“News” “Poetry”

Speed is not accuracy.

If it bleeds; it leads…

stab at the story crazy

and watch the frenzy it feeds.

 

Why check a fact,

when you can cash a check?

Here’s a word from our sponsor,

we’ll be right back.

 

Lies dipped in rancid honey.

Served up by salivators.

Dripping corporate money.

Were those boots alligators?

 

Near news networks;

never near the news.

Quota filling wonks,

who hire only jerks.

 

Corporate greed, government fraud

disguised in dimwits,

while idiots applaud.

 

It the American Dream!

(Only achieved during sleep.)

Now here’s a money making scheme!

(You lazy sheep.)

 

Protected by none

and projected by many.

Fear for your gun,

while you earn your penny.

 

“We The People”

need to wake up.

Nobody’s threatening your steeple,

So shut the Hell up.

 

To form your opinions

simply gather your thoughts.

Avoid the news minions,

and use the brain you’ve got.

 

There is no conclusion,

it’s an ongoing battle.

If you suffer from confusion,

at least you aren’t cattle.

Ken Thibado is not a poet, and you can tell him so at HalfStache@me.com

Mark Twain once expounded; “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.”

Last week, Kenneth Cole demonstrated Twain’s point.  The designer of everything from shoes to jewelry (Interestingly, I dabble in jewelry design myself.) decided to attempt a witty tweet for the purposes of self promotion, and failed.

“Millions are in an uproar in Cairo.  Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online…”, twet the twit on Tweeter, I mean Twitter.

By the apologies that have been issued from Kenneth Cole one can ascertain that the fog of self-importance that clouded the famous designer’s mind has cleared.  Visible now is the line Cole crossed by comparing a violent uprising of an oppressed people to a personal delusion of importance.  (I should also note that I too have an online presence: www.KenThibado.com.)

At risk in Egypt are more than just lives and democracy.  Historical antiquities by which Egypt readily identifies itself are also in a state of jeopardy.  (Speaking of antiquities; each of my silver heart pendants are made with antique bronze key guards, hand cut to be oriented precisely within each symbolic frame.  Sometimes identifiable is the keyhole itself, however, to promote a sense of mystery, I tend position this as an off-center negative space.)

The beauty of these moments should not be ignored.  Due to the obvious insensitivity on behalf of the designer, a scolding is warranted, and I believe has been justly carried out against Cole.  Now, we the public (and fellow designers) can giggle guilt free at his spectacular Palin-like gaff. Kenneth Cole’s misstep will fade from our memories, as we continue to eye the situation in Egypt with hopeful anticipation.  Even the events in Egypt will slip from our minds as we shovel our way through another mid-February.  (Don’t forget that the fourteenth of this month is Valentine’s Day; and what says “I love you” more than a hand-forged silver heart?)

Keeping tabs with world events not only informs you, it can keep you grounded.  Kenneth Cole learned a lesson he could learn in no other way about the limits of self promotion.  Trying to be clever is not always an intelligible business move.  (This reminds me, my line of silver and antique bronze hearts is named Intelligibly Flirtatious.  They are currently available at 3040 Gallery in the heart of Old Forge.)

Ken Thibado’s hypocrisy knows no bounds, and you can tell him so at HalfStache@me.com.

Sarah Palin didn’t murder anyone.  And Saint Sarah never broke a single law, or even had a single moment where she wished to bend the law so she could eliminate a human being.  She’s not an accomplice.  …and, as we all know, she’s no mastermind.

I don’t believe, even as she doodled targets on her enemies like a high-schooler, that she wished harm on them.  The only ill-will Saint Sarah lobs in the direction of anyone is stress.

Sarah doesn’t like Democrats (a wide ranging group who’s goodwill, guilt, and constant harping make them mildly annoying and lackluster at best, and at worst; Pinko-windbags).  If a Democrat runs for office; Sarah will be there to defeat them!  (So far she has a losing record, but I’m on a roll here…)  If a Democrat holds an office; Sarah will slow their progress!  If a Democrat takes a misstep; Sarah will misspeak!  Because above all Sarah wants you to know she doesn’t like Democrats, and neither should you!

Sarah’s bile laced cheese-maze diatribes are what she’s best known for.  Some might remember a time when she was a governor, but she Spitzered that gig long ago.  The failed VP candidate, turned failed governor, turned Fox News Analyst, turned reality TV show star is a fame machine.  Even though the realm of her own expertise is often a mystery to her, Sarah Palin is a famous voice within politics.  Even now.

A lunatic took life away from the living in Arizona.  His intended prey was a political figure.  A government figure.  A Democrat.  The fallout around his target wasn’t on his mind, and his sights fell randomly across their paths.

The rotting and deformed brain of Jared Lee Loughner is to blame.  His synapses fire electric pulses of evil.  His own lack of morality gave root to his disastrous existence.  He was driven by his own arrogance to disregard what is sacred.  He pulled the trigger.  He is a murderer.  He is a vile pig, barely human.

The American Ideology is Freedom.  As a result, We The People, hope for fruitful Pursuits of Happiness unencumbered by forces that would otherwise crush our individuality.  We are free to excel, or to stumble.  Our path is our own.  And that’s it.

We are answerable for our actions.  Freedom does not mean “free from responsibility”.  We are responsible not as a people.  As a people we are free, but individually we are responsible.  Unfortunately, responsibility cannot be deemed, it is a learned trait.

The rhetoric of our country is being held captive by irresponsible people.

Was it responsible to encourage the Kenyan-Birth Certificate Theory?  Is it responsible to continue supporting it?  Was “palling around with terrorists” a responsible statement?  Is “Drill Baby, Drill” a responsible slogan?  Can “Repeal The Job-Killing Health Care Act” actually be a responsible title for legislation?  Is wasting time on a meaningless piece of legislation responsible?  Is not granting 9/11 emergency responders much needed health services responsible?  Is drawing targets on people responsible?  Is claiming President Obama a Nazi responsible?  Is constantly misreporting the news an act of being responsible?  Are our gun control laws responsible?

Our Freedoms are under attack; by ignorance; by defiance; and by the continuing erosion of responsibility.

To speak of it in lofty terms is to be vague about how ugly these traits are.  So let me draw you a perfect picture of defiant and ignorant irresponsibility: Jared Lee Loughner.