In like a lion, out like a lamb. March in and get your t-shirts for 10 bucks.

FOX and NBC, along with myriad online news sites, are where I normally get my information. More and more, our media masters seem to be gaining melodrama and losing credibility in presenting the news. Headlines scream warnings (Drudge Report!) and personal slants and opinions (Huff Post!), events are exaggerated (The Onion! Oh, wait. . .), only those with the ability to cry on cue are interviewed (TV news!), it’s Hollywood’s “Glitter” appearing nightly on the news.

The other night, after hearing a newscaster say, “To put another perspective on that. . .”, I swear, my heart sang. What was that all about?! Presenting the facts, various points-of-view, and allowing the viewer to decide what he thinks? Hot cha-cha, Mr. Helmet-hair newscaster! You’ve got the next dance, my man.

That’s what I want from my daily dose of reality. Reality. Perspective. Facts. Tell me what’s going on where, who did it, how they did it, when they did it, and gather accounts from those who were there or close to the others to help advance understanding of the “why” – but maybe wait until after they’ve had a moment to regain their equilibrium. It may not be as sensationalist as catching them in the throes of grief, but it defuses the emotions of the moment and helps put things in perspective. I have a decent imagination. In fact, I can scare myself better than anyone else, trust me. I don’t need you to pile on, too.

So, please don’t tell me how to feel or what to think, don’t try to sway me to your point-of-view, just show me what’s happening in the world around me so I can prepare myself for every possibility. We would all get closer to the truth of a thing and wouldn’t feel so amateurishly manipulated. Leave that for the film masters.

Oh, and it would help if our media occasionally showed us others at their best and strongest, rather than at their worst and weakest. It might inspire admiration or courage, rather than pity and fear. You can be part of the solution or part of the problem, depending on your perspective, I guess. :)

Hey, it’s just one person’s opinion.

Inevitably, the big money and easy insider access that those entitled people in big business and the finance and banking industries enjoy over every other taxpaying citizen in this country, will soon lead to abuses which our government has a fiduciary responsibility to curtail, yet seldom does.

When faced with this reality, it is difficult for any rational human being to fail to understand that our country has indeed become a kleptocracy. The definition of a kleptocracy, according to Wikipedia, is:

“a term applied to a government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials and the ruling class (collectively, kleptocrats), via the embezzlement of state funds at the expense of the wider population, sometimes without even the pretense of honest service. Political corruption is closely tied to the internal workings of a Kleptocracy.”

I had high hopes for President Barack Obama, and I still do. But until he begins the admittedly difficult task of reining in the abuses of government officials and those on the inside of our foundational value system and corporatist economy, he cannot hope to capture and keep the hearts and minds of average Americans.

Capitalism has been degraded by corruption and greed and abuses of power and position, and nearly everyone recognizes that now. What Americans need to do is to clean out our government NOW. Every single elected official needs to go in the next election, Republican and Democrat alike.

Some would say: But there are good men and women amongst the bad, and you would lose all those good people who are trying hard and who have such great experience!

I say this: Whether or not there are good men and women amongst the bad is debatable, but more importantly, if there are good, decent, law-abiding, incorruptible politicians currently serving, they are obviously in the minority and have been utterly ineffective/incapable/incompetent in dealing with or preventing those people who have been perverting justice, the foundational laws of the country, and the principles of business and fair play on a regular basis.

Elizabeth Warren is an honorable, intelligent woman who recognizes the quandary the average American is in. She speaks the truth as she sees it, does not mince words or sugarcoat facts, and doesn’t appear to be easy to rein in herself, raising her credibility level in my mind.

Could she be our Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington? I, for one, intend to watch her carefully over the next year or two to see how effective she will be in counteracting “those who would keep things the way they are”, and if she succeeds in her goal of putting checks and balances in place once again, then I will be happy to encourage her to run for the highest office.

We need a real leader for the people, one who will not be compromised and one who cannot be bought. Only then will we know that we are equally valued citizens with genuine opportunities, rather than mere wage slaves with a few misguided and fading illusions.

It reminded me of those times when my mother would slap me for wearing “that expression” on my face, leaving me utterly indignant and wounded – and totally clueless as to exactly what expression I had been wearing that deserved such a response.

I’m not very self-aware, I guess. But then, I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about how others perceive me, or about how I could possibly change the way they perceive me. A part of me wants to say, “and why would I? What’s wrong with me the way I am?” Well, quite a lot apparently, if those I think highly of happen to think of me as insufferable, unbearable, abhorrent, intolerable, horrible, hateful, and despicable – all appearing in my Word thesaurus under synonyms for “obnoxious”. (The antonym is “nice” – something else I have been accused of being. Could I be schizophrenic and not know that either?!?!)

You see, I can’t see my face when I look at others. I hear what I’m saying and I sound perfectly reasonable and reasonably respectful to myself, but it may not appear that way to others, and it certainly didn’t appear that way to my friend (I wanted to put quotation marks around that word “friend”, but that would have been obnoxious, wouldn’t it? Hey, progress!)

I do know that “obnoxious” is definitely NOT the impression I want to leave with people. So, it made me think; how do you change something you’re not aware of and don’t recognize in yourself? And CAN you even do such a thing, while remaining true to yourself and keeping your integrity? Because wouldn’t “making an effort” to appear a certain way to others, also be tantamount to a deception? A small deception perhaps, an innocent deception, maybe even a kind deception, but still, a complete sham.

Your thoughts and advice would be appreciated, but in the meantime, I think I’ll try and moderate how I speak to others, try to curb my enthusiasm, so to speak, and be mindful of my voice and tone and expression. In other words, I will try to be totally unlike myself.

And never feel relaxed and comfortable in my own skin again in public. And always feel like I’m trying to be someone else. And never be completely sure that I’m not still being an “obnoxious know-it-all”, anyway.

On the other hand, I could just tell my “friend” to take a hike if that’s the way he feels.

Gee, I sorta feel better already.

Until the next time, you have yourself a nice day. And love yourself as much as you can – because everybody needs somebody who appreciates them exactly as they are.

“Sergey Aleynikov, an ex-Goldman Sachs computer programmer, was arrested July 3 after arriving at Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S. officials said. Aleynikov, 39, who has dual American and Russian citizenship, is charged in a criminal complaint with stealing the trading software. At a court appearance July 4 in Manhattan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Facciponti told a federal judge that Aleynikov’s alleged theft poses a risk to U.S. markets. Aleynikov transferred the code, which is worth millions of dollars, to a computer server in Germany, and others may have had access to it, Facciponti said, adding that New York-based Goldman Sachs may be harmed if the software is disseminated.”

Apparently, this former GS employee stole some “proprietary” software from GS. The Huff Post writer, Danny Schechter, goes on to say:

“The next sentence is particularly eye-opening: ‘The bank has raised the possibility that there is a danger that somebody who knew how to use this program could use it to manipulate markets in unfair ways,’ Facciponti said.
J.S. Kim who runs an independent investment research and wealth consultancy firm commented on the financial site, Seeking Alpha: ’It’s curious to note that Goldman Sachs has admitted that it has developed trading software that could be used to, in their own words, ‘manipulate markets in unfair ways,’ yet nobody in the mainstream media has questioned whether Goldman Sachs was and is using its proprietary trading platform to manipulate markets in unfair ways. Only extremely naive investors with zero understanding of how global stock markets operate would deny that there has been continual and excessive intervention into US stock markets to prop them up over the past several months.’ "

Remember when the cost of gas shot sky-high and everyone said “supply and demand”? Bullshit. ILLEGAL Market Manipulation. Remember when the high cost of gas caused everything else to go up, like food, electricity, utilities, goods, taxes, insurance, etc.? ILLEGAL Market Manipulation. Remember when the high cost of everything caused people to go broke, and when all those mortgages adjusted around that same time, people started LOSING THEIR HOMES? And remember when that was blamed on “stupid people, living beyond their means, wanting something for nothing”. Remember that? ILLEGAL MARKET MANIPULATION.

Hello, government? Do you care? Hello, law enforcement? Do you care? Hello, anyone out there? Is Goldman Sachs TOO BIG to follow the laws of this country?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-schechter/are-our-financial-markets_b_228144.html

Michael Jackson was a man to be pitied. He was a lost soul and a child molester, who had the great misfortune of being famous, which made it much more difficult for him to practice his sexual preferences. But he also had the great fortune of, well, having a great fortune! He simply paid to indulge his sexual tastes. Oh, he never had to pay with his time or with personal sacrifices, simply with money. The superstar managed to settle several court cases/accusations with a great deal of money – much to the eternal shame of the victims’ parents – before he hit on the brilliant concept of growing his own victims!

Three children were left in the care of a recognized (if never convicted) pedophiliac, given free reign to ruin young psyches and sexualities and forever destroy any normalcy of their youth, via the mercy of the courts and the payola to the previous victims. Three children were sacrificed by their mother and the world, so that Michael Jackson could continue preying on the young from the comfort of his own home, the legal standing of his parental rights, and the money in his pocket.

Those charges have never been proved, you may say. I ask, have you read the transcripts of the previous victims? Predators of the young take a very similar and predictable path to success in the many ways they attempt to gain trust and friendship with the vulnerable victims and their families. The testimony in several of the cases are eerily similar and just plain eerie in their similarities to the testimony of every victim of child molestation. In short, the ring of truth is present in this testimony.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/michaeljackson/010605jackson2.html

Now that he is gone, the truth is sure to come out. And when that happens, no matter where Michael Jackson and his career may one day fall in the annals of history, we will be faced with the recognition that we failed the victims he left behind. The innocent ones who were unable to seek justice for themselves against such a powerhouse and mogul of a human being: the children. What is the price for so many young lives ruined?

Can you imagine for a minute what would have happened if John McCain had won the election here in the States? I’m not entirely sure we wouldn’t just accept it, but it would have to be obvious that our elections were fraudulent and pre-determined. It just may have shaken the relative compacency of the people for once. Or, not.

In Iran, after years of tight-fisted mullah (cleric) rule, younger Iranians were so outraged at the results of their allegedly sham election that they took to the streets. After several days of the government poo-pooing their actions (and cracking down with force) as a minor protest from a few kids, things began to get rough – and we all saw it happening. For once, we didn’t have to rely on mainstream media – we had reports from regular people from around the world, right at our fingertips, and they conveyed the truth of what was happening to those who would listen. We were showered with tweets and photos and videos and pleas from millions of Iranians who found themselves in a battle for more than voter transparency – this became something more – these people want freedom and democracy, and are unwilling to believe the lies anymore.

As thousands and then hundreds of thousands and then millions of citizens around the world began weighing in, the common cry was “We Are Watching!” No doubt feeling helpless to give aid to those in the throes of peaceful revolution against elite rule, there was nothing else we could do. We tweeted and retweeted the messages we knew were genuine, and refused to share those we thought might be propaganda – and for a shining moment in time, people from around the world were joined in their distress and hope for the people and trials in another land. I know this sounds sappy, but I can’t help it. It is encouraging to find that we human beings the world over basically want and need the same things – despite what those in power may spout – we want peace and prosperity and freedom.

My hope is that the Iranian people will lead the way for their leadership and, whatever the outcome of this skirmish, I hope this leads to better, more responsible government the world over. We just may owe Iranians one hell of a big “thank you” for the wake-up call.

So we went to Charleston, one of my favorite cities. It just so happened that we arrived on the 2nd day of the 17 day Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Now, you’re probably asking yourself: “Piccolos have their own festival? And what the heck is a Spoleto?!?” And if you’re asking yourself those questions, please google it, because this story is about Charleston and what I learned on my vacation.

The town, once known as Charles Town, was founded in 1670 and named after King Charles II of England. He was a hound and hedonist who loved women and wine and all earthly pleasures, like good-looking tee-shirts. Okay, I’ll freely admit that last bit was a marketing ploy to get you to buy a tee-shirt and not really a historical fact – that we know of. Anyway, according to charlestonsfinest.com., ol’ Charlie was “the father of his people, or at least, a great many of them”. The dude got around. And because of him, the town became known for its tolerance and decadence (my kind of town!) despite having a church on every corner.

Blood-thirsty pirates, devastating fires, hurricanes, the shame of great wealth gained through slavery, and much more have all threatened to tear Charleston apart at one time or another. But it’s still standing and it’s still a beloved city and vacation destination for many. I love it, too, and find it hard to explain why to someone who hasn’t been.

If cities have vibes, and they do, then Charleston’s vibe is that of a demure, but lusty virgin who is about to sneak out of the house and change her status, pronto. There is a feeling of excitement and expectancy that seems to permeate the slow-moving, sultry old town area, where tourists flock to the Port and the Market, gather for a taste of history and Diane’s Tropical French Toast and Garabaldi’s anything, and gawk at, and sometimes tour, the multi-million dollar centuries-old homes that line its cobblestone streets and waterfront. There are art galleries galore, restaurants for every taste, quite unique hotels and bars, and interesting places to visit, with many things to do. It is truly a city that is fully alive in both its history and its current day significance.

Then there is that other side to Charleston: the seedier, cynical, age-old, and just plain tired side. The side that knows the secrets, recognizes the uncomfortable imbalance between rich and poor, black and white, new and old. Old prejudices die hard – as does deep, abiding shame – but there is really no excuse for the impoverished and nearly invisible black man or woman on the outskirts of historical Charleston. Especially given the fact that the back-breaking labors of their ancestors built the town and enriched the townsfolk for many, many future generations. This is Charleston’s great shame and will forever be its cross to bear. ‘Nuff said.

Like Charleston, we simply aren’t complete without our history and our current significance. Like Charleston, our individual lives can be a precarious balancing act between that which we love and that which we hate, that which we are proud of and that which we are ashamed of, that which we must do, and that which we want to do. And like Charleston, we aren’t always beautiful and giving, sometimes we are ugly and stingy – with our time, our efforts, our love, our attention, and so on.

And just like Charleston, with its two different worlds and faces, work and vacation are two sides of the same coin. Although I love and look forward to vacations all year long, I also usually gain 10 pounds and get lazy. And while I sometimes loathe the obligation of working for a living and get uptight about things that happen while I’m there, I also earn a decent living and get to work with some pretty interesting and entertaining people.

I have to think that maybe this is why I like Charleston so much: it’s a very human city. Incredibly, appallingly flawed and amazingly, breathtakingly beautiful and compelling. Just like work – and vacations.

And just like you and me.

Former President Bush remains undercover, refusing to speak out about just about anything and here’s diarrhea-mouth Cheney making his slimy way onto every news channel, every news website, every conservative and liberal blog, and into everyone’s nightmares.

The dude shamefully denigrates the current President after a minute on the job, he systematically claims that disaster is imminent, and he refuses to feel any shame at all for torturing other human beings, defiling the Constitution, lying to his own administration and the American people, and to the world at large, in direct defiance of that little contract we signed called the Geneva Convention.

Mr. Cheney, for the sake of every red-blooded American, PLEASE SHUT UP.
Seriously, no matter how much you want the attention, no matter how scared you are, no matter how much they pay you, my matter what you may think or believe, just shut the hell up and go away.

Because if you don’t stop, your ceaseless rants of doom will come true – for you. You will be indicted for war crimes and the other atrocities you freely admit to committing (while expecting an unequivocal “pass” from every American as some kind of courteous nod for your “service”) and the next time we hear from you, you’ll be enjoying all the amenities of the Gates Motel, where you belong.

This guy needs a pr rep in the worst way.

During the Miss USA pageant, openly gay judge and Hollywood blogmeister, Perez Hilton, asked the pretty pageant potential: ‘Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalise same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?’

The pretty Californian answered: ‘Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage.’ She continued: ‘And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offence to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be – between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.’

People have been speaking up about this all over the world, so I thought I’d throw in my two cents. Here’s what I think: everyone is entitled to their opinions. Everyone is entitled to free speech. When people use those rights to spread prejudice, intolerance, and hate, other people have the same rights to speak freely against the haters. If more people do this, maybe we’ll never see another Hitler or Ku Klux Klan or Taliban. Wrong is wrong, and we have not only the right to speak against such wrongs, but the duty.

I, for one, wouldn’t want such an ugly woman representing my country. To deny our tax-paying, law-abiding gay citizens the same legal rights straights enjoy is purely discrimination, no matter how you look at it.

This woman does not represent me, and I’m glad she lost the chance to represent this country.

Just one blogmeister’s opinion. Feel free to disagree.

But expect to be shamed, ridiculed, and reviled. Like any other bigot.