Sticks and Stones

U.S. Cent. Com.'s on-line social sites have been attacked;

Both their YouTube Channel and their Twitter feed were hacked.

Postings made by something called the Cyber Caliphate:

Threats and a recruitment ad for the Islamic State.

It's a war of words in which we find ourselves engaged;

Battles in the chat rooms of the web are being waged.

'though we clearly lost this one, the war ain't over yet...

So we need to strengthen our defenses on the net.

Sony and Home Depot and at least a dozen more

Companies whose customers must track their credit score

After hackers stole their data...  Happens every day

To the folks who've dared to use a credit card to pay.

We could all be victims of this type of cyber crime

But that's not what ISIL's hackers did to us this time...

We were cyber-bullied; had our noses rubbed in dirt.

Meanwhile, ISIL's getting more than just their feelings hurt.

Confessions of a Frazzled and Superstitious Patriots Fan

Only now - on Monday morning - have I caught my breath;

Saturday the Patriots had me half scared to death.

Twice they trailed by 14 points and twice they battled back.

Once or twice I may have let my calm composure crack.

Maybe more than once or twice... I have been known to yell

When it looks as if the football game has gone to hell.

I don't worry that we'll lose, despite the uphill slope;

Belichick and Brady mean that there is always hope.

Don't know why I lose my mind; I know it's just a game

And I know it's impolite to call the ref a name.

Wish I had more self-restraint but, sadly, I do not.

Don't know how much more that I can take.  My nerves are shot.

(Hope this rhyme is not perceived by sports gods as a sin;

That they know I really do appreciate the win.

I don't want to make them angry; that would really suck

Next week when New England plays a quarterback named Luck.)

Unsolicited Advice re: NYPD's Blue Flu

Mayor of New York City has a problem with the cops;

When he dared to criticize the force, they blew their tops.

Turned their backs at funerals whenever he walked by...

Now, to get arrested there, you really have to try.

In a further show of anger by New York police,

Interactions with the public have appeared to cease.

No-one's getting busted - short of very violent crimes -

Rates dropped 92%, according to The Times.

New York City cops have got their noses out of joint,

Angry (even though the Mayor had made a valid point)

Now they've turned their backs on us because we've dared to ask

Why is truthful dialogue a Herculean task?

No-one thinks the cops are racists but the studies show

Blacks have poorer outcomes with police - who have to know

They cannot ignore that problem... It won't go away

Just because they've all decided not to earn their pay.

Je suis Charlie

 

"God is great," scream terrorists as they prepare to kill;

Claiming that their crimes are an expression of His will.

Preaching retribution; ideologies of hate...

Seems to me the god they follow isn't all that great.

I would never worship any god who says that I

Must become an instrument for innocents to die.

Any god so cruel and petty's not the one for me

('though he seems to fit these brutal killers to a tee.)

Terrorists insist they want to see God glorified;

But a god who's truly great is only horrified

When they slaughter people as a way to spread The Word...

That must be the worst excuse that S/He has ever heard.

Snowboarding - Not Cool When It's Cold

Eldest needs a ride up North...  He wants to hit the slopes,

Which is certain proof (for me) his friends and he are dopes.

With the wind, the temperatures are 35 below.

Not the day - for those with sense - for playing in the snow.

I know that my son believes this proves I'm growing old.

I'll grant snowboarding is cool, but not when it's so cold.

I think he'll discover, on his 1st or 2nd run,

Losing feeling in your nose and fingers isn't fun.

I don't really want to give the kid a lot of flack;

I don't mind the drive (which takes 3 hours there and back.)

I'm just worried that these lunatics are gonna freeze...

Wish they'd wait 'til temperatures go up a few degrees.

No Room At The Inn

Lebanese authorities were forced to shut the doors

At their border on the flood of refugees that pours

Out of towns in Syria, where civil war and strife

Forces their civilians into fleeing for their life.

Millions of uprooted have escaped to nearby states,

Which has driven wages down and raised the housing rates,
Causing major problems for the native Lebanese

(With one quarter of their population refugees.)

Now, at last, they've had enough and won't take anymore;

This is not a problem which the world can just ignore.

Lebanon has done its part (and more) and so should we.

We must end the conflict that the Syrians now flee.

It's past time for all of us to take a long, hard look

At the wars we're fighting which, as People of the Book,

Seems a form of fratricide that nobody can win,

Which, in all religions, is regarded as a sin.

Wallowing in Misery

(Artwork courtesy of/Dreamstime.com)

Holiday is over...  Seussilitis rhyming's back.

I'm a little rusty though so, please, cut me some slack.

Haven't written anything that rhymes in several weeks.

Kicked the gear inside my brain but I'm afraid it squeaks.

It's not like there isn't news for me to write about;

Overseas or here in Boston and, I have no doubt,

Congress will provide me fodder for a hundred rhymes

(Sadly, we are living in some interesting times.)

But I've got a nasty cough; I'm feverish and sick

So the part of me that cares about the news won't click.

Wallowing in misery; I'm going back to bed.

Hopefully, tomorrow, I will have a clearer head.