Good morning Boys and Girls!

surrogate here "wandering through the chaos" to quote from a great album. We're far from Florida right now and Jesus is having a blast making snide remarks about all the billboards.

In Georgia, he counted twenty-five "pro-life" billboards - but twenty-nine for Cracker Barrel.

This lead him, somehow, into a vague but captivating monologue about the people who spend so much time and effort trying to get other people to believe the way they do by putting up these goofy guilt dealing billboards. He said that if, instead, they concentrated on living their own lives well, they'd have more time and money for taking their own families out for dinner. This would mean, on the one hand, that the restaurants wouldn't have to advertise so much - which might lead to lower prices - which would allow families to spend more time together (perhaps eating at Cracker Barrel, I assume, he meant) and how then, on the other hand, just maybe, these folks' own children would start to feel more affection from their parents allowing them more opportunities to see clearly how cool it is to be part of a good family - which might ultimately mean they'd be less likely to, in their own search for love and acceptance, start fooling around and having sex at such an early age which, in turn, is one of the factors that contributes to so damn many abortions...

I just nod and smile.

He has this ability - or curse perhaps - to see connections that I'd certainly never make - assuming they even really exist, I mean.

Soon, after seeing a billboard for a locally brewed ale, he started joyously singing "one hundred bottles of beer on the wall."

I mean, this guy is as smart as anyone I've ever known, but even after all these years, he's retained this wonderful and ever-present childlike outlook (which in him, is a confident sureness as opposed to a naive optimism) and it is constantly manifesting itself in his taking great pleasure in the simplest of things. All the time, too! It's a wonder to behold.

Mind you, that didn't keep me from slugging him when he got to about "eighty-seven bottles of beer on the wall" to shut him up. I wanted to listen to my son's C.D.

We had to come north on I-75 a ways before we headed east because Jesus wanted to stop at this one particular outlet mall where thy sell his favorite kind of sandals. Imagine all these years, and when the weather permits it, he still loves those same damn sandals. And, I swear, they're exactly the type you'd imagine him wearing - except that the ones he bought yesterday are made out of some synthetic instead of the hemp and leather combination he usually seems to wear. He says these seem to hold their shape a little longer.

It was so cool. Everyone in the store knew him and weren't the least surprised when he came in. All back slaps and glad handing... he sure gets around.

Well, another long day of travel today so I suppose we ought to get going. Jesus was using my laptop last night so I assume he has something cooking. I'll write from Philly tomorrow or Sunday.

Oh. Remind me some time to tell you about how much he eats!

Be good to everyone!

Write us at justplanoldjesus@gmail.com

Good evening Boys and Girls.

Having a few computer snafus. Just wrote this blog and lost it in spell check, of all things! GRRRR!

So... I'll be traveling a bit the next week or two and a few of the posts will originate from the city of brotherly love... Philly!

Haven't been there in a few years since I went there to hear my brother's band play... now going to watch my son's band... weird!

I'm dragging Jesus along with me.  I begged so he said he'd come, but I doubt if he'll enjoy the progressive Rock. He says he hasn't been to a music festival of any sort since Woodstock, and he had his fill at that one... but, as I said, I begged; he acquiesced. I did have to promise there wouldn't be many drugs and the like. He really hates that stuff.

It'll give me a chance to ask some new questions to, perhaps, finish up that interview with him we started a couple of months ago. I never posted the last couple of sessions for the simple reasons that Jesus's answers to my questions were not up to his usual snappy standards.

On the other hand, perhaps he has a hard time getting enthused talking about things he doesn't consider important. I guess my questions WERE getting a bit far afield. (Who knew Jesus wouldn't want to venture a guess about whether Britney Spears's career is completely tanked or if she's just in a down period, or whether brad and Jen will ever get back together. Snob!)

Anyway, I have lots of new and better questions and since he'll be a captive interviewee... Who knows!

Let's see... the Pope! I read what Jesus had to say and other than making the same points in stronger language, I don't really have much to add. The guy looks like a disappointment to me, but time will tell.

I really am concerned about this thing Frist and his cronies are trying to pull with regard to changing the filibuster rule when it comes to presidential judicial appointees. It's wrong, high handed and I really hope that if they do it, it comes back to bite them in the ass by finally waking up a few million sleeping fools who take no interest in politics.

I mean really, even from a political point of view, the president has had over 95% of his appointees confirmed. That is damn high! Justice Sunday... geez.

And when you realize that it's the same bunch of manipulating jerk-offs (who call themselves, but are not, I assure you, Christians in any sense that Christ would approve of) who are making threats against current judges who make decisions with which they disagree, I'm sure it makes God weep. Me, on the other hand - being far less charitable - it makes angry.

Be good to everyone!

I received this Email and thought I should pass it on to everyone:

_________________________ _________________________ ___

This Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist plans to join
several leaders of the Religious Right at an event they're
calling "Justice Sunday." As promising as that name sounds to
Christians committed to justice and peace, it's not quite what
you think. "Justice Sunday" is a telecast, taking place at a
Louisville, Kentucky, mega-church, that will accuse Democratic
senators of being "against people of faith" because they oppose
President Bush's conservative judicial nominees.

When will the Religious Right stop trying to pretend that they
own religion in America? And when will opportunistic politicians
stop playing the faith card in a blatant attempt to ingratiate
themselves with the Christian community? Join Sojourners in
calling on Senator Frist to stop insulting the faith and
integrity of people with political views that differ from his
own.

Click here to take action:

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/frist?rk=x1S 9qc119zMdW" title="http://go.sojo.net/campaign/frist?rk=x1S 9qc119zMdW" target="_blank"http://go.sojo.net/campaign/f...

_________________________ _________________________ __

Remember, 95% of Bush's judicial nominees have been confirmed.

These moronic bullies are crying because they get any opposition at all.

surrogate,

Be good to everyone

Good evening Boys and Girls.

Jesus Reporting today.

I've been thinking hard about what to say about the choice of Cardinal Ratzinger as the New Pope.

I suppose it really doesn't matter what I have to say about it actually. They don't really give a hoot about what Father and I have to say. They haven't cared for years. Imagine. He is hailed as a king might be. He is glorified as though he is more important than any faith. And - he is into... rules.

Here is a fellow who wants people who disagree with his narrow views to be excommunicated... or at least to be refused the sacraments of his church. How is that a loving thing? Here is a fellow who was a Hitler youth well into his teens who is now making religious policy for 1.1 billion people around the globe.

Here is a fellow who, though I'm sure very sincere in his beliefs, still won't address the church's archaic stance on divorce, abortion, or even women in the clergy. He has no tolerance for gay people, unless they remain celibate... and yet he heads a church that has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to silence people who have been molested by the...what word? the STAFF.

One of the things that drives Father nuts are people who hold themselves above others. And this old man represents the epitome of such folly.

I have great faith in human beings. We're made in Father's image - and for that reason alone, there are millions upon millions of incredible people on the planet - as well as millions of other people who, perhaps aren't so wonderful, but would be, if not for their situation and surroundings.

I bring this up because we are obligated  to do all we can to make people feel better about themselves. All of us. And when I see that the largest denomination in the world that worship Father and me is being lead by someone, who at least in the past has been harshly judgmental of who certain people ARE, I am saddened.

Perhaps the role of Pope will suit this man and he will use his title to do good. If, however, he defines "Good" primarily as adherence to, and reinforcement of, silly outdated sexist, misogynistic and superstitious notions and dogma, instead of doing all he can to rid his church of such offensive practices, then no matter how "the faithful" view him, Father, and certainly I, will once again, be horribly disappointed in the other old men who elected Cardinal Ratzinger to this overblown office.

Be kind to everyone!

Surrogate here,

Jesus called a little while ago. He's asked for space tomorrow to write about Pope Benedict XVI. I asked what he has in mind and he told me to mind my own business till tomorrow when I can read it along with everyone else. I told him I ought to change the name of the blog to "Jesus B*tching."

He gets mighty testy sometimes. Go Figure.

I have some thoughts on this new Pop's election myself, and therefore, earlier today, I made a point to talk to a friend "in THE Business" who shed some interesting, if flickering, light on the selection. But... I'll hold off and let Jesus have first crack on the subject. Far be it from me to step on THOSE toes.

I'm excited about seeing my son next weekend. Wish my daughter was going to be there too. Maybe I'll get to see her soon anyway. Who knows.

My mind has been so full of the dumb project I'm working on, that I haven't done a very good job creating new posts the last couple of weeks. Usually by the time I sit down here, I pretty much know what I want to say and it goes pretty quickly, but the last couple of weeks, when I sit to write I realize I haven't thought things through very well... So, I stare at the little typewriter thingy with the TV attached and scratch my head.

Don't give up on this little blog though. We should be back up to speed and running with better material very soon. In the meantime, I'll stoop to passing on a joke I heard the other day. If you've heard it... oh well.

Guy walks into a bar and as he takes a stool, he loudly says, "All lawyers are assholes!"

Another guy, at the other end of the bar, leans back on his stool to look around the other customers and says, "Hey! I resent that!"

Guy one says, "Why? You a lawyer?"

Guy two says, "No. I'm an asshole."

Sorry about the language, but it IS funny!

Be good to everyone!

Good morning Boys and Girls.

surrogate here this morning.

A weekend of writing some less than exciting technical stuff has left me without any bight ideas this morning.

So, in the spirit of a deceased Detroit Newspaper Columnist named Bob Talbert, whom on Mondays would fill his space with tidbits he'd picked up during his work on other writings during the previous week...

Out'a My Mind on a Monday Moanin' (Thanks Bob!)

This country uses 70 billion plastic containers every year only about a third of which are recycled.

The average home uses 2.5 bottles of window cleaner every year.

70.7 million households subscribe to Internet service providers.

40.6 million households in the U.S. own a dog.

105.5 million households own at least one television.

The average number of people in each household is 2.6 (down from 3.2 in 1970.)

Recycling of plastic containers uses more energy and (when ancillary costs are included) costs more than making the container in the first place.

The average person generated 2.7 pounds of waste each day in 1960. In 2000, the rate was 4.5 pounds-per-person-per-day .

Every year, we make enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the state of Texas.

The nation's annual generation of municipal solid waste rose steadily from 88 million tons in 1960 to 232 million tons in 2000.

We are wasteful.

Be good to everyone!

Good evening Boys and Girls,

Jesus reporting today.

I had a good day. Another one of those days I have every now and again that gives me great hope for this here planet.

Today I met a young fellow who is trying to do something that may make make this planet a lot less plastic filled over the next few years. I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (Me! You believe it?) so I can't as of yet describe exactly what's cooking, but even minor success may make a huge difference.

I even got to peruse the guy's business plan and it looks pretty decent. I hadn't been directly privy to anything this exciting since I sneaked into one of the planning sessions for the Millennium Dome in London a few years ago.

It's one of my "privileges" to be able to go pretty much wherever I want to go whenever I want to go there. The only thing is, I don't get to physically affect anything. I can work on people's hearts, but their brains are off limits unless I become friends with them and end up changing their minds about something in plain old normal conversation.

And it works the other way too. I'm not a dumb person, and my mind is open. Every now and again, someone will present a new slant on something I assumed I had all figured out previously.

I love to have new knowledge change the way I look at things. There's nothing better than realizing I was wrong about something and then having my views "updated" by new and or better facts.

You know the old saying. Opinions are like...., you know the rest. But GOOD opinions, based on knowledge and experience are valuable tools for change. Nothing aggravates me more than people who think that every opinion is as valid as the next. I'd love it if people would learn to not feel like they have to have one (an opinion) on every subject.

It would make for a better world, and it's definitely part of the path to greater wisdom.

Be good to everybody!

Good morning Boys and Girls!

surrogate here.

Today is my son's birthday.

All of us who are parents know the special kind of love that is reserved for our offspring. The intensity, for me, is indescribable. When I think about my kids, sometimes my eyes well up just out of pure love, and I'm so thankful for it.

My son is a wonder. He's a phenomenal composer, lead writer, keyboard player and singer in an incredible progressive rock band.

They are playing in a very cool festival in a couple of weeks and from there leave to go somewhere in upstate New York to record their second CD. They are signed with a small label, but the type of music they perform is unlikely to ever allow for huge commercial success - but I don't think they care too much about that anyway.

His music is special, and he works very hard at it, but he keeps a full time job as a technical writer too. He owns a house a few miles from where our family home was and my daughter is now his roommate, which makes me awfully happy.

My divorce a few years ago tore the family apart in many respects and I'm extremely glad that they are living peaceably under one roof for a while.

I have so many things I'd love to share about the kindness and caring nature of this man who is my kid, but it's just not appropriate to do so. He is a better person than I've ever been - or will ever be, and I know I've had little to do with how he's turned out - give that credit to his Mom. But today, I get to reflect upon my good fortune. I've been lucky enough to get to enjoy true pride every single day for an entire generation.

I miss him.

Be good to everyone.

Good morning Boys and Girls!

This was sent to me by a friend. I don't know who originally came up with it and I did some rather extensive Fox News style editing so I can't give credit. If I'm infringing on someone's copyright, please let me know and I'll remove it - but golly, I liked it.

Living Will

I, _________________________ (fill in the blank), being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means (including the use of a feeding tube.)

Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of ethically challenged peckerwood politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it.

If a reasonable amount of time passes (say, six months) and I fail to sit up and ask for a __________________ (cold beer, Margarita, Bloody Mary, Martini, Rum & Coke, shot of Wild Turkey, etc...you get the idea) wanting to get laid, it should be presumed that I won't ever get better. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children and attending physicians to immediately pull the plug, reel in the feeding tubes and I.V.'s, wave goodbye, and call it a day.

Under NO circumstances shall the hypocritical members of the Legislature (State or Federal) enact a special law to keep me on life-support machinery of any sort.

It is my wish that these boneheads mind their own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education and future of the millions of Americans who aren't in a permanent coma.

Under no circumstances shall any politicians butt in to this case no matter how many fundamentalist votes they might think they'll attract for their self-serving plan to run for the presidency. It is my wish that they play politics with someone else's life and leave me alone to die in peace.

Let me be clearer.

I couldn't care less if a million religious zealots screaming the name of Jesus send  ten million e-mails to their lap-dog legislators in which they pretend to care about me. I don't know these people, I don't WANT to know these people, and I certainly haven't authorized them to preach and crusade on my behalf. I don't even them want to whisper a silent prayer for me.

They too should mind their own business.

If any member of my family goes against my wishes and turns my case into a political "cause" in even the slightest way, I hereby state that by doing so they are unequivically cut out of any estate I leave, (unless I die in debt in which case they are welcome to any of the negative proceeds.) Further, once finally dead, I will come back from the grave - gross, wormy and moldy - flesh dripping from my zombie body - for the specific purpose of making whoever has had the unmitigated gall to screw with my wishes a candidate for the same "loving" treatment themselves.

_________________________ _________

Signature and Date

_________________________ _________

Witness Signature and Date

Are we clear?

Be good to everybody!

Good afternoon Boys and Girls,

surrogate here, telling a story that isn't appropriate for kids. But, every now and again, something reminds me of the incident and since I think it helped influenced my political views some, and certainly taught me a glaring lesson about the kind of people who rub shoulders with our leaders, I decided to share it.

Years ago I pinstriped cars - a skill I learned from my Dad.  In fact, through the years, three of the four of the kids in my family ended up in the trade for some period of time. My younger brother still runs the business my Dad started.

For a quite a few years, I worked on my own for car dealerships. Most of the work was simply striping cars that hadn't been sold yet - stock work, we called it - but about a third of the work consisted of striping cars for customers after the purchase. That was kind of fun most of the time. I usually enjoyed the kibitzing with customers. If they'd already taken delivery, they'd just make an appointment to bring it back for me to do my job. Sometimes it would work a little differently, but not too often.

One day, this guy who'd just bought a new Cadillac called me directly and asked if I could come by his office to stripe his new car. I'd explained that I needed to have the car inside and clean and if that wasn't going to be possible at his office, I'd rather he brought the car back to dealership. He assured me that he had an underground parking garage and that the car would be clean and waiting any time the next day. I agreed to go to him.

His office ended up being only a mile or so from the selling dealership, which surprised me actually, since it sure seemed as though zipping it over to me would have been a fairly easy thing to do, but, what the hell, I didn't know his schedule. Maybe he was real busy.

I took the elevator up to the top floor and was buzzed into his suite. The secretary was incredible looking, and had a voice like Marilyn Monroe. I almost chuckled at the sterotype that popped into my head. I remember when I walked in she was simply sitting there doing absolutely nothing, but looking gorgeous, which she continued to do while I waited the five or so minutes to be ushered into new Caddy owner's office. I could hear him talking on the phone while I waited. His voice was lound and gruff and he sounded impatient.

Upon being invited into the office, I noticed lots of framed photographs on the walls. Caddy owner and the Governor. Caddy owner and the Republican Senator. Caddy owner and Vice President Bush.

Caddy owner and Reagan.

I mentioned all the photos, trying to sound impressed, and perhaps I was. He shrugged. "They're all assholes.... But. They're MY assholes."

I was a little taken aback and more than a little offended, really. I looked around the rest of the office. Advertising prints in a bunch of languages; lot's of them. All for a smallish Uzi looking thing.

"You sell guns?" I asked.

"I make'em." Caddy owner fairly gloated his response, Joe Pesci came to mind - though this guy was far bigger.

"Wow!" I said. "You sell to the government?"

"Well yeah. Not OURS, but governments are all the same. Fuck'em. OUR government is always telling me who I CAN and can't sell to."

"Wow!" I said again. "Interesting business, I'd imagine." I didn't know WHAT to say.

He told me what I needed to know to do his car and I went downstairs to do the job. My mind was BUZZING. This guy scared the hell out of me, really and it was the first time in my life I remember feeling like I was in a room with a real live evil presence. But, I told myself, I was probably overreacting.

Did my job and went back upstairs to get paid.

He paid me cash - an unusual thing - peeling bills off an enormous roll and then tipping me way too generously. I refused the tip, not because I didn't usually accept them, but because I didn't like the guy. As I started to leave I said, "I didn't know we had a machine gun plant around here."

"Fuuuuck," he said. "I'd NEVER do business in the U.S. Nope. I have this office, and I come back to the States a few times a year to do all the bullshit palm greasing, but my plant is in Manila." He gave me his business card.

"The Philippines?" Wow. "That's a long way from home! Why there?"

He got the most awful looking sneer-ish grin on his face. "I love it. I have a thirty room house with a full staff that costs me fifty bucks a week. I get my guns made for seventy dollars apiece including labor and sell them for around twelve hundred. I ALWAYS get at least a grand. It's beautiful."

"But still, isn't it..." He cut me off.

"You know what I love best about living over there?" I shook my head.

"It's the only place in the world where a buck'll buy a blow job.....for your dog."

I still have the asshole's business card. I keep it to remind me that there IS evil in this world. And, it is a FACT (I witnessed the proof myself in those pictures) that evil people have access to the leaders in our country - all of whom sure looked happy enough to have their picture taken with this fine citizen.

Be good to everybody.

Email "us" at justplainoldjesus@gmail.com

Good afternoon Boys and Girls!

Jesus reporting.

I want to take issue with surrogate's post yesterday. We talked about it last night and I sent him out to think about our discussion. I'm going to make this short and sweet.

I don't share surrogate's attitude about the people of the U.S. I don't think they're in any way dumb or obtuse. There are some, certainly, who just can't understand the politics of the day, or are snowed by the propaganda that seems so constantly "in your face" from the group of folks running the political show. That Karl Rove is really something! Which leads to what I think is really going on.

I think people are scared.

People are worried about making waves a whole lot these days. Protesters of any sort are painted as whack-jobs. That's a learned response on our part and we've been taught it by those folks who are well served when people DON'T shout loudly about bad things.

I think people hear a little voice inside their heads warning them about the folks running things right now. These goof-balls don't have a whole lot of scruples about how they work their agenda, and I think people can feel that, and subconsciously, it affects us all.

Plus I'm a lot more optimistic about the future of the entire world than surrogate is, which is just my good luck.

But... who knows.

Be good to everyone

Good evening Boys and Girls.

surrogate reporting.

Not sure about what I'm going to say tonight. Know what I want to say and have an idea about how I want to say it, but I know that no matter how I approach the subject, I'm going to offend a bunch of people, so I'll apologize ahead of time - and in fact, I know I'll use the "f-word." Be advised.

I'm sorry.

It seems to me that even here in 2005, there is a huge segment of the population of the United States of America that is just plain stupid. Idiotic. Obtuse.

Obtuseness. That's the word, really. There's no lack of I.Q. in this land. There's no mass lack of ability to recognize patterns. There's not even a below average capability to retain facts, mentally arrange them and then from them extrapolate reasonable opinions based on what's been learned.

What there is, is a widespread and specific stubbornness to use those abilities in a meaningful manner when it comes to our country's government's policies and practices.

We have to WANT to ignore the fact, for instance, that this administration has managed to get policies enacted that for all intents and purposes allow companies to continue to put mercury into our streams at levels that will cause thousands of birth defects in infants, make women sterile, and (a minor point when compared to the others, I suppose) makes fishing the rivers and lakes on the windward side of these polluters, an extremely dangerous thing to do.

We have to WANT to accept the fact that despite our government's lip service about "supporting our servicemen and women"  as they fight that silly war, that many will come home to financial ruin because the same fat cats who make money off the fact the war exists, also own the companies dunning these poor exploited soldiers and reservists for payments there is no way they can make while serving in the military.

Can you imagine a country that would not provide health care for some of the peoples' families serving and dying in the name of that country? Well, I maintain that we must WANT for it to happen...since we allow it.

We must WANT radical right wing religious nut jobs making policy decisions for all of us. After all, if we didn't want it...we'd stop it.

I keep thinking about the whole "pro life" culture. Self righteously smug fuck-heads who think it's just a coincidence that abortion numbers have risen  every year George Bush has been president - instead of steadily declining each year - like the number did while Bill Clinton was president. Why? Because many women have fewer and fewer options leading to choices being made that many of them would have otherwise never even considered.

We certainly are obtuse. We refuse to see cause and effect as though we've been outfitted with not only blinders, but opaque blindfolds as well.

We are shown sequential evil events perpetrated by the same players time after time and we refuse to accept the connections!

We don't see conflicts of interest  - even when they're glaringly obvious. We accept threats on our judiciary from a hack criminal fuck-head politician who attempted to manipulate even the most tragic of what should have been a private event into a sick political sideshow...  (claiming in the process that God "provided" the event for him and his to exploit.)

And then, once again, we quickly turn our heads to avoid seeing how a person's willingness to do such a thing might at least signal that some of the other allegations of wrongdoing made against the same guy ought to, at least, be fully investigated (since we should be able to guess that only a crook would stoop so low.)

I could write on this subject for days and never reference the same incident twice. And isn't that a shame?

For goodness sake, or God's sake - or our own, for that matter - connect some dots!

We  HAVE to.

Good Morning Boys and Girls!

Jesus reporting today from Rome where later today John Paul ll will honored with a lavish funeral.

I'm told that 600,000 people a day have viewed his body as it lay in state.

This was a wonderful man. A good hearted well meaning soul who's conscience guided him through an extremely long tenure as head of the huge church.

Like me, and like you, this Pope was a human being. I really do hope this is remembered today. And my reasons are simple.

When a human being is anointed by a large number of people as MORE than a person in any way, or for any reason, what results is that any works done or statements made by that individual can be discounted by anyone who doesn't share the ideology behind whatever gives the person in question the cache to be thought of as...what? extra human?

I, for one, don't believe popes have a direct phone line to Dad's ear any more than anyone else. Which is NOT to say he doesn't have God's ear any time he desires it. My point is, and I suppose I should know, that ANYONE can do business with Father any time they like and an intermediary isn't needed.

Having said that, I know there are times we feel like Dad isn't listening. Lord knows (Ha!) I have.

I so respect this John Paul ll, though I've disagreed with him on dozens, if not hundreds, of occasions. I wish the funeral wasn't the media splash it'll be. I wish the whole idea of electing a new Pope was something that was not going to happen. I wish the whole Roman Catholic church would get over itself and quite pretending country club status with regards to it's silly rules and rites and accept the fact that too many of it cherished traditions are simply wrong and in some cases down right devilish. But...

I suppose today is a day for them. surrogate told me  on the phone a little while ago that every Catholic Church he's past in the last few days back in Florida has a big Mass scheduled for tonight. That's certainly appropriate, I think. This fella was loved dearly by many many people. I wish things were different. I wish "The Church" had evolved differently, but then just cuz I got the ball rolling doesn't mean I get to control things forever.

I'll tell you this though: Be real careful when you delegate things....especially to Peter. You never know WHAT will happen.

Be good to everyone!

Good morning Boys and Girls,

surrogate here today.

Watched the sun bust up over the lake's horizon line this morning. A ten minute process morphed the eastern sky from soft gray blue with slight pink threads to reds and oranges so varied that counting the shades would have been impossible, until a blaze of hot yellow light popped so bright that I had no choice but to look away signaling the end of the show. Wanted to stand and clap and whistle - and beg for an encore.

Sunrises over water are more spectacular perhaps, because the reflection of the water's surface doubles the brightness. I'm not sure, really, but I'm pretty sure that if my entire life consisted of simply watching sunrises and sunsets in various places around this globe, I think I'd feel I'd had a worthwhile existence. A life so spent might not leave many good deeds in its wake, but it certainly wouldn't leave a trail of tears either.

Instead, we all, in some way, become slaves to our ambitions.

We know we must eat and have shelter, and most of us must attend to our lusts and need for love and companionship, but beyond these simple things, what else do we really need?

We love music. We love stories. We love art.

And, I'm convinced that if we kept our ambitions in check to the point where our efforts were aimed at figuring out better and better ways to simply feed and shelter ourselves, we'd be a far happier planet. But we do love to travel!

What to do about that?

Well, what if, for instance, we decided not to make new models of automobiles for five or ten years? We instructed the auto companies that they were free to make as many of the models they currently make as they can sell, but that all new development must be aimed toward making cars that run on completely clean and renewable fuels, and that must be made out of materials that are easily and cleanly recyclable.

Can you imagine how hard they would all work toward that end - all of them wanting to be the first to put their new products out into the marketplace?

What if we decided to make a real nation wide mass transportation system? We set rules for the bidding companies. Must be super fast; must be super clean and it must designed to be adaptable to newer and better technologies as they are discovered.

What if we said to ourselves, "Okay, here's the deal. In twenty years, we will no longer use fossil fuels for heating and transportation. Period." During that time we use our collective ambition to figure out new and better ways to get things done.

Imagine.

And it would be fun too. It's simply a matter of changing our focus. We'd be loved in the community of nations, because we could share what we learn and we'd stop all the "nod, nod, wink, wink ...we're here cuz your leader is evil and we want you to be a democracy" crap.

The only thing, and I mean the ONLY thing that stands in the way of things like this happening - is a decision to use our collective will to insist upon it.

See, we can't be spending our resources over in other countries telling them how to behave and govern themselves and accomplish something this monumental (and yet simple.)

Imagine, if we didn't have to "protect our interests" in foreign lands. Two hundred billion bucks in Iraq alone. Think that might make a dent in a nation wide mass transit system?

And the ancillary benefit? We'd probably end most of the terror threats pronto, because we'd be having so much fun working on these projects that we'd stop interfering in other peoples' lives... for which we'd get a great big sloppy kiss and world wide "thank you."

It's time. It's been many years since the rest of the world first politely said "Please."

Be good to everybody.

Good morning Boys and Girls.

surrogate reporting today.

As I write this the Pope is still hanging on to life.

The Schaivo situation is no less hostile even in the wake of her death.

The war in Iraq has become such a given that it is starting to get short shrift even on the cable news networks.

The Republicans are ever closer to changing the Senate's 200 year tradition of allowing opposition filibusters.

The  Bush/Bin Laden connection's Carlyle Group has amassed an eight billion dollar fund specifically earmarked to facilitate corporate takeovers and acquisitions - supposedly the largest cash fund in human history put together for that purpose.

Oil prices continue to skyrocket while no specific plans are being put forth by the administration to move toward using renewable energy resources - telling us instead by their actions that new wells drilled in pristine widernesses are the only means by which America can reduce it's dependence on foreign oil.

We are barely moved, really - at least according to the amount of news coverage in comparison with similar situations just a few years ago - by the recent horrific school shooting in Minnesota.

We are told constantly how precious human life is at it's end and before it really begins, by people who seem to care little, by comparison, for the millions of people around the world who daily suffer hunger and starvation actively and fully aware.

And, some of my friends are extremely angry with each other and neither side is willing to give an inch.

And this is what saddens me today?

Funny. The world spins. The idiotic and infuriating news clips zip at us, inside and high. But, knowing the pitcher's tendencies, we easily shrug them off - grizzled veterans of the game.

We are beaned by what we don't expect, and about which, we can do nothing.

Be good to everyone.