Thursday, May 31, 2012

SMH...just SMH

Disappointed

Veterans ID Card Now Available from DMV??

Had a coworker tell me about this...and all I can say is ~ I WANT!!

 

Governor Bob McDonnell today launched the new Virginia Veterans ID Card available from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in partnership with the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) during an afternoon event at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond.  The card will help thousands of Virginia veterans identify themselves as veterans and obtain retail and restaurant discounts around the state.  The DMV 2 Go mobile office was present to process veterans’ applications for the cards onsite this afternoon.  Governor McDonnell, a U.S. Army veteran who served for a total of 21 years in active duty and reserve roles, visited the mobile office at today’s event and was one of the first to apply for the new ID card....http://bit.ly/Jw4DHs

Download

Sorry if I am late to the party, but I have never seen this...

This is an awesome video. 

Some people just talk to much and don't know when to shut the hell up and LISTEN!! 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Memorial Day ~ Time to swim and BBQ, Right?

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As many of you know I am loud mouth, I am a Muslim, I am a student, I am husband, I am a father, I am podcaster, I am an employee. That is many hats to wear!

The one thing that you might not know is that I am also a United States Navy Veteran.

Monday is Memorial Day. The official start of summer, a day when people will gather to officially kick off summer.

The one thing that some people have forgotten is that this is also the day the day to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

It started in 1865 and was made a Federal Holiday in 1968.

I am not going to preach to much about this…my only real point here is that I saw some memes floating around the internet yesterday that I wanted to share with you as a reminder that is a day to remember our fallen veterans.

So to those that served before me and those that served with me and those the will serve after me, thank you for paying the ultimate price.

 

Friday, May 25, 2012

Hypocrites in prayer or Have I just lost my mind?

Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

I just had the oddest Friday prayer service ever, and I am so confused, I am not sure if I should to write this or if I should to just accept it and move on in life. 

But I feel like I need to let this out…so excuse me for a moment while I have verbal diarrhea; and if your offended by what I am about to say, I am sorry that was not my intent…so once you get over yourself, give me some constructive criticism.

The service opened with a five to ten minute speech on the panhandlers that were hanging around outside in the parking lot, and how we should not give them money because we were only encouraging that type of life style; to add to that, the question was tossed around a few times as to if they were even Muslim. 

So deep breath and here I go…

Do we really need a five to ten minute speech on not giving money to beggars? I mean really we are all adults who work and if we have the extra dollar to give to some one that seems to need to it, than that is our choice.

Please note I said “someone that seems to need it.” Comedian Christopher Titus tells a story about a 22-year-old Vietnam War veteran that was panhandling beside the free way wearing Ed Hardy and using a skateboard. That would be someone that does not need the money. Again, we are all adults and we can generally tell when someone is trying to scam us and when they are not; and a lamented multi language card is a bit of a tip off.

I also understand that extra people hanging around in an already overly busy parking lot is a safety hazard, especially with the way people drive around the D.C. area.  I also understand that if they are trying to scam people and they get a few dollars and they might go tell some of their friends and than there might be a few extra people panhandling the following week. But this is not an episode of South Park (http://cart.mn/MD6Q6N) where we are going to be overrun with people begging us for spare change.

There are real people that need real help out there, since Monday is Memorial Day how about these number 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night (http://bit.ly/MD9Ksf). Yes, I know there are social programs that can help veterans and non-veterans, but sometimes getting them into these programs or putting them on that path is not as simple as picking up a phone. Granted, giving them money might not be the right answer ether…but until someone gives me a better idea, it is all I got.

I am not sure that this is a “lifestyle choice” ether. I mean a lifestyle is the way a person lives to his or her own ability (http://bit.ly/MDbbHm), but a choice? I don’t image that any of us reading this would choice to leave their job and go panhandle to make a living, maybe you would…but I would not be able to wrap my head around that way of thinking at all.

The thing that bothered me most about this is the phrase “they might not even be Muslims.” So what!! Do you really think that the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) ever once said “That person is not a believer, so I do not care for them.”? NO! In fact the Quran tells us in Surah 5 verse 32 “if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”

That person on the street corner might be so depressed that you don’t know what is going on in their head. That little bit of extra change might be what turns their day around. I just had a thought…what is in my couch might make someone happy. That is heavy. What we are too busy with to clean up or chase after could just put a smile on someone’s face. 

Where was I…oh ya non-Muslims…the Quran also teaches us in Surah 3 verse 199 “and there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God…” There are other good people out there. Just because they are not Muslim does not mean we can’t help them. 

Now, I am sure I am going to get some kickback from this…and I am also sure that what was being talked about were the people walking around the parking lot with laminated signs that have their story printed out in Arabic, English, and Spanish; and maybe they are not homeless and helpless. But what about the fact that someone just told a room full of people not to give panhandlers money, and you know that someone is going to take that to an extreme.

Look, I was once taught that you never know who is asking you for money. There have been urban legends where rich people go and panhandle, they will sit there for days and get nothing, not a penny. Than someone will happen by and drop a dollar in and the rich person turns around and does something nice for that person, because they showed that not all of humanity sucks! Ya, I said it some of humanity sucks. I have also been taught (this is for religious people) that some of the panhandlers might be tests sent from God, sent to test you directly. That is one test you do not want to screw up.

Now I don’t know who is who, I mean I don’t know who is running a scam and who truly is in need. I use my best judgment to determine if I should hand out money, sometimes I might be wrong…but than there are the times I might get it right, and I make someone’s day.  Than there are those times where I truly do not have anything on me, thank you to the age of credit cards.

I think what I am driving at is do not be too quick to judge someone that is asking for help. It takes a lot to get to that point.

And my few closing thoughts on this are…do not tell a room a full of people to not give money to panhandlers, and follow that with “oh by the way, don’t forget to put money in the donation box. 

On my life I know it is different! I know that the money goes to help the masjid and the community, and the youth programs there in. But it sounds really bad, dude!

And finally if you are agreeing with what is being said about panhandling and praying Friday prayer, don’t go to Seven-Eleven and buy a slice of peperoni pizza to eat on the way back to your car.  

Ok! I am done…let the abuse begin!

 

Hypocrites in prayer or Have I just lost my mind?

Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

I just had the oddest Friday prayer service ever, and I am so confused, I am not sure if I should to write this or if I should to just accept it and move on in life. 

But I feel like I need to let this out…so excuse me for a moment while I have verbal diarrhea; and if your offended by what I am about to say, I am sorry that was not my intent…so once you get over yourself, give me some constructive criticism.

The service opened with a five to ten minute speech on the panhandlers that were hanging around outside in the parking lot, and how we should not give them money because we were only encouraging that type of life style; to add to that, the question was tossed around a few times as to if they were even Muslim.

So deep breath and here I go…

Do we really need a five to ten minute speech on not giving money to beggars? I mean really we are all adults who work and if we have the extra dollar to give to some one that seems to need to it, than that is our choice.

Please note I said “someone that seems to need it.” Comedian Christopher Titus tells a story about a 22-year-old Vietnam War veteran that was panhandling beside the free way wearing Ed Hardy and using a skateboard. That would be someone that does not need the money. Again, we are all adults and we can generally tell when someone is trying to scam us and when they are not; and a lamented multi language card is a bit of a tip off.

I also understand that extra people hanging around in an already overly busy parking lot is a safety hazard, especially with the way people drive around the D.C. area.  I also understand that if they are trying to scam people and they get a few dollars and they might go tell some of their friends and than there might be a few extra people panhandling the following week. But this is not an episode of South Park (http://cart.mn/MD6Q6N) where we are going to be overrun with people begging us for spare change.

There are real people that need real help out there, since Monday is Memorial Day how about these number 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night (http://bit.ly/MD9Ksf). Yes, I know there are social programs that can help veterans and non-veterans, but sometimes getting them into these programs or putting them on that path is not as simple as picking up a phone. Granted, giving them money might not be the right answer ether…but until someone gives me a better idea, it is all I got.

I am not sure that this is a “lifestyle choice” ether. I mean a lifestyle is the way a person lives to his or her own ability (http://bit.ly/MDbbHm), but a choice? I don’t image that any of us reading this would choice to leave their job and go panhandle to make a living, maybe you would…but I would not be able to wrap my head around that way of thinking at all.

The thing that bothered me most about this is the phrase “they might not even be Muslims.” So what!! Do you really think that the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) ever once said “That person is not a believer, so I do not care for them.”? NO! In fact the Quran tells us in Surah 5 verse 32 “if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”

That person on the street corner might be so depressed that you don’t know what is going on in their head. That little bit of extra change might be what turns their day around. I just had a thought…what is in my couch might make someone happy. That is heavy. What we are too busy with to clean up or chase after could just put a smile on someone’s face. 

Where was I…oh ya non-Muslims…the Quran also teaches us in Surah 3 verse 199 “and there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God…” There are other good people out there. Just because they are not Muslim does not mean we can’t help them. 

Now, I am sure I am going to get some kickback from this…and I am also sure that what was being talked about were the people walking around the parking lot with laminated signs that have their story printed out in Arabic, English, and Spanish; and maybe they are not homeless and helpless. But what about the fact that someone just told a room full of people not to give panhandlers money, and you know that someone is going to take that to an extreme. 

Look, I was once taught that you never know who is asking you for money. There have been urban legends where rich people go and panhandle, they will sit there for days and get nothing, not a penny. Than someone will happen by and drop a dollar in and the rich person turns around and does something nice for that person, because they showed that not all of humanity sucks! Ya, I said it some of humanity sucks. I have also been taught (this is for religious people) that some of the panhandlers might be tests sent from God, sent to test you directly. That is one test you do not want to screw up.

Now I don’t know who is who, I mean I don’t know who is running a scam and who truly is in need. I use my best judgment to determine if I should hand out money, sometimes I might be wrong…but than there are the times I might get it right, and I make someone’s day.  Than there are those times where I truly do not have anything on me, thank you to the age of credit cards.

I think what I am driving at is do not be too quick to judge someone that is asking for help. It takes a lot to get to that point.

And my few closing thoughts on this are…do not tell a room a full of people to not give money to panhandlers, and follow that with “oh by the way, don’t forget to put money in the donation box.”

On my life I know it is different! I know that the money goes to help the masjid and the community, and the youth programs there in. But it sounds really bad, dude!

And finally if you are agreeing with what is being said about panhandling and praying Friday prayer, don’t go to Seven-Eleven and buy a slice of peperoni pizza to eat on the way back to your car.    

Ok! I am done…let the abuse begin!

 

Hypocrites in prayer or Have I just lost my mind?

Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

I just had the oddest Friday prayer service ever, and I am so confused, I am not sure if I should to write this or if I should to just accept it and move on in life. 

But I feel like I need to let this out…so excuse me for a moment while I have verbal diarrhea; and if your offended by what I am about to say, I am sorry that was not my intent…so once you get over yourself, give me some constructive criticism.

The service opened with a five to ten minute speech on the panhandlers that were hanging around outside in the parking lot, and how we should not give them money because we were only encouraging that type of life style; to add to that, the question was tossed around a few times as to if they were even Muslim.

So deep breath and here I go…

Do we really need a five to ten minute speech on not giving money to beggars? I mean really we are all adults who work and if we have the extra dollar to give to some one that seems to need to it, than that is our choice.

Please note I said “someone that seems to need it.” Comedian Christopher Titus tells a story about a 22-year-old Vietnam War veteran that was panhandling beside the free way wearing Ed Hardy and using a skateboard. That would be someone that does not need the money. Again, we are all adults and we can generally tell when someone is trying to scam us and when they are not; and a lamented multi language card is a bit of a tip off.

I also understand that extra people hanging around in an already overly busy parking lot is a safety hazard, especially with the way people drive around the D.C. area.  I also understand that if they are trying to scam people and they get a few dollars and they might go tell some of their friends and than there might be a few extra people panhandling the following week. But this is not an episode of South Park (http://cart.mn/MD6Q6N) where we are going to be overrun with people begging us for spare change.

There are real people that need real help out there, since Monday is Memorial Day how about these number 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night (http://bit.ly/MD9Ksf). Yes, I know there are social programs that can help veterans and non-veterans, but sometimes getting them into these programs or putting them on that path is not as simple as picking up a phone. Granted, giving them money might not be the right answer ether…but until someone gives me a better idea, it is all I got.

I am not sure that this is a “lifestyle choice” ether. I mean a lifestyle is the way a person lives to his or her own ability (http://bit.ly/MDbbHm), but a choice? I don’t image that any of us reading this would choice to leave their job and go panhandle to make a living, maybe you would…but I would not be able to wrap my head around that way of thinking at all.

The thing that bothered me most about this is the phrase “they might not even be Muslims.” So what!! Do you really think that the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) ever once said “That person is not a believer, so I do not care for them.”? NO! In fact the Quran tells us in Surah 5 verse 32 “if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”

That person on the street corner might be so depressed that you don’t know what is going on in their head. That little bit of extra change might be what turns their day around. I just had a thought…what is in my couch might make someone happy. That is heavy. What we are too busy with to clean up or chase after could just put a smile on someone’s face. 

Where was I…oh ya non-Muslims…the Quran also teaches us in Surah 3 verse 199 “and there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God…” There are other good people out there. Just because they are not Muslim does not mean we can’t help them. 

Now, I am sure I am going to get some kickback from this…and I am also sure that what was being talked about were the people walking around the parking lot with laminated signs that have their story printed out in Arabic, English, and Spanish; and maybe they are not homeless and helpless. But what about the fact that someone just told a room full of people not to give panhandlers money, and you know that someone is going to take that to an extreme. 

Look, I was once taught that you never know who is asking you for money. There have been urban legends where rich people go and panhandle, they will sit there for days and get nothing, not a penny. Than someone will happen by and drop a dollar in and the rich person turns around and does something nice for that person, because they showed that not all of humanity sucks! Ya, I said it some of humanity sucks. I have also been taught (this is for religious people) that some of the panhandlers might be tests sent from God, sent to test you directly. That is one test you do not want to screw up.

Now I don’t know who is who, I mean I don’t know who is running a scam and who truly is in need. I use my best judgment to determine if I should hand out money, sometimes I might be wrong…but than there are the times I might get it right, and I make someone’s day.  Than there are those times where I truly do not have anything on me, thank you to the age of credit cards.

I think what I am driving at is do not be too quick to judge someone that is asking for help. It takes a lot to get to that point.

And my few closing thoughts on this are…do not tell a room a full of people to not give money to panhandlers, and follow that with “oh by the way, don’t forget to put money in the donation box.”

On my life I know it is different! I know that the money goes to help the masjid and the community, and the youth programs there in. But it sounds really bad, dude!

And finally if you are agreeing with what is being said about panhandling and praying Friday prayer, don’t go to Seven-Eleven and buy a slice of peperoni pizza to eat on the way back to your car.    

Ok! I am done…let the abuse begin!

Best headline #Fail EVER!!

New-york-post-front-page-title-fail-obama-beats-weiner

Who wants to talk about the end of the world?

So have been reading this article that my friend  Reier posted a link to (http://bit.ly/LnqEsx) about the people that were VERY sure that the world was going to end May of last year...you remember those folks? 

Part of me is taken back by the blind faith of what of believing in something like this to the point that you would quit a 6 figure a year job; but at the same time is it really that odd to have that much faith in something? 

I would love to do hear from you people and get your thoughts on this...anyone? 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Hummus in The Recovery Room Part 2 05/15 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio

Hummus in The Recovery Room Part 2 05/15 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio


This week in the Recovery Room we go back to talking to Mike and Faiqa from Hey That is My Hummus podcast (www.heythatsmyhummus.com).
Faiqa asks the big question, is heath insurance a right? What do you think? If it is a right should it cover birth control?
We compare apples, oranges, and pork?
We talk about needing to diet, and while I didn’t say in the podcast that I need to…trust me I do! In the process I think I might have gotten a little sacrilegious.
I hope I don’t offend to many people.
We talk about men using the bathroom. Yes you read that right, but I will type it again…we talk about men using the bathroom, and I give a toilet training tip.
Lastly, we have new opening music from Odds Lane (www.oddslanemusic.com) If you have ever watched a little show called “The Deadliest Catch” than you might have heard our opening music…

So come on in it’s time to recover! 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hummus in The Recovery Room Part 1 05/09 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio

Hummus in The Recovery Room Part 1 05/09 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio


This is the first show of what I am calling season 2, not sure if that is right or not, but that is what I am calling it…and if you don’t like that go get your own podcast! :P
This week in the Recovery Room Mike and Faiqa from Hey That is My Hummus podcast (www.heythatsmyhummus.com) join me.
We talk about my converting Islam, Halal and Kosher foods, and up coming shows for Hey That’s my Hummus Podcast (@ThatsMyHummus). Oh, and Faiqa complements me on my wonderful interviewing style!
Lastly, we start (thus the Part #1) to talk about the War on Women and how things like birth control and unplanned pregnancies effect it.
Also Mike reads to us from the Holy Book of Wikipedia!
We also have listener voicemail and new music from Luppy and Joe Joe Keys, How cool is that?
So tune in and join the conversation! 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Last Recap before Season 2 NO REALLY 05/01 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio

Last Recap before Season 2 NO REALLY 05/01 by Carl Dodge | Blog Talk Radio


I swear this will be the last recap show!

The new format is almost done, and I have some exciting things in the works.

Till next week please enjoy this recap of my interview with standup comedian Said Durrh (www.saidsworld.com)!

Please post comments and share it with your friends…
Thanks for listening!