b120 (10.11-1.2024): thank you for this moment

thank you for this moment [i]
by h. i. story

thank you for this moment
thank you for this time
thank you for this his-story, this my-story, this rhyme
_____________________________________
 
thank you for another mini-moment that is free from: disaster, danger, insecurity, anxiety, starvation, disease, disability, war, apocalypse, fear…
 

…as i relax here:

safe, warm, sleepy, and well!

 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.11-1.2024). thank you for this moment. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.10-1.2024): it's disgusting

fox vs. msnbc [i]
by joal

alternative title: it's disgusting

 
fox ‘news’ is the whiny/bully channel, and m.s.n.b.c. is the whiny/pussy channel. neither are regulated by the f.c.c., so they (like c.n.n.) can spout opinions (sprinkled with a few facts to coerce ignorant confirmation bias).
 

it’s a super-rich guy (or two)…

 telling lemming-like plebes what to think and believe. 

it’s disgusting.

 
working as a bartender, it has become easy to spot a worshipper: a person who loudly vomits idiotic conspiracies as if they were truths.  

it’s disgusting.

 
some people can watch some ‘news’ objectively.
 
others… are simply disgusting.
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.10-1.2024). fox vs. msnbc. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino. 

* prove it!

question: how can one 'prove' (to the average joe) the following:

1. there is no santa claus, or big foot, or lock ness monster, etc.

2. reindeer do not fly, and there is no toy factory at the north pole.

3. "______" does not exist.

4. the earth is not flat.

5. the moon landing was real.

answer: you can't. 

critical thinking, however, examines claims (such as those above) by examining similar and associated claims by those who might benefit from your belief in the claim.

in regard to santa, for example:

• many of those who told you about santa... later admitted that they were, uh, kidding.
• you have never seen a reindeer fly; you have never seen a reputable video of flying animals (outside of birds & 'flying' squirrels); and you have experienced gravity.
• you deduced that 'magic' (as in magical candies that make reindeer fly) is a trick.
• you've observed the tellers of the stories... uh, lying about other things. 
• you've lied about santa, yourself.  you've been part of the deception! 
• you've seen many, many men in fake santa suits.

so.  although one can't definitively 'prove' that santa doesn't exist, one can arrive at a logical deduction.

b120 (10.9-1.2024): will someone eat my dog?

will someone eat my dog? [i]

by o. w. ner

will someone eat my dog?
 
will you take him away?
will you do what it takes to stop this barking (every day)?
will you please come and steal him in the early morning fog?
will you (please) come and take him?
 
will someone eat my dog?

 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.9-1.2024). will someone eat my dog? book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.7-1.2024): giving-up an addiction

giving-up an addiction [i]
by joal

when you give up an addiction or an attachment, you have-to deal with the stuff that the addiction/attachment was coping for (or suppressing). 
 
maybe it’s loneliness, maybe it’s depression, maybe it’s overwhelm-ment, maybe it’s tinnitus, maybe it’s just “numbing yourself out,” and escaping from the world and the ‘new-s’ around us, but the bottom line is… when the addiction (the substance, the person, the thing [e.g. running]) is gone, you’re going to have to deal with the situation.
 
…and that is why it is soooooo hard to give-up an addiction or attachment… and why it is soooooo easy to go back.
 
one course of action (though, admittedly, this is not an easy task) is to substitute a more positive addiction/attachment that copes (even better?) with the original dilemma/challenge.
 
why isn’t this substitution easy?  because (if it was), we’d be doing it already.
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10-7-1.2024). johnny’s got a mask on. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.6-1.2024): pretty, little, ball

pretty, little, ball

by havina ball
 
pretty, little, ball
oh! (so round and blue!)
hanging out in space as if there’s nothing else to do
 
(strange) the people on it don’t respect their home (at all)
they live for the moment:
 
pretty, little, ball

_________________________
 
·       the ego lives for the moment.

·       Love, on the other hand, Loves the past (with gratitude), Loves the present (sense-sations), and Loves the future (with compassionate planning).
 
the ball that we inhabit is a living organism that provides us (a very vulnerable species) with just the right conditions (for life).  

can we Love mother earth?

____________________________
martino, j. (10.6-1.2024). pretty, little, ball. i saw it on TELEVISION! ©2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.5-1.2024): flower petals, missing

flower petals (missing) [1]

by ima flow err
 
flower petals (missing)
flower petals strong
flower petals wonder why (can’t we all get along?)
 
flower petals in the present moment (touching/kissing)
flower petals happy/sad
flower petals missing
_________________________
 
·       during tough times (e.g. after hurricane helene) the tendency is to focus on the missing flower petals: what was, and what is no more.

·       simultaneously, though, several flower petals stand strong: united, touching, and swaying in the breeze.

·       amid the sadness, there is reason for joy, gratitude and happiness.
 

…but (still) flower petals are missing.

 
____________________________
[1] martino, j. (10.5-1.2024). flower petals (missing). book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! ©2024 by j. martino.
 

* "you hurt me" (a translation)

"you hurt me!"

it sounds simple enough: "you lied" or "you cheated" (etc., etc.).

if one were being honest, however, here's the translation:

"i'm hurt, because i'm embarrassed."
"i feel hurt, because of my own unrealistic expectations of you."
"i am hurt, because i allowed myself to believe what (obviously) wasn't real."

in many cases, the person who ends-up "hurt," either bought-into society's lies (e.g. "till death do us part.")... or (worse yet)...

"i co-created the deception -- by 
letting a friend/lover/family member know what i wanted to hear."  

none of this is "wrong," per se.  after all, everyone is just trying to live his/her best life.  

we man-i-p-u-late.  
we express needs, wants, desires.

  
we exchange goods (ahem: vaguely).

in the end, all relationships are perfect... as they are the perfect opportunity (for the ego) to learn, to express, and to evolve.

evolution (spelled backwards) is "no-i-to-love."  it is a movement away from the small i, toward the Infinite Is: 

the I Am.

b120 (10.4-1.2024): johnny's got a mask on

johnny’s got a mask on [i]
by u. n. masked

johnny’s got a mask on
suffice it to say
i’ll be keeping my distance from johnnycakes, today
 
i don’t need no drama
i don’t need no fights
i’ll be keeping my ass safe from johnnycakes, tonight
_____________________________
 
don’t judge.  i’m not judging johnny.  i’m just stating facts.
 
·       he might have the covid.
·       he might be immunocompromised.
·       either way, i do not want to compromise him (or myself).
 
making a pre-caution-ary decision about safety is not akin to a prejudicial ‘labeling’ of those who wear masks.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10-4-1.2024). johnny’s got a mask on. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino.
 
* ’johnny’ refers to any random/average guy, out there.  ‘johnnycakes’ (on the other hand) is usually a term reserved for johnnys who demonstrate potentially adverse behaviors. 

b120 (10.3-1.2024): i train your ---king dog

i train your barking dog [i]
by a neigh bor

i train your ---king dog
when you are gone away
i train your ---king dog
that’s all that i can say
 
i train it like a rodent (or chameleon, or frog)
i train your little s--- (your mutt!)
i train your ---king dog
_____________________________
 
·       please control your vulgar mind.  the “---” stands for “bar”.
 
·       yes, when you leave that incessantly) barking dog out on your back deck, i use a device called a barx-buddy to stop it from barking… because you refuse to do so.
 
the truth is, we (neighbors) like your dog.  it’s you that we despise.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10-3-1.2024). iI train your ---king dog. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.2-1.2024): confirmation bias

confirmation bias [1]
by ima biased
 

alternative title: i'ma biased

confirmation bias is the way i see a thing
maybe there’s another way to view, to see, to Be
_________________________
 
·       bias (or pre-caution) is not necessarily a bad thing.
·       the challenge is when we pre-judge erroneously, based upon our pre-cautions.
·       the next time that we immediately dismiss an opposing proposition, maybe we can ask ourselves: “why do i believe my own side of the story?”
 
i once believed in santa claus, because i was told that he was real by people who i trusted.  event-u-ally, it became evident that reindeer don’t (really) fly, and there isn’t a toy-factory at the north pole.
 
confirmation bias occurs when an individual will not question his/her own beliefs & biases.  he sees as “evidence” -- things that support his beliefs, and he dismisses anything that might be contrary to his beliefs.
 

the error, actually, is in not being able to question one’s own beliefs and biases.

 
the solution, of course, is being open-minded… while practicing critical thinking, and while developing keen observation & research skills.
____________________________
martino, j. (10.2-1.2024). confirmation bias. book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! ©2024 by j. martino. 

b120 (10.1-1.2024): owners walk their dogs

owners walk their dogs [i]
by neigh bor hood

catastrophic flooding
tornado, lightning, fog
political in-fighting
owners walk their dogs
_____________________________
 
·        because (no matter what) dogs gotta eat.

·        dogs that eat… gotta get walked.

·        some pet owners care more about their pet than they do about humans… and i can’t blame them.

·        when the pet is the most important thing, the human (amid disaster) will take care of the pet.  hence,
 

owners walk their dogs.

 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.1-1.2024). owners walk their dogs. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino.
 
*hurricane helene has wreaked havok upon florida, georgia, south carolina… and even here, in north carolina (where dams are overflowing and faulting).  it’s amazing.  of course, humanoids love water.  we are made of mostly water.  we tend to build near water.  we seem to be shocked, however, when water does what water does. 

* emfh

emfh, or "every man for himself" occurs when the going gets tough.  there's a fine line between helping a neighbor (or friend) and defending the nest.

as i observe the neighborhood helpfulness (post hurricane helene), i've also noticed that, when a person's home is in imminent danger, it's emfh.  

b120 (9.28.2024): me, i'm sipping beer

me, i’m sipping beer [i]
by higher ground

there are those in peril, both far (and close) from here
while i’m high and safe (a sigh):
 
me, i’m sipping beer
_____________________________
 
·        because those who aren’t directly affected, aren’t as invested. 
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.28-1.2024). me, i’m sipping beer. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino.
 
*hurricane helene has wreaked havoc upon florida, georgia, south carolina… and even here, in north carolina (where dams are overflowing and faulting).  it’s amazing.  of course, humanoids love water.  we are made of mostly water.  we tend to build near water.  we seem to be shocked, however, when water does what water does. 

b120 (9.27.2024): me, i'm riding high

me, i’m riding high [i]
by yaneva know

busted dam* and raging river (debris flowing by)
someone’s getting flooded
me, i’m riding high
_____________________________
 
·        when you aren’t in danger, you can watch the danger, as a spectator.  you can only imagine how it must be… for those who are getting crushed by reality. 
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.27-1.2024). me, i’m riding high. book 120: i saw it on television! © 2024 by j. martino.
 
*hurricane helene has wreaked havoc upon florida, georgia, south carolina… and even here, in  north carolina (where dams are overflowing and faulting).  it’s amazing.  of course, humanoids love water.  we are made of mostly water.  we tend to build near water.  we seem to be shocked, however, when water does what water does. 

*if you want love...

 

* is god "All" loving?

i can't say that i "stopped believing" in god... when my mother (the most god-loving person who i've ever, ever known) passed-away in the way that she did. 

i probably never believed that an "all loving" god could murder babies (and unborn babies [see the kjv: genesis 6]), so it was more of a confirmation than a belief shift.

nowadays, when christians are removed from their homes and families and lives... hard-core believers as they may be... i am interested.  interested in a system that subjects otherwise intelligent people to believing in something that any third-grader would determine... 

bullsh--. 

* when someone "says..."

when someone says 

"i'm not pointing any fingers..."

it's important to take a good, hard look -- at their hands.

👈             👉

b120 (9.23-1.2024): atti & grati tude

atti & grati tude [i]
by atti & grati tude

atti tude and grati tude seemed latitudes apart
but there is no denying certain matters of the heart
when they joined together (just in time to reproduce)

atti met with grati: 

attitudes and gratitudes

_____________________________

 

·        …and the off-spring-ings of attitudes gratitudes -- lived happily-ever-after. 

 

___________________________________

[i] martino, j. (9.23-1.2024). attitude & gratitude. book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! © 2024 by j. martino.

 
“i am grateful to have experienced what i now (momentarily) miss.”
😊 

b120 (9.22-1.2024): fall has come (you're gone)

fall has come (you’re gone) [i]
by a. man

gone (the heat of summer)
gone (the heart seems torn)
gone (the chirp of hummingbird), yes,
 
fall has come (you’re gone)
_____________________________
 
·        the most significant thing that fall brings is what it appears to re-move: hummingbird activity.

·        the chirpers leave much too soon, imho.

·        like everything else in life, however, we get to miss that which we love – once it is gone. 
 
maybe the way to look at this type of yearning… is from a gratitude perspective:
 

“i am grateful to have experienced what i now (momentarily) miss.”

😊

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.22-1.2024). fall has come (you’re gone). book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! © 2024 by j. martino.

  

b120 (9.21-1.2024): some men said lots of sh--

some men said lots of sh-- [i]
by a. man

some men said lots of sh--
then claimed that it was true
some men said “if you don’t believe then shame & hell on you!”
 
some people thought what some men said was perfect (not re-miss)
a band of lemmi-lemmings:
 
some men said lots of sh--
_____________________________
 
·        of course, believers simply believe what they are told.

·        their cult does not allow for questions or critical thinking (uh… ummmm...  no cult does).

·        the current-day tv personalities do not care one-iota about the truth. 
 
their primary job is to get you to believe, to tune-in, to click, to search, and then to confirm your own biases… based upon what they told you to think in the first place… while following their agenda.
 
it is …poetic!*
😊
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.21-1.2024). some men said lots of sh--. book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! © 2024 by j. martino.
 
* it’s pathetic. i don't even find it Une-etric.

b120 (9.20-1.2024): a bomb is like...

a bomb… is like… [i]
by a. dog

a bomb is indiscriminate (the answer isn’t hard)
a bomb is like a very, very, very angry god
_____________________________
 
·        humans invent terms like “collateral damage” when innocent women and children are killed and maimed by bombs.

·        humans justify the killing of innocents… much like the god of the old testament justified his anger by killing a whole planet of innocent moms, children, babies and unborn babies.

·        “the flood” (ummmm… you might actually have to read genesis 6) didn’t discriminate.  it killed every-body!

·        the u.s.a.’s “justified” use of the h-bomb is similar, and the notion goes something like this:

“they did bad things to us, and/or they might do bad things, in the future…

and that makes me mad.

therefore, i have the right to kill

their innocent moms, children, babies and unborn babies…

in order to stop them from doing bad things.”

 
of course, in biblical terms, a “god” would have had an infinite number of other options… but (for whatever reason) he chose the “men of power” option.
 
hmmmm… this is interesting, since men of power wrote the bibles, and men of power told other men what “god” thinks, wants, does, and values.  in fact, men of power still do!
 
men of power use (and justify) bombs.

men of power use god... to justify bombings.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.20-1.2024). a bomb is like a very, very, very angry god. book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! © 2024 by j. martino. 

B120 (9.19.2024): why do you like hummingbirds?

why do you like hummingbirds? [i]
by a. hummingbird

why do you like hummingbirds?
the answer (plain to see)
the reasons you like hummingbirds (are)
the reasons you like me
_____________________________
 
1.      because they appear, they please, and then they are gone.
2.      they are beautiful!
3.      they are aerodynamic.
4.      they are fierce (when it comes to protection).
5.      they share (when appropriate).
6.      they are rare.

7.   they are seasonal.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.12-1.2024). why do you like hummingbirds? book 120: i saw it on TELEVISION! © 2024 by j. martino. 

* amazingness

after all these years, it is still startlingly amazing that u.s.a. citizens can be baited into black-white (us-them, democrat-republican, fox-msnbc) mindsets that (due to confirmation bias) do not allow for objectivity.

people can watch the exact same 'masters' (debating), yet see two completely different results... reinforced by their biased tv personalities (who, truth be told, care about the click and not the truth).

b120 (9.12-1.2024): kiss the ring

kiss the ring [i]

by jay dee

you throw me under bus
i smile (as you sing)
just you and i (not us)
 
i kneel and kiss the ring
_____________________________
 
·        because it’s best for me to do so.
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.12-1.2024). kiss the ring. book 120: "i saw it on TELEVISION!" © 2024 by j. martino.