Okay folks, I am going to be incognito for a while after tomorrow. I am going in to have my right hand operated on to repair the carpal tunnel syndrome that has plagued me for more than 10 years now. I am finally tired of living with the pain, phantom itching, numbness and all the other good good feelings that come with CTS. That's not what I am writing about in this post though, friends. Nope, I want to go back to an earlier posting of mine concerning "poser" bikers. Why do I want to re-hash this, you ask? Well, it's not because I want to beat a dead horse; no, I want to talk about an experience I had tonight.
Okay, it starts like this; this week I have had to stay away from certain painkillers and anti-inflammatories for seven days because of the procedure I am undergoing tomorrow. Those of you who know me personally know that I am rated at 70% disabled by the VA; a direct result of that is I take a mini-pharmacy of pills twice daily to keep the pain at bay. So, I have not been in the best of moods this week and neither has my wife because on top of my sunny disposition, she has been dealing with a cold this week. Yeah, it has not been pleasant in our household this past week. One thing we have not done a lot of this week is cook dinner, mainly because we have been both feeling so bad that cooking was out of the question and tonight was no exception.
Down here in the bucolic town that is Brandon, Mississippi, restaurants are not something we have a lot of. There is one little place here that makes pretty good sandwiches and things so we called them and ordered our dinner. I drove to this little place and, being a biker myself, was kind of surprised to see two brand stinkin-new Harleys parked in front...especially when the low tonight is supposed to go down to the 20's. I walked into the place and saw about two dozen people sitting around, swilling beer and eating crawfish in biker leathers. Now...wait a minute...there were only two bikes out front so how do we have 20 or more in here dressed like they've been riding in cold weather? Well, remember what we talked about the other day about the difference between a poser and a biker? Yeah, most of these "bikers" had driven their cages (cars, to the non-biker) for their "bike night". I noticed on the back of a couple of vests a patch that said "Spirit Riders" and an indian dream-catcher. Shaking my head to myself, I chuckled a bit at just how pathetic this scene actually was.
So, I walked up to the counter and it was easy to see they were slammed, so I did a "Helllooooo?" a couple of times to try and get someone's attention. It was at this point that one of these "bikers" must have decided I needed a talking-to and suggested to me that I try a little patience. I am pretty sure you guys out there know the look I gave this person...you know it; I gave him the "what business is it of yours?" looks. I finally got one of the girls' attention and asked about the order we had phoned in. Just a couple of minutes and it'll be ready, we promise. No problem, I said...hell as long as they know I'm here and they're doing their best, I have nothing to complain about, right? So I stood there at the counter, quietly waiting for my order and being alone inside myself.
Then I heard something...I wasn't sure I heard correctly but now my ears were perked up and it came again. Mister "bad-ass biker" who drove his pickup truck to "bike night" was speaking loud enough about the "asshole at the counter". Seeing as I was the only one actually AT the counter, it wasn't hard to deduce he was talking about me. Maybe, I thought, he doesn't realize that I am a biker too. I mean, I drove my truck and I was wearing my gray fleece and was totally devoid of any type of clothing or accessory that would have advertised me as a biker. I tuned my ears to the loudmouth and, sure as hell, he was talking about me and singling me out, trying to bait me into a fight.
Well, you know, I am just old enough to know that the worst thing I could do would be to acknowledge this guy and then have to take on him and 15 of his poser buddies, so, I stood quietly at the counter and decided on my plan of action. See, I am not normally the one who starts the fight now; rather, I am the one who usually ends the fight. So, I listened to him talking a little bit louder each time he said something and mentally prepared myself to knock this idiot out of his boots if he so much as touches me. Finally, my order came, I paid for it, and turned to leave. I did shake my head and smile a little smile as I walked past...I couldn't help it, I tried to resist but I couldn't help it; right when he was looking directly at me, I very clearly mouthed, "ignorant f***s". Then I walked outside to my truck.
I didn't sit and actually wait for anybody to come out but I did move just a wee bit slower than normal, just to see. Nobody came out, I got in my truck and left. Driving home, I laughed out loud as I thought about the absurdity of the situation. A bunch of guys, dressed out in leathers, chaps and bandannas, acting like bad-asses and only TWO actually rode their bikes out...and ONE of them that rode was a woman. You know, I think Trey Parker and Matt Stone got it right on their SouthPark episode. "Bikers" like those guys...yep, they're fags...or posers...or ignorant redneck hillbilly pretenders...take your pick...they're pathetic little posers.
25 February 2010
19 February 2010
Get A Grip And Go Away Sarah Palin!!!!!
Okay, look; I don't know about anybody else but Sarah Palin is proving over and over again that she is nothing but a self-serving, two-faced idiot bitch who has absolutely no business receiving the publicity she has. I'm sure you all know by now about how Sarah and her daughter Bristol excoriated the creators of "Family Guy" over their Valentine's Day episode. In the episode Chris meets a girl with Down Syndrome; she tells him she is the daughter of “the former governor of Alaska.”
Well now, that was just completely unacceptable to Ms. Palin and her daughter; their righteous anger was flowing like lava from Kilauea. I think they were a little over the top but I will let you decide for yourself; Sarah's vitriolic statement included lines such as the “Family Guy...really isn’t funny” and that this was the work of “cruel, cold-hearted people.” Bristol, the daughter, wrote that the “Family Guy” writers were making fun of her brother and family and they were "heartless jerks.” WHOA!!! HOLD ON!! Now wait just a minute!! This is the same idiot that vehemently attacked Rahm Emanuel for saying an act was retarded, that that was hate speech and then gave Rush Limbaugh a pass when he called liberals retards!!! For Pete's sake; are you telling me that Sarah Palin, during her campaign for Vice President, denounced political correctness but now has TWICE come out and demanded political correctness? Why, because PC is bad unless it concerns her family and then PC must be observed?!? Guess what sweetheart, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!
Now look, people, personally I can't stand political correctness in any form. I think one of the biggest tragedies in this country is that people have forgotten how to be self-deprecating. I'm also not a fan of Family Guy; not for any kind of pc reason, I just don't think the show is that good. I may have just become a fan of the show, though, thanks to Andrea Friedman. She wrote a letter to the New York Times saying Sarah Palin doesn't have a sense of humor. Ms. Friedman is a 39 year old woman with Down Syndrome who did the voice-over for the Family Guy character.
This is the letter she wrote, in full, for some reason the "liberal" New York Times didn't print the whole thing:
"My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the "Extra Large Medium" episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine's day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in " Smudge" but I was a blonde in "Life Goes On". I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" was very funny. I think the word is "sarcasm".
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes."
Got that, people? This lady thinks Sarah Palin is grubbing for sympathy and votes in the worst way possible; Palin is prostituting her son to garner the votes she needs in order to make a run for the Oval Office in 2012. Andrea Friedman knows what Sarah Palin is all about!! I loved her letter but I particularly loved the last sentence of her letter; she knows EXACTLY what type of person Sarah Palin is.
The biggest problem I have with this is, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO LOVE HER! WHY?!? How can ANYONE still support this pathetic waste of space? MY GOD, what does she have to do to finally convince the citizens of this country that she is an ignorant buffoon? I mean, COME ON, how in the world can ANYBODY support this moron after this!?!?
Well now, that was just completely unacceptable to Ms. Palin and her daughter; their righteous anger was flowing like lava from Kilauea. I think they were a little over the top but I will let you decide for yourself; Sarah's vitriolic statement included lines such as the “Family Guy...really isn’t funny” and that this was the work of “cruel, cold-hearted people.” Bristol, the daughter, wrote that the “Family Guy” writers were making fun of her brother and family and they were "heartless jerks.” WHOA!!! HOLD ON!! Now wait just a minute!! This is the same idiot that vehemently attacked Rahm Emanuel for saying an act was retarded, that that was hate speech and then gave Rush Limbaugh a pass when he called liberals retards!!! For Pete's sake; are you telling me that Sarah Palin, during her campaign for Vice President, denounced political correctness but now has TWICE come out and demanded political correctness? Why, because PC is bad unless it concerns her family and then PC must be observed?!? Guess what sweetheart, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!
Now look, people, personally I can't stand political correctness in any form. I think one of the biggest tragedies in this country is that people have forgotten how to be self-deprecating. I'm also not a fan of Family Guy; not for any kind of pc reason, I just don't think the show is that good. I may have just become a fan of the show, though, thanks to Andrea Friedman. She wrote a letter to the New York Times saying Sarah Palin doesn't have a sense of humor. Ms. Friedman is a 39 year old woman with Down Syndrome who did the voice-over for the Family Guy character.
This is the letter she wrote, in full, for some reason the "liberal" New York Times didn't print the whole thing:
"My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the "Extra Large Medium" episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine's day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in " Smudge" but I was a blonde in "Life Goes On". I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" was very funny. I think the word is "sarcasm".
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes."
Got that, people? This lady thinks Sarah Palin is grubbing for sympathy and votes in the worst way possible; Palin is prostituting her son to garner the votes she needs in order to make a run for the Oval Office in 2012. Andrea Friedman knows what Sarah Palin is all about!! I loved her letter but I particularly loved the last sentence of her letter; she knows EXACTLY what type of person Sarah Palin is.
The biggest problem I have with this is, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO LOVE HER! WHY?!? How can ANYONE still support this pathetic waste of space? MY GOD, what does she have to do to finally convince the citizens of this country that she is an ignorant buffoon? I mean, COME ON, how in the world can ANYBODY support this moron after this!?!?
17 February 2010
Biker or Poser?
Tell me, dear readers...what, exactly is your idea of a biker? If you don't own a motorcycle or have never even ridden a motorcycle, don't fret; I still want to know your thoughts as well. Why am I asking this question? I'm sure you all would like to know, so...here goes.
It seems there is an awful lot of debate, lately, in the "biker world" about the differences between a "biker" and a "poser". It seems there are many people out there who ride motorcycles consider themselves "bikers" and anyone who is different from them is a "poser". Now, I'm pretty sure some of you out there are thinking, "What's the damned difference?" or "Who cares?" and, normally would agree with you because, to tell the truth, I don't give a damn, but the whole thing is bothersome to me; kind of like the chicken or the egg debate.
See, I ride a 2004 Harley Electra-Glide Standard (FLHT to those "in the know"); I bought it used after my 2003 DynaWideGlide (FXDWG) was run over in 2006 in our apartment parking lot (we lived in Virginia Beach at the time) by a sweet little 60-something lady who SWORE it wasn't her fault...even though her car was basically PARKED on top of my bike. My wife rode a Honda Shadow Spirit 750; hers was totalled by the same sweet little old lady. My wife thought, at first, she wanted a Harley, so we went hunting. After sitting on several different makes and styles of Harleys, she looked at me and, almost in tears asked if I would be upset that she wanted another Honda. My answer to her was, "You can have whatever bike you want. Why would I be upset?" We ended up buying a 2004 Honda VTX 1300 for my wife; she loved it and loves riding it whenever we get the chance to ride together.
That's part of what got me started wondering about the whole biker/poser thing. When we lived in Virginia Beach, we had a lot of friends we rode with all the time; most of them rode Harleys but there also were Hondas, Triumphs and various other street machines. Sometimes when we were getting ready to ride, one of our friends would playfully ask my wife if her bike was running; that, to me, is fun humor shared by a group of people who just want to ride. They didn't care what you rode, as long as you rode. Well, every once in a while we would be at a local watering hole and some jagoff would mouth off about the Honda not belonging amongst the Harleys; most of the time, said jagoff was laughed at and told to shut up but...sometimes...there was that one a-hole who wouldn't let it go...and that's when I would have a problem.
There are some out there who think that unless you turn your own wrenches on your own bike, you are a poser; others think if you wear a Harley t-shirt, jacket, gloves and boots, you are a poser; and still others think that if you only ride on the weekends or you don't ride a Harley, you are a poser. THIS is where I have the heartburn with these idiots and this posting, my friends, is my way of telling those idiots to shut up and ride.
I wear Harley t-shirts...I have a Harley leather jacket and gloves I wear sometimes when it is cold out; I have also ridden from Virginia to upstate New York and back, and to New Orleans, then Texas, and back to Virginia. I've ridden in searing heat, bitter cold, thunderstorms, rain showers, and snow storms. Living in Mississippi, I ride to South Carolina in May for Spring Bike Week and then back to Mississippi. Yet, because I wear a Harley t-shirt and wear a Harley jacket and Harley gloves, some think I am a poser; the funny thing is the only time it comes up is when I'm online in a biker forum...for some reason these "men" don't say it to my face.
My brutha from anutha mutha, Iron Horse Cowboy (who writes the blog "The View From Downrange") is another guy who is called a poser alot, although not to his face either. My friend rides a really nice Harley Nightster, which is a variant of the original Sportster; he wears Harley clothing and Harley boots...and he also rides his Nightster from his place in South Carolina to his dad's in North Carolina regularly. If you think that's not such a long trip, you try it on a motorcycle and then tell me it's not that far. He rides to work every chance he gets and when Spring Bike Week comes around, I ride to his place and then we ride to Myrtle Beach together.
I think you can get what my definition of a biker and a poser is...can't you? Simply put, if you own a motorcycle and you ride it, you are a biker...no matter what you wear or ride, no matter how often or how far you ride, you are still a biker. A poser, in my book, is one who wears the clothing and hangs out in the bars but doesn't ride a bike or even own a bike. Personally, I don't understand people like that; why would you want to dress and act like a biker if you don't have a bike? My friend IHC and I have the same opinions on this subject; I want to know what you think.
It seems there is an awful lot of debate, lately, in the "biker world" about the differences between a "biker" and a "poser". It seems there are many people out there who ride motorcycles consider themselves "bikers" and anyone who is different from them is a "poser". Now, I'm pretty sure some of you out there are thinking, "What's the damned difference?" or "Who cares?" and, normally would agree with you because, to tell the truth, I don't give a damn, but the whole thing is bothersome to me; kind of like the chicken or the egg debate.
See, I ride a 2004 Harley Electra-Glide Standard (FLHT to those "in the know"); I bought it used after my 2003 DynaWideGlide (FXDWG) was run over in 2006 in our apartment parking lot (we lived in Virginia Beach at the time) by a sweet little 60-something lady who SWORE it wasn't her fault...even though her car was basically PARKED on top of my bike. My wife rode a Honda Shadow Spirit 750; hers was totalled by the same sweet little old lady. My wife thought, at first, she wanted a Harley, so we went hunting. After sitting on several different makes and styles of Harleys, she looked at me and, almost in tears asked if I would be upset that she wanted another Honda. My answer to her was, "You can have whatever bike you want. Why would I be upset?" We ended up buying a 2004 Honda VTX 1300 for my wife; she loved it and loves riding it whenever we get the chance to ride together.
That's part of what got me started wondering about the whole biker/poser thing. When we lived in Virginia Beach, we had a lot of friends we rode with all the time; most of them rode Harleys but there also were Hondas, Triumphs and various other street machines. Sometimes when we were getting ready to ride, one of our friends would playfully ask my wife if her bike was running; that, to me, is fun humor shared by a group of people who just want to ride. They didn't care what you rode, as long as you rode. Well, every once in a while we would be at a local watering hole and some jagoff would mouth off about the Honda not belonging amongst the Harleys; most of the time, said jagoff was laughed at and told to shut up but...sometimes...there was that one a-hole who wouldn't let it go...and that's when I would have a problem.
There are some out there who think that unless you turn your own wrenches on your own bike, you are a poser; others think if you wear a Harley t-shirt, jacket, gloves and boots, you are a poser; and still others think that if you only ride on the weekends or you don't ride a Harley, you are a poser. THIS is where I have the heartburn with these idiots and this posting, my friends, is my way of telling those idiots to shut up and ride.
I wear Harley t-shirts...I have a Harley leather jacket and gloves I wear sometimes when it is cold out; I have also ridden from Virginia to upstate New York and back, and to New Orleans, then Texas, and back to Virginia. I've ridden in searing heat, bitter cold, thunderstorms, rain showers, and snow storms. Living in Mississippi, I ride to South Carolina in May for Spring Bike Week and then back to Mississippi. Yet, because I wear a Harley t-shirt and wear a Harley jacket and Harley gloves, some think I am a poser; the funny thing is the only time it comes up is when I'm online in a biker forum...for some reason these "men" don't say it to my face.
My brutha from anutha mutha, Iron Horse Cowboy (who writes the blog "The View From Downrange") is another guy who is called a poser alot, although not to his face either. My friend rides a really nice Harley Nightster, which is a variant of the original Sportster; he wears Harley clothing and Harley boots...and he also rides his Nightster from his place in South Carolina to his dad's in North Carolina regularly. If you think that's not such a long trip, you try it on a motorcycle and then tell me it's not that far. He rides to work every chance he gets and when Spring Bike Week comes around, I ride to his place and then we ride to Myrtle Beach together.
I think you can get what my definition of a biker and a poser is...can't you? Simply put, if you own a motorcycle and you ride it, you are a biker...no matter what you wear or ride, no matter how often or how far you ride, you are still a biker. A poser, in my book, is one who wears the clothing and hangs out in the bars but doesn't ride a bike or even own a bike. Personally, I don't understand people like that; why would you want to dress and act like a biker if you don't have a bike? My friend IHC and I have the same opinions on this subject; I want to know what you think.
10 February 2010
You Are So..."R" Word!
I am tired of being subjected to protestations when some group announces it is offended by....a WORD!!! Gosh, heavens no, it's not PC to use that word! Today, the word is "retarded". You know this word, it was uttered by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, IN A PRIVATE MEETING, when he called liberal activists who wanted to run ads against conservative Democrats "f'ing retarded". This was in a PRIVATE MEETING, people. Do you understand the word PRIVATE and what it means? Well, somehow his speech leaked out to the media and an outrage ensued.
Guess who excoriated Mr. Emanuel over his used of the word "retarded"? Why none other than Sarah Palin, of course! Ms. Palin loudly declared the "R" word was little more than "...a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities...". Ms. Palin, not satisfied with her initial response also likened the word "retarded" to the dreaded "N" word and demanded President Obama fire Mr. Emanuel on the spot! Predictably, all the little Palin automatons (translation, her adoring public) joined in and a nationwide protest erupted.
So egregious was this protest that the one Conservative every Liberal loves to hate, Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show, "...lamented that "our political correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards."" WHOA!!! Hold on a minute, Palin is supposedly upset at the use of that word, right? Surely, she would chastise Limbaugh as well as Rah Emanuel, right?
Not so fast, campers! Not a public scold is in sight and will likely never come from Ms. Palin against Mr. Limbaugh. Why would she do this, you may ask. Hasn't she said before that the use of the word retarded is"...a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities..."? So, why would she not scold Limbaugh in public but pounced on Emanuel? WHY?!?
It's simple, really; I can tell you why right now. Follow me closely; Sarah Palin has not publicly scolded Rush for his use of the word because HE REPRESENTS THE WHACKO UBER-CONSERVATIVE MORONS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ADORE HER!!! So, not only is Sarah Palin an IDIOT MORON, it seems she is now a TWO-FACED LYING BITCH!!! Come on, people, can't you see this?!? She comes out when a liberal Democrat utters the dreaded word and loudly excoriates him, screaming for his dismissal but when a conservative Republican utters the word, it's okay. So, I guess she can call her son a retard but nobody else can...unless they are conservative MORONS who desperately want to put her in the White House in 2012.
What is it going to take to make you idiots open your eyes and see Palin for what she really is? Sarah Palin is EXACTLY like the religious whackos who thump their Bibles and proclaim abortion is the murder of a child and then turn around and ignore the children that are already here and desperately need their help! You know, I hear all over this country there are people out there who think Obama is selling our country down the river...but ignore the fact that we were sold out by Dubya when he declared war on Iraq. The Republicans are just as guilty as the Democrats of trying to destroy this country...you CAN'T pick a side and cherry-pick your cause. If Sarah Palin really was so upset about Emanuel, she should be out there now, declaring her disappointment in and outrage over her old friend Limbaugh.
So...why would anyone vote for her in 2012???
Guess who excoriated Mr. Emanuel over his used of the word "retarded"? Why none other than Sarah Palin, of course! Ms. Palin loudly declared the "R" word was little more than "...a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities...". Ms. Palin, not satisfied with her initial response also likened the word "retarded" to the dreaded "N" word and demanded President Obama fire Mr. Emanuel on the spot! Predictably, all the little Palin automatons (translation, her adoring public) joined in and a nationwide protest erupted.
So egregious was this protest that the one Conservative every Liberal loves to hate, Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show, "...lamented that "our political correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards."" WHOA!!! Hold on a minute, Palin is supposedly upset at the use of that word, right? Surely, she would chastise Limbaugh as well as Rah Emanuel, right?
Not so fast, campers! Not a public scold is in sight and will likely never come from Ms. Palin against Mr. Limbaugh. Why would she do this, you may ask. Hasn't she said before that the use of the word retarded is"...a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities..."? So, why would she not scold Limbaugh in public but pounced on Emanuel? WHY?!?
It's simple, really; I can tell you why right now. Follow me closely; Sarah Palin has not publicly scolded Rush for his use of the word because HE REPRESENTS THE WHACKO UBER-CONSERVATIVE MORONS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ADORE HER!!! So, not only is Sarah Palin an IDIOT MORON, it seems she is now a TWO-FACED LYING BITCH!!! Come on, people, can't you see this?!? She comes out when a liberal Democrat utters the dreaded word and loudly excoriates him, screaming for his dismissal but when a conservative Republican utters the word, it's okay. So, I guess she can call her son a retard but nobody else can...unless they are conservative MORONS who desperately want to put her in the White House in 2012.
What is it going to take to make you idiots open your eyes and see Palin for what she really is? Sarah Palin is EXACTLY like the religious whackos who thump their Bibles and proclaim abortion is the murder of a child and then turn around and ignore the children that are already here and desperately need their help! You know, I hear all over this country there are people out there who think Obama is selling our country down the river...but ignore the fact that we were sold out by Dubya when he declared war on Iraq. The Republicans are just as guilty as the Democrats of trying to destroy this country...you CAN'T pick a side and cherry-pick your cause. If Sarah Palin really was so upset about Emanuel, she should be out there now, declaring her disappointment in and outrage over her old friend Limbaugh.
So...why would anyone vote for her in 2012???
02 February 2010
Can A Man Be A Vegetarian?
What is it about a vegetarian that annoys me? I have never really thought of asking this question because, frankly, I don’t know any vegetarians. I guess I should be even more specific; what is it about a MALE vegetarian that annoys me to no end? Don’t get me wrong here, I am not anti-vegetable; in fact I will eat practically any vegetable presented to me, except for brussels sprouts which are inedible and evil. I am not anti-vegetarian, either; live and let live, in my opinion.
Every now and then though, I come across one who is smugly self-righteous and obnoxiously whiny. Especially the ones who declare they are vegetarian for “ethical” reasons. You know the ones I’m talking about; they think it’s cruel to raise animals for food and we are evil because we enjoy eating these animals. I don’t know how many of you out there read Men’s Health…I personally don’t subscribe to this rag, but I do read it on occasion when there is one among the stacks of magazines in my doctor’s waiting room or dentist’s office, etc. (You get the idea)
So it is that I came across the February 2010 issue of Men’s Health and the cover asks the question, if a man is a vegetarian, does he remain a man. Curiously, I flipped to the article, written by Jonathan Safran Foer. In this article Mr. Foer whines and cries; carrying on like a 6 year old in the grocery store who can’t have the candy he wants. He laments a situation he created by not telling his host he is a vegetarian and that would be forgivable, except that he doesn’t stop. In his writing, it seems he is indignant that his host didn’t provide vegetarian alternatives. Then he goes on to label meat-eaters (aka, the rest of us) as cruel, crude beings who take pleasure in knowing the poor animals are made to suffer greatly in order to provide sustenance for mankind.
That is what irritates me; nimrods like Mr. Foer who believe their way is the only way to be. He crows proudly what matters to him matters and he will not “sacrifice his values” no matter whose house he finds himself in. He claims he does not want to be a proselytizer but that is exactly what he does in this article. This is exactly what I don’t understand. Why is it that vegetarians feel they must publicly proclaim their diet of choice and become offended when those around them do not agree? Why do they feel the need to preach to us? Why is it that, in the course of my life, the vegetarians I have met are almost militant; protesting in front of Burger King or Mc Donald’s (at least in California, they do)? Whatever happened to live and let live? I eat meat, you don’t, so what?
Look, I like veggies; my wife and I eat veggies every day at dinner and, yes, sometimes we have vegetarian meals. That, however, does not give us license to force anybody else to eat vegetarian meals. I have no problem cooking vegetarian alternatives if I know in advance who’s coming to my house to eat. I am just irritated with guys like Mr. Foer. Do you want to know my opinion, Mr. Foer? My opinion is NO; you are NOT a man, not in even the slightest splinter of the meaning of what it is to be a man. You don’t have to eat meat to be a man but you certainly must NOT whine when you feel you are offended because the world will not re-create itself to fit your ideal.
Every now and then though, I come across one who is smugly self-righteous and obnoxiously whiny. Especially the ones who declare they are vegetarian for “ethical” reasons. You know the ones I’m talking about; they think it’s cruel to raise animals for food and we are evil because we enjoy eating these animals. I don’t know how many of you out there read Men’s Health…I personally don’t subscribe to this rag, but I do read it on occasion when there is one among the stacks of magazines in my doctor’s waiting room or dentist’s office, etc. (You get the idea)
So it is that I came across the February 2010 issue of Men’s Health and the cover asks the question, if a man is a vegetarian, does he remain a man. Curiously, I flipped to the article, written by Jonathan Safran Foer. In this article Mr. Foer whines and cries; carrying on like a 6 year old in the grocery store who can’t have the candy he wants. He laments a situation he created by not telling his host he is a vegetarian and that would be forgivable, except that he doesn’t stop. In his writing, it seems he is indignant that his host didn’t provide vegetarian alternatives. Then he goes on to label meat-eaters (aka, the rest of us) as cruel, crude beings who take pleasure in knowing the poor animals are made to suffer greatly in order to provide sustenance for mankind.
That is what irritates me; nimrods like Mr. Foer who believe their way is the only way to be. He crows proudly what matters to him matters and he will not “sacrifice his values” no matter whose house he finds himself in. He claims he does not want to be a proselytizer but that is exactly what he does in this article. This is exactly what I don’t understand. Why is it that vegetarians feel they must publicly proclaim their diet of choice and become offended when those around them do not agree? Why do they feel the need to preach to us? Why is it that, in the course of my life, the vegetarians I have met are almost militant; protesting in front of Burger King or Mc Donald’s (at least in California, they do)? Whatever happened to live and let live? I eat meat, you don’t, so what?
Look, I like veggies; my wife and I eat veggies every day at dinner and, yes, sometimes we have vegetarian meals. That, however, does not give us license to force anybody else to eat vegetarian meals. I have no problem cooking vegetarian alternatives if I know in advance who’s coming to my house to eat. I am just irritated with guys like Mr. Foer. Do you want to know my opinion, Mr. Foer? My opinion is NO; you are NOT a man, not in even the slightest splinter of the meaning of what it is to be a man. You don’t have to eat meat to be a man but you certainly must NOT whine when you feel you are offended because the world will not re-create itself to fit your ideal.
20 January 2010
The UN Wants Your Guns!!!
Dear Readers,
As you all know, I supported President Obama when he was Candidate Obama and voted for him in 2008. You all know that, at that time, I was completely disgusted with the Conservative Right and the Bible Thumper Whacko Uber-Right. Their rhetoric, hypocrisy and basic repugnance so disgusted me I ran to the left and consistently attacked the right. My disgust with the Conservative Right is still palpable but I am also thoroughly disgusted with the Liberal Left.
Back in May of 2009, I had been afforded the privilege of riding my Harley to South Carolina to see a very good, very close friend. The purpose of the ride was to attend the Spring Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. I rode to my friend's house in SC and on the very next day we left together for Myrtle Beach. I think you may know which friend I am talking about; for those of you who don't, the man I am talking about is the closest thing I have ever had to a brother, Traveller, also known as Iron Horse Cowboy. You can read his thoughts at his blog, The View From Downrange. My brother, IHC, and I are, at first glance, on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Where he is a conservative, I am a libertarian. I hold some decidedly liberal views on some topics while he holds very conservative views on the same topics. One would think we should be enemies but that belief is as far from the truth as one can get.
So it came to be that, in May 2009, we could be found sitting in front of a favored biker watering hole enjoying a frosty adult beverage discussing, of all things, politics. During this conversation, the topic of the Second Amendment inevitably arose. One thing he and I have in common is a profound belief the Second Amendment is one of the most important amendments in the Constitution. The guaranteed, God-given right to keep and bear arms is a major part of why this country is as great as it is. I do remember that, in the face of mounting evidence of President Obama's quest to repeal the Second Amendment, I told my friend and brother the only thing that would make me leave the Democratic Party would be an attack on the Second Amendment.
At that point in time, I was convinced Obama was in support of the Second Amendment. I mean, look, he lifted the carry restrictions in National Parks! It's no surprise that the dire consequences of wild west style gunfights predicted by the gun-control crowd never materialized...but that's another post another time. I firmly believed that Obama would stand by his promise to honor and protect the Second Amendment...oh how wrong I was. Now, I know that I have always argued to let facts speak for themselves, especially when wild claims of Obama being a muslim or not being a true American citizen were rampant. I did this because I believe in researching and finding the truth rather than blindly believing what the idiot talking heads on tv are shilling.
It was that day in May when I told my friend he was wrong about Obama. I used a paper I read some years ago as my proof that there was no intent to repeal the Second Amendment as we know it. My proof was a brief dated April 2005, written by Marjorie Brown for Congressional Review. Granted, this brief was written before Obama took office, but it was the last paragraph that told me the US would not be bound by this treaty unless the President sent it to the US Senate and the Senate agreed to it. I even looked up the 2006 “Myths and Facts” press statement called “Setting The Record Straight” about the UN and small arms. This piece read, roughly, that the "myth" was a conference is being convened to draft a global treaty to ban ownership of firearms, but the "fact" was the review conference is not about banning small arms or prohibiting people from owning legal weapons.
Granted, this hype started around 2005 when W was the President. I know he instructed John Bolton to vote against this treaty because the United States was never going to flirt with the possibility of a worldwide ban on private gun ownership. But it is 2010 now. We have a new President now who, it seems, sent the Secretary of State to the UN to express support the treaty and subsequent ban. On the surface, this looks horrible! There will be a BAN on my guns and I will never be allowed to own one again! In fact, there is no shortage of people who believe this!
The only issue I have with this argument is that the 10th Amendment automatically reserves government power to relegate such issues to the states, not the Oval Office and Congress. So regardless of Obama's power to negotiate treaties, he cannot use that power as a back door to force US citizens to comply with global gun laws. One of the greatest figures in American history, Thomas Jefferson, eloquently expressed this fact; here are some quotes from the man himself:
"...for surely the President and Senate cannot do by treaty what the whole government is interdicted from doing in any way." --Thomas Jefferson, Parliamentary Manual, 1812.
"Where powers are assumed which have not been delegated, a nullification of the act is the rightful remedy." --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798. ME 17:386
The Constitution stands in the way of any pro-gun control movement and the recent election results in Massachusetts have effectively ended the filibuster-proof majority the Democrats held in the Senate.
Now I know when you read this, some of you might think I am still clinging to the hope that Obama will actually DO something positive while he is in office and I still support the Democrats. Well you are wrong if that is what you believe. My political affiliation has changed to Independent. Simply put, even though the Constitution ensures nothing like this supposed proposed ban will happen, the Left's assault on the Second Amendment will never end...ever...and THAT is why I am turning away from Obama and the Democratic Party.
As you all know, I supported President Obama when he was Candidate Obama and voted for him in 2008. You all know that, at that time, I was completely disgusted with the Conservative Right and the Bible Thumper Whacko Uber-Right. Their rhetoric, hypocrisy and basic repugnance so disgusted me I ran to the left and consistently attacked the right. My disgust with the Conservative Right is still palpable but I am also thoroughly disgusted with the Liberal Left.
Back in May of 2009, I had been afforded the privilege of riding my Harley to South Carolina to see a very good, very close friend. The purpose of the ride was to attend the Spring Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. I rode to my friend's house in SC and on the very next day we left together for Myrtle Beach. I think you may know which friend I am talking about; for those of you who don't, the man I am talking about is the closest thing I have ever had to a brother, Traveller, also known as Iron Horse Cowboy. You can read his thoughts at his blog, The View From Downrange. My brother, IHC, and I are, at first glance, on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Where he is a conservative, I am a libertarian. I hold some decidedly liberal views on some topics while he holds very conservative views on the same topics. One would think we should be enemies but that belief is as far from the truth as one can get.
So it came to be that, in May 2009, we could be found sitting in front of a favored biker watering hole enjoying a frosty adult beverage discussing, of all things, politics. During this conversation, the topic of the Second Amendment inevitably arose. One thing he and I have in common is a profound belief the Second Amendment is one of the most important amendments in the Constitution. The guaranteed, God-given right to keep and bear arms is a major part of why this country is as great as it is. I do remember that, in the face of mounting evidence of President Obama's quest to repeal the Second Amendment, I told my friend and brother the only thing that would make me leave the Democratic Party would be an attack on the Second Amendment.
At that point in time, I was convinced Obama was in support of the Second Amendment. I mean, look, he lifted the carry restrictions in National Parks! It's no surprise that the dire consequences of wild west style gunfights predicted by the gun-control crowd never materialized...but that's another post another time. I firmly believed that Obama would stand by his promise to honor and protect the Second Amendment...oh how wrong I was. Now, I know that I have always argued to let facts speak for themselves, especially when wild claims of Obama being a muslim or not being a true American citizen were rampant. I did this because I believe in researching and finding the truth rather than blindly believing what the idiot talking heads on tv are shilling.
It was that day in May when I told my friend he was wrong about Obama. I used a paper I read some years ago as my proof that there was no intent to repeal the Second Amendment as we know it. My proof was a brief dated April 2005, written by Marjorie Brown for Congressional Review. Granted, this brief was written before Obama took office, but it was the last paragraph that told me the US would not be bound by this treaty unless the President sent it to the US Senate and the Senate agreed to it. I even looked up the 2006 “Myths and Facts” press statement called “Setting The Record Straight” about the UN and small arms. This piece read, roughly, that the "myth" was a conference is being convened to draft a global treaty to ban ownership of firearms, but the "fact" was the review conference is not about banning small arms or prohibiting people from owning legal weapons.
Granted, this hype started around 2005 when W was the President. I know he instructed John Bolton to vote against this treaty because the United States was never going to flirt with the possibility of a worldwide ban on private gun ownership. But it is 2010 now. We have a new President now who, it seems, sent the Secretary of State to the UN to express support the treaty and subsequent ban. On the surface, this looks horrible! There will be a BAN on my guns and I will never be allowed to own one again! In fact, there is no shortage of people who believe this!
The only issue I have with this argument is that the 10th Amendment automatically reserves government power to relegate such issues to the states, not the Oval Office and Congress. So regardless of Obama's power to negotiate treaties, he cannot use that power as a back door to force US citizens to comply with global gun laws. One of the greatest figures in American history, Thomas Jefferson, eloquently expressed this fact; here are some quotes from the man himself:
"...for surely the President and Senate cannot do by treaty what the whole government is interdicted from doing in any way." --Thomas Jefferson, Parliamentary Manual, 1812.
"Where powers are assumed which have not been delegated, a nullification of the act is the rightful remedy." --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798. ME 17:386
The Constitution stands in the way of any pro-gun control movement and the recent election results in Massachusetts have effectively ended the filibuster-proof majority the Democrats held in the Senate.
Now I know when you read this, some of you might think I am still clinging to the hope that Obama will actually DO something positive while he is in office and I still support the Democrats. Well you are wrong if that is what you believe. My political affiliation has changed to Independent. Simply put, even though the Constitution ensures nothing like this supposed proposed ban will happen, the Left's assault on the Second Amendment will never end...ever...and THAT is why I am turning away from Obama and the Democratic Party.
12 January 2010
Game Change, Regime Change, and Spare Change!!
I have been trying to come up with a decent posting here for you to read but it seemed like nothing interested me. Sure, I could have put up some sappy year-end recap and make a Happy New Year wish to all of you, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually do that. So, dear readers, I give you a three part blog post that will surely entertain you!
The CIA Is At It Again!
This just in from Iran; professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi , a particle physicist who supported moderate candidate Mirhossein Mousavi in the country’s disputed elections, was killed by a remote-detonated bomb wired to a motorcycle. Iran’s government is blaming “agents of the US and Israel” of the bombing. Of course, I mean Iran blames the US and Israel for all of its ills anyway, so why should this incident be any different? It makes me wonder about the intelligence of Iran’s leadership. Their national elections showed more votes for Imadingyjihad than voters; in effect, the hardliners stole the election to retain their stranglehold on the country. The massive protests that erupted and the well-documented government crackdown should prove beyond a doubt who really killed the good professor. I guess Iran’s rulers must be the reincarnations of the Three Stooges.
Oh No, Hillary Clinton Really Is A Bitch!!
This just in! A new book is coming out with a less than flattering portrait of Hillary Clinton! Funny, though, that almost none of Clinton’s supporters is coming out to shoot the book down before its release. I wonder why, after years of Clinton denials of wrongdoing and counter-attacks discrediting accusers, are they silent now? Well, it’s because the book’s sources are Hillary’s own staffers!! You don’t have to believe me, you can check it out yourself here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20100111/pl_politico/31345
Damn, she really is a bitch. Who woulda thunk it?
Just When You Thought Hollywood Couldn’t Get Dumber
Guess what television show-based movie is coming out this summer? Why, The A-Team of course! Sure, the 80s television series wasn’t bad enough, now some genius decided we needed a just as bad movie. You know something, I like action movies; I really do. I love watching the explosions the chase scenes and the like but come on! Is this film really necessary? This just proves my point; there hasn’t been an original idea in Hollywood in decades. We have been made to suffer through big-screen versions of mediocre television shows like Mission: Impossible, The Avengers, The Saint, The Fugitive, and a few spoofs like Dragnet. There’s a reason these shows ended their television runs, people! What makes you think shooting a movie of a television show is a good thing? Still, though, there are enough mindless, easily-led, easily-entertained sheep out there who will gladly fork over their hard-earned dollars to watch yet another bad movie remake of a mediocre television show…enjoy.
I sincerely hope all of you liked this post; otherwise how would you know there was a book telling the truth about Hillary Clinton, aptly named "Game Change"?
The CIA Is At It Again!
This just in from Iran; professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi , a particle physicist who supported moderate candidate Mirhossein Mousavi in the country’s disputed elections, was killed by a remote-detonated bomb wired to a motorcycle. Iran’s government is blaming “agents of the US and Israel” of the bombing. Of course, I mean Iran blames the US and Israel for all of its ills anyway, so why should this incident be any different? It makes me wonder about the intelligence of Iran’s leadership. Their national elections showed more votes for Imadingyjihad than voters; in effect, the hardliners stole the election to retain their stranglehold on the country. The massive protests that erupted and the well-documented government crackdown should prove beyond a doubt who really killed the good professor. I guess Iran’s rulers must be the reincarnations of the Three Stooges.
Oh No, Hillary Clinton Really Is A Bitch!!
This just in! A new book is coming out with a less than flattering portrait of Hillary Clinton! Funny, though, that almost none of Clinton’s supporters is coming out to shoot the book down before its release. I wonder why, after years of Clinton denials of wrongdoing and counter-attacks discrediting accusers, are they silent now? Well, it’s because the book’s sources are Hillary’s own staffers!! You don’t have to believe me, you can check it out yourself here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20100111/pl_politico/31345
Damn, she really is a bitch. Who woulda thunk it?
Just When You Thought Hollywood Couldn’t Get Dumber
Guess what television show-based movie is coming out this summer? Why, The A-Team of course! Sure, the 80s television series wasn’t bad enough, now some genius decided we needed a just as bad movie. You know something, I like action movies; I really do. I love watching the explosions the chase scenes and the like but come on! Is this film really necessary? This just proves my point; there hasn’t been an original idea in Hollywood in decades. We have been made to suffer through big-screen versions of mediocre television shows like Mission: Impossible, The Avengers, The Saint, The Fugitive, and a few spoofs like Dragnet. There’s a reason these shows ended their television runs, people! What makes you think shooting a movie of a television show is a good thing? Still, though, there are enough mindless, easily-led, easily-entertained sheep out there who will gladly fork over their hard-earned dollars to watch yet another bad movie remake of a mediocre television show…enjoy.
I sincerely hope all of you liked this post; otherwise how would you know there was a book telling the truth about Hillary Clinton, aptly named "Game Change"?
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