Monday Madness

Greetings to you all on this Monday morning.  I have just a few thoughts to share with you today, so grab your coffee and enjoy both this post and that glorious hot drink!

The suicide death of Mindy McCready shows me one thing: we all have a breaking point and none of us know what that breaking point is until we crash right into it.  Unfortunately, one we reach that point it's too late.  Anyone can say they'd never choose suicide, but we don't really know, do we?  My sympathies and prayers go out to her family.

The only time I have a problem with religion is when people bastardize their religion in the name of hatred.  For example, Islamic extremists and the Westboro Baptist Cult.  I am shocked to learn the NFL's squeaky clean golden boy, Tim Tebow has agreed to speak at such a church.  Tebow is scheduled to speak at the First Baptist Church of Dallas on April 28.The church's minister. Robert Jeffress, has called Catholicism the "genius of Satan", AIDS a "gay disease" and claims Islam promotes pedophilia.  He has also made attacks against the Mormon and Jewish communities of America.  Tim, please reconsider your decision to speak at this church.  You are a better person than this.  You have no business speaking at a church which promotes hate over tolerance and compassion.

I don't agree with John McCain much, but he's right about Benghazi.  There is a massive cover-up taking place.  Come clean on this, Mr. President.  You owe that to the American people.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Cooke has a well earned reputation as a dirty player.  But to his credit, he has worked very hard to change his game after a suspension cost him ten regular season games and the first round of the playoffs in 2011.  That being said, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk needs to stop crying and shut-up.  The horrific injury to the Achilles tendon of Erik Karlsson was an accident and nothing more.  Hockey is a dangerous sport and sadly, these things happen.

Thanks again for reading.  I'll be back soon.

Hookers & Bottled Water

The left wing media has no decency left.  I mean seriously, a sip of water by Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) during his response to Obama's Lies to the People Address Tuesday night is worthy of headline news and on-air debate but a United States Senator, Robert Menendez (D-NJ),  has been implicated in an underage prostitution scandal in the Dominican Republic and no one says anything.  Why are MadCow, Tingles, The Bloke and the Master Hater silent?  What excuses do the feminists have for this man?  Where are all the organization who fight and bring awareness to this kind of criminal activity?  Are any of you surprised they are silent?

Let me explain something to you all.  Where there is underage prostitution there is sex trafficking.  Where there is sex trafficking there is sexual slavery.  When these young women outgrow there usefulness, they are disposed of.  And if the corpse is lucky, it's just fed to the dogs.  Actually, if the girl is fortunate, she's dead before being fed to the dogs.  If any of you think you can image abuse worse than what these young women endure, check yourself into a psych ward immediately.

So, what the left wing media of this country is saying is a sip of bottled water on live TV is a more heinous and insulting act to the American people than a Senator allegedly involved in the above mentioned atrocities. I can't speak for the rest of you, but I am more than appalled at the thought of underage prostitution, sex trafficking and sexual slavery.  I would hope anyone with even an ounce of decency inside of them would be as well.  But apparently the left wing media has none left.  I would say shame on them, but there is no shame to be brought upon them.  If you have no decency, you cannot be shamed.

Now I am not naive enough to believe these atrocities happen only in third world countries.  This happens everywhere, I'm sure here in America as well.  But when a US Senator is implicated isn't that worth coverage from the media, even if the Senator accused is a democrat?  I think so.  You can be damn sure if a republican was accused of this, it would be covered 24/7.  This is one of those times where our compassion as human beings and our anger about such sick and twisted crimes needs to come before politics.  It shouldn't matter if you are a democrat, republican, libertarian or independent.  You should be outraged this man is still a US Senator.  He should have been forced to resign the minute he was connected to this scandal.    But alas, the left wing media doesn't share that opinion on such things when their team is among the accused.

This is what the American media has become, people.  A sip of bottled water is more scandalous than an US Senator being implicated in the sexual degradation of young women.  How much lower can they fall?

My State of the Union

The country is broke and the federal government continues to spend money like drunk, whoring college students on spring break.  This is unacceptable and needs to stop.  Across the board cuts in all areas is the only answer to this epidemic.

We have far too many people adhering to the philosophy of "ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you."  This is also unacceptable.  Let me explain something to you all as simply as possible: THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T OWE YOU A DAMN THING!  Please put down the Cheesy Poofs, turn off The View and stop depending on the government to swoop in like the Avengers and save you. Go get a job even if it's a sweaty dirty job.  A crappy job is better than no job.  I've been there, done that so I speak from experience on this.  It only has to be a job until something better comes along.  That's how it was for me.

The government continues to invade our privacy and infringe on our rights with backdoor legislation and executive orders.  We need to stop being so timid and let our voices and outrage be heard.  CISPA is being reintroduced.  Let's start there and get it stopped.

There is a Benghazi cover-up no one seems to give a damn about.  Why are the tapes classified as "top secret" and why were a general and admiral fired?

Obama's drone attacks have killed 4X as many people as Bush's in half the time.  Why isn't this considered war crime?  It was for George W. Bush.

How about them gas prices?

Raising taxes will not help the economy or lower the debt. It will have a negative effect on the economy as people will have less money to spend.  JFK had the right idea: if we lower everyone's taxes, the economy will grow, unemployment will drop and the government will collect more tax dollars.

I'm sure there is something else I am missing, but it's not even 9AM and I've only had one cup of coffee.  Have a great humpday everyone.

Happy 65th Birthday, Alice Cooper!

Just like to wish a rocking, spooktacular happy birthday to the godfather of shock rock, Alice Cooper!

Super Bowl Thoughts

The Harbaugh Bowl will be a close one.  The Ravens will have a halftime lead but in the second half, the 49ers will take control and win the game and their 6th Super Bowl and send Ray Lewis into the twilight with an L.  Don't expect  Colin Kaepernick to have a game like he did against Green Bay, however.  Expect more of what we saw against Atlanta.  Joe Flacco will have a great game, but not enough to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.  And rushing yards should be kept to a minimum here, despite both teams having great talent in the backfield.

Some keys to the game:

Randy "Not the Greatest Ever" Moss... In the red zone, the Ravens may have difficulty covering both him and Vernon Davis.  The focus, and rightfully so, will be on Davis so Randy may have a chance to make a play or two.  This is something to keep an eye on.

David Akers... The 49ers kicker has struggled all year.  Will it be in his head during the biggest game of the year?

The Baltimore receivers...  Inconsistent was what they were during the season.  They've been great during the playoffs.  Will they keep it up for one more game?

Halftime score: Baltimore 14 San Francisco 7
Final Score: San Fran 27 Baltimore 24
MVP: Vernon Davis

And do yourselves a huge favor, skip the halftime show.  Take the dog for a walk or take a shower.  Do anything but watch Beyonce.  Seriously.

Some Underrated Alice

I was listening the other day to what I consider one of Alice Cooper's underrated albums, The Last Temptation.  And I also admit, it took me awhile to warm up to this album.  Aside from Alice's trademark satire on "Lost in America" this album wasn't what we'd come to expect from Alice.  It was a diversion musically and lyrically.  (This album also began a series of albums from Alice with a theme or concept to them.  Temptation followed by Brutal Planet and Dragontown.)  Alice tells a story through the eyes of a jaded young man and his views on life and his descent into darkness.  Those aren't new ideas for Alice, however it's different here because Alice isn't the character telling the story.  The opening track "Sideshow" seems to bring shades of the classic "Desperado", but also injects a new direction of music for Alice, not the dive bar style guitar we've all come to love. We do get that on "Lost in America", however.  

The one track which really stands out to me from this album is "Stolen Prayer", a song co-written by Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell.  Cornell also provided backing vocals on the track.  Chris's style and influence on the lyrics and music is obvious and it is by far the album's best track.  Cornell also wrote another track on the album, "Unholy War".

I know this album received lukewarm reception from Cooper fans and rock critics.  And honestly, I can understand why. It was not the Alice we saw on he previous two outings, Trash and Hey Stoopid.  This album didn't have a "Poison" or "Feed My Frankenstein".  Alice's trademark twisted sexuality was missing from The Last Temptation.  The track "You're My Temptation" just didn't live up to those standards.  It seemed more like having a crush on a stripper than unchained lust.  Even Alice's love ballad on Temptation, "It's Me", didn't bring the same sense of sorrow we felt on "I Never Cry" or "How You Gonna See Me Now".  In a way, "It's Me" had a sense of hope to it.

The album does have it's dark moments with "Nothing's Free", a song about selling your soul to the devil (and another strange musical diversion) and "Lullaby", a track about fighting one's own fears and demons.  But as I said earlier, as a whole this album is a new and unexpected turn for Alice Cooper.  I'm sure that is why it took me awhile to warm up to it.  If you are an Alice Cooper fan and this is one of those albums you ignored or tried to forget, I ask you to give it another chance.  You may just find your own appreciation for it upon a new listening.

Bush League Baseball Writers

The 600 baseball writers who vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame have shown their true colors.  They are a group of self-righteous and sanctimonious punks.  Not voting Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds into Cooperstown diminishes the value of that museum, leaves out significant parts of baseball history and makes other deserving players unnecessary collateral damage.  The voting process is a farce and needs to change.

The baseball writers are the only Hall of Fame voters instructed to consider character and moral fiber when casting their ballots.  But who in the hell are they to judge anyone's character or life?  Make no mistake, the time will come when each and every one of us faces that very judgment.  But it is not here.  And certainly not by a group of arrogant baseball writers.  But riddle me this, if character and moral fiber are so important, why is there a racist, antisemitic alcoholic and beer guzzling womanizer in Cooperstown?  Just curious.

Barry Bonds is baseball's all-time homeruns leader with 762.  Say what you want about how he got there, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) or not, it's in the record books.  It's fact.  Bonds also owns the single-season homerun record with 73.  He is third all-time in runs batted in (RBIs) with 1996, second in extra-base hits (1440), first in intentional base-on-balls (688), finished his career with a .298 batting average and also stole 514 bases.  He won seven Most Valuable Player awards, eight Gold Gloves and was voted to the all-star team 14 times.  Are not those Hall of Fame numbers?

Roger Clemens is one of this generation's greatest and most electrifying pitchers.  Clemens, aka "The Rocket",  finished his career ninth on the all-time wins list with 354, third all-time in strikeouts (4672) and had a career earned-run average of 3.12.  He compiled seven Cy Young awards, one MVP award and was named an all-star 11 times.  Like Bonds, Clemens has Hall of Fame numbers.

Both Clemens and Bonds have come under attack for alleged use of PED's during their career.   The allegations came during a time when baseball had no mandatory drug testing and therefore there is nothing but speculation to use as the basis for any judgment of how their statistics and accomplishments were achieved.

I mentioned earlier other players have and will become collateral damage because of Bonds and Clemens.  Let me give you one very good example: Mike Piazza.  Never once has his name been associated with and PEDs.  It appears everything he accomplished he did through hard work and talent.  Among catchers, he is the all-time leader in homeruns (427), racked up 1335 RBIs, 2127 hits and a career batting average of .308. He was National League Rookie of the Year and a 12-time all-star.  Not bad for a 62nd round pick drafted as a favor to then manager Tommy Lasorda.  Piazza has numbers worthy of Cooperstown based on the position he played and the numbers he put up.  He received just over 50% of the vote in 2013.  To make it to Cooperstown a percentage of 75% is needed.  Piazza is looked at with caution because he played during the "steroid era".  Just another example of how wrong the voting is for enshrinement into Cooperstown.

The truth is, Bonds and Clemens but butts in the seats in every stadium across America.  I paid to see Clemens pitch against the Pirates when he was a member of the Houston Astros.  Barry's chase for 70 homeruns and then the run to 756 brought baseball fans of all ages together, regardless of whether they were cheering for or against Bonds.  They are part of baseball history, legend and lore.  Keeping them out of the Hall of Fame is telling an incomplete version of the history of America's Pastime.  The baseball writers need to get over themselves and vote for what's best for baseball, and that is enshrining Barry Lamarr Bonds and William Roger Clemens into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

If I Were Santa Claus...

These are some gifts I would have delivered...

Lindsay Lohan: Her own island.  If she has her own island, there is no reason for her to own a car.  So she can be as drunk as she wants whenever she wants.

PBS: Commercials.  It's the 21st century.  Adapt.

George Lucas: a Neurolizer

Wiz Khalifa: a new hometown.  Seriously, how many of you Pittsburghers out there actually claim Wiz as one of us?

Tingles Matthews: some Ben Gay to help whatever is ailing that leg

Chris Brown: Three rounds with Wladimir Klitschko.  Go ahead Chris, throw a punch now.

UAW: A bill for the money lost on the GM bailout

Rachel Maddow:  I can't be mean on Christmas... on to the next one

New York City: A new mayor

Taylor Swift: relationship counseling

Nicolas Cage: A good script.

Ron Paul: an apology from the RNC


I hope you all had a great Christmas and got everything you wanted!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all.  May you have a blessed holiday.

I Have Solved The School Safety Problem

I had a fantastic idea pop into my last night.  And just between all of us, it is one of my more amazing ideas, and that is saying something.  I can solve school security issues and eliminate pissed off airline travelers with one simple act: eliminate the TSA.

I'm sure you all understand how that fixes the latter of the two issues.  But how does it help with school security?  It's simple.  The TSA's budget for 2012 was approximately $7.1 billion dollars, with about $1.2 billion of that coming from taxpayers.  If the TSA is eliminated, that money is opened up for other use.  So, take that $7.1 billion and turn  it into grants for schools who wish to hire security personnel.  And in an effort to promote the hiring of veterans, if any school wishes to hire veterans as their security, they get extra funding.

To me this requires no debate.  Eliminating the TSA, who spend most of their day groping old ladies and bullying kids in wheelchairs, will increase commercial flight passengers and cut down on lengthy waits and other aggravations at airports.  Seriously, airport security and walk through metal detectors is adequate enough security at an airport.  The $7.1 billion being wasted by the TSA would be better used towards protecting American schools from unspeakable acts like Newton.

Now more than ever we must find a way to protect our schools and the children and teachers in them.  Turning the TSA budget into grant money for schools who want security on site is a simple, common sense approach to making schools safer.  I can't think of a single case where the TSA stopped a terrorist.  I'm sure that's because they are too busy trying to be politically correct and "randomly" searching grandma and handicapped kids.  Nevertheless, it's time to focus on a real problem in America: school safety.   So disband the TSA and focus on the children.  This approach is simple, smart and does not stomp on anyone's Second Amendment rights.  So, let's make 2013 about real change in our priorities and show the children they are number one on all our lists.

My thoughts on the Newtown tragedy

I have been relatively silent on the shooting in Newton, Connecticut.  I wanted to give myself 24 hours before putting my thoughts down here.  Let me start with the most important words.

My deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers go out to the town of Newtown and the Sandy Hook families.  I cannot imagine the horror and pain being felt throughout your community right now.  From the bottom of my heart, I express my deepest sorrow for your loss.

Now, as much anger as I have towards the individual responsible for this sick and cowardly attack, I am even angrier at the anti-gun zealots.  These degenerates couldn't even wait until parents had been informed their children had been murdered.  Minutes after this shooting occurred, these idiots were out there wiping their collective asses with the Second Amendment.  People, more gun control isn't the answer.  It's the problem.  

Imagine if you will, what Friday, December 14th would have been like if a couple Sandy Hook teachers had been armed.  I understand no one believes a tragedy like this could ever happen in their community,  but with 31 school shootings in America since 1999, it can.  The high school I went to had unarmed security during my years there.  Let's be realistic, unarmed security in a best-case scenario is a witness.  I'm sure you all know what the other scenario would be.  That high school now has walk-through metal detectors and police officers on site all day.  Now, for a smaller community, that may be a bit much.  Which brings me back to my original point.

What if school teachers were permitted to be armed?  If teachers with a legal permit and proper training were present in all school, school shootings would all but disappear.  These shootings occur because criminals know ahead of time no one in that building can shoot back.  (The same is true of most American malls, a place where other mass shootings seem to occur most often.)  This country must allow law abiding and handgun trained individuals to have their weapons in as many places as realistically possible.  I do understand in some places, such as airports and courthouses, it's not realistic and that's fine.  Those  places have armed personnel on site.  But a mall guard with pepper spray and a walkie-talkie isn't going to be a match against someone with a Glock.  However, a shopper with a Smith & Wesson most certainly will be,  The same is true of schools and universities.  We must have more good people with legal handguns and proper training to have them available at all times.  It is the only way to prevent future tragedies like Newton.

Now a few words about the gunman.

I am glad that bastard is dead and I hope Satan and his minions are developing a very special place for him in Hell.  It doesn't matter how unstable or psychotic a person is.  They know the difference between children and adults.  And if your intention is to commit suicide, why kill other people first?  Wake up in the morning and just get it done.  (However, I'd suggest a breakfast with some bacon.  The bacon may give you what you need to keep living.)  There is no punishment Satan can create which would be strong enough for this person.

And finally, I must acknowledge the actions of Victoria Soto, a 27 year-old teacher at Newton.  She gave her life to protect her students.  Miss Soto was approached by the shooter after she hid the children in closets and cabinets.  She told him they were in gym class and he shot her.  This kind of bravery, heroism and sacrifice is far beyond what any words can describe.  There is no greater love a person can have than to give their life for those they care about.

There are many lessons to be learned from this tragedy.  Limiting freedom and liberty does not make us safer.  Criminals and crazy people will always exist.  The best we can do is make sure the decent and good people can stand up to them.  Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and you just never know who they are and when they will be called for duty.

Again I offer my condolences to the Newtown community.  May all of your loved ones rest in peace.

Rainy night randomness

Raising taxes on the wealthy will not grow the economy.  It will not lower unemployment. And it sure as hell will not prevent the government from spending like drunken college kids at spring break.  It will only grant some false gratification to the bitter, jealous, whiny crybabies infesting this country.  John Fitzgerald Kennedy's approach to taxes is the only way to approach this: Cut everyone's taxes and the economy will get better. And when the economy is strong, the government collects more tax dollars.

The liberal hypocrisy rears its ugly head again in Michigan.  It seems the loony libs are only pro-choice when it comes to baby killing.  When it comes to joining a union, then you don't deserve a choice.

I hate the song "Little Drummer Boy" and it seems to be following me.  That song has played in the last three stores I have entered.

Italian dressing is a great marinade for both pork and chicken.

A lot of talent was born on my birthday, December 9.  There are two Olympic medalists, an Oscar winner (who is also a Golden Globe and Oliver winner), another Golden Globe winner, an Emmy winner, a Grammy winner and two NFL Hall of Famers with whom I share a birthday.  Additionally, there are also two Oscar nominees, a Grammy nominee and and Emmy nominee in the group.  Hopefully one day, I achieve something worthy of mentioning on that list.

Now, I am a former union member.  (SEIU1199P)  I hated my time in a union.  It pissed me off that just because of some stupid contract the most incompetent and lazy people in my department were not only able to keep their job, but received the same raise as me. ALL raises should be based upon job performance.  People who show up late twice a month with a hangover or can't follow a written recipe should not be allowed to remain employed.  I understand not all union employees are apathetic and lazy.  But what motivation is there to go above and beyond or become better  when you are guaranteed a raise just for showing up and doing the bare minimum?  The bottom line is unions have outlived their usefulness.

Everyone involved in this NHL labor dispute needs kicked in the ass.

Labyrinth is still great each time I watch it.

No NBA team should be called the Pelicans.  That's a name for a Division II school's team.

The best part about this time of year is all the peppermint flavored stuff you can buy.

Goodnight everyone.  And remember, if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

Happy Holidays, Now Pay For My Vacation!

During a time when the economy is still struggling, unemployment is still at an unacceptable level, workers are staging protests for better working conditions and restaurants are cutting hours because of Obama's so-called signature legislation, he and his family are planning a Hawaiian vacation which will cost an estimated $4 million. Really, Mr. President? You can't tone it down a bit? What is wrong with a quiet family vacation to Camp David? I can't even buy Christmas gifts this year and you and your family are going to leave taxpayers with a $4 million vacation tab. So much for caring about regular Americans. We all know where you truly stand now.

Happy Thanksgiving

Shall We All Be Cursed?

For behold, in those days and at that time,

When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

And I will enter into judgment with them there

On account of My people, My heritage Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

They have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2)

This is just one of the many Biblical passages dealing with the future of Israel and the fate of

those who stand against that great Nation.  The treatment of Israel by the mainstream media is 

not surprising to me.  Two of the most notable "journalists" (and I use that term very loosely 

here) to focus on blaming Israel and sympathizing with Hamas are Anderson Cooper and 

Rachel Maddow.  I had no doubt many in the mainstream media were closet anti-Semites, but 

for them to so brazenly utter it during coverage of the news and the reporting of death and 

devastation  is sickening.  And there is much the mainstream media isn't reporting.  Yeah, big 

surprise.  And other reporters are refusing to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel's capital.  

History lesson: Israel established Jerusalem as its capital in 1950.  Get your facts straight 

and report accurately.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have taken the loss of civilian life seriously.   Through the use 

of text messaging and leaflets as well as using "roof knockers" (loud but non-lethal explosives), 

the IDF have tried to warn citizens of Gaza of potential missile attacks.  Hamas has done 

nothing to warn or prevent the loss of human life.  Even as a ceasefire was being discussed, a 

bomb went off in a bus in the middle of Israel's main business hub, Tel Aviv.  So, with which 

side do you truly wish to stand?  Those who stand against Israel shall be cursed.  It's time for 

America to stand up and openly and fearlessly stand with Israel.  It's not just the right thing to 

do, it's the only thing to do.