The World According to Mike

Why Firefox 3 is Awesome and howto make it better

2010-11-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

Why I Won't Vote For Brown - In Brown's Own Words!

2010-10-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

People are asking me lately how I can vote for Meg Whitman in the upcoming Gubernatorial election. What may easier to answer is why I won't vote for Jerry Brown. To answer that, I need only give some excerpts from his radio show. The following remarks, circa 1995, pretty much some up the Moonbeam’s views. I don’t like his ‘five-headed’ opponent much at all but I can’t vote against a Socialist like Obama in 2008 only to turn around and vote for one very similar in 2012!

I have highlighted some passages below that have especially caught my eye and chime in from time to time in orange type. The rest is from the Moonbeam himself:

Welfare's got a dirty name. All those dangerous people who are sucking the life out of our economy! It's a lie, folks, it's a damnable lie and the people who perpetrate it ought to be in jail. Welfare is a bad system, but not because it encourages women to have children out of wedlock. That's growing among all races, at the same rate, and in many income levels. And welfare isn't breeding lots of larger families. The average family on welfare is smaller than the average family in America.

(So, I should be in jail for thinking that people shouldn't be allowed to bleed the system for nothing? Got it)

What they're talking about is repealing the Food Stamp Act of 1977 that provides food to 27 million people. What they're talking about is the child nutrition legislation passed in 1966 under Lyndon Johnson, the National School Lunch Act passed under Harry Truman that feeds 25 million children a day, the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 that was signed into law by Ronald Reagan, and the nutritional supplements for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) serving 6.2 million women.

Mr. Gingrich has proposed orphanages for the children of poor women. Take the kids away from them! Get it? Family values! Strengthen the family by destroying the authority of the mother! Get rid of welfare and put the kid in an orphanage so he doesn't starve. That's the so-called "Restore America," the so-called "Contract." Take a good look at it, folks.

In California, Governor Pete Wilson says that the first withdrawal of health care under Proposition 187 should be against pregnant women. Yep, prenatal care will be the first health service withdrawn-care for the "unborn" that some of these so-called conservatives are always expressing concern about. Of course, cut welfare! These people at the bottom only learn if you kick them good! If you're poor, what you need is less money, a lower minimum wage, a lower SSI grant, lower welfare assistance, lower food stamps. Starve them more, and they'll work harder! On the other hand, if you're part of the top 1%, what you need is more money in order to work harder.

Welfare has a bad image. But wait a minute! We give welfare for farmers; we give welfare for social security and many of the pensioners who work for the state and collect far more than they put in. We give $70 billion for research in health, energy, agriculture, and space. Trillions of dollars have been poured down the rat hole of the Pentagon as the Cold War ran down, and the military is still absorbing $265 billion. The Pentagon's new criterion for budgetary decisions is based on whether it will help maintain jobs in industry. That's a welfare program! Why not call it that? If you talk about welfare, get real! There are 68 separate tax-and-spending programs for corporations that equal $40 billion a year with no particular benefit to the economy. We give money to the Chinese to buy wheat sold by American farmers; we bail out the loggers, the dairy farmers, and the sugar growers. We pay the oil companies to drill hard-to-reach wells; we subsidize the private electric utilities that serve rural areas long after those areas have electrification. The money still flows into the agricultural subsidies, into McDonald's hamburgers and Gallo to advertise their products abroad, into the pharmaceutical companies, and into the pockets of the powerful through clever and secretive tax credits and depreciation schedules. And now the Republicans are planning to give a tax credit to people who make a quarter of a million dollars a year!

(I actually agree with the preceding. Cut all the subsidies while we're cutting Welfare.)

Mr. Newt Gingrich comes out of a county near Atlanta, Georgia, that has the highest per-capita government subsidy-about $7,000 a person-a lot of it through the Pentagon funnel. It goes into that district to military contractors, to bases, and then circulates and creates purchasing and rent and all the rest of it and ends up in people's pockets. But it came out of my pocket! I pay taxes, and it gets siphoned off to Gingrich! Our friendly representatives voted themselves a gigantic pay raise a couple of years ago, from $89,000 to $135,000 with an automatic cost of living adjustment. The Congress are paid obscene salaries. You won't hear Newt Gingrich saying that they ought to cut that back. There is no "party of change" from the point of view of poor people or working class people.

We're being ripped off and screwed by a bunch of liars, thieves, crooks, and criminals, and they're not the folks below. Don't look in the streets; look in the corporate suites! It's the ones on top, at the commanding heights of the economy, those who run the corporations, who export the jobs, buy the politicians to get the laws and tax breaks they need, keep down wages by the threat of replacements, factory layoffs, restructuring, automation, cheap foreign labor, disseminated labor unions and a minimum wage that hasn't moved in four years. All of that combines to produce a frightened worker, a frightened group of employed Americans who can't bid up their wages, and a very confident corporate managerial class that is keeping wages down as profits rise.

What we have here is a separation by class and often by color. One class of people is treated like dirt; another class is treated like demi-gods. The class that has access to the levers of power-the police baton, the surveillance through wire tapping, search and seizure, the power of government through the legislator's ear-they are reaping the rewards! The lawlessness on the part of the police, the judiciary, is viewed as a management of the poor, of the homeless, of those who don't fit in this New World Order. That excludes tens of millions of surplus people.

Let's see it the way it really is. In 1968, the income of the 20% at the top was ten times more than the bottom 20%. And now the gap has grown by 50%. The middle class's share of the pie dropped by almost 10 full percentage points. In that same period, welfare dropped in value 40% in real dollars. Our way of life has been totally, totally changed: 120 years ago, 90% of the American people were engaged in producing the food that all Americans needed to survive; today 2% do that job. When I was in high school, 35% of the people were engaged in producing goods in factories; today about 17% of the workforce are doing it. Now it's spreading to the service sector. Pacific Gas & Electric is laying off thousands. Bank of America found out it didn't need most of its tellers. IBM just laid off 25,000. GM laid off 75,000. If you happen to work for the telephone company or the gas company or the banks and they decide to restructure or lay off-you're gone! The same is going to be true of schooling, and perhaps if Gingrich gets his way, it'll be true about government. That's what the welfare and unemployment-insurance safety net is all about.

I know some of you say it's just the-good-for-nothings who are not availing themselves of opportunity, but jobs are not available to millions of Americans. Why? Because economists like Milton Friedman say that if unemployment goes below 6% there will be more people working and spending money; more people spending money will send prices up; more people will have to be hired; then wages will rise. That's called "inflation." The people who invest in bonds don't like that. When the rate of unemployment falls below 6%, the Federal Reserve Board increases the interest rate to put people out of work. Six percent of 120 million Americans-by the time you count the discouraged who are not counted in the official number-are 10 million Americans kept out of work. That is the policy of the land in the name of productivity, corporate efficiency. It's rotten to the core. It's killing the moral fabric of America. It's the death of justice.

This reserve army of the unemployed are conscripts to fight inflation, to make capitalism work. That's what Alan Greenspan says; that's what the economists tell us. Then why aren't they compensated instead of vilified, stigmatized, and held up as the enemy of the nation? Without them capitalism would collapse, inflation would run out of control, and you'd have to have a regulatory economy more akin to a socialism.

Anybody who says, "Go get a job," should understand if you get that job, somewhere another person will lose a job; or the Federal Reserve Board will jack up the interest rates. That is the dirty little secret of modern capitalism: creating unemployment through the central bank and maintaining it at extremely high, unconscionable levels. This is nothing less than class warfare: the unjust distribution of income, the abandonment of cities, and the trashing of almost one fourth of the American children. Little by little, democracy is reduced, diminished, minimized, while the autocracy of the profit-making, giant transnational company is given more and more authority over us in a private system of power that's unaccountable, uncaring, and inhuman.

This is nothing less than class warfare: the unjust distribution of income, the abandonment of cities, and the trashing of almost one fourth of the American children. Little by little, democracy is reduced, diminished, minimized, while the autocracy of the profit-making, giant transnational company is given more and more authority over us in a private system of power that's unaccountable, uncaring, and inhuman.

Because millions of people are unneeded by the profit system, they can't get income to survive legally. That's a big source of the crime. Look at the whole criminal correction game, which is a big piece of our economy. It's just an invention. Crime is being invented to put people to work. First you push people to the wall. They commit a crime, you lock them up. Then you get a guard; you get a manager of the guards; you get a lobbyist for the guards to hustle more criminal laws in the state capitol; then you get somebody who builds the prison; he gets somebody who does the food service, somebody that does the laundry, some psychiatrists, then a doctor, a psychologist, even a prison chaplain-a racket that won't quit!

(Again, I agree somewhat. Get rid of the psychiatrists, psychologists, most of the doctors, and give them a bible when they hit the gate.)

The conventional viewpoint says we need a jobs program and we need to cut welfare. Just the opposite! We need more welfare and fewer jobs. Jobs for every American is doomed to failure because of modern automation and production. We ought to recognize it and create an income-maintenance system so every single American has the dignity and the wherewithal for shelter, basic food, and medical care. I'm talking about welfare for all. Without it, you're going to have warfare for all. Without a universal health care like every other civilized country, without a minimum level of income, this country will explode. You can't blame the guy at the bottom forever. At some point there's a reaction and we'll see that the real criminals are those calling the tune, making the rules, and walking to the bank. We have the money, we have the brain power. The United States now has the highest measured wealth of any nation ever in the history of the world. We could rebuild our cities, we could create the kind of buying power and community well-being that will provide for peace. The guaranteed income is one way. Another way is to have always the availability of work in a nonprofit, in community service. A third is to start giving people training to develop skills where they can be self-supporting. You could come up with a cash supplement. Even conservatives have suggested a negative income tax to cut out the bureaucracy. If we were smart, we'd get rid of welfare and give people a family assistance like they do in Europe.

(Income Maintenance System? I don't even know where to begin)

We had a president once, who put millions of people into the WPA, the Works Project Administration. They built sidewalks, they built buildings, and they had poets, muralists. This was a real, wide-ranging public works effort. You want to do something right? Provide a job of last resort. It was new in 1935. Retool it, redesign it for the computer age.

President Lyndon Johnson set up the Income Maintenance Commission, whose unanimous report in 1969 recommended a floor under which no person would suffer deprivation-income-maintenance for every single American. Richard Nixon took the recommendation and proposed to Congress a Family Assistance Act. It didn't make it. But the idea was there and it's now time to revive it.

President Clinton inaugurated the Americorps for 20,000 young American men and women to serve their communities in lots of things-environmental work, helping the elderly, working on crime prevention in cities. A terrific idea. But so small! We've got 10 million people out of work!

The problem isn't even a problem. Automation and technology would be a great boon if it were creative, if there were more leisure, more opportunity to engage in raising a family, providing guidance to the young, all the stuff we say we need. America will work if we're all in it together. It'll work when there's a shared sense of destiny. It can be done! It's all there! What isn't there is the leadership to create the kind of social network, the safety net, the distribution that would truly create a just and equal society. If it were, you wouldn't have the homeless sleeping in the park across from the White House in a neighborhood with one of the highest incarceration and crime rates in the world.

The moral equivalent of war is rebuilding our cities, ending the toxic assault on each of us, educating, healing, comforting the sick and the dying and helping with respect our elderly. But environmental justice and economic justice are not part of the Contract with America. Gingrich and Dole and the rest of them think if you just get government out of the way and let General Motors or the telephone company take over, everything will be okay. That's not true.

We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity, of let's-take-care-of-one-another. That's the creative challenge. First, expose relentlessly the big lie that comes over the tube every night-that if you just go out and find that job, and work harder, it'll all be fine. It won't! There's not enough work to go around and a lot of the pay is not fair. Unless you totally yank up that system and create a better one, unless the spirit changes, unless the heart opens, unless we confront power with the truth of our own unarmed but absolute fearless truth, we're not going to overcome it. Evil is too embedded to be overcome by anything other than a spiritual challenge.

I cannot believe how many people I work with who were pissed off that Obama got elected in 2008 who are now going to vote for this puke. Everyone wants to be a conservative and cut government spending as long as it doesn't effect their own milk from the government teat!

Perhaps I’m overreacting. Maybe he’s completely changed his views in the last 15 years!

Newt is right....

2009-05-15T23:04:00.001-07:00

Pelosi's got to go.....

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7595688

I don't think any intelligent, sane person can disagree with Newt on this one.

Grassroots Minute 2.20.09

2009-03-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, let me see if I've got this. Evil people are killing each other and the way to fix it is to punish law abiding Americans. Got it.

Grassroots Minute 3.13.09

2009-03-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Just one more example of how liberals (as most university professors are) love freedom of speech....until it offends them!

Grassroots Minute 3.6.09

2009-03-08T21:31:00.001-07:00

Ok, Let me get this straight; A bunch of criminals in Mexico are shooting at the army and the way to fix it is to take firearms away from law abiding citizens in the United States. Got it!

Don't think Obama will abuse presidential power?

2009-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

Well, at least one constitutional scholar in his own party disagrees with you....

CLICK HERE

The "Bailout". What's my share?

2009-02-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a handy (yet depressing) little calculator:

Note: I have not verified these calculations but it sounds roughly plausible considering congress just spent an amount of our tax dollar that is on the order of a dollar a second for 25,000 years.

If you take this, please post your results and any additional comments you may have below.

Grassroots Minute 2.13.09

2009-02-15T20:32:00.001-08:00

Grassroots Minute 2.6.09

2009-02-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

Grassroots Minute 1.30.09

2009-02-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

Here's the text of HR 45:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-45

Here it is on OpenCongress:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/show

Our nation is on it's death bed folks!

The direction we want to go?

2009-01-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

How many Tony Martins will this country have if the current administration gets it's way?

Cancelled Credit Card

2008-12-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I got out of bed the other day at about 11AM, after not getting off work until 5AM (the "natives" were restless). I ran down to the mailbox and grabbed the day's mail. I opened the envelope from Citigroup. I was greeted with a letter informing me that my interest rate on my MasterCard I had with them was going to practically double. Fortunately, my balance on that card was zero so I did what any prudent individual would do; I called the company to cancel the card. I was transferred to an "Account Specialist" (whatever the hell that is). After trying to make me feel better by telling me that thousands of people got similar letters, this guy did everything under the sun to keep me from cancelling, well, everything but offer to leave my card alone. He was offering to send me a check to put toward my car loa at 4.9%, give me a card with better "rewards", and give me a card with a full percent lower interest that what my card was going to. I finally had to remind this fool that his company was all over the news last week and that my tax dollar is effectively propping up the company! I basically had to tell him to shut up and just cancel the card.

Is it just me or is it a lousy business practice to take taxpayer money to "bail out" your company only to turn around a week later and treat your (taxpaying) customers like dirt?

Quote of the day 12/3/2008

2008-12-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.

~Bill Vaughan

Quote of the day 11/15/08

2008-11-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

Whatever starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread.

~Jimmy Carter

Leaky Plumbing

2008-11-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Another great analogy for the ObamaNation...

Barack Obama discovers a leak under his sink, so he calls Joe the Plumber to come and fix it. Joe drives to Obama's house, which is located in a very nice neighborhood and where it's clear that all the residents make more than $250,000 per year. Joe arrives and takes his tools into the house. Joe is led to the room that contains the leaky pipe under a sink. Joe assesses the problem and tells Obama, who is standing near the door, that it's an easy repair that will take less than 10 minutes.
Obama asks Joe how much it will cost. Joe immediately says, "$9,500."
"$9,500?" Obama asks, stunned. "But you said it's an easy repair!"
"Yes, but what I do is charge a lot more to my clients who make more than $250,000 per year so I can fix the plumbing of everybody who makes less than that for free," explains Joe. "It's always been my philosophy. As a matter of fact, I lobbied government to pass this philosophy as law, and it did pass earlier this year, so now all plumbers have to do business this way. It's known as 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act of 2008.' Surprised you haven't heard of it, senator."
In spite of that, Obama tells Joe there's no way he's paying that much for a small plumbing repair, so Joe leaves. Obama spends the next hour flipping through the phone book looking for another plumber, but he finds that all other plumbing businesses listed have gone out of business. Not wanting to pay Joe's price, Obama does nothing.
The leak under Obama's sink goes unrepaired for the next several days. A week later the leak is so bad that Obama has had to put a bucket under the sink. The bucket fills up quickly and has to be emptied every hour, and there's a risk that the room will flood, so Obama calls Joe and pleads with him to return. Joe goes back to Obama's house, looks at the leaky pipe, and says "Let's see this will cost you about $21,000."
"A few days ago you told me it would cost $9,500!" Obama quickly fires back.
Joe explains the reason for the dramatic increase. "Well, because of the 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act,' a lot of rich people are learning how to fix their own plumbing, so there are fewer of you paying for all the free plumbing I'm doing for the people who make less than $250,000. As a result, the rate I have to charge my wealthy paying customers rises every day. "Not only that, but for some reason the demand for plumbing work from the group of people who get it for free has skyrocketed, and there's a long waiting list of those who need repairs. This has put a lot of my fellow plumbers out of business, and they're not being replaced nobody is going into the plumbing business because they know they won't make any money. I'm hurting now too all thanks to greedy rich people like you who won't pay their fair share."
Obama tries to straighten out the plumber: "Of course you're hurting, Joe! Don't you get it? If all the rich people learn how to fix their own plumbing and you refuse to charge the poorer people for your services, you'll be broke, and then what will you do?"
Joe immediately replies, "Run for president, apparently."

~Original Author Unknown

Quote of the day 11/14/08

2008-11-14T08:50:00.001-08:00

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

~George Washington

Quote of the day 11/13/08

2008-11-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.

~Thomas Jefferson

Very Good Analogy

2008-11-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

The following is one of the best analogies I've ever read. I truly believe that it is this very mindset that got Barrack Obama elected:

Every evening, the same 10 friends eat dinner together, family style, at the same restaurant. The bill for all 10 comes to $100. They always pay it the way we pay taxes:

• The first four are poor and pay nothing.
• The fifth pays $1.
• The sixth pays $3.
• The seventh, $7
• The eighth, $12.
• The ninth, $18.
• The 10th, (the most well-to-do) pays $59.

One night the restaurant owner announces that because they're such good customers, he's dropping their group dinner bill to $80. Let's call that a tax cut. They want to continue paying their bill as we pay taxes. So the four poorest men still eat free. But if the other six split the $20 tax cut evenly, each would save $3.33. That means the fifth and sixth men would end up being paid to eat. The restaurant owner works out a plan: The fifth man eats free; the sixth pays $2; the seventh, $5; the eighth, $9; the ninth, $12; and the 10th guy pays $52. All six are better off than before, and the four poor guys still eat for nothing. The trouble starts when they leave the restaurant and begin to compare what they reaped from the $20 cut. "I only got a dollar of it," says the sixth man, "but he (pointing at No. 10) got $7." The fifth guy, who also saved a dollar by getting his meal free, agrees that it's not fair for the richest to get seven times the savings as he. No. 7, grousing that the wealthy get all the breaks, points out that he only got two bucks. "Wait a minute," the first four poor guys yell in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men jump the 10th and administer a severe beating. The next night he doesn't come for dinner. They shrug it off and eat without him. The customary $80 bill comes. Surprise! They're $52 short.Yes, those who pay the most taxes get the most back from tax reductions. But tax them too much — punish them for the wealth they may have — and they just might stop bringing their money to the table.

~Author Unknown

In the last week I've alienated a couple on and offline friends with my anger. Please understand that in the same week the nation elected a president who I believe is going to tax me out of my ability to retire (at least for some years) I received an announcement that the governor of the great state of California is going to punish me for my own state's woes by cutting my pay 5%. To put a 5% pay reduction into perspective, that is 3/4 of my gasoline money or about 1/2 of my grocery budget. And all of THAT news comes on the heels of a friend of 25 years blowing his brains out. Yeah, it's looking like a lovely year!

I make very good money (6 figures). But I got out of high school with nothing and got to where I am by hard work and sound decision making. I had little help from anyone. Now I must endure a political environment in which I'll be mandated to give up a substantial amount of what I've spent 24 years in the work force to achieve to "help" people who haven't paid those same dues. It's as if I'm to be punished for applying myself and working long hours (I average 14 months a year if you add up my hours).

Where is it going to end, folks?

Liberal Training Manual Page 1

2007-08-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

SEVENTEEN WAYS TO BE A GOOD LIBERAL

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are more of a threat than nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iran , China and North Korea .

4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but PETA activists do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

11. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

12. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

13. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln.

14.You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

15. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

16. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag queens and transvestites should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

17. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

GOD BLESS AMERICA . Oops, can't do that either!!

~Original author unknown

The Forgotten Cop

2007-07-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Most of those "in the biz" have seen this but perhaps some of you on the outside might get a little more perspective on the "dumb knuckle dragger"....

What would the average citizen say if it were proposed that police officer be assigned to a neighborhood which was inhabited by no one but criminals and those officers would be unarmed, patrol on foot and be heavily outnumbered? I wager that the overwhelming public response would be that the officers would have to be crazy to accept such an assignment. However, as you read this, such a scenario is being played out in all areas of the country.

I am a state corrections officer, not a guard, who is a person that catches school crossings. I work in a maximum security correctional facility. I am empowered by the State to enforce its penal laws and the rules
and regulations of the Department of Corrections . In short, I am a policeman. My beat is totally inhabited by convicted felons, who, by definition, are people who tend to break laws, rules and regulations. I am outnumbered by as much as 20, 30 and even 40 to 1 at various times during my workday, and contrary
to popular belief, I work without a sidearm. In short, my neck is on the line every minute of every day.

A correctional facility is a very misunderstood environment. The average person has little knowledge of its workings. Society sends its criminals to correctional facilities and as time passes, each criminal's crime fades from our memory until the collective prison population becomes a vision of hordes of bad people being warehoused away from decent society in a place where they can cause no further harm. There is also the notion that prison inmates cease to be a problem when they are incarcerated.

Correctional facilities are full of violence perpetrated by the prison population against each other and the facility staff. Felonies are committed daily but they are called "unusual incidents" rarely result in public prosecution. Discipline is handled internally and, as a rule, the public is never informed of these crimes. In the course of maintaining order in these facilities, many officers have endured the humiliation of being spit upon and having urine and feces thrown at them. Uncounted correction officers have been punched and kicked, bitten, stabbed and slashed with home made weapons, taken hostage and even murdered in the line of duty, all the while being legally mandated to maintain their professional composure and refraining from any retaliation which could be the basis for dismissal from service.

In addition to these obvious dangers, corrections officers face hidden dangers in the form of AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Courts are now imposing longer sentences and the prison population is increasing far beyond the system's designed capacity. As the Public demands more police on the street, governments everywhere are cutting police in prisons where violence reigns supreme, jeopardizing all those still working behind prison walls.

Although you will never see me on "RESCUE 911" or "TOP COPS" I am a law enforcement professional. I am THE FORGOTTEN COP, hidden from public view, doing dangerous thankless duty on the world's most dangerous beat, hoping someday to received the respect of and approval from the public whom I silently serve.

~Original author unkown

Things That Burn My Ass Number 6

2006-08-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Expatriots being allowed to vote in the U.S.A.

Don't like our political climate? Feel it's bad enough to move out of the country? Great. Have a nice life. Just don't sit up in Canada or any other nation and cast your vote here. Am I the only one in this country who's against dual citizenship? Either you want to be an American or you don't. Either is acceptable with me. Just have the intestinal fortitude to make the decision all the way.

Off the soapbox. For now.

(Please note that I know the word is spelled expatriate. I just like my spelling better. Perhaps I should have hyphenated it to get my point across (ex-patriot).)

Things that burn my ass...

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Things That Burn My Ass Number 5

2006-06-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Parts of stores opening at different times!!!

I went to my "friendly neighborhood Wally-World" this morning with one mission: to make a nice little greeting card for my wife using one of my digital photos. Well, stupid me, I figured since the store was open at 7am and the time was after 8am that it would be all good. Well, imagine my surprise when I found that the photo department wasn't open until 9am. LOVELY! Well, not to let it bother me, I went up the street to Wrong-Aid and couldn't even get them to nail down a time for me. "9 or 9:30," was the reply I got there. TERRIFIC!!! Well, I drove 15 miles into town so I figured I had to do something to justify the gas (currently around $3.50 a gallon here) so I went to Safeway to get some donuts. This went swimmingly as long as you wanted plain glazed, regular chocolate, or plain dry-ass old fashioned! Well, a bouquet of carnations, 2 chocolates and 2 glazed later I returned home!

Off the soapbox. FOR NOW!

The Things That Burn My Ass series...

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Memorial Day Weekend

2006-05-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has a great weekend this week even though the weather is less than stellar (at least out here on the left(ist) coast).I would ask just one thing of all my friends, family and acquaintances:

Take a moment to remember what the holiday is actually about and give thanks to the many brave souls who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can remain free!

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below..

~John McCrae
From the poem, Flanders Fields

Things That Burn My Ass #4

2006-05-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Email Urban Legends

Folks really need to do a little research before they blindly forward stuff. Guess what: Robin Williams didn't say that, George Carlin didn't say that, nor did Ted Nugent, Andy Roony, etc, etc.

Even if those statistics reinforce your political beliefs, it's wrong to send them to everyone on your contact list if they aren't even close to accurate.

Oh, and by the way, those email petitions you get? (you know, add your name to the bottom of the list and send it on) This doesn't work. There is no credibility to it. Anyone can write names out of the phone book until they get 100 or 500 or 1000 and send it somewhere. The only electronic petitions with ANY clout are the ones actually ON a website where they can track IP addresses and even that isn't near as good as handwritten signatures.

Some great resources:

TRUTH OR FICTION

SNOPES

BREAK THE CHAIN

Signing off, for now.

The Things that burn my ass series:

one

two

three

The Side of Corrections the Liberal Media Doesn't Want You to See...

2006-05-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I took my family to the Lassen County Children's Fair on May 6. As they do every year, volunteers from my local chapter of the California Correctional Peace Officer's Association were there as part of the Thumbs Up Child Protection Project. They take the time to fingerprint and photograph children and make ID cards for them in case a child is ever lost or abducted.

Here are a few snapshots of the event. Keep in mind I was in line with my own whippersnapper so I wasn't able to get great photos but you should get the idea of just how busy it was...

These folks worked there tails off that day and should be commended for it! Unfortunately, I somehow doubt it will make even our local newspaper.

May 1st Illegal Alien Boycott - I'm all broken up about it!!!

2006-04-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow might just be a great time to get your shopping done. The illegal aliens aren't likely to be in your way. I was going to write something more in depth about this but I find this article to be good enough. Plus, I'm running a tad late. I have to go do my part to keep the illegals who have actually been caught committing crimes locked up so your tax dollar can keep paying to support them.

Handy New Blog...

2006-04-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Jon King (of Paco Villa fame) is copy/ pasting with reckless abandon to keep the correctional community informed!!! His new blog is your one stop shopping place for all things doRc!!!

Why I Hate the Loony Left.

2006-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Everyone in out great nation has a right to dissent and not all democrats are bad people. Hell, there are a few I may even consider voting for (Zel Miller for example). But at what point does your dissent become just plain treason? Did any of these folks cross the line?

Original author(s) of the above photos unknown.

Things that burn my ass #3

2006-04-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

This one is short and sweet:

People who buy 8000 dollars worth of groceries and wait until the total is tallied up to start writing their check! Let's have some respect people! I need to get home and see what my TiVo recorded!!!

Stay tuned!!!

Bars on My Window

2006-04-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Bars on my window
Cage me within
This world of filth
Violence and sin

Cage me within
a beast in a cage
As I peer though
it fills me with rage

A beast in a cage
Ive lost some of me
Im nothing like
who I used to be

Ive lost some of me
in this sea of hate
Oh, how I wish
I could exit the gate

In this sea of hate
the cold wind blows
I can stare only through
the bars on my window.

Copyright 2006 by Mike Lee

Some more great imagery!!!

2006-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a site worthy of a view. It contains a flash animation with a good many great images of our troups set to the them from the movie Gladiator. Relax, enjoy it for a couple minutes, regardless of your take on the war:

http://objflicks.com/GladiatorAmericanStyle.htm

Also on the imagery front:

I have posted some of my images on a site called the Morguefile. Morguefile is a place to get open license stock photos for any sort of project you might need them for. A lady by the name of Elizabeth Strauss found a use for one of my waterfall images on her blog. I figured the least I could do was link her up...

http://lettingmebe.blogspot.com/

The post itself:

http://lettingmebe.blogspot.com/2006/04/hope-is-waterfall.html

Your humble blogger is flattered!

Ok one more silly little game...

2006-04-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

Picture if you will; it's almost closing time at your friendly neighborhood Wal-mart (or Super Wal-mart). You walk up to the checkout counter with 3 distinctive items that are totally going to freak the cashier out! What are they? You can use any quantity of each item but only 3 different items. Some examples:

An ink pen, a writing tablet, rope.

Sleeping pills, a tarp, an axe.

15 gallons of prune juice, hip waders, a pressure washer.

Shovel, chainsaw, jumbo box of hefty bags.

I'll only impose one other rule: Stay off anything that will lead down a road to pedophilia or child abuse. Just not cool and none of us need a knock on the door by the FBI. Let's see what ya'll got...

Things that burn my ass #2

2006-04-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone's driving but my own.

George Carlin once asked, "Have you ever noticed that everyone in the world who drives slower than you is an ass and everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac?"

How true can you get? I can expand on it a bit with some of my highway peeves:
Passing lanes:
Why does the average jerk feel the need to use exactly the full amount of the passing lane to get the job done, whether it's a mile long or 400 feet?
Why does the same jerk then slow down to a speed slower than the guy he just passed as soon as the passing lane is over.
Tailgaters:
Self explanatory. Go the hell around or back the hell off
Turn signals:
Here's an idea; use the damn things
Cell phones:
Pull the hell over before you kill someone. I have bad news. The world doesn't need you all that badly. It'll keep turning if stop your car to engage in whatever idol chit-chat you feel you must.

Ok, done for now.

Illegal Imigration; The Quiz

2006-04-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

As the debate on illegal immigration heats, this Pop Quiz will help measure ones "liberalism quotient"---the opposite of intelligence--- on this vital issue:

1. Illegal immigration is:
( ) Desperately needed by liberals in order to win elections
( ) A misnomer...they are actually undocumented Democrats!
( ) Mexico's chief export
( ) NOT a threat to U.S. homeland security. Why would Mexican peasants destroy the land of free gravy and tacos?

2. Border security should be:
( ) Ignored, because we need cheap lettuce
( ) Ignored, because we need cheap lettuce AND More Democrats
( ) Turned over to Vicente Fox in the name of Diversity and Inclusiveness
( ) Used to keep Republicans out of the U.S.

3. The proposed fence between the U.S. and Mexico is:
( ) A terrific idea, if built by firms owned by women and minorities
( ) Unconstitutional because it discriminates against Mexicans too fat to climb over a fence
( ) "Pork Barrel " in Red States, but economic necessity in blue states

4. The proposed Guest Worker Program:
( ) Is illegal if it prevents Mexicans from collecting welfare and/or food stamps
( ) Will work if the workers are required to join a labor union
( ) Should include free health care, driver's licenses, college degrees, and interest-free mortgages for Mexicans
( ) Sounds like amnesty, but Mexicans here illegally deserve amnesty!

Spanish Vs. English: New Mexican immigrants should:
( ) Be required to continue with Spanish as their only language because DNC has printed 30 million ballots in Spanish for the 2008 election
( ) Be kept English-illiterate to avoid exposure to GOP lies and propaganda
( ) Be taught vital English words and phrases like welfare, food stamps, ACLU, racism, class-action lawsuit, Vote Democrat! and the like, ASAP.

NOTE: In the true spirit of liberalism there are no wrong answers to the above quiz. Please give yourself an A+, pat yourself on the back, and go play a game of soccer (don't keep score though)

Special thanks to Swoose for hitting yet another home run!!!

Wind and Wire

2006-04-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

Wind through wire
a melancholy song
why am I here
I don't belong

A melancholy song
music to my ears
I drift in time
to earlier years

Music to my ears
a song of pain
of innocence lost
of sanity drained

A song of pain
here in the dark
I think of how life
missed the mark

Here in the dark
life's lost it's fire
I listen to the sound
of wind through wire.

Copyright 2006 by Mike Lee

No one can accuse this guy of not havin' a pair...

2006-03-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

In the unlikely event you are the original author of this photo or the wearer of the shirt drop me a line to receive the credit you're most certainly due.

Things That Burn My Ass #1

2006-03-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

While watching the TV this morning (something I actually don't do much of late) I had a bit of an inspiration for this blog. Starting now I'm going to start a bit of a series, if you will, of the things that really piss me off. As one can already see I'm going to call it Things That Burn My Ass!!! These little tidbits will not be in any order so just because the one I'm about to start with is number one it isn't the top-ranked ass-burner. It is simply the one that inspired the idea. I will cross post all of these on my MySpace blog and once I have a dozen of them or so I'll archive them all on a web page over at theleeworld.com. Ok, here goes:

Ambulance Chasing Lawyers

Or more specifically ambulance chasing lawyers who openly advertise that they are ambulance chasing lawyers. Does this sound familiar?:

Do you have (insert type of cancer here) and think it may have been caused by exposure to (asbestos or some other nasty thing)?

or

Do you have (some terrible disease) that may have been caused by a pre-op injection?

Then call the law offices of (some shyster) now!

This is just friggen lovely! Let's plant some seeds in someone's mind so they can help us make an unscrupulous buck! And we wonder why we (Americans) look like such idiots to the rest of the world!

Off the soap box for now. Stay tuned.

Man, I rock!!!

2006-03-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

Just took this little personality test this morning. Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that the scoring computer must be malfunctioning.....

You Have A Type A- Personality

A-

You are one of the most balanced people around
Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want
You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you.

When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back
Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love!
You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Want a shot at the title? Click here.

I'm baaack....I think...LOL

2006-03-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

Both of you who read this have probably noticed that I haven't exactly fed it much of late. Well, I have been and still am, absolutely buried with family requirements, my lovely job and so on.

The other day while completely absorbed in self-pity I stabbed at the keys of my keyboard and hacked out what was sorta like a poem only different. After I posted it my online bud, Jon King linked me up to it on Paco's blog and restored the link to this site on his. Way to put the pressure on, Jon! I'd hate to have to have you re-remove your link so I guess now I have to start feeding this beast again.

I'm probably going to take it a slightly different direction although I'm not exactly sure how. The first thing I'm going to do is pull the links to this spot off of my family site. This will free me and my commenters from having to chose their words so carefully. Got some venting to do? Let's do it!

Stay tuned!

Great Photo Gallery

2006-03-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd link up this little site I came accross. It contains a good number of photos showing the positive side of what our troops are doing in Iraq (refreshing, no?)

Non-MSM Photos

Not a poet and I DO know it!!!

2006-03-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

Turn a burned out guard loose with a word processor and bad things happen.....

(just something I hacked out while feeling sorry for myself the other day...no need to panic....LMAO)

The Felony Abyss

My mind wanders...
...thinking something's amiss
A steel door slams
I'm in the Felony Abyss

I dive these depths
to earn my spoils
And sentence myself
to this life of turmoil...

...A penance I pay
for a young life squandered
What could I have changed
I often ponder

Hatred and anger
Misery and pain
Violence and danger
All decency drains

A sub-culture
beyond all compare
Your sanity at risk
enter if you dare

I walk this line
protect a public ungrateful
No thanks do I get
their writings ever hateful

At the end of the day
I exit the door
Another piece of myself
I leave on the floor

At night when I'm home
I lie in my bed
Try to shake the demons
loose from my head

I'll return tomorrow
though I know not why
'tis my solemn wish
to bid the abyss goodbye

The above copyright 2006 by Mike Lee (like someone would want to steal it anyway...LOL)

Cross posted on my MySpace Blog

Tookie Williams

2005-12-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

The California Governator is slated to hear arguements on Thursday, the 8th on the subject of whether or not to grant clemency to Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Hey, all the guy did was help found one of the worst street gangs in Los Angeles' history and kill a few folks in cold blood. What the hell! Let him live because he wrote a children's book! Click here for your chance to weigh in on the subject.......

Prop 73

2005-11-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

I just found out that Proposition 73 was shot down. Score another victory for the secular agenda! Now my 17 year old daughter can get an abortion without my knowledge. Terrific! California, you disgust me. I can't wait to retire and get the hell out of this liberal cesspool!

Hope for Patriotism, Perhaps?

2005-07-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

I'd just like to report that my good friend (and long lost fishing buddy) Ken is home on leave from his deployment in Iraq. On his trip home he had to lay-over in the Dallas airport for 9 hours. It warmed my heart to hear of the reception he got upon landing! Just before his plane touched down an announcement was made that he and the two other returning soldiers on board were to exit the plane first. Ken said that immediately upon disembarking they were greeted by a cheering crowd! He went on to tell me that during his entire 9 hour stay he was unable to pay for anything. The airport "comped" him and his fellow soldiers the use of an executive area where they could grab a shower. He went into a bar for his first cold beer since last October (they aren't allowed to drink while "in country" in Iraq) and a gentleman promptly bought him one. When he tried to pay for his dinner in the cafe where he ate his waitress told him another gentleman had paid for his meal!

The people of Dallas Texas (or at least those in the Airport the night before last) should applaud themselves for the warm welcome home they gave to those who are helping to protect our safety!

As good as I feel about this, I can't help but think that had Ken landed at, say SFO, he wouldn't have gotten such a reception!

Gotta love the MSM!!!

2005-07-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching a piece from last night's 60 Minutes (TiVo rules!) about individual ready reservists being called up for active duty with the armed forces. What really caught my attention (and ticked me off, quite frankly) was the way the story focused on a few people who claimed to be wrongly called up. While I'm sure some mistakes are being made (the armed forces are made up of government agencies after all), most of the "call ups" are within established guidelines.

Further adding to my anger at the piece was the fact that it made no mention of all the folks volunteering to "re-up", many after years of civilian life.

This is just one more example of how the main stream media will spin a story to further a left wing agenda.

For those of you unfamiliar with the military reserve structure there is some decent information available here.

A Noble Use of the Blogosphere!!!

2005-06-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

It seems some folks in the Perris California area have decided to set up a blog to show their extreme displeasure at the release of a very violent child sex offender. They've done a wonderful job of chronicling demonstrations etc including photos. I urge all to check it out!

Special thanks to OSAPian for pointing this out to your humble blogger.

A True Patriot in Need of a Salute!!!

2005-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

I just heard about a Cleveland Ohio heart surgeon by the name of Robert Stewart who has decided to set aside a 23 year career in heart surgery to enlist in the United States Army. 57 year old Doctor Stewart said he's been growing restless with the thought of wanting to help his country for the last year or so. It seems he was in college during the Vietnam conflict so was passed over for the draft and now wants to give something back to the nation that has given him so much.

Doctor Stewart, you are a truly great American!

Sources:
Fox News Channel
WVA news

Jason Klein Case - Perhaps there still is hope for child disipline afterall!

2005-06-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Last month a Newark Ohio man by the name of Jason Klein was tried for domestic violence after his 13 year old son's P.E. coach noticed bruises on the kid's backside. Klein had paddled the boy's behind with a wooden paddle (breadboard) after finding that the youngster had stolen liquor and got drunk with several other underage kids. The case went to a jury trial and Mr. Klein was aquitted much to the chagrine, I'm sure, of bleeding heart liberals everywhere.

Interestingly enough the local child protection agency had already completed an investigation into the allegations and dropped the case months prior to the charges being filed. Fortunately Mr. Klein was lucky enough to draw a jury with enough common sense to distinguish between disipline and abuse.

About now any left leaner reading this is thinking Klein should have used his bare hand to spank the kid (or give him a "time out" perhaps?). Oh yeah, did I mention the kid is 6'3" and 190 pounds? I'm sure some day the boy will thank his dad for quite possibly preventing him from being killed in a drunk driving accident or something equally senseless. It's called tough love and more folks need to try it.

Yes, perhaps there is hope for our society yet.

Sources:
cantonrep.com
The O'Reilly Factor - Fox News Channel

Father - Daughter Talk

2005-05-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I just received this in an email and thought it too good not to share. I don't know who the original author is but it is absolutely beautiful!

Father-Daughter talk

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college.
Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very
liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution
of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather
staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the
lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a
professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish
desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher
taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare
programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her
professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.

He responded by asking her how she was doing in school. Taken
aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him
know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a
very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her
no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't
even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college
friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey
doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes
are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a2.0 GPA .
She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's
always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even
show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's
office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your
friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA.
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily
fired back, "That wouldn't be fair!I have worked really hard for
my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work!
Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played
while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently,
"Welcome to the Republican Party."

Note to my loyal readers (both of you)

2005-05-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

As you have probably noticed I have nothing to blog home about lately. I haven't abandoned this blog. I'm just simply swamped with projects as I always am this time of year. I'm lucky if I can take 15 minutes to sit down and watch the news the last few weeks. Hopefully things will settle down eventually and I'll get inspired to rant and rave about something again. Meanwhile, I recommend that you click the link at the bottom of this page and sign up for email notices if the blog does change. This will save you the trouble of checking back and feeling the shear disappointment of there being nothing new here (LOL).

This upcoming weekend I'll be heading to Lake Almanor so hopefully if nothing else I'll have something to add to the fishing blog. Wish me luck!

Paradox of our Age....inspiring essay

2005-05-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to watch the news or anything lately hense the lack of any posts. In order to keep this beast fed I thought I'd shamelessly use the copy/paste functionality of my keyboard to post a little essay I happen to like.

The Paradox of Our Age
By Dr. Bob Moorehead

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; love too seldom and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace; higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less. We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, thow-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room. Indeed, these are the times!

Dr. Bob Moorehead is former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. He retired in 1998 after 29 years in that post. The essay appeared in 'Words Aptly Spoken,' Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.

Oil Prices.....Anyone actually seeing it?

2005-05-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

I'm curious about something:

All the news has talked about regarding oil prices for the last several weeks is how they're continually dropping. Has anyone actually seen this at the pump? Prices here in Redneckville have remained static throughout the past month. I'm sure if tomorrow crude jumps up a nickel a barrel though our gas prices will rise even though oil prices would still be well below what they were a month ago.

Anyone else smell a rat?

No More Anonymous Posting

2005-05-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

Effective immediately there will be no more anonymous posting on this blog. I've had 3 or 4 anonymous posts so far and it drives me bananas trying to figure out whether they are from the same person or 4 different people or something between. Blogger usernames are free and easy to set up. You need not give any personal information to get one so essentially you can still post anonymously but at least folks reading will know which posts come from one individual.

Thanks to all who have read my little rants and raves so far. I'm at 9.9 unique visitors daily now. If I can get 11 readers tomorrow I'll have my average into double digits! Woo Hoo!! Special thanks to those who have taken the time to post comments (especially those with differing opinions from my own).

Cedillo Strikes Again

2005-05-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

Under current California Law if you're stopped by a law enforcement officer without a valid driver's license you may have your car impounded, right? Right. This is still true if you happen to be an illegal alien, right? Right, for now.

Under proposed legislation by Senator Gil Cedillo illegal aliens would be exempted from having their cars impounded under section 14602.6 of the California Motor Vehicle Code. Some of you may remember that Cedillo was at the forefront of the push to grant illegal aliens the right to get driver's licenses in California some time back.

How far out can these leftists get?

Special thanks to Sher Zieve for pointing this out to your humble blogger.

Still another reason to love the ACLU

2005-05-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

This is relatively old news but I just came across it and it’s not exactly mainstream. Last fall the ACLU issued a press release about parts of the Patriot Act being shot down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. They were giddy about the decision and called it a great victory against the civil rights violations of John Ashcroft’s justice department. Only one problem: They had the completely wrong law. The law that actually got shot down was (part of) the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 authored by, you guessed it, a Democrat (Pat Leahy to be exact). At the time the Electronic Communications Privacy Act was passed the ACLU supported it since it protected folks from civil rights violations.

I think this is just beautiful! 18 years after a law originally supported by the ACLU gets passed the ACLU gets ecstatic about it’s defeat simply because they (mistakenly) think it’s a law authored by John Ashcroft. If this doesn’t expose them as the partisan phonies they are I don’t know what will.

Sources:
Washington Times
aclu.org

A "toast" to Jennifer Wilbanks

2005-05-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I was sort of considering writing my opinion about the infamous "runaway bride" story that's been going on down Georga way. I punched up a search on Google News and lo and behold there it was; Some great, twisted humor on the subject. It seems a gentleman in New Jersey has found a way to make the most of the situation.

Maybe he can take the proceeds from his auction and donate it to the law enforcement officials who are out 100 grand. Ok, maybe not.

ACLU, Boy Scouts, NAMBLA

2005-04-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Just an article I want to share.
Deroy Murdock pretty much writes my views with a level of eloquence I'll never possess.

Redneck Pride!

2005-04-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

In recent days I've been criticized for my pride in being a redneck.For some reason alot of folks (most of whom are city-slickers) seem to think the term is automatically derogatory. Quite the contrary, it is in fact something to take pride in. Foxworthy's definition is probably the closest to the way I mean it: The glorious absence of sophistication. This is not to say I'm taking pride in being stupid as one individual alluded to. While my formal education is indeed quite limited with only a high school diploma and 37 units from a junior college, I have an MBA from HKU (Hard Knocks University). Most of what I've learned in my relatively brief 38 years I've learned by living life and busting my tail for every single thing I own.

In summary, if the ability to work with one's hands, think on one's feet, etc, etc are bad things, color me bad!

What this world needs is a few more rednecks
Some people ain't afraid to take a stand
What this world needs is a little more respect
For the Lord and the law and the workin' man
We could use a little peace and satisfaction
Some good people up front to take the lead
A little less talk and a little more action
And a few more rednecks is what we need.

~Charlie Daniels
Singer, Songwriter, Patriot, Redneck

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - Don't dare to morn your loved one lest his killer go free...

2005-04-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

In a recent decision by my favorite communist courthouse in San Francisco a murder conviction was overturned because the victim’s family wore badges with the victim's picture on them! Are you kidding me?

In 1995 Mathew Musladin was convicted of shooting Tom Studer to death. During the trial Struder’s family wore small buttons with his picture on them. Musladin was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without parole. Now, 10 years later, the Ninth District Court has ruled (2-1 decision) that the buttons, worn by a grieving family, may have biased the jurors. This is an outrage! Hopefully, the district attorney will be able to salvage the case but the bottom line is we shouldn’t have to convict a man by a jury of 24 of his peers when the law says 12!

In my opinion this is the only reason a person should need to vote conservative. Imagine what would happen if we had a longer run of liberal presidents appointing judges like this!

Dastardly, Distasteful, Disrespectful Dean At It Again

2005-04-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

(Does that qualify him to be one of the Girls of the Triple D?....just curious)

This past Wednesday Howard Dean gave a speech in Minnesota filled with his usual rhetoric about how he got into politics to make great changes and bring the country out of the sewer, yadda, yadda, yadda….. He even threw in a nice little impression of Rush Limbaugh snorting cocaine complete with the appropriate sound effects. He then admitted that this wasn’t very dignified, adding “…but I’m not running for president anymore” as if this somehow made his reprehensible remarks acceptable.

Without even getting into the fact that Rush was addicted to prescription pain killers that were prescribed legally, a condition which happens to millions of Americans with serious illnesses and injuries every year, Dean’s remarks were more than just undignified. I would say they were borderline libelous but then I’m not an attorney so what do I know?

Note to Democrats: As long as your party elevates radical idiots like this to it’s highest positions and allows the Michael Moores of the world to sit at it's tables the right side of the aisle will continue to grow.

Quick Definition

2005-04-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

Slow Speed Yo-Yo Operator:
The job G. Gordon Liddy says any prison guard would qualify for if he or she wasn't a prison guard. This is based on his opinion that prison guards have the intellect of half a glass of water.
(source: Hannity and Colmes show, Fox News Channel)

Mr. Liddy,

If my intellect is that of half a glass of water your's is that of an amoeba within said glass. You sir are living proof that law degrees were once available in a box along with caramel pop-corn and peanuts.

Disclaimer: The preceding has been the opinion of the author and is not intended to be published as fact. It is quite possible that G. Gordon Liddy does in fact have the intellect of two amoebas combined.

Los Angeles Seal - The ACLU strikes again

2005-04-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the ACLU has struck again. Fearing a lawsuit from these radical socialists, the County of Los Angeles has removed the cross from it’s official seal. The ACLU claims that by having the Judeo-Christian symbol of the cross on it’s seal Los Angeles County was violating the First Amendment provision on separation of church and state. Interestingly enough, they made no mention of the huge pagan goddess in the center of the seal which dwarfed the cross.

Even Dennis Prager, a very prominent jew, disagrees with this decision.

This is just one more example of how liberal groups who preach freedom of choice and tolerance are some of the most restrictive, intolerant individuals in the world.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it many more times, I’m sure: The ACLU is not our friend.

Judeo-Christian
1)adj : being historically related to both Judaism and Christianity; "the Judeo-Christian tradition"
2) the value system by which the United States of America was founded

Sources:
Hannity and Colmes, Fox News Channel
WorldNetDaily

Free for all space.

2005-04-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

I've decided to create a little spot for anyone who doesn't necessarily have an "on topic" comment but wants to say something about the blog or, heaven forbid, me in general. Have a random comment or a shot to take?(within blog rules of course) This is the place to do it.

Here's an example. This comment was originally posted by Hellenbach in my Hanoi Jane Rides Again post:

LOL...You know, I had a sinking feeling that I was misquoting the great Kenny R. when I weas doing that piece. However, the only thing that I could have thought of that would have been more silly then the tounge-in-cheek attempt at plagarism would have been to actually spend time researching the lyrics to "The Gambler". But I trully appreciate the comment, and whether you approve or not, you now have a new reader!

It's not relevant to the topic but it was a welcomed comment and I didn't want to be a jerk and just delete it outright. Hence the creation of this free for all zone.

Hanoi Jane Rides Again

2005-04-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone's favorite communist activist turned successful capitalist has released a new book. This means she's in the news once again and the debate over whether or not she's a traitor to the United States of America is back in full swing. Now, even as opinionated as I am I do believe in being fair. There are many different stories circulating about Barbarella's conduct durning the Vietnam conflict. Most of these stories are completely false i.e. the story about Jane passing the notes that GI's gave her to their Vietnamese captors. Those of you who have given weight to the email legends going around, don't (The top 100 women of the century one has gotten new life after 5 years).

Now, let's take a look at some things that really did happen. Here's a few pieces of the transcript from her infamous broadcast on radio Hanoi:
....I cherish the memory of the blushing militia girls on the roof of their factory, encouraging one of their sisters as she sang a song praising the blue sky of Vietnam--these women, who are so gentle and poetic, whose voices are so beautiful, but who, when American planes are bombing their city, become such good fighters......
.......As I left the United States two weeks ago, Nixon was again telling the American people that he was winding down the war, but in the rubble-strewn streets of Nam Dinh, his words echoed with sinister (words indistinct) of a true killer. And like the young Vietnamese woman I held in my arms clinging to me tightly--and I pressed my cheek against hers--I thought, this is a war against Vietnam perhaps, but the tragedy is America's........
(complete transcript available here)

And let's not forget the pictures of Jane sitting on the Vietnamese anti aircraft gun wearing a Vietnamese helmet.

Ok, now just exactly what is a traitor? Here's our founding fathers' take on it:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

~United States Constitution, Article III, Section 3, Clause 1

Since this is the World According to Mike I will now give my view. If the propaganda photos and radio broadcasts didn't give aid and comfort to the enemy, I don't know what would have. Jane Fonda is a traitor to the United States based on the facts.

Disclaimer: I was 5 years old in 1972. I cannot possibly have the passion about this subject as someone who'd reached adulthood at that time. I can only read history books and watch documentaries to form opinions on anything relating to this volatile time in our history.

Michael Jackson Trial

2005-04-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

On one hand I want to say where there's smoke there's fire. However, in the case of someone as wealthy as Jackson greed can be a big motivator. It has to be very tempting to jump on the bandwagon so to speak for anyone who's been associated with Jackson over the last few years.

If I had to lay money on it I'd say he's guilty as sin but that's going strictly on gut instinct. The guy is obviously not right in the head. Just look at the freakish things he's had done to his own body. This case certainly brings up some interesting questions, however. In this age of 24 hour news, internet, etc will there ever be such a thing as a fair trial for anyone even remotely famous?

The Minuteman Chronicles

2005-04-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post there is a group of people down in Arizona who have begun patrolling the U.S./Mexican border there. This is interesting to me so I'll use this post to sort of chronicle the events that will surround this. Even though it is mostly a P.R. stunt, the stage is set for a certain amount of drama

The first thing that stands out to me is that the ACLU is already standing by to protect the civil rights of the illegal immigrants who are apprehended. Wait a minute! Doesn't the A in ACLU stand for American? Shouldn't the illegal aliens (er, excuse me, undocumented workers...wouldn't want to offend) contact the MCLU?

Expatriate your country. - Vote in it anyway!!!

2005-04-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

How many of you are aware that a person can leave the United States to reside in another country yet still retain their voting rights here?

Don't like things in the U.S.A? No problem. Just move to Canada, let the CBC poison your mind worse than CNN already has, and continue to cast a U.S. ballot in all key elections.

Don't think this is significant? Keep in mind that there are in excess of half a million individuals residing in Canada while retaining U.S. citizenship. Thank god they didn't all come to the polls last november or we'd have president Kerry in the Whitehouse now (just typing that last sentence sent a chill down my spine).

Health Care/ Pharmaceutical Debacle

2005-04-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Let me get this straight; Daimler Chrysler can go to Mexico to build my Dodge pickup but I can't go to Canada if i choose to for my medications?!?!? Anyone else think the pharmaceutical lobby has gotten just a tad big for it's britches? I feel terribly sorry for anyone with serious health problems in this country today. I'm basically healthy aside from a weak Thyroid and high cholesterol and just the medication for those 2 things cost me a couple hundred bucks per year in co-pays (I don't even want to know what my insurance is kicking out). This combined with a litigious society gone wild and it's no wonder my health insurance premiums are a thousand bucks (!) per month for what amounts to an 80/20 plan.

Now before those left leaners among you start to scream about those mean old fascist Republicans, keep in mind this problem goes way back to the '80's or earlier. Translation: the Clinton administration dodged it too. Although, if Hillary get's her way we'll have socialized medicine by the end of her Presidential term. Ask the Canadians how well that's going.

If ever there was an issue that needed to transcend partisan politics this is it!!! Unfortunately, I don't see an end to it.

Social Security - Private Accounts

2005-04-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

Here we have another rather heated subject. I'd be interested in hearing some real folk's take on this one. From where I'm sitting it seems on the surface to be a reasonably good idea. Inject some Federal bureaucracy into the mix however and I fear it will turn into what I call a soup sandwich (translation: mess).

I for one have made plans to be 0% percent reliant on Social Security if at all possible. If you're under 40 you'd be foolish not to do the same in my humble opinion. I'm fortunate enough to not pay into it anymore. However my wife is self employed and therefore has to pony up the entire 12.4% herself so indirectly I do have a personal stake in this.

Here's sort of a laymen's pro/ con breakdown I came across:

My take on the ACLU

2005-03-31T11:56:00.000-08:00

"I am for socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the State itself as an instrument of violence and compulsion. I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal "

Roger Baldwin, founder of the American Civil Liberties Union.Quoted in the National Federation for Decency Journal, September 1988. Page 9.

It amazes me how many folks out there (property owning folks, no less) send part of their hard earned wages to an organization founded by such an individual.

I was recently criticized for being complacent in my viewing of current events, politics and such. To me complacent are the people who blindly follow this organization. If the ACLU has it's way America as we know it will cease to exist. Those of you who have worked for what you have should be scared.....very scared.

This nation was built on capitalism. While we certainly have our problems, opting for a socialist, entitlement society isn't the way to go. Don't believe me? Just ask Lenin, Stalin, or Marx.

The ACLU is not your friend.

Theresa Schiavo - 1963-2005

2005-03-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Rest in piece Terri. God help us all!!!

Abortion - Parental Consent

2005-03-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

Attention Californians:

It is quite likely we will be asked to vote in a special election this fall. One of the issues we may see on the ballot is a parental consent law for our young daughters considering abortion. This is serious stuff. Under current California law my 16 year old can get an abortion without telling me while her mom or I have to sign a consent form if she is to have a tooth filled. How rediculous is that!?!?!

Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.
Ronald Reagan

Our southern border saga

2005-03-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

A new group of individuals in the southwestern states has decided to take it upon themselves to patrol the Mexican borders. My hat is off to them and I wish them the best of luck. 10.3 million illegal aliens is plenty if you ask me! I voted for George W. Bush and I would again but his stance on the southern border is weak; PERIOD.

The Schiavo Fiasco

2005-03-30T08:21:00.000-08:00

Well, since we can't turn our TVs on without hearing about it, I figure it's as good of place as any to start.

While I'm a firm believer in a person's right to terminate any kind of artificial life support if there is no hope of regaining consciousness, I have several problems with this case.

1) Terri's wishes were never put into writing.

2) There is too much dispute in the medical community to convince me personally she is in fact in a "persistant vegitative state".

3) Michael Schiavo has begun a new life with a different woman. Is this not adultery? Where I'm from that is grounds for divorce. This would make the parents the guardians in absence of a living will, would it not?

4) Conflict of interest: If you only watch or read "mainstream" media sources you're probably unaware of the fact that Judge Greer received a campain contribution from George Felos, Michael Schaivo's attorney. Anyone else see a problem with that?

To sum it up, I believe this situation sets a dangerous precedence. Where are we as a society to draw the line now?