If I may take a brief break from my heartwarming story arc and interject something campaign-related:
I have a message for all the members of the Traditional Media: Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, would you miserable, cowardly sheep grow a fucking collective spine?!!!
Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has selected as his Vice-presidential running mate a woman who is about as qualified to hold the second highest elected office in the country as I am.
She was the governor of a city in Alaska that has fewer people living in it than the town of Murphysboro, Illinois, where I lived for 5 years.
She is Governor of the state of Alaska, by population the fourth smallest state in the United states, and the least densely populated state.
It is probable that she has ties to the Alaskan Independence Party, a movement that favors Alaskan Secession from the U.S. (something that we fought a War over nearly 150 years ago.
She repeats in every speech the false claim that she refused the so-called "bridge to nowhere" when, in fact, she was strongly in favor of it right up until the point where it became politically untenable for her to continue to do so. By the way, Alaska kept the money earmarked for that bridge.
She is a strong proponent of abstinence-only sex education, when she has exhibit A of how that program DOESN'T work living under her own roof.
She claims to be a "maverick" who will "fight Washington" when, in fact, with Alaskan Senator Ted "King of Pork" Stevens, she has worked the Washington system to bring as much Federal money as possible to Alaska.
She is clueless when it comes to foreign policy.
And yet, even with all this, when the traditional media reveals these and other stories about her, the Republicans go snarling after them with cries of "liberal media bias". And the traditional media, instead of standing by the facts it has uncovered, cowers in the corner and says "We're sorry! Please don't hurt us!"
So I ask the media to grow a collective spine for once. When Republican attack dogs go after you and call you liberal, calmly reply to them, "These are the facts. They are unassailable. You cannot change them simply by repeating lies over and over."
Yeah. That's gonna happen.
Monday, September 15, 2008
A Heartwarming Story (Pt. 5)
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental (Really!)
Chapter 5: The King of Texas
George was now the King of Texas, a prime stepping stone to becoming Kingofalltheland. He was the established favorite of the conservative, so-called "family values" voter, even though he stood in favor of everything that was against everything these "value voters" stood for--compassion for your fellow man, kindness, generosity, and favoring the weak against the strong. In other words, he was against everything these voters had supposedly been taught by their religion.
But no one seemed to notice! The facade established for George by his handlers was impenetrable! And, while king of Texas, he executed more of his subjects than any other king prior to his reign. He gutted the kingdom's education system, auctioned off control of its agencies to private business, and worked to increase his own fortune at the expense of his subjects.
Through it all, the image of the down-home Texas boy was rigorously maintained. George remained the "man of the people" even as the "people" obliviously suffered under his reign, while businesses grew rich off his policies.
But being King of Texas was not enough for George! Like his father, George wanted to be Kingofalltheland. So he gathered around him the same political team that had remade his political image. The time had come. George was ready to follow in his father's footsteps, even if they were far too big for him. That didn't matter, though. This team had remade a drunken, spoiled, East-coast child of privilege into a down-home Texas country boy. Surely, it would be no problem for them to do the same for a candidate for KingofalltheLand...
(to be continued)
Chapter 5: The King of Texas
George was now the King of Texas, a prime stepping stone to becoming Kingofalltheland. He was the established favorite of the conservative, so-called "family values" voter, even though he stood in favor of everything that was against everything these "value voters" stood for--compassion for your fellow man, kindness, generosity, and favoring the weak against the strong. In other words, he was against everything these voters had supposedly been taught by their religion.
But no one seemed to notice! The facade established for George by his handlers was impenetrable! And, while king of Texas, he executed more of his subjects than any other king prior to his reign. He gutted the kingdom's education system, auctioned off control of its agencies to private business, and worked to increase his own fortune at the expense of his subjects.
Through it all, the image of the down-home Texas boy was rigorously maintained. George remained the "man of the people" even as the "people" obliviously suffered under his reign, while businesses grew rich off his policies.
But being King of Texas was not enough for George! Like his father, George wanted to be Kingofalltheland. So he gathered around him the same political team that had remade his political image. The time had come. George was ready to follow in his father's footsteps, even if they were far too big for him. That didn't matter, though. This team had remade a drunken, spoiled, East-coast child of privilege into a down-home Texas country boy. Surely, it would be no problem for them to do the same for a candidate for KingofalltheLand...
(to be continued)
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Heartwarming Story (Pt. 4)
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental (Really!)
Chapter 4: The First Steps
Now that George had remade his image as being that of the fabled Everyman, it was time to run for office as King of the land of Texas.
It would not be hard. George's credentials had been established. He was the good old down home Texas boy. He was a rancher. He was a man of the People. He was for conservative "family values". He would protect the rights of the common man.
There was, of course, a sinister force behind this image change: the sinister monster known as the evil KarlRove. A longtime political brain, the evil KarlRove had long record of defeating opponents of his chosen candidates through whispers, innuendo, and third party smears. The evil KarlRove wanted George as KingofalltheLand and new exactly what steps to take to do this.
KarlRove knew that George by himself was too much of a dim bulb to be effective in politics, but he also knew that if he surrounded George with the many of the same advisers that had been around George's father, it would look like George would know what he was doing.
KarlRove also had an insidious technique up his sleeve: the dreaded pushpoll. The pushpoll was a poll created to implant negative opinions of the opponent in the minds of voters by asking them seemingly innocuous questions designed to give voters false impressions.
It was primarily through the use of this technique that allowed George to become King of Texas, thus securing his future in politics. Two years later, it would be time for him to run for Kingofalltheland.
To be Continued.
Chapter 4: The First Steps
Now that George had remade his image as being that of the fabled Everyman, it was time to run for office as King of the land of Texas.
It would not be hard. George's credentials had been established. He was the good old down home Texas boy. He was a rancher. He was a man of the People. He was for conservative "family values". He would protect the rights of the common man.
There was, of course, a sinister force behind this image change: the sinister monster known as the evil KarlRove. A longtime political brain, the evil KarlRove had long record of defeating opponents of his chosen candidates through whispers, innuendo, and third party smears. The evil KarlRove wanted George as KingofalltheLand and new exactly what steps to take to do this.
KarlRove knew that George by himself was too much of a dim bulb to be effective in politics, but he also knew that if he surrounded George with the many of the same advisers that had been around George's father, it would look like George would know what he was doing.
KarlRove also had an insidious technique up his sleeve: the dreaded pushpoll. The pushpoll was a poll created to implant negative opinions of the opponent in the minds of voters by asking them seemingly innocuous questions designed to give voters false impressions.
It was primarily through the use of this technique that allowed George to become King of Texas, thus securing his future in politics. Two years later, it would be time for him to run for Kingofalltheland.
To be Continued.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
A Heartwarming Story (Pt. 3)
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental (Really!)
Chapter 3: Remaking the Image.
In 1960, a family named Kennedy had successfully put their favorite son John into the office of Kingofalltheland by playing up his image as an everyman. It was easy for them, though, because he was from the Democrat tribe, which had long cultivated its image as the party of the people.
George, however was faced with a new reality. He was a member of the Republic Tribe. This was a tribe made up of two types of people: Extremely wealthy ones, who were the real masters of the party, and easily duped rural and small-town ones who were easily swayed by talk of "family values" and "elitist Democrats". These small-town people were fooled easily by promises that, if elected, the Republic party politicians would quickly act on all the issues that the small-towners cared about. In reality, however, the Republics would NEVER actually ACT on these issues, since they needed these issues to keep this rabid base of small-towners active in their party. It was the only thing that kept getting them elected.
So what was George to do? He was the very DEFINITION of East Coast elitist. He was the wealthy son of a powerful political family. His family hailed from Maine.
The solution was to remake his image. He married a very nice girl chosen for him by his family. She allowed him to have sex with her exactly once, in order to produce an heir, (twin daughters, Lucky George!) who would one day carry on his legacy in Politics if the plan worked properly.
His family also purchased a large ranch for him in the land of Texas, where the so-called "Everyman" reigned supreme in politics, thanks to a hijacking of this title from the legitimate owners of it years before. George cultivated his image as an ordinary man of Texas, a rancher, a populist, an owner of a local sports team (a job he handled miserably, like every other job he had held), and, eventually, the ruler of the land of Texas.
George's image makeover was complete. It was time to run for KingofalltheLand!
Chapter 3: Remaking the Image.
In 1960, a family named Kennedy had successfully put their favorite son John into the office of Kingofalltheland by playing up his image as an everyman. It was easy for them, though, because he was from the Democrat tribe, which had long cultivated its image as the party of the people.
George, however was faced with a new reality. He was a member of the Republic Tribe. This was a tribe made up of two types of people: Extremely wealthy ones, who were the real masters of the party, and easily duped rural and small-town ones who were easily swayed by talk of "family values" and "elitist Democrats". These small-town people were fooled easily by promises that, if elected, the Republic party politicians would quickly act on all the issues that the small-towners cared about. In reality, however, the Republics would NEVER actually ACT on these issues, since they needed these issues to keep this rabid base of small-towners active in their party. It was the only thing that kept getting them elected.
So what was George to do? He was the very DEFINITION of East Coast elitist. He was the wealthy son of a powerful political family. His family hailed from Maine.
The solution was to remake his image. He married a very nice girl chosen for him by his family. She allowed him to have sex with her exactly once, in order to produce an heir, (twin daughters, Lucky George!) who would one day carry on his legacy in Politics if the plan worked properly.
His family also purchased a large ranch for him in the land of Texas, where the so-called "Everyman" reigned supreme in politics, thanks to a hijacking of this title from the legitimate owners of it years before. George cultivated his image as an ordinary man of Texas, a rancher, a populist, an owner of a local sports team (a job he handled miserably, like every other job he had held), and, eventually, the ruler of the land of Texas.
George's image makeover was complete. It was time to run for KingofalltheLand!
A Heartwarming Story (Pt. 2)
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental (Really!)
Part 2: A Businessman (sort of)
The next step for young George was to work to increase the vast wealth of his family. With that in mind, he looked to join the same business as many of his family members--that of removing a precious black liquid from the ground and selling that liquid for large amounts of money.
Unfortunately for George, he was a few decades too late. The vast reserves of this precious black liquid where he drilled for had already been tapped dry. There was no more left. Therefore, every business he started in an attempt to get into this moneymaking industry became a miserable failure.
So what was George to do?
Well, as so many sons of successful wealthy families had done in the past, he decided he would enter a magical field known as politics. You see, as had been done for generations before, the sons of wealthy families would often put their names into the running to control the entire land, and as it had worked for his father, George decided he would do the same. After all, what could be a better fate for a failed businessman son of a wealthy politically powerful family than to redeem himself by entering the magical world of politics? Such a thing had been done successfully nearly 50 years before by an almost identical family named Kennedy, so why not George?
Why not indeed...
(To be continued)
Part 2: A Businessman (sort of)
The next step for young George was to work to increase the vast wealth of his family. With that in mind, he looked to join the same business as many of his family members--that of removing a precious black liquid from the ground and selling that liquid for large amounts of money.
Unfortunately for George, he was a few decades too late. The vast reserves of this precious black liquid where he drilled for had already been tapped dry. There was no more left. Therefore, every business he started in an attempt to get into this moneymaking industry became a miserable failure.
So what was George to do?
Well, as so many sons of successful wealthy families had done in the past, he decided he would enter a magical field known as politics. You see, as had been done for generations before, the sons of wealthy families would often put their names into the running to control the entire land, and as it had worked for his father, George decided he would do the same. After all, what could be a better fate for a failed businessman son of a wealthy politically powerful family than to redeem himself by entering the magical world of politics? Such a thing had been done successfully nearly 50 years before by an almost identical family named Kennedy, so why not George?
Why not indeed...
(To be continued)
Sunday, September 07, 2008
A Heartwarming Story (Pt. 1)
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental (Really!)
Chapter 1: The Early Years
Once upon a time, there was a boy named George.
George grew up in a magical town named Kennebunkport. His family was very rich. He had everything in life he ever wanted handed to him literally on a silver platter. His family was the very definition of East Coast Aristocracy.
As a boy, he coasted through life. He attended the most exclusive prep schools, where he was, by most accounts, a mediocre student, but no teacher was going to dare to give a failing grade to someone with his family's power and influence.
His father, years earlier, had served 2 terms as vice-Kingofalltheland and one term as Kingofalltheland. As a result, George himself aspired to this post. So he followed the prescribed path. First, he went to a magical place called Harvard, where the privileged send their offspring to be groomed to be privileged themselves. (Of course, Harvard also occasionally takes in a few token underprivileged offspring just to show they're not a bunch of snobs--but that's another story).
Again, George coasted through school, boozing and partying his way through six (?) years en route to an MBA that apparently had all the legitimacy of a sheet of toilet paper.
To be continued
Chapter 1: The Early Years
Once upon a time, there was a boy named George.
George grew up in a magical town named Kennebunkport. His family was very rich. He had everything in life he ever wanted handed to him literally on a silver platter. His family was the very definition of East Coast Aristocracy.
As a boy, he coasted through life. He attended the most exclusive prep schools, where he was, by most accounts, a mediocre student, but no teacher was going to dare to give a failing grade to someone with his family's power and influence.
His father, years earlier, had served 2 terms as vice-Kingofalltheland and one term as Kingofalltheland. As a result, George himself aspired to this post. So he followed the prescribed path. First, he went to a magical place called Harvard, where the privileged send their offspring to be groomed to be privileged themselves. (Of course, Harvard also occasionally takes in a few token underprivileged offspring just to show they're not a bunch of snobs--but that's another story).
Again, George coasted through school, boozing and partying his way through six (?) years en route to an MBA that apparently had all the legitimacy of a sheet of toilet paper.
To be continued
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A Moviegasm
This might be the first time I have been 0rgasmed by a movie.
This Saturday, I saw The Dark Knight.
I cannot, in any reference, ever say I have seen a better movie.
Up until now, my favorite movie of all time has been Casablanca.
I have to say that now it shall be The Dark Knight.
Qualities for my best movie:
Unforgettable: Check
Amazing Visuals: Check
Unbelievable acting: Check
Sound Editing: Cannot ever be improved upon.
If this movie does not get an Oscar, then that will be proof that there is no justice in this world.
I must say this without giving too much away; I am impressed that there are still those in Hollyweird that still believe in the decency of humankind. That is the last thing I ever expected.
This Saturday, I saw The Dark Knight.
I cannot, in any reference, ever say I have seen a better movie.
Up until now, my favorite movie of all time has been Casablanca.
I have to say that now it shall be The Dark Knight.
Qualities for my best movie:
Unforgettable: Check
Amazing Visuals: Check
Unbelievable acting: Check
Sound Editing: Cannot ever be improved upon.
If this movie does not get an Oscar, then that will be proof that there is no justice in this world.
I must say this without giving too much away; I am impressed that there are still those in Hollyweird that still believe in the decency of humankind. That is the last thing I ever expected.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What I've Been up to
Look, I know I haven't posted in over a month, but I've been busy. I hope all 3 readers of this blog haven't been too upset over missing me. Meanwhile, enjoy a beautiful picture of my 2 nephews.
My, what a happy moment.
Hope to make a full post soon.
My, what a happy moment.
Hope to make a full post soon.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
An Experience I Would NOT Recommend
The following sequence of events is something I would NOT recommend trying:
1) Being stressed out from trying to cram 3 days worth of work into 1 day.
2) Letting your high blood pressure prescription run out and not refilling it.
3) Working 45 minutes past your normal time of day.
4) Failing to consume an adequate supply of water on one of the hottest days of the year.
5) Walking out into a black asphalt parking lot.
6) Blacking out and doing a faceplant into the pavement.
7) waking up surrounded by paramedics and barely able to breathe due to nose and mouth full of blood.
8) Spending the next three days in the hospital while doctors run a battery of tests to conclusively prove that your blackout had absolutely...no medical cause whatsoever. While wearing a cervical collar for two of those three days.
9) Being under close observation for those 3 days in what the hospital euphemistically calls the "Close Care unit", or, as I came to know it, the "reasonable facsimile of what a 3rd world hospital ward would look like if it had electricity and modern medical monitoring equipment."
Perhaps the only bright side from the whole experience came from the fact that I was not asked to provide insurance information before I was admitted. I guess if it's a genuine emergency, this hospital still acts like the patient matters first.
For the time being, anyway.
1) Being stressed out from trying to cram 3 days worth of work into 1 day.
2) Letting your high blood pressure prescription run out and not refilling it.
3) Working 45 minutes past your normal time of day.
4) Failing to consume an adequate supply of water on one of the hottest days of the year.
5) Walking out into a black asphalt parking lot.
6) Blacking out and doing a faceplant into the pavement.
7) waking up surrounded by paramedics and barely able to breathe due to nose and mouth full of blood.
8) Spending the next three days in the hospital while doctors run a battery of tests to conclusively prove that your blackout had absolutely...no medical cause whatsoever. While wearing a cervical collar for two of those three days.
9) Being under close observation for those 3 days in what the hospital euphemistically calls the "Close Care unit", or, as I came to know it, the "reasonable facsimile of what a 3rd world hospital ward would look like if it had electricity and modern medical monitoring equipment."
Perhaps the only bright side from the whole experience came from the fact that I was not asked to provide insurance information before I was admitted. I guess if it's a genuine emergency, this hospital still acts like the patient matters first.
For the time being, anyway.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Time to Admit It.
I admit it.
I'm a geek.
The problem is, I'm not the GOOD kind of geek. The GOOD kind of geek owns his own software company and has a billion dollars in the bank and a blond 20 year old trophy wife.
No, I'm the bad kind of geek.
I'm, the kind of geek that spends all of his off-work hours in front of his computer playing MMORPG's or FPS games or strategy games--or possibly surfing the web for free porn. In other words, the pathetic kind. The kind that the good kind of geek loves because we spend our hard-earned money on the computer games that THEY create.
The bad kind of geek also spends his time writing entries in a blog that no one else in the world will ever read. And he is too pathetic to do it more than once or twice a week. Or even less than that.
He is also pathetic enough that when he can't think of anything to write in his blog, he writes useless drivel like this.
Hehe.
I'm a geek.
The problem is, I'm not the GOOD kind of geek. The GOOD kind of geek owns his own software company and has a billion dollars in the bank and a blond 20 year old trophy wife.
No, I'm the bad kind of geek.
I'm, the kind of geek that spends all of his off-work hours in front of his computer playing MMORPG's or FPS games or strategy games--or possibly surfing the web for free porn. In other words, the pathetic kind. The kind that the good kind of geek loves because we spend our hard-earned money on the computer games that THEY create.
The bad kind of geek also spends his time writing entries in a blog that no one else in the world will ever read. And he is too pathetic to do it more than once or twice a week. Or even less than that.
He is also pathetic enough that when he can't think of anything to write in his blog, he writes useless drivel like this.
Hehe.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
I'm going to California!
Yes folks, I'm headed to San Francisco!
I am going to be married to John, my long time partner. We will live a life of happiness and bliss in California. We expect to adopt a few children. We will be filled with bliss and happiness.
I fully expect that our union will bring about the destruction of traditional family values. Within years, or even months, all Americans will be forced to marry their same-sex cousins, bear their illegitimate children, and lead a life of celibacy that will result in the destruction of the American way of life.
By the way, I am kidding.
But I fully expect the above arguments to be made repeatedly during this year's electoral campaign.
Because bigotry and ignorance is the only way that the Republicans will win this year's election.
And it just may work.
Bigotry is the reason Republicans have won presidential elections 2 times in a row.
That is NOT something they should be proud of.
I am going to be married to John, my long time partner. We will live a life of happiness and bliss in California. We expect to adopt a few children. We will be filled with bliss and happiness.
I fully expect that our union will bring about the destruction of traditional family values. Within years, or even months, all Americans will be forced to marry their same-sex cousins, bear their illegitimate children, and lead a life of celibacy that will result in the destruction of the American way of life.
By the way, I am kidding.
But I fully expect the above arguments to be made repeatedly during this year's electoral campaign.
Because bigotry and ignorance is the only way that the Republicans will win this year's election.
And it just may work.
Bigotry is the reason Republicans have won presidential elections 2 times in a row.
That is NOT something they should be proud of.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Wake up, Myanmar!
As I write this, the military leaders of Myanmar are refusing to allow aid in to help the victims of the cyclone.
Why?
It is a fact that governments cannot function without their people. And people cannot function without government.
But restrictive enough governments can convince their people that outside aid is only there to destroy them. And this is only possible if people decide that their free will is less important than their safety.
Ben Franklin once said that (to paraphrase) "They that can give up their freedom to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".
Mynamar has given up its freedom. As a result, they are experiencing neither liberty nor safety.
That's what they deserve.
It's what we got during Hurricane Katrina.
And once again humans prove we cannot learn from our mistakes.
Why?
It is a fact that governments cannot function without their people. And people cannot function without government.
But restrictive enough governments can convince their people that outside aid is only there to destroy them. And this is only possible if people decide that their free will is less important than their safety.
Ben Franklin once said that (to paraphrase) "They that can give up their freedom to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".
Mynamar has given up its freedom. As a result, they are experiencing neither liberty nor safety.
That's what they deserve.
It's what we got during Hurricane Katrina.
And once again humans prove we cannot learn from our mistakes.
Monday, April 21, 2008
My Angel Friend.
One or two of the 3 readers of this blog may or may not recall that last December, a few days before Christmas, one of my best friends from high school was found dead in his apartment. He was my age. roughly, and he was, by most accounts, reasonably successful with a good part of his life ahead of him. And yet, he is now dead.
His death hit me hard. I was, in varying degrees, sad, mad, and hurt. Sad over his death. Mad that he could be taken from us too early. And hurt that I didn't keep in better touch with him.
But I've been able to detach myself from his death, mainly due to the fact that I could rationalize it by saying that we had drifted apart over the years. After all, he moved to Arizona years ago, and we barely spoke any more. I visited him a couple of times, and he me, but we had gone the way most high school friendships go.
But this past Saturday I went toRodney Carrington's show when he came to town. He was his usual hilarious self. I nearly--to borrow a line from him--shit out a kidney I was laughing so hard.
But near the end of the show, he grew serious. And he began talking about a friend of his, who had been touring for years with him, who had died not too long ago. And then he played a song he had written to honor his friend.
I have to say--it took every effort I could muster not to break down and cry. This was not due to pride on my part, but due to the fact that I didn't want to explain why I was crying to my friends who were at the show with me. Y'see, his story and song brought home to me--hard--the fact that I will never see my old friend again, at least not in this life.
I can now claim membership in a club that no one wants to belong to, and yet far too many people do--those who have lost a good friend.
These are the lyrics to the song, My Angel Friend, written by Rodney Carrington.
Here's to you, John. May you know the peace in death that you apparently could not find in life. And may we someday meet again in a better place.
His death hit me hard. I was, in varying degrees, sad, mad, and hurt. Sad over his death. Mad that he could be taken from us too early. And hurt that I didn't keep in better touch with him.
But I've been able to detach myself from his death, mainly due to the fact that I could rationalize it by saying that we had drifted apart over the years. After all, he moved to Arizona years ago, and we barely spoke any more. I visited him a couple of times, and he me, but we had gone the way most high school friendships go.
But this past Saturday I went to
But near the end of the show, he grew serious. And he began talking about a friend of his, who had been touring for years with him, who had died not too long ago. And then he played a song he had written to honor his friend.
I have to say--it took every effort I could muster not to break down and cry. This was not due to pride on my part, but due to the fact that I didn't want to explain why I was crying to my friends who were at the show with me. Y'see, his story and song brought home to me--hard--the fact that I will never see my old friend again, at least not in this life.
I can now claim membership in a club that no one wants to belong to, and yet far too many people do--those who have lost a good friend.
These are the lyrics to the song, My Angel Friend, written by Rodney Carrington.
Lift me up each day
Even though you've gone away
Your Spirit dances in my mind
In my heart, and in my soul
The life you lived, The Love you left
The one's you've touched, we won't forget
You give us strength in time of need
My Friend, My Angel Friend
'And we shared good times, through the years
In my heart and soul, you're here with me
My Friend, My Angel Friend
I hear you whisper in the wind
Piece by piece our, hearts will mend
The dreams you've shared will carry on
Here and now, and beyond
'And the world will smile, for you were here
The gifts you brought we'll hold them dear
I'll take you with me, 'til we meet again
My Friend My Angel Friend
'And We'll share good times from now on
In my heart you live on, with me
My Friend, My Angel Friend
I miss my Friend
Here's to you, John. May you know the peace in death that you apparently could not find in life. And may we someday meet again in a better place.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Bush 4000--So?
So, 4000 American military personnel have been killed in Iraq. A news interviewer was talking to VP DICK Cheney about the situation in Iraq. She mentioned that a majority of the American public polled as being against the war. His response: "So?"
Cheney, apparently, gives a shit.
He cares less that he steered this country into a war.
He cares less that this war had no justification.
He cares less that this war has cost the lives of 4000 American soldiers.
He could care less. But I'm really not sure how.
I don't know why this surprises me. This is a man who got drunk while hunting and shot another man in the face. And don't even try to say that didn't happen. If it didn't, the administration would not have waited a day before allowing him to give a statement to the police. They had to sober him up.
This is a man whose arrogance knows no bounds.
And this is a man who is a heartbeat away from being the President.
That is something that scares me the most.
Cheney, apparently, gives a shit.
He cares less that he steered this country into a war.
He cares less that this war had no justification.
He cares less that this war has cost the lives of 4000 American soldiers.
He could care less. But I'm really not sure how.
I don't know why this surprises me. This is a man who got drunk while hunting and shot another man in the face. And don't even try to say that didn't happen. If it didn't, the administration would not have waited a day before allowing him to give a statement to the police. They had to sober him up.
This is a man whose arrogance knows no bounds.
And this is a man who is a heartbeat away from being the President.
That is something that scares me the most.
Guns, guns, GUNS!
This week, the supreme court was asked to consider whether or not the Washington D.C. handgun ban should be allowed to stand.
The reason for this was because the 2nd amendment of the United States Constitution states that Americans should be allowed to keep and bear arms. Arms, as in firearms.
It also states that a well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state. It states this before stating that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
May I say at this point that the terms "well-regulated" and "militia" do not belong in the same sentence.
May I also say that the first definition of "militia" is this: "a body of citizens enrolled for military service, and called out periodically for drill but serving full time only in emergencies."
By its very definition, a body of "citizens" enrolled for military service and serving time only in emergency it the exact opposite of "well-regulated".
Militia can NEVER be described as "well-regulated".
So that argument goes RIGHT out the window.
As such, the right to bear any type of "arms" is never guaranteed.
The right to bear a weapon that can empty a 100 round clip of ammunition before you can SAY the words "100 round clip of ammunition" is NOT a right the founding fathers considered.
The right to bear a weapon that was developed in the former Soviet Union as a weapon that could help 10 Russian soldiers standing side by side defeat a regiment of Nazi soldiers that outnumbered them 20 to 1 was NEVER considered when this amendment was enacted.
And the right that enabled a small-time criminal to bear a weapon that was NOT illegal at the time to have the ability rob a minimum wage gas station attendant was NOT foreseen by the framers of the Constitution.
In case you were wondering, that last example comes from personal experience.
I've been robbed at gunpoint. Just in case anyone wondered.
I was a strong supporter of gun rights. Right up until I was robbed by someone who held a gun that was not illegal under the laws of the time.
I wasn't the only one robbed by this man. He held up a friend of mine. about 2 days before he robbed me.
By the way, he was never caught.
Cops at the time believed he was doing it to support a drug habit. So I can take some comfort in the fact that he's probably dead of an overdose by now.
Which gives me no comfort.
Y'see, he obtained this gun (which probably didn't work) with absolutely no legal obstacles.
Because what few obstacles there are to owning guns in this country are marginal at best.
And the Supreme Court that is in existence today WILL vote to remove any that exist.
DUCK!
The reason for this was because the 2nd amendment of the United States Constitution states that Americans should be allowed to keep and bear arms. Arms, as in firearms.
It also states that a well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state. It states this before stating that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
May I say at this point that the terms "well-regulated" and "militia" do not belong in the same sentence.
May I also say that the first definition of "militia" is this: "a body of citizens enrolled for military service, and called out periodically for drill but serving full time only in emergencies."
By its very definition, a body of "citizens" enrolled for military service and serving time only in emergency it the exact opposite of "well-regulated".
Militia can NEVER be described as "well-regulated".
So that argument goes RIGHT out the window.
As such, the right to bear any type of "arms" is never guaranteed.
The right to bear a weapon that can empty a 100 round clip of ammunition before you can SAY the words "100 round clip of ammunition" is NOT a right the founding fathers considered.
The right to bear a weapon that was developed in the former Soviet Union as a weapon that could help 10 Russian soldiers standing side by side defeat a regiment of Nazi soldiers that outnumbered them 20 to 1 was NEVER considered when this amendment was enacted.
And the right that enabled a small-time criminal to bear a weapon that was NOT illegal at the time to have the ability rob a minimum wage gas station attendant was NOT foreseen by the framers of the Constitution.
In case you were wondering, that last example comes from personal experience.
I've been robbed at gunpoint. Just in case anyone wondered.
I was a strong supporter of gun rights. Right up until I was robbed by someone who held a gun that was not illegal under the laws of the time.
I wasn't the only one robbed by this man. He held up a friend of mine. about 2 days before he robbed me.
By the way, he was never caught.
Cops at the time believed he was doing it to support a drug habit. So I can take some comfort in the fact that he's probably dead of an overdose by now.
Which gives me no comfort.
Y'see, he obtained this gun (which probably didn't work) with absolutely no legal obstacles.
Because what few obstacles there are to owning guns in this country are marginal at best.
And the Supreme Court that is in existence today WILL vote to remove any that exist.
DUCK!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Forever silenced
Just in case you've been hiding in a cave with Osama Bin Laden the last couple of days, I have some bad news to pass along to you: William F. Buckley, the conservative giant, has died.
Let me say this up front: There was almost NOTHING about his political views that I agreed with. I think the man could be, not to put too fine a point on it, a pompous ass sometimes. And I think he was extraordinarily narrow-minded on a host of issues that, in this day and age, cannot be approached with anything resembling a narrow mind.
But I respected him.
You see, Mr. Buckley was that very rare class of conservative: Honest, intelligent, sincere, and unwavering in his beliefs. Like it or not, his mind did not change based on which way the political wind happened to blow, unlike so many other so-called "conservatives" in this day and age. He remained steadfast, staying his own course in the ever-changing political world. It is so refreshing--and rare--in this day and age to find anyone so firm in their beliefs that no amount of persuasion can change their minds. Some may call this a flaw, but I believe sincerity is a virtue that is rare in today's world.
You the 3 readers of this blog may have guessed by now that I tend to lean a little bit towards the liberal side of politics, in the same way it can be said that the Titanic took on a little bit of water. I disagreed with nearly everything Mr. Buckley stood for. But while I may have hated his politics, I did not hate him personally, which is something that I can't say about very many conservatives.
I would have enjoyed the opportunity to sit down and have a discussion with Mr. Buckley. Not a debate or an argument, for I am the first to admit that he was WAY smarter than I am (with the exception of our current President, they rarely admit morons into Ivy League Universities), but a discussion of his views of the current political climate.
The realist in me, however, realizes that such a discussion would never have happened even while he was alive, but now that opportunity is lost forever. A giant voice is forever silenced, and the world is now a little poorer for it.
Let me say this up front: There was almost NOTHING about his political views that I agreed with. I think the man could be, not to put too fine a point on it, a pompous ass sometimes. And I think he was extraordinarily narrow-minded on a host of issues that, in this day and age, cannot be approached with anything resembling a narrow mind.
But I respected him.
You see, Mr. Buckley was that very rare class of conservative: Honest, intelligent, sincere, and unwavering in his beliefs. Like it or not, his mind did not change based on which way the political wind happened to blow, unlike so many other so-called "conservatives" in this day and age. He remained steadfast, staying his own course in the ever-changing political world. It is so refreshing--and rare--in this day and age to find anyone so firm in their beliefs that no amount of persuasion can change their minds. Some may call this a flaw, but I believe sincerity is a virtue that is rare in today's world.
You the 3 readers of this blog may have guessed by now that I tend to lean a little bit towards the liberal side of politics, in the same way it can be said that the Titanic took on a little bit of water. I disagreed with nearly everything Mr. Buckley stood for. But while I may have hated his politics, I did not hate him personally, which is something that I can't say about very many conservatives.
I would have enjoyed the opportunity to sit down and have a discussion with Mr. Buckley. Not a debate or an argument, for I am the first to admit that he was WAY smarter than I am (with the exception of our current President, they rarely admit morons into Ivy League Universities), but a discussion of his views of the current political climate.
The realist in me, however, realizes that such a discussion would never have happened even while he was alive, but now that opportunity is lost forever. A giant voice is forever silenced, and the world is now a little poorer for it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Run, Ralph, Run! (As far and as fast as Possible)
An open letter to Ralph Nader:
Dear Mr. Nader,
Recently, you announced your intention to run for the Presidency again.
I have one question for you:
Are you completely out of your fucking mind?!!!
When you ran for President back in 2000, calling your candidacy a long shot was an exaggeration at best, a complete fantasy at worst. But, you were able to siphon off enough votes from the Democratic candidate to make victory for his opponent possible in a closely contested state. You, sir, more than anyone or anything else, are the reason that this country has been cursed with the worst president in history for the last 7 years. You even had an effect on the 2004 election, although probably not enough to really change the results.
Now, you intend to run again. And I think you are crazy to do so. Every vote cast for you is a vote for the Republican candidate. The same candidate who has before, and will again, oppose everything you stand for.
So please, in the name of all that is holy, STOP! You cannot possibly win, and you will only help to ensure the election of another Republican for the next 4, and probably 8, years. If that is what you want, then by all means, continue this insane quest. If not, drop out now, and help to save the country you claim to love so much.
Dear Mr. Nader,
Recently, you announced your intention to run for the Presidency again.
I have one question for you:
Are you completely out of your fucking mind?!!!
When you ran for President back in 2000, calling your candidacy a long shot was an exaggeration at best, a complete fantasy at worst. But, you were able to siphon off enough votes from the Democratic candidate to make victory for his opponent possible in a closely contested state. You, sir, more than anyone or anything else, are the reason that this country has been cursed with the worst president in history for the last 7 years. You even had an effect on the 2004 election, although probably not enough to really change the results.
Now, you intend to run again. And I think you are crazy to do so. Every vote cast for you is a vote for the Republican candidate. The same candidate who has before, and will again, oppose everything you stand for.
So please, in the name of all that is holy, STOP! You cannot possibly win, and you will only help to ensure the election of another Republican for the next 4, and probably 8, years. If that is what you want, then by all means, continue this insane quest. If not, drop out now, and help to save the country you claim to love so much.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Gas Math
Recently I’ve heard many people who pull their big, gas-guzzling SUV’s up to the gas pump complain about the high price of gas. I decided to do a little math:
(All numbers are rough estimates. Any errors in math are entirely someone else's fault. I welcome any corrections or suggestions)
There are roughly 300 million people in the U.S.
Let’s be conservative and assume that there is one car for every four people. That means on any given day there are about 75 million cars on the road.
Let’s further assume that each car is driven an average of 10 miles per day (again, being conservative). That means on an average day, Americans drive 750 million miles.
The amount of gas required to drive 750 million miles is about 30 Million gallons. This is based on a mileage standard (that is, average MPG of all cars sold in the U.S.) of 25 MPG. This is also assuming that the cars on the road today meet that standard, on average.
It takes about 1.49 gallons of crude oil to make one gallon of gasoline.
There are 55 gallons of oil in a standard barrel. That means that each barrel of crude oil can make about 37 gallons of gas, on average.
That further means that Americans, just through everyday driving, consume, on average, nearly 811 thousand barrels of oil. Every. Day.
Yesterday (2/19/08) the price of oil closed at over $100 a barrel. That means that we as Americans pay 81 MILLION dollars EVERY DAY simply for the gas we consume through everyday driving. That adds up to nearly 30 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
Congress has recently enacted legislation requiring the federal cafe standard to be raised to 35 MPG--in the future.
Now consider this: Suppose the Federal MPG standard was 35 MPG NOW. That means Americans would use only about 21.4 Million gallons of gas each day in everyday driving. Applying the same math used above, that means about 579,150 barrels of oil. That’s nearly 232,000 FEWER barrels of oil per DAY! A savings of nearly 23.2 MILLION dollars a day, or OVER 8.5 BILLION DOLLARS per year!
We, as Americans, could save EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR if the national mileage standard was 35 miles per gallon. Think what we could do with an extra EIGHT BILLION dollars every year…
And, of course, that’s just by changing our personal vehicles. Imagine if they were able to do the same for every vehicle on the road.
I must repeat again that this is very rudimentary mathematics, and I did very little research (mostly having to do with how much oil to make a gallon of gas). I also did it in about 15 minutes. Think about the figures a professional number-cruncher could come up with if given more exact figures and more time…
(All numbers are rough estimates. Any errors in math are entirely someone else's fault. I welcome any corrections or suggestions)
There are roughly 300 million people in the U.S.
Let’s be conservative and assume that there is one car for every four people. That means on any given day there are about 75 million cars on the road.
Let’s further assume that each car is driven an average of 10 miles per day (again, being conservative). That means on an average day, Americans drive 750 million miles.
The amount of gas required to drive 750 million miles is about 30 Million gallons. This is based on a mileage standard (that is, average MPG of all cars sold in the U.S.) of 25 MPG. This is also assuming that the cars on the road today meet that standard, on average.
It takes about 1.49 gallons of crude oil to make one gallon of gasoline.
There are 55 gallons of oil in a standard barrel. That means that each barrel of crude oil can make about 37 gallons of gas, on average.
That further means that Americans, just through everyday driving, consume, on average, nearly 811 thousand barrels of oil. Every. Day.
Yesterday (2/19/08) the price of oil closed at over $100 a barrel. That means that we as Americans pay 81 MILLION dollars EVERY DAY simply for the gas we consume through everyday driving. That adds up to nearly 30 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
Congress has recently enacted legislation requiring the federal cafe standard to be raised to 35 MPG--in the future.
Now consider this: Suppose the Federal MPG standard was 35 MPG NOW. That means Americans would use only about 21.4 Million gallons of gas each day in everyday driving. Applying the same math used above, that means about 579,150 barrels of oil. That’s nearly 232,000 FEWER barrels of oil per DAY! A savings of nearly 23.2 MILLION dollars a day, or OVER 8.5 BILLION DOLLARS per year!
We, as Americans, could save EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR if the national mileage standard was 35 miles per gallon. Think what we could do with an extra EIGHT BILLION dollars every year…
And, of course, that’s just by changing our personal vehicles. Imagine if they were able to do the same for every vehicle on the road.
I must repeat again that this is very rudimentary mathematics, and I did very little research (mostly having to do with how much oil to make a gallon of gas). I also did it in about 15 minutes. Think about the figures a professional number-cruncher could come up with if given more exact figures and more time…
Monday, February 18, 2008
FINALLY!
Well, folks, it took the brainiacs in Hollyweird nearly six months, but they finally came up with a new TV show I like.
Eli Stone
OK, I don't just like this show, I LOVE it!
Granted, it tends to get a little bit silly at times, but putting that aside, this show has everything I love in a good TV show: Smart writing, good acting, powerful emotional content, and just enough humor to keep it from getting TOO sappy.
OK, so the premise is a little far-fetched--A high-class attorney suddenly begins experiencing visions--VIVID visions, with a capital VIVID--and decides to suddenly change the course of his life. The visions may or may not be the result of an inoperable brain aneurysm, or they may be messages from a higher power (God?)
But through the course of these visions, this attorney learns that he can help people in ways that will change their lives for the better, and, in doing so, change his own life as well.
Sure, it's sappy, sentimental, Hollyweird garbage, but it Just. Doesn't. Matter.
It's been three episodes now, and I'm not ashamed to say that all 3 episodes so far have reduced me to tears more than once.
My God, I'm becoming a woman.
(Slaps self) OK, I admit I'm not doing my reputation any good here, but it takes a lot to make me lose control of my emotions. Hell, I didn't shed a tear when Ohio State lost 2 championship games in a row. And believe me, THAT was heartbreaking!
So I have high hopes for this new show. And considering that it took the major TV studios until February to come up with a show worth watching, it would be in their best interests to keep it in the lineup. And maybe to study what works about this show and possibly apply it to the rest of their lineups.
Maybe if they did, they'd come up with a few other shows worth watching.
OK, I don't just like this show, I LOVE it!
Granted, it tends to get a little bit silly at times, but putting that aside, this show has everything I love in a good TV show: Smart writing, good acting, powerful emotional content, and just enough humor to keep it from getting TOO sappy.
OK, so the premise is a little far-fetched--A high-class attorney suddenly begins experiencing visions--VIVID visions, with a capital VIVID--and decides to suddenly change the course of his life. The visions may or may not be the result of an inoperable brain aneurysm, or they may be messages from a higher power (God?)
But through the course of these visions, this attorney learns that he can help people in ways that will change their lives for the better, and, in doing so, change his own life as well.
Sure, it's sappy, sentimental, Hollyweird garbage, but it Just. Doesn't. Matter.
It's been three episodes now, and I'm not ashamed to say that all 3 episodes so far have reduced me to tears more than once.
My God, I'm becoming a woman.
(Slaps self) OK, I admit I'm not doing my reputation any good here, but it takes a lot to make me lose control of my emotions. Hell, I didn't shed a tear when Ohio State lost 2 championship games in a row. And believe me, THAT was heartbreaking!
So I have high hopes for this new show. And considering that it took the major TV studios until February to come up with a show worth watching, it would be in their best interests to keep it in the lineup. And maybe to study what works about this show and possibly apply it to the rest of their lineups.
Maybe if they did, they'd come up with a few other shows worth watching.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Dizzoner, the Mayor
Well, folks, it's been about a week since it happened. Our mayor, the (dis)Honorable Carleton Finkbeiner, told the U.S. Marines they were NOT welcome to train in Downtown Toledo, as part of their training in Urban Warfare.
Downtown Toledo was a natural choice, I suppose. They needed a large urban area that was also largely deserted. Downtown Toledo fits that choice to a T. Just about every other building is deserted, and the city's second-tallest Skyscraper has stood completely abandoned for nearly 2 decades. The only time when Downtown Toledo shows any activity at night is during baseball season when the Mud Hens play at home. And that will only last as long as they continue to have success on the field.
So the Marines attempted to land. Carty told them to leave, drawing the ire of veterans and non-veterans alike. And, far from being apologetic about it, he called his critics "Baboons".
An aside: Lest you think I'm quoting him out of context, here is the original quote:
I have personally NEVER liked this man. I have voted against him in every election. And I will vote against him in the next election. And in any other election he runs in.
My reasons for this are varied, but a lot of it has to do with incidents like this. This man has always, to borrow a phrase fromThe Blade , employed a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to management. He shoots off his mouth before loading his brain. He yells at people. He curses at them. He has, on more than one occasion, physically threatened people. He violently attacks his critics. And, above all, he steadfastly REFUSES to admit that he could EVER be wrong.
This is NOT the sort of man who should be the mayor of a mid-size mid-western city. This is not the sort of man who should be mayor of ANY city, regardless of size. In any place outside of politics, this man would be locked in a padded cell with a straitjacket.
I wish I could say this whole incident came as a complete surprise, but having witnessed the antics of this man over the course of nearly 2 decades spent in office as mayor of Toledo, I can safely say that nothing he does surprises me any more.
And if the fools in this city elect this man to another term as mayor, then they deserve to be screwed!
Downtown Toledo was a natural choice, I suppose. They needed a large urban area that was also largely deserted. Downtown Toledo fits that choice to a T. Just about every other building is deserted, and the city's second-tallest Skyscraper has stood completely abandoned for nearly 2 decades. The only time when Downtown Toledo shows any activity at night is during baseball season when the Mud Hens play at home. And that will only last as long as they continue to have success on the field.
So the Marines attempted to land. Carty told them to leave, drawing the ire of veterans and non-veterans alike. And, far from being apologetic about it, he called his critics "Baboons".
An aside: Lest you think I'm quoting him out of context, here is the original quote:
"For anyone to suggest that this man, in any way, shape , or form is not loyal to this country, or not loyal to the military of this country, that person is just a plain baboon, who doesn't know me or what I stand for."
I have personally NEVER liked this man. I have voted against him in every election. And I will vote against him in the next election. And in any other election he runs in.
My reasons for this are varied, but a lot of it has to do with incidents like this. This man has always, to borrow a phrase from
This is NOT the sort of man who should be the mayor of a mid-size mid-western city. This is not the sort of man who should be mayor of ANY city, regardless of size. In any place outside of politics, this man would be locked in a padded cell with a straitjacket.
I wish I could say this whole incident came as a complete surprise, but having witnessed the antics of this man over the course of nearly 2 decades spent in office as mayor of Toledo, I can safely say that nothing he does surprises me any more.
And if the fools in this city elect this man to another term as mayor, then they deserve to be screwed!
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Village Idiot Speaks
Right now, as I write this entry, the President gives his 7th and final State of the Union. 7 more than he ever should have made.
Let's see how long it takes for him to mention September 11th.
9:16: Entrust Americans with homeownership?! Isn't that how this whole mess started in the first place?!
9:21: Junk medical lawsuits. Like the ones against Vioxx, for example?
9:22: Yes, no one can deny the results of No Child Left Behind. The result was it didn't work.
OK, I lasted until 9:25. I'm sorry folks, but I cannot take any more. Good night!
Let's see how long it takes for him to mention September 11th.
9:16: Entrust Americans with homeownership?! Isn't that how this whole mess started in the first place?!
9:21: Junk medical lawsuits. Like the ones against Vioxx, for example?
9:22: Yes, no one can deny the results of No Child Left Behind. The result was it didn't work.
OK, I lasted until 9:25. I'm sorry folks, but I cannot take any more. Good night!
Friday, January 04, 2008
The West Wing Redux
For Christmas, I received a copy of The West Wing Season 3. I remember recalling thinking of season 3 as one of the weakest seasons of this fine show, a season where it lost much of its momentum, only to grab that momentum back in season 4--with a vengeance.
I don't know what I could have been thinking.
Perhaps my recollection was blurred over the years. Perhaps I was disheartened by the somewhat disturbing exit of Season 2. Perhaps.
The 3 readers of this blog may or may not recall that I posted an entry near the season finale of the show listing my favorite moments of the show in no particular order. I don't have the energy to include a link to this post right now. Maybe later.
But season 3 has 2 episodes that are going to gain permanent entries on that list. Ironically, they are back to back.
They come in episodes 18 and 19.
Near the end of 18, the President calls Donna into the Oval Office and participates in a personal call to a favorite teacher of hers who was retiring after 40+ years. He does this while bringing up facts about her that impressed him greatly.
And near the end of 19, the President greets a black man, accompanied by his doctor son, who wrote a letter to FDR when he was 9, a fact that is discovered by his personal aide. The man, the son, and the aide, then enjoy a photo op and an extended conversation about FDR.
I'm not ashamed to say both of these moments reduced me to tears.
I now have a complete collection of the entire West Wing. One of these days, I'm gonna sit down and watch every episode, from beginning to end. Maybe when I retire.
And the reason I'll do it is because of moments like I detailed above.
I don't know what I could have been thinking.
Perhaps my recollection was blurred over the years. Perhaps I was disheartened by the somewhat disturbing exit of Season 2. Perhaps.
The 3 readers of this blog may or may not recall that I posted an entry near the season finale of the show listing my favorite moments of the show in no particular order. I don't have the energy to include a link to this post right now. Maybe later.
But season 3 has 2 episodes that are going to gain permanent entries on that list. Ironically, they are back to back.
They come in episodes 18 and 19.
Near the end of 18, the President calls Donna into the Oval Office and participates in a personal call to a favorite teacher of hers who was retiring after 40+ years. He does this while bringing up facts about her that impressed him greatly.
And near the end of 19, the President greets a black man, accompanied by his doctor son, who wrote a letter to FDR when he was 9, a fact that is discovered by his personal aide. The man, the son, and the aide, then enjoy a photo op and an extended conversation about FDR.
I'm not ashamed to say both of these moments reduced me to tears.
I now have a complete collection of the entire West Wing. One of these days, I'm gonna sit down and watch every episode, from beginning to end. Maybe when I retire.
And the reason I'll do it is because of moments like I detailed above.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Toe Warmers
This evening, after I returned home from work and dressed up to go outside and shovel the snow that fell yesterday, I was armed with a new tool.
Y'see, for Christmas, my sister gave me a package ofGrabber brand toe warmers .
And they were the nicest. Things. Ever.
These things, when removed from their packaging, undergo a chemical reaction that causes them to produce approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit of heat for about 5-6 hours. You use the adhesive on each one to apply it to the outside of your sock, on top and on the bottom of your foot. These things ensure that your feet feel warm for over 5 hours.
As a former Boy Scout, who has completed over 250 nights of camping, approximately a fifth of which happened during Ohio Winters, in tents (or sometimes with NO tents), I can safely tell you this: You can be wearing 5 layers of Thinsulate filled wool clothing on the rest of your body, but if your feet are cold, you will feel cold, no matter what temperature the rest of your body is at. There is NOTHING that feels worse than having cold feet. I speak this to you from bitter experience.
So I have to say that a product that can warm your feet up with no more effort than removing it from its packaging and applying it to your socks before putting them into your shoes HAS to rank among the top 100 of the Greatest Inventions of the World.
Seriously.
Y'see, for Christmas, my sister gave me a package of
And they were the nicest. Things. Ever.
These things, when removed from their packaging, undergo a chemical reaction that causes them to produce approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit of heat for about 5-6 hours. You use the adhesive on each one to apply it to the outside of your sock, on top and on the bottom of your foot. These things ensure that your feet feel warm for over 5 hours.
As a former Boy Scout, who has completed over 250 nights of camping, approximately a fifth of which happened during Ohio Winters, in tents (or sometimes with NO tents), I can safely tell you this: You can be wearing 5 layers of Thinsulate filled wool clothing on the rest of your body, but if your feet are cold, you will feel cold, no matter what temperature the rest of your body is at. There is NOTHING that feels worse than having cold feet. I speak this to you from bitter experience.
So I have to say that a product that can warm your feet up with no more effort than removing it from its packaging and applying it to your socks before putting them into your shoes HAS to rank among the top 100 of the Greatest Inventions of the World.
Seriously.
Monday, December 31, 2007
2007 in Review
Well folks, here we are again at the end of a year. And I’ve decided to bore you all once again with my best and worst for 2007. So, without further ado, here we go!
Best moment of 2007:
Welcoming my second nephew into the world. Welcome, little guy! We’ll try to keep the world in one piece until you’re old enough to take over.
Worst moment of 2007:
Seeing a well-liked boss leaving a post he had held for 12 years. Stupid voters. Not ALL Republicans are bad (just most of them!)
Best Sports moment of 2007:
OSU: 14
UM : 3
‘Nuff said
Worst Sports moment of 2007:
Florida: 41
OSU: 14
Again, ‘Nuff said
Best movie of 2007:
Transformers
Hearing the voice of the original Optimus Prime and hearing the familiar Sound of a Transformer after years nearly brought a tear to my eye. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was a close second.
Worst movie of 2007:
Ghost Rider
This movie nearly made me throw up in my mouth. Little tip folks: When the main character becomes a hero by SELLING HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL then it might be just a little too dark for the big screen. Not EVERY Marvel comic deserves to be made into a movie. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer was a close second.
Best new TV show of 2007:
I’ll let you know if I ever find one worth watching. Nothing so far. Seriously. If this is the best the writers can come up with, maybe they should STAY on strike!
TV show I will miss the most when it’s gone:
Scrubs. This show is one of the funniest, smartest, most thoughtful sitcoms I’ve ever seen. And you can count the number of sitcoms I’ve said that about on the fingers of one hand.
TV show I will miss the LEAST when it’s gone:
Far too many to list here!
New Year’s Resolution I’m most likely to keep:
Umm…can I get back to you on that? :)
New Year’s Resolution I’m LEAST likely to keep:
To write more often in this blog!
That’s all I’ve got for now. See everyone in 2008. Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Best moment of 2007:
Welcoming my second nephew into the world. Welcome, little guy! We’ll try to keep the world in one piece until you’re old enough to take over.
Worst moment of 2007:
Seeing a well-liked boss leaving a post he had held for 12 years. Stupid voters. Not ALL Republicans are bad (just most of them!)
Best Sports moment of 2007:
OSU: 14
UM : 3
‘Nuff said
Worst Sports moment of 2007:
Florida: 41
OSU: 14
Again, ‘Nuff said
Best movie of 2007:
Transformers
Hearing the voice of the original Optimus Prime and hearing the familiar Sound of a Transformer after years nearly brought a tear to my eye. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was a close second.
Worst movie of 2007:
Ghost Rider
This movie nearly made me throw up in my mouth. Little tip folks: When the main character becomes a hero by SELLING HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL then it might be just a little too dark for the big screen. Not EVERY Marvel comic deserves to be made into a movie. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer was a close second.
Best new TV show of 2007:
I’ll let you know if I ever find one worth watching. Nothing so far. Seriously. If this is the best the writers can come up with, maybe they should STAY on strike!
TV show I will miss the most when it’s gone:
Scrubs. This show is one of the funniest, smartest, most thoughtful sitcoms I’ve ever seen. And you can count the number of sitcoms I’ve said that about on the fingers of one hand.
TV show I will miss the LEAST when it’s gone:
Far too many to list here!
New Year’s Resolution I’m most likely to keep:
Umm…can I get back to you on that? :)
New Year’s Resolution I’m LEAST likely to keep:
To write more often in this blog!
That’s all I’ve got for now. See everyone in 2008. Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Merry Christmas?
Two days ago, at work, I received a call from my father, who informed me that one of my best friends from High School (and for a long time thereafter) was found dead in his apartment. He apparently died from self-induced alcohol poisoning.
So. Here we are. 3 days away from Christmas. And I find out that a man who once was as close to me as a brother decided that his life wasn't worth living.
What goes through a person's mind when they reach such a state?
Oh, I've heard all the usual theories. It's a chemical imbalance. It's the time of the year. It's despair. It's any number of things.
I don't buy that.
This man and I were almost the same age. We both were unmarried. We both lived alone.
But he chose to end his life. Perhaps accidentally, perhaps on purpose. We may never know.
So why did he do it?
I think it's because he wanted to take the easy way out.
I know that someday someone who knew both of us may read this post and be very angry at me for saying that. I don't give a flying fuck. I'm seriously pissed off.
My daily life is miserable. I'm stuck in a dead-end job with little or no room for advancement. I'm 40 years old and I live alone except for a neurotic dog. I have little to be happy about.
But I keep going. Because I know that the people in my life would be miserable if I didn't. Like I am right now.
And I am mad at him for that.
It's irrational. It's insensitive. It's wrong on many levels. But it's how I feel.
And I hate myself for it.
And I hope that venting myself like this will help me get over it. And remember that this man was my best friend, and that I should be happy for the time we spent together, and for the many fond memories we created.
As a final word, let me say this: My friend, I will miss you. And although we drifted apart over the years, I treasured your friendship. I didn't have many friends in High school, and the fact that you chose to be my friend when you could have had many friends who were cooler makes me happy. May you find the peace in death that apparently eluded you in life. Goodbye.
So. Here we are. 3 days away from Christmas. And I find out that a man who once was as close to me as a brother decided that his life wasn't worth living.
What goes through a person's mind when they reach such a state?
Oh, I've heard all the usual theories. It's a chemical imbalance. It's the time of the year. It's despair. It's any number of things.
I don't buy that.
This man and I were almost the same age. We both were unmarried. We both lived alone.
But he chose to end his life. Perhaps accidentally, perhaps on purpose. We may never know.
So why did he do it?
I think it's because he wanted to take the easy way out.
I know that someday someone who knew both of us may read this post and be very angry at me for saying that. I don't give a flying fuck. I'm seriously pissed off.
My daily life is miserable. I'm stuck in a dead-end job with little or no room for advancement. I'm 40 years old and I live alone except for a neurotic dog. I have little to be happy about.
But I keep going. Because I know that the people in my life would be miserable if I didn't. Like I am right now.
And I am mad at him for that.
It's irrational. It's insensitive. It's wrong on many levels. But it's how I feel.
And I hate myself for it.
And I hope that venting myself like this will help me get over it. And remember that this man was my best friend, and that I should be happy for the time we spent together, and for the many fond memories we created.
As a final word, let me say this: My friend, I will miss you. And although we drifted apart over the years, I treasured your friendship. I didn't have many friends in High school, and the fact that you chose to be my friend when you could have had many friends who were cooler makes me happy. May you find the peace in death that apparently eluded you in life. Goodbye.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Burn On, Big River
I make no secret of the fact that I am a fan of Ohio State. You need only to look at the colors of the banner ads to the right of this post to see that. And I have little or no use for the NFL.
(By the way, I remind the 3 readers of this blog that any revenue I receive from clicks on the banner ads from this blog will be donated to the USO)
That being said, I am a fan of the Cleveland Browns. Throughout history, there has been NO city that has experienced the loss of its professional football team, only to gain ANOTHER NFL franchise, AND keep the name of the original. 3 cheers to Cleveland. This is a city that was immortalized in song by Randy Newman for being infamous for having the only river that actually caught on fire.
This is a city that has the Cleveland Indians. Another Major League franchise that has the dubious distinction of winning 3 games in the American League championship and then losing the last 4.
This is a city that allowed lobbyists to put an issue on the ballot that would've allowed a casino.
But this is also a city that has cleaned up its river to the point where it is no longer in danger of catching fire.
This is a city that was strong enough to regain an NFL franchise. With the same name.
And The Browns have kept themselves in Playoff contention for the season. With defense.
It will be poetio justice if the Browns manage to make the playoffs on the strength of their defense.
Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.
(By the way, I remind the 3 readers of this blog that any revenue I receive from clicks on the banner ads from this blog will be donated to the USO)
That being said, I am a fan of the Cleveland Browns. Throughout history, there has been NO city that has experienced the loss of its professional football team, only to gain ANOTHER NFL franchise, AND keep the name of the original. 3 cheers to Cleveland. This is a city that was immortalized in song by Randy Newman for being infamous for having the only river that actually caught on fire.
This is a city that has the Cleveland Indians. Another Major League franchise that has the dubious distinction of winning 3 games in the American League championship and then losing the last 4.
This is a city that allowed lobbyists to put an issue on the ballot that would've allowed a casino.
But this is also a city that has cleaned up its river to the point where it is no longer in danger of catching fire.
This is a city that was strong enough to regain an NFL franchise. With the same name.
And The Browns have kept themselves in Playoff contention for the season. With defense.
It will be poetio justice if the Browns manage to make the playoffs on the strength of their defense.
Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Another One.
So. There has been another random psycho shooting.
I picked up The Blade the following morning and saw that the story about it was sharing space with a story about a local refinery merging with another company.
Are we, as a country, so inured to random acts of gun violence that we believe such a story is no longer deserving of exclusive front page coverage?
If so, I fear for our future.
I picked up The Blade the following morning and saw that the story about it was sharing space with a story about a local refinery merging with another company.
Are we, as a country, so inured to random acts of gun violence that we believe such a story is no longer deserving of exclusive front page coverage?
If so, I fear for our future.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Go Sooners!
I am getting so sick of every sports talking head and their mothers saying Ohio State does not deserve the number 3 ranking they enjoy. Everyone complains about their "weak" schedule, because they played, among others, Youngstown, Akron, and Kent.
First of all, while none of these teams will ever be considered a college football powerhouse, you have to remember where OSU's coach is from: Before gaining the Buckeye coaching job, he was Coach at Youngstown. He is a product of Ohio, plain and simple. And he likes being able to give college football teams from Ohio the national attention (not to mention the money) they get when they play prestigious teams like Ohio State on national television.
Second, there is no such thing as a "weak" schedule when you play in the Big Ten Conference, particularly when you are leading the conference. Every team you play brings its A game to the field. It's no coincidence that 9 of the 11 Big Ten teams (yes, I know it makes no sense) have winning records, and that 10 of them are bowl-eligible.
Third, people make a lot of the fact that OSU lost to Illinois. Fact is, Illinois is a LOT better than many people give them credit for. I knew they would be good LAST year, when I saw their quarterback play. Mark my words: You will see this guy playing on Sundays in a couple of years (barring injury of course). And this year, when they got a good running back to go with him, they became great. They may very well win the Big Ten next year. It's no surprise Ron Zook was named Big Ten coach of the year.
So I will root for Oklahoma to beat Missouri tonight. And if they do, thus allowing OSU to sneak into the championship game through the back door, then I will be happy without any remorse. Maybe they'll get a chance to avenge their loss last January. If not, well, that's football.
Oh, and one other thing: Wherever the Buckeyes go for a bowl, about 50,000 loyal fans follow. Lord knows, New Orleans could certainly use the economic windfall they would receive from that!
First of all, while none of these teams will ever be considered a college football powerhouse, you have to remember where OSU's coach is from: Before gaining the Buckeye coaching job, he was Coach at Youngstown. He is a product of Ohio, plain and simple. And he likes being able to give college football teams from Ohio the national attention (not to mention the money) they get when they play prestigious teams like Ohio State on national television.
Second, there is no such thing as a "weak" schedule when you play in the Big Ten Conference, particularly when you are leading the conference. Every team you play brings its A game to the field. It's no coincidence that 9 of the 11 Big Ten teams (yes, I know it makes no sense) have winning records, and that 10 of them are bowl-eligible.
Third, people make a lot of the fact that OSU lost to Illinois. Fact is, Illinois is a LOT better than many people give them credit for. I knew they would be good LAST year, when I saw their quarterback play. Mark my words: You will see this guy playing on Sundays in a couple of years (barring injury of course). And this year, when they got a good running back to go with him, they became great. They may very well win the Big Ten next year. It's no surprise Ron Zook was named Big Ten coach of the year.
So I will root for Oklahoma to beat Missouri tonight. And if they do, thus allowing OSU to sneak into the championship game through the back door, then I will be happy without any remorse. Maybe they'll get a chance to avenge their loss last January. If not, well, that's football.
Oh, and one other thing: Wherever the Buckeyes go for a bowl, about 50,000 loyal fans follow. Lord knows, New Orleans could certainly use the economic windfall they would receive from that!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thanksgiving
I realize I have been lackluster in my postings of late. I could laugh it off by saying I have been busy lately, but that would be a lie. The truth is that I am just lazy (this should come as no surprise to any of you the 3 readers of this blog!)
But, I would like to make a Thanksgiving post.
I am Thankful for:
1) My family. My father. My Sister. Her husband. My nephews. My cousins. My living Aunts and Uncles.
2) My Job. In this day and age, I am grateful to have a job that allows me to not have to moonlight to pay the bills. Almost.
3) My Dog. I adopted Minnie more than 4 years ago. I've never lacked for companionship since. Dogs offer us the only love in the world that is absolutely unconcditional.
4) My Friends. In this day and age, having people that will stand by you is a rare thing. It is to be treasured.
There are probably many more things, but these are what I came up with for this post.
As we head into this Christmas season, with the promise of the most turbulent election year in history ahead of us, it is good to remember that there are still a few things to be thankful for. I invite any reader of this post to add what you are thankful for in the comments. Thank you and God bless!
But, I would like to make a Thanksgiving post.
I am Thankful for:
1) My family. My father. My Sister. Her husband. My nephews. My cousins. My living Aunts and Uncles.
2) My Job. In this day and age, I am grateful to have a job that allows me to not have to moonlight to pay the bills. Almost.
3) My Dog. I adopted Minnie more than 4 years ago. I've never lacked for companionship since. Dogs offer us the only love in the world that is absolutely unconcditional.
4) My Friends. In this day and age, having people that will stand by you is a rare thing. It is to be treasured.
There are probably many more things, but these are what I came up with for this post.
As we head into this Christmas season, with the promise of the most turbulent election year in history ahead of us, it is good to remember that there are still a few things to be thankful for. I invite any reader of this post to add what you are thankful for in the comments. Thank you and God bless!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Buckeyes Fall
OK. So the Biting Illini beat the Buckeyes. Meh.
I knew it would happen.
Ohio State did not focus on this game. They were thinking about next week.
As a result, they lost.
And next week, the Ohio State/Michigan game has no significance, other than to prove which team is better.
As it should be.
I knew it would happen.
Ohio State did not focus on this game. They were thinking about next week.
As a result, they lost.
And next week, the Ohio State/Michigan game has no significance, other than to prove which team is better.
As it should be.
On, Wisconsin!
On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, plunge right through that line.
Run the ball clear down the field, a touchdown sure this time.
On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, fight on for her fame.
Fight, fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game.
Wisconsin 37
Michigan 21
11/10/07
Well done, Badgers!
Now if the Buckeyes can just beat them next week...
Monday, November 05, 2007
Script Writers: An Oxymoron
So. The Hollywood script writers are on strike. I have to say I'm of two minds about the whole thing.
On the one hand, as a union member, I sympathize with any union fighting big business. I also agree that TV studios are milking every last cent they can get from TV shows. It seems like a TV show doesn't even have to last a full season in order to be released on DVD. And then there's the full episodes available on the web. And every other trick Studios use to milk every last cent out of everything they produce.
But on the other hand, have you SEEN some of the new stuff coming out of Hollyweird lately?! Let's run down the lineup, shall we?
Cavemen: Possibly the dumbest show I've ever seen, created from a series of unfunny GEICO commercials. Whoever decided this show would be a good idea needs to be stabbed repeatedly in the heart with a rusty butterknife.
Journeyman: Let's see: A guy travels back in time to fix things that went wrong. I think I saw this show before. It was called Quantum Leap.
Life: A man is wrongfully accused of murder, gets out of prison, and works to clear his name while applying lessons learned in prison to his job as a policeman, meanwhile being clueless about certain aspects of modern life. I can't begin to count the number of shows this is ripping off, everything from The Pretender to The Fugitive.
Bionic Woman: The latest entry in the "Women are Powerful" genre. Look, there was a reason this show only lasted 2 seasons back in the '70's--It SUCKED! And the new show's not much better. This latest entry from the Women's Lib genre is following the same formula as the original, and it will likely meet the same fate.
Chuck: This show looked so dumb I didn't even watch it. I don't know what it's about, and I don't care.
There are probably many more that I'm forgetting, but I have to say that so far I haven't seen a single new fall show worth investing my time in. If this is the best that Hollywood writers can turn out, maybe they should stay on strike and make way for new talent. God knows they couldn't do any worse.
Meanwhile, if this strike lasts, we're condemned to a steady diet of Reality and Repeats. Thank God for my large collection of DVD's.
On the one hand, as a union member, I sympathize with any union fighting big business. I also agree that TV studios are milking every last cent they can get from TV shows. It seems like a TV show doesn't even have to last a full season in order to be released on DVD. And then there's the full episodes available on the web. And every other trick Studios use to milk every last cent out of everything they produce.
But on the other hand, have you SEEN some of the new stuff coming out of Hollyweird lately?! Let's run down the lineup, shall we?
Cavemen: Possibly the dumbest show I've ever seen, created from a series of unfunny GEICO commercials. Whoever decided this show would be a good idea needs to be stabbed repeatedly in the heart with a rusty butterknife.
Journeyman: Let's see: A guy travels back in time to fix things that went wrong. I think I saw this show before. It was called Quantum Leap.
Life: A man is wrongfully accused of murder, gets out of prison, and works to clear his name while applying lessons learned in prison to his job as a policeman, meanwhile being clueless about certain aspects of modern life. I can't begin to count the number of shows this is ripping off, everything from The Pretender to The Fugitive.
Bionic Woman: The latest entry in the "Women are Powerful" genre. Look, there was a reason this show only lasted 2 seasons back in the '70's--It SUCKED! And the new show's not much better. This latest entry from the Women's Lib genre is following the same formula as the original, and it will likely meet the same fate.
Chuck: This show looked so dumb I didn't even watch it. I don't know what it's about, and I don't care.
There are probably many more that I'm forgetting, but I have to say that so far I haven't seen a single new fall show worth investing my time in. If this is the best that Hollywood writers can turn out, maybe they should stay on strike and make way for new talent. God knows they couldn't do any worse.
Meanwhile, if this strike lasts, we're condemned to a steady diet of Reality and Repeats. Thank God for my large collection of DVD's.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Strike Two!
OK, so here we go again, folks!
UAW members working for Chrysler have walked off the job.
Most people in the know say this strike may last considerably longer than the one against GM.
And again, the power of the nation's most powerful union will again be put to the test.
This time, a much more powerful one.
Update (11:30 PM) The strike is over, almost as quickly as it began. I gotta wonder just who is blinking in these standoffs. I have to believe that after not one, but two called strikes, the auto companies are terrified that they do not want to face the massive production losses created by strikes. It wouldn't take more than a few weeks of no production to drive an American Auto manufacturer to desperation.
At least, that's what I hope.
UAW members working for Chrysler have walked off the job.
Most people in the know say this strike may last considerably longer than the one against GM.
And again, the power of the nation's most powerful union will again be put to the test.
This time, a much more powerful one.
Update (11:30 PM) The strike is over, almost as quickly as it began. I gotta wonder just who is blinking in these standoffs. I have to believe that after not one, but two called strikes, the auto companies are terrified that they do not want to face the massive production losses created by strikes. It wouldn't take more than a few weeks of no production to drive an American Auto manufacturer to desperation.
At least, that's what I hope.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Cavemen
The line between commercials and programming has officially been erased.
This fall, ABC debuts a new sitcom called "Cavemen", which involves characters created by the insurance company GEICO for a series of commercials.
First of all, the commercials weren't even that funny. Second, of all the boneheaded ideas the programming execs at ABC could have come up with, creating an entire series based on a group of about 5 un-funny commercials ranks right up there with New Coke in terms of bad business decisions.
I seriously hope this ridiculous series dies the quick but painful death it so richly deserves.
And that Big Business will learn that some lines should never be crossed.
This fall, ABC debuts a new sitcom called "Cavemen", which involves characters created by the insurance company GEICO for a series of commercials.
First of all, the commercials weren't even that funny. Second, of all the boneheaded ideas the programming execs at ABC could have come up with, creating an entire series based on a group of about 5 un-funny commercials ranks right up there with New Coke in terms of bad business decisions.
I seriously hope this ridiculous series dies the quick but painful death it so richly deserves.
And that Big Business will learn that some lines should never be crossed.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Shortest. Strike. Ever.
Yesterday, I posted an entry about the U.A.W. strike against GM.
Today, that strike ended as quickly as it began
I don't know who blinked, and I'm sure neither side will ever admit who it was.
But the dispute is over, pending ratification of the new agreement.
Today, I was introduced to the process of a contract negotiation. Y'see, I am a union steward.
And I gotta say this: Good God!
Any outsider with no experience can wonder why contract negotiations can take so long.
Anyone who has the slightest inkling of what goes on at the bargaining table would never question that.
I will never again accept a bargaining committee nomination.
Today, that strike ended as quickly as it began
I don't know who blinked, and I'm sure neither side will ever admit who it was.
But the dispute is over, pending ratification of the new agreement.
Today, I was introduced to the process of a contract negotiation. Y'see, I am a union steward.
And I gotta say this: Good God!
Any outsider with no experience can wonder why contract negotiations can take so long.
Anyone who has the slightest inkling of what goes on at the bargaining table would never question that.
I will never again accept a bargaining committee nomination.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This is IT!
So. The strike is on.
Unless you've been living in a cave for the last day and a half, you know that the U.A.W. has gone on strike against GM. This strike will be the true test of whether organized labor has any real power left.
I don't claim to know all the details, but I know that the big issue separating the 2 sides of the bargaining table is--of course--health care. What a surprise.
The figure I've heard is that GM currently pays approximately $1300 per vehicle it manufactures to cover the costs of health care for its current and former employees. I can't imagine the other American automakers pay much less.
And that is the problem! American manufacturers are losing their competitive edge in every market due to the rising cost of health care in this country. And they seem to have NO problem with that.
I mean, if American business was at all serious about cutting their manufacturing costs, they would press the government to provide universal health care, thus removing a major cost of doing business. But there is no interest in doing that. They are more interested in buying politicians to give them more tax breaks while blaming workers for their financial woes.
So I will be interested to see how this strike turns out. The PR machines of both sides are in full-on attack mode. And, while the U.A.W. may be in the weaker position financially, they have the power of the people. Including me.
It remains to be seen how powerful that power is.
Unless you've been living in a cave for the last day and a half, you know that the U.A.W. has gone on strike against GM. This strike will be the true test of whether organized labor has any real power left.
I don't claim to know all the details, but I know that the big issue separating the 2 sides of the bargaining table is--of course--health care. What a surprise.
The figure I've heard is that GM currently pays approximately $1300 per vehicle it manufactures to cover the costs of health care for its current and former employees. I can't imagine the other American automakers pay much less.
And that is the problem! American manufacturers are losing their competitive edge in every market due to the rising cost of health care in this country. And they seem to have NO problem with that.
I mean, if American business was at all serious about cutting their manufacturing costs, they would press the government to provide universal health care, thus removing a major cost of doing business. But there is no interest in doing that. They are more interested in buying politicians to give them more tax breaks while blaming workers for their financial woes.
So I will be interested to see how this strike turns out. The PR machines of both sides are in full-on attack mode. And, while the U.A.W. may be in the weaker position financially, they have the power of the people. Including me.
It remains to be seen how powerful that power is.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Progress!
Progress?! I thought "major combat operations have ended" in Iraq!
Does this mean Bush lied? Surely not! He would never lie!
Would he?
(Thanks to
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Duck!
39-7
That was the score of last Saturday's Michigan-Oregon game
Oregon was the team with the 39, by the way.
Oregon's mascot is the Duck
Michigan dropped the game to Oregon.
The team that was supposed to have dominated the Big 11 has now lost its first 2 games of the season
On a smaller note, Ohio State's offense was rendered nearly useless by Akron.
Could there finally be a state of equity in College football?
Time will tell.
That was the score of last Saturday's Michigan-Oregon game
Oregon was the team with the 39, by the way.
Oregon's mascot is the Duck
Michigan dropped the game to Oregon.
The team that was supposed to have dominated the Big 11 has now lost its first 2 games of the season
On a smaller note, Ohio State's offense was rendered nearly useless by Akron.
Could there finally be a state of equity in College football?
Time will tell.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Labor Day
First, a brief history lesson:
But nowadays, what began as a federal Holiday created to honor the Organized labor movement has now, sadly, become something else entirely. About the only thing closed on Labor day any more is the government. Labor Unions, once a powerful force to be reckoned with, have been reduced to a shadow of their former selves, thanks to the actions of Wal-Mart and other corporate powers that work actively day in and day out to diminish the power of organized labor even further.
It was the power of organized labor that instituted the 40-hour work week, the child labor laws, and scores of other laws that forced businesses to treat their employees like people instead of assets to be used up and then disposed of. Corporate America has never forgotten that, and they have been working ever since to undo those changes. And they have time and an endless supply of money on their side.
So before you, the 3 readers of this blog, kick back and enjoy your barb-B-Q and beer, pause and take a minute to reflect what your life would be like without the laws Organized labor instituted. For one thing, you'd probably be working right now instead of reading this.
Then, count your blessings.
By the way, for those of you keeping score at home, this makes 3 posts in 3 days. That's a personal record for me!
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man". It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a federal holiday by Act of Congress in 1894. (source: Wikipedia.org)
But nowadays, what began as a federal Holiday created to honor the Organized labor movement has now, sadly, become something else entirely. About the only thing closed on Labor day any more is the government. Labor Unions, once a powerful force to be reckoned with, have been reduced to a shadow of their former selves, thanks to the actions of Wal-Mart and other corporate powers that work actively day in and day out to diminish the power of organized labor even further.
It was the power of organized labor that instituted the 40-hour work week, the child labor laws, and scores of other laws that forced businesses to treat their employees like people instead of assets to be used up and then disposed of. Corporate America has never forgotten that, and they have been working ever since to undo those changes. And they have time and an endless supply of money on their side.
So before you, the 3 readers of this blog, kick back and enjoy your barb-B-Q and beer, pause and take a minute to reflect what your life would be like without the laws Organized labor instituted. For one thing, you'd probably be working right now instead of reading this.
Then, count your blessings.
By the way, for those of you keeping score at home, this makes 3 posts in 3 days. That's a personal record for me!
Restoring My Faith
Yesterday, September 1st, I went shopping at the newly opened COSTCO wholesale store.
But when I went onto my pocket to pay for my purchases, I discovered that I had lost my money clip with all my cash in it. I had to visit the local ATM to get more cash to pay for my purchases.
After spending a day searching my house for it, I decided to call COSTCO on a hunch. I was informed that someond had found the clip and turned it in to the office.
I went back and retrieved it, and discovered that all the cash that was in it was still completely intact. I asked who had turned it in, only to discover that it had been returned by an anonymous employee, robbing me of any opportunity to financailly reward this good Samaritan.
This act of anonymous kindness has, at least temporarily, restored my faith in the human condition, and given me hope that there may be a slim chance that we as a race will survive in the long run. Maybe.
But when I went onto my pocket to pay for my purchases, I discovered that I had lost my money clip with all my cash in it. I had to visit the local ATM to get more cash to pay for my purchases.
After spending a day searching my house for it, I decided to call COSTCO on a hunch. I was informed that someond had found the clip and turned it in to the office.
I went back and retrieved it, and discovered that all the cash that was in it was still completely intact. I asked who had turned it in, only to discover that it had been returned by an anonymous employee, robbing me of any opportunity to financailly reward this good Samaritan.
This act of anonymous kindness has, at least temporarily, restored my faith in the human condition, and given me hope that there may be a slim chance that we as a race will survive in the long run. Maybe.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Appalachian State
Division 1-AA school Appalachian State has defeated Michigan in what may be the upset of the year, decade, century, or EVER.
In the first few games of the year, the major teams of Division 1-A college football pay large amounts of money to bring small, easily beatable teams to their home fields to massacre them. The Big schools get easy wins, and the small schools get national exposure for their stars and a big paycheck.
But today, that strategy may be turned on its end.
Because, today, for the first time in years, decades, or CENTURIES, the sacrificial lamb turned tails and devoured the feaster.
Every other weak team fulfilled its job, lost, and went home with a big paycheck for its division.
App. state refused to do that. They BEAT their Goliath. And they earned 400K for doing so.
Hopefully, the message they sent was that just because the scouts ignore the 2nd tier players, it doesn't mean don't have the talent to be the best.
Because if today has proved anything, it is that you cannot count ANYBODY out!
Go Bucks!
Update (9/2/03): Bowling Green State University, a local team, upset Minnesota in OT. Another lamb slaughters its would-be killer! God, I love it!
In the first few games of the year, the major teams of Division 1-A college football pay large amounts of money to bring small, easily beatable teams to their home fields to massacre them. The Big schools get easy wins, and the small schools get national exposure for their stars and a big paycheck.
But today, that strategy may be turned on its end.
Because, today, for the first time in years, decades, or CENTURIES, the sacrificial lamb turned tails and devoured the feaster.
Every other weak team fulfilled its job, lost, and went home with a big paycheck for its division.
App. state refused to do that. They BEAT their Goliath. And they earned 400K for doing so.
Hopefully, the message they sent was that just because the scouts ignore the 2nd tier players, it doesn't mean don't have the talent to be the best.
Because if today has proved anything, it is that you cannot count ANYBODY out!
Go Bucks!
Update (9/2/03): Bowling Green State University, a local team, upset Minnesota in OT. Another lamb slaughters its would-be killer! God, I love it!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Support the War, Dammit!
This morning, a conservative group launched a $15 million ad campaign encouraging all Americans to support the continuing disas--er--liberation of Iraq.
They are saying the same old thing over again: Just hang on, people! The more money, resources, and troops we pour into Iraq, the better things will be. And once General Petraeus gives his assessment of the current situation in Iraq, everything will be wine and roses.
This, of course, is complete and total BULLSHIT!
Even if Petraeus gives a rosy evaluation of the current situation in Iraq, anyone with half a brain will realize that he is at best greatly exagerating, and at worst lying through his teeth, probably on the orders of the Administration.
But the problem is, we won't care! NOBODY gives a shit about the thousands of American troops who have been killed needlessly. We as a country are apparently more interested in the latest antics of Linday Lohan or Paris Hilton. Even when tragedies happen right here at home, as in the case of the Utah mine disaster, there is no public outcry! There is no demand for a stringent re-evaluation of mine safety regulations. As long as we have our endless diet of reality TV and Hollywood gossip, we are apparently content to let tragedy and mayhem occur unchecked, both here and abroad. The Constitution is in tatters, people are arrested without charges or trial, and a willing media trumpets lost causes 24 hours a day. But we as a people seem to be OK with it all!
We face a future of endless war abroad and constant surveillance at home, and yet we don't seem to mind one bit. George Orwell's vision of our bleak future seems to have turned out to be 100% correct--He was simply a couple of decades ahead of reality.
THAT is the nation--and the world--we will be handing over to our children. May they forgive us someday. I wouldn't.
They are saying the same old thing over again: Just hang on, people! The more money, resources, and troops we pour into Iraq, the better things will be. And once General Petraeus gives his assessment of the current situation in Iraq, everything will be wine and roses.
This, of course, is complete and total BULLSHIT!
Even if Petraeus gives a rosy evaluation of the current situation in Iraq, anyone with half a brain will realize that he is at best greatly exagerating, and at worst lying through his teeth, probably on the orders of the Administration.
But the problem is, we won't care! NOBODY gives a shit about the thousands of American troops who have been killed needlessly. We as a country are apparently more interested in the latest antics of Linday Lohan or Paris Hilton. Even when tragedies happen right here at home, as in the case of the Utah mine disaster, there is no public outcry! There is no demand for a stringent re-evaluation of mine safety regulations. As long as we have our endless diet of reality TV and Hollywood gossip, we are apparently content to let tragedy and mayhem occur unchecked, both here and abroad. The Constitution is in tatters, people are arrested without charges or trial, and a willing media trumpets lost causes 24 hours a day. But we as a people seem to be OK with it all!
We face a future of endless war abroad and constant surveillance at home, and yet we don't seem to mind one bit. George Orwell's vision of our bleak future seems to have turned out to be 100% correct--He was simply a couple of decades ahead of reality.
THAT is the nation--and the world--we will be handing over to our children. May they forgive us someday. I wouldn't.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Cheney Said it Himself!
Key words to focus on: "Quagmire". "Pieces of Iraq". "Endless casualties".
(Say the same words as a Democrat and you are branded a "coward", a "Cut and runner" or a "Traitor".)
Could this be it? Could this video flying around the internet be the final nail in the Administration's coffin? Could this be the first sign of the disintegration of a White House that lacks the guidance of Karl Rove for the first time in nearly 8 years?
Nah. The American people have been shrugging this shit off for years. Why stop doing that now?
Prove me wrong, if you can.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Home Run Champ
Barry Bonds.
He is now the Home Run King.
That's it.
I will say no more about it than this: He has hit more home runs in the Major Leagues than any other person who plays major league baseball.
And there is no other way to respond to that.
Until some other baseball player hits more home runs than he did, that record will hold. Period.
It does not matter that he may or may not have used performance enhancing drugs. The fact is that if a man has the ability to swing a stick of wood so that it connects with a 3 and a half inch sphere traveling at him at 90+ miles per hour and sends that sphere over 390 feet, he deserves a level of respect that no mortal can manage. I could never do that if I injected myself with 7000 vials of steoroids And I respect any man or woman who can do that.
He is now the Home Run King.
That's it.
I will say no more about it than this: He has hit more home runs in the Major Leagues than any other person who plays major league baseball.
And there is no other way to respond to that.
Until some other baseball player hits more home runs than he did, that record will hold. Period.
It does not matter that he may or may not have used performance enhancing drugs. The fact is that if a man has the ability to swing a stick of wood so that it connects with a 3 and a half inch sphere traveling at him at 90+ miles per hour and sends that sphere over 390 feet, he deserves a level of respect that no mortal can manage. I could never do that if I injected myself with 7000 vials of steoroids And I respect any man or woman who can do that.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The Kingdom of Loathing
I heartily recommend this game to the three people who read this blog! It's fun!
And today is Saint Sneaky Pete's day!
Monday, July 23, 2007
I Knew It
I figured it would only be a matter of time:
I mean, one of the top Democratic presidential candidates having a first name that was only one letter away from the world's most notorious terrorist--I knew it would be inevitable.
Once again proving that there is no limit to how low the other side will go.
By the way, in case you were wondering, that's Mitt Romney smiling in that picture. And he wasmore than happy to autograph it .
Thanks toBuckeyeStateBlog for the picture.
I mean, one of the top Democratic presidential candidates having a first name that was only one letter away from the world's most notorious terrorist--I knew it would be inevitable.
Once again proving that there is no limit to how low the other side will go.
By the way, in case you were wondering, that's Mitt Romney smiling in that picture. And he was
Thanks to
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Great Britain: Strong as an Ox
(This is a semi-follow-up to yesterday's post.)
It would seem that Hollywood, and perhaps the world in general, seems to think that England will always prevail.
You see, much in the same way New York City always seems to be destined to be destroyed in the movies, England always seems to be destined to survive whatever apocalypse will destroy the world not so very long from now.
By the way, why is it that celluloid versions of the future always seem to depict the world of the future(s) either as a high-tech utopia or a post-apocalyptic wasteland? Of all the movies I've seen, only Minority Report seemed to achieve some kind of middle ground between the two.
But I digress. As I was saying, England always seems destined to somehow survive whatever cataclysm has rendered the rest of the future world a barbaric wasteland. You see it in everything from movies like Shaun of the Dead to V for Vendetta. (And if you haven't seen either of those movies, stop reading now and go to your local video store and pick them up. You won't be disappointed.)
What is it about England that has everyone convinced it will survive?
Well, for starters, part of it may have to do with the fact that it survived for so long. I mean, here is an island nation whose total land mass is less than the state of Idaho (I include Northern Ireland), with limited natural resources, and with no shortage of enemies throughout the ages. And it's a nation that has not only survived centuries of brutal military assaults, but has beaten them all back and in most cases repaid the favor in spades.
It's also the nation that founded this nation of ours, and that, despite our differences over the decades, remains to this day one of our strongest allies.
It's also a nation that maintains its standing as one of the oldest surviving monarchies, despite the fact that its monarch is little more than a figurehead, and that its royal family is lately plagued by more scandals than Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Jackson combined.
And it's a nation that is famous for the "Stiff upper lip", the trademark stoicism that has carried the British through crisis after crisis for years.
In fact, the only thing I can think of that will bring Great Britain down is if some kind of plant virus were to destroy every single tea leaf in the world.
Without tea, England would be gone in a day.
It would seem that Hollywood, and perhaps the world in general, seems to think that England will always prevail.
You see, much in the same way New York City always seems to be destined to be destroyed in the movies, England always seems to be destined to survive whatever apocalypse will destroy the world not so very long from now.
By the way, why is it that celluloid versions of the future always seem to depict the world of the future(s) either as a high-tech utopia or a post-apocalyptic wasteland? Of all the movies I've seen, only Minority Report seemed to achieve some kind of middle ground between the two.
But I digress. As I was saying, England always seems destined to somehow survive whatever cataclysm has rendered the rest of the future world a barbaric wasteland. You see it in everything from movies like Shaun of the Dead to V for Vendetta. (And if you haven't seen either of those movies, stop reading now and go to your local video store and pick them up. You won't be disappointed.)
What is it about England that has everyone convinced it will survive?
Well, for starters, part of it may have to do with the fact that it survived for so long. I mean, here is an island nation whose total land mass is less than the state of Idaho (I include Northern Ireland), with limited natural resources, and with no shortage of enemies throughout the ages. And it's a nation that has not only survived centuries of brutal military assaults, but has beaten them all back and in most cases repaid the favor in spades.
It's also the nation that founded this nation of ours, and that, despite our differences over the decades, remains to this day one of our strongest allies.
It's also a nation that maintains its standing as one of the oldest surviving monarchies, despite the fact that its monarch is little more than a figurehead, and that its royal family is lately plagued by more scandals than Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Jackson combined.
And it's a nation that is famous for the "Stiff upper lip", the trademark stoicism that has carried the British through crisis after crisis for years.
In fact, the only thing I can think of that will bring Great Britain down is if some kind of plant virus were to destroy every single tea leaf in the world.
Without tea, England would be gone in a day.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Children of Men
I recommend that the 3 readers of this Blog do 4 things.
1) Rent the movie in the Title of this post.
2) Watch the movie and the special features.
3) Pray for the survival of mankind.
4) Hope that our children will forgive us for the world we are leaving for them.
Good night, and Good Luck.
1) Rent the movie in the Title of this post.
2) Watch the movie and the special features.
3) Pray for the survival of mankind.
4) Hope that our children will forgive us for the world we are leaving for them.
Good night, and Good Luck.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sad.
Ran across this car in the parking lot of a local grocery store. Please, please, PLEASE tell me this is not the saddest thing you've ever seen in your life:
Seriously, personalized license plates aren't cheap. So how much sense does it make to spend that kind of money to advertise to the world what a complete and total dork you are?
Perhaps thewords of William Shatner can best explain how sad this is:
Now I realize that he was talking about trekkies--sorry, trekkERS--but just replace the words "TV Show" with "movie", and replace William Shatner with Mark Hamill or Harrison Ford, and then imagine the owner of that car standing in the front row of the crowd. Suddenly the speech isn't so much a humorous SNL sketch as it is a desparate cry for help.
Seriously, personalized license plates aren't cheap. So how much sense does it make to spend that kind of money to advertise to the world what a complete and total dork you are?
Perhaps the
You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!
I mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves?
You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?
I didn't think so! There's a whole world out there! When I was your age, I didn't watch television! I LIVED! So... move out of your parent's basements! And get your own apartments and GROW THE HELL UP! I mean, it's just a TV show dammit, IT'S JUST A TV SHOW!
Now I realize that he was talking about trekkies--sorry, trekkERS--but just replace the words "TV Show" with "movie", and replace William Shatner with Mark Hamill or Harrison Ford, and then imagine the owner of that car standing in the front row of the crowd. Suddenly the speech isn't so much a humorous SNL sketch as it is a desparate cry for help.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The One True Church--NOT!
This week, Poop--er Pope Benedict XVI has approved a document asserting that Catholicsm is the One True Religion, and that the Eastern Orthodox Churches are defective, and that other Christian Churches are not true churches.
And may I say to Poop-er Pope Benedict XVI this: Fuck You!
And may I further add: And the horse you rode in on!
Perhaps I should change that to the Chariot you rode in on.
Yes, the Chariot. For you, as the head of the Catholic church, have refused to acknowledge that there may be any advances of mankind past the wheel.
You see, God gave us the power of imagination.
And that power enabled us to imagine that there might be something to do other that spend our entire life worshipping Him.
That power enabled us to imagine that some day, humankind might find a cure for diseases that had killed millions of us.
That power enabled us to imagine that someday we would break the bonds of gravity and fly.
That power enabled us to imagine that some day, humankind might esape the bonds of this Earth, and live in the Stars.
That power enabled us to imagine that we as a people would launch a deep space probe named Voyager,loaded with data that NASA scientists thought was the best humanity had to offer, into the interstellar void.
And that power of imagination helps me to think that my 2 nephews will one day lead humanity in establishing a human Republic in Space that will last for Millienia. Hey, a man can dream.
And, most importantly, that power of imagination helped us believe that God wouldn't mind if people chose to worship Him in dozens, if not hundreds, of different ways.
So I reject your finding that there is no other valid religion. As I have rejected every other tenet from a religion that seems to want to stay permanently mired in the 15th century. Mankind has progressed in spite of the Catholic church, not because of it. And I have to believe that we are all the better for it.
And may I say to Poop-er Pope Benedict XVI this: Fuck You!
And may I further add: And the horse you rode in on!
Perhaps I should change that to the Chariot you rode in on.
Yes, the Chariot. For you, as the head of the Catholic church, have refused to acknowledge that there may be any advances of mankind past the wheel.
You see, God gave us the power of imagination.
And that power enabled us to imagine that there might be something to do other that spend our entire life worshipping Him.
That power enabled us to imagine that some day, humankind might find a cure for diseases that had killed millions of us.
That power enabled us to imagine that someday we would break the bonds of gravity and fly.
That power enabled us to imagine that some day, humankind might esape the bonds of this Earth, and live in the Stars.
That power enabled us to imagine that we as a people would launch a deep space probe named Voyager,
And that power of imagination helps me to think that my 2 nephews will one day lead humanity in establishing a human Republic in Space that will last for Millienia. Hey, a man can dream.
And, most importantly, that power of imagination helped us believe that God wouldn't mind if people chose to worship Him in dozens, if not hundreds, of different ways.
So I reject your finding that there is no other valid religion. As I have rejected every other tenet from a religion that seems to want to stay permanently mired in the 15th century. Mankind has progressed in spite of the Catholic church, not because of it. And I have to believe that we are all the better for it.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Sicko
So. I went to see Sicko over the weekend.
Yes, I have seen every Michael Moore film ever made. In case you hadn't noticed, I am an unabashed liberal. I make no apologies for this. I firmly believe that every social advancement in this country has been championed by liberals. Abolition of slavery immediately pops to mind...
So, keeping the film in mind, I reject any arguments that Moore has created a propaganda piece designed to demonize the American medical system, and advance the cause of socialized medicine.
As Moore pointed out, we have socialized a lot of things in this country. Fire, police, education (for the most part) spring to mind.
So why not health care?
Because, in 1971, a man named Kaiser managed to convince the Republican Administration that providing health care could be profitable. The same administration that created the Environmental Protection Agency, by the way.
I firmly believe that the Health Maintenance Organization was created to help people. After all, who could be unhappy about companies that had the ultimate goal of encouraging people to live a more healthy lifestyle?
But over the course of the next 30+ years, that goal became corrupted. The almighty dollar reared its ugly head. And these companies became increasingly profitable by demonstrating how much care they could NOT provide, instead of the reverse. And as the insurance and drug companies showed increasing profits, they gained even more incentive to make those profits even larger. It became a vicious cycle of greed.
It culminated in the deregulation of drug companies in the mid-90's. A flood of commercials for drug companies hit the airwaves, driving the demand for drugs to treat everything from high cholesterol to erectile dysfunction.
As a result, we as a nation watched our quality of health care decline even as its costs rose. I myself, in the 11+ years I have been in my current job, have seen my health care costs more than quadruple. And I have insurance!
Conservatives complain that Moore's film lionizes the health care systems of other countries while ignoring their faults. Not one mention is made of the faults readily apparent in our own system of health care.
After all, if you had a choice between waiting a few weeks for a medical procedure or being totally denied that procedure, which would you choose?
I thought so.
Yes, I have seen every Michael Moore film ever made. In case you hadn't noticed, I am an unabashed liberal. I make no apologies for this. I firmly believe that every social advancement in this country has been championed by liberals. Abolition of slavery immediately pops to mind...
So, keeping the film in mind, I reject any arguments that Moore has created a propaganda piece designed to demonize the American medical system, and advance the cause of socialized medicine.
As Moore pointed out, we have socialized a lot of things in this country. Fire, police, education (for the most part) spring to mind.
So why not health care?
Because, in 1971, a man named Kaiser managed to convince the Republican Administration that providing health care could be profitable. The same administration that created the Environmental Protection Agency, by the way.
I firmly believe that the Health Maintenance Organization was created to help people. After all, who could be unhappy about companies that had the ultimate goal of encouraging people to live a more healthy lifestyle?
But over the course of the next 30+ years, that goal became corrupted. The almighty dollar reared its ugly head. And these companies became increasingly profitable by demonstrating how much care they could NOT provide, instead of the reverse. And as the insurance and drug companies showed increasing profits, they gained even more incentive to make those profits even larger. It became a vicious cycle of greed.
It culminated in the deregulation of drug companies in the mid-90's. A flood of commercials for drug companies hit the airwaves, driving the demand for drugs to treat everything from high cholesterol to erectile dysfunction.
As a result, we as a nation watched our quality of health care decline even as its costs rose. I myself, in the 11+ years I have been in my current job, have seen my health care costs more than quadruple. And I have insurance!
Conservatives complain that Moore's film lionizes the health care systems of other countries while ignoring their faults. Not one mention is made of the faults readily apparent in our own system of health care.
After all, if you had a choice between waiting a few weeks for a medical procedure or being totally denied that procedure, which would you choose?
I thought so.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Pardon in all but Name
So. Scooter Libby has received a full pard--er, commutation of his sentence from Idiot Boy--er, president Bush.
What this means is that the only man to be held slightly accountable for leaking the name of a covert CIA operative to the media, thus ending her career, will not spend a day in jail, and his token fines (you may think 250K is not such a token fine, but consider that a special fundraising commitee has already raised 2 Million for his defense and any financial penalties he may incur) will not even cause him the slightest inconvenience.
And while you may say that now he is a man with a criminal record (pending reversal on appeal), I might point out that many other people involved in White House scandals and who now have criminal records to show for it have gone on to have long and prosperous careers (G. Gordon Liddy, I'm looking your way here!)
The Constitution of the United States states: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."
Valerie Plame was heavily involved with countering the efforts of rogue nations, terrorist groups, and other nefarious characters to obtain materials for constructing nuclear weapons. She did this, presumably, by building a secret network of informants throughout several African states which posessed the resources necessary to construct these weapons. These informants would in turn inform her of anyone attempting to obtain said materials. In other words, she was doing the job she had been assigned to. We will probably never know how well. It is a well-known tenet that only the failures of the CIA are ever known.
But publication of her name in the media ended those efforts for good. And irreparably destroyed her career. All in the name of embarassing her husband, a well-known critic of the Bush Regime. A regime, I might point out, that considers any criticism of it to be treason of the highest order.
Scooter Libby, leaking the name of Valerie Plame, committed treason by giving aid and comfort to the enemy, by way of letting them know exactly who they could not trust. He no doubt did this on the orders of Vice President Cheney and/or Karl Rove and/or "President" Bush. We will probably never know just how high up on the food chain that order came from.
But we will always know that Scooter Libby committed Treason as defined by the Constitution. And he will never spend a single day behind bars for doing so.
And that is a disgrace.
What this means is that the only man to be held slightly accountable for leaking the name of a covert CIA operative to the media, thus ending her career, will not spend a day in jail, and his token fines (you may think 250K is not such a token fine, but consider that a special fundraising commitee has already raised 2 Million for his defense and any financial penalties he may incur) will not even cause him the slightest inconvenience.
And while you may say that now he is a man with a criminal record (pending reversal on appeal), I might point out that many other people involved in White House scandals and who now have criminal records to show for it have gone on to have long and prosperous careers (G. Gordon Liddy, I'm looking your way here!)
The Constitution of the United States states: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."
Valerie Plame was heavily involved with countering the efforts of rogue nations, terrorist groups, and other nefarious characters to obtain materials for constructing nuclear weapons. She did this, presumably, by building a secret network of informants throughout several African states which posessed the resources necessary to construct these weapons. These informants would in turn inform her of anyone attempting to obtain said materials. In other words, she was doing the job she had been assigned to. We will probably never know how well. It is a well-known tenet that only the failures of the CIA are ever known.
But publication of her name in the media ended those efforts for good. And irreparably destroyed her career. All in the name of embarassing her husband, a well-known critic of the Bush Regime. A regime, I might point out, that considers any criticism of it to be treason of the highest order.
Scooter Libby, leaking the name of Valerie Plame, committed treason by giving aid and comfort to the enemy, by way of letting them know exactly who they could not trust. He no doubt did this on the orders of Vice President Cheney and/or Karl Rove and/or "President" Bush. We will probably never know just how high up on the food chain that order came from.
But we will always know that Scooter Libby committed Treason as defined by the Constitution. And he will never spend a single day behind bars for doing so.
And that is a disgrace.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Close the Book
Last Thursday, NBC aired the final episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It was the last of a 4-episode arc obviously originally intended for sweeps month.
I was a huge fan of this show from the beginning. It was made by the creators of The West Wing and was aimed at fans of that show, like me. It featured sharp humor, liberal politics, and, most importantly, excellent writing! This last item is a feature that is rapidly disappearing from Television.
I mean, network television today is all about the so-called "reality" shows and watching talentless wannabes singing karaoke badly. There has been a dearth of quality writing on network TV of late, and I highly respect NBC for having the guts to still put out quality, well-written television shows.
Of course, the fact that nobody seems to be watching them makes me wonder how long that trend will continue.
I was a huge fan of this show from the beginning. It was made by the creators of The West Wing and was aimed at fans of that show, like me. It featured sharp humor, liberal politics, and, most importantly, excellent writing! This last item is a feature that is rapidly disappearing from Television.
I mean, network television today is all about the so-called "reality" shows and watching talentless wannabes singing karaoke badly. There has been a dearth of quality writing on network TV of late, and I highly respect NBC for having the guts to still put out quality, well-written television shows.
Of course, the fact that nobody seems to be watching them makes me wonder how long that trend will continue.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
A Great Day Indeed
Last week, I had a great day at work.
As all of the three people who read this blog know, our much beloved boss lost his bid for re-election last November. And his replacement has gone out of her way to completely change the way everything was done by the old administration, regardless of the fact that our office ran like a Swiss watch for years. And her subordinates have followed that doctrine. Basically, they are trying to get rid of anyone who worked in the old administration, any way they can.
That has meant that every tiny little mistake I make has been magnified tenfold. So far, this has meant only one disciplinary action for me. But I am on constant guard against further action.
So last week, my supervisor handed me an e-mail detailing 3 mistakes that had been made the previous week.
And, after a bit of research, and going into e-mails I had been sent, I was able to prove that all 3 mistakes were her fault. It was all I could do from breaking into a shit-eating grin while explaining this.
So it was a good day.
No, it was a GREAT day!
The only downside is that now she'll be even more actively seeking ways to make me look bad.
Bring it on!
As all of the three people who read this blog know, our much beloved boss lost his bid for re-election last November. And his replacement has gone out of her way to completely change the way everything was done by the old administration, regardless of the fact that our office ran like a Swiss watch for years. And her subordinates have followed that doctrine. Basically, they are trying to get rid of anyone who worked in the old administration, any way they can.
That has meant that every tiny little mistake I make has been magnified tenfold. So far, this has meant only one disciplinary action for me. But I am on constant guard against further action.
So last week, my supervisor handed me an e-mail detailing 3 mistakes that had been made the previous week.
And, after a bit of research, and going into e-mails I had been sent, I was able to prove that all 3 mistakes were her fault. It was all I could do from breaking into a shit-eating grin while explaining this.
So it was a good day.
No, it was a GREAT day!
The only downside is that now she'll be even more actively seeking ways to make me look bad.
Bring it on!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Cindy Sheehan Calls it Quits
Cindy Sheehan, the longtime protestor of the war in Iraq, has stepped down as the public face of the anti-war protest movement , saying, "I’ve been wondering why I’m killing myself and wondering why the Democrats caved in to George Bush,"
Hear, hear.
Last year, we as a nation decided it was time to put an end to six solid years of full Republican control of the government, and many of us (myself included) cited frustration with the disastrous war in Iraq as the primary reason.
So what did the Democrats do with their fresh new majority? NOTHING!!!
They caved!
Completely and totally!
Under continuous veto threats from the White House, a PR smear campaign eagerly hyped by the steno media, and constant attacks from the 101st keyboard brigade, the new Democratic majority in Congress once again gave the President exactly what he wanted.
Just wait, they tell us, until next year, when there's a Democrat in the White House. THEN you'll see something new.
First of all, that's a big if. There are no guarantees about that. The current crop of Democratic presidential candidates is mediocre at best. And while the Republicans don't have anything better, the same electoral machine that got the Worst President In History elected twice is already gearing up for next year. And the Democrats have proven time and again that they cannot match the juggernaut that is Republican electoral politics
Secondly, Americans seemingly just don't care! As a country, we seemed to be a LOT more interested in who wins American Idol than in who is running for president.
Don't believe me? Quick, without googling, name me five candidates from each party currently running for president. I'll wait.
I thought so.
Don't feel bad. I couldn't do it myself.
Towards the end of the war in Vietnam, the protest movement in this country against the war was so strong that any candidate who spoke out against it did so at his (or her) peril.
But it took over 14 years and the lives of nearly 70,000 U.S. troops for us to realize what a mistake that was. And this was in a time before Entertainment Tonight, 24 hour news, Paris Hilton, Brangelina, and Anna Nicole Smith. God knows how many more soldiers will have to die before we realize what a mistake this current war is.
Right now, we just don't seem to care. And anyone who does care, like, say, Cindy Sheehan, is shouted down by the right wing smear machine, with the willing help of the steno media.
Perhaps Ms. Sheehan said it best: "Good-bye America ... you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can’t make you be that country unless you want it. It’s up to you now."
I couldn't agree more.
Hear, hear.
Last year, we as a nation decided it was time to put an end to six solid years of full Republican control of the government, and many of us (myself included) cited frustration with the disastrous war in Iraq as the primary reason.
So what did the Democrats do with their fresh new majority? NOTHING!!!
They caved!
Completely and totally!
Under continuous veto threats from the White House, a PR smear campaign eagerly hyped by the steno media, and constant attacks from the 101st keyboard brigade, the new Democratic majority in Congress once again gave the President exactly what he wanted.
Just wait, they tell us, until next year, when there's a Democrat in the White House. THEN you'll see something new.
First of all, that's a big if. There are no guarantees about that. The current crop of Democratic presidential candidates is mediocre at best. And while the Republicans don't have anything better, the same electoral machine that got the Worst President In History elected twice is already gearing up for next year. And the Democrats have proven time and again that they cannot match the juggernaut that is Republican electoral politics
Secondly, Americans seemingly just don't care! As a country, we seemed to be a LOT more interested in who wins American Idol than in who is running for president.
Don't believe me? Quick, without googling, name me five candidates from each party currently running for president. I'll wait.
I thought so.
Don't feel bad. I couldn't do it myself.
Towards the end of the war in Vietnam, the protest movement in this country against the war was so strong that any candidate who spoke out against it did so at his (or her) peril.
But it took over 14 years and the lives of nearly 70,000 U.S. troops for us to realize what a mistake that was. And this was in a time before Entertainment Tonight, 24 hour news, Paris Hilton, Brangelina, and Anna Nicole Smith. God knows how many more soldiers will have to die before we realize what a mistake this current war is.
Right now, we just don't seem to care. And anyone who does care, like, say, Cindy Sheehan, is shouted down by the right wing smear machine, with the willing help of the steno media.
Perhaps Ms. Sheehan said it best: "Good-bye America ... you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can’t make you be that country unless you want it. It’s up to you now."
I couldn't agree more.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Lest we Forget...
"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."
-Calvin Coolidge
Of course, soldiers aren't the only ones who die in wars...
Maybe someday there will no longer be wars. And maybe someday a pig will be taught to say the Rosary and then be taken bodily into heaven.
War seems to be a basic part of the human condition. There may be no way to avoid it. Sad.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Jerry Falwell, R.I.H.
(Rot In Hell)
Jerry Falwell is dead.
Notice that I did not call him the "reverend" Jerry Falwell, or any other similar honrific.
Because I believe that he was as much a voice of God as, well, frankly, I am.
I have never claimed, nor will I ever claim, to speak for God. I do not believe that any man, woman or child on this Earth can ever claim that right.
And yet that was what he claimed he did, every day.
The man was, put simply, a racist, misogynist, homophobic bigot.
In 1978, he founded the so-called "Moral Majority" (2 lies for the price of one), which helped usher in the Reagan-Bush era, and helped ensure that social progress in this country would be set back by about 50 years.
He campaigned against sanctions against the Apartheid government of South Africa, claiming that Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a "phony".
He asserted that the Antichrist was alive and a Jewish male.
And, after the September 11th, 2001 attacks, he asserted on National Television:
He later apologized for this, and claims he was quoted out of context, but I've seen the video. And this is a man who has been performing in front of a camera for more than 30 years. There is nothing he ever said in front of a live camera he didn't mean.
So I will shed no tears for this man. And I have no sympathy for anyone who does. And I realize that I may lose one of the three readers of this blog by writing this. I don't care. This blog isn't about the readers. It's what I think.
There is an old saying I learned long ago: If you ever see a man coming toward you telling you what a good Christian he is, put one hand on your wallet and walk the other way.
Jerry Falwell became a very wealthy man telling other people what a good Christian he was. Because too many people didn't follow that advice.
Jerry Falwell is dead.
Notice that I did not call him the "reverend" Jerry Falwell, or any other similar honrific.
Because I believe that he was as much a voice of God as, well, frankly, I am.
I have never claimed, nor will I ever claim, to speak for God. I do not believe that any man, woman or child on this Earth can ever claim that right.
And yet that was what he claimed he did, every day.
The man was, put simply, a racist, misogynist, homophobic bigot.
In 1978, he founded the so-called "Moral Majority" (2 lies for the price of one), which helped usher in the Reagan-Bush era, and helped ensure that social progress in this country would be set back by about 50 years.
He campaigned against sanctions against the Apartheid government of South Africa, claiming that Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a "phony".
He asserted that the Antichrist was alive and a Jewish male.
And, after the September 11th, 2001 attacks, he asserted on National Television:
I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this (September 11th) happen.'"
He later apologized for this, and claims he was quoted out of context, but I've seen the video. And this is a man who has been performing in front of a camera for more than 30 years. There is nothing he ever said in front of a live camera he didn't mean.
So I will shed no tears for this man. And I have no sympathy for anyone who does. And I realize that I may lose one of the three readers of this blog by writing this. I don't care. This blog isn't about the readers. It's what I think.
There is an old saying I learned long ago: If you ever see a man coming toward you telling you what a good Christian he is, put one hand on your wallet and walk the other way.
Jerry Falwell became a very wealthy man telling other people what a good Christian he was. Because too many people didn't follow that advice.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Mission Accomplished
Four years ago today, our esteemed leader stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier under a large banner reading "Mission Accomplished" and declared that major combat operations in Iraq were over.
Since then, more than 3,000 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians have been killed.
But major combat operations ended 4 years ago today. Our President said so.
So I guess they weren't killed after all.
Huh.
Oh well. Here's a picture of my brand new nephew. Hopefully, this war in Iraq that was over four years ago will actually be over before he and his brother are old enough to be drafted.
Welcome to the world, young man! I promised your brother when he was born that I'd do my best to keep the world in one piece until he was old enough to take over. I make you the same promise.
Since then, more than 3,000 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians have been killed.
But major combat operations ended 4 years ago today. Our President said so.
So I guess they weren't killed after all.
Huh.
Oh well. Here's a picture of my brand new nephew. Hopefully, this war in Iraq that was over four years ago will actually be over before he and his brother are old enough to be drafted.
Welcome to the world, young man! I promised your brother when he was born that I'd do my best to keep the world in one piece until he was old enough to take over. I make you the same promise.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Identified
So. The VT shooter has been identified.
From everything I've heard so far, this guy was, not to put too fine a point on it, one scary-ass motherfucker.
Excuse the language, but there are some times when it is called for.
I mean, from what people have been saying about this man, the only conclusion I've been able to draw is that people should have been asking not if he would have a serious nuclear meltdown, but when.
What is it that can drive a person that far around the bend? Was it some sort of chemical imbalance in his brain? Was it the environment he was raised in? Was it some kind of mind altering drug (or drugs)? Was it cosmic rays from outer space?
Or can it just be that some random event pushed this already dangerously unstable young man over the edge?
I freely admit that there have been times when I have felt the kind of rage that would drive me to homicidal behavior. But I have never acted on that impulse. I simply have to believe that the reason for that is that there is something in my makeup that would never allow me to do that.
Because if there isn't, then I am no better than Cho Seung-Hui. No better than an animal.
And I refuse to believe that.
From everything I've heard so far, this guy was, not to put too fine a point on it, one scary-ass motherfucker.
Excuse the language, but there are some times when it is called for.
I mean, from what people have been saying about this man, the only conclusion I've been able to draw is that people should have been asking not if he would have a serious nuclear meltdown, but when.
What is it that can drive a person that far around the bend? Was it some sort of chemical imbalance in his brain? Was it the environment he was raised in? Was it some kind of mind altering drug (or drugs)? Was it cosmic rays from outer space?
Or can it just be that some random event pushed this already dangerously unstable young man over the edge?
I freely admit that there have been times when I have felt the kind of rage that would drive me to homicidal behavior. But I have never acted on that impulse. I simply have to believe that the reason for that is that there is something in my makeup that would never allow me to do that.
Because if there isn't, then I am no better than Cho Seung-Hui. No better than an animal.
And I refuse to believe that.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Yet Another
So. Another mass shooting at a school.
This time, 31 students of Virginia PolyTechnical University are gunned down as they were in the prime of life.
As I understand it, VT is a technical University, heavy into research much along the lines of M.I.T. or Cal Tech. There is a heavy emphasis on Engineering and science curriculum. They also have a pretty decent football team.
So what does the loss of these 31 students mean, exactly?
Well.
For one thing, 31 young lives have been brutally snuffed out before they could become contributing members of society.
31 families will receive the worst news any family could ever receive.
31 promising careers have ended before they even got a chance to start.
Perhaps, more importantly, the future of mankind could have been snuffed out today.
There may have been some student among the dead who was destined to invent the low-cost desalinization device that would ensure an endless supply of fresh water, enough for everyone on the planet and more.
There may have been some student among the dead who was destined to create the new fusion reactor that was destined to solve all the world's energy problems.
There may even have been some student among the dead who was destined to design the spaceship that would carry mankind out into the stars.
OK, so maybe not. Maybe these 31 dead children (that's what they were, and now will always be) were destined for nothing greater than a boring 9 to 5 in a cubicle in the headquarters of some random Fortune 500 company, mindlessly going through the motions of creating a false impression of job satisfaction (a task I am PAINFULLY familiar with).
But, thanks to the actions of a madman, we will never have the opportunity to find out.
But the madman did not kill everyone. Madmen will never kill everyone. Many have tried. None have succeeded. So let me say this to those who survived the attack today: You're alive! Each day you live from now until the day you die is a gift! And you have an obligation to those who did not live through this day to make the best you can of your lives.
Because you can never know when the next day will be your last.
This time, 31 students of Virginia PolyTechnical University are gunned down as they were in the prime of life.
As I understand it, VT is a technical University, heavy into research much along the lines of M.I.T. or Cal Tech. There is a heavy emphasis on Engineering and science curriculum. They also have a pretty decent football team.
So what does the loss of these 31 students mean, exactly?
Well.
For one thing, 31 young lives have been brutally snuffed out before they could become contributing members of society.
31 families will receive the worst news any family could ever receive.
31 promising careers have ended before they even got a chance to start.
Perhaps, more importantly, the future of mankind could have been snuffed out today.
There may have been some student among the dead who was destined to invent the low-cost desalinization device that would ensure an endless supply of fresh water, enough for everyone on the planet and more.
There may have been some student among the dead who was destined to create the new fusion reactor that was destined to solve all the world's energy problems.
There may even have been some student among the dead who was destined to design the spaceship that would carry mankind out into the stars.
OK, so maybe not. Maybe these 31 dead children (that's what they were, and now will always be) were destined for nothing greater than a boring 9 to 5 in a cubicle in the headquarters of some random Fortune 500 company, mindlessly going through the motions of creating a false impression of job satisfaction (a task I am PAINFULLY familiar with).
But, thanks to the actions of a madman, we will never have the opportunity to find out.
But the madman did not kill everyone. Madmen will never kill everyone. Many have tried. None have succeeded. So let me say this to those who survived the attack today: You're alive! Each day you live from now until the day you die is a gift! And you have an obligation to those who did not live through this day to make the best you can of your lives.
Because you can never know when the next day will be your last.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
I Am Smarter Than a Fifth Grader
Most of the time, anyway.
I've gotten myself hooked on the new game show, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.
And I have to say, I'm light years ahead of the competition.
Most of the time, anyway.
Tonight, for example, the final contestant was beaten by the following question:
"How many meters are in a kilometer?"
Please, please, PLEASE tell me I don't have to tell you the answer to that!
So, should I be scared or entertained?
I mean, only one contestant that I've seen so far has made it past the $25,000 level.
They are answering questions from elementary school textbooks.
And they are not getting the right answers.
Again, should I be scared or entertained?
Admittedly, there was one question tonight I got wrong, but only because it's the one concept of geometry I never learned.
So I am smarter than a fifth grader. Most of the time, anyway. I just wish everyone was.
Because otherwise there is no hope for this country.
I've gotten myself hooked on the new game show, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.
And I have to say, I'm light years ahead of the competition.
Most of the time, anyway.
Tonight, for example, the final contestant was beaten by the following question:
"How many meters are in a kilometer?"
Please, please, PLEASE tell me I don't have to tell you the answer to that!
So, should I be scared or entertained?
I mean, only one contestant that I've seen so far has made it past the $25,000 level.
They are answering questions from elementary school textbooks.
And they are not getting the right answers.
Again, should I be scared or entertained?
Admittedly, there was one question tonight I got wrong, but only because it's the one concept of geometry I never learned.
So I am smarter than a fifth grader. Most of the time, anyway. I just wish everyone was.
Because otherwise there is no hope for this country.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Sometimes I Hate Where I Live
The three regular readers of this blog know that I live in the midwest.
And if any of them have been paying attention to The Weather Channel, they know that now, in April, the current temperature is in the low 30's, and there is sporadic snow falling.
This is no surprise. I've been living here almost 30 years. Nothing about the weather surprises me. I'm used to it. But it still bugs me.
Why? Because it does. There is no other explanation.
I'm tired of living through four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Construction.
I'm tired of days where I've had to switch my car from Heat to A/C in the same day.
I'm tired of wearing a T-shirt to work one day and a Winter coat the next.
But the problem is, there is no better alternative.
Where else can I go?
Florida? Nice weather, but Hurricaes.
Arizona? Hello?! Desert!
California? Hey dude, let's party!
The East Coast? No problem. Just 12 feet of snow every now and then.
Y'see, the Midwest may suck in terms of weather, opportunity, and everything else, but we are the heart of the country. And we will be around long after everyone else.
Which is why the best President in History hailed from Illinois.
And why, hopefully, the next President will also hail from there.
And if any of them have been paying attention to The Weather Channel, they know that now, in April, the current temperature is in the low 30's, and there is sporadic snow falling.
This is no surprise. I've been living here almost 30 years. Nothing about the weather surprises me. I'm used to it. But it still bugs me.
Why? Because it does. There is no other explanation.
I'm tired of living through four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Construction.
I'm tired of days where I've had to switch my car from Heat to A/C in the same day.
I'm tired of wearing a T-shirt to work one day and a Winter coat the next.
But the problem is, there is no better alternative.
Where else can I go?
Florida? Nice weather, but Hurricaes.
Arizona? Hello?! Desert!
California? Hey dude, let's party!
The East Coast? No problem. Just 12 feet of snow every now and then.
Y'see, the Midwest may suck in terms of weather, opportunity, and everything else, but we are the heart of the country. And we will be around long after everyone else.
Which is why the best President in History hailed from Illinois.
And why, hopefully, the next President will also hail from there.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
You Know What They Say...
...A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
These pictures are worth 3,218 names...
(The picture above was taken from a window of my office, which is on the sixth floor. Hard to see the tombstones with my camera phone picture, but I'm trying to convey the scale of this memorial--One full city block long!)
For more information about the Arlington Midwest Project, gohere .
These pictures are worth 3,218 names...
(The picture above was taken from a window of my office, which is on the sixth floor. Hard to see the tombstones with my camera phone picture, but I'm trying to convey the scale of this memorial--One full city block long!)
For more information about the Arlington Midwest Project, go
Monday, March 19, 2007
3,218
So. Here we are again at another anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
The title of the post refers to the number of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq since March 19th, 2003
3,079 of those deaths have occured since George Bush stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier (in front of a "mission accomplished" banner) and declared major combat operations in Iraq were over. Somebody, apparently, forgot to tell the other side this.
Add to that the over 24,000 (official) wounded, many of whom are now maimed, crippled, or otherwise scarred for life. This is to say nothing of the thousands more who are now suffering from deep psychological scars that are visible to no other person. It will probably never be possible to count all of them.
Add to that the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have died, both during the war and during the occupation. Most of whom were killed for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And let's not forget to mention the cost of the war financially. Just check the counter to the right for the current total.
I know that I tend to repeat myself in these anniversary posts, but DAMMIT! IT NEEDS TO BE REPEATED! OFTEN! AND LOUDLY!
Someone HAS to stop this insanity. The American people HAVE to start standing up and SHOUTING! I do every day, but I'm pissing into the wind, apparently, because NO ONE IS LISTENING!
The reason no one listens to me, I think, is that no one WANTS to listen to me, or to anyone else who says things like this. Because to acknowledge that the things I say here are right simply reminds people that THEY DID NOTHING TO STOP IT!
So people simply nod uncomfortably and tune me out when I say these things. Because it makes them realize how wrong this whole venture has been from the get go. And if there is ONE THING that we as Americans--no, as a human beings--refuse to acknowledge, it's the possibility that we MIGHT have made a mistake.
The last time we made a mistake of this magnitude, it took nearly 20 years to admit it. And in the meantime, this mistake cost the lives of nearly 60,000 American soldiers and MILLIONS of Vietnamese, both military and civilian, on both sides.
We as a race seem to have a inherent inability to learn from our mistakes. It may very well be the thing that ultimately destroys us. And sooner than we think.
Until then, I'll keep hoping it doesn't happen. I'm probably fooling myself.
The title of the post refers to the number of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq since March 19th, 2003
3,079 of those deaths have occured since George Bush stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier (in front of a "mission accomplished" banner) and declared major combat operations in Iraq were over. Somebody, apparently, forgot to tell the other side this.
Add to that the over 24,000 (official) wounded, many of whom are now maimed, crippled, or otherwise scarred for life. This is to say nothing of the thousands more who are now suffering from deep psychological scars that are visible to no other person. It will probably never be possible to count all of them.
Add to that the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have died, both during the war and during the occupation. Most of whom were killed for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And let's not forget to mention the cost of the war financially. Just check the counter to the right for the current total.
I know that I tend to repeat myself in these anniversary posts, but DAMMIT! IT NEEDS TO BE REPEATED! OFTEN! AND LOUDLY!
Someone HAS to stop this insanity. The American people HAVE to start standing up and SHOUTING! I do every day, but I'm pissing into the wind, apparently, because NO ONE IS LISTENING!
The reason no one listens to me, I think, is that no one WANTS to listen to me, or to anyone else who says things like this. Because to acknowledge that the things I say here are right simply reminds people that THEY DID NOTHING TO STOP IT!
So people simply nod uncomfortably and tune me out when I say these things. Because it makes them realize how wrong this whole venture has been from the get go. And if there is ONE THING that we as Americans--no, as a human beings--refuse to acknowledge, it's the possibility that we MIGHT have made a mistake.
The last time we made a mistake of this magnitude, it took nearly 20 years to admit it. And in the meantime, this mistake cost the lives of nearly 60,000 American soldiers and MILLIONS of Vietnamese, both military and civilian, on both sides.
We as a race seem to have a inherent inability to learn from our mistakes. It may very well be the thing that ultimately destroys us. And sooner than we think.
Until then, I'll keep hoping it doesn't happen. I'm probably fooling myself.
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