I spent a fair amount of the day yesterday and, again today, trying to get my laptop working. I don't know if it is a virus, spyware, the machine's age or my incompetence but, it isn't working. Finally today, I gave up and sent (from my BlackBerry) a "Help Me!!!!" email to our IT Department. They will get back to me tomorrow so tonight I commandeered Mrs. Bald Man's computer to share my thoughts for the day. There are too many stories to comment on so I've decided on a meandering monologue.
I try to be self-sufficient and it caused me great pain to admit defeat and call in the cavalry. Let's hope they bring enough horses to fix this electronic Indian uprising (sorry, "First American" uprising). Some may see this desire to do it myself as stubborn but I don't feel that way. I think in today's society too many are willing to let someone, namely the government, do things for them or to let someone else pay for it. There is also a dearth in those willing to stand up for what is right. Here are a few examples of decisions people are making today.
Case number 1: John Murtha, Pennsylvania congressman and slanderer of Marines, states plainly "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district. My job as a member of Congress is to make sure that we take care of what we see is necessary..."
He is protected in his corruptness by his fellow House members who, for the sixth time, refused to investigate connections between Jackie boy and some not so squeaky clean donations.
I think the story here is not the admittedly corrupt official. It is the fact he finds it easier to "go along with the corruption" instead of bringing it to light. Nancy has "drained the swamp" so he should have had no trouble.
Case 2: The New York Times decided to do what they felt was right for them instead of what was just plain right when, during the heat of election battle, they killed (meaning didn't run) a story linking vote fraud extraordinaire ACORN, Project Vote and the Obama Campaign and some unsavory electioneering. By unsavory I mean illegal. The story was suppressed because it could have been a "game changer".
If the NY Times put journalistic honesty over partisan belief, the First African American President of the United States to ever attend the G20 Summit might still be in the Senate and taking campaign contributions from AIG. I ask again, can there be anyone who refuses to admit the mainstream media was in the proverbial tank for the one now in the 'copter and flying around London?
Case 3: Call me a hypocrite on this one but, I will admit to having a song or two on my hard drive that don't reside on any CD that is in my personal collection. I therefore probably shouldn't pass judgement on anyone downloading movies, music or cheesecake recipes. I do draw a distinction between someone doing this for personal use and the pirating of said media for financial gain. This practice of illegal duplication is rampant in the People's Republic of China and, if you can dodge the tanks, you can pick up most first run movies or newly released CD in Tiananmen Square within days of their release.
In a move that smacks of giving up, Google will soon be providing free downloads of music to computer users in China. Rather than try to stop those making money for their needs from those providing from their ability. The move hopes to stem the tide of pirating by giving it away. But isn't this the equivalent of handing a thief the bullets for his gun? Now to copy the latest collection of Britney Spears synthesized vocalizations the thieves don't even have to purchase the first copy. They can just download it. Of course, the IP address of the computer will be verified to ensure it is in China. I guess the guys over at Google have never heard of IP spoofing.
Case 4: In an example of someone who is standing up for what is right, Rush Limbaugh announced he is pulling out of New York state completely in protest of confiscatory tax rates on the wealthy. His Atlas like shrugging is meant to send a very public signal that this type of redistributive tax will drive those targeted to warmer climes. I can guarantee he is leaving on his own jet plane and not in a taxi.
In typical "missing the boat" fashion, the NY Daily News sees fit to spend a good portion of the article discussing Mr. Limbaugh's personal life rather than commenting on the true nature of the debate.
Case 5: There is one other who needs to be mentioned for doing what was right. An unnamed Modesto, Ca police officer and his four legged partner squared off against a crowd of 60 unruly partiers and gang bangers. He happened on the group while responding to another call in the area and witnessed a man being beaten. Against large odds, the officer did what was right and held the crowd, who was heard to say "he will not get out of here alive", until backup could arrive. Both officers, the human and the canine, were injured.
What is the point of these examples? I guess just to illustrate that every day we are faced with choices. Our decision on what to do, most of the time, does not involve life or death circumstances but each one plays a part in the ongoing and developing nature of our society.
It has been said that character is what you do when nobody is watching. When we see just how poorly some people act when the world is watching, we can only imagine what their character truly is. Look in the mirror and state your case. Me? I am going to listen to some music while I fall asleep. Just don't ask where I got it.
S2
Showing posts with label Rush Limbaugh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rush Limbaugh. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Power of Positive Drinking
I guess things suck right now. I don’t say this lightly. I got my information directly from “the experts” at “the source”. The source isn’t the Labor Department and it’s “let’s not rush to any judgment as to whether we are in a recession” analysts. It isn’t the Congress with representatives like Barney “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are solid six months before we have to give them billions in bailout dollars” Frank or the Senate and guys like Chris “I didn’t get any special favors other than a sweet mortgage deal” Dodd. It isn’t even the all powerful United Nations.
“The Source” is the collective rum soaked brains of the Joes the Plumbers, Jims the Mechanics and Chads the Hairdressers down at the local bar. For you see in these vinyl cover
ed, beer stained and matchbook balanced barstools sit people who have the answers to all the world’s problems. From how Penn State could have avoided blowing their national championship hopes in Iowa to determining if John F Kennedy is still alive and living with Elvis in a northern Michigan retirement home, these guys have the answers and are not afraid to share their opinions with you. They are also the guys who get drunk enough to fix the things they have control over.
The tone at the tavern has been a bit depressing lately. After the weekly Ginger or Maryanne discussion, the talk turns to how bad the market is, should the Big 3 be left to go bankrupt and how many rounds of ammunition is appropriate for a family of five where the teenage girl can shoot two handed. There seems to be no shortage of media inspired tales of woe and impending doom, and they’ve reach the realm of Cliff and Norm.
But get this: I know when the recession is going to end and I can predict to the day when the turnaround is going to start. I am not claiming psychic power. I don’t talk to the dead and, for the record, neither does Television’s fake spiritualist John Edward. He is a sham, a crook, a fraud and should be exposed as a flim-flam artist. Nor do I channel dead little girls to win multi-million dollar lawsuits like former presidential candidate John “my hair is perfect” Edwards. What is it with the name John Edward(s)? But, surprise, I’ve digressed.
The secret to my being able to predict when the economy will begin to turn around lies in my unwavering belief in the complete and utter bias of the major media in the United States and their desire to do everything in their power to have Barack Obama’s Presidency be a success. You don’t have to be Carnac the Magnificent to answer this question. The recession is going to end on January 20th, 2009 about 5 minutes after The One is sworn in. The skies will clear, the entranced mass in attendance will cheer and the media will declare the future so bright you will have to wear rose colored shades. Until then, expect stories of failure, despair and pink eye.
This may be a gross oversimplification of major economic issues and in conflict with the opinions of other conservative columnists but I am confident in my premonition and that the change in attitude by the media will have an effect. For while the tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing and yoga going aging hippies are whacked on almost every belief they have, they seem to have hit the nail on the Habitat for Humanity’s head in espousing the “Power of Positive Thinking”. It works.
Happiness is contagious. That’s why I usually sit on the side of the bar where the jolly drunks are. So too is a positive attitude. In between political thrillers I force myself to read a business book or a biography of someone who had had success in life. The constant in nearly every one of these success stories is attitude and a belief in the ability to succeed.
How can we, as a nation, hope to turnaround the slide to depression that we find ourselves on when all we hear is how bad the economy is, how far stocks are going to fall or how bad the new James Bond
movie is? Phenomenally successful gadfly Rush Limbaugh treats recessions very effectively; he refuses to participate in them.
The swing from near death to once again a superstar for Britney “thank God for synthesized voice recordings” Spears shows the power of positive press and the value of a good PR person. Our economy could use a few cheerleaders too. Do we have problems? Of course we do. The engine of this great nation may be misfiring and in need of a tune up but the rest of the car is in good shape. The media, come January, will tell us to trust in our mechanic. I suggest a second opinion but I also suggest you keep driving.
Down at the tavern there are plenty of solutions being presented for just about any problem you can imagine. Not all of them are winners but how about this for a game plan: Go to the store, buy some beer, head over to a friend’s house and share with them the drink and some good news. Even if the only good news you have to share is that you’ve brought beer, at least you’ll be striking the right tone and recessions are good for your health.
S2
“The Source” is the collective rum soaked brains of the Joes the Plumbers, Jims the Mechanics and Chads the Hairdressers down at the local bar. For you see in these vinyl cover
ed, beer stained and matchbook balanced barstools sit people who have the answers to all the world’s problems. From how Penn State could have avoided blowing their national championship hopes in Iowa to determining if John F Kennedy is still alive and living with Elvis in a northern Michigan retirement home, these guys have the answers and are not afraid to share their opinions with you. They are also the guys who get drunk enough to fix the things they have control over.The tone at the tavern has been a bit depressing lately. After the weekly Ginger or Maryanne discussion, the talk turns to how bad the market is, should the Big 3 be left to go bankrupt and how many rounds of ammunition is appropriate for a family of five where the teenage girl can shoot two handed. There seems to be no shortage of media inspired tales of woe and impending doom, and they’ve reach the realm of Cliff and Norm.
But get this: I know when the recession is going to end and I can predict to the day when the turnaround is going to start. I am not claiming psychic power. I don’t talk to the dead and, for the record, neither does Television’s fake spiritualist John Edward. He is a sham, a crook, a fraud and should be exposed as a flim-flam artist. Nor do I channel dead little girls to win multi-million dollar lawsuits like former presidential candidate John “my hair is perfect” Edwards. What is it with the name John Edward(s)? But, surprise, I’ve digressed.
The secret to my being able to predict when the economy will begin to turn around lies in my unwavering belief in the complete and utter bias of the major media in the United States and their desire to do everything in their power to have Barack Obama’s Presidency be a success. You don’t have to be Carnac the Magnificent to answer this question. The recession is going to end on January 20th, 2009 about 5 minutes after The One is sworn in. The skies will clear, the entranced mass in attendance will cheer and the media will declare the future so bright you will have to wear rose colored shades. Until then, expect stories of failure, despair and pink eye.
This may be a gross oversimplification of major economic issues and in conflict with the opinions of other conservative columnists but I am confident in my premonition and that the change in attitude by the media will have an effect. For while the tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing and yoga going aging hippies are whacked on almost every belief they have, they seem to have hit the nail on the Habitat for Humanity’s head in espousing the “Power of Positive Thinking”. It works.
Happiness is contagious. That’s why I usually sit on the side of the bar where the jolly drunks are. So too is a positive attitude. In between political thrillers I force myself to read a business book or a biography of someone who had had success in life. The constant in nearly every one of these success stories is attitude and a belief in the ability to succeed.
How can we, as a nation, hope to turnaround the slide to depression that we find ourselves on when all we hear is how bad the economy is, how far stocks are going to fall or how bad the new James Bond
movie is? Phenomenally successful gadfly Rush Limbaugh treats recessions very effectively; he refuses to participate in them.The swing from near death to once again a superstar for Britney “thank God for synthesized voice recordings” Spears shows the power of positive press and the value of a good PR person. Our economy could use a few cheerleaders too. Do we have problems? Of course we do. The engine of this great nation may be misfiring and in need of a tune up but the rest of the car is in good shape. The media, come January, will tell us to trust in our mechanic. I suggest a second opinion but I also suggest you keep driving.
Down at the tavern there are plenty of solutions being presented for just about any problem you can imagine. Not all of them are winners but how about this for a game plan: Go to the store, buy some beer, head over to a friend’s house and share with them the drink and some good news. Even if the only good news you have to share is that you’ve brought beer, at least you’ll be striking the right tone and recessions are good for your health.
S2
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