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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

my fish don't care who won the election

...as long as they are given the opportunity to survive.

and just the same, i don't care what label the next regime tacks above their desk as long as they step back and take in the bigger picture.  no one is going to give a shit about a republican dominated election when their very own mother earth takes her last breath, no one is going to care about the name calling and mud slinging campaigns.  we see her stumbling yet waste all our energy arguing over which clique gets to run the playground.

yoo hoo, people .. we don't choose our friends because they wear a red shirt or a blue shirt, we choose them because of who they are and what they stand for.  should our elected officials not be held under the same policy?  i say abolish the "party" affiliations and get back to basics.  who holds the same beliefs, who is honest, who best represents YOU?  get big business and money grubbing greed out of control.  cap campaign spending, cap salary and benefits, and most importantly cap the underlying control held over your own head.

i'm far from saying the issues at hand aren't worthy of time, consideration, blood, sweat and tears .. i just see so many people losing sight of reality and getting swept up in the political circus.  what a shame.

as an example, a recent exchange on FB in which the entire point was overlooked and drug right back down into the political mud pit:


seriously shon, the name calling and flat out "you're stupid if you don't agree with me" attitude is a complete turn off and TOTALLY offensive attitude. what exactly are you expecting to accomplish? do you think the person you're spitting at is going to hear a word you're saying, even if you have a valid point? hell no. you're being a detriment to your own cause. consider your words a bit more carefully, my friend, people outside of your march may just listen if you stop acting as if your point of view is the only valid one. how many minds have you opened with the help of "pathetic" or "ignorant" or "pitiful" .. think about it.
2 hours ago ·  ·  · See Friendship

  • Deanna  likes this.

    • Brandee by the way, this is being said by one who doesn't claim affiliation with either party .. just to make it clear i'm not acting as a cheerleader for one side or the other, nor are my words in any way politically charged.
      2 hours ago ·  ·  1 person

    • Shon Sorry.. but the republicans are fucking evil idiots. Does name calling help? Nope. But it's true.
      about an hour ago · 

    • Shon  If people actually PAID ATTENTION to who did what and WHY they are doing it, NO ONE WOULD BE REPUBLICAN. They are just IGNORANT ASSHOLES.
      about an hour ago · 

    • Shon 
      Besides.. what about the past 18 Months? All we heard from the right-wingnuts was MUSLIM TERRORIST SOCIALIST HITLER KENYAN... HE'S NOT AMERICAN...

      puullleeeeezzzzeeee. Uhm..yeah right. I'm being TAME compared to what the right wing has done for the past year and a half.

      about an hour ago · 

    • Brandee  two wrongs don't make a right .. just sayin. both are great ways to get people to stop listening to anything you say, worthwhile or not.
      about an hour ago · 

    • Shon 
      95% of the people on my page are left leaning. So mostly I'm preaching to the choir. I use this format to poke fun, vent and get out important information. I'm an independent. But when I see evil, I call it out.

      For example... OBAMA passed equal pay for women. The republicans wanted nothing to do with it. THAT is evil.

      about an hour ago · 

    • Deanna Dude....tell me you already left the gym?! or are you arguing politics from the gym between reps?
      about an hour ago · 

    • Shonlol... nope! I'm back. Got my frustrations out... Now I'm off to breakfast and an appointment at the APPLE store to learn more about Final Cut Express... :)
      59 minutes ago · 

    • Brandee 
      dearheart, Obama did not single handedly pass equal pay for women. he simply signed a bill that extends the time in which people can file a claim against discrimination in pay (not only against women .. but race, religion, national origin, disability and age as well.) he is a politician, just the same as the rest of washington. that does not earn him the glory of a saint. i fully support the bill, don't get me wrong, but the opposition had valid points to take into consideration .. the extension will encourage a flood of frivolous lawsuits and be a boon to trial lawyers. it -will- be taken advantage of. my point is that varied points of view are a good thing .. no one should view any such matters with a narrow mind. a fully informed decision is always the best decision .. and the most logical way to influence the best outcome.

      an "ignorant asshole" sterotype does what good? none. a metalhead should know this, and hold it dear .. what stereotypes have YOU been wrongfully lumped in with?

      clear your mind, educate yourself, share your opinion .. absolutely. but, also, understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and we all need to respect that whether or not we agree with said opinion. and understand that by belittling another's opinion, you do no good. you spread the evil of a mindless sheep mentality in doing so.

      we all have the right to support whatever we choose, and we also have the right to change our minds when presented with raw facts void of bias .. based on our own morals and beliefs. -that- is the beauty of a free nation. -that- is what we are fighting to keep. please, don't lose sight of the real battle.

      40 minutes ago ·  ·  1 person

    • Deanna  Shon....I love this girl!!!!Not only is she hot...but she's probably one of the more intelligent people on your page.
      36 minutes ago · 

    • Brandee  well, hello there deanna .. -insert seductive brow wiggle here-
      32 minutes ago · 

    • Deanna ooooh...blushing...intelligence is a turn on and the hateful statuses ...turn off!
      27 minutes ago · 

    • Shon  Don't dare tell me to educate myself on the matters of politics. You're treading in dangerous water there.

      The republicans have screwed the pooch...and WE are the pooch.

      16 minutes ago · 

    • Shon Besides...what's the fucking difference between me calling republicans ignorant and you telling me to educate myself? Hello kettle.
      9 minutes ago · 

    • Brandee bite your tongue and re-read what i wrote. i was NOT suggesting you educate yourself .. i was standing behind the fact that you did, encouraging the fact actually, along with sharing your opinion. "absolutely" to be exact. don't seek offense where there is none intended. and don't jump my ass when it's unwarranted.
      5 minutes ago · 

    • DeannaWow, Shon.....completely over your head....that's what you picked out? I kept telling you not to generalize people regardless of their beliefs....not one person in this world is ever entirely right on anything, or entirely wrong. That would include you...and the rest of us!...this is what happens when you work out for only a short amount of time and don't leave enough time for the endorphins to be released!
      3 minutes ago ·  ·  1 person

Friday, December 24, 2010

cuttle bugs and mutts

well, the cuttle's system has been taken down for full-on revamp.  i had been housing a few of the darwin occy clowns in the top tank and a few feeders (silversides and ghost shrimp) in the bottom tank .. with a handful of frags scattered between the two as well.  everyone has since been relocated; the clowns and silversides moved in together (and are getting on quite nicely i might add,) the ghost shrimp are now exploring the display reef and the coral frags are hanging out in limbo for the time being.  i've yet to decide on a specific plan to improve the set-up for a new batch of cephs .. but can't wait to have a few of the little characters back in my days, i really do miss them.

the remaining wildlife in the house all seem to be consumed by a marathon crabassin' session, brought on by old man winter.  the 3 mutts are not impressed, nor is the boyfriend.  (yes, he counts as wildlife!)  any more than a dusting of snow and arnold, the black chihuahua, is forced to follow premade paths that the girls have cleared before him .. or face the challenges of a low draggin' belly.  you think you've got it bad?  try on a pair of 4" legs and let arnold know how that works for ya.  tassi and teej (pictured to the right) are constant warm hogs, whether it be the real estate in front of the fires or the last square inch of blanket to be swiped.  not a fan of winter to be found in this household.

with that being said, i say it's time i light a fire (literally and figuratively) and get the few bits of wrapping taken care of so i can wrestle the beasts for a spot on the couch and enjoy a night in with the family.  merry christmas, folks!  enjoy!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

well, hello there! nice to finally meet you!

Scientists find new species in Papua New Guinea - Yahoo! News

24 frog species, around 100 insects .. and not so fortunately, "scores" of spiders. yes, i could do without the 8-legged demon spawn discovery.

it only adds to the mounting excitement to explore such unchartered territory.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

MACNA 2010 et al

the way i see it, there's no better starting point for a blog than MACNA xxii .. it was, afterall, a bubbling cauldron of memories being made for the fish geek masses.  perfect.

Photobucketi'm always a frazzled mess the days prior to leaving, this instance was no exception.  in spite of my skatterbrained self, i made it out the door thursday morning at the uncivilized hour of 4:30am.  (oh, and i do apologize to anyone that had the misfortune of crossing my crabby ass path that morning!  poor Joe took on the job of braving my foul attitude and getting the coffee IV started for me .. he most likely saved someone from bloodshed.  thanks, babe!)  once we finally landed in orlando the blur began!


Photobucketthis is the second year for Hughie and i to take part in the adventure better known as MACNA.  friends, new and old, fishes, corals, gear and more information than humanly possible to cram into one weekend .. that's what fishgeek paradise is made of!  well, that and the after parties after the after parties .. can't forget those.  ORCA made one helluva host, outstanding job!

PhotobucketMACNA in review is simple .. one word captures the entire weekend;  phenomenal!  the Orlando Reef Caretakers Association pulled off a smooth, well orchestrated conference at a gorgeous venue, packed full of the latest and greatest vendor exhibits and products, a fully stocked agenda of presentations by the industry's best, 3 full days of top notch raffle swag, more freebies than most of us could squeeze into our luggage, meals fit for royalty .. and most importantly .. over a 1000 of the coolest people in the nation that share in our obsession.  REEFERS UNITE!


selfishly, i must confess the raffle as being the highlight of the weekend for me.  i was sitting in the back by myself as my dad had just stepped out (not realizing the grand prizes would be drawn next.) i swear the gentleman calling the raffle somehow slowed time down to barely a crawl as he announced the winning ticket number for the PNG trip. i'll never forget .. 0 .. (a few random groans rise up from the crowd) .. 7 .. (and then a few more) .. 6 .. (dead silence) .......2. time came to a grinding hault as i stared blankly at my ticket stub. OH MY GOD! THAT'S ME!! (insert ear splitting scream here!) the next few moments remain a blur .. the only thing i'm positive of is that i was reduced to a babbling fool amidst the circle of people that had started forming around me, hugs and tears were plentiful! i had asked friends a few rows up to please go find my dad, he came rushing in just as David handed me the guide book on speaking Pidgin.  i overheard him tell someone, "this is the first time i've cried in 60 years!" and i thought my heart might explode then and there.  last year was our first MACNA as well as where we first learned of the SEASMART program.  we've talked about PNG ever since and what awesome work is being doing there, that booth was our first stop at the conference.  (once again i must extend an apology, this time to anyone we may have trampled over in our mad rush to get to the SEASMART booth when the doors opened friday!)  we've jokingly argued about who was going to win since the day we heard there were trips being raffled off. (which, by the way, may very well be the first time i've ever won an argument against that man!)



Photobucketi haven't a clue how to summarize what this means to me.  if there are words out there that embody the level of thrill i feel i don't know what they are.  the SEASMART program is doing amazing things for not only the aquarium industry, but most importantly for PNG as a whole. and now the chance to actually experience it firsthand is a reality!!  seriously?!!  i still can't wrap my head around it!


from that very special moment on, the outpouring of enthusiasm and support has been unbelievable!  i am so grateful for each and every person that has extended a congratulation, offered their time to answer my questions, spent a moment to listen to me tell my story over and over and over again.  THANK YOU AGAIN!!


PHEW!!  what a weekend!  it's going to take me a month or more to process everything!  be sure to take a moment to check out the gallery page and enjoy a little eye candy.