W_L

Hands wildone a wet wipe and antacids

Merry Christmas to you all

Boston only got 1" today, but it's better than nothing

I love this episode for Christmas: Enjoy, Part I http://youtu.be/YGwHJL4RyOg Part II http://youtu.be/56ky9wHS9ow

Which is why you offer people living on the street some old winter coats you don't wear or maybe a portion of your Christmas Dinner (even if it is slightly vegetable heavy). Beyond the religious overtones that not everyone will like, Christmas is a holiday of giving and sharing with your fellow man as well. That's why friends come over for dinner, in laws come over for visits, and families gather around a table. Life is hard and despite the progress from the time of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" poverty and want is still around. We can't get rid of those bad things in the world, but for one moment in time, we can try to be better. I leave you with one of my favorite passages from "A Christmas Carol":

I'm having tofurky, but I am not going vegetarian or vegan, its an Asian thing. Although outside a chicken, most things i am making don't have any meat or animal byproduct including milk/butter. Maybe i should do a reverse "Christmas story" without the duck

Merry Christmas, Festivus, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza (I still haven't met a person who can explain this one to me), and all the holidays of the world. Plus, Happy Holidays to people who just like the long weekend and eggnog

I wrote a poem this morning about the end of an era and I want to explain it. Today 12/21/2012 marks the end of an age/era in Mayan calendars. However, what type of era, do we live in now? Gay rights is winning left and right, gay marriage seems on the cusp of success and the majority of people no longer thinks of us as mentally ill. The religious fanatics are dying out along with a generation of hate mongers, racists, and generally "bad" people. Science is reaching greater heights and greater strides in understanding our Universe, increasing the human lifespan, and providing solutions to the world's greatest problems of hunger and energy. Despite all of that, why did I write such dark and foreboding poem about this Brave New World? All things in existence are balanced, what we have gained is grand and unimaginable, but what we have lost is small and intangible to the common man. Yet, when taken to its ends, what we have lost is also grand and unimaginable. We have lost hope in this new world. Think about it for a moment, what does one strive for in the world today? Money, cars, computers, a cute boyfriend or some fuck buddies, or maybe all the above plus the world. That isn't hope though, it's desire. Hope comes from those seeking and striving to rise despite the obstacles in our way. It is through the trials and tribulations of life that hope is gained. A world, without hope yet has everything else, seems like a dream, maybe even a Utopia. However, why am I getting an Ipad mini? Why do I need a new house? Why do I need all these clothes? There's no longer a reason to hope for something that can be obtained with merely a swipe of a credit card or financing from a bank. We have become colder in our lives and colder in our hearts as hope is gone. While many of us enjoy the fruits of this new era, we no longer pay heed to others. Who has taken a long walk down an unknown street recently? Who has attempted to speak with total strangers at cafes and spar over the nuances of daily life? Few if any. Why must we need such things if our desires can be fulfilled so speedily, human beings are slow and imprecise unlike the goods and products that we consume. Finally, there is the lost of faith in this new era. With half of all Americans no longer believing in the same Judeo-Christian God as a generation ago, things are changing. Maybe people will say good riddance to bad rubbish, but there's a tragedy within this lost of faith. Probably, if you know me well, you know I have a weird sense of religion and Christian ideology. I don't believe in any Church fully, nor absolve their customs completely. I think modern Christians have done wrong to God by killing him three times (both metaphorical and spiritual murder). First, the death at the Cross, not merely the beginning of Christianity, but the death of open discourse. Nature and God after the rise of Christianity became objective with little subjective inquiry unlike the ancient. The rigid ideals of early Christians are praised by many as noble beliefs, but look at them more closely and ask whether the rigid order of supremacy and obedience to "lords" and "kings" was really noble. The words of openness and brotherhood among all men were washed away with the rise of an all powerful organization, "Modern Religion". The Second murder came at the time of the Renaissance, when Popes would collect payments for spaces in heaven like God's management company on Earth. Gold and Silver flooded the old world and grand temples were created. Despite their claims of being more pious, Protestant have no better with their works. In modern times, mega-churches are a billion dollar industry that makes as much money without taxes as Apple computers. When people began manipulating ideals for worldly goods, they killed God by elevating foolish principles to generate ever greater wealth. Does Salvation or being "Saved" really matter with a book that cost $29.99 that is not even the Bible and holds no more words of wisdom? We are now killing God for the third time, but it is not out of "nobility" or "ignorance". We have moved beyond those ideals into "apathy", mankind has lost faith. We have lost the meaning of truth after centuries of lies and power plays by those that claim to have divine rights through God. It no longer matters, whether there is a God or not, mankind no longer cares to ask such questions that have no meaning. Why carry stubborn faith, when there is no judgment on earth as there once was? We are in an era with progress and many products, but we have lost hope and faith. If there is no judgment, no hope, and no need to follow in the rigid noble path, what is left for man except an emptiness that is far more infinite and tragic than any type of Apocalyptic vision of Hell and Brimstone. ___________________________ Well that explains my poem and my thoughts on the new world.

The End of an Era By WL My time has ended Yet I am alive and young Why do I feel dead and old? Tick Tock! Tick Tock! Time doesn’t stop Progress knows no bounds I see a world full of wonders Yet I hear no joyful sounds My heart aches to feel No man will offer sympathy Our lives are too full Things and goods, man consumes Yet, they consume us in turn Leaving an empty world of objects Where is God? Where is our Messiah? Man has killed him twice before Once with a Cross

A short poem for 12/21/2012 and the end of an era, somewhat critical of modern people and religion.

Banger, you're old spice now after you hit 21

Seriously, I can't really tell anymore. What is currently trendy? What is Retro? What is out? Pop culture has a lot of facets, from dining to gifts for people. A year ago, tablet computers were all the rage, now you see one everywhere and it's just normal. Regular sugary Coca Cola was once considered a good meal for everyone, but now it is demonized as the most evil concoction next crack cocaine Anyone have an idea on what's in or out?

Wow, Schroeder's such a bottom boy Poor Snoopy, I hope woodstock is buried next to him, they were good for each other. They should make an adult version of the Peanuts, but they better keep snoopy.

"A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott and I like this song: Blue Christmas is the best song for lonely romantics during Christmas.

First I want my prayers and hopes to go out to those kids killed today in Connecticut, it was so sad to hear. I am not going to be picking up a picket sign to outlaw the 2nd amendment anytime soon, but we have seen just too much tragedy from gun related crimes in recent months. I am just tired of hearing about tragedies and tired of seeing innocent blood spilled over random acts of violence. Something has to be done about gun ownership in the US, whether it is by state law or national law. Also, mental health needs to be addressed in America, we argue about physical preventative care from all sides of politics, but where are there advocates for mental health preventative help. It costs so little to have a hotline, so little to have a someone to chat with during a standard annual physical, and so little just give a few minutes to vent out frustrations. Little things for mental health can save lives. The event was shocking and it is still settling into my mind. ______________ The next big item is that "Big Squeeze" writing is starting up again after a hiatus due to my new job and catching up No more Soapbox = more time to write. I really do like the idea of chronicling the 2008 Financial Crisis down to three months in which the world financial system was frozen in due to credit and liquidity issues from a gay professionals point of view. There's not enough gay fiction that takes apart current issues from the middle managers perspective, there's not enough fiction in general that takes the perspective of middle management to be honest. I know it seems boring at first, but it does pick up. Besides, these guys in high finance's middle management might make more than $100K in salary and own several homes, but they are no better off than the rest of America. Higher pay means higher standards and higher costs. In terms of physically, financially, emotionally, and mentally, it demands a lot to be in those positions. We hear about the poor home owners getting evicted, rich wall Street CEO's making million, and the government bailouts from pundits. Yet little from the middle of the pack, the people who ran the numbers and who shared that moment in history together from various firms and government agencies around the world. ___________________________________________- Finally the Hobbit, I can't wait to watch it

You were a bad sheep even then : One thing i am glad they removed was the water pipes. Do you remember how much work it used to be to keep the water supply up and make sure all the buildings had pipes crisscrossing around the city? I used to underfund the fire department and watch my city burn from lava (I think it was from a volcano or something). That was an epic disaster. I got into simcity with simcity 2000 and my elementary school teacher knew someone at maxis, so i got my copy autographed by will wright, the greatest game developer of the 20th and early 21st century, other than sid meier, creator of civilization and true 4X gaming.

i would love building venetian waterways like roads, maybe they'll do that with an expansion along with my favorite disaster Ufo attack!

Name a game that let's you build a city from the ground up and one name will come out....SimCity. There is a new one now and you have to try it out. Upgradeable buildings, new curved roads, new view settings, strategic resources for city development, plus all the classic disaster If there's a reason for the mayan prophecy to be wrong, then this would be it.

Lol ! So my mom made me, Freud was right after all Marker genetics has been a staple of science fiction for the last quarter century, so its about time science weighs in after writers have dreamed and thought out the impossible. What would be interesting is if scientists can find God (not the lazy wanna be particle, but some kind of unified field, energy, or force that essentially is what drives existence)? Then, you will have a real shit storm.

I'm like you were a decade ago with a bit more education and no real goals outside my career. My career looks bright at moment, but what do I have to show for it. A few gaming PCs and a notoriously decadent appetite of chocolate symphony from Finales bakery in Boston. (Chocolate cakes with milk chocolate cream and chocolate ganache, I grab two of them) I long for my own paya to end my aimless though not fruitless period. Westie I truly hope to one day have the same joys.

Drool over the programming and math books

My eyes are opening at $10 mimosas If I am not drowned by work, I'll take some time off for a visit and a few drinks. Bring some east coast love for you west coast boys.

K, but you better pack some puppy snacks for this blog entry experiment

Happy Birthday Wayne/Charlie Brown I'll do a Snoopy Dance for you!

Well, as I said, I went to West Palm Beach over the week. The trip was a business oriented session that was both fun and interesting. I've usually been able to control my drinking to prevent myself from going into la-la land, but I did not during the staff Christmas party down there. Two coke and rums, plus 3 glasses of Chardonnay in two hours, I had my very first black out in years. I don't know if everyone experiences the same things during a black out, but mine was very odd and sort of introspective. People were having conversations all throughout the room and it began turning dark all of a sudden. At first, the conversations began to soften and my head felt like a rush of blood had entered it. Then everything became black for what felt like several seconds. I saw a few traces of lights and a strong intensity of muffled sounds. Part of me felt some fear, but on another level, I felt relief like all the strains on my life had passed. Then, I began to see the light of the room again and hear the voices of everyone in the room. The tightness around my head dissapated and all was normal. Despite the seeming calmness of my body, I opted to head back to my hotel room for a night of rest. In my dreams, I had experienced something of a happiness, far more than I have ever sensed in my life. I was walking down my familiar neighborhood and a scrawny looking guy began a conversation with me. For some reason, I felt completely at eased with him and felt contentment. He was nerdy and probably would not win any GayVn awards for appearance, but I felt an absolute peace being around him. Then, I woke up, but did not wish to actually leave that peaceful dreamlike world. The rest of the week seemed routine to me like everything was just perfectly pitched. I did my job, checked numbers, and worked around different systems for the insurance adjusters that my new firm works with. So that's my week in a nutshell, I don't know if it was an alcohol fueled dream of heaven or my subconscious finding contentment in my new job and role or even my innate prophetic talents. I don't know, but something feels different in my life and my heart is changing. _______________ Now for some recent history, the soapbox is closing and I feel happy. I might be one of the biggest posters in that area of the forum in recent years and have outlived many members who have debated in there, but I have been the first guys hoping to see it gone. You need a thick skin, a lion's heart, and an indominable will even to survive in that place during the last two election cycles. American politics and events have dominated the area, with a handful of European observations. I enjoy European affairs like the Catalonia secession movement, the French/German systems of economics, and the fun UK news items. Some topics were poignant and ahead of their time as I warned people like the growing fissures in the Republican party, between the alliances of conservatives. Among my own political spectrum, I have warned and counseled that we are seeing a realignment coming with the differences between populist politics and old platform politics. Some times, I feel like Cassandra warning about the Greeks bearing gifts and trojan Hubris in our own illusory triumphs. Optimism sounds great, but Pessimism is functionally better. Republicans are far too optimistic and full of our own pride from the years of power, we have not prepared well for bad news or times. Pessimism should go hand in hand with Conservatives, but there are fewer cynics in our ranks like me. Politics is in my blood and that won't change even without a Soapbox.