Compilation of short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Before the pandemic, it was already hard to meet new friends in person. We are bombastically “connected” via the internet--but we are also wallowing in utter disconnect. The more “transparent” we could be, the more we ignite mistrust, doubt, and awkward distance from others. Hateful divides aided by politics worsen reaching-out. Then comes Covid-19. When these blow over, add fear of catching the virus to our paranoia. But I still wanna see you in person, uh huh. 👈👽👉

Children now, adults later. Children’s world, adult world. Children should frolic with life the way an evolving mind naturally does, with adult guidance—not control or imposition. This is their world, not ours. Our reality—pains, joys, failures, victories—isn’t necessarily theirs. Our politics as well as our religion aren’t theirs. I had many childhood “frolic” that I outgrew. Examples: Cowboys & Indians, John Wayne, and “Combat!” Yet I evolved into an anti-war activist. 👶👧👴

I know, I know. LOL! I am not good at (romantic) relationships. But I was raised by women. Goodness guidance, martial discipline, financial fundamentals. Women rule the household roost. For example, in these pandemic times when 10 from my immediate family got hit, and recovered, from Covid—women took charge. A niece is currently ill of lupus and now at the ICU. Women or the eldest sister lead ways to work things out. Men basically follow. No problem. We heed. 

       Sure, there are delinquencies and misbehaviors but Women as focal power in the household is a cultural fact in the Philippines. In fact, this isn’t even a subject for discussion. We just live that way. I live that way. Until I got enmeshed in the surreal complexities of love. LOL! That discussion requires elaboration. 👩‍🦰👩‍🦱👩‍🦳

In my most virulent years as a Leftist activist, I was also a huge fan of rock musicians, writers, artists, and Hollywood personalities whose (party) politics didn't necessarily share mine. Charlton Heston, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Lynyrd Skynyrd etcetera. I enjoy their art per se but I am not interested in their other selves beyond their work. Hence, I find it weird and whacked that each time a known person reveals what he/she had for dinner, things “change.”☮️☯️☮️

Racism is not discussed as frequently by those who are victimized or ridiculed by it. Racism could be juvenile light or monstrously evil. When others view me as less literate, dumb or clueless of what’s going in outside of the islands, that is subtle racism. Tolerable. Racism that is pure evil is physical violence, and trade “subjugation” by rich nations over poor nations on bilateral talks table. Those, we should fix. But the ignorant snide? I just shrugged it off. ☮️☯️☮️

Finished the Spanish series “Money Heist.” The story is fantastic; hard to happen. But somehow it makes many viewers feel good. Fast-paced riff and operatic melodrama. And the finale nailed it! GDP growth rate is good. But economic “goodness” mostly serves the 1 Percent, not the majority. The Spanish title of the series is: “La Casa de Papel” or the house of paper, or gold. But it's all paper, all brass. A complex web of economic trickery that benefits the elite. 📺💰📺

Huge fan of Neil Young. I am. But two songs are outta my playlist: [1] “Rockin' in the Free World.” Freedom to say whatever? I now credit that song to Rick Astley. [2] “The Needle and the Damage Done.” We gotta think first before we give in to whatever just because it is pitched as feel-good stuff? Nikki Sixx is more credible. Meantime, I am playing “Looking Forward,” much better. “I'm going to live / Like a free-roamin' soul / On the highway of our love.” 🎸🎼🎸

Neil Young, Joni Mitchell. Eric Clapton, Van Morrison. On two opposing sides of the vaccination caterwaul. Meantime, most rock legends—who sold their back catalogue to Big Profit for $millions$--should lessen the rants that only divide the people. Instead, why not do another Band Aid initiative? With or without vaccines, 6 million people die in Africa annually from various deadly diseases. I mean, Mr Young sold his songs to investment firm Hipgnosis for $150 million. He got moolah. 

       As I type this, only 4 percent of Sub Saharan Africa are Covid-vaccinated. It’s not because they don’t want to. You know why. They are Planet Earth’s poorest. So while the world’s superpowers are busy with the Ukraine Drama, why don’t Neil, Joni, Eric, Van and others do the pro-active gig and help those who really NEED help? 🎼🐈🎼

My professional writing years were uncomplicated: Wrote, filed, got printed, went home. Day after day. Weird to engage readers after submission of story. Like how it is on Social Media where eerie, rude comments are the thingy. Mental energy, valuable time wasted. There is a feature on Facebook that limits comments to your Page, only those who are grown up enough to talk can comment. Click it and have peace of mind. Meantime, keep on writing/posting.

       Writing per se calms me down. Responding to people as old as I am (or older) with 3-year old brain cells isn’t something that I am excited to do, ever. I am not raising kids anymore. Read me or you don’t, stay or leave. But I still write. ✍️🖐✍️

Errands with Marta The Nicer. My regular programming will be adjusted a bit because I am mobile. Huge thing that gets my brain cells hot and active: Ukraine Drama Redux played up as “Defend Ukraine” though it is pretty much “Defend Big Energy interest or sell the natural gas” issue. This is how brilliant superpowers negotiate profit, they do the macho chess game and push some (trade) pressure points. And humanity outside of Ukraine, watching via our gadgets, buys into it. ?⛽️🚙

Compilation of short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

For an hour, I read my Homepage before getting up. Know what others are thinking. The young exude darkness that is mostly personal. Family and relationships. Meanwhile, the majority of those my age are into juvenile fun like memes and videos. Though the “old” are divided in two: Those who click/share silliness that they’d normally castigate the young about; and those who post long discourses about life, politics, and correct way of eating ramens. Young and old are one on the subject of dogs. 📱👇📲

When a TV series or movie “moralizes,” it really frustrates me. More so, if the narrative is told on a misleading manner. The 3rd episode of Season 2 of “Ted Lasso” focuses on the soccer team’s corporate sponsor, Dubai Air which is UAE owned. The show claims the UAE pollutes Nigeria. Dubai’s Azur Oil is present in the country but the top three foreign oil giants are operating out there: Netherlands’ Shell, U.S. 's ExxonMobil, and France’s Schlumberger. Can’t the series simply do comedy? ?⛽️📺

Movie clichés? Examples: [1] Smells milk from out of the fridge. [2] Before heading out the door, character stops. There's one more line to say. [3] “Throws up” scene. [4] Covers boobs after lovemaking as though shy that partner sees `em. [5] Exhales while in the shower. [6] Runs to the airport before sweetheart boards in only to realize she didn’t. Turn around, boom! [7] Jason Voorhees drags himself to catch a victim who runs fast, on Nikes. But Jason still gets her in 3 seconds! 🎬🎭🎬

Whenever a famous person dies, we adorn our Page with adulation, superlatives, good stuff. That’s cool! Just thinking, while Social Media or other platforms offer us accessible and worldwide-reaching tools to “publish” whatever we are thinking, why not also post tributes to unknowns. Like our kin, friends, or people we’ve heard did admirable deeds as well. A “nobody” person need not die via OD, shot by a cop, or choked on 15 hotdogs to deserve Respect as they leave Life. 👍👍👍

Like many, my family also wrestles with Covid-19. Eight of us were hit but recovered fast. In between: A Dengue fever hit and lupus recurrence. Challenges. Fact of life. Meantime, energy spent on “pandemic as a political/partisanship” dartboard doesn’t help any. Yet flawed leadership amidst crisis is also a fact of life. But while waiting for good government and the end of scourge, let’s chill. Life doesn’t say all fours on rock `n roll ain’t fun over our Left or Right. 👈🎸👉

A lesson in peaceful intervention was displayed by Steven Adams of Memphis Grizzlies in last night’s game vs Chicago Bulls. Mr Adams took matters into his own burly arms, literally, after Bulls center Tony Bradley rammed a hard foul on Grizzlies’ Ja Morant. Before the silliness evolved into a real fight, the 6’11’ Adams carried—yes CARRIED—the 6’10” 248-pound Bradley away. No, he ain’t Jason Momoa’s bro. But New Zealander Steven is the real Aquaman! 🏀🤣🏀

Unfriending people that we engage/d in silly arguments is reasonable enough. But what is the sense in unfriending those that we don’t even talk to? Because what they post is contrary to what we believe in? Then I’d be unfriending 15-20 people each day, LOL! “Friend” only those who “thumbs-up” my guts? Nope. I learn from those who don’t share my truths. So let it rip but I don’t need to rant back. Yet I’d like to know what you’re thinking. My Page is public; not a cult. 

       I don’t get it why some type up, “Don’t who voted for Mr Bean, get out of my Page!” Or “Those who are unvaxxed, get lost!” You don’t even talk to them. Let `em rock as you rock out yourself! LOL! 👍🤖👎

Social Media reveals the dark, silly and “juvenile” aspects of our character that we’d normally “hide” before there was Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etcetera. I mean, we as adults or middle-aged grownups. Going through memes 24/7, especially those posted/shared by people my age or older, many are meant to insult or ridicule the “other side.” They meant “funny,” of course. But funny can be offensive to many. We know those. We are old. Just saying. 🤪💻😂

Many say they are leaving or taking a break from Facebook. I understand. I tried as well. In vain. Unless I am kicked out or Facebook shuts down for good, I am here. Active. It keeps my sanity on “even ground.” I post as I write as I breathe. It doesn’t matter if I get 2 likes or 200 likes or none. FB is my exhale. But I also do a lot of “in-betweens.” As long as I “facebook” (verb) in a structured manner based on a daily timeframe, I am good as I am still here. 

       Being away from home-country and family, Facebook offers me an accessible and convenient device, 24/7, to get “connected” with comfort zones and emotional lifelines. And I always enjoy knowing what others think and feel, even before internet days—hence I evolved into a journalist/writer. As long as my daily routine/ritual and OCD madness (for my other life’s “fixes”) isn’t derailed by senseless chats/arguments in here, I am good. I think I am doing fine avoiding immature debates here so far. 🤪💻😂

News TV that is all partisan political angling. No straight-up news. When News is “discussed,” it’s blatant Democrat or Republican. What irks me are the juvenile-styled insults and streetside ridiculing. This morning, I tried to tune in Headline News, CNN bud but “less-CNN,” you know what I mean? But anchor Robin Meade looked sleepy, exhausted, or sick. So I got lazier watching, with Arrow and Cyd. Arrow insisted on switching to the Animal Channel instead, her favorite. 📺😴📺