The Violence Worker!

Funeral or Circus

Or putting the "fun" in funeral!  What a side show this is turning out to be.

Obviously, Michael Jackson's life was like some kind of weird tragic opera in which his death was was an integral final scene.  Now that he's dead, the events since his his passing are more like Opera Buffa.  Every shirttail relative, every sycophant in his entourage and his greedy old man are all jockeying for whatever is left of his legacy and fortune.  And now, adding to that mix,  Al  Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are down there in SoCal sucking up to the family. These two phonys are vying for the opportunity to be the one to preach MJ's funeral.

Obviously, I don't care who preaches at the funeral.  I won't be watching and I can't think of one thing either of them will say that I would find the least bit interesting.

Maybe they will audition their sermons for the family.  They could base it on American Idol.  Maybe they could make a reality TV Series!  They could add Louis Farrakhan and Jeremiah Wright and we could watch "Who Will Preach The Sermon"  A whole plethora of tests and challenges could be devised to winnow the field down to the lucky mouth such as "who can rhyme the most books of the Bible" in the shortest time, or "who can shout the loudest", or the most challenging of all - "picking out a bible from a line up of books!"  It's a sure fire hit.

Rest in Peace Michael and enjoy the circus.

VW

Cap and Trade Rhetoric

As many have often pointed out, words mean things.  All too often people try to denigrate their political opponents by making outlandish charges and unfortunately, both sides are guilty of hyperbole when it comes to taking a stand on a certain issue.

Paul Kugman is a prime example.

Still, is it fair to call climate denial a form of treason? Isn’t it politics as usual?

Yes, it is — and that’s why it’s unforgivable.

"Climate denial" , according to Mr. Krugman, is now on the magnitude of treason.  Treason carries the maximum punishment of death.  U.S. Law also states that those convicted are forever ineligible to hold public office.  Is that what he really means?  Surely he knows the law at least as much as I do.

Henry Waxman, one of the authors the Cap and Trade bill said this:

"They [Republicans] want to play politics and see if they can keep any achievements from being accomplished that may be beneficial to the Democrats. They're rooting against the country and I think in this case, even rooting against the world because the world needs to get its act together to stop global warming."

At least he not accusing Republicans of being treasonous, but the point is there.  If we don't agree with him, we are somehow against the entire world.  We somehow want pollution and for everybody to die.  I don't think he really believes that, does he?

Yes, I've seen people calling those who support the bill "Cap and Traitors" and again, I think it's wrong headed to use that kind of language and does our cause no good.  Cap and Trade is anti-American in concept and execution.  It's utimate aim is to deprive the American people of freedom and economic prosperity.  Although proposing such an abominable piece of legislation such as this might be morally reprehensible, it is not illegal.  One might make a good argument that Cap and Trade me very well be unconstituional (and it probably is), but there is no law that I am aware of making that a crime either.

Fight the bill on principle, not with hyperbole.  Leave that to the Waxmans, Krugmans, and the hate-filled kiddies that inhabit the Democratic Underground.

VW

It's Almost Over

Almost 233 years ago, this country was born.  It was a grand experiment that said that the state was subordinate to the people.  The state was there to provide for the common defense and protection, but the citizens decided how much and when.  Liberty and freedom were ours to enjoy, but it came with the caveat that we must always be vigilant for there would always be someone who would be trying to steal it from us.  there would always be someone or some group who would salivate at the chance to usurp our freedoms and prosperity for their own gain and power.

During the cold war, we played a deadly game of nuclear chess with the Communists as they sought to spread slavery to the state around the world.  In 1963, Nikita Khrushchev explained that eventually, the workers would bury Capitalism (expanding on a comment he'd made several years earlier stating he would bury us).  As Americans, we didn't believe him nor take him too seriously.  After all, who would want to trade our standard of living and our liberties for the slavery of Communism?

But we were complacent in our cushy lives and the Marxists never rested - even when the Soviet Union crumbled.  The irony is that it wasn't the workers , but people we elected.  We let down our guard, mesmerized by the promise of treasure from our treasury.  Free healthcare, free rent, free food, free this and free that,.  We were guilted by our largess.  How could we be so selfish with our wealth when there are starving people?  We wanted to be generous.  We wanted to be nice.  We wanted everyone to love us.

Now, the Democrats are about to pass the most disastrous piece of legislation ever in our history.  Cap and Trade will be the death knell of the American middle class.  Millions of jobs will be lost, energy bills will double and we will be forced to choose between food and heat.

This tax will effect everything in our life.  The cost to produce our food, clothes, transportation and shelter will rise as producers will be forced to pass on the cost of the cap and trade taxes on to us. Any company that can afford to move out of the country will do so and take their jobs with them.  Many will be forced to close their doors and lay people off because few will be able to afford their service or product.  

And after they pass the Cap and Trade act, they will then turn on the healthcare system and abolish our current system for a government run system that will quickly become too costly.  Health care will be rationed. 

If you think you want government run healthcare, think of this.  When the government controls your birthing, living and dying, you are no longer a free citizen - you are a ward of the state.

Cap and Trade just passed the house, the end of liberty draws increasingly closer.

VW

MIchael Jackson Dies

I first heard that Michael Jackson had a heart attack and was rushed to a hospital as I was leaving work.  It's one of those news bits you hear and figure he's going to be OK.  Well, not so much in this case.  I'm really lousy at prognostication. 

He was the self-proclaimed "King of Pop".  I was never a big fan. I didn't dislike his music and I thought his "Thriller" era was his best (like most folks, I assume).

Like a lot of child stars, it seems as if their early fame and fortune propels them headlong on to some kind of self destructive fast lane.  Jackson seemed to get weirder by the year.  His last years were filled with allegations of pedophilia and financial problems.  He made an enormous amount of money, only to piss away most of it on his weirdness.  He kept a huge entourage, a ranch with an amusement park, weird clothes.  It was rumored that he wore a new tailor made outfit every day.

I was watching CNN's live feed and I was amazed at the amount of people surrounding the hospital where he died.  I understand people were upset and that some were devoted fans, but it always strikes me as somewhat of a waste.  I don't think he would have given any of them the time of day when he was alive.

I hope he is now at peace. 

VW

My friend Bloviating Zeppelin  waxes a bit cynical, but he poses an interesting question.

Seattle Justice

Let's say you are 17-years-old and you and two buddies are in a fight with an adult.  A cop shows up, the adult backs off and you decide this pig needs a lesson so you and your two 17-year-old friends attack the cop.  You get his radio and you go for his gun.  He keeps his gun but you kick him in the head so hard, it causes the cop to have permanent brain damage and a loss of motor skills.  He'll probably never work as a policeman again.

If this were someplace that took justice seriously, these so-called teens would have been tried as an adult and spent a few years in the big house for assaulting a police officer.  But this is Seattle, after all. It's a place where you can beat harmless people to death and only get 9 months in jail.

And this being Seattle, these punks got about two months (59 days of which was already served when they were sentenced).  Sure, they got a years probation and some community service time, but if you think that makes much difference, you are delusional.

One police officer told the judge:

"You're sending the wrong message," Officer W. Kohn told the judge during the hearing.

"We are not punching bags. The word is going to get out that you can commit a minor assault on an officer and you're not going to be held accountable."

Except I don't think causing permanent brain damage is "minor".

And in a few months, their juvenile records will be sealed and they will never really have to answer for their actions. 

This is what you get for electing liberals time after time and then you wonder why your city is going to hell in a handbasket.

VW.

And no, I'm not going to blog on the Sanford saga.  Lot's of folks have already chimed in and I'm sure my take isn't any different then everybody else writing about this slimeball.

Old Buzz

Where I work, we send and receive equipment on a fairly regular basis.  We primarily use one particular company (we don't do the contracting of the truckers, that's done by another office),  so we see and get to know many of the drivers.  One of our favorites was an old guy we called "Buzz".  I don't  ever recall knowing his real name.  Buzz was a roly-poly old guy with a balding pate, a twinkle in his eye and a ready laugh.  He had a deep gravelly southern drawl that could only belong to an old truck driver.  I never seen him wear anything but overalls and a tee shirt.  Once loaded, he would work up a big sweat chaining and tarping his load. 

We got word from another driver that was picking up a load today that old Buzz died last week in his sleep at a truck stop down in Florida.  He was 70.  One of his nephews was with him, out of school and keeping old Uncle Buzz company.for week or two.  The trucking company flew the kid back home (I think Oklahoma) and sent another driver to pick up his load.

Old Buzz died doing what he loved, driving a truck.  We should all be so lucky to go doing what we love. 

So farewell Buzz, we'll truly miss you.  I  know our little shop was one of your favorite places to load and unload.  I also know that you were well liked by all the other drivers working for your company.  

Rest in peace, Buzz and keep on drivin'!

VW

Firkin A!

I just purchased the domain name firkina.com.  From now on, the beer blog will be known as Firkin a!  It's craft beer!

It might take up to 24 hours to get everything up and running under the new domain name, but we will be working tirelessly to get it up under the new name.  The reason for the name change is to separate the Beer Blog from the politics.  While we all may not agree on politics, we can all agree that there is much to agree on and discuss in the world of beer.

We are seeking some writing help as well.  If you would like to contribute, let me know and we will discuss it.  If you expect payment, sorry, all of our spare money goes to buying beer.

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, a FIRKIN is a quarter barrel of beer.

Cheers!

VW

Lech Walesa Thanks Ronald Reagan

 Obama is dithering over the events in Iran, afraid to support the protesters too much in case they fail.  His reasoning, I guess,  is that the Iranian Mullahs will hate us if he shows any kind of solidarity with the protesters..  The truth is that they will hate us anyway.

In the 1980s, another President sat in the White House and he was not afraid to act and sided early on with the independent Polish tade Union, "Solidarity".  From it's start in 1981 untill 1989 when the Communists were finally overthrown, Reagan supported the struggle for freedom in Poland.  In a radio address given on October 9th of 1982,  Ronald Reagan said this:

I am, therefore, today directing steps to bring about the suspension of Poland's most-favored-nation-tariff status as quickly as possible. This will increase the tariffs on Polish manufactured goods exported to the United States and thus reduce the quantities of these goods which have been imported in the past.

The Polish regime should understand that we're prepared to take further steps as a result of this further repression in Poland. We are also consulting urgently with our allies on steps we might take jointly in response to this latest outrage. While taking these steps, I want to make clear, as I have in the past, that they are not directed against the Polish people. We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Poland, through organizations such as Catholic Relief Service and CARE, as we have since the beginning of martial law.

At the same time, I stand by my earlier offer to provide recovery assistance to help the Polish economy back on its feet, once Warsaw restores to the Polish people their human rights.

There is no equivocation, hesitation or PC diplomatic prattle in that speech.  President Reagan drew the line and said this is where we stand.

Last Friday, on in op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Lech Walesa wrote an eloquent essay thanking president reagan for his unwavering support.

When talking about Ronald Reagan, I have to be personal. We in Poland took him so personally. Why? Because we owe him our liberty. This can't be said often enough by people who lived under oppression for half a century, until communism fell in 1989.

Poles fought for their freedom for so many years that they hold in special esteem those who backed them in their struggle. Support was the test of friendship. President Reagan was such a friend. His policy of aiding democratic movements in Central and Eastern Europe in the dark days of the Cold War meant a lot to us. We knew he believed in a few simple principles such as human rights, democracy and civil society. He was someone who was convinced that the citizen is not for the state, but vice-versa, and that freedom is an innate right.

How unlike the spineless individual who now sits in the oval office!  Obama is no statesman.  He would most likely have sided with the Polish Communists because, after all, if Walesa and his movement failed, the Polish thugs in charge might have become upset with us.

Mr. Walesa concludes:

As I say repeatedly, we owe so much to all those who supported us. Perhaps in the early years, we didn't express enough gratitude. We were so busy introducing all the necessary economic and political reforms in our reborn country. Yet President Ronald Reagan must have realized what remarkable changes he brought to Poland, and indeed the rest of the world. And I hope he felt gratified. He should have.

I'm sure he still does.  I think he knew and he still knows just how big an impact he had upon the United States, Poland and the entire world.

Please read the entire piece.  You will not be disappointed.

It's pathetic how far we've fallen from the days of the Gipper. 

VW

Larry Flynt

It's reported that Larry Flynt had to be taken to a hospital yesterday.

Hustler kingpin Larry Flynt was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital Emergency Room on Saturday afternoon

I don't wish harm on anyone (with the possible exception of a terrorist in an American Soldier's rifle sights) but Flynt is one of those people who has contributed absolutely nothing positive to this world.  I understand he's probably quite angry over being shot and paralyzed, but Flynt is a despicable human being.  He has worked tirelessly to offend the sensibilities of this nation under the guise of "free speech".  When President Bush was elected, he offered a reward if anyone could produce nude photos of Dubya's twin daughters.

I wish him no harm, but if he doesn't recover, I don't particularly care.  I won't shed any tears. 

VW

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers day to all you Dads out there.  In honor of Fathers Day, I offer up this little video to help you to celebrate this day with your Daddy!  Enjoy!

Dads:  Enjoy your day!

VW

HT:  Knowledge is Power