Thank you Christian!

Ok, so most of you know I have been under the weather. I have been bored during the day so I was on facebook - my friend Christian (can you believe we have know each other for 28 years??) just happend to post the most funny video ....believe it or not, we don't talk that often - but needless to say, he certainly hits it outta the park when you need it (and he didn't even know I needed a pick-me-up!). So here's the video that included his added soundtrack. Thank you Christian! I needed a laugh today!



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

So Angry!

I love my brother. I really, truly do. I know he doesn't believe it...we try hard to work through things...to see the same side of the road....but for some reason, we have managed to move further apart on things that really have little to do with "us" as brothers. We are both passionate about our positions...so much so...we will never be able to appriciate each other's point of view - and that is sad...so I try not to involve myself with these types of conversation with my brother....and it's been working (until the past few days....).

My brother and I do not see eye to eye on very much. Ok-we don't agree on anything really...but we do agree on one thing...the bailout that is currently being considered is WRONG. That said, we disagree as to how we got to this point (nothing new there. To put it in perspective, you should read his posts as of late....blame the democrats ...and oh, yeah, by the way Bush wasn't strong enough to stand up to the bullying Democrats...so he is a little to blame as well...(whatever!)

So I read his blog...even though it really angered me to my core (so I'm an emotional, sappy, liberal)....and I made a few responses,. My brother then stated that I was being "pompus" (but he used the big word "bloviate" ...and i'm elitist???)and accused me of not reading through his analysis to the end. So...angered, yet again, I responded (DAMMIT!!)..and here is my response:

We do agree on this. But as I stated earlier - you still want to lay blame with the Democrats. Your President has presided over some of the most disasterous policies this country has ever seen....he has been a FAILURE. Yet, Obama (and McCain aren't leaders -they are populists?) What does that make Bush..besides the obvious IDIOT and FAILURE?

This economic "SHOCK" as Naomi Klein aptly describes it, is a scare tactic devised by the same people that gave us the buildup to war with Iraq. "Grave Danger" "Impending Doom"...etc, etc...fear fear fear. Ridiculous!

The fact that we are even discussing a "bailout" has me ready to burst at the seams. So - while we agree that the bailout is the wrong answer to this problem - we disagree on how we got to this point in the first place...

And why is it the Democrat's fault that they didn't "push back" enough on the ruling party when these changes took place in 1999? IT WAS YOUR PARTY THAT WAS IN CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet again, the Republican Party bears no responsibilty for what has happend. And yet again I say...shame on them.

The buck stops with the current administration...one you faithfully helped get elected and re-elected....one that you so staunchily defended on several occassions....let's really see who is taking from the the middle class .....sounds like your argument of redistribution of wealth (that you always preach to me) has been going on ...just in the opposite direction - and with all of us holding the bag!

I am sorry that you think I am the pompus one here ...interesting considering that you are always pontificating the merits of the Republican Party ...well - your party is the party that brought us to the table where we currently sit...so Cheers!

Yes, you do slightly blame Bush, but he is only guilty of "not being stronger" on the issue..What?

I did read your complete analysis....I respectfully believe that you look through glasses that paint a one-sided view of the entire situation. There is enough blame to go around. But the blame ulitmately lies with this administration. So, I will not apologize for speaking out....I love you Jimmy - but you stand on the wrong side of the "blame" issue here.

I promised myself that I would not get ensnared in these arguments with you - I really try...but I am sick and tired of this administration and the Republican party not taking responsibility for what has transpired over the past 7 years.

Our country is in dire straits. you can continue to believe that 40 years of Democratic rule has caused this (funny considering that the republicans have run Congress since 1994 until 2006...12 years! With a number of those years having the White House and the Supreme Court as well.) But this mess lays squarely on the policy positions of your party...."free markets"....no government regulation. This is where that gets us.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Shock Doctrine: It is coming true

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ NAOMI KLEIN'S BOOK THE SHOCK DOCTRINE YOU NEED TO NOW. Don't stop to think for a moment that the words she writes aren't based in serious research and fact. Her detailed accounts bring to light what is REALLY happening. If you LOVE this country...you need to read this book.



Disaster Capitalism in Action
Now is the Time to Resist Wall Street's Shock Doctrine
Naomi Klein, Huffington Post, September 22, 2008

I wrote The Shock Doctrine in the hopes that it would make us all better prepared for the next big shock. Well, that shock has certainly arrived, along with gloves-off attempts to use it to push through radical pro-corporate policies (which of course will further enrich the very players who created the market crisis in the first place...).

The best summary of how the right plans to use the economic crisis to push through their policy wish list comes from Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. On Sunday, Gingrich laid out 18 policy prescriptions for Congress to take in order to "return to a Reagan-Thatcher policy of economic growth through fundamental reforms." In the midst of this economic crisis, he is actually demanding the repeal of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which would lead to further deregulation of the financial industry. Gingrich is also calling for reforming the education system to allow "competition" (a.k.a. vouchers), strengthening border enforcement, cutting corporate taxes and his signature move: allowing offshore drilling.

It would be a grave mistake to underestimate the right's ability to use this crisis -- created by deregulation and privatization -- to demand more of the same. Don't forget that Newt Gingrich's 527 organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future, is still riding the wave of success from its offshore drilling campaign, "Drill Here, Drill Now!" Just four months ago, offshore drilling was not even on the political radar and now the U.S. House of Representatives has passed supportive legislation. Gingrich is holding an event this Saturday, September 27 that will be broadcast on satellite television to shore up public support for these controversial policies.

What Gingrich's wish list tells us is that the dumping of private debt into the public coffers is only stage one of the current shock. The second comes when the debt crisis currently being created by this bailout becomes the excuse to privatize social security, lower corporate taxes and cut spending on the poor. A President McCain would embrace these policies willingly. A President Obama would come under huge pressure from the think tanks and the corporate media to abandon his campaign promises and embrace austerity and "free-market stimulus."

We have seen this many times before, in this country and around the world. But here's the thing: these opportunistic tactics can only work if we let them. They work when we respond to crisis by regressing, wanting to believe in "strong leaders" - even if they are the same strong leaders who used the September 11 attacks to push through the Patriot Act and launch the illegal war in Iraq.

So let's be absolutely clear: there are no saviors who are going to look out for us in this crisis. Certainly not Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the companies that will benefit most from his proposed bailout (which is actually a stick up). The only hope of preventing another dose of shock politics is loud, organized grassroots pressure on all political parties: they have to know right now that after seven years of Bush, Americans are becoming shock resistant.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Words to Live By

Quote: "And to preserve their independence,we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." -Thomas Jefferson


Enough said.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Umm....Yeah....DUH!

As if it wasn't plainly obvious. Yes, dear Claymates! Clay is Gay!




Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Excellent Analysis

My mom sent me this.....it is so clear now....WOW! I guess I was all wrong - I can totally see why I need to vote for McCain/Palin (NOT!)


By Roger Freedman

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight...(hope I'm not offending anyone)

* If you grow up in Hawaii, and are raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* If you grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* If you graduate from Harvard law School, you are unstable.

* If you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people
while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant and if you try to make victimized women pay for their own rape kits, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

There is no one like: Sam Harris

Sam Harris is just amazing. I can't even do justice with my words to describe his voice, his personality, his charm....he is just amazing.

Add to that - he has recorded my most favorite song of all time "I can't make you love me" from his new CD entitled "FREE".

"This song is especially emotional to Sam, and hard for him to get through, so he insisted that what you hear (and see) is what you get the first time around. Therefore, what you are hearing here is the actual recording you will hear from the album. Does not get anymore raw than this!"

I know how he feels - because this is what happens to me when I listen to this song - whether it is Bonnie Raitt, George Michael, or now Sam Harris - the song is so pure, the lyrics so profound.

Here is Sam Harris recording "I can't make you love me" Please visit his website and purchase the full length - you won't regret it!!



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Something to remember before you vote

A friend of mine sent this to me....how appropriate:



While walking down the street one day a U.S. Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the
senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a
barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here
and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and
caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now
there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. .



.... today you voted!


Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Oh...and another thing...

"The only difference between a pit-bull and a hockey mom...lipstick."

Are you seriously kidding me? This is the pick for VP on the RECON side?


Not to mention the many, many LIES she told tonight.

Joe Klein commented on these lies and the bullying that the press is taking from the McCain campaign as follows:

"This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the fact the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media–about the substance of Palin’s record as mayor and governor. …There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case:

it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.”

The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme."

Read the full commentary here

So - check the facts...get the facts....but certainly don't buy the bullshit that the RECONS are selling without checking whether or not you can return it first.....

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Republican Convention

How do we get through the next four years if McCain is elected?

As Palin put it.....

"WITH A THUMBS UP AND A SMILE.....!"

and that is literally ALL you will get.

Amazingly disastrous. Amazingly cynical. Amazingly predictable.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

For an even more enlightened viewpoint - you just must check out my dear Maggie's blog!

Reflections

A restless night - not able to sleep, and I produced a profound piece of work.....

At the beginning of this month, I celebrated a milestone with my fellow graduates from ..Stow High School, Class of '88. 20 years have past since I left the building I chose to call the "clone factory." And it was 20 years later that I realized I had nothing to fear about going back to celebrate and participate in my reunion...

Different paths we all took - but all these paths seemed to have crossed, a whole 20 years later to bring us all back together again. Some things (it was noticeable) never changed......but others had - and for the better.

Grand connections were made with many a good friend, and sadness as well for those we have lost and those who either couldn't or didn't want to be found.

The most valuable tool I took away - reconnecting with my past. For a lot of reasons I wanted to kill my past, never have it rear its ugly head - but, I am a different man now - more confident, more self-aware, more at ease...

I am the man that I never thought I would ever become. Cliché'? Possibly - but unbelievably true. I no longer regret my past, what happened, what didn't, the path I chose, the path I didn't.....they all led me to where I am supposed to be now....

I now have the courage to complete a project I thought I would never get to - working on my book. I have spoken of it before - I have attempted to work on it before - but I feel now is the time. To move my words from my journals to a bound book for all to read.....(we'll see...........)

20 years have past.........they seem as a brief moment in time - not so long ago, I recall....as fresh in my mind now as ever - but not as painful as I remember. 20 years.

To those I reconnected with - I wish, hope, and pray we remain connected...for those of you that I didn't see (Ken Johnson, Jeff Bradbury, Angie Canter, Dawn (Hurst) Myers, and Kenny Wilson)...I am thinking of you, and hope to reconnect soon...

Life is much too short - I wish I could have learned this lesson 20 years ago! But 20 years brings with it much wisdom and solitude. I carry them both - for they are partners in my journey.

The fond memories of my past have come to greet me - they are colorful, blissful, sorrowful, painful, wonderful, silly, weird (it was the 80's), but most of all intense...

Life is much quieter now....much more important...I do stop to smell the roses, to listen to the birds, to hear a child laugh. I appreciate life - what it offers and how I live it. Life is too short not to embrace.

Peace.Love.Live.

JPB

Oh Blog Oh Blog How I have abandoned Thee

Ok, shut up already. This is the busiest time of my year. Chill out. I will be back after the holiday....if not sooner...

Topics to discuss -
My 20th High School Reunion
Body Image Revisited
Music From The Edge
The Democratic National Convention
My Friend "The Maggie"
The journey to marriage (yes, Steve and I are in the final planning stages)

I miss you all my wonderous readers - I have let you down - but I know you all understand....bigger and better when I return!!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Paris Hilton For PRESIDENT!!!

Ok, so I need to be less concerned. I need to be more like....well, more like the 'general' population. I saw this video on Jay Leno, and I KNEW! I KNEW! I have to vote for Paris Hilton for President. It all makes so much sense now. Geez, I guess I need to just, like, you know...be HOT.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

So, like, I am ....OMG, believing, like ...I dunno, um, that ....you know.....Like, Paris is like.....yeah! "See you at the debate Bitches!"

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Chicago Storms Part Duex

I know most of you saw the pictures of the storms from a few weeks ago - scary yes...

not as bad as the storm that came through last night. I saw the funnel cloud while I was in my car, but before I could take a picture, the transformer right in front of me blew up and the winds decided that 90 miles an hour was satisfactory. The lightning was amazingly frightening (storms don't usually scare me, but the lightning was so intense and the winds so bad ...I was ready to pee my pants...)

I kept saying..."thank god my homeowners insurance is paid?!" Luckily we survived, the house survived, the neighborhood survived.......but my wireless modem died. The severe electrical currents in the air somehow fried it ....(that's what they said at TigerDirect.com ...so cool, we have the actual store by my house!!)..

So, this year has been the mark of HUGE storms - I don't have any of this one - but check out some of the pictures sent to our local NBC affiliate.

So, I will have to repair my computer network, so my blogging may be spotty for a while.....keep checking back!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

McCain Smear Ad: "The One"

You know, I am about done with dirty politics. It sickens me that McCain has gone negative (after promising a "clean campaign"). It sickens me even more that there are Americans who buy this crap hook, line, and sinker ....like sheep going to the slaughter.....The latest Gallup polls show McCain neck and neck with Obama? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???????????????????? It really goes to show how silly Americans are - they will believe any thing that they see on T.V., without questioning...(FoxNoise), or hear on the radio (Limbaugh, InSanity..et.al.) or even Air America for that matter...WAKE UP! Learn! Understand!

Are you serious? Can people start getting informed? Are you not living in the U.S. now? Are you ready for 4 more years of this crap? Are you seriously kidding me????


I can't even begin to explain the level of disgust that I feel right now - the ad that follows....safe to say, is trying to entice those of the religious right to believe that Obama is the "anti-christ"....ushering in the "end of days" so they must vote for McCain (who they really can't stand either...)

Using "the code" made famous by the devil himself (Karl Rove), people across this country are buying the shit that McCain is selling....it is fucking amazing.
...and Moses? Really? Are you kidding me?

This is still a free country (I think), I would love to hear what you all think about this.....

I apologize for my vulgarity - but it seems only fitting considering how deep the shit is getting already...

Watch the latest McCain smear ad:



That's all. I don't even know what else to say here....seriously....no wonder this country has started its downward spiral. Geez.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

30 Days: Same Sex Parenting

Morgan Spurlock is amazing. His "30 Days" series on FX allows us to face some very serious issues head-on. His approach is amazing. The episode on Same Sex Parenting was frustrating to watch....very frustrating. But at the end - I guess I shouldn't have been suprised.

You can watch the entire episode below ....I would love to hear your comments - I find it is a topic that should enlist some very interesting conversation.....



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

7 years....

7/31/01. Changed me. 7 years later - I'm still a product of that change. Sometimes, you are offered a chance to change your path - a path that for some reason leads down a wrong road -

What I have learned over the past 7 years has made me a better person. A better friend. A better son. A better brother. A better partner. I embraced the change that entered my life on that day...I continue to embrace that change.

Life is a wonderful gift. We only get this one chance. That is why I always end my blog post with "Peace.Love.Live." becasue that is what it is truly all about.

So here's to my anniversary of change....and to many many many more.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

I Know I've Been Away...But I Had A Good Reason!

I just thought I should explain my absence as of late....besides becoming a gym rat, I have been working on a new project. I decided that it was time to start practicing my refinishing hobby. I have this desk that was my grandma's that I have been dying to refinish and repair - but I wanted to make sure that I could do it first. My first attempt is pictured below.....

Stupid me - I forgot to take a picture of this bedside table prior to sanding ....so you don't get to see the "real" way this table looked.

Background - the table was my Aunt Daisy's....she gave it to my mom, and then it was given to me....

Here is the newly sanded table...wow - that was HARD!




and the finished product....and if I may say so myself....it is quite good for a "FIRST PIECE!"




Let me know what you think!
Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Garden

My partner Steve found that he has a green thumb. He really does...unlike me, I kill plants, flowers, fish...whatever. I have to say, Steve does a great job in the garden and chose some great flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer. Here are just a few for you to enjoy!






Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Congratulations Olivia

Well, Olivia got married!!! Congratulations! She married long-time health guru John Easterling, whom she had been dating for a few years. Well wishes to them both and congratulations!!!

And our Livvy is also doing a commercial for Nintendo in Australia - here is the commercial.....enjoy!



OOOOHHH....and don't forget to catch Olivia's new sitcom on the LOGO channel "Sordid Lives" it starts next week (I CAN'T WAIT!!!) Here is the video for one of the original new songs for the television show....ENJOY!!!!!



Don't forget to check the official website for everything Sordid and be sure to watch the premiere Wednesday, July 23rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB