Category: General

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Ben Cohen is the tops

Some of you may not know who Ben Cohen is.

He’s a recently retired rugby player from the UK. He is absolutely the tops in my book and deserves everyones support in his new endeavor.

I’m a little sad about his retirement, I’d always wanted to catch him in a rugby match. It was on my list of things to do when finally get to visit the UK.

On the plus side and consistent with everything I’ve read about Ben, he’s started the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. This is the world’s first anti-bullying organization. Ben is running Stand Up as its chairman.

He is traveling for StandUp making appearances as part of the Ben Cohen Acceptance Tour. If you’re going to be in any of the cities he’s visiting, please make it a point to support his efforts.

While StandUp at the moment appears to target bullying against gay kids. I think we should remember that Bullying in general has lead to unspeakable tragedies around the world.

The most notable examples here in the US are Columbine High School and Virginia Polytechnic. (It’s been reported that Seung-Hui Cho was bullied in a similar fashion to Eric Harris of Columbine.)

I was raised to protect ANY child. It didn’t matter whose kid it was or what they were being protected from. ALL children are worthy of care, compassion, and concern. Ben’s efforts resonate right to my core,

I hope that his efforts resonate with you too. No child… gay, straight, or just different, should ever find themselves in a position where death is preferable to living.

StandUp has the potential to give any child in need an outlet and a place to turn to for support.
At the moment StandUp is focusing on homophobia. In my opinion this is the perfect starting point. Especially since a recent study suggests that suicide attempts among gay teens may be as high as 20% versus 4% of straight teens.

I imagine as the organization matures, it will reach out more broadly to all children that are being bullied. It just seems to be Bens style.


My Impression of Ben

Over the years, I’ve been keeping an eye on him. At first because I thought he was damn handsome in an approachable kind of way. But as I read about him and watched him and his career mature, I came to the conclusion that he’s a lot more than a handsome face…

He’s a genuinely decent human being.

Ben is kind, dedicated, and respectful of other people.

He’s a straight man, the father of two and has never been anything other than who he is. I wouldn’t go so far as saying he’s my hero. What Ben is to me is an example of Manhood in the truest sense of that term (look up the definition, part of it includes courage and strength of character). He’s a guy that I would go out of my way to meet, and I’d be very proud to call him a friend.

He’s embraced his gay following with humor, kindness, humility, and good cheer.

He’s an old school authentic sports star, always remembering, acknowledging, and appreciating his fan base. (American sports stars could learn a thing or two from his example.)

Ben is his fathers son. (Ben’s father died after doing the right thing. The Elder Cohen attempted to break up a bar fight and subsequently died from injuries he sustained. Again, another real MAN who was willing to risk doing the right thing instead of assuming it was someone else’s problem.)

Ben takes a stand. (Not the easiest thing to do sometimes, but there’s Ben… speaking his mind saying what he believes in. Ya just gotta respect him weather you agree with him or not.)

Ben’s website can be found here. I’m still exploring the new site. I can’t direct you to any particular place, explore on your own.

Given that Ben & Jill Tipping, Ben’s assistant are brilliant in handling media and marketing, I will not be surprised to see a lot more information about StandUp in the coming weeks.

All of which is to say, Ben deserves support from everyone not just the gay or straight community.

EVERYONE!

Ben and StandUp have the potential to serve everyone and be a positive force in the world. It’s our duty and responsibility to help add to that positive force.

(FYI… I hate having to use the awkward LGBT label, it’s my blog so I’m not going to. it’s not that I’m not inclusive it’s just that saying and typing LGBT over and over is a pain in the ass.)

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Broke my own rule

Was talking to a buddy this afternoon. We don’t talk all that often but when we do we tend to catch up. Sometimes that takes a long time, usually when we’re talking I’m home and it’s not unusual for me to have a nice tumbler of Jack Daniels at hand.

Today however, the conversation started while I was on the road and continued after I parked. The next thing I knew I’d walked around a Mall yacking like a lot of those people that irritate the hell out of me.

To all the people in the Mall today, I’m So SORRY!

I was browsing, shopping, and buying things.

It was VERY RUDE of me, to My Friend and also to the OTHER people around me at the mall.

Another issue is that my situational awareness was zero! Someone could have gone all jihad and blown themselves up and I wouldn’t have seen it coming.

In my defense, it was so natural to just keep walking and talking. My Friend and I have spent many happy hours shopping in that mall and it was like he was there.

I found myself commenting on things I encountered just as if he was there. On the one hand it was nice to have a pseudo shopping event. ON the other hand it is a little creepy in retrospect.

Point is, while I bitch about a lot of things, I’m going to do my level best to

A) point out when I do the things I bitch about.

B) try to see the other side of what I’m bitching about.

It’ s unlikely in the future I’ll be giving anyone the stink eye about their walking and talking around the mall, but I maintain that your friends deserve your full attention. Even if they are enjoying the virtual shopping trip.

Humm, perhaps a streaming video / bluetooth headset or HUD that would allow you to share your adventures via your 4G cell phone. If someone makes something like that, You know you heard it here first.

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Drug Advertisements

Have you noticed the ad that’s been playing recently for the treatment of Fibromyalgia?
It’s a very interesting ad, especially for someone like me.

I’ve told my physician to his face that I think he’s only 2 or 3 steps removed from waving rattles and dancing around me in a loincloth to heal me. He’s a good guy and he’s not terribly offended by the comment. On the other hand it’s set the tone of our relationship. Since I’m not willing to accept anything he says as gospel, we’ve become partners in my health care.

His knowledge of medicine and my observation of my own body give us the best shot at keeping me around for a while.  I appreciate his compassion for me and patience with me because I know I’m a royal pain in the ass.

So along comes this ad. If you listen carefully to the wording its kind of funny and I’m sure It makes the Doc just cringe.

The Lines that really caught my attention were

After a description of the muscular neural-feedback in the body they say something like,

“It’s thought that this activity is responsible for the symptoms of fibromyalgia.”

Ok, I suppose I can get behind that statement. The next line that caught my attention was something like;

“(Our Drug), is thought to address this neural activity and may provide relief.”

With as much money as has been spent on R&D of these drugs wouldn’t you expect a little more definite statement?

Again I’m left with OGG the Witch-Doctor shaking rattles, dancing around the patient and then feeding the patient a cup of goat pee. (Would probably work too! While the patient is barfing up the goat pee they’re not thinking about their other problems.)

I think part of what caused this to get through my noise filters was the fact that  I KNOW most people heard something more like,

“We’re smart Doctors and scientists and we KNOW your nerves are whats causing you pain and suffering and our drug is the cure. Tell your doctor you want our drug and you’ll feel ever so much better.”

What I heard was;

“We’re guessing here that your nerves are the problem and we kinda think that this drug will maybe make you feel better. Quite frankly we’re pissing in the wind here but hey someone has to pay for the R&D it might as well be you.”

But then I’m a real Cynic.

As always think for yourself, Make you own decisions and don’t eat the pudding.

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Random thoughts.

Was out & about yesterday. Went to a recital and spent some time with friends.

I also noticed some of the plants blooming in the front yard and took some time to metaphorically smell the roses

Here are some of the shots.

This first one is a bearded Iris. Honestly given the abuse these plants have taken during the spring with odd weather and sudden freezes, I surprised they bloomed at all.

This is something called a Penstemon. These plants don’t like my yard very much since there’s a little too much water. Every once in a while one will make an appearance at a random spot. This one showed up next to the walkway and seems pretty happy.



This yellow thing is technically a weed. But while it’s blooming I leave it alone. after it’s done with the flowers its Weed Wacker time!

We’re finally getting nice weather and I have to admit that I’m enjoying the time I’m getting to spend at home.

Anything to keep me off the dang freeways! I hate driving around this area so much I can’t see straight.

I am looking forward to my upcoming trips and being able to see sights I’ve never seen. I’ve got my little puptent, my sleeping bag and

As soon as I finish up a few things here, I’m taking off for a while.
I’m hoping that I can share images and the random thought or two while I’m wandering. Provided that I can get the netbook to work the way I need it to.

I’m getting excited about going walkabout. Hoping I can clear my head and find my next path.

Failing that, at least I’ll see things I’ve never seen.

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Have you done a nose count this morning?

Looks like everyone I know is still here. Hummmm, It’s possible that I’ve been hanging out with the wrong crowd.

The LA Traffic maps still show that traffic is insane. Either the Apocalypse event didn’t happen OR LA is full of people that got left behind.

Based on the evidence I’m guessing that Preacher Campings’ version of The Rapture did not happen.

I feel a little sorry for some of his followers.
There was a radio interview with a young couple who had budgeted their savings to this end date.

They had both quit their jobs to spent their last months passing out doomsday pamphlets.

I remember thinking, On the one hand, that’s commitment, on the other hand what are they going to do the day after doomsday?

While I’m not terribly religious in any traditional sense, I do feel sorry for people like this. These folks have had their faith essentially used against them, it must cause a terrible crises of faith.

I do hope that someone in the religious community is keeping an eye on Preacher Campings followers in the event that some of them try to resolve the conflict by suicide.

As to the end of the world?? I suppose that we’ll just have to wait for the 12/21/2012 expiration date.

If the Maya were right, the Summer of 2013 should be great!

Uncrowded beaches, post apocalyptic anarchy, people running around in animal skins, you know, all the stuff that we’ve seen for years in movies

Until then party on folks.