$43.00

$43.00

That's what it costs in Warren County to get a marriage license filed with the county.

For what?

What exactly is the state doing to merit that $43.00; store the document?

It gets back to my issue with the whole gay marriage thing. What business does the state have in two people's marital vows? As far as Mrs. Gekko and myself, our marital contract should be between Gordon & Mrs. Gekko, our clergy and God, no one else.

And if one or both of us decide to break that contract it should, again, be only between Gordon and Mrs. Gekko, our clergy and God. The state should have no business in the deal, just like two partners working out a business contract.

What if we want to have a clause in our marital contract that says if one person commits adultery they forgo all claim to marital assets? Should we be allowed to have that?

But Gordon, what if it doesn't work out.

Well what does the state do when two partners fight over business assets, same thing.

But Gordon, most people cannot manage every contingency in a marital contract.

Again, what does the state do when a contract between partners go awry and it's not addressed in the contract? The courts settle based on state and common law.

I could have bought a couple of cases of beer with that $43.00 and now the state has zapped those funds right out of my hands. I guarantee my beer purchase would have been a better use of those funds.

Rudy and Hillary....Beware

Wesley Pruden has a piece about the fissures in the Hillary campaign they will occur if she loses a primary election.

I would offer the same advice to Rudy.

The early primary elections have much more to do with managing expectations than actual performance.

Remember Howard Dean? At this point in 2003, he was a slam dunk. But, given that he was a front runner, he showed poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire and he was a goner by March.

So if you are a Rudy or Hillary supporter, be afraid, be very afraid.

Depressed? Become a republican

A Gallup survey just out reports that republicans have better mental health than democrats.

While I'm tempted to throw in one of my pithy quips in on this one, I won't. You see, I'm a recovering liberal. I know what it's like to wake up every morning anxious about the world going to hell and no one caring about fixing it. It's truly depressing.

It's not until you get out in the world and try fixing it yourself that your depression starts to lift.

So for all you depressed democrats out there, get out and start fixing the world yourself, even if it means hugging your republican neighbor.... It's a good start.

How much should I pay my employees?

It's been 20 days since I asked the folks at ProgressOhio to tell me how much I should pay my employees.

Since they know how many paid sick days I need to offer my employees, you'd think they'd have an answer for me by now.

Of course, it's probably because none of the people at Progress Ohio have never actually employed a person or had to sign a payroll check. It makes it so much easier to tell someone else what to do when it's not your money.

Gordon's back

Mr. & Mrs. Gekko returned to the Queen City this afternoon after a long awaited honeymoon.

We were parked in a cabin in Gatlinburg with no cell or internet capabilities so I apologize for the lack of posting.

Gatlinburg is everything I love and hate about America all rolled into one. I love hiking in the Smokies (if you get a chance do the Mt. LeConte trail through Alum Cave). But I cannot stand the JCS (Junk, Crap & Sh*t), I mean, arts and crafts stores littered all over town.

Nonetheless, I haven't had an entire week off of work since 2000, so I was due.

Apparently in my media blackout, I missed a rare Bengals victory, a new Clinton scandal and a UC bowl bid that doesn't mean I need to pack a parka for the trip. So there is much to catch up on.

I'll be back to full posting tomorrow. Thanks to Midas for filling in for me while I was gone.

Evel Knievel Dead

Daredevil Evel Knievel, who dodged death in spectacular motorcycle leaps and crashes in a life full of showmanship, died on Friday at age 69, according to his lawyer and a message on his Web site.

"Anybody can jump a motorcycle," he once told Esquire magazine. "The trouble begins when you try to land it."

More CNN

CNN Admits Holes in Screening of Questioners

CNN expressed regret yesterday for allowing a Hillary Clinton adviser to ask a question at Wednesday's Republican presidential debate, even as controversy swirled about two other questioners who have declared their support for Democratic candidates.

Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who asked why gays should not be allowed to serve openly in the military, is a member of Clinton's steering committee on gay and lesbian issues, something her campaign disclosed in a news release in June.

More...

Bengals Notebook

Do the Bengals really qualify as "resurgent" now that they've won 2 of their last 3 games?

The early weather forecast for Sunday night in Pittsburgh calls for rain - something the Steelers saw more than enough of last week.

Nevertheless, they could be in for another sloppy game when they host the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night looking to move another step closer to the AFC North title.

CNN & HC

Not sure why this is so surprising. Everyone knows CNN is the "Clinton News Network".

Twice now, CNN has aired the opinions of an avowed Hillary Clinton supporter without telling viewers that the supposedly impartial commenter is an advocate of the leading Democratic candidate for President.

This is bad journalism.

During Wednesday night's Republican debate, sponsored by CNN and YouTube and hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper, CNN aired a pre-recorded question by retired Brig. Gen. Keith H. Kerr. The general asked whether the candidates supported allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military. But Kerr was not an impartial questioner. He is a national co-chairman of Veterans and Military Retirees for Hillary.

Friday Cartoon

Rodney K. Sighting

This guys like a bad penny.

Rodney King, whose videotaped police beating in 1991 led to deadly rioting when the officers involved were acquitted, was shot on a street corner, but his wounds were not life-threatening, police said.

King, 42, was shot two or three times from a distance by birdshot fired from a shotgun. He then bicycled about 1 1/2 miles back to his home in neighboring Rialto and called police. King was hit in the face, arms, back and torso, police said.

More...

Viewers Like You

Maybe PBS should go this route...

A Chilean prostitute has auctioned 27 hours of sex to raise money for the country's largest charity during an annual fund-raising campaign.

"I've already auctioned off the 27 hours of love," Maria Carolina told Reuters on Wednesday, saying she had raised about $4,000. "One of my clients already paid. It seemed like a good deed to him."

Adult prostitution is legal in Chile. Chile's two-day Teleton fundraiser is endorsed by television stars and aims to raise funds for poor, disabled children.

More...

Lakota High Theater

People are so sensitive now a days. Pretty soon you won't be able to name a street Hooker.

An Ohio high school has canceled its student theater production of "Ten Little Indians" after local residents complained about a racial slur in the original title of the Agatha Christie novel, which never has been published under that name in this country.

The best-selling murder mystery originally was named "Ten Little N---ers" when it was published in England in 1939.

BS for HC

Well, that settles it. I know who I'm voting for now...

Barbra Streisand endorsed Hillary Clinton today.

“Madame President of the United States,” Ms. Streisand wrote in a statement, “it’s an extraordinary thought.”

“We truly are in a momentous time..."

Easy street

If the Rev. David Baer has his way, the Whitewood City Council will change the name of one of the northern Black Hills town's streets.

Hooker Street doesn't quite lend itself to a family atmosphere and is offensive to some residents in the town of about 800 people, according to Baer.

Cyber Monday

We've all heard of black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. Now we've got "Cyber Monday", where everybody goes back to work and does their Christmas shopping online... from the comfort of their offices, on company time.

Consumers are expected to plant themselves at their computers and make online holiday purchases Monday, a day that has become increasingly important to retailers and shoppers alike.

Known as Cyber Monday, this year's post-Thanksgiving online shopping day looks more promotional than ever, as Web retailers roll out one-day sales for the first time and offers akin to those in retail stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

More...