OMG! People are STILL Looking!

OMG! People Are STILL Looking at My LI Profile!

Yes! It's true. But it's worse -much worse. These "new" voyeurs think I'm a total Goober! I kid you not.

You might think you have some pretty impressive connections, but booby, let me tell you, I was just selected by the "7th Director of the FBI" as a good candidate to conect with. What can you say to that? Huh?

So this leads me to believe that I am either a heckuvalot more controversial than I thought (and I am being set up) or -perish the thought, some amateur hacker actually expects me to believe that I have made it to the TOP 300 on the list of people that James Comey wants to connect with in this whole wide word (and I am being set up...) -who-da-thunkit?

Let me sit back and unwrap a new candy bar to munch on while I re-read the fine print here. Feel free to read over my shoulder, but don't even THINK that I'm gonna share the candy bar!

Author's NOTE: "My" comments below are set apart in RED text -all other text was taken straight from the "alleged" profile page (BLUE text was only "accented" by me, for emphasis).


James Brien Comey, Jr
7th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Federal Bureau of Investigation
Gee, how profound and professional sounding: "7th Director "of" AND "at" the FBI"
  294 connections Mm-hm. Right.



On September 4, 2013, James B. Comey was sworn in as the seventh Director of the FBI.
 Hmm... he seems to have a tendency to speak of himself in the third person.

A Yonkers, New York native, James Comey graduated from the College of William & Mary and the University of Chicago Law School. Following law school, Comey served as an assistant United States attorney for both the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of Virginia. Comey returned to New York to become the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. In 2003, he became the deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Comey left DOJ in 2005 to serve as general counsel and senior vice president at defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Five years later, he joined Bridgewater Associates, a Connecticut-based investment fund, as its general counsel.

He was the United States Deputy Attorney General, serving in President George W. Bush's administration. As Deputy Attorney General, Comey was the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and ran the day-to-day operations of the Department, serving in that office from December 2003 through August 2005. He was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York prior to becoming Deputy Attorney General. Comey is also responsible for reviving the terror and intimidation tactics, used by the FBI in the past and denounced by the Warren Commission, known as "organized stalking" or "gang stalking."

Hmm... judging by that last sentence, he isn't too fond of his own methods, either... sounds a little self-depricating, don'tchathink?

In December 2003, as Deputy Attorney General, Comey appointed the U.S. Attorney in Chicago, close friend and former colleague Patrick Fitzgerald, as Special Counsel to head the CIA leak grand jury investigation after Attorney General John Ashcroft recused himself. In August 2005, Comey left the DOJ and he became General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Lockheed Martin. In 2010, he became General Counsel at Bridgewater Associates. In early 2013, he left Bridgewater to become Senior Research Scholar and Hertog Fellow on National Security Law at Columbia Law School.



Then they posted a picture -the same damn picture that he used for his profile picture -but I'm not supposed to have noticed that. It is revealed right on the page itself, to have been "lifted from" Wikipedia -yes, the "free" encyclopedia!

So, here's a guy, he's seven steps away from becoming General Director of one of the foremost "intelligence" agencies in the entire world, and he is reduced to scanning Wikipedia to find a decent profile pic? Yikes!

The next picture (the "icing on the cake," is what I like to call it) has a telltale "caption." It reads (and I quote): 60ed1d93-90ae-4e1a-8d0e-5c8a21a9972a

Gee, that must've been encrypted by the Bureau itself, eh? I'm just sayin...

So then (to add street cred, one presumes), he adds his "credo?" it's a hyperlink, by the way.
 Setting the priorities and policies for the Bureau; Ensuring centralization and coordination at the highest levels; Helping lead the fight against terrorism by serving as a hub for intelligence and information; Providing operational and administrative support to field divisions and overseas offices; and Taking the lead within the FBI during times of national crisis or emergency, directing major case and operations.




But here's the coupe 'd cras: "Advice for contacting" James, why, simply drop "He" a line at:
  FBI Headquarters
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
(202) 324-3000
...just tell his secretary that "He" sent me..., and if that doesn't get you right through to him, well, here's his bloody PERSONAL E-MAIL!
 
Private Email: privatemessage.jamescomey@gmail.com
I sincerely hope that everyone who reads this article will help me in welcoming James to the community by "dropping him a line." Just tell him his old buddy, Kaycee Jay Kendall sent you, because, I'll tell you what...

If he REALLY, TRULY IS who "He" claims to be, one of two things will likely happen, I will be arrested on some trumped up charges OR "He" will be sumariliy dismissed from the FBI. "Private Email" indeed!
 

GraphicNotations: Like This

GraphicNotations: Like This: Oh, you'll like this... or, well, maybe you won't. Anyway, I was spending an "inordinate" amount of time writing politic...

Like This

Oh, you'll like this... or, well, maybe you won't. Anyway, I was spending an "inordinate" amount of time writing political posts and one of my writers was ribbing me about it. In fact, the quotation marks are me quoting him as saying I was spending an "inordinate" amount of time... well, you get the picture. He was decrying the fact that I don't post any "broad humor" pieces anymore.

But it's like this: One thing led to another and I made a comment that he "liked," even while I was in the process of posting. So, I "liked" his "like." It was the weirdest thing. Somebody else came along and "liked" the fact that we were somehow enabled to "like" a "like."

Long story short, several more people happened along and "Liked" what we were doing -I capitalized that one because, and this is what is so cool, the "likes" went viral. Oh, you know how it goes, people are so bored these days, somebody "Tweeted" it on "Twitter," or something like that, and then, some other twit "retweeted" it, or something, because WOW! There are now about 62,000 "LIKES" on top of the original two likes!

I'd tell you where to find the pile-up, except that the server is down due to too much traffic.

Darkest Before Dawn

Republic, n, a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by Representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Democracy, n, a system of government by the governed.

Oligarchy, n, a system of government by the few.

Ever since Franklin Roosevelt's first one hundred days in office set a new precedent for usurpation of the American will, there has been a disturbing trend that has brought us to our current phase wherein it is possible to have a man in the highest office of the land that totally despises our system of government.

Maybe it's a sign of the times that we live in. Youth, in all its exuberance and energy, have never been known for their wisdom or for their respect for tradition. Certainly this is true in our current phase of the world's history. But for a man to take a public office, and to swear to his constituents, to solemnly protect and serve the country and to uphold the Constitution of these United States, and then to turn around and disrespect our fighting forces, our veterans, and to despise our flag -somehow, this defies logic.

"When in the course of human events..." it becomes necessary to make changes, to check despotism, to defy tyranny, to stand United against a Common Enemy, the American public has ALWAYS risen to the task. They say that it is darkest before the dawn. Well, the darkness that has settled upon this Nation is beginning to dawn upon a lot of the citizens that I know. The tables are turning, the clock is ticking, and even in this darkest hour, preparations are being made. Nobama's gonna stand in the way.

Doctor Benjamin Carson, in his bestselling book, "America the Beautiful," stated that "Democracy (is) Not a Spectator Sport." This is true. In addition, "We hold these truths to be self evident..." America is NOT an Oligarchy in the making. Regaining the senate from a runaway administration is only the first step. The darkness is lifting and the light is revealing the perpetration of a thousand sins.

 

FYI: The "Get Help" Button Doesn't Work!

A pair of graphs are walking down the street. One of them looks back at the last sentence on page four and asks, "what on earth is this world coming to? It's beginning to look as though the average writer can't muster syntax." The other one replies, "What did you expect? The whole world is helpless."

The first one says, "I thought the word was hapless."

The second one fired back, "Sorry, I meant to say 'hopeless.' "



　

Cut to:

My wife has told me, numerous times, that I need to "get help." My co-workers at my day

job and my landlord have joined the chorus. Now, even my kids are telling me

that I need "help."

What to do?

　

I asked my secretary; she couldn't fit me in before next Wednesday.

I called the "help desk," they put me on hold.

I asked my psychiatrist, he told me I was beyond help.

Finally, out of desperation, I tried the "Get Help" button on LinkedIn.

No luck.

All of our major systems are failing. It's just another economic indicator that suggests that we are in a seller's market. Every place on the internet that offers "help," seems to wantmoney -and LOTS of it!

It's not hopeless, but it certainly looks "helpless."

What should I do?

Any ideas?

Happy Halloween!

There are strange powers at work tonight. Although it is not quite Halloween, the shifts in the night time skies are a harbinger of things to come. The fog sits heavy and the  moon peers through a single, blurry eye, at the strange crackling of lightning across the panorama. Thunder follows, like the rumbling of the belly of a huge, unseen beast. Are you prepared for what is coming? Doubtful that you are -after all, I haven't even told you what it is, yet.

Steady yourself. All things will be revealed in their proper time. We are wrapping up the month of October, a few days early. This will give our hungry team the freedom to go out in search of sweets and chocolate. After all, they deserve it. We've been slaving over this cauldron for a month now, we are not super human, not super natural, just a little bit above average, perhaps. But time will tell.

We are scrapping our old image. It was a little too fuzzy-wuzzy for our tastes. Time now for "The Undertaker." While the Grim Reaper may walk these streets at night, come the end of October, November is the beginning of a whole new direction. Consider how this all began, some four or five hundred years or so, ago. Native superstitions in European villages called for a talisman to protect the villagers from the things that go bumping around at night. Those unseen spirits that haunted their dreams and hunted the streets at night.

"All Hallow's Evening," they called it. Followed by "All Saints Day," on the first day of November. The gradual shortening of the name, "Hallow E'en," gave us this current moniker for something that used to scare the daylights out of the fall-time worshippers. In less than a week, the sky will run with the color of blood. You will see things you never thought you'd see before. The awareness factor is over. Now comes the "revealing." For now, our message is simple: Happy Halloween!"

BOO!

I Wave the Flag Proudly



I have been getting a lot of flack over some of my recent posts. Apparently, some people have viewed my thoughts as derogatory against the great nation that we live in. It has been suggested that if I am not happy with the way things are here, perhaps I should try someplace else. In fact, a few readers have been a little more explicit as to suggests a few places I might go -I won't mention them by name.

The places, or the readers...

Let's get this one thing straight. I am NOT ashamed of my country. I was born in the United States of America. I have travelled to several foreign lands, in my years on this earth and there is NO PLACE on the face of it that I would rather be than right HERE!

My sentiments in some of my earlier posts (American Automaton; Groomed to Consume, etc.) are NOT bashing America in the least. In fact, it was my hope to help make the country stronger by posting such thoughts. Those were intensely personal feelings that I was expressing, because, I feel as though we (true Americans, that is) are of a kindred spirit. I spoke as though I was speaking directly to my own family - because, after all, we are one BIG FAMILY.

We are from many walks of life. We are from many ethnic groups. We are from many different creeds and religions. We are from many points of view. One thing that ties us together is the fact that we are Americans. We are many, and I am proud to be among such a group as we are.

https://www.flootie.com/art/921/battlecry-by-kaycee-jay-kendall/

I wouldn't draw pictures like the one depicted in the link above, if I was against America or what she stands for.

http://kayceegraphics.blogspot.com/

Anybody who reads my posts on a regular basis can tell, quite readily, I am NOT ashamed of America. So, my message, to those who think otherwise is, Lighten up.

Groomed to Consume

Shall we all decide to end this slavish devotion to the Capitalist god? I think there is merit in that concept. We are weaned on the corruption of mass consumerism from the day we break through the matrix. Like so many little sperm cells racing for that pie-in-the-sky reward of beating out the Joneses. Let's not panic if our progeny are able to come to their senses and break the chain of abuse. More power to them.

The lifespan of the mole is about 65 years, they say. Then, you get your gold (colored) watch and your fixed income that keeps you in a hovel for the rest of your days. The watch has a nice inscription, at least: "Thanks for doing such a great job, bonehead, now kindly get yourself off the grid so that the next generation of fools can find your trail."

The irony is that, while employers are constantly demanding higher skill levels and more secondary education, they are not paying enough to cover tuition + lunch, not to mention regular day-to-day expenses. This creates a conundrum for the commoners who are expected to contribute to their own health/benefits packages and work all three jobs without falling asleep at the wheel and causing the company a loss-time incident.

From the cradle to the grave, we in America, are groomed to consume. Conspicuous consumption is what we are all about, after all. Got to feed the machine. Got to keep the crank turning -if not, we will be guilty of crashing the party and that is a major faux pas. So get up, get going, get to work and keep that belt moving. Pass GO, collect your $200 and head for the mall to get mauled.

 



We are defined by our holdings in life. A man on Wall Street, with holdings in six figures is much more valuable than a man on the street corner, holding a cardboard sign. You need to learn one thing in this life -do your job. Elsewise, you will become that man with the cardboard in his hand -and what will your in-laws think of you then? Everybody sees the ladder. Everybody climbs the ladder. Everybody blocks the next guy from following along, because, if they get to your level, and heaven forbid, they find some way to outshine you in front of your peers, well buddy, your days are numbered.

 



I raise my glass to the man with the cardboard sign. He is one of the few Americans who knows what true freedom is. I know, it sounds ludicrous, but, there's nobody on earth who can tell that man where to sleep, what to eat, when or even how often. Nobody can tell him what to wear, how to wear it and where to put it when he takes it off. He pays no taxes, he pays no dues, he comes and goes at will. He takes days off when he wishes, without having to schedule and he doesn't care if he can't afford the latest trendy gadget.

 



So, shall we all decide to end this slavish devotion to the Capitalist god? Yes, let's shall! The time has come to consider the consequences of our choices and the impact that it makes on our progeny and our own feeble existence.

American Automaton

You probably stumbled into this post thinking it was a typo. You probably thought I was trying to write a piece about American Automation and just how grand we are in this country. I apologize to you if such was the case. I live in the wrong era to be writing such grandiosity.

An automaton, as you may well know (or, perhaps, you didn't) is a virtual robot. No conscience, no ambition, no innovation necessary to play this role. It's "Howdy, do what I say and not what I Doody Time!"

But an American Automaton is a unique creation. Such willful suspension of personal control over one's life has never been seen before, on the level that it is practiced in this country.

Our Founding Fathers attempted to leave us with "checks and balances" that could keep the government under OUR control. Instead of using them, however, our checkbook balance is out of synch to the tune of trillions of dollars -a number that didn't even exist in human knowledge at the time that our Founding Fathers walked the earth.

The Wright Brothers, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Alva Edison, Benjamin Franklin, all of them were American citizens. They turned the world on its ear with inventions and innovations, political persuasion and deep, introspective thoughts. But, such innovation has long since departed these shores. Now, we parcel our best innovations to the Koreans, the Chinese, the Mexicans and the Indians -not the kind that Christopher Columbus thought he'd discovered, I'm talking actual Indians -from India!

In Communist countries, the populace are coerced into virtual automatons. Not so, in America. We slip into the role so naturally, that we should be embarrassed. The problem is, we're NOT. Not in the least. We can't pull ourselves away from the boobtube, or our video devices long enough to make the synapse snap us into any kind of remorse. We are Guilt-Free Automatons. What an innovation for us, huh?

In Third World countries, extreme poverty is caused by draughts and overpopulation issues, extreme viral outbreaks and attempts at annihilation and genocide. In America, it's caused by banks and credit card companies partnered with a willful ignorance of finances.

In America, every vote counts -but no one cares to vote.

In America, the poorest individuals consume more than some Third World villages, on any given day.

In America, a "crisis" is the description of the web server being overloaded. Sun spots interfering with our satellite signal. Our water or electricity being shut off for an hour due to maintenance issues. A note from the court, saying we've been selected for Jury Duty.

In America, being an automaton is a compliment. Bully for us.

Public WIFI Can Kill -Here's How

You take your laptop to its doctor with a little viral infection and find out, to your shock and dismay, this is more like Ebola Virus and your laptop, and possibly, you might not survive the experience.

https://medium.com/matter/heres-why-public-wifi-is-a-public-health-hazard-dd5b8dcb55e6

Onus On US

Dr. Benjamin Carson has put the onus on us all. That is, on the American People. The Real American People, those of us who love this country and what it stands for. I'm not referring to the Leftists, the Rightists, the Democrats, the Republicans, the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Christians or the non-Christians.

I am referring to the Americans.

 Each of us has ONE VOTE. It is up to us all, to become informed citizens. To arm ourselves with knowledge about the issues, the candidates, the implications and the possibilities.

It's time to clear the temple, as it were. To drive out the money-changers and the opportunists who take their seats in office for granted. It's time to take out the trash.

 It's time to put people in office who respect the nation for what it is, for what it was and for what it could be. It's time to bring back the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the American Flag and the Government BY the People, and FOR the People.

 

What is a Graphics Specialist?

GraphicNotations is recognized by two major articles. 1) The Big Black Logo Button that ties it to Kaycee Graphics and 2) The tagline that reads: "Behind the Scenes With a Graphics Specialist."

Recently, it has become a minor controversy in certain circles. Part of the reason for that is the vagary aspect of the term "Graphic Design."

Industry is not the best place, sometimes, for coining terminology. Some graphic designers are merely artists, some are employees of an advertising firm, some are web designers, some are storytellers (in every sense of the word), but none are willing to clear the air regarding just what the term "graphic design" means.

Well, don't look at me. I don't know either. I'm not even going to touch that one.

Here at Kaycee Graphics, we are more than that -whatever it is "that" turns out to be.

A Graphics Specialist covers a lot more than just visuals. It is true that a single picture is worth a thousand words, but a hundred well-put-together words can, sometimes, paint a clearer image.

When people stare at a painting or a drawing, they very often, still have questions. "I wonder what this color is conveying?" or, "What's he intending to use THAT thingamajig for?" Sometimes images can be misleading.

What a Graphics Specialist does is to approach a project from a variety of angles at the same time. Not just words. Not just images. Not just copy. Not just rote. A Graphics Specialist takes into consideration a myriad of tools that are readily available, although not often used.

Multimedia exposure calls for multifaceted design. You don't always get the unexpected, with a Graphics Specialist, but you never truly expect what you eventually get. We take you into places where you never would've imagined yourself (or your company) going.

I can't necessarily tell you all there is to know about being a Graphics Specialist, after all, I have a business to run as well. But it's more than just that. What a Graphics Specialist is and does may vary quite widely from one job to the next. The simple fact is, if you are in doubt, you need a Specialist.

dblgriffin@Hotmail.com

Naked Ladies Invited

Honestly, I need to talk to the PR people about these titles. "Naked Ladies Invited" isn't even a complete sentence. Invited to WHAT? do they have to be NAKED? for that matter, do they have to be LADIES? I'll tell you what, let's put it another way -Naked Ladies will NOT BE turned away under any circumstances. However, this post is really for everybody, including (but not limited to) naked ladies.

As far as promotions go, we haven't really offered any discounts because, Naked Ladies or not, we aren't quite open for business. But that doesn't mean we WON'T be offering discounts.

Just check out this link: http://1drv.ms/1xZ4jht and see if there's anything there you find interesting.

It will lead you to a huge treasure trove of items that would fit naked ladies, or anybody else who could use a good covering. But bear in mind, they aren't actually on the market yet. This still falls under the guise of "preview."

Keep your eyes peeled, however, because the discounts are inevitable. And you'll find some of them RIGHT HERE.http://1drv.ms/1xZ4jht

How Does a Lunar Eclipse Occur?

How Does a Lunar Eclipse Occur? For years, scientists have struggled with how to put into words the method by which a lunar eclipse occurs.

With today's massive engines for research taking us to the heart of everything that exists, it has become the easiest thing to do. In the diagram below, one can observe the conventional approach to this dilemma for explanation, however, today, we will be discussing the newest methods and so we only present this image as a point of reference for those who might be unfamiliar with the subject of today's topic.

Casting aside the conventions of Umbra and Penumbra, we will insert new iconic images with words that we all speak. Another unconventional direction we will use is that of metaphoric pressure. Symbolism, after all, is an age-old device for helping your audience to conjure up images that help convey your message even as you are telling it.

Let's use a business model for this next portion. Let's say that you have a business, and for the sake of argument, we'll call it "Loona," after it's founder's nickname, "Little Looney." In place of Umbra and Penumbra, we'll plug in the terms "Abra," and "Cadabra." Now we have all the pieces in place, let me demonstrate:

Abra, that glory-grabbing, back-stabbing goober that works on the east side of the partition that separates your desk from his (Oh yeah, did I mention that this story is told in second person insinuative?) has apparently partnered up with Cadabra, who has been gathering false reports and tucking them under the cover of your, formerly magnificent report, just before the big meeting.

So now, after having enjoyed an impressive stint as the company founder and chairman, you suddenly find yourself "abracadabra'd" out of your position and reduced to the title of "Chief Communications Officer" and, to make matters worse, your connections on the LinkedIn Network see this as an opportunity to "congratulate" you on this new position. This, my friend, is how a Lunar Eclipse occurs! And you ask me why I'm salty!

Kaycee Graphics to Announce new Product Line

Consider this just a taste of what's to come.

It's been a long time in coming, but very soon, we will be launching a new website where these items and more will be available

Watch for valuable giveaways and promotions on my various pages, blogs and social networks

Okay, Back to Funny Business

Most people who read my blog, and I know that there is at least one guy in Poland -which I covered in an earlier post, are probably a little weary of my recent obsession with Dr. Benjamin Carson. Not that it was merely a phase, but I have spoken my piece on it for now.

So, like it or not, I will probably recede back into my familiar stomping grounds and post more humor on this blog.

Not now, of course.

I've got nothing funny to say. I'm sorry if you came all the way over hear, expecting to find something funny, but I don't have anything as yet. I'm working on it. All that I'm saying is, I most likely will go that way.

Later.

Kaycee Admits that Dr. Ben Carson is a Rank Amateur

It's true. Earlier today, on LinkedIn, I admitted to the fact that Dr. Benjamin Carson is a rank amateur, as far as politics go. And why not? Lately, I have been besieged with reminders of the paucity of Dr. Carson's experience in the political arena. In fact, had he not made such pointed comments at the President's Prayer Breakfast, a few short months ago, he probably never would have seen the inside of that arena.

Now that we have that item of business out of the way, let me share with those of you who are not on LinkedIn, exactly what I said on the subject. It went a little something like this:

"Although this is a largely agreeable platform, I have been taking somewhat of a beating in other forums for "backing an amateur" who has no track record in political offices. I'll be honest with you, I consider Dr. Ben Carson's inexperience as a plus! Take a trip down memory lane and you don't have to look too far to find "professional" politicians who willfully immersed this country in foreign wars and prolonged those wars to line their own pockets. Professional politicians who lied, boldfaced, to the American public and manipulated the media to help pull the wool over the eyes of the common people who put them in office. Professional politicians who glad hand each other in the cloakrooms and raise their own wages and benefits packages while signing into law punitive standards that prevent small businesses from turning a profit in their own hometowns. I'll tell you what this is like: Have you ever seen the movie 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?' "

So, there you have it. I said it and yes, I believe it is true.

Education is the Key

Dr. Ben Carson is well known as the kid who was failing in school until his mother, with a third-grade education, set he and his brother on a new path to knowledge through reading. From this humble beginning, he went on to become one of the greatest neurosurgeons of the 20th century, making history along the way. He continues to buffer his education to this day, through avid reading of worthwhile writing.

Some have criticized him for his lack of experience in the political arena. Those who are on his side, realize that this is not a great hindrance to someone who is a quick-study, avid learner, on the level of Dr. Carson. Moreover, we know that he is not averse to asking great minds for help. Besides, I'll let you in on a little secret -I don't really trust professional politicians.

His is a modern success story, on par with that of Abraham Lincoln, whose humble beginnings were overcome by self-education and a will to improve. There is no doubt in my mind that, even if Dr. Carson did not achieve the White House, he will continue to do what he has been doing all along -and that is the key point that I want to make here:

Carson has been striving for years to help common people to overcome their poverty, their insipidness, their adversity and their self esteem issues, by encouraging them to realize their own great potential through education. This is still the case. Regardless of whether he decides to run for any public office, regardless of whether or not he is successful in his attempts to do so, I believe that Dr. Ben Carson will continue in this guise, and that he will continue to keep elected officials on their toes. In my eyes, he is already a great human being. I would just like to know if he'd be a great president as well.

What in the World is Dr. Ben Carson Trying to DO?

It seems that I read a lot about Dr. Benjamin Carson, these days. Everybody seems to be wondering if he's ever going to whet their appetites with an "official" bid for the Presidency in 2016. After having listened to what his supporters are saying in various forums and listening intently to what it is that the good Doctor has been saying, himself, I have come to a few conclusions on my own.

It should be pretty obvious, at this juncture, that IF Dr. Carson places his hat in the ring, he will become a candidate to be reckoned with, here's why: While other would-be candidates are focusing their energies on the so-called issues of the day, making promises that they may or may not eventually keep, IF they are elected, Dr. Carson hasn't even announced officially that he is running for ANY public office.

Instead, he is focusing his energies on the real issues: he is arming the American public with the tools to scrutinize every politician out there, and few there are who can stand well against such scrutiny. If his strategy works, by the time the votes are counted, many of his so-called competitors will be standing in a different light.

Rather than walking around in his shadow, waiting for a few crumbs that will indicate his intentions, isn't it time that we actually listen in on what he is saying to the American public?

In a nutshell, Dr. Carson is handing all of us a giant magnifying glass through which we can take a closer look at what the present situation is. That present situation is not a pretty one. We have politicians who lie outright to the American public, saying one thing to get their votes and doing another thing to line their pockets and keep their jobs. We have blatant manipulation of and by the media, bringing popularity to some of most insignificant changes this country has ever seen. We have elected government officials who steal wholesale from American taxpayers and rampantly and voraciously add to the National Debt.

Quite honestly, if you vote for Dr. Ben Carson, in 2015, and yours is an uninformed vote, you'd have a hard time convincing him that you "supported" him in the election.

Okay, here we go: Last Friday night, I went to hear Dr. Benjamin Carson speak in a public forum at the Spokane Convention Center, in downtown Spokane. I have been besieged by requests to tell, in a nutshell, what he spoke about. Here's a little taste:

Mainstream media should be thankful to have a personality like Dr. Carson around. Even though they often malign what he says, or misquote him outright, they are getting more readers at his expense. At Spokane, WA, Dr. Ben Carson was quoted as paraphrasing Barrack Obama, stating: "The President has said that we are not a Judeo-Christian nation..." after a slight pause, the good doctor stated that, "He doesn't get to decide that. That's for us (the nation) to decide." As you can well imagine, that got a rousing round of applause from the crowd.

In a nutshell, Dr. Benjamin Carson spoke about what he has spoken of often to the American People, these past two years. This is a time for change. We the People have the power to effect that change, right in our hot little hands. We need the courage and audacity to use it for the betterment of our society. We have been accepting of whatever our government sees fit to hand over to us, and it is time that we take what is rightfully ours. Dr. Carson co-authored another book with his life partner, Candy Carson. It is available online and it gives you the rudiments that are necessary to begin holding our government officials accountable for their every action! You can find the e-book version online at www.onevotebook.com Let's take this to the next level.

Word Up: No More Lackadaisical Government!

We need to put the government back in its rightful place, that is "By the People and For the People!" One excellent way to begin is to read Dr. Ben Carson and Candy Carson's new e-book: One Vote.
You can find it here: www.onevotebook.com and, if you can't cough up the measly $2.50 price for the book itself, I'll give you the keys here and now, and you can drive it away.

The Carsons have generously added the "good stuff" from the book on the website above, FOR FREE! That's right, free.

The "good stuff," in this case, is a nice set of hyperlinks that take you to sights where you can locate your local congressional incumbents and other local representatives, and find out just what they have been doing since YOU put them into their respective offices.

You can use this free information to locate ALL of their governmental activities and find out how the things they DO stack up against the things that they had promised TO DO ere you ever voted them in. Not only that, you can find out how they voted on YOUR favorite issues, and decide if you would like to retain their services or give them a little time out.

 That is the beauty of free election, my friend, and, in this digital age, where Big Brother lurks somewhere over your shoulder, you can turn the webcam around and spy on them. Find out what they do, why they did it, and who paid them to do so. It's true. If you don't believe me, click on the link and take a wide-eyed look at the powerful tools that have just been collated for the public at large.

Nice Stay

Stay Nice. That's my motto. I recently went on a vacation to the Oregon Coast with my family. We stayed overnight in a hotel, in the Dalles and then drove on in the morning, so we could enjoy the trip. While on the road, we got a call from the manager of the hotel, saying that our girls had left behind a baby blanket and would we like to make arrangements to pick it up on the way back through.

After our stay at the coast, we were delayed by some car troubles, so we stayed in another hotel, before heading back the next morning. I had it in my head that we had stayed in a "Best Western," hotel in the Dalles. So we picked a Best Western and had a good night's sleep and a hot breakfast the next morning.

On our way back to the Dalles, we stopped by and picked up the kids' blankie and I wanted to say something complementary to the manager, so I made a point to tell her that we had enjoyed our stay at her hotel, so much, in fact, that we stayed in a Best Western in the next town over... She looked at me with some dismay and muttered, "Oh." I thought, "Wow! Some people just can't take a compliment." on the way out to the car, I glanced up at their sign. It was a Marriot! Oops...

Dr. Benjamin Carson for President of US in 2016

We all know the amazing story of how Dr. Carson, inspired by his single mother, rose from the darkness of poverty and frustration and became a world-famous surgeon. 

What we want to see now is how well he fits into an oval-shaped office. 

The old saying is true, "You can lead a man to Congress but you can't make him think." 

Moreover, you can lead a man to the White House and later, watch him sink. 

The sinking of the Good Ship Lollipop is what we are currently witnessing. 

We think it's time to Launch a NEW Vessel. 

Let's break out the bottle and Christen this The USS Ben Carson!

Come Watch a Professional at Work

I hear it all the time, these days. "I don't know HOW to blog." usually followed by "I don't know what to say in a blog." Pookey, let me tell you something, and this is important. If you aren't blogging, you ain't moving. Serious.

What you blog and to whom is significantly LESS important than IF you are blogging at all. There are professional bloggers out there, Seth Godin is one that leaps quickly to mind. You could check out Your Writing Lady (Kim-Lee Patterson), or Josh Wade, of Nectar Media, to name a couple more. See what they say. Read what they write. Do what they do.

But DO IT NOW.

Time is coming and going and this boat is about to pass you by. Water is rising and when your house sinks under the tide, no one will be there to remember you or your business, much less to mourn your passing. The Titanic was as unsinkable as yesterday's business. Take a hint. Take a risk. Write it down and get it out there.

Trick is to keep writing. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to BE. By the time you write your twenty-first blog, nobody will remember your first ten anyway! There's just too much out there to be read. Quicha crying and get down to busy. Consider it a Fair Warning.

Today Poland Tomorrow the World!

Poland is about to fall. I know, it sounds pretentious but look at it like this: According to my Blogger statistics, this very blog page that you are reading now, has had three hits from Poland. That's right, Poland. Now, I realize that three hits don't mean a very big hill of beans, but to bean counters, its a few. In fact, three IS a "few," and besides that, juxtaposed against my US readership, that nearly doubled my total reach. That's not bad for someone as loathe as me, as far as blogging is concerned.

I've never been to Poland. I haven't even sent an email to Poland, and yet, Polish people are beginning to take notice of my posts. That's pretty amazing. You have to remember that this is coming from Blogger, powered by Google -and Google, as we know, knows everything about everybody! It's incredible.

So, after conquering Poland, I'll have to take some time and consider my options before proceeding. But that's okay, I'm very patient. Besides, until I read it in my Blogger statistics, I never would've dreamed it could be possible.

Poland... WOW!

Stare Here and Stay Clear

Sorry. When my mind gets in a mood like this, it just gets weird. Fair warning. When the caffeine level in my blood stars to dissipate, I start drawing a blank -I mean REALLY drawing a blank, and ... just trust me.

Stare right here
Stay clear of flying debris and
Don't fear what happens next.
This too, will pass
But it won't be the last
My blank is filling up fast, but
For now...

nothing.

About Blank

I am drawing a blank. It's sort of a neo-existential treatment in art. You stare at a blank sheet of paper and you concentrate on nothing. It can even be a virtual piece of paper, like this blog, for instance. You think you are reading what I am writing but I'm not writing. I'm drawing a blank.

I sit here and I don't even blink. It's like low-tide at coffee hour. I just stare. I'm drawing a blank. You might call it poetry. I call it a blank.

El blanco, that's my new name. This is not a game. It's a blank.

Here, let me draw you a picture:

What else can I say, it's a blank.

Smart Phone Phooey

Yesterday I had to dash my "smart" phone against the table a few times, it probably wasn't a nice thing to do but hey, it had it coming. "Smart-alecky" is a closer description of that durn phone, sometimes. Every time I touch it, it says something smart like, "Please speak a command..."

I usually respond with something like, "Shut Up!" but it just keeps on talking.

Tell you the truth, I'm about ready to shirk all this technology and get REAL old school. These days, I'm in the market for the "dumbest" phone I can find. I'll tell you why.

I'm a guy. Yes, despite the spelling of my name (Kaycee), I AM a GUY! Long story that.

Let's say I'm at a social gathering and I am pontificating on a subject, I am (and this is a guy thing) wanting to eliminate any would-be competition to my knowledge-base -so, the LAST THING I need is a phone that is smarter than ME! Let's face it, as a guy, I can't handle the competition.

Give me a "dumb" phone.

I found a good old-fashioned dumb phone, last night, digging through my mom's attic. I mean a really dumb phone.

Now I don't feel threatened in the least.

Attention Early Risers

While the experts have not yet weighed in on this one, I am telling you now, so you can decide for yourself. It was about 6am, I was travelling along State Highway 27, heading South. I saw a fire-engine red pickup truck pulling away from the carcass of a freshly flattened deer. The truck seemed, for the most part, unscathed. The dear deer, however, was another story altogether.

The atmosphere was cool. A light fog was still lingering in the low, heavily-wooded areas, but the roads were pretty clear. After last night's storm, there was still some debris laying about. Other than that, it should've been pretty smooth sailing.

Now, a lot has been written, throughout the history of mankind, in regards to "early rising," for instance, Benjamin Franklin's famous, "Early to bed and early to rise... etc." but truthfully, I must warn you, there are hidden dangers that you might not have thought about. The guy in the pickup truck, notwithstanding, think of that poor deer. She got up early, walked out to grab a bite to eat, maybe start her day ahead of the herd and then BAM! Who could've seen that coming?

I can't tell you how many early birds I have witnessed, over the years, each probably still had the worms in their bellies, if anybody had taken the time to perform an autopsy -but here they were, formerly ahead of the flock, now only carrion, by the roadside. Fodder for the birds and other beasts that enjoy that sort of thing.

I caution you, my dear readers, don't fall into the trap. Early rising sounds innocent enough but, it could be your undoing. I'm suggesting, maybe noonish. In fact, you might not even want to get up quite THAT early. After all, you could fall victim to the noontime rush and get trampled just outside the doors of the local Starbucks.

Still unconvinced? Later in the day, around 6:45 am, I was coming back along the same route and saw the carcass of a porcupine that didn't quite make it across the road. Now, I realize that in the case of nocturnal animals, he may have been merely up past his bedtime, and who knows, maybe still a little tipsy from the night's activities -nonetheless, I have to believe that this is more than just coincidence, having happened all in the same morning.

Memories of a Burgeoning Artist

when I was starting out as an artist, I got a lot of co-workers who approached me with requests to draw pictures of their kids, pets, significant others, and so on. One lady approached me with a compelling story that tore my heart out. After I told her I could help her, I ended up tearing my hair out! Here’s how it went: She tells me that her grandmother, who was in her 80s at the time, was beside herself with grief because she had lost her little dog. The dog had died, and could I, possibly, draw a picture of it, so that this lady could put a smile back on her grandma’s face. I asked the obvious questions, what kind of dog was it, etc., I told her I could draw it, if I had a good picture to draw from (having never seen the dog) and, because of the “personal” aspect of the situation, I would “waive” my fee, as an artist. After all, putting a smile back on grandma’s face was a noble thing to do any day of the week, right? So we shook hands on the deal and the next day, she brings me a Polaroid picture of her grandma with the dog sitting at her feet, glowing red eyes and poor lighting -I actually knew LESS about what the dog looked like than before! Now I had to try to draw this very personal portrait and do it for FREE! Also, grandma’s health wasn’t so good, so could I please have it by next Monday?

note: This blog was originally posted on Kim-Lee Patterson's "Your Writing Lady" blog. You should check it out for yourself! http://yourwritinglady.com/author/kimleepatterson/ 

I can scarce remark on the impact that this man has made on my life. I grew up with Mork, from my Happy Days as a child until the twilight of reruns on Nick at Nite. Reality, what a concept. Thinking back is painful from this current vantage point and while a helpless nation mourns the passing of this great reliever of depression in others, I reflect on the realization that at some level, at least, Robin is at peace.

I don't even "Like" my own stuff anymore!

These days, everybody I know tells me to "like" this, "like that! All I know is I don't like it! Consider the lack of like on my own pages, here. I don't even like my OWN stuff anymore! That's pretty bad, because, without my support, I'm pretty well sunk. This is probably not news to you. I don't think I've EVER come up with something that YOU liked. But now that I've pulled out the rug under my own pages, and decided I don't "like" anything anymore, I'm about the most "likeless" lackey you're likely to see from now on!

Earning Your Stripes

Life is not an easy thing no matter who's keeping score. Earning your stripes takes a lot more than just wanting to do a good job. Some earn their stripes through hardships that you and I cannot even entertain in our worst nightmares, others are beset with handicaps, be they physical, mental or otherwise. Sometimes it gets down to a simple set of circumstances, sometimes just a strange twist of fate, but here's the kicker: It ultimately does not matter what your age, sex, political or spiritual beliefs are. It doesn't matter what your bottom line is, or what kind of car you drive. It doesn't matter where you were born, or to whom -not even under what circumstances. What matters is how you live. Personal integrity isn't putting on a show for whoever is looking on at the time, it's the way you make your decisions. It's the reasons you have for doing what you do and, ultimately, earning your stripes is the end result when you come through on the other side. Be who you are. Do what you do. Take your own life and personalize it. You make the rules. Now you've earned your stripes! Go get 'em, Tiger.

Blogger? More Like Frogger!

I'll be honest, I am not a blogger. I'm more than just old. I'm more than merely new to this concept. Take you back to the 1980s and a little video arcade game they called "Frogger." This is me blogging. I'm like that little cartoon frog, just trying to get across the street without getting squished beyond all recognition. Tweeting? What's that? It must be the sound I'll make after one of those cars hits me!

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Kaycee Graphics is NOT a non-profit organization. We produce high-quality, limited-edition art reproductions, among other products. The understanding behind the "limited-edition" portion of that statement is that, each print run has a unique attribute that is TOTALLY unlike that presented on alternate offerings.

The recent controversy over the "Re-Issue" of "Vantage," by Kaycee, is totally unwarranted -not to mention out-of-control.

This is the first in a series of blogs designed specifically to address collector's concerns, as well as provide a platform to discuss upcoming products and events. We, at Kaycee Graphics, welcome your comments and questions under the provision that no threatening language or implied intimidation tactics are employed.

As a point of reference, we are providing the following link: https://www.flootie.com/art/819/vantage-by-kaycee-jay-kendall/#.U81LJ5RX-uY as a means of locating the graphic in question.

We are here to serve.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THESE COLLECTORS?!?!? Seriously, DEATH THREATS? Somebody please tell me that they're not serious!

I'm not taking any more of this nonsense! This poster was originally intended for multiple releases. Geez, these collectors are acting as though they were stockholders in Kaycee Graphics!

When I first posted this poster, on Flootie.com, a little over a year ago, the 50 Giant-sized, Micro-priced prints sold out in a mere four days. A year later, nearing 600 views, I once again made mention of my intention to release a new variation, and lo and behold, these collectors come at me with shanks and chains, practically driving my car off the road, threatening me with everything shy of political disbarment.

This very day, the poster on Flootie.com has passed the 900 mark for views (check it out for yourself at:
https://www.flootie.com/art/819/vantage-by-kaycee-jay-kendall/#.U8yn7pRX-ub ) and the collectors are still calling me up at all hours of the night, telling me that, if I re-issue the poster, the collector value of the original 50 will drop out.

I tend to think that the opposite will occur. That the demand for the original 50 will increase. Anyway, this is all a moot point, because, by the end of next week, the die will be cast. Kaycee Graphics will not respond to terrorist threats. 'Nuff Said.

Crisis? What Crisis?

Last year, Costco sold approximately 1.6 billion gallons of gas,

According to the Costco website. 

That would've been amazing news in the 1970's when Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford were dancing in the White House and people were buy gas, alternately, on odd or even days, due to the oil crunch. Today, however, it's merely a footnote on the Costco website. 

People have been complaining about the price of gas for decades now, but as the prices continue to rise, overall use increases as well. 

Next time you think about the ridiculous price that you're paying at the pump, ask yourself this: Why did I just pay $4 for that 20 oz. bottle of Auquafina at the airport, yesterday? There are still 128 ounces to a US Gallon, so put that in your Kama Sutra Looseleaf and think how cheap gas is, compared to water. 

Wow, let's not even THINK about that espresso you just sprang for.

Kaycee Graphics Fires Back

Kaycee Graphics Announces Press Conference

Due to the number of calls and emails from collectors and their sympathizers, Kaycee Graphics has announced a Press Conference for Monday, July 14th, 2014, at 4am, via conference call. The topic of discussion will be the details of the upcoming release date. Noting that, at 4am, most of the "complainers" still won't have had their first cup of coffee.

Kaycee Graphics Announces Reissue of Popular Prints; Draws Controversy from Collectors

For the last two months, a debate has sprung up around the "re-release" of the ultra-limited edition of "Vantage," by Kaycee, which was first posted on Flootie.com a little more than a year ago. That edition sold out in a mere four days and only featured 50 prints. Collectors are calling foul because they say it will drive down the collector price of the original prints. 

Kaycee Graphics has been buzzing about the re-issue almost from the inception of the first release, but, they say that they are going forward with the plan, this month. This has a few collectors up at arms. A spokesman for KCGI, the parent company of Kaycee Graphics, said that it "...had always been the intention to release "Vantage" as part of a series of six Bald Eagle posters," and that "Those original 16" x 20" posters were only licensed for a limited run from the start." Placing the posters at a popular website for artists, known as Flootie.com, Kaycee Jay Kendall, the original artist said he was "blown away" at how fast those first 50 prints flew out the door.

https://www.flootie.com/art/819/vantage-by-kaycee-jay-kendall/#.U8MtSVWzKpi The original poster can be spotted on the Flootie.com page, even though it's been "SOLD" for over a year. Kendall denies the charge that the poster is being re-issued from sheer greed. "I didn't really see much of that money to begin with (from the original 50), since so much of it was tied up in production and shipping costs." And yet he firmly denies the fact that the reissue has anything to do with recouping those losses.