On Thursday night last week I woke up at 11:30 to the sound of someone walking around my living room. After looking under the covers to make sure my feet were still there and, at the same time, test whether I as dreaming, I decided that something weird and spooky was going on.
It was the sound of boards creaking under the weight of a foot attached to a body. I quickly ran through the scenarios about how someone would get in. Did I leave one of the three entrances unlocked like I did twice the previous week? Did the prowler come in through a window? Had I paid my bookie? How come I didn't hear the sound of breaking glass? How is he/she walking around in the dark without a flashlight? Then the sound stopped. Good, I thought, probably just the sound of the waterheater... getting a midnight snack... in the living room. Then it started again. The sound of someone trying to be as quiet as they can, but not doing a very good job.
Why hadn't I bought that hand gun I promised myself after I saw some putz dragging a hooker down the street last winter. Never mind... I keep a baseball bat in my closet, which means I have to get out of bed and walk across my squeaky bedroom floor to get to it. What if mr. Prowler hears me and paid has a handgun, because he listens to the little voice in his head! I'm screwed. But, as long as this is going to be the night I die, I may as well get it over with. I silently tossed my sheets back (I sleep with two sheets 'cause one is not warm enough and a sheet and blanket are too warm), I swung my feet out, with my eyes closed, because I hear better that way. I didn't hear a thing, except for those footsteps and the beating of my heart. Again, I tried to calm myself, perhaps it was the wind in the chimney or the chirping of a cricket or only a mouse crossing the floor. Yeah, those things all make sounds like someone walking on squeaky floor boards! Dumbass! Yes, the little voice in my head called me a "dumbass".
My self-degrading lasted but a second. Like a ballet dancer I was on my feet in one lithe move. I've learned many things watching TV over the years, like, how I hate watching other people kiss; how uncomfortable it is watching people do the horizontal bop with your mother in the room; how makeup can make everyone look better except Gloria Alred, but, with respect to the here-and-know, I've always wondered why people lifted their feet when trying to "sneak". Seriously, it always occurred to me that shuffling across a floor would make far less noise. Unfortunately, I had never tested my logic. But, I'll be danged, it seems to be true, because, I swear, I did not make a sound as I made my way to the closet, three strides, and because I'm not a woman and don't give a damn whether or not the closet door is open when I turn out the light, that was one less noise I had to worry about. Into the darkness I reached, my fingers bumping the bat right where grip is. I silently removed the bat. Then, stood silently in the dark. Actually, my room isn't 'pitch' dark. The neighbor leaves his "security" light on all night. And because I haven't gotten around to getting black-out curtains, a sliver of light, six feet in length and a quarter inch wide defiles the otherwise sanitary blackness of the night, like the sound of those footsteps have defiled my sense of security and which suddenly sound like theyre getting closer!
Once again my heart is racing. What if he shoots through the door? Then I shouldn't stand there! What if he kicks the door open? Then I shouldn't stand there either. And, CRAP, I'm on the wrong side of the kicked in door! I need to be on the other side so if he kicks it in, I can smack him in the puss with my Easton 32 ouncer. So I quickly shuffle to the right side of the door and get into my "I'm gonna smack the sh** out of that ball" stance. By the way, if you're wondering, the reason I can shuffle across the floor like Goofey on ice skates is I wear socks to bed. It's a recent innovation. While trying to discern optimal temperature for sleeping, it occured when I'm hot, my feet are happy as clams, but when I'm just right, my feet are cold. Hence, two sheets and two socks. Now I know how Goldilocks felt when she slipped betweem ma bears sheets.
Suddenly, the sound stopped. Had the person heard me? Was he planning his next dastardly move? Was he reloading his gun? Why would he be reloading his gun? Wait! Maybe I can see the light from his flashlight. Surely he has a flashlight. What kind of a prowler would prowl at night without a torch? So, silently, I lowered myself, first by the knees bending then by my torso folding at the waist, lowering my head to see if I can detect the passing light from a flashlight as it searches the darkness for clues. Tick, tick, tick... I can hear the sound of the great looking clock I bought at Big Lots for $9.95. Had I known it was going to make that much g-damn noise, I'd have bought the set of Ice tea glasses, instead. At this moment, it was comforting. Annoying, but comforting. Nothing. Minutes pass. It's now past midnight, I'm sure of it. And no more noise? What the hell is going on? How dare the prowler leave without at least trying to steal stuff in my bedroom.
Not being sure that said prowler had left, I couldn't get myself to settle. So, I decided to end it here and now. I thought about it some more. Maybe I should shuffle over to my nightstand and dial 911. Maybe I should have thought of that earlier. Yeah, but, it would be so embarrassing trying to explain how a chirping cricket could sound like a 200 pound man crossing a wooden floor! I decided that it had to end, here and now. This was it, the sum-total of my life. I was going out in a blaze of glory. Then I was going back to bed cause I "needs me 8 hours"!
Like Butch and Sundance, unaware what awaited me, I turned on the light and threw open the door. Silence. Sweet silence. No, wait, what's that? It's that noise... it's coming from... Above? Someone is in my attic? How the hell did they he up there? So I tap, tap, tapped on the 2by2 foot cover, just over my head, that leads into the attic. I do it again. And then I hear the tell tale sound of scratching. The kind of scratching only a four legged prowler makes when the claws are either on a rat or a possum. I was soo relieved. I could-a kissed that rat! I mean, think about it, at that very moment, I could have been lying on the floor, my life blood spilling on the squeaky floor boards, my body in the position of every body chalked on network TV, but no, there I was, putting my bat back in the closet, no, wait, better keep it next to the bed, just in case my rat friend can lift the board covering the attic access and I need to thump his little rat pumpkin. I don't need no stinking gun.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Dick Caveat - Yes, he's proud to be a progressive.
Dick Caveat wrote an opinion piece for the NY Times (Sunday September 5th). It seems there aren't enough elitist, high society bigots writing for the Times, so they print the opinion of a 3rd rate talk show host whose only claim to fame is interviewing Forest Gump. In order to get the gist of my rebuttal, please read Cavett's piece "Real Americans, Please Stand Up". Here's the link:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/real-americans-please-stand-up/#more-59593
Mr Caveat begins his whining with a tale about a phantom teacher from his lowly beginnings in Nebraska. How terrible for you, Dick, that you should have to admit that you even know there was a state named Nebraska, let alone that you were born and raised there. How sad for Nebraska, that someone of Caveat's limited intellect and athleticism was among the smartest and most agile among his peers. No, I'm not kidding.
So Dick regales us with a tale about threatening to rat-out Mrs G, his 6th grade teacher, as a rascist because she referred to people of Japanese descent as "dirty japs". What? Are you an idiot, Dick? In 1948, three years after Japanese surrender, the country was full of veterans with fresh memories of brothers in arms, who were not just killed by the Japanese, but butchered in heinous fasion, having their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths, left as a warning of the ruthless nature of the Japanese soldiers. You're right, Dick, Mrs G should have referred to them as "Our friends, the Japanese." I seriously doubt, Dick, your Mrs G would have been cowed by a 6th grader who knew nothing about the savagery of war. Or did your parents tell you that we deserved Pearl Harbor?
And what was the purpose of your next line "The rest of that year was difficult." Yeah, I'll bet it was. For Mrs G. Why did you then throw your dead uncle under a half-track by telling the world he blurted 'If I met a pregnant Japanese woman, I'd kick her in the belly.' Have you ever considered why your uncle would make such a statement? You claim that your uncle was merely repeating sentiment exersized by Admiral Halsey. I'm willing to lay odds that both your uncle and Adm Halsey saw many pregnant Japanese women in their lifetime and never once cocked a leg.
Dick reveals this heretical muckraking, evidently, to let us know that he has always been ashamed of "us". Really, Dick? And, who, pray tell, are these "us" to who you refer? While you're entitled to your opinion, Dick, it's a little hard to accept shame from a joke writer responsible for such gems as the one you wrote for Jack Paar, as an introduction for Jane Mansfield: "Ladies and gentleman, here they are, Jane Mansfield". No, there was nothing shameful or degrading in that intro, was there, Dick?
Then Caveat takes the gloves off and claims that everyone one of "us", who has spoken against the GZ Mosque is a bigot and/or a racist. How long have you been carrying that around inside, Dick?
Then Mr Caveat throws a dog a bone, remarking "surely few opponents of the Islamic Cultural Center would feel comfortable at the 'International Burn a Koran Day' planned by a southern (read "racist") church...". While Dick and Al Jazeera have joyously passed this on to their faithful, neither bothered to mention the unrelenting backlash by thousands of "southern" churches, disgusted that anyone would associate their church with such ill-will. Dick and Al Jazeera are only interested in that part of the truth that suits their political means. Well done, Dick.
Now Dick shows us the extent of his education at Yale by completely changing the First amendment's intent regarding the "freedom of religion". The freedom of religion clause was designed to keep the newly formed Federal Government of the United States from sticking it's nose in the states religous practices. Period. It was not a directive that every state had to accept and coddle every religion that came down the pike. Indeed, it wasn't until 1833 that the State of Massachusetts relinquished it's state sponsored religion, independent of Federal fiat. To consider the reality Islam and Islamists bring to our friends in Europe and find nothing disturbing is to be either dishonest or stupid. Our forefathers, like the MAJORITY of americans today, were people of common sense and if you think they would have sat idlly by while a religion and people hostile to the idea of the common good and individual freedom, inserted themselves, you are fatally mistaken. Your assertion that the Mohammedans in America loudly and universally condemned the events of 9/11, is indefensible. Other than a handful of people, both here and abroad, every Islamist nation in the world was either dancing in the streets or muttering to each other "take that you infidels!" Is it possible that you are really this disconnected? Or are you just stupid? As you said in your tirade in the times, Dick, "I'm just trying to understand".
With regard to eminent domain and private property, where were you and the Islamists when New London, CT trampled all over the rights of it's citizens? Secondly, I'm not aware of anyone declaring that the Masque "can't" be built two blocks from GZ. A fact that you have to ignore, otherwise it makes your eminent domain, private property argument moot.
In Dicks diatribe against "cheesy" republicans and spineless democrats, he give us a glimpse of the real Dick Caveat and, at the same time, answers the question "why does this right-wing repalincan keep referring to me as Dick Caveat?" For one thing, Dick could give a rats tuckus about the Constitution and it's amendments. No one who supports Obama has any business lecturing anyone on violating the constitution. Dick simply reviles those of "us" he considers as simple, unethical, poorly educated, trailer trash, nativists, incapable of defining the 1st amendment as befits an Ivy league Illuminati. My dog knows more about the constitution than Dick does and I don't have a dog.
I find it ironic, that one so educated, with an Ivy league pedigree, a "Yaley", could be so devoid of prudence that He doesn't realize that he is as guilty of degrading the 1st amendment, by denying our right to free speech, as He accuses "us" of being for denying freedom of religion by simply speaking freely against the building of the GZ mosque. How dare we, "us", be repulsed by the idea that people and money, which likely supported the commandeering of airplanes that were purposely crashed into the twin towers, is being used to build a religious shrine to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives, in the name of Allah, god of the Koran, killing over 3000 innocent people. What part of this don't you get? Dick.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/real-americans-please-stand-up/#more-59593
Mr Caveat begins his whining with a tale about a phantom teacher from his lowly beginnings in Nebraska. How terrible for you, Dick, that you should have to admit that you even know there was a state named Nebraska, let alone that you were born and raised there. How sad for Nebraska, that someone of Caveat's limited intellect and athleticism was among the smartest and most agile among his peers. No, I'm not kidding.
So Dick regales us with a tale about threatening to rat-out Mrs G, his 6th grade teacher, as a rascist because she referred to people of Japanese descent as "dirty japs". What? Are you an idiot, Dick? In 1948, three years after Japanese surrender, the country was full of veterans with fresh memories of brothers in arms, who were not just killed by the Japanese, but butchered in heinous fasion, having their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths, left as a warning of the ruthless nature of the Japanese soldiers. You're right, Dick, Mrs G should have referred to them as "Our friends, the Japanese." I seriously doubt, Dick, your Mrs G would have been cowed by a 6th grader who knew nothing about the savagery of war. Or did your parents tell you that we deserved Pearl Harbor?
And what was the purpose of your next line "The rest of that year was difficult." Yeah, I'll bet it was. For Mrs G. Why did you then throw your dead uncle under a half-track by telling the world he blurted 'If I met a pregnant Japanese woman, I'd kick her in the belly.' Have you ever considered why your uncle would make such a statement? You claim that your uncle was merely repeating sentiment exersized by Admiral Halsey. I'm willing to lay odds that both your uncle and Adm Halsey saw many pregnant Japanese women in their lifetime and never once cocked a leg.
Dick reveals this heretical muckraking, evidently, to let us know that he has always been ashamed of "us". Really, Dick? And, who, pray tell, are these "us" to who you refer? While you're entitled to your opinion, Dick, it's a little hard to accept shame from a joke writer responsible for such gems as the one you wrote for Jack Paar, as an introduction for Jane Mansfield: "Ladies and gentleman, here they are, Jane Mansfield". No, there was nothing shameful or degrading in that intro, was there, Dick?
Then Caveat takes the gloves off and claims that everyone one of "us", who has spoken against the GZ Mosque is a bigot and/or a racist. How long have you been carrying that around inside, Dick?
Then Mr Caveat throws a dog a bone, remarking "surely few opponents of the Islamic Cultural Center would feel comfortable at the 'International Burn a Koran Day' planned by a southern (read "racist") church...". While Dick and Al Jazeera have joyously passed this on to their faithful, neither bothered to mention the unrelenting backlash by thousands of "southern" churches, disgusted that anyone would associate their church with such ill-will. Dick and Al Jazeera are only interested in that part of the truth that suits their political means. Well done, Dick.
Now Dick shows us the extent of his education at Yale by completely changing the First amendment's intent regarding the "freedom of religion". The freedom of religion clause was designed to keep the newly formed Federal Government of the United States from sticking it's nose in the states religous practices. Period. It was not a directive that every state had to accept and coddle every religion that came down the pike. Indeed, it wasn't until 1833 that the State of Massachusetts relinquished it's state sponsored religion, independent of Federal fiat. To consider the reality Islam and Islamists bring to our friends in Europe and find nothing disturbing is to be either dishonest or stupid. Our forefathers, like the MAJORITY of americans today, were people of common sense and if you think they would have sat idlly by while a religion and people hostile to the idea of the common good and individual freedom, inserted themselves, you are fatally mistaken. Your assertion that the Mohammedans in America loudly and universally condemned the events of 9/11, is indefensible. Other than a handful of people, both here and abroad, every Islamist nation in the world was either dancing in the streets or muttering to each other "take that you infidels!" Is it possible that you are really this disconnected? Or are you just stupid? As you said in your tirade in the times, Dick, "I'm just trying to understand".
With regard to eminent domain and private property, where were you and the Islamists when New London, CT trampled all over the rights of it's citizens? Secondly, I'm not aware of anyone declaring that the Masque "can't" be built two blocks from GZ. A fact that you have to ignore, otherwise it makes your eminent domain, private property argument moot.
In Dicks diatribe against "cheesy" republicans and spineless democrats, he give us a glimpse of the real Dick Caveat and, at the same time, answers the question "why does this right-wing repalincan keep referring to me as Dick Caveat?" For one thing, Dick could give a rats tuckus about the Constitution and it's amendments. No one who supports Obama has any business lecturing anyone on violating the constitution. Dick simply reviles those of "us" he considers as simple, unethical, poorly educated, trailer trash, nativists, incapable of defining the 1st amendment as befits an Ivy league Illuminati. My dog knows more about the constitution than Dick does and I don't have a dog.
I find it ironic, that one so educated, with an Ivy league pedigree, a "Yaley", could be so devoid of prudence that He doesn't realize that he is as guilty of degrading the 1st amendment, by denying our right to free speech, as He accuses "us" of being for denying freedom of religion by simply speaking freely against the building of the GZ mosque. How dare we, "us", be repulsed by the idea that people and money, which likely supported the commandeering of airplanes that were purposely crashed into the twin towers, is being used to build a religious shrine to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives, in the name of Allah, god of the Koran, killing over 3000 innocent people. What part of this don't you get? Dick.
Dick Caveat - Yes, he's proud to be a progressive.
Dick Caveat wrote an opinion piece for the NY Times (Sunday September 5th). It seems there aren't enough elitist, high society bigots writing for the Times, so they print the opinion of a 3rd rate talk show host whose only claim to fame is interviewing Forest Gump. In order to get the gist of my rebuttal, please read Cavett's piece "Real Americans, Please Stand Up". Here's the link:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/real-americans-please-stand-up/#more-59593
Mr Caveat begins his whining with a tale about a phantom teacher from his lowly beginnings in Nebraska. How terrible for you, Dick, that you should have to admit that you even know there was a state named Nebraska, let alone that you were born and raised there. How sad for Nebraska, that someone of Caveat's limited intellect and athleticism was among the smartest and most agile among his peers. No, I'm not kidding.
So Dick regales us with a tale about threatening to rat-out Mrs G, his 6th grade teacher, as a rascist because she referred to people of Japanese descent as "dirty japs". What? Are you an idiot, Dick? In 1948, three years after Japanese surrender, the country was full of veterans with fresh memories of brothers in arms, who were not just killed by the Japanese, but butchered in heinous fasion, having their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths, left as a warning of the ruthless nature of the Japanese soldiers. You're right, Dick, Mrs G should have referred to them as "Our friends, the Japanese." I seriously doubt, Dick, your Mrs G would have been cowed by a 6th grader who knew nothing about the savagery of war. Or did your parents tell you that we deserved Pearl Harbor?
And what was the purpose of your next line "The rest of that year was difficult." Yeah, I'll bet it was. For Mrs G. Why did you then throw your dead uncle under a half-track by telling the world he blurted 'If I met a pregnant Japanese woman, I'd kick her in the belly.' Have you ever considered why your uncle would make such a statement? You claim that your uncle was merely repeating sentiment exersized by Admiral Halsey. I'm willing to lay odds that both your uncle and Adm Halsey saw many pregnant Japanese women in their lifetime and never once cocked a leg.
Dick reveals this heretical muckraking, evidently, to let us know that he has always been ashamed of "us". Really, Dick? And, who, pray tell, are these "us" to who you refer? While you're entitled to your opinion, Dick, it's a little hard to accept shame from a joke writer responsible for such gems as the one you wrote for Jack Paar, as an introduction for Jane Mansfield: "Ladies and gentleman, here they are, Jane Mansfield". No, there was nothing shameful or degrading in that intro, was there, Dick?
Then Caveat takes the gloves off and claims that everyone one of "us", who has spoken against the GZ Mosque is a bigot and/or a racist. How long have you been carrying that around inside, Dick?
Then Mr Caveat throws a dog a bone, remarking "surely few opponents of the Islamic Cultural Center would feel comfortable at the 'International Burn a Koran Day' planned by a southern (read "racist") church...". While Dick and Al Jazeera have joyously passed this on to their faithful, neither bothered to mention the unrelenting backlash by thousands of "southern" churches, disgusted that anyone would associate their church with such ill-will. Dick and Al Jazeera are only interested in that part of the truth that suits their political means. Well done, Dick.
Now Dick shows us the extent of his education at Yale by completely changing the First amendment's intent regarding the "freedom of religion". The freedom of religion clause was designed to keep the newly formed Federal Government of the United States from sticking it's nose in the states religous practices. Period. It was not a directive that every state had to accept and coddle every religion that came down the pike. Indeed, it wasn't until 1833 that the State of Massachusetts relinquished it's state sponsored religion, independent of Federal fiat. To consider the reality Islam and Islamists bring to our friends in Europe and find nothing disturbing is to be either dishonest or stupid. Our forefathers, like the MAJORITY of americans today, were people of common sense and if you think they would have sat idlly by while a religion and people hostile to the idea of the common good and individual freedom, inserted themselves, you are fatally mistaken. Your assertion that the Mohammedans in America loudly and universally condemned the events of 9/11, is indefensible. Other than a handful of people, both here and abroad, every Islamist nation in the world was either dancing in the streets or muttering to each other "take that you infidels!" Is it possible that you are really this disconnected? Or are you just stupid? As you said in your tirade in the times, Dick, "I'm just trying to understand".
With regard to eminent domain and private property, where were you and the Islamists when New London, CT trampled all over the rights of it's citizens? Secondly, I'm not aware of anyone declaring that the Masque "can't" be built two blocks from GZ. A fact that you have to ignore, otherwise it makes your eminent domain, private property argument moot.
In Dicks diatribe against "cheesy" republicans and spineless democrats, he give us a glimpse of the real Dick Caveat and, at the same time, answers the question "why does this right-wing repalincan keep referring to me as Dick Caveat?" For one thing, Dick could give a rats tuckus about the Constitution and it's amendments. No one who supports Obama has any business lecturing anyone on violating the constitution. Dick simply reviles those of "us" he considers as simple, unethical, poorly educated, trailer trash, nativists, incapable of defining the 1st amendment as befits an Ivy league Illuminati. My dog knows more about the constitution than Dick does and I don't have a dog.
I find it ironic, that one so educated, with an Ivy league pedigree, a "Yaley", could be so devoid of prudence that He doesn't realize that he is as guilty of degrading the 1st amendment, by denying our right to free speech, as He accuses "us" of being for denying freedom of religion by simply speaking freely against the building of the GZ mosque. How dare we, "us", be repulsed by the idea that people and money, which likely supported the commandeering of airplanes that were purposely crashed into the twin towers, is being used to build a religious shrine to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives, in the name of Allah, god of the Koran, killing over 3000 innocent people. What part of this don't you get? Dick.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/real-americans-please-stand-up/#more-59593
Mr Caveat begins his whining with a tale about a phantom teacher from his lowly beginnings in Nebraska. How terrible for you, Dick, that you should have to admit that you even know there was a state named Nebraska, let alone that you were born and raised there. How sad for Nebraska, that someone of Caveat's limited intellect and athleticism was among the smartest and most agile among his peers. No, I'm not kidding.
So Dick regales us with a tale about threatening to rat-out Mrs G, his 6th grade teacher, as a rascist because she referred to people of Japanese descent as "dirty japs". What? Are you an idiot, Dick? In 1948, three years after Japanese surrender, the country was full of veterans with fresh memories of brothers in arms, who were not just killed by the Japanese, but butchered in heinous fasion, having their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths, left as a warning of the ruthless nature of the Japanese soldiers. You're right, Dick, Mrs G should have referred to them as "Our friends, the Japanese." I seriously doubt, Dick, your Mrs G would have been cowed by a 6th grader who knew nothing about the savagery of war. Or did your parents tell you that we deserved Pearl Harbor?
And what was the purpose of your next line "The rest of that year was difficult." Yeah, I'll bet it was. For Mrs G. Why did you then throw your dead uncle under a half-track by telling the world he blurted 'If I met a pregnant Japanese woman, I'd kick her in the belly.' Have you ever considered why your uncle would make such a statement? You claim that your uncle was merely repeating sentiment exersized by Admiral Halsey. I'm willing to lay odds that both your uncle and Adm Halsey saw many pregnant Japanese women in their lifetime and never once cocked a leg.
Dick reveals this heretical muckraking, evidently, to let us know that he has always been ashamed of "us". Really, Dick? And, who, pray tell, are these "us" to who you refer? While you're entitled to your opinion, Dick, it's a little hard to accept shame from a joke writer responsible for such gems as the one you wrote for Jack Paar, as an introduction for Jane Mansfield: "Ladies and gentleman, here they are, Jane Mansfield". No, there was nothing shameful or degrading in that intro, was there, Dick?
Then Caveat takes the gloves off and claims that everyone one of "us", who has spoken against the GZ Mosque is a bigot and/or a racist. How long have you been carrying that around inside, Dick?
Then Mr Caveat throws a dog a bone, remarking "surely few opponents of the Islamic Cultural Center would feel comfortable at the 'International Burn a Koran Day' planned by a southern (read "racist") church...". While Dick and Al Jazeera have joyously passed this on to their faithful, neither bothered to mention the unrelenting backlash by thousands of "southern" churches, disgusted that anyone would associate their church with such ill-will. Dick and Al Jazeera are only interested in that part of the truth that suits their political means. Well done, Dick.
Now Dick shows us the extent of his education at Yale by completely changing the First amendment's intent regarding the "freedom of religion". The freedom of religion clause was designed to keep the newly formed Federal Government of the United States from sticking it's nose in the states religous practices. Period. It was not a directive that every state had to accept and coddle every religion that came down the pike. Indeed, it wasn't until 1833 that the State of Massachusetts relinquished it's state sponsored religion, independent of Federal fiat. To consider the reality Islam and Islamists bring to our friends in Europe and find nothing disturbing is to be either dishonest or stupid. Our forefathers, like the MAJORITY of americans today, were people of common sense and if you think they would have sat idlly by while a religion and people hostile to the idea of the common good and individual freedom, inserted themselves, you are fatally mistaken. Your assertion that the Mohammedans in America loudly and universally condemned the events of 9/11, is indefensible. Other than a handful of people, both here and abroad, every Islamist nation in the world was either dancing in the streets or muttering to each other "take that you infidels!" Is it possible that you are really this disconnected? Or are you just stupid? As you said in your tirade in the times, Dick, "I'm just trying to understand".
With regard to eminent domain and private property, where were you and the Islamists when New London, CT trampled all over the rights of it's citizens? Secondly, I'm not aware of anyone declaring that the Masque "can't" be built two blocks from GZ. A fact that you have to ignore, otherwise it makes your eminent domain, private property argument moot.
In Dicks diatribe against "cheesy" republicans and spineless democrats, he give us a glimpse of the real Dick Caveat and, at the same time, answers the question "why does this right-wing repalincan keep referring to me as Dick Caveat?" For one thing, Dick could give a rats tuckus about the Constitution and it's amendments. No one who supports Obama has any business lecturing anyone on violating the constitution. Dick simply reviles those of "us" he considers as simple, unethical, poorly educated, trailer trash, nativists, incapable of defining the 1st amendment as befits an Ivy league Illuminati. My dog knows more about the constitution than Dick does and I don't have a dog.
I find it ironic, that one so educated, with an Ivy league pedigree, a "Yaley", could be so devoid of prudence that He doesn't realize that he is as guilty of degrading the 1st amendment, by denying our right to free speech, as He accuses "us" of being for denying freedom of religion by simply speaking freely against the building of the GZ mosque. How dare we, "us", be repulsed by the idea that people and money, which likely supported the commandeering of airplanes that were purposely crashed into the twin towers, is being used to build a religious shrine to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives, in the name of Allah, god of the Koran, killing over 3000 innocent people. What part of this don't you get? Dick.
Monday, June 14, 2010
An angry, shame-filled weekend in San Diego. - Part one.
I spent Friday night and Saturday in San Diego, a small hamlet south of Los Angeles, famous for a zoo and it's proximity to Tijuana. I hadn't ventured that far south in 5 years, because I've never been a fan of caged animals or seedy people selling items that are illegal in my own country. San Diego, like a many cities, rescued it's "historic" downtown from the ravages of developers who had the temerity to suggest that dilapidated buildings should be razed and structurally sound ones put up in there place. Did I mention that the ground shakes regularly? (In fact, as I wrote this, there was an earthquake. Apropos, anyone?)
Part of this "rescue" is what San Diegans refer to as the Gaslamp district (not Gaslight, Gaslamp) which proudly boasts art, boutique, recreation (better known as "drinking") and, of course, that mainstay of all urban restoration projects, restaurants with over-priced yet under-whelming food. Since my last trip to gaslamp, some 5 to 8 years ago, the area has undergone a subtle transformation from vibrant and cosmopolitan to frightening and slum-opolitan. As I walked the streets, I kept thinking, this can't be the place. This couldn't be the "hip", upwardly fashionable, snob-drawing area of my early middle-age. This place was NOT hip. It was more like dirty ankle. I had blue-jeans on I and I felt over-dressed. After walking a 10 block area, I started to get an eerie, deja-vu-ish, feeling in my bowel. Tons of young college-aged kids, roaming the streets, some in pairs, some in packs. Some quietly reserved, others boisterously announcing they "needed another drink". Did I stumble upon a worm-hole and end up in New Orleans?
On one block, I found more than just a maze of post-pubescent know-it-alls with still-supple livers, there was a mob of them. Curious, I slowly made my way towards a bulge about mid-block, moving my feet like I was on a ledge in a Harold Lloyd movie, all the while mouthing the words "s'cuse me, s'cuse me". Once I reached the bulge, I saw what all the commotion was about. A pod of scantily dressed girls were standing with hands on waist, shifting their hips back and forth, advertising that not only did the club they were fanning with their fannies have near-nude nubiles inside, but alcohol, too! Twenty minutes later, I noted the girls were wearing gloves and there was more fabric covering their hands then the sum of fabric covering the rest of their bodies. Yes, I was ogling, but, cut me some slack, dollar shots of Grey Goose, I'm only a man. I may be over the hill, but I remember what was on the other side.
Then the voice of kill-joy, one of several voices in my head, reminded me that I'm 54 and even though I look like I'm 53, that part of the brain that regulates empathy flashed the image of a drooling middle-aged perv as seen through the eyes of a very young woman. Slinking in shame, I snaked my way through the crowd. As I crossed the intersection, away from the naked advertising, I turned for one last glance at the spectacle, asking myself over and over, "Why did I play foosball every Friday night in college?"
Tomorrow, more of my story from the streets of Padre-town.
Part of this "rescue" is what San Diegans refer to as the Gaslamp district (not Gaslight, Gaslamp) which proudly boasts art, boutique, recreation (better known as "drinking") and, of course, that mainstay of all urban restoration projects, restaurants with over-priced yet under-whelming food. Since my last trip to gaslamp, some 5 to 8 years ago, the area has undergone a subtle transformation from vibrant and cosmopolitan to frightening and slum-opolitan. As I walked the streets, I kept thinking, this can't be the place. This couldn't be the "hip", upwardly fashionable, snob-drawing area of my early middle-age. This place was NOT hip. It was more like dirty ankle. I had blue-jeans on I and I felt over-dressed. After walking a 10 block area, I started to get an eerie, deja-vu-ish, feeling in my bowel. Tons of young college-aged kids, roaming the streets, some in pairs, some in packs. Some quietly reserved, others boisterously announcing they "needed another drink". Did I stumble upon a worm-hole and end up in New Orleans?
On one block, I found more than just a maze of post-pubescent know-it-alls with still-supple livers, there was a mob of them. Curious, I slowly made my way towards a bulge about mid-block, moving my feet like I was on a ledge in a Harold Lloyd movie, all the while mouthing the words "s'cuse me, s'cuse me". Once I reached the bulge, I saw what all the commotion was about. A pod of scantily dressed girls were standing with hands on waist, shifting their hips back and forth, advertising that not only did the club they were fanning with their fannies have near-nude nubiles inside, but alcohol, too! Twenty minutes later, I noted the girls were wearing gloves and there was more fabric covering their hands then the sum of fabric covering the rest of their bodies. Yes, I was ogling, but, cut me some slack, dollar shots of Grey Goose, I'm only a man. I may be over the hill, but I remember what was on the other side.
Then the voice of kill-joy, one of several voices in my head, reminded me that I'm 54 and even though I look like I'm 53, that part of the brain that regulates empathy flashed the image of a drooling middle-aged perv as seen through the eyes of a very young woman. Slinking in shame, I snaked my way through the crowd. As I crossed the intersection, away from the naked advertising, I turned for one last glance at the spectacle, asking myself over and over, "Why did I play foosball every Friday night in college?"
Tomorrow, more of my story from the streets of Padre-town.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Either park your car or shut up.
I read a column by that intellectual cretin, Frank Rich today. In it he whines about the the pressure his beloved Olame-a is under for a problem that isn't his. Funny how elitist jackals like Rich exhort the necessity of government to protect their privileged lives from the repugnant environs of common folk, yet scoff at the glee of those of us who revel in the legion examples of governments incompetence. The only similarity between Bush's Katrina and Olame-a's oil slick is they both effected New Orleans. The main stream media used Katrina's wrath, blended with a crooked mayor's incompetence and a sleeping Governor's under-reaction, to pummel George Bush for the aftermath. Had the ample warnings of several federal agencies been heeded, their would have been little suffering beyond the displacement of thousands. Today, as petro-sewage washes up on beach, marsh and estuary, sore-heads want to blame Olame-a and Obama-zombies are doing there darnedest to drive another stake into capitalism's heart.
I love the 24 hour, instant reporting, news culture. As a self-admitted junkie of evolution, I find it fascinating how news has evolved from the daily rag to an internet tag. How it's forcing newspapers to undergo excruciating metamorphosis in order to meet the challenges of instant reporting. It's in this setting the Olame-a administration finds itself, trying to explain to allegiant groupies why the "anointed one" has failed to stop the impending catastrophe facing the gulf coast. Barry's boosters have the expression of a sitting kitten, head cocked to one side, fully expecting their protagonist to leap from behind a Cypress tree brandishing a government edict that wondrously lifts the befouling crude into the air, then explodes into clouds of butterflies that carry inexpensive, reliable health care to everyone. Except republicans and tattletales.
While Olame-a successfully concocted an health care reform plan that will destroy health care as we know it, not even his royal hipness can conjure an action that will make the outcome for the gulf any worse. Thank the Deity for that. What I am worried about is the same thing that dispatches my comfort daily. My fellow Americans. (or 'mericans as LBJ used to say). My generation never grew up. By that I mean, they never took time to understand how the world operates, what has worked in the past and what is worth trying now and in the future. We believe there is someone behind the curtain who can solve our problems. We only need to elect people who promise to be fair and prove their compassion by owning a dog.
Here's the harsh reality: either park your car or shut-the-hell-up. Fossil fuels are the cheapest form of fuel on earth. Fossil fuels continue to drive the economy, funding research from cures to comets. Fossil fuels keep our food and power cheap and plentiful. I cringe evertime I turn on the news and see the video of brownish black goo reaching the shore. The question I ask myself is: Is it worth it? Is the potential for disaster worth the harvesting of our fossil fuels? What's the alternative? The alternative is higher food and energy prices and a much poorer society both locally and across the oceans. And please don't impart the 'alternative fuels' crap-o-rama. If forced to go to the alternative or "green" technologies of which Olame-a and his merry band of socialists dream, we will find ourselves dependent on energy sources that are expensive, unreliable and incapable of prividing the kilowatts we need daily. Someday, I believe we will, but for now, we need to man up, draw a deep breath and do everything humanly possible to clean up the mess in the gulf. But make no mistake, we need to drill, tap, dig, mine, transport and refine every fossil fuel we can get our hands on. It's the only way we will be able to fund the research and development needed to create the "green" energy of the future.
I love the 24 hour, instant reporting, news culture. As a self-admitted junkie of evolution, I find it fascinating how news has evolved from the daily rag to an internet tag. How it's forcing newspapers to undergo excruciating metamorphosis in order to meet the challenges of instant reporting. It's in this setting the Olame-a administration finds itself, trying to explain to allegiant groupies why the "anointed one" has failed to stop the impending catastrophe facing the gulf coast. Barry's boosters have the expression of a sitting kitten, head cocked to one side, fully expecting their protagonist to leap from behind a Cypress tree brandishing a government edict that wondrously lifts the befouling crude into the air, then explodes into clouds of butterflies that carry inexpensive, reliable health care to everyone. Except republicans and tattletales.
While Olame-a successfully concocted an health care reform plan that will destroy health care as we know it, not even his royal hipness can conjure an action that will make the outcome for the gulf any worse. Thank the Deity for that. What I am worried about is the same thing that dispatches my comfort daily. My fellow Americans. (or 'mericans as LBJ used to say). My generation never grew up. By that I mean, they never took time to understand how the world operates, what has worked in the past and what is worth trying now and in the future. We believe there is someone behind the curtain who can solve our problems. We only need to elect people who promise to be fair and prove their compassion by owning a dog.
Here's the harsh reality: either park your car or shut-the-hell-up. Fossil fuels are the cheapest form of fuel on earth. Fossil fuels continue to drive the economy, funding research from cures to comets. Fossil fuels keep our food and power cheap and plentiful. I cringe evertime I turn on the news and see the video of brownish black goo reaching the shore. The question I ask myself is: Is it worth it? Is the potential for disaster worth the harvesting of our fossil fuels? What's the alternative? The alternative is higher food and energy prices and a much poorer society both locally and across the oceans. And please don't impart the 'alternative fuels' crap-o-rama. If forced to go to the alternative or "green" technologies of which Olame-a and his merry band of socialists dream, we will find ourselves dependent on energy sources that are expensive, unreliable and incapable of prividing the kilowatts we need daily. Someday, I believe we will, but for now, we need to man up, draw a deep breath and do everything humanly possible to clean up the mess in the gulf. But make no mistake, we need to drill, tap, dig, mine, transport and refine every fossil fuel we can get our hands on. It's the only way we will be able to fund the research and development needed to create the "green" energy of the future.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Ward Connerly - Engaged for the right.
Last evening (June 2nd) I had the pleasure of listening to Ward Connerly speak to a group of republicans concerned with the welfare of their country, in general, and California, in particular. Ward Connerly has had, what I consider, to be an illustrious career on the front lines, battling progressive bigotry, policy and stupidity. All to often, Connerly was left hanging by gutless republican politicians and damp diaper democrats, who couldn't muster the courage to stand up to the nonsense that CA public unions, bureaucrats and Latino racists forced on California's education system.
Mr Connerly started by speaking of his formative years, his grandmother and Uncle and Aunt who raised him. (his mother died when he was 4 and father left when he was 2). His Uncle, while only educated through the 3rd grade, was gifted. He had the ability to befriend people, put them at ease, make them feel welcome and important, with little effort, he was a natural. Ward, to this day, is impressed with his uncles talent, a talent that he himself never acquired. Equally as compelling, was how his uncle handled the racial environment of the early 50's, principally in around Bremerton, WA, where he worked in a shipyard. Ward, who was born in Louisiana in 1939, was unaware of the bigotry associated in the south at that time, having moved to Washington at such a young age and, more importantly, growing up in a household more concerned with putting food on the table than blaming bigotry for every ill. Ward wouldn't see the hideous side of bigotry until a trip to the south for a funeral, then saw first hand, the animus and stupidity of far too many Caucasian knuckle-draggers. What impressed him, however, was how his aunt persuaded her husband to bite his tongue and how his uncle obeyed, reluctantly, though angry.
Ward related how his uncle loved his country. How he understood that, even though there were far too many small minded bigots, there were far more decent people, people his uncle had no problem befriending, black and white.
Ward Connerly is a man who understands the nature of bigotry, that people aren't born bigots, they are taught to be bigots. Ward Connerly is convinced, as am I, that you can't abate bigotry by institutionalizing bigotry in the name of affirmative action. He used the example of Rand Paul and how the media and academia attacked him for his regrettable defense of his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, where he openly suggested that the Federal Govt overstepped it's boundary by forcing private businesses to abandon any discrimination based on race. Ward Connerly has felt the sting of that kind of hysterical hyperbole, mostly from people of his own race.
Connerly gave some advice to the assembled republicans: Fight like hell. He said "Republicans are too polite. Look at the tea party movement." He related how much energy the left was expending to make the tea partiers look like violent, home-grown terrorists, how, among the swing voters, the independents, the truth was obvious. It's Connerly's opinion that retaking the governors mansion in California (yes, like the rest of us, he see's Schwarzenegger a disaster) is not enough, if we are ever going to stop the fiscal annihilation facing the state of California, republicans will need to take the state house and completely destroy the Latino mafia and their goons in public unions.
Ward Connerly, like Sarah Palin, is despised by the left. I am 99% in agreement with Connerly, both in policy and tenor. The only thing I disagreed with Connerly on, was his statement that Meg Whitman was forced to take a stand on the immigration issue, that he saw that as a bad thing. I don't, I'm of the opinion that we need to take these issues straight on. By Whitman coming out and saying she was against amnesty and for removing illegal immigrants from the state, I proudly will cast my vote for her over Poizner.
Ward Connerly was everything I suspected him of being. Honest, courageous, humble, well spoken, educated, proud, respectful and patriot. He punctuated my disdain for progressives.
Mr Connerly started by speaking of his formative years, his grandmother and Uncle and Aunt who raised him. (his mother died when he was 4 and father left when he was 2). His Uncle, while only educated through the 3rd grade, was gifted. He had the ability to befriend people, put them at ease, make them feel welcome and important, with little effort, he was a natural. Ward, to this day, is impressed with his uncles talent, a talent that he himself never acquired. Equally as compelling, was how his uncle handled the racial environment of the early 50's, principally in around Bremerton, WA, where he worked in a shipyard. Ward, who was born in Louisiana in 1939, was unaware of the bigotry associated in the south at that time, having moved to Washington at such a young age and, more importantly, growing up in a household more concerned with putting food on the table than blaming bigotry for every ill. Ward wouldn't see the hideous side of bigotry until a trip to the south for a funeral, then saw first hand, the animus and stupidity of far too many Caucasian knuckle-draggers. What impressed him, however, was how his aunt persuaded her husband to bite his tongue and how his uncle obeyed, reluctantly, though angry.
Ward related how his uncle loved his country. How he understood that, even though there were far too many small minded bigots, there were far more decent people, people his uncle had no problem befriending, black and white.
Ward Connerly is a man who understands the nature of bigotry, that people aren't born bigots, they are taught to be bigots. Ward Connerly is convinced, as am I, that you can't abate bigotry by institutionalizing bigotry in the name of affirmative action. He used the example of Rand Paul and how the media and academia attacked him for his regrettable defense of his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, where he openly suggested that the Federal Govt overstepped it's boundary by forcing private businesses to abandon any discrimination based on race. Ward Connerly has felt the sting of that kind of hysterical hyperbole, mostly from people of his own race.
Connerly gave some advice to the assembled republicans: Fight like hell. He said "Republicans are too polite. Look at the tea party movement." He related how much energy the left was expending to make the tea partiers look like violent, home-grown terrorists, how, among the swing voters, the independents, the truth was obvious. It's Connerly's opinion that retaking the governors mansion in California (yes, like the rest of us, he see's Schwarzenegger a disaster) is not enough, if we are ever going to stop the fiscal annihilation facing the state of California, republicans will need to take the state house and completely destroy the Latino mafia and their goons in public unions.
Ward Connerly, like Sarah Palin, is despised by the left. I am 99% in agreement with Connerly, both in policy and tenor. The only thing I disagreed with Connerly on, was his statement that Meg Whitman was forced to take a stand on the immigration issue, that he saw that as a bad thing. I don't, I'm of the opinion that we need to take these issues straight on. By Whitman coming out and saying she was against amnesty and for removing illegal immigrants from the state, I proudly will cast my vote for her over Poizner.
Ward Connerly was everything I suspected him of being. Honest, courageous, humble, well spoken, educated, proud, respectful and patriot. He punctuated my disdain for progressives.
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