Tip of the Iceberg, people. Tip. Of. The. Iceberg.

New Yorkers say, "Butt out."

The Elephant in the Room

Okay, I'll step off into it.

The MacKenzie Phillips/John Phillips 10-year incestous relationship announcement.

I'm of the feeling that it is true simply because a person does not share that type of information when it is not true. We all know that to make that type of announcement does not immediately make you a target for only sympathy. It also invites all manner of vicious attack allegations from those who don't believe it to be true. I think MacKenzie loved her Dad. I think she had a very messed up upbringing and a severe lack of parental guidance and acceptance. I think she has endured an extremely painful journey to get to this point. I think she is trying to heal. My best wishes go out to her.

And now for a few words from her brother (from CNN.com):

Mackenzie's half-brother, Tamerlane, the follower of an Indian guru, is having none of it.

"My family is and always will be a decrepit bowl of dog urine compared to Nityananda of Ganeshpuri. That is how great Nityananda is," he told the New York Post's Page Six. "Worship Nityananda, not the Phillips family."

Oh. My. Yord.

No Filter

As I was sitting with the Husband and SIL (Sister-in-Law) the other evening and discussing dealing with difficult people, they both informed me how I "have no filter."

By no filter they mean that I say what I think and feel without running it through the mental "should I say this out loud?" filter. Apparently their opinion is that I should utilize my filter more than I presently do - - which is never.

I can honestly say that I do not recall a time when I have regretted anything I have said and most especially if I said it during a highly emotional moment.

I think that it is part of what is wrong with our society today. That politically correct bullshirt that started during the Clinton years did nothing except create more friction and less common ground between people of differing views. Oooh, don't say what you really think because that will offend somebody somewhere.

How are we supposed to find common ground on important issues if people won't put their true thoughts out there and hear the other person's true thoughts THEN work towards the middle? How the hell are you supposed to know where the actual middle IS if nobody is honest about their actual position?

But back to the discussion with the Husband and the SIL. The question was posed to me, "Don't you sometimes think that you shouldn't say something because it will hurt the other person's feelings?"

My answer: "If they don't want my opinion, then they should not enter into the discussion with me in the first place. If someone's bad behavior is affecting me, damn right I'm going to call them on it. When I believe in something, I'm passionate about it. Apathy is one of those things that completely sets me off."

Another question to me: "Yeah, but do you have compassion?"

Me: "Very little of it."

My experience is that "the filter" only causes misunderstandings and frustration. And sometimes irreparable damage to the relationship. The misunderstanding is because the filter prevented an honest opinion from being heard. The frustration is caused by the misunderstanding which results in no resolution. No resolution means no improvement, no change, continued lack of honest communication. Damage that will never be repaired nor prevented.

Y'all can keep your filter.

Thou Shalt Not Oppose Thy Obama

Great article.

Heartwarming, my ass.

Apparently the guy who abducted Jaycee Dugard in 1991 is saying that "if you just take this a step at a time, you're going to fall over backward, and in the end you're going to find the most powerful, heartwarming story."

What kind of crack has that douchebag been smokin?

Shoot him.