Today was my daughter's birthday. She wanted to go to, The Cracker Barrel for dinner. A reasonable request. She learned early from her father, a Chicken Fried Steak done well, is a good thing.
The Cracker Barrel around here is in West Valley.
And some of you know that from sometime in the early 1990's until I retired in 2006, with a few exceptions for short assignments elsewhere, mostly related to Leo Lucy's incredible ego, and lack of intellect, and Brent Cardall's lack of a spine, I was THE Parole Agent covering the area from 2100 South to 4700 S, and 3600 West to the mountains. So, west, West Valley and Magna.
I once had a Regional Administrator ask to go on a ride along with me one night. He liked to keep in touch with what was going on with his Agents. And we stopped for a break late one night. I was still smoking, and wanted a cold drink while I burned one down. And in a 7-11 parking lot, in his Boston accent, and gravelly voice, he asked me, "Stickley, you have enough seniority, you could request any part of the valley, and get moved. Why you want to work in, "Death Valley"?"
I told him, "This is where the bandits are, Dick." He understood. I didn't want to be bored to death with stupid misdemeanor, Probation cases. I wanted some action. And I got it in West Valley and Magna.
Probably also gave me bladder cancer from all the meth labs. But that's arguable.
But since I retired in 2006, I don't find a lot of reasons to go out there any more. And the city has changed. Phil Markham took over their Public Works Department and fixed every thing wrong with the place.
Kidding. Even HE couldn't do that.
So tonight, I made the trip to West Valley, to eat in a restaurant where there will be WAY too many overweight folks, badly dressed and holding spoons and forks like they were trying to dig out of prison with them, instead of eat.
But they make a heck of a meatloaf. And the green beans taste just like my Grandmother's. After all, I AM from West Virginia. They are way overcooked, and there is some bacon grease somewhere in there. They're awesome.
I came down 22 West from 5400 South, thinking about all the houses and apartments I passed that I had been in over the years. Bandits move, and you help other Agents out. I've been in places all over the valley.
When I round the corner by the Mexican restaurant right by 3500 south, I am confronted by the windows of a Rent To Own place with a giant picture of, Donald Trump yelling, "You're Fired" at a picture of Barack Obama, and it says, "Bring jobs back to America. Mitt Romney..." The bottom of the last panel is torn off.
Wow. The rent to own place that is right next to a place where you can RENT TO OWN TIRES AND WHEELS! So, if you're so poor, you can't BUY your furniture, TV or even your 22 inch spinners and low profile tires you want to put on your 98 Saturn? THESE guys will RENT them to you. And they have political signs up to promote a millionaire business man? Makes perfect sense.
I'm pretty sure, Mitt rents to own tires on his wife's two Cadillac's. I mean, what millionaire DOESN'T rent to own his stuff, at usury interest rates? Happens all the time. And if you do so with us? You can be rich too!
This is the perfect example of what is wrong with this country. The rich, have convinced the poor, who use rent to own, and check cashing businesses, and pawn shops instead of banks and credit unions for financial transactions, that rich people like, Mitt Romney have the poor's best interest at heart! And it's bullshit!
West Valley is full of those people. Love their guns, will spend thousands of dollars to buy a 4X4 off road vehicle and thousands more for a trailer to haul it so they can deer hunt. But think their boss is a spoiled, elitist, rich guy when he buys a ten year old Porsche Boxster, that cost less than the 4X4 and trailer. Well, he DID pay cash. Snob.
So West Valley City folks? Many of you are good, hard working, decent people. But if YOUR wife doesn't have a Cadillac on each coast? If you don't have a car elevator? If you think Barack Obama is the reason your life isn't perfect? And for the love of all that's holy, you have to use a rent to own place to get your tires or your TV? And you're still considering voting for Mitt Romney?
I guess you deserve to live in West Valley City. Cause you're not too bright. And how's that County Mayor thing working out for your boy, Mayor Burwash? Just askin...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Let's Talk About The Word, "Nigger". Since It's Come Up Again
Defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Boston Bruins got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round the other night. Seventh game overtime, as exciting as playoff hockey can get. They lost to the Washington Capitals, and the guy who scored the winning goal for them was a Canadian, who's parents are from Barbados.
I'm not going to give you his name, because it doesn't matter. You can find it on any of the links I've put on my Facebook page. And it's not about him. It's about what he is.
The people of Boston did not fill Twitter, or the streets of their town, or their arena with shouts of, "Fuck that Canuck!" They filled those places with shouts of, "Fuck that NIGGER!"
This coming on the heals of their Cup winning goalie of last year, Tim Thomas, refusing to meet with President Obama last year in the traditional meet with the President any sports team winning a league title in this country has at The White House. After all, Mr. Thomas is a, "Teabagger", and he has his principles.
He was the only AMERICAN on the team, bye the way. He's from Michigan. Everyone else on the team is from Canada or Europe.
He spent 20 years playing in the minor leagues around this country and in Europe before getting his shot with the Bruins and proving he's good enough to win a Cup. sounds like the American dream of working hard and pulling yourself up by your boot straps (or skate laces) to me. But after that?
So in this day and age, we still have to deal with white, New Englanders, tossing out the word, Nigger? Really, Boston? I would have thought you had gotten over that by now.
It's pretty much decided after that HBO documentary that you didn't win a World Series for as long as you didn't, because you wouldn't draft Black guys.
You REALLY showed your true colors with the busing riot thing.
When I was there a few years ago, I rented a condo in Roxbury. Had no idea that was where you keep your Black people. They always treated me and my family well. Never felt threatened or nervous. But I never saw another white person in Roxbury, or a Black one in Boston, proper.
Now, I understand that you love your team. Original six, old time hockey, and all that. And that it was always played by white guys from Canada or the Northern part of the USA where we kept our ice and our prep schools, and Ivy League Colleges. At least until Willey O'Ree in the 50's.
But times have changed. We have a melting pot of a country now, even more than we had from 1891 to 1953 when Ellis Island was open. The guy who's goal beat you was probably descended from slaves. In BARBADOS, not even this country. And you call him a Nigger?
Look, I have mixed feelings about the word, "Nigger". I find it offensive, and I get it that Black people want to own it. White guys like me can't use it. In public.
BUT! As long as Black comedians can use it as an honorific for their friends? And Chris Rock can tell a joke that starts, "I love me some Black People..." But ends, "When I go to a cash machine at night in Los Angeles, I'm worried about, NIGGERS!" You have to give us white folks some lee way on when it is and isn't appropriate, OK?
The use of it in Boston this week was NOT appropriate at all. It was racist. Or as they would say in Boston, "Wicked, bad Racist".
Boston, you suck. You deserve the hate of the whole country right now. That was awful. Yeah, you were the original, "Tea Partiers", and you didn't spawn this current, "Teabagger" mess. But you're keeping it alive.
You elected, Mormon, "moderate", Mitt Romney Governor. He gave you a public health care, Gay marriage and a lot of other moderate, even Liberal positions. But you still hate the, Niggers? And you still use that word this freely?
Boy. It's going to be interesting to see who your state votes for this fall. Flip Flop, "local boy" and Mormon, Romney. Or what you would call, based on your hockey fans reactions the other night, "The Nigger"?
I'm starting to understand why everyone else in New England calls you guys, "Massholes". Because I like Lexington and Concord, and Salem. But I'll never go back to Boston. Fenway Park is a dump, and you folks are racist jerks.
I'm not going to give you his name, because it doesn't matter. You can find it on any of the links I've put on my Facebook page. And it's not about him. It's about what he is.
The people of Boston did not fill Twitter, or the streets of their town, or their arena with shouts of, "Fuck that Canuck!" They filled those places with shouts of, "Fuck that NIGGER!"
This coming on the heals of their Cup winning goalie of last year, Tim Thomas, refusing to meet with President Obama last year in the traditional meet with the President any sports team winning a league title in this country has at The White House. After all, Mr. Thomas is a, "Teabagger", and he has his principles.
He was the only AMERICAN on the team, bye the way. He's from Michigan. Everyone else on the team is from Canada or Europe.
He spent 20 years playing in the minor leagues around this country and in Europe before getting his shot with the Bruins and proving he's good enough to win a Cup. sounds like the American dream of working hard and pulling yourself up by your boot straps (or skate laces) to me. But after that?
So in this day and age, we still have to deal with white, New Englanders, tossing out the word, Nigger? Really, Boston? I would have thought you had gotten over that by now.
It's pretty much decided after that HBO documentary that you didn't win a World Series for as long as you didn't, because you wouldn't draft Black guys.
You REALLY showed your true colors with the busing riot thing.
When I was there a few years ago, I rented a condo in Roxbury. Had no idea that was where you keep your Black people. They always treated me and my family well. Never felt threatened or nervous. But I never saw another white person in Roxbury, or a Black one in Boston, proper.
Now, I understand that you love your team. Original six, old time hockey, and all that. And that it was always played by white guys from Canada or the Northern part of the USA where we kept our ice and our prep schools, and Ivy League Colleges. At least until Willey O'Ree in the 50's.
But times have changed. We have a melting pot of a country now, even more than we had from 1891 to 1953 when Ellis Island was open. The guy who's goal beat you was probably descended from slaves. In BARBADOS, not even this country. And you call him a Nigger?
Look, I have mixed feelings about the word, "Nigger". I find it offensive, and I get it that Black people want to own it. White guys like me can't use it. In public.
BUT! As long as Black comedians can use it as an honorific for their friends? And Chris Rock can tell a joke that starts, "I love me some Black People..." But ends, "When I go to a cash machine at night in Los Angeles, I'm worried about, NIGGERS!" You have to give us white folks some lee way on when it is and isn't appropriate, OK?
The use of it in Boston this week was NOT appropriate at all. It was racist. Or as they would say in Boston, "Wicked, bad Racist".
Boston, you suck. You deserve the hate of the whole country right now. That was awful. Yeah, you were the original, "Tea Partiers", and you didn't spawn this current, "Teabagger" mess. But you're keeping it alive.
You elected, Mormon, "moderate", Mitt Romney Governor. He gave you a public health care, Gay marriage and a lot of other moderate, even Liberal positions. But you still hate the, Niggers? And you still use that word this freely?
Boy. It's going to be interesting to see who your state votes for this fall. Flip Flop, "local boy" and Mormon, Romney. Or what you would call, based on your hockey fans reactions the other night, "The Nigger"?
I'm starting to understand why everyone else in New England calls you guys, "Massholes". Because I like Lexington and Concord, and Salem. But I'll never go back to Boston. Fenway Park is a dump, and you folks are racist jerks.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
UDOT And The Corrupt, Herbert Administration.
Is there anyone out there who is not convinced that the government of the State of Utah, run exclusively by Republican, Mormons is so totally corrupt, that it is just out of control? Lets just take a look at The Utah Department Of Transportation for a minute.
UDOT has, in the last few years, sent an avalanche prevention shell into the back yard of a home in Utah County, and THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLARS OF TAX PAYER MONEY to a company that did NOT win a bid to rebuild the freeway through Utah County. But that company DID sent more than $80K to the Governors campaign coffers.
How do you, in any form of reality, have to pay the LOSING bidder, $13 MILLION for LOSING THE BID? WTF? I can not imagine, in any situation, that you did everything above board, and by the book, that you had to pay that kind of money to the LOSER of the contract. That is just fucked up. And totally wrong.
And then, they fire the woman who told the guys who lost the bid, that they lost the bid. OH, NO! Don't tell the truth! Cost the state, so far, $67K in back pay. But it's GOING to cost them her attorney's fees. And some money for pain and suffering. Trust me. The woman is going to win. And the State and corrupt Herbert, are going to pay.
This government is as corrupt, if not more so, than Illinois or Louisiana. My friend, Lisa the comedian who's from Louisiana would pronounce our Governor's name as, "Aey-bear".
Then, this week, it comes out that even though they were ordered to give the woman her job back, pay her back pay and reinstate her position with the state? They tried to get her to sign a letter that asked the Democrats to NOT use her situation in their champing material? REALLY? WHO thought that was a good idea?
Well, according to UDOT? John Nord. The guy in charge of UDOT. This guy is as corrupt as the day is long. And if they don't fire him? The Governor needs to get fired in the fall. I know what working for the state means, you do what they tell you to. But you DON'T do it when it's illegal, or wrong. You keep our job when you say, "no" in those situations. When you do it anyway? You need to get fired.
Time to clean house in Utah. But it will never happen. The Mormon, Republicans will ALWAYS win. No matter how corrupt they are.
UDOT has, in the last few years, sent an avalanche prevention shell into the back yard of a home in Utah County, and THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLARS OF TAX PAYER MONEY to a company that did NOT win a bid to rebuild the freeway through Utah County. But that company DID sent more than $80K to the Governors campaign coffers.
How do you, in any form of reality, have to pay the LOSING bidder, $13 MILLION for LOSING THE BID? WTF? I can not imagine, in any situation, that you did everything above board, and by the book, that you had to pay that kind of money to the LOSER of the contract. That is just fucked up. And totally wrong.
And then, they fire the woman who told the guys who lost the bid, that they lost the bid. OH, NO! Don't tell the truth! Cost the state, so far, $67K in back pay. But it's GOING to cost them her attorney's fees. And some money for pain and suffering. Trust me. The woman is going to win. And the State and corrupt Herbert, are going to pay.
This government is as corrupt, if not more so, than Illinois or Louisiana. My friend, Lisa the comedian who's from Louisiana would pronounce our Governor's name as, "Aey-bear".
Then, this week, it comes out that even though they were ordered to give the woman her job back, pay her back pay and reinstate her position with the state? They tried to get her to sign a letter that asked the Democrats to NOT use her situation in their champing material? REALLY? WHO thought that was a good idea?
Well, according to UDOT? John Nord. The guy in charge of UDOT. This guy is as corrupt as the day is long. And if they don't fire him? The Governor needs to get fired in the fall. I know what working for the state means, you do what they tell you to. But you DON'T do it when it's illegal, or wrong. You keep our job when you say, "no" in those situations. When you do it anyway? You need to get fired.
Time to clean house in Utah. But it will never happen. The Mormon, Republicans will ALWAYS win. No matter how corrupt they are.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Zen Of Ernie
My neighbor, Ernie has a nice life. He's a retired Boilermaker. He's now in his early 60's. His wife, Kathy has a great job, with insurance and great benefits. She tried to quit a few years ago, and her employer gave her and Ernie a two week vacation in Hawaii and a bunch of perks to keep working. So she did.
Ernie spent his life getting up in the morning, brushing his teeth and going to a totally tough job, where he got dirty, faced life and death for him and his friends, and worked hard doing everything from plumbing to electricity, and then he would come home, take a shower and enjoy an adult beverage and his evening with is loving wife before he went to bed and did it all again the next day.
I did it backwards. I would get up in the morning, take a shower, shave, put on a suit and tie and go to Court. Or at the very least, take the shower and shave and go to an office where I was expected to be a professional and deal with anything from a simple office visit to piss test to an arrest in a meth lab in the afternoon or evening.
Now that I'm retired, I'm starting to understand the, Zen of Ernie. For the last six years, I have gotten up, and taken a shower, shaved, gotten dressed, eaten breakfast (or lunch. I like to sleep late since I retired. Oh, Hell the truth be known? I'm ALWAYS liked to sleep late. I'm a night owl. Check the time on THIS blog) and then? I don't want to go for a walk, or a bike ride, or mow the lawn or do anything physically challenging. After all, I've already had my shower for the day! Why get all sweaty again?
But today, I decided to channel my inner, Ernie. I slept late. As usual. But then I got up, put on yesterdays clothes. After all they were already dirty. And mowed my lawn. When I was through, I smelled like cut grass, mower exhaust, and yesterdays cigars. But my lawn was mowed.
Then, I came in and watched all the stuff I DVR'd from Showtime and HBO last night while I was watching hockey. Drank a couple of bottles of ice tea.
THEN I took a shower! On my own terms. On my own time! And you know what? I DID NOT shave! Because by then? It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon, and I had accomplished everything I HOPED to accomplish for the day. So who cares if I have a two day growth of beard? My wife and kids don't, so if anyone else does? So what. I don't work for those guys anymore.
I'm starting to get what the Zen Master Ernie has been trying to teach me all these years. And he's the happiest guy I know. I'm going to be more Ernie, and a lot less me for the next little while. I think it's going to work for me. And the yard will look better.
So, about three o'clock every afternoon, I expect to have just gotten out of the shower after taking good care of my yard. And be ready to have an adult beverage on the patio, with Ernie. And our dogs. The dogs are REALLY Zen. They hardly move.
I just can't get into Ernie's Lord Calvert and Pepsi. Don't like either one of them. I'll stick with the bourbon rocks thing. I hope it's not a, "sacrament" that's required to hang with him. It would, harsh my mellow.
Peace out.
Ernie spent his life getting up in the morning, brushing his teeth and going to a totally tough job, where he got dirty, faced life and death for him and his friends, and worked hard doing everything from plumbing to electricity, and then he would come home, take a shower and enjoy an adult beverage and his evening with is loving wife before he went to bed and did it all again the next day.
I did it backwards. I would get up in the morning, take a shower, shave, put on a suit and tie and go to Court. Or at the very least, take the shower and shave and go to an office where I was expected to be a professional and deal with anything from a simple office visit to piss test to an arrest in a meth lab in the afternoon or evening.
Now that I'm retired, I'm starting to understand the, Zen of Ernie. For the last six years, I have gotten up, and taken a shower, shaved, gotten dressed, eaten breakfast (or lunch. I like to sleep late since I retired. Oh, Hell the truth be known? I'm ALWAYS liked to sleep late. I'm a night owl. Check the time on THIS blog) and then? I don't want to go for a walk, or a bike ride, or mow the lawn or do anything physically challenging. After all, I've already had my shower for the day! Why get all sweaty again?
But today, I decided to channel my inner, Ernie. I slept late. As usual. But then I got up, put on yesterdays clothes. After all they were already dirty. And mowed my lawn. When I was through, I smelled like cut grass, mower exhaust, and yesterdays cigars. But my lawn was mowed.
Then, I came in and watched all the stuff I DVR'd from Showtime and HBO last night while I was watching hockey. Drank a couple of bottles of ice tea.
THEN I took a shower! On my own terms. On my own time! And you know what? I DID NOT shave! Because by then? It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon, and I had accomplished everything I HOPED to accomplish for the day. So who cares if I have a two day growth of beard? My wife and kids don't, so if anyone else does? So what. I don't work for those guys anymore.
I'm starting to get what the Zen Master Ernie has been trying to teach me all these years. And he's the happiest guy I know. I'm going to be more Ernie, and a lot less me for the next little while. I think it's going to work for me. And the yard will look better.
So, about three o'clock every afternoon, I expect to have just gotten out of the shower after taking good care of my yard. And be ready to have an adult beverage on the patio, with Ernie. And our dogs. The dogs are REALLY Zen. They hardly move.
I just can't get into Ernie's Lord Calvert and Pepsi. Don't like either one of them. I'll stick with the bourbon rocks thing. I hope it's not a, "sacrament" that's required to hang with him. It would, harsh my mellow.
Peace out.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
I Just Lost 50 Friends. And I'm OK With It.
Facebook is awesome. It's so much fun to NOT be under every ones radar cause I'm still working undercover dope, as is my wife, and Probation and Parole. Which we both did for 20 years.
After I retired, and found out about Facebook. I got in touch with old friends I haven't been in touch with for 35 years. It was awesome!
But some of them? I realized WHY I hadn't been in touch with them in 35 years. They were nuts!
And you can see this stuff on Facebook. They post their feelings. And they tell the truth.
When I first got into the Facebook thing, I tossed out friend requests right and left. What the heck, I WANT to NOW be back in touch with people. Worked out pretty good, to tell the truth.
Met some great people I keep in touch with on line. Keep in touch with folks we've done tours with to Europe and Cuba (Going BACK there this summer). Met my friend the comedian, Lisa Landry who, Deb and I have been to see in Denver and Las Vegas, and who's going to come here this summer.
June 14, 15, 16 at Wiseguys Comedy Club in Trolley Square. Trying to PACK the house for her on Friday night, the 15th. Please come. She's so funny, you will stay in the room when an awesome looking, pretty, young, blonde is on stage and KEEPS her clothes on!
That's funny. Trust me. It's one of her jokes, I stoled.
But tonight, I just realized that the friend total on Facebook, does not mean these people are really your friends. If you're on FB just to accumulate Friends? You probably don't have many in real life."
So, I deleted about 50 of them. I figured I'd free up some room to let my REAL friends, post on my Wall. I'm now on a quest to LOWER my friends list.
Not that I don't LIKE my Facebook friends. But are we really friends? Do we hang out? Do you even bother to POST on my wall? Or are we just FB friends because we used to be acquaintances at some point?
I think, that in light of the whole FB phenomenon? Most of our, "friends"? Are only sort of, friends.
So If I deleted you? Don't take it personally. I don't hate you, I don't not want you to still be a friend. In person, if I ever see you.
I'm just trimming the stuff on my FB page.
If you don't ever message me, chat with me, email me? We're friends in some other dimension. But not really on Facebook.
I've tried to keep the folks from MHS 77 on line. Former co-workers, and long time Facebook friends. But you don't like my politics, my opinions, or my posts? And other wise we don't have anything in common? You're probably gone tonight.
Just simplifying my life.
After I retired, and found out about Facebook. I got in touch with old friends I haven't been in touch with for 35 years. It was awesome!
But some of them? I realized WHY I hadn't been in touch with them in 35 years. They were nuts!
And you can see this stuff on Facebook. They post their feelings. And they tell the truth.
When I first got into the Facebook thing, I tossed out friend requests right and left. What the heck, I WANT to NOW be back in touch with people. Worked out pretty good, to tell the truth.
Met some great people I keep in touch with on line. Keep in touch with folks we've done tours with to Europe and Cuba (Going BACK there this summer). Met my friend the comedian, Lisa Landry who, Deb and I have been to see in Denver and Las Vegas, and who's going to come here this summer.
June 14, 15, 16 at Wiseguys Comedy Club in Trolley Square. Trying to PACK the house for her on Friday night, the 15th. Please come. She's so funny, you will stay in the room when an awesome looking, pretty, young, blonde is on stage and KEEPS her clothes on!
That's funny. Trust me. It's one of her jokes, I stoled.
But tonight, I just realized that the friend total on Facebook, does not mean these people are really your friends. If you're on FB just to accumulate Friends? You probably don't have many in real life."
So, I deleted about 50 of them. I figured I'd free up some room to let my REAL friends, post on my Wall. I'm now on a quest to LOWER my friends list.
Not that I don't LIKE my Facebook friends. But are we really friends? Do we hang out? Do you even bother to POST on my wall? Or are we just FB friends because we used to be acquaintances at some point?
I think, that in light of the whole FB phenomenon? Most of our, "friends"? Are only sort of, friends.
So If I deleted you? Don't take it personally. I don't hate you, I don't not want you to still be a friend. In person, if I ever see you.
I'm just trimming the stuff on my FB page.
If you don't ever message me, chat with me, email me? We're friends in some other dimension. But not really on Facebook.
I've tried to keep the folks from MHS 77 on line. Former co-workers, and long time Facebook friends. But you don't like my politics, my opinions, or my posts? And other wise we don't have anything in common? You're probably gone tonight.
Just simplifying my life.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
PLEASE De-Friend Me If YOU Think Like THIS...
I'm using adult language here, cause it needs to be said. The other night, someone shared a link, and it said, "I'd like to respect your opinion, but you're a fucking idiot." I think it was my friend in Australia, where they are a lot less easily offended.
I posted it with the tag line, "Talking to you, Republicans".
An old friend of mine, my first Jr. High School girlfriend, a Republican, Mormon from Bountiful took offense to this and said she was going to push, "ignore". OK. We have nothing in common now, anyway. I don't care. You don't hurt my feelings. I guess my Facebook picture should be me wearing one of those T-shirts that says, "Parental Warning: Strong Language".
If you know me, you know I use ALL the words in the English Language. And you know I think people who work for a living, and will never be rich, and vote for Republicans, are idiots.
So, if you hated Obama because you hated what his Methodist Minister said about America during the campaign, and yet, still think he's a Muslim from Kenya? PLEASE de-friend me from you Facebook friends list.
If you think the current President should not be President because he's a Muslim? Even though he's not. And even if he was, it wouldn't disqualify him from BEING President, because you've never read The Constitution? PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be friends with you.
If you think you can't wait to retire and enjoy your Social Security payouts that you have been paying into all your life, and your Medicare? Yet you believe Government should quit paying out, "Entitlements"? You're a fucking idiot. PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be freinds with anyone as STUPID AS YOU!
If you think Mitt Romney, the dog torturer, saying at the NRA Convention in St. Louis this week, and not being able to provide any evidence of it, that Obama is coming for your guns? You're a fucking idiot. PLEASE, de-friend me.
If you believe any of the bullshit the Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or, "The Colterguist" says in ANY format, which is WAY more offensive than anything I've EVER posted, and totally untrue. PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be friends with you.
If you think, Rush Limbaugh, who dropped out of college like our current Governor, calling a law student a slut, and a prostitute is LESS offensive than me calling you a fucking idiot for believing what YOU believe? PLEASE, de-friend me! I don't want to be your friend.
Because, you're a fucking idiot!
You react like I'M the problem, because I tell you the truth? I'm OFFENSIVE! Yep. Guilty as charged. Sometimes the truth sucks, when it shows you are, "A fucking idiot"!
Look, I have Republican friends I can have reasonable discussions with. But they read newspapers. And they don't get their news from Faux News, exclusively. But if you don't like my opinion, either engage me in debate, or piss off.
And come armed if you want to debate. I check MY facts. YOU better check yours or I'll blow you away. If you only watch, Faux News? You come to a battle of wits unarmed.
I don't CARE how many Facebook friends I have. I care about the quality of my Facebook friends.
Yeah, I piss people off. I know that. But I also DON'T CARE! You cut me off, hit delete, ignore, de-friend? Good. I don't want to deal with you any way.
I posted it with the tag line, "Talking to you, Republicans".
An old friend of mine, my first Jr. High School girlfriend, a Republican, Mormon from Bountiful took offense to this and said she was going to push, "ignore". OK. We have nothing in common now, anyway. I don't care. You don't hurt my feelings. I guess my Facebook picture should be me wearing one of those T-shirts that says, "Parental Warning: Strong Language".
If you know me, you know I use ALL the words in the English Language. And you know I think people who work for a living, and will never be rich, and vote for Republicans, are idiots.
So, if you hated Obama because you hated what his Methodist Minister said about America during the campaign, and yet, still think he's a Muslim from Kenya? PLEASE de-friend me from you Facebook friends list.
If you think the current President should not be President because he's a Muslim? Even though he's not. And even if he was, it wouldn't disqualify him from BEING President, because you've never read The Constitution? PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be friends with you.
If you think you can't wait to retire and enjoy your Social Security payouts that you have been paying into all your life, and your Medicare? Yet you believe Government should quit paying out, "Entitlements"? You're a fucking idiot. PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be freinds with anyone as STUPID AS YOU!
If you think Mitt Romney, the dog torturer, saying at the NRA Convention in St. Louis this week, and not being able to provide any evidence of it, that Obama is coming for your guns? You're a fucking idiot. PLEASE, de-friend me.
If you believe any of the bullshit the Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or, "The Colterguist" says in ANY format, which is WAY more offensive than anything I've EVER posted, and totally untrue. PLEASE, de-friend me. I don't want to be friends with you.
If you think, Rush Limbaugh, who dropped out of college like our current Governor, calling a law student a slut, and a prostitute is LESS offensive than me calling you a fucking idiot for believing what YOU believe? PLEASE, de-friend me! I don't want to be your friend.
Because, you're a fucking idiot!
You react like I'M the problem, because I tell you the truth? I'm OFFENSIVE! Yep. Guilty as charged. Sometimes the truth sucks, when it shows you are, "A fucking idiot"!
Look, I have Republican friends I can have reasonable discussions with. But they read newspapers. And they don't get their news from Faux News, exclusively. But if you don't like my opinion, either engage me in debate, or piss off.
And come armed if you want to debate. I check MY facts. YOU better check yours or I'll blow you away. If you only watch, Faux News? You come to a battle of wits unarmed.
I don't CARE how many Facebook friends I have. I care about the quality of my Facebook friends.
Yeah, I piss people off. I know that. But I also DON'T CARE! You cut me off, hit delete, ignore, de-friend? Good. I don't want to deal with you any way.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Utah Weather
Yesterday, it's 80 degrees. This afternoon, it's in the 70's. Then the clouds rolled in.
By seven o'clock tonight, it's dropped into the 50's with a vicious wind. I'm guessing wind chill would be in the 30's. My walk from the front door to the recycle bin was an experience in terror!
Don't like the weather in Utah? Stick around for a few minutes. It will change for you.
At least my wonderful son mowed my lawn yesterday before this started. Three or four days of rain will make it grow REAL fast this week.
Well, at least this year we have a spring. Last year, Spring didn't come until June, it lasted a day or two and then we had a hot summer.
If you're still denying Global Climate Change? I hope you live in Belize, where the weather never changes. And not, New Orleans.
By seven o'clock tonight, it's dropped into the 50's with a vicious wind. I'm guessing wind chill would be in the 30's. My walk from the front door to the recycle bin was an experience in terror!
Don't like the weather in Utah? Stick around for a few minutes. It will change for you.
At least my wonderful son mowed my lawn yesterday before this started. Three or four days of rain will make it grow REAL fast this week.
Well, at least this year we have a spring. Last year, Spring didn't come until June, it lasted a day or two and then we had a hot summer.
If you're still denying Global Climate Change? I hope you live in Belize, where the weather never changes. And not, New Orleans.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Atheist Easter
This was a great day. I got to sleep in. The weather was perfect. My friend, Steve brought his dog over for a, "Dog Day" and Murphy and Solly got along great.
Deb and the kids visited her mom, and took her some Easter goodies. Watching the end of, The Masters was awesome. My mom came over for dinner, always love to see her.
Then I screwed it up. Too much ham. Too much of, "The Mormon Potato's". Too much of Deb's awesome cabbage salad.
If there is a God, he's getting me back for not being a believer. I BELIEVE I have indigestion.
It's 12:30 and I KNOW I can't sleep yet.
One of these days, I'm going to realize I'm old. And have one scoop of potato's, instead of two. Same goes for the ham and the salad.
But next week is going to be even MORE dangerous than this one. It's Greek Easter. This means mass quantities of AWESOME food. And Ouzo and Metaxa will flow freely.
If I was smart, before we go over to Phil and Jami's next Sunday, I would drink a gallon of water and take one of those pills that makes you puke if you drink alcohol so I could get to sleep at a reasonable hour on that night.
Oh, wait. I don't have to get up on Monday. I'm retired. I think I'll have an extra helping of Moussaka, and, "Hey, Phil! get me another, Metaxa will ya?!"
Yahsoo! Christos Anista! My favorite holiday of the year!
Good food, the BEST friends in the world, good drink and, The Punch Rare Corojoe's have arrived at, The Tinder Box. Here every year, about Easter time. Oh, and on top of that? The NHL playoffs start this Wednesday. It's the most, wonderful, time, of the year!
Well this and college Bowl Game Season.
I think there is a religious holiday around then too if I'm not mistaken. Coincidence or act of God? Maybe I'd better pray about it.
Deb and the kids visited her mom, and took her some Easter goodies. Watching the end of, The Masters was awesome. My mom came over for dinner, always love to see her.
Then I screwed it up. Too much ham. Too much of, "The Mormon Potato's". Too much of Deb's awesome cabbage salad.
If there is a God, he's getting me back for not being a believer. I BELIEVE I have indigestion.
It's 12:30 and I KNOW I can't sleep yet.
One of these days, I'm going to realize I'm old. And have one scoop of potato's, instead of two. Same goes for the ham and the salad.
But next week is going to be even MORE dangerous than this one. It's Greek Easter. This means mass quantities of AWESOME food. And Ouzo and Metaxa will flow freely.
If I was smart, before we go over to Phil and Jami's next Sunday, I would drink a gallon of water and take one of those pills that makes you puke if you drink alcohol so I could get to sleep at a reasonable hour on that night.
Oh, wait. I don't have to get up on Monday. I'm retired. I think I'll have an extra helping of Moussaka, and, "Hey, Phil! get me another, Metaxa will ya?!"
Yahsoo! Christos Anista! My favorite holiday of the year!
Good food, the BEST friends in the world, good drink and, The Punch Rare Corojoe's have arrived at, The Tinder Box. Here every year, about Easter time. Oh, and on top of that? The NHL playoffs start this Wednesday. It's the most, wonderful, time, of the year!
Well this and college Bowl Game Season.
I think there is a religious holiday around then too if I'm not mistaken. Coincidence or act of God? Maybe I'd better pray about it.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Customer Service. Or Lack There Of.
I travel a lot. Anyone who's a friend of mine or Deb's knows this. Lately, I travel to Las Vegas a lot, and since 2006, we've had a time share that has three places in LV, so we don't book hotels there.
But almost every other place we travel, where there is not one of our timeshare resorts? I try to stay in Holiday Inn Express hotels. These hotels are run by Intercontinental Hotels. They are nice, always clean and have great staff.
Their hotels run the gauntlet from the Intercontinental Hotels, which is their top of the line hotels, down to, Staybridge and Candlewood Suites. Which are extended stay places that cater to guys who work in a town for a week at a time.
They include the Crown Plaza hotels. Which I have to admit, are pretty swanky. The Holiday Inn which is pretty nice, but not a Hilton, and still affordable.
Deb and I stayed at the Intercontinental in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl game a few years ago. For a week. Two room suite. Awesome restaurant, great room service. Just a block from Bourbon Street. Just about three blocks to the Superdome for the game.
I like these hotels. So years, and years ago, I joined their Priority Club. So I would get points and get upgrades and free nights, etc. And I USE it!
That week at the Intercontinental New Orleans racked up some POINTS! A lot more points than when Phil and I stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Detroit for a couple of nights a few years ago (let's go Red-Wings!).
Today, I decided that I would use some points to get us a hotel on Miami beach. We're going into Miami four days before we leave for Cuba. I want my son to see the Everglades, and Miami Beach and Miami. I went to the web site for Priority Club, found a hotel at, "mid-beach". Holiday Inn. Right across the street from the beach. Close to, South Beach. Close to North Beach. Free wi-fi. Sounds good.
The web site would not work. I could get in, and it offered me a room that would have been $175 a night, for 15000, "points" per night and forty bucks. I have 53K points. So I'll take it. But the booking won't go through.
Go to the phone.
I'm on the phone about an hour. Talked to four different people, spent WAY too much time on hold. Finally get through to the person who can help me, and it's going to be 20K points a night and $60, but still beats the crap out of $175 a night. I'll take it. And she asks for my credit card number, expiration date, and security code.
Not a problem. I called YOU, you didn't call me out of the blue and ask for this shit. It will be just a minute while we run this, please hold.
And hold, and hold, and hold. Shit! Must have taken another ten minutes before the woman came back on and said, and I shit you not, "We ran your card and it went through (no kidding? I have a Platinum Card and I paid it down to a balance of ZERO on Tuesday) but our computer system has a problem right now. Could you please check back every little while to see if you reservation went through?"
I KNOW about the computer problem. That's why I'm on the phone with you, you moron! And not only no, I will not check in for the next few hours to see if you did your job, FUCK NO!
You work for one of the biggest hotel chains in the world, but you can't write my information down when the computer goes down, and send an email confirmation to a Gold level member of YOUR rewards club, who's stayed at EVERY level of hotel you offer over the last 15 years? Maybe it's time for me to start staying at Hilton's. Just saying.
Lets just say, I expressed my displeasure. Not rudely. I was not angry. Well, I was, but I didn't talk to this woman, "angry". I simply told her, "Not acceptable. You WILL email me a confirmation of this booking shortly. I have been on the phone with you for an hour to book four days in Miami, and I'm a Gold level member of your rewards club. Good bye."
Phil was sitting in the room at the time. He KNOWS how I get. And he even said, "You were very nice to them even though you were pissed."
The email confirmation was on my email by the time I got upstairs from using the old computer which is attached to a printer, to my NEW computer, which is a lap top.
Why does this have to happen? I've spent, oh, I don't know? A MILLION SIX, with these people over the last 15 years. I had more than 50K, "points" with them in their rewards program. I'm a not only a repeat customer, I'm a loyal customer. I actually like their hotels better than my time share. Wyndham hasn't replaced their old TVs with flat screens yet, doesn't have wi-fi, or HBO.
Yet, I had to be on the phone for an hour, for something as simple as booking a hotel room, in a Holiday Inn, on Miami Beach, more than three months in advance, and use my reward points? What kind of a reward is that?
It seems more like a punishment for making them come through on their promise of rewarding you for staying with them.
Kind of a pain in the ass. Instead of a reward.
sayin...
But almost every other place we travel, where there is not one of our timeshare resorts? I try to stay in Holiday Inn Express hotels. These hotels are run by Intercontinental Hotels. They are nice, always clean and have great staff.
Their hotels run the gauntlet from the Intercontinental Hotels, which is their top of the line hotels, down to, Staybridge and Candlewood Suites. Which are extended stay places that cater to guys who work in a town for a week at a time.
They include the Crown Plaza hotels. Which I have to admit, are pretty swanky. The Holiday Inn which is pretty nice, but not a Hilton, and still affordable.
Deb and I stayed at the Intercontinental in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl game a few years ago. For a week. Two room suite. Awesome restaurant, great room service. Just a block from Bourbon Street. Just about three blocks to the Superdome for the game.
I like these hotels. So years, and years ago, I joined their Priority Club. So I would get points and get upgrades and free nights, etc. And I USE it!
That week at the Intercontinental New Orleans racked up some POINTS! A lot more points than when Phil and I stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Detroit for a couple of nights a few years ago (let's go Red-Wings!).
Today, I decided that I would use some points to get us a hotel on Miami beach. We're going into Miami four days before we leave for Cuba. I want my son to see the Everglades, and Miami Beach and Miami. I went to the web site for Priority Club, found a hotel at, "mid-beach". Holiday Inn. Right across the street from the beach. Close to, South Beach. Close to North Beach. Free wi-fi. Sounds good.
The web site would not work. I could get in, and it offered me a room that would have been $175 a night, for 15000, "points" per night and forty bucks. I have 53K points. So I'll take it. But the booking won't go through.
Go to the phone.
I'm on the phone about an hour. Talked to four different people, spent WAY too much time on hold. Finally get through to the person who can help me, and it's going to be 20K points a night and $60, but still beats the crap out of $175 a night. I'll take it. And she asks for my credit card number, expiration date, and security code.
Not a problem. I called YOU, you didn't call me out of the blue and ask for this shit. It will be just a minute while we run this, please hold.
And hold, and hold, and hold. Shit! Must have taken another ten minutes before the woman came back on and said, and I shit you not, "We ran your card and it went through (no kidding? I have a Platinum Card and I paid it down to a balance of ZERO on Tuesday) but our computer system has a problem right now. Could you please check back every little while to see if you reservation went through?"
I KNOW about the computer problem. That's why I'm on the phone with you, you moron! And not only no, I will not check in for the next few hours to see if you did your job, FUCK NO!
You work for one of the biggest hotel chains in the world, but you can't write my information down when the computer goes down, and send an email confirmation to a Gold level member of YOUR rewards club, who's stayed at EVERY level of hotel you offer over the last 15 years? Maybe it's time for me to start staying at Hilton's. Just saying.
Lets just say, I expressed my displeasure. Not rudely. I was not angry. Well, I was, but I didn't talk to this woman, "angry". I simply told her, "Not acceptable. You WILL email me a confirmation of this booking shortly. I have been on the phone with you for an hour to book four days in Miami, and I'm a Gold level member of your rewards club. Good bye."
Phil was sitting in the room at the time. He KNOWS how I get. And he even said, "You were very nice to them even though you were pissed."
The email confirmation was on my email by the time I got upstairs from using the old computer which is attached to a printer, to my NEW computer, which is a lap top.
Why does this have to happen? I've spent, oh, I don't know? A MILLION SIX, with these people over the last 15 years. I had more than 50K, "points" with them in their rewards program. I'm a not only a repeat customer, I'm a loyal customer. I actually like their hotels better than my time share. Wyndham hasn't replaced their old TVs with flat screens yet, doesn't have wi-fi, or HBO.
Yet, I had to be on the phone for an hour, for something as simple as booking a hotel room, in a Holiday Inn, on Miami Beach, more than three months in advance, and use my reward points? What kind of a reward is that?
It seems more like a punishment for making them come through on their promise of rewarding you for staying with them.
Kind of a pain in the ass. Instead of a reward.
sayin...
Guns. Democrats, and the stupid.
I have been around guns all my life. I like them alot. In my life, fall smelled like, Hoppe's #9 gun cleaner, cause my dad always cleaned his guns before, "hunting season"
I was just in an email argument with some nut ball about the fact that I, as a Liberal, would take away HIS gun!
Nope. Don't care about your gun, or how many you own, or why you want them. And I totally support your right to buy and own them. You should be able to do so to feed/defend your family. What ever you think you need to do so.
Within reason.
You can't shoot deer very efficiently with guns Cops and soldiers use to shoot people. No one NEEDS a .50 Calibre rifle that the military uses to shoot bad guys a mile away.
Is it too much to ask that people with a criminal history, or who have been committed to mental institutions, or have a current restraining order on them, NOT be able to purchase, or OWN guns? I don't think so.
Even if they are buying them at gun shows. Current technology makes immediate information available.
And is it too much to ask that the Cops and military be better armed than the average citizen? I think not. So I support the Government REGULATING guns. That is different than supporting Government, RESTRICTING GUN OWNERSHIP!
I'm pretty sure, that I've achieved, "Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority" with my gun collection. And other than my Glock, my friends bought for me when I retired? I got nothing the Cops or the military would have.
So, Republicans, especially ones who don't earn Mitt Romney money? Lighten up. Guns are NOT the issue. Income inequality is. Look into it.
I was just in an email argument with some nut ball about the fact that I, as a Liberal, would take away HIS gun!
Nope. Don't care about your gun, or how many you own, or why you want them. And I totally support your right to buy and own them. You should be able to do so to feed/defend your family. What ever you think you need to do so.
Within reason.
You can't shoot deer very efficiently with guns Cops and soldiers use to shoot people. No one NEEDS a .50 Calibre rifle that the military uses to shoot bad guys a mile away.
Is it too much to ask that people with a criminal history, or who have been committed to mental institutions, or have a current restraining order on them, NOT be able to purchase, or OWN guns? I don't think so.
Even if they are buying them at gun shows. Current technology makes immediate information available.
And is it too much to ask that the Cops and military be better armed than the average citizen? I think not. So I support the Government REGULATING guns. That is different than supporting Government, RESTRICTING GUN OWNERSHIP!
I'm pretty sure, that I've achieved, "Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority" with my gun collection. And other than my Glock, my friends bought for me when I retired? I got nothing the Cops or the military would have.
So, Republicans, especially ones who don't earn Mitt Romney money? Lighten up. Guns are NOT the issue. Income inequality is. Look into it.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Politics Is Ugly. But Rick Santorum Is Crazy
Oh, I wanted to beat up Ricky, after some posts on Facebook tonight. But I just don't have the energy. There is so much, "stupid" to deal with, and I just can't cover it all. I saw a post where he's saying you can't take an American History class at California Universities. Which is just bullshit.
He went to Penn State, where the football coaches are fucking little boys. And the coaches who knew about it, wouldn't report it. He doesn't have a lot of room to talk.
So, if I was a Democratic Operative, who wanted him to look bad? And I am. I'd say this sorry bastard supports pedophilia as long as his football team wins!
Oh, I'm not a Democratic, "Operative". No one PAYS me for my opinion. I do this for the love of the game. And to piss off Rick Bentz.
And I'm not the only one who is pissed at, Rick Bentz. Good luck with that tailgate pass this fall, Ricky. See you in the overflow lot. Or not. I'm old, and I'm going to take the train.
If I survive the summer and can actually GO to a football game this year.
Rick Santorum is an idiot. I don't care how many degrees he has. He's a vicious, right wing nut ball, and a, "by the book" Catholic who thinks women have no rights and probably believes they shouldn't vote. He's in favor of invasive, vaginal ultrasound's to try to keep women from getting health care they might need.
And/or WANT! You think the Government is too invasive, Rick? Because it wants to regulate air, water pollution and keep Wall Street from ripping off the American people. But if a woman decides she wants an abortion because for WHAT ever reason she can't take care of a kid? YOU should decide?
You're an asshole.
He went to Penn State, where the football coaches are fucking little boys. And the coaches who knew about it, wouldn't report it. He doesn't have a lot of room to talk.
So, if I was a Democratic Operative, who wanted him to look bad? And I am. I'd say this sorry bastard supports pedophilia as long as his football team wins!
Oh, I'm not a Democratic, "Operative". No one PAYS me for my opinion. I do this for the love of the game. And to piss off Rick Bentz.
And I'm not the only one who is pissed at, Rick Bentz. Good luck with that tailgate pass this fall, Ricky. See you in the overflow lot. Or not. I'm old, and I'm going to take the train.
If I survive the summer and can actually GO to a football game this year.
Rick Santorum is an idiot. I don't care how many degrees he has. He's a vicious, right wing nut ball, and a, "by the book" Catholic who thinks women have no rights and probably believes they shouldn't vote. He's in favor of invasive, vaginal ultrasound's to try to keep women from getting health care they might need.
And/or WANT! You think the Government is too invasive, Rick? Because it wants to regulate air, water pollution and keep Wall Street from ripping off the American people. But if a woman decides she wants an abortion because for WHAT ever reason she can't take care of a kid? YOU should decide?
You're an asshole.
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