You can't make this stuff up

You're the director of a cadaver program at a local university; you're hurting for cash because you've been playing some point spreads with my cousins Tony, Vinny and Sal and you've had a streak of bad luck.

You have to come up with some fast cash, so you do what?

How about selling some cadavers? Great idea. Right? I mean who the hell's going to tell.

Well, wrong. But what makes getting caught so horrible is not that you got busted by the cops for something like gross abuse of a corpse; Instead you get busted by the IRS for not claiming the income on your tax returns.

I would call that a streak of bad luck.

Got a crappy product... Change the name

The Pittsburgh Public Schools have decided to drop the word "Public" from it's name because of "the district might be able to avoid the negative attitude often associated with public schools".

I know this sounds like a crazy idea but if you want to avoid the negative attitude associated with public schools how about not doing the things that generate the negative attitude about public schools.

Has it ever occurred to these geniuses, that acts like these are the very reasons people have a negative attitude about public schools. It's all about form over substance with these bureaucrats.

Really, has the school board ever considered doing a survey and actually improving the things that give "public" schools such a bad name. It's like putting perfume on a pig.

McCain again

I was just listening to the radio while running some errors. Apparently, John McCain and George RINOvich got into a tussle regarding RINOvich's remarks about the military being responsible for Al Queda.

Let's see, McCain was a boxer in the Navy and RINOvich....

Let's just say it shouldn't take long before the honorable Ohio senator starts crying.

McCain in Flames

Through out the campaign, one of the things that has gotten lost about John McCain is his overwhelmingly conservative voting record. The ACU rates him at 82.3 percent (compared to 75 % for George RINOvich) which is better than any of the other candidates running for president.

Unfortunately, on the few issues that he's not conservative on, he's more than willing to throw conservatives under the bus to get his face out on the issue.

So I don't think it's surprising that his campaign is falling apart. After all, what does McCain stand for? What sword would his campaign workers fall on for him? What is his vision for the country and how's he going to get people to enroll in the vision?

While I really haven't followed the campaign at all because, for me, it's way too damn early, the one thing these campaigns illustrate is your ability to manage your own campaign, to lead people when the going gets tough, and to keep people enrolled in the vision. If you can't manage those things within your own campaign, how are you going to manage a country for cryin' out loud.

When your vision is to simply be on TV all the time, you're going to fail long term.

I still offer that republicans in this race need to make a call, you either believe that government makes a difference in the world or it doesn't. If you believe that it does, then you're really a socialist. Why should conservatives vote for a socialist when we already have democrats?

So it ain't so

So let's say you are in Israel protesting the plight of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli army finds a tunnel where bombs have been smuggled in. The army decides to destroy the tunnel with a bull dozer.

You and your peace niks decide to protest at the site and a bull dozer accidentally runs over you and kills you.

Who do you sue?

Well, you could sue the Palestinians for building the tunnel in the first place; except that Palestinians have no money except for Yasir Arafat, who's already dead.

You could sue the Israeli Army, but chances are good they'd send the Mossad to take you out and you don't want that.

Well, if you're the family of Rachel Corrie, you sue Caterpillar, Inc., who manufactured the bull dozer in Peoria Illinois.

If you wonder why businesses take their production elsewhere, consider dealing with this caca.

Do the Wrong People Vote? Yeah

I while back I was having a conversation with a woman about voting. She became very apologetic when she said "I know I should vote but I just don't know what I'd be voting for."

Being Mr. Politics, I think she expected me to blast her for not voting. Instead, I said, "If you're not up to speed on what you're voting on, I'm glad you don't vote.

Well, the New Yorker has an article about voting and the the electorate that actually votes.

If the only people that actually voted were up to speed on the issues, maybe we'd end up with a congress that would actually fix Social Security instead of Global Baloney.

Vacation Ideas

So it's almost half way through the summer season and you still haven't decided what to do for vacation....

Think about taking a long weekend to visit the Accounting Hall of Fame in Columbus, Ohio.

Among all the picture of a lot of old white guys, you'll see fabulous displays of such things as

The first abacus.
The first slide rule ever produced.
The first adding machine.

Man, it gets me shivering just thinking about it.

Another SLUTH already

Meet Kent Couch. He's probably hard to see given that the guy is 11,000 feet above the earth's surface.

Couch does remind me of Larry Walters, the man he emulated with this stunt.

Here's the Wikipedia description of Walters 1982 act.

Walters and his girlfriend, Carol Van Deusen, purchased 45 four-foot weather balloons and helium tanks at California Toy Time Balloons. To avoid suspicion, they used a forged requisition from his employer, FilmFair Studios, saying the balloons were for a television commercial shoot. Walters then attached the balloons to his lawnchair, filled them with helium, donned a parachute, and strapped himself to the chair with a pellet gun (with which he intended to shoot the balloons to lower himself), a CB radio, sandwiches, soft drinks, and a camera. After that, things did not work out as he had planned. When his friends cut the cord that had tied his lawnchair to his jeep, Walters' lawnchair, which was planned to rise 100 feet above the ground, quickly rose to a height of about 16,000 feet (3 miles); he did not dare shoot any balloons, fearing that he might unbalance the load. He drifted over Long Beach and crossed the primary approach corridor of Long Beach airport.

After spending about 45 minutes in the sky, though, he came to the conclusion that he would have to shoot a few balloons after all; doing so caused him to descend slowly again, until the balloon's dangling cables got caught in a power line, causing a black out in a Long Beach neighborhood for 20 minutes, but also allowing Walters to climb down to the ground again.

If you are one of these types who believes in evolution, explain to me how, after a million years or so, we haven't be able to eliminate these guys from the gene pool.

Around the Blogger World

Candidates outside the box - One Oar in the Water
Scamming the Democrats - The Boring Made Dull
Senator's number found in Black Book - King's Right
Moore on CNN - Lincoln Logs

Good to have your priorities right.

Nice to see Rachel Hutzel, Warren County prosecutor, is out making the public safe from all those drunken canoe paddlers.

You see Hutzel is one of those politicians full of wisdom. She knows that drunken canoe paddling is a gateway crime and if you don't crack down, the next thing you know, you have Kayakers doing heroin or drunken flea market shoppers.

The SLUTH award

I forgot all about this award (SLap Upside The Head) a long time ago but I'm dusting it off today.

In many ways, kids have it so much easier than we did as kids but in many ways it's harder. For instance, my family was too poor to by me a car for my own personal usage so I saved $500.00 to buy my first baby blue 1972 Ford Pinto; top end speed of 58.5 mph (downhill).

So when I read in the paper about a kid getting killed driving a Camaro 100 mph, my first thought is "what in the hell were these parent's thinking?"

I was a teen age boy at one time. If I would have my hands on a Camaro, 100 mph would have been the standard. Fortunately for me and my friends, we had cars like a 63 Rambler, a 1970 AMC woody wagon, a 1970 Vega, a 1979, three on the tree, Ford Grenada. You never had to put a governor on these cars... they were self imposed.

So if you are a parent that lets your kid tool around in a car like this, I would like to slap you upside the head right now.

Trust me. It will be less painful and humiliating than a call from the Highway Patrol telling you your kid is dead.

Slow news day?

Front page story on my morning Cincinnati Enquirer: Pills for fat dogs.

That pug's too pudgy. Is your Husky too husky? Pooch got a paunch? Dogs get fat just like people, but a new drug helps

Now that I think about it..... Gordon looks like he could lose a few too.

Terrible Ted Strikes Again

Lo and Behold. Just as I finished up my post about the drug situation this morning, I just happened to be going through a Wall Street Journal I didn't get to read from last Tuesday.

Off all things to run into on the op-ed section, is a piece by non other than Ted Nugent about the 40th anniversary of the "Summer of Love", or as he calls it the "Summer of Drugs".

Here's Ted's Analysis of 1967

Forty years ago hordes of stoned, dirty, stinky hippies converged on San Francisco to "turn on, tune in, and drop out," which was the calling card of LSD proponent Timothy Leary. Turned off by the work ethic and productive American Dream values of their parents, hippies instead opted for a cowardly, irresponsible lifestyle of random sex, life-destroying drugs and mostly soulless rock music that flourished in San Francisco.

and the aftermath

A quick study of social statistics before and after the 1960s is quite telling. The rising rates of divorce, high school drop outs, drug use, abortion, sexual diseases and crime, not to mention the exponential expansion of government and taxes, is dramatic. The "if it feels good, do it" lifestyle born of the 1960s has proved to be destructive and deadly.

It's why Ted's the man.

Around the Blogger World

UC Financial Mess - BizzyBlog
The McCain Collapse - Third Wave Dave
Compute your Carbon Footprint - Earthlab
Live Earth Celebrities - Red State Rampage

What's up with the Drugs

For the past month or so, I've had numerous conversations with people regarding various drug addictions and the people who support said.

It blows me away the number of drug addictions people out there are managing; heroin, cocaine, meth, crack.

Then I hear a NASCAR driver was busted shooting heroin in the King's Island parking lot. I guess the Beast just wasn't enough of a thrill.

I know it's all anecdotal, but I would appreciate some feedback. Have you noticed a rise in addictive drug use? I'm just curious, maybe I'm hanging out with the wrong people.

Freddy's Back

Like the last five minutes of a horror movie; you know, just when you think Michael Myers is dead and somehow with a dagger through the heart and his eyes shot out, he raises up for yet another attack, here comes Cindy Sheehan.

You might remember Cindy as the woman who a couple of months ago decided she no longer wanted to be in the public spotlight. I guess running for congress against Nancy Pelosi isn't in the spotlight.

And just like Mike Myers, we couldn't kill her off with a six shooter full of silver bullets.

SOS

I couldn't resist watching the Live Earth shows over the weekend.

My thoughts...

I saw The Police in concert in one their last shows before the break up. It will always go down as the worst show I ever saw. But they didn't fail me over the weekend, they were probably the 2nd worst show next to Madonna.

Madonna hun, I think your act needs to be moved to the Las Vegas strip. I wouldn't go watch that crap if I was comped with a free buffet.

It was nice to see all people coming in from Chicago, Philadelphia, LA for the show. I'm sure no one left a carbon footprint for those trips.

Finally, I've been thinking, after the Live Aid concerts apparently Ethiopian hunger ceased; after Farm Aid, every thing's hunky dory in Iowa, so hopefully now that all the music stars have contributed what they could maybe all the problem is solved as far as the media is concerned.

Oh and by the way, Kanye, you look stylish in all those sweatshop clothes you wore.

Why Not?

At first, I saw this Headline on Drudge and like 99% of the US, I blew it off.

But like most things, it kept gnawing on me until I got fed up enough to post on it.

The Headline

Allergic US employee sues to ban perfume at work

Why not?

Why shouldn't a business make an accommodation for this woman. Businesses are required to make accommodations for disabilities, pregnancies, family leaves, atheists, smoking, no guns; pick your poison. How do you discriminate one issue from another?

At some point, I expect a lawsuit where a stripper is not required to actually disrobe because it's degrading.

Moore Lies...

I am a new American, but I grew up and worked for many years in Canada. And I know the health care system of my native country much more intimately than does Moore. There's a good reason why my former countrymen with the money to do so either use the services of a booming industry of illegal private clinics, or come to America to take advantage of the health care that Moore denounces.

Government-run health care in Canada inevitably resolves into a dehumanizing system of triage, where the weak and the elderly are hastened to their fates by actuarial calculation. Having fought the Canadian health care bureaucracy on behalf of my ailing mother just two years ago - she was too old, and too sick, to merit the highest quality care in the government's eyes - I can honestly say that Moore's preferred health care system is something I wouldn't wish on him.

More Lies from Moore...

Live Earth: What planet are they on?

The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher.

Moreover, the pop stars headlining the concerts are the absolute antithesis of the message they promote - with Madonna leading the pack of the worst individual rock star polluters in the world.

Supermodel Kate Moss, another profligate polluter through her use of private jets, is producing a T-shirt for the event. Yet, Gore is touting the concerts as 'carbon neutral'. So how can that be?

Live Earth Hypocrisy...

Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations

James Taranto of OpinionJournal.com has a great analysis of a column by Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe.

Goodman's complaint? that Justice Thomas doesn't walk the walk when it comes to racial preference, despite being the beneficiary of such programs.

He does a great job of breaking down her double standard of race treatment. However, he misses what I believe to be Justice Thomas' views on discrimination. Here's a segment of Goodman's column

A special shout-out to Clarence Thomas, who may embark on his annual road trip in his 40-foot motor home knowing that he's accomplished one life goal. The justice is now talked about even less in terms of race--less as the profligate successor to Thurgood Marshall than as a certified member of the court's right wing. Color him conservative. . . .

Thomas's psyche still intrigues those who search for the biography in his opinions. We know Thomas as a man who benefited from the affirmative action he scorns. He attended Holy Cross with a scholarship established for blacks after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. He was accepted to Yale Law School, where a program committed 10 percent of the seats to minorities. . . .

I have no doubt that Thomas sees himself as the victim of racism and the "racism lite" experienced by many black professionals tagged as "affirmative action babies." He's kept the pile of rejection letters received after graduating from law school. At his searing confirmation hearings, he froze the senators in their tracks by consciously describing himself as the victim of a "high-tech lynching." He also knows that many people questioned his credentials for the Supreme Court.

First, from this commentary, it's clear to Goodman that Thomas never would have been accepted into Yale without a handout. How does she know this? Maybe Thomas was so gifted, he would have been accepted without "special treatment". Maybe he understands and resents whites who think he would have only achieved with the help of white guilt morsels of special treatment. Maybe, Thomas knows that despite being a gifted jurist on the US Supreme Court, there's always going to be some lowly racist columnist out there that writes crap like "hey, you never could have have made it without our white guilt program of help."

Maybe Thomas knows that until there becomes a time when we legislate as color blind society, black achievement will always be viewed in the shadows of white help... how degrading.

I remember an episode of the West Wing where one of the female characters was openly hostile to a bill in Congress to increase the pay of women in the workplace.

When confronted by one of the male characters who said something like "we doing this bill to help someone just like you!"

Her response was "maybe I don't want your help. Maybe I don't want to be viewed as someone who got their success because someone "gave" me a hand. Consider that I'm good enough that I don't need your damn help."

Maybe Justice Thomas wants a life for blacks where they never have to "pay back" white liberals for the help they never ask for in the first place.

Out of curiosity, I wonder if Goodman would be willing to quit her job so that Justice Thomas could take her spot?

Pot Kettle Black Award

It appears that this week's winner the PKB award may need to be inducted into the Hypocrisy Hall of Shame.

Once again we have Hillary Clinton speaking out on the Bush commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence.

I guess her criteria for Scooter... Line my pockets and we'll get 'er done.

Playing Politics with Libby

As much of a political junkie as I am, I'm often surprised at how uninterested I am on certain issues in the overall political landscape.

Take Scooter Libby, I've made one small previous post on him. I guess I figure that all the talking heads out there will beat it to death so I don't need to.

With that said, I was actually surprised that Libby was convicted. After all, the principle government witnesses (Tim Russert, Judith Miller, et al) seemed to lack the consistency in their testimony that Libby was charged with.

Alan Dershowitz, has a great piece (in the Huffington Post no less) about the whole Libby fiasco. Dershowitz, no conservative by any means, actually wrote a brief supporting the appeal on behalf of Libby.

The bottom line, if you are ever questioned by a government prosecutor, refuse to answer, plead the fifth, and move on.

Ask Martha Stewart and Scooter what happens when you cooperate. The crime you commit may be your own.

Live Earth

Given that I've spent the better part of a week at some concert or another, I don't think I'll be tuning in to this weekend's big "Live Earth" shows.

Instead I'll be doing what I can to make up for the Humongous Carbon Foot Prints these concerts will be leaving. You know, the very footprints these guys are making us aware of.

I just wonder how much CO2 all these performers release from the following

Garbage and refuse for about a half million attendees, more than a square a visit I swear.
The electric use for one act that could power a home for two years.
The flights, not commercial, for all the entertainers.
All the moving of band equipment and Bono's favorite hat
And all the CO2 exhaled from Al Gore's hot air.

About seven years ago, the area I live in was hit by a pretty good tornado that destroyed a neighborhood nearby. I remember a news reporter on sight reporting about all the devastation in the area. Then he says "police and fire officials are asking the public to avoid coming into the area as they'll get in the way of emergency vehicles."

As he is saying this, a fire truck is honking for him to get out of the way until they finally turn on the siren to blast out his report.

It's when I understood why media people and celebrities make for natural liberals. It's all about "do as I say, not as I do".

Animal Farm

Around the Blogger World

Anti War Zealots Refuse to Pay Taxes - Big Dog Blog
Plants are People Too - Eye Hacker Blog
Porker of the Week - Buckeye Institute
Al Gore Defends Son's Carbon Offset Strategy - Scrappleface
License to Wed Review - Captain's Quarters
Walter Williams on Race - BizzyBlog

The Koby Stopper

In a classic match up of Braun v. Finesse, Joey Chestnut won the Nathan's hot dog competition, knocking down 66 hot dogs (in twelve minutes) to Kobayahsi's 63, a modern day record.

While the results are official, there is the ongoing rumor that Chestnut is taking steroids and Nathan's was awaiting results of their steroid test. Of course the test is a joke, since they don't test for Human Growth Hormone or EPO.

If Chestnut tests positive for steroids, baseball could strip Chestnut of his hot dog eating record. According to Hot Dog Eating Commissioner, Bud Selig.

Wait a minute, I think I just confused the hot dog eating competition with the Tour De France, or maybe the Olympics, or was it baseball. I'm so confused. I guess since so many sports are tainted with 'roids what the hell.

John "Gee my Hair Smells Terrific" Edwards

John Edwards has made the "Two America's" his campaign theme.

I couldn't agree more with the two America's assessment, there's the America filled with people working, paying bills and trying to make their lives better.

Then there's the other America; the one where politicians fly in hair stylists for a $1,250 haircuts and live in 28,000 square feet homes and tell the other America that he "feels our pain".

If this guy pays $1,250 for a haircut, how much does he spend in hair products. His bathroom must look like Cher's.

How about listening for a change

During the show last night, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Yuppie with their three kids and two Blue Tooths (if it's plural should it be Blue Teeth?).

I'm always going to be behind the curve on technology but regardless, if you use one of these things continuously.... you are a loser.

Seriously, you're at a concert among thousands of people... what call are you expecting that you'll be able to hear anyway? Sally calling about the color of her drapes? Jim, with the new tee time?

Here's an idea for the couple who wants to be in touch. Take out the Blue Tooth, put it on the ground, smash it with your foot and try listening to your kids for a change. Lord knows, we had to listen to them all night.

Crazy for you

After seeing a few concerts over the years, the formula pretty much goes.

1) Play a couple of old tunes to get the crowd into the show.

2) Play a couple of tunes from the album you're trying to hock.

3) Make a few obligatory compliments about the city.

4) Finish strong.

5) Play the songs under the original arrangement.

and finally, save a couple of the crowd favorites for the encore which you'll do no matter what anyway.

So it was refreshing when Heart came out, no intro and kicking ass right away. I think they went song to song to song for a good half an hour before stopping to make a couple of comments and then back into the show.

They also played some covers by The Who (Love, Rain on Me) and two Led Zeppelin covers for the encore (Black Dog and Misty Mountain Hop). It was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Carry on My Wayward Son

Went to see Asia and Kansas last night.

I think I like to see these guys play in their 50's because

1) Most out already been in and out of rehab
2) At midnight they're usually in bed catching some winks instead of partying with 14 girls on the tour bus.
3) As my girlfriend says, they need to play because they don't have health insurance.

Some thoughts from the show.

I swear the follicle count on rock stars is astronomical. I guess sex drugs and rock and roll ages your liver significantly but at least you get to keep your hair.

If this is the kind of weather we get from global warming 80 degress with 25% humidity, I'm buying an SUV and letting it run continuously.

Off for Head East and Heart tonight.

You gotta read this.

IowaHawk has a a great piece of satire on the London/Scotland screw ups.

Thought for the day

As we celebrate the 4th today keep this in mind. The Patriots instigated the Boston Tea Party over the Stamp tax. Do you know how much the tax was on the tea?

3/4 of one percent, .0075, or less than a penny for your public school math kids.

Top Dog

All eyes will be on Joey Chestnut at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y.

Chestnut is aiming to break his own world record of eating 59.5 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.

This year's event took on a new twist after Takeru Kobayashi, 29, the world's most famous speed eater and six-time Nathan's contest champion, reported that a jaw injury would prevent him from competing at full chomp. Some openly wondered whether Kobayashi was playing possum to lull the up-and-coming Chestnut into a false sense of security.

More, more, more...

God Bless America!

Around the Blogger World

Gay Right's Leader Becomes Straight - King's Right
Obama Clinton give campaign funds to poor - Scrappleface
Scooter Libby - Doug Ross @ Journal
Hope, Not as Good as Determination - Citizen Warrior
SUV Driving Doctors Attack Great Britain - BlameBush

Who's next

Last night Gordon, et al, spent the evening at the KD Lang/Lyle Lovett concert. I'm not a huge Lyle Lovett fan but I have to say if you get a chance to see him with his "Large Band" you should check it out.

KD Lang was ok but her show had me doing flash backs to watching Lawrence Welk with my parents. She was really funny on stage. At least she can have some fun about her sexuality. Quote of the night from a 10 year old kid in front of us turned to his parents while KD was playing "Mom, is that Lyle Lovett?"

Finally a question prompted from last night. If you are a lesbian, you like women correct? If that's the case, why do most lesbians always seem to hook up with women that look like guys? I mean at least Ellen is feminine looking. I would think you'd want someone feminine not a female look a like of Johnny Depp

Anyway, off tonight to see Kansas and Asia in Mason; tomorrow, Head East and Heart in Blue Ash. Then? off to rehab.

Yo Joe!

We're buying the Reds to win. Anything else is unacceptable.

-Bob Castellini, Jan 2006

Around the Blogger World

Comic - Powerline
The Free Speech Party - Connect the Dots
Porkers of the Week - Buckeye Institute
GOP 527's - Politico
Earl Campbell the High Price of Glory - The WIzard of Odds
No Wonder he Bats 220 - Deadspin

"I'm a baseball guy"

I don't care what anyone thinks, this team was better than 31-50; especially in the National League Central.

I have never seen a team that lacked so much in fundamental execution. At times it was like watching my beer league softball team.

While I understand that today's baseball game is played differently, Narron couldn't seem to get the most out of these guys. Unfortunately, my biggest fear is this interim guy will get the team to play 40-40 ball the rest of the way; just enough performance to hire him permanently instead of getting a real manager in the off season ala the Bengals with Coslett, LeBoBo, and Steakhouse Dave.

In addition to Narron, Krivsky really needs to look at the stars of the team. When your most expensive players are dogging it, the rest of the team follows in behind.

Maybe Castellini can hire Isiah Thomas or Matt Millon, they've been pretty successful in turning around bad situations.

It was inevitable...

Jerry Narron fired. Pete Mackanin in as interim manager for the Cincinnati Reds.

DUI Checkpoints

Tonight's DUI checkpoint will be... Well let's just use the Enquirer terminology.

Police will check cars and trucks for drunken drivers and seat-belt scofflaws on Ohio 125 (Beechmont Avenue) in Mount Washington tonight and Sunday morning.

It's a good thing the cops are going after those seat belt "scofflaws".

You know seat belt violations are a gateway crime. You start getting away with that and you move up to rape, murder and other scofflawing.

As a public service reminder. All Bengals... Keep your drunken debauchery confined to the west side tonight.

Stat of the Day

When trailing at the end of the 8th inning the Reds are 1-43.

Midas, what did Bob Castellini say about the Reds?

Hollywood ...What do they know?

A guy I play Saturday morning basketball with, has written a screenplay and the film has been completed.

I don't want to name the film because I don't want to jeopardize the current distribution deal he's currently working on.

I've talked to him a few times regarding the film and how hard it is to get things done when you are a Hollywood outsider.

In fact, he's told me about a conversation he had with a potential producer regarding the film. His attorney told him going in not to mention that he was from Ohio. Unfortunately, during the conversation it slipped out that this guy was from Ohio and the producer said "what the hell does this guy know about making movies?"

Well, maybe he knows enough to know that he's more creative than writing Spiderman 4 or the next of the Transformer movies or Ocean's 29.

I've talked to music people that have to overcome the same issues. All these people on the coasts think that flyover country is populated with a bunch of rubes and maybe we are. After all, we keep buying the crap that these guys keep shelling out.

But you would think that in the world of self indulgent arrogance and lack of talent maybe one guy would say "you know, who better to write the movies than the people who actually watch them".

I think it's the reason the liberals on the coast don't get middle America at all. There's too much inbreeding among their collective thoughts. To quote Tina Brown "I don't know how Bush could have won the election, I don't know one person who voted for him".

Maybe she needs to get out of Manhattan.

The No Baskets League

If the NBA ever wanted to figure out why the league is losing is popularity they need not go any further than looking at the draft.

The Bulls drafted Yoakim Noah with the ninth pick of the draft. The ninth best available basketball player in world. Look at this guy. He's not a basketball player, he's the carnie guy on stilts.

What I've never understood about basketball is why the teams continue to draft for potential and not production. I believe the 1st rounders get a guaranteed three year contract and then the player becomes a free agent.

Why would you invest in a guy for three years only to watch him become available for free agency before you got his best games out of him? If I'm drafting with the ninth pick, I'm taking a guy that can take over a game ... today and if that guy is not there, I trade the pick for that guy.

This potential bit showed up even bigger for Daequan Cook.

Here's what Lance McAlister said on his blog.

If you ever doubted how much stock was put in "potential" for NBA prospects vs what they actually did in college...look at Dunbar/OSU's Daequan Cook.
He's drafted 21st overall last night. In his only college season, in OSU's two biggest games (Final Four) he played 7-minutes vs Georgetown and played 9-minutes vs Florida...going a combined 1 for 5 from the field. His NCAA tourney stats: 9 for 30, averaging 4.8 points. His three biggest games of the season were vs VMI, Eastern Kentucky and Coppin St. He played a total of 770 minutes of college hoops. He did not score in double figures in his final 11 games....and reached double figures only 2 of his final 17 games.

So the next time you see some guy you never heard of clang one off the iron go back and check his draft position. You'll find on the notes "raw talent, lot's of upside".

Enforce the Law

I just got done listening to a few talk shows where the commentators believe that conservatives are going to have buyers remorse as a result of this immigration mess.

But let's look at the time line on this whole debacle

1986 - With the flood of approximately 3 million illegals in the country, the feds pass an amnesty bill with the promise of better enforcement of the border.

Leap forward to 2006 - with the prospect of having to manage anywhere from 20 - 30 million illegal immigrants, Congress passes a law ordering a fence across the border.

Before the feds have even built one mile of fence, these guys are working on more immigration legislation.

How is it we can manage to build hundreds of thousands of miles of fence for noisy interstate highways and we can't seem to manage this process?

This outcry from the conservative movement was more of an indictment of how the government can't or won't enforce it's existing laws. Since everyone knows they can't effectively do the job they were hired to do, they pass more laws effectively giving them a pass for their own mismanagement.

Imagine one of these senators working in the private sector.

John Boss (taxpayer) - Hey George why haven't we been able to get that product shipped out that you told me was going out last week.

George Employee (senator) - Well John, you know we've switched our whole shipping department around and we can't get out the product any faster.

John - George you are in charge of shipping. We use to get product shipped out the next day, now it takes more than a week. You told me that we could get product out in the same day with these changes.

George - Well John, you can complain about the week long shipping all you want, that's not going to speed up shipping.

John - What do you suggest?

George - First, I suggest that you just forget about shipping all together, those problems are going to solve themselves. Second, I think we need to incorporate the changes we made to shipping to the production department because that's where the real time lag is in our delivery and I think I'm just the guy to do the job.

John - George, you're an idiot.

Really could it be any different that that?

This is like being on a boat with a leak and our beloved leaders have the wisdom to tell us that if we get a big enough bucket, the leak will stop. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Here's the deal, enforce the laws as is first, show the public you have some ability to do that job for a change.

Dear Mike Duncan

Dear Mike (GOP Chair)

I've got a new slogan you can use for the next senatorial races.

The GOP, Hey at least we're not Democrats!

Oh wait, you're already using that.

Nevermind.

To Catch a Predator

I wonder how Chris Hansen feels after one of their "To Catch a Predator" traps resulted in the suicide of a Kauffman County Prosecutor.

Once again, I come out as soft on child molesters. But again, you would be wrong. Show me a child who's been molested, and I'll show you a 20 year sentence for the son of a bitch.

I'm against these stings for a few of reasons.

1) How much of a problem do we have in our society with 15 year old girls looking to anonymously have sex with 40 year old guys?

2) The resources used on these crimes could be used in things like kicking illegals out of the country.

3) If I decide to rob a bank tomorrow, set up the plans, drive to the bank and as I walk in the door I get cold feet and turn around. Did I commit a crime? How do we know these guys wouldn't do the same.

4) I cannot think of another crime where the cops actively pursue and encourage someone to commit the crime.

5) I think a lot of cops get off on this.

The victim less crime detectives strike again.

Around the Blogger World

The Fairness Doctrine - Gribbit's Word
Culture of Corruption Update - Weapons of Mass Discussion
Mission Accomplished - Big Dog Blog
Race Discrimination Loses at Court - Red State
Nougat - Polipundit
Come Party with Daequan Cook - Deadspin

Streisand gets awards

Quoting this article

Barbra Streisand performed her first concert in France this week and was rewarded with a medal of the Legion of Honour.

President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded the singer at a ceremony in Paris, the first time the new President had bestowed the honour on anyone since he took over last month from Jacques Chirac. "You are the America that we love,"

In other words, the America they love is San Francisco, P'Town, and Seattle.

Why am I not surprised.

Pot Kettle Black Award

In a dramatic change of pace, this week's Pot, Kettle, Black award goes to a pack of pro business journalist; The 200 Wall Street Journal reporters that did not show up for work yesterday in protest of a Rupert Murdoch's potential takeover of the paper.

Let's see, your paper always espouses the free enterprise exchange of business and yet you are worried about what Rupert might do to the paper... isn't that free enterprise at it's best? How do you know that Rupert might not throw a few bucks in behind the paper to make even better than it is. I'm pretty sure he won't run this paper like he runs the NY Post.

I'm not sure if it's related, but when I arrived to work this morning low and behold... no WSJ. That's always a good way to get the masses to line up behind your cause.

PS I just got my paper. SO now I guess Murdoch can say. Hey I can get out a paper with 200 less reporters. COOL

How did RINOvich ever win an election?

I caught a lot of flak because I refused to vote for Mike Dewine in this past election cycle.

While I pledged a long time ago to never vote for a democrat again, I won't vote for a liberal republican just to keep a majority in a house of congress. Essentially, I will no longer vote for the lesser of two evils.

With that said, for those of you who criticized me for not voting for Dewine, how are you feeling about dear George Voinovich now? Would you give him your vote today? Have you heard this interview with Sean Hannity?

I hope Voinovich doesn't run for reelection which will allow the GOP to actually have a conservative run. However, George is a US senator now, which practically means he's royalty. We can't get rid of him without some kind of voodoo ritual at this point.

In my mind, even if a democrat wins the next senate election, the GOP will be better off. Think if it like putting maggots on a gangrenous wound, it's disgusting in the short term but at least you get to keep your limb.

That's a lot of money

Warren Buffett hosted a Hillary Clinton fund raiser Tuesday and disclosed that he paid 17.7% of his 46 million dollars of income.

His complaint? That he paid a lesser percentage of his income than his receptionist who had to pay 30% of her income on a $60,000 wage.

Thoughts.......

1) His receptionist needs my business card. There's no way she paid that much unless you count FICA, state and local taxes.

2) Warren, why don't you give your receptionist a raise? Trust me... you can afford it.

3) 17.7% of 46 million is 8.1 million dollars in tax. You need a tax cut.

4) Warren, no one says you can't pay more in tax. Have your accountant re do your return and add a mill or two to the bottom line and kick it in to the Treasury.

I'll never get rich guys who complain that they don't pay enough. If you don't think you pay enough.... pay more. I have yet to see anyone turn down more money. Especially Hillary Clinton.

Pour some Sugar on Me

Last night Gordon et al went to the Styx, Foreigner, Def Leopard concert last night and here are some general thoughts.

1) If the band plays less than 10 songs they should not be on the ticket. Foreigner played six songs.... that's one more than five.

2) You know you are in an older crowd when a woman takes her top off and men buy her beers to put it back on.

3) Those sexy barb wire tattoos are sexy when you have a young tight body. Here's what it looks like when you get old and flabby -.(-(.L-.C-.-.-.-.-. A guy in the crowd who knew morse code told me that it spelled out "Jenny Craig only 49.95 a month".

4) When the skies open up and it starts pooring, just remember, rain is WATER, the very liquid you shower with, it is not battery acid. You will not melt when it touches you. I never saw so many perfectly healthy men cowering in a bathroom afraid to get wet.

Quote of the evening from the guy behind me... "The last time I saw these guys I had all my hair and the drummer had all his arms."

Around the Blogger World

Wednesday's Tax Tip - Valentine's Tax Tips
Immigration Vote - Big Dog Blog
Did the WWE do the Right Thing- Simon on Sports
The Way Soccer Should be Played - Deadspin
Riots in Iran - Gateway Pundit

A Dagger in the Heart of Pro Wrestling

The murders and suicide of Chris Benoit might be the death of pro wrestling. In the past, steroid use usually resulted in the death of just the users. However, Benoit didn't just kill himself, it spilled over into the deaths of innocents. Now the public is going to start demanding changes in all sports to rid ourselves of this junk.

With the surge in popularity of MMA (Mixed Marital Arts), pro wrestling has a choice to make. Start getting aggressive in testing these guys for 'roids which will result in a smaller less showman wrestler or leave it as it is which will probably result in some serious public backlash.

I was a big fan of the squared circle when I was a kid, but I started to see that trend was all about bigger, bigger and bigger. You just cannot get the kind of bodies these guys have without taking a needle in the ass on a regular basis.

Needless to say, I think Vice McMahon's days as a public figure may be numbered.

Liberals for Free Speech (Not)

Two years ago I was go to a concert with a dear liberal friend of mine when I heard about the Kelo Supreme Court decision on the radio.

After I went into a complete tirade about how ridiculous it is for the state to confiscate private property for private development, she simply commented, "Well that's those big business conservatives on the court you love so much".

Except all those big business conservatives ruled for Suzanne Kelo (Scalia, Thomas, Rehnquist and O'Conner) and the so called "champion of the little guys" liberals (Kennedy, Souter, Ginsberg, Stevens & Breyer) who ruled for the city.

Fast forward two years with the ruling on the McCain- Feingold law; a conversation with my friend would probably yield this comment, "Obviously, the free speech liberal judges overturned McCain Feingold"; except that would be wrong. Justices ruling against McCain Feingold (Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Kennedy and Scalia) and for (Ginsberg, Souter, Stevens & Breyer)

McCain Feingold might be the worst piece of legislation ever written. It's an obvious infringement on the first amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech,...

How this wasn't a 9-0 vote is a travesty in justice. Just who is ruling strictly on their political agenda?

When will the average grass roots liberal finally come to terms with the fact that liberal ideology is all about big government and central control over individual liberty and free speech?

It all comes back to my belief that all Supreme Court decisions have a tag on the bottom of all rulings....

Brought to you by the same clowns that brought you "Separate but Equal".

The Supremes

The Supreme Court has come out with a flurry of decisions as it does every June and it will be time for the annual civics lesson for all those who know nothing about the US Constitution. This would include Justices Souter, Breyer, Ginsberg and Stevens.

The media would have you believe that the Hein v Freedom from From Religion Foundation case was all about government funding of programs sponsored by religious groups but really at issue was who has standing in the case. Meaning I can't sue your employer for firing you unlawfully because I have no standing, no dog in the fight.

Too often the media wants to focus on who wins the case and not the actual law being administered.

For instance, let's say the statute of limitations on a wrongful death suit is 5 years. Your company commits an offense where my wife is killed but it takes me six years for me to file suit. If a court ruled in favor of the company, the NY Times would have a big headline stating "Court Rules for Big Business Again!"

But the court would simply be adhering to the law as it's written. This is the case in Hein.

I love reading the press release from FFRF

Money quote

The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision today in Hein v. FFRF granting the executive branch the freedom to violate the separation of church and state without court review spells "imperial presidency,"

For the FFRF gang, Here is actually what the 1st Amendment states.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Where in that is the expression "separation of church and state"?

In fact when the framers put together the constitution they knew full well that some states may have a "state religion". What they didn't want was a Church of England that was government church and with that came federal power over the masses.

The amendment says nothing about school districts sanctioning school prayer and it definitely says nothing about funding a federal program run by a church.

One of the results of horrible public education in this country is by dumbing down the masses you can manipulate them by altering the language. It's Animal Farm all over the liberal agenda.

Immigration "reform"

We have posted little on immigration because, frankly, until you are able to secure a border, any immigration law is simply legal masturbation.

I'm not one who believes in the wisdom of the general public, the public that gives ratings to rich high school drop outs leaving jail. However, in this case, it's clear that citizens in this country overwhelming want 1) secure borders and 2) no recognition for people here illegally already.

And yet the think tank known as US senators are just spitting in the face of the voting public on the issue.

What is it that this collection of bozo's know that we don't?

Bring our Senators Home

senator George Voinovich, (RINO, Ohio), says it's time to bring our troops home. So much for patience. I wonder if he cried while he was speaking.

We just got the 30,000 additional troops over there and before we can even tell if the surge is effective, dip sticks like Voinovich want to salute the white flag.

I don't care if Lyndon LaRouche is running against this guy. I've had enough of his BS.

Believe it or not

In a shocking development, police arrested this man, Curtis Allgier, for the murder of a corrections officer.

Seriously, how long did this guy think he was going to be able to hide out? Maybe putting some foundation over the swastika.

Don't worry about old Curtis, there, will be some woman in the world to take care of him.

I can blame just about every thing on birth control pills

I've been thinking about my earlier post and I can't help but think that nearly every problem in our society can be linked back to introduction of birth control pills and air conditioning into our society.

Think about it. Once women started taking the pill, they liberated themselves from relying upon men to be responsible sexually. In addition, women could now behave like men sexually. Don't get me wrong, I like being a man, but a woman is a woman, to be treated and respected as such. And, frankly, men's sexual qualities are not those to be emulated.

In addition, once couples could control the number of children in their family... wah lah, the woman is no longer confined to homemaker status. She can start working and once she starts working, the guys can kick back and relax for a change.

It blows me away to hear young women today talk about the fact that they have never been on a date. You know, a "date". An evening where a man actually dresses up, picks up girl at home, actually courts her, and takes her home. Nearly all young person relationships amount to a series of "hook ups" where people just meet in bars and go at it.

After all, women are our equals today, so why bother courting. Heck, let her buy some beers.

So if you're a guy why worry about protection.. right? I mean if she's sexually active she's probably already on the pill and if you knock her up... hey there's always abortion.

I know this post is a little graphic and drifts a little on topic but really. Imagine if our culture had instilled a sense of value in Jessie Davis. Personal values where a woman wouldn't put up with an environment where she'd just let some dirtbag knock her up a couple of times... while he was married.

Imagine a culture that would instill in Jessie Davis, the sense of value, where this guy would actually have to court her before he got in her pants. Where she could judge his character, maybe even find out he was already married.

I realize this post is graphic and really depicts sex in a very animalistic way, but that's the point. Our culture continues to reinforce that it's OK to act like an animal sexually and guess what? It's that very animalistic behavior that got this girl and her baby killed.

Around the Blogger World

Pro Choice Losers - Catholic World News
Unfairness Doctrine - Liberally Conservative
Supreme Court Rocks McCain-Feingold - Thespis Journal
More Erin Andrews. less sick kids - Wrigleyville23
Baqubah the Noose Loosens - Captain's Quarters

Judge rules against plaintiff

If you have followed this case, it's enough to make you want to spit on every attorney.

An attorney in DC sued a dry cleaner for $64 million because the cleaner lost his pants. The judge ruled in favor of the defendants.

The judge also considering what to do about the attorney's legal fees.

Hopefully, she allow for the dry cleaners to kick this guy in the balls for being a, well, a lawyer.

Millions shun Banks

The Enquirer today has a story about the millions of Americans that operate in our society without bank accounts.

One of the reasons for the explosion of check cashing operations is that we continue to see a large number of people operating underneath the "radar" of our culture.

Whether it be illegal immigrants, guys avoiding child support obligations, people with poor bank account histories (large numbers of bounced checks) or drug dealers, we continue to have a class of people who frankly do not want to be located through traditional bank accounts.

Is it more expensive? helloooo. Yes it is; but it should be. I wouldn't want to serve this group of people without a premium for my service and guess what? They'll pay it.

I must have had a bad weekend.

I don't get it

Over the weekend, police found Jessie Davis' body and charged her boyfriend with the killing.

This is what I don't get. This woman looks like an young attractive woman with options in her life. Why was she whoring around with this ding dong? Yes, he was a cop, but he apparently was married, had a child with yet a third woman, had disciplinary action as a result of a gun his drug dealing cousin was possessing and had yet another female friend who was willing to help him out in the murder.

I've had a few conversations with friends in the past couple of weeks and I continue to be amazed how many otherwise sensible, attractive and accomplished women allow some drug dealing, cheating, non working low life bum into their lives; often getting pregnant by said bum. Do people, especially women, have such low self esteem, that they are willing to sleep with a piece of crap of a human being just so they have a warm bed at night?

Yesterday, I was watching the Outside the Lines, and Bob Ley said that 57% of all college graduates were women. Where the hell are the men?

It occurs to me that since women started entering the workforce more and more men are willing to kick back their heals and say "go at it girl... and bring me a twelve pack when you come home tonight".

As I tell my girlfriend, the reason men act like pieces of crap is because women let them.

Maybe someone out there can educate me as to why more and more women keep hooking up with dirtbags.

This Week's Pot Kettle Black award winner is.....

John Edwards, the Sultan of Hair, you may know him as the billionaire with a huge heart for the poor.

The NY Times, of all papers, has an expose on a Non Profit organization sir Edwards set up for the poor which pretty much did nothing but fund his trips around the country.

From the article

Edwards, who reported this year that he had assets of nearly $30 million, came up with a novel solution, creating a nonprofit organization with the stated mission of fighting poverty. The organization, the Center for Promise and Opportunity, raised $1.3 million in 2005, and -- unlike a sister charity created to raise scholarship money for poor students -- the main beneficiary of the center's fundraising was Edwards himself, federal tax filings show.

Congratulations Mr. Edwards, we all appreciate your hard work for the poor.

The guy is a selfless crusader for the poor, throwing around $400 for haircuts just so some poor barber can put his kid through college.

News Flash - Journalists are Liberals

I don't typically like to post on surveys which only confirm what common sense already tells us but I'll make an exception in this case.

MSNBC did a review of campaign records and and found out what we would already know. 90% of journalist who contributed to campaigns contributed to Democratic campaigns or cause. In addition, MSNBC followed up with the contributors for any comments.

Here is a list of said comments.

Money Quote from one donor. John Lahr of the New Yorker

"What would you have me write? It would be hard to find a sentient person who could take a strong position for what the Republicans have done in the past six years. What are you going to do, take a position for their position on global warming or the war in Iraq? C'mon!

Naaah, those kinds of opinions would have no bearing on the context of the news they report.

Around the Blogger World

Dann Curses a reporter - King's Right
UC's Financial Debacle - Bizzyblog
Quote of the Day - The Corner
I am both Muslim & Christian - EyeHackerBlog
Porn name World Series - Beavers v. Eaters - The extrapolator
How Nike advertises in Asia - Deuce of davenport

Britain's Got Talent & Bad Teeth

In follow up to my post on Paul Pott's performance on Britain's Got Talent last week, here is his performance on the final show.

I won't ruin the ending for you.

Thought for the day

If I found someone in need of a kidney should I be able sell the person one of mine?

After all, it is my body, I should be able to expel any body tissue out of it that I wish and for any reason?

Do you feel the same way about an abortion?

How do you reconcile any inconsistencies?

Around the Blogger World

Carbon Dioxide Removal Scheme - Interested Participant
Media - Out of Touch - Liberally Conservative
Councilman Breaks Pelvis - Nasty, Brutish & Short
Communist Party Using Democrats to Advance Platform - Red State
Vatican Reverses Kennedy Annulment - One Oar in the Water

Upsetting a Teamster

From the comment posted on my last, I apparently upset a Teamster. Now I can probably look forward to having my property vandalized or destroyed.

I can probably also look forward to Sal, Tony and Carmine "visiting" me in the not so distant future.

I'm sure the guy who commented was getting paid out of the union pension fund. The same fund my dad kicked into for 20 years and has all of about $40,o00 to show for it. You could have invested those funds into a mattress and got a better return.

I'm just glad I don't own a horse.

Coercion over Persuasion

When I was a young pup, my father was working for a beer distributor in Columbus, Ohio.

My dad was a loyal union guy, a Teamster, so I got lots of information about the workings of the union.

During one particularly difficult strike, the union held a contract vote. This is how the vote was taken.

All those against this contract say Aye! ( about 70 % said aye according to pops)

Who are the pussies for it. ( silence)

Let it be noted that rejection of this contract was unanimous.

So when I read articles about the unions trying to get non secret elections for union votes it almost makes sick. Everyone, understands that secret votes are the cornerstone of democracy. Imagine a party official standing beside you as you cast your vote for an office holder. It would be Cuba.

George Will has a great piece about pending legislation making all union votes non secret ballots.

If this legislation passes, you can watch the remaining bits of our manufacturing industry head elsewhere. We won't have to worry about immigration amnesty, we'll all have have to move to Mexico to do the jobs we're doing here.

Juneteenth Gone Wild

In three separate incidents around the country, riots broke out at Juneteenth celebrations in Austin, Milwaukee and Syracuse.

At the Austin riot, a man was killed. It was the second year in a row for violence in Milwaukee.

According to the article

Some people think the violence takes away from the real meaning of Juneteenth.

Ya Think!?

I guess all the rioting was a result of racial profiling. After all these types of things always happen with the Germans on Octoberfest and the Irish on St. Patrick's Day.

I do not know how many Bengals were involved in the incidents.

Party in the Park

Gordon will be down at Party in the Park (downtown - Serpentine Wall) tonight between 6-9 signing autographs and copping a squeeze with the hotties (oops I felt into Clinton mode for a minute). As you know, the autographs will be difficult for me as I have no opposable digits but I'll be there none the less.

Ahhhh the weather's perfect, the beer will be cold and the Rusty Griswold's will be playing.

If you're looking for me. Look for a bulldog with a bunch of hot blond chicks. The girls always confuse me with Spuds McKenzie (that's what I put on my business cards... they think I'm famous even though he's a totally different breed and been dead for 14 years).

Around the Blogger World

Jimma Carter is a Terrorist Loving Anti Semite - Big Dog Blog
Sopranos Washington Style - The radio patriot
Porker of the week - Buckeye Institute
Ohio Unemployment Rates by County - Weapons of Mass Discussion
Clintons flirting with Campaign Laws - Gribbit's Word
Christian and Muslim, Episcopalian Bishop - Virtue OnLine
Dr. McDreamy - Nasty, Brutish & Short

Bloomberg leaving party

NY Mayor, Mike Bloomberg announced that he is leaving the republican party.

The article notes this

He supports gay marriage, abortion rights, gun control and stem cell research and hiked property taxes.....

Exactly what makes this guy a republican?

Then there is this.

Some operatives believe Bloomberg's moderate positions would siphon votes from the Democratic nominee. Others say he could just as easily spoil it for the Republicans.

Why would any republican vote for this guy? It looks like we're already going to have a RINO in the field already so what does he bring that isn't already covered by some variety of socialist already in the field.

Once again, we have another spelling bee winner who's trying to pad his life resume as a result of some classmate taking his lunch money 50 years ago.

You calling me a Liberal?

You want to get a little liberal red meat? Check out this piece by Matt Taibbi, unabashed liberal writer for Rolling Stone. It's an interesting analysis about what's wrong with liberalism.

It's long but lot's of good stuff.

Thus, the people who are the public voice of American liberalism rarely have any real connection to the ordinary working people whose interests they putatively champion. They tend instead to be well-off, college-educated yuppies from California or the East Coast, and hard as they try to worry about food stamps or veterans’ rights or securing federal assistance for heating oil bills, they invariably gravitate instead to things that actually matter to them – like the slick Al Gore documentary on global warming,.....

New Deal liberalism was meant to champion the working stiff, but after the sixties, liberalism evolved into some sort of bastardized feel good, white guilt, politically correct, atheism that actually ran counter to the interest of the working guy.

The Democratic party is now a conglomeration of aggrieved victims (or perceived victims). The poor victimized by the rich; Blacks victimized by whites; Gays victimized by straights; atheists victimized by Christians; the planet victimized by people, it goes on and on and on and on....

How does an environmentalist tell a logger that wiping out his job is good for him? How does a gun control freak tell a UAW member that target shooting and hunting is against his best interest? How does a feminist tell a working catholic that abortion needs to be OK with him?

As a recovering liberal, I feel like Ronald Reagan when he said, "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, it left me".

The best part of this is reading the very whining in the comments that Taibbi calls out... it's great.

Another bird cage liner

Above is the Forum section of the Enquirer delivered to my house. It's pretty obvious to me now that the paper is in trouble financially. Apparently, they can't even afford to pay for ink... let alone a good Red's beat writer.

Terry Hoeppner RIP

I never got to meet Terry Hoeppner and that is my loss.

My only contact of the former football coach at Indiana and Miami was listening to him in various interviews on sports talk shows. Despite such a limited exposure to the man, one could tell this guy is one of the good ones.

His continued optimism, even in the face of terminal brain cancer made this guy one of the rarest of rare individuals.

Many times I like to place people in one of two categories, you're either a contributor or you are a consumer. Hoeppner was a contributor beyond reproach and the world will miss him.

Reality is Long Way away for the Times

The NY Times is a long way from reality these days.

The story, paying taxes brings pleasure.....

You know I tried to take off a couple of days and I run into this lunacy.

Next week, the Times will be publishing a story about how being chained up in a Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro prison is pretty erotic.

The Nuge is loose

Ted's got it going in this opinion piece. Money quote...

As for the American left: One hears the words of Mao Tse-Tung come broiling out of the mouths of its heroes, when Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton et al unflinchingly push for "redistribution of wealth."

Ted would you move in next to me, I've got some critters in my yard that need to be a meal.

A Great Investment

As a resident of Hamilton County, Ohio, I remember when the stadium tax was approved and subsequently voted on by the residents.

The tax was sold on the pretense of economic growth ( or reduction if not approved ).

I knew that was all crap. If professional sports teams provided that much economic activity to the area, the existing tax structure would support the construction. For instance, let's say a sports team brings in 100 million a year in economic activity to an area. Inside the city of Cincinnati 100 million translates to 2.1 million dollars in city income tax revenue.

Now there are some issues around economic multipliers, the amount of revenue generated by money people earned from the activity and respent but I would offer that this money simply offsets the money that would have been spent in the city without a pro team.

With that said, I knew that it made no economic sense to approve nearly a billion dollars in taxes to essentially give to pro teams.

However, where it makes sense is the public persona of having said pro teams in your city. I use the example of a Monday night game. During that game the Goodyear, blimp comes to town, and they show magnificent skyline shots of your city. It would cost you millions to buy that kind of ad time.

But that assumes your teams is going to be on prime time television; which gets me to the point of this post.

The approval of the stadium tax was a monumental waste of resources. All that occurred when the citizens passed this test is we simply put a billion dollars in owners pockets. You know you just got ripped off when the Commissioner that was out front on the deal takes a job with the Bengals.

Our teams are a laughing stock and portray the city as a joke (see Colin Cowherd). Instead of Monday night football shots, we get mugshot photos of athletes. Our baseball team hasn't been on prime time TV in how long? You'd probably be hard pressed to find a person outside of Cincinnati be able to name a Red.

Our city does not deserve this. We paid for first class and we're getting half ass.

I understand the Red's dilemma. They are locked into big contracts with non performers. But that money is gone, and it doesn't give the Red's one more win.

I won't spend one more minute watching Adam Dunn leave another guy in scoring position and I sure as hell will never....never...never vote for another increase in taxes for anything.

Is this even news worthy anymore....

A Bengals player was one of 14 people arrested early Sunday in Huntington, W.Va. when police there tried to break up a large crowd that had gathered outside some downtown nightclubs.

More...

Nifong Loses License

I truly don't like to gloat on anyone's failings. But Mike Nifong losing his law license appears appropriate for his misconduct in the Duke case.

People don't get that not only did Nifong trample all over the civil rights of the Lacrosse players, but he also victimized the alleged "victim" in the case. It should have been obvious early on that this woman had deep psychological problems and for him to exploit her for his political gain was as heinous as what he did to the players.

After these players win gazillions of dollars from their future lawsuits against Duke I will gloat. After all, I am an NC fan.

Taming the Tiger

I know Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world, maybe ever, but when are we going to see him come back from behind to win a major.

His record when leading after 54 holes is 12-0; his record when behind after 54, 0-26.

When he has won his majors, he's either had a huge lead going into the last round or his competition has wilted under the pressure.

Just once, I'd love to see this guy be about four groups behind post a winner and see one of these also rans beat it, or come close.

Regardless, you just have to love the US Open. Watching guys slapping shots all over the place makes us duffers feel better.

Let's talk to our Father

Most people understand that a muscle grows when used and shrinks when it's not used.

But those same things happen within our character. Traits like honesty, integrity, compassion grow when used and shrink when not.

This is also true of faith. We all need to be vigilant practitioners of our faiths or our relationship with God suffers.

I heard a televangelist once say that prayer life is like a cell phone connection to God and the more sin we allow in our lives the fuzzier the connection gets. But I would offer that the more we are in communication with God, the easier it is to rid ourselves of sin.

So let's get back into talking to God regularly so he can guide us and, more importantly, we can listen to his instruction.