Culture
Summer Camp For Grandchildren
Folks, readers of thefiresidepost.com, I am busy. Three of my grandchildren are coming every day for two weeks. I am relearning some things, and learning some things for the first time, about raising children. One thing is certain – I am busy and have little time to think grand thoughts and write witty posts – […]
8Jun2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
Please Don’t Profile My Pit Bull
Profiling is an act of discrimination. Discrimination is the act of stereotyping, of generalizing, of lumping all the coal in one bucket. There are laws in America against discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, ethnicity, physical ability, mental ability, height, weight, and color of eyes. Anywhere discrimination exists the Federal Government is there to […]
28May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Please Don’t Profile My Pit Bull | Continued
Confusing Borders, Boundaries, and the American Comfort Level
From Ohg Rea Tone: People sometimes drift into my personal space. I generally enjoy people so my personal space does not extend as far as the reach of my arm. When I shake hands I am likely to pull the other person close, look them in the eye, and measure their sincerity. The enigma of […]
26May2010 | bryan | 10 comments | Continued
Writing as a tool of personal development
My son and I began this magazine almost three years past. I have personally written over eleven hundred (1,100) posts. That is more than one a day. Why would anyone do such a goofy thing? I write because I am compelled to write. Every thought that crosses my mind must be written – and examined. […]
22May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Writing as a tool of personal development | Continued
Do Mother’s Day Cards Really Describe Your Mother?
How did you find the energy, Mom To do all the things you did, To be teacher, nurse and counselor To me, when I was a kid. Does that little diddy describe your mother? For years I wanted to honor my Mother on Mother’s Day (as defined by Hallmark Cards). I went shopping at all […]
9May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
What Would Peter Think of Wendy At Victoria’s Secret?
One of my favorite stories is the tale of Peter Pan. As an actor, I have always wanted to play Peter, but I grew too tall. I loved the way Peter was committed to remaining young, not following the establishment and becoming a man. His conviction of youth impacted his relationships with everyone, especially Wendy. […]
7May2010 | Dawn | 1 comment | Continued
Nashville 2010: The Day the Music Died
A long, long time ago… I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while. I don’t have cable. My family does not value the television enough to pay that […]
7May2010 | bryan | Comments Off on Nashville 2010: The Day the Music Died | Continued
Dancing With The Stars – 2010 Fall Season Recommendations
thefiresidepost.com is officially one site that can make recommendations on major entertainment and political personnel. Here is our recommendation for the 2010 Dancing with the Stars roster. Dancing With The Stars is an entertaining program. People from other professions – generally known at least in pop culture if not for professional achievement, are asked to […]
4May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 92 comments | Continued
Crystal Bowersox is a Redneck
Does that title sound insulting? It does if you buy into the Jeff Foxworthy definition of a Redneck. Crystal Bowersox is in the final five on American Idol. She has mesmerized the judges and home audiences for however long this season has been on. But Crystal is a Redneck. We at thefiresidepost.com come from a […]
4May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Crystal Bowersox is a Redneck | Continued
Uniform Design Contest For Huffington Post Police Badges
Arianna Huffington has established a secret police force to monitor and control reader comments. Additionally the Huffington Post will now monitor, for free, reader social networking sites. Three different levels of ‘badges’ of authority can be earned by following Huffinton’s guidelines. The Fireside Post is volunteering to assist with the design of Huffington Police Uniforms. […]
30Apr2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Uniform Design Contest For Huffington Post Police Badges | Continued
Good Children Vs Insurrectionists
My husband and I were discussing our children the other day and how they behave or not during church. Our 18-month-old prefers to wander the pews rather than sit quietly on my lap, and when the nursery is closed, it can be quite difficult to “make her behave.” First of all, let me comment on […]
26Apr2010 | Dawn | Comments Off on Good Children Vs Insurrectionists | Continued
Sense Of Inadequacy Follows Us All The Days Of Our Lives
Any self concept, any value, any perspective, learned in youth – through osmosis – follows us all the days of our lives. We often have a sense of right and wrong, which we sometimes call this our conscience, based on prejudiced childhood learning.
21Apr2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Sense Of Inadequacy Follows Us All The Days Of Our Lives | Continued
The Paddle: Using Fear and Force in Public Schools
In an article for the Associated Press yesterday, contributed to by the Washington Post and published on the website chron.com (a Houston area online resource) Temple, Texas is reported to have reinstated corporal punishment.
19Apr2010 | bryan | Comments Off on The Paddle: Using Fear and Force in Public Schools | Continued
Personal Experience With Tea Bag Mentality
This is a sad post for me to write. I live in northwest Missouri – in the isolated world of simple people relishing ignorance. The reverse discrimination against education and professionalism permeates the culture. My sadness surrounds my family – a people proud of being in the lower economic class. Most of them are adamant […]
12Apr2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 30 comments | Continued
Underemployed – What Does This Mean?
Underemployment has taken on several new meanings in this struggling economy. David Shuster of MSNBC asked one of his guests what the term means – the response: “It means that people are working part time in stead of full time. What? It seems as if the pundits just make stuff up to fill their 30 […]
2Apr2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Underemployed – What Does This Mean? | Continued
Reflecting On The Music Of My Mother
I was fumbling around on youtube this morning and found this Patsy Cline rendition of Tennessee Waltz. My mother introduced me to this song. She was not trying to – this was one of the songs she sang while wringing out the laundry in her wringer wash machine. Hearing Patsy Cline sing this old song […]
1Apr2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Reflecting On The Music Of My Mother | Continued
Scarface School Play – I don’t get it
What in the world is going on? If this play had been done in one of my grand children’s schools I would be up in arms – people would think I had joined the radical right, that I was a card carrying member of the Tea Party. Anyway, make of it what you will.
30Mar2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Mis-Use of MAP Testing
My Taxi service is employed every morning – I give two of my grandchildren a ride to school. This morning my third grade granddaughter told me she was wearing her lucky shoes because they were to take the MAP test today. She said, “I am scared to take this test.” I asked her why she […]
29Mar2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Mis-Use of MAP Testing | Continued
The Redemption of Tiger Woods
The redemption of Tiger Woods did not happen with blubbering confessions of sin, orchestrated by treatment programs based solely on anecdote. The redemption of Tiger Woods can only happen with consistent trustworthy behavior over time.
22Mar2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Redemption of Tiger Woods | Continued
Kansas Loses to North Iowa
In the upset of the decade number one ranked Kansas lost to Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. What happened? Northern Iowa won – that is what happened. They hit the shots when it counted. Their three point shooting was spectacular and knocked Kansas out of any rhythm. The stunning […]
20Mar2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Kansas Loses to North Iowa | Continued
American Idol Behind the Scenes
This link takes American Idol fans to a “Share Widget” One can copy this widget to your favorite web site. Enjoy
16Feb2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on American Idol Behind the Scenes | Continued
Everything American Idol – 2010
Hyperlink to a vast array of information about American Idol. We offer this service merely as a convenience to web surfers. Enjoy.
16Feb2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Everything American Idol – 2010 | Continued
Redneck Ingenuity – or Schizophrenic Engineering?
I know rednecks. I should. I am one generation removed from hillbillies. Around these parts people who are one generation removed must go through the redneck phase – and sometimes that phase lasts a couple of generations. I am known as a half-breed because I obtained a formal university education. Even my redneck friends will […]
5Feb2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Something is Terribly Wrong in Youth Football
He was ‘jacked up’, got his bell rung, he was clocked. He took it like a man. This is real man sport. Only a real man could take a hit like that. Have you ever heard any of those sort of comments regarding football? Have you ever used those terms yourself. I have. And I […]
2Feb2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Redneck, The Italian, and The German
A redneck an Italian and a German were captured by the French. All convicted – they were sentenced to death by the guillotine. The Italian was led to the platform and given one last opportunity say his last words. He said, “Long live Italy.” The French put his head on the block and let the […]
13Oct2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Dancing with the Stars Tribute to Patrick Swayze
This is a nice tribute to a great dance. Dancing With The Stars put this tribute together – it is well done. This aired on the evening program of September 23, 2009. Patrick may not have won an Oscar – but he certainly impacted the world of movies, music, and dance. Others have tried to […]
24Sep2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Letterman on Bush, McCain, Palin, and Clinton
David Letterman is taking over late night television. With this monologue, it is easy to see why. His writers are superb, and Letterman knows how to tell a joke. Is this merely a case of art reflecting reality – or are these just jokes?
28Aug2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Letterman on Bush, McCain, Palin, and Clinton | Continued
Marketing War to Children
At a Fourth of July carnival last weekend, I was pushing our double stroller and sweating to the tinny sound of bad music while my children begged their grandparents for tickets to ride the Ferris Wheel. I was looking around and considering the impact that these events have on my children, since I remember being naively fond of them when I was young. It was almost as though things came into focus all of a sudden when I realized that about half of the games and vendors and rides had guns.
9Jul2009 | bryan | Comments Off on Marketing War to Children | Continued
Michael Jackson, Legendary Hero or Villian
Michael Jackson is dead at age 50. Already the hype has taken over the airways. Even in death Jackson continues to shock the sensibilities of the entire populace, fans and foes. Farrah Faucett died today at age 62 – no offense intended but Farrah has been bumped off the news cycle. Michael Jackson was as […]
25Jun2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Polite Manners With Name Prefixes
How do you address others? How are we supposed to address others? The internet serves to mix cultures and polite manners. My internet friend in San Francisco calls me Mr. Tone. I call her Ann – thinking by so doing I would subtly give her permission to call me Ohg. She figured me out and […]
12Jun2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Baking Bread – An Experience
I began baking bread about fifteen years ago. I have experimented with white bread, egg bread, sweet bread, rolls, loafs, braided loafs, and combinations of these. I now use a single recipe of my own design – it is a sweet egg bread. Recently I tried using some wheat flour. I found that if I used about half white flour and half wheat flour I had the best chance of achieving the texture and flavor I like.
28May2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Baking Bread – An Experience | Continued
Memories – Streisand, Paige, and Boyle
‘Memories,’ one of those great songs that demands great artistry. Recognized artists like Barbara Streisand and Elaine Page do justice to this song – but how about Susan Boyle. Page is the artist Susan Boyle claimed as her goal in artistic performance. Which rendition do you prefer. For my money – no one beats Streisand […]
26May2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Memories – Streisand, Paige, and Boyle | Continued
Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan – an Unusual Duo
We have images of people. We have images of singers. We have images of music genre. Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan are two images that contrast in my mind. The curiosity of a County Star singing with an anti-war legend struck me as worthy of comment. After some reflection – the only approach that seemed […]
15May2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan – an Unusual Duo | Continued
Three Dog Night Youtube videos
When I was a young man – long, long, ago – when I was interested in pop culture – long, long, ago – before I realized man had been around for a long time – there was Three Dog Night. Today is a day for music reflection – and we shall begin with these favorites: […]
15May2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Three Dog Night Youtube videos | Continued
Finding a Voice With Music
Dad, I am one of those lovers of music that has no musical background. I wasn’t in band in high school; I never sang in a choir, I never even managed a successful stretch of lessons that allowed me to learn an instrument. I toyed with the idea of learning the violin, but I am […]
21Apr2009 | bryan | Comments Off on Finding a Voice With Music | Continued
Paper Roses – Marie Osmond, Loretta Lynn, Anita Bryant
Here is a wonderful song sung by three very popular singers. You can judge for yourself which is best. I have a favorite and am curious about reader’s (listener’s) choices:
20Apr2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Paper Roses – Marie Osmond, Loretta Lynn, Anita Bryant | Continued
Kevin Spacey Impersonations
Every now and then a real talent comes along. Kevin Spacey is one such talent. Check out this video where Spacey spontaneously impersonates Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Carson, Katherine Hepburn, Clint Eastwood and several others… [wp_youtube]O8JmN_-oudY[/wp_youtube] This guy has phenomenal powers of observation – and is able to translate his observations into superb acting. But Spacey […]
12Apr2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Kevin Spacey Impersonations | Continued
How to Handle a Heckler
In case you ever get the notion that you might launch your comedy career from the seats rather from the stage, I hope that this will be a reminder that the brave and the truly funny are always the people on stage. You are just the annoying person in the audience and, trust me, no one there is cheering for you.
31Mar2009 | bryan | Comments Off on How to Handle a Heckler | Continued
Hypochondria – The Disease Of The Elderly
I am in the class of people politely referred to as ‘Senior.’ When I was young I thought Senior meant really old, fragile, frail, sickly, helpless. Today I understand Senior as that stage of life before Elderly. Senior is a prelude to an honest understanding of illness and mortality. Senior is that time of life where we begin to examine the ailments we will experience as elderly. I used to be a hypochondriac, but now I think I have something much worse. – it is called aging.
30Mar2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hypochondria – The Disease Of The Elderly | Continued
Easter Ideas – Part I
Now is the time of year when you walk through your local mega store and find Valentines candy 50% off sitting next to an array of colorful baskets filled with toys and candy. Speculation leads me to believe that Easter today, like Christmas, is another way to get the children to behave for a month. Be […]
7Mar2009 | Cole James | 2 comments | Continued
Colbert and Conan – String Dancing
What can we say – these two are great comedians. Steven Colbert and Conan O’Brian often play off each other – they make fun of each other and politicians should take a clue of how to react. Conan invented the ‘string dance’ and Colbert imitated Conan. Here they are together:
18Feb2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Colbert and Conan – String Dancing | Continued
The Sentence – confusing a simple thought
The sentence is the most simple form of expressing a thought. The sentence must have a subject and a predicate – well, not exactly. The subject and predicate can be explicit, or simply understood. We are assuming of course that one wants to express a complete thought. But a sentence may also have an object, may have modifiers, may have connectives, and may have independent elements. So what is so hard about that? Please feel free to help with this understanding.
17Feb2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Bobby McFerrin
Check this out. The classical singer Bobby McFerrin with some classical interpretations. McFerrin is to music what Jim Carey is to comedy. No, wait, that discredits McFerrin – he is incomparable. Here is Ave Maria, all voice with no instrumental accompaniment – a fascinating expose by a true master. The theater is in the round. […]
8Feb2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bobby McFerrin | Continued
Beyonce – “At Last” – along with Etta James
Beyonce demonstrated her great talent, a beautiful voice, with her rendition of “At Last” at the Presidential Inaugural Ball for Barack and Michelle Obama. It seems Etta James, the original recording artist of this great song, felt slighted and took offense at the Beyonce interpretation. Here they are – you decide for yourself which rendition is most appropriate for the occasion.
6Feb2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly, a real American talent. True Love Ways: Live in 1958: The day the music died: And here is Don McClean singing American Pie:
3Feb2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Buddy Holly | Continued
Music of the Night – Videos
Andrew Lloyd Weber describes “The Music of the Night” as the most sexual song he has ever written. My take on the music is that it is the most sexual song I have ever heard. Here are three renditions, ordered from least to best – and they are all good. We begin with David Cook, then Josh Grobin, and conclude with Gerard Butler.
23Jan2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
America Derailed
Rights organizations have historically been a blessing to life as we know it today. While they did not necessarily reflect the ideology of every person in this great country, their purpose was for progression and prosperity of the nation as a whole. Women’s rights, abolishment of slavery, equal opportunity employment and to a good degree, affirmative action have all been for positive change to move our country forward. Now we are stuck in a gravy bowl of economic turmoil and some of these new found organizations are just adding flour.
17Jan2009 | Cole James | 2 comments | Continued
The Prophecy of Ohg Rea Tone – 2009
Prophecy is only valuable if it presents opportunity for change. Absolutes are for the cynical, for those who presume their destiny is predetermined. Free will suggests we have something to say about our life. In the tradition of ancient Bible Prophets we will offer some conditional prophecy for 2009: If we reward failure, failure will […]
16Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Surnames are Sacred Cows
In 1986 a friend of mine was named the new Abbot of a Benedictine Monastery. I was proud to just be a friend at the ceremonial induction. The trappings of a basilica, with sunlight filtered through ornate stained glass windows, candles burning with gentle flames, rows of black robed monks walking in cadence to the […]
12Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Surnames are Sacred Cows | Continued
The Future Is Not What It Used To Be
I studied electronics at The Electronics Institute in Kansas City. That was a long time ago. We studied vacuum tubes. Vacuum tube radios and television and radar systems. It was the dawn of the transistor – we talked about transistors in class, and experimented with diodes in building full-wave bridge power supplies. Resonant circuits were […]
12Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Future Is Not What It Used To Be | Continued