Xref: news.nzbot.com alt.fan.prettyboy:19557
Path: news.nzbot.com!spool1.sonic-news.com!pull-news.sonic-news.com!novso.com!195.208.113.1.MISMATCH!goblin3!goblin2!goblin.stu.neva.ru!newsfeed1.swip.net!news.astraweb.com!border6.a.newsrouter.astraweb.com!not-for-mail
Subject: +*+*+*+ Stephen's Secure Blog #281 "PBS Pledge Week" +*+*+*+
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:01:27 -0500
From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
Newsgroups: alt.fan.prettyboy
Reply-To: +Grant.
Organization: .
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit
X-No-Archive: yes
Lines: 241
Message-ID: <52e04dc8$0$61410$c3e8da3$ff958fdc@news.astraweb.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: cc341349.news.astraweb.com
X-Trace: DXC=CfAj\cNJd@G\kdljK^UWoEL?0kYOcDh@J8K`E;4o>]IC=_16Zm[3dFML2jF:\3KF9M5SMQMUGl_DE4D1hD:_CPfC3Wi]kFZJ`5BL=@V\4nKh_I
Stephen's Secure Blog #281
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 17 in this story, in spring of year 7 of his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #281 "PBS Pledge Week"
START Page
They really worked me, and I loved every minute of it! It started in
Boston. Live on air, they announced the start of the PBS pledge week,
and discussed it. Then they introduced me. She said "With us is Dr.
Stephen Holmes. He has a lot of other titles, but he prefers to be just
Stephen to everyone." She turned to me, and said, "Do you have a
nickname?" I said "No, I'm Stephen. A few people have called me other
things, but most changed their minds when they stopped being angry."
She laughed. She said "You are very educated, and are very busy with
all you do, yet you still have time to watch PBS." I said "I do. I love
PBS! No matter how much you know, there is always more to learn, and
PBS is one of the best ways to do that, and enjoy it at the same time.
Antiques Road Show is my all time favorite. Nova is VERY well done, and
in my view, absolutely necessary. The news shows are balanced, and well
researched. I love the art themed shows, being an artist, myself. I
have to say that there are a lot of cable channels that carry some
similar programs, but not all of them, and not everybody has or can
afford cable TV, and who likes commercials in the middle of the action?
I think the PBS news and discussion shows are critically important to
our democracy. We can trust them to be unbiased, and without financial
or political agendas, which are common to sensationalist commercial
networks. If you want REAL news, responsible news, and actual
intelligent discussion of important subjects in the news, PBS is your
source. But, there is a problem, which YOU can help with. Your
contributions keep PBS going. We can't do it without YOU, for you."
She said "Well said!" I said with a smile, "I thought you might agree
with that." She laughed. She said "Stephen has said that he will match
all your personal contributions made in this pledge week." I said
"That's true. That's my challenge. Oh, and it's not just for this
station. It's for ALL of PBS in the entire country. I hope you didn't
hear my financial advisor just then. I hope he gets treatment for
that." She laughed almost hysterically. I said "Some of the shows on
PBS, you can find nowhere else, and they can cover a wide range of
topics which don't usually receive coverage elsewhere. That's very
important, or we might not ever know of something we should have, which
will mean a lot to us someday. But that's not all. There is
entertainment, too. The Mysteries, the comedies, music, which I might
have a little part in, and astoundingly good shows for children of all
ages. We can never forget that children are our future. We adults exist
for THEM. Keep PBS alive with your contributions, for ourselves, but
most importantly, for our children."
She said "Absolutely. Stephen, do you have children?" I said "I'm
engaged to be married, and after we are, we do plan to have children.
They are not going to be allowed to watch much TV, but when they do, it
will be mostly PBS. You can be sure of that!" She said "I don't doubt
that." I said "Do you know how I learned to cook?" She said "Hmm, let
me guess. Would that be from the cooking shows on PBS?" I answered her
in Julia Child's voice and mannerisms, "Yes, most definitely! That is
how you do it!" She was very surprised, and laughed. She said "I didn't
know you could do that! Julia Child, the French Chef!" I said "I didn't
know I could, myself. See? We can learn new things all the time, with
PBS."
Then we discussed pledge amounts, and the gifts they could have with
them, some of which were CDs and store gift cards of my music. Then
they ran some programs of my music and other performances, with my
commentaries between the parts. While the programs were running, I was
porting to other stations to do the live bits. It was a carefully
plotted and organized schedule. Sometimes we discussed my art I had
donated to the various PBS station auctions. Sometimes I was asked to
play some music, or sing. I usually had fun with that. Other shows
aired during that week, of course. We discussed them, and sometimes
with the people who were involved with those programs. Sometimes I
mentioned Tibet, and sometimes we discussed that.
It became very interesting, when I was asked, "What do you think
about religion?" I said "One in particular, or in general?" He said "In
general." I said "Like everything else in the human experience,
religion is a mixed er, blessing." He had to smile, and said, "Could
you clarify that?" I said "Much good has been done in the name of
religion, and so has much evil. Much charity, and much torture and
murder. ALL religions are used and misused in those ways, by people who
look for justifications for their inhumanity to their fellow men,
women, and even children. All major religions teach justice and
charity, but even avowed pacifist Buddhists have been known to fight,
and with weapons, Temple against Temple, and even within Temples, for
minor differences in doctrine, and other inconsequential issues. There
are Protestants and Catholics, Shiites and Sunnis, killing each other
of the same religion, because of their slight religious differences.
And there are are those who are killing other people of different
religions, for that reason, all who believe in the same God. Do I need
to list all the hate mongering we see in the news, expressed by people
who profess to be faithful to their religious values, which are
specifically against hate and injustice? For some of that, I'm glad the
founders of those religions aren't alive today to see what is done in
their names. But I still value religion. For many of us, it is a
necessary part of who we are, and the wisdom and guidance we receive
from it is a great benefit and comfort to us. Religion can help us to
be great in spirit and charity. If we let it, and if we follow the
intent of the founders, instead of those who deceive, and mistranslate
their words and ideas for their own self aggrandizement, and violent
hateful needs." He said "Wow!" I said "I hear that a lot." He almost
strangled.
In San Francisco, I was asked for my views on homosexuality. I said
"Are you sure we should be discussing that subject in a pledge
what mode should I address the subject? As a scientist, as a teacher,
as a Buddhist Priest, or as a heterosexual male?" He said "Oh. The
last, first." I said "As a heterosexual male, I have very little
personal interest in the sexuality of other men. I am neither for or
against homosexuality. I don't think the less, or the greater, of any
man or woman because of his or her sexuality, if he or she does not use
it to harm others." He said "Wow! I've never heard it expressed that
way before!" I said with a grin, "Neither have I." He laughed. He said
"As a scientist?" I said "Homosexuality exists in nature, in birds and
mammals, therefore it is a natural thing, which, biologically, includes
humans. Sufficient evidence exists to conclude that gender identity and
major sexual orientation are immutable functions of the physical
structure of the brain, and are established before birth, and are not
matters of choice or environment. But there are no clear dividing lines
in orientation, because bisexuality, in various degrees, is much more
common than is usually thought to be. People tend to confuse actions
with desire and orientation. Any person can engage in any kind of
sexual activity they choose to, without changing who they are.
Experimentation is VERY common. However, that has no affect on major
sexual orientation. If a gay man has sex with a woman, that isn't going
to make him straight. The same for the reverse. A person can't will it,
and can't be forced to change their sexual orientation, by any means
known." He said "Thank you. As a teacher?" I said "Discrimination is
wrong. Bullying is wrong. Those are very harmful things to ALL who are
involved in them. Proper education can reduce all that, and should." He
said "As a Buddhist Priest?" I said "It is my belief that any person
who believes that God hates anybody, does not know God. We are all
equal in love, and love is all." He said "Thank you very much, Stephen,
for sharing your views with us."
Those two discussions followed me around during pledge week, and in
the media. I received condemnation, and high praise. Chad liked what I
said, and all the reactions to it, too. Pete was a little worried that
it would start investigations we didn't want. I was just being me, and
liking it.
Toward the end of the week, I said in some locations, "I should be
mentioning 'America's Test Kitchen', and 'This Old House' more often. I
love those shows." That was passed around, and I actually got to meet
those who were involved with the shows. VERY nice people. Back in
Boston, I was asked to participate in the auction, live. I did, and had
a lot of fun cracking everybody up. We had some very good bids then. In
the wrap-up, on air, I said, "I think I might have made a mistake." She
said "Why is that?" I said "I've been asking people to contribute to
PBS. And I'm matching that. Er, shouldn't I have been telling them not
to make me spend my own money?" She laughed, and said, "It's too late
for that now." I sighed dejectedly, and said, "I suppose so. I should
get to work, trying to make more money I can give away. Oh, but don't
tell that last bit to my financial advisor." She laughed. I said
"Anyway, it's good to support a friend in need. I feel honored and
privileged to have been a part of the PBS Pledge Week. It's been fun,
too. Thank you."
After we went off the air, she said, "This could be our best pledge
event, ever!" I said, "Oh, it was good for you? It was good for me,
too." She tried not to laugh. Chad didn't make that attempt, and
laughed loudly. She was told about a call, and went to get it. Then she
came back and asked us for a conference. It was with the president of
PBS on video. He congratulated us on a very successful pledge week.
Then he said, "Stephen, would you be available to do this again in the
future?" I said "I have mixed feelings about that. I'm doing a lot of
new things with my best effort. Doing them again, just won't be the
same. And I don't know my schedule. There is one more thing. Would you
mind if I got a little personal?" He said "Please say whatever you need
to." I said "If I hadn't been given the task to free Tibet, the public
would have never heard of me. I went public only to aid in that task. I
don't like it one bit. I am a shy person. Alright, go ahead and laugh."
They did. I said "But I do hide that very well when I need to. My
problem is that I am worshiped, and that will increase the more I stay
in the public's eye, and I detest that. No living person should EVER be
worshiped. And there is this. What will they do in my name after I am
gone, that will make my own children wish I had never existed?" They
were astounded. Then the president said, "Your discussion of religion.
I see what you mean now." I said "I have been in many religions, in my
past incarnations. Some of those lives are mentioned in the Bible. I
heard Jesus speak. I saw the Egyptians coming after us, before we got
to Sinai. They were NOT happy. I heard The Buddha teach, and saw his
words changed before my eyes, by those who wrote them down. I didn't
care about that then. I sure do now! How will who I am be changed by
history? I really fear that." They saw my tears.
I said "But I did love what I did this week, very much, and I think I
would like to do it again. But I know I shouldn't. In fact, by this
time next year, I hope to be officially retired from the public, and
maybe married and raising children. Or having a lot of fun trying to
have them." They had to smile at that. He said "I understand. Please
consider the offer always open for you." I said "Thank you. Please
contact Chad when you have the totals of our er, damage. Don't spend it
all on one thing, alright?" They laughed. I stood, and said to her,
"May I give you something of me?" I opened my arms, and she came into
them, and I hugged her with all my love. After helping her to sit down,
Chad and I ported to the office of the president of PBS, and I hugged
him with all my love, too. Then we ported to a conference with Pete.
Rose and Hawk were there.
Pete said "Well, you sure are visible now!" I looked at my arms, and
Hawk laughed. Chad said "I think it went well. His popularity is
unassailable. It can only help with the task, and with sales of his art
and music. CNN grabbed his discussions and went with them. Fox ran
around like that animal biting it's own tail, with opposing
sensationalist views." We laughed. Rose said to me, "Gays love you." I
grinned and said, "That's new?" I got poked, amid the laughter. Hawk
said "It IS in the Bible that God hates." I said "Translation issues.
Anyway, the truly enlightened can't hate. God must be better than them,
so he can't hate, either." Chad said "I believe that. Some other
people, those who need to hate, mostly, won't accept that." I said
"Can't help that. I can only show by example, that we don't need to
hate." They agreed, with love.
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|