Thursday, October 18, 2007

Baltimore spell check

I was on a road trip and found this in Baltimore Maryland! It's along the Baltimore-Washington parkway near BWI airport.

Someone there really forgot to use their spell checker when creating this road sign.



Or maybe it represents the local accent?






Either way, this is a fine example of the government at work.

Good job highway sign makers!! And those workers who actulee enstalled this zayn without notezeng the spelleng arror.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Don't enter MY GATE!

It is perfectly clear that the older I get, the less I can stand dealing with ignorant people. And sadly, some of those ignorant people happen to be in Law Enforcement.

My run-in with such an ignorant person came this evening when I did something that was very normal but I admit was wrong for me to do also. I committed a "sin" for those who live in "gated" communities.

My infraction? While I was delivering a pizza to this gated community, I drove through an open gate entry right behind the vehicle in front of me. That vehicle happened to be a marked local police car driven by an OFF DUTY (and out of uniform) police officer who lives in the gated RENTAL community.

The police officer stopped his car just past the gate, made some hand gestures and put his car in reverse. Then he stepped out of his car and yelled back that I needed to back up and put in my code for the gate. I backed up to the gate's keypad, the gate closed and he began to drive away. Then I entered the code that I had for the gate and as I drove into the GATED RENTAL COMMUNITY the police car made a u-turn, flipped on his lights and pointed for me to pull over.

This is when a tall and FAT man with a shaved head got out of the marked police car and interrogated me about the responsibilites of entering the gated (RENTAL) community. He said that he watched me not back up far enough (as if he could tell while he was driving away) and that I allowed the car behind me to enter their code then he told me to turn around, go out of the gate and enter the code to come back in and that it was meant for EVERYONE to enter a code to access this GATED RENTAL COMMUNITY (not his words, mine). But as he was bugging me about not putting in my code (which I did), FOUR CARS PIGGYBACKED INTO THE GATED (rental) COMMUNITY RIGHT BEHIND ME!!

When I pointed that out I must have further offended this OFF DUTY "Buford Pusser" wannabe as he continued to press me about what code I entered and where I was going. This lasted for a couple of minutes with this idiot flexing his big ego verbally with phrases like "what part of what I said did you not understand" as if I had no idea that I was being ordered around like someone who did something wrong.

I'm probably sounding like I have an ego problem myself with this blog. And I don't give a damn if I do. But the part of this that really got under my skin was as this law enforcement employee was getting on my case for entering the gate behind him he kept using the phrase "my gate". As in saying you are supposed to put in a code when you enter "MY GATE".

Oh, HIS GATE? in this gated RENTAL community of hundreds, where people regularly follow others through an open gate. And one where even the police officers themselves also follow others through an open gate rarely entering THEIR code to get in. What an arrogant ASS this "Buford Pusser" wannabe was. In my opinion, he really came off as an oversized "barney fyfe" with half the brain.

It is people like this idiot that sometimes make it difficult to respect law enforcement. Dont get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for the law enforcement community but then individuals like this one I dealt with, who sometimes overuse their "authority" while THEY have a privledge (as this individual does) that make the law enforcement community at large look bad.

His "privledge"? He lives in a gated RENTAL housing community who's priority housing goes to members of the military. Members of the law enforcement community also get first grabs at vacancies in this community. Civilians are not offered housing in this community UNLESS their are a high amount of military vacancies. And even then, the civilian could be moved out when a military family is in need of the housing.

In the city where I live, there are only a few "gated communities" and ALL of them are RENTAL communities. Only recently have some newer subdivisions installed security gates but none of them are in the area where I deliver pizza. Even so, when you are a HOME OWNER in a gated community, maybe then would it sound reasonable to use the phrase "my gate". But as this police officer used that phrase several times while he lives in a RENTAL COMMUNITY, it really appears laughable. And his attitude toward me just didn't rub right.

I wonder if one day, this person will pull me over and give me a ticket for going 35.3 mph in a 35 mph zone? Big time enforcer of the rules this guy. What a pathetic joke!

If he was really serious, (or to be taken seriously) shouldn't he have asked for my license?

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

XM Radio made a HUGE mistake!

I am ashamed of XM Satalite Radio
I am a loyal listener and subscriber of XM Satalite radio. I enjoy several of their music channels but today I am ashamed of XM Satalite Radio!

Recently, XM suspended one of their programs because of an incident involving "shock jock" radio hosts OPIE and ANTHONY who are well known for saying or doing things that may offend people. The un-censored version of the "Opie and Anthony" show was suspended from the XM lineup for 30 days while a syndicated "censored" edition of the show is still available on radio stations that carry the show around the country.


NEWS ARTICLE ONE

NEWS ARTICLE TWO

What happened was someone on the Opie and Anthony show spoke of various fantasies including one of raping United States Secretary of State Condelezza Rice. It was a deplorable incident indeed and one that should not be a surprise when you consider that the radio hosts were fired in August 2002 by the former WNEW-FM 102.7 in New York City over a highly publicized incident where they staged a stunt involving two people allegedly having sexual intercourse in a vestibule within the sacred St. Patrick's Cathedral.

When Opie and Anthony was fired, their listeners revolted and the radio station's ratings suffered so badly that the station's format and name has changed a few times since. So it's clear that Opie and Anthony has plenty of loyal fans.

XM Satalite Radio signed Opie and Anthony to have an uncensored radio program in response to the success of rival Sirrus Satalite Radio having Howard Stern on their lineup. Like Stern, Opie & Anthony were given many hours for a live morning show and repeats on a dedicated channel available 24 hours a day. Because of the adult content, XM offers to block the channel upon request.

NOTE: Howard Stern on Sirrius Satalite Radio requires an additional subscription fee. XM's talk channels do have commercials.

Recently, XM radio recieved a backlash that I consider to be simular to the recent Don Imus situation. Meaning those who expressed their being "offended" by the latest Opie & Anthony incident were more likely people who NEVER listened to the show or ever heard of them until someone TOLD them what happened and that they should be "offended" by it.

There were calls for the dismissal of Opie and Anthony by a few conservative types though they were nowhere near as loud as those who protested the "nappy headed ho's" incident on the former Don Imus Show. Opie and Anthony apologized for the incident and most considered their apology good enough to end the controversy. But then XM suspended the program.

Now, Opie and Anthony's FANS and even sponsors of XM's programing have revolted in great anger over the suspension. Over 20,000 subscribers have CANCELLED their XM accounts and many sponsors whos commercials were heard on some XM channels have pulled their sponsorsip.

I can't blame any of the people who are angry about Opie and Anthony's suspension. If I were a fan I probably would have reacted the same way. One of the major reasons why we subscribe to satalite radio is for the alternative to what we consider to be the restrictive selection and poor quality of broadcast radio. Just like when people started paying for cable and satalite television over having "rabbit ears" on top of the TV set. We want and enjoy more options even those options that are more "adult" in nature.

I feel funny referring to Opie and Anthony as either "mature" or even "adult" as their programing and probably their fans could hardly be considered either. But that is a matter of individual taste in programing content. I still support the idea of freedom of speech no matter how stupid or inappropiate I may feel that it is. I support the option to choose whether or not I will listen to it. With so many channels I can tell you that one channel I never heard was the very channel that Opie & Anthony was on. It's not something I would intentionally choose to listen to. And I feel that XM made a huge mistake in taking that option away from the Opie & Anthony fans.

Oh by the way, of those who were "offended" by the fantasy of raping Condelezza Rice as heard on Opie & Anthony, I haven't heard a single word from any of the BLACK voices who assumed the feeling of being offended when someone called a group of mostly Black female basketball players "nappy headed ho's".

Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Tavis Smiley, Tom Joyner, Michael Baisden, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (alumus of Rutgers University) and so many other Black or African-American public names I could mention....NONE of them had a damned thing so say about this "disrespect" of a woman who happens to be Black...Condelezza Rice.

I haven't heard any calls of "racism" either although Al Sharpton was busy saying something that offended the Mormons. Yes, he was in the hot seat for a little while in recent weeks for opening his big mouth again.

Sadly I also haven't heard any comments from anyone calling the Opie & Anthony incident disrespectful toward women to speak of any fantasy of rape. I heard not a damn thing from those people who were pissing their panties over the Don Imus incident and later celebrated his firing from both the TV and radio networks. All this despite the fact that 99% of those who protested and celebrated either never heard of Don Imus prior to the incident or never listened to his show anyway. I'm sure most of them never heard of Opie and Anthony either. Maybe that's the excuse for not saying anything to defend Ms. Rice.

Or could it be that the same black folks who protested loudly at Don Imus probably felt Condelezza Rice didn't deserve any respect because she is part of a Republican adminstration. They talk about her like a dog anyway.

Now which is the more "offensive", calling someone a "nappy headed ho" or fantasizing about raping a woman? Which is the more violent? Which one really is the more harmful. You know the answers to this. If you even bothered to read this far, you just might be using your brain. (I hope)

I think in both the Don Imus and the Opie & Anthony incidents, we have shared elements of HYPROCRACY and CENSORSHIP. We still have this very weak problem of not being able to turn away from the things we dislike or feel offense to. People want to control options and content. Public figures are already controlling most people's minds. People are too lazy to think and decide for themselves. And in the Opie & Anthony case, people were willing to PAY for what they enjoy. The subscribers were making THEIR choices and suddenly not getting what they feel they paid for. As a subscriber, I pay for Opie & Anthony too. But they are part of the package. My reason for subscribing to XM was based on music options as many have their own reasons for subscribing.

I say TO EACH THEIR OWN and I don't blame O&A's fans one bit for cancelling their XM accounts.

If XM ever screws with my favorate Sunday morning programing on channel 64 "The Groove" then I'll smash my reciever too. ( Don't mess with my music!)

Shame on you XM!

And more importantly, shame on all hyprocrates! Too many to list and they are too stupid to understand anyway.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Hide the steak knives

I am amused by the bold stupidity of some people.

This time it involves a man who I have long wished would just exile himself to an island somewhere so the world can forget about him and move on. That person would be OJ Simpson.

We all know what happened and the jury verdict that most people disagreed with. Then the proud display of the former football star having as much of a "good life" as he possibly could in the face of extreme public disgrace.

OJ plays golf and enjoys his life. Last weekend he enjoyed a weekend at the Kentucky Derby and he along with an entourage planned to enjoy a dinner at a nice steakhouse in Louisville. But the owner refused to serve OJ and he left the restaurant.

Now, as news of this is spreading, we hear the OJ's lawyer may plan a lawsuit or challenge the restaurant's liquor license. The lawyer even pulled the race card! More on that part later.

The owner of the restaurant said very bluntly that he refused to serve OJ Simpson because of his (the owner's) personal beliefs regarding the murders of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman. For the restaurant owner, it was clearly personal.

Now that restaurant has some free advertising for those who support the owner's decision to refuse service. The owner was applauded and is getting positive feedback. He has been interviewed by many media outlets and was the STAR guest of Nancy Grace's TV show on CNN Headline News.

This incident adds to the passion of the hate of OJ by media loudmouths like Nancy Grace and Gloria Allred. Two women that I really cannot stand. Listening to them is for me as painful as pouring bleach in my ear.

Lets get this clear! I don't care what happens to OJ. I thought he was an ASS long before the 1994 murders. I never paid any attention to the trial but I always suspected him because of his immediate actions after the bodies were found. And I see the actions of OJ Simpson and his family as arrogant after the trial.

The reason I paid so little attention to the trial is because I just cannot stomach a tabloid zoo enviroment. It was hard to avoid the zoo everywhere you went back then and the more I heard it, the more disgusted I became and I simply tuned it out.

I have long wished that OJ would just go away. I also wish that the public would let him go away. Once again, he is getting attention and people are milking it. And I think OJ craves this attention. If we ignore him, I like to think that he will finally get the point and fade away.

The owner of the restaruant said that OJ showed some "class" by leaving the restaurant quietly. Thats BS. You have to have some class in order to show some class.

Showing up in places where you know everyone hates you isn't showing class at all. Having an attorney that makes a press announcement that this was about race and they are considering legal action is definitely not having any class.

OJ has a legal parasite for a lawyer and that person claims that this happened because OJ is black and even said "he screwed with the wrong guy." Whooo, sounds like fighting words. Better hide those steak knives!


Funny thing that O.J. Simpson gets kicked out of a restaurant and the next entorage to sit at the same table included a man by the name of Michael Jordan. Last time I saw someone named Michael Jordan, it was a bald headed black man.

Hmmmm.

All of this and all future incidents like this could easily be avoided if only Orenthal James Simpson would do the world a favor and become a recluse. It is obious that he isn't smart enough to see that he may be the most hated man in the US. And now that one restaruant owner has made a name for himself by refusing to serve OJ, there is sure to be others to follow suit. Especially if the free advertisement for the restaurant turns profitable.

Yes, this incident is free advertising for the restaurant. Read the news and you know the name of the owner and you learn that he owns three upscale steak restaurants. And when the OJ haters feel like having a good steak dinner, I don't think they are going to choose the local Outback or Longhorn anytime soon.

Anyway, I only make note of the restaurant getting free press as one of many benefactors of the mess that is O.J. Simpson. Along with the media loudmouths that needed another attention getting-ratings grabbing tabloid story. And these people who take advantage and profit from this mess all criticize the messer (OJ) for not paying on the 33 million dollar lawsuit he lost to the Goldman family.

I wonder if anyone benefitting from this latest OJ mess has any plans to help OJ pay off that 33 million? THINK ABOUT THIS!

Hey, I am an equal opportunity critic. The restaurant owner has appeared on several TV shows and networks appearing like a superstar himself. Free advertising for his restaurants. People will show their appreciation for the owner refusing OJ service by getting served. It won't matter if the food is good, those steakhouses will be serving a lot of beef and raking in many loaves of bread.($$$)


TV networks get to talk about it and advertisers pay them for the higher ratings. Assholes like Nancy Grace, Bill O'reilly and that arrogant runt Sean Hannity all get have a passionate topic to discuss. Black hyprocrates (who hold platinum race card accounts from the Bank of (Al) Sharpton- "The B of S") will join OJ's lawyer's race card pull on one side and critize OJ for dating a white woman on the other. (Black folks calling into the Tom Joyner Radio show were sure quick to point out that both O.J. and Michael Jordan was seen a white woman at that restaurant over the weekend.) Entertainment Tonight gets to take a break from covering American Idol and soon to be jailbird Paris Hilton, bloggers like me post meaningless babble in an attempt to appear like real journalists and bored newspaper eporters get to work overtime reporting any angle of this story and collecting the latest soundbite.

All of this made possible because OJ SIMPSON simply doesn't get it and wont go away.

I'll have my steak medium rare!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Condolences and contempt

I don't know this family but I would like to offer my condolences to the family of the late Jake Rocker. He was the driver of an SUV that had a collision with a dump truck near my community. Jake Rocker was killed in the accident.The accident occurred on a major road leading into the city where I live. I drive the road daily and had to detour because of this accident in the morning rush hour.

The family of Jake Rocker is surely mourning the unexpected loss of their loved one. However the local newspaper chose to report this fatal accident by reminding the public of Jake Rocker's son. His son happens to be a former baseball player. Jake Rocker's son is former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker.

Thats where the story should end. The Rocker family lost one of its members in an automobile accident. There was no reason for the media to go into any details of past events that had NOTHING to do with the man and the tragic car accident that happened yesterday morning. I won't mention any of those past events as the world has moved on from those events. But appearantly the Macon Telegraph has not.

I have said recently that I am all about freedom of speech. That speech should be used with some respect under circumstances like this. The family has to deal with a death and funeral. Let them mourn in peace.

My condolences to the Rocker family at their time of loss. No family deserves to lose anyone in a horrible accident like that.

and my contempt for the news media for their reporting of the event. It wasn't necessary to include the history of the deceased' son's controversal career.

Just my opinion.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Don Imus was fired, now what?

OK, now Don Imus has lost both his radio show and the TV simulcast. He has been fired by both companies. He is history.

He did make a stupid mistake. People were offended and he was punished for it.

NOW WHAT?

It hasn't solved anything. You still have a lot of people INCLUDING those who led this protest who are guilty of racial activity. So are people going to put a stop to their madness? Will the advertisers who pulled away from Don Imus also pull away from others who are just as guilty? Or are all of these overreacting people who were protesting going to slide back under their rocks and celebrate a hollow victory.

Remember this the next time you listen to a rap song or a foul mouthed comedian. You'll be listening to a hyprocrate.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

"YOU PEOPLE" are a bunch of "NAPPY HEADED" HYPROCRATES

I assume that if I were a public figure then I would get into a lot of trouble for writing this blog. Especially with the title I have for it.

Unless you have had your head in your butt for the past couple days, then you must know about the controversy over a radio talk show host's comments about a college basketball team. Today I have been listening to the reaction, the demands for the radio personality's firing, the attempt at an apology by the host, the additional so-called offenses made within the apology and a whole lot of "spin" from every other radio host and their callers.

For the most part, the majority of what I have heard is from people taking advantage of the airwaves and every other public outlet by jumping on the bandwagon to throw their worthless two cents in. And to some of us who actually took the time to think about the situation BEFORE reacting to it, this has become yet another soap-opera starring people who are nothing more than publicity whores.

So now I will name the stars of this media circus.

Don Imus, a New York based radio broadcaster of over four decades whose radio show is syndicated nationally and simulcast over the cable television network MSNBC. He is a radio legend and known for a certain type of behavior and for making comments that some have deemed offensive. It has always been part of his "act" and hardly different than many radio hosts.

Don Imus is currently under fire for referring to the Women's basketball team at Rutgers University of New Jersey by using the words "nappy headed ho's" while talking with his radio sidekick/producer about a recent college basketball game. And in that same conversation BOTH men used words that some African-Americans consider offensive. The word "jiggaboo" was also used.

Don Imus is now facing the wrath of public scrutiny led by the other stars of this media circus, The Reverend Al Sharpton of New York City. Another legend in his own right as he has been an activist usually for race concerns. He became nationally known in the late 1980's through some highly publicized racial events in New York. Soon he got involved in situations outside of his New York home base through his organization The National Action Network. He has used his popularity to run for president and now is also a nationally syndicated radio talk host. Some consider Al Sharpton as a civil rights leader. I consider Al Sharpton to be a publicity whore, ready to take on any cause and make it a racial issue.

Another person considered a civil rights leader but I also consider to be the crown king of media whores (as Sharpton is the prince) is none other than Jessie Lee Jackson Sr, born in Greenville South Carolina and leader the Rainbow Push Coalition out of Chicago. Some of you might not know this but Jessie Jackson also has a nationally syndicated radio show. But you have to get up very early on Sunday morning to listen to it.

Now, to the issue at hand.

Don Imus definitely said something stupid on the radio. But my problem with the whole issue is with the reaction to it. The black community is so outraged at Don Imus for daring to call a mostly black female basketball team a bunch of "nappy headed ho's". And people SHOULD see this stupid comment for its offense. But have to I ask why this incident and why now? And why are we never as offended when we call ourselves these names? Even more baffling to me is why we continue to allow racist publicity whores like Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson to be the leading mouthpieces of the Black or African-American community.

YES I CALLED JACKSON AND SHARPTON RACIST as everything with them is a racial issue. They too have made inflamatory comments over the years. Everything with them involves blaming the white man and demanding that the white man and anyone related to him to pay us lazy ass black folks cash for past injustices.

And speaking about LAZY ASS BLACK FOLKS (yeah I said it!) who never take on a cause that makes sense and actually would have a positive effect on our lives. We sit on our fat black butts waiting for a handout and for someone else to do something for us instead of doing it for ourselves. And we criticize those who ARE doing things for themselves to get ahead in life. I catch that hell all of the time.

Why am I picking on BLACK PEOPLE? Because my so-called brothers and sisters are truly a bunch of NAPPY HEADED LAZY ASS HYPROCRATES! (yeah I said it!)

I am angry more about the response to Don Imus' remarks because I have been long tired of hearing people who look like me carry ourselves with no self respect. Then those of us like me who DARE to suggest that it is INAPPROPIATE to call ourselves "nigger" (notice I spelled it CORRECTLY) or our women "bitches" or "ho's" often get called nasty names ourselves. I cannot count how many times I have gotten into a conflict with a relative or neighbor whenever I challenged them for saying a word that we find offensive if someone of another race uses it.

So I dare to say this….How dare anyone get upset because some radio guy says something outrageous and then you make is a racial issue. HOW DARE YOU?

This is becoming an old question more often asked by people of other races but also asked by some African-Americans as well, you know, the ones who (like me) get accused of being a race traitor, uncle Tom, House N***** etc. The question is where is the outrage over RAP music, BLACK comedians and black politicians who spew RACIST comments damn near every time they open their mouths?

I have another good question to ask…..how many of the people who are so pissed at Don Imus ever heard of him before some so-called black leader told you that you needed to protest and get him fired? Hmmmmm?

I know the answers to this! How about LITTLE TO NONE or VERY FEW at the most. Black people who are so angry at Don Imus are most likely listeners of Steve Harvey, Doug Banks, Russ Parr, Tom Joyner or any local Hip-hop radio morning show hosted by some wannabe comedian with a dozen people in the studio with nothing important to talk about and usually everyone talking or screaming at the same time.

One radio host spent the first hour of his show angry about someone name John Imus. I guess someone had to call and tell him that the man's name was DON and not JOHN. So that was one of the many who reacted BEFORE really knowing what to react to.


Now, most of these radio hosts are joining the push within the black community to get Don Imus fired. Suspension is not enough for these people. Some of the radio hosts are planning to release the telephone numbers for the advertisers of Don Imus' show and the broadcasters who distribute it to have his career terminated and the listeners are going to make life hell for Imus for his stupid comments.

SO I ASK AGAIN……

When are we going to slam the advertisers and broadcasters who sponsor violent and racially offensive comedians and rap performers? Why is it that when we see a rapper driving a Cadillac Escalade and calling someone a bitch or ho, we want to drive a car just like the one in the video? Why can't we inform General Motors and the Cadillac division that the video is offensive and they should not associate their product with the offensive material? Do you see that ever happening?

I am rambling here, but I am annoyed. I also defer to FREEDOM OF SPEECH and with that, someone like Don Imus and even Al Sharpton should be able to have their say whatever that say is. NEITHER of them should lose their jobs for whatever offensive things they say or do UNLESS it is in direct violation of company rules and FCC regulations! I have not heard of the words "nappy headed ho's "as being any of the "forbidden" words within FCC rules. Now if they were included among the forbidden words or phrases, then most of the newer music out there and even some of the performers names would be banned from broadcast. (Isn't there a group or person who calls themselves "Nappy Brown"?)

Even some old songs could be banned for offensive lyrics like Stevie Wonder's song "I Wish"…."Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy"……

Well, this latest controversy didn't stop with the "nappy headed ho's". As Don Imus appeared on Al Sharpton's radio show to "apologize" for his "nappy headed hos" remarks, he used another term that black people get bent out of shape over. And that term is the double word "YOU PEOPLE." I believe the statement Don Imus said was "I can't get anywhere with you people"

Don Imus tried to explain himself and apologized on Al Sharpton's radio show. However he was constantly under attack and the apologies were not being accepted. Sharpton and his entourage were playing a power play and Don Imus' reaction using the "you people' comment made things worse.

Something I learned very clearly when I was young is that Black people take the "you people" phrase as an insult. It is taken as if the person saying "you people' feels as if they are better than you. As if "those people" are inferior to "us" or something. It is an offense that I have never understood nor taken whenever it was said to me. I have even used the phrase "you people" without the intention of insult and I have no apologies for it. I do think that people need to get over it.

Sadly, black people are adding the "you people' remark into the mix that is this current controversy over words.The reaction to Imus saying "you people" is as if he disrespected people who in my opinion had not earned any respect.

Black people are in attack mode. They are not willing to compromise. Whenever someone allegedly "offends" us, then we want their livelihoods to suffer. We want people to be fired as a way to be held accountable. Or we want corporations or individuals to kiss our black asses and give away whatever we demand.

So as people are demanding that Don Imus be fired, his radio and TV bosses are suspending him for two weeks. There was no word about whether his suspension was with or without pay and his suspension is delayed a few days so that Don Imus can help promote a previously scheduled radio telefon for charity. The whole suspension thing itself is a bad a joke as the situation surrounding it. It is nothing more than a vacation for someone who already earns several million dollars a year.

I am not sorry to say this as it is my opinion, but the only thing Don Imus needed to do was apologize for his comments and move on. As I am typing this, Don Imus is planning to meet with the women's basketball team and their coach to hopefully apologize to them in person and to bury the hatchet. But this will not satisfy anyone. People want a hatchet job done to the man who committed a verbal "crime".

Well I want a hatchet job done on the record executives who allow recording contracts to be issued to thugs who record disrespectful, violent and offensive material and profit from it. I want a hatchet job done on people who profit from and who use people for their power trips as Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson have done for decades. I want a hatchet job for anyone who threatens FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

As I said earlier, I defer to Freedom of speech as a right we have in the United States of America, MY HOME! But I do so with the understanding and respect that having that freedom of speech has responsibilities AND consequences.

Freedom of speech should allow exactly what has happened with the Don Imus situation, the Mel Gibson incident and all of the others. They should be able to say what they want and what they feel. And if you don't agree, then you take action. Freedom of speech in the US gives you the right to express yourselves in protest, boycotting, or SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE RADIO OF TELEVISION and choosing other programming.

Let the marketplace decide who keeps their job! If there is a proven lack of support then you take a different course which in this case may mean a replacement in programming.

What happened to people making a choice? It is obvious that I am not a fan of Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson and because of that I choose to NOT listen to their radio shows and I have never voted for either of them when they ran for office. I also choose to NOT listen or watch Don Imus' radio program. It is not my type of programming. I never had any interest in his show. And unlike most of those who supposedly are in an uproar right now, I have actually heard of him and listened to his show a few times. And I moved on when I realized that it was not my cup of tea.

Perhaps the most important issue with me is that one should look in the mirror before being so critical of others. And find your priorities! We have so many more important issues to deal with than the words of an idiot especially when we have this terrible habit of giving a pass to "one of us" just because it is "one of us". It is a double standard that will continue to keep race relations in the dismal state that we are in right now.

And sadly those who are keeping us down are the ones who claim to honor the lives of those who died in the struggle for civil rights.

Those people have got to be turning in their graves.

I am done rambling on this issue. I just hope that it will die down soon and somehow we put this passion into matters that affect us more than the words of a radio man that so few of us even listen to.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Stupid driver exposed!

I want to talk about one very scary driver in Central Georgia.

The photo is of the scary driver's vehicle. If the car or arm of the driver resembles you or you know the person. Be glad I did not include a photo of the license plate and that I won't identify the driver further by revealing the person's age or gender. Also be glad that I am not identifying the specific city. However you may get some clue if you are from the area.



This scary driver really knew how to multi-task during a Friday afternoon rush hour!

This driver was on a busy street with many curves and traffic lights. The driver was talking on the telephone WITHOUT A HANDS FREE DEVICE! The phone was held firmly against the driver's head. And every few seconds another hand would reach out the window to flick ASHES from a cigarette even when the vehicle was moving!

This driver was smoking and talking while driving a little sports car on a BUSY street DURING RUSH HOUR! And this driver rarely let go of either the cigarette or the telephone for the 2 miles that I nervously drove behind this driving menace!

This two mile stretch included a narrow three lane street with the center lane used for REVERSE travel at different times of the day. During the morning the center lane runs toward Downtown. In the afternoon, the center lane runs away from downtown. The scary telephone talking-cigarette smoking driver DID use the center lane!

I photographed this idiot while at a traffic light. I wanted to show one person that really should not be allowed to drive a motorized vehicle.

It is my opinion that people who drive while talking on their cell phones are as dangerous as a stinking drunk driver. Add smoking, eating and other distractions while operating a moving vehicle and you risk the safety of everyone around you. If you are guilty of these habits, you should stop or be stopped before you kill someone!

And if you do kill someone, hopefully it is YOURSELF and not some innocent person or family who does take their responsibility to operate a motor vehicle seriously.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Tornadoes in Americus Georgia

A tornado hit Americus Georgia on Thursday, March 1, 2007 after 9pm.

The local hospital was severely damaged and patients had to be evacuated. It will take months to bring the hospital back into operation.

Two people died in the Americus tornado.

Here are photos of some of the damage. Photos were taken four days after the tornado hit.

Winn-Dixie Supermarket



Advance Auto Parts


Home on Ga HWY 49 north


Church on HWY 49 loses steeple


Home in Historic District south of Downtown


Aarons store with delivery truck on its side


Downtown was not damaged including historic Windsor Hotel




These houses are South of Downtown between Lee Street and the High School.

Lots of historic homes and great old trees










Houses along Georgia HWY 49 in North Americus




Sunday, January 21, 2007

I'm not the only one in a time warp!



For a few weeks, SOUL TRAIN is running "The Best of Soul Train" which is complete CLASSIC episodes of the longest running syndicated television show in history.




I discovered this by accident and confirmed it online.

Then I looked up the program guide and discovered it was on very early Sunday morning and so I woke up early to watch The Sugar Hill Gang and Patrice Rushen on an episode that originally aired in 1981.











Like many, I grew up watching Soul Train every Saturday and yes, I did watch this very episode pictured. Back then it was the first time I saw The Sugar Hill Gang on Soul Train but it was at least a year after I first heard their song "Rappers Delight". This was the early stages of popular RAP music when it was all about just having fun with music and words.

I hate to sound like the "stick in the mud" or the old fogie (sp) that I am turning into but, I prefer the more gentlemen like presence of RAP music from "back in the day". When rappers spoke in an interview and you could understand what they said. Their pants were pulled all the way up covering their butts and you did not have to bleep or blur anything audible or visual out. There was no violence back then, no calling people Bitches or Ho's either. Rappers actually called women LADIES although that term could have been questioned on an indvidual basis but still, there was some respect back in the day.

Rapping was a way to have a party and a good time. Or to showcase your vocal style, DJ mixing or dance moves. But on "Soul Train" it was purely LIP SYNC. (silently mouthing while the actual record was playing) And we enjoyed the hell out of it.



And tonight, the classic Soul Train episode will air on my local NBC station at 11:00. My DVR is set to record and to quote Don Cornelius, "you can bet you last cash, It's gonna be a stone blast honey"! I think thats what he used to say.




Anyway in parting from this blog I quote Don Cornelius again in wishing you.....
Love, peace and SOUL!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Fellow speeders: Sonny does it too!


Anyone in Georgia may remember the 2006 political campaign commercials for Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue with the slogan "Sonny did" as in Sonny Perdue "did" so much for the state.

Well, Sonny is doing it again. Wasting time in some laim bad ass idea of "cracking down on speeding drivers". And I just heard the governor himself say in a news conference that he is one of the average Georgia drivers that exceeds the speed limit.

Yes, Sonny does that too!

I drive a lot for work and I drive within the flow of traffic. If everyone is going 80 on a rural stretch of an interstate, I am not the slow poke to break the flow! If I were, then I am creating a safety hazard.

SPEED LIMITS ARE REVENUE SOURCES!

In my business I drive hundreds of miles a day traveling throuout the state. I frequent long stretches of I-75, I-16, US 341, Georgia 300 and Georgia 96. And I can tell you that the speed limits are a JOKE in many areas. They only exist to create revenue for local governments. Why else would the town of Byron Georgia police give tickets on an interstate hwy that has one exit on the edge of their town?

Why is there a 45 mph speed limit through the town of Warwick GA (home of the national GRITS festival!) on a 4 lane GA-300? So their lone police officer could raise revenue to make up for the meager income the tiny town gets from its Dollar General store? This highway has a 65 speed limit and a 55 speed limit as you enter Albany. But Warwick is special and you must slow down as you BYPASS the actual town (which is off the highway)

Georgia hwy 96 between Ft. Valley and Columbus is a newly widened open 4 lane highway with a short one mile section that runs through the town of Reynolds. Appropiately, the speed limit through Renynolds is reduced. But 10 miles west, this highway BYPASSES the town of Butler. And this open road remains at 55 mph while clearly designed for 65 mph or higher.

How much revenue does the Taylor county Sheriff's dept and Butler police raise from HWY 96 in a county that still has segregated high school proms? (I had to throw that in!)

ARE POLITICIANS EXEMPT FROM SPEED LIMITS?

I challenge anyone driving along a Georgia interstate to look at the license plates of the vehicle that just passed you like you were standing still. Does that vehicle have one of those special license plates with a CAPITAL symbol on it? It could be a "State representive" or other state or US political office identified on the bottom of the license plate.

Find a license plate like I just described on an unmarked Crown Victoria or on some large SUV or European Luxury car and notice that person is not only exceeding the speed limit but yapping on their cell phone at the same time. And one of those politicians just had a press conference announcing his plan to crack down on speeding and unsafe drivers.

What @#$%#$ hyprocracy!


Im keeping my cruise control set! I never had a speeding ticket before and I want to keep it that way! They want to double the fines!

News article below!

Crackdown on 'Super Speeders'
(WSB Radio) -- Saying speed is responsible for 20 percent of Georgia's fatal automobile accidents, the rising cost of trauma care and traffic congestion, Governor Sonny Perdue is proposing increasing the fines paid by drivers who violate the state's speed limit.

Perdue wants "hundreds of dollars" tacked on to the punishment handed out to motorists who get pulled over going more than 85 miles an hour on interstate and four lane highways and 75 miles an hour on two lane roads.

Perdue says "Georgia's drivers are among the fastest in the nation, and we've got to stop the excessive speeding."

The money collected through the fines would help offset costs at the state's fifteen trauma care centers.

Law enforcement also backs Perdue's proposal. Georgia State Patrol spokesman Larry Schnall says "we support anything to get people's attention and slow them down."

Statistics show the average Georgia motorist drives 20 miles an hour over the posted speed limit.