Venting

It’s been a long time. I think I need to spew out what i’ve been holding in. Just some random excerpts and thoughts that have crossed my mind recently; mind you, they have never been uttered publicly. Well, okay, just a few haven’t been. See if you too can play along and follow the stream of this consciousness:

“Clipping your nails on the train is so cultured of you.”

“No really, I love it when you play Schoolboy Q at top volume on your headphones next to me on the train. Oh how did I know who it was? I Shazam’d it.”

Girl, your weave looks like you’re trying to be Thulsa Doom. No. That’s not a compliment.”

“You hair looks like a basket of brown and yellow yarn that some cat played with and got all tangled up. No honey, that’s not a compliment, either.”

“When I go to the bar Friday evening at 5 PM for happy hour to enjoy my adult beverage, naturally I am thrilled when you bring your children in to the bar. Just like in the Appalachians.”

“Fucking Polar Vortex continues to leave it’s mark… and it’s August. I mean, every other woman is pregnant. Is playing Cards Against humanity not enough for you breeders during the winter months?”

“Pull your goddamn pants up! You know that means you want to be prison fucked. No, I am NOT interested.”

“Ten reasons I’m glad there is a hand gun waiting period: 1. John Boehner, 2. Sarah Palin ( I mean, does she never go away?), 3. Michelle Bachmann (You’re still around?), 4. Justin Bieber, 5. People who are cruel to puppies and other animals, 6. Kanye and Kim, 7. That guy who refuses to pick up his dog’s shit and leaves it in my front walkway garden, 8. Rick Perry, 9. Ann Coulter (bitch is crazy), and 10. ignorant dumbass people.”

“Ah, Lollapalooza weekend: when your suburban sons and daughters invade downtown and insist on acting like douchebags. That, and how they dress: the crop top belly shirt has made it’s great return! And your son- yes, yours- was wearing blue Hawaiian flower shorts, a navy mesh (!) sleeveless tank, and Pharrell’s fucking hat! The horror! He’s just asking to get his ass kicked.”

 

yeah. That feels better.

 

 

 

 

 

On the whole hating of Woody Allen

Woody Allen finally stepped out and made a statement today about all of these molestation charges. Take a look. Then proceed.

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2014/02/07/woody-allen-dylan-farrow-new-york-times-response/

So. Let’s get unpopular.

I am all about supporting the victim and not dismissing them in their accusation.

That being said, I take a pause at what Woody is saying and his actions (yes that included marrying Soon-Yi) and I can’t help but question, what if we’ve had it wrong for 20 years? What if Mia really did play a number on her kids, and the public, and turned everyone on Woody?

I mean, we stand here and still watch his movies, and marvel at them, and how they portray every aspect of the dynamic woman. We award these portrayals that he’s created (I give him for what he added through the written word and his directing).  And yet still maintain he’s someone who sexually demeans and molest young girls?

Do we torch him or do we laud him? He’s a genius. No he’s a sexual deviant. No. Yes. You can’t do both. Can you?

Frankly, I find sudden realizations a bit suspect and coached. As much as I despise anyone playing the queen of denial. But maybe that’s too many episodes of Law and Order on TNT.

So here I wonder what’s the truth.

And then I realize that I’ll never truly know.

I may suspect. But I wasn’t there. I was never part of this. I can’t guarantee that Mia or Woody are lying, or the kids have been brainwashed, or the whole thing was made to be more than it was. Because their marriage was ending. And they were fighting. A younger woman, an adopted, non-blood relation was involved. And even those references are speculators.

And so started the accusations of molestation and incest.

So we jump to the worst conclusion. Because instead of looking inside of ourselves we naturally leap to the worst case scenario. And from there, everything else is tainted. He said. She Said. They said. Second hand knowledge. He must have, she must be.

Not as simple as that. I defy you to argue it with me. Because as strong as your conviction, so is mine that maybe he never did anything to cause scrutiny. At the very least, not the public flogging this has become.

And at the end of the day, I look at this argument, and I stop. And I just have ask.

Frankly, why is this my business anyway?

 

Duck Dynasty Debacle

I’ve wanted to avoid the whole Duck Dynasty/Phil Robertson is a racist bigot attack, because A. It’s too easy, and B. umm, duh, this is shocking?. But now freedom of speech, Bobby Jindal and Sarah ‘didn’t she die yet?’ Palin have chimed in, so naturally I must as well.

Let’s start at the beginning for our cave dwellers out there. Duck Dynasty is this ‘reality show’ on A&E. I use reality loosely, because as we all know the only reality on TV anymore is on the nightly news. I mean, I was surprised it was shut out for best writing in a comedy series at the Emmy’s last year. Because it’s loosely scripted (read: strategically engineered interactions), and when you watch it it holds the same endearing qualities of Modern Family. You know, breaking the fourth wall:  Dear old patriarch Phil dishing his brand of old time euphemisms, the old timer/grandpa type with pithy responses to the everyday, good looking wives and families, and a moral at the end, when they are all together at dinner praying. Just call it the Modern Dukes of Hazzard Family.

I’ve watched it, and I admit, it was pretty funny. Because I saw it for what it was. It’s about as real as Pam Anderson’s tits, and with the same amount of substance.

So GQ, the epitome in men’s style and news, interviews Phil for the upcoming January issue, and low and behold, surprise surprise, middle America trapped in the past ‘Christian’ values are spewed. “…everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong … sin becomes fine.” “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there — bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” are among the observations that rolled off of this Christian’s tongue. There are also some interesting observations about how blacks were singing ‘happily’ under the Jim Crow laws of pre civil rights Southern America, and that Salt Lake city is safer than Chicago at 3 am, but the nail in the proverbial cross comes as he lumps sinners, gays and terrorists in the same group: “We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus — whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?” (by the way, thank you GQ for the quotes).

Sooooo… naturally this all gets posted to the net prior to publication, and the next thing you know, A&E takes a stand and suspends Phil from Duck Dynasty like one would a naughty sports figure, which to me reenforces the whole ‘reality’ aspect of the TV show. After all, in real life, if a parent does something bad, you banish them to their room for 10 episodes. Except in this case it resulted in an explosion of support from the conservatives, who as we all know are bitter over the fact that New Mexico just became state number 17 to approve gay marriage. Up first, our favorite oxymoronic asshat, Bobby Jindal. After all, how better to deflect your state’s obvious racism towards you and your Indian (not the native gambling ones, the terrorists) brothers than take it out on the First Amendment and Miley Cyrus?

From Time.com:

“Phil Robertson and his family are great citizens of the State of Louisiana,” Jindal said in a statement. “The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV. In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive. But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views.  In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended.”

From the mouth of a genius. And suddenly the First Amendment is under fire.

Uh oh, wait, Sarah Palin needs to chime in about this too:

“Free speech is endangered species; those “intolerants” hatin’ & taking on Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing personal opinion take on us all.”

So to recap to this point, Duck Dynasty patriarch called gays dog fuckers, blacks happy slaves,  while sinners and alcoholics are terrorists, and Chicago is shady but the sister wives capital of the US is ok. This outrages the network which then puts  him on probation from the show. As a response to the injustice and bigotry, the  Indian governor of Louisiana says free speech has been violated by a wrecking ball and Miley Cyrus is a slut, then Mama bear Alaska calls everyone who is pissed about this ass backwards shit a bunch of intolerants “hatin'” on good Christian people.

I’m just waiting for Fred Phelps to protest a military funeral because they are against Duck Dynasty.

Here are the cold hard truths:

1. Freedom of speech has not been violated. Phil Robertson is an employee and money maker for the A&E network. When he makes his boss look bad, the network is put into a position, and needs to reprimand said employee for bad behavior. It would be like me working for CBS, and saying on the news, ‘Les Moonves fucks little Philippine children while Julie Chen videotapes it.’ I would think CBS would be pissed, and suspend me for saying such thing. Hell I’d be impressed if they didn’t fire me and hang me out to dry. Well guess what? That’s what happened here. Phil spoke his mind, but forgot that while he’s a person, he’s an entertainment personality for a television network first. The network knows how to deal with people who get out of line. They kick them to the curb. Phil is lucky this is a sidelining.

And BTW, I like CBS, Les Moonves does not fuck Phillipine children, nor does his wife Julie Chen videotape it.

2. Freedom of speech part 2- the Bobby Jindal commentary. Look douchebag, you are loathed for being an idiot, and what do you do? Put a terrible commentary in writing to show that you are indeed dumber than a fifth grader, and forget what the First Amendment means. The First Amendment does not state that an employer need to stand beside their employees when they spew hate. Sure Phil had every right to say what he believes. But back to point 1, when you are a personality of such magnitude, don’t think there aren’t going to be consequences for sharing such volatile opinions.

Oh, and Miley thanks you for the additional shout out, because that’s what every over exposed musician needs. More publicity showing that she’s killed Hannah Montana and got away with it.

3. Oh Sarah. You’re like Chlamydia, we think you’re gone and then you keeping rearing your ugly head again and again. Thankfully, your point has no validity here. I’m sure those  Southern boys love your solidarity, but you just look and sound as dumb as a box of hair. Go hunt bears and look at Russia from your front lawn. Even Fox doesn’t want you.

So can the Duck Commander please go quietly into the goodnight? Because your 15 minutes are up.

And I have better people to dish about. Oh, Miley…

The art of hate

The art of hate

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a call to arms on an image today. A group called Weda People LLC posted on their FB page a drawing , similar to Obama’s Hope poster, but depicting him being lynched, with the verbatim and grammatically incorrect comment, “hehehe string the basturd up from a tree”.

My friend has a page where he shares Pop culture images, and it’s skewed towards the homosexual population. It’s a quirky, retro, cheeky page. In the past week he had been threatened by FB for posting semi nude images of men, nothing full frontal mind you but  leaving a bit to the imagination. They threatened to kick him off Facebook for these images.  And yet today, because the  above image is offensive and incites hate, he reported this image… and was subsequently told, eh, nothing we can do about it.

And I know many people out there are saying, well it’s freedom of speech, a first amendment right, nothing can be done. They can do it.

But at what point does the first amendment blur into inciting hate and threatening the President’s life?

I am appalled at this art. It took a pop culture image of Obama asking for Hope., and turned into a Jim Crow propaganda image for the new millennium. So I guess we haven’t evolved as much as we would like to think. And it endorses the lynching of our Commander in Chief. I don’t care who you are, Republican or Green, Muslim or Christian, but hate is blatant hate. I can hear the outcry if this was an image showing W in a similar setting. Yes the political comics that are posted on a daily basis are quite partisan, but come no where close to out right hate.  And I do not seeing the Washington Post, or the New York Times, or any reputable publication running this in their op/ed section of their periodical.

But this got high profile release on Facebook. And suddenly I’m wondering has the social network become the social hate network. To believe in this is one thing. I still think you are despicable and need serious assistance. But to share and endorse murder, a hate crime, makes me wonder. Have we devolved so far? Are we so divided that a new civil war isn’t just some red neck judge making an observation, but a reality? Hey I joked that Arizona (with the most anti-woman woman politician ever), Texas, Utah and those wonderful anti immigrant gardeners of Alabama would make a great new United States of White Trash Bigot Red Necks.

Part of me is beginning to wonder if it’s not so far fetched image of the future to be.

 

note: I updated this post in January 2013

And today in Healthcare news…

The Supreme Court today upheld the central mandate of the Affordable Healthcare Act, aka Obamacare, making it mandatory that a person has health insurance. For millions of people with preexisting conditions who currently cannot get covered by an insurance company to literally save their life, this is a godsend. It also will make prescriptions less expensive for seniors, and their are tax benefits for small business should they chose to provide coverage for their employees. It’s a move towards a socialized healthcare system that works for many countries around the world, and will lower costs.

Not everyone, naturally, is thrilled with this.

The Republican and Tea Party people are absolutely appalled. Well, at first they weren’t. All the GOP tweets about letting freedom ring and the law has been struck down… oh wait, what’s that you say? To quote Rick Perry, ‘Oops.’ Delete. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has already vowed to repeal it the first day he gets into office, which would happen if we live in the Twilight Zone. Admit it, you just shuddered at the thought. Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry both tried to say something intelligent but, oh yeah, no one cares about them anymore. John Boehner looked like he wanted to cry in even picture taken of him today. Oh, and Rush Limbaugh vows to leave the country; on a related note, hundreds of people began taking up a collection for his going away party and travel expenses, with volunteers to pack his suitcases fighting for the coveted roll.

Then there are the common Facebookers, my apologies, newly minted Constitutional scholars, who also vow angrily to leave and move to Canada, now disgusted at how socialized the US has become. Because, as everyone knows, Canada doesn’t have anything remotely like a universal healthcare system, right? My first thought is, who says Canada even wants you anyway?

I guess you can’t please everyone. So okay, good luck. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. And don’t you come back now, ya hear?

The Oreo that broke the camel's back

It’s been sometime since I’ve posted on here, and leave it to some dumb ass comments about Oreos to get me rolling again.

In case you don’t live on Facebook like some people do,  the Oreos page posted the above picture and message this week in time for many Gay Pride celbrations going on all over the country. It’s a simple, nice sentiment: celebrate love.

The posts that came shortly afterwards, however, are proof that ignorance prevails:

These are only a few gems. You can see a whole lot more at this link here, or on the Oreo FB page. It appalls me that people are so mind numbingly stupid about things. It makes me glad that the law in Chicago regarding handguns is so strict, because you would not want me to have one or I might go on a little spring cleaning. Just saying.

But I’m gutted over this for a few reasons. First of all, you boycott a company for supporting unity and love in the world? WTF? So obviously you not only hate cookies, but now you declare your bias towards people who are different from you. That’s so genius! Then comes the comments. ‘Gays need to leave America, or my favorite, ‘it should be a crime’ to be gay. Well, I guess that’s better than putting us all behind an electric fence and burning us alive. Because, after all, this is the 1500’s and it’s the Inquisition. Wait, someone did suggest that we should all be sequestered to an island somewhere and ‘share aids together!’ , so I guess that is similar. Why not go further…make like the Salem witch trials and see which of us drown and which of us sink? Or bringing back the guillotine as corporeal punishment for the drag queens? ‘Let them eat Oreos’, I can hear them cry, as they drag us off to the dungeons before we are drawn and quartered.

I mean, what century is this?

But the best part are the religious comments: It’s a sin. God says homosexuals are evil. Die faggots, burn in hell. The Bible says you should be stoned, go to hell, burn, blah blah blah. Gee if I wanted to hear that talk I could call my Uncle Mike or my brother Matt, I’m sure they would be more than willing to share their feelings on the subject. Which, of course, is completely wrong. The Bible is how old? And statement in that book taken verbatim today, well then let’s line up Bristol Palin, John Edwards and a chorus of other people who are not gay but have sinned because, you know, we would stone them too. Or cut their tongue out. Because that’s completely rational. Not only that, but no where in the 10 commandments or the beatitudes does it say ‘thous shall condemn and kill homosexuals.’ I looked, not there.  And unless you just got off the phone with God or received a tweet from him, just shut the fuck up. No one can truly say ‘I know God says, believes or means’ whatever. Because you don’t. And if you have had a conversation with him, I think it would be more along the lines of, why can’t you people all just get along? And just shut up or I will have to send the plague to wipe your stupid asses out.

It’s been a tenuous year around the rights of gay marriage and gay rights, and I am seeing more and more the derisiveness and hatred that people are spilling into the everyday. It’s no longer live and let live, it’s die. And I’m particularly disappointed in the southern black religious group who recently declared that our fight is not one of civil rights, because instead of being supportive and unified, they segregated us… ironically, much like they had been more than 40 years ago. But then, this…to see people get inflamed, spew hatred and ignorance, because one of the most beloved cookies ever takes a picture of it’s likeness, and put a rainbow of layers in between the caps, just to show their support of the community. For me, it’s become a tipping point, to say the least.

Maybe the gay community needs to strike back. I watched a show just this past Sunday morning about the Stonewall riots in 1969, when homosexuality was illegal. We were being killed in the streets, had to live behind closed doors. And we finally rose up and got angry and struck back. Well, 43 years later, I’m wondering if it isn’t time for the community to run riot again. We’ve gone from having a difference of opinions to outright hatred and vitriol. I’m tired of it. So maybe we need to start taking a more aggressive stance against the attacks. I know I will be. Because I’m done. I don’t want to live in this kind of world anymore. I’m going to fight to see some change.

And I’ll be armed with Oreos.

Only the good (TV Shows) die young

While it never shocks me, it always amazes me how TV network execs play loose and fast with the life span of a TV show. Instead of giving things a chance to grow or develop a following, a show’s life can be cut short with the quick flick of a wrist.

The latest case in point… NBC cutting off procedural crime drama Prime Suspect after 13 episodes. While yeah it’s a remake of the British series that starred Helen Mirren, this reboot featuring a utterly fantastic Maria Bello, barely got a chance to get off the ground. Critics adore it, but the ratings aren’t super high. It’s also buried on Thursday nights, up against sap fest Greys Anatomy LA, er I mean Private Practice and CBS’s The Mentalist, two shows that have built up followings with strong lead ins. What’s NBC’s lead in? The Office (post Steve Carrell) and a new show, Whitney, which is funny but not strong enough to carry viewers.To boot, it’s not your typical procedural ala Law & Order (and please, do not get me started on that being pulled), it has been building some interesting character dynamics and storylines that has me hooked. Is it because Bello’s prickly Jane Timoney is multi-dimentional, unlike, say Sunday night stalwart CSI: Miami star David Carusoe, who is just… a bad actor? Or is it too intelligent for people to follow? One may never know.

And Prime Suspect falls in a long line of cancelled before their time. Of course every fanboy has their Arrested Development and Firefly (which honestly, I never watched either… am I better off though?). My concern still lies with hopeful-midseason-replacement-now-cut-to-15-episodes Cougar Town, which while probably has the worst title on tv (admitted so by the creator!), it’s also one of the funniest ensemble casts out there. Hey, who wants to play ‘Penny Can? (Penny Caaaan!)’ ?

My personal most devastating loss of all time was Twin Peaks. Yes, ‘Who Killed Laura Palmer’ dominated my life for two years in high school. I was hypnotized, seduced, could not wait to watch what happened next. But as the second season progressed,  ABC started playing games. The worst was when they would bury episodes at 2:35am. I.Kid.You. Not. Of course it was the precursor to getting shitcanned. I think Mark Frost and David Lynch started getting pissed at the mistreatment they got from the network, so they just started fucking with people’s heads toward the end. Then again… ‘Where’s Annie?” was the best show ending twist ever. And if you don’t get it, you must check this show out.

Oh network execs. You are the problem. If a show isn’t getting ratings, you start fucking around with time slots. Getting buried on Saturday night is not a solution for a fledgling drama. It’s more like a death sentence. Granted, you take risks on shows, and they don’t always pan out. Pan Am and Playboy Club, case in point. But when you have something that critics actually like, give it a chance, maybe grow a following.

And yet, it can be so random. I still have yet to figure out what the rhyme or reason was keeping According To Jim on the air for as long as it lasted. Ddid anyone watch that show? Will anyone cop to watching that show? And why is Kathy Bates getting a plum Wednesday night slot for her show Harry’s Law?  Or should I call it Ally McBeal: The Senior Years? Yawn.

So to the net execs out there, as my Thanksgiving wish, I hope you reconsider cancelling a show before you give it a fair chance. Prime Suspect in particular. I know the axe hasn’t fallen hard and fast yet, but the outlook is not good.  Reprieve is in the air.

And hope does spring eternal: I mean, Family Guy was cancelled twice, and yet it’s back on the air. Even Arrested Development is getting a second life, so maybe I need to check that one out. And hey,  they are even rebooting Dallas. The original cast is back except Victoria Principal, and looks like she was recast with Brenda Strong, Mary Alice from Desperate Housewives. Then, continuing with the Desperate Housewives theme, and to give it some young flair (maybe a few viewers too), the hunky boys from that show are being added as the next generation.

Yeah, maybe some things should just be left alone.

 

 

JoePa… You deserved to be fired.

The entire situation surrounding the startling discoveries at Penn State this week honestly make me sick. What makes the whole debacle all the more tragic is the reaction of the Penn State students.

Let’s look at the facts: Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coach for Penn State Nittany Lions, allegedly molested 8 minor boys over a period of 15 years. There were several allegations made by witnesses during this period, at least one of which was reported to head coach and Penn icon, Joe Paterno. Nothing was done. And now, 12 years after Sandusky has left, he has been arrested. Information has come to light that Paterno knew about at least one incident, and he reported it to his superior. Yet nothing came of it, nothing was done. And life went on at Penn State as usual. Paterno’s non action over this situation has led to his dismissal, as well as that of the college President. And the students are in an uproar.

My question is, why are the students pissed about Paterno’s dismissal?

The man had more power at the college than most administrators, more respect, more pull. And yet, he did the bare minimum when it came to an allegation of sexual assault of a minor. If Paterno is such a pillar of the community, such a moral compass, where was his due diligence? The follow up? How could he turn a blind eye and assume that the molestation of a minor on the campus by one of his subordinates was being dealt with in a proper manner, and yet Sandusky managed to keep his job? Wouldn’t a normal, moral compass think that the fact that his colleague kept his job under such circumstances lead him to contact the police to see if the allegations were properly and thoroughly investigated?

That is exactly why Paterno was dismissed. He didn’t do enough, especially in the role that he held. He should be held to a higher expectation than most people considering his reputation, and the fact that he essentially turned a blind eye is cause enough for him to be fired. And yes, he turned a blind eye. Eight boys were molested. The fact he was told about one should have been cause enough for him to go to the police. And he didn’t. Laziness, ignorance, sheer stupidity or a senior moment, it doesn’t matter. He’s an accessory to the crime. And he needs to be held accountable.

Which brings me back to the reaction of the students. My disbelief lies in their complete and utter insensitivity over what occurred. 8 boys suffered. Their icon knew of the possibility that this was going on, yet did nothing. And all the while, they joke in their classes about being ‘Sanduskied’, or being screwed. They cheered and bragged… Yes, bragged…about starting the riot over JoePa’s dismissal. Why didn’t they question why their moral compass didn’t press the issue around Sandusky’s accusations? Where is their empathy for the victims? Where is their common sense in all of of this?

It’s the naïvety of the students. College is a sheltered existence to an extent. Some may argue that college is passé, that in today’s society and economic climate it ‘s an extension of high school. It could be argued valiantly. I say, it’s a learning ground. It’s that rite after the entitlement of being a kid, learning that life isn’t fair. Things don’t go the way you want them to. It’s the prep school for the reality that is real life. This is their time to be smacked about with the reality that their heroes aren’t alway the most upstanding people they are led to believe. It’s their come to Jesus moment.

But the Penn State undergrads have proved me wrong, and only reinforced that the younger generation’s sense of entitlement is so out of whack. I am disgusted that these students don’t realize that children are the ones who suffer in the end. Sadly, they are more angry that their fallen idol was fired after winning only 409 games. They were more proud that they stood up and rolled a news trucks on it’s side in protest of his firing. They have fallen into the same trap as Paterno. Instead of looking at the community as a whole, they are indignant that their hero was knocked down.

Here, it was a ‘hero’ who chose to be ignorant to the plight of those who couldn’t fight back. Their ‘hero’ who didn’t think to follow up on concerns reported to him. Their ‘hero’, with a side glance, sent his thoughts and concerns towards those who had really suffered.

The entire situation makes me concerned for the future. Why not look at the greater picture? Why are we so self absorbed? I’m guessing the answers aren’t going to be be as rose-colored as we hoped. Then again, for you who are part of my generation, you knew that, right?

To the younger generation, the clue phone is ringing. Put down the blinders, and pick up the phone. Time to face the hard truth.

There goes the neighborhood

Being awaken in the middle of the night is not something I relish. It usually means something is amiss.

For example, the time I woke up to the sound of out kitchen door transom rattling and slamming, as it had been pushed open by the intense winter storm outside. Trying to get it shut at 3am, as snow is blowing in and I’m not quite coherent, it’s not fun.

Or the time the smoke alarm went off. Wow, talk about terror. Then it turns to annoyance when you realize its due to your oven cleaning process. It’s challenging to get back to sleep after that one.

But the recent cause of my 4 am awakening has not been either of those trivial issues. Instead it has to do with drunken neighbor kids raising hell at not so heavenly hours.

Last night was the second occurrence in the past week. Just before 4am, I hear loud talking and laughing, followed by some bass. When I can hear that in my bedroom, which is dead center of the building, and the window fan is running, you know it’s loud. Not loud enough to wake Rick, of course, but then again he wears earplugs; A bomb could go off and he wouldn’t react.

So naturally I amble out of bed to investigate. I throw on a pair of shorts, grab my glasses, and make for the front sun room that faces our street. It’s a group of four people, I realize, that have just emerged from the corner apartment building that is two doors down. Like the incident only the week before, they are drunk, rowdy, and belligerent. This time, instead of making the 1358 building stoop their perch, they hop in a dark SUV, and proceed to blast some unintelligible sound that is bass heavy and rhythm lacking.

I’m annoyed, and proceed to call 911. I then spend the next 10 minutes waiting for the police while these people hop in and out of the vehicle, throw beer cans on the ground, and watch as the driver, who looks like Hurley from Lost and is calling everyone bro, drops his drawers and (I’m pretty certain) throw his underwear at the girl is the back  seat. And then they hop back in the car, turn up the bass, and roar on down the street.

The police, naturally, arrive a minute later. I run out, point them in the direction of the escape vehicle, and run back in to bed.

This morning’s investigation to confirm last nights’ events prove fruitful. I do indeed find two beer cans, crushed and abandoned on the street. I also discover a CD or DVD that has been burnt, with a name and WOLFMAN scralwed on it. I leave it on the steps of the offending building, as if I’m flipping them the bird and making them aware that I know their part in all of this.

Then I discuss the situation with my neighbor Carl, who’s abode, while acting as a buffer for our house, is directly next to the offender’s lair. Last week’s shenanigans left a shattered beer bottle in his front garden. This week, he found beer cans, cigarette butts and a shingle from the building’s siding in his back yard. Yes, a shingle. He even confronted one of the suspects, and contacted the landlord to complain. He also noted that some of that building’s tenants are just as victimized as we are, and it appears that the problem is a small group of youngsters and their rowdy friends who choose to have late night gatherings up on the roof.

It just burns me that these drunken punks are allowed to rant and rave at all hours and, so far, have gotten away with it. I’ve personally called the police not once, but twice. I’m particularly pissed that it took them over 10 minutes to get a patrol vehicle in the area, particularly when I called in a similar disturbance not a week prior. Umm, what the fuck took you so long? What if these people were burning someone’s house down, or stabbing someone? Great officer, thanks for showing, but too late I’M DEAD! Unnacceptable.

What’s also unacceptable is the rest of the neighborhoods complacency over incidents like this. In the past several months, crime has increased in my neighborhood. It’s been isolated in spots, but from time to time it flairs up. Why aren’t more people like me waking up to disturbances like this, and reporting them? Why aren’t people taking a more firm stance on things? It’s perplexing and frustrating.

I’ll tell you this much: next time I’m woken up at 4am by the drunks, they better hope I don’t grab the poker from the fireplace. I might just come out swinging.

The angry social network

I’ve been a bit taken aback as of late of how people treat each other publicly on Facebook.

Take for example: a friend, a young guy with a great up front and passionate demeanor, which I find refreshing. One night he  wrote how glad he was that he was no longer in a relationship a certain person. This certain other person is also a friend of mine, and the two have many mutual friends. The statement was blunt, which I can appreciate. It was just a little cruel. I mean, it was his right to post how he felt, but it was such a public airing of a personal event. I responded that it appeared he was burning a bridge, to which he posted (and not necessarily in direct response to me) that regardless, it was the truth.

Ouch.

At least this was not as bad as what happened directly to me last evening, as I was out with a group of friends after my regular Saturday evening of euchre. I ‘checked in’ with some of my friends at the restaurant we were at. Then this guy who we all play cards with, and all are friends on FB, posted in response to my check in:

Needless to say I was stunned. This person and I saw each other a mere hour before hand, and nothing had transpired between us to suggest such a mean spirited reply. Everyone at the restaurant table were shocked and pissed by the comment, which in no way was to be taken as a joke. Not that the two of us are very close, and in fact we had disagreements in the past, but to take things to the public field and for no obvious reason? I’m flummoxed over his train of thought.

He could of simply done what my sister-in-law did after a recent family squabble, which was un-friend me. Oh yes, the pettiness of a family disagreement over how we treat others and shirking of familial responsibilities, and I get dropped as a friend. It’s mind blowing  to me, that because I acted and did something on behalf of another family member that they were not willing to do, and that fact was embarrassing to  her and my brother, and I get treated to a one two slap like that.

Oh, you can say I’m doing the same exact thing, airing dirty laundry and getting my digs back in at these people for how they treated me or someone else. But I’m not like them. I’m not a bully. I’m not being malicious, or hateful, or rude. I’m simply pointing out that these three incidents are not an isolated trend. They are happening all over Facebook, and MySpace, or Tweet. The consequences here aren’t as bad as what we see in the news. The girl who killed herself because of the abusive comments that girls at her school posted on her FB page. Kanye West’s tweets on any given day. Charlie Sheen vs Chuck Lorre. It’s happening more and more, and the results aren’t just hurt feelings any more.

So next time you’re angry and decide to call someone a nasty name, do it to yourself. Or in a text to a friend privately. It doesn’t always need to go viral.