Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

I quit organizing concerts and publishing indies when hate got really louder than the music and words. Relentlessly, I was so high on gathering people for fun then. Then the divide got eerily wider; public safety, blurry. I felt ushering venues for convergence peace would only slide to political murkthrow. I covered the countryside war in Asia. But then I had ideas where danger was. These days in America, we don’t know where and when the bullet will hit, and who shot it. ☮️💔☮️

I am old and grumpy or achingly political. So be it. It disappoints me that many would ogle at confectioned stench like Johnny vs Amber over many pertinent issues these days. I did post/blog the Depp/Heard kitsch. Done. What about billions$ tossed to a war amidst 8.5 percent inflation? Defense spending now exceeds $800 billion. Years ago, people minded inane prez tweets but not actual work. Who cares about tweets; I mind leadership performance sans blah. 

       Per the President’s Asian trip, expect military “aid” to soar some more. I am virulently anti-war. Leaders who pull troops out of war and thumb down NATO? I doff my hat. But leaders of the West nowadays? Nope. I don’t care about personality swagger. I am not a 20something romantic anymore. My wicked pragmatism is borne out of my long rock journeys and worn/torn sublime madnesses. Show me the workboard, not the high-falutin’ morality. 🗣👤👥

Another high school friend passed away yesterday. Heart and lungs complications. I survived my own near-fatal health issues in 1995 in Manila and 2000 in New York, after a surgery. I have never been healthier, I think, since then. All I get is pollen allergy for 2 or 3 weeks. Yet my body’s armor is what it is. Wear and tear. I mostly protect my mental health. I engage in less arguments and try to avoid drama. Plus the babedawg and koolcat help me chill. Amen? 🐕💞🐈

Now that I am old—much older than my dad when I was a virulently fired-up radical, I realize how annoying I was. My father wasn’t even political. Just inquiring about a son who was a journalist. Yet I insisted on my politics—on anyone who dared argue via the contrary insight. My opinion or eat your onion; my way or walk the freeway! So these days when I talk with peeps who push their partisan pizza on me, I just shake my head. Then I whisper to Alexa: “…Play Bee Gees, please.” 🗣👂🥱

NBA talk. Chet Holmgren, who played for Gonzaga only for 1 year, could be the top draft pick. Yet, I believe, Chet is a project, full of potential but still very raw. Yet consider this: Top pick gets over $8 million on Year 1. The 10th pick: $3+ million. If a rookie is a Top 10 newbie? Instant millionaire! You don’t get that pay even if you finish with a PhD. Meanwhile, look at what happened with Top Picks Greg Oden and Zion Williamson who went straight to pro ball? But hey they got millions! 

       The 1-year pay, of course, doesn’t include perks, bonuses, and endorsements. In case the rookie gets hurt (like Mr Oden and Mr Williamson), still—he gets the money per contract. In case the injury didn’t heal and so he retires? Still, the pay goes on per contract. Hence, these days they are very careful that players don’t get hurt. Hard foul? Let’s review the TV monitor, okay? Flagrant Foul 67 or Flagrant Foul 89? These guys are huge business investments! 🏀💰🏀

Due to primal cultural diversity, we will stay different till we expire. Your belief is yours; mine is mine. But it doesn’t mean we can’t share dinner, play chess, or dance pasodoble as ballroom partners. Mutual fun is gained as we explore what we can enjoy as two over those that instigate us to fight. Left or Right; religious or atheist; pro life or pro choice etc. Human reflex works around a common response to universal coolness. Pursuit of good is fun; dwelling on bad, sux!☯️💝☮️

I observe other homepage/s that are busier than most, with a minimum of 15 usually intense comments to a post. Ah! Imagine if I’d be responding to each rude response to whatever I wrote? Old age coolness wasted! LOL! It would be nice to get a few grownup replies once and a while, which I do, but I am thankful I am not usually provoked to respond to silly fireballs. Yet I wish I could meet that person in person. Maybe he/she’s cool without an e-gadget? 🗣👤👥

Peeps always ask for watch (streaming TV) recommendations. Of course, there are thousands to type up. But in terms of comedy, which are mental health imperatives especially these days: Try “Kung Fu Hustle,” a Hong Kong made tickler. However, if you say “Nah ah!” because it is essentially Chinese or it is martial arts (violent?) that’d mean, the movie will not do you no good for laughter. So I suggest, increase your Zoloft dosage and go click “Dr Phil” on CBS. 😜🎬🤪

I do follow politics, 24/7. It was a professional (journalism) job and so even though I am not active anymore, I got used to it as second-nature. Many say they don’t want to talk “political” or delve into politics chat. I understand. Few really follow politics as “crazily” as I do or dig in deep to figure things out. They don’t want to talk about stuff that they are not familiar with. The problem is, when people who don’t really read/follow politics argue about politics a lot. 😏🍆😟

What is shared on Social Media are those that we choose to reveal. Sure. The integral parts/truths of us stay TMI a.k.a. "too much info." Yet despite all the drama and genius that are shared for transparency, I notice that humanity here tend/s to get scared, guarded, or wary of people more. Walls are built rather than bridges connected. Interaction out there would know us better—but hoping that the conversation isn’t about whoever you voted for president. Otherwise, stay in. LOL! 🗣👤👥