Such Negativity!

I hate this time of year. Especially when it's a big election season and the airwaves are filled one mudsling after another. It seems to me that the candidates who are looking to be elected into this position or that say more negative things about each other than what they will really do for the public IF elected. Why is mudslinging so popular and widespread?

I really don't care about who supposed did what on this issue or who side-stepped or backtracked on that issue - just tell me what you will do for me and my community. It seems to me that there must not be any real teeth in any candidates ideas or platform so all they can do is resort to negativity. There's too much of that in the world already.

Will I go to the polls on Election Day? You bet I will, just like I do for every election, whether it's a big one or not. I just hope that someday I can vote for someone I actually like rather than vote for someone just to keep someone else out.

What do you think? How do you feel about the advertisements and soundbites during election season? Do you vote? Do you even care? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we would love to hear from you. Mike

Is That All There Is?

I can't help but feeling the sentiment lately in the Peggy Lee song, "Is that all there is?". Sometimes I get kind of depressed and fed-up with what's going on in my life and the world and simply want to shut down.

I am not happy at all with how things are looking for the world these days. I also have to remember that I cannot change things according to my sense of what's right and wrong. I am also not responsible for what "wrong" things are happening or for what others do. It all just gets very depressing.

I constantly try to remember to do my part in my own little scheme of things and "keep my side of the street clean". It's just hard when my "side" of the street gets smaller and encroached by others who don't care.

So, that's my thought for this early morning. The world is going to hell-in-a-hand-basket and all I can do is sit and watch. It's frustrating.
What do you think? Do you feel powerless and out-of-control at times? Do you even care? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we'd love to hear from you.
Mike

Where Have I Been?

Hey, all. I have just noticed that I have been neglecting my blog entries as of late. Not to worry, I am still around. I have just been providing more content on my other, professional blog on the Graphic Design Forum.
But, I am here on this blog to do what I like to do - and that is to rant and vent.

All I can say at this date is "Bring 'em home, NOW!" This fiasco overseas has gone on long enough. It's time to cut our losses, admit we are defeated, and bring home the men and women who have been forced to work under the worst conditions anyone has ever faced. We tried and it just didn't work. Say you were wrong, apologize, and move on. Oh yeah, the straight-white-WASP-men in charge don't do that sort of thing, I forgot.

There has been some talk of starting to talk about the possibility of a timetable when the troops may start coming home. I don't have too much faith or confidence in that.

Anyway, all I can do from my own little world is to hope and pray that not too many more of our brave, naive, innocent youth lose their lives fighting a war based on fear. It's really sad how far fear can go and what it can lead people to.

What do you think? Are you over this so-called war? Do you think it's time to bring 'em home or not? What do you think about a war based on fear? Do you even care? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we'd love to hear from you. Mike

Public Relief

I have been noticing something going on where I live that is increasingly making me sick. I see grown men (and boys at times) simply whipping it out and taking a pee whenever and virtually where ever they please. I mean, in the plain view of the general public in various locations on the City streets. What's up with that?

I know that we, as guys, have been blessed with a liquid plumbing system that is a little more adaptable to relieving ourselves with ease, but, come on, on city sidewalks and doorways?

You would normally think that homeless men would naturally be doing this since they don't have many opportunities of going into an establishment and using the restroom. But, I have been increasingly noticing otherwise civilized men doing it in the street.

Here are three rather recent incidents: (1) a man in the parking garage of my apartment building - in which he resides - was found taking a whiz in a small corner beside my car, plain as day! (2) a man, who was carrying his young son on his shoulders at a local street fair, placed the boy beside a typcial sidewalk beautification project tree, and told him to whip it out and relieve himself right there - with tons of other street fair patrons walking by! and, (3) a man who was a little drunk, I think, told his friend to hold on a second so he could take a piss in a supposedly hidden spot, but this "hidden spot" was right beside a full plate glass window of a local Peet's coffee - with people sitting right there to see him!
In all three of these instances the men (and boy) had ample opportunity to use a bathroom, like normal, civilized people.

The City is not the back woods and we're not walking around in a forest in the middle of nowhere. What is up with this feeling of entitlement where we can pee whenever and where ever we want? It is disgusting and filthy!

I don't get it and I had to vent on this part of the demise of human civilization. What do you think? Do you ever see otherwise sane men, or women, relieving themselves in public? Do you do it? Do you even care? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we'd love to hear about them. Mike

How Weird

I went to the How Weird Street Faire yesterday. It was definitely a 'locals' fair and it made me appreciate, once again, how great of a city I live in.

This "faire" is all about the arts, music, and just being anything or anyone you want to be. Costumes are encouraged and there were all types. It reminded me of a cross between Halloween and a tamer Folsom Street Fair.

There were many booths of local artists and organizations who were selling their stuff. Mainly, the items were organically made, like hemp and recycled stuff, and the entire atmosphere was all about being green and kind to the earth. There was even an urban oasis of a grass sitting area, complete with a fountain, in the middle of it all.

The best part was the music. There were 5 or 6 stages of different types of dance music. Most of sounds were various forms of dance and house, and all very good. It is great to see a lot of people dancing in the streets - young and old. It was a good day and I enjoyed myself.

I think that this sort of local mingling and socialization is good for us. It is a time to let go of the stresses of daily life and just relax for a few hours. It definitely made a difference in my afternoon.

What do you think? Do you participate in local fairs and events? Do you like to see 'local color'? Do you even care? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we'd love to hear from you. Mike

What is the Definition of 'Illegal'?

I have been troubled by something lately that really disturbs me. I have a feeling that I a may not be as liberal and on the left-side of things as I once thought. It all has to do with illegal immigration to the U.S.

OK, before I get myself into trouble, I feel that everyone has the right to be themselves and to express themselves in any way that doesn't hurt other people. I also think it is great that America was founded on the principals of freedom and allowing anyone to reach for their own version of the "American Dream". But, what happens if a person was not born in the U.S. and desires to migrate here? More specifically, what if a person wants to simply cross the border, move here, and do so without following the rules and laws for doing so?

The meaning of illegal is "not according to or authorized by law - unlawful, illicit". According to that definition, an illegal immigrant is a person who migrates to another location not according to or authorized by law. Illegal means "against the law". So, do those folks who migrate to another location in an illegal manner have the right to ask for, and receive, rights and protections which are afforded to those who legally migrate? Aren't these rules or laws put in place for a valid reason? Shouldn't those who desire to locate to another location or country go through the legal process and follow those rules? It really troubles me.

I am trying so hard to understand and not be too judgmental or racist. I don't think race has anything to do with this. Anyone who migrates to another country, plants themself in that country, then demands laws and protections afforded to those who are nationals or came to that country through legal channels has nothing to do with race.

Why can't we all just go where we please and move where we desire without record or registration? It is obvious that there are resources and other matters which need to be accounted for and allocated. Without some sort of order, law, restriction, or process, these resources and other matters would soon be depleted and unavailable for anyone.

So, this is the question on my mind for the times. Just what does illegal immigrant mean and what does it really stand for? In my mind, illegal is illegal and that's that.

What do you think? How do you view the illegal immigrant goings-on? Are you 'open' or 'closed'? Please post your thoughts and feelings here as we'd love to hear from you. Mike

I've Hit the Big Time

I finally did it. I've hit the big time in the blogging world. I am now part of the team of contributing writers to the Graphic Design Forum (http://blogs.graphicdesignforum.com/)and couldn't be happier.

I plan on using this outlet for my attempts at more professional content, without as much of the personal interjections that are so common on this blog. Oh, I plan on keeping and maintaining "Creatives and Lefties", of course. It is just nice to have a chance to get my posts read by many, many more folks in the professional and not-so-professional design world.

So, please, keep coming back here and also go to the GDF site to read more from me and the rest of the team.
Yeehaw!

Mike