This is one of my FAVORITE songs on Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
So my dad and I had an interesting conversation late last night about "people today" and their seemingly non-existent concern about what is going on in the world around them, particularly in this country (USA). I honestly think it's a regional thing, because some areas of the country are maybe more judgmental towards people and their beliefs.
::A little background on my dad, he was a hippy back when people gave a damn. He participated in several marches on Washington, many protests in NYC, and even here in California. The only time my father has ever been arrested is when he was participating in said protests. He experienced police brutality in rare form while at the front lines of some of those protests. My dad is a Buddhist and the most sane-minded person I have ever known personally.::
I was raised to appreciate everyone's opinion, whether I agree with it or not. Because here in America, we have the right to speak our minds freely and as human beings, we don't all believe the same thing. But whether or not we agree, we still have that right. I rejoice other opinions, to be honest! I am very fascinated with human beings and the idea that we all come from the same place and yet we all are so different. It's beautiful and I genuinely appreciate that about our human race. For example, I do not believe in organized religion, but I am fascinated by all the different religions and respect those who peacefully honor their religion. It's interesting to me so I accept it.
Anyhow, what I'm getting at is that I am surprised by the fact that not a lot of people are talking about the Occupy Wall Street movement that is going on. I mean, yes, many other movements are starting all over the country (i.e. LA, Boston, etc) but I'm not seeing a lot of people uninvolved with the movement even commenting on it. It's bizarre to me simply because this could very well be the movement of our generation and no one seems to be paying attention. I am not in any way shape or form suggesting that I only want people to agree with it, I just wish there was more discussion about it.
"We (hippies) have been fighting corporate greed for decades. This is nothing new. We spent weeks planning our protests and making our signs and marched in all the same places people do now. Unfortunately, it seems that now, in a world where the word can get out as fast as you can post a Tweet, people seem to lose interest in even less time."
-My dad
It was brought to my attention that people are significantly more judgmental these days and perhaps those with opposing opinions are just worried about the way others will perceive them. I completely understand that. I, obviously am not that way. I've talked countless times about how I have no filter and I just say whatever the fuck I want and I rarely concern myself with how people judge me based on what comes out of my mouth. That is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a huge problem. It's gotten me into lots of trouble in the past, to be honest. So, I'm not saying at all that I am "better" than anyone just because I speak my mind. LOL But it does make me sad that people are so judgmental and that it is a legit concern to have today because people will flip on you at the drop of a goddamn hat, these days! No exaggeration.
I guess I just wish that in a country where our ancestors fought for our right as Americans to have our own opinions and express them -hell even celebrate them- that people could feel that freedom. It's healthy for us all to have different opinions and no one should ever feel "afraid" or just uneasy about sharing their thoughts, however popular (or unpopular) they may be. I personally am not one of those people that cuts someone out of my life just because they're Republicans or Christians or pro-life. But it's because I accept that we all are allowed to follow our hearts and believe what we want. I just wish more people could be that way so people could feel the freedom we have to harbor those opinions.
Ahhhh... in a perfect world, right? 
And that's all I have to say about that at the moment.
If you read all that, you deserve a reward. You will find said reward under this spoiler:
Although, I suppose you -could- have just scrolled down and not read what I wrote and just opened that spoiler. That is a very real possibility. Hahaha! Whatevers. I just felt like getting out what was sitting on my brain.
On an entirely different note, the clouds have been glorious!!!!! I had to run outside in the cold in my socks and yoga pants to prove it. Hehehe 
the dogs agree
Also, last night after work, I saw this atrocity
just.... no. 
Well, I luckily picked up a few extra hours at work today because I rocked so hard last night. Woo hoo! Go me! 
So, I've gotta get ready to work my ass off now! 
I hope everyone has a lovely Thursday! Keep those chins up, it's almost Friday! 
later gatersauruses!
HI TREKKA!!!
"*I GUESS I JUST WISH THAT IN A COUNTRY WHERE OUR ANCESTORS FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT AS AMERICANS TO HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS AND EXPRESS THEM; HELL EVEN CELEBRATE THEM - THAT PEOPLE COULD FEEL THAT FREEDOM. IT'S HEALTHY FOR US TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER FEEL 'AFRAID' OR JUST UNEASY ABOUT SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS, HOWEVER POPULAR (OR UNPOPULAR), THEY MAY BE. I PERSONALLY AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT CUTS SOMEONE OUT OF MY LIFE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE REPUBLICANS OR CHRISTIANS OR PRO-LIFE. BUT IT'S BECAUSE I ACCEPT THAT WE ALL ARE ALLOWED TO FOLLOW OUR HEARTS AND BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT. I JUST WISH MORE PEOPLE COULD BE THAT WAY SO PEOPLE COULD FEEL THE FREEDOM WE HAVE TO HARBOR THOSE OPINIONS.!*" "*AHHHH...IN A PERFECT WORLD RIGHT?!*"
"*SO MY DAD AND I HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION LATE LAST NIGHT ABOUT 'PEOPLE TODAY' AND THEIR SEEMINGLY NON-EXISTENT CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM, PARTICULARLY IN THIS COUNTRY (USA). I HONESTLY THINK IT'S A REGIONAL THING, BECAUSE SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ARE MAYBE MORE JUDGMENTAL TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THEIR BELIEFS.!*"....."*I WAS RAISED TO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S OPINION, WHETHER I AGREE WITH IT OR NOT. BECAUSE HERE IN AMERICA, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUR MINDS FREELY AND AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE DON'T ALL BELIEVE THE SAME THING. BUT WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE, WE STILL HAVE THAT RIGHT. I REJOICE OTHER OPINIONS, TO BE HONEST! I AM VERY FASCINATED WITH HUMAN BEINGS AND THE IDEA THAT WE ALL COME FROM THE SAME PLACE AND YET WE ALL ARE SO DIFFERENT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT OUR HUMAN RACE.!*"
"*ANYHOW, WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT I AM SURPRISED BY THE FACT THAT NOT A LOT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 'OCCUPY WALL STREET' MOVEMENT THAT IS GOING ON......BUT I'M NOT SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVEMENT EVEN COMMENTING ON IT. IT'S BIZARRE TO ME SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS COULD VERY WELL BE THE MOVEMENT OF OUR GENERATION AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE PAYING ATTENTION.. I AM NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM SUGGESTING THAT I ONLY WANT PEOPLE TO AGREE WITH IT, I JUST WISH THERE WAS MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.!*" TREKKA!!!
TREKKA, I TOO AM VERY SURPRISED THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT THE 'OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT' HAS RAISED!!! BUT THESE CONCERNS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED, NO LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO!!! WE ALL HAVE TO BE STUDENTS OF HISTORY TO KNOW THE TRUE FACTS!!!
THE ANNUAL CHANGE IN DEBT IS NOT EQUAL TO THE "TOTAL DEFICIT" TYPICALLY REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAXES AND BENEFIT PAYMENTS, ALONG WITH THE NET BALANCE OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, ARE CONSIDERED "OFF-BUDGET," WHILE MOST OTHER EXPENDITURE AND RECEIPT CATEGORIES ARE CONSIDERED "ON-BUDGET!" IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE OF SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUSES, THE TOTAL DEFICIT IS SMALLER THAN THE ON-BUDGET DEFICIT. THE SURPLUS OF SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAXES OVER BENEFIT PAYMENTS IS SPENT BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR OTHER PURPOSES. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT CREDITS THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND FOR THE SURPLUS AMOUNT, ADDING TO THE "INTRAGOVERNMENTAL DEBT!" THE TOTAL FEDERAL DEBT IS DIVIDED INTO "INTRAGOVERNMENTAL DEBT" AND "DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC." IN OTHER WORDS, SPENDING THE OFF BUDGET SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS AND THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE SURPLUS ADDS TO THE TOTAL NATIONAL DEBT, WHILE THE SURPLUS REDUCES THE TOTAL DEFICIT REPORTED IN THE MEDIA!
CERTAIN SPENDING CALLED 'SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS' IS OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS ENTIRELY, BUT ADDS TO THE NATIONAL DEBT. FUNDING FOR THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS , CERTAIN STIMULUS MEASURES AND EARMARKS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR THIS WAY PRIOR TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION!!!
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STATES: "*THE DEBT LIMIT DOES NOT CONTROL OR LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RUN DEFICITS OR INCUR OBLIGATIONS!!! RATHER, IT IS A LIMIT ON THE ABILITY TO PAY OBLIGATIONS ALREADY INCURRED!!!
UNDER ARTICLE 1 SECTION 8 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, CONGRESS HAS THE SOLE POWER TO BORROW MONEY ON THE CREDIT OF THE UNITED STATES!!! THE PROCESS OF SETTING THE DEBT CEILING IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE REGULAR PROCESS OF FINANCING GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND RAISING THE DEBT CEILING DOES NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT IMPACT ON THE BUDGET DEFICIT!!! THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROPOSES A FEDERAL BUDGET EVERY YEAR, WHICH MUST BE APPOVED BY CONGRESS!!! THIS BUDGET DETAILS PROJECTED TAX COLLECTIONS AND OUTLAYS AND, IF THERE IS A BUDGET DEFICIT, THE AMOUNT OF BORROWING THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO DO IN THAT FISCAL YEAR!!! A VOTE TO INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING IS USUALLY TREATED AS A FORMALITY, NEEDED TO CONTINUE SPENDING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED PREVIOUSLY BY THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT!!!
"*WE (HIPPIES), HAVE BEEN FIGHTING CORPORATE GREED FOR DECADES. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. WE SPENT WEEKS PLANNING OUR PROTESTS AND MAKING OUR SIGNS AND MARCHED IN THE SAME PLACES PEOPLE DO NOW. UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS THAT NOW, IN A WORLD WHERE THE WOED CAN GET OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN POST A TWEET, PEOPLE SEEM TO LOSE INTEREST IN EVEN LESS TIME.*" TREKKA'S DAD!!!
TREKKAS, THANK YOU!!!!
NAMASTE!!!!!