School Ties Are Very Binding

Well it seems that this school year might be a little more than most parents are going to be able to handle. With the economy forcing most families to have huge cutbacks and most families having more than one kid school money is tight. Included in that school money is the yearly physical that must be completed to even breath in the building. Well thanks to the H1N1 flu, a new shot as been added to the mix. The cost of this may or not be covered by your insurance carrier. So that is another fee. School teachers are needing more money to keep the doors open so that tax is going up as well. The President feels so strongly about the youth of America that he must have a live address of them on Tuesday. And too many kids are unable to attend their own school because of cutbacks and closures.

Remember when we went to school. You had a little anxiety the night before the big day but then after you went it was no big thing. Day after day went by and before you knew it, Christmas break. (not winter holiday) Then bam, summer break for three months. And the cycle continued. Parents worried about what you had in your backpack. Things like Number 2 pencils and a full box of crayola crayons. A full box being six or twelve if you had rich parents. And it was an honor to have someone come to your school and speak. It was a very important non-controversial day.

I miss that.

Rainy Skys and a Smile on My Face. Tweet, Tweet.

So I woke up this morning like every morning. Rested and ready for another possible day of work. The actual last day of work has been weeks ago but I still try everyday and night. As time has gone on though it gets harder and harder to stay motivated and positive. Most people would agree that you can only kick a dog so many times before he will actually stay down. Lucky for me there a few wonderful things in my life that keep me going. My good friends, my close friends, my dad, and of course the passion I have for writing and podcasting. It has been good cheap therapy and is very rewarding to me. But, as many of you know I often wonder who is listening.

As I sit here and look out at the rain soaked ground my mind reflects back to when my childhood was filled with rain soaked days. In Arizona you really miss out on the moisture of things. So when a day like this comes along I really tend to over indulge my senses with the smell and sight of it all. And just when I thought that nothing could top this glorious feeling, a simple word touched my heart; follower. That's right, the rant has it's first documented follower. I have had many of you subscribe from various parts of the world. And that has meant so much to me and I thank you. But this follower is someone within the blogger community that actually enjoys my writing enough to follow me and my exploits. Very exciting morning.

Kids Get The Shaft, Can You Dig It

Okay I might have gone a little far with the title. But if you have turned into the news lately you know that the country is up in arms about the President addressing school children. Why? It was once a great honor to have the leader of the free world address anyone. Now, for whatever sorted reason, it is an Obamanation. I for one have not really been impressed with the way Obama has turned out to be a politics president. What's that you ask? He looked great on TV during the election. Spoke well when the cameras were on him and help unite a nation once again. Sort of. There of course were those whom saw through the smoke and mirrors. They wondered how he would really do running the country. Unfortunately for Obama poll numbers sort of rule the world and his numbers are not stellar.

But allowing him to address the nations youth can not be all that bad of an idea. We need the future of this country to start to take an interest in our state of affairs now. The seeds planted today will help grow a nation. (Wow, someone write that down.) Children are smarter than you give them credit for. They will be able to form their own opinion of the President as well as choose whether or not to follow him. Of course they really do not have a say in the current administration but the future is theirs. Let them see the political ring now so that they will better understand it later. Shielding the future from the present only weakens the sword. (Oh my, am I on one or what today.)

A Small Pen Light At The End Of The Huge Dark Tunnel

After another day of no work I must admit that I wasn't really feeling all that great. Okay, I might be going through just a little bit of self pity. I hate that. For years the Clarke's' have taken much pride on the ability to keep our smiles up, shoulders back, and marching forward in what ever storm lies ahead. This lack of work thing has really hit me in the gut. My inability to focus on things as well as understand how I have not worked in a month really has me by the short hairs. Since the age of 14 I have worked non-stop. Sometimes I had up to five jobs at once. Sure they weren't the high glamour jobs of saving lives, but they kept me from living on the streets. Being without work is just something I can not wrap my head around. In fact it has really affected me deep down.

Every day I hope that it is the day I'm called in to work. I wake up at 04:00 (with the help of the dogs) and I stare at my phone. I wait for that glimmer of light indicating a call is coming in and the potential of work lies on the line. For many weeks that light has been what keeps me going everyday. The hope of working, of providing, of contributing. But as time has pasted the light itself remains the same, however my ray of hope has faded more and more. So to fill the time I have been keeping up with my blog and podcast just to keep my head focused on something, anything. As time as marched on that too has become an empty reward for life. In fact many days make me wonder if my close friends are the only ones reading.

Well today I got an e-mail that made my heart smile. One of the Rants followers sent me a nice note about the pride of ownership, the blog about the dogs early pee. See, she too has been blessed with a new puppy that she got for her birthday and she laughed at my exploits and it made her smile. And that's what I needed to hear. Her life might not be all roses and steak. She might not have everything she wants right now and she might have every reason to just sit back and let life pass her by. But she gets up and reads my blog and moves on with her life. Her strength is my inspiration to keep it coming. I made her laugh. I helped someone else forget their pain and in turn, forgot my own for a bit.

Thanks.

The Pride of Ownership

A few might wonder why I am posting at O'Dark Thirty in the morning. They might find it a little strange that I'm not in dream land. Well that is the pride of ownership. It is the joy of having pets that have to pee and poop at all hours of the day and night. I love them to death. I do. I enjoy the little things like the comfort of having a bed buddy. The way they get all excited upon my return from where ever. They require very little really; food, water, and the occasional walk. The down side is when that walk comes at 2:00 AM.

Pets fill a great void in our lives. They give in a way that no human can ever replace. They know exactly what not to say. And they seem to understand what your going through at all times. A life without a pet just seems a little empty. Sure we find other things to fill in for the moment, but a pet's love is eternal.

Everything Has Meaning In Life, Bull.

Today I am making a declaration of war as a foreign enemy has invaded my country and space. Therefore the time has come to strengthen my boarders and detain those I capture during this serge. Unfortunately for the United Nations I will be using torture techniques as well as chemical warfare. If the insurgents continue to attack my kingdom I will immediately upscale my efforts to Weapons of Mass Destruction. This declaration takes affect starting as of 06:00 on the 28Th of August.

The enemy in question you ask? Ants. Those small, sneaky, biting ants that have invaded and taken over. Apparently they are looking to acquire my dog food and bite me out of spite. Well, after conversing with my chiefs of staff this morning, the order was given to eliminate the enemy at all costs. We might lose a few bits of kibble and as with all battles there might be some casualties. But we will persevere until victory is mine. So far the actual number of dead ants is still unknown but the estimate is well into the hundreds. Unfortunately my chief of staff, Tracker, is unavailable at this time for comment. For those of you from PETA that want to discuss the terms of surrender for the prisoners you can forward your request to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Perking Coffee

Growing up I can remember almost every trip we ever took in the motor home. It was a short 22ft job with dual rear tires and a Dodge 315 engine. When we first got the motor home it had just under 100,000 miles on it. I think that when I left home and dad sold it the rig had just over 300,000 miles. So in some respects my education was on the road growing up. The concept of travel and RV life is a huge part of my being. One thing I remember is the smell of perking coffee.

A perking coffee pot is one that uses boiling water that comes up in the glass top, spreads over the coffee grounds, then drips into the pot. It takes awhile, but the taste for what ever reason is so much better. The bubbling sound of coffee hitting the top of the glass as it slowly darkens to a mocha brown. The aroma of coffee quietly fills the air as breakfast finishes. This is a great time in my life.

I own two of them. One all glass that I keep on a shelf as a display piece and an old metal one that is for daily use. It is fun to have people stare at it and try to figure out how to make coffee in it. Most require a cup to see how it works and if it really is that good. Let me put most of your minds at ease, it is.

Losing A Fight Without A Winner Isn't Losing

With the recent headlines spread across most of the Internet and many publications I can't help but see a horrible trend. People whom fight cancer every day of their lives are reminded yet one last time that they had cancer when they die. "He lost his fight with cancer", "she finally lost the battle with cancer", and "cancer wins again" all seem like really grim reminders that there are very few winners with cancer. But are those statements really fair? There are just those cancers that do not have a cure or proven treatment to cure. They are simply a death sentence without a set date. These cancers can be fought against every day but at the end death will win. The cancer is not going to just submit one day and say "okay your too tough for me, I quit." But for some the fight is the only thing keeping them living. That strength to refuse to go gentle into that goodnight. Now that is a fight worth fighting. But to lose a fight like that only to have it publicly displayed for all the world to see is just cruel. Losing a life to cancer should be expressed with greater care. Courage takes a dive is just too harsh for me.

Cancer is a quick sand that no one can pull you out of. It slowly tries to consume you every day. And when your head finally goes under the tons of sand swallowing you whole have your friends write something nice about your last days. For me, if I was writing something about Ted Kennedy's death it would have been more uplifting. "Ted Kennedy kicks the drinking habit for good" would have been a nice one.

Live Is Too Important To Take The Easy Out

At what point can someone think that their life is so over that the only out is death? I was reading about the guy that killed his super model girl friend and how they found him hanging by a belt in a Canada hotel. So was his life really so over that he had to take it? Maybe, Maybe not. Many people go through this world begging for just one more day of life. They hold on so tight to life that they can literally see it squeeze through their fingers. Life is a precious gift that many neglect or ignore.

However there are those precious few who take life and do amazing things with it. Some use life to help make the lives of their families better. Others use the gift of their life to help those whom can't help themselves. Some give money or blood and some help change state law to make it better for those with the same illness. Either way those whom cherish life really know how to make the best of it.

There is always a way out of trouble. Taking the escape out of life is never a good idea. By doing so your just robbing yourself of life and robbing life of what you had to offer.

Sunday Mornings, on CBS

Waking up early on a Sunday morning always seems more refreshing then any other day of the week. The air seems cleaner. The sounds of birds singing seems to be louder and with a greater tone. Sunday is the day when the week starts over. The troubles and concerns of the week prior give way to a new seven days of possibility, potential. I personally like to start my week with a little TV religion followed by a program on CBS called Sunday Morning. The program contains of course the news of the week but that is not it's true curb appeal. The stories of real people doing some very cool things is what makes it enjoyable for me. Be it music or art, science or medicine, movies or TV the accomplishments of those featured always gets to me a little. How they made huge sacrifices in their lives to reach that impossible dream. All their hard work, blood, sweat and tears finally paying off in my deserved recognition.

So as I finish making my cup of coffee this morning and make a little breakfast I ready my self for Sunday Morning. With my lack of ambition, no real goals, and a increasing laziness I will submerge my body into an easy chair and watch. It is very motivating.

CSI Breast Implants

I have never really been a big fan of the breast implant. I know, hard to believe being that I'm a fully function man that a large perfect firm breast wouldn't be my thing. True they do have some curb appeal and as age creeps up on a woman they seem to hold position very well. However, they just don't seem worth the risk to me. Potential post op complications, infection, and of course the occasional lop-sided out come make for a great argument on why not to have them done. For most of my life I really couldn't find a great reason to have them done on someone. Sure they help with cancer survivors who want to look and feel whole again and they help with young girls to pay for college. But what is the real value?

As many people have said to me, "ask a silly question, get a silly answer". Thanks to serial number tagging on the breast implant a young model was able to be identified. They had to use her breasts because her teeth and finger prints had been removed from her body. That's correct, some sicko actually took the time to remove the id markings that are normally used to find out whom someone is. Just imagine if he had known about the breast tags. Can you stomach what that scene would have looked like?

Starting Over At 150

This is my 151st post on the rant. Looking back at some of the posts of old made me think of the events that inspired such creative spite. I reflected on when my words seem to have the most impact on the faithful followers and what topics really seemed to draw in a great amount of empathy. The headlines that seem to inspire me don't often find the same response in most of you. With that in mind, I have decided to just write. It might not have that focused rage that many of my rants have, but it should be entertaining. Life seems to have a different kaleidoscope effect as we slowly turn the tube. The color and shapes I once saw through my scope have since changed and thus so must I.

For example, my view point on trying to find work seems to need a bit of an adjustment. Week after week my search for something new has left me with unanswered emails and empty pockets. The passion of exploring new country has left me out in the cold on top of a mountain pass in California, so to speak. It makes sense for any man to search for something better in his life. To continue a forward thought process and grow both as a professional as well as a man. But sometimes the best growth comes from ashes. When a fire destroys a forest it is horrible in so many ways. The aged timber dies and crumbles to the floor of a once rich forest. The fallen seeds deep in the soil are covered in suet and debris far from the light of day. And yet, some how, those seeds rise up to escape the low to reach on high toward the sky. They do this without fail or self pitty. They do it because they have to. Instinctive life will find a way to survive. And so will I.

Somethings Come Back Around And Strike Me Funny

Okay I will freely admit that sometimes I laugh at things that may not be deemed funny. We all have done it. Simply chuckled at the wrong time at the wrong thing. The cost of this humor can sometimes be as little as your child's dignity or as great as a co-workers pride. As I look at the news articles of the day one story just struck me on the funny bone. The tone of that strike resonated so strong that I had to say something about it. The Australian police have stepped up and joined the anti-terrorism movement. With what a boomerang and a dingo? I guess you could always give them a Fosters, that shit will kill anyone.

Damn I Need A Vacation

I was sitting here placing a new theme on my IGoogle desktop and found this picture of a beach. My realization is that I'm a water person. I was raised in a place that had ample water to swim in and fish and play and living in the desert. Sand, clay, and brown surround me every day of my life. I need the sound of a crashing wave against sand that is soft verses the harden concrete sand of Arizona. I need the smell of seaweed and seagull shit. That's right. I need the smells and sounds of a open sea port looking out onto a horizon that offers the promise of the unknown. Instead I see a sea of heat and buildings. A vast promise of more of the same every day. The answer to my simple sickness is a vacation. Now in the economic times I understand the need to be realistic to the fact that I can not afford to travel far right now. But maybe just a quick access to some open water. You have to keep your fun tank filled above half at all times. When you burn off more fun and fill it with the emptiness of everyday life you burn out fast. It is time for me to take a little holiday. Maybe I will go to San Diego. Yeah, that's the ticket. I will go the first chance I get. Six months from now.

The Beer Summit

Well it seems that to agree to disagree is the theme of the Obama presidency. As with the health care plan the Presidents attempts to bring an answer to a much debated question has fell through. During his sit down with the Harvard Professor and the Law Enforcement Officer it seems that neither was willing to back down from a harden point of view. The civil rights conference seemed to fall short when both parties felt as though they were in the right. Even sitting across the most powerful man in America both men refused to see the others side of these events. Though the actual details of the meeting have never been released the final word was simply that they both agreed to disagree. What the hell is that? Obama fueled that fire with his off color commit and he felt that a sit down would bring piece back to this over heated issue. But it did not end up that way. Instead you have a civil rights educator and a white cop spear heading the next march on Washington. In the current state of the union, I feel, the President needs to be putting more fires out then stirring up the wind. With a slipping approval rating the advisers to President Obama might want to start advising him.

Too Little Cash For Clunkers

With America attempting to stimulate the economy any way possible, it is no wonder that even the simplest plans are falling apart. The cash for clunkers program was such a big success that the money is already gone. A billion dollars of the governments money (which just for the record is your money) was spent in under a week. The program, which helps remove unsightly gas hogs from the highways, was to help create a buying frenzy for the auto market. And with the promise of $3500 to $4500 it worked. Now the question is when will the dealerships see that money. In fact in some cases the dealerships are wondering if they will ever see that money. This program, though paved with good intentions, may cripple some car companies if the promised monies never come. Of course with the government showing an increase in spending it sure made the quarter numbers look good. With a billion in spending it seems the economy is in an up swing. Of course when the well runs dry in Uncle Sam's back yard we can just borrow from China. Oh wait, their broke too.

In Taking The High Road I Can Still Smell The Body

I had thought it over many times and chose not to write anything on the death of Michael. I was going to be the only columnist to avoid the easy target of a dead pop icon/creepy pedophile. This position would allow me to, for once, arise above those of my critics and keep my mind free to address more pressing issues. But being that it has been two weeks and the news is still laden with his death I must offer my often odd opinion. What the hell people, if Michael was living at Neverland or traveling in Europe you wouldn't even give him a fifteen minute spot on the late night news as the fifth story. So how is it in death I have to be constantly bombarded with his image, music, and life story 24 hours a day? Why, now in death, is this man being remembered for what he did as a great performer? If he was on fire in the middle of L. A. most of you would not have spit on him. Admittedly I can not deny the man had incredible talents. His music, dance, and creative vision will never be matched by one artist. The music invoked a generation of people who listen more to the music and focused less on dancing to a count. Michael was the best in his field. But that was then and this is now. He is dead, I know big shocker to some. He will not moonwalk again and people can stop analyzing his every move. Be it on the dance floor or in life.

I see you on I Tunes

The Rant is now on ITunes for the downloading pleasure of all 2 of my fans. Just kidding. I have high hopes there are more of you than that. The rant postings will increase starting next week. This week has been filled with movie business and script reading. I know, who would believe that I'm doing something in film right. Anyways, enjoy the newest pod cast of the rant and will post at you later.

Good Morning Charlie......Good Night Angel

I would like the world to know that Farrah Fawcett died this week. She died after fighting the impossible fight with a great possible attitude. But unfortunately attitude may move mountains but when it comes to ass cancer it just falls a little short. The reason I am bringing her death to the attention of America is because some how her passing just wasn't as important as a child raping freak show. But that will be discussed at a later date.

Farrah had the heart of a champion, the support of a fighter, and the hope of an entire nation. She wanted others to be strong for her but more for themselves. She understood that others out there had been told that there is nothing we can do and she wanted them to keep fighting as well. She stood up for patients privacy rights. She put herself out there so that others may understand the horror that is cancer survival. She died so that others may live that much longer.

Death By The Numbers

With last week having three very different yet same deaths it seems only fitting to provide each departed with their own post. So I will start today with Good Old Ed then post on Farrah. The last will be on the king of pop. With the mainstream media ignoring everyone but Micheal, it seems only fitting for me that he go last.


When the dawn of the late night talk show first shined on the American people it was Ed McMahon that sat and laughed right along with us. Ed created a whole new dimension to the talk show by just being there. He never played the leading man, unless you count PCH, and he welcomed that role with a deep laugh. As his life entered the golden years he was force to face the financial burden of being famous. The end found much hard times for the once right hand of late night. Losing homes and wife's along with more money then most of us will ever have he was poor. My last mental images will not be of him saying yes with Johnny but rather selling gold with a broke down MC Hammer. Goodnight and God Bless Ed.