What's Happening at Book Readers Heaven! Trying to Live With America's Information Catastrophe! A Rant! Republicans Quit Taking Rights Away!!!

Do you ever feel like you are talking, but nobody seems to understand/believe what you say? It may be as simple as pronunciation of words--Vase versus Vase. Yes the word is the same but even though the majority of people say it with a long a, the right way of pronouncing the word, there are those who will say it differently. (Actually I enjoy the dog saying, Vaaase! LOL  In older days this was sometimes based upon the "class" of the individual when rich folks tried to show they were more "genteel" than the rest of us, LOL!

Anyway, a couple of things has become even more frustrating for me than normal...  The recent shutdown by the supreme court of government's ability to explore ways in which social media allows disinformation (lies) and even, oftentimes, exploits it to gain more visibility... You know, folks, it might be by 2024, Truth will no longer exist if we don't speak out!

I am sick and tired of everything being done for ratings, power, or greed! Why doesn't news coverage carry more of what good is happening in America, rather than what the crazies are doing?! If the lies that are routinely being disseminated by republicans were stopped or even just questioned once in a while, it maybe could be something that we could stomach! But, daily it is getting worse! And would you believe that the Supreme Court made a landmark decision on christians not have to do jobs for gays! AND THERE WAS REALLY NO REQUEST TO DO SO...SO AN INDIVIDUAL DECIDED TO MAKE UP A WHAT-IF STORY AND THE NOW BIASED COURT ACTED UPON IT!

First we lost women's health rights...Next we lost affirmative action which not only covers minorities of race, but also of sex (women)... I was there when affirmative actions came in at West Virginia University... And we ROUTINELY began to implement this important move forward! 

White Supremacists republicans are moving us backward, so far backward that they want to take us back before ANY TYPE OF recognition of the discrimination of any people SO THAT white men WOULD ALWAYS BE SELECTED FIRST AND THIS WAS "perfectly all right" and what should be law!

Also on a recent news discussion it showed how an attempt was being made to "teach" about the burning of the Black Wall Street...without including the truth  that it was white men's slaughter of an entire town! Rewriting has gone on since the time when White men bought land with a bunch of plastic necklaces! When is it going to stop!

A recent commentator declared "Dead children don't read." If you quickly perceived what is being said, then you're just as upset as I am... Republicans refuse to do anything about gun control!!! Yet, decide to start banning books that talk about things they don't want their children to read about...Hey...but if their kids get gunned down in school... They won't be reading anyway... Kinda like the old saying...You're damned if you do and damned if you don't! Common Sense is beyond the capability of the MAGA cult...

And the sad part for me and many others is that evangelical christians have sold their soul to Trump as he lies, gets their money, and then does nothing about the real people of America... Do those christians who support MAGA realize what they are doing to America and really believe that they are Following Jesus?!!!!! There are many who are speaking out these days. I've found that those who speak truth are calling themselves Progressive Christians... Because, we can all see that people like Mike Pence may speak truth about January 6th, but then goes back and supports all of the MAGA goals of ensuring that extreme conservatism continues to take away rights given to ALL OF US BY THE CONSTITUTION.

ALL OF US...NOT JUST CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS/REPUBLICANS!!! I recently learned that the republican party sends letters to those registered republican, telling "what is happening in Washington" which would be, of course, the lies Trump is saying across the nation...And would you believe, they asked republicans to sign a non-disclosure agreement?!!!!! 

In 1963, I started working in the Personnel Office of a land-grant university. I was in a position where I introduced all new employees to the university and its benefits...At that time, we were asked to sign a loyalty oath. Before long, that loyalty oath requirements was done away with...by a democratic president who was in office at that time. During my years at the university, I was intimately involved in employee rights, in-service training, equal employment opportunities, affirmative action implementation, and more... 

I've just had a brain surgery, a left hip replacement, cataracts removed from both eyes...but I've not lost my mind! What is happening to republicans who are not learning the truth is wrong! And it is christian leaders that made the deal with Trump and think they are doing what they are supposed to do. But all you have to do is ask...

What would Jesus Do...

If God created all people in his image, then any type of discrimination IS WRONG!

Should be "Nuf Said..." So Stop, Think, Do you really want to go back to the 1950-60s? So, be careful and make sure that your vote is prepared accurately and done in accordance with whatever laws that may have changed in your area, because of republicans...and Vote to REMAIN IN THE YEAR 2024 AND NOT  BACKWARDS! Vote Truth! Vote Liars out of Office!

And one final big question... Can you Solve the Riddle of Killing For God? (It begins...then link)

Last week, the Bill Moyers public television agency flew me to New York to join a circle of theologians and scholars discussing a baffling question:

Why is religion—which universally teaches love, forgiveness and brotherhood—entwined in so much murder and hate around the world?

Isn't it time you start asking God for the Answer rather than politicians??? Personally, I think so!

God Bless Us All

Gabbie

A Major Step Up in Fiona Quinn Mystery Series With Deep Blue Murder by C. S. McDonald

 

Prologue~ Moscow, Four Years Ago… His handsome face stricken with concern, US Ambassador Jarrod Taslow ran a harried hand through his dark hair before he stepped into the hospital room. His suit jacket dangled open, and his bright blue tie hung loose below the collar of his white shirt. Quietly, he approached the doctor and nurse standing over a lovely brunette woman lying in the bed. “Doctor Vasiliev, how’s my wife?” The doctor did not look up. He set a syringe next to another syringe on the stainless-steel tray the nurse was holding. The nurse’s eyes cut to a man standing in the corner near the window, back to the ambassador, then she dropped her gaze to the tray. Placing his hand on the unconscious woman’s forehead, the doctor replied in a heavy Russian accent, “She will be fine.” His hand slipped away from the woman’s head. “I have given her a sedative to help calm her. She will need rest. She has much to deal with when she wakes.” Hitching his chin toward the man near the window, he added, “Agent Guseva will watch over her. She will sleep for many hours. You should get some rest as well, Ambassador Taslow.” Without making eye contact with the ambassador nor the agent, the doctor made his way out of the room. Keeping her gaze down, the nurse hurried to follow close behind. 

Jarrod pulled a nearby chair next to his wife, Kira’s, bedside. With a gentle sweep of his fingers, he moved an errant strand of hair from her cheek, then, taking her hand into his, he eased into the chair. From the far corner, Agent Guseva’s voice was quiet. “I am sorry for your loss, Ambassador Taslow. This is tragedy for your wife.” “Kira was so looking forward to this trip to Russia. She couldn’t wait to come home to see her parents. She hasn’t been back in over five years, and when she was invited as a guest pianist for the Moscow Symphony, she was thrilled.” “The Fedorovs were supposed to be at concert, da?” Guseva fished. Jarrod lifted his gaze to meet the agent’s. “Yes. We were given the orchestra box, stage right. I felt like I was sitting next to Kira through the entire performance. The piano was only about ten or fifteen feet away. 

When the concert began, I couldn’t believe her parents were late. When Kira took the stage, she looked over toward the box. I could see the shock and disappointment in her eyes that her parents weren’t there. Of course, we had no way of knowing…” His words fell away. “We are looking into incident. We will find who is responsible. But…as you know, the Fedorovs have been politically outspoken for long time. You are wealthy man, Ambassador. I am sure you know wealth is privilege. The Fedorovs were wealthy. But I fear their wealth and privilege made them target. It would be best, after funerals, if you return to Denmark. Take wife away from Russia. Never to return.”

~~~

McDonald has taken a major step to expand the scope of, and additions to the base character list in her latest Fiona Quinn Mystery, Deep Blue Murder. With Fiona's marriage to Detective Nathan Landry, she has also acquired a mother-in-law... But not just any mother-in-law... Rita Landry has an extensive past in government law enforcement and now leads an agency, Global Shield, that provides discrete support to those in the political arena and others needing security assistance.

But when Rita contacts Fiona and her son Nathan to take a short trip to a secluded island, Fiona had visions of sun, swimming, and lots of casual conversation and an opportunity to get to know more about those who will also be there on the island.

But Rita and her associate are on assignment! They have been asked to come to the Island, owned by Ambassador Jarrod Taslow. Interestingly, the island has a history--the former owner supposedly committed suicide and was found at the bottom of a nearby high cliff. But Taslow had bought the island and brought his wife, Kira, who had suffered a traumatic loss of her parents while she had been performing for the Moscow Symphony. Along with his wife's caregiver, there was only three other people on the island, all those who worked to provide basic staff support to the grieving couple.

But years had passed, and things were quiet until the Ambassador had learned of a online site where his picture had been placed and, ultimately, a young teenage girl and whoever was posing as the Ambassador had begun a supposed relationship! Rita and her staff quickly started the investigation to find out not only who the girl was--and notify her parents--but also to discover the background and who was striking out at the Ambassador for...whatever reason!

While those there to handle the investigation got started, Fiona and Kira, the Ambassador's wife, who was being kept from all that was happening, soon became friends. However, Kira's caretaker seemed to resent Fiona for, perhaps, a good reason. In any event, Fiona and Kira was soon spending time on the beach and getting to know each other... That is, until a maid was found dead in the hottub--which had been prepared for Kira...

Believe me, so much is going on, you'll have a tough time keeping things straight, because there are multiple plot lines developing as we move forward. Soon, Fiona's husband was being called upon to handle the possible murder of the maid, while Rita and staff continued to investigate--which got quite complicated when the young girl showed up on the island!

Seriously, with a little bit of the horrid acts of catfishers, together with a murder and who it seemed to be intended for, as well as a disgruntled groundskeeper, there was only one way to discover what was really going on...

Make a friend with an island native to guide you...and maybe even come to your rescue as this little one did... All Fiona had to do was provide lots of banana pieces! So remember, if you are visiting a private island with no or little outside communication, do seek out and befriend the natives and give them a little love...

I was hooked by the first visit from this little fellow during a meal! They decided that something must have happened to separate him from his mother, so Fiona decided to make a friend... You get the picture!

I'm hoping that the inclusion of Global Services staff may come to visit readers in future books. The complexity and wider scope that this allows has taken the Fiona Quinn mysteries a major step toward a significant novel, without losing the wonderful flavor of a cozy mystery! If you haven't met Fiona Quinn, you may not know that she also lives with a ghost back home... So with McDonald, you're going to be thrilled with her slow build of the plot(s) but, now, you just may be able to fully grasp exactly what and whodunit! But nobody would have foreseen this closing!  I loved this one!

GABixlerReviews

Guest Poet, Regis Auffray with Violin Love - And Remembering My Mother on Her Birthday - July 2nd

 

Violin Love   On the edge of midnight Notes float on the wind She strokes the strings Caresses night vibes Coaxes emotions To come forth She evokes Arouses Me Completely Tears fall Streak down Into my fevered Mind Onto My feverish flesh   Her violin notes Meld with her mood She smiles Enchantingly   Snowflakes gently land On her loveliness Fireflies and stars Are extinguished Before the beyond belief of her Bright godliness I ache to be her audience  Only me If God allows it I miss her  Violin love    © Régis Auffray Imagination A land of fertility And food for the soul ~ Regis crimson dragonfly to and fro over the pond in the noonday sun ~ Regis

authorsden Every Once In A While, You'll See One or Two of the Haikus that Regis is known for... So I've included a couple for you to learn about as well.  Violin Love almost demanded that I provide complementary music to go with the words of a man who has loved deeply, a woman of the violin, and who misses her now as she has left his life... So, too, his words reminded me of my mother who ensured that we had some basic piano skills--enough to play in our local church--and, even more, to be able to play for her as she sat or laid nearby in her older years. Most of the songs we played were those she would recognize from church and occasionally, she would hum or sing a few words to show she knew the song that one of us had selected... So I wanted to especially thank Regis, one of our ongoing contributors to Book Readers Heaven, for this special poem of remembering... Words and music are so much a part of our lives, aren't they? I hope this post will bring some special memories for you as well. God Bless Gabbie

Guest Blogger Manny Monolin Moreno Shares Memories and Poetry From His Books!

 

Tu'i yokoria

Buenos dias

Good morning.

I wrote about the shack in my first poem, Starting Out From Longview Road, in my 4th book. Longview Road.

It's still standing but now the windows are boarded up, and the water well tapped out.

I have happy memories there and not so happy.

In the 1960's. No cell phones or computers. Just the fields all around us.

Grandpa and grandma lived about a hundred yards from us.

Whenever I go down to visit my relatives, I slowly drive by the "shack" to soak it up in my memory.

~~~

Moments

Sage burns in an abalone shell

Smoke spirals to heaven

My thoughts are on a mission

For things to think about

There are many stories to write

But this hummingbird has me on its wings

What happens now will not happen

Again as it is happening

I will not be remembered sitting here

Caught in this cross-fire of solitude

The smoke spiraling to heaven

Will not ascend this way again

Shadows moving across the ground

Have neither tongues nor eyes

***

I remember waking up at dawn on September 14, 1986, hungover like a big dog and putting on a pot of coffee to snap out of it. I got wasted the night before celebrating my thirty-first birthday out at Frank's Corner and only slept a few hours.

The sun was rising above the rooftops and streaming through an open window where I sat at the kitchen table, as cool breezes splashed in across my face sobering me up. Everybody else was still in bed and the sounds of a train passing through Livingston echoed in the distance.

I was peeking out at the leaves of the big weeping willow tree in the backyard falling down like a shower of the feathers and carpeting down like a shower of tiny feathers and carpeting the ground around it in a circle. Suddenly Grandpa Manuel popped into my mind planting a long twig in the middle of the backyard in 1968, as a gift to us when we first moved here. I never believed it would grow into this big beautiful tree but Grandpa proved me wrong.

In my drunk and drugged stupor I was imaging grandpa's spirit was in the tree trying to reach out to me. That's what I wanted to believe and I whispered almost crying to the tree, "Help me Grandpa, help me." But I got no answer.

When the coffee was ready I got up and went into the bedroom to grab some pens and notebooks and sat back down to start writing out of desperation about my journey on this road of life. I wanted this book to be my gift to the family. But I never realized how hard it was going to be...

This is what I began to write about with the jitters on this morning thirty years ago, how my life evolved into becoming my worst enemy and about the shell of a man I had become...

"It's good to know where you come from so when you get asked to introduce yourself you can say who you are and who your ancestors were."

~~~

They came to the room and Mom said "Sophie brought these elders to pray over you."
The husband said "Hello Manny, my wife and I would like to pray over you, do you mind?"
"Oh...yeah whatever," I was thinking if it weren't for them being elders I would have told them to go f... themselves. The three of us held hands and began to pray.
As they were praying I felt this electricity flow through my body from my feet to my head and then slowly back down to my feet. A great unexplainable peace came over me. I didn't know what to think. I couldn't think. All my senses were flowing with calmness. When they were done praying they left and I fell into a deep sleep...
I patted around my stomach when I woke up in the dim room and didn't feel the bag. There was only a piece of thick gauze where my gut had been sticking out. She said it was a miracle. That the bag was removed and I was patched back up...
~~~

Scared is a Memorable Book I am happy to share a little of  today. I'm fresh from eye surgery on my left eye, so am seeing through the fuzziness... 

May God Bless Manny and all indigenous people who still struggle to make a living here in America... Check out his books. And help an American citizen who has had to fight his way through the, often, ugliness of a past carved out after the white man invaded, killed, and stole from those who lived in North America before others came across the great oceans. Like many, Manny continues to struggle to have sufficient money to make it through each day. I try to help as much as I can. Please consider buying his books and the other artistic items that he has created with his own hand... Beautiful items. Show that you, too, care, for those who have been set aside by those rich and powerful who care nothing about our true Americans... of all colors!

Sage burns in an abalone shell

Smoke spirals to heaven

My thoughts are on a mission

For things to think about

There are many stories to write

But this hummingbird has me on its wings

What happens now will not happen

Again as it is happening

I will not be remembered sitting here

Caught in this cross-fire of solitude

The smoke spiraling to heaven

Will not ascend this way again

Shadows moving across the ground

Have neither tongues nor eyes

***

I remember waking up at dawn on September 14, 1986, hungover like a big dog and putting on a pot of coffee to snap out of it. I got wasted the night before celebrating my thirty-first birthday out at Frank's Corner and only slept a few hours.

The sun was rising above the rooftops and streaming through an open window where I sat at the kitchen table, as cool breezes splashed in across my fact sobering me up. Everybody else was still in bed and the sounds of a train passing through Livingston echoed in the distance.

I was peeking out at the leaves of the big weeping willow tree in the backyard falling down like a shower of the feathers and carpeting down like a shower of tiny feathers and carpeting the ground around it in a circle. Suddenly Grandpa Manuel popped into my mind planting a long twig in the middle of the backyard in 1968, as a gift to us when we first moved here. I never believed it would grow into this big beautiful tree but Grandpa proved me wrong.

In my drunk and drugged stupor I was imaging grandpa's spirit was in the tree trying to reach out to me. That's what I wanted to believe and I whispered almost crying to the tree, "Help me Grandpa, help me." But I got no answer.

When the coffee was ready I got up and went into the bedroom to grab some pens and notebooks and sat back down to start writing out of desperation about my journey on this road of life. I wanted this book to be my gift to the family. But I never realized how hard it was going to be...

This is what I began to write about with the jitters on this morning thirty years ago, how my life evolved into becoming my worst enemy and about the shell of a man I had become...

"It's good to know where you come from so when you get asked to introduce yourself you can say who you are and who your ancestors were."

~~~

Only You Can Do - Simply Beautiful, Memorable Poetry by Regis Auffray

 

Only You Can Do   You are you Like nothing else Like no one else could be I treasure you I do not have the words Nothing I can express verbally Can do justice Nothing I can convey Can truly say All that you are To me The star The moon The sun The sea The air that I breathe The wind You are the one Who completes me You are the one Who connects me to The Source Divine Entity God Creator All That Is The mere thought of you Leaves me feeling it all On the edge of nothingness On the portal of forever   Only you Are you Are me It is not complicated It is not a mystery It has always been Simple   I love you     © Regis Auffray

authorsden Thanks again to Regis for sharing his poetry here at Book Readers Heaven. You know, I do select the complementary music; however, I recommend you read each poem without playing the music. It is only the writer who truly understands what he wants to say. Hopefully, I have selected music to at least come close to what Regis wants to share with his Words! What do you think?

A Tribute Written to Montezuma by Poet Manny Monolin Moreno from His Book - The Bridge is Gone

 

Montezuma II was a good leader before the Spanish arrived
https://www.thoughtco.com/emperor-montezuma-before-the-spanish-2136261

Montezuma

Your bronze eyes

sparkle in sunlight

from deep dark pockets

hewn on your furrowed

indigenous face,

your hands tremble

rough as rawhide

grafted on a chair

and you sit as you do

mumbling as if

conversing with spirits,

years ago

strong as a bull

you labored in the fields

proud to show the boss

you were equal to or better than

any machine,

now your strength is sapped

like water squeezed from a sponge

and the only thing left for you to do

is converse your way through.

~~~

--From The Bridge is Gone

Manny Monolin Moreno

Note: The music was so intriguing that it seemed appropriate to continue sharing the various videos created from just one haunting melody featuring history and nature... in Tribute to Montezuma... 

Manny Monolyn Moreno is an ongoing contributor at Book Readers Heaven... He has Just been named a recipient from HeARTLand for his next book, Santa Nella Blues: Poems