I don't know why, but the stupidity level in our culture is out of control and I seem to be one of the few people who notice (or care). I could turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to it, sure. But I really am curious if anybody else is even paying attention. Or is everybody really that stupid? I guess that is the question: Stupidity vs. Happily Oblivious. Either you are part of the problem or you don't give a hoot about anything going on outside of two square feet around you. Bury your head like an ostrich and only complain if something directly inconveniences you.

That ain't my style. I calls 'em as I sees 'em -- and I sees 'em pretty clearly. I have been blessed with the gift of unbiased observation, along with the ability to communicate what should be obvious but somehow isn't. I do not operate from inside a fog bank, nor do I sport giant-framed rose colored sunglasses. But the stuff I see going on is alarming, to say the least.

Let's get one thing straight however: I am not a conspiracy theorist. That's not what this is about. Those people are some of the biggest idiots on the planet and are subject to some of my most inspired rants. But picking on them is easy -- and there is a time to stop attempting to teach pigs to sing (my biggest fault is perhaps overestimating that point).

Papah Riah grew up in the 1970's and 1980's. Those were interesting times. Somehow nobody had ADD/ADHD back then, and for some reason creativity in popular music didn't make it past this era. Political leaders caught in a scandal actually shocked people, and nobody cared about every last detail of some idiotic celebrity's personal life. You actually had to have a legitimate-sounding case in order to sue somebody, and young couples getting married understood what the words "for better or worse" meant.

Maybe it's getting stuck between the baby boomers and generation x that has left me standing alone as the only guy who can call balls and strikes on society. With no affiliations to anybody or anything save plain old common sense, it can get a bit lonely in this place. But don't worry about me. Mamma Riah shares most of my astonishments, and in fact some of my best stuff is actually inspired by her. (If you don't have a good partner supporting your individual insanity I highly recommend getting one.)

And then there is you guys. Yeah you - the sprinkling of intelligent people who recognize the giant sham being attempted on all of us, all the time, from all directions. You just get the feeling that we were all cast for a big Truman Show type thing, don't you? Trust me, I understand. So much so, that you are welcome to contribute material. Just email me your rant (containing no more than one outside link) along with your name and a photo if you like, and if I can feel your pain it will go up. Feel free to contact me at PapahRiah@papariah.com with your own rant.