Bigger Issues Than Al Qaeda

Do you remember Al Qaeda?  Osama’s terrorist organization?  Of course you do.  And if you ever tried forgetting, don’t worry, the government will make sure to remind you of the threat it still poses.  A few months ago, President Obama released a statement to the effect that Al Qaeda was on the run.  In his words they were “on a path to defeat”.  Seems like he was just blowing hot air or speaking out of turn, depending on what you choose to believe.

Jack Keane, a retired army general who has knowledge of such things have also agreed that the terrorist network is far from being defeated.  I am not sure how much weight an armchair commander carries but I am not well-educated on such matters myself so I can’t say what does a retired guy know about a Middle East based terrorist network?  When was the last time he actually saw a terrorist?   What I do know is that while the US government continues to make sure that Americans remain fearful of a potential attack by terrorists, Americans are busy terrorizing Americans.  While Americans wait for that supposed terrorist act that would inflict mass casualties, Americans walk into schools and inflict mass casualties on American kids. They carry out heinous crimes on innocent civilians, including children.  They are Americans without any affiliation to a terrorist network.  Americans are warned to be on the alert for terrorist act on Americans but how about the guy next door who kidnaps women and children as they walk home?  Terrorizing them in his home for years?  How about the man who walks into his workplace and shoots his co-workers to death? Or the American so high on drugs that he chews on his innocent victims in broad daylight? Can Al Qaeda really be any worse?

Pardon me but I’m sick and tired of hearing that some guy with a Muslim name has been killed in the Middle East.  Yet another Al Qaeda leader.  Tired of hearing how the battle against terrorism is being won.  Then it’s not.  Then it is.  Depends on who’s talking.  Tired of hearing how guns are to be blamed for the rise in armed violence when the real reason is not addressed.  If guns were the real cause, I propose a world-wide ban on guns.  This would eliminate terrorism.  Or would it?   So many issues that are not potential but very real to Americans.  As they say in politics, Clear and Present Danger.  A million problems and Al Qaeda ain’t one.

And this is my take.

Related articles

• REPORT: Terror threat from Iran growing… (washingtontimes.com)
• Al Qaeda expanding, capable of inflicting mass casualties in US

Not With Gay Marriage

English: This protester was on his own and letting Minnesota state Senators know his position on gay marriage. This is freedom of speech in action. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Celebrities and professional athletes have been known to open their mouths before their brains were in gear.  Most often than not.  Causing collateral damage that their publicists have had to clean up.   Because of this, when I read the headlines, ‘Adrian Peterson Is Against Gay Marriage’  I could be excused for thinking,  uh huh, here comes another athlete speaking out against gay marriage and probably saying the wrong things that he has to apologise for later.

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the way Adrian Peterson candidly and honestly stated his opinion.  He did not judge or question the legality of gay marriage, but just eloquently stated his beliefs.  To add to it, he let it be known that he had family who were gay and who he loved.   Adrian is also best friends of gay marriage advocate and former teammate Chris Kluwe.  I take it they both respect each other’s opinion without letting it affect their friendship.

And this is how opinions should be shared and embraced.  Without fuss, fight or apology.  No hate, no judgement.  For the records, I, like Adrian, am ‘not with’ gay marriage and that’s just my take, which in this case is not debatable.

Related articles

• Adrian Peterson On Gay Marriage: “I’m Not With That” (webpronews.com)
• Adrian Peterson Speaks Out Against Gay Marriage (breitbart.com)
• Adrian Peterson ‘Not With’ Gay Marriage Despite Having Gay Relatives (Audio) (nesn.com)
• Vikings Star Adrian Peterson Speaks on Gay Marriage (bleacherreport.com)
• Adrian Peterson Is Not “with” Gay Marriage (news.softpedia.com)

Oklahoma Tornado – My Image Of The Day

Today, as I read about the devastation caused by the monstrous twister that touched down in Moore, Oklahoma, I was drawn to the photo posted above.  To me it spoke volumes.

In the photo, a woman with bright blue hair and black boots, rushed to gather her child. Her hair flying wildly and legs pumping like pistons, her body language conveying relief, happiness, fright, panic all in the same package.  It reminds me of a lioness rushing to the aid of a member of her pride.  To snatch it from the clutches of the enemy.

A photo like this would usually be fodder for jokes.  The hair, the attire, ripe for the pickings but in this situation, I see no humor.  I see a fellow parent.  A parent who suddenly realized that her little boy is not dead but very much alive.  A child who sees his mom as the most beautiful mom in the world.  Not a blue-haired freak in black boots charging at him like an out of control freight train.

That’s My Mommy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s funny, but not ha ha funny, that no matter what mommy looks like on the outside, she’s always the most beautiful mommy in the world on the inside to her child.  When the child is in danger, mommy is even more beautiful when she shows up at just the right time.  Mommy is here baby!  Everything is going to be fine.

I can imagine how this mother feels.  Hearing the news that the school her child is attending has been destroyed with some fatalities.  The feeling is indescribable.  Then to show up at the school and see your son very much alive.  No words could describe the transition of feelings.  Legs buckling fear and panic followed by legs buckling relief.  In the photo, I see it all.

God be with all the victims of this disaster.  May the souls of the dead rest in peace and may their loved ones be comforted.

Note:  A reader notified me that the person is not the boy’s mom but actually his sister who ran all the way from her high school after learning his school had been hit.  It doesn’t diminish my interpretation of the photo in any way.  If anything it just shows that some sisters could be just as close as  mothers.

Murder Of A ‘Nice’ Guy By Another ‘Nice’ Guy

The circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and murder of Tim Bosma continue to baffle Canadians and those following the story around the globe.  Myself included.  In case you are wondering who Tim Bosma is, read it here.  Robbery seems to be the motive at first glance but to my suspicious and conspiracy-theory-trained mind, something is out of place.

The suspect, Dellen Millard is described as well off with a clean record, so why would he want to steal a truck when he could buy one probably with cash?  The guy is heir to an aviation dynasty and has property that he bought two years ago for almost one million dollars!  Not that being rich has ever stopped rich folks from ripping off poor folks but come one…Tim’s body was also found burned beyond recognition.  Again, I thought to myself, A normal carjacker would have just kicked him out of the car or left him somewhere on the outskirts of town.   Seems like a lot of trouble to take him to a farm and incinerate him.  Just for a 2007 Dodge Ram? 

The victim’s wife also claimed two men came to their home to look at the truck and that they came on foot.  Did they travel from Toronto to Hamilton on foot?  Even though the suspect allegedly also owns a truck?  Again, a rich guy walking?  Not that they don’t.  The other guy is still at large and is not being mentioned.  Weird huh?  How about the trail of evidence?  Tim’s truck found in a trailer outside the house of the suspect’s mom.  How amateurish is that?  If you are starting to think ‘set up,’ I don’t blame you.

Now here’s the kicker or the stumper.  The victim is described by family and friends as the nicest person you could find.  A churchgoer, dad and husband.  I am not talking bad about the dead but from experience, what people say or think about you is sometimes not what you really are.   Take the suspect for example.  He’s also described as a nice young man from a decent family and no prior record of any kind.  So who’s the genuine nice guy?  Do we have a case of nice-guy/s-turned-bad?  Or maybe this is exactly what it seems and it is really a cut and dried case where an innocent man was murdered by a young man who got caught up in the wrong crowd.  So many questions, not enough answers.  We could go on and on and before long, we would be seeing everyone as a potential suspect.  Tim’s wife, his friends, Dellen’s connections…

To avoid such, let us leave it up to the authorities to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.  In the meantime, my condolences to Tim’s family and loved ones.  May his soul rest in peace.  No matter what life he lived, he didn’t deserve his fate.

 

Related articles

• Tim Bosma’s truck reportedly found north of Toronto (globalnews.ca)
• Hamilton police say they’ve found burned remains of Tim Bosma (metronews.ca)
• Dellen Millard charged with first-degree murder in death of Tim Bosma (metronews.ca)

My Take Or Yours?

I have an admission.  I was checking my stats recently and noticed that I had quite a few followers.  I was thrilled!  “Look honey!”  I said to my wife excitedly.  “I have almost 300 followers! I am scared.  What should I write?  How do I please all these people?  I am sure to write something that they don’t like or agree with.  How do I choose ‘safe’ topics?”  “Shut up and just keep writing.”  Was her response.  We were lying in bed so she probably just wanted to be left alone.

My wife’s answer sobered me up and I thought of the reason my blog was called ‘My Vuze’.  It wasn’t because I wanted to write what people were thinking or how they felt about something.  It was my opinion, whether popular or unpopular.  How I felt and what I thought.  If I changed that to satisfy my readers, then I would be dishonest.  I would be misrepresenting my blog.

From reading other WordPress blogs, I know that I am not alone.  Some writers double think the content of their posts so as not to offend anyone or even to attract readers.  If that’s your wish, sure go for it.   Not me.  Life is too short for that.  Granted, I won’t be rude, crude or offensive in any way and there may be a topic or two that I may prefer to steer clear of.  Some of my vuze might seem to clash with my spirituality but trust me, God is the ultimate base for my takes and I never claim to be more than human.

I promise never to doubt myself again. I would tell it like it is.  Or like I think it is.  If you don’t agree, feel free to tell me why you don’t.  Maybe your information can sway my opinion.

Related articles

• Blogging … What’s it all about then ? (mumblingsontheverge.wordpress.com)
• Don’t Overthunk It! (funnysideupandscrambled.wordpress.com

Boston Bombing: And in other news you might have missed…

Breaking news banner logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week Monday the United States was thrown into shock and mourning when two bombs exploded at the Boston marathon killing three people.  Since then, our televisions and social media have been bombarding us with Newscasts, sportscasts and talk shows, tweets and statues that keep rehashing the bombing.  You just cannot escape the coverage.   Tributes continue to pour in from everyone from everywhere.  In its quest to be the first with breaking news, CNN keep stumbling over their own feet, bringing us erroneous and contradictory briefs.

Two days later in Texas, a fertilizer plant exploded killing fifteen people and injuring over one hundred, including five firefighters. Homes were flattened including a nursing home.  There were stories of bravery by civilians who pitched in to help save victims. The toll on both humans and property was larger than that of the Boston bombing but you may have missed it.

A few days after, a large earthquake rocked china, killing over 200 people and injuring close to 10,000.  The sheer magnitude dwarfed the Boston bombing but again, it’s quite possible that you may have missed it.

Did you know that Iraq is gearing up for its elections and in the past two weeks 13 of the candidates have been murdered? You may have missed this.  It’s only Iraq.  It was important a few years ago when we sacrificed our loved ones in a ‘war’ to free the people from a tyrannical ruler.  Update:  Since the ousting and murder of Saddam, the country is now even more unstabilized but that’s just my opinion.  A week prior to the the worst terrorist act on US soil since 9/11,  a NATO strike killed 10 children.  Most of us didn’t get that news and heck, sacrificing a few kids to get those elusive militants is totally worth it.  We lost a few good men on the battlefield in Afghanistan too during the week. In fact, we are losing them almost daily but we seem to have given up on them a long time ago anyways so in reality, maybe they are already dead to us.

During the coming days and weeks, we will find out what the surviving brother has to say, if he’s allowed to live.  We will hear what he consumed the day of the bombing. His favorite quotes, his favorite music and maybe even his favorite blogger.  Information overload will be underway.  Some of us will care, some of us won’t give two hoots.  I will be one of the latter.

I do feel for the victims of this heinous crime but unfortunately, it comes with the territory.  It doesn’t matter if the perpetrators were Hindus or Muslims, Chechen or Czech.  These crimes will continue and strike close to home. Sorry for breaking the bad news.  Until someone close to me is a victim, I can be sympathetic but not empathetic.  While we are consumed with the Boston Bombing and whodunnit, babies are born, people are laughing, a kid is learning to walk, and the world turns and life goes on.  And you won’t want to miss it!

If I sound insensitive, it is unintentional.  It’s just My Take.

Related articles

• What separates a death in Iraq from one in Boston? (abc.net.au)
• Empathy for Boston, from Iraqi children (salon.com)
• How Can We Condemn Boston Murders But Excuse U.S. Bombing of Civilians? (blogs.scientificamerican.com)

Sex with troubled underage teen lands pastor in unholy water

He said he was sorry and he was a fool.  His wife begged for leniency and blamed his prostate and low lithium levels for his transgressions.  His congregation prayed. His lawyer pleaded.  ‘He was a good man with decades of good works’, they attested.  In the end, the former pastor was sentenced to 12 years in jail.  His crime? He took advantage of a young troubled teen, entering into a sexual relationship with her that was so deep that he allegedly sent texts to her from the pulpit.  The defendant, Mr. Jack Schaap, was pastor to a mega church of 15,000 members. Interestingly, just over 100 parishioners wrote letters of support and only about 70 showed up at the court.

What’s my take on this? Texting and preaching is wrong? Ok seriously, we wonder why some people are religion-shy, there’s the reason right there.  I realize we are human first before our chosen callings but come on…

 

Related articles

• Indiana pastor sentence to 12 years for sex with underaged girl (wgntv.com)
• Megachurch Pastor Jack Shaap Sentenced To 12 Years For Sex With Teen Girl (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• Pastor: Sex With Minor God’s Plan (drudge.com)
• Former pastor accused of telling teen parishioner Jesus approved of their relationship (fox59.com)

 

Repentant Pastor Made Me Eat Humble Pie

Logo used from 1980–2007, still in use at some Applebee’s locations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s not too often that I go back on my take or eat humble pie so to speak.  This is one of those not-too-often occasions.  My last blog was harshly critical of the pastor, Alois Bell and her Applebee’s adventure.   If you have no clue what I’m talking about, read my blog here.

To refresh you, Pastor Alois went to dine at Applebee’s with some friends and when it came time to pay the bill, she was charged 18% gratuity.  She was not  impressed and showed it by writing, “I give God 10% why do you get 18%?”  A waitress finding it  insulting and comical felt that it was internet worthy and posted it online where it went viral.   She, the waitress, was promptly fired when the Pastor called the restaurant voicing her objection to the alleged invasion of privacy and breach of customer trust.  Well me being my opinionated self, jumped all over it and berated the pastor for being a cheapskate for trying to shortchange the poor waitress.

Later, I saw an interview that Pastor Alois Bell did on the Fox network.  I watched it in its entirety and within the first couple of minutes, I realized that I had been too quick to crucify the pastor.  She was very open and apologetic and being a good reader of people, I knew she was legit.  She did not show up to the interview wearing a brand name suit with hair and nails done.  She looked like your regular woman in the next pew.   She was down-to-earth and real.  Alois saw the lesson that her action presented.  She admitted her human frailty that led her to do what she did.  We all make mistakes.  Even I do.  And did.

Alois, you keep on doing your thing.  You seem like a nice person.  You erred but we all err but not all of us say sorry.  I am sorry for being so quick to judge and sentence you.  After all, who the heck am I to cast the first stone?

 

Watch the pastor’s apologize on Fox:

Pastor apologizes

Related:

Cheapskate pastor

Casting the first stone

Gangnam Style Can Cause Death!

Gangnam_Style_PSY_31logo (Photo credit: KOREA.NET – Official page of the Republic of Korea)

 

Told you there was something I didn’t like about this song.  Turns out that it is a killer!   You can read my blog about it here.

 

A man in England died Saturday after an office party performance of “Gangnam Style” led to chest pains and an eventual failure of the heart.

Eamonn Kilbride, 46, had just finished dancing to Korean pop star Psy’s wildly popular “Gangnam Style” at his company’s office party when he noticed chest pains around his heart and passed out onto the floor of Lancashire’s Whitehall Country Club.

Paramedics tried to revive the man, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the Royal Blackburn Hospital a few minutes after 11:30pm.

A spokesman for Blackburn coroner’s office told Britain’s Daily Telegraph that Kilbride died from acute heart failure caused by coronary artery atheroma, which can often derive from vigorous exercise.

According to Kilbride’s wife Julie, the former IT manager was a “loving husband” and avid golfer who “was always the life of the party and loved dancing.”

“We were having a fantastic time at the Christmas party and Eamonn had just finished dancing to ‘Gangnam Style,’” she told the Telegraph.

“He was up on stage and entertaining everybody. He said he had a bit of a pain and just collapsed.”

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles

• Gangnam Style Dance Ends in Man’s Death (mashable.com)
• Man dies of heart attack after dancing to ‘Gangnam Style’ (foxnews.com)
• A Man Dies Doing the “Gangnam Style” Dance at His Office Christmas Party (ksfm.cbslocal.com)
• dad of three dies gangnam (thesun.co.uk)

 

12.12.12 and its meaning

Today is the last of triple date you and I will ever see.  Sad eh?  Not really.  What does it mean?  Nothing.   Just another date that looks nice and will look even nicer at 12:12pm.   A palindrome as it is called.

Now consider 08.08.08.  That was four years ago and was the last time I would ever have a birthday in that sequence.  Ever!   Sad eh? Yeah, I’ll really miss those numbers.  Oh, consider this also, my birthday is August 8th, 08.08, multiply them by each other and you get 64 which coincidentally, is my birth year. Freaky!

So as you go about your day, try not to pay too much attention to the fact that it is 12.12.12.  It’s hard to ignore as it is on every media and your friends won’t let you forget it.   As I blog,  an ad on the radio beckons me to come on down and purchase a vehicle as today is a monumental day.   Sure, I’ll get right on that.  There are also quite a few weddings today.  Unusual for a Wednesday but it’s not a usual Wednesday, right?  Wrong!  Tell that to your boss.   The good thing about this though is the husbands would never again forget their anniversary, or would they?  So if you can’t escape it the 12.12.12 hype,  then have yourself a Happy 12.12.12, enjoy the palindrome.

Related articles

• Daily Teaching for Wednesday, December 12th (bishopcraig.com)
• Check your Calendars 12.12.12 (bloesem.blogs.com)
• 12.12.12 : Much Ado About Nothing? (nextbigwhat.com)
• Here’s the New York Times Fluff Piece From the Last Time the Date Was 12/12/12 (gawker.com)
• 12.12.12 (lucyfareyjones.com)
• Lucky 12! (avadfan.com)
• Wednesday is 12/12/12. So what? (mercurynews.com)
• 12/12/12: The last sequential date in our lifetimes (wjla.com)
• 12/12/12 – What Will You Do today? (kathryneriksen.wordpress.com)
• Wedding surge for 12/12/12 date (bbc.co.uk)
• What It Really Means
• http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/odd-facts-about-121212