Musings – current events/life

K. Pinella’s thoughts

Shift Gifts

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A vase with purple misshapen polka dots, a hula dancer lamp, a beige tinted  statue of a nude–gifts you’re tempted to shift. Somebody may not be the wiser. What was presented to you is now gifted to another. What comes around keeps going around. Was it at Peggy’s shower when you first saw that doodad made by Ronco? On another occasion at Roscoe’s birthday party, the same gift by Ronco reappears. Christmas rolls around. Surprise! That doodad by Ronco is yours. How many times has this been re-gifted? Best not to break the chain. There’s a party coming up for Susie . . .

Image contributed by Moi

Image contributed by Moi

©2015 Karina Pinella

Globally Wobbly

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Images by Freeimages.com/Thomas Gray, pipp, beeline, and Glamco Aio; Shutterstock

Images by Freeimages.com/Thomas Gray, pipp, beeline, and Glauco Aio; Shutterstock

Too many snapshots of what’s not hot—

ISIS’s nonstop hiss,                                                                                            “ . . . decapitate . . .”
Greece’s austerity diss,                                                                                      “ . . . insulate . . .”
China’s manufacturing slump,                                                                        “ . . . tumult . . .”
U.S. prez hopefuls vs. vitriolic Donald Trump,                                            “. . .insult . . .”
Random shootings everywhere are on the rise,                                           “. . .turmoil . . .”
Race relations all over continue to destabilize,                                            “. . .embroil . . .”
West African methamphetamines trade on an upward trend,                  “ . . .kilo . . . “
Mexico’s increasing drug cartels discourage the nation’s mend . . .        “. . . El Chapo . . .”

A reflection of our collective selves, a picture of an extreme deep end.

El Chapo vs. The Donald

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Numero Uno–un hombre mas buscado—El Chapo. A man most wanted on the lam. So much for his so-called high security slammer. Similar to a now dead, notorious Al Qaeda leader, he’s safely away in a secret bunker or tower. Down through his private tunnel, his own Great Escape now fulfilled. Just in time to threaten the Donald because of his crime—declaring Mexican immigrants as mostly criminals. Even Pitbull joined in the show–Look out, Trump, El Chapo will have your rump! Two men of great wealth circling on a stage bigger than Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. The Fugitive vs. the Magnate. Who do you think would win?

©2015 Karina Pinella

Race Erase

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He was hiding among the fold of faith in a historic South Carolina church. Proudly known as Mother Emanuel, the place of worship was converted into a scene from Purge. God’s flock was lessened—nine innocents gunned down by one who thinks there’s too much black. But the darkness is within Dylann Roof. To him, and to all, mind the verse from Genesis 1: “Let there be Light.” God’s Light is wide and color blind. No race needs to be erased.

©2015 Karina Pinella

Truth be Told, Dare I Say

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In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Truth or Dare.”

White or not, lies are simply untruths, no matter what. No in between. Gray is only a color when it comes to honesty. Either you ate that last sliver of pie or not. Either you cheated or not. Either you stole or not. Either you killed or not. So blatant, is it not, if you are guilty or innocent of such acts? Must we hire someone like Alan Dershowitz, Esq.?

We end up mincing words or saying it is all a matter of semantics when confronted to tell the truth. A simple admission with no qualifiers or modifiers is what honesty truly means. The phrase, “being too honest,” is mistaken for earnestness. As if adding any more to the truth, if you take the meaning literally, would make it that much more truthful. Instead, it borders on gossip or making excuses.

As for honesty being the best policy, I say yes to that for the sake of self-integrity. If there is only one rule to follow, I dare say, always be honest to yourself if to nobody else.

A Nod to Monadnock

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From the Marriott to New Hampshire’s Mt. Monadnock in the early Sunday morn. Breakfasted at T’s where the omelet fillings fell short due to the cook’s lack of skill with the skillet. Arrived at the foot of the mountain and parked next to a blue SUV with a license plate from Miami. On Memorial Day, they chose crags over skittering crabs along the seashore. Followed the White Dot Trail, so full of energy at the start. Panted as the steps got steeper. Dripped sweat as legs felt heavier. Sighted the summit and reached the top at last. Refreshed by the breeze and a long drink of water. Savored the beauty of my expanded horizon. Headed back down by way of the White Cross Trail. Wobbled halfway to the parking lot. Knocked out by the grand Mt. Monadnock.

©2015 Karina Pinella

An Immorality Tale

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Half-Chechen and half Avar—the Tsarnaev brothers—Tamerlan and Dzokhar. They came to America, received love and welcome from us Bostonians. In return, they cooked up nails, ball bearings, and black powder to show the world their militant Islamic power. A showdown in Watertown—one down, one to a holding cell. Thus, the hearing began. Silent, stoic, Dzokhar displayed no remorse, no affect. His tears trickled only by reason of mirror neurons. His wailing aunt a touch away would have moved him to yawn instead had that been her lead. At last, the jury is out—death penalty for one who lost his morality. A sentence to life or death still seems not enough for the marathon effort the survivors have to bear until their dying breath.

©2015 Karina Pinella

A Vent on Glyphosate

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Take the spotlight away from Deflategate and aim it at glyphosate, an active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup since the 1970s. Around for over 40 years, glyphosate has found its way into our drinking water like many other toxic byproducts from the creations of our esteemed chemists. I am not denigrating innovation, I am just venting my frustration over the paradoxical mess we, as a society, have gotten ourselves into. We want to make great discoveries, such as controlling the growth of our crops to feed the masses. But like mass production of clothes, quality can be compromised. Continue reading →

True Patriot?

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Tom Brady’s retort to Well’s Report, “Absolutely not.” Chiseled jaw, sinewy abs, Tom’s a lady’s man. Fleet feet, touchdown–a man’s man too. Accused as a cheat, treated with too much heat. He doesn’t beat his wife, snort coke all night, or kill another player. Compared to others, letting out a little air is nothing more than passing gas. But why couldn’t you hold it?

©2015 Karina Pinella

Who’s Laughing?

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The call for a cartoon to lampoon Muhammad’s visage launched a thousand bullets, no mercy for Allah non-believers. No borders for breeders of hate. Not just in Yemen and Khartoum do they now originate. Garland in America heard the hiss of ISIS.

©2015 Karina Pinella