conquering my game selection.. chapter 1
3 hours ago
Hate Speech 2.0
Friday, July 3, 2009
I don't get on my political soapbox very much and mostly because my circle of friends and I don't agree much in this realm. I've always been a 'live and let live' kind of person especially when dealing with such a dirty and unfair topic.
No one at this point really knows why Sarah Palin has stepped down at this point. There could be looming political scandal, she could just be a quitter, she may have aspirations to run for federal office and need to begin the daunting task of unseating someone who knows he can do no wrong by 60% of our population at any time.
I know Palin is a polarizing figure. Everyone has a strong opinion on her and where she stands. So with the new and exciting, up to date, real time news breaking from social media, I thought I'd take a visit to Twitter to see what people are saying. Let's take a look (I am not giving these people the dignity if revealing their names..just cutting and pasting their posts):
Sarah Palin is a moron.
Just leave and shut up!!!!!!!!!
What a maroon.
Sarah Palin, the moral matriarch moron...
Sarah Palin decision not to seek re-erection as guv of Alaska
Sarah Palin can resign from the human race as far as I'm concerned...
too bad she dumber than a cocaine dealer on acid.
SARAH PALIN IS A GOOFBALL!
That woman is inept and inhumane.
GOD she's a dunce!
It does seem though that the prevailing opinion is that she's a relief from the endless Michael Jackson coverage, but that's just plain understood just by watching any of these media outlets on television. But that's another topic to be covered by a million other people, at any given time.
I tend to take the fourth theory as to why she's resigning. Intolerance and hatred. She had hinted that she's tired of constantly having to defend her family from cruel remarks to them or even her youngest child who suffers from down syndrome. We as Americans claim to have taken so many steps towards progressive politics and equal rights out of one sides of our mouths, but then turn around and spill hatred, intolerance, and ignorance towards someone of a different political standpoint with the other side of our mouths.
The day is done when this intolerance will be seen as cool or acceptable. It is time that we all, no matter what our stance is with our political leaders, to state our differences in a mature manner and stop resorting to vilifying or demonizing people just because they have traditional conservative beliefs.
The same goes for chastising someone for being a progressive thinker. I think all this green talk is a waste, for instance, but I won't call a person that believes in it as a moron, or stupid. We are all Americans and we are all citizens of the world and we all have a right to disagree. So I guess I really just have one point:
Grow up and learn some respect.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 5:04 PM View Comments Links to this post
Labels: politics
Celeb Mourning?
Monday, June 29, 2009
I came home tonight with the full intention of posting about recent celebrity deaths. I open up Google, I look for images to use, then I make an outline of what I'm going to post. Afterwards, I put up a title then post. I'm pretty sure that's what most bloggers do, but not tonight. I was sidetracked when I noticed the volume of celebrity deaths in June.
It wasn't that I was blown away, I just figured, there are many people who have contributed a lot to society that would not get mentioned. I have heard over and over that 'these things happen in three's', but they don't, they just get noticed in three's. We mourn their loss not because we know them, we mourn them because we feel a part of our childhood passing away or we feel a chapter in our lives closing.
I remember watching Cannonball Run as a child. I thought it was hilarious. I wasn't surprised to hear about Dom DeLuise passing, but I was sad because I remembered not having a care in the world and watching a silly movie with my Dad. Ed McMahon's passing also was no huge shock, but when I reflect as you saw in an earlier post of watching Johnny Carson, I felt those late nights when Mom let me stay up pass away.
Michael Jackson sudden death hit us because his death was so unexpected. Those of us fortunate enough to remember the Thriller debut, all felt that sense of loss hearing that Jackson had died. I even had my parents buy me a faux leather jacket as a child because I thought it was a cool thing to do. I never met the man, but I looked back at that page in my life and realized it was so long ago.
Even loud but effective pitchman Billy Mays struck me, but not because of some childhood memory, but because of the recent fun that my circle of friends has had watching his dubs on YouTube or talking really loud like Billy did for laughs. I felt that part of our lives closing.
The beauty of life though is that we live on to make new memories, to mock new celebrities, to revere others and to enjoy them with our friends. It's not vain to feel sad and miss them, in fact, I think it makes us all kind of normal. Even when dealing with such a morbid subject we all at least still have today.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 7:45 PM View Comments Links to this post
Labels: news
It's a Wedding
Monday, June 15, 2009
I thought the humidity was going to kill me though. I forgot all about that thin mountain air!
Janine and I stayed close to our hotel Saturday night, venturing out to enjoy some Japanese take out and avoid the thunderstorms. Sunday, we went to their friend's house to throw down and enjoy their pool. The food was good and we had a good time. We're glad we finally got to hang out at least for a minute with everyone and just have fun.
We have some pictures, but I haven't bothered to unpack the camera, so I stole one from Jessi's photo stream on Flickr. I don't think I'll get a take down order, and even if I do, I'm going to declare fair use! Again, Mozoltov to the bride and groom!
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 8:01 PM View Comments Links to this post
Hooray for Youth
As we know last week, elections were held in Iran with predictable results, but instead of the young men and women of their country accept those obviously rigged results, they began to take to the streets. With those services at their disposal, with an educated and engaged youth culture, and with the desire for equity and fairness that I know every Iranian posses, we saw the protests grow. But we did not watch the protests on traditional news services. They had very limited coverage with what was going on in Tehran and surrounding areas. And what can be better than this?
They're young. They're really freaking young. The next generation is not a waste, they may save us all!
People got to see the struggles and inspiration of these people through services such as Twitter from people out on the streets like Madyar. Now be advised, there are graphic images from the protests, but I cannot help but feel pride for them as they take a stand. I posted a couple pictures here to give some a general idea, but unfortunately that's all our traditional media is doing too. What a shame to see journalism die in a pool of it's own bias and self importance.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 7:20 PM View Comments Links to this post
Labels: news
Cake Failure
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It's like icing on a cake!
I could probably spend all day with the cake puns, but I'll spare you the tasty details. Please remember to save me a piece!
(update of sorts) I forgot to give the nod to Jessi for reminding me about this blog!
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 1:46 PM View Comments Links to this post
Sixty Five Years Later
Saturday, June 6, 2009
I've had the distinct honor of once speaking with a veteran of D Day and that conversation is something that will remain and haunt me the rest of my life. We've all seen accounts on video and in pictures of this bloody day, but to hear someone recall the sights and smells of that day is both vivid and sobering. Most of these men were teenagers, yet to live their own lives, but they gave up that opportunity so that we call can enjoy these freedoms today.
Being in Virginia, we have a dubious distinction related to D Day. Bedford County where I used to live is also known for having the most men die on that day per capita. Out of thirty men, twenty are believed to have passed that day which is why the D Day Memorial is in Central Virginia. They were part of the Company A 1st battalion 116th infantry. It's believed this outfit was part of Stonewall Jackson's unit during the Civil War. Take a minute to read about them here. I swell with pride at their service, I feel pain and loss knowing they gave so much on this day sixty five years ago. We can never be as great as they, but we can all remember to stop and show our gratitude sixty five years later and beyond.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 3:40 PM View Comments Links to this post
Labels: history
Around the Yard Again
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Our magnolia tree, ironically named Shelby has started to bloom.
And yellowy white it is!
I'm not sure what kind of house plant this is, but she's all plant.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 5:35 PM View Comments Links to this post
Here's Conan
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
As everyone knows Conan O'Brien took over as host of the Tonight Show replacing Jay Leno who has retired/moved to an earlier time slot. This was the first change since I was in high school.
I remember growing up and going into high school watching The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I can remember his last shows and when he was replaced by Leno. Jay had it rough, there was no way he or just about anyone alive could replace Mr. Carson, I thought.
But over the years, he did OK. Janine and I were starting to regularly watch Leno on The Tonight Show and I always got a kick out of Jaywalking and Headlines. When winding down topical humor is hard to beat sometimes. More than anything, I know that Conan did not have the daunting task that Leno did replacing someone as legendary in television as Johnny Carson.
It makes me feel older seeing this transition, but I really look forward to seeing Conan hosting The Tonight Show. I think it's going to be a lot of fun and more and more people will return to that old tradition of falling asleep with the television on.
Take it away, Johnny!
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 9:09 PM View Comments Links to this post
Labels: television
Chicago Again!
Monday, June 1, 2009
I attended one of those fun industry conferences complete with vendors, speakers, break away groups, you get the idea. The conference actually was very productive. I learned a lot. Everyone was nice. It's good to be able to network and meet so many people in our industry looking to improve and change things that I never foresaw when I first got into insurance. I hope I can take what I learned with me in my future endeavors.
I didn't have time to do much of anything in town. We were away from the heart of the Chicago that everyone sees on television. We were in Lombard. I boarded the plane early Thursday morning, arrived at the airport, was shuttled to the hotel, and registered and started meetings immediately. Even if I had the time, there was no way I had the energy to do anything but go to my room and collapse onto a very comfortable bed and watch basketball. I was able to find time to check out the Target next door, always a popular Chicago destination...Friday morning, meetings and breakfast began at 7:30 and ran through 1:30. After lunch, we were all shuttled back to the airport to try to find and earlier flight (wasn't any), and wait for our 4:12 flight back to Richmond. Once back into town, I crawled home to fall into my recliner not to move the rest of that evening. Even today I'm still feeling effects of losing one whole hour.
I know, I'm a wimp, but I had fun, and I know that Chicago will always represent how wonderful bad times can be. The bad times not only help me appreciate the good life that I have today, it reminds me that if not for those bad times, I would not be where I am today...enjoying every minute of the good times. You know what I mean. That's one thing in life we all share. Making good out of just about anything.
Posted byThe Lewis Show at 7:55 PM View Comments Links to this post
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