Just Shoot Her! Part 3

Congratulations, you Right-To-Kill advocates. Terri Schiavo has starved to death. Go on with your gloating and celebrating the loss of another human life. Some of you may not feel that way (I use 'feel', as 'thought' certainly is not a part of it) but just know that some of your like-minded individuals are actually GLAD that she's dead. Congratulations. I hope you are proud of that association.

Just Shoot Her! Part 2

The Pope may have to have a feeding tube put in place as he is having problems swallowing, due to his respirator causing him difficulty. Based upon the notion that a feeding tube should be pulled out of Terri Schiavo so she can experience euphoria as she starves to death, should not the Pope also experience the same "joy" and not have a feeding tube? Better yet, why not shoot the Pope as well, and put him out of our, er..uh.. I mean his misery?

Why stop there? Let's just kill everyone who has issues. Down's Syndrome? BAM! Use a walker? BAM! Suffer from Alzheimer's? BAM! If the goal of you so-called "Right-To-Die" people is to let people die (kill them) because they're not able to live a full and productive life, why stop at the terminally ill? (by the way, Terri Schiavo is not terminal) Let's kill anyone who has issues, be it mentally handicapped, physical abnormalities, just plain ugly, or anyone else who deems them to not be fully productive and having a good life.

Oh. Who decides on what a full and productive life is, anyway? Government? Society? Like the Schiavo situation, who decides when the individual can't speak for themselves? Parent? Spouse? Children? Who decides mental capacity?

Let's face it. There are a lot of variables at play here. Since the goal is to kill people, let's be like the old west with the medical profession - shoot first, ask questions later.

Easter Thought

Today is Easter Sunday, and a thought has been troubling me. Why is it that Easter isn't NEARLY as appreciated/celebrated/hyped that Christmas is? Don't get me wrong. Christmas is incredibly important. The birth of Christ to the Virgin Mother is phenomenal, and worth celebration. But why isn't Easter also thought of in the same vein? After all, the Resurrection of Christ from the dead is truly an amazing act. In fact, I think it is the most important act in the Bible, and the entire reason for Christianity. If Jesus had not risen from the grave, how would he have been any different from anyone else who was born, and then died? Even his crucifixion, while gruesome, wasn't unique. The Romans had executed many prisoners in this way. But to rise from the dead? To re-animate flesh? That is the amazing feat. It is the reason for Christianity - to be born again like Jesus into the loving arms of God in Heaven.

Why is this day not celebrated like Christmas? I'll give you one reason - PRESENTS! No one gives presents at Easter, save for baskets of chocolates for kids. There is no "Easter Season" like there is the "Christmas Season". There is no countdown until the Easter Bunny arrives. You can take your children to see the Easter Bunny at the mall, but is there REALLY that sense of excitement in seeing him as there is in seeing Santa Claus? Of course not. It all comes down to commercialization. Christmas isn't about the birth of the Baby Jesus, but about how many toasters we can buy for our co-workers. As I'd said before, the birth is just an afterthought.

In a way, I'm glad that Easter hasn't gotten bogged down with the absolute nonsense of "Present Taking". It does leave the holiday alone to be a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. I just wish that everyone would take time to truly think about what that means.

Just Shoot Her!

The Supreme Court has decided to not intervene on behalf of Terri Schiavo's parents, and reinsert her feeding tube. Therefore, she will starve to death in the next 7-10 days, and this case will finally come to a close. However, in keeping with our fast-food, instant gratification society, I say that it will take too long for her to die. There is only one option - EXECUTION! If letting her starve to death is the desired course of action to put her out of her misery, wouldn't it end the suffering faster by shooting her? After all, hasn't this whole situation been about killing her?

"No, Brian, it's about her right to die." Ok. If that's the case, let's help her. Why make it last so long? Don't want to get your hands dirty, so you'd rather she die naturally, i.e via starvation? Well, a natural death is God taking the life, not a human denying care that would prolong life. By pulling her feeding tube, you are, in a sense, pulling a trigger. Go ahead, make the argument that we are defying God's will by prolonging her life. If so, then we need to acknowledge a couple of facts. The first is that the practice of all medicine should immediately stop then, since we are, in this theory, fighting God's will. The other is an amazing act of conceit. Does anyone REALLY think that if God wants to take someone into Heaven, that a human being could stop them?

Isn't dying via starvation a horrible way to die? Well, according to some doctors, starvation actually brings forth a sense of euphoria before you fall into a deep sleep, so it's not painful or suffering. If that's the case, let's ALL do it, under a doctor's supervision. That way, we can all achieve new levels of euphoria, and then can have the doctor revive us before we die. Heck - sounds like fun! By the way, if dying of starvation is so much fun, why are we worried about the starving peoples in Africa, or even children here in America who do not have enough to eat? It would seem to me that these would be the happiest people on Earth, and wouldn't want help because they are just so darn chipper!

This case is heartbreaking. No question. But don't for one second think it's about a person's "right to die". This all comes down to one point - a right to kill. Is life really worth that little any more?

Blockbuster Is At It Again......

You gotta love determination. Blockbuster Video, fresh off their "No Late Fees" late fees, has introduced a "Rent As Much As You Want" policy for one monthly price of $14.99. On the surface, that sounds like a decent deal. Then, you read the fine print. For online rentals, you can only do 3 at a time, and in store rentals are 1 at a time.

I'm good with the idea of limiting the number of videos rented at a time, as I could see a scenario where someone could go in and take out 10 or more each time they came in. But limiting it to 1??? How often does anyone rent 1 movie at a time? I know when I go into the store, I usually get at least 2, if not 3, simply so that I don't have to keep making return trips to the store. How many times have you rented multiple videos, put the first one in, it's so awful that you turn it off 15 minutes in, and switch to the other rental? With their policy, you'd have to drive back to the store and get another one. Or, tricky devils that they are, you get one on your $14.99 plan, and then PAY for another video at normal cost. Definitely sounds like you're able to rent as much as you want for one low price to me - $14.99 plus $2.99 for each additional. What a deal!!!

3 per time via the internet is a good number, but then you have to deal with making sure they get sent back in time to avoid the "No Late Fees" late fee, and chances are with postal mail, at least once you'll not return it in time and get hit with the bogus fee.

With gas prices continually rising, it makes sense to condense the number of trips made unnecessarily. I understand that they are trying to drive more traffic through their doors and possibly make additional sales on used movies, popcorn, etc. However, when you factor in the time taken to REPEATEDLY drive to the store, it simply makes no sense to sign up for this program. If the limit was 3, or maybe even 2, I would consider the program. As it is, another "great" idea by Blockbuster turns out to be lousy, once someone looks at the details.

Bill of Non-Rights

This came across my email box from my friend Rose. I agree with the sentiment of it, and wanted to include it on my blog. The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA.

" We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense
guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden, delusional, and other bed-wetters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights, as such:

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world has idiots, and probably always will.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!"

Lack Of Talent Equals Success

I may be wrong (not likely), but it seems to me that nowadays, we are being subjected to a dearth of talentless so-called "celebrities". If you want to even have a casual interest in current pop culture, you will be bombarded with idiocy. Look what is on the covers of magazines, on entertainment programs, or even at sporting events - TALENTLESS HACKS!

Examples? Let's start with the one who has a God-Awful singing voice, and is yet EVERYWHERE - Ashley Simpson. For those who know me, you know I have a brutal singing voice. My feeble attempts at singing would frighten small animals. And yet, I dare say that I have more natural singing ability than her. She's HORRIBLE! She doesn't sing, she yells. At the Orange Bowl, THE ORANGE BOWL, where the NCAA college championship was played, we were forced to endure her screams, or, as she called it, her singing, because she's a ROCKER! (Her words). Then again, it was amusing to see her get caught on national television lip-syncing on Saturday Night Live. I always loved her excuses. First, it was her band playing the wrong song. Then, she had acid-reflex......whatever that is. That's not even a real sickness. (I should know. I have acid-reflux). Why are we stuck seeing her everywhere, even on her own MTV show? Yes. She has her own TV show. Simply because she has a sister who also is the music industry. It's not what you can do, it's who you know. That axiom continues to ring true today.

There are others. The biggest example of complete lack of talent or usefulness is Paris Hilton. Boy, did she ever earn her celebrity status. She was born. That took a lot of hard work and effort on her part. She was born an heiress to the Hilton fortune. Don't get me wrong. I do not begrudge anyone who is wealthy. However, do I have to see her on the cover of EVERY magazine while I stand in line at the grocery store? Do I have to see her at every celebrity or sporting event? Can I escape her ridiculous "reality show"? Does she need to be in a bunch of commercials? Let's face it. The only talent she has is apparently in the bedroom on videotape. At least there, she's doing something "that's hot" (her overused expression).

Why do these people, and others (Omarossa, any contestant from American Idol, Britney Spears) get thrust at us as the so-called celebrity idols to worship? I think Ayn Rand may have been right in her book "The Fountainhead", published over half a century ago. In it, there are two architects, Howard Roark and Peter Keating. Roark is brilliant, not constrained to modeling his designs on past successes. Keating isn't as talented, but knows how to "work the room". Roark is shunned by "the people who matter" - his critics in the architectural world, the press and his peers. His designs are bold and challenge the conventional wisdom. For this, he struggles again and again. Keating has great success because he doesn't rock the boat. His designs are copies of the existing models. His peers and the press love him! Why? Because they can prop him up knowing that they are superior to him, and can take him down whenever they want. It's a matter of control and arrogance.

It makes sense. True talent gets cursory applause, but lack of talent gets you far. All you have to do is think back to this year's Super Bowl. The halftime show was ripped by the press for being too bland because there was no controversy. The fact that is omitted is who the performer was - Paul McCartney, arguably one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. His show was great because he played SONGS and actually performed them himself. Amazing.

Be careful of the "next big thing" in the celebrity world. The bigger they are at first, the more lack of talent on display.

Fortune Cookie Keepers

"I Love Chinese. They only come up past your knees...." What a great song.......
Every time I eat Chinese, I get acid reflex.....I mean acid reflux. Also, if my fortune cookie has something profound, amusing, or outright strange for a message, I keep it in my wallet. I've been doing this for years. Yes, I need help.

I thought that I would post them here. Hopefully you'll see one that'll make you chuckle, laugh, or maybe even give you something to ponder.

• Anyone that dares to be can never be weak.
• Courage & optimism are your best traits.
• Sell your ideas - they are totally acceptable.
• Don't be hasty; prosperity will knock on your door soon.
• More money and travel is in your future.
• Your luck has been completely changed today.
• You will hear pleasant news.
• Your personality is great; use it proudly don't debate.
• Any rough times are now behind you.
• Good sense is the master of human life.
• Your love of life will carry you through any circumstance.
• Your future will be happy and productive.
• You will be fortunate in everything you put your hands to.
• Your principles mean more to you than any money or success. (I believe this about me)
• You will do well to expand your business.
• Your life will soon be graced with the presence of stardom.
• You have at your command the wisdom of the ages.
• You will enjoy true success in whatever you do.
• The will of the people is the best law. (Except where the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is concerned. For them the people be damned)
• You will make a profitable investment.
• Keep on charging the enemy so long as there is life.
• Your planning will bring rich rewards.
• You will be unusually successful in business.
• You shall soon gain the attention of those who count.
• Your ability to juggle many tasks will take you far.
• Stick with your wife. (From an episode of 'The Simpsons')

My personal favorite:

• War is too serious a matter to leave to the military. (Huh?)