WARNING: BEWARE of HUMANS

 “If you don't like pictures of animal cruelty being posted on social media, you need to help stop the cruelty, not the pictures. You should be bothered that its happening, not that you saw it.”
― Marie Sarantakis

     Dog fighting is a felony is all 50 states and the District of Columbia. So while criminals are viciously fighting animals to their death for profit, local and federal law enforcement , the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States are fighting for justice. Currently, the ASPCA is working with Congress to enact legislation making it a federal crime to even attend any organized animal fighting event. Along with 367 pit bulls officials in the national raid were able to seize weapons, narcotics, drug paraphernalia and 500,000 dollars cash used for gambling . The sweep was the result of a four year multi-state investigation.

     In March of  this year the ASPCA assisted the FBI,  The Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement in conducting a raid which covered several states and seized almost one hundred fighting dogs. These animals would have spent their entire existence from birth outside tethered with heavy chains,  bred repeatedly, tortured, starved, beaten, and then forced to fight to their death. According to several reports on the day of the raid the dogs were enduring the freezing temperatures  of a blizzard.

When you see evidence of dog fighting there is a 99% chance other illegal activity will be discovered. What can you look for in your own community as evidence of dog fighting? What do you do if you see it happening? What can you do if you know of or see a dog being chained or tethered and in distress.?  Below is a list of common warning signs of dog fighting compiled from resources including the ASPCA, HSUS, law enforcement and various animal welfare organizations.

Are there an unusual or inordinate amount of the pit bull breed dog in your area?

 Are the dogs kept isolated in one location, chained and un-socialized?

If you reside in an urban area are they confined to a basement or small area in the home?

Do you notice dogs with  cuts and scars especially on their faces and legs?

Have you seen dog fighting equipment outdoors such as tires or "spring poles" hanging from the limbs of trees?

Have you seen exercise treadmills or "breaksticks" which are used to draw open the jaws of a dog in battle?

Do you notice a high volume of human traffic in one secluded location at odd hours?

 Besides neighbors and concerned citizens many times a public works employee, utility worker or postal carrier will notice circumstances and behavior out of the ordinary.

Please, DON'T IGNORE animal cruelty. Human beings are the only voice they have. By reporting the animal cruelty you may be saving the life of an abused or neglected child or adult who is too afraid to speak out.

If you see an animal that appears to be neglected outside or one you suspect is being used in dog fighting contact your local humane society, animal control or law enforcement agency. Remember, we are their only voice.

 http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/Unchained-10-Ways-to-Indentify-Dog-Fighting

http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/April-is-Prevention-of-Animal-Cruelty-Month

"I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones...."

“Music is what I have to do, I only answer the questions so that I can do it.”
― Jack White (The White Stripes)

     iTunes Store Top 10 Alternative Songs  (US) Radioactive by Imagine Dragons was originally released in December of 2012 but continues to rise in popularity from inside the United States to outside including the UK and Australia. This week the acclaimed anthem captured the number one downloaded song position on Apple iTunes.

     Imagine Dragons debut album Night Visions is where you can absorb Radioactive which like the song itself is filtered through a passionate revolutionary perspective. All music is left up to your own interpretation. As far as the true lyrical meaning some critics and fans argue it's about Wall Street, greedy corporations, a crumbling society or even an end of the world nuclear holocaust scenario. The video for Radioactive features talented Hollywood actor Lou Diamond Phillips and a few underestimated cute n' cuddly furry fighters.

 

1. Radioactive- Imagine Dragons            
                                                                                 
2. Safe and Sound- Capital Cities

3. Still Into You-Paramore
                                        
4. Summertime Sadness-  Lana Del Rey

5. Sail- AWOLNATION

6. My Songs Know What You Did In
    the Dark (Light 'Em Up)-Fall Out Boy

7. Demons- Imagine Dragons

8. Sweater Weather- the Neighbourhood

9. Pompeii- Bastille

10. The is Gospel- Panic! At the Disco


Happy Birthday to Jack O. August 23rd!


http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/10-Most-Entertaining-Alternative-Music-Videos

"Where do we go from here?'

 “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - President John F. Kennedy

     "You will be fine."  "Everything will work out." "How could they NOT hire you?" "You have so much to offer." "Don't worry.", words uttered out of sheer ignorant optimism. Believe! Those were actual phrases of positive encouragement written and spoken to my brother during the past ten months. Steve has proudly served his country as a member of the US Armed Forces for over twenty years. Serving or retiring from the military is an achievement that invokes pride and honor as an American citizen. Most American adults cannot or have never been given the opportunity to commit to any endeavor for twenty years let alone the United States military. He officially retired from the US Navy with the deservedly shiny hopeful attitude that along with his retirement benefits he would quickly secure quality full time civilian employment. Our country is miserably failing veterans.

     Have you ever been unemployed? Chances are if you are a member of the American work force you have been unemployed at least a year or more in your lifetime. From manufacturing to education, from Internet technology to health care you have known or will know what it feels like to be laid off, let go, forced to retire, forced to resign or experience a reduction in compensated work hours. It's reality. It's a real fact of life for those on the front lines of the American workforce. If you haven't experienced any form of unemployment, age discrimination, pay reduction, loss of benefits or general work related coercion consider yourself extremely fortunate. You may have a great deal of difficulty sympathizing with the typical American worker and I'm sorry you do because that may indicate you're not part of the solution but a huge part of the problem. Ignoring or berating the needs of thousands and thousands of unemployed or under employed American military veterans and millions of out of work civilian's is a disgrace to this country. Unemployed, educated and skilled civilians are routinely forced to reexamine options, consider alternatives, soul search, dedicate their time, funds and effort to discover meaningful livable wages and push forward. You can't afford or be afraid to ask for help if your future plans entail more than just daily survival. There are over 400 organizations (not all reputable) in the US that were designed to assist current, returning or disabled veterans but like most things in life, to stay afloat they are swimming in endless research, jumping through government hoops or drowning in piles of bureaucratic paperwork to find organizations  that best serve their needs. One of the most important things we can do, military or civilian is bring about change through education and awareness. My brother deserves more. We all deserve more.

 Here is a link to an article I contributed regarding five outstanding nonprofit veterans organizations:http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/5-Nonprofit-Veterans-Organizations-You-Need-to-Know

      Among veterans who served during the post-9/11 era and who have a service-connected disability, the unemployment rate during 2012 was 8.0 percent reported the Labor Department in March. Many believe that percentage is much higher.  It's surreal that our government allows United States veterans, who have served our country by promising the ultimate sacrifice, to continue struggling and sacrificing the rest of their lives. Let's continue to question and ask ourselves and our government why this is occurring in one of the most prosperous nations in the world?
    

"it's something unpredictable but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life."

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”-Steve Jobs

      Delivered a week ago in the mail was a beautifully crafted invitation which stated "The Faculty and graduating Class of Kent State University announce that Brianne L. Masirovits is a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Communications in Communications Studies at the Commencement Exercises Saturday, August Seventeenth Two Thousand Thirteen at Nine-thirty in the morning. Held at the Memorial Athletic Convocation Center." Holding the official ornately engraved keepsake in my hand, reflecting on the passage of time my eyes welled with tears,  proud of my niece's accomplishment.

     The Steve Jobs quote featured above are words of wisdom frequently shared. The thoughts expressed emphasize the fact that although we may be considerably loved and cherished by others,  the love we're most likely to experience in our lifetime is exclusive and conditional. There is a moment on this unpredictable adventure when all of us must accept full responsibility for our own fulfillment and happiness. There's not a single man, woman or child on this earth who knows you better than you know your self. You have to trust and believe in your own inner voice.  Business, government, educational institutions, families even people who love and adore you will manipulate your heart, thoughts and actions for their own selfish motives. At times this control is well intentioned, unconscious, cleverly disguised as tradition, inheritance, a condescending reality check, unsolicited advice or calculating concern. Control is a heavy burden of weight keeping our spirits anchored down and silent. Our time is limited. Your time is limited. Don't be so willing to give up your own power. Have the courage to follow your heart and follow your own intuition. Live the life YOU were born to lead.

     Congratulations! Love, kisses and hugs surround Bri and especially her incredibly loving, dedicated parents who have ensured her a proper foundation and quality education to survive a  test of being thrown to the hungry wolves. My sister Les has meaningful conversations and actually listens to her adult children. Over the short span of their lives together she has lovingly, painstakingly documented dance recitals, vacations, friendships, band concerts, soccer games, births, deaths and family gatherings in captivating creative memorials and scrapbooks. Her children Bri and Andrew will undoubtedly shed tears, reflect on and treasure these momentous photo storybook gifts forever. My brother-in-law Chuck has provided knowledgeable business foresight, arranged inspiring experiences and instilled hard work and confidence while introducing valuable future connections for Bri. Both Les and Chuck have worked overtime, weekends, extra shifts, lost hours and hours of sleep, given up simple pleasures and comforts and endured considerable hardships because they love their kids. Good parents develop a child's enthusiasm and learning potential. Good parents hold tightly to hope while letting little hands go, giving a child the freedom to explore. Great parents encourage and understand while accepting their children as unique beings separate from themselves. Children instinctively know when they're wanted and loved. It takes an excruciating amount of endless energy, effort, determination and sacrifice to be an effective parent. Positive results are not guaranteed for either parent or child. Bri has worked extremely hard to earn her diploma while overcoming personal, financial setbacks and challenging course work to focus and obtain her goal. After years of passionate  pursuit she is on her way to realizing her dreams. She is an amazingly intelligent talented young woman with a wonderful future and exciting career prospects ahead.

 Looking for even more inspiration? Keep in mind, there are a number of Communications majors we may already know and love.

   Stephen Colbert-  one of my all time favorite Communications majors comes from Comedy Central’s political satire, The Colbert Report. His communication degree was earned from Northwestern University School of Communication.
    Alright, alright. Matthew McConaughey may have made a name for himself playing likeable hunky leading men in romantic comedies but he also earned his communication degree from the College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. JK living, man.
    Gary Larson, the clever cartoonist who created The Far Side, has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Washington State University.
     David Letterman, the comic host of television’s Late Show with David Letterman is also a producer. His communication degree came from Ball State University, where he has established a scholarship for "average" students because he claims to have been one in school.
     David Boreanaz became famous playing the role of Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the show’s spinoff, Angel. Currently, he is cast as an FBI agent on Bones. He is also a producer and director. Boreanaz got his communication degree from Ithaca College.
     Brandi Chastain, professional soccer player with the California Storm and former midfielder for the U.S. women’s national soccer team earned her communication degree from Santa Clara University.
      The late Emmy award winning, James Gandolfini,  who brilliantly portrayed Mafia don Tony Soprano received his BA in communications from Rutgers University.
     And of course one of the most successful Communications majors of all time is Oprah Winfrey who received a degree in speech communication and theater from Tennessee State University. She received a full scholarship and graduated with honors.

      With or without college degrees or economic obstacles, each and every one of us has the power to use our own creativity to pursue and accomplish our goals. Let no one convince you "you can't." or "you won't".   Around the globe there's a significant advantage in having responsible parents provide, guide and sacrifice for their own child's future. Supporting a child to adulthood and beyond is a path you choose when you commit to having children. Being a parent is a life altering choice which must be carefully contemplated. Parents must surrender their own independence, time, income and a part of their very soul so children have a measurable head start and adequate survival skills for a world that doesn't care. That's called LOVE. And parents who willingly give love,  provide shelter, nourishment, discipline, education, financial assistance and guidance for their children are doing it right. There are plenty of people among us who didn't have good parents, had only one parent or no parents at all. Despite neglect or abuse many people have managed to forgive, overcome the past, learn from mistakes, take inspiration from role models and gain powerful insights examining their own painful histories. Some people even go on to produce loving, caring successful little human beings. Congratulations. Humanity reaps the harvest of responsible parenting and we should express our gratitude. Exceptional parenting may produce the next Albert Einstein, Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Stephen Colbert, Steve Jobs or Bri Masirovits. Thank you. Your conscious choice to deeply respect, love and nurture your own children has made the planet a better place for us all. Now it's time for your children to be who they truly are, discover their own strengths, build upon their own abilities and live the life they have always imagined.

 With all my heart I love you, Bri. I love who you are now and I love the woman you will become.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/company-immediately-calls-job-applicant-upon-seein,31669/?ref=auto

"whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves..."

 “Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind's capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights or power or some claim to equality, but in a sense because they don't; because they all stand unequal and powerless before us.”
― Matthew Scully, Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy

     
     Quickly! You hear a crowd screaming as flames  shoot out of a second story window. Panicked, you have to make a split second decision. In one smoke filled room is a crying six month year old infant tragically abandoned by it's mother and in another room is a highly trained yet injured three year old German Shepard police canine trapped under debris. Who would you save?  Most people may be reading this in disgust saying to themselves "what a ridiculous question" of course I would save the baby. Instinctively,  human nature dictates most of us would grab the child and immediately flee from harm. This is a no brainer for fire and rescue teams, right?  Human life will always take precedence over an animal. However, the most heroic of us would be determined to save both baby and dog. Increasingly, many of us would do nothing at all. We don't try to save the baby or the dog. We rationalize good parents wouldn't abandon a baby in a fire. Why should I care about some strangers kid? We rationalize that an animals life is considerably less valuable than a human life, not even worthy of our concern or assistance. So both the baby and the dog are asphyxiated by the smoke and die. The end.

      Unfortunately, we see a society of  not "either or" but "neither".  The previous scenario was written to demonstrate a point regarding animal rights activists and advocates. It has been my experience that some people insinuate you show less concern for children, women's and human rights when you are empathetic and speak out for animals. Since when does being the voice for animals mean you care less about your fellow human beings? That kind of superior thinking lacks compassion and understanding and only demonstrates our own arrogance.  When you choose to protect and honor animals rights, you ARE caring for human beings. The truth is there are many people who love and trust the companionship of animals more than most humans. Do you blame them?  For the first time, many people are able to express deep love and emotion without judgment or criticism with the aide of service and companion animals.  They are able to find comfort and heal wounds inflicted by human cruelty, trauma, illness, developmental disorders and loneliness with the unconditional love, companionship and security of a pet.  Human beings are brutal, selfish, greedy, hurtful and manipulative. The animal kingdom does not exist for our pleasure, exploitation and amusement. We have an obligation to the earth, the beautiful creatures of our planet and each other. We do see the kindness and love in others. We see what can be. We know we are capable of the greatest most unselfish love and  incredible sacrifice. Why do we want to exclude animals and nature in our most urgent government policies, religious faith and philosophies? Many animal lovers, animal rights activists and advocates honor and recognize that we are ALL entrusted to care and protect animals not destroy their habitats, disturb populations use them for cruel science experiments or unmercifully kill for sport and greed. We are only a drop in the great ocean. We are only a thread of the great intricate web.

Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.
~ Chief Seattle, 1854 ~

http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/Six-Shopping-Websites-that-Empower-Women-Around-the-World

https://www.fundraise.com/the-mission-continues/lisas-marine-corps-marathon-page

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world...."

"Instead of teaching, I told stories.

 Anything to keep them quiet and in their seats.

 They thought I was teaching.

 I thought I was teaching.

 I was learning.  
― Frank McCourt, Teacher Man     

Close your eyes for a moment and recall  your favorite school memory. Be sure to envision the year,  your age, grade, your hairstyle, your art smock, the smell of Play-Doh drying on your finger tips and the enchanting sparkle of glitter shimmering atop a tiny table. Imagine the little girl or boy you had a secret crush on or the mischievous" bad apple" who would giggle mercilessly tugging at your ponytail. Who was the teacher you adored? Every one has a beloved instructor whose impression has burned deep into their soul. Think of them now and  be reminded how their influence is never truly lost. A teacher is still with you when you read, write, add, subtract, sing, dance or recite a poem. Every time I tie my shoelaces I'm reminded of my sister Laurie, now a teacher lovingly praised by her former students and parents. Patiently, one summer afternoon when I was three years old we sat on a blanket under a tree in the backyard. She was determined to teach me how to make loops and bows. And so it goes. Growing up both of my sisters taught me how to read and write while we played imaginary schoolhouse. What child hasn't sat backwards on a toilet seat and pretended it was their teacher desk? My sister Les earned her degree in Elementary Education and in my twenties I attempted the profession as an aide and substitute. It takes a special kind of personality to be an effective educator. Memorable instructors are sugar coated with mysterious magic, drink golden sunshine and bathe in rainbow light beams. Unfortunately, they are often surrounded by a world of cynical curmudgeons who hide under their troll bridges. Good teachers are generously sprinkled with a charming pixie dust and ride spirited singing unicorns each morning to care for  their class. The best teachers believe in destiny, discipline, fate and fairy tales and they believe in YOU. Their lessons are forever tattooed on your brain, the ever lasting finger paint of kindness and inspiration. Some educators secretly have the words..."I do this for the money said No Teacher Ever." inked on their inner arms by Crayola Washable Markers. 

  

  Believe it or not many schools started classes a week ago in July. When I was in school we began after Labor Day or officially the day after the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. The hours leading up to the first day of school were either intensely exciting or made you want to violently vomit. Either way you got to show off your brand new shoes. After hours of debating and throwing temper tantrums in the aisle of Kmart you smugly carried your carefully chosen lunchbox and thermos to check out. A lunchbox identified a child's social status like a smartphone or tablet does today. Happy Days and the Fonze?  Cool. Hardy Boys? Not cool. Dukes of Hazzard? Cool. Evil Knievel. Not cool. Charlie's Angels? Cool. Holly Hobbie?  Way not cool. You had to purchase new notebooks with adorable puppies and kittens on the cover, No.2 pencils, pencil coffin box, safety scissors that only crumpled paper, mini pack of Kleenex tissues, a plastic ruler you used as an airplane propeller, a protractor you busted trying to wedge your desk lid open and gigantic pink block erasers you would tear to bits and hurl at a classmates head. Spoiled, you may have demanded high quality Elmer's Glue and not the generic second rate tacky glue stick for heavens sake. Of course the Coupe De Ville of all sacred school supplies was the Crayola Crayon 72 pack. This was the two tiered box royale that featured fancy fresh color names like lemon yellow, carnation pink, burnt sienna and hot magenta. Crayola's were what an avid coloring book lover craved all year.

Even more important than our school supply stash was our teachers, rulers of a child's universe for nine months. Our teachers were the Captain, O Captains of the Class and the Kings and Queens of our curriculum.  From kindergarten to seventh grade and from high school to Hogwarts teachers guided our existence. 

Earlier I asked you to reflect on teachers past. What if you had the ability to choose your own teachers? Would you learn reading with Veronica Vaugh ? Would you debate sociology with Mr. Mark Thackeray? Would Gabe Kotter teach you American History or would Coach Eric Taylor prepare you for football under the Friday night lights? Now pretend you are the principal of your own school and you need to hire staff. Which teachers real or imagined would you choose?  Below is the link to an article I created after contemplating that question and choosing my favorite cinema instructors. Spoiler alert: The movie featuring my all time favorite teacher still inspires my YAWP.

  

7 FICTIONAL SCHOOL EDUCATORS I'D HIRE FOR MY SCHOOL FACULTY (click link for top seven)

http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/7-Fictional-Movie-Teachers-I-Wish-Were-Real

A special Happy Birthday wish to Lorraine, August 6th!

“All it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing...”

"You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.
"-William Wilberforce ​

How much do you know about human sex trafficking? According to the United States Department of Justice website over the past three years there has been a nearly 30% increase in human trafficking cases in the US alone. Most victims are between the ages of twelve to fourteen. Child exploitation most recently made the headlines with Operation Cross Country. The nationwide operation which took place over the weekend resulted in 150 arrests, with 105 children between the ages of 13 and 17 being rescued.(source CNN: Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.)

Why are we seeing such a dramatic increase in the US?

Poverty is one major factor that plays into the tragic stories of children being sexually exploited, among many other traumatic factors putting them in this position such as divorce, absentee parents ,lack of role models, death of a parent or neglect. Many victims of human trafficking in the US are teen aged girls between the ages of thirteen and sixteen with little or no family ties. However, research shows trafficking can occur in any city where a family may lose touch with their own children. Teenagers without guidance, supervision or those testing the limits of their independence are at risk for criminal manipulation.
    

When does it become trafficking?

     Sex trafficking occurs when the trafficker or pimp uses physical force, coercion  and fraud to maintain control over an adult victim. Victims are forced to engage in sex acts to earn their right to stay alive. When the individual providing sex is under the age of 18, excessive threats, abuse, use of force and coercion do not need to happen for the situation to be considered trafficking.  Sex trafficking like all other types of abuse is about power, control and human greed. Gangs especially regard sex trafficking as a lucrative business because victims are reused again and again or recycled. Victims are considered a low risk "product". Criminals never see your children as defenseless, innocent human beings but as another money making product on the level of illegal drugs or weapons.  What is used to control and exploit a sex trafficking victim?

 Force – Physical or sexual abuse, often in the form of repeated rapes by one or more people to create submission. They are typically confined to a residence; restricted in movement and communication to their guardians, loved ones and friends.

Fraud –  Lies and promises of a better life through the trafficker acting as a boyfriend or protective figure; convincing the victim that law enforcement and social service providers will only see the victim as a "prostitute" and will have them arrested rather than saved and assisted. The victim is essentially brainwashed.

Coercion –  A trafficker will use threats of harm to the victim or victim’s family. They will use psychological threats to shame the victim by revealing they had sex for money to his or her family and others in their community. Verbal and emotional abuse, confiscation of birth certificates and other identification documents and sexual quotas bring about forced dependency on the controller. Exploitation of victims shame or low self-esteem is a common power play technique. Having a victim witness excessive violence of others at the hands of traffickers, reward and punishment and threats of deportation if a victim is a foreign national are used to dominate and control.

Law enforcement agencies across the country have identified online sex ads as the number one platform for buying and selling of sex with young women and children some as young as four and five years of age. Astonishingly enough the majority of the ads were posted on websites such as Craigslist.com and Backpage.com. Ads for massage parlors and escort services are carefully scrutinized. 

What can you do right now? Check your child's own social media websites. Who are they talking to or befriending? What websites are they looking at? Who are they texting? Who do they hang around with at school? Are they attending school or skipping class? If they work part time who are they associating with at work? Where are they after school? Children and teenagers who have a trusted and secure relationship with their parents are least likely to hide information from them. When you recognize that a child may be in danger or exploited speak up, speak out and do what you can to assist them. Children and young adult sex trafficking victims may feel too intimidated and frightened to speak for themselves. The youngest victims may have little or no way to articulate or comprehend why adults would hurt and brutalized them.  If you have or work with children or simply care about your own community, a child's sense of safety and security should be a priority.  The link below offers insightful and educational material for yourself, your family and especially your own children  with  20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking  http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/

"Enough about me. Lets talk about you ..what do you think of me?"

“It amazes me that we are all on Twitter and Facebook. By "we" I mean adults. We're adults, right? But emotionally we're a culture of seven-year-olds. Have you ever had that moment when are you updating your status and you realize that every status update is just a variation on a single request: "Would someone please acknowledge me?”
― Marc Maron, Attempting Normal     

     The human ego is a dangerous force. When humans fail to have their ego's attention appetite  fed enough  by others they eventually go on a feverish feeding frenzy. They resemble ravenous starving sharks in an ocean of scurrying fish or become like Anthony Weiner sexting his junk in a" desperately single" chat room.  No matter how saintly and pious we may portray ourselves we all have our proud moments a la Stuart Larkin, "Look what I can do!" Attention! Over here, please. Thank you. Modern technology and social media has provided us all with ample opportunity to voice our opinions and reveal our ugliest duck faces whether or not others want to see or read our BS. As a culture we have become more vain and  obsessed with ourselves due to social networking. And we are all guilty. At one time I belonged to three social media websites including Facebook, four work related networking sites, five freelance networks, Twitter,  and Google. Are you supposed to dread checking your email every day? We spend more time deleting junk mail and spam than responding to anything substantial..
      We are teaching our children to be self-absorbed, self- serving, self -promoting arrogant bastards just like their parents.  Adults are required to whore themselves on any number of employment/university related websites, Tweet thoughtful or amusing snippets of  daily existence and post endless photo streams of their adorable children, attractive mates or lovable pets for others to covet and admire. Whatever we think we possess we throw it at society like monkeys throwing poop. Here, take that shit and "like" it.

    On the flip side of our narcissistic tendencies we are also creating a culture of concerned advocates where  many teens and young people are more aware of local community and global issues. We are able to communicate and share ideas quickly and conveniently. We have access to unlimited online documentation, literature and information to assist in our own education. Technology has revolutionized advertising for business, fundraising and nonprofit groups. Freelance artists, writers and workers are no longer chained to a 9to5 cubicle. These are all incredible advances.

      Still, at some point or another I believe it's normal to be a little sick of yourself. It's normal and healthy to delete the Facebook account or shut down the Tumblr. We like to think we are utilizing these social media resources to effectively communicate with our families and friends. But are we really saying anything valuable besides "look at me?"  Why do we need people we barely know and "friend ed" on a whim to validate us when true validation only comes from within?  Are we keeping in touch because we truly love and care about others or are we just feeding that hungry shark?

" Call it what you want. Just call it what you want..."

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."-

 William Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables     

    After great anticipation across the globe we know it's a boy for Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. The birth was announced July 22, 2013 via a formal press release issued by Kensington Palace, which stated that the duchess "safely delivered  a son" at 4:24 p.m., local time, weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz. What we haven't heard (as of this writing ) is what the royal baby is going to be named.
     Our names are more than a bunch of letters thrown together to sound pleasant to the ear. Names are more than a convenience allowing us to talk to each other. Names are a gift or a curse from our parents and ancestors. They may define our history, culture or traits of our family heritage. Is your name Rainbow or River? Apple or Tennessee? Rumor or North? Why? Every name has a story. Our names come to define us. It will be  interesting to learn the royal baby moniker but in the mean time there is plenty of speculation among Americans about what the name should be. Some have suggested George William Spencer or George Phillip William Edward. Thankfully, we have no say in the matter. Here is a just a small creative sample provided, overheard and read on recent blogs.

"As an English baby, John Paul George Ringo would be appropriate."

"I'm going to say Mountbatten or Arthur.. Maybe Oscar, or Winston, Calvin or Collin..something modern and off the wall unique.  How about Bean? Wade maybe."   (Wade?)

"They should call him, Junior." (from our Southern friends.)

one sports fan offered,  "The royal baby name should be Spenser Beckham Alexander, Prince of Cambridge"

"I hope the royal couple doesn't choose something ordinary and assumed. It would be more exciting if they went with a Benjamin, Trent, Brooks, something of that nature. Still a nice name, just not so typical as the ones suggested. That way, the child can make a name for himself and feel like it is his own. " -Sarah   

"If they named their baby boy Frances, that would seriously be the coolest thing considering that's my name!! And I really love John for the boy, it's simple but very authoritative!"-Frank

"My money is on Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All....or Alfie."-CNN poster


"I hope this Future King has an ORIGINAL name. Another King George will be as boring as watching paint dry!-Haley


Playing Vegas Odds in the United Kingdom

Ladbrokes odds:

George — George has been the consistent frontrunner for the male heir with odds running around 12/1. There have been six King Georges reigning over England, including the present Queen's late father who was born Albert but chose to be named King George after his coronation.(atleast that would cover one Beatle) 5/1

James — The name has strong royal ties, with two English Kings and six Scottish Kings named James. Lil' Jimmy Jam, Jamie,  Slim Jim, Jim Bob  2/1

Charles — Prince William and Kate may want to pay tribute to Prince William's father, Prince Charles, in the form of a middle name. There have been two Kings of Britain named Charles, with the name deriving from the French word for "Manly". Baby Chuckie, Chuckmeister,  Chaz.  20/1

Harry — Another possibility is that Prince William will pay tribute to his brother, Harry, whose name is used as a nickname of Henry and Harold and means "home ruler". Popular with Harry Potter and Harry Styles fans. (Henry 5/1)

Philip — The royal baby's middle name could honor William's grandfather, Prince Philip, who recently celebrated his 92nd birthday in June. Odds for Philip are 10/1

Alexander — Alexander has been a popular choice, but the royal baby wouldn’t be the first Alexander Cambridge in the royal family. Major-General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge was the 1st Earl of Athlone and husband to Princess Alice of Albany (a granddaughter of Queen Victoria). This is all so Game of Thrones.  10/1

Richard — William and Kate might opt for a traditional royal name, like Richard, for their firstborn child. Little Ricky. 16/1

Louis – The royal couple may choose Louis for their little boy’s name, honoring Prince Louis Alexander ( my father was a Louis Alexander too. King Louie, House of More Ruler of Children. Are we royal descendants? Ah..that's a big negative.) of Battenberg who married the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and was grandfather of the Duke of Edinburgh. 16/1

Arthur – This name would pay tribute to King Arthur, the legendary British leader who led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. A 21^st Century King Arthur  may be a possibility. And not Dudley Moore's or Russell Brand's Arthur who I bet you were thinking of....16/1

  

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries...."

“The indifference, callousness and contempt that so many people exhibit toward animals is evil first because it results in great suffering in animals, and second because it results in an incalculably great impoverishment of the human spirit.”-Albert Einstein

Sunday, July 21st is "No Pet Store Puppies Day" On this day the ASPCA highlights awareness of the serious issues of puppy mills and over breeding in the US.

Thousands of pet store owners in your own neighborhood  may have adorable designer puppies for sale. Many stores and online companies advertise they can supply their customers with any and all "popular breeds". Where do the puppies come from? Store owners will tell you that they don't get their puppies from puppy mills and say their puppies are all from (United States Department of Agriculture) "USDA licensed breeders."  What does that actually mean? If you investigate a little further you will discover many USDA licensed breeders are no consolation.

     The standards of "care" required by the USDA are disturbingly inadequate and not what most people- animal lover, advocate or not- would consider the least bit humane. According to the ASPCA, under this federal Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by the USDA, dogs in commercial breeding facilities can legally be kept in cages a mere six inches longer than the dog in each direction. If you have difficulty picturing what this looks like go to the ASPCA website and you can view some appalling photographs recently taken at these "breeder" facilities. It's extremely hard for people to look at  photo's of animals being tortured and it damn well should be. If you have a conscience it should invoke feelings of sickness and disgust. There are other countries in the world that are much more brutal with dogs. Their treatment is  much more severe and citizens, law enforcement and activists are working together to stop the greedy vicious cycle of stealing, maiming, skinning alive and then selling dogs and puppies for food. We as Americans cannot allow this to happen in our country.  In the US right now dog cages in puppy mills and breeding facilities are stacked on top of one another as dogs live out their entire lives this way. They never step paws on the ground or the grass, breathe fresh air, receive veterinary care or even get cuddled or stroked by a human hand. Some breeding dogs will spend their lives outdoors exposed to the elements or crammed inside small dog house like structures. They are suffering in pain, hungry, there fur is matted and covered in urine and feces.
   Believe it or not, it's completely legal in the US to house dogs and pups in cages with wire flooring. The standards of care currently required are leaving disastrous loopholes for dogs to be severely mistreated.  Female breeding dogs have little or no rest and recovery time between bearing litters.  Even more unbearable is the fact that when, after a few years, the females can no longer reproduce or when that "popular breed" goes out of “style,” the dogs are often abandoned, shot or starved to death. Most of the female breeder dogs are only fours years old when put to death. As painful as this may sound,  please imagine your own pet. Imagine what it would be like for you to see your own dog or puppy suffer. You would never allow this to happen if you could prevent it, right?  You can. You can do more than you realize. Imagine that you do something to save just one animals life. Imagine if we all did something to help. Now stop imagining and  please, do it.

For more information please go to http://nopetstorepuppies.com/puppy-mills-are-cruel

“In our day, there are stresses and fractures of the human-animal bond, and some forces at work would sever it once and for all. They pull us in the wrong direction and away from the decent and honorable code that makes us care for creatures who are entirely at our mercy. Especially within the last two hundred years, we've come to apply an industrial mind-set to the use of animals, too often viewing them as if they were nothing but articles of commerce and the raw material of science, agriculture, and wildlife management. Here, as in other pursuits, human ingenuity has a way of outrunning human conscience, and some things we do only because we can--forgetting to ask whether we should.”

― Wayne Pacelle, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them     

" energy creates energy....."

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."-
Oprah Winfrey

We all want to begin each new day with intention and energy but it's normal and natural to have a morning when we just don't want to get out of bed. When the days we struggle seem to out number the days we rise with enthusiasm it's time to examine our own mental motivations. There are physical reasons we have difficulty with our energy levels as well. Here is a daily dose of energy boosting reminders often ignored or forgotten.

Water- Dehydration causes fatigue. We need that high quality H20 to survive. When we feel fatigued we are more likely to be unfocused and unhappy. One sure sign of dehydration is dark urine rather than a healthy pale. We need water to energize our cells and stay alert. Sipping six glasses of water or more a day will make a huge difference in how you feel.

Caffeine- Did you know the average American consumes 200 milligrams of caffeine per day ?Contrary to many studies low to moderate caffeine consumption is good for us. Caffeine gives you an extra dose of energy by helping your body fuel itself by stimulating lipolysis. Lipolysis is the breakdown of stored fats into fatty acids which can then be used by muscle and other tissues as energy. Most supplements marketed as energy boosters for athletes and those trying to lose weight are caffeine-like stimulants. You get the same effects from drinking coffee and it's probably safer. You should always consult a doctor before taking any supplement.

Go Outside and Play-  If you spend most of your work day indoors behind a desk it's imperative that you take a mini-outdoor nature break. Eat lunch outside or take fifteen minutes to soak up the sun while exploring your surroundings. Fresh air and oxygen is recharging physical energy and stimulating mental activity. Essential advice for cubicle monkeys every where is move, move, move. You don't have to spend hours and hours at the gym. Many of us have a daily exercise routine such as cycling or yoga but even if you don't a simple afternoon or evening stretch can boost your mood and energy levels enough to make a noticeable difference.

Music- There are few things in life not made sweeter by adding music. Did you know it actually energizes your body and mind? Music has the power to alleviate pain, soothe our souls, spark our memories and inspire our movements.  Music has the power to motivate us during a run or a work out or jump start  brainstorming ideas while sitting at our desk. So when you're feeling low and lethargic download your favorite band or movie soundtrack. Music is so deeply personal to us even tempo and beat will cause varying reactions in our body. Choose music that makes you move and feel good.

 Remember a temporary loss of energy can be associated with any of the sources mentioned above and more.  Most importantly, we sustain and renew our energy levels by focusing on our true passions.

"dreams were the first movies..."

“Certain things leave you in your life and certain things stay with you. And that's why we're all interested in movies- those ones that make you feel, you still think about. Because it gave you such an emotional response, it's actually part of your emotional make-up, in a way.”
― Tim Burton, Burton on Burton     

 

 My family loves movies. When we have a chance to be together during a holiday or a visit we usually plan a trip to the movie theater. Recently, my sister Laurie had the opportunity to take time away from her busy schedule to enjoy a film with her family. She agreed to answer a few questions about one of the hottest summer movies out right now, The Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger stars Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer with an appearance by Helena Bonham Carter. This particular 2013 version of the American western film is produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and was directed by Gore Verbinski.

Me: What was your first impression of the movie?

   Laurie:   I couldn’t believe how well the make-up crew did in the opening scenes.

 Me: Did you ever watch the Lone Ranger TV show?

 Laurie:   I watched a few reruns when I heard the movie was coming out.  I’m much too young to

         remember the series. 

  Me: What did/ or didn't you like about the Lone Ranger?

   Laurie:   I didn’t realize the Lone Ranger was a wimpy character.

  Me: Did you go see The Lone Ranger movie just to watch Johnny Depp's performance?

    Laurie:  Of course,  I’m a Johnny fan.  Hadn't heard of Armie before but he was very good and I would  go see another one of his movies.

 ( side note; this means she thinks Armie is hot. She loves Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson too. Her husband is going to get upset with me if I reveal all of her movie star crushes so to be fair my celebrity film infatuation is the luscious lipped British actor Tom Hardy.)

  Me: What is your favorite Johnny Depp movie and why?

   Laurie:  I like the Pirate of the Caribbean series.  Just look at his eyes and his smile and you can tell why.  He was a very intelligent pirate. 

(first requisite for any pirate, eyes and smile)

  Me: Would you recommend seeing the Lone Ranger movie to everybody?

   Laurie:   I’m upset with a few comments that have been made about Johnny and the movie but I recommend  that teens and up see it.  Walt Disney had high standards and this movie is just another example of this  

 To read more regarding the controversy follow this link .http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/12/disney-tonto-offensive-lone-ranger-film_n_3263071.html

  Me: If you had directed this movie what would you have done differently?

  Laurie: I thought it was well done.  Didn’t like Cavendish’s character but the good guys always win.

  Me: Who is your favorite sibling? 

 Laurie: Trick questions I see.  Ron Piggy, no doubt!
 (Drat! She didn't fall for it. She was supposed to say me of course)

Speaking of "Ron". Happy 17th Wedding Anniversary to Dave and Krissy on the 13th! 

  Me: Who is your favorite actor of all time? 

  Laurie: That is a hard question.  I don’t think I could pick just one.  I know there are some actors who are good in whatever movie they are in.  I like comedy and romance mostly.  So different actors try different genres. 

  Me: What movie are you looking forward to seeing next?

   Laurie: I’m going to see Grown Ups 2 with Ron.

Me: Excellent. I would like to see Grown Ups 2 as well. We all need a little more arrow roulette in our lives. Thank you for the interview my beautiful sis! Hugs and kisses.
 Love you and sweet dreams!

What do your celebrity crushes reveal about you ? http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/How-Do-Celebrity-Crushes-Spice-Up-Your-Sex-Life

 

“The poetry of the earth is never dead.”

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

                                                                                                                                           

The definition of poaching is

 the illegal taking of wildlife, in violation of local, state, federal or international law. Activities that are considered poaching include killing an animal out of season, without a license, with a prohibited weapon, or in a prohibited manner. Killing a protected species, exceeding one's bag limit or killing an animal while trespassing are also considered to be poaching. Poaching is not the same as legal hunting by any means and it has existed throughout history.

        Opinions among experts vary as to who and what is at the root cause of wildlife loss. Poaching, whether for meat, harvesting the latest commodity, or labeled trophy hunting all impact the continued decline of  wildlife, especially the leopard, lion and rhino.  With great sadness this naturally leads to more animals and birds on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered species list.

      Organized crime is considered to be at the very core of many problems. These are the same groups, gangs or individuals who are behind both drugs and human and weapons trafficking. Killing wildlife becomes just another way to make money. Leopards are being poached for their skins, rhinos for their horns and lions for their commodity of bones. Beautiful animals that are an essential part of a delicate system are simply slaughtered by human greed.

      The survival of  our wildlife species are not being considered at all and an animals right to life is being tragically ignored. Exploitation. Money. Ego. All of these factors are destroying the natural balance of our wildlife and we cannot continue to brush aside this issue. Looking at documentary films, talking to wildlife experts or reading about poaching is extremely difficult. Most of us have a really hard time watching or hearing about what is being done to these animals.  But if we want to prevent or change the circumstances we need to be brave. I know from personal experience that looking at these films and seeing what happens to these animals makes me sick enough to throw up. Thankfully, there are thousands of people in this world who have much more courage reporting and documenting what we understandably can't stomach or what we choose to ignore. Although we like to think we are all separate and everything happens "out there" or "over there" it affects all of us. We are all connected.

 Below is a link to a fascinating, disturbing and hopeful series called BRINK. Warning: Graphic Content http://www.weather.com/weather-films/shows/brink/ep01.html

  

"smiles everyone, smiles...."

"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that."-George Carlin

         Laughter and physical exercise may have a lot more in common than we think. Both can boost our health and immune system.  All of us have been advised of the numerous benefits of an active lifestyle, but did you know that laughter not only supports the immune system, improves blood pressure, stimulates the organs but it also reduces pain? Levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine tend to decrease during bouts of laughter. These hormones can suppress the immune system, opening the floodgates to a host of infections, illnesses and general poor health. One study found that laughter significantly helped reduce stress and improve immune function which is an indication that laughter may be an extremely beneficial addition to treatments for cancer patients.  

          Laughter has been discovered as a very complex physical process. There are several theories on how to classify what we find humorous. Just listen to one of thousands of comedians or watch your favorite variety show. (Right now I'm working on an article about the best sketch comedy shows for another forum)  Any extreme emotion can make us laugh, which is sometimes why we laugh in what are considered "socially inappropriate" moments (like funerals or at accidents). When we hear someone else laughing it also triggers laughter, so it really is contagious. There is a great deal of research that indicates laughter is healthy, boosting our immune system but if you feel like you're getting sick or you don't have any energy, stop worrying about going to the gym, you just need to find people with a good sense of humor. 

 Below is a clip from comedian Jim Gaffigan espousing the joys of birthday cake.  

"what we think, we become...."

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.”
― Leonard Cohen

 One of the reasons I love having an online forum is the ability to share information about people and organizations that truly inspire. As some of you may know I was planning on participating in the Marine Corps Marathon this October in Washington DC. The choice was influenced by a personal goal, my admiration for a nonprofit called the Mission Continues and it was the impetus to engage in a physical fitness routine and stop smoking. (A swift kick in the ass so to speak). Three weeks after committing to the marathon, I quit smoking cigarettes for good after twenty years of holding on to an addiction that my family hated but most of my co workers never knew about. Currently, I'm running/walking/weightlifting/stretching five times per week and running 5k's. The choice to raise funds and awareness for Team Mission Continues was made in April. Monday will be the half way point on the timeline to Sunday, October 27th. Nearly fifty percent of my personal fundraising goal has been achieved. A sincere thank you goes out to those who have contributed. My former cigarette and snack food money goes toward my goal. All donations are applied to a philosophy of service much greater than ourselves.

 A few days ago I received an email inviting me to attend the NASDAQ opening bell ceremony in New York City as a Mission Continues team member. What? They are inviting me to be there? Are they serious? Is this a "real" invitation or am I being punked? After reading the invitation in amazement I felt a sense of honor and pride. How could my emotions and feelings possibly come close to the sense of achievement and determination the Mission Continues fellows and all those who have dedicated their lives to the Mission Continues feel?  Restoring meaning, and purpose, strengthening community and camaraderie is why the Mission Continues is so life altering for many veterans.

 On  Monday, July1st, 2013 at 9:30am The Mission Continues which is a national veterans' service organization that helps post-9/11 veterans transition from the military to leadership roles at home through community service, will visit the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square. In honor of the occasion, Gonzalo Duran, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Mission Continues Fellow will ring the Opening Bell. Although attending is not possible, I will be watching the live webcast:
 NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx.

Founded in 2007 by author, retired Navy SEAL and TIME 100 2013 honoree Eric Greitens, The Mission Continues has  currently assisted nearly seven hundred post-9/11 veterans use their varied skills, talents and energy to overcome challenges facing all of us right here at home in the US. Through a revolutionary model that provides for both veterans and the local community, a six-month service fellowship, veterans volunteer to help others and build new skills that create a meaningful civilian career. http://missioncontinues.org/#&slider1=2

The Mission Continues tagline is "It's not a charity, it's a challenge."  They are changing one life at a time and many of us are not even veterans.

"Happy Birthday? No such thing......"

"Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it's not to be; that for the rest of our sad, wretched pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing."-Jerry Seinfeld Seinfeld episode, "The Visa"

 You were born  in 1973 and will be turning forty this year or this month or tomorrow. What exactly was going down in the world when you decided to grace us with your presence?
 The Watergate Hearings began in the United States Senate and President Richard Nixon told the nation , “I am not a crook.”
Chrysler and other US car makers closed a number of plants affecting 100,000 workers.
Gas was 40 cents a gallon and you could purchase a dozen eggs for forty-five cents. The average cost of a new house was $32,500.00 and the average American workers salary was $12,900.00.
    U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam and the United States involvement in the Vietnam War ended.
   Skylab, the United States' first space station, is launched.
Popular films include:
 The Exorcist,
 The Sting with Paul Newman  and Robert Redford
 Deliverance
  and American Graffiti directed by George Lucas featuring a very young Richard Dreyfuss and some kid named Ron Howard.

 Popular TV programs were The Partridge Family, The Price is Right, Columbo, The Odd Couple, the Waltons , M*A*S*H. and "School House Rock" made it's debut on ABC. (Check it out here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-__GGvzmfXQ
 Popular music included  Sweden's ABBA, David Bowie, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones had one of many hits with "Angie". The number one album for most of 1973 was " The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd.
 June 26th, 1973 the London production of Grease premieres. It also happens to be the premiere date of my brother Steve.
 Superbowl VII Miami beats the Washington Redskins.  The Braves, Hank Aaron hits his 700th homerun.  George Foreman defeats Joe Frazier by a knockout in two rounds to take the world's Heavyweight championship. Believe it or not it's HBO Boxing's first telecast.
 Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in the #43 Plymouth for Petty Enterprises.

So what does the face of forty look like? Try Mario Lopez, Paul Walker, Heidi Klum, Brady Smith, Jason Kidd, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kate Beckinsale and Jim Parsons, American television actor best known as the character Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.


Turning forty is not a big deal unless you make it a big deal. Honor it. Own it. Instead of  feeling intense regret over what "should a, could a, would a.. have been" or spending months in somber reflection get over your SELF. Be happy you are here to celebrate another day. Truthfully, if you think you're old at forty you are going to have a hell of shitfest time aging. And all of us are aging. So if you want to define all of your deepest human emotional experiences on this extraordinarily unique journey by a simple set of BS digits be my guest. But I wouldn't waste valuable time. You have family to love, things to do and see. Get on with it.  Happy Birthday! Love you!