Begun back sometime in 2001, this book was originally a fluke of an idea… [...]
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August 24, 2010
Posted by Carla René in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Book Marketing Online, Book Review, Books, Business, Business Management, Cancer, Cap and Trade, Children, China, Climate Change, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communications, Communism, Community, Computers, Congress, Contributor's Audio/Video, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Energy, Entertainment, Environment, Environmental Issues, Faith, Family, Fiction, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Freelance Author, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Global Warming, Governance, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Heroes, History, Homeland Security, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet, Internet Advice, Interview, Islam, Journalism, Latino & Hispanic, Legal, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Marriage, Medical, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Mexico, Military, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Music, Native American, Nature/Wildlife, Non-Fiction, Nutrition, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Philosophical Genres, Poetry, Politics, Publishing, Question of the Day, Recovery, Relationships, Religion, Republican, Rhyme, Satire, Self-Help, Sex, Short Stories, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, Sociology, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Television, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Travel, Uncategorized, Website Instructions, Weight loss, Wellness, Women's Perspective, Women's Rights, Working Women, Workplace, World Issues, Writing Essentials
 Leave a comment August 23, 2010
Posted by Kaye in: Accountability, African-American, Attitude, Children, Commentary, Democracy, Faith, Family, Freedom, Healthcare, History, Islam, Latino & Hispanic, Minorities, Morality, Music, Poetry, Religion, Social Classes, Social Issues, Uncategorized
6 comments The revival of South Pacific was broadcast live on PBS On August 18, PBS live Lincoln Center. The musical which originally opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949 is one of my favorite musicals but then, I love just about everything Rogers and Hammerstein did from Carousel to Porgy and Bess to Oklahoma to Flower Drum Song. As I sat mesmerized in front to my television sometimes singing aloud and other times mouthing the lyrics to songs I consider to be some of the most beautiful songs ever written it slowly began to dawn on me that this musical was not so much about American troops at war on an island in the south pacific as much as it was a story about racism. Continue reading Strange Fruit Living Just Enough For The City August 19, 2010
Posted by Michael Crumling in: Accountability, Commentary, Current Events, Governance, Heroes, Morality, Non-Fiction, Opinion, Politics, Sports, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment Roger Clemons is charged with lying to a room full of liars. Charlie Rangel lied about his taxes. Barney Frank lied about Fannie and Freddie. Bart Stupak lied about his health care vote. And who can forget Senator Larry “wide stance” Craig. The list could go on for pages. A majority of Congress speaks [...] August 19, 2010
Posted by Michael Crumling in: Accountability, Commentary, Current Events, Faith, Freedom, Governance, Homeland Security, Islam, Morality, Non-Fiction, Opinion, Politics, Religion, Terrorism, World Issues
5 comments I watched with interest, a news story about people angry and suing because of a cross beside the road which honors the memory of a fallen police officer, killed in service to his community. They allege that because the police department insignia is affixed to the cross, it represents the government promotion of religion. The cross also has the officers’ name affixed. It might just represent who the man was in his life. He served his community as a police officer. Perhaps he was a Christian. One thing we do know for certain is that he is dead. He died serving the rest of us. It is hardly an example of establishment of religion. The separation of church and state is hardly relevant. It is no different than what you might see in Arlington National Cemetery, which one may note is on government property. There may be a dozen reasonable people who would be offended by this display. Continue reading A Mosque Grows in Mahattan July 31, 2010
Posted by georgepolley in: Book Review, Books, Current Events, Freedom, Morality, Social Issues, The Writer's Corner
Leave a comment Kenneth Ring, PhD and Ghassan Abdullah, editors: Letters from Palestine: Palestinians Speak Out about Their Lives, Their Country, and the Power of Nonviolence. Paperback, $26.95. Wheatmark, Tucson, Arizona, 2010. Website: www.wheatmark.com. For Palestinians, 1948 was a catastrophe. When Israel was born, between 700,000 and 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their ancestral homes, farms, villages and towns and became permanent refugees. For them this murderous ethnic cleansing was their Holocaust. Sixty-two years later, it continues. For those who live in what was Palestine, the experience is one of contempt, persecution and eradication. The following quote from professor and peace activist David Shulman’s book Dark Hope is a description of what it is like on the ground. “What we are fighting in the South Hebron Hills is pure, rarefied, unadulterated, uncontainable human evil. Nothing but malice drives this campaign to uproot” people from their homes. … “They led peaceful, if somewhat impoverished lives, until the settlers came. Since then, there has been no peace. They are tormented, terrified, incredulous, as am I. What black greed, what unwitting hatred, has turned Israeli Jews into the torturers of the innocent?” The stories in Letters from Palestine are by people who live this reality on a daily basis. Some are refugees who cannot return. Most live in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. In reading their stories, two things are clear: no human being should have to endure what they have endured, on a daily basis, for sixty-two years. It is immoral to allow it to continue. Continue reading A Powerful Testimony to Courage and a Call to Action: a book review July 15, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Business, Business Management, Commentary, Morality, Sports
One comment New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner had an undeserved reputation as a winner, but baseball’s current economic structure may be his lasting legacy. [...] June 14, 2010
Posted by Kaye in: African-American, Commentary, Education, Freedom, History, Morality, Opinion
3 comments On June 19th I’d like you to do me a favor. It is a small one and it won’t take must effort or time. Some time during your busy day maybe when you first wake or during a meal or while having a glass of wine just whisper the word “Freedom”. 1865, June 19th, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the War Between the State had ended and that all slaves were now free, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. There are conflicting stories as to why it took two years for black men, women and children to learn of their freedom. One stories says the message of freedom was delayed because the messenger was murdered on his way to Texas. Another is that federal troops waited for the slave owners to use free labor for one last cotton harvest before they went into Texas to enforce the new law. Then there is the story that says that the news of freedom was deliberately withheld by the plantation owners so that they could maintain the free labor force at least for awhile. Continue reading Whispering Freedom – Juneteenth June 10, 2010
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Faith, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Morality, Poetry, Religion
Leave a comment We’re all heading to the same destination in this life. We end up on the mortician’s table, bloody and bruised, old and twisted, pale, toothless and thin.
Some of us racing to get there while others just mosey along admiring the scenery and waiting their turn. May 28, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Biography & Memoir, Book Review, Books, Business, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Finance, Journalism, Morality, Non-Fiction, Publishing, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment Harry Markopolos, who tried to stop Bernard Madoff’s multibillion dollar fraud, is a genuine hero. But he needed a ghostwriter to tell his story properly. [...] May 18, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Advice, African-American, Attitude, Commentary, Current Events, Legal, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Minorities, Morality
Leave a comment It used to be that New York was open 24/7/365. But the years have worn the Big Apple to the core and somethings that were once popular to do have changed and gone the way of the dodo. You can still find someplace to find a bite to eat at 4am but the pickings are getting slimmer. Doors at clubs and eateries are watched to keep out undesirables. Some places are so afraid of problems they close early. And while the city boosts a rich cultural diversity there is always the problem that big brother is watching you. We still live in an age of profiling those who are different. Continue reading Somebody’s Watching You May 14, 2010
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communications, Congress, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Economics, Entertainment, Freedom, Governance, Homeland Security, Inspiration & Motivation, Islam, Journalism, Life Experiences, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Politics, Republican, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, World Issues
2 comments Amazing how many high government officals (including the Attorney General), political pundits, politicians, school officials and religious leaders comment so harshly on the immigration law in Arizona and publicly admit they haven’t read the ten page document. The document basically states that when being stopped for a traffic violation or questioned concerning a crime that [...] May 14, 2010
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Advice, Attitude, Business, Cap and Trade, Commentary, Communications, Congress, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democrat, Economics, Entertainment, Finance, Freedom, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Governance, Homeland Security, Humor, Journalism, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Literature, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Politics, Recovery, Republican, Satire, Self-Help, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, Women's Rights, Working Women, World Issues
Leave a comment Pick Your Reason 10. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies’ profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn’t. 9. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the [...] May 7, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Business, China, Morality, Social Issues, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment In Singapore and Macau, gambling companies have invested billions on shaky propositions. [...] May 6, 2010
Posted by Antonio de la Vega in: Democracy, Economic Crisis, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Latino & Hispanic, Mexico, Morality, Native American, Opinion, Politics, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, Uncategorized, World Issues
One comment La ley SB1070 además de polémica debe encerrar otras razones de fondo, para llevar a la reflexión sobre los temas relacionados con el movimiento de personas en el mundo. [...] April 30, 2010
Posted by write2bfree in: Accountability, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communism, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Finance, Freedom, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Literature, Minorities, Morality, Opinion, Philosophical Genres, Politics, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, World Issues
Leave a comment Charles Dickens’ novels show the degradation and exploitation of the working poor, but his solution (as pointed out by Orwell) was that those in power would become better people and in their new-found compassion create a safer, healthier environment for the workers. This would extend even to educational opportunities and a chance to move up the ladder, but only so far, never far enough to threaten the existing order. To counter this “benign ruler” point of view, some people in the early 1900s began to organize the working poor. Those most effective and trustworthy came from that background and took action. The work of Camus and Orwell springs from a real knowledge of poverty (Camus) or being an outsider among the privileged (Orwell). It must be pointed out that Camus took a dim view of Marx, and Orwell was horrified by Stalin’s Communism. But these two writers have held the greatest influence in the minds of Western thinkers who call themselves liberal. Camus went so far as to coin the term “libertarian socialist.” Continue reading A Measured Voice April 29, 2010
Posted by Tim Roux in: Business, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Homeland Security, Military, Morality, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, World Issues
Leave a comment War and money have always been inter-related. After all, you need money to fight a war – it has been argued that all world empires have collapsed ultimately economically because they had to protect too much territory with too little money – and conquest often brings in money. In the past, wars have often been fought to seize resources and enrich the conqueror – ask any passing European colonialist – and a short war generally proves a great stimulus to the economy too. In feudal times, the king mostly fought wars to keep his otherwise revolting and over-mighty robber barons exhausted but happy. According to feudal law, the barons had to raise the army, but they then got to go on a glorified fox hunt in foreign lands and to return with goodies and rights to land far more valuable than both ears and the tail. When the feudal system collapsed in the face of the rise of mercantilism in the sixteenth century, the king had to go to Parliament to raise taxes to fund his army, but he still managed to keep his greatest adventurers adventuring on someone else’s doorstep and bringing back the loot. Not that the formula was infallible. Charles I of England seemingly got it wrong when he declared an unpopular war on Scotland and then tried to raise Ship Money to pay for it. He made the even bigger mistake of stockpiling all these expensively purchased armaments in Hull which subsequently declared for the rebel parliamentarians. However, as the Marxist historian Christopher Hill pointed out, the truth may have been a little different from the way it has been traditionally painted. Continue reading Haliburton – a touch of the medievals? April 21, 2010
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Accountability, Biography & Memoir, Children, Faith, Family, Morality, Personal Experiences, Relationships
6 comments I sat next to my father in the counselor’s office at west mesa high school embarrassed and staring at my feet. “This is Joe’s last chance Mr. Pahn-cee.” The counselor said, mispronouncing our last name as everyone had done our whole lives. I had been named after St. Joseph the Worker; patron saint of laborers who’s feast day it was on May 1st, the day I was born.,. When I got to the first grade, the nuns renamed me because we already had a Jose in class, Jose Hernandez. By virtue of the alphabet, I became Joe Ponce. “Your son has failed his second year of algebra and is lacking full credits in English and Science because of unexcused absences. At this rate, he will not graduate with his class.” he continued. I could feel my father looking at me. “We believe that he is a good candidate for a new non-traditional program recently started at APS. That’s what Mr. Nuzzo is here to talk to you about.” The counselor gestured toward the older man sitting in the corner of his traditionally spartan, traditionally institutional office. He looked a little like my father. Slightly graying hair combed back, black frame glasses and a simple collared shirt and slacks. A pen in his pocket, just like my dad. “My name is Don Nuzzo,” he said extending his hand “from Freedom High. I’d like to talk to you, but first I’d like to ask your son something. Why do you want to come to Freedom High?” “I’m not sure that I do.” I mumbled. My father made an angry noise. Continue reading Your Mother and Me March 29, 2010
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Creative Writing, Humor, Men's Issues, Morality, Poetry, Relationships, Satire, Sex, Sociology
Leave a comment “What’s the deal with boobs?” she asked me quite frankly. “What is it about them that men like so much? “Well…” I replied, “They’re really quite nice. They’re smooth and soft and lovely to touch. March 19, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Business, China, Finance, Governance, Morality, The Pundit's Corner
One comment A report from New Jersey investigators gives new insight into corporate malfeasance and arrogance. [...] March 19, 2010
It’s a lot tougher than doing what is wrong. [...] March 12, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Commentary, Creative Writing, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Marketing, Marriage, Men's Issues, Morality, Relationships, Satire, Sex, Uncategorized
Leave a comment To be honest I like the latest, hottest commercial on television because it is funny, not because the man selling the product is good looking from head to toe and has a voice that could whisper in my ear anytime. The sensuality is a plus. But it is a good commercial, it’s a funny commercial and the actor went so over the top that he created a character that has 2 millions views on YouTube. And he’s on a horse. Continue reading The Man on the Horse- Do We Care How He Smells? March 4, 2010
Posted by Lara Daniels in: Fiction, Life Experiences, Literature, Morality, Relationships, Short Stories, World Issues
2 comments She noticed him staring at her through the window. Uncomfortably, she shifted. First on one foot, then the other, as she dizzyingly became aware of his intense scrutiny. Boss lady was coming any time soon and if she found this stranger staring at her through her precious shop windows, she would throw a fit. Suddenly angry at the brazen look this man was giving her, she turned to give him a reproachful glance of her own and mouthed the words “Rude. Rude to stare.” The man only smiled in return, a self –assured grin that maddened her only more. She saw him shrug nonchalantly and before she could take her next breath, realized that he was coming into the shop…heading straight for her. She stiffened. February 14, 2010
Posted by Bob Grant - Editor in: Commentary, Current Events, Morality, Opinion, Social Issues
Leave a comment What is Nudity? by Bob Grant This seems to be the consensus definition of Nudity: noun: the state of being without clothing or covering of any kind. Someone, very special to me, sent out a harmless Valentine’s Day JibJab video. Someone else wrote something about there was an impression of nudity in this video – they try to [...] January 19, 2010
Posted by Tim Roux in: Accountability, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Humor, Morality, Opinion
6 comments As you know, we have a hacker who turns up on this site from time-to-time. As you may not know, we also have a wit-cum-satirist-cum-forger who is now regularly in the habit of changing other people’s postings to satirise them. Whilst I am delighted that the guy has a sense of humour somewhat absent from his substantive work, and while I delight in satire labelled as satire, I do have some doubts about people changing other people’s posts here. Example #1 Hi I am Prentiss Gray, jerk number #2. Just check out my comments and postings thoughout the site. I work hard on being the number #2 jerk of the site. Example #2 Jerk #1 here. Continue reading Wit, satire and forgery January 16, 2010
Posted by Femi Olawole in: Attitude, Morality, Religion, Social Issues, Spirituality, Terrorism
6 comments In retrospect though, I have since found myself sympathizing with every religious extremist. My sympathy arises from the knowledge that victims of religious dogmatism and bigotry are as hapless and pathetic as the victims of natural disasters. [...] January 8, 2010
In all fairness (which I slip into sometimes entirely by accident), this piece is not exclusively about Christians; it is about all people who describe themselves as ‘devout’ and then promote hatred and persecution of others. There are some people who describe themselves as ‘devout’ who really are (and who are very special people indeed), but tragically they seem to be outnumbered rather significantly by the ersatz version. Over the last 2,000 years, self-labelling ‘devout’ Christians, ‘devout’ Muslims, ‘devout’ Jews, devout ‘Hindus’ and ‘devout’ Buddhists (even) have been responsible for most of the world’s suffering. On an everyday level, and in nearly all cases, the established churches have enthusiastically acted as an insidious secret police network for the state. The Spanish Inquisition is perhaps the most notorious example of this tendency, but it has been true of the established churches in almost every country in the world, including the Vatican. Continue reading Persecuting Christians January 5, 2010
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Creative Writing, Family, Morality, Poetry, Relationships, Sex
2 comments My father’s voice sounded so small saying, “Son, please come home.” My father’s voice sounded so small on the other end of the phone. He said, “Son, your mother is worried sick. She misses her little boy. And she can’t understand what would take you so far away. You’re not thinking with your head. You’re feeling with your heart. And you’ve known this love is illusion right from the start.” My father’s voice sounded so small saying, “Son, please come home.” My father’s voice sounded so small on the other end of the phone. Continue reading My Father’s Voice December 20, 2009
Posted by Femi Olawole in: Commentary, Inspiration & Motivation, Morality, Opinion, Social Issues
3 comments A few days ago, I was privileged to see the movie, Invictus. I consider it a privilege because it’s a fresh breath of air—the type that comes in the heels of a nasty fart. About a month earlier, I had seen a much more different movie titled Precious. Based on the novel Push, it’s the story of a Harlem teenager who, on the one hand, goes through a harrowing experience in the hands of her parents and, on the other hand, gets taunted for the sad experience by the society at large. As charity begins at home, so does abuse for the character of Precious. This hapless teenager is verbally, physically and sexually abused by her biological parents. As part of the consequences of all these abuses, Precious gets pregnant and has 2 kids by her father. Anything that can nauseatingly go wrong in a dysfunctional household goes wrong in Precious. Usually, I don’t read reviews until I see a movie and then form my personal opinion. It was the same with Precious. I refused to read the many reviews of this movie until I saw it. Interestingly, most of the reviewers were like Hollywood make-up artists. They would start with the acceptance of the dark, stark reality of the movie but end up with desperate attempts to make it attractive. One such reviewer (Eric D. Snider) wrote, among other things, “the premise of “Precious” is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn’t want to see it:… ” The reviewer then went on to conclude “But if you do see it, you’ll find that it’s compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances…” Continue reading Precious Invictus. December 15, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Commentary, Current Events, Family, Marketing, Morality, Opinion, Relationships, Sex
One comment Tiger Woods and the Morals Clause By Alan Caruba “Accenture takes very seriously its business ethics, corporate governance and transparency of operations. Our board of directors authorized the creation of our Ethics and Compliance program. Led by our general counsel, the program is designed to: # Foster the highest ethical standards amongst Accenture personnel. # Be effective in preventing, detecting and appropriately reporting and addressing any allegation of misconduct and violations of law by Accenture personnel.” You can find this statement on the website of Accenture, a management consulting firm for whom Tiger Woods was its celebrity avatar. His image is no longer on their website because Accenture announced it has severed its relationship with the sports star. No doubt Accenture’s general counsel reviewed the contract it has with Tiger Woods as regards his personal behavior, otherwise known as “the moral clause.” As we are learning, Tiger’s morals off the greens weren’t just a lapse of judgment, but a serious breach of appropriate behavior before and during his marriage. Off the greens, Tiger’s life was truly the stuff of tabloids. In time, however, he will find forgiveness or just the fatigue people will have with the story. In the short term, however, those corporations and other enterprises associated with his name will want to sever relations or distance themselves. Continue reading Tiger Woods and the Morals Clause December 9, 2009
Listen up all you would be philanderers and potential assassins of family virtues. I come to warn you about the sirens out to tempt and snare you. You think your status as celebrity will cover your sins as your bodyguards watch your back and your publicists protect your image. But trust me, these temptresses with long locks and longer legs are out to get everything they can for the time they spend in the dark with you. And when these long stemmed vixens come up smelling like roses you will come up smelling of the death of your career and probably life as you know it. Continue reading Advice for Would Be Cheating Men December 1, 2009
One of the great pleasures of reading indie authors is that they are often literary Luddites, exuberantly smashing the commercial frameworks imposed on their more industrially-produced cousins, replacing them with a more zestful, fresh, individual and – might I say – compelling approach to their work. It is not that they do not recognise as well as anyone the existence of the rules and formulae drawn up to govern the structure, content and style of mainstream modern literature, it is just that they prefer to explore other creative options for the good of their, and our, souls. “Know what you should do then do as you like” was the moral guideline I was schooled in by my parents and it is the literary guideline of many indie authors too. Let me declare straight off that Stuart Aken’s pointedly joyous ‘Breaking Faith’ is the output of such an independent and questing mind. However, if you like to slot books as automatically and systematically into standardised categories as the priapic photographer Leighton Longshaw likes to slot his …. no, no, I’ll come back to that later …. then this novel may pose you something of a challenge. Continue reading Review of ‘Breaking Faith’ by Stuart Aken November 8, 2009
Posted by Tim Roux in: African-American, China, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, History, Homeland Security, Islam, Journalism, Latino & Hispanic, Military, Morality, Politics, Religion, Republican, Sociology, Terrorism, Women's Rights
6 comments In Britain it is now a criminal offence to make any statement which might incite racial hatred. So, if you go around saying that all Irishmen are stupid or all Welshmen are thieves, then you may well find yourself helping the police with their enquiries and facing a sharp fine or even a term of imprisonment. Some commentators consider this law to be draconian but it does take a clear political stance and one thing I have learnt over my lifetime is that nearly all racism is neither random nor ‘naturally’ grassroots-derived but rather politically or economically motivated, indeed directed. Once upon a time, not so long ago, black Africans were slaves or treated as slaves. They were shackled, they died in transit under inhuman conditions, they were worked to death, they were unpaid. How do you justify treating a fellow human being this way? How can it be possible even legally to rape and execute black Africans at whim? There was a simple answer. Black Africans were not human, they were sub-human. Indeed, they hailed from another, lesser, branch of the human family altogether. And there was no shortage of commentators and pseudo-scientists who popped up to argue that black Africans were so bestial that they were really no different from a cow or a horse, that they were incapable of moral understanding (probably the most obscene argument in history), that they were beyond civilisation and, yes, if you measured their brains they were smaller and lighter than a white man’s. Continue reading Should there be a law against it? October 16, 2009
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse in: Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Current Events, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Geopolitical Events, Heroes, History, Homeland Security, Islam, Military, Morality, Opinion, Religion, Terrorism, The Pundit's Corner
3 comments
War During America’s brutal and bloody Civil War, General William T. Sherman said, “War is cruel and you cannot refine it” and “war at best is barbarism.” Sherman is also credited with saying “War is hell.” Alexander the Great was known to be both a wise philosopher and a fearless conqueror. In the fall of 335 BC, Alexander marched to the gates of Thebes (a Greek city that broke free from his Macedonian empire when Alexander was twenty). He let the people of Thebes know that it was not too late for them to change their minds. The next day, the Macedonians stormed the city killing almost everyone in sight, women and children included. They plundered, sacked, burned and razed Thebes, as an example to the rest of Greece. Alexander did not fight a “refined” war where women and children were spared. After Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, he ran into trouble in Afghanistan and used the same tactics to quell the rebellious Afghans. Genghis Khan (1165-1227 AD) was one of history’s more charismatic and dynamic leaders. During his lifetime, he conquered more territory than any other conqueror, and his successors established the largest empire in history. As an organizational and strategic genius, Genghis Khan created one of the most highly disciplined and effective armies known, and this same genius gave birth to the administration that ruled that empire. After he died in 1227, the Mongol armies dominated the battlefield until the empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Adriatic Sea. Genghis Khan, like Alexander, spared no one when he met resistance. When people surrendered, he was benevolent. When they resisted, his armies slaughtered everyone like Alexander’s armies did. Continue reading War October 15, 2009
Recently I dined with several sanctimonious Southerners who decided to vilify a young women simply because they claimed her looks were able to captivate men of the cloth. When I suggested we change the subject (I even said that it didn’t very Christian thing to gossip) they took umbrage. They assured me they had cause and that I had no idea what this woman’s actions had done to their community. My brother stepped to the plate with this joke. A priest was approached by a young man who asked: “Father, suppose you were about to get on a bus and a beautiful woman gets on before you. She has a voluptuous body, inviting red lips and as smiling at you rather seductively. Father, how do you handle that temptation?” The priest responded: “Son, that is simple. You don’t get on that bus.” Continue reading Don’t Get on That Bus September 22, 2009
Posted by Bob Grant - Editor in: Comments & Discussion, Creative Writing, Freelance Author, Journalism, Morality, The Writer's Corner
6 comments I have a beautiful daughter and an equally beautiful granddaughter - neither of which was delivered by the stork! We have had a lively exchange – both among our contributors - and through related postings to our site. All of this discussion evolved around the general topic of Sex. My feeling is that any sexually related subject can [...] September 9, 2009
Posted by TimKellis in: Advice, Books, Communications, Education, Family, General Topics, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Marriage, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Morality, Non-Fiction, Philosophical Genres, Relationships, Self-Help, Sex, Social Issues, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Women's Perspective
Leave a comment   International Professional Surrogate Association I am sorry to be so hard on the psychology industry but some of their practices done in the name of “science” bely belief, and I have discovered another concept ridiculous to the point of being hilarious. Before I go into that concept I do want to discuss what had been my all time favorite, and shows really the lack of understanding of the psyche of the individual. One of the most common “disorders” is a notion referred to as obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, where an individual becomes obsessed with a thought pattern, followed by a compulsive behavior. A “treatment” for this “disorder” is referred to as Exposure Response Prevention Therapy, or ERP Therapy, where the individual is exposed to his or her obsessive thought, followed by the prevention of the subsequent behavior. Wikipedia defines ERP as follows: Behavioral therapy The specific technique used in BT/CBT is called exposure and ritual prevention (also known as “exposure and response prevention“) or ERP; this involves gradually learning to tolerate the anxiety associated with not performing the ritual behavior. At first, for example, someone might touch something only very mildly “contaminated” (such as a tissue that has been touched by another tissue that has been touched by the end of a toothpick that has touched a book that came from a “contaminated” location, such as a school.) That is the “exposure”. The “ritual prevention” is not washing. Another example might be leaving the house and checking the lock only once (exposure) without going back and checking again (ritual prevention). The person fairly quickly habituates to the anxiety-producing situation and discovers that their anxiety level has dropped considerably; they can then progress to touching something more “contaminated” or not checking the lock at all—again, without performing the ritual behavior of washing or checking. Continue reading Sex Surrogates: The “Logic” of Professional Psychologists Part 3 September 9, 2009
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Accountability, Current Events, Family, Freedom, Legal, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Morality
7 comments Terror does not always live in a vacuum. Ask any woman who lives in Harlem these days since the Hamilton Heights Rapist struck for the fourth time in less than six weeks. This time to add to the consternation this brazen criminal raped a woman on the seventh floor of an apartment building. That means someone had to let him in. This means he was roaming around a building free anticipating the arrival of his next victim. I do not know if the woman raped stepped out of the safety of her apartment to throw out the trash or she was coming in and happy that she had made it to her floor when he struck. But this means someone knows him and probably knows what he is doing. Why won’t they speak up and put an end to all the suffering that women, families , and the local communities are going through? Continue reading Someone Knows The Hamilton Heights Rapist September 6, 2009
Posted by Tina Rae Collins in: Accountability, Attitude, Inspiration & Motivation, Marriage, Morality, Motivation, Relationships, Religion, Sex, Women's Perspective
Leave a comment Of all sins, sexual sin is the most physically rewarding and brings instant gratification, therefore making it extremely tempting. It is also based on a natural desire. However, this desire, this gift from God, must be used properly and in accordance with God’s will. We all want and need food, and God approves of our nourishing our bodies. But God will condemn us if we eat food that doesn’t belong to us. Many and varied foods are readily available and we can buy them, so this natural desire is easily filled. These thoughts may be obvious, but I wanted to preface my remarks this way for two reasons. First, we sometimes forget when we talk about sexual sin that sex, like food, is of itself a very good thing and not something for which we need to feel shame or embarrassment. Second, most of us probably seldom think about the fact that the person we are dating is going to be someone else’s spouse if he turns out not to be ours. We need to regard the man we are dating with respect because he may someday belong to another woman. He does not belong to us yet and may never be ours. We need to behave toward him in the same manner that we hope our future spouse is being treated by the woman he is dating. Continue reading Thrift Store or Saks Fifth Avenue? September 5, 2009
Posted by AngelaPoseyArnold in: Attitude, Family, Freedom, General Topics, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Morality, Recovery, Relationships, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality
Leave a comment Wounded in battle and weathered by storms [...] August 31, 2009
Posted by steve sangirardi in: Accountability, Attitude, Family, Morality, Relationships, Social Aspects
One comment Forgiveness by Stephen Sangirardi Bard715@aol.com
In Patchogue, Long Island, I must have been about six, I was eating dinner with family—aunts, uncles, and cousins—inside of our huge screened-in porch during the yearly vacation in July. For the five families there were five bungalows. I don’t recall how it started, but some kid from across Swan Road had been eyeing my bicycle all week. He was younger and smaller than me, so I didn’t need my older cousins for protection. I could handle the matter myself. While we ate, I sat close to the screen door for purposes of egress, and I had left my bicycle unguarded on the gravel road just beyond the porch to allure him. I wanted the boy to hop on my bike. I wanted an excuse to punish him. Sure enough, halfway through our meal, he approached the forbidden fruit. Biding my time and watching him inch closer and closer to the trap, I quietly put my corn-on-the cob onto my plate and crisscrossed the knife and fork. The adults were busy having another one of their loud discussions about the State of the Union, and my cousins were preoccupied with dramas of their own. August 20, 2009
Posted by dacipha in: Attitude, Family, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Morality, Motivation, Spirituality, Women's Perspective, Working Women
One comment Today I arose in total victory! Yesterday was a very challenging day. It was very long and tedious to say the least. It was one of those days that I speculated if all the effort, diligence and dedication are worth the price of success. Usually, I am very strong and determined. But yesterday was the day that I questioned my very existence. I have a vision to utilize the literature that I compose for books, poems, plays and scripts. I yearn to use that gifts that God has bestowed within me for the advancement of mankind. I have this dream not for the glamour, fame or money. I earnestly desire to empower, encourage and edify people. But yesterday, I questioned all my efforts. I allowed doubt and fear to enter into my mind. I wondered if I would ever accomplish my goals. I pondered if all the labor of love was in vain. I contemplated if I would ever receive the just reward that comes to those that walk in faith and works. I reflected if I would ever purchase that house for my children, publish my book, and establish the Master Mind Academy or the Nichlolas Daniels Scholarship Fund. My thoughts were attacking my destiny. I didn’t know what to do to fight back. At the time, I did not want to fight back. I just surrendered to those thoughts of despair and doubt. Continue reading “Brand New” August 18, 2009
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse in: African-American, Democracy, Education, Freedom, Governance, Latino & Hispanic, Minorities, Morality, Opinion, Politics, Social Classes, Social Issues
Leave a comment Each post will be less than 700 words. During America’s Civil Rights era, laws were enacted with the intent to correct wrongs in America. I strongly agree that it was wrong to segregate schools and provide an education for people of color inferior to the education offered to whites. It was wrong to make people walk in the gutters because the sidewalks were reserved for whites. It was wrong to have one bathroom for people of color and another for whites. It was wrong to deny someone the right to a job due to color or religion. It was wrong to deny someone the right to rent or buy a house or apartment because of race or religion. It is still wrong for violent, racist groups like the KKK and white supremacists to terrorize and victimize anyone they do not approve of. To fix those wrongs, government organizations were created to enforce these new laws. Today, most people are terrified to publicly express honest opinions about topics that fall under political correctness and what has gone wrong with the complex system designed to correct those inequalities. Since this column is going to cross that line, there is a strong chance I will be criticized for what I write. There may be incidences where what I write will be taken out of context. Because I am white, I may be the wrong person to write this column. After all, to many, I’m already guilty due to my skin color. It doesn’t matter that my father was a second generation American and my grandfather was born on the boat inside the three-mile limit. It does not matter that my mother’s ancestors arrived with the Pilgrims and started out in the New England states as indentured servants. Continue reading Political Correctness Gone Wrong # 1 August 17, 2009
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Attitude, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Homeland Security, Military, Morality, Opinion, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, The Writer's Corner
3 comments With double navy crosses, a distinguished flying cross, a bronze star and three purple hearts, I was singled out by a long haired professor my first week back in college as a baby killer. Welcome home, right? [...] August 8, 2009
Clarence Jordan, 1912-1969 Our news is so full of people who do all they can to attack, belittle and tear down that I’ve decided to dedicate the next few posts to people who stand up, confront wrong, build up, heal, and comfort – people who live by their beliefs in spite of all the garbage, violence and trash that is heaped on them. This is the first installment, and my hero is Clarence Jordan. Clarence Jordan was born in Talbottom, Georgia in 1912, and died suddenly of a heart attack at age 59 in 1969. He lived what he believed, and he believed in living Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, binding oneself to the equality of all persons, rejecting violence, ecological stewardship, and common ownership of possessions. In 1942 he and his wife moved to a 440 acre farm near Americus, George, calling it “Koinonia”, a Greek work that means fellowship. Until the advent of the civil rights movement, their neighbors generally left them to live and farm in peace; then Koinonia became the target of a stifling economic boycott and repeated violence, including several bombings. Continue reading Clarence Jordan August 2, 2009
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse in: African-American, Attitude, Communications, Current Events, Democracy, Freedom, Journalism, Morality, Motivation, Opinion, Politics, Republican
3 comments Last Friday, I drove to the airport and on that drive, I listened to a discussion on this topic. After I heard all the “facts” in detail, clearly, this issue is racial and driven by a political agenda from the idealistic, far right that cannot stand anybody that does not believe as they do. It was mentioned that Obama provided a copy of his birth certificate to CNN before the election, and experts verified it was real. Another search found birth notices in the archives of two newspapers in Hawaii. In addition, the governor of Hawaii, a Republican, said that there is no doubt that Obama was born in Hawaii. Yet, this issue will not die just like the “Swift boat Veterans for Truth”, or whatever they called themselves, didn’t die as they took facts about Kerry’s life and smeared them all over the place casting doubt on his honesty and courage. Just because Kerry received minor flesh wounds does not make him a coward. It sounds like I have changed topic, but both are related because both show how political agendas turn lies into truth in the public arena of misinformation designed to influence opinions and votes. Even if Obama printed a hundred million copies of the original birth certificate and mailed them out, those that want to believe he is not a citizen and shouldn’t be in the White House will still believe. Nothing will change their minds. Even if someone took those people by the ear and led them to the evidence, they would claim it was forged. Even if nonbiased experts said they examined the birth notices in newspapers, the records in the hospital and the birth certificates and found all to be valid (which they have), there would be doubts because that is the goal as another election looms. There are racist, far right conservative idealists out there that would not admit the truth if they were in that operating room the day Obama was born. In addition, even if Obama was born in another country, his mother was an American citizen and at that time, that automatically made him an American citizen because that was the law. Continue reading Where’s Obama’s Birth Certificate July 12, 2009
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse in: China, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Geopolitical Events, Military, Morality, Motivation, Politics, Republican, Social Issues, Uncategorized
2 comments
Is China a danger to the world? This is a topic I have wanted to write about for some time. I suspect my motivation for writing this comes from being sent to Vietnam [...] June 18, 2009
What Do Ruth Madoff and Sasha Grey’s Chelsea Have In Common?By Jack B. Rochester
I found this comment interesting: “Alexandra Lebenthal, who is a friend of one of the Madoff sons, Andrew, as well as a fixture in Manhattan financial and social circles, said that Mrs. Madoff has not taken any steps that might rehabilitate her image. ‘In America, we love tearing people down and then bringing them back, but she hasn’t played the game,’ she said.”
June 17, 2009
Death in the Control Group
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What Hurricane Katrina Taught Me
For the past few days I have been haunted by the memory of Hurricane Katrina. August 28th marks the fifth anniversary of the storm that destroyed most of New Orleams and displaced one of the poorest sections of this country- the 9th Ward. I have never been to New Orleans but what happened in 2005 changed my life. Continue reading What Hurricane Katrina Taught Me