Bastards!!!!!

I couldn't have said it any better myself. This is the headline from the London Daily Star.

http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1312983.jpg

So, what do we have. We have some Islam fascist goons who feel that freedom is something that nobody should have. They feel that all should live by the strict life detailed by their extremist beliefs, no wavering. Let me tell you how much they enjoy this type of life. Anyone who can see they have a future would think twice about blowing themselves up. Their way of life has no hope, hence they blow themselves up in the hopes of obtaining something like 72 virgins. (I personally think that they will not be going to heaven and the 72 virgins are actually horny syphilitic rhinos. Put the picture together yourself)

I would like to commend Prime Minister Tony Blair. He has been a great ally, standing with the US through thick and thin. He stood up today and flatly told these lunatics that this changes nothing. Watch the footage on the news, nobody....And I do mean nobody....Is panicking. Not the civilians, not the government and not the local officials dealing with this mess. Through all this the people claiming responsibility are saying that this was a glorious and blessed attack. NUTS!!!

We should support England in their effort to find, capture and punish those directly and indirectly responsible for this atrocity. Thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Remember in this war there is no surrender. Only victory will save us.

Where do I begin

They say that a picture can speak a thousand words. This one speaks tomes. Four songs, that's all it took, four songs. Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb. WOW. Nothing could have been better yesterday. Spent time with friends and capped off the night with watching something I have been told that would never happen. EVER!!!!!!

As I sit here right now I am again watching Pink Floyd's performance of Comfortably Numb. This time uncut and uninterrupted. What is that you say, when I first saw it they interrupted it? You have that right.

You see, for those who are not in the states, the only way to watch Live 8 was to tune into MTV or VH1. They were both showing the same feed. So, like I promised, I recorded the show so that I could watch it later that night. (I really couldn't watch it real time. I was at my God Daughter's B-Day party. Happy 2nd B-Day Alice. You also heard right, I am the God Father....Kiss the ring!!!!) I did see part of the performance during the party and saw two flipping (or bloody for my British friends) morons interrupt the guitar solo. I couldn't have been seeing thing right.

I got home and proceeded to play the recording. My face was spewing tears of joy as I watched. I never thought that I would see the four members of the band on the same stage....ever. But there it was and they sounded better than I could have hoped for. But there they were again. They broke into the last verse and guitar solo to tell me two earth shattering facts that they thought I would die without. What were these facts:

1. Pink Floyd was on the stage (whew....thanks for letting me know. I was thinking that they were the Buggles)
2. People outside before the concert had made their own Pink Floyd T-Shirts (I was hoping that she would tell me how they performed such a feat 'cause that is something I have been wanting to do)

Listen here dolly dumb ass, shut up and know your role. This was the most historic reunion in many years and will be for many years to come. Now think, because of you when people think back to the show what will they be saying. you choose:

1. I really learned alot about how to end poverty (This thought is a total crock as detailed in one of my earlier blogs) or..........
2. I can't believe that some smarmy @$#&* did that during Floyd's reunion.

I vote for number two. Now, I do realize that they are not fully responsible. MTV and VH1 are also primarily responsible. For many many moons (There is no dark side of the moon. Actually, it's all dark) they have been the epitome of just how bad television can get. Think for a second and ask yourself when was the last time you saw a video on MTV. If it was fairly recent the I can almost garuntee you that most of the people in it were half naked. (Another blog for another time)

To MTV, VH1 and all the other crappy stations that bear that name I have one thing to say to you. I am declaring JIHAD. I will do nothing but work to have people switch to stations like Fuse (Great hard rock on that station). Your time at the top of pop media is coming to an end. When it does I will be in Time Square pointing and lauging as the emprie falls. Teens will stop watching and they will start to learn how to think for themselves. Scary, but it will happen. (Of course after it happens I will be waking from a dream into the nightmare realizing that you all are still on my cable service.)

Live 8 purpose a crock?

Well, why not jump into a shark infested tank head first. Live 8 is a set of concerts aimed at generating awareness about poverty in Africa. There can be no argument that Africa is wracked with poverty, disease and a whole host of other problems but how is raising awareness supposed to change any of that. Let's look at things at the core:

1. Let's start with the proceeds from the text message lottery that was held in England. To get into the lottery, the English people had to send a text message through their mobile phones. Each Message cost approximately $2.75. Now, the proceeds will go to pay for the expenses in throwing the concerts with the remainder (if any) going to school building projects in Africa. Good thought but what does it do about the supposed immediate problems this concert is to address. - http://www.live8live.com/tickets/index.shtml
2. Nowhere on the Live 8 site does it tell where the money from the ticket sales is going to be sent, donated or spent. Sorta odd for a charity not to tell where the money is going. http://www.live8live.com
3. Blindly giving aid helps nobody when there are no strings attached. Many, not all, of the governments within Africa are, how can I say this gently, corrupt. Sure there are some good apples but take for example Uganda has been waging war for years utilizing aid money received from the US. How will doubling aid help with this. To get the aid to the people it would need to go through some local government or at least have local government approval to be utilized. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4594865.stm
4. There is no information on who should oversee the distribution of the aid. Some would suggest the UN but that is another conversation for another time.
5. Debt relief. Give me a break. Name someone, I dare you, that isn't in debt at some level. Debt and the proper management of it can increase growth and overall wealth. If someone can't manage debt, would you want to reward them. I would think not, 'cause the lesson taught through such an action is that the debtor would never be responsible for the actions that put them there. Besides, the debt is on the local government and not the people.
6. Now for the most insensitive part - the AIDS pandemic. What does AIDS stand for. Hmmmmm.....Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. What is the key word there: acquired. Don't get me wrong, I truly feel sorry for those who get the disease through no fault of their own: medical procedures and sexual assaults. But, for those who get it the old fashioned way....Not so much. Preventing the disease is truly simple for most people...Quit trying to have children. When you see people dying because they like to knock boots it should send a signal. There is a choice involved here and when the choice is life or death, choose wrong and you get what you are asking for.
7. The children, I do feel sorry for. They are born into a situation which they have no say over. But think about what the parents are doing. They can't feed themselves but they keep pumping out children. Again, full sympathy for the Mother having a child due to an assault but for those who are having children the old fashioned way, no sympathy for those parents at all. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the can't feed self/can't feed children corollary.
8. Finally, the whole idea of awareness curing societies ills. For years there have been campaigns to raise awareness about the plight of Tibet. Bumper stickers, signs, ads in newspapers and a Free Tibet concert. Let me ask you this: Is Tibet any closer to freedom because you are aware of what is happening there? Some of you may be products of a government education (public school) so let me answer this question for you. NO!!! The original Live Aid concerts were supposed to raise awareness about poverty in Africa. Have things gotten any better there since then. Again for the government educated in the crowd - NO!!! Starting to see a pattern here.

So finally, here is the deal. Unless the concert can change local African governments, stop people from making choices which lead to their death or starvation, stop any assault which can cause a child to be born, teach the governments how to manage their debts, show the people and governments that they are living on a continent which is positively rich with natural resources, stop the wars and generally bring about a total culture change on the continent, then the whole effort is nothing but a party for celebrities to feel good about themselves.

Again, to show that this is nothing but a feel good party ask yourself one questions: Why is this concert even costing the organizers a dime to run. If the celebrities really felt that this is a worthwhile cause, one would think that they would get together and donate the money required to run the whole thing.

This message is for David Gilmore in particular with his comment about the US not giving enough as a percentage of GDP. You sir are worth over 250 million British Pounds (roughly 457 million dollars): How much of your fortune will you be donating to African charities this year?

Will I be watching the concert on TV? Without a doubt. Will I take a bathroom break each time some drone gets on about African Poverty? I think that would be a prime time for a BM. Will I be donating any money to the cause? No, they are already getting my money through the US government which takes it through taxation.

Armageddon is coming!!!!

Just one additional thought before I rest for the night. Pink Floyd will be reuniting for the first time in approximately 24 years. Somehow David Gilmore and Roger Waters have settled their differences. If you don't know the history of the breakup and the associated lawsuits Google it. Quite interesting reading. For example, during the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour Gilmore and the gang had an inflatable pig for the shows. Roger Waters filed a lawsuit to stop them from using the pig. To end the lawsuit they changed the sex of the inflatable pig.

Anywhoo, they are going to be playing Live 8 in London (Damn!!!!). Their set will consist of a total of four songs. Current rumor says that three of the songs are going to be from the Dark Side of the Moon. Here is my suggested list of songs for the set:

1. Time
2. Us and Them
3. Brain Damaged/Eclipse
4. Comfortably Numb

Granted, I am looking forward to whatever songs they choose but Comfortably Numb is mandatory. If it is not in the set then I would consider that an act of war and respond appropriately. (Essentially, I would bitch, moan and probably cry).

Later on I will get into what a crock the whole premise behind Live 8 is. But, I will be watching the whole thing on TV waiting for my favorite band to take the stage (with my twitching finger on the DVR record button)

Why do I go to the mall???

The only real reason I think is to visit my favorite fast food place: Chick-Fila. I think maybe one other reason is to watch people. Watch how they drone about thinking about nothing, bumping into everyone and think that they own the world. So, I thought that I would write down some of my mall observations and feelings about what I saw:

1. I have utterly had it with having to know the Spanish translation of a menu to place an order. If you can speak Spanish you have one up on me (I have no language skills. I have tried both Spanish and German and neither stuck. When I try to speak either what comes out can only be described as Germish). But, that being said I do think that the people at the register should be able to at least understand it when I say "Number one value sized with a Coke".
2. Teenage girls (this would be the 13 to 16 year old set) take up entirely too much oxygen while walking around through the mall. I passed a group of six of them today. They were all talking at the same time about totally unrelated subjects. One of them was talking about which Backstreet Boy she liked when she was a kid. Glad to see that a full government education system has enlightened them. When I was their age, many many moons ago, I was debating the pros and cons of supply side economics with classmates.
3. Abercrombie and Fitch - I have a few thoughts on this one: First those people in the large picture frames are genetic anomolies (go to the beach a few times and I promise you that you won't see anyone looking like these people). Second, if I wanted to wear wrinkled clothes I would just throw all my clothes on the floor instead of folding them. Third, I have some old worn out jeans....anybody want to buy them.
4. On a side note combining the A&F and teen girl thoughts (beware: really insensitive thoughts follow) If you decide to wear those in style low cut sweats with the printing on the ass stop and think for a moment. If you can fit Abercombie across it instead of just A&F you are just too damn fat to wear them. STOP IT!!!!
5. People who work in EB Games are just like the Comic Store character from the Simpsons.
6. Mall Security - could these possibly be the most miserable people on earth.
7. In the food court, if I walk past you while you are handing out free samples and don't take one, don't bother asking if I would like to try your food. Take the hint.
8. The coins collected from the mall fountain are going to help support a local government high school athletic team. Sorry, but isn't that what the taxes are for?

On a brighter note I bought a Modeling Guitar Processor (makes kewl guitar effects). I guess I am going to have to buckle down and really learn the guitar now. Comfortably Numb here I come.

The Rulez

Since I am giving this a fresh start let me lay down the ground rules once again (mostly because I accidentally deleted the post with the original rules in them. Silly me)

1. I am blunt when making a post and at times sarcastic as hell. Deal with it.
2. Since I am blunt you should feel free to be blunt in any feedback you may leave with me. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, I don't have any
3. I will, when presenting an argument or point of view of any consequence, present the facts that lead me to this conclusion.
4. If you take issue with something that I say feel free to respond and disagree but be forewarned, presenting issues as facts or making an argument with no facts will only lead to ridicule from your friendly neighborhood blogger.
5. Many of my thoughts may get you angry, upset or generally cause you to want to vomit. Remember rule #4.
6. Be honest or be gone.
7. We are all here to have some fun. Misbehave and my fun will be at your expense.
8. Blog Sport accepts donations. Make some!!!!!

With that said. Let the games begin!!!!!!!

All work and no play.......

Greetings friends and other people. I'm back. I know, I have had a few false starts on this blog but this time I am really going to get this thing going. To be fair, let me let you in on what has been going on in brief:

1. Work - keepin me busy (That's a good thing)
2. Family - doin' well. Thanks for asking. I do now have a sister-in-law. Great addition to the family
3. Star Wars - Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - Nuff said
4. Friends and the like - Somewhere over the past few months I grew a social life. It all started at a diner. Imagine that a diner in NJ.
5. Trying to learn how to play guitar - That damn open F chord makes me want to snap my fingers off and throw them down the drain.

That's the short and the skinny. I will let you in on more as time goes on. I really don't know you too well to let you in on anything else right now. :)