On the Warpath

Are you one of those who use Twitter and think that the number of followers you have denote how popular you are?

Do you follow thousands of people and if so, how can you do that in a qualitative sense. Do you have a 72 hours day?

WAKE UP and smell the roses or taken off the tinted glasses you are wearing.

If 2,888 people are following you, then you have one felluva lot of logs jamming your river. Dead Logs !!! Most are automated robots. If you think that the number of people who follow you shows how great you are - Think Agian !!!

And as for following 1,919 people - how on earth can you keep up with their tweets and give appopriate and worthwhile retweets to them?

Folks like that are a GAS ... Bad Gas ....

I am going to start this module with the old joke about someone arriving in Toronto in July with a pair of skis. The sad thing is - it is not a joke. It has happened many times though I don't believe it has happened recently. Yes, Virginia - there is always snow in Canada but in the summer, you have to go way up north to find it. Duh ...

Now, on to 3 personal experiences:

When one crosses the border from one country to another, most always you will have to clear Customs and at the border crossing there are 2 flags. One flag is for the country you are leaving and the other is that of the country you are entering. That situation is no different when you leave Maine, USA to enter New Brunswick, Canada. And since the person leaving the US should have been able to figure out that one of the flags was hers, she should have been able to figure out that the one with the Big Red Leaf on it was Canada's.

So here I sit in a restaurant in Eastern New Brunswick which is a good 4 or more hours from the border and in comes a car with (Yes) Texan plates. The woman was middle aged and asked the waitress what was that a flag of. Well, this restaurant was German and there are about 10 flag poles outside so the waitress had to ask which one she meant. "The one with the red leaf on it", she says. Now, with that kind of person, we could switch the red border on the left of our flag with the one on the right side and totally screw up the woman's head.

Second experience was just a month ago as we went through the Canadian Rockies via train. On board was an Aussie who thought we only had 2 provinces here in Canada. Having lunch with him clearly showed us he knew nothing about Canada. I can't believe someone would spend thousands of dollars to visit a country and know nothing about it. Good thing he didn't come here in February with just t-shirts and shorts - he would not have been very happy.

And finally, a few years back, we went across Canada on a Greyhound bus. In Toronto, we caught our bus at the gate and we were heading west. Just before the driver pulled away, a lady banged on his door and asked him if he was the bus going to Montreal. Well that bus loads at the next gate, just a few feet away. No big problem you say - ah, well the Montreal bus had already left 10 minutes ago. So what does this lady do - she asks the driver if he could radio to the other bus to come back and get her !!! God Damn Stupid Canadian ..she had to wait another 4 hours for the next Montreal bus. Serves her right.

Yesterday, a small incident on Twitter reminded me why I live my life the way I do. Someone from Michigan was on Twitter complaining about the cold so I replied to her saying "So, move to New Mexico".

Well, that did not go over well because the reply I got was, and I quote, "@Christmas_Alf you're a jerk and I hope a hurricane ruins your vacation". Now that clearly says a lot about someone.

A. First - they lack a sense of humor.
B. They jump to conclusions based on very little evidence.
C. They are a vindictive breed.

Now, I don't mind being called a jerk. I don't know this person and neither does she know me. Twitter is in essence a glorified Chat Room and in such an environment - one gets all kinds of people. But to conclude what a person is based on one simple reply - that is sad to say the least.

And not only am I a jerk but I am a horrible person as well. This person also said "just had to block and remove a horrible follower" which probably meant me.

And what is sadder, is that this person from Michigan is so defensive and vindictive that she would wish me a hurricane to ruin my vacation. Now, given that hurricanes can take lives away, that seem a bit of a drastic reaction to "So, move to New Mexico".

Does this bother me? No, I can't really say it does. What bothers me most is that someone lives such a negative life that they would respond in such a way to a reply from someone they don't know on the Internet. And to be so vicious and vindictive in their reply to me, I wonder how truly happy this person is?

For me, I try to be light-hearted and humorous most of the time. There is enough stress and unhappiness in this world without having an attitude that adds to it.

Some people, I daresay, need wake-up calls and reality checks.

This is not a real big rant but it is an annoyance. Squidoo Lensmakers like me (and other bloggers as well) appreciate it when people leave comments. Sure, we make these lenses because it is one of our hobbies and so it is self-satisfying. But we also make them up to share ideas, information and knowledge. Some, like me, do it mainly to bring a smile on your face and a laugh every now and again.

Unfortunately the bulk of our readers give nothing in return. They read our material and get what they want or need and then just mosey on. For Cripes Sake ..take a few seconds of your time to leave a comment. Hell, this lens took longer to do than that. I, along with other lensmasters and bloggers, would be grateful.

Now, on with the show ...

I recently encountered someone who is a member of the NRA and goes on about democracy and freedom and is for ever saying "God Bless" to people. Up to that point - no real big deal. But here's the kicker - she likes hunting. That to me, drops her God's Gift to Humanity from her self-righteous image of 10 down to -3.

Why? Simple !!! If someone hunts from necessity to survive - fine. But I can't believe that she does so for that reason. She hunts simply for sport and kills innocent animals who have never hurt her in anyway. If you have to shoot an animal - do so with a camera.

I'd like to see someone take her rifle, shove it up her butt and blow her brains out!!!. The same thing should be done to Sarah as well.

God, I feel so much better after that.

Do you Tweet at Twitter. There are some great Tweets there but then there are tweets such as this:

I got up late this morning and I am late for my doctor's appointment.

My kid fell and banged his knee.

I am going to have a shower now and then go shopping.

Like - Who Gives a Rat's Ass ??? No, you are not the Centre of the Universe. No one cares if your left elbow is itchy.

Does this sound familiar to U ..share your Dumb Ass Tweets in the module below.

This is outrageous. The richest country in the world has been so bloody mis-handled that their own citizens have a need to go to Kiva and seek loans. Gimme a break !!!

If the United States had not spent Billions $$$ outside their own borders (where they have destroyed other nations and cultures), they would have been able to take care of their own citizens. They should have spent money within their own borders thereby creating employment at home and raising the quality of life for their own people.

Now, Americans look for loans from Kiva. Kiva already has their hands full trying to help people who can barely find enough to eat, whose living and sanitary conditions are in need of great improvement. Now Americans want to maintain or improve their quality of life which, as it stands, is miles ahead of the other countries Kiva strives to help.

Ever been to Fort Lauderdale ( just to name one of thousands of places) ..ever seen the mansions and yachts? The US needs to redistribute their own wealth ..not be looking to others to aid them.

This is unbelievable and a moral crime!!! God Bless the USA ... indeed !!!

As for me, I no longer supprot Kiva with my full heart. I intend to look to other organizations that do similar work and whose ethics are more in line with my own.

I am seriously considering taking down my Squidoo lens that promoted Kiva. It did get them some new lenders in the past.

People can voice their objections directly to Kiva by e-mailing them at contactus@kiva.org

The last few days my wife has watched the Ellen DeGeneres show and I took note of the 12 Days of Christmas she is doing on that show. This is not a criticism of her nor her show but it is a criticism of the Greed of People.

It is nothing more, in my opinion, than 12 Days that cleary show the Greed within our society. While much of the world's population suffers from poverty, others are giving away millions of dollars of gfts to their TV audience. And that, I believe, is so so wrong !!!

This also has happened on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Each day, there are hundreds of people in Ellen's audience and now, during these 12 days of Christmas, they are given somewhere around $2,500 in gifts each day to each person. Do the math !!!

This bothers me so much that I know this "blurb" will not be as literally artsitic as it could be. And that's ok. What I want to do is get people to think how greedy we are in the industralized society in which we live.

My wife and I have sponsored 5 children through World Vision. We both lend money to Kiva to help business people in poor countries.

We spent a Christmas in Montreal a few years ago and gave out little treats to the street people there - not much but it did a world of good for a brief moment in tme. It gave the street people back a bit of dignity by reminding them they were still a part of society and it made us feel a little better about ourselves. Could we do more - Yes, most certainly - we all could !!!

I cannot continue to remark upon the Greed that I saw these last few days except to say that the cheering of the TV audience left an emptiness in my heart for those others who are not as fortunate as us.

I know this post will not be seen by many and I also know that many will not really care. Such is the Greed within many of us.

I have written this for many reasons - one is selfish - it is so that I can cope with the feelings I have inside. But I also write this hoping that I can just touch one person and make them realize how forunate that he or she is. By so doing, perhaps he or she will reach into their heart and do something unselfish to help someone else.

There are many organizations out there and you don't need me to find them. There are also the street people of your community - and Yes, every community has people who are suffering.

We all can do more than we have done or are doing. In closing, I request that you forward this "blurb 'on to others which hopefully will provide a little more happiness in someone else's life, especially during this Christmas season.

Supplementary Note: What should Ellen and her TV Show have done?

Giving away millions of dollars from their sponsors was, in my opinion, not the best way to handle the Spirit of Christmas.

Why not have an audience who is invited to participate in an Auction of these items ensuring that nothing is sold above 30% of the retail price. That way, the audience still gets a great benefit and the money rasied can then be allocated to those in more dire straits. Does one have to be a rocket scientist to see the logic and sense of such a method of promoting a TV program and giving a win win to as many people as possible?

Do certain things or people BUG you to no end? Do they really get under your skin? Don't hold those feelings inside!!! Say it or "Spray It " to the world here at Bug Spray.

The thing that caused me to think of this module is when I went to walk my dog. I saw someone with a shopping cart going through today's garbage looking for pop bottles so that he could redeem them for 5 cents each. Like DUH .... This is Canada - One of the richest countries in the world - Why must something like this go on?

How about Corrupt Politicans, Stupid Laws, Unnecesary Wars - these are just some of the things that might "bug" you. Or maybe you have an interferring mother-in-law or cheating spouse. No matter what it is that bugs you - get out the Bug Spray and spray, spray, spray. You will feel a lot better once you do !!!

The following modules should show up sometime soon:

Arnie Baby - You are so Generous

People who abuse Animals

Hypocrites, Idiots and Ass-holes

Now, this module may very well piss a few of my twitter followers off and really, to be honest, I don't give a truckload of crap if it does. If a lose a few followers because of it - so what.

Canada day is July 1st which of course is followed by July 4th. Now, there is nothing wrong with loving your country and being patriotic to it. But there is a point at which a line should be drawn. Sure, in Canada we will wear our Canada hats and wave our Maple Leaf flags and so will Americans three days later. But the difference here is the magnitude at which it is done.

Some Americans (not all) are arrogant and go around thinking they are the best nation to ever emerge. Many years ago, Rome thought the same.

As I have said often, I do like most Americans. However their National Image and their Government stink. Canada is regarded as the Peace Keepers of the world - not so the United States. The USA is seen as a Big Brother who thinks his shit don't stink and goes all over the world to make sure all its siblings follow in his footsteps.

Let's go back 64 years. Who dropped the H-Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and how many innocent people died as a result? Do you realize there are still birth defects generations later because of those bombings.

Let's jump ahead 40 years so. Some ass-hole (now dead, Thank God) introduced and had a bill passed saying to the effect that any country which traded with Cuba was to be considered an enemy of the USA. I don't remember the name of that law, I could Google it but I really don't care about its name. I have been to Cuba and they are nice folks albeit poor. Castro expelled the US who exploited the Cuban people. The rich Americans used Havana for their playground - lots of casinos and girls...party party party. They have never got over Castro's victory and enforced an embargo on Cuba which still lasts today. Canada trades with Cuba - we do not let Big Brother tell us what to do.

The US did not deserve what happened to them on 9/11. But the way they responded shows their deeply entrenched holier-than-thou attitude, How come the WMDs never materialized - were they so well hidden that the United Nations could not find them (BTW - Bush did say to the UN Council that the US would go into Iraq wheher or not the UN approved - so why bother having the UN if the member countries don't abide by its madate).

So, billions of $$$ is spent to send troops on foreign soil to fight and desroy the "insurgents" and terrorists. How many thousands of American youth have come home in body bags? Actually not many, as they get themselves all blown to hell and maybe there is a leg or two inside the draped caskets. And what about those who survived but are traumatized by seeing the horrors of war - how many suicides and phobias now return stateside. What is their Government doing to help them when they return? They fight for Uncle Sam but when they return, many are unable to get jobs because of their mental condition and many of the street people are Vets whose needs are forgotten.

The US goes into foreign countries on the pretext that they are there to "spread democracy". What Bullshit !!! These countries managed hundreds (or thousands) of years without democracy and they don't even want it but the US is prepared to "ram" it down their throats anyway. And if, on the off chance, some country did want it - let them secure it on their own through their own efforts. That's what the US did when they broke away from England - ever hear of the American Revolution? Why the hell should some foreign country interfere and in so doing, become an occupying force therein? Seems to me - shades of the Spanish Missionaries to the New World or better yet, Vietnam.

Just yesterday on TV, I heard some US politician say that the new health legislation proposed by Obama would hurt the US which already has the best health system in the world. Like duh - that's why many folks leave the US to seek medical attention elsewhere. That's why many lose their homes because of medical bills they must incur to survive but can't afford.

I already lost one Twitter friend over this who shall rename nameless. I put up with the ridiculous Uncle Sam hat she wears on Tiwtter but her flag-waving irritated me so I said something regarding it. I was then told to get over it as there will be all kinds of reference to it on twitter and I don't doubt that she is right about that. Thankfully, that was balanced by another twitter friend of mine who is also Amercian saying that he is embarrassed by his own peoples' arrogance. Both of these twitter names shall remain nameless - suffice to say that one is "blocked" by me.

With regard to Kiva - there is an on-going Hot Debate over their inclusion to lend to Americans. Yes, there are poor in the USA (imagine that ..in the land of milk and honey). I saw horrendously run-down trailers just inside the US border (in Maine) with a light on and torn plastic covering the windows - during the dead of winter. I wouldn't allow my dog to live in those conditions. But Kiva won't (nor can't) help those people as Kiva lends money for small businesses. Where the hell are you going to run a small busines in the backwoods of Maine? Many Americans themselves disagree with Kiva's changing role and are pulling back or out of Kiva. I for one will continue with Kiva but never will I give one red cent toward an American loan. The standard of living in the US is nowhere near as destitute as those in Cambodia, Vietnam and Ghana to name just three.

I do not hate the US nor do I hate its people. In fact, I find most Americans easy-going and friendly. But the Flag-Waving and Pompous Celebration of July 4th should be scaled back. The US is already seen in a dim light throughout the world - why make the world darker by more US arrogance?

Yes, this was a very powerfully worded module. Is it just my opinion - Not At All. Americans need to get rid of their tinted glasses and see the world as the world sees them. They are a piece of the World Stage but the part they play on it - is mostly destructive to universal peace. If they want to be Big Brother .. be a Big Brother who understands and cares about the rest of his siblings. Act responsibly !!!

(Footnote: It would appear that the US may have entered a new era with this here fella called Obama. We, the world, certainly hope so. We are ever so grateful that the idiot was not allowed to have a 3rd term. And to think I was less than 10 feet away from him on two occassions ...true !!!)