The King is dead.

Like him or hate him, the guy was a phenomenon. I'm still not convinced that all the molestation claims against the guy were true. The combination of his personality and money made him an easy target. He didn't help by putting himself in situations where those claims could easily be made either. He was charged and aquitted but I'm not sure he was ever able to let that go mentally. He knew from that point on that he would always have that stink on him.

I don't agree very often with Rev. Al Sharpton but he made some sense while commenting on Michael's death. I don't remember the exact quote but he basically said that he was amazed at the amount of public sentiment towards Michael by many Hollywood-types who would have avoided him like the plague and publicly bashed him just 2 days earlier. I agree with that. But let's also remember that Rev. Al had a microphone in each hand before Michael's body even got to room temperature.

I have to admit that I do find it sad that a new generation will not get to experience this guy's genius when it comes to his musical talents, particularly in concert. Someone once said that a large part of the American public had let him down (during the molestation charges) but he never let his fans down. They were right.

I hope that Michael can now find the peace that I believe he had been looking for over the last several years.

 

 

 

Talk about your double standard.

President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor, an appeals court judge, for the Supreme Court. In a past speech, she stated, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life." Really? You really just said that?

Where's the media with this statement? Where's the public outcry? Holy Crap, if an old, white male appeals court judge said something along the lines of, "I would hope that a wise white male with the richness of his experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a (you pick - black female, hispanic female, latina female, etc. - you get the picture) who hasn't lived that life." Not only is her statement racist, it's sexist as well.

I'm the first one to point out that political correctness is killing this country. However, its here and we have to currently deal with it. All I ask is for some consistency. If one person can say it, we all get to say it. Let's not play favorites here.

A side note here as well - a Supreme Court Justice doesn't need ANY particular life's experience. They are there to review the nation's laws and judge whether they are allowed under the Constitution, not run around with their emotions or reflect on past experiences. It's that simple.

For the most part, I have little use for most elected officials. However, occasionally one separates themselves from the normally seedy side of politics and stands up for what they believe in because they actually have a pair.

Erected in front of Avon Lake city hall stands a sign that says, "Remember Christ is in Christmas". This has brought some negative attention to the city, particularly from the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State group in Cleveland, which said the sign should be removed. 

In a letter to Mayor K.C. Zuber, the group wrote, “Using tax-payer funded property for the display of an overtly sectarian message is in clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. It is insensitive to those who choose not to be Christian ... Respecting religious minorities in our community, we request that this message be removed.”

Here's the "someone who has a pair" part of the story. It was actually Zuber himself who put the sign up and he states that it isn't going anywhere until after the holidays. You can't see me but I'm standing up and applauding Zuber right now. For those who live in Avon Lake, PLEASE keep this guy in office.

Now let's take a look at the letter sent to Mayor Zuber's office. “Using tax-payer funded property for the display of an overtly sectarian message is in clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment." Now, I'm not a constitutional scholar but the Constitution does not state an actual separation of church and state. It merely prohibits a state-sponsored and required religion for all to worship. Period. 

I love this part - "Respecting religious minorities in our community, we request that this message be removed.” So we should give into the small handful of people who may be offended? For far too long we have catered to the whims of the minority. For those who don't like it, deal with it. Somewhere over the years some people actually think there exists a right not to be offended.  That right doesn't exist. I'm offended every time a politician gives in to the bitches of a few. Again, kudos to Zuber for standing his ground.

At a recent city council meeting, Council President Greg Zilka spoke about a resident who had been dissatisfied with the city for putting up the sign. "She told me she was moving out of Avon Lake because she just didn’t feel comfortable here anymore,” Zilka said.

Now that's funny...and sad. If you are going to move out of nice city like Avon Lake because of a sign in front of city hall during the holidays and that you just don't feel comfortable there anymore, your community doesn't need you and you should go. If that truly offends you to that point, you are going to have a rough life ahead of you...and maybe some mental help may be in order as well. I'm willing to bet that she celebrated Christmas every year of her life and received many gifts. Truly hypocritical thinking at it's best. I'll donate $100 towards the U-Haul.

And just to drive home the point, Remember Christ is in Christmas. It's a true, factual statement and has been long forgotten over the years. The next time you see Mayor Zuber, please stop to shake his hand and thank him for his stance against the deterioration of our society and culture.

Now that I was able to vent below, we all need to move on. 

I've already heard the old "He's not my President" comments from a number of people. The funny part is that most of these same people bitched about the exact comments levied at Bush. 

Although I stand by what I said in the previous post, Obama was elected legally as our President. I didn't vote for him and quite frankly, I believe we're in trouble. However, as of January 20th, he will be our President - like it or not. In that sense, we all need to rally behind him and support him in that position. He deserves the opportunity to succeed or fail of his own accord.

On January 20th, Obama will be my President and has my support as his position deserves it. If we don't like what he does, we have another say in 4 years.

I can't help but think out loud to myself, "Be careful what you wish for. Now you have it." Most exit polls show Obama being elected as the President of the United States. I'm really trying to come up with a positive spin for myself with this but I can't.

As the months pass and voters who assisted in their own financial downfalls and deterioration of this country experience a sort of buyer's remorse, I will repeat to them that phrase. Every person who voted for him will soon realize that they were duped by pipe dreams, unrealistic promises, and socialistic policies delivered by nothing more than a glorified used car salesman who will say and promise anything just to make the sale.

I could go on and on but I won't. Humor me, however, and bookmark this entry so we all can discuss this down the road. I'm usually not one to say, "I told you so," but.....

UPDATE: It also appears that voting for the House and Senate seats along with the above may produce a filibuster-proof government for at least the next 2 years. If that happens, when this country goes downhill, who can the Dems blame? They will have zero excuses for failing policies. Again, bookmark this. We'll chat later...

....and here's the swing....hard hit towards center field. It looks like....yes, it's an out-of-the-park home run!

On her experience as mayor of a small town prior to being governor:

"And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

I wonder how that bitch-slap felt...

PREFACE: Read the 2 previous postings below.

Now, I add to the insanity. Alabama has been added to the states that are rapidly approaching "Big Brother" status.

State employees who the state deems as overweight will be singled out and forced to pay more for their health care. They've already pounced on the smokers. Who will be next? I have my opinions but no one ever listens. Read more here .

Hate to say I told you so, but...

 

Read the previous article if you'd like to see the beginning trend here. From my local ABC news affiliate's website (WEWS in Cleveland):

AKRON, Ohio -- People searching for work need not apply to a local hospital if they smoke.

Akron Children's Hospital, beginning Nov. 1, will not hire any applicants who test positive for nicotine, regardless of experience and qualifications.The Beacon Journal, NewsChannel5's news partner, reports the hiring policy will continue the hospital's goal of modeling healthy behaviors to the patients and families it serves.

Just two years ago, the hospital banned smoking everywhere on its campus and prohibited employees from smoking at any time during their workday.Current workers will not be affected by the new policy.

There is a poll on this story on whether it is fair to not hire smokers. It's not as close as I would have thought but 3684 votes, 1156 at the time of this posting said "yes". That amazes me. Note the line from above "...the hiring policy will continue the hospital's goal of modeling healthy behaviors to the patients and families it serves." For the 1156 of those who voted yes - and those that agree with that - I will sit and wait until they attack those who consume alcohol, eat large amounts of fatty foods, etc.

There will be those that will chuckle at my premonition. However, I called the tobacco attacks several years back and people chuckled at me then. Welcome to the new SSA...Socialist States of America...

 

 
 

Over the last few years, the act of smoking has been demonized by everyone. It's been banned in private and public areas, businesses, and even outdoor venues all over. The are many hospitals and businesses that won't even hire someone who smokes...at home, off the clock, on their own time. I never understood this but to be fair in this discussion, I'm a smoker and have 30 years of lung damage to prove it.

Most of my close friends are non-smokers and found it amusing that all of the above happened. What I tried to explain that while they don't smoke, the fact that they accepted this ban on smoking with open arms scared the crap out of me. I gave many examples of why this is only the beginning of things to come and unless people start opening their eyes, we're all going to wake up one day in a police state. First smoking, then fatty foods or alcohol, then (fill in the blanks here), etc. Everyone laughed.

I'd like to thank the great state of California for proving my point.  Governor Schwarzenegger just signed a bill into law banning trans fat oil use throughout the state. The ban will require all food providers to begin phasing out trans fat oils by July, 2009. Non-compliance will result in fines up to $1000.00.

I suppose I should just smoke 'em while I got 'em and enjoy my McDonald's fries while they're hot but that's just not me. As long as the vast majority of the general public remain to be blind sheep, we should just focus on having children with blond hair and blue eyes...and fire up gas chambers.

 

 

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this about President Bush:

"You know, God bless him, bless his heart, President of the United States, a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject,"

 Senate Majority Harry Reid added:

"Who would be afraid of him?  He's got a 29 percent approval rating."

Umm...apparently these folks have missed the latest AP-Ipsos poll.  Not only is this the longest a Congress has gone in 20 years without passing a single spending bill but according to the poll, the approval of Congress hit a new low of 18 percent. 

As the saying goes, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones... 

From the City Hall Blog at the Dallas Morning News:

A special meeting about Dallas County traffic tickets turned tense and bizarre this afternoon.

County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office.

Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."

That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.

Mayfield shot back that it was a figure of speech and a science term.

I don't know where to start on this one. I guess my first reaction is that this Commissioner Price pinhead is the actual racist here. Mayfield used a common scientific term with no racist intent. However, Price's response was a comment loaded with intent towards race. Sounds like he's filled with racism here.

Where are we headed in this country? Based on the above, do we need to rename black top, black eye, black birds, black widow, being blackballed, etc.? I think I'll start a campaign to remove the phrase "white lie" as I am white and that can be offensive to us white folk. Give me a break.

For the record, a black hole can be defined as a region of space so dense that nothing can escape or a region with such intense gravitational collapse it consumes and destroys anything that wanders too close. Sounds like the space between Price's ears.

Hold on to your hats here. I'm actually going to be defending Ted Kennedy.

The New York chapter of the National Association of Women has accused Ted Kennedy of something akin to sexual discrimination by endorsing Barack Obama.  They say:

"Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal. Senator Kennedy's endorsement of Hillary Clinton's opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard. "

"We are repaid with his abandonment! He's picked the new guy over us. He's joined the list of progressive white men who can't or won't handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton."

Actually, he's joined the list of progressive white men who can't or won't handle the prospect of Hillary Clinton as the President.

In NOW's defense, Ted doesn't have a stellar record with the ladies...at least one....left in a car....under water.....but I digress.  

Oh, one more thing for the NOW gals...while you're up, make me a sandwich...  (You didn't really think I'd let that one go, did you?)

 

If the US government determines that it is against the law for the words 'under God' to be on our money, then, so be it.

If that same government decides that the 'Ten Commandments' are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

I say, 'so be it,' because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, 'so be it,' because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American public's best interests at heart.  (Ya...riiiiiiight.....)

Having said that, I'd also like to see the following happen.....

Since we can't pray to God, can't trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in government buildings, I don't believe the government and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the 'Christmas Break.' After all, it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my tax payer dollars could be saved if all government offices and services would work on Christmas, Good Friday and Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be 'politically correct'.

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshiping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day.

These are definitely things I never thought about, but from now on I will be sure to question those in government who support these changes.

 

(This is an email that's floating around but I decided it's very true and was worth posting here.) 

Having watched the below clip, I now feel a few IQ points short.....

 

Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina Question/Answer 

Recently, a smoking ban was instituted statewide in Ohio for all public places including bars, dining facilities, etc.  There are many smokers really pissed over this, myself being one of them, but for different reasons than you'd think.

I understand the "I shouldn't have to breathe your second-hand smoke" argument.  I can even see the "Well, it's bad for you" comments as well and I agree with them.  I don't smoke in the car when my daughter is riding with me and respect friends I have that don't want me to smoke around them.

My beef with this ban is my taxes from the cigarette purchases fund so many public ventures and now I'm being told I can't smoke in them.  Jacob's Field for the Cleveland Indians is a great example.  The city instituted a 'sin tax' on alcohol and tobacco sales to help fund a large portion of the building cost then told me I can't smoke in it.  This is only one example of many.

That's fine that you ban me from smoking in all the public venues.  Now remove my tobacco tax from funding them.  You can't have it both ways.  (Ya, I know.  The state will do what it wants.) That's cool.  I will seriously look into buying my cigarettes via the internet or out of state on my business trips.  I'll push those taxes elsewhere...

I've always thought Alec Baldwin's acting skills were a little off.  However, it was really his parenting skills that needed the real polishing.  Recently, he left a voicemail for his 11-year-old daughter that was WAY over the line.  For those who have not yet heard this message, you can hear it here.  For those who would rather read the transcript, here it is:

"Hey, I want to tell you something, OK? And I want to leave a message for you right now. 'Cause again, it's 10:30 here in New York on a Wednesday, and once again I've made an ass of myself trying to get to a phone to call you at a specific time. When the time comes for me to make the phone call, I stop whatever I'm doing and I go and I make that phone call. At 11 o'clock in the morning in New York and if you don't pick up the phone at 10 o'clock at night. And you don't even have the G**damn phone turned on. I want you to know something, OK?

I'm tired of playing this game with you. I'm leaving this message with you to tell you you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don't have the brains or the decency as a human being. I don't give a damn that you're 12 years old, or 11 years old, or that you're a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the ass who doesn't care about what you do as far as I'm concerned. You have humiliated me for the last time with this phone. And when I come out there next week, I'm going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I'm going to let you know just how disappointed in you I am and how angry I am with you that you've done this to me again. You've made me feel like s**t and you've made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this G**damn phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother and you do it to me constantly and over and over again. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to come out there for the day and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you. Do you understand me? I'm going to really make sure you get it. Then I'm going to get on a plane and I'm going to turn around and come home. So you'd better be ready Friday the 20th to meet with me. So I'm going to let you know just how I feel about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude, thoughtless little pig, OK?"

His explanation is as follows from his website:

"Although I have been told by numerous people not to worry too much, as all parents lose their patience with their kids, I am most saddened that this was released to the media because of what it does to a child.  I'm sorry, as everyone who knows me is aware, for losing my temper with my child. I have been driven to the edge by parental alienation for many years now."

He was most saddened that it was released to the media because of what it does to a child?  How about the fact that you just called your child a "thoughtless little pig"?  What exactly did you think that would do to your child?  Now, anyone who has children knows that you will lose your patience from time to time.  Having said that, I cannot ever see words even remotely similar to the above leaving my lips when it comes to my daughter.  

The end result is that he has a beef with Kim Basinger, the ex-wife, not his daughter.  How he got to this point with his daughter is way beyond my comprehension.

 

 

 

Well, Don Imus finally did it.  He tossed out what he thought would be a passing comment, something he's done many times before.  However, this time it caught up with him and he's been fired from both CBS and NBC.   He was fired for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” on the air last week.  I have mixed emotions over this.

On one side, I would say that Imus should know better.  This isn't the first time he's been under the gun for some dumbass comment.  What he says has consequences and I'm sure that is evident to him now.  It wasn't the brightest thing he's ever done but I've never been a fan of Imus and I thought he was pretty lame to begin with.

On the other side, the members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team and their family members really need to grow a thinker skin.  Good God, man....a meeting with Imus at the New Jersy governor's mansion?  Was that really necessary?  If I, the whitest white man you'll ever meet, were to be called a cracker-ass, white-bread, honky motherf**ker, I don't see myself having to attend any meeting at the governor's mansion to get over it.

As long as we all will live, there will be hateful and prejudiced people that walk among us.  As long as we continue to have such a huge reaction over comments made, these douchebags will continue to make them.  The comments are meant to invoke a reaction.  Stop reacting and feeding into exactly what they want.....and grow a skin....and move on with your lives.

As some will know by reading past postings, I believe there is a serious lack of personal responsibility in this world that usually leads to some bogus lawsuit.  This story is no different.

Jennifer Raper, 45, has filed a lawsuit against two doctors (Dr. Allison Bryant, a physician working for Planned Parenthood at the time and Dr. Benjamin Eleonu at Boston Medical Center) and Planned Parenthood seeking the costs of raising her child because she claimed they failed to properly abort her unborn child.  She wanted the abortion for "financial reasons".  She is seeking damages, including child-rearing costs.

Raper alleges in the suit that Planned Parenthood and Bryant were negligent for failing to end her pregnancy and that Eleonu was negligent for failing to see she was still pregnant.

My only question is this - Hey, Jen....if you weren't prepared for a child, aren't you negligent for not keeping your legs shut? 

Full story can be read here.

  

Yet again, some douchebag decided to use my domain in spamming emails promoting his website. I welcome you to visit his site several times a second for the next 3 or so weeks.

http://revolver-oem.org

Now, I would never suggest or condone a denial of service attack. I'm just thinking that the amount of emails he sent using my domain suggests that he'd like LOTS of visits to this site so please, let's help him out.

I know...it's been awhile but I am making time to start tossing posts here again.

Thanks for sticking around.

Some cartoons in a Danish newspaper have Muslims all over the world protesting.

The drawings of the Prophet Muhammed first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September but are being reprinted in papers across Europe and even on Jordan. One cartoon shows Muhammed wearing a turban fashioned into a bomb.

In Iraq, the country's top Shiite cleric denounced the drawings, which he describes as "horrific." Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani suggested militants have helped create "a distorted and dark image" of Islam.  Umm.....actually Islam has created "a distorted and dark image" of Islam.  You are all pissed off over a stupid cartoon but strapping a load of explosives to your 10-year-old and sending him into a public square to detonate himself is ok?  I don't get it.

Damn, the truth hurts, doesn't it?

I could go on about several aspects about hurrican Katrina, such as how some people changed to animals after the storm hit. Scumbags looting, raping, killing. The military needs to have permission to cure this problem by shooting the rapers and murderers on site and just pull their body in the water for later pickup. But that's a whole different topic.

My issue is the comments by Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans. He has been trashing the response of the government from day one. His biggest bitch is that there are not enough buses being sent. Here's my problem. This city was warned with enough time to get people out. There are hundreds of city owned school and transit buses that he could have used to get these people out and he chose not to. Now it's the government's fault that there isn't enough transportation to get the people out that should have already been out in the first place.

I also am tired of people who sit in the same ravaged building or neighborhood, day after day, bitching to any camera that passes about not being able to get a ride out of the city. Is there something wrong with your legs? Sure, I feel bad for them but give me a break. If I'm standing in an area loaded with standing water with human waste and bodies floating past me, chances are that I'm getting off my ass and walking out until a ride comes by.

I'm in San Diego for business and I felt compelled to jot something down here.

I've never been a big fan of the Beach Boys but they certainly got it right when they said, "I wish they all could be California girls."

Holy crap....

I'm a believer in fate...karma. It's only occasional that I see something that brings a smile to my face after having my blood boil just 3 minutes earlier. Fortunately, this is one of those times.

First the blood-boiling part. I'm sure you all have heard the Supreme Court decision that basically states that the government, usually a local munincipality, can take your property if it "benefits the community". Under this ruling, cities will now have wide power to bulldoze homes for projects like shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue, whether you want to give it up or not. Enough said here or my blood will quickly rise in temperature again.

Here's the good part. Justice David Souter joined in the 5-4 court decision allowing governments to seize private property from one owner and hand it to a developer. Three days after he helped pass down this rediculous ruling, a letter was faxed to town officials in Weare, N.H., where Souter is a long-time resident. Logan Darrow Clements, a California developer, said that a hotel on Souter's property would bring the town economic development and tax revenue. He is planning on following up with this plan to build a hotel on Souter's current property.

I don't get out of this area much anymore. However, if this hotel does go up, I plan on a weekend stay at some point. I'll have to contribute to this absolutely fantastic venture. Paybacks truly are a bitch.

My advice to Justice Souter - careful what you wish for. You just might get it.