June 1, 2024

What June Means To Me

By James McCleary

When I recently penned my thoughts about the month of May, I sort of went off on a tangent and wrote some nonsense about the word may instead of the actual month. Surely I’m not going to get off topic and waste precious space, or anyone’s time, by once again talking about irrelevant stuff when writing about the month of June. I am not. I am not going to mention that June Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver is probably still my all-time favorite TV mom. And I am not going to say a word about actress June Lockhart from the ’60s Lost in Space series. I most definitely am not going to bring up June bugs – or how they are misnamed since the pesky beetles are usually more prevalent in May. No, I won’t be saying anything like that.

I am only going to write about what June means to me. In a word…love! My first thought is that my lovely wife and I started dating in June, and four years later we were married in June. Aah, there’s nothing like a June bride. It’s what every girl dreams of. Except the missus has made it known she would tie the knot in the fall if she had it to do all over again. (I sure hope she’d pick the same guy.) Our wedding was simple, but nice. We had a pastor, maid of honor, best man, guests, candelabras, cake, and a carriage ride. Dancing was not allowed at our church – thank goodness! Although we learned from Ren in the movie Footloose that there is “a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4) no one needs to see me dance. My wife and I are proof you can have a successful marriage even if you spend only a few hundred dollars on a wedding.

As a child, the month of June meant freedom. Free from weekday structured confinement in a brick laden prison. Every June I was given my release. Alice Cooper has captured the sentiments of most school students for generations with his timeless lyrics, “No more pencils, no more books. No more teachers, dirty looks…School’s out for summer.” Summertime is what I lived for when I was a boy. Not that my family took any vacations, or that I ever went to any summer camps, but it was purely about being released from that prison. My June days were filled with playing baseball, both Little League and sandlot style, and recklessly riding my bicycle until the sun went down. Inevitably, the length of daylight would decrease and my anxiety would increase as summer came to a close and it was once again time for lock-up.

Mirroring my intentions not to make a big deal out of Mother’s Day in May, the same can be said about Father’s Day in June. Hopefully our fathers are thought of all year long – not just when the calendar tells us to. (I don’t need no stinkin’ calendar telling me what to do.) That being said, I am thankful for my father, and I am blessed to be a father. What I have learned as a father is that you never stop being a parent. I am just as concerned, protective, and as proud of my adult son as I was when he was my little boy. So, this is what June means to me. What does June mean to you?

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May 22, 2024

Not A Pod

By James McCleary

My most recent on-line discovery is The Charismatic Voice. Technically a YouTube channel (not a pod) the show is about analyzing the vocals of a variety of singers, at first listen. The program’s host, Elizabeth Zharoff, is an international opera singer, vocal coach, and video game sound designer, among other things. While donning quality headphones and watching a video performance in the background, Elizabeth critiques the singer’s voice – but always in a positive manner. The YouTuber is no Simon Cowell! Sure, there’s a time and a place for Simon, but Elizabeth demands complete civility by not allowing any negative comments about any of the artists she analyzes on her YouTube channel.

The Charismatic Voice has evolved over the years. Ms. Zharoff grew up embracing the music of her household which was mainly classical, country, and some Christian. So when she began her reactionary videos on her YouTube channel in 2020, people found it hard to believe that she had never heard many of the great classic rock songs of the past. But that was the case. Eventually, the viewers wanted to see Elizabeth’s reactions to hard rock – and then heavy metal – and then even something called deathcore. I think some of her subscribers just wanted to see if they could shock her, or maybe tempt her to go negative. Nope! The YouTuber even found flattering things to say about the harsh vocals of Corey Taylor from Slipknot and Axl Rose. (A good reminder that music is indeed subjective.)

The host of The Charismatic Voice is much more concerned with the technique, science, and vocal health behind one’s voice rather than if it’s traditionally pleasing to a listener’s ear. This could not be more evident when a while back Elizabeth asked Will Ramos, vocalist of the deathcore band Lorna Shore, to “donate his body to science.” She was fascinated with how one human being could make so many sounds with his “singing hole.” (Yes, that is the usual way the YouTuber refers to the mouth. Although I think mine is more of an “eating hole.”) Will, reluctant at first, accepted Elizabeth’s request to subject himself to a flexible laryngoscopy.

A flexible laryngoscopy is a procedure where a flexible scope is inserted through one’s numbed nasal cavity in order to capture images from above the larynx. With Elizabeth by his side, Will performed portions of his unique harsh vocals, he calls “spooky” and “monster” sounds, for the throat camera. The Lorna Shore singer varied his tones, techniques, and frequencies while producing an array of gutturals and pig squeals for his new YouTube friend, as well as for the person administering the procedure, Dr. Amanda Stark. Dr. Stark, a Research Associate at the Utah Center of Vocology, was visibly in awe of what she was hearing from Will and what she was seeing on the screen. To everyone’s relief, and maybe a bit to their dismay, the deathcore singer was found to have good vocal health. “I think often times that we assume that things like metal or screaming or harsh vocalizations leads to damage…and I think today we saw something so polar opposite of what the assumption has been.” said Dr. Stark.

It’s not difficult to immediately be enthralled with The Charismatic Voice. Elizabeth’s passion, and her admitted nerdism, shines through during each episode as she’s constantly pausing the artist of the day’s performance to discuss what she’s hearing. The YouTube host explains things in a practical, yet engaging way, using terms such as vocal folds, nasality, and dipthong (yes, dipthong) and teaches using witty phrases like “Better hydration, easier phonation.” Ms. Zharoff has a sensational smile, her facial expressions are priceless, and you’ve got to love it when a professional uses “wacka wacka wacka wacka wacka” when explaining how to make a pitch with your singing hole. Elizabeth ends each show with her signature, “May you fall more in love with music everyday.” And then blows a kiss to her viewers. (Please don’t tell the missus.) I would highly recommend The Charismatic Voice YouTube channel (not a pod).

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May 15, 2024

My Favorite Pods

By James McCleary

You may be asking, “What’s a pod?” Is it a vessel holding 2 peas? A container where an alien resides like in the movies Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and Cocoon? Good guesses, but no. A pod is just a lazy man’s way of saying podcast. A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the internet. (Thank you Google.) The word podcast is a combination of “iPod” and “broadcast” and believe it or not has been in existence since 2004, with its concept established in 2000. (Thank you Wikipedia.) I view my favorite pods via YouTube on my computer screen, so I can have the visual contents in addition to the audio.

I discovered pods a couple years back when I was browsing the web looking for a little extra help in making my excellent fantasy football team even better. Low and behold, I quickly came across The Fantasy Footballers podcast, and it has been a favorite ever since. Andy Holloway, Mike Wright, and Jason Moore co-host the informative and entertaining show. The trio are a hoot and claim to be besties – which seems obvious by the way they’re willing to publicly make fun of one another on a regular basis. The Fantasy Footballers pod airs all year long with increased episodes (and intensity) ramping up the closer it gets to the actual NFL season.

By religiously watching The Fantasy Footballers pod, I eventually was led to a much different type of podcast that I certainly had not been looking for. Come to find out, the same three amigos have another show called the Spitballers Comedy Podcast, and instantly it became another favorite pod of mine. You get an idea, yet not to the full extent, of what you’re getting yourself into when you click on any one of their hundreds of episodes and you hear the announcer say, “What happens when three buffoons give life advice, explore unrealistic situations, and give random topics more thought than they probably deserve? It’s the Spitballers podcast with Andy, Mike, and Jason.”

The 3 peas in a pod (pun intended) are all in their early forties, married, and have three kids apiece. Besides their entrepreneurial spirit, and their love for fantasy football, pickleball, and bidets (yes, bidets) Andy, Mike, and Jason really aren’t that much alike once you get to know them. From their physical appearances (lanky, intimidating, plump) to their personalities (old soul, introvert, attention whore) the trio in actuality are as different as morning, noon, and night. (Relax – they know who and what they are – and I’m sure they’d all agree my descriptions of them are spot on.) The contrast in personalities is probably why the Spitballers pod works so well.

It’s both unbelievable and fascinating the length of discussion that can be had during a “Life Advice” segment on the Spitballers Comedy Podcast. An introverted listener recently asked the gentlemen what the best way might be to refuse full-on hugs at her husband’s large family gatherings. She has tried to tell her husband’s clan how she feels, but they’re big huggers and ignore her pleas. After much contemplation, the show’s “counselors” ultimately agreed there was really only one obvious piece of advice to give. And that advice was to show up in a wheelchair. Their thoughtful reasoning was that it’s very awkward to give a full-on hug to someone sitting down; however, they did warn her that she should probably brace herself for a lot of head pats, and maybe a few shoulder rubs from behind, in its place.

The deepest discussions on the Spitballers pod most often occur during the “Would You Rather?” segment of the hourish-long show. For example, “Would you rather always sound like you’re going through puberty, or always walk like you are in the marching band?” This is some serious stuff, folks. The Spitballers Comedy Podcast always concludes with a “Draft.” Taking turns, each fellow submits his four best answers (no duplicates allowed) to the question at hand. Their last draft was titled, “Gifts to give your enemies kids,” and some of the picks were a drumkit, glitter bomb, talking parrot, and pogo stick.

The rationale behind giving a child a pogo stick as a gift was that the kid would truly love the present, but the parents would not love the probable trip to the hospital and the ensuing medical bills. Maybe a disturbing thought process, but as Jason Moore reminds us, “A friend of my enemy is my enemy.” (I guess children are not excluded – they’re just collateral damage.) Other draft topics on the weekly pod have been “Things we miss from our childhood,” “Songs we are embarrassed to like,” “Best ways to cover up a fart,” and “Worst places to be when you need to poop.” Classy! The Spitballers show is mostly G-rated, but there is an ample amount of fart and poop talk on this comical podcast.

Shout out to one other pod in which I frequently dabble in and thoroughly enjoy. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend admittedly is my guilty pleasure because the captivating show can become R-rated in an instant with a plethora of coarse language. These days foul language makes me cringe, but when Conan speaks it’s hard to look away. His brand of comedy is brilliantly outlandish. And he doesn’t need to perpetually go after certain politicians in order to get a cheap laugh – like so many others do. Conan’s two sidekicks, Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley, are very amusing in their own right, and anytime Conan does anything with Jordan Schlansky – it’s GOLD! For my money, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman are by far the best late night television hosts in my lifetime.

You may be wondering where I find the time to watch so many podcasts. Well, most days the television isn’t even turned on until late afternoon, and some days literally not at all. Have you seen some of the stuff on the boob tube that’s supposedly entertainment? If it’s not an old movie (preferably in black and white) or Seinfeld reruns, I’m most-likely not interested. But I do have to fill my days with something, so enter the world of pods.

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May 1, 2024

What May Means To Me

By James McCleary

Mayday! Mayday! I may need some help extracting enough material from my noggin’ to write this important piece of literature about what May means to me. When initially pondering the fifth month of the year, my mind instantly honed in on the actual word may – not the month of May. Numerous Irish toasts begin with the word may such as “may the wind always be at your back” and “may the most you wish for be the least you get.” And there are so many well-known expressions with that tiny but significant word in them like “let the chips fall where they may,” “devil-may-care,” “may the best man win,” “come what may,” “be that as it may,” and “may the force be with you.”

Whoa! Writing “may the force be with you” jogged my memory enough to remember a very special day for sci-fi nerds which just so happens to be during the month I’m currently jibber jabbering about. May The 4th Be With You (aka Star Wars Day) is a clever take on the Star Wars catchphrase that many businesses now annually exploit to increase their sales. God bless capitalism. Supposedly, you can either be a Star Wars fan or a Star Trek fan, but you can’t be both. I don’t make the rules, and I’m certainly not about to weigh in on such a controversial subject.

All one has to do is turn over their daily flip calendar to see that the exploitation continues the very next day as we are suppose to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Again, God bless capitalism. Truth be told, this is the one day of the year I identify as Mexican. My lovely wife is very fond of Mexican cuisine (me not so much) and we both likey margaritas. So, on May 5th we typically try to grace some Mexican joint with our presence.

If I may digress, now being present in the moment, I do recall many a May 1st, as a child growing up in the Midwest. May 1st is recognized as May Day on our calendars, but us Iowans called it May Basket Day. I would describe the glorious event as a reverse Halloween/hide-and-seek combo. Instead of us kids having to go door-to-door begging for candy, the candy came to us. And no costume was needed. The goodies would begin to arrive (placed in – you guessed it – baskets) about an hour after school let out. The homemade “baskets” were commonly fashioned out of construction paper, or either Styrofoam coffee cups or Dixie cups with vibrant designs (my favorite) and sometimes attached with colorful pipe cleaners for handles.

After a basket of treats was left on the front steps and the doorbell rang, the recipient of the goodies was to seek out the deliverer. Busted! A result of a few scrapes and bruises was always a possibility, from chasing the May basket giver around trees and through bushes, but the exhilarating pursuit was usually well worth it. The amount of candy received on May Basket Day was only a miniscule fraction of the haul I would ultimately take in on Beggars’ Night. In fact, sometimes you’d only get a piece or two of candy while the rest of the basket contained stale popcorn as a filler. Not cool.

Not cool may be what some of you are thinking about me, for not mentioning Mother’s Day or Memorial Day until now. I would like to say I immediately thought of both those days when considering the month of May, but that would be disingenuous. Rest assured though Mother’s Day and Memorial Day will be celebrated. Maybe these two special days aren’t at the forefront of my mind because I think mothers and those we have lost should be thought of all year long – not just when the calendar tells us to. I don’t need no stinkin’ calendar telling me what to do. So, this is what May means to me. What does May mean to you?

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April 17, 2024

Why Would Anyone Vote For Trump?

By James McCleary

Although I do not know him personally, former President Donald Trump appears to be an egotistical, thin-skinned blowhard. Many, including the majority of our media outlets, purport that Trump is a xenophobe, racist, misogynist, and even an insurrectionist. Sheesh, that’s a lot of ists. The fact is all those cute little labels are just opinions and speculation held by those who have and always will despise the 45th President of the United States. Everyone’s certainly entitled to their opinion, but spouting off fiction as fact should not go unchecked.

Call the events of January 6th, 2021 what you will, but please know it was not an insurrection. Legal scholars have said as much, and I tend to agree. Why do you suppose, still to this day, not one protester, trespasser, or vandalizer from the January 6th incident has been found guilty of insurrection? Storming the Nation’s Capitol was undoubtedly misguided and objectionable, but an insurrection – no. Yet that term has been recklessly used an exhaustive amount of time, in many failed attempts, to prevent former President Trump from seeking another term in the Oval Office.

I find it extremely difficult to defend someone like Trump – just the sight of him gives me the willies – but defend him I must. Not because I like the guy. I do not! But because he’s a human being who’s been severely mistreated (like no other presidential candidate) since he formally entered the political arena in June of 2015. Some criticism of Trump is much deserved, but often times it is not. It’s easy to vilify an unlikeable character, but conjuring up falsehoods, either by individuals or the media, to “prove” a point just isn’t right.

For example, remember the whole “Trump colluded with Russia” scandal that turned out to be absolutely false? After being deemed guilty, by the media and more, we eventually learned the truth after an extensive four-year investigation, yet some stubborn anti -Trumpers still won’t accept the results. I’m still waiting (but not holding my breath) for the trusted news outlets and talk show hosts, especially the likes of Colbert and Kimmel, to admit they were wrong and issue formal apologies to the former president. Speaking of Russia, I’m convinced in my heart of hearts that Vladimir Putin never would’ve invaded Ukraine if Trump had won a second term in office. So there’s that.

Donald Trump himself is not immune to using the same lazy method for conjuring up a falsehood, for his own supposed benefit. He insists he did not lose the 2020 presidential election, due to voter fraud, and some actually believe that as well. Let me be clear, there is some voter fraud committed in every election, and the 2020 election was no exception. I do wish the media and the Democrats would at least admit this fact to gain some credibility with me. However, the level of voter fraud is rarely enough to change the results of an election, and again the 2020 election was no exception. So let me also be clear, Donald Trump indeed lost the 2020 presidential election.

So, why would anyone vote for Trump? Maybe because, unfortunately, only a Democrat or Republican has a legitimate shot at winning the presidency, and Trump is the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, like it or not. Obviously, the ideologies of the two major parties aren’t nearly the same, and there are stark differences between the two candidates on many issues including illegal immigration, foreign relations, and “climate change.” And the only thing I’ll say about abortion is that at the end of the day I’d rather there be less abortions than more abortions. The Democratic Party continues drifting further left, while Trump actually brought the far right back to the center a bit. As a moderate I don’t hate that. (If you can recall, Donald Trump was a Democrat at one time and even friends with the Clintons.)

I always used to say the party affiliation of the president really didn’t matter much, because my lifestyle never seemed to change regardless of who was in charge. However, the prices of just about everything has skyrocketed these past few years. My household’s grocery bills are ridiculous, and our car insurance has more than doubled (through no fault of our own – same vehicles with no accidents or tickets) since Joe Biden took office. Coincidence? Both Biden and Trump are currently asking voters the (Ronald Reagan coined) tried-and-true campaign question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” I know my answer.

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April 9, 2024

What April Means To Me

By James McCleary

I just recently spotted Elvis and Bigfoot on the same day. April fools! I knew you’d all fall for that. I’m a prankster at heart, so I can’t help but think of April Fools’ Day when contemplating the month of April. As a child, constructing the perfect prank typically ended in an infantile failed attempt. As a mature (debatable) adult, I learned that some practical jokes, especially the clever ones, can frustrate and even hurt the feelings of others, so I now refrain from participating in the time-honored tradition of April Fools’ Day, except for the occasional, harmless juvenile prank (see first sentence).

I do, however, joyfully participate in celebrating Easter. The Christian holiday routinely takes place during the month of April, a rare exception being this year when the holy day fell on March 31st. Having Easter so close to St. Paddy’s Day kind of throws me off a bit. In my mind I’m still waiting for Easter, but the calendar says it has come and gone. The Easter Bunny is okay, but I celebrate the fact that my risen Savior, Jesus Christ, conquered eternal death for all who believe in Him. Fun fact: Nisan is the first month of the year in the Bible which happens to be our late March/early April – meaning now. Therefore, those of you who’ve blown your New Year’s resolutions have a second chance to start anew (and probably fail again).

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention taxes when pondering the month of April. Tax Day is the time of year when we Americans are held financially accountable to our government. The tax forms we must file are way more complicated than need be, can be very confusing at times, and exacting help from the IRS – fuhgeddaboudit. And the results of the tedious process can often times seem unfair. But it’s certainly refreshing to know the U.S. Government is looking out for us and only has our best interests at heart. April fools! So, this is what April means to me. What does April mean to you?

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March 10, 2024

What March Means To Me

By James McCleary

They say, “March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb,” but we all know sometimes that is not the case. Many times March comes in and goes out like a lion, especially if Punxsutawney Phil happens to see his shadow on February 2nd. Therefore, I presume March is the month when people may seriously begin to contemplate the climate of their chosen locale. After a few months of the bitter cold, and maybe seemingly never-ending snowfall, how could a sane person not at least consider other options of residency? There’s a reason why those itching to take a reprieve from the elements of winter tend not to visit the Midwest or the East Coast during Spring Break.

I enjoy the change of seasons as much as the next guy, but consecutive months of icy roads, slushy sidewalks, shoveling snow, and a constant runny nose is just too much. Give me the desert in March a hundred percent of the time. I know in Arizona I won’t be needing a parka or thermal gloves to make it through the day. As much as I’m fond of the desert, I think my happy place actually is at the beach. Even though I can barely swim – and only for about a minute before I sink – I thoroughly enjoy the sights and sounds, and the tranquility the beach has to offer. I like to be near the water, not in the water.

It doesn’t really matter where I’m at on March 17th … the day will be celebrated! This is mostly what the month of March means to me. How can anyone with a last name like mine not feel obligated to embrace the fanfare of St. Paddy’s Day? Unfortunately, I’m not as Irish as I once thought I was (thank you ancestory.com) but I’m certainly more Irish than the countless posers who deceitfully take on an Irish identity only one day of the year. I suppose I shouldn’t be too hard on those blatant impostors since I identify as Mexican every Cinco de Mayo. That means the 5th of May, to all the Spanish challenged people out there. I better stop joking about my fictional Mexican heritage because I can’t afford to have any more suspicions regarding my true cultural identity.

I suspect there are some who already question the validity of my Irish roots. I’m not Catholic, so I’m sure I’ve lost some Irish street cred along the way. It’s also not too far-fetched for people to have some doubts about my cultural legitimacy when considering my imbibing choices. As someone who considers himself a beer snob and a newbie whisky connoisseur, I have great trouble enthusiastically downing a pint of Guinness or a shot of Jameson Irish whiskey. (Fun fact: The spelling of whisk(e)y depends on where the product originated. For example, in Canada, Scotland, and Japan it’s whisky, but in Ireland and the U.S. it’s whiskey.) How can one be taken seriously as an Irishman, when he does not care for the liquid staples of his homeland? On top of that, I find the traditional shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage to be just meh.

However, I truly do enjoy the party atmosphere and the shenanigans of St. Paddy’s Day. I like the wearing of green and the accompanying infantile “pinch factor.” I like the shamrock decorations, the leprechaun look, and congregating with my kin. And I love the sounds of Celtic Woman and the taste of my famous Guinness cake. (I guess Guinness is good for something.) At the end of the day, I am indeed part Irish, and I have the DNA test to prove it (thank you ancestory.com). So, this is what March means to me. What does March mean to you?

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February 28, 2024

What February Means To Me

By James McCleary

I’m sure we all think about the same thing when thinking about February. Obviously, my birthday. No? Well, we’ll get to that other day of the month a bit later. I really don’t get the concept of celebrating birthdays. I think all we’re really saying with our birthday greetings is “Congratulations, you’re not dead.” I honestly hate all the attention that comes from simply being born, but I’m not too proud to confess that I love receiving gifts. I’m certainly not a fan of having a February birthday since it’s relatively so close to Christmas. That means my annual gift receiving days are all over within a two month span.

If I had to be born in February, I wish it could’ve been on a leap year day. I’d only have to deal with the hubbub of my birthday every four years – and I’d be a lot younger! However, then I’d only receive a quarter of the gifts that I am used to, and that would be devastating. I guess I’ll have to reconsider. I understand my situation could be much worse; I pity those who have a December birthday, especially if it’s on Christmas Day. I can’t even imagine trying to compete with Santa Claus AND Jesus. I would much rather compete with the chubby cherub who makes an appearance every February 14th.

Valentine’s Day is probably what most of you were actually thinking about when considering the month of February. I don’t mind “the day of romance” because it’s not just about me. (My heart goes out to those who aren’t in a relationship, but would like to be, during this time of year.) Because I do have a significant other, I’m prompted each year to remind my wife how much she means to me. It genuinely takes the missus and I two days to celebrate Valentine’s Day: cards, presents, and a nice dinner and dessert at home on the 14th, and a nice dinner out on either the 13th or the 15th. We choose to not deal with the crowds and inflated prices of February the 14th. We’re cheap … I mean frugal … I mean good stewards of our finances.

Lastly, I assume Groundhog Day is just an afterthought to most people when pondering the month of February. But Punxsutawney Phil’s special day is somewhat relevant in our household. As tradition dictates, the missus and I watch the Bill Murray rom-com, Groundhog Day, every February 2nd. As tradition dictates, the missus and I watch the Bill Murray rom-com, Groundhog Day, every February 2nd. Get it? If not, watch the movie! So, this is what February means to me. What does February mean to you?

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February 21, 2024

What January Means To Me

By James McCleary

January is a time for new beginnings and a fresh outlook on life. Not really! January, more accurately, is a time for broken resolutions, continued procrastination, and ultimately defeat. People commonly use the first day of the first month of a brand new year to fool themselves into thinking they can somehow change something about their behavior they’ve been holding on to the previous 364 days. I myself have not been entirely immune to that way of thinking.

For example, late last year I made the decision to unretire my blog this January, after about a 29 month hiatus. But here we are – it is already February – and much closer to the end of the month than the beginning, I might add. Better late than never? Or just another New Year’s failure? I rarely make New Year’s resolutions, unless of course you count my annual go-to resolve of continuing to be the same humble, awesome person that I am. Admittedly, I was gung-ho once when resolving to do daily sit-ups beginning January 1st of 2021. Oh well, maybe next year.

January is also probably my least favorite month of the year due to the sadness it brings into my life. I’m sad because Christmas is now truly over. I’m really sad that the Fantasy Football season is over. And in real football I’m often sad about which teams are headed to the Super Bowl. Rooting for the underdog is imbedded in my being. I have an Underdog tattoo (also imbedded) as proof.

Therefore, a Texans/Lions matchup in Super Bowl 58 would’ve been much more to my liking. But those two playoff teams ended their seasons in defeat much like those who have ever made a New Year’s resolution. So, this is what January means to me. What does January mean to you?

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August 10, 2021

It Must Be Said

By James McCleary

I have listened to the CDC, Dr. Fauci, and the media, for the past 18 months, and I’ve concluded that they really don’t know what they’re talking about. Our supposed trustworthy sources have misinformed, misled, and have been inconsistent with their numerous recommendations concerning COVID-19 since the very beginning of the so-called pandemic. The virus is real, but there are many things that have not been said, but must be said. I’ve grown rather weary of the popular soundbite “I listen to the data and the science” from those pushing the coronavirus shots. Because I listen as well. I just decipher the data differently – without bias. And doesn’t science suggest there is no God and Creationism is purely a myth? Not on my watch!

Many folks presume those resistant to getting inoculated are either uneducated, anti-vaxxers, Trumpers, or Fox News viewers. I assure you, I am none of those. I simply use common sense and biblical principles to form my opinions and make my decisions. I also pride myself in dealing with facts. The fact remains that a minute percentage of the U.S. population has contracted COVID-19, and an even smaller percentage of those have succumbed to the virus. And we now know that the current vaccines are not anywhere near foolproof against the Delta variant.

We also know those inoculated can still be carriers of the virus. Yet the media, and seemingly a certain political party, is blaming the unvaccinated (me) for the latest increase in covid cases. So why would I believe, as the President has stated, this is now the “pandemic of the unvaccinated” when that sentiment is absolutely untrue? Another fact is that most people who contract the virus do not end up in the hospital. Therefore, understand that many of the reports touting overwhelmed hospitals are insincere tactics to make matters appear worse than they actually are. This leads me to my main point.

The powers that be have tried guilt, incentives and bribes, and now threats in an attempt to force their misguided will on to the general public. I can’t imagine anyone being okay with blatant discrimination and segregation in this day and age. However, that’s precisely what’s happening before our very eyes. Numerous U.S. companies are now forcing their employees to be inoculated or else be terminated. CNN just fired two employees for showing up to work unvaccinated. The National Football League now has two sets of rules this year: harsh ones for the unvaccinated and none really for the vaccinated.

Unfortunately, the only way to combat the spread of covid throughout the NFL this season is probably to require ALL within the organization to mask up and be tested daily (not just the unvaccinated). So, wake up Commissioner Goodell! And wake up America! We’re seeing the discriminatory vaccine passport implemented in – of course – New York and California. Soon, other extremely liberal states will follow suit I’m sure. How are these things even remotely acceptable in the good ol’ U.S. of A.? In France, things are even worse. COVID-19 health passes are required to enter cafes, restaurants, and “in some cases, hospitals.” Hospitals? You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

The thought of injecting a foreign substance into my body, with the properties of the virus I’m trying to avoid, doesn’t make much sense to me. And nobody – NOBODY – knows for certain if those inoculated won’t develop any consequential health issues in a year, 5 years, or 10 years from now. I believe social distancing, practicing good hygiene, and living a healthy lifestyle is the best defense against any virus. We should all be afforded the right to decide for ourselves whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccination without being harassed or discriminated against. What’s the saying? My body, my choice!

We can choose to be fearful and stop living our lives, or we can treat the virus for what it is – just another possible health ailment to be aware of. I choose the latter. I have not once swayed from my position to not get vaccinated. Today, in fact, I have never been more comfortable with my well-thought-out decision. I won’t judge those who’ve chosen to get inoculated IF they don’t judge me for my decision to not get vaccinated. Now it has been said.                

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