I must admit that, though I always enjoy doing these types of exercises, this one is a) much longer & more involved than I anticipated, and b) probes much deeper than I expected. A few of these questions have dredged up thoughts & feelings that I’ve been pretty successful at burying for awhile. I’m not complaining though. It’s important to really find out what makes a person tick, and even moreso to understand yourself, so in that respect this is a really healthy & cathartic task. I apologize for the length of these entries, which are more extensive than what I normally prefer to post even after I broke the questionnaire down into parts. Also, though most of the questions are really interesting & provocative, some are head scratchers that I’ve admittedly not answered all that well, and for that I apologize. At any rate, if you haven’t perused Part 1 please take a few minutes to do so when you have some free time, and ponder what your answers to these questions might be.
What question can you ask to find out the most about a person?
Getting to know a person requires time. I don’t think it can be boiled down to just one question. It takes many questions, as well as observation.
When was the last time you changed your opinion / belief about something major?
I’m not sure to be honest. My core beliefs are pretty steadfast. That being said, I am a reasonable man and willing to listen to others & discuss issues. There is always the chance that someone or something could change my mind about one thing or another.
What was the best compliment you’ve received?
Back in college a group of fraternity brothers & I were going into a bar that had been converted from an old house, and the front entrance was 
not handicapped accessible. The guys forged ahead and I was just kind of sitting there. One of them turned back and suddenly realized the situation. He apologized and said “I honestly just forget that you are in a wheelchair”, which I thought was very cool.
As the only human left on Earth, what would you do?
Find food & shelter. And pray…alot.
Who inspires you to be better?
My faith inspires me to be better today than I was yesterday and do better tomorrow than I did today. I admire & respect many people, but they 
have their own lives to lead and I can’t live for them. However, God gave his only Son so that I should have eternal life and Jesus died for my sins, so I feel like I owe them that respect.
What do you want your epitaph to be?
I prefer not to think of such morbid things.
What did you think you would grow out of but haven’t?
I thought I might develop healthier eating habits someday, but it turns out I just really enjoy food.
In what situation or place would you feel the most out of place in?
It never ceases to amaze me that I tend to feel loneliest in a crowded room, usually surrounded by people that theoretically like me, but the truth is they are merely courteous & polite…they don’t really see me or know me.
What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well?
Well, I drank a lot in college and didn’t die, so I’ve got that going for me. Like everyone else I do my share of stupid things, but I’m the type of person who then imagines the worst case scenario and beats myself up worse than anybody, so then in reality things usually shake out better than I thought.
They say that everyone has a book in them. What would your book be about?
I have a few ideas.
What is something you will NEVER do again?
I ate escargot once, which was a bad idea. But generally…never say never.
What do you spend the most time thinking about?
I’m not sure there is one specific thing. My thoughts bounce around a lot depending on various stimuli. My friend The Owl calls it “living in your own head”.
What are some of the events in your life that made you who you are?
I’m sure I’m not the only person in the world that has had positive & negative events that have impacted my life. On the negative side I don’t 
think I’ve ever gotten past the death of my mother 17 years ago, and a car accident about 20 years ago has devastated me in ways that no one…not even my closest family…will ever understand. I have also had a few health issues that have significantly affected my lifestyle. On the positive side I have had tremendous familial relationships and friendships that have shaped & molded me. My collegiate experience was the best time of my life during which I learned much that I still carry with me.
What do you wish your brain was better at doing?
I wish I was more motivated & less of a procrastinator.
There are two types of people in this world. What are the two types?
Men & women…contrary to modern day interpretations of such things.
What is the strangest thing you have come across?
I see strange things every day. Not much surprises me anymore.
What is something you are certain you’ll never experience?
Marriage. Being a father.
What dumb accomplishment are you most proud of?
I was a multiple time spelling bee champion in grade school & junior high. As an adult that’s pretty meaningless, but I’m still proud of those victories.
If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what rule would you make?
Everyone would be restricted to two marriages. If you get married & divorced twice you’re done…no third chance.
What are you addicted to?
Sadly, social media. Probably because much of the time there’s nothing else better to do. Oh, and chocolate…I can’t forget chocolate.
What stereotype do you completely live up to?
I don’t think I fit into any stereotypes, and God knows the circumstances of my life have provided ample opportunity to do so.
What is something you can never seem to finish?
I have a bad habit of getting into 4 or 5 books at once and it might take me months or even years to finish one.
As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?
I spent some time…6 months…in a “skilled” nursing facility at the age of 33. I know as I get older that the possibility of ending up in one of those places for the long haul becomes all too real, and I don’t even want to think about it.
What is one of your favorite smells?
I love the smell of my beautiful dog Rocco.
What would be the scariest monster you could imagine?
The love child of Hillary Clinton & Oprah Winfrey.
What song or artist do you like but rarely admit to liking?
I really like N’Sync and some of Justin Timberlake’s solo stuff.
What would you do if you knew you were going to die in one hour?
Call my Dad & sister.
What book impacted you the most?
Lots of books have had a positive impact on my life.
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Vincent. Although I like my name just fine.
If life is a game, like some people say, what are some of the rules?
Who is / was your most interesting friend?
My friend Greg & our friend The Owl are unique dudes.
Have you ever given to any charities?
Of course
What is something that your friends would consider “so you”?
I’m not sure…you’d need to ask them.
What risks are worth taking?
That’s a matter of personal opinion. Everyone has different things they consider important. Personally I am risk averse, which has probably been to my detriment.
What can you not get right, no matter how many times you try?
I can’t seem to get the whole meeting women & dating thing down. Of course I haven’t really tried all that hard.
If you could convince everyone in the world to do one thing at one point in time, what would that thing be?
Wow…that sounds like quite the undertaking. Heck, I can’t even get a couple of my buddies to go to Vegas with me, so I doubt I could get “everyone in the world” to do something. And I can’t even fathom what one thing I’d have everybody do.
What do you take for granted?
I try not to take anything for granted, although I am sure those who know me might be able to come up with a couple of things.
What would be some of the most annoying things about having yourself as a roommate?
My sleeping habits are horrible. I am a night owl, but then sometimes even when I don’t go to sleep til 4am I’m still up by 9am. And if that happens I’ll probably need to take an afternoon nap. Other than that I don’t believe I’d be a horrible roommate. I don’t drink, do drugs, or “party”. I’m not a neat freak but I’m not a slob either. I am fairly easy going & quiet.
What’s something you are self-conscious about?
My weight. I need to shed 75-100 lbs.
What personality trait do you value most and which do you dislike the most?
I like that I’m a good listener & mostly easy to get along with. I hate that I am a procrastinator & lean toward being lazy.
What small gesture from a stranger made a big impact on you?
Little things mean a lot. A smile. A friendly hello. A firm handshake. Saying “please” & “thank you”. It’s not hard to be a decent person, but it’s not as common as it should be.
What gets you fired up?
Politics. I have very strong opinions and can easily be sucked into a debate/argument, but it’s almost always a no-win situation no matter how right I know I am.
What challenging thing are you working through these days?
Nothing big. Not one particularly dominant thing. Just facing the little day to day annoyances that we all must overcome.
What irrational fear do you have?
I was in a car accident about 20 years ago. Because I need hand controls on a vehicle it took a couple of weeks to get a new car & new hand 
controls. In that time the whole idea that I could have died overcame me, and I developed a driving phobia that has gotten worse over time. I have a very limited comfort zone and do NOT travel outside of it. I have missed out on a number of events in the past two decades, and my social life is severely limited. To be honest I don’t even think I’d be living in WV and have the small little financially challenged life that I do if it weren’t for that accident and the resulting phobia. I probably would have moved out of state, had some level of professional success, maybe went back to school, and likely gotten married & had kids. You might think I am exaggerating, but I assure you…I am not.
What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My father used to tell me when I was a kid that even though people were nice to me, pat me on the head (cause people do that to handicapped 
children…seriously), & express sympathy for “the poor little crippled boy”, that they hadn’t walked ten feet before they’d forgotten all about me because they’ve got their own problems. It might sound harsh, but it’s 100% true and very humbling. The world doesn’t owe me anything and I don’t expect anything from anyone. Many people are polite and even nice, but very few actually take the time to get to know me or genuinely care beyond courteous social interaction. And that not only applies to me…it’s universally true. That doesn’t make anyone “bad”, it just means we’re all selfish & caught up in our own stuff. It is what it is and that’s okay. As far as bad advice, I feel like my advisors & professors in college failed to guide me in any meaningful way, and upon graduating I was just kind of left twisting in the wind without much direction, ill prepared for the realities of being a working adult.
If you had a clock that would countdown to any one event of your choosing, what event would you want it to countdown to?
I want to go to Vegas dangit!! Who’s coming with me??
What makes a good life?
Faith. Family. Friends. Professional fulfillment. A decent place to live. Financial stability. The occasional adventure.
What do you strongly suspect but have no proof of?
That George Soros is a puppetmaster on a scale that few realize.
What’s the last adventure you went on?
I’m not very adventurous. I wouldn’t mind changing that.
When do you feel truly “alive”?
Usually very late at night. I’m weird like that.
What was the most memorable gift you’ve received?
I’ve gotten lots of nice gifts for birthdays & Christmases over the years. I’m not sure there’s one that stands out above any other.
What chapters would you separate your autobiography into?
Interesting question.
- Childhood
- The Teen Years
- The College Years
- The Accident
- The Depression
- The Infocision Years
- Losing Mom
- My Unfortunate Incarceration
- The Rocco Chronicles
- The Hotline
- Middle Age
What do you like most about your family?
My family is fairly normal. My Mom passed away 17 years ago. My Dad is getting older so he’s not as strong & energetic as he once was, but he’s 
always been there for us. He’s easygoing & low key, just like me. He’s not extroverted by any means, but handles himself well in social situations…alot like me. He has given me lots of profound advice over the years. He doesn’t have a master’s degree or some fancy job, but he’s a heck of a Life 101 professor. My sister has had some rough times, but she’s there when we need her too. My two nephews are young men now and finding their own way. My grandparents are all gone but I have such fond memories of them. It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific thing I like most about my family. They’re my family…I love them, always have & always will. We’re not perfect but I don’t think we’ve ever been dysfunctional. I didn’t realize until I was an adult and had spent some time out in the world how fortunate I am to have the family that I do.
What do you hope your last words will be?
This is kind of like the epitaph thing…morbid. Let’s move on.
What stat for your life would you most like to see?
I’m not really into stats. Life isn’t a competition. It isn’t productive to keep score and compare yourself to others.
What are three of the most significant numbers in your life?
I used to keep track of how many surgeries I’d had, but I lost count. I think it’s 28.
6/9/95. That’s the day my life changed forever, and not in a good way. I’ll leave it at that.
795 is my fraternity roster number. The number itself is unimportant, but it symbolizes what I consider to be the best years of my life.
What could you do with two million dollars to impact the most amount of people?
I would certainly do my due diligence if I came into that kind of money. Admittedly I would keep a big chunk for myself, but there are family & friends that I’d like to help. And I suppose if I were to make some wise investments and grow the money I could help even more people.
If you were put into solitary confinement for six months, what would you do to stay sane?
I have actually had that experience…kind of. I call it My Unfortunate Incarceration. In 2006 I developed an ulcer on my tailbone. I spent a 
month in the hospital, six months in a “skilled” nursing facility, a year homebound except for doctor appointments, another stretch in a different hospital recovering from surgery, another month in a different “skilled” nursing facility, then a few more months recovering at home. All told I was laid up for about two years in my early 30’s. Someone actually asked me at the time how I was handling it because they would’ve been bashing their head against a wall. It was lonely to an extent, although I did have frequent visits from my father & sister and a few friends occasionally. I also had cable, internet, & lots of books to read.
What’s something horrible that everyone should try at least once?
It depends on what one defines as horrible. What I consider horrible you might think is just dandy. I think we should all try lots of different things. After all, how do we truly know something is horrible unless we’ve experienced it??
What fact are your resigned to?
The fact that I am unlikely to ever marry, have children, or own a home.
Have you ever saved someone’s life?
Not that I am aware of.
What were some of the turning points in your life?
June 9, 1995. That’s the day I left my college town of Huntington, WV and returned to my hometown. It is the worst decision I’ve ever made.
June 20, 1996. That’s the day I had the auto accident that negatively impacts me to this day.
February 23, 2000. The day my mother died.
April 9, 2006. The day I landed in the hospital with an ulcer on my tailbone. It was the beginning of a two year saga that my father referred to…even at the time…as a “life changing event”.
What would a mirror opposite of yourself be like?
Hmmm…that’s a great question. So I suppose the opposite of me would be…thin, good looking, charming, confident, energetic, ambitious, left-brained, a born salesman, liberal, a rulebreaker, an adrenaline junkie, into partying, an ailurophile, a country music fan, and prefer healthy fruits & veggies over chocolate.
What are you really good at, but kind of embarrassed that you are good at it?
I’m not sure I’m particularly good at anything, but if I was why would I be embarrassed??
What are three interesting facts about you?
Oh heck…why stop at three??
Which of your scars has the best story behind it?
I have many scars. They’re all from various surgeries. I don’t think any of those stories are particularly fascinating.
What’s the title of the current chapter of your life?
Middle Age
What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned?
No one lives forever.
What mistake do you keep making again and again?
I’m not as healthy as I could be, largely because of poor eating & other habits. On an intellectual level I know the kind of improvements I need to make, but I just can’t seem to resist the beguiling siren call of chocolate…and pizza…and pancakes…and root beer…and pasta…and ice cream…and……………………………………………………..
What do people think is weird about you?
I’m not sure…you’d need to ask them.
When people look at you, what do you think they see / think?
On the surface I am sure that most people see a fat guy in a wheelchair. That’s fine…I long ago came to peace with that. However, I hope that anyone who takes the time to get to know me sees a decent yet flawed human being who tries to do the right thing most of the time and treats people with respect, is reasonably intelligent, has a fairly good sense of humor, and lives by a deeply ingrained moral code & faith.
What have you created that you are most proud of?
If you could make a 20 second phone call to yourself at any point in your life present or future, when would you call and what would you say?
I’d call myself the morning of my car accident 20 years ago and say “Drive careful on your way home from work today. Take it slow.” Or maybe…maybe…I’d call myself all the way back in the spring/early summer of 1995 when I was making the decision to leave my college hometown and move back into my parents’ house and say “Don’t do it. Stay there. Ride it out. Don’t give up…it will influence the rest of your life.”
What annoys you most about the in-groups you are a part of?
If I am a part of any “in groups” I am certainly not aware of it lol.
What do you have doubts about?
I have doubts about whether or not I am living up to God’s standards and truly exampling Christ. The fact that I even question myself about it tells me that I need to do better.
What do you want to be remembered for?
On a personal level I hope I am remembered as a good & decent person who treated everyone with respect. On a grander yet more superficial level I think it would be cool to write a great book and/or screenplay that people would still be enjoying long after I’m gone, and maybe win an award or two for my work.
What are some of your personal “rules” that you never break?
I try to follow God’s commands and the teachings of Jesus Christ. I can’t say that I never break those “rules”, but I try to do better each day.
What do you regret not doing or starting when you were younger?
A few things. I regret not continuing my education past college. I regret not being more financially responsible so that I could have more flexibility to do things I’d like to do. I regret not relocating out of my home state of West Virginia because as beautiful as it is in a number of ways there are no opportunities or future here. I regret not taking a chance with some ladies that might have been fantastic wives & mothers.
If you could have a never-ending candle that smelled like anything you wanted, what fragrance would you want it to be?
That’s a tough one. I have a few scented wax warmers in my apartment. I lean toward the food-ish smells like baked bread, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins, etc. I suppose if I had to narrow it down to one specific scent I’d go with vanilla. One can’t go wrong with vanilla.
What’s the best thing about you?
I always lean toward my sense of humor.
What bends your mind every time you think about it?
Bends my mind…..hmmmmm. Nothing really comes to mind. What an esoteric question!!
What’s the best thing you got from your parents?
My parents are/were awesome!! It’s hard to narrow this down to one thing. However, I think the most important thing my parents taught me is 
that the world doesn’t owe me anything because of my disability, that life can be cruel & unfair but one has to roll with the punches & overcome. They had another child…my older sister…that they had to be fair to, so I didn’t get any special treatment or receive a break just because I was disabled. There was discipline in our house!! That really helped me as I grew into adulthood. Now, it occurs to me that the intent of this question may mean what did you get from your parents genetically. In that regard I think I am a good blend of my father’s affable strength & my mother’s discreet yet fierce ethical decency.
What’s one responsibility you really wish you didn’t have?
A couple of things pop into my head. First, I wouldn’t mind having someone else handle my finances and pay my bills. I guess that’s what a 
financial planner and/or a spouse is for, and I have neither. Secondly, for the past two decades I have said that the first thing I would do if I ever came into a large sum of money would be to buy a limo and hire a driver. No more driving for this guy…let someone else deal with that craziness.
What is the “holy grail” of your life?
Jesus Christ
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
The smell of our kitchen as Mom made a home cooked meal. Baked steak & mashed potatoes w/gravy, spaghetti & meatballs, mac & cheese, and meatloaf were some of my favorites.
What are the top three things you want to accomplish before you die? How close are you to accomplishing them?
I’m past the point of being ambitious, and worldly accomplishments aren’t that important to me, but I suppose if I had to come up with three things I’d say a) write a book and/or screenplay, b) travel to Vegas, & c) see the ocean. They are all doable, but probably aren’t happening anytime soon.
What do you wish you could tell yourself 10 years ago? What do you think you’ll want to tell your current self 10 years from now?
Ten years ago I was homebound with an ulcer on my tailbone. If I could talk to myself from that time I would just convey the message that “this too shall pass” and reassure myself that I will come thru on the other side and resume my life. As for the other part of the equation, let’s just live one day at a time.
In your group of friends, what role do you play?
I have different groups that I am part of. I’m not really the leader of the pack in any scenario, but I can take charge and be the decision maker if necessary. Most usually I am The Voice of Reason, offering advice & suggestions from a rational & empathetic point of view.
Among your friends or family, what are you famous for?
I’m not sure I am famous for anything lol.
What is the biggest lesson you never learned?
I learn new things every day. Life is constant learning. If I were aware of a big lesson that I hadn’t learned I’d do my best to learn it.
What’s the most immature thing that you do?
procrastinate
If your life was a book, what would its title be?
Two Strikes. It emulates from something my father has always told me, that because of my health issues I always have two strikes against me.
What’s the best and worst thing about getting older?
The best thing is that most of the stupid stuff I did as a young man is behind me. I’ve learned and know better how to navigate the world. The worst thing(s) are physical. Getting older means moving a little slower, battling more issues, taking more medication, & not having quite as much pep as one may have had 10 or 20 years ago.
What’s something that happened or something that someone said that changed how you view the world?
When I was in college my friend Greg gave me a copy of Rush Limbaugh’s first book The Way Things Ought to Be, and it changed my perspective on many things.
What are you most likely very wrong about?
When I’m wrong I admit I am wrong. At the moment nothing comes to mind though.
If you had a personal flag, what would be on it?
I think it’d be neat to have a crest or coat of arms. Mine would have an eagle with a fountain pen with the words “wisdom”, “honor”, & “integrity” written below.
What lifestyle change have you been meaning to make for a while now?
I really need to lose a significant chunk of weight. Atleast 50, and more like 100 pounds. Easier said than done though.
What would be your spirit animal?
eagle
What incredibly strong opinion or belief do you have that is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things?
I am a hardcore pro-life advocate. I believe that if someone doesn’t want to raise their child for whatever reason then there are tons of folks 
looking to adopt and provide that child a good life. The issue is certainly important, however since I am a man and unlikely to ever have a baby be a part of the equation in my life my personal opinion doesn’t really matter in any practical way. Also, I have come to the realization that Roe v. Wade has remained thru multiple Presidential administrations and various incarnations of the Supreme Court so it is unlikely to ever be overturned despite my objection to the ruling.
What chance encounter changed your life forever?
During my first few days on the campus of Marshall University I happened to run into a guy that had been a year ahead of me in high school. He 
& I weren’t good friends or anything, but had a passing acquaintance and I was happy to see a familiar face in a town where I knew absolutely nobody. He invited me to dinner at his fraternity house. I ended up rushing and joining that fraternity. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had a fantastic college experience and made lifelong friendships.
If you could have a video of any one event in your life, what event would you choose?
I would love to have a highlight video of my entire 4+ years in college. Kids these days take pics & videos of everything they do and share them
on social media. They will truly appreciate having those memories recorded in the decades that follow. Unfortunately I went to school way before any of that stuff was even a thing, so very few photos or videos of all those good times exist, which makes me sad.
If you were forced to relive one 10-minute block of your life again and again for all eternity, what 10 minutes of your life would you choose?
I don’t think it would be possible for anyone…no matter how mundane their life may have been…to reduce any good memory down to a ten minute span of time. A year…yes. A day…maybe. But 10 minutes?? Not possible.
Okay, let’s take another breather. I’ll be back with the exciting conclusion in the near future.
I have a comfortable detachment from the idiocy that happens in the Hollywood community. Entertain me and I am generally willing to overlook whatever kind of stupidity they spew, which is why I’ve stopped watching late night television…they stopped being entertaining & crossed the line with their propaganda. Anyway, I’ve listened with some bemusement to all this Harvey Weinstein hullabaloo. I’m not sure why anyone is so surprised. We’ve all heard about the “casting couch” for decades, but somehow it’s supposed to shock me that the CEO of a movie studio was engaging in such activities instead of some low level producer or director?? I’m not the least bit astonished. What is funny…in an aggravating sort of way…is watching all of these morally bankrupt celebrities feign surprise and try to cover their ass. Come on folks…you play dress up & pretend for a living, yet you’re such terrible liars. I’m not really sure about fate, kismet, & all that jazz, but the irony that all of this is coming to light after so many folks out in Hollywood have aggressively condemned President Trump for his faults the past couple of years exposes their total hypocrisy.
So we just “celebrated” Columbus Day recently. The term celebration is used hesitantly because all it means in reality is that government offices are closed, so I’m glad the friendly neighborhood mail carrier atleast got to enjoy a day off. The United States first recognized the holiday in 1937, and it is actually celebrated in other places like Argentina, Venezuela, The Bahamas, Spain, & even Italy. The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, South Dakota, & Vermont don’t recognize Columbus Day, although a couple of those states celebrate an alternative called Discoverer’s Day, and a growing number of localities in wussified blue state America are promoting Indigenous People’s Day. This all stems from folks being all bent out of shape because Christopher Columbus was allegedly mean to peaceful & friendly Indians. Oops…I’m sorry…Native Americans. At any rate, this “controversy” got me to thinking. If we are going to rebrand holidays in an effort not to offend anyone by diminishing the accomplishments of imperfect people with a few skeletons in their closet why not go all in?? Since I am a solutions oriented guy allow me to offer some suggestions:
Dick Clark Appreciation Day. New Year’s Eve/Day is insulting to the old year that may have done nothing wrong.
#BlackLivesMatter Day. Sorry Martin Luther King, Jr…time to add some zest to this holiday.
We’re Sick of Winter Day. It is unfair to celebrate the groundhog above any other rodents. Plus, the supposed power to predict the weather is offensive to meteorologists.
Public Servants Day. Some of those mean Presidents owned slaves, raised taxes, & cheated on their wives. Abraham Lincoln was tall & lanky, which might offend fat people. Plus…Donald Trump!! Besides, why should Presidents get all the glory?? Big Government has a lot of moving parts that demand respect.
Candy & Flowers Day. Saint Valentine was…shhhh…a Christian. We can’t have that.
Bunnies & Eggs Day. Risen Savior?? Oh no…we can’t celebrate that!!
Irish Heritage Day. The same thought process applied to Saint Valentine must be used for Saint Patrick.
Stars Wars Day. Disney agrees to pay for President Trump’s Big Beautiful Wall, and in exchange Cinco de Mayo fades away into the sunset. May the Fourth be with you.
Decoration Day. Actually this was the original name for Memorial Day, and we’re going back to it because decorations are fun!!
Parents’ Day. Mother’s Day & Father’s Day may offend the transgender community.
July 4th. I suppose we kind of have this one covered already, don’t we?? We don’t want to offend the British, we just want to get drunk & blow stuff up.
Union Strong Day. Labor Omnia Vincit!!
Pumpkin Spice Day. Hey, it already dominates everything in the autumn. Besides, Halloween has pagan origins and it’s scary.
Santa Claus Day. We can rid ourselves of the pretense and stop offending non-Christians. Everybody wins. Well…almost everybody.
it there. At any rate, after several members of the San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the national anthem the Vice President and his entourage made a big show of leaving the stadium immediately in disagreement with the protest. I respect Pence and, like many people who voted for that particular duo in the election, count on him to provide political experience and a voice of reason to balance out Donald Trump’s…occasionally inappropriate instincts. However, this thing was nothing but a publicity stunt. He had to know that there would be kneeling. Surely he has been paying attention as the uproar over these anthem protests reached a fever pitch not long ago. And even though the furor has calmed just a bit it is an ongoing issue. I feel the same about the situation as I do about most everything else…if it doesn’t affect me I don’t pay too much attention. But just like those late night shows that began infringing on my relaxation time with their political venom, this little photo op by VP Pence involved me (and y’all) by using taxpayer money for a completely unnecessary temper tantrum. I’ve seen some pretty big dollar figures thrown around as far as how much the stop in Indiana cost, and I would have rather seen that money used in just about any other way.
violence about 25% occur in four major metro areas: Chicago, Baltimore, Washington DC, & Detroit…all of which already have strict gun control laws since the powers-that-be have mostly been leftists. Oh, speaking of which…23% of gun violence occurs in the state of California. Now I grant you…it’s a big state. But one cannot deny that it too…like those other areas…is run by liberals and has super tough gun laws. So essentially half of true gun violence in America happens in four big cities and one large state, all of which share similar political ideology and already have the most strident gun laws. Let’s also look at the fact that, in comparison to the 5100 deaths due to actual gun violence there are 40,000 drug overdoses, 36,000 people die from the flu, & there are 34,000 traffic fatalities annually. And in case you’re wondering…heart disease is responsible for over 700,000 deaths each year, yet no one is suggesting we ban fast food restaurants. Remember these numbers the next time you hear a politician or “journalist” say gun control is about saving lives, and understand that the truth is hiding in plain sight…it’s the word “control”.
mundane & unproductive, but if I was an ambitious individual who had goals like curing diseases, building a business empire, or procuring tremendous political influence I would have been working on such plans even while sleeping as normal. At this point in my life attaining what I consider to be “pleasurable knowledge” and writing The Manofesto are what I define as productive, while chilling out with a good show or movie is my relaxation.
when I go out in public because I’m not a slob, but I enjoy just hanging out at home in my old, beat up, super comfy clothes.
it up a bit with a nice sound system and a big screen TV. Think “man cave”, but not a Joe Sixpack man cave…more of a Joseph Humidor man cave. Sophisticated & elegant, but still comfortable & friendly.
do play fantasy football, but I’m sure that’s not the intent of the question.
What fictional place would you most like to go?
for?
comfortable with public speaking. As silly as it sounds I wish I was a better, braver driver. It might be helpful if I was more skillful at charming the ladies ;-).
tasteful den/study/library that I eluded to previously. And here is where it gets weird. In that study I’d have a Shakespeare bust that, when lifted up, would have a hidden button leading to an elevator that would take me down to a replica of The Batcave from the campy 60’s TV show. In that cave/bunker would be a garage, a music room, a bedroom where I could sleep, & a TV lounge where I could read or watch movies, ballgames, etc. This would be designed so that I could hide from the world and no one would know that I was home. The “garage door” would be hidden and lead to a private access road that would eventually meet with the public road(s), but would otherwise be a secret entrance/exit.
What’s your favorite drink?
songs.
settling down in the idyllic Shire from the Lord of the Rings & Hobbit trilogies.
Are you usually early or late?
kid, so we weren’t that close. I also had a frog for a brief time, but he escaped his bowl and was never heard from again.
When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?
totally wacky, so I spend too much valuable time…especially on weekends…sleeping.
What do you wish you knew more about?
Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?
What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?
What age do you wish you could permanently be?
What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?
How often do you people watch?
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
How do you relax after a hard day of work?
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
What is the most annoying question that people ask you?
What’s your dream car?
What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?
What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it?
What piece of entertainment do you wish you could erase from your mind so that you could experience for the first time again?
If all jobs had the same pay and hours, what job would you like to have?
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
What do you hope never changes?
What movie title best describes your life?
What’s the best way a person can spend their time?
Where is the most relaxing place you’ve ever been?
were instilled in me from childhood, but I also recognize & lament the dearth of opportunity, limited worldview, and absence of exposure to better prospects in many areas of life. I have pondered what I as an individual and my life would have been like if I’d have grown up somewhere like Texas or Florida or California. Maybe I’d be more “successful” by the world’s definition of success, but would my personality be different?? Would my family life have been better or worse?? Would I actually be happier?? I don’t think it’s even possible to fathom the answers to those hypotheticals.
What one thing do you really want but can’t afford?
Where do you usually go when you when you have time off?
Where would you spend all your time if you could?
What is special about the place you grew up?
What age do you want to live to?
What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?
I was never really a fan of the CBS series King of Queens, which originally aired from 1998 to 2007. However in the ensuing years I have watched it occasionally in syndication, and star Kevin James has gone on to a mildly amusing film career. So last year when James returned to television in a new series called Kevin Can Wait I watched a few episodes before quickly losing interest. I guess former King of Queens co-star Leah Remini did a guest spot on a couple of episodes of Kevin Can Wait near the end of Season 1, and the ratings spiked a bit…enough for the powers-that-be to offer Remini a permanent role. Okay, fair enough. But in order to accomplish this “retooling” of the series the producers decided to fire James’ new TV wife and kill off her character. I tuned into the Season 2 premier of Kevin Can Wait and have two observations. First of all, the once beautiful Remini has now apparently been frequenting the same type
of Botox provider that ruined the formerly lovely face of Meg Ryan. Either that or she had a stroke that I didn’t hear about. Secondly, the way the departure of the wife was written…with a time jump and barely mentioning her “death”…was awkward, badly conceived & executed, and disrespectful to the actress. I had already become disinterested in the show because it was boring, but now I am actively cheering for its demise. Shame on you Kevin James, and shame on everyone involved in the debacle.
This is Liz Soeiro, a librarian at Cambridgeport Elementary School in Massachusetts. Ms. Soeiro recently rejected a book donation by First Lady Melania Trump, referring to works by Dr. Seuss as “steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes”. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) died in 1991, so if he was a racist surely someone would have figured it out long ago. I’m not sure when this photo was taken, but Ms. Soeiro didn’t appear to have a problem with Dr. Seuss at the time. Perhaps it would be more accurate to surmise that her issue isn’t with Dr. Seuss at all, but rather with President Trump. Maybe the next time someone wants to donate books to the Cambridgeport school library they should send copies of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals and Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. They might be a little heavy for the children, but I have a feeling the librarian would enjoy them immensely.
hospital bed all those years ago (though it seems like just last week) are largely unattainable for various reasons, and I think I am okay with that. God has blessed me. Oftentimes I am too stubborn to understand that, to my detriment. Some aspects of my life haven’t turned out the way I hoped they might back when I was in college, but that’s mostly on me. I kind of feel like Rocky Balboa in the first film. I might not achieve victory in the traditional sense, but I keep getting back up and have thus far remained in the battle. To paraphrase 2 Timothy, I have fought the good fight. The race isn’t finished, but I am determined to keep the faith.
One of my bucket list items…one that I have been fixated on for many years…is to visit Las Vegas. In light of recent events one might assume that those plans have changed…but they have not. Let’s be honest…ever since September 11, 2001 most of us have looked at the world a little differently. We exercise a bit more caution and maybe hesitate to put ourselves in certain situations. In some cases it might be excessive fear & paranoia, but mostly I think it is simply judicious restraint. That being said, we still have to live our lives. Take that vacation. Go to the concert or ballgame or wherever else large crowds gather for merriment. Have fun. Be smart, but don’t hide. Artistic types like the Hollywood folks you see on TV & in movies tend to be right brain dominant, meaning they react emotionally. They are the ones that want to spit all over our Constitutional rights every time something tragic happens, and are precisely the kind of keyboard tough guys for which Twitter was tailor made. More logical thinkers understand that evildoers like this guy that shot up a country music concert in Vegas are…duh…breaking existing law and would do so no matter how many additional laws were on the books. I don’t want to dive into conspiracy theories or break down details of the tragedy…this is not the time or place and I am not the right person to do that sort of thing. Neither am I suggesting that we sweep the situation under the rug, throw our hands up, & say “ah well…c’est la vie”. However, I do hope that all the facts come out, mature adults can have necessary discussions, and reasonable decisions are made based on logic & wisdom…not emotion.
technologies things are a bit easier than when I was a kid. Back then if you forgot to set the VCR you had to wait for summer reruns to catch a missed episode. But the thought process is still accurate. Though television seasons seem to be somewhat shorter now than a couple of decades ago the fact remains that once one becomes interested in a show you are going to be watching it once a week every week for several months, and I’m not sure our collective attention span is capable of that these days. Netflix skips all of the hassle by releasing an entire season (or atleast a half season) all at once. I asked myself if I would have stuck with corny nonsense like Fuller House if it would have required a long term commitment, and I think the answer (based in part on how fast I lost interest in Girl Meets World a few years ago) is no. But binge watching a whole season during a sleepless night or rainy weekend…yes, I am glad for the short term distraction. Well played Netflix…well played indeed.
What makes a word beautiful?? Several weeks ago The Manofesto brought you, courtesy of Pinterest, a list of 
young lady who hates the word “moist”, and from what I understand her disdain isn’t unusual. Conversely, I associate “moist” with a yummy cake that isn’t dry, therefore it isn’t a negative word for me. As an avid reader and an aspiring writer I have an appreciation for authors whose prose have an effortless lyricism. It takes more than a single word to achieve that kind of beauty, but it helps to begin with words that have such qualities. I’m not sure how this specific list was selected, but I tend to agree with most of the choices. As with the aforementioned list of words everyone should know I have included definitions for each word as well as the occasional pithy remark. Enjoy.
While attending a revival recently the preacher bringing the message said something that I’d never considered but made total sense. He said that people who go around campaigning about “saving the Earth” (as my man Rush Limbaugh calls them…environmentalist whackos) do so because it’s all they have. They don’t have the promise of eternal life in Heaven with God. This planet & this life is it for them. It’s a thought-provoking point to ponder, and makes me feel a bit more sympathetic toward such individuals.
the price ($1000 for a phone?? Really?!?!?!??), but the facial recognition stuff is just a bit too…creepy. I’ll be interested to see how it sells.
Webster defines patriotism as “love for or devotion to one’s country”. Simple & straightforward…unless you are pro wrestler John Cena. The former “Doctor of Thuganomics” stars in a TV commercial currently airing occasionally that uses an alternate definition of patriotism in a thinly veiled attempt to promote a pro-“alternative” lifestyles agenda. In other words, now some are trying to imply that if you believe in traditional values like marriage being between a man & woman and biology determining gender you are unpatriotic. Sorry folks, but that’s a load of crap, and I’ve lost a lot of respect for Cena for his participation in such a farce.
a free country so trust in whatever scientific, religious, or sociopolitical authority you wish. We can agree to disagree. However, music legend Stevie Wonder recently illustrated exactly what is wrong with liberalism. During a hurricane relief benefit he & his Hollywood leftist friends couldn’t help themselves. They couldn’t stay focused on simply helping people in need, they had to push their agenda. Wonder stated that “anyone who believes that there is no such thing as global warming must be blind or unintelligent”. No, Stevie…anyone who makes such a sweeping generalization is unintelligent. Come on man…be better than that.
I’m willing to bet that we’re all familiar with atleast one person who is the type that can’t stand different foods on their plate co-mingling. Personally it’s not an issue for me. Sometimes I’ll intentionally take a big ol’ spoonful of veggies and mix them in with mashed taters & gravy, and whenever I’m at a Mexican restaurant I stir my refried beans in with rice. That being said, I understand the issue, and I think it extends far beyond the dining table. It seems to me that human beings prefer to compartmentalize most things, and we are uncomfortable with worlds colliding. We watch movies & TV shows to be entertained. Sports fans love ball games, ESPN, & the sports report on the local news. Political junkies can seek out CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, or a plethora of talk radio programs & websites. If you need to steal a little time with The Almighty you can go to church, read the Bible, or find religious programming on radio, television, or The Internet. The problem in 21st century America is that, because of technology (especially social media) all of those different aspects of life seem to be touching one another, like mac & cheese and baked beans at a picnic, and it’s becoming problematic even for easygoing folks like me. I don’t have any answers, but I can clearly identify the problem.
Pinterest strikes again!! As I 
everyday life”, which is why a walk down memory lane like this is fascinating because oftentimes we don’t reflect on how much has changed in our lives. We’re too busy living in the present and, sadly, fretting about the future, to recognize subtle transformations. That’s probably a good thing, otherwise we’d drive ourselves nuts. At any rate, join me as we come face to face with just how much technology has altered the landscape of our daily trek thru this awesome thing we call life.
can even order tickets in advance, although I never do that because hey…plans might change.
of streaming services like Netflix & Hulu there really isn’t a need for DVDs, although plenty of people still own them and both DVDs & DVD players are still sold in stores. We also have devices like DVR & TiVo that allow us to record television programs, and they are so much simpler & user friendly than VCRs ever were.
becoming obsolete. Between E-bay and countless wannabe sites, plus various pages on social media dedicated to buying & selling, classified ads in newspapers are really among the least effective ways to reach an audience.
around I guess, but most everyone digitally downloads their music now. Even iPods are a thing of the past. If you’ve got a smartphone you’ve got a device that’ll carry hundreds…maybe even thousands…of songs. What else could one possibly ask for??
letter in an envelope and mailing it is rather archaic. That’s what emails & texts are for!! I suppose pen pals have been replaced by “friends” on Facebook and “followers” on Twitter, Instagram, etc.
much as & for as long as we wish.
company. I set up autopay whenever available for recurring bills, and one can use a debit/credit card or PayPal to pay many bills online.
store would be very profitable in the 21st century.
tapes and listening to the resulting personal favorites album with my Walkman. Later on…and not that long ago…burning CDs at home became a thing. I remember being really into that for a brief moment in time. Nowadays whenever I want to rock out, chill with some classical music, or celebrate the holiday season with Bing Crosby I just use iTunes, Amazon Music, or Spotify. I haven’t spent a dime on music in several years.
there in the middle of a weekday. But with direct deposit, drive-thrus, & online banking there really is no need for most people to actually go inside a bank anymore.
find out what time something was on or to get an idea what a show was about. But with modern televisions a push of a button brings up the onscreen guide and it’s really simple to find out what you need to know about whatever program you want to watch.
informative articles about almost any topic one could imagine. And then every year or two they’d try to sell families a brand new set of books with updated information. Anyone who went to school in the 1980’s or before surely did their fair share of book reports & term papers using information almost exclusively gleaned from an encyclopedia. It all seems so quaint now in the Internet Age, when information about literally anything & everything is just a few keystrokes and/or mouse clicks away (actually computer mice are even outdated now).
pretty busy place.
online.
still look up things in a dictionary or thesaurus quite regularly…it’s just on a website rather than in a book. And if you’re using Google or even a computer program like Microsoft Word it’s really easy to spellcheck.
own phone number. But if you ask me for the phone numbers of other family members, friends, or my place of work I’d struggle to come up with them because they’re all programmed into my phone and accessible with one click. Oddly enough I still remember numbers that haven’t been used in years, like my grandparents and even former employers.
I have no idea if pagers are even manufactured anymore, but I can’t imagine they’d be in high demand. It’s not difficult to get ahold of someone in a whole host of ways, so pagers are just antiquated reminders of a bygone era. Who would’ve ever imagined that a pager could evolve into a romantic piece of nostalgia??
in the mood to vegg out when a favorite program is on I’m going to watch it. What else do I have to do?? Still though, it is cool to know that if we’ve got to go to work or fulfill some other kind of obligation, if there are two shows on at the same time that we like, or even if it’s just a nice day outside and one doesn’t want to stay home like a lazy hump that we can record something and watch it whenever we get some free time.
realize too late that they’ve dialed a wrong number or they just didn’t feel motivated to leave a message on the answering machine. As a kid I HAD to know who called!! Plus it was a new technology back then that fascinated me, and I kind of enjoyed the whole “Ha!! You think you’re gonna call us, hang up, & get away with it?? Think again!!” gotcha thing. These days caller ID is standard on cell phones, so whether a person hangs up without leaving a voicemail or not you know instantaneously who is calling.
right combination of fit & fashion. Are people not allowed to do that anymore?? In hindsight it does seem slightly unsanitary, and God knows we’re all hyper-aware these days about spreading disease and all of the horrific ways we could possibly meet our demise. Since I don’t walk I don’t have to purchase shoes that often. My size hasn’t changed in years and I’m not the least bit interested in being cool or keeping up with trends, so shoe shopping is a fairly simple process for me.
stride in the 1950s. I remember my grandparents talking about handwashing clothes back when they were coming of age during The Depression, and my mother would hang clothes out to dry during the summers of my youth. I assume there are still people that use clotheslines, especially if they reside in a rural area.
news channels on TV, most of which are updated constantly, which of course newspapers can’t be. Newspapers still exist, and they still have advertisements, but with The Internet newspapers are a decidedly old-fashioned way to advertise anything. The first thing I do when I get my Sunday paper is throw away all of the flyers & sales propaganda. And if I’m looking for a job, house, or any kind of product or service the newspaper is the last place I’m going to look.
learn keyboarding skills, because they’ll be doing a lot more of that in their lives than anything with a pen or pencil. Not only do they not have to visit the local library or use a multi-volume encyclopedia to do research, but spoiled brats these days don’t even have to cramp their soft little hands by writing pages & pages of information…they simply type a report in Word then print it out.
flowers online now. But even when you use a service like 1-800-FLOWERS the purchase is still, to my knowledge, fulfilled (including delivery) by a local florist.
while they’re traipsing around on vacation all they have to do is post pics or a status update on social media.
markets still happen in every small town in America every summer. My mother loved having yard sales and going to yard sales.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Now I have written about freedom of religion on multiple occasions, usually to point out how its focus is on prohibiting the establishment of a national religion and that, in my opinion, courts & other entities have gone in all kinds of crazy directions with it, usually overlooking the whole “free exercise” part in the process. Freedom of speech is pretty self-explanatory, except that too many folks whine about it and fail to realize that, though you can say almost anything you want, there is no freedom from the consequences one may suffer (losing your job for example). Freedom of assembly is an overlooked & rarely discussed part of the amendment, but it now seems fitting to point out that it specifically allows us the right to peaceably assemble. There is a difference between a protest and a riot. If you show up to protest with baseball bats, sticks, tear gas, knives, guns, automobiles, or anything else that could be considered a weapon then you’re doing the whole “peaceably assemble” thing wrong. Our citizenry has been crossing this particular line for decades. Personally I have never been passionate enough about something to actually physically protest, in part because, as comedian George Carlin once said, “never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups”. These events usually don’t end well, and I see no logic in putting myself in harm’s way. In the 2004 rom-com Win a Date with Tad Hamilton one of the characters threatens “I will tear you to pieces with my bare hands…or vicious rhetoric.” I lean toward utilizing vicious rhetoric as my weapon of choice. It may not accomplish much, but seems atleast as effective as a pointless protest, and far less dangerous.
Monday August 14, 2017 will go down in history as the day when Jimmy Fallon dealt the final nail in the coffin of late night TV, atleast for me. Fallon was widely praised on social media and everywhere else for his cold open to The Tonight Show, a sobering commentary about the sad events of the previous weekend in Charlottesville, VA. It was a fantastic opportunity for a silly television show to unite a broken nation, because really, there is unity in communal experiences like sports, comedy, & music. Sadly, contrary to public opinion, in my eyes Fallon blew it. Don’t misunderstand…I am not saying he should have ignored the elephant in the room and dove right into the fun stuff. It was proper to address the situation with an appropriately somber tone. However, like many of the other late night hosts Jimmy Fallon couldn’t help himself…he had to get political. He couldn’t resist spewing divisive rhetoric. These Hollywood types just can’t wrap their heads around the fact that Americans of all sorts…black, white, Hispanic, liberal, conservative, gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Democrat, Republican…watch their TV shows & movies and listen to their music. There is enough partisan debate on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, & talk radio because that is actually a huge reason those entities exist. Late night comedy should be lighthearted & bipartisan, but the reality is that it largely hasn’t been for awhile. The Tonight Show seemed to be the final refuge, and now it’s not. I mentioned last October that it had become fairly common for me to turn off my TV after the late local news anyway, and going forward that will be the standard modus operandi. If Colbert, Seth Meyers, Kimmel, Fallon, etc. want to be contentious shit stirrers instead of entertainers that’s their choice, but I don’t have to watch.
anyone outside the family know what you are thinking. Looking back in time I am ashamed that I was ever a keyboard warrior. It’s just not worth the price. I must admit that I did block one “friend” on Facebook a few days ago, but that situation was only tangentially related to politics. I’ve actually made reference to this friend before, calling him “the rare raging liberal that I can actually tolerate”. He loves stirring the pot and is constantly posting political rants in a sad cry for validation (a perception some have probably had about me in the past). I didn’t actually jump into the fray, but did post what I thought was a rather amusing joke in reply to something that had been said within the thread. This buddy of mine is one of the most unapologetically vulgar, offensive, politically incorrect guys I’ve ever known, yet had the gall to publicly come at me about MY sense of humor. There were multiple ways to handle the situation and he chose the worst alternative. Not only do I have little patience for humorless people, but I no longer desire to engage with anyone who gets their jollies from causing upheaval. The Bible mentions multiple antichrists before THE Antichrist arrives on the scene, and I am slowly becoming convinced that social media might be an antichrist.
Back in November of last year, right after the election, I had some fairly optimistic opinions about the future of President Trump. I said that “I suspect he will surround himself with tremendously smart & capable people.” Unfortunately I’m not sure that has actually happened. The White House has become a revolving door, with more people going in & out than Taylor Swift’s bedroom. No matter what my fellow conservatives say it is not normal to have replaced almost a dozen high level officials in less than a year. I also opined that “who he chooses for his cabinet and as advisors will be very important”. It may be difficult for Trump voters to admit, but selecting the right people to serve in key positions is a big part of the job, and with so many resigning or being canned this quickly it calls into question President Trump’s judgement & ability to assess people’s character. The good news is that I predicted that an important factor in Trump “either earning his keep or insuring a one term presidency” would be economics & job growth”, and from what I understand things are heading in the right direction there, so we’ll see.
Big news y’all…I recently joined Pinterest. I had always believed that it was just a bunch of elderly ladies or bored housewives swapping recipes, but after talking with a co-worker I became intrigued enough to check it out, and I must say it’s rather cool in its own peculiar way. I have boards about God & The Bible, literature & writing, & just general, interesting knowledge or factoids that stimulate my curiosity. And yes, I have saved…I’m sorry…pinned…a few recipes. A man’s got to eat, right?? Anyway, I ran across a little ditty called 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know (or something like that), and 
since words are kind of my thing I was hooked. I have always said both in this forum and on social media that I am here to educate as well as entertain, and I genuinely mean that, especially when I am being educated in the process. It is the mark of a well-rounded, well-read, well-educated individual to have an extensive vocabulary, and the world would be a better place if more folks fit the bill. So consider this my small contribution to the cause. I have included all the words from the original list and provided definitions as well as my own pithy remarks here & there. Several of these words were familiar to me, some were not, many are words that I want to make an effort to use more, and a few have me wondering why they were included at all. That’s the neat thing about riffing on someone else’s concept…I am left with the easy task of handing out kudos or mockery as I see fit, which is right in my wheelhouse. Enjoy.
When Eagles co-founder & frontman Glenn Frey passed away about a year & a half ago his bandmate Don Henley indicated that it was the end of the road for the band, which seemed appropriate. However, now a reconfigured Eagles’ lineup with Frey’s son Deacon & country star Vince Gill are performing some shows this summer, and at first I wasn’t really sure how I felt about that. Upon further reflection, I don’t really have an issue with the band continuing, even though it can’t ever be the same. Lots of bands have continued on after the departure…voluntary or otherwise…of original, even founding, members. I think it’s cool that Frey’s son will be involved. I assume he has some degree of talent. I’d like to see former Eagles Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, & Don Felder included in any future activities, but understand that there are…issues. I’m not sure what to think about the inclusion of Gill. It seems a bit incongruous.
God has really laid it on my heart to ponder John 8:7, in which Jesus says “he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone”. One of the disadvantages of social media is its immediacy, allowing folks to pronounce their passionate, unfiltered, oftentimes hypercritical condemnations without a cooling off period. In the past I have been as guilty as anybody of such rancor but have made an effort to dial back the venom and skew toward mercy in most cases. It is really easy to sit in judgment of others, especially when embracing the mantle of keyboard warrior, but the truth is that we really don’t know what it’s like to walk in any shoes but our own. Yes, right is right and wrong is wrong, and most of the time it’s pretty easy to tell where a situation falls on the grid. However, even when a particular entity is clearly wrong perhaps we’d all be better off to take the high road. Is my sin any better or worse than yours?? Maybe. Maybe not. But Matthew 7:3-5 says “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye? First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”, and I tend to believe that’s pretty good advice. People make mistakes…sometimes really big ones. Oftentimes something or someone might truly be heinous & immoral, but the world would still be a better place if everyone didn’t feel compelled to add their negativity into the mix.
I’ve been rather uncomfortable this summer seeing the amount of Adam West merchandise popping up online in the aftermath of his death. The body wasn’t even cold yet before my Facebook feed was peppered with t-shirts and other memorabilia. The same thing happened awhile back when Carrie Fisher passed late last year. The 1947 holiday classic Miracle on 34th St. has a character lamenting that “there is a lot of bad -isms floating around this world and one of the worst is commercialism”. Many of us always say that kind of thing at Christmas time, but it’s just as true throughout the year. Using the demise of a beloved cultural icon to make a buck is sick & twisted, and such purveyors of tastelessness won’t be getting a dime of my money.
world. Secondly, Simpson’s robbery conviction is an entirely different case. Multiple experts have said that he probably served much more time than any other person would have for the same crime. The consensus seems to be that, in a vacuum, a typical citizen involved in a similar situation might not have went to jail at all, or at most served a year. So essentially the judge that sentenced Simpson to 9-33 years did about as much to remedy perceived injustices of the past as legally allowed. The fact is that, in relation to the offense committed, OJ Simpson’s release from prison is the objectively fair thing to do. Of course anyone over the age of 40 can’t completely separate the robbery from the double murder and most will believe that justice has not been done. I don’t know what to say about that. Chances are that Simpson will land on his feet and live the remainder of his life in relative comfort. I wouldn’t be surprised if ends up having his own “reality” show. Is it disrespectful to the two murder victims?? Obviously. But we should all know by now that life isn’t fair.
The Manofesto 