Archive for Ohg Rea Tone
Ohg Rea Tone is all or nothing. He is educated and opinionated, more clever than smart, sarcastic and forthright. He writes intuitively - often disregarding rules of composition. Comment on his posts - he will likely respond with characteristic humor or genuine empathy. He is the real-deal.
Obama and the Christian Right
The conservative media and christian right refers to “The Liberal Blogosphere” and the “Liberal Media” and the “Liberal Internet.” We looked around the internet and found these clips attacking Obama. According to these folks Obama is anti-christian, the anti-Christ, a Muslim, and anything else they can think of. This writer believes the Bible is not […]
7Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Ethics in Journalism – Blogging
Blogging is writing on the edge of the cliff. Blogging is a perilous business. Blogger can write anything they want – but if bloggers want to attract regular readers and build a following – they should follow some code of ethics. Even aside from any commercial or egotistical success – as members of the civilized […]
6Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Ethics in Journalism – Blogging | Continued
Ethics In Journalism – Be Accountable
Blogging is unique in the world of Journalism. Blogging is working on the edge of the cliff. The Fireside Post began as a blog and evolved into an internet magazine. We have kept some qualities of the ‘blogs’ that we deemed worthy. Most notably in the area of accountability. We are accountable to our readers. […]
6Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Ethics In Journalism – Be Accountable | Continued
Ethics in Journalism – Act Independently
Is Opinion different than reporting news – certainly. The Fireside Post is all about opinion – and we clarify our bias in “Who Are These Guys.” In terms of ‘acting independently’ we are the champions. We have no affiliations other than the United Methodist Church – and only one of us participates there. What might […]
6Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Ethics in Journalism – Act Independently | Continued
Wicked – A Garden of Good and Evil
You can’t beat a good story in the hands of a skilled craftsman. Gregory MaGuire has crafted a Fabula story in “Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” The story has the freshness of spring flowers in a perennial emerald green garden. But this story is not for the faint […]
6Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Born in the USA – Is Springsteen anti-war? (video)
We present here the lyrics and a video of Bruce Springsteen performing ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ Here is the question – is this anti-war, anti-American, anti-insanity? This writer believes Springsteen is following the tradition of historically great artists. His art reflects the conditions of society at a given time. Art lives in history as a […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Born in the USA – Is Springsteen anti-war? (video) | Continued
Voting on Faith, or Faith in Voting
This is a tough one. We allow freedom of religion, of spirituality, freedom to worship as one chooses. But what about when it is time to vote. We want a person in office who is reasonable, intelligent, some education about government or economics or business or work or something is useful. We look to past […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Voting on Faith, or Faith in Voting | Continued
Old people exercising
A couple of months ago this writer decided that we needed to get our body into shape, one more time. We were once an active member of the local YMCA for about thirty years. A few years ago we stopped exercising and began to really enjoy evening ice cream and a movie. We are paying […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
I Am A Pregant Teen
It was difficult for me to sleep last night. I was checking the statistics on our magazine yesterday. The statistics page gives us two views of where our readers came from. ‘Referrers’ lists the other sites that reference our site. ‘Search Engine Terms’ is a list of the key words individuals used to search the […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on I Am A Pregant Teen | Continued
Rovians From The Planet Bushanus
They are finally being arrested, secured, immobilized. They come from the planet Bushanus and are called Rovians. Rovians live in the bowels of humanity, infecting civilized people with flu like symptoms. We wander through the news cycle, feeling nauseated, faint-hearted, and dismayed. Some suffer lethal effects, others are carriers. They came to this planet about […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rovians From The Planet Bushanus | Continued
The Tragedy of Sarah Palin
The McCain Campaign is absolutely ruthless. These folks will use and abuse anyone necessary for a win at the polls. Caught up in this disaster of morality is Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska. Palin has to own some of the choices she makes – but the allure of power has distorted her powers of […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 12 comments | Continued
Ethics In Journalism – Minimize Harm
Journalism on the internet has corrupted the world of reporting. The Fireside Post is an opinion magazine, with our bias clearly stated in “Who Are These Guys.” Even admitting we are about opinion does not excuse us from having some ethical boundaries. This is the second post in a series examining journalistic ethics. We will […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Ethics In Journalism – Minimize Harm | Continued
Ethics in Journalism – Seek Truth
The internet has thrown the world of journalism off balance. The reality today is that anyone can be their own publisher and editor. The Society of Professional Journalists have a code of ethics. These ethics are the definition of right and wrong in reporting news. The Fireside Post is doing a series on ethics in […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Ethics in Journalism – Seek Truth | Continued
Tina Fey In The Debate
Saturday Night Live has hit a gold mine with Governor Sarah Palin. Tina Fey has mastered the impersonation. This particular piece of October 4, 2008, captures the comedy of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin in their one and only vice presidential debate. …… Check out Brian Williams with David Letterman HERE.
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
MLK, I Have A Dream” video
In 1964 Martin Luther King Jr. gave the speech of his life time. Some contemporary politicians seem to believe that words do not matter – that giving an inspirational speech is not important. Listen to Martin Luther King and see if you agree. [wp_youtube]PbUtL_0vAJk[/wp_youtube]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on MLK, I Have A Dream” video | Continued
Wind and Wild, energy and nature
The Global Warming phenomenon is powerful. People across this great country are taking action. They are not waiting for an Act of Congress to be responsible. I drove the rural countryside on Saturday, traveling deep into the Missouri hills. Along the way I saw a sight right out of a Holland Science Fiction movie. There […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Letterman with Brian Williams
This is just a fascinating segment on David Letterman. Letterman, as most know, has been after McCain for a week – McCain bailed out on a Letterman segment. But to have Brian Williams on this talk/comedy show brings up issues that would really be funny if they were not so serious. Brian Williams notes with […]
4Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Stubborn McCain Champions War
John McCain owns the Republican Party – at least for the next two months. He owns the Republican National Convention. He owns the message being presented by every speaker and every video. The stubbornness of John McCain is evident in the message presented. McCain’s life bookends are all about War. His adult life is framed […]
4Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Americans want a Revolution – 2008
We are ready. We are ready for change. We are ready for a Revolution. The American people have already demonstrated a powerful desire for revolution. Witness the Party Primaries of 2007 and 2008. Democrats have registered to vote in historic numbers. Barack Obama – a relative unknown – won because he represented the best chance […]
4Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 7 comments | Continued
Palin – Cheerleader Who Wants to be Quarterback
Joe Biden said “Drill, Drill, Drill.” Governor Palin was excited because she had found the “gotcha moment.” Palin was so enamored with her revelation that she almost could not get it out quick enough. Palin, leaning forward and looking smugly at Biden said, “The chant is Drill Baby Drill” Then she was just pleased with […]
3Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Palin – Cheerleader Who Wants to be Quarterback | Continued
Respecting Joe Six-Pack
Governor Sarah Palin has resurrected an old term – Joe Six Pack. Her notion is that she represents that demographic – folksy, hard working, beer drinking, regular American people. Her position is not so much that she can represent Joe – it is more that she is Joe. This is troubling. The Founding Fathers wrote […]
3Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
Nuclear Energy – a Video Debate
No one really knows. Or if they do they don’t agree with others equally confident of their knowledge. There are some things we can know – for instance, people are generally afraid of anything they do not understand. We step on harmless spiders and kill friendly snakes because we do not understand. Many of us […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Nuclear Energy – a Video Debate | Continued
Biden, Palin Debate, 10-2-2008
Tonight is the night. This is the most talked about debate in recent memory (we have Alzheimers, or some cousin of that dementia) – so it should be interesting. Everyone is looking for theater – It is almost as if no one expects substance – we are looking for the big gaff. The nice thing […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Baking Bread – Recipe and Discussion
This writer began baking bread about fifteen years ago. We have experimented with white bread, egg bread, sweet bread, rolls, loafs, braided loafs, and combinations of these. We now use a single recipe of my own design – it is a sweet egg bread. Recently we tried using some wheat flour. We found that if […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Vice Presidents – how do we measure
There is a big hoopla about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Why don’t we measure Governor Palin against past Vice Presidents? Let’s take a look at the last seven. Dick Cheney Al Gore Dan Quayle George H. W. Bush Walter Mondale Gerald Ford Nelson Rockefeller Rank these people in terms […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Conservatives of 2008 – Raping and Pillaging
Something is way out of whack in the logic of the Conservatives of 2008. The logic is guilt or honor by association. The logic goes something like this: “I believe in Jesus and I believe we should drill for more oil in our backyard.” Thus given that Jesus is a solid belief it follows that […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 8 comments | Continued
Rednecks For Palin, Wasilla, AA
“How come we don’t got two names like my cousins in Punkin Center, Missouri?” Jed was pondering out loud. “Cause down in Missouri they all gots the same first name, they gots to have two names so’s they can tell each other apart,” responded Jeb. “Well how come my cousins down in Punkin Center is […]
1Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Obama Explains Economy in Speech
Barack Obama has come through with a practical explanation of the economic problems and the fear Americans are experiencing. Obama has remained cool and Presidential while McCain continues to harangue anyone who questions his judgement. This is an excellent example of the difference in leadership styles. McCain is erratic and risk taking, bounding from one […]
1Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Explains Economy in Speech | Continued
McCain Palin, Visibility Without Exposure
What a sad predicament our free press finds itself in – it has to deal with John McCain. McCain refuses to take reporters questions and shields his running mate from scrutiny. Sarah Palin has met with foreign leaders in New York – but McCain’s camp did not allow reporters to participate, other than with video […]
1Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on McCain Palin, Visibility Without Exposure | Continued
Kansas City Italian Meatballs
This writer has a friend in the Kansas City Mafia. We have been invited to Thanksgiving Dinner. They are having an ‘Italian Thanksgiving.’ All of the food will be traditional Italian – she won’t give away the family secrets, but she did talk some about their food. She told us to be careful because she […]
30Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Kansas City Italian Meatballs | Continued
The Perfect Economic Storm, With No Captain – video
The Perfect Storm. That moment when unique weather patterns come together to create the absolute most havoc. Bush and McCain and their Republican cronies have created that moment in our economy. The storm began with letting up on banking regulations. Then they deregulated investment banks. The idea was that home prices would continue to climb […]
30Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
McCain, a Compulsive Gambler (Song Video)
John McCain is going to Las Vegas, would you give him $100 to gamble on your behalf? There is gambling, and then there is compulsive gambling – very different modes of entertainment. John McCain is a compulsive gambler, the champion of the religious right. Compulsive gambling is destroying America. Down the road in St. Joe […]
30Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on McCain, a Compulsive Gambler (Song Video) | Continued
The Titanic USA is Sinking, Passengers Are in Life Boats
Two years ago Barack Obama, a freshman Senator from Illinois launched his bid for the Presidency of the United States. He campaigned on a message of change. Two years ago John McCain launched his bid for the Presidency of the United States. He campaigned on a message of experience. Today, each candidate talks change and […]
30Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Conspiracy theroies – from simple to complex
Holy Cow! Our system of education must surely be failing. I suppose that mentally ill people with sound knowledge could make irrational judgments. But all Conspiracy Theorists are not mentally ill. So what is this phenomenon of conspiracy that seams to permeate our modern society? Crazy Sprinkler Lady: [wp_youtube]_c6HsiixFS8[/wp_youtube] Irony abounds in the following video […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Redneck Bait Shop and Bank Loans
Bobby John scratched his beard, pondering. Then he said, “Billy Bob, you sure being quite.” Billy Bob sat behind the counter of the Bait Shop, his usual post when the boys showed up for some palaver. The stool squeaked as Billy Bob leaned on the counter, “We aint been doing so good here at the […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Redneck Bait Shop and Bank Loans | Continued
Coming to yourself – escaping parental domination
We commented in an earlier post that ‘original sin’ equates with escaping the dysfunction of your family of origin. That includes escaping the domination of parents. Parent are powerful – the most powerful two people a child will ever experience. That is the fundamental triangle of life, Father, Mother, Child. The lens through which we […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Coming to yourself – escaping parental domination | Continued
America Should be Led By Grown-Ups
For this writer the words “United States of America” bring a sense of well being. We are proud to be an American. But why, we ask ourselves? Because America means everything that is good about humanity. America means pride, honor, integrity, ingenuity, exploration, curiosity, kindness, dignity, understanding, openness, comfort, fairness, leadership, bravery, courage, humility, beautiful, […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Pelosi Blew This Deal
This is a big deal! America’s financial stability rests on the ability of Congress to put a bi-partisan package together. This package needed to cover necessary principles of protection for taxpayers. These principles were not partisan – they could have reached an agreement But House Speaker Pelosi had to get in front of the cameras […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Hypocrisy is a Bridge to Nowhere
Local hypocrites beg Feds for money. That might have been a better headline in a local newspaper. The actual headline is, “Local Officials rallying for funds.” This small Missouri community is very conservative – the joke around town is that we have too many churches and not enough strip joints (127 Churches, one strip joint). […]
29Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hypocrisy is a Bridge to Nowhere | Continued
Scalloped Potatoes
Preparation 30 minutes. Cooking time 1 hour 45 minutes. Oven 350 F. 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, chopped (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder) 1 cup grated cheese (Parmesan, Romano, or your choice) 1 stick butter or margarine 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried […]
28Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Scalloped Potatoes | Continued
Was McCain Right About Iraq?
John McCain has been wrong on social justice, on business regulations, and on tax breaks for Big Oil. But probably the most egregious error has been on foreign policy, on military action, and most specifically on Iraq. It could be more tolerable if McCain had not taken his eye off the prize – the capture […]
27Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Who Won The Debate, 9-26-2008
This writer watched closely. We felt that each candidate accomplished what they needed for this particular evening. Obama showed he could stand on the stage of foreign policy with McCain. After a tumultuous week of zig zagging McCain needed to show himself in command of his faculties. Here are some reviews done by other media […]
27Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
McCain’s Problematic Use of ‘Naive’
John McCain likes to refer to Barack Obama as being naive, always in the context of foreign policy. McCain says Obama is naive about Iraq, about Russia, about terrorists. But McCain should be careful with this word. John McCain has championed deregulation for rich bankers and Big Oil – with the belief that these folks […]
27Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on McCain’s Problematic Use of ‘Naive’ | Continued
Obama, McCain Debate, Video and summary 9-26-2008
Tonight is an important event in the 2008 Presidential election. The debate on national security between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain will help voters understand their choices. These are very different men. They have very different ideas about National Security. Both are patriotic – both are ambitious. The Fireside Post will be posting […]
26Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama, McCain Debate, Video and summary 9-26-2008 | Continued
Redneck War Debate
We called the television station down the road in St. Joe to ask about the debate. We wanted to know what they was gonna ask those fellas, McCain and Obama. They tode us that they is not asking any questions. Someone in one of the big cities gets to ask the questions. Well, we had […]
26Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Redneck War Debate | Continued
America has lost Economic Authority
The past century saw American dominance in the world foreign policy and Economic Markets. Pearl Harbor awakened a ‘sleeping giant.’ The rise of Communism in the Far East and the spread of Socialism in Europe and other geographic areas saw an advancing economic influence of free market capitalism. In the span of eight short years […]
25Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on America has lost Economic Authority | Continued
Obama on The Economy
He is right on – it is time to get our economy back on track. This is really not rocket science – without speed limits people speed recklessly through our neighborhoods. Without Law (regulations) people will do just about anything. If this is about faith the try this “Trust God, but lock your car.” Did […]
25Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Bush Sends FEMA to Wall Street
thousand mobile homes are being resurrected from the old cotton fields down home. Bush has ordered the National Guard to fill 85,000,000 sand bags. Proclaiming on National Television Bush declares, “Everybody do something, it it doesn’t work we can surge later.”
25Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bush Sends FEMA to Wall Street | Continued
United Way – agency corruption
This writer is a big supporter of the concept of United Way – with skepticism for the actual practice. The concept is simple – there are many social service agencies in all communities that compete for the limited local dollars available. The idea of the United Way was to eliminate all of the individual fund […]
25Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 14 comments | Continued
Obama Responds to McCain Campaign Suspension
(Editor Note: The picture with this post looks like Obama is waving goodbye. That is a coincidence). 3:40 PM CST: The opening comment, “There is much blame to go around but we are now here. We have to act quickly but we have to get it right… I reached out to Senator McCain because many […]
24Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued