Carolyn Caudill Makes DUI Laws Look Silly

In Oklahoma, if you get a DUI, you're pretty much screwed for a while.  You're going to pay a hefty fine, you're going to probably spend the night in jail, you're going to fight to keep your license (which is unlikely), and it will be on your criminal record for a very, very long time.

This is, of course, unless you are an elected County official who works in a building just across the alley from where the judge who handles your case will be hanging out.

According to a shocking story on NewsOk.com, Carolyn Caudill's attorney W. Shawn Jefferson (wonder what the "W" stands for and from his Facebook page, you can see something about the running of the bulls) filed a motion to have Caudill's records of her DUI arrest sealed, expunged, cast into the sea of forgetfulness just in time for her to run again for Oklahoma County Clerk.  This election would giver her a sixth term.  A sixth term.  That's right, a sixth term in  office.  Take a look at this little morsel from NewsOk.com and see if it doesn't

make your blood boil:

In a petition to the Oklahoma County District Court "for expungement and sealing of records," attorney W. Shawn Jefferson states she is eligible under state law to ask that the case records be removed from public view and sealed.

Jefferson wrote that the harm to Caudill's "privacy and/or the dangers of unwarranted adverse consequences … outweigh the public interest in retaining the records."

Jefferson is asking that the Oklahoma City Municipal Court and departments including the Oklahoma City police be directed to seal records related to the incident.

In the petition, he also requests an order "mandating that the subject official actions shall be deemed never to have occurred."

You need to check out her lawyer here and here. 

No, it isn't a clipping from a Lost Ogle satire, but it is real and what the attorney is asking.  Caudill could be in danger?  Danger?  The only danger would be her getting busted again and being beaten in the primary by Charlie Phillips.

Adverse consequences?  Wait...should would have to pay like every other citizen?  Heaven forbid.  The real adverse issue I am sure that she's worried about is having her rear-end handed to her in the primary by Charlie Phillips.

The people are once again being boondoggled, bamboozled, blinded, and fooled with the ultimate in trickery bred from the loins of long-term, career politicians.  Caudill should be ashamed of herself and just retire with some sense of dignity left.  If you haven't decided whom you will vote for in this GOP primary, I suggest you vote for a real Republican who understands (and can spell) transparency; Charlie Phillips.  

My support is behind Charlie Phillips and for good reasons; she is a small business owner, she has ten years of experience in the Clerk's office, and she has been nothing but candid with me.  It's refreshing to talk to someone running for office who isn't a narcissistic, egomaniac with the personality of a Barbie or Ken doll.  Charlie is the real deal for Oklahoma County Clerk.  

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

Gorilla

 

Chronically Skeptic

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the Presidential campaign this year.  Which candidates stand out in your mind and why?  Next, think about the whole "Education Savings Accounts."  There are a lot of people coming out in favor from the conservative right and the conservative right does nothing without a profit motive.  Who makes the money, who stands to win, who stands to lose, and why should we give a damn.  Now, think about the last time you watched the morning news and think about the stories.  How many "bad news" stories permeated the fabric of your being this morning?  

All of these and a whole lot more contributing factors have created a generation of skeptics who are tired of the profit motives of the right, the socialism of the left, and the lack of trustworthiness of electronic media.  Talk radio, for example, is the same as it has always been on a national, syndicated level.  It's all the same and they are all puking out the same tripe day after day.  Local talk radio in this market basically consists of consultants who are probably just using the airwaves to plug their clients. 

No one should have any question as to whether or not we deserve to be skeptic.  We have earned it and frankly, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

It's no wonder that there are so many people who have become chronically skeptical.  Promises are made by politicians who desire to garner our trust and our votes, but once elected, those promises fade away like cotton candy does in the mouth.  I used to keep track of campaign promises and how they were left unfulfilled by the Governor, members of the State House and Senate, as well as the United States Senate but I gave up after realizing that the campaign rhetoric will never match the actual performance of the same.  

Look around you, friends.  Wake up and smell the bullsh*t that has surrounded us for far too long.  It's there, it stinks, and it is staining our shoes.  

How do we rid ourselves of this mess?  First, we become skeptical of things around us that are of human origin.  Matters of politics, economics, campaigns, consultants, and property are all external and guided and ruled by man therefore, they are destined to fail at some point.  The whole natural gas and oil bust has been kind of an example of how unpredictable the world around us can be but conversely, matters of faith and conscience are found in the spiritual realm and there is where we cannot afford to be too skeptical.  

Sure, we are to "study to show ourselves approved," which means that there will always be a sense of skepticism, but feelings themselves are deceptive and we should be skeptical of emotional responses to eternal truths.

I hope that makes sense.

Of course, these are just my opinions and I could be wrong, but I am skeptical that I am.

Gorilla

Sometimes, It Must Be Done

If you're a parent, how far will you go to protect your children?  Would you purchase a firearm?  Would you invest in a security system for your home?  Would you enroll your children in self-defense classes?  How far would you go to ensure they are protected as much as humanly possible?

Now, think about the kids in your neighborhood.  Would you be willing to do as much for those kids?  Heaven would hope so.

I read a story about a group calling themselves the "Punisher Squad" in the state of Washington who had set up an Internet sting of their own and lured a potential child predator right into their hands.  They masqueraded as a 13 year-old girl and had a drawn out and intensely explicit dialog with one predator jackass and when he agreed to meet what he thought was a 13 year-old, he got something else altogether.

Stop right there for a moment.  What do you think happened to the potential child predator?  What would you do were you in that situation; would you turn him over to law enforcement or would you handle it yourself.  Here's an excerpt from the story:

A local vigilante group in Kelso, WA, calling themselves the “Punisher Squad,” forced a man, who they accuse of being a child predator, to call 911 on himself. The confrontation was caught on video via a cellphone.

The suspect, 36-year-old Adam Olson, now faces charges of attempted child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes in Cowlitz County. 

Yes, they made the dude call 911 on himself and the predator is going to be facing some pretty rough prison time; as well he should.  They shot video of the whole apprehension of the criminal and the Prosecuting Attorney had this to say:

Prosecuting attorney for Cowlitz County, Ryan Jurvakainen, told KATU there’s no indication the video is false but said he’s still reviewing police reports. He is set to make a charging decision Tuesday and Olson is due to be arraigned in court on March 15.

Jurvakainen wouldn’t say anything more about the case.

Police elsewhere have encouraged people not to engage in similar vigilante activities, saying they can be dangerous and that the cases are often tough to prosecute.

The raw cellphone video, posted to YouTube by Hart, contains graphic language and has removed from YouTube because it violates “YouTube’s policy on harassment and bullying”.

The idiocy of YouTube deleting the video is about as asinine as one can get, but the point here is that the police have encouraged people NOT to engage in these "vigilante activities" because they can be "dangerous and tough to prosecute."  I don't know about you, but it is my opinion that we don't have enough convictions as it is even when "vigilante citizens" aren't involved.  One child molested or preyed upon via the Internet (or anywhere else) is one too many. 

Defense attorneys are paid to work hard to ensure that their clients receive the best legal representation possible and even when their client is guilty, they have to help them.  In my opinion, the lawyers are part of the problem with the prosecution and effectiveness for jail time as a deterrent.  While I would never, ever condone vigilante violence, I would certainly understand it in cases such as this.

Maybe Oklahoma needs a "Punisher Squad" or two.

Sometimes, it must be done.  It is highly doubtful that a jury would convict in the state of Oklahoma; and that may be a good thing.

Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.  

"Gorilla"

 

Make It Stop. Please.

Most everyone loves puppies.  They are cute and cuddly, and watching them grow borders on the miraculous; heck, we tolerate with great patience their "accidents" on the floor when they are little.  But there does come a time when they reach an age when they just know better.  If they have an accident as an adult dog, it is often a sign that something is terribly wrong.

The three amigos who want to be the Republican nominees for President have been pooping all over the process and We The People should recognize that something is terribly wrong.  There should have been a few indicators early on that caught our attention, but apparently we were too busy watching Netflix (at least I was) to notice.  Let's take a look at some of the warning signs that we should have noticed, and now should notice.

If a Presidential candidate has a reputation of being despised by his own party in the Senate, there's a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate repeats himself like broken robot, there's a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate sends out false information about an opponent "suspending his campaign," there is a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate makes reference to his John Thomas during a debate, there is a very good chance that something is terribly wrong.

These candidates are pooping all over the place and we should know better.  Hell, they should know better but the way the process works is that you spew back to the electorate whatever tripe came out in polling.  In other words, they tell their gang what they want to hear and they don't care if the American people have to scoop the poop. 

When did We The People kiss farewell to our minds?  How in the hell did these three comedians become the Republican front runners?  I mean, really.  Is this the best we could do?  Why are so many people ga-ga over a a guy whose campaign has been anecdotal and at best, one-liners?  Trump is so NOT a legitimate candidate but here he is stirring up shite in the GOP because perhaps he really wants Hillary to win the election?  Maybe?

Trump in the race reminds me of Gary Richardson getting in the gubernatorial race because he didn't like Steve Largent which, by default, handed Brad Henry the governor's race.  

Stop for a moment and think about which of the candidates you would prefer to sit in a meeting with Vladimir Putin.  Surely, not Trump.  Ted Cruz would just want to argue with him.  Marco Rubio would be sitting in a puddle of his own pee!  Maybe it's just me but I long for the days when we had candidates on both sides of the aisle who could debate and carry on a conversation without hair-pulling and rock-throwing.  

We are so screwed.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be completely off-base and totally wrong; but I seriously doubt it.

Gorilla

 

Trump, Cruz, and Rubio Walk Into A Bar...

Trump, Cruz, and Rubio walk into a bar...

Cruz orders a diet cola because he doesn't want to offend the church-going crowd by having an adult beverage.

Rubio calls his consultants and asks which brand of beer he should drink according to polling.

Trump orders a Long Island Iced Tea and says, "I need something strong to deal with you two."

The POTUS race on the GOP side has really gotten interesting, hasn't it?  The hatred and fear of Donald Trump has caused some on the right side of the aisle to lose their bloody minds and go full-on idiot.  The arguments used against Trump are ones that have been used in the past against other GOP candidates and there was gnashing of teeth and belly-whacking back then, but it's okay now, apparently.  To see the banter back and forth should be quite revelatory to most of us; it's an indication of just how dirty many of the campaign consultants can and will be to ensure their ponies fair well.

What is absolutely hilarious is the latest blathering to be put forth about "fighting against Trump."  Here is a quote from one elected official:

"I will fight for my country against Donald Trump till I have no fight left."

Wait.  What?

This is a man who has never stood a post, who chose to go down the path of politics as a career who is admitting he would fight for his country against a fellow American but his chicken sh*t ass wouldn't stand a post in the greatest military in the world?  Surely, he is kidding, right?  But no, this dude and others like him are talking a good game when it comes time to "nut up," they are Missing In Inaction; standing a post or being a part of the military would be so beneath them.   

We shouldn't be surprised that not a single one of the presidential candidates on either side of the aisle ever stood a post.  None of them.

Forgive my language, but the audacity of some elected officials to put forth an image that they are exceptionally patriotic during a campaign year when their candidate is getting their asses kicked is nothing short of phenomenal.  

And the really sad part to this madness is that there are supporters of this cat who are congratulating him for taking a stand.  The stupid.  It burns.

Trump, Cruz, and Rubio are exactly what the GOP asked for and we're getting a heaping serving of all three.  These candidates (Trump included) are no different than the candidates we've seen before; just like we keep regurgitating the same line of political hacks and electing them to public office, the POTUS candidates, with the exception of one, are all career politicians.  There are a few differences between the three GOP front runners, but if they are elected, you can rest comfortably knowing that these fellows are going to do what previous presidents have done:  Little.

Don't think for a nanosecond that I somehow support Trump either because I don't.  There are some serious

crap coming down the tracks and I don't think any of the candidates will be able to deal with them.  There's Iran, ISIS, VA disasters, immigration, jobs, and the mess with the SCOTUS.  Which of the candidates can you see actually handling these problems?  Rubio looks like he'd piss his pants if Putin showed up for a meeting, Cruz would probably hold a prayer breakfast of Pharisees, and Trump would just launch and put us in another long and arduous war.

I don't know.  Maybe I am too harsh.  I respect everyone's right to support whomever they choose for whichever office they choose.  Maybe I don't know enough about the candidates, maybe my personal feelings about politicians has been clouding my judgement.  I just know that there was a time when we could have had a decorated Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, and dedicated man serve in Congress.  Instead, we chose a camp counselor who is now in the U.S. Senate.  

God help us.

Of course, these are just my opinions and I could very well be completely wrong, but I seriously freaking doubt it.

Gorilla

Anheuser-Busch Shenanigans

Casually watching the news last evening, I saw a story on News 9 about Senator Clark Jolley's bill to bring the state into the 21st Century by allowing real adult beverages in convenience stores and grocery stores.  Jolley had his argument down solidly and the naysayers had to resort to the fear of "the loss of jobs" as a result of a bill.  

First, when an advocacy group opposes a bill that makes sense and is more progressive in nature and they start rending their clothing and dress in sack cloth and ashes, you can pretty much rest assured that they are full of crap.

Second, Anheuser-Busch responded on the same network of the story with their opposition advertisement.  They, of course, found a less than flattering photograph of Sen. Jolley and proceeded to completely twist what Jolley had said on the news report just seconds previously.  What does that tell you?  The ad was not, by any stretch of the imagination, straightforward and it was designed to simply scare the people of Oklahoma that there could be "job losses."  With Devon and other energy companies laying off people, AB knows that the people are terrified of more of the same.

They are playing to the lowest common denominator:  Fear.

Sadly, much of the media is playing up to that fear.  Lawton station KSWO opens their headline with:

"A provision to a bill looking to change Oklahoma's beer laws could force Anheuser-Busch out of the state."

This is a desperate act of a television station that is begging AB for some of those advertising dollars.  Absolutely pathetic.  It makes one want to say, "Get off your knees, KSWO, you're embarrassing us."

The story goes on to quote AB executives but fails to even mention the author of the bill or the number of the bill.  This is corporate propaganda being slung out there by a bleeding media who is clamoring for every single advertising dollar they can muster.  Gone are the days of legitimate, objective news reporting and these shenanigans prove that the media is not to be trusted and that it's always best to do much of your own homework.

I did my homework and the aggregate result was that my bovine fecal material detector went nuts as soon as the AB commercial appeared on the television.   We're so far through the looking glass on this issue that Alice is shaking her head at us.  We expect politicians to spin their news, but local media has been the last stronghold of true journalism and now, they are mouthpieces for advertisers.  Talk radio is a dismal failure, the newspaper hard copy sales are deplorable, and apparently television news is now taking the lead in propaganda pushing.

It's bloody pathetic.  Jolley's resolution is a good one and will no doubt get some tweaking.  Watch and mark your calendars because the fear tactics of AB will once again be proven unwarranted.

Of course, it's just my opinion and I could be wrong; but I seriously doubt it.

Your Gorilla

POTUS Race Halftime Entertainment

It's February and the POTUS campaigns are in full swing and already some of the candidates most of us believed shouldn't be in the race to begin with have called it quits.  There are still a couple on the GOP side of things whose resolve has been bolstered because of a good showing in New Hampshire.  John Kasich pulled it off, but good heavens; he's not even remotely electable.  Governor Christie should be dropping out or "suspending his campaign" and Carly Fiorina, well, she didn't even stand a chance going into the race.  It's kind of sad because she seemed intelligent and ready to lead.

The two GOP candidates who are still legitimately in the running are Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz.  Read that again to yourself.  Trump (net worth in the billions), Rubio (owns a half million dollar house and his net worth is $976k), and Cruz (made over a million dollars last year).  That is the best and brightest that the GOP can come up with?  Can you imagine any of them actually getting elected? And we thought the Super Bowl halftime show was bad...

On the Democratic side it is pretty much a done deal.  Hillary will be the candidate.  Sanders is an interesting cat to be sure, but just, no.

About the Super Bowl...

As a Seattle Seahawk fan, I found it difficult to cheer for former division rival, Denver Broncos, but I abhor the Carolina Panthers even more. I thought it to be an interesting and entertaining game and then there was the halftime show.  

Perhaps it's my old age and my desire for simplicity is the driving force in my life, but I didn't get any of the halftime show.  Bruno Mars was good, I think.  Coldplay is Coldplay and you know what you're going to get with them, but it wasn't a good show at all.  Beyonce, once again, wore a skimpy outfit and showed off her hindquarters and her ability to rumble that backside.  The whole Black Panther thing?  It was silliness and the aggregate result is that she is getting plenty of attention as a result.  Her mission was accomplished on many levels.

Who would make an entertaining halftime show?  Bruce Springsteen?  Zakk Wylde and BLS?  U2?  Aerosmith?  Lady Gaga?  There really has to be someone or some group that would be better than a bunch of butt-shaking jibber jabber.  Or maybe not.

Of course, it's just my opinion and I could be wrong; but I seriously doubt it.  

"Gorilla"

We Can Fix It

No one wakes up in the morning hoping to read a story about how four teens from Norman North High School sexually assaulted two boys on a bus returning from a wrestling match.  It's shocking and deplorable and what's worse yet is the wrestling coach who was supposedly on the bus as well did nothing to stop the assault.  It forces us to ask just what in the heck has happened to us as a country or even as a community.  Where have we gone wrong?  

We are raising a generation of children wherein many have no code of honor, who have no sense of respect for human dignity, and are addicted to immediate gratification and we, as adults, we as the Church, have allowed it to happen right under our noses.  Look, there is no doubt that your humble Gorilla is the chief of all sinners and is the embodiment of Romans 3; I'm simply pointing out the fact that we are all responsible.

What really puzzles me is how the Church continues to grow numerically, but seems to be increasingly impotent to create change for the better in our neighborhoods.  It doesn't really make sense, does it?  Church youth groups are filled to overflowing in many megachurches but what is the aggregate result?  In Michael Scott Horton's book, "Putting Amazing Back Into Grace," he quotes philosopher Paul C. Payne who said:

"Today, the world doesn't take the Church seriously because today, the Church isn't serious."

Sadly, he's right.  The Church wants to project an image wherein their pastorate and staff look as though they are Abercrombie models wearing only the latest in fashion and following cultural trends.  It somehow makes them "more relevant" to the world when the world is waiting for the Church to start taking their mandates seriously.  When a church staff's average age is 35 years old and whose life experiences are limited to summer church camp and memorizing feel-good passages of Scripture, it's something that we need to fix and we can fix it.  We just have to have the testicular fortitude to speak the truth to these American Eagle Outfitters fashionistas who know more about Coldplay than they do orthodox theology.  

But I digress...

The Oklahoma legislature has their God Squad who have decided that this should be a proving ground for their brand of dominion theology and have usurped the role of the Church as a whole.  While claiming to be representative of the Church, they have decided that the new church will be Government itself.  These self-same legislators gnash their teeth and rend their clothing because the so-called liberals are using government to push their agenda, but isn't that what they themselves are doing?

The hypocrisy stacks up so fast around here that you need wings to rise above it.  We can fix this problem as well very easily.  We simply stop voting for these Pharisaical boobs and send them to their churches where they belong.  Maybe they can learn the honor and responsibility of the former office they held from that vantage point; but I predict it to be highly unlikely.

Speaking of honor and duty, today is the anniversary of the murder of United States Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield.  These are men who stood for something larger, something more important than themselves.  Each and every day while deployed, lives were put on the line to make the ultimate sacrifice if necessary so we can grow out churches, so we can spoil our children, so we can raise a generation of self-centered, petulant brats who not only don't know who Chris Kyle was nor do they know what a Navy SEAL does every day of their deployment.  

We can fix that problem too.  We have to be vocal, we have to be informative, we need to poke fun at ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously, but take our message very seriously.  There is honor in serving.  There is honor required in being a part of a team.  There is honor and dignity required of the parents of athletes and academics alike and it is the parent's responsibility to send those kids out the door every day with a taste of the bigger picture.  We can fix it all; we just have to want to do something about it.

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

"Gorilla"

 

 

13 Hours Stuff

I had the privilege of seeing the movie, "13 Hours" over the past weekend and it was probably one of the most challenging movies I've seen in a long time.  Some of the scenes are graphic and there are times when I wonder whether or not the graphic nature of a film is necessary; this movie was based real life and in real life, people were killed and in a gruesome manner and more people need to see just how brutal some people can be.  Overall, I thought the movie was exceptional, and the garbage flying out of people's mouths who haven't seen the movie who are saying that it is a political propaganda piece are, well, full of it.  It's not like that at all.

Even the depiction of the Ambassador being dragged through the streets was missing from the screen; there was dialog, but no visuals.  There was no reference to the Secretary of State, so the Hillary supporters are full of crap.  There was no dialog about the Administration.  What it does, however, is point out some serious problems with rules of engagement and the communications infrastructure within the CIA.  Which should tell us something because it has been an issue for many years now.

John Krasinski ("Jim" from the television show The Office) puts in a top notch performance that is serious, compelling, and where appropriate, a great sense of humor. His character "Jack" is a troubled fellow; constantly evaluating the value of his presence there as a contractor.  Jack misses his family and feels a twinge of guilt for leaving them once again for a potentially dangerous situation to generate revenue for his family.  

"Roy" from The Office (David Denman) is in the movie as well, however, he plays a quiet and focused sniper and he does it splendidly.  David Costabile (was in Breaking Bad) plays the role of "The Chief" and from the very beginning of the movie, you learn to despise the character and by the end of the

movie, it becomes very clear that his unwillingness to act early when his security forces suggested ended up costing lives.  The character shows a bit of remorse at the end of the movie, but when his face pops on screen, your blood begins to boil.  

This movie is based on a true story that really happened.  People really did lose their lives at the hands of brutal beasts who have no sense of humanity at all and they were more then willing to urinate on the rules of engagement.  You do get to see how our men were able to drop significant numbers of the enemy and that is important to the film.  The men who lost their lives in defense of something deserve our honor and our admiration for their sacrifice. 

Forget what both sides of the aisle are saying about the movie and go watch it for yourself.  Make your own decisions about the movie and put aside the rhetoric about the political nature of the movie because it just doesn't exist.  There are critics who are saying the movie isn't a blockbuster and neither should it be; just remember who those critics are, generally speaking.  They are men and women who review movies and have never gotten off their asses to stand a post. 

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

Gorilla

Tiny Houses, Huge Dividends

"The homeless in our country are an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb," I was once told.  At first, I thought I understood that premise but it didn't take long for me to realize the magnitude of the problem of poverty had reached such epic proportions.  There have been such an uptick in the number of homeless that municipalities are passing regulations to keep the homeless off of the street corners and preclude them from panhandling. Some city leaders across the country have pushed to make it illegal to feed the homeless in public.  Yes, you read that correctly. It's rather indicative of our society as a whole; we want to cover up the darkness that lies all around us that we could shed light upon.  

The issue of how to deal with the homeless in Oklahoma City really has reached an impasse wherein we see symptoms being treated but the disease itself left unchecked.  While it is true that we will always have the chronically transient in our midst, there are a great many homeless men, women, and families who just need a break to succeed.  In Seattle and other cities, the faith community is doing exactly what it should be; meeting need and caring for the least among us.

A Lutheran church used property they owned to build a tiny house village where homeless individuals can have a sense of home with their tiny house that can be locked and has utilities.  The residents will pay $90/mo for utilities and there is a centralized shower and restroom facility being built on the grounds as well.  It is an innovative approach that is going to meet with phenomenal success.  The big surprise of these tiny houses is that they each cost around $2,200 to build and that is chump change when you consider the cost of facilitating massive numbers in a public shelter.

Take a look at this video and ask yourself if our communities are doing enough.

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There are no two ways about it; we are always going to have the poor among us and the true test of our character is what we do about it.  Shame on elected officials who want to hide the problem and consider the homeless to be a nuisance rather than an opportunity to live out what we say we believe.

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

Gorilla

Never Say Never

Over the course of the last 51 years on this big blue ball, I have often predicted with some authority what I would and would not do, experience, or see and every time I am proven wrong.  When we make such declarative statements, it's as though we are challenging the Creator to prove us wrong and without fail, He always does.  We far too often forget that we are finite wherein He is infinite and not confined by time and space as we know it.  We break vows, promises, and our "word" and it stands as a dark column in the midst of our lives; awaiting our attempts to overcome the beast we ourselves have created.

In the Jewish fast of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) wherein we are to examine ourselves and abstain from food or drink for 25 hours so we're "not distracted" by material objects.  Within that observance is what's called the Kol Nidre wherein we are required to write down all of the vows we have taken and burn them, showing us in a tangible way that our vows and declarations are nothing when contrasted with the ultimate vow of redemption made on our behalf.  

Basically, the lesson is to never say "never."

I have had times when I made the strongest of vows not to do something and sure enough, I find myself doing that very thing.  It's like the whole duality of man conundrum Paul talks about in Romans 7 and is a perfect reflection of the belief in the doctrine of human potential.  At no time in the lives of Americans is this failed doctrine made manifest that during election campaigns.  Every single one of the candidates for POTUS has made promises and vowed to the American people that they will or will not do this or that.  Take it within the context of the Kol Nidre and it becomes evident that it is little more than intellectual masturbation; it may feel good but it produces no results.

Candidates lie; it's what they do.  Their consultants coach them to lie with the least amount of angst and to communicate in such a manner that those lies look like truth.  Look around you for a moment.  Think about every elected official whom you have voted into office and bring to mind the promises they made to accomplish something.  More than likely, they have done nothing but made enough noise to get you to think that they've fulfilled their promises but in truth, they are clanging cymbals, banging gongs with flare and fire, resulting in abject emptiness.

I am no different so don't think that I am excluding myself from the insanity.  I have failed to keep marriage vows, have been divorced a bunch, have voted for people whom I declared I would "never vote for again," and I have failed to keep the Commandments...the list goes on ad infinitum.  If we're honest with ourselves, we know that we have all failed to meet even our own standards.

Here are just a few things I proclaimed as truth, only to be proven wrong:

I said that I would never play in a country band, and I did.

I told myself that I would never be in a relationship again, and I am.

I convinced myself that I would never again return to Oklahoma, but here I am in Oklahoma.

I screamed to the heavens that I would never again bother with politics, yet I'm all over it.

I never thought that I would be ghost writing romances, but that's what I am doing.

I was sure that I would always be a proponent of the death penalty, but now I am not.

Never say never, friends because our "never" is where new challenges, excitement, and expressions of faith grow and flourish.

Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Gorilla

What's Good for President Bush is Good for President Obama

There is a solid argument for mandatory military service in this country and it is evidenced by the hatred and anger about our President.  Military service would show these miscreants how disrespecting the office of the POTUS is, and always will be, uncalled for and our children are learning from us that it's okay.  

Future generations are learning right here and right now that virtually every form of authority is a bad thing and should be defied and defamed.  It used to be an issue of the far left and some of the borderline anarchist views of life.  But then, America elected a President named "Obama," and it was like an open invitation to be asses.  

Think about this...

Law enforcement is questioned at every turn about their tactics and efforts to stop the bad guys from doing bad things.  There are always going to be a handful of jackasses on the force who do not play by the rules and they should be (and are) dealt with decisively.  Now, children from families on both sided of the aisle have a disdain for the men and women who awaken every day, willing to kill or be killed to make our communities safe.  They do a job that 90% of the population would piss their pants even attempting.  

Teachers are another segment of our population that is disrespected and their authority questioned.  Our children's teachers are the first leaders they experience in a social environment.  The extreme right believes that teachers are overpaid and the rest of the universe feel as though they should be paid a hell of a lot more than they are right now.  After all, they are overseeing the education of a generation of self-important, spoiled, entitled, and petulant little brats on a daily basis.  The kids active up in class are doing so because parents are too bloody lazy to be proactive.  

POTUS.  When "W" was president, the conservatives gnashed their teeth and ran around in sackcloth and ashes when anyone spoke ill of the president; going so far as to call people "unpatriotic" who didn't support the most expensive "war" ever waged by the United States.  When liberals brow beat former president Bush, conservatives and neoconservatives alike lost their damned minds.   Now that we have an African-American, Democrat president, the same hypocrites who bitched about the criticism of President Bush are ripping President Obama to shreds.  Glenn Beck, the talk show host who is most likely certifiably insane, has said that the President was "delusional" or the "dumbest sonofabitch on the planet."  His blatant disrespect of the president of the United States is deplorable and anyone who approves of that kind of rhetoric should not listened to under any circumstance.  As a man who stood a post, I am offended by the people who are offended by the fact our president is black, and liberal.

The defense of the office of the President should apply across the board no matter who is in the Oval Office.  The office itself commands the respect of the American people and I don't give a damn who holds the office.  Conservatives who are bitching about the president now were the same people who wanted to arrest and detain the left for "treasonous acts."  The hypocrisy climbs to such heights these days that even the Space Shuttle couldn't keep up.   

So, the next time you read commentary from someone spewing bile against the POTUS, ask them how they would feel if Reagan or Bush were insulted in the same manner.

We can disagree with a policy platform without being an ass about it.  We can dislike a president's viewpoints but never is it appropriate to disrespect the man personally because to do so is to defile the office itself.

We should know better; and before you accuse me of being a liberal or anything else for that matter because I am defending the office of the POTUS, go stand a post and get back to me. 

Just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

"Gorilla"

We Lost Another Life

Whether it be acts of domestic terrorism or suicide, we are losing far too many of our loved ones.  For some, it's a daily struggle to get out of bed in the morning and function like a normal human being and many of those will choose the "opt-out" path.  Still others self-medicate to cover up the pain and anguish they may be experiencing and the aggregate result is addiction that can, and often does, lead to death.

When I saw the reports about Scott Weiland being found dead in his tour bus, I caught myself screaming at my computer screen.  The flow of expletives were generous and I guess that news coupled with all the other crap news we're seeing was just too much.  When I stopped screaming, I had to hold back tears.  A talented, gifted vocalist whose life was cut short way too damned early.

Scott Weiland (48) was the singer for Stone Temple Pilots and later, Velvet Revolver.  Both were in my top 10 list of bands I enjoy and appreciate.  48 years old, my friends.  48.   He and his new band were scheduled to be in Oklahoma City on the 15th of December.

The reports have not indicated what the cause of Weiland's death may be, yet his struggle with drugs in the past has been well documented.  We lost another one, friends.  A talented musician, excellent front man, and broken human being.  He was broken ust like the rest of us, but his brokenness manifested itself in a very public way.  

My advice is to take some time today to just love, to simply be at peace and share that peace with those within your sphere of influence.  We live in a world where conflict is part of our daily diet and it's an all-you-can eat buffet.  We aren't guaranteed any set time on this planet which means that every second is as precious as the previous.  Some will argue, "Gee, Ron, he was just a singer."

Bullshit.

Scott Weiland was someone's friend.  He was loved by his wife.  He was a son to his parents.  He was all of those things and more just as you reading this right now are to those around you.  Are you "just an electrician?"  Are you "just a pastor?"  Are you "just a stay-at-home mom?"  Get the point?   We are far more than our station in life, the amount of cash in our banking account, more than where we live or what we drive (or don't drive), we are more than the rice cooking on the stove, and you are more than what you think you see in the mirror.  You are loved, you are valued, you are important, and you are created in the Imago Dei - the image of God.

I used to be one of those "if it was drugs, he probably got what he deserved" conservatives, but that thinking is what makes the rich richer, and the poor poorer.  Someday, I hope you come to the realization as I have that every living, breathing human being has value and should be treated as such.  Except pedophiles and terrorist; they deserve to die.

Scott Weiland's death sucks.  Losing anyone for whom we care sucks.  Death sucks.  

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong.  Wait.  Nope.  I'm not wrong.

"Gorilla"

Let the Carnage Begin

Going back to the first Thanksgiving I can recall, the atmosphere was festive and vibrant with a lot of turkey zombies walking around, drooling on themselves until they got fed.  In the background you could hear the announcers on television giving play-by-play of the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins football game.  My little brother would be hanging out in the kitchen with mom and whomever else was helping out in the kitchen.  It was one of the coveted locations in the house because mom always let us sneak a taste or two.

Dinner itself always started out orderly and pleasant, but about the time folks were ready for seconds, the carnage had begun to take shape.  Slowly but surely, the warm turkey began to do its magic and some would get sleepy.  Now, where I'm from, you can't eat if you're asleep so the struggle to stay awake was real; as was the grouchiness.  Mom could sense it rising and she put a stop to it because on Thanksgiving Day, she was the last one you wanted to anger.  After all, she may not let us have pie.  And we have to have pie.

I suppose what I miss the most is how close we all seemed to feel on that one day.  It was about giving thanks and celebrating the family and how far we'd come over the previous year.  My son Matt and oldest daughter, Heather were always a hoot to have around during the holiday.  When my youngest son, Mason, and my youngest daughter, Madison, were baptized into the Gluttony Family, we had it down to a science and timing was everything.  Now, we're all spread out across the doggone country and it stinks.  My oldest has his own family now; starting his own traditions with his wife Kristina and my grandson, Rylan.  

I remember the carnage like yesterday and one time being freaked out over what the turkey looked like when it was stripped of its yummy meat.  It was a skeleton and I remember saying, "What the hell is that?"  

After I had my mouth washed out with soap, my mother explained the process in detail.  I think I can still taste that soap.

The devouring of food is particularly delightful, however, it pales in comparison to the memories made and the experience of family.  Though my memory continues to give me fits, the feeling of love and passion permeates the fabric of my being.  I hope that is the case for you too.  Take a look around today while you're eating and just watch everyone.  Soak it up and let it overcome you.  Food will come and go, but memories of life are eternal.

Of course, that's just my gluttonous opinion and I could be wrong...but I seriously doubt it.

Your Thanksgiving Gorilla

We Took A Wrong Turn

I can remember back in my Navy days when a handful of my shipmates and I would hop in the car and just drive.  One summer morning, we decided that driving from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona would be a lot of fun and we would see some sights along the way.  We didn't really plan too far in advance, you see, because we were driving in a 1972 Camaro with no air conditioning.  We did, however, manage to pack an ice chest with ice and soft drinks.  About a third into the drive, we were using the ice on our heads.

Did you know that between San Diego and Yuma, there really isn't much at the temperatures can get over 110 degrees?  We didn't either, but we know now.

There was a stretch just before Yuma where there were signs for a lake and we were so hot, all we could think about was jumping into the lake to cool off.  We took a road where the sign said the lake was supposed to be and it became very clear very shortly that the Camaro was just not designed to handle rough, rocky, and sandy roads.  Finally, we could see the lake and let loose with a roar of approval and excitement.  We were able to drive right down to the small, rock-surrounded beach and that was what we did exactly.  My friend shut off the car and left his wallet and keys behind and ran to the lake and jumped in; yelling with joy the whole way.

I opened my passenger door and put my foot in the sand and that is when I saw it.  

Right under my feet was a shed snake skin that was the size of a Buick.  I was frozen and my mind immediately considered that there is a possibility that a snake that large could very well be hanging around, waiting to make me its dinner.  Then, I realized that the weather was super hot but snakes need water too, so there were probably snakes IN the water with my friend.  I screamed out some extremely colorful and descriptive expletives which drew the attention of my friend who ran up the beach, certain that I was having some sort of mental breakdown.

I explained to him the eminent threat we were under and it was time to go do DEFCON 2.  

He reached down and picked up the snake skin and I noticed that it wasn't quite as big as I thought it was.  He laughed, I didn't.

As we tried to leave we realized that we could not because the car was, you guessed it, stuck in the sand.  Fortunately for us, a park ranger lady came by and broke protocol and helped us get out of that dire mess.  She got back into her truck and smiled at us and said, "I think you boys took a wrong turn because the beach with parking is about 1/2 of a mile east of us."

We eventually made it to Yuma, and found nothing there so we drove on to Phoenix.  And no; no more wrong turns.

There were times on that trip when we was sure that we wouldn't make it and were going to have to go full commando to survive because we didn't have a map and they didn't have GPS readily available then.  Somehow we made it.  There are many who would call it Divine providence, while others would call it dumb luck; it was a warning shot over our bow, I think.  It was the Creator telling us that the events of that day were symbolic of many days like that in the future.  My friend seemed to be paying attention more than I was because I keep on making wrong turns.  Even so, I still seem to make it back on track.  

I've gone through some changes in my life and some of them were phenomenal while others scared the crap out of me.  Even in the midst of changes or revelations and lessons learned, there will always be skeptics who will try to devalue what you're experiencing and wrestling with.  If we remain vigilant however, the naysayers will be silenced and left only to question whether or not they should be experiencing something similar themselves.  

Of course, that is just my opinion and I hope I'm wrong.

"Gorilla"