Unbelievable

This weekend was a quiet one. Both the Youth-Adult league and Sunday Night Adult league had their payoffs and awards. 1st of 10 and 7th of 16, not a bad result. The only problem with weekends is that it isn't long enough. I need at least 2 more days. But the dinner at El Agave was great as usual. I never leave there hungry .. usually I am stuffed.

Media – This is getting really sad to what levels the media has stooped too. They are in such a rush to beat the other New Services to get out a sensational story that they go half-baked with the story. I am referring to the story dealing with the Koran. CBS and Rather did it with the Bush story and the list goes on and on. Now, they say “they are sorry for not getting the facts right.” EXCUSE ME, 15 people died because of your sloppy and inaccurate reporting as you rushed to be first. What is needed is that the officials who approved this story be charged with a crime. If I incite a riot or some group to commit a crime then I am just as guilty. Perhaps negligent Homicide is a good place to start. Where is your integrity News Services to provide timely and factual news? Truth in reporting should be paramount to making a lousy dollar at the expense of innocent people. I am very disappointed and a bit pissed at your callousness and greed.

I also love how the media within an hour of last night's final episode of Survivor was stirring up crap that "did the jury select the wrong winner?" Come on, it was 6-1 for Tom and besides, the jury was required to pick the winner, they did, so there is no reason to question them. Go find a better topic to report ... like lying about something or not researching a story completely.

Recruiters - Shame on you that you resorted to these low handed tactics. What happened to your pride? I do understand that the Services put extrordinary pressure on you to meet a quota but honor and integrity demand you resist that and not lower yourself. Recruiters have always been the butt of some jokes as to their underhanded tactics .. what was a joke has become reality thanks to you.

Thoughts during a moment of weakness

The Work Scene: All is going ok. I now have the authority to find and hire a new assistant engineer. So perhaps things will return to some level of normality. Though, they did add two new studio build outs and one upgrade project. Oh well, I guess I like the work since I am still here.

Next weekend (21-25) is the State Bowling Tournament followed by a quiet retreat to a mountain cabin for a long and quiet weekend with the wife.

Delta – What makes anyone’s retirement safe now that the company can drop it for financial reasons. What is sad is that the Military retirement system has been doing this for years. Our benefits have been taken away or lessened because the budget got cut. It was bad enough when a company folded and your pension disappeared but now they can just take it, pay the big bonus’s to its executives and plod on losing money. What is going on with the pensions makes me consider the merits of the private social security accounts. Let me control my future and make the changes but don’t lock me out with no say as someone else takes the money to pay for their mismanagement while paying their ungodly bonus.

Rehabilitation: Lately the rash of ex-cons killing people after their release cries for prison reform. Why can’t we just accept the fact some people can not be rehabilitated. Leading this group are the child abusers. Get the bleeding heart liberal lawyers out of the process. Perhaps we need a law change. For example: Any lawyer directly involved in the early release or termination of a court-ordered prison sentence is just as liable as the convict is if they (the convict) commit a crime after their early release. If the Convict serves their full court ordered sentence then the lawyer is relieved of that responsibility. I bet some lawyers would take a second look at what they are doing unless they believe their fee for services exceeded the pain of being in prisoner.

Nomination for the Darwin award: The two pilots in yesterday’s incident in Washington, D.C.

For my Role Playing friends:

The Duke sat there looking at his wife. She was busily sewing something but he couldn’t make hide nor hair of what it was. Finally the silence broke as he asked her a question. “M’Lady, please reconsider the request to lay out your lineage. I could order you but I would rather not go that far.” The Duchess looked up. “Which tower should I go and stay in for the answer remains no! I promised my father and I intend to keep that promise no matter what.” The Duke sighed for now he had a dilemma. Scratching his head he grasped for a straw. “Is there any way, maybe give them enough to work with but withholding the critical items?” Her eyes said plenty. A few moments later she gathered up her sewing items and stormed from the room.

Tidbits of Nonsense

All is well in Virginia. I have even been able to role-play with my friends on a more frequent basis. Maybe the work load has changed enough to allow me to return to a more regular life.

Did the State Police read my blog from 04/10/05? Yesterday, for the first time in over a year the State Police were actively cracking down on HOV violators. Six cruisers in a 3 mile stretch on I-66 had people pulled over. Thanks State Police!

Can you believe? In his news conference last Thursday night the President stated that there would be close scrutiny for price gouging in the Oil Industry in light of the record high gas prices. Well, the search doesn’t have to go far after Exxon Mobile announced a $25.33 Billion profit in 2004. I believe companies should make a profit but not at the price of gouging the people that have no alternative or their livelihood depend on their use of the product. I would go, as far to say all the oil companies will be posting mega profits at a time they cry about no crude oil. Releasing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve only adds to that profit margin.

Why not tax the Oil companies, take about 50% of that profit and use it to fix the Social Security program or subsidize the Medicare program? But don’t give them any more tax breaks to further increase their profits. The sad part is that most of the profit will go to a handful of executives who already are having trouble spending last year’s bonus.

What is next? It seems now the defense of the soldier that participated in the Iraqi prison scandal is one of “she has extreme learning difficulties.” Talk about shifting the blame to anything but her. I am curious on how she made it through the whole military screening process without manifesting it somehow? How did she complete basic training? How did she complete any advanced training? Was she just passed through like the public schools? Is the military training so easy that anyone no matter their handicap can get through? What I suspect is say anything, do anything to get out of accepting the fact you abused prisoners. Come on soldier, stand up and accept the fact you screwed up and take the punishment.

The runaway bride should face the music. If anyone else would have made a false claim to the police or 911 they would get punished. So if you would punish a child for making a false 911 calls then punish this ADULT. I know from personal experience that just giving a wrong name to the police officer results in an Identity Theft charge. So making a false claim for kidnapping should be treated the same. Oh, on a side note. Thanks media for blowing something up so much you created a media event to highlight a runaway and her lies. It saddens me to see mainstream media stoop to the tabloid level in order to get a better rating than another news source. Come on, have some integrity and become a news source and not a tabloid.

For my Role-play friends:

The Duchess sat there reading an old ancient text. Its dusty pages crackled every time she moved one. Her eyes raised from the odd looking characters on the stained page as a barrister entered the room. "M'Lady, I must implore you to give me the information so that I can complete the heraldry register." The Duchess quickly replied, "I said no." The barrister frowned, "but you must do that so the officials can verify your lineage. The King is sick and given certain circumstances, you husband can sit on the throne. But if your lineage isn't established then you can't become Queen .. just the Duchess." The Duchess looked the man in the eyes, "NO!" Her demeanor quickly changed as the young girl rounded the corner of the doorway more in a skid than a lady-like manner of walking. With the appearance of the young girl, the barrister realized his attempts would fall on the deaf ears of the Duchess. "M'ladies" as he bowed and exited the room.

Life Continues

Life continues as summer approaches. I ate at a Red Robin restaurant yesterday and enjoyed it. The A-1 peppercorn hamburger was a monster and I was stuffed. Can’t do to many days like that or I won’t fit through the front door. After I ate and experienced the stuff tummy syndrome, I sat outside in the warm sunshine and plotted new ways to drive my role-play partner crazy with new story-lines. Do I feel bad – hmmmm – nope!

You really have to wonder where society is heading too. Take the 5 year old in Florida. When the school administrator decided she couldn’t handle the child, she called the parent who basically said she didn’t have time to come and deal with the child. The school security took a hands-off stance so the Police were called and now they are being harassed for how they handled it. Now Tennessee is doing their anti-bullying law for school children. Next we will see an “I don’t like my Teacher” law. The Judge will decide in open court if there is a problem between the Teacher and the kid. If the parents won’t discipline their children for fear of repercussions, School Administrators live in fear of lawsuits if they discipline a child and now the police are being sued for doing their job. Who will disciple this generation? Will we wind up with a bunch of wild, do-as-they-please, and no consequences for their actions children? Will a whole new group of laws be establish so that if you cause trouble at school you wind up in court while the lawyers argue the merits of the case. Will Lawyers become the disciplinarians of society as they decide what is a court issue and what is not worth their time and money? We have come a long way from where parents, school officials, and authoritarian figures could discipline a child within preset guidelines. It almost reaches the level that children decide if their actions warrant discipline and how it will be administered.

The Michael Jackson case still is a media circus where the Pedophile’s criminal action isn’t being questioned but the integrity and motives of the accusers. Lost in this three ring circus is the question – did he do it? So far the answer appears he did but because they make the accusers look less than upright he will walk free to do it again. Like several authorities said on talk radio -- pedophiles never change or rehabilitate, all they do is wait for a new victim whether it is 1 day or 10 years from now. I am saddened that the children are the ones being exploited as we focus of the Pedophile to insure his rights are in no way violated.

I love it. Ten buffalo roaming in Maryland. Now they say they must figure out where they came from. Well, duh, they have yellow tags in their ears, so someone owns them and takes care of them. If that is too hard, then shoot them, skin them and give the meat and furs to the homeless.

Contemplations

I wonder at times if we have brought on our current woes because we as adults have failed to be the adult we should have been. When children start killing other children perhaps we adults have failed to show them the value of life. When preschoolers go on a rampage tearing things up only to be restrained by police – where have we sunk too? I am sorry the 5-year old had to be restrained, but weren’t they destroying property and acting in an out-of-control manner? It use to be neighbors would talk out differences but now you get a visit by the police investigating a complaint that some paper had blown into their yard. People calling the police not because the dog crapped in their yard but because the owner of the dog picked the pile up in a bag and deposited it in their trash can. I would personally like to thank the dog owners for being so nice and civic-minded.

What is wrong with us people? It is going to get worse as the population grows and we get ever more crowded. We need to start learning to be reasonable and communicating with others not by bullets and lawsuits but by talking and equitably resolving these little issues between us. I am amazed how quickly we have changed from just when I was a child. At this rate, I fear I will die a lonely man in a house that resembles a maximum-security vault to keep others from robbing and killing a defenseless old man.

Home intrusion is another example. Use to be you could leave your doors unlocked and windows open when you stepped out from the house. But now it has escalated to the point they will come during the day whether you are home or not. Perhaps NRA is right, we need to be prepared to defend our selves. I don’t like the thought of shooting someone, but I must protect my home and family. So it is time to go and by my semi-automatic gun with 10,000 rounds. This way, I have held them off until they get tired or the police show up.

My Role Playing Friends:

The masked figure sat in the edge of the forest watching the big man sharpen his axe. “So this is my target,” he thought. “One clean arrow would do this job quickly. But he didn’t have the OK to do it yet. There was something about all the pieces must be in place first.” Shifting slightly he continued to watch the man work. “So he came from an important family and was known for his skill as a fighter and leader. Right now he was just a large target no more smarter than a bale of hay before you launched an arrow into it.” The masked man moved back deeper into the woods as he prepared to make camp a few miles away. “I sure hope they give the word soon! I hear there is a band of gypsy’s passing by and that would liven any evening and bed up.”

Where have all the good role-players gone? Have they migrated to another world and started over or have they just given up? Perhaps, I should just put on my walk-about shoes and hunt them down. I sometimes feel like a large goatskin bag just swelling at the sides. Ready to role-play but can’t. From what I have seen, in most channels it is mostly role chatting. In some cases there was a bit of playing, but it seemed so shallow. No one was putting himself or herself into it in order to make their character come alive and seem as real as them. Oh well, perhaps that is why I dream .. I dream of a fantasy world that can’t exist.

Time to go to my favorite eating place --- El Agave.

Wednesday Thoughts

It is raining today so I thought I would take a few moments to jot a few things down.

Work – Should ease up a bit since that pain in the butt project is being handed over to a new engineer they just hired. Now I can go back to a 12-hour day. It is funny how as soon as that project was moved, everyone else started yapping for his or her stuff to be done first. Well, “as are the sands in an hour glass, so are the days of our lives.”

Just saw last night where a house a block away from me closed at $425,000 and it is smaller than mine. Almost like playing poker, how long do you play the hand before you fold and take your winnings?

Starting to figure out when I can make another Florida run. My mom wants a new computer and wants me to build it and set it up. So another weekend needs to be booked as soon as I can figure out when. Just bought plane tickets from Washington DC to Indianapolis for $39 one-way. With gas prices where they are, you can’t beat that.

My Role-play friends:

A young girl walked through the field as her dog chased every bug in sight. The rustle of her skirts blended in with the wind and trees. The escorts were well back from her as they allowed her the freedom to play, as she wanted too but the eye of her governess twitched like an eagle. However, someone else was there watching from a hidden spot in the marshy area to the south. The man’s eyes squinted through the light cloth over his head. His body ached from the chill of the muddy water that covered him, as he lay low in the marsh grass. His plan was to quietly draw the dog to him and so the child would follow. Once in range, a few well-placed crossbow bolts would eliminate the guards and governess thus leaving the child alone. “When,” became the question? How long will he have to wait for the sign to grab the child? These hours laying here watching and planning things out allowed him to dwell on many things. “Why this child?” “What was her importance?” “Whom was she the bait for?” “Could I get more gold if I did this myself?” Finally the man gave up and returned his thoughts to watching the child and her dog.

“Mistress,” the guard called out. “It is time to return home, your uncle wants you back before dark.” The child nodded and took her own sweet time making her way to the awaiting horses and guards.

The value of a life crossed my mind last night as a close friend of mine lost his brother in law. It seems the man got drunk, took his brothers van without permission and proceeded to lose control on a curve and kill himself while destroying the van. Luckily, no one else was involved. But he is gone. Someone who never really did anything in his 35 years but get drunk, borrow money and waste it on frivolous things. He was as close to penniless as I have ever known anyone. The family, poor themselves, is desperately trying to figure out how to bury him. No insurance, no money in the bank and it costs $1400 to bury him and they can’t even afford $100 each to do that. What potential was locked away in him that was never allowed to escape for whatever reason? What could we have done to change his destiny or could we? A twinge of sadness for what could have been but wasn’t.

Habemus Papem!

Congrats to the new Pope and may success follow your every step of the way. Barely 8 hours and the media are already trying to second-guess everything the man does. One supposed scholar from Catholic University is already thinking of a doomsday scenario between the Vatican and the American Church. He has barely had his first dinner as Pope, give him a chance to settle in or is your agenda so weak that pressure is the only tact you have?

Looks like Tom Delay is trying the old “offense is the best defense” tactic. Attack everyone, dirty the air with innuendos and accusations and maybe something will stick that will get his own butt out of the fire or at least out of the spotlight. Without Schiavo, Jackson, a Tsunami and John Paul to deflect the attention, he is finding that it is tough in that spotlight once again.

Work was fine today, quiet and without much happening. I even managed to get a few things done in preparation for a large project that starts next week. I will be doing a software upgrade of the newsroom software. My end is relatively easy but the news people must learn a whole new system and that should prove fun. For some fun I started a list today of all the tasks that need to be done by the end of June and quit after it reached 45 items. Too depressing.

For my role-play friends:<>

After the door shut and a regular patron staggered in, the first man realizing no danger was near leaned in, his breath reeking of rum. “Do you know where he is, the boy, I mean? The other man a bit taken back at his friends odor, took a deep breath and replied, “yes and my man never loses sight of him!” “Wow, and they said he was hidden and well protected. A spy, your man, I mean?” “Shush man, lest we be overheard, but yes, the best kind of spy!” With that said the second man leans back more to get some fresh air than to disengage his curious friend.

I sometimes wonder where the role-play is going. It seems that now days it is shallow and based more on real life emotions rather than your dreams. Is role-play going away as did the Citizens Band (CB) Radio? A short burst on the horizon of IRC and then into oblivion? It appears that virtual games have replaced the mind as the spawning ground of ideas and adventure. I remember a time when my Calvary was a double line of dominos and their rank was by their dots. Buildings were blocks of 2x4s from the local construction site. Gold was the slugs the electricians left after wiring out the new house. Computers and IRC gave us the chance to enlarge our sand pile across the globe. Our mind’s limit was only bounded by our ability to expand it. But, alas now, we have all became gods and drama queens and those simple pleasures of an afternoon questing to save a small village or some hapless human being have faded. Are we relegated to watching TV reruns of medieval stories? Is there a way that a few dedicated and hungry for action Rpers to get together, throw aside their egos and re-enter the world of fantasy and relive the dreams of Knights, Lady’s and Chivalry? I lay aside my weapons and dream of the call to action.

Well, work intrudes on my reflections as the clock draws closer to the time the alarm goes off, 3:30 am.

April Showers

<>Not much has changed this week, here in the land of lovers.

Every day I think of an easier time. One that has no time and no routines. The only requirement is that I have fun without having to work at it. And boy does it become easier to dream of it, tick – tick – tick.

The youth league team I am on clinched the championship with one week to go. Michaela was a jewel as she raised her average from 92 to 131. I love it when they are at the age to listen and have a desire to learn. I was really proud when she threw a 199 two weeks ago. Tapped by a 10 pin to hold her back from her first 200 game. I also smile because I only managed 204 that game and almost got buried by her.

Work is the same. Long! It seems about the time I am ready to leave at 9:30 am, the phone goes crazy and everyone wants something or wants a meeting if I have a few minutes. Needless to say, I stumble around till 1:00 pm and then leave. The fuse gets shorter everyday. If my computer business continues to grow, I might just take a dive and see how the water is. Meanwhile, I sit waiting like a cobra .. Ready to strike.<>

To my role-play friends:

Two men, hidden in the shadows of the small pub, speak softly lest they be overheard. “He has returned, don’t ask me how but you must once and for all put an end to his life!” The man nearest the door exclaimed in a gruff voice. The other man nodded, “Then I shall and his son will be the bait only neither will walk away this time.” They both looked around, hands lightly on their sword hilts.

<>* * * *

I continue to be amazed at this rash of child abusers that seem to garner such sympathy. "They might get rehabilitated." "They have rights and deserve a chance." Arghhh, and what about that child that is being buried - no one gave a flip about them and what their young life meant. I vote that every convicted child abuser be sent to Alcatraz or some desolate island to spend the rest of their natural life. NO death - but NO parole. Some things can be changed or helped to change. But some predators can't - "you can't remove a tigers stripes, no matter how much you rub and wish." If the ACLU doesn't like this - you are free to join them on their island. Oh! Take Michael Jackson with you, he likes to share his bed. <>

Well, the Pope lottery is on. Place your vote on which it will be. The media is so starved for news after Shiavo; they now want to do polls on the next Pope. If they want to be so much an "investigative reporter" pick a meaningful topic such as:

• How much is the Major Oil Companies gouging us and whom are they paying to let that happen?
• Why can the Insurance companies in Florida rip of their clients and no one say a hoot about it?
• Is there even one (1) honest and virtuous Congressman?
• What is happening in the Tsunami ravaged areas? You collected our money and now I don't even see how it is getting spent and the good it is doing.

<>But you see that requires work and a long effort to get at the bottom of things. It is more fun to chase the figurative ambulance than to follow the dozer into the mud.

To all those brave police officers and fireman, thanks for what you do every day.

A Little Update

Well, I shall try and post this again. I had it all written out and then the computer had a brain fart and shutdown losing everything I had done. Perhaps this time it will go well.

The tournament went well and though I didn’t get rich or win it, I at least broke even with the side pots. Plus I didn’t come in last in our group of 10 bowlers. So time to look forward to next year and Corpus Christie. That should be another fun one to turn into a mini-vacation. Virginia State Tournament comes up later in May, so maybe I can do some good there. Ever Vigilant and hoping.

Dad is doing fine though he is mighty week. The pneumonia really took it out of him and the surgery has slowed him down. But he is ornery and given some time he will be his feisty self once again.

The youngest had his first interview at Chick-fil-A and he goes back for a second interview later this week and our fingers are crossed. Will be nice to see him do something a little more constructive with his life than video games and music.

Well, time marches on and so does life. I wish I could say work at the newsroom is fun but since mid-February, it has been a real pain. So last week I told them if something doesn’t give this week, I walk. So time will tell. I will not be surprised if they do nothing just to see my resolve. Well, they will be in for a shock. Do I have anything lined up if I walk? No, but several nibbles could make it interesting. But worse case, we sell the house, move to Florida and retire 3 years early. So I see a win-win situation no matter what happens.

This weekend I watched a Camelot movie for the umpteenth time and probably shouldn’t have. It brought back too much pain about the Camelot I loved and spent so many years in. To see it now doesn’t help matters.

Hang on Dark Towers, I will return and we will get that place lit up and rockin. Who knows, I might even get to write once again. A special thanks to all those who have keep some semblance of life going on there. From what I see in the channels now, the real role players should unite and get things rolling again or the chat monster will take over and many a dream will die from inactivity.

Picture this; it is Thursday afternoon on I-66 where the leftmost lane is HOV-2 until 7 p.m. I am riding along doing the usual brake light dance. To my left three cars pass me with only one person in them. Following them is a State Trooper doing who knows what but definitely not watching traffic. Behind the trooper are 2 more cars with only one person. Why have HOV if they don’t enforce it. This sucks if the State Police are too ignorant to know the law and then make some attempt to enforce it. This is a perfect example why the A-Types here blow off most traffic laws. No one does the speed limit because they usually are 10-15 over. Why? They know the troopers don’t stop you for that. The A-Types run red lights pass on the right using the merge lane and dive across 3 lanes to make an exit from the HOV lanes. But until the Troopers make it painful, driving in the nation’s capital will suck. Maybe we sent all the good ones to California so they could write tickets out there!

Good-bye, John Paul II, your were a good man though I didn’t subscribe to all you preached. Maybe Benny Hen could follow your example of humility and sell his 10 million dollar house to help the needy and poor like the money was originally donated for.

Michael Jackson continues to show us how much a predator he is. Yes, all those witnesses may have a grudge, but they paint a picture of someone with a real problem.

Getting Caught Up

Well, the vacation is over. I had a great time and wish it had lasted longer. But reality crept back in and work is already picking at me. Boy, is the fuse getting shorter - and I haven’t even been back into the office yet!

• My dad did fine in his recall/replacement surgery. The more I look at it the more it convinces me that the old defibrillator was bad from the moment they first installed it 4 years ago.

• Can you believe that FEMA is demanding their money back for their errors after a third review of a person’s application? Yes, restitution should be made but at least be considerate and work with the people. How can someone repay the $12,000 you gave them within 30 days or incur penalties and interest, when the Insurance Company has been dragging their feet for 6 months? They are struggling just to live and pay a mortgage on a totally destroyed house. Go after the Insurance company, those are the real crooks. The new twist is claiming the water damage was caused by the high surge of water - Thus the Hurricane didn’t directly cause the damage and therefore isn’t covered. Will we start not covering fires? The fire may destroy some of the house. But anything not burned and that is damaged as the result of the water and the firemen’s attempt to stop the fire aren’t! So FEMA, forget the Red Tape for the time being and help the people in Florida some. Oh that is right, Congress is too involved in violating state’s rights and personal issues of the citizens to do their job.

• I was appalled at seeing how much damage still needs to be fixed, even after 6 months. There is more work than workmen available to do the job. And can you believe this, the local companies want to change the law and cancel all temporary licenses of companies that have come down to Florida to help. Talk about being greedy! From all I spoke with it’s the local companies that are the worse offenders of doing shoddy work, taking deposits and never showing up, or promising work and then backing out.

• I wish the rhetoric over Terry Schiavo would die down but I am afraid these two warring camps will continue until someone feels they have won.

• It is getting to the point you can’t trust the press to report the true facts of the case and leave personal or network bias out. Once again this morning I watched them evaluate some new video of the lady and draw conclusions to support their fight for her life. Excuse me, BUT THE PICTURES WERE THREE (3) YEARS OLD! Maybe three years ago you would have had a valid point, but not now. Show me picture from the last two weeks! They would be more supportive of the point of the matter. I have a funny feeling down inside that the new and current pictures would underscore the husband’s decision to let his wife rest in peace. That would be bad for the Press, so erase them.
• The Press reports - He (Michael) didn’t let the family in to be with her at the end! Excuse me, but isn’t the Husband part of the Family? Besides, maybe he just wanted to spend the last moments alone with her. That is his prerogative as her husband. The rest of the family was there up to the last ten minutes. Yes, maybe that was a bit dramatic on Michael’s part to ask them to leave. But after the way the other side of the family as acted I could see a reason to not allow them. Even that the spokesman, the Priest showed his disdain of Michael when he said, “the family would even sit with Michael in order to be there.” How loving is that .. Taking shots at him even to the last moment.
• I hope every one of those “CHRISTIAN PROTESTORS” apologize to the other people in that Hospice Center for denying them their peace and quiet as they dealt with their own problems. They banged their personal war drums so loud and often, I wonder why didn’t the Police stop them from disturbing other people in their time of sorrow and pain. The Priest’s showed real compassion by making just as much noise so they could get their picture on TV. Maybe this was the Catholic Priest’s way of deflecting their child abuse problems much like Tom Delay deflected his ethics woes for a brief moment, or as Jesse Jackson tried to bolster his flagging ego. Shoot, Michael Jackson should have come. Maybe he could have help support the circus atmosphere that the Media was generating.
• Shame on the Media, the Catholic Church, and the so-called Christian Protestors, and the busybody Congress.
• Shame with extenuating circumstances to the Family of Terry Schiavo (mom, dad, and brother).
  

From the South

Well, the vacation is almost over. Bowling was good; I didn’t embarrass myself nor finish last. I did though have fun and relax a bit. It helps going to an area that slows down as compared to the fast lane of the D.C. metro area. Next is Corpus Christi in March 2006.

There quite and experience when I dialed *HP in Mississippi on I-10. I reported a scrap metal truck that was going 70 mph and having scrap aluminum fly off his truck. Of course, every car behind him was swerving and dodging those little missiles including myself. The lady that answered didn’t want to do anything unless an accident occurred. Nothing like being proactive – one day too late. I guess it was doughnut break time for Bubba the Cop. I am relieved to say no one got hurt during the time I watched in my rear view. But there were a few dented hoods, burnt rubber from the skid marks and a whole lot of cursing.

As expected my “hurt” assistant didn’t come to work on Thursday as expected and the newsroom network melted down. All I could do is shake my head and try to help my friend who was called in to fix it. His two-hour commute to get there and then the next 9 hours to get it all back up was a debt I will try and repay. Do I have too? No, but he is a friend who they took advantage of. Also, the odds of her coming back Monday: 10:1, why work when you can get a doctors pass and sit at home filling your mouth with potato chips and still get paid? Where did I miss the boat or was I born yesterday?

Looks like the trip may be a few days longer. Pops was told his defibrillator is defective and may not work. We knew that Medtronic – it works fine but lies about doing anything when it is downloaded. And they thought Pops was lying when he said it went off. In summary, there are 330+ people here with them and the hospital called and said he was #1 in priority to get a new one. So Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent in a waiting room. The procedure is easy enough. It is the testing that is the problem. They stop the heart and see it the unit restarts it. Well, in Pops case, it never does, at least the last 3 times, so the stress level is very high when they do it. They have to manually kick start him for another try.

What ever happened with rehabilitation of these convicted sex abusers? How many more children must die before we do something? At some point we must do something to stop them from preying on the harmless. Civil Rights? Heck, what rights does the little girl have after that so called rehabilitated sex-offender strangled her to death? How many children must die before his rights are forfeited. Why isn’t Congress hopping on this bandwagon instead of interfering in the Schiavo matter? Come on Jeb Bush – these crimes are in your back yard and you can do something - instead of grandstanding for re-election. Oh, that is right, you are Catholic and Catholics protect priests and thus they don’t get worried when a Child Abuser plies their trade. It seems that in the past they they would abuse and then let them go, but lately it is more fashionable to abuse and kill. And we want to abolish the death penalty as being too cruel? And Child Sex abuse isn’t? What about rape, execution, cold-blooded murder and other horrendous acts against another human? What is cruel if these acts aren’t? Could it be humans are the cruelest, nastiest, beings to ever walk the earth? Is there any other mammal in nature that abuses their offspring like this? Oh, that is right, we killed them into extinction as being too cruel and in-human.

Perhaps the words of the sentinel in the Matrix when he spoke to Morpheus was a harbinger of what reality is – Humans are the most vicious of organisms consuming everything around them until they alone are left.

Eve of a Good time

Tomorrow the adventure begins. I am off too Louisiana by the way of Florida. It is my annual pilgrimage to the ABC National Bowling Tournament. With some luck I will manage to win back my entry and dream of what could have been. Besides, I will get to spend Easter with my parents.

• To my friends in #Dark_Towers, keep it alive for me till I return. Then we can build it together. But it is alright, if you start building it while I am away. I promise to catch up.
• My days of working 15+ hours a day has ended. As a promise to my wife, I will not do it again. The company that I work for that continually wants me to work those hours because they are too cheap to hire more people or plan better had better find another sucker. They think if you are salaried that you are available 24/7. Well guys, you are wrong. It is mind-boggling a so-called Christian Company acts like this. But then again, Christianity is a state of the heart and they have none. Maybe they should spend more time ready the Bible and less time acquiring properties. The word greed comes to mind. The top man sure didn’t balk at taking $250,000 bonus while all I got was 2 movie passes.

Some Things I will never understand:

• After the Atlanta Court shooting, they greatly increased the security for everyone entering the building. Well, duh, if memory serves me right, the gun did not come from the outside but the deputy inside. So let's fix the right problem before the Police once again mess things up and let that man get away.
• What is so hard with using biometrics on firearms? Only the person imprinted can fire it. All old firearms must be turned in and replaced with the new biometric firearm. The owner would get a certificate worth some amount towards the purchase of the new firearm. Any one wishing to keep the old firearm would have to have it professionally rendered inert (incapable of firing). This simple solution would solve several issues.
• The cost would go up enough to deter a large number of people from buying them for display or so called hunting.
• The time to imprint it would be possibly a week or more, thus stopping some buy now and kill tonight schemes.
• As the new ones are issued, they are registered and the owner fingerprinted.
• The inert firearms would be registered and owners finger printed.
• Everyone could still have their firearm for what ever they want to do but now we would have a more complete database of weapons and owners. This is good and the by-product would be safer firearms and ones that could not be taken and turned against others.

Terry Schiavo

• Now that the State Court system has wrung all it can out of the family, they turn it over to the Federal Court system to do all they can do.
  

• Doesn’t the Congress have anything better to do than interfere with a family matter. What about fixing social security, health care, better tax system, getting all the political appointees confirmed and the myriad of other National matters languishing on the docket. You see, Congress only does what is appealing and generates TV ratings. Pump up their image for re-election. Meanwhile the country gets deeper in debt and the future of seniors and those people approaching retirement gets bleaker. Lately all Congress does is try and run baseball as it attempts to control steroid use. Back off and at least give the Commissioner a chance to do something. Now that the problem is public knowledge, let him try and step in when he totally fails.
• Congress loves to investigate things. Why? They are wannabe lawyers who watch CSI too much. Investigations generate TV audiences and talk show appearances. The investigation take time so that they can do less legislating and avoid the potentially career ending political mistake of backing the wrong issue.

• As for Terry, I wish she would recover and join society once again. But, right now it is a private family matter in which the husband must make some very hard decisions. He will be the one to answer to God if he chooses wrong. Her parents should quit their selfish acts. Once she married she join with her husband and left their care. If the parents want to do something good, support the husband and help him and he can then help the parents resolve the loss of their daughter. But quit making Terry a spectacle in a tug-of-war. Shame on the TV people, radio people, lawyers who push this to prove their point and gain more money, and the Congress that takes too much time meddling instead of legislating.

Michael Jackson

• Everyday I feel he is more guilty but more likely to walk out of the court free. The victims of this perverted man will once again suffer because we bend over backward to save the so-called image of this man. All we can do is hope his perversion stops him, the courts won’t. Perhaps the Catholic Church will ordain him as a Priest and he can get Church protection.

My Head Hurts

Well, the news gets funnier and funnier.

• The Italian lady that is claiming the U.S. targeted her. Come on Lady, driving in the dark at a high rate of speed towards a checkpoint that has experienced numerous attacks from car bombers is a very dumb thing. Besides, if you were released after paying your ransom, why were you driving so fast? Were you afraid they may change their mind and keep you and the money? Blame you Government and not use the U.S. as a scapegoat for their dumb decision. Your escorts hampered things by playing "I got a secret" and not coordinating with the U.S. for apparently two reasons. First, they paid the ransom and didn't want to admit their weakness to the public and secondly, the Italian government wanted to grandstand this to make them look good. So get rid of your communist agenda, ego, and not worry about how much you will make on TV deals. Thank your lucky stars the Government was so weak they paid for you and the man that gave his life to protect you made that sacrifice. Perhaps, he should have ducked and let what may happen to you! Somewhere in the back of my mind the word “ungrateful” rattles around.

• Since when does a religious leader need to live in a 10 million dollar house? Tele-evangelists have a bad enough name as it is, so quit trying to be #1. If you truly loved Christ and desired to follow him, you would use that money the way the people who gave it to you thought it would be used. Used to help those in need. It looks like you have hardened your heart and greed has taken over you whole life. Talk to the Baker’s and learn from their mistakes. Talk to Graham and learn what an Evangelist is all about. Perhaps your new mansion is built on sand and will crumble before long. I will pray for your forgiveness but laugh at your stupidity. Maybe it is you who needs to be on his knees more than the many people that come to your crusade to be duped.

My votes:

• Michael Jackson - You are guilty of a sick crime and your money will buy you free.
• Syria - Get Out!
• Oil Company's - I hope you in good conscience enjoy your ill-gotten gains. If there is a crook loose, it is you. You raise prices fast as you can for any reason and then drag your sorry feet when it comes to dropping gas prices. You deserve everything that comes your way when America finally wakes up and pushes alternate fuels.
• Sen. Byrd - Step aside, you are a dinosaur that has outlived your era. Please get out and let some new blood help West Virginia before you fossilize and become a sitting stature in your chair in the chamber. Oh! That is really you just sleeping ... sorry .... shhhhh!
• Good ol` California – Trying to increase the penalty for people engaged in high speed chases. Excuse me, but most of these people aren’t worried about bigger fines or an extra year in jail.

Just over 2 weeks until I get a break from a few headaches in my life and head for Baton Rouge for a week of bowling and fun.

Would You Believe?

American's and Safety

Virginia just voted down a law that would prohibit Teens from driving and using the cell phone at the same time. According to the news, the predominant argument was "it is discrimination since adults are not prohibited." Does that mean the Insurance must change their rates so they don't discriminate by charging one group a higher rate? Adults can't even handle driving and a cell phone at the same time. To me it is COMMON SENSE to be safe and not do something that endangers others. But for some reason Americans must have a law to prevent their unsafe acts and then they ignore it until they are cited by the law officer. Everyone knows that talking on cell phones distract you from doing your primary task of driving. Ever see a car that wanders all over their lane, or can't keep a constant speed even for 100 yards, or someone cuts you off or pulls out in front of you .. each time they have a cell phone plastered to their ear and just talking away. It goes back to Americans can't act responsible; they must have a Law to force them.

Look at seatbelts. Everyone knows and most accept the fact that seatbelts save lives. But do we wear them? No, but when we do it is mainly because we have to in order to avoid a ticket. Even so, many still don't and take that chance. Only after a close call do they change their mind do what is right.

Running red lights is another. We all agree that it is dangerous and even potentially deadly. But we do it if we think we can get away with it. The government puts up Red light cameras and we then make a fuss to get them down. Excuse me, but they are there only to make us do what we won't do normally. Is it a moneymaker for the city? Yes, if we obeyed the law just because it was a safe idea, then they wouldn't need those cameras. Once again, Americans can't act responsible; they must have a Law to force them.

The list goes on but I will step down from the box. Ok, America, grow up!

Supreme Court Ruling on 18-Year Olds and Death Penalty

Well, this is a fine one. I hate to know a child would be executed but sometimes the crime warrants it. If the child shoots someone and kills them then the jury should weigh the facts and the faculties of the child in their decision between life and death. A child mishandles his parents gun may be an example where death isn't warranted. But the Columbine Killers, Lee Malvo and the DC Sniper, or a kid standing there on the playground pointing a gun point blank at another child’s head and executes the them are cases where the pure evilness of the situation warrants death.

We have already seen some changes because of these laws based on age. Drug runners are under 18; because the penalty if caught is lesser than if they were over 18. Plus at 18 their juvenile records are wiped clean and they start over. Stealing cars is another one done by the teenagers for the same reasons. The way things go these days it is almost like "Catch and Release” we do for fishing. Meanwhile the real criminal mastermind goes free and gets richer.

I believe the U.S. Supreme Court just made murder another option for the under 18 crowd to add death to their arsenal of getting even with their schoolmates.

Jackson Defense

I love where they are blaming the boy's mother greed and attempt to get rich as the reason Michael Jackson sexually abused the child. Excuse me, have the trial deal with did he or did he not sexually abuse the child. It is a simple yes or no thing. Then deal with who did what to get rich. She was trying to get rich and equally bad Michael Jackson was trying to use them to defuse what he said on that tape in order to save his image and financial base. So they both tried to work the system meanwhile a child was abused. Focus on the real travesty, child abuse, and deal with the others later. Besides, more trials mean more money for these lawyers.

You can almost see it now. We are going to bend over backwards to protect MJ much like the priests and let a horrible crime, child abuse, go unpunished.

Chuckles and a few Head Shakes

Today was an interesting day.

Last week they started predicting a winter storm that may dump 6 - 10' of snow. So, the government gave everyone the day off today and the schools closed. In reality, the first flakes didn't show up till mid-morning and we will be lucky to get a few inches. After 6 hours of the storm the roads aren't even white. Just wet.

What does this cost me, Mr. taxpayer, for the government to take a holiday? I know the contractors aren't happy since they are forced into using vacation time or going without pay. The government has no intention of reimbursing them. And what about the few people that could go to work but had to take a day off or pay a babysitter because the schools closed.

Whoever makes these decisions in this area needs a wakeup call to rejoin reality. This year alone they have several times taken this action based on what the weatherman has forecasted and each time looked like a fool when it didn't happen. Just a couple of weeks ago they forecasted 4-6 inches and all we got were a wet road and absolutely no accumulation. But every thing shut down.

With a town that goes bananas when you even mention the possibility of snow, the people responsible should exercise due diligence to make the best call. Grocery stores love it when they predict 2 inches because of the massive run on the food products. The people here act like they are fixing to get snowed in for a week. Then again, maybe the piss poor snow removal plan and equipment has caused this. I just love driving down the road plowing through 4" of snow and pass several plows that are sitting there, drivers standing outside their trucks drinking coffee and smoking. Or worse yet following a stupid plow that is driving along with the blade raised to the point all it will do is give very close haircuts to the pedestrians it narrowly misses. The good old Mayor's plan is to let the bulk fall and cut down on the number of passes the plows have to make. But he still pays those trucks to sit there and idle, wasting even more fuel.

To the Mayor and OMB chief, get a better source of weather forecasts and then don't get in such a rush to call things off so you can sleep late. Get up at 5 a.m. and make the call then instead of 11 p.m. the night before. Governors, get rid of that stupid law or rule that says the plows blade can't be down except for when they are in their assigned area. If there is snow on the road, push it off. If you have too, go to somewhere that does this right .. Like Michigan or North Dakota. Mayor Williams, use the money you take all the boon-doggles on to do something that will really benefit your constituents.

*****

Vindication is sweet. For a long time I have fought against the forced mandate of my employer to use Dell products exclusively. They were sold a bill of goods and are so brainwashed into thinking Dell was the best and they gave our company the best price if we purchased everything from them. The first time I ran into this I got the information for a line by line comparison of prices and then showed them that they were overpaying by as much as 30%. They responded, "Oh no, you must have figured wrong or used cheaper parts, besides, Dell says they are the lowest." Well guess what, Dell has been cited for false advertising, using lesser value parts than advertised, overpricing and bait and switch tactics to overcharge customers. I am happy that my words were true.

*****

I watched Braveheart last night for the umpteenth time. It was just as good as the first. I still get riled at the brazen treachery and backstabbing each time I see it. I would have sworn a blood oath to kill them nobles or die trying too.

*****

Saturday night, my better half and I ate out at a small restaurant in Frederick Maryland and tried Tapas for the first time. The menu was a little daunting at first but the food was great after we made our selections. It is something we will definitely try again but I sure wish I could have ordered a burrito and a few tacos.

*****

Well, the youngest returned from his two-week hiatus in Erie Pa. He finally admitted to us it wasn’t as much fun as he thought it would be. The young lady he met hadn’t been completely honest but that is another story for another day. Yes, just as we thought he would, he did fall asleep during the bus change in D.C. and miss his connection. He claimed he didn’t hear the announcement for his bus. Well, son, with the headphones on, the volume at the level you normally listen too (maximum loud) and your being fast asleep, you will normally miss any external PA call. Needless to say, we got up at 5 a.m. only to have to return home and pick him up later. But he is safe, a little wiser, and completely broke … so all in all, it was a successful adventure.

A quick note spurred by a comment on my blog.

I had a lengthy discussion today with a devout Catholic over my Blog. We agreed to disagree.

They felt I was picking on the Catholic Church since it was such a small percentage of Priests that have caused the problem. Yes, it is a small number as far as percentages go (> 2%). But 756 priests under investigation today alone, plus those already convicted is the problem. To me, 1 is too much. Are we to start classifying sins by the per-centage? Look what 1 homosexual Bishop has done to the Episcopal Church. I am sorry and pray for those priests that have lost their vision and calling. But, I also look at the Catholic Church to quit hiding them, denying it exists and to fix the problem. Something is broke when that many priests fail and subcumb to their desires.

I asked this person would changing the rules about priests being allowed to marry and still perform their duties to the Church. I cringed when they replied, "then we would be just like the Protestants." So? Who cares as long as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed across the world. Am I any less of a Christian, Teacher, or Minister of God's word because I am married? No, I just have to learn to place Jesus first and my family second. Besides, I feel I do a good job teaching about Jesus and my family is superb in their support of me when times get rough.

Perhaps we should get rid of all the "Churchism's" and get back to what God taught us in the Bible. Quit trying to make it a Catholic, Protestant, or anything else issue. Get rid of the ritualistic ways and just worship God as he outlined in his word. Each Religion has created so many rules and requirements just to be differennt from every one else that they have lost sight of the basic commandments and teachings. Pehaps we are becoming more like the times before Jesus was born where the Laws and how you dealt with the law matters more. I faintly recall that Jesus told us he was the way to salvation and not the laws made by some church leader.

So lest I ramble on, I shall end by saying, the only hoop I intend to jump through to get to heaven is the one made by Jesus' arms.

Excuse me!

Well, I am never surprised anymore at events in life.

Hockey:

Well, our pampered sports jocks and Private Club Owners have done it. Their greed and attempts to wring every last nickel from the fans reached a new low. They would rather strike for more money than to "play the game." When I hear or see any jock stand there and say, "they play for the love of the game", I say hogwash. If the money weren’t there, they would be working somewhere else. The real lovers of the game, fans excluded, have died a couple of generations ago. This is our "Union's" at their finest and in their element as they strive to follow their agenda, "soak the fan." What is sadder is the fans will stream in once again when the doors reopen and dig deeper into their pockets so that the owners and jocks can squabble on who gets the lion share of the dollars.

How would I structure it? First cap all salary's, owners, coaches and jocks, at a realistic level. Yes, include the owner and coaches in the cap; they impact the game as much as the jocks. They would get a salary plus bonuses for performance goals. It boils down to, if you are as good as you think you are, and then the bonuses will make you earn more than the average players. Making it a performance plan eliminates all those Agents who negotiate millions for their pockets based on the jocks name or one good year. Drop all ticket prices to a level that pays the salaries and expenses plus a reasonable rainy day fund. Make the ticket price family friendly so it becomes a family event where they can go without taking out a second mortgage just to do it one time a season. All facilities will be purchased, built and maintained by the Franchise. No more Public tax money to support something that is designed to suck every dollar out of the city and the fan. Where does the facility money come from, well, it comes from the savings you get by not paying exorbitant salaries. $20 - $40 million savings per player goes a long way towards helping with expenses.

Does anyone really need millions a year? In most cases, and there are a few good exceptions, these jocks die broke or almost penniless as they are sucked dry by agents, get-rich schemes, and a horde of lazy relatives seeking a free ride of their relatives legs. If they aren't sucked dry then they drink it, shoot it, snort it or waste it in some pleasure palace. Look at some of these teams, their roster looks like a police station blotter with all the problems they have had. These criminals's, excuse me, jocks are to be the next sports idol? Do I want to pattern my life after them? I personally believe my son or daughter could do better.

Will this happen. I wasn't born yesterday. The greed of the owners, coaches, and jocks will blind them to committing any act of decency or showing the smallest iota of care to the fan. The sports agents, family members who live off the jock, and anyone else along for the free ride will urge the parties to hold their ground and for their perverted version of "for the love of the game" .... NOT TO PLAY in order to get what they want.

DC General Hospital:

Not long ago they bankrupted this hospital and shut it down. This was against the wishes and hopes of the many people who relied upon it for medical care. I won't even address the issue of the missing millions that could have saved it. Hopefully some Grand Jury will find out the truth and square the record. Something about it was losing too much money because of the large share of welfare cases. According to them, welfare doesn't pay enough to make them a profit. Well, DUH ... medicine is a profession of love and caring. If profit is your motive then go to the sports world, they rake the millions in. Anyway, now they are going to tear the place down and rebuild a better, newer hospital that caters to an upscale clientele.. translated ... people with big health plans. Well, excuse me but the area is still at last check populated by those you call "welfare cases." The clientele that has that money don't live there or desire to commute there to get any health care. So you are right back to where you started. Who benefits ... the mayor and all his contractor friends that get paid for building the place? Once they build it, get paid for it, they could care less who gets cared for or how they pay for it. So what should they do ... take part of what they want to invest in the new hospital, reopen DC General, and give it a chance to succeed by not stealing it funds for other pet projects such as sports stadiums or government buildings.

DC Voting:

I, for one, would vote against you getting voting rights. From what I have seen since 1990, it would be like giving a kid a loaded gun. Oops, you do that anyway .. no wonder the murder rate is so high in the DC area. The Government has to keep bailing the city out before it goes bankrupt, so it shouldn't surprise me they bankrupted DC general. Why the mayor can't even stay home and do his job. It is more important for him to gallivant all over the world even in times of crisis. Not to mention the thousands of dollars wasted on his "vacations." You would rather be run by mafia wannabes than people with a true love for the city. You have a penchant to fire and slander those who speak up against the fraud, waste, and abuse in your city. So wake up DC.

Catholic Church:

How much longer until you wake up and admit you are infested with child abusers? Change the church laws or something, but quit playing osterich and denying this fact. It seems like every night there is some newscast telling of a priest's conviction. You point your fingers at others for sinning and breaking God's commandments. Well, what do YOU think you are doing? Please, God, have mercy on your soul is all I can say.

Mormon Church:

I was really surprised after watching the History Channel's presentation of the "Mountain Meadow Massacre of 1857." I see your TV ads now and can only wonder who you are luring to a similar fate. My channel will change when your ads come on.

Chuckles

Not much to report on the home front. I guess because I haven't been home much the last few days. It has been one of those weeks where everything breaks. But I am finally seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel ... hope it isn't the freight train.

One problem this week has been the Computer Virus's. Why would anyone buy Antivirus Software, install it and then never update it? This one computer had virus definition that were 3 years old. They paid $35.00 for the original software and approximately $70.00 for two subscriptions ... and never used it ... hey dense one .. you gave Norton $105.00 for nothing. Some CEO is living it high because of the people that have a virus in their head. I finally got AVG software to identify the virus .... Trojan/Worm Numbskulless.AA It effects those computers where the operator has their head in absolute darkness deep in their anal cavity. Corrective action is to pull the head out and trash the computer .. then go find something you can do that your limited mental faculty will support. Or .. keep paying me $75.00 an hour to fix your Virus problems while you grope in the darkness. Watch your kidney's here they come.

The youngest son heads for Pittsburgh this week to work and be with his girl friend. Who would ever go to Pittsburgh in the winter unless you were being dragged there by a team of horses. It will be his first time to leave the nest. Needless to say, momma is dreading it and the thoughts of the nest getting empty. So most of my weekend will be spent in damage control.

Please, someone explain to me the work ethic of the 18 - 25 year group. So far I haven't seen any and wonder what it is. Different language ... and "No" means what? Week of paid vacation now? We still haven't got the employment paperwork done. You don't own a single collared shirt and slacks? You want rap instead of muszac?

Well, I hear bonnie Prince Charles is going to make to make an honest woman out of Camilla now. About time, but you don't want to hear my person feelings about the bloke and his way of life.

What did get my attention was the Church of England ( I am not real sure of the correct name of the Church) that Prince Charles is head of is "making no statement about the marriage." Interesting that he is breaking the rules of the Church and nothing is said. Sounds just like the Churches in America and their silent acquiescence of broken Commandments. Break God's laws and Commandments and just turn your head as if nothing happened. Why have a Church at all if we twist the Commandments and Laws to conform to our idea of what is right? We are in no way ready to manage our morality and that of others. Perhaps it is time all the Leaders of All Church's, both in England and America, read their Bibles and do what God wants them to do and to forget about editing what God said so that it fits our lifestyle. Well one thing this does point out is that the English people are more like their American neighbors than they like to think about and vice versa, America is more English than they wish to admit.

Well, Virginia is really making a name for itself as it tried to get a "Droopy Drawers law." While I don't like the baggy pants look with your underwear showing through, I think the law is dumb. What's next Virginia? "Crack law?" Send those who expose their rear end to jail .. bet you the convicts there now are drooling over the potential new blood to come to them.

Well, I should go and leave something for next time. That is unless Blogspot is run by a 25 year old and my site will disappear!

Come on America

We have all read of the L.A. train wreck, well, I have a few comments. To the families of the victims you have my sympathy on such a senseless act. To the driver of the vehicle, you have succeeded. Though you have no guts to do it, you have gotten the State of California to do what you were to spineless to do. But, the State is just as spineless. Though they convict you to death, you will never see it happen for they are just as spineless, so in the end you will sit in some padded cell in a mental hospital thinking of what you did. But, You best pray that none of your cell mates lost family in that wreck or you may find out they have the balls to do what you originally wanted. RIP.

So a foriegn group has won the president's helicopter contract and now all the unions cry foul and whine as their in-pocket politicians try too stop it. Yes jobs may be lost, so what. The foreign workers can do a great job too and at a far less price compared to the unionized aviation workers. I am sorry, but it is your own fault. You have jacked your hourly wage to the point that now you pay for it because no one can afford you. Why do I feel this way? Well!

• Just this week I ordered furniture with inside delivery. The driver showed up and struggled to load the first box on his cart. When he came in to the building his first statement was, "there are 4 steps there and my union rules won't allow me so, I can't take this box up them. Get someone else to take them up the elevator and I will deliver them to the room on the 3rd floor." So after some exasperation, I went down to the local chinese resturant, hired a couple of teenagers to come and carry the boxes up those silly 4 steps. The driver struggled to get his cart up the steps .. more from his grossly overweight body ... and then the kids loaded the box back on the cart. Then as he huffed and puffed, he proceeded to sloppily hit every wall on the way to the 3rd floor. Any obvious reason why the unions have screwed the American worker? They are lazy and demand high dollars for little effort. Need another example?
• I needed some day workers, I hire 3 hispanics, 2 asian, and one white teenager. I show them the work and once they started, I went to do something else. Upon returning, I found the so called foreign workers hard at it. The teenager was sitting there smoking. Asking him what he was doing I was given this reason. "Someone needs to be supervisor, so I am making sure they get the work done as you said." Needless to point out that person was thrown out quickly. Lazy and ideas of being better and the only thinker in the group? Still not convinced?
• Why are all cruise ships manned by foreign workers? Where are the American workers. What I was told both by crewmember and officer, "The American worker wants too much money, can't work as a team, and doesn't have the same work ethic as the foreign workers." I was embarrassed when I heard this over and over. I was told but can't confirm it that a certain cruise line tried an all-american crew. It was such a disaster they replaced them with an International crew.

This is why we lose contracts, businesses go out of the country to get the products built. Yes, the unions were crucial in the early years of the industrial revolution to protect workers rights. But the workers took it too far by getting exorbitant wages and benefits and many stupid rules that prevent them from doing the expected job.

• Delivery men who can't climb steps with a delivery but get $30+ an hour to use the elevator.
• Delivery men who can't move a 50 pound box with their cart but contract to deliver a 90# box. Then decline to remove it from the truck because the union truck loader put an overweight box in the truck.
• Delvery men who can't deliver unless there is a loading dock. Well, I work in an office building downtown, who has space for a dock?.
• The delivery man shows up late in the day, starts to unload, it gets to end of his work day before he finishes. He can't continue because of union rules unless he is authorized overtime. No one, especially me, is authorized to do that, only someone back at his loading dock. So he closes the door and tells me I have to reschedule delivery another day during regular hours.

Am I picking only on delivery men, no ... deal with a telephone man and see how screwed his rules are. I listen for year to my father-in-law about his work rules in an General Motors plant. Even he hated them but he had to follow them because it was Union.

So America, get a grip. Learn to work at a reasonable wage, give that old adage a try, "A days wage for a days work." Quit feeling you are some special breed that is a natural supervisor or that you are some how better than the foreign workers. Get rid of the overpaid Unions if that is what it takes to be competitive. Not competitive because your in-the-pocket politicians create some cock-in-bull rules to protect your job.

Ted Kennedy -- I hear you hate to be misled by elected officials (Rice and Iraq WMDs). Well sure, I hate to be misled too, so what really happened on the bridge? If you have the guts, not what sticks over your belt, tell us what really happen and then you can complain about someone else misleading us.

Peter Angelos -- Quit trying to get Major League baseball to conceded all those guarantees in case the Washington Nationals take away some of your fans or decrease your teams value. It is business man, make your product ( a baseball team) worth more. Start by fielding a tem that can win at least 50% of its games. It has been so long since the Orioles have had a winning team that that alone has become the unreacheable goal. So grow up and do something with the Orioles, at least go talk with that owner that bought the players that won the World Series ... you know the team ... Forida Marlins.

Well, enough grousing for one night. Will it help, no, because they don't care as long as they get rich and others give in to them, but I feel better.

Settling In

Well, life during the post-cruise phase is returning to the pre-cruise rush. It seems everytime I take some time off they open a bunch of projects and set a completion date. Of course, it goes without saying that the start date was the first day of my vacation so naturally I start out 10 days behind. So here I go trying to make it all work out. I sure wish some of the money would come back to me. :)

Dark Towers is slowly taking form. We are in no big rush to grow this. Quality is the desire and not quantity of players. Selective? Yes, but we are open to anyone who wishes to play in the tower.

Too bad the Pats won the game. The Steelers were the only team that can beat Philly. Yes, the Pats do good the second time against you, But Philly will be too much for them.

Goodbye Johnny. Though I didn't care for everything you did, you were good.

59 more days to National Bowling Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. I wish the local alleys would take as good of care of their lanes as ABC does. The youth league just started back up after the holidays and it was a riot as usual. Watching the small ones bowl causes a constant chuckle. epecially fun is to watch them improve season after season. My son never lets me forget his average is now higher, well, at least I know who taught him what to do to get there. Just because the old bones won't let me doesn't mean I don't know how too.

I hate stopped up kitchen sinks. This one was harder than the rest and I still don't know what caused it. The blockage was well inside the wall and not in the plumbing under the sink. But what the hay, I saved a plumbers call and $150.00.

When will people learn to drive in snow and ice? This time without exception, every car in an accident or spun out in the ditches was a 4-wheel drive truck or all-wheel drive car. Maybe if they took some of that money they spend on that truck, bought a cheaper car and spent the rest on some brains our insurance rates wouldn't get jacked up. But God made some people to be an idiot and then allowed them to drive 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles.