The Shaft Part 2: Why being born on Christmas Day sucks!

Our Christmas Tree complete with Digiko Anime hat.

In case you missed it last year, it was a popular story so I thought I'd generate all of those hits again by telling it a bit differently. Here is the link to last year's story. This year I decided to dig a bit deeper into the issue.

I'll be 32 this year, over twice as old as this guy. Yet, I don't feel older except when I have to do things like: Run... Bend over... think.... I just have responsibilities that you get when you are 32, like marriage, a mortgage, a job, Hummer payments, bashing liberals.. Still 32 years ago on this up coming Christmas, my life was ruined and it's all my mother's fault and I never will know the difference.

Last year I acknowledged the folks that insist on calling me a Christmas baby when they see my ID, like the chick at Starbucks this morning or the finance guy at the Hummer dealership. Yeah, I smile and say, yep that's me a Christmas baby...(as I repeat last year's post's intent). No. This year I take the deep seeded rage further: December 23rd, 1973.... 2 days before I was born. See I was originally due in January, like the 7th or something. You know, a normal birthday. Something that goes unnoticed, like, "Oh it's your birthday". Or "Oh shoot, I forgot it was my birthday today." I don't get the lame after Christmas excuse that, "Oh I spent all my money on Christmas presents." Just once I wanna hear that. Back to the 23rd, it was about that time that my mother went into the doctor for a check up or something (if she reads this she'll clarify) and the Doctor mentioned that he'd be going to Hawaii a few days after Christmas and would be back by the first week of January. Ok... I know how this went down. My mom didn't go... "Oh, Okay... no problem, have a safe trip." Oh No!! I know my mom... she did the one thing she does best: Panic!!! She probably gave the doctor some lame excuse how my oldest brother came a month early or that my other brother stayed in too long and was a fat baby who didn't walk until he was 2 or some lame excuse. Oh no... she wanted me out right then and now. And so the doctor did what she wanted, induced labor.

This didn't exactly happen right away. I mean, the whole rest of the 23rd. The 24th. My parents even took my brothers to San Jose to see the grandparents on Christmas Eve. Hours went by. Then on Christmas day.... hours and hours later. I popped out into the world. To me it was any other day. For the hundreds of others who have to check my ID or get my birth date on a credit app, I will forever be noted as "Christmas Baby". I am forever doomed to the scenarios in last year's post.

Thanks Mom.

The Canadian Uprising.

Hmm... Seems our liberal friends up north are having a tussle, eh? Those hosers.

This can't be any funnier. First the Germans oust the liberals, France's leadership shows it's lack of backbone in its "troubles with the Arab minority" and now this.

Why are they having troubles?

The Liberals are accused of receiving kickbacks from advertising firms awarded millions of dollars in government contracts from 1995 to 2002, during the government of then-prime minister Jean Chretien, to counter a separatist movement in the French-speaking province of Quebec.

Ha ha ha... And here they spend all the time hunting down Delay?

People are overturning liberals by using: DEMOCRACY!!! Something the left never wants to use... it's all impeach Bush, remove Bush... ahhhhh Bush!!

Unfortunately in this country, they don't always get it with their Bush-hating poetic anecdotes like:

1) He's a liar

2) He's ruined the economy, thousands of Americans are starving and under-educated (like they were before he got in office)---A liberal will site facts showing you that this class of people have increased in numbers. Duh! They have like 9 kids on welfare and are trapped in a circle of liberal created programs.

3) He caused Hurricanes, the Tsunami and 9/11

and the worst one:

4) He is a Christian (OH THE HORROR!!!)

Let's cheer for all of our Canadian friends out there in America, Jr. It looks as if something great is taking place up there.

If it walks like a duck...

...it should drive like a duck. My wife's new ride:

My card reader is broke, this is stock footage of our new fuel sucker!

Actually we(I) were in the market for an SUV. We (I) didn't want some lame imitation, SUV on some car chassis (Most Asian makes) or SUV that was just a wanna be SUV (Explorer, Trailblazer, X3) We (I) wanted something more trail-rated, a real 4X4, something that'll say here we are. (I am)

So really there was only two choices: Jeep or Hummer. We (I) actually like the new Cherokee, it drives real nice. The Commander is really cool but looks more box-y with those huge ass windows. Plus it looks too retro like the old Jeep Cherokee. And we (I) just didn't want something that big.

Enter the H3, Hummer's little child. I love cars. Always have. I love my little Porsche. I loved the BMW but that's now gone. No more freeway off ramps at 70mph just to feel "G" forces. I hated to leave that car but what are ya gonna do when you want something bigger. You come to the realization when you try to pack 4 tall people into a 3-series or volunteer to drive a 4-some to the golf range and the rear passengers have to lay a set of clubs across their lap. Ever take a BMW to Home Depot or Best Buy? Forget buying anything, you can barely get a weeks worth of groceries.

The H3. Silver just like the picture. We (I) got it with the Adventure Pack so it has the 3 4WD settings plus a dedicated rear wheel drive mode with one gear when you are really stuck. It has full time 4WD with the front wheels taken 70% and the rear taking 30%. You can lock it in to 50/50 High and then 50/50 low. Ever driven a tractor? 4 gears in 4 wheel low and you are barely going 25 miles an hour. Came with 33 inch tires as well. It's a pain in the ass to wash, just ask the local car washer. (Hey Kurt!)

It drives so smooth too. Like a big car on the road at 70mph. Just floats. You don't feel a bump.

Reality hit when I came home though. We live in a highly liberal neighborhood. (Pearcy lives nearby for crying outloud) Something like 72% voted for Kerry and Nader edged out Bush for the rest. A lot of old time state union workers live here. You don't get looks driving down the street you get scowls. I need to get one of those super loud mufflers so it sounds like my Porsche. The car screams, "Here I am, I voted for Bush". Oh well, it's a free country!

And my wife is happy too!

Why my blog is black?

I use a black background on my blog for a few reasons:

It's color of my heart. (j/k)

A white background is hard to look at for extended periods. Have you ever stared at a light bulb or the sun for extended period? Especially with a CRT monitor?

Easier to read. It actually is easier to read after your eyes adjust.

I am paying hommage to the Apple IIe.

Johnny Cash wore black.

Thanks for listening. Gonna put up the tree today!

Thanksgiving Post

Things I am thankful for:

I am thankful that Michael Jackson may take residency out of the USA. Although it looks like he found the correct bathroom.

I am thankful we live in country that includes people like Michael Newdow and Steve Pearcy (The Kindergarten Art Activist). I am especially thankful that I can freely show disgust and criticism of those two individuals, daily, if I feel like it, on this very blog. Without them I would not have as many topics to chose from and poke fun of. Special thanks to our troops who defend their right to be insane, dumbass idiots.

I am thankful that my parents have been married 40 years (in a week), did not get addicted to drugs, beat me senseless because I was "bad" or divorce like many of the other kid's parents I grew up with. Their success helped me succeed (or fail) at whatever I have done. Special thanks to my brothers for taking care of the beating me senseless part. You all are great role models.

Special thanks to the following blogs(in random order): Bring it on, The Donegal Express, The Kevin Show, Michael The Archangel, Stop The ACLU, Pure Gonzo Engineering, Vince Parker, Lingo Slinger, Cao's Blog and others I know I forgot to mention who come here and comment regularly. Links for these blogs are found on the side and I am typing this on my Mac so I don't have eons to cut and paste these. Like I said the links are on the side, except for Bring It On's (Theirs is on the bottom because they don't get enough votes. j/k)

I am thankful of all the others who contribute and don't have blogs. (That I know of)

I am thankful for the color blue and the letters P and H.

I am thankful that I just learned the chords to "Original of the Species" by U2. It is an amazing set of chords and that chord that jumps out on the line "You are the first one of your kind" is really an A minor, when the rest of the song is in A major. Speaking of which, I'd like to thank the imbecile that ransacked my truck last week and stole my old iPod. Without you, the chain of events that allowed me to finally discover that A minor chord would not have occurred.

I am thankful that my neighbors tolerate me and my race car driving. Air-cooled engines sound great with high flow racing mufflers. I need to paint the rest of the car flaming orange.

I am thankful that I can keep many hobbies going at once like, home improvement, playing guitar, golfing, my Porsche, blogging, figuring out this Mac, playing games and being a royal pain in the ass.

I am thankful my wife can tolerate my many hobbies with love and support, like unfiinished home improvement projects, guitars in every room, golf tees, balls and spikes in her car and around the house for that cats to play with, all the money used to keep the Porsche running, the incessant cries for her to read my blog and like it, this Mac, the iPods and "extras" I seem to need at any given moment, the 4 hour Civilization and insomniac computer sessions involving the Mac, the iPods and the "extras" and my being a royal pain in the ass.

Yeah, I am very thankful for the love and support of my wife.

I am thankful for iTunes. The new videos are great!!

I am thankful for the following alcoholic beverages slowly rotting my liver: Guinness, wines from Valley of the Moon in Sonoma, Knob Creek Whiskey and Elijah Craig.

I am thankful for my freedoms.

Oh and I am thankful my TiVo caught the new South Park tonight...late!!

So how much does your state give?

Wow.. 4 posts in 2 days, that's really good for me since I only write once or twice a week.
I just got done vacuuming and I saw this on Yahoo! and I felt compelled to write about it because you'll probably never see it again. The poor guy that wrote it has been criticized for his findings

The story is in regards to how states make charitable donations in regards to income per capita. The liberals always speak about how intolerant and ill-compassionate Republicans are. Well... I saw this and well... draw your own conclusions.

From the Article, the 10 Most Giving States are listed top to bottom:

Mississippi, Arkansas, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Utah, South Carolina and West Virginia.

All of which are red states!!! See map. Ok.

The 10 least giving states listed up from the bottom:

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii and Michigan.

All but Colorado are blue states. Refer to map link above.

The ratio of red states to blue states is nearly 2 to 1!!! Yet, nearly all but a few of the blue states are on the bottom of the list. How could this be?

Oh and by the way aren't Mississipi and Arkansas and Louisiana and Alabama for that matter in the poorer south?? You know the area that Republicans supposedly neglect. Where a significant portion of the African American population in this country lives. The most generous?? How could this be? Are liberals not the saving grace of morality like they claim to be?

It goes to show you, when you drive down the road and you see that gas-sipping Toyota Prius plastered with Impeach Bush stickers all over its bumper, you should realize that some of the liberals in this country don't have a clue what they are talking about.

Those bastards.

Sid Meier's Civilization: Bono Can Really Put it into Perspective

I did nothing but relax today accept for the hour or so with the leaf blower in the yard. Despite it being 70 something and sunny when it should be 50 and foggy in November, there is a ton of leaves this year in my neighborhood. I live on on the far west side of the 'hood and we haven't had that good wind yet that blows my yard down the street.

Back to relaxing and messing around with my Apple (as I type on my Fujitsu lap top), I was playing Sid Meier's Civilization 3. I played a pretty long session, almost to the end. I stopped in 1950 since it got boring and the whole world was polluted. I was playing as the Babylonians and I was whipping it good. Somewhere around 1850, the Persians next me (on the game, remember its just a game) decided the blockade I had done with some Frigates, halting the flow of traffic to the poor nation, and securing the oil resource on the nearby island, was no longer in their best interest. I had waited all game for them to attack. I screwed with them relentlessly. I surcharged them for technologies as much as 50 gold a turn for 20 years. Their people were jealous of mine so they revolted and joined my country. My people had it all. 30% luxury and a 20% tax rate. My people loved me to, I left the game at 99% approval (kinda like Saddam eh?). But the Persians had to go and stir the pot with my Babylonians (funny, our color was red) and sink a ship. They couldn't leave well enough a long. So I launched some "Shock and Awe", and just destroyed city improvements while I built tanks and prepared a coalition involving the English and the Americans. The Germans also joined in because I eliminated the French first and they no longer existed. (I used an army of Babylonian teenagers...lol) Oh I am totally digressing. Back to the Persians, I sorta invented nukes with that Manhattan Project wonder. The Persians pretty much pissed off the other nations by sinking my ship and they all declared war on them. They sank my ship in what would be known as the "Persian Gulf". The other countries loved me. I gave them resources, luxuries and money before I gave it to my own people AND kept my people rich and wealthy. Well, that all changed. I pissed off the world, including the Americans. I nuked the Persian capital with a tactical missle. It was surreal though... I had my headphones on and I was listening to my new iPod and this song came by U2: Crumbs From Your Table

Here are the words:

From the brightest star
Comes the blackest hole
You had so much to offer
Why did you offer your soul?
I was there for you baby
When you needed my help
Would you deny for others
What you demand for yourself?

Cool down mama, cool off
Cool down mama, cool off

You speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

You were pretty as a picture
It was all there to see
Then your face caught up with your psychology
With a mouth full of teeth
You ate all your friends
And you broke every heart thinking every heart mends

You speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die
Three to a bed
Sister Ann, she said
Dignity passes by

And you speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

Damn... Bono can be pretty deep sometimes. He had written the song about rich countries and his debt relief project that'll probably win him the Nobel Prize someday. And he's pointing the finger very firmly. He's gotta point though. If the US and Europe could do more to work with debt relief and AIDS in the Third World, we'll all be better off as a world civilization and would all work towards peace. Which is fine. I am not a warmonger.

But.... (You knew that was coming) what about these third world terrorists? Where do they fit into Bono's plans? Believe me, he could be making a bigger stink about the war in Iraq then he has. He actually has been really quiet about it. An October issue of Rolling Stone had a long interview with Bono and his plans and when Rolling Stone's chief liberal, Jann Wenner quizzed him on his visit with Bush; whether he talked to him about Iraq, Bono was quiet. Bono said nothing regarding Iraq because AIDS in Africa and debt relief is way more imortant than the war right now.

The world's most well-known pacifist, in the world's biggest band... Plays Jesus all over the world... quiet on Iraq? Amazing!
Read part of the Rolling Stone interview, here. Unfortunately... it's only the excerpt... it's a great read about the man's history, his political life and U2 of course.

The next song on my iPod that came on random by the way was "Indian Giver" by the Ramones!!

Dammit!! I'm British??

You scored as James Bond, Agent 007. James Bond is MI6's best agent, a suave, sophisticated super spy with charm, cunning, and a license's to kill. He doesn't care about rules or regulations and somewhat amoral. He does care about saving humanity though, as well as the beautiful women who fill his world. Bond has expensive tastes, a wide knowledge of many subjects, and his usually armed with a clever gadget and an appropriate one-liner. James Bond, Agent 007 54% Neo, the "One" 54% Maximus 50% William Wallace 50% The Terminator 46% Lara Croft 46% El Zorro 42% The Amazing Spider-Man 42% Indiana Jones 33% Batman, the Dark Knight 29% Captain Jack Sparrow 29% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Did I tell you how much I loved my iPod??

Until some bastard broke into my truck and stole it. Needless to say I was pretty miffed for two days. Then my wife decided it was time. As an early Christmas and birthday present, they are on the same day by the way, she decided to get me a 60gig iPod video.

How cool is that? A full color LCD screen as well. Great stuff.

Anyhow I have had a rippin' headache all day.

The American Poseur: "In Newdow We Trust?"

Ah yes, I am writing another post about California's first class atheist: Michael Newdow. You remember him from some of my more famous posts like, "Michael Newdow:The Poseur of the Left" or this one "The Jesus of Suburbia is a Lie" and it's sequel, "The Jesus of Suburbia is a Lie, Part 2" (Yeah I stole a Green Day title but what are ya gonna do man, what are ya gonna do?)

Have you read the recent news about this genius? Get this... And it has been a few weeks since I had a rant like this, but get this... This guy, Michael Newdow, the guy who sued because his daughter had to say the Pledge of Allegience's classic line, "under God" (disregarding the fact that he lost custody of his child because he is an ass) is now suing the United States Treasury Dept because our money has the words "In God We Trust" and that the United States is "establishing" a religion by doing so. Read his little pledge here.

Where do we begin to start dissecting this brilliant idea? Well for starters, Michael Newdow should stop carrying paper and coin money. Seriously, why does he need to? He should only use credit cards, write checks and money orders. Nobody is forcing him to carry paper and coins with the words, "In God We Trust" on it. So right there, his argument is crap. I rarely carry cash myself; I use an ATM or Debit VISA Card for everything. Last I checked my credit cards don't say "In God We Trust" and neither do my checks, my credit card statements and my mortgage. He's a crazy loon, but that's ok, so am I sometimes.

But wait a minute, he is smarter than that!! He is going to declare that the words "dollar" and "cent" have been made religious words by the United States because of the 220-some-odd years of Christian worship hints that have been plastered on our money since day one. How brilliant is that? The ACLU, the9th Circuit Court and Ruth Bader Ginsburg I bet cannot get there little hands on this one. This is the exact reason the Democratic-liberal mentality is screwed up because they have people like Michael Newdow (and my friend Steve Pearcy) screwing their ideologies up with lame ass progressive thought like this "God" thing or plastering the outside of their homes with dead soldier puppets.

On second thought, Newdow may be on to something. He is putting the fear of God into the United States's money. This is going to raise the value of it. By making a stink of it, the Arab Oil countries are not gonna want "dollars" because they feature a Christian God instead of Allah. The price of oil will drop dramatically because no one in the Middle East is going to want our Crusader bills. Maybe there is some brilliance in this after all... I am off to buy a Hummer, it will be an investment.

My point to all this, is that America needs progressive thought as well as conservative thought to keep sort of a checks and balance type system to keep some sanity. It is absolute nut cases like Newdow and his little colony of corrupted minds that ruin everything for the rest of us. The 1st Amendment does prevent the United States from establishing a Church of America, ie. it's own religion. What it does not do, is prevent the United States from recognizing a supreme being or a God. There is a big difference in that. It actually tells those who come from foreign lands that your God or "religion" or lack thereof is ok in America. Regardless of what Newdow thinks, he should be glad he is not with the Taliban or North Korea or even China. Non-conformists can not fit in a totalitarian state. He should be glad we as a country have tolerance for him. He should tolerate the other 99.5% of the US, the one's who give him the freedom to be an ass, that don't care what our money has on it, as long as that yellow counterfeit ink stores use turns the right color when they take our greenbacks.

The French Retreat: Where will they go?

Our Evil Cat Flea, I swear the dude is French

I was pondering this in a comment on another blog I visited last night. It has to do with the troubles in France and the riots. I was thinking about those troubles, the riots and unrest and it it dawned on me. Where will France retreat to? Someone should notify the foreign minister Quebec that they may see an influx of French refugees. 2008 is a long way away to for Jacque Chirac (what a cool name) to find an American President that might come to their assistance. It's a really deep thought actually. Where will they go? Reunion? Quebec? They ain't got much influence left.

Interesting, they may get the big "talk to the hand" from Bush and Blair if trouble gets any worse. Germany looks to no longer be their close buddy. Is Spain massing troops around it's border yet? Is there any room in Belgium?

My kick ass Fantasy Team

Ok, check this out. I have a Fantasy Basketball team in an online league with my friends. We use Yahoo! Fantasy to do our league for us. We finally had our draft last Saturday. Ok. Here's I got in an 8-team league:

Point Guard Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks (Not the cream of the crop but decent)

Shooting Guard Jason Richardson, Golden State (A kick ass pick, can go 20 pts, 5 reb, 5 assists with good shoot %)

Guard Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (Anytime you get a chance to get a PG from a championship team, do it)

Small Forward LeBron James, Cleveland Cavs (Need I say more? Scores, rebounds, assists, 3's, steals, blocks)

Forward Peja Stojakovic, Kings (The dude just hits 3 after 3, grabs some rebounds and has a near 100% Free throw %)

Power Forward Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors (Don't know much about this guy but a decent 15 pts, 10 reb, 4 assist)

Center Yao Ming, Rockets (Anytime you can grab a 7 ft 5 Chinese Guy like this one, take him)

Center Kurt Thomas, Phoenix (there were not a whole lot of centers to choose from)

Utility Carmelo Anthony, Denver (Yeah, Carmelo off the bench, sweet!!!)

Utility Andre Miller, Denver (Good for racking up assists, not consistent night after night, gets you steals)

Sweet team. We're in second right now. Yao needs to start getting rebounds but he's alright in the block department this year. Peja has been inconsistent off the start but he'll get better as the year goes on.

Have a great Saturday!!

The California Special Election: Why the good guys lost!

The good guys did lose on Tuesday in California. Unfortunately not just the Republicans but Democrats, Green Party, Independents, and others. People. All of us as a whole. Everyone, every gender, every color, and every preference. Californians, those who voted, those that didn't vote and those who couldn't vote. I am writing this in my own opinion of course, but is it really?

This election was the first one where I felt really bad when I lost. I've lost before, Governor races, Senate races and local mayor races. This one smarts. But this time it's not partisan.
This is the first election where I looked at all issues objectively versus the usual partisan-type way. I didn't just vote Republican because I was a Republican, I voted because I felt the issues were the correct way for the state. I didn't have that chance to vote like my Mom does. When she doesn't know, she votes for the incumbent. (Quite frightening) This time, it was all about the Big 4: 74,75,76,77

When California voted Arnold in, we were voting for a change. We were tired of the incumbent, Davis, and his inability to govern. Especially after our growing state debt and power shortage woes.

Arnold was a fresh face and wasn't necessarily the traditional politician a la Ronald Reagan. Sure he was an immensely successful action star, but that fame is superficial when it comes to dealing with the state legislature. Arnold brought us immediate change, killing the 200% vehicle registration fee increase and had a successful campaign for a $15 billion bond to bail the state out and help it reorganize its debt. Arnold was on a roll in 2004. If he wasn't getting what he wanted or what would to help the state, he was going to take it to the people. He did it with Propostion 57 and 58. He proved he could do it before with Propostion 57 and 58. Was it a mistake to do it with 74-77? Maybe? Why? You only need to look at the ads and rebuttals to see why Arnold lost.

Propostion 74 was created to extend the time it took to get tenure as a school teacher from 2 years to 5 years. It also allowed for a teacher to be fired if they had unsatisfactory performance evaluations in two consecutive years. Not a bad idea eh? I can think of quite a few teachers I saw that were losers when I was growing up and in my short stint as a substitute teacher. But look at some the ads against this. On the radio they blamed Arnold for the $2 billion he "borrowed" from schools to balance the budget, indicated he'd cut music and art programs and was just picking on teachers. What does that have to do with tenure? Look at these rebuttals and arguments against Propostion 74. The arguments against 74 talk about class size, textbooks and other things that have absolutely nothing to do with tenure or qualifications for teachers. The comments for Propostion 74 on that link just talk about having a more experienced teacher earning tenure and make it easier to get rid of dead weight. That's it. Again, nothing about textbooks, class size or the state budget. Why were these used by the teacher's union to beat 74? Propostion 74 was not about students or textbooks. Just teachers.

And Propostion 75? Again the ads destroyed the actual issue of this initiative. Propostion 75 was created so unions would have to poll their members before spending union dues in politics. This is Prop 75 here. On the corner of 4th Avenue and Marshall Street in Sacramento there is an island of grass near the transit stop. On this grass, Tuesday, were numerous little "No on Prop 75" signs. Next to "No on Prop 75" were the words, "Don't Silence Our Voices". Here's the image of another. Read what Propostion 75 says and then read the sign. Who is telling unions to shut up or to silence their voices? Actually, since 75 didn't pass, it's the union bosses. In my opinion, unions are political groups. Why is the process of polling their members for decisions on political issues such a threat? Then there is a site like this calling Proposition 75 "a first step in cutting education, health care and retirement". The fact is union members do not choose what their unions are for or against. It's done by a select few collecting member dues. Proposition 75 does not control what unions decide for benefits like health care and retirement for their members.

The last two propostions were 76, the balance budget amendment and 77, the redistricting initiative. These were really the meat and potatoes of the whole thing. Arguments for and against 76 are a bit perplexing and really hide the actual issue in California: It's debt. We spend too much money. I hate to sound partisan but what solutions are available since we didn't pass 76? Well, the reality is, we really needed Proposition 77 more than 76 to solve our annual budget crisis. Here is Proposition 77 in detail. This initiative was interesting because it selected three retired judges chosen by leaders who had to cross party lines to make their choices. There is a bit of randomness and cross party selections to get to the three judges. And if the tshree judge couldn't agree unanimously on redistricting the process would be started again until a unanimous decision was made. One argument against Proposition 77 was that "3 retired judges" were accountable to no one. Unfortunately the three judges could only vote unanimously which throws the accountability argument out the window, in my opinion, because unless the vote was absolute, the judge panel would be broken apart and the selection process would start over. Why is redistricting needed? Well... in 2004 153 seats were up for grabs. Not one seat changed parties. 153 races and not one different party? A bit odd eh? Well, currently those in power draw their own districts. Its called gerrymandering and I didn't know what that was until I studied Proposition 77. Proposition 77 was supported by nearly all major California newspapers. Note how the link also points out more trash about 77 that are flat out lies. Too bad though, 76 and 77 went down big. But was this all Arnold's fault? The ads were scathing and sometimes wrong but can Arnold be the blame?

Well... Arnold failed big here. In retrospect, and you couldn't convince me of this before Tuesday. Arnold failed and failed California because he asked us to decide too much and he pitted us against one another. And by giving us Propostions 74 and 75 which in all reality, did nothing to reform the real problems in Government, he brought on onslaught of unions which have a pretty substantial strangle-hold on us as Californians. Propositions 74 and 75 picked on teachers and unions and they fought back hard which destroyed the attention Propositions 76 and 77 needed. Proposition 77, though very creative, could have been done better and was the biggest issue on the ballot. There were mixed views for some propositions. Congressman Doolittle, a Republican, asked us not to vote on Proposition 77 because it was possible we'd loose power in Congress with a loss of Republican Congressional Seats. But was Arnold wrong to propose these initiatives to the voters? No. Not so fast. He did prove his point, this state needs real reform which he has been consistent with all along. I believe this guy can recover and this election could actually be a blessing. The assembly speaker is already asking for Schwarzenegger to apologize on the 11 o clock news in Sacramento. Apologize for what? Apologize for questioning the work of the state legislature that spends more than the state has coming in, in revenue? Questioning why not one of the 153 seats in the California Congressional Districts changed parties? Our government is a democracy, and some times we need to remember that when we choose our battles or go on television and ask the Governor to say sorry. If the snakes and squirrels like Barbara Kerr of the California Teachers Association and the state legislature continue their negative compaigns into 2006, Voters could sympathize with Arnold, because afterall, he is a popular actor and a good speaker. Unfortunately, will the good guys, California's citizens, learn from all of this? Will we ever learn to see through the ads and misleading rebuttles or will we just get sick of it and not vote as we head into 2006 or 2008? God help us if the latter occurs. It's not Democrats and Republicans now, it's us versus them.
We have to be the winners in the end.

Thanks to Bring It On for putting up with a Republican even if for only one Friday. "Have at it, Hoss."
This is cross posted on their site. Go give it a read and if you are like-minded of me, DUCK!!!

Danger Comes About at Famed Southern California Theme Park

Trouble found yesterday in Southern California. A new WMD has been created to hurt peaceful citizens of the world.From the cave ruins found in and around the Disney theme park in Anaheim, an colony of possible terrorists has been discovered.

Agent Smith of the FBI (see photo link) has been on scene since yesterday morning in search of the terrorist hide out located around the center of the park.

"We have found the existence of pathetic human life forms, developing and possessing the capability of turning this world up side down, in a mere instance that will be hard to fathom in the minds of the world's population," Smith was quoted.

Speculation as to what this weapon is or how it was created remains a mystery. Some witnesses have reported that the weapon is biological in nature and is developed in the appearance of the biggest fear from American folklore: Big Foot. Witnesses have also indicated that the weapon features a new genetic process formed by Cal Tech. The splicing of biological genes with radioactive laser beams capable of generating beams shooting 1/2 a mile at a temperature of 10,000 degrees Celcius, about half of the sun's temperature.

A man, who wanted to remain anonymous has produced the photo of the proported new weapon. He says he took the picture on the popular Disneyland ride, the Matterhorn. The photo shows the weapon to be a 7 foot tall human like animal with red lasers shooting from his eyes. The creature appears to be attacking riders on the north track near the proposed "Finding Nemo" ride. It has not been confirmed if this is Big Foot or the Abominible Snow Man. (For a closer look at the photo click this link)

"I escaped with my life," one woman, a Disney Annual Pass Holder said. "I was shot at and hit but the reflection of my 50th Anniversary Mickey ears deflected the lasers. It frightened me and my daughter so much, (I) decided I wouldn't ride on the Northern Side of the Matterhorn

Reaction from nearby Toon Town has been suprisingly quiet and calm.
"It's the signs of the times we're in", says local resident, Roger Rabbit. "It's not surprising that something like this has happened so close to home".

The children of nearby Small World were not harmed in anyway. The attraction was closed for repairs and upgrades. Many of the children were out of the park at home in their respected countries.

More news as it develops.

A photo at 70 mph!!!

Roller Coaster at the Disney California Adventure

Greetings from Mickeyland. This photo was taken from the front car of the Screamer. This is from the launch pad that sends you 0-70mph in like 2 seconds towards the first hill. We're almost at maximum speed right here. I set my digital camera at the highest speed to snap this.

What to do when the ACLU sends you a postage paid envelope?

Business Reply Mail from the ACLU

Oh my God, can I have fun with this one. A self addressed stamped envelope to the ACLU. This came in the mail today addressed to us, thinking we would join: Not!!

Free all expense paid mail. Did you know, you can send anything with these? Like...
Landscaping bricks. I got a big boxes full of bricks that I don't need! What a way to dispose of them! Make them someone else's problem. Shove it in a box, strap this on the side with some wrapping tape and we're off. Hmm... California to Washington DC... I wonder what 10lbs of bricks would cost the ACLU??

Oh... I know... I still have my old muffer to my 914 Porsche. The thing weighs like 40 lbs and it's huge!! Oversized.... 40lbs... in a box... I wonder what that costs... Gotta be like 75 bucks!

OHHH!!!! Even better... Let's take donations and make them to Christian charities and to the NRA... in their name!!! Yeah, we can get together like some good donations and let's send them off and then send correspondence to the ACLU saying we did this in honor of them. Let's put a Stop The ACLU bumper sticker in with it...

Wow!! Christmas came early... I should thank them before they ban that holiday banned as well...