Independence Day Weekend Shenanigans

I can remember a time when we took the kids camping or out to do some outdoor activity during Independence Day Weekend.  In the beginning, it was a great release, a respite from our madness to just soak up the outdoors and celebrate our independence, well, independently.  Things began to change, however.  More and more people came out to the lakes, an increasing number of partiers began to litter the state parks.  I can recall one time when I almost got into a physical altercation with some mouth-breathing, Natural Lite-drinking, wife beater shirt-wearing, troglodyte who was certain that everyone in the state park wanted to hear his obnoxiously loud rap music from his boat's sound system. I asked him nicely to turn it down just a bit to which he responded with some slurred gibberish followed by him spitting on the ground dangerously close to me.

He turned down the volume.

That was really the end of it though.  It had become too much of a hassle dealing with all the drunk buffoons and their angry little offspring during the holiday weekends.  Camping was fine, but not during the holidays.  Law enforcement has their hands full on the holidays at the lakes, and I don't envy them one damned bit.

There are, of course, the city-sponsored shindigs wherein you pay for parking, you fight the hipsters and the soccer moms to get comfortable, and of course, it's mandatory that you hear all about their friend who just had breast implants and Botox, and how they too are considering the procedures.  God, help us.

Now, Independence Day has become more contemplative for me.  My band, Signal 8, is playing a private gig this weekend and that will be fun.  But it is an intimate affair and already I'm anxious about the traffic that will no doubt end up being problematic.  Even with all of the idiots out there, I love Independence Day.  It is when we celebrate our break from tyranny, and the birth of something completely different.

I suppose that freedom means that the goofballs mentioned previously have a right to be goofballs.  It's part of this experiment in self-government we find ourselves creating.  They probably shouldn't get on my nerves as they do, and it's something I need to work through - I'll get to that AFTER the holiday weekend.

From me to you, have a safe and sane Independence Day.  Party your all-American asses off, but do NOT drink and drive.

Gorilla

They Got It All Wrong

I found myself deep in thought today, thinking about some of the things my parents taught me, some of the things our communities preach to us and swear are true, and even some of the things my pastor from junior high school taught me.  To a person, they all got something wrong along the way.  I thought that I would share these with you and perhaps you would agree with me.

First, there is a very popular restaurant in the central area of Oklahoma City that is the "hip and happening" place for all of the go-getters to be seen.  The place gets marvelous reviews as some of the best Mexican food around.  Well, they lied.  The food is an odd combination of Mexican cuisine and hipster sauces made from stuff none of us have heard of before.  The presentation of the meals is good, is suppose, if you don't mind eating something that looked like Picasso puked on your plate.   The colors are pretty, I suppose.  And it's expensive too.

Second, I remember my pastor when I was a kid who used to preach the virtues of marriage, extolling the great many benefits of a monogamous relationship and how God really digs it when we stay married for a very, very long time to someone we have grown to not like being around.  He would talk about how important the sanctity of marriage was and how divorce was of the devil.  He didn't really feel that way after diddling the church secretary though.  Maybe God changed his mind?  Well, he got it all wrong.  Marriage is a tough racket and for those reading this who have stuck it out decade after decade, I tip my hat to you.

Third, my parents always told me that country music was the best to listen to.  That was just wrong of them to do.  There is so much more music out there than just country music - which has its virtues, but to compare Don Giovanni with Red Solo Cup is a bit of a stretch.  I don't think it was very nice of them to do that to me.  They were SO wrong.

Fourth, I remember Pat Robertson saying that God would destroy Orlando because of the gay pride day at Disney World.  He got that all wrong, didn't he?  Then there was the whole Oral Roberts extortion gig of $5 million or something.  He too was wrong.  I've come to the conclusion that televangelists are a bad idea as a general rule.

Fifth, at my last birthday, I turned 50.  My friends told me that it would only get easier from there.  They were totally wrong.  It hasn't been easier, it has been a larger pain in the ass than I imagined.  Getting old sucks.  I am a 30 year-old trapped in a 50 year-old body and there is nothing whatsoever I can do about it.

Lastly, people who are on a sugar-free diet told me that sugar-free ice cream tastes like the real thing.  They lied.  It doesn't.  And the sweeteners used in it have the same effect on the digestive system as Liquid Plummer.  But then again, it's better than not having sweets.  I just eat it on the commode to save myself the trip.

Well, there you have it.  Your Thursday thoughts.  Hope you've been entertained.

Gorilla

Humpty Hump Day Happenings

This week has brought us the great confederate flag conflagration of 2015 (see what I did there?) and it is mind-boggling just how intense the dialog has become.  Democrats are attributing slavery to Republicans, Republicans are slapping down the Democrats by saying that they are responsible for the lack of freedoms and the nightmare that the flag represents for some.  To me, and I'm probably wrong here, this kind of public bickering, the gnashing of teeth and wearing of sack cloth over this issue must paint a desperately infintile picture of who America has become.  It is just simply sad and pathetic.

Now.  Everyone take a deep breath.  Feel better?  Good.

Music

The band I've been playing in will be at the Rockin' the Box Music Festival on July 25th (Saturday).  The festival is a three-day beast, starting Friday evening and ending Sunday evening.  Tickets are $10, however, if you purchase tickets for the whole event, there's quite a savings - $45 for three days, for two.

Our band, Signal 8, has been busting chops to put together an entertaining set that will make you smile and definitely make you want to jump up and down and celebrate.  Some of the other bands, the headliners like Left To Die are incredibly talented, artful musicians who are not only great players, but fun folks to be around.  We consider it an honor and a privilege to play with these folks.

It is an event of only Oklahoma/Dallas bands and is designed to spark a new fire for the appreciation and enjoyment of local music.  Do yourself a huge favor and pick up some tickets and enjoy the food trucks, the festival atmosphere, and the awesome music for the weekend.

Politics

Trump.  Donald Trump.  Wow.  Enough said.

The Oklahoma County Republicans, among others, are clamoring for the head of one of former State Senator Randy Brogdon's choices for staff at the Oklahoma GOP.  T.C. Ryan pled guilty to charges of domestic violence some time ago, and Brogdon has drawn his line in the sand over this cat.  He refuses to let him go or even entertain the idea.  This type of incident is only proving what haters of the Republican Party believe to be true.  Because of this alone, Brogdon will be a one-term GOP Chairman.  Maybe Ryan has been rehabilitated, maybe he's a swell, upstanding citizen these days - but his response and the response of his mentor is perceived as wickedly arrogant and aloof.  Ryan, in my opinion, should address this issue himself, take it on and make it his issue and not that of the GOP Chair.  It's just ate up with dumb ass to let it go this far and become this heated.  But then again, what in the hell do I know?

While the madness at the State GOP continues, the Oklahoma Democratic Party has once again shown that while they may be progressive in politics, they are horrible at public relations and being able to take advantage of the GOP's weakness right now.  Mark Hammons (State Chair) and Sarah Baker (so-called Communications Director) need to sack up and show that the ODP stands for something completely different than that of the Oklahoma GOP.  I'm not going to say much more, but if an individual has more than 50 functioning brain cells, it is obvious what type of media strategy they should embrace right now.

Well, at least it's Wednesday.  Merely two days away from the weekend.

Gorilla

More In Common

Social media is often wonderfully entertaining.  The political machines chugging along with their little cult members parroting every pathetically rehearsed line from the candidate's mouths as though it's Gospel, and then there are the folks from the "like if you love Jesus" crowd who are explaining to the world how they love God more than y'all.  Social media has become a pulpit of sorts for everyone from every walk of life and religious affection to share their thoughts and ideas - and the cacophony of voices are only getting louder.

When folks have something intelligent to say, that's just fine.  When it's propaganda for propaganda's sake, it sucks. 

At the very heart of the whole of the ideological spectrum, or from a religious or "moral" standpoint, there are common elements that both sides of the aisle share, but we're often too busy running our damned mouths to even notice.  You see, it's easy to be pissed off and stay pissed off because of "righteous indignation," and it gathers a crowd who end up screaming for someone's blood, but at the foundation, we have more in common with one another than we have reasons to riot.  Here are a few examples of what I am getting at:

Police Brutality:  On the hardcore left, the goal is to see people not have to live in fear of authority and not have that authority inflict harm on its citizens.  On the right, they want pretty much the same thing - they're called Libertarians and Tea Partiers.  What is missed in this equation is that most people who are bitching the loudest on both sides haven't the intestinal fortitude to do what law enforcement is forced to face each day.  It doesn't excuse by any means errant officers who break the law, as a matter of fact, they should be punished quite firmly when they do break the law.  On the other hand, maybe people should stop breaking the law and start acting like human beings with common sense.  The stress on law enforcement would be lessened if we could do that and we'd have a nicer place for all of us to live.

African American President:  This generation has made history by electing a man whose skin color would have gotten him killed in parts of the country not 60 years ago.   Both sides of the aisle want to see our country safe, prosperous, caring, strong, and effective.  The hardcore left loves the President just because of his skin color, and there are those on the hardcore right who hate him for the same reason.  But at the bottom line, you'll find that we all want the President to succeed because for him to succeed means that the whole of the country succeeds.  I'm not a fan of many of his policies but it his policies I abhor, not the color of his skin.

Love:  Everyone wants to love and be loved.  Unless you're a complete sociopath, the human experience includes connection with others and a desire to feel secure in a way that only love can bring.  I don't give a hoot what your political affiliation may be, when you're loved, you're a better person.  When you love others, you become a beacon of light rather than a giver of darkness.

Football:  At a football game, there are supporters of one side and supporters of the other.  No one cares what political party you belong to because what matters is the game and the team.  Period.

Comedy:  We all love to laugh and that excludes no one.  Humor is a uniquely human attribute and it doesn't matter if you're a Lutheran, a Methodist, a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian, a Baptist, or an agnostic - we all love to laugh and there isn't anything wrong with that. 

No Hungry Children:  Not a single person I know would advocate that any child should go hungry.  Not a one.  Conservatives and liberals alike see the problem as real, but often, nothing gets done.  

You see?  We have great things in common and if we only had the courage to cherish those things rather than fight about issues of little impact, the world as we know it today would change.  Granted, there will always be the criminal element lurking about, but as a general rule, peace with one another is better than conflict. 

Social media is a great place for positivity and a celebration of commonalities to start.  One person can share a positive note with friends and the result is someone's day is made more bright.  One person can surprise a friend with a sweet message and provide comfort for someone suffering from depression.  Sharing information about progress, about volunteerism, about planting a garden are all very positive and fun things to see on social media rather than the argumentative tripe we see spewing forth today.  Don't you get tired of the duplicity on both sides?  Wouldn't it be nice to see everyone within our sphere of influence just get along and not try to eat each others' flesh with vitriol?

Hell, I'm as guilty as any, if not more so because I was a talk show host. 

Of course, this is just my opinion and if you disagree with me, you're probably one of those long-haired, Birkenstock-wearing, dope smoking, hippie.  Or you're a conservative, fascist, racist, homophobic, idiot.  Either way, you know I'm right.

Gorilla

The Dirty Profession

If you have a few functioning brain cells left after Rocklahoma, take a moment and ask yourself what you believe the dirtiest, filthiest profession in Oklahoma may be?  Is it to be a stripper?  How about a prostitute?  Well, if you are a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, you'd probably answer that teachers, yes teachers, are the bottom feeders in the Oklahoma workforce.

Every legislative session without fail, some utterly useless pile of human waste authors legislation that causes a stir for teachers.  This last tango included House Bill 1749 (Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-epulsive, and Representative Tom Sewell, R-idiculous) made it illegal for teacher unions to have payroll deductions to pay for union dues of their membership.  Of course, it's one of those bills that make the red-meat-eating Super-Republicans salivate, but like many of the bills being hatched by the GOP legislature, it will be shot down as unconstitutional and, well, stupid.

According to the Tulsa World, Representative Newell had this to say:

“I’m not an attorney. As we were drafting the bill, I talked to our staff attorneys that help us,” Newell said. “This was a controversial bill so there were lots of attorneys who looked at it. I was not aware there were any questions about the wording of the bill.”

Oh, bloody hell, that's rich.  That pabulum ("I'm not an attorney") seems to be the catch-phrase when a legislator pulls some piece of legislation out of his ass to get some headlines and the aggregate result is that taxpayers are forced to foot the bill for the lawsuits to kill these types of unconstitutional laws.   Deacon Pruitt, however, would love to defend this bill and take it to the Supreme Court so we can show the world how godly Oklahoma can be.

But I digress.

Yes, the Legislature has staff attorneys at their disposal (Fred Morgan was one for the Senate), but apparently these folks must be college buddies or drinking pals or something because they are way off the mark in telling Sewell that this was a bill that would pass constitutional muster.

Your tax dollars hard at work, y'all.  But that's the "Oklahoma Standard," isn't it?

Teachers are instrumental in our society and an invaluable resource.  Hell, I believe that the Legislature gets paid more than the teachers at this point, but teachers sure put a burr in the saddle of the GOP sycophants.  I suppose on some level we have only ourselves to blame for this type of bovine feces.  We keep electing these window-licking clowns with IQs barely above room temperature and we expect something more? 

Do we laugh or cry?

Teachers are an easy target because it plays well in conservative media.  The evil teacher unions are trying to push the pro-Muslim, pro-gay, flag-burning, Communist agenda on our kids, right? Teachers are greedy, mean, ant-Christian devil-worshipers who would rather sacrifice our children on an altar than they would teach them.  Just ask Douche Limbaugh, Sean Vanity or even any of the pitiful excuses for talk radio hosts in Oklahoma and they will all sing the same melody.  There is literally no one holding these elected ass hats accountable and we're paying the price.  There was a time when the papers and radio hosts had the balls to go after so-called conservatives when it was deserved. 

I've spent time with teachers and I've spent time with legislators.  I'd rather break bread with a teacher than some self-righteous narcissist who would spend their days kissing their own asses if their necks would allow.

As Ronald Reagan once said to a friend of mine who served in the Reagan Administration, "Sometimes, we just have to do the right thing because it IS the right thing."  In this case, the right things to do are to  leave the teachers alone, pay them better, flush that merit-pay tripe down the toilet, and do our jobs as parents to teach our children that school is a place for an education, not a free-for-all panty raid of adolescent hormone surges.  When our children act up, discipline.  Teach our kids to respect authority and guess what happens?  The whole of academia will benefit.

Oh, and if you're wondering where the funding for teacher raises would come, take these measures:

Okay, she's kinda hot.  We still need to eliminate that post.

1.  Eliminate the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction and use the State Board of Education to do something other than pontificate.  Cutting that position will save hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in salary and benefits.  Maintain administrative functions with existing staff and consolidate school district administrative functions - not consolidate schools.  There is no reason in hell that Oklahoma should have so many administrators and districts.  It's insane.

2.  Make our part-time legislature truly be part time.  They should convene every two years and be paid accordingly.  This is Oklahoma, people.  There isn't that much going on really, except for the Thunder and college football.

3.  Eliminate a percentage of ad valorem tax breaks given to oil and gas companies, and dedicate the revenue for teacher pay.  And don't start rending your garments and bathing in sack cloth and ashes.  If you think that they can't afford it, just go downtown and look at the Devon phallus that towers over the other buildings.  No.  They aren't making a statement or anything...

4.  Cut the Quality Jobs Program in half.  The screening process should be much more stringent anyway and anyone who argues that Oklahoma needs incentives for businesses to locate here probably works for the Chamber.  Cut the budget in half, give difference to teachers.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Let's go do some good with whatever time we have left.  It might not be very long. 

Gorilla

Rubbing Crap In Your Hair Crazy

Good heavens, this has been one hell of a crazy week.  At the top of the dung heap of political news this week is this bizarre conflagration taking place in the Oklahoma GOP.  State Chairman Randy Brogdon had decided that a fellow by the name of TC Ryan would make a good Executive Director for the party, but then assigned him to the post of Political Director because of his past transgressions.  And it has stirred up a turd storm.

TC Ryan plead guilty in 2012 to domestic abuse charges and has been an active, hardcore borderline Libertarian, but with a bit of an attitude.  Ryan met with some controversy a few years back when he posted a picture of himself flipping off a cardboard cutout of Mitt Romney.  Apparently, Romney was too much of a "Chamber type" for Ryan.  Brogdon considers Ryan to be a good friend and everyone knows that Brogdon's election came as a shock to most of the GOP because of his extremely so-called conservative views.  It was known at that moment that anyone who opposed Brogdon on any level would be labeled as an enemy to the conservative cause and a puppet to the Chamber.

Domestic violence is a big deal, no matter how the advocacy for Ryan tries to paint it.  It is a pimple on the rear end of our culture and men who think it's okay to beat up women (and do so in front of kids) should never be in a political position of power.  Ever.  

The legendary Mike McCarville and the McCarville Report has been under attack as well because he had the spinal integrity to post a few stories about the idiotic decision of Brogdon to hire Ryan as Executive Director and when pressured, did nothing more but demote him to Political Director.  McCarville has nailed it at every turn where this story is concerned and if you want up-to-date news about the ongoing soap opera called, "As the GOP Turns," stay with McCarville to get the truth.

In other news, the Oklahoma Democratic Party has completely missed the boat in terms of a public relations opportunity handed to them on a silver platter by former gubernatorial candidate, Randy Brogdon.  It's the way of the ODP since Borens left the scene and it looks like there is nothing new happening that will change the path they are on.  The mainstream Republicans are thankful that the ODP is confused and bewildered how to handle this situation. 

Perhaps they need to hire a Democrat pit bull with the attitude of Ryan to pull their heads out of the sand.

Wallace Collins, according to the Democratic Party website, is still the chair of the party and since he's been in that seat, well, not a lot has happened.  They've lost ground to the GOP in almost every district and it doesn't look like they have much of a plan to get themselves out of it.  They still have their strongholds, but they are losing ground and justifiably so.  Look at their 5th District Congressional candidate for just one of many problems with candidates.  Of course, having Pastor George Young head of their 5th District officers lineup isn't going to help them much.  

Of course, this is all just my opinion and I could be wrong.  But I seriously doubt it.


Gorilla

She Wasn't A Saint

She cooked nutritious and filling meals out of virtually nothing and fed the whole family.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She loved with her whole heart, her whole mind, and her whole spirit.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She took care of our injuries when we did something asinine.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She was there for all our ballgames, cheering us on.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She gave the loudest applause at our music performances.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She would have given her life, or taken another's life if it meant keeping us safe.

But she wasn't a Saint.

She dried our tears when she told us that her time would be cut short.

But she wasn't a Saint. 

She withered away right in front of us, but was full of life.

But she wasn't a Saint.

Yes, it's true.  She wasn't a Saint.  She was something more special.

She was our Mom.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  You're missed.

"Butch"

I Hate Funerals

I was 14 when I attended my first funeral and it was devastating.  I sat in the front pew of the massive church with my little brother, as I recall.  It was the memorial service for my mother.  It was absolutely horrifying and I can't even begin to describe how frightened and lost I felt.  My brother to this day can only shake his head and wonder what in the hell happened.  It kind of shaped who we are today and neither of us are particularly proud of where we've ended up.  We own it, it's our fault and I assure you that I know without a doubt what the price of my sins has been and will continue to be.

I don't like funerals, never have and never will because of that.

A dear friend of mine posted a photograph on my profile yesterday of a poster inviting people to attend the funeral of a homeless veteran.  He had no family, no friends, but he was a United States Navy Veteran, so he had that brotherhood.  I fought every fiber in my being that didn't want to attend.  But, my sense of duty finally won out.

When I arrived at the funeral this morning, I was stunned at how many people were there.  Active duty military, retired military, civilians, and even police officers were  in attendance.  The Patriot Riders Motorcycle Club was there as well.  Looking out at the number of people in attendance, I was forced to obscure my face from the crowd because I didn't want anyone to see tears welling up in my eyes.

As I made the drive back home, I was just numb.  I hate to be reminded of my own mortality, yet this funeral was something more than just a reminder.  It was a revelatory event that underscored the fact

we're all just a few steps from homelessness.  It doesn't take much to completely devastate an individual and when it happens, there's not a lot of options left.  Putting the barrel of a gun in the mouth is one very final option.  Living out whatever days are left in a homeless shelter is another option, or one can load a few of his/her personal items and hit the road.

It was selfish on my part, but I found myself wondering who would be at my funeral.  I have family, some very wonderful friends, and a hope that they would be there to comfort my family in the event of my sudden departure.  It was a solemn and very quite ride back home.

We don't know the story of this homeless veteran, and we may never know.  What we do know, however, is that even though he was homeless, even though he had no family, people showed up to wish him "fair winds and following seas."

No one should ever die alone.

Gorilla

There Is Still Hope

The Oklahoma legislature has had nothing but bad press lately, including Kevin Calvey saying he'd "light himself on fire."  I don't care who you are...that's some crazy, funny stuff.  Then, there was a follow up report that tried to cover the insanity in the effort to explain it away, and it was a colossal failure.  I mean, come on. When a legislator who is also a National Guard member talks about lighting himself on fire, people have to pay attention.  To Calvey's credit, he is a man who is willing to let it all hang out where his faith is concerned.  Good for him.  But the people elected him to legislate, not preach.

And of course, there were the God Squad bills that were supposed to "protect families," and "religious freedom."  Some were so ludicrous, so unconstitutional that all I could do was shake my head and giggle at the silliness.  And yet, again, Oklahoma was thrust into the national spotlight.  Yay, us!

There has been a bill that made it through the House and the Senate that was pretty good, however.  The bill to ban texting and driving is a good bill and there's not a lot of doubt that the Governor will support it.  Normally, I would raise hell over a duplicitous bill because we have the "distracted driving" laws, but those laws are terribly hard to prove in court. This bill, however, has teeth and will be much more enforceable, and thereby more effective.  Kudos to the House and Senate for passing this bill.

Kind of gives you a glimmer of hope, doesn't it?  Of course, there's the deficit we have to deal with here in Oklahoma, but that can wait, right?

I suppose that every election cycle, we see the process as presenting hope and an opportunity to create change and make a better life for ourselves and our communities.  The candidates get all excited about their position papers, they begin to believe their own boiler plate press releases and then, the promises come.  Promises, of course that never come true.  But we see it as hope and without hope, there's really no point in living, is there?

As long as we in this country make a conscious decision to to maintain open dialog, there is still hope.  As long as there are people willing to hold politicians accountable, there is hope.  As long as we have each other, there is hope.  As long as we embrace our sense of humor, there is hope.

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Gorilla

The Answer Is NOT Rioting

Imagine for a moment how our culture would be if every time we got angry about something, we rioted and looted.  A friend doesn't return a call?  Riot.  Someone takes your parking space?  Looting.  Coffee was too hot?  That definitely calls for a full-tilt-gonzo riot, for heaven's sake.  This thing in Baltimore just doesn't make sense.  Well, I suppose it does on some level - an African-American man, Freddie Gray, was killed in the custody of those whom our society has tasked with keeping order, to keeping us safe.  It's not a good thing when law enforcement so brutally breaks the law.

It's almost like Congress giving themselves a pay raise every year.  Wait.  That really happens.

Rioting and acting like a bunch of dill weeds is not the damned answer.  Ever.  Never ever.  

Law enforcement is not perfect because it is comprised of the human element and where there are human beings, there will be mistakes.  Sometimes, those mistakes are fatal as they are in this case.  Here's part of the story from the Atlantic:

The police say Gray didn't resist arrest and that officers didn't use force, which seems to be mostly corroborated by video shot by bystanders. Gray seems to shout in pain, and his leg seems injured as officers drag him to a police van. (Someone off camera shouts, "His leg broke and y'all dragging him like that!") Gray also had asthma and requested his inhaler, but didn't get it. Yet it's not the leg or the asthma that killed him. Instead, it was a grave injury to his spinal cord. Gray's family said he was treated for three fractured vertebrae and a crushed voice box, the sorts of injuries that doctors say are usually caused by serious car accidents. The van made at least two stops before reaching the police station, but there's no footage to say what happened during the journey or at those stops.

Yes.  It's true.  Gray has one hell of a rap sheet on him; he has not been a model citizen.  But law enforcement is to be law enforcement, not a hit squad.  Is that the kind of country we want to live in?  The people, ironically enough, who have rolled out the "gee, look at what a dirtbag he was" argument are typically those who want LESS government intrusion, but where "bad guys" are concerned, it's a free-for-all. 

Bullshit.

Between this horrific incident, the recent story about the deputy in Tulsa who needlessly killed a man, and of course there was the police shooting of a man named Walter Scott in South Carolina, the public is unsettled, pissed off and justifiably so.  Police officers have an exceedingly difficult job on their hands and the vast majority of those involved in law enforcement are decent, hard-working men and women who feel that their job is like a calling.  These aren't the ones we hear about much because they are out there every day, putting their lives on the line.

These needless deaths at the hands of some "bad eggs" in law enforcement are sad, discouraging, and intensely frustrating.  But the answer is not rioting and looting.  I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but one thing that rioting does do is to feed into the stereotypes about the inner city.  Dumb asses.

Communities need to investigate the training measures and requirements to become a police officer to begin with.  And in my opinion, part of the reason we have some of these problems is that in many cases, law enforcement is morbidly underpaid.  Yes, that's right - morbidly underpaid.  If the incentive package is weak, the candidates for the job will be weak.  

We have to change this stuff now, but rioting isn't the answer.  Looting isn't the answer.  Investigating and prosecuting douchebags is, however, the answer. 

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong - but I seriously doubt it.


Gorilla

It Could Be Worse

Crazy bastard

Without question, we live in some of the most bizarre times in the history of humankind.  We have technology (such as this) to communicate with one another instantly, we have cascades of multi-family housing units but no "community", and we have a political system that while broken, it tries to work.  Well, for the most part.

There are a lot of naysayers, including myself at times, who like to tinkle on everything and just be contrarian simply for the sake of being contrarian.  On the other hand, there are folks who feed off of the negativity, who work hard at keeping us all ginned up about this topic or another.  There are people in this world who are hell bent on vengeance, for what they believe is a little piece of justice in light of all the chaos. It all sucks, but it really could be worse.  Take a look:

1.  Religious Legislation:  The fact that we have legislators who believe that there should be some theocratic hierarchy in the State of Oklahoma and across the nation is nothing compared to how bad it really could be.  We have the right and ability to vote out most of these dingleberries and usher in some real change.  They aren't making folks wear scarlet letters either.  Yet.

2.  Demise of Talk Radio:  What passes for national talk radio these days is pathetic.  It's the same bunch of talking heads spouting the same tripe as though they are reading from the same talking points memo - which they are.  And local talk radio?  It doesn't exist.  Not really, anyway.  On one station, it's now cantina music - you've probably heard it playing at Pablano Grill.  On another station, you have a shill for any neo-conservative point of view that might put money in the host's pocket.  It's little more than a sounding board for potential clients and amateurish pabulum and it really isn't good radio.  Then, there's the "big dog" - the station that used to be the gold standard in Oklahoma for talk radio with the likes of the legendary Mike McCarville.  Now, it's just horrid.  I mean, really.  Rick Roberts?  Really?  But you know what, kids, it could be worse.  We could have no talk radio at all.  Wait.  That might not be so bad.

3.  Dexter:  I had to throw this in.  The ending sucked.  Bring the show back and try again.  BUT, it could be worse.  It could have had an ending like LOST.  Blech.

4.  Freedom:  As mentioned previously, government is as screwed up as a soup sandwich and there are cases where one could easily say that Americans are losing some of their freedoms.  But over all, it's still the greatest country in the world.  Our freedom is the calling card for the joys of what America is all about.  Of course, we tend to treat veterans like shit - unless they are elected officials, but we are still worth fighting for.

5.  Mulligans:  In life, we all make a ton of mistakes and I don't care how holy you think you are, spend 10 minutes in a room with me alone and I can expose all of your darkness.  One thing that is great about life though is that many of us get second chances; mulligans, if you will.  Most of us don't deserve them, but somehow the Creator once in a while looks down from on high and gives us a chance to start over, an opportunity to love rather than hate.  Imagine an existence where no forgiveness, no mercy existed whatsoever.  It would be pure pandemonium.  I'm thankful and filled to overflowing with gratitude for the mulligans I've had in my lifetime.

6.  Country Music:  I tease a lot about country music because for the most part, I can't stand it.  But, I often tell myself that it could be a whole lot worse...we could be stuck with Michael Bolton 24/7.

7.  Judicial System:  Okay, we're not the Taliban by any stretch of the imagination, but we do have some problems with our judicial system that makes many of us vomit.  

So, you see my friends, it could always be much worse.  Life is generally good if we can live in a place where grace and mercy are at the forefront of importance.  I say this as a person who openly accepts the fact that I don't deserve mercy, but rather torment and agony for the rest of eternity.  But sometimes, we get a taste of freedom, a taste of forgiveness, and it gives us hope.  If a scumbag like me can get a mulligan, imagine the possibilities for you.

I confess - there have been times where all I wanted to do was put a bullet in my head or to swallow a bunch of pills to hold the hounds at bay.  Then, miraculously, something happens and I get a sense of peace, a kind gesture, a smile from someone, or someone's generosity stands out and becomes a benchmark for me to strive for in my life.

Where there is breath, there is life.  So, just breathe.


The artist formerly known as the 
"400lb Gorilla of Oklahoma Media."

It's Never Easy

He saw his life begin to crumble, to fall apart all around him and the internal and external pain was unbearable.  His friends gave the standard, "cheer up" advice because, after all, people suffering from depression always respond well to that type of feedback.  He had found himself rather isolated because people don't want to be around others who are less than perky - it's as though some people believe depression is contagious.  At first, the solitude was refreshing and seemed to cut out the background noise of life.  The problem with solitude is that every second of every minute of every hour of every day, it forced him to see himself for what he had become.  The voices in his mind eventually became so rambunctious that he couldn't resist.  

By the time they found him, he had already been gone for three days.  His hell hounds had finally caught up with him and devoured him.  There were many who said that they cared for him, admired him, but these were the same people who couldn't handle his illnesses.  Not surprisingly, it took only a few short weeks for everyone to forget him.  

This story isn't unusual.  It is never easy dealing with individuals who have become a victim of depression, and if you're that person, it's even harder to explain away, or mask that depression.  The illness opens the door for bad behavior that hurts a lot of people through the course of time and slowly but surely the guilt and shame finally takes over and the descent into madness begins.

Constant physical pain often turns into emotional pain, which then presents itself behaviorally.  Everyone suffers and experiences pain differently.  Some have a very high threshold for pain where as others don't and the madness comes much more quickly for them.  For the depressed individual, it's a long road to normalcy, and it is a road that he/she has to travel - but shouldn't do it alone.

There are plenty of websites available that can help with identifying signs and symptoms of depression, so that's not what this blog is about.

It's important to understand that when a person suffers from depression, the first human response is for that person to do their level best to mask or hide the depression.  There does come a time when a man who has lived a less than exemplary life can no longer handle to guilt and shame - these are the

people who are most at risk, in my opinion.  The piling on and accumulation of physical pain, mental pain, and a lack of passion creates a short fuse that once it's lit, the end is inevitable.  And of course, there are those in his/her life whom he/she has wronged who feel the need to extract their pound of flesh as quickly and violently as possible. These are understandable, and probably more than deserved.  But it's not going to help matters.

Living with depression or other mental illnesses are never easy.  But yet, they can be lived with and managed - particularly the mental health issues that stem from a chemical imbalance because there are a myriad of medications available to combat them.  There are group therapy sessions, there are one on one therapy sessions, and even exercise that can help to combat depression.  But nothing seems to work as well as that one person who loves and cares for him/her and is willing to love unconditionally.

I could be wrong, and often am, but I don't think so.

Gorilla

I Remember Now...

Longacres

I think I was in my late 20's when I experienced it for the first time.  There was excitement, noise, cheering, and anticipation in the air that was so thick, it could be used on pancakes.  There was a small group of us and we did our best to grasp the reality of what was going on around us, and it's been a long time since I've felt that.

Longacres was a horse track south of Seattle and it didn't really have a reputation like the Belmont, but it was colorful, exciting and horribly loud.  The size of the facility wasn't too large and it was built in such a manner that everyone felt close to the action.  I'd never gambled before and even then, there was a feeling like I was doing something wrong.  It was legal, but it felt weird.

I'm not really sure why it came to mind, why that event chose to resurrect itself in the graveyard of my memory, but it was a good one.

Home

I also remember the apartment we had when my mother got sick.  We had to be closer to her oncologist, so we moved to an area of Seattle called, "Rainier Beach."  It had a bit of a reputation for being a bit of a scary part of town, but I had no idea there was such a reputation, so I was just myself.  Granted, an angrier version of me, but I didn't know I needed to play pretend.

I remember the porch that led up to the entrance that took you down a hallway to two of the apartment doors, the other two being up the stairs.  The porch was a gathering place for youngsters such as myself.  They were just enjoying each others' company and maybe getting a touch football game revved up.  It was a simpler time, really.  Mom was still alive, the sun seemed to shine just a little brighter, and the laughter was just that much more intoxicating.  Though it wasn't really "home," it sure as hell felt like it. 

Drive-In

During my childhood in the Seattle area, the weekends were amazing.  On Friday after school, we would wait until Dad got home and ask the big question:  "Are we going to the drive-in?"  Sometimes we went, other times we didn't but the anticipation was almost as exciting as actually being there.  Loading up our blankets, our snack bag, and the pillows was almost ritualistic and each of us had a job to do.  I was responsible for the blankets, Mom always had the snacks ready, and Dad would make sure the dogs were fed and put up for the evening.  It was just a really cool time.

Today, there are only a handful of drive-ins left in the whole country and I'm afraid that mine will be the last generation to truly experience what it's like at a drive-in.  I've taken my kids a few times and they genuinely liked it.  The smells, the feel, the cool summer air, and the communal experience of watching a movie outside was completely amazing.  There is nothing else like it in the whole world.

Unfortunately, there are whole chunks of time that have been erased in my mind and even with prompting and encouragement, I just can't conjure up the visuals that correspond with the dialog.  Little bit by little bit, however, I get to sneak a peek at moments in history.  I can't tell you how frustrating and discouraging it can be at times.  But for every memory that comes forward, is accompanying joy and lots of smiles.

I'm thankful for these memories.

Gorilla

Gun Free Norman

I am an avid supporter of the 2nd Amendment.  I believe that the Supreme Court's Heller decision was a good one, and yes, our right to keep and bear arms is a right that cannot nor should not be infringed.  I also fought long and hard to get the legislature to approve campus concealed carry, but to no avail.  The whole of the Constitution is precious, not just one of the Amendments.

Yet, there are times when common sense and dignity should overrule our ego maniacal desires to be right just for the sake of being right.  Nowhere is this more evident than in this ongoing drama regarding the Norman Music Festival.

The Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association filed suit against the City of Norman and the organizers of the Norman Music Festival because there was in place a "no firearm" policy.  District Judge Thad Balkman (yes, the former legislator) ruled in favor of the OK2A, and the justification makes sense.  But I would argue that it's not exactly the right thing to do.

Norman hosts numerous music events throughout the year (Jazz in June, May Fair, the Medieval Fair and Midsummer’s Night Fair) and attendees of the events deserve the opportunity to attend an event that has been historically "gun free."  We're talking about a four block area in Norman - not the whole bloody county, so the OK2A doth protest too much.

The argument, I suppose, is that the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms transcends local regulations and that there is never a time or place for any of our rights to be "tread upon."  You see what happens there?  The argument is shifted from the micro to the macro, which overshadows the here and now and the unique circumstances therein.  For example, it's our right to bathe in chocolate syrup, Snickers bars, Pop Tarts, and Jack Daniels.  It's our right to walk around the State Fair yelling in Klingon.  It's within our rights to tell our spouses that yes, that dress DOES make her ass look big.  But the question is, why?  Why would we want to do those things?

The music performed at the music events aren't Country AND Western exclusively, so maybe this is a tactic by the OK2A to silence music that they just don't really like?  Maybe?

As a musician, I'm not interested in firearms at a performance because it's a musical event, not a gun show.  It's ridiculous that we've come to this point in our culture where the only way to reach an agreement or a compromise is to take it to court - and to thing that Judge Balkman isn't biased, you're sadly mistaken - which represents a problem with electing judges, but that's another topic altogether.  The two parties couldn't have just sat down and hammered out some kind of agreement, could they?  I know a few of the folks over at the OK2A and they used to be a reasonable crew,  conglomeration of people passionate about the 2nd Amendment, but still possessing a modicum of common sense. 

It's sad and pathetic that we can't even have a music event without it turning into some political garbage.

It's my opinion and I could be wrong, but I bloody well doubt it.

Gorilla

Why So Serious?

I got an email from a friend who asked me about the tenor, the content of my last few blog entries and why I had become so serious.  He noticed that I still had a sense of humor, but the topics had been heavy and in his words, made him "want to hide in a closet."  Well, dang.  That wasn't really my intention at all, but rather to look at issues that are, in my mind, rather controversial and even hypocritical at times. 

There is a lot to be serious about, but there's also a lot of material out there that makes us want to laugh our asses off at the same time.  Even the topics that are very serious on the surface, contain little laughs and some piddle-worthy giggles.  Take politics, for example.  Some of the issues the state of Oklahoma is facing can be alarming, but what's tragically hilarious is the response we get from legislators.  Here's a couple giggle-worthy moments:

The perpetual candidate.

1.  Calvey and Crain's "Loser Pays" Legislation.  At first, I thought this was a satirical piece in The Onion, but then I realized that this is the real deal.  The energy sector (the big boys) in Oklahoma needs more protection, wouldn't you agree?  Those pesky farmers and ranchers who would like clean, fresh water are just a thorn in the side of the big energy players in Oklahoma.  The OIPA (Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association) supposedly helped with the legislation - shocker (shame on you, AJ)!  This is funny shit because even a baboon with 50 functioning brain cells can see that Calvey is sucking up to the money boys so he can fund another campaign, but this time, for the D.A. slot.  Just watch, and join me in laughing our silly little butts off when Calvey announces his candidacy.  And by the way, wasn't he term-limited before and why in the hell is he back in the State House?

2.  Presidential Pabulum.  They are off and running, and many of the names behind the scenes of Presidential candidates are names that we have all become used to hearing in the public arena.  Think about this - it's truly funny.  The same old dick bags are advising new dick bags on the same topics that the last dick bags ran on, and they think we're stupid enough to fall for it.  Wait.  I guess we are.  The oligarchy is alive and well in Presidential politics and frankly, I think the American people are sick of it but nothing is going to happen about.  The irony about the "change" argument versus the fact that we keep going down the same path as before is downright comical.  Screw it.  I'm thinking Dean Winchester should run for President - at least he could deal with the demons in Congress.

3.  Fracking Earthquakes.  Okay...get this.  The scientific community is pretty much in agreement that the cause of all these weird earthquakes in Oklahoma is...wait for it...fracking.  Is there anything being done about it?  Is there anything being done about the waste water from fracking?  Hell no.  That's where it gets bloody funny.  It's like watching a bully pick on some nerdy little kid and then the government stepping in and actually paying the bully to be a bully.  Tell me that's not funny!  Oil and gas companies are seeing legislators in Oklahoma offering free lap dances in return for campaign finance, and the bullies are getting tax breaks as a result!  Like a hooker paying a John for having sex with him/her.  The irony is so rich and thick in this case, it could be considered molasses.   Damage to water supplies, homes and property getting rattled and ripped apart, and the aggregate result is that insurance companies don't always cover the cost of repairs because of these earthquakes.  It' silliness.

Some of these circumstances are so bizarre that there is little else to do but to laugh.  It's pure goofiness and We The People love every minute of it.  Politics has become such a disgusting mess, a filthy place where the socially inept and sociopaths congregate to think of ways to justify their existence by authoring unconstitutional, useless legislation that is nothing more than regulatory masturbation. 

Come on.  It's funny and you know it.

Here's to the rest of the week, and y'all be safe and aware out there.

Gorilla