Saturday, January 31, 2009

Who Am I?

So I had one hell of a weird day that I won't get into because, well frankly it has nothing to do with the topic. Heck I've had a weird week to say the least and it helped to create my topic here. You see I spend some of my free time doing what I love and that is debating. I was captain of the debate team my junior year and honestly it just never gets out of your blood. The problem I have as I was told today is that I'm an easy target with my piercings, tattoos, clothing style, life style, etc. which causes me to get slammed by people who must have nothing better to do. Most of the time they don't even contribute to the debate they just try to hit me below the belt. Honestly it hurts, if you don't think that my feelings can get hurt then you are far less human then I give you credit for. But I endure, I keep living the way I feel is best for me and I try and ignore the labels that get slapped on me. I was asked a couple days ago by a 13 year old that I consider a very good friend if he should get his lip pierced. I told him no which gained me the question of if I was going to be a hypocrite. My response was that no one should get their lip pierced if they are not ready to take abuse every day for the fact that they have it and until he is strong enough to let it slide off his back rather then raise his fists then he should not. I let a lot slide off my back but the mix in my blood lines leaves you with a very sarcastic person that once again likes to debate and will normally have a retort. Why do women pierce their ears? Does that make any more sense then a pierced lip or belly button? Shouldn't grandmas everywhere be the same social outcasts as the woman with a tongue and eyebrow ring? Why do people get piercings? I know the answer do you? It is an ancient custom to keep evil spirits from entering the body that is even mentioned in the bible. So next time you see a satanist walking along with his giant nose ring you now know he is a walking contradiction. Fun huh? Regardless my tats and piercings, concert t-shirts and red AC baseball cap may say a lot about my interests but do not make me the man I am. First I am a father who loves his son more than I will ever love anyone else. I am a loyal friend that will sacrifice himself to try and help those I love. I am a man of the community that interacts with even the people most deem unworthy. I am an artist who draws and writes not only for the pleasure of just doing so but also to expand my mind so that it doesn't grow stale. I'm a mentor whether in the sports I sponser and coach, the skaters I take to towns more tollerant of them, or just the random child that just needs a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. I'm a monster in that I don't have any desire to fall in line with the rest of society and have the world tell me who I am. I'm a fan of film and music of all kinds and respect anyone who pushes themselves to any form of artistry. I'm a debater who will often take a side in an arguement that I don't even believe in order to just show there is always two sides. I'm a boss meaning I put my employees first and make sure that their is nothing I can't cut back on myself rather then cut their jobs. I'm a patriot that believes in my country, my community and it's people though the feeling isn't always returned. I'm a questioner who doesn't just accept simple yes or no answers I feel it is everyones duty to know the when, where, why and the how. Most of all, I'm me plain old Zach Bryant. In other places in the USA I would be considered a square when here I am labeled odd. The thing is I'm ok with odd because if I can run down that list every night and have the same answers I think that when my day comes God and I will be just fine. The questioner in me has to ask though how do you think he will feel about the name calling and insults? Ok so if you don't believe in God let me ask how do you feel about the name calling and insults? I don't know how many times I have appologized and I will do it again here but honestly that is all I can do. I'm so very sorry for any wrong I may have done any and all of you. If you choose to accept the appology then thank you if you need more then that then let me know and I will personalize it. If you decline my appology then there is nothing more I can do so I guess hurl your rude comments my way if it help you to sleep better at night. I am the Dead Rabbit, I have love in my heart and family by my side and there isn't a thing that anyone can do or say to take that away from me. Thank you for reading I tried to catch the mis-spelled words for you all.


Thursday, January 29, 2009

Quit Bailing Them Out!


Obama Calls Wall Street Bonuses ‘Shameful’

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: January 29, 2009
WASHINGTON — President Obama fired a warning shot at Wall Street on Thursday, branding bankers “shameful” for giving themselves $18.4 billion in bonuses as the economy was spinning out of control and the government was spending billions to bail out many of the nation’s most prominent financial firms.
Speaking from the Oval Office with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner by his side, Mr. Obama lashed out at the industry over a report, compiled by the New York State comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, which found that over all, financial executives received the same level of bonuses as they had in 2004, when times were more flush.
It was a pointed and unusual flash of anger — if a premeditated one — from the president, and it suggested that he intended to use his platform to take a hard line against excesses in executive compensation.
“That is the height of irresponsibility,” Mr. Obama said angrily. “It is shameful, and part of what we’re going to need is for folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint and show some discipline and show some sense of responsibility.
“The American people understand that we’ve got a big hole that we’ve got to dig ourselves out of, but they don’t like the idea that people are digging a bigger hole even as they’re being asked to fill it up,” Mr. Obama said, adding that “there will be time for them to make profits and there will be time for them to make bonuses. Now is not that time.”
News of the report, and Mr. Obama’s remarks, came a day after the president met privately at the White House with business leaders, including Richard D. Parsons, the new chairman of the board of Citigroup. This week, Citigroup, which received an infusion of taxpayer money last year, canceled its plans, at the administration’s urging, to buy a $50 million business jet.
Mr. Obama did not spare the company in his remarks on Thursday, although he did not mention Citi by name. “Secretary Geithner already had to pull back on one institution that had gone forward with a multimillion-dollar plane it purchased at the same time as they are receiving TARP money,” he said, using the acronym for the government’s $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program, intended to rescue shaky financial firms. “We shouldn’t have to do that, because they should know better.”
Mr. DiNapoli’s report was compiled based on the annual December-January bonus season, mostly through personal income tax collections. In an interview published on Thursday, he said it was unclear if banks had used taxpayer money for bonuses.
“The issue of transparency is a significant one,” Mr. DiNapoli said in the interview, “and there needs to be an accounting about whether there was any taxpayer money used to pay bonuses or to pay for corporate jets or dividends or anything else.”
Earlier Thursday, the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said Mr. Obama had a one-word reaction to the report: “Outrageous.” He announced in advance that Mr. Obama would put forth his views in person, which he did at the end of a meeting with Mr. Geithner.
Are we supposed to be stupid here people? They get these bonuses off our backs. The bailout's and high interest rates are raping this nation! Mr. President if you want to make a difference then try them all for treason. They are destroying more familys than any amount of terrorists ever could imagine. Enough is enough! I say instead of throwing the tea in the harbour we throw executives from the tops of their buildings. The whole time they are padding their own pockets they are buying up banks in order to become a monopoly. Last I checked this practice is illegal. Want to make a difference? Close them down! Put them out of work and take their money in mass quantities. Make them live as they have made the rest of us. Hang them from the lamp posts up and down Wall Street as warning to all. Prove for once that we are all created equal and a man isn't judged by his pocket book. Oh I forgot I have very little faith in this because you Mr. Obama are one of them. Show me your not!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I Have To Do It, I Declare War!

This is the anonymous. This is the guttless critic that hides in his or her own home and work trying to get under my skin. I guess they have succeeded a tad because here I am having to post about them. The funny part is they are friends and neighbors that are supposed to be so much more mature that I am. All I see is a mindless rant from critics that don't even believe their own rants. That is right you guttless cowards you don't even have the courage or conviction to stand behind your words. You are sad and pathetic due to the fact that the greatest thrill in your misserable little lives is to bring pain to others. Do you ever say anything of worth? Do you ever contribute to a conversation? Or do you just enjoy being a cancer on an artistic and free thinking world? Many of you need to sit with my mother and father because there is one thing they know about me that you all need to learn. The harder you push me and try and stop me the harder I fight to continue my ways. I'm an asshole that way. So keep it up. Really tell me I'm horrible with little to no explanation why, call me gay or a druggie or whatever other false and meritless accusation you would like to throw my way. Just when you do realize that I shed no tears in fact quite the opposite. When I am successful I will have to put each and every one of you faceless in my acknowledgements because you pushed me to get here. Thank you zombie people because without you I probably would have quit long ago.
In answer to an anonymous claim earlier I am no follower. I actually spend most my spare time doing that which the rest of you have somehow forgotten how to. I spend time with your kids, help them with their homework, coach their little league teams, take them on trips to skate parks, or lazer tag, or concerts, but mostly I just express an interest that isn't that hard to accomplish. At the end of the day myself and a few quality parents of this town have spent the time to help shape the youth and prove that people do care. One day maybe you will have time to do the same if you ever grow a spine, get off your keyboards and stop bitching about the world and actually do something to change it. I know it's hard to throw a ball with a bag on your head but a little practice and you may some day get it.




Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Gonzo Day?

Thanks to all who participated today in Rabbit Hole day in honor of Lewis Carrol's 177th birthday. I have found several stories that put mine to shame and think that we all gained a bit from looking through the mirror at ourselves. February 20th marks the passing of Hunter S. Thompson and I perpose we start a new honorary day (I haven't been able to find that anyone has yet so what the hell I'm a trend setter). I say we call it Gonzo Day and celebrate much in the same fassion. Find anything in life you would like to write about and then husk it and show what makes it tick. Remember Hunter is famous for his non-fictional style being told through a hazey and somewhat grotesque way so don't hold back. Let lose on the world and scream for the change that is needed. Honor a great man's memory by not being comliant for one day in your life. It may feel good to let loose and you might find that something needs exposed that you didn't realize before.


My Rabbit Hole Story




Before I begin I want to say this was way harder than I thought it would be. I write every day in about every genera so to find one that wouldn't be what I write about every day was very hard. I write history, politics, love letters, songs, poems, fiction, about myself, about sports, letters to God, and basically life lessons in general. What else could there be. In fact I thought about it for a bit and thought maybe my Rabbit Hole is to write nothing at all, but I think that is the cowards way out. So I decided to go with fiction in honor of Lewis Carrol Iand I'm writing a genera that I don't really like very often so we will give it a try and if you are looking for a great read I warn you this is probably not it. Enjoy or don't once again I don't do it for you. The dust settles on the windy streets just in order to get kicked up once more by the hot, dry breeze. The wind itself could be soothing if not for the coarse sands scratching against skin as it whistles by. People gather close to door and window as the sun nears it's peak, bringing forth the brightest time of the day. Buzzards circle overhead waiting on their meal as their figure eights dance in the cloudless sky. The long hand of the clocktower creaks and moans out in pain as it lurches forward nearing it's time of reconing. The lone man stands in the sod road, sweat dripping from the tip of his nose but evaporating before hitting the ground. Thoughts of luck spring through his mind as the opponent doesn't seem to be showing meaning he may yet live to see another day. Alas this feeble hope shatters and blows away as a dust cloud in the distance nears revealing several large men riding their steeds of battle."Shall I run?" crosses the man's mind as his trembling hand shakes against his trusty Colt. "It will be hard to live with being called yellow but at least I will live."Horses come to a halt fifty yards ahead of him as the notorious gang dismounts laughing and already praising their leader for a win he has not yet earned. The large worn and seasoned gunslinger spits his chew in the direction of his opponent as he motions his men towards the saloon. They cackle their taunts as they make their way to the watering hole each trying to get the best view of the mayhem about to ensue."You ready boy?" yells the large outlaw brushing his tan duster to the side reavealing the six shooter underneath. His beaten black hat is pulled low yet it still can not hide the firey rage burning in his eyes. Clicking comes from the well used yet still silver spurs afixed to his boots that look as though they have never seen a pollish."W-we don't h-have to do this," yells back the poor dirt farmer, so poor he had to borrow the gun and owns no hat himself. He squints and says a silent prayer to the sound of the decrepid clock once again clacking towards the end. "I will take my family and go. You can have our land. The only livestock we own has gone dry with the drought so it isn't worth much but it isn't like it's costing you anything. I'm giving it to you.""You don't give me nuthin," yells the angry ruffian back at his feeble opponent, "I take what I want, hell your land is already mine your just too stupid to know it." He spits again then a cruel smirk crosses his face. "Tell you what since you're in the givin' mood how about you let me have that sow of a wife a yers and I'll let you leave with your son. Coarse the boy will grow up knowin' his pappy is yella' but ye'll live. Don't worry though me'n the boys'll take real good care of 'er, and it aint like yer boy can look up to ya now."The bandits in the saloon laugh as they make vulger gestures at the poor man still shaking in the street. Their leader smiles proud with his insults at his men before returning his stare at the broken shell in front of him."Ah hell, might as well just kill ya anyways, then I'll go see your philly regardless." he spits grabbing his own crotch.Time seems to freeze as the man instantly stops shaking. He feels a new awareness rush over himself brought on by the fear for his family. A spark has been lit deep within his soul that he had never realized was there before. In unison the clock ticks forward striking the bell as the colt is yanked from it's holster firing a single round. Lead spirals in the air in quick revolutions before finding it's target dead in the heart. The slow motion unpauses as the bandit removes his hand from his waistline raising it to his chest to find a warm gooey liquid spurting forth. Dropping to his knees his face goes cold before planting itself in the dirt. The crew stares slack jawed unbelieving what they have just seen. Turning towards the victor they hear the clock grind forward once more as the final five shots ring out with it, killing each one of them in a single blow.Townspeople come quickly out of their hiding places to see if their eyes have lied. Advancing, the farmer hands the pistol and belt back to the saloon owner as he approaches his prey. Flipping the lifeless body to it's back he pulls the gun belt from the mouthy bandit and secures it to his own waste. Dusting the black hat he places it on his own head and stands once more. Looking down at the man he had feared with all his life moments before he smiles at the thought of how easy it had been to beat him. Spitting on the corpe he says, "Guess you should have left me with nothing to fight for," before turning and walking home to those he love.

Friday, January 23, 2009

I Found a Use For Guantanamo Bay

How things are going!

Don't worry Spidey if you keep working hard then you'll get laid off and never afford the rest of your costume!


Merrill Lynch pays out $4 bn in bonuses covered by TARP funds (Updated 2X)
by Uncle Bob
Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:21:37 AM PST
After all the abuses of law, morals and ethics by the Bush administration over the last 8 years, I never thought that my outrage meter could get pegged again. Wrong.
Uncle Bob's diary :: ::
The Financial Times reported that Merrill Lynch accelerated its normal time schedule for awarding bonuses and distributed $ 4 billion dollars on Dec 29, just 3 days before its takeover by Bank of America. At the same time Merrill posted $15 billion in losses for the fourth quarter. The total compensation for Merrill Lynch employees in 2008 was $15 billion.
That’s way more than just an outsized sense of entitlement, that’s flat-out stealing. And the money for this comes from, you guessed it, the US government. The Bank of America was prepared to back out of the deal once the size of the Merrill Lynch loss became apparent. The deal was completed only after guarantees of government money by the US Treasury.
This has got to stop. These are the same people who created the god-forsaken mess in the financial markets and yet are continuing to flaunt their greed and incompetence and literally daring anyone to do anything about it.
Unfortunately, the history of Obama’s economic advisors does not give one a general sense of relief or change that you can believe in. As Professor Willem Buiter of the London School of Economics said yesterday, while commenting on the general trajectory of bailouts in the UK:
This is very much in the US tradition, promoted by the US Treasury, the Fed and the FDIC, of maximising moral hazard for a given amount of immediate crisis fire-fighting. In the incoming Obama administration, both Treasury secretary Tim Geithner and NEC chair Larry Summers have had many years of experience, in the US and all over the globe, throwing good money after bad in pointless bail-out packages. The trio of Ben Bernanke, Geithner and Summers are likely to produce a veritable moral hazard monsoon.
Indeed, today’s report seems to verify that. One can only hope that Obama will set the tone rather than let his advisors do it for him.
Updated: The original post contained an error concerning the amount of total compensation vs the bonus compensation. That's been fixed.
Updated 2X: There has been considerably commentary about the taxation issue around bonuses and I likely stand corrected. My assumption (and I think it's a fair assumption) was that the lion's share of the bonuses were going to trader's and fund managers and that these folks were granted long term capital gains treatment due to the "carried interest" exclusion that works so well for hedge fund managers. Perhaps not. I've removed the offending paragraph so that others may focus on the issue of bonuses being offered, effectively at the same rate as in a profitable year, with a guarantee provided by the government to enable those bonuses for an otherwise bankrupt business.







Oh but it doesn't end there.







Merrill Lynch CEO Spent $1,220,000 On Office Renovation As Company Prepared To Burn
By Ben Popken, 12:29 PM on Thu Jan 22 2009, 20,484 views
Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain spent over $1.22 million to renovate his office in early 2008, just as his firm was getting ready to slash thousands of jobs, cut back on spending and dump businesses. Here's this douchebag's big-ticket tally of personal aggrandizement in the midst of financial crisis:
$800,00 to hire celebrity designer Michael Smith. He's interior-decorating Obama's White House. For $100,000. Mixing in items from Target.$87,000 for a fucking area rug. I think I could buy all of the area rugs in stock at my local IKEA for $87,000, and have enough money left over to buy all my fellow shoppers an all-you-can eat Swedish Meatball feast. Then invest the remainder in high-yield moon-backed derivatives.$87,000 two guest jerkface chairs$44,000 another goddamn area rug$37,000 six chairs for private dining room. Who has a dining room in their office?$35,000 "commode on legs." I'm guessing that's a claw-footed toilet. Bad choice. Those gather dust underneath like nobody's business, let me tell you. Update: Actually it's a chest-of-drawers on legs. Too bad no one told me that before I took a crap in it.$28,000 four stupid curtains$25,000 mahogany pedestal table. I think my brother just found one of those on the curb on garbage day recently.$24,000 "Regency Chairs." These are the kind of chairs that you use to line walls and corners but no one actually sits in and some day they end up in the Met and people are like, wow, that looks like a well-preserved, expensive, uncomfortable chair.$18,000 "George IV Desk." You can find George I desks just as good on eBay, the advances in the later models are mainly cosmetic.$16,000 custom coffee table. Shellacked with the blood of virgin Peruvian tribe-boys.$13,000 chandelier in private dining room. Really fun to swing on.$11,000 fabric for "Roman Shade." That's a euphemism for something dirty, right?$5,000 mirror in private dining room. It's the one from Snow White.$5,000 40 yards of fabric for wall panels. That's actually a pretty good deal. In pesos.$2,700 6 wall sconces. Sconces are for nancies. Real titans of industry use torches.$1,400 "Parchment waste can." Guess they were out of vellum.
Aren't you feeling good now that the government gave Bank of America a big check to buy these guys? It was vital to the national interest to prevent the collapse of the interior decorating industry.







Then they do take a step in the right direction, just a tad too late.







Bank Of America Fires Former Merrill Lynch CEO
By Meg Marco, 12:59 PM on Thu Jan 22 2009, 7,164 views
It seems that Bank of America didn't really appreciate that unexpected $15.4 billion dollar 4th quarter loss by Merrill Lynch — because its former CEO, John Thain has been shown the door.
From Bloomberg:
Thain, who in September negotiated the sale of Merrill with Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis, “agreed his situation was not working out and that he should resign,” said Robert Stickler, a Bank of America spokesman, in an e-mail.
Bank of America has been taking a lot of heat for purchasing Merrill Lynch, a deal that forced Bank of America to ask for a "second multibillion dollar investment from the government as it absorbed the mounting losses at the New York-based investment bank," says the AP.
The Wall Street Journal is even speculating that Bank of America and Citigroup may have to be nationalized.
We wonder who'll get his fancy ass office.







Honestly now this man should be tried for treason and hung in the middle of Wall Street as a reminder of what is to come if you take advantage of the American people. And others from ML and Bank of America should be as well. No one can tell me he just secretly snuck all this designer gear in on our dime. If you believe that is the case then you are a fool. I mean sure he was fired but if this is his office then I highly doubt he lives in a one room apartment decorated by the local Goodwill. Take everything he has and put him in the streets like he has with so many others. I could sell off everything I own and still come up short to buy his god damned rug. Seriously people we need public execution for instances just like these. I know he isn't the only one either. Every time a CEO approves a lay off his pay check needs to be examined to see how many of the unneeded employees it could feed. I never went to business school but I learned from some of the greatest men my town has ever known. You must pay your employees and vendors first then comes your paycheck. In some cases, including mine, that leaves very little for you Mr.CEO but that is the responsability that comes with running a company. With great power comes great responsability right? I think I learned that in the fourth grade from Spiderman.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Title The Picture or Tell Me What You See

I thought this could be a fun game for all. I found this on another blog and thought that everyone should look into it and take a moment to see how they feel about it. Go on you can even post anonymous if you would like.

Can You Go As Far As It Is Needed?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sometimes the Greatest Messages Are Hidden In The Ugly



This song gives me chills. Watch the movie and see what you get from it.

I Deal With This Question Every Day


Apparently we don't want free thinkers in todays society. It hurts business right? We may offend someone or worse yet cause them to disagree. I own a hardware store (kinda) and I get hit with this every day. I'm told that people who don't agree with me will stop shopping with me. My answer to this is good riddance, if you are that narrow minded that you don't think I should have an opinion then you are also too narrow minded for me to show you how to fix your 100 year old faucet at a fraction of the cost compared to buying a new one. I've been told that yes I can have an opinion but keep it anonymous. Bull shit any man that says something that he is afraid to sign his name to lacks the integrity it takes to be a man. You have two things in this world your word and your balls without either you may as well do us all a favor and start digging a hole and save us the trouble of burying your zombie ass. One of the "men" that is always telling me these things was once a marine. I have to ask what happened sir that you became such a good lap dog? Was it while you were fighting for our freedom to say and live as we please that you decided the fight wasn't worth it? Sad really. I blog because I want to be heard. Yes I want people to agree with me but just as equally I want people to disagree. That is what makes America so beautiful. Do we really want a bland and boring society where we all just fall in line and do and say as we are told? I lost respect for a fellow blogger and musician this week that I once found to be my favorite and now I just find her to be a self righteous, overbearing, contradiction. I will not go see her shows anymore nor will I buy her cd's. It isn't that I disagree with what she says either. Most of the time on imnotamonster.com Otep, or Danger whatever she's going by now, I am first in line to support her arguements and stance. I do believe we are all perfectly flawed, I do believe we all must stand up, speak out, and strike back, I just no longer believe she does. And the autograph seeking tools of her site lick the bottom of her shoes without ever backing up to say hey this is stupid. If you say something on her site she doesn't like then she personally opens the floodgates on you screaming conservative idiot! Then on Myspace she har the Obama quote that there is no liberal or conservative America there is only the United States of America. Girl if you read this then you really need to back away from the fame for a second and see that you have become what you hate. A biggoted oppresor! Yes we all know you are a lesbian but that still gives you no right to slam a free thinker on your site (by the way for those of you wondering it wasn't I who was slammed but it was I who went to the persons deffense). Isn't free speach what you claim your site is all about yet it seems to me that the message you are sending is stand up speak out strike back unless you disagree with me then fuck off. But hey correct me if I'm wrong. So in conclusion here because I've rambled on far longer than I intended, I am still going to blog and if you don't like what I say then the solution is real simple don't read it. I intend to continue the fight for free speech and equality because I sleep a lot better at night this way and honestly my Mom will kick my ass if I ever stop.

Proof That We Need Change


Take a wild guess where this is at. Come on people see the little Chinease made flags on sticks it isn't that hard. Giving up huh? This is the "most historic day of our generation" and it's not here in Ark City. This is at the party in D.C. and it is proof that we are the problem America. Lazy wastefull and dumb are words that all come to mind. What I've never been able to understand is people carry their food into large events like this but once they have finnished scarfing down the Mac and fries apparently the bags become too cumbersome to carry away. Shame on you Mr. Obama for not having any trash cans at your party. I'm putting it to a vote right now worst president ever! Truth is Obama has nothing to do with this. It is you people who just expect the next guy to get it for you that are to blame. The next guy, isn't that a nice idea? I don't have to do shit for myself because the magical superhero Next Guy will fly in and save the day! Duh du du Dumbasses! Everyone was so wrapped up in the history that apparently they forgot to listen to the speech. We have to start doing for ourselves America and that includes the common curtosy of cleaning up after yourself and leaving the world better than when you got here. No I'm not going to go out and chain myself to a tree and sing "We are one" with a bunch of long haired unshaven people needing showers (joking in the insults there I love hippies) (but you do stink) but at the same time if I can teach my 8 year old to put his whopper wrapper into a trash can then I'm sure you grown and evolved "people of change" can do the same right? And I don't mean to imply only litter here. In work and school and life in general we seem to have found a comlacency to let the next guy get it. We shove our problems onto him and often blame him, we do the bare minimum with hopes he will pick up the slack, we waste our money knowing our neighbors are starving but thinking it's not our problem. This is the kind of thinking that will make this country fail. Honestly we are failures right now but hey that's ok because the next guy will do better right?

Step In The Right Direction



WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s first public act in office Wednesday was to institute new limits on lobbyists in his White House and to freeze the salaries of high-paid aides, in a nod to the country’s economic turmoil.
Announcing the moves while attending a ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to swear in his staff, Obama said the steps “represent a clean break from business as usual.”
The pay freeze, first reported by The Associated Press, would hold salaries at their current levels for the roughly 100 White House employees who make over $100,000 a year. “Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington,” said the new president, taking office amid startlingly bad economic times that many fear will grow worse.
“The new rules on lobbying alone, no matter how tough, are not enough to fix a broken system in Washington,” he said. “That’s why I’m also setting rules that govern not just lobbyists but all those who have been selected to serve in my administration.”
In an attempt to deliver on pledges of a transparent government, Obama said he would change the way the federal government interprets the Freedom of Information Act. “For a long time now, there’s been too much secrecy in this city,” Obama said.
He said the orders he was issuing Wednesday will not “make government as honest and transparent as it needs to be” nor go as far as he would like.
“But these historic measures do mark the beginning of a new era of openness in our country,” Obama said. “And I will, I hope, do something to make government trustworthy in the eyes of the American people, in the days and weeks, months and years to come.”
Continue Reading:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/21/obama-freezes-salaries-of_n_159739.html

If You Believe, They Put A Man On The Moon



Wow no more investing to get rich. Actual work for your money? What a novel idea.

New Day My @$$

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Because I Need To Laugh


A lady walks into a hardware store and asks the clerk where the hindges are. He takes her to where they are and she immediately selects the one she needs. The clerk askes her if she wants a screw for the hindge---she says, "no, but I'll blow you for the toaster on that shelf".


A man of Polish ancestry walked up to the counter and asked for a Polish Meatball Sandwich.

The man at the counter said, "What a Pollack."

The Polish man said, "I resent that. If a Jew came to your counter and asked for a kosher salami on rye, would you call him a stupid Jew."

"Probably, " replied the clerk.

"And if an Italian came in here and asked for spaghetti and meatballs, would you also insult him?"

"Probably," the clerk again replied.

"Why you're nothing but a bigot. Why do you have to insult everybody not like you?"

At this, the clerk replied, "Because this is a HARDWARE store, moron."



"Do you have any batteries?" a woman asks the hardware store clerk. "Yes, m'am." The clerk gestures with his finger. "Can you come this way?" "If I could come that way," the woman says, "I wouldn't need the batteries."

I'm not afraid to laugh, it's funny!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Just For PETA

Sunday, January 18, 2009

This Is Racism People!



Now I know that there are about 80% of Americans that don't know why they vote the way they vote but come on this is nuts. I just wish they showed pictures. Remember that these people are saying we should continue the war. Read a paper or watch the news for God's sake. At least be able to explain why you vote for someone. Honestly I voted no to both due to the fact that they both are extremely wastefull men that will bankrupt our country.

Fine Label Me I'm Still Going To Say It!

Hell I don't even know what picture to put with this. I am saying same old song and dance for this country and we are all too stupid to see it because we are too busy celebrating "a new day in America". People I'm sorry to tell you this but it's the same day as before. We are still in Iraq, our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors are still dieing. Our economy still belongs to China yet we all still keep shopping for cheaper. Children are dieing every day in Gaza under the excuse of a war against terror. John Stewart and Rachael Maddow are still two of the few repoters on television actually reporting the damn news. I'm still eating Rammen Noodles and Wendys double stacks every night much like the rest of you. American industry is still dieing and more and more of our friends and relatives are becoming jobless or homeless. Children are still dropping out of school at an allarming rate and drug dealers rule our streets. But hey there is a bright side right?

Sure I can see what the new Presidents daughters are having for lunch today, at a school that costs more in enrollment fees than my home, by flipping on MSNBC. I can flip over to Fox News and be reassured that the new President knows how I feel as he drops countless taxpayer dollars, along with money borrowed from China, to remodel a home that was just redone 4 years ago, buy expensive dogs after saying he's going to the shelter to get one, throw the biggest yay me party of all time, put men who are currupt or just plain idiots into power positions in the country. Ah I feel all warm and fuzzy. It is truelly a new day. I mean the previous administration was wastefull and inconsiderate of what it's people wanted and I know I sure want those girls to have dogs worth more than my car. I try not to cuss often on here but I must say are we fucking stupid? Are we so happy that we have overcome racism that we don't even question where our money is going? My town had the state pull $30000 from our road fund just the other day. How much do you think the Obama red carpet event is going to cost? I'm sorry if I'm not jumping for joy andignoring the issues like so many others. I'm sorry that we are this stupid. That's right America we are STUPID! We are so complacent and proud that our nation has evolved that we have forgotten to do what we do best, bitch about what the man is doing wrong. Why is Tiger Woods speaking to our country? What does he know about the nations problems? I want inspiration not cheap tricks to divert my attention. I want Congress to take some lay offs and pay cuts, I want CEOs to have to give up money every time they decide that lay offs are a good idea. I want this nation to be for it's people not just the select few with money. What is wrong with this thinking? I want to see Martin Kings dream come true where we judge a man by his actions not by the color of his skin. I want to see the party be a prayer, a swear in and our President heading out to get to work rather than lobster tails and bubbly on my dime. I want to not have to appologize for slavery anymore. Yes it happened, yes it was horrible but there are very few cultures in this world that haven't been wronged. I want to see an Irish history month. I want to see a pro abortion parade. I want to see this nation of uptight pantywastes quit being so damn PC. I want racist terms used so frequently that they lose their power. Either that or I never want to hear a racist term in a fucking song preformed by a person of that race again. I want people to quit going to movies or watch tv shows that steriotype (laughing the whole time) then act like they are so evolved when out in public. I want people to treat the police the way they did after 9-11 rather than like they have the plague. Oh but I'm off base right? I'm uptight and racist I guess. Isn't it historic every time we elect a President? I think I had to memorize even the useless ones when I was in school. Oh well I'm headed out to flip on CNBC and take my mind off things. I hear they are following the first lady to show us what she plans on wearing to Tuesdays event. You know... news.

Friday, January 16, 2009

I Love Hardware Humor

Two of My Favorite People

My Goodbye to the President and Call to the Nation.



Check out Otep's blog at imnotamonster.com. Stand up Speak out and strike back!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Proof I Can Laugh At Myself


Quote From My Son "Crap Now I Have To Be a Devils Fan!"


NEWARK, N.J. -- Brendan Shanahan finalized a contract with the New Jersey Devils and is expected to be with the team for its road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

ShanahanShanahan, who turns 40 next week, reached a tentative agreement with the Devils last weekend. The deal, sources said, is for one year, $800,000 and was signed Thursday. He wil earn about half of the contract's value because half the season is finished.
An unrestricted free agent, Shanahan played the last two seasons with the
New York Rangers. He had hoped to stay with them, but grew tired of waiting for a contract offer.
The Devils drafted Shanahan with the No. 2 pick in the 1987 NHL draft. He has 650 goals and 1,340 points in 1,490 NHL games in 21 seasons. He ranks 11th on the career goal list, 24th in points, and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion -- all with the
Detroit Red Wings. He has scored at least 20 goals in 19 consecutive seasons.
Shanahan left the Devils in 1991 and signed with the
St. Louis Blues. The loss turned into a major gain for New Jersey when it received future Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Stevens as compensation. Stevens helped lead New Jersey to three Stanley Cup titles.
Shanahan is the latest big-name player to come back this season after splitting with the Devils.
Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston signed during the summer.
Shanahan scored 23 goals in 73 games last season but finished with 46 points, his lowest total in a full year since his rookie season of 1987-88.
The Devils also announced that center Petr Vrana of Lowell of the AHL broke his leg and will have surgery. He played the early part of this season with the NHL team.

Don't worry Shanny at least you have several other jerseys in your closet that still have class. Haha May you have a great season, you are still one of my heroes.

Lewis Carroll's 177th Birthday

That’s right: the 5th Annual Rabbit Hole Day is coming.
When you wake up on the 27th, instead of writing about your usual work and school and politics and friends and news and stuff, experience life down the Rabbit Hole and write about the work, the school, the politics, the friends, the news, the stuff that you find there instead. Travel through time. Turn into an animal. Flee from assassins. Talk to your goldfish. Conquer Greenland. Sprout some extra limbs. Learn how to walk on water. Marry an insect.
Take a break from the Every Day and write about your Rabbit Hole Day. Your normal life will be waiting for you when you get back.
On this day everyone should write something for them.

Practice Safe Sex

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Modern Art


Wow Priorities Are Straight Here


Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Florida State University safety Myron Rolle is bypassing an immediate chance at a multimillion-dollar contract in the National Football League to study at Oxford University.
Rolle, a three-year starter for the Seminoles, is accepting a Rhodes scholarship to study at the school in England, said his brother McKinley Rolle, who is managing Myron’s media appearances.
Rolle, 22, started all but one game for Florida State this season, arriving late for the Nov. 22 game at Maryland after completing a Rhodes Scholar interview. He finished third on the team with 62 tackles and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team.
He graduated in 2 1/2 years with a degree in exercise science and is pursuing a master’s in public administration, Florida State said when it announced in November that he was among the 32 scholarship winners. He will work on a master’s degree in medical anthropology there.
“We’re expecting Mr. Rolle to join us at Oxford,” Colin Lucas, warden of the Rhodes Trust, which supports scholars selected to study at the school, said in a telephone interview. “He hasn’t given any indication he won’t.”
The New York Times said Rolle has been told he was projected to be one of the top 49 picks in the NFL draft, with the potential to go higher with a strong performance at the league’s scouting combine.
The top-picked safety in 2008, Kenny Phillips of the New York Giants, made $3.8 million this season, including bonuses. He was selected 31st overall.
Rolle, who graduated from the Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, has said he plans on attending medical school after a career in the NFL.
Former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley and ex-Maryland Congressman Tom McMillen, both basketball players, were Rhodes Scholars, as was former NFL quarterback Pat Haden.

Lay Off My Bush!

Worst President of all time? Wow history is getting a little crazy isn't it? I'm going to name a few that aren't even remembered first and then we will look at GW.
Let us start with James Buchanan (1857-1861) He refused to challenge either the spread of slavery or the growing bloc of states that became the Confederacy. Or how about Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) He was an ineffectual and indecisive leader who played poker while his friends plundered the U.S. treasury. Hmm well Mr. Bush doesn't have a very good poker face but you know tax dollars at work and such. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) He survived impeachment after opposing Reconstruction initiatives including the 14th amendment. Opposition of equal protection for slaves from the law that isn't so bad right? But Bush sent our boys to fight for oil right? That's much worse than Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) His fervor for expanding the borders--thereby adding several slave states--helped set the stage for the Civil War. Last time I checked this is the war that the most Americans died in, but hey what do I know. Still on the subject of slavery Millard Fillmore (1850-1853) He backed the Compromise of 1850 that delayed the Southern secession by allowing slavery to spread. And let's not forget John Tyler (1841-1845) He was a stalwart defender of slavery who abandoned his party's platform once he was president. At least Bush sticks to his guns no matter how unpopular it makes him. Or we always have William Harrison (1841) He was president for all of 30 days after contracting pneumonia during his interminable inaugural. Wow we know he gets the award for shortest Presidency at least. Here is one that has done very similar things to our current Prez Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) He was known as a poor communicator who fueled trade wars and exacerbated the Depression. See they have quite a bit in common, maybe a clone people watch out! How about the old saying cheaters never win? Richard Nixon (1969-1974) Though politically gifted, he will forever be associated with the Watergate scandal and his resignation. And the list could honestly go on and on from blow jobs and cross dressing to alzheimers and hollywood starletts. Come on everyone screws up. Lay off the guy. After 9-11 this nation wanted blood and I'm not talking about a paper cut here we wanted buckets. This started the war, bad intell put us in Iraq. Is this all his fault or are we partially to blame do to the fact that we are a vengefull and paranoid nation? Do any of you really believe the President makes all these decisions alone? Can he not be vetoed? Let me try another approach, if you hear that there is a child with a gun in his locker don't you want it investigated? If the intell is bad does the super intendent then become labled an idiot and a monster? I mean sure the man can't speak, that's a given, and sure he has listened to the wrong people some and made some real bone head moves but can you really say in his shoes you would have done any better? Hindsite is always 20-20. I just wish he'd quit eating baby kittens.

So the point is this, he is our President though not for much longer. No I don't agree with everything he has done but still he is my President until Obama takes office and I sure as hell wouldn't have wanted to make some of the decisions he did. I will not label him an idiot nor will I label the next guy or the guy after him. I will continue to take pride in my country and fight to make the system better along side whoever the President may be. If the man is an idiot America then what does that make us? We put him in power.... .... twice. So to all the name callers of the world I send you a message I know that the man himself can't give.




Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I Need One of These


Monday, January 12, 2009

Taking the World Back


Proud To Be An American- the first step

Gay Bishop Giving Obama Inauguration Prayer
New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, a vocal gay rights leader, will open President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration with a prayer on Sunday’s kick-off event at the Lincoln Memorial.
“I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, We are One, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial,” Robinson wrote in an email to friends.
The announcement comes after weeks of outcry from the gay community over Obama’s choice of evangelical, anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation.
“It’s important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way,” Robinson said in an interview with the Concord Monitor. “Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority or, in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters.”
Continue reading:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/12/gene-robinson-gay-bishop_n_157076.html

I owe the president an appology and a thank you. Maybe it is a new day in America where all are created equal. Thank you Mr. Obama for removing "pastor" Rick Warren from the inaugrual invocation. You are making me a fan of you yet.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

So That's How They Decided...



It all makes perfect sense now.

When Did It Become Uncool To Read?

So I'm dissappointed with my town. This weekend my son and myself traveled to a nearby community for a wrestling tournament. This story goes beyond reading but I have been hearing on another blog how well mannered children around here are so I think I will delve deeper into this. If you have ever been to a tournament then you know there is a lot of in between time. Your kid wrestles a three minute match then waits anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before getting their next three minutes. Makes for a very long and boring day. Sure I always take something to read and something to write in to pass the time and I notice my son has followed suit. This week it was "The Tale of Beetle and Bard" which he finnished 56 pages of while we sat in the tiny packed gym for nearly 7 hours. Here is how his day unfolded. First he gets punched, kicked, tickled, poked, prodded, wet willied, and wedgied for about an hour before I finally have to put my foot down and yell at kids that weren't mine. Mind you me telling them to leave him alone 5 times wasn't enough, their parents all were within 5 feet of me ignoring their little angels. The parents did however vocalize that I am not allowed to yell at their children once the tears caused by this big mean guy began. (I'm the bad guy yet one of there children barely 2 years old was wandering the parking lot in search of his mother who was inside deciding if she wanted another cigarette or frito chili pie). The next logical step was for them to begin rifling through my boys stuff and steal his snacks. No they wouldn't accept when he offered it to share with them. Apparently Slim Jims and gatoraid taste better if aquired in abundance through theft. So here he sits next to me, robbed blind when I'd gone to the restroom yet still trying to act right. By right I mean like a decent human being and not the savages that had been accosting him. Once I was back the kids decide not to test me so they just walk by making wise about how he is a nerd, calling him girls names and throwing the trash from the snacks they had stolen from him at him. Sweet sweet little angels. Where do they learn this behavior? I'd like to say from home but I have a serious feeling their parents have never taught them a damn thing. So the week prior at practice my son had forgot his singlet so he decided to wear sweats and the basketball jersey he had worn to school. Once at practice though he was forced to remove his "girl ball" shirt in place for a heavy sweater because apparenty basketball isn't allowed on the wrestling mats. The coaches then procede to call him by girls names embarassing him in front of all his "friends" throughout practice. He was upset when I arrived (parents aren't allowed in the room during practice now I know why). I told him not to worry because next year he can play basketball, I will coach, and if he gets good enough then after college he can make millions in the NBA. When asked what wrestlers do after college I informed him they apparently lose their hair, put on a couple hundred pounds, move back to their home towns, and pick on 8 year olds to feel better about themselves. He had already made up his mind not to wrestle next year but the result of our conversation has been a basketball bouncing in my home all week.
Quote from a mother at the tournament, "Wow I don't think I've ever read that big a book!" "The Tale of Beetle and Bard" might be 200 pages. Sad!

Moral of my story? Read up kids, and parents sit with them and help them learn. Otherwise one day a judge (possibly my son) will be having to read their little ignorant asses the charges against them.



Oh yeah even with the love of "girl ball" and reading he still medaled. A kid from Winfield and another from Coffeyville sat with him discussing technique for the last hour of the tournament, and he is almost ready to write a book report on the cardboard and paper my own town doesn't understand. They are right though, what a useless skill an 8 year old reading at a fifth grade level. Little fucking angels!


Nation Of Losers?

Sound familiar? That is what we allow our nation to become. We have become a nation of minimum wage earners because we accept our fate or are too lazy to do anything about it. Kids are dropping out of school at an allarming rate and having no option other than these minimum wage jobs. Do you know why? Wal-Mart has killed our nations industry. Single handed they have convinced us that less is better and that we would rather buy 12 of something in a year than pay twice the price for one. From Frontline:
"Wal-Mart's power and influence are awesome," Smith says. "By figuring out how to exploit two powerful forces that converged in the 1990s -- the rise of information technology and the explosion of the global economy -- Wal-Mart has dramatically changed the balance of power in the world of business. Retailers are now more powerful than manufacturers, and they are forcing the decision to move production offshore."
"Wal-Mart has reversed a hundred-year history that had the retailer dependent on the manufacturer," explains Nelson Lichtenstein, a professor at the University of California Santa Barbara. "Now the retailer is the center, the power, and the manufacturer becomes the serf, the vassal, the underling who has to do the bidding of the retailer. That's a new thing."
To understand the secret of Wal-Mart's success, Smith travels from the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., to their global procurement center in Shenzhen, China, where several hundred employees work to keep the company's import pipeline running smoothly. Of Wal-Mart's 6,000 global suppliers, experts estimate that as many as 80 percent are based in China.
"Wal-Mart has a very close relationship with China," says Duke University Professor Gary Gereffi. "China is the largest exporter to the U.S. economy in virtually all consumer goods categories. Wal-Mart is the leading retailer in the U.S. economy in virtually all consumer goods categories. Wal-Mart and China are a joint venture."
When trade agreements were signed between the U.S. and China in the 1990s, bringing China into the World Trade Organization, American political and business leaders embraced the idea. China's 1.2 billion people were viewed as an enormous untapped market for American-made goods. The reality, experts say, is the opposite. China's exports to the U.S. have skyrocketed.
At a salary of only 50 cents an hour or $100 a month, Chinese labor is an unbeatable bargain for international business. And the Chinese government is doing everything it can to be sure the country's infrastructure supports the export business. Ten years ago Shenzhen's main port did not exist. Today it's on the verge of becoming the third busiest port in the world.
Wal-Mart estimates it imports $15 billion of Chinese goods every year and concedes that the figure could be higher -- some estimates range as high as $20 or $30 billion. Company executives are quick to point out they have always scoured the globe for low cost suppliers to benefit the American consumer.

A war is being fought on our soil right now and it appears we are too stupid to even know it. What future do we leave for our children if the only job they can find is minimum wage at Wal-Mart? And the sad part to me is we buy these goods causing a major corporate takeover. What take over you ask? China corporately taking over our country. How much could we possibly owe?

China = $350 billion"That’s leaves a little over $4 trillion in public hands. The biggest chunk (about 25 percent of the $8.5 trillion total) is held by foreign governments. Japan tops the list (with $644 billion), followed by China ($350 billion), United Kingdom ($239 billion) and oil exporting countries ($100 billion)."Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17424874/

Funny we borrow money from China for tax rebates to ourselves, to fund a war (wow borrow from a communist country so that we can create a democracy) and to buy oil. They own us people and they never had to fire a shot.

Then we have this guy, the jobless. Not even able to work at Wal-Mart. From the Department of Labor:

Nonfarm payroll employment declined sharply in December, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.8 to 7.2 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employment fell by 524,000 over the month and by 1.9 million over the last 4 months of 2008. In December, job losses were large and widespread across most major industry sectors. Unemployment (Household Survey Data) In December, the number of unemployed persons increased by 632,000 to 11.1 mil-lion and the unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent. Since the start of the reces-sion in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has grown by 3.6 million, and the unemployment rate has risen by 2.3 percentage points. (See table A-1.) The unemployment rates for adult men (7.2 percent), adult women (5.9 percent), and whites (6.6 percent) increased in December. The jobless rates for teenagers (20.8 percent), blacks (11.9 percent), and Hispanics (9.2 percent) were little changed over the month. The unemployment rate for Asians was 5.1 percent in Decem-ber, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.) Among the unemployed, the number of job losers and persons who completed tempo-rary jobs rose by 315,000 to 6.5 million in December. Over the past 12 months, the size of this group has increased by 2.7 million. (See table A-8.) The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) rose to 2.6 million in December and was up by 1.3 million in 2008. (See table A-9.)

20.8% for teenagers? These are the same teenagers increasing our drug rates our pregnancy rates and our drop out rates right? Why do you think the rate is rising in adults? Because they never work! They sit on their computers in mommy and daddys homes playing World of Warcraft and complaining that they can't find work. Well no shit you Cheeto and Mountain Dew filled slobs get off your asses and do something. I own a business for well over a year now and one thing I have learned is that noone knows how to look for a job anymore. They come in dressed in the same ratty clothing as they wore the day before, normally followed by their girlfriends who are either on meth or just need a good meal, ask if there is work (mind you no introdusction, no handshake, and no resume) then get pissy when you tell them no. Well at least mom is now appeased so they can go back to screwing on her couch and playing video games all night (day must be a better time to sleep). Mind you don't hire these people, they will no show many times then normally get very angry when they get fired and blame you. I speak from going through it.

So then lets go to the cassino. Fun for all right?

According to the 2006 Gross Annual Wager Report, Americans lost nearly $91 billion on all forms of gambling combined.4 The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) noted that Americans spend more on gambling than on recorded music, theme parks, video games, spectator sports and movie tickets combined.5 Americans lost $32.4 billion gambling in commercial (non-Indian) casinos alone (2006).6
But the question remains, how much money do Americans gamble (losses and wins combined)? Consider that the majority of money taken by casinos comes from slot machines. An average for payout on slots is 90 cents on every dollar (or 90 percent return).7 If casino revenues ($91 billion) are considered representative of the gambling trade's gross revenue (about 10 percent of all money wagered), then we can estimate that Americans likely spent close to $910 billion total on all forms of gambling in 2006. Not all forms of gambling return 90 percent, but we can use this for a ballpark estimate. (Consider what Americans spent on some durable and consumable products by comparing the top five Fortune 500 Companies' revenue for 2006: #1 Exxon/Mobile = $339.9B; #2 Wal-Mart Stores = $315.7B; #3 General Motors = $192.6B; #4 Chevron = $189.4B; #5 Ford Motor = $177.2B.)8
Addicted gamblers, unfortunately, account for the lion's share of gambling profits. Around 50-60 percent of the adult population can be classified as light bettors—gamble some, without apparent issue, while another 33 percent or so don't gamble. It's the remaining 10 percent that represents the heavy, frequent bettors who are likely addicted and account for approximately 61 percent of all casino revenues in table and slot gambling.9 Among lottery gamblers, the top 10 percent of heavy players account for 65 percent of all lottery revenues.10

We spend away our retirement packages, college funds, rent money whatever change is in the seat of our cars all on the dream of striking it big without doing a damn thing for it. How do I know that casinos are making a lot of money? Visit a reservation people and just count the cars. Go inside and see how many there haven't payed an actual bill in months. Just a guess but I would bet that at least half the people in them have a disconnect notice somewhere in their homes. It goes to the lottery too. Once again from my experience as a business owner, every morning in the gas station I see someone that has not payed their bill to me in months yet in their hand is a lottery ticket, a pack of smokes and a cup of coffee. Why do you think that is?



I'm just going to give you this tear jerking story without my take. Make up your own mind on this situation. From NPR:


All Things Considered, July 17, 2008 · A generation ago, the livelihood of Gloria Nunez's family was built on cars.
Her father worked at General Motors for 45 years before retiring. Her mother taught driver's education. Nunez and her six siblings grew up middle class.
Things have changed considerably for this Ohio family.
Nunez's van broke down last fall. Now, her 19-year-old daughter has no reliable transportation out of their subsidized housing complex in Fostoria, 40 miles south of Toledo, to look for a job.
Nunez and most of her siblings and their spouses are unemployed and rely on government assistance and food stamps. Some have part-time jobs, but working is made more difficult with no car or public transportation.
Low-income families in Ohio say they are particularly hard-hit by the changes in the economy, according to a new poll conducted by NPR, The Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health. Two-thirds of lower-income respondents, or 66 percent, say paying for gas is a serious problem because of recent changes in the economy. Nearly half of low-income Ohioans, or 47 percent, say that getting a well-paying job or a raise in pay is also major problem.
'I Just Can't Get A Job'
Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job. Instead, she and her daughter, Angelica Hernandez, survive on a $637 Social Security check and $102 in food stamps.
Hernandez received her high school diploma and has had several jobs in recent years. But now, because fewer restaurants and stores are hiring, she says she finds it hard to find a job. Even if she could, she says it's particularly hard to imagine how she'll keep it. She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview. And with gas prices so high, she's not sure she could afford to pay someone to drive her to work every day.
People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.
"A lot of people have told me, 'Why don't your daughter have a kid?'"
They both reject that as a plan.
"I'm trying to get a job," Hernandez says. "I just can't get a job."
Hernandez says she's trying to get training to be a nurse's assistant, but without her own set of wheels or enough money to pay others for gas, it hasn't been easy.
'What's Going To Happen To Us?'
Most of their extended family lives in the same townhouse complex. The only employer within walking distance is a ThyssenKrupp factory that makes diesel engine parts. That facility, which employs 400 people, is shutting down and moving to Illinois next year.
The only one with a car is Irma Hernandez, Nunez's mother. Hernandez says that with a teenage son still at home, the cost of feeding him and sending him to school is rising, and she can no longer pay for the car.
She's now two car payments behind.
"I'm about to lose my car," she says on her way to pick up one of her daughters to take her to Toledo. "So then what's going to happen to us?"
So Nunez and her daughter are mostly stuck at home.
The rising cost of food means their money gets them about a third fewer bags of groceries — $100 used to buy about 12 bags of groceries, but now it's more like seven or eight. So they cut back on expensive items like meat, and they don't buy extras like ice cream anymore. Instead, they eat a lot of starches like potatoes and noodles.


One of the saddest parts to me is we love to exploit each other and ourselves for the fifteen minutes of fame. This is my damn generation and it pisses me off! Do we really have this low self esteem? The three girls on this cover are beautiful yet they just let some child porn pervert make them whores while he fattens his own pockets and for what? So they could be in the movie. Insanity I tell you. Parents I am saying you have failed! Miserably!
So the reason I write this is because this week I had my parenting challenged. People believe that heavy metal concerts and shooting ranges are no place for my 8 year old son. Here is a tad from my life story. I went to church every Sunday as a child. My parents took great interest in me trying to teach me right from wrong. I still ran away from home at the age of 16 becoming one of these problems or even a few of them as I smoked and snorted my problems away. Apparently there needs to be a change. Apparently we need to start putting knots on the heads of village idiots. Society has grown to accept this tasteless behavior and just allow it to happen. People abuse the system while others that may need help get nothing. When my ex wife was pregnant with our child the hospital bills were rolling in. We both were employed full time yet the money still wasn't enough. We went for help and were turned away while people driving new cars get Vision cards, the lazy and stupid collect disability, and our taxes pay for AA NA GA SA and whatever other addiction they can make a support group for. Enough is enough people maybe the old system doesn't work. Apparently it doesn't because look at our economy. Quit screaming and crying for Obama to save us all, it aint gonna happen. To be honest the only answer is to get up off the couch, turn off the PS3 and change the world. Otherwise we will be a nation of whores working for 50 cents an hour and speaking Chinease. At least it's hard to get fat on rice!