Mr. Clark and Ohg Rea Tone

Last year Mr. Clark, the Editor of this magazine took away my writing privileges because he said I was too caustic.  I got it.  I am sarcastic – and I understand sarcasm can be toxic.  I was told that I rant and rave too much.  He likes my witticisms.  He thinks I am clever.  He […]

Duck Dynasty – When Rednecks Are No Longer Funny

You might be a redneck if you go to family reunions looking for girls.  Pretty funny stuff right there.  God forgive me.  Duck Dynasty is a reality show airing on A&E.  The premise is simple – some rednecks living in the swamplands of Louisiana became rich selling hand wrought Duck calls.  But, alas, they remain […]

Some “Pope” Resignation Headlines

Pope Benedict the something has resigned.  Some of our politicians might consider the example.  No Pope has resigned his office in the last 590 years.  Shocked, the news media went into action.  There were some pretty funny and clever headlines. Here are a few: “Holy see you later” “Vacancy at the Vatican” “Can Popes do […]

To Be, or Not To Be – Do We Have a Choice?

Hamlet asked, “To be or not to be?” That was his question. He was addressing some new information in his life which presented ethical questions – like “Do I shed more blood or do I let it go?” The question has presented itself many times in my life. Generally, I shed the blood. So I […]

Bearing the Sword of Justice

I am Aries, born under Mars. I swing a heavy sword, the heavy sword of justice. The sword strikes at ignorance, at injustice, at human frailty. A child is threatened. Captured by the rogue of the closed mind. The child, once destined for greatness, becomes the rogue. Small town America, a bastion of self righteous […]

Just for laughs

I do not know anything about this stream of videos.  Someone posted this on facebook and I happened to see it.  enjoy:  

Jef Foxworthy on Being a Missourian

(This was taken in its entirety from an email). Missouri according to Jeff Foxworthy: If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t even work there, you may live in Missouri. If you’ve worn shorts and a jacket at the same time, you may live in Missouri. … If you’ve had […]

Grand Canyon 2012 Winter Expedition

Does Astrology Deserve a Second Look?

Astrology – that demonic foolishness of psychics, the dreadful life of superstition, the means by which Nancy Reagan corrupted the White House.  How many ways can we dismiss Astrology as something not of sane purpose?  Have we been unfair?  I only know that I have.  I never gave Astrology a first look.  I dismissed the […]

Grand Canyon Rafting – National Park Service Orientation Video

Excitement abounds.  After a hard year in my life I will wrap up 2012 with a very dear old friend on a 25  day rafting/camping trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National Park.  The trip has a degree of danger so the Park Rangers require an orientation – first by video (included […]

Who Am I? Searching for the Modern Identity

I am liberal, angry, Aries, impatient, intolerant, loving, forceful, kind, intense, educated, brother, son, father, grandfather, friend, forgiving, humble, proud.  Which defines me?  Any?  All?  Am I modern?  Post-modern?  And who are you?  To whom do I answer?  What philosophy?  Religion? Country? Club?  We live in a complex world, a fast world requiring quick judgement […]

The Crusades of the Religious Fundamentalists

The 21st Century is shaping up much like that of a thousand years past.  A few Muslims poked us in the eye and all of our kinfolk came out of the woods to defend our honor – something like that.  We do not intend in any way to suggest the the horrid attacks on our […]

Looking For James Bond

The mystique of James Bond has come out of a three decades slump. All of the bad guys in the world have heard of 007 – but only the most evil of criminal minds have had the misfortune of making Bond’s acquaintance. So what is it about this mystique that continues to enthrall the movie […]

Boy Scouts – False Prophets – Eject Gay Eagle Scout

According to the St, Joseph, Missouri, News Press, “A 19 year old Boy Scout has lost his job at Camp Geiger after disclosing that he is gay”.  Words like ‘hypocrisy’ come to mind.  That boy was “trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent,” and what did that get him? […]

Penn State Child Sexual Abuse by Sandusky

The warnings are legion.  The past fifty years has surely taught us that child sexual abuse cannot be protected in the interest of an institution.  From the Boy Scouts to the Catholic Church the scandals swirled – griping and choking the institutional life.  With this horrendously embarrassing history of protecting pedophiles tucked away in an […]

“Never Brag On Your Children”

A relevant post revisited: December, 2009.  Parenting can sometimes feel like a complex endeavor – especially when the child is not cooperating.  When the child is failing to  meet expectations, to make the grade in school, to make the basketball team, to identify future aspirations – whatever – parents can become frustrated.  And that frustration […]

An Open Letter To Obama Haters

Once again my friend Herb Shane has posted something on facebook that is so well done that I am compelled to cut and paste it into a post on this site.  Thanks Herb.   Open letter to the Obama Haters: To your distress, for most of the rest of your life, you will bear this: […]

George Carlin on the GOP of 2012

He may not be a saint in the eyes of all – but George Carlin has a way of getting to the truth.  Carling strikes quickly.  He is accurate and very precise. So why do working people continue to vote to support corporate greed?

Poor Judgement in a Fast World

Dear Readers of thefiresidepost.com: I have to personally apologize to readers of thefiresidepost.com (FSP).  I am the Editor – and sometimes I need to be edited.  I have said before that I am more clever than I am smart – and I proved that point again this week.  The visual at the top right is […]

Trayvon Martin – Racism – and the Media Message

We live in difficult times.  The murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida has refocused our Nation’s conscience on racism.  After a month of media review it appears that the murderer, George Zimmerman, was an over zealous wannabee-police-officer neighborhood watchman.  Zimmerman  was looking for his chance to be a hero.  He saw a young black man […]

“…a false sense of urgency.”

We are worn out from GOP primary fatigue.  Is that redundant?  Doctor John Sharp, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist and  author of The Emotional Challenge, recently said, “…fatigue dis-emboldens us.”  The 21st Century has proven to be fast and furious.  War is present.  Facebook dominates.  Ipad, ipod, smart phones, wi if, financial upheaval – economic uncertainty, […]

Save Yourself – Then Pull Up the Ladder

It is not in the nature of man to escape danger and then abandon fellow humans who face the same danger. We see examples in every war of courageous self sacrifice to rescue fellow soldiers.  We often see firefighters or police officers risk their own safety to help others.  The idea works well at an […]

“…Universal Masculine Purity” – The Conservative Ideal

Are we ready to return to the morale of Victorian England?   It was the age of ‘class structure’.  It was the age of male domination.  It was the age of female submission.  It was the age of child labor in textile mills.  It was the age of long work days and poor health and nutrition.  […]

The Passion of Gun Lovers and Pit Bulls

Gun lovers can sure be passionate. We might have used the word fanatical – but that word has negative connotations. Is it possible to be passionate about guns and not be fanatical? Yes. Is it possible to be passionate about anything and not be fanatical? Yes. I wrote a post last week titled The Phenomenon of Modern Guns. That post instigated a healthy debate by gun lovers – and leads directly to this diatribe of values examination.

NASA – Visualization of Global Warming

Imagine Pat Robertson and NASA agreeing on anything.  The anti-scientist and the pure manifestation of science are on the same page.  Pat Robertson recently spoke on Global Warming on the 700 Club television spectacle, saying, They are defending the society. But I tell you stay in doors ladies and gentleman. Stay cool. Get fans or […]