Selective Amnesia

Just a quickie:

OpEd writer Eugene Robinson, who is slightly to the left of Stalin, has a column in today's paper about Cuba.

He goes over how stupid, childish and ignorant it is for the Bush Administration to keep up the embargo against Cuba. Of course, it's all Bush's fault.

He seems to forget that the embargo was put in place by Kennedy, and that Democratic presidents Johnson, Carter and Clinton had ample time to rescind the embargo but refused to.

I just love reading hypocrites like this.

Back Again

I've spent the last several days doing the old "do something stupid, spend a day recovering" circle - mowing lawns, etc. I'm back enough to post, but I know some of this will be slightly out of date. Screw it if you can't take a joke.

We've had another sign of the Apocalypse - last Saturday Tommy Chong, of Cheech and Chong fame, turned 70. There's no excuse for that! Also, James Arness - Marshall Dillon of Gunsmoke, turned 85 - I didn't even know he was alive! Trivia time - his brother is Peter Graves of the TV show Mission Imposible.

Now for the fun and games:

The Armed Forces Foundation had been flying wounded troops from Walter Reed and Bethesda, two at a time, to Vegas. They go in a private jet and, once there, the Venetian Resort has been giving them the full "high roller" treatment - top level rooms, full service, etc. The Armed Forces Foundation is trying to ensure that all - or as many as possible - of our wounded men and women are able to take advantage of this. Fantastic!

Meanwhile, Obama and Billary are still talking about bringing our troops home. Right - and put them where? The reserves aren't a problem, but the enlisted troops will have to go to a duty station somewhere, and I don't know if there's room for all. I'm waiting for Obama to call for all troops to come home, including Germany, Korea, etc. That'll put some highly trained and motivated troops on the street looking for work. Oh, wait - that was Jack Murtha, wasn't it?

Finally, I figured something out (I'm a bit slow sometimes):

- If you don't vote for Hillary, you're sexist,
- If you don't vote for Obama, you're racist, and
- If you don't voth for McCain, you're agest.

And if you vote for a Democrat, you're an idiot.

I'm Mad As Hell

And I'm Not Gonna Take It Anymore!

It's bad enough that our government moved Memorial Day to a Monday Holiday, so folks can use it as an excuse for the unofficial start of Summer. I still observe May 30th.

Then came the businesses - ads on TV, in the newspapers, in the mail, all advertising their "Memorial Day Sales". But to me, the worst came in an email this morning.

Now, with grandkids, I'm on the email list for Disney shopping. You can usually get some good deals through the sales they have, and the girls are really into Disney.

But today I'm cancelling my subscription to these.

This morning I got an email from Disneyshopping.com that says, in large letters, "Salute Summer With Our Memorial Day Sale!" For Disney to put out something like that with nothing about the reason or meaning of Memorial Day has really jerked my chain.

Feel free to to to their site, go down to the "contact us" and let them know how you feel. I sure as hell did.

News I've Been Dreading

Indigo, who was Barbara Manning, passed away peacefully yesterday around 5:30 in the afternoon. Her family was with her, and I am so thankful that she went without pain.

I had made several trips to her home, and I loved that old gal and enjoyed every minute I was privileged to spend with her.

She had 'adopted' the Marines from Camp LeJeune, and I know that there was an Honor Guard of thousands at the Pearly Gates when she arrived.

While she has left us who knew her to grieve, I know that she is happy to be reunited with her husband. Services for her will be this Saturday at the grave side.

Sorry, folks, but this is about the hardest post I've ever had to do.

Ted Kennedy Has Brain Cancer

Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with the worst type of brain cancer you can get. Normally a person with this has about a year, max. I guess it depends on how advanced it was when the doctors found it.

Now, I have never made my feelings about Teddy a secret, but I wouldn't wish any type of cancer on anyone. I don't like his chances, but we can hope that he can pull through this.

At least if it metastases, it shouldn't hit his liver - that should be so pickled by now that it would be immune to almost anything.

By what I've heard, there's no plan to operate, so I assume it has gone too far. I've seen family members die of cancer, so I can only hope that if he doesn't beat this, he can pass peacefully with a minimum of pain.

It's A Miracle!

Stand by for someone to be Beatified! Just being alive has to count as several miracles!

Joe Cocker, singer of "Up Where We Belong", "You Are So Beautiful", and hundreds of others since he started out in the 60's, is 64 years old today. Hell - I didn't even know he was still alive, and with what he's done to his mind and body over the years he shouldn't even have seen 30!

For him and Keith Richards of the Stones to still be sucking oxygen has to be a sign of the Apocalypse!

I think I'd better start reading the Bible again!

On a different subject, Attitude With Legs is having a Myelogram today - a fancy name for a spinal tap. I've had one of those, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, let alone my little girl. Then she'll have a discogram, and depending on the results she'll have back surgery.

With her having a 7 year old and an 11 year old - and a husband who is on the road 5 -6 days a week, staying on enforced bed rest is going to be a real trick. I may have to move in over there.

Bits and Pieces

Well, things in the country formerly known as Burma are about the same. The French tried to unload 1,500 tons of supplies in small boats to the river delta in most need, and the government turned them back. As far as I know, what the military hasn't grabbed is still sitting in Rangoon airport. And people thought Pol Pot was a bad boy. The really fun part is that the government is allowing aid workers from only four Asian countries - Thailand, China (who is currently bringing in aid workers for help with its earthquake), India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh? They have a lot of experience with aid workers - they've been watching them since 1972!

It's mid-May, which means that just about all of Florida is in flames, from Miami and the Everglades to Daytona. When the arsonists are caught, a tall tree and a rope tied around their scrotum would sound like an excellent idea.

Now for On This Date -

- 1536 - Anne Boleyn went from five foot two to four foot three, thanks to Henry VIII and the headsman.

- 1935 - Lawrence of Arabia died after crashing his motorbike. A bit ironic after what he'd been through.

Birthdays:

- Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) is 64.

- Pete Townsend (The Who) is 63, a surprise to everyone.

- Dusty Hill (bassists for ZZ Top) is 59.

Yesterday:

- Dobie Gillis (Dwane Hickman) was 74. Shame about Maynard G. Krebbs. If you're not at least 40, this will mean nothing to you.

- Rick Wakeman, Keyboardist for Yes was 59. To me,when he left someone pushed the "SUCK" button on Yes' recordings and concerts.

Armed Forces Day 2008

I hope that you have remembered this day and have at least got your Flag flying.

I tend to get carried away:



If you got 'em, fly 'em!

A Quick & Dirty S&G

Barry Bonds and the Player's Union are still looking for collusion in his unemployment. I wonder if his indictment for 14 counts of perjury and 1 of obstruction of justice - and his inability to play in the field - have anything to do with it?

Meanwhile, in the country formerly known as Burma, the government is finally allowing emergency supplies in - but they're either sitting at the airport or have been hijacked by the military. And the ecoweenies wonder why there's so much suffering in the world.

And I think it's getting to be time to move. In today's paper, there's an article about a guy who was convicted of "several" breaking & entries, punching out a cop, attempting to steal his police car, and "indecent liberties" with a seven year-old girl. His sentence? Seven and a half years! And that's as a habitual criminal!

By the way, Happy Birthday goes out to:

- Jack Bruce (bassist with Cream) is 65;
- George Lucas (Star Wars, etc.) is 64;
- And for my kid's generation, CC DeVille (Poison lead guitarist) is 46.

This getting old sucks, but it beats the alternative!

Mothers Day 2008

First, Happy Mothers Day to my darling wife, who has been with me for 34 1/2 years. I have no idea why. Also, to my daughter who is having a very tough time right now with severe back problems. At least her two girls try to help her.

And a Happy Mothers Day to all, but especially those who have a child in the military, those who have a husband in the military or are in the military themselves. May they and their loved ones come home safe and sound and never have to rotate back overseas ever again!

A Night to Remember

Right now, just sitting at this hurts - but damn, it was worth it! Last night Boy Wonder and I went to see Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Greensboro Coliseum and they just blew the place away. Only problem was the seats were for crap and I was a mess by the time we left.

It was supposed to be Attitude with Legs (dear daughter) and me going, but her back is worse than mine right now (a pretty good trick if you think about it), and she would never had made it. It was her Father's Day gift to me - a very thoughtful and loving thing for her to do.

The next few days are going to be in the supine position, attempting Better Living Through Chemicals.

A price worth paying, and I'd do it all again next weekend!

Primary Stupidity

Well, today's Primary day here in NC and the polls opened at 7:30. The problem is that they've made an "interesting" choice of polling places.

All three of my grand daughters attend the same elementary school. For reasons best known to someone, this school is a polling place. That means that before the polls opened people had their cars up by the front door of the school, double- and triple-parked, making it impossible for parents to drop their children off.

This school also does not have a metal detector, and there were no police or anyone else controlling traffic or keeping a close eye on those entering the school. This means that anyone could be wandering the halls putting the children at risk.

If you think this has me just a tad pissed off, you could be right - and I'll be making a few phone calls this morning (for what good it'll do). Using an open and functioning elementary school as a polling place rates right up towards the top five or so of Stupidest Things I Have Ever Seen.

Funny, But ....

This link to YouTube has had a lot of work done to make it, and it's pretty funny. If you haven't seen it yet, go have a look at "The Empire Strikes Barack".

I wonder if George Lucas had a hand in this, is getting royalties, or is gonna sue someone's ass off!

Meanwhile, the body is telling me that I'd better not do any stupid shit today. That usually means that I'm gonna mow the lawn or something. Putting fertilizer down was a bloody stupid thing to do!

At least the peas, snow peas, cucumber, zuchinni and squash are growing nicely. Still have to get the tomatoes and herbs in.

She Who Must Be Obeyed brought some seeds back from her last trip to Australia, so we're clearing out a corner of the yard for the bottle brush, kangaroo paw and other Oz natives. Should look beautiful if I can pull it off!

The Newest Obscenity

Barak Obama is still calling for change, even though it appears he has no idea what he wants changed or how to change it.

Now Obama is trying to make the word "experience" a dirty word. Sorry, but I don't understand how a person can base a campaign on being ignorant. Obviously it must be working judging by the numbers voting for him - or is that a racial thing?

If lack of experience is such a good thing, when was the last time you applied for a job with a blank resume (and empty head) other than when you came right out of school?

Follow the Money

First, a Happy May Day Communist Holiday to Raul Castro, Hugo Chavez, whoever is runing China these days, and the University of California at Berkeley.

Now for the news. Recently in the Winston Salem Urinal they had two articles immediately over each other - an interesting juxtaposition.

The first was how the ice melt in the arctic may be putting pressure on the population of Narwhals - the wales with the unicorn tooth sticking out. Of course, it's all our fault.

The next article was how they decided to trap the seals and sea lions instead of shooting them in the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. Why, you may ask? Well, it seems that these animals are eating aroung four percent of the chinook salmon run. Four f'kin percent! I would imagine the Bald Eagles and the Bears, after doing what they do in the woods, would take care of some of that percentage as well.

The catch to this story? (no pun intended for once) The very last sentence says that The Department of Fisheries has raised the quota for commercial fishermen by a third!

Ecoweenies - bite my skinny old hairy ass!