The Politically Incorrect Mom

An Invitation to Hate Us More

2008-03-11T18:48:00.003-04:00

I recently sat through an agonizing 30-second video of Whoopi Goldberg boo-hooing about a Rush Limbaugh comment. First, let me say that Rush Limbaugh makes me sick, too. I don’t know which fat, used-to-be-funny, obnoxious, blow-hard, has-been is harder to listen to – Goldberg or Limbaugh, but I have to say that for once…just this once…I hope Limbaugh is right.

Limbaugh’s comment was regarding the idea of pairing up Clinton and Obama on the same ticket as President and Vice President. He made a comment that a black man and a female running together meant, “they don’t have a chance”. Goldberg was highly offended and went into one of her typical diatribes about how being raised in the United States affords her the right to be anything or do anything she wants. Whatever.

The truth is – being born/raised in the United States only affords us the privilege to PURSUE those dreams – not to achieve them. Achieving success is entirely up to us – and our ability to overcome the obstacles that are in our way, but that’s not really what I sat down to rant about…

I have long since confessed that I don’t believe the United States is ready for a female President. And I don’t just mean the citizens are not ready – I mean the country and the world is not ready for the fall-out that will undoubtedly be tied to putting a woman in the White House.

As an American girl, I was raised with the same “girls can do anything boys can do” sermons as anyone else. I have achieved a lot in my life and can honestly say that I have not been held back by man or beast. I have a lot to be proud of, but I’ve worked hard. Nevertheless, I still don’t believe a woman is the right person for the job of President of the United States and it has nothing to do with a woman’s ability to lead. It has everything to do with the responsibilities that the President of the United States has not only to America, but to the rest of the world.

To those of you who do not believe there is such a thing as a “War on Terror”, you might want to plug your ears for the rest of this.

Notwithstanding my position that the Commander and Chief of our Armed Forces should be required to have served in the armed forces – let me just pose a question…

What do hate-mongering Muslims hate at least as much as they hate the United States?

If you guessed WOMEN – we’re on the same page.

Am I the only person who believes that the very idea of Hillary Clinton in the White House is going to antagonize the already horrific situation the Unites States is in with regard to terrorists who hate us? With all that’s happened in the post 9/11 era – diplomacy is more difficult to obtain than ever. What are the odds that an arrogant female is going to get a diplomatic round-table discussion going with a group of Sunni’s and Shiite’s? How about NONE. Absolutely NO CHANCE.

So, let me get this straight… The plan is to put a female in the White House who claims to be against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (but that’s only after she voted for those wars), let her remove troops from the middle east (although not nearly as quickly as our friend Barack Hussein Obama would do it if given the chance) and then perch the sitting duck up there on Capital Hill as though the United States is looking for a way to become more of a target than we already are. Do I have that right?

Great plan, folks. And just how is she planning to communicate with the terrorists? Shake her finger at them? Cry?

Fortunately, Limbaugh is probably right on this one. I’ve felt from the gate that whomever wins the candidacy on the left is going to be an easy opponent for the right to beat – based solely on the good old fashioned racism, fear and sexism that still exists in this country. We can say what we want about how far we’ve come with civil rights (and as far as I’m concerned – we’ve gone TOO FAR on most fronts), but the truth of the matter is – there are an awful lot of closet racists and sexists out there – and for once, I hope they’re registered to vote. If not, being offended by a blowhard will be the least of Whoopi Goldberg’s worries. She’ll have plenty to think about while she’s picking out which veil goes best with her jiibab.

Well, aint that just dandy?!?!?

2008-03-07T22:56:00.003-05:00

Hat tip - Neo-Contastic

Campaign Finance Reform - PI Mom Style

2008-03-07T22:36:00.002-05:00

I am sick to death of hearing about how much money the candidates have raised and spent on their election campaigns. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a complete and utter waste of money and all of them should be ashamed of themselves.

We hear them all talking about campaign finance reform whenever they’re mad that someone else raised more money than they did – how about some good, old fashioned, REAL campaigning. How about a shoestring budget and some blood, sweat and tears?? How about spending campaign contributions on things that REALLY matter?? How about that, eh?

Here’s my proposal.

The NEW Rules of Campaigning:

Candidates must choose the “platform of choice” that they consider to be the most important issue – you know, the one they promise to fix as soon as they’re finished redecorating the Lincoln Bedroom.

For the sake of an “example” – let’s use Hillary’s platform….Socialized….err, “Universal” Healthcare

Candidates may accept as much or as little contributions as they see fit during campaign.
$1,000 of campaign funds may be used to fund the campaign each month. The rest of the funds must be donated to the cause of their “platform of choice” – assuming the platform allows for the money to stay in the United States. If not – the money goes into a natural disaster fund that will be used to help rebuild AMERICAN cities after hurricanes, floods, fires, mudslides, etc.

For the sake of an example – how many uninsured people could receive healthcare for $138,048,905 (Hillary’s total receipts as of the end of January 08).

Candidates must solicit free advertising from the media – which would eliminate the argument about which way each of the media outlets lean and force organizations like the New York Times to publicly choose a candidate.
Candidates may work the talk-show circuit, but they may not be paid for their appearances.
No television commercials may be aired, unless they are free.
The monthly $1,000 may be spent in any way (except for television commercials), including billboards, yard signs, bumper stickers or picket signs, but those who acquire them must purchase them from campaign headquarters and the money goes back into the kitty for next month. People buy bumper stickers and yard signs for their favorite football teams and any other nonsense they litter their lawns with – why should these items be free?
Neither the Democratic or Republican National Committee may pay any television network for advertising or for debate time. The networks can solicit sponsors. Coca Cola pays American Idol an insane amount of money just to place their cups on the judge’s table each week. The networks will get by on sponsorship!
All campaign employees must be un-paid volunteers.
Candidates must drive wherever they go. The Government can continue to provide cars and secret service (most of them would have it anyway, since they already work for the government), but if the candidate’s “platform of choice” has anything to do with the environment, the candidate must travel in a sub-compact hybrid.
If the candidate works for the United States Government, they must take an official, un-paid leave of absence from their job. If I wanted to campaign for something, I would have to take off work without pay – why should we be paying them for a job they clearly are not performing while they campaign?
And last, but certainly not least – candidates must spend at least 50% of their time knocking on doors and meeting the American public – you know, the very people they ask for votes from. This shouldn’t be a problem – they can just stop in the neighborhoods they’re driving through.

As of the end of January, the total money raised (according to CNN) by ALL candidates, from both sides (including the drop-outs) was $650,239,992.

How many neighborhoods in New Orleans do you suppose could have been rebuilt with 650 million dollars?

End of an era

2007-11-30T21:57:00.000-05:00

The last REAL American hero died today. Evel Knievel....the legend....
The professional athletes and musicians that the kids these days look up to - they're all pansies compared to Evel Knievel. More than 40 broken bones with no steroids, no gazillion dollar contracts.....just raw manhood, guts and a little bit of crazy.
I'm so depressed.
Elvis....Ronald Reagan...now Evel Knievel. I may as well just crawl in a hole and wait for the blaze of Glory.

Paleeeez!

2007-06-04T20:33:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny how people "find God" when it's a politically effective strategy in a Presidential race? Good God!

From the AP...

In a rare public discussion of her husband's
infidelity, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that she probably could not have gotten through her marital troubles without relying on her faith in God.

"I am very grateful that I had a grounding in faith that gave me the courage and the strength to do what I thought was right, regardless of what the world thought," Clinton said during a forum where the three leading Democratic presidential candidates talked about faith and values.

"I'm not sure I would have gotten through it without my faith," she said.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Oh C'Mon!

2007-05-28T18:53:00.000-04:00

Ok - lemme get this straight….

We have to put up with museums, public school curriculum, television, radio, books and crackpots whose theories slap the face of every Christian in this country - but let someone open a Creationism Museum and there are
fruit loops standing outside on opening day - picketing the visitors because they believe it ignores science...per Comcast News.

If you're going to be in Kentucky (or Cincinnati), support this place!

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In other nonsense....err news...

I PREDICTED THIS...

On April 21st, during a trip to Memphis, I predicted that the fat pig #2, Rosie O'Donnell was becoming such a liability to Barbara Walters that she would have to get her off that stupid show, The View. Less than a week later - she announced she would be leaving (of her own accord...yeah, right!). Then she kept running her flap and couldn't keep the job until her planned mid-June departure date.
Not that any of you actually KNEW I predicted it - and Lisa is the only one who can verify it - but I did. So, this is my "told-ya-so" on that subject. I don't get to say it often, so I'm taking advantage of this one.

Now....to get fat pig #1, Michael Moore, to mysteriously disappear....hmmmm......

Let's Just Copy & Paste Mexico's Immigration Policy

2007-05-22T20:15:00.000-04:00

I like Allan Wall's take on the Mexican Immigration Policy. We could take a lesson or two from Mexico. What was the golden rule?? Do unto others.....

Check it out

Give me a break

2007-05-19T17:55:00.000-04:00

Just a few things that have tickled me today...

Carter says the Bush administration is the "the worst in history" in international relations.

That’s really weighty stuff coming from the worst President in history - relative to any subject or relations.

- - - - -

Danny Glover: Can’t we deport him for this???

- - - - -

And last, but certainly not least - considering the size of this big FAT PIG...
What happened to the IRS investigating the fat pig, Michael Moore, for unauthorized trips to Cuba related to financial gain?

His zombies are thanking him now and "sicko" is a very good description for all of them.

His latest aim is the US healthcare industry. That’s my back yard. It may be interesting to see what lies he’s come up with for this one. Then again, it may be more interesting to watch someone pull his toenails out.

Home of the Brave....via Paradise.

2007-03-14T22:45:00.000-04:00

I just returned from vacation and those who know me will be expecting my usual suitcase full of wise-cracks and sarcasm that trips outside the United States bring out of me.

My girls and I travelled to Jamaica and let me first say we had an excellent time and we will undoubtedly return. I love the Caribbean and what it does for my attitude...not to mention the tone of my skin. I'm not planning to rant about our stay....it was glorious!

This trip, we had the unusual ?luck? of being in Ocho Rios during the World Cup Cricket matches. Now, forget that I think cricket is a pansy game and forget that the hair stands up on the back of my neck when someone (like our airport shuttle driver) says, "it's just like baseball!" and forget that it's so boring that when forced to watch it I start fantasizing about using that club/bat/stick used to bunt the ball to crack people in a 1970's style high-school paddling. This really isn't about cricket - although I could go on all night. No - the only interesting thing about being in Jamaica during this tournament was that the Pakistani cricket team was there - playing this pansy game against the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland.

So, the day we were leaving, I'm watching these sheep herders in their long beards and little pansy cricket helmets bounce balls to each other and while the camera is panning around the stadium I couldn't help but notice the crazy number of "fans" these people had with them and the thought occurs to me - how in the name of anything sacred are these people hopping on planes to go to Jamaica? I mean, at the risk of sounding like the politically incorrect person that I am - shouldn't it be really, REEEEEALLLLY hard for people from that region to travel the world right now? Excuse me while I clear my throat.......ahem.....and say, "YES!"

Suddenly I recalled the day we arrived and how incredibly easy it was to slide into the little island of Jamaica without so much as a baggage check. Immigration was nothing - and I do mean NOTHING. No scanning of our passports, not even a second look at my youngest daughter who looks nothing like her passport photo and certainly no questions.

Then, there was Customs.

Customs Guy:"How many bags, mon?"
PIMom: 5
Customs Guy: "Welcome to Jamaica"

End of Customs

And let me clear something up right now....
We might be three very white girls from Pennsylvania, but the olive skinned, Arabic speaking couple in line ahead of us got the same Q&A and freedom to cruise on into the country.

Fast forward past the sunscreen, the kayaking, the waterfalls and the countless banana drinks with little umbrellas....

Now it's the day to go home. The sky is blue and there is a beautiful breeze (of course there is because the most beautiful day of the year is always the day you're going home!). We pile our bags into the airport shuttle and take the 2 hour hike back to the airport. When we arrive expecting the usual scrutiny that accompanies leaving a foreign country and returning to the United States (I swear the airport people take it out on Americans), what do you suppose happened?? I'll give you a hint....it starts with N and ends with ING.....NOTHING, folks. A BIG FAT NOTHING. No baggage check, no questions, no forms, no x-ray machines....not even so much as a peek into my shoe bag.

So, I'm standing there watching the sheep herders bunt the little ball on the TV screen next to the "security check point" and it occurs to me......What a great way to enter the United States....no....questions....asked. And what a great place to be standing in line behind a bunch of people who look like "freedom fighters". Yeah - it's a beautiful day in paradise.

At least they can't actually GET IN to the United States, right?

When I returned to the Philadelphia airport, we went through Immigration along with a number of foreigners with passports that may or may not be legitimate (would the minimum-wage-earning immigration "clerks" really know the difference?) and then headed to customs, which is usually a zoo and a huge pain in the rear while greasy people paw through my luggage. Guess what, folks??? There was nobody in the Customs area. Just a couple of security guards standing in the hallway leading out of the area. One of them held his hand out for the customs declaration card we filled out on the plane while the other stared at my boobs. I never showed anyone my luggage. I didn't go through an x-ray machine, nor did my bags. I could have had a bag full of explosives, cash or Bob Marley smoke...and nobody cared.

It's nice to know that the good ole' boys at the Department of Homeland Security are "keepin' it irie". If I was curious whether we are doing enough to keep the bad guys out - I'm not anymore.

In case of inclement weather

2007-02-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

The PI Mom hasn't disappeared. I've just been in a cold induced hibernation for the last several weeks. Single digits and even some sub-zero temperatures have slowed the old Mom to a crawl on most days and sucked the energy right out of me. I'm definitely not a good candidate for living in South Central Pennsylvania - what with all the temperatures below 75 degrees....but family ties and the circumstances of my life to date have dictated this curse I call my geographical location.

I usually don't know what's on my schedule without writing it down in three places and then ultimately having my administrative assistant read it off the calendar, but I know this.....
One day I will be trading in my business suits, power pumps and sensible sedan for a sarong, flip flops and convertible. White, sandy beaches are in my future....oh yeah....

Meanwhile, we had the first day of "warm" weather today in weeks - with temperatures at 42 degrees it felt like a heat wave. The problem is that behind the warm temperatures is a winter storm heading toward SC PA.

Now, I was born in the mountains. I may hate the cold and the snow, but it doesn't scare me - not in the least. On the contrary, those born and raised here in the "flat lands" are a bunch of crying, screaming mimi's! I've never been able to figure out why all the bread and milk disappear from the convenience stores whenever the weather man predicts even the smallest of flurries. What do people do...sit around and eat toast when it snows?

The weather man has predicted a "storm" with accumulations of up to 6 inches. SIX INCHES folks! That's barely enough to make tracks in the snow. I'm pretty sure that the first time I drove a car there was at least 6 inches of snow on the road - I remember because it was a GOOD weather day in the mountains. Honestly....I realize I am more than a little politically incorrect and perhaps a little judgmental and maybe even somewhat unsympathetic....but I really had to restrain myself when 4 of the managers who work for me sent me e-mails today asking for help in developing an "Inclement Weather Plan" for this week.

It was, of course, the easiest task I performed all day and here it is:

February 12, 2007
Inclement Weather Policy for XXXXXXXX Site of XXXXXXXX Management Group
Policy:
If it snows less than 2 feet....get your butt to work.

If you're looking for me during the storm - try me at the office.

No surprises here...

2007-02-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

It's no surprise that the Mayor of San Francisco is a creep who cheated with his "right hand man's" wife. It's no surprise that the residents of San Francisco could care less about the affair and say they'll vote for him again...
So, why am I surprised that this entire 492 word article doesn't mention once....not once that the good Mayor is a Democrat. Had he been a Republican, the words "Republican" and "Conservative" would have appeared every other sentence.
I'm tired of politics these days....in case you hadn't noticed.

Highlights Of My Week

2007-01-05T23:34:00.000-05:00

I spent the last two days of this week interviewing potential candidates for mid-level management positions. I always partially dread these tasks because they take me away from more important work, but a small part of me looks forward to the entertainment value of the encounters.

It never ceases to amaze me when grown men and women who have seemingly worked other jobs and, I assume, have participated in other interviews, do not know how to act when shut in a room with someone they are hoping to impress enough to hire them.

Yes, people get nervous and don't always give the best glimpse of their personality - I'm not talking about nerves. Some people simply choke when they get into an interview, but a good interviewer can discern the difference between nerves vs. stupidity. I'm talking about astronomical stupidity.

I was so amused with this round of interviews, I thought I would end my week with a little re-run of the "highlights". I call this piece,

"What Not To Do/Say In An Interview".

In two days, I interviewed 14 people. 9 out of 14 applicants did or said something ridiculous enough to make me walk out of my office and hand their resume to my secretary (she types the rejection letters) before they made it out the door.

Applicant #1: 50+ YO Female.
Woman walks in...shakes my hand and introduces herself....pulls out TWO chairs from the table...kicks off her shoes and says, "Whoooooooooo! My dogs are barking! (sits in one chair - puts feet up on the other) I've been at the mall all morning shopping for underwear. I've got to get these shoes off!"

(Believe it or not, this is not the first time I've had someone put their feet up during an interview.)

Applicant #2: 26 YO Female.
Appears to be about 11 months pregnant. Brought her 3 other children to the interview with coloring books and asks if I mind if she leaves them in the lobby. "They won't be any trouble, they're really quiet kids". (FTR: I did not allow her to leave them in the lobby, but asked my secretary to "babysit") After telling me she's 6 months pregnant, she said, "I usually only take off 2 weeks to have a baby and I have really good child care, so you don't have to worry about me taking off work too much".

(Yes....I can see that your childcare situation is excellent!)

Applicant #3: 50+ YO Male.
Q: If you had to choose one outstanding quality that you have, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
A: I am a very, VERY patient man.
Q: How about a shortcoming?
A. Sometimes I have anger issues.

(Would that be BEFORE or AFTER your saintly patience?)

Applicant #4: 30+ YO Female.
Q: Why do you want to leave your current job?
A. Because there's a company policy against sleeping with your boss, so one of us has to get a new job. Since he makes more money than I do, it has to be me.

Applicant #5: 25ish Female.
Q: What DON'T you like about your current job?
A. If I tell you, do you promise not to tell my boss?
(My Response: Of course.)
A: My boss is the BIGGEST BITCH! She's so jealous of me because I'm prettier than her so she makes me do all the shit jobs. Female bosses are such BITCHES!

(Of course, this person would be answerable to me if she were to be hired....and she was aware of that.)

Applicant #6: 40+ Female.
Q: What type of co-worker do you find the most difficult to work with?
A. People who bother me first thing in the morning. I just have to wake up, you know? I'm usually fine by about 10:00, but before then I like to be left alone.

Applicant #7: 25ish Female.
Two questions into the interview she asked to be excused to use the ladies room so that she could, "...take off my pantyhose - they're driving me CRAZY!"

Was I supposed to say "NO"?

Applicant #8: 30+ Female.
This woman was VERY qualified and interviewed very well. I had but one dilemma, so I came right out and asked her...

Q: How do you feel about removing your tongue ring during working hours?
A. (as she swiftly got up and headed for the door) F*** YOU!!!

(I took that as a "NO")

And the most memorable of the day...

Applicant #9: 50+ Male.
This guy had a tremendously creepy presence from the moment he walked through the door, so I rushed through the questions in hopes of getting him out quickly. I almost skipped the following question, but I love the answers I get, so I went ahead with it.

Q: If education and experience were irrelevant and you could wake up tomorrow and just BE **insert dream job here** What would you be?

(After looking at me over the top of his glasses for about 20 seconds with a creepy grin...he finally answered)

A. I would be you. I really like your hair.

Alrighty then....We'll get back to ya!!

I solemnly swear...to Allah?

2007-01-03T21:33:00.000-05:00

Representative-elect Keith Ellison, a Muslim, is planning to be sworn in to office using a Quran. And this is acceptable, why???? Because Thomas Jefferson owned the book.

"It demonstrates that from the very beginning of our country, we had people who were visionary, who were religiously tolerant, who believed that knowledge and wisdom could be gleaned from any number of sources, including the Quran,"

Ellison said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

I'm sure Mr. Ellison's definition of "visionary" involves people who have a vision of the future in America as an Islamic nation, which hardly describes Thomas Jefferson.

This whole issue - both the election of a Muslim and allowing him to swear in using the dictionary of death - is very scary. What's next?

For the record - owning a copy of the Quran doesn't make you religiously tolerant. I own a copy. I've read it cover to cover...more than once. I've been called a lot of things...but NEVER religiously tolerant. My guess is that Jefferson collected it for the same reason I did - out of curiosity and to better understand and discuss it.

We're on a slippery slope, folks.

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T21:21:00.000-05:00

To all my friends in the blogosphere.
May each of you find happiness, hope, love and peace in the coming year.

Saying Goodbye to a Legend

2006-12-25T13:23:00.000-05:00

It's sad to see many of the musical influences of my childhood fading away...one by one...

Elvis...Buddy...Mahalia...Otis...Sam...Frank...Dean...Ray...

Today, the world lost another legend....the Godfather of Soul....James Brown. There's never been another - before or since - who has influenced so many genres. I hope he's resting in a better place.

Good God!!

Merry Christmas

2006-12-24T22:46:00.000-05:00

May God bless you today and in the coming year!!

Oops?

2006-12-19T18:43:00.000-05:00

"Killing him with my bare hands"...would be an understatement.
MIDLAND, Texas - A 3-month-old baby was left unattended in a shopping cart for about an hour Sunday when her parents accidentally left her behind, police said. Shoppers noticed the abandoned baby at a Toys "R" Us store, Midland police Sgt. Alfredo Grimaldo said.

"It was a misunderstanding among family members," Grimaldo said in Monday editions of the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "One man took the kids home and left the ladies to shop. But when he took the kids, he didn't take the baby from the cart."

The family members, who were traveling in different cars, didn't realize what happened until they all got home and nobody had the baby, he said.

"We don't think it was really a child abandonment issue. It was just a misunderstanding," Grimaldo said.

Police spokeswoman Tina Jauz said Child Protective Services is looking into the case.
Me thinks the divorce will be final by spring.

A Girl's Gotta Dance...

2006-12-18T19:15:00.000-05:00

Dreams are great. Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? I do. I have a good life, but I'm not living my dream. My "dream" just wasn't in the cards - nobody's fault...just not as fate would have it.

I just spent the weekend with my girls in New York City and found myself discussing what they see for their futures. I couldn't help noticing how much they're like I was at their ages and how different their own dreams are from what I wish for them. It's not always easy, but I do my best not to ever discourage them, even when their dreams seem a tad on the unrealistic side...and scare the heck out of me.

It doesn't hurt that we were in what I've found to be one of the most magical cities in the country. Every time I visit, I wonder how the people of New York get such a bad rap. Ok, ok...put them in a car and they're maniacs....but otherwise - New York City has some of the most wonderful people on the planet living in it and if you're looking for something great to do during the holidays...or any time of year, really...you should consider New York. You'll never be sorry you did.

As my daughters discussed how they both want to move to NYC and pursue completely different career paths, which of course include living brilliant, glamorous lives... I wondered how many times they would change their minds before they actually reached their goals and I thought, "what a wonderful, terrifying dream". But I never said it out loud.

It was friends of my parents who first took me to New York City when I was 11 years old. My parents were wildly opposed to any of their children ever setting foot in the city of sin. Seems they lived there early in their marriage (long before I came along) and according to them - Satan himself lives there.

I was terrified when I arrived (remembering all the horror stories my parents told me about the filth and crime I could expect). Before long, however, I found myself at awe that I hadn't contracted some terrible disease or been mugged in the first 15 minutes and that what I was seeing/experiencing was actually quite wonderful.

During my first trip I visited China Town, went to the top of the Empire State Building and then visited a place that I thought about every single day for the next several years... Radio City Music Hall.

I will never forget the way I felt - sitting in the very center of the orchestra level at a summer matinee. I never wanted that show to end and when it did...I decided right then and there....if I never did anything else, I had to be a Rockette (go ahead...laugh...)

I went home with my Rockettes poster and hung it on the wall next to my bed. When I told my mother and sisters about my career plans, they (in typical form) mocked me and reduced me to tears, but that didn't deter me from dreaming about my future as a Radio City Rockette. I remember thinking....if I have to hitch hike to New York City the day I graduate from high school....I will be a Rockette. And so it went for the next 4 and a half years. All I dreamed of was getting out of smalltown USA and finding my niche as a high-kicking glamour girl with feathers on her head. Of course I stopped telling people about it in order to avoid being humiliated, but I practiced daily (I was a gymnast, not a dancer) and eventually taught myself to kick my own nose.

And then....it happened. The day my dreams were crushed...

I was in grade 10. I waited in line for my cheerleading physical (this was back in the days when the doctor came to the school and performed physicals on-site and free of charge for anyone involved in a sport). When it was my turn, Dr. George (a gnarly old guy who scared the b-jesus out of me) said the words that changed my life. After taking a number of measurements, he said,

"You're 5'4" and that's all the taller you're going to get".

"What??? NO!!! That can't be! Measure again! How do you know I'm finished growing??? I could grow some more, right? Right? Right????"

Sadly, scary old Dr. George was correct. Well, for the most part. I did manage to put on another half inch over the next few years, but I was never to be the minimum 5 feet 6 inches required to be a Rockette. I was devastated.

Yeah - go ahead and laugh. It was pretty daggone real to me.

So, what's my rant? Just this...

Let your kids dream. If your kid says he/she wants to be a prima ballerina...an astronaut...a race car driver...or a brain surgeon...tell them they can do anything they want. As Nationwide says..."Life comes at you fast." If their dreams are silly - let them figure it out on their own. Soon enough they'll be going to college, talking about marriage, mortgages and children of their own. Maybe they'll go into the family business...but maybe...just maybe...they'll get to do what THEY love. Not everybody gets to do that, but those who are discouraged from their dreams seldom do.

Oh, and one more thing. If your daughter comes home and says she wants to be a Rockette...for God's sake - give the kid growth hormones!!!!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Bad Idea

2006-12-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

Senator Bob Beers of Las Vegas wants to let school teachers carry guns. While school shootings are happening more and more, the occurances of law enforcement and correctional officers getting shot with their own weapons is even higher. If law enforecement can't even get it right - this is a bad idea.
Don't get me wrong...I'm pro-guns. I just don't want my daughter's teachers, half of whom don't know enough not to sleep with their own students, walking around the middle school with one. This is a really, really bad idea.

Making Nice

2006-12-14T19:06:00.000-05:00

Incoming Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, says absolutely nothing has changed as a result of Senator Johnson's brain surgery. Of course what he really means is, "we'll wheel him in on a stretcher to vote once a year if that's what it takes to keep the majority". Hey, it's been done before. I suspect the libs will have a completely different take on the definition of a persistent vegetative state pretty soon.

As much as I would like to see things swing to the right - I have no intention of being a hateful ass about it. OF COURSE I wish the senator and his family the very best, but I can't help noticing that I haven't seen anything nasty being blogged about this guy's illness coming from the right - even after the libs have repeatedly wished suffering, torment and even death on Republicans who have become ill.

Remember John Ashcroft's very painful pancreatitis back in 2004? Members of the Democratic Underground had these loving, well wishes for the former Attorney General:

"He has it coming. He is utterly sub-human evil. Suffer, bastard."

"The world would be better off without him."

"I hope he is in the most severe pain a human being can suffer, and after that, I hope he remains in constant pain with no hope of relief."

"Good...I hope it's slow, I hope it's painful, and I hope that he suffers greatly before he dies..."

And when conservative radio talk-show host, Laura Ingraham had breast cancer:

"I don't pray for Nazis or other Totalitarian Scum."

"I hope she goes into remission and f***ing chokes to death."

"She probably gave it to herself...all that hate, lies, anger."

So, let me be the first to say,

"Best Wishes to Senator Tim Johnson and his family."

Regardless of your political affiliation, having a sick/critical loved one is difficult and brain surgery is no easy recovery process.

Everybody gets a new title...

2006-12-12T19:53:00.000-05:00

While sitting in the doctor's office for 45 minutes today - waiting for my daughter to be seen for a sports physical for school - I found myself sitting in an exam room with only one magazine on the rack. The magazine happened to be the November 27 issue of People Magazine. Not something I would normally pick up and read and this issue even less since the cover story was that George Clooney had been selected as the 2006 Sexiest Man Alive. First, let me say.......PA-LEEEEZ! There are sexier men that I know in person - not to mention some of the McDreamy men walking around Hollywood now - and girls you know what I'm saying!!. George - dorky guy from the Rosanne show - Clooney? Nerd-handyman from The Facts of Life....that George Clooney? UGH! Clearly, those who voted forgot about the 80's and have never heard him open his mouth.

At any rate - I took one look at the cover and put the magazine back, opting instead to read the posters on the walls. After about 20 minutes of studying the digestive system - as interesting as that was, I became desperate and picked up the magazine. I flipped to the interview the publisher had with the newly crowned king of sexy, just to see what stupid thing was going to come out of his mouth next and.....there it was......

Q: Will you ever run for office?

A: No. I can get more done from where I am on issues than I could trying to make policy. I don't have to compromise on anything. I don't have to worry about alienating anyone. I can go in head first.

And you know what??? He's right. He is absolutely, positively right on with that answer. Anyone who may have thought that some of these celebrities don't know what they're doing when they lead the developmentally delayed followers of this country into whatever they choose - you're crazy. Clooney, at least, knows exactly what he's doing. He knows that the ridiculous number of Americans who can't think for themselves will listen to him as an actor a lot quicker than they'll listen to him as a politician. Why? Because he's sexy? (I beg to differ with that one) Because he played a smart guy once? (not really sure about that either). Really it's because people in this country are so disillusioned by celebrities that they can't pull their heads out of their butts long enough see the light.

I know I've ranted about this before - but reading it straight from the horse's mouth just confirmed what I already knew - not all celebs are just stupid blondes like Natalie Maines - some of them actually have an agenda. Scary.

Georgie may have been dubbed the Sexiest Man Alive - but I got a brand new title this week, too....

I love my employer. I really do. I work for one of the best companies in South Central Pennsylvania and I'm proud of what I do for a living. They have exhibited an enormous amount of confidence in me and have allowed me to steadily "climb the ladder" - never holding me back from the next challenge. Unfortunately, loving my job and displaying a willingness to take on any responsibility they've thrown my way has bought me the title of "Pathetic Loser Who Has To Travel Over The Holidays". As I pondered why on earth my boss was sending me to visit 3 states over the last 3 days of the year when there are so many other people - higher up on the food chain than I am - who would be better suited for this trip - a friend said, "because it's over new years!" DUH! Guess I totally missed that one when they asked me to do it.

So, I'll be in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin on the last three days of 2006. I'm really hoping my blogger buddies in Milwaukee will take pity on this lowly traveler and tell me where the New Years Eve party is (and then let me crash it) - otherwise, it's me...alone....in a hotel room....feeling sorry for myself...on New Years Eve...sniff, sniff....

A Moonbat Christmas

2006-12-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to the dreaded task of dragging out the Christmas stuff and decorating the house for the holidays. I dread it more and more each year and find myself doing less and less and wishing I didn't have to do it at all. I've managed to reduce the decorating to a very slim tree and the mantel. Nothing outside. Nothing in the windows. I fear I'm turning into my mother, who now puts up only a tiny tree in the corner of the dining room, which comes out of a box with all the decorations on it and then goes back into the box the same way.

I guess it's the disruption in what I consider "normalcy". You know - having to move furniture around to put the tree up - which means extra furniture in other parts of the house...a twinkling, shiny thing in the living room that you can always see out of the corner of your eye while watching television - no matter how far you turn your head. And then there's the idea of a tree inside the house. Trees belong outdoors...not in the living room. I'm not a complete scrooge. I just don't enjoy the holidays the way other people do and I'm always happy to see New Year's Day coming around the bend. It means things are headed back to "normal".

As a result of the wretched decorating extravaganza, it now looks as though Christmas threw up in my living room. I tried to distract myself from the task at hand as much as possible and from the thoughts that I was doing all this work - only to take it back down in a couple of weeks. I put on AC/DC and turned it up loud... but soon realized that I wasn't going to be able to tear my brain away from holiday stuff.

For instance, I have a number of obligatory gifts to purchase for bosses, colleagues, employees...I HATE obligatory gifts. I hate receiving them and I hate giving them. Here's the snuff.....I don't need any more junk!! I don't want any more candles, nick-nacks, handmade personalized Christmas tree decorations or boxes of chocolate. What's worse, many of the obligatory gifts I have to purchase are for liberals. Let's face it - they haven't exactly been in the "nice" list this year.

I set out to develop a list of possible gifts. There may be others out there who need help finding obligatory gifts for the libs in your life - so, after a great deal of deliberate thought, I've come up with the following gift ideas that should put a smile on the face of any moonbat you know.

# 1 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Barbra Streisand's Newest CD - "Why I Hate The U.S.A."
This CD is chalk full of Barbra's greatest hits - including,
Global, Global, Global Warming
George Bush is a Racist
Katrina Was a Right Wing Conspiracy
My Friend Chavez
There's No Such Thing As Terrorists
All The Iraqis Need is Prozac
And many, many more...

#2 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Mother Sheehan Rainbow Ringer Tee
A beautiful belly shirt featuring Cindy Sheehan pictured with her lover, Hillary Clinton, and the caption "Sleeping in a tent together until they all come home - or someone buys our books...which ever comes first".

#3 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
John Kerry Rice Crispy Treats
Is there anything better than the thought of chowing down on John Kerry's face?

#4 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Cynthia McKinney Barking Doll
Touch her anywhere and she'll bark like a dog. May also be purchased with optional slapping, kicking and biting features.

#5 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Toys for Illegals
That's right, folks...you can donate a toy for an illegal immigrant in the name of your favorite moonbat. Make sure that all those people who are already living off our tax dollars have a better Christmas than your own kids.

#6 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Abortion Clinic Tour This is a great gift for those who have young daughters - preferably middle school age.

#7 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Tickets to The View
What could be better than the solid advice they'll get from Rosie?

#8 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
A White Flag
Because everyone should fly the flag they pledge to from their front porch.

#9 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Copy of The Iraq Study Group Report
They wrote it anyway.

#10 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
One Year Subscription to Jihad Today Magazine
Also available in Spanish for the illegals on your list.

#11 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Michael Moore Commemorative Spoon
Extra large spoon - you, too, can be a big, fat, greasy pig.

#12 Moonbat Holiday Gift:
Gift Certificate for an HPV Vaccine
For an extra $500 you can couple this with a buy one/get one free abortion.

That's all I've got for now, but rest assured....PI Mom is on the lookout for more ideas to make your holiday easier.

"A Nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope." - Pope John Paul II

2006-12-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

52% of all abortions occur before the 9th week of pregnancy, 25% happen between the 9th & 10th week, 12% happen between the 11th and 12th week, 6% happen between the 13th & 15th week, 4% happen between the 16th & 20th week, and 1% of all abortions (16,450/yr.) happen after the 20th week of pregnancy.

With my best friend's permission - I am posting this beautiful photo of an exciting addition to "our" family. S/he (I think it's SHE) will be arriving in July...but yesterday, she was a mere 6 1/2 week fetus.

....look closely, you can see her little nose...her little hand...

48% of all abortions in this country are performed AFTER the age of this baby.

How can any reasonable-minded person see this photo and say it's not a baby. Makes me sad.

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." - Mother Teresa

Does it get better than this?

2006-12-07T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry - I know it's not very ladylike - but this is hysterical...

Seems a woman on a plane had a little digestive problem that she couldn't....hold in...and instead of....oh, I don't know...use perfume or perhaps a charcoal filter - she thought it was a smart idea to light a match to cover the smell of her....you know....gastrointestinal problem.

Because it's always a good idea to LIGHT A MATCH ON A PLANE!!

A scene from "Porky's" comes to mind.

Statistic or Survivor - you decide...

2006-12-05T23:28:00.000-05:00

I'm about to say something that's going to make me unpopular...again...

The statistics are staggering.

75% of children/adolescents in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families. (Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA)

1 out of 5 children have a learning, emotional, or behavioral problem due to the family system changing. (National Center for Health Statistics)

More than one half of all youths incarcerated for criminal acts lived in one-parent families when they were children. (Children's Defense Fund)

Nine million American children face risk factors that may hinder their ability to become healthy and productive adults. One in seven children deal with at least four of the risk factors, which include growing up in a single-parent household...The survey also indicated that children confronting several risk factors are more likely to experience problems with concentration, communication, and health. (1999 Kids Count Survey - Annie E. Casey Foundation)

63% of suicides are individuals from single parent families (FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin - Investigative Aid)

"Separation, divorce and unmarried parenthood seemed to be a high risk for children/adolescents in these families for the development of suicidal behavior". (Atilla Turgay, M.D.American Psychiatric Association's Scientific Meeting, May 1994)

75% of teenage pregnancies are adolescents from single parent homes (Children in need: Investment Strategies...Committee for Economic Development)

Staggering - and clear. Here's what I don't get...

Why?

I had the misfortune of being seated between two women the other night who were having this conversation about their 19 year old sons...

Woman 1: "Well, at least he's not using drugs anymore and he's starting to understand where all of his behavioral problems have come from".

Woman 2: "That's good. I think it definitely depends on what age they were traumatized".

Woman 1: "Yes! The age they were traumatized definitely makes a difference!"

***At this point, I'm thinking..."What the heck happened to these women's kids? Were they molested? Kidnapped? What on earth are they talking about?"

Apparently, Woman 1 noticed the confused look on my face and said, "Don't you agree?"

PI Mom: "What do you mean WHEN they were traumatized? What happened to your kids?"

Woman 1: "OH! We mean when the divorce happened! You know, when their dad left".

I was floored! I'm a single mother. I've been divorced for 11 years. I have always hated the tag, "broken home" because in my case, as in many, many cases - my home was broken when I was married. When I left - I fixed it. I committed to giving my children a happy, healthy, well-adjusted life and that meant I had to divorce their dad. I never once assumed that my kids were going to have behavioral, emotional or health problems simply because there was only one parent in their home. It's not always easy. It's not always fun. It IS, however, always, always, always worth the effort and whatever sacrifices are made. It is simply a decision that you make. I have great kids who don't consider themselves victims or measure their successes or failures based on a timeline that began when they were "traumatized". Why? Because it has NEVER occurred to me to use my divorce as a crutch or allow my kids to use it as an excuse to behave badly. It's never been an option.

Now, here's the thing girls (and boys). Divorce is difficult - it's really hard on kids, but tagging that moment in their life as the moment their lives were irrevocably traumatized is a cop out. Kids are as traumatized as we allow them to be by our divorces and it's our job as the parent who didn't walk out - or DID walk out to give your kids a better life - to commit to making our kid's lives as normal as possible in spite of the circumstances. And yes - I had just as difficult a divorce as anyone. My marriage, divorce and the aftermath was nothing short of the makings of a Lifetime TV movie. And contrary to Woman 1's suggestion to me that divorce is somehow different for girls and easier on daughters than on sons - my kids didn't turn out o.k. because they were girls. My kids turned out o.k. because I didn't...sell out. Yeah, I said it.

I wouldn't suggest that two-parent homes aren't the ideal. I'm not suggesting that it doesn't matter whether kids have both parents in their lives or that input from both parents isn't very, very valuable or even that some children aren't more "traumatized" than others by their parent's divorce. What I would suggest is that the reported statistics on behavioral problems, emotional problems, incarceration, chemical dependency and suicide are not just the result of children growing up in single-parent homes - they're the result of bad parenting. Yeah, I said it.

I know plenty of women and men who blame every single problem in their lives on their failed marriages/former spouses and if you want to cop out on taking responsibility for your own failures - knock yourself out. But let's be real. If your kids fall apart, misbehave, get pregnant, addicted to drugs, whatever....it's not because you got divorced. Not unless you use your divorce as a crutch to the degree that you cripple your children and their ability to take responsibility for their actions. You have a choice - you can either teach your kids to be victims - or teach them to rise above their circumstances. You can teach them to be statistics - or survivors. Make no mistake - it's entirely up to you.

I am so tired of seeing statistics like the ones above presented in a way that supposedly explains WHY kids act the way they do without giving credit where it is due. Whether your kids are growing up with a father or with a mother or with both - HOW they are raised, WHAT they are taught and WHO they are exposed to will influence the outcomes in their lives way more than whether or not both parents resided in the same household. It's time for single parents, both dads and moms to take responsibility for the upbringing they're providing for their children and it's time for our society to stop giving single parents excuses not to do right by their kids.

I'm not incapable of sympathizing with single moms. I AM one - but sympathy won't keep your kids out of rehab. If I could do...say...express ANYTHING to help empower single moms (or dads) - it would not be, "There, there! It's not your fault". It would be that you only get one chance to do the right thing with your kids. Don't sell them out. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Quit waiting for your x-husband/wife to step up to the plate. Do...your...job. You'll never be sorry that your kids aren't part of the statistics.

New Rules

2006-12-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of holiday giving and an effort to reduce my own road rage, I've put together a few driving/automobile related rules that I'd like to pass along to anyone who happens to be driving in the South Central Pennsylvania region this year (actually, these rules apply all year long...so keep them handy). Honestly, folks...I'm walking on the edge right now with the idiotic drivers around here - so here you go...

1. Put your make-up on at home. The ambulance/emergency personnel don't care if you've put your mascara on when they cut your ass out of your car.

2. If you are afraid to drive on the bypass - take the back roads. DON'T drive 40 mph in a 65 mph zone during the morning rush hour. If you're not in a hurry - take the long way!!

3. Merge, DAMN IT!

4. When finding yourself at a 4-way stop with me....it's important to remember that it's ALWAYS my turn.

5. With the exception of possibly two places in the city, where I am fully familiar with my surroundings...I'm NOT turning right on red. There is no traffic law that requires it and gesturing to me will not cause me to "remember" to turn. Honking your horn will only insure that you will not only sit through the red light - but possibly the next green light also.

6. Speaking of horns....please remember that they are designed as a "warning mechanism"...meaning that they are to be used when someone is about to inadvertently back into you or for some other near-miss type of situation. Honking your horn at me for any reason other than those stated will result in my doing the opposite of what you are trying to get me to do. So, if you really want to get where you're going - stay off the horn!

7. For those of you who have no responsibilities and are able to spend your day Christmas shopping...please remember to get where you're going by noon and stay there until at least 1:00. The extra traffic on the roadways when I am making my lunchtime dash to Starbucks is only making your world a more dangerous place. Don't you people have jobs???????

8. I don't care if you talk on your telephone, but pay attention to what the heck you're doing. If you were a good driver, your music would be up too loud to hear it ring.

9. I have really, really good insurance....and I just got new brakes. Stay off my butt!!!

10. If the light at Rohrerstown & Marietta is backed up to the tracks- don't expect me to pull on to the tracks. Yes, I am aware that the train comes through at 8am and we're sitting there at 7:45 - I don't care. You have two choices - back off and get through the next green light OR honk your horn and pull right up to my bumper and we're both sitting there until after the 8am train comes through.

Special note for Mr. Silver Volvo Station Wagon who drives on College Avenue at 7:50 every morning and has passed a school bus on the right for the past two days...I notice your license plate begins with FRK...I have the last 4 numbers...if you don't want to get your ass kicked by a girl in front of a bunch of school kids, do it again you irresponsible moron....then I'll see you again when I testify against you in traffic court.

These rules are subject to modification and additions at any time between now and Christmas - assuming I don't rocket some idiot off the front of my car before then.

The Loser's Club

2006-12-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

At the urging of my kids, I recently attended an event at a local church that I sometimes visit. According to the church web calendar, it was supposed to be a class held once or twice a month for single people in their late 30's+. Apparently I'm smothering my kids because they've been bugging me to attend one of these events for some time. Why? Because according to them...I need to meet people and socialize. Of course I was adamantly opposed to going because, well... I don't particularly like people. The truth is, I have to socialize, make nice and schmooze people all day long at my job. When I leave the job - I don't want to socialize. In fact, I'm ridiculously anti-social and I like it that way. Of course that does very little toward the prospect of ever meeting a nice, conservative, Republican man and getting re-married - which I suspect is part of my daughter's motives since they keep reminding me that they won't be around forever and "I don't want you to be alone, mom!"

...yeah, I don't either.

So, against my better judgment and probably more to prove my daughters wrong, I pulled myself away from the Saturday evening prime-time line-up and drove to the "class", which will henceforth and forevermore be referred to as "The Losers Club".

Upon arriving, the first thing I noticed was a table, just inside the door, with name tags....yes, NAME TAGS. Every fiber of my being said, "GO HOME!", but I knew the "I didn't want to wear a nametag" argument probably wouldn't fly with my oldest daughter (who was waiting by her phone for a post-class report). I breezed by the name tag table without so much as a glance and said a quick prayer that there were no name tag police. I looked around and found myself standing among 5 round tables, each with seating for 8. In the center of the tables were "table-tents" with the following descriptions written on them, "50+ & HOLDING", "SINGLE WITH KIDS", "HELP ME!", "40 SOMETHING" and "FUN". I immediately wondered why being single with kids had to mean that I wasn't fun, but wasn't willing to stand out in the open for long, where people could see me and possibly talk to me. I quickly found a seat at the "SINGLE WITH KIDS" table, mainly because it was the closest one and there was only one person seated there.

For the next few minutes several people filed in and found their seats at their choice of tables. I did my best not to make eye contact with anyone, pretending to be looking for something in my handbag so people would think I was "busy". Soon after, a man in his mid-40's went to the front of the room and introduced himself as Keith, the "host". The door in the back of the room closed and a hush fell over the room as Keith began to explain what was about to happen in this "class". As it turns out - it's not a class at all...at least not in my definition of a class, which would be an event where someone teaches, lectures or in some other way instructs the attendees and that person is the only one who has to talk. Oh no - it's not a class....it can't be.... because that's just not my friggin' luck. I gave up a Law & Order marathon to be a part of an "evening of sharing" with complete strangers who were, quite frankly, making my skin crawl.

Now, let me make something clear. I am not a complete introvert....quite the contrary. I talk to people all day long - from brilliant surgeons to hospital administrators to people on welfare who can't pay their medical bills. I have no problem communicating with any type of person and I'm proud to say that my employer recently gave me a wonderful compliment when he told me that one of the reasons he hired me was because I have a gift of being able to communicate with anyone from any walk of life and leave the table with everyone on the same page. I CAN communicate with strangers - I just don't WANT to...at least not when I could be alone...on the sofa...with the clicker in my right hand and a Diet Coke in my left. I go out. I have dinner with friends. I attend healthcare forums and cocktail parties with clients and referrers. I attend events for the groups I volunteer with - Relay for Life, Victim's Advocates....I DO things. Just not all the time.

Next, Keith explained how the next HOUR AND A HALF would play out. His special guest, Pamela, would sit in a chair at the front of the room and tell us her "story" in small parts. Periodically throughout her "story", Keith would interrupt her and pose a question that we, the attendees, would have to give an answer to the rest of our table.

I looked back at the door.....still closed....I looked around and decided that I would be more conspicuous trying to leave, thus more mortified than I already was so I decided to beg God to strike me down right then and there. Surely He wouldn't make me endure this torture, right? Well.....I'm still here.

So, Pamela's story began.....she had a crappy childhood...blah, blah, blah... her mother was married 3 times and always took off with the kids in the middle of the day when the husbands were at work, blah, blah, blah...she ran away from home when she was 19 (is it really running away if you're 19??) blah, blah,friggin' blah..STOP...

Keith's question....."Tell about a defining moment in your life when you needed comfort".

At that moment I couldn't decide what I wanted to do more; beat Keith with my Coach bag or give my kids up for adoption. I looked at my beautiful bag...the kids definitely had to go. Then....it happened. The best idea in the history of good ideas just LANDED in my brain.

LIE. Make up answers. Say anything you want - just don't tell the truth.

I know what you're thinking. I was sitting in a church, for Pete's sake. How could I lie? Actually, it was really, really easy.

So I proceeded to make things up. Yep - every single question....just made up an answer. In fact, the more I lied, the easier it got and the more I thought, "this might not be such a bad thing after all". Not super-big lies, mind you...just reasonably believable tales that were just mundane enough to not elicit requests for elaboration. So, while the stressed out, bawlbaby-poopypants divorcee's at my table - drama vomited all over the place, I said things like..."I had a cat once. It died." Then if anyone looked at me for longer than a half-second expecting me to elaborate, I folded my arms across my chest and looked around the room... and whistled. It was the most aggravating, annoying, FUN thing I've done in a long time.

After an hour and a figgin' half of Pamela's whining about her drunken stepfathers, how she became a lesbian, an alcoholic and then wrecked her car and real-life angels from heaven appeared and drove her home and turned her whole life around and now she's not an alcoholic or a lesbian anymore....

...and listening to the answers given by the people at my table about their retina disease, horrible husbands, evil daughter-in-law, homosexual son, chronic unemployment and psoriasis...

I realized...

I may not be a social butterfly outside of my career and the volunteer work I do...so my dance card isn't full - so what....and that might mean that my kids will eventually leave me at home alone...but I have a really good life. A healthy, happy, well-adjusted life. I have a great career, wonderful kids, a handful of really great friends and my cat (she's not really dead). And when I feel like ranting like a lunatic...I have this blog. Yeah, life is good....and being alone is good...very, very good....because the alternative is being a member of "The Loser's Club"

Maybe it wasn't a waste of make-up after all.

Seeds of Doubt

2006-12-01T12:14:00.000-05:00

I have an employee who is a nice girl and a hard worker - but she has one weakness that causes me grief on a regular basis. This girl happens to be one of the few employees I have who worked at the facility at the time the corporation I work for acquired and took over the facility. As a result, she was witness to an immediate "downsizing" of sorts. This downsizing didn't happen because the company was in trouble or for one of the many reasons we hear about downsizing today. The staffing cuts were a result of a strategic plan to get rid of some of what I like to call "poison employees" who undermined management and were not producing work that provided a reasonable return on the investment the corporation was making in their salary. In short - they needed to go.

At the time of the downsizing, this employee drew a conclusion that the corporation she now worked for was run by evil, money-mongers who didn't care about their employees. This conclusion couldn't be further from the truth. In the year and a half since the acquisition, the facility in question has become tremendously more productive and efficient and is a much better place to work. This, of course, doesn't matter to the employee because she made a decision to hate her employers and there is little anyone will ever be able to do to change her mind.

Since misery loves company, this employee sees it as somewhat of her "job" to get as many people on board with her theory as possible. This includes poisoning every new employee who walks through the door with her "experience" with the company. This has happened so much so, that I have actually had to "prep" new employees regarding this employee and give them a heads-up to not listen to her nonsense.

So, why don't I just get rid of her? Good question. I've come close on many occasions - then I tell myself, besides this bad habit of hers - she is a very productive staff member who provides a good service to the company. A necessary evil, if you will. I try to justify her presence in the organization with this explanation, but the truth is... you can polish a turd all day long, but at the end of the day - it's still a turd. If this employee is willing to sabotage new employees within the organization - imagine what she's willing to sabotage outside - in the public eye.

Seeds of doubt grow. They flourish wherever they fall and sprout weeds that are difficult to control and are sometimes dangerous. In the case of the main stream media, this couldn't be more true. The war in Iraq has been fought in the media since the day we first deployed. The media has made it its mission to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of everyone who will listen. This has been dangerous on the homefront, but has proven to be even more dangerous in the Middle East.

I've ranted before that the whole world is watching us - taking our lead. I've encountered people from other nations who have told me, "the whole world is listening". I get it. They get it. The media pretends not to get it - but they do. They get it in every imaginable way and they use it to undermine the authority and sovereignty of our government every chance they get. Even after proving to the world over and over and over again that their words are not to be trusted, people listen to the MSM. Terrorists listen and use the words of discouragement that the MSM spreads as words of affirmation for their cause. If the MSM says the terrists are stronger than ever - they are. If the MSM says we aren't safe - we aren't. If the MSM says the Iraqi government is going to fall on it's face - they will. If the MSM says there is a civil war going on in Iraq - there will be. Why? Because people listen, people believe and people act accordingly.

Much like elections are won in the media, wars can be lost via the media if concentration is deliberately placed on the negatives. It's a sad day when we have to admit that liberals hate this administration more than they love their country and are willing to sacrifice our liberty and the liberty of those we fight to protect just to make George W. Bush look bad. Democrats will accuse this administration of taking innocent soldier's lives, without taking any responsibility for the rhetoric they have spread that has cost us those precious lives. The likes of Cindy Sheehan, John Kerry, the Clintons and all the rest like them have poured gasoline on the fires that burn within our enemy's soul. Those who hate this country love to hear liberals squawk because they know the seeds of doubt being tossed at this administration will grow into weeds that will be almost impossible to get under control.

I've turned off the news. Something I should have done a long time ago. When I see one of the talking heads of the liberal camp, I turn the channel. I love my country too much to give ratings to the corporations who sponsor the nonsense that has torn a hole in the very fiber of this nation. All I can do now is pray that more and more of these seeds fall on barren soil and we can somehow salvage what is left of our credibility and honor, because it's clear that the liberals will fight to the death to see that we lose as many lives as possible and ultimately lose the war. It's always their agenda to be "right" - whatever the cost. Unfortunately, those of us who love our country allowed our optimism and hope to blind us to the real war. There's a civil war going on, alright....and all one must do to watch it is turn on the television.

"Democrats Can't Not Be Crazy"

2006-11-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

Been busy - I know you miss me...
Check out Ann Coulters latest post. A great read....

JIHAD IS FUN! VOTE DEMOCRAT!

I'll be less busy soon....I think.

I know you are but what am I?

2006-10-23T19:06:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning feeling like a bear with a sore ass and proceeded into my day, managing to piss off or be pissed off by everyone I came into contact with. After coming home and reading the news, I thought, "hey! what the heck! I'll just share this vile mood I'm in with all my blog buddies". So - here you go....

Hillary Clinton is an ugly woman - both inside and out. She was an ugly child, an even uglier young adult and in spite of the obvious cosmetic surgery she has undergone, she is still an incredibly ugly woman. She married an ugly man and the two of them procreated a homely little girl who has grown up to be a combination of and equally as ugly as her parents. They're ugly. Any objections? Anyone hearing this for the first time? Anyone reading this in braille and didn't know the Clintons were ugly? Yeah, I didn't think so.

So, if U.S. Senate Candidate, John Spencer, made the observation that this woman is ugly (and I'm not at all convinced the whole thing wasn't made up) - he's......what?? Telling the truth??? OH MY GOD! Call out the firing squad and have him for dinner!! He called the friggin' kettle black!!!!!

Here's the snuff, folks (especially those of you who live in New York....listen up!)...Hillary Clinton is a liar. She's been lying for her husband since before they were married. She has lied to the government, the citizens of this country and innumerable other countries. She's a thief, a vandal and a liar. If you're smart (and I'm really not so sure about those who voted for her in New York, but hey - we'll give you one lapse in judgment), you'll go with Honest John this time and take his "comments" for what they are - the TRUTH. Without honesty, you have nothing...nada....nil.....

Bravo! John Spencer. Next time call her fat, too - maybe she'll cry.

nuff said

2006-10-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

PROUD of their "choice"

2006-10-03T18:56:00.000-04:00

Well, isn't this special. 5000 women have signed a petition stating, "We Had Abortions" and just over 1,000 will be published in Ms. Magazine. I bet their mamas are proud!

This article reports the proud signatory's stories of "courage" and "valor" in how they killed their babies for reasons such as,

"I wanted to do something bigger with myself _ I didn't want to be stopped by anything"

- by Tyffine Jones, 27, of Jackson, Miss., a 27 year old who wants to "some day" go to law school.

and...

"I felt it was my right to make the decision, but having that right doesn't make the decision any easier"

- by Debbie Findling of San Francisco, a 42 year old married woman who killed her baby because he/she had Down Syndrome and....well, perhaps her life was far too important to be bogged down by her own child with special needs. She's trying to get pregnant again. I hope the next pregnancy yields a child she finds suitable to her lifestyle.

I have a feeling the list would be longer if they were soliciting signatures from those who regretted their "choice".

The entire list of names will be listed online. I, for one, will be checking it out...to make sure I'm not doing business with any of these people.

I'm PROUD to say that I CHOOSE not to associate with murderers.

Little Billy Clinton

2006-09-27T22:42:00.000-04:00

Here in South Central, Pennsylvania, we have a way to describe little Billy Clinton's "Finger-Wagging Moment" on Fox...

Bawl-Baby-Poopy-Pants

A Call to Conservative Bloggers

2006-09-27T21:26:00.000-04:00

Here is a way we can have our say....boycott communist oil and support our Commander in Chief.

Check out NeoContastic's call to conservative bloggers.

Here We Go Again!

2006-09-21T19:04:00.000-04:00

The CDC is suggesting that HIV testing become a "voluntary but routine" part of regular healthcare check-ups between the ages of 13-84.
According to an NBC news report tonight - some people may not get enough counseling to understand what a positive test result means. Are you kidding me? With the repetitive hysteria that comes from the media regarding AIDS - is there really anyone left in the free world who wouldn't know what a positive HIV test means?
The idiots on NBC suggested that this will take an attitude change because some people haven't come to terms with the idea of having their cholesterol checked. Yes, I agree....people are just HYSTERICAL about the thought of having their cholesterol checked.
Cut the crap CDC & NBC.

More Celebrity Verbal Diarrhea

2006-09-17T16:31:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I hate it when celebrities get on a soap box and talk about things they know nothing about. It makes no difference if it's politics, healthcare, legal or other opinionated advice - they need to understand that the world is full of little lemmings, marching to the beat of a liberal drum who don't think for themselves. There are millions of people who believe that just because someone is a celebrity, they are smarter than the rest of us - SOOOOO NOT TRUE!!!!

I can't stand Rosie O'Donnell on many levels, but her latest rant on "The View" has got to take the cake! If you didn't see it or hear about it - here's the skinny... (no, I do NOT watch the view, but you can see the video on Comast's "The Fan")

When discussing diaper rash on this ridiculous wanna-be-an-informative-program, Rosie gave this advice:

"Here's what you do for diaper rash, you get a friend whose dog just had babies, you bring your baby over with the puppies, you leave the baby naked and the dog will lick the babies hynee - this is what a doctor told me because there is antiseptic in the dogs tongue and the diaper rash will go away -(everyone goes nuts almost gagging on national television) you don't believe me but I have four kids and I've tried it."

Ok, besides how perverse the whole thing sounds - what's worse is that there are no doubt lemmings all over the United States and abroad today, trying this irresponsible, dangerous "home remedy" because Rosie O'Donnell said so. I am sure her pediatrician is thrilled to be associated with this crack pot.

So, I thought I would talk to a real expert and get some advice - just in case someone stupid enough to believe Rosie O'Donnell happens to stop by and read this blog (unlikely, I know - but hey, I'm doing my part). The expert I chose is a very dear friend of mine who is a veterinarian. Who better to tell me if there is actually any truth to the theory behind this disgusting advice. I quote below her emailed response:

Believe it or not, I've had clients come to me and call me with this question since the show aired. First, a dog's mouth is filthy in comparison to a human's mouth. There is a reason why we get tetanus shots and prescribe antibiotics when someone is bitten by a dog. In fact, there is bacteria in a dog's mouth that is not found in many other species that is strong enough to allow them to eat rotten carcasses and the like and not get sick. These bacteria are only good bacteria for a dog - NOT for a human.

Second, and probably more important to denounce than the claim that a dog's saliva will heal a rash is that when a bitch has puppies, the last thing you want to do is take it away from its puppies and place it anywhere near a human baby. They are stressed out and hormonal for a very long time after they give birth. Imagine having a baby and a few weeks later, someone takes you away from your baby and sticks your face in a dog's bum. How happy would you be about it? Well, a dog is going to be even more pissed off because they don't rationalize like humans, therefore making them prone to aggressive behavior, and in a case like this, particularly biting a babies genitals or simply mauling the child or the person who is trying to get the dog to do something completely out of character.

Rosie's advice was dangerous and unfounded and if a doctor really told her to do it - the state should revoke his/her license at the same time they are removing Rosie O'Donnell's children from her care.

So folks, there you have it. REAL expert advice and then some. Here's how I see this thing panning out...

Some idiot is going to try this and their child is going to be mauled, possibly killed. They're going to sue Rosie O'Donnell and ABC for not making a public correction for this terrible advice, and they're going to be rich. My take on it is that if someone is so perverse as to let a dog anywhere near your child's "hynee", the state should take your kids when they're rounding up Rosie's.

No Apologies for Truth

2006-09-16T21:00:00.000-04:00

"Death to America"

"Those who reject Islam shall be hunted and killed where they stand"

"Slay those who insult Islam"

"Behead those who insult Islam"

"Be prepared for the real holocaust"

"Whoever offends our Prophet Mohammed should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim,"
"Know that Pardise is under the shades of swords"

Who said all those terrible things? Muslims.

What do we conclude from these statements? That Islam is not a religion of peace, but rather a religion that is spread by violence and hate by people who want to dominate the world and that the teachings of their "messiah", known as Muhammad, are brutal and violent.

In his speech at the University of Regensburg, Pope Benedict quoted criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who wrote that everything Mohammad brought was evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

Pope Benedict repeatedly quoted Manuel's argument that spreading the faith through violence is unreasonable, adding: "Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul."

Reasonable statements? Absolutely! Hate-filled? No way! Threatening? Of course not! The TRUTH? You betcha!!!!!

Muslims reacted to the Pope's statements. How? By showing love and mercy and giving examples of the peacefulness and non-violent nature of their religion? Nope...by proving him right.

Muslims have this to say,
"Swine and servant of the cross, worships a monkey on a cross, hateful evil man, stoned Satan, may Allah curse him, blood-sucking vampire."

The Pope owes NO APOLOGY.

UPDATE:

An Italian nun has been killed in retaliation for the Pope's comments. Does this sound like a peaceful group of people?

UPDATE, UPDATE: Demonstrators in the Iraqi city of Basra burn a pope effigy - threaten the pope and the west. I say we DEMAND that CAIR explain this.

Amber Alert.....STILL

2006-09-10T21:37:00.000-04:00

For the past several days, I have been absolutely mesmerized by the case of Trenton Duckett in Florida. This is the little two year old boy who disappeared, allegedly from his bedroom on August 27th. As the case has taken twists and turns and the parents' personalities and character have been examined, it has become painfully clear, in my opinion, that the mother (who committed suicide on Friday) had something to do with this boy's disappearance and, unfortunately, was the person who reported him missing. Details released so far have indicated that the mother did not leave a suicide note giving the authorities and the child's father any indication what she did with the child. I feel compelled to post the Amber Alert information here, just in case there is actually SOMEONE left in Florida who has not heard about this and may have some information. This is gut wrenching. Please say a prayer for the authorities and the father who are tirelessly looking for this child. It's doubtful that this case will have a happy ending at this point.

AMBER ALERT ENDANGERED
TRENTON DUCKETT
Date Missing: 8/27/2006
Missing From: Leesburg,FL
County: LAKE
Birth Date: 8/10/2004
Age Disappeared: 2 yrs
Height: 3' 00"
Race: Asian
Hair: Brown
Weight: 35
Sex: Male
Eyes: Brown
Narrative: TRENTON WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A BLUE AND GREEN STRIPED SHIRT, OR NO SHIRT, DENIM SHORTS AND A DIAPER. THE CHILD WAS LAST SEEN IN THE AREA OF THE 1400 BLOCK OF GRIFFIN ROAD 48 AND IS BELIEVED TO BE IN DANGER. TRENTON HAS A SMALL MARK OVER HIS LEFT EYE. TRENTON IS BIRACIAL; HE IS ASIAN AND WHITE.

If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of this child, please contact the Leesburg Police Department at 352-787-2121 or 911

Grow up and smell the truth!!!

2006-09-07T18:15:00.000-04:00

Isn't it just typical of the liberal left to throw stones from their glass houses for 5 years and then cry like a girl when someone dares to point out that the Clinton administration's complacency, lying, and downright ignorance when it comes to terrorists may have played a part in "The Path to 9/11".

The first time the MSM tells the truth in 20 years and the libs are crying foul....

Message to Clinton (whoremonger), Berger (thief) and Albright (pig!)...SHUT UP...SHUT UP...SHUT UP...The truth hurts way worse than empty allegations. TAKE. YOUR. MEDICINE.

The Truth About HPV

2006-09-04T21:12:00.000-04:00

I've been outraged by the commercials that talk about the Human papillomavirus. Why? Because the commercials are intended to create panic among women of all ages who are being told that they should tell all their friends, moms, aunts and sisters that cervical cancer is caused by HPV.

So, what's the problem? Well, for one thing, the verbage used in these commercials lead people to believe that all cervical cancer comes from this virus. It does not.

Second, they fail to mention that the Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease. It is.

Much like the AIDS paranoia of the mid-80', this campaign is designed to do two things...
1. To get as many women as possible to spend money on the testing and pharmaceuticals used to diagnose and prevent HPV.
2. Sugar coat the dangers of promiscuous sex and promote the liberal "if it feels good - do it" agenda.

So, what's the problem? People need to take precautions, right? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? WRONG. This is no different than the days when the media fed us all a line of bull about AIDS. Like the 1985 Life Magazine cover that announced, "NOW, NO ONE IS SAFE FROM AIDS", which was designed to convince Americans that heterosexuals were as much at risk for acquiring AIDS as gays and intravenous drug users. This liberal hogwash was all about downplaying the filth that spread the disease and creating the kind of hysteria in the mainstream that makes billions for pharmaceutical companies who develop tests to rule out AIDS infection of middle aged housewives in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was a win-win situation. Take the spotlight off homosexuals and druggies while at the same time - making billions. Beautiful, isn't it?

In 1987, the CDC predicted that AIDS would be the number one killer of heterosexuals by 1991. As of right now, 15 years later, AIDS doesn't even make it into the top ten. In fact, according to the CDC, almost 70 percent of AIDS victims in America acquired the virus through homosexual sex or intravenous drug use. Only 13 percent of cases are even alleged to be through heterosexual contact. Also noted should be the fact that the recorded methods of transmission are based almost entirely on self-reports and no one who gets the virus from heterosexual sex lies and says he got it from homosexual sex or intravenous drug use, but the reverse is not true.

Now that the AIDS hysteria has died down, evidently the liberal liars need a new type of panic. The type that not only gets grandmothers and nuns to have tests for a sexually transmitted disease that they are not at risk for, but to pay for a vaccination to prevent it. The best yet, though, is the latest plug that encourages mothers and fathers all over America to take their young daughters to the doctor for a vaccination to prevent a sexually transmitted disease on the pretense that they may be preventing cancer - rather than teaching their kids that abstaining from sex is a much better path to take.

So, yeah - I'm mad as hell that the healthcare community is, once again, standing by while a major misrepresentation of facts is being perpetrated by pharmaceutical companies and the media. So, let's set the record straight....

If you have sex with someone other than your husband (or your husband is having sex outside the marriage) or you are a young person having sex outside the boundaries of a personal, lifetime commitment, you are at risk for a sexually transmitted disease that may put you at risk of developing cervical cancer. If, however, you are not doing these things - you're not going to develop HPV because it is a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE. And it's perfectly o.k. for parents to use this as yet another example of why it's important to abstain.

Step Away From The Ho-Hos

2006-08-30T17:41:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest non-news from CNN - U.S. Waistlines Continue To Grow.

This garbage-passed-off-as-news is nothing short of a commercial for Trust for America's Health, an advocacy group that promotes increased funding for public health programs. Now, there is no doubt that America is getting fatter - that's not news. I can't argue that obesity is one of the leading causes of heart disease and heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in this country - that's not news either.

Here's what I WILL argue with...

CNN's promotion of a liberal organization, by way of reporting their telephone poll findings, so that they can "raise awareness" and get the government and private employers to foot the bill for their recommendations in fighting obesity, such as:

• Employers should offer their workers benefits that help them stay healthy, such as nutrition counseling and subsidized health club memberships.

• The government should mandate routine screenings that measure the fitness of Medicaid beneficiaries, plus subsidize or reimburse them for participating in exercise and fitness programs.

• At the local level, governments should approve zoning and land use laws that give people more chances to walk or bike to the store or to work. Local governments also should set aside more funding for sidewalks.

The writer admits that,

"The group also makes recommendations for individuals. But the recommendations that people eat well and exercise are known to Americans. And clearly, many just don't care to follow. Collins (of the CDC) said tobacco use is another area that could be labeled a personal choice, but government agencies have taken many steps to provide people with the environment and information they need to help them make their choices. The same should be done with obesity." (emphasis mine)

What are they going to do, prohibit the sale of twinkies to anyone under the age of 18?

The article goes on to explain how $5.6 billion could be saved when it comes to treating heart disease if just one-tenth of Americans began a regular walking program. There's no doubt that there would be less heart disease if more people walked, but to suggest that the government sponsorship of more welfare programs that most people won't use can be tied to this $5.6 billion dollar savings is just ludicrous. This estimate of 1/10th is probably extremely high.

I work in healthcare. I see people every day being told to exercise and eat right "or they will die!!!" I know how much personal choice plays a part in people's health. The bottom line is - you can create the most luxurious health spas, free to the public, all on the taxpayer's dollars and if someone isn't motivated to lose weight - you're not getting that box of ho-hos out of their hand.

Another sad truth is this...I'm sick to DEATH of paying (via my insurance premiums) for people's gastric bypass surgeries, simply because they've eaten themselves into a state of "no return" and the insurance companies decide that NOW it's "medically necessary" to pay for. So, I'll be daggoned if I'm going to agree to having my tax dollars reimburse or subsidize people's weightloss programs and healthclub memberships. It doesn't cost a dime to put one foot in front of the other and take a walk around your neighborhood. If you don't live in a ""neighborhood", walk around your house or apartment building. It doesn't have to be a climate controlled, aesthetically pleasing environment - for Pete's sake, it's just exercise! It doesn't cost a dime to do some crunches on your living room floor. It doesn't cost a dime to use the bottom step of your staircase as a "stepper" or better yet - use the stairs instead of the elevator once in a while. The truth is - America is fat...NOT because of some sort of unfortunate series of events. America is fat because America eats too much crap and doesn't exercise.

Back in the springtime I had to take a trip back to the town I grew up in for my uncle's funeral. After the ceremony, a picnic was held at a local park. Now, I love my family - I really do - don't anyone take this the wrong way - but the truth is...I come from a looooooooooong line of fat women. I've been surrounded by them my whole life. Fat people and food. It's in my genes. It's in my blood. It SCARES ME TO DEATH!!! I sat at the picnic and looked around at the large number of overweight people and was reminded that I had put on a few pounds and it threw me into a literal panic. Now, I certainly wasn't crossing the line into obesity, but the way I felt when I left that picnic, I may as well have been one jelly bean away from gastric bypass surgery. I came home from that trip, got back onto a healthy diet and exercise program and promptly took the extra pounds off. Taking a look around at my family was all the motivation I needed. I love them to death - but 30 years from now, I do not want to look into the mirror and see my mother. And you know what? I didn't spend a dime on a health club membership. I walk. It's free. It's easy. It works.

So, here's the skinny (pun intended)...if people are not motivated by health concerns, the embarrassment of not fitting into an airplane seat, having to shop at the chubby store or the sight of their size 18 thighs staring back at them from the mirror - there is NOTHING my tax dollars are going to do to motivate people to get healthy. Many years ago - before I worked in healthcare, I may have been sold on this nonsense, but I've worked around (and I'm related to) people who are sick because they're overweight for too long to believe that government subsidies are the answer to the fat problem in America and I, for one, am not willing to pay for this ridiculous social experiment.

I LOVE THIS!!!

2006-08-29T19:44:00.000-04:00

Popular Mechanic DEBUNKS the Katrina myths.
Check...it...out!

Today's "Give Me A Break!"

2006-08-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

I think we all knew that John Mark Karr did not kill JonBenet Ramsey. It was all just too weird and all signs pointed to a big scam perpetrated by someone who looked scared and confused and was clearly much more cunning than people expected. What gets me, though, is his attorney's response when he it was decided that charges would not be filed against Karr. Remember...the man CONFESSED to killing the girl. He told the police in Bangkok all sorts of "details" that made it relatively clear that he was turning himself in for a murder. His attorney, Seth Temin, had this to say,

"We're deeply distressed by the fact that they took this man and dragged him here from Bangkok, Thailand, with no forensic evidence confirming the allegations against him and no independent factors leading to a presumption that he did anything wrong,"

Allegations? Did he say "allegations"? As though the authorities made this stuff up.

The aggravating thing about this is the amount of money spent to pursue this nut case. My guess is that upon learning that the Bangkok authorities had been watching him for a while, he was probably up to no good (Thai authorities confirm this) and he was scared to death of being prosecuted for something in Thailand. What better way to get out of there and back to the States - in a first class seat - courtesy of the U.S. taxpayers (by the way - a one way ticket from Bangkok to Colorado is $5900 - that's just for ONE passenger).

So, my question to the Boulder District Attorney is this...

Remember Jennifer Wilbanks?

She was ordered to pay back all funds spent on looking for her when she scammed the authorities and her fiance because she didn't want to get married. She also had to do some community service.

I don't want to criticize the Boulder authorities. Let's face it - this thing has been screwed up since day one and nobody can blame them for going to Bangkok to pick up a guy who confessed to the murder. What were they supposed to do? I just want to see them do the right thing and charge this guy with filing a phony report and costing the authorities so much time and money. Just the DNA test would have cost a fortune.

Unfortunately - my money is on them doing nothing....nothing at all.

Fire Them

2006-08-23T13:33:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press reported today that the school teachers in Gary, Indiana have gone on strike because they don't have a contract. School buses have refused to cross the picket lines, so the students have to be dropped off further from the school.

Here's the information we have...
The teachers have been working without a contract for a while. This is wrong...the district needs to get them into a contract - but here's the kicker... The teachers haven't been willing to agree on anything since December of 2004.

The average teacher salary in Gary, Indiana is $52,433 per year (**remember - they work 9 months each year**). This salary is about $5000 higher than the statewide average in Indiana. The school district has suffered because they've lost students over the past decade. I suspect part of the reason for that is because the test scores in this school district are among the lowest in the state of Indiana. I'd move my kids to another school, too.

The district is asking the teachers to accept a contract where they get a 2% pay increase (why on earth do they deserve an increase when they're turning out uneducated kids and already get paid more than any other teacher in the state???) and they've asked them to contribute 3% more toward their own health insurance - for a total contribution of 10%.

Don't even get me started on the health insurance!! Most Americans pay 33% of their total premium, with MANY people paying MORE. These people think 10% is too much? Not to mention that state health insurance benefits are ALWAYS better than that of private companies.

I've got a solution for the School District of Gary Indiana...
FIRE THEM!
You either want to teach, or you don't.
Tell them if they want to teach kids - they MIGHT get a pay increase, but if they can't turn out kids smart enough to pass a state administered test - they get nothing!

In my occupation - pay increases are directly related to the work performed. If I couldn't train my team to do the job right - they would probably get rid of me, but at the very least - they wouldn't give me a pay increase until I was able to turn out a fully functioning, well trained team. Likewise, when I do an employees review and offer them a pay increase - I base it on what they've done for the organization over the past year. If they have not made a contribution (and I haven't fired them), they don't get a raise. I have, on several occasions, told employees to come back to me in 3 months and show me what they've done...if they have turned their job status around, we'll talk about a raise...if they haven't...we'll talk about severance pay.

WE pay for this stuff, people! It's time districts start standing up to these bully unions and tell them to do their job and stop churning out a bunch of dumb kids or hit the road.

I know a couple of young people... fresh out of college...who are absolutely ON FIRE to educate kids. My guess is that they would think $52,433 each year (with summers off!) is like winning the lottery.

Best course of action....FIRE THEM!

A little something for the girls...

2006-08-16T20:07:00.000-04:00

This is sooo not political but it definitely falls into the "politically incorrect" category - so it suits this blog well.

For those of you with pc ears - turn the page. For those of you who may be offended by a 30something female having a little rant about men - plug your ears and don't come crying to me if you don't.

In fact, men of any age should probably just go back to what you were doing before you came to this site because you may not like what you are about to read. With the exception of my buddy, "DCS", who may possibly be able to shed some light on this subject and hopefully...give the conservative gals a little hope.

Before I'm accused of being a "man basher" - let's get one thing straight...I am not a feminist. I do not believe it's o.k. for women to "bash" men, but men can't do the same to women. I will be the first to admit that I have not been held back financially, politically or emotionally by men and anyone who says they have are either a self-induced victim or a liar and they need to move their hearts and minds into the 21st century and get with the program.

Ok, so that's the first politically incorrect thing I have to say....and here's the next...

Boys are dumb.

There...I said it! At some point while I wasn't looking - the tides turned and all of the rules of communication between single men and women changed. I've been divorced for almost 11 years. I didn't immediately re-enter the dating scene, so I'm guessing some time during that down time things got all messed up. I have no idea how I am supposed to act or what I'm supposed to do, but I do know that men have it all wrong!

For instance (this is where you come in DCS - perhaps you can answer a few questions for me)...

When did it become a woman's responsibility to make the first move? Recently, while I attended a friend's engagement party, I learned that a great guy I have known for a while had been interested in me and was "dying to take me out" for TWO YEARS! He never asked me out because he didn't think I was interested in him. This guy never showed me the slightest bit of interest and, for the record, is a wonderful man and what most women would call a "good catch". Of course, by the time I knew anything about it I was at HIS engagement party. What the heck? I wasn't dating anyone....we socialized in the same circles...and none of our friends ever indicated that there may be even a hint of interest on his part.

All of that begs the second question - what ever happened to pursuing a woman? I'm not talking about the second you meet her...that's just creepy and smells like stalking. I'm talking about showing a little interest. When I was a younger woman, if a guy liked me he'd usually chase me like I'd stolen his sneakers. Now, the men I meet want ME to pursue THEM. What the heck? I don't call men. I don't!! But I'm being told that these days, if I am interested in a man - I am the one who has to do the pursuing. Are you kidding me?

And when, exactly, did men become afraid of strong conservative women with a back bone? I've worked very hard to have a successful career, build a good life for my family and live a well-adjusted life. How is that intimidating? I don't get it!

Last weekend, I had lunch with a very good friend of mine and her brother. My friend is 32 years old. She is incredibly successful in every aspect of her life. She lives a great life, is very intelligent, absolutely stunning, has impeccable taste and is a very loyal, honest and faithful friend. I can only liken her personality to a 120 watt bulb. She's great!

The conversation at lunch was centered around my friend's upcoming date with a very nice guy she had met through her job. Her brother, a 35 year-old single guy, offered this advice (my responses follow his advice):

1. Don't whip out the politics too soon - in other words, don't tell him you're a conservative right away.

This was a ludicrous suggestion to me. It's not that I think a girl should wear an RNC t-shirt on her first date - but here's how I look at it: If I am unable to tell, just by speaking with someone (which is unusual), whether or not they are a liberal...I am going to come right out and ask! If they're a liberal...they aren't for me....and if they aren't for me...I've wasted a Saturday night. Time is precious to me - I don't like to waste it.

2. Buy your own dinner.

Ok, if someone asks me if they can take me to dinner...they're paying for it. When I ask someone out to dinner...I pay for it. It seems pretty simple.

3. If you like him...call him the next day. Don't wait for him to call you.

WHAT?? When did that rule change?

4. Don't ask him whether he's ever been married, whether or not he has children, anything about his career and what ever you do - don't talk about your career...you're way too successful and that might be intimidating.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What else is there? My friend doesn't have any children, but I suppose that topic would be a deal breaker as well, since it was also suggested that she not "go on too much" about her dog. So...the verdict was that anything you might want to know about someone or may want them to know about you is completely OFF LIMITS to discuss on a first date - and possibly the second, depending on how the first encounter goes.

This, of course, begged the questions....what IS allowed?

5. The only "safe" conversation is as follows:
A. Music
B. Sports
C. Technology

...I'm not kidding girls...this is what we have to work with.

Now that I know a modern man's capacity for conversation via these nifty new rules - I can come to no other conclusion than that BOYS ARE DUMB!

I hate to say it because it makes me sad - but chivalry really is dead. I haven't met a man in "I don't know when" who opened a door for me... exhibited actions or attitude that indicated that he holds women in high esteem...or even acted like a real man in the presence of a woman.

Case in point - my last date was a lunch date with an attorney who has an air of confidence that borders on arrogance. I had already established that he was a moron by the time our lunch was half-eaten (right about the time he told me he would vote for Hillary Clinton if she ran for President), but he proved the obvious while we walked across a park on our way back to our vehicles.

A sheriff's deputy was in the park walking with a police dog. When the deputy was approximately 10 yards away from us, he let the dog off his leash at which point the dog darted toward us...not barking...not growling...just running (I later learned the dog was still in "training" and had some behavioral problems). In a move that still makes me nauseous, when the moron saw the dog running toward us...he ducked behind me and grabbed both my arms as if to hold me in front of him like a human shield.

If only I had known about the music, sports and technology rule...perhaps he would have grabbed a white-haired old lady instead.

I'll wrap this up before I begin to sound like a bitter divorced woman...but before I do, please allow me to make a declaration on behalf of all the good, decent, conservative women out there.

May it forevermore be known that...

Guys....REAL women want to be pursued. Women want you to call them. Women want you to at least OFFER to pay for dinner. Women like to hear about your life and they like to talk about their own life. Women would like you to open the door....and let THEM walk through it first. Women like flowers, love notes and attention and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with voicing your conservative views early on...if the woman is a conservative - she'll be glad to hear it - and if she's not...you can't take her home to mama anyway.

Take it from a mom!

Historic Victory?

2006-08-14T18:25:00.000-04:00

According to the Associated Press today,

"BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said Monday that his guerrillas achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel _ a declaration that prompted celebratory gunfire across the Lebanese capital."

Historic? Yes. This smells very much like the Treaty of Hudaybiyya (say that three times fast).

In 628, Muhammad began attempting to acheive his vision of a pilgrimage to Mecca. He had previously been unable to make the trip because of Quraysh control of the land, but this time he took along 1500 men and gave it a go. When he got there, he was met by the Quraysh and held back. The Quraysh proposed a treaty that would allow Muhammad and his followers to make the pilgrimage the next year, but the conditions were quite disadventageous to the Muslims. To his followers suprize, Muhammad agreed to the treaty and told his men that they had been victorious - even promising them that "Allah was well pleased with the believers..." and that "Allah promiseth you much booty that ye will capture, and hath given you this in advance, and hath withheld men's hands from you..." Qur'an 48:1.

Here's the stinky part...

Very shortly thereafter, Muhammad broke the treaty - reinforcing the Muslim principle that nothing is good except that which is advantageous to Islam and that deceitfulness is fully acceptable during times of war (when is it NOT a time of war to the Muslims?).

Wait for it....this treaty is a joke.

To Lebanon: Arrest the terrorists who are acting as part of your government and take control of your country. You're well aware that they are regrouping and will put you at even greater risk than they already have if they are left alone. Prime Minister Mikati...this is on you.

This Week's Dumbest Quote

2006-08-13T16:26:00.000-04:00

"My fellow Democrats and I believe our government must do more to protect Americans at home and around the world,"

Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor said in Saturday's Democratic radio address.

You're doing too much....you're not doing enough....you're doing too much...you're not doing enough....Iy-yi-yi!

I have an idea! How about wire tapping and profiling suspects??? How about that, Mr. Pryor?

The U.N. Duped Again...

2006-08-12T16:57:00.000-04:00

According to CNN this afternoon, "Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday that his militia will agree to a U.N. call for a cease-fire with Israel once a deal on timing is reached."

This would be GREAT, except for one thing...

The Hezbollah is a Muslim terrorist organization fighting with Israel in the name of Allah. This is a FACT that nobody seems to be denying. So, why then would the U.N., an organization that has NEVER STOPPED A SINGLE WAR, be so stupid as to believe that these Muslim Fascists would do anything at the request of the U.N., made up mostly on non-Muslim "leaders" - particularly something that would go against the teachings of Islam?

Qur'an 3:28 teaches:

"Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers. If any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah; except by way of precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them."

In other words, the only way a Muslim is allowed to enter into a friendship or accept "help" (read:treaty) with a non-Muslim is to pretend to befriend them in order to build more power against them. Muhammed taught his followers the principle that "War is deceit", which has been punctuated throughout history by Muslim Fascists. In "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam", writer Robert Spencer spells it out clearly:

"Specifically, he (Muhammed) taught that lying was permissible in battle. Thus were born two enduring Islamic principles: the permissibility of political assassination for the honor of the Prophet and his religion and an allowance for the practice of deception in wartime."

Israel is clearly more with it than the U.N. officials in their insistence that the cease-fire is contingent upon the Hezbollah holding up their end of the bargain. The Hezbollah leader (Nasrallah), in true Muslim form, responds to this contingency by implying that the resolution is biased toward Israel. Is he suggesting that the cease-fire would be less biased if it allowed the Hezbollah to continue its aggression, but not Israel?

The only good that could possibly come of this is if Lebanon takes this opportunity to get these terrorists out of their government, because as surely as you can count on a bird pooping on your car just after you've washed it - you can count on the Hezbollah terrorists to go back on their word and go after Israel once they've regrouped....because that's what Muslim Fascists do.

The Truth...As We Know It

2006-08-10T20:28:00.000-04:00

Sure we want to kill you, but don't you dare call us names!

President Bush took some flack today regarding statements he made about the foiled terrorist plots that were intended by Muslims to wreak havoc, yet again, on the west.

In his speech from Green Bay, Wisconsin, the President said that an uncovered British terror plot to blow up planes flying to the United States was further proof

"that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists."

A truer statement has never been made, however, our good friends over at CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) rebuked the statement saying,

"We believe that this is an ill-advised term and we believe that it is counterproductive to associate Islamic Muslims with fascism,"

the council's Executive Director Nihad Awad said at a Washington press conference.

"We ought to take advantage of these incidents to make sure that we do not start a religious war against Islam and Muslims...We urge him and we urge other public officials to restrain themselves,"

Awad said.

Oh yes - we wouldn't want to start a holy war, now would we Mr. A-hole.....er...I mean Awad.

The truth, as we all know it (even the democraps who now can't decide if they want protection from terrorists or they don't), is that a jihad was started long before September 11, 2001, but was made perfectly clear to the American people on that Tuesday morning. It's a little late to be warning us not to start a holy war.

The truth, as we know it, is that CAIR is a PR group put together by the Muslims and financed by Saudi oil money, whose only job is to dilute the west into believing that Islam is a religion of peace. This hasn't been a difficult task in the liberal pc camp because they've always preferred sleeping with the enemy.

The truth, as we know it, is that three of the officials at CAIR have been arrested for terrorist-related activities and that Mr. Awad himself helped establish the Islamic Association for Palestine. The same IAP that former FBI counterterrorism official Oliver Revell has called "a front organization for Hamas that engages in propaganda for Islamic militants" and that Mr. Awad was quoted in FrontPageMagazine.com on March 8, 2004 as saying,

"I am in support of the Hamas movement"

CAIR board chairman, Omar Ahmad, also said this to a Muslim audience in 1998,

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Qur'an should be the highest authority in America and Islam the only accepted religion on earth".

CAIR officials claim it was established to "promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America". The truth, as we know it, and by their own words, is that CAIR officials want the Muslims to take over America!

The truth, as we know it, is that CAIR's only job is to misrepresent Islam to westerners so that they can perpetrate the true purpose of jihad on the entire world and if you DARE call them on it - they play on the liberal left's pc nerve by calling it "hate speech".

In December of 2004, CAIR responded to statements made by a former CIA official, Bruce Tefft. The statement Mr. Tefft made was this,

"Islamic terrorism is based on Islam as revealed through the Qur'an. To pretend that Islam has nothing to do with September 11th is to willfully ignore the obvious and to forever misinterpret events. There is no difference between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, which is a totalitarian construct".

This came from a CIA agent charged with investigating terrorism in this country.

CAIR's response was to call on the Canadian branch of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which had sponsored Tefft's address and pressure them to

"Condemn these Islamophobic remarks in the strongest possible terms.
Characterizing Islam and its revealed text as promoting terrosim can only lead to increased anti-Muslim prejudice and intolerance." "...the Simon Wiesenthal Center must immediately repudiate all Islamophobic rhetoric and hold its Canadian office accountable for failing to challenge the speaker's hate-filled views".

The truth, as we know it, is that these were not just "views". These were words spoken by a man who knows that there are over 100 passages in the Qur'an that command Muslims to exact violence on non-believers. The truth, as we know it, is that the term "Islamophobic" is a make-believe phobia concocted by CAIR to make it politically incorrect to challenge our enemies and "inappropriate" to read their texts and repeat what's in them. When was the last time you heard a Christian say, "you can't use the Bible as a reference when you're talking about Christians....why, that's...ANTI-CHRISTIAN!"

The truth, as we know it, is that Muslims all over the United States and the world have held rallies during which they pay tribute to the "Great Islamic Visionary, Ayatollah Khomeini". Since Khomeini is one of their heroes, let's get it straight from the horse's mouth. The great Ayatollah had this to say about the "Religion of Peace" (quoted in Amir Taheri - 1986)

"Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled or incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world...but those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world".
"Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those who say this are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by the unbelievers? Islam says: Kill them. Put them to the sword and scatter their armies...Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People can not be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise which can be opened only for the holy warriors! There are hundreds of other Qur'anic psalms and Hadiths (sayings of the prophet) urging Muslims to value war and to fight.
Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim!"

Was Khomeini just a radical Muslim twisting the words of the "prophet"? Well, why don't you decide. Here are just 5 of the more than 100 violent passages found in the Qur'an to help you make up your mind. Unlike the libs, I'm not afraid to quote the texts that Muslims call "the only true words of Allah".

Qur'an 8:60 - Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah, and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know.

(enemies = yeah, that's us)

Qur'an 47:4 - When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield, strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.

(unbelievers = yep...us - is the whole "strike off their heads" sounding familiar to anyone?)

Qur'an 4:76 - Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah,
and those who reject fight in the cause of evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan.

(friends of Satan = that would be us)

Qur'an 2:191 - And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter.

(Christianity teaches - "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you..." Matthew 5:11)

Qur'an 48:29 - Muhammad is Allah's Apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another.

(Christianity teaches - "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Matthew 5:44)

Sun Tzu (author of The Art of War) said

"Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles."

The truth, as we know it, is that the left in their pc hysteria has sided with the enemy (CAIR and others like them) in deceiving the American public about who the enemy really is. At this moment, 8:00 PM on August 10th, there are still 5 Egyptian men missing who came to the United States to go to college and never showed up for class. You can visit cnn to read the article right here but you won't find any photographs of the men. You'll find names and ages - like that's going to help anyone (except that three of the five bear the first name Mohamed) - but no photos. Why?? Because that would promote "Islamophobia".

They call it Islamophobia - I call it a deep-seated desire to KNOW MY FRIGGIN ENEMY!

According to Miriam Webster, Fascism is described as "A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism."

Based on that definition... the truth, as we know it, is that CAIR is a fascist organization, dedicated to censoring the truth about Islam from the American people, promoting supression of any opposition through their support of (and membership in) terrorist organizations to assist Muslims in moving closer to their goal of total world domination through jihad...and CNN quotes CAIR as a credible, politically correct, fair and balanced source.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Read the Qur'an. The proof is in the puddin'!

My Two Cents on Lebanon

2006-08-02T20:08:00.000-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me that the readers who have the most critical things to say don't have the guts to say it in the comments section and find it necessary to send me long-winded e-mails about how wrong I am.

I recently received an e-mail from someone named "TIM".

"TIM" had this to say,
"Since you're such a know-it-all b****, I'm surprized you haven't had anything to say about what is going on with Israel and Lebanon. What do you think of your precious president now?"

Hmmm....well, TIM. I must say that your comment is about as intelligent as John Kerry's quote last week regarding the same issue. John Kerry said, "If I was president, this wouldn't have happened."

So, let's just have a quick history lesson on Lebanon and a little bit about the office of the President of the United States and get it over with. You can have my two cents (which is worth about a penny).

Pay attention - I'm only going over this once.

1. George Bush is the President of the United States. George Bush is not the President of Israel or Lebanon.

2. John Kerry was (at least as far as I know) running for the office of President of the United States. He was NOT (at least as far as I know) running for the office of President of Lebanon or Israel.

3. Last week John Kerry (and the other democraps) was also talking about how President Bush oversteps his authority. You can't have it both ways. Either he's thumbing his nose at the "rules" and doing too much, or he's not doing enough.

4. What democrap ever resolved a conflict ANYWHERE in the world, anyway?

5. Lebanon has never had control of its own government. The first smart thing they've done in a very long time was get Syria out of there, but even that only happened because Syria knew the U.S. is behind them.

Lebanon has allowed terrorists to be elected into their government offices. Let me give you an analogy. Say..... a known member of Al Qaeda - or make it about 5 known members of Al Qaeda ran for seats in the Senate and we, as voters, as well as our government watchdogs allowed them to become valid members of our government. Would we not, then, be S.O.L. when they started dropping bombs on people they didn't like? Because seriously, folks...Lebanon allowed terrorists into their government. Even Nostradamus could have predicted this one.

6. Israel is not always the victim. Sometimes the victim....most of the time the whiner, yes...but they haven't ALWAYS been the victim, but this time....they are absolutely within their rights. You step onto my property and grab one of my kids - guess what??? I'm coming after you and I'm loaded for bear! And if you ask me, it's about time Israel quit whining about it and started kicking some ars. Good for them.

Now...to recap...the President of the United States does not run Lebanon or Israel. Evidently terrorists run Lebanon. Terrorists attacked Israel. Israel is mad as hell and isn't going to take it anymore. The President of the United States is under no obligation to assist a virtually terrorist overthrown government when what they have done is WRONG. In fact, most reasonable minded people would agree that assisting them would be WRONG. Lebanon needs to get their crap together and get their government back.

There will be a quiz later.

It's my blogday!

2006-08-02T20:04:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since I started ranting on this page. It's even harder to believe that I've had more than 12,000 visits since I first started using this page for therapy to vent my radical right wing diatribe. It's been fun, frustrating and liberating to say what I mean and mean what I say.

I've met some pretty cool people here, too.....and some wackos.

All in all it's been fun and if you're reading this....thanks for sharing it with me!

Navigation to Hell - via Baltimore

2006-07-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

On my recent trip down South, I traveled with friends of mine who have an 11 month old baby. I can't say "getting there was half the fun". On the contrary, there were moments when I was sure my sanity was being tested. Not because the baby had to stop every 50 miles for a diaper change. Not because the baby was growing irritable with the long drive. Actually, I think the baby handled the trip better than I did - at least on the way down.

My friends just bought a new Lexus SUV so I dutifully agreed to follow them in my car - what with their handy-dandy navigation system and all. I had also printed out Mapquest directions, just for good measure. Not that Mapquest is infallible. Lord knows I've been sent, by Mapquest, the wrong way down a one-way street. But this was an easy trip - all we had to do was take Rt 83 to Baltimore and then take 95 the rest of the way to North Carolina, right? I mean, how hard could it be?

Ahem......I had to ask.

Left at the mercy of the Lexus navigation system, a 9 hour trip turned into a 14 1/2 hour trip and that was just the beginning. Taking us off the beaten path and onto rural roads where the speed limit was 35 and the wildlife created an obstacle course for travelers was the last thing I was expecting from a vehicle that cost more than my first home . Oh, there were several discussions over the walkie-talkies, my technological contribution to the trip, (which worked better than the navigation system) during which I tried to be patient, gently reminding my fellow travelers that this trip was taking a lot longer than it should have.

Yes, I realize that the navigation system in an automobile is just a machine. The "machine" is not at fault. That's not my rant - not even a little.

My rant is about the people who think there really is a lady living in their dashboard who knows the best way to get anywhere in America. My rant is about people who have traveled South on several occasions and know that you never, ever, ever get off the "loop" around Baltimore or Washington and try to take some other route. The Baltimore-Washington Parkway, for example, is a 4 lane (two in each direction) highway. The "loops" are anywhere from 4-6 lanes (in each direction) depending on where you are. If you have a brain in your head, opposable thumbs and your blood is red, you can look at a map and see which way is going to be the shortest distance (or the fastest commute) between two points. It should also be obvious that any trip past the Capital should not land you ON Pennsylvania Avenue...not even close.

Evidently, the lady who lives in the dashboard mystically takes over the reasonable thoughts of drivers and passengers, rendering them totally senseless and ridiculously defensive of the lady in the dashboard. On the occasions I foolishly suggested that perhaps we should pull over and have a look at a map, the response was always, "We don't need to. The navigation system says we're headed in the right direction."

"...must follow lady in dash.....must not disobey..."

I had two highly intelligent professionals in the car ahead of me - one an attorney, the other a doctor. Both had been brainwashed and rendered virtually defenseless to the powers of the lady in the dashboard.

So, here's my take...
Not only does the lady in the dashboard suck the common sense right out of any head within ear-shot of her annoying voice, the lady living in the dashboard is on crack. People who think all their troubles have disappeared because they have a navigation system are also potentially on crack. Nothing, and I do mean NOTHING takes the place of a good old fashioned map - whether you know how to re-fold it or not - and the common sense of a driver who knows how to read one (I'm amazed at how many people don't know how to read a map).

I'm beginning to wonder if these systems are the design of disgruntled Democrats trying to turn normal people into lemmings. Think about it...If Al Gore invented the Internet (stop laughing), perhaps that genius mind of his devised a plan to turn the normal people into lambs, lining up for the slaughter. Of course it doesn't matter whether it works on Democrats or not, they're already mindless followers...

So, here's the PI Mom recommendation...
If you're a Republican - STEP. AWAY. FROM. THE. NAVIGATION. SYSTEM .
Soon enough, the little lemmings will march off the face of the earth...and they'll get there by taking the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

The Liberal who (tried to) ruin my vacation.

2006-07-09T22:19:00.000-04:00

I love being in the South. There's something about the South that makes me relax five minutes after I arrive. Maybe it's the Southern hospitality. Maybe it's the warm summer air. Maybe it's the "git er done" bumper stickers. Or maybe it's just the fact that I know I'm surrounded by more conservatives than not. At any rate, I just returned from 7 beautiful days in North Carolina, where I spent most of my time laying on a beach, listening to music and catching up on my reading. Even the long drive home wasn't so bad after having been so relaxed.

All that relaxation, however, didn't shield me from finding something to rant about. I promised a rant or two when I returned and trust me, there was plenty to pick up on that would make any reasonable American's blood boil. I just managed to fight the urge (and it wasn't much of a fight) to let loose on anyone, thanks to the nature of my visit.

On the second day of my vacation, I sprawled out next to the pool with my headphones, a good book (Ann Coulter's "Godless" - if you haven't read it yet - what are you waiting for??) and some sunglasses. I set my book down for a while to relax in the sun and listen to some music. It was just me and Aretha hanging out in the warm sun. I was so relaxed, in fact, that my favorite phrase at the pool/beach, "just because they make it in your size, honey, does not mean you should wear it" never even crossed my mind (for the record, I've never said that out loud to anyone, but I think it a LOT). Indeed, I was relaxed enough to concede that perhaps fat bottom girls (myself included) really do make the world go round.

And then it happened.

My eyes were closed. Aretha and I were taking a midnight train to Georgia. All was right with the world. I sensed someone standing in "my sun". I opened one eye to see a man in his early to mid 40's, standing over me. No big deal if he were just taking a seat at the pool, but he appeared to be talking...to me. I should have known right then and there that he was a liberal because his mouth was moving but I couldn't hear a thing. I took one earphone off and said, "Pardon me?"

The conversation took shape like this...

MSIMS (Moron standing in my sun): Is that your book? (referring to "Godless")
PIMom: Yes
MSIMS: How do you like it?
PIMom: It's very good.
MSIMS: You look like a fairly intelligent person...
*NOTE* I've come to learn that whenever a liberal starts a sentence with, "you look like a fairly intelligent person", they're about to insult you.
MSIMS: "...don't tell me you believe all that right-wing propaganda".
PIMom: Have you read it?
MSIMS: No.
PIMom: Then how do you know it's propaganda?
MSIMS: Because it's in all her books.
PIMom: Oh? What other books of hers have you read?
MSIMS: I haven't read any of them, but I've seen her on television talking about her books. Someone ought to take her out.
PIMom: On a date?
MSIMS: No....like.....a sniper, you know?
PIMom: The only thing I know right now is that you are blocking my sun.

At that, I put my headphones back on and rolled over. I could tell he was still talking to me from the "wah..wah...wah" like the sound of Charlie Brown's teacher that was barely audible above Aretha. It's a good thing I was relaxing.

The next day I was laying on a chez on the beach, soaking up the sun with reckless abandon to the SPF factor while reading "Godless". Again, I noticed a sudden change in "my sun" and looked up to find...you guessed it..."Mr. Moron Standing In My Sun". I resisted the urge to say, "what do you want??" (proof positive that I was relaxed) I stared at him blankly, waiting for him to state his business. He stood and stared just as blankly for a moment or two and then said, "I didn't mean to offend you yesterday". I told him, "no worries" and looked back at my book. I couldn't help but notice, though, that at least 30 seconds had gone by and he hadn't moved. I could also tell, without looking up, that he was still looking at me. Finally, I sighed audibly, put my bookmark in the page, set the book down and glared at him asking, "is there something I can do to help you stop blocking the sun?" MSIMS responded, "No, not really. It's just that...(points at my book)what is it about you conservatives thinking you can say anything you want and get away with it?"

"You Conservatives". The gloves were off. This guy clearly wanted to debate someone and he wasn't going to quit until he got a chance to, so I responded, "What is it about you liberals thinking the First Amendment only applies to you being allowed to burn our flag?" Evidently being grouped into "you liberals" didn't phase him. He responded, "Nobody burns flags. That's a myth. You don't believe that, do you?" I just stared. It was obvious that he couldn't read, but did this man have a television set? This could be harder than I thought. I wasn't just debating with a liberal idiot. I was debating with a mentally retarded, liberal idiot. The rest of the conversation went a little something like this...

MSIMS: You DO believe it, don't you? Man, you're lame!
PIMom: Have you ever laid eyes on a newspaper in the last century?
MSIMS: I don't read newspapers. They're all right-wing biased.
PIMom: ***hysterical laughter*** ***trying to speak*** ***more hysterical laughter***
MSIMS: What??? Oh, I guess you WOULD think the media is liberal. You probably think Bill Clinton should have been impeached and that Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War.
PIMom: Ummmm....Bill Clinton WAS impeached and Ronald Reagan DID end the Cold War. **was this guy really that stupid or was he baiting me?**
MSIMS: If you think Ronald Reagan was responsible for freeing all those Jews from Nazi concentration camps, you really are dillusional. Conservatives will believe anything.
PIMom: I'm sorry, what did you just say?
MSIMS: That Conservatives will believe anything.
PIMom: No, before that - about Reagan and the Nazis.
MSIMS: I said that Reagan didn't stop Hitler. A lot of other presidents were responsible for that - not Reagan.
not. making. this. up.
PIMom: ***After several seconds of staring at the man and resisting the urge to laugh*** You know, you're right. As great a man as he was, I don't think he took any breaks from making movies to take down Hitler".
MSIMS: I think you're confused. He didn't make any movies when he was a president.
PIMom: Yes, I'm probably the one who is confused. But just in case it's YOU who is confused, you can probably buy a 4th grade history book down the road at Books A Million. If you can't find one - you might pick up Ann Coulter's book, "Treason". It's a pretty good breakdown of what was going on in this country during World War II.
MSIMS: I wouldn't take one if they were giving them away.
PIMom: Ok, so how about this...how about you get out of my sun and leave me alone so I don't have to exercise my First Amendment right to scream like a Banshee until the lifeguard comes and orders the bad man with the ugly swim trunks off the beach. How about that?
MSIMS: God!! (storming away)

And I think I heard him say, as he strode out of sight..."You just can't talk to those people. They're crazy!"

A few days later I overheard him telling someone at the pool that he lives in New Orleans.

$5 says he voted for Nagin.

I'm a loser magnet. I really am.

...more to come.

I Know...

2006-06-27T21:59:00.000-04:00

I've been practically out of touch lately and I have no real excuse except for...life.

I'm going on vacation next week and I promise to have a boat load of ranting after spending 7 days in cut-offs and flip-flops. I'll get my second wind. There is always a plethora of stupid people on vacation. There will be plenty of material. Promise.

It's not what you know...

2006-06-27T21:54:00.000-04:00

Naomi Campbell gets to smack not one, not two, but three of her maids. Everyone with a pulse knows she'll never see the inside of a jail cell or be deported.

I don't get to smack anyone. Not one person. Not my employees. Not even the paper boy who SOAKS my newspaper every stinking day by throwing it into the flower bed by the sprinkler. Nobody.

I wanna smack someone and just get richer from the publicity. Sheesh.

Is it ever really over?

2006-06-25T11:58:00.000-04:00

So, Patsy Ramsey - the mother of the little beauty queen, Jonbonet Ramsey, has passed away. How many are willing to admit that you read the AP article just to see if there had been a death-bed confession that she had killed her daughter? Admit it - some of you did. I will admit that it was in the back of my mind when I clicked the link.

The sad truth is, there was always something really stinky about that whole case. The police couldn't disprove the parents' theory that an intruder killed the child, regardless of how unlikely it was. It never helped that the child's father was a bigshot in town.

I can't help thinking, though, that if they really are innocent - all of them, that is - what a sad existance it must have been for that mother. She lost her child and was never really given permission to properly mourn her daughter's death.

Bottom line now is that if Patsy Ramsey knew something - there will be no future admissions. It's pretty much over now. Right?

Shut Up & Sing

2006-05-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

It’s no secret that I think celebrities who are not politicians need to keep their mouths shut in public – at least to the degree of being respectful to the government and the fans that have made them wealthy enough to use their celebrity as a soap box.

There are far too many stupid people in this country who lack the ability to make decisions for themselves. The last thing they or any of us need is a half-witted, high school drop-out, musicians or actors who mistake their popularity for confirmation that they have a brain and should be advising people on politics, religion, psychology, etc.

The Tom Cruises, Charlie Sheens and Dixie Chicks of this world add about as much value toward the common sense of Americans as Sponge Bob Square Pants, but nevertheless, they’re still talking.

Amazingly, the Dixie Chicks haven’t learned their lesson, in spite of loss of fans, listenership and the death threats they received after bad-mouthing the President outside of American soil. Recently, Natalie Maines, the ever-so-dignified lead singer of the group, has retracted her apology to the President when she told Time Magazine,

"I apologized for disrespecting the office of the president," says Maines. "But I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."

Many radio stations continue to ban the Chicks’ music based on the original offense, so this, coupled with their most recent album which is chock full of insults to the current administration as well as their former fans who took offense to their disrespect is nothing short of thumbing their noses at America.

Martie Maguire, one of the other brainless chicks, implies that they really don’t care whether people listen to their music or not. Referring to the first single released from their album, “Not Ready To Make Nice”, she told Time Magazine,

"I guess if we really cared, we wouldn't have released that single first."

Interestingly, though, the radio stations that helped make them famous, along with their fans, evidently DO care. One radio programmer told Time Magazine,

“It is a four-minute f--- you to the format and our listeners. I like the Chicks, and I won't play it."

Hey girls – balls does not = brains.

Personally, I’ll be happy to escort them to the door, which is where their careers are headed. It really is a shame that they aren’t bright enough to recognize that singing songs about being pissed off at the people who are still pissed off at them (and who you need to support your bank account) wasn’t a very smart idea. But you know what I always say…”You can take the girls out of the trailer park…”

Sugar and Spice and Everything Deceptive

2006-05-18T20:08:00.000-04:00

Ok, I’m just going to blurt this out because I’m bound to catch a lot of crap for it.

Boys are boys. Girls are girls.

According to this article, a Japanese boy has been allowed to enroll in school as a girl because, at 6 years old, someone has decided that he has “Gender Identity Disorder”.

The article also says,

“The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect the identity of the boy and his school district, said the boy's name is listed with girl students, and that he attends a girls' gym class and uses the girls' bathroom. The boy, who's in the second grade, wears a girl's swimsuit at the school pool.”

The article also states that all of this is being kept a secret.

So…lemme tell you what…
If I found out there was a little boy at my daughter’s school going into the girls restroom and locker room under the guise of a girl – unbeknownst to the other girls who had their guard down – and the school knew about it…look out!

A psychiatrist specializing in this supposed disorder at Tokyo Musashino Hospital, said the boy is not old enough to determine whether he really has the disorder. A boy who behaves like a girl does not necessarily have gender identity disorder and he could discover as he grows older that he wants to be male.

The shrink says, “There will be problems."

PI Mom says, “ya think?”

A Little Common Sense Goes a Long Way

2006-05-17T20:20:00.000-04:00

My neighbor has a tree which sits on the property line next to my driveway. The tree is an enormous pine that stands taller than both our homes - both are three stories. I am currently in a literal battle with my neighbors due to problems created by this menacing tree. Damage to the driveway and sidewalk has occurred due to significant physical growth in the tree roots causing uplift and differential movement of the concrete by approximately 9 (nine) inches. A significant trip and fall hazard has resulted. I am no longer able to drive into my driveway without navigating around the damaged area and into my lawn, which has subsequently damaged the lawn and stunted the growth of grass. The undercarriage of my vehicle makes contact both in the front and the back of the car if I attempt to drive along the normal path of the driveway. Attempts to patch the damaged areas have been insufficient in creating a smooth transition into the driveway.

The invading roots of this tree are also encroaching on the foundation of my home. Visible roots (above ground) can be seen within 4 feet of the foundation of my home. I am unable to ascertain whether the roots have reached my foundation and begun to cause structural damage without excavating the lawn, however, the roots extend several yards across the front lawn, which draws the conclusion that the foundation may already be compromised due to root growth.

Storm drainage pipes beneath the sidewalk have been crushed and no longer carry water away from my home, causing storm water to back-up into the basement of my home.

Roots above ground interfere with usual and customary landscaping, making it impossible to mow the area without lifting the mower around the roots to avoid damage to my mowing equipment. These roots also create a trip and fall hazard in the lawn.

The branches of the tree extend across the driveway and have, on numerous occasions, made contact with my home. Repeated requests to trim the tree have resulted in very slight trimming which have only served to promote growth of the tree. Currently, the branches of this tree extend the entire width of my driveway and are within inches of coming in contact with my home. Branches extend low enough into the driveway so as to interfere with unobstructed passage to my garage. Over-growth of the branches currently interfere with electrical, television and telephone lines connected to my home.

I had one “real” conversation with the neighbors about the problems associated with the tree, which ended in them saying, “We’re not doing anything with the tree. It’s not damaging our property, so I guess you’ll just have to live with it.” Since then, if I so much as dare to glance at the tree when they are out in their lawn, the big-mouth, white trash wifey yells at me, “We’re NOT cutting it down!”

The municipality, in spite of their own “Shade Tree Ordinance”, which requires homeowners to get rid of trees that are causing damage within 10 days of their notice to the homeowner has refused to get involved, stating this is a civil matter.

So, here are the issues:

The tree is a big, beautiful, very old tree that creates shade and is aesthetically pleasing in my neighbor’s lawn. I’m not a tree hugger, but I definitely don’t agree with arbitrarily running around cutting down trees for no reason. And let’s face it – it’s not hurting them and it adds visual value to their property.
The same tree is going to cost me thousands of dollars to remedy all the damage it has done and potentially will continue to do, and…the bottom line is – IT’S NOT MY TREE!

Now, let’s see a show of hands from the people who would let the issue go…live with being unable to use their driveway…mow around the tree roots…put up with water in their basement…worrying every day that the roots were causing structural damage and reducing the value of the home? Come on – be honest – how many would just let the sleeping dog lie? How many people think I should just let the neighbor continue to encroach more and more on the property until I’m backed into a corner? I see no hands.

Ok – so what then is so difficult to understand about protecting the borders of the United States?

Illegal immigrants cost money – BIG money. Whose money? Mine and yours! You don’t think so? Who is paying for their kids to attend public schools? Not the parents – if they’re illegals they’re not paying taxes. Billions of dollars (that’s right – BILLIONS with a B) are spent on healthcare for illegal immigrants every year – while you and I are paying more and more and more for health insurance and out of pocket healthcare expenses – why? Because the money to cover it has to come from somewhere… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

I’m not opposed to people who want to work and NOT live off the government coming into our country legally and making a better life for themselves – quite the contrary – I am all for that – so hang on to your ranting, raving e-mails. I’m a big proponent of the American dream. The bottom line, folks, is this…

Mexico needs to get it through their heads that MEXICO IS NOT AMERICA! It’s NOT o.k. for them to sneak across our borders and live off tax paying citizens. It’s NOT o.k. for them to put their children in our schools and expect us to foot the bill. It’s NOT o.k. for them to illegally enter the U.S. and receive free healthcare that really isn’t free at all because WE, the LEGAL citizens of this country, are paying for it.

It’s NOT o.k. It’s not our fault that the government of Mexico has failed to take care of their own. It’s not a reasonable expectation to think the U.S. should allow Mexico to continue to encroach further and further across our border without doing anything to stop the excessive bleeding of money…hand over fist…to people who do not have the same rights as legal citizens.

Just today, in the ballsiest statement I have seen in a long time, Mexican authorities promised to sue the U.S. if the National Guard interferes with illegal immigrants crossing the border.

Not making this up….

So, how exactly does that work? Let’s break it down to the very elementary analogy I used before…

My solution to the “tree thing” is that I have contracted an excavator to come in, dig up my driveway and lawn, cut out all of the tree roots – right up to the property line and then re-pave the driveway. If the tree dies – so be it. It’s not my problem. It's not my tree. It's not my responsibility. It is an unreasonable expection that I should foot the bill because my neighbors have something they like having at my expense. It's time to stop the bleeding. Any hands on whether or not the neighbors should have the right to sue me over it?

Yeah… I didn’t think so.

I Know...

2006-05-16T19:58:00.000-04:00

It's been a while. I'll tell you the TRUTH...
I was abducted by aliens, broke my leg....and then my toe. I have been working 15 hour days and going to night school AND my dog ate my homework.
Or...it's springtime and that's the truth.
(Although I have been going to school...and I had jury duty...more on that later)

Not much has happened anyway...

Gas is up
Bush's popularity is down
Gators continue eating people in Florida
Democrats continue to try to eat Cheney
People still going missing from cruise ships
Patrick Kennedy gets a pat on the back for being a druggie/drunk (big surprise)
Even though the MAJORITY of Americans say they aren't worried about the governments wire-taps, Democrats continue to make horse's asses of themselves over it.
Hillary Clinton slammed America's youth, labeling them lazy, forgetting she had offspring in that category and then apologized to her daughter - but not to the rest of the hardworking young people in this country. Way to rule out votes, Hillary.
It's raining in New England. Hey! Where's Pat Robertson to tell us why?
People are more uptight about the Da Vinci Code than they are about the religion of hate that really is infiltrating our country.

That's about all I have patience for right now. But I'll be back within a couple of days to elaborate on a few of these points and some other rants I've been brewing.

The Greys Anatomy Finale

2006-05-16T19:56:00.000-04:00

beat the crap out of every other season finale on every other show on television.
Seriously.

Today's GIVE ME A BREAK!

2006-05-05T20:28:00.000-04:00

Patrick Kennedy now blames his drunken stooper on Ambien. (story here) Pretty convenient defense - and easy to come by, too. All his publicist had to do was a google search for prescriptions that make you act corny. I should be a publicist, no?

Patrick Kennedy also had an auto accident three weeks ago in the parking lot of a pharmacy where he appeared "impaired". Is he taking this sleeping pill during the day, or what?

Big Surprise

2006-05-05T16:53:00.000-04:00

Representative Kennedy is entering a drug treatment program. (read the story here) Shouldn't that family open their own? I would think things would be much less complicated for them if they did.

His daddy, Teddy, had this to say:

"All of us in the family admire his courage in speaking publicly about very personal issues and fully support his decision to seek treatment," the Massachusetts Democrat said. "He has taken full responsibility for events that occurred."

If Teddy really felt it was admirable to speak publicly of personal issues - there might have been one less woman dead at the bottom of a lake.

No doubt he would say the same thing if it were one of President Bush's daughters in trouble.

Read The Book

2006-05-04T18:36:00.000-04:00

You'll never be the same.

You can't make this stuff up!

2006-05-04T17:41:00.000-04:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...................
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......
SNIFF, SNIFF...AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.....

Non-voting sons spoil election bid
CASTALIA, Ohio (AP) -- You're both grounded!
Two voting-age sons of a northern Ohio candidate didn't go to the polls Tuesday, and their father's race ended in a tie.
William Crawford, trying to retain his seat on the central committee of the Erie County Democratic Party, and challenger Jean Miller each received 43 votes in the
primary balloting.
Officials plan to conduct a recount, but the race may have
to be settled by coin flip, said David Giese, the county's Democratic Party chairman and an elections board member. Crawford was able to laugh about it
Wednesday, but he said his sons are going to be getting an earful for skipping the election.
"Oh they will, let me tell you," Crawford said.
Son Jim lives across the street from Crawford's home in Castalia, about 45 miles southeast of Toledo, and son Andy is a college student who lives at home.
Both are registered Democrats.

The Week In Weird

2006-04-02T12:22:00.000-04:00

Jill Carroll
I was happy to hear that Jill Carroll has denounced her captors and taken back all the warm fuzzy things she said about them when she was released. For what it’s worth (and I suppose I should have written it here), I had a feeling she was too afraid to tell the truth while still in Iraq. If that hadn’t been the case, we would have been running a serious risk of bringing a newly brainwashed terrorist back to the states and giving her a homecoming. I know that sounds harsh, but her praise for her terrorist captors was at odds with what any red blooded American should have been saying. Bully for her to be smart enough not to take any chances while she was still in Iraq. If it were me, I’m not sure I would have opened my mouth one way or the other until my feet were firmly planted on American soil. It’s truly a miracle that she’s been released alive.

So, Jose wants to work.
Seems everyone is weighing in on the immigration dilemma we’re facing here in the U.S. For what it’s worth, there are a few things I would like to add to the mix.

As Allan Wall (among others) has pointed out, the President of Mexico, Vincent Fox, has predicted that in ten years, the U.S. will be begging for Mexican workers if we send them home now.

Others, like Tony Snow have pointed out that statistics do not support the suggestion that illegal immigrants are doing the damage to our society that many would have us believe.

I would like to offer a third opinion that leans a little bit toward both these articles.

First, I think it’s important that we secure our borders. Beyond illegal immigration, beyond what many believe we are handing over to the people wrangling their way onto American soil – it’s simply not smart to not have someone guarding the back door. Are most of the people coming over the border from Mexico terrorists? It doesn’t matter – if ONE terrorist enters the country by way of the Mexican border – it’s one too many. If ONE drug dealer (and we all know there’s been plenty of them) enter by way of the Mexican border – we’re not doing our job. So, before anyone jumps on me because you think I don’t want a fence – that’s not at all what I’m about to say.

I think it’s appalling that we support ANY illegal immigrants with our welfare system, healthcare system or any other freebies they’re getting. HOWEVER, in my own person experience, Presidente Fox isn’t as far off base as many of you think.
Here in South Central Pennsylvania, I’ve had the opportunity to see first hand the impact Hispanic workers have had on our workforce.

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a job fair that was being held at the local Hispanic Civic Association. It was very interesting to see the number of representatives in attendance who had general labor positions available and were desperate to find people who were willing to work. I spent some time speaking to the head of a local masonry company. The gentleman told me how he was unable to get his own son to come out and work for him because the pampered American kids aren’t interested in working with their hands, getting dirty, working outside when it’s hot or cold, etc. They want to sit behind a desk and do something that doesn’t require anything more physical than reaching for a telephone or typing on a keyboard. He explained that his son and some of his friends had taken jobs with a local company doing telemarketing. Their starting wage was $10 per hour. The starting wage for a masonry helper is $14.50 per hour. After a few years and some hard work learning the trade, the masonry helper can be promoted into a more independent position that could earn him easily $25 per hour. That’s assuming they aren’t working on a scale job (a school or government building) because then their salary for either position would be doubled. According to monster.com, a telemarketing manager (assuming the lazy child got promoted) has the potential of earning approximately $15 per hour in this area of the country.

At any given time there are more than 1000 jobs listed in the local classifieds section of the newspaper. According to the 2004 census report for my area, 30.8% of the population here are Hispanic.

Currently, the L.A. Times online has over 10,000 entry level, non-skilled labor jobs available. As an employer, I can tell you without a doubt – I want people who are willing to work. I am sick and tired of lazy, pampered people who think they’re above working hard to get ahead.

All of these statistics tell me two things…
The economy isn’t nearly as bad as the nay-sayers would have us think, and
Mexicans are not outing anybody who really wants to work.

As far as I’m concerned, a guest-worker program will help American businesses. I say give them a work visa with one provision; if we catch a potential terrorist, drug dealer or other criminal posing as a guest worker, the punishment is death.

You got your way - give it up already!
I sat in my living room and watched in a state of disbelief and disgust while Michael Schiavo promoted his book last weekend. His academy award worthy performance on both Dateline and Larry King surely convinced a lot of people that he was a loving, gentle man who only wanted what was best for his wife. There was one thing, however, that bled through every single over-dramatized tear…his arrogance.

On both shows, he repeatedly mentioned that he had taken on the Governor of Florida, The U.S. Supreme Court, the President of the United States and the Pope and...he had won. His narcissistic self obviously couldn’t resist reiterating his victories, which couldn’t be further from what he’s trying to sell in his book – that he did it all for Terry. From the writing of his book, which no doubt also has a lot to do with the fact that he had to go back to work, to the inscription on her gravestone (“I kept my promise”), he simply can not help himself but to rub his “win” in the faces of her family. A better title for his book and inscription on Terry’s gravestone would be, “I got my way”.

I was a bit surprised to learn that he and his mistress actually waited 9 months before getting married. After all, they didn’t wait until Terry died to start a family. By the time Mr. Schiavo succeeded in murdering his wife, he had fathered two children and lived with his girlfriend for 10 years. One can only hope the girlfriend will remember his views on food and water being considered life support when he’s old and unable to care for himself. After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate to put off Michael Schiavo’s ultimate battle – when he gets to take on an authority much greater than any Governor, President, Court or even the Vatican.

I didn’t buy his book and I won’t. I wouldn’t invest in his bank account if you put a gun to my head. I did, however, purchase the Schindler’s book, “A Life That Matters – The Legacy of Terry Schiavo” and began reading it last night. I think the quote at the start of the book says it all,

“Where there is love, there is no burden”.

It's 11:00...Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

2006-03-28T19:11:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, pre-kindergarten era, my mother used to allow me to stay up late with her sometimes and wait up for my dad when he worked the second shift. I remember well the newscaster saying, “It’s 11:00, do you know where your children are?”

Somewhere along the way over the past 30+ years, it stopped being a parent’s responsibility to know where their children are in the middle of the night. Even those who seem to be fine, respectable parents are finding themselves in tragic situations asking, “how could this have happened to us”, yet nobody seems to be reminding them that they, and only they, are responsible for their children’s well-being.

I’m not talking about child abductions or runaways or even drive-by shootings. I’m talking about 13, 14, 15 year old children being left on their own in the wee hours of the nighttime, only to prove to their parents that they are children... and children shouldn’t be left to their own devises in the middle of the night.

The other night on the O’reilly show, an attorney representing the family of a 15 year-old Irish girl who became drunk on a family vacation aboard a cruise ship and fell overboard to her death at 2:00 AM, described the cruise ship as “lawless palace” and is filing a lawsuit against the company because they…the cruise ship…NOT the parents allowed the 15 year old girl to get dangerously drunk. The attorney described the folks as a “fine Irish family” who were on a vacation with 20+ other members of their extended family. The attorney basically dodged questions about why the girl was unsupervised and given the opportunity in the first place.

As a parent, this concerns me. As a parent who has taken her teenaged children on cruise vacations, it’s appalling. This is disturbing on many levels, but at the very least, here are the issues:

The attorney stated that she was petitioning the government to force cruise ships to not allow children to purchase alcohol on the boats. Guess what? They already do that! In fact, if the parents had been paying attention when they boarded and read the literature mailed to them before they got on the ship, they would have known that you may even eliminate your child’s ability to charge ANYTHING on their shipboard card. Cruise ships don’t allow you to spend cash – you must charge everything to your stateroom. The cards are basically a credit card with no limit. You wouldn’t hand one of those to your 15 year old, so it’s beyond me why anyone would not at the very least limit what the child could purchase. My kids didn’t have a dime of credit on their cards. If they wanted to buy something, they had to ask me to use my card for the purchase. That allowed me to keep tabs on what they were buying and how much they were spending.

Bill O’reilly at least had the nerve to ask the attorney what this kid was doing out drinking at 2:00 am. The attorney responded by saying the kid was drinking at 11 pm – and had fallen overboard at 2 am. O’reilly backed down, so I’ll go ahead and ask the question…”ok, so she was drinking at 11 pm and fell overboard at 2 am – what the heck is the difference? Where the heck were her parents??” The parents had to be awakened to be informed that their child had fallen overboard while throwing up over the rail. What the heck were these people doing sleeping in their stateroom while their 15 year old daughter was out partying?? I may not be getting any nominations for mother of the year, but I can promise you that aside from the Disney Cruise we took, when my youngest daughter attended children’s programs where they sent me away with a pager in case she wanted to leave (because she wasn’t allowed to leave unless accompanied by a parent), my kids were by my side every waking moment while we were cruising and their butts were tucked into the bed next to mine when I went to sleep. It is absolutely preposterous to blame the cruise ship for these parents obvious neglect. 15 year old kids will find trouble if they are not supervised. PERIOD!

There is a reason why children are not allowed to make adult decisions until they are 18 years of age (and if it were up to me, the age would be raised to 21). Parents have an obligation to their children to pay attention to what they’re doing. When you take a family vacation, the idea is supposed to be to spend time with your family. If you want to ditch your kids, leave them at home with the grandparents. A cruise ship is no more a babysitter than an amusement park or a zoo. You just don’t leave your kids unattended for more than a short period of time when there are obvious dangers around you.

Another case came to my attention today regarding a 14 year old girl who was one of the victims of the shooting in Seattle last weekend. In this article
The youngsters father describes how he dropped her off at a bowling ally the night before so she could meet friends to go to a rave. A rave, people! She was dressed like a zombie, so he didn’t kiss her goodbye, for fear of smearing her make-up or getting it on himself. The article goes on to praise the girl for being such a good Samaritan, which I’m sure she was, and describes how the father learned of his daughter’s murder the next day. The article says, “By Saturday morning, her father was worried.”

YA THINK?

So, let me get this straight. You drop your 14 year old kid off at a bowling ally, knowing she’s going to another location (one which you have not taken her to, so you can’t even go there to look for her if she fails to return). You’re aware that she is planning to attend a very grown-up event and then when she doesn’t come home, all night long, you begin to get worried in the morning.

Are these people out of their friggin’ minds?

What’s interesting about both these cases is that the media hasn’t said word one about the parent’s failure to properly supervise their children. Both these kids should have been in bed by 11 pm, not hanging out with people who are not looking out for their best interests, and left to stay out all night without so much as a “don’t you dare!” from their parents.

Go ahead. Tell me I’m naïve and over-protective. My kids are alive.

…and stupid begat stupid.

2006-03-23T20:28:00.000-05:00

Have you ever met a child about the same age as one of your own and wondered how someone could turn out to be such a complete imbecile, only to have the misfortune of attending the same PTSA meeting as their mother or father and be subjected to some ridiculous diatribe that only concerns their own child…and then it hits you…the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

This is one of the many reasons why being a parent (if you are one) is the most important responsibility you’ll ever have and the reason I believe people should be forced to take a test and acquire a license before being allowed to breed. We are absolutely, 100%, without a doubt responsible for the way our children turn out, which is why I try very hard to take that responsibility seriously and apply logic to my children’s lives on a daily basis. My children have always been expected to question anything that is not logical or that does not wash with common sense, and with few exceptions (which could be chalked up to decisions grounded by their age and maturity level), I’ve been very fortunate that they are pretty level headed kids. The old adage, “children learn what they live” may be cliché, but it’s true nevertheless.

Of course, in this social experiment we call “life as we know it”, parents are not the only influential characters and children are not the only characters who can and are molded into stupid little miniatures of their inventors. Teachers, for instance, have the opportunity to mold children and just like super heroes, some use their influence for good – some for evil.

Take, for instance, Overland High School teacher Jay Bennish, whose lecture in a world geography class last month also included harsh words about capitalism, U.S. foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq. At one point in a 21- minute, 40-second recording of the lecture, Bennish called America "probably the single most violent nation on planet Earth." Of course, his blatant violation of school district policy that requires teachers to present varying viewpoints was chalked it up to his First Amendment Right.

This teacher and many others like him are able to mold far more people in their lifetime than most parents will ever influence – which is why the parents in the school district put their foot down on this issue immediately. We simply cannot afford to allow teachers to subject their captive audiences to their own private opinions and call it education.

The common link between people like this is that they all have to take their cue from somewhere. Like little liberal lemmings they keep going and going - all the while spewing one vituperation after another against anyone who should disagree…and stupid begat stupid begat stupid-er begat stupid-er-er… But from where do they take their cue? All one must do is look around at the MSN and Hollywood to have the answer.

Question…

When was the last time you heard Clint Eastwood or Dixie Carter or Dale Earnhardt, Jr. or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Don Mattingly on a soap box verbally slapping Hillary Clinton until the snot flies? How about….never! Why? Because with few exceptions, conservative Republican celebrities understand the leverage they have and how many people are unable to make decisions on their own anymore…and…they’re not stupid!

Then there’s the likes of Charlie Sheen. The man who is better known for his affinity for cocaine, prostitutes and gambling than his Homeland Security credentials, was recently quoted as saying this about the 9/11 terrorist attacks,

"There was a feeling, it just didn't look like any commercial jetliner I've flown on any time in my life and then when the buildings came down later on that day I said to my brother 'call me insane,”

O.K. stupid! You’re insane!

“…but did it sorta look like those buildings came down in a controlled demolition?”

Forget about the fact that every single 9/11 myth has looooooong since been debunked - is the man just waking up from a 4 ½ year nap? Nope. As much an idiot as he is, he is well aware that a “new” birth to these absurd allegations will be swallowed whole by the stupid little lemmings he and his stupid father have played a part in spawning. Why? Because stupid must breed in order to multiply.

And what qualifies the stupid to continue their mating ritual? Is it a Bachelors degree from Yale and an MBA from Harvard, like our beloved President? Would it be an MBA like Colin Powell's or a Masters from Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver like the ones our National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice earned? No, no, no! The stupid need nothing from higher education! They’ve graduated from the school of life and everyone knows that a celebrity is in a much better position to understand the ins and outs of the United States government than those who are actually qualified to run it!

Just for the record, here are a few of the very impressive credentials of the stupids…

Charlie Sheen: Kicked out of High School.

Barbra Streisand : High School Diploma

Cher: Dropped out of school in 9th grade.

Martin Sheen: Flunked exam to enter University of Dayton.

Jessica Lange: Dropped out of college mid-freshman year.

Alec Baldwin: Dropped out of George Washington U. after scandal.

Julia Roberts: High School Diploma.

Sean Penn: High School Diploma

Susan Sarandon: Very impressive college degree in…..acting!

Ed Asner: High School Diploma.

George Clooney: Dropped out of University of Kentucky.

Michael Moore: Dropped out first year University of Michigan.

Sarah Jessica Parker: High School Diploma

Jennifer Anniston: High School Diploma

Mike Farrell: High School Diploma

Janeane Garofelo: Dropped out of college.

Larry Hagman: Dropped out of college

…and the lemmings march on.

After all the American public has done to make these High School and College drop-outs richer than the rest of us - this is the sense of responsibility they feel toward those who refuse to make decisions for themselves. Abuse of their celebrity to enhance their own agenda.

It's all very disheartening if you don't see the silver lining in all of this..and there is one...

Just as people have become uglier and uglier as time moves forward, because of course - ugly people are attracted to other ugly people and when they breed, well….you guessed it…uglier yet. So too are the stupid attracted to their own kind.

The silver lining?
Since my kids are neither ugly – nor stupid - the fate of my grandchildren is secure.

The Week In Weird

2006-03-10T19:43:00.000-05:00

Get this –

The School for Human Rights is one of nearly 150 "small" public schools that opened in New York City in the last three years under a national movement to raise student achievement by shrinking school sizes. Such schools often have specific themes. Although it's normal for schools to discuss human rights, one built around the concept is rare.

Yeah, I’ll say – they usually masquerade the Amnesty International stuff as social studies. Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Education Associates have helped plan the school. The school strives to produce "socially engaged young adults committed to equity, dignity and social consciousness," according to its mission statement.

All I know about organizations whose entire mission is to supposedly uphold human rights is that they always end up promoting preferential affirmative action. Do we really need a school to teach that?

THIS…

A Florida homeowner, whose husband is serving his country in Iraq, is being asked to remove the 2 ft high “Support Our Troops” sign from her yard because, the homeowner’s association doesn’t like it. The head of the association had this to say,

“What if the neighbor across the street does not support the troops or is against the administration and starts to put up those type of signs – so here we would have a war of the signs and we don’t want to get into that”

The homeowners association is threatening to fine this family $100 a day until she takes the sign down (btw… her husband says she should keep the sign and just PAY the fine). Ironically, the head of the homeowners association says he served time in Iraq himself and this is just a case of “rules are rules”.

Give me a friggin’ break!

Let’s speak TO this issue, shall we? Please take 30 seconds and e-mail the Westchase Property Manager to let him know how utterly ridiculous this is!

Click Here to E-mail

NOLO

This is unbelievable!

Mayer Nagin…wasn’t it enough that you let hundreds of school busses flood out and sent your family to Texas while thousands of your residents had no way out of town?

Do ya think you could find it in your heart to pay for the stinking hotel rooms for the canine search and rescue teams?

Of course, their excuse is that the FEDERAL Emergency Management folks haven't paid the bill yet.

For crying out loud – it’s a couple of guys and a couple of dogs – somebody put them up in your guest room, would ya?

TWO things from JYB worth repeating…

The government just jailed 2 of our boarder patrol agents for trying to take out a drug smuggler. PA-LEEZ!
Dubai: Have We Just Made a New Enemy?

Real life really is stranger than fiction…
From the AP

ATASCADERO, Calif. - A retired salesman alleged a stripper and her friend beat and robbed him in his home. John Skinner, 54, said he was on his way to Bible study on Jan. 23 when exotic dancer Maureen Murphy, 25, knocked on his door and offered him a free strip-o-gram.

Bible Study.....yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh......

Murphy said a friend had already paid for the show, police said.

When Skinner agreed to let her perform, knife wielding Richard Adam, 23, allegedly forced his way inside and told Skinner he owed Murphy, owner of Bikini Assassins, and another woman money for earlier services.

Skinner said he owed Talbert money for sex one time but not for a previous time when he said she fell asleep before they could have sex.

Because having sex with Bible scholars is really tiring...

Adam allegedly tied up Skinner and hit him in the face. Investigators said Murphy went upstairs to find valuables and returned with thong underwear and medication for erectile dysfunction.

Because the story isn't ridiculous enough...

The pair allegedly tried to take Skinner's car, but it was out of gas.

NOT. MAKING. THIS. UP.

Prosecutors charged three people in the case.

Adam was charged with robbery, burglary and inflicting great bodily injury. Exotic dancer Leslie Talbert, 20, was charged with two counts of burglary and Murphy, 25, was charged with robbery, burglary, false imprisonment and battery. A preliminary hearing will be held March 23.

I'd say it's been a bad week for John.

BABY CHARLOTTE
No new news on Baby Charlotte, but keep her in your prayers and I promise to keep you posted as updates arrive.

The Latest on Baby Charlotte...

2006-03-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

From her website

Charlotte is getting stronger day by day, and today she was able to be out of the head-box and on nasel prongs for several hours.

Keep up the prayers!

Charlotte Chooses Life...

2006-02-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

I have a cousin - I’ll call her Stacy... Stacy was born with what most people would say was two strikes against her in a game with only three. Very early on, it was determined that Stacy had both heart and brain damage and while opinions varied as to the causes, one thing was sure – Stacy was a weak little girl with a lifetime of problems ahead of her.

The first of six children, Stacy was tiny and frail and it didn’t take a genius to look at her and determine that one bad infection could wipe out her little life. It was 1965 and her condition was such that many people might have considered institutionalizing her, rather than deal with the uphill battle her parents faced.

I can assure you that for Stacy’s parents, that was never an option.

Fast-forward nearly 40 years. On October 21, 2003, a little girl was born prematurely at a European hospital, weighing approximately 1 pound. Little Charlotte Wyatt was like most premies and had to be ventilated and the possibility existed that she may suffer long-term brain and vital organ damage due to her very difficult and early start in this world. Obviously a fighter, Charlotte managed to beat the odds and stay alive but during her 9^th month, the hospital evidently grew tired of caring for her and decided they would not resuscitate her should her lungs collapse due to an infection. In an act that defies the modern Hippocratic Oath…

…But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

the doctors have chosen to play God.

Charlottes parents, refusing to give up, faced the hospital in Court in September of 2004 (when Charlotte was nearly a year old), expecting the Court to stand for what is right and honorable, only to be told that the Judge agreed with the doctors.

Without the chance of resuscitation, the world held their breath expecting the worst for baby Charlotte, only to learn that instead of growing worse, she became stronger. 6 months after the first ruling, Charlotte’s parents went back to Court to show the Judge that not only was Charlotte NOT deaf and blind as the doctors had instructed the Court, but she was growing stronger all the time, requiring 55% less oxygen than she had required only months before. In spite of strong evidence that proved the doctors wrong, the Judge refused to change his Order, but instructed Charlotte’s parents to gather more evidence and come back to Court.

On April 21, 2005, the Wyatt’s returned to Court. The Judge had made his original ruling based on information given to him by the doctors which indicated that Charlotte was blind, deaf, unresponsive and in constant pain. Charlotte’s parents brought forth strong evidence to the contrary, showing the Judge that she could see, hear, respond and smile. She was a sick little girl, yes, but the doctor’s previous observations that this child’s condition was “terrible and permanent” and that she had no quality of life and would be “better off dead” were being proven wrong by little Charlotte herself.

In a decision that stunned every reasonable-minded person who heard it, the Judge again refused to overturn his original Order, once again siding with the doctors who have determined baby Charlotte’s life is not worth fighting for.

Charlotte celebrated her 2^nd birthday last October. A milestone that defied all that the doctors and judges have predicted for her. On that day, the Judge lifted his Order, allowing baby Charlotte a chance at life that she deserves. Happy Birthday Charlotte! Unfortunately, the joy of this decision was short-lived. Just a few short months later, Charlotte became ill with a viral infection and true to form, the hospital asked the Court to overturn its previous decision and allow them to let baby Charlotte die. The Judge has once again sided with the hospital.

As of yesterday, Charlotte’s prognosis was grim. She is currently on 65% oxygen and in the “care” of doctors and nurses who have chosen to and have been given permission to let her die, should the opportunity present itself. Charlotte needs prayer above all else.

This tiny life is a reminder to all of us that the liberal mind-set that life is not valuable is a threat to us all. Those who would say that a woman has the right to choose whether or not to give life to her unborn child would also say that a mother who chooses life does not have the right to keep her child alive once it’s born. Why am I surprised that they want it both ways?

Our justice system failed Terry Schindler. The justice system in England has failed little Charlotte Wyatt. It’s maddening that there is nothing we can do to intervene on Charlotte’s behalf, but those of us who believe there is a God in heaven who hears us and loves little Charlotte can continue to pray for her as she fights for her life.

For those of you who don’t believe this little baby deserves to be fought for, let me conclude this post by finishing my story about my cousin Stacy…

Stacy turned 40 last year. She graduated from high school, albeit a couple of years late. She may not be able to balance a checkbook, but she can do her own laundry, bake peanut butter cookies and she’ll tell you obscure facts about Elvis that even his biggest fans probably don’t know. She loves to swim and go to amusement parks. The “experts” might say she’s slow, but that’s only because they’ve never seen her quick wit when she picks on her father. Stacy is a beautiful, bright, vital part of my family and a joy to everyone who has ever met her.

In a world where we have supposedly come so far…learned so much…benefited from so much progress…why is it that in 1965 nobody dreamed of snuffing out Stacy’s life, but today, those who are in a position to protect and preserve life – are allowed to take it away.

Pray for Charlotte.

Visit Charlott's blog here

If you have a blog - please consider posting Charlotte's banner on your site. You can get the html code here.

02/27/06 UPDATE! Charlotte's oxygen needs are down to 53% today! GO CHARLOTTE!
02/28/06 UPDATE! Charlotte's oxygen needs are down to 50% and she's growing stronger! Keep up the prayers!
03/01/06 UPDATE! 40% oxygen! Don't look back, baby girl! Charlotte's parents are going back to court to ask that the previous order to let their baby die be rescinded. They need our prayers.
03/22/06 UPDATE! Charlotte is stronger and stronger every day. Her parents are, once again, working to attempt to bring her home from the hospital. Check out her blog for new photos and keep sending prayers her way!

Accountability is not a bad word

2006-02-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

I often comment on how appalled I am at the general disrespect for authority and the disregard for common courtesy and professionalism that has made its way into our society. Public officials and celebrities, it seems, have taken to using their positions to disrespect anyone and anything they disagree with, without so much as a slap on the wrist for their blatantly inappropriate behavior.

I’ve ranted on occasion about what treason really is and why we as a nation should take a more serious look at what is being said and done in the public eye as opposed to accepting things in the name of free speech and patriotic dissent. I, for one, am sick and tired of the acceptance of these behaviors, but it wasn’t until very recently that I realized just how far down these behaviors have trickled and become a part of our “business as usual”.

I work in healthcare management and having grown up in an economically depressed area, I learned very early that when jobs are not a dime a dozen, you don’t have the option of telling your boss where to go if you don’t like a decision he or she makes. As a responsible adult, sometimes we must bite our tongue when the “spirit moves us” to exhibit dissent on the job. In short, you don’t have to like your boss, but you do, on occasion, have to fake it. If you plan to get anywhere in life, you have to learn to recognize when it’s o.k. to disagree with the powers that be and when it’s better to keep your mouth shut.

Now, don’t assume that we’re talking about ethical dilemmas here. I certainly wouldn’t encourage anyone to cross an ethical line just because they’re not at the top of the food chain at work. Personal convictions play a big part in when it’s time to speak up and when it’s time to shut up. What I’m talking about is those moments when your boss makes a decision that you believe is a poor choice. There are a number of ways to be heard, but shouting down the boss at a meeting isn’t a good place to start. Likewise, lambasting the President about current events in the middle of a funeral is a fairly poor choice. Not only do you look like an idiot, but it shows how far we’ve sunk as a society in what we will accept as appropriate behavior. The very fact that someone would consider using that moment as a platform to fan the flames of dissent in this country blows my mind. There was a day when common sense would have dictated that to be the wrong place – the wrong time.

Is this a moral issue? An ethical issue? Is there a difference between the two? And where/when did this start? I’m sure I don’t know the answers, but I do think it’s worth noting that if you challenge Cindy Sheehan on why she is hell-bent on creating such an uproar, she would tell you that her ultimate goal is “peace”. The same goes for Hillary Clinton and John Kerry and Harry Reid and the rest. They want peace and they’re willing to stomp on anyone, violate anything, lie, deceive, create discourse, unrest and foster treason-like ideals to get it. At the end of the day, does the end really justify the means? Of course not. It’s like trying to get a baby to stop wailing by wailing yourself. It fosters an environment of inappropriate behavior that will be mimicked by every bozo who thinks they know it all. Why? Because what is missing from this equation is accountability.

A couple of days ago, I had an encounter with an employee that reminded me of just how wide-spread this attitude really is. Most of the people I’ve managed over the years would agree that I’ll always allow someone to disagree with a decision I’ve made without taking it personally. I like to think I am always open to constructive criticism and on more than one occasion, I have found that someone else may have a better way of approaching an issue than I did. On the flip side of that, I think most of my subordinates would also tell you that there is a right and a wrong way to approach me. In this most recent encounter, the employee made a poor choice in her approach.

This gal, who is very good at what she does within our facility, disagreed with a policy I wrote in an effort to create a more cohesive work environment. The problem (for her) was that adhering to this policy meant that she had to submit herself, in certain circumstances, to a co-worker whom she dislikes. Since this was not a legitimate reason to discard the policy, I couldn’t agree with or accommodate her opposition.

Now, if I were in this situation, I would consider my options. The first would be to accept this change and go about my business, do my job to the best of my ability and choose to be a team player, because after all, this policy was written to help the team as a whole – I am just one small part of a bigger picture. The second choice, of course, would be to find employment where I could do what I want – when I want – without having to answer to someone I don’t care for. As a reasonably intelligent adult, it makes perfect sense to me that when we work for someone other than ourselves, we sometimes have to comply with policy and procedure we don’t like. It’s a part of life. This isn’t a new concept. However, the attitude at large, which is fostered by celebrities and people in positions of authority all over this country, dictates that a person who disagrees with someone else has the right to make a complete ass of themselves and call it freedom of speech. After all, if you’re right…you’re right! Right?

Wrong!

Unfortunately for this employee, she chose option number three; throw a temper tantrum and storm out of the facility. What is truly unfortunate, at least for her, is that in my world, accountability plays a big part in this equation and when Monday morning rolls around, it will not be business as usual in the office.

After spending the weekend thinking about what comes next for this employee, I am reminded that the only way to get a handle on the people who cultivate this attitude is to hold them accountable for their actions. I’ve encountered a few people throughout my career who have had to have their feet held to the fire on issues such as attitude and appropriate behavior at work and most people would agree that this is necessary if we want to maintain order. Why then have we allowed the people who literally shape this nation and the atmosphere we live in to act like spoiled children without holding them accountable for their actions?

We live in a nation that sets the stage for the rest of the world. If we want to continue to move forward as the greatest nation on earth, we have some accountability issues to deal with. I would argue that the blogosphere, having become a force to be reckoned with, needs to step up to the plate and demand accountability every time one of these schmucks steps out of line and becomes an embarrassment to the rest of the country. Not by writing about it – by writing TO it. We need to start holding some of these officials and celebrities feet to the fire when they cross the line and act out in an inappropriate, unprofessional and disrespectful manner. There needs to be some senator’s offices that are inundated with letters demanding an apology for things that are being fed to the media. The mailboxes of the editors of every major newspaper in the country should be overflowing with demands for retractions and/or apologies when someone uses an inappropriate venue (like a funeral!) to voice their disrespect. Some of these celebrities need to feel it where it truly hurts (in the wallet) when they become an embarrassment to the citizens of this nation. I haven’t bought another Dixie Chicks CD since Natalie Maine revealed that she is a traitor and even though most of the people I’ve heard from have been appalled by her actions, it doesn’t look like they’ve suffered at all for their inappropriate behavior.

Before you accuse me of wanting to take away our right to free speech, let me just say that I believe we have the right to voice any opinion we have. What I do not believe is that we have the right to do it in any way we want, nor do I believe we have the right to do it at any time we want. Along with the freedoms we have – there are responsibilities that should go along with exercising our freedoms. We also have the right to bear arms. We do not have the right to unload a round of bullets in the middle of town, just because we have the right to own the gun. It’s reasonable to expect people to be responsible with their freedom of speech in the same way we expect them to be responsible with their freedom to own a gun and that responsibility increases dramatically as a person’s public position increases. Not unlike being on the job, where there are a lot of opinions you might voice at home or in the company of friends that you wouldn’t say at work because it wouldn’t be appropriate.

It all boils down to human decency, respect and common courtesy. These things are in very short supply and it’s only going to get worse if we don’t put accountability back into the equation. I’ve come to realize that I don’t have a right to complain about matters such as these if I don’t have a plan of action that is at least an attempt to make things better. So, you should notice from time to time that I’ll post the name and address of someone who has stepped over the line of what we, as citizens of the greatest nation on earth, should not accept as behavior befitting someone who represents us. I hope you’ll join me in speaking less ABOUT this issue and start speaking TO it by demanding they hold themselves to the same standards the rest of us have to hold ourselves to in order to keep our jobs.

A Great Find

2006-02-15T07:20:00.000-05:00

For some common sense answers to the issues with the Muslim world, check out A.M. Siriano's

America: Islam's Only Hope for Reform

...an excellent read!

WHO. CARES.

2006-02-13T19:11:00.000-05:00

There’s been much ado about a bunch of poopy-ka-ka and Vice President Cheney’s hunting accident. Since everyone else seems to have something to say about it – I’ve decided that you’re all entitled to my two cents.

I think this headline is the most maddening…

“Bush Knew Saturday About Hunting Accident”

Of course he knew! Vice President Cheney did everything any one of us would have done. He notified the emergency services workers. He notified the proper authorities. He went to the hospital with his friend and he even called his boss. What I would like to know is this – under what law was V.P. Cheney required to contact CNN?

You know, the MSM can blame themselves for this. If it weren’t so obviously open season on this administration and anyone associated with them, perhaps people would be more eager to give them a story.

So, my two cents is this…

Imagine, if you will, former President Bill Clinton on a hunting trip (I know it’s difficult to picture him pointing a gun at an animal – what with all the hugging of little squirrels and birdies that goes on at those democrap fund raisers). He’s out on the range with Al and Hill and someone gets hurt. Let’s say Hillary, since it’s so much fun to picture her covered in buck shot. So, what do you suppose they do once they’ve realized there’s been a hunting accident? Do you think the first plan of action, after calling the EMT’s, of course, is, “Hey! We better alert the media!” PA-LEEZ!

And one more thing…

It would be a different story altogether and most definitely news-worthy if the Vice President had hurt someone, oh say in a drunk driving accident, and failed to call the police…leaving that person to die. That wouldn’t be something that would get swept under the rug…or defended for years to come…or completely irrelevant to his political career – oh nosiree! That doesn’t happen in America (at least not to a Republican).

The week in weird

2006-02-11T19:01:00.000-05:00

I’ve seen so many ridiculous, outrageous, infuriating things this week that made me want to sit down and peck out a rant – I just don’t know where to begin. I thought I would combine them and get it all off my chest at once.

We’ve all seen the show, “What Not To Wear”…
Perhaps TLC could come up with a show called, “What NOT To Say At A Funeral”. I’ll defer to AM Siriano here – his question, “If George W. Bush were the one in the box, with Coretta Scott King sitting on the stage, do you suppose Franklin Graham would take the opportunity to attack her for her ridiculous support of same-sex marriage, veganism, and animal rights?”

I think not.

I am disgusted beyond words at the disrespect and grandstanding that took place at the King funeral. Her family should be appalled.

Cartoons…

They’re cartoons people!
Cartoons!
With this in mind – I challenge anyone who still says Islam is a peaceful religion.
This…

is over…

a Cartoon…

We constantly hear Liberals saying Christian conservatives are over-the-top. When was the last time you saw a Christian catching something on fire because someone mocked Jesus?

UPDATE: Iran's over-the-top Pres says, "The U.S. should pay a heavy price" because of these cartoons. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a threat to me.

No excuse is good enough…

I usually don’t pay any attention to the likes of celebrities and what they're doing in their personal lives. In fact, I couldn’t possibly care less what most of them do, but this week Britney Spears proved me right regarding my opinion that people should have to pass a test and get a license before having a baby.

It takes something like 10 lbs of pressure to kill a baby. It would seem that common sense should dictate that there's something very bad about putting your 5 month old baby between you and the steering wheel of an SUV (at any speed).

Her excuse is ridiculous and if it was you or I, the child would be in foster care by now.

Miss Britney – your excuse is crap and you put
your child in more danger than anyone with a camera ever could.

Jill Carroll’s Kidnappers Set “Final Deadline”

Ok, so I am not sympathetic to journalists and those in war zones performing “humanitarian work”. There is a simple solution to reducing the risks they take – stay the heck out of war zones!

Personally, I think only the military should be allowed to perform humanitarian duties during times of war (which they do…every day…in Iraq and elsewhere) and there really should be some sort of control over journalists wandering around in places like that.

Having said all that, however, there really is something fishy about the whole Jill Carroll thing. Either she’s been kidnapped by wishy-washy abductors, or something else is going on here because we’ve never seen such time lapses between a kidnapping and the carrying out of the threats of death. These guys usually don’t give more than one deadline or “second chances”. It’s all very fishy – verrrrry fishy.

Human Head Fails to Ward Off Evil...

A Haitian born American citizen was arrested yesterday in Ft. Lauderdale trying to smuggle a human head, still equipped with skin, hair, teeth and apparently lots of dirt into the country.

Her reason? To ward off evil spirits, of course!

Evidently it didn't work because the 30 year old now faces up to 15 years in prison.

That's it for now, but as always...as long as there are still idiots in this world, I'll always have something to rant about.

Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty

2006-02-06T20:04:00.000-05:00

I have never been able to comprehend the thought process of those who cannot connect the dots between our freedom and the freedom of other nations. We’ve all heard the complaints, in fact, there have been plenty of them vented right here on this site – I like to call them nasty-grams…

“It’s not right for George Bush to push his ideals on other countries who don’t even want to be liberated” and,
“Iraq was never a threat to us” and,
(believe it or not!) “We should just give Iraq back to Saddam, at least he kept order there” (yes, someone actually posted that comment!)

Is it so hard to understand that those who seek to dominate the weak are a threat to us as well? It seems pretty clear that the “let’s just mind our own business” strategy didn’t work. 9/11 was proof positive that those who seek to dominate the weak, are also interested in dominating the strong – particularly when the strong goes to sleep and exposes their belly.

Is it really so difficult to comprehend that being the world’s superpower comes with responsibilities and challenges that demand a vigilance not required of other nations?

Does it really take a rocket scientist to recognize that investing in the liberty of other nations is not about trying to be our brother’s keeper, but about eliminating our brother’s oppressor, who also seeks to oppress us?

We can talk all day long about whether or not George W. Bush has accomplished the goals he set. He is not unlike any other past president – he has accomplished some…but certainly not all of what he outlined when he was elected. And don’t make me name names – this is just a ridiculous conversation.

We can talk all day about the cost of freedom, but you’ll never convince me that it should or ever could be free or that the price we’ve paid, not only with this war but in every war that preceded it - isn’t worth it.

The problem is - we’re spoiled. Most of us grew up thinking we were untouchable and that we’ve somehow earned an undeniable respect, just by virtue of being America. After all, we’re the good guys, right? And now G.W. Bush is ruining everything with his “culture of corruption” (Hillary’s newest mantra).

It’s all pretty arrogant, really.

The truth is - our forefathers didn’t shed their blood so we could sit around like fat cats and ignore all that threatens to destroy their heritage. We have an obligation to continue the vigil as long as there is an America. Otherwise, there will be no land of the free or home of the brave.

I think Ann Coulter said it best when she said,

“Whether they are defending the Soviet Union or bleating for Saddam Hussein, liberals are always against America. They are either traitors or idiots, and on the matter of America's self-preservation, the difference is irrelevant”.

Can I get an Amen?

A Bipartisan Committee...Possibly Impossible

2006-02-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

A bipartisan committee, by definition, is a good thing. Two sides coming together to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone involved. Many an important decision has been made by bipartisan committees and there will always be decisions that should only ever be made by bipartisan decision.

The problem with our President’s suggestion last night for a bipartisan committee to work on Social Security reform is that in order to come to a decision, you have to find participants who are willing to work together for the good of everyone involved.

I, for one, do not believe this is possible given the current condition of our nation. I believe we are involved in a civil war that we won’t see an end to until the liberals of this era develop a love for their country that exceeds their hatred toward conservatives. Do I believe it will happen? Absolutely not. Not regarding Social Security reform. Not regarding the War on Terror. Not regarding healthcare reform. Not today. Not as things are.

We, as a nation, have deteriorated to such a state of division that it may never be possible to achieve a bipartisan decision again.

How did we get here?

The answer lies within members of a democratic party who have seemingly abandoned any real agenda in exchange for an obsession to destroy anything conservative. Their hatred is as real as any and appears to be without prejudice – with one exception…

Enter the poster child for their obsession.

George W. Bush.

When Bush won the first election, liberals became like the x-husband who becomes obsessed with the man who marries the love of his life. They felt robbed. They truly believed they were better (which truly amazes me given their choice of candidates). He was living their life. From that moment on, politics had a new face. It was no longer about managing a nation. Their obsession was now about pay-backs…refusal to acknowledge the President’s position… and hatred.

Then…when things looked as though they couldn’t get any worse – he did it again. He beat the democrats at their own game and held on to the position they were refusing to acknowledge as long as he held it.

This is way beyond a Republican/Democrat thing. This is beyond competition or opposing views. It’s about an obsession that skews the holder’s ability to reason, use common sense or exhibit even the most reasonable degree of respect for the object.

George W. Bush can’t do anything right. His ideas are ridiculous. His views are absurd. His tactics are completely unacceptable and his supporters are second rate citizens. This is the code of the liberal. No matter how ridiculous and absurd it is to stand by their code, they continue to do so in spite of how disturbed it makes them appear.

There was a day when both sides put their differences aside to show respect where it was due for the Presidential State of the Union Address. Last night democrats heckled the president when he mentioned his proposed Social Security measures and, true to form, Hillary Clinton showed us all how ugly she was when she repeatedly disrespected the President as he spoke of the security of our nation.

Find a bipartisan committee?

Perhaps we should start with something easier…

The Loch Ness Monster? Big Foot?

In all my years..

2006-01-31T21:38:00.000-05:00

I have never seen anything more unprofessional, disrespectful or immature than Hillary Clinton's response when our President said that we will not sit around and wait to be attacked again...

She rolled her eyes...

...while everyone else gave him a standing ovation.

Excuse me - I have to take part in a drive by slapping.

Sailing Away

2006-01-21T00:18:00.000-05:00

I'm taking my kids on vacation.
Not just because I worked 14 hour days for the last 6 weeks of the year. Not just because I want to spend some much deserved time with my kids. And not just because I've had the week from hell, which included having to fire some very nice people.

Mostly just because I can. Because, by the grace of God, we are still living in a free country where I am relatively safe and free to go about the things I love with the people I love.

Sorry if that disturbs you...well, no...I'm not really sorry.

At any rate - you won't have me to kick around this week, so I recommend A.M. Siriano. He loves to be kicked and is pretty good at kicking back.

Have a beautiful, blessed week and I'll catch up with you all after I've soaked up a little sunshine.

The Privilege of Being a Terrorist

2006-01-17T19:47:00.000-05:00

According to this article, a number of groups are suing President Bush, the head of the National Security Agency and the heads of other government agencies because they believe the government “eavesdropping” program is in violation of their constitutional rights.

Big surprise that this one is headed up by the ACLU and their communist/terrorist affiliates. The most interesting part of this article, to me at least, is that there are actually attorneys coming forward and suggesting that this “spying” has violated their attorney-client privilege. Mind you, the attorneys making this suggestion are representing alleged terrorists. So what they are really suggesting here is that it’s not lawful for our government to intercept communications made by alleged terrorists, simply because they’ve retained attorneys.

I’ve addressed this subject in the past and I will say what I always say…

If I were in a country where there was genuine, legitimate reason to believe that Americans were plotting terrorist attacks – I would do what ever was necessary, including allowing the government to listen in on my conversations to Aunt Betty, so that they would know that I have nothing to hide.

I find it both insulting and frightening that one of the plaintiffs in this case is the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

HELLO!

Of course I’m not suggesting that every person of Islamic descent is a terrorist, but if they have nothing to hide, what’s the problem here? Do you want to be a part of this country – or not? I’m of the opinion that if you do, you must agree to abide by the rules the rest of us abide by and that includes being open to scrutiny if it’s necessary. Since when do those not born in this country get to make the rules? It's an absolute outrage to think we are assigning any sort of "privilege" to suspected terrorists.

I’ve said it before – the government doesn’t give a rats you-know-what about cousin Martha’s cookie recipes. They have better things to do than listen in on Fred and Barney setting up a bowling night. If there were no suspicion to begin with, there would be no reason for the wire taps. These are not your plain old, white bread, run of the mill neighbors, folks. These people are suspected of something!

This is a slippery slope and if it’s not kyboshed soon, our government will not be allowed to intercept terrorist communications at all…leaving us open to one terrorist attack after another. Perhaps when the liberals are walking around with rags on their heads with their wives under a veil, singing (forcibly), “praise be to Allah” somebody will wake up and see where this was headed. We’ll see how many rights we all have then.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got to call Aunt Betty and get that recipe. Feel free to listen in.

My experience...

2006-01-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

with nice Italian boys is that they’re fiercely loyal…

they never forget their friends…

or their enemies…

I imagine a page from one nice Italian boy's diary looking something like this...

Bring Your Best

2006-01-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

My daughters and I attend a pretty large local church not far from where we live. The church is typical of today’s non-denominational congregations. Two services on Sunday morning because the church is growing all the time. Almost always a building program in place with more and more space needed to accommodate the growing interest. Lots of classes and groups and “programs”…

I’ll admit the church is not at all what I would have thought I would end up attending. There is little substance to the messages – they’re “safe” and informative, but nothing earth moving and I’ve never had an epiphany of life changing proportion as a result of a sermon I’ve heard at a service there. The sermons slightly resemble radio commentary – very prepared, short, to the point and more of an information value than anything. I don’t really mind because if I’m not getting much from the experience, I’d rather it didn’t take up too much of my time.

Now, before I get slammed for attending a church that doesn’t provide much spiritual food, I should say that I have “tried out” a dozen or so local churches, only to find that most of them fit into this category, or worse yet – there’s no substance and the services last 2-3 hours. I would rather have church in my living room than put myself and my kids through that.

I suppose the draw to the church we attend is the music program. They have some pretty talented musicians and they put a lot of time and effort (not to mention money) into the music program within the church, so comparatively speaking, it’s the best place around to find a pretty good worship service. I’ve often wondered, though, if you took away all the musicians, the large “worship team”, the special effect lighting, the fog machine, etc….and just left the bald guy with the guitar up there singing in the front of the church, would the seats still be so full? Would it still be difficult to find a parking spot on Sunday morning?

I doubt it.

You see, the music isn’t necessarily what I would call “anointed”. It’s well played, well executed, very scripted and has some nice special effects to give it the “cool factor”. It attracts a younger crowd and isn’t so over-the-top to offend the older crowd. It’s what Goldilocks would call, “just right”.

I attend the church because I became discouraged with looking for a church that I felt at home in, which had good, sound Bible preaching from ministers who weren’t interested in sugar-coating things or selling out to mediocrity in order to draw in the masses. When I realized that such a monster did not exist in my immediate area, this place seemed like the most reasonable place to land.

Besides the fact that I am not at all moved by anything that has happened within this church since I started attending, there is something that bothers me every single Sunday when I walk through the doors. I won’t use it as a stumbling block for myself, but I can’t help being distracted by it every single Sunday.

I’ve blogged before on how offensive today’s “fashions” can be, so it should be no surprise that I have a difficult time understanding what would possess people to show up at church dressed the way most of them do. This time, however, I am not talking about the teenagers in the congregation or the people who seemingly don’t know better. I’m talking about a “come as you are” trend that has taken over many contemporary churches.

I grew up in a church where nobody was turned away. I remember one very hot summer evening when a dirty, drunk man found his way into our little church. He had fallen down the stairs to his apartment and had a bloody nose. I was probably 8 or 9 years old and he scared me to death. Not only was there no usher escorting him out of the church, but someone brought him a washcloth for his face, found him a seat and afterward, the pastor took him home with him, fed him and gave him some money before sending him on his way. I was raised to understand the meaning of Matthew 25:40, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”.

So, if you think I’m just being hoity-toity, you’re missing my point. I’m not talking about the people who don’t know better, the people who can’t afford a nice suit or a skirt…I’m referring to the majority of the congregation and even the pastor.

Along with being raised to understand that God accepts us as we are, I also grew to an understanding that once you are a Christian and you have committed yourself to walking a Christian walk, you also have a responsibility to bring your best to the table. God told Moses that nobody should appear before Him empty handed and that we should bring our best…our first fruits…to the House of the Lord.

I was raised by parents who wouldn’t have let me out of the house on Sunday morning in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. What was acceptable for school or hanging out with friends was unacceptable for the House of God. I was to bring my best.

This concept is apparently lost on most churchgoers today. There have been days when I felt overdressed among the congregation at my church, dressed in a skirt or slacks. Of course, my children know better because I have led them by example. But as I sit in the congregation, watching the pastor deliver his sermon in jeans and an un-tucked flannel shirt, I can see where the rest of the congregation gets their example and I can’t help asking myself, “I wonder if he showed up at his son’s High School Graduation dressed like that.” or, “I wonder if he goes to business meetings dressed like that.” I suspect the answer to both queries is NO. In fact, the answer would be NO for most of the congregation as well.

I will admit that I haven’t become overly social within the congregation. As a rule, I stay away from people because people…in general…annoy me. I would much rather have a small group of good friends and family than a multitude of acquaintances. But I do see people I am familiar with every single week at church. I see people I recognize as patients of one of the facilities I manage. I see people from my daughter’s school. I see people from the insurance office and the car dealership. What’s interesting, though, is that I see these people dressed much better for work and school than they dress for church. In fact, some of the get-ups they show up in at church would violate the dress code in most offices and schools. Yet, somehow they find it appropriate for the House of God. What does that mean? Do they have more respect for their employers, their business acquaintances and their professional reputation than they have for God?

This trend simply confirms what most of us already know about today’s churches…that living a life, conducting yourself or offering yourself to God in a way that shows reverence to Him as more than just the “in” thing to do on Sunday morning is much less important than filling seats. Scripture tells us that we are not of this world and that the world should be able to tell the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. Today, the church is looking more and more like the world.

Their excuse?

To draw “them” in.

The truth?

The number of filled seats, regardless of the condition of the souls in them, is more important to them than walking a line that may be pleasing to God.

By the end of the service, I’m more saddened than annoyed.

He apologizes...AGAIN

2006-01-13T06:59:00.000-05:00

Pat Robertson, the king of foot-in-mouth disease, has apologized to Prime Minister Sharon’s family for the insensitive remarks he made, implying that Sharon had a stroke coming to him for dissecting Israeli land. When is he going to realize that just because he’s old, rich and people send him money, he can’t go around rebuking, threatening assassination, preaching doom and despair and “speaking on God’s behalf”.

As JYB points out – the apology was driven by his love of money and his plans for a “Jesusland” of sorts, to be built in Israel. Funny how money speaks to him, but the love of God doesn’t.

Thanks to Brian Preston for the heads up on this.

And speaking of loud-mouthed idiots...

2006-01-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

The Reverend Pat Robertson says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke could be God's punishment for giving up Israeli territory.

The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network told viewers of "The 700 Club" that Sharon was "dividing God's land," even though the Bible says doing so invites "God's enmity."

Robertson added, "I would say woe to any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course."

He noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.

Robertson said God's message is, "This land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone."

If the hell fire and brimstone Robertson preaches is true...he better hope he's wearing asbestos underwear when God catches up with him.

Source: Associated Press

If it looks like a pig....walks like a pig....oinks like a pig...

2006-01-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

If you missed Howard Stern tonight on 20/20 – here’s the recap of what the pig had to say:

He holds himself to a “higher moral standard” than most people.
Everyone should be as “honest” as he is because it’s healthy.
And he alluded to the idea that if someone like him had been around in Nazi Germany, there may not have been a Holocaust because everyone would have known that Hitler was an ass.

Did I mention he’s a pig?

** It made a lot of sense that 20/20 bleeped out the word “penis” when he said it in the interview, but not when they showed the preview clip before they went to commercial. A lot of sense.

Do the world a favor...subscribe to XM Satellite radio and boycott Sirius.

Gaps in a Theory

2006-01-04T23:11:00.000-05:00

If you’ve been following the story of the Dover, Pennsylvania School District and it’s battle over Intelligent Design, you may have heard that the school board voted last night to rescind its policy that was challenged in court by the ACLU and 11 parents of Dover School District students.

To clarify a few points…

First, it’s important to note that the media and the ACLU have called this a battle over teaching Intelligent Design in schools. Make no mistake – it was NOT about teaching Intelligent Design. The school district had agreed to allow a statement to be read, prior to the evolution unit in their 9^th grade science class. This statement indicated evolution is a theory and that there are other theories which some believe may explain some of the gaps in the theory of evolution. The statement offered the name of a book that children could check out of the library if they were interested in researching alternate theories to evolution. That’s it. The statement was not curriculum, nor did it offer any real educational value, other than to inform the children there was other reading material available. This is NOT teaching Intelligent Design.

Second, it’s important to note that 4 days after the trial ended, the residents of Dover voted every single member of the school board out – and replaced them with a brand new board made up of people who had campaigned against the policy. So, it’s not exactly “news” that the new and "improved", anti-Christian board voted to rescind the policy on the very first official vote of their terms.

Conservative Christians have had a lot to say regarding the people of Dover and what may or may not happen as a result of their anti-Christian decision-making. I’ve said before on this blog that I do believe in Intelligent Design and that I do believe our children should hear about it. I don’t believe it’s vital for the children to learn it at school because I think parents should be teaching their kids at home. I would be happy to send the Bible to anyone who is missing the textbook. However, and for what it’s worth, the likes of Pat Robertson and all those who have prophesied the doom and damnation of the Dover residents for “turning their backs on God” is just plain over the top.

Nowhere in Scripture will you find a place under the New Covenant where Jesus promises to turn His back on people…with the exception of Judgment Day. In fact, throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments tell story after story where God is merciful to people, even when they didn’t deserve it. God even offered to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there could be found but a few believers.

What’s interesting is that many of the people who have fought against this policy in Dover are professed Christians, which if you ask me, sheds a whole different light on things. We’re not talking about a whole community of atheists here. We’re talking about professed Christians who have chosen to remove God from their public lives.

While I don’t believe that God is going to send the next Hurricane Katrina to Dover because of their sin, I do think there is something to be said for the shame that many of these people may feel in the end…and I’m not just talking about the end of the week.

If you’re an atheist…or agnostic…as if there’s really a difference relative to this subject…you could argue that it doesn’t really matter because there is no real Judgment Day. But humor me for a moment while I suggest to you what might happen as a result of Christians who begin to rationalize these types of arguments.

Romans 8:1 says,

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

No condemnation at all to those who are in Christ Jesus. Now, I’m not suggesting I know any other person’s heart, but it would definitely appear that those who opposed this statement (keeping in mind that it was merely a statement), professed Christians or not, may not be in Christ Jesus. (I know I’ll catch a lot of steam for that, but these are just some observations.) So, if you believe the Holy Scripture is literally true, as I do, you would have to assume that condemnation does await those who are not in Christ Jesus.

Condemnation: “The condition of being strongly disapproved of, wrong or morally culpable, reproof, damnation and shame”.

There are many instances in Scripture that back this up – not the least being Judas.

Judas didn’t live a happy life after betraying Jesus, in spite of his financial windfall. He turned his back on God and in the end, God didn’t have to smite him. It turns out he couldn’t live with the shame of his own actions.

I may not buy into the idea that God is going to smite the Dover residents, but the New Testament speaks of a day when many will stand before the Lord and profess their allegiance, only to be told, “I knew you not”. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I don’t believe the Scripture is talking about the false prophets and fake faith healers of this world. They know they're fakes. They aren’t going to stand before God and try to pretend to be anything different. No, I believe it’s going to be people who have been so deceived by themselves and have rationalized Scripture to the point where it’s not recognizable. These are the people who will be saying, “but Lord!” The ones who preach a feel good gospel that draws in many, but feeds few. The ones who say, “I’m a Christian! But don’t you dare bring God into my child’s classroom”.

I guess we won’t know until that day comes. If I’m wrong – I guess these people have nothing to worry about. But if I’m right – well, I guess they just better hope I’m wrong.

Out with the old and in with the new!

2006-01-01T17:56:00.000-05:00

There’s something about that phrase that makes me take a deep breath. It’s almost liberating, isn’t it? I spent the greater part of the day yesterday going through my closets and drawers (2 walk-ins and a bureau) to gather clothing for charity. I live a blessed life, as evidenced by the fact that I gave away 2/3 of my wardrobe yesterday and my closets and drawers are still full. Today I took down the Christmas tree and un-decorated the mantel. To be fair, getting things back to normal is always my favorite part of the holiday season.

When faced with a new year I’m always forced to reflect on the last 12 months and take inventory of what I’ve accomplished - to help me look forward to the coming year and set goals for the next 12.

I don’t make “New Years Resolutions”. Deciding to exercise more, quit some bad habit or spend less and save more, today, doesn’t make it any more – or less – feasible that I will go through with it. I don’t believe in waiting for some milestone moment to do the right thing. If I should do it – and it’s possible to get it done – I like to think I try to accomplish things as they present themselves to me. I also ask God, each and every day, to help me to be a better mother, daughter, sister, friend, employer to all those who count on me.

It’s been a crazy year, full of ups and downs…the aftermath of the tsunami…hurricanes and war…happy and sad things…all year long. In spite of all the tragedy, controversy and bickering between the “sides” in the past 12 months, to deny that 2005 has been a good year is just plain stupid. Anyone who can’t look back over the past 12 months and find triumph in what has transpired here in the United States, the greatest nation on earth, and abroad…just doesn’t want to see the good.

Out of the hurricanes came stories of strength and courage. Out of the war came stories of triumph over the enemy and the birth of a democratic nation. Out of financial hardships has evolved an undeniably strong economy where the nay-sayers have predicted devastation. People are still spending. People who may never have had the opportunity to own a home have purchased homes in a strong real estate market. The gas prices the MSM predicted heading upwards of $10 per gallon have stayed under $5 in most places in spite of the hurricanes and the war in the Middle East.

We are a blessed nation. It’s amazing to me that as more and more people in this country turn their backs on God, He continues to bless us according to His immeasurable greatness.

So, I’m going to do what I always do. I’ll set goals and do my best to accomplish them. If I am sidetracked by unexpected “set-backs”, I’ll use them as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. I’ll continue to give my best, strive for greatness, try to always do the next right thing, and in the end…settle for a happy, healthy, well-adjusted family. Because at the end of the day, regardless of what I have – or have not – accomplished, having a loving home to go to is more valuable than anything else in this world.

My wish for all Americans is that they remember how blessed they truly are and that whether you live in a mansion on a hilltop or a tent in the woods – the opportunities are limitless in this one nation – under God.

Happy New Year.

Some Christmas Cheer and a Little Cheating on The Side

2005-12-27T19:39:00.000-05:00

Ahhh the holidays. The smell of cookies baking, the pitter-patter of little feet, jingle bells and visions of Santa. None of this happens at my home anymore, of course. With a teenager and a college student, a former husband and in-laws to share the holiday schedule with and it’s more like “Hi Mom! Bye Mom!” and a few stolen moments around the Christmas tree, followed by a day-long shopping spree to spend those coveted gift cards.

Jimmy Buffet said it well when he said, “My head hurts, my feet stink and I don’t love…” well, two out of three, anyway.

The weekend was a blur, but I did manage to get to the movies not once, but twice. Friday we went to view “Narnia” – WOW! That’s all I’ve got to say about that. A must see and a must buy (I don’t buy them unless I know I’ll watch them again and again). Christmas night we went to see “Cheaper By The Dozen II” – which was just o.k. There were a few moments I wondered why it was supposed to be a family movie, but it was otherwise an all right movie. I don’t think I actually laughed out loud, but the kids did. It’s basically another sell-out by Steve Martin, like Father of the Bride II – to cash in on the box office dollars of the first one.

I haven’t had much time to write anything, what with all the baking and wrapping of gifts. O.K. that’s a lie. I don’t bake and I was ready for Christmas by Thanksgiving, but hey…I was doing something. I just don’t remember what. And it’s not like I wasn’t thinking about all of the things I could be writing about. In fact, I’ve been waiting for a moment to sit down and rant about something I have ranted on in the past and, in fact, have received quite a bit of criticism over.

Those of you who have been hanging around for a while know my views on polling and how much I adamantly oppose the use of poll results to bolster media reports. You may have been surprised by my use of a poll on this blog, which asked the question, “Has anyone actually told you they were PERSONALLY OFFENDED by the words MERRY CHRISTMAS?” Normally, I stay away from polls and anything of the sort, but I thought it would be safe to put one on this blog. I'm not exactly CNN, you know? I searched for a “free poll” site and researched a few, making sure to choose one that could seemingly not be tampered with, and also didn’t require me to have pop-ups or banner ads on my blog.

Supposedly, the poll was set up so that only one vote could be cast per I.P. address. It worked for me – I was not able to cast more than one vote, however, I became skeptical when the numbers went up considerably (for the answer "all the time") in just a few hours. I went to the site and managed to extract the following information…

This information would indicate that someone from the same I.P. voted 31 times. The only response with that many votes is the “All The Time” response – which I was skeptical of from the start. I have an e-mail in to the site for clarification, so I won’t lambaste them or reveal their name just yet, just in case I misunderstood the information on the site, but you can imagine how irked I was to know that someone found a way to bypass the “safeguards” set up and ruin the results of the poll. At the same time, though, this bolsters all my previous posts regarding polls.

The bottom line is – there are a number of reasons poll results should not be trusted – particularly Internet polls. There is just no way of knowing who has the ability to vote numerous times or who the voters are, how old they are, where they are located and whether they are qualified to make a vote (i.e. polls regarding American voters being utilized by foreigners). In terms of telephone polls – in this technology savvy era, I can’t imagine who is answering their telephone and going through with a survey. Most of us don’t have time for that nonsense and don’t answer the telephone if the caller I.D. is not recognized. Unsolicited e-mail goes into the “spam folder” and if someone comes to my door and asks if I have time to talk, I usually respond, “Only if I can tell you about my faith in God” and ironically, they all have “another appointment in about 5 minutes”.

Like I often say, “I’m not always right…but I can usually find a way to not be wrong”. In this case, the latter was handed to me, courtesy of a not-so-fool-proof poll. Whoda-thunkit?

Critics vs. Defeatist - which side are you on?

2005-12-18T22:13:00.000-05:00

If you missed the President's speech tonight, you missed a good one (read it here)
One point he made that is worth repeating and really, for me, sums it all up...

"...there is a difference between honest critics who recognize what is wrong, and defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right."

As neo would say...BAM!

God Bless America!

Paint a bullseye on your butt, Reid, cause we'z a gunnin' for ya now!

2005-12-18T16:11:00.000-05:00

Excuse me for being so abrupt, but Senator Harry Reid is really starting to piss me off. Anymore, when you hear the dems squawking and calling for an investigation or a hearing or an indictment, it’s his ugly mug at the front of the line, squawking the loudest.

I will say, though, that he has opened up a whole new can of worms and invited conservatives to hold his feet to the fire with his latest quote.

While telling the MSM the current Republican-led Congress is "the most corrupt in history", he made this statement:

"I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even close to being wrong."

If that’s not an invitation to dig up everything that joker has ever done in his life, I don’t know what is. And when it happens…and it will…you can bet your bippy I’ll be squawking (and doing the I-told-you-so dance).

Really REALLY Stupid News and some GOOD News Too

2005-12-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

Let me call you sweetheart....
In a CNN article, it is suggested that 60% of nurses feel they have been sexually harassed at work….by their patients! Having worked in healthcare for a number of years, I will be the first to say that it’s inappropriate for a patient to ever lay a hand to a nurse, but evidently calling a nurse “sweetie” or “honey” is now considered sexual harassment. Can I have the clerk at the convenience store I visit in the morning brought up on charges of sexual harassment? He calls me “honey” and it gets on my nerves to no end. Is it sexual harassment? Hardly!

Smile...though your heart is breaking...
A computer has decoded Mona Lisa’s smile. Scientists analyzed the portrait of the Mona Lisa, a woman with famously mixed emotions, hoping to unlock her smile. They applied emotion recognition software that measures a person's mood by examining features such as the curve of the lips and the crinkles around the eyes. The findings? Mona Lisa was 83 percent happy, 9 percent disgusted, 6 percent fearful, and 2 percent angry, according to the British weekly "New Scientist." Please tell me this was a pet project of some flakey scientist and not paid for by anyone! Don’t we have enough research on things like…oh, I don’t know…curing cancer to keep them busy?

Shhhhhhh....someone's listening!
So…President Bush allowed eavesdropping? WOW! That’s just terrible! What is this world coming to? Are you kidding me? It must be a slow week for the MSM if that’s all they’ve got! Every single person I have spoken to about this topic has said the same thing – if it means they are gaining intelligence that will protect us from terrorists – go for it! And here’s another thought…if you’re doing something you don’t want the government to hear about – you probably shouldn’t be doing it! The only thing that makes this story “newsworthy” is its stupidity factor. It should be listed in the “off beat” section of the newspaper.

Racism...sexism....can The Donald ever win??
Evidently viewers are at odds about Donald Trump’s decision to hire a black man as the Apprentice and give him the opportunity to decide if the “dame” should be hired as well. Somehow this is considered racist on the part of Trump. He hired the guy! Shut up!

Mistletoe extinct?
Mistletoe is evidently in short supply and The Wildlife Trusts said over-harvesting of the plant that only grows in the wild and is mainly found on old apple trees meant it was becoming increasingly rare. Oh no!

This can’t be grown in greenhouses like everything else? Please! This is news?

And for some VERY GOOD NEWS!

Oh happy day…oh happy happy day….when Howard Stern….went away!

That’s right, folks, on Friday, Howard Stern polluted the free airwaves for the last time. In January he moves to Sirius Sellite Radio. Now I hope the conservative Christian population in this country will do what I did – buy XM Satelite Radio and boycott Sirius. If the American Family Association will boycott Ford Motor Company for putting car ads in gay magazines – they ought to be encouraging all of their members to do the same with Sirius.

Sources: MSNBC CNN AP REUTERS

TAKE. IT. BACK.

2005-12-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

Every day I hear talk about being politically correct and how careful we must be to avoid offending this group or that group, but what about the rest of us? What about those of us who are offended by all the things being done to protect the crybabies who claim to be offended by what used to be business as usual in the United States? I think it’s fitting for the gal who keeps a blog called, “The Politically Incorrect Mom” to speak up and talk about what I find offensive. In fact, it’s not only fitting…it’s way past due.

I’ll give one small warning before I get started. If you are a namby-pamby, tree hugging, vegetable eating, purpose driven liberal…walk away. You are about to be offended and I don’t give a flying hanukwanzimas, nor do I have any immediate plans to apologize.

In 1975, black people, white people, Hispanic people and gay people watched Archie Bunker and thought he was funny. Why? Because he WAS funny! Today, you could be arrested for a hate crime because you don’t happen to believe people are “born gay” and you have the audacity to speak your mind about it. Well, guess what? As a Christian who believes the Bible is literally true – I’m offended when I hear people say that God created them to be gay.

In 1975, we sang just as many songs at the Christmas pageant about the baby Jesus as we did about Santa Clause. The children of people who didn’t believe in God didn’t get offended and pull their kids out of the pageant. They put up with the manger songs, just like my mother put up with the flying reindeer songs. In my neck of the woods, there were very few Jewish people. We knew about Hanukah because we learned about it in school (yes, that’s right – we actually learned about religion in school). We didn’t sing songs about Hanukah because we didn’t know any. Nobody got offended. Nobody felt excluded. Today, schools are changing the words to “Silent Night”. They’ve completely eliminated the baby Jesus from the season and do you know what? I’m offended!

In 1975, it would have been considered more than offensive to refuse to say the words “Under God” while reciting The Pledge of Allegiance. I’m not sure what the consequences would have been, but I’m sure they were bad. Nobody ever brought it up because it would have been unheard of to change the words. It was also unheard of to exclude the words, “so help me God” from an oath. We sang “God Bless America” in music class and we said, “God Bless You!” when someone sneezed. We had a moment of silence after reciting The Pledge of Allegiance in the morning in case anyone wanted to say a prayer.

Today, my daughter must refrain from referring to God (unless, of course, she chooses to use profanity, in which case it’s her right to express herself). The teachers are not allowed to wear any jewelry that can be interpreted as religious symbolism, so they must leave their cross necklace at home. IF, however, 16 year-old Billy wishes to wear his swastika jewelry or perhaps his shirt bearing an up-side-down cross and the number 666 – he is well within his right to express himself in that way. If you guessed that this offends me – you guessed right!

In 1975, we watched the movie “The Ten Commandments” at school. Today, you won’t find as much as a copy of them on the premises. As a Christian, this offends me!

When I was in junior high, the school board struggled with whether or not to allow the book, “The Catcher In The Rye” in the school library. Today, your first grader may come home from library day with a book entitled, “Heather Has Two Mommies”. Also in junior high, my mother had to visit the school the day we watched a movie about entering puberty and “becoming a young lady”. Today, I have to worry whether my daughter’s middle school will decide to hand out a survey, without my knowledge, asking my daughter how many times each day she thinks about having sex. And as I should be, I am extremely offended!

In 1975, a real memorial was a tribute to good people. Today, there are people trying to deceitfully honor evil men who murdered innocent Americans on September 11, 2001. I am not ashamed to say that the murderers, their religion of hatred, everything they stand for and the sick architects planning this memorial offend me!

In 1975, the Sears catalog showed pictures of underwear that didn’t contain actual bodies in them. Today, I can’t turn on the television without seeing Tyra Banks or Heidi Klum strutting down a runway in nothing but the latest undergarments from Victoria’s Secret. Is it any wonder that my twelve year-old daughter is already worried about body fat? This offends me!

In 1975, it didn’t matter what church you entered, be it Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal or Baptist – people heard real Scripture. There was no Hawaiian shirt wearing hippie selling a “feel good Gospel” loosely based on Scripture so as to draw people in without offending them. As a GOD fearing Christian – this offends me!

There’s more and more and more and more…

But, guess what folks? I’m not going to boycott Target. I’ve never seen anything on their shelves that wasn’t garbage anyway. I’m not going to write a letter to the ACLU, because they’re too busy representing perverts and terrorists to read my letter. Instead, I’m taking back what the ACLU, the fanatical liberal left and every other group that represents every evil thing in this country has stolen from me and from my children. Let’s face it…we’re all sick to death of ALL OF IT and there is no organized boycott or letter writing campaign that is going to make it go away.

TAKE. IT. BACK.

I’m mad as hanukwanzimas and I don’t care if you’re offended. The Bible tells us that if you’re living right – you WILL offend people and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not palatable to everyone – but it’s TRUTH nevertheless. So, in the spirit of CHRISTMAS – I’m on a mission to celebrate like it’s 1975 again!

I’m going to say…no, SHOUT “Merry Christmas” to everyone I see and I might just add a “God Bless You!” for good measure.
If you say something offensive, I’m going to ask you not to open your mouth in my presence again.
If you wear something offensive, I am going to ask you to stay away from me and my children until you learn how to dress like a respectable person.
If I get a catalog in the mail offering offensive merchandise, I’m going to run it through the shredder and send it back.
If the school gives my daughter offensive material, I’m going to show up at the next school board meeting and the next one and the next one until my family receives an apology. Same goes for anyone telling my daughter that people are born gay or that we evolved from monkeys.
If you try to preach your “man-made Gospel” to me, you’ll hear me say, “you better get on your knees and get out your Bible!”
If you change the words to a Christian Christmas carol for the school program, I am going to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper to call attention to your stupidity.
If I hear you say the Pledge of Allegiance and you don’t say it right, I’m going to embarrass you.
If the National Anthem is played before a ball game and you do not remove your hat and at least pretend to know the words, I’m going to embarrass you.

To the conservatives – you can write letters and stay away from Walmart/Target/Kohl’s if you want. But if you really want the America we once knew…TAKE. IT. BACK.

To the worms who continue to whittle away at the very foundation of this country - If you offend me – I’m going to tell you I’m offended! In fact, I’m going to tell you so loudly and so boldly that you’ll be embarrassed you ever set foot across the path of this SUV driving, meat eating, pro-life, anti-ACLU, gun owning, Politically Incorrect Mom!

I’m takin’ it back!

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