Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 The Year In Review


O, I was looking back today at the events that shaped the year 2015.  I have to say, for myself, it was not a bad year, but for the world and the US, it was really not a great year.  There were a lot more people killed, a lot more crazy on the streets and a lot more people that feel that it's ok to take someone's life because they don't agree with you.  Of course there have been some milestones also.  So let's take a look at 2015: ( this is a long post so bare with me!)

January - Charlie Hedbo in Paris, a couple of terrorist bust into this publisher's office kill a bunch of people, get away then the next day take some people hostage in a grocery store.

March - Some wacky Pilot in Germany decided to kill himself and takes down the airplane he is charged to fly along with 150 passengers.

April - Dzhokhar Tsarnaev - the younger of the two brothers that dropped the backpack bombs on the Boston Marathon, was found guilty and sentenced to death.  And that's not the only person who got the death penalty, it's unfortunate that Walter Scott was killed in NC as he ran from the police and it was all caught on a cell phone.  Then if that wasn't bad enough, a week later in Baltimore, Freddy Gray, Doa after being pick up in a paddy wagon for some petty crime.

May - an Amtrak Passenger Train derails outside of Philly.  The conductor was not sure what actually happened, but a bunch of people died!  I hear they did install those speed controls on the rails recently though.

In June we had Escape from NY, when two inmates with the help of a prison employee escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY.  Richard Matt and David Sweat (great name) with the help of an infatuated Joyce Mitchell.  I believe they spent about 20 days on the run.  Also in June we had the mass shooting of 9 at a bible study group at a church in Charleston, SC. These people died only because they were black and the jerk that shot them fancied himself a white supremacist.

On a lighter note on June 26th, 2015 the Supreme Court of the USA upheld the right for gay people to marry throughout the United States.

August - We were privy to an on Air Shooting of two news reporters in Roanoke Va.  A former co-worker with mental issues was the culprit.

Also throughout the entire summer and still to this day we are seeing the plight of the Syrian people seeking refuge in whatever country will take them as they flee from their war torn country.  Who can forget that picture of the 3 year old dead child that drowned in the police officer's arms?

On another lighter note, in September we say Pope Francis coming to America, DC, NYC and Philly hosted.

Then on November 13th, more Terror in Paris, when a series of coordinated attacks killed about 130 people then France unleashed a huge can of whoop ass in the countries that they hide!  pack of ISIL (or should I say Assholes?)

But of course that would not be the end, on December 2nd, 2015 San Bernardino, Ca, 2 rouge Taliban sympathisers shot up a holiday luncheon at the Public Health Department, when the male of the two used to work.  14 died that day and 22 were injured.

This has not been a good year for the world at large.  As a matter of fact I found a statistic that says there have been 57 mass shootings this year along where 3 or more people were killed.  Just to name a few that I haven't already, Roseburg, Or college campus shooting, Chattanooga, TN, military recruitment center, Planned Parenthood, Co, because of that photo shopped video of the "baby parts".

The list goes on...but my point is, just be kind to each other. People don't always have to agree to get along, just remember we are all just trying to get along with our own lives.

And with that, I wish you all a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE NEW YEAR!



Wednesday, December 23, 2015

12 Things About An Atheist Holiday Season


  1. It's the time of year that you can't wait to happen but wish was over with already.
  2. You spend more money than you ever intend on gifts.
  3. You eat more Food and Drink more booze than you thought was humanly possible.
  4. You wonder for half the year where you will get the money for gifts.
  5. Even though you don't believe in the whole baby Jesus thing, you still enjoy the Holidays.
  6. You love having a fresh tree in your house or at least the smell of pine.
  7. Christmas lights are fun!
  8. Even though you're not religious, you still wish people a Merry Christmas,
    Happy Holidays or Happy Hanukkah.
  9. You are quite happy when you do NOT have a white Christmas.
  10. You kinda Like non religious Holiday Music.  
  11. You always buy your pets presents
  12. You wish more people would understand the meaning of Their Holiday instead of the need and want for material things.


Monday, December 21, 2015

Random Acts of Kindness

I think that it's important to remember to be kind to people and all living things, not only this time of the year but all year 'round.  I'm not saying that you should give all of your money to charities or give up all of your worldly possessions but to just remember that not everyone has it as good as you do right now.  And simple acts of kindness do go a long way in this cold and uncaring world sometimes.

My mother used to tell me, "I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet."  I would laugh about the absurdity of such a statement until I got older, then I realized what it really means.  Its not that I consider myself a spiritual or religious person because anyone that knows me knows I believe that's a suckers bet, but I do believe that what comes around does go around and karma does have its way of finding you no matter where you hide.  

I give to a number of charities every year.  Mostly animal related not only
because I sometimes care more about animals than I do people but because I believe that if we can not show compassion and empathy for the lowest of creatures how can we do so for our fellow human beings?

I try not to be in such a rush all of the time,  and remember that there are others on this planet just trying to get along.  Sometimes its the simplist of things like saying "thank you" when someone holds the door for you at the local coffee shop or even just a smile and direct eye contact that can make another person's day.  I have always believed that Kindness is contagious and its something that everyone should catch.



Thursday, December 17, 2015

HAPPY SATURNALIA!


Since we are in the festive season now, I just thought I would reach out to all of my ancient roman and greek and Pagan friends and wish them and all a very Happy Saturnalia and prosperous new year!  IO Saturnalia!

Saturnalia runs from Dec 17th till Dec 23th.

If you are wondering what the heck Im talking about, check out this link here:



Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Getting Through the Holidays


As if the Holidays are not hard enough to get through with all of the commercializing and stress of buying presents and going to parties and dealing with relatives, we also have to make sure we do not gain 1000lbs between thanksgiving and the new year.


From November 25th until January 2nd, anyone that has ever tried to lose weight or at the very least maintain weight is doomed. Cookies, cakes, dinners, alcohol all tempt us at every turn.  But I feel it doesn't have to be like that.  Of course it's easier when you can exactly eat a lot but you can still gain weight even after being sleeved.

Being Sleeved and having lost a large amount of weight doesn't make me immune from gaining holiday weight.  There are ways that you can put on the pounds and still think you are being good when in reality, you are eating things you know you should not.

I think the single most important thing to remember is, get in your exercise.  Even if you do eat a couple of cookies, a piece of cheesecake or something you know you should not have if you burn off those calories at the very least you can maintain your weight.

Also, being sleeved, I think it's important to remember that you should always eat your protein first.  Sure there are plenty of carbs out there calling your name during these trying times but truth is, protein won't kill you or your weight as quick as carbs will!  And lets face it, I'm over a year out and, I can really only eat like 3/4 of a cup of food at a time, so you have to make it count.  However if you eat something every hour, the calories are going to add up and you will gain weight.

I love to cook especially for the holidays.  When I was a kid my mom would have cookie night and we would invite friends over and we would all make cookies and listen to the radio and just have a wonderful time.  These are the times that I remember when it comes to the Holidays and that is why I still dedicate a day to making cookies just about every year.  I give most of them away, but that doesn't mean that the Holidays need to revolve around food.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Refugee, rescue me

I have been thinking about all the hubbub lately about the United States taking in 10,000 Syrian refugees.  The majority of them would be women and children.  
There are many people that believe this would be opening the front door to invite terrorists into our country.   I find it hard to understand why these people have so much hate towards citizens of a country that have done nothing to them.

Granted, I did see on the news this morning that about 70 people have been arrested in the United States over the last year in connection to terrorists plots and sympathisers, who are mostly, by the way, US citizens or permanent residents.  (information taken from the article below)

We, as citizens of this great county, do not need any help with terrorism.  We grow our own, right here in the good ole US of A.  Recent case in point, Robert Dear, who just shot up an abortion clinic and strip mall out in Colorado Springs (isn't that where Det McKenna is from??)  Because of that stupid altered videotape that the Republican'ts (that's not a typo!)  run as their forum to "end abortions" with some morons (who are not the status quo) selling baby parts. But I digress...

Both sides of my family came from over the pond to the United States around world war II.  Both sides (or at least my mother's side, I know for sure) came in through Ellis Island.  Some were quarantined, vaccinated, indoctrinated, so why can't we do this for these Syrian refugees?  I don't think that we should just let them in without some kind of checking but I certainly don't think that we should turn them away.

Our country was built on the backs of immigrants.  The Statue of Liberty shines the light to our coast line with these words:

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Who are we to turn our backs on people in need???




ISIS in the US