To The New Year - 2019

Photo and words: F LoBuono

To those I have loved

and, to those I have wronged -

I send you PEACE and LIGHT

and, I beg for your forgiveness.

The New Year beckons.

May it be a BLESSING to all. . . 

Today's MOZEN: FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN!!!

F LoBuono

Hal Quinn, head of the National Mining Association, charged in a statement Friday that the Obama administration had carried out “perhaps the largest regulatory accounting fraud perpetrated on American consumers” when it calculated that the broad health benefits to Americans would outweigh the cost of equipment upgrades by power providers. *

This was a statement released in response to the Trump Administration's efforts to further rescind Obama era regulations on environmental protections.* Specifically, it targets a 2011 Obama Administration rule known as The Mercury and Air Toxic Standards which led to the clean-up of Mercury and other toxins from coal fired power plants. Utility companies claimed the process cost them $18 billion. Environmental groups claim the effort has reduced Mercury emissions from coal-fired plants by 85%, drastically reducing the potential for Mercury poisoning which is responsible for causing brain damage and other developmental disabilities in children. **

Now, read Mr. Quinn's statement again.

Forgive the harsh language, but are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?! He just said OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT WORTH THE COST!!!!

This industry hack, a lobbyist whose sole mission is to seek profits for his industry - AT ANY HUMAN COST - is willing to sacrifice the health and future of OUR children, ALL of them, for the sake of a fucking dollar!

I don't feel I need to say any more that this:

SHAME ON YOU Mr. QUINN, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND ANYONE WHO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS DANGEROUS REGIME.

*https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/trump-epa-orders-rollback-of-obama-mercury-regulations/2018/12/29/f9fcacf6-0b29-11e9-8942-0ef442e59094_story.html?utm_term=.b37eaba79746

** https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health

Today's MOZEN: Honoring My Father

F LoBuono

The day AFTER Christmas is always an intensely emotional day for me. And, he has nothing to do with what preceded it. I had a great Christmas this year as I usually do. Instead, I see it as a day with a heightened sense of affection because I so strongly connect with my late father, Joseph.

For on this day after Christmas, in 1944, my father was battling with his brothers of General George Patton's 3rd Army to relieve the heroic defenders of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge:

The capture of Bastogne was the ultimate goal of the Battle of the Bulge, the German offensive through the Ardennes forest. Bastogne provided a road junction in rough terrain where few roads existed; it would open up a valuable pathway further north for German expansion. The Belgian town was defended by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, which had to be reinforced by troops who straggled in from other battlefields. Food, medical supplies, and other resources eroded as bad weather and relentless German assaults threatened the Americans’ ability to hold out. Nevertheless, Brigadier General Anthony C. MacAuliffe met a German surrender demand with a typewritten response of a single word: “Nuts.”*

Disabled German Tiger Tank at the Bulge

Patton, instinctively knowing that Bastogne was the key to the entire battle, and maybe the WAR, executed an audacious maneuver. He pulled his men out of a pitched battle, pivoted 90 degrees, and in terrible weather conditions, drove them north nearly 100 miles in 3 days to relieve The Battling Bastards of Bastogne, the Screaming Eagles of the 101st. An advanced party of a few Sherman tanks, after intense fighting almost every step of the way, reached the beleaguered defenders on the 26th of December, 1944. The rest of the Army arrived the next day, effectively breaking the siege, ending the battle and, soon, the war.

American Infantry drives to Bastogne

My father, a combat engineer, was intensely proud of his service but rarely spoke of combat. One of the few times he did was in reference to this march and battle. He spoke of the brutal fighting and the relentless cold. He suffered ill health in his later years and blamed much of it on the horrible conditions he encountered there and then. He recalled to me shivering with his brothers in snow covered foxholes, desperately trying to conserve heat and eating an ice cold Christmas dinner out of a tin can. After that, I finally understood why he HATED the cold weather.

Engineers of the 3rd Army at Bastogne

Now, every December 26th, I find myself a nice quiet spot and have myself a good cry. And, I do mean good. My tears are not bitter but, rather, warm and real. I shed them for the sacrifice he and so many others made for all of us. I remember my father and all of  those from The Greatest Generation who gave so much, did their duty, and saved the world. These men were not professional soldiers - my father was a grocer! But, when called upon they did not hesitate. My father did not either and gave 4 years of his young life to the cause.

My father's Eisenhower Jacket with its 3rd Army patch

So, I parked myself in front of a window and let the bright winter sun and deep emotion take hold of my very soul. And, I remember him. I miss him. I love him. And, I cry

I will never forget him . . .


*www.historychannel.com

Today's MOZEN: The Fear is Real

F LoBuono

slack-jawed

[slak-jawd]

Examples Word Origin

adjective

1.      having the mouth open, especially as an indication of astonishment, bewilderment, etc.

This was my reaction to the latest week in TRUMPLAND, a.k.a The United States of America. Anyone who can't see the devastating consequences fostered by our President and his dysfunctional Administration are akin to those who claim that the earth is flat: they are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. And, the facts here are that we have a President that is so far in over his head that he is looking out of his rather ample ass. Here are just some of the most recent examples:

1. Against the advice of his military experts, Mr. Trump pulled our troops out of Syria creating a power vacuum that is sure to be filled by ISIS or other enemy.

2. James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense, and by all accounts a moderating voice of reason in the White House, resigned, and in doing so penned a scathing letter basically bemoaning the President's deficiencies, particular with our International allies

3. In a fit of pique, the President made good on his plan to shut down the Federal Government over his ill-advised request for billions to build a border wall. This, of course, comes at the Christmas Holiday leaving hundreds of thousands of Federal workers without a paycheck.

4. Former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, who already plead guilty to lying to the FBI during the Trump campaign, was excoriated by the judge who was to sentence him.

5. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke was forced to resign over allegations of impropriety while in office.

6. The Stock Market, in response to the Administration's fiscal policies, experienced its greatest, single week loss since the great depression.

It might be funny in it weren't so deadly serious.

In an effort to Make America First, Mr. Trump has insulted our allies to the point of disenfranchisement. Because we are no longer there for them, there is no reason for them to support us. This could have catastrophic consequences (see WWI). Internally, our Country remains deeply divided with our leader seemingly incapable of (or, UNWILLING) to unite us in a common cause. The tax break promised to millions has had a limited effect. Hate crimes are way up and the Stock Market down. The Russians and Chinese have gladly filled in the gaps created by our return to isolationism. Migrant children are still being separated from their families. And, the xenophobia he has tried to create to support his wall has failed miserably with everyone excepts the fanatics who compose his base.

At times like this, it is important to avoid hyperbole. But, we must not do so at the expense of real concern. This man, this egomanical, wannabe demagogue, surrounded by sycophants, is unfit to lead. And, so, the longer he remains in power, the more real the danger of losing what it means to be American becomes. It's down right JAW DROPPING.

The fear is real.

Today's MOZEN: We Are What We Choose to Become.

F LoBuono

We ARE whatever we choose to become.

I say this in response to the reaction on social media to the most recent Miss Universe Pageant. The 2018 version was ground breaking because it featured its first Transgender contestant, Miss Spain, Angela Ponce.

Of course, this generated great controversy - as it should. A transgender woman competing in a beauty contest does represent sea change. Therefore, it is worthy of debate.

However, what is NOT acceptable is the amount of ignorant, disgusting, vile, and vitriolic rhetoric directed at the Ms. Ponce. Things like:

She's just a chick with a dick.

The most beautiful woman in Spain is a guy - shame on                                                                       them!

                                                                 "Its" disgusting.

Miss Spain, Angela Ponce. Official Photograph

Another disturbing factor that I found in the comments was the amount of women who made so many particularly vicious ones.

Again, I understand the controversy - will acceptance on this level mean so on ALL levels, like SPORTS? Is it fair to allow transgender women, who were born as physical men (i.e. generally stronger, faster, etc.) to compete against biological women? Again, this is a topic worthy of intelligent debate with the key word being INTELLIGENT.

And, this is where most people lose there arguments; they can't grasp the concept of the difference between GENDER and SEX and debate it with intelligence. So, here's some help:

SEX ( as it refers to biology) is defined as:
*noun

1. either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated with reference to the reproductive functions.
2. the sum of the structural and functional differences by which the male and female are distinguished, or the phenomena or behavior dependent on these differences.

GENDER refers to:

*noun

1. either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behavior:the feminine gender.Compare sex(def 1).
2. a similar category of human beings that is outside the male/female binary classification and is based on the individual's personal awareness or identity. See also third gender.

Let me attempt to explain this as simply as possible. Sex, as is appropriate for this discussion, refers to our BODY PARTS, i.e. the physical dimensions of our being - a penis for a man, vagina for a woman. However, even within THESE descriptions there is variation. Some human beings are born with BOTH sex organs! So, already we have room for discussion.

Gender refers to another aspect of our being, i.e. how we FEEL about who we are and where we see ourselves within the traditional definitions of what makes us MALE or FEMALE. We may look one way but feel another. For most people, that may be as simple as changing clothes. But, for others, it is infinitely more complex - they want to change their skin, if you will.

Because we are human, we are both blessed and cursed by our need for connection with our feelings. This often creates internal conflict. We are not just physical beings of flesh and blood. We are also emotional ones of dreams, desires, and longings. In other words, we cannot be simply defined by our external appendages. Just because a person has a cock doesn't necessarily make them a man - especially if they don't feel like one. Of course, the converse goes for women, as well.

Most scientists who study evolution confirm that the key to any species' survival is their ability to ADAPT, i.e. adjust to their surroundings. And, THIS is what transgender people have done - they have adapted themselves to the surroundings they are most comfortable in, and that includes their SKIN, per se. They are doing the things necessary for them to lead the life they believe in - often against great odds (as seen by the ugly comments made against Ms. Ponce).

And, this is a bad thing?

This is no more than a human being living the life she has intended for HERSELF. In the bigger scheme of things, the sex she was born with becomes secondary to the PERSON she desired to be. And, she took the bold, courageous steps to make that happen. This is to be APPLAUDED, not CONDEMNED!

I suppose the bottom like is this: LIVE AND LET LIVE. Let EVERY human being live to their maximum potential and heart's desire. And, that should be no skin off your penis or vagina or whatever you're sporting under your clothes.

We ARE whatever we choose to become.

That is all.

*Dictionary.com

Today's MOSTLY TRUE SHORT STORY: Karmic Lessons

F LoBuono

It had been a relatively easy night at work - nothing blew up, no mass shootings were reported, and, for a change, there were hardly any political shenanigans, either. In the news business, that's the equivalent of watching paint dry.

I rapped up my shift at midnight and headed for home. Since it was a Friday in NYC, the City That Never Sleeps, I knew the roads would still be fairly busy. And, it was raining lightly, too - bound to slow things down even more. No matter. I was mentally prepared. All I needed to do was get home.

So, as I headed up the West Side Highway I was surprised to find the traffic thin AND moving at a rapid pace. At that rate, I'd be home in no time. Well, that lasted about 5 minutes or until I hit 125th St.! Suddenly, a wall of legendary NYC traffic brought me to a screeching halt. Something was obviously wrong. I tuned in my radio for a traffic report and found the culprit: an accident at 145th St. was closing the 2 right lanes. Damn - and, I was making such great time!

Now, I do my absolute best to be ZEN about NY City traffic. You have to be. It is an unpredictable monster that can rear its ugly head at any time or place. Even the overnight hours are no protection as that's when they do most of the construction. You just HAVE to learn to live with it. And, I have - mostly.

So, after about 10 minutes of inching along, I felt my blood pressure start to rise. I thought to myself:

Someone just HAD to screw this up, didn't they? I bet that they weren't paying attention and ass-ended someone.

Or, they must have been texting, etc., etc.

Didn't they KNOW that I wanted a hassle free ride home?!

And, just because they're pissing me off, when I finally reach them, I'm going to let them know exactly how much!!

After another 5 minutes or so of inching along, I was finally nearing the wreck when I noticed that it was indeed just a fender bender - one car was following too closely and had rear-ended another. It was not serious but just enough to totally screw things up. As I approached the vehicles, I rolled down my passenger window so that I could hurl a witty epithet like "nice move, Exlax" or some other clever appellation. And, I did!

I passed the wreckage, the road opened and I made it home without further incident - almost. About 2 or 3 blocks from my home, the Engine Warning Light suddenly flashed on my dashboard and the car began to buck. It's an old problem that resurfaces from time to time - an oil sensor switch malfunctions causing the car to run rough. However, I haven't had an issue with it for months.

So, why NOW?

Well, it made me think - perhaps the fact that I was so petty when it came to that accident I encountered earlier, it might have had some connection to the issue with my car. Nothing in the world happens in a vacuum - nothing. It is often called the law of KARMA, i.e. what goes around comes around. This is an oversimplification but will suffice for our purposes. In my mind, because I had put so much negative energy around a mere 15 minute inconvenience, I was rewarded with a car issue of my own. And, I do mean REWARDED. Even though the fact that I am having car problems will cost me some money, I should still see it as a gift of sorts because it made me THINK and FEEL: how foolish was I to spend even a minute being pissed off about something so minor and insignificant. And, if that wasn't enough, I wished ill to someone I didn't even know and were having enough troubles all on their own without any encouragement from me.

To be honest, in fact, the more I think about it, the more embarrassed I am for having acted that way in the first place. However, there IS good that can come from it. The whole thing made me aware that I have to BE MORE AWARE  - that negative emotions produce negative results. And, the best part is that I can change - WE can change. And, when we do, we make the world a better place.

EPILOGUE: I have an appointment with my mechanic to address the issue on Monday. Shouldn't cost me more that $100 or so. Thank god, for small favors!!

Today's MOZEN: Small Steps

F LoBuono

Most of us, at one time or another, have experienced the hard side of life when evil and cruelty seem to be omnipresent and they simply overrun kindness and compassion. It's enough to drive us to drink - or, drug - or, both! Trying to change the world often seems so overwhelming. How can one, insignificant human being create enough positive energy to take on all of the world's many problems? It is more than frustrating. It can be downright demoralizing!

Well, for me, the answer is to not even try to save the WHOLE world. And, it's not what you think. Allow me to explain:

The world, and all of its myriad problems, is WAY to big to be tackled by most individuals. That task is simply overwhelming. There are only so many great souls like Gandhi or MLK who can create sea change. The rest of us are woefully inadequate to tackle issues of such great importance. Therefore, instead of attempting GREAT things to make the world a better place, it is far more effective to accomplish the LITTLE things on a daily basis that make life more bearable for all.

For example, I am not Vegan or even a true vegetarian. I still eat fish and if offered meat with no alternative, I will eat it. However, in an effort to minimize the cruelty that is so evident in factory farmed meat, I NEVER order meat in a restaurant or buy it in the supermarket. It's not perfect but it is one, small step in my efforts to make the world a kinder place for ALL sentient beings.

And, there are many more, small things that when practiced on a daily basis, collectively create a better world. And, it has little to do with any organized religious practice or ritual.

Here's another example:

On my way home from work, I always stop at the same gas station in New Jersey (because it's rarely crowded and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than fuel in New York where I live). It's usually pretty late at night and the same attendant pumps my gas virtually every time that I stop there. I'm always exceedingly polite to him despite the fact that he is ALWAYS terse and downright grumpy with me. On one cold night I noticed he was not wearing gloves and I offered him an extra pair that I had with me in my car. He abruptly declined my offer without even so much as a thank you anyway. It would be so simple to just bark my command for gas and not engage him in any other way.

But, his attitude towards me in the greater scheme of things is not important. I am nice to him simply because it is the right thing to do. His response is independent of MY actions. This, to me, is what is meant by the Eastern concept of Karma - the more good we return to the world, the more positive energy is to be had. It may not directly or immediately be returned to you but, over the course of time, it makes the world and therefore YOU, better for having done it.

And, it ain't that hard after all!

I suppose that it all comes down to a simple philosophy:

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TAKE GIANT LEAPS WHEN SMALL STEPS WILL DO JUST FINE. . . 

So, start steppin'!!!

Today's MOSTLY TRUE SHORT STORY: Death on the Thruway

F LoBuono

The concept of FATE has been with us since man first pondered his place in world at the very beginning of time. In can be defined as that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny*. I suppose it has vexed us for so long because it can be seen from so many different points of view:

- WE control SOME of our destiny, but only to a point. 
- We have NO control of our future on any level or at any time.
- Unseen, spiritual forces have the ultimate control over our lives and we give control to them.

I suppose that I use the word most often when I observe a series of circumstances that can't be explained in any other way except to attribute them to FATE. Perhaps, this is some type of coping mechanism; when things are beyond our understanding, we attribute them to this unseen force, i.e. FATE.

Often, FATE involves a confluence of factors, each separate until they come together to produce a single result. Sometimes, the consequences produce spectacularly positive results like fame and fortune and, at other times, devastating repercussions.

And, FATE is in play in our lives everyday and in every way. Here's an example:

I was driving on the New York State Thruway the other day and was approaching an overpass. I noticed a pigeon above that was beginning its decent to its perch somewhere under that overpass. Just as it reached the edge, a huge tractor trailer arrived at EXACTLY the same time. The timing for that bird could not have been worse - as it clipped the top of the trailer it exploded into a jumble of white and grey feathers, and blood. In other words, it was instantly obliterated.

Of course, I experienced a moment of shock at what I had just witnessed. It was all so sudden, violent and, yes, tragic. I know it was just a pigeon, a flying rat as some New Yorkers would call it. But, to me, it was still a living thing that was wasted. Perhaps, it was even flying to some kind of nest to feed its young ones. Now, their future was inexorably linked to that of the parent, proving that nothing happens in a vacuum. In other words, their fate was also sealed in the blink of on an eye. They would perish without even knowing why they had been abandoned.

It left me thinking about the power of FATE, how, in a fraction of a second our lives can change. And, how often we are left looking for a reason "WHY". It is at these times we can only trust in FATE, that what has happened to us was simply meant to be. The answers to those questions are beyond our capacity to fathom them. We must simply accept what has happened and resign ourselves to our FATE, trusting that it was all meant to be. Perhaps, this is a cop-out. As humans we seem to need a reason for everything - all cause and effect. Well, sometimes, things just ARE and we need to just leave it at that . . .

* Dictionary.com

Today's MOZEN: Perspective

The Roman triumph (triumphus) was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the success of a military commander who had led Roman forces to victory in the service of the state or, originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war.

A Roman Triumph

The comparisons between The United States of America and the Roman Republic - then Empire - are clear and often astounding. One need not be a scholar of ancient history to acknowledge it. Just look at the amount of Latin we use in our National identity (see: E Pluribus Unum) to our very legal system. The great majority of our official National Architecture is in the Romanesque style and our leaders are immortalized as heroes, carved in marble as did the ancient Romans. Who has not seen at least of photo of the marble statue of Julius Caesar?

The Romans practiced elaborate rituals to support their system of government and, therefore, their way of life. The Triumph described in my intro was just one example of many. Funerals of the famous were also elaborate affairs, attended by huge, grieving and adoring crowds. Many of these affairs were drawn out over days. All of it was orchestrated to reaffirm the power and authority of the ruling or, Patrician, class.

Sound familiar?

We are currently experiencing the American version of a Roman ritual.

George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States recently died at the age of 94. His one-term Presidency was one of decidedly mixed results. He did some worthy things like helping to orchestrate the end of the Cold War. However, he also committed some egregious mistakes like the Iran-Contra affair, the Willie Horton blatantly racist campaign ad, and indifference to the devastating AIDS epidemic. He was also a decorated WWII Navy pilot and a dedicated family man.

He also came from one of the most politically connected families in American history. Bush went to exclusive private schools, including Yale and lived a modest, but privileged life in Connecticut, Texas, and Maine. One son also became President and the other, Governor of Florida. In other words, like the ancient Roman leaders, he was a Patrician.

An official day of morning has been declared and memorial events will be held over the course of a week. Tributes are pouring in from every corner of the Country and world. Platitudes are given in abundance. 

Now, there are many who feels this right, just, and well earned - that we need to laud those who serve, and, especially, those who LEAD. But, I see danger in this. When we place our leaders on such a lofty pedestal, we risk losing touch with them and the policies they implement to govern us. And, worse still, they in turn, stop caring about us. With their legacy sealed, literally in granite and marble, their motivation for true SERVICE is compromised. Perspective is lost - was he TRULY a good man or, rather, just a FAMOUS one?

Let give an example of how perspective is lost: my father was a WWII Army veteran who served with Patton's Third Army and survived the Battle of the Bulge. But, he was just a grunt - not a hot shot Yalie Navy pilot. His family lived modestly in Cliffside Park, NJ and had no family compound in Kennebunkport, Me. (as the Bush family has). After his military service, my father eventually became a Bergen County Sheriff's officer where he continued a life of dedicated service until he retired. After his death, he received a modest funeral with a military honor guard. My family was then given the neatly folded flag that draped his coffin. That was it. And, that was enough.

So, was Mr. Bush's life and service SO much greater than my father's and the million of others who have dedicated their lives in service to others? Must we respect his legacy so completely and blindly without so much as a review of what he did right AND what he did so very wrong? But, there is this overwhelming momentum, often fostered by the media, that this is the RIGHT thing to do - it's good for THE COUNTRY. It just HAS to be. I mean where would we be without our heroes? THIS is the same things the Romans did - continually reinforce the image of power and glory held by the only ones with the means, desire, AND pedigree to rule, i.e. The Patricians. And, we, like the Romans buy it completely.

Look, there is a time to mourn. A man has died. His family is in mourning. I respect that. But, I also realize he was a just a man - no more or less than any other. Let's start acting like it.

Today's MOZEN: What's a Photo Worth?

Just about everyone is familiar with the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, how about this one?

Photo courtesy CNN

It doesn't take a deep thinker to see what is obvious; these two men, leaders of 2 of the most repressive regimes in the world, known to be stone cold killers, obviously have formed a mutual admiration society. However, unfortunately, our current Administration and its leader are about as deep as spit on a sidewalk. So, they obviously don't see it for what it really is.

By his tacit, if not overt, support for these two men, President Donald J. Trump has emboldened them to the point of euphoria. They have discovered, he can be bought - and, rather cheaply, too. It's not just the money, but also by something as simple as feeding his ENORMOUS ego: yes, Mr. President, you ARE the greatest American leader - ever. Certainly, Mr. Trump, we would LOVE to do business with a great businessman like you, etc., etc., etc..

The only ones missing from the photo are two of the world's other vicious despots and Trump cronies, Rodrigo Duterte and Kim Jong-un.

It's pathetic. No. Wait. It's worst than that. It's DEPLORABLE.

A true leader is a person with insight, intuition, knowledge, wisdom, altruism, and compassion. When right is on the line, there is no hesitation. There is no consideration of personal gain. There is an inner, moral compass that guides them to do the right thing - even at risk of personal peril.

The men depicted in this photo, as well as those mentioned in the body of this post, all have one thing in common: they lack ANY of the qualities I mentioned in the previous paragraph. In fact, they take it further in the opposite direction- they do nothing if it does not lead to consolidation of more power, more money, and more debauchery, they simply are not interested.

They all deserve one another. . .