THE COUNTDOWN..................

So this is my 473d blog entry which means that in 27 more entries I reach that magical mark, the number 500. I have yet to reach what I want in terms audience numbers and feedback, but that's what I love about the fact that I have this blog, I can take my time and keep plugging away. This was and will always remain  my preferred manner of expression. I want to keep writing because I love the idea of expressing myself without any filters, yes this is the countdown so I'll pretty much write about whatever tickles my fancy over the next few weeks. Enjoy and remember to SAY NO TO EBOLA AND PROP 43.5 J!

THE PERSONIFICATION OF A DOUCHEBAG

D-O-U-C-H-E-B-A-G - Engaging in the act of douchery, assuming the attitude of a bag of douche, bagging the douche and getting a disgusting douche like smell that freaks out most everyone.

This fella in the picture is a tattoo "artist" and I use the term artist very loosely. The reason why I feel he is the personification of a douchebag is because he has a holier than thou attitude. I'm writing this entry in order to cleanse my soul of all the venom that lies within. Personally I'd like for this fucker to take a needle, shove it up his ass and tattoo himself right there. Why expose him? because I can! So never go get a tattoo from the punk bitch at Atomic Tattoo in Sao Paulo, or if you see him in Amsterdam or Portugal.

SOME BAFFLING THINGS IN THIS WORLD

Sometimes I think I'm either to much of an idealist or just not meant for this world. When I think of everything that's happening now I wonder how much longer before civilization as a word and concept loses its meaning. Parents kill kids, pedophiles are on the lose, it seems like the things we craved such as equality and so on are simply reflections of wishes long unfulfilled. It's funny because for every horrid happening there's a cause that doesn't fit and twenty or so hypocrites looking to make a "change."

My writing about it may not necessarily do anything to change the reality we live in but at least it speaks to the fact the we can't fool ourselves, nor can we fool each other.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

When I first read some of Ernest Hemingway's work I was just a freshman in high school. I was taken by his life story more than his work. I thought that Hemingway was a cool guy, well traveled, and interested in life's grand pursuits. I began to read Hemingway's work more thoroughly and was taken by the very real quality of his characters, larger than life and yet incredibly flawed.

Hemingway was one of those guys that was straight up badass before badass was some stupid classification for punks with big mouths and guns. What I thought was great about Hemingway was the he was a man that believed in living hard and full. I think it's really the nature of writers like Hemingway that made literature in those years so great.

There was no fear, no politically correct bullshit, Hemingway and his contemporaries were all about truth. Hemingway had that unchecked depression which only made him all the more compelling. Mental health was not really considered important in those days so for Hemingway to stay as creative and powerful given his issues only made him a more mythical figure.

Hemingway was also an example of someone who could have benefited from treating his depression. I could only imagine Hemingway writing a book about Vietnam and the love power generation. I wonder what Hemingway and disco would have been like, given that the 70's was the me generation. Sadly none of that happened, we lost a genius and life went on. Still, it's not that bad to think of what might have been every now and then.

THE LOVE JOURNEY

I used to think that the whole "LOVE" thing was more of a stoner mantra than anything else. I respect people as a rule of thumb and I respect whatever their choices are even if said choices differ from my own. I am sure you are probably wondering why there is a picture of a cannabis leaf in this entry. I will explain that in a minute so please hold on to your commentary.

I was at the metro in Amsterdam one night after a night of discovering the treasures of the city. I was fresh off a delicious meal in an Argentine steakhouse and on my way to a pleasant slumber. I remember that night so clearly. The sky was clear and the air was cold, a December night lit up by trees, light, street music and the feeling of Christmas. I remember I felt uncomfortable with my outfit because I hate wearing layers and restrictive style clothing.

As I sat and looked out the window of the metro I was asked if I was a tourist. The person that asked me the question was a brit with a backpack and a look of immense joy. The fella started asking me what I thought about marijuana and I answered as best I could. I remembered saying that I never felt it really did harm to anyone. The man handed me a card with some drawing and the word LOVE on it. I remember the card looked like a mixture of rorschach's work and ramblings of stoner artist.

Curious I asked my British stoner friend what it was and he responded with " It's life and the answer." I recall that I smiled and proceeded to leave without giving it a second thought. The brit offered me the opportunity to smoke some weed with him but I was not interested so i shook his hand and told him to enjoy himself. When I arrived at my destination I looked at the card and every part drawn in black had a line that resembled  a long and winding road. I thought about what the stoner said for a few days.

I realized that what my burnout friend meant was that love can really solve anything and guide you through some of the hardest roads to travel. I know that love is something we like to associate with hippies, stoners, and weaklings. The fact of the mater is that there is nothing wrong with allowing a little love to penetrate our jaded souls because in the end all the material possessions, bitterness, and differences we have do not accompany us to the grave. Love is the universal force that we are born with, live with, and can chose to go on our never ending journey with. Let's love one another people because it isn't a stoner mantra so much as it is the only absolute reality in life.

A NORTH AMERICAN UNION

I am sure everyone knows about the hypothetical union between the US, Mexico, and Canada. The union would be something similar to the EU and would yield a universal currency known as the Amero. This is something of a hot button issue that has had conspiracy theorists and anti- Bush individuals alike up in arms for a long time. Since the North American Union is hypothetical let's for a second look at what could be.

 The currency union happens and suddenly the peso is no longer worthless. The currency union happens and suddenly the US dollar is no more. I also imagine the implications of citizenship for Canadians and Mexicans alike. Mexicans would no longer face immigration issues because making a move would no longer be a life or death issue.  Those are all the pros, but what about the cons?

The cons are that I think given tensions over immigration and the enormous amount of ignorance in some portions of the US, it would create a major amount of discomfort. I think the reason why a North American Union would not work as effectively is simply because Mexico, the US, and Canada are three enormous countries with highly differing views on multiple issues. Ultimately the fact that so many people view power as something of a mysterious issue that is only understood by those that wield it, it would mean great civil unrest among three major nations.

I doubt that the North American Union will ever exist because honestly the geographical way of thinking is entirely too different in this part of the world. Still it's interesting to dig deeper into the concept and look at legitimately possible scenarios.

LUXURY ALWAYS BECOMES NECESSITY

Cell phones, pagers, and any amount of things that you can imagine have been a luxury at one point or another. At one point cell phones were so rare that they were a status symbol, much in the same way as a Commodore 64 or IBM PC JR. Now some two and half decades later we look at cell phones, computers, and just about everything that was once a luxury, as a major need. I remember being a middle school kid and seeing pager as a luxury and seeing pagers become a must a couple of years later.

I remember being in the cool kids club with my NEC pager with a giant screen. There was something special about having the same piece of equipment as a Doctor. I remember my father's pager had no screen, just a speaker, and some buttons on the side.

The fact is that while some luxuries will always remain just that their predecessors while simple were also luxuries. Let's talk about cars for a second, a Ferrari is a luxury but a Ford Model T was one too. Cars were a luxury as well at one point and in some parts of the world they are still luxuries by virtue of cost, taxes, and fuel. 

Perhaps the next big necessity will be something cool like a hovercraft or spaceship, maybe a car that can be used as a blender. Life will always have special surprises for us.

HEALTH CARE IS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED EVERYWHERE

I can't understand why there is such a complex situation regarding healthcare not just in the US but really in the world. There is currently a bill before congress attempting to repeal "Obamacare" otherwise known as The Affordable Care Act. Let's look at healthcare in a less complicated manner for a second.

Health Care is not a privilege that should only be afforded to those that can afford it and yet it seems that it's that precise issue the one that is plaguing it. People aspire for affordable care but truthfully it gets more and more out of reach daily. I don't think the problem lies with the costs associated so much as it does with the fact that insurance determines whether or not to pay a physician. I am familiar with this because my father was a physician and he constantly struggled with insurance companies and often they did not comply.

Insurance is the middle man that is supposed to facilitate care and it fails to do it in a regal manner. Now I ask: Is socialized medical care an answer? The answer is a big no. Let's look at the European Union for a quick second. if you look at the rankings of the World Health Organization most countries in the EU fund over 75% of their medical care publicly. Years ago that idea was brought before congress by Hillary Clinton during her husband's administration and it failed miserably.

The problem with socialized medicine is that the system is not executed in a manner that benefits the patient. I know that in the Netherlands which has a WHO ranking of 17 and a European ranking of 14 and  there are big deficiencies. Prescriptions are given and not properly monitored while specialist visits are rarely recommended by primary care physicians. While I respect a PCP I don't understand why one would decide that he or she could do the job of a Neurologist, Gynecologist, or for that matter Cardiologist.

We can avoid the issues plaguing care in the US if we regulate insurance and learn to police their practices as opposed to serving their interests. I also think that the EU system would work far more effectively if a number of specialist visits and proper monitoring of medication was put more effeciently into play. While socialized medicine works through a system of taxation it does not really mean it's effective in nature and practice.

If Obamacare is repealed, which I doubt, we go back to scrambling for a solution to a problem that's spent nearly a half century on the congressional floor. I think that in order to solve the problem people need to educate themselves and understand the definitions of words such as socialism, and terms such necessary taxation medical care.

Let's move on our own behalf because democracy says we can.

PARADISE

I have always loved the idea of discovering new places. I am currently in Amsterdam and to me everything from the snow to the houseboats is fascinating. As I had the pleasure of spending time in a boat tour I realized one thing, the world is an amazing place. I look to Amsterdam with the wonder of a child while my home in the US is somehting of a daily routine.

The truth is that the paradise I see now, the cold and historical paradise is a wonder to me. The places in hte US I have yet to see are no less wonderful and fascinating and I am sure as can be that anyone coming to the US for the first time would be equally fascinated. The world is a real paradise for everyone willing to have their eyes open.

It's so easy to think you are superior to others because you speak a different language or carry a different view of life.The fact is that we are all the same and the world is the same but it is seen as a kaleidoscope when seen by different eyes.

ENJOY THE WORLD PEEPS! ITS A PARADISE.