Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Prophets of Rage
As a fan of both Chuck D and Rage Against The Machine, I am excited to hear of the emergence of a new super group, Prophets Of Rage.
Tempus Fugit 2016
Five months in,
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Seven months to go,
Watching my to do list
Grow and grow and grow!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Monday, May 30, 2016
New York Minute 29 - The Truly Deserving
As a rule, I don't contribute to panhandlers. I see people asking for money every day. In most cases, I walk past them with a clear conscience.
It's not that I am unsympathetic to the difficulties of struggling people. I understand how common it is for families to fall into bankruptcy under the weight of extraordinary medical expenses. I understand that jobs can be uprooted and careers interrupted without warning. I understand the insidious power of addiction.
But I have seen far too many scams perpetrated by those who would claim to have nowhere else to turn.
I have seen people claiming to need a little help until they have a chance to get back on their feet. A year later, the person is sitting on the same street corner asking for the same thing.
I have had people ask me for ticket money in train and bus stations. I have offered on numerous occasions to buy these supposedly stranded people a ticket to their destination. In every case, they have refused my generosity. It wasn't a ticket that they wanted at all; they just wanted the cash.
I can't control what happens once I give money to someone. Will it be used to buy food, clothing, or to pay the rent? Or will it be used for drugs, alcohol, or tobacco? I prefer to donate to agencies that have a good track record of helping people in need. If the panhandler got to where he is today by mismanaging his affairs, how can I trust him to do better with the money that I give to him? It doesn't seem like a safe bet.
That said, I made an exception to my no-giving rule a couple of weeks ago. Walking up Madison Avenue, I passed a person whose physical and emotional suffering I cannot begin to imagine.
I couldn't tell you if the person was a man or a woman, or whether they were black or white. Their entire body was scarred from severe burns. The facial features were gone. The fingers were gone. The person's arms ended in scarred stubs.
There was a neatly printed cardboard sign on the sidewalk, but I was too overwhelmed to read it.
I walked on a few paces, stopped, and pulled a bill out my wallet. It might have been a dollar or five bucks; I was too overwhelmed to remember the details. As I placed the bill in an upside-down baseball cap, the person nodded in appreciation. Apparently, they are unable to speak, which shouldn't come as a surprise.
This person has help. Clearly, they didn't write the sign that sat beside them. They didn't go into a store and purchase a magic marker. Maybe a family member wrote the sign and brought them to the corner. Maybe it was a friend. I doubt that a relief agency would put the person in this position.
I acknowledge the possibility that criminals might be using the person to raise money. Panhandling scams are not uncommon. The criminals might keep most of the money that's collected. That doesn't change my mind about giving in this particular case.
I hope that whoever is involved in this person's life is treating them fairly. I hope that the person has a place to sleep, gets daily nourishment and receives adequate medical treatment. This person is truly deserving. I hope that at least some of the money that finds its way into that baseball cap goes toward helping them.
Despite my best intentions to make donations where they are likely to do the most good, my conscience does have limits. I couldn't walk past this person and leave them empty handed. Maybe they are being used as part of scam. I'm still willing to contribute as long as they are being taken care of. This poor individual has suffered unspeakably. I couldn't find it in my heart to walk by in accordance with my normal no-giving rule. Some tragedies are just too horrible to ignore. Sometimes we have to take action, even if we aren't certain that it's the right action.
May God please bless and help that poor soul, and all of the other people in this world who suffer the irrevocable burdens of unthinkable misfortune.
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
It's not that I am unsympathetic to the difficulties of struggling people. I understand how common it is for families to fall into bankruptcy under the weight of extraordinary medical expenses. I understand that jobs can be uprooted and careers interrupted without warning. I understand the insidious power of addiction.
But I have seen far too many scams perpetrated by those who would claim to have nowhere else to turn.
I have seen people claiming to need a little help until they have a chance to get back on their feet. A year later, the person is sitting on the same street corner asking for the same thing.
I have had people ask me for ticket money in train and bus stations. I have offered on numerous occasions to buy these supposedly stranded people a ticket to their destination. In every case, they have refused my generosity. It wasn't a ticket that they wanted at all; they just wanted the cash.
I can't control what happens once I give money to someone. Will it be used to buy food, clothing, or to pay the rent? Or will it be used for drugs, alcohol, or tobacco? I prefer to donate to agencies that have a good track record of helping people in need. If the panhandler got to where he is today by mismanaging his affairs, how can I trust him to do better with the money that I give to him? It doesn't seem like a safe bet.
That said, I made an exception to my no-giving rule a couple of weeks ago. Walking up Madison Avenue, I passed a person whose physical and emotional suffering I cannot begin to imagine.
I couldn't tell you if the person was a man or a woman, or whether they were black or white. Their entire body was scarred from severe burns. The facial features were gone. The fingers were gone. The person's arms ended in scarred stubs.
There was a neatly printed cardboard sign on the sidewalk, but I was too overwhelmed to read it.
I walked on a few paces, stopped, and pulled a bill out my wallet. It might have been a dollar or five bucks; I was too overwhelmed to remember the details. As I placed the bill in an upside-down baseball cap, the person nodded in appreciation. Apparently, they are unable to speak, which shouldn't come as a surprise.
This person has help. Clearly, they didn't write the sign that sat beside them. They didn't go into a store and purchase a magic marker. Maybe a family member wrote the sign and brought them to the corner. Maybe it was a friend. I doubt that a relief agency would put the person in this position.
I acknowledge the possibility that criminals might be using the person to raise money. Panhandling scams are not uncommon. The criminals might keep most of the money that's collected. That doesn't change my mind about giving in this particular case.
I hope that whoever is involved in this person's life is treating them fairly. I hope that the person has a place to sleep, gets daily nourishment and receives adequate medical treatment. This person is truly deserving. I hope that at least some of the money that finds its way into that baseball cap goes toward helping them.
Despite my best intentions to make donations where they are likely to do the most good, my conscience does have limits. I couldn't walk past this person and leave them empty handed. Maybe they are being used as part of scam. I'm still willing to contribute as long as they are being taken care of. This poor individual has suffered unspeakably. I couldn't find it in my heart to walk by in accordance with my normal no-giving rule. Some tragedies are just too horrible to ignore. Sometimes we have to take action, even if we aren't certain that it's the right action.
May God please bless and help that poor soul, and all of the other people in this world who suffer the irrevocable burdens of unthinkable misfortune.
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Bill O'Reilly Family Values
This week in hypocritical family values and dysfunctional conservatism: It was revealed that conservative talkshow host and irritable blowhard Bill O'Reilly will be suing his ex-wife for ten million dollars.
Why to stand up for your principles there, Bill!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Why to stand up for your principles there, Bill!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Karma Catches Up With Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Starr, the former special prosecutor hired to investigate the Clintons' finances, who spent two years and millions of taxpayer dollars uncovering the consensual sexual act that led to the unsuccessful (no pun intended) impeachment of Bill Clinton, just got fired from his position as president of Baylor University.
Why was he fired? If you guessed: sex scandal, pat yourself on the back!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Why was he fired? If you guessed: sex scandal, pat yourself on the back!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Trump Sex Tape?
I'll bet that there's a Trump sex tape out there somewhere. With that ego, he probably tapes himself all the time.
Quick! Somebody call TMZ!
;-)
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Let It Go, Gene!
Prince had talent. Prince was his real name.
Gene Simmons had makeup and a made up name.
Gene Simmons criticizing Prince is like a meatloaf criticizing filet mignon. No offense to Meatloaf.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms out there, to any mother who sees this message, and to all of the wonderful moms that everyone here knows and loves!
I hope that each of you will enjoy a beautiful day with people you love and cherish.
I hope that you'll be able to spend some time reflecting on what's most important in your lives.
And I hope that you'll have an opportunity to show and share your appreciations to the people who love, adore, and depend on you. :-)
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Rainy Friday Night
The two best things to do on a rainy Friday night: sex and laundry. And I have to say that I'm pretty good at laundry!
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Ego, Regret, and Bern Out
Mr. Trump now has an unimpeded path to November and five months to wage a campaign of unprecedented nastiness against Secretary Clinton.
Perhaps it's time for Senator Sanders to reflect on his role in the process and consider what's best for the country.
Ego is a powerful force, and it burns brilliantly in the heat of battle. But regret is the thing that will haunt you all the way to the grave.
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
Perhaps it's time for Senator Sanders to reflect on his role in the process and consider what's best for the country.
Ego is a powerful force, and it burns brilliantly in the heat of battle. But regret is the thing that will haunt you all the way to the grave.
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Monday, May 2, 2016
A Great Start To The Week
I stepped outside this morning into the brisk spring air, strode through my daily two-and-half mile walk to the office, stopped by Starbucks along the way, waited in line, ordered, waited some more, crossed the avenue just before the light turned red, entered the building, passed through the turnstiles, rode the elevator to my floor, removed my jacket, sat down at my desk and discovered that my fly had been open the whole time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)