Victims of unity, tolerance and diversity

"According to WTAE's news exchange partners the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ashley Todd, of College Station, Texas, was using an ATM at Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street in Bloomfield just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday when a man approached her and put a knife to her throat.
Police spokeswoman Diane Richard said the robber took $60 from Todd, then became angry when he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the victim's car. The attacker then punched and kicked the victim, before using the knife to scratch the letter "B" into her face, Richard said "


"While the Democrat-leaning media continues to scare undecided voters with bedtime stories about some mythical angry McCain supporter whom nobody has seen, here is a real district attorney’s complaint documenting an unprovoked assault by an enraged Democrat against a McCain volunteer in midtown Manhattan: “Defendant grabbed the sign [informant] was holding, broke the wood stick that was attached to it, and then struck informant in informant’s face thereby causing informant to sustain redness, swelling, and bruising to informant’s face and further causing informant to sustain substantial pain.”

"On a Monday afternoon, September 15, 2008, three McCain volunteers were holding campaign signs and distributing leaflets on a busy corner of 51st Street and Lexington Avenue. As they were peacefully talking to each other, they were approached by a man who, in the words of the victim, provided the impression of “a rather benign, doughy-looking guy — not a person I would have expected to assault me.”

The picture she took of her fellow volunteers right before the attack
He rushed towards them, grabbed a McCain sign off a volunteer’s hands, and tore it apart. That didn’t seem enough. This is how the victim describes it:
I said, “What are you doing? You can’t do that!” And he was red in the face screaming, “You people are ridiculous!” And I said, “Yeah, whatever, but you can’t do that.”
So I reached for the sign that he ripped up, and he grabbed another sign, broke it, and ripped it to shreds. And when I said, “You can’t do that,” he took the stick from the sign and started beating me on the head with it. He broke the skin on my head, he scratched my wrist, and almost broke my glasses, and then he left.
I followed him down the stairs to the subway until I could get the police and I said, “You’re not going to get away with it.” And as soon as he saw the police he immediately went calm. He still had the stick in his hand, and you could see the injury on my face, and he admitted it. He was arrested. He actually said, “I don’t know why I did this. It’s just those signs, and this election, it has me so upset.”

"Salvatore’s Pizzeria (Warren, Michigan) who’s offering free pizza to people who bring in yard signs. Diana Franzoni, the owner claims that she just wants people to turn in their signs."

" man born in Michigan who took off to see the country — and wound up in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention — pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to making Molotov cocktails. - DePalma is one of three people charged with bomb-making activities during the GOP convention, held last month in St. Paul. The other two defendants were part of a group that came from Austin, Texas; DePalma was not part of that group"

"the people behind those "Sarah Palin: Putting the 'Cunt' back in our Country" T-shirts

Joe the plumber...poor guy. Its not that hes a bad guy, or asked the wrong question, he asked A question, and BHO finally came public with his socialism plan. Now Joe is getting so much negative press from the BHO media (NBC-MSNBC-CBS-CNN ect.). Why? because he asked a question? No, because BHO doesnt like how he looked giving his answer.

And on a personal level, we here in Minnesota have a Failed comic running for senate who says " I f**king hate those right wing motherf**kers". He hates me? He doesnt even know me, but hes made his mind up that he hates me, and felt the need to say so on a stage with a microphone. Is that working to help the people hes supposed to be working for as an elected official?

What country am I in?
Are we just going to start killing those with questions and opposing views?

PFFFFT !

I'm seriously considering switching my voting party. Why you might ask...well I'll tell you.
Until recently, I voted Republican, but the way things are going, Im thinking of voting democrat. Really....why wouldn't you. The rules of engagement are completely different. If a republican has a shady past, hes called untrustworthy. I a dem has a shady past, he can just say " I didn't know" For 20 years The dem candidate has had relationships with known unrepentant terrorists and people who plan and simply hate America. Sure....BHO was only 8 years old when Bill Ayres set out to destroy America, "Kill the rich, burn their apartments, kill your parents, that's where its at" and set bombs trying to kill Americans. BHO was not 8 years old when Ayres WHILE STANDING ON AN AMERICAN FLAG, said " I do not regret setting bombs, I wish we could have done more." in the New York times 9-12-01
BHO said he had no idea J.Write hated America. For 20 years Write was BHO's "spiritual guide", baptized his 2 kids, and he had no idea he hated America? Seems far fetched, but your not allowed to ask about it. If you do, your dismissed as a racist. Honestly, with the media bending over backwards and flat out lying to paint a picture of an all knowing all healing perfect candiate, I can see why people are angry. 2008 the year real jurnilism dies. R.I.P.

I want to be able to make my own choices, like what health care plan I want to join, not to have a man who can't even quite smoking to tell me what health plan is best for me.
Is it so wrong to want an honest fair election. Not a candiate who is linked to voter fraud?
I want to belong to the party where history starts tomorrow. The party that has never done any wrong.

Now, I belong to a party where the only limit to your personal success is your own ambition. I think I would rather belong to a party that feels it necessary to punish successful people for being successful. I think we should do away with labels like 'rich' or 'successful' We should be more "fair" If people choose not to work, not to get an education, not to even try, should they have less than you? Should they suffer while you work hard to pay your bills and enjoy success? "Spread the wealth around so that the guy behind you gets a chance" was the quote from BHO.
I saw 5 20-40 year old bums standing (which means they had both legs and the worked) at the corners of an intersection holding signs (which indicated their arms worked) holding signs begging for money. How much of your income your going to give to these people who choose not to even try? Soon you may not have a choice.

If you make up total fabrications about a Rebublican, its labeled 'Hard hitting jurnalism' if you tell the truth about a dem. its called a 'smear attack'
If a Rebub changes a stance on an issue, its called 'flip-flopping' If a Dem changes his stance, its called 'insight'
If a Rebuplican suggests that we cut wasteful government spending, he's called 'out of touch'. If a dem proposes socialism(spread the wealth, FAIR society, classless society), he's hailed as 'fresh and new'

Also, I don't want to be called a racist anymore. I used to think skin color wasnt an issue, but BHO and his party keep bringing it up. BHO said ( several times) "Theyre going to try and scare you, he's he's got a funny name, he doesnt look like the other guys on..on..the dollar bills, oh, and did I mention he's black." The congressman from Pa. said his own constituants were racist if they didnt vote for BHO. I have never heard anyone say "I'm not voting BHO based on skin color alone." THAT would be racist. But to say " he's not qualified, he's got no experiance" now means 'your racist' If you pay attention, you'll see the only people bringing up BHOs race is his own party. What about plan and simply not agreeing with socialism? your racist.

Remember, theres only 1 party where history starts tomorow, and can do no wrong.

I can't wait until this crap is over. Tacky yard signs, rude people, anger over a difference in opinion. Freinds not being able to discuss things that are important to them for fear of getting into a"Im right and your opinions and concerns don't matter if you dont vote the way I do"
Can't wait until its over.

Lawn wars

It started innocently enough, my friend says to me one day, " that's some lawn.", Meaning that my lawn needed work. I looked it over and thought, "what? some of its green." Turns out, the green was almost all weeds. Who knew right? After a bit of friendly criticism and sarcasm, I looked at my lawn through somebody else's eyes for the first time in almost 10 years. Yikes !

So what I thought was a green lawn was mostly creeping charlie and crab/quack grass. With very little real grass. "Ok", I thought, "I have a problem. no big deal, its just grass. I'll just get some chemicals." (And yes, that is usually my course of action no matter what problem I face. Just kidding.) So I got some weed-n-feed stuff, went out, followed the instructions. It was a lovely day, I was outside all was well. Days later I see the weeds have gotten greener and taller. So I repeat the spray. Again, lovely day, outside at one with nature. A few more days go by and nothing. So I ask my friend, " What can I do about all these weeds?" She says, " You have to pull them all !" I agreed with her verbally, while silently I was thinking, " Shes obviously insane" She shows me what to pull and how. "Have to get the roots she said." All I can hear is and old German coo-coo clock striking 12:00 She suggested "Every time you go outside to smoke, pull some weeds." Adding to the coo-coo clock, now I'm actually seeing the little birdy come out of the clock and go back in. This made me smile as she was obviously trying to poison my mind with her crazy talk. I had to get a second opinion, I asked a friend, he said, "nope....gotta pull em." Obviously part of the conspiracy. So I went to the one source I knew I could trust not to tell me anything but the truth. My dad. Dad said," Nope, gotta pull em. Make sure you get the roots." So it started easy enough, every time I went outside to smoke, ( I don't smoke in my house anymore.....my mom said she'd "kick my ass if I did" because she helped me repaint and clean) I would pull a hand full of weeds. Again, outside, enjoying ....well...outside. After a while of half assed weed pulling, I saw how much there was to do, and got a little more serious about it. Pulling weeds for a couple of hours at a time. Still, it seems as though I'm not getting anywhere. I call my friend and tell her this and what does she say...."You must not be a very good worker." I can see now that she was joking, but then I took it seriously. Not negatively, but seriously. Maybe I haven't been doing it enough. It was just the motivation I needed.

I have totally changed how I think about this process. Its now more like a military operation. Man and weapons (my little garden shovel and rake) against a formidable foe. At the crack of dawn on the weekends, I've got all my battle gear on - shorts, sleeveless shirt and deck (wet) shoes, and my weapons. In my best R. Lee Ermy ( Full metal Jacket) in head voice, I hear "Men ( I have 10 solders, the 101 Ground reclamation unit) we are at war. The enemy is all around us. This enemy is trying to choke out our allies, cutting off their water supply, encroaching on their space, and stealing their nutrients. It is up to us and us alone to defeat the resistance. You five flank left ! You five flank right!" "MOVE OUT!"

And there I am every weekend day morning, and some weekday mornings before work. Out in my lawn, still wet with dew, bent at the waist pulling furiously. Every now and again I will get a real long root, and this gives me much joy. In fact, I caught myself actually saying out loud, " HAHAHAHA - Gotcha bitch!" A few times. I'm guessing in the end, I will be happy with the effort, and results.

Can't talk now.....gotta go pull weeds.

What does it mean ?

I would like to talk about commercials. 2 have really caught my eye lately.
First is for the network FX and their new show "Sons of anarchy" At first, I thought it looked cool, Ron Pearlman (Hellboy, Blade2, Beast- from beauty and the..). The commercial shows a bike club riding along side a guy in a jeep. Jeep guy says "I can't look the other way on this one" To which lead biker guy( Wearing a jacket thats clearly says Sons of anarchy) replies, "Were all free men protected by the constitution, you can look whatever way you want chief." Now......are they sons of anarchy, or do they hide behind the constitution?
The second is a commercial for Pizza huts new pasta menu, it shows the "hidden camera" view of a restaurant. People eating and talking, and theres a caption at the bottom that reads "REAL PEOPLE" Real people eh? Sooooo...their not androids or C.G.I.? Of course their real people, it doesn't say their not actors, that's the funny part. And kind of relating to this, but not really, I was watching the independent film channel the other day and there was a commercial for some IFC program, and all through out the commercial was plastered "Target" logos and advertisements. Nothing says independent like cooperate sponsorship.
I hate to sound negative and bitchy, but I'm not the smartest guy to ever walk the earth...no no.....its true, And I think to myself either "I would make a fortune in Hollywood, I could make a better commercial then that" or "Man, I have way to much time on my hands."

Drivers

We need to discuss drivers in Minnesota. Or just driving in general.

Merging is not....IS NOT a personal challenge. Why do people refuse to let somebody in traffic? Its traffic. Is there a prize if you get there first? Is it a superiority thing? a control issue? Merging is a team effort. some people slow down, some speed up, we all get in. Its the zipper theory.

Turn signals - People, I can not stress this enough, they are there for a reason. Most people think there to tell everyone around them , " Get the hell out of the way, I might do something !" This in fact is not the intended use of turn signals. Turn signals are meant to make others around you aware of your intent.
1. Make sure its safe and clear to do so.
2. Signal your intent.
3. If its safe to do so, proceed.

Now...this is where it gets tricky. What if theres a car there?
If you answered "Slam on the brakes and swing it hard!" or "Just go, they'll move" You are a typical Minnesota driver. If you answered " Let off the gas pedal slightly" or "Giver 'er a little gas " to complete the move, you are a rare species.

There are variables in driving in Minnesota. Such as
"Jonny Rocket" - The 18-25 year old guy on a crotch rocket, who isn't trying to go someplace, hes trying to get to the finish line and your just in his way.

"Jonny Nitro" - Who usually drives an import. You know these guys, little tiny cars with exhaust loudeners. I don't know much about cars, but apparently, the sped of your little ride is determined by the size of your accessories. For example If you have a tachometer the size of a beach ball, and an exhaust you can hear for blocks and blocks away, your the bees knees. I mean really, god forbid you leave the house without everyone in a 10 square block area knowing. (Extra credit for flame stickers and NOS stickers.)

"Jonny Thunder" - These guys are the guys who drive the gigantic pick ups. They usually have a sticker that reads "Loud pipes save lives" Or as I like to say, " Loud pipes = small penis" Gotta love these guys. When they spend $40,000 on a truck $15,000 in tires $5,000 on a lift $5,000 on exhaust loudeners $3,000 on a shiny red paint job $2,000 in stereo stuff, and who knows how much in the 6 mpg tank. And whats he doing this weekend? off roading? Mudding? 4x4ing? No, hes at home rebuilding his garage......truck doesn't fit any more.

And then there are.....to stay PC, "recent arrivals". The road signs are in 1 language, the drivers test are in 13. Theres a basic problem there. There has got to be a way to communicate just the basics.

The last 3 go into another section.
THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING - P A S S I N G ! Not driving the same speed as your average farm tractor. I know, I know " I'm doing the speed limit !" Yes you are, IN THE PASSING LANE ! Semi drivers that drive in the left lane....I hate you.

Breath......1-2-3-4-5-6
I'm better now.


Ice road truckers...pfffffts ! Get a reality show about driving in Minnesota in February.
I'm not going to go into woman drivers. With the texting, phone on the ear, makeup in hand.
Go ahead, call me a sexist, its true ! Most men don't do their makeup in the car.

I can see your butt!

What is the deal with young men wearing their pants around their thighs?Why do I, or you for that matter, need to see someone's butt?It seems to be a fashion thing? Or hopefully just some stupid trend, but where did it start? Who is responsible for this? Most importantly, how can we stop it?Is it just me? am I the only only one who doesn't get this and wants it to stop?Why is it just young men? Why aren't young girls out walking around with their pants below their ass's? Is that unacceptable?I think I first noticed baggy pants when rollerblading was all the rage. Kids would wear their knee pads under their baggy pants. Seem legit enough. Safety first right. But more recently, I have been watching cops ( I absolutely love cops! All sorts of stupid people gathered together in one 30 min. show. You just can't beat that.) and noticing the people who try to run are pumping wildly with their one arm, and trying to hold up their pants with the other. That's just quality entertainment !Another bit of good entertainment is being behind one of these fools in line at a store. Cell phone in one hand, belt loop in the other. I think to myself, "0o0o0o....What's he gonna do? end the call? hell no, at 1:30 in the afternoon on a weekday, in wal-mart....oh no....That's probably a business call. Is he going to drop the belt loops and have his pants hit the floor? " The suspense is getting to me at this point. More then likely its, cell phone on the shoulder and a handful of crumpled 20's and 50's. Then " Yo dog, lemme hit you up lata" and the transaction is completed. No partial nudity whatsoever.What's the point? Why for Petes sake would you want to show whoever might be looking in your general direction your butt? Especially if your some skinny young man WITH NO BUTT ?If its a fashion thing, I would like to see it cross the gender barrier.That's all I'm sayin.