THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT – CECIL'S WEBSITE

My friend Cecil Castellucci, is a talented, and quirky writer. I first came across her writings from her "Plain Janes" graphic novel series. My brother Dan and I immediately became friends with her on Facebook. She has a great heart and mind, and she is open and friendly to all. 

I usually don't "plug" on my blog (that doesn't sound right), unless I can definitely vouch for a person's writing, and character. I definitely can vouch for my friend Cecil, on all accounts.   

When you get the chance, check out her website: http://castellucci.wordpress.com/

QUOTE OF THE DAY - TAKE THAT, TYLER PERRY!

I can do lazy all by myself. 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - "SOCIALIST" NETWORK?

I think all these social networking sites were created by the government in order to make it seem cool to give up privacy.

The government knows that we are a celebrity-obsessed culture. What better way to quench our thirst for celebrity than to let everyone THINK they’re a celebrity?

Why do I have to know where you are every moment of the day? I have to know when you’re on the toilet? The only people who need to know if you spend an exorbitant amount of time in the bathroom is you and your doctor…And maybe your wife, if you only have ONE bathroom. 

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT – CALL ME, TWEETIE BIRD

Yes, I gave in, I am now on Twitter. I went from email, to Myspace, to Facebook, and now, to Twitter…talk about depreciation.

I am still gonna blog, I'll still be on Facebook, however, my Myspace account is collecting dust.

Man cannot live by Tweets alone…I still need to blog, there’s no way I can say all I need to say in 140 words or less.

Unfortunately, people say we need Twitter, to “stay connected”, even though Twitter is part of the problem in our society today.

We narrow down complicated issues to little soundbytes, and then spend most of our time trying to reiterate what we were “really” saying. I say, try to cover your bases when you first say it, this way you don’t have to backtrack. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

They said to give them a bio in 140 words or less, so I started out with this biography of myself in a nutshell:

Boy from New York City meets Jersey Girl and gets married. This is the story of the REAL Jersey Shore. Sort of like MTV's Jersey Shore, just less crabs. 

I always said these social networking sites are for people with a “messiah complex”, so to that, I say, “Follow me…and I will make you fishers of nonsense…”

http://twitter.com/Jseery77

QUOTE OF THE DAY - DEPRECIATION

One generation’s dirty limerick is another generation’s nursery rhyme...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH

If there’s anything that sickens me more, it’s the psychos at the Westboro Baptist Church. To hold up outrageous signs at military funerals, or any funerals, for that matter, is an atrocity.

Some may think it’s a stretch for me to say this, but I consider the Westboro Baptist Church to be a terrorist organization. If you can convince a congregation to hold up signs at a funeral of young men and women who sacrifice all for us…then, you can convince that congregation to do anything.

I just can’t wait till Pastor Phelps whips out the cyanide Kool-Aid for him and his congregation. When he does, I’ll appear in a giant Kool-Aid Man outfit and exclaim: “OH YEEEEAAAAAH!”

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - WHAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU

I know it’s a morbid thought, but if you died today, and had a chance to have an “out-of-body”, front row seat at your funeral…what would it be like? Who would be there? How many will be there? Who will give your eulogy? How many people would be texting on their cellphones? Who would be paying attention?

I think it’s important to sometimes think about this, not to say you have to live every day as your last, because that gets old quick. But, sometimes, we should be mindful of our legacy, as I mentioned in an earlier blog.

What do you want to be remembered for?

If you have more people at your wake than your birth, I think you’ve been a success in life.

It’s not about how many possessions you win, or how many “toys” you die with. Everything burns, in the end.

The only thing that can’t waste away is the human spirit. If you invested in the hearts of others, that investment will reap the greatest return, in the end. 

SPIRITUAL WRITINGS - LEGACY: THE other, OTHER AFTERLIFE

With the news of a dear friend passing away, and the passing of so many dear friends last year…I have thought a lot about the afterlife.

Does heaven exist? What will it be like? Which path will get me there?

Some people believe we come back as another physical entity, multiple times, until we reach nirvana.

Others believe heaven is an orgy of sex and food. (Now, that’s my kind of heaven! Bring on the harem girls and Hostess cupcakes!)

I would hear Christians say that they want to follow Jesus’ example of “storing up, treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Unfortunately, they had a materialistic spin on what Jesus had in mind. They went on to talk about how big their crowns are gonna be, and how luxurious their mansion will be. Really? Does it matter if you have the biggest mansion on your ‘block in heaven, even if you have no loved ones or family and friends to share it with? 

Jesus said, “in my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). Maybe that’s not the mansions we believe it to be in our carnal, materialistic mindset. If the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, than surely, our hearts can be a “mansion” for God, himself…His own true, dwelling place… 

…

So many people, of so many different religions, fight, lie, steal, kill, or die their way into a place we hardly know anything about.

It seems that most religious extremists will do anything to get into heaven, despite the cost of innocent lives that are trampled, under foot, in a “holy” crusading rampage.

So, I ask, what is the point of religion? Is it to reject selfishness in the world, only to be arrogantly driven toward a goal of an afterlife where we can play harps on our fluffy clouds?

I don’t know about you, but, if I make it to heaven, by God’s grace, I don’t want my cloud to be lonely. In other words, the ideal of religion shouldn’t be MY selfish pursuit to find the Kingdom of God, but, on the contrary, it should be about how many loved ones I can take with me, along the journey.

Our motives are all wrong. We’re thinking about how many points we can score for OURSELVES in the afterlife, rather than being mindful of those we leave behind.

There is another “afterlife” that we don’t hear enough about, and that is: LEGACY. When we go, what do we leave to others? And I am not just talking about material wills. I mean to say, what are we leaving, not only to our children, but the world, in general. Are we leaving a legacy of faith, hope, and love, or, are we leaving a legacy of fear, despair, and hate?

Even though I have lost many friends and loved ones, over the last few years, I am comforted by the fact that they were the kind of people who never thought of themselves. They weren’t trying to fight their way into heaven, so they can get their “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow. They showed loved, and they shared so much with us. They left a legacy that is immeasurable. And in that fact, I believe, they won their way into heaven, without even realizing it.

They weren’t obsessed with the thought of getting to heaven someday, because they were too busy bringing heaven...here, on earth.

They brought heaven on earth, via heaven’s universal language: love.

And God honored their faithfulness by letting them into his kingdom. 

It’s a win-win, for everyone involved. Even for those, like us, who are left behind.

I think that’s a sobering and humbling thought for us so-called “religious” people, who think we have all the answers.

Even Saint Paul, who seemed to be an authority on everything, admitted, “Now, we see through a mirror dimly…For now, I know in part; but then,  I shall know…even as I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Even Paul admitted, that he didn’t have all the answers, but, he knows about the power of love and forgiveness, as he used to be on a “witch hunt” for Christians, until the power of love intervened in his own life.

I am reminded of the blind man who was healed by Jesus in the Gospel of John. And the teachers of law, condescendingly asked him, “How can you say that a ‘sinner’ healed you?” The man answered and said, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. All I know is that I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:24-25).

We don’t know, as a scientific fact, that there is a heaven. We’d like to believe in heaven. We’d like to get there one day, and bring everyone with us.

But we do know, that love changes lives. This is the message left to us by those dear friends who have gone on before us. This is their legacy.

I am so grateful for having known Danielle, Anthony, Eileen, and Estelle, and I know that their legacy of love will live forever in our hearts and minds, just as I believe their spirits will live on in heaven, for all eternity.

Love,

John

SOCIAL VIEWS OF THE DAY - PRAYER FOR JAPAN

I am devastated when I see the constant turmoil that the people of Japan are facing. I haven’t written in my blog for a week because the material I planned to write about seemed to pale in comparison to the magnitude of terror that Japanese people are suffering through right now.

When I look at Japan, I look at a people who have suffered so much, but they have survived and shown themselves to be the most resilient people on the planet. They have survived not one, but two nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that claimed up to 80,000 civilian lives.

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 were catastrophic enough with 3,000 lives. As for Japan, let’s times that by ten, and then triple that number. Talk about a post-Apocalyptic society. They have been there, and lived through it.

I know that this current, and continuing devastation in Japan will be met with that same resilient and everlasting spirit that is a testament to the Japanese character and fortitude.

Japan is one of our last, best allies in Asia. And they are in our prayers and our hearts, in this time of need.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - CHINA’S OUT OF THE CLOSET

When I was a child, I remember going to my grandma’s house, and the stuff that was made in China, was confined to a small space called a “China Closet.” It seems, back then, the only thing that was made in China were porcelain teacups. Everything that was made in America, was seen prominently, throughout the house, like Hoover, Black & Decker, etc.

Think of your house today. IT’S REVERSED! All the stuff that’s “Made in America”, like the beer dispenser cap, is shoved into your closet. Everything else in your house is “Made in China”.

These people took over the world, one teacup at a time…

Now, THAT’S an effective Tea Party.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - MTV’S JERSEY SHORE…THE MISSING LINK?

I used to believe in Creation, but, after seeing MTV’s Jersey Shore, I have a hard time accepting: “Intelligent Design.”

Maybe we did evolve from apes…and maybe some of us fell out of the trees a little too late.

Or, maybe, just maybe, God has a sense of humor… :) 

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - WHO NEEDS GAGA, I'LL TAKE ALANIS, ANY DAY

Anyone nostalgic for the 90's? I turned on Saturday Night Live a few weeks back and there was a new skit for Wayne's World! For one, Dana Carvey and Mike Myers didn't age a day: they look great! For another, we’re getting nostalgic for the 90's? I hear, even Beavis and Butthead are making a comeback. Gee, I guess this last decade was so bad, it made the 90's look like the 50's!!!

George W. Bush was so bad. HOW BAD WAS HE? W was so bad he made Slick Willy look like Ike. 

Just think about that for a second. A draft dodger being compared to the Commander of the Allied Forces. Man, the quality of everything has gone down in years. 

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT PERSON BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Somebody on Facebook said we should have an "Ignore Sarah Palin Week". I said, what would be better is to have an "ignore ALL celebrities week". 

But the only way to truly ignore them is to ignore ignoring them. 

Hopefully then, they will go away...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - IT'S A BLUE DAY IN GREENLAND

Unemployed in the Garden State. It's like being unemployed in GREENLAND! Now I know what Andre the Giant feels like. :)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - THE MIDDLE EAST

You can’t ignore the Middle East. What would America do without the Middle East? Or their three biggest exports: religion, oil, and hummus. Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Think about the average American Sunday: we go to church in the morning, watch Nascar in the afternoon, and then snack on hummus while watching Spike TV, at night. 

Who doesn't watch Miss Hooter's America, while dipping celery in hummus? Am I the only one? 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - TEEN MOM 2

Teen Mom 2: Mom Harder.

Remember the good old days, when women used birth control? It's sad that young girls are just getting pregnant today so they can get on TV. 

Things have gotten so bad, we long for the days of good role models for women, like Monica Lewinsky! At least Monica found the BEST form of birth control.  

"Ju-no" what I'm talkin' about, man?

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - RUSSEL BRAND

Russel Brand: imagine Weird Al Yankovic as a British transvestite. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY - COURT JESTER

I wanna be a court jester in the Kingdom of God. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY - ONE

There should be no majority or minority. We should all be one. 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - GAY MARRIAGE

I say, let Gay people get married. You want to stop hearing about Gay sex on every channel? Let them get married, they’ll stop talking about sex, real quick. 

Marriage: The Great Sexual Deterrent. 

This way they’ll spend most of their days deciding who takes out the garbage, who washes the dishes, or who pays the bills. 

So tell gay men, “you go, boy”, or, lesbians: “let them eat pie!” 

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - 2010 OSCARS

My favorite comment at the Oscars was delivered by Steven Spielberg, when he mentioned all the movies that didn't win best picture like Grapes of Wrath, Citizen Kane and Raging Bull. Basically saying, even if you don't win, you stand in very good company (sometimes even better than Oscar winners). 

Spielberg should know something about that since ET lost to Gandhi, Raiders of the Lost Ark lost to Chariots of Fire, and Saving Private Ryan lost to Shakespeare in Love. But which one is remembered, the Oscar winner or the loser? I would say the loser in those cases. 

Other than that, the Oscars needed to be seen with a triple espresso and five redbulls. I fell asleep, half way through, and only woke up to see my girl, Natalie Portman, win. 

“Hold me closer, Tiny Danc-ah”…but not when you’re the Black Swan—you might rip my head off…

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - JOBS

I was applying for a job, and this lady called me up to get into an online training program for $15,000. I told her, I don’t have that kind of money, until I get a job. 

But she said what about your future? Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket.

I told her, no thanks, but I should have said: “I don’t even have a basket to put my eggs in. Do I look like Peter Cotton Tail to you?” 

POLITICAL VIEWS OF THE DAY -STATE OF THE UNIONS

Contrary to popular belief, worker's unions are not terrorist organizations! Believe me, I know the difference. I worked downtown NYC on the morning of September 11^th. I know the difference between a terrorist and a union cop or fireman who charges up the buildings to save YOUR life, whatever political affiliation you might have.

My dad was a union electrician until he retired. He worked hard and provided for his family. So, for everyone who slacks off and tries to beat the system, there are hundreds of union workers, like my dad, who want to provide for loved ones. Oh, and I know this sounds crazy, but, maybe have some job security, too? This way they don’t have to get hypertension or bleed internally due to stress of inflation, unemployment, or gas prices going through the roof! 

If there is corruption in the unions, we have to bring those violators to justice, but, if we’re gonna weed out the unions, let’s also start with the corporations. I’m all for a free market system, but I am not for a system that bails out corporations and forecloses on working people.

It’s sweet to see the underdog Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl, but, it’s not so sweet to see Wisconsin fall under the weight of billionaire politicians.

And Democrats are as much to blame as Republicans. Republicans are the bullies, and Democrats are the whiney little kids who get their milk money stolen from the bullies. I’m sick of both of them. I’m sick of their bullying, I’m sick of their complaining, and I’m sick of their blaming everyone else for their problems.

Who’s gonna fight for the working people? 

QUOTE OF THE DAY - MARCH 2011 - TEA PARTY

Lotta Mad Hatters in that Tea Party. 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - "BUSH" CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE DICK - MARCH 2011

I heard the state of Vermont wanted to arrest George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for “crimes against the Constitution”. Where was Vermont, 10 years ago? Let's just find Bin Laden, get our oil, and get the heck out of the Middle East. We're in this current mess because of the Bush administration, but arresting him now would be like arresting OJ for stealing his own sports memorabilia...Oh, wait...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - TWILIGHT MOVIES - MARCH 2011

God, help me, my wife got me into the Twilight movie series. So who is Team Jacob and Team Edward, out there? My wife is Team Jacob, no question. I am still on the fence…I like the poetic heart of Edward and his old school, chivalrous ways. Edward reminds me of my younger self: a hopeless romantic. Jacob, on the other hand, is cute, with or without long hair. I love dogs, and werewolves are cool. And he is Native American, which raises his coolness factor up to 11. And how about those abs? Flippin’ sweet! I am totally straight, but let’s just say I wouldn’t stop Jacob from humping my leg.