50 Shades of Sadness for Romance? Not really.

Happy St. Valentine's Day! A great day for some (those happy in a relationship) and a miserable day for many (those in a bad relationship, or the rest of us single people).

What to do, what to do on this famous date day\night, right?

The book "50 Shades of Grey" has had amazing success for a book so questionably written and which has produced a much better film (see review). Which is saying only so much. The film is to be released today on St. Valentine's Day. 

Odd choice, you might think. Lust over romance? Odd? Really? Then again, it may be an interesting choice for date night. On the other hand there are various boycotts for it to either not be released (good luck on that one as everyone is getting on the marketing bandwagon for this, from jewelers to lingerie companies), or for individuals to boycott it for a variety of reasons descending into the nutty. 

The point of this film especially on SVD, I have to believe, isn't the specifics of the storyline, it isn't the exchange of romance for lust, desire and abuse; but the erotic It's about the Gestalt that results from viewing it. If you can get beyond the darkest parts and if you've had bad experiences with that, you might want to skip this flick. Skip it hard.

Especially should more negative feelings arise from viewing of the film. Should one or the other take offense and I'd think that would be the woman on the date (or the guy if he's trying to be disingenuous and if she is into it, maybe you should just shut up and see where the ride takes you). If she can ignore the psychic abuse and take it all superficially, it could be arousing.

Apparently it was for a lot of female readers, but will that translate to the same when seeing what their minds imagined when reading it? It's a mixed bag, though the actors and directing gloss over the poorly written parts making it, perhaps, more glamorous? That needs to be left up to each individual viewer.

For either way, it could still evoke licentiousness and actions appropriate to a good time (even if not in the BDSM vein). From what I understand, it's not true BDSM in the story as he (SPOILER) contracts her to be his partner in this. Which destroys the entire concept of using one's mind in all this.

It makes him basically a punk and bully and her simply a victim (dumb enough to adhere to the contract, or is she just enjoying it all?). Having a contract removes any mental sparring, control issues, and brings it all down to a child's version of BDSM, making her a mere toy and less a partner in the endeavor. BDSM for kindergarten players, where one, really isn't.

But, putting all that aside.... this isn't Pretty Woman.

Sometimes getting riled up over matters of sexuality can and do lead to an interesting and rather intense exercise of the behavior. Perhaps not in the ways projected int he film but even only in the missionary position. If however one or the other is observed during sex to have a somewhat out of character resolution to the experience, then we know. Don't we? 

That isn't to say that next time you should pull out your Christian Grey costume and devices, but you do know the mental buttons to push (just gauge that correctly or you may be surprised at the negative and possibly volatile reaction from your partner).

One does have to wonder if in nine months from that viewing day there won't be a small baby boom from its previous viewers' nocturnal, post viewing experiences. Something perhaps that viewing the film over reading the book, would surely more easily lend itself to.

Regardless of what you think about all this, whether you decide to take a date to see it today, or couldn't care less, use your own mind and make your own decisions. Yes there may be some nut cases out there (guys most likely) who will want to entertain the Mr. Grey delusion and simply can't pull it off. Someone may indeed regret being alone in a room with him. 

So think about who you're with and where they may decide to go, or take you along. Willingly or not. Other than that...

I think it's really just not that big of a deal. Hype for hype's sake, abuse for abuse's sake. Where in the end after all, there's a lot of corporate money to made riding this bandwagon.

By the way? Probably not a first date movie....

It seems that Slate has a review on the film now: "Fifty shades of...beige?".

Our best example for handling God Myths is actually.... Santa Claus

Someone brought up a good point the other day about God. He's about as useful as, Santa Claus.

It made me think about my kids when they were younger. I used to do it up, kids put out cookies and milk, a note to Santa and went to bed. I'd eat the cookies, drink the milk, leave them a thank you note from Santa.

My son, when he was in 4th grade, told me he doesn't believe in Santa. I was both proud and sad for him. I tried to hold up the pretense but he gave me an analytic breakdown of how Santa simply can't be real, how I was Santa, and what I had been doing to prolong that myth. I was surprised but also pleased and impressed with his critical thinking skills.

I didn't agree so much as point out the facts.

IF you "believe" in Santa, you get more gifts. If you don't, well....

He refused to buy any of it. Finally, I said "Well look, I choose to believe in Santa because I like the idea, it's fun, harmless, and in the end, I like receiving more gifts. But you're welcome to act as you see fit. HOWEVER, you DO NOT tell your little sister. Got it?"

As for his younger sister, she went through a period of going to church in her teens, one she chose. One that unnerved her mother but that I figured she would soon outgrow, was for purposes more of its social aspects and about something she wasn't getting at home (as we were then divorced) than any true belief in "God", and so she did and eventually came to realize religion is all exactly about what is is.

Then I tried to explain how it helps to build the idea of wonder in life, of magic in the world and I believe those who don't have that understanding of the concept of magic in the world as adults, simply lose out on much of what is wonderful in life. There IS magic in the world. It's just not, "magic",per se.

So he dropped it. But he made it clear from then on he really didn't believe in Santa and so we kind of worked it out in that way. He does have a strong fascination for magic now as an adult, however.

All this made me think about religion and the "God" concept, in general.

There may be some things that are positive about it existing, though it could also be handled in a more safe and sane way through other means. But belief in "God" should also end at some point, just as Santa is useful for a time, and then should simply be let go, with a fond farewell and a move into adulthood and more mature and informed ways of thinking.

Environmentally, the God concept comes from our parents when we are very young as they are our first Gods. Genetically, our beliefs in the "Other", the "Greater" that which is all powerful and exists "out there", comes from a time that predates our humanity.

We can and I think we should, extend and buffer life for our children through parts of their young childhood, allowing them to experience magic in life.

But if we do, at some point, it should end and we should offer them more useful, productive, and more sophisticated forms.

I'm not saying we should raise our kids with "God" beliefs, but even if we did, it really should come to a conclusion at some point before they become adults. They should be led, coached, educated to have that realization come upon them naturally, organically, as it did with myself and my children.

Religion for most of us, for those who continue to believe, one of those odd animals wherein we do grow up, we do realize the silliness of it all, but then through the concept of "faith" we allow ourselves to continue to believe in what we know in our hearts is utter nonsense, but as it allows us a structure to follow and misbelive that it functions as an overall rule of law for all humans, and it simply does not, though still, many of us choose to close our minds and continue believing in those childhood mythologies.

And so we have entire cultures and nations around the world who hold this nonsense as reality until they die, who propagate it and perpetuate it among their young and in so many cases kill those, like my son, who would sanely and rationally refuse to believe in it in his young innocence into adulthood.

Religions, where people believe it is important what we wear or don't wear, what we eat or not, whether we grow facial hair, how we abuse others, especially women, for God's (really, men's) sake, and so on.

All things that at one point in ancient history may (or may not) have served a purpose and yet which are simply no longer necessary or even useful and frequently actually counterproductive, allowing certain factions to use their religion as a springboard for full out atrocities.

It's funny how wonderful one's religion is till you do a survey of all religions, add in sociology and psychology, anthropology and physics and finally start to realize one overarching necessity in the next step in our development... atheism, or at very least, non-theism.

Letter to Religious Terrorists - Not just ignorant ignoble idiots, you are downright stupid animals

This, is going to be a little different, caustic really, but I'm really only talking to terrorist types here....

Obviously (and I'm happy to say), Kurdish TV thinks ISIS are fools and worse. Too funny and so appropriate, though I'm not sure how long that video will remain up. I do have about as much respect for ISIL as they go for male goats, apparently. Actually, not (watch the video).

The majority of them that is. Not just the two educated ones who send 99% of the rest to their deaths while they sit and sip coffee, or booze, hidden behind closed doors with women who service them. And not the wannabe terrorists who act on their own because they have no life and a personality disorder, so basically, no personality to speak of.

First of all, consider that I'm basically a heathen. I know theists basically mean to be good people and some get carried away and harm others, or get into nonsense, I understand that. I'm not talking to those who are basically good people doing good that no one disagrees with. It's you others....

And therein lay the issue with religious terrorists. Religion is bad enough but there can be nothing lower than a religious terrorist.

I don't buy into all the nonsense about God and religion. Poppycock, all of it. That being said, I have many of the same ethics (more or better ethics than many theists actually). I don't hate, anyone. I don't want to kill anyone, although I do think if you want to kill or harm others, and cannot be dissuaded out of your sick delusions, then perhaps you should be shot like a rabid dog that is out of control.

This, is important:

Humanity doesn't need people who want to kill other people. If you want to kill yourself, have at it, though I'd prefer we had a chance to correct your poor mental health issues.

I do not like the beliefs of many people, but I don't hold it against them (too much) unless they go out and force others to do things (especially others with different beliefs), or hurt others over those beliefs. I just think many if not most humans are misguided, improperly indoctrinated into life, or outright delusional.

Perhaps what I have to say should be considered more offensive if I were. I don't consider myself an atheist, Christians were the original atheists against the Roman Gods.

In the beginning, there was no God. Then we allowed our imaginations to run wild and now look at things.

Believe it or not, terrorism is a mental disorder (much in a way as is religion). It's an aberration, or at very least a sociological disorder. Either way, it's a disorder and not a course to a better world. Religion certainly isn't going lead us to a better world in any sense. It's dying, it's on the way out. Has been for a couple of hundred years now.

Yeah, we got your ticket, pal.

Something just occurred to me. Religion originally sprung up for several reasons. As a form of law with authority that could not be revoked, that being a God. But also and this is a very important element in early and I mean, EARLY religions, it was to separate us from the animals we ate. Otherwise, why not eat, us? So you can see the necessity there.

So maybe at some point that was all very useful, though I suspect that age ended long before written history began.

Now, religion is really just a finger pointing at one undeniable fact: that we are animals and that's it. Animals with self reasoning, self awareness, animals who can contemplate their own demise one day. And it is a buffer against that terror of all terrors in creating a belief that we never die, or with the right actions now, we will die and merely go on to another life in the after life.

Really? That makes sense to you? Yes, it's a nice story. A nice children's story that many are now using to kill people over. Terrorists are the most deluded of us all and the closest to being animals, which religion is now pointing out very clearly. No, they aren't eating people, they are doing the next best thing though. Killing them. The only way to distance ourselves now from animals is to allow religion to die a normal evolutionary death and not, people.

Terrorist groups are the new nut case social clubs. A banding together of crazies who in the old days would have either killed themselves or ended up in an asylum. Or their village would have just put up with them and kept them at arms length, until they ended up stoning them to death for their murderous traits.

What is it Islamic terrorists are after? In reality? Not what they are saying, not what they think, but what are their actions actually indicating? Consider that most Muslims disagree with them and many of them are being killed by them.Islamic terrorists will get picked on here because they are at the forefront in recent years by their definition and desires. What is Islam and what do they think it is? Most of their own people have no clue either.

Let me ask this one question:

Are we allowing a new "North Korea" type country to develop its foundation via ISIS in allowing them to have taken land? Those surrounding countries really need to get their own act together and fight their own battles.

We're tired of the Middle East. Tired of their religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism), tired of their tribal bickerings, and their backward ways. We're also tired of being the world's police force and we know the world in many cases are too. Though, some very much aren't and want us there and in those cases maybe we should be there.

But we need to stop being the Middle East's codependent bastard buddy.

Okay.....

Muslim terrorists say they hate America.

We've been called "The Great Satan". We must be horrible. Right? Except, they seem to hate their own, and themselves, too. Is that what happens when you use religion to try and eliminate things like recreational drugs, sex, openness and challenges in life, in having to worship a big sky God every so many minutes of every damned day of your God forsaken life?

How can some people NOT want to kill someone with all that repression of their human nature? Yes, Islam seems to work for a vast majority of Muslims but it obviously doesn't for many others as we see now in terrorists proclaiming such!

How, can anyone not see this?

Is it really that hard to see? Religion to begin with requires us to enhance our desires to remain ignorant, which I've always defined as stupidity; it requires devised, planned stupidity; it requires it be desired and sought after, inbreeding our intellectual sensibilities, all in the name of "faith".

Yet look at all the Muslims who have run to America for the good life, for protection from Islamic leaders, and its idiot children, Islamic terrorists.

The American Ideal is a marvelous thing.

Our actions at times admittedly, have been not so much. But we're fighting for our own sanity here, our own identity, our own goodness. But without a God, because considering all the outliers, on that path lay madness. Madness we are seeing slaughtering people.

If terrorists really want to affect change then why aren't they targeting intelligently? Finding considered targets that do something, rather than just American symbols?

Why haven't they killed the Koch brothers yet?

Can there be a greater symbol of the Great American Satan, after all? But hey, we don't like them either. Is that why? Or are they being supported by the Kock brothers in some way we can't see?

Terrorists said this past week that they are going to cut off President Obama's head IN the White House. Really, morons? What are you, twelve years old? Why is so much of what we hear from terrorists sound like the immature prattlings of spoiled children whining?

Just because you heard some mental defect was able to make it into the white house due to a bizarre set of circumstances (which they've now had time to rectify), do you really think you can depend on such mistakes and happenstances to get into the White House and get to the President of the United States of America? You're even stupider than we have thought.

Good luck mate. Perhaps, stop watching so many western action movies. They're MOVIES, make believe, fiction. Like your beliefs. As President Obama has said just today, your beliefs are medieval, though not medieval Caliphate oriented, as that was an enlightened time, unlike your medieval thinking. You are living a backward fantasy. Let go your foolishness, your childish ways.

Then again, go for it.

Because I suspect if you actually ever got near or even did it, you would bring the desired attention on yourself, your mindset, and turn the entire global Islamic nation against you along with a load of fecal matter made from your own intestines, to come down on you and yours from America and our allies unlike the world has yet seen and beyond anything you can no imagine in your tiny, limited minds.

Really think about that for a moment.

What is America capable of if we put our mind to it? We are fighting hard in our country now to reclaim our America, to become the decent people again we want to be. But we can be a terrible force to behold when we want to be. And you haven't seen anything yet. Killing 3,000 civilians on American soil lead to a nightmare for many. Killing our leader? You are more foolish than even you think you can be.

Do you really think pushing us in a direction to once again be the lowlifes we've been over the past decade is a wise life decision or career path?

Do you really think President Obama is the problem? Or American culture for that matter. Your problem is your view of Islam. That you have nearly the entire world of Islam against you. Maybe your view is wrong. It's certainly stupid. But then that fits, if one thinks about it.

You threats seem especially when we have a new president every four or eight years. Do you really think it isn't people like the Koch brothers who are truly the devious ones and your true enemies, Machiavellian power brokers that they are who are trying to bend the will of a nation to do their degenerate bidding. Do you really think they aren't the problem? It is people like that, we need to weed out of our nation, we need to devalue and remove their power from.

I think perhaps it is time we get back to taxing the rich at 90% again. Some of the money we waste on the rich and military endeavors, we should be using to better our nation, and the poor of the world. Not allow a few rich bastards to subvert a grand ideal into a putrid greedy effort to abuse those not rich and powerful.

Complain about what is the problem, the few, the rich and the powerful, and not a nation of people who have done you no harm anymore than the innocent Islamic people you continue to bomb, shoot, murder out of a misguided sense of poor self esteem issues.

By the way, don't know who Machiavelli is? Good grief....maybe you don't know everything.

If you want to hit an American symbol of the Great American Satan, show me how that is NOT the people like the Koch brothers. Don't know who THEY are? You really need to read a book, or a newspaper. Quit reading the Qur'an as it seems to be doing you no good anyway and read something of true value. Like current news affairs.

Now I'm not saying you should kill the Koch brothers, our national treasures of the American rich, elite, and greediest.

In fact, you don't need to be killing any more Americans and we would come at you for that in killing our worst bastards, those people who should be social and political criminals, just as we would for your killing any decent American citizen. And rightfully so.

I'm just wondering how you choose your targets, because it seems you are either using the toss of a coin, or throwing darts at newspaper clippings (so maybe you do have newspapers). Perhaps try recruiting some educated people who don't just believe your religious crap. Or is that hard to do in a culture of ignorance and religious criminals?

But then, that is in line with Mohammed's sensibility back in the day, right? And about Mohammed, did he even exist? There's question about that. How would you like to kill people over Mohammed, then find out he never existed?

It's not a secret that he wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack. Just actually try reading your own copy of the Qur'an. Yes, it's a pretty book, saying pretty things, but like all religious books, it's filled with dreams and nonsense. But know that first to understand what you are reading you have to know how to read and how to interpret into the more modern language that you speak. So you'd have to have an education to actually understand what it's saying.

Like it's fictional silly tales of teleportation for one.

Otherwise you could misinterpret it and end up killing innocent people, including other Muslims and....oh wait, you're already there, aren't you?

You really are that sad. I forget sometimes.

See, I do that locally much of the time too, thinking people are more intelligent and educated than they really are. We also have many uneducated Americans here, many who think they are intelligent or educated because they watch TV. Sad people, really. you might even have my compassion and understanding, if you weren't murderers and proselytes.

So, welcome to the world of the Koch brothers, Republicans, Christians and conservatives in America and their sad friends who support the buying of our free American politics and buddy, if that happens, you think you have a problem now?

Wait till the rich completely take over American politics as they are trying now to do, have done for he most part, but we are fighting back against on a daily basis which you make more difficult with your stupid actions and pointing to Islam as the reasons for them.

Mohammed as your prophet is an appropriate figure. I point that out in my fiction book, Death of Heaven, as well as that of other historical religious figures, Moses, Jesus and others.

Religion is as ridiculous as terrorists.

Why don't terrorists target the American disgustingly rich elite? Makes you wonder doesn't it/ Look at who they target.

Why don't they use America against America. Why don't they find what we hate about us, and nudge those feelings in their direction? Why haven't they attacked groups like the American Family Association? Why haven't they targeted American conservatives who are against any race but their own, who are against Islam for wont of Christianity?

Why DO they instead attack diluted symbologies of American ideals? Why do they kill Muslims? If they are so clever, why aren't they targeting things and people who will actually advance their ideals? Or are they actually controlled by their own problem elite? Just blindly following their own problem people?

Or do they not really have any true ideals other than thuggery, greed, sexual repression, misogyny, perhaps (at least some obviously) repressed homosexual feelings for fellow terrorists? Just come out of the closet, America will take you in, or plenty of other European countries, I think.

Try relaxing, have a beer, get laid for God's sake. Burn off some of this repression in positive, productive ways and for God's sake and that of your Prophet, and your own soul if you actually believe in that sort of silly thing, stop hurting people.

My suggestion?

Terrorists... just stop, get a job, leave the country if you need to as there are not enough jobs in a millennially, God forsaken desert. But you won't because as all animals know, killing makes you feel powerful, wonderful, and full (you do eat your dead, right, cuz that's part of it). Humans on the other hand, don't kill other humans, just animals do that.

At least strive to be human.

Animals you see, kill. But only a human animal kills with such disregard as to use bombs on innocents they aren't either going to eat, or are in direct conflict with, or even one of their own tribe.

With each death, you merely support my contention that you are no better than the animals your religion was originally designed to distance you from. With you, it is failing. Obviously.

It's sad really, so sad that you can't see that.

So, just stop the killing and being such dumb animals and such really stupid bastards.

Let me close with this....

This is basically what fundemental religious terrorists are all about right? Being God's robots. You can tell from them bouncing their foreheads on the ground, the most devout having callouses on their foreheads, not to mention, possible brain damage from all that "praying".

But hey, God, right?

Okay I jest, but seriously think about it. 

If we had robots walking the world enforcing God's Laws, this place would be a complete nightmare and yet, that is what many want, just without considering what a True hell the world would be if it was all strictly enforced. But hey, God, right?

Think about it.

Religious terrorism is basically cowardice. If you need to kill people from other religions (or atheists) to support your religion, well then you're not brave enough to cohabit with others because your faith (or religion) is just that weak. ‪

I'll give our Goddess of humor the final say, in that....

NOTE: If you've gotten this far...some might wonder why I push on people like this. Why do I challenge "believers" about their beliefs, their religion, their attitudes and their actions or desired actions (which even if they don't do bad things, they support at least intellectually, those who do, or might). Regardless of what you believe, what your religion teaches, or how you interpret it, you have no right to apply your beliefs to others, or certainly not to kill others over it. Just as the very rich have no right to take most of the money on this planet, leaving not enough for all of us others, no theist or religion has any right on this planet to force others into action, or to eliminate them.

You are welcome to move to where there are only your kind, but not to force others out. You are welcome to have delusions, but not to push them on others. I would argue however, that this is a bad form of thought and separation like that can lead to "bad things". Better to support a form of thought that is more inclusive or at least, tolerant, of others. And so that is why I push. In the hope that at some point it will help to dilute negative thoughts about others based upon religion. All others who are theistic or non-theistic need to support that, so that those intolerant theists or non-theists, are more tolerant and allow everyone to have a decent life, to live and to die, in peace.

#‎Terrorism‬

Should writers respect or fear all of society's feelings in their writings?

Someone on Linkedin.com recently asked a question that I responded to:

Should a writer respect the feelings of all sections of society while expressing their views? As a writer can they enjoy unfettered freedom in the light of recent developments?

My reply...and then some:

It depends on what you are writing about, or what your intention is in what you are writing about. Some writers may not want to offend anyone (which is nearly impossible these days). Or a writer may want to inflame a certain portion of a readership, or wish to inflame or move, everyone. It depends on what the intention of the piece is.

Writers now a days have to be aware of backlash from certain elements to the point even of the writer's death. But we cannot let that dissuade us from our job. I am at times very vocal in my writings about what I think the ills of the world are to the point of calling out terrorists as the misled, the demented, the childish, and as cowards even in the face of brave situations, if one calls it that while blowing yourself up or being gunned down in the process of killing their own, the innocents, women, the old and infirm and, children.

It is good to consider, even if you are not a well read writer, how do you want your writings to be viewed after you have died? Either from natural causes or through the efforts and intentions of someone who has reacted violently to you because of something you have written?

Remember it's not about confrontation, it's about dialog on your side as a writer. That means on the side of enlightenment and change it needs to be about compromise and dialog. But also, on the other side, in that of a radical mind, it needs to be about dialog, but also about compromise in an individual with a mindset where that simply may not be an option. Well? It needs to be an option.

For some of us who are not fighters as I once was, though now I prefer to be more a lover, they or we can "fight" through our words for what is good and right in the world as we see it. Everyone should be welcome to speak their mind, as that helps to temper beliefs. But one must listen as well as speak.

Sometimes I publish things that are intentionally inflammatory in order to get people to see the error of their ways in beliefs and actions. If someone reads something I wrote on my blog and finds me a distasteful human being, but what they have read changes their mind to a better way of being, if they they then hate me for my efforts but go out in the world and do more good than they had been, what care is it of mine if I have offended them?

George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom, said:

"We shouldn't tolerate the intolerance." 

As writers and authors we produce art and words strung together in such a way as to evoke emotion. Is it only to be for entertainment? Or should we have an underlying and important message to convey to support or change things for the better? Further, should we at times overtly try to change people's minds away from their beliefs to what we understand to be the better good?

How does one do that?

By keying into someone's beliefs and gently changing their attitudes? Or at times by jarring them into reality and out of their delusions? There have been times when writers have spoken out and been killed for their efforts. Through their death change has been evoked, change greater than they could ever have achieved through their words while they lived. That is not a good thing for them, but it's something.

What should be your own legacy as a writer? To make a buck and no one ever knows of you or after you die your writings die with you? Or to change even one person to go out to do more, or better, or at least stop doing ill of others? Because for every one who stops doing ill, others see that and may follow suit or temper their choices.

Certainly it is your choice. I have made mine.

This all brings to mind... terrorism.

After 9/11, from that next day to December 31, 2013 there were on American soil, the following number of deaths:
Terrorism: 41
Firearms in 2011 alone: 32,351
Car/Truck Accidents in 2011 alone: 33,783

So "keep calm and carry on."

Terrorists in America  have blatantly failed. Overall worldwide, these are disaffected young Arab Muslim men. Muslims are not our enemies, religion is, if you want to entertain that kind of logic. But even then it is a disaffected and propagandized mindset by a minuscule hard core, radicalized group who propel and recruit through their pathetic agenda.

These people are lost in the modern world and not unlike those American conspiracy theorists who fear a "New World Order" when one is only going to happen regardless since we live on a planet together with limited resources. It is much in the same mental virus that involves fear and hatred of others who they do not understand or refuse to join with.

They are our failures in America.

Mostly these terrorists are poor individuals, poor in livelihood or poor in moral logic focusing only on what makes them feel good with no concern for either those they consider their enemies or their own people they claim to be fighting for and where those they claim to be fighting for en masse, have claimed that these terrorists are not fighting for them.

Be concerned in a relative and reasonable way.

Do not fear those who are of broken ideologies, mind, spirit, logic, reason, or religion. Consider that the late Saudi King Abdullah has been putting change into place in his seminal Islamic country for years that has been quietly bringing about change.

There are now more women in that country in universities than men. That alone is amazing and in years to come it will change the face of Saudi Arabia and their version of Islam, which is a part and heart of the over all world of Islam.

Change is coming. But it takes time. We need to help get Islam and those mentally deranged versions of Islam past this sad point in its history and on into the future.

Those backward types who find terrorism as a positive force of change will eventually fade away with time and proper action and be seen in hindsight as a cancer in the state of Islam during this period. Bringing all Arabs and Muslims into modern times mentally and economically is what they need, not the ill will of the entire world.

It will take time, but they are on the way out and this age of attempted terror is their death knell.

#Terrorism

Muslim Terrorists vs. Violent Terrorists? Either Way Worse Scum Than the Flu? Absolutely.

Yes, I've been watching last Friday night's Real Time with Bill Maher.

You'll have to excuse my comments below at some point. Just be aware that if you can't, terrorists are the reason I'm saying these things and frankly? I needs to be said....

Two things.... the flu and terrorists. Two scummy things that we need to eradicate from the planet. I'd vote, kill the terrorists model first, being the more lowlife of the two. At least the flu can only attack as it's nature. Human beings have a choice and they decide that their petty God or Allan, their magic Guy in the Sky, is more important that a real human being right in front of them.

First, people who say flu vaccines don't work, why get them, aren't arguing they don't work (unless they're just ignorant), they're arguing they are only so effective as the flu changes and the shots are made five months ahead of time. But the do work, but only within a range of a percentage of what's possible. 23% is tossed about. Okay, so 23% of Americans find it useful. That's like 76 million people, who don't get it, get it lighter than they would or don't die. And they aren't infecting others or decreasing the number they would which is additional savings which aren't considered.

So yes, we all should get a flu shot.

Pres. Obama has started calling Muslim Terrorists, violent terrorists. Really? From within the perspective of all religions, he may be correct to do so. But from outside of the perspective of religion, I think he's wrong. At very least he should say religious terrorists or something. Yes, these people are in many cases just criminals wrapping themselves in the cloak of religion just to have fun or push a cause, but still religion is at the core of their efforts. It is not the mainstream cause of Muslims, most of them shouldn't suffer for the cause and actions of a few (don't go kill any Muslim, you have to wait till they yell "Jihad", or "Praise Allah" just before they push the button and blow you the hell up. Or shoot you. And the other woman and children in the market.

So no, all Muslims have little to do with Muslim Terrorists. But they are still Muslim Terrorists.

That being said, Pope Francis has said that you shouldn't talk smack about someone's religion because if the guy next to him was talking that way about his mother, he'd punch him out and then apparently mimicked the action. WTF? Jesus punching someone over anything? His representative on earth, doing what? Really? I love this guy, this Pope, I really do, but that was stepping over the line.

And I'm sorry, but anyone anywhere should have the right to call bullshit on your ridiculous religion or beliefs. Just walk away. Because if you can't, what are you? Twelve? Because the mindset I'm seeing behind religious killings is that of a child who has yet to mature into an adult who can play well with others, even when it's annoying to.

Anyone who wants to should be able to look you right in the eye, if you think you should be killing people for God, or Allah, of some Prophet and say to them, "F*ck your God", Allah, the Prophet, Jehovah, or Dog for that matter (because some people worship the most ridiculous crap, right?).

But you know what? And how many who are pissed at me for the previous paragraph are really reading THIS far?

We probably should NOT say, "F*ck your God." We should really say "Fuck YOU!" Because the concept of God, Allah, whathaveyou is really initially a good and positive mental construct. It is a well meaning attempt at humanism believe it or not. Typically a failed one I'd argue but it started out well. Usually it is there now to replace one that already existed that someone thought was defective and thought "F*ck YOUR God" to someone else coming before them. Probably long before them and so aren't there to defend themselves or their original intent. Just descendants of followers who probably now have a diluted and bastardized form of the original religion, much like today's Muslim Terrorists. Or Religious Terrorists. Or violent terrorists but really, isn't "violent" terrorists just redundant?

Name a terrorist who wasn't violent, because terror by its nature tends to be violent so really, at very LEAST religious terrorist should be the go to phrase. But then Catholics, and those idiots over at Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and all the other nut cases including Judaism would start whining.

What we should be saying is "F*ck YOU, you rat bastards for killing innocents and pushing your defective extreme (not fundamentalist) thoughts onto others who not only don't see things your way, but may very well in general see things your way as you do after all KILL MUSLIMS, you ASSholes!"

Praise being kind to other people who are real and need our compassion. Should that include terrorists? Well, by their own definition I'd argue, No.

Put down your guns, your bombs, head cutting off knives and swords and your bad attitude and rejoin the human race and then yes, I'd agree. You'd have my compassion again. Until then, you die, whenever possible. Not that it's very hard to do, kill you I mean, since after all half the time you die in the action of killing others and really that's the epitome of stupidity.

Your attrition does help our side however. The side of the entire rest of the world who is against you. So join the rest of humanity because if you think you are right and 99% of the rest of the world is wrong, you really are a loser. Come on. Come join us. Be a part of humanity. You can do it. Just turn your back on ridiculous beliefs. Really. It's doable. Many have done it already and more are all the time, realizing how stupid religious wars against the majority of the planet are.

But first you have to get your head out of your ass.

God, or Allah, ain't up in there.

Understanding Life

I find with so many things that they can be misunderstood, misconstrued and misinterpreted.

This however, is not one of them....

Moving along...I have grown through my life wanting things. I've been told, that is bad. A bad thing to do. And yet, no matter what I try to do, I still seem to do them.

I grew up in Catholicism and found it lacking. Sorely, lacking. I tried many other forms of religion, philosophy (which really, was the start off all this and a brother to psychology which my degree is in), and sociology (a much larger version of psychology).

I settled upon, Buddhism. Very possibly, not a Buddhism you would know or think of. Or maybe possibly so.

I'm not a ritualist, though I understand its usefulness. In any form of theism or philosophy, there is fat. It needs to be trimmed. In writing we have a theory, when you finish your final draft, cut 10% more.

So it is with other forms and disciplines.

I always wanted to be someone who works on computers. I did that. I always wanted to be a Webmaster. I did that. I wanted to be a technical writer. I did that. I wanted to be a writer and author. I've done that.

I wanted to own my own car. My own house, trees, acreage, my own... other things. I've done all that. As a child I wanted to own a mansion, to have servants who waited on me, to own a swimming pool, much acreage, a motorcycle (did that repeatedly), a boat, a plane (I learned to fly and skydive for that matter but my wife wouldn't let me get a plane for some reason, well, we're divorced now).

Then, I realized something.

All my life people said that was all bad. I have seen many stories of people who were materialistic, who became rich, and then were miserable. Donald Trump once said about that, that he knows many rich people and they all seem to be quite happy. Perhaps it's a tail only told by the poor?

Or I've known people who only wanted to sleep around, or to be considered the best in a field, or...whathaveyou.

But then, I realized it.

Speaking only for myself of course, I realized something about all of that. It wasn't that I wanted those things... forever. It wasn't (possibly) that others wanted those things... forever. It was that they wanted to break out of their pigeonhole, into the next level, to experience it, to tire of it, then to move on to another better challenge. Most of them perhaps, simply didn't realize that.

It is those who achieved those things and then sat and did nothing, who were the miserable ones.

I also think these are one of the primary reasons for many to seek out things like religion, philosophy, a guru, extreme sports even, or a therapist.

When really all they need to do is to consider what I'm saying here and follow through.

Of those who realized that and strove to achieve more, what was their choice in continuing on their quest for the next better thing? Did that then in the end make them miserable, too? After all, some people will just always be displeased, always. Avoid those types. On the other hand, it's good to want to achieve more and better, if handled properly. We should always after all, strive to improve, but recognize your achievements and appreciate your efforts for therein lay some of the pleasure.

Or, did they chose the right thing as the next step in the path?

Sometimes the next greater thing, after you hit a certain point, isn't the next obvious step up, but a step away from it. Sometimes, the next step is an oblique to your path, or a reversal.

We just have to realize that in our lives that what we sometimes think is the next step up, only goes so high. One needs to realize when it's time to shift direction. It is those who never see that and then continue on in the same direction always and forever, who suffer.

Those others who see the shifting tides, who can fathom the finest paths to freedom, are the ones who never experience the gloom of satiation and so go on to continue with lives fulfilled with freedom and experience.

That, can be you too.

Is Islam out of control? Is it time to take control?

At what point do we consider that Islam, is out of control in the world?

Should we have special task forces just dealing with violent Muslim activists? Don't we already? Should we start cracking down on them, more than we are, with different tactics? They have long argued a right to these actions, is it time to say no more and become aggressive? Is this the time for the Religion War to begin? Are we tired enough yet of the nonsense religion has been and is still fostering upon us as a species?

These concepts are dangerous.

Now this is news, Anonymous Is Targeting Islamist Sites Over Charlie Hebdo Attacks and Anonymous claims first victim in 'Operation Charlie Hebdo'.

So are these ideologues who are taking it upon themselves to protect a religion, or their beliefs through a religion, to be taken seriously yet? I mean, SERIOUSLY. To that point that we act?

Do we need special task forces dealing only with this situation until it is ended? 

If we were to do that, there is no doubt in my mind that innocents would be killed in the effort to kill this mindset in that of those young, those disaffected and those typically male. 

Or should Islam begin it's own task force to deal with this issue, heading off outsiders starting their own mindset that we've all had enough?

The issue with Charlie Hebdo in France, may have turned into the next step, escalating this issue. Has a gunman taken hostages in another situation, perhaps linked to the killing of a police officer yesterday, in an attempt to help or support the two Charlie Hebdo gunmen still at large and possibly now surrounded by police? We already know about these two orphaned jokers....

French police released photos of the Kouachi brothers - Cherif (L) and Said (R)

Well it seems these guys are dead now.

If Islam doesn't start to do something about this situation, should non-Muslims, forces from outside of Islam? Shouldn't Islam start doing something to clean up their own mess? Isn't it about time?

I've called for them to take this on before. Some have stood up in the Muslim community around the world to denounce these criminal actions. But when will they pull out all the stops? They are great at fighting for themselves. If this is a true religion, when will they start fighting for others? Otherwise I have to suspect Islam is just another false religion that praises yet another false God (well actually I know it does, but that's beside the point here). Where IS Allah in all this? Are these people following Allah, Mohamed, or just themselves? 

If it is just themselves, shouldn't Islam handle it? Because with the way things are going, if outsiders are left to police Islam, that is a very dangerous thing indeed. This could spark the beginning of the end for all religions. 

Because we non-Muslims, are sick to death of this NON SENSE.

Yesterday Fareed Zakaria called for the leaders of Muslim countries to speak up and out about this, to denounce these men. Why isn't Islam up in arms themselves screaming about it, denouncing these actions by these criminals, these mass murderers? Because to not speak up and out about it is to agree with it. Are Muslims cowards? Is it a religion of people fearful of themselves, their beliefs, their "God"?

Isn't it time that God finally be put into his place? 

Islam as a religion needs to be devalued. Judaism was long ago, as was Catholicism. It is time for Islam. It is a religion too young to exist in the modern age. Once they realize this, to play well with others as a whole, it is merely a cancer in the world that needs to be cut out.

People are scared, though they are putting on a brave face. But as some have pointed out, it's rational and okay to be afraid. Just be aware that if the people that people are being afraid of is YOU, you might want to consider taking matters into your own hands as a whole before scared people do.

We saw what happened to Iraq after 9/11. An angry and scared America lashed out and ridiculously attacked Iraq and we don't need any kind of a re-occurrence of that nonsense. Lashing out like that is a sign of cowardice, of fear. Scared people act stupidly. I studied martial arts and the first thing we were taught was never to allow fear to win over in a fight. That all being said, Saddam had to go but he should have gone the first time around in the 1980s. 

If I were a Muslim, I sure as hell wouldn't let outsiders do it. All Muslims need to stand up now and demand an end to the hijacking of their religion and start making it something that all of them can praise and share in the world. And not just for the Charlie Hebdo situation, but for all and future situations.

Religion loves absolutes, Islam even more so, Islamic terrorists (and wannabes like the Charlie Hebdo murderers who are merely criminals) even more so, still. When someone in your Muslim group starts talking crap, shout them down. Punch them in the face. Kick them in the balls. Kill them, if need be, before they kill others when you would really have an issue with masses of others killing random Muslims. Let's avoid that.

Be a real Man, be a real Woman (though being female in Islam is problematic) for your God's sake. Be a Muslim! Stand up wherever you are right now and shout it: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore! Muslims everywhere stop killing!" Refuse to allow it. Take a zero tolerance stance. Typically I'm against zero tolerance situations but when it comes to certain things like killing, especially innocents, it may be justified. If you want to kill, to stone someone, try killing killers.

This is an effort that needs to come from the ground up, but also from the top down. The leaders of Muslim countries need to stand up, speak up, make changes that will resonate. If they don't, then who? Because if they don't and they don't know who, not being proactive just isn't going to work. There's a lot of Muslims in the world. But there's a lot of others in the world too. Sooner or later people are going to feel they've had enough.

So stop allowing ANY Muslims to be known for cowardice and punk tactics like using bombs to kill innocents, or slaughtering people who have never held a gun and never would.

Otherwise, what does that say about Islam?

Because a God who would allow this to happen, who seems to call for this to happen and keep happening, is a small God indeed, anyway.

By the way, if you think I'm anti Muslims, you're wrong. I'm not. I'm pro people. I'm anti religion. I don't dislike people because they choose religion. I dislike people when they make horrible choices. Religion isn't a horrible choice, it's a bad choice. Big difference (for me anyway).

Let's consider this, "France's New Hero Is The Muslim Police Officer Killed Confronting The Charlie Hebdo Gunmen."

Here's a thought, How to Suck at Your Religion. Because if I had a God, He'd have a sense of humor. Enjoy....

Still here? Okay....

Someone responded to this blog with this:

"What an ill-informed, reactionary piece of toss this is. Muslims around the world are confronting these cretinous zealots... every day. The question we need to ask is why are young, western Muslims turning to an extreme version of the faith, and on...the societies in which they have lived. Task forces won't deal with that, they'll exacerbate it."

Good points. I agree task forces are useless. What is my main point with this blog? Muslim leaders needs to stand up and speak out. Those t the grassroots levels need to stand up and speak out, vociferously. This needs a grassroots effort. My point here was that if Islam doesn't do something, others will and I fully agree, that's a horrible idea. But yet, if Islam doesn't do it, someone will eventually. If you love your Islam, do something, get people involved. Speak out. 

Yes, there are Muslims around the world confronting these cretinous zealots. But they aren't obviously doing enough, not enough are doing it and again, that is my point. This isn't going to go away soon. Unless superhuman action is taken from within the Muslim community and so far? I'm just not seeing it.

As for young Muslim men turning to extreme versions of Islam, well, that's young men in general, and when you add a history such as their or poverty, or not having a voice, or simply feeling disenfranchised, you get young men like that. Young men are always on the lookout for excitement, for a cause, for a focus, for one single thought that requires no thought. But that's what religion is all about too. So again, religion is a big part of the issue to begin with. 

I've spoken on all these issues here before. We need to address why these people are killing people. But Islam needs to act and make it a major issue that parallels the primary elements of their religion. And honestly? I don't see that happening.

Here's part of the problem. Said, your cousin is talking shit about killing for Mohammed. You turn him in.but he wasn't going to do anything. You've caused a huge issue now. Said says something like that in public, at the temple, in a coffee shop. Everyone, stands and denies his Islamicism. That starts to happen everywhere. Muslim media denounces it, leaders, "We are a non violent religion!" That is what's cool. That is what's accepted. 

It will still take years but then instead of zealots, criminals and mentally ill, it will get down to only criminals and mentally ill (we're getting there) and then only the mentally ill. But Islam needs to do it. Perhaps they need our help externally to give them a bad guy to get started but they have to stand up and say they believe to their core EVERYWHERE that Islam doesn't kill. 

I hear that from Muslims now, indeed, but not like what I'm talking about. It has to be on par with someone standing in a coffee shop or temple and saying, "Mohammed is a homosexual!!" 

Yeah, he'd die, right? Same has to be true of the concept of killing for Mohammed. When did the "Prophet" become God, anyway, cuz it sure seems like that's what has happened with many of these guys.

Now this, is what I'm talking about! Hezbollah Leader Says Islamic Extremists Have Hurt Islam More Than Cartoonists