(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Mr. President, our condolences.

Who can believe, after 42 years, this stronghold of Kennedy, can fall into the hands of the barbarians. You’ll have difficulty pushing forward your healthcare reform. Of course you already know, nowadays you need at least to be a big C celebrity to accomplish anything at all, notoriuos or otherwise. Even Oprah is in trouble, her “Precious” is only doing so so, on the onslaught of King (of the world) James’s Avatar. You need help, star-studded big help like George Clooney and the like. I heard O’Brien is free at the moment, fresh from winning the battle with NBC. I have to warn you, though, John McCain and Sarah Palin are back. Sarah is just finishing making a kill with her “Going Rogue” booktour. She is starting her TV showbiz.

Talking about going rogue, that reminds me, yes you should borrow a chapter from your neighour of the north, our Great Leader Stephen Harper, going ProRogue. Shut down Congress immediately, postpone the State of the Union address for a better day. You need to recalibrate, to reset your goals and agenda. Wipe your slate clean. You need a break and holiday. We invite you to come up to our Winter Olympic game, bring your Congress, to join our Parliamentarians (they are off work till March). Once you have re-grouped and re-shuffled your deck, then you can re-kindle your campaign of More Hope. Voila, your are back in business and can then rule like a majority.

( Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

News Flash: The man who police say shot and killed eight people in a rural Virginia home is in police custody, state officials announced Wednesday. Police say Speight fatally shot eight people at a house in Appomattox County, Va., on Tuesday and forced down a police helicopter after shooting its fuel tank. Authorities have identified the victims of the Virginia mass killing as four adults, three teenagers and a 4-year-old.

News Flash: A gunman clad in black went on a shooting rampage Thursday, killing his ex-girlfriend then slaying four workers at a suburban shopping mall near Helsinki before turning his gun on himself, police said.

News Flash: Two officers were wounded after the man opened fire on them when they responded to a domestic disturbance. The gunman was later arrested after surrendering following a four-hour stand-off. Richard Poplawski, 23, was armed with an assault rifle and two other guns and was said to be depressed after losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns.

News Flash: It was reported that the man who shot dead 13 people and then killed himself at an immigrant community centre in the small American college town of Binghamton on Friday was depressed because he was unemployed and had difficulty in learning English.

News Flash: In Los Angeles, an unemployed man with an MBA who was despondent over his financial problems shot and killed his wife, three children, mother-in-law and himself in an upscale home in a gated community. Officers found the bodies yesterday morning, after the wife failed to show up for work. The father left two suicide notes that detailed his money problems – one for police and one for friends and relatives. A will and a gun were found near his body.

News Flash: On Sunday a gun man entered Pinelake Nursing Home of North Carolina at around 10 a.m. with more than one weapon. Witnesses report that he used both a deer gun and a shotgun as he blasted through the hallways. Wanda Stewart hid out in a secured washroom while her estranged husband Robert Stewart allegedly went through the nursing home with a gun.

News Flash: In Toronto, A young woman, cuddling her eight-week-old infant, comes seeking help for physical abuse by her spouse: her eye is blackened and the baby has a broken arm. Another woman has also reached out in desperation: an argument over a dental bill ended with her enraged husband stuffing the invoice, literally, down her throat.

The country’s economic indicators may be falling, but incidents of domestic violence and deadly rage are rising. Hotline calls, shelter visits, and domestic violence-related crimes are all up significantly, according to recent reports from US, Canada and UK.

Job loss and declines in income add even more strain on violent relationships. A study on recent domestic-violence homicides found that “limited access to services for victims and unemployment for batterers” were key risk factors of abuse. And women often feel trapped in abusive relationships during tough economic times.

The economy is not causing domestic violence, but it definitely influences it.

Beware Recession Rage, don’t feed the beast, seek help.

THE END OF THE WORLD

(Original by Skeeter Davis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgcy-V6YIuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l-GpISGBFY

– Lyrics modified –

(In memory of all lost in the Haiti Catastrophe)

Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
‘Cause God doesn’t love me any more?

Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when I lost my loves

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why nothing’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you all said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you all said goodbye

( Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)


I was caught in Walmart the other day, and thrown in jail, by the “Buy American” police.

I am an convalescing shopaholic, ever since I lost my job a few months ago. I desperately try to avoid the brand name products; I can afford them no more. To quench my urge to shop, I decided to try Walmart.

This was a whole new world. It was a zoo in there. You were hit by aisle and aisle of products, at “roll-back” prices, which I can afford. Even better, I spotted names like Joe Fresh, just like bumping into a nodding acquaintance. I felt exhilarated. I piled the shopping cart with stuff, from underwear to grocery. I was in an up-swing mood, until I was greeted by the “Buy American” police, at the checkout counter.

I was accused of committing an un-patriotic act, harbouring anti-American sentiment and practicing anti-consumerism ideology. All my checkout items were foreign made, with insufficient American content. In my defence, I tired to explain, with the shrinking Almighty Dollar, we common citizen cannot afford American designer, high end fashion anymore. We have to survive, desperate time needs desperate measure. Further, how can we distinguish goods that are produced here at home and those abroad? By their names or their labels? Even a Toyota is Japanese by name only, it is produced by our workers here in America, and even worse, many products with label of ‘made in USA’ actually have components that are from elsewhere.

But do they listen!? Of course not, I was thrown in jail.

So what is my crime?

Just listen, here is what the DA eloquently proclaimed, my everyday routine:

“John Smith started the day early, having set his alarm CLOCK (made in Japan) for 6am.While his COFFEE POT (made in China) was perking, he shaved with his ELECTRIC RAZOR (made in Hong Kong). He put on a DRESS SHIRT, (made in Sri Lanka), DESIGNER JEANS (made in Singapore) and TENNIS SHOES (made in Korea).After cooking his breakfast in his ELECTRIC SKILLET (made in India) he sat down with his CALCULATOR (made in Mexico) to see how much he could spend today.After setting his WATCH (made in Taiwan) to RADIO time (made in India), he got in his CAR, (made in Germany) and filled it with GAS (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying American job.At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking on his COMPUTER (made in Malaysia), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his SANDALS, (made in Brazil) poured himself a glass of WINE (made in France) and turned on his TV (made in Indonesia), and wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in America.At bedtime, John Smith took at look at his financial situation. And realized he’s deeply in DEBT (made in USA).”

I became the casualty of the recession, globilization and protectionism.

The verdict: Guilty as charged.