W_L

"The shot that was heard around the world" was the signal for World War I. A very simple issue can lead to something very profound and dangerous; the London riots have grown to engulf many areas and it no longer matter what started the riots, because the signal has now been tuned on every rebellious heart. In the end, I have a sinking suspicion the US is not far behind the rest of the world in terms of popular discontent. We have had a pro-longed period of economic distress and very little hope in sight. Also, unemployment benefits for the millions still unemployed, both reported and unreported due to giving up on job search, have begun stopping after the maximum extension has been reach from the start of the Great Recession. People are fed up and it has been building up for a while, London was merely the powder keg and the UK forces need to keep watch, heck it might be necessary to recall some forces back to the UK for domestic security if this worsens. The reports are getting worse and worse about the civil unrest in the UK and I hope none of the GA members will be harmed or worse during this trying time. Perhaps as Jamesavvik once thought on another subject about the end of the world, it's not too late to get a few guns and stash a some gold

My heart is no longer in my stories; I don't know why. It's like I know the words to write, but not the words to speak to my soul. When I use to write, I felt for my characters and wanted to give them a world to live in, but now, I don't feel anything. My heart is growing dimmer and I don't know why, except perhaps my life has become so cold from work.

We've gone through half the summer already, but not all our plans and vacations have been settled. I was hoping to go on a trip sometime in July, but things keep getting in the way. Either I had a work related emergency or a problem with booking something that would not cost me an arm and a leg. Like my trip to Oquanquit, ME, it is so hard to find a room up there for less than $200, not to mention all the other costs from food and the amusement park. Anyone else have summer plans deferred this year?

Lol! Thanks for remind me about Angry Beavers. Btw, Invader Zim! was 2000's and in my opinion the last good nick cartoon Didn't really liked spongebob, but it was at least watchable the first seasons or two. Rugrats was really good, when they were babies I finally got a few sexual innuendos and really outstanding jokes, including a really funny exchange when Chucky asked Tommy, "if this is how it felt to be married" after Tommy moved in with Chucky's family for a few weeks in one episode and they got into a big fight over how Tommy was organizing the toys, lol! (Don't forget the episode where Tommy cross dresses to win a beauty contests) There were lots of little thing that made this show special. All Grown Up! was a mistake to try to cash in on the tweenagers, since the people who watched Rugrats were in my generation and we had already grown up past that stuff.

This is the right place to express prayers and hope: May the victims families find peace and may the guilty parties be brought to trial to face their crimes. I like what their Prime minister had said: There is no cure for terrorism as long as human malice exist, but if you don't surrender to the fear of terror, then its destructive power cannot achieve its goals.

The Journey of Allen Strange That was cool, but Nick didn't really give the show a proper ending. I mean the television movie was kind of a cop out in my mind; I re-watched a few years ago through live streams before the networks started killing them online. Same with Animorphs, while Nick did a great as producers and actors had brilliant plot set up; they really weren't great with pure science fiction series endings, excluding Secret world of Alex Mack, which had a really strong ending, and Are Your Afriaid of the Dark?, which was more an anthology like the twillight zone or outer limits with their ending plot twists. I don't blame them for dropping Animorphs, if you guys read the books like I did, you know that making a show that dark for kids would probably never work on television. If they had continued with Animorphs; they would have to push the envelope towards darker areas of fighting a guerrilla war and the sacrifices the characters eventually made in the book series to win, would probably have caused PTA groups to boycott in the 1990's. (The most shocking scene in the series when they had disabled kids going on one final suicide attack, not something that many people even today would be accepting even in literary context. I for one find it something to admire, the sacrifice was honestly the most touching thing I had read at that point.) If Nick wants to re-do a series, in my mind Animorphs would be what kids need to see today; they don't need perfect heroes and villains with the good guys always winning with no costs on their side, kids need to see that in any fight there is always a cost. In a post 9/11 world, the lessons from that book series is not only relevant, but something many adults have yet to understand. Okay, back to the lighter side of Nick in the 1990's, sorry for the critique Cartoons on Nick, oh where do we start: Rocko's Modern Life was definitely great (I love the episode where Heffer moves out and he becomes a complete mess living with cock roaches ), I miss Arrgh Real Monster too (It's like college for monsters), and finally Doug, nothing more need to be said.

I love the nostalgia: So many good shows from the 90's: Rocko's Modern Life, Doug, All That, Secret World of Alex Mack (Hope they do the entire series), and my favorite Are you afraid of the Dark? (It was spooky) My favorite episodes of Are you afraid of the Dark were the one where they had the door in the attic that led to the toy doll house and the ghost boy who died of cold. Between that and Goosebumps, I was a traumatized child . PS: Were you, Kingdombythesea, on Double Dare, Guts, or another game show thing?

Let's see, I drink Coffee like water; 10 cups easily within a day. I also have tea if there's no coffee or if the caffeine is stronger in that particularly brand of tea, (I really recommend Irish Breakfast Tea, it can wake up the dead) By the way, I drink all of it black, no cream or sugar. If I do buy it from Dunkin Donuts, I will only ask for a shot of expresso in the coffee to make it extra potent. The best coffee for me is Ethiopian Roast; it has a hint of cocoa and a taste of dark chocolate, when you drink it black. As for Soda, I have tried to wean myself off it, too much sugar. I love Coca Cola way too much. Caffeine is slightly better in large quantities than sugar. As for people that drink coffee and tea in large quantities, do you guys ever try playing around with it, like pairing it with different food? I find sumatran coffee to go very well with curry, some how it makes it a bit more smokey and spicy. There's also teas that I think go great with cobblers, accentuating the taste of fruits. Maybe, I am over thinking it, but I feel like tea and coffee can be just as variable towards taste as Wine pairing has become in French and Italian dining.

The books are better, but I freely admit that the CGI's drew me into the world of enchantment first as a kid Hmm, I was around 13-14, when the first movie came out. I didn't know that other guys were along for the ride of Harry Potter series as well. In any case, I am hoping to make it to a matinee tomorrow, so don't spoil it for me. As for Daniel radcliffe, he was nice as his character developed and learned about the magical world. However, I wonder what he will do after the series is over. He could put on a few showings of Equus for his fans .

I sit here typing out this blog and wondering what is our purpose. Is there a purpose to everything we do, somethings, or nothing? Some days, we hope for rewards based on our actions; either good or bad actions, but nevertheless some think the purpose is based on rewards. However, should we base our lives on rewards? What ever happened to doing what is just and right for the reason that it is for the greater good. Rewards should not drive human actions, nor is it purpose. Then, what is purpose?

For those of you, who know what I do and those who don't, I had a very weird day today. I am a head of accounting for a health management firm that manages community health centers, in European equivalence, these health centers are similar to a local clinic combined with an apothecary and outpatient services from a traditional hospital. I work in tough neighborhoods in Boston, making sure the accounting works correctly and people are not trying to rob the organizations blind. Today, while I was working out of Washington Street in Dorchester, someone began to open fire with a gun. At that moment, I had no feelings and no fear. It's a feeling or lack of feeling that has been building for months now. I've seen a kid get run over by a car, which did not stop as the kid started bleeding out. That shocked me at first and haunted me for weeks. That happened back in November, but I know distinctly that I felt a sudden chill at that kind of inhumanity. Throughout my time at this job as you guys might have picked up from blogs and my posts, I have had to make tough choices. A lot of people get harmed by choices that were made and I don't know how their health is now; heck they might be dead as I prioritized spending. All that basically made me harder and tougher than most people my age. I am not shocked as I knew a shooting might happen, but I really felt nothing. Am I so cynical now that I no longer fear violence and accept it as background noise? Do I not care about human life anymore? The only other member of GA, who is probably at or beyond this level of cynicism is Jamessavik, but I don't know if this is what you feel James.

Almost anything compares well against Communism; heck even socialism compares well to communism

Hopefully, within three generation, HIV and AIDS might be a memory; a footnote like the black plague. I do want to ask those that were old enough to live through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's to share their stories and share the knowledge of what happened.

I was pondering this thought as I keep hearing the radio responders, chiming over and over again about how the US is a Democracy and their voices matter in the decisions. This lie to people might maintain order and this dream of democracy has been with many for a long time, but the US has never been a democracy, nor has any of her current allies. Sure, every nation has varying forms of representative government, but no nation has had a direct universal democracy as the primary form of government. I feel like the truth should be known by everyone that they alone are not the voices of law, but people still want to believe that they are. Around the world, people are hoping for democracy and more control over their lives, but is it not a fact that your life is not really your own to control beyond the limits of your actions and thoughts. Beyond those limits, you must compromise and work on common goals to change anything else with others. Perhaps, one individual's way might be better if everyone follows it, but while your assertion of individuality is true, what of the counter point? You don't even need a liberal/conservative split, a simpler question like are right handed people better than left handed people, it can start a fight in this kind of world with absolute personal assertion. I have theory that those seeking a Democracy in such form are seeking something messianic. It's almost religious, how the ideal of self can be built into a shrine with unbelievers denounced and expelled into the wilderness. Just my two cents

The back story that accompany Exodus explains the motivations and evolutions of the character to this point. If you know who or what Benjamin Cross really is; his tacit support adds another point of context. When people are forced to the point of extinction, what will become of the survivors? From movies like Munich and the history of Israel, I drew historical parallels to set up my plot.

Yum! It was a great series; Bostonians had tempered optimism before the game; I won't lie, it could have gone either way. Well, it's close to four decades for Boston, but it was worth it. To Canadians: Well, you guys had the majority of power plays in the 7th game as all the sports analyst thought would happen. However, nothing was scored during them for you guys, so I mean you really can't blame the Bruins for playing perfect defense. One of those goals was actually knocked in by accident through the collision during your power play.

BRUINS WON the STANLEY CUP!!!!!!! 4-0, SHUT OUT

EHhh...Have a Bowl of Chowda Go Boston! We have a track record for being the city of under-dogs beating up the big bad bully of any sports, we're only missing Hockey and Soccer.

Bruins 0-1 Canucks Well, we kept it a low scoring game against the NHL's best scoring team Blue, We will have a game 7 in Vancouver, damn. I was hoping for that one to be in Boston, but we got to keep the faith. P.S: I will give you $1,500 if you want to unload your seat or seats

Thanks for the clarification, True about the Sox, but I thought our first win was worth remembering more. We went from a 3-0 series to a complete washout for the Yankees. Seriously, I stayed up to midnight each night for the games and even began shouting until my throat became extremely sore and I had my high school final presentations. Now back to Hockey: Bruins and Canucks are tied 2-2, we have the momentum in the series, but the Canucks have the home advantage, which could turn the tide again. I am hoping that we can win the next game with our current momentum. Even if the Bruins have to face game 7, we'll be back at home and it will make parade preparation easier.

What matters anymore? By W.L Where are the Creators of Destiny? Where are the Shapers of Fate? Found in the words of History Lost in the blogs of Hate We have lost all Hope We have found no Faith Love within helps some Cope Despair within creates the Wraith Oh specter of Doom Thou hath’ consumed us at Last Where are our noble Virtues? Where are our enlightened Truths? Discarded from the mental Views Taken from the last of our Youths

My little contribution to the theme of walking on the wild side with a reflection on the wild nature of modern humanity in poem form

I appreciate your humble opinion and the ideal family issue is kind of warped in human thought. One person's dream is another one's nightmare, children should not be made into an image of what people want or desire, if we go down that line of logic, mankind will be doomed to eventual self-destruction. I want people to remember these issues; I want people to know that at this very moment, while we see so much progress in the world of gay rights, there remains a very scary under-current. The practices of "aversion therapy" are still booming, camp loads of kids are still being forced through this kind of "treatments", and there has been little that has been done about them other than small legal actions that have at this point achieved little or nothing. Even if marriage equality becomes legalized in all 50 states, GLBT rights and human rights in general cannot be sustained by my generation or the generations that follow us as long as our population is culled, caged, and exploited. Even though I am a fierce conservative and understand the complexity of how this type of treatment can be maintained by deaf ear by people of influence, but if I were ever given the power, it would be my life's mission to see to the eradication of this practice.

I know some one will invoke the Godwin, but I kind of got a few hours to think over the comparison to Dr. Mengela and complicity.. Graeme,in the US, we have a code of conduct for medical professionals that puts equal emphasis on patient knowledge for procedures as well as doctors engaging in procedure. For a parent to follow orders rather than asking deeper questions about procedures, it engages in complicit action by default. When many people in society accept such practices, is it not a form of repression by any other name? Do parents, doctors, and religious leaders have this right over a child even if it is tacit complicity based on assumed facts? Also, the techniques that were described comes from a very long line of anti-gay pseudo-psychology called "aversion therapy" or positive encouragement as the old euphemism is known. It is destructive on adults to attempt aversion therapy, let alone a child. In the end, families have to ask themselves one very clear and simple question: How much do you want an ideal family at the cost of sanity?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/07/sissy.boy.experiment/index.html?iref=obnetwork I felt sick to my stomach after reading this story. I knew from background research these pseudo-psychologist existed when I began writing Exodus with strong emphasis on how far these guys could go, doing this stuff on kids should have been classified as what truly is, Child abuse. You're taking a helpless 5 year old boy and torturing him in order to "nip the bud" of homosexuality. (I know this could become heated, but I think this is a general topic that all of us should chime in on, irrespective of political views, because there is something universal in this issue, if Graeme or any other mod thinks this gets deteriorated to political points, then it should be moved to Soapbox) Also as a food for thought: When trying to isolate, examine, and exterminate a certain group of people based on noticeable characteristics, these people are no longer trying to be doctors in curing a disease as the "cleansing" of society is what their ultimate goals are. They are more akin to Dr. Mengela and yet we allow them to do this under the umbrella of parental rights. The studies and research used by Reker's is still being used today, while the US has forbidden the old style of therapies, we now have much more privately owned places, basically "Conversion Camps", where parents can send their kids to without regards to their rights.