Total Eclipse of the Internet

I know most everyone is going ga ga over the eclipse that is set to split America for the first time in ninety-nine years. People are in a frenzy scrambling to get their hands on last minute “solar eclipse glasses” on Amazon and all kinds of online retailers. I however kind of wish it were an eclipse of the Internet that was on its way instead.

Why because in my humble big fat Greek opinion, something special has died and I just have to get it off my chest. Social media on the Internet has gone from something totally unique that connected people in way it never had before in history to one big giant commercial advertisement. Which leads me to the following thoughts. (WARNING: Greek Girl rant about to ensue)

Dear facebook,

If it’s not broke, please don’t fix it. Now I can imagine that all of the millennials over at corporate headquarters get twitchy and itchy if they don’t have something new and innovate to keep changing. However, here’s a request straight from one of your millions of users… please stop. Because, we the everyday users don’t actually don’t “like” it (no pun intended… well, maybe some).

Here’s an idea, how about we change the term “social media” to “social advertising”. Because the spark of genius that was the magic of Facebook has died. The brilliant invention that enabled a person in Timbuktu to connect to a total stranger, musician, business, blog, or what have you in East Jupeepee no longer exists.

It has been replaced by advertising. So Joe Blow in Timbuktu will no longer organically see a post from a person, musician or, business in East Jupeepee unless that person, musician, or business pays to have Joe Blow see it. This is how technology went from a stroke of brilliance to a nuisance.

Thus more and more people are disconnecting from social media altogether. Sad, but it is true. All of that just so Facebook could go public and increase profits. I suspect that in the long run Facebook will eventually go the way of Myspace. Haven’t really seen or heard of too many people itching to hop on MySpace and check out the latest meme (just sayin).

Since when did the average person have to have a rocket science degree to admin his or her own Facebook business, band or musician page? And I’m not just saying that because I have a head injury (really I do have one, but all kidding aside) I was on Facebook for like two hours the other night configuring, or shall I say, “trying” to configure the apps on my musician page.

Somehow the Instagram got disconnected and the Twitter again for about the third time in a month… I reconnect it, then it disconnects without my knowledge. Next thing you know, Facebook posts are not posting to twitter and so on.

Here’s a shocking bit of information for Facebook to consider: not everyone has a “social media manager” on staff operating their account. Now I can imagine that you all love to talk techie and swap ways to “innovate” and improve the “user experience”; however as one of the millions of users, seriously, please stop. It is beyond obnoxious every time we get the hang of something and figure out where in God’s name you all hid the button to operate a tab or function, you all flipping change it again. Honest to Pete… it’s lunacy.

It’s not “The Jetsons” and we’re not living inside a computer world (yet)… so please for the love of all that is left that is good and right in the world, STOP CHANGING THINGS!

Which brings me to my next gripe… Google. You all are just as bad. Seriously that film “The Circle” anyone seen it? Probably not because it didn’t do so well at the box office. I would bet the powers that be at Facebook and Google got together in a secret meeting and put the kabash on the advertising for that film. It is a frighteningly accurate portrayal of what I imagine the corporate world of Facebook and Google to be.

Get this one: I am “not allowed” to post the link to my own songs on “iTunes” because it “violates Google policy, and is spam”? Seriously… HELLO Google, I’m an “Independent Recording Artist” which means, no record label paying for songs to be promoted on radio, film, TV and lets not forget to be actually SEEN by my own followers on Facebook. Followers who clicked the “like” button of their own volition, meaning they wanted to actually see what I am posting. (Not only when I am paying you to show it to them) If posting my music on my own page (that people sign up to follow mind you of their own will) is “spam” then what in the heck in the world is the point of being on social media at all?

Besides the fact that Google is just as bad as Facebook when it comes to changing things. It’s like a bunch of techie minions sitting around in Silicon Valley trying to figure out the most outrageous way to keep people confused. They change things even more than Facebook, and good luck trying to figure out where and what they did with a feature when they do. Since when did a person need a college degree in Computer Programming to manage their Google and Google plus accounts? Sheesh.

Lets not even get into YouTube (the left arm of Google – and when I say left I do mean left) censoring videos for monetization that it politically disagrees with. How’s that “free speech” thing working out for you all… hmmm? Profanity is allowed to run amuck all over YouTube, and Facebook will allow a livestream of a GANG RAPE and even a MURDER. But boy oh boy… you best not post anything that conflicts with a left leaning ideology… whatchout.

What on earth? HELLO can anyone say Orwell? Holy bananas batman, it’s seriously getting beyond absurd. No wonder people are leaving social media in droves, and unplugging from technology all together. Can’t say I blame them.  

Thus my suggestion to change the name from “Social Media” to “Social Advertising”. Better yet, make that, “Social PAID Advertising”.

Stepping off my soapbox now. That’s all… carry on.  Enjoy the Solar Eclipse wherever you may be watching from (and don’t forget your glasses).

Blessings, Love & Music ~

Ava xo

www.avaaston.com

 

Get Me to My Safe Space

To celebrate Veterans Day the Mr. (an Air Force Veteran) & I went to see the film Hacksaw Ridge. I was moved and saddened by the stark contrast. In the week or so that has followed I have watched a tragedy unfold across the country that sadly has proved my observations to be correct. 

WARNING: This blog is NOT politically correct. In fact sharing it on Twitter may result in account shut down. Which would also prove my observations to be correct, since Twitter is now in the censorship business. They seem to have no problem allowing child porn, and individuals or groups who post all kinds of hateful barbaric ideology. Yet if one openly posts the truth, or something considered "conservative" in nature... whoa nelly. That simply cannot be tolerated and must be banned.   

A very mixed up generation is coming up. Entitled, angry, arrogant, and hateful. It's OK though because Lady Gaga wrote a song telling them they were "Born this way". A generation who simply cannot handle opposing viewpoints. They demand their way be the only way, and must shut down all opposition.

While those who serve and who have served in our Military make sacrifices for others. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice. They work together with all kinds of people from different backgrounds, religions and walks of life. They unite to achieve a common goal. They learn many valuable lessons in the Military, one so missing in today’s culture, is learning to put others interests ahead of your own.  

The Greatest Generation stopped a mad man from taking over the world. They literally marched to hell and back in the worst of conditions in the worst of times. Now we have a generation of whiney babies demanding safe spaces, canceling college exams, having cry ins, protesting, out marching around destroying other people's property and "killing people" because they "don't like" an election result?

So let me see we bully people because we don't want to be "bullied"? Hmmm, watch the news for a few minutes. I'm not going to even begin to express the things my inside voice is saying because that would definitely get me banned from Twitter. Let me see, in the last ten days or so there have been people who oppose the election results who think it perfectly acceptable to do things such as:

Block an ambulance from passing, resulting in the death of the patient inside.

Standing outside a car full of "Trump Supporters" threatening to set it on fire.

Pulling a man (a supposed Trump supporter) from his car in an intersection in broad daylight. Beating the living daylights out of him while someone films it, loots the car then take off with it, leaving the man in the street beaten and bloody. 

Where are the news media on this? Where are all the MSNBC, CNN, and ultra left wing "journalists" or rather shall I say "personalities" (because we all know that journalism is the farthest thing from what they have been doing for the last decade and longer). Where are they? Why are they not speaking out against this disgusting behavior? I'm willing to bet that if Trump supporters where out there doing these things to "Hillary" or "Bernie" supporters in mass, it would be splashed across every TV news headline, and newspaper in the country.  

This is not acceptable in any way, shape, matter or form, to anyone, anywhere, period. We are all Americans, we ALL bleed RED. Trump is President, get over it, grow up and move on. No one acted this way when Obama was elected, and trust me there are many who did not support him or agree with anything he did. Did any of the people who didn't support him go out and create anarchy having temper tantrums in the streets about it? Didn't think so. Ironic the ones pointing the fingers calling Trump and his supporters hateful are the ones doing the destruction. We have a word for this in the Greek language, "Hypocrisy".

See this is what happens, when we celebrate mediocrity, everyone gets a trophy, everyone is encouraged to do whatever they "feel" like, and there are no consequences for our actions. My mom who is definitely not politically correct and has no filter says "We outta take those trophies they got for doing nothing back, and when they block public access or disturb the peace, we should bring out the fire hoses".  

Seriously though, people really need to take a deep breath. The season for giving thanks is upon us. People should stop and be thankful for the fact that they were born in the freest nation in the history of the world. A nation that even gives them the freedom to act like juvenile delinquents if they want to. They should stop to remember the men and women who serve and who have served to protect the flag that flies to keep them free.

God help us. I pray that people wake up to their idiocy. Go see the movie. It's a refreshing step back in time. A reminder of a few of the things that made America so great. May we once again return to those values and ideals that made us a shining city on a hill.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Leap Please

Leap day is here. Pretty neat indeed, but I think I'd like to leap to the next one please. Normally I'm not the kind of person to want to fast-forward to the future, but this particular leap day, America seems to be relishing in the politics of hate. So if I could I would fast forward to four years from now when it's all over.

Funny, the last time we had a leap year it was also an election year. I think the extra day has done something to peoples brains. It's not surprising to find the usual suspects in an election... opposing ideas, plans, and debate. It's when you toss the media in the mix that things start to really boil, which is expected. However this year I think someone turned the heat to high and it's turning everyone's noggins to mush.

The vitriol is at levels I have not seen in my lifetime. Maybe it's that social media is playing a part in this election like never before. Access for everyday people to sit behind a computer screen and type whatever they like without regard to whether it is actually true or not. The rise of the "new media" has produced a multitude of blogs, and pundits popping up out of the woodwork. Suddenly everyone is a "political expert". People can now hide behind a computer screen and cut, paste, twist, splice, dice, and concoct articles and videos that are used like bullets to wound those they view as needing to be taken down. I find it frightening because often these efforts are not promoting the truth, but instead deepening the divide.

The high and holy conservative pundits sit on their thrones telling people essentially: "You must support thus and such or you cannot possibly be a real conservative or Christian". The same bodes true for the opposite side of the political isle... liberal pundits pushing their guy or gal as the case may be. It's like some of them are literally having a temper tantrum from atop their media perch: "How could you evangelicals choose Trump, oh the humanity."  

Many of us have seen it; a "friend" announces on their Facebook something to the effect of:

"If you support thus and such candidate for President then you can just delete me now. In fact I'll even save you the trouble, if you post or like anything by said candidate I will delete and block you myself."

These kind of posts always give me a giggle. I'm not sure the people who post them even see the irony of making such a statement. See we have a word for this in the Greek language it's called hypocrisy. Let's see according to the Merriam Webster dictionary the word means the following:

Hypocrisy: the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do: behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel.

What a silly thing for a person to post. Stating that one is so staunch in their belief of freedom that they can not possibly tolerate anyone in their "safe space" (in this case personal Facebook world) who does not agree with their deeply held convictions of personal responsibility, liberty, independent thinking, and most importantly freedom of speech that they have to ban anyone who does not think exactly like they do. Doing so is completely and totally hypocritical. Actually I find it pretty funny, and seem to be having more and more laughs about people doing this very thing, as we get farther along in the election cycle.     

Which leads me to just a little bit wish I could hit the switch and jump onto the next leap year when all of this is behind us. To that magical place in time when people will have woken up to the fact that this is the real world, and there are no "safe spaces". When people will have put on their big boy and big girl pants and finally figured out that we are all free to think and choose our own thoughts. What we like, dislike, and even whom we choose to support for President. That even if we "agree" on some things, even most things, there will always be something for we the people to disagree about, and it does not make us bad people. My wish is that this practice of character assignation of people who do not 100% agree with each other is a fad that dies, and quickly.  

Happy Leap Day and Super Tuesday!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com 

Love to Hate

Something has been bugging me for a while now. I try to ignore it, but the more I ignore the worse it seems to get. So like any good creative person, I decided to write about it.  

I've noticed a disturbing trend in the past few years. It started slowly and has grown to the point that it makes me want to pull the plug. Pull the plug... What in the heck in the world are you talking about Greek girl? We all know the Internet can be a powerful tool. However these days it seems more and more like a weapon. 

For people like me (an independent recording artist) the Internet is a powerful tool that has opened up an entire world of opportunities (literally). Opportunities to share my music and brand with people in parts of the world I never would be able to without it. Artists, businesses, non-profits, the list of people who benefit from the freedom and connection of the Internet are endless.

For some it's a powerful tool to share ideas and products. For others it a hideaway to hurl hate. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe everyone is entitled to have their owns opinions and feelings about everything in life. We don't all have to live the same and think the same like robots in a Stepford Wives episode. I mean we do after-all live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. Something has happened though, something that truly scares me. Never in my life have I witnessed so many who seemly love to hate. People united in posting, sharing, creating and devoting oodles of precious time spreading pure venom. Hatred, jealousy, envy, sorry but those are just not American values.

A little term I came up with called "derangement syndrome" seems to be everywhere anymore. Insert name or organization before the term and there you have the description of an entire group of people united in sharing and spreading each and every negative thing they can find about said person or organization. People who go bonkers, I mean literally off the rails at the mere mention of derangement objects name. What do I mean? Well, lets see... we have a few examples in no particular order:

Patriots Derangement Syndrome
Tom Brady Derangement Syndrome
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Bush Derangement Syndrome
Joel Osteen Derangement Syndrome

The list goes on. I post these examples not to judge or praise any of them, rather only to illustrate a few of the particularly common derangement syndromes permeating our society today. The thing I find most troubling about this condition are the people who come down with the syndrome, many of whom are Christians.

Of course it's not just Christians getting it that bothers me, it's anyone who comes down with the syndrome. When Christians get it though, I find it especially disturbing. You see Jesus said they will know us by our love. Now I'm not saying we need to lie down and let everyone walk all over us because Jesus stood up when it was necessary. Like the time when he flipped over the money tables in the temple. Standing up though doesn't mean devoting ones self to the sharing of and spreading of hate.

We have a word in the Greek language for this kind of behavior, it's called hypocrisy. Better known as do as I say, not as I do. It's almost as if they are saying: "Yeah I'm a Christian I love God, I love people, I'm good, but I devote my entire Facebook page, blog, website (or whatever the case may be) to sharing articles I do not one hundred percent personally know to be true, but that's OK because I got my opinion out there." 

Everyone knows the media has an agenda and often times are biased. However the rise of the "new media" movement has bred a multitude of websites, blogs, videos and more devoted to spreading utter vitriol. Oftentimes I am shocked even more by the personal words written by people in the comments section when they share these things. The people I see this bitterness coming from, and the level to which they go, this for me is what cuts the most. There have been times I almost dump my dunkins on my laptop it's so disturbing. 

America was built on hard work. Used to be a someone saw a successful person as an inspiration. If they can do it, so can I kind of thing. Americans used to celebrate others success. Instead today we have media propping people up then far to willing, ready, and waiting for the chance to tear them down. When a successful person rises to incredible heights in their field or career, the haters come out in full force. They hide behind a computer screen and cut, paste, twist, splice, dice, and concoct articles and videos that are used like bullets to wound those they view as needing to be taken down.   

Not sure how or when it happened, but jealousy and entitlement for many have replaced aspiration. Take Tom Brady for example: he's talented, good looking, has a beautiful wife, makes boatloads of money doing what he loves. He can't possibly just be gifted though, he must have cheated. Another example, what did the founding fathers want in a President? Successful businessmen to leave their vocation to go and "serve" the people for a time, then leave. So when someone steps up to do it, they are labeled an egomaniac or Hitler. I'm just sayin... think about it.

There are always two sides to every story and there will always be stories until the end of time. I just know I would not want to stand before God at the end of my time and have the answer to what I did with my time to be "sharing hate". So I for one will continue to use the internet as a tool to share the good. To share my music and message. To make a positive impact, to encourage, inspire and do my best to lift people up, not tear them down. My hope is that more will catch this syndrome and do the same.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

What's With All The HashTags

          hashtag, number sign, hashtag...                                                  is this new language or what?

So I was minding my own business over the weekend doing my normal routine, posting a content post on my social media accounts. Something I have been doing daily to promote my music for a while now. Technology and social media change so fast, often it can be hard to keep up with.  

Like any good entrepreneur I try not only to keep up with the changes, but also to utilize them in order to work smart, not hard. I'm an Independent Recording Artist and that means I need to not only build an audience to sell my music to, but also engage it. Back to the story... so I was minding my own business (Music Business that is) when I had a status come up from a friend in my newsfeed about how the next time they saw someone post several hash tags, or @ tags (@ meaning you tag a "page" so your post goes on that page for it's likes to see) that this friend was going to block then unfriend whomever does it.

Of course I had to comment, there was no way I was going to keep my big fat Greek yap trap shut about this topic. A. because I didn't want the person to think I was trying to "spam" anyone. B. because I genuinely wanted to explain why people are doing it. Especially people who admin pages on Facebook like I do for my music. So we went into a message exchange and as best as I could tried to explain that hash tagging and tagging helps posts to come up in news feeds so friends or likes can actually see them. This person totally disagreed, oh well what can you do.

I understand that some people just want to use Facebook to keep up with friends and think it is the way it used to be when it first exploded onto the scene. A place where people could post random thoughts, photos, videos and openly engage in conversations in a natural uncensored way. Unfortunately that is not how Facebook is anymore. As much as we would like it to be, it has gone the way of so many before it myspace included. Where ad revenue and an all powerful algorithm have replaced true conversations.

The changes are basically that Facebook does not show posts from a profile or a page to "all" of it's friends or likes anymore. It only shows to 1% of the friends or likes. For example on my page I have around 15,900 likes. Back in the old days when I posted an update, it would come up in the news feed of all 15,900 likes. There also used to be an option to send a message to all of those likes. Which was fantastic for a business or Independent Recording Artist like my self to engage with those likes. Now when I post an update, Facebook only show that update to approximately 159 people. Unless.... and herein lies the problem, unless I want to "pay" to "boost" the post. The cost to "boost" a post on a page is utter lunacy. It can range depending on what day or time (as they vary that charge by days and times) from $50 - 300 & up for just ONE status update. For a profile to "boost" a post it's only $6.99 (the one with friends not likes).

Don't get me wrong, I'm a capitalist, and I'm all for people making money. What I have the problem with is, in addition to doing advertising all over the layout now, they have stopped the free flow of communication from people. It wasn't enough to have advertising which I'm totally fine with, but they now are actually charging so that friends or likes can actually "See" what you post, that's the problem. I mean what's the post of even being on a "social network" after all if you can't "be social" unless you "pay" to have a conversation? 

This friend whom I was talking with said people who do all the hash tagging are cheapskates because they do not want to spend the dough to advertise. It's not like everyone who has or admins a Page on Facebook is a corporation or has the advertising budget of Beyonce or Katy Perry. The ones it hurts the most are non profits, or animal rescues. Because the the way the algorithm works is... 1st they only show your posts to 1% of likes or friends on a profile. This is a fact, it has been going on for a few years and began to hit everyone in 2013. Unless someone admins a page they probably wouldn't notice. 

The second part of it which is really the killer - is people are not "seeing" your posts... so they do not "engage" in them. Then Facebook begins to show your posts to even less than the 1%. This hurts not only businesses but non profits very hard. Churches and all kinds of people using "Pages" for a cause or business. Someone like me or a animal rescue is a lot different than a company who has the resources to spend on advertising just so Facebook can make a few more billion.

Of course everyone is entitled to his or her view of it, just where I am coming from. So until the next round of changes rolls around, Greek Girl will continue to hashtag and tag away. It's not "spam" it's making sure that my people actually see the content I post. It's that simple. I hope I've shed a little light on why you might be seeing so much hash tagging going on. Hope you have a great week! 

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xo
www.avaaston.com 

Damned If Ya Do Damned If Ya don't

Don't See, Don't Buy...

With so much junk and minutia being passed off as "entertainment" for what is seeming like forever one would think that people, in particular Christians would be happy to see projects coming out that have anything to do with the bible. Surprisingly though it seems to be the total opposite.

Ironically Christians seem to be the first ones to jump on the "boycott" wagon starting virtual internet crusades for people (meaning Good Christians) to not see a particular project. We've all seen them bombarding our Facebook news feeds where this organization or that one is on a mission spread the word to make sure something tanks. I find this not only silly but also hypocritical.

You would think that after things like oh let me see where shall I begin?... Beyonce's Super Bowl halftime show where she pranced around dressed like a 1920's hooker dancing like a stripper on a pole in front of millions of people including children. Lets not forget Miley's twerking escapades, I know I know she is only "expressing herself" (remember when Madonna did that? oh to go back to the days when Madonna was being "Shocking"). We also have the gay agenda being shoved down the throats of every man woman and child in this country (personally I don't care what people do in their bedrooms but don't call me hateful because I believe "marriage" is between one man and one woman). Then there's Islam Ignorance, you know that "peaceful religion" which in reality is a sick twisted violent and barbaric cult being not only tolerated but promoted all over the country. Meanwhile Christians are silenced as being hateful and bigoted. God out of the workplace, out of schools, out of government, and what do we have? Chaos. Watching all this happen right in front of our very eyes one would think that a Christian would be happy, not just happy but giddy to see some form of entertainment coming out whether it be a film, TV miniseries, music artist, heck even a preacher on TV, something, anything that has to do with the bible and not a half naked person, violence, or foul language being passed off as "art".

So to me when I see crusades for people to boycott a film, artist, or preacher it makes me laugh inside. First thing... this is to all the "Super Christians" of the world, get off your moral high horse. The only perfect person ever was Jesus. We're saved by Grace that can't be earned. Not one of us was there when the bible was written. Second it was written by whom? Man, which is what? Human. Therefore not perfect, and it has been translated how many times? In how many languages? My point is, arguing over potato vs. potato-to kind of things is silly and very counter productive. We have one job as followers of Christ, that is to go and spread the "Good News" period! Jesus was clear when he gave us The Great Commission. In Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Reading that I don't see Jesus telling them to: go around poking your nose in other Christians business to make sure they are living right according to your standards of interpretation of the bible, or to judge every book, film, TV program to see if it is "biblically accurate". Do you? Yet so many Christians get so wrapped in judging other Christians life and work, rather than spending their time much more fruitfully by working to reach souls for the Kingdom. Working instead to reach the people of the world who do not know the peace that passes all understanding, the love above all other loves, found only in one place... Jesus.

The thing the haters are missing is, you are not going to reach people by walking in and slapping them in the face. So many people in todays world are so lost, hurting so bad, and have been so judged, they are simply not going to respond to that kind of message, they just aren't. So in a modern world, when an artist takes a different approach to telling a story or to open the dialogue we shouldn't be working against them. Now if someone is putting out a film that has blatant fabrications like I don't know saying something like Jesus was married or something like that then of course that is something to not support or be a part of. However when someone is mad because a good looking actor is cast in a movie or miniseries as Jesus, to me that signals something off with the accuser.

For films like Noah where everyone is losing their minds about the portrayal of God as angry and it being made by a non Christian film maker, again all I can say is HELLO it's HOLLYWOOD. It was never portrayed or promoted to be a learning tool for a bible study. It's a Hollywood Film, and should be taken as such, entertainment. Christians should know the bible well enough to discern what is entertainment. For some who worry that non believers who would be watching the film might walk away from a Hollywood film with that being their only and final idea about God, again is silly and small minded.

Any Christian who has accepted Jesus into their heart knows they responded to his knock. He knocks, and knocks, and over time some shorter, some longer than others, but every person who accepts him into their heart does so in response to his knocking, him initiating it. He comes to us, he died for us. To the non believer watching that film, it just opens the door, it opens the door to faith. It opens the door even with all of it's "biblical errors" as one might be concerned about, it still opens the door to a belief in a creator, in something that is bigger than yourself. That's the point the haters are missing, even if the film maker didn't intend it to.

It's the same with what I like to call "Pastor Derangement Syndrome" that so many Christians of today seem to be infected with. So many people are quick to watch an edited "snipit" of an interview or sermon and believe the point the editor made it to have. Yet will not sit through and entire episode or sermon of said pastor or evangelist to see the truth of what they really preach. The thing is everyone responds differently to different people. We are all different. If X,Y, or Z pastor is on TV and reaches one just one soul for Christ and turns that soul around, who am I, you are the next guy to criticize them? I certainly don't want to be standing before God explaining why I spent so much time badmouthing people sharing the gospel.

My ultimate point is with the Miracle of Easter coming, it saddens me to see so many "Christians" slamming so many other Christians or projects that could really help to change what we see in pop culture. We all know that pop culture is a total mess. Everywhere we turn it's sex, sex and more sex. Want to sell toothpaste? Sex. Want to sell a car? Sex. Want to sell a house? Sex. For crying out loud we have a TV Show called "Dance Moms" where people are dressing up their five to seven year old little girls in red lipstick and fish net stockings and false eye lashes, spending obscene amounts of time and money to ensure their child leave the competition with a trophy? Good grief!

I just think we have far more important things to worry about than to complain because "The Bible", "Son Of God" movie or miniseries or films like "Noah" are out. Christians are not complaining about things like "Dance Moms", "American Idol" (um hello look at the second word in that title please), "Secret Lives of Nashville Wives", and the list goes on. Christians will boycott "The Bible" miniseries yet not any of the above mentioned items. In my mind it's time to do a gut check about what we spend our time doing and or working against. Kudos when people stand up for Duck Dynasty and films like God's Not Dead, but we have a lot more standing up to do. That is unless you're perfectly happy with the status quo and the decline in the moral fabric of our society. On the other hand if you want to see more half naked Beyonce, Katy Perry, twerking, no consequences and losing your freedoms more by the day. Then by all means, boycott away... just sayin.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xo
www.avaaston.com

The Hypocrisy of Tolerance

Speak now or forever hold your peace...

(WARNING: This blog is not Politically correct - anyone caught reading, sharing, tweeting or posting to facebook might be thrown into a PC Police Jail cell)

There's been barely a place one could go to without seeing a blog, article, news clip or blurb somewhere about the Duck Dynasty fiasco in the last week.  If you're sitting there thinking "What is Duck Dynasty, and what fiasco are you talking about?" Then I'm guessing you've been living under a rock for the last week, so let me fill you in.

For anyone who is a regular reader of my blog you know a few core things about me if you know anything.  Number one, I am a Christian, therefore I believe that the bible is the living word of God and I believe what it says to be true.  You also know that I have for a long time felt that pop culture is totally out of control and we are living in a world where things are essentially upside down.

What do I mean?… well lets see why do we see trash everywhere, on TV, on the radio, in magazines… When and why did it became cool to sing in underpants for guys or girls? Why are there so few people in the Mainstream Pop Culture who actually have decent morals and values? Actor goes to rehab, great lets give them another movie or TV role. Singer beats his girfriend - awesome lets give him another Grammy. Better yet lets buy more of his girlfriend whose also a singers records after she goes back to him… Someone Please Stop the Insanity.

These days you can masturbate on TV, and you're celebrated for expressing yourself. Answer a question honestly about your Christian Faith and... you're fired, got it.

Yet the people who are promoting all of this negative "entertainment" (which is essentially minutia if you ask me) these people are the ones pushing the victim mentality. If you disagree with someone about politics you must be a racist, if you do not believe in gay marriage then you must be a caveman and a "homophobe". No I'm not a homophobe, I just do not think it makes any sense whatsoever for gay people to want to take a "biblical" term and slap it onto what they choose to do with their sex lives. The bible (which I and millions if not billions of other Christians believe to be the living word of God) clearly states that Marriage is between One Man and One Woman, period. 

Now do I think that gay people should be bullied, discriminated against, shunned, or treated any differently than straight people? NO! I just do not believe it should be called "marriage".  Do I think their should be some sort of legal status for them to have rights to protect the ones they love, yes. It is not for me to judge them, I do my best to love all people and show the same love that Jesus showed me by dying on the cross for my sins. I don't believe fire and brimstone gets to peoples hearts, the best way to break through to people is with love.  So although I do not believe in "gay marriage" I do think they should have a legal option say "civil union", but this does not mean I condone someone being gay. We're all Gods kids and I do my best to live an example of how Jesus wants us to live according to the instructions he gave us in the bible. Hopefully my life and actions can help to change some hearts along the way.

However "Tolerance" is a two way street. Often times these same people who are gay make being "gay" their entire being. They immediately go into victim mode, where anything and everything anyone says or thinks or believes must be a personal affront of their "sexual orientation", which it is not. It's perfectly OK for these same people to give their opinions about all sorts of things including what us "Wacko Christians" believe - yet when someone is asked their opinion about a topic and they tell the truth vs. giving a PC answer all hell breaks loose. Sad days we are living in people. 

So let me get this straight... we have to be "tolerant" of everything except Christians because that is offensive. Got it. See…. Upside Down World!

What bothers me the most about the Duck Dynasty situation is the fact that Phil did not go off on a rant. He was asked a question about his beliefs and he answered honestly. Most people don't tell the truth these days, they say what they think other people want to hear.

I am willing to bet that if Phil were Muslim and he stated beliefs that most Americans find deplorable like jihad, child marriage, etc. that no one would be firing him because God Forbid we offend anyone… (except Christians) that is. Which BTW if he were Muslim he would not just be saying he believed being gay is a sin, he would be saying he believes gay people should be killed (in a barbaric manner btw). So isn't it ironic that most gay people are so supportive of Islam, think Muslims are so peaceful and that Christians are the hateful ones, makes zero sense whatsoever.

The fact is Christians in this country are just about the Only group who are "Not tolerated", yet we are expected to "Tolerate" everyone and everything including participate in things forced on us by the Government (which it has no right to do according to the Constitution) but who really cares about that document anymore anyway, right? After-all Barack Obama says it's not a "fair" document anyhow.

If you expect people to "Tolerate" you whether you're gay, straight, green, blue, purple, democrat, republican, or whatever - you have to be willing to also "Tolerate" people who do not share your particular beliefs. That is what "Tolerance" is. Which btw is what this country was founded on, Individual Freedom.

Someone ought to give the memo to A&E it's probably not the brightest move to start messing with the most successful show on your network in the history of ever… just sayin. Not to mention the fact that an employer is not supposed to discriminate against age, race, religion or sexual orientation, yet A&E just put someone on "Hiatus" because they did not like his beliefs. Hello can anyone say "hypocrisy" ?

So this should be a lesson to all Christians out there. If you want to see a change and see a difference in what is going on in our society then we need to collectively stand on our faith and principals, stop turning the other cheek and instead flip the tables on the money changers like Jesus did.  (Matthew 21:12) 

Which in essance what the cast of "Duck Dynasty" just did.  The folks at A&E who sought to poke fun at a bunch of backward hillbillie closed minded Christians soon found out that America was not laughing "at them" like they had hoped, we were laughing "with them" because we are fed up with the trash entertainment we have been having shoved down our throats for so many years.  

Should it be surprising to anyone that America embraced a show that promoted God, family, and that dirty little four letter word "work"? The bible clearly says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "That if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  

My point is for too long Christians have engaged in and supported entertainment that goes against our values. As well as supported organizations and companies that promote an agenda that is contridicatory to our beliefs. By supporting Duck Dynasty to the point of the show becoming a runaway success, and subsequently now standing with Phil, it might just be the spark to help turn the tide.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com 

True Colors

Justice is blind, or is it?....

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last two years you have most likely seen coverage of the Zimmerman, Martin incident and probably more than you wanted to.  Don't you love that about the news, for whatever reason they think that we really want to watch every waking minute of the trial.  I guess they think that a terrible accident is more newsworthy than the trial of a butcher who murdered babies for decades.  Yeah I think it's a bunch of muckery that they are covering practically every waking minute of the Zimmerman trial, yet until people in new media started jumping up and down people in the news other than a select few on a select few occasions would not even cover the Gosnell Trial.

What's your point Greek Girl?  Give me a minute people... So I'm just wondering about something.  There is so much pressure from some people in the minority community about "Justice for Trayvon", everyone from R&B stars to Russell Simmons are tweeting the play by play of the trial on a daily basis.  If one were to go read a twitter feed from one of these people you could come to the conclusion that they think if Zimmerman is not found guilty it is racism.  They seem to have this idea that George Zimmerman (who by the way is a Hispanic "minority" himself) went out one night and shot Trayvon Martin because he was black.  Seriously... anyone who comes to that conclusion after looking at the facts, and timeline is either deaf, blind, or has their eyes blindfolded and ears stuffed full of cotton balls.  The worst part is there are people out there who came to that very conclusion before any facts even came out.  But that couldn't be "racism" could it?...

Why was it that George Zimmerman was not arrested until forty five days after the incident occurred?  Usually when there is a "murder" the police although they need time to gather evidence, usually make an arrest long before forty five days.  Could it be because they were receiving a ton of pressure and outcry from the black community and felt compelled to charge him rather than deal with the backlash?   This same community who is quick to cry racism directed at it, yet does not acknowledge that their own practices and behavior not only practices racism towards whites and other races, but worse perpetuates the whole idea of racism itself.

Think about it, we have BET (Black Entertainment Television), Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Homes of Color Magazine, Bounce, shall I go on?  What would happen if someone were to say start a TV Network and call it "White Entertainment Television?... No one in their right mind would do that because everyone knows that would be racism.  Hmm... Take for example me little old Greek Girl living and working in and around the NYC Tri-State Area, a culturally diverse place, the melting pot of the world, right?  If anywhere on earth should be accepting and free of racism it's New York City, right?  Well what would you say if I told you that I can not count how many times I have driven up to the cash lane at the toll booth for the George Washington Bridge and had a black person completely ignore my "Hello, how are you?, Can I please have a receipt?" then hand it to me like I just asked them for their first born child and utter not a word to me or make any eye contact whatsoever despite my tries.  True and it has happened on more occasions than I care to remember.  Is it because the black person working the toll that day hates white people?  Jumping to that conclusion is just about as silly as people jumping to the conclusion that George Zimmerman is a racist is.  More likely he or she working that toll both is having a bad day, has something on their mind, or plain just would rather be somewhere else besides sitting in a little box taking my toll money.

My point is there are people out there who want to take anything that happens and turn it into some form of racism.  This is not only ignorant, but it ends up perpetuating the thing they say they want to end.  I wrote a blog about the George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin incident when it first occurred because I was so disturbed by what I was seeing and hearing from people in the media (see blog here) The bottom line is the world is full of good people and bad people in all races, sizes, shapes and colors.  Until we stop the practice of putting people into nice neat little categories, boxes, groups, etc. and seeing people as just that - people, the awful practice of racism on both sides of any issue is not going to stop.

I personally find it appalling that  there are facebook fan pages with the title "Kill George Zimmerman" allowed to be put up, yet people end up in facebook jail for accepting or requesting too many friends?  Really?... Some things going on today are really mixed up and upside down all in the name of political correctness.  What happened that night was a terrible tragedy.  None of us were there.  However expecting George Zimmerman to be convicted of murder because the victim was black is completely absurd.  What would happen if the roles were reversed and Trayvon Martin was white, and George Zimmerman was black and a white entertainment celebrity would have tweeted out the address for George Zimmerman like Spike Lee so ignorantly did?  Why is it the people doing the finger pointing never stop to consider these things?  We have a word for this in the Greek language people, it's called hypocrisy.

There is an old Greek saying my dad told me  long time ago to illustrate this word: "The camel laughs at the camel in front of him because of the hump on it's back, and he can't see the hump on his own back."  Food for thought people...

Where is the outcry for what happened to Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knoxville, TN on January 7th, 2007?  Where was the outcry for lynching of the black defendants?  Who are Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom you might be wondering?   Exaclty... there was none.  Because what happened wasn't about "race" it was about bad people doing bad things to innocent people.  This poor couple was, carjacked, kidnapped, robbed, raped, sodomized, sexually mutilated, set on fire and more unspeakable things I will not go onto mention... So where is the justice?  By the way the poor "defendants" had prior criminal records.  Which I'm sure had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they went onto commit more atrocious crimes.  You see that's what the bleeding heart liberal mentality leads to.  This convoluted idea that people are not responsible for their wrong actions and choices.  That if a person grows up to be or do something wrong, there has to be a "reason" for it... someone, somewhere had to have wronged that person.  Bleeding hearts have to slap a victim label on anyone and everyone that they can in order to justify their own existence as the bleeding heart do good savior to the poor minority, or person with the victim label.  Which is insulting to the real victims of the world, people like Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

It's terrible what happened that night where two people so terribly misunderstood what the other's intentions were.  It is a tragedy that the Martins had to bury their son.  However slapping the label of racism on it is not going to bring Trayvon Martin back, nor give George Zimmerman his life back.

The end of this trial can not come soon enough for me because as I watch the reaction from people it only shows me how very ugly we can be as people on the inside.  It shows me how some people can be such a voice for peace, love, kindness, helping your fellow man, kumbayah and that sort of gobbly goop but when push comes to shove, they can turn on a dime and show their true colors.

I for one am praying for and end to the ugliness.

Blessings,
Ava
www.avaaston.com 

Kohl's Cash

Addicting...

WARNING: You are now entering what I like to call the "Kohl's Cash Crack Time Warp" zone.  What in the heck in the world are you talking about Greek Girl?  Well if you were using your noggin and shopped at Kohl's like I do you would know exactly what I am talking about!

Once upon a time way way back in the early 2000's my mom told me about a store she had discovered.  Being the good Greek Girl that I am, I decided heed her advice and check it out.  I did, it was nice enough and they had a great Jr.'s department with one of my favorite lines of jeans "Levi's" also a decent selection of sneakers.  So over the years I have been shopping there as needed to get whatever I needed at the time at a good value, no big deal yet.

Fast forward to 2010.  Now I'm not sure how long they had been doing this before I found out about it, but let me tell you once I did I felt like I had hit the Jackpot Lotto for thrifty Greek Girls!  So they have this thing they do all the time where for every $50.00 you spend, they will give you either $10.00 or even sometimes $15.00 in "Kohl's Cash".  It's great because if you're going to get something you needed anyhow, it allows you to get a lot more bang for your buck!  Especially good for Holidays, Birthday's etc.

Most of the time they also have some sort of percent off going on as well.  Either a scratch to get 10, 20, and even up to 30% Off or they send you a percent off on the front of their flyer in the mail!  Often it's running while you are buying up goodies to get your Kohl's Cash.  However what I find is really awesome, at times so good you almost feel like you're robbing the joint is when you are redeeming some Kohl's Cash and you have a 30% off coupon... you can get things for ridiculous cheap!

OK this is all good and well Greek Girl but what exactly is a "Kohl's Cash Crack Time Warp"?  Well... that is what happens when you have Kohl's Cash to spend or if you are buying things when they happen to be giving Kohl's Cash away.  At all times in your mind while you're shopping you are busy not only picking out the stuff you want, but adding and doing math at the same time.  Because if they're giving it you want to stay on the $50.00 mark so you don't waste it.  For instance if you spent $75.00 while they are giving away Kohl's Cash, you would only be $25.00 away from getting another $10.00 in Kohl's Cash.  What ends up happening is you start to wonder about all the things you need to buy that you might otherwise buy somewhere else, and instead buy them at Kohl's in order to get the Kohl's Cash, or get whatever you're wanting to buy for the best price.

Why it can turn into a Time warp is, picking out stuff you want and doing math in your noggin can be time consuming.  Trying things on, using your iPhone to add, subtract and do percent off.  Jumping from department to department to get the deals... All while trying to hold/drink my coffee (yes Dunkin's), text my mom or one of my sisters, stay up on my twitter feed, and push my cart of loot without dumping it.  Can anyone say Muckery?...  Before you know it, two hours can fly by;  Thus the time warp element!

For me it's when I'm redeeming Kohl's Cash... I like to scan the clearance rack in the Jr. Department.  I get the most insane deals.  It's not just the Jr. dept. it's any of the sale racks, I have even scored a Ton of deals for Mr. Greek Girl too!  Like what?...  a few of my scores over the years:  a $7.00 pair of Sketchers Sneakers, a $3.25 shirt, a pair of Hydraulic Jeans for $5.00 and my best find ever.... a pair of Hydraulic Jeans for $2.44.  Yes I did just say I got a pair of jeans that would have cost about $100 bucks at Macy's for $2.44.  No worries here people you will never see Greek Girl on one of those shows where they tell the stories of celebrities who went broke from living large.  Nope it's just not in my DNA, I love getting deals.  Hey it doesn't grow on trees and why pay more for something if you can get it for less?  (Remember the mulch blog back in May, wink wink...)  Plus the less money I spend on other stuff means the more money I have to spend on making Music!

Like the saying goes: "A Picture is wroth a thousand words", so here are a few of my favorite finds.

Yes I did get this shirt at Kohl's for a whopping $3.25...

To date my Best Deal Ever! $2.44 for Hydraulic Jeans,                                Score one for Greek Girl!

So the next time you need to get something, from sneakers, to pajama's, to luggage; get your butt over to the nearest Kohl's Pronto!  Remember... before you do anything, check the clearance rack and see if they are doing a percent off and you might just score a Greek Girl Deal for yourself!

Happy "Kohl's Cash Crack Time Warping" to you!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com