Saturday, August 28, 2010

 

It's Just White People

Legal Insurrection points out how The Washington Post publishes a misleading picture in a story about the Glenn Beck led rally at the Lincoln Memorial today. One of the commenters at the Legal Insurrection post makes an even more telling point, how many stories on the event use the description "overwhelmingly white crowd" to describe the event.

The strong implication being that the event is invalidated because it's just white people. Kinda like the old days when they wrote off protests by blacks by saying, "It's just a bunch of n*****s." Instapundit wonders if if journalists passed the word around to use that phrase.

I suggest we remake Randy Newman's "Short People" into "White People."

white people got no reason
white people got no reason
white people got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no white people
Don't want no white people
Don't want no white people
`Round here

white people are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's a wonderful world)

white people got nobody
white people got nobody
white people got nobody
To love

 

Why (Some) Companies Go Out of Business or the Lost Art of Customer Service

Normally, I don't shop at KMart, but occasionally I'll run in and pick something up or find an item there I can't find elsewhere. Last week, I happened to be in the KMart parking lot and decided to run in and buy some laundry detergent as I needed nothing else and didn't want to drive the extra mile to Walmart.

I found what I needed and proceeded to the checkout lane. Using my debit card to pay, I looked at the card reader and it was asking me a question, "Did you know KMart was open on Thanksgiving?"

Uh, no, but why are you asking me questions rather than making my attempt to buy something at your store as easy as possible? Because, of the way the card reader operated I had to swipe my card twice also. Irritating and I told KMart that by taking the little survey they invited me to complete on my receipt.

Yesterday, I happened to be in the KMart parking lot again. (KMart is at the major intersection of Highways 68 and 9 in Maysville and a popular spot to meet people for picking up and dropping off kids spending the night with other and such.) I decided to run in and buy a jar of peanuts to munch on during my trip to my son's away football game.

Again, when I reached the checkout line, the card reader forced me to answer a question and forced me to swipe my card twice. I said something to the cashier, the same one I had had on the previous visit, and she just stood there unresponsive in a semi-catatonic state. I told her to cancel the sale, walked out, drove to Walmart and bought my peanuts.

Currently, I'm also having a conflict with Rumpke over them failing to pick up my garbage one day. They don't want to adjust my bill as they claim they sent someone buy the next day, a Saturday, to pick up after I sent them an email complaining of my garbage not being picked up. Of course, they never told me they were sending someone by and I didn't leave my garbage sitting out by the street as I live in a rural area with lots of woods and didn't want a wild animal strewing my garbage all over the place.

As Rumpke has a local monopoly, I don't have much of a choice in garbage pick up. Since I don't have much garbage and only put it out once or twice a month, I'm canceling my service and will renew it next month. This will be a policy I'll start following with them whenever they fail to provide the contracted for service.

Rumpke makes it difficult to discontinue their service. Go to the Rumpke website and try to find a link for discontinuing service. I couldn't find one. With Rumpke it seems to be a one way street with customer money going to them whether they perform as promised or not.

Perhaps, KMart will figure out someday why Walmart has 200-300 cars in its parking lot when KMart ahs 10-20 which is usually the case in Maysville. During Christmas shopping season, the contrast is most dramatic. Walmsrt's much larger parking lot is overflowing. KMart's smaller lot is half full. But, nearly every time I shop KMart they remind me why I loath the place.

Maybe companies like Rumpke with local monopolies will someday treat customers as valued rather than someone to strong arm money from.

I'm not holding my breath, though.

Friday, August 27, 2010

 

The Bill of Rights vs Being Offended

Debating the location and appropriateness of the "Ground Zero" mosque dominates much of the blogging and cable news programs this past couple of weeks. Cousin Pat from Georgia (his moniker, not really my cousin) obsesses over this issue. His primary point is that we don't abandon The Bill of Rights and the principles therein just because someone is offended. Although not a supporter of the mosque, I don't protest either. I accept that respecting the rights of others so that I may enjoy the same right involves my tolerating the unpleasant without whining.

Now, Glenn Beck will be holding a rally at the Lincoln Memorial on the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Lo and behold, many liberals are fuming.
'Grifters' Exploit King's Legacy Salon's Joan Walsh writes, "it's galling to people who care about civil rights that grifters like Beck and Palin will desecrate the site of one of King's greatest speeches this weekend.
Beck has taken so seriously that he's organizing his very own white conservatives' march on Washington this weekend to mug Martin Luther King's memory and steal his dream.
More information of the controversy HERE.
Sharpton said he is concerned the Beck rally will focus on divisive issues such as the controversy over the mosque near Ground Zero rather than "building an equal society."

"They probably will raise it," Sharpton said of the mosque issue. Beck and Palin are vociferous foes of the mosque plan.
Hah! Sharpton criticizes Beck and Palin for having the same attitude towards the mosque as he (Sharpton) has towards Beck's rally. I have no interest in promoting Sharpton's version of equality, either. Paradoxically, Martin Luther King's niece, Dr. Alveda King, is scheduled to attend the rally.

For today's lesson, let's read all of the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Those making a big deal out of the protests to the Ground Zero mosque (which is really 2 block away) claim, correctly, that we shouldn't suspend The Bill of Rights over being offended. Freedom of speech and the right of the people peaceably to assemble hold their spot along with "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." Come on guys. You don't have to be such blatant hypocrites. But, then again, that's the hallmark of modern liberalism and leftist thought. Any of you guys who criticize the attacks on the building of the mosque and don't defend the right to hold the rally and don't criticize those attacking Beck and his group commit a sin of omission, doing wrong by doing nothing.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

 

Small Town Drug Bust

Friday a woman was arrested for selling Oxycontin at a gas station close to where I live. The video is slightly comical just because of the country accents and all. This looks like a legitimate arrest. Good job to those involved.


Sunday, August 15, 2010

 

Police or Gestapo?

Maryland seems to think police have a right to privacy while arresting someone in public, ( and maybe beating them, shooting them or knows what.)

Here's a couple of videos of one of the cases of a person being charged with the crime of videotaping police.





What do we have here in the U.S., police or Gestapo? Ask Rodney King about the value and need of videoing police.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

 

Bush to Blame for Democrats Ethics Violations

Visiting The Drudge Report for the first time in forever, I came across this tidbit of unbelievable audacity.
Rep. Maxine Waters on Friday blamed the Bush administration for her ethics problems...
Is there anything the Democrats won't try to blame on Bush? What a bunch of wieners.

 

The War We Should Be Fighting

Fighting in the Near East to supposedly stop terrorism, we fiddle while our southern border burns. The ruling class prefers people be allowed to enter our country illegally at will. Something about wage suppression.

The libs will tell you about the ever growing gap between the rich and everybody else while calling you racist and whatever else they can come up with if you supporting trying to stop on of the major causes of suppressed wages for many. Many politicos on both sides like it, at least secretly, because illegals provide cheap labor for the farming, construction industries and many other industries that rely heavily in manual labor.

Leaving our borders porous contributes to the deaths on thousands of people each year. This little article illuminates that problem quite well.
Twenty-three people were killed in about 24 hours in Chihuahua state plagued by drug violence on the US border, authorities said Saturday.
Ciudad Juarez is at the heart of a wave of drug attacks which have left some 28,000 dead since 2006, according to official figures.

Most killings in Ciudad Juarez are attributed to disputes between the Juarez and Sinaloa gangs over control of lucrative drug trafficking routes into the United States.

With a population of 1.3 million, Ciudad Juarez had more than 2,660 murders in 2009 and 1,850 so far this year, officials say.
The ruling class in the U.S. long ago quite caring about the citizens of the U.S. They prefer to let others come in and take jobs. Perhaps, they care enough about Mexicans to do something to shore up our southern border, stop the drug trade (which is impossible but at least lower it to a mere stream rather than a deluge) and, thereby, save lives in Mexico.

But, I suspect the ruling class in the U.S. likes having these drugs available and kept illegal. Illegal because it makes it easier to put many discontents in prison. And available because it's soma for the masses.

Friday, August 13, 2010

 

Another Democrat Wishing Sarah Palin Dead (and Levi Johnston!?)



Funny how often the party of moral superiority stoops to such lows.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

 

Picture Day for the Football Team

Today was picture day for my son's high school football team. Below he is pictured with the other seniors on the team. He is number 79 on the far right. They scrimmage tomorrow and have their season opener next Friday. Go, Royals!!



Pretty big dude. (6' 3" 285 lbs.)

It struck me last spring during their spring game that from here on out everything he does will be the last time he does it in high school. There's an excellent chance he'll play college football but that'll be different. He won't be playing with friends he's known virtually his entire life with parents, other friends, and the local community he's always known cheering him and his team on.

 

Chaos Breaks Out As Thousands Line Up for Government Housing Application

Another pitiful example of how our government can't handle simple tasks. A near riot. I'm sure the "Summer of Recovery" didn't help matters. Remember, these are the people who want to hold your life in their hands via government controlled health care.


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

 

Michelle's Spanish Holiday

Or, The Party of the People - Part Tres


Wednesday, August 04, 2010

 

How hot is it? This HOT!!



107.1 F on my rear deck. It is south facing, but the thermometer is in the shade. The thermometer in mounted about 3 feet below the roof, which I suspect increases the temperature reading. But, by any measure, it is HOT!! A record for the 6.5 years I've lived here.

Note that it is over 85 F indoors and the AC is running non-stop.


Even Hotter!!



At 3:33 PM, the temperature reached a new high, 107.8 F. Some people say 333 is half bad. It sure is all the way hot.

 

Democratic Congressman Pete Stark Says 'The Federal Government Can Do Almost Anything'

In the minds of the Democrats we are all slaves of the Federal government.



Either vote these beasts out or kiss your freedom goodbye.

Monday, August 02, 2010

 

Birds in My Belfry



OK, not really in my belfry, just on the rafter on my rear deck.

I've always enjoyed watching little birds hatch and grow. This year I received a special gift when a bird built a nest and laid eggs under my deck's roof. Three little things. I could have reached up and touched them if I wanted. Instead I held my camera 3 feet from them and took some pictures to share.

I was surprised how quickly they grew. It seems they went for hatching to flying in about 3 weeks. The nest was right above where I kept my gas grill. I moved the grill so when I grilled I wouldn't over heat the chicks and kill them. Fortunately, they all grew to be able to fly away.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

 

Retiring At the Age of 93

Noted Maysville citizen, Charles Brodt, retires at 93


First reading the headline in the newspaper, I thought Charlie had died. Nope. He just retired.
When he was 11 years old, Charles Brodt's neighbor, Dr. John Simpson, asked if Brodt would come to work for him, sweeping the floors of his optometry office after school and on weekends and holidays.

That was in 1928. Now, 82 years later, Brodt is retiring from the optical business at the age of 93.
However, Brodt decided not to stay in the optical business and went on to be chief of the auxiliary police for 16 years. Brodt said he made the change simply because he enjoyed law enforcement. He was then named deputy sheriff under four different Mason county sheriffs. In 1974, Brodt said he decided to run for sheriff and ran unopposed, the first time this had ever happened in Mason County.

Brodt said if sheriffs had been allowed to serve more than one term, he wouldn't have left the job.

After retiring from sheriff, Brodt ran for city commission where he said he received so many votes he was named vice mayor.

While on the city commission, Brodt helped establish Maysville Fire Department No. 2 on Kenton Station Road. He said he wanted the firehouse built because, in the event of foul weather it was difficult for the trucks to get up the hill, so having a station at the top of the hill cut down on response time.

Brodt said the city had been promising that area a fire department for years and had never followed through on the promise.

During this time, Brodt said he opened an optometry practice of his own.

"People kept wanting me to fix their glasses for them while I was sheriff," Brodt said.

At 65, Brodt said he sold his business to Irving Peck while agreeing to continue working one or two days a week, which he has done for 26 years.

Brodt said he is finally, fully retired, though he plans to spend time volunteering at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, serving as a chaplain for the fraternal order of the police and as a drummer for the Liberty Band, which he has been a part of for 30 years.

"I walk around like this all the time," Brodt said. "I try to keep a smile on my face."
I got to know Charlie a little bit when I was in the Lion's Club. Except for when his wife died, I never saw him without a smile on his face. I doubt I've ever met a nicer or more sincere person. Through out his life he helped others and his community. Finally, at 93 he's retiring. We need more like Charlie. God bless you, Charlie Brodt.

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