The problem with racists seems to be...well...their race.

Finding examples of media bias toward liberal viewpoints is about as difficult as finding stink in a month old carton of two percent milk. You, unfortunately, tend to get the same reaction when pointing this bias out to someone as you get when you say "here smell this" to your lovely spouse standing before you with a bowl full of dry Grape Nuts and a spoon. A reaction of indifference to your plight in having been the one to recognize the problem, a bit of irritance (sic) that you feel necessary to share the pain, indignance that you expected anything else to come from the so-called mainstream media or a container of clearly separated, past its prime bit of bovine juice and impatience that there is no quick remedy being proposed.

It was rather fun to run down to the local Whole Foods grocery to pick up a quart of fresh, organic, non-fat milk at an inflated price and listen to the pantheon of left leaning shoppers decry the chain's CEO's op ed piece against The ONE's health care initiative and proposing his own more conservative plan. There are even calls to boycott the haven for the organic food fueled, reusable bag carrying, granola munching crowd.

The milk run was easier than finding an unbiased news report on the recent town hall meetings on my 70 channels of Comcast basic cable. The latest topic du jour for reporters and pundits alike is the rash of anti-Obama, anti-health care militia members bringing their assault weapons to the events.

Let me be clear here: I am a staunch second amendment advocate who in matters of self-defense thinks a fair fight means you didn't bring a big enough gun. That said, it makes no sense to choose the battle of health care to demonstrate your personal viewpoints on this issue by bringing a weapon with you when attending a town hall affair. This move, albeit completely legal, only gives fodder to zealots on the left who will relish it with their morning cereal and herald it along with snap, crackle and pop as further evidence of the lunacy of the protesters.

The reporters pushing this issue prove they have the initiative of your average DMV worker at 4:59 PM on a Friday before a Labor Day Monday by resorting to the tired argument of racism as the motive behind their arming themselves.

Case in point is this report from the ever balanced MSNBC:


There is no doubt this group of concerned media professionals is concerned for the safety of our First African American President of the United States. Honestly, at times I am too; just not for the same reason. There is growing anger in the country toward the President and his marching us toward something that would make the wigs on our founding fathers turn prematurely gray. Soon it may rival the near hysterical and psychotic hatred the left had, and maintains, for George W. Bush. I feared for his safety too.

Where I differ with the dolts from the news post above is that I don't see the issue of race here. They seem to see it everywhere. I guess my first clue that the gun toting protester mentioned doesn't hate The ONE because he is African American is that the gunman too is African American. It took quite a bit of searching but here is a photo of the member of a well maintained and regulate militia:
Maybe this man is against Obama's white roots from his mother's side. Maybe he feels Obama is an Uncle Tom and not Black enough like was said about Clarence Thomas during his hearings when nominated for the Supreme Court. Maybe he is just a self-loathing African American who feels his brother is being uppity and serving the Man.

Maybe the reporters simply ignored the man's race because it didn't serve their purpose. I feel like a broken record in decrying the broken record of using racism as some ever effective kryptonite against any argument that goes against the lock step viewpoints of today's average journalist (sic).

And by lock step I am not claiming they are Nazi-like...blah blah blah blah.

S2

One out of 100 is calm. Ask yourself why.

At the onset of their August recess, members of the House and Senate dispersed across the country feeling like gods descending from Olympus to hold court with the acolytes from their respective districts and states. In town hall meetings where these so called leaders expected to be viewed as statuesque and sage they found instead they were more figures of disdain to be burned, symbolically of course, in effigy.

The mainstream media, along with the now fringe MSNBC and their big brother NBC, would have us believe the crowds filling these meetings halls to beyond capacity are akin to the torch and ax wielding mobs of a Frankenstein movie whose uncontrolled outbursts are interrupting the monster’s soft shoe rendition of “Putting on the Ritz”. They would also have us believe these antagonists are without free will and are there at the bidding of a right wing and, probably, right handed puppet master who is pulling the string of discontent to try and stop any progress being made by this administration. Oh yeah, they are racist, un-American and Nazi sympathizing “birthers” as well.

The horror movie crowd analogy has some merit. The collective that is our congress has enough Botox, hair plugs and plastic surgery scars to create an army of soulless, mind dead zombies large enough to put two in every state and around 325 more in districts throughout the country. Hmm, now there’s a thought.

I believe the racist and Nazi accusations to be nothing more than amateurish political posturing and a play on easy stereotypes that are often used when stronger arguments are not available. Both left and right of our political spectrum pull these aging rabbits of out long ago soiled top hats when they’ve no other trick up their sleeve. The fact they are being used now instead of arguments being countered with facts and figures leads me to believe some of the accusations of so called death councils and rationing might not be a far off the mark as the media would have us believe.

With regard to the claims that the opposition to health care reform is organized by a power higher than the lowly average American citizen doesn’t hold water. Why is it so hard to believe that this, one of the most important and potentially life changing pieces of legislation to ever be somewhat debated, could cause a ground swell of concern that manifests itself in protest? The handwritten signs I see against this proposal seem amateurish compared with the printed signs being held by uniformly distributed groups in matching shirts that somehow get in to these town meetings early. Which side seems to be the organized one here?

Finally, why is it that town hall meetings held by Senators and Congress folk have loud and, in my opinion, informed dissent on display but the one held by the first African American President of the United States is more of a love fest with softball questions being read by teenage Julia whose moms are the coordinators for Massachusetts Women for Obama? Could it be the free tickets were distributed carefully to ensure a more receptive crowd?

Media is now reporting the support for health care reform at the top of news broadcasts and are providing the impression that there is equanimity between the two side’s strength. Don’t let them fool you. Every pole is the same. More people in our country are opposed to this than are for it and, for that I am glad.

I am not going to tell you what to believe or what you should think. That seems to be the job of pundits and talking heads. My only comment is for you to take a look deeper than the vacant eyes of Katie Couric or Brian Williams and to read what you can of these proposed bills. If you can find specifics, remember them.

The rhetoric is loud and cantankerous and is clouding the real arguments and proposals. Let’s discuss this as adults and make sure everyone is heard.

S2

This case for racial equity is a few bottles short of a six pack.

Let me be upfront about this, I have done everything I can to avoid reading, watching or listening to reports about the Beer Summit held at the White House last Thursday. It is this ignorance of the issue that, it seems, makes me qualified to comment on the greater issue here. After all, when asked about the underlying racially charged arrest that this summit was held to address, the First African American President of the United States felt compelled, after admitting he didn't know the facts, to call the actions of the police stupid.

For those of you who may shun mass media to an even great extent than I have recently, the so-called Beer Summit at the White House was a photo opportunity brought about from an arrest made at the home of a Harvard professor after a neighbor, who was either taking her turn on duty for Neighborhood Watch or feels she is channeling Jimmy Stewart's wheelchair bound character in Rear Window, called the police to report two men breaking in to a house on her street. You see, after a long first class, wine filled, movie watching and nap taking flight from China, the professor couldn't locate his house keys and the chauffeur didn't have a set on the limo's keyring. The well educated and tenured molder of youthful minds had to break in to his own home. Hence the report of the, umm, a break in to the police.

When the police arrived to investigate and make sure everything was Kosher, the Harvard professor took umbrage at being asked if there was anyone else in the home and to provide some identification showing he belonged there and that climbing in the window was his normal method of entry. I guess one slur led to another and soon the well educated one was doing a perp walk to the officer's black and white.

Fast forward to the national beer garden on the White House lawn on Thursday just before the nightly news is scheduled start. Four men are sitting amicably, we assume, discussing the broader issue of race in this country while tossing back an unidentified brand of beer that had been delivered one at a time to their table. The cries of racism and prejudice that emanated from the handcuffed professor a few short weeks ago are now being discussed for how they relate to the population at large. The four men: the professor, the arresting police officer, the Vice President of the United States and The ONE.

You will note I've yet to mention the race of the police officer or the professor. That is because it is irrelevant. Or it was until the professor brought it up and then the President chimed in. So just how oppressed is the break in artist?

Of the four, only one is not a millionaire; the white cop. One professes, and actually brags about, being the poorest member of the United States Senate when he held that title before his current one: the white politician. One makes a living pointing out the differences between the races and perpetuating stereotypes, the like which this Beer Summit is condemning, of the past and has a job from which he can't be fired: the black professor. One rose from average beginnings in a meteoric rise to the most powerful position on the planet: the black President. One is probably not really sure what the hell he is even doing there: the white politician.

Two of the men will soon vacation in multi-million dollar estates in one of the richest areas of the country: the two black men. One will, most likely, never again set foot in a place of such power and opulence as is the White House where the others will be regular attendees: the white cop. One works for the public good in a position of trust where benevolence and civic duty more than monetary reward or power are the draw to the career: the white cop. The other three are in positions where the preceding should apply but unfortunately doesn't seem to.

Where, looking at a photograph of this staged event we should see four men having a beer and leave it at that, unfortunately it is told to us we need to see two black man and two white men and focus on their differences and challenges in society. The race baiters in our society tell us we will never be able to move past issues of race until we can see beyond the colors of one's skin. Unfortunately, it is usually they who are so quick to point these colors out. Personally, I am color blind.

I think I need a beer.

S2

I hope this pool is heated cause the water's warm

I know, I know, I know. I haven't posted to the blog in weeks.

I could say I've been busy trying to hold down a job in this economy and have spent my days in front of a computer typing away and didn't have the stomach to type more in the evening. Actually, it was so hot in Las Vegas that I had to take a dip in the pool. Little did I know I'd be joined by several thousand Chinamen (and Chinawomen and Chinachildren) trying to escape global climate change.



I ended up in the middle of the pool and it has taken this long to reach the end. It wasn't too bad until a group of water winged little ones splashed by and the water became mysteriously warmer. Haven't these people heard of pool breaks? If a giant squid showed up it would have a feast!

I am almost caught up with work and promise to be more devoted to my commentary on the many goings on in our world both political and social. Chat at you soon.

S2

What's in a name?

Broadway star and impresario George M. Cohan once quipped "I don't care what you say about me, as long as you say something about me, and as long as you spell my name right."

Let's hope The ONE has the same attitude. The same White House geniuses who brought us the "reset" button in Russia, provided Hillary with historically inaccurate quotes and decided to give a visiting head of state a DVD collection served up the following signature line on a recent agreement between the First African American President of the United States and our former and potentially future international foes Russia.

It's complicated

The echos from the fireworks are barely silent and the celebrants are still reeling from the biggest of our nations holidays. Not the Fourth of July and our nation's Independence, I refer to the colossal narcissistic star studded send off of Michael Jackson at LA's Staples Center. The bankrupt state of California is still trying to figure out how to pay for this extravaganza that is estimated to have cost the IOU receiving taxpayers $3.5 million. Perhaps they should send some Federal Stimulus dollars. After all, Michael Jackson, unlike most of the projects receiving these funds, is shovel ready. If you are truly concerned, you can send your money here:



Even the Congress of the United States has taken a break from ruining our financial system to debate a resolution honoring the single gloved one. You might think this misuse of government officials' time and energy would piss me off. Actually, the less time they spend on things like Cap and Trade and the more they consider banning the word Midget from television the better.

Really, look at this chart put together by Senator Kit Bond and tell me, "How complicated can it be?"

Come fly with me

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the United States and 233 years of freedom, innovation and prosperity, it is tempting to use this forum to say, "enjoy it while you can". The impending passing of Henry Waxman's "Cap and Trade" (I am on page 328 of 1428 of this travesty) portends to drastically change virtually every aspect of our economy. This legislation will provide fodder for many backyard BBQs. Unfortunately, I am banned from starting political discussions and have had to search for other conversation starters.

A beautiful target for ridicule is the TSA and their incompetent handling of airport security. Perhaps if they spent more time focusing on securing the airport rather than pretending to be the police officers most of them are longing to be I, and many others, might see them as providing the sheerest layer of protection against possible attack. Case in point is the detention and questioning of a man carrying $4700 in cash. First, there is nothing illegal with carrying that much cash and, second, I doubt a would be bomber would feel the need to engender sympathy from those he is terrorizing by raining cash on those witnessing the explosion from terra fimra. Maybe the cash was to be meant as a lure to bring people under the plane to be squashed under plummeting pieces of airplane fuselage while they stuff their pockets with Benjamins.

The newly elected Congressman from Utah's Third District recently forwarded a bill to ban the use of the full body Xray machines that provide not too subtle views of a passenger's "junk" to anyone viewing the screen. Good for him.

Some passengers seem to be ahead of the curve of increased security violations. A US Airways passenger set the bar rather high by completely stripping mid-flight. I recall a few years ago an attempt to run completely nude flights on the East Coast of the United States. These nudist sortes were destined for nudist resorts in Florida. Mr. Wright, the textile challenged flier, must have been on a connection from one of these. Either that or he was simply tired of emptying his pocekts and removing his shoes.

One final possibility is that Mr. Wright works for Air New Zealand. This carrier is taking their new "we've got nothing to hide" slogan very seriously. I've long wanted to visit the land of Kiwis and Orchs and ads like this only strengthen that desire.



S2

Some news gets a Farrah mount of coverage

There's really not an opportune time to die. On the way to an IRS Audit, your heart could stop in a Gran Mal seizure seconds before your car is struck by an Eastbound, government subsidized light rail train carrying three or four passengers sparing you the pain of blunt force trauma and Uncle Sam's anal probe but...you'd still be dead. Your family would, most likely, mourn but they'd still be on the hook for whatever the new, more customer friendly government collections agency claims it is due plus the death tax. OK, perhaps there is an opportune time to die.

Poor Farrah Fawcett and Billy Mays. The former celebrity babe and the quasi famous pitchman had the misfortune to die during the month of mourning for a single gloved, suspected child molester weirdo who happened to dance and sing better than your average American Idol winner. Regarding Mr. Jackson's passing, I suppose it should come as no surprise that after a farcical circus life there's a neon pyre burning amidst klegal floodlights and a parade of race baiting clowns grabbing every available microphone and clamoring to be heard above the din of boom box wielding moon walking "mourners".

Major and lesser news outlets from coast to coast are wall to wall and cover to cover with the death of the dermatological challenged King of Pop. While the ticker tape parade for the one with the stopped ticker is planned, the world is still turning and decisions that should be stories of note go with about as much notice as the other Jackson brothers have received in the past twenty years. Jakie, Tito, Jermaine, Randy and Marlon haven't seen this many cameras in years outside of the Best Buy where they meet once a week to see if anyone has found their own solo albums in the discount rack.

While people were killing themselves because a pop singer died, our government is preparing to potentially kill our economy with the single largest tax increase in history in the name of the environment. And the USA Today didn't print a word about it. The fact nobody who is voting on this and other bills reads them shouldn't matter. Not all the facts are provided anyway. What should matter is that the American people are oblivious to this money, power and rights grab.

We remain like the frog in a pot of water on a stove top. The temperature is rising slowly enough that we don't notice it. If we don't notice it, eventually we will be cooked alive. As usual, I've no suggestion for a cure. But I will say, I've finally found some doctor's advice I can heed.

S2

When it comes to bad taste, this one is a Whopper

Anyone who has the misfortune to actually know me understands I am, by no measure of the word, a prude. In fact, in decisions of decorum and propriety, I usually err to the side of inappropriate. Or so says Mrs. Bald Man.

I've watched the recent slew of Burger King commercials with the plastic headed crowned mascot playing frat boy type pranks on people whom I assume are, or at least were until the public embarrassment, Burger King customers. I won't speak for any of you but, if patronage of an establishment provides tacit approval for a nocturnal visit from their poster child, I will be choosing my luncheon locations with a great deal of care from now on. However, if it means a midnight romp with their pigtailed namesake, I might have to try the lunch specials at Wendy's a bit more often.

Carl's Junior is the chain most likely to associate their take out menu with the list of services tattooed on the butt of your local street corner solicitor but other chains, bowing to the publicity generated by these type of ads, are joining the fray faster than french fries are consumed at Tubby Goldstiens ninth birthday party. Burger King is now making a play for the most absurd linkage of eating with other orally related activities with a new display ad.



Am I being a knee-jerk conservative when I say I really don't care for this type of advertising? Of course, falling on the heels of this video, what should we expect next, packets of K-Y thrown in our takeout bags next to the catsup?



S2

Another way to look at it...

I am not, repeat not, excusing the behavior of the South Carolina Governor. I do question calls for his impeachment based on his having an affair. If indiscretion was evidence of an inability to perform one's job, I know several higher ups in major corporations who should be dusting off their resumes as they should soon be out of a job.

The inevitable comparison between this affair and GOP calls for the impeachment of Bill Clinton will be all over the papers soon. The difference here is, granted once he was caught, Sanford admitted his dalliance rather than try to cover it up.

In a stolen Twitter comment from Neal Boortz's page:

If Mark Sanford had cheated on his taxes instead of his wife, he would have been a cabinet member by now.

S2

You Tube report, we decide.

Conspiracy theories are a lot of fun. From the second shooter in Dallas to reports that The ONE was born in Kenya and is not a United States citizen and therefore is ineligible to be the First African American President of the United States, they run the spectrum of political views. Most such theories are crap but they serve a purpose. For while sometimes a New Mexican weather balloon is just a weather balloon, there are occasions when what is reported as truth is nowhere near reality. Conspiracy theorists keep us on our toes and help remind us to question everything.

In these days when the main stream media has surrendered its mantle of investigative journalism to become the town crier for the current administration, we all need to seek alternative sources for conflicting and often truthful reporting. With reports indicating that a large percentage of young adults are getting their national news from John Stewart and Stephen Colbert it is no surprise Press Secretary Gibbs feels the need to try his hand at stand up on a regular basis. He must be pretty good at it. He has seasoned journalists rolling in the aisles to a point where they are incapable of asking a probing question regarding the unprecedented rate at which the government is putting its grimy fingers in to every aspect of our lives. That guy from Harold and Kumar must be doing a bang up job behind the scenes slipping Gibbs little throw off lines.

I’ve long been concerned over the rumored revival of the so called fairness doctrine; also known as the Hush Rush bill. This piece of unconstitutional legislation would demand equal time for both sides of an issue on talk radio shows. Forget the fact the most Sunday news shows tend to be stacked three and four to one, Liberal versus Conservative. In the case of This Week with little George that ratio is only fair considering the resident right thinker there is the sage George Will. I think they might want to get a few more minds on the left to even the playing field.

About this time some of you will be shouting, “what about Fox News”. Ok, I will give you that one. To paraphrase the aforementioned Mr. Will, Fox News seems to be singled out because it is like a discordant chord in an otherwise harmonious symphony. When every other news outlet speaks in terms so sycophantic that their teleprompters have the seal of the White House on them, Fox sticks out like a straight guy at one of Sanjaya’s house parties. With odds like that, you’d think the fairness doctrine would ease some of the conservative laryngitis by providing a cough drop of balance. Unfortunately, the control of this fairness will not lie in the opinions of a free market but in the biased prism of a government official. This won’t be good.

Where hope springs eternal, evidence that no matter what our government decides, the will of the people will win out. Case in point: Iran. News reporters were asked to leave the country when protests started in the wake of the recent election of the Players club jacket guy who hates Jews. As the Maxwell Smart cone of silence of the leaders in Iran descended on its citizenry and television station and newspapers closed, every day people began to Twitter and Facebook and YouTube their way to publicizing an country wide uprising. Evidence of violence by the government against the protestors shows a ruling party willing to do anything to remain in power. This repression would have gone on in seclusion were it not for Al Gore’s greatest achievement of the internet.

I don’t know enough to comment on how well or how poorly our President is handling the situation as the United States relates to the happenings in Iran. I do know enough to comment that, those of you who wish to remain free need to take every opportunity to make yourselves heard and do our best to lift our own cone of silence being lowered, not yet by government fiat but, by a willing media who might do better to do their research on Facebook.

S2

Stranger than fiction

If NBC is the channel of No Bad Coverage for the first African American President of the United States then ABC must be Another Barack Channel. The unbiased news division of the channel is basically turning its cameras over to The ONE to tout his plan for pretty much taking over our health care.

Understandably the RNC has questioned the fairness of this and expressed its concerns that only one side of the issue will be discussed. The reply from ABC gives me a warm feeling and I anticipate a discussion as fair as an Iranian national election.

Reading about this "stab-proof" knife, I can't help but wonder if the TSA will allow me to carry this on a plane. This seems about as well thought out an invention as any security plan launched by the agency. Sure, you can't stab someone (well easily anyway)but it's my guess as soon as people figure out slashing someone works almost as well, the prices for this crab will be slashed too.

The Guantanamo Four's life in the paradise of the Bahamas took a nasty turn when Khelil held Ablakim's head under water a little too long while rough housing in the surf and Ablakim has a flashback to his waterboarding torture. The two quickly made up over ice cream and talk of some day blowing up the ice cream parlor.

I had to listen to this three times. The first time I thought it had been edited. The second time I thought I was drunk and the third time I decided I best get drunk. Ultra liberal comedian Bill Maher talks bad about The ONE?



S2

Umm...I think you missed one

Every few days I take a few minutes to read the roll calls of the House and Senate's votes. Even though I would prefer government inaction, I feel compelled to keep an eye on our government in action.

Several very public incidents were recognized by the House in resolutions passed, mostly overwhelmingly. H.RES.505 condemned the senseless murder of late term abortion Doctor George Tiller and H.RES.529 condemned the attack and murder at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. While I personally don't understand wasting the public's time and money having our politicians write, debate and pass such resolutions, I suppose in a civilized society outrage and condolence have a place in public discourse. I am sure I am in the minority as one who questions the need for such acknowledgments.

My questioning becomes more anger as I note the absence of a resolution condemning the shooting of a Marine recruiter in Alabama by a self-professed member of the "religion of peace" in what the shooter claimed was a justified killing.

Understandably the House is busy with its take over of everything from Auto Manufacturers to Cigarette companies so they may have just run out of time to make such a resolution. Although they did have time to congratulate the University of Tennessee women's basketball team and Head Coach Pat Summitt on her 1000th victory, express condolences to the citizens of Italy and support for the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy and express condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the catastrophic explosion at the ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina. I guess the time to condemn a terrorist act on US soil just wasn't there.

Oh well, perhaps I shouldn't be too hard on the government, the media mostly ignored this story too.

S2

Even in HD it is still mostly crap

Mrs. Bald Man and I finally joined the HDTV crowd. About a month ago we purchased a LCD Flat screen, lugged it home, screwed it to the wall and let it fry our minds with mindless entertainment (sic) options at 1080 lines of resolution. I was more than pleasantly surprised to learn our cable provider (Comcast) sends out a high definition signal for our local broadcast channels without our having to sign up for their HD service.

As a cable subscriber, I've paid little attention to the public service ads announcing the broadcaster's switch to HD. These ads appeared only slightly less frequently than the calls I get trying to sell me an extended auto warranty. It is good to see those guys getting their just come uppance. I guess I am only slightly surprised to learn eight hundred thousand of our brightest citizens failed to heed the static filled warnings of the publicly funded notices and had to call the FCC's hotline for help. I wonder how many of these geniuses know the QVC order number from memory.

The switch to digital had been delayed from it's original date because Democrats didn't feel the public was well enough informed. Even with the delay nearly a million people still weren't informed. Some people, it seems, are beyond help.

In their continuing effort to control everything in our daily lives, Congress will soon debate a bill to limit the volume of commercials. The same group responsible for the fast talking litany of potential side effects and too small to read paragraphs of fine print in ads now, thinks they can outsmart those whose job it is to outsmart us consumers out of our money. Billy Mays and Vince the Sham Wow guy will need verbal governors to keep from violating the law. Somehow I think they will still be annoying even at half the volume. I've a suggestion, how about our government buts out of this and every other area of my daily life. I am thinking perhaps the volume on the commercials about the coming switch to digital should have been even louder. If they were, there might have been a few less panicked callers screaming "I want my MTV"!!

S2

I remember you.

Yes, I know I haven't been posting as regularly as I have been or should be.

Sorry.

Sometimes life gets in the way of this avocation. My company is getting ready to release a new version of our software and the muse that guides the scatterbrained spewing that makes up this blog is busy trying to come up with cogent sentences designed to get people to use the aforementioned updated software. I am not complaining, it is my job. I just hope the government doesn't swoop in and tell my bosses how much I should be paid for it.

I will see you all as soon as I have a spare moment or two to gather some thoughts.

Until, I guess I will just "man up" and do my work; kind of like Chastity Bono.

S2

Obama in the highest

I am having a hard time figuring out why they pulled the Chia Obama off the shelves. Fortunately, it is still available online. I mean, we have Obama everything else. Just days after the coronation of The ONE, Obama plates, coins, stamps and just about everything else was being offered from outlets as diverse as QVC to the local street corner. I am pretty sure those street corner guys weren't spreading their wealth as Obama requested we do.

It was ridiculous enough having the President's mug plastered over everything in site; including mugs. The Rock Star in Chief did little to dissuade crowds from behaving like teenagers at a Jonas Brothers concert. From New York to Minnesota , New Jersey and even an attempt in Colorado, schools are already being named for the First African American President of the United States. You can eat at the Obama restaurant and provided the country's women leave him alone long enough to pose for it, most likely Mount Rushmore is soon to be updated.

The homages to The ONE extend beyond the porous borders of our own country. In Israel he is "honored" with Obama Huts and Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has renamed a nearly sacred stretch of beach in France after him!

Now lest you think this is just a bit of right wing nut job hyperbole aimed at dissing the Savior In Chief, the media has now taken to calling him God-like.



I would have thought by now the allure of image over substance would have begun to wear thin. As we continue our march to the left side of the political and economic spectrum, as Europe retrenches to the right, the mindless followers of a modern day messiah are not those listeners to a formerly chubby, cigar smoking AM talk radio behemoth, they are those on the left gazing with glossed over eyes at the second coming.

S2

Tanks for the Memories

In China the old saying "no news is good news" seems to take on a more ominous tenor. Today is the twenty year anniversary of a widely (back then) covered demonstration in Tiananmen Square in the country's capital city of Beijing. In an under reported statistic, outdone only by the under reporting of Al Gore's interests in green related interests for financial gain, the Chinese Communists stated 241 people died when tanks produced by the people began running down those same people as the government tried to breakup the peaceful assembly. The Red Cross of China reports the number of dead to be more in the 2,600 range. Funny, I've never known a communist to misreport anything. It makes me wonder how accurate CNN/Asia is in their reporting of 150,000 attending a candlelight vigil when the Hong Kong police say it was closer to 63,000.

The vigil, held in the more tolerant and more profitable province of Hong Kong, was the only commemoration of this bloody event on Chinese soil. It wouldn't really have mattered had any been held on the mainland itself. In the days leading up to this anniversary, the Chinese government blocked access to many web sites, search engines and other news outlets. Even Twitter was blocked just in case any pesky free thinking malcontent decided to use his 140 or so characters to speak ill of the Party.

The Huffington Post has a story about the Chinese government pressuring a U.S. news organization and this group of Obama loving (well, odds are they are)reporters canceled an interview with a leader of the Chinese Uighur dissidents, under pressure from Chinese authorities. The left leaning site doesn't say which news outlet it was but, since they didn't name it, you can bet it wasn't Fox News. My money is on CNN or MSNBC. Tiananmen Square itself was placed on lockdown days before this anniversary and film crews were prevented from taking any pictures.

It is about this time in a post where I should begin comparing the freedom sucking proposals and policies of the current administration and bemoaning the fact that we are fast becoming a country that would be unrecognizable to our founding fathers. You can draw those comparisons and conclusions yourself.

My only thought, as I sit here and wonder why I've not seen a single photo or film clip of the brave student who stood his ground and stared down a tank in the middle of the square as the world watched and placed bets as to whether or not the Party faithful driver would back up for a second run after squashing him like a squirrel under the over-sized BF Goodrich's on a government motors Silverado truck is this:

Who among us, in this age of enlightened self-esteem improving education, will be willing to do the same?

S2

Maybe it isn't suppossed to look like what it is.

I am sorry for those who lost family, friends and even casual acquaintences in the recent Air France tragedy.

Now that wreckage has been found we can lay to rest the Bermuda Triangle style theories of alien abduction. Thankfully, I didn't read that one too many places. I did read in quite a few places where terrorism had been ruled out rather quickly. I wonder why? Those saying so profess that this doesn't resemble a terrorist bombing. Well, Sotomayor doesn't look like a racist but she is. Looks can be deceiving.

I may be tinkling the ivories on the piano of this conspiracy song purposely but consider this:

France recently defended itself by killing a group of pirates in Somalia. These pirates happen to belong to the "religion of peace" known for retaliatory and terrorist acts worldwide.

The flight was delayed after the airlines and airport security received a bomb threat. The plane was searched but nothing was found. If the search was as thorough and logical as that I receive going through our own TSA screening on a weekly basis, I am not surprised nothing was found.

With wreckage strewn across a two mile deep ocean, we may never know what really happened to this flight and those innocents aboard. If it was a terrorist act, it isn't like the cowards who would purport to do such a thing are going to come forward to risk the world's wrath.

S2

He is still not in his right mind.

Nancy Reagan may not have meant what she said to be a political assessment but, truer words have not recently been spoken. Of course, Katie makes sure to correct us all. Just in case.


Watch CBS Videos Online

S2

Ice, ice baby

While The ONE and Mrs The ONE were enjoying a taxpayer funded tryst in the Big Apple, GM lawyers were preparing for the mother of all bankruptcy filings and nut job provided abortion foes with fodder for continuing on their death march through a heinous act of violence that, rightfully, is being condemned by Pro-Life groups everywhere.

Rhetoric everywhere is heating up. North Korea is doing sales demonstrations of its nuclear capacity and the whack job in Iran is only outspoken, in quantity, by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. It is getting so hot is it any wonder the Arctic Sea ice is melting? Well, I've bad news for global climate change devotees everywhere. A video on You Tube seems to refute the "the poor Polar Bear is losing its home" argument.



Check out the creator's (film maker just didn't seem appropriate) comments here.

I still fail to see how the climate change debate is over. I suppose it is only over because the cowards on the warming side of the argument continue to avoid debate. I guess showing up in front of people with disagreeing viewpoints doesn't seem safe.

In a separate train of thought, my sympathies go out to the family of late term abortion doctor Tiller. However I find it interesting the government is now guarding other abortion doctors (on our dime) but the Marines are left to take care of their own. Fortunately, the Marines are more than capable of that.

S2

Hair today, gone tomorrow

What a great country. I am writing this while traveling down the interstate at 85 miles an hour (Ed note: I am not driving) with the sun setting over the beautiful mountains to the west. My Verizon wireless card is enabling me to work (yes, I am swamped trying to complete a huge project) in to the evening without sacrificing on a scheduled climbing trip to southern Utah.

Mrs. Bald Man just informed me we will be stopping at a McDonalds to fill our ever expanding American bellies with fatty food served in land fill filling Styrofoam containers.

There is American brewed beer chilling in the cooler and those caps will be popped within minutes of arriving at our campsite. Life is good.

So what does a follicle challenged knee jerk conservative have to complain about? Perhaps it is the possibility of this great country being forever changed in a way that, just a few short decades ago, was considered impossible. Yeah, that seems knee jerky enough to warrant a few lines of text.

Much has been written, including on this blog, about our march to Socialism. I agree with recent pronouncements by Thomas Sowell that the march is to Fascism but who am I to split hairs when it comes to our parting ways with our country's capitalist roots. No matter how you style it, the future seems to be one that would turn the heads of our founding fathers prematurely gray under those wigs they were so fond of wearing.

It isn't just those of us on the right who see this. I've been combing through papers and websites that approach politics from the other side of the spectrum and there too comments are appearing regarding our move from a free market society. Of course, in many of these articles, the move is heralded as a good thing.

Even sources within our former top foe Russia acknowledge America is in a transitional stage. Read this from American Language Pravda and prepare yourself to be a little bit sickened in the realization the socialist press overseas is willing to report what the socialist press here in our own country refuses to.

S2

Breakfast is a prescription for health

Thanks to the Federal government, I know not to use my toaster in the shower, not to use the sleeper in the Winnebago while I am the driver and it is still moving down the highway and that those pills designed to enhance that certain part of the male anatomy haven't been scientifically proven to do so. With Big Brother looking out for us, what could possibly go wrong?

I tend to skip breakfast on a regular basis even though it has been stated the world over that this is the most important meal of the day. My initial food consumption every day consists of coffee or a big Rock Star and, if I am hungry, a fiber bar. I suppose I should supplement the caffeine boost with vitamins or the like but that seems like way too much to organize.

Now I guess if I have some morning cereal I will be killing two birds with one stone: a better diet and better drugs! In its infinite wisdom and ever increasing dalliance into our lives, the Feds, in the form of the Food and Drug Administration, have decided to view Cheerios cereal as a drug.

This decision has to do with claims of being a health benefit made by the little oat circle manufacturer. With this logic I guess the Power 90 DVD set, the hiking trail near my house and three glasses of water a day are next on the list of prescriptions my doctor will have to write.

S2

Being "Goode" is hard

I was extremely dismayed when I heard the news that the mostly conservative and completely animated Hank Hill was being cancelled. Creator Mike Judge was said to be launching a new cartoon show on ABC centered on an environmentally aware family. My heart sank. Well, fear not right thinkers. This show looks to be histerical and appropriately makes fun of the eco-nuts.

Check this out and set your DVRs:

Gotta be the shoes

In every organization there seems to be someone in a position of above average authority who spends his/her time making up things for people to do in order to justify their existence within the company. You can probably picture this person wherever it is that you work. I just hope it isn't you!

There has to be a herd of these organizational chart bloating hippos spewing CO2 into the offices of Homeland Security and the TSA. It is no secret I possess a Big Gulp size disdain for many of the so-called security hoops we are forced to jump through like Tu Tu clad Chihuahuas on an episode of America's Stupidest Videos. Most of them make no sense. I defy anyone to tell me "you just don't understand the whole picture or understand the real security measure". To that I call bull.

Four 3 ounce bottles of a liquid in a one quart bag is equal to twelve ounces of that liquid. Let me carry a damn water bottle!

I showed my driver's license and boarding pass to the bored looking personality devoid (except in Utah, they seem to be nicer there) watchdog not more that 15 yards away from the metal detector. Why is it I have to show it to the guy on the leeward side of the detector?

I wrote a few weeks ago about losing my 1 inch pen knife but that my 4 inch scissors went through uncontested. I'll bet I could even run around with them without drawing too much attention.

Today, at the Ontario, California airport, my well honed security line procedure was rudely interrupted by the latest nonsense sent forth from the Cathedral of Knowledge in our nation's capital. After showing my license, I put it away, get to the moving baggage way through the security tunnel of love and I grab two bins. Bin one gets my laptop, because nothing else can go in with it. Bin two is occupied by my projector and belt. My shoes come off and go in the carry on sleeve recently vacated by my projector and all goes off to be violated by Xray beams in the dark little box while a TSA voyeur looks for anything that looks like it might be dangerous...or fun.

I can complete all that faster than most parents can fold up the damn stroller they think they need to carry on the plane.

Today I was informed that a NEW procedure has been in place and now shoes must go directly on the moving belt. This really is no big deal. I put my shoes on the belt and watched them move along like the Cross Trainers of some defeated exerciser standing still on his treadmill. What irks me about this is the complete and utter stupidity of this change.

I am skeptical of the security advantage of taking our shoes off in the first place but now isolating them even more is ridiculous. I take the shoes off my feet and put them beside my belt on the moving belt while the second set of shoes I brought with me remain snug in my carry on bag not more than one foot behind them. This helps how?

I comply with these procedures only because of my desire to get from one place to another but if the TSA feels this instills anyone with a sense of confidence or security, they are deluded. The exact opposite is true. Most terrorists convey an image of more bravado (really cowardice but that is a different topic) than brains but I wonder if the same is true of those trying to catch them in the hallowed halls of Homeland Security.

Until the day comes when common sense returns, I will just make sure I wear socks without holes in them.

It isn't ADD. I prefer to say scatterbrained

I am in a hotel with a fairly slow internet connection so my research capabilities are somewhat limited. Granted, the fact I use the internet for research is a limitation in itself with regard to accuracy but, hey, this is a blog after all. So tonight, in an homage to the gang bangers populating the surrounding cities here in Los Angeles, I will do a drive-by posting of several articles that caught my eye today.

These guys have credibility why? - The scientists whose brains must be still frozen from the ice in the rink where they found the Hockey stick graph made famous by Al Gore are now saying Global Warming will cause the Earth to become cooler. Soon the United States will resemble one of those McDonalds sandwiches from the 80's with the cool side cool and the hot side hot.

Hypocrite, hypocrite, hypocrite, ignorant- Why do so many environmental fanatics constantly turn out to be living in a way completely removed from the way they want the rest of us to live? And then we have the President's environmental advisers showing they are about as adept at research as your average bald headed blogger by missing a very well publicized (and cited on this blog) Spanish report on how Green jobs are now all they are claimed to be. They probably didn't listen to Kermit saying it isn't being green either.

Staggering numbers here - Swine flu deaths in the United States have hit double digits. That is one more than 9.

There is a casting call for the part of Wesley Mouch - Ayn Rand continues to be proven a prophetic writer.

This vacation thing makes me sick - I am willing to bet Representative Alan Grayson has never run a business. He is proposing mandating a week's paid vacation for all workers, even part time ones. This dunderhead, whose common sense seems to be on its own permanent hiatus, thinks the week vacation will lead to less sick time being taken by employees. This from a guy who "works" in an outfit that takes several recesses a year.

S2

You won't be driving the road to socialism in a Chrysler

The following was forwarded to me by a co-worker. This dealership was a customer of my company's. We will be removing our equipment from them tomorrow.

Letter from a Dodge dealer

letter to the editor (Ed. No mention of the original paper was made)

My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.

We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our business for part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local presence and stability.

I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my life.

On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009. Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be able to do any warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.

Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.

HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?

THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY

This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.

This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.

HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.

Sincerely,

George C. Joseph
President & Owner
Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu

If you remember a few short months ago when I "hinted" at the possibility of eroding freedoms and a move toward, not a socialist, a facist state you will see I am not completely nuts. News this morning is that the United States Government will soon be, for all intents and purposes, running General Motors.

Time to go lay flowers on the grave of Free Market Capitalism.

S2

Bartender, I'll have a double down

Some men are born to greatness, some have it thrust upon them and still others have daddy's business to sell and then gamble away the vast fortune the old man worked so hard to amass.

Terrance K. Watanabe, heir to the Oriental Trading Company which he sold in 2000, lost an astounding $112 million in 2007 at Harrah’s casinos, including $94.1 million at Caesars Palace and $12.2 million at the Rio. Ignorance such as this usually manifests itself in the twitters of movie stars or the dinner conversations of Vice President Joe Biden.

Watanabe nearly broke even but he passed on the million to one shot of a woman having twins by two different men.

In his defense, Watanabe paid off all but $14.7 million and he was drunk at the time. Being drunk is now a perfectly acceptable excuse for nearly every act formerly considered wrong. You can make anti-Semitic rants and then get your girlfriend pregnant when drunk. You can shoplift, punch paparazzi and do all kinds of things. Surprisingly you can go to school commando in a short skirt on photo day and feign surprise when the yearbook photo page captures a bit too much smile all while perfectly sober.

Watanabe says the casinos plied him with liquor and drugs forcing him to make bad choices. Perhaps the bad choice was to guzzle gallons of booze from the cleavage cart with millions in chips in front of him.

Time to go lay some more flowers on the grave of personal responsibility.

DEALership or No DEALership

I spent a good portion of today at a GM dealership. This particular dealership is one of the top performers in their market and wasn't fearing the Federal Express van when it pulled in to the parking lot. The same couldn't be said for thousands of other automotive sellers across the country. To them, the Fed Ex guy was about as welcome as a sneezing Mexican immigrant worker in the back seat of the car pool Prius. You see, GM chose to send Dear John letters via overnight mail. I guess it is easier to deliver the "it's not you, it's me" line that way instead of over the phone.

Despite not being at risk, technicians in the service department couldn't help but continually search the web for news about other dealership's situation. Technicians seem to be worse gossips than the Tuesday afternoon neighborhood coupon swap/poker game woman's group.

I've never claimed to be smart so I may come as no surprise when I say I don't really understand what is being accomplished in these mass closings. Automotive dealerships are independent businesses. They are not assets held by the big three (or any other manufacturer) and their employees are not on any corporate payroll in Detroit. These closures are not reductions in expense. Closing them would be akin to Mary Kay telling their Pink Cadillac driving associates their services are no longer needed. Other than further eroding GMs share of the pink vehicle market, this severance would not save Ms. Kay anything. She'd only be limiting her distribution network.

The same is true of the actions being taken by GM and Chrysler. In fact, GM expects sales to further erode precisely because of this smaller network. They also claim most of the ejected dealerships are struggling businesses that would probably be closing soon anyway. Grandpa is slowing down a bit in his old age, too. Should we put him out of his misery now?

The Obama administration claims to not want to be in the Automotive Industry but I somehow feel this cut back of dealerships is partly being done to show Washington "look we are making progress"! Every day another article appears indicating further influence of The ONE's administration in the business world. Reading through them, it becomes painfully clear, these guys just don't get it when it comes to running any company. It is the Automotive Task Force driving many of the recent decisions by GM and Chryser; the dealership closings among them.

No figures are yet available on how many people will be put out of work with these closings but with nearly 3,000 dealerships going away with, I'd guess, around 50 employees each you can do the math. I am sure there is a master plan somewhere in which this decision makes sense. Perhaps it is a way to deepen the prospective pool for civil servants.

I tip my "cap and trade" him for Hatch

Odds are your Congressional representative is a narcissistic scum beholden to someone for getting him/her into office. It is harsh but true.

In the era of say anything, do anything to get your bill passed, it is nice to see a member of this dastardly den of deception speak the truth. The congressman recently elected to the district just south of where I live is one Jason Chaffetz. Mr. Chaffetz is proving to be a rose among thorns. I can only hope young Jason can avoid the influence peddlers pushing agendas that infect freshmen politicans faster than a swine flu bug traverses a Mexican cantina for his entire term in office.

I don't have much to add to this except to provide a link to a government report stating the hazardous impact cap and trade will have on our economy.

S2

It's good to be the King...err Queen

Mel Brook's brilliant "History Of The World, Part 1" movie contained a vignette where he portrayed King Louis at the start of the French Revolution. As he royally stepped through a series of excesses from playing chess with live people as the pieces to overflowing a Harvey Korman held, "wait for the shake", piss bucket Brooks exemplified perfectly how out of touch the elite can be. Brooks even gave Louie his own catch phrase, "Its good to be the King" that was usually uttered during a rutting motion behind the closest bustle bound maiden.

The Queen of all Media gave the commencement speech at Duke University on Sunday where she, most likely unwittingly, paraphrased Brook's characterization of the beheaded Frenchman saying, "It's great to have a private jet"! She quickly followed what would normally be seen as a let them eat cake utterance with the advice that you've not completed the circle of success until you have helped someone reach a higher place. Easy for her to say.

I, in no way, begrudge Ms. Winfrey her success. Rather, I herald it. I would love to emulate it but that doesn't seem likely. Howie has cornered the television market for extremely attractive, funny and eloquent bald headed men and Montel is waiting in the wings for a comeback so that ship has sailed.

What irks me is that, in describing her financial, rather than physical, largess, Oprah encourages up and comers to give away their hard earned gains to others. Charity is fine and we should give a hand up where possible but too often this advice is translated into a directive to provide a hand out. More people will be helped through success and entrepreneurship providing jobs and opportunity than will ever be helped through the redistribution of wealth by government or soup kitchen inspired hope. Oprah herself has provided livelihoods for hundreds on her staff and I am sure several of her staffs hoods were very lively. In fairness, she does walk the walk and is quite philanthropic but giving a car to everyone in her studio audience pales when compared to providing a secure job with a 401K and possible stock option.

Today's college graduate has been spoon fed a diet of social awareness and citizen of the world pablum from his earliest days of napping in a circle in kindergarten to avoid anyone being single out as first in line. What they need to hear as they embark on their road to retirement is how to weather the storms of an increasingly unstable and over regulated business environment to make for themselves an oasis of success. They don't need to hear how any portion of their work is the property of someone else.

I've one other small complaint about Ms. Winfrey's private plane remark. Jetting off from Chicago for a weekend at her Southern California home in Gulfstream comfort is fine so long as you don't lecture the rest of us about our carbon footprints. It seems that when it comes to "walking this walk", she is doing so at 30,000 feet.

S2

NFW. She didn't do it.

I got to sleep some nights feeling I've spent all day staring that the two inch square screen of my BlackBerry writing and answering dozens of emails and text messages. I've heard the device can be used as a phone as well but I am not certain I'll get to that functionality before the buttons are unreadable as the lettering has been worn off.

I am getting to the point, especially with the advent of intuitive typing (the completion of words before you actually type them based on a large dictionary stored in the BlackBerry), where I can whip out a fairly coherent message in less time than it takes a Trekkie to get to his seat and start a conversation in Klingon with his fellow geek on opening night of the latest Gene Roddenberry inspired flick. And I am slow compared to most teens, tweens and drug dealers and yesterday I asked a co-worker to schedule a meeting in kilt instead of July because, well, the keystrokes to type both words are the same. I pray he doesn't show in his Tartan colors.

I can't swallow the claim made on a Sacramento TV station's web site of a teen bragging she sent 300,000 text messages in one month. The math just doesn't calculate. There is no possible way this could be done. I am not going to do the cyphering for you there Jethro but, when you actually put pen to paper, you will see the reporter didn't put two and two together to arrive at a hoax. IMHO this girl and her BFFs are ROFLTAO at the dweeb from TV and, since mom is quoted in the story, there was a POS the whole time who is in on it.

More distrubing, the story fails this perfect opportunity to comment on the destructive potential this type of activity has for society. Interpersonal communication, rather than being enhanced by texting is suffering. You can't possibly convey cogent and complex thoughts to another person when your text is limited to 165 (or so, I don't really know the actual number) characters per message. I guess that is why in most real life conversations between teens they don't even say "Oh My God!" they use the letters O M G. For real! I kid you not.

Schools are finding it difficult to curb text messaging during classes. I am wondering if they should. It seems the ability to use an I-PHone is now a pre-requisite for college!

S2

These guys are taking over the world?

It seems Google is everywhere. In fact, nobody "searches" the internet, they Google things! The environmentalist billionaires who run the company have their own corporate jumbo jet tricked out with the latest in high tech toys.

Not content with simply buying carbon offsets (SCAM!)to assuage their globe trotting guilt, the folks over at Google are doing their part to help the Earth by wrangling up 200 goats to trim the lawn at corporate headquarters.

I know this sounds far fetched but it has to be a true story. Just Google it if you don't believe me. Or head over to Google's official blog.

S2

Because you can't eat just one

After a big Paul Prudhomme inspired meal tomorrow night, Mrs. Bald Man and I are starting a 90 day workout and diet regimine coincidentally called Power 90. So tonight and tomorrow the chips and candies will be flying.

Sometimes I feel a bit OCD with food. I get that same way with blogs and internet news sites. I can't stop going from link to link in search of interesting tid bits. That, of course, often makes it difficult to pick a single topic for a nightly blog. I am not creative enough to run from topic to topic with quips and comments on each. Well, a planned divergence of topics that is; I can scatter my thoughts and digress with ease. Tonight has proven particularly difficult as there are a few stories worthy of comment though none are expansive enough for 500-1000 words. That, and Mrs. Bald Man is ready to watch NCIS, our current obsessive practice, on Fancast.com. You might have to follow the links for some of the comments to make sense. Others have no chance of making sense no matter what you do.

The flu formerly known as swine continues to make headlines for reasons even less understandable than the daily analysis of Lindsay Lohan's lesbian love life. A United Airlines flight from Munich to Washington (no mention of DC or state was made in the article) was diverted to Logan International after a female passenger complained of flu-like symptoms. Odds are it was the extra serving of schnitzel she swiped from the Aryan descendant sleeping in the exit row across from her. Claims were made that the crew felt she needed immediate medical attention and they feared the safety of the other 245 passengers on board. Folks, this is not Ebola we are dealing with; it is a flu bug! Please get a grip. Hundreds of schools are being shut down across the country depriving our kids of an education. There were more gang members arrested in a raid in San Diego than have the flu in the entire country of Australia. Perhaps we should shut down places where gang members congregate instead of schools. Oh wait....


Hudson River Emergency Landing

Evidence continues to mount that the Global Warming scare Al Gore is so fond of is nothing but crap. Sure, the chubby former VP with the huge personal carbon footprint carries around a list of 2000 "scientists" who ascribe to this theory. I wonder how many of these guys signed that list.

As the Global Climate change fanatics continue their march toward power through intimidation and shame, I am surprised that I am, for once, on the cutting edge. Mrs. Bald Man and I have killed all our grass, on purpose this year, and are Xeriscaping our front yard. Who'd have thought I would be the first in my neighborhood to remove a sign of moral decadence?

Blake Benson, a 17 year old Denver area high school student, won't be facing charges for the NOBAMA T-shirt incident. It seems Mr. Benson wore the shirt and carried a sign supporting then candidate John McCain at a rally where the now fashionably dressed First Lady Michelle Obama was appearing. In a move that gives lottery ticket buyers across the country hope in beating the odds, the ACLU actually defended the young Republican. What the story doesn't focus on but should is "why the hell was this kid arrested in the first place?" Maybe he had on the wrong shoes.

Finally, in the I got mine category, the First African American First Lady made a bit of a social faux pas when she showed up to speak to the huddled masses at a Washington, DC food bank wearing $540 shoes. The comfy, very high end sneakers seemed a bit out of place on the stage at eye level before the crowd of camera phone carrying poor people. I wonder if Bo the dog will get a chance to chew on those?

Tomorrow is the final binge before the natural purge. See you Monday.

S2

Swine Flu Test

In an effort at full disclosure, I must tell you that tonight's full post was appropriated from my friend William Lawson's blog. I will try to remember to ask his permission tomorrow.

Do you think you have the Swine Flu?
Click here to check.

S2

And now for something truly important

I'll keep this short since the Internet is running out of bandwidth and I was taught to share. With the two week celebration of Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, culminating with a White House love fest of a press conference, now over, perhaps Congress can get on to dealing with the very important issues our country now faces.

Oh, not the possible failure of the banking system and reporting on the super secret stress tests that were performed.

Not the potential bankruptcy of Chrysler this month and GM next month.

Not the flu formerly known as Swine that, according to the World Health Organization, is sure to reach pandemic proportions faster than a New York lawyer can dive under a taxi while Air Force One does a flyby of the Statue of Liberty.

The pressing issue about to be reviewed in the hallowed halls of one half of one third of our three part political system is whether the Bowl Championship Series for NCAA football is fair.

Joe Barton of Texas is behind this which only further proves Arlen Specter is not the only stupid Republican to have been elected.

Idiots.

S2

The more things change, the more they stay the same

I was listening to my MP3 player at work yesterday and was looking forward to hearing some classic Joe Cocker when, to my horror, the not so dulcet, to my ears, tones of Celine Dion rattled through my headphones. While Ms. Dion is quite popular with the non-discriminating music listener and gay community, she doesn't do much to float my auditory Titanic. I checked the display and, sure enough, the files were tagged with Joe Cocker's name, album info and song titles but what was contained therein was still digital Ones and Zeros of My Heart Will Go On. The label didn't matter, the song was what it was no matter what it was called.

Talk Radio and the 24 hour news channels are going wall to wall with coverage of Benedict Arlen Specter announcing he is changing parties. The Senator will take his nearly 30 years of seniority along with him as he jumps borders to join the Democratic party where he will be rewarded with Committee positions, flowers and probably rooms full of hookers and booze (he is becoming a Democrat after all) as though he is a returning war hero who charged the Filibuster bunker and blew it all to hell paving the way for an unfettered advance of left leaning programs at the hands of General Harry.

To anyone who bases their vote on the worthiness of the candidate and not the little initial by his or her name, this should be "ho hum" coverage and a big deal being made out of nothing. Mr. Specter has been more Democrat than Republican for some time now. Much of the coverage is quick to point out that his voting record is that of one not beholden to party affiliation. No shit Sherlock, tell us something we didn't know. Specter was one of three Republicans responsible for passing the Stimulus Package. Specter joined with the unions in support of the secret ballot suppressing Card Check initiative until he saw a challenge on the GOP primary front and changed his opinion. Specter was very critical of James Jeffords of Vermont when he switched parties a few years ago. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is the fictional global terrorist organization featured in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. There is no such thing as coincidence.

As recently as March 17th, the Pennsylvania RINO denied he was switching parties. I guess he wasn't all that serious, huh?
The news angle seems to be that, with the nearly certain victory of never really that funny Al Franken in Minnesota, the Democrats will now have their filibuster proof majority in the Senate. Again, ho hum. There was a posting by my favorite blogger last December regarding this exact issue that is still relevant today. You can review it here.

If Pennsylvania can do the right thing in 2010 and elect the heir apparent to the Republican nomination, Pat Toomey, the GOP might have a real Republican's butt in the seat on their side of the aisle for the first time in 28 years. Maine could do with a changing of the guard as well.

Fear not Republican faithful, don't look at it as losing a Senate seat. Think of it as finally putting that funny uncle where he belongs.

S2

Pig headed or bird brained?

It took almost 100 days of the new era of America but it finally happened, Obama is not the most oft typed word in headlines around the world. While his coverage, especially here in the United States, has been constant, those who would have answered "when pigs fly" to the proposition of his being supplanted by the common cold are now singing a new tune along with the recently made over Susan Boyle. The only headline that even is even remotely related to the president is one chiding the administration for their fly by of the Statue of Liberty with Air Force One. That will teach them to let Goose and Maverick at the helm.

I'm not letting any cat out of the bag (yes, this is a pig reference and it was used in a previous post, I know) to say the world is a buzz with coverage of the swine flu. It would be unfounded and irresponsible to criticize some level concern being expressed in the mass media of the world. Left unchecked this influenza could reach pandemic proportion. But after recent threats of similar worldwide spreading of SARS and the Bird Flu failed to take flight, I am feeling a bit like the farmer watching chicken little run from news conference to news conference saying the stye is falling.

Depending what news source you believe, deaths in Mexico range from 60 to 130 with up to 1000 more infected. The discrepency comes from the fact not all the deaths have been confirmed to have resulted from the Swine Flu. Cases of the H1N1 variant have reached as far away as New Zealand where students returning from a trip to Mexico have succumbed to the illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its Pandemic alert to level 4 (on a scale of what nobody has said) to indicate the seriousness of this threat. You know, it is like writing a letter to North Korea saying you are disappointed that they shot off an intercontinental ballistic missile.

It is fair to say you can't swing a cat, er pig, without hitting a reporter busy reporting on this most serious of threats. Here's some advice, if you aren't currently sitting in a Mexican bus depot, take a deep breath and relax. Take several breaths but be careful not to let out too much CO2 when you exhale, we don't want Al Gore showing up with a chart. At the current level of infection and allowing for some level of exponential growth, the Swine Flu is doubtful to reach its previous high water mark of 1918 where 20 million died worldwide. Even without universal healthcare here in the States, medical care here and worldwide has improved well beyond what it was back then. What we don't need is a repeat of how the most recent flare up was handled in 1976. Gerald Ford's botching of that is a topic still being debated by people who sit around debating the flu.

When the bird flu was last making its rounds throughout Asia, cautionary articles abounded about the potential for a great leap from bird to human. Already, articles of the potential of this latest Swine Flu strain to mutate are appearing. So far, the Bird Flu has not taken the flying leap from animal to human that was predicted. Human deaths from this disease since 1997 number around 200. In the last series of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2004, 128 deaths were reported although some of them are now believed to have been Bird Flu as well. I guess even diseases have to add to their numbers. Kind of like the Gay and Lesbian movements from the 70's and 80's now adding the Bisexual and Transgendered to swell their ranks. So, while it is possible for the current strain of Swine Flu to mutate in to a disease capable of herding the world's population more efficiently than a New Zealand "Babe", it remains just a hypothetical.

Every life is precious. I feel for anyone who loses a loved one to a disease, to an accident or to a low life flying a jet into a building. Just to placate those still believing we are wrong to prosecute a war on terror, let it be known I grieve for the innocents killed in that action too. But not a tear is shed for the active combatants. But, again, I digress. Yes, every life is precious, but in the grand scheme, this potential pandemic is nothing more than a pimple on the nose of a sneezing giant. Between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide die each year from your average, every day, plain vanilla type flu. They just don't do it all at once and they don't make headlines. You've a better chance of catching Dengue Fever in Argentina than the Swine Flu anywhere else in the world.

Face it, it is more likely the students from New Zealand brought back more cases of a social disease from Mexico than Swine Flu infections and while the Pacific Rim countries of Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines are playing a live version of the popular web "hot or not" with arriving international passengers as a precautionary measure, the vast majority of us are in no danger. Let's not throw the baby wrapped in a typhoid blanket out with the bath water. Calls have been made to shut the border with Mexico and so many fingers are being pointed in Washington, DC (here, here and here) that you'd think the city was filled with nothing but Alzhiemers sufferers asking directions. There are, most likely, meetings in government offices the world over discussing how to best take political advantage of this situation. Bastards.

Let us hope cooler, less feverished heads prevail and we take a rational approach to this situation. Obama went golfing while yesterday's news conference about this outbreak was being held. Some have complained this was inappropriate. They need to get a life. If you really are concerned there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. Read here and avoid making out with (insensitive illegal alien stereotype coming) the gardener.

S2