current events Archives - Tony Funderburk

I had my eyes examined (no, not my head) a couple of weeks ago. And this week I got my new glasses. Plus, this is my 2020th post here on TonyFunderburk.com . So, those two things, and a couple of other unnamed things, got me thinking about that expression, “hindsight is 20 20.” From what I’ve been able to figure out, with only a little research…because I don’t wanna s...

Life. Love. And freedom. Hope. Bread. And water. Joy. And a rock-solid promise. Yeah, I’ve definitely got something to sing about. And when I say “sing,” that’s how I cheer. Because, for me, singing is the best form of celebration. So you might ask, “Well, what IS this something to sing about” And I might answer, “Well, well, well…I’m not goin&...

OK, this is a manly post. So, women are only allowed as long as they intend to use the information to help the men in their lives. Are we clear? Good. Let’s proceed… As I was searching for some clothes, online, yesterday, an ad popped up (who’d’ve thunk it) with a reference to manly clothes. And I thought, “Hey, that’s definitely me. I’d better check this...

Different people don’t tend to get along so well. Have you noticed that? And history books denote sections of time, most often, using wars as markers. And almost all of those wars were between different peoples. Although it could be argued that America’s own civil war runs contrary to that assertion. But it doesn’t diminish my point. Which is how the basic issues of society haven...

This comes from back in the days of knights and lords and ladies. Apparently it was customary for a knight to wear the name of a certain lady during a tournament. And it was typically the lady he loved…or would compete to impress. In other words, he was laying it all out in the open. These days, when you wear your heart on your sleeve, you’re probably revealing your innermost thoughts....

Ever since the Donald left the white house, some guy named Joe has been there. And he’s doin’ a good job. A mighty good job. So, I just wanted to touch base with you and let in on the latest political news. See ya later. (*needle scratch sound) Yeah, you know what’s dripping, don’t you? But I’m only being a little sarcastic. Mostly I mean it. Some guy named Joe, who p...

Mountain goats. Awesome animals that live high in the mountains most of the time. Mountain Goats…a stupid band from North Carolina who probably wouldn’t know truth if it zapped through their instruments, traveled up their fingers, and stimulated whatever brain cells they have left. But I don’t know them. So, maybe I shouldn’t get started on what I really think. Besides, I&#...

“Alright. We ain’t talkin’ no politics or religion around here. See? And I better not catch you playin’ the stool pigeon, or you’ll be wearin’ a pine overcoat. See?” Yeah, those gangsters, from the movies of the 30’s and 40’s really knew how to get their points across. And that’s back when men could be manly in movies, and audiences ate i...

Hate is push-button easy these days. And the mask mandate, that somebody named Polis living in the governor’s mansion in Colorado keeps extending, is proof of this. First, here’s why a mask mandate is a form of hate. If you love your fellow human beings, are you gonna force them to breathe bad air? No. And if you love your fellow human beings, do you want them to deal with extra fatigu...

Freedom is a right. That should be self-evident (as somebody once wrote). But apparently, for a lot of knuckleheads, that information just can’t make it past the knuckles in those heads. So, they toss freedoms out just like they toss their fast-food trash out their car windows. And that means freedom is a right you gotta fight for. Uh-oh…did I just end a sentence with a preposition. We...

Horse songs tend to have catchy rhythms. I guess it’s because of the hoofbeats. *rimshot* Thanks folks. I’ll be here all week. Be sure to tip your bartender and waitresses. Yes, I said waitresses. Don’t git yer stirrups all tangled up, pawtnuh. So, here’s the reason I brung up horse songs. Yesterday, Elgielene and I watched a video of Kristi Noem speaking. Regardless of how...

Opinions count. Not all of them, of course. But the ones that are tantamount to truth…those count. And, sadly, there are fewer and fewer of those kinds. Because there’s an assault on truth the likes of which America has never seen before. And people who are in rebellion against God attempt to blur facts and figures as often as they stir the synthetic cream into their coffee. But Truth...

Even in this ridiculous and weird time in history, dreams come true. Not all. But enough of them that it still counts when somebody says “if you work hard, you can still achieve your dreams.” But right now you might be making someone else’s dreams come true. And that’s OK if you’re serving your fellow man. Because when you serve your fellow man, you can pursue your dr...

I remember studying America’s founding documents when I was in school way back in the twentieth century. And I remember something called the “Bill of Rights.” It must’ve been a big deal. Because teachers and politicians always talked about the freedoms it “gave” all Americans. And one of those was the freedom to assemble. Something about people freely getting to...

Check out this list of synonyms. P ublicity , advertising , promotion , marketing , puff , puffery , propaganda , exposure ; boost , push , fanfare , buildup ; informal plug , plugging , razzmatazz , and  ballyhoo . And I shared them with you because they’re all synonymous with moronic politicians. Because they want you to believe the hype that the world, as we know it, is gonna end in just...

This Magic Moment, a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, was a big hit for Ben E. King and the Drifters back in 1960. And I’ll bet they had no idea they actually created one of the billions of micro moments where certain demographics spend their time.  Yeah, I’m gonna call short, catchy songs what they are. Micro moments. When you listen to a song like that one from Ben E. Ki...

I enjoy watching Ray Comfort , from Living Waters, talk to people he meets “on the street.” Because he has an easy-going way of disarming them in order to share God’s love. He lives in California. But he’s originally from Australia. And I think his accent helps a little, too. Ray actually helps people understand they’re not all that and a bag of chips. But he does it...

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve always been a big admirer of women. I appreciate ’em so much, in fact, that I married one 31 years ago. But, as usual, women are at the heart of a Yuge problem. And many of them, if not most, don’t seem to care to even try to fix it. Of course, by now, I’m sure you’ve guessed what that problem is. Right? Yeah, if we don’t get more...

Some time, around the middle decades of the twentieth century, a 16 year old girl discovered she was pregnant. Of course, she knew how it happened. And this was at a time in American history when young people were supposed to “do the right thing” and get married. So, she married the 19 year old young man (soon to be 20), who also knew the moral norms, and they started figuring things o...

I was a fan of Chicago (the band, not the city) when I was in high school. And for years after. I’m not sure what they’ve done in recent years. But some of that early stuff with horns, strings, double drummers…it was slammin’ jammin’. And if you’re a fan of drums, percussion, and bass arrangements, check out I’m A Man. Bam! Awesome drum solo. But another s...

OK, kids. Gather ’round. Because I’m gonna tell you a story that’s true, even though it sounds like a fairy tale. “Once upon a time, when I was a kid, my whole family would sit down in the same room and watch television shows together. That’s right, the same shows…together.” Yeah, that sounds like a fairy tale these days. But it was true. And a news story...

During this past week I read lost of news stories and social media posts about the way our American presidential election has progressed. Or should I say regressed? And it struck me how many people, on both sides, were surprised at what’s happened. But there’s a certain group of people I’d say this to: you should have known this could happen.   You should have known this could ha...

Black Friday From A Singer Songwriter ‘s Perspective OK…admittedly I’m a guy. So maybe I’ve never been a shopaholic because I’m such a stereotypical guy on the issue of shopping . In my role as a singer songwriter , I’ve written about shopping on more than one occasion…but I don’t believe I’ve ever given it a “plus” in my ledger. So...