Yahweh or the Highway

Let your life be

judged

by your beliefs.

Let my life be

judged

by my own.

Stop trying to

sell

your god to me;

I’m not buying,

so

leave me alone.

~gj duerrschmidt

For more by this writer:

The Orangenous Zone 

Sweet Cakes by Melissa: A Bigoted Bakery in Jesus' Name

This takes the cake!

Recently in Gresham, Oregon, owner, Aaron Klein, of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding because of his personal religious beliefs. “I believe that marriage is a religious institution ordained by God,” Klein says.

But, get this...

Klein clarified that he and his wife do not hate homosexuals. "They can buy my stuff," said Klein. "I'll sell them stuff ... I'll talk to them, it's fine."

So, let’s see if I got this right…

Klein and his wife, obviously Christian fundamentalists, of sorts, are more than pleased to take all the money they can straight from the hands of homosexuals every day their doors are opened. Then, no doubt tithe some of that homosexual money on Sundays to God and Jesus right inside the holy sanctuary of their chosen house of worship! Can you imagine that?

But!

They stop short, in the name of their lord, when it comes to selling a wedding cake with two male, or two female names inscribed upon it?

Is it just me, or does anyone else see the blatant, ignorant hypocrisy with this?

~gj duerrschmidt 

For more by this writer:
The Orangenous Zone

LIBERTY BELL FOR SALE: Used. Cracked. Not Edible!)

BIG NEWS: DOW Hits 14,000!

NOT BIG NEWS: The price of a 16 oz. package of cheddar cheese at the military commissary rose 56%. All dairy has skyrocketed in price this week, and is expected to climb even higher.

On the contrary, this is big news to me, and many others like me who are living on a modest fixed income. Unlike most older retired Americans living on a pension, as a military retiree, I am entitled to shop on military bases and take advantage of the lower prices. Even with this advantage, as recently as yesterday, I discovered that my entire monthly budget is now in serious peril. Am I over exaggerating? You decide.

With the possible exception of one or two impulse items, I buy the same groceries the first of each month. I have grown accustomed to spending $120-$140 each trip. Yesterday, my total was $220! Needless to say, I was shocked. There had to be some gross error on the part of the cashier, so once outside, I took the time to study my receipt. CHEESE LOUISE! What instantly jumped out at me was the price of the cheese I bought. It had always been $1.79. Today it cost me $3.03!

Out of curiosity, I stopped at a Publix grocery store on my way home to compare a few prices to determine if the increases were solely due to military commissary price increases, or had there been an increase over the entire food industry. Who would notice? After all, it's not big news like stories that impact our lives most, such as the Golden Globes, or the upcoming Super Bowl. Nonetheless, the same package of cheddar cheese at Publix that I had just purchased for $3.03 ($1.79 last week) on base, was selling for $4.19, an almost penny for penny increase in price. Yes, I'm afraid it's everywhere.

In comparison, I was still saving by shopping on base, but it begs the same question as the DOW hitting 14,000: What next? Incomes have not been tracking along with increases in living expenses. In fact, they have not been increasing at all, and for over a very long period of time.

Speaking of food, here's some food for thought (at no extra cost!):

Gun control is being made a top issue within the government, and I believe its primarily due to the signs of the times becoming more clear to those in power every day. The world economy is suffering. Countries are on the verge of economic collapse. Our own economy is based on consumer confidence and spending, and consumers are quickly losing confidence and discovering that their typical consumption is getting more costly by the day. 

The DOW cannot possibly continue to grow. In fact, there is rumor that as much as a 90% correction (downward) is expected to happen over the next couple years. Don't believe this? Well, many American billionaires believe it, as they have silently begun to sell off their holdings in American businesses. Google it! 

The "haves" have had their giant glut at the expense of the entire nation. When the bottom drops out, and it will, the "haves" will be in want of nothing, save continuing runaway profits. But, more profit won't matter then, as they have already maxed out in relationship to the rest of the poor, hungry suckers of the world.

The "have nots" will be scrambling for survival. Civil disobedience like only imagined, or seen in the movies, will erupt from sea to shining sea. Sing songs of praise and salute the flag with all the pride you can muster, if it makes you feel better about yourself and the world in which you now live. Continue to dwell in denial, if you so choose, but the truth remains the truth, regardless.

A growing population in this great land continues to feel the negative effects of government's long term failure to govern in the best interest of the people, rather than those of banking and big business. People are growing more concerned every day over prospects for a brighter future, and fear that the time will soon be at hand when they can no longer meet the needs of their families. It would be wise to no longer ignore that a large percentage of our fellow countrymen are being expected by the government, and the filthy rich, to carry an ever increasing weight upon their backs: ever increasing costs, never rising wages. A breaking point must inevitably be reached.

When they can no longer fill their tanks with gas AND adequately feed their families, without having to make extremely difficult  choices... something's going to give. I don't know about you, but to me, the writing is clearly on the wall, it's clearly at the gas pumps, and I clearly saw it yesterday on my grocery receipt.

What, if anything, is being done by those in power "to insure a more perfect union," other than continuing to chip away at the unalienable rights of its citizenry, and continuing to posture for the ultimate formation of a police state?" This could never happen in America, you say?  I say that the basic instinct for human survival will trump any laws, or words ever written upon a historic document ... every time, without fail. 

When will YOU rebel and stop going to the pumps because the price of gas has gotten too high? When will YOU rebel and stop buying cheese because the price has gone way beyond reason? When will YOU stand up and say enough is enough?  What is YOUR breaking point? What action(s) are you prepared to take in order to insure your survival? The survival of your family?

As intelligent, responsible, and concerned citizens, we must raise our voices and be heard before it is too late. Sadly, it may already be too late. We must demand our rights and governance in the interest of "we the people," and for our children's future, before the voices of reason still remaining in our cities and countrysides are drowned out by the sound of gunfire thundering across the land, "Enough is enough!"

Peace, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

~gj duerrschmidt

Key West: Road Rage is Rising Again in Margaritaville

I recently came back to live in Key West following eight years of being away. A disappointing discovery was seeing the significant reduction in the numbers of bicycles and scooters on the quaint little island's narrow roadways. They once added to the unique laid-back-from-way-back charm of the place. Motorists now have overtaken the crowded island with their big, over-sized trucks and SUV's, and what's more, I've witnessed a growing prevalence in road rage over the two years that I've been back.

Angry, impatient drivers in fast cars, quick to blow their horns at pedestrians, and what few scooters and bicycles remain, is an affront and abomination to the history and true spirit of this place - or what had always been its spirit. I felt the need to document my displeasure toward this recent change, and this poem is what resulted; appropriately written to the rhythm of Jimmy Buffet's 1977 Margaritaville:

Drivin’ down Truman,

I passed by a woman,

leisurely biking along in the right lane.

The huge pickup before me,

cuts her off so damn rudely;

blowing its horn as she falls down in pain.

Chorus:

Road rage is running rampant in Margaritaville;

scooter and bicycle riders receive verbal assault.

Witnesses claim there are mad drivers to blame;

but you know, perhaps it’s nobody’s fault.

Money may be the reason,

folks are angry all season;

paid too much for their brand new big cars.

They make it their new roles,

to become angry road assholes;

rather than chilling it out down in the bars.

Chorus:

Road rage is running rampant in Margaritaville;

scooter and bicycle riders receive verbal assault.

Witnesses claim there are mad drivers to blame;

do you think, it could be the cyclist’s fault?

Here comes the ringer,

he flipped her the finger;

turned shouting, “Get the hell out of the way!”

Yes, this is just one accounting,

but the numbers keep mounting;

as more drivers act out aggressions every day.   

Chorus:

Road rage is running rampant in Margaritaville;

scooter and bicycle riders receive verbal assault.

Witnesses claim there are mad drivers to blame;

and you know, I’ve seen it!

It’s clearly the drivers' damn fault!

~gj duerrschmidt

For more by this writer:

The Orangenous Zone

Naughty Poet: Your Page, or Mine?

Cheap brandy in my coffee,

Cardbordeaux by the glass;

I spend days writing poetry,

with no depth, so little class.

Many missed opportunities,

chances I’ve readily blown;

I pen of loves most coveted,

of loves I’ve not yet known.

I write about more orgasms,

than will ever grace my bed;

the greatest of sexual trysts,

are the ones still in my head.

Many may think me a loner,

though I’m rarely ever alone;

with a pen and pad of paper,

I’ve always someone to bone.

~gj duerrschmidt

For more by this writer:

The Orangenous Zone 

Oilcooledengineville (A VW bus' version of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville)

Covered in mud cake,
feelin’ my paint bake;
all of my engine is covered with oil.
Doin’ my road thing,
hearin’ my valves ping;
smell of exhaust leaking out the aluminum foil!

Rusted away again in Oilcooledengineville.

Looking for my lost Quaker State oil.

Some people say that there's a human to blame,

but I know,

it's nobody’s fault.

I don't have no reason,
I just roll for pleasin’;
nowhere to go but the same beach will do.
I feel it’s my duty,
to check out some booty;
how I’ll ever get some, hell, I haven't a clue!

Rusted away again in Oilcooledengineville.

Looking for my lost Quaker State oil.

Some people say that there's a human to blame,

now I think,
hell, it could be my fault.

I blew out a tire,
brakes are on fire;
cutting my losses and cruising back home.
But once I’m back at the condo,
I’ll mix a cocktail of bondo:
that magic concoction that helps me hang on!

Rusted away again in Oilcooledengineville.

Looking for my lost Quaker State oil.

Some people say that there's a human to blame,

but I know,

it's my own damn fault.

Yes, and some people claim that there's a human to blame,

and I know,

it's my own damn fault!

~Vintage van GO[gh]

(a.k.a ~gj duerrschmidt)

 

For more by this writer:

The Orangenous Zone 

Sensual Poetry: Very Sexual, A Little Corny

I got up to write a poem today,

dawn is barely breaking;

didn’t sleep a wink last night,

now my head is aching.

I suppose I’ll take two aspirin,

to help my brandy coffee;

and take my mind off the pain,

sucking an English toffee.

Writing poetry’s much like sex:

eventually it will come;

sometimes the wait is longer,

mostly, can’t get some.

If I’d a sweet thing in my bed,

hell no, I’d not be writing;

but rather madly sucking on it,

licking it hard, and biting!

Now I’m feeling wide awake,

no pain, and a little horny;

I believe I’ve a poem in mind:

very sexual, a little corny.

~gj duerrschmidt

 

For more by this writer:

The Orangenous Zone