This post is not about Michael Jackson...OK, yes it is. Sorry.

Ok, I was not even going to bring up all the MJ crap going on today, but somehow I find this observation darkly amusing.. I counted and the top six stories on CNN are about the "memorial" or whatever they are trying to call it. So I thought, just this once, I'm going to check out Fox News. The top story said "what about our boys" and predictably quotes parents of soldiers asking why no one gave a damn when their kid was killed and so forth. Not that I don't agree. But the thing is, and I probably can't say this very well, but even that story is about Michael Jackson! Or the "thing" his death has become. So he is still getting top billing in a way. Fox also has full coverage on the memorial, including an entire article on the fact that Elizabeth Taylor won't be there. They stuck a couple of unrelated stories in front of it all, though, so they could be self-righteous. For me, it's not a matter of whether or not Jackson "deserves" all this. I'm not sure anyone deserves to have folks scalping tickets to their freaking funeral and in a way I hope he can't see it. It's not about whether or not he was a pedophile, talented, etc. (Definitely the latter and probably the former...) His dad still looks and sounds like the stuff of childhood nightmares so I don't doubt that his childhood was not conducive to normalcy, and will let God be the judge. I just find it all sort of darkly humorous, morbidly interesting and very, very sad. Should have known Congress was talking about it too. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/07/jacksons-death-sparks-fierce-debate-congress/ Never miss a chance for political posturing. But I'm not falling for it. Those guys don't represent me or anyone else any more. They're just putting on a show. Fox wants to imply that its just the evil Democrats who are behind this circus. I've got news for them. I work with several Democrats who are practically socialists. And they all agree that it's disgusting and tasteless. Even the black chick. ESPECIALLY the black chick. I'd like to say that I'm boycotting the whole thing, even though I really like Stevie Wonder, because it's tasteless and colorfully illustrates everything that is wrong with this country and why we will probably end up like ancient Rome. But the truth is, I forgot to set my DVR. God help us all.

Another MJ rant...the bandwagon is getting crowded...

The world's gone crazy

Or maybe it alway has been. Check out this, this and this.

But there is hope if you look for it -- I found some here, here and here. (Want more good news? Check out Good News Network International, one of my favorite sources for balancing out the nasty but necessary news we get from everywhere else.)

And for a nice reminder of what's important, sit back for a moment and watch this.

If you can read this, you can change the world

Hello, world! Yes, I'm still alive and well. My humans have been taking a lot of my time lately, what with ailing relatives, family gatherings, professional difficulties, terrible twos and other forms of stress. It's been all Fluffmonster and I can do to keep the grown-ups sane.

Princess is doing just fine, however -- learning to put "shoes on" and actively asserting herself. VERY actively. In fact, she had her first (and last, we hope) tantrum a couple of weeks ago. I've never seen Man quite that pale and shaken. I have to admit he handled it well -- remained calm and ignored her antics, even after she got up, walked into his line of vision, then sat on the floor and resumed her tantrum. She finally tired herself out and hasn't tried it again -- I guess because it didn't work the first time. Also, they're teaching her to say, "I'm mad!" instead of throwing a fit. If you're going to take away the only communication method a kid has, it's only fair to replace it with something.

So far, we are still a nonspanking family. But we're learning not to judge parents who choose the other route. Still, woman believes that anger management is one of those skills best learned at your mama's knee, but not necessarily across it.

Princess already loves books, and we're glad because reading is another important skill that comes more easily to the very young. Sadly, a lot of folks don't learn to read well for various reasons. Maybe no one taught them to enjoy it, so they learned how to fake it. Maybe they were sickly as kids and missed so much school that they fell behind. Or maybe it was just hard for them, and no adult took the time to give them the extra attention they needed. Now, they're grown up and trying to get by without being able to read a menu, a bus schedule or a job application. And they might be too embarrassed to ask for help, even if they know whom to ask.

Woman loves to read so much that she can't imagine life without it. (She's a nerd but at least a well read one.) A while back, she ran into some folks who are trying to help. Now she's one of them, and so is Man -- he watches Princess one night a week for a couple of hours, so Woman can help her new friend become a better reader. The literacy council here taught her how to teach an adult -- it's different from teaching a kid, and the materials are different too.

Woman says it's one of the best things she's ever done, and maybe it makes up for some of the bad stuff. And it doesn't really take that much time -- she does it after work one night a week and still gets home in time for Princess' bath.

If you have a little extra time on your hands -- and if you're reading my blatherings, you probably do -- maybe you'd like to help too. Of course, there are lots of good causes to give your time or money to. But there aren't many where you can see the good you're doing with your own eyes.

Most places have some kind of organization or agency that needs volunteers to help adults learn to read. Here's a link if you want to find out more.

Just imagine how you'll feel when your "student" is able to get a better job, read to her kids or enjoy a good old trash novel.

Or even a cat blog.

Now that's contributing to society.

This is Cruxley reminding you that the more you give, the more you get. And as much fun as it is to blog, it's nice to read a book now and then. (I'll try to make some new recommendations soon -- check my sidebar.)

Keep reading and feeding the cat.

House rejects Net neutrality

I posted a while back about the concept of Net neutrality. If you don't know what it is or why it matters, you might want to check it out...while it still exists.

 

Last week, the House rejected an amendment that would have upgraded Net neutrality from a concept to a law. But the Senate hasn't voted yet.

 

Make your voice heard, because the fat cats sure are. (And I don't mean me and Eric...)

 

Find out how your guys or gals voted, and let them know how you feel about it.

 

Then call your senators and tell 'em to stand up for freedom of the Internet.

 

(Or, if you feel differently, just relax, have a beer and forget you read this...It's not important anyway.)

 

This is Cruxley, reminding you that communication of the people, by the people and for the people is worth fighting for. Even if you're a cat.

 

I'm back, folks

I'm not beaten yet. I'll admit I've had something of a breakdown. Trying to make sense of human behavior is taking its toll. But something drives me on.

 

I guess it's all those little humans out there who haven't even had a chance to screw up yet. Tiny little humans have so much love, courage and desire to be good. It's tragic to give up on that kind of potential.

 

I took a few days off to relax. Had a flea bath. Laid around and watched the family doing its thing.

 

And what do you know. When I finally log back on, we've actually knocked off one of the bad guys. We know who to thank, and it's not the ones calling the shots. It's the ones firing the shots and dodging them.

 

I don't know whether his death will prevent terrorism -- there are probably dozens more waiting to fill his shoes. But at least they'll know what they're getting into. If they want to be martyrs, we will oblige.

 

Folks, please don't accuse me of disrespecting the troops. I've done no such thing.

 

And you don't have to remind me that "freedom isn't free." But when you're asking someone else to pay the price, make damn sure you know exactly what you're fighting for -- not some vague concept, but a realistic goal. (More on that here.) Make sure you have a plan. Make sure you give them what they need to do the job right, and that you take care of them (and their families) mentally, emotionally and physically. Don't drive them into despair and desperation while you're busy swapping sound bytes and setting off political smoke bombs to distract the masses. And don't abandon them when they've served your purpose. You humans treat your thoroughbreds and greyhounds better than that.

 

And now for something completely different...

 

Florida holds its breath

...and the rest of us are praying for you. All you blogging kitties and humans down there make sure you take care of yourselves. You might have to. But let's hope we've learned our lesson there.

 

Don't mess with Jack

What he lacks in claws, he makes up for in confidence.

 

This is Cruxley, saying keep the faith, and remember that a crazy look in your eye can come in real handy, especially if you're unarmed or declawed.

 

 

 

 

 

The unspeakable truth

Ok. I tried to be nonpartisan. I tried to see it from all the angles. I tried to be rational, sane, fair, commonsensical.

But I can't do it any more. I'm too pissed off.

Would one of you human lurkers out there like to explain what on earth this is all about? And have you seen this ?

What the hell do your human leaders think they're accomplishing?

When my folks want to launch a new project at their jobs, they have to tell their employers what they plan to accomplish, how they're going to do it, how long it will take and how much it will cost in time, money and other resources. Most important, they have to name MEASURABLE goals and objectives.

Why don't the bozos who started this war have to meet the same criteria?

Don't talk to me about how war is hell and "collatoral damage" is to be expected, blah, blah, blah. Don't tell me the same sort of thing happened in all those other wars. Don't try to explain that every time a bomb is dropped, civilians die, and these other civilian deaths are not much different. In fact, don't tell me a damn thing until you tell me what purpose we're trying to serve and how we're supposedly serving it.

If our goal was to inspire further hatred of Americans, mission accomplished. But how does that prevent terrorism?

As a cat, I'll admit I know very little about war. I have no idea what it's like on the front lines. That's one of the few things I have in common with the leader of the "free world," his VP and many of his advisors.

I won't try to speculate what drives a soldier to open fire on civilians -- a six-year-old child, a six-month-old baby. I haven't seen the horrors our troops have seen or faced the pressures they face. I won't have to decide what will become of those renegade soldiers now.

That's good, because I can't think straight. All I can see in my mind's eye is my little human Princess, innocent, helpless, trusting, and her parents who would kill or die for her without hesitation. I imagine them all being sprayed with machine gun fire. I wonder what kind of world you humans are creating for your children and the rest of us.

I'll have to shut up now. Perhaps I will be more coherent and capable of reason on another day.

This is Cruxley, rendered speechless. God help us all.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

2,686 and counting (2,464 U.S.)

And don't forget all those other wars.

Humanity rages on.

Here are Cruxley's orders: Stop eating for a moment. Quit splashing. Put the beer down. Put the Indy race on pause, and remember the fallen and the families who are missing their loved ones.

Now put your politics aside and hug a veteran. (A phone call will do.)

At ease. Resume your activities. But don't forget.

Have a happy, safe, relatively sober holiday.