Can Palin Prove She's Smart? (Photo: AP)

Sorry its been so long since any posts have been added, but fortunately the idiot is back and this one was too good to pass up, so here we go again. That’s right, Sarah Palin, who has previously mocked President Barack Obama as “a charismatic guy with a teleprompter” was recently photographed with talking points written on the palm of her hand. Personally, I think I’d rather have a teleprompter.

While I’m not as thrilled with our current administration as I had hoped, I am still a firm believer that America made the right choice not voting McCain/Palin into office. Now, as Palin continues her efforts to promote the National Tea Party, I’m fearful again that the puppeteers may write enough smart words on her hand to scare America into believing Palin would be a good thing for the country.

If “Energy,” “Tax,” and “Lift Americans Spirits” are at the top of your list for what comes next, then it’s important to remember that “budget cuts” was also scrawled and crossed out on Palin’s hand. What does that tell us about what’s to come if Palin is given a chance to run for office – any office – in the years to come?

Ranter

He does on to say that Obama was elected on hope, and apparently his qualifications, public personality, and ability to hold his own in debate (not to mention Sarah Palin is an idiot) had nothing to do with it.

“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived,” Blagojevich said. “I saw it all growing up.”

The blubbering idiot continued along while trying – too late – to cement his point, but the damage has been done. I’m not sure when this fools twenty-minutes of fame are going to be up, but I think that time has passed and it is definitely time for him to move on and accept that the people have seen enough – shut up and move along.

Ranter

It’s time to move along folks – this story is well past its 15 minutes.

ranter

Too big for Lincoln University?

Hey fatty; yes you, the one with more lard in your ass than a micro-bus, you’re going to have to work just a little harder to get your college degree from Lincoln University in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because good grades are no longer good enough. That’s right, this “Historically Black University that combines the best Elements of a liberal arts and sciences” is leading the charge in the battle against obesity by requiring all students with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, which generally defines obesity, to take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Don’t complete the class? Don’t graduate.

As students who entered Lincoln in 2006 approach their graduation, the controversy regarding this requirement is reaching new heights, with the best quotes seemingly coming from Tiana Lawson, 21, who doesn’t understand why the fitness requirement would be only for those that are fit today – “why would they want some people to be more healthy than others?” In case you didn’t guess, Lawson has also recently learned that she will be required to take the fitness class as her BMI exceeds the threshold.

“I didn’t come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range,” Lawson wrote. “I came here to get an education which, as a three-time honor student, is something I have been doing quite well, despite the fact that I have a slightly high Body Mass Index.”

The University’s response is about as you would expect with James DeBoy, the chairman of the school’s Department of Health and Physical Education saying that the requirement is just like courses to help with communications or math. Unfortunately, DeBoy is leaving out the fact that needing help in math is a technical issue and someone’s weight is a personal one, but hey, that’s a different rant all together. LeBoy goes on to say:

“We, as educators, must tell students when we believe, in our heart of hearts, when certain factors, certain behaviors, attitudes, whatever, are going to hinder that student from achieving and maximizing their life goals.”

It’s likely that it’s only a matter of time before the ACLU gets involved, because this certainly seems like Lincoln University is taking an intrusive role in trying to control how their students live their life.  Where do you sit on this debate?  Would you graduate?

Ranter

Fortunately for all of us, it’s quite likely that Sarah Palin’s day-time television show will only be as long and successful as her time on the VP ticket. I’m just constantly amazed that this woman hasn’t faded into obscurity, but then I have to imagine it’s the same reason that freak-shows and carnival amusements succeed over time. She’s like a car wreck – you don’t want to watch, but you’re compelled to see the horror.

A special thanks to Robin Williams and David Letterman for making this “rant” possible.

Ranter

Kennedy was recently quoted as saying, “The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion; that I am not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public official.”  And, while it’s probably below the belt, I will continue to wonder how Tobin feels about his peers that are being convicted of raping children as part of their work with God.  Do they deserve forgiveness and communion?A little research on the internet confirms that Tobin, by Church Law, can ban Kennedy from receiving Communion with his Diocese, but he cannot stop Kennedy from receiving communion elsewhere.  Kennedy also has the right to appeal the decision all the way to the Vatican, but the church is very likely to overturn one of their own.  Even Bishops have to cover their asses.

Kennedy has been very public about his criticism of the Catholic Church or their idle threats to oppose any health care reform that doesn’t include strict restrictions on federally funded abortion.  He has also voted against the plan supported by the Bishop and for the plan they opposed.  The Bishop demanded an apology – Kennedy (admirably) refused, including this response:

“While I greatly respect the Catholic Church and its leaders, like many Rhode Islanders, the fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.  I embrace my faith which acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity.”

Not to be left without the last word, Tobin responded with a biting public letter that was published in a diocesan newspaper.

“Sorry, you can’t chalk it up to an ‘imperfect humanity.’ Your position is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It absolutely diminishes your Communion with the Church.”

Somehow this seems like fighting words, and while I understand the power of the Catholic Church it would seem to me that with these changing times (and their continued transgressions) that the Church would grow to accept that not everyone shares their every opinion and that that’s okay.  Maybe when that happens, I’ll look at the church as something more than I do today.  Until then, I will be standing beside Kennedy supporting abortion and sacrificing for what I believe in.

~geek

Everyone feels like they deserve something from someone else even when it was their own stupid fault.  Remember many years ago the person that sued McDonalds because her coffee was “Hot?”  They got coffee at the drive through and placed it between their legs (I guess they didn’t have cup holders back in the stone age.)  Short story is, the coffee spilled and they sued.

Yeah.  We all thought it was a joke, and silly, but that person ended up getting a lot of money for it.   And to be fair, the facts of the case showed she received THIRD DEGREE burns from the fucking coffee!

Well case in point.  I go regularly to a neighborhood coffee shop.  It’s a nice little mom and pop store doing pretty well even though there is a Starbucks right across 32nd.  Great atmosphere… Local indie bands on the weekends.  Free WiFi.  Actually, the owners are a couple of 30 somethings just out of college.  Good for them!  Owning their own business.  Anyways, a few months ago, a young up-and -coming professional, you know the type.  Wearing dockers and a short sleeved shirt planning what they will be doing with all the money they make as the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Bernie Madoff, while they are probably still living with their parents.

Anyways, this guy comes in chatting away on his Blue-tooth phone (so he looks like the Borg with that ear piece but acts like that crazy guy you see in Times Square talking to “the invisible people”) while pressing like a mad monkey on his iPhone-type device, with his laptop tucked under his arm and a messenger bag across his back.   He walks up to the counter and rudely orders a cup of coffee while not even bothering to stop or pause his conversation on his BT phone.  He takes his cup pays the cashier, and goes to fill it from the coffee jugs.  He doesn’t stop talking, nor does he try to put down his laptop under his arm and has his phone/pda in the same hand as the cup.  You can see whats coming, can’t you?    Well, to make a long story short(er) as he is filling his cup, his phone slips.  He reaches to get it and his laptop slips.  This all starts a comical chain reaction that ends up with him dropping his phone and laptop.  The laptop screen breaks off and slides across the floor.  The coffee ends up all over his pants and in the melee he ends up knocking over the table holding all of the coffee jugs.  He’s screaming at the store staff while they are desperately trying to mitigate the total disaster this guy has brought into their store.    He winds up leaving after hurling several choice words at anyone and everyone.  He even yelled at this customer that tried to help him saying that they “better not have damaged his phone” which she was handing back to him.  What a twat.

Well, what brought this back today?  Why am I ranting about it?

This morning I stop in to get my coffee and bagel and lo and behold I see signs posted in several locations around the store saying ” WARNING.  Our coffee is served HOT. Take appropriate steps to protect yourself.”  and on the table with the coffee jugs was a step by step instruction sheet detailing how to fill your cup and it included “if you are holding something in your hands other than the coffee cup, put it down.  Do not attempt to fill your coffee cup while holding a laptop or similar under your arm.”

So I ask the owner whats the deal with the signs and he tells me that he was served a few days ago with papers from that pin head and he is being sued for “pain and suffering” and “emotional distress.”  Additionally, he wants a new laptop AND phone which he says the coffee shop was negligent in protecting.  WTF!  I mean seriously, WHAT THE FUCK?!?

Well, the owners are not caving and has hired a lawyer and is defending himself.  I have an appointment to talk with the lawyer too as a witness to the “incident.”  That little pants stain isn’t going to get a thing and if the lawyer is correct, will even lose out due to a counter suit for the “damage” and “loss of business” from that jag-off creating a mess by knocking the table over.

PEOPLE!  Wake up!   Grow a pair will you?   Take responsibility for what you do!  Some of you, well, most of you just make me sick. (especially the “jerks” on the subway in the morning that neglect to put on deoderant.)

Mleh.

UPDATE:  This must be a fucking epidemic.   I just saw this on the “internets” this morning.   Come on people! It might help if you actually work and not try to get something for nothing by blaming someone else for you being such a prick/twat.

After listening to people like Shanneen Barron, as she talked with CNN Affiliate KMGH-TV in Denver, I was forced to question what America has come to.  Barron was quoted as saying, about President Obama’s desire to speak to American school children, that “thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that [President Obama talking about education] just really upsets me. I’m an American. They are Americans, and I don’t feel that’s OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now.”

I’d be willing to bet that Barron considers herself a patriot, while parents like me sit back and wonder, even though I may not agree with what Obama is saying, doesn’t he deserve the right to address and share the ideas he believes will make this country better?  If you’re truly scared to be in this country I would encourage you to leave.  Maybe you’d be more comfortable in China or Korea?  Maybe your kids would value their education more if they had to worry about war and genocide while living in Darfur?  No, I suspect that there is a reason you will continue living in your comfortable home in comfortable America where you don’t really have to be afraid that one day you will lose the freedom that you value so much.

Frankly, the US, as a country, has lost many of the things that I value as an American, which includes our integrity, and Barron, I encourage you to sit down and examine what you value in this world and make sure that you’re willing to sacrifice the freedoms that we Americans hold so dear as you continue to press your conservative beliefs on your family while shutting out any ideas that don’t mirror your own.

When people like Barron and Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer start preaching their own conservative agendas I’m forced to ask, what happened to respect and personal dignity – if you don’t like what he’s saying, fine, help your children understand differently or put them in a private school that supports your ideals, but don’t use your 15 minutes on the soapbox as a way to disparage someone that is making an effort to improve a country that needs a lot of improving.  America’s education system is lacking and we’re losing our competitive edge at an alarming rate.  If that bothers you as much as it does me, take your 15 minutes and talk about ways to improve the system – not why you’re afraid.  Your fear, to me, makes you sound stupid, and this talk is about education.

Greer’s comments, especially coming from a party chairman, were so disrespectful that I’m forced to directly question his patriotism, too.  He said, “As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology.  The idea that schoolchildren across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans … is not only infuriating but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.”  (Didn’t the majority of Americans vote for President Obama and his beliefs?)

First, Mr. Greer, your children are not being forced to watch the President do or say anything – they’re being given the opportunity.  They have this opportunity because this is a free country.  You obviously know and value that freedom as it is the same freedom that allows you to voice your personal dissent without risk of punishment.  If you choose to shelter your children and share with them only your own conservative agenda, (because obviously Bush’s agenda was so successful) you have that right, but you’re not the President, and until you are I encourage you to present your own personal agenda on its merits and not by disparaging Obama.  If you have something better, start there, or run for president yourself and then you can say whatever the hell you want.  And, you know what, I’m an American, I will listen and be respectful, even if I don’t like it.

Finally, so that it’s not missed, the president of the National Parent Teacher Association (an organization that I normally don’t agree with), Charles Saylors, seems to agree with my view that “The president of the United States, regardless of political affiliation, should be able to have a presentation and have a pep talk, if you will, to America’s students.”

And with Saylors’ thought I will get off my own personal soapbox and ask only that every American consider what they value most in this country.  Because, frankly, it is those personal freedoms that make America unique and without them the choice of president and education would be lost completely.

Ranter

Will Rod Blagojevich receive his just due?

It has taken four months for the indictments to come down, and if any of them are true, and I suspect they all are, it’s not a day too soon.  That’s right, I’m talking about former Governor Rod Blagojevich who is now being charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy and lying to federal agents. The government is seeking forfeiture of $188,370 from Blagojevich and will try to take his Ravenswood Manor home in Chicago if needed.

And to think, this started with everyone thinking his pay-to-play effort to sell President Obama’s vacated seat on the US Senate.  Now it seems like that’s the least of his crimes, and considering his elected status, that’s pretty bad.  What bothers me most is that of all the groups that should self govern – politicians appear least willing to look at their own and ask the hard questions.  Rod Blagojevich should be publicly stoned by anyone that cast their vote, and those that stood with him, knowing of his crimes, should be right there with him.

Unfortunately, it appears that things like this are happening more and more frequently now, and it’s unconscionable to me that the American public just lets this happen.  Looking at Obama’s efforts to fill his cabinet should offer another example – how many politicians aren’t paying their taxes while the average, middle-class American struggles to pay their taxes, their mortgage, put food on the table, and keep their children educated.  It’s a tough time and unfortunately it’s not equally tough for all.

Of course, as is often the case, Rod’s statement claims innocence.

“I’m saddened and hurt, but I am not surprised by the indictment,” Rod Blagojevich said in a statement. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors.”

But don’t all the guilty cry foul when arrested and indicted?

Ranter

Bear or Bullsh*t?

The markets are changing and depending on who you talk to (or which way the wind is blowing) we have a bear/bull market coming.  What you do with that information is up to you, but most “analysts” seem to think that the end is still a ways off and that the market is going to capitulate for months to come.

And, frankly, I’m okay with that.  The Dow was up over 200 points today – and to me that’s  a good thing.  But, if it drops 400 points tomorrow, that’s okay, too.  I’m neither bull nor bear, but I am a writer that wonders – what’s it matter?  Bear market?  Bull market?  Who really cares?

The answer to that is obvious – investors and news media care.  Investors so that they have an excuse for their successful guessing or misplaced optimism, and the news media because nothing sells like confusion (unless it’s blood, gore, or Britney Spears, of course.)  In this time, when consumers, investors, and even our leadership is shocked and running around like a three legged frog on the highway, bad news sells because in the absence of something positive, the average person is going to grab onto whatever they can find.

My take – bear or bullshit – it doesn’t matter; the media is going to help with your decision.

Ranter