Wide Awake in America

Remembering Sept. 11th

2007-09-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

So, here it is September 15th, and only now have I been able to put my thoughts together enough to say a few things about the sixth Annniversary of September 11th. On that day, I watched the news rebroadcast from that morning in 2001, watched a couple of documentaries, and just basically sat wondering what I could say that I haven't already said in years past. It wasn't until just a few moments ago when I found a song called I Grieve, by Peter Gabriel, that I found my inspiration to talk about it today. When looking for a good picture of the World Trade Center, I came across this picture of Manhatttan from the view of the Brooklyn Bridge taken by an artist named Henri Silberman, it's amazing, how could I ask for better than this view? I have a feeling that it is this picture that will replace the view I see in my mind when I think of home.

Through the years, friends of mine from back home, some who lost family members and close friends that morning, have stopped by my blog, and have commented on my words regarding September 11th. I thank them for comforting me by saying my words comforted them somehow. So in a message to them, and to anyone else who might be reading this, I pass along the lyrics to that Peter Gabriel song called I Grieve, I found them very fitting in remembrance of the day.....

It was only one hour ago
It was all so different then
Theres nothing yet has really sunk in
Looks like it always did
This flesh and bone
Its just the way that you would tied in
Now theres no-one home
I grieve for you
You leave me
so hard to move on
Still loving whats gone
They say life carries on
Carries on and on and on and on
The news that truly shocks is the empty empty page
While the final rattle rocks its empty empty cage
And I cant handle this
I grieve for you
You leave me
Let it out and move on
Missing whats gone
They say life carries on
They say life carries on and on and on
Life carries on
In the people I meet
In everyone thats out on the street
In all the dogs and cats
In the flies and rats
In the rot and the rust
In the ashes and the dust
Life carries on and on and on and on
Life carries on and on and on
Its just the car that we ride in
A home we reside in
The face that we hide in
The way we are tied in
And life carries on and on and on and on
Life carries on and on and on
Did I dream this belief?
Or did I believe this dream?
Now I can find relief

I grieve...

Yep, life goes on, though we never forget those who helped us get to the point we are. My prayers go out for my city, my friends, and to all those lost that day. I guess this is my way of letting it out and moving on.

Forever THE Voice of Opera to Me

2007-09-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Luciano Pavarotti, finally at peace from his fight with cancer, passed away at age 71.

It was this guy, who I will forever regard as "THE voice of opera", the voice to which all who follow him will be compared. Afterall, when I was in grade school and first heard opera in music class, it was his rendition of Nessun Dorma.

Even now, while typing and listening to the song, I can remember the scenes from that very day, looking around as the sound filled the small room, some kids laughing, some making comments or standing to make wild exaggerated gestures like they were performing opera, the teacher trying to quietly shush them, and one girl in the back of the class who just sat there and listened, eyes closed. I watched her, thinking how I had known her for most of my life, but she never looked as beautiful as she did at that very moment, sitting there, eyes closed until the song ended, then wiping a little at the corner of her eye when it was over, it hit me straight through the heart. She would eventually become my very first girlfriend, we would date until high school when her family moved away, and the memory would always be able to make me both smile and ache a little in my heart for a simpler time when so much in my world was new.

I didn't mean to make this a story about me, but couldn't help but give an example of how his voice not only brought beauty to the world, but also effected the life of just a regular kid in Brooklyn all those years ago. I would grow up to always have a favorite opera song, a favorite opera (Turandot), as well as a good memory to go along with it, all thanks to him.

In my life, if I ever could have, I would have liked to thank the man. I guess all I can think to say now in remembrance of him would be in the form of an answer to the translated lyrics of Nessun Dorma:

No one sleeps! No one sleeps!
Even you, oh princess,in your cold room,
look how the stars, they tremble
with love and hope!
But my mystery it is locked in me.
And my name,
no one will know!
No, no!
On your lips I will say it
when the light will shine!
And my kiss
will break the silence,
and make you mine!
choir:
His name no one will know...
And he shall have,
alas,
to die, to die...!
Disperse, o night!
Vanish, oh stars!
At daybreak, I will win!
I will win! I will win!

Buona notte, ciao Maestro.

In time, everybody sleeps, and as the night falls.... you have won, your name will not be forgotten. Rest now, and may God speed you to your place in the choir of the heavens, now made better by your contribution.

Grandma Arrested for Not Watering?

2007-08-22T22:13:00.001-07:00

Yep, I knew Utah was one of those states to avoid.

Imagine this, a 70 year old grandma was roughed up and arrested for not watering her yard.

Oh, but there's more...

The officer who was going to cite the elderly lady for a city ordinance violation, claims she refused to answer questions and dragged him inside when she tried to go back in her home. The officer also claims he resisted her attempts to get away, and she slipped in the process, causing injury to her face and arms. Despite how anyone with a little common sense would view the situation, the officer decided to arrest the elderly lady, and took her, handcuffed, to jail.

The lady tried to explain that she couldn't water her lawn because her water had been turned off, how she lived on a fixed income, was having trouble making ends meet, and how she lived alone, but none of that was enough of an explanation for the arresting officer.

Now, I ask, why is it that the city takes more notice of a brown lawn, rather than taking notice of an elderly person living alone with no water and not enough money in the summer? In an interview with the mayor of the city where the incident took place, he avoided any opinion in the matter by pawning off responsibility onto the city attorney.

The arresting officer was sent home later that day and placed on "administrative leave", while the lady was released from jail. She now says she's fearful of the police, "because they'll hurt you if you don't do what they want."

How sad is that?

All I can say is, I hope there is someone who talks this lady into pressing formal charges of oppression, something needs to be done when it's the police and city agencies who take things too far over something so unimportant.

My prayers go out to the elderly woman, if I lived close by I'd help her out with her yard or at least take up a collection to help her get her water back on. I guess here's no such thing as a good neighbor in Utah. Somebody needs to do the right thing and help the lady, as well as look out for her interests as I'm sure the story will bring out more than one sharky lawyer.

May she always have an angel on her shoulder for the rest of her days.

Someone Tell Me Why....

2007-08-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

Why can't this guy EVER look presidential in a picture?

Later Leona....

2007-08-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

Gone at age 87, Leona Helmsley leaves behind a story of someone born to a working class Brooklyn family, who rose to millionaire status by marrying rich guys then divorcing them. By all accounts, Leona didn't keep her memories of how it was to be a regular person, claiming to be "above the little people." Yep, she was referring to just about everyone who didn't have a Park Avenue address.

Often referred to as "the queen of mean", she gained a reputation for being mean spirited towards those who worked for her, with some saying she'd fire a person just because she was in a bad mood. It's also been said that she sued her daughter-in-law after her son's death for money she said was owed to her, though the wife claimed she knew nothing about any loans made to her late husband. In the end of that matter, she left her daughter-in-law and grandchildren nearly penniless.

Now, I dunno just how credible the stories are about her, I dunno if she was really as mean as they say, but her picture doesn't exactly show a person glowing with the sunshine of happiness. If it's all true, then she would exemplify the worst that money can do to a person. If it's not true, then she's one of the most misunderstood people in New York history.

Though it's not my place to judge, I hope she made her peace with God before her time came.

No Repair for Shuttle?

2007-08-16T19:13:00.001-07:00

NASA gave the Shuttle Endeavour an Ok for a Wednesday, August 22nd return to Earth with no repairs, then released a story to the press saying the Astronauts were relieved by the news.

Hey, I'm no aerospace engineer, but looking at this picture of the damage, does it look to anyone else like this could be particularly bad? I mean, NASA did refer to it as "a recessed uneven edged gouge between tiles located on the bottom of the shuttle", but let's just call it what it really is.... a hole! From what I hear, a hole that goes all the way through the heat resistant tile to expose just a felt liner below. If I'm not mistaken, doesn't the shuttle enter the atmosphere at a nose up angle with the bottom of the ship taking the brunt of the friction heat? I find it difficult to believe that any Astronaut would be relieved at the thought of re-entering the atmosphere with a hole in their ship. Don't they deserve better than just a layer of felt between them and a few thousand degrees of heat? At the very least, the shuttle has become an embarrassment, at the very most it's just dangerous. More so than the "space travel is a dangerous business" quote that has been repeated to the press by the agency, this level of risk is just unacceptable.

I sure hope this is the absolute best assessment of the situation NASA could come up with, and is not another Columbia style calculated risk, they better be right. But hey? What happens if they aren't right? What are "we, the people" going to do about it? Afterall, Columbia was said to have damage when NASA cleared the ship to return, only to have a terrible disaster witnessed live on tv by millions. I thought the people wouldn't stand for NASA taking a risk that cost the lives of the Astronauts, people were angry and sad for a while, but the story faded in time, and the people's attention went elsewhere. So even if something bad does happen, will something be done about it? Probably not, it's sad but true in the evidence of recent past events. Though I explore the tough questions and the possibility of a bad scenerio, I really do hope for the best. Those who would fly to space with our flag stitched to the arm of their uniform, deserve the best in what our government provides for them to carry out their duties, and in our wishes for them to succeed. I wish them well, and will say a prayer for when they're on their way back home.

As for NASA, I hope there are some big changes in the organization, that some real money goes into it, and that our country will soon have a new Vice President who will take his duties as head of the space program seriously. Yep, responsibility for the current sad state of affairs should go that far up to the top, afterall it is part of the job description for the Veep. Why haven't we heard from him, ever, about the condition of NASA as an agency, and what they're doing to make it better? If anything.

30 Years Gone....

2007-08-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

....but not forgotten.

Farewell Phil

2007-08-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

Monday, Phil Rizzuto passed away at age 89. He was a class act, a true team player, and the voice of Yankees games that many of us remember fondly. His presence in the sport of baseball will be truly missed.

Phil, Brooklyn born to a working class family, stood just 5'6", yet he overcame the odds to earn a celebrated place in New York sports history. As a high school baseball standout, he was often regarded by coaches and team mates alike as having more heart than natural ability, but this son of a Brooklyn streetcar driver worked hard to gain notice. Upon a dare from his friends, Phil reluctantly agreed to try out for a spot on the Brooklyn Dodgers, only for it to end in a way that might have crushed the dreams of most men.

At just one look when Phil walked out onto the field, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Casey Stengel, called the young Rizzuto over, then summarily dismissed him from the tryout. "You're too short to play pro ball kid, why dontcha go home and try to find a shine box somewhere?", is what was rumored to have been said, followed by a callous laughter from the Dodgers staff as Phil walked away.

But Phil didn't give up, he stuck with the game, gaining a reputation as a solidly dependable player. In time his efforts paid off, and he found his way to the New York Yankees.

During his time, he never was a big numbers guy, but he was a solid team player, one who wouldn't hesitate to do what it took to help the team advance to take the lead or position for a win. How many of us baseball fans miss that nowadays? I tell ya, self-sacrifice seems to be something from a past era, and a shining example left us Monday.

I never had a chance to see him play, though it almost feels as if I did from all the stories my dad told of the Yankees during Phil's playing days. Phil got a mention in many of those stories that still make me smile when I think about them. My dad had a way of telling a story that would leave you feeling as if you were there, I guess it was his enthusiastic manner of delivery, I sure miss that.

So, farewell Phil, thanks for living a good life and giving hope to the kids of Brooklyn during your days. Though many of us with dreams of pinstripes never made it to run the bases at Yankee Stadium, you did, and somehow that was good enough, you showed it was possible to make a dream become real.

May God speed you on your journey home. If you could, say hello to the Babe, Lou, Mickey, and Roger for me when ya get up there.

Utah Miners Still Trapped

2007-08-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

After more than one week, Utah miners remain trapped. Mine owner (shown in forefront of picture) who is leading the "search", needs to stop with the media propaganda and just get those guys out of there.

If this guy is actually tryin' to find those guys, shouldn't he be pointing down?

Get to work ya frickin mine clown!

Yesterday....

2007-08-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

This guy finally resigned, effective at the end of the month, the news made me smile.

It's Been a While....

2007-08-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a while between posts, but now's as good a time as any to get back to it! Thanks to all who continue to visit.

Our Soldiers Deserve Better!

2007-03-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

In some upsetting news, it seems that the current administration that has gone the extra mile in wrapping itself in a shroud of "patriotism", even to the point of questioning the patriotism of anyone who asks questions, falls short when it comes to providing even the most basic care for our soldiers.

First there was the talk about not enough armour on the humvee vehicles being sent into battle, then there was talk about not enough body armor being issued to our troops, then there was talk about the body armor that was being sent, not being up to par with what it was our soldiers were facing in combat. Not enough good armor, and shoddy armor could only lead to more casualties in the field, but the care those fallen soldiers received has now also been reported to be sub-par at best.

In press conferences, the president would like for us to believe he is shocked and appalled by the news of rat and roach infested hospital areas, as well as rooms inundated with mold, but how can we believe there was no prior knowledge of the crappy hospital conditions when one of the places in question is right in his own backyard? Yep, I'm talking about Walter Reed Medical Center located in Washington DC.

C'mon, who really believes this is the first time anyone in a position of power has heard anything about this? And by position of power, I mean both Republicans and Democrats alike, there's more than enough blame to go around. By now we've all heard just how much both sides is supposed to care about the soldiers, how both sides have their best interests in mind, but then why hasn't someone taken the short walk over to tour the facilities? Someone, anyone, I don't care who, but surely someone had to have known the place was a dump and had to know our soldiers deserved so much better.

If any of us were to go to any military hospital to talk with the soldiers, and if any of us were to mention the word "hero", most soldiers would show their humility and say something about themselves not being the hero, but that the real heroes were those who didn't return, still I say they are all heroes, and in such, deserve so much more respect and care than they are receiving. It just makes me mad to think of our bravest coming home wounded and being forced to live in such conditions while they try to recover well enough to rejoin their families. Why is this sort of thing still going on?

I ask why it is still going on, because it is a well known story that was told by many of the Vietnam era soldiers, of shoddy, rundown conditions of hospitals they returned home to, even the movie "Born on the Fourth of July" showed rat infested conditions within an army hospital that looked oddly similiar to Walter Reed. So, I say it's no big secret, it's a tragically hidden truth about the true nature of our VA healthcare system.

Once again I say, "c'mon!", haven't we all seen the pictures of the president pinning Purple Heart medals on wounded soldiers within that very same hospital? Is there any excuse for the president not to have toured the entire facility? Surely his concern didn't end when the cameras left, did it? If there was concern at all.

Something needs to be done, there is no excuse for this sort of thing to be going on within our country while billions upon billions are being spent on this terrible war. Somebody better step up and ask the proper questions, though even at this time, I have yet to hear much outrage coming from either political party. Could it be that there is just too much blame to go around for both sides? Sadly, I say that's probably what is going on.

I salute each and every person brave enough to put on the uniform of this nation's military, who would answer the call and put themselves in harms way. Something needs to be done asap to fix this, then someone needs to ask the hard questions, starting with "why?".

I can't believe the amount of outrage I feel about this story, it's just wrong on so many levels. With all of my hope that I have in for country being able to "just do the right thing", I hope someone decides to just do it... do the right thing and do right by our soldiers and their families, give them good care, give them good supplies, give them the respect due them when it comes to planning a war, carrying it out, and making them the main factor in the grand equation. Our soldiers are more than assets to be used, they are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters to someone if not all of us in some way, we rely upon them to do our fighting for us. Shouldn't we all demand that they be treated respectfully?

"Wii" Are Not Amused...

2006-12-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

Did ya ever wonder for whom the words "this bag is not a toy" was printed on just about every plastic bag ever made? I'd bet every once and a while you'll come across someone that makes you say "A-HA! There's the guy!"

By now just about everyone has heard about the so-called problems with the motion activated game controller from Nintendo's Wii Game System, if you haven't here's a little info on what's goin' on with this thing.....

The Nintendo Wii game controller is different from every other game controller out there as it gives the player the ability to almost put themselves right into the game. If you're hacking a sword, throwing a baseball, bowling a game, slam dunking a basketball, or whacking a tennis ball in a game, you hold the controller and hack away, your character in the game will act out the motion of your arm. Kinda cool!

However, some (the plastic bag crowd) don't find things so cool, there have been reports of broken televisions, broken windows, shattered glass, and broken bones. Sheesh!

Yep, it's true folks, broken bones, and broken household items, which I believe will unfortunately result in lawsuits. I believe it's a sign of the times, when everyone sues for everything, regardless if it's not really the fault of the maker. Remember the McDonalds lawsuit where someone sued because they spilled hot coffee on their jewels? They sued because nobody told them it was hot. Geez... though the person did get paid, they had no shame.

**DISCLAIMER: To Wii users and hot coffee spillers, don't bother suing me as I'm just a poor college student. I don't have alot of money. At this point in my life all I can afford to have is an opinion, which is all this blog entry is, just one man's opinion. At the time of this writing, opinion was still protected by the constitution as free speech, so piss off**

Ok, that being said, what do you think about this "Wii Have a Problem" thing that is going around the internet, even to the point of there being a website by that name? Who's at fault? Is it the overzealous gamer, or is it Nintendo? In my opinion it is the fault of the gamer, and to them I would say, "hey take it easy pal!"

Personally, if I were one of those people who had smashed my tv with the controller, broken out a window, broken a lighting fixture or my arm, whacked my dog, or any of the other stories of Wii induced carnage, I'd keep quiet about it and make sure nobody saw me when the event took place. Instead, it seems to the "in thing" to send in a picture of the resulting chaos. HEH!

Can you imagine the next generation of wrist strap that will be included with the game? Perhaps it will be a giant hefty thing? Perhaps each game console will just come with a tube of super glue? I dunno, but in my opinion just make the new wrist strap handcuff shaped (key not included but available as an accessory). There ya go, problem solved, try lettin' that thing go flying now! *LOL

I still can't help but feel this whole "issue" is just plain silly, but I guarantee the issue will turn ugly. I feel badly for Nintendo, as they will undoubtedly be caught up in a legal mess. I'm shaking my head already, and wondering what insanely obvious message will be printed on the boxes just in time for the next shipment?

Hooray for for Christmastime!

2006-12-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

As I sit here taking part in my yearly tradition of watching my the movie "Miracle on 34th Street", I can officially say "it's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!"

I tell ya, the year just wouldn't be the same without that incredible movie.

December blows in with a cold wind, traffic clogs the streets near the shopping areas, and people get in a rush, but that's no way to get the feeling that the big day is on it's way. Instead, it's the coming of this movie to television each year that reminds me of the magic of Christmas. Besides, who could have possibly been a better Santa than Edmund Gwenn? Take a look at that face, the man IS the face of Santa that I have always imagined since I was a kid and saw the movie for the first time.

Most have seen the movie, but for those who haven't, I highly recommend giving it a look, people of all ages will appreciate it for it's ability to remind what Christmas is all about, or should be.

I recommend the original black and white version from 1947, though the colorized version is ok if that's all the video rental place has available. Though I do have to say, avoid the remake with the same name that starred Richard Attenborough as Santa, that movie just lacked the magic of the original, and had some really crummy dialogue in it that just spoiled the entire mood for me, even creeping me out in some parts. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the kids who have only seen that version of the movie, it just didn't compare.

I sit here typing this blog entry with a big smile on my face as once again I've had a chance to see the perfect representation of Santa, even all these years later it still works. I'm ready to get out there and do my shopping, stand in lines, brave the traffic and all of that other stuff, now that my Christmas spirit has been replenished.

May all of you have a very Merry Christmas Season!

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes to all for a great day,
and a good start for the holiday season.

Walmart Blitzkrieging Across America

2006-11-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Oh Walmart, that bastion of capitalism at it's most obvious. With their cheap prices as the result of their volume buying, loved by so many, but hated by so many small town mom & pop retailers who had to pack up shop when their town was "invaded".

Yep, it's true, some towns have likened it to an invasion when the yellow smiley face comes rollin' in.

However, Walmart has another little face that has embroiled them in controversy recently (pictured above), this face also smiling, but looking alot less friendly.

The skull is a t-shirt design offered at Walmart for little over $9.00. It's origin? Well, that little smushed skull is the insignia of none other than the SS Division designated "Totenkopf" or "Death's Head" by the Nazis. Originally formed as the bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler and other high ranking Nazi officials, the death's head insignia was also worn by Panzer tankers, and concentration camp guards. Hmm.... charming isn't it?

The big maroon skull is an actual picture of the t-shirt as taken by a gentleman named Rick from the Bent Corner Blog, the little inset picture is a clip art likeness of the Nazi patch insignia, see the similarity?

Now isn't that nice? A late night trip to the 24 hour Walmart, to pick up a few things someone can't live without 'til morning (like a gallon drum of olive oil for $2.44), and while there, don't forget your value priced Nazi stuff. Woohoo!

Ok, that was sarcasm, I wouldn't wear that crap if ya paid me, but does anyone else find all of this to be a bit odd?

A spokesperson from Walmart denied any knowledge of the origin of the t-shirt design, practically blaming it all on the t-shirt vendor, which might be a good excuse if the shirt wasn't produced by Walmart's in-house brand called No Boundaries.

Perhaps there should be some boundaries, as I find it hard to believe that whoever came up with the idea for this shirt design didn't know they were using the insignia of a particularly notorious Nazi SS unit. I think someone was trying to be cute about the whole thing, just a big "ha ha" at the expense of most of us who might not recognize Nazi insignias if we saw them, while they mainstreamed Nazi skinhead material by introducing it into one of our nation's biggest retail stores.

Well, I don't think it's cute, and I don't think it's funny.

Whoever is responsible for this slap in the face to the American consumer should be dismissed immediately, and the offending item be pulled from store shelves just as fast.

Research of this matter has turned up updates from NBC News and the Bent Corner Blog stating that despite the uproar and promises from Walmart to remove the item, the t-shirts are still available in stores.

Could Walmart be intentionally slow in removing the shirts from store shelves as they know they're more likely to sell to those looking to make a quick buck on Ebay, and to the twisted? Anything's possible these days.

So, maybe Walmart coming to town is an invasion? They come with their army of trucks, their giant ultra-modern store, and apparently their insignia of choice. How would ol' Sam feel if he were still around? I'm almost afraid to ask because I want to maintain my opinion of him as a good man who got rich just looking out for everyday folks.

Borat Receives NY Welcome?

2006-11-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

Well, it seems comedian Sacha Baron Cohen received one heck of a New York welcome when he took to the streets under guise of his alter-ego Borat.

Cohen's Borat character is supposed to be a Kazakhstani TV reporter who asks people some of the most outrageous questions anyone can imagine. The appeal of the Borat character is evident by a huge box office hit for the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit for the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. (which also happens to be one of the longest titled movies in cinematic history)

Cohen (as Borat) was filming on a New York street, asking passers-by crazy questions, to which he recieved some laughs, some ignores, and a few "git da f___ outta heyah" responses. Friends of Cohen said they were all having a good laugh about the spectacle, until Borat (Cohen) approached the wrong guy.

He walked up to a man and said in his mock Kazakhstani accent, "I uh like uh you clothings, they are nicccce! Please may I buying? May I? I want have sex with it!", while pawing the mans clothing. To which the man simply punched Borat (Cohen) in the face, knocking him down, then proceeded to continue punching him in the face until Cohen's friends intervened.

Hey? how's that for a "welcome to New York?"

Rule #1 on the streets of New York, don't touch anyone

Rule # 2 on the streets of New York, don't give people a hard time, or they just might give you one back.

While those rules don't justify the actions of the man who beat the crap out of Borat, what was Sacha Baron Cohen thinking? His pranks might get a little more polite response from people in the South or out West, but in the big city of New York with so many people, lots of crazy people at that, nobody likes someone walking up to them and touching their clothing, much less wanting to have sex with it.

No mention was made about which neighborhood Borat was in at the time of the attack.

All I can say is at least Borat is OK, only minor bumps and bruises, it sure could have been worse, the guy could have shoved Borat's microphone somewhere often obscured from sunlight.

I still believe New York loves Borat, just as long as he doesn't touch them, or make sexual advances to their winter coats. It's a long distance relationship. *LOL

Mr. Independent?

2006-11-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

He favors the war, he lost his primary after hugging a president, he alienated himself from his party, he became an independent, finding support from the party of the man he hugged so publicly. Yep, the Republicans.

They gave their support eagerly, knowing their party's candidate didn't really have a chance after getting into some sort of gambling scandal.

Struggling for his political life, he took that campaign support from the Republicans, waging a particularly nasty campaign against his Democratic rival, regarding him as inexperienced, soft on terror, no plan, all of the usual things you usually hear coming from "the people in red".

Yep, you guessed it, the Republicans.

Well, he went ahead and won that Senatorial election, promising to bring the troops home if he was elected, but did you know campaign promises were ruled on by the Supreme Court not long ago, protected as free speech, even if the promise is never fulfilled? Yep, it's true. I'm not saying he won't try, nobody knows what he'll do, I'm just saying a campaign promise is a campaign promise, nothing more.

Now that he has his Senate seat back, and not wanting to make most of Connecticut angry just yet, he pledged to caucus with the Democrats, the party who pretty much kicked him out, and for all anyone knows, who he might regard as the bunch who almost cost him his cushy 2 day per week job that pays in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (and that's just salary).

But....

I wonder who he might be beholdant to? The party who pretty much kicked him out, or the party who threw their support his way? I'd like to trust the man, I really would, he never seemed to be a bad guy, which is probably what most of the voters in his state thought when they saw his name on the ballot. In my opinion, he always seemed meek, almost apologetic in his tone when he was speaking on an issue, there was always a "forgive me for saying...." in his voice. That was until he chastised his fellow Senators for "questioning the president at a time of war", no apologetic tone there, and it struck me odd. Afterall, during a time of war, isn't it important to ask questions when it's the sons and daughters of this nation who are out there fighting, and who better to ask but the people who were elected by the people to represent them in government? I guess he just didn't see it that way.

My opinion of ol' Joe changed that day, as I guess did the opinions of many Democrats, whose side was he on?

Now, we once again find ourselves asking that very same question, "whose side is he on?" With the narrow Democratic majority in the Senate, Joe finds himself in the interesting position of being a political survivor, someone who went from the scrap heap to becoming perhaps the most influential (and thus powerful) man in the Senate. If he sides with the Democrats, they'll win the vote on an issue, if he sides with the Republicans they'll win the vote on an issue, see what I mean about influence? He's the swing vote.

My best guess is that we should all look very closely at the earliest issues that come up for vote within the Senate chamber, I predict a lesson to be given to one side or the other, perhaps given to both sides? He'll be in a position to demonstrate just how much either side needs him.

Kinda scary isn't it? That one man should have so much power? We find ourselves living in historical times, my friends, things we've seen these past few years will be written about in the history books, whether the events are depicted favorably or not will undoubtedly depend on who wields the most influence. Stories will be passed down from generation to generation, changing slightly as each passes the stories along, fading until only the written word remains.

I'd like to say things will go smoothly now that there will be some oversight by our legislature, though it all depends on Joe, the wild card, the unknown element, the person we thought we knew, but came to find out we never did. I have a feeling we will come to know him, but will we like it when we finally do?

Only time will tell....

Remembering Our Soldiers

2006-11-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

I just got home, and couldn't let the day pass without saying a few words about Veteran's Day. When I was at work, I was thinking about what I'd say, I decided not to make yet another statement against the war, by now anyone who has read some of my blog entries, knows how I feel about it.

Instead, I'd like to tell you a story about how I've come to view Veteran's Day through the years, I hope you don't mind, and hope you enjoy my story, it comes from my heart with all the respect due to those who gave of themselves in the service of our great nation.

I salute them all, and say thanks.

In my family, Veteran's Day usually meant flying the flag proudly, lots of food, visits to my uncle's houses, lots of smiles, hugs, and stories. It was a day long event.

From all of us kids, I was the only one my uncles wouldn't shoo off with a "go play", they'd let me sit there with them listening to their stories while they reminisced about friends they had known, places they'd seen, and things they had done when they were off to war.

Sometimes I'd notice their laughter near the end of a story trail off, a change in the tone of their voice, and maybe the occasional break in their words like they were trying not to cry.

I remember one time grabbing one of my uncle's hands, asking if he was feeling sad, even now I remember that big ol' face of his, when he said "no, I was just remembering a good friend, and was thanking him for making it possible for me to be here right now with you." I said, "wow, musta been a good friend, I thank him too", to which my uncle said, "I'll bet he heard that and it made him happy"

If I think about it, I can still feel the rib crushing hug my uncle gave me.

Later in the day, the family would make a trip to the neighborhood cemetary to pay our respects to family members, many of whom I never met, but felt a connection to when I saw the family names carved in big letters on the stones. Generations of my family are there, many of them having served in our nation's military.

I still remember the grandmas with buckets in hand, filled with items to clean the stones and sites, they never would let one of us carry those buckets for them, my guess is that they felt it was important they did it themselves. I still see the serious looks on their faces while they walked together.

We, the kids, would carry little American flags, or a drawing we had made, we'd place those little flags to the right of the stone, after the grandmas had done their good work.

Looking at the words carved before me, I noticed that beneath the names, there were also letters and numbers, some sort of strange code that didn't make any sense to me, my uncle explained that it meant they were a soldier, the letters and numbers were there so that other soldiers would know what they had done.

I noticed a grave on the row behind my family member, it also had letters and numbers, it looked very old, the stone needed cleaning, with grass growing high along it's bottom edge. I asked my uncle if that man was a soldier, as he had the numbers and letters too, my uncle said "yes, he was, he served in the Second World War, see where it says?"

I saw.

I remember looking around the scene, the uncles going from site to site, taking a knee, saying a few words, the grandmas busy with their cleaning, the aunts trying not to speak too loudly when they tried to calm down my cousins who were running about the place.

One of the grandmas stopped to rest, leaving her bucket unattended, I walked over to it, grabbed her little clippers, a towel and spray bottle.

I looked back at that unkept grave in the row behind my family member, and thought how lonely it looked. I don't know why I thought that, maybe it was just seeing all of the attention paid to those from our family.

I walked over, slowly, standing there for a moment, reading the stone, then taking a knee, and saying a few words as I had seen my uncles do.

I remember not knowing what to say, so I just said something like "Hi, I know you don't know me, but you looked lonely, and I hope you don't mind me coming over to fix ya up a little, it's Veteran's Day".

When I finished cleaning, I took the little flag I had saved in my pocket for myself, and placed it to the right of the stone.

My uncles saw what I had done, meeting me as I walked back to rejoin the family, giving me pats on the back, and an arm around my shoulder, with one of my uncles saying "that's a nice thing ya did kid, you got a good heart".

I remember the walk back to the car, us leaving that site with so much of my family's history, seeing our name carved over and over in so many places, I remember seeing that lonely grave too, looking a little less lonely with that little flag waving in the breeze.

Each year, when Veteran's Day comes around, that's the memory I think of, that one day out of so many years, the first time I placed a flag on that lonely grave after paying my respects to my family members.

It was the last time the family still had all of the uncles and both grandmothers.

Though years have passed since that day, my grandmothers and many of my uncles gone, and me moved away from the neighborhood, I hear some of the family still make that yearly Veteran's Day trip to pay their respects.

About that lonely grave, it's not forgotten, I've been told a family member puts a flag on it each year, caring for the site like they're one of our own.

None who served our country and gave so much should be forgotten.

I hear it's now my second cousin, grandson to the uncle who told me it was nice thing I did so many years ago, who puts the flag each year. Perhaps in time the duty will be passed to his son, and grandson? If not, then maybe mine.

It makes me smile to think.

Dems Have a Good NIght !

2006-11-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

What a difference a day makes!

I got up early yesterday, and went to vote. Though I vote in most elections, I have to say the process was a bit odd.

Two schools used as polling places near here, across the street from each other, not even 100 yards apart, one with no line where the subdivision with it's own golf course votes, and the other for everyone else with long lines for the few machines, surly poll workers who weren't very happy, and not very much parking.

I of course voted at the long line place with everyone else, but afterward, decided to peek in on how it was at the other polling place across the street. What a difference! The poll workers were nice, walking right up to you with literature in hand that outlined how to vote on the electronic machine, another asked me if I'd like a cup of coffee, while not forgetting to mention there were also fresh donuts from Krispy Kreme, there were rows of machines with no wait, so this is how the other half lives? Must be nice. I was right in the middle of thinking that, when I was asked for my last name so they could put me in line to sign the registry, I told them I was just waiting on a neighbor who was on their way. The poll worker smiled and said, "well I'll get you a chair", which she promptly did. It was nice, but all the while, I couldn't help but compare the sour puss faces of the poll workers where I had just voted, the lines of the 5 machines for what looked like at least 60 people who arrived early like me "to beat the crowd", no coffee, no Krispy Kreme, no chair fetching people. Politeness was something reserved for those with money, or for those who vote in a way more favorable to those in power.

Oh well, I didn't let that stop me, I was on a mission. *LOL
I waited in the line, cast my vote, and left feeling like I had accomplished something, though I also knew that voting in Texas, my vote wasn't going to change much in this heavily fortified Republican stronghold of a state.

I went to classes from the afternoon 'til evening, arriving home near 10pm, and was pleasantly surprised by the news, things were going well for the Democrats in this election. You can't imagine just how many times in recent years that I've said "the people won't stand for that!", only to be disappointed when we did. This election finally seemed like the people woke up, realizing that a government without checks and balances nor oversight can begin to turn into something kinda scary. An unfavorable war in Iraq costing our soldiers their lives and billions of our tax dollars with no end in sight, Predator congressmen preying on underage male pages, Other congressmen being brought up on assault charges for choking their mistresses who they met at a Young Republicans rally, Yet more congressmen being brought up on charges for corruption, resigning with tears when their greed is revealed, the smiling mugshots that left many wondering if they knew where they were, The oil company ties during a time when oil company profits are of historic proportion along with the prices were paying. The domestic spying, which says the government wants us to trust them while they show they don't trust us, just a whole slew of things indicating that things were getting far out of hand for the party who promised to restore honor to government.

As I watch the news now, word has it that the Democrats have majority in the House of Representatives, a majority in the Senate is also projected for them, meaning they will have both chambers of Congress. I believe it's a good thing, as there truly is a need for a new direction, and for some oversight into how things are being run. If the Democrats are to actually recieve this chance to control both legislative chambers, if I could, I'd say, "the American people have entrusted you with this honor to serve your country, don't let us down, do the right thing."

My hope is that they'll function as a unit, with a clear agenda for fixing what they've regarded as being broken all these years that they've been out of power. I expect them to live up to the trust I've put in them, and to not tone things down so much as the now humbled pundits of the Republican party are suggesting, the people will respect them for just doing the right thing, and for never fogetting who it was who put them into those seats of power.

What really blows my top are the Republican edged commentators who have shows on the various cable news channels, such as O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Scarborough, Dobbs, and Carlson-- today I've heard so much talk about both parties coming together in unity, about all of us just being Americans regardless of political affiliation, about calm taking the place of intolerance within our halls of Congress. All good words and ideas, but where was the call for all of that when the Republicans owned everything? Just a few days ago, it was the staus quo of "us against them", and I'm not even referring to the campaign jabs, the Republicans enjoying having a "what are you gonna do about it" way of doing things. The Democrats should remember all that they were subjected to during their time as the minority party, and should flex some muscle now that they can, help the people, heal the nation, right the wrongs, and the people will respond in kind. Never forget, never fall victim to what befell those who came before them, and never forget that the politics of hope will always defeat the politics of fear, they should seek to build on that good rule.

I wish the Democratic Party well, I have high hopes for what they might be able to accomplish, it's up to them to make sure that hope is kept alive, they have my trust, now all they have to do is work to keep it.

Less than 24 Hours to Go!

2006-11-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,

Well, here we go, Election Day is less than 24 hours away!! Can you believe it? Time sure flies when you're having fun, and I guess it goes by quickly when you're not having much fun at all, but just waiting for this day to come. *LOL

No matter how you feel about the way things are, please be sure to vote, it's important.

Here's a few things we might all think about when it's our turn at the machine:

*Is our life better now than it was under previous administrations or during other sessions of congress? If it is, then vote to keep the current guys in there, if it's not, then vote for change.

*Will we need Social Security when it's our time to collect it? If you won't, vote for the guys who might privatize it or scale it back, if you or a loved one might need it, then vote for the guys who will get money back into the Social Security Trust Fund. Bush and Co., already said Social Security is on the brink of bankruptcy, with no money available to fix it. However, Bush and Co., see nothing wrong with spending $7.4 Million Dollars per hour in Iraq.

*How is that fair? Nobody sane is in favor of depriving the troops of anything, that's not the reason for quoting dollar figure costs, but if you look at any of the websites dedicated to sending troops items they need, and you'll wonder why are there actually requests for socks and boots from the soldiers? We all wondered why some families had to buy armor protective vests for their loved ones serving over there? Where is the necessary and most basic equipment? Why did Halliburton charge our government $45 dollars per six pack of Coca-Cola in a can that was supposed to be or our troops? Where is the money going? That's alot to think about, but it is important.

*Of course, the soldiers, if you believe the current course of things has been worth the lives of 3000 of our bravest, then vote to keep the guys in office, if you don't believe it's worth even one more soldier's life, then vote for change. Much has been said about people who speak out against the war, I'm saying this only for the reason that I want them all to come home, it's not cutting and running, it's recognizing cost, and return and comparing that to the lives of our soldiers. I salute their efforts during their mission there, I consider their service to be one of the most honorable things a citizen of our great country can do, worthy of great respect, admiration, and thanks from us all. That is why I wouldn't sacrifice another one of their lives for that place where they were sent under so many mistakes and falsehoods.

Enough of the issues, some will believe them, some won't no matter what is said, but if you want to learn more about these issues, they're easily found on Google.

Most importantly, make up your own mind, think of what's best for you and your family, and vote that way. Like I said, it doesn't matter to me how you vote, just that you do. I have respect for anyone who votes with their heart and their head.

Have a good night everybody,
and best wishes to all during Election Day.

Cheney Hunts Again... Friends Nervous

2006-11-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,

In the picture, notice the nervous faces of the men to the left and right of the Veep, imagine how the photographer felt standing in front of the guy. YIKES!

In a news story today, I heard Mr. Cheney now feels much better after "the worst day of HIS life", as he so called it after he blew away one of his friends with a shot gun on a hunting trip, and plans to hunt again on election day, tomorrow.

Umm... does anyone else wonder how it could have been the worst day in HIS life, when it was the other guy who he shot? While nobody can say it was a good day for the Veep-ster, surely the other guy's day was going much worse. But, I guess since the guy who got shot apologized to the Vice-President and his family for what they had to go through, I guess that makes it all ok. It's a true story, the other guy actually apologized, how strange is that?

Will the area where Mr. Cheney likes to bound through the woods be eerily deserted this hunting season? If, not, will the other hunters invest in day-glo colors that could save their life? Will the quail simply stick around knowing they have nothing to worry about as they're not even friends with the guy? Will the prices of beer company stock go up as a result of this hunting trip? Only time will tell.

What's in a Name?

2006-11-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

In a strange turn of events, a news story reported that Senator Joe Lieberman says he will "get the troops back home if elected". HUH?! Wha? No frickin' way! That guy? I don't believe it. Surely he means in 10-20 years, or just temporarily to send them back out there again.

What's in a name? Well, if you take the first 3 letters from this guy's name, you have the word "Lie". Is that what's going on here now, just 1 day before the election? Why the change of views, if there really is one? I guess he's looking to get any sort of vote he can.

(I'm not saying all people with that last name lie, I'm only referring to "the hugger" pictured above. Get a room! That picture gives me the heebeegeebees)

Surely, anyone who has been following politics lately has come to know that Senator Joe Lieberman is amongst one of the most supportive "democrats" when it comes to the war. I use quotation marks around the word "democrats" when it comes to this guy, because he sure doesn't sound like one very often. Remember when the Bush White House was coming under scrutiny for what was said in the days leading up to the Iraq War? It was Joe Lieberman who came to his defense on the senate floor, saying something to the effect that people shouldn't question the president. But isn't that one of our greatest rights in this country? At this point we still have the right to ask questions of government officials we elected. I believe the silencing of that right is a dangerously wrong direction to take. Who wants to vote for a guy who doesn't believe in the right to ask questions?

So, how will Joe work to bring the troops home, and how will the Republican Party allow him to do so? Was Joe's campaign promise done with a wink and a nod to the Republican base who recognized one of their own and threw their support to him? I don't see him doing anything of substance to bring out troops home if he is elected.

Here's why, Joe is a political survivor, he knows a cushy job when he has one, where else can he get national attention while working only 2 days per week and get paid hundred of thousands of dollars in salary? Not to mention "contributions" made to him by his big business friends who have much to gain if he stays in the game. Why would he rock the boat by going against the war?

He won't.

He's not the same guy those many people thought they knew, he's going to be beholdant to someone for helping him keep his cushy job, will it be Democrats who voted for him? Nope, but he's gonna owe someone.

Why'd He Do It?

2006-11-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,

Yes, he's baaaack!

John Kerry lost himself recently and believed he was Jim Carey for a second, resulting in an untimely "botched joke" when he told a group of college students "if you study hard you can do well, if not you get stuck in Iraq". His explanation was that he had left off the punch line of "just ask President Bush".

Ok, I'm not crazy enough to believe he intended to insult the men and women of our nation's military who serve bravely each and every day. John Kerry himself is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. I do believe it was nothing more than an attempt at being funny by an unfunny man. C'mon let's face it, the man is not funny, and that's ok, not everyone is.

When John Kerry secured the nomination for the 2004 Presidential election, I first thought "well, he wasn't my first choice", but I lived with it and watched intently in the days leading up to the election. Whew, the guy was dry, so dry I wondered if he was made of straw. Yep, that dry. Remember the voice? Tough to stick with in my support, but shoot, what was my alternative? No way was I goin there.

Around the time of the election, I saw film footage of the scene pictured above, and thought "couldn't someone have loaned the guy a respectable sized sailboat?" Who wants to see the man who might be the president one day with some sorta contraption strapped to his ass just days before the election? Who let him do this, and all of the other "I'm still strong and young at heart" photo ops he was doing? Really, the only thing we didn't see him doing was skateboarding a half-pipe. Geez.

But about this latest mistake, why'd he do it? Just why? Was it just a need for the spotlight? Was it a belief that he'd show 'em all how it's done? Was he just trying to be charming? Or was there a secret handshake deal? Ok, I don't really believe the secret handshake deal theory, I'll just call the mention of it a botched joke, but now I see how easily it can happen. We'll never know the reason why this happened, but I hope the Democrats can contain the Republican driven attempt to shift attention away from the issues they're doing so poorly with.

It's a shame, it truly is.

Now the Republicans can attempt to show themselves as the party who respects the soldiers, even though they were the ones who sent them to fight in a country under false pretenses, costing the lives of 3000 of our bravest, they were the party of "Bring it On!", they were the party of "Mission Accomplished" when little was actually accomplished, the hardest of times were yet to come, they were the party of "stay the course", even when that course seems to be leading us to a place we don't want to be. So far, their policies, actions, and inactions have resulted in the deaths of more Americans than were lost to the 9-11 tragedy. Yes, I said it, and it's sadly true, I say it with a heavy heart.

From what I've noticed, the Dems are fractured on this silliest of issues, some siding with their opposition in their interpretation of what happened, others using it as an opportunity to spring forward in political position for the next presidential race of 2008. Why did it take so little to get the Democratic Party off point? At a time when their voices should be united in unison about the need for change, some are sounding scarily like the people they're running against. Get it together, sooner not later, now if possible!

In closing, I want to say I'm not anti-Kerry, I'm also not one of those who would count him out because of this incident of his own creation. Personally, I feel sorry for the guy, if it was indeed just a mis-spoken word, then I can only imagine how he must feel today, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But I believe John Kerry needs to work on himself to re-learn how to be one of the regular people again, what it is we care about, how it is we speak, and how it is to just relax and be himself. Too often these career politicians exist in a bubble world for so long, that they cease to be just a regular person taking part in a government "of, by, and for the people", a place where even the language is by far different from how we speak. He has some good things he can still say, he has a role in Democratic Party politics, and on the occassion when I've heard him relax and just talk, he makes some good points, it's when he gets back into that voice projecting Senate floor speak tone that he loses so much.. If he would conduct himself as just a classy guy who speaks the truth in real sentences, he'll regain respect. I hope he can do it. If I could say anything to him, I would say "don't take anything I said personally, it wasn't intended as an attack but was intended to show how the political advice he's taking from someone just isn't working nor is it playing well with the average man on the street. Be smart, do the right thing, speak to the people of this great nation in a way that shows you respect them enough to just level with them and give them the straight truth, and you'll find people will listen and cheer again."

Why am I still shaking my head after I've attempted to wrap up this matter and put it into perspective in a way that makes sense to me? Sheesh, does anyone else find politics in our country to be frustrating?

To all, please remember to vote on November 7th, it's very important.

Farewell Governor Ann

2006-09-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

Moments ago I heard a news story saying former Texas Governor Ann Richards passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer, at the age of 73.

The news saddens me because I liked Ann Richards, which is unusual for me to say about any politician. Sure she was a saavy and tough politician, but she was also witty and funny, though never to point of being silly. Even at her funniest moments, she had a way of letting you know her words had meaning. Always with a twinkle in her eye, I believe it encouraged people to trust her, rather than to question the things she said.

She did good things in Texas government, making the disenfranchised feel as if someone actually cared, also opening the door for women and minorities to enter into state level politics, a task none too easy in the "good 'ol boy" traditional system of Texas politics.

Take a look at the picture at above left, that is exactly how I'd like to remember her, if there truly is such a thing as charisma or someone being "full of life", she had it. She had a way of lighting up a room.

In the days since the Bush reign over Texas politics, the state has somewhat reverted back to the traditional system, which is a shame. However, it was just nice to know that the smart lady who had the ability to make you both laugh and think at the same time, had been there, and had left her mark. She will be truly missed within the state, and within national level Democratic Party politics.

One of her most famous "one-liners" you might have heard, was said at the 1988 Democratic National Convention where she said...

"Poor George, he can't help it, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth"

Surely talking about one of the many commentary gaffes of George W. Bush, those were indeed prophetic words, think about how many times we've all cringed as a nation at one of the towel snapping frat boy antics of our president. Yep, she sure knew what she was talking about.

In closing, I'd like to say Farewell Governor Ann, you'll be missed, your words will be repeated with a smile, and greeted with a deep thought. You did good, your fight now over, rest well, and know you won't be forgotten. May God also smile at the things you say, and admire the things you did during your time here with us.

All I have left to say is "thank you for being a good person", something I wish I could have said to her in life.

So, here we are....

2006-09-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

So, here we are again, today is the 5th anniversary of September 11th. For me, it's kind of a tough anniversary to expect to roll around each year, but we have it, and always will, so it's one of those things we'll all have to learn to live with I guess.

When I think of that day, it brings back a hint of the many of the emotions I was feeling that day, confusion, fear and concern for my family members who worked in the area where the smoke was coming from, then the anger when I found out the cause of my city being thrown into turmoil, more anger when I saw the old ladies from my block hugging together crying while they looked in the direction of the smoke and listened to the sirens in the distance, my anger turning to hate towards those who would do something like that, and who would scare old ladies. The sound of fighter jets crackling high in the sky above, added to the feelings of uncertainty, though of course we all knew they were there for our protection. I remember the faces of the people when we heard them, I saw fear, real fear, and I can tell you, if you ever have a chance to see the look of real fear, it's an awful thing to see. It's one of those things that stay with you, the fear passes as does the anger to some extent, but the images stay. Even at this moment while I type this, I still remember those faces, and it reminds me of the sadness and anger I felt that day. May none of you ever have to see anything like that.

On the anniversary of something like what happened, a little quiet reflection would help, but the way it seems all of the television channels put on their own version of "let's relive the moment", it kinda creeps me out. I, and I'm sure so many others will never forget how they felt, and where they were that day, but do we actually need a "complete re-broadcast of NBC's Today show from September 11th, 2001"? I don't want to forget, and I'm certain I never will, but I don't want to relive that day.

If you're going to watch any of the television presentations about September 11th today, I highly recommend watching an HBO presentation called "Through a Child's Eyes: September 11th, 2001". Talk about putting the whole situation into perspective, the kids on that show told a refreshing truth. Though some of the stories are so sad, the show leaves you with a feeling of hope because of how those kids have overcome so much. May they all have the very best in life.

So, here we are, I've seen my one show on the subject today, I'm sure I'll quietly reflect on my memories, I'll call my family to tell them I love them, I'll say a prayer for the families of those who lost someone or who has someone away at war. Truthfully, it's exhausting to remember too much from that day, but it's also a bit troubling to see the commercialization and exploitation of the day for whatever reason. Political parties using this day, television using this day to sell commercial advertisement time, it just doesn't seem right to me.

I believe in honoring those who died that day, many were heroes, all were undeserving of what happened to them, their lives taken too soon. I bow my head when I think of them, and say a prayer because I don't know what else to do.

May their families find peace in their hearts, may God send an angel of hope and compassion to be there with them during their most trying times. It must be especially hard for them on this day, I hope they know there are people out here who actually care about that.

That's what this day means to me, a jumble of emotions, not as strong as what I felt on that day, but still there.

Crikey! Farewell Croc Hunter

2006-09-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

Just moments ago, I heard news that Steve Irwin, aka "The Crocodile Hunter", passed away after receiving a stingray barb to the chest.

He was instrumental in developing the Australia Zoo into a major tourist attraction, also receiving limited attention here in the United States for his "Crocodile Hunter" television show on the Animal Planet channel.

Most recently, his popularity in the United States began to decline after he was shown teasing and feeding a snapping crocodile with his infant son tucked under one arm (as shown in the picture at left). After the incident, he issued a semi-apology that didn't go over very well with many of the offended viewers. Needless to say, the damage was done.

Personally, I never cared much for Steve Irwin, as I saw some antics to be needlessly pushing the boundaries of safety, and not very respectful to the animals. The incident with the croc and his kid just convinced me I was right.

I don't mean to speak badly of the departed, I have respect for the man as he did well or himself, gaining respect in Australia and other parts of the world. I sure wouldn't wish anything like this to happen to anyone, but my words just tell the truth of how I regarded him.

Mr. Irwin was declared dead on the scene after being struck in the chest by a stingray's barbed tail. While it is unusual for someone to die so soon after being stung, it is possible the toxins were close enough to his heart to bring about cardiac arrest or the onset of shock which could inhibit respiratory function. The incident was ruled an accident, as the singray was most likely startled into reacting, the location of the wound shows Mr. Irwin was probably swimming on top of the ray while it was attempting to hide itself in the sandy bottom, he could have made some sort of accidental contact with the animal.

My only hope is that Mr. Irwin was giving the stingray all the respect it deserved, and not handling at the time, though he was known for his very much hands-on approach to dealing with the animals he'd encounter.

My prayers go out for his family and fans who mourn his passing.

A Life Celebrated....

2006-08-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

This morning I heard an incredible story, it was the story of a returning son to the land upon which he can trace his heritage, that enough would be a good story, but imagine him returning to a hero's welcome.

The man pictured at left is Senator Barak Obama, the woman with him is his grandmother, a resident of the small Kenyan village the Senator visited during his African trip to promote AIDS awareness, safety, and prevention.

As I watched the news clip of the Senator as he walked down those narrow dusty streets, with crowds of people singing songs in celebration of his arrival, all I could think was how proud the man must feel. His father was born, raised, and lived in the small village, sometimes tending to the family's goats for the grandfather, he would attend school when he could, showing promise enough to inspire the village to help him further his studies. But who would have guessed that community help would have produced a Harvard graduate with a Ph.D, and a son who would eventually become a United States Senator? Talk about overcoming huge odds, Senator Barak Obama is the 5th African-American to serve in the Senate in all of our nation's history, and the only African-American Senator serving at this time. I must say I'm proud of the man, as his achievement shows he surely did inherit his father's will to succeed, and succeed he has.

It was amazing to see the video footage, with the singing crowds, the smiling faces who seem to have captured a little bit of the hope the Senator seemed to represent for them, even the American flags flying in honorary display as well as being waved by people in the crowd, and they weren't trying to light them! Truthfully, how often do you see that on the news nowadays? It's disappointing to always see the now "news-standard" image of big crowd, burning flag. Not this time, and it was just great! To me, it represented how our country could be regarded around the world, it was the friendly greeting Vice-President Cheney could only dream of.

One other thing I noticed was the plain manner by which the Senator spoke, not just on this occassion, but also on the tv news interviews I've seen him give, he makes a good point, just putting his words out there intelligently. I find it easy to respect a politician who still possesses the ability to just say what he means, rather than speaking in the circular manner we so often hear from "professionalized" politicians. Most often politicians seem to have their own language, sure it's English, but it's the language of non-answer, and what good does that do for anyone? I once heard someone say, "any good politician will answer questions, but their answer is always to what they wish the question was". How true is that? Yep, sadly it's true.

The Senator spoke to the crowd, not in an "I'm gonna tell you" manner, but in an "we're all in this together" sort of way, the crowd sporadically shouting back their replies to his words, with the Senator replying back in kind. It was a conversation with thousands, and it was incredible.

Talk on the streets of Kenya has some asking for the Senator to consider running for the presidency of Kenya, he has that much trust amongst the people, who only wish for a long and happy life.

Barak Obama t-shirts, baseball caps, and an Obama named soft drink were sold by wandering street vendors, posters of him were also available for sale in front of the village school that bears his name. In Kenya, it was Obama-mania, it was hope for our country to have a friend in Africa, and it was what must have been a magical moment for the Senator, his family.

It was the return of someone they regarded as one of their own, the son of a man of modest means who elevated himself through education, who brought with him a message of hope and umlimited possibilities to those who don't often consider life to offer as much. I can only imagine the spark ignited in some of Kenya's youth that day, what great and incredible things will they go on to do, now reminded that there is a way for the possibility to do anything, even to rise to great heights. I'd bet they probably knew all along, but now they had proof. Some in the crowd must have received that message, in my opinion, that is the best part of this story. Hope is contagious, something I believe was happily passed from person to person within the village, perhaps throughout the country.

My only question is, now what will our country do to help the people in Kenya who are dealing with a terrible AIDS crisis? Senator Obama made great strides in U.S-Kenyan relations on his trip there, but he is unfortunately just one man in the Democratic Party which doesn't have much power in our country at this moment. Will the current administration pass on this opportunity to do something great, spreading our good will to that country, while receiving it back in thanks? Looking at the track record of administration responses to good or bad situations, I have a sinking feeling that the positive advances our country made in Kenya that day will be ignored through someone's hopes that the moment will fade to be forgotten by November when election time comes around.

It won't be forgotten if we all remember there are other ways of doing things that don't result in angry crowds, there's a way of working together globally, a way of spreading hope, and just doing the right thing.

I can only imagine what just a fraction of what we'll spend on Iraq today, could do to restore hope here at home for Seniors worried about their Social Security, their pensions, and their medical care, for the people still trying to put the pieces back together along our storm battered coastlines, for kids in impoverished neighborhoods just aching for a glimmer of hope that might show them a different and better way, and of course for countries like Kenya who just want a friend to extend a helping hand with no strings attached. There has to be a better way than what we've seen these past few years, there just has to be....

Good will fosters good will, a good deed will often create one in return, hope ignites the fire of hope in others, wouldn't that be a great foreign policy for us to build upon? Nah, I'm not saying we should go soft and neglect our military, so don't try to box me into that corner, nor am I saying Senator Obama's trip was the end to all wars, I'm just saying it showed me something good during a time when most tv news isn't so good.

Bush Penny Pinching Costs Soldiers

2006-08-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

Moments ago, I read a troubling story about a group of 150 soldiers from Massachusetts who served our country bravely in Iraq, fortunate enough to make it home safely, only for them to be stranded in Indiana by this administration's penny pinching ways when it comes to soldiers.

How is that for our government to treat those who put their lives on the line daily? They are American citizens, who volunteered to serve this country, to even give their lives if need be, now being told there isn't enough money for them to be flown home to those who love, care, and have missed them during their tours of duty.

Here's the story as told by ABC News .....

150 soldiers, from a Massachusetts based regiment, received a surprising "welcome home" from their government when they touched down on American soil after doing their extended terms of service in Iraq. The soldiers landed in Indiana Friday morning, happy to be home, the soldiers excitedly asked when they would be going back to Massachusetts. It was then they were told that flying them home was out of the question as it would be too expensive, and that they should make their own arrangements (at their own expense) for bus transportation (an 18-20 hour ride back home), since they couldn't stay on base long after their debriefing and "cool-down period".

It wasn't until one of the soldiers, a Sergeant still looking out for his troopers, called the office of Senator Edward Kennedy, explaining the dilemma the soldiers were facing. The Senator wrote an official correspondence to the Secretary of the Army, describing the situation, and asking for an explanation about the treatment of the soldiers upon their return to American soil.

I'm impressed with the actions of that brave Sergeant, how's that for overcoming and adapting to a situation? He went above and beyond for his soldiers, I greatly admire his efforts.

It seems that after the letter from the Senator to the Sec'y, and probably a phone call from the Sec'y to the administration, brought about the realization of what sort of a media black-eye the situation could cause, the government somehow quickly found the money to fly the troops back home to their families who were eagerly awaiting their return.

See? I told you the story was troubling. It's so darn troubling it makes me furious to think our soldiers are having to deal with yet another example of the administration's penny pinching when it comes to them.

First there was the lack of body armor for our soldiers: there just wasn't enough to go around, therefore lives were lost due to lack of a vital piece of equipment that could have saved their lives or lessened the extent of their injuries.

Then came the inadequate body armor that was shipped into the warzone: the body armor wasn't rated high enough to deal with the velocity of the projectiles and shrapnel that could impact, therefore our troops were going into battle with government issued body armor that couldn't stop the stuff that was coming their way, more lives were lost.

Then there were the Humvees that weren't armored up for battle conditions, our troops actually had to scavenge for scrap metal plates sometimes from the hulking shells of burnt out enemy tanks, cut and weld them up themselves, to have some sort of protection on the doors, and floors of the vehicles they were told to carry out sometimes dangerous missions in, more lives were lost.

I'm sure there were other incidents, but aren't those enough examples?

Now comes the time for what should be a celebrated homecoming for a small number of our troops, they did their time in the warzone, and just want to get back home. "If you wanna go home, take a bus and you're paying, cause we're not going to spend the money on you", is what the official position amounted to when it came to them.

How is that any kind of thanks for them putting their lives on the line daily?

Granted, soldiers don't expect special treatment, but I do expect the government to go as far they can for these brave men and women. So often they've been used as props for speeches, and photo-ops. Our soldiers deserve more respect than that from this administration who see's it possible to justify spending 177 Billion ($177,000,000,000) dollars per day in Iraq. That dollar figure breaks down to 7.4 Million dollars per hour, or $122,820 per minute being spent on that country, but the doors to our tax dollars suddenly slam shut when it comes to flying soldiers home to their families? How is that fair?

Another question about something not fair, is...

"why is it that Halliburton employees fly back home to their families?"

Yep, no letters nor phone calls needed to help get them home, I guess it helps to have their former CEO sitting in the Vice-President's chair.

We need a real President and Vice-President sitting in those chairs, real patriots who look out for the soldiers, not just as expendable assets, but as brave Americans. We deserve better than someone who would just put on a flight suit and stand under misleading banners, once again using our brave soldiers as a backdrop. Our soldiers deserve better than a "commander-in-chief" who would yell "Bring it on!" to our enemies, while they send them over there with inadequate equipment, We deserve better than those who would ship all of our tax dollars to a foreign country at an alarming rate, then claim there's no money for seniors who depend on Social Security, who would leave our citizens stranded on rooftops because they appointed their unqualified corporate cronies to key positions, or who would leave our soldiers stranded far away from home when they return from war.

It shouldn't have taken a letter and a phone call to get those soldiers home, it should have just been the principle of the matter, not even the principle, it should have been the honor to deliver them home to their loved ones, alive and safe.

So what do you think? Does this story make you as angry as it made me? I'm steamed the more I think about this. If the administration wonders why recruitment is down, it's not just because of the war, it's because of how quickly they forget about the sacrifices these people have made, once they return. Where's the respect? Where's the honor? I sure dunno, but it's nowhere to be found in those who inhabit our nation's highest offices. Actions speak louder than words, but so far this administration seems to have trouble doing much more than whispering sweet-nothings in the ears of their corporate friends.

I can't wait for November.

Ernesto Threatens Florida?

2006-08-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

Floridians, hold onto your hats, as it seems the first hurricane of the season that could threaten the U.S coast might be headed your way.

5 computer models of the projected storm path for Hurricane Ernesto seem to show it will be delivering a glancing blow to Hispaniola, making it's way over Cuba, then starting that all too familiar turn into Florida.

While computer models are useful tools when it comes to providing storm path possibilities, the models are sure to change and shouldn't be used as a definitive information source. Check the link below for the latest computer models, advisories, satellite photos, actual storm track, and other useful resources:

Hurricane Ernesto Information

If you are located somewhere within the projected storm tracks, it would be a good idea to stock up on your supply of bottled water, and non-perishable foods. It's good to have some things to eat and drink if electricity is out, and the drinking water might be contaminated by run-off or broken water mains.

Make a plan for your family, figure out which room is safest within your house ahead of time, that way you'll have a plan in place just in case an emergency weather situation takes place during the storm.

Fill-up your car's gas tank, just in case you have to evacuate, or if power is out for a while after the storm the pumps won't work. Lines at gas stations could cost you valuable hours of time, and who wants that when a big storm is headed your way.

Stock up on batteries for flashlights or your weather band radio, so you can stay informed while the storm passes over.

Make plans for pets, don't leave them outside, instead find some room for them inside with you, or at least in a garage, and stock up on food and water for them too.

I you need plywood for your windows, go out and buy it now! As the storm makes it way closer, the lines at building supply places will be long, and supplies could run out. This is a good idea for the food and water supplies too, because we all know how the store shelves empty out when a storm is coming. Use long screws to secure the plywood, as they hold better than nails, and are easier to remove afterward. You can always caulk over the holes and paint to match later.

The storm is currently a Category 1 Hurricane, but is predicted to be upgraded to a Category 2 or 3 by the time it makes it's way to the U.S. coast, which means wind damage possibilites go up, as does the threat of storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, and hail.

Be safe, plan ahead, listen for local evacuation routes and if mandatory or recommended, buy your supplies now, talk to your employers about their plans and yours in case a storm hits, just be prepared. If the storm misses you, you haven't purchased anything you won't eventually use anyway, and with the later months (Sept, Oct, Nov.) often being the most active during hurricane season, it's still good to have those items around.

2006: Racism Will be Televised?

2006-08-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

Have you heard about the plans for the latest Survivor Season? "Tribes" separated by ethnic race, so there will be a White Tribe, a Black Tribe, a Hispanic Tribe, and an Asian Tribe. How does that sound like something fun to watch each week? Division of the Races for fun and entertainment.

Does anyone else find it surprising that something like that can actually be considered for prime time family hour television in the year 2006? I'm disappointed to say we, as a country, on the topic of race, haven't made it as far as I had thought for my entire life. Truthfully, I write this with a sort of sad anger, because even though I know racism exists, I didn't think it could be so blantantly shoved into the faces of people.

Ok, ok, I know some who read this will say "it's only a reality tv game show, so what's the big deal?" Nothing really in the reality tv game show part of it, it's the desire of the show's production company to consider using race as a means by which to divide contestants into teams, and of CBS Television to allow it. Isn't there already enough of that sort of thing in the world?

The whole thing truly is disappointing.

Can you imagine the watercooler talk in some circles? "Wow, did ya see? The Whites really beat up on the Blacks this week!", "Yeah, but they really did a number of those Hispanics last week."

Now doesn't that sound like fun?

I don't think so.

My hope is that someone will call for a national boycott of the Survivor show, and a boycott of any companies who might choose to sponsor. For that matter, why not boycott CBS, and all sponsors of their programming? Afterall, it is CBS who is giving the approval for a race themed game show to air on their network.

There comes a time for people to draw the line and say, no racism, even if it's packaged nicely in the form of a game show competition. The idea of selling the idea to the American people in this day and age offends me, as it should so many others out there. It's the principle of the thing, it's a taking back of American culture to pre-Civil Rights Movement days. If we allow the door to blantant racism to be opened, will we actually like what's waiting for us inside? I'm referring to all of us, all colors, races, and creeds, we're better than that.

BTW, I'm not a victim of racism in my life, nor was I raised to give it, I'm of Italian-Spanish heritage, and the words I hear when it comes to race, came a long time ago from my father, when he said, "there's good and bad in all races, even within your own, it's the person that matters, not their race, remember that and you'll live a better life, ya got me? Your friends are buncha a**holes, don't be one, wisen up to the way things are, do the right thing." My dad was always straight and to the point when it came to our talks, that particular one came after he heard one of my friends from the block, yelling something racial at a new kid in the neighborhood. I've always remembered what my dad said, and have lived my life by what he said that day, his words were true. The kid who was being yelled at by my friends, we became good friends, and nobody messed with him after that. He's currently serving with the Marines in Iraq, we keep in touch, and my family will always be there for his family, his wife, and kids.

So, when it comes to the issue of race, remember the words of my father..

"to live a better life, just do the right thing."

Buonanotte Bruno

2006-08-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

In some sad news from the movie world, veteran character actor Bruno Kirby has passed away after battling Leukemia, he was 57 years old. Born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu in New York City, to a prominent movie industry family, Mr. Kirby succeeded in making his mark in Hollywood.

The extent of his work might surprise some, but he was one of those actors who just made a film better by being there, with the ability to add a likeable quality to the characters he played.

His roles included parts in: Crash, The Godfather II, Modern Romance, Donnie Brasco, City Slickers, The Freshman, Sleepers, Good Morning Vietnam, This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Stuart Little, The Basketball Diaries, Hoffa, We're No Angels, Borderline, Cinderella Liberty, even the original television pilot episode of the long running show M*A*S*H. Truly impressive, coincidentally that list includes 2 of my all time favorite movies, and several others that I've seen many times.

To his family and loved ones, I wish them peace in knowing he won't be forgotten, and will be missed.

Rest well Bruno, peace unto you in the arms of God, and thanks for all of the fine work you did.

Buonanotte.

Snakes on a Plane!

2006-08-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

Just say it....
"Snakes on a Plane"

C'mon, admit it, it's fun to say, but the question everyone is asking:

"Will it be fun to watch?"

I sure hope so.

It's not often that a movie gathers so much fan hype that it takes on a life of it's own, just from the sheer absurdity of it's title, but that is exactly what happened (even before it's first showing) Snakes on a Plane.

The movie's premise is simple, some might say so simple it borders on genius, You have a plane, you have snakes, put the snakes on the plane, throw in some people to be on the plane with the snakes, make one of them the great Samuel L. Jackson, and there ya have it, Snakes on a Plane.

Now, back to the question everyone is asking, "Will it be as fun to watch as millions (ok, maybe thousands or hundreds, or tens) of internet "SoaP" fans imagined it would be?" Since the movie was announced for an August box office premiere, I've been watching and listening for clues.

One not so good clue was the original director leaving the project due to "creative differences and budget disputes". Worried? Maybe a little, as that sounds like the work of movie studio "suits". One more clue I heard about was the movie going back in for a quick 5 day re-shoot "to fix a nagging story problem". Uh oh, either "the suits" are at it again, or (as Hollywood Reporter suggested) they were looking to bump up the movie to an R rating, instead of the original PG-13 rating the studio had been pushing for so hard ("suits").

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Nah, could be good as someone might have found a way to allow Samuel L. Jackson to say the line so many imagined him shouting about "muthaf**kin' snakes on the muthaf**kin' plane!" Afterall, what's a Samuel L. Jackson movie without a few "MF's" said in the way only good ol' Sammy can say 'em? Of course there's the exception of Mr. Jackson's starring role in a movie called The Red Violin, not a single "MF!" in the whole movie, and it was excellent.

Wondering what I'm talking about with all of this "MF" talk? Imagine the movie Pulp Fiction without the scene where Sammy pulls a gun on the guy who is holding up the diner, telling him to reach into his bag of collected loot to find his wallet:

the robber looks into the bag,

(many wallets can be seen in the bag)

the robber says, "which one is it?"

Sammy (answers in a calm voice), "it's the one that says Bad Muthaf**ka"

the robber nervously digs around in the bag,

finds it, pulls it from the bag

(the wallet is shown)

and sure enough it did have "Bad Muthaf**ka" embossed right into the leather.

Classic! Now that's the Samuel L. Jackson, use of the "MF" word connection I'm talkin' about. *LOL

By Friday night we should all begin to hear the "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" on the movie from fans (of the movie title) and the curious who wanted to be part of not often seen movie event (and oddly enough that's exactly what it is, an event as it will show the movie studio's ability to deliver what people wanted to see). Surely the movie will be lambasted by snooty "professional" movie critics out there who have long forgotten how to appreciate a movie that somehow willed itself into being. But who cares? Even if the movie is no good, we'll all still have the title, and memories of how it worked itself into popular culture. Click the link and you'll see what I mean, it's a phenomenon.

I gotta say it again...
Snakes on a Plane!

"Dude, your Dell's on Fire!"

2006-08-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

Well, it seems that Dell laptop owners can cancel their doctors appointments, that burning sensation they were experiencing might not be what they thought.

Dell has issued a recall for certain laptop batteries which can malfunction to the point of catching fire or exploding. The batteries in question are Lithium Ion batteries manufactured by Sony.

If you happen to own a Dell laptop, yank out your battery and give this site a look...

https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/

The site will give you all of the information you'll need to determine if your laptop battery is amongst those recalled.

What's interesting about this story is that it's not actually new news to Dell, as they issued a battery recall in 2005, though most likely very quietly. It wasn't until an online video of a Dell bursting into flames (complete with secondary explosions) found it's way onto the net, that Dell decided to let everyone in on the news.

To the currently unemployed "Dell Dude" (Steven, their former pitchman) I'd like to say, "Dude, I'm not gettin' a Dell anytime soon", and I'm actually looking for a new computer. Though, I sure won't be looking for a laptop that comes with the threat of a weenie roast when actually placed on the lap. *LOL

War of Perception?

2006-08-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

Well, those wacky guys in the funny outfits over in Lebanon are at it again, they've declared victory in the fight against Israel. The really bad thing is that the Arab press is backing them up on their claims, so a sizeable percentage of the population could regard their kooky claims as truth.

But are they wrong?

If you go by the match-up of their forces vs. Israel, they are wrong, and they did lose. If you go by the shot for shot comparison of damage to country, once again they are wrong, and did lose. However, if you look at the war as them baiting Israel into a fight to allow them to have this opportunity to lie to the Lebanese people, as part of their agenda to gain attention to themselves, and to in some way show their strength to the average people who might want them to go away, then they succeeded in meeting the requirements for them to carry out their agenda.

But is it a victory?

No, not in the true sense of the word. All that group did was to bring additional hardships to the average Lebanese citizen who wants to live their life peacefully. To call what they accomplished a victory is like saying the giant "Mission Accomplished" banner our president posed with for pictures in the early days of the Iraq War had some credibilty, and we all know how that turned out.

Will this effect the cease fire?

Yes, I believe it will. That group will now feel the need to keep up appearances even more, and in time will do something stupid to get the fight going again. Though I don't often agree with what this presidential administration says, they did have a point when they said there is a need for a lasting peace, that just calling for a cease fire will do nothing to help the situation and would only give that armed militia group time to regroup themselves and restock their inventory of terror accessories. My hope is that Israel continues the monitoring of the region and will block those people's attempts to re-arm themselves.

Well folks, looks like the cycle just keeps on cycling and recycling, over and over again. Sure is a shame.

Sharon's Condition Grim

2006-08-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

While watching the morning news, I just heard word that former Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, is in grave condition after suffering a stroke which left him in a coma some months ago.

I admit I don't know much about the man, with the exception of a brief biography I read prior to mentioning this here, but I guess like all men who have made their mark on this world, or have entered into the world of politics or the military, he is loved or disliked by some.

His biography was very surprising to me, as I learned he was a member of Israel's paramilitary forces which eventually lead to the creation of the Israeli Defense Force, he was a general in the service of his country's military, and a member of Israel's first ever special forces unit. He eventually rose to political prominence when elected to the position of prime minister of his country, and even formed a third political party which gained a stong foothold within the Israeli parliament. An incredible life indeed.

He remains a controversial figure to some, regarding his tactics used during war. Like I said, he is loved or disliked by some, though with my limited knowledge on the subject, I can't make any judgements, all I can do is talk about what I read.

Mr. Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke a few months ago. He now faces a big battle for his life as it has been diagnosed that he is suffering diminished brain activity, a secondary infection, and the onset of kidney failure. As someone who was there to be with my grandma in her final days, I know that means he is growing tired, and with that tiredness the body fights for a time until exhausted. If these are to be the final days of Ariel Sharon, I pray that he rests well and finds peace with God. If his life's journey is to end, the question of hero or villain will be between him and God, no longer for anyone else to decide.

With my reading of Mr. Sharon's biography, I have to admit I gained a new respect for the man, he truly has lead an incredible life. By all appearances, he served his country with distinction throughout his life, and that in itself is worthy of recognition and respect.

The life of a soldier is not an easy one, and at this time the soldier in Ariel Sharon fights on, I wish him well.

Cease Fire Coming...

2006-08-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

Well, by the time I finish typing this, a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon will have started, but will it last, and what will be the eventual outcome of this fragile peace that is being established? That is anyone's guess, but I would bet that it won't last.

Nope, I'm not one of those fist waving people who chant war, war, war to get my day going, nor am I one of those people who turns the other cheek even after both sides have been struck (though yes, I know I should be in accordance to religion), my beliefs reside somewhere in the middle. I believe in war only as a last resort after all other diplomatic channels have exhausted themselves, I believe in establishing a firm objective once war has been declared, and I believe in keeping the soldier in mind when all decisions are made, rather than just throwing people into the fray with hopes of a good outcome. If my views appear to be filtered through our own war in Iraq, that is no accident, as I have friends and family serving in our nation's military, and I wouldn't trade any of their lives for a water treatment plant, or a purple finger election in that country, I say bring 'em all home, now.

Back to the issue at hand with the cease-fire in the Middle East, I say that the peace is unlikely to hold because of the spin already coming from Arab television and newspaper media. Their take on the cease fire is that Hezbolla will gain respect in the "Arab world" (and I hate that term because afterall we all live in the same world) as many people will have anger directed at Israel for the casualties of the conflict, as well as blaming them for disrupting their lives. The media there is also saying (and I saw this during an MSNBC interview with a reporter from a prominent newspaper in the region) that HEZ is being perceived "as one of the few who faught Israel to a draw". HUH? To a draw? Are there actually people really so in need of feeling empowered that they could call the cease-fire a draw? Well, apparently so. For those of us living in the real world, we know that world opinion called for the cease fire because of the overwhelming decimation of Lebanon. The cease fire was more a case of pity for an outgunned people who really faced a bad situation had the fighting had continued. Though I often try to look on the bright side of things, and not regard the world with a cynical view, that is the reason I don't believe the peace will hold for long, with the combination of what has become a traditional feuding between the two peoples, and the skewed stream of information/propaganda that finds it's way into homes there.

Ok, I know that the average person on the street in Lebanon is most likely just a regular working person, looking to move on with their life, and to live happily, but how can they not somehow manage to take charge of the situation and drive out those militia groups who keep fighting just so a handfull of high ranking militia people can maintain their wishes to retain power and influence? Once peace is solidly established, it's safe to say those very same people will have to lay down their arms and get a real job. Still, the Lebanese people need to ignite and stoke the embers of their own freedom from the oppression of those militia groups who operate like a shadow government within the established country boundaries who already has an elected government. Without a concerted public effort to rid themselves of their own problem, how can they actually expect to ever live in peace? Yep, I said it, the conflict is the result of a few men who wish to retain power at any cost of innocent lives, they really don't want that regular job.

I find it difficult to cast blame onto Israel, even after seeing many of the news stories where Israel was being villified in the latter days of the conflict. One night while watching the news, friend of mine asked "aren't we still friends with Israel?" Actually, she asked a good question, because I sure couldn't see that friendship shown by the nature of many news stories. Yes, war is a terribly ugly thing, and I do believe that anyone with a heart would feel sorry for the innocent Lebanese people caught in the crossfire, but then again I still can't help but ask "how did they not expect something like this to happen when they have an armed group in their country who doesn't make their presence much of a secret, and who calls for the destruction of a military power like neighboring Israel, often launching attacks against them?" All in all, it's just a shame, a terrible shame that brought about equally terrible destruction. I also find it difficult to blame Israel for feeling that their diplomatic channels had exhausted themselves to the point of going to war, when that armed group and their supporters continue to send vested people to target people within Israel's borders, or sends rockets packed with ball-bearings to fall where they may without concern for innocent life. The practice of exercising restraint only works if both sides exercise restraint, otherwise we're back to the difficulty of "turning the other cheek" too many times and being perceived as weak. Even in the day-to-day world of people interacting, someone can only be pushed so many times before the desire to push back comes.

The world in all of it's beauty, does have an element of ugliness in it, as seen in the pictures taken from within the area under siege. Peace in itself is beautiful, as is freedom, but that element of ugliness and hate does have a way of picking at those beautiful ideas, until hate and ugliness is somehow returned in kind. I once read a quote that said "if someone drives you to hate, then they've conquered you", my hope is that the average Israeli or Lebanese doesn't hate all people on the other side of that imaginary border, that one day they can learn to live with each other, and will drive away the ugliness from their midst. I know it's easy for me to say, a world away in the comfort of my home, but isn't it hope that often proves to be the must useful of tools in bridging the gaps between people, and mending the chasms created by adversity? I'd like to think so, for if hate can be born out of something as simple as an idea, so can hope and peace.

Though I don't know any Israeli's nor Lebanese, if I could, I'd like to say "Peace is there, if you truly want it, live and let live, and just do the right thing." (I know, all trite sayings, but appropriate) To the UN, I'd like to say, "Enforce that resolution that called for the disarmament of the trouble making militia group and their supporters. If the people can't do it on their own within their country, give them some help and direction to allow the spark of self-determination to grow." The road to achieving that will be difficult, but worthwhile. (I still would like to believe that the average Lebanese person is just a regular person like us all, and not looking for a fight or the elimination of a whole other group of people)

Hope and reachable alternatives must be established, or the region will find itself once again caught in a perpetual cycle of violence then peace. Though my opening comment seemed pessimistic, I really do hope the cease fire will hold.

Mad Mel

2006-08-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

I always liked Mel Gibson's public image persona, he always came across as a cool guy, someone who would be fun to hang out with talking about stuff. His public image allowed both men and women to like his movie characters who ranged from the heroic, to stoic, to cocky, philosophical, or just teetering on the brink of madness while making up some combination of the previously named types. Mel never came across as a guy who thought he was cooler than the average guy, "down to Earth" some might say. His movies were entertaining, so he was doing his job, and people liked him so he was doing his job off the set as well. But was it all just careful guarding a public image either he or someone else had so masterfully crafted? Maybe, but who would have been asking that question until a few nights ago?

Reality came crashing through like a dam burst, when Mel was pulled over by a deputy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, for driving at near twice the legal speed (87 mph in a 45 mph zone). Mel spoke with the deputy, something brought on the question of Mel being under the influence of alcohol or some other substance. If only that were the whole story, I wouldn't be writing about the incident, but ohhh there was so much more....

As it became apparent to Mel that an arrest for DUI (driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance) was quickly on it's way to taking place, he flew into an emotional tirade. "I own this county" or something to that effect was said, "I'm gonna make you pay", or something to that effect was said to the deputy as well. Such words I like to describe as the "mating call of the spoiled big-name actor" who believes their money can buy their way out of anything or can use their position of recognition to intimidate, oh how pathetic it is. If it had been just that which was said, this latest blog entry might be ending right now, but once again.... ohhh there was so much more....

Perhaps noticing the deputy's last name or accent in his speech or something, Mel flew off the deep end right into a barrage of anti-semitic comments, a hate filled barrage of statements against Jews. Mel blamed the Jews for starting every war, and what not, I say "what not" because I have no idea what goes on in the mind of a drunk actor who believes he owns the world one county at a time. Did Mel stop there? Ohhh nooo.... he also saw it fit to ask the deputy "are you a Jew?", which he was.

Some might say, "whatta schmuck!" (not the officer, I mean Mel) *LOL

Now you might be wondering, did the rant and bad behavior end there? Nope, not even close.

When Mel was hauled into the station, he continued his tirade, attempting to intimidate a female deputy while apparently getting angry at a phone and throwing it across a room (perhaps in his best effort to keep up with Russell Crowe in phone tossing). Umm... somehow that just didn't sound right... but oh well. *LOL

You see what I mean about a public persona or movie persona that is heaped upon these flawed human beings? It is we, the movie-going public, who empower these people to become the wealthiest of monsters, with the sad fact that being that power WE GAVE THEM is what they so often take for granted, yet they still use it to get themselves out of trouble.

So, I ask, "why not give them a reminder of what the real world feels like?" Surely they all knew the real world once, perhaps a refresher course is needed from time-to-time? C'mon now, someone who says they "own the county" is in desperate need for reminding how the regular people, who finance their over-the-top lifestyles, are living. Get that man a job at the local supermarket or car wash quickly!

That being said, do I feel the need to forgive Mel for his anti-semitic comments? Nope, I really don't. Of course I know he's only human, with flaws just like anyone else out there. But hey, hate is hate, whether spewed forth while drunk or not drunk, flaw or no flaw, I believe that if ol' Mel hates one group so much, it would probably be relatively easy for him to hate another group (or groups) of people. So, I've decided to step into the shoes of a group of people he most likely hates, and say he's welcome to go ahead and hate. I won't hate him back, but he shouldn't expect any sympathy nor support. Now that the whining has started, and his down on his knees mea culpa has begun, complete with the oft tried "I need help" mantra, I do hope Mel gets the help he needs, and I hope he's a better man for it. However, did anyone think it was a bit much for him to call upon leaders of the Jewish faith to have a conference with him to iron out the situation? Umm... ego check please, why would they need to talk to Mel? It's obvious that he is trying his hardest to make amends, if not just for the sole reason of saving his career opportunities, or just maybe so he can still claim to "own the county". I find it all too obvious, a bit pathetic, and a little too late.

Will this be the end of Mel in Hollywood? Will Mel learn his lesson? Sadly I say, no, I don't think so (and this is in answer to both questions). Already on some of the so-called "news" shows, the ultra-religious right wing is rallying behind Mel (which is where I got the ideas for all of the "flawed human being" references). Still, I wonder how much they would stick by the "flawed human being" defense if Mel had spoken out against them? They're basically a religious group, so what if he had lumped them all into a tight ball, and cast blame on them for all that has gone wrong in the world? Then I believe flaw or no flaw, Mel would have been toast, those ever so "compassionately conservative" (heh) people would have been fast on the attack. I can hear it now, "Hollywood liberal this, Hollywood liberal that", they love to say those two words together. All-in-all, this ugly incident will most likely hurt Mel in the pocketbook for a while, but a few thousand dollars thrown this way and that, finding it's way to a particular palm here and there, and Mel will be back in his self proclaimed throne as the "king of his very own county". Give him time though, for at this pace, Mel is just a few beers or shots of hard liquor away from offending someone else, I wonder who it will be? Could it be you or me?

Come to think of it, nah, Mel doesn't have time for taking on the "little people" of the world one at a time, he's taking on entire races. I guess he figures why waste time? When someone is an aging leading man in Hollywood with a drinking problem and a big mouth, I figure there's probably only so much time they have before people stop listening.

Yep, the Hollywood machine that we all feed so very often and so much, will continue to chug ever forward, with a new monster being made even at this very moment, coming to a theater near you. We can all cheer now, booo, or throw popcorn, they're still gonna get paid.

Tour de Farce?

2006-07-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon,

"Say it ain't so Floyd, say it ain't so!", oh the oft used "say it ain't so" line used at a time when a hero of sorts has fallen from grace, but could it be true that 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has failed an after race drug test? Yes folks, I'm sorry to say that's the latest news.

I was watching a news story on MSNBC about the latest developments, and one so-called sports expert said "once again this gives a black-eye to the sport of bicycle racing", I don't think that is the case, I believe that once again this gives a black-eye to our nation's participation in the sport of bicycle racing. Over the past few years, we've heard rumors of Lance Armstrong taking part in performance enhancing blood doping to gain a competitive advantage during his races, though nothing was ever proven about Lance, and the matter was widely regarded as "sour-grapes" by the losing teams and French organizers of the world's most celebrated bicycle race. I'd like to believe it's not true about Lance, just as I'd like to believe it's not true about Floyd, though time will eventually tell the truth about both men. Will they be vindicated or goats at the end of the day? I'm sure we'll all soon see.

On the matter of blood doping in sports, wouldn't we all think that Floyd would know his win would be the subject of the utmost scrutiny following his win? With all of the talk about steroids and other performance enhancers being used in sports, wouldn't we all also think that those who used them would stop? For the most part that is true. For an example, consider the incredible shrinking people of Major League Baseball, where they once were giants, I have a feeling there were alot of orders for smaller uniform sizes in the months when the controversy was hitting it's peak. Latest word on that issue has Barry Bond's trainer once again looking at jail time for not cooperating with a perjury investigation that could put the home run king in the slammer. If it comes down to the trainer "doin' the time" for Barry's steroid use, will there be some sort of compensation? Sure, all of this is rumor gained from internet talk sites, but is there something to it? Only time will tell about this as well.

In closing, I say that I'm trying to feel sorry for the Mennonite parents of Floyd Landis, though their circa 1812 appearance, smiles, and demeanor seem to have changed a bit in the light of reporter scrutiny, I hate to say it, but this seems like a kind of tough "Welcome to 2006" for them.

What do you think of this matter? Is it news or not? Is it surprising or not? Oddly enough, when I heard the news I wasn't so surprised, and I don't know if that is just a sign of the times or just a really sad sidenote about our nation's place in true international competition. Something needs to be done, and anyone who would wear our country's colors or compete in our country's name, should consider the greater good, and honor of their opportunity to represent us all. If they don't, they not only disgrace themself, but our country in the eyes of the world as well.

All about the money?

2006-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

By now we've all heard about the president's first use of his veto power to squash a federal funding bill for stem cell research, but why now? Surely it's pandering to a percentage of the political base, but do they know it's also true his veto of the bill does nothing at all to stop stem cell research? Yep, the research goes on, only this time funding will be turned over to private entities, making any advancements privately owned, along with any cures to diseases that might be found. What if funding for some aspect of stem cell research comes from a pharmaceutical company who eventually finds a cure for a disease, but that company also makes alot of money from a drug they currently have on the market? Their drug allows a person to live longer with the disease, they spent money on it's development and marketing, will they feel the need to go forward with the cure they found, and if so, will we be able to afford it? On the issue of health care, it always comes down to the money.... our money spent for a loved one or ourselves, at some of our most desperate moments.

Since this move comes during a Congressional election year, will this be enough to keep the conervative base satisfied? Will they show their approval with votes? By now, the story has already come and gone from the evening news, again without a contrary view supplied by the Democrats. Where is the voice for the Democratic base to unify behind? Up to now, there has only been uncomforable silence on many key issues.

Two Soldiers Found...

2006-06-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

In some sad news, it seems that the two U.S. soldiers who were taken during an ambush were found dead, apparently from torture. I was watching the news today, they showed an animated sequence to demonstrate the events as they unfolded, it was a coordinated attack. As a person from a family with a longstanding military background, I mourn their losses along with the other 2500 of our brave troops who have fallen in battle. As members of one of the army's most elite units, they wore the patch with our country's most revered symbol (the eagle), upon their sleeves, carrying a little bit of all of us into battle with them. They trained hard to be able to fight hard, and I'm certain they didn't go into captivity easily nor quietly. If I could say a few words to their families, I'd thank them for raising their sons to be such stand-up guys, for it was they who answered this nation's call to war, going with pride, and heads held high. They died as heroes in the service of their country, I believe that though it is hard to look at the words as I type them here on this page.

I keep trying to fight the urge to point a finger of blame at those who sent our soldiers to fight in such a miserable war, but this just doesn't seem to be the time, nor would I want to say anything to take away from honoring their names, Kristian Menchaka 23 years old, and Thomas Tucker 25 years old. Gone too soon.

However, there are questions to be asked, and I have nothing against those who step up to ask them, for it is the foundation upon our very lives in this great democracy are based, our freedom to ask questions of those elected to lead. I believe that is what those two brave men were fighting for, for country, honor, and for each other.

Here's a little bit of info that each man who serves in the 101st Airborne is most likely instructed to learn, of all the writings about the famed division, it says the most about them and what it is they stand for:

General Order #6: Formation of the 101st Airborne Division:

The 101^st Airborne Division, activated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny. Like the early American pioneers whose invincible courage was the foundation stone of this nation, we have broken with the past and its traditions in order to establish our claim to the future.

Due to the nature of our armament, and the tactics in which we shall perfect ourselves, we shall be called upon to carry out operations of far-reaching military importance and we shall habitually go into action when the need is immediate and extreme.

Let me call your attention to the fact that our badge is the great American eagle. This is a fitting emblem for a division that will crush its enemies by falling upon them like a thunderbolt from the skies.

The history we shall make, the record of high achievement we hope to write in the annals of the American Army and the American people, depends wholly and completely on the men of this division. Each individual, each officer and each enlisted man, must therefore regard himself as a necessary part of a complex and powerful instrument for the overcoming of the enemies of the nation. Each, in his own job, must realize that he is not only a means, but an indispensable means for obtaining the goal of victory. It is, therefore, not too much to say that the future itself, in whose molding we expect to have our share, is in the hands of the soldiers of the 101^st Airborne Division.

They truly were part of something great, a distinguished army division made greater by their participation. May God speed them to his open arms, where they may find peace, and serenity.... forever.

With everything in my heart, I wish no more of our soldiers would have to fall during this war, and I wish they could all come home to those who love them, and those who respect the sacrifices they made in the name of our country and honor.

Boycott Cristal

2006-06-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's good, with a smooth texture that tickles the tongue, a fragrance that pleases the senses, and a price tag that makes you feel like you just got rolled in an alley. I'm talking about Cristal Champagne, and I'm also asking for boycott.

I"m not asking for boycott because Jay-Z told me to, I'm not even asking because of the snooty attitude of the Louis-Roederer Company's Managing Director Frederic Rouzard, I'm calling on boycott because it is obvious the company doesn't respect nor appreciate a good percentage of those who would plunk down their hard earned money to celebrate with their beverage. If the "juiced-in" (he's a family member, so he's not going anywhere regardless of how all of this turns out) managing director doesn't respect rappers who have made Cristal the most seen product in all media since 1997, imagine how he must feel about a hard working 9-5 man, who saves his money to buy a bottle of the stuff to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife, or young people who want to ring in the new year sipping what they see their musical idols endorsing (for free) on tv, or the young couple who add thousands of dollars to their wedding tab, just trying to have something nice for their guests to drink. Yes, I'm talking about the casual consumer, not the wine afficionados who gargle, sniff and snort the stuff, live and die by color and clarity, sticking their pinkies in the air while emoting about elements of bouquet, they'll buy because it's good, or has promise for a good investment. But for those who just want a nice bottle of bubbly from time to time, why not purchase another brand? One whose family or board of directors know how to keep the silver spoon in their mouth, shuddup, and just enjoy the fact that people are buying their concoction.

Wouldn't it be nice to teach someone who looks down on people a good life lesson? Putting forth a message of "we're too good for them, they should buy some other brand", is no way to run a company, so why not let them know they screwed up? Most likely they feel they are too good for them, for you, for me, and for most everyone else, so I know I sure don't want to buy from a company who lets it be known they feel a good number of customers are beneath them. If enough people decide to spend their money elsewhere, I think the message will be effectively conveyed, and we can chalk up a victory for the little guy out there, the one who saves and saves to just give the ones they care about, a little taste of what is considered the good life. Send this lesson along, tell your friends regardless of how you might feel about rap, the issue is actually bigger than just that one group, it's about new money and old money, social classes, and the perception of one by the other, I believe it would actually be good if they found out who it is who keeps their lights on over there.

What do you think? Will you buy Cristal or other Roederer label wines? Let us know if you support the idea for boycott.

"Coulda Been a Contender...."

2006-03-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,

So, there I was last night, watching ESPN Tv, taking in the scenes of the great thing that is The World Baseball Classic. I've wondered about the American Championship Series of Baseball, and why it is called the "World Series", when no other baseball teams from around the world compete in it, nor do they compete in the regular season that leads to two teams making it to the top honor of the game within our country. Nothing against the World Series though, shoot, I watch it every year, even if my favorite team, The New York Yankees, decide to take a year off (err... I mean... uhh... this is difficult to say... even if the Yankees don't make it to the Series. Whew!... I sure don't want to say that too often *LOL) Anyhow, the game last night was between the United States vs. Mexico, for true international baseball (WOOHOO!), both teams fighting it out for advancement to the Semi-finals of the tournament, our "dream team" against their dream team. How cool is that? Take my word for it, it was pretty cool.

But what happened? Our team was eliminated from competition by Mexico, who won the game with a score of 2-1, a surprise win by an underrated underdog of a team, over a team who seemed to file into the ballpark with a swagger. Yes, us, our team was expected to run roughshod over the competition. Though when the game was over, and all was said and done, droopy faces abound amongst the players, disbelief shown by the shaking of heads in an emptying dugout and the stands, while the underdogs jumped, and cheered, and celebrated midfield. Sure, my love for the game had me feeling a sort of happiness for Team Mexico, who had been getting less than their fair share of respect from the world sporting press, even from the announcers of the game, but why are our guys once again winging their way home, while some other team is making their way to the championship? That's a question worth looking into before the next incarnation of the World Baseball Classic in a few years. Was it overconfidence by the big payroll stars on our team roster? Maybe. Was it the apparent "dream team curse" that has plagued U.S. sports in international competition? Probably. Was it half speed play that seems to take place when a team considers something to not amount to much more than an exhibition game? Possibly. Was it just the way the ball happened to drop, and it didn't drop in our favor? Definitely. With all of the talk of it being such a shame that we, the host country, and birthplace of baseball, didn't advance to the Semi-finals nor the Finals, I can't help but wonder where is the shame? Sure, I was disappointed that I wouldn't get to see Team USA vs. Japan in the Finals Championship, but those who have read anything I've ever written on here know how much I respect the notion of an athlete, or anyone for that matter, who would wear the colors of our country with the hope of representing this great nation of ours. I applaud their effort, and smile when I think I could now have a story to be able to tell my kids or grandkids in the distant future, as I don't yet have kids of my own, about how ol' gramps saw the very first World Baseball Classic. I sure hope they'll care to hear about such a story. As long as our team played their best, which I believe they did, then there is honor in that, regardless of the outcome of any game, so where's the shame I keep hearing mentioned in various publications? There's no shame in what our team attempted, they should all hold their heads held high, smile when they think of the opportunity and experiences gained, and marvel at the way the great sport of baseball has taken root in other parts of the world, even to the point of excellence. Such a thing is truly great.

Unfortunately, in an odd sidenote, there's a story about an umpire from our country seemed to relish in his ability to reverse proper calls on the field of play in a way that would prove to be suspiciously favorable to our team. The official first made a bad judgement by reversing a good and proper call made by another umpire, nearly sparking an international incident during the game between Team USA vs. Japan, later doing much the same when he reversed a proper call made by yet another umpire in the game between Team USA vs. Mexico, which cost Team Mexico a home run. I don't know what to say about that person, except for the fact that he did it with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders at the reaction from the crowd, who were cheering for their team of choice just moments before, until they united to give a resounding "BOOOO!". Thankfully, the notion of fair play is still alive and well, I was proud of my fellow Americans for recognizing a bad call when they see it, and not wanting to gain favor or win a game in such a way. Shoot, fair is fair in my opinion. Meanwhile, up in the press booth, the announcer had a rare opportunity to get a reaction from the Commissioner of Baseball himself, Bud Selig, at the exact moment of an unfolding controversy. Bud didn't have much to say, but facial expressions showed he wasn't exactly pleased, looking slightly uncomfortable about being put on the spot. If I could say anything to Bud, or to anyone in a decision making process in organized ball, I'd say get rid of this umpire, either he proved himself incapable of rendering the correct call in a timely manner, had incredibly bad judgement, failing vision, or had some other sort of agenda, whichever way, in my opinion (for whatever that might be worth) he should be out. Though, I did happen to heard rumor around the internet that he wasn't a Major League umpire at all, and if not, what the heck was he doing out there? Shouldn't the first ever World Baseball Classic deserve the very best? I say it should, or else the organizers of the tournament will continue to open themselves up for questions such as these, and suspicion from those who would compete in future tournaments. C'mon now, just do the right thing.

For anyone interested, check out the two remaining games on ESPN Tv, March 18th @ 2pm (central) for Cuba vs. Dominincan Republic, and at 9pm (central) for Japan vs. Korea, should be great games with lots of national pride at stake. Could it all be leading to a showdown between Japan vs. Cuba? Imagine that game! Ohhhh, it's the stuff that baseball dreams are made of, and I love it so.

**Update**

Team Cuba beat the Dominican Republic's team of all stars 3-1, to advance to the Finals.
One of the very best games I've ever seen, incredible pitching, fielding, and play. I was impressed by Team Cuba's confidence on their field, and their pitching was just precision. All of that by a roster of players who will never have a chance to play in the Major League, due to the politics of our our nation and theirs. I abhor communism, but the Cuban Baseball Team sure gained my respect. During the game I couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, happens to the members of that team if they were to not do well, make an error, etc. I dunno, but I would hope that their excellence in play gave the Cuban people (not their leaders) something to smile about.

Sopranos Season 6 Tonight!

2006-03-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Well, it's finally here, Season 6 of The Soprano's! And it's about frickin' time! After a long hiatus, Tony and the crew will be back on HBO to give us all something to watch on Sunday nights (and that's a good thing). What's not so good for the series is the long wait of nearly 2 years that fans of the show have endured. How's that for a build-up of expectation? All I can say is, the season better be good, and why not? They've had plenty of time to get their act together (no pun intended *LOL). C'mon now, it ain't Shakespeare they're doin' here.

Ok, enough of my gripe, I'm looking forward to the show tonight, and have been counting the days since I saw the announcement about the show making a come back. In the meanwhile, there's always a few rats out there who will talk under pressure, so here's what they've been out there saying. *LOL

If you don't like spoilers for a show, don't read past this point.

I'm no rat, but since you're all family it's ok, here's what I found online:

*Someone claiming to have working as a security guard for a place that was used as a location set, said a parking lot and nearby building was set up to look like the outside of a hospital. Word he heard on the scene was that they were filming for episode 2. Could it be that the series comes back with a bang? Maybe so, and could be a way to get people like me to stop complaining about the long wait between seasons. The security guard also mentioned a sign that read "Trauma", and reporters at the scene walking up to AJ who was smoking a cigarette while leaning on the building, Carmela comes outside.

So lemme see, if this guy was on the level, we have Tony's wife and kid at a hospital trauma unit as soon episode 2, I wonder who it could be? Nah, I'm not saying it's Tony, but it's someone close enough to the family to bring out his kid and wife. However, if you have some spare time, take a look at this "so-called" spoiler posted at a forum on the NJ.COM website, if this guy really knows what he's talking about (he says it's Tony), he could make sense of what the yackin' security guard said. Here's a link to the main board at NJ.COM, if you would like to read more message threads from fans of the show, so-called insiders, passersby, eyewitnesses, and just plain BS artists. Ya never know, it's kinda interesting.

Are you a fan of the show? Let me know what you think about what people are saying, or what you thought about the show. Episode 1 of Season 6 for The Soprano's airs Tonight, Sunday, March 12, 2006 @ 8pm.

Kirby Puckett Suffers Stroke

2006-03-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Sports fans received some sad news this morning about Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, who helped the Minnesota Twins to two World Series Championships, and who has always been highly regarded by both players and fans alike. Sunday evening, Mr. Puckett suffered a stroke, underwent emergency surgery, and is listed in critical condition.

During his time in Major League Baseball, Mr. Puckett earned a lifetime batting average of .318, went to the World Series in 1987 and 1991, won the Golden Glove Award for his achievements as a big league outfielder, and was named to the League All-Star Team 10 times. He retired in 1996, after being diagnosed with glaucoma, which eventually took his eyesight in one eye.

Though I am lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, it's tough to hear when something like this happens. As kids we grow up idolizing players and their abilities, as adults we admire them for what they can do, but never in the way we did when we were young. Time has a way of proving how mortal we all are, and though there are moments when the true magic of our youth shines through, like watching an incredible play or hearing a great story about a player, where we smile and remember a time, or cheer at a game, throwing our fists in the air with a celebratory "YEAH!", it's situations like this that remind us they are just like any one of us. Sure, deep-down we always knew it, but there was a time when it would have been difficult to convince us, and that is the magic of which I speak.

I remember as a young kid playing outfield, one day when I made a jumping catch at the wall, my dad mentioned Kirby Puckett, the first time I had heard the name, but it wouldn't be the last. Through the years I'd see the occassional news clip of one of his great plays, or hear a sportscaster compare his manner of play to someone else, and it would always take me back to that time. A time of run-down ballparks, with the smell of a concession stand wafting through the air, a crowd spilling out of the bleachers onto the parking lot, my dad and me walking back to the car after a game, his arm around my shoulder, giving me a pat on the back, my glove still in hand, and head held high or low depending on the outcome of the game, though a win or loss never seemed to matter to my dad. I still see that smile, and sure miss those days.

My prayers go out for Mr. Puckett and his family. If I could tell him anything, it would be that very story I just shared with all of you, and how his name somehow found it's way into one of my fondest memories. I wish him all the very best on his road to recovery. Get well soon Kirby.

**UPDATE**
I sure hate to say, but Kirby Puckett passed away.
My prayers go out for him, his family, and all the fans out there who admired him. If there's a team in heaven, they sure couldn't do much better than having ol' Kirby playing centerfield. May he rest well, safe at home, once again.

Not Very Olympian

2006-02-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

I've been wondering how I could write about these latest Winter Olympics without sounding like I don't have the utmost respect for those who would put on this nation's colors to compete against the best in the world. I have to say I do have respect for Olympians, shoot.... I even have respect for the word, it's just cool. Throughout time, there have been just a few people who have had the honor of being called an Olympian, some have recognized the honor, though there are always those who just don't get it, nor care.

This year, the Winter Olympics ended with a parade of Pagliacci's (a tragic clown from an opera), which I couldn't help but see as somehow symbolic of some of our own tragic clowns we had the misfortune of sending out there to represent us to the world:

*Bode Miller: Dubbed the "American Rebel" by Time Magazine, he seemed to try real hard to live up to that name by rebelling against Olympic competition entirely (0-5 in all events), partying until the wee hours of the early morning in Torino nightspots, giving a particular middle finger hand gesture to photographers, and making a public spectacle by shouting obscenities at autograph seekers and bar patrons. Imagine how he would act if he were truly famous, instead of simply riding high point of his "15 minutes of fame". Yikes! In the days leading up to the games, Bode gave a series of controversial interviews, one to 60 Minutes where he admitted to skiing while drunk, and a Rolling Stone interview where he accused Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds of performance enhancing drug doping. Mr. Miller publicly scoffed at the idea of fame yet he signed big endorsement deals with Nike, Barilla, and a video game company, which I can't say I blame him for trying to cash in a bit, but the move seemed premature as he was on his way to the Olympics, not celebrating his performance in them. Doin' the victory dance before winning something is always a slippery slope for one to travel. (no pun intended... LOL*) Imagine him strolling into the offices of Nike now, saying "I think you should give me a deal, I just got back from the Olympics where I did not finish two events, was disqualified from one, and placed 5th and 6th in the other two I did finish, I partied and socialized on an Olympic level, made out with a Playboy bunny, avoided the international press every chance I had, and offended just about everyone I came into contact with! Whaddaya think?" I can just imagine the googley-eyed look he'd be getting as they showed him the door. After all was said and done, Bode remains unapologetic as he still sticks to the story that medals didn't matter much to him, he is simply interested in maintaining his quality of life, he still maintains that he skiied well, and "Rocked!" as he so put it. All I can say is rock-on Bode Miller, all the way back to the New Hampshire woods, shut up, and get lost.

*Johnny Weir: This guy just creeped me out, especially after news accounts of him being upset with his accomodations in the Olympic Village, where he complained about his room being dusty, the bed being too hard, the town being old and dirty, and having to carry his own luggage. When asked about all the complaints he was raising, he simply said he won't stop being "princessy" when it comes to travel. Ewww. On the evening of his event performance, "Mr." Weir missed his bus that was to take him to the arena, and was seen scurrying through the streets of Turin trying to catch a ride (perhaps some understandable Turin revenge at work, as the bus schedule was changed), he arrived late and skated a forgetful performance. In the days leading up to his event, he was often photographed practicing while wearing a red CCCP jacket (cyrillic script for USSR, the former Soviet Union), he defended his actions by saying he was an "admirer of Russian culture". Does this guy not understand that he was there as an athletic representative of the United States, and that reminders of the former Soviet Union mean something entirely different to the people of Europe? Sheesh, what a baffoon (I use this word in place of what I'd really like to say), but somebody saw it fit to send the "princessy one" over there, and without a USA jacket he might have enjoyed wearing. We can't presume he'd enjoy wearing it for what it represents, but maybe for it's "stylish value"? Ewww again, Sheesh!

Before I get comments posted saying I'm picking on the guy because of his particular "orientation", I should say I have nothing against people of "other lifestyles", my commentary doesn't come from that sort of perspective, and I'm not singling our Mr. Weir because of his orientation. I'm sure he's a hero to someone out there, and if that's the case, then have at it. Shoot, I say live and let live, whatever, doesn't matter to me, but if someone is going to wear the colors of our country and compete in our name, they should conduct themselves accordingly, and put aside all of the other BS they might choose to carry with them in their daily routine. To be an Olympian is a responsibility, to one's country, to the kids of this nation and the world who might look up to them, and most importantly to themselves, and their competitors. Someone once said, "everyone has to respect something, might as well start with yourself and work from there." Good words, that Mr. Weir seems to have never heard while growing up. The Olympic Committee needs to think good and hard before they make the mistake of sending this clown to the Olympics again, if they have to send him somewhere, send him to Russia so he can "admire" the place up close.

*Lindsey Jacobellis: This girl can sure snowboard, but a hot-dog move will surely resign her to television immortality on "Most Embarrassing Moments in Sports" shows. During her event she had a sizeable lead over the competition and had gold medal written all over her, until she tried to play to the camera with a show off move that caused her to fall. All I can say is she really doesn't belong amongst the clowns listed here, as her actions could most likely be attributed to youth and excitement of the moment. It was a tough lesson for her to learn, though I'll bet her next Olympics will benefit greatly from this experience, and she'll bring home a gold medal to go with the silver she earned this time around.

*The U.S. Hockey Team: All of them, clowns. Imagine this, we had the highest paid assemblage of hockey talent on our team, and didn't even go to the medal round of competition. I'm against these so-called "Dream Teams" made up of professional sports talent, there's nothing left for them to prove, they've made their millions of dollars, they've gained their high paying endorsements, they still have a job when their season of play starts in the league, why would they want to jeopardize all of that with the possibility of career ending injury, just for a gold medal? The pay-off just didn't seem to mean that much to them. If we use professional star talent, the best performance we can ever hope to get would be that found in an all-star exhibition game, and you know what that means. Of course I'm not speaking about all of the players, I would hope there were at least a few who cared, though you sure couldn't tell in their manner of play. I don't expect a movie like "Miracle" to be made about this buncha guys, as it was a miracle they let the competition keep going as long as it did. In this era of the "ME" player, that's exactly what we got, such as Mike Modano demanding his own row of seats on the airplane ride to Turin, did he quietly ponder the competition with excitement, hope, and fear? Nope, he wanted to show he was a star with selfish priorities. That, my friends, is why U.S. Hockey didn't win, not because of Mike alone, but because of a team full of people with like minds. Here's an idea, bring back the college kids, they have something to prove, they might still think it cool to be named to the Olympic team, they might even like having a chance to win a big medal as a bragging right, or a bargaining chip if they do make it to professional sports. Bring back someone who has something to gain or lose by their performance, and I'll bet we'll have a chance at winning some of the team sports in the Olympics again. If the Olympic Committee needs to bring in a professional element to the games, bring in the top professional coaches, and give them a crack at bringing the kids together as a team, it would be a good chance for the professional sports leagues to have a look at up-and-coming talent, and would be an invaluable teaching tool for the players. In time, we might even have a whole new element added to professional team sports, with a select few who once had a chance to wear the big USA on their chests, and learned how to hold their heads up high while representing something bigger than themselves.

There were others, but sheesh, I'm all talked out now. *LOL* By now we all have our own ideas of who did well, and who let us down. I still have respect for those who made it to the Olympics, though I can't help but wonder if I respect it more than some who were there, and that's what bugs me. Let me know what you think, am I being too hard on America's Team, or am I on the right track to what's going wrong in sports today?

21 Ports? C'mon!

2006-02-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Aww, the hand holding amongst the bluebonnet flowers and trees. Oh, forget it, what da heck is this all about? Ok, I know, I know, the title of this entry is "21 Ports", the number of U.S. ports which could be sold off to control by Dubai, I know the guy holding hands with our president is a Saudi king and not from Dubai. I also know it's quite possibly customary for foreign leaders to hold hands with the king (one would hope or what would Laura say?), but as the president of this country it sends the wrong message to do so at a time when gasoline and fuel prices were going through the roof. Somethin' smells, and it ain't the sweaty palms in the picture. (well, maybe that too, but that's another story entirely)

Now back to the issue at hand, and how this picture seems to factor into the whole thing. It seems to be indicative of the "go this way, no, go that way, no, go this way again", way that the American people have been treated by this administration. "Ahm lookin' ta prutect yer securitah", was what Bush said in his part time Texas accent, that comes and goes depending on who he is addressing, during his bid for re-election. He recently said, "The 'mercan people dawn't need to wurreh baut securitah", when it comes to a Middle Eastern company gaining control over 21 of this nation's shipping ports? Huh? Whaa? Errr.... Umm.... but you said..... then you said.... but... security? safety? not safe? safe? terror? no terror? trust? don't trust? Ok, enough of that.... please pardon me for a moment while my head explodes. *LOL* That is the way that the official message seems to most people out there, like a dog on a leash we only get so far back into our normal routine before they snap us back into step, and I don't like it!

Before I continue my rant, let me get this out in the open first... I have nothing against the vast majority of people from Dubai, nor Saudi Arabia, neither do I have anything against Muslims, nor Arabs overall. On my street is a family of the muslim religion, they wear the traditional attire of their faith, and are some of the finest and nicest people I have ever met. I admit to not ever having known anyone of the muslim faith prior, but just meeting them shows that those who would hate an entire people for the actions of a few are short sighted and wrong in their beliefs.

Now, that being said, my belief that it is wrong to sell off control to 21 of our nation's ports to a Dubai company is based upon economics and the president's own doctrine of security. I believe that no single company should have control over that many of our nation's busiest ports, such power over shipping traffic to these United States would yield a system of either excess or waste, or both. Muchless the influence such a holding would have upon the very economy of our nation. Since the time of 911, people have called for stricter guidelines and security at our nation's ports, it has been said that little has been done, and many wondered why. Could it be that such a move would have made a takeover bid far more expensive to a company who might want to take control? Quite possibly yes, but how is that the "securitah" we were promised? Would I be complaining if it were a single American company? Yes, I would. Would I be complaining if it were a European company and not Dubai? Yes, I would, but is it prudent to give control of our ports to a Middle Eastern country at a time when our foreign policy is aimed directly at the region? No, I think not. As time goes on, stability within the region could shift and where would that leave us? Imagine the impact of 21 ports shutting down or running at a reduced capacity. Also, how would such a move actually effect our foreign policy? Those who say it won't don't consider that a company, a state run company at that, with control of 21 ports in our country will gain a rather strong foothold within our halls of government, is that a good thing? I'll leave it to all of you to decide the answer to that one.

The issue isn't about prejudice, the true issue is about security in stability, though Dubai is a very wealthy emirate within the UAE, consider when Beirut was once considered to be "the Paris of the Middle East", a beautiful flourishing city. What is it now? It ain't Paris, that's for sure. Now isn't the time for "we'll worry about it when it happens" politics or decision making, is it? At least that's the platform the president ran with, and he wouldn't "flip-flop" on an issue that got him back into office would he?

If you happened to notice the number of times I said "21 ports", it wasn't entirely intentional. I guess it had to do with the first news I heard about the deal involving 6 major ports (including the Port of New York), being done so secretly while the nation was talking about Cheney's bad hunting etiquette. When I heard the actual number was 21 ports, I almost fell out of my chair.

And the Quail Said......

2006-02-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon!

By now we've all heard about the VP accidentally peppering his quail hunting partner with bird shot, but has anyone bothered to ask the quail (pictured at left) what happened?

In a little known interview given to the International Audubon Society, the quail said he was just hangin' out with friends when this unusually large and out of breath form came bounding through the tall grass, surprised, he and his friends scattered, when a loud noise was heard, followed by an epithet of four letter words. The quail, who asked to remain unnamed, said he was happy nobody was seriously injured (including himself), but in an apparent message for the Veep, yelled "ya missed me!" as he exited the building, he is currently in hiding, and has not been seen since..

In an officially-unofficial statement, White House officials said "the quail is of no real importance, they don't even think much about him anymore."

Coretta Scott King

2006-02-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,

Our nation once again bids farewell to one of it's civil rights icons, first Rosa Parks, now Coretta Scott King, who passed away Tuesday. It was Mrs. King who picked up the reins of the civil rights movement of the 1960's, following the death of her husband, the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her contribution to our nation and society at large is greatly appreciated, she will be missed, and should be regarded as a true American hero by people of all ethnicities. She moved mountains with her words.

Though I'm not African-American, I regard Coretta Scott King, and her husband Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to have been heroically wonderful teachers, and eloquent speakers with their message of peaceful resistance to unfair norms within our society. The lesson for me, that sprang from the pages of the history books where their words were printed, and from the archived news footage of them speaking to a crowd, was that one person can truly make a difference in the world, that an idea cannot be as easily silenced as the man or woman who thought it, that hope is as infectious as dispair or fear can be, that good can truly triumph over the bad of the world. I thank them for passing along that message to me, it is something that I pray I will carry with me throughout my entire life.

Rest well Mrs. King, such a beautiful lady, my hope is that you knew your words touched not only those within the African-American community, but others out here in the world as well.

Say It Ain't So....

2006-01-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon to all,

Well, it seems as if the end to an era is in the works, as it was announced that both the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets have received approval to pursue development plans for new stadiums! HUH?! To coin a kid's words when he found out his baseball idol Shoeless Joe Jackson was accused of cheating, "say it ain't so!". Now I find myself saying those same words with a heaviness in my heart. Could it be that time has run out for Yankee Stadium, "The House that Ruth Built"?

For those of you who don't have the slightest idea who the heck "Ruth" is, it's ok, baseball isn't played everywhere, but the Ruth I'm speaking of is none other than Babe Ruth, the "Sultan of Swat", the "King of Swing", "The Babe", "Ol' Number 3", perhaps the greatest baseball player of all time, Yankee Stadium was built upon his achievements, and still holds his legacy and history within it's very mortar, pillars, and seats. The picture I chose for this blog entry is of The Babe, taken at his final moment in Yankee Stadium, wearing his old colors and number, standing strong but weary as he was being honored by the crowd, weakened by cancer which had attacked his body, eyes looking ever forward, head bowed a bit solemnly, leaning on a bat for stability, but still the subject of such awe, still a deliverer of dreams to so many kids who had ever dreamed about one day being a New York Yankee, Babe Ruth never let the fans down, especially the kids. There are stories told about him buying hot dogs for ten, twenty, thirty kids at a time, who had ran over to congratulate him for hitting a home run, including a few for himself before he returned to the dugout bench. Something you'd never see with the "you're lucky to be here to see me" attitudes of todays sports stars.

Yankee Stadium, sure it's 82 years old, sure other lesser teams have brand new snazzy ballparks with roofs that move, trains, fountains, and other kitsch, but do they have the history? Nope, not even a little. To walk into the place is the closest any fan of baseball will ever come to their brush with the figures of so many stories they've heard, names such as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Maris, DiMaggio, Berra, and so many others have taken the field there. For a moment when you sit down, it's almost a scene from the movie "Field of Dreams", as you can almost see the ghosts of those great baseball players who have passed, still rounding the bases, you can hear the shouts of crowds punctuated by the shouts of hot dog vendors from decades ago, still yelling "Haut dawg! Gitcha haut dawg heyah!". It's captivating, smile provoking, and exciting all at once, even before the game starts. The stadium is what I can only describe as one of the last standing true cathedrals to the game of baseball, though not the last and only, surely the only one I consider the greatest. The sights, the sounds, the smells, it's a one of a kind place.

So often I've heard mention of the great stadiums of the past coming down, reduced to rubble, along with the magic of the games played in them, then come the regrets, people realize they have built the new at the expense of the magic, and it's gone forever. I sit here shaking my head to think such a thing could happen again, not once but twice!

Though I'm rambling on about Yankee Stadium, the historic stadium of the Mets, Shea Stadium, is also on the chopping block. Sheesh! Is nothing sacred? The Beatles played there! The team of the 1969 so-called "Amazin Mets" played there, it too has the magic. Does anyone remember the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Ebbets Field which was torn down in 1960? Do a search on Google under the search term "Ebbets Field", and you'll see sites created by people who are still describing the place as "Brooklyn's Lost Shrine". I predict the same when Yankee and Shea Stadiums are gone, goodbye "House that Ruth Built", hello "House that Television Rights Revenue Built", it somehow just doesn't have the same ring to it, and somehow even for this longtime New York Yankees fan, it will take me a while before I could bring myself to attend a game in a new place. Sure I'm not in the city at this time, but when I go, I'm not anticipating running over to the new stadium, at most I'll probably place a single rose on the spot where the old stadium once stood, saying a few words to the Babe and the guys, telling them I haven't forgotten them, and how much I'll miss their pre-game laps around the bases that I could so easily visualize.

I can't believe how depressing this news was when I heard it moments ago, it's hard to think of replacing the sort of place where a grandfather or even a great-grandfather took their sons or daughters to see their first game, who grew up to take their sons or daughters to a game in the same place, who grew up to take their sons or daughters to their first game..... etc., you know what I mean. I always pictured taking my son or daughter to a game in Yankee Stadium, buying them their first NY hat, bringing our baseball gloves in hopes of catching a ball, telling stories along the way to the ballgame, pointing out seats with a history, and giving them a chance to fall in love with the old place as much as I have. Sheesh, I need some cheering up, so I guess I'll go eat a hot dog, hug my cat and tell him stories of Yankee Stadium, since I have no family or children of my own yet to tell. Heck, If I had known somethin' like this was gonna happen, I might have set out to start a family sooner. *LOL

Don't Have a Cow!

2006-01-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

We've all heard about mad cow, but how about a particular cow who performed a "jailbreak" of sorts, escaping from a Montana beef processing plant? Probably not. However, meet "Molly B." (pictured on left), who locals named after "The Unsinkable Molly Brown who survived the doomed oceanliner Titanic, and who might be the most resourceful and life-loving cow you'll ever see.

It seems ol' Molly sparked a manhunt... err... I mean cowhunt, where people were told to be on the lookout for a mature female, (reportedly unarmed but delicious) Black Angus cow, with no plans to one day become part of a menu, who broke out of the pen (at the processing plant), by jumping a 5' 5" fence, leading plant workers on a 6 hour chase, that included her sneaking along the streets of a small nearby town, hiding behind houses, and eventually wading across a river to her freedom. Wow, that sure brings flashbacks of the movie "The Shawshank Redemption". *LOL

Don't worry, this story has a happy ending, as I'm happy to say her will to live gained the respect of processing plant workers and townspeople, and it's been announced she will not go back to the processing plant. She will live out the rest of her natural life grazing in a pasture and doing other fun cow stuff. Most townspeople smiled and cheered at the good news for Molly, though there were a few hardcases out there who said "send her back!" (no worries, there's always a few in a crowd) Workers at the plant said she did many things they had never seen a cow do, it was clear she wanted to live, and they'd honor her wish.

All of that might be a good story in and of itself, but was it just herself that Molly wanted to save? Nope, it appears that Molly the Cow might be expecting a little cow of her own, which I think makes the story even better, as it's one of those amazing things about life and the world in which we live.

I sure wish this cow and her little cow lots of happiness, or pastures of grass, or whatever it is that makes a cow content, what a remarkable animal. Go cow go!

Bush: Anti-war = Treason

2006-01-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Just moments ago, I heard something that I thought was just crazy, It seems President Bush (aka. "Finger Man" as he loves to "whoop out" that middle finger more than Eminem on a bad day) seems to consider anyone who is against the war in Iraq to be flirting with treason. His latest warning to the dissenting voice of Democrats and people against the war, saying "to watch what they say or risk giving comfort to our adversaries". Take a look at Article III, Section 3 of our Constitution:

Section 3:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not in favor of anyone giving comfort to any enemy of this great nation of ours, nor am I in favor of seeing demonstrators flying the flag of a country we're at war with, wearing costumes, painting their faces like they're on their way to a football game, and those who go limp at the slightest touch of a law enforcement official, being carted off with a silly grin on their face. That sort of thing drives me crazy as I can't believe the direction some people will take a protest. Can't they see how average everyday people, who might also be against the war, see them on the evening news and think them to be a buncha kooks? Their message becomes lost in the show for attention. Still, as a person with a deep love for this, my country, I believe in the right for people to peacefully protest, even if I don't believe in their method of going about it. According to the First Amendment of the Constitution, it seems the founding fathers also believed in such a right:

First Amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I don't really know what to think about "Bush's warning", the wording was just too vague to know who he was actually intending to warn, but if someone is doing something to support the cause of the insurgency in Iraq, or any enemy of this country then I can see his point, and those people deserve a good warning and much more, but if his comments were addressed to everyone, just average citizens out there who are expressing feelings against the war in Iraq, asking questions or making statements about how they feel, or if those comments were addressed to members of another political party who are making his agenda difficult, then I can't possibly see the constitutional soundness of him making that statement warning the people to watch what they say.

In a country as big as ours, we don't always agree with one another, but it is our guaranteed freedom of speech that serves to keep channels of communication open, allowing us to air our differences. Such discourse allows for positive change within our country, shaping itself to the times in which we live. Removal of the right to free speech can only mean a singular voice will be most widely heard, but will we like what it is saying? I heard a quote where someone once said "the things we miss most, are the things we took most for granted", and I think they were right. Will the right of the people to disagree with our elected officials, be one of those things we took for granted until it was one day gone, or so watered down that our opinions no longer matter? I certainly hope not.

Just to make things clear, my views are that of a person who has family members and friends serving in Iraq. I believe it is possible to support the troops and have questions about the war at the same time. My only wish is for them to all come home safely and soon. That's the reason behind the things I say, I worry about my family members and friends, and can understand the concerns of so many other families out there who I have not met.

NO "comforting" goin on here.

Camaro Making a Comeback!

2006-01-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Good morning!

In some particularly good news I heard, the GM Camaro is said to be nearly ready to stage a comeback, after being gone for so many years, and it's coming back retromodern! Just look at it, (the picture at left), you just gotta love it, sleek, fast, and moderately priced. Whatta combination!

Now, don't tell anyone I'm saying these things because by tradition, I've been a Ford Mustang person for years, but I've always admired the true Camaro's of the late 1960's, of which the new one seems to be designed to remind. Could it be that Ford's retromodern styled Mustang (which I think looks great) will have some competition? Could it be a rebirth of the muscle and pony car wars? I sure hope so, as it can only mean lots of fun for car lovers. I know it might be a while before I can afford one of these, but heck I can dream about it for a few years until the price comes down on the used ones. (I'll start saving my pennies already) *LOL

Are there any Camaro or Mustang fans out there?
Let me know what you think!

Ariel Sharon

2006-01-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,
hope your day is going well.

One thing that has captured my attention lately, is the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, after suffering two strokes, heart surgery, and a myriad of other complications. Now, I don't pretend to know much about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as information about the situation tends to vary upon who is giving it, mostly along party lines here in the USA, and along other cultural, and religious beliefs in other places. I don't know what Sharon has contributed historically to his side of the cause, but I do know a little about waking up after surgery, that's why this blog entry will be mostly about my wishing him well in his recovery.

Though I rarely give particulars about myself online, because quite frankly I wonder who actually wants to know about me when there's so much going on in the world, but for sake of reference I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell one of my stories. It happened a few years ago, when I was involved in a very bad car accident. I was in a vehicle that was struck by a drunk driver, where I went through the windshield, ending up partly still inside the car, partly on the hood of the car. I went to two hospitals, one where a particularly bad surgical intern told me "stay away from mirrors", when I asked him how I looked and how bad it was (my family got me the heck out of there), and the other where a smiling asian surgeon actually got out of bed to come to the hospital, telling me "you don't worry, everything is going to be alright, you'll be good as new". I went through surgery to repair the cuts to my face, and even my tongue, waking up after three days of being asleep. Nope, no dreams or anything during that time, just a reluctant waking to the pain, though it was music being played by my family that brought me back, I still remember hearing it almost like it was playing far in the distance. I didn't want to see anyone during my recovery, for fear of how I might look with the stitches and all, plus I would spend hours at a time re-teaching myself to say the "S" sound. The injury to my tongue left me saying something that sounded alot like "eth", I was sure determined not to be lispy, and it was tough but it all finally worked out, I speak normally and the stitches healed with little sign of any injury to my face, the doctor had kept his word, and all was good as new. I still say a prayer each night for that doctor who helped me, he was the voice of reason during what was a particularly dark time in my life, and gave me hope.

I don't for a second attempt to make presumptions in comparing my injuries to that which is afflicting the prime minister, his situation is far more serious than anything I've ever encountered or can imagine. It's just that I heard his doctors have decided to bring him out of his medically induced coma, wherein his pain is sure to begin, along with his discovery that things such as speech might not work as they did before. It's going to be a tough time for him, but if he has faith both in himself and in what he most strongly believes, he can make it through. I was thinking about all of this when I heard all the news reports about his condition, the numerous surgical procedures he was going through, and even some of the uncompassionate words being said about it all. I was offended, not only as a person who has a belief in God, but as a person of the world, by the ignorant comments made by televangelist Pat Robertson, who suggested that it was God who delivered the stroke and grave circumstances to Mr. Sharon. Flashbacks of that crummy doctor came back, and it was as if I could almost see his face again, as he laughed after he said what he said. Yes, it's true, he actually laughed, there are truly bad doctors out there. To those who go out of their way to be heartless in regards to the suffering of others, I believe by law of averages in occurrence it's likely they'll one day experience the same. We've all seen some sort of poetic justice that happens from time to time to teach someone a lesson, so by all odds perhaps it's possible, though I sure wouldn't wish that upon anyone, even the worst of them all. It is beyond my understanding how someone can live with the fact that they've shown such behavior, I guess it's because I know in my heart that if it were me being cruel, the guilt would eat at me slowly through all my years. I don't think I could do it. Maybe as a precaution, I'm writing this here today so that sometime in the future if the circumstances of life serve to harden my heart, I might be able to come back here to read how I was, and felt about the matter, one day in January of 2006. If only Pat Robertson had taken the time to write how he felt before the money and power, or whatever affliction has taken over his way of thinking, he too might be able to remember and have a way back.

All I can say is I wish the best for the prime minister, and for anyone out there who might be suffering, I don't believe nor will I ever believe that God did that to them, and I'll hope they make it through their toughest of times. It's moments like those that sometimes teach us the most about ourselves, and give us some of the most lasting of life's lessons. To make it through, means to come to terms with our own individual limitations, or to recognize our greatest of possibilities, all it takes is time and force of will..... and of course a little faith in whatever the person believes worthy of putting their faith in, it all helps. My hope is that Mr. Sharon has the time to make those discoveries, and to live longer for the sake of his family and those in his country who love and respect him. May his recovery be without too much discomfort, and may the people of Israel and the world know that all people from America don't share the same views as some of our most vocal crazy people who make headlines with their bad behavior, dim-wit, and ill manner. God speed, and best wishes, always.

If I Should Fall From Grace...

2006-01-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,
hope your day is going well.

Hmm.... with a title like this, what could be the topic? A personal tribulation? Pat Robertson's most recent and goofy, nutball comments? Nah, this one is going to be about a band called the Pogues, and their frontman Shane MacGowan! I woke this morning, turned on the television, and had the luck to find a documentary on the Sundance Channel called "If I Should Fall From Grace". Great stuff!! Here it is January, and it has me longing for St. Patrick's Day already, the Pogues in their uniquely Irish via London way dragged my attention to the interview and performance clips. Some songs just energetically entertaining, some downright beautiful when delivered with the tortured and perhaps beer-soaked vocals of ol' Shane. I challenge anyone to listen to songs like "Rainy Night in Soho", or "Summer in Siam", and not find the beauty in them immediately.

As you watch the documentary, you're taken aback a bit by Shane MacGowan's slurred speech, as well as his dwindling number of teeth, and potential for health problems, but one interview segment with him later, you're on his side, hoping he does well, impressed and smiling at his apparent wit and intelligence, a toothless grin and funny laugh later and you're a fan, a song later and most will probably be wondering why they haven't heard of The Pogues sooner. They're a talented lot, and the heart of a poet resides in their frontman.

If you have a chance to see the documentary or to listen to some of their music, I highly recommend it. Take my challenge and seek out those two songs I mentioned, I'll bet you'll like what you hear. If you do, let me know what you thought, good or bad.... I can take it. *LOL

To Shane MacGowan, I wish a long life filled with good music and people who care about him. To band members of The Pogues, I'd wish they would know they've earned and maintained the respect of one more person across the Atlantic.

Have a good day everybody, and thanks for taking the time to read this stuff!

Happy New Year

2005-12-31T16:57:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,

Here comes 2006! Already? WOW, the year went by fast.

Hope you all have a good night,
a very Happy New Year!

Stay safe out there, my friends,
all the best to you always.

Tours of Storm Damage

2005-12-29T18:26:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,
sorry it's been quite some time between my postings, just that with the holidays, and classes right around the corner, the rush is on to be ready. Here's a story about something I saw on the news recently.

I hear that sightseeing tours are being offered for the areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina, not just mom & pop operations where locals offer to show the area to tourists, but big commercial touring companies such as Gray Line are offering them as well. Reactions to the tours amongst the locals have been mixed, with some in favor, and some resenting the fact that outsiders are gawking at their misery and plight.

The question is, are the tours a good thing or bad? Is it just enterprising people looking to bring people back to the city, or does it have all the appeal of a car wreck on the side of the road? Is it ghoulish for people to visit New Orleans to take a look at what they've been seeing on television? Though I'm not a local, I don't believe it's necessarily a bad thing, I believe it could actually help New Orleans, not just financially but in making people aware and keeping them talking about the devastation of the city and surrounding area.

We all know that news coverage of the ongoing aftermath has slowed to not much more than a trickle, with new or additional information finding it's way onto the back pages of the newspaper, so I say to the people of New Orleans, please let them come, encourage them to book tours with local residents, tell them about how things really are, give them the truth to tell others back at the watercooler where they work. Those in charge of the rebuild effort will have to do their job if the attention of the people remains upon them, and the important questions continue to be asked.

What do you think about the New Orleans tours?
Ghoulish, or good?

Hope You Had a Very...

2005-12-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm so late with this Christmas wish,
but my hopes are that the day was a good one for all of you.

With family, and friends, good tidings and good cheer
and happiness for all, this time of year.

Merry Christmas to all,
be safe out there my friends,
and may all of your Christmas wishes come true.

Cops to Pirro... "Shut up!"

2005-12-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,

There are many ways to get to the United States Senate, hard work, earning the trust of the people, taking up good causes for the sake of the community, of course there's always the sneaky angle to finding a way in, but we'll keep our minds on the way things should be. Consider the case of Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, probably best known for her bid to run against Senator Hilary Clinton in the 2006 New York Senatorial Race. Like any political hopeful, she knows where to be at the right time to get her picture taken, but apparently doesn't know how to conduct herself at a funeral.

At the funeral for slain New York police officer Daniel Enchautegui, while New York's finest were standing tall, and straight at attention formation (the blue line) to honor him, while pallbearers carried his casket from the church for his final ride in procession to the cemetary, Jeanine Pirro, apparently more involved in her conversation with State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R), broke the silence and solemnity of the moment by giggling and chatting it up in an inappropriate volume. It was mentioned that many of the officers showed their disapproval for her lack of respect on their faces, but none more than one ranking New York officer who broke formation and chose to speak up, telling Ms. Pirro to "Shut up!". Knowing she had been "busted", she quickly straightened up her act, ending her apparently humorous conversation, and putting on a mournful face of concern and compassion, as only an aspiring career politician can.

The New York Daily News interviewed several officers following the incident, with several uttering such quotes as these: "she shoulda kept her mouth shut and shown some respect", "it was bad timing, everyone was waiting for the family to leave, the family was trying to be strong, we were all still in formation, it was out of line."

It truly was out of line.

If Ms. Pirro didn't really feel the need to be there to honor a fallen police officer who gave his life in performance of his duties to the city which he served, then she should have stayed home. Her actions prove she regarded the ceremony as not much more than a photo opportunity, a chance to be seen with leaders of her city and state, and a chance to be seen at an event that gained national attention by circumstance of one of those accused being an actor.

There truly are many ways to make it to the United States Senate, making a spectacle of oneself by giggling at a funeral isn't one of them.

Poor ol' Kong

2005-12-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon,

Looks like Kong is back, but will the movie going public buy the story once again? If first day box-office totals have anything to say, perhaps not. I'm not saying the movie won't make lots of money, as lots of money was sunk into the project, big-time movie director Peter Jackson was brought on board, and there's always the hope of overseas totals.

(if you aren't familiar with the story of King Kong, and wish to see the movie, please stop reading)

However, is it just me, or am I the only one who is on Kong's side throughout the entire movie? I remember the first time I saw the Kong story as a kid, and wondered why those guys didn't just leave the big ape alone. I still dunno why the story struck me as a bit sad, rather than as an exciting man vs. giant ape fight, even in my youth I remember thinking to myself, "his big furry butt wouldn't be on that building if that dumb guy hadn't dragged him over there". *LOL* Then comes the moment when the big ape falls, struck down by a hail of gunfire, his big heart beating loudly, then slower, and slower, until it stops, Kong is dead. Ok, I admit it, that movie still makes me mad, they should have just left him kongin' around on that island.

I wonder what Jackson's adaptation of the story will be? Though I don't wonder enough to run out to the theater to see for myself. I'll most likely wait until the DVD is available for rent, or until it comes on satellite television. I hear the movie is over 3 hours long, and that's alot of Kong for anyone to sit through.

If anyone does happen to see the movie, please send us a comment and let us know what you thought.

Life Imitates Art, and....

2005-12-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all.

Sometimes, life imitates art, and it ain't pretty. How does someone go from starring in movies such as A Bronx Tale w/ Robert DeNiro, Crimson Tide w/ Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, Renaissance Man w/ Danny DeVito, Enemy of the State w/ Will Smith, The Adventures of Pluto Nash w/ Eddie Murphy, and television shows such as The Soprano's, and NYPD Blue, to being accused of burglary and the actual shooting death of a member of the NYPD? Maybe the details of his arrest in June of this year might shed some light, when officers found four packets of heroin in his vehicle during a stop for a traffic offense. It's always a shame to hear about something like this happening, the kid had a promising career ahead of him, but drugs appear to have found their way into the mix, and the downward spiral took its toll. Lillo Brancato lived the dream of many a kid who grew up in a number of New York neighborhoods, to make a life in movies basically playing a kid from the neighborhood, how cool would that be? To make your film debut in a DeNiro movie? Even cooler.

I can't help but wonder how he didn't even learn anything from his role on The Soprano's, where one of the characters battles heroin addiction, and comes to realize his life is spiraling out of his control, and another episode (in which he starred) where he plays a wannabe gangster who plans a caper, only to find himself immediately in over his head, things didn't go as he planned, people got shot, and it eventually ends in his demise at the hands of mob boss Tony.

If the details of Brancato's burglarly attempt are correct, things didn't go as planned either, he and his accomplice Steve Armento from Yonkers, NY were discovered by an off duty police officer while attempting to enter the basement of a house in the Bronx, shots were fired, and the officer was killed. Brancato and Armento were injured in the exchange of gunfire, and were quickly apprehended by responding officers, both are listed in serious condition at a New York area hospital. Brancato received gunshot wounds to the chest and groin, Armento received gunshot wounds to the abdomen, chest, shoulder, and leg.

I wrote most of this in the past tense, because the story does detail the death of what was once a promising future, even if found innocent of the charges, Brancato is not very likely to make a return to film or television. My hope is that he seeks help for any drug problems he might have, and that he seeks to perform some sort of act of restitution for the family of the fallen officer. Nothing will bring the man back to his family, and no dollar amount will ever be enough, but nobody deserves to pay with their life for the foolishness of someone else's fall from grace. My prayers go out for the family of Officer Daniel Enchautegui, who was only 28.

The "War on Christmas"

2005-12-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope the day finds you all well.

Ho....Ho....Ho...
"Oh you better watch out..
Santa's packin' heat!"

Nah, not really, though there has been alot of squawkin' about a so-called "War on Christmas" lately. What's up with this latest buncha boloney?

I heard mention that the effort to convince people that the "evil secular liberals" are grinchin' it up in an effort to steal Christmas from the people is being led by none other than Bill O'Reilly. Does anyone actually take him seriously anymore? C'mon now, surely the religious minded wouldn't listen to a man who was sued by a woman employee who complained about him drunk dialing her in the middle of the night for a little heavy breathing and a happy ending. Isn't he married? And if he is, isn't that adultery in some form, even if it was just on the phone? I guess breaking one of the "Big 10" is only wrong if you didn't vote for St. George.

Ok, enough of my trying to be witty, I'm aware I'm not that funny, but does anyone actually believe that someone could actually take away Christmas, even in these days of politically-correct speech, and strange legislative remedies to cure social ills? It is my belief that Christmas is more than just a name of a tree, a greeting on a card, or a line at a store, Christmas is alive and well in the hearts of those who choose to abide by it's true meaning, a time of compassion and hope, a time when we all take notice of the smiles and joy our humble offerings can bring to others, whether it is in the form of a gift, a kind word, or a good deed. I'll admit it is a chore to try to keep that feeling alive all year long, I try, but in this time of year the feeling is somehow recharged, hopefully enough to carry me through another long new year.

I'm not a religious fundementalist, nor am I particularly conservative on all matters, but I am a person of faith which is kept on a personal level, I'm not preachy, nor do I judge anyone else, I don't believe my way of looking at things is anywhere near perfect so I wouldn't expect anyone to follow my example, though I try to do the right thing, and treat people as I would like to be treated, I'm not out to convert anyone to believe in anything. I keep an open mind to all approaches of explaining our existence, and don't discount anyone's beliefs whether gained by scientific research or by faith alone, I really can't as I admit my knowledge of both science and religious text are extremely limited, but I know enough to know I resent the use of religion for political gain in any way, and know that there is always room for me to learn more. For one group of people to say "either your with us or your against God" raises a big ol' red flag of warning for me to watch out for them, and those who would so quickly and willingly hitch their wagon to such a cause. Scary stuff indeed!

I can't help but view Mr. O'Reilly's attempt to scare people, as anything less than McCarthy-esque, he thrives upon the fear of others. Can't someone step up and give him the ol' "have you no shame, sir" treatment in national television so we can finally be rid of this guys virulent influence upon those who are most at risk of being mislead? I must say that I whole-heartedly believe there is no such thing as a "War on Christmas", though through the years people have used such a term to gain attention for themselves or to further one agenda or another. There was once a time when people questioned the use of Santa and his reindeers as a symbol of Christmas. Does anyone actually believe Santa or Rudolph, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and the gang are actually bad? C'mon it's fun for the kids! Now that I think about it, there probably are those who still hate the big fella in red and the shiney nosed quadruped, but do most people? Probably not.

Remember the time when "Merry Xmas" was being widely used? Some went practically crazy over that too, but did Christmas become a victim of the big scary "X"? Nope, it still comes rollin' along each and every year. The fact that our nation has a large Christian following, means that the story of Christmas will be passed along from generation to generation, with each family giving that meaning it's own interpretation and variation on the theme, who is to say who is right or wrong? Surely not me, but neither can Mr. O'Reilly, who I view as the true Grinch who tried to steal Christmas. If a store uses the term "Holiday Sale", Mr. O'Reilly would like you to believe that is one sign of the apocalypse, the end of life as we know it, the ol' lump-o-coal in the stocking... whatta goon. At a time when our nation is engaged in actual war on two fronts (Iraq and Afghanistan), Mr. O'Reilly has attempted to string together the words "war" and "Christmas" and "threat" to scare people during what should be the most joyous, most celebrated, or most sacred time of year, when it's already difficult to celebrate knowing our soldiers, who all have family members or someone who cares about them, will be spending their Christmas in a war zone. For some reason there seems to be certain people out there (both political pundits and the elected) who feel the need to keep up a level of pressure or fear, we as American citizens aren't being allowed to simply relax for a moment, to be able to step back and possibly take a look at the big picture all around us, maybe it's because those very same people are afraid we might realize we don't like what we see. Nothing appears to be off limits these days, as now even Christmas is "under threat"? It could be laughable, though even if some of the non-stories made into stories are immediately recognized as such, there's still the need to worry about a possible knee-jerk reaction that could be taken by a legislature gone wild, It's terrible and disappointing.

Guess I might as well step up and say.... "Have you no shame, sir?", and I use the respectful term "sir" with the utmost contempt, as I find the man (O'Reilly) to be not much more than a self-aggrandizing bag of wind, and a fear/hate monger.

But that's just my opinion, what do you think? Is there such a thing as a "War on Christmas"? Apart from the commercialization of the holiday, we all know that is true.

I send the best of wishes for a Very Merry Christmas to all, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, or whatever anyone out there might prefer, t'is the season, and t'will be again next year and beyond. *LOL

Suddenly, and Never Again

2005-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

Does money buy happiness? Is the answer to that age old question actually, "no, but you can at least pick your misery"? Can you actually pick your misery, or would it come in such a volume that it is truly overwhelming? Many might say, "such a thing wouldn't happen to me, I could handle it", but do any of us actually know if we could handle the very different world associated with sudden wealth? What would you do if you awoke one day to what could be the realization of all your material dreams, the possibilities of all your good intentions, and almost sudden fame? I'd bet we've all thought about it at least once. Such a question appears to become a bit more difficult to answer when some thought is put into it, factoring in the truths and realities of the world in which we live. Such a thing happened to a family from West Virginia, when a grandfather won the largest Powerball Lottery single payout, he alone had the winning numbers, the payout was $315 Million ($113 Million paid out in one lump sum after taxes). The happiness and "admiration" of others from winning, in just a few short years would be replaced with utter sorrow, in a story of initial good intention soured by greed, wealth, power, sex, drink and drugs. Someone once said "money has the ability to change people, not often for the better", and it seems they knew what they were talking about. Click this link to read the story that got me thinking about the influence of wealth, both upon self and others, and had me shaking my head in disbelief about how total the devastation was upon all who were somehow touched by the money. If this were the storyline for a movie, most might shrug it off as a story being overdone, how could so much bad come from an event that was greeted with such happiness? Simply unbelieveable until you consider that it all really happened, with the saddest part of all being that the story isn't over just yet, could the story become more tragic? I sure hope not.

Let me know what you think about this one,
I'm sure interested in hearing your thoughts.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Hope you all have a very happy day today, eat lots of good stuff, spend time with family, or just get some much needed rest.

Wishing you all the very best during this holiday season. I still can't believe it's already near the end of November, with Christmas and the New Year just around the corner. Where'd the time fly off to? *LOL

Take good care, my friends, stay safe and have fun.

Missing Link

2005-11-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well,

Today we bid farewell to the man widely considered to be the inventor of the guitar "power chord", Link Wray, a rockabilly pioneer once banned from U.S. radio play due to "alien use of the guitar". That fact alone, in itself, makes him one of the coolest individuals to ever pick up a guitar, scaring the heck out of parents everywhere. Imagine a rock & roll world without the power chord! It might be safe to say that rock & roll wouldn't have survived without it's introduction, even if it did, it surely would have been something completely different from what we've come to know and expect.

I had a chance to see him perform in a small club, with only 100 people in attendance, or so. Mr. Wray went out on stage seemingly with the intent of giving those 100 people something to talk about for the rest of their lives, he gave the performance his all, interacting with the crowd, claiming that small stage as his own, giving a lesson to any of us guitar players who might be there, it was clear that we were in the presence of greatness. I didn't have a chance to meet him, as I have some of my other guitar heroes, but I did happen to get one of his used guitar picks, I treasure it to this day. I remember coming home from the show that night, picking up my guitar, wondering if I should use that guitar pick, I did, trying to play a Link Wray song, hoping that some of the magic might rub off. I still sounded the same, but that guitar pick seemed to somehow want to play that song, so in a way it was magic.

Today, when I heard of his passing, I once again picked up my guitar, grabbed that guitar pick, and immediately realized how long it had been since I had tried to play his music, though like before, that guitar pick sure seemed to want to play that song, the magic hadn't diminished with time, just like the legend of Link Wray.

Once again, I can imagine that the great band in the sky, realized they needed a great guitarist, and Link went home to join. Rest well Link, I never met you, but somehow felt I knew you, each time I tried to play your songs. You will be missed.

The Father of Rock & Roll

2005-11-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,
hope your day was a good one.

Cast your view upon the man pictured on the left, "The True Father of Rock & Roll", Mr. Johnnie Johnson. Many might be wondering "who the heck is that guy?" Well, lemme tell ya, the man was truly one of the greatest pianists of all time, Mr. Johnson's stamp is all over early and classic rock & roll as well as blues music, I can guarantee the rock and roll sound would have evolved very much differently had it not been for his wonderful influence. A star on his own, by every right to the word, he made his musical living by performing with legends such as Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Albert King, and Eric Clapton, amongst others. From the early days of Chuck Berry shaping the sound of early rock & roll, driving young kids crazy with his "get out of your seat" new sound, and the seldom mentioned fact that many of Chuck's signature guitar riffs are written in keys favorable for the piano, show the true influence Mr. Johnson had. To see Johnnie Johnson in action, please seek out a movie called "Hail, Hail, Rock & Roll", a documentary about Chuck Berry, starring many music greats speaking about Chuck and performing with him. Also take a look at the Father of Rock & Roll website, the webmaster actually knew Mr. Johnson, and did a great job in honoring him and his achievements, the story had to be told.

I must admit, I am a bit ashamed to say as a music lover, I missed hearing word about Mr. Johnson's passing away earlier just this year! I was watching the "Hail, Hail, Rock & Roll" movie on television tonight, and saw Johnnie sitting behind that piano of his, fingers dancing lightly over those keys, or banging with such ferocity that you have to take notice, all the while using his piano to hold the sound together. Truly amazing to see and hear for any fan of early rock & roll. While watching the movie, I decided to take a search on Google to, as it almost seemed to me, check in on an old friend, and see how he's doing. Though I never had the opportunity to hear him play live, nor did I have a chance to ever meet him, I was saddened to hear of his passing, and couldn't let it go without mention.

We've all heard the song "Johnnie B. Goode", by Chuck Berry, Mr. Johnson was THE Johnnie mentioned in the song, and he was always good. I can imagine he's up there with the greats of music, and has joined the band. I'm certain they'll sound much better with him. Rest well Johnnie, and thanks.

(1924 - April 13th 2005)
A great life lived.

Veteran's Day

2005-11-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,
hope your day is going well.

The sound of F-16 jets flying overhead this morning, (I went outside to look, those things sure are loud and fast) reminded me that today is Veteran's Day! A day set aside for us to honor those who have served in our country's military service with honor.

I made sure to take a moment to think about and pray for the soldiers who have served, and those currently serving, reflecting upon their sacrifices, both in the name of our country and in their personal lives. Though I must say, the soldiers we have out there are never too far from my thoughts, as I have family members and friends I grew up with, currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. May God speed them all home, safely and soon....your family members and mine.

Have a safe and fun long weekend everybody!
All the best to you always, my friends.

Ethics Class?

2005-11-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,
hope your weekend is going well!

In yet another unprecedented move, after Scooter Libby was indicted, our nation's president has decided to send his White House staff to attend a refresher class in ethics. All I can think to say is HA! Whatta joke! If those people haven't yet made up their minds to abide by ethical rule, in these later years of their lives, then there is no class that will either inject it back into them, or introduce it to them for the first time. I believe it is an insult to all of us for there to be a White House staff in need of a refresher course in ethics of all things? Don't we all deserve the very best in there, especially in an administration who promised to restore honor and integrity?

Hmmm, I wonder, will the president also take the ethics course? And if he does, will he make a "C"?

Of Rats and Men

2005-11-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,
hope your day is a good one.

In keeping with the "rat" theme around here lately, the title of this latest blog entry was completely by accident (it's the name of this man's book). The man pictured at left is Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a former lawyer who actually represented some mob figures, including Anthony "Tony The Ant" Spilotro of whom Joe Pesci's character in the movie Casino was based. As I don't wanna be "rubbed out" or "whacked", I must say that Mr. Goodman may very well be a good man, but you sure couldn't tell by some of his very public comments to the press or during speaking engagements.

Let's look back at March 2, 2005, where the Mayor endorsed gin to fourth graders. Yes folks, it's true, and unfortunately the man is a Democrat. During an appearance where the mayor was to read to an assembled group of fourth graders at a Las Vegas school, the students were encouraged to ask the mayor questions, one student asked "What one thing would you want to take with you if you were marooned on a desert island?" The Mayor answered "A bottle of gin". Hmmm.... that must be a bottle of Bombay Gin that the mayor was referring to, as he is a paid spokeman for the company who makes Bombay Gin. In another question, a student asked him, "What are your hobbies?", at which the mayor replied "Drinking". Wow, that man is one heck of a liquor spokesman (though some might say "alki"), no wonder they hired him, I'm suprised he didn't bring a prop.

The mayor's remarks were received with mixed emotion, as clear thinking individuals considered his comments to be a bit much for a bunch of kids who were just happy to meet the mayor of their city, others made excuses for Mayor Goodman, saying it's just his personality and the comments "most likely went over the heads of the kids, when they hear drinking they think juice". Yeah, maybe "Gin and Juice" from the Snoop Dog song. *LOL

Now, let's look at the comments from November 4th, 2005, where the Mayor proposed thumb amputation to curtail vandalism. YIKES! Yes folks, once again it's true, and once again it's unfortunate that the man is a Democrat. Perhaps it was a flippant comment made by Mayor Goodman, but the mayor says he is "dead serious about his crime fighting suggestions", I wonder if he means "politically dead", as in not being re-elected for being a kook, what country does he think he's in? When he's sober (he said his hobby was drinking, so don't sue me), and once again I say he might be a good man (so don't whack me), but sheeesh, maybe he can take a moment to look at the name of the political party he represents, Democrat is a shortened version of the word "Democratic". Anyhow, in a televised interview, it was "off with their thumbs" as the mayor suggested a way to reduce incidents of graffiti spraypainted on walls and highways, but the mayor didn't stop there, he also suggested canings and whippings as a way to discourage those who might deface city property. Could it get any worse? Oh yes it could... as the mayor also said the thumb chopping, the canings and whippings "should be televised". Maybe sensing he had once again gone too far, the mayor pulled back a bit by mentioning, "after a trial of course".

Where is the oversight by the political parties? Doesn't someone keep track of elected officials who take office through benefit of aligning themselves with one of the "big two" Republican and Democratic political parties? Such oversight would be useful in curtailing offensive or even downright illegal behavior by individuals in office, if they break the law or go too far against the edicts by which a party bases it's platform, they shouldn't be allowed to run for re-election under that party name. Let them try getting re-elected then, as it is very tough for political independants to get their messages out. I wonder if there are others out there who are tired of elected Democrats who don't act, vote, or represent like Democrats, or elected Republicans who don't act, vote, or represent like Republicans? Oversight on behalf of the political parties could clear that up. Someone needs to keep an eye on things to make sure these elected officials do their job as promised or as based on their declaration of political affiliation. If the Democrats truly seek to regain their share representation in the elected offices around our country, or if the Republicans truly seek to maintain theirs, those who engage in illegal activities or conduct their behavior in a manner that most of their political bases would find particularly distateful or offensive, the offenders should be sent home, never to darken the halls of our governmental offices again.

Whew, ok, I feel better now that I vented that pent up frustration. *LOL

Hood Rat

2005-11-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,
hope your day is going well.

Cast your attention to the man on the left,
well, he may not be as "left minded" as we might have thought, people are beginning to wonder if 50 Cent has gone Republican. Is it true? Has 50 Cent sold out to the man? Perhaps.

Dunno who 50 Cent is? Well, let me tell ya,
50 Cent is a rapper, former drug dealer and inmate, and former hospital patient due to "lead poisoning" (if you know what I mean?) That's probably why the man enjoys wearing a bullet proof vest most of the time, has a bomb proof car, and has that big handgun shown in the picture.

In what might be the strangest of the so-called rap feuds, one of the latest is between 50 Cent and Kanye West, over comments made by Kanye during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "George Bush doesn't care about black people", Mr. West said during a hurricane relief telethon appearance, but 50 Cent won't have any of that. "I think people responded to it the best way they can", "What Kanye West was saying, I don't know where that came from", "The New Orleans disaster was meant to happen, it was an act of God.", said 50 Cent during a series of comments given in a magazine interview. So, let me get this straight, according to this gun toting multi-millionaire, don't blame Bush, he did his best, blame God instead because he had it in for New Orleans? Is that what he's really saying? Maybe, but if it is, wouldn't that be a bit insensitive to those who lost everything out there, while it has been shown that the governmental agencies were slow to act?

Has 50 Cent gone Republican?
Let's examine this question....
What might they have in common?:

1) He's rich!
He enjoys the tax break

2) Constitutional constructionist.
He sure likes that 2nd Amendment.
(see above picture)

3) He's hates WMD's.
(probably the reason for his bomb proof car)

4) He's a "hustla".
and will quickly go to war with anyone who opposes him.
(he said so in the song by the same name)

5) Likes the way Republicans are "keepin' it real".
Jail time doesn't bother them

6) Blames God for all sorts of things.

Yep, sounds like a Republican to me.

In an ironic twist, I wonder if Mr. 50 Cent realizes that it was most likely members of the moral majority right wing, who petitioned to have billboards for the movie of his "life story" taken down, as they showed him shirtless, tattooed, with a gun? Probably scared the heck out of those folks, but I'll bet it didn't scare their kids, which really made them want those billboards removed. I sit here simply shaking my head, saying to myself, "oh, 50... 50... 50"

Pack Rat

2005-11-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,
hope your day was a good one!

Something stinks in Wisconsin,
and it ain't the cheese!
The stinkiness in question appears to be the crummy play of late, by what was once one of the greatest football teams in the NFL, the Greenbay Packers. This season "The Pack", with a season record of 1 win and 6 losses, is tied with what has been called "the worst team in the NFL" the Houston Texans. You would think a coach would occupy his thoughts with strategies intent on improvement, but not Coach Mike Sherman, the ol' "Pack Rat" himself, he's worried about cell phones.

During a Wednesday press conference, Coach Sherman had a meltdown while the cameras rolled, when a cameraman's cell phone went off while he was speaking. Shermie ended the press conference on the spot, admonishing the cameraman and other members of the press for "lack of respect". Ahem, isn't the man just a football coach? Last time I checked, the only place a person really needs to worry is in court if their cell phone happens to ring. To worry about ticking off a losing football coach who will most likely be losing his job, well... that doesn't seem to be as high of a priority in the "better not make him mad" category.

When ya think of it, couldn't it be that the coach was hoping for something, anything at all, to get him out of yet another press conference (which have become increasingly more hostile)? Perhaps when the phone rang he went for the chance to weasel his way out, rather than continue to squirm under the pressure of questions from the sporting press. Someone please put this man out of his misery, and give him a good long rest in a nice quiet place, I believe he needs to be released, the sooner the better.

Consider the legacy of Brett Favre, who has performed admirably during his tenure with the NFL and the Packers, the man is a great quarterback. I don't believe Brett should have to enter into the twilight of his career while playing for a coach whose priorities are so far out of whack, where he should go out in a blaze of glory, the direction Coach Sherman has taken the team has reduced Brett to going out with a whimper.

I can't wait to see how the press deals with ol' Shermhead, it's one thing to have a bit of clout when your team is doing well, and having a winning season, exceptions are made, and respect comes easy. But, when the team's season is in the tank, and the coach lashes out at the press, retribution comes quickly. To the sportswriters of America, I say, "Tell us what you really think, show no mercy!"

Too often professional athletes or the coaches of the teams, take themselves way too seriously, all the while not taking the luck of their situation and circumstance into consideration. They play or work for the amusement and entertainment of the fans, nothing more. When the fans stop caring, or turn their attention toward someone who has forgotten the true nature of the games, the outcome usually isn't in favor of the player or coach "gone wild". Much can be said for the humblest of players and coaches, they may not make headlines as often, but they gain the admiration and respect of the fans. Someone needs to remind Coach Sherman that respect is earned, never demanded, perhaps if he learned that fact sooner his team wouldn't have such a dismal record.

In an odd sidenote, it so happens that Coach Sherman has an endorsement deal with Cellcom, they sponsor his weekly talk show. Hmmm... I wonder if the guys at Cellcom heard about this?

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T17:39:00.000-08:00

Good evening to all,
Have a Happy Halloween!

Be safe out there, my friends,
and have fun!

Libby Scooted

2005-10-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day has been a good one.

Today, after receiving an indictment for Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, and Making False Statements in the Name Leak Investigation (sheesh.... where's the catchy name for this thing), I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby resigned as the Vice President's Chief of Staff. Word from various news sources say there is a possibility of up to 30 years prison time, and over a million dollars in fines for the now former top aide.

Same Ol' Song & Dance

2005-10-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,

In the aftermath of Florida's Hurricane Wilma, there appears to be a unsettlingly familiar finger being pointed, once again pointed at the citizens for not being prepared or heeding the warnings prior to the storm. All I can say is "Oh brother, it's the same ol' song & dance goin' on here". Actually it is a brother of sorts, our President's brother Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, blaming the people of his state for the long lines to distribute food and water.

"People who have waited in line for hours seeking relief should have done more to prepare for the storm."

“People had ample time to prepare. It isn’t that hard to get 72 hours worth of food and water."

Yep, those are quotes from the "compassionate conservative" governor, the president's brother, who somehow found it difficult to imagine that some people were without transportation, or who might have had little or no money to purchase needed items prior to the storm, or at least before the supplies ran out in the grocery stores as they tend to do. Did he not watch the news at all during the whole Hurricane Katrina fiasco? In the days immediately following Katrina, I heard some of those same words mentioned in response to the terrible difficulties the hurricane survivors were facing, when the news media began widespread coverage of the survivors plight, telling of their socio-economic status being a restrictive factor for evacuation from the city, such talk of "it's the people's fault" ceased almost immediately. I believe much the same will happen here, if only the press would take issue with the governor being so out of touch with the realities many of the regular ol' normal people face. I believe blaming the people is a cowardly move to slough off blame for yet another slow response to a crisis. Such an "I'll point the finger at you, before you point it at me" kind of move is both predictable and sad. Rather than moving in a timely manner to fix what slowed food and water distribution during our most recent of desperate times, our nation once again finds itself at the crossroads of "we'll take a look into the problems and try to learn from the mistakes we made". Ahem, how many looks do these guys need? While they're taking another look, all I can say is that tonight a family will go hungry or will sleep with thirst, in their home that may not have electricity restored for weeks. In the bureaucracy that is our government of late, it seems lessons are learned slowly, and at the expense of the citizens who elected these slow learners, though I don't hear them blaming the people for that mistake.

Still waiting on that "restore"

2005-10-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well.

Well, here we are, 5 years into the Bush Presidency, and I'm still waiting on that "restoration of honor and dignity to our government" that was promised. Word around the various news agencies has it that indictments are possibly coming within days for several of our top government officials in the case where someone up there leaked the name of a covert operative to the press, the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for insider trading, and Tom Delay the Majority Leader from the House of Representatives has been indicted on Conspiracy and Money Laundering charges. Hmmm.... let me get this straight, restoring honor and dignity to the nations highest offices meant something when it came to President Clinton's extramarital activites, but has nothing to do with all of this other stuff? I think if the nation had a hypocrisy meter, it would register off the charts. At least Ol' Bill was.... and please pardon my language..... just accused of screwing an intern, but it seems the current bunch we have in there are screwing all of us..... YIKES! Which is worse?

Ok, with all wiseguy language and my trying to be clever comparisons aside, for that I apologize. The matter of the covert operative is very important, the leaking of her name jeopardized anyone she came into contact with during her travels abroad, and amounted to the closing of important lines of communication that could have proven useful for intelligence gathering. The other matters of insider trading, money laundering, and conspiracy are equally important and are matters of greed, or one side attempting to gain an unfair upper hand against those who oppose them, by skirting or disregarding the laws intended to maintain fairness within our system. It seems that honor and dignity are lacking in those cases as well, as anyone who would disregard the laws that serve as the checks and balances for fairness within our government, have no place for a job within that government, actions such as those suggest that they don't care about you, me, or the country as a whole.

In fairness, I must say that nothing has been proven, no convictions have been handed down as of yet, and investigations still take place even at this moment, so I will keep an open mind, though it sure doesn't look very good.

Farewell Rosa

2005-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,
hope your day was a good one.

Imagine, a small, modestly frail woman, on her way home from work or shopping, simply riding a city bus. Imagine a man, also riding the bus, deciding he needs the woman's place where she is seated. Now imagine the woman not being able to say anything (by law) about her being expected to surrender her seat on the bus to the man, and stand from the remainder of her trip, even with her feet hurting from walking. It all sounds so strange when the elements of race, and our knowledge of racism in America, are removed from the story, almost to the point of being unthinkable as most would think it to be rude or ungentlemanly for a man to expect a woman to stand while he took her seat. However, for African-Americans living in the South, life under "Jim Crow" segregation was a terrible reality, their place in citizenship reduced to at most a second-class existence. Now it's time for me to imagine something, I imagine a scene where the woman simply moves, and stands for the remainder of her bus ride, quietly accepting the way things were, though so blatently unjust. Had the woman simply moved, I wouldn't be typing this today....

On a cold December day in 1955, Rosa Parks didn't quietly go along with the unjust social norms of the Southern town in which she lived, instead she decided to say "No", a word none of us can imagine not being able to say for fear of being arrested. That one word, calmly said by a woman who was just tired and wanted to sit, sparked a string of events that would inevitably change the world for an entire people, the Civil Rights Movement had begun. For whatever reason she said her "No", I applaud her courage, and celebrate her life in how she contributed to this country and our society. On October 24th, 2005, fifty years since her bus ride that day, Mrs. Rosa Louise McCauley-Parks passed away. Her life exemplifies the American love of freedom, our ability to choose the course of our actions, and the expectation of respect, along with the ability for persons of any race to simply live their lives. I don't believe Mrs. Parks thought about all of that while she did what she did, but she did no less than what you or I would have done in a similar circumstance, the difference was that she did it under threat of arrest. None of us can imagine that today, and in a way we owe that to her.

I'm not African-American, nor do I pretend to understand how it must feel to be subjected to blatent racism, though I can imagine how insulting such a thing might feel. I believe it's amazing to see how the actions of one person can provide a spark to get things going in the right direction, peacefully. I'd like to say that the Rosa Parks story provides hope for all who wonder about the importance of their own lives.

Rest well Rosa,
with all my respect and thanks.

Wilma Now a Category 5

2005-10-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
how's your day going?

Well, here we are Wednesday, just two days after I last commented on Wilma, who was projected to become a major hurricane, and did she ever! By measure of barometric pressure, Hurricane Wilma is now the most intense Atlantic storm in recorded history, surpassing both Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and setting the record for gaining such strength in such a short period of time. Though the storm is likely to be downgraded to a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall somewhere on the western coast of Florida, this is still one heck of a storm for all of us near the Gulf of Mexico to keep an eye on. Be prepared out there, my friends, word on the news is that at it's current speed and track (175 mph sustained winds, with movement to the West-Northwest at 7 mph) , the storm could be effecting the Florida coast or neighboring states by sometime Friday or Saturday.

Stay safe!

Wilmaaaaaa!

2005-10-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all,
hope your Monday is going well.

For those of us residing near the Gulf of Mexico, all I can say is "Make way for Wilma!" Which wouldn't be so bad if it were the Wilma we all grew up with on reruns of the Flintstones, but isn't so good when it's the name of another storm projected to become a major hurricane.
How the heck did we make it all the way to the "W" in the storm names list? Yes folks, we've come to the end of the names list, and since hurricane season runs until the end of November, we're likely to see Greek alphabet names being used real soon (Alpha, Beta, Theta, etc...), which should sound a bit odd. Interested in tracking this latest storm? We have a Tropical Weather Tracking link in our links list, where you'll find all sorts of useful information. From the looks of things so far, and this is still early in the computer model estimated tracks, within 5 days the storm could be headed to somewhere near the panhandle area of Florida, though it is still too early for the computer models to narrow enough to know exactly where the storm is going. For those of you near the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, I suggest buying your supplies and filling up your car early to avoid the rush, nothing wrong with being stuck with a few cases of bottled water, batteries, bags of ice, or a stockpile of non perishable food if the storm doesn't effect your area, as we'll all most likely use them in time, or if you're feeling nice you can donate them to a church pantry for families in need, it's a win-win situation either way. Once the projected storm track towards a particular area is announced on the news, the rush to grocery stores and gas stations will be on, and it's no fun waiting in those kind of lines in a time when other matters about the house and family also need time and attention. Anyone out there who might have questions regarding the storm, please feel welcome to leave a comment and ask! Nah, I'm not saying I know all there is to know, not even close by any means, but I will be happy to do all I can to help you search to find an answer. The way I see it, nobody should have to go through one of these big storms alone, I sure know how that can be. So remember, we'll always be here to help if needed.

From H to GWB....

2005-10-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your weekend is going well!

Well, what can I say? It seems the power of a few Hallmark cards, words, and letters, is truly amazing, when said at the appropriate moment, or sent to the appropriate person, they seem to have the ability to propel the sender to great heights, perhaps as high as the highest court in the land.

Ok, I'm being a wiseguy again, perhaps she is just a nice person, or has a flowery personality when it comes to writing, though quite frankly, many don't actually know enough about her to form an opinion. However, in a story from TheSmokingGun.com, they have scanned examples of the actual card and letter correspondence between Harriet Miers and George W. Bush, complete words emoting her expressions of great admiration for her generous benefactor. Might be worth a look, as it at least allows for a bit of a first impression about the Supreme Court nominee, you be the judge!

Over the Hill and Far Away...

2005-10-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,
hope your day is going well.

In a tidbit of information scarcely spoken of on our nation's television news networks, the "party of moral fiber" really does know how to party! Ok, I'm just being sarcastic, but ask Jessica Cutler, aka. The Washingtonienne, whose steamy, some may say seedy blog burned up the internet for a time. Miss Cutler describes the work environment she experienced as a staff assistant (a job nicknamed "staff ass" with a wink and a nod in the fratboy atmosphere that has enveloped our highest offices) on Capitol Hill, the seat of power for our nation's government during the Republican reign. Several lawsuits, a deleted blog, and expose's later, the blog seems to have taken on a life of it's own, as it has been re-released in it's original unedited form. I suggest the material only be read by adults, but I'll bet it will leave you wondering why the Republicans were so upset when it came to Bill Clinton's extramarital activities. Oh the hypocrisy of it all.

When ya gotta go.....

2005-10-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,
hope your day was a good one!

In a "pressing issue"....
Well, what can I say.... when ya gotta go.... ya gotta go!
It seems that even the leader of the most powerful country in the world, needs a hall pass when he needs to use the facilities. During a September 19th, 2005, U.N. Summit Meeting, a reporter managed to snap a rather odd picture of our president writing a note asking for permission to use "the can". Who does the president ask when he's crossing his legs uncomfortably, while the important issues of the world are being ironed out? None other than good ol' Condi. (so that's what the Secretary of State does)

Ok, enough of my being a wise-guy, *LOL
I know that it's just one of those things that happen, and he was probably just wondering what the properly diplomatic thing was to do in that sort of situation, still it took me a bit by surprise. I first found the picture on the DubyaSpeak website, but decided to research it to further verify the story as being legit, I found it also mentioned on the ABC News website.

Now that I think about it, what is the proper thing to do when you're seated with leaders from around the world, and you've really gotta go? I wish they had mentioned that bit of information in the story. My best guess is that the president or one of his staff would simply request a 15 minute recess from the proceedings, though if the request were denied, there could be an international incident. Ahh, the world of international politics. *LOL

Boston Bows Out

2005-10-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all,
hope you have a good weekend!

Well, it seems that this year's World Series of Baseball will once again be without the Boston Red Sox, as they were swept in their playoff series versus the Chicago White Sox. I guess we'll see the "big B" back "in the big show" maybe in another 86 years. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who hate Boston, last year when they beat the New York Yankees (my favorite team) to make it into the World Series to face the St. Louis Cardinals, I felt they deserved the title of American League Champion, they had done their job and earned the right. Still, and I say this after making a "muwahahaha!" sound, it's nice to see the way cleared for the Yankees this year, that is.... if... they don't blow it again, at this time the Anaheim (Los Angeles) Angels hold a 2-1 game lead in the best of 5 series. All I can say is Gooo Yanks!

We turned on the lights!

2005-10-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all,

Thanks to those of you who visit this site, reading my ramblings about the news of the day. You might notice a bit of a change in the blog template used here, we're no longer in the dark, we've added color! The idea came from visiting some of my favorite blogs presented by those of you who have left comments, I came to realize that my blog looked a bit depressing. Hope you like the new look, and please feel welcome to click through the new links that are coming soon. I'll try to find some interesting or useful sites to visit.

To any blog experts out there.....
would anyone happen to know how to add an image to the right of the blog title? I'd sure like to add an American flag, or some other sort of graphic up there. Any help, even a link to where I might be able to find help, would be very much appreciated.

Have a good day,
all are welcome here.

The Possession of Bill Bennet

2005-10-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

What's going on with Bill Bennett? Tourettes? Just having a bad day? Maybe he's possessed like that girl in a movie not long ago? If you consider that the Republican party has been selling itself as the party of the faithful, possession might be the way to go in explaining the comments made by the former cabinet member to the Reagan and Bush (the father's) administrations. Why isn't the "Right to Life" crowd up in arms about one of their own "raising a hypothetical" that went something like this:

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."

Huh? Whaaaaaat?!
My eyes bugged out when I heard that "hypothetical" mentioned in this day and age. I'm not naive enough to believe that racism doesn't still exist, just that I haven't heard it mentioned so blantantly. In fairness, here's his explanation of what he said:

If somebody thought I was advocating that, they ought to be angry. I'd be angry. I was putting forward a hypothetical proposition, put that forward, examined it, and then said about it that it's morally reprehensible – to recommend abortion of an entire group of people in order to lower your crime rate is morally reprehensible. But this is what happens when you argue that the ends can justify the means.

C'mon now, surely he can come up with something better than just citing a few disclaimer words sprinkled amongst the point he was trying to make. Quoting the "abortion is murder" platform of the Right to Life crowd, wouldn't that have him hypothetically proposing the genocide of an entire people based on race?

All I can say is YIKES!

I have a hypothetical proposition of my own....
If only Mr. Bennett's dad had worn a condom one night a long time ago, let's put that forward and examine it... Hmmm, I guess I wouldn't be typing this right now.

Katrina & Rita: What Now?

2005-10-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well.

So, here it is, weeks after two of the most devastating storms of recent times, words were aplenty after the Hurricane Katrina debacle, with less words spoken after the "success" of Hurricane Rita preparation. I use the quotation marks around "success", because anyone living down here on the Texas Coast can tell you that things did not go as smoothly as said. In the days leading up to Rita, there was a small bit of chaos taking place in this area, and many people were gridlocked on our highways, running out of gasoline, and worrying about the safety of their families. All these days later, I somehow keep hearing those words "now isn't the time to play the blame game", that were uttered so many times after Hurricane Katrina. I find myself wondering, "Is now a good time?" When is the proper time for us to ask the tough questions? Is there ever a good time for those who might have to provide answers? Probably not, but the questions seem to have all but but slowed to a trickle, which is saddening to those who can still vividly remember what we all saw. However, the news services appear to have now moved on to other stories taking place. When was the last time you heard a question asked on television that even resembles any of those asked during the immediate aftermath of Katrina? My best bet would be that it has been a while. Now, I know that bad memories are best put behind us, isn't that what we all most often do after seeing something that effects us deeply?. I think so, but in this instance, is it best to just move on, and let things sort itself out, or is it better to find answers that might allow us to fix things sooner rather than later? The Mike Brown hearing did little to clear up things, as Mr. Brown removed himself from any responsibility about what took place (or didn't take place) after Katrina, that single hearing was the last I saw of the big questions being asked. What happened? I guess the "wait to ask questions" tactic has worked, as now after the wait, few are still asking, they're all "asked out".

One of the biggest questions people should be asking is, "what is to happen to the Katrina evacuees now?" Now that the fervor has died down, now that the budget appropriation for public housing has been cut, now that the survivors are being shuffled from community to community, with the stability of their lives hanging in the balance. "Limited resources" keeps coming up as a sort of catch-phrase used when talking about evacuees taking up residence in a new location, where is the big dollar figure now? I heard the sounds of money being thrown at the situation, back when administration poll numbers were in a slide, when everyone wanted answers, now I can't help but sense the door closing slowly on those who might be considered to be amongst our poorest of citizens. Why? Why are those who have endured so much, now seeming to have to endure so much more? First, a wave of water washed away their homes, leaving them with not much more than hope, now it seems a wave of bureaucracy is coming to wash away that hope. Money is surely there to help these people get back on their feet, to find some level of stability, though with the no-bid contracts once again finding their way into yet another of our nation's most terrible incidents, I wonder where the money will actually go? Is it really necessary to go with the "no-bid"? If the companies who have been regularly getting the no-bid contracts are truly the best, and can do the jobs at the lowest cost, then that's great! Just that it would be nice to see what the other companies might have to offer. I can't believe that with all of our technology, only a very small handfull of companies have the ability to do work on a big level? Does anyone else think that unlikely? I'm not against the best getting the job, nor am I against an American company getting the job, just that for the sake of the concerned public's peace of mind, why not go through the conventional bidding process? It would surely calm people's nerves, and would leave some sort of record as to why a particular company got the green-light to perform a needed task.

Now, back to the matter at hand, housing for the people... what is to be done? Should dignity be the final sacrifice of the survivors? I say no, it should not be! Even the poorest of people (and I hate to use that term "poor", though it's just that the term "economically challenged" sounds too politically correct, sounding like I would try to clean up the description of the situation to make it not sound as difficult as it is becoming, it's far too sterile of a term, seeming to point away from those who are really in need), so I say that even the poorest of people, ask for nothing more than what most of us would demand or expect, they ask that we don't forget they are Americans, they ask that we care as much... not more, but as much... as we would care about those we know and love, and I believe that isn't too much too to ask. I sure wish I knew what the public housing plan was going to be for them, but nobody is talking, even those in charge of the public housing programs are saying not much more than they're "trying to do their job with limited funding." How typical that sounds nowadays.

For those who might say, "let them find their own homes... get a job, and stop living for free", (and yes, they're out there) I saw a comment like that posted on a news forum somewhere, I just say..... first of all, that is a cold thing for someone to say, and I hope they never find themselves in that sort of situation, but imagine living without a home, without a car, without many clothes, without much money, with a family to support, with some food, but with time running out for the help. How would you feel? Would you consider it charity to simply get a roof over your head, a place to call home, if just only for a time? Would you consider it charity to get a few dollars to purchase a few necessities you need while looking for a job, or would you appreciate the help? I know I sure would appreciate the help. Now, the help needs to get to the people who need it, and the sooner the better. Unfortunately, there are many who are still waiting, still unsure of their futures, and the futures of their families, wondering where they'll be a week, a month, or a year from now, how they will live, the uncertainty of their voices going mostly unheard by a press who has all but moved on, and a public trying to escape the bad times that found it's way into their homes for a time, as they watched the evening news or while they read their newspapers.

Here's a link to a related news story, it describes how the survivors are coming to be regarded in some communities, I believe it to be shameful.

One week later....

2005-09-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your week went well,
and you're getting ready for a good weekend.

So, here it is one week after Hurricane Rita gave my area a near miss, things are pretty much back to normal. Last week, around this time, this part of the Texas Coast was collectively holding it's breath, unsure of what to expect, or waiting things out in a gasoline line or highway somewhere. Long lines waited for people who tried to use gas stations or visit grocery stores, people were driving hurriedly, even on the wrong side of the road, until the strange quiet came when most had left, things were kinda crazy. Now, people are back, the long lines are gone, and almost all of the clean-up is completed in my area, just a few fallen trees, broken branches, a few roof shingles went flying, and a ton of leaves and smaller stuff piled up along fence lines, curbs, and doorways.

During the storm, I couldn't help but feel as if I almost had a sort of "ark" goin' on over here, as I had the 4 kittens a stray cat left me with, and even a dog who knocked on my door, sharing my home with me during the storm. *LOL* It's a funny story about the dog, as it takes place during a time when the winds were just starting to gust. I could hear the house creaking a bit, the wind making a slight "woooo" sound, branches scraping along the outside walls, and occassionally a scratching sound at my door. "Must be somethin' just whooshin' on by", I said to myself, ignoring it, until there it was again, a scratching or scraping noise right on my door. I looked out the front window, it was raining very hard, so I couldn't see anything. Opening the door, suddenly, there it was... "the scratcher!", who turned out to be a dog, looking very scared. I closed the door to the room where the cats were sleeping, and let him in. The dog appeared to be a brown and white cocker spaniel or must have had some cocker spaniel in him as there is no mistaking those ears, he looked very happy to be out of the rain and wind, jumping around, standing up on his hind legs, and licking me. I cleaned him up in the bath tub, dried him off, and gave him a place to weather the storm in my garage, with an inflateable mattress, a blanket, food (we sat around in there for a while, watching the small television on my work bench, eating ravioli), a big shop fan, and water. He was a nice dog who slept through most of the storm, I guess he had been through alot, and finally felt safe. He was sure happy when he (turns out his name was Rocky) was finally reunited with his family, some neighbors a few doors down. They had evacuated and couldn't take pets, just in case they had to use a public shelter, he had gotten out of a pet door they forgot to lock, the wind had blown open a gate to their backyard. It was nice to be able to help that smart ol' dog, and to see the smiles of the family when they picked him up and carried him home. I feel he also helped me out a little, as his being here during the storm gave me something else to think about besides the creaks and groans this old house. By the way he ran over here the other day, when he saw me washing my car, I think he appreciated it too. (Either that or he just wanted more ravioli) *LOL*

Anyhow, that's my story, and it's sure good to be back!
To the people along the Texas - Louisiana border area who took a direct hit from the storm, my prayers go out for all of you, my hope is that you all are doing well out there. On my first day out driving, a few days after the storm, I made sure to contribute to a Hurricane Rita Relief Fund that some were collecting for in my city, if I could do more to help, I surely would.

Here it comes...

2005-09-23T00:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all,

Well, here it is, Friday morning, coming after what seemed to be a long week of preparations for the oncoming storm Hurricane Rita. After all these days since Katrina, writing about the various things that happened in that area as a result, I sure didn't think I'd find myself in the path of one of these things. Guess that's how things go though, so I'm not complaining. The week might be best described almost like a scene from an old movie called The Blob, that mass of goo slowly makes it's way ever closer, scaring the heck out of local townfolk, that's pretty much how it's been watching the television weather, with the infrared radar picture of the storm working it's way towards the coast. You know it's coming, they give you a day and time when it's expected to arrive, and you wait, the mental aspect of the storm has been the hardest part so far. I think I know how the people in Louisiana must have felt in the days leading up to the storm, while they were waiting, watching weather reports that can be downright confusing as they give conflicting forecasts depending on which channel is viewed. With all of the technology of the day, I still don't know where the storm is going to hit, on this side of Galveston Bay or on the other side? It makes a difference in wind direction, strength, intensity, and duration, even at this time I don't know, and that's been the hardest part for me of to deal with, but the unknown just is what it is, no sense in making it worse by overthinking things, I'm just glad I prepared early, and have enough provisions to last one week or maybe two, with enough to share with neighbors if necessary. In the days following the storm, I'll be trying to come back as soon as possible, as electricity might allow. For those of you who wouldn't mind, please say a few prayers for the people down here on the Texas Coast, I believe it helps, and it will be good to know some are thinking about us, and wishing us well.

Have a good day out there friends,
stay safe, and take good care.

Marie Antoinette 2005

2005-09-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

"Let them eat cake", was said to be Marie Antoinette's reply upon hearing word of peasants not even having bread to eat. Though there is controversy about those words being spoken or not, ol' Marie will be forever associated with her detachment from the people. Whether her detachment was simply due to her having lived a charmed life, living in the opaque glass bubble that was royalty, assuming that everyone had food or at least cake to eat should their bread run out, or if she was genuinely uncaring, we'll never know. Still, the public will forever remember her as such.

Now, back to present times, the aftermath of one of our nation's largest natural and man-made disasters, (I say man-made in reference to the situation being made worse by help coming far too slowly) here's one thing we can be certain was said:

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality."

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this is working very well for them,"

Once again, all these years later, we'll never know whether her detachment was simply due to her having lived a charmed life, living in the opaque glass bubble that is privilege (as we have no royals), or if she was genuinely uncaring. Unfortunately, the person who said them is no longer talking, our Marie Antoinette 2005.

Who was the person who said these things?
The person was none other than Former First Lady Barbara Bush, the mother of our current president, spoken while she walked the Astrodome complex amidst the rows of cots, with crowded conditions, little privacy, and people grieving over their losses, still worried about their future.

Could someone be so detached from the common folk, that they would actually believe a cot on the floor of a sports stadium is "working very well for them", compared to their homes, no matter how modest or small those homes might have been, simply because they are used to being poor? Or to say it's "scary" that they would want to stay in a state where they actually believed they were safe for a while. Or to even think that saying either of those things could even be perceived as acceptable?

As I sit here shouting to the wind, I guess it might be better if I just shut up and ate my cake, as I don't hear much being said about this story on the news. In time, when the details of this storm have become just a memory to most of us, I doubt much will have changed.

Here's a link to a good editorial that responds to the comments so much better than I ever could.

Aaron Neville

2005-09-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

One thing I've wanted to comment on, but kept getting sidetracked by some of the stories coming out of the hurricane zone, is Aaron Neville, who I now believe is the true voice of New Orleans. I must admit that through the years, with the exception of the song called "Tell it like it is", I never understood the appeal of Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers, not that they were bad or anything like that, just that their sound didn't match up with my musical tastes at the time. After seeing Aaron Neville perform during one hurricane relief benefit, it suddenly all became clear, his is the voice of New Orleans. Hearing that New Orleans jazz sound during some of the other performances, the horns, the piano, even the drums, I understood that New Orleans has a sound unique to itself, for someone to appreciate it, someone must be able to visualize the city. At the time when Aaron Neville performed "Louisiana 1927", and "Amazing Grace", I couldn't visualize the city in it's heyday, bustling with tourists, I could only visualize the aftermath of the storm and flood, and the pictures of people in need of help. His performance gave the terrible sights a soundtrack, reminding me of the heart of people, their hopes and dreams though dashed, or washed away, still shown on their faces, their need very evident.

I'll never be able to say I don't understand the appeal of Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers anymore, as I found it that night, those were perfect choices of songs to sing, they sure made it all clear to me.

The Speech

2005-09-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

Tonight I heard the president's speech, it was a hopeful speech, and a promising speech, but it was a bit of a late speech, a knee-jerk reaction speech, a C.Y.A. kinda speech. He did shoulder the responsibility for the shortcomings on the part of the federal response, but is that actually newsworthy? Since the days of Truman, the presidency has been held to the standard of "the buck stops here", so of course he bears the brunt of responsibility. Times can't always be good, but if things had gone exceptionally well in the aftermath, the administration would have basked in the glow of a job well done, since things didn't go well at all, the responsibilty goes up there as well, it's a two way street. I don't blame them for all, as that would be unrealistic, but I do consider them responsible for the slow process of getting federal aid into the area, the bureaucratic snafu (that is still taking place to this day), and what occurred as a result. One more thing I was wondering, where does the accent go? I hear the voice twangin' during visits to the South, or states where a drawl or country-type accent is found, during the times when the podium jokes are flyin', or during the times when he wants to sound like "just one of the guys", but at certain times it disappears, where does it go? I've never heard a more part-time accent, except for that of Madonna when she wants to sound British. *LOL

Charles Evans

2005-09-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

When the survivor crisis was at it's worst, I saw a news clip of a young man 9 years old, who seemed intelligent beyond his years, he spoke of the crisis, what the people needed, and his hopes of making it through the ordeal. Tonight, I saw a follow-up story on how the young man was doing, he did indeed make it through the ordeal, though his beloved aunt didn't survive all she had been through, I was happy to see he is doing well at a shelter with his family. I tell ya, that is one sharp kid, and a good family. I hope that through the years someone sees to it that his intellect and ability to speak is nurtured, it would be great for him to grow up to be the Mayor of the City of New Orleans one day. Heck, if I were a New Orleanian I'd vote for him today.

Best wishes to the young man and his family, may they always have a wonderful life.

Hmmm.... I wonder?

2005-09-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

Well, The Rolling Stones are back with a new record release, this one titled "A Bigger Bang"! I tell ya, the band just keeps goin' and goin', it's amazing! Chances are they are older than your parents, but they sure still know how to rock & roll, putting many a new band to shame. One song in particular had me saying, "Hmmm, I wonder who they might be talking about?" *LOL

Here's the Lyrics:
------Begin Quoted Material------

Sweet Neo Con
(Jagger / Richards)
2005

You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of sh*t

And listen, I love gasoline
I drink it every day
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to pay

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con.... Yeah

It's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial

But one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... Yeah

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonight

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah....

It's getting very scary
Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah and it's giving me the sh*ts

We must have loads more bases
To protect us from our foes
Who needs these foolish friendships
We're going it alone

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
Where's the money gone
In the Pentagon

Yeah ha ha ha
Yeah, well, well

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Neo con

------End Quoted Material------

Gotta love those Stones, they sure aren't holdin' anything back these days. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em either for their sound or politics, there's no denying they are one of the greatest bands making new music today.

Something you have to read!

2005-09-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

I found a couple of items you just have to read:

Hurricane Pam Study

Scenerio 10 Natural Disaster Report: Major Hurricane

The ignored or budget cut effected preparedness plans.

Get a mop?

2005-09-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,

I just saw a story about a doctor and his staff from a New Orleans area hospital, who kept things going there for their patients, and for those who simply waded in and requested help. The medical team worked around the clock to deal with the problems thrown at them, and were finally evacuated 3 days later. They found themselves in the New Orleans airport, surrounded by a makeshift triage area, sick and dying people all around them, the attending staff appearing overwhelmed by the number of people so clearly in distress. Knowing they couldn't just sit around while people were suffering, the team decided to get back to the work of treating people. The doctor walked up to a FEMA official, identified himself as a doctor, mentioning that he also had a full nursing staff there with him, and asked how he could help......

here's the part that is simply maddening.....

He was told by the FEMA official that his help wasn't needed, but if he really wanted to do something, he could get a mop and mop the floor! Though first shocked by what they were told, the doctor and his staff did indeed mop the floor, knowing that the unsanitary conditions made it especially dangerous for those who were ill. He described seeing people die while he mopped that floor, saying he broke down in tears of frustration knowing he might have been able to help save a life, or at least provide a little comfort to those who were in their last moments.

There's too many stories such as this, it's an outrage!

Out of touch?

2005-09-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

"Don't buy gas if you don't need it", were the words of advice President Bush gave in response to a question about gasoline prices that have gone through the roof. Hmmm...... nice conservation plan ya got there? I can't help but say with a questioning tone, and a puzzled look on my face. "Don't buy gas if you don't need it", I guess that would be compared to buying gasoline just for the entertainment value? With my 40 gallon tank, and a V8 engine that is recommended to run on higher octane fuel, it's not exactly entertaining to pay $120+ dollars to fill up my tank with prices slightly over $3.00 per gallon in my area. Isn't everyone buying gasoline just out of necessity, wasn't it that way even before the price increase? I don't jump in the car just to go for a drive anymore, and my travel is solely based upon the need to go somewhere, my once beloved vehicle has become increasingly utilitarian, and that's no fun. I wonder why there wasn't a public outcry about that statement? I assume it was because the attention of the American public was on the aftermath of the storm, but it was said in a way that seemed so out of touch, all I could do was stare blankly at the screen as I heard it, actually I'm still staring blankly at the screen while thinking about it now.

Here's an excerpt from an article I read, it also brings the question "out of touch?"

--------Begin Quoted Material (all rights reserved for the source: Newsweek)--------

Sept. 19, 2005 issue - It's a standing joke among the president's top aides: who gets to deliver the bad news? Warm and hearty in public, Bush can be cold and snappish in private, and aides sometimes cringe before the displeasure of the president of the United States, or, as he is known in West Wing jargon, POTUS. The bad news on this early morning, Tuesday, Aug. 30, some 24 hours after Hurricane Katrina had ripped through New Orleans, was that the president would have to cut short his five-week vacation by a couple of days and return to Washington. The president's chief of staff, Andrew Card; his deputy chief of staff, Joe Hagin; his counselor, Dan Bartlett, and his spokesman, Scott McClellan, held a conference call to discuss the question of the president's early return and the delicate task of telling him. Hagin, it was decided, as senior aide on the ground, would do the deed. The president did not growl this time. He had already decided to return to Washington and hold a meeting of his top advisers on the following day, Wednesday. This would give them a day to get back from their vacations and their staffs to work up some ideas about what to do in the aftermath of the storm. President Bush knew the storm and its consequences had been bad; but he didn't quite realize how bad.

The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One.

How this could be—how the president of the United States could have even less "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century—is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace.

To read the rest of the article, here's the link.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmmm, people worried about disturbing the elected leader of our country, with news of a catastrophy, and the ensuing calamity brought about by unpreparedness? I consider this as such, surely in the various jobs we've all had in our days, we've all come across the new manager, one who hasn't yet learned the proper method to get the most work done, and keep the work environment running smoothly. Fairness and accessibility with open lines of communication at all times, coupled with working (just as hard, sometimes having to work harder) side by side with the rest of the workers, is an example of a method that works, but the bad manager simply sits in the office while his employees do all the work, until one dreads having to knock on the door to ask a question. Should something go wrong, the manager denies responsibility, and blames the worker. I've had my share of bad managers, this isn't just a made up description to prove a point, it's an actual description of a manager I once worked for. The comparison to what was described in the quoted material above is a bit troubling..

**Just a note: The example was from years ago, one of my first jobs, and no, I wasn't the employee blamed when things went wrong, the manager blamed a new guy he had hired**

"Cringing before the displeasure of the president"? Look above, find that quote, and consider this: Aren't the difficult times part of the job? Times surely can't always be good, but to cringe at the thought of mentioning a bad situation, reeks of bad management. Some examples maybe in context, I'm sure people in the courts of kings were worried about displeasing their ruler, people in dictatorships are surely worried about displeasing their ruler, but to worry about displeasing an elected official doesn't make sense to me, didn't "the elected" try really hard to get their job? Why would they be upset (oops..... displeased)? Also, what's up with a "five-week" vacation during a war on two fronts, crazy gas prices, and a hurricane bearing down on a city shaped like a bowl?

Truly Frightening Indeed!

2005-09-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well.

I just finished reading a story that I can only describe as truly frightening. I won't say much about it in this blog entry, as I sure can't write as well as they did, but I ask that you please give it a look, and read it in it's entirety. The information the story contains had my head spinning, as it was simply inconceivable, and unforgiveable, yet disturbingly believeable.

Let us know what you think about what you read, I sure don't want to feel alone in my reaction, but I can take it if you disagree with my wordy description, so no worries.

Help refused

2005-09-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,

Well, it seems in the latest of Hurricane Katrina horror stories, help from California firefighters, and search and rescue workers was refused in the moments immediately following the storm. Word has it that immediately after the storm passed, and things were beginning to look like they would be bad, the California effort was put into place, inflateable boats, communications equipment, and other items that sure would have been useful were prepared to be taken into the effected area, their offer quickly forwarded to FEMA. What was FEMA's response? They said they weren't needed, they wouldn't approve airfare to bring the Californians into the area, and suggested taking the bus if they still wanted to come, the bus trip took two days! We all remember the pictures and video from those first two days, imagine if local authorities had access to good communications equipment, had many inflateable boats to use, and had the useful manpower of people specifically trained for search and rescue operations, the picture might have been a bit different from what we saw. Personally, I'm outraged! I'm outraged about this latest revelation, as well as the slow approval of international help, as well as the reports of entire shipments of food, water, and fuel that was either turned away or restricted from use. It's on a level that would be simply unbelievable, if we didn't know it to be true. I've said it so many times these past few days, but the people deserved so much better than the treatment they have received even to this day.

Six year old takes charge!

2005-09-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all,
the weekend is finally here,
hope your Friday was a good one.

Here's a story that amazed me today.
Imagine you're a rescue worker, driving down a flooded street, when you turn a corner and are confronted by a very strange sight, six kids of decreasing size and age, walking in a line, holding hands, with a six year old as their leader! Incredible!! It's a true story, and it happened on the streets of New Orleans, the six year old managed to keep his baby brother, his younger cousin, and three other kids from his apartment building safe against all odds in the chaos that was the city.

When the city is rebuilt, (and if the good people I've met from New Orleans are any indicator, it will be, and better than ever) I believe it could be a nice idea for a statue of the six children to be placed in a very prominent place. I can't think of any other scene I've heard of (yet), that fully captures the resilience, and the hopeful resolve of the New Orleans spirit. There will one day come a time when people will want a place to reflect upon these days that have passed, though as terrible as they seem right now, they'll need a monument that reminds them of the hope they carried inside during the dark times, willing themselves to carry on, to make it through to the next day, to endure and survive. Could this be the image that best represents the shared ordeal of the people? I think so, as it would both allow for reflection upon the past, and would show a good example of enduring hope for the future, found in the proud people (of all ages), and the city where they live. Of course, the decision should inevitably come from the people of New Orleans themselves, when the time comes, I'm certain they'll know what's right for them.

Here's a link to the story so you can read it yourself and draw your own conclusion. Let us know what you think of the idea.

**Please Note**
I'm not trying to say it's time to start building monuments just yet, there's still so much to do before that, and I fear that the true extent of the aftermath still has yet to be revealed, it was just an idea that came to me as I read the story, it touched my heart, and I found to be truly amazing. I would still like to know who the initial rescuers were in that helicopter who dropped off the children, and who they were dropped off with, who allowed them to go unattended, they need to be dealt with. I'm glad the story turned out well, with the children enroute to being reunited with their parents.

Oversight

2005-09-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,

I've been hearing alot of word about the possible appointment of a big name to coordinate the relief efforts currently taking place, Rudy Giuliani, and Colin Powell are two names that keep coming up. Now, I must admit that I previously compared Mayor Nagin's actions at this time in his city's history to those of then New York Mayor Giuliani at that time in his city's history (9/11), but I don't know what Mr. Giuliani could actually do to help with the situation, nor do I know what Colin Powell could do. I believe that Mr. Giuliani was effective during the tragic scene in New York, primarily because he was a lifelong resident of New York, knew the lay of the land, knew how things worked down there, knew where to go to get the things he needed, etc... To believe that he would have the same sort of effectiveness outside of his city, is a bit like grasping at straws during a desperate moment. I don't question Mr. Giuliani's administrative or managerial skills, just that his familiarity with his city surely helped him during a time when chaos could have taken hold. My main question regarding Mayor Nagin was about why he couldn't do the same in the city he calls home, and knows well? I see the pictures of all those school buses submerged in the bus barn, and I think of all those poor people who had no way to make it out of the city, the waste of lives in not using those buses to help the people is not easily forgiven. As for Colin Powell, I don't know what he could do to help the situation, I once believed him to be a gem amongst what might be considered the rocks within the administration, but questioned that view when I saw him dancing a silly dance, singing a silly song, while wearing a hardhat, for some group of political or industrial bigwigs. How in the heck did they talk him into doing something like that? I sure dunno, but I don't know how he could help, unless he still has the hardhat and wants to wear it again.

No confidence in Brown

2005-09-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon to all,

Well, it seems that "Brownie" wasn't doing a heck of a job afterall, to paraphrase the words uttered by our president when he first set foot upon the devastated scene of Katrina's aftermath, FEMA chief Mike Brown has been removed from the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, sidelined from what has been FEMA's biggest challenge to date. Controvery has surrounded the political appointee in a way that seems to "have legs". What that means is that he is not only battling questions regarding the slow FEMA response immediately after the storm, but is also caught up in questions about what might be incorrect information found on his actual resume of qualifications for his job, and his official bio found on the FEMA website. Relief and recovery efforts will now be in the hands of Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen. My hope is that the change will finally allow help to get to those in need, afterall it is day 11 since the terrible event occurred.