But I can’t take that free pass. Oh sure, spell check has offered a world that was very dark before… but I draw the line at wimping out so much- why? Because words are very important. They are taken too lightly, and reduced to gibberish. Actually, it’s not the words that are as important as the ideas they carry. And if some ones ideas can be reduced to… IMO… well, then not much of an idea.

Actually, another thing that bothers me about IMO = In my opinion: Isn’t that already a given? If I say; “In my opinion, people can be very cruel.” Why do I need to say “In my Opinion”? Most things I say, or we all say, are our opinion. It’s a kin to starting a conversation with: “I am going to speak words, now, to you, and they will meaning things…” and then tell your story.

Yes, I know, some times what we say is a fact. But facts are trick, and unless proven, then they fall into belief, or opinion. I look up and say- the sky is blue. I could say, that is a fact… and for me it is. But if you read this, and look ut the window, and it is night-time… well, not a fact for you. And to be perfectly accurate, the sky isn’t really blue- I am just persevering the gases surrounding out planet as a blue sky… okay, this is getting a bit complex…

Just accept that whatever someone says, is their opinion, no matter what- unless a universal proof can be reached. So knock off all the IMO.

Be good to one another.

I get agitated with the media. I rant; I rave; I curse like a lunatic. Then, a strange calm comes over me. So in the my quest for balance, I present this post, as an alternative to the previous one. Where we had outrage and defiance, I now give you peace and tranquility. Unless we have ugly, how will we ever full appreciate beauty? Balance is never easy.

I really need to stop watching the news…

Why would I post this picture? Why would I take this picture!?

I took it because…  well, just look at it! How could you not capture such an opportunity? I’m posting it now because it completely represents my attitude towards current media trends. Plus it takes a poke at fanatical conservative attitudes, so that’s always nice.

The story: I try not to read the news much, beyond the headlines. I don’t trust it any more. Now that the 24 hour news media is so ratings hungry, I feel more manipulated than informed. From time to time, however, I get sucked into something mindless, and my blood gets up, and I just can’t believe how people can behave. The most recent example of bad people behavior, comes from a news story reporting that Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain , posted a photograph of herself in “skimpy pajamas” on her twitpic.com page. Suddenly, thousands of her followers where all up in arms.  People are acting like the posed nude, and sent the pictures all over to children or something. I saw the photo. She’s wearing a tank top. I’ve seen worse in TV  commercials. Granted, she is large of bosom (by the way, Microsoft Word refuses to  acknowledge the word bosom in it’s Thesaurus), and has a very confident, open warmth about her- but does that suddenly make her sluttish? Some people give off, what can be taken as sexual energy, but that is perception, not intention! Now, I know nothing about Ms. McCain. All I know is, people are freaking out about a picture that is being preserved as something it isn’t, do to their own rigor mortis of the mind, and not to something inherent in itself. And worse yet, she ended up apologizing for it!
There are times to apologies, and then there are times to say: “get over it.”  Are we such children, so fragile, that suddenly we have to start making apologies for how people are preserving our actions right now?

Well, let there be no mistake. The picture I have posted; I love it. Is it offensive? No. It’s a cow doing what is natural. This is life. Do I realize a lot of people don’t want to see this? Sure. There’s a lot I don’t want to see… trust me; if this were a picture of a person, doing the same- don’t want to see it. Won’t be posting anything like that.

Will I apologies for posting this? Never, in a million years.

On a recent trip to Oregon, I was delighted to return to this really great bakery in Cannon Beach. I’ve been there a couple of times before- their stuff is very good. We got there later in the day, but there was still plenty of baked goods to choose from… but I was surprised to find, as I gazed longingly through display case glass, that there were about 4 or five wasps buzzing about the cookies and muffins. There were a few other patrons in the joint, but no one appeared to be paying any attention to the insects. When my girl friend point the pests out, the girl behind the counter answered, with only a touch of regret, but no detectable fear or annoyance : “Yeah, we have wasps”. Then waited to take our order. The proprietors weren’t worried; the customers weren’t worried; and the wasps only seamed interested in hovering near the pastries. So we ordered a dozen Apple-cider donuts, two pumpkin cookies, and a loaf of “Haystack” bread (named after the beautiful Haystack rock, just down the beach.).

It was refreshing to find such a place that was not so uptight as to let a few wasps stop them from dealing in some of the finest baked good west of the Rocky Mountains. Secretly I think the wasps help, by  keeping the trays stocked with tasty delights. They sell so fast, it’s probably hard to keep up. It keeps the wasps busy, and no one gets stung. Maybe the wasps are the bakers. It might make me change my mind about them. They cared for their baked goods so.

Here is where I might have entered a detailed account of how I discovered this and that and become so and so. But, I just landed less than 10 hours ago and with the combination of jet lag and Dramamine, I just can’t make it happen. And yet, as proof of my rejuvenated artist head, instead of sleeping, I am starting this blog. My Shakespeare podcast and blog are great for all things Bard; yet they do not support the more ‘buoy’ ideas I often have. This blog will.

look at that. I did it. A new beginning. Now… to bed!