In memorum

"What do you care? You see us as you want to see us... in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at seven o'clock this morning. We were brainwashed."

R.I.P. Mr. Hughes

Rant - Politics makes me a cranky droid

Live in a rural area? Enjoy your phone service and electricity? Thank a democrat for the Rural Telephone Act (Harry Truman) and the Rural Electrification Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Are you a farmer? Thank a democrat for the Farm Loan Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson), the Federal Crop Loan Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Farm Loan Housing Act (Harry Truman).

Like to work less than 12 hours a day for a dollar an hour? Thank a democrat for the 8 Hour Workday and Overtime Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Minimum Wage Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever been fired from a job? Thank a democrat for the Unemployment Compensation Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever had to take off from work to care for a sick family member? Thank a democrat for the Family and Medical Leave Act (Bill Clinton).

Are you a woman? Thank a democrat for the Women's Suffrage Amendment (Woodrow Wilson).

Ever go to college with financial aid? Thank a democrat for the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton), the GI Bill of Rights (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton) and the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (Lyndon Johnson).

Planning on getting old? Thank a democrat for the Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson), Medicare (Lyndon Johnson) and Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson).

Like illegal and immoral wars, over priced oil, corruption, scandals, cronyism, ineffective policies? Hate science? Prefer to keep "those people" out of your neighborhood? Like seeing America's name dragged through the mud? Thank a republican for the last 7 1/2 years.

Relax, you say, the markets will take care of it.

So, you believe Giant Global Corporation, Inc. would take care of you if you needed time to spend with a sick child? They wouldn't fire you and replace you with someone cheaper?

You think they would make sure your retirement is comfortable? *cough Enron cough*

You think AT&T would have put in phone lines to north central Kansas if they didn't have to? Screw 'em. Make 'em move to the city?

Do you think farmers would be able to plant crops you and yours eat if they had a bad harvest last year because of a drought or a hail storm?

What about your grandmother who scrimped and saved for decades and ends up spending all her life savings on a nursing home? Should she have to wait to go to the ER if she's sick? Serves her right for living so long?

How about your kids? Should they have to rely on your paying for college? Can you put them through four years without federal input?

What about people who are not as lucky to be as wise with their money as you? Maybe they didn't get born into oil money, should they be forced to stay in the lower class? Should we build walls around your house to keep them from stealing your stuff or worse? Maybe we can use them as an alternative fuel source, perhaps?

I hate that there's government waste. I hate that there are moochers off the government teat. I hate that we have decided to turn our backs on our citizens so we can line Halliburton and Blackwater and BP's pockets. But what I hate more are the people who have a smug attitude that anyone who needs a hand up, no matter what their circumstances may be, is a lesser quality person. $10 Billion a month can go along way to rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to putting people to work on that infrastructure. $10 Billion dollars a month can go a long way to helping sick kids get well so they can contribute to our greater good. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to educating our kids and getting us back on top of the planet as the smartest, best prepared people here.

We have wasted the last 7 1/2 years ignoring problems here at home, while we invade and rebuild somewhere else. It's not right.

This fear of Democrats tax and spending us into a paupers grave seems to be misdirected. Do the research yourself.

The Democrats way just works better.

Politics - Bitter?

You are goddamned right I am.

And If you aren't... you haven't been paying attention.

Politics - Dubya has the largest nuts on the planet.

How big do your balls have to be to name October 1, 2007 "Child Health Day" and then turn around on October 3, 2007 and veto the SCHIP bill?

Gigantic ones, that's what!

Current events - A fitting tribute

My camera phone doesn't do it justice, but 3,586 small flags along the 9600 block of State Line Road in Kansas City are a moving sight.

As of Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at least 3,586 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Personal - Rest well, G.O.M.

My godfather died.

I have to go to his funeral tomorrow.

He taught me what it meant to be a man, how to live up to my responsibilities, how to be a better friend. He did that all without ever telling me how to do it... he just lived that way.

He was a very faithful catholic and I hope that faith gave him comfort near the end.

I'll miss him terribly.

Personal - R.I.P. Larry Bud

Larry "Bud" Melman dead at age 85

You will be missed, funny man.

Games - WoW players are jerks

I'm a bad, bad, bad man for laughing out loud at this.

Personal - In memory of WJK.

Personal - RIP

I like to get out of the office on my lunch break. It helps break the day up and makes it pass quicker.

Generally, I take my sandwich, yogurt and apple over to a park near the office and just enjoy the alone time.

Yesterday, as I was heading back to work, I saw a really pretty german shepard mix dog walking along the street. He had a collar and tags on and stopped to watch me drive past before continuing his stroll. I noticed a city employee in a truck pulling over and talking on h9is radio while trying to get the dog to approach him. I figure, Ok, hopefully the pup will be back with his family soon.

Not so.

Today at lunch, I found this beautiful animal dead on the side of the road. He was apparently run over.

I can only assume that the city guy couldn't get the dog to come and that animal control didn't get there in time to catch him. Maybe the dog took off into the nearby woods.

I hope it was a quick death and he didn't suffer.