If You Want Someone's Attention, Rant

Remember the commercial that said "if you want to capture someone's attention, whisper?" In real life, eh, doubtful. Too many competing voices. Writing online? Definitely not. Say it loud and clear. Timid won't cut it. Go bold or go home.

I've written news since 2005 and I've been a regular for Yahoo! News since they started the program on Voices in 2010. I've written about a thousand news pieces, a lot about Detroit. And I assure you, readers like straight talk, especially op/ed. They love to gnaw on the carcass of scandal, to snarl over politics, to mud-wrestle in the moral quagmire.  If You Want Bubblews Interaction, Rant on Inflammatory Topics

Tell Michigan Congress to Keep Landline Phones

Here's another fine mess, Stanley. Michigan lawmakers may cut landline phone service in Michigan within the next three years. AT&T says with cellphone increased usage, landlines aren't cost effective. Thank you, &patticake for first reporting this. Ending landline service is foolish for many reasons.

Many seniors don't or can't use cellphones. They rely on landline service for emergencies, home security, medical monitoring equipment: pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators and other lifesaving devices (says AARP).  Tell Congress We Need Landline Phones in Michigan

Boston Marathon Halloween Costume Death Threats Are Terrorism

Alicia Ann Lynch of Saginaw, Michigan certainly takes the prize for Miss Tacky with her Boston Marathon bombing survivor Halloween costume. She left empathy and common sense behind that day. She probably didn't meant to hurt anyone, but families of victims might not see it that way. She's getting seven levels of censure. But death threats? That's just terrorism in itself.  Death Threats Over Boston Marathon Halloween Costume Are Terrorism

Parenting Trick-or-Treat Trends, How Much Do US Moms and Dads Spend on Halloween?

Halloween is a controversial holiday. While parents are buying record numbers of children's costumes, other parents object to Halloween. Despite concerns of stranger danger and the fear factor, more parents are celebrating Halloween with their kids. Here are facts about how parents and children participate in Halloween for 2011.  Parenting Halloween, Trick-or-Treat Trends

Thank you Obamacare, Finally Healthcare That Benefits Us

I want to make a campaign poster for President Obama, showing him and a caption reading "Oh, Bama" I've supported President Obama since day one. It was a toss up with Hilary Clinton but I love them both. Just needed to clarify where I stand so any haters can jump ship now.

And about Obamacare, I love that too. It's about time we had some socialized healthcare. Here's why. My husband and I have been married since 1987 and always had healthcare. It was good--HMO. But a series of unfortunate events--lockout, illness, stillborn babies--meant job changes. And each year benefits were gouged and costs rose.  Read on Thank you Obamacare, Finally a Return on Our Investment 

Miss America 2014 Is Not Muslim, But I Like Her Anyway

We have a new Miss American Nina Davuluri and she's (gasp) Muslim. Wait, no she's not . Some screw-kooks just thought she was because her skin was dark. They railed that it was un-American especially so close to September 11. I don't get the connection but then I usually don't with bigots. The LA Times quotes some calling her "Miss Al-Qaeda" (just when I thought lunatic fringers couldn't get loonier).  Miss America 2014 Is Not Muslim, But I Like Her Anyway

Our Slantwise, Under the Radar, Off the Grid, Out of the Box Thinking

This article is somewhat divergent from my usual posts here. They have to do more with politics. But this is relevant as our way of interacting with people explains our political ideology, too. I just read that a Muslim group is marching on 9/11 to protest religious profiling of Islam
in connection with the twin towers disaster. A group of bikers (among others, I suspect) is launching a counter-protest under the thinking that Muslims caused 9/11 and how dare they "desecrate" the September 11 deaths with their march. See, that's exactly the time to march. And they have to call attention to this bigotry. I would stand with them. Because I try not to judge people by their identifiers--race, color, religion, culture. How can you, really? And this article gives background on where that thinking comes from.

My husband and I have always had...quirky...entertainment tastes. Like the weird cabaret circus musical we enjoyed at an arts festival in Grand Rapids, Mich. Or the radical punk venue we hit, with zombie black velvet wall art. Or that activist post-industrial "freak show" (their words) we explored in Detroit. We don't go purposely seeking oddities. They just recognize kindred spirits when they see us.   Our Slantwise, Under the Radar, Off the Grid, Out of the Box Way of Looking at People