How Do We Make It Stop?

A couple of days ago, bombs were detonated at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring over 180 others. There have been many questions asked about this and other domestic attacks on innocent people. The masses want to know who, what, when, where & why. In this, the day & age of information and easy access, everyone demands to know…HOW can this happen?

The easy answer is…no one knows. Obviously there are psychological issues going on here. Despite whatever reason the killer or bomber give, there are ALWAYS psychological issues. In THEIR minds, they have a cause. But think about it…how easy is it to have a thought so psychologically disturbing that you immediately push it to the dark recesses of your mind, hoping to never think that thought again? And the thought you had? You’re not the only person thinking it. You just happen to know how to deal with it. But there are some people out there who watch a movie, or see a television show, or who have internet access who have seen things that are so disturbing, so provocative and then they are abused or molested or mistreated in some form and so…they have a thought. It starts as a seed but then it grows and before you know it, a young man is walking into an elementary school with enough gun power to start a small war or bombs are planted inside a building housing hundreds of normal, everyday people who are simply going to work. And this doesn’t just happen in America. This happens everywhere. The idea of TERRORISM is to scare us, to make us uneasy, to disrupt our lives, making it difficult for us to even want to leave our homes.

I can’t even begin to imagine what a family who has suffered through the loss of one of their children must be dealing with. I can’t begin to imagine what a community must go through to pick up the pieces of a mass killing at a local movie theater. I can’t begin to wonder how a community can put on its shoes and begin shifting through the rubble of a destroyed building, finding cell phones and filing cabinets and body parts scattered all over the street. These things I pray I will never have to endure. But people do and then they are hurt and angry and confused. But then you know what happens? Life goes on. And even though the memory of the deceased NEVER go away, we have no choice but to move forward.

But we want to know…why? Why would someone do such a horrible thing? So we wait while hundreds put the pieces together and find whoever caused such despair and then we want action. We want that person brought to justice. We want something to happen to make the pain stop but it doesn’t. Even after the criminal is caught or kills himself or gives himself up, the pain never really goes away. But we NEED to know WHY?

Here’s a thought…we will NEVER truly know why. Here’s another thought…we don’t really WANT to know WHY. Because to truly understand WHY would mean we could be that dark also. The horrific thoughts that our brain has the capability to process and then hide away would be brought to light and we don’t REALLY want that. It’s not who we are. We may have terrible thoughts but we would never act on them. But there are some who just can’t push those thoughts aside. There are some who are willing to build a bomb in their basement, willing to load automatic weapons, fly planes into buildings, send drones into helpless communities, push a big red button. There are those who do not care one way or another how their actions affect the lives of others. They don’t care about the children the kill. They don’t care about the lives they affect. They don’t care about the repercussions of their actions. In MY opinion, all they want are attention. And so…with that…I give you MY solution to all of this. How do we make it stop?

Stop the presses.

Stop the media coverage.

Stop pasting the faces of the killers all over the newspapers and television shows and the internet.

When the asshole (or assholes) who detonated the bombs in Boston are captured, give them their trial. Once they are tried and found guilty, I say we throw them in a prison, lock the door and throw away the key. Literally drop the key into a grate and forget they’re there. No food, no windows, no contact with the outside world. And that would be that. Is it barbaric? I don’t know…no more barbaric than what they have done. No more barbaric than electrocuting them or injecting their bodies with a drug that will allow them to die peacefully. And it wouldn’t cost us anything. And once they’ve passed, burn their bodies and that would be that. But here’s the catch…the only ones that are allowed to see the face or faces of the people who did this are the ones whose lives have been turned upside down. Only the families of Martin Richard, the 8-year old who was killed in the Boston bombing, and the other 2 families of the deceased should be allowed to see the killer’s face. As a public forum, I believe all we need to know is that the killer has been brought to justice and then leave it be. Because, by pasting the picture of the Adam Lanza’s of the world all over every media outlet in the world, we are enabling other idiots who have similar thoughts.

Want to be famous? Make a statement? Teach others how TERRIBLE you can be? Kill others and become famous. Your face will forever be remembered by millions and then you will live forever!

Think I’m wrong? I can guarantee you this thought is one that EVERY mass murderer has had. It’s in our DNA to WANT to be accepted. We WANT to be famous. Just turn on your tv and you see it everywhere! Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame! Whether it’s getting hit in the face with a pie, singing karaoke on one of the gazillion musical tryouts posing as entertainment or even scoring your own 23 minute show by being a redneck, we ALL want to be famous! So…what better way to get attention quickly than by killing the innocent?

Obviously there are more psychological issues to it than that but at the root of it, I believe the need to be important drives ALL of these mass killings. Whether it’s al Qaeda, Jimmy Hoffa, or Timothy McVeigh, it’s all about attention.

I say we don’t give it to them.

Turn off the televisions. Stop posting the pictures. Once they’ve been tried, throw them in a dark room and call it a day. If anything, this will serve as a warning to anyone else having the thought of killing someone that it doesn’t matter what you do or how many you kill, you will NOT be immortalized. Whoever set off the bombs in downtown Boston should never be seen again. Once the FBI and the CIA and the local police departments corner the coward who decided it was a good idea to do such a horrific thing, they should be tried and then, upon the vote of a jury, if found guilty, they should be left to rot without a roar but with a whimper.

Will this stop it from happening again? I don’t know. But it might cause someone who has a horrible idea to pause and consider their actions. You WON’T be famous. You WON’T be immortalized. You WILL disappear without a trace. And we, as a society, as a community, as a united body, will move forward. We will deal with the grief and the pain. We will deal with the anger and the confusion. But we will move forward and eventually, we will forget you and remember only those that died because of you.

It’s maybe not a perfect plan, I admit…but it’s better than what we’re doing at this point. Well…at least it is in my opinion. And that and a nickel will get you very little these days…

ADDITIONAL THOUGHT: After taking a few moments to consider this post, I had another thought. Maybe, instead of posting pictures of the killers, we post photos of those that were killed in their wake. In this way, we will always remember those innocents who were killed in senseless acts of terror. To honor this idea, here are a few of those that I wish to remember on this day…

MAY THEY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Apparently We’re Not As Far Ahead As We Thought We Were…

Well…I thought I had heard it all when Dan Cathy, the head honcho at Chick-Fil-A opened his big mouth and made statements about HIS version of what constitutes marriage. In the last couple weeks, however, even MORE idiots have taken over the airwaves and proclaimed our stupidity as a race with comments that I thought were behind us. For as long as I’ve been around, our culture has made leaps and bounds in our attempts to make everything equal. Women, men, blacks, whites, homosexuals, heterosexuals, dogs, cats, you name it and there has been a call to make us all equal in all regards. And then riots happen, people get shot, the roar of the crowd demands sympathy and understanding and then…

Even MORE people open their big mouths and it sets us back another 25 years.

Case in point, GOP Rep. Todd Akin, who is on the ballot for the Senate in Missouri. By now, EVERYONE knows what this guy said in an interview on KTVI, a St. Louis TV station when asked about abortion for rape victims:

“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare (for a woman to get pregnant from rape). If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

If anything, this tells me something about politicians that we’ve all kind of known but have secretly been hoping wasn’t true…politicians are so removed from “the common people” that they have no idea what they are talking about. Seriously…he ACTUALLY said this? Because this sounds like something a complete idiot…or a rapist…would say. Let’s break this down, shall we? This is a man who has been in office since 1988 in some way, shape or form. He is earned a Master Of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis (whatever THAT is). What in the world would he be thinking when he makes a statement like that. I understand this was all in regards to his stance on abortion but even then…it wouldn’t even OCCUR to me to say such an asinine thing. Nor would it occur to most of “the common people” because the outrage has been through the roof! Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, has called what he said, “inexcusable and, frankly, wrong.” Various other Republicans have called for Akin to step down from his position. One Massachusetts Senator, Scott Brown, even went as far as to say, “As a husband and father of two young women, I found Todd Akin’s comments about women and rape outrageous, inappropriate and wrong. There is no place in our public discourse for this type of offensive thinking.”

And THAT is just my point. There is NO place in our public offices for someone who says something like this. Not so much that he believes it. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. But you’d have to be a complete moron to actually think that there is such a thing as “legitimate” rape and you’d have to be an even BIGGER idiot to not understand that women CAN get pregnant from rape. And as I see it, our world has enough morons in powerful places. When one of them says something like this, it scares me. This man actually SAID this. On tv. In a world that can see everything via the internet. What this tells me is that he feels that he is beyond us. He has no understanding of the world as it is today. Sex trafficking happens. Sexual abuse happens. Rape is NOT legitimate. If someone is in a political position and doesn’t understand this he or she has no business being in a business where he or she is representing ANY group of people, let alone a state.

Since making this statement, obviously Akin has come back to retract what he said, and that’s nice and all but the fact of the matter is…he said it. It won’t go away. In one swift soundbite he has ruined his career and set us back 25 years. Nice job dumbass.

And then there is ESPN commentator, Skip Bayless. Adding fuel to the fire that sports commentators need to say as little as possible and simply read what they’re given, this jackass decided to stick his foot in his mouth by saying the following in regards to a quarterback controversy that might take place in Washington with the Redskins and their 2 draft picks, one who is African-American and one who is caucasian:

“You have the black/white dynamic and the majority of Redskins fans are white and it’s just human nature if you’re white to root for the white guy. It just happens in sports. Just like the black community will root for the black quarterback.”

He then added, “I’m for the black guy.”

What? First off, on a pure sports level, let me just say that Robert Griffin III (or RG3) was the 2nd pick taken in the 2012 NFL Draft. There is NOT a quarterback controversy 3 weeks before a game has been played. The Redskins are Griffin’s team, come hell or highwater. Much like Cam Newton the year before, he will have all kinds of pressure and he will succeed and fail. It will be a growing season for him. That being said, he will NOT sit the bench. He is, at this stage, a HUGE draw for the Redskins and they were expecting to sell millions of his jersey before he even set foot in FedExField. The fans love him and they will be patient.

On a purely human level, this pisses me off. Long before Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, America has been trying to right itself. Slavery was abolished, black men and women have risen to prominence in this country. Statements like this one set us all back. It’s THIS way of thinking that keeps us separated. And on many levels it’s just not fair. For someone to say something like this shows how stupid so many of us are. I am a fan of sports. I don’t care if you’re white, black, orange or blue. If you can make bone-rattling tackles, I’ll cheer for ya. If you can throw a football 100 yards and hit a moving target, I’ll be your biggest fan. If you can take a hit, over & over again, and get up and do it again, you have my devotion. It doesn’t matter what your color is. I have seen kids wearing the jerseys of their favorite athletes. Never once have I seen a jersey and thought…”Bet he likes him because he’s black.” Who thinks this way? Am I naive? Do YOU pick your favorite athlete, actor or senator by the color of his or her skin?

Maybe you do. But I don’t. So for Bayless to recklessly make such a statement causes me to think that maybe a lot of people do. But I don’t think so. When he says he’s “for the black guy,” it strikes a nerve. He doesn’t say he’s for the “athlete who is going to win the Redskins 10 games this season.” He says he’s “for the black guy.” This pretty much narrows it down to skin color, not who Robert Griffin III is. From what I can tell, RGIII is an upstanding guy. In all of his interviews, he’s well spoken, thoughtful and incredibly smart. He won a Heisman Trophy, went to the 2008 Olympic trials and finished with a 3.67 GPA at Baylor. So…why is he being recognized for his skin color? Maybe Bayless can answer that because I can’t. On any level, RGIII is a qualified athlete who is now been placed in charge of running the offense for the Washington Redskins. If anything, maybe Bayless should pick up the charge against the name of the team. It’s 2012. Can’t they find a name more appropriate than a racist slur against Native Americans? Maybe something along the lines of the Washington Murderers (Washington has 3 times the national crime rate average) or the Washington Blunderers (much like most of it’s political inhabitants)? Oh no…now I’ve opened up THAT can of worms…

Think I’ll just quit now while I’m ahead…

The Morning News_7.24.2012

I don’t know about you, but MY Facebook friends are going OFF! In some cases, people are discussing in a civilized manner the topics of the past few days. But in other ways, some people are just way outta line and it’s giving me a headache. If you happen to be reading this 5 years from now, here are today’s headlines on July 24, 2012…

Penn State accepted a $60 million fine, a 4-year post-season bowl ban, massive scholarship reductions and a Joe Paterno statue that was in front of the football stadium was taken down. This, in effect, has brought out all kinds of back & forth on whether JoePa has been found guilty without a trial, does the university deserve its sentence, do the students and athletes who have nothing to do with Jerry Sandusky’s molestations deserve to suffer the indignation of something a monster and a few select others covered up? Although I have no ties to Penn State, it saddens me what took place there and I feel so badly for those who are alumni, current students or athletes at that prestigious university . A college is a place for the young to learn and grow. For this kind of thing to happen, it takes away a huge part of what should be the best years of their lives. I can’t even imagine what I would have done if this sort of thing had happened at Ohio University in 1991. We had (and have) our share of issues (our campus was, once again, recently voted the biggest party school in the country) but nothing like what Penn State will suffer over the next decade or more.

Over the past weekend, Aurora, Colorado was the site of one of the most horrific shootings in our country’s history when James Eagan Jones walked into a midnight movie showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” covered in kevlar and killed 12 people and injured 58 others. This has sparked a debate on everything from the death sentence to whether or not the right to carry a firearm should include automatic weapons. It also has become a springboard for bored parents who have decided to take a stance on infants at midnight movies that are PG-13 or worse. What 15 people dying has to do with whether or not a parent brought their kid to sleep through a film is beyond me but I DID get involved in that debate and for my feelings on it, you can go HERE. As for Jones, I don’t get it. Following his story in the news, it appears the guy had a decent life. Regular family, former student at the University of Colorado, everyone said he was quiet but pretty normal so…what happened? Yesterday he appeared in court for the first day of trial. He hasn’t said a word about his motive. What moves a person to doing something so horrific? Did he just snap? Did he plan out this event for months or maybe years? Was he on some kind of medication that caused him to become depressed? WHAT HAPPENED? I want to know! It’s INSANE!

Sally Ride, the first American woman astronaut, has died. She was only 61. June 18, 1983, she was the first female to launch in Challenger. I was 14 years old and I remember that day. She was a hero and I hope that she is never forgotten.

Last week, President Obama made a statement that has oft been quoted as this…”If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that.” It’s interesting how many people have taken that particular quote and used it against him saying he is misguided and way off track. If you actually READ what he said at a campaign event in Roanoke, VA, the way he has been misquoted is laughable and it’s ridiculous how the news media will take a SINGLE line (and not even an accurate one) and spin it completely out of its context for any given reason. If you REALLY want to know what the President said, GO HERE. As far as I can read, the man is right. As a country, we all rely on one another in some way, shape or form. To think that we do anything on our own is a misconception. Doesn’t matter if you’re the President of the United States or if you’re a blue collar worker. We all need one another to make this great country work. I get what you’re saying, Mr. President. Too bad some saw it as an opportunity to take what I consider to be an honest & truthful statement and twist it into a slap in the face for so many Americans who are working hard to make ends meet.

In news of lesser importance, Mariah Carey is apparently joining the American Idol, Chad Ochocinco has officially changed his name BACK to Chad Johnson and Seattle baseball superstar, Ichiro Suzuki (who has been the face of that franchise for over 12 years) was traded from the Mariners to the Yankees on the same night that they were to start a 3-game series. The Yankees (leading the A.L. East) not only beat the M’s (worst in A.L. West), but Ichiro had a single in his first at-bat.

Oh…and the Reds are leading the N.L. Central, are 16 games over .500, have won 9 of their last 11 games and are winning despite having lost Joey Votto for a few weeks.

I guess there is SOME sunshine in this morning…


Flying high again!

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It And I Feel (Oddly Enough) Fine

The Rapure. According to Wikipedia (the bastion of all knowledge), Christian radio broadcaster Harold Camping has gone on record saying that May 21st will be the date for the big moment. Not only that but he has also given the exact TIME for this to happen! And I guess this guy should know considering he also predicted our demise for September 1994. I remember that day because I threw this huge party for my closest 10,000 friends, used my VISA to pay for all the booze and then…

Well.

Nothing.

And I got stuck with the bill. Took me 10 years to pay that sucker off…

So you’ll have to pardon me if I’m not feeling too uneasy about THIS prediction. Oh sure, I suppose it could happen. Camping uses some kind of Bible-based numerology system to come up with his “exact date” for the big event so obviously it COULD happen. I guess realistically it could happen at any moment. We could be driving our SUV down interstate 101 and POOF…gone! Or watching our kids play baseball or eating a slice of pizza or running on the treadmill or flying a plane or doing any number of everyday things and then…it’s over.

And if this IS the end, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? If you think about it, the Rapture is, in biblical reference of 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, when Christians will be taken up to meet Christ and when Jesus will return to gather his saints. Needless to say, I’m not a saint so I doubt I’m gonna get a free pass on this one but I am hopeful in the end that I will be granted access to heaven and that by being the best person I can be that I might be allowed to pass through the Pearly Gates and join all the other angels to float freely on the clouds while sunbathing and drinking fruity cocktails all day & night. But you never know. Maybe there have been too many things that I have done that I’m not sorry for that will block my entrance into heaven? Maybe I haven’t been a good enough person/father/husband/friend? Maybe what I perceive as having a good life has really been a test that I have failed miserably (ala Albert Brooks in “Defending Your Life”).

It could be true. And when that time comes, I will have to own up for my sins.

Here’s the thing…everything we do, everything we have, every moment we are awake we make CONSCIENCE decisions. If you look around you, our entire existence is based on conscience decisions. The fact that you are awake and reading this is a conscience decision. Your wall color? Conscience decision. The time spent with your family? Conscience decision. Mowing the grass today? Conscience decision. Going to work? Conscience decision. Spending time with the homeless? Conscience decision.

You get my drift. EVERYTHING we do is a conscience decision. No matter how big or how small, we make the decisions to do what we do. Now whether our decisions are right or not, that’s totally up to you and “He Who Is Our Creator.” Who am I to judge who is making the correct decisions? You want to sleep all day? That’s your decision. You want to rob a bank? Your decision. If I want to sit here in front of my computer and not do a damn thing all day long? My decision. And I live with the consequences.

So for me, I have to ask myself…have I lived my life to its fullest? Have I made smart conscience decisions? Not always. But I can say that I have learned from the many mistakes that I have made and I grown from them. With error comes understanding and I have to believe that is what this life is all about. We are born in naivete and it is only with age that we learn what’s what. Eventually, if given the time, we learn what is right and wrong. We learn when to jump with both feet or when to test the waters first. And we learn when to speak or when to listen. It’s all about experience and sometimes we need time to learn from our mistakes to realize what we should have done. I have had many of those moments and I think I’m on the right track now but that brings me to another point about this whole “End Of The World” theory…

I’m not done yet.

As much as I would like to think that I am ready for the Big Moment…I’m not. Not because I am scared that I won’t get into heaven. I figure that decision is totally out of my hands. But I don’t feel like I’ve done everything I was put here to do. I will never be a preacher or a great humanitarian. I understand my limitations and I can’t imagine a WORSE person to stand in front of a group of people to try to lead them to a better place in their lives. I barely understand MY life, let alone have the peace of mind to tell others what they should be doing. But I feel like I can be so much more. I can be a better father. I can be a better friend. I can be a better husband. And I think there will be a time when I will be ready for The Big Moment and I will be ready to go. But that time is NOT May 21, 2011. I got too many things to do, too many things to say, so much more to offer.

If Harold Camping has done anything, maybe it’s put a little fear into us. Maybe THINKING about The Rapture is enough to make us WANT to be better human beings. Because you never know…maybe the dude is right. Maybe May 21, 2011 IS our last day here and then maybe we will be judged on what we have done up to this point. If that is the case, I am at ease with my fate. I have made many mistakes and I have suffered the consequences for them. Maybe I could have been a better person. Maybe I could have been a more caring friend. But whatever the consequences, I am owning up to my faults and my life is in order. There is always room for improvement but I am ready whenever it’s my time to go.

I just hope it’s not before Christopher’s baseball game because I’d really like to see him pitch one more time. The kid has a serious heater! Oh…and Ava has a basketball game at 1pm. Aaaaand I gotta get the grass mowed. Come to think of it…I got TOO many things to do so can we just postpone it for another 20 years or so? That would be great…thanks.

Here’s a really cool music mix for ya if you want something to listen too during your wait for the end! Or if you like apocalyptical flicks, here are MY favorite of all-time! Happy End Of The World Day!

Osama bin Laden: 9/11/01 – 5/2/11

Today I am conflicted. There has been so much news about the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of our military this morning that, as an American, I can’t deny a feeling of vindication. The man spearheaded one of the worst hate crimes ever on our soil and so to FINALLY see the book close on him brings a sigh of relief. What I am torn about, however, is our reaction to it. As Americans we stand united and so whatever it took to bring this man in to pay for his crimes, I stand by 100%. In the latest on CNN.com, “there was no indication bin Laden was going to surrender when the U.S. launched its operation (in Pakistan).” So if he wasn’t going to surrender, I guess our military had no other option but to take him out. But there is a part of me that WANTED to see this man go to trial for his crimes and then we could discuss the idea of the death penalty. But that’s an entirely different topic. For now…I just want to see the guy pay for his crimes. Of course, this probably wouldn’t sit well by many of my fellow citizens simply because why should we pay to keep such a villainous man alive? Right?

Good question. And I can’t deny that I would rather NOT spend anything to keep him alive for very long.

What I would do is this…leave him alone in his jail cell with a some water, crank up some Britney Spears to a deafening roar and fire up a flashing strobe light and leave a loaded gun in the cell and lets see how long he lasts. I’m not saying what happened in Pakistan was wrong. At all. I’m just saying I wanted to see the guy get his just rewards before dying a much easier death.

According to reports, the U.S. Navy Seals shot him in the head. CNN states, “A U.S. official disputed reports that bin Laden had altered his appearance to avoid recognition. A visual ID was made, there were photo comparisons and other facial recognition used to identify him. A second official said that in addition to DNA there was full biometric analysis of facial and body features.” Uh…okay? I guess I can accept that. I want to believe the guy is gone, but I think it’s important that we get to SEE it so we all know. Not that I like seeing dead bodies but still…it would bring me peace of mind. But apparently his body has already been put out to sea, floating around to be washed up on some Pacific coast island during beach season? Why? What purpose does THAT serve? Apparently it was done “in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition.”  Ooookay…? I’m pretty sure in this particular case the accordances of Islamic practice & tradition can take a back seat to millions of Americans seeing the facts. And the fact is…I’ve seen a photo of someone they SAY is the dead bin Laden. But is it really him? If he had altered his appearance, it sure bears a pretty uncanny resemblance to all the photos I have seen of him in the past 10 years. So that makes me a bit uneasy.

Also something I’d like to point out is that although I’m glad we finally found bin Laden, I can’t bring myself to cheer and celebrate for a couple of reasons…

First…it took us WAY too long to catch the guy. It’s scary that he was able to hide from all of our technology and military for almost a decade. That scares me maybe more than the idea of him hiding in an underground desert cave somewhere.

Secondly…I remember when the World Trade Center Towers came down and seeing video of radical Islamists cheering and celebrating in the streets of Afghan cities. Not really understanding the thinking that is behind such strong religious convictions, I remember feeling angry and confused to why anyone would want to celebrate the deaths of so many like that. How could so many be so hateful? Why would they actually be cheering such a horrific event? So it is with some confusion that I see us doing the same thing and I don’t know what to think. Do I feel better knowing that the threat of one man is gone? Yes. But I can’t celebrate the fact that he’s dead. If I did that, I wouldn’t be any better than those that were celebrating the fact that so many of our citizens died. Is it unfair of me to judge? Yes. Everyone deals with tragedy in their own way. So I can understand why there were so many celebrations all over the country. People outside the White House, at Ground Zero and I’m sure many other places were waving flags and cheering and I get it. But I can’t join in. If I do, I feel it makes me the same as them and I want to be above that. The fact is…Osama bin Laden killed over 2,700 Americans in the attack on the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon and Flight 93. He is gone and I am thankful. I applaud the Navy Seal team that found him and brought him down in accordance to the orders that they were given. Yet I have to believe that until we can all sleep at night knowing that our country will never be attacked in such a way again, it’s not over yet. And that troubles me.

Today I celebrate the fact that Osama bin Laden is gone. The terror he created in our country has never been matched and so he now can spend the rest of eternity in a special place created for people like himself. I’m sure Hitler can use the company. As for me, I believe I am going to agree with my friend Lori and post a passage by Martin Luther King, Jr…

‎”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

I believe there is truth in those words. It is our time to be bigger than those who wish to destroy us. I pray that we can be. And I pray for the men & women in our military who remain overseas. Be safe, be strong and come home soon. God bless America and God bless us all.

But I still think the Britney Spears torture idea would work.

Family Reunion

There have been some amazing golf moments at Augusta National but this year was unlike anything that anyone has ever seen! 8 golfers had a shot to win this year’s 75th green jacket but it was Charl Schwartzel (who?) who took home the coveted coat. In the Friday edition of the USA Today, 2 columnists argued over whether or not a different television network should carry The Masters. Traditionally, this golf extravaganza has been on CBS. For 56 years, CBS has followed everyone from Arnold Palmer to Angel Cabrera, Tiger Woods to Lee Trevino. Mike Hiestand of the USA Today proposed that this event be featured on different networks, much like the Super Bowl. So why not? Why not have Fox or NBC or ESPN carry this golf event? Would it matter to you much? Probably not to most viewers. But here’s why I think it’s perfectly fine right where it’s at….

I have no idea who these guys are…

Because for most of us that work for CBS Sports, The Masters is a family reunion.

CBS has almost 500 people here for this event. Throughout the year, we all work together at some point but at no time are we ever in a single place like this one. It’s beautiful here in Augusta in the spring and when you are in one place with 499 of your closest friends? That makes it even sweeter! All year long we work different sporting events. Occasionally we get to see each other but when you’re working, there’s not a lot of socializing time. So here, we get to shake hands, say good morning, chat a little bit and then we get to work the premier sporting event of the spring season. The Masters is a showcase for spring. There’s something about walking around here that makes you feel at ease and being around all of the people who you know are your friends makes it even more special. If there was ever a reason for one company to have a lock on an event, CBS and the Masters are it. There is a mutual respect here. We all treat this event as it should be…one of the most historic sporting events in our country. More than any other event I work, The Masters has a feel to it. The handshake deal that is made every year with CBS is strong because of the group of people that make it happen. There is an understanding between Augusta National and the network that we will do a great job, cover the event and do it in a manner that will show how special it truly is. And I am proud to be a part of that team for the last 6 years.

The CBS Graphics Crew At The 2011 Masters

I cannot lie…I am not a “golf enthusiast.” I like the sport but have never been drawn to it like others in my family. But when I can say I was a part of something as special as what happened here this weekend, I feel as if I’ve accomplished something. Today’s Final Round is something I will never forget and the fact that I got to be a part of it with 499 of my closest friends? That makes it even more special.

Ian Eagle is the voice of Amen Corner

So to Mike Hiestand I say…there’s a reason that CBS is the lone network to carry an event like this and it’s not completely because of ownership and rights. It’s because we treat this event as it should be. Its in a class all by itself and no one else would treat it this way.

The Masters on CBS. A tradition unlike any other. Yes, it’s cliche but true in so many ways. And for those of us on the crew? It means so much more. It’s a week-long family reunion and this year will forever be a moment I will never forget!

The Amen Corner Crew

Hi…I’m Dead

So I was scouring the news headlines for something to write about this morning and there’s just so much! The devastation in Japan is horrific. The NCAA Tournament is about to begin (and does anyone have a better gig than ESPN’s Joe Lunardi?). A local riverboat restaurant floats down the river with 80+ people on it. The new IPad2 sold out everywhere and now I don’t have to worry about THAT temptation. So many things to write about but the one that totally grabs me was this photo in this morning’s Cincinnati Enquirer…

Courtesy: The Enquirer/Ernest Coleman

Local councilman Ted Bushelman passed away last week from an apparent heart attack. He was 75 years young. I didn’t know Ted Bushelman other than what I’ve read about him in his obituary but I have to hand it to him…this cardboard cutout of him speaks volumes. Can I just say, when I die (and considering I’m only 33 years younger than he was I’m sure it will happen at some point), I hope I have as much grace about it as he did. Reading from his obit, he had boundless energy and a great sense of humor. Considering he apparently had this cutout made over 15 years ago, the guy obviously had a taste for holding a punchline! How is THAT for timing? Seriously…this might be one of the greatest ideas in the history of death!

“Hi. I’m Ted…and I’m dead…”?

That…is…amazingly hysterical!!! I’m sure, at this moment, his family is mourning his passing and this is a somber time. However, when I saw this photo, I damn near spit out my coffee laughing and I have to believe that somewhere up in heaven, Ted is looking down and he can appreciate that he has touched the funny bone of someone he never met and I’m sure it made his day. There is a great quote by Dr. Seuss that works in this particular case and I believe it to hold true…

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

I believe Mr. Bushelman understood this.

Thank you, Ted Bushelman, for your service to out local community all those years and for making me smile this morning. Considering the dark times we live in, it’s nice to see someone with a little color who understands that a good laugh makes life worth living…even after death.

As If Teaching Wasn’t Hard Enough…

Ice cream is TAAAAASTY…

If you’re a teacher and you are trying to teach your class about the election process, what would you do? Maybe take a trip to a local Board Of Elections? Maybe have someone speak about how you vote, what the process is, what your responsibility is as an American and why you SHOULD vote? Sounds like a good idea to me. But here in the Cincinnati area, we are gonna SUSPEND you for it and bury the reason behind the following…

• Failure to follow the district’s procedure when authorizing transportation.
• Failure to follow the district’s procedure for background checks of chaperones and drivers.
• Allowing students to be transported in donated vans and without proper supervision.

Uh…okay?

So the principal of Hughes High School gets suspended for 2 weeks (one without pay) and the teacher gets a day without pay and why? Well here…allow me to copy & paste from THIS article.

“According to the district, McFadden and a group of volunteers took 31 students to the Board of Elections Oct. 13 to vote, then out for ice cream. The outing spurred a court action by the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes and Republican Tom Brinkman Jr. The filing alleges the students were given only Democratic sample ballots and accuses the district of partisan politics. A 2002 agreement between the district and COAST prohibits the district from using employees or property to support a candidate.”

What this article then goes on to tell us is what the yearly salaries of both the principal and the teacher are and gives a detailed look at the principal’s personnel file. Apparently she had a run-in with a student at some point and used some naughty language. FOR SHAME!

So this begs the following questions…

• Was this a conspiracy to sway some students to vote (eventually) for a Democrat and should this be of major concern?
• What exactly IS the Coalition Opposed To Additional Spending & Taxes and don’t they have anything better to do with their time?
• What the hell is Tom Brinkman Jr’s role in all of this and doesn’t he have anything better to be worried about than 20 or so STUDENTS learning how to vote, especially during an election month?
• What EXACTLY did the principal call that student that got her in so much trouble back in 1996?
• What kind of ice cream were they going to buy and more importantly was the money going to be funded by taxpayers?

THESE are the questions that MUST be answered! because I have now seen this story in the local paper maybe 4 times already and I have GOT to imagine that this is tying up some pretty important paper space. I mean, this couldn’t possibly be some kind of ridiculous campaign by a Republican to get publicity…could it? Because a Republican would never stoop so low. Right?

If anyone has any questions to my interest in this story, please see THIS posting from this past week. Thanks for reading!

How About A “Medical Menu”?

And all this will only cost you $4,000,532.32!

So I’ve been watching intently on this whole healthcare issue. It seems everyone has different opinions about it. No one in Washington can come up with a solution. Apparently you are either completely happy with the healthcare costs you already have or you need change in order to be able to afford it. Right now…I can’t afford it. Which might be a little surprising considering I always seem to be working, but it’s true. Health insurance topped with family health insurance topped with car insurance for 2 vehicles topped with life insurance topped with home insurance. I mean…seriously? Sooner or later someone is gonna come out with insurance for my insurance. This way I can pay for an insurance policy that will cover my insurance costs whenever I DO need to visit the hospital. It’s gotten so out of control already and enough is enough. You want to know what I really want?

A menu.

This would solve a large part of my problem with healthcare these days. Because if I know EXACTLY what I’m gonna be paying for upfront, then I can make a rational decision on whether or not I want to purchase it. For example…my herniated disk. 2 years ago I had a herniated disk in my back. I ended up needing to get 3 epidurals for it. Not knocking my orthopedic but apparently he missed the first 2 times so I had to go in 3 times. Since then, I’ve been fine. (KNOCK ON WOOD) And back when this all went down, I had health insurance. So it was all paid for. But then my wife quit her job and now I don’t have health insurance because I’m a liability for any insurance company and I refuse to pay a gazillion dollars a month for an insurance policy that doesn’t cover a headache (read the fine print on some of these “policies”. Such bullshit…).

Anyway…so let’s say I get another herniated disk. I don’t have insurance. I’m in a medium amount of pain. If I go to a doctor and he or she hands me a menu that has ALL of the services provided and what the cost would be, I can decide whether or not I want to proceed with a treatment. It should be MY responsibility because it’s MY body. So the epidural costs $4000? Well…then how much pain am I in? Because right now, I don’t have $4000 so I guess I’ll suffer a little longer. And what about a payment plan? Would I do it with a payment plan? Sure…providing the payment plan doesn’t reach some ungodly penalty if I don’t pay in full in 30 days or something like that. And this would work for anything. Broken arm? $2500. Flu shot? $50. Hospital room for a day? $3000. Room WITH clean towels? $3700.

Wait…$700 for clean towels?!? Sure…because I think it’s unbelievable what hospitals actually charge for some of their services. Clean linens? $100 a pop. Read the small print. It’s all lumped in there and it’s ridiculous what we pay for some things. And that’s what bothers me about healthcare. Hidden costs. When I go to the grocery store, I buy a box of cereal for $3.99. I know exactly what it costs. I don’t have to worry about what I’m gonna be paying for once I get to the checkout line. If I can’t afford it, I don’t buy it.

Obviously, this doesn’t always work for everything. You need chemotherapy, you are going to have to pay for it. But wouldn’t you feel better knowing what it was going to cost you upfront? I know I would. I might not be happy about it, but at least I would know. And then they couldn’t hide away stupid nit-picking little costs like linens and “services” that I don’t know what they are. You give me a flat fee, I’m all in. But when I go in looking for medical help because I’m in pain and so they give me some ramped-up Advil and tell me to sleep on it then charge me $500…that fucking sucks! I want a medical menu. If I can live without the medicine, I’ll do it. But NOT knowing what it is gonna cost me will just give me another reason to come back later because I’m sure I’ll be having a heart attack after I see what the hospitals are gonna gouge me for.

And so there is MY answer to this whole fiasco…

What The Heck…Sex Addiction?

Remember…SHE beat HIM with a club. He was just having harmless sex…

Our country is in an economic depression. Health insurance rates are through the roof. Haiti just got run over by an earthquake. And what is everyone talking about BESIDES Conan & Jay Leno? Tiger Woods is apparently entering into a sex rehab center in Arizona. The center is called the Meadows Rehabilitation Center in Wickenburg and many a star has found himself there. David Duchovny & Eric Benet (Halle Berry’s ex-hubby) have been known to hang out there and we can only imagine who else.

Now I’m not one to make fun of ANY addiction however I have to wonder about this one. Seriously…doesn’t this just seem like a public relations scam? A guy of Tiger’s stature seems beneath this. I’m not sure but what IS sex addiction anyways? Seeing as how I’m not in complete understanding of this…I went and looked it up. Sex addiction, as described by the bastion of all knowledge… Wikipedia, is actually “a form of obsessive compulsive disorder and is referred to as sexual compulsivity. Still other experts believe that sex addiction is itself a myth, a by-product of cultural and other influences.” Ooooor bad publicity (I added this part).

But I digress.

So Tiger is a sex addict. He slept with…uh…how many women now? Is it up in the 20′s yet? Ahhhh…who cares. Look, far be it for me to judge. I’m gonna go swinging on a vine here and tell you, I could care less who Tiger slept with. It’s none of my damn business. This is between he and his smokin’ hot but totally pissed off lovely wife. If he wants to go out and put his johnson where it don’t belong, why should I care? But there it is…slapped all over the evening news like it’s some breaking news flash that Tiger Woods, the multi-gazillionaire star athlete who travels the world and is known from China to Anarctica by everyone who has ever held a remote in their paws, has been having affairs with OTHER beautiful women.

Oh…now there’s something new. What? A celebrity is getting busy outside of his own home? Seriously? Wow…THAT is something totally different.

And now he’s going to a sex addiction clinic. For what?!?!

It’s our nature to want to sleep with as many people as we possibly can! It’s in our genes! What you decide to do about it is your own business. Some choose to be faithful. Some choose to stray. It’s a choice. Not an addiction. Sex is just sex. We all want it or occasionally wish to participate in it. It’s not like it’s something new. I’m pretty sure people have been having sex for thousands of years. I can’t say I’ve researched it, but it’s a safe bet that tadpoles did it, then monkeys, then Adam & Eve, and so on and so forth. It’s from whence we came, my friends…so people DO it. Unless you live in North America where apparently it’s a bad thing. We have no problems with violence and shootings and killing but you put a naked boob on national television (hellooooo Janet!) and all hell breaks loose. Cmon…are you kidding me?

Sex addiction my ass. Tiger is a hot-blooded all-American male and he can pretty much have sex with whoever or whatever he wants. He’s not “addicted” to sex. If the man is guilty of anything it’s that he used his celebrity status to get into the pants of some pretty damn good-looking women and  then he got caught and his wife beat him with his own golf club. So in that regard he’s an idiot at best. But not sexually addicted. And I have to wonder…what kind of treatment do you get at sex addict school anyways? Do they sit a naked woman in front of you and when you try to approach they hit a little zapper that’s attached to your wanker? I mean…really? How does this work because I’m curious. Do they sit around and talk about porn? Or do they spend hours discussing the hundreds of women that they’ve been with that nobody still knows about? I don’t get it.

Anyway…to Tiger Woods I say…don’t waste your money. You’re gonna need it for the settlement. Sex addiction is a joke. We all know it but for some reason everyone is all fascinated with your exploits so good luck with that. But I don’t get it. It’s not sex addiction if you do what comes naturally. On the other hand, maybe the PR will do you some good and we’ll see ya back on the course at Augusta. What do you say? And then you put all this behind you and get back to doing what you do best…swinging your club. I mean, putting the ball in the holes. Wait! I mean….oh…nevermind…

United States Health Care

Normally I don’t like to open my blog up for controversy, especially one of this magnitude…but I’m curious. I’ve had friends who have brought up healthcare on their Facebook updates and there have been some heated arguments for and against such an idea. I haven’t decided. In all honesty, I think there has to be SOMETHING done, but I can’t decide what is the best way to go. Considering how slimy insurance companies have become and considering how slimy the government can be, I don’t know what the best options are. Here’s what I do know…

I’m a 40-year old male with limited health risk. Prior to 2 years ago when I had back issues and received 3 epidurals for back pain, I had experienced limited health problems. I had a skin mark removed from my face, had a few trips to the doctor for colds & what not, regular teeth cleanings. Your basic health things that over a 40 year span you kinda have happen but nothing like a multi-million dollar surgery or anything. So now, I assume because of the epidurals, I cannot seem to get affordable coverage from ANY health insurance company because I’m apparently considered a liability.

Let me say up front…I understand that health insurance is a luxury. There is nothing guaranteed in life so to have health insurance in case of a medical emergency is something that is not necessarily a given. I don’t expect the insurance companies to GIVE away health coverage for free and I understand that they are essentially running a business and intend on making money. In no way, shape or form do I consider the health insurance industry to be operating out of the goodness of their own heart. So with that being said, I’m amused by the fact that I cannot find one company that is willing to look at MY case (non-smoker, history of clean living, no broken bones, no surgeries) and think that maybe I’m not that big of a deal and insure me for a reasonable price. I am willing to pay my premiums for a reasonable price, but what they are asking is a jeopardy to my family and our home. Seriously…asking a grand a month (or something close to that) is absolutely insane. It’s price gouging and I refuse to pay for it.

So in comes the Obama plan. Now I am not gonna say this is the answer. I’m sure there is lots of fine print to read and I understand why everyone has concerns. This is a free country and to have the government overseeing the healthcare industry might potentially be a disaster. Look at all the other things our political pundits have managed to screw up. Not sayin’ they aren’t trying, and maybe right now there are good intentions, but you have to wonder…given the opportunity…who in Washington might see potential in making some big dough by being in charge of health care for the wealthiest country on Earth? In my head I can see fat businessmen rubbing their hands together and salivating to get their hands on the money that will be trading hands in THAT situation. It’s not pretty.

So here’s what I would like to propose. I am looking for your thoughts on this matter. And I don’t want any screaming or yelling or calling names or slamming thoughts or ideas. That is what is getting us in trouble. Instead of working together, we seem to always be miles apart and it would be nice if, for once, we could at least have an educated and civil discussion about such a heated topic. I can’t watch the news anymore…it’s giving me a headache. Can’t we just talk and come up with ideas about how to take care of this? It IS what free speech and free thinking is all about. So I am looking for comments! But be warned…I won’t post comments that are negative and angry on here. I am not trying to start a fight. I am just looking for honest opinions and answers. So let’s give this a shot, shall we? I hope I don’t hate myself in the morning…

Wonder What I Woulda Been?

What would you do if you could have your kid genetically tested to see what he or she might grow up to be someday? Apparently over in China, where a family is only allowed one child, they are using DNA testing to see where a child might excel in order to give them an early idea of where their talents lie. They take the DNA test then the kids go to camp for 5 days and you pay $880 (or whatever the equivalent is over there) and then…BAM…your kid is gonna be a scientist or basketball star or teacher or a lawyer…or a janitor?

Maybe I’m being critical of this process, but I’m thinking this type of testing would LIMIT what your child can do, doncha think? I mean…what if the testing is wrong? What if they take their blood samples and put the kid in camp and observe him/her for a few days and he/she is…say…5 years old and all he/she wants to do is talk to him/herself and play with ragdolls? What then? Is your child on the fast track to mediocrity? Is he/she not worthy of a college education because, quite frankly, he/she is one notch above gerbil status and should be put in a box with some hay and a few toys with bells in the center?

I don’t get that.

Why would ANYONE want to know what his or her child is gonna grow up to be? This would immediately put a limit on your child’s potential right out of the gate. So the DNA test says your child SHOULD grow up to be a doctor. So now YOU start putting that kind of pressure on your child to be a doctor when all she wants to do is be an artist. Or maybe the test says your son will grow up to be a star soccer player, and then he goes on to hate soccer and wants to be in the band. Or maybe the test says your kid is kind of “not smart” at all and should grow up to be the local town idiot. What then? Do you give up and just say to hell with it and not give the child all the attention or schooling that he needs to grow to be a better person? All because of some test he took when he was 8? I don’t think so.

We need to be careful what we wish for. If we were meant to know what we are in store for, don’t you think it would be obvious. Part of the good stuff about life is the NOT knowing. If my parents had known at the age of 6 that I would grow up to be a guy who works on a computer that puts graphics on television, do you think they would have thought, “Cool!”

I doubt it.

More than likely they would have forced me to become a farmhand and learned a trade where I could actually earn an income someday.

But that didn’t happen because my parents allowed me the freedom to find out for myself what my life was gonna be like. I was allowed to be successful at whatever I wanted and when I failed, I learned. I was not “book smart”. If I had been, I sure as hell wouldn’t be doing what I’ve been doing for over 20 years. Instead, I was allowed to pick an occupation that I love and have enjoyed doing, even if it hasn’t paid well at times. So what if I knew at an early age that I wasn’t gonna be “book smart”? Would that have been my out? Could I have just told my teachers, “Hey. MY DNA test told me that I wouldn’t get any of this stuff. Can I go play now?” How would that have worked?

Anyway, I find it amusing that millions of Chinese want to know what their child’s future holds. I think the fun is in the NOT knowing. This way, it’s a surprise around every corner. Then with every success or every failure, there is something learned and the child grows from that. But to want to know at such an early age how smart or how dumb your kid is gonna be is just plain stupid. And it limits the child’s TRUE potential…

For the complete story, go HERE.

The Exit Row

As a frequent flyer, I often try to get the first class upgrade anytime there is an opportunity. Its just an easier way to fly! However, sometimes I’m not lucky enough and have to sit in the back of the bus. And that’s fine. However, if I’m going to be sitting in the back of the bus, I might as well have a little extra legroom…right? So I always check my travel a few days in advance and move my seat to the exit aisle because there is usually a little more space between my legs and the seat in front of me.

A couple of weeks ago, US Air had a plane land in the Hudson River. Maybe you heard about it? Bunch of birds flew into the plane engine and knocked the whole thing down. So the pilot, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, did what great pilots do. He landed the plane as quickly as possible and with minimal amount of deaths and injuries (no deaths, a few injuries). Now, I don’t want to take away from Sully. He is deserving of all of the accolades that he is receiving and I think what he did is amazing. But MY thoughts keep coming back to the passengers on the plane and especially the 3 or 4 who were in charge of opening the exit doors.

Can you imagine! All you want is a little extra leg room and the next thing you know you’re FLOATING in the Hudson River and you have to act!? I mean…they always ask you if you know your responsibilities and are you willing to accept them and blah blah blah…but who ever actually imagines that you would ever find yourself needing to open those hatch doors? Not me. Well…not until this whole thing occured. Now you can bet your butt I am ALWAYS reading that pamphlet in the pocket. Just to make sure I know how to get that door open.

So…who were the people in those seats, I wonder? And how did THEY handle this whole occurance? The crew of the plane is supposed to be able to handle such conditions. The passengers? Maybe not so much. Who opened those doors??? Were they calm and stoic? Did they help others get out? Or did they take the leap first, screaming to get outside?

Hmmmm…I wonder….

New Ways To Prove Your Inadequecy

Right off the bat…this is a SEX blog. So anyone offended by such topics should change the channel now…

 

(shift nervously…twiddle thimbs…)

 

Okay…that should be enough time…right?

 So a couple of things have come up (not really! HA! Let the fun begin!) that have to do with things of a sexual nature that I thought was interesting/funny/sad (wait for it…I’ll get there) so I thought I would share. The first being THIS product…

Its a “sex counter“. Essentially it COUNTS how many thrusts are made in an *ahem* encounter. Please don’t ask me how I found this thing online. It’s been a very long week of scouring the internet and I honestly don’t remember. Anyways…I can’t imagine why anybody would have a need for something like this?! But how devastated would you be if the number only got up to 10? Or 15 even? What would your girl say? Would you feel inadequate? Or how about in the thousands? Would you worry about wearing your woman out? And where do women stand on that topic anyways? How much is too much and how many are too little? Its all very confusing. Aaaaanyways…it’s really just NOT a good product to buy for ANY reason.

And if you DID feel inadequate wearing your new gadget (crap…did I actually just write that?), would you pay over $3 million to have sex with a virgin? Well…that’s what THIS woman is selling…her virginity. 

At 22 years old, she claims its empowering. I claim its silly. And I’m not even being critical of HER! Look…I know that there is this stigma with virgins. And I know there are lots of men out there who think this is a good idea. But here’s MY thought…you are about to spend a boatload of money to have sex with a woman who has NO EXPERIENCE having sex! How good do you think its gonna be? For my money (not that I’m spending any…for crying out loud…), an experienced woman would be worth spending some hard earned cash on…not the other way around. Am I wrong about this? I mean…I realize its all going to a good cause and all (she says she needs the money to pay her college tuition), but what kind of transaction do you figure THAT will be? I can’t even imagine that it would be fun for anybody involved. Unless…of course…the guy was wearing the gadget. And then they could keep track of how much each thrust cost him!

But THAT is just ridiculous…right?

And for the record…I am all kinds of blushing right now…but I’m pretty sure I’ll get a gazillion responses! LOL

Fox News Has Got No Game

Ain’t THIS the truth???

Seriously…anybody watching this crap? Ever since Tuesday, Fox News has been reporting on Barack Obama’s Blackberry and whether or not he took the oath “officially”. Are they serious with this crap? Have they got nothing better to talk about?

They have NOT rambled on for hours about decisions Obama has made already to move our country forward. They have rambled on about security on Obama’s Blackberry. They have rambled on about the oath. They have no substance at all! It’s really sad that for hours on end they can take these topics and go on and on and on and on…only to pause to take a short breath to reload. Is the next 4 years gonna be like this? Will this network continue to do this for his entire tenure? Probably. Its a Republican network. There will be nothing Obama can do to satisfy these vultures.

So…for the record…Fox News sucks. When they have something interesting and substancial (now they are talking about choreography in the White House. What…now they are dancing a hoedown in the Oval Office? Is that what Bush was doing before he left for Texas?)…let me know. Not that I ever really watched their news, but I would love to consider it to be a viable option for news someday. Anyone who includes “NEWS” in their title should be able to present it in a non-partisan way…right? I always thought that was what news was…presenting FACTS, not making up silly stories to talk about for hours on end…

Oh wait! Hillary Clinton is ready to talk…gotta go change the channel and listen. Hopefully she’ll have something substantial to give to FOX NEWS to talk about…otherwise we’ll be listening to more updates on how Hillary’s dress was too ornate for this particular press conference and why it was disrespectful of Canadians…(and I will wait to see what Holly says about that! LOL)

Ugh