Recent Blog Posts: Bakersfield.com

Ask The Californian: Plans for the old Vons?

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:21:42 PDT

Q: Are there any plans for the old Vons building on Mall View Road in northeast Bakersfield? It has been vacant for quite some time.

— Gina Garbell

Jim Eggert, Bakersfield’s assistant planning director, said the city hasn’t received any plans for changes to the building that has been vacant since the Vons store closed about two years ago. Eggert said he also hasn’t heard anything concrete about the building getting a new tenant.

Blogging Bako: What are you doing Saturday afternoon?

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:19:16 PDT

Hopefully, chillin' over a cup of coffee with us at Dagny's!

Bakersfield.com Blogger/Commenter Meet-Up

3:30 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Dagny's Coffee Company

20th and Eye Streets, Downtown

We provide the drinks and food, you provide the talk and company. This is the first of a continuing series of B.commer events, so keep watching this space! And as always, email me with ideas--and to let me know if you think you'll be making an appearance!

BTW, don't forget to sign up for the n-gage e-newsletter to keep up with all things interactive on B.com, in your inbox every Thursday morning after 10 a.m. If that's not incentive enough for you, click here to subscribe and be entered for a chance to win a $25 Borders giftcard. And to be featured in a future n-gage blogger profile, click here.

Comments:
maryrusso commented: I look forward to the blogger event and meeting everyone. You forgot to mention all of the cool Bakersfield.com swag we will be giving away!
tkozy commented:

Do I have to cover my tattoo's?

I'll be there as long as nothing important comes up.

steveeswenson commented: We thought we were going to be out of town this weekend, but we're not. So Mary and I intend to show up.
The Mary is my wife who blogs under ScaryMary, but she's really not all that frightening.
jasonsperber commented: The more the merrier, Steve and ScaryMary!
NancyII commented:

Grandson has said he'll be there ..he's a blogger too, just not identified for reasons that will become clear at the get together.

I'm not sure if Cassie will be there but if so, that's 4 members of this blogging family to appear.

NancyII commented: Gotta go to work now..see all of you at Dagneys this afternoon.
TomW commented: See you all there.
ghostriter commented:

Darn, I really wish I could go, but my kids have dental appointments today. I finally found a dentist who is open on Saturday!

Maybe next time!

Dusty's View of Life: 40 years ago people marched on the Pentagon..they are doing it again this weekend

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:16:08 PDT

As the anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war looms large this coming week, the anti-war activists are in full protest gear. Marches will once again be held all over the US Saturday to show our outrage at the war in Iraq and the people that put us there. Since these patriots are willing to band together to show their opposition to the war in Iraq, its only right that we remind ourselves what the war in Vietnam should of taught us. That is why thousands are going to DC from all over the U.S. this weekend.

As Teddy Roosevelt once said:

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

Amen President Roosevelt.

Comments:
Chuck61 commented:

Hmmm!...To parallel the Vietnam era with what our troops are facing today, leaves me with the (gut) feeling that, no lesson has been learned. The chance of applying more to the pockets of the (already) filthy-rich few, still outweighs the sanctity of human-life. Can't you see the faces of our young troops, being brainwashed into believing that, walking boldly into this meat-grinder called "WarFor Peace in Iraq", is actually saving our country from terrorism? Inspect the Troops standing at ATTENTION before you...Look into the eyes of these uniformed well-bodied youngsters. It is already too late to tell these (our innocent children) that they are headed out to war for every wrong purpose.

My Blessings to the Marchers.

ronmexico commented:

I am having a hard time understanding why the Bosnain War for Peace was justified, yet the Iraqi War for Peace is unjustified. Oh well. I guess our next war in Darfur is justfied, as long as it is a Democrat who is in the Oval Office.

ronmexico commented: Hmm.. If the war is wrong right now, then why wait for a full year to "redeploy"?? If it is wrong, why not "redeploy" right now?? I would be all for "redeploying" if GWB would "redeploy" all those troops to the Mexican border. What ya all say?? All those for "redeployment", where would you like the troops to retreat to?? Kuaite? Arizona? New Mexico?? Texas?? Bosnia?? Darfur?? Haiti?? Macedonia?? Germany?? Just where should we "redeploy"??
ladyblues44 commented: Should have happened five years ago!!!!!!
AudreyB commented:

It's just like the early 70's without the drugs and sex. Oh wait. it is just like the 70's. Spanada coolers all around.

randomfactor commented:

What, bad hair and platform soles? I have to admit I'm getting awfully deja-vuey reading Molly Ivins' book on politics written in 1992. Some of the names have changed--not many--but the situation is exactly the same.

Anny, for one thing, it was over in a little over three years. But then, so was World War II, for us. The difference? Competent leadership, I suppose. As for redeploying now as opposed to later, I'm with you on that--but the redeploy should be to Afghanistan, where we still have a chance.

The People vs. Vincent Brothers: Eyewitness testimony not always high caliber

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:14:24 PDT

The public generally and the police like to have eyewitnesses to crimes and crime scenes.

But sometimes, the caliber of eyewitness testimony isn't the stuff of solid rock foundations.

Consider the testimony of Jasper Robinson in the Vincent Brothers trial.

He says he saw Brothers in the backyard of the Harper family house on the day five members of the family were shot to death.

That sounds like great prosecution testimony until the rest of the story is told.

Despite being interviewed several times by police right after the killings, Robinson didn't mention seeing Brothers until several months later when he was jail himself on other matters.

Then he said he noticed Brothers after he was urinating in his own backyard after having several beers.

Could be true. Might not be something you'd want to bet a lot on.

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Comments:
randomfactor commented:

Psych 101: eyewitness testimony is often the *LEAST* credible.

bakersfield commented: Considering the neighborhood they lived in, exactly what caliber of eye-witness are you expecting? A drunk dude peeing outside is right up there with what I expect along with the thug doing a drive by to the crack house across the street. The defense will dismantle any witness. If they have a grandma who goes to church every day, they will turn her into a drug addict hooker.
dusty1215 commented: random is right..anyone who has ever taken a basic Psych class is put through the eyewitness test which shows how bad even bright, educated people are at restating something they just witnessed.
TomW commented: My dad used to teach criminology at CSUB and as part of his class he'd have someone come in and talk for a couple of minutes. After the person left, he'd ask each person to describe them. The funniest was one guy who was sure the speaker was wearing a blue hat. Turns out the student was seeing the edge of his own blue baseball cap.
dusty1215 commented: We had a student come into class after it started and create a huge disturbance and then run out. We were all given a list of questions, much like a police officer would ask. No one got even half of them correct and most people had nothing right except the gender of the student.
radthnker commented:

Jasper Robinson lived in the house behind the Harper's. Jasper Robinson knew the family and Brothers by sight if not by aquaintance. When he testified that he had seen Brothers in the backyard with a garden hose, it wasn't the first time he had ever seen him before. Eye witness testimony IS the least credible when the witness only sees a brief flash of an incident, doesn't know the suspect involved, the suspects are generally moving away from them maybe in a poorly lit area, and then is questioned about what they saw later. This is not one of those types of eyewitness accounts. The background noise about not reporting his sighting of Brothers in a timely fashion does create a small doubt, but certainly not a reasonable doubt. Mr. Robinson had nothing to gain from his testimony except to do his civic duty and report what he saw. What do you want; a video??

meluvshoes commented:

good lord, the blogger above must be the same anonymous from previous blogs. I hope we aren't destroying peoples lives and sending them to prison for murder based on the drunk neighbor. If the drunk guy was so accustomed to seeing Brothers why didnt he mention it when first questioned? Why would he wait until he stood to gain something?

Anonymous, you gotta lighten up!

jfrancais commented:

I hate to say it but Mr. Robinson and Ms Wandick's testimony could potentially hurt Brothers' case depending on how convincing they are to the jury. Maybe the defense has evidence that rebuts their statements (eyewitnesses in Ohio, video, etc.). I am not convinced that Jasper Robinson is doing his civic duty, however it could be possible that he saw someone in the backyard. Also how does one know if it is actually the day in question considering, by his own admission, that he is a habitual drinker? If the defense has evidence to prove otherwise, I would say that it is there duty bring it before the court.

PrincessDNW17 commented:

Witness testemony is never great, and Mr. Robinson is not the best witness but I see no reason to doubt Ms. Wandick's testimony. Unlike Mr. Robinson she has nothing to gain. Yes, she didn't go to the police right away, but hey who would? Five people had just been murdered. Unlike Mr. Robinson she seems to be a good witness. And I beg to differ with the comment before about what type of witness do you expect to find in that neighborhood. It's not the best neighborhood but murders happen within all types of communities...not just the "bad" neighborhoods. Nobody makes a good witness and we all have skeletons that we may not want a jury or the public to know about. The Harpers lived there and I don't see anything to point out that they were "drunks, thugs, or running a crack house". Everything I have ever heard was that they were hard working citizens who attended church regularly. Ms. Wandick's testimony is damaging to the Brothers alibi.

Sam Heath: Admitting mistakes without accountability: Worthless!

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:51:16 PDT

What I really resent about the whole business of Deborah Jeane Palfrey and her list of some 15,000 “clients” is that I’m not on that list. I resent being denied the perks of the typical politician in many ways, and this is just one of them. I can only hope Fred Thompson isn’t on that list, though I personally wouldn’t hold it against him. I would simply envy him.

But Ms. Palfrey’s list aside, I favor Fred Thompson running for President not just because he stands out in a field of less than inspiring candidates and would offer a real choice, but America is in desperate need of someone who can at the very least act presidential. In that Thompson obviously fills the bill even if he was not qualified otherwise.

America suffers a tremendous image problem because Bush and his administration come off as something less than heroic of mythic proportions. As an undergraduate I attended a Greek play being put on by the college theater arts department. At one point a beautiful girl peering stage right says, “Who is approaching; he cannot be a mortal man; he appears to be a god.” As the audience anxiously awaited the appearance of this god, what should come onstage but some scrawny beanpole! The entire audience broke out laughing, and what was supposed to have been a serious production was ruined with most of us walking out of the auditorium. We weren’t buying the scrawny beanpole playing the role of someone of heroic and mythic stature.

Audie Murphy was heroic as a soldier, but he was painfully out of place as a “Hollywood hero” despite being credible in “The Red Badge of Courage.” But when attempting roles in which his small stature was matched against big guys, the old maxim of boxing “A good big guy will always beat a good small guy” was painfully obvious, and audiences weren’t buying Audie Murphy beating big guys with his fists.

Nothing dooms a play or film more quickly than having someone playing a part who is painfully miscast in an important role; and when such a thing happens the audience is aware someone exerted influence in order to procure the part for the actor; which explains some of the sawed-off runts being cast in romantic and heroic roles. But whatever the source of such influence, and we even see this in TV advertising, when the person is badly miscast no amount of expertise or talent on the part of the other players can save the situation. This pretty well describes our federal government; a painful example being AG Alberto Gonzales and his boss, both of whom favor and go to extraordinary efforts to encourage slave labor from Mexico over America’s sovereignty and secure borders.

There is that line from “The American President” of which politicians seem oblivious that when it comes to politics “perception is everything.” And when it comes to perception when I see Gonzales I see a Mexican, not an American; and to read his bio is to understand this. When I see Bush I see a fool not the “leader” of the free world. Both would like to “move on” after admitting “mistakes.” Sorry, but there is no way of getting past perception no matter how many admissions of “mistakes.” These two are horribly miscast in the roles they are “playing.” Unfortunately for We the People, we can’t simply leave the auditorium.

And speaking of mistakes “No Child Left Behind” was the act of a fool. But Bush had his favorite education toady Rod Paige of Texas schools infamy and played such a prominent role in Bush’s political success to rely on for this fiasco. Trading on Affirmative Action rather than genuine academic qualifications Rod Paige could cook the education books with the best, his one claim to “qualification” for the office Bush appointed him to. And the schools of America are suffering accordingly. I wrote about this during that period of time when all this was transpiring, pointing out the obvious reasons such a plan for the schools was the act of those that knew nothing of the realities in the schools, that knew nothing of real education in the real world. Both Bush and Paige personified a large part of the reason the schools of America are failing; but no one in authority dared face Bush with the realities in education anymore than they dared face him with the lies and subterfuges leading to the present quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Facing those like Bush with the truth is risky business. But what if General Pace had used the “F” word as did Ann Coulter; would he be facing a court martial? Well, he didn’t and he didn’t even use “Girlie-men.” Give him credit for that; though Arnold certainly made his point by using it. Sometimes you simply need to watch your phraseology, and sometimes you simply need to tell the truth without any caveats or blandishment. I give the general due credit for speaking the truth about the harm of sexual perversion in our military. But it is pretty late in the game for politicians admitting of “mistakes” all the while nothing changes for the better in either the White House or Congress and the perception of America is a nation of fools led of fools.

Comments:
robbwillis commented: Ok, I read Gonzales' biography to see why he'd be viewed as a Mexican and not an American. Although I haven't particularly liked him since day one of his AG appointment, he is an American. I think your "perception" lead-in to your point about Gonzales strikes a disturbingly racist tone.
samheath commented: No, though I'm used to that from certain quarters because I believe America and Americans should come first.
randomfactor commented: "America" and "Americans" being distinguishable by their skin tone.
robbwillis commented: Well, what was it about his biography that leads you to view him as a Mexican instead of an American? Can't be his time in the United States Air Force. Is it because he's a lawyer? Maybe it's the honors he's received from Hispanic organizations. Would you view him as an American if he had refused those honors?
randomfactor commented:

It's because his grandparents may not have been documented. *AND* the dark skin.

Me, I don't view him as an American because he has zero respect for the United States Constitution, the public image of the United States here and abroad, or the American people in general. But that's just me, to get caught up in trivia.

dusty1215 commented: I think of Uncle Al as an American Taliban member in good standing. He manages to circumvent the constitution and if that doesn't work for him and Bush..then he merely sticks an amendment into the Patriot Act that serves their purpose to usurp power that the Constitution doesn't give the executive branch.

The fact that BushCo is funneling money into Al-Qaeda groups doesn't sit well with me either and is part of the reason Uncle Al is considered a member of the American Taliban.
dusty1215 commented: I give Gen. Peter Pace no credit for anything. Our service men and women can not speak out about their personal beliefs about the war whilst in uniform..or any other law without extreme consequences. Why should Pace be allowed to do that?

Makes Things Go: Get Comfortable

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:38:40 PDT

First, on a personal note, I just passed the last of the pre-final inspections on the house I'm working on, which is a great relief. I went to get the last structural inspection (just some roof nailing stuff) and realized that the plumbing and electrical hadn't been signed off as OK to cover. Which would have been less of a big deal if I hadn't already rocked half of the space. Fortunately, the inspector came out and remembered that she had said it was OK and I'm back on track.

But last week, as I was prepping the roof for this inspection, I started thinking about the value of making yourself comfortable as you work. A lot of people won't have the chance to hang out over a 20 foot drop as they tie a roof together with straps (inspectors love the shiny) but after a day or so of doing work like that, your muscles can get pretty cranky if you don't take 5 minutes to make sure you've got a secure place to stand or sit while you work or else your muscles will be constantly shifting to provide balance and stability.

When I first started in building, I did a lot of things that I know I shouldn't have. Working over my head on the top step of a step ladder that was on top of a scaffold comes to mind. Aside from the possibility of instant death, everything takes longer because you can't focus on what you're doing.

All of this to say, a good stable place to work from and comfortable clothes go a long way towards making sure your home improvement projects (and everything else in life) go well.

Speaking of getting comfortable, this weekend is the Bloggers' Brunch. Hope to see all of you there.

Comments:
jasonsperber commented: Can't wait to meet you and everyone else offline on Saturday at Dagny's, Tom! And congrats on passing those inspections--you should bring some photos of the house to the meet-up on Saturday.
randomfactor commented: *OFFLINE*? You're going to have a laptop set up, right?
woofwoof commented:

I re-did my kitchen this past year....it's an amazing thing to have fore-thought....a simple mistake of not figuring in the thickness of the tile I used, made me have to get a new smaller refrigerator....not to mention how much the new granite countertop stuck out so it wouldn't fit back in it's home....everything always takes longer than you think...

I guess I could bring the dog to this shindig....they have outdoor tables....and my laptop???

jasonsperber commented:

Yes, Woof, they allow dogs on the patio. :) Bring your daughter, too, for a birthday cookie!

And there will be at least one laptop. :) I know you guys can't stand to be diconnected for too long. We can even take some pix and post from there. Heh.

TomW commented: Liveblogging the brunch, Jason? I think that may be too much even for me.
jasonsperber commented:

Hey, I was only gonna bring the laptop b/c RF mentioned it. Heh. I wasn't planning on liveblogging it before--it'd be like, Tom had a cookie, Nancy asked if they had any Pepsi... :)

And don't forget, it's not technically a "blogger brunch"--it's at 3:30 in the afternoon! :)

randomfactor commented:

To those of us who don't get out of bed until noon on Saturday--that's brunch.

Oh, and I was *KIDDING* about the laptop...

jasonsperber commented:

Dude, I know. Hence the smileys and the "heh." Heh. :) See you Sat., RF! ;)

TomW commented: The event shall henceforth be known as the Bloggers' Last Supper.
woofwoof commented: I may just make it....my daughters twelfth birthday party is a sleepover on Friday nite....yeah me....a bunch of screaming pre-teens...UGH! She gets a cookie, huh? By that afternoon I'll want a beer....do they have beer flavored coffee? *I kid, I kid*
jasonsperber commented:

Great, Woof! My daughter's 2--you can give me a preview of the hell that is tweenhood. :) BTW, Dagny's does actually serve beer--though we'll only be footing the bill for nonalcs, sorry. ;)

Tom-- Linner? Dunch? Heh.

TomW commented: Woof, that doesn't sound too hard to arrange. Just put the lime in the coconut, as the saying goes.
randomfactor commented:

Woofwoof, I know they have coffee-flavored beer, but look what I ran across:

http://www.allaboutbeer.com/features/235coffee.html

Does coffee count as a fruit? Don't fruit the beer, man.

dusty1215 commented: Fruiting the beer is against the "man laws' right? :P

The Road Show Motorcycle Podcast: Travel Report Part 2..Yosemite and Beyond

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:19:18 PDT

Good morning everyone!

Here is a report on the last couple days of riding.

Here Patti AKA "The Wrench Wench" 'renches on her helmet getting ready for the days ride

On Sunday we rode up Highway 41 from Oakurst. Which, for you fellow bikers/motorcyclists our there, is just one of the sweetest roads you could ever ride on. Perfect in angle and banking geometry it just doesn't get any better. So much so, in fact, that during a high-speed pass in a passing lane I we were accompanied in the other lane by a member of the CHP who, amazingly, just let us off with a verbal warning over the loudspeaker. Whew, how often does that happen?

CHP or no CHP the wrist twisting fun would not have lasted much longer anyway. Highway 41 gains altitude rapidly. By the time we had reached the little town of Fishcamp there was at least two feet of snow still on the ground. It was a beautiful, sunny day which had cleared the roads of water and ice in the sunny places. Howvever At 10 in the morning the shaded areas were still quite trecherous, The melting snow under the redwood trees was running freely across the road creating leaving icy patches in many places. Thankfully we were warned off from going higher at that time of day by the thin, friendly gentleman at the Fishcamp General Store who looked more like he should be a college professor than a shopkeeper.Nevertheless we took his advice to heart and backtracked down the road

a half mile or so to one of the very swanky lodges, everything up here is called a lodge, and indulged in a couple of gourmet coffees while we watied for things to warm up a bit more.

I'll have to tell the rest of the story later as it is time to move on to our next destination but here is a photo album of some pretty cool stuff.

Will add more later

Cameron and Patti...out

www.highslab.com

Comments:
jasonsperber commented: Cool pix, Cam! Keep the updates coming!
woofwoof commented:

I need a road trip too, Cameron! I also think it's funny how the bike is in most of the photos. I only say that because I've been looking through digi photos lately, and I see I take ALOT of pictures of my Jeep....the Jeep on the Beach, the Jeep camping, the Jeep in the snowy mountains.....I guess I love my Jeep.

I was lucky enough ( by lottery ), to go New Years Eve and stay at the Ahwahnee a few years back. Yosemite is the most peaceful grand place.

dusty1215 commented: aw..you two make me want to take a roadtrip..its been far too long..thanks Cameron and Patti :)

Talk of the Town: Shooting death at Valley Plaza

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:08:19 PDT

The shooting death of a man Tuesday at Valley Plaza is yet another example of criminals invading the place where I go to buy underwear.

Bakersfield police reported that Officer Eric South helped chase a man who stole a knife from Merlo's Cutlery, but the man stabbed South in the arm as South tried to arrest him.

South shot the man who later died in Kern Medical Center.

In recent years we've had a stabbing death in the parking lot of the mall and a shooting death inside the mall.

Security has been beefed up at the mall to try to prevent such problems — indeed, an officer assigned to the mall was the first to give chase to the suspect — but in America, criminals can shop whereever they please.

You can't walk in the mall without seeing security guards or police officers walking among the stores. One could argue you'd have to be really stupid to try to commit a crime in that setting.

The man in Tuesday's incident didn't show a lot of smarts — running from at least two armed officers and a police dog, and then not complying when he was caught.

The mall should be a safe place, but how do you guard against brain dead behavior?

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Comments:
ProgressivePete2 commented: The guy stabbed a police officer. The police officer was the one with the gun. How does that make shoppers in danger? I could see if was running around stabbing shoppers at random that you could say the mall is dangerous, but come on. It's safer now.
Termite commented: It's just that the whole idea is scary, no matter who is wielding guns and knives. The very fact that several violent incidents have taken place at the mall is enough to keep me out of there. If I need to go to Macy's, I go in and out of Macy's door, and I make it snappy. I park in the open. I don't go at night or at Christmas time. It's sad.
americanmensch commented:

Buy your underwear at a membership store, like COSTCO, where criminals are not likely to pay the membership fee.

steveeswenson commented: But I like J.C. Penney's. I'm just hoping the gang dung shop at Sears.
woofwoof commented:

The people born and raised here don't get that this town is very sedate in crime compared to Chicago, LA, or New York. I can't go back to Chicago and watch the news anymore.....I 'd forgotten how horrible it is. I can't believe I ever watched the news and accepted it as normal. Deaths and accidents and suicides and rapes and robberys, and ohh the shootings....EVERYDAY....Now that I live here, I appreciate that small town feel.

Malls suck....anywhere, any town...buy online.

frustrated commented:

Valley Plaza Sucks! It's congested, trashy and lacking in any class. I never shop there. The sooner the mall closes and is bulldozed down the better off Bakersfield will be.

The "Golden Age" of the big shopping Malls are behind us. They have been replaced by the "Big Box" stores where the prices are much better and there are no roving groups of kids (or should I say pre-felons) who have "nothing better to do" hanging out and disturbing the shoppers.

randomfactor commented: Well, actually the murder rate in Bakersfield is higher than New York City. We're in the top 35 cities, they're not. Our murder rate is comparable to Las Vegas'. (I'm almost positive that's by MSA, which encompasses the whole of Kern County. If Bakersfield city alone were counted, we'd probably be higher still.)
randomfactor commented: Correction, going by the population it probably *IS* Bakersfield City and not the MSA.
tchudilowsky commented:

When I lived in Bakersfield I would go to the mall during the week and early. It was less crowded.

You know those little pukes don't get up early!

The mall should open earlier in the morning and close earlier in the evening.

woofwoof commented: Ok here's stats from 2004....murder per capita.....we're 114.....
randomfactor commented:

Mine was crime rate 2005, #35 at 11.2 per hundred thousand. They left out New Orleans due to Katrina skewing the results.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Cities_by_Crime_Rate

armhunter commented:

ProgressivePete2 - Its not the fact the guy only stabbed an officer, its the fact that he did stab an officer. Which means he would easily of stabbed anyone that got in his way. Anyone at the mall could have been stabbed by him.

I also do not go to the mall anymore. Not because of the violence, just because I see no point. Its run down, it costs more, and there are too many people. ( also, not all malls have these problems..)

Crime sucks no matter what it is. If the guy was willing to stab, then he deserved what he got.

bernardbeck commented:

The mall itself doesn't seem to be going 'downhill,' but it is meant to attract shoppers and lookers from as many miles and places away as possible. Therefore, the mall is going to be visited by all kinds of people and some of them are idiotic criminals and mindless, opportunists who act out.

woofwoof commented: I stand corrected RF....*tail between legs* Let's take it GLOBALLY NOW..... dadgum, look at Japan, Saudia Arabia, and Qatar.
randomfactor commented: We're doing better than I expected. The murder rate of 4.2 per 100,000 puts us at #24. So our rate locally is about 2.5 times the national average?
mildmannered1 commented: Yesterday we thinned the herd, and Mervyn's has nice underwear, Steve.
randomfactor commented:

"Coupling" reference: "'Underwear?' What's that?"

cajunbayoukitty commented:

Semper ubi sub ubi.

antiextremism commented:

Darwin's theory at it's finest. A criminal comes to a gun fight with a knife.

Underwear has many uses Random....

woofwoof commented: So, is it me RF, or does that mean, we just don't hear about all this in the news....it's selective???
randomfactor commented:

These days, if you're getting your "news" from the "news," you're getting a seriously slanted story and certainly an incomplete one.

And no, good people, it's not a "liberal slant."

sylviac commented: I really do think the mall is going down, all of those little pre-felons like one said, the theft, the violance, i stopped going after the shooting inside of the mall that very same night around that time i was going to go to the mall with my 1 year old son to Champs to buy my husband and son some shoes after i hear what have happened i thanked god for stopping me only becasue i was going to take my son, if i need anyhthing from the mall i dont take my kids and i am in and out from the paricular store entrance, i have had my car broken ito at the mall just weeks before the shootings and had my in dash DVD player, CD's and loose change stolen, I HATE THE MALL
adampayne commented: Just another sad and unfortunate event at the Mall. I remember when the Mall was cool and upscale and catered to all ages, but that was a long, long time ago. There was even a bookstore, once upon a time at Valley Plaza. The age demographic target for the vast majority of stores at Valley Plaza is now 15-24 who cannot be bothered with books. The three aging, and certainly under performing, department stores, which used to be the Mall's anchors, are the last remnants of some by-gone middle-class family shopping experience that has shifted so dramatically to WalMart, Costco and Target over the past decade. The area immediately surrounding the Mall has one of the lowest median income averages in the city with bored, broke young people hanging out with one another. This is a recipe for more of the same type of violence and crime we have witnessed repeatedly at this site. If you don't want affluent shoppers to visit, continue to cater to the lowest common denominator with loan sharks masquerading as jewelry stores amid a sea of drab low-end youth culture retailers while offering the very worst in dining experiences imaginable. If you build it they will come.
woofwoof commented:

Adam got it spot on...RF I get my *real news* from Stewart and Colbert. :oO

randomfactor commented: We used "you're" in the indefinite sense. As We used "We" in the royal sense.
randomfactor commented: Well, Adam, I kinda like Red Robin...
Roysan commented: Thank goodness the dog didn't get stabbed and BPD killed the idiot. BPD seem to be better shots than KCS.
adampayne commented: The Red Robin burgers and fries can be had anywhere, while the "food" court is simply a corn by-broduct, carb paradise. I wouldn't eat there for free. Life is too short already. Want to know why diabetes is so prevalent? All people eat is filler doused with fructose. Yuck!!!
JustAThought commented: The mall needs better security. The thugs that walk around there deter me from shopping.
woofwoof commented: Don't you know *thug* is in....street clothes, that make people <young uns> look *all* street. How can you tell who is a poser and who's for realzzz. *props to my mamma*
Termite commented: Scary is scary. That's the whole point, Woof...you can't tell who is who, because they're all trying to out-street each other.

It's been the same forever. Punks, goths, grunge, preppies, hippies, 50's "hoods." We all know clothes don't make the person, but when things get to this level, everyone is a suspect. So, personally, I'm scared of every last one of those gangstas.

Also a shame that the roadkill that actually ARE the bad ones are emulated by the kids/young adults who have some potential.

But hey, that's history.
ProgressivePete2 commented: I've met some scary hippies in my day... scary smelling that is.

It's too bad you guys feel so terrorized when you go out shopping. I try to be aware of what's going on around me so that if something goes down, I can get the heck out of the way and let the idiots hurt themselves.

Is is common practice for a cop to shoot to kill after being stabbed or do they just shoot to kill every time? (asking questions comes later I assume)
randomfactor commented:

Pete, if a cop draws his weapon that's the intention. I'd like to think there might have been another way, but I wasn't there.

I don't feel terrorized at VP--just way too crowded.

TomW commented: Pete, my understanding is there there are 3 levels: unhooking the gun latch, drawing the weapon, and firing the weapon. Cops don't shoot to wound. They go for center mass, especially in an area where there are other people around.
ProgressivePete2 commented: I don't think that's generally what they're taught RF. Maybe around here that's what's expected of them, but they are told to use appropriate force in a given situation. I guess if the guy was running toward the cop with knife drawn it would be appropriate. If he was running away, a shot in the foot, leg, etc would suffice to take down the perp. I doubt that was ever the cops intent though.
ProgressivePete2 commented: The incident did occur outside the mall. No indication as to how many people were around. The article did mention witnesses, but I don't think it was like a busy weekend day.
OldBlue56 commented:

The police DO NOT try to kill when they shoot at someone. They are trying to STOP the person's actions that have threatened their or someone's elses life or threatens serious injury. If the result is the person dying, that is a consequence. And FYI, the police do have to draw their firearms on many occasions, but rarely have to actually pull the trigger. The number of officers who ever even fire their gun at someone during their entire career, is actually small.

As for what happened at the Valley Plaza, it sounds obvious that the officer was justified to shoot the dirtbag who had just slashed his arm.

And one last thought... "good shot!"

TomW commented: I guess I shouldn't have qualified that. When you're hunting, you always check down range and wait to take your shot. If you're a cop on the street, you don't have that kind of luxury. I don't see shooting someone who stabbed you as an inappropriate level of response.
TomW commented: Oldblue, you're right. They are not shooting to kill, they are shooting to stop. My bad. I'm sorry that the kid died and it's hard on the kid's family *and* on the policeman who shot him. It's a bad situation all around.
antiextremism commented:

Unless your'e Israeli Security confronting a suicide bomber. Their policy for the most effective way to deal with them is at least 4 shots to the head. You don't want to aim for the body or you might inadvertantly set off the bomb.

Great Britain cops don't mess with terrorist suspects either, whether it be Northern Ireland, Scotland, or even England.

Remember when the Brazilian guy was offed by London Police when they mistook him for a terrorist running away. The days of Bobbies only carrying night sticks are long gone.

Lesson....don't run from the cops, they might think you're something worse than a guy with DUI warrants.

JustAThought commented: Who is this kid? Any names released yet? To think he died over stabbing a dog.
randomfactor commented: No, he stabbed a cop, who required surgery.
mjames commented: Look around the surrounding neighborhoods and Ming Avenue and you'll see why the Plaza is going downhill.
CarLozano commented:

1 question did the criminal die? If so, good reward the policeman for saving us, taxpayers, a lot of money in both courts and to house the criminal.

Maybe this will make the Darwin Awards.

randomfactor commented: Because money is, of course, the #1 deciding factor in meting out "justice."
CarLozano commented: No...maybe we should go to court and let 12 people to dumb to get out of jury duty decide if the guy holding the knife, that is running for the police is guilty.
OldBlue56 commented: To bad mass murderer Vincent Brothers didn't run from the pollice when they arrested him. Just think of all the time, drama, and money they would have saved the taxpayers!!!
randomfactor commented:

I would assume your last attempt to get out of jury duty failed, then? Tough break.

randomfactor commented:

You know, ordinarily I wouldn't point out misspellings. So I won't.

"They" could've saved a lot of money on the "Scooter" Libby trial by simply shooting him. Would that have been acceptable to you?

OldBlue56 commented: Pete, you have been watching to many police shows on TV. It is hard enough to hit a person anywhere on their bodies, let alone aim for a foot, hand, leg, ect. A trained sniper with a fixed position and a scope on his rifle could hit what he was aiming at, but a street cop runnng, fighting, ect, does not have that luxury. Geez!
CarLozano commented: first, 2 different anno posters. I have never had a problem getting out of jury duty.
dragoon commented:

Old Blue, don't be too hard on Pete, he's just ignorant. But, his kind of ignorance can be corrected by instruction in an NRA certified firearms course. Perhaps after many years of diligent practice with expert coaching Pete might turn into Trickshot Tex Tiberius and then he'll be able to shoot the knife out of the criminal's hand just like they do in the movies!

Annon 42

NancyII commented:

WOW..I can't believe some of the things I read here. Shoot first talk later was criticized? I'm not gonna be talking to someone who just stabbed me. I can't believe there's even any discussion on this.

Next someone will come up with the "excessive force" garbage. His mother will tell us what a good boy he was and never got in trouble..not until the day he stole a knife from a mall store, ran away, stabbed a cop, and got shot.

I'm sorry for the parents and family..losing a child is terrible no matter how it happens..but come on, this kid stabbed another person..cop or no cop, he was a person. Now THAT'S against the law.

OldBlue56 commented: Nancy, that is one of the best responses I have read in a very long time!!!!
dragoon commented:

Way to go, Nancy! Our law enforcement professionals are what stand between us and anarchy and chaos. Someone said it earlier but I will paraphrase it: this piece of human detritus stabbed a trained and armed police officer, anyone who would do that would not think twice about doing it to Joe Blow Citizen!

Our law enforcement community needs our total support to do their job effectively.

Annon 42

antiextremism commented: Where on the blog did someone say shooting him was not appropriate???
NancyII commented:

It's coming Anti..it's coming. It always does.

It was hinted at earlier...but later qualified. Unless I misunderstood the comment. See quote ... If I get stabbed, I'm not asking ANY questions.

"Is is common practice for a cop to shoot to kill after being stabbed or do they just shoot to kill every time? (asking questions comes later I assume)"

pamg commented: Yes Anon, the criminal did die.
jramsey commented: Lets see guy steals instead of buying, guy steals knife to do damage. cop tries to stop guy and is stabbed cop shoots gangbanging thief. Yes its a great day one less on the street give the cop a medal!!! Oh and to the Mom we really don't want to see you on tv telling us how great your boy was and how he never did anything wrong, because WE KNOW YOUR TELLING LIES
OldBlue56 commented: Anon, you need to do one of 3 things... 1) learn how to type, 2) learn proper grammar, 3) or take an English class!!! One or two typos are okay, but give us a break!...
jramsey commented:

I am so sorry for my grammatical errors. I obviously have been living in Bakersfield far to long.

NancyII commented:

Sorry anny..that dog won't hunt..I've lived here all my life and my grammar is fine. Just another try at slamming the city to justify whatever it is people want to justify. Joking or not...it's a poor excuse.

jhudnall commented: I just moved by the mall, I thought it is a nice part of town, guess not.
Jennifer Hudnall
NancyII commented:

The area around the mall used to be very desirable but as the city moved west the rougher areas followed in it's wake. At the risk of sounding biased I would ask people to look at the address or locale of the violence and decide for themselves where the majority of that violence is taking place.

Jhudnall... are you new to the area? If so, it's always a risk when coming to a new town so my advice to anyone is to visit a few times and ask store clerks where the rougher areas are. A real estate agent is not allowed to "steer" you so to me, a better choice is asking the locals.

jramsey commented: I just cannot understand the thinking of the people of Bakersfield. The crime in this town is definately out of control. Even the better neighborhoods are not without problems. What I cannot understand is the lack of backing for Police, Sherrif and Highway Patrol. The officers I have spoken to are so aware they could be subject to any form of law suit they seem to be backed into a corner. In the last few years Bakersfield has seen a huge explosion in property prices ,which in turn give more property taxes. The Bakersfield money chest must surely be at an all time high, yet the Board of Supervisors refuse to give benefits and fair earnings to these people who put their life on the line daily. I think the people of Bakersfield should hang their head in shame for the lack of backing they give to Police, Sherrif and Highway Patrol. Why are these units so understaffed? Why are the general public so uninvolved? COME ON BAKERSFIELD WAKEN UP TAKE YOUR TOWN BACK SHOW SOME PRIDE IN WHERE YOU LIVE
jramsey commented:

WOOPS sorry Nancy I should have used spell check I just noticed a few errors!!

NancyII commented: Too many anny's. I can't keep up with posts with the same name so I'll assume they're all from the same party. Anny..I'm not the one who criticized your spelling..or grammar ..so there's no need to apologize to me. This isn't a contest to me but it bothers some people. I don't grade for spelling anyway..just content.
natkat4 commented: This mall is not safe by all means. I have lived here for two years and I can't believe there have been 4 murders in one mall. Also just a few months ago, my daughter (who is 12 years old) and I was visiting the mall around 4:30 on Saturday. We were at Starbucks and that smoothie place right next to it. All of a sudden we heard someone screaming and yelling and there were security guys running everywhere right there. Apparently there was a fight and one of the guys was fighting the security guard. He shoved the guard into the wall right in front of us. Then the girlfriends got involved. Luckily a little boy dropped his smoothie all over the floor and the guy who was fighting one of the security guards fell in it and they were able to handcuff him. If one of the guys had a gun they would have started shooting which would have endangered my daughter and myself. She hates the mall now, but I am a mall rat, so we just watch over our shoulders constantly. I'm sorry but I believe there are a lot of thugs that go to this mall. It is the only real mall in town so it is a target for crime to occur. It seems the crime rate in Bakersfield is severely increasing perhaps because of the over priced housing market now which creates more poverty here which feeds crime.

The Pulse: More discrimination?

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:51:22 PDT

A mom took her toddler to a local pediatrician for an ear infection. She says they were turned away because she had visible tattoos.

Was this discrimination? No, says the state medical board. (Read "Furor leaves mark on doctor" in Wednesday's Californian.)

But first, here's a rundown of what happened.

On Feb. 7, Tasha Childress and her husband took their toddler to Dr. Gary Alexander Merrill's F Street office with an ear infection.

Merrill and Childress agree she was told about the office's policies regarding clean appearance (i.e. no visible tattoos, no visible piercings, good hygiene and no chewing gum) when she made the appointment.

At that time, the office offered her a referral if she didn't want to abide by the policy, he said. She said she would acquiesce, he said.

This was Childress' first time with the doctor. Her insurance assigned him to her, she said.

Childress just forgot about the star tattoos behind her ears, since she can't see them when looking into a mirror.

"As the patient was being initially processed, the father was gently reminded of his uncovered tattoos, and he became agitated and started muttering profanities, which then developed into a threatening tirade in our waiting room," Merrill said.

Childress said the receptionist first said she would get some bandages to cover up the tattoos, but then came back and said Merrill wouldn't be treating Childress' daughter.

Childress was polite up until they were turned away, she said.

When told they would have to leave, the couple harassed Merrill's staff by yelling, and Tasha Childress swung her arms toward the employees, Merrill said.

Childress admits she became irate after being denied care, but she did not try to harm anyone, she said.

And after leaving the office once, she turned around and went back to vent her anger some more, she said.

The toddler was treated by a different doctor the next day.

From a legal standpoint, is Dr. Merrill's policy wrong?

Denying care based on tattoos does not fall under the government's definition of discrimination, said Debbie Nelson, Medical Board of California spokeswoman.

He doesn't even have to offer a referral, said Dr. Jeff Freesemann, president of the Kern County Medical Society.

Now what about from a moral point of view?

Merrill says he has his policy to put his "conservative clientele" at ease.

Freesemann had an interesting way of looking at it: "If you go to some restaurant and it says jacket and tie, is that being prejudiced?"

But then again, Childress' daughter had to go another night before receiving care.

What do you think about this situation? On what side do you come down on?

Comments:
xlnt1 commented:

On the subject of conservative doctors,I livein fearof being in an accident,. taken to a hospital, and hearing the doctor say, i've done everything i can do, it's up to HIM now.

sfinboston52 commented: Wow this Dr is a nut job.
antiextremism commented:

Both were wrong. The Doctor's policy is a little ridiculous, and so was the couple's reaction.

Now before I start hearing about the Doctor's right to treat whomever he wants, consider when or if you had earaches as a child. Another 24 hours of pain for the child, and another 24 hours of anguish for the parents, simply because the Doctor doesn't like body art. A recent study shows that over 1/3 of young people between the ages of 21-32 have tattoos. It is not uncommon, and the doctor is treating the kid, not the parents.

On the flip side, these people were forewarned and should have had their insurance company refer them to another provider. But that insurance company may also consider not using that doctor, not for political reasons, but for practical ones. The doctor also offered a referall to another physician, but was it for the same day?

It's and event that usually happens for other reasons. Doctors's not treating homosexuals, not treating AIDS patients, not prescribing birth control pills etc.

But what happens when exclusion can occur for any reason. Being black, or a Muslim or for that matter...being a Christian. This does not even fall into that category. They weren't asking for an abortion. This is a kid who has no control over what his parents do regarding their body. To me it is unethical. He should have seen the child, then told the parents to follow up with another physician.

"I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous."

Although certainly not life threatening, he put the child through another day of intense pain. The parents are also guilty of not accepting the doctor's referall.

Freeseman's analogy has no merit whatsover. Comparing not getting into a restaurant because you don't have a tie if far different than refusing treatment to a child in pain because you don't like the parents having tattoos. Would he also refuse treatment to a child who's parent was incarcerated, or worse yet, a liberal? He may have the medical board behind him, but he is not fullfilling the spirit of his oath.

TomW commented: Legally, the doctor has no obligation to serve anyone. From the prospective of the insurance company though, I'd consider removing that doctor from the list. I agree with antiextremism's idea that the doctor should have treated the child and asked that the parents follow up with another doctor.
randomfactor commented: Legally, the Good Samaritan could have passed by the injured man, just as the Priest, Levite and Doctor Merrill did.
NancyII commented:

There was no reason the child would have to go another 24 hours without care. As has been repeatedly mentioned..there are urgent cares all over town and insurance will pay for them. One should make sure the one they choose is on their provider list but there were alternatives. I agree with Tom and Anti that the doctor SHOULD have treated and sent on their way but he was under no obligation to do so.

A ask again..does becoming a doctor mean you lose your rights? Where's all the clamor for us losing our rights every time we turn around.

Ethically and morally yes, he should have treated the child. But what we think about this has no bearing on the case. If you think he was wrong you're within your rights to NOT take your children to him. And you're within your rights not to recommend him to anyone. Here we go again..someones rights always trample on someone elses.

NancyII commented: RF you sure whip out the Bible phrases when the notion strikes. Are you sure you're an atheist? Hmmmmmm..wondering.
tkozy commented:

Emily,

Today’s article in the paper mentioned a contractual obligation agreed to by the Doctor.

Why did you fail to include that in your post?

Health Net has a fiduciary responsibility to represent it’s members during negotiation with contractual physicians.

Remember. In this case the Doctor works for the patient, contracted through a health insurance corporation.

The doctor has the right to refuse to work for any insurance company he chooses.

He also has the legal responsibility to abide by all contracts.

Please keep me informed as to how Health Net enforces patient rights.

randomfactor commented:

Atheists are generally much better acquainted with the Bible than Christians. In many cases, the Bible is the primary *CAUSE* of atheism. That's the reason Roman Catholics used to be discouraged from reading it--I don't know if that's still the case, as I haven't been one since 1968.

TomW commented: Nancy, RF has said that he is a Christian athetist, basically believing in the teachings of Christ but not His divinity.
ProgressivePete2 commented: So does this doctor discriminate against all liberals or just the ones with visible tattoos? What if the person with the tattoos is a conservative???
NancyII commented:

Ah Pete..where did you get the idea he discriminated against liberals? All it said was the tattoo thing.

Tom..so that would be the opposite of a deist? A Christian is a "Christ" follower so it would be hard to say one is a Christian atheist if one doesn't believe in the deity but only the teachings (especially since the teachings are about The Father.). That would just make one an all around good person without the title. If one followed the teachings that is.

I hate it when I have to go to work just as this is getting interesting. But...I'll be back to haunt you.

TomW commented: I'm sure you will, Nancy. ;)
randomfactor commented:

The doctor was reportedly catering to his "conservative" clientele. The liberals presumably can go to h*ll.

An atheist is not the opposite of a deist, which is a particular form of "theist." Just as an atheist is not the opposite of a Christian. In fact, atheists and deists have much in common. An atheist believes there's no God poking his fingers into the Universe to make it "go." A deist believes there *IS* a God who may have created the Universe, but he doesn't poke his fingers in.

I can believe that Christ had a great number of good ideas worth following even if he may have been mistaken about some of the ways the Universe works. If asked whether the earth goes around the sun or vice-versa, Christ likely would have gotten it wrong. That doesn't invalidate "love thy neighbor." The main trouble with Christ's message is that the Christians got ahold of it.

mildmannered1 commented: I just can't seem to get past the idea of how disappointed Jesus might be if a follower in His name would deny treatment for people with tattoos. Bad behavior on the parent's part is inexcusable, but doctor's Christian principles don't jibe with his behavior, either.
antiextremism commented:

WWJD

woofwoof commented: Antiex---I always get a chuckle from your posts.....thank you very much....
TomW commented: The idea that he doesn't discriminate based on tattoos is more worrying to me. Does he have a list of things he "doesn't allow" and only enforce it when he doesn't like someone?
sfinboston52 commented: still a stupid policy and dont condone the behavior of the family. He is there to serve and has agreed to accept certain insurance companies client. If he doesnt those insurance companies should pull support from him
IzzysMomma commented: I am the mother of this child, and half of the "hostile" couple. I must say you portrayed both sides fairly, but I must let everyone know the truth. My husband and I were not hostile. When we were rejected my husband stood up and walked out. I was the only one in there when that lashing started. And the "good doctor" wasnt anywhere to be seen. So if I couldnt see him how could he see me assault his staff? I dont go around trying to start problems. But I will defend my child to anyone. This doctor is morally wrong in what he does to people on a daily basis. I have since spoken to many people who have had similar, and in some cases, worse experiences with this doc. One woman told me she was told her and her child would burn in hell. The doctor has changed his story, at first standing by his no tattoo policy, but when people didn't think that was a viable reason he started saying we became hostile. This is typical behavior of a tyrant. And everyone please quit comparing my child's health to a cheesburger. It is NOT the same as a "no shoes" policy at a restaurant. I will speak to anyone interested. You can reach me here: http://www.myspace.com/DOPESICKSALLY
josephschmow commented:

"This is typical behavior of a tyrant. "

Yes it is, and these are exactly the sorts of people often seen running for elected office as Republicans nowadays. Don't expect them to give up their tyrannical ways if they get elected.

sfinboston52 commented:

so who else does this dr deny service too? Muslim? Atheist? gay couples? single Moms? ex-cons?

tkozy commented:

317 views here:

http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/tkozy/6345

1451 views here:

http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/faithforum/6355

Now 183 views on this blog.

Wonder if Health Net and the Dr. are paying attention?

antiextremism commented:

Well, I know if the doctor saw your myspace knocking Conservatives, he probably would have had a heart attack! LOL

Cute kid by the way. I'm sure you can find a doctor willing to treat her without restriction.

CarLozano commented:

my opinion, they made the CHOICE to get tattoed...Dr made the CHOICE not to help them. They want to be different, until it's time to be the same.

Was it a life threating issuse?

bakonative commented: Geez Louise, isn't there something called a hippocratic oath or something? Do your best to help someone in need? Forget the choice, if the parents were polite and not belligerent, then he should have helped them. DUH! Doctor duties under oath. Why am I the only one to bring this up?
NancyII commented:

Bako..the hippocratic oath isn't required in all medical schools. In any case, it says "do no harm" which apparently isn't the same as help anyone in need. Although that should be the spirit of being a doctor.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_today.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html

I'm wondering where the ACLU is on this kind of thing. They want to protect everyones rights. If the parents sue, will they go to bat for the doctor seeings how he has rights too and this was not malpractice?

(edited)

sfinboston52 commented: Someone shouldnt have to take a referral due to some stupid, even maybe illegal policy of denying service to anyone who has a tattoo or earing. Insurance companies need to pull their contracts w/ this Doctor since he refuses to treat all people equally. Also, what is next a policy of not treating, single mothers, unmarried couples, gays, atheist, Muslims, non-americans?
NancyII commented:

If you had a doctors office tell you they refused to treat your family because of the way you look why on God's green earth wouldn't you take a referral or go somewhere else? Are you people seriously suggesting that this couple demand (as they were) that they be seen by this doc after knowing how he felt about them? I wouldn't go within a mile of his office.

I defended his RIGHTS but I don't defend his practice. That's another story.

TomW commented: tobeornottobe, here's what doesn't make sense to me: I used to be a property manager and had tenants complain about each other all the time. I saw a lot of problems in that line of work. Anyone who has had kids probably has the same feeling about this story. The parents didn't just walk in and start causing problems. Something happened between them walking in and them becoming upset. If the doctor would come clean on his part and apologize, it would probably make the whole thing go away.

Here is where the story becomes unclear to me:

This was Childress' first time with the doctor. Her insurance assigned him to her, she said.
Childress just forgot about the star tattoos behind her ears, since she can't see them when looking into a mirror.
"As the patient was being initially processed, the father was gently reminded of his uncovered tattoos, and he became agitated and started muttering profanities, which then developed into a threatening tirade in our waiting room," Merrill said.

So there is some issue about the tattoos, and the Doctor seems to think it was about the father's tattoos, but the mother says it was about her tattoos. Did the receptionist go to get bandages? What happened between when the receptionist left and when they came back? Is Dr. Merrill watching a live feed of the video?

There's something that is not quite adding up for me.

(oddly, Spamcode DRCIA)
IzzysMomma commented:

tobeornottobe- Everything you said was false. If he had me on camera "assaulting" his staff (as E.H. put it) I would have been arrested. We were asked to leave and thats why the shouting started. Also when we were denied I was not referred to anyone else. You speak as though you were there, but your facts are wrong. And why did his secretary go back to get us band-aids for our forgotten tatts if we were causing a scene? I do understand the doc has the right to refuse anyone. This story is everyone becasue the moral choice doc made was WRONG. It has nothing to do with anything else. Him saying we caused a scene is the only way he could justify turning away my daughter.

P.S. Not everything you read is true.

IzzysMomma commented: Well if the good doc has this video of my husband and I belligerent, I would love to see it. We sat talking quitetly back and forth until the woman came back for the second time and said the doc wasnt going to see us. So why doesnt he release it to the news to back up his story. I realize in the way of social standing he has my family beat. But I don't back down to anyone, no matter how much better they "think" they are.
tkozy commented: A video un-seen. Is a non-existant video.
RANCIDROB1234 commented: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ANYONE WHO AGREES WITH THE DOC ON THIS ONE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN I MYSELF AM A CHRISTIAN AND I HAVE TATTOOS THIS IS A TRUE TESTIMONY OF HOW SOME PEOPLE USE CHRISTIANITY AS A CRUTCH FOR THIER OWN PSYCHO BABEL..THIS DOC IS NOT A MAN WHEN I WENT INTO HIS OFFICE AS SOON AS HE SAW MY TATTOOS HE RAN TO THE BACK LIKE A LITTLE SCARED GIRL..IT REALLY MAKES ME LAUGH ON HOW IGNORANT PEOPLE CAN BE........GOD BLESS...
IzzysMomma commented:

tobeornottobe- Its great that you have had good experiences with Dr.Merrill, but that doesnt mean he doesnt discriminate against different people. There was no one in the office at the time of our visit (I'm sure his video shows that) Stating the obvious doesnt make you look intelligent. If his actions were LOGICAL, people wouldnt be taking it so seriously. Its far out that a doctor would act like this. Thats why the story is everywhere. We knew it was a christian office and we were raised to have respect for other people, therefore we would not have cursed. However I cursed many times after we were told my daughter wasnt going to be treated. I had no reason to beforehand. Come on, use that brain! And I have done a dozen interviews and every time I have stated that I became irate after being told. So catch up. I told the news the whole story from the beginning, they chose what to air. Trust me I said a whole lot more that the one sentence they aired. The girl on the news that was his patient with tatts was a typical britney spears loving blond, nerdy type. You can tell by looking at me that I am not preppy. My hair is short and teased, and I dont shop at the GAP. Try doing some investigating, thinking for yourself, not being a sheep. It works better in debates. I dont care WHO believes my side. The fact is that since the story aired I have gotten tons of letters of horror stories other people have had with this same doc. One woman was told her and her child would go to hell because she had a tattoo on the top of her hand. Another man has his assistant take his kid because he has long hair, and yet another was refused for her child being born out of wed-lock. I am not sure what makes him think he is better than anyone who doesnt fit into his stereotype of what a Christian should look like. People like him assume you must be on welfare or illiterate if you ahve tatts and piercings. Thats what I meant by social standings. He looks at people and automatically classifies them in categories or "good enough" or "not good enough." I must say you make yourself sound naive coming in here spouting off what he has said. I mean lord knows he doesnt have the backbone to stand up for his actions himself, so someone has to. Havent you wondered why he refused to comment to the news if what he did could be morally justified? Maybe he thought it would all blow over like before. And why is he just now saying that we were disruptive? Initially he reported that he accepted people who would fit into his behavior and appearance standards. And now the story has changed. He said nothing about us being disruptive until people started disagreeing with his actions. Its great that you fit into his mold, but personally I dont want to be like any of you. Dr. Gary Merrill is prejudiced against people who are different from him. And he doesnt condescend to give them medical treatment either. I am not ashamed of anything that happened that day, on our part. I reacted the way I will always react when it comes to my child(ren) If you think that what he did is in agreement with what a Christain is then, I am sorry you are misled. Ask yourself this...WWJT? (what would Jesus think?)

IzzysMomma commented:

IT'S CHILDRESS' ...NOT CHILDRESSES!

IzzysMomma commented:

TOMW- My husband and I have identical star tattoos in the same place behind one of our ears. We were running late that morning and I cant see them when getting ready.

NancyII commented:

Ease off IzzysMomma...Tobe didn't misspell your name..it was plural ...read it again.

(as in..the Childresses went to the store.)

I don't think anyone here said what the doctor did was right. They (and I) are just saying in this country we have rights and the doctor has rights. You DON"T have the right to infringe on HIS rights.

If he's an insensitive clod then he deserves to lose business but it's still his right to be an insensitive clod.

IzzysMomma commented: Nancy who taught you grammar? So if my name were Davis you are telling me that we would be the Davises? No dear, you are wrong. We would be the Davis'. My last name plural is Childress'. I never said the doc didnt have rights, of course he does. I also have rights. A doctor that can not put aside his religion when he goes to work, should not be a doctor.
TomW commented: Nancy is exactly right. I would add that you might try to persuade Health Net to stop refering clients to him, Other than that, he has not done anything illegal.
NancyII commented:

Odd that you didn't take people to task for using "Childresses" here http://modified-news.com/?p=772%20-%2048k%20-%20Mar%2016,%202007 where they agreed with you but took offense on this blog where the poster didn't.

Using "Childresses" when speaking of a couple is common practice "dear."

IzzysMomma commented:

tomw- I agree and have notififed halth net.

And Nancy, I am very sorry but you're wrong. And if I had noticied other mispellings, I would have corrected them.

AudreyB commented:

According to my "Punctuation and Capitalization Flipper" produced by "Books are Fun"

Rule #35

Use only an apostrophe to show possession with plural nouns that end with an s.

ladies' dresses boys' gloves Browns' car mayors' convention dogs' feet schools' yards factories' products

NancyII commented:

IzzysMomma, at least I can thank you for using my name instead of the patronizing "dear." I stand by my comment that it's common usage and can be found in all sorts of newspapers and articles.

Some people get all tangled up in the spelling / grammar correction game when, to begin with, it's rude (in polite discussions if not in arguing on a blog) and it's pointless. If people are going to grade a blog on it's spelling or grammar they aren't looking at what the poster is really saying.

I also stand by my continuing comment that we don't need blog S&G police on here. As far as I know, no one has died and designated any. (well, except maybe Jason and that's just over manners.)

Uhh..and not to be nit picking but you have two misspellings in your last post.

IzzysMomma commented:

I got this info online: 3 uses for an apostrophe

-Use an Apostrophe to indicate a contraction which is a form of word in which one or more letters are omitted [it's instead of it is or aren't instead of are not]

-The second use of the apostrophe involves placing the apostrophe at the end of the word when the word is plural and ends in 's'

-to indicate possession

IzzysMomma commented:

I also stand by my continuing comment that we don't need blog S&G police on here.

Nancy I have no idea what you're saying here. I dont know internet slang. A typing error is different than a misspelling.

AudreyB commented: Put this to bed, already!
sagefever commented: as a pagan and a heathen on the side of the rebel Jesus~ as any doc spends about 5 min per patient these days, "wow" a lot of trouble could have been avoided. I may not like how you look,think,smell or believe but rest assured if you need help and it is in my power, I am there.
Cassieopia commented: a true Christian does not discriminate against anyone!! Just because a person has tattoos does not make him a bad person. In order for a person to be a Christian they have to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts! Do you really think God cares what a person looks like? Jesus walked the earth and helped prostitutes, people with leprosy, etc. he didn't care. The true matter here is helping the child who is sick and making her better. The Dr. needed to stick to that and see that there was a need there regardless of what he thinks of the parents. My son is a Christian, does tons of outreach in the community , and is loaded with tattoos. He has a heart as big as the world itself and is no less of a person because of it. He wears his " Real men have tattoos" t-shirt with pride and bought it from a Christian band concert!!

Education: More from the scrapbook...More from the Civil War.

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:46:44 PDT

This book is amazing. It has so much information. Here are some of the engravings. Enjoy!

Here's an interesting article on making a Musket.

The US Armory at Springfield.

Full and interesting account of it's extent and operations.

by George B Prescott.

From the Atlantic Monthly for October.

The United States Armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, is the largest, best appointed, and altogether the most productive establishment for the manufacture of small arms in the world, - those belonging to the Australia government at Vienna, and to the British at Enfield, being greatly inferior both in size and appointments; while the quality of the guns manufactured here is very superior to that of either of those important establishments. Indeed the Springfield rifled musket is justly regarded as the most perfect arm of it’s kind which has ever been produced. To attain this desirable point of excellence has required the skill and perseverance of the best mechanical minds within the country-always prolific in inventive genius-has produced during a period of more then a half a century. It would be impossible to estimate the value of these works during the existence of the present rebellion; but some idea may be formed of their usefulness from the fact that twenty-five thousand rifled muskets of the most approved pattern are manufactured at this establishment every month, and the number will soon be increased to thirty thousand. There are at the present time one hundred and seventy thousand of these muskets in the arsenal., awaiting orders from the war department, and the works are daily turning out enough to arm an entire regiment.

When the rebels fired upon Fort Sumter, the armory was making about one thousand muskets per month, and three months afterwards the increase amounted only to three thousand, so little preparation had been made by the government of Mr. Buchanan to meet the great struggle which southern demagogues were precipitating upon us. Indeed, the number of muskets manufactured during the last year of his administration was less by several thousand then these works turned out during the year 1815; while, during this same period, the residents of streets leading to the rail-way station witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of a daily procession of wagons laden with boxes of government arms on their way to southern arsenals! Twenty- six hundred workmen are now constantly employed,-- the establishment being run day and night, and none but the most expert industrious artisans are to be found among them.

History and Location.

The original site of this armory was occupied during the revolution as a recruiting post, afterwards as a depot for military stores, and then as a place for repairing arms. The first shops were on Main street, and among them was a laboratory for cartridges and various kinds of fireworks. The oldest record in the relates to work done in this laboratory during the month of April, 1778, showing that about forty men were then engaged in the business. Not far from the date of this document the works were removed to the hill, where, enlarged and perfected, they are legitimately the object of admiration and pride. The act establishing the armory was passed by congress in April 1794. The arsenal, storehouse, offices, and principle manufacturing buildings are situated on Springfield Hill and overlook the Connecticut valley at a commanding elevation. The heavier operations of the Army are carried on in another part of the city, about a mile distant, in buildings known as the water shops. These are situated upon a small stream which flows into the Connecticut river at this point. The Armory grounds on the hill cover an area of seventy-two acres., and are surrounded, with the exception of a small square detached from the main grounds, by an ornamental iron fence, nine feet in height. These grounds are exceedingly beautiful, and present every variety of landscape. A beautiful slope to the south and west, covered with luxuriant verdure, and crowned with groves and deciduous trees and evergreens, affords the eye peculiar gratification. The grounds combine also the useful with the ornamental, supplying hay enough to feed a score of horses belonging to the establishment. There are fifteen buildings used in the manufacture of muskets at the works on the Hill, and the same number occupied as residences by the various officers and head clerks of the armory. Some of the buildings are spacious and elegant in their construction, particularly the quarters of the commanding officer, and the arsenal, and are arranges in a picturesque and symmetrical manner within the square. The grounds are shaded by ornamental trees, and the dwellings are adorned with gardens and shrubbery.. Broad and neatly kept walks, some graveled and others paved bordered by finely clipped hedges, extend across the green or along the line of the buildings, opening charming vistas in every direction. Four venerable pieces of artillery, all betokening great age, if not service, standing in the center of the square, furnish the only outward and visible show of the military character of this immense establishment.

The Arsenal And Other Buildings.

The principle building, as regards size and architectural beauty, is the arsenal, which is two hundred feet long by seventy feet wide, and three stories high--each story being sufficiently capacious to contain one hundred thousand muskets. The muskets, when stored in this arsenal, are arranged in racks, set up for the purpose, along the immense halls, where they stand upright in rows of glittering steel, and so closely resemble the pipes of an organ that the propriety of Longfellow’s simile suggests itself at once to every observer: This is the arsenal. From floor to ceiling. Like a huge organ, rise the burnished arms; but from their silent pipes no anthem pealing, startle the village with strange alarms.

Unhappily, the last two lines of this beautiful stanza no longer appropriately describe the quiet and peaceful condition of these then harmless arms--one hundred fifty thousand of them have been literally stolen from the arsenal by Floyd during the last year of his secretary ship at Washington, and sent south in anticipation and furtherance of the rebellion, and the remainder issued to the loyal troops raised for the defense of the Union. Thus these grim messengers of death, of whom the poet so sweetly sings, have forced “the cries of agony, the endless groan” from northern and southern warriors alike, and rung the “Loud lament and dismal Miserere”., within the homes of every part of our once happy and peaceful land.

The arsenal has another charm for visitors besides the beauty of the burnished arms within, in the magnificent panorama of the surrounding country seen from the summit of the tower. This tower , which occupies the middle of the front of the building, is about ninety feet high by thirty fee square, affording space upon the top for a large party of visitors. Nothing can be imagined more enchanting then the view presented from this point during the spring and summer months. At your feet are the beautiful armory-grounds mingled with the tree skirted streets of the city; while beyond; the broad and luxuriant valley of Connecticut is spread out to view, with its numerous villages, fields, groves, bridges, and rail-ways, and the whole landscape framed by blue mountain ranges, among which Mount Tom and Holyoke rise in towering majesty.

The arsenal is used for the storage of the muskets during the interval that elapses from the finishing of them to the time they are sent away to the various permanent arsenals established by government in different parts of the country, or issued to the troops. This edifice was constructed about a dozen years ago, and has until recently, been designated as the new arsenal, there being two or three other buildings which were formerly used for the storage of finished muskets, called the old arsenals, but which, since the rebellion, have been relieved on their contents and supplied with machinery for the manufacture of arms. A portion of the new arsenal is used for finishing barrels, and assembling muskets, and other parts for storing ordnance supplies. The storehouse, offices, and workshops, are extensive buildings, -- the former being eight hundred feet long., and one of the latter being six-hundred feet and thirty two wide. In a description of the armory printed in 1817, the ground are described as perfectly level, elevated plat, and situated about half a mile east of the village, from which there is a gradual ascent, flanked on the north by deep ravine and on the south by a less considerable one, with an extensive plain spreading in the rear, the adjoining parts being uncovered, fronting on the brow of the declivity, and commanding an extensive and beautifully variegated landscape. At the present time, the Armory is not only in the city, but the streets at the north, south and east of the grounds are as thickly inhabited as any other portion of the town, There has, however been an increase in the population of Springfield since 1817, from two to twenty six thousand. A larger number of workmen are employed within the Armory grounds at the present time then the entire population of the place amounted to fifty years ago.

The Water -Shops.

The water shops formerly occupied three different sites, being denominated the upper, middle, and lower water-shops on a stream called Mill river, which exhibits, in a distance of less then half a mile, four to five of the most charming waterfalls to be seen in the state. In 1817 these works comprised five workshops, twenty eight forges, ten trip hammers, eighteen water -wheels, nine coal houses, three stores, and five dwellings. These buildings were all constructed in the most substantial manner, of stone and brick, and yet remain in an excellent state or preservation. The trouble and expenses attending the transportation of the various parts of the musket from one series of shops to another, however, rendered it desirable to assemble them all in one place, and the location of the upper shops was decided upon as the most advantageous. About eight years ago, the work of constructing the new shops was begun. Extensive excavations were made for a new dam, the bad of the stream was changed, the sides being laid for a distance of half a mile with freestone, and the basin-raised five feet above its former level. Some idea of the magnitude of these works may be formed from the fact that over one million dollars was expended upon the foundations alone, before a brick was laid in the superstructure. A beautiful and extensive series of buildings has since been erected upon these foundations, covering an area of about two acres, in which it’s forging, boring, welding, rolling, grinding, swaging, and polishing are done for the entire establishment. The buildings are for the most part, two stories high, and yet so immense are the operations carried on here that numerous temporary sheds have been erected about the grounds, in which machinery is placed in order to increase the facilities, which, when the works were constructed were suppose to be sufficient for all time to come. Since the construction of the new dam, the water has a fall of thirty four feet. Three immense turbine water-wheels having a untied power equal to three hundred horses were put in when the consolidated works were then connected here, which it was supposed would prove ample sufficient for all emergencies; but, since the breaking out of the rebellion, and the marvelous enlargement of these works, it has been found necessary to put in a steam engine of two-hundred-horse power, to act in conjunction with the water-wheels.

Musket Making-The Barrel.

Having thus given a general description of the exterior of the establishment, let us now enter the works and witness the entire operations of manufacturing the musket, seriatim. The first operation is the formation of the barrel. Formerly these were made from plates of iron called scalps, about two feet long and three inches wide, which were heated to a white heat and then rolled up over an iron rod, and the edges being lapped were welded together, so as to form a tube of the requisite dimensions- the solid rod serving to preserve the cavity within of the proper form. This welding was performed by tilt-hammers which were carried by the water-wheels. Underneath the hammer was an anvil containing a die, the upper surface of which, as well as the under surface of a similar die inserted in the hammer, formed a semi-cylindrical groove, producing, when the two surfaces came together, a complete cylindrical cavity of the proper size to receive the barrel to be forged. The workman, after heating a small portion of the barrel in his forge, placed it in its bed upon the anvil, and set his hammer in motion, turning the barrel round and round continually under the blows. Only a small portion of the seam is closed, by this process at one heat, eleven being required to complete his work. To effect by this operation a perfect junction of the iron, so that it should be continuous and homogeneous throughout, without the least flaw, seam or crevice, required unremitting attention, as well as great experience and skill. The welders formerly received twelve cents for each barrel welded by them, but if, in proving the barrels any of them burst through the fault of the welder, they were charged one dollar for each barrel which failed to stand the test. This method has now, however, been abandoned, and a much more economical and rapid process adopted in its place. Instead of plates two feet in length, those of one foot are now used. These are bent around an iron rod as before, but in place of an anvil and tilt hammer, they are run through rolling machines., analogous in some respects to those by which rail-way iron is made. The scalps are first heated in the blaze of a bituminous coal furnace to a white heat--to a point just as near the melting as can be attained without actually dropping apart,-and then passed between three sets of rollers, each of which elongates the barrel reduces its diameter, and assists in forcing it to assume the proper size and taper. The metal by this is firmly compacted, becoming wholly heterogeneous through its entire length.

The operation of rolling the barrel is not only an important and valuable one, but very difficult of acquisition, the knowledge appertaining to its practical working have been wholly confined to one person in this country previously to the breaking out of the rebellion. The invention is English, and has been used in this country but a few years. Only one set of rollers was used at this armory until the present emergency demanded more. About half a dozen years ago the superintendent of the works here sent to England and obtained a set of rollers, and a workman to operate it, bargaining with him to remain one year at a stipulated salary. At the expiration of the time engaged for, the workman demanded, instead of a salary, to be paid eleven cents for each barrel rolled by him. As he had allowed no one to learn the art of rolling a barrel in the meantime, his demand was acceded to; but after the braking out of the rebellion four additional rolling mills were imported, and of course new men had to be taught, or imported, to work them. The art now is no longer a secret. There are forty men employed, day and night, running the rolling mills, but instead of twelve cents, which was paid for welding, they now receive but four cents for rolling a barrel, with the same contingency of a dollar forfeiture for each one that bursts. Four persons are employed at each mill, namely the foremen, who sees to the heating of the scalps and barrels; the straightened, who straightens the barrel after it passes through the roller; the catcher, who stands behind the roller to catch the barrel when it has passed through, and the fireman. The rollers weigh two tons apiece, and the five sets turn out one thousand barrels per day, one percent of which burst in the proving house.

The barrel when rolled is left much larger in the circumference, and smaller in the bore, , then it is intended to be when finished, in order to allow for the loss of metal in the various finishing operations. When it passes into the roller, the scalp weighs ten pounds; when it comes from the roller, the barrel weighs a little over seven; when completed. It weighs but four and a half; so that more then one half of the metal originally used is lost in the forging, or cut away by the subsequent process. The first of these latter is the boring-out of the interior by machines called boring-banks, or which the water shops contain a large number, in constant operation day and night. These machines consist of square solid frames of iron, in which the barrel is fixed, and bored out by a succession of operations performed by augers. These augers are square bars of steel, highly polished, and ground very sharp at the edges, and terminating in long, stout rods to enable them tom pass through the barrel. The barrels are fixed very firmly in the boring -banks, the shank of the auger inserted into the center of a wheel placed at one end of the bank, and a slow rotary motion given to the auger, together with a still slower progressive motion at the same time. By this means the auger gradually enters the hollow of the barrel, and enlarges the cavity as it advances. After it has passed through, another auger a trifle larger, is substituted in its place, and thus the caliber of the barrel is gradually enlarged to nearly the required size. Formerly, six borings were given to each barrel, but at the present time only four are permitted, aside from rifling, which is a distinct operation, performed at the works on the Hill, and will be described hereafter.

After the boring of the barrel, it is placed in a lathe, and the outside turned down to the proper size. The piece is supported in the lathe by means of mandrels inserted into the two ends, and there it slowly revolves, bringing all parts of its surface successfully under the action of a tool fixed firmly in the right position for cutting the work to its proper form. The barrel has a slow progressive as well as rotary motion during this process, and the tool advances or recedes very regularly and gradually, forming the proper taper from the breech to the muzzle, but the main work is performed by the rotation of the barrel. In the boring, it is the tool which revolves, the piece remaining at rest; but in the turning, the barrel must take it’s part in action, being required to revolve against the tool, while the tool itself remains fixed in its position in the rest.

A curious and interesting part of the operation of manufacturing muskets is the straightening of the barrel. This straightening takes places continually in every stage of the work, from the time the barrel first emerges from the chaotic mass produced by heating the scalp, until it reaches the assembling-room, where the various parts of the Musket are put together. As you enter the boring and turning rooms, you are struck with surprise at observing hundreds of workmen standing with the musket barrels in their hands, one end held up to their eyes, and the other pointing to some one of the innumerable windows of the apartment. Watching them a few moments, however, you will observe, that, after looking through the barrel for a half a minute, and turning it around in their fingers, they lay it down upon a small anvil standing at their side, and strike upon it a gentle blow with a hammer, and then raise it again to the eye. This is the process of straightening.

In former times a very slender line, a hair of some similar substance, was passed through the barrel. This line was then drawn tight, and the workman, looking through, turned the barrel so as to bring the line into coincidence successively with every portion of the inner surface. If there existed any concavity in any part of this surface, the line would show it by the distances which would there appear between the line itself, and it’s reflection in the metal. This method has not, however, been in use for over thirty years. It gave place to a system which, with a slight modification, is still in practice. This system consisted of placing a small mirror on the floor near the anvil of the straightened, which reflected a diagonal line across a pane of glass in a window. The workmen then placed the barrel of the musket upon a rest in such a position that the reflected line in the mirror could be again reflected, through the bore of the barrel, to his eye,--the inner surface of the barrel, being in a brilliantly polished condition from the boring. When the barrel is placed at the proper angle, when practice enables the person performing this duty to accomplish at once, there are two parallel shadows thrown upon the opposite sides of the inner surface, which by another deflection can be made to come to a point at the lower end. The appearance which these shadows assume determines the question whether the barrel is straight or not, and if not, where it requires straightening. Although this method is so easy and plain to the experienced workman, to the untrained man it is perfectly incomprehensible, the bore of the barrel presenting to his eye only a succession of concentric rings, forming a spectacle of dazzling brilliancy , and leaving the reflected line in as profound a mystery after the observation as before.

At present, the mirror is discarded, and the workman holds the barrel up directly to the pane of glass, which is furnished with a transparent slate, having two parallel lines drawn across it. The only purpose sub served by the mirror was that of rendering the operation of holding the barrel less tiresome, it being easier to keep the end of the musket presented to the line pointing downwards, then upwards. Formerly this means of detecting the faults, or want of straightness in the barrel, was like the working of the rolling mill, the secret of one man. , and he would impart it to no one for love or money. He was watched with the most intense interest, but no clue could be obtained to his secret. They gazed into the barrel for hours, but what he saw they could not see. Finally, some fortunate individual stumbled upon the wonderful secret--discovered the marvelous lines--and ever since it has been common property in the shop. Each workman is obliged to correct his own work, and afterwards it is passed into the hands of the inspector, who returns it the workman if faulty, or stamps his approval if correct.

The Next process is that of grinding, for the purpose of removing the marks left upon the surface by the tool in turning, and of still perfecting it’s form. From this operation immense grind stones, carried by machinery, are used, which rotate with great rapidity,-- usually about four hundred times per minute. These stones are covered with large removable wooden cases, to keep the water from flying about the room, or over the workmen. An iron rod is inserted into the bore of the barrel, and is fitted very closely. The rod is furnished with a handle, which is used by the workmen for holding the barrel against the stone and for turning continually while he grinding it, and thus bringing the action of the stone upon every part and so finishing the work in a true cylindrical form. In the act of grinding, the workman inserts the barrel into a small hole in the case in front of the stone and then presses it hard against the surface of the stone by means of an iron lever which is behind him, which he moves by the pressure of his back. The work is very rapidly and smoothly done. There are twelve sets of stones in the grinding room in constant operation day and night. These stones when set up are about eight feet in diameter, and are used within twelve inches of the center. They last about ten days. The operation of grinding was formerly regarded as a very dangerous one, from the liability of the stones to burst in consequence of their enormous weight, and the velocity with which they revolve; but about twenty years since a new method of clamping the stone was adopted, by means of which the danger of bursting is much diminished. The last explosion which took place in the department occurred about nine years ago.. The operation of grinding, however, is objectionable also from the very unhealthy nature of the work. Immense quantities of fine dust fill the air, and the premises are always drenched with water, making the atmosphere damp and unwholesome. In former times it was customary to grind bayonets as well as barrels; but the former are now milled instead, thus making an important saving in expenses, as well as gain in the health of the establishment. No mode, however, has yet been devised for dispensing with the operation of grinding the barrel; but the injury to the health in this case is much less then in the other.

To be continued....

MARK'S WORLD: Backing Off

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:28:21 PDT

Arguing affects me differently at different times for different reasons and it flows that way with no rhyme or reason. I guess it's just the way it is. Sometimes I enjoy it, as I do here when there is a lively debate on this, that or the other issue that challenges my knowledge, intellect and opinions. Sometimes, while at work or on a ride, I actually think about the storms some issues create here and on other sites and get that tingly feeling in my gut as I form replies in my mind to what I know will be said. Sometimes I like to argue because I am in my a$$hole mode and am eager to pick a fight with anyone who feels like going at it, and I don't care if I am right or wrong or whether I win or lose, I just want to argue.

Other times though, I just don't feel the passion in it. Whether it's a debate here, an argument at home or at work, I just don't have it in me to make the effort. I sometimes seem to have enough irons in the fire that another argument just bogs me down or something in my life has just taken the fight out of me, and I seem to be in that mode now. Arguing just seems to stress me out and stress is something I can do without more of right now. I have stress in spades and don't need another dose, especially from, for the most part, faceless antagonists. I'm not sure that I can point to any one thing that has me in this mode, but I know it's there and who am I to question my inner self?

I am sure an item will crop up that will compel me to post, but I will most likely, not return to to debate opposing views although I will read them. I welcome people to duke it out among themselves over what I have to say, but at least for awhile, I just don't feel like getting into it until this passes. It is obvious that as we debate across tables here that we are not going to change one anothers minds on much of anything, but it is usually fun to try, but right now, it's not fun for me.

So, before I am labeled a "hit and runner", I thought I would explain myself to my friends, foes, supporters and detractors. Feel frre to knock eahc other out in my absence and I'll be back for you to kick around soon enough.

Comments:
woofwoof commented:

Oh YEAH! What are you looking at??? (just kidding) Uh, sounds like hormones. Us Women ain't the only ones to have a cycle or a lack there of.....male 0 pause.....(kidding again)

I "git" stirred up sometimes about things I've read here. But, you know what, I keep coming back for more....

tonyh commented:

Hey Mark,

It's called choosing your battles. It's perfectly natural for a SANE person to blow off the "Dumb S&*T" for things that matter more. We all have different things in our lives that matter more. When they crop up, these blogs get pushed to the side............It's Cool..........

Hardliner4freedom commented:

I hear ya, Mark. As for me, I have consciously chosen to re-order my priorities, much to my benefit -- the loss of 30 pounds, for starters. People now under-guess my age by 20 years instead of the usual 10.

randomfactor commented:

Dammit, Hardliner, you mean I have to give up blogging to lose weight? Talk about a hard choice...

(Of course, the last month's stress has packed on five pounds alone...)

sagefever commented: Totally understand this one Mark,sometimes I can not even "go there".It is just pixels man,just dots on a screen, so get some R&R, post or just read. I for one, understand what being human is all about and just how hard it can be! Peace and ease of heart to you and yours.

glum perspective from a glum burg: Recent Bumper Stickers

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:37:05 PDT

Bumper Stickers Recently Seen:

What Part of "Bush Lied" Don't You Understand?

Even Nixon Resigned

George Bush is Creating the Terrorists Our Kids will Have to Fight

Let's Fix Democracy in This Country First

America: One Nation, Under Surveillance

Jail to the Chief

Guess What? Bush Doesn't Care About Poor White People, Either

We're Making Enemies Faster Than We Can Kill Them

When Bush Took Office, Gas Was $1.46

The Republican Party: Our Bridge to the 11th Century

Who Would Jesus Torture?

On Bush - God's Way of Proving Intelligent Design is full of Crap

I never thought I'd miss Nixon.

On an infant's shirt: Already smarter than Bush.

That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
>
> If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
>
> Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber.
>
> Killing For Peace Is Like Screwing For Virginity
>
> You Can't Be Pro-War And Pro-Life
>
> If You Can Read This, You're Not the President
>
> Of Course It Hurts: You're Getting Screwed by an Elephant
>
> Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blow-jobs Anymore
>
> Over a photo of Bush: Electile Dysfunction
>
> They Call Him "W" So He Can't Misspell It
>
> No, Seriously, Why Did We Invade Iraq?
>
> We Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
>
> Is It Vietnam Yet?
>

Comments:
frustrated commented:

Blame the President all you want. It is not going to correct your personal failures. It's not the President you despise. You are not satisfied with your achievements so you choose to pick an easy target. You are simply projecting your hatred of yourself onto the President. Try being a credit to this country instead of a discredit. Then maybe you will actually have something useful to say instead of useless rantings.

tkozy commented:

Frustrated says:

so you choose to pick an easy target.

TK says:

Unfortunately you are correct. Bush has been a bumbler and indeed a failure as a President.

That does make him a easy target. But does not make me a proud American.

I’ve decided now is not the time,

I’m not, ‘Ready to Make Nice.’

Just to please your politics.

My GOD. Who is to blame for this mess. If not Bush???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2Gb5m7nbQ

AudreyB commented:

Frustrated

Do you have a degree in psychology or did you pick up that mumbo jumbo on a matchbox cover?

Bush wouldn't be criticized, at all, if he hadn't lied and didn't continue to lie. Sometimes the dissenting voice is the voice this country needs to hear. Besides, dissention is what freed us from British rule.

antiextremism commented:

Well, my favorite all time bumper sticker, and I know the conservatives will laugh at this one from the 60's California Governor's race......

If it's Brown, flush it.

tonyh commented:

A couple of old ones that I really liked were:

Welcome to California, now GO HOME.

I also remember the "Be American Buy American" stickers. The one I liked was on the back of a VW Rabbit GTI, back in the 1980's when American cars REALLY sucked. It said "Real Americans Buy ANYTHING THEY WANT".

tonyh commented: Aw c'mon Audrey, Bush would be criticized no matter what. Every President catches crap..............
randomfactor commented:

I thought the Texas sign said "Welcome to Texas--Please Set Your Watch Back 40 years"

(I keed, I keed :)

woofwoof commented:

The bigger the hat, the better the cowboy.

The Moral Majority is neither.

I would rather hunt with Dick Cheney than drive with Ted Kennedy.

Be alert. The world needs more lerts.

To err is human, to moo bovine.

If it's not one thing, it's your mother.

Dyslexics are teople poo.

Rock is dead. Long live paper and scissors.

On your mark, get set, go away!

What would Scooby do?

Visualize Whirled Peas ( seen in MN a personal fav )

If you were born again, would you have two bellybuttons?

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Thank God I'm an atheist.

Vote Democrat — it's easier than working!

Vote Republican — it's easier than thinking!

Keep the dream alive: Hit the snooze button.

and lastly.....

In dog years, I'm dead!

OldBlue56 commented:

"Come on vacation, leave on probation."

coochee commented: My fave: Buck Fush!
bakersfield commented:

Seen on the car of a VERY elderly lady:

If you're too close to my bumper, I'll flick a booger on your windshield.

GotREALITY commented: "Somewhere in Texas a village is missing their idiot"
randomfactor commented: That's OK, GotReality. I've been to Texas--they've got plenty of backups.
blognroll commented:

Maybe this will become a bumper sticker one day:

What Part of Right-wing Don't You Understand?
Dr BLT

http://www.drblt.net/music/whatrightwing.mp3

ProgressivePete2 commented: "Guns don't shoot people, Vice Presidents do"

"Impeach Cheney first"

"When will Cheney take Bush hunting"

"Support Organized Crime, Vote Bush, Cheney and Halliburton"
GotREALITY commented:

"Slower minds keep right -->"

Here's one for you Random: "If ignorance is bliss then Texas must be a paradise!" (I substituted Washington for Texas)

CarLozano commented:

LIBERAL: Person so open minded their brain has fallen out

KEEP WORKING, millions on welfare depend on you.

I've tried to see it from a Liberals point of view, but I can't get my head that far up my rectum.

Can you think on your own or do you need the media have to think for you?

Vote Democrat: It's easier than thinking.

Liberalism, Socialism, Communism...is there a difference?

I think...There for I vote Republican.

Except for ending Slavery, Fascism, Communism & Nazism, War has never solved anything!

Annoy a Liberal...work hard and be happy.

SHUT UP HIPPIE.

GOD BLESS RONALD REGAN.

randomfactor commented:

I believe that's "Donald" Regan.

See, that's why there aren't any conservative comedians. And why the Half Hour News Hour stinks on ice. :)

CarLozano commented: There aren't conservative comedians because Conservatives work for a living.
randomfactor commented:

No one works harder than a comedian. There aren't any conservative comedians because the heart of comedy is to afflict the comfortable with wit. Republicans therefore lack the weaponry and refuse to be their own targets. That leaves self-parody, to which they apparently are as deaf as we are to dogwhistles.

Take "anonymous," for example. Please. (Rimshot)

CarLozano commented: HAHAHA...yeah comedians work really hard. I think there are no conservative comedians because to be a comedian it takes a certain level of disfunction. So, when someone has conservative views that eliminates that.
antiextremism commented:

Whatta ya mean there are no conservative comedians.......

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lfyMzbmpEuE

GotREALITY commented: "If conservatives are so patriotic, why do they keep sending our jobs overseas?"

randomfactor commented: Being a comedian takes a certain *LEVEL* of dysfunction. Go *WAY* beyond that, and you become a conservative.
GotREALITY commented:

Yes anti, I find myself constantly laughing at them.

randomfactor commented:

Look, there are three levels:

1. A comedian says funny things.

2. A comic says things funny.

3. A clown falls down a lot.

Bush is #2 and #3. I haven't seen any conservatives who are #1. Closest I've seen is Dennis Miller, who *USED* to be funny until he turned conservative and lost his (liberal) writers.

Fired Up!: No 'nanny state' in proposed trans fat ban

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:49:37 PDT

By Martha Martinez

Artery-clogging fat trans fat, or trans fatty acid, is going to kill us. Eating food with too many trans fats can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Trans fat is used in many restaurants, fried foods and in prepackaged baked goods.

Lawmakers are trying to control obesity and reduce health problems by forcing restaurants to stop using trans fats.

Fried foods, baked goods and other junk foods will never be good for you. But at least lawmakers are taking a step in reducing a type of unnecessary fat that has no nutritional value.

The Assembly Health Committee last week approved a bill that would phase out the use of oils, margarine and shortening containing trans fats to prepare foods in restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens and other California businesses classified as “food facilities” starting in 2009.

Violations could result in fines of $25 to $1,000.

The ban should not be considered an extreme step as some critics contend. It is a reasonable step considering the obesity problems people, including children, have in California.

It’s been said that trans fat is the most dangerous ingredient Americans eat and that it has no nutritional value.

With people being so health conscious and trans fat being so bad for you, lawmakers have tried to ban its use in cities and counties. New York City was successful. Los Angeles County tried to do the same, but discovered only a state law can ban restaurants from using trans fat in California. So Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, introduced his bill.

The bill is much needed.

The Food and Drug Administration has shown its concern by requiring all manufacturers to list the amount of trans fat on packaged foods. As of Jan. 1, 2006, manufacturers must devote a section in the nutritional facts to trans fat even if the product does not contain any.

Trans fat is formed when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil. The process is called hydrogenation — it’s what makes our food taste good.

Manufacturers use the process to increase the product’s shelf life.
Trans fats are commonly found in fried foods.

Common household items that contain trans fat are partially hydrogenated oils, cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, margarine, shortening, fried foods and milk. Plenty of other foods contain trans fat.

Burger King, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other fast-food chains are testing cooking without trans fat oils. Starbucks is also cutting trans fat from their muffins and pastries.

Doritos and Oreos are just two examples of junk food products that have cut trans fat.

Even though it makes the food last longer, trans fat poses serious health risks by increasing the bad cholesterol and decreasing the good cholesterol.

The risks went unknown for many years, until the National Academy of Sciences found that trans fat was directly related to heart disease and is considered one of the worst ingredient Americans eat. Trans fat contributes significantly to this country’s health and obesity problems.

Mendoza’s bill needs to pass for the sake of people’s health. But it still has a long way to go.

It must clear the Assembly Appropriations Committee before it can be considered by the entire Assembly. It must then get the state Senate’s nod and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature.

The obesity epidemic also has prompted other lawmakers to consider requiring restaurants to post nutritional information on their menus. Some restaurants already offer nutritional information on their Web sites.

Obesity in children has raised awareness in schools. Some districts have strict menus and soft drink sales have been banned.

Americans will not stop eating out, nor will they give up their junk food. Critics contend the proposed trans fat ban and other regulations are part of a “nanny state” that is out of control.

But it is really just lawmakers giving us a much-needed push to make us aware of the health risks lurking in our food.

Comments:
AudreyB commented: As long as it doesn't affect the taste, I am ALL for it. But, if it makes my Firto Lay taste like a Granny Goose, I am going to organize a counter initiative with the slogan "Lard asses for Lard".
AudreyB commented: I am soooooo glad the Government is taking care of me because I am too lame to think for myself. With the lawmakers help my body will outlive my brain.
tkozy commented:

Government under Bush’s FDA. Backed off of fresh food inspections. The result was over a dozen deaths.

Yes government, when acting responsibly. Has only one purpose. That is to protect us from those who would harm us. Both foreign and domestic..

antiextremism commented:
TomW commented: This is a great law. The difference between transfat and non-transfat is just cost. On the other hand, I think if people want to keep transfat, we should just regulate the products containing it the way we regulate cigarettes.
NancyII commented:

So..removing transfat doesn't change the taste in any way? Margerine (not that I eat it) will taste the same with no tran fat? What about milk..the post above says it contains transfat too.. does that mean when you dip your non transfat Oreo into your transfat milk you're cancelling one of them out?

Will my B&G still taste like B&G and not wet carboard if the transfats are removed?

My neighbors are still going strong in their back yard at almost 2 AM on a Tuesday night/WEd morning and now you've given me another reason I can't sleep?

Somebody call the cops !!!!! Between the transfat worry, and the noise, my workday is going to be a long one.

antiextremism commented:

I think restarurants should be able to offer both. No transfat for dieters, and transfats for those with an uncontrollable urge to die early from cardiac arrest.

http://tvland.classictvhits.com/SanfordandSon/Sounds/SanfordBigOne.WAV

Editorials: City hall fights for you

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:42:13 PDT

PUBLISHED 3-14-2007

In Bakersfield there’s a new twist to an old saying. In most places you can’t fight city hall, but here city hall is fighting for you in the form of community prosecution.

Since last May, the city attorney’s office has been prosecuting “low-level” or “quality-of-life” crimes that hard-pressed district attorneys typically don’t have the resources to handle.

The program is not unique to Bakersfield.

Most city attorney offices act as civil lawyers for cities. But it is new to Bakersfield.

Judging by a report to the City Council by City Attorney Virginia Gennaro, the experiment here is a huge success — and, better yet, will expand soon to include a wider variety of crimes.

Since the program’s inception last May, three attorneys in the office have prosecuted 512 cases. Of those, three types account for 51 percent of all crimes: drunk in public (22 percent), petty theft (15 percent) and resisting arrest (14 percent).

But the types of other crimes the office handled shows why such cases upset the public even though they technically are described as “low-level.”

A partial list includes such things as sleeping or camping in a public place, leash-law violations, park curfew violations, indecent exposure and lewd acts, vandalism, shoplifting, contributing to the delinquency of minors and the like.

The reality of such “quality-of-life” crimes as resisting arrest, and intent to sell drugs is that they can have serious public safety consequences. With the program’s expansion into gun possession charges, and drug and gang abatement programs, public safety will be enhanced even more. That makes the program all the more important.

Although most defendants prosecuted through the program pleaded guilty, for the program to succeed as it has required support by the district attorney and the courts.

In short, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Comments:
AudreyB commented:

This might lessen some of the frustration that the average citizen feels when their cases are treated as being too tirival to prosecute. It may make a difference in the numbers of petty crimes too, if the perpetraters think they might have to serve time or pay fines.

Who gets the credit for coming with this simple solution?

OldBlue56 commented: Does this mean I may finally be able to do something about the jerk who lives next door to me, who has a dog that he allows to bark uncontrolled all day long? That is a crime according to the municipal code. I have tried being a good neighbor, but apparently, the "Raider fan" just doesn't care...
woofwoof commented:

" indecent exposure and lewd acts"....are CONSIDERED TRIVIAL?? What the *BEEP*!?! Does anyone wanna really here me BARK about this one....? WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!

I break the leash law everyday. When cats are on leashes, then I'll leash my dog....I really do figure I won't get ticketed for this one.....never say never, I guess. But I've had sheriffs drive by, seeing me walk my dog without a leash...I know they have more important things to do than that. My dog comes when I call her....if she didn't, she'd be on a leash.

DoctorMason commented: While I know they have no jurisdiction to do so, I wish these wonderful public servants would find a way to go after the real criminals, and leave the little fish alone for a while.

I mean think of it, whom would you prefer to see prosecuted, slick politicians who lie, steal, kill and rob us or someone whose dog wasn't on a leash?

Editorials: How you can receive help

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:36:00 PDT

PUBLISHED 3-14-2007

Complaints handled by the city prosecutor’s office begin with a complaint filed with the Bakersfield Police Department, 327-7111.

If you have questions about the program itself, the city attorney’s office can be reached at 326-3721.

In round numbers, here is a list of community-prosecuted crimes by ward, and the distribution of prosecution by percentages of total:

Ward 1 (Irma Carson): 85 crimes, 17 percent of prosecutions.

Ward 2 (Sue Benham): 201 crimes, 40 percent.

Ward 3 (Ken Weir): 36 crimes, 7 percent.

Ward 4 (David Couch): 32 crimes, 6 percent.

Ward 5 (Harold Hanson): 17 crimes, 1 percent.

Ward 6 (Jacquie Sullivan): 57 crimes, 11 percent.

Ward 7 (Zack Scrivner): 84 crimes, 16 percent.

Dr BLT's Blog n Roll Studio : Blog DawgTER's Diary: Dr. Rockwell's Confidential Clinical Reflections: A fictional psychoeducational thread

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:14:51 PDT

3/13/07

Dear Diary:

I'm enjoying my new private practice work here in Bakersfield, California. Today I saw two new patients: Donald Doyle and Rodney Redburn. Donald Doyle has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease by his family practitioner, and Rodney Redburn is having a few identity issues. He is not shy about his drug issues either. I believe he's a dual diagnosis case.

I made sure he understood that I require him to be in some sort of additional drug treatment group if he is to see me, and insisted that he be drug alcohol free at least 48 hours prior to his sessions.

There is plenty to work for me to focus upon with Mr. Doyle. Various themes, mostly having to do with the anticipation of profound loss, have already emerged. Loss and its anticipation may be regarded as the leitmotif for our sessions. To approach it strictly as a grief issue, however, would clearly limit the potential results of our work together. He is a complex individual with much to lose. We face the daunting task of bringing about a meaningful integration of experience that will soon disintegrate. It's a bit ironic to say the least. I will definately have to approach this one from a family systems model. The family, the extended family, and his network of close friends, must somehow be mobilized in a manner that will sustain him and support him through the various phases of his illness.

With Mr. Redburn, I will need to gently bring him into contact with reality in a manner that does not end up totally obliterating the defense mechanisms he is clinging to so tightly. He won't talk about his childhood--not yet anyway. I'm sure there is much there to retrieve and reconstruct in a supportive, corrective manner. He seems fixed in a regressive state and he will fight like hell to remain in the psychic womb he has created for himself.

Once he is recovered from his addiction to meth, alchohol, and whatever else he is using to self-medicate, I will probably need to refer him to a psychiatrist so that a suitable medication regimen may be established.

These patients have one thing in common: They are both facing the possiblity of significant memory loss. Ostensibly, Mr. Redburn has more control over the outcome, of his situation. He has brought upon his own brain storm and has control over the destruction that will or will not ensue. Or does he? That brings up the existential matter of the degree to which any individual is in control of his/her own destiny. I'll save that for another day.

Comments:
ejcramer commented:

Hello Dr. Rockwell,

In Mr. Doyle's case, approaching this one from a family systems model is very wise since Alzheimer's disease has often been referred to as a "family disease" because it also touches and affects the lives of family and friends. Based on his latest diary confessions, Mr. Doyle seems to be taking a more positive approach. Of course there may be times when he gets depressed, which is common for Alzheimer patients, but with his supportive family, a positive attitude, faith, therapy from you, and treatment that may help slow the progression of symptoms, I believe that he will do better than those who also face this illness but wallow in it, give up and "die" in the inside way before their actual death. Since Alzheimer's disease progresses through three main stages - mild, moderate, and severe - it is best that his family understands the signs and symptoms that occur in each stage so they can meet his needs. I would say that he is in the mild stages since he has shown signs of depression, has difficulty learning and remembering new information, but can still do most activities. Perhaps you could recommend to his family to ask their doctor about the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale developed by Dr. Berry Reisberg. I read that by using this doctors can make a determination about which stage of the disease a person is suffering from, based on the symptoms being experienced. This could help Mr. Doyle's family understand what he is experiencing and how to deal with it in the best way possible.

As far as Rodney, I am not surprised that he refuses to talk about his childhood. Could he be using drugs and alcohol as a way to "numb" the pain that has been haunting him since his childhood? Based on his confessions, he seems to be in so much psychological pain, not to mention denial. He will end up just like Mr. Doyle, experiencing memory lost (among other things), if he doesn't end this self-destruction soon. Supposedly he is aware of the changes this may produce in his brain, but does he really know? He claims he knows his brain is inflammed and that his brain will shrink a little. He insists that he is in control, not his pre-frontal cortex or any other parts of his brain for that matter. If his goal is to thrive under the influence just like Poe, then he will be sadly disappointed since Poe has been described by some as having lived a short and tragic life. According to literature, Poe suffered through a suicide attempt, several failed relationships after the death of his young wife, and a largely unsuccessful attempt to resurrect his failing career after a long bout with alcoholism and depression. If Rodney wants to end up like Poe, dying at the age of 40, then he is surely on the right track. Perhaps with your help, Dr. Rockwell, Rodney can deal with the deep scars he holds inside and come to reality before he dies under the influence.

brucelee commented: Dear Dr. Rockwell,

Reading your notes on these two patients has caused me to ponder several questions:

1) After reading through various article on both conditions I noticed that research has shown support groups, antidepressants, and stress-management to be effective methods of helping patients to cope with Alzheimer's disease. Is there a reason why you recommended that Rodney attend a support group and not Donald? I thought that since you are approaching his case with a family systems emphasis this might be a good method of support and education for his family.

2) In lieu of this research on Alzheimer's, I began to look for information on depression and drug addiction. Is there ever a case when severe drug addicts need to be medicated with antidepressants, or do they rely exclusively on psychological methods of treatment?

3) I did read a study on alcoholism that compared the effects of psychological treatment on alcoholics to other alcoholics relying only on AA programs or drug treatments. In this study, patients with psychological intervention had a much lower rate of relapse. So... Will you be entertaining any kind of therapeutic treatments for depression in either or both of these gentlemen?

4) There is substantial research that underscores the need for Alzheimer's patients to manage their stress levels. Evidence suggests that this makes the degeneration of their brain function less traumatic and may help them to retain more of their capacities than they would while under stress. Would stress techniques also possibly help our drug addict to begin to talk about why he self-medicates?

5) Since Rodney's potential memory loss is the result of substance abuse, will he have a chance of restoring any of his lost capacities? Clearly, Mr. Doyle's condition will worsen, but will Rodney's? Assuming that he quits within a reasonable time frame, is it possible for him to regain some of what he lost?

Best of luck with the new patients.

BLee
jbgage commented: dear dr. rock

welcome to bakersfield! as you will find, there are many patients for you to help in this area. looks as though you have found two special ones already. mr. doyle and mr. redburn are two unique cases that i have had the pleasure of following for the last several weeks.

mr. doyle is experiencing the stages of alzheimer's disease and attempts to take his illness seriously. i'm sure mr. doyle is attempting to cope with his inevitable loss of functional memory. he appears to want to help his family and thus, your suggestion of utilizing a family systems therapy would probably work out well for him. his family is going to need almost as much help as he is due to the fact that they are experiencing his loss of function as much as mr. doyle himself. being the "doc" i'm sure you are already aware of the various regions of the brain associated with the disease, as well as, the stages that he has been through and will be going through shortly.

in mr. redburn's case, he seems to have some of his wires crossed. getting in touch of reality is a goal, not a first step. i think you have your work cut out for you by requesting that he be sober upon your visits. knowing rodney, he will justify not having to attend the appointment just so he can use his current coping mechanism - the alcohol and speedball. he does not just use these substance to cope with his daily life, but to help him cope with his secondary diagnosis. in my opinion (and i have been wrong once before), mr. redburn is a dual diagnosis case - substance abuse and borderline personality disorder. but hey, you're the doc, you tell me what you think. i base my hypothesis from looking into the DSM IV's criteria for borderline personality disorder.

have fun with your new practice. don't lose your mind.

jbgage
tambo323 commented:

Welcome to Bakersfield!

Sounds as you have already got in full swing. Mr. Doyle and Redburn. Although they have come to you with different problems both are or will be experiencing problems with their memory and brains. Mr. Doyle is caused by disease/genetics and Mr. Redburn is shall we say self inflicted. Either way they both are dealing with issues of illusions and memory loss or alteration to say the least.

Mr. Doyle has Alzheimers and according to reports treating it as a family system model is a good idea. This will not only help Mr. Doyle but it will help his family deal for essentially the loss of the person they knew while he is still alive. It will also give them and him tools to cope with the memory loss and loss of recognition.

Mr. redburn will not talk about his childhood, maybe he is wishing he had memory loss of this time and that is why he continues down the path he is taking. To him he is thriving because he is able to function and the thoughts stay hidden. And if he is not on the drugs then those thoughts and memories continously come back and effect every aspect of his life and so then he is not thriving. To him the side effects of the drugs to not compare to the pain the memories cause.

schoolpsych commented: Sounds like they are going to give you a run for your money!!! Mr. Redburn will not speak about his childhood, which allows me to wonder if some events that took place back then led him to the place he is now. That will be very interesting to find out what triggered his state at this point. Mr. Doyle and his problem sounds sad, but I have to agree that the family model sounds like the best way to begin dealing with his state. Involving his family can be very helpful and therapeutic. Good luck and can't wait to hear about your progress.

Racing and Stuff: 200 Best Albums Ranked

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:27:45 PDT

Do you agree with this list of the top 200 albums created?
http://www.definitive200.com/200_list.php

A few of the 200 entries:
1. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
5. U2 - Joshua Tree
17. AC/DC - Back in Black
24. Fleetwood Mac- Rumours
38. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Music Videos on the website:
Coldplay - The Scientist
Radiohead - Karma Police
David Bowie - Starman

How many of these albums do you own and agree with?

Comments:
woofwoof commented: Sgt. Peppers Number One???? I love the Beatles, but really, I didn't think it should be number 1.
robbwillis commented:

Santana's Supernatural better than Abraxas? No way...

Springsteen anything? No way...

AC/DC Back in Black? Turn the channel...

Alanis Morissete? Give me fingernails on a chalkboard instead...

Eminem? lol!

Eagles Hotel California? Stop the treatment!

Whitney Houston? A one-hit wonder that makes dogs howl...

Joni Mitchell? Wins the contest for most lyrics per note.

Another Springsteen and Eminem? You gotta be kidding...

Jewel? Hmmm, I already used the fingernails on the chalkboard line...

Kid Rock comes in just ahead of George Harrison? Sinking to a new low...

I can't look any further....

bakersfield commented: Hey, where's Milli Vanilli?
blognroll commented:

I trust the following list more, and not just because the rock critic put my song at #8:

http://www.morethings.com/music/best_songs_2006.htm

flipmort commented: Ok they don't have Jimi Hendrix in the top 10, that's problem #1

Dusty's View of Life: Halliburton moving HQ to the Middle East..Hearings will ensue.

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:38:55 PDT

Halliburton reported profits of $2.3Billion last year. That's damn near equal to the $2.7 billion the Pentagon found in the company's overcharges in Iraq.

Interesting no?

Also interesting is that Halliburton will not be within firing range of subpoena's and hearings over their business practices of ripping off taxpayers. The U.S. doesn't have an extradition treaty with UAE.

Considering that Halliburton is being investigated for bribery, rigging bids, and illegally profiting in Iran, among just a few of their problems, its no wonder they want to pull up their tents and run like hell.

Yes, Halliburton will still be incorporated inside the U.S...but the move to Dubai will make it harder for government investigators to hold them accountable. Oh...and Dubai is a tax free haven for companies..that just has to be a plus don't ya know?

Comments:
TomW commented: Well, I think this is another reason we need to start looking at the laws around incorporation. There is a lot of this type of stuff happening all over the world where corporations have become their own nations. 99% of businesses are good but that one percent is fleecing us. I'd like to see government contracts written that stipulate continued "US citizenship". Why else should we pay a premium for services if the money is not going to be cycled back through our own economy?
dusty1215 commented: Thanks for the spelling tip Tom :) As far as Halliburton, I do think their contracts should be canceled post haste. They are also spinning off KBR, the king of crookedness and dirty dealings.
mattloch commented: I'm still waiting for the Congressional subpoenas to start being mailed to Halliburton's headquarters.... I know that Congress has a lot on their plates these days just trying to keep up with the unfolding scandals, but a few hearings into dealings occuring before November 2006 would be nice.
irv commented:

George Soros seems to like Halliburton enough to buy nearly two million shares to the tune of sixty-two million dollars just a few months ago. I guess it's OK for rich liberals to invest in the evil Halliburton as long as they give up some of their dirty profits to the democratic cause. How ironic. What a crock!

TomW commented: Well, irv, it's his money. Are you saying he shouldn't be allowed to invest in Halliburton?
dusty1215 commented: Yes irv..I know about Soros purchase of Halliburton stock..your point would be what? He is a business man among other things...Moving is probably a good business decision so they can continue to do business with countries like Iran.
dusty1215 commented: Halliburton/KBR's role in the Abu-Gharib torture mess is still unfolding and look how long that has been. There were so many layers of subcontractors and they (Halliburton/KBR) refused to cooperate about who they subcontracted to and when.
adampayne commented: This is the same company that has been doing business illegally with Iran for years, and that has had phony off-shore offices for years. No surprise that they would move their offices from Houston to Dubai. No surprise that our elected leaders could care less or that the public at large cares even less than that. If all things were equal Delaware and North Carolina would not have all the multitude of companies incorporated within their boundaries. Things like this always remind me of Ned Beatty's character explaining the facts of the world to Peter Finch's character, Howard Beale, in Network.
dusty1215 commented: Adam..I think of Network often when it comes to BushCo.

Right Thinking: What's wrong with prayer in a library?

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:01:35 PDT

As part of its ongoing effort to marginalize people of faith in California, the infamous 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday refused to reconsider the case of Hattie Mae Hopkins and her Faith Center Church Evangelical Ministries in Antioch.

It seems the Rev. Hopkins and her congregants reserved one of the Contra Costa County Library's community meeting rooms for a four-hour session, but when the library staffers discovered what was going on -- prayer and worship, of all things -- they informed Hopkins that she and her church had violated the library's no-religious-services policy and would not be allowed back.

All of which suits the 9th Circuit three-judge panel in San Francisco, a city renowned for its tolerance of anything and everything -- except of anything having to do with religious faith.

Like many public libraries, including those here in Kern County, the Contra Costa Library opens its conference rooms to the general public for "educational, cultural and community related meetings, programs and activities."

But in Antioch the general public is apparently not so general, not with a library policy that mandates the rooms may not be used for religious services, though all other meetings, including those involving religious speech, short of "services," are welcome.

The problem with such a policy is the dividing line between religious speech and religious worship is arbitrary and not at all clear to those who claim allegiance to religious faith. The attorneys who represent the Faith Center now intend to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to find that line or abolish it altogether.

In Kern County, where librarians apparently have better things to do than scrutinize the agendas of those that reserve community rooms, all groups are welcome as long as they adhere to the library's simple code of conduct, a brief list of common-sense rules.

Rules like no smoking or bare feet, no loud or disorderly conduct, no animals and no selling or soliciting goods on library grounds.

No other rules are necessary, says Deputy Director Sherry Gomez, who can recall only a few instances when groups have abused community room rules, like the time a talent show grew rowdy and went longer than the agreed-upon time. Other than respecting a few rules, groups do what they want to do.

"Religion is not an issue in our library because what people are doing in the room, as long as it's not disturbing others, we don't concern ourselves with," Gomez says. "Most of the time, when these groups are conducting whatever program they're having, the door is closed."

Naturally public libraries should not be used by religious groups as a free place in which to conduct weekly worship. No argument there. But that's not what the Faith Center was trying to do, according to the 9th Circuit decision.

Freedom of religious expression and equal access is a constitutional right of every American. So, unless the congregants of Hopkins' Faith Center Church are of a serpent-handling sect, have the volume turned up on their tambourines or are attempting to proselytize book-reading bystanders, it's not the business of Contra Costa County or even the 9th District Court of Appeals to determine when their "speech" crosses that invisible frontier into "service."

Comments:
tkozy commented:

Pray all you want in a Library. Just don’t disturb others.

And No Preaching.

mattloch commented:

Ms. Shrider, did you even read the decision before writing this column? Of course you didn't. Here it is. Here's where you're 100% wrong (footnote 6, page 11638) (emphasis mine):

The transcripts of the preliminary injunction hearing show that the district

court understood that the afternoon session constituted pure religious

worship services, even as Faith Center’s other activities earlier in the day

did not:

[Counsel for the County]: I have to take issue a little bit with the

characterization that it is defendants who have characterized what

Faith Center is doing as worship. Faith Center has characterized

it that way, your honor.

The Court: I know. They are making the argument even assuming

it’s worship. That gets into a set of new questions.

***

The Court: What is your bottom line? Is your bottom line then the

Court cannot issue any injunction which has the effect of precluding,

as you would call it or the courts call it, mere worship in the

library rooms?

[Counsel for Faith Center]: That’s right, your honor.

The dissent dismisses Faith Center’s representation at the preliminary

injunction hearing. See Dissent Op., at 11670 n.2. However, the representation

is consistent with other evidence in the record that Faith Center

intended its afternoon session to consist of religious worship services. See

supra at 11634.

robbwillis commented: Serpent-handling sects don't have the same rights as other religious nuts? What's this world coming to?
tkozy commented:

OH! I forgot.

No Rattlesnakes in the Library..

randomfactor commented: So if they're going to be a church, they have to do it in a church. That's right up there with the Holocaust in terms of religious persectuion.
mattloch commented: Precisely correct, Random. Again, from the 9th Circuit decision (page 11647):

The library policy, for example, prohibits schools from using the meeting room as a regular part of the school’s curriculum. The County’s exclusion of schools is reasonable in light of its purpose. To allow the meeting room to be converted into a classroom would transform the character of the forum from a community meeting room to a public school. By the same token, the County’s decision to exclude Faith Center’s religious worship services from the meeting room is reasonable in light of the library policy so that the Antioch forum is not transformed into an occasional house of worship. Faith Center acknowledges that it seeks to reach out to those individuals who might not enter a traditional church building, and to bring the evangelical church experience to them. We see nothing wrong with the County excluding certain subject matter or activities that it deems inconsistent with the forum’s purpose, so long as the County does not discriminate against a speaker’s viewpoint. To conclude that the County’s exclusion of religious worship services from its government buildings is unreasonable would result in the “remarkable proposition that any public [building] opened for civic meetings must be opened for use as a church, synagogue, or mosque.”

dusty1215 commented: As long as every religious group in the universe can use the rooms..I have no problem with it. Of course what is the chance of that happening?
tkozy commented:

Naked for Christ? Christian Nudism

Bakersfield Library

Every Sunday

8:00am 9:30am 11:00am 7:00pm

After hours communion at the Rockin Hillbilly.

antiextremism commented:

I have no problem with cultural or religious groups having a meeting at the library, as long as you can't hear the chants or other activities,(or wild animals LOL) that might disrupt people doing research, or simply reading. Having services is a little inappropriate and should be done at the Church's facility, or at least a non governmental building. A prayer before and after a meeting is okay by me too.

However, I have to ask you Marilee, (and I know you don't usually respond to bloggers because you take shots daily), would you care if a Muslim group used the library for the same purposes? What about Satanists?

randomfactor commented:

In case any of you doubted there are Christian Nudists:

http://www.oursunhome.com/christian_nudist.html

tkozy commented:
randomfactor commented: 3197.
blognroll commented: Not a thing. Just keep it quiet so as not to disturb others who may be reading, or even praying.
randomfactor commented:

3203.

randomfactor commented: 3210.
randomfactor commented:

3211.

rightthinking commented: Antiextremism: in response to your question, I would not care in the slightest if a community rooms were used by Muslims, Satanists, Druids or whatever. They are part of our community, therefore are entitled to pay the room usage fee and use the rooms as they like.
AudreyB commented: They wouldn't let me crouch on my fertility stone while reading a periodical at the southwest library. I'm thinking about suing.
tkozy commented:

Marylee..

No comment on my:

Naked for Christ? Christian Nudism

Don’t you like me anymore?

randomfactor commented: 3218.

Bakersfieldbubble: Senate Weighs Aid to 2.2 Million Subprime Borrowers (Update1)

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:34:51 PDT

Who said this was going to happen? Keep in mind that 36% of all loans in Bakersfield were subprime - http://bakersfieldbubble.blogspot.com

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. lawmakers will have to consider providing aid to about 2.2 million subprime mortgage borrowers who are at risk of defaulting and losing their homes, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said today.

``The impact of losing 2.2 million homes I suspect will be in a lot of areas of our cities and towns that are already pretty hard hit, so we clearly want to look at that and legislate,'' Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, told reporters in Washington after a speech to the National League of Cities.

Foreclosures involving homeowners who took out subprime loans from 1998 until 2006 could cost $164 billion, Dodd said, quoting a December study by the Center for Responsible Lending in Durham, North Carolina. The government needs to provide at- risk homeowners ``forbearance or something like that to give them a chance to work through and get a new financial instrument here that they can manage financially better,'' Dodd said.

Delinquencies among subprime mortgage borrowers hit a four- year high in the fourth quarter, the Washington-based Mortgage Bankers Association said today. The trade group said 13.33 percent of subprime borrowers were behind on payments in the quarter, the highest rate since the third quarter of 2002.

More than two dozen mortgage lenders have gone bankrupt, closed operations or sought buyers since the beginning of last year as the effect of looser lending standards, slowing home- price gains, and less wage growth left banks holding bad loans.

Congress ``may need to do something much more quickly to provide some protection or you could end up with a lot of poverty and blight,'' Dodd said. Federal aid of a few billion dollars ``may be a lot less costly'' than $164 billion in lost wealth, he said.

Looking to Help

Mortgage defaults during the next two years may rise to $225 billion, with about $170 billion tied to subprime loans, according to a report yesterday by analyst at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. led by Srinivas Modukuri. Subprime borrowers are those with poor or limited credit backgrounds or high debt.

Dodd didn't specify the channel through which the government would offer aid. ``I don't want to settle on the specifics of it, but clearly we are looking at what we can do to help out.''

Any formal legislation proposed by Dodd would have to approved by his committee, then passed by both the full Senate and the House of Representatives before being sent to the president to sign into law.

Predatory Lending

Dodd reaffirmed a plan to introduce a bill that would combat predatory lending. ``There is a difference between a subprime lender and a predator, and I don't want to lose the subprime lender,'' he said.

The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and other U.S. regulators on March 2 directed banks to scrutinize underwriting standards, provide more information to customers about borrowing risks and ensure borrowers are able to repay loans.

``Finally the federal regulators are beginning to indicate that they want to start requiring similar standards to be used for prime and subprime lending,'' Dodd said, referring to the new guidelines.

``I am a strong advocate of subprime lending,'' Dodd said. ``I don't want that word to become a pejorative as junk bonds did.''

While not constituting a drag on the economy, defaults may increase to $300 billion if home prices fall and borrowers forgo refinancing because of stricter lending standards, Lehman said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a1x64z58hsB4&refer=home

Comments:
Bakersfieldbubble commented: No taxpayer funded bailouts for these fools!!
sfinboston52 commented: depends on how it would effect the economy and the price of homes. Also, have to take into consideration job loss, which could also take cause major drain on economy.
tkozy commented:

Demand drove prices up..

Lack of demand must be allowed to drive prices down.

In America you have the right to make money. You also have the right to lose money.

That’s capitalism. That’s the law of supply and demand.

robbwillis commented:

"a few billion dollars"

Yes, a mere bag of shells to Congress, aka Raiders of the Lost Social Security...

tkozy commented:

Why not just pay off my credit cards. That would be a REAL boon to the economy..

dusty1215 commented: Of course we shouldn't bail them out. I saw a report this morning that one of these notorious subprime lenders actually loaned on an application that was blank where the income requirement was. How can that be good business when your talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home?
sfinboston52 commented: and did anyone notice the DOW? the US markets are not taking this news well..so might want to reconsider.
dusty1215 commented: It was down 200 about an hour ago..
tkozy commented:

Give me 20% CD's. You stay in the stock market.

sfinboston52 commented:

the DOW closed w/ a drop of 240 points. Will be interesting to see what happens.

The US has bailed out Banks, Savings & Loans (GOP Scandall 80s), Airlines, Car manufactors, so why not a lending company. They could go after the CEO and Executives for destorying their company

dusty1215 commented: Didn't we learn anything from the previous bailouts you just described?
Bakersfieldbubble commented:

My sources are telling me that all local title companies who closed loans with a local real estate company, received subpoenas to provide documents to the DRE by March 23, 2007.

Does the Californian have any information on this?

robbwillis commented: The savings and loan debacle was quite similar in that they were lending money to entities incapable of paying off the loans. Maybe these lending instituitions should have loan reserves or backing like insurance companies have with loss reserves and reinsurance. Insurance companies are not allowed to write premium without reserves, why should a loan company be allowed to loan money without being able to cover their losses? I'm with sfinbosto, belly-up loan company executives need to go to jail.
tkozy commented:

We are on the throws of another Clinton induced recession..

randomfactor commented: Yep. *DAMN* that Chelsea!
mattloch commented: Belly-up lenders need to go belly-up! Everyone from the CEO to the line staff that processed these deals need to be punished. Here's a question: if the lender goes bankrupt, what happens to the properties? What happens to the people who are repaying the loans? Who gets the properties when the people default on their loans? After what happened to the S&L bailouts, when the costs skyrocketed from the beginning till the end, does anyone have a handle on how much this could potentially cost the taxpayer if the government does do a bailout?
randomfactor commented: Maybe John McCain could be of help. I understand he has extensive experience in the savings & loan industry.
tkozy commented:

I would put Neil Bush at the head of the List.

He was involved in a business controversy in the late 1980s when he was director of Denver, Colorado-based Silverado Savings & Loan, which collapsed at a cost to taxpayers of $1 billion.

He denied any wrongdoing, but was sanctioned by the federal government for his part in the failure.

Also:

HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters) -- Neil Bush, younger brother of President Bush, detailed lucrative business deals and admitted to engaging in sex romps with women in Asia in a deposition taken in March as part of his divorce from now ex-wife Sharon Bush.

From:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/25/bush.brother.reut/
DoctorMason commented: Do a search for "forclosure homes" or something similar, and put in your favorite zip code (93313).
dusty1215 commented: Are they going up more here than the national avg Doc Mason?
adampayne commented: The big money players who are putting the squeeze on the sub-prime lenders are the ones who should foot the bill. Let the big brokerage houses and private equity firms pay up for once since these are the guys calling in the loans. Brokers and their equity partners wanted to underwrite, well now is the time to back up their actions. This is all on the huge financial players in this country. These are the same companies increasing fees, consumer borrowing interest rates and lobbied so vigorously to change the bankruptcy laws to penalize the little guy. No protection to these companies!! Not one dime for a bailout should come from the taxpayer!!!!
Bakersfieldbubble commented:

'Every Party Has Its Hangover'

From the LA Times:

Easy-money loans from New Century Financial Corp. and other lenders specializing in borrowers with poor credit helped fuel the housing boom, swelling the ranks of homeowners with people who could not have qualified for mortgages in years past.

But many of these borrowers turned out to be bad bets after all and are beginning to default, forcing some lenders out of business and leading others to stiffen their lending standards.

That could hurt the housing market by shrinking the pool of eligible buyers. In addition, many homeowners with high-risk loans whose rates will adjust upward in the next year or two won't be able to refinance into loans with better terms. That could put some into foreclosure.

"If foreclosures continue to mount — and they are already climbing rapidly — we could see a scenario similar to California in the early 1990s, where banks' sales of foreclosed properties pushed home prices down even further," said Zach Gast, an analyst at the Center for Financial Research and Analysis, an investment research firm.

In some parts of the state — including the Central Valley, the Inland Empire and San Diego — foreclosures have gone from rare to plentiful in a little more than a year. Real estate appraisers say home values are beginning to be affected.

George Hatch, a San Diego appraiser, said he surveyed a group of his colleagues last week. Almost all of them reported that they were running across distressed sales or foreclosures. "There is a flip side to exuberance, which is that every party has its hangover," said Hatch, a 22-year veteran of the business. "When your house loses $100,000 in value, that will make you sick all right

Bakersfieldbubble commented: In some parts of the state — including the Central Valley, the Inland Empire and San Diego — foreclosures have gone from rare to plentiful in a little more than a year. Real estate appraisers say home values are beginning to be affected.

dusty1215 commented: And to think Alan Greenspan said the housing market won't affect the economy, it's doing just fine! ..silly man.
tonyh commented:

I think that when a loan company goes pancrupt, the property in default should be sold at auction and they now own it. The investors are SOL. If the loan is isngood standing, they should be sold to other companies and the procedes should go to paying off the debts. The people who make good on their mortgages still keep their homes. The people who default might be evicted by the new owners. They also might be able to renegotiate their mortgage, or work a deal to pay rent on the property......

This is how it happens today.......................Imagine that :-O

tonyh commented:

I can't feel bad for those who invested in these companies or those who borrowed more than they could afford to pay back. They BOTH did it to themselves because nothing is free...............

They say that, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is............

LINENNIS commented: Re: Neil Bush and the Taxpayer Bailout--Not only did the government have to get involved (all of us), individuals and families lost out. Remember it was a "savings" and loan scandal. My cousins in East Texas lost their life savings, $40,000, which was a chunk of change back then. They were saving in a "Savings and Loan."

Question regarding borrowers at now defunct lending houses--a couple of suggestions have been made about what might happen to them, but does anyone really know? If someone's paying their mortgage to a company that just collapsed, where does the payment go? Who issues the final "paid in full" notice? Do the borrowers get behind because of the paperwork snarl of change of address forms they have to keep up with to send in their payments?

Lin Ennis
author of Let Your Mortgage Make You Rich!
randomfactor commented:

All that generation of the Bushes were involved in questionable financial deals, and it's almost as if "someone" in the Federal Government was shielding them from prosecution.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1992/09/bushboys.html

phil84 commented: I am not 100% sure of who has more fault in this, the sub-prime lenders or the lendees. I do know that the mortgage companies are the ones that built these crazy terms of loans. Remember, the people most affected by this are the first-time home-buyers. Honestly, how many of us really knew what all the paperwork meant when buying their first house? Between the lack of knowledge and the excitement of your first home what do you expect. However the problem happens now. The loans that were once affordable have gone to ridiculous. Imagine what would happen if your 5% loan on anything be it a credit card or a house, suddenly started increasing interest rates faster than you could open the mail that tells you of the increase. Yes people should have been aware of what they were doing, but also the banks should shoulder the responsibility as well. In one form or another they are going to pay for the mis-deeds. Wouldn't it be simpler to have the questionable loans rewritten at a more stable interest rate than the skyrocketing ARM loans?
redkernhero commented: These entrepreneurs who gave us sub-prime mortgages are the same one who have made you phone bill move up fro 20 dollars to three hundred dollars and three dollar gas. Old PT Barnum was right, there is a sucker born every minute.
randomfactor commented: "...and two to take him," completes the phrase.

Dr BLT's Blog n Roll Studio : Thriving under the influence: Entry Two: There's a Meth Head to Your Madness

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:10:34 PDT

Note to the reader from the author: This is merely psychoeducational Freudian fiction, so please don't freak!

Dear Diary:

Well, all of these drunken binges have been sort of sapping my energy, so I had a little white crunch for breakfast this morning. Of course knowing how aggressive that amp can be on the old tooth enamel and gums, I brushed a little more intensely with my electric tooth brush. I've been playing Boston music all night, in honor of Brad Delp, lead singer of the band, who died young like so many rock stars, and like my hero, Edgar Allan Poe.

Of course my goal is to thrive under the influence, just like Poe. And there's nothing like a little buzzard dust to keep that thrive jive alive, if you know what I'm saying. I did about an eightball and I'm good to go for a few days here without slowing down. And I only snort the pure stuff---la glass, pure with no cuts. It's the Cadillac of the whacked, and that's all I'm driving these days. This stuff is kind of like my dopplelganger---like the one in Poe's story William Wilson. I'm indefatigable, at least when I don't drink too much, and so is the amp within me. It's a meth metaphor for "me." It mimics, and amplifies my natural proclivity towards limitlessness, fueled by an unstoppable drive.

Sure, I'm aware of the changes this may produce in my brain. I'm aware of the high-resolution MRI brain scans UCLA brain researcher Paul Thompson used to compare the brains of 22 chronic meth users and 21 non-users. I know my brain's inflammed, but the fire has my senses sizzling. And I intend to crash and burn like Poe did, and like Kurt Cobain did, not simply fade away, like the average pathetic Joe Blow out there in conventional society.

And sure, my brain will shrink a little, but I don't agree with his assertion that the same areas of a brain on meth will be impacted as the ones impacted in Alzheimer's patients. I've got an extra large memory capacity, so even if I lose some of it, there is plenty more to go around. And I believe everything that is eaten by this drug will someday return from the long vacation it has been on----and what a fun vacation this will be! My bag is packed with whack and I'm ready for a long, fast trip.

And yes, I'm aware of those neruoscientific studies conducted by Thompson's colleague, Edythe London. i read that while tweaking, while thriving under the influence so I absorbed every bit of it. She's got an axe to grind, and as far as I'm concerned, she can sick those PET scans where the sun don't shine.

Positron emission tomography is a feeble tool at best. I don't believe there is any difference between the way my glucose is processed compared with those 18 non-abusing nerds she used as a comparison group. I'm different than those other 17 meth heads she included. They may have shown a down-regulation of the pre-frontal cortex, but they were probably a bunch of losers to begin with----trailer trash with no education. If you've got more going into the trip, you're left with more when you reach your final destination.

I'm in control here. I control my behavior, not the drug, or the pre-frontal cortex involved in controlling the behavior of the average cat on the street. They say this pre-fronal cortext also regulates that area of the lower brain known as the amygdala and that the amygdala is responsible for emotion. That would suggest that the drug is speaking here and not myself. I beg to differ. I control my behavior, and I control my emotion. I'm tempted to be afraid, for example, and that message is probably stemming from my amygdala, but I stop the amygdala right in its tracks and face my fear head on.

And I've been warned that I'm headed for a crash, but the blues aren't going to stop me either. I know------what goes up must come down. But if my amagdala ever tells me to feel hopeless about my situation, I will simply either dust myself off and pick myself up on my own, or I will do a little more ice ice baby.

Sure, I've incurred a few debts, but I'll pay them off with a little gambling, just like Poe did when he was strapped for cash. I'm good at gambling even when I'm not amped up. Just think how sharp I'll be while I'm thriving under the influence. It's like that old R&B song goes: "Ain't no stopping us now, we're on the move..." My every move has a smooth groove and there ain't no stopping me. I'm unsinkable and invincible.

And if this breakfast of champions ever gets the best of me, I'll just enlist in the US army, just like Poe did, after he published his first volume of verse, Tamerlane and other poems way back in 1827. Poe, you rock my world!

Let's go, Poe. I'm The Raven with the cravin' and I'm outa here!

Digesting the Diary:

Now, here are a few questions to help you further digest what you've just read:

1. Rodney "The Raven" Redburn is identifying with Poe in order to:

a. Support a grandiose delusion.

b. In order to rationalize his drug habit.

c. In order to draw from Poe's singular ability to turn adversity into grist for the creative mill.

d. All of the above

2. Paul Thompson drew upon high resolution MRI _____________ to compare the brains of 22 chronic meth uses with those of non-users.

3. Thomspon's results indicate that:

a. Meth users had inflamed brains.

b. Meth users had shrunken brains.

c. Damage to the brains of meth heads were similar to damage found in Alzheimer's patients.

d. Meth heads manifested marked improvements in memory due to the simulation-related effects of the drug.

e. All of the above.

d. None of the above.

e. All of the above except D.

4. UCLA Neuroscientist Edythe London found that circuits in the brain that are associated with the pre-frontal cortex are down-regulated in meth heads. T or F?

5. The pre-frontal cortex is responsible for controlling behavior, and...

a. emotion via the amygdala

b. memory via the hippocampus

c. both of the above

d. neither of the above

Comments:
misty1 commented: You seem to be trying to convince yourself more than us of how you are fine and will be fine in the future. You say you have more brain cells to waist away in comparison to the "trailer trash" and if this where truly the case then why do you chose to blow your money and life away on a meaningless head trip? I don't think the ARMY would accept someone who has this kind of attitude. if you have such a great mind and have this knowledge then why not use it and get a good job to better yourself. Maybe you should join the ARMY they may straighten your act up.
blognroll commented:

Misty is not my mother. My mother is meth, and my father is Poe. I know she means well, but I mean to carry out my plan to thrive under the influence and nobody is going to slow me down.

The Raven with the Cravin'

tambo323 commented: Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself more than us that you are in control. That is a pure sign of someone that has lost control. I see that you plan to carry out your plan to thrive under the influence and no one is going to slow you down have you stopped to think how that affects your loved ones and I hope you aren't driving during one of your trips because it might be me or your loved one you kill.
blognroll commented:

I wish everyone would just leave me alone. My drug usage is strictly experimental. I'm experimenting with the hypothesis that I will be able to thrive under the influence, and, so far, I'm thriving folks. Believe it, or not, I'm thriving.

Please give up the advice. You all just wish you could use drugs and thrive like me. I don't need any more therapists. I'm in therapy already. I've only had one session, and I'm already sick of my shrink. I don't need any more advice from anybody else. When you all finally see me survive, just like Poe did, you will all have to think twice about your advice.

blognroll commented: Don't let "anonymous" here discourage you. He can use all the advice you can give him, as long as it's good, thoughtful advice and it's delivered in a way that will not drive him further into his defenses.
Charlie commented: Every Meth Head I've ever come in contact with thought that everybody in the universe was screwed up but them.
randomfactor commented: I met one who knows it was her fault. The realization didn't seem to help her any.
ejcramer commented: Okay Rodney since you "seem to know" and believe that you will be exempt from all the damages that meth can do to your brain, let's talk about what you might not know. If you want to continue being a speed freak and use the dummy dust then prepare yourself to resemble the crank addicted character Chris Rock portrays in "New Jack City". You know the famous line in which he begs another man to do you know what just for some crank. Get ready for cracked lips, skin rashes, and sores from scratching. Once the toxins build up under your skin, bumps known as "speed bumps" will begin to appear all over your skin. Instead of calling you "the raven", you will be called "crank crater" which describes the sores on your face caused by meth. With extended use, you will experience toxic psychosis and chemically induced schizophrenia...you'll really have horror tales to write about like Poe did. You'll probably forget all about Poe after a while since your brain will shrink and your memory will eventually decline. You will soon lose interest in all normal activities, including sleep, sex, eating and drinking. Continue on and you will be moody, nervous, agitated, irritable, and display aggressive behaviors. Not to mention, this "tina" you love so much can lead to kidney failure, liver and lung failure, brain toxicity, permanent brain damage, and heart disease ( talk about a "tell-tale heart"). If the speed doesn't keep you up all night or all week, the constant muscle spasms, excessive cramping, excessive alertness and mental confusion sure will. I could go on but I don't have all night, plus none of this could possibly happen to you, right? I know I may sound harsh, but I'm trying to warn you before you go on to live a short and tragic life and die at the age of 40 like Poe. He suffered greatly which is what I see in you, suffering slowly trying to hide it and numb the pain. I suggest you continue seeing Dr. Rockwell, your therapist, you have nothing to lose.
brucelee commented: Rodney,
It's obvious that the scientific evidence presented to you has little effect on your rationalization of using meth. So let's look at this from some other angles. First, let's examine what we really know about Edgar Allen Poe. Accounts of his alcoholism are not entirely conclusive. Some say he drank only in periods of life in which he was dealing with stress. Other claim he was a man who could in fact not handle his drinking habits, and thus his alcoholism was to blame for the never having lived up to what appeared to be his potential as a scholar. What we really know is that these accounts come from other people's perceptions, and a few from him. But if he was drinking, how reliable of a source is he in determining how badly his drinking problem affected him? Second, I am concerned about the sudden change in tone in your writing and comments. Your presentation on this issue seems a bit urgent and defensive, yet it has a sense of being superhuman to it. I fear that you may also be grappling with another type of illness. Your words seem manic, and I would like you to please consider the possibility of having Bipolar Disorder. It is characteristic of people with Bipolar to also suffer from addictions and self-medicate. In addition, they tend to have an irrational sense of being superhuman. You seem fixated with the idea that you will transcend the consequences of prolonged drug use. My suggestion is that you seek the assistance of a professional who can determine what is driving your substance abuse. Please consider this well. Remember, that these studies you quoted make generalizations that look to find consistencies between patients. They do not necessarily consider the individual experiences and backgrounds of each patient. What that means is, yes, your brain will swell and you will experience memory loss. The extent of this damage will depend a lot on your lifestyle, emotional state, and any physiological predisposition you had for brain dysfunction prior to taking drugs and drinking. Did those studies mention any of that? Where you end up next week from a psychological perspective may depend a lot on whether or not you already had a mental illness, genetics, stress level, and even the kinds of needles you use. Think it through.

BLee
jbgage commented: Rowdy Rodney Raven -

It appears as though your life is going great! At least that's what you would like to believe. I see that you know the information and some of the reasons why you should definitely not go down the path you've chosen. However, you distance yourself from this information and appear to have somewhat of a "superiority complex" by believing that you're immune and the others in the studies were just "trailer trash" or something. Wake up and smell the methadone! You've got a problem.

It seems as though your alcoholic and drug behavior is being reinforced by a secondary underlining problem. From your two entries, I believe that you may have a Borderline Personality Disorder. This would explain your thought process. Additionally, you are using the substance abuse to mask (and cope) with your BPD. Developmentally speaking, you may have suffered some abuse or trauma that had predisposed this disorder to manifest in this way. In a study done by Dr. Torgerson, he found that enhanced amygdala activation in BPD has been identified as reflecting the intense and slowly subsiding emotions commonly observed in BPD in response to even low-level stressors.

Luckily for you, Raven, there is a number of therapeutic treatment options, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychotherapy and even medication. I hope you begin to realize that, like Poe, you are lucky to be alive under the influence and still far from striving under the influence.

Good luck and next time... it shall be Raven without the Cravin'

jbgage
tambo323 commented: I feel like you are reaching out for help but do not want to give up the illusion. I think brucelee, jbgage, and ejcramer have brought up very good points but at this point you probably already know this and our tired of everyone nagging you so you become defensive. So maybe you just need someone to listen and not judge?
nhubbert commented: What is it that you're ultimately looking for? It sounds like you have convinced yourself that you're in control and that life is just one big party!!! So if you're aware of all these negative effects that meth can have on your system, why don't you do something about it? Do you want help or not? or are you satisfied waking up every morning eating what you call the breakfast of champions? If it support you seek, there is help available. Otherwise, ROCK on..............

There is a Chance: (Well except for the gay ones. The gay ones are immoral)

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:22:53 PDT

We’ll give him a hearty welcome then..

Hurrah, hurrah.

(Well except for the gay ones. The gay ones are immoral)

Onward Christian soldiers..

General pace says:

Pace tells newspaper that homosexuality is immoral

TK says:

So should America require that only moral Christians fight for the rights of those that are gay?

Please read the following.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17590518/

Comments:
tkozy commented:

It makes me wonder. How in the heck do they get as far as they do.

robbwillis commented: Homophobia is never going to go away, but the really puzzling part is a male objecting to lesbians in the armed forces. What's up with that?
tkozy commented:

Robb says:

What's up with that?

TK says:

What part of immoral don’t you understand?

Immorality is only allowed on the ‘Wall’ in Nuremburg. And in that case it is only the ‘hookers’ that are immoral. The straight servicemen are just horney.

sfinboston52 commented:

IF we plan on judging people to go fight and kill people based on if they are moral or not means we are going to have a very very small military. If we are using Morals...then lets use and judge everyone by the same code. Lets look at people's credit rating, history of employement, how many marriages, are they living w/ someone, do they drink, smoke, lie, cheat etc etc etc.

I know to DEA agents who are have served time in Irqa and have said thaty they know gay people who have served and felt those people were just as respected as everyone else. Both have said they never worried about what the guys were thinking, they were all thinking the same thing ..."I got a job to do here and I got to stay alive, and make sure my buddies stay alive".

robbwillis commented:

tkozy,

I think you may have misunderstood my post, but I can't be sure after reading yours. Nevertheless, I believe we're on the same side of this issue.

tkozy commented:

Creating controversy sets the stage for a better solution.

Causing someone to think. Is a honorable adventure.

CarLozano commented:

I have a question...Why is it that when someone doesn't agree with the a lifestyle they are "homophobic"?

Because we do live in a free country, gays and lesbians have the right to live as the choose. So isn't it someones right to choose not to like that lifestyle?

I understand that sexual orientation is genetically predisposed, however it doesn't mean it has to be accepted. Pedophiles don't chose to like kids, yet it's ok to loath them, as I do. Because I don't like to see men kiss doesn't make me a homophobe, I CHOSE not to like that lifestyle!!!!

tkozy commented:

Annoy

Imagine a mother naming her child Mike. Then when the child grows older. The mother tells the child, that all children named Mike are immoral. I knew you would be immoral. So I named you Mike when you were born.

This is the same relationship Gen. Pace has with his gay troops.

What is unacceptable in the Generals situation. Is that he will not refuse the service of gay troops. He will not deny them the right to die for their country. But he refuses to accept them as honorable human beings.

What I would like to ask the General, is the following:

Is there any circumstance involving heroism. That you could award one of your immoral gay troops.

The Medal of Honor.

robbwillis commented: Being uncomfortable seeing men kiss makes you a hetrosexual, not a homophobe. Getting angry when seeing men kiss makes for a homophobe.
sfinboston52 commented: I know several st8 men who are not uncomfortable when I and my spouse kiss. My brother in-law sure doesnt have a problem and even my co-works dont, who have seen my kiss my husband as we head our individual ways on the subway each day.
tkozy commented:

I am straight. I am as open minded as most.

I do not get offended when I see women kiss or hold hands.

I do feel uncomfortable when I see men do the same.

I also feel women are more openly compassionate and caring by nature.

I treat my son differently than my daughters. Such as taking my son fishing. (My daughter has not enjoyed fishing since she turned 13)

I am Lutheran and can not understand the point in praying to the Virgin Mary.

I mow my own yard so I don’t have to pay a gardener.

I mow my own yard so I don’t have to spring for membership to a gym.

I can not make up my mind as to why I mow my own yard.

I am different and tolerant.

sfinboston52 commented: I hated yard work, so live in condo, gym membership/workout takes my mind off work and sometimes helps me resolve project problems.
tkozy commented:

sfin says:

gym membership/workout takes my mind off work and sometimes helps me resolve project problems.

TK says:

But it doesn't get the project done.

robbwillis commented:

I don't mind being uncomfortable seeing men kiss. The feeling passes as quickly as the kiss does with no lingering uncomfortableness. It's certainly nothing to fear, like say, public speaking.

I don't know if it's still there, but there was a gay bar on the bottom floor of that Bakersfield hotel that used to have the missle on its roof. Wifey and I were invited to join some others there once and it was a fun place. You might even say it was gay in the old-fashion sense of the word...

I guess homophobia is in the eye of the beholder. The people I've known of that ilk have seemed normal up until they surprise you with some wide-eyed, venom-filled diatribe against gays.

CarLozano commented:

robb, doesn't "phobe" mean fear? I have no fear of gay men. I know it's not contagious. I have no problem with gay/lesbians, I do however have a problem with being called a homophobe because I don't like it in my face. As far as I am concerned gay/lesbians have as much right to do what they want, It's a free country and they have as much right to enjoy that freedom as anyone. But, Its also my right to not want to be around it. Just like I chose to not be around drug addicts. ( I know it's a different extreme, but you get the jist).

dusty1215 commented: Technically, no..phobe means: one fearing or averse to (something specified) from Webster..so it merely means your averse to something..not necessarily fearful.

If you, anon, don't like to hear homophobe to your face..how do you think gays feel when someone calls them the 'f'' word to their face and threaten violence? Not saying that is you..just making a connection.
randomfactor commented:

"Phobe" means fear or irrational avoidance, as in hydrophobia, the old name for rabies.

It's also the gay's right not to be around blatant displays of heterosexual affection. It's a free country and they have as much right to enjoy that freedom from seeing different-sex couples kiss, hold hands, etc. Or you can all just get over it. You don't have to like it, but you *DO* have to tolerate it. There's a vast difference. I can't stand liver--but I'm not campaigning to have it removed from restaurant menus.

I used to be in favor of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"--but anything that keeps *ANYONE* from having to serve in Iraq these days has its good points. Just how much gay sex does it *TAKE* to get you sent back to the US, I wonder?

dusty1215 commented: Over 10,000 military personnel have been discharged since the law went into effect. I have no idea what the breakdown is for the "Iraq" era.
dusty1215 commented: Barry Goldwater..who has been gone quite awhile..had this to say about gays in the military.
dusty1215 commented: And, here are some statistics about gays in the military:

Research demonstrates that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is harming military readiness.
A.) DADT is costing the military valuable, mission critical personnel. This policy has lead to the discharge of over 10,000 service members in the last ten years[xii] with 653 in 2004 alone.[xiii] The GAO reports 757 of individuals discharged from 1994-2003 were in "critical operations."[xiv] 730 discharged service individuals had intelligence-related occupations.[xv] Another 322 people were translators fluent in foreign languages critical to the War on Terrorism, such as Arabic, Farsi, and Korean.[xvi] 41% of those discharged from "critical operations" positions had 30 or more months of service.[xvii] 38% of those with intelligence-related occupations had over 30 months of service.[xviii] Moreover, the number of service members lost due to this policy is much greater because many qualified and experienced gay service members choose not to re-enlist rather than serving with the DADT policy. [xix]

Its also prudent to add..that only the U.S and Turkey have laws about gays in the military..its a safe bet that our allies in Iraq have gays in service in Iraq and they don't have to hide it, unlike the U.S.
randomfactor commented: CNN (I think) had a piece this morning indicating that exactly the same arguments (unit cohesiveness, morale) were made against allowing blacks to serve in the military, as gays. Not surprising--the same arguments used against same-sex marriage are recycled from use against interracial marriage...
dusty1215 commented: Goldwater mentions that I think random.
sfinboston52 commented:

Also today, this is what GOP Senator wrote in the Washington Post

As a lifelong Republican who served in the Army in Germany, I believe it is critical that we review -- and overturn -- the ban on gay service in the military. I voted for "don't ask, don't tell." But much has changed since 1993.

My thinking shifted when I read that the military was firing translators because they are gay. According to the Government Accountability Office, more than 300 language experts have been fired under "don't ask, don't tell," including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. This when even Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently acknowledged the nation's "foreign language deficit" and how much our government needs Farsi and Arabic speakers. Is there a "straight" way to translate Arabic? Is there a "gay" Farsi? My God, we'd better start talking sense before it is too late. We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war.

In today's perilous global security situation, the real question is whether allowing homosexuals to serve openly would enhance or degrade our readiness. The best way to answer this is to reconsider the original points of opposition to open service.

First, America's views on homosexuals serving openly in the military have changed dramatically. The percentage of Americans in favor has grown from 57 percent in 1993 to a whopping 91 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds surveyed in a Gallup poll in 2003.

Military attitudes have also shifted. Fully three-quarters of 500 vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan said in a December Zogby poll that they were comfortable interacting with gay people. Also last year, a Zogby poll showed that a majority of service members who knew a gay member in their unit said the person's presence had no negative impact on the unit or personal morale. Senior leaders such as retired Gen. John Shalikashvili and Lt. Gen. Daniel Christman, a former West Point superintendent, are calling for a second look.

Second, 24 nations, including 12 in Operation Enduring Freedom and nine in Operation Iraqi Freedom, permit open service. Despite controversy surrounding the policy change, it has had no negative impact on morale, cohesion, readiness or recruitment. Our allies did not display such acceptance back when we voted on "don't ask, don't tell," but we should consider their common-sense example.

Third, there are not enough troops to perform the required mission. The Army is "about broken," in the words of Colin Powell. The Army's chief of staff, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, told the House Armed Services Committee in December that "the active-duty Army of 507,000 will break unless the force is expanded by 7,000 more soldiers a year." To fill its needs, the Army is granting a record number of "moral waivers," allowing even felons to enlist. Yet we turn away patriotic gay and lesbian citizens.

The Urban Institute estimates that 65,000 gays are serving and that there are 1 million gay veterans. These gay vets include Capt. Cholene Espinoza, a former U-2 pilot who logged more than 200 combat hours over Iraq, and Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, who lost his right leg to an Iraqi land mine. Since 2005, more than 800 personnel have been discharged from "critical fields" -- jobs considered essential but difficult in terms of training or retraining, such as linguists, medical personnel and combat engineers. Aside from allowing us to recruit and retain more personnel, permitting gays to serve openly would enhance the quality of the armed forces.

In World War II, a British mathematician named Alan Turing led the effort to crack the Nazis' communication code. He mastered the complex German enciphering machine, helping to save the world, and his work laid the basis for modern computer science. Does it matter that Turing was gay? This week, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said that homosexuality is "immoral" and that the ban on open service should therefore not be changed. Would Pace call Turing "immoral"?

Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that "gay" is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman's on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. It says little about the person. Our differences and prejudices pale next to our historic challenge. Gen. Pace is entitled, like anyone, to his personal opinion, even if it is completely out of the mainstream of American thinking. But he should know better than to assert this opinion as the basis for policy of a military that represents and serves an entire nation. Let us end "don't ask, don't tell." This policy has become a serious detriment to the readiness of America's forces as they attempt to accomplish what is arguably the most challenging mission in our long and cherished history.

The writer was a Republican senator from Wyoming from 1979 to 1997.

How do you argue w/ this logic.

robbwillis commented: I miss Alan Simpson. He was a lot of fun to have in the Senate.
blognroll commented: There is no such thing as a moral Christian. The Bible teaches us that we are all immoral, that our "righteousness" is as "filthy rags," and that we all need the blood of Christ to cover our sins and to "cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
randomfactor commented: I believe Mark Twain defined an ethical or moral man as a "Christian holding four aces."
blognroll commented:

The only winning hand the Christian has been dealt is the nail-pierced hand of Jesus Christ. For without the blood of Christ, the Christian has no claim whatsoever to righteousness.

randomfactor commented: That's the problem with Christianity, BLT.
blognroll commented: It's a big problem. But the problem is not with Christianity. It is with those who become Christians, and then forget how they received their salvation. People forget why they're saved and begin to think they had something to do with it. There's nothing anyone can do to earn or deserve it. It's a free gift and nobody should ever forget it.
antiextremism commented:

Whoever thinks gays shouldn't be in the military never heard of these guys......

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lEWwp3rxwyQ

tkozy commented:

Or these! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qj76gNX30Q

randomfactor commented:

I repeat, that's the problem with Christianity. A very simple and important message--love thy neighbor as thyself--got hidden in all sorts of mystical trappings to "sell" the product to people who, because of their previous beliefs, came to expect supernatural answers.

The "supernatural" aspects shut down the critical thinking aspects of the brain. Then they pass the collection plate...

woofwoof commented:

RF, Ah, you read my golden rule post on another thread ?

randomfactor commented:

Just went back and looked at it. My one addition is Heinlein's rule, "Don't treat your neighbor as you would want to be treated--his tastes may not be the same as yours."

paxchristi3 commented: Amen!

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback is backing the Pentagon’s top general over his remarks that homosexual acts are immoral.
The Kansas senator planned to send a letter on Thursday to President Bush supporting Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who earlier this week likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs also said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune: “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.”
Lawmakers of both parties criticized the remarks, but Brownback’s letter called the criticism “both unfair and unfortunate.”
“We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues,” Brownback said. “In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views.”
Asked whether he agreed with Pace’s comments, Brownback said: “I do not believe being a homosexual is immoral, but I do believe homosexual acts are. I’m a Catholic and the church has clear teachings on this.”
dusty1215 commented: Gen Pace's personal opinion of homosexuals is no one's business. Neither is it our business how any other member of the administration or Congress feel about gays. Its how a member of Congress votes on the issues. You can be against homosexuality but still support gay rights. Pace was hired to enforce the DADT law..not wax poetic about his personal opinions. He even apologized for giving his personal opinions the next day..as well he should.
randomfactor commented:

Stating that the sun revolves around the earth is also a "clear teaching," Pax. And a wrong one. Pace is entitled to hold incorrect opinions, even strong ones--but he's not entitled to act on them in his official capacity.

I sure hope Brownback, after losing the Republan nomination, runs on his own for the Presidency as an independent. The more ways the Republan vote can be split, the better. The next President of the US will reverse DADT in favor of something that makes sense.

tkozy commented:

What I would like to ask the General, is the following:

Is there any circumstance involving heroism. That you could award one of your immoral gay troops.

The Medal of Honor.

tonyh commented:

I agree with General Pace.........................(I'll play along)

RF, your arguement about the sun revolving around the earth makes about as much sense as the following:

YOU can believe that the Earth is flat, but that doesn't make it so........NAAA, NAAA, NA, NAAA NAAA!................That's about how silly your arguement sounds.

By your comment "Pace is entitled to hold incorrect opinions, even strong ones--but he's not entitled to act on them in his official capacity." it's obvious that you know nothing of the way the Military is structured. I hate to be the one to tell you, but ......Oh Yes he does. In his official capacity, he has every right, duty and obligation, and there's nothing that YOU or I can do to change that.. The Military isn't a democracy. It never has been, and never will be.

dusty1215 commented: His official capacity is to uphold the DADT law. Thats it. Whether or not it conflicts with his personal views doesn't matter one iota. That folks, is why I say his personal POV doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how Alberto Gonzalez feels about gays either..just as long as he does his job according to the laws..like hate crimes, etc.

Hillary was asked the same question by ABC..and she refused to answer it, pointing her to voting record. She was obviously smarter than Pace in that regard.
tkozy commented:

Well Tony, Let me ask you.

What if someone thought of another as being less moral. Someone not deserving of full respect. Thought of, as being of less value than others.

Now let’s consider the consequences, if this individual with particular moral beliefs, was in charge.

In a position in which he could decide the fate of an individual.

A position that set the odds for a persons ability to live for another 24 hours.

Do you think that there is a possibility that positions or tasks might be assigned with regards to those personal beliefs, standards and morality.

No matter the level of honor a person might assign to himself.

Isn’t there a problem of perception, once one of authority, makes broad statements about the immorality of members of the organization he is in charge of.

tonyh commented:

Dusty,

In his official capacity, .............He IS the law, for all personnel who report up through his command.

TK,

I refuse to play the "What If" game with you. It is what it is.

I can see that nobody has ever (not even your Parents) introduced you to an Autocratic way of life, or you'd understand. The Military is an Autocratic Society.....PERIOD!

tkozy commented:

Wrong,

Spent over seven years in the Army. In leadership positions.

And in the true sense of the word. The military is not Autocratic.

A ruler having unlimited power; a despot.

A person with unlimited power or authority: a corporate autocrat.

In fact a person in charge in one situation. May have to relinquish power in another..

The specialist and Warrant officer ranks VS. the Hard Stripe ranks make perfect examples.

In fact there are situations in which someone of higher authority, must ask a persons permission to merely touch them.

There are situations in which one of higher authority, even with permission. Can not touch another trooper.

Being a member of the military does not require one to give up the right to self defense.

Being in the military does not give one the right to obey unlawful orders.

You get the picture..

dusty1215 commented: tony, how is his personal opinion important when it comes to upholding the law..such as DADT? Plenty of people must uphold laws that they don't personally agree with.
tonyh commented:

Hey TK,

I'm afraid you're a little hosed up there. This guy is a Marine Corps General. He's not a "Specialist or Warrant". I also said "In his official capacity, .............He IS the law, for all personnel who report up through his command." .............Should I use smaller words?

Dusty,

In a Military Command situation, the person at the top of the food chain issues orders, based on what they think is right or wrong. You know that, in the Navy, one official Female uniform incorporates Trousers and Skirt. By the Navy Regulations, either is acceptable. I've actually been in commands that disallowed trousers for the Female Working-dress uniform. The Commanding Officer decided that women should wear a skirt in the offices. It was a standing order.

I was in another command where the CO decided that men were not allowed to shave with electric razors. Somehow, he thought that they didn't provide an acceptably close shave. This was also a standing order.

I could go on and on...............When you hold a Command position, YOU ARE THE LAW for everybody in your direct command structure.

tkozy commented:

Tony says:

Should I use smaller words?

TK says:

No, Just think through your comments a bit more. Even in Pace’s case, there is a number of individuals that reign control over him. One of the most unfortunate consequences of the Bush regime. Is that the military’s top leadership have assumed the roll of sheep.

Do I need to list a link to the chain of command for you..

No part of American government is autocratic. It was purposely designed that way.

Even with the power over the military provided to the President. There are constitutional checks and balances on him or her also..

How do you think ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ ever made it into the rule books. It was not welcomed with open arms by military leadership I will assure you.

randomfactor commented:

Tony, what would happen to a Commanding Officer who issued official orders that the earth was flat, and that no one believing in the "round-earth" theory could remain in his command? How would his situation change if he explained that he was following the moral precepts of his religion? How about if he refused to send ships to a particular location because "they would fall off the edge"?

tonyh commented: RF,
Your arguement is silly and doesn't even apply.
randomfactor commented:

But what would happen to an officer who did such a thing? Why, if his rule is absolute?

If you want a closer analogy, what would happen to a commanding officer who implemented a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy keeping blacks out of his unit unless they could "pass?"

tkozy commented:

Tony,

I guess mine must be really bad.

You never even bothered a reply.

blognroll commented:

Jesus said that if a man looks at another woman with lust in his heart, he has committed adultery. Therefore, he is, by definition, become immoral. That would make virtually every member of the military immoral, and therefore, unfit for duty.

Jesus did not point this out to reinforce a perfectionistic standard, but to point out the absurdity of any man or woman claiming to be righteous in and of him/herself, and without the atonement of a redemptive, divine act of forgiveness.

If one is making policy decisions that are based on his/her faith as a Christian, then he/she, to be intellectually honest, and scripturally consistent, must acknowledge that apart from the redemptive power of the blood of Christ, no man, or woman has any claim to being a moral being. I understand that as it pertains to the realities unique to the military environment, this is a complex phenomenon, but the fate of the "don't ask/don't tell" policy must not be determined by those who pretend they have never sinned. Jesus said to those prepared to throw stones at the woman caught in adultery: "Let him who has never sinned cast the first stone."

So if one person is to get stoned, then Bob Dylan was right in asserting in a song:

"Everybody must get stoned!"

tkozy commented:

There is a Chance: Not young or pretty enough. Besides she has cancer. 'The Newt'

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:03:28 PDT

Newt says:

"She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of the President. And besides, she has cancer."^[7] He refused to pay alimony or child support",

In 1962, Gingrich married Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher, when he was 19 years old; she was seven years his senior at 26 years old.^[5] They had two daughters together.

Gingrich divorced Jackie Battley in 1980. Battley has charged that Gingrich discussed the terms of their divorce settlement while she was in the hospital after cancer surgery.^[6] According to L.H. Carter, his campaign treasurer, Newt said of Battley: "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of the President. And besides, she has cancer."^[7] He refused to pay alimony or child support.^[8]

Gingrich marries Callista Bisek August 2000

Gingrich married Marianne Ginther in late 1981.^[9] Marianne was quoted in a 1995 article in Vanity Fair as saying: "I don't want him to be president and I don't think he should be."^[10] They divorced in 1999, the same year Gingrich had an affair with a then 33-year old member of his Congressional staff, Callista Bisek, whom he married the next year.^[11] Gingrich's affair was taking place at the same time that he was condemning President Bill Clinton for lying (under oath) about his own affair with staffer Monica Lewinsky. Newt Gingrich did not discuss his own affair until March, 2007. While Gingrich admits his behavior was not to his moral standards, he differentiates his experiences from Clinton's by noting that Clinton was being impeached not for his sexual behavior, but for lying under oath. According to several newspaper editorials, the electability of Gingrich for president is questionable on a Republican party ticket — with a party that emphasizes family values and Christianity as some of their strongest assets. ^[12] However, recently Newt Gingrich has been quoted saying "There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards."^[13] He also said the following:

"There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them...I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm ... not proud of."

Reverend Jerry Falwell, a leader among Christian Conservatives, believes that Gingrich has "genuinely [sought] forgiveness"

In August 2000, Gingrich married Bisek. Gingrich resides in Virginia with Bisek, who appears with him on the back cover of his book "Winning the Future".^[14]

The Gingrich family includes two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich

Comments:
JustAThought commented: LIKE WHO CARES??????????????????????????????????????
tkozy commented:

People of honor.

People with family values.

Registered voters.

robbwillis commented: Politics makes for strange bedfellows, they say. The religious right may forgive him for his past personal life since, otherwise, he's their perfect candidate, but I don't think the country is in the mood for another president that feels his decisions are blessed by a higher power.
tkozy commented:

Newt says:

"There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them...I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm ... not proud of."

TK says:

So what makes his decision making process any different than Jr.’s?

woofwoof commented: I doubt he'll ever be president.....I just wonder how women like this, don't see the err of their ways. If you are the "other woman", there'll be more other woman.... He's a Mor with an "H"...
tkozy commented:

The ex-first lady

The other women first lady.

The other woman to the other woman first lady..

coochee commented: He's just another typical terd in the Repooplican Party
dusty1215 commented: Between Newt, Rudy G and Weathervane McCain..they have a total of 8 marriages between them

Between Edwards, Obama and ol Hill a total of 3 marriages..

Who is the party of Family values again?
coochee commented: Oh that Rudy is a sweet one too, letting his wife find out in a press conference that he was dumping her. What the Hell is wrong with these people?
antiextremism commented: C'mon you guys, he is the standard for Neocon values. Remember when he went after Clinton pretty hard for Monica. Can you say .......hypocrite of the highest order???
dusty1215 commented: anti..and Coo..we must remember with 'these guys'..its do as I say..not as I do :)
Waynewars commented: Its a good thing we build our houses out of wood and not GLASS... May be we should give them rocks it would be more intertaining to watch Cspan.
antiextremism commented:

Americans are tame Wayne. Watch other countries politicians for real entertainment......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beI0R8_zREk

blognroll commented: If he uttered these words, that would certainly seem cruel and insensitive at the very least. Sometimes divorce can bring out a person's ugly side and things are said that should never be said. Some of his words could have been distorted or taken out of context. On the other hand, he can come across as smug and arrogant, and sports a conspicuous smurk. It's a shame, because I consider him to be extremely intelligent. If he humbles himself, he will make a great leader.
tkozy commented:

When has the most powerful position in the world, ever humbled a man?

blognroll commented:

You have a point there.

Words for/of the day . . .: Today's Word is . . . .

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:25:33 PDT

WHAT ?!
Have you seen those MOr furniture comercials ? Is that chick fake or what? Uh hum!
And the Miles Muzio one's with all the dumb questions, really wqho cares about the fog?

Comments:
woofwoof commented:

I haven't seen the new Mor commercial (yet)...

And you'd care about the fog, if you had to drive in it!

NancyII commented:

Actually Sun...some people ARE curious about things like the fog. Just because you aren't doesn't mean you should bash others for it.

As for the MOR commercials...that gal doesn't matter much..what matters is that they are on constantly shouting "only 72 hours left" about a deal that is ONGOING and will be forEVER! You never have to pay interest or payments there..if this 72 hours runs out, hang on a minute because the next 48 is coming up. They're mostly annoying because they are on every 5 minutes. With what they pay in advertising you'd think they'd go broke.

JustAThought commented: Hey the deals at MOR are great. I could care less about their advertisements if I can save money. Anyone care to comment on other furniture stores and saving money. I am new to the area and in need of furniture. Thanks!
robbwillis commented: I hear they're changing their name to accomodate their new spokesperson. Won't be expensive, though, just substituting the 'M' with an 'H'.
woofwoof commented: H......hahahahha....
CarLozano commented: wow rob...why are you so harsh? What makes her a Hor? Did you get turned down by a gal that looked like her, surely there are deeper reasons for your hostility.
robbwillis commented:

Actually, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing their latest commercial since I moved behind the Redwood Curtain 15 months ago. A Bakersfield friend sent me a message about their new spokesperson, though, claiming she looked very appropriate for the comment I made above.

Any continued hostility I have for the Mor Furniture company is due to the televised torture they inflicted on me for my eight years in Bakersfield. As for women turning me down, a look in the mirror every morning confirms their good taste. And if you think I was particularly harsh above, check this out: http://bakersfield.typepad.com/ask_the_californian/2005/02/more_furniture.html

CarLozano commented: Well not to be confused with someone who defends Mor, but it was you who had the choice to turn the channel when the commercial comes on. At least thats what I do.
josephschmow commented:

What deals? Mor has the highest prices of any furniture store I ever visited.

Once, of course.

robbwillis commented: Oh believe me, I did change the channel, but isn't it even just a tad annoying to have turn the channel as many times as the high frequency of Mor commercials requires? If you say they aren't run Mor often than other commercials, then things have changed since I left town.
SunSh1yn1981 commented: Did anyone else see that sign about "Pole Dancing Lessons for Fun"???

Beyond The Bag: Great deals just a click away!

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:04:32 PDT

There are some great deals that you should check out at JCPenney.com.

Click on this link: www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/OnlineOutlet.aspx

Get from 30-70% off of Bed + Bath, Women's, Men's, Kids and much more! I was looking through it and there are some really good deals! Get free shipping over $99 with promo code: ONLINEFS.

Happy Shopping!

Kari

Comments:
robbwillis commented: http://www.geocities.com/suggerpuff2000/GalaxyQuestGrabtharshammerohwhatasavings.wav

Things that interest ME: Congressman Obey rant/dialogue

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:49:27 PDT

http://blog.democrats.com/obey-dialogue

What do you folks think of his dialogue?

Comments:
tkozy commented:

It was a spirited discussion. The Congressmen indeed knows what he is talking about. Refusing funds will not help the ladies, sons ,VA care.

And the republicans have already said they will filibuster any attempt to de-fund the war..

Approving funds while specifying a end date, (declaring the war illegal after a end date), is the Bush regime nightmare.. It leaves the war in Bush regimes court. A dismal failure.

NancyII commented: Spirited huh? I guess you could call it that. :-) Gotta wonder how Liberals like being called idiots by a Democrat.
tkozy commented:

Extremist, those that dwell at the edges of the throws of the pendulum. Are not going to like the results of the 2008 elections. 2008 will see the emergence of the centrists.

Don’t expect to find the solution to the Condor extinction. Or see the Four Square Church rise to religious domination.

Your just going to waste energy and end up disappointed.

Learn to be tolerant and vote a consistent ethics of life. And our nation will do just fine.

TomW commented:

You know, Nancy, without describing what positions I think these words can be ascribed to I think we can both agree that there are idiot liberals and idiot conservatives. I think this resolution that they're trying to pass is garbage, since its effectiveness would require that the President has respect for the law. I also don't think that cutting off funding is the way to go.

I understand what Obey was saying. There are things that can be done and things that can't. The idiots on each side are the ones who demand stuff that either isn't possible at all or impossible in a real politik way. That's not to say that people shouldn't try to push the definition of possible, but demanding it of politicians can be frustrating for everyone.

NancyII commented:

"there are idiot liberals and idiot conservatives" I've been banging my shoe on the table while stating that for years. Some of us have our blinders off and some don't.

What's going to be funny is that this little tirade is going to bring comments like that from people who have practically sworn that Liberals walk on water while Conservatives are liars, cheats, amoral, and have bad breath.

Did anyone read any of the comments on the blog in the link?

tkozy commented:

Nancy, there is a slight problem with definitions here.

Many believe and associate the word liberal with the likes of Greenpeace and PETA.

When in fact they are extremists. No different that Neo Cons and Dobson on the extrimist right side..

Millions of people are proud to be called liberal or progressive. But would denounce the extremist.

The Bush regime. Beginning with his Compassionate conservative proclamation. And onto the misdeeds that led America into a unjust war. Have frustrated you and highlighted the misdeeds of a few hypocrites that have brought the conservative movement to it’s knees.

Hey, All the reports aren’t in. And the campaign is far from over. But to this point the only non adulterous republican candidate is a Mormon. Who supported gay marriage, illegal immigration, abortion and gun control.

NancyII commented:

TK>>>>"And onto the misdeeds that led America into a unjust war. Have frustrated you and highlighted the misdeeds of a few hypocrites that have brought the conservative movement to it’s knees."

I'm not sure of your meaning here. Are you saying that I'm frustrated over an unjust war? If so..you're assuming something about me that is most likely incorrect.

A little cohesiveness in this country would be refreshing but I doubt it will ever happen. Even within ones own party.

tkozy commented:

No Nancy,

I am saying that it was the lies and misdeeds that took us into a unjust war that have frustrated you and the conservative movement. (Unjust War is Pope Paul’s declaration. Not mine nor yours).

The lies that mislead America, the World and the conservative movement concerning the accomplishment of the war, are also a source of great frustration.

Nancy, don’t confuse Neo Conservative with paleo, evangelical and fiscal conservative. They are completely different animals.

TomW commented: Well Nancy, it's a well kept secret, but liberals actually can walk on water. ;)

We both know that on these blogs there are folks who feel the exact opposite as well. I can't think of anyone here who doesn't believe that some conservatives are good people. The breed of people who call themselves conservative (and Republicans for that matter) who have taken over don't seem particularly conservative or Republican to me. Unfortunately, we're stuck with the labels they give themselves.
sagefever commented: I agree with the blogers point about polite discussion,was glad to see the apology given. I also understand how it feels to go through Vietnam,and now this mess,how fustration occurs.We can not stop funding the war,we must make our government understand we need to get out,let this nation build itself.This also makes a case for appoinments, not using a chance meeting to advocate.
dusty1215 commented: I support Obey, he has always been a friend to progressive..or "librul" voters. He later apologized for his rant, but his message was clear: there has to be give and take by the Dem's including the notorious Blue Dog Dem's if they want to see the war end before a new President is in office.

Notable progressives are on both sides of this issue, David Swanson on one side and David Sirota on the other.. Everyone is passionate about wanting the end to the Iraq war..its how to get there that is dividing the Democrats.

Thats why I think we will still be there when a new President is put in office. He or she will be forced to clean up the messes left by BushCo.
TomW commented: Still waiting for the tirade against the conservatives... Anyone? Remember, it has to include conservatives having bad breath.

Where's NeoCon Savior when you need him?
TomW commented: Dusty, I like Obey too. I saw a protest on TV the other night where people were at Nancy Pelosi's house. Now, I'm all for vigorous debate, but if she's on your side for the most part, staking out her home seems really counterproductive.
dusty1215 commented: I am tired of the left eating its own on these issues. The staunchest group by far are the Blue Dogs. Those are the folks that rode to victory on the Democratic backlash against BushCo.
randomfactor commented:

Want to end the war in Iraq? Raise taxes on the top 1% of taxpayers (Bush's "base") to cover exactly every appropriations request Bush sends to the Congress.

Let him veto funding for the troops, or let the only ones profiting from this insane war pay for it. Oh, and nationalize whatever Halliburton leaves behind in the US. They're moving to Dubai so they can continue to sell to Iran.

Dusty, those who won in 2006 are pretty damned liberal on a lot of issues. There's a voter misperception (backed up by charts in a book I'm currently stuck 2/3 through) about where "liberal" falls on the political spectrum, compared with "conservative," as opposed to "Democratic" and "Republican."

TomW commented:

Me too, Dusty. While I'm not interested in the left falling into lockstep, I think a little realism is in order. The reason I think the Democrats have so many problems is that their ideas represent vast majority of the electorate on most issues. You're bound to have a lot of fragmentation when you have numbers like that. Here's a poll on Iraq: http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?"

	Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
All	23	71	6
D	4	89	7
R	50	44	6
I	22	73	5

dusty1215 commented: The Blue Dogs are not liberal..moderate on social issues..but I wouldn't call THEM liberal..the folks that voted for change..now I call THEM liberal :) (snark button on high)
dusty1215 commented: Great poll Tom..thanks for the link! random, I just posted about Halliburtons move offshore. Besides the fact that they are the point of many hearings and investigations..you bring up another good point indeed.

There is a Chance: Shriders hero Rudolf. Supports public funding for abortion..

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:31:09 PDT

Shriders hero Rudolf. Supports public funding for abortion..

Comments:
tkozy commented:

Evangelicals, Is the War in Iraq more important to you than abortion.?

A consistent ethics of life. Does not require that you choose one or the other. Both can be revolting in your heart.

tkozy commented:

You Tube site appears to be down. Try back latter.

NancyII commented:

It's probably being bombarded as we speak. I had no trouble getting there about 20 minutes ago.

(edited..scratch that..I was talking about a different youtube site. Sorry..wrong blog.)

tkozy commented: Back up now
tkozy commented:

Nancy. No comment on this video?

NancyII commented: Nope..haven't watched it yet...just got back from dinner and errands. I'll give my opinion soon though. Whatever it's about. :-)
NancyII commented: Oh no... uh uh. No way. We supply them with birth control free of charge now..so they want us to fund abortions? Not on my dime thank you very much. And before people start yelling about it I'm talking about women who use abortion for birth control or were too lazy to use birth control. Victims of rape and/or incest are a different story. I'm sort of pro choice but not pro publically funded.
tkozy commented:

Nancy says:

..so they want us to fund abortions?

Tk says:

You do understand that the ‘they’ in this video, is Shriders National hero, Rudolf Giuliani..

NancyII commented: Yup..I realize who it is..whether or not it's Shriders National Hero or not, I don't know.
tkozy commented:

Shrider says:

'There's no arguing that Giuliani is a national hero and an all-around likable guy'

http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/rightthinking/5867

randomfactor commented:

If elected, would Rudy pardon his henchman?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/03/14/2007-03-14_no_deal_kerik_says_to_plea_offer__prison-2.html

Hideous ;): Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:36:52 PDT

Your guess is as good as mine, the selection committee really made it hard on the fans this year. I’m one year removed from having four teams in the Elite 8 only to watch all four of them fall in less than forty-eight hours, probably the worst weekend of my life. Talk about high blood pressure.

I don’t care what anyone says, this is the greatest month in all of sports, and college basketball is the reason why. Roger Federer just lost his first match after 41 straight victories and I barley blinked because I was trying to figure out why Virginia Commonwealth wasn’t a number 1 seed. Again, your guess is as good as mine.

I’ve never done this, but I plan on documenting this years tournament daily with picks and semi-analysis of select games. I’ll also have coverage of, my game of the day, and just other random commentary.

On Sunday was a bitter sweet day in college basketball. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi popped their tournament cherry by taking the automatic bid away from Northwestern State in an 81-78 thriller. Roy Williams led his troops past an inspired North Carolina State team that was being pushed forward by a red coat and a limping Engin Astur. They had a late push, but wasn’t good enough and the Tar Hells won their first ACC Championship since 98.

Greg Oden University ran through Wisconson and Florida ran through Arkansas for their second consecutive SEC Championship. After the game Joakim Noah celebrated with a dance that was just as bad as Terrance Howard’s performance in Hustle & Flow. We also got to see Mr. Everything but win, Kevin Durant go for 37 and 10 in a losing effort to Kansas.

Saturday, if you were interested in the Pac-10 Championship at all, you got to see Bryce Taylor play a perfect game. He went 7 for 7 behind the arch, 4-4 inside the three-point line, and 3-3 from the free throw line. The pessimist in me wants to tell you he had two turnovers… oh yea, they destroyed a USC team that had already beaten them twice in conference play. I don’t think the Memphis championship was worth mentioning… or the UNLV one. Honestly, I just had no interest in them. If you got to see that Albany Vermont game, you were blessed to see an amazing college basketball game. Miami of Ohio earned a trip to the Tourney by a last second bank shot by Doug Penno... I don’t think he called it.

Friday, there were a bunch of blow-outs. 15 of the games on Friday were decided by double figures… A brain fart in one of the close games cost Kentucky a chance at a conference championship, and gave Wildcats’ fans another reason to complain about Tubby.

Thursday saw four games go into over time and 16 games decided by less than 10 points. It was the best day in college basketball so far. Every ACC game was a classic, including Duke being eliminated in the first round by the NC State team that would surge into the finals and eventually lose to UNC. UCLA lost to um… Cal? Where was the foul on at the end of that Clemson-Florida State game? Your guess is as good as mine. Arizona didn’t show up against Oregon, what’s new? How about Miami (12-20) winning, they beat Maryland, a team that was one of the hottest coming into Championship Week. I was confused with that one, I didn’t get an explanation on how it happened… now I know how Arte Moreno feels about this whole Gary Matthew’s Jr. thing.

Tomorrow I’ll discuss who should have been in and who should have been left out. Wednesday I’ll make my picks for Thursday’s games.

Comments:
tkozy commented:

PB says:

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

TK says:

NOT

Guess you haven’t noticed. It’s basketball season.

Heaven help us. And someone ring up Net Flix for me... ;)

antiextremism commented:

Tina! You don't like basketball???? LOL

March Madness!!!!!!! Go Bruins!!!!!!!

NancyII commented: It's ALWAYS basketball season somewhere. Doesn't that game have a start/stop point?
pbarnett commented: Right now its the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, not just any old basketball season. The NCAA Tournament is the greatest two and a half weeks in all of sports... the Superbowl is a far second behind the NCAA Tournament. This is why its the most wonderful time of the year.
tkozy commented:
JustAThought commented: The weather here in Bakersfield makes it the most wonderful time of the year for me.
antiextremism commented: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/1367/radio/wglsbbslam.wav
tkozy commented:
antiextremism commented: LOL. You better get yourself tested for Hepatitis Kozy, you're looking a little jaundiced there.
tkozy commented:
pbarnett commented: Man, you guys are childish... lol.
tkozy commented:

Watch it Bud. Just kick back and enjoy the free notoriety.

Or I’ll take my ball and go home..

tkozy commented:

PB says:

Tomorrow I’ll discuss who should have been in and who should have been left out.

TK says:

Today is tomorrow…

Where’s the report?

antiextremism commented:

Well Phil, somebody's gotta act childish for my 3 year old grandson!

Who's your favorite team, and who do ya think will survive to the final four?

pbarnett commented: Sorry I didnt get to yesterday's blog. Finals are killer.

My favorite teams are North Carolina and USC...

my final four

Maryland
Kansas
North Carolina
Texas A&M

Fired Up!: Drinking Liberally

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:13:14 PDT

In this conservative community, many Democrats and Liberals are left out of conversations. Often, left-leaning voters are forced to keep quiet because of the discomfort they may feel when expressing their different opinions.

Drinking Liberally offers an alternative to that feeling. Their Web site describes themselves as “an informal, inclusive progressive social group.”

The group provides a place for individuals to talk politics.

Drinking Liberally groups have no meeting agendas nor do they officially endorse political candidates. It’s just a place — the group recommends an inexpensive bar — where people can hang out.

Using the guidelines at drinkingliberally.org, people anywhere can get a Drinking Liberally group started. There is no fee to start or join the group.

It would be interesting to see if Bakersfield embraces this idea.

Comments:
dusty1215 commented: I belong to the chapter in another city I travel to. Its a great way to network with people you share common ideals and goals with.

As for Bako having a DL group..I am not holding my breath.
NancyII commented: There are enough people on this blog alone to start your own group. And many more who don't actively post I'd wager. You folks should give it a try..you might be surprised.
TomW commented: I used to run a yahoo group called "Any Given Tuesday" in Oakland where we'd meet up with random people and have a great time. I'll bet you could get a Drinking Liberally going in Bako. Isn't there a coffee version of this run by the KC Democrats?
CarLozano commented:

As a conservative, when I read that liberals want to gather I was reminded of something I once read " Beware of idiots in large numbers"

TomW commented: Good advice, anon. Why do you think we want to get together? ;)
ki6amd commented: Anon, what's worse is that they'll have alcohol in their system (liberal amounts too)!
Tom, I have a feeling you'll be scared after hearing what some on the FAR left really think. It may not switch you to the other side, but I think it may show you what the far left really believes. (been there, done that)
CarLozano commented: As if they needed to get rid of anymore brain cells. The problem with liberals isn't so much their views, but their inability to see whats wrong with their views.
TomW commented: Ki6, it depends on which far left you're talking about. The leftist authoritarians scare me as much as the right-wing authoritarians. The social far left isn't my cup of tea, but they also aren't going to force me into anything whereas the social right is all about enforcement. Believe me, I've met all sorts of people. The only thing I don't like in a group is forced conformity.
TomW commented: Anon, I thought that the problem with liberals was that they were intellectual elitists. Wouldn't copious amounts of alcohol help?
Shsrebel10 commented:

The only problem with liberals is that they were the first ones to notice that conservatives lost all of their brain cellls when Bush took office.

ProgressivePete2 commented: anon, I didn't think conservatives bothered with things like facts, and you know, books.
randomfactor commented:

There is a Democratic get-together, Tom--and it's at Dagny's.

Watch out! The blogger's brunch is a *TRAP!*

blognroll commented: You won't find liberals being left out of the conversation at this blog community. It is more likely that you will find conservatives in that predicament. Even moderate conservatives tend to be marginalized here. Based on Bakersfield.com, one would never know that Bakersfield was a conservative haven and a bastion of right-leaning folks.
TomW commented: C'mon Doc, we never leave you out. We may gang up on you, but we won't leave you out. :)
TomW commented: S'OK RF. You a Firefly fan?

Wash: Inara. Nice to see her again.
Zoë: So... trap?
Mal: Trap.
Zoë: Are we going in?
Mal: Oh, it ain't but a few hours out.
Wash: Yeah, but, remember the part where it's a trap?.
jasonsperber commented:

Hey now, it's an equal-opportunity trap. :) Nancy and Motopoet said they're coming--see? Room for everybody. :)

Don't forget, it's not actually at "brunch" time, so don't show up at, like, 10 in the morning looking for folks. It's 3:30 to 6.

Looking forward to talking SF t.v. with you, Tom. :)

TomW commented: Me too, Jason. Not to totally derail the thread, but did you ever get the problem solved with the outlet in your kitchen?

I think that if there were a Drinking Liberally in Bako, we could also get a nice "Blue Business" community going. (see what I did there? ;) )
blognroll commented: Tom, even when you beat up on me, it's out of "tough love," right? By the way, Jason, are conservatives allowed? :)
dusty1215 commented: Nancy is going..she surely isn't liberal.
jasonsperber commented: Doc, didn't you read my previous comment? :) So, we'll see you there?
mattloch commented: Tom, I don't quite think Random's line was from Serenity. I was thinking more like this:

jasonsperber commented: So you coming to the trap, Mattloch? :)
Crankpin commented:

Anonymous,

Clever.

However, because Bakersfield has such a large conservative base, which is the bigger group of idiots?

Crank

adampayne commented: I think a Drinking Liberally group here in town would work. As a matter of fact, I would bet drinking is common gound for people from all political vantage points.
blognroll commented: Well, Jason, that depends on what other traps I happen to fall into that day :). I do have meetings with Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Rush Limbaugh and Jerry Falwell earlier that day. Seriously, I would like to make it, but saying that I'll be there would involve a commitment. How about this? I'll try to leave my schedule open to allow for such a possibility. If I'm not physically there, I will be there in spirit.
mattloch commented: Jason, I'm going to do the same as BLT: I'll "keep my schedule open" and see if I don't forget it. A number of things outside my control can come up, so I don't want to make appointments I can't keep.
NancyII commented:

Ya know..it wouldn't matter to me if I was the only conservative at the gathering, I'd go anyway. I don't judge my company by their political affiliation because If I like someone I like them. We don't talk politics at the office for the most part so I don't even know what party my co workers belong to or if they even belong to one.

As hard as it may be for some to believe, politics are only some of the interesting things there are to talk about in this world. And my world doesn't revolve around that arena.

Sam Heath: Fred Thompson for President?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:01:18 PDT

“This business will get out of control… it’ll get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it!” If Fred Thompson decides to run for President I would advise him to use that unforgettable line he delivered in “The Hunt for Red October.” It pretty well describes the situation facing America and the rest of the world today. With all of the posturing by politicians concerning dealing with gangs, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, Iran, China, Russia, our own porous borders, problems that are obviously getting out of control because politicians don’t dare address them in reality it cannot but remind me of that line from the film. But would Fred have the courage to deliver that line in a campaign?

Fred Thompson is a likeable fellow and I just answered a survey about possible presidential candidates indicating as much. Like many others I know him better as an actor than a politician though I’m quite familiar with his voting record; but given the “acting” on the part of all politicians who of us knows where the reality is for those in the White House and Congress anyway? Since they are all only playing a part, I’m for a man I believe knows the difference between Hollywood and politics. And Fred inspired my confidence from the role he played in The Hunt for Red October, especially his succinct grasp of the dangers threatening. Now, if Fred is able to bring that message from the film to real life and articulate it in a campaign for President he just might strike a responsive chord with the electorate. By now I’m certain most of us realize this “business” is getting out of control and most of us have an uneasy feeling we will be lucky to live through it.

A substantial part of this business getting out of control is our porous borders. It is destructive of any confidence that apart from being the political lapdog of Bush under color of authority AG Alberto Gonzales favors Mexico and illegal aliens; his name and background declares it and Bush wanted someone he could depend on to “carry the water from Mexico” along with supporting Bush’s version of “transparency” in the White House. The Bush Dynasty has profited mightily by slave labor from Mexico as have many of those in power, and our borders remain criminally, even treasonously unsecured because of this addiction to slave labor.

Here in California there is nothing to be expected from our state legislature about the problems of crime and prisons, there is far too much truth in the book “Mexifornia.” If the legislature isn’t being run by the Mexican Mafia out of Los Angeles there is always San Francisco saying everything would be just fine with our legislature the way it is if only the governor and other Republicans would stop trying to interfere.

Lately the problem of gangs here in Kern County has been getting a lot of attention, but whether here or elsewhere in America you cannot miss a substantial part of the problem being in evidence. When interviews are conducted by TV reporters, most people being interviewed in the various communities harboring gangs can’t speak proper English, and some only speak Spanish. You cannot help getting the impression most of the people in such neighborhoods are on welfare, are largely ignorant if not in fact illiterate. And the politicians posturing for interviews have the usual solution to the problem: More taxpayer money. But you will not hear politicians offering real solutions for the problem; they don’t dare. There is the ACLU ready to pounce and sue howling “Racism!” And when you cannot address the real issues with the truth of the matter money is not going to solve the problem, as countless vain attempts have proven.

It isn’t that the solution to the problem of gangs in America is not self-evident: Strong families with both a mother and a father in the home, a good education for children emphasizing reading, writing, and arithmetic, and good job prospects for them when they graduate from high school. Now, all our leadership has to do is make sure these are made possible; but fearful of being tarred with the racist brush they don’t dare speak openly of why these things are not made possible due to refusing to secure our borders and expel illegal aliens, refusing to deal with the rampant corruption in our own government, selling out and betraying America on every hand that tells even the most illiterate and ignorant our own leadership does not have to obey the very laws they insist others obey. There is an obvious double standard between the privileged and the Great Unwashed, and this double standard prevents all attempts to make the “concern” of politicians believable.

I would urge Fred Thompson to run for President and use that line from the film. “This business will get out of control… it’ll get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it!” If he preaches that sermon he will hear many voices of Americans coming from the “Amen corner.”

However, suppose neither Fred or any others offer real solutions to the real problems threatening America? There is another memorable part of the film at the end where Sean Connery says, “A little revolution, now and then, is a healthy thing don’t you think?”

Very few people find Emerson worth reading in today. Yet I would call your attention to his following remarks:

My friends (in England) asked whether there were any Americans? - any with an American idea, - any theory of the right future of that country?

Thus challenged, I bethought myself neither of caucuses nor congress, neither of presidents nor of cabinet-ministers, nor of such as would make America another Europe. I thought only of the simplest and purest minds; I said, Certainly yes; - but those who hold it are fanatics of a dream which I would hardly care to relate to your English ears, to which it might be only ridiculous, - and yet it is the only true. So I opened the dogma of no-government and non-resistance, and anticipated the objections and the fun, and procured a kind of hearing for it.

I said, it is true that I have never seen in any country a man of sufficient valor to stand for this truth, and yet it is plain to me that no less valor than this can command my respect. I can easily see the bankruptcy of the vulgar musket-worship, - though great men be musket-worshipers; - and ‘tis certain, as God liveth, the gun that does not need another gun, the law of love and justice alone, can effect a clean revolution.

Emerson repeats, understandably given his divinity training and time spent in the pulpit, the statement of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul that love is the fulfillment of the Law of God. The law of love and justice alone can effect a clean revolution. Even Napoleon, the preeminent musket-worshiper, dreamed of a clean revolution, one that did not require the spilling of blood. The League of Nations, our present United Nations and those many Utopian experiments of the past have been rooted in the hope of clean revolution.

However, there are none in politics that dare speak the truth about the issues threatening children, threatening America. It isn’t that the solutions for things like gangs terrorizing neighborhoods and our failing schools are not easily understood. What is lacking is virtuous leadership willing to tell the truth and work toward those solutions. You only need ask yourself why should America be forced to accept the importation of crime and violence from foreign nations like Mexico and others, extorting We the People through taxation without representation to support these other nations without holding them to account for their own citizens? But wait; maybe Halliburton will move America to Dubai?

That revolution is needed is not disputed. The world has always been in need of revolution as Sean Connery pointed out in the film. But our Founding Fathers knew this and it was even echoed by men of peace like Henry Thoreau. Ban violence. Good. But we must start with our children. We must start with a guarantee of their being raised in all innocence without fear of sexual abuse, encouraging their natural modesty and innocence, encouraging their sense of self-worth, self-esteem, encouraging their sense of individual value, persons in their own right to carry into adulthood intact and entire! However, unless we have a leadership that is willing to put the interests of America and our own children, our own citizens first there is no hope of preventing the “business” getting out of control.

Comments:
NancyII commented:

Fred Thonpson was an attorney and a politician before he got into acting. He has experience and is a very intelligent fella. Check him out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dalton_Thompson

samheath commented: I hope a lot of people will Nancy. Along with his credentials, as I said he's a likable fellow and I think he knows the difference between fantasy and reality.
tonyh commented:

I live just North of Memphis. Fred is, and has been a very stand-up kind of guy. So far, he'd be the one to get my vote above all others. I like him a lot better than Rudy, which has been the lesser of the evils so far.

Fred Thompson (I think) can at least be trusted to be the way that he is. Like him or not, he'll be who he is.............

NancyII commented: When I heard this on the radio today I thought.." Yeah..now we're talking!"
allRED commented:

I was just thinking about him the other day so glad, I,ve always felt he would be a good man. I wasnt sure I was going to vote this next time.

GO FREDDY WERE READY

Ron.

samheath commented: Happy to see I've struck a happy note with you folks. Thompson would certainly offer us a real choice in my opinion and that's why I decided to bring the subject up.
robbwillis commented: I think he's a likeable fellow also, but it's always been my policy to not vote for actors.
samheath commented: Many would say that's what we vote for regardless.
robbwillis commented:

Me too. So why gild a lily? I thought Reagan was a likeable fellow also, but never voted for him. Terminator, Terminator II and True Lies will always be favorite movies to watch, but haven't voted for Arnold and never will. Remember how sincere Arnold was in his first campaign about "opening the books", etc? Really one of his finest performances!

samheath commented: I would still like to see better "performances" by politicians. Reagan betrayed America and I have made that clear in several of my articles. Knowing he would run and win, I wrote Arnold three months before he announced he would have to become a politician to survive. And so it has come to pass. Too bad, really.
Gelvey commented: I too believe Thompson might be the man to beat in the next presidential election. He seems to have a lot less "baggage" than Rudy, is taller and more to the right than John McC, is better known than all of the candidates put together. If he stays away from Carl Rove & Co. he might just do well.
tkozy commented:

He will not run.. He has baggage. And No desire to derail his friend McCain..

His Presidential talk is all about promoting his acting career.

It ain’t agona happen.

NancyII commented:

Everyone has baggage. In this day and age if one didn't have I'd really begin to worry about him/her.

My money is on him running. As I said at the get together..we'll see how this plays out.

tkozy commented:

Nancy

I see nothing wrong with setting the highest standards for the office of President. It is for those reasons. I could support Obama for Senate.

But not for President..

In the book, Obama acknowledges that he used cocaine as a high school student but rejected heroin. “Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though,” he says.

In an interview during his Senate race two years ago, Obama said he admitted using drugs because he thought it was important for “young people who are already in circumstances that are far more difficult than mine to know that you can make mistakes and still recover.”

NancyII commented:

I'm not all that convinced that our highest offcie was always filled with men of impeccable integrity. We know a lot about them already but they didn't have the internet to deal with where every thing you ever did from sneezing to passing gas at a formal dinner is out there for all to read. How many people do you suppose knew about Roosevelts mistress? Outside Washington that is. There have been scandals after scandals hinted at and overlooked over the years and still the country goes on. Still the office of president gets filled. I'm not keen on a candidate who says he used drugs to help people understand you can make mistakes and recover but we're coming to an age in our candidates where their youths were not only surrounded by drugs (the 60's) but also in an age where it's going to come out on the internet..you can bank on it. Don't misunderstand..I'm more anti drugs than probably most on here but realistically, where are you going to find a candidate who has no baggage? No second marriage? No fling in his past? No ties to big business (they're all wealthy so where did it come from?)

Where will you find these paragons of virtue?

sfinboston52 commented:

Anyone both Republican or Democratic..if you are in office you probably have sold your soul to get the job. Mayor, gov., senate, congress, president it is all just a power trip.

tkozy commented:

Nancy says:

Where will you find these paragons of virtue?

TK says:

If I had showed at the coffee social. I am sure I could have pointed out a few of your liking.

Trust me Nancy. Fred is all about a publicity stunt.

Restaurant reviews, dishes, recipes, and more: Your favorite restaurant dive

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:49:41 PDT

Of course, we don't mean dive in a bad way.

But not every restaurant has white table cloths and cold salad forks.

Some have both real people and real food, the kind you eat when you are around real people. Elegant no, but fun yes.

And those are the kind of places we'd like to know where you like to go to have some good food that's served with a little attitude.

My all time Kern County favorite was Green's on 178 on the road to Bodfish which back in the day served a Sonora Enchilada for $2.50 that would feed you for a week.

The Burger Hut on 19th Street is a local favorite.

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Comments:
tkozy commented:

TK's

CarLozano commented:

Super Taco on Edison, the little shack on the corner.

OldBlue56 commented:

Dave's taco stand at 26th and Chester. It is almost a local historical landmark!

CarLozano commented: Dave's Tacos are garbage! I wouldn't feed that slop to a bum! The only way that Dave's Taco's are even tolerable are if you are drunk.
RoyTullis commented:

I have tried Pastrami sandwitches all over town. Pastrami is my favorite so I embarked on a search for the very best in town. My conclusion is that Jolly Kone on So. Chester near Floyd's is by far the best . If you like pastrami, check it out.

NancyII commented:

TomTs or whatever the name is on Chester and Roberts Lane serves up a good pastrami and it makes two meals for me.

I just read a restaurant review by Pete Title and he swears by the pastrami at the Prime Cut on Brimhall and Calloway. Not really a dive but the Tom's place sorta is. An old Golden Ox I believe.

RoyTullis commented: TomTs is one I have'nt tried. I will check them out....Will also try the Prime Cut if they have take out.
kanguyen6212 commented: Love pastrami? Make the drive to Pops on Niles and Oswell. YUM
randomfactor commented: Thanks, Kanuyen6212. Driven past there often, will stop in sometime.
lsudduth commented: F.Y.I - The OLD... Burger Hut owner opened a new burger counter in the East Hills MaLL.... on the side across from the Movie window..LONG LIVE THE BURGER NAZI
AudreyB commented: County Boy on Rosedale Hwy. You can actually get a fried burrito there.
damitjanet commented:

If on the Northwest side then its Country Boy (10211 Rosedale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93312 (661) 589-0822 all the way! Fried burritos and they fry their hot dogs like L&L Jolly Kone on Olive drive use to.

If on the Southside then Burger Depot 6801 White Ln Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 396-8737 puts out a pretty good burger and their Onion Rings are great.

If downtown not so much a dive but Happy Jack's 1800 20th St Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 323-1661 for a burger and some pie.

Oh and don't forget about John's Burgers 1000 Oak St Bakersfield, CA 93304 (661) 324-8131. Order a BS Breakfast Burritos or Hot dogs or fried zucchini...

My sons favorite is "Super Taco" 520 E Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA (661) 322-0612 great Lingua Tacos

Dusty's View of Life: Another head rolls over Walter Reed outpatient care.

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:07:30 PDT

From CBS:

"The Army forced its surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, to retire, officials said Monday, the third high-level official to lose his job over poor outpatient treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Kiley, who headed Walter Reed from 2002 to 2004, has been a lightning rod for criticism over conditions at the Army's premier medical facility, including during congressional hearings last week. Soldiers and their families have complained about substandard living conditions and bureaucratic delays at the hospital overwhelmed with wounded from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Also the VA orders a review of 1400 facilities. This is a good idea, glad to see they are moving in the right direction:

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The VA is ordering its 1,400 hospitals and clinics to report on the quality of their facilities to determine if squalid conditions found at Walter Reed exist elsewhere.

Comments:
randomfactor commented: Maybe there'll be less overcrowding now that the Army is sending injured soldiers back to Iraq...
dusty1215 commented: yeah..isn't that lovely...
mattloch commented: "Forced to retire" with an honorable discharge and large pension? Only a matter of time before he gets his "Medal of Freedom"....
dusty1215 commented: Of course Mattloch..I mean if Rummy can get one..anyone can.
randomfactor commented: I don't think he's eligible, being military and all. Will have to settle for a Medal of Honor.
dusty1215 commented: OH, even better random!!! Rummy deserves one or the other for his fine job in planning the Iraq war.
randomfactor commented: I was thinking more a position as military liaison *IN* Iraq for Rummy. Put that vast experience to good use.
dusty1215 commented: I have always said..drop him, Bush and Cheney in the middle of Baghdad with the same equipment they give our soldiers and see if they can make it to the embassy.

Of course, I usually add: without a guide...just all by their 'lonesome'.
ProgressivePete2 commented: dusty, the RawStory is now reporting that kiley was actually fired. Sorry about no link, I think I need to update firefox. You'll have to copy paste. my tools are missing. http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Embattled_Walter_Reed_commander_submits_retirement_0312.html
dusty1215 commented: He either jumped or was tossed under the bus..either way..he's gone..and thats a good thing. This is Gitmo Kiley..who said nothing was wrong at either Gitmo or Abu-Ghraib.
ProgressivePete2 commented: True. He was probably just being a "good soldier" and towing the line. The interesting part about that article is that they suggested that the whole thing was due to Bush's push for privatization. Just think if a private company was running the hospital, this never would have happened. Of course I'm kidding. All it would do is allow yet another company to profit off of the American taxpayer (aka, the bush doctrine). If nobody is making a profit, what's the point?

Did you hear about Halliburton wanting to move their headquarters to Dubai? Sounds pretty shady, but what do we expect from them.
dusty1215 commented: Yes Pete, the Halliburton high-tailing out of the country is all the buzz in the blogosphere today.

Talk of the Town: Sororities — can't we all just be cute?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:27:27 PDT

As a preface for this blog, let me just say I love the Mad Greek Cafe in Baker.
That's as close to a Greek house as I've ever been in.

But there's been quite a controversy at DePauw University in Indiana over one of its sororities, Delta Zeta, kicking out some of its members, allegedly because they were not attractive enough.

"We at DePauw believe that the values of our university and those of Delta Zeta sorority are incompatible," school President Robert G. Bottoms wrote in a letter delivered Monday to the sorority's national president, Deborah A. Raziano.

The sorority's members have long had a reputation as being known more for academics than conventional beauty or partying, and their chapter was widely known among students as the "dog house."

Some sorority members were kicked out and others left in protest.

I've heard that fraternities and sororities have value. I don't know first hand because when I went to San Jose State during the tumultuous late 60's and early 70's, Greek houses were deemed irrelevant.

But I have always believed they were kind of snobbish. And stories about abuses and discrimination in them were legendary.

I'm sure some of those stories are exaggerated, but the image of the places seems to be they are better than thou. So if one gets a comeuppance, I'm okay with that.

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Comments:
robbwillis commented:

You wouldn't want Belushi on a ladder outside an unattractive soroity sister's window, would ya?

http://www.wright.edu/~lang.8/fatdrunkstupid.wav

http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/lounge/2456/wavs/toga.wav

http://www.moviequotequiz.com/othersounds/Pledge.wav

http://www.moviequotequiz.com/othersounds/GermansBombedPearlHarbor.wav

TomW commented: I lived at two Greek Houses when I was in college. At my Alma Mater, there are a lot of Greek houses, so most of them have to rent to boarders just to pay the bills. The personality really depends on the house. I was invited to pledge Skull and Keys as an independant, but I just never really felt I needed to belong that badly. Especially when initiation includes being tied to a post and pelted with eggs (and that's just the one I feel I can post here).

As for them being snobbish, I think there are few Greeks that infect the group, but most of the Greeks, guys and gals, are fine if you're hanging out with them one on one.
NancyII commented:

You should try working for a Greek for over 6 years. There was a butting of heads but once that's was past, I've got a friend for life. If I can find it I'll post a picture of the two of us at grandsons wedding reception. She is the F&B manager where it was held.

Sound Off: Water story great; not so much Tom Clark blast, reader says

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:15:55 PDT

Sound Off for March 11, 2007

Batch Data Processor | Saturday, Mar 10 2007 8:10 PM

Last Updated: Saturday, Mar 10 2007 8:15 PM

Reader: As a student of California's complex relationship with water, I was pleased that The Californian provided its readers with an overview of our water system in last Sunday's paper. A desert oasis like Bakersfield would be entirely uninhabitable without cheap and available water, and our agricultural economy would falter immediately without an adequate water supply.

Cities, farmers, industries and environmental groups have fought bitter wars over water in this state for 150 years. During my four days of final exams to earn my Ph.D., I had to spend a whole morning discussing California water policy and it was the most difficult portion of the exam. After studying this issue for 10 additional years, I still struggle to understand the nuances of prior appropriation, beneficial use, riparian rights and other aspects of water policy in the state.

Kern County seems to be in a relatively good position in our ongoing struggle with Southern California and environmental groups in securing our share of this vital resource. The various actors involved, most importantly the Kern County Water Agency, have led the way to greater water stability in the state through complex agreements and via the pioneering of water marketing, water banking and water conservation. (We still need to build more dams, and we need to construct the long-delayed Peripheral Canal to ensure a water catastrophe does not strike California.)

One of the most knowledgeable and important players in the state's recent water history is Tom Clark, who was the subject of a Californian "hit piece" published on the front page on Super Bowl Sunday. The story intimated that Clark was overpaid when he was director of the water agency and in his work as a consultant upon retirement.

Clark has been instrumental in establishing Kern County as a major force in state water politics, and he staffed his agency with competent and dedicated people who are clearly dedicated to upgrading our waterworks. He is also devoted to improving the social and cultural life of Bakersfield and his native Oildale.

In other words, Tom Clark is well worth our investment, as The Californian has illustrated over the years in articles praising Clark's visionary leadership.

Sincerely,

-- Randal Beeman

Jenner: First of all, I'm glad you liked the overview of our water system. I agree this is a complex and vital topic that's not often understood by many of us, and the more we can explain the issues and how it all works, the more our readers will benefit.

I do take issue with your calling our piece on Tom Clark's new role a "hit piece." Clark's prowess as a power hitter in the state's water world is well-known, and his prominence and talent were duly noted in the story.

We have no issue with him retiring, and certainly his expertise commands premium pay. But the fact is, at a minimum of $208,000 a year, Clark's five-year consulting contract will cost the agency more than $1 million more than if he had waited until the normal age of 65 to retire.

We thought that was newsworthy and something our readers would find interesting.

Reader: On Tuesday The Californian printed a report rating four local hospitals. It noted that the "tool" being used is still a work in progress. Even when running, regular posted data will be seven to nine months old.

Considering the age of the information in analysis, I believe it to be unconscionable to dump it in the public media.

-- Olga Scott

Reader: I hate to say it, but I feel the rating of local hospitals in Tuesday's Californian was in error and a disservice to our community, particularly to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.

I was a patient at Memorial in the heart section for prostate surgery in January. My physician, Dr. Joseph, anesthesiologist Dr. Lee, along with nurses Cecely and Lisa and aides Gosha and Lisa, all gave me the best hospital treatment I have ever experienced. Not only was the service great, but even the food was outstanding. Whoever made the assessment that was reported did not talk to me or probably any other patients during my stay.

I have yet to write a letter to Memorial thanking them for the wonderful care they gave me. I hope they will at least see this epistle and know that this ex-patient feels they are a five-star outfit! I thank them for their superior treatment from the bottom of my heart.

Very truly,

-- John E. Boydstun

Jenner: We thought this assessment program could be a useful tool for consumers. This site allows local hospitals to be compared with others statewide, and that adds to its value.

However, I agree that the age of some of the data diminishes the relevance of some of the findings. A lot can change in four years.

The story points out that once the program is up and running, the regularly posted data will be seven to nine months old. That should create a much more accurate picture.

The bottom line: While I think this program is newsworthy, we probably overplayed it by placing it at the top of the Local cover.

And once the Web site is updated with fresh scores, we should revisit it and report what we find.

Reader: I want to thank you for your article on the homeless woman and her son. It was so moving it brought tears to my eyes. I can relate to the mother in the story.

I moved here in January because I was homeless and five months pregnant in Los Angeles with my 9-year-old daughter and my 4-year-old son. I, too, was living in hotel rooms and when it came to check out with no money for another night or gas in my car, I called my parents in Bakersfield for help. In one breath my dad said, "It's time to come home now. I know we can help you once you're here because Bakersfield has a lot of opportunities for you."

Within a couple of days of arriving, I had found so many resources that have helped me like no other city has ever done. For example, WIC for women and children provided me with groceries. The Department of Human Services helped me with medical insurance so I could be seen by a doctor. Also the caring, loving and supportive Bakersfield Pregnancy Center helped me with maternity clothing and more resources to help me.

My 9-year-old daughter was building a wall due to us being homeless, but the school she attends in Bakersfield, Columbia, has been wonderful. I told her teacher what Nichole had been going through, and guess what? They made things so good for her. I'm thankful so much for this wonderful city that I am going to build a life out here for all of us.

So your article touched me and I'm willing to share some of my resources with the mother from the article and her son, if needed. By the way, since arriving here I've already gotten a job and we will no longer be homeless again.

Sincerely,

-- Lena Verdugo

Reader: Your coverage of the state CIF wrestling tournament was great all weekend. We had the championship team, but your articles are far better when compared side by side with our local paper.

It is clear your reporters have great knowledge of the sport of wrestling.

Keep up the great work. I will be back next year to again visit the wonderful wrestling city of Bakersfield, California.

-- Rob Sesar, Vacaville

Comments:
nooneisabovethelaw commented: If the stuff on Tom Clark's sexual harassment came out into public view, maybe he wouldn't be held in such high regard.

Eye of Bakersfield: Hey, Honey, what color stripper pole do you want?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:46:37 PDT

They come in red, white, black and pink, and some with glittering green flames and other designs.

And they are manufactured in an industrial park in Fresno by Pacific International Marketing & Promotions, which oddly enough can be initialized into PIMP.

A couple who started the business have seen sales surpass $2 million, the Fresno Bee reported.

Randy Blacker, 40, started the business in 2002 after losing his job and sitting at home one day, surfing through television channels when he heard that magic word, "porn," and the maxim, "Porn is recession proof."

Not that stripper poles are any kind of sleazy porn deal. There's a growing pole-dancing fitness craze. And who doesn't want to be healthy and fit?

So Blacker and his 29-year-old wife, Lizz, took a chance on cashing in on the craze and eventually it paid off.

Standard 8-foot models sell for $229 to $450, can be set up in a living room with just a planter ceiling hook, and can be removed with a flick of the wrist in case the pastor drops in for a spiritual visit.

A 70-pound spring inside the pole provides the tension to hold it in place, and it can withstand 1,500 pounds of lateral force. That's plenty of stability for the typical pole-dancing enthusiast.

This clearly is a couple enhancing experience. While the woman tones up in an artistic, exercise routine, the man appreciates her self-development kick without the need for a two-drink minimum.

The question merely becomes, "What color do you want, Hon?"

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Comments:
ScaryMary commented:

Well dear, first of all, your idea of putting it in the middle of the living room was a bit gauche. I think tiger stripes would be fitting and it would go so well with the decor in our master bedroom. But since this is an equal opportunity family, Im going to expect that you spend some time "exercizing" too!

ggrrrrrr........

TomW commented: I gotta think that there's not a lot of demand here. I guess there's a market for anything though.
tkozy commented:

Grease up the pole I am coming down..

woofwoof commented:

My husband went to Houston recently for a conference, and I asked him if he was gonna go see the Anna Nicole Memorial Stripper Pole. Since, that's were she got her start....at least I made him chuckle.....he went to NASA instead. Good Choice.

Boy that's a lot of money for a vertical shower rod.

JustAThought commented: WoofWoof.......so you think he only went to NASA. Smart men don't tell all.
woofwoof commented:

Anon, I wasn't born yesterday.....and I'm one of those that say, go ahead and go to the "club" if you want dear, that way I get to enjoy him when he gets home. *wink* Because he comes home to ME!

TomW commented: Woof, that is exactly what I was thinking about the shower rod.

There is a Chance: Shrider’s National hero.

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:38:02 PDT

Shrider’s National hero.

Has Rudolf crossed the Line?

Or was it government funded abortions that went to far? (Remember, Democrats are pro rights not pro abortion.)

Shrider’s ? Three marriages. Trouble at home with the kids. Pro gun control and government funded abortion.

Tell Me Which stand made Rudolf a national hero. .

Excerpt from: Firefighters Union Letter On Rudy Giuliani. Please read it all when you can.

…
In our view, he wasn’t really concerned. The fact is that the Mayor’s switch to a scoop-and-dump coincided with the final removal of tens of millions of dollars of gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia that were buried beneath what was once the towers. Once the money was out, Giuliani sided with the developers that opposed a lengthy recovery effort, and ordered the scoop-and-dump operation so they could proceed with redevelopment.

In the first few days immediately after the disaster, Giuliani had said he was committed to the recovery of those lost “right down to the last brick.” We believed him at the time. But, what he proved with his actions is that he really meant the “last gold brick.”
…
Proudly, as you know, the fire service has a code similar to the military, where we leave no one behind. Recovering even a piece of a turnout coat or helmet gave our FDNY brothers and sisters and the families of the fallen some small semblance of peace, something to honor. But hundreds remained entombed in Ground Zero when Giuliani gave up on them.
…

Comments:
tkozy commented:
antiextremism commented:

Although Rudy is certainly a lot more pro-active and smart than George W., what would his chances be if 911 never occured?

And what makes him a hero in that regard? He made the huge mistake of placing his disaster headquarters, right where the disaster occured. Duh! The towers were already attacked once, why put your emergency response headquarters at the most likely target? That's like telling the President that planes are flying into D.C. buildings, quick, get into the Oval Office!

He does take action on issues like taking on the mafia, but running the country is far different than running a city, even New York City. The mafia experience may help him deal with congress though. If he does make it, which I think is a slight possibility, he better watch some Rome episodes to see how it works on Capitol Hill. LOL

tkozy commented:

How in the world can Rudolf get credit for fighting crime.

Heck, he choose Kerik the criminal for Police Chief.

Putting criminals in a government job, is not high on my list of solutions to America’s crime problem.

NEW YORK -- Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has testified under oath in the criminal investigation of Bernard Kerik, NewsChannel 4 has learned

Also:

As for Giuliani, when he left City Hall he started his own consulting company and brought along Kerik, who had served as his former correction and police commissioner.

Giuliani supported Kerik's failed nomination for Homeland Security chief, which collapsed amid the allegations. Kerik resigned from Giuliani's firm soon after his nomination fell apart.

Meanwhile, Kerik's lawyer said he continues to speak with the Bronx district attorney's office about why he believes a criminal indictment is not warranted.

http://www.wnbc.com/news/9350763/detail.html

Things that interest ME: Class and Tattoos

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 16:38:24 PDT

Class and Tattoos

Do we still have a class system these days? And if we do, what part do tattoos play in it? Would we see people from what is traditionally known as “upper class” sporting sleeves? Would we see “blue blood” folks shaving their heads and tattooing their scalp? Would we see politicians wearing low rider pants with tattoos across the ummm..derriere? (Maybe that would help their popularity.) We see actors and models now sporting tattooed arm bands but would we want our super models to be all tatted up? Katherine Hepburn was a very classy lady and somehow I can't see her with ANY kind of tattoo.

I’m curious as to what the rest of you folks think about this. The levels were (in my sociology class) Lower lower class, lower class, upper lower class, lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, lower upper class, upper class, and I guess, upper upper class. We were told at that time that people rarely moved more than one position up the class scale in their generation. (So much for Pygmalion and all the movies to follow.)

What are your thoughts on class and tattoos? And what do you think about how many a person has having anything to do with class? Remember this is a generalization about how people perceive others.

Comments:
antiextremism commented:

I don't think class has much to do with tattoos anymore Nancy. There aren't too many professional athletes without one, and they are all pretty much multimillionaires, (if money is the lone criteria for class, but that's another debate).

What I wanna know is when did butt cleavage, or plumbers crack, become the vogue for young ladies. I see girls working in the mall with a two inch crack showing, and I guess it's cool with their bosses.

I personally don't have a problem with nice, properly placed tatoos. Well, except for the two year old I once saw with Oildale on one wrist and a Swastika on the other. I wanted to throttle his parents but chilled instead. For Christ's sake people, let them grow up and decide how they will advertise on their own body!

I also am amazed at some of these pro athletes who have ugly tatoos that are hardly discernable. You make millions of dollars, but it looks like your cousin did it with a knife and date stamp ink after an all night session of crack and Tequila shooters????

NancyII commented:

Thanks for you input Antie...I really didn't mean money since some of the trashiest people managed to get rich one way or another. I'm wondering how people would feel about their doctor scrubbing up and showing up in the OR with tattoos all over. Or your friendly neighborhood dentist.

Oh..and Antie..the butt crack thing was on the money. If I ran a business and an employee came to work like that she or he would be sent home to change clothes....or change jobs.

I don't think people are always born with class no matter how much money their family has nor do I think you have to have money to have class. I think my impression of "class" in the context of my first post would include blue bloods like the Rockefellers and the original Hiltons. Paris is another story proving money can't buy class.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

arizboy6 commented: I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF YOU HAD A TATOO YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY,BUT I GUESS BY TODAYS STANDARDS YOU THINK IT'S COOL TO HAVE ONE.I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT A WOMAN WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH A TATOO WHEN SHE IS 60,AND WHO WOULD WANT A GRANDMA WITH A TATOO.I SEE THESE PEOPLE WITH TATOOS ALL OVER THEIR BODIES AND I ASK MYSELF WHY WHY RUIN YOUR BODY
tchudilowsky commented:

I don't mind tattoos and wouldn't think badly if my Dr or Dentist had a few.

A tastefully done tattoo is fine.

I think it is funny that I have known people for years and hear them discuss weather they like or dislike tattoos and I know that they have no idea I myself have 4 (strategically placed of course :-)

They are no secret but you wouldn't know unless you asked me :-) Oh.. well... I guess you know now :-O ha ha

NancyII commented:

Still can't see Katherine Hepburn or Bette Davis with one. But then..it's really not the ones we can't see that are the issue. :-)

A little personal info..I'm not doing ANYTHING to my body that I can't take off tomorrow if I change my mind.

KathyBates commented: I recently had clients that I would say were upper class, young and could have everything that one person would want or need. Made a big impression on me, very nice and considerate people.

When I saw them the following day, he had tats all over his arms. I know that if I had met them away from thier home or in a store and didn't know their personality, I definatly would have judged them for the worse.

I know that judging people by the way they look is not right but yes tats can be a little intimidating and judgemental. I have a tattoo on my upper left arm, its a heart band and I would consider myself middle class.

How about the piercings? Oh my gosh, how stupid looking that is. Like the guy who delivers food from Amigos, I refuse to order from them because he looks like a murderer.. He might be the nicest guy in the world but looks are the first impress you see.
randomfactor commented: I have none and will have none. Thank heavens my kids haven't shared theirs with me, if they ever got one. The extra piercings are bad enough. :)
NancyII commented:

Remember the old commercial that said "You never get a second chance to make a first impression?" When I go into a restaurant or fast food place, tongue and facial piercing almost gags me. And I'm not weak stomached. Somehow it just looks unclean. And sorry to the tattoo fans..they look unclean too.

Howsumever..these are my personal opinions. I'm still wondering if anyone thinks we still have a class system in this country and if you think they would wear tattoos. Or piercings all over for that matter.

Anny hit on it with the judgemental thing. When you see someone all tatted up or a woman with "sleeves" for instance, do you automatically think "lower class?"

tchudilowsky commented:

My son has several now. He wants to totally cover his arms. He also has both ears pierced and rides a harley.

He has a great job, owns his own home and has a sweet and beautiful girlfriend.

He is not at all 'like he looks'

He looks kinda scary ha ha

I dont know why... but I thought of Angalina Jolie.

She is well liked, popular, top of the game I guess, and she has several tats too.

steveeswenson commented: I'll admit to a double standard on this issue.

Any tattoo on a woman should be on a place where regular clothes can hide it. The small of the back, a shoulder blade or other spots easily hidden by professional work clothes are fine if they must have them.

Why Angelina Jolie would defile herself is way beyond me.

A tattoo or two on a man that can be seen isn't so bad. A lot of tattoos is trashy.

Quite frankly, there's nothing refined about any tattoos. I've seen far too many young people regret their artwork when they grew up.

tchudilowsky commented:

Steve, that point was made with my 19 year old nephew. He was mad in love with a girl and he had her name tattooed across his chest, giant scroll looking letters

JENNIFER

from armpit to armpit...

OMG!!!!!!!

They lasted about 2 months.

Needless to say he regretted that idiot tattoo. ha ha

pamg commented: I have no problem with tattoos, although I will admit that somebody who is completely covered with them is a turn off to me. What really bugs me though are the waitresses at Pedal Car Cafe on Gosford. Nothing is grosser to me than having a waitress show up at my table in low-slung jeans, crop top and her belly button showing....pierced, yet! She's standing, you're sitting....her navel is the first thing you see! This is totally inappropriate for a restaurant.
ProgressivePete2 commented: Sweet. I'm totally going there now.
ProgressivePete2 commented: I can't believe people don't know that getting the name of their significant other tattooed on them is an instant curse on the relationship. Keep the names to parents or kids. I don't think tattoos are un-classy, but geez, what's up with the Git-er-done style that I'm seeing now. You know, dirty jeans, dirty shirt, plumber crack, camo style hunting cap, and a constant sunburn combined with chewing tobacco. How anyone could call that attractive is beyond me. All I see is low IQ. All I smell is B.O.
TomW commented: Well, Pete, no need to get personal. Besides, I wear my boxers up now, thankyouverymuch.
TomW commented: I don't mind good tattoos, but the "off the wall" stuff seems dumb. If you don't have a good answer for why you got a tattoo, you shouldn't get one. I wanted to isn't a good answer.

As for class and tattoos, I think it doesn't mean much. I do think there is some correlation with class in that people who feel like they have less control over their lives try to exert control by getting tattoos. The exception to that of course is the tattoos with meaning.
Termite commented: I think having a "tat" is sort of a fad right now....a fashion statement or something. I just think they're nicer if they're small, and also they've got to be GOOD, I mean done by an ARTIST. And hidden easily.

But as Steve said, there's nothing really "refined" about a tattoo on anyone, even Angelina Jolie. I've been tempted, but I think I'll just stick with permanent makeup ;-))
ProgressivePete2 commented: We're all glad to hear that Tom. The smell was getting to us.
randomfactor commented: Meet you there, Pete. Their vegetable beef soup is really fine. But don't order the taco salad.
antiextremism commented:

Allright!!!! Breakfast is on Random! Literally.

CarLozano commented: I think that there is very much still a class system. And tattoos and outrageous piercings are at the bottom of the totem pole. It may be the "cool" thing to do now, but it lows every sleazy in my opinion. Especially when girls get tattoed, to me it makes them look trashy. Now if that's the look/image the want to protray then by all means.
sfinboston52 commented:

There are all sorts of classes. There are social classes, weath classes, educational classes...just depends on how people fall into each one. Many wealthy people are not part of the social classes.

But speaking of Tattoos, I would say that can limit a person in professions and social standings. Also depends on the size, type of tattoo. I have one on my back between my shoulder blades. rarely does anyone see it.

woofwoof commented:

Doesn't class come down to manners?

As far as tats go, the only one in the house with 'em is the dog....from the joint (shelter) ...and that's what I think when I see tattoos. It looks like they've been in prison.

I found it interesting to see the asst mgr or maybe he's the manager, at Rite Aid by 178 on Oswell. He has a couple of tattoos, wearing somewhat of a uniform suit, plus the bonus of the tear tattoo by his eye. I can't help but sing in my mind, "the tears of a clown, when no one's around..."! I also think, this guy must be doing a good job or he wouldn't have made it to mgr.

woofwoof commented: Nice tattoo add, antiex...did you google "weird tattoos"???
TomW commented: Woof, make sure your safe search is on for that one. :)
tchudilowsky commented:

http://www.capohedz.com/typebrighter/2005/10/really-bad-tattoos.html

I think this is the site.

OMG!!
Ewwww! Ewwww! Ewwww!

woofwoof commented:

Yeah. TomW, I've seen the snake....

When I see "kids" with tattoo, all I can think is they're labeled for the rest of their lives....but, it takes all walks of life to make this world go 'round, I guess.

Can't imagine having tea with anyone tattooed seeing them with their little finger in the air.......quite.

sagefever commented: Don't care one way or the other..just let whatever professional who is "having at me" be in the upper 50% of their graduating class! I have met many upper class(grew up a "rich girl") people who I would not let my dogs eat with,and many low class people who are to be truly admired as people.What ever happened to that old saying"Do not judge a book by it's cover?" There is another about what assume makes you and me when we do it..Personally I swore I'd never have a tatto.When both my sons died I wanted to get one over my heart that I had designed,but poverty has it's uses I guess.Does that make me low class? Most who know me value me for my honesty,opinion and general tolerant outlook..the whole class thing to me is absurd.Society needs all its parts,none can exists without the others.In each group there are good and bad apples,and all the varients in between.
TomW commented: TC, it's funny how some tats come across. I totally trust the guy with the full face tattoo, since he's pretty much surrendered any possibility of being unnoticed or not being tracked down if he did something wrong.
TomW commented: Woof, I hadn't seen the snake, but now I have. Yikes. First: Ouch! Second: who would want that near them?
antiextremism commented: To Woof Woof....yep!
cdubbz23 commented: Nancy, many people still associate tattos with gangs and prison, yet I have several tattoos and never been in trouble with the law in any way. One other person pointed out in response to your message that we see kids with tatoos and butt cracks hanging out here around town and their bosses "seem" to be cool with it, or at least cool enough to hire them. I don't know about the whole butt crack showing thing and all, but as far as tats, they're obviosly becoming more accepted and less frowned upon. As far as the professional athletes go, if they like tatoos, they should get as many as they wish. If I didn't have to worry about looking professional at work and was pulling in millions, I would do the same. I agree some tatoos are crap, but many are amazing and very artistic.

D.K. Mason on ShowBiz Bakersfield: What's Real Estate Software Worth?

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:51:01 PDT

Before I put this customized Excel spreadsheet real estate related software on ebay, I was wondering what else it could be used for. How much should I ask for it?

It is designed to compare a column in one database to a column in another database, and make a 3rd database showing the matching rows. So the 1st row contains the data from the 1st database and the 2nd row contains all of the information found in the 2nd database.

Originally designed to compare information about homes and land for sale, taken from this Bakersfield MLS directory, and compare the information found about the same listings, but from this company. There is no guarantee that both real estate databases had information about a place you're interested in purchasing, but if they DID have information about that place, you'd want to see it.

This custom designed Excel program comes with a simple interface with only 2 buttons to push. And once the real estate info is loaded, it goes into both databases and brings up the matching street addresses all within seconds.

If you'll suggest some uses for this, I'm gonna draw up a sales ad based upon your ideas. If I use your ideas I'll gladly pay you for your idea (IF it sells on ebay!)

Comments:
mjordan commented: I'd be surprised if you sell that excel file on eBay.
robbwillis commented: 30 years ago, $9.99. Today, definitely under a buck.
ki6amd commented: You're serious? That's all it does? "It is designed to compare a column in one database to a column in another database, and make a 3rd database showing the matching rows." I can do that with a small shell script, and output it to a web page without spending a dime and in my spare time in one day. Sure, I'm no slouch behind a keyboard, but your potential customer is able to do the same thing you have (within a larger time frame maybe) and probably already has.
DoctorMason commented: For only $450.00 my client thought he'd received a great deal, which included a visual basic front end and 30 days of training. Since he's been in Real Estate Foreclosures 30+ years, I have to feel he knows a good deal when it arrives. Maybe I can make more money next time by sub contracting to one of you boys when I get another job like this?

So, my future business partners, what else can this be used for? I'm wanting to try ebay and see if anyone else on the planet thinks this customized software is of value.

The Road Show Motorcycle Podcast: A Travel Report from Road Show

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:15:04 PDT

Greetings everyone from Oakhurst, Ca.

It has been a while since Road Show has actually been "on-the-road." First there was the 1000 mile day fiasco which some of you may remember, then the Beemer required major surgery.

How do you like my homemade ignition timing device?

After a weeks worth of delays having to do with broken parts, some of which were already broken and some which I broke myself after replacing them. (Note to self: if it is in the service manual and it is in BOLD print perhaps one should pay attention to that!) Ahem, like I was saying we are finally on the road again.

Yesterday we traveled through the southern end of Gold Country. There is an intricate maze of back roads which runs through the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas just south of Yosemite that was just made for motorcycling. And many of the small towns which these roads connect have fascinating sights and histories. It is a good idea to bring a GPS or a compass along though because the road signage is confusing at best. Most roads have at least two names. Usually they have a name and a designated number, but the numbers do not follow the normal east-west equals even number, north-south equal odd number convention.

The first little town we came to was was Raymond, This is a small community in the southern Sierra Foothills. but was one a stage route to the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite ValleyRaymond was like a trip back in time. There are at least two what I would call "General Stores" with peeling paint, fading signage and half-lit beer signs in the windows. Mid-morning on a Saturday there were already a number of people lounging on the large, shaded porches. I was very curious to stop in have a chat and to see what might be inside, however they seemed to eye these motorcycling strangers with suspicion so we kept movin on.

On the outskirts of town, however, there is a sight that cannot help but catch the eye. One of the nearby hills has what looks lik a grey angular wound bleeding grey dust.

As far as I could tell this is the main industry of the town and very, very impressive.

We then traveled south on Road 600, a very good motorcycle road. Well maintained and lightly traveled it is possible to carve it at fairly high speed with only a few very sharp curves to slow one down. Inexplicably the oak trees which are so prevalent in most other places in the Sierra Nevada foothills are strangely lacking. The glacial rocks also are missing making the grassland look very barren.

Seven and a half miles south of Raymond a turn to the east on Road 603 also known as Daulton road leads to the man-made Hensley Lake.

The ride down 6-3 from a riders perspective is quite dull, just a straight ribbon of concrete. There are apparently some interesting sights alongside the road my passenger said, but she will have to report in on that herself. One past the southern end of the lake the road turns north and becomes much more interesting.

30 MPH --- Yeah Right!

Continuing north on Road 400, confusingly also named Raymond Road, as you may recall road 600 is ALSO called Raymond Road. We eventutually turned east on Road 415, then on to Highway 41. A brief trip up 41 brought us to the town of Coarsegold.

Coarsegold is the southern-most point of what is known as Gold Country and is very near the exact geographic center of California.

The Coarsegold Cafe..a popular hangout where they server the "Burgers of Death"

And there are some other odd things there too.

Currently we are seven miles north of Coarsegold in Oakhurst and it is time to head out. Will be reporting back in this evening.

Have a great day everyone!

Cameron and Patti

www.highslab.com

Comments:
dusty1215 commented: Cameron, these are so great! Thank you for sharing your trip :)

Burgers of Death? lol..lord I want one of those...
dusty1215 commented: Who takes the pics, you or Patti? Just curious..
bmweerman commented:

Hi Dusty.

We share the photo duties. Used to be easier when we were using two cameras. But we had to upgrad to a ten Mega-Pixel and couldn't afford two of those so mostly Patti shoots and I drive when we are on the road.

dusty1215 commented: Well, I like your shots..both of you. Thanks :)

Crocodiles: World's longest debate thread

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 03:24:23 PDT

Many big names from both sides of the debate on drug policy reform may be found amongst the 119 pages with 2300 comments, including Brian C. Bennet (The Anti-drug-war Czar) Allan Erickson and of course Linda Taylor.

Happy reading! but make sure there's enough coffee around.

D.K. Mason on ShowBiz Bakersfield: Video Announcements Wanted

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:59:08 PST

Hello Friends,
Did you know that I'm the 1st Vice President of Bakersfield's KCPA-TV and that we're building a video only site at

www.vdo.kcpa-tv.com and want you to help bring traffic to it?

We'll be producing several cable TV shows, based upon the website at http://vdo.kcpa-tv.com, which hosts the following

domains:

www. Help Wanted Videos.com
www. Yard Sales on TV.com
www. Give Me 5 Minutes.biz
www. I Wanna Sing on TV.com
www. Hot-Dates-at-KCPA-TV.com

It should be easy enough to figure out what types of videos are wanted at http://vdo.kcpa-tv.com, and for now the service is FREE. We're not trying to become another YouTube or MySpace, our market is serving the citizens of Kern County, CA.

Anyone with a video message likely to be of interest to our viewers is welcome to post as many different videos as they'd like.

However, at this time we require that your video be hosted someplace else, like on YouTube.com, and that you simply put the codes onto our site. We even have a category for Community Agencies wishing to inform the public of their services.

In the near future (when we've raised $25,000 in investments) we will begin offering to air weekly on cable TV, videos from the various categories, for a fee. Listing on the website is free, broadcasting your video on our local cable channel can cost as little as $25 for a yard sale slot or as much as $200 on the show "Give Me 5 Minutes".

So, this would be a good opportunity to claim your FREE spot and let your video bring new people into your programs.

Until next time.
DK-Mason
KCPA-TV
Bakersfield, CA

Comments:
robbwillis commented:

www. I Wanna Sing on TV.com

That one should have a link to www.pleasecommitsuicide.com

Thanks,

Robb

DoctorMason commented:

Re: Video Announcements Wanted.

Now Robb I know you don't say the same about VH1, MTV, GAC, American Idol and all the others now do you.

That "I Wanna Sing on TV.com" website will become THE place talent scouts visit when looking for potential here in Kern County. There are a lot of good singers and musicians here who can't afford an Agent, or expensive studio pictures, but they CAN afford to put samples of their work online for free. And since the website is only for Kern County people, nobody will become lost in cyberspace like they would if they joined one of those "world famous" websites.

Like most things it just takes a while to get the word out, that's why there is hardly anyone using the "I Wanna Sing on TV.com" website for now. Same thing with the website "Help Wanted Videos.com". There are LOTS of help wanted ads around but almost nobody knows they can put their Kern County help wanted videos online for free. Just bookmark the site and wait until it catches on!

robbwillis commented: Especially for American Idol...
murphyslaw commented: NO PERSONAL ADDS!!!!!
murphyslaw commented:

AND THEY'LL ALL DO THIS FOR FREE, YOU AND YOUR BOSS WORK FOR FREE, GO TELL IT TO THE MOUNTAIN

Will IT BE AMERICAN IDOL???? OR AMERICAN IDIOT??

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TO PUT ADS ON THE BLOG, IT'S FREE ADVERTISEMENT AND THEY DON'T ALLOW THAT HERE, BUT, THEN AGAIN YOU DO WORK FOR FREE. WE COULD ALL USE OUR LAWNS MOWED FOR FREE.

NancyII commented:

NO TYPING IN ALL CAPS !!!!

:-)

murphyslaw commented: okay mommie

The Pulse: Parents, know the signs of meningitis

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:43:24 PST

Fever? Headache? Stiff neck?

Get to the hospital. Don't wait.

The county Public Health department wants parents to be on the lookout for these symptoms of meningitis, a potentially fatal infection especially prevalent in children. (Read "County warns to be aware of symptoms" in Sunday's Californian.)

While the eight cases of bacterial meningitis this year in the county aren't an extraordinary amount, some parents aren't recognizing the symptoms early enough, which could seriously endanger the child, said Dr. Boyce Dulan, deputy health officer and director of disease control for the health department.

Meningitis is an infection of the spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain.

It can cause inflammation of the brain, which can destroy nerve cells and cause bleeding in the brain, stroke, seizures and even death, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Symptoms can appear one to 10 days after exposure, the health department says.

Adolescents and young adults are also at an increased risk for meningitis due to the following lifestyle factors, according to the National Meningitis Association:

Crowded living conditions (such as dormitories, boarding schools and sleep-away camps)
Moving to a new residence
Attendance at a new school with students from geographically diverse areas
Sharing beverages or utensils
Going to bars
Active or passive smoking
Irregular sleeping patterns

If you have been near someone who has been diagnosed with meningitis, you need to be treated immediately as well and given precautionary antibiotics, Dulan said. Even if there aren't any symptoms, adults, especially, can be carriers for the disease.

The following sites have more information about meningitis:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Mayo Clinic
National Institutes of Health
Meningitis Research Foundation
Meningitis Foundation of America
National Meningitis Association
American Medical Association

Comments:
kathylbd commented: I would like to make readers aware that there are also other types of meningitis, although I do not think they are as life threatening as bacterial meningitis. One of them is fungal meningitis, which my husband caught from having valley fever. the spores disseminated until the lining of his brain was swollen and infected, and there is also another type of meningitis though the exact name of it escapes me right now. The main thing is to watch for the symptoms, same type of symptoms as bacterial meningitis, which is pretty scary stuff. If anyone in my family has even one of these symptoms I would waste no time getting to the emergency room.
randomfactor commented:

Viral. The difference is which *TYPE* of bug is infecting the meninges.

Guy in the next bed over was thought to have had bacterial meningitis during one of my numerous recent ER visits. Spouse #2 was incorrectly diagnosed with viral meningitis about four years ago. Wrong bug, wrong location.

ThePulse commented: Here are the different types of meningitis (i.e. fungal, pneumococcal, viral, haemophilus influenzae b, etc.), courtesy of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Sam Heath: Science may yet find a “stupid” gene

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:30:55 PST

Charles Schulz had it right with his marvelous sense of humor. The Great Pumpkin and the Easter Beagle were to my liking; not the fanaticism on either side of Christmas and Easter between defenders and detractors.

Any time now I expect scientists to declare they have found a “stupid” gene. It will account for things otherwise normal people do making them not only contenders for the Darwin awards, but trying to rename the Easter Bunny. Some people really believe this will fly? Certainly the schools can get away with “Winter” and “Spring” breaks, but what to do with Easter eggs, Peeps, and the multi-billion dollar industry built around the Easter Bunny? People aren’t going to go for something called “Spring Eggs.” Take away the word Easter and you have nothing to qualify that time of year as anything significant to set it apart from any other time of year. Shoot the Easter Bunny and a multi-billion dollar industry dies with him. Defenders of the Easter Bunny can take more comfort in his being protected by the symbol of a dollar than anything symbolic of religion.

The same rule applies to Christmas. There is nothing to make this time of year significant apart from celebrating the birth of Jesus. Take Jesus out of the equation and you have no Christmas. Calling it a “Holiday Season” isn’t going to support the multi-billion dollar industry built around celebrating Jesus’ birthday, and without him Santa would go the way of the Easter Bunny; neither Santa or the Bunny have any relevance apart from Jesus. And while an argument can be made for the Bunny not being a religious symbol, calling him anything but the Easter Bunny just won’t work anymore than trying to rename Santa; no Jesus, no saints, no Santa.

Certainly some Jews would like to equate the Menorah with a Christmas tree, but no one is fooled by such a thing. Each celebrates something totally distinct to the symbol; and worldwide the Christmas tree is symbolic of the birth of Jesus and Christians while the Menorah, as with the Star of David, remains a Jewish symbol; period! But if Easter and Christmas weren’t promoted for economic reasons and real money-makers, just how would America as a whole be celebrating the seasons? One thing is certain; two hundred million people in America don’t go out and buy Menorah trees or Menorah presents.

The ACLU and its supporters don’t really want “equality” for any religious symbols in America; they don’t really want a Menorah equated with a Christmas tree, they would rather abolish every symbol of religion like the Decalogue, a cross, crèche, Christmas tree, Easter and Christmas, but what would America be without such Christian symbols? Muslim nations have no such enemies of their “sacred” symbols; and such symbols are a continuing unifying force among Muslims against “infidels” no matter the amount of internecine blood-letting.

But speaking of those undoubtedly possessed of a stupid gene and wanting to rename the Easter Bunny, what can we say of Bush for his claiming to have looked into the soul of Putin and pronouncing that old KGB stalwart “a good man.” By now we should all be aware Putin read Bush far better, and that old KGB stalwart saw someone not to be trusted, if not in fact a fool, and perhaps a dangerous one at that, and is acting accordingly. The result being Russians have a leader acting in the best interests of Russia, but America is without such a leader as our porous borders if nothing else proves. If Putin wants to cut our throat he is counting on the White House and Congress providing him the knife.

The prodigality of life throughout the earth is evidenced by the many examples from nature in the wild of planting thousands of seeds the great majority having no chance of surviving, but the profligate casting of thousands of seeds insures that a small number will survive, and among this small number an even smaller number will grow to maturity and have offspring. That the greater part will die is of no concern to nature, and this same prodigality of life is seen to be the case in the animal world as well. Unfortunately for humans, while nature will dispose of plants and animals possessed of a stupid gene the same cannot be said for us humans.

For example, PETA has a legitimate complaint against Al Gore. Animals raised for slaughter do produce the very gases in enormous abundance those like Al would eliminate by having humans cooperating in limiting the pollution caused by us humans. But how likely is it people worldwide are going to become vegetarians; about as likely as China stopping building coal-fired electric generating plants. And there is no EPA oversight in China. However, maybe that stupid gene among humans will sort all this out; how else account for politicians and those wanting to rename the Easter Bunny? No wonder so many are hoping ET may come to our rescue.

Comments:
dusty1215 commented: Stupid is amazingly colorblind, gender neutral, and it affects everyone at some point in their life..at least that has been my experience Sam.

Now, as my dad used to say..thank goodness not everyone is felony dumb. :)
tonyh commented:

Dumb and Stupid are two completely different attributes.............

Dumb is locking your keys in the trunk of your car, sitting down in the driver seat to call AAA and not thinking about the remote trunk release in the passenger compartment until after AAA has sent someone to help.

Stupid is robbing a Convenience Store while buying Beer, and leaving your ID on the counter while you make your getaway.

samheath commented:

Your dad was right Dusty; and Tony, the difference you mention is the only reason I'm still alive and without a prison record.

Living In Bakersfield,Ca now 2 years later no arrest : April will be one year sence my nephew was killed

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:40:03 PST

April will be one year sense my nephew was killed on Lake st. And still no suspects.

It was a hit and run. The corner said it was suspicious death. I have been in contact with Gang Unit Detectives. who Know these streets and the Gangs that are out there .

They hve asked some Gang members ,but like all was no one's talking.

My nephew was in and out of prison sense 14 years old. The day he was killed' was the worst news. He had only been out maybe a month. I don't know if he was in a gang, it really dose not matter. He was my favorite nephew. And to kill some one at all is wrong . No matter what they do.

I love my Nephew and miss him more eveyday.My nephew use to come by just to see how we were doing. A few times he Ask if we needed are yard mowed ,or something so he could make a few dollar's. His laugh ,his smile ,miss all that and him .God Bess you, Boy

Until we reach the other side.

This person that did this needs to be sought and arrested .He was killed by some one who is out there in are streets. The gang unit has been helpful and they have been tiring to find out what happen to my nephew. The Gang Unit has asked several Gang member if they knew my nephew. or what happen. That early morning.

Thanks to The Gang Unit officer who been very up front ,professional and trying to keep me involved. I respect that. And you be safe out there.

Her is what the paper said about it Rewards:

Up to $5,000
will be paid.
to Secret Witness on this and any other crime

Hit and Run Fatality 04/23/06

Bakersfield Police is requesting the community’s assistance in identifying the suspect or suspects responsible for a fatal hit and run that occurred on 04/23/06 in the 1300 block of Lake Street. The victim, Michael Negrete (22) of Bakersfield, was apparently struck and killed by a vehicle.

Police had responded to a report of gang members fighting and possible shots fired and there were numerous vehicles leaving the area. It is unknown at this time whether this was an accident or an intentional act. There is no suspect information at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Officer Charlie Cowell at 661-326-3908 or Bakersfield Police at 66-327-7111. Anonymous and confidential information can be provided through Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

Deep Thoughts~whats in ,on my mind and whats out there.: Compassion,pancakes and small miracles

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 14:00:58 PST

I read the featured letter to the editor this morning. My face started to crack, K. asking “What?” I shook my head, he said, “Well at least read it out loud”. My voice squeaked out the last few paragraphs, we both were in tears by the end. What a poignant letter, the sweet humanity of this woman, the utter courage to say her truth, offer what comfort she could. At times my despair for what has become of man ~to often cruel, base, low~ is too much to bear. Then like sunlight, a Human Being shines forth from the low common denominator that is society today. My mother would often lament my life, saying it seemed so hard. Looking at others I never felt that way. In truth while we give lip service to “wanting only the good”, it is the events that rend your soul, try you, scar you, that give you character .Life changing, these moments also give you a map, one of morals ,showing you what lies in your soul. What is lacking there also.

Already I was crying a few tears from making pancakes morning, C&K loved Saturday morning pancakes, it was a ritual for both my sons. I would make tiny quarter sized one’s, the next Saturday they were the size of the plate. This morning something happened that in 40 years of Saturdays had never occurred. Ruminating on this letter, grief, the sunlight hit the cake in just the right fashion illuminating the surface. There appeared drops of moisture, looking like dew drops, on the pancake~ a small sweet sight, something lovely in it’s simplicity. A minor miracle, the only kind the world seems to get these days. The kind of miracle that allowed me to continue to make pancakes, associate a new, happier memory with them. In short, to reaffirm, even in my deep sorrow, that life is indeed worth the living.
I wish that the mother, grandmother of Kayden find ease and Peace. That the whole family is given hearts ease. That the letter writer forgives herself that I forgive myself. That the mindless, the self-righteous, the vindictive, the judger's have a moment of compassion and love. It is just these people who need compassion and love for themselves the most. The ones shouting loudest have, deep within them some type of shame that needs to be let out.

This life is so short, tragic; all of us will try and fall short. Few are such animals that they are lost to redemption. Kindness should not be a random act, taking the “high road” affords a sweet lovely view. May your pancakes be covered in dew.

Dusty's View of Life: The Dem's plan for Iraq..from their own lips..well,sort of.

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 10:19:00 PST

This morning in my email I had a letter from a group of Democrats..to be more precise..the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC.

Now, I signed up for their emails only to be informed as to what this heinous group of ner-do-well's and all around special interest kinda guys and gals were saying.

I was suprised to find this:

"On Thursday, the House Democratic Majority unveiled a new plan to end the war in Iraq, strengthen our security and provide our troops with the support they deserve. Our proposal establishes clear benchmarks in order to hold the Bush Administration and the Iraqi government accountable, and sets a firm timetable for bringing our combat troops home. President Bush has already threatened to veto this plan. Let me tell you how our plan works.

It establishes a timetable to bring our combat troops home within the next 18 months and is consistent with the unanimous recommendations of the independent bipartisan Iraq Study Group (Baker-Hamilton Commission). Depending on circumstances, all combat troops could be home as early as December 2007 but no later than August 2008.
We impose real benchmarks to hold the Iraqi government accountable. If the Iraqi government fails to meet its obligations, the redeployment of our combat troops would begin immediately.
Our plan refocuses our military on defeating the Al-Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan who were responsible for the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The House Democratic plan requires that our troops be adequately equipped and trained before they are sent into battle.
Finally, we insist upon top-notch medical care and first-class benefits for our military personnel and the new generation of veterans. Our wounded soldiers need to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

This is a plan that truly supports our troops. It is a smart, strategic policy that strengthens our national security and ensures that our soldiers get the training, equipment and support they deserve."

Ok..that really got me all excited when I read it..seriously. But then I had a cup of coffee and realized where it came from. A special interest group who I very seldom have anything in common with or support. The DCCC is just as bad as the Republican arm of wingnuts. So forgive me if I seem jaded and find it hard to believe this plan will be the cure-all for what ails us in Iraq. If they can manage by some small miracle to get ALL Democrats on board and enough republicans..then I will applaud them. I do not see anything changing the war in Iraq until Bush gets out of office and some poor sot has to come behind him and clean up all his messes.

But I decided to share it with Bakersfieldian's anyway this morning..enjoy!

Comments:
randomfactor commented:

Contrast this with the Republican plan: Send in the injured:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002729.php

dusty1215 commented: Heard about that today..they are desperate, aren't they?
randomfactor commented:

"Best-case scenario" in Iraq: Civil War, winner: al Qaeda.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13710030/leaving_iraq_the_grim_truth/print

TomW commented: RF, I was just reading that. Geez. All I can say is I hope Clarke is right. General McPeak's comment at the end was incredible:

This is a dark chapter in our history. Whatever else happens, our country's international standing has been frittered away by people who don't have the foggiest understanding of how the hell the world works. America has been conducting an experiment for the past six years, trying to validate the proposition that it really doesn't make any difference who you elect president. Now we know the result of that experiment [laughs]. If a guy is stupid, it makes a big difference.
dusty1215 commented: Well, when you count the money BushCo is giving to both sides..its hard to tell who is going to 'win' random. Sy Hersh has a great piece up about it.
randomfactor commented:

And that's just the *BEST-CASE* scenario. Most likely, longer civil war with al Qaeda *AND* Iran big winners...

You shouldn't elect stupid presidents? Whoda thunk it?

dusty1215 commented: Its not all Bush..Reagan was also a flake that depended on intelligent minds to brief him on issues that he had no clue on..

Its the people they surround themselves with.
randomfactor commented:

Reagan was a second-rate president with a first-rate PR firm. (Bush is a third-rate president with a fourth-rate PR firm--but a *HUGE* one.) He was second-rate as California governor, and the Alzheimer's hadn't yet kicked in then. Probably.

dusty1215 commented: During Iran-Contra..when he kept saying" I do not recall"..it was a warning we all missed.

He was in the beginning stages of Alzheimers..too bad for us as a country, there should be age limits perhaps? Not than I am advocating them..just saying..
mattloch commented: You deserve the president you elect. But just remember Ki6amd's words: when you insult Bush, you insult the entire organization. When you bring down the Commander-in-Chief, you bring down the troops. When you say something bad about America, the terrorists have an excuse to blow us up. Or something like that.....
dusty1215 commented: Give me a break Mattloch..that simpleton logic doesn't work on moi. When you bring out into the light, the transgressions of BushCo..yes, you indict the whole lot of them.

So?
randomfactor commented:

Fair enough. When I insult Bush, I mean the insult to attach to everyone in his immediate vicinity.

Dusty, remember that one of the "front-runners" on the Republican side would be, if elected, two years older than Reagan was on *HIS* inauguration day. And he *ALREADY* can't stay awake during State of the Union speeches (not that I hold *THAT* against him--I can stay awake, just not sober for them.)

dusty1215 commented: Weathervane McCain will not be elected. His war stance only appeals to the 30% that still buy into Bush's bs..
randomfactor commented:

Never overestimate the attention span of the American voter. All McCain needs to do is claim that Bush screwed up by *NOT* listening to him and to Lieberman. What reporter would contradict him besides Olbermann?

Remember Adlai Stevenson's remark when he was told he had the vote of "every thinking American."

"That's not enough, I need a majority!"

dusty1215 commented: lol..I need the majority. The last election proved they were listening..even if they were the silent majority.

Its those loud-mouthed 'libruls' that need to stfu. :P

Right Thinking: Coulter crossed line with use of gay slur

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:18:06 PST

Some years ago I caught a segment of the news show "60 Minutes" in which two editors of The National Enquirer were forced to admit they had

made up published stories about a well-known celebrity.

That a supermarket tabloid would fabricate stories was no surprise, but what really bothered me was that both the editors happened to be Scottish, a nationality I share.

It's always a blow when those we identify with commit a dishonorable act, which is why the stinging disappointment I felt at the ethical lapse of my fellow Scots, I felt again last week when fellow conservative Ann Coulter called Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards a "faggot."

Coulter used the slur while speaking before a friendly crowd of about 6,300 at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. She and a rapidly dwindling number of supporters have been struggling to explain the "joke" ever since.

In a hollow attempt to defend her use of the epithet on Fox News' Hannity and Colmes Show, Coulter claimed the term "isn't offensive to gays."

"It has nothing to do with gays," she said. "It's a schoolyard taunt meaning wuss and unless you are telling me John Edwards is gay, it was not applied to a gay person."

OK, I get it. In the world according to Coulter, the term "faggot" is only hate speech when directed at a person who is actually gay. And since everything about Edwards indicates otherwise, i.e. a 30-year marriage that has produced four children, he has no reason to take Coulter's remark personally.

It's a ridiculous argument, of course, but Coulter clearly has no intention of apologizing to Edwards, to his family, to the American Conservative Union whose convention she hijacked or to Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate who shared the dais with Coulter no doubt wishing he had stayed at home this year.

Instead, Coulter and her supporters are predictably blaming the fuss on the "selective outrage" of the liberal media, which, she says, reported her remarks out of context.

Please. This was no booze-fueled outburst a la Mel Gibson. This was a well-practiced, deliberately nasty joke that evoked as many groans as laughs from the startled crowd. Even noted conservatives at the convention, including Romney and syndicated columnist Michelle Maulkin, no shrinking violet herself in the messy world of politics, found the slur offensive and said so.

Conservatives defending Coulter rightly wonder why the media regularly fails to cover outrageous behavior from those on the left with the same vigor as it's now covering Coulter. Behaviors like Edwards' hiring of bloggers that bashed people of faith as "Christofascists" or like talk-show host Bill Maher's recent crack that if Vice President Dick Cheney were dead, "more people would live."

It's a good question, but that is another column. Coulter's use of the ugly epithet, like her past characterization of Iraqis as "ragheads" and the harsh suggestion that Sept. 11 widows used their husband's deaths for political gain, should be denounced without qualification.

Coulter is a knowledgeable and charismatic representative of the right, but in recent years her commentary has grown increasingly inflammatory, perhaps even detrimental to the conservative movement.

That's an issue book-buying conservatives can decide for themselves. As for me, I've had quite enough of Ms. Coulter.

Comments:
dusty1215 commented: Lets be clear on what Maher said..lets not paraphrase ok?

"I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power people wouldn't be dying needlessly tomorrow. If he did die, other people — more people would live. That's a fact."

He was responding to bloggers who were saddened that Cheney did not die in the bombing of an Afghan military base, but calling for Cheney to be killed is wrong..and THAT was his whole point of the comment.

But thanks for perpetuating the bs.
TomW commented: Thanks, Marylee. There is no excuse for Coulter's remarks. The reason it was a big deal is not because she said it (she said the same thing at a church the following weekend), but because both before and after the event, she was still being treated well by all of the Republican candidates for President as well as the rest of the CPAC conference. She was introduced by Mitt Romney.

In other words, she did it someplace that she was speakiing for the conservative movement. Andrew Sullivan who is a staunch conservative and is gay described it like this:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/03/faggots.html

She added to the joke a slur: "John Edwards is a faggot." That's why people gasped and then laughed and clapped so heartily. I was in the room, so I felt the atmosphere personally. It was an ugly atmosphere, designed to make any gay man or woman in the room feel marginalized and despised. To put it simply, either conservatism is happy to be associated with that atmosphere, or it isn't. I think the response so far suggests that the conservative elites don't want to go there, but the base has already been there for a very long time. (That's why this affair is so revealing, because it is showing which elites want to pander to bigots, and which do not.)
brentrevok commented: Ann Coulter is free to say anything she feels like saying, as we all should be. This country has gotten way too sensitive over the spoken word. Whatever happened to the old saying..."sticks and stones..?"
dusty1215 commented: Of course Coulter is enjoying her freedom of speech. And the newspapers that syndicate her are also enjoying the freedom to dump her, as well as other people having the freedom to distance themselves from her remark who usually sit on the same side of the fence as she does.
brentrevok commented:

This isn't about what side of the fence you sit on, it's about freedom of speech. I personally don't care what anyone says about me, my race or my beliefs. What upsets me is the type of society we have become. People are so easily offended these days. Why must everyone walk on eggs and be afraid to say what they feel? People need to quit apologizing if they say something that offends a certain person or ethnic group.

This country is heading in the wrong direction and it's only going to get worse.

antiextremism commented:

Yes, Freedom of Speech is for ALL Americans.

That's why I can say, that is the sorriest defense of Coulter I have heard yet.

dusty1215 commented: Anon said-"People are so easily offended these days". Your probably right about that. But Coulter's rhetoric is hardly enlightening and perhaps even her own supporters are getting tired of her hate filled diatribes with little merit and a whole bunch of nasty.

Perhaps her 15 minutes of fame are fizzling out...or would 'flaming' out be a better way to put it?
brentrevok commented:

Once again...this isn't about Ann Coulter. It's about the freedom to say what we, as Americans, want to say...whenever and wherever we choose to say it.

Don't you get it? This "forced" censorship is just another one of our freedoms slowly being taken away by the government, via liberal judges and lawmakers. This has nothing to do with hatred, bigotry, racism or the like -- it only has to do with freedom!

Look past the "incredibly-clouded spin" that the media has created, and see this for what it really is: Censorship!

GotREALITY commented:

I must have missed something. Was she "forced" to recant or were her comments deleted by the government or any other official body?

Last I checked our freedoms have been continuously eroded by you know who.

robbwillis commented: How can anyone claim the Edwards' bloggers didn't get media attention? Has Marylee just returned from vacationing on another planet?
rightthinking commented:

Anonymous, I'm afraid you are confusing censorship - a government action to stop the transmission or publication of matter considered objectionable - with accountability. No one has censored Coulter - in fact she's had unfettered access to the media since her "faggot" remark and unlimited opportunities to explain herself. With all the media attention she's been getting, it's ludicrous to suggest that someone or some entity is attempting to keep Coulter quiet. I believe even Coulter would agree she's been given ample opportunity to speak out.

All of us are accountable for the things we say and do, but there are consequences - like those Coulter is facing now. The risk in speaking out is that people aren't always going to like what you have to say and they have the right to respond. in any (nonviolent manner) they see fit. Bottom line is each of us has the right to speak freely, but if you can't take the heat, don't step up to the mic.

irv commented:

Edwards is perceived to be a wuss. He didn't get the name "Breck Boy" for nothing ya know.

Sorry, but Ann's remark isn't any more offensive to me than the rap music I am exposed to every day as I drive the streets of Bakersfield. I am truly offended by women being called "ho's"and "B#$%@" and black people being called "N#$$&@" .

dusty1215 commented: "I am truly offended by women being called "h*'s" and black people being called "n****" ."- well, it just goes to show you that some people have zero tolerance and then some..like you, allow a certain amount of hate speech and words to be used and fail to see the similarities.
dusty1215 commented: If Coultergeist has the right to say whatever she wants..and then call it humor, then great! People have the right to refuse her a soapbox to spew her crap. The newspapers that canned her took that step as well as a huge cross section of the rightwing blogosphere.
irv commented:

Dusty, just what don't you understand about "isn't any more offensive" and "I am truly offended" .

One is just as bad as the other in my mind.

One receives accolades and one receives ridicule. Go figure.

irv commented:

Dusty,

P.S.

Sorry about the edit but i did that in deference to "our nanny"

Dexter53 commented: I disagree with your points on this completely, anonymous.

I don't think the fallout from Anne Coulter's remark says anything about censorship or people being too touchy...it simply highlights the fact that she is a careless big-mouth and not the kind of person you want speaking for your side when you are trying to convince America that you will do the best job running the country.

Ms. Shrider is right on the money. It's about accountability.

Her time will end when Republicans get tired of taking crap for what she says and does. Sure, calling John Edwards a f***** isn't the end of the world, and it wasn't a gay slur. But wouldn't you rather not defend that position if you had a choice?

lol
randomfactor commented: 3190.
sagefever commented: "Shut my mouth" After saying that I was reassured by the fact I never would agree with Ms. Shrider, I am officially eating crow, so to speak. It is a sign of hope,because she is correct~you can say what you wish,but one is accountable for it.Name calling does not hurt but it certainly shows just how smart the utterer is. No point of view is changed by grade school banter.Nice to find common ground with the writer,and I wonder if crow is better with salsa or ketchup?
randomfactor commented:

Hmmm. Coulter crossed the line with this remark.

Not earlier, when she said Al Gore was a "total fag."

Not earlier, when she said the Oklahoma City terrorists just targeted the *WRONG* Americans.

Not earlier, when she said that the widows of those killed by the 9/11 terrorists killed were "whores."

Not earlier, when she suggested poisoning a sitting Supreme Court Justice.

Not earlier, when she said women should not be allowed to vote (although she herself did--illegally.)

Thanks for drawing them lines for us, MaryLee. What color is the sky over on your world?

nooneisabovethelaw commented:

Okay, I agree with you, Marylee, for one of the few times. But this is hardly the issue.

All this fuss over what Ann Colter said. First, she has no credibility. Anythng she says is suspect.

Second, it's amazing and more than a little discouraging that so much attention gets paid to what Ann Coulter said, and far, far, far too little attention continues to be paid to what the Bush Administration has said and done in these miserable six years.

Why on earth aren't we worked up over that? If we could show the same level of outrage over the high crimes and misdemeanors of this administration, we wouldn't have had to put up with the past six years of it.

Coulter and her so-called free speech is just another smoke screen. When are you people going to realize it and stopped being played for fools?

dusty1215 commented: Applauding Marylee for jumping on the bandwagon a week after it went down is interesting..she's a few days late and as random points out..there are plenty of Coultergeists' comments to go around the last few years..
MsNella commented: Look, I hardly ever agree with Marylee. However, she acknowledges dome (Who could list all?) of Coulter's offensive remarks. Marylee states at the end of the column "As for me, I've had quite enough of Ms. Coulter." It seems, to me, a bit wrong to criticize someone for finally having enough of Coulter's b.s. Better late than never, I say.
antiextremism commented:

Im glad Marylee sees through the garbage. It gives her more credibility in my book. If we all just toe the party line no matter what, we're as bad as the fundamentalist terrorists, and we all lose credibility. There are vicious and stupid people on both sides.

And anonymous, freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from reprisal. She certainly can say what she wants, and we can certainly proclaim her stupidity for saying it, along with the tons of other stupid things she says to get attention. It's not even close to being censorship. When you choose vanilla ice cream over butterscotch, it doesn't mean butterscotch has been banned, it only means that you think butterscotch sucks.

allRED commented: randomfactor on Mar 10, 2007 at 02:24 PM

Hmmm. Coulter crossed the line with this remark.

Not earlier, when she said Al Gore was a "total fag."

Not earlier, when she said the Oklahoma City terrorists just targeted the *WRONG* Americans.

Not earlier, when she said that the widows of those killed by the 9/11 terrorists killed were "whores."

Not earlier, when she suggested poisoning a sitting Supreme Court Justice.

Not earlier, when she said women should not be allowed to vote (although she herself did--illegally.)

Thanks for drawing them lines for us, MaryLee. What color is the sky over on your world?

I have no problem with the statements above.

MsNella commented: Also, for those who latch on to the "crossing the line" bit. She didn't even write that. It was a *headline* Writers don't write those. Copy editors do.
Quest commented: Ok, I'll bite, allRED, why don't you have problems with any of those statements?

I do, because that's not how I believe God would like us to conduct ourselves. It also hurts real honest thoughtful political debate. It de-humanizes people, and creates conveniant pigeonholes that leads to more "groupthink" and less truth.

Calling someone a "bitch" "faggot" "whore" or calling for their death is not how Christ would have us behave. It drags down the discussion to playground insults and hardens positions. God wants us to stand up for the truth, but with dignity and respect for others. Just as Christ showed kindness and love to everyone when He was on earth. We all get a bit hot and lose it some times, by Ann Coulter went far beyond the line, and is not the kind of person I would want advocating for me.
TomW commented: I'm guessing allRed was joking.
antiextremism commented: Or maybe he agrees with Random. Can't you go to hell for that Ron?
victormperez commented: Response to Ann Coulter

Ann read your Bible ''Thou shall not bear false witness'.
tkozy commented:

Shrider turning over a new leaf? Hardly..

Rather she recognized a indefensible situation. And attempted to mitigate the damage.

Cunning and calculated without a hint of compassionate conservatism.

Somewhat akin to a little bloodletting to improve the physical health.

Without regard to the spiritual mind or morality..

randomfactor commented: 3195.
sfinboston52 commented: Ann C. has step over the line...saying the "F" word is the same as saying the "N" or the "C" word. It should never be uttered. I remember that would being used against me when I was in school and it was said w/ hate and was used to take away my humanity. As an Adult, I have only heard it a couple of times, but still remember the hate behind it. I have no respect for Ann C. she is a person w/o compassion or true common deceny..
antiextremism commented: http://www.noolmusic.com/blogs/YouTube_Viral_Videos4_-_Late_Show_-_Clinton_Reply_To_Ann_Coulter.shtml
tkozy commented:

Things that interest ME: An Inconvenient Meal

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 07:37:51 PST

This should get some knickers a few knots.

"An Inconvenient Meal" .....and the letter from PETA

The Real Story on the right of the page.

.......It's a little irreverant but what the heck.

An no..it isn't an attack on Gore for heavens sake. I'd think it was funny no matter who it was featuring.

Comments:
woofwoof commented: That was pretty dang funny Nancy. The video was a hoot. Mass destruction from eating a hoagie.....lol. It does seem it's just a way for money to shift on to something else that's not as important as poverty.
irv commented: What a great documentary! Glen Beck should be up for a Golden Globe at the very least! :o)
ki6amd commented: Nancy, I'm glad to see I'm not the only fan of Glenn here. It was a good segment. I especially loved his video with pics of all of the global warming fans stuffing themseves with meaty foods. I've gotten my grandma watching Beck now almost every day. Now if I can get her to listen in the morning...

...for all interested, here's the video.
NancyII commented:

I'm on the road every day during the last hour of Becks radio show and I'm always entertained as well as enlightened. Heh.

I ran across the video when I went to his web site (link above) to find the name of the guy (Jeff Bolton) that I had heard speak on his show. Then while watching his show Sat nite (rerun) they played to video. They do a lot of those kinds of videos and some in the guise of commercials. I think Beck has stumbled onto something I learned long ago..when you inject humor and entertainment into your "lectures" people tend to listen more and learn more. After a short time of being hammered by most talk show hosts, I tend to tune them out. I used to like Michael Reagan for his style also..don't know what happened to him.

Last week he was at the Islamic Reformation conference but I haven't heard a lot about that yet. Contrary to popular belief, I listen to talk radio a total of maybe an hour (half hour each way) a day 4 days a week and on the Sat commute I listen to the garden gurus or home improvement shows. I'm not immersed in talk radio as some would have people believe.

Anyway...funny video..hopefully people will get as big a kick out of it as we did.

ki6amd commented: Here is the updated link to the story BTW...

Editorials: It's time for universal trash recycling

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:17:34 PST

PUBLISHED 3-11-2007

Bakersfield is not a small, backwater city. It’s one of California’s major metropolitan areas. And it’s time we acted like one.

Bakersfield reportedly is the only city of its size in California that lacks a universal trash recycling program with curbside collection. We should be moving toward implementing one.

A good first step is to revise the monthly trash rates to encourage recycling, rather than discourage it. Begin plans for a “universal” system — one that charges a single fee for the weekly curbside pickup of trash, green waste and recyclable items.

A committee of the Bakersfield City Council has endorsed a plan to revise the rates. The plan still needs to be approved by the entire City Council.

Last week, the Kern County grand jury joined the chorus calling for universal curbside collection of recycled items. Grand jurors are correct. Such a program is long overdue.

After dragging their heels for years, city officials reluctantly initiated a voluntary recycling program with curbside collection once every two weeks.

But the city’s monthly trash collection rate structure discourages use of the service by requiring residents to pay more for pickup.

Other major California cities have universal collection and a “bundled” rate structure. For one single charge, residential customers receive three bins — trash, greenwaste (yard clippings) and recycled items (plastic bottles, paper products, etc.) Commonly all three bins are picked up every week.

A sampling of monthly charges in the state showed Los Angeles at $18 (to jump to $22 in July) and Fresno at about $18 (to jump to about $21 next month).

In Bakersfield, residential customers pay $14.09 a month for weekly collection of one trash (brown) and one greenwaste bin. The few people willing to pay extra to have their recycled items hauled away every two weeks pay an additonal $6.67 (blue bin.) Only about 3 percent of the customers have been enticed to pay for the service.

The existing system further discourages recycling by making it cheaper to get a second can for excess trash for only $4.53 a month. The true cost of collecting the second can is $7.15.

Curbside collection of recycled items is a convenience to residents and will reduce the flow of trash into our landfills. It benefits the environment and conserves resources.

Adjusting the rates as proposed — shifting the existing “subsidy” from the second trash bin to the blue recycling bin — will lower the recycling fee to $4 a month. That’s less than most trips to McDonald’s. That should encourage more people to recycle.

The next step is to devise a universal collection system that will bundle trash, green waste and recycling into one single rate. What that rate will be and how the recycled waste will be handled requires additional study and collaboration with waste haulers and recycling companies.

Time is running out. Stricter state mandates to lower the volume of waste being dumped in California landfills are on the horizon. Environmental and conservation concerns are increasing.

It’s best to lead the parade away from the dump, rather than being run over by it.
We ask our city leaders to lead.

Comments:
adampayne commented: Murphy, for someone like yourself, curbside recycling might not be a savings and could be a redundancy. If everyone did what you do this probably would not even be an issue. But there are very few people (I'm sure everyone in the blogosphere excepted) that go to your lengths to recycle. The fact of the matter that all over Bakersfield brown trash cans overflow each week with tons of items that could be conveniently recycled with a blue curbside pick up. No one will have to separate bottles from cans or paper and cardboard from plastics. They can all go into one can and reduce effort, cost and waste while providing a valuable environmental action. I applaud the recent proposal to lower the recycling fee while raising the cost on the second garbage container. The editorial presented here is right on the money regarding how necessary this action is.
adampayne commented: Murphy, I wish the same.
nooneisabovethelaw commented:

I'm one of those who is paying for the recycling service and it's great. I hated waiting till I had enough to make a load worthwhile, and I especially hated when I got to Tevis Junior High and the bins were all full to overflowing, and other people, either unclear on what's recyclable or just too lazy or cheap to go to the dump, use the area for a trash can.

No, this is the way to go. Period.

mildmannered1 commented: I take my recyclables to Tevis every weekend--it's gotten cleaner, by the way. Our regular trash takes up little more than 1/4 of the brown can. So my neighbors stuff their excess into ours when no one's looking. I applaud the City's efforts to bring us into the 21st century. They'll have to do massive education on this. I hate to say this out loud, but my hispanic neighbors either don't know or don't care about recycling Corona and pop bottles, breaking down cardboard, etc. I realize this sounds racist but I know who my neighbors are and I see with my own eyes their 5' high brown cans every Wednesday. Can't speak for the rest of town.
dntlarin commented: Recycling should not be voluntary, it should be mandatory! I currently also take my recyclables to the bins in most school grounds but I recognize the time allotment required and most people are too busy to bother. More people will begin to comply if it is convienent enough and if everybody pays it will cost less.
tkozy commented:

I refuse to pay for someone to pick up five dollar bills at my curb.

There are many people who would do it for free.

AudreyB commented:

We're going to try it. We generate so much paper that our brown can can't handle it each week. My husband makes extra trips to the dump on a regular basis. So,we'll give it a try. Besides, we'll look so environmentally fashionable with our blue can.

Dusty's View of Life: The Fox News sponsored Democratic presidential debate in Nevada has been cancelled

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:02:51 PST

Ok, this won't make some folks happy, but here it is..

Do to overwhelming pressure, the Democratic party bowed to pressure demanding that Fox Noise..er News not be allowed to host the Nevada debates.

"The Nevada State Democratic Party is pulling out of a controversial presidential debate scheduled for Aug. 14 in Reno and co-hosted by Fox News, according to Democratic insiders.

The debate was being hosted by Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio, the Nevada State Democratic Party and the Western Majority Project."

FOX News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes gave the progressive activists more ammunition on Thursday when he jokingly compared Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, to Osama bin Laden.--THAT will always make friends and influence people..ya know?

Comments:
mattloch commented: What took the Nevada Dems so freakin' long to bail out? It was apparent to all that the plane was doomed from the start. It was cobbled together using plans drawn by an idiot-savant, built by sadomasochists with no seatbelts (and no seats, for that matter) and nothing but hooks to hang the bodies from the ceiling, and piloted by escaped patients from an institution for the criminally insane. The fact that Air America offered to paint their logo on the tail section was a great piece of voodoo, really. One of those "it's such a crazy plan, it might just work" moments that we don't get enough of in modern politics/media these days. I was happy to read that Richardson hit the silks as it was nosing earthward, but I'm not entirely confident that he wasn't pushed out by one of the AA folks that was listening to the voices in the cockpit. It'll be nice to see what the talking heads over at Faux make of the crater it left when it augered into the ground. Lots of hand-wringing and tales of Fear and Craziness, I'm sure. Clinton loses points for not saying something about the general un-airworthiness of the craft. Obama gets double-negative points since the decision should have been that much easier for him. Edwards gets props for saying it, but only on the scorecards of those with their ears in the blogosphere. Hopefully this event will kill any chance that Faux will have to claim legitimacy and media credentials this election cycle.
dusty1215 commented: LOL..I went on their site as recently as Tuesday and they were saying they had LOTS of support from their constituents..guess that dropped off rather quickly..
dusty1215 commented: Mattloch..they will get their election credentials..come on..but whether they deserve them as journalists is another story isnt it?
mattloch commented: They deserve credentials as much as Jeff Gannon did. If that happens to mean the bar is set way too low, so be it....
bakodon commented: You can knock Fox news all day but there are sure a lot of people watching them! They are still the # 1 rated cable news show and not far behind the three liberal media TV stations. And just as an aside with the hiring of a Clinton friend at CBS we can put to rest the idea of maybe label, liberal, they are now for real far left far out liberal at CBS!
dusty1215 commented: Right don..thanks for the 411. Are you blind or just a fan of extra-huge font as a means of communicating your opinion?
bakodon commented: Blind-almost........
bakodon commented: Rick Kaplan a failure at two net works, MSNBC and CNN was hired by CBS to produce the Evening New. He is so tight with the Clinton's that when he visited the White House, whenHillery asked Bill what time it was , she had to tap Kaplan on the shoulder and ask him to stop snoring!
dusty1215 commented: If your sight is bad, then I totally understand. Thanks for clarifying that. On CBS..their ratings are better than the 24/7 cable news channels..all of them, so if they are going flaming liberal..oh well, it doesn't bother me as you know :)
sgpowell commented: WIMPS. They can't debate issues or face tough questions, so they Redeploy.....Edwards is running back to his America. He can't stand the heat of the two Americas most people live in......
dusty1215 commented: Anon, ..thanks for your pov, no matter how ridiculous it is. Edwards not appearing had nothing to do with the decision. It was the made do to the rush of complaints from registered Democrats and just people in general...you know, public opinion.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your pov..please, by all means,keep dreaming the dream.
murphyslaw commented: anon!!!!!! don't yell so loud, you'll wake the dead. shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
coochee commented:

Wasn't it Obama who, a few months back, started a Fox boycott? He grants interviews to everyone but them. I love it!

GotREALITY commented: MY font is bigger than yours!
antiextremism commented:

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The other major culprit for FD is, of course, anger at having no facts to back up your claims. Many people cling to the belief that the loudest one wins. These victims usually come from large families where yelling was the primary method of communicating. Or perhaps they are ignored at home, and don't have it in them to confront their loved ones for their perceived lack of respect, and use their keyboard as a blunt weapon of destruction in a rant with strangers who don't enjoy their political views.

But now there is help for FD, commonly known as Font Dysfunction. For $99.95, you can have your fonts adjusted so that you can only use a 16 font on your high end, and, to calm your soul, only have Comic Sans as an option in font type. And that's not all! We'll throw in a free adjustment where the red fonts are replaced with soothing greens and blues. We've had a very successful rate of cure.*

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dusty1215 commented: LOL..thats quite clever anti! "Operators are standing by..love it.