Top Of My Head


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Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Rise of Hate Groups

Here's something that might surprise you, since 2000 our nation's hate groups have grown by 54% (according to a CNN article). How could we have possibly let this happened? These maligned groups are supposed to be in decline. We're supposed to be banning together, not breaking apart by allowing these groups to exist within our ranks.
The article made it sound like the election of President Obama shoulders much of the blame, along with our hard economic times, but I think it is more than that. For a brief shining moment after 9/11, we joined together as one nation. Since that moment ended, we have been disagreeing and infighting. Is it any wonder that in an environment such as that, that hate groups are allowed to flourish and grow?

God Bless

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Ordinary People

Funny thing happened on the way back to work, the doctor ordered me off work another week. You know what that means, it means that I'm taking drugs, icing my knee and trying to stay off my feet. You would think it means that I'm paying more attention to what's going on in the world, but I can't manage to keep my eyes open. Like take this afternoon, Ordinary People
was on HBO and I settled in to watch it. Halfway through the movie, I was out like a light. It's a shame, too, as I have never seen Ordinary People
. I missed so much of the movie, lucky for me, it played again, so I set it to tape.

Mary Tyler Moore is so good in that part. You hate her so much for not making a try to be close to her surviving son. Donald Sutherland is perfect as the father who is just trying to hold the family together. Strange, women usually hold the family together and, yet, in this movie, it's the Dad. I can see why Timothy Hutton won the Oscar for his role. Also, I can see the resemblance between him and his late father.
God Bless

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Oscars

I just finished watching the Oscars. Yeah, I know they were on last night, but I taped them, so I could watch them later. It was worth the wait. They were wonderful. Hugh Jackman is a fantastic host. That beginning was wonderful!

I loved the way they gave out the Oscars for the four acting categories. To have the nominees be announced by previous winners was an inspired idea. I loved the personal touches that were added. I especially loved Shirley MacLaine's speech for Anne Hathaway. Am I the only one who thinks Anne Hathaway was as happy for Kate Winset's win as Kate Winset was? And, while I love Brad Pitt, I was really rooting for Sean Penn.

My only complaint was how they did the people who past. I loved Queen Latifia's singing "I'll be Seeing You." That part was wonderful, but I would've preferred more closeup shots of those so honored.

I read somewhere that the guys who did this year's Oscar are new. I hope they bring them back next year.

God Bless

Friday, February 20, 2009

I have a question...

I keep hearing that the government shouldn't help those people who took out mortgages they knew they couldn't pay, but yet, I haven't heard many people mention that we shouldn't bailout the mortgage companies and banks that loaned them the money.

Here's my question: Doesn't the blame lie with all of them? If I go to a bank to take out a loan and the bank knows that there is no way in hell I'm ever going to be able to pay it back, don't they have some obligation to their employees and stockholders to not give me the loan? While I hold some blame for accepting a loan I know I can't pay back, I wouldn't have the loan if the bank or mortgage company didn't grant it.

So, who is to blame and why is it that I have to pay for this mess because I don't have a loan I can't pay for.

Anyone?

God Bless

I feel goofy

For the last week, I've been recovering from knee surgery. Since Cheryl is up in Green Bay with Kim, I've been doing it alone. But, I'm not complaining, as I've had some friends (thanks Cindy, Don and Vicy) and my family (thanks to help me do things I can't do -- like clean the cat litter and take out the garbage.
You would think that being off work for an entire week would mean that I could sit here and play video games for a week, but I feel goofy. The pain pills make me a little goofy -- when I can stay awake. I end up feeling light headed, so video game playing is out.
Too bad. I probably will never get another chance to spend a quiet week at home alone. :-)

God Bless

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Obama and Foreclosed Houses

My dad was here today, along with my baby brother. Dad took us kids out for a late breakfast and Brian took care of the liter and other things I couldn't do because of my knee surgery. My dad made a comment about Obama "helping" me out and while I kind of let it go, the truth is my pop's is actually wrong.

Nothing Obama has done so far in office is truly going to help me. Tax breaks for families don't affect unmarried, childless couples. (I'm waiting on the tax break that is supposedly going to place an extra $13.00 a week into my pocket starting in June.)

But, even though I don't support everything in the stimulus, it's better than nothing. Now, I've been reading that Obama has an idea for bailing out 9 million families who are close to losing their houses. And, guess who is objecting even though the whole plan hasn't been revealed? Amazing, isn't it?

I'm not too thrilled at the idea that people who haven't paid their mortgages are going to get to keep their houses while I the taxpaying, home owning, mortgage paying person pays the bill. On the other hand, every home that is foreclosed brings down the housing prices in that area and that does affect me. My city isn't going to reduce the assessment of my home when houses are being foreclosed on. And, if they do, they'd probably raise my taxes in order to justify it.

And, wouldn't that suck?

According to President Obama, this plan won't help "'It will not rescue the unscrupulous or irresponsible by throwing good taxpayer money after bad loans. It will not help speculators who took risky bets on a rising market and bought homes not to live in but to sell," Obama said Wednesday. "It will not reward folks who bought homes they knew from the beginning they would never be able to afford.'" (quoted from CNN.com) Now, I know a family where they purchased a home they could afford, but the breadwinner lost his job and now they're struggling. If this is who will gain assistance, than I'm all for it. As far as the stupid idea that banks shouldn't be forced to have mortgages adjusted down, why not? Aren't they the morons who loaned this money in the first place? In some cases, they loaned to people irresponsibly now. Shouldn't they have to pay for that? And, here's something else. Why do we need 75 Billion dollars to help 9 million families? That does seem a bit high. I think I could do it cheaper. But, at least Obama is trying to do something. He's starting the dialogue.

Oh -- one last statement -- Republicans, you lost. You got us in this mess, so shut up. Most of us aren't listening to you jackasses anymore.

God Bless

Pay Your Damn Taxes!!!!

What the hell, man?!?
It's coming out that more and more elected officials apparently can't figure out how to pay their damn taxes. I wasn't going to say anything, but now Palin is in trouble, too. It's becoming apparent that no one in politics can figure out how to pay their damn taxes.
Get it together, people!
No wonder our country is in such a mess!

God Bless

Thank you, Governor Doyle

Let's face it when the Republicans ran the Wisconsin State Legistlature, nothing good came of it -- and, yes, Cathy Stepp, I'm talking to you. Best thing to happen to Wisconsin politics was when she decided NOT to run for State Senator again to spend more time with her family.
Worst thing to happen to Wisconsin was that stupid anti-gay amendment. Yes, friends, that's what we can thank our state Republicans for -- an amendment to our state consitution to outlaw gay marriages and civil unions. But, did it attract one job to our state?
No, it didn't. And, all it did was place us in the same boat as those other states that voted for their stupid amendments -- we look like backward morons.
But, thanks to Governor Doyle, we can once again take pride in our great state. He is calling for a Domestic partnership registry -- he wants to make sure that no gay person is ever bared from a loved one's hospital room. He wants to make sure that no gay person has to chose between losing their job and being by their soulmate's side when the end is near. Thank God for Governor Doyle!
Last year, my mother-in-law passed away and I was heartbroken, but thanks to my very understanding employer, they allowed me to work from the hotel where we were staying to be by herside. They allowed me to work off hours, so I could spend the day supporting Cheryl and Mom in their time of need. But, a lot of employers wouldn't allow that. But, they would for a straight couple. And, that, friends, is one of the reasons we need equality in marriage for all, not just those that fit some mold.
God Bless

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Do you remember the Dick Van Dyke Show? My mom was talking about it last week, so I went on MeTV and recorded a couple of episodes, so she'd have something to watch after my surgery on Friday. Well, Mom didn't watch the episodes, but I did. I had forgotten how much I loved this show. I used to watch it on WGN out of Chicago at 6PM at night. It was funny during my childhood and it is even funnier now. Imagine a show where the situation was the humor. The writing was sharp, the actors funny and there is a Mom, Dad and child (Little Richie) and no one is a dope. Intelligent humor that I don't think we've had since. Well, the Cosby Show was probably as close as we've come since Carl Reiner decided five seasons was enough.

Sometimes, I long for those days sitting in front of the huge console TV in my parents' living room watching the Dick Van Dyke Show. Not that I'd ever want to be a teenager again, but I wish there were more shows on TV I could watch with my grandsons.
Guess I'm more old fashioned than I thought I was.
God Bless

Early Morning Post

I just re-read my early morning post and I realize that I made it sound like the couple from "Jon and Kate Plus 8" and the family in "17 and Counting" are somehow irresponsible. So, before I get a bunch of nasty emails, that is not what I meant to imply. I don't know anything about these two families other than they both have a lot of children. I meant that by placing them on television, this could lead to people thinking -- like the moron in California -- that if they have a lot of children, they too can be on TV.

God Bless

Off the Top Of My Head

Maybe, I'm having these thoughts because my knee hurts. Maybe, I'm having these thoughts because I'm doped up on the generic version of vicodin. Maybe, it's because it's 3:20 in the morning and I'm unbelievably NOT tired! But, anyway, here's some thoughts...
  1. I really don't want to talk about, read about or hear about that nutcase woman in California who had six kids she wasn't supporting and somehow was allowed to have 8 embryos implanted in her. I hear she wants a reality TV show. Any station that signs her up deserves to go out of business. Let's not encourage irresponsible parenting anymore than we've all ready had with "Jon and Kate plus 8" and "17 and Counting".
  2. Speaking of the moron in California, just where the hell did she get the money? Does welfare pay for that? And, while I don't believe in controlling anyone's right to reproduce, shouldn't there be a set limit to how many embroyos can be implanted at one time?
  3. Joaquin Phoenix -- I don't know him, nor do I know a lot about him, but his performance as Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" was amazing. His singing was terrific. Now, I read he wants to be a rap star and he's giving up acting. I can see wanting to give up acting, but becoming a rap star? Please. White guys should never rap -- they don't have that whatever it is black guys have. It never sounds right -- at least not to me. And, besides, throughout music history, white people have borrowed (stolen) from black music, can't we just let them have something of their own without ruining it? Joaquin, if you want to have a music career, I'll buy your album, just pick a genre other than rap, please.
  4. I'm not thrilled with the stimulus package. I think too many concessions were made for the Republicans and then not enough of them came over to make it truly bipartisan. The $13.00 a week really isn't going to make that much of a difference in my life. I'd rather know that more of my fellow citizens will be able to keep their jobs. Also, I think we could've given more than 200 million (I'm pretty sure that's the figure I heard) to infrastructure.
  5. What the hell is wrong with corporate America? Laying off more Americans is NOT going to make your profit margins get any bigger. For every laid off employee, that's money that isn't going into the economy, which means that's less money flowing to corporate America, which will lower profit margins. Dummies.
  6. The true bailout should've been for homeowners who still have mortgages. For singles who earned less than $70,000 per year and married couples who earned less than $140,000 a year. Instead of the money going into the coffers of the banks and leaving homeowners hanging and the banks not lending it out again, the mortgages could've been paid off -- good and bad. Personally, I'm going to turn 200,000 miles on my Suzuki Vitara. While I love my Suzie, if I had my $750.00 mortgage payment in my checking account, I could afford the Chevy Malibu I fell in love with when I drove one for a month. So, the money would roll back into the American economy. A perfect plan? Maybe not, but the TARP bailout isn't even close to perfect and it hasn't saved one job.
  7. Am I the only American who could give a rat's butt about American Idol? I don't care who wins, I don't care who gets kicked off and frankly, quit telling me about it. I have a life that doesn't leave room for most reality TV shows -- I'm saying most because I'm not sure where Dominick Dunne's "Power, Privilege and Justice" and "Forensic Files" fall, but I love those shows. I can hear you saying, "But you make time for 'The Ghost Whisperer'". Yes, yes, I do, but I watch TV to escape reality, not have screaming morons and bad singers shoved in my face.
  8. Can we ban Reality TV? Haven't we gone too far? How much longer will it be before a real version of "The Running Man" becomes a reality?

Wow! That's a lot off my chest!

God Bless and Good night or, I guess, since it's now almost four am, good morning.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

The New Baby and Groceries

So, Cheryl is out of town because on Thursday the newest member of our family was born (pictures below). Unfortunately, even though I have a terrific boss who would've let me be off to be there, I'm not, and that is because of my knee surgery. This will haunt me for a long time that I missed the birth of my third grandson. Sending flowers to Kim and a teddy bear to Nicholas just doesn't cut it in my mind. Luckily for me, Cheryl didn't have to drive there by herself and she didn't have to miss the birth to watch the boys because Dad took her up to Green Bay. He stayed at the house, while Dustin and Cheryl accompanied Kim to the hospital.

But, if I can leave behind the joy of having little Nicholas enter the world (on the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, I might add) for just a moment and get back to the subject of me. I'd like to whine. While my knee hasn't been hurting too much since my surgery yesterday, but that could just be because of the pain killers they gave me at the hospital, I miss being able to do easy things. My leg is completely wrapped from mid-thigh to the bottom of my foot and I have instructions that I can't take this off. (I confirmed this with the on-call doctor last night.) My doctor likes to ensure the minimal of swelling as possible, so this wrap won't come off until Monday. This means I can't do anything. I can get to the bathroom and maybe cook something, but I didn't realize how helpless I would be.

Now, some of my friends have said take the wrap off -- I've had the same surgery and you don't need it. And, while I appreciate their advice, I don't really like ignoring my doctor -- mainly because I want to be able to return to work on Tuesday. And, because I don't want to have to go through this again. Now, I'm not taking the pain medication my doctor prescribed. I don't like the goofy feeling I get when taking it.

Then, when I awoke at five this morning, it dawned on me. We don't have any food in the house, so I need to go to the store. I can't shop on crutches and I can't get a shoe on my left foot. And, I hate to depend on other people. It kills me to have to do that! It is at a moment like this when I truly miss Cheryl! Or, perhaps, I should've been better prepared and gone shopping Thursday night! :0

Anyway, God Bless and enjoy the below pictures.

Cheryl and DannyCheryl and Danny.

Cheryl and NicholasCheryl and Nicholas

Danny, Dustin, Alex and NicholasDanny, Dustin, Alex and Nicholas.

Danny and NicholasDanny and Nicholas.

Grandpa Totsch and Nicholas Grandpa and Nicholas.

Friday, February 13, 2009

The Bucket List

I found this on my nephew's note page on facebook. Maybe it's the drugs I'm on for my surgery, but I thought it was interesting, so I stole it for here. I don't feel like posting it on my facebook page and tagging my friends, but I'll leave the notes in tack in case you want to post it on your facebook page.
The Bucket List. Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then send it to your friends (including me).(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, do the list and tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) If you don't see the Tag people in the upper right hand corner you are in the wrong place.)

Things you have done during your lifetime:
(X ) Gone on a blind date
(X ) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(X ) Been to Canada
(X ) Been to Mexico
(X ) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
() Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X ) Cried yourself to sleep
X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons - I'm a grandma
(X) Sang Karaoke
() Paid for a meal with coins
(X) Been to the top of the St. Louis
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies by yourself
( ) Been deep sea fishing
(X) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
() Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horse back riding
(?) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(X) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer - I used to.
( ) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier
() Been spinnaker flying
(X) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
() Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(X) Been to a National Football League game -- I've attended two games -- including one playoff game!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Torn Between Stopping Hate and the First Amendment


I received the following email in my mailbox:

Dear Julie,

This Saturday - unless we act right now - a Michigan TV station will air a one-hour anti-LGBT propaganda piece designed to "reveal the truth about the radical homosexual agenda."
 
The ultra-right wing American Family Association (AFA) says it produced the 60-minute program to air nation-wide.
 
We need thousands of people to speak out IMMEDIATELY against this paid campaign of lies before the program airs on WOOD-TV, the local NBC station in Grand Rapids, MI.
 
 
Make no mistake: this is the opening salvo in a coming battle over pro-equality legislation.
 
Just as we are on the cusp of historic change - a federal hate crimes law, protections for LGBT workers against job discrimination - extremist groups like the AFA are launching a well-funded national campaign of hatred and fear to halt our progress.
 
This program recycles familiar lies: that hate crime laws will "do away with our freedom of speech," or that pastors will be "criminalized for sharing the love of Jesus Christ." (In fact, the proposed federal hate crimes law explicitly states that it only applies to violent acts - not speech.)
 
The "anchor" of this faux-news program, which may have already aired in smaller markets, is controversial talk show host Janet Parshall, who in 2006 suggested Matthew Shepard's lifestyle was responsible for his murder and called gay adoption "state-sanctioned child abuse."
 
We cannot let this bigotry go unanswered. We can't let it scare voters, force LGBT people back into a place of shame and hiding, or create an atmosphere of intolerance or hate.
 
 
The AFA has worked for years to silence LGBT people and their loved ones. Now it claims to be a victim of censorship. But this isn't civil and this isn't a debate. This is lies and anti-gay propaganda launched to defeat an inclusive Hate Crimes bill.
 
Thank you for taking action. After you do, please spread the word to friends and family.
 
Warmly,
 
 Joe Solmonese
President

On one hand, I don't think the AFA should be allowed to purchase airtime without the whole world knowing that the time was purchased and what they're about to air is a bunch of garbage.  On the other hand, I believe that freedom of speech is such an important part of our democracy that I'm loathed to stop speech, even the hateful, lying speech of Janet Parshall and the others who belong to the AFA.  They have rights as Americans to believe what they want to believe.

On the other hand, I do believe that speaking your mind comes with risks.  If you tell off your employer and he fires you, that's a chance you take.  If you speak hate and someone shoots you, that's another chance you take.  The only problem with that last bit is that liberals don't believe in guns, so there's no one on the left to kill a bitch whore like Janet Parshall or even that evil, Hitler man James Dobson.  <sigh>

Please don't ask me to be nice, I'm done with nice.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Short, Sweet and To the Point...

#1. If you have RoadRunner, you'll know what I'm talking about: I hate the new webmail. I'm not keen on the colors, the logoff button is too small and not in a good location. I miss the little news headlines down at the bottom and it feels like it is even slower than the last version. Oh, and when you compose in a different color and font from the default after nearly every paragraph, you have to reset your font and color because it switches back to the default. On top of that, I haven't discovered how to get to the HTML version of my email! Good job, Time Warner, keep pushing and I'll have to go to DSL -- which I hear sucks even more.

#2. If you're really my friend, then you know not to send me emails proclaiming that you're my friend and telling me that I should forward it to my closest 9, 19 or 99 friends. A real friend will call to chat and tell me about their kids, job, marriage and ask me about mine. Yeah, some things are cute and we all forward them along, but at least pay attention. That husband of the year email, I saw it last year and the same five people who sent it to me this year are the same ones that sent it to me last year!

#3. The Republicans and the stimulus -- sit down, shut up and vote for the stimulus. The 700 Billion Dollar package passed by the Republicans last year didn't help, but the Democrats didn't stand in their way. Quite frankly, if you want the truth -- I don't want / need a tax cut. Any cut you give me is truly going to be too small to make a difference in my life. What am I going to buy? An MP3 player? And, who's economy will that help? Oh, yeah, Japan's or China's. Unless the government is going to cut my payroll taxes down by $250.00 a month, I'm really not going to notice the money. The only reason I bring up $250.00 is because I could use a new car and if they dropped by that much, I could afford a second car payment. Otherwise, spend money fixing our infastructure and keep my tax dollars.

#4. In case you're wondering, I won the pregnacy test round -- at least until tomorrow when my doctor finds out that I told the lab not to run it. Protocol my butt. I can't get pregnant and my insurance company shouldn't have to pay for a pregnancy test! Period They'll probably cancel my surgery and I'll have to have it another time, which will probably be even less convenient than this time.

Well, stay tuned. When I come out of my surgery and return home, I'm going to see if I can blog while still under medication! Won't that be fun?!?

God Bless!

Monday, February 09, 2009

Smile Train

Cheryl opened up the mail tonight and there's a letter to me from the Smile Train. The letter let me know that my donations helped pay for the surgery that put a smile on a little girl's face in Liberia. The letter came complete with a before and after picture.

I know that times are tough and it is really hard for a lot of people to be able to donate money to worthy causes. However; if you do have a little spare cash, the Smile Train would be a great place to put it.

God Bless

Surgery

I hurt my knee shoveling about a month ago. I went into my doctor and he sent me to an orthopedic sturgeon and ordered digital x-rays for me. Doctor Laing gave me a cortisone shot, ordered an MRI and sent me on my way. Let me tell you, I'm no baby and I have a pretty high threshold for pain, but that shot was the worst pain I've ever felt. I woke up during extraction surgery and I thought that was the worst pain I'd ever have, but I was WRONG!

Anyway, today, I went back to Dr. Laing and he gave me the news -- I have torn cartilage and it needs to be repaired. That means that on Friday, I have to submit myself to surgery. Yes, I know it's Friday the 13th, but I'm hoping for the best.

Before you can have surgery (and you're a woman of childbearing years), one of the tests they do is a pregnancy test. Strictly speaking, I think this is normally okay, except -- I can't have children. It would be some amazing miracle if my pregnancy test turned up positive. Normally, when I'm asked by a doctor, nurse or x-ray technician if I'm pregnant, I make a joke, like "Only if a star is rising in the East." This usually gets a laugh and my file is marked no. But, today, today, being told that they ordered a pregnancy test -- when my file should say I can't have children -- just reduced me to absolute tears.

I don't want my insurance company to have to pay for a test that isn't necessary, but more than that, I don't want to hear the results. The pain of that last phone call when they told me that I wasn't pregnant was the worst experience of my life. Somehow, I just feel that if they do this test, I'd have to live with that pain all over again and, quite frankly, I just couldn't do it again. Doesn't my doctor get that? Doesn't he realize that a part of me died the day I discovered I couldn't have children?

After I finished my crying jag -- I got to thinking, why isn't my file marked? Cannot bear children - no pregnancy test needed. A woman is in childbearing years for a long time and I really don't want to have pregnancy tests for every surgery for the next ten or more years. I can't believe I'm the only infertile woman who has had to go through this. Do we all cry?

When I mentioned to Cheryl that it would be a miracle that I would be pregnant, she said, "Yeah, but wouldn't that be some miracle?"

I wonder if miracles do still happen. Maybe, I should take the test to see if one has happened.

God Bless

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Tell the AFA to suck it.

Two posts, right in a row -- imagine that!

The American Family Association which is neither American (trampling on someone else's rights is unAmerican) nor Family oriented (encouraging people to be against other people's families is just sick) wants all of us to boycott Pepsi.

This is from their website:

Pepsi TV ad pushing gay lifestyle
Watch the TV ad
January 26, 2009
Pepsi is now using its TV spots to promote the gay lifestyle. AFA asked Pepsi to remain neutral in the culture war. Pepsi refused. The company said it will continue major financial support of homosexual organizations seeking to legalize homosexual marriage.
Pepsi gave $500,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest and most powerful gay lobbying group in America. The company also gave $500,000 to Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). The total gift of $1,000,000 to the two homosexual activist groups was to help promote the gay lifestyle in the workplace.
After Pepsi gave their money to HRC, HRC gave $2.3 million to oppose California’s Prop 8, an initiative which defined marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Pepsi also forces its employees to attend sexual orientation and gender identity diversity training, where they are taught to accept homosexuality.

Here's what I think we should do. Lets call Pepsi and tell them we support them. From now on, let's drop all this anti-gay nonsense and start supporting diversified companies. Let's spend our money on Pepsi products. Lets tell Pepsi that morons in these groups are few and far between and that they don't need to bend to the will of hatefilled people any longer. Below is the information -- also taken from the AFA website. How nice of them to put it there for me to use. Promoting equality for all isn't encouraging a gay lifestyle -- it's encouraging an American one.

After signing the pledge, please call Pepsi (914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652) and tell the company you will boycott its products until its stops promoting the gay agenda. Please be polite.• Pepsi’s products include Pepsi soft drinks, Frito-Lay chips (800-352-4477), Tropicana (800-237-7799), and Gatorade (800-367-6287).

God Bless

Defenders of Wildlife and Sarah Palin...

Before I start this, let me say that I am a fan of Ashley Judd and I'm not a member of the Defenders of Wildlife. I should also disclose that I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin, but I'm sure you knew that. Also, you should know that I don't hunt. I don't have an issue with most hunting.

Now, that said, what the hell is wrong with Sarah Palin? Ashley Judd did attack her in a You Tube video, which I haven't seen, and Sarah Palin fights back by calling the group with which Ashley Judd works a fringe organization. The Defenders of Wildlife have been around since 1947 and they have well over 500,000 members, so I would hardly call them a fringe organization.

I'd like to go on record as saying that shooting a wolf from a plane is not a sport. It is nothing more than, well, I don't know what it is besides gross. I was taught that you eat what you shoot when it comes to hunting. The exception to this was an animal that wrecks havoc like a groundhog or, even, a wolf. But, you don't shoot them from planes. You want to hunt a wolf, at least make it sporting.

If Palin wants to defend this non-sport fine -- I don't care, but just because you disagree with them, don't call a real group fringe.

God Bless

Make sure you can hear this!!!

Video is mine, sound is not, but I had to pass this on to my readers...

Come and Get Me Rush Dittoheads...

According to the Dignity Index in this week's Newsweek, Georgia Representative Phil Gingrey told Rush Limbaugh to pipe down. Then, the poor man had to "grovel for forgiveness" becasue of the heat he took for it.

So, our great country has truly, truly lost its collective mind. We're going to give someone crap because he had the nerve, honor, brains and courage to stand up to this country's biggest no knowing blowhard?

Did I wake up in the USSR?

Let's face it, "folks", Rush's days are numbered. Anyone who has been listening to him for the last twenty years has to realize that he's just running scared. His "I hope he fails" and his creepy and unAmerican idea that any Republican who works with Obama isn't a real Republican is proving more and more that he's out of touch with reality and what America needs.

In case you're wondering what Representative Gingrey said, I'm posting it below:

"It's easy if you're Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don't have to try to do what's best for your people and your party. You know you're just on these talk shows and you're living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of that thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn't be or wouldn't be good leaders." -- source Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The man has a point. Right now, the "right" is in trouble. Their old ways of "small" government and tax cuts isn't going to get us out of the mess we've gotten ourselves into over the last eight years. We're going to have to join together and work on fixing the country the best we can. Over the last sixteen years, we've neglected our infrastructure and over the last eight years, we've wasted the surplus we once had. Our issues won't be solved over night, but if we don't work together -- they won't be solved at all.

Jerks like Limbaugh really don't want the nation's issues to be fixed. They live for the divisions morons like him have worked to create. On top of that, they would rather sacrifice America's future than be proven wrong or even admit there might be a better way.

Remember that the next time the windbag appears on your radio -- he doesn't give a rat's ass about you or me or this country. He cares about ratings.

God Bless

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

What the REPUBLICANS Want...

According to CNN, the GOP has decided they don't want the following provisions in the stimulus bill.  I've added my own remarks.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

This one, I'll give them. I'm not convinced that "clean" coal is good for the environment. Now, I'd be willing to change my mind on this if two things: 1) This will create much needed jobs in Illinois and 2) Someone can prove to me that "clean" coal is good for the environment.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

Well, I'm not too concern with the Hollywood community going out of business when a great number of producers, actors and directors make more for one movie than I will ever see in a lifetime of work. However; movies are probably one of our greatest exports. A movie that bombs here in America is sure to make a fortune in China or Japan or any number of other countries. Keeping Hollywood making money should be something good for all. I would, also, think that since this is a tax cut and Republicans believe that tax cuts are good for the economy they should support this one.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

Why is this a bad idea? If everyone has access to free TV, would it mean we might start paying attention to what goes on in Washington? Seriously, we are 14 days away from the changeover and millions of Americans couldn't get the coupons because not enough money was put into the program at the start.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

New ships = people working.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

Construction? Hmmm, my brother "works" in construction -- when he's not laid off because the economy is tanking. If this would put his fellow carpenters to work -- provided we only use union carpenters, I'm all for it.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

That doesn't seem excessive, but I think it deserves it's own bill. This won't really create jobs.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

So, the Republicans want to give the car companies billions in free money (free to them), but not encourage the development of hybrid vehicles by jump starting the car economy?

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

This ensures that the workers at these centers keep their jobs -- can't imagine why the Republicans don't like that. Oh, wait, they don't believe in the prevention of STD's by anything but abstinence. You know what you call a woman who teaches her daughter abstinence only? GRANDMA!

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

Doesn't somebody need to be hired to do this? Isn't this a change, fix to infastructure?

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

Ditto for this one.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

I'm all for supporting the Smithsonian, but not in the stimulus package.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

Now? Do we need to earmark the money now?

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

Not a stimulus project

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

While this won't create jobs outright, it will help community colleges deal with the new influx of students that need job training.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

Well, is this so they can have raises? I'd like more information, wouldn't you?

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

Sorry -- good plan, but shouldn't be part of the stimulus.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

This SHOULD create jobs and it should stay.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

Like I said above, doesn't somebody need to be hired to do this? Isn't this a change, fix to infastructure?

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

Ditto.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

This will free up a lot of money cities don't have right now to keep the fire stations manned.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

Considering the amount of money spent on putting out these fires, a little prevention could go a long way.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

Hello -- youths, jobs. What part of that don't the Repubs get? Some kids count on summer jobs to help save for college or don't Republican children need to save for college?

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

Could this wait? Will this create a job?

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

 To do what?

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

 Someone will need to be hired to do this.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 We "pay" volunteers?

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

 And, this is bad for why?

• $850 million for Amtrak.

 We gave billions to the car companies and banks, why not give some to Amtrak?

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

 Depends on where.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

 Please this will create jobs and maybe the other facilities are too crowded.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

 Creating jobs. Spending money in the economy. Someone has to fix these computers and/or set up new ones.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

 And this is a bad thing because why?

Now, that I've added my two cents, let me say this, SHUT UP, REPUBLICANS, SHUT UP!!!!

For eight long years, the Republicans have been in charge.  They lowered taxes, raised the deficit and started not one but two wars.  And, now, they're not happy and they're whining about $19 Billion dollars in a $900 Billion package.  Granted, there are some points on which I agree with them.  This might not be the place for these programs.  However; since the last administration gave away $350 Billion dollars of my, my daughter's, my grandsons' and my grandson's grandsons' money and can't tell me where it went, I'm not going to quibble over 19 billion.

If this stimulus package works -- no one else will quibble either and the Republicans who voted against it will probably be out of a job -- like a great many of the rest of us.

God Bless