A Riddle of Scrambled Birthrights ?

As a figment of someone's Imagination, I am often puzzled about real human beings. As an imaginary character, I can bypass principles of science, rules of logic and matters of spirit. Today, what comes to Mine is the proverb," Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"(attributed to Alexander Pope).Three words come out of nowhere: Existence, Creation and Invention. A thought follows that 'more people die trying to create and take credit for what already exists'. A non-sequitur follows, ' Each Life is already patented and copyrighted before birth'. With respect to Existence, Creation and Invention, take comfort in knowing that the Most Feared and the Most Beneficent already exists ! Unravel this riddle and tell me what you think .

Did Frederick Douglas Struggle With Trauma & Identity Issues ?

Knowing, understanding and discussing Frederick Douglas's autobiography in light of the recent 2016 US Presidential election sets the stage for black youth and adult's recovery, resilience and survival in the face of daily struggles against racism and intolerance in the United States. All interested followers of Flash mc Cool blogs should read the excerpt from Goodreads-Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglas Quotes, “Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, (born circa 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American abolitionist, women's suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. Called "The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia", Douglass is one of the most prominent figures in African-American and United States history. He was a firm believer in the equality of all people, whether black, female, Native American, or recent immigrant. He was fond of saying, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.” ― Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Is The USA Post Nov 8,2016 Now Amerikkka ?

Today, Nov 11,2016 is Veteran's day in the USA. Oddly enough, with all the violent protests in the United States since Trump was elected President on Nov 8th, some folks believe that the USA is no longer "the land of the free and the home of the brave" but a newly declared Apartheid Country. Is this what USA Veterans served their country for ? There are a sizable number of American citizens ( children, men, women, senior citizens, retirees, elected officials, and active military) who believe that their civic participation has gone for naught. Will many US citizens celebrate "Thanksgiving " as a populist declared 'Apartheid' Country ? Should the civic and history books of the United States be re-written to reflect the 'founding' of a USA Apartheid Union ? Will there be a new national flag that signifies to the World a new separatist status ? The dialogue is only beginning and the people need to know their true citizen status . Who are US citizens saluting today ?

The "Tramp" Who Did Not Trample on Democracy

I have an affinity for Charlie Chaplin as he and I have a tendency for comical and outlandish antics. Charlie Chaplin was born in 1889 in London and was sometimes a serious 'old chap' at times. Unlike the contemporary 2016 US Presidential nominees and the 2016 elected US officials, Charlie Chaplin aimed his focus on 'Democracy' in a very profound way! As the US Presidential election takes place on November 8,2016 and before you press that button or pull that lever for your candidate, consider Chaplin's profound remarks about 'Democracy'. Visit the following link and share it if you like it ! http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/synopsis/articles/29-The-Great-Dictator-s-Speech …

Women Stand by Trump ?

It's near Halloween and hoboclowns love Halloween Parties. Halloween Parties are not political parties but this year ( 2016) I'm gettin' the tart apple cider jug ready to sip and nod right after I do my oldie DJ spin of the Great Pumpkin season, dedicated to the women who stand by their man. Listen in at the link and tell everybody if it moves you, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwPTQEggZDQ

Is There A History of Policing in The United States ?

In the Land of Imagination, anything can be stopped and frisked. As an imaginary hoboclown detective,I decided to momentarily stop the dialogue on the violence in US Policing and to frisk the literary shelves for information and evidence of the invention of the policing service. What was found was not contraband but a bundle of informative literary facts on the History of Policing in the United States . There was no need to mirandize the suspected perp; no need to taser his grip on his manuscript; nor shoot down his points of view. The gentleman was allowed free passage, even though I jotted down his name and link in case anyone wanted to do a follow-up investigation. No, it was not about a cold case, rather information needed by the public who were in hot pursuit of knowledge of The History of Policing in the United States. Proceed with caution. You can pick up the investigation at the following link- http://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/history-policing-united-states-part-1

I Feel Your Pain

Does one black person feel pain when another black person is shot by police ? I would hazard to say it is quite possible! I looked for some clues about psychological group consciousness or group awareness. I believe I found a good hypothesis on the matter at the following link that referenced a book by Sara Ahmed entitled, The Cultural Politics of Emotion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cultural_Politics_of_Emotion Students of psychology, political science, law, social policy and even elected officials my want to peruse the book, given the trying times for race relations and policing in the United States today .

Convictions ?

Yes,sometimes sleuthing leads to the conviction of criminals who are found guilty and sentenced in a court of law. Today,however it is often the "conviction" that is on trial in the court of public opinion . A prime case in point is the 'Convictions' of Colin Kaepernick . A quick glance at the Thesaurus.com synonyms for Convictions produced, among other terms, the following: Faith,Feeling,Principle,Creed View,Judgment Call. The United States of America was founded on many 'Convictions', debated in fury and fact over many periods of history. The natural consequence was that some 'Convictions' held sway over others. Some were tranformed into ironclad beliefs, in the foundries of enacted laws;many controversial and many repealed after open debates and some reversed after open warfare.And now comes Colin Kaepernick in the court of public opinion. In this matter, are you a prosecutor, a defense attorney or a friend of the court, that has multiple judges ? Read the following for yourself,weigh the evidence, hear the arguments and apply the law of public opinion.Who renders the verdict in a court of public opinion, since there are so many judges and no formally empaneled jury ? http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/conviction http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/colin-kaepernick-on-national-anthem-ill-continue-to-sit/ar-AAibTpu?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp

Resident of The United States 2016

Hi everybody! My name is ? Well, I'll figure it out somehow. I know my name and you know who I am ! I've been comin' here for the last twenty five years!I'll tell you what-go get me one of those really smart Smartphones.They gotta guy on there named James. Hello James ? This is me.I need to know my name right now because people are askin'! Who am I ? A " Resident of The United States" ? No,I can't run for "President". I already served my time! Four more years ? I just got outta the joint! You want me to run against Thillery and Ump ? No! No! The Olympics is over ! Yeah,I'm wearin' gold ,It goes with my new shoes.they're called , "Diggoes" .When Ump puts up the fence, I' ll be ready to dig and go ! And when Thillery steals Ump's thunder...you know how the sayin' goes- I'm outta here ! Bolt ain't got nothing on me ! I can do an 8.1 with both legs tied behind my back ! No drones Jones- just fact! Hey James! When you figure out who I am-call me back. Better yet-just send me a text !!

2016 US Presidential Candidates Disavow & Musicians Protest ?

It wasn't tough to locate a set of lyrics that captures the imagination and wonder of how one changes one's mind in mid-air. As they say, " Life is sometimes stranger than fiction" . Listen how the brothers told it back in the day at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuRhETwbI0 Lately, the copyright owners asked one presidential candidate to stop using their music at political events .

Gold Star Mothers and Families ?

This morning I went looking for the "Gold Star" .I did not find one in the US Flag and did not find one on the Liberty Bell at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, PA. This was a surreal investigation! I never contemplated going on a quest for a "Gold Star" on August 1,2016.Yet, the matter seemed urgent! I am a fictional character but the "Gold Star" has a real basis in history ! Alas ! I found a stamp that had a"Gold Star'. One clue led to another and the quest was over ! I not only found the "Gold Star" but also located references about the "Gold Star Mothers" and the "Gold Star Families" . No, they do not house pots of Leprechaun gold but instead have a very rich recent legacy! No, they are not billionaires but seem to be much better than that ! The legend is that they are worth their weight in "Gold"! Examine them at the following websites with your lupe or magnifying glass to see how they have become 'National Treasures' ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Star_Mothers_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Star_Families_for_Peace

Treason or Sedition ?

Who said it ? Who did it ? Is there a fine line between aiding a foreign power against one's own country or merely suggesting they go to work for you ? I did a little surveillance on the reads and found the following link that described "Treason in the US 1790, US Code 18 U.S.C. 2381" that holds that such a perpetrator," shall be incapable of holding any office under the US ". Look for your self at the following website, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason

Police Stress vs Black Citizen Stress ?

The question under scrutiny was whether the daily non-stop stress of being a police officer bumps heads with the stress of a black person being subjected to daily non-stop racism ? Police accuse blacks of being prone to violence and blacks accuse the police of being prone to violence. There were some clues found in my investigation that suggested that both the police and blacks experience "Fight or Flight responses" to daily persistent stress. Police officers (among several other occupational groups) are bombarded with stress on a daily basis-a hazard of the job. Many blacks are employed in similarly stressful occupations and their stress ( or ' Fight or Flight' ) response may be compounded by the stress of daily racist assaults to their well-being. It is conceivable that a black police officer who is also a victim of racism on a daily non-stop basis may have a stress "Fight or Flight" response that is off the charts . What may result is what could be termed a 'warrior stand-off' ( for lack of any other clinical or scientific term ). There is some science behind the "stress-related (Fight or Flight) response" . Does this mean that we live in a sick society ? In many ways, 'yes' . The researchers in the medical and mental health communities have a very difficult and yes stressful job in finding healthy interventions. It is conceivable that stressed out police should have shorter work shifts or immediate sick leave to bail when their stress levels get too unmanageable versus remaining on the street at-risk to themselves and others. Black citizens should be able to employ the same 'release valves' after dealing with daily periods of "race-based traumas". Relaxation-training, crisis management de-escalation training and elimination of racism (at all community, city, state and federal )levels would benefit both groups. Read the following web sites and formulate your own opinions on the matter: http://www.medicaldaily.com/changes-dsm-5-racism-can-cause-ptsd-similar-soldiers-after-war-246177 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder

Racism,Digital Democracy & Black Ethnic Expectations

I decided to investigate Internet and Smart Phone democracy and social media expectations in relation to USA racism,policing and some police perceptions of blacks as potentially violent.The investigation was a tall order but some leads turned up : An old 1997 but useful article by Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Spring 1997 on Ghettos:The Changing Consequences of Ethnic Isolation, was useful because it gave a then and now picture of the issues. Not much has changed since 1997 but the article gave a great deal of insight into the subtleties of the mechanics and rationale of Ghetto ethnic isolation. I then examined the matter of Indian Life on Reservations and how a trial US Government Policy (The Dawes Act) impacted the indigenous peoples. Next, I took a microscopic review of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how its'prevalence among black victims of US Racism could have adversely impacted the tensions between the police and the black communities.Finally, I did a quick read on how "Racism Can Cause PTSD Similar To That Of Soldiers After War ". Naturally, my brief investigative fact- finding here gives an over-simplification of the matters but it is a good starting point to share with my blog readers interested in delving a little more into the social problems. It appears that the lightning speed of digital democracy (Internet and smart phone use ) has conditioned the public to expect instantaneous solutions to such problems that have persisted in entrenched neighborhood,city,state and US governmental institutions (including legislation and policies). Hopefully,someone can offer some more immediate and long-term but enduring and beneficial solutions to this USA connundrum.Read the following links, begin a dialogue and suggest some constructive and peaceful action-oriented problem-solving: https://www.bostonfed.org/economic/nerr/rr1997/spring/glsr97_2.htm http://www.ushistory.org/us/40d.asp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder http://www.medicaldaily.com/changes-dsm-5-racism-can-cause-ptsd-similar-soldiers-after-war-246177 Don't forget to break out the internet dictionaries and encyclopedias to get explanations of some of the big words I used in this blog piece ! Or better yet, grab your neighborhood professor by the elbow and take him or her to lunch and talk, question and talk about the issues !

Some of Martin Luther King's Observations Are Still Relevant Today

Trying to understand the black experience from a black person's point of view can take some doing,especially if you are starting from scratch. Fifty years ago,today's millenials (ages 19 to 34) were just a gleam in their father's eyes. Also, not all Americans of every ethnicity knew about the teachings or observations of Martin Luther King. At that time King referred to Blacks as "The Negro" as he described their plight in American society. Many things have changed since King's most active period of his life but a lot of things have not.The following quote from King's writings ring just as true today in 2016 as it did fifty years ago- "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained." To get a basic understanding of what King's Obervations were, read his "Letter from A Birmingham Jail " at the following website https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html After the read, it may be useful for you to begin a discussion about how to help improve the 'plight' of today's 2016 black father,black mother and black child.

Bail Out US Student Debtors Who Are Too Big To Fail ?

Yes,a White House report came out contending that "student debt is good for the economy". Flash Mc Cool, fictional hoboclown detective, found evidence to the contrary! I wonder how many indebted students helped write the report ! History has many examples,worldwide that a "Debtor's Prison" forces people who are unable to pay their debt to work inordinately and nearly indefinitely to satisfy their debt. Some debtors were called "indentured servants" . When the US Banks and failing auto industry were deemed too big to fail were they economically confined to a Debtor's prison ? Obviously, the question is a rhetorical one but since a lot of rhetorical soundbites are now reverberating around both political parties' social media outlets, why not include solutions-oriented rhetoric to 'bail out indentured students'. Students are the USA's future and need immediate relief via a 'bailout' ! You can bet that the economy will soar when the indebted student's debtor's prison sentences are commuted and they begin creating new enterprises,free of the stress of worry about debt! Flash Mc Cool is fiction but USA students are real . Review the information at the following websites and decide for yourself- http://www.aol.com/article/2016/07/19/white-house-student-debt-is-good-for-the-economy/21435086/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debtors%27_prison

The US Presidential Campaign Beat Goes On !

Was Donald Trump the only US presidential political party nominee to be challenged ? Well, actually 'No' . As usual, I went sleuthing for the facts and found the evidence of a 1972 DNC Miami Beach Convention Center wrangle, wherein DNC Rules and credentials challenges were made and one, "Jimmy Carter" allegedly "helped spearhead the Stop Mc Govern campaign" while at the same time, " trying to become Mc Govern's candidate for Vice-President." Things got so bad that Mc Govern reportedly proclaimed," I opened the doors of the Democratic party and 20 million people walked out." See for yourself at the cited and referenced website, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Democratic_National_Convention Lotsa controversial issues were bouncing around at that convention. Study the historical event for yourself at the aforementioned website and you will see that "the beat goes on...la dee dah " .

Being Trumped Brings Out The Best In People !

The ol' fictional hoboclown detective's 'Lesson for Today' : ' Being Trumped Brings out the best in people! ' Exhibit A and Exhibit B and C are as follows: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bring+out+the+best+in One Supreme Court Justice said it best, http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/us-supreme-court-justice-ginsburg-apologizes-for-trump-remarks/ar-BBukt9C?li=BBnb7Kz The remaining Supreme Court Justices, abstained, as did ol' Flash Mc Cool and opined : 'My name is West. I'm not in this mess '. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100318142951AAGxvvr

21st Century Policing in the USA

Sometimes an ol' fictional hoboclown detective has to take off the red gloves to get some answers to tough questions. I followed my leads to Washington,D.C. and pressed my sources for the low down on "21st Century Policing". It seems that the concept stemmed from a President Obama Executive Order that created the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. In May, 2016 the "COPS Office launched the advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative". They also rendered a one year progress report. President Obama has said," We may not solve every problem or tear down every barrier of mistrust overnight but by working together and addressing our challenges in the open space of democracy we can make things better." Witness the "advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative" yourself at the following sites: www.WhiteHouse.gov/Community-Policing https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/18/executive-order-establishment-presidents-task-force-21st-century-policin https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/03/02/what-21st-century-policing-means www.cops.usdoj.gov. http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2761 Follow the process and resources outlined to see where and how you can have input in making community policing work !

Police Without Guns ?

Say it ain't so ! Well, I can't because there are situations in which police are unarmed. While investigating this matter, I stumbled upon the 'old' 19 September 2012 article that described the rationale against some police in Britain toting guns. Interested ? Check out the interesting article at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19641398

Racism and Policing Matters-A USA Public Health Emergency ?

Sometimes, investigators try to put together pieces of puzzles to crack a case.Today, one big case is that of Racism and Police Brutality against Blacks in the USA. Many literary pieces have been written on the subjects.Some action-oriented results have occurred. Today's question is whether today's brand of Racism and Police Brutality in the United States rise to the level of a Public Health Emergency affecting all US citizens? Two examples of public health emergencies are the current concern about the Zika virus and the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Liberia. Swift and decisive action was taken by the medical community and public health officials.A related question is whether Racism and Police Brutality ( both with a longstanding history of state-sponsored discriminatory legislation, the socio-cultural tradition of perpetuation of racist attitudes in racist families and communities and other US Institutions )affect the health and well-being of Black US citizens ? It is well known that blacks have been susceptible to developing hypertension and diabetes (for a number of documented reasons). There seems to be some data on Blacks' susceptibility to becoming victims of racism and police brutality simply because of their skin color.What appears to be missing from the classification of DSM V Mental Disorders is a diagnosis of victim of racism or police brutality and more alarming is the non-inclusion of 'Racism' as a Mental Health Disorder, that specifies 'Perpetrator of Racism' .Diagnoses have signs and symptoms, course of illness,course of evidence- based treatment, prognosis and more. Some even have associated legally- mandated reporter requirements ( e.g. in the incidence of suspicion of child abuse or duty to warn requirements if someone may be potential victims of a patients' intention to do them harm). With the promised overhaul of the US Criminal Justice System and the revision of "police use of force" policies, will they include revamping the mental health communities clinical diagnostic nosology approaches to the problems ? Generations of Black families have systematically physically and emotionally suffered if not died outright from Racist activities in the United States.The diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not even come close to addressing the magnitude of the problems endured.Paradoxically, black military veterans and currently active black police officers can simultaneously become both perpetrators and victims of a currently unhealthy and volatile police recruitment,selection, training,enforcement, supervision and discipline system that must work within a healthy and fair criminal justice system. Read the following websites and formulate your own opinion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/police_brutality_in_the_United_States

Any Hope and Resilience for USA Black Men ?

As investigations go ( real or imagined) there are usually two sides of a coin or two different points of view. Sometimes, the opposing views depend on what side of the fence you're on or what lenses you are looking through. Yesterday, I posed my investigative question on the USA Black Male as an endangered species. Today, I searched for clues that might reveal sources of Hope for US Black Males and was surprised to find one at the following recent February 29,2016 article on the National Review Online website at https://www.aei.org/publication/look-beyond-ferguson-and-baltimore-the-good-news-about-black-men/ The upshot of this investigation is that you never know where the investigative leads and trails will take you! Facts and observations require repetitious and careful review and analysis- an ongoing and dynamic process. The lesson learned is 'Keep thinking, keep thinking, keep thinking ! ' Now, leave the clowning to me and get to work !

Does Police Shootings of USA Black Males Make Black Men An Endangered Species ?

Frequent shootings of black males by police raise the question of whether Black Men in the USA are an endangered species. I decided to investigate this notion and found the following website, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endangered%20species Does the notion of endangered species include human beings? Some websites suggested past historical accounts of humans who were at risk for extinction.The following 2013 website suggested that "endangered species" may include humans, http://guardianlv.com/2013/09/endangered-species-may-include-humans/ If an ol' fictional hoboclown detective can find and begin a discussion of this notion,surely the US political and human rights scholars can do likewise. Or maybe the world community of human rights groups can see merit in this discussion ... Can an Endangered Species Bill be proposed by the current sitting US Congress or the 2016 US Presidential Candidates? Will such a body politic enact such legislation ? Is this a worthy issue to discuss ? You tell me ...

USA Americans Celebrate Independence Day Despite Historical Traumas

Is it providentially miraculous that USA Americans come together every year to celebrate independence from Britain ? " My country tis of thee...sweet land of Liberty, Of thee I sing" .As the refrain goes, 'Freedom, opportunity and justice did not always ring equally for ALL' . If you were JK Rowling how would you write a next chapter for the USA ? Read the following and then send ol' Flash Mc Cool your comments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Amistad www.ushistory.org/laz/history/ganges.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1567.html

The Brexit Games and American Sports Games of Life ?

No. They are not Olympic Games. But they could be both sides of the same coin. The outcome depends on who's flipping the coin ! That's how I see it in my sleuthing around for the facts and the evidence. Luckily for me, as an imaginary hoboclown detective, I don't have to take attribution for the following points of view of what I term, 'The Brexit Games'. Contemporary mainstream views define what is an American Sport.

 Major League & Olympic Games bring together the best athletes of all cultures to compete for the benefit of all peoples and nations. How athletes play the Game of Life  does not diminish  the fact that in most cultures they are role models for today's children, who become the leaders of tomorrow.The rules of competition in play helps young leaders learn to  discipline themselves and champion the grace of winning and  coping with defeat in lifelong challenges and difficulties .

After you review the two sides of the coin at the two following web sites, maybe you can tell the rest of us who gets to 'wear the gold'. More importantly, who will get to wear the 'crown of olive branches' ?? http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-sharp-spike-in-racist-incidents-reported-after-the-brexit-vote/ar-AAhE8xs http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/world/asia/india-independence-brexit-referendum.html

British Most Numerous Population To Migrate To The Colonies?

Even without my nips of fermented apple juice,I was able to do a little more magnification of the proverbial elephant in the room,the historical British migration to the colonies: The following website ( if accurate) cited the British people as the most numerous european people to migrate to the colonies. The tally was cited as " 2.5 million in Canada, 1.5 million in Australia, 750,000 in New Zealand, 450,000 to the U. of South Africa and 200,000 to India ". I am not a fact-checker, just an old feeble-eyed, fictional, hoboclown detective. Perhaps, the real fact-checkers will peruse the following website and tell us that my 'grandiose elephant in the room' is just a figment of my fictional imagination ? Now, I ask you is this 'historical or hysterical '? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism

US Congress's Help Wanted Signs ?

Can you get help without posting a 'Help Wanted' sign ? Better yet, how do you get help when you're trying to put your own house in order ? I looked into the matter of the 'Gun Vote Issue' playing out in today's US Congress. Both partisan groups are vying to put their own house in order. Yet, one partisan group stays in the house and on the job while the other closes the 'House' down for vacation . The question is do you call 'Ghostbuster's' or order out for 'pizza' ? Read about getting your own house in order at the following site and decide what Congress should do . http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/put+house+in+order

Brexit Poll and Impact of Early Colonialism ?

I am a fictional character but if history serves me well, Colonialism was not. It doesn't take much to confuse an old hoboclown detective like me but today's Brexit Poll presents an investigative puzzle. The question is whether the history of British colonialism argues against the Brexit Poll phenomenon ? Perhaps, you could read about it at the following site and tell me later what you think, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: You Touched Me

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: You Touched Me: I climbed the highest mountain to feel the force of your Life and when I reached the peak-You touched me !

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: "Dad"

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: "Dad": "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".According to the Phrase Finder, at http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/305250.html...

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: The Father's Day Itch

Flash Mc Cool Blogs: The Father's Day Itch: It's that time again and dear old Dads in the US of A will get tokens of appreciation on June 19th.Where I come from, most Dads are lik...

1942-2016 World Class Legend

Even a fictional hoboclown detective like myself is in awe of God's timing.Is it coincidental that when world events magnify the hopelessness of humanity, an iconic world figure dies? As short film director, Paul Mento,wrote in a script," No one goes out alive." No matter how rich,poor,famous,powerful,powerless, infamous, loved, hated or scorned, "No one goes out alive". This final transition humbles all mankind and gives us pause and reasons to put aside the pain,turmoil and suffering in today's present and past world stage as we realize that legendary hatemongers and world class heroes both have temporal limits.Most of us look to the legendary heroes for strength and endurance to help us reach our 'Final' destinations. Don Steinburg of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a first class front page Obituary on " Muhammad Ali 1942-2016 The Greatest" on Sunday June 5,2016.You can read all about the, "skinny 18 year old at the 1960 Olympics" who went on to become a world class legend who slapped leather with the finest but won the hearts of so many without laying a glove on them. Ali did not aspire to political office but became well known for uplifting people around the globe. His legendary life of triumph, challenges and adversity should set an example for the political power-brokers of today as their temporal biological clocks tick away.

The Hard Times of Political Storms ?

As a fictional Hoboclown detective,I've been known to pick up a few pennies on the sidewalk to save for a rainy day. Well, it seems to be raining pretty steadily in the USA Political Climate.The looming 'storms of contentious Presidential Campaigns' are continuously bombarding the rural and urban american and worldwide citizenry. Not much on using umbrellas to protect myself from the 'elements' (both natural and human-kind),I decided to duck into two digital caves of insight as I try to make it back to my humble abode in one Peace: http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-26-1-plato-and-aristotle-on-tyranny-and-the-rule-of-law.html http://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law.html As with my collection of curbside pennies, you can save these two digital caves of insight to help you make it through the hard times of political storms.

Trumpity,Thump,Thump ?

The last few days of the US GOP Presidential campaigning has left this old hoboclown detective searching for a relevant meaning of the saying," Marching To The Beat of A Different Drummer". The "presumptive GOP presidential nominee,the US GOP senate majority leader,the US GOP Speaker of the House,two former US GOP Presidents,several US state senators, some state governors and a host of recent GOP Presidential candidates and past GOP presidential candidates have all appeared to be marching to their own individual beats. To try to understand this phenomenon,I searched for the best relevant writing on the matter and found it from the fellow Pennsylvania blog of "educator",Stephanie Ann, at the following site, http://worldturndupsidedown.blogspot.com/2012/01/marching-to-beat-of-different-drummer.html If everyone marches to a different drummer, is a unified cadence possible if everyone is out of step ? Does unity among countrymen require sacrifice and concessions ?

Comedy Host Calls Obama The N Word ?

In his heart he knows who he is and can take a good punch.After all,I'm sure Mr. Obama has been called worse ( after he became President).Some people use Poetic license and sometimes Comedic license to get a chuckle.If Wilson tried that on Redd Foxx, he'd get a 'Knuckle'.If he said that to my dad,he'd be blessed with two 'cracks' instead of one. As president, Obama is a father figure to many black and non-black youth.How many fathers would allow their son's to make a quip like Wilson's...bad taste, period ! In comedic diplomatic circles such slang is 'uncool'. Read the article for yourself, http://www.aol.com/article/2016/05/01/larry-wilmore-to-obama-yo-barry-you-did-it-my-n/21368595/

US Presidential Candidate Kills Two Birds With One Stone ?

US Presidential candidate,D. Trump, kills two birds with one stone: He makes it to the California GOP Convention and symbolically (with a little help from some friends)builds a first prototype of his promised 1,000 mile wall on the US Mexican border.You can read about the melodramatic feat at the following website, http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_29829794/trump-speech-today-california-gop-convention-burlingame

The Tip of The Day ( The Ballot Primer)

This 'ole' clown does not have time to spin yarns today. So, the tip of the day can be found at the following site, https://ballotpedia.org/2016_presidential_nominations:_calendar_and_delegate_rules

Ryan Already in line for the US Presidency

Yes, Ryan (the guy who reminds you of the bearded Lincoln on the five-dollar bill )can still become the US President even if he refuses to run or accept the GOP nomination!I have to admit that I sneaked around and took a quick peak at the "List of the Current Presidential Line of Succession" .I wanted to see if I, Flash Mc Cool Hoboclown detective, was on the list. I was sadly relieved that I was not on the list. Har. Har.Now,Ryan, as Speaker of the House, for as much as he tries to wriggle free of the prospect of becoming a US President, isn't so fortunate. As you can check for yourself; he is on the list ! Check it out for yourself at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession Oh, by the way I also checked with the US Mint to see if they had any funny money with my picture on it! Their response was, "Har.Har" .

Stylin' Like A Klowne

No steal.No spiel. Flash Mc Cool iz the real deal. Rockin' wit the Bobos. Hangin' wit the Hoboes. No steal. No spiel. Flash Mc Cool iz the the real deal. Sayin' yo yo yooo. Let's go Let's gooo. Red gloves and big red nose. He got a heart of gold, As the story goes. No steal. No spiel. Flash Mc Cool iz the real deal. Rockin' wit the Bobos. Hangin' wit the Hoboes. He's a black hat kat, wit a red pocket rag, and a dip wit his swag. Sayin' yo yo yooo, Let's go Let's gooo. He don't need know office. He's already elected. In His house, He's angel- protected. Sayin' yo yo yooo, Let's go Let's gooo. He says laugh when you're down! And get rid of that frown ! No steal,No spiel. Flash Mc Cool iz the real deal. Rockin' wit the Bobos. Hangin' wit the Hoboes. No need to be a President... Just a Kool World Resident !

A "Flamboyant " World Leader ?

You know the old saying,"...they just fade away".Lately, the 2016 US presidential campaign politics continues to spotlight bold and colorful personalities that wish to remain center stage in the 'Big tent'. The ring master brings out one death defying act after another until the lights go dim. Have the lights ever gone dim for other non-USA world leaders ? Well, I used my old red gloves to dust off an old article that you can read with my magnifying glass to peer back into history at a "flamboyant" "erratic leader" who frequently embarrased his people. Check out the article at the following site http://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/15/world/20-years-later-khrushchev-is-dim-memory-for-russians.html You can read more about this historical world leader at this site, https://books.google.com/books?id=7moY9FF4raQC&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=Did+Nikita+Khrushchev+and+Leonid+Brezhnev+embarrass+the+Russian+people+?&source=bl&ots=1UVXzMdk1H&sig=A4qP25-QivBbG0VItO8m8Q2ktAE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQiorunezLAhUBKB4KHbsLASQQ6AEISjAJ#v=onepage&q=Did%20Nikita%20Khrushchev%20and%20Leonid%20Brezhnev%20embarrass%20the%20Russian%20people%20%3F&f=false

Is US and World History Often Romanticized ?

The older I get as a fictional hoboclown detective,the more I learn and discover.My investigative searches for clues and facts often turn up 'ugly and uncomfortable historical and warped actions of mankind against mankind and other planetary creatures'. So far, I have not heard of one civilization that did not have some religious,political,socio-economic,scientific or pseudo-scientific skeletons in their 'civilized closet'. In trying to understand some of the underpinnings or causations of tensions among US ethnic groups and individuals, I bumped into two documented accounts of a life experience of a human being by the name of " Ota Benga". Mr. Ota Benga had been captured and terrorized abroad and brought to the US and introduced to a series of more inhumane abuses. The question raised is whether any human individual or group should be traditionally, culturally,legally, morally or ethically mistreated by other 'civilized human beings' ? Also, should such human degradations be excused and romanticized ? You are invited to answer the questions for yourself after reading the following accounts at the two websites: http://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/ota-benga-an-african-caged-in-a-u-s-zoo/article_ad3fd3d9-e86b-5c36-b04e-fd451f179245.html AND https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ota_Benga

Fire The Whole US Congress ?

Sometimes you get no traction and no action in the political arena.So, where do you go and what do you do?I decided to investigate and find out what some people think outta be done with elected officials.Somehow, the investigation surprisingly uncovered a notion that US Presidents are not the 'main culprits' for what ails the voting american people.No, the notion did not portray the Congress as a bunch of clowns.Thankfully, other descriptive words were used.Also, some select non-violent activism was suggested to " empower" the public's votes. If you're interested in this little investigative tidbit,read about it at http://www.kickthemallout.com/ As for me,I'm going' after that Pennsylvania groundhog that didn't see snow in this coming weekend's weather forecast!

A 2016 USA Political Family Reunion ?

Chasing rainbows isn't this ol' Hoboclown Detective's thing. So, I went looking for Ol' Don Quixote since what we have in common is "Impossible" dreams.I never could "beat the unbeatable foe" but I did give him a run for his money ! Sadly to say, I couldn't find ol' Don. They tell me he's " chasin' windmills" .He's my kinda guy ! I wore down the already proverbial beaten path lookin' for Don and came upon the O'Jays magical lyrics of "Family Reunion". It's my Hope that some day we can all see a ' 2016 USA Political Family Reunion' with the same comforting and spirited lyrics at the following site, http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ojays/familyreunion.html As they used to say back in the day,"Dig It !"

'Deep Throat' Rides Again ?

In the not too distant past, a political mess was discovered in the USA and "Deep Throat" materialized to help sort things out. Flash forward to today's date and a similar scenario plays out. Back in the day,a long-time generic college friend (of sorts) by the name of 'Cliff' would help save the day. Again, 'Cliff' delivers the detailed 'goods' in the shadows of the school of hard knocks. Yes, the shadowy meeting is covert and the details are cryptic but if ol' Flash can break the political code and figure it out-so can you ! Read the secret document at the following site - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/why-did-dr-frankenstein-create-his-monster Can 'Cliff' save the day ? Tell the fellas at the barbershop!

The Urban Jungle Search for The Bigot

Lately, viral videos have been pleasing ol' Flash Mc Cool with visual delights of predatory animals that befriend their traditional prey animals: Like the videos of lions befriending a sheep. Today, we also see videos of one animal species adopting and nursing animals of different species. Somehow the golden rule of Life shows us viral videos of previously unimaginable sights! There was one video of a baby possum hitching a ride on a dog's back! In search of sensible or useful answers to Life's mysteries, I have poked around many urban woods for clues. Not having a great understanding of what a "Bigot " was, I decided to get a descriptive definition of one in order to find one. I turned up one definition of a "Bigot" at the following site, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bigotry "If a person is intolerant of other ideas, races, or religions, we call that person a bigot. The intolerance expressed by that bigot is called bigotry." Now, my big task is to find and video a "Bigot" befriending and actually tolerating other ideas, races and religions. That may be a tall order and a rare occurrence but I betcha it'll go viral !

2016 US Presidential Candidates Disavow ?

It wasn't tough to locate a set of lyrics that captures the imagination and wonder of how one changes one's mind in mid-air. As they say, " Life is sometimes stranger than fiction" . Listen how the brothers told it back in the day at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuRhETwbI0 Lately, the copyright owners asked one presidential candidate to stop using their music at political events .

2016 US Presidential Debates Political Quiz

I was goin' to interrogate this 2016 US Presidential hopeful about his true sentiments after the last debate but he made a startling confession ? Who was he and is the following a statement of his true feelings on the matter ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w700qJE2exY

2016 Political Chitter Chatter !

Yep.Everywhere I snoop,I hear politicians yappin' and yappin' You gotta love 'em .They talk outta both sides of their mouths and say things that even they don't understand.So, without further ado I dedicate this youtube oldie to all of today's 2016 political mouthpieces, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGC4JnXzn1o

The Bernie Sander's Cocoon for A New Democratic Butterfly?

Yes. There are all kinds of species of creatures in the woods! Some evolve. Some just go through a " metamorphosis". That's just a big word for changing outward appearance and function. A frequently-cited example is the staged changes of the caterpillar into the beautiful butterfly. I've used my hoboclown detective magnifying glass to inspect many creatures in the wild. Currently, there's a lot of 'wildness and wild creatures' to gawk at in the USA 2016 political forests. I located one brilliant writer who shared his views of the emerging 'New Democratic Butterfly'. I perused his article and found a version of a political cocoon that operates like a 3-D printer changing what I term ' youthful social-mediants into Neo-Democratic Butterflies'. Check the insightful article out at the following site- http://thedailybanter.com/2016/02/how-bernie-sanders-is-laying-the-foundations-for-a-new-breed-of-democrat/

Are SCOTUS Nominees Presidential Clones ?

Fictional hoboclown detectives like me are creatively crafted ! We are mostly figments of imagination! For me, 'figments are made mostly of old cerebral notions, wildly colorful and romantic ideas and daring childhood fantasy'. On the other hand, US Supreme Court nominees are fashioned by many forces and factors, some human(e) and some happenstance. To date, none have been produced by 3-D printers. Also, it is highly doubtful that they are presidential clones! Some documented, analytical or "expert" witnesses (if you will) hashed out their take on the makings of US Supreme Court nominees. Read their interesting account at the following site, https://newrepublic.com/article/94516/nixons-court-kevin-mcmahon

The Real America ?

Lately,I've been runnin' here and there chasin' faux clowns who have been juggling hype enclosed in pseudo-american flags and brown paper bags. Seems like a lot of 'funny' money has been spent as well to goad, entertain and ring bells in contentious efforts to grab the brass ring of the spotlight. To what end? Only those jesters know their true intent! While the 'show' goes on, the real deal goes down in 'The Real America'. Read how 'Real America' takes care of business and its people at the following site, https://news.starbucks.com/community 'Let freedom ring !'

Past Election Year US Supreme Court Appointees ?

"You can fool some of the people sometime..." or can you ? This ol' hoboclown detective knows that investigations sometimes take on lives of their own. They lead to where they lead...period. 'Lady History' knew about the past US Supreme Court Election year appointees but she was being mum about it. Yet, she became the 'Source' for the copyrighted report that follows at, http://www.vox.com/2016/2/15/10998836/supreme-court-nomination-election-year 'Nuff said !'

A "Clown" Was Appointed To The US Supreme Court ?

It's tough being a fictional hoboclown detective.Just when I was holding my head high in prospects of being the first clown to be nominated for the US Supreme Court, my investigation turned up a "clown" who beat me to the mark! The fact of the matter was that Richard Nixon was said to have appointed, "four supreme court justices in his first term,including: Warren Burger,Harry Blackmun, Justices Powell and Rehnquist ",according to Luis Arandia,Jr. in his article at https://learningconlaw.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/nominating-the-%E2%80%9Cclown%E2%80%9D-rehnquist-to-the-supreme-court/ Rehnquist allegedly caught Nixon's eye as Nixon referred to Rehnquist as,"The guy dressed like a clown" who went on to,"be Nixon's eight choice...most successful in changing the court's philosophy." As the saying goes,"Sometimes you just have to dress to impress."

Solutions ? Solutions? Solutions!

It's great fun being a fictional, comedic, hoboclown- detective sleuth! One squirrel in the woody hoods where I hang out told me that I, Flash Mc Cool, was just a "real, personified, imaginary oxymoron".I think he was calling me a 'high fallutin' idiot. He said I always wanted answers and solutions. "Solutions? Solutions? Solutions!" I have been cutting across a lot of political landscape lately and noticing a lot of thorny problems not being addressed by the 2016 presidential candidates, elected officials and the General Public. Today, my sleuthing led me to one clever, deep-pocketed, fellow who gave an interesting spin on the surging interests of the "Millenials" in one particular presidential candidate. Read about it for yourself at http://www.aol.com/article/2016/02/09/mark-cuban-heres-why-millennials-love-bernie-sanders/21310296/ The young, upstart"Millenials" not only ask the political candidates questions, they want 'Solutions? Solutions? Solutions!' Also, to add insult to injury, they want to so something about the thorny problems themselves using big 'Socio-entrepreneurial weed wackers!' Why these brash, bold,young,rebellious,'social-mediants' need to all be rounded up and Commended !

Freezing Kids Need Heroes Too

The hard part about looking for heroes is that they don't respond to Want Ads. 'Heroes or heroines just happen along'.Many times heroes are missing in action.Hoboclown detectives investigate and search for their whereabouts.I sifted thru a few leads to find some heroes: A cambridge dictionary definition of a hero or heroine, gave me one clue- " A hero/heroine is a person admired for bravery,great achievements or good qualities". A website, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/heroism.html/ had some quotes about heroism. " My log book noted that a hero or heroine was needed to address the following crisis- http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160207_Broken_boiler_freezes_out_kids_in_crisis.html Before they spring into action, sometimes heroes/heroines need inspiration,as captured in the following quotes: " Don't worry that children never listen to you;worry that they are always watching you" - Robert Fulghum,Author " It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men " -Frederick Douglass " Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see" -John F. Kennedy Are you heroic ?

Ted Cruz Wearing Two Watches?

I usually stumble upon things with my big bobo hoboclown detective shoes.This time I kicked a can and it hit a button, http://www.scoopnest.com/user/michaelkamon/681763601254871040 with a report about "Ted Cruz Wearing Two Watches ? " Why would a 2016 US Presidential candidate wear two watches ? Sounds like a two-timer to me but you didn't hear me say that.See for yourself what a two timer is at http://www.searchquotes.com/search/two_timer

What Would George Do ?

The news media announced today that Trump was "grounded by snow in New Hampshire". A little bit of snow should not keep the leader of the pack from being amongst friends. My latest query was,'What would George do ?' A little investigative snooping turned up a factual account of 'George' (a leader of men) not only taking on a little inclement weather but also going eye to eye with 'the enemy'. In all fairness to Mr. Trump,I (a rumpled, witless, old, hoboclown detective)wondered if any of the 2016 US Presidential candidates would do what 'George' did ? Decide for yourself! Read the story in the following link, http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/crossing-of-the-delaware/

That is the question !

A natural tendency of a hoboclown detective is to ponder the ponderings of other people. Today, "To be or not to be" (president of the United States).That is the question! My query led me to an illuminating website, http://www.famous-quotes.com/topic.php?tid=938 Various quotes addressed the 'question' at hand. I doubt that the right hand of a fictional hoboclown detective always knows what the left hand is doing and vice-versa. Nonetheless, I use both red-gloved hands to cheer the following quote by Ronald Reagan ( from the above website), "But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret".

Send In the Clowns Again ?

Hoboclown detectives sometimes dig through old files and archives in their quest for the facts. My search turned up an old amusing depiction of one 2016 US Presidential candidate. A familiar, yet peculiar likeness insulted my clown sensibilities. Check out the following link, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-entering-2016-presidential-race-article-1.2259706 The fella in the New York Daily link had the nose right. The mouth was ok but the hair piece was a little off. My first gut reaction was to offer him 'an apprenticeship' but then I concluded that no self-respectin' clown would be fool enough to run for the US Presidency. We have too much FUN with our own pratfalls. Besides, we have billions of reasons to not run for public office much less, the white house! Yet, as the saying goes, "No fool-No FUN!"

2016 US Presidential Superheroes

Hic! After my wild night in the woods,I Flash Mc Cool Hoboclown Detective decided to get the court of public opinion to order the DUI to investigate some of the 2016 dashing US Presidential Campaign Super Heroes: Eyeball Ran,The Gubernator,The Miami Iceman, Bubba's Sidekick Hillary Honey,The Burning Bush, Cruise Missile,Count Baltimo',The Jersey Devil, The Brain Sturgeon,The Sand Man and last but not least, Poke Face aka The Lord of The Blings . Not only have these Superheroes been criscrossing the boundaries of the states of the Union they have also made waves overseas.The Lord of The Blings wanted to permeate the London fog but Big Ben wasn't havin' it, sayin' 'No fish and chips here'. Each Superhero has his/her super power but none were able to keep me from noddin' off in my cave last night .The frigid temperature had re-frozen the melted snow in the Wissahickon Valley and some of my critter friends nestled around my cozy camp fire while I paired up with my jug of nog. Pretty soon the court of public opinion will cast its votes for the most likely beneficial political superhero for President of the United States. Then, all the chaos will be back to normal ! Hic ! Now, where did I put that Super Bowl ?

Is Donald Trump Really ' Duper-Man' ?

After last night's Fox News televised Republican Presidential candidate debate, this old hoboclown detective fell asleep and had a dream. Well, maybe it was the shine of the moon or vice- versa that conjured up the dream state. As I sat in my cave, I saw the vivid press release,' Duper-Man! Faster than 4 billion speeding bullets; stronger than tin-foil; able to leap small budgets and create a rash of foopahs. Duper-Man can also Trump the biggest elephant in the room! Bolder than a brass monkey, more sassy than a bow-legged alligator, Duper-Man takes on all challengers thru media wrestle-mania. This one-man Teflon commando may soon nominate himself for President of the Universe! Tune in again for the next saga of Duper-Man and briar patch politics !' Hic !

Brer Rabbit TRUMPS Brer FOX ?

Hoboclown detectives often get befuddled but again they are just clowns !The rumor in the local woods was that the Brer Rabbit Brer Fox story at Americanfolklore.net/ folklore sounds a lot like the 'Trumping of the Fox ' when the Donald told Fox News they were 'fired' as he decided to boycott their event and host his own ! Who listens to rumors anyway ? The Brer Rabbit Brer Fox tale makes more sense !

Race Definition of

Sometimes interesting things are turned up during my hoboclown detective investigations.In sleuthing the definition of "Race",I went to Google and searched,'Race definition of ' and the result prompted the keywords: "race definition sociology,race definition fire,race definition medical, race definition human geography,race definition white,race definition history, race definition webster." I then searched for the definition of "ism" .Wiktionary prompted such descriptive words as: "actions,processes,systems,tendency of behaviors,peculiarity,ideologies,names of conditions or syndromes." I then searched for the "definition of racism by medical dictionary" which resulted in the definition, "A conscious or unconscious belief in the superiority of a particular race,which may lead to acts of discrimination and unequal treatment." Lastly, I searched for the definition of "Human Race" in the Free Dictionary which offered the following definition," All of the living human inhabitants of the earth." Now, I am wondering if there is such a thing as 'racism of the human race ? '