What Have We Done?

It's been a while since I have been here.  I'll do better.  Honestly.  

You see, I've been distracted by the things that have been happened in my country.  I'll go into that and it's genesis at another time.  For now know, Gentle Reader, that we live in a very dangerous age of "Alternative Facts" and Orwellian "Newspeak".  A time ruled by fear and characters that prove the old adage, "The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense."  An age where "The Great American Melting Pot" has been replaced by an iron boot.  A time where scientific papers have been removed from public websites so that research can be suppressed because it does not fit in with the twisted reality that is presented to the American people.  You see, we have a malignant narcissist sitting in the oval office.  He wants to be loved and when he is brought to task on any inconsistency he blows up like a spoiled child whose behavior cries, "Why don't you love me!?"  He perseverance on what he perceives as past slights against his "greatness".  He's enacted a "Muslim ban" for traveling into or out of the country (more on that next time too).  He's going to "build a wall" between the US and Mexico and, as he has said time and time again, "Mexico is going to pay for it".  Mexico feels quite differently on the subject.  Also, there are these things called airplanes and, from what I can gather, these machines care very little about how tall or long Trump's wall will be.  He is more concerned over the ratings on "The Apprentice" than he is with running the country.  He is picking fights with the current host of a TV show that he use to host at a prayer breakfast. 

Let me say that once more.  He is picking fights with the current host of a TV show that he use to host at a prayer breakfast.

This is the President of the United States.  And POTUS does not appear to be mentally well.  Seriously.  Something is not right with Mr. Trump.  There are a multitude of things that should be occupying his thoughts but this is what he is concerned with.  Then there are the people that he has surrounded himself within his cabinet who are truly dangerous.  They present lies as the truth, muddle the conversation, and point fingers blaming the media when they don't like what the read or hear.  Journalism is under attack.  So is free speech and science.  The Women's March on Washington the day after Trump was sworn in was the largest one day protest ever.  It wasn't just for the multitude of issues facing women today; it was a march against tyranny.

How did this happen?  How did this come so far?  There are reasons but too many for the scope of this particular return blog.  We'll talk about that soon.  Promise. 

What I would like to talk about is how the seeds of misinformation and distrust have started to bear fruit.  Protests need to remain non-violent.  For a protest to become violent it only supports the oppressor ultimately showing that we have become the thing we loath.  We need to be better than that.  The pendulum of free speech swings both ways and to paraphrase Jonathan Pie in his latest video, "We should never give the high ground to Donald Trump and his ilk."  I love Mr. Pie  His language can be harsh but his passion is honest.  Here is his latest video concerning the recent violence at Berkley when Milo Yiannopoulos was going to speak; Protest Pie.  Milo is a senior editor of Breitbart, Gamergate ground floor misogynist, has been linked to the Alt Right, and, for you D&D players out there, would probably be classified as chaotic evil.  But freedom of speech is not only enacted for people you or I agree with and universities should be places where ideas are free to be heard and argued.  As the Atlantic's article titled, Milo Yiannopoulos Tested Progressives - and the failed states, "Not letting him speak on campus just makes their point. It lets Yiannopoulos depict himself as a victim of "'political correctness.'"  So, by all means, protest but don't be manipulated.  These folks are use to manipulating people.  Don't let it happen to you.

"Nobody told me there'd be days like these.  Strange days, indeed." - John Lennon



Next time we will ponder how we entered into this brave new world.  Give Us Barabbas - coming soon.

I Wasn't Gonna Do It

I wasn’t gonna do it

I wasn’t gonna vote

The choice between the him and her

Had got me by the throat

But I see now in your heart of hearts

You just don’t want to lose

I wasn’t gonna do it

I wasn’t gonna choose

I’ve read your explanations

I’ve heard your passionate pleas

Seriously, this election

Has become social disease

She did this and he did that!

You’ve sucked on every crumb

The truth?  It doesn’t matter

Keep banging on your drum

We’re standing at the corner

The signs above us read

“Dystopia” and “Armageddon”

Perhaps we should take heed?

Reason is the price we’ve paid

They’re the best that we can do?

You get the government you earn

“It’s up to me and you”

Well, I simply just don’t buy that

We do just what we’re told

We’re told that these two are the top

I say we’re bought and sold

Yes, to the highest bidder

No matter what your side

The necrosis of corruption

Impossible to hide

So I wasn’t gonna do it

I wasn’t gonna vote

But I kept reading Facebook

And grew sick of all the bloat

What of your mind? Well that’s been set

You’ve pondered all you could

You’ve chosen him you’ve chosen her

But have you done all you should?

See hatred’s always been there

As easy as can be

Due to the rise of Facebook

It’s the plainest thing to see

And now you wear it proudly

For the world, it’s on display

The braying could be louder

For you have so much to say

I’m sick of hearing you talking

And this spiral we’ve gone down

I pray we can do better

If not then yes, we’ll drown

But you don’t care about such things

You only want to win

No matter who your ass supports

You care not for the sin

For you see

I wasn’t gonna do it

I wasn’t gonna choose

But now I’ve changed my heart of hearts

The demons’ on the loose

So I shall seek amongst you all

The worst that I can find

The self-righteous and the blaring

The hideous, the unkind

And whomever you’ve anointed

Whichever you may choose

My vote? To make yours null and void

Oh yes, my friend, you lose

I won’t tell you who I’m voting for

It doesn’t truly matter

Just know that you’ve been cancelled out

Which makes me all the gladder

Whomever you are I thank you

For I wasn’t going to vote

But you’ve made all the difference

For that you should take note

For hatred does not suit us

Upon this dawning day

We are Americans, after all

Lest none be led astray

The times they are a changin’

Imagine, if you can

That upon November 9^th

We’re still Americans

That we still support each other

That we still believe we can

That we can make a difference

In this divided land

We’ve got a lot of work to do

And this is plain to see

But the Republic, she is worth it

For you and, yes, for me

And in four years’ time

The dance, it will, at once again renew

We’ll hem, we’ll haw, we’ll have a ball

Till then I say adieu

Needless Hate Needs Love

So many needless things are in the news today.  Someone opens fire.  Someone sets off a bomb.  Someone shoots someone signing autographs.  Why?  I think it comes down to three possibilities.

His dog told him to.

His god told him to.

His hate told him to.

Dogs and gods are fine but hatred can twist them both.  These perpetrators are either insane, zealots, or hate has twisted their thinking.  There is far too much hatred in this world we live in today; both casual and black tie.  It’s in our elections, it’s in full display on social medial & TV, and it is, certainly in our headlines. 

What can be done?  What can we do to change things?  What can I do?

Perhaps, I can start with me.  Gandhi said, “You must be the change that you want to see in the world”, Jesus said, “Do unto others at you would have done unto you”, and the Beatles wrote, “All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.”  …Imagine that. 

The world will push back.  If you notice Gandhi, Jesus, and John Lennon were all killed for spreading that simple message.  It is a dark and fractured world.  Be the light.  It is a dark place – make it better.  Even if we have to step out of our comfort zone.  Do it.  When little things are multiplied they become great.  Wouldn’t it be great if we were kinder, if we were not so insular and started considering others?  Hey, what if we started to love one another? 

Yeah, Imagine that.

Be the light.  Reject this ‘new normal’ of cycling violence.  We need to do better. 

We must.

The It's a Toy Store Annual Toy Show - 2016 Edition!

This Toy Show gets bigger every year.  It has grown exponentially over time and if you happen to be seeking that one missing piece in your collection the It’s A Toy Store Toy Show is not a bad place to look.  It is a boon for buyers and sellers.  If you are selling toys it is completely free to set up a table.  Frank is the master of ceremonies and he does a GREAT job for the fans.  It’s not just about toys with Frank, it’s about passion and joy and sharing that with others.   

Frank holding court with the Good Souls from Level Up Entertainment standing by

If you missed today’s Toy Show, take heart, it will return again next year.  In the meantime, may I humbly suggest, stopping in at It’s a Toy Store in Richland, NJ (It's A Toy Store on Facebook).  You will not be disappointed.  Frank’s place is like a pop-culture museum and you will be hit by waves of nostalgia.  The conversation is top notch too.  Frank is the curator of this museum and has a wealth of geek knowledge to pull from.  Go, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you It's A Toy Store ~ this year's show was, truly, something to see! 

Things That Make March 2016 Magic

March 13^th is Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 in the morning.  I like this concept since I have missed seeing the sun.  I kind of like seeing it.  Going to work when and coming home when it is dark takes its toll.  I’m hoping that everyone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder can catch a breather and begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Sure it wasn’t a harsh winter for us this year but it was still winter and seeing these gray days come to an end does wonders for yours truly.  It will be good to see the sun again.  “Spring forward”… you know the rest.

                                 "Little darlin', its been a long, cold, lonely winter..."

March 15^th.  Besides being the Ides of March where those in the know lord over the rest of the unwashed masses that they are aware that on March 15, 44 BC, Julius Ceasar gets assassinated and stabbed in the back; SONY is about to unveil Playstation VR.  “Cheap” Virtual Reality for us, the unwashed masses in the know.  How cheap remains to be seen but this could be big.  Oculus Rift and virtual reality are the logical step in immersive gaming.  If you get the chance to try out an Oculus take it – you will be amazed.  Having Playstation on board with this has truly groundbreaking potential.  There’s going to be a news conference on March 15^th, 2016 to show it off and, hopefully, unveil the price tag.  Virtual Reality is ground breaking but being an early innovator does not always come cheaply.  I’m hoping to hear and see great things on the Ides of March.

                                                Oh, the things we'll see...

March 25^th.  “Batman V Superman – Dawn of Justice” opens on this day.  Any Geek worth his or her salt grasps the iconic nature of finally having the trinity up on the silver screen – Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.  They are the stuff of legend.  Marvel has had their act together for quite some time now and this, as Warner Brothers & DC hope, will launch DC Comics pantheon from page to screen.  Zack Snyder is at the helm.  It was his vision that put the, “Man of Steel” onto the big screen and started to hint at a much larger world.  Having the genesis of the Justice League unfold on the big screen is an idea whose time has come.  For one reason or another it has been a long time coming.  The stories are there but Warner Brothers didn’t jump until now.  I, for one, can’t wait.  I think that Snyder has something wonderful up his sleeve.  I’m hoping that he gets out of the way and let these icons speak for themselves.  I betting the he does.  He has his collective act together too.  We will also get a peek at some of the other players too.  Expect to see the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg make their cameos too.  Can “Justice League” be far behind?  Who else do you get to take on the “Suicide Squad”?  Fans can be cruel.  I believe this is because they have been hurt in the past and that they have ideas as to how these stories that are so close to their hearts should be told.  There is baggage too, Superman did something in the last movie that he would be hard pressed to ever do in the comics.  I’m hoping that there are repercussions and I hope they are explained in this new film.  I believe in Zack and, Lord knows, I believe in these icons.  I can’t wait to see what happens.    

                                 The trinity.  The back bone of the Justice League.

Savannah, Georgia

I have a friend of mine, let’s call her Walker.  Walker and I love to compare notes on family vacations.  We both live vicariously off of each other’s adventures.  One of these days I will consult her on traveling out west where she and her family have had several unforgettable experiences.  Rattlesnakes and tarantulas may be traumatic at first but they ultimately make for great travel stories.  Walker has ‘em.  She asked me recently what to do with some spare time in Savannah, Georgia.  Mother Hen and I were there this past August and, as it turns out, we fell in love with the city.  Savannah will capture you and you will be happy in its embrace.  Here is, by and large, what I told Walker… 

                                       Character and atmosphere

Historic Savannah is a timeless city.  Oglethorpe knew what he was doing when he laid it out in pre-revolutionary times.  He may have patterned it after Roman encampments – whatever the case Old Savannah is absolutely beautiful – one of the most wonderful cities that I have ever had to pleasure of visiting.  Mother Hen feels the same way.  MH and I have traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard and at various destinations I would say, “You know, we could live here.”  She does not always agree.  In Savannah, the tables turned and she beat me to the punch.  “You know,” she said, “we could live here”.

                                                  Iron work and architecture

                                                    The Mercer House

Savannah is a city heavy with history, character, and charm.  The historic section is truly something to behold.  Take the Oglethorpe Trolley Tour (http://www.oglethorpetours.com/).  I’ve come to love these trolley tours.  You’ll learn a lot about the city and you will cover a LOT of ground, which is good since you will be able to scope out the sights that you want to revisit.  If you only have a limited time to visit, then I’d say find a good trolley tour – it will be to your benefit.   

                                           View from inside one of the Squares

                                           So much to explore.

                                               This was a 'mail ordered' fountain

                                                 The First African Baptist Church

The Squares are wonderful are a must to walk, the Mercer House (from ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’), the architecture, the oak trees, the fountains, the iron work, the weight of the palpable history that hangs in the city just as the Spanish moss does, the cobblestones at the waterfront, and the FOOD! – oh, you guys are going to LOVE it.  Speaking of food, if you want a meal that you will never forget skip Paula Dean’s place and go directly to Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (http://mrswilkes.com/).  Trust me on this.  The locals will tell you the same.  Get there early (about 10:30 should do).  They open at 11:00 AM and close at 2:00 PM – yes, they are only open three hours a day.  That’s all they need to blow anything else out of the water.  Southern cooking that is off the charts, cranked to 11, and blowin’ out the speakers.  It’s $22.00 a head and worth every single cent.  Bring cash, they don’t take cards.     

                                   Yes, that is the line. It is time well spent.

After a meal like that it is time for a walk.  Go check out the things that you wanted to revisit from the trolley ride.  If you get the chance before hoping back onto the trolley to take you back to where your car is see about making a stop at Leopold’s Ice Cream (http://www.leopoldsicecream.com/).  This place is amazing – two fold.  First the Ice Cream Parlor itself is like stepping back in time.  Secondly, you will notice a lot of autographs & movie posters on the walls, as well as, film props all over the place.  It turns out that the owner was a film producer.  You guys would LOVE it.  J.J. Abrams, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins are all represented in the photo / autograph section.  The ice cream is the real deal too.  They’re Zagat rated for a reason.

                                             It gets to be a busy place.

There is so much more than this and we only scratched the surface of this wonderful city.  Next time we are bringing the girls and we’ll probably stay longer than a day.  I have no doubt that you and your family will have an adventurous time in the city of Savannah (http://visitsavannah.com/).  I can’t wait to hear of the stories.

                                                        Timeless.