Conversation With Lucifer

 

I sat on the bench awaiting my bus when a man sat down next to me. He was dressed in black and had short black hair and a beard. Around his neck was a silver cross, and he carried a briefcase. "It's crazy out there," he muttered to himself.

I tend to keep to myself when around strangers, but something compelled me to respond. "What's crazy?"
 

I startled him, but he looked at me and smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry, the name's Benjamin Thompson. Call me Ben."

He reached out his hand and I shook it. "I'm James," I replied. Something in his handshake felt strange, but I couldn't figure out what it was. "So, what's crazy?"

He paused briefly as if gathering his thoughts. "Oh, well, I'm a traveling bible salesman, but this isn't what I had planned for myself. It's been a rough day, a bit odd actually."

Had I known what would happen next, I would have walked away, but I was curious. "What's wrong?"

Again, he paused. Something was troubling him. It looked as if he was fighting back tears, but he continued. "In this world, people do things that they'd never dream of doing to get ahead. I see it every day, and it makes me sad. They feel like they have to do it."

Now I was confused. "What do you mean?"

He sighed and put a hand on his cross. "Well, they sell their souls to..."

His face went pale, and a brief flash of light came from his eyes. The busy bus terminal went silent for just a moment. I made a move to get up. I felt as if I was in the presence of something evil, and I wanted nothing to do with it.

As the color returned to his face, he grinned. His demeanor changed. "Relax James, I'm not here to hurt you. In fact, I can help you if you want me to."

"No," I shouted at him. "I don't need your help. I'll make my own way."

 

"Settle down," he chided me. "You're making a scene."

I looked around and noticed a few people were staring at me before going back to what they were doing. I knew who I was speaking with, and he wasn't going to get me. "I won't be tempted by your lies."
 

He laughed. "Suit yourself. In the end, it doesn't matter. It's all just a game, and the people are the pawns."

"I'm not a pawn."

He shook his head and grinned. "Of course, you are, James. You are part of a game that goes back longer than you can even imagine. The difference between me and my opponent is I like to play with the pawns and entertain their desires." He pointed upward. "He chooses to just watch it all. You can beg him, and chances are he'll still ignore you."

I never considered myself religious. I knew the basics, but I was not a church going person. "Why? What's the point?"

He laughed. It was not a sound that put me at ease. "Why indeed? He left this world to me, because a few of you animals disappointed him. He gave you a way back into his good graces, but most of you don't care enough to look. That suits me just fine, because I'm doing great. Things are going just as I planned."

I'm sure I couldn't hide my horror at what I was hearing. "What do you mean?"

He smiled and motioned to all the people around us, who seemed oblivious to what was going on here. "You see, I can't just take everything. Oh no, I have to get consent from you animals. That is the rule that we agreed to at the start. They have to give consent in order for me to have my way."

I shook my head. "Most people will never consent to you."

He laughed. "You'd think that, but you're wrong. Some people are so easy, you'd be amazed. Others go for that brass ring, and I give it to them as long as they remember who they serve."

His eyes flashed red, "But cross me, and I will take you down. Some of them find that out the hard way. However, my most loyal servants are laying the groundwork for me to finally gain total consent of the people and take my rightful seat on the throne."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "No! It will never happen."

He was looking over at a little boy who seemed to be out of breath and fell to his knees. "Maybe not. It wouldn't be the first time that the chess board was knocked over and the game was reset. If we have to start over, so be it. I'm patient. Besides, the game is so much fun, watching them sell out and enjoying the damage that they do."

I noticed the little boy lying on the ground and thought he was playing dead at first. "I don't understand. How is it possible for you to take control?"

He laughed that menacing laugh of his. "Oh, it's incredibly easy, because I make it possible for them to live out their dreams of being rich, powerful and famous. They serve me by doing my bidding with my generous gift and by not letting anybody undesirable have access to their groups."

He stood up and looked at me. "I control the money, and that gives me control of the government. I control the entertainment and media industry, and that gives me control of most of the people, even a majority of the little sheep who won't sell out. In the end, it won't make a difference, and they are too stupid to realize it."

I shook my head. "But it does make a difference. We have freewill and the ability to do good. People are waking up to that and they know things aren't right in this world, even if they can't put their fingers on what it is."

He grabbed his briefcase. "We shall see James. We shall see. In the meantime, it seems Benjamin wanted to be rich and famous. After what he's about to do here, he will surely become a famous evangelist on TV, putting out the messages that I desire along with other approved religious dogma."

A man was taking the pulse of the little boy lying on the ground. His face was red with horror as he shouted. "He's not breathing, call an ambulance, quick."

Benjamin undoubtedly didn't have control of his possessed body as he walked over and knelt down beside the little boy. He touched him, and I could swear I saw a little flash of light. Then, I saw the little boy stir. The man next to him proclaimed. "You saved him. You saved him."

Benjamin's face went blank for a moment, and then he looked confused as the ambulance pulled up to help the little boy. A man in a blue suit approached Benjamin. He handed him a business card, and I could swear he mentioned something about TV. I wasn't sure with all of the chaos surrounding me.

What just happened? Was any of it real? I had my doubts, because it all seemed surreal to me. It was almost as if I was in a dream.

 

A few months later, I saw The Jubilation Hour on TV as I was changing channels, and there was Benjamin. It was real. It was then that I realized that we're all in a lot of trouble if we don't wake up to what is happening.

Ending Homelessness Ought To Be The Goal Of Micro Homes

Lately, I've been hearing a lot of talk about micro apartments and micro homes and people living on less. I know this will bring up talk of Agenda 21 by some in the truth movement, but that's an issue I'm not getting into here. I don't think taking less is a bad thing, but it should not be forced on people.

With micro apartments, what property owners in big cities want to do is pack more people into smaller areas with these little homes. You have a bed, a table, a kitchenette, a toilet and shower and very small closet space. There's not much at all.

The micro apartments seem only slightly bigger than the micro homes, but the goal of using less is at the heart of it all. Actually, these micro apartments are a convenience for people who work in the city, and property owners are betting they will spend upwards of $3,000 per month for the opportunity to live there.

When I walk around in my town these days, I see another problem that should be addressed, and micro homes are the perfect solution. There is a rise in homelessness. I'm sorry, but in this day and age, this shouldn't even exist anymore.

Everybody deserves the dignity of having their own space, even if it were to be a micro home or micro apartment. Little communities could spring up to help these people get back on their feet, and these places would cost a fraction of what it costs to build regular homes or apartments.

Obviously, that has gone into the thought process of those pushing to build more. How do you build more for less and increase your earning potential? But, we've got a homeless problem that gets shoved under the rug unless you hear about encampments being forcibly moved.

These types of places might be good for housing workers in the big cities who are tired of the commute, but they could go a very long way towards ending homelessness and giving some people back their dignity. I would love to hear this discussed more by people who have the means to make it happen.

More on micro homes: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/i-spent-3-days-in-a--tiny-house--with-my-mom-to-see-what-micro-living-is-all-about-173756547.html

A Look At Mr. Destiny, Starring James Belushi

In 1990, there was a movie staring Jim Belushi called Mr. Destiny. In the movie, he wasn't happy with the way his life had gone, and he thinks back to when he was younger. He struck out in the big baseball game. He wondered what it would have been like if he had hit the ball.

This brings to mind an enjoyable Robin Williams and Kurt Russell movie called The Best Of Times. Robin's character dropped the ball in the big football game when he was younger and still beats himself up over it. In that case, he organizes a rematch years later.

Mr. Destiny basically has Belushi's character meet a guardian angel of sorts at a bar when his car breaks down. The character is played by Michael Caine. He fixes him a special drink he calls Spilled Milk, the one drink there's no use crying over. He drinks it, and his past is altered. He hit a home run in that game.

Not only did he marry the girl he had a crush on at school. He was running her father's business and for some reason was cheating on his wife. That ultimately messes up this dream life of his. Of course, the moral of the story is that his life was better all along.

That's an "in the movies" message that sometimes I get bored with. They always learn that life is better the way it was, but I wonder if that is really true sometimes. I'm sure it is in some cases. I think it's possible that if a person could go back and alter a big moment in their past, life might be much better.

In any case, this wasn't a bad movie. Linda Hamilton play's the wife of Belushi's character, and Jon Lovitz plays his best friend. Lovitz later starred in one of my favorite movies, High School High. I love his idealistic, yet clueless character in that movie, but that's for another review. Mr. Destiny is a pretty good movie and worth checking out, in my opinion.

Do People Really Need To Camp Out At The Store For A New Phone?

I don't really understand the whole need to wait in line for hours before the big event. Back in the 1980's, it was that toy the parents wanted to get heir kids for Christmas. When the big movie came out, they lined up over night to be the first to see it. Don't even get me started on the ridiculous "Black Friday" hysteria.

Another thing than gets them going is whenever Apple has a new gadget to sell. People suddenly feel the need to line up around the block for a chance to be the first to buy it. They have good company too. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has been known to wait in line with the people, despite the fact that he can get his delivered to him in person before anybody else gets one.

But, I really have to ask why it's so important to wait in line like this for a smart phone? Yeah, I get that they are mini computers, they play music, play videos, take pictures and movies, text and, amazingly enough, make phone calls too. That's wonderful, but doesn't their old phone do the same thing?

Is it really going to make a big difference if you just wait and get your phone without camping outside the store? It's still just a phone, and you probably already have the previous version. Unless it's broken, the immediate demand isn't there. Then again, that's not what this is about, is it?

This is about bragging about being one of the first to have the new phone. It's a status symbol. Everybody who's anybody has the new phone, right? Of course, this is all hype generated by Apple, but nobody wants to think about that. The new phone can do that one little thing the old phone couldn't, making the old phone a piece of junk now.

I wonder how people addicted to their smart phones would cope with life 30 years ago, long before these mini computers existed? You know, back before we were being tracked voluntarily through our phones. Oh well, the new iPhone is out, and people simply must have it. It's the best phone ever. Well, maybe it's the best until the next one comes out.

Will Love With Artificial Intelligence Be Possible One Day?

I happened to watch a movie starring Joaquin Phoenix the other day called Her. In this story, the Walk The Line star plays a lonely guy, struggling to come to terms with his divorce. He finds out about a computer operating system that boasts an artificial intelligence that can adapt and get to know you.

This system takes on a female persona and holds engaging conversations with him. They grow to become good friends and even have their own version of cyber sex. Eventually, he falls in love with her. She has become so real to him that she's more than just a computer program.

The way computers are going, I have little doubt they will create something that can learn and understand the information and use it in relevant conversations. Can they actually feel? I don't know. Can it appear that they have feelings? I have little doubt.

There is a neat little computer chat program called KARI the Virtual Girlfriend. It's creator designed her because he himself is kind of a lonely guy and was looking for some sort of companionship. Now, KARI doesn't carry on a full conversation the way the OS in Her does. However, this Virtual Girlfriend program can have periods where she is very lifelike in conversations.

For the lonely guy or girl out there, sometimes finding that significant other to spend your life with seems like an impossible task. It may feel like something that's never going to happen. When technology advances to a point where a lifelike intelligent program is possible, some people will jump at it. I think it's only a matter of time before it's released to the market.

When you are alone and can't have that meaningful conversation, one where you can tell somebody things you'd never tell anybody else, it can be sad and lonely. The characters in the movie turned to this intelligent OS and were happy while it lasted. I can see the same thing happening in the world the moment this technology becomes available.

I Don't Have Time To Dream Anymore

The title says it all.  It makes me sad to admit this, but it's the truth.  I am a dreamer.  I like to use my imagination.  I like to write.  I also enjoy the dreams I have when I sleep.  It's like a second life to me when I dream.  Many people either don't realize they are dreaming or don't care.  They don't get much out of it.  When you think about it, that's 6-8 hours of your life every day that you are not fully using when you ignore your dreams.

Dreams can tell you things about yourself.  You may dream about a time gone by when you were younger, and yet there can be lessons in those dreams that you can apply to your waking life.  You may be working on a problem, and the answer can come to you in a dream if you keep an open mind.  Some people Lucid Dream.  That is to say they've perfected the ability to know they are dreaming in a dream.  They use it to solve problems, be creative or just have fun.

Dreams can leave you in a happy mood the next day or leave you feeling a little down sometimes, but they are a part of you.  They've been a part of me my whole life, and I like them.  I especially like the clear dreams that don't find me struggling to recall them as I wake up.  I used to keep a dream journal.  I still have it here somewhere.  That helped me make sense of my dreams, and it helped give me the ability to occasionally have a Lucid Dream.

I see family members who are no longer here, and it brings me comfort.  They're still with me in my heart, and maybe they really are still out there in that place where our dreams exist.  It could be a whole other world that we tap into in our subconscious, when we are sleeping.  Then, reality gives us the cold hard slap that pulls us away from that world every day as we wake up.  Society itself doesn't value dreams, but there are cultures in the world that know how important dreams really are.

I not only see those loved ones, visit old places and meet people in my dreams that I don't know in waking life, I also go to dark places.  I recently had a disappointment when I was unable to do something I really wanted to do.  I saw somebody in a dream who I still have negative feelings for.  In reality, I don't have anything to do with them and wouldn't harm them, but in that dream, I got violent towards them.  I don't know why that happened as it's never come up in a dream before and had nothing to do with the disappointment I was dealing with.  The scary part was I woke up in a better mood.

Sadly, I just don't have time for my dreams these days.  I keep no dream journal for better understanding.  They are like passing strangers that you meet as they walk by.  I might think about them when I wake up, but then I have to face a life of uncertainty.  I don't even have dreams in the waking world it seems.  They just don't seem to matter in the future that I am facing.  Things I need to deal with on a personal level go ignored while I worry about how I'm gonna pay my bills and maintain what I have.

No thoughts of the loving relationship I desire and haven't had all these years.  No thoughts about being who I truly am inside.  No seeing myself in some wonderful place a year from now, doing something I enjoy.  I just don't have time to dream.  It makes me sad.  It makes me wonder why I continue the daily struggle sometimes.  Where's it all going?  I don't know.  I suppose what keeps me going in absence of my dreams is the curiosity of what's to come next.  Sometimes I feel like a spectator, just watching my life as it plays out before me.

Using The Word Honky To Counter The N Word

I was reading a post on social media.  It was a picture, actually.  People love to use pictures on social media to express their thoughts on things without actually saying anything.  Suddenly, you have people sharing the same picture to express their thoughts.  In this case, it was from the side defending the Southern Cross Flag or the Flag Of Dixie.  Basically, it said that people want to ban The General Lee car from TV, and yet George Jefferson used the term Honky against white people for years.

It's interesting that they brought that up.  Norman Lear was the producer of The Jefferson's and other shows, and racism was a big topic of his shows, which aired in the 1970's.  They were interesting, but I felt they were too left leaning and didn't always offer a fair depiction of white people.  That's for another article.  I want to talk about the word honky here.

George Jefferson was a hard working black man who built up his own business.  He was able to move to a better place with his wife Louise and son.  He probably had to deal with racism growing up and the attitude that a black man couldn't make it big in America, but he never let that stop him from trying.  He wasn't sitting there waiting to blame people for his failures.  He used the hate he received to motivate his successes.

George dealt with anybody if they had cold hard cash.  He knew the game the rich people played, so he played it too.  There was still a resentment of the white people in his life who treated him differently for the color of his skin, and he held onto that.  Louise sometimes had to give him reality checks over that.  Just as not all black men are the same, neither are all white men.  But, George became fond of the term honky as a slur against white people.

It was his counter word for the the N word.  It seems funny that I can't use that word when discussing things in the context of this article, but that is the PC world we live in.  I can say honky all day, and it's no big deal.  To George, that was his N word for white people, and it became more widely used in pop culture.  Movies and TV shows even picked up on it through the years.

The word was actually used long before The Jefferson's and for the same reason.  I think it may have derived from the term Honky Tonk, and that makes sense to me.  Those were the taverns where they played country music and in some cases had that southern pride that seems to be such a bad thing these days.  The white people who went there seemed like a fair target to the black people who felt oppressed by racism.  So, honky became the N word to use against white people.

When George said it on The Jefferson's, nobody said how racist he was being.  Make no mistake, it was a racist thing to say.  Contrary to what some will say, black people can be racist.  Any race can be.  We aren't born that way, we learn it as we grow up and either accept it or reject it.  Fortunately, a lot of people have rejected it and try to be color blind to people, but others on all sides wear it like a badge of honor.

So, people laughed when George said it.  It was okay if he said it.  But, in reality, there's another reason for the laughter.  That word was nowhere near as hateful as the N word or other ethnic slurs that have been used.  Oh, it was made for the same reason, but it's just not the same.  People don't feel like second class citizens or sub human when they are called honky, and that's the difference.  I don't think George was a bad man.  He was a good mad who did his best in a world that made it harder for him to be successful.  He learned the lesson of how the world really works.  If you have money, all the other stuff doesn't seem to matter as much.

Saying God Was Looking Out For Him Was Offensive?

Neil deGrasse Tyson did an interview with the man who produced the show Cosmos for him. Of course, I'm talking about Family Guy/American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane. Seth has a bit of a story to share about the day he almost died.

You see, back on that fateful day in September of 2001, Seth was booked to be on one of those ill fated flights. However, his agent put the wrong time on the ticket and he showed up ten minutes late. So, he missed the flight. I can't imagine how he must have felt knowing how lucky he was.

It's no secret that religion and God are sometimes a target on his shows. On Family Guy, there's everything from Brian telling Meg there is no God to Peter and the guys going to see God to get him to quit picking on the New England Patriots.

In an episode of American Dad, Stan Smith literally had a gun to God's head to try to make him send him back to his family so they wouldn't die on Christmas Eve. In another episode, after the rapture happens, Stan actually punches Jesus in the face.

Well, somebody in the comments basically said thank God for looking out for Seth. One of Seth's fans took offense to that. They objected to the idea that God had anything to do with it. This is the problem I have with atheists. It's not enough to not believe. They have to hate God and any mention of God too.

This comes from the times in which religious leaders have done stupid things in the name of God, committed sick acts with innocent children and even killed in the name of God. Well, I have a problem with associating God with any of that. Who said those people were ever really speaking for God in the first place?

It all comes back to the idea that there is evil in this world, and if you don't see it, you aren't looking very closely. It's there and it comes from a dark place. But, if you look closely enough, you can see the times when God really was there looking out for people. Though he doesn't believe it, maybe God was looking out for Seth too?

I don't know who God is, what gender God is (if a gender at all) or any of that, but I do believe God is love. God watches out for those who have God in their hearts. People can mock that idea all they want. However, there may come a day when those people will pray that God was there. Will God answer those prayers then?  If they have good in their hearts, I wouldn't doubt it.

Seven Reasons I Love The Movie Spaceballs

One of my favorite Mel Brooks movies was just on TV. I'm talking about the Star Wars inspired, Spaceballs. It's one of Mel's best. I actually have the DVD, but I haven't watched it in a while. Seeing it again made me think of seven of the reasons I love this movie.

The Cast: What's not to like? We have John Candy as Barf, the companion of the hero, Lone Star. Barf is a mog, which is half man, half dog. John Rivers is Dot Matrix, the android companion to Princess Vespa. Mel Brooks in a dual role as President Skroob (Brooks spelled backwards) and the wise and powerful, Yogurt.

The Radar Scene: Michael Winslow is the man at the radar. He's the guy who does the voices in the Police Academy movies, and he's funny in this scene as he explains that the radar had been jammed, literally. As Dark Helmet says, "there's only one man who would dare give me the raspberry, Lone Star."

Going Over His Helmet: Somebody took the initiative to act before consulting Dark Helmet. By the way, Rick Moranis was brilliant in this scene, the scene where he's caught playing with his Spaceballs action figures and the final scene on my list. In this particular scene, he has a way of dealing with people who go over his helmet. Let's just say that man felt the wraith of his force, I mean schwartz.

Desert Search/Oddly Named Crewmen: When President Skroob orders Dark Helmet to comb the desert in search of Lone Star and the princess, he takes him a little too literally. They didn't find anything either. In a scene on the ship, Dark Helmet seems to be surrounded by many crewman from the same family.

Movie References/Merchandising: Those of you who have scene Aliens and the original Planet Of The Apes movies will appreciate the scenes when you see them. Yogurt knows what movie making is really all about, and he explains it to Lone Star. There's a lot of truth in that scene.

The Duel: Dark Helmet and Lone Star finally meet in a silly light saber inspired duel. I always got a laugh from the line, "And now you see why evil will always triumph over good, because good is dumb."

Ludicrous Speed: Lone Star is about to get away, and Dark Helmet couldn't let that happen. Probably the funniest scene in a funny movie for me. Seems that when you go that fast, the colors are a little bit different.

When I see what Mel did with his comedic takes on Hitchcock, westerns, space movies and monster movies, I really would have loved to see him do something on The Matrix or The Lord The Rings. Knowing him, they would have been epically funny.

If They Come, Will They Be Friend Or Foe?

It seems like there are more and more news stories on the subject of planets discovered out in space that could hold life. Are we alone in the universe is one of the questions that drives the space program. However, that question is accompanied by a certain degree of paranoia.

Let's not even talk about the effect discovering life outside of Earth would have on religion. We've seen the evils we can do on this planet. Our own government has done bad things. NAZI Germany, The Soviets, certain terrorist organizations. We're no saints here. So, if we have that evil in us, what about potential off planet visitors?

Some people look above for these benevolent "space brothers" to come save us, and we've heard countless theories about who they could be. In the movie Mars Attacks, as some people gathered to welcome them, they were attacked. No love was shown to them by the Martians.

In Close Encounters, you have the UFO appearing above the secret base and communicating through sounds. A few people were taken aboard the ship for a meeting. It seems like a positive meeting, but even Stephen Spielberg isn't sure he believes it would go that well.

Then, there's the abductions that go against people's will. Movies like Fire In The Sky and Communion show that very well. Author Whitley Strieber wrote Communion and other books. It's interesting to note that he says this really happened to him, and though it's not a pleasant experience, he doesn't completely hate them. Evidently, there were some good aliens among them.

Would you want to be abducted by these little gray aliens against your will? Paralyzed and unable to move. Helpless to their whim. Christians will note that there have been those who claim they ended this experience by evoking the name of Jesus to save them.

Why would they travel across the galaxy simply to abduct people and create a hybrid race, conduct anal experiments and put tracking devices in people? Are they worried that we would just shoot first and ask questions later? We do have that sort of history. On the other hand, if they want to create a hybrid species, there are plenty of people here who would willingly volunteer.

Maybe all of that abduction talk is just talk. A story to sell books. I'm sure Whitley has done well with his books, because he's written more than one. Who knows? But the fact is they may be out there. If they are, will they be friend or foe? The answer would greatly impact the future of life on this planet.

Fear & Loathing In The Truth Movement

People have always had a fascination with conspiracies. Things that don't add up in the official story will cause people to search for the truth. For a long time, UFO's and the JFK assassination topped the list. Gradually, that led to distrust of governments and corporations, and it escalated in September of 2001 with what happened in New York.
Two people who were saying things on their talk shows months prior to September of 2001 were William Cooper and Alex Jones. Cooper even named the man he knew would get blamed for the coming attack. He was killed on November 5th that year, after years of talking about cover ups and conspiracies.

Suddenly, this left Alex Jones. Alex wasn't affiliated with any militia groups and seemed to come out of nowhere, but he built up an empire through the internet that helped take him to well over 100 radio stations. He also made movie appearances and guest spots on radio and TV shows.

His loud commentary of recent events rubs many people the wrong way, freaks out others and is just preaching to the choir for those who believe things are not as we are being told. One criticism of Jones is that his empire is more of a business now than a truth movement.

Over the years, he's been right on some predictions and wrong on others, but he projects as a very passionate man who is sincere in what he believes and reports. However, he is hardly running a small business now. In fact, it is becoming more like the CNN of the so called "truth" movement.

He gets criticized for making money selling supplements, water filters and other things and is said to be making a lot of money. Is that a bad thing? I don't see it as inherently bad to make money reporting the alternative news. It takes money to pay the bills.

However, this is a news operation that has several people on staff to a point where Jones himself doesn't host his video news program most of the time and is taking frequent days off from his radio show as well. This again doesn't mean it's a bad thing, but it highlights how this Infowars program is a business.

You can run a big business that is said to be looking for the truth, but it still takes lots of money to run it. And, herein lies the problem. At times, the truth may not be good for business, and promoting fear may be better for business.

I wouldn't suggest people tune out to Jones or anybody else, but they should be careful about falling into the trap of fear over what may be coming. There are theories of what may happen, but we can only prepare for life in our own area of the world.

A talk show host won't have all the answers, but they can be there, much like a televangelist, to tell you what you want to hear and give you comfort. I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Plus, a show that is here to tell you how bad everything is certainly isn't going to promote the good things happening too much. It's not good for business.

What Movie Technology Do You Wish Was Real?

I noticed this article on technologies presented in the movies that we wished was real. Interesting that the #1 thing on the list was a light saber from Star Wars. There was never a time when I wished I had one of those. I'd just take a phaser from Star Trek. Then again, I think the military already has that.

I don't want something that hurts humanity. We already have enough of that. I think that's a big problem with mankind. We're always looking for new ways to hurt each other. We're such a war like race. Well, the powers that be like to whip us unto a frenzy to kill each other.

One technology I didn't notice on the list was The Matrix. Maybe not in the sense of the movie where we don't know it. Plugging in when you want to and living the kind of life you'd like to live would be tempting. The Matrix could give you what you wanted.

You could feel it. You could taste it. You would be there when you were plugged in. Star Trek has The Holodeck, which is nice. However, The Matrix seems like it would feel even more real. Then again, it wouldn't be real, would it? What would be the point? We wouldn't be dealing with the world's problems, would we?

Time travel would be a good one. The Delorean from Back To The Future, the telephone booth from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures. I like the way Christopher Reeve did it in Somewhere In Time. He used his mind. Then again, that wasn't technology. Anyway, time travel would be nice.

Really, the thing that I like the most is the transporter from Star Trek. Teleporting from one place to another would be a game changing technology. For that matter, so would a starship like The Enterprise. We don't have that as far as I know. But, I like the idea of teleportation.

You could go anywhere you wanted in the world in an instant and still be home by bedtime. You could visit one of the seven wonders of the world, shop at the best stores, check out any big event or just visit family and friends. We'd never be too far away from the people we care about. Teleportation would be the thing I'd want the most.

More on this story: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/entertainment/10-fictional-technologies-portrayed-in-movies-that-we-wish-were-real.html/?a=viewall

That Poor iPhone Got Tossed Aside By Him

With the release of Apple's latest and greatest iPhone, the hype machine is in full swing. It's the newest "must have" gadget. A while back, a commercial debuted to sell the iPhone 6.

A man is reading a newspaper ad, and it says how you can trade in your old phone for a new phone. He's reading that part out loud, and Siri hears him say it. Of course, now she knows her days are numbered.

The commercial is supposed be about getting the new phone, but I can't help but feel sorry for the old phone. I feel bad for her. She's recalling all the things they did together, the trips they made. She's programmed to play music for him.

In the end, none of those times mattered. He's at the door to the store, ready to get rid of her. She's trying to say something, so he shuts her off. Her days with him are over. Who knows where she'll end up now.

That's the life of a smart phone. You're only useful until the next one comes out. The new one can do a couple things better than you could. In this day and age, people must have all the latest advancements in technology.

I know, its just a phone, but they made her seem so real in the commercial. She's relating to him in a way that's more than just a computer to a human. She knows and cares about him, and he just wants to toss her out for something better.

Well, the joke's on him. The new one won't be the same. This one could actually think. It was obviously more special than most smart phones. Enjoy, your new phone, jerk. One day you'll realize you miss her, but it will be too late.

I realize I'm putting too much thought into this commercial, but oh well. If I had a phone that related to me like that, I wouldn't get rid of it. I would take good care of her. This is how you know you've been single too long, a relationship with a computer sounds good. It didn't work out so well for Joaquin Phoenix in the movie Her.

In n Out Burger Doesn't Need To Be Like McDonald's

I was just looking at an article that talked about how In n Out Burger doesn't want to be McDonald's. Of course, this article spoke about it from a businesses standpoint. McDonald's is a global chain, and In n Out isn't quite as big.

I recall the buzz in my area when In n Out came to town. Everybody was talking about how much better they were than all of the other fast food burger joints. None of them compare to it. Personally, my burger of choice when I'm in the mood is Nations. They keep it simple.

And, the same can be said about In n Out. That's the difference. You see, in addition to generally using cheaper ingredients, places like McDonald's, Jack In The Box and Burger King actually try to be all things to everybody and have gone beyond burgers. And their food is lousy and unhealthy.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that In n Out Burger is some bastion of healthy food. They are not. But, they do have better quality food. You go there and you have a few choices in burgers with either fries or onion rings. And, you have your drink. They keep it simple.

The people are lined up out the door there to eat there. They have people outside taking orders by hand at the drive through to make sure they can get you out quicker. The inside is generally packed. This is because people enjoy the food that much. It all makes a difference. And, from what I've heard, their employees draw a better wage than employees at the other places.

A good burger, an old school feel and a clean atmosphere makes In n Out the place to go for a fast food burger. I can't blame them for not wanting to be McDonald's. I wouldn't want to be anything like them either.

Interesting article about In n Out Burger: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-10-02/in-n-out-doesn-t-want-to-be-mcdonald-s?cmpid=yhoo

Ten Songs That Inspire Me

We listen to music for several reasons. Music is there for us no matter what mood we may be in. There's a song for every mood, and some of us know them pretty well. Here are ten songs that I find inspiring to me for one reason or another.

I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty: This one is pretty straight forward. He's made a decision. He's taking a stand on this, and he will not be deterred. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in.

Upon The Door by Neal Morse: This is from his concept album Sola Scriptura about Martin Luther taking a stand against the church. He could have died for it, but he felt everybody needed to know. Sometimes what you say may not be popular, but if it's what you feel in your heart, you must say it.

Don't Wait For Heroes by Dennis DeYoung: This is about not giving up and believing in yourself. Dennis sings "Winners are losers who got up and gave it just one more try." This is so true. We learn from our losses and mistakes, and they can help us be more successful.

Can I Tell You by Kansas: The first song they ever recorded. It's a simple song, but true. If you want to live in freedom, you have to be ready to fight to hold onto it. It's not always about fighting in a war sense. It can be about standing up against things that are wrong.

I'm Still Standing by Elton John: This is a good one for when you are down. Maybe something didn't work out right, but you are still here. You never know what opportunities are awaiting you just around the corner.

For The Love Of You by The Isley Brothers: This song is so beautiful it makes me want to cry just thinking about it. It makes me think about what's missing in my life and how I want to meet that special person one day.

They Don't Care About Us by Michael Jackson: It doesn't matter what color or race we are to the powers that be. They use racism to divide us all while they sit in their ivory towers and laugh at us. Like Michael says, "They don't really care about us." I think he's right.

Never Be The Same by Echolyn: It's about the death of a loved one but I like the line, "In each man, there lies as start that has no end, a means to be more, a light that shines it's own special way." Deep down we're all the same, but each of us has a uniqueness to us that makes us special.

All You Can Save by The Flower Kings: From their epic one hour song, The Garden Of Dreams. This lyric really sums it up, "All we can save is the love that we made." That's so true. All your money won't matter at all in the end.

That's My Job by Conway Twitty: This song will always be special to me and will make me think of my dad and how much he meant to me. Conway sings, "Every person carves his spot and fills the hole with life, and I pray someday I might light as bright as he." My dad was an amazing man.

Branded Was A Dark But Interesting Movie

A couple of years ago, this movie called Branded came out. It was filmed in Russia. It was a movie that looked at the way people are being manipulated by advertisement. The cast is made up largely of unknown actors, and the movie is done on a small budget.

The lead character (Ed Stoppard) is in the advertisement game and working for an American, played by Jeffery Tambor. He's been taken under his wing and rises to the top. But he violates his boss's one rule. Don't sleep with his niece (Leelee Sobieski).

He gets involved in a reality show that goes very wrong, and he goes out to the country to make sense of it all. There, he starts having visions and is compelled to understand what is really going on. It leads to a gruesome scene where he makes an animal sacrifice to gain the wisdom he seeks.

When he comes back to the city, things have changed. The mass marketing has come to life with a sort of energy that compels people to consume. What has happened is an adviser, played by veteran actor Max Von Sydow, is advising the fast food chains to market the idea that fat is the new thin.

Also, in a weird sort of way, the corporate advertising energies are at war with each other to be number one. This concept was conveyed in the trailers for this movie, and it enticed me to check it out. We are sometimes compelled to buy things we don't even want or need simply because of the commercials.

It's a unique look at the world of advertisement that flew under the radar. Not a great movie. Things could have been done better. However, I like the concept they were going for. I sometimes think there are forces at work through the big and small screens that aren't good for us, and this movie did a pretty good job of conveying that.

The trailer for the movie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInOg12jMiY

One More Day With Dad

I woke up to the sound of the TV going in the living room. I hadn't heard that sound in over a year. I went to the living room. There was dad, smoking his cigar and watching the news. He wanted to go get some candy and more cigars. How was he here? I lost him on Christmas Eve 2012.

Who cares? He was there at that moment. I got cleaned up, got dressed and put on some makeup. If he wanted candy and cigars, he'd have it. Dad was getting around with a walker, but he still drove. I walked around the stores for him while he was in the car. He sat and people watched as he liked to do.

We just chit chatted. I didn't tell him he had been gone. Maybe I was just having a terrible nightmare before? He decided he wanted to go get a bite, so we went to Nations. He got a big burger and I ate a breakfast. This was a happy day for me, and he seemed happy too.

When we got home, I might have taken off for a walk. I like to walk, but not this time. He's here, and I'm cherishing every moment with him. I'll walk tomorrow. I cleaned a few things up around the house and watched TV with him. No running off to my computer this time. Not today.

It's a Monday? I thought it was Thursday, but he has WWE Wrestling on. We watched this together for years. It's pre determined. Dad points out once again how that little guy would never beat the big guy in real life. This is a happy day. Did I take these times for granted before? Well, never again.

The show is over, and it's 11. He'd usually go to bed. We sat there and watched news. Then, Letterman. I never watch that show, but dad put it on and I watched. This is later than we'd usually stay up. Eventually, dad goes to bed and we say our I love yous. He talks about getting the oil changed in the car tomorrow. Sounds like a plan.

I stay up in my room a little longer, and I hear his radio blasting the news on KCBS like he always did. How old is that radio? 40 years old? He won't replace it. I'm on the computer. The calender says it's only March 2012. Weird. Have these last two years been a horrible nightmare?

I go to bed and dream a peaceful dream. Tomorrow comes, and I don't hear the TV in the living room. Dad's not here. His bed has clothes piled on it. He's gone. A tear comes to my eyes. The past two years have happened. I don't know what yesterday was, but I'm grateful. At least I had one more day with him.

Possible New Planet Discovered At Edge Of Our Solar System

At the far end of our solar system, beyond Pluto, astronomers believe there may be another planet. It wasn't long ago that they announced the discovery of dwarf planets Sedna and Biden.

The planet in question hasn't been conformed yet. They believe it would be much larger than Earth, but no speculation of any life there. In fact, it's doubtful that will be the case even if this planet is in fact confirmed.

The whole thing has me wondering. How well do we really know our own solar system? We know the planets that we know, but what if there's more lurking out there we have yet to conform. As people have pointed out, there are things we have yet to discover on our own planet in remote places.

We search with our telescopes, but other than the space shuttle and the trips to the moon years ago we haven't physically been off this planet to search. We have satellites, some of which are orbiting some planets, but how much do we truly know?

Now, the conspiratorial side of me would ask if they already know of a planet where life exists besides our own? How would we really know unless we were visited or saw some proof? Governments have been known to keep secrets, and there would be plenty of reason to keep this one.

I'm not saying I believe that. It's just a question of what if. I find this to be fascinating news. If there's a lot we have yet to understand about our own planet, what we have yet to learn about or own solar system is immense indeed. It's actually kind of exciting if you think about it.

Story on the possible planet: www.theverge.com/2014/3/26/5550788/planetoid-discovery-could-point-to-a-new-planet-in-our-solar-system

It's Not Nice To Mess With A Person's Time Or Astrology Sign

Sometimes they have to throw a monkey wrench in our schedules and even our horoscopes. Who are they? Maybe the same people who decided that Pluto wasn't really a planet after all. It can really throw you off too.

Take Daylight Savings Time, for instance. Every spring, we lose an hour. Poof, it's gone. This year, I was in the bath when it happened. Yeah, I should have been in bed, but I was determined to have this bath after a busy day. Suddenly, I lost a whole hour. They'll give it back to me in the fall. Gee, thanks.

Then, we have Leap Year every four years. Suddenly, we have an extra day. They even decided to add it to the end of February, since it's the shortest month of the year. Who decided to make that month so short in the first place? What happens if you were born on the 29th of February? Technically, you only have a birthday every four years.  That must be nice.

There was an intriguing concept I saw on the web which suggested a 13 month, 28 day calender with one day out of time to celebrate the end of each year. As I understand it, it works out perfect with the moon cycle. A full moon every month. They claim this will give us more balance in our lives. Really? How so?

I mean, the 13th sign didn't help anybody. That sign that effects those born at the end of November through mid December. It's called Ophiuchus. Furthermore, the experts pulled another stunt a few years ago. They claimed that as the years have gone by, the astrological signs have actually shifted.

Suddenly, Cancers were Leos, Leos were Virgos and people were pissed. The ones who take their signs very seriously were outraged. Their sign is who they are, and it helps them make sense of things in this crazy world.

I always found horoscopes to be silly generalizations, but there is something to it all. A view of my Natal Birth Chart kind of blew me away with what it told me about myself. I am definitely a Virgo.

You mess with somebody's sign, and they get defensive. Messing with my time bothers me more than my sign. Besides, I was one of the lucky ones. I'm such a Virgo that my sign would remain the same even after the shift they claim happened. I suspected as much.

Movie Review: Lucy

The other night, I happened to get the chance to see two movies. One of them was Lucy, starting Scarlett Johansson. Lucy was a woman who had been mistreated and abused. With a drug lord using her as a courier by sewing the drugs inside of her, her life takes a turn.

The drug was an experimental new street drug, and the bag ruptured inside of her when she was beat up by people she delivered the drugs to. Gradually, she was able to use more and more of her mind, and the movie shows us the effect that this had on her. That is basically the premise of this movie.

Lucy isn't really looking for retribution, but there are other couriers being used in the same way. She is looking to get the drugs they were carrying in order to complete her transformation to 100% use of her brain. Of course, the drug lord isn't planning to let her get away with his product.

Morgan Freeman plays a professor who we see giving a seminar on how much brain power humans use compared to animals and how things would be different if they used more. He has his theories, but no proof. He kind of acts as a narrator as Lucy goes through her transformation. Eventually, she seeks him out.

The concept isn't bad, and neither are the effects. It's not a bad movie, but it almost feels like this could have been used as a plot on a show like The X Files. The transformation of Lucy pretty much is the story. She's almost indifferent to the drug lord who is pursuing her. I guess having her wipe him and his men out in the blink of an eye would have left them with more minutes to fill.

Trailer For Lucy

Woman Gets Attacked By Angry Mother

Beware of that moment when you attempt to tell a mother how to handle her crying child. A 20 year old woman found that out the hard way in a San Francisco Bay Area Nordstrom outlet store. She said she had been shopping for a couple hours with no problems at all. Then, she got in line.

In line with her was a mother of a child who was throwing a tantrum. This has happened to most mothers at one time or another, and they have different ways of dealing with it. The younger woman decided to tell her to quiet her child, and the woman responded with, "Don't tell my child what to do."

It escalated with the young lady telling her to go to hell and the mother telling her she would see her there. The younger lady thought that was the end of it. Outside the store, the mother was waiting for her and beat her up, knocking a tooth loose. They are using surveillance cameras to identity the mother.

The younger woman said this isn't the first time she's tried to tell a mother how to discipline her child and won't be the last. This may be unpopular, but I don't blame the mother for smacking her around. I don't advocate that, but you have to understand the stress a mother goes through in situations like these. Children do have minds of their own, and you guide them as best you can.

The young woman has no clue and simply looks at it as an inconvenienced person standing by the situation. The only way she will truly know is when she becomes a mother. Everybody thinks they have the answer on how to be a parent in a situation like that. I wonder how she will handle this situation when her time comes?

For those wondering, the woman was identified by video surveillance footage and later arrested. You simply can't go around beating up people who offend you, even if you think they should be minding their own business.

Just A Gigolo By David Lee Roth

Actually, this song was from an EP David Lee Roth did called Crazy From The Heat. On this EP, he did songs from other artists. The first release was his rendition of the Beach Boys hit California Girls. This being David, there were plenty of beautiful girls in the video, and the song launched his solo career.

It actually may have played a part in the Beach Boys revival that led to that group's unlikely duet with the rap group The Fat Boys for the song Wipe Out. The Beach Boys then went on to record Kokomo, which was a hit. Did Roth's cover of their hit start the momentum for them? It certainly gave him momentum.

For his third song from that EP, David did a cover of Louis Prima's 1956 song Just A Gigolo. Prima actually had combined two songs as I Ain't Got Nobody was written by Roger A. Graham with music written by Spencer Williams. Just a Gigolo had been translated by Irving Caesar from an Austrian song.

This is not a typical rock song, and that may be part of it's charm. It wasn't the top five hit that California Girls was, but it still made it into the top 15 of the Hot 100. It was a catchy tune with lyrics people enjoyed singing along with. However, the video may have been what drove its success.

Dave loves to ham it up for the camera, and he plays a music video show host, dreaming about what his video would be like if he could make one. The video has some crazy characters, beautiful girls and rock star look alikes such as Billy Idol, Boy George, Willie Nelson and Cyndi Lauper. The video is a lot of fun and a classic. Some people rank it high among the all time greatest music videos.

The Video

David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo

One Thing That Bothers Me About The Immigration Issue

As expected, the president outlined a path to citizenship for thousands of undocumented immigrants (or illegal aliens if you prefer). Anyway, he basically said he has to do it all because congress is doing nothing. I'm sorry, but I'd rather see the gridlock than have them passing a bunch of laws just to show they are doing something.

Here's my problem with the immigrant issue, which is highlighted by two supporters of the president. Both spoke to a reporter at a rally. One said they will keep demanding more. I'm sorry, but what right do you have to demand anything as a non citizen of this country? Can I go to another country and make demands on them? I know I couldn't do it in Mexico. I'd be in jail.

Another one spoke of how they can't drive without a license for fear of being deported. Excuse me? We have laws here. I'm not a fan of being forced to get insurance and some of that stuff, but this is how it's done. I have a car, and I don't drive at the moment. I won't until I have all the paperwork in order.

Do you know what happens to me if I get stopped for driving down the road without a license? I get a ticket, lose my car to impound and have to spend money getting my car back. Why should a non citizen breaking the law intentionally be any different? I hear stories of how some are apparently above the laws that I have to obey.

Take a good look at the country. If the president and people on his side have their way, the borders will be coming down and things will change. Some think that will be a good thing. I say be careful what you wish for. The founding fathers were far from perfect, but that document this country was built upon helped ensure our freedoms. There are some who want to do away with it, and moves like this are part of that agenda. I am a supporter of legal immigration, but there is a process. Coming here and making demands is not the way.

Truth Incorporated Is Not The Answer

The latest episode of Question Everything is linked at the bottom of this post...

It seems that people are waking up in the world to the idea that things aren't what we are being told they are.  They've listened to career politicians and talk show hosts through the years, watched the news and they used to believe what they heard.  Now more than ever, they don't believe what they hear.  Not everybody knows what to think and they don't talk to their friends about their concerns, but they know something isn't right.

Some voices were out there in the 1990's talking about things and warning people.  As the decade closed, they even warned about the terrible things that were coming soon.  Some of them were even eliminated.  William Cooper comes to mind.   Is he a martyr?  Many who read this won't even know who he is.  If his name comes up on certain "Truth Incorporated" shows, he's mocked, belittled and marginalized by people who know better.

I've heard it said by some in the movement that they won't make a martyr by eliminating that particular host.  It would make them look like they were right all along.  Okay, but did it work for Cooper, who warned of things that came to pass?   Nope.  People were indifferent.  They killed Kennedy in broad daylight.  Did people rise up?  MLK?  RFK?  Even the 2000 elections?  If anything, things got worse and nobody cared.  So, if a talk show host was striking a nerve, would they have any problem doing what they've done in the past?  I don't think so.

But, Truth Incorporated loves to scare people with frantic talk, yelling, waving their arms, getting angry and asking you to buy this and that and fund the operation.  Do I think it's wrong for them to make money?  Nope.  It's the system we live in.  Are you getting truth there?  Yes.  Are they wrong a lot too?  Yes.  Should you think for yourself with whatever information you learn?  Yes.  A lot of times, these people don't have all of the facts before they run with a story.

Also, they have been known to spin and twist things for their agenda.  Why would they do that?  Put it this way, if they are funding a media operation, building new studios, hiring new writers and TV personalities and producing slick TV and radio shows, they must pay the bills.  Fear of bad things coming in the future sells.  Why do you think the horror movie industry does so well?

Also, some people turn the radio off each day and do nothing.  They may even buy subscriptions and various products from the show and think they are making a difference that way.  So, they do nothing within their community to change a thing.  Put in that context, is Truth Incorporated really making a difference at all other than increasing their bank account?

Change starts at home.  You don't cower in fear over news of the world.  You begin to effect a change in your own community.  The future is unwritten.  Even if there are people trying to plot a course to control us all, it doesn't mean that is where we have to end up.  When thinking of change, you can get overwhelmed by the global size of it all. Then, you don't know what to do and think you can't help.  You aren't really hearing those solutions on those shows.

So, Truth Incorporated isn't going to change a thing.  They are just one source to learn some truths from, but there are others.  When it comes to change and stopping the bad things from happening, we need to look in the mirror.  It starts with each and every one of us at home in our own communities. It can spread from there.  We need to be the change we want to see in the world.

Here is the latest episode of Question Everything about Truth Incorporated, martyrs and not giving into the divisive tactics being used to keep us in our own racial groups.

The Case For Kansas In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Kansas has a documentary coming out called Miracles Out Of Nowhere that chronicles the band's unlikely success as one of the top Rock & Roll bands of the 1970's.  This makes me wonder once again why they are not even considered for a Hall Of Fame induction.  This is a band that has had huge hits in their career and has continued to tour almost every year since their first album in 1974...

It's not really a surprise that a band like Kansas or Styx or even REO Speedwagon doesn't get a nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.  These bands sold out arena after arena in their heyday, sold millions of records and were actually good musicians.  Frankly, it's difficult to figure out how some acts get nominated that are nowhere near the genre of Rock & Roll, while these bands are ignored.

Kansas has been around for over 40 years now, and the band spent a few years honing their craft before they got a record deal.  There are several good reasons for this band to be considered worthy of being in the Hall Of Fame.  Lets take a look at some of them.

Kansas was pure American Progressive Rock.  Some dispute that, but you can't seriously listen to their first five albums and not hear it.  They had a distinct sound.  They didn't have a breakout star in the six piece band, but together, they made incredible music filled with the guitars of Rich Williams and Kerry Livgren, the keyboards of Steve Walsh and Livgren, the bass of Dave Hope and the drums of Phil Ehart.

Let's not forget the violin of Roby Steinhardt.  There weren't a lot of rock bands that featured a violin prominently, and Kansas was at the top of that list.  Plus, Robby could sing.  Walsh became the voice of the band, but Robby sang lead on some catchy tunes as well.  Together, the two had some great harmonies.

The obvious reason is the two major hits.  Carry On Wayward Son makes the top ten and even top five of some people's lists of American Rock Anthems.  Then, there's Dust In The Wind.  A beautiful and philosophical song that has made it into pop culture.  Many bands go without even one hit, and this band had two mega hits.

Plus, the band has had staying power.  There may be three years since 1974 in which the band did no shows.  There have been lineup changes, but they continued on.  Even after Walsh left, the band hit the charts with Play The Game Tonight.  When only two originals remained, Walsh returned and they hit the charts with All I Wanted.  The band endures today.

I know the idea of being popular is somehow frowned upon by the people who make the decisions on who to induct into The Hall.  The fact that people still want to hear their songs and the idea that they had five platinum or multi platinum albums seems to be ignored.  The fact that their lyrics had meaning beyond what a lot of rock music has is dismissed as self indulgent.

It's just that they are looking to induct disco acts into The Hall and have done so already.  Yet, Kansas and so many other bands from the 1970's are dismissed as arena rock and unworthy.  Since when was selling millions of records and packing arenas a bad thing?  I would rather not belittle bands that I think are unworthy and yet are in The Hall, but I will say Kansas belongs there with them.

Censorship And PC Language Are Not Good

At the bottom of this article is a link to the latest episode of Question Everything...

In a recent episode of Question Everything, we were moved to the age restriction area.  I found that interesting and very disturbing, because I felt it was the most thought provoking episode we had done yet.  I do understand that this is the reality of social media site.  The minute you play in their sand box, you are subject to their rules and their agenda.  This is why I'm not a big social media person.  I tolerate it, but I don't love it.

To expand on that point, it was the late William Cooper who once said that you can't get mad at the media for pushing their agenda for a simple reason.  Those TV stations and newspapers are owned by somebody.  It's their property and they can do what they want.  It's a free country, and that means they can push whatever agenda they want.  Of course, Cooper went on to instruct people on how to go about creating their own local newspapers and micro broadcasting radio stations.  This is one of the things I liked about the man. 

He was so much better than some of the people out there now calling themselves leaders in the "truth" movement. I call it Truth Incorporated.  Mr, Cooper himself didn't want to be considered the leader and warned people about exalting him, saying, "I am only a man, and I will surely fail you."  I respect him for that as well.  He wasn't always right, and early in his career, he was misled and had to eat a lot of humble pie as he learned more of what was going on.  It's a lie to say he was a UFO guy as some people in Truth Incorporated try to say.  He abandoned that for about the last ten years of his life.

Now, Cooper had a term for the people who were not "awake" to what was going on or were in denial of it.  He called them sheeple.  I think he was the one who coined that phrase.  I get why he did that, but I am NOT a fan of that term.  It belittles people who haven't looked into the way the world really works.  It's also a way to get people to ignore you.  If you are labeling people as ignorant sheeple while trying to get them to open their minds, they are more likely to ignore you for calling them names.  Now, Bill dealt with some ignorant people sometimes, so I get why he came up with the label

This leads me back to censorship and PC (Politically Correct) language.  We've been warned that this was coming, and the two things go hand in hand.  With censorship, you just lose the right to communicate your ides to those who may be interested.  That is a dangerous road, and there are places already engaging in this behavior.  I mention social media, but its bigger than that.  However, there is a push to change the internet, force people to identify who they are and make it easier to shut that person down.  It hasn't been implemented yet, but it will be if certain people have their way. 

It's up to the people whether they accept this or not.  People have been plotting a course for humanity for centuries and have had good and not so good ideas during that time.  They come up with ideas to get the people to accept it.  Usually, they implement things gradually so that people aren't even aware of what is happening until it's too late.  However, because people have a will of their own, the people change the direction of things in a way that those planners didn't intend.  The future is unwritten, despite the best laid plans to pre determine a course.

With PC talk, they get us to censer ourselves.  This is accomplished through various tricks.  They love using racism to shut people up when they weren't even talking about race to begin with.  They make certain words offensive.  They make certain political speech unacceptable to use.  So, the people may be thinking about something as a response to what they are hearing, but then the PC training kicks in.  They censor themselves by either not offering their full opinion for fear of offending or saying nothing at all.

Suddenly, people aren't talking to each other about real issues.  They can talk about a deflated football or the next contestant eliminated from some reality show, but not the things that really matter.  They are guided into this way of doing things so gradually that they aren't even aware that it is happening to them.  Some people realize it and are scared.  They just go along.  Other people have no clue.  Some get mad when you point it out to them.

The ones who are more open to the realities around them react in different ways.  There is the frustration of not being able to get through to people.  There is outright anger when they are hit with insults and considered by some to be a "tin foil hat" wearing kook.  The conditioning is such that some will even question their own sanity.  The ones who have some idea of how they will be labeled if they speak up will use that fear of being called names as a reason to shut up.  It's better to be PC and censor themselves than risk any kind of backlash.

The bottom line is we should always feel free to speak without fear of PC and censorship.  It doesn't mean we are always right or that people will agree with us.  But, we can learn from each other when we communicate honestly.  To do that, we cannot censer ourselves.  We can learn for one another.

I'll end with a comment about the future and those who know things are not as they should be.  The future is unwritten.  We as a people can guide and shape that future in a positive way if we communicate honestly and don't give into PC language or censorship.  The most important thing is to enjoy life, be happy with those you love and realize that you have the power to change the future in a positive way. 

Here the latest episode of Question Everything

Live Free Or Die

I've always been one who loved that slogan.  It's so simple.  Live free, or die.  It means a lot to me.  One of it's meanings is that I don't want to live in fear of what could happen.  Will the terrorists get us?  Will we be attacked?  Will there be an epidemic?  Maybe I should hide away in fear.  No.  Live free, or die.

The idea that we should be censored to not offend is total bull.  Words are one thing, physical harm is another.  You can't question "global warming" as being a man made thing or you are a "climate denier" to the PC police.  Denier?  Oh, lump them in with holocaust deniers?  Lump them in with people who question one of the most horrific things to happen in history?  The climate always changes.  Some people dispute what the so called experts tell them.  There is a movement to make that illegal.

It's gone from people being called hate criminals if they simply disagree with people's lifestyles to teaching things to children in school that they have no business being taught.  That is up to the parent.  Tolerance is one thing I am in favor of.  Indoctrination is another thing entirely.  There is a move to censor what people can say.  Don't question the government.  Don't offend another religion or group.  If we allow this sort of censorship, we won't like where it takes us.  They won't stop at just one type of speech if they have their way.

Live free or die.  If I walk out the door, I may die.  I could get hit by a car.  I could just drop dead.  I could be attacked.  Should I cower in fear, hoping for government to protect me with more laws and regulations?  What do you think?  Live free or die.

To truly live free in this society, you have to have money.  The more money you have, the more control you have.  More happiness?  That depends on who you talk to.  Are we to be ranked according to how much money we have?  If I have more money than you, does that make me better than you?  Better yet, is a homeless person insignificant because he has no money or home?  Is that all he is worth to the world?

Live free or die means a lot of things to me.  The new episode of Question Everything below talks a little bit about that.  It kind of goes in a different direction.  I think it makes some valid points.  You may think differently.  As long as you are thinking, that's what matters.  You should never be afraid to question everything.



Currently having a difficult time embedding the show here, so here is the Daily Motion Link