Consolation Prizes are Evil

 You ever won a consolation prize? Maybe you know someone who has won one….. I don’t know… I just think they are evil.

If you or someone you know has ever won one; tell me what prize did you not win that gave you a consolation prize.

See, that’s the problem with them. Nobody ever truly wanted or loves their consolation prize. It just sits in the corner or on a shelf somewhere as a constant reminder of what you could have won. A reminder of what you truly wanted and lost. 

Life is like that sometimes……..

Random Ramblings

 “There’s a certain level of emotional callousness that comes with a man that is capable of committing severely violent acts to protect his family.  That day may never come and he will be seen as an asshole to those around him. If that day should come, those that see it will either understand or be scared. Either way the relationship will be forever changed” ~ ShikDiggityism

December is a fickle bitch....

There are three men I have always credited (or blamed) for making me the man I am today. 

I always referred to them as BCD.

Charles N (B)arrack Sr - the head honcho. The creator of little ole Tic Tac! The older I get the more I see how wise he was. (Funny how that happens) He wasn’t the largest man in the room, but to me, he was bigger than anyone I ever met. Being that I got my emotional capability directly from him, I never told him how great I felt he really was. He wasn’t the best at relating emotions and right up til the end he always tried to take care of us. I tell myself he found peace the last few months as he was calmer (though still cranky), he had an "energy" about him each morning (though he still moved slow) and he had a twinkle in his eye I hadn’t seen in years. A twinkle that only came when my newborn son was in his lap. Which, quite honestly, was just about any waking hour he had the energy to do so.

It’s been 20 years since we’ve had a disagreement.

He passed away on the kitchen floor due to a heart attack on December 10, 1998, and I miss him and learn more from him every day.

Jerome D "Jerry" (C)umberland - Mr C! This man here..... if you knew him you know how, even if you just passed him in the hallway of high school, he somehow affected your life.

He was my band director. The one that inspired me towards a music education degree. Though life took me a different way, I feel as I’m a music education guy anyways. 

Mr. C was a large man with more passion for music, perfection and inclusion than I’ve ever seen... yes I put perfection and inclusion in the same sentence. He demanded and expected perfection when we played. He achieved it too. But, if you ever wanted to be in the band; even you sucked worse than the definition of the word suck, he included you and found a way. 

In the four years he taught me, he became a father figure for me and treated me as I were his son. If I fucked up, and I did so often, he would be the first in my ass and then I’d have to explain it to Dad later that night. He was there for breakups and heart break, drunken nights and hungover mornings. He pushed me to be a better man because he knew it was inside me somewhere. "Deeper than you are tall" apparently.... or so he told me. A great man who I cherish deeply and miss greatly. 

We lost Mr C on December 29, 2013. 

Ernest Eugene "Mr D" Dawkins

Mr. (D) was my Boy Scout master when I was a much younger idiot. He took me as soon as they threw me out of the cub scouts and pushed me all the way through my Eagle Scout. All the stumbles of life my dad had to endure, he too endured as our lives and my growing up deeply entertwined. Mr. D taught me the little things in life. How to tie a square knot, first aid and most importantly, you don’t always have to be a dick just because you’re good at it.

I guess some lessons just can’t be taught....

I’ve seen this man as angry as possible at me, and happy as possible at me. He was definitely a second father and he pushed me just as my own.

I bumped into Mr D awhile back. Though moving slower, a little hunched over and eyebrows needing a massive trimming, he glared at me over the rim of his glasses and have me a half smile and gentle nod as we parted ways. That little smile and half nod hit me like a brick as he said "We always knew you’d do fine".

We....

He never took credit for anything he taught me. But in our talked about mom and dad passing, and Mr C passing, that little thing of "we" hit me hard. Not really sure why. But it did.

Late last night while chatting with a friend from waaaayyyy back, Boy Scouts came up and it was said.... hitting me like another brick.

Ernest Eugene Dawkins passed away December 20, 2018...

I’ve lost all my Dads.....

December is a fickle pissy bitch. It has somehow managed to take all the formative men in my life.... I don’t get it. I don’t like it.

Unconditional Love

How many times have you heard people talk about loving unconditionally only to see the opposite. Divorce happens.... fights, arguments, finances all can cause pains in a relationship. 

I’ve always said that for someone to see what unconditional love looks and feels like, one needs to love a dog. Not just own it. Actually love it. When you do, you find a joy that nothing else can show, and heartbreak like you’ve never felt.

We picked up Sissy on a cool November morning. It was a Friday. I brought her back to the office after lunch and she slept right there until it was time for me to leave. I made the two and a half hour drive down to the house where my girlfriend (now wife) lived. This was our first “family piece”. The first togetherness if you will. She had a son and I a son and daughter. With no plans to have a kid together, Sissy was ours. Being a Neopolitan Mastiff, she fit us! Not highly energetic, perfect for a family unit and naturally protective. She was perfect.

 She IS perfect.. It didn’t take long for Sarah to love her with everything she had, and Sissy to do the same.

As she grew, the expressions and Love compounded exponentially. At the time I worked all week out of town and was only here on the weekends. Yet, every friday evening when I arrived, Sissy didn’t miss a beat letting me know how proud and happy she was that I was home. She loved unconditionally.

Sissy became part of the family immediately!! Taking the kids to school, she followed Sarah wherever she allowed. Watched intently at anyone coming close to the kids or Sarah. A few times when she felt uneasy, she would get in the middle of Sarah and a stranger and push Sarah backwards toward the door. I loved this about her! Her natural instinct to know the shady people and get Sarah to a safe place, she is perfect in every way.

Now my heart breaks. I had to tell Sarah that Sissy has cancer. The best prognosis is 6 months and we make her comfortable with pain meds as best as we can. 

I feel, at times, that I have not only brought unconditional love to the house, but have now caused eternal heartbreak. Everyone is devastated. We have cried until we think we cannot cry anymore and then we cry some more. 

I have had many dogs in my life. None have affected me as Sissy has. We have decided that amputation and chemo would not be best for Sissy. It would prolong an agony she has already endured too long. 

As we put Sissy to rest tomorrow, I will be losing a piece of our family. The first real piece of the family. With that, everyone will have heartache like they have never felt. I, myself, am utterly devastated. I expected bone and hip issues with a large dog, but I did not expect cancer. I am so sorry for the pain and heartache the kids and Sarah are enduring with all of this.

However, I also have never felt the unconditional love like this dog has shown. With terrible pain, she limps to be by us, if only to nudge with her nose and go lie down. The pounding of her tail when I enter the hallway after a late night sounds like a drum corps cadence pounding the pillow long before I ever make it to the room. She always gets up to greet me when I’m actually home on time, even if she just wants to sleep. 

I don’t even know how I’m going to walk into the house anymore and not see or hear these things. Seven years was not enough...

I’m losing a piece of my heart tomorrow.... 

She’s not just a dog to us. I never spent a day thinking she would not be here.... 

Lady MaryEllen “Sissy” Sistrunk.... I can’t even.

My Letter to the Trump Protesters

Open Letter to All The Trump Protesters

Dear Protesters,

FUCK YOU

Regards,

Nick

Little facts about the AR-15 and Survival in Today's World

1. It is not an "assault rifle". There are no such things as "assault rifles" that is a made up phrase by fear mongers

2. No, the AR does not mean Assault Rifle. It stands for Armalite Rifle... The name of the company that developed the platform in the 1950's

3. It was not a military caliber... It was adopted by the military after it was popular as a small game/varmint round due to low cost of the ammo

4. It was not adopted as a "killing" round. Granted it will, can, and does kill; however, the military thought (contrary to most popular belief) isn't kill everything in war. The belief is that if you shoot a combatant and cause injury that combatant is out of the war. The low cost and availability enables the military to carry thousands of rounds when needed to accomplish the task, and yes they can kill with it also. 

5. Ya know an AR-15 bullet ain't much bigger in diameter than a .22?? Weird

6. An AR-15 isn't a machine gun. It's rate of fire is only as fast as the person using it can pull the trigger... One pull, one bullet.

7. Pistols carry the same number of rounds if you choose the correct pistol

8. There weren't this many shootings in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and the AR-15 has been a consistent firearm throughout all those decades. Focus on what we have done lately to cause the issues and not the gun. The gun hasn't changed..

9. When everyone blames the gun, you are enabling psychopathic behavior.

You allow psychopaths to continue to believe their actions are not at fault. It's the gun. Blame the shooters. Blame the people. Do not make the martyrs or social heroes.

 Take the guns away? How does that stop someone from killing? Look in the areas of our country with strictest gun control and you will find the highest violent crime. 

Look at how our nation victimized our police force over the past decade. 

Look at where the attacks take place. Soft targets where no guns are present.

Biggest thing is, stop being a whiny ass "guns kill people" drum beating, tree hugging, I can't accept the world so I will fix it with hugs kind of moron.

Stop justifying the acts as the gun did it.

Stop avoiding the root cause.

We have allowed the pussification of our country to continue down a path that we have become easy targets. 

We help those that attack us so we aren't seen as evil.

We refuse to attack the terrorist where they live because we allow the media to follow every military action as if it were a reality show.

War sucks. People die and it's horrific. But the attacks we face are more horrific as they are attacking non combatant civilians and the issues continue due to our not responding accordingly. 

Everyone was in an uproar over which damn bathroom someone should use, now this fucktard thinks he can be a martyr or other kind of hero to attack a gay nightclub. He knew it was an easy target and he took advantage of it and he chose to do it in the name of ISIS while America focused on a gender issue.

Your calls of let the police handle everything?? That's just ludicrous.. The police are nothing more than a Quick Reaction Force.. They show up after the fact and respond as they can once the chaos is over. Why? Mostly because people say you can't profile or be proactive and if you do they get sued. When a thug attacks our police and they have to defend themselves, they are sued, chastised and people riot their own neighborhoods in protest.. 

Fucking idiots.

Aaaand our government watches.... Sees it happens and investigates the innocent.

You cannot let all hell be created around you and get upset when the hell hits your door.

Arm yourself.. Learn to use your firearm. Practice, train, be ready... Learn to survive. This day and age survival isn't in the woods or mountains trying to live off the grid.

That's easy.

Survival isn't about the zombie apocalypse or even a government takeover. That's all bullshit.

Survival today is going to work, going to eat, shopping or just spending a day with your family in public and making it home alive because some douchebag feels empowered by the misguided ideology that he can kill and be famous..

Think that's crazy??? 

Why was the Boston Marathon Bomber on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine???

Don't ask me about Politics... Pay Attention

I have purposely avoided anything political this season and still some wish to inbox or text questioning my views...

This baffles me.. Before anyone does this lets understand a few things.

Look at yourself first.

I watch as some post about certain items then post opposition to the candidates that actually support the items you post about, all the while promoting the ones that don't. Take a good look at yourself first and really think about what you want out of life and investigate who you will vote for based off the way you live. 

That's what I do.

For those that know anything about me, I've always been a workaholic; majority of my life working two full time jobs. I have three bulging discs in my lower back, I destroyed my ankle 20 years ago which makes a simple task like WALKING difficult at best, on a good day. 

And I go to work. 

I have been offered disability ratings from doctors and the cool blue handi-tag so I can park closer but, refused them because I don't believe I need it just yet. 

Now, that's not to say I don't believe in welfare and disability. I do. If you NEED something, use it. However, if you are able bodied and just looking for everyone else to pay your way.... There's your problem.

Don't talk to me about healthcare and how much it costs as you post pictures of elective surgeries and trips to the Bahamas or Paris or whatever..

When I'm not at work I spend my off time with something family, even if it's just being in the house so I can listen to them laugh, argue, or whatever.

If I am actually off and my family is working/schooling/etc., I may actually grab a rifle and go hunting. I may grab a pistol and go to the range for some practice, I may work on the many items I need to fix around the house, or I may do absolutely nothing. 

Yes, I believe it's ok to own and posses a firearm. I will defend that right as if you were trying to take anything I own. A car, knives, anything. I bought them, I know how to use them, and quite honestly I can kill you with a pencil or folded magazine if I feel it's warranted. So try and ban those while you're at it.

I have been raised and I have raised my kids to be passive as possible. To be tolerant of others. However, I have also told them that even though I do not believe they need to live a violent lifestyle, I do believe that they need to be prepared. If anyone believes our society is becoming more peaceful as time goes on, you are not very much on situational awareness. So if violence comes to the door, I have instructed and helped to prepare them to be the most violent person/thing in the room. That is the only answer when violence knocks. 

You cannot negotiate or rationalize with the irrational; so you do your best to eliminate it and keep yourself and your family safe.

I also believe in God and Jesus Christ.. I don't post a bunch about it since I don't believe I should push my beliefs on others. I am ordained, I can perform your wedding, your last rights, or we can just chat about issues that are troubling you and I can do my best to guide you. I don't believe in big churches or someone feeling as if they need to give to a church to go to heaven. I have extreme issues walking into a church and seeing "cliques" or everyone dressing up for that one day... God sees you every day as you are. You shouldn't have to dress up to impress the people who are supposed to be there for God, not to judge how you dressed. 

So before anyone wants to talk about politics or why I intend to vote for who I am voting, just pay attention to the life I live. If you do that, you know where I stand. And yeah, I believe if everyone went to work, as I do, took care of your family, as I do, and just found the happiness that surrounds you, (as I try to do) then we would all be good. 

So maybe if you voted for the same people, we could fix this shithole of a country we have become and we could all get along.

That's my two cents..

Green grass and piles of shit...

Is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence?

As a kid growing up, I was told it wasn't always greener. Now, obviously, we all understand the meaning of this phrase. However, what if it's not the color of the grass so much as the fact that it IS grass??

Let me explain......


Now, I don't believe there are such things as "perfect" jobs as each position we work in throughout our lives has its ups, it's downs and even; at times, it's sideways.
I started my career path in the Pest Prevention biz some fifteen to sixteen years ago. I never thought going into it I would still be doing it or that it was so complicated and legal at times. It was merely a way to pay the bills.

The company I started with really seemed to care about their employees. I found, a year later, that our division in the company was very small compared to their other divisions but, we were growing at phenomenal speeds. With this growth came great rewards. Not only in monetary compensation, but also with family outings, Christmas parties and mini vacations. As we grew within the company and became the second largest division of the twelve divisions the lifestyle of the division changed....

Drastically!!

A new Regional Vice President from outside of our division was hired. Our annual training was cut into a third, Christmas parties were no more, company picnics were obsolete. We grew to a point that everyone within the company took notice and now were trying to find ways to get more...

We became a number...

Our families were no longer as important as they were and morale quickly disintegrated. The only thing that mattered now was how much money I could turn in on a daily basis.
Regardless of how many hours it took, how many consecutive days worked or how long it was since I actually had dinner with the family.
It was extremely stressful and it was time to go.
I kept my license and started my own biz doing just enough to keep the license active and keeping motivated enough to keep wanting to learn the new strategies of the industry.
Everyone told me that what happened to me happens to everyone that works in a large corporation. That I needed to work for a small "mom and pop" type of company. That those types of companies CARE about their employees..

I don't know.. I just wanted to step away for awhile and spent time in the restaurant industry at different levels of management.

Which I'm good at by the way!!

I loved managing people. I enjoyed training individuals and watching them evolve right in front of me. I respect every one of my employees, past and present, and take it personal if they fail. Even today, I keep up with employees from several years back and watch as they have grown in their own lives.
After a few years I saw that I was ready to go back into the Pest industry. This time for a smaller company that valued people as people, not as numbers.

Maybe the grass was greener on that side of the fence?

So, I take a position with a medium sized local company. The interview was great. My resume was awesome and they wanted my knowledge. They wanted to go "a different direction" and my skill set was one they didn't possess and needed to further them along that path.

Or so I was told..

For three years I worked to try and make things better. I saw how they looked at their employees as expendable commodities and not valuable assets. At the drop of a hat they would screw over a technician if it meant a dollar could be saved. All the while, trying to explain to me how it was best for the company.
Now, had I had zero managerial skills, less than zero intelligence and not used the "happy employees are better employees" philosophy my entire life; that may have worked.
But no.. I argued. I fought. I BITCHED.
In doing so, my job was threatened, my stress level increased and my give a shit went to zero.
It was during all this time I started hearing things. From vendors. From former employees. From our very competition.....
Things about how they treated all previous managers.
Vendors telling me how this company had many quality people that cared but were treated like crap and either quit or got fired for not being a "yes" man.

Well, I figured my days were numbered. I'm not a yes man and I've been arguing way too much!

These same vendors, former employees and competitors also told me other things.
They told me how they had heard changes were being made. That employees were happier now with some of my changes, that my manager had talked about the turn around in numbers (though not due to anything I've done of course).
I started receiving job offers from numerous companies. Some couldn't come close to paying me enough while others seemed way to good to be true. Reality was, I was in Jackson. My family and future were three hours away. If change were to be made, it would have to involve a relocation.
Even if a change were to take place, did I even want to try this path yet again? I mean, the grass not only wasn't greener, but it turned to piles of shit! Piles that I now stood in. There was no doubt in my mind that my manager was dumb as a cucumber. He made up words and even made a comment that I "was too smart". ( to this day I don't know what the hell that means)
However, aside from that, I had a damn good group of guys working for me. Sure they were comical at times and everyone enjoyed stories of the New Guys in training; but, my guys were awesome and I believed they were more intelligent, better trained and harder working than any others in the entire company.
It took a very long time to even contemplate leaving. I was going to get fired rather than leave my guys stranded.
This thought is what kept me there for my last year.
Then, while talking with my former manager from my first pest employer I bump into a guy from a large corporate pest company. We briefly chatted and I headed off to work.
Later I find that my previous manager talked very highly of me. Wanted me to come back but told this other guy I would never come back. That I left for being a "number" not a person.
I get a call a week or so later asking if I would consider coming to this new corporate company. I'm told of the conversations he had with my previous employer. I'm told this company has a "People First" mentality.
Yeah, this guy is trying to sell me...

So, I blow it off..

Realistically, I could reopen my own and after a couple stressful years I'd be fine.

Three weeks later I receive another call.
This damn guy is still trying to sell me on this damn company!! He makes me an offer and tells me I just need to fill out an application and do a couple of formalities with the interview process.

Whatever dude! I now know the grass ISN'T always greener!!

Over the next several weeks I watch the online ad he has posted. I talk to several people about the company.
To my surprise, one of the vendors had mentioned my name to this new company as a manager that could instill the changes they wanted to do.

Another week goes by and I look at this ad again.. And again.. And again..


And again....


Then another phone call. Now the compensation has raised a little but he needs me to fill out the app and do the interviews to be able to give me a written offer. I tell him if I decide to do this the app it will be filled out by Monday. If not, the don't call again as I have decided against it. BUT, since we are talking about it, where would I work from? What city?

"WHEREVER YOU WANT" was his answer.... Now that's a plus..

The weekend comes and Sarah and I discuss it.. Reality is I'm not happy anymore when I'm actually down on weekends.. The stress is killing me and she sees I hate my job. Even if this other job sucks, I'll at least be home.. Not just on weekends...

This job really sucks on Monday's .. I leave my house around 2 am and depending on where I'm working may drive 3-6 hours to work... Now it's Sunday night and I've got a 6hr drive in front of me.. This sucks... But, I can't sleep. At 1130pm Sarah walks thru and sees me sitting and staring at the computer..
She asks what I'm doing up since I have to leave in just a couple hours. I tell her I'm still trying to decide.

"do whatever you think is best" is all she says as she goes back to bed..

So I go ahead with the application.

Wether the grass is greener or not is no longer the question. The fact that it's grass and not piles of shit IS what matters!!

By mid morning my phone rings and the guy is ecstatic that I filled it out. He drives down to meet me after work and take me to dinner... He does this three times to get thru the interview process. Always taking my schedule into consideration and meeting me after hours to get it done.

He talks a good game and what the hell, I buy it..

Now I've taken the position and so far it seems great! I'm sure it's the manager I have that is the reason. I'm sure a lot of what he does for me would be frowned upon by the corporation but he does what he feels he needs to do to make his people happy. I'm sure there will be downsides and I'll work thru them. But at least I'm home. I have office days each week that require me to commute from my bed to my office fifty feet away. Several benefits have already been extended to Sarah and myself to help us "get away" if we want to and he seems to genuinely care about my family.

My former employer now seems to enjoy talking about how bad a manager I was. How I didn't take care of my guys and blah blah blah.
I got pissy about it at first, but then, It's just them being the douchebags they are. They treat you like you're expendable until you fire them, the they want to try and ruin your reputation.

However, it didn't work!

Their customers are calling me and telling me all the shit they keep talking and are all wondering how they can call themselves a "Christian" company. I feel bad leaving my guys, and I hope they understand why I left, but I had to check the grass on this side of the fence.

To each and everyone, I say to do what you love and don't be afraid to chance it.

The grass may not always be greener on the other side of the fence; but, if your standing in piles of shit, the color of the grass isn't really what matters...


Take chances and be happy!

The Constitution, A Fallen Hero and Morality

Anyone close to me knows not many things stand between myself and my country. I consider myself very patriotic. I love this country and the men and women that protect it. I believe our constitution was written by some very wise, brave and patriotic men who understood morals, ethics and family values. 
I understand the freedom of speech. I hold it to be a core value in our country and something that has made us the country that we are. 
I know that with this blog I will hear a bunch of "what if" comments as this is not a cut and dry topic. 
It really bothers me that we have become a country where the law has become so black and white and the right and wrong has been set aside.
Yes the constitution guarantees the freedom of speech. But at what cost? And how do you invoke the right and wrong without jeopardizing an entire nation.
I guarantee you, our fore fathers did not write the constitution without morality and feelings involved....

Tomorrow an American hero will be laid to rest. 
He willingly, knowingly and unselfishly decided to join the United States Marine Corp to defend this very freedom we love and enjoy. SSGT Jason Rogers died in Afghanistan on April 9th 2011... A Marine... A defender of our freedom and a true American hero.

Some have chosen to use this as a platform to protest the war, abortion, gay marriages and anything else they find unethical. 

Is this legal? Yes it is. 

Did SSGT Rogers die defending these people and their freedom to do this? Yes he did...

But it's not right. It's not moral. It's not ethical.

How can you call yourself a Christian and protest what you believe to be unethical and immoral in such an unethical and immoral way?

At some point our country, our leaders and our citizens must put morality back onto our society.

The constitution wasn't written to be so cut and dry. It was written with emotion and morals. 

I know there's a ton of what ifs to be said, but wether or not you agree with the war, the man is dead! And he should be honored tomorrow for his sacrifice. 

If you disagree with other things, fine. This is still not that platform to discuss them.

The members of Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka Kansas should neither call themselves Christians nor Baptists... 

You are a cancer on the soul of this country and I pray that you rot in hell for bringing your disgraceful acts to my town and try to tarnish one of America's bravest men in the hour of his passing.

I know many peaceful people that will be there to try and block you legally without any intent to harm you. I just hope one bullet hits it's mark tomorrow and people piss on your grave for eternity.


Rest in peace SSFT Jason Rogers... We all love you and are grateful for all you did for us. 

I just wish there was more I could do for you

Shame on the NCAA.....

This Cam Newton Saga just gets better and better.....

And now the NCAA has set a precedent for all future "brokers of child athletes"...

It appears that earlier this week the NCAA has ruled the Cam Newton was ineligible due to the actions of his father... However, Auburn University appealed the ineligibility and asked for reinstatement on the grounds that neither Auburn nor Cam knew about his father's actions.. The NCAA then granted the reinstatement and since  Cam didn't play in any games during his ineligibility period of 3hrs, everything is cool..

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT???!!!

Since when is the "I didn't know" speech a valid defense? AND just how does a father "shop his son around" without Cam knowing, even after Cam admittedly said he wanted to attend MSU over any other SEC college? Oh and Cam just happened to go from hearing about the closing of his father's church to signing with Auburn and all of a sudden a check from God appears and all repairs are made?? Gimme a break.... Polish it however you want, it still smells like shit....

Now the SEC has ruled that all you have to do as a star athlete father is tell your kid to sit in the other room while the grownups talk and close a door and ask for money.. So long as your kid doesn't have first hand knowledge all is good...


So for all the great high school athletes that don't want to wait for the pros to recruit you,

LET THE BIDDING BEGIN!!!!


Such bullshit.... totally ashamed of the NCAA for this one... and all the writers that are saying "the NCAA got it right" are low on morality also....

Life, Religion and Reality....

Most of you that will read this will get it from my Facebook link.... So, with that most of you will understand the following...

How many times do you log into facebook to have your page full of miscellaneous daily affirmations and scripture telling you to have a bless day??

Now before I get a TON of hate mail, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that.. If that is your thing, more power to you. I applaud you. So long as you are consistent and true I have no problem with it.. What I do have a problem with are the people that talk shit, treat their other halves like they are garbage, constantly degrading them to make themselves feel better about life, trying to keep up with the Jones' as you slowly dwindle into debt to the point that you aren't providing for your family.. to go out and spend $90 on a shirt because you think it "makes you look cool" while your house payments go by the wayside.. Then all of a sudden when shit goes bad my page is babbling bible quotes and scripture!!


I look at it this way.......

         A man goes to work all day, day in day out at a job that he hates... The pay sucks, his boss is a dick, the stress is overwhelming..  But, everyday he goes in.. Day after day... His attitude gets worse, he starts to carry it home with him emotionally.. "if only I could find another job" he tells himself.. Every Sunday this man looks in the paper... He sees numerous jobs in the paper.  Some require certifications and degrees he doesn't have, some in the field he's already in but pay a little less, others not in his field but have on the job training... Everyday this man stammers and bitches about his job, and everyday he continues to go in and look at the paper for another job.
     He tells his wife he wants another job, but doesn't want to take a pay cut... Would love to take an on the job training position but he's probably not qualified for the job.. Everyday his wife tries her best to make it better and let him vent but as weeks goes on it's more than she can handle..
The stress slowly takes its toll on the man as his poor attitude carries over to his work.. "if only I could find another job" he keeps telling himself... 
His poor attitude gets his hours cut at work... Now he's making less money and doesn't know what to do... "shoulda taken that job that was in the paper.." he complains.. Sure it was less money than he was making but it's more than he's making now... 
Soon the wife leaves, can't handle it anymore as he is constantly screaming and hates his job and now complains about life too... "If only I could find a job" he stammers.... "same damn jobs in the paper except the one I want.. Shoulda took it weeks ago! Why can't I get a break" he complains... 
Soon the power and the water gets cut off, the man loses his job, and is bitter to all around him.... 
"damn you all! i don't need anything from anyone... i can cook over a fire, hunt for food, and dig a well for water.. I don't need anybody!" he screams loudly at the top of his lungs in his empty house...
 The man grabs a shovel and stomps outside bound and determined that he can dig a well all by himself for water.... And so he begins to dig..  
The man digs all day and half the night.... Finally striking water the man is ecstatic that he did this without anyone's help! He throws the shovel high up out of the hole and begins to climb up the well; proud of his achievement... As he gets close to the top the man slips, loses his footing and falls down the well.. He cannot climb up, the walls are too slick and he cannot keep his footing... "Help!" the man screams loudly...
A neighbor, outside enjoying the cool night air and clear starry sky, hears the cry for help and call the fire department who arrives finding the man in the hole he dug and promptly gets the man from the hole.. When asked what happened, the man talks about how he dug the hole all by  himself without any help and although he thanks them for their help, he'll be just fine...
Later that night while walking outside in the night to get some water to heat for a bath, the man slips and falls into the well, breaking his neck...Unable to move, the man begins to pray.. "dear God, Help me out of this hole and I will be a better man...." But, the water rises and unable to move the man drowns and dies..
As he walks toward the pearly gates the man is pissed!  
He storms up to St. Peter and starts screaming "what the hell?! How are you going to take everything away from me and not help me get out of the hole!  I worked all day and night to dig that hole and you did nothing to help me! You took my job, my wife, now my life and not once helped me!! Why?!"
Just then a booming voice began to speak.. God himself has had enough....
"Not help you?" He exclaims.. "when you were not happy at work, did I not show you jobs that you could take? Could you not have sacrificed a few dollars or luxuries to change jobs for the ones I showed you in the paper?? When you said no, did I not give you the opportunity to change careers entirely and learn something new?  When you said you weren't qualified, did I not offer you the training you needed? Did I not make your wife strong until you forced her away?"
"But you took my job, leaving me with nothing?! then let me die in the well"
"No... I took what made you unhappy and gave the opportunity to make you happy. You denied it. rather than take that which was offered, you fought and chose to dig a whole against the better judgment. You defiantly dug rather than accept the jobs that were in front of you.. When you fell into the hole, I made the night air cool and stars shine brightly so that your neighbor would be outside to hear your cry for help. I got you out of the hole you defiantly dug only to watch as you fell back into it. I offered assistance, I helped you, and chose to ignore me. Why should I have helped you back out of the hole the second time?"

So,,, if you are one of those people that day in, day out feel the need to baptize my page with daily affirmations I'm fine with that... Me, I have my beliefs and tend to keep them closer to me.. Those who are around me know what I believe and me and the Big Man have a good understanding...

But, for those of you who do not do what is in your power to take care of those which you are entrusted to do so... Do not love thy wife as you love yourself, are vain and would rather spend frivolous money on shirts and other items before providing for your family...  

 DO NOT SHOWER MY PAGE WITH BIBLE QUOTES WHEN IT GOES BAD!!! YOU DUG YOUR HOLE, NOW LIE IN IT!!! 

A Nation of Entitlements...

There used to be times in my life when I say "Why Bother".... Lately, and I am noticing, much more frequently it is turning into Times In My DAY that I say why bother? Why not let other people just give me shit....
Over the last couple of decades we have seen so many advancements from the minds of our countrymen (and women) and I look at our youth today and wonder at what point will the advancements stop and we begin to rely solely on other countries for our advancements.  It really seems like the youth of today feel a sense of entitlement to have good things and little to no passion to create good things...
As a nation, we have handed so much to people "in need" that they train their kids on how to manipulate the system and somehow manage to stay "in need".
With so much focus on helping those "in need" we have forgotten to 1) verify that they actually NEED and not just want and 2) that sometimes you have to tell someone to get off their ass and get a fuckin job!!! Sometimes, MOST TIMES they need to have that said...
I have always had a problem with someone telling me "They deserve" or "We owe" them something.. Maybe it is all the work stress of this week, or that I'm just tired; but, whatever the reason, I felt the urge to let one unfortunate person know my views on this today...

As I was getting gas at a convenience store in Greenville, MS earlier I heard the uneducated southern drawl of a girl talking very loudly about it being "hers birfday, and shes gonna gets some money to go drank on".
On her shirt was about 15 or so dollar bills pinned on with a pin.  Where the fuck did this shit start? Pin a fucking dollar on your shirt and everyone gives you money for your birthday? Or in this case, Birfday...
As I walk in to the store she says, or yells, to me "hey, yous gones gimme a dolla for my birfday?"
"Got change for a five?" I ask as I pull a five dollar bill out..
"Aww hells yeah!" she replies and begins to unpin this wad of dollar bills and slowly counts five out. I give her the five dollar bill as I grab the five ones and I begin to walk away...
"Wait! Yous didn't gimme a dolla!" she yells..
"I know.. and I'm not going to... I don't know who the hell you are, nor do I know your momma... And I see absolutely no reason why I should give you a "DOLLA" because your momma squeezed you out so many years ago! Hell, I should give your momma a dollar for putting up with your begging ass!" was my reply...
Not the nicest I know, but hey, I am me..
"I aint beggin nigga! Fuck you!" she yells at me as she storms off screaming all kinds of racist cracker this cracker that comments at me...
Not begging? Really? What the hell do you call it when you pin money to your shirt and expect total strangers to give you money because you say its your Birfday? Hell, I don't even know if it was her birthday!
This sense of entitlement is what is wrong with today's culture.
Sure, if you need assistance I say go for it.  And yeah, I tend to be a hard ass, but for those that know me know how I really am.  I say we as a nation need to stand up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Stop with the handouts! Stop giving the guy on the corner your change! Stop giving the bum at the gas station a dollar...
How many times have you offered the guy standing with a "will work for food" sign FOOD instead of money? I've done it many times and more often than not I have been cussed out!! They aren't hungry they just want your money because as a nation we are quick to throw money at those less fortunate and these assholes have learned to exploit our good hearts and deep pockets!
Many times while working nights in Jackson I have had to use my asp baton, a broom stick or whatever to chase and at some times beat the crap our of beggars...
Too harsh you say??? Show some compassion you say??
I tried.. And the guys that got the sticks and batons would ask my customers for money and would become violent if they were told no and one even pulled a knife on a customer because they "didn't give enough"!
He even told the police he felt he was owed more!!
Yes, these are isolated cases, but the idea is the same.
We have handed out so much without question that many youth in our culture have stopped trying and expect it. They have never been taught that you have to work for what you want, because if you don't work, someone else will take care of you..
There was one guy many years ago while I was checking the pressure in my tires at 2am while working nights in Jackson that I did give something to.
He walks up to me, standing a good thirty feet away starts saying "sir! sir! I don't mean you any harm and I'm not going to come closer I know it's late and there's lots of crackheads out here. I'm one of em.. But, if you could spare some change I would be grateful.. I'm not going to buy food, or drugs, and I don't own a car that I can say I ran out of gas and need money for... I just want a beer. Not a coke or water, I'm an alcoholic and I'm thirsty and I just want a beer to go sit under the bridge and drink"
I'm telling you, I was floored... The first honest thing I had heard form a beggar in forever!
I bought him a 12 pack and told him to have a good night..

Now back to the other thing...
I understand helping people I really do... But let's focus on how to help these people. Stop giving money because they have a raggedy jacket and an open hand.
Point them towards a shelter... Donate to your local food bank, volunteer at the shelters... donate to Goodwill or other Charities.. If these people are hungry, they will accept food.. If they are cold they will accept shelter. If they are wanting a better life, they will accept the help of the charities to find a job, an education, a better life... But, make them work for it. You work for the money they want you to hand out, it's not too much to ask for them to work for the hand out you are giving....

So yeah, I keep going to work, busting my ass, scraping by... And I raise my kids to do the same... I believe I have to work for what I want, what my kids need and that in doing so it will pay off... It may NEVER pay off, I may ALWAYS be a broke paycheck to paycheck guy... But I was raised to work for things.. And I will do as I was raised to do...

Your kids will do as you raise them to do...

Jus sayin

Taxes, Oil, and Patriotism...

So..... It's been awhile since I've ranted about the goings on of life, politics and other idiotic shit and now it's beginning to fester up inside me like a hand grenade with a long fuse.. Lately the work load of the "day job" has had me running all over the state and in my off time I have tried to spend as much time with Sarah and my kids as possible, so for those of you that follow this and not Facebook it's been awhile hearing from me..
Now, if you follow Facebook I'm sure you understand the delay.. On top of all the traveling, I now have a moron of a trainee that I swear if he wasn't going to be fired I'd write a book of dumb shit I have to deal with every day with him!! Chronicles of the New Guy!  I swear it would be a best seller....
 Anywho...
Let's go back to the whole Financial Reform that's coming down the pipe....

Does the whole Wall Street/Banking thing need reforming?
Why hell yeah?? But, I really don't like the way this administration does business in a way to try and influence our opinions rather than relying on facts.. Did Goldman Sachs do something wrong? We don't really know right now, but it would appear that they did.. But, to announce a Formal Investigation during trading hours is just insane and very unfair! It should never have been done during that time and was a deliberate attempt to cause hysteria during the day to show that reform was needed and to push the agenda....

That's not really my biggest issue, I just thought it was crappy and typical of the tactics they have used the entire time thus far.
Next, during all of this Obama slyly announces the possibility of a national type sales tax to help alleviate some of our deficit and further help subsidize the terrible Obamacare issue... (You all know my feelings on that so I won't bitch and moan about that now)
For years I have chanted and argued with any that would listen (and a lot that wouldn't) that we should definitely go to a national sales tax... However!!! I don't believe it should be on TOP of the taxes we pay now and definitely not to the tune of 7% or more that he is contemplating... If this goes through as it is designed, on top of what we are already paying, if you do the math correctly you will be taking home less than 30% of your pay... I don't know about yall, but I live paycheck to paycheck, I need my shit!!
Now, my plan was a little bit different and I will try to explain it a little and see if it makes sense.
I have found that when talking to most people, many are as I am. Paycheck to paycheck with some minor investing here and there. The following numbers I am referencing are from the ABT Associates report from 1998 documenting amount of money spent on illegal drugs in the US in 1998 and the IRS's numbers for taxes collected in 2009... So the numbers of Illegal drugs purchased will be off since its old data and should be alot higher, but you'll see my point anyways..

Now my idea for a National Sales Tax would be to ELIMINATE your current Federal Income Tax all together.. In doing so we could drastically downsize the amount of personnel we have at the IRS since they would only have to audit businesses to insure that the taxes collected are being paid appropriately.
With the elimination of the Federal Income Tax we as Taxpayers will now have more expendable income at our disposal and the government would now trust us to be good little consumers... Which, let's be honest.... One thing we as a country know how to do is spend our money!
What would you do if you were able to keep that extra money in your check? What would you buy? Think about it..

As it is now, the government collects our money every week, they keep it, let it collect interest, give us some of it back if your lucky without interest.. People commit fraud by filing wrong data and cutting corners to get that little bit extra back. For those of you that itemize, how many hours a year do you spend keeping, filing and tracking receipts and other expenditures?? It adds up!

Now with a national sales tax, that is all eliminated! Just go to work and buy shit!! NEVER have to deal with the IRS or TAX PEOPLE!! No paying H&R Block to fuck up your return... (Which is a main reason this will never happen.. The tax preparation industry is way to big and way to powerful to allow it, but hey, I can dream can't I?)
Now at the end of the week you bring home you check, ALL OF IT, and you go buy shit! Steaks instead of bologna. You save some for the new car, a house, or whatever it is you desire. You play the stock market and you buy a lottery ticket...

Now imagine if everything you bought cost just 2% more for a National Sales Tax... That's all.. That's not a lot. Granted if you buy a house or fancy car it adds to the sticker shock a bit, but if you know this going in it still saves you money.. I promise it does if you look at it.
But how can it save us money and still provide the money needed to run this country you ask??
Because it taxes EVERYONE EQUALLY!
The rich people pay that 2% on everything just like us.. 2% on every stock purchase, yacht bought, mansion and private jet. But, that's not where the main point is.
The main point is, how many people do you know right now, that DON'T pay any taxes or a lot less on their income?
Drug dealers?? Ever seen them file?
In 1998 Sixty Five BILLION dollars was spent on illegal drugs in this country and not a dime of it was filed on a 1099 from the IRS.  Sixty Five BILLION!
What if we collected some of that every time they bought the Escalades or big ass rims or paid cash for their boats in someone else's name?
Just picture that... That's a lot of money there people!
Now that is just the obvious choice. I have made cash doing things from time to time that I didn't claim as most of us have, and you know what? I spent it! What if they collected their money on that too?
Bartenders, waitstaff, the kid that mows your lawn?  Our "adult entertainers", sideline construction workers?  Many of these people pay taxes now, but most don't claim everything they make.  If we did a national sales tax and alleviated this crappy income tax system we would be soooo better off and everyone would be happier..
Sleep on that.. Just a thought..

Next, there is boom in the Gulf and 11 people lose their life in an instant... Oil everywhere and this goes on for days, weeks while the cleanup will take months.
There hasn't been a big push from our government to seriously crack down and do much. We have been pretty much sitting there saying, We'll let BP figure this out...
Come to find out BP was one of the biggest contributors to the Obama Administration.. So you have to wonder if being in bed with them is the reason?
Didn't someone mention being in bed with the oil people or other people wouldn't happen? That the administration would have an open door policy and everything would be "transparent".
This has been far from transparent! While BP execs make comments about "Louisiana isn't the only place to get shrimp" while another makes a joke to Dr. John (a brilliant musician and New Orleans native) to "not eat the blackened shrimp when you get there" our administration watches as this cluster unfolds.
Slow to respond, but quick to get in front of a camera and talk big once someone writes a speech for him!
And did we forget that 11 people lost their lives? Where is the investigation to see what the hell happened and if someone is liable not only for the oil seepage but for the loss of 11 people that were loved by someone..... 

But, still that doesn't chap my ass the most! And I really hate what is happening to our coast line right now. The ramifications of this spill is going to really be detrimental and felt for years to come. The ecosystem is going to totally be changed and may never be as it was again.

A couple weeks ago, it comes out that the Obama administration tried to get Sestak to drop our of an election with promises of a position in the administration.  This is ILLEGAL but, worse it's IMMORAL! Something this administration is lacking.
Does this make me mad? Hell yeah!!! How many other elections did he influence or try to influence that we don't know about?  Where's the transparency in that shit?!

But, the thing that gets me the most is what is happening this weekend.
Regardless of my political views, my crazy antics, my obnoxious behaviors or my rude comments...... I love my country..I love everything about it. I love that an idiot is able to be elected to office of the presidency and that this liar can become his successor... I love that I can write this bullshit blog and that I have the right to express my opinion, although unfavorable to some of you.  I love everything about this country, even the bad.  Most of all I love and RESPECT every one of you that serve or have served in the military keeping my rights to be an idiot safe! With everything that is going on, Why, Why, Why Mr. President, can you not be at Arlington on Monday?  I understand that you will be at the Abe Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago doing a memorial but let's be realistic. The entire time you ran for this office and since your election you have come under fire for your lack of patriotism for this country. You have been questioned about your muslim beliefs, your birthplace, your intentions to change everything that makes this country great.
Is it too much to ask that you take your vacation on Tuesday and go to Arlington to lay the wreath on Monday?
Hell, YOU are the President sir.... I think your family will understand, and they could probably get off work to see you in Chicago during the week...
I just don't understand why it's so hard to do the little things that we as a nation believe are important.
I don't care about your agenda this weekend.
It's Memorial Day. A day for all our Fallen and Faithful Heroes..... I guess being in Chicago is more important.......

A little email and the truth behind it all...

A few days ago I received an email from a friend of mine.. It was an email forwarded from someone else and you know how that goes right?? How many emails a day do you get that are forwarded from someone you don't know? Some are funny, some are stupid, most are just a waste of your damn time.

Well, this one happened to be funny and somehow stuck with me. Within the joke was an air of honesty that you have to wonder if this was written as a joke or if it was just recorded as a factual conversation. Either way, I love it and I sent it to a few people and now it's here for you all to see.

If you have already read this, sorry, but it's great....

While suturing up a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, whose hand had been caught in the gate while working his cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama, and his being our president. 

The old rancher said: 

 

"Well, ya know, Obama is just a Post Turtle."

 

 

 

Now ...not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked, 

 

"What's a 'Post Turtle?'"

 

The old rancher said, 

 

"When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle." 

 

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. 

 

"You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he sure as heck ain't goin' anywhere, and you justwonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there in the first place."

Now, How true is that shit??? Have a good day....

Things of my lifetime thus far...

Many things have changed in mine and most of you all's lifetime... When you actually sit and think about it all its rather overwhelming...
Little things most take for granted today and our kids could never think to go without have happened in this lifetime..

We listened to the little radios as they grew into BOOMBOXES and records gave way to cassettes that gave way to CD's which are giving way to MP3s...
We endured the godforsaken life of disco to hair bands to grunge to alternative to what we have today.. And who the hell would have thought that country would have went from that twangy banjo shit your dad listened to would go mainstream and have the following it does...
We watch a lil company called texas instruments give this little box that could do all kinds of math and it actually fit in your pocket!! WOW!
We all enjoyed video pong and thought that was the shit as our kids bitch that they want a ps3 or a wii because their ps2 wasn't cool enough.... Video pong has graduated to World of Warcraft...
My dad brought this weird, obnoxiously heavy and large box home that would dim all the lights in the house when turned on, just because it could cook a hotdog in 15 seconds... The microwave oven now is light, small and efficient..
We used to go rent a MOVIE and had to rent the PLAYER too because the players were so damn expensive... VHS and Beta fought it out as beta went to the wayside, only to have VHS lose to DVD and HDDVD lose to Blueray....
Our movies are phenomenal, our sounds are better and video games are insane...

And our televisions... Holy Crap.. the big box on the floor that died and help up our new tv has now changed to plasmas and lcds... 

The rabbit ear antenna gave way to the 8 foot satellite until cable companies gave us a great pic without that big dish!! Then the dishes got smaller, the cable went digital, we now have hundreds of channels and still have nothing to watch!

We pause live tv, set a dvr to record, playback when we want or just delete it because we can..


Letters that you would get in the mail were replaced by the mojo Faxmachines.. you could actually send a piece of paper over a fucking phone line!! are you kidding me?!
We got pagers that would beep and the bigger the better turned to small and cute and replaced by the awesome static of a bagphone replaced by the motorola block phone to the flip to the blackberry/iphone...
our dial up internet and newsgroups were awesome... we loved to hear those dings and dongs of the internet connecting.. then dsl, cable, t1, t3 and fiber optic.. wireless AND wifi?? really? Crap we're spoiled...


Now letters are emails and instant messages and text messages.. We have Drive Thru everything and an instant gratification attitude that there's no wonder our kids have ADHD....

Personal computers that used to plug into  your tv and run off a rom pack now are ridiculous super machines that only get better ever second...

There are many things each of us can talk about and this can go on for days as soooo much has happened in my lifetime that I can't imagine what the next 37 years will bring!!
But most of all, with all that has happened my dad drilled it in my head that I would never see what I saw tonite..
I was told my whole life that this would never happen... And I really wanted it to happen but I honestly doubted it ever would...

But, the Saints WON THE FUCKING SUPERBOWL!!! It was stressful and won in dramatic fashion...

And I actually cried...

Bless you boys.. I love ya all....

Who Dat!!

And FUCK YOU nfl for trying to steal that phrase!!


 

The ever expanding bandwagon...

I guess it's true, that miracles never cease to happen... The New Orleans Saints, going to Superbowl 44....
Those of you who are friends on my Facebook page saw the post yesterday about it... Well, that wasn't mine, it was one of those ever evolving and migrating things you find on facebook.. This is my thoughts on the situation...

As a kid growing up I have always loved two things.... LSU football and the New Orleans Saints.. I have no idea why. My family didn't watch football or any sports, nobody I knew as a kid was ever a student at LSU and ANYTIME the Saints were playing I would hear how the sucked from my dad.... A very small kid, and absolutely zero athletic ability I enjoyed soccer and baseball but really didn't like the whole "run laps" so I didn't do that long.  But, through it all, New Orleans Saints and LSU football were tops!

Maybe its the area... I have always loved the architecture of New Orleans, the sounds of the blues and jazz vibrating through the quarter, the smell of seafood in the air and those damn fine women! Whatever it is, its in my blood and there it shall remain. Wherever I move, wherever I go, I will always be a fan....

So now the Saints bandwagon has gone global as those that cling to anything popular jump on board, and that's fine with me. Enjoy the ride while we have it, cheer and get in the mood... Every little cheer helps right now! AND WE NEED THEM ALL!!!

As a kid I do remember the bags on the heads, the Aints, and all the negativity of what it meant to be a fan.  But, through it all, that true Saints fan you see on the internet with a bag on his head; yeah, he bought a ticket and went and hoped for something better...
We got happy and excited in the late 80's and early 90's and wanted to kill Benson for letting Pat Swilling get traded for a mere 6 million dollar contract....On one hand my dad would feed me shit for loving them, then on the other he chanted "it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game".. Which is it???
I'm a firm believe that its how you play the game... And yeah, I have heard all the arrogant bastards say that's a losers motto...  I say its the moral and ethical way to go... I will not raise my son to believe that winning is everything... However, I also believe that even though it's how you play that matters it should never stop you from trying to be better all the time.
Anyone that knows me knows that I am very competitive IN EVERYTHING. I don't always win, but I will always try my best to do so....

And now it's back to the Saints....



We have seen many great individuals come through and wear a Saints uniform.

The key word being Individuals.... And over time, as a fan, we got used to seeing someone phenomenal and saying "they'll be traded next year" and we accepted that we would suck...

Then there comes along this little guy.... Sean Payton... Little guy.. gonna be the new head coach.. Yeah? whatever.. we'll see how long he lasts...

We get a new quarterback.. Drew who?? yeah ok... we'll see what happens....

Katrina...
Fucking Katrina... What a turning point.. It never really hit New Orleans, but the levees that the piece of shit New Orleans lawmakers refused to take care of and so eloquently diverted funds for their own personal gain, they broke... They flooded New Orleans and with it, maybe a cleansing of the area came with it....

The first game back in the DOME gave me chills.... When U2 and Green Day sang the Saints Are Coming I couldn't sit still, a tear formed in my eyes and the goosebumps were insane... It was a phenomenal opening to a great game... Ever since then we have watched as Drew who? became Drew Dat!! and individuals were traded for team mates... Now we look at the New Orleans Saints and we see, for the first time ever, a team..
Everyone talked so much about Bush changing the game, but as we saw this year, we don't need him.. We like him, we want to keep him, but we have so many other talents on this team we don't need any one person. Every player on the team is talented, has a place and is dangerous to the opposing team.
As a fan I'm super excited to a point that my happiness cannot be diminished. Win or lose, I am witnessing something that my father would never believe could have happened.
The SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!
Sure I hope they win... But if they don't, I'll still love em, still enjoy em and still be a great fan! of the Saints not the individuals...

Good job boys! and good luck!!!

Favre, Obama, Saban and LSU.....

Ok it's been awhile since I last ranted so this blog is going to jump all over the place on sooooooo many different topics that have been rattling around in my head, so just bare with it and giggle as you need.

After the Monday Night Football game of the Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers I was discussing the highlights and Bret's win a friend of mine... She was a "Favre Hater". She felt he did a wrong to our state and to the sport by retiring, coming back, retiring and coming back blah blah blah..
I explained to her that I too was not real happy with this; at first. Then I explained.  Bret did retire due to the concern of his shoulder. I believe he was serious this time. Yet, as he lie there with a bum shoulder fresh out of surgery; the Vikings offer him 25 million bucks to come play!! Favre did the right thing and told them he wasn't comfy doing that with a shoulder and wasn't sure if he could play to the level he needed to earn that and do the team justice.  After many negotiations, they come up with a deal that allowed either side to walk away no feelings hurt if either of them felt he wasn't up to it. So why the hell not make a guaranteed 6 million even if you are hurt, but if you can do it, then you get 25 million?? I mean really?? Not much I wouldn't do even in pain for 12 million the first year and 13 million the next. And let's be honest, he looked phenomenal on Monday Night Football!!!

Now this past Wednesday this speech came back to haunt me from someone I did not know,who never heard me say these words. 
While working the Cross Canadian Ragweed show we were outside waiting on a Taxi for a customer and started talking LSU Football and the topic of Alabama comes up.
I commented about my disdain for Nick Saban...
The customer reminds me that Saban is great coach. I can't knock that. He did go to the pros and honestly, he bombed. Bombed terribly in pro football.. So here comes lil ole Alabama offering four million a year.. So why not take it??!
Crap.... I would take it too.. SHIT SHIT SHIT....
So I eat my words.. Saban is a great coach, but I still am not an Alabama fan.. I'm still die hard LSU...

LSU... wow... what can I say.. It's better to be lucky than good. For most of this season my poor tigers have been unable to effectively come together on offense. Defense is PHENOMENAL with some of what they do and as if Chad Jones didn't shine enough on the Baseball Diamond he is all over the field making critical plays when we desperately need it. Somehow LSU walks into tonight's game with a 5-0 record facing the number one team in the nation; the Florida Gators...
I expected a total ass whooping. The tigers defense did a wonderful job once again, and the offense had moments of wonder shot down by typical immature miscues and stupid STUPID penalties.
The tigers lost tonight and they deserved to lose, and if they do not figure out something soon, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee will have a field day with them....

Now Obama...
Not much I can say. I am baffled... I go to sleep one night and wake the next day to Obama getting a Nobel Peace Prize and the Moon being bombed!!!
WTF!!! He got a Nobel Peace Prize for his "tone" the things he may be able to do.  The committee all but said it was given to help encourage him since he faces so many obstacles in his near future.
Since when does the nobel committee give prizes as motivation? Ghandi never got a prize but in nine months of being in office Obama does? Really?
The whole fucking planet has lost their mind!!!
In the 70's it was an Ice Age we faced; 90's it was global warming; now its FUCKING PLANETARY INSANITY!!!
This is crazy.. Everyone been yelling about the racism we have in this country. That a good amount of people didn't want to vote for him because he was black.  I wish I could argue that wasn't true, but in reality we still face a ton of racism in this world and especially this state; but, you don't make up for it by creating a "reverse racism" issue. It is clear that many decisions are being made and good things being given because he is the first black president facing many obstacles...
How about we look at what he has or hasn't done since he was in office? How he is now proposing jail time for those that do not go ahead with the healthcare plan (if it's passed). How he doesn't even bother to contact his own general in wartime but twice in 75 days.. How he has spent more time on television running propaganda campaigns that the taxpayers have to pay for and creating fictitious stimulus packages that have done nothing to stimulate anything except his ego.
Stay the hell in the white house until your ass fixes the mess we have now... Stay off television, stay off the talk shows, do your damn job!!
For the media, stop talking about all the obstacles and blaming everyone else for his fuck ups and start talking straight with him... The more you all stroke his ego we will continue this downward spiral.
Help the businesses stay in business, create real jobs, get this shit back on track.

Ok, nnite..

Reality TV and UFC's The Ultimate Fighter

"Reality" television as of late has become anything but reality.  The first two seasons of MTV's The Real World was the last true Reality TV... Since that time it has been anything but real. Everything is now manufactured. We now have plots and story lines, games and challenges, jobs and tasks.... Everything planned to cause conflict or generate the outcome that would be best for ratings...
Now it seems that Dana White and the UFC have fallen into this same story line.
The Ultimate Fighter started as a talent search of young amateur fighters wanting to be in the UFC.  Hungry and raw, these guys had a fire and desire to be part of what Dana White was growing with the UFC brand.  It is also the reason the ratings for the UFC skyrocketed as it brought a personal aspect to the sport and showed that a "regular joe" had a chance for greatness in the most electrifying sport in the world.
Now I like Dana White, I like what he has done thus far for the sport, but this season of The Ultimate Fighter is really starting to piss me off.  It really seems that they had a plan to manufacture a winner or a set outcome.  There are two obvious sets of contenders. One set has been training over the past year with UFC fighters and the others are guys hungry and wanting a shot but need to be trained... Or as they seem to have been lined up... they are patsy's.... Destined to fail.
Unless these younger amateurs come out the gate and knock someone the fuck out, they are going to lose.
Now I don't know what was up with the first fight of the season, I don't remember Abe even throwing a punch so I'm not sure why he was chosen unless it was just to fill a void and lose.
The second fight put Shivers against McSweeny. 
Now if you watch this closely you hear Shivers talk about how he wants this, this is his one shot to do something great and honestly he hasn't had the opportunity to train everyday as he should have for this, he is a regular guy, training as he can and wanting the opportunity to do great things.
McSweeney talks almost brags about spending the last year training with Raschad... Hmmmm... Who is going to win this fight?
First round Shivers gets some nice hits on him, making McSweeney go backwards and even takes McSweeney to the ground.  Granted he was tired after two minutes but he still had more hits and a takedown as well as ring control.  I gave this round to Shivers.
Second round went back and forth with both fighters obviously worn out, hands on hips, hard to score this round, but we will assume it goes to McSweeney as a worst case scenario.
One judge gives it a 19/19 score which was fair. The other 2 judges gave both rounds to McSweeney... Really???
There is no way he won the first round! Obviously some bias here, and if McSweeney has been training with Raschad for a year, he should have dominated Shivers, which he did not do!
Now we have Kimbo vs Big Country...
We all know that Kimbo was picked to win this, and was the one that had to come out and shine.  Going into this I didn't really have a lot for Kimbo. He always came across as a thug and brawler and more of a Tank Abbott tough man contest kind of guy.  Watching him the past few weeks has changed my opinion. Kimbo seems to be very humble and wanting to learn.  Wanting to do better. Wanting to be the best in the sport and he listens and takes criticism very well.
In the fight however, Big Country gets rocked on the stand up game and gets Kimbo to the ground only to lie his Fat Ass on top of Kimbo for both rounds to win the fight.
Kimbo wasn't being hurt, but, wasn't able to defend himself either..
Roy "BIG COUNTRY" Nelson claims a weight of 264 to be in the heavyweight class (265 and over are super heavy weights) but, I don't believe he weighs less than 265..
So when you got some fat ass like this lying across you chest, unless you bench 300 lbs you're not moving this big bastard.
So kimbo lost... and immediately Dana White gets upset and starts complaining about Roy Nelson's win.
Was it ugly? Hell yeah! Did it piss me off? Hell yeah!! However, these are the rules...
It really seemed that Dana was more upset that "The Plan" was messed up more than anything. Kimbo's fight did bring one of the highest if not the highest ratings of this show in history.  There were pay-per-view number of viewers..
I really want to ask Dana, sit with him and just ask him, What The FUCK? Why are you trying to manufacture the ratings? You have been doing fine as the head of this sport. You are the most powerful man in MMA. Please, don't fall into the trap of reality tv and try to create problems or manufacture a winner in the interest of ratings.  I know this is a competitive sport but, in the years since you have taken over all I have heard and seen is how Dana White is a stand up guy with good ethics... Please remember you grew this sport with those values... Please don't turn this sport into the same thing Don King did to boxing..  Keep this real, keep it true, Keep it honest....

Hollywood Never Ceases to Amaze Me....

Over 100 "Big Time" Hollywood Actors and Directors have signed a petition demanding the release of Roman Polanski... Since when does being an ADULT having sex with a 13 year old, being charged, plead guilty then run from the sentence and go overseas for 30 years mean that you don't have to serve your time???? I mean really?! WTF.. SHE WAS 13!! Even if she now doesn't want to pursue charges or even if she "wanted" it 30 years ago when this happened; it was illegal, she was a KID YOU FUCKING SICK PEDOPHILE and YOU PLED GUILTY!!! 'Nuff said.... Here is the transcript.. Read it for  yourself.. He's a pedophile.. Even 30 years later.. Be a man now and do your time. You lived your life after taking advantage of a baby, now rot in jail...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0928091polanskiplea1.html

Some things are not for actors to discuss....

I've sat idly by the past two weeks as the Will Ferrel post on youtube has been viewed over 2 million times and has been reposted by countless other people. If for some reason you live under a rock or in a cave with Osama and haven't seen it, here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezOexCpydQ4


Now all the democrats are applauding as the idiots in Hollywood cheer about how great this video is...
Since when is it a crime to make money in a capitalistic society? How many executives of these insurance companies actually have a petting zoo versus the number of insane entertainers?
Granted, I do believe if these millions the execs make are being made due to negligent and wrongful denial of claims simply to boost revenue for their companies, then yeah, they should be put in jail and hung in the town square. (We really need to debate getting back to public hangings by the way)
However, if it's legitimate earnings then my only concern is regulations. If we regulate the amount they can make, then maybe we will have more affordable insurance premiums.
At this time, though, that is not the discussion.

The discussion is.......

HOW THE FUCK DOES WILL FERREL THINK HE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ANYONE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN MAKE???!!!
I mean seriously people.. How does he make more in three months of work on a film than the insurance execs make all year and have the balls to question them? In the three months it takes to make a movie, he TEMPORARILY hires a couple hundred people while these insurance companies hire thousands nationally. He doesn't provide benefits for these people like the insurance companies do, he hires contractors responsible for their own. So why not employ the people he uses on his films on a full time basis? Give the a salary and benefits, 401k? I mean really, its not like we don't see the same actors in all the films anyways, so chances are the behind the scenes crew is close to the same.
Even if this thing manages to pass (which the first try failed earlier today) Will's 20% contribution to the cause, although monetarily much more than mine would be, would be a lot less detrimental to his livelihood than it would be for mine.
Ever notice how every time the deomocrats propose something idiotic and the rest of the world calls them out on it, Hollywood explodes with some dumb shit?
Half the people in the youtube video said they were going to move out of country if Bush was re elected... So, why the fuck are they still here!!!

Realistically, we have become a nation of Boobtube people that idolizes Hollywood and the movies allowing them to dictate what we perceive to be truths rather than fiction.
Did anyone catch that Hollywood released "Commander in Chief" in 2005 just after Bush was re elected portrayed a women president. Shortly after there was a lot of hype with Hillary Clinton running in 2008?
It was a simple test to see if America would accept the thought? Even through they claimed to have number 1 ratings they ended the series after the second season. Their test failed. America didn't want to think about a woman president no matter how many times they name dropped Hillary Clinton.
Now we have Obama. Who i believe won simply because he is an eloquent speaker and a great politician. He can make the masses believe what he says, then go to another state and say the opposite and make them believe. Now he is in office and all that he promised is crumbling... Attempts to create more government agencies when we cannot control the ones we have are failing. His foreign affairs strategy sucks and he is now avoiding the very Generals he put in place. Obama had an answer for everything and now we have nothing going right.
So, what's the best answer???
Why it's Hollywood of course?
Let's take some of the attention off of the OBVIOUS things that are wrong and pick on capitalism. But only pick on the segment they disagree with. Movie companies make more every year IN PROFIT than any insurance company. How about they stand up and match the "TAX" that they want to impose on everyone else.
Why don't we regulate how much they can earn, or cap the salaries or payouts; including bonuses and residuals, that an individual actor can make?
I don't understand how they were quick to bail out banks that charge us out the ass for fees, car companies charging way too much for a vehicle, and airline companies that are ridiculous with what they charge us; but can feel ok for making anywhere from 2 to 100 million dollars for three months worth of work....

Why do we even give them 2 million hits on such an idiotic thought?? Trusting Hollywood with our political beliefs is like asking Drew Brees to do open  heart surgery on you... Sure he's a great quarterback, but, chances are he shouldn't touch the surgery room.

We all like entertainment, but, come on!! Let's have $1 tickets and free popcorn!!

If we are going to be a socialist country, let's do it all the way.....

Hollywood.... I say to you...   PAY UP! or simply SHUT UP!