O' the day - 01.23.08

BNL for the day (make of it what you will):

Near where I live there's a viaduct
Where people jump when they're out of luck
Raining down on the cars and trucks below

They've put a net there to catch their fall
Like it'll stop anyone at all
What they don't know is when nature calls, you go

They say that Jesus and mental health
Are just for those who can help themselves
But what good is that when you live in hell on earth?

From the very fear that makes you want to die
Is just the same as what keeps you alive
It's way more trouble than some suicide is worth

Won't it be dull when we rid ourselves
Of all these demons haunting us
To keep us company

Won't it be odd to be happy like we
Always thought we're supposed to feel
But never seem to be

O' the day - 01.22.08

Life's looking up - at least, there's not much way for it to go after all the upheaval of 2007. Although 2007 was in some ways a productive year, there were so many negative happenings that it qualifies as a definite downturn (deaths, illnesses, divorces, etc.).

I, of course, always worry about change and what havoc it will wreak; however, I'm hopeful about the upcoming twelve months and the positivity I'm seeing in my world at large (not "the" world - all you have to do is watch the news to become thoroughly depressed about the state of being in today's global economy and society). I have a cautious hope that the changes upcoming in my life will result in good things, both for myself, my family, and my work life, and am determined to see and live the hope as much as possible.

O' the day - 1.17.08

Interesting piece this morning on NPR regarding "Muslim Girl," a magazine dedicated to Islam teenagers, and a Muslim dating service, where one can meet the other half of oneself (according to Muslim tradition, supposedly). While these were fun to listen to and well-produced, as always, I wonder if this is part of the liberal left-leaning of the radio station, more so than of interest to the general public. Because these were upbeat pieces designed to show the humanity and "just like you"-ness of Muslims, vs. what we normally hear of terrorism and radicals, I caught the distinct impression that this was a pro-Islam PR segment, rather than for informational purposes. I guess Muslims really are just like everyone else in so many ways -- they struggle with raising their kids well and putting food on the table and getting through rush-hour traffic, but the huge differences in cultures seemed to be highlighted, in a way that I'm not sure NPR meant to do.

O' the day - 01.15.08

Welcome to the New Year!

The race card, in relation to the southern way of life, has now been played. With the South Carolina primary shortly upcoming (and the fact that Democrats have blown by Michigan anyway), all you'll hear for the next few weeks will be "can a black man win in the South?". We here in the lower states have such a hate/hate relationship with race issues; while many of us abhor the fact that our area held to slavery for so many years, we even more despise that there are those close to us that would never let us forget about those actions a hundred and more years ago. Can a black man win in the South? I'm not sure. But I'm positive the question will be asked, of whites and blacks and everyone in between, a few thousand times before the primaries are over.