We didn’t have a physically white Christmas here in Arkansas this year, but we avoided a possible ice storm this week, and that really adds to the spirit of Christmas around here. We had dinner last night with a long time good friend, ate well, exchanged gifts and good hugs, and laughed a lot. Amber was even more boisterous than usual when Nora came, but then thankfully settled down and was reasonable – until Nora stood up to leave…
I found some nice Christmas quotes I want to share with you today –
Norman Vincent Peale ~ “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”
Charles Dickens ~ “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
“Merry” – Paul Militaru Photography
Bing Crosby ~ “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white’.”
Dale Evans ~ “Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas” – Paul Militaru Photography
Bob Hope ~ “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
Edna Ferber ~ “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.”
“Night Snow” – Paul Militaru Photography
Calvin Coolidge ~ “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Filed under Favorite Quotes, holidays, Paul Militaru Photography
Dave Hedges via WisdomtoInspiretheSoul.com via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
Maya Angelou via http://www.unstuck.com via Lisa Bearnes Richey
Filed under Favorite Quotes
Dalai Lama via Elephant Journal via Cathy Ruggiero
Minions Fans via DoreenAdamson-Liber
Filed under Attitude, Bright Ideas, Childlike Fun, Favorite Quotes, Funny Signs - Humor
galleryhip.com
I LOVE this sign! Maybe I’ll steal the idea and paint one similar this winter to put up on the driveway this spring…
We’re supposed to have good chances of rain Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday next week, with highs in the 50s and 60s, but no freezes. Right now it’s 80 and is supposed to get to 83 this afternoon, so I’m planing to try to finish my spraying for weeds. It might not be the perfect day for it, but it’s the best one I’ll get until the winter is over, probably.
We remembered about changing our clocks for Daylight Savings Time, but our dogs were still on ‘regular time.’ They woke us up, saying they were going to pop if we didn’t get them outside. We did that, but then waited until almost the regular time to feed them. Hopefully, this will be the only time they roust us.
We just got back for the weekly shopping for groceries. I notice that, even in a small town like Greenwood, Arkansas, as more and more states adopt higher and higher minimum wages, the companies are opting for more and more automation, in effect saying, “Yes, we’ll pay $15.00 an hour minimum wage, but we’ll hire a lot fewer employees.
Example – The local McDonald’s was torn down and replaced with a brand new model, even tearing out the concrete around it and replacing it. They used to have at least 3 or 4 people at the front counter to take your orders, make change, etc. The new one here has several ordering kiosks and only ONE employee in the front. There are a few tables where one can eat there, but clearly, the majority of the customers order to carry out or go through the drive-through. I guess there is one employee handling the drive-through traffic. All the rest of the employees are in the cooking or prep section that is closed off from the regular public part.
The local Wal-Mart closed down at least half of the check-out counters, replacing them with check-yourself-out machines. There is one person there who can help you or answer questions. It wouldn’t surprise me if they close down more check-out lanes in another 6 months.
I hope that you’re having great weather where you are today, and that you’ll either do something fun with the rest of your day, something productive, or both.
Happy Sunday!
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Funny Signs - Humor, Good Thoughts
Lisa Bearnes Richey
I’m not sure that this is always a good thing, but I’m sharing my life with one.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
creativeartworksblog 