Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Shackled Minds


There is a helluva din down at Ground Zero these days and it's not just the sounds of cranes and hardhats blowing in the wind.The reason for this hot air is a proposed building of a Islamic Mosque two blocks away.

Because of the location this has become a contentious issue and thus invited all manner of people to chime in. It would appear everything is as stake; The World's Religions, the Presidency, and members of Congress, the US Constitution and of course the People.

But if you declare on a continual bases that America is the worlds greatest democracy and land of the free then expect division.
Under the Constitution it clearly states separation of Church and State.So here we are favoring some religions over another. Ahem...not terribly tolerant Sam ?

Isn't tolerance the goal here ?
Isn't the roll of good governance to allow ideas of all persuasions to prevail ?
Indeed one can criticize debate and hold accountable of actions unlawful, but to prohibit a particular belief system reeks of hypocrisy.

If this is the message, then what the hell have we been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
Has all the blood and treasure spilt and spent been all in vain ?

In Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Korea to name a few, such ideas are squashed with scolding venom. While it is likely to build a Church,Temple or Synagogue in those places as it is the Pope allowing women priests, isn't it here, one can lead by example, and show those of shackled minds how to grow.

I am sure on 911 some Muslims also perished. We all lost something that day.
Perhaps here is an opportunity to finally show some leadership.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Ah... The Friendly Skies


Steven Slater is a hero to some, I prefer a comedian. There is a bit of him in all of us. In a final exit and subsequent return to substance abuse, he has managed to channel our most fanciful scenarios into a slide to freedom and guaranteed unemployment.
If the flying departure of a Jet Blue flight attendant has escaped your notice,then either you haven't paid the phone bill or you are off the grid.

In summary: A heroic or horny (eventually arrested at his house by police during fornication) extremely fed up Jet Blue employee has pulled the toilet chain on his career in dramatic fashion.


Events dictate that he was being subjected to passenger abuse,which included a foul mouth and physical exchange that resulted in declaring over the public address system his displeasure with the offender, life and twenty years of service.

It was then (the plane had landed...phew) that he deployed the emergency chute,procured some beer (recovering alcoholic !!) and with the joy of a four year old at Six Flags slid his way to an early evening romp with his presumed puzzled lover.


As of yet there appears to be no record on YouTube of this bizarre event.However the story has caught flight across the Internet culminating in a wave of sympathy and support.

Indeed flying today is a tedious and a frustrating affair and I am sure at many a moment one has empathized with the job of the flight attendant.

However taking the short way home as Mr. Slater did at thirty five thousand feet would be most unwelcome.Luckily that wasn't the case.

Most wish at sometime or another, they had the fortitude to do likewise when ones job becomes unbearable.

We all live through Mr. Slater everyday, but fail to act upon those impulses for the obvious reasons.
Perhaps there is a sliver lining in the clouds to this story.

A few days prior captured on YouTube, passengers on a Lufthansa flight from Germany to Israel were witness to a pillow flight among the cabin crew much to their enjoyment.


It is nice to see that flying can be fun and the bile of air rage can be smothered from time to time.

Mr. Slater your new job awaits you in friendlier skies.


http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/295874

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Invisible Mud



It would be rather remiss of me not to indulge you to my whereabouts these past months.
Just barging back into your lives with insightful pieces of prose without explanation was woefully impolite.
You see readers there's reason for it 'Sweden'
Yes thank heavens for the Swedes;for in their infinite wisdom they crowned me with the Nobel Prize for Literature (yes standards have dropped)

Along with a great deal of respect the NP (as past recipients like to refer) furnishes one with a Saab size wad of cash.It couldn't have come at a more appropriate time considering the downturn in well... everything!

Now here was an opportunity to give back to Sweden. I employed the creative services of Tham and Videgard Hansson Artitekts to build myself a new house, something mod,but discreet to keep the autograph seekers at branch length.
So with all the reliance and durability of a Volvo they came up with the Invisible Tree House.

While this resurrection was taking place, I was to be found hopping from bed to bed at IKEA in Elizabeth, New Jersey. There was no time write, just luxuriate with a copy of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"among the faux pine and gleeful renters of furniture.
So here I am, back amongst the foliage of Central Park keeping an eye on the manifestations of Manhattan down below.
Due to my new found fame,soon to be Ex Mrs, Tiger Woods has delightfully made her services available for three days a week to house clean,which really brings a wholly new meaning to ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All"