The Point Of Diminishing Returns

I have several different cars I'm responsible for.  My daughters car that's a local trips, running errands only, four door ride for her and her mom.

My truck, which no longer needs off road tires, since taking a blind woman on a camping trip is just a cruel thing to do.  But I've given it to my son to drive to the wilds of the Murray High parking lot.  Soccer practice, work at Culver's and out with his friends.

The Audi.  Which is the main ride for us.  Deb and I have put 70K miles on it in six years driving every where from the trip to Minnesota, to many trips to California, Oregon, and I can't even calculate how many times we've been to Las Vegas or various places in Colorado.  It gets around.

I haven't had to buy tires for, "The Bitchin' Camaro" yet.  I've had it two years now.  And only put 8100 miles on it.  Its' not a good car for long trips.  It's so tightly sprung, I do believe it would shake your teeth out if you drove it to Denver.

And your luggage better be small, or it's going in the back seat.  Where we normally put our children.

But when I need to buy tires for this high performance, speed rated, fire breathing beast that runs low profile, "Z" rated, Pirelli's?  I'll get them the same place I buy tires for all my other cars.

Costco.

You can order anything from them, that you could get at, Tirerack.com, which is where guys with performance cars buy their stuff.  Well, I do my research there, then take my stuff to Costco and get the same tire for $50 a tire cheaper, WITH a flat repair warranty.

Today, I happened to notice that one of my, "High Performance All Season Michelin" tires on the Audi had a nail in it.  Well, that's not good.  So I drove over to Costco to have that taken care of.

This is where the point of diminishing returns comes into play.

Does anyone remember a tire store chain around here in Utah (and maybe else where, I don't know) called, Grandma's Tires?  They had a store on State Street just north of 4800 S. and just south of the old fire station/BMW dealer on the east side of the street.   They were bought out by, Big O Tires years ago.

But when we bought our first house in the 1980's, they were a five minute walk from, Meadow View Circle.  And they did everything.  And if they couldn't do it?  There was a mechanic named, Gene, right next door who could.

I was a good customer.  When I would show up, the owner would put my car first.  I could get a flat repair done in ten minutes.  I wasn't rich, I wasn't famous.  I was a regular.  And they treated you like it.

Now, you save money at Costco, but you're just another Costco customer.

I don't mean to insinuate that Costco treats you badly. They do NOT!  But as big as they are?  They can't treat you like family, either.

So I guess I have to wonder.  Are there any places like, Grandma's Tires anymore?  And if there are?  Is the extra price worth not having to sit in a warehouse for an hour to get a flat repair?

How much frozen yogurt can you eat when you have other stuff you want to do that day?  Just sayin...

Times have changed.  I'm old.  I like Costco.  I don't want to lose the advantages we have now.  But sometimes?  I miss the personal service.  Even if it cost a few bucks more a tire.

Kragthorp's Folly

Kurt Kragthorp makes an interesting, if not compelling argument in this morning's Tribune about why Utah should continue to play BYU in football.  But he seems to forget, there is nothing in it for the Utes to continue the series.

The Cougars could even on shaky recruiting ground, put together a team that could beat you, and that doesn't look good for us on a national level.

And besides, we have a full schedule.  We will have 9 PAC 12 games every year, one with a Big 10 opponent and that leaves only two open dates, and both will be in September.

For the foreseeable future that looks like a, "Directional" school (Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington, Southern Utah) for a tune up to start the season.  And then someone else that we would want to schedule a, "twofer" with.  Like, we make one trip to UNLV, or, Colorado State and they play us here, twice.

BYU would never agree to that.  Their pride is what lead them to shoot themselves in the head and go independent in the first place.

No one thinks for a second that our Big 10 game is going to be Michigan or Ohio State every year.  But every time we play Minnesota or Illinois, or Indiana, we get media attention in the entire Big 10 footprint.  And that includes the Eastern Time Zone, where most of the people in this country, and most of the sports writers who have a vote in the polls, live.

So what this does is make beating a Big 10 school, ANY Big 10 school a whole lot more valuable on a national level, than having a hard fought game in Provo, on a Thursday night, that no one outside of Utah even cares about.

And if we lose to them, it doesn't hurt us.  After all, they are a Big 10 school.  If we lose to BYU?  Who did they play this year?  Idaho, San Jose State, New Mexico State?  Good bye top 10 ranking.

If it comes down to having another in state game?  EVERY Ute fan's money is on Utah State.  We LIKE those guys.  We root for them when they aren't playing us!  Their fans are FUN!  You can't say that about the Cougars.

Who wants to cross paths with a bunch of self righteous scolds who think they're better than you?  Their idea of college tailgating is Jello.  The rest of the worlds idea of college tailgating is Jello SHOOTERS!

Their pre-game party is like waiting for the fireworks show to start at the stadium of fire.  Ours is more like waiting for a Jimmy Buffett show.  We're a world apart.

And lets face it.  The, "rivalry" part has gotten ugly in the last ten years.  I've seen fights, and threats.  Name calling and religious arguments.  I'm not calling anyone out, it's come from both sides.  But we never tackled a cheerleader, as far as I know.  Just sayin...

So it's time to give it a rest.  Let things cool off for a while.  Oh, and Cougar fans?  That trophy from your Deseret First Credit Union?  Keep it.  Truth is, no one in red ever gave, to quote, Kurt Vonnegut, "a flying fuck at a rolling donut" about that thing.

The OTHER Bucket List

There has been a lot of talk, since the movie came out a few years ago, about what's on your, "Bucket List".  The list of stuff you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket.  Die.

We all have one.  But as you get older, I think your list changes.  You start crossing off stuff like, "Have sex with the, Playmate of the year", and, "Shoot a Bear with a handgun", or, "Pitch one game in the Major Leagues".  Cause you know that at your advanced age, you might shoot that bear, but your major league prospects are dim, and unless you have a WHOLE lot of money or publish the most popular men's magazine in history, you're not sleeping with anyone who looks like that.

I've kind of started mentally keeping a different kind of bucket list.  The stuff getting thrown in that bucket, is the kind of stuff you are disregarding.  I mean in a, "God, I'm glad I don't ever have to do THAT again!"  Or, "I'm really glad I was never, drunk/stoned/crazy/mentally ill enough to have thought THAT was a good idea!"  And now you're just, too, damn, old. 

I was thinking about this today when a story came on about, The Burning Man Festival.  I guess if I was working on a documentary film crew, and could go back to a motel every night?  I might have wanted to see that.  But I'm glad I was never crazy enough to think going there was a good idea.

And doing, "No Knock Search Warrants" in meth labs.  Or for that matter spending ANY time in meth labs, would be on the list.  Did it, survived it, even though it was probably a contributing factor to the recent bladder cancer diagnosis.  I'll fight the cancer.  I'm just happy no one shot me!

Chaperoning your daughter's 5th grade class on a field trip to the state fair is on that list.  I wish I'd counted how many times I told a group of boys, "Don't walk behind the cows!  They will kick you.  Stay here until the farmer has moved her", right before that kid got kicked out the barn door and onto the asphalt.  By the end of that day?  I was ready to be kicked in the head by a cow.

Impressing women is on the list.  Which is NOT the same as being nice to them.  I'm always going to try to be nice to my wife and the other women in my life.  I just, no longer feel the need to impress pretty girls.

My wife and I have been married 27 years.  I think that die has been cast.  We're not always happy with each other, but I'm pretty sure we're going to be with each other for ever.  And I'm real sure I won't do any better.  I really like the company of my young women friends.  My former partner, my friend the comedian cracks me up when I see her shows.  My friend, Diane, who my kids grew up calling, "Aunt Di".  I love to be around all of them.  But trust me, by the time you get to be 50?  You are really sure you like them for all the right reasons.  And, "pretty" is not on the list of those reasons.

Pretty is a good bonus, but if pretty is all you got?  It won't get me to play golf with you, or buy a ticket to your show or take a bullet for you.  Pretty is all over the place.  Real friends are a lot more valuable to you when your 50 than when you're 25.

Big rock shows are on the list.  My first live concert was, Led Zeppelin when I was in the 8th grade.  It was at the Salt Palace, and the ticket cost $8.50.  I don't like the crowds, I don't like the drunks, and I don't like the smoke.  Tobacco and otherwise.

I'll make exceptions for Jimmy Buffett shows, cause that's a whole other type of atmosphere.  And I have to admit, that if I got a chance to see, "The Boss" live?  I'd put up with all that shit.  But just once.

So this is just a partial list.  I'm sure I'll be expanding it in the future.  And if any of you OTHER old guys out there, have some suggestions?  I'll all ears.  I mean, the list is endless.  I'm sure you've all had a moment when you've said, "Wow.  I'm glad I'll never have to do THAT again!" haven't you?

I'd love to hear about it.

Belize Comes To Murray

Texas singer, songwriter, extraordinaire, Kelly McGuire brought his, "Trop Rock" to Murray last night.  And a good time was had by all. 

He was here from about three O'clock, to six O'clock, played all the favorites and everyone had a great time.

I hope he sold a lot of CD's.  I know there was a lot of rum consumed by the crowd.

We had perfect weather.  And a lot of good friends to spend the evening with.

Go to You Tube and look him up.  There are some amature videos of him doing some of his songs.  I really with someone would let, Kenny Chesney hear, "Boat in Belize".  Kelly could get rich.

It was good to see some old friends, and my old partner, "Father Paul" Truelson and his wife.  Father Paul and I took a TON of bandits (and a shit load of dope) off the streets years ago.

Searching for shade!  It got hot out there!

Good to see Patti and John again.  I miss them!

My friends, Ed and Sharon were here.  Always good to see them.                                                          

Now that we've done this twice, most folks knew the words, and when to sing along.  Kelly liked that.  I think he's starting to feel at home here in the desert. 

And with any luck, we'll get him back here next year.

And despite MY reputation?  Kelly is really family friendly.  So if he comes next year?  Bring the kids.



New Right Wing Talking Points

"Lame stream media".  It means any media outlet who reports the truth, and not the Right Wing party line.

"Ask about the $150K the Obama administration offered, Reverend Wright to shut up."  Totally bullshit story, started by Glenn Beck.  It has no basis in fact.  As, Bill Maher says about Mormonism, "A religion so crazy, Tom Cruise WOULDN'T join it, but, Glenn Beck DID!"

"Drink the Kool Aid".  This one is really a stretch.  The phrase goes back to the Jonestown Cult (who, by the way, were religious nuts.  Like Republicans) who all took poison in Kool Aid, because their leader told them to.  But it wasn't, Kool Aid.  It was, Flavor Aid.  They were too cheap to buy the higher quality, Kool Aid.

And it implies that since we believe what Liberals know to be truth, and we believe in science and reality, instead of bullshit and religion?  We have drunk the Kool Aid of our, "cult".

Well, if your supporting a guy for President, who's a Mormon?  And you think I'M a member of a cult?  I have my doubts about you being Kool Aid free.  But I'm pretty much OK with my not having had THAT drink.

Trying to debate politics with Republicans these days is like arguing with a four year old.  The only answer you get is not a reasoned, fact based argument.  It's just, "IknowyouarebutwhatamI!"  Or, a long list of the talking points, and bullshit outlined above.

Ronald Regan was the devil.  He was awful for American politics.  But credit where it's due.  He sure taught the dumb how to stick to the talking points, and win elections.  Because he made sure that having an education, and actually knowing what's going on around you, didn't matter!

You just stay on message, even if the message is AGAINST you!

As Forrest Gump says, "Stupid is, as stupid does".  And stupid votes for Republicans, even when you're poor and don't have health insurance for you or your kids, and you're out of work, and you're convinced Unions are ruining the country and you only finished high school.  Who do you think gave you a weekend, dumb ass?

You're stupid if you vote for Republicans and you hate a national health care plan.  Who's going to pay for your health care when you retire from you shitty job, and your employer no longer has to?

You're stupid if you think the Democrats are FOR abortion.  No one is FOR abortion.  But we want women to make their own choices.  We want them to do it, instead of Orrin Hatch.  Is that so wrong?

You're stupid if you think the Democrats are coming for your guns.  Based on what?  Mitt (I torture my dog) Romney told the NRA convention last month, that, "Obama is coming for your guns."

Oh yeah?  The only two gun laws Obama has signed allow you to take a gun on an Amtrak Train, and into a National Park.  Yep, he's out to get your gun.

I'm a left wing, Liberal, Democrat who's traveled to places you Republicans fear.  Like France, and England, and Canada because they have, "Socialized Medicine".  You know what?  Everything Faux News tells you about how the folks their hate their socialized medicine is bullshit!  They LOVE it!

And it's a lot cheaper than medical care here!

You right wingers believe bullshit, even when it's in your own self interest to disregard it.  Cause you're stupid.

Stupid is the new, right wing talking point.

If it's supported by science, or reason, or someone who won a Pulitzer Prize, or Nobel Peace Prize, it has to be wrong!

Dumb.  Republicans are dumb.  They willfully deny science.  And that's stupid.

Even Forrest Gump had COMMON sense.  Today's Republicans?  Not so much.

Gubment Hatin'

The Government in this country built the Erie Canal.  It opened the Midwest Territory to settlement.

The Government in this country built the Panama Canal, which allowed the west coast of this country to be settled, taken over from Mexico and Russia, and eventually led to Alaska and Hawaii becoming states.

The Government in this country established the Public Works Administration (my mom, who grew up in the Great Depression still says PWA, stood for, "Papa Works, Again") that put America back to work, when there were no, "Job Creators", "trickling down" jobs.  But there were still plenty of rich folks.  Like NOW!

The Government in this country established Social Security to take care of our old people.  Medicare to do the same, and Medicaid to keep the poor and disabled from dying unnecessarily.

The Government in this country established the Tennessee Valley Authority and other rural electrification projects to bring electricity to rural America, because private industry would not.  All you SEC football fans in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and the Carolina's?  You better thank the Federal Government for that.  Because without them?  You'd still be reading about college football in a week old newspaper by coal oil lamp.  If you could read.  And wondering what the hell college football was.  And what was a, "college"?

The Government in this country established the interstate highways.  So you folks in Montana know what a banana looks like.  Even if you choose to live on Elk meat and methamphetamine?  You have other options.

The Government in this country gave women the right to vote, minorities the right to vote, abolished poll taxes and ended discrimination in schools and everywhere else.  If we left THAT up to the states?  There would be no Black people in Utah, and sure as hell no, Utah Jazz.

The Government in this country makes sure you don't, on too many occasions, eat spoiled vegetables, rotten meat, bad drugs or stuff that's called meat and really isn't.

The Government in this country makes sure your airliner isn't landing on a runway at the same time as ANOTHER airliner.

The Government in this country made the rivers quit burning.  Is still trying to clean the air, except in Utah (that's a LOCAL problem) and makes sure your credit card, debit card, health insurance, and MARRIAGE is recognized in EVERY state.  No matter where you got married, in a church or a court house, or WHO married you, a Judge or Minister.

The Government in this country makes sure that every time you pick up the phone to ask for help, someone takes the call.  There are no, Privatized Police and Fire Departments in this country.  Yet.

The Government in this country is the reason you don't have to set your watch back one minute every time you drive nine miles east like train conductors had to in the 1800's, to have the correct time.

The Government in this country is the reason your milk you give you kids is pasteurized and safe.  But the beer you buy for yourself doesn't have to be.  As long as you know about it up front.

The Government in this country is the reason you can practice any religion you like, any where you like, no matter how crazy, or weird, even in public.  BUT you can't shove it down my throat and MAKE me behave like you want me too by passing laws based on YOUR religion!

And for all of the above?  I am VERY grateful.

So if you hate government intervention in your life?  Maybe you need to move to another country.  And leave us true, patriots, the Liberals, in charge of OUR country.

You Can't Argue Politics With Right Wingers

As a matter of fact, you can't even joke around with them.  I have a friend who lives in California.  He posted a funny deal last night about his 2012 , "Stimulus Package" he received in the mail.  Obama bumper sticker, tomato seeds, KFC coupons, etc.  It was pretty creative, and I got a good laugh out of it.

And I sent one back that said my package included a lot of new jobs, a 30% rise in housing starts and a, "Dogs Against Romney" bumper sticker my dog put on the car!

Oh, let the HATE begin!  Called names, every typo I made brought to light, slurs about my name, the requisite jokes about, "wives" since I'm from Utah and the calling into question my education.

Lighten up, people! How come it's OK for my friend to make jokes about the President, but when I shoot one back?  You get to attempt to insult me in every way your tiny mind can think of to do it?

I didn't take a shot at our mutual friend.

We don't agree on anything politically, but every time he comes back to SLC to visit his son, I want to see him.  I've known the guy since high school.  Even took his sister out a time or two.

All that happened in Utah.  You hit him with Polygamy jokes?  I bet not.

Even though none of the people saying shitty things about me will ever read this, I'm going to tell them why they are idiots anyway.

Politics is a two way street.  You can debate, and talk intelligently about it, or you can just scream your silly, racist, bullshit, and hope you can scream the loudest.

"Oh yeah!  Well you're ugly and mother dresses you funny!" is NOT, debate.

If the best you can do is make a lame polygamy joke because you looked at my profile on Facebook as saw I live in Utah?  You are a moron to the highest degree of, "Moronity".  You can't do better than that?  REALLY?  That's all you got?  Come on.

I am not now, or have I ever been a Mormon.  I have no Mormons in my family.  Hell, I'm not even from Utah.  My wife was raised a Mormon.  In California.

My last name is easy to make fun of.  There are so many possibilities to abuse, Stickley.  And my friends, growing up, did for ever.  My first little league football coach couldn't even pronounce it.  Stockley, Stickney, Strickley, he ran through everything and never got it right.  So he just started calling me, "Stick" and it stuck.  For most of my life, my friends have called me, Stick.  My friends from the old neighborhood even called me, "Joy Stick" for a while.  And this was WAY before video games.  It was not a good thing to be called.  Think about it.

If the best you can do in your wall post is call me, "mr sticky" You have the creative mind of a piece of fruit.

If you're going to try to insult me?  Put some effort into it.  Otherwise?  Get that weak shit out of here.

And you want to give me a hard time about a typo?  Yeah, only Liberals ever misspell words on Facebook, since there isn't a spellcheck on the wall.  It's just me.  Everyone else is perfect all the time.

If this is the reason you deduce that I don't have an education?  You better never, ever misspell a word on Facebook.  You should be perfect.  Otherwise, you got a big assed pile of rocks in your uninsulated, coal heated, lead painted, glass house.

The other thing that just kills me, is that to this group of idiots, if you believe the things Liberals believe?  You have, "drunk the Kool Aid".  An inference, I assume, that I belong to a cult that does all my thinking for me.  Like the Teabaggers.

First of all, if you actually read newspapers, and watch or listen to legitimate news sources, you know that the Jonestown cult didn't spent the extra money to buy, Kool Aid.  They bought the cheaper, Flavor Aid.  And the folks who make Kool Aid spent millions trying to make that known, but finally gave up, and the phrase, "Drank the Kool Aid" has become part of our language.

So, if I believe the things Liberals believe, I must be an uneducated, polygamous (like Mitt Romney's grandfather), idiot who believes anything he's told.

They don't even get the irony of making polygamy jokes about me for living in Utah, while the candidate they support comes from a polygamous family and actually IS a Mormon?  They make it so easy to prove them to be idiots.  Like shooting fish in a barrel.

So, my friend Mike might share this with his buddies, but I kind of doubt it.  He gets the joke.  His friends don't.  So I'll just say this.

If you work for a paycheck, and you don't make millions of dollars, and you don't have health insurance, or you're on disability, or your kid is in Head Start, or on CHIP insurance, or you get Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or Food Stamps, farm subsidies, enjoy a safe work place, use the interstate highway system, have ever called the Police or Fire Department and you hate the government?  You're a moron.  You are full of Flavor Aid delivered to poor people, by rich people.  And you will never be one of them.

And your attempts to insult me?  Don't work.  You're not smart enough.  Arguing with you is like arguing with a single cell organism, who keeps telling you don't really understand how things work.  Yeah, I do.  You on the other hand, are a germ.

America! You With, The Swamp People, Or Mitt Romney? You Gotta Make A Choice

There seems to be a real riff in this country right now. The most popular shows on cable are about a Las Vegas Pawn Shop and a couple of guys who are, "Pickers", and try to make a living off of other peoples junk.

Yet, the lower class, the folks who hunt, fish, drive motorcycles, own WAY too many guns, (and I have done all the above, except the motorcycles) and hate science and education, Want to elect a guy who went to Harvard (and BYU) who is promising that he will cut Government spending on education, health care, environmental quality, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid.

And women's health.

Have you noticed what's on basic cable lately? A&E, TruTV, The History Channel, TLC are all broadcasting shows about: Pawn shops, guys who pull old logs out of swamps, guys who are gold mining in Alaska, guys who repossess cars (and, TruTV? No one is buying that, Operation Repo is filmed like, "COPS". We all know it's NOT, true TV. That goes double for, Lizard Lick).

People who tow cars in Miami, Detroit, Philadelphia and/or tow/boot them in said cities?
People who hunt Cat Fish by hand. Really? That's worth a show?

If George W Bush had NOT been President for 8 years, spending away our budget surplus, and getting us into TWO wars we didn't need to fight? Would there be so many shows about repossessing cars? I'm just asking?

Would the, "Swamp People" be as interesting, if you didn't think you might end up one of them?

Would, Billy be as interesting if you weren't worried about your own infestations, that you might have dealt with another way, if you didn't have to live in a trailer full of cockroaches because you lost your house?

On that one? I have to say, Yeah! I love that show!

And I have to admit, I love, Parking Wars. Because every time someone who gets a ticket/boot/tow goes off on the guys who gave it to them? They are WRONG! In every way, shape and form of wrong.

"I was only there a minute?!" Where on the, Bus Zone, No Parking, sign does it say, "Unless it's just for a minute?"

The guys who park in front of the handicapped ramps, who complain, "There was no other place to park?" Should be punched in the balls by guys in wheelchairs who then tell them, "There was no OTHER place to get up the sidewalk, asshole!"

If you have $700 in unpaid parking tickets, and you get booted or towed, and your attitude is, "Fuck that! Keep the car." Or, "I make more money than you! I'll get another car!" and you don't drive an 83 Yugo? You're an idiot.

If you get three letters telling you that your car is going to be booted or towed if you don't pay your tickets, and you get mad at the guy who does just that? You're a moron.

If you watch, Swamp People, Swamp Loggers, or any show about fishermen who could be killed just for doing their job, and really hope they make it? While contemplating voting for Republicans? You're an idiot.

For every, Duck Dynasty? There are a whole lot of guys who make their living doing what, Dog The Bounty Hunter does, but they don't have a TV show, and they're not rich.

So, America. What's it going to be? You LOVE to watch how, hillbilly America makes it's living. You love to watch the lower class struggle against repression and come out on top. You eat up a show about the, "Proles", or proletariat, as, Paul Fussell called the working folks in his book, Class: A Guide To American Social Structure.

You know how a Pawn Shop works, or a check cashing business? And you still want to vote for Republicans?; You are out of your mind?

They own you, and you don't even know it.

I love, Pawn Stars. When I first saw it, I had no idea why it would be on, The History Channel. Then I watched it! The history is awesome. I have actually gone to that Pawn Shop the last three times I've been in Las Vegas, even took my wife and son and one of his friends, just to look around.

It's a great place to see.

But it's also a cautionary tale for poor folks who vote for Republicans. The folks with the money, will figure out how to take YOUR money, and MAKE money when you can't.

And if you've ever used a Pawn Shop, or check cashing business, and you vote for Republicans? You're not paying attention.

If you think banks are over regulated, but you can't afford a bank account, and use Pawn Shops, and check cashing busineses? You aren't paying attention.

Ask anyone who's company and job was taken away by, Bain Capitol, and Mitt Romney.

Liar! The Mitt Romney Story

A bunch of Mitt Romney's spoiled, brat, prep school buddies (who have the conscience he lacks) have narced him off for participating in an assault and the cutting off of the hair, of a Gay, long hair kid in Jr. high school.  And he claims he doesn't remember it.

Bullshit.  If I was ever a part of ganging up on a kid with a bunch of friends, and making a plan that included someone bringing scissors to school, or at least out of the classroom to use in this assault, I'm pretty sure it would be an event I would remember.

Cause I didn't drink in Jr. High School.  I assume he didn't either.

Why would someone make this up?  I'm asking, not asserting.  Because I've had people make shit up about me that could have cost me my career.  And not the probationers and parolees I put in jail, but co-workers!  So I'm quite aware that this kind of thing happens.  But the last news report I saw, five people had confirmed it.

This story coming on the heals of his, "I'll take a lot of credit" for the GM bailout earlier this week?  WTF?  You said let them go bankrupt, Mitt!  Now you want to take credit for saving the Detroit auto industry?  No one who doesn't watch, Faux News is buying your bullshit.

And it's not just Mitt.  Mitt has bought into the Republican strategy of, "Just say anything, and the rubes will buy it".  He did it at the NRA convention in St. Louis a few weeks ago.  With absolutely no evidence whatsoever, he claimed, "Obama is coming for your guns."  WTF?  Based on WHAT?

The only legislation, that I am aware of that The President has signed have allowed you to take a gun into a National Park and on to an Amtrak train.

Look, I have an 800 pound gun safe in my basement.  It's pretty much full of guns.  I buy handgun ammunition by the case.  I spent 23 years in law enforcement.  If you break into my house, I will shoot you.  And I'm pretty good.  Chances are?  You won't survive it.

I've been a Delegate to the Democratic County Convention three times.  I get email from Move On.  I sent a couple of hundred dollars to the Obama campaign in 2008 (and I'm still getting mail asking for more!  Stop it.  You have about $54 Million more than I do).  The Democrats know how to get in touch with me.  I'm on the mailing list, OK?

And I have heard NOTHING about trying to change/modify/restrict/toughen ANY laws that would affect gun ownership!  NOTHING!  It does not exist.

But there are people out there who hear this, and they believe it, without going to a legitimate news source to confirm it.

Mitt Romney is counting on these people to put him over the top in November.

I used to have an office next to dumb ass.  Gun nut.  Worked three jobs to get buy, cause the pay he was making as a Public Employee and Law Enforcement Officer wasn't enough to support his family.   So he was a hunting guide, and from his telephone conversations (this idiot had no, "inside voice".  Probably too much unprotected exposure to gun fire) he remodeled bathrooms, installed carpet and hardwood floors, too.  He spent all day on the phone working his OTHER jobs, and very little time doing the one he was getting paid for by the State.

This guy, in the 2000 election actually said to me, "The Democratic Platform has a Plank (I was floored he even knew what that MEANT!  Maybe he didn't, but he'd read it on a web site, or Limbaugh said it) that bans center fire ammunition!"  WTF?  Where did he get this?  He couldn't say, all he would say was, "Look it up!" 

I didn't have to. I knew it was bullshit.  But he believed this.  So he was voting for Republicans, because they lied to him, and they scared him.

Despite the fact that the R's in the State Legislature were freezing his pay, taking his retirement health insurance, cutting his pension, and keeping him living paycheck to paycheck with their policy's, so that Public Employees couldn't make a decent living with only ONE job.  Dumb ass.

Mitt can get away with lying his privileged, white, male, Mormon, Republican ass off, because idiots like this guy don't call him on it.

So no matter which way you are inclined to vote this fall, at least do yourself the favor of making sure you don't fall for lies.  Don't rely on Faux News for your information.  Go to NPR, or, Factcheck.org.  But don't let the liars make you look foolish.

Back To The Bubble, Soccer Massacre 2012

I've noted before how much I try to avoid Utah County.  I hate having to stop at the border in Lehi and have the car searched.  They make sure I don't have any liquor, or books.  And that I DO have a gun.  It gets old.

But with this road construction, it's even worse.  And tonight's soccer game was in Salem.  Last time I was in a town called, Salem, there was a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery in a witch hat in the town square.  The Utah Salem is much scarier.

I didn't mind driving through Spanish Fork.  I honestly don't think I've ever been there before tonight.  I had no reason to go.  It's a pretty little town.  Very much small town, America.  And Salem is OK, too.  As far as it goes.

It's the kind of place where when your sitting at the soccer game, and you hear a cow moo, you have to wonder if it's some clowns cell phone, or a real cow.  I kind of like that.  In limited doses.

I was talking to Alan DeMann during the game, and he said he'd love to live in a place like this. I told him I would too, but it would be with my second wife.  If I told Deb we were moving to a small town, she would divorce me in a minute.

And it would never be in Utah County.

It was a new high school, so they had nice facilities.  The soccer field was great and had bleachers for both teams fans.  Of course the home town fans didn't use theirs, across from their team bench.  They just sat by the Murray fans cause they didn't want to walk the extra fifty feet.  Turned out to be a bad idea.

If you are gong to yell your brains out in support of your team, while sitting next to the visiting teams parents, and you don't HAVE to because you have your own bleachers?  Make sure your boys show up.  By the time your yelling, "GO SALEM, YOU'VE GOT THIS!" and you're down 8-1?  You look and sound the serious fool.

But hey, it's Utah County!  The Bubble.  Miracles happen there all the time, right?  Wrong.

The game ended 13-1.  My son, the defensive specialist, who spent the whole game playing Fullback, never taking a shot, scored the last goal. He got to the ball the same time as the Salem goalie and they both kicked, and Danny's foot won.  The ball popped up, over the goalie and rolled, slowly, into the net with him jogging behind it to make sure no one would stop it.  He could have hammered it into the back of the net, but this was better.  It really kind of rubbed it in for the parents from down there, sitting next to the parents from, "north of the border".  We got to clap longer.  Loved it.


If you're going to make me drive to a foreign country, half way to Las Vegas through the war zone that is I15 construction in Utah County?  At least give us a game.  They need a mercy rule in soccer.  If they had called the game with a ten goal lead?  I could have been home in time to see the whole Blues/Kings game instead of just the last period.

Then we got up to leave, and my gun almost fell out of the back of my pants.  This could be embarrassing.  So I have to hand her folding chair back to Deb.  She knows what's going on, because I'm grabbing the small of my back like it was on fire.

"Why do you even bring a gun down here?" she asks.

Well, I bring a gun to Utah County, because it's required for entry into the county.  Not really.

I bring a gun to Utah County because I'm a left wing, atheist, Democrat and a graduate of The University of Utah.  The kind of person they hate in Utah County.

The last time we attended a soccer game in Utah County, I broke a holster.  The plastic clip that holds it inside my pants and onto the belt broke.  Between the soccer field and the place the team was having lunch, I passed three gun stores.  So replacing it was not a problem.  This tells you all you need to know about Utah County.

You break a holster in New York City?  You could have some trouble with that!  Trust me.  Been there.  Not a lot of, "gun stores".

"I bring a gun to Utah County because I drive a German car, with a University of Utah license plate and a PAC 12 license plate frame with a bumper sticker that says, "Dogs Against Romney, I ride INSIDE!" on it and I want to get OUT of Utah County ALIVE!"  I tell her.

She seems to understand.

By the time, "Joe Hollywood" the goal scoring Fullback has changed out of his uniform, into  sweat pants and a white tank top with a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses and mossies over to the car, his mother has to pee so bad she's ready to kill him.  He's always the last one off the field.

So our next stop is the local gas/grocery, "stop and rob" a block from the high school.  Hope the restrooms are open.

When we walk in, I see something I find, well, unbelievable.  Between the regular grocery store part of the place, and the restrooms is a room, probably ten by ten, FILLED, floor to ceiling with shit that is only associated with that horrible, "Toddlers And Tiera's" show!  I shit you not!

This is unreal.  Frilly dresses, high heeled shoes the size of a Matchbox Car, all the crazy stuff you could ever imagine.  And every few feet is a picture of a little girl, trying to look like a CALL girl!  How popular is this, "kiddie pageant" thing in this part of the country?  Wow.

I'm still trying to figure this out.  I mean, if I want to over sexualize my three year old little girl and screw up her ego for the rest of her life?  My first stop is always the local, Conoco.

This is so weird, it can ONLY happen in Utah County.  I hope.

Stopped in a little Mexican place on the main drag through, "Spanish" for dinner and then got out of, The Bubble as quick as I could.

I'll take the Salem with the witches over the one with the witches who buy their kiddie beauty pageant stuff at the local gas and go, every time.

Junior Seau, The Right Thing To Do, And Hypocrisy

I'm sorry, Junior Seau killed himself today.  I don't doubt for a minute the Pro Bowl linebacker was troubled, and probably suffered from mental health problems because of the constant trauma to his head.

Researchers who study brain trauma now think that, Lou Gehrig's disease, even though he played baseball, not football, might be caused by brain trauma.  When you go back and check the papers of the times, there are countless mentions of him getting hit with, "bean balls" or knocked unconscious sliding into a base.

And the folks now looking into this are probably on to something, because the NFL is in full denial mode.

They now take these guys brains, and examine then upon their death at Harvard Medical School, to see what's been going on in there.  And it's shocking.  They can pretty much see a, "bruise" from every concussion they have ever had.  They don't know WHAT it does to the brain yet, but the consensus is that it can't be good.

The National Hockey League has now instituted a, "Concussion Protocol" after every head hit.  If a player meets the criteria, per a doctor or trainer?  He's out of the game, no matter how many weeks or months, until he recovers.

And he's not the first NFL player to decide to kill himself and NOT shoot himself in the head.  This gives the guys from Harvard Medical School, a chance to check out their brains, that they, themselves, couldn't understand.  Or control.

So he did the right thing.  I hope this last, literally, dying act of his, brings some knowledge that will help other athletes.

Now lets talk about hypocrisy. 

I have seen countless, "RIP jr. Seau" posts.  It was, Junior, not, jr.  And some of them come from people I know to be devout Catholics, or Born Again Christian, Evangelicals.

If you are one of those, you are a hypocrite.  Because you believe that if you commit suicide, you will burn in Hell for ever.  So you're wishing that, Junior rest in peace for all eternity, and its contrary to what you believe God intended, and put into his, "Drivers Training Manual" for your life.  The Bible.

So what is it Christians?  You want troubled, Junior to find peace in death, as a true Christian should.  Or you wish him to burn in hell with murderers, child molesters and homosexuals?  After all, he committed a mortal sin.  Just like they did.

You can't have it both ways.