Top-11 "Only In America" Observations -- By A Canadian

I stole this from a comment on a story on Breitbart.com. I thought it really hit the mark...


1) Only in America could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all.

2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black while only 12% of the population is black.

3) Only in America could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.

4) Only in America can they have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media react primarily by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.

5) Only in America would they make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just 'magically' become American citizens.

6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists."

 7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.

8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike).

9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year - for total spending of $7-Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money.

10) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 a plate campaign fund-raising event.

11) Only in America can a man with no background, no qualifications and no experience ... and a complete failure at his job ... be reelected.

My Response to Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley

Dear Senator,
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is an awful bill, and I don't believe you have read it. (Please tell me I'm wrong). It is not accomplishing it's lofty goals. When my COBRA ran out last year, I was denied coverage due to a "pre-existing condition" that had already been operated on and resolved. My new insurance plan from Providence jumped about $100 a month in premium 2 months after taking effect. I currently pay $758 a month for a family of 4, and am struggling to pay it. It is obviously not affordable. Even worse, the deductibles and out of pocket costs are so high, that I would need to get hit by a bus or get cancer to make the policy worthwhile. My total annual out of pocket is something ridiculous like $27,000. That's the median income of an Oregonian. I think Obamacare has immediately made my life worse, driven UP costs, driven UP premiums and deductibles, and generally hurt the economy. Polls show Americans hate this bill, and favor it's repeal. By supporting it, you are out step with the American people.
Respectfully,
Rosey

In response to your letter about health care reform

Dear Rosey,
Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns about the health care reform law. While we may disagree about the merits of this law, I value knowing your views on this important matter and I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspective.

As you know, President Obama signed into law comprehensive health care reform legislation, called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in March 2010. I support this legislation because it is clear that our current health care system is no longer working for many Americans. Too many are without insurance; too many others fear they will lose coverage when they need it most; too many families are going bankrupt and too many businesses are hampered because of spiraling health care costs. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will end some of the worst health insurance company abuses and give millions of families and small business owners better choices for affordable health care.

Since this health care reform legislation became law, several important improvements to health insurance policy and patient rights have already come into effect. Small businesses are eligible for tax credits of up to 35 percent of their premium costs. Insurance companies are banned from dropping coverage when a person becomes sick, and from imposing lifetime limits on coverage. Many people with pre-existing health conditions now have access to affordable insurance and children with pre-existing conditions are no longer denied health insurance coverage. In addition, this legislation helps close the "doughnut hole" gap in Medicare Part D coverage that was leaving many senior citizens stranded with thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs. Also, because of this law, patients are protected from arbitrary or excessive insurance premium changes.

While I believe the 2010 health care reform law is an important step toward the goal of accessible and affordable health care, I remain open to ideas that build on and improve the work we have started. In the months and years ahead, Congress will undoubtedly face challenging new decisions in the effort to improve health care in this country and I welcome ideas about how to improve upon the law without taking away its many benefits for working families and small businesses.

Again, I appreciate your input. I hope you will continue to send your observations and thoughts my way.

All my best,

Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator

My Review of Roku HD Player

Originally submitted at Roku

The new HD, with built-in wireless, delivers top value in high-definition streaming.

Roku HD Player

Waited too long!

By Rosey from Portland, Orygun on 1/2/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Video selection, Easy to set up, Built in Wi-Fi, Great value, Reliability, Easy to use, Compact, High quality picture

Best Uses: Bedroom, Primary TV, Secondary TV, Living room

Describe Yourself: Netflix fan, Casual User

I'd give it 4.5*. Some features like search, rewind, forward aren't perfect. All things considered it's a great product at a fair price. I fired the cable company ($75/month to watch TV!). I needed to upgrade my Netflix plan from $4.99 to $9.99, but I think that's quite fair considering how much you can watch instantly.

Set up was seamless, but took a little time... going back and forth to my computer & the bedroom, upgrading my Netflix plan etc. I am a late adopter, and wondering why I waited so long!

(legalese)

Sales Training Video for Beverage Analysis

So you want to be a stockbroker

Barrack Obama Speaks From the Whitehouse

9-11 Remembrance

9 years ago today, almost to the minute...standing on the walkway between 1 World Financial Center and 1 World Trace Center, briefcase in my right hand, cup of coffee that likely saved my life in my left hand, wondering what the hell was going on…Security guard yelled, “Get off the bridge.” Ran towards him into 1 World Financial Center… Thought it was a bomb…Ran downstairs next to the messenger center…Saw the sky raining people...Called my bosses’ admin...told her voice-mail to get everyone the hell out of there…

Don’t buy American

I consider myself to be a patriot, or at least I once was. But I have become so disgusted with the horrendous customer service in America, and the low quality of products. I’m not sure I’m still proud to be an American. Case in point, a few weeks ago my toaster oven died. It was a Sanyo, I believe; we picked it up in Tokyo while I was working over there. It was compact and had only one control on it, a timer. Twist the timer and you can toast, bake or broil for the number of minutes you select up to the max on the dial which I think was 20 or 30 minutes. You could grill fish and toast bagels or bread. We frequently melted cheese on both for the kid’s breakfast, lunch or a snack. After 10 years it died.

I went to Amazon to read some reviews, but unfortunately for something like toaster ovens, models change and come and go so quickly it’s hard to buy what’s reviewed. Since we couldn’t live a day without a toaster oven, I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond with one of their ubiquitous 20% off coupons in hand. Although Black & Decker got poor reviews on Amazon, there was a stainless and black model for sale for $59.99, and it was the second cheapest after a Hamilton Beach at $49.99. I didn’t think I needed to spend $199 (or whatever) to get a Cuisinart but maybe it would have been a better idea. The Black & Decker sucks. It is cheaply made, it takes forever to make a piece of toast, and the timer sounds like a ticking time bomb from an Inspector Clouseau movie. Within one week, the toasting knob busted off. A call to the factory service number did make one appear in the mail after 10 business days, during which time we were forced to bake our toast.

Fast forward to yesterday, I took delivery on a Frigidaire range, that lists for $749. After installing it according to the instructions, I discovered that 1 burner would not light, and that the knob spindle on another was badly off center. The instructions said it may or may not come with a broiler pan (it didn’t you must buy one for $19.95) and that it may have a either a warmer tray or a storage tray on the bottom. I called the toll free number on the manual, and was given a selection of recordings to listen to that didn’t help me. There was a selection for “Other” which gave you a toll number, you pay for the call, for more help. After calling that number, listening the voice prompts, getting put on hold, I finally got an English speaking human in a foreign call center who informed me that it was the dealer’s responsibility in the first seven days so I needed to call them.

Calling the dealer, I needed to speak to the owner, since they had fired most of their sales staff. After leaving messages and talking to an intern (the owner’s son) and another salesman, I confirmed that I am not entitle to a broiler pan for a $749 stove (list price, I paid $515 + tax & delivery), and that the tray on the bottom was storage not a warmer. “Call ya back about getting the problem fixed.”

They did call back, and I got a toll free number for Metro service which I called, only to hear a message that they were closed for lunch from 12-1. Calling back and finally getting an English speaking human in this country, I got an appointment for six days from now, call ya in the morning to give a four hour window for you to stay home and wait for the repairman.

So here’s my question, how much do you have to spend to get a stove that is of high quality and not defective? What has happened to quality in America? Customer service? Pride of workmanship? It is no wonder all of our manufacturing jobs have been off shored, not only is it too expensive to manufacture here, but if you decided to keep your factory open here, you won’t get a quality product anyway, so what’s the point?

Warren Buffet in a recent interview said that he thought America’s best days are still ahead of us. If I was a 70-something billionaire, I might think so too. But I’m not and I don’t. It seems to me, unless there are some drastic changes in America, it’s best days are behind us…

The Demise of eBay

I decided to start listing some crap, er...treasures, on eBay, instead of getting nothing for it at a garage sale. I have an old Polaroid One Step Camera, and now that the film is no longer in production, I thought I'd sell the camera. It still works and I have the original box with the $39.99 price tag on it and the instructions. The camera is worthless. They are selling for the opening bid of $0.99 with shipping of $4.95.

So as long as the camera is both worthless and working, I thought instead of selling it, I'd see if I could buy some film. It's still fun to take those instant pictures and watch them develop. Well, since the film is no longer in production, the price is very high, $15 to $20 per package of 10, plus shipping. So the question now is, do I just throw out the camera? Or should I hold onto it. No point in selling it for $0.99. Also no point in buying the overpriced film, when I can just take digital photos, also instant, and print them on plain paper on a laser printer or at a drug store.

But eBay (and Half.com too) used to be a great place to sell your stuff. People would bid like crazy, it was well worth your time. eBay has become a dumping ground, and the recession hasn't helped. Two years ago, eBay did a great job of chasing their sellers away by raising fees; earning the nickname Feebay. It didn't help when the US Postal Service raised rates and changed key details of shipping (rates, package sizes, etc.). Many sellers fled, others just disappeared, realizing that selling on eBay was no longer profitable and now just a waste of time.

In January of 2007, having just finished a consulting gig, I joined my wife who was selling on eBay. Together we bought three palettes of off-price dresses and suits, excess inventory from Macy's and began selling them on eBay. It was a lot of work, and the margins were slim. There were a half dozen other seller around the country doing the same thing, and some were just dumping their stuff, losing money and driving the prices down. Although we ordered another three palettes, that was it. We sold off most of the inventory and packed it in. On balance it was a good experience and we learned a lot. But the idea of earning a living in sweatpants from home, remained an elusive fantasy.

My wife has moved most of her selling to Etsy.com, and rarely sells on eBay. I occasionally sell my junk on eBay. I guess it's still a "Viable" business and they will remain somewhat profitable, but the idea of full time, professional eBay sellers has gone the way of the Polaroid Camera.

Chris Christie for Governor

You can tell by my earlier posts that I am no fan of Jon Corzine. In fact, I think New Jersey would be much better off if he had managed to kill himself in his near-fatal accident. Actually, New Jersey would have been better off with Brett Schundler, but he lost the primary because he’s “Too conservative.”

I like Steve Lonegan, but he’s not going to win, so it’s better to put my money on the horse that will. Christie has been peppering my mailbox with colossal postcards in the last few weeks, hammering Lonegan that he’s going to raise taxes. I don’t believe a word of that, in fact I would say the opposite is true. Lonegan has positioned himself as a tax cutter, but Christie’s attacks have gone largely unanswered. Just recently I got a postcard from Lonegan and heard some TV and radio ads, but I think it’s too little too late. Too bad. Lonegan is stand up guy with a big pair of balls, but he doesn’t have the money and connections that Christie has.

Christie is not actually conservative enough for my tastes, but at this point, it’s critical to dump Corzine, and get a Republican in the statehouse. I warned you about McGreevey, I warned you about Corzine, now I beseech you, go to the polls Tuesday, June 2nd, and vote for Chris Christie.

Blogger Blogging Bloggest

I’m on Facebook, I’m on Twitter, I’m on Blogger. I am a blogger, albeit a very part-time one. I’ve been blogging just over 3 years, and it can be very time consuming. Also there are significant technical challenges. Blogger, from Google, is free, so all the support is on-line, which is to say, you are on your own. I feel old; even though I am reasonably computer literate, the internet is a complex place: Blogs, news sites, search, search engine optimization, etc. I recently had renewed interest in blogging, because I saw an article on-line that suggested job seekers start a blog, on a subject about which they are an expert. I started mine the aforementioned 3 years ago, but haven’t been updating so frequently. I spent hours today redoing video posts that contained nudity. I thought it was hilarious putting angry tenant messages to pictures, including nudes of famous chicks that let their goodies out on the internet by “Accident” (Britney Spears and Vanessa Hudgens). I have noticed that female bloggers, especially young ones, get many more hits on their profile than men in their forties. They also seem to have time to post a lot, many being housewives.

I checked my Adsense account today, to discover that in the 3 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve “Earned” $28.64. I’ll get a check about 2 months after I hit $100. Wow! I read about a “Professional Blogger” who makes over $100,000 a year blogging. He said if he posts everyday, he gets more traffic. He went on vacation, and asked someone to post for him. The guest poster posted about 20 times a day, and his hits exploded.

In this odyssey, I suddenly thought about my high school friend. He is the single best writer that I know in person. In spite of his immense talent, he has been frustrated in trying to become a published author (as have I, but I don’t have his talent). He strove all his adult life to become a reporter, and when he finally achieved it, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. [sigh]. I’m suddenly thinking that a blog might be his best bet to make money and get famous writing. All one has to do is write relevant stuff and promote the hell out of one’s blog. Admittedly, I have no idea how to do the latter. But if you write they will come, won’t they? Just a thought…

Letter to Corzine RE: State of the State Address

Rosey
Northern, NJ

Governor Jon Corzine
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

RE: State of the State Address

January 9, 2008

Dear Governor,

I don’t know how much longer I can stay in New Jersey; I’m not a multi-millionaire. I can barely afford to live here, paying $12,000 in property taxes for my modest home. But where will I go? I was raised in Bergen County, and lived most of my years in New Jersey.

In your address, you said,

“please ... let’s not insult each other or the public with empty rhetoric …that we can pay down the debt and fund transportation improvements if we ‘just cut more spending and get rid of all waste, fraud and abuse.’”

I say insult me. Please insult me! I want to hear “empty rhetoric” directly from your mouth saying that you can and will cut spending. Otherwise, you are just another liberal, tax and spend Democrat!

¨ Cut spending in failed Abbott school districts, where the administrators drive Jaguars and take European vacations on taxpayer dollars.

¨ Cut aid to towns that have been the target of criminal investigations and convictions for fraudulent waste of taxpayer dollars.

¨ Cut ineffectual State Commissions which have been mired in scandal.

¨ Cut overtime for State employees.

¨ Cut the size of the government.

¨ Cut the B.S. about borrowing against future toll hikes. Borrowing is borrowing! You’re just moving the bubble around under the pool cover, and fooling no one.

¨ Cut, cut, cut! Because I am sick and tired of carrying all of New Jersey around on my back!

Very truly yours,

Rosey

Tenant Security Deposit Accounts Stump Tellers

Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
Attn: Customer Service
1701 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

RE: Tenant Security Deposit Accounts Stump Tellers

December 17, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had several tenant security deposit accounts with your bank over the last few years, two of which are still open (Master # 12345 & 12346). Your tellers don’t know how to handle a deposit to these accounts, and it never gets any better. When someone finally figures it out, they disappear from the bank.

As a result, I must stand at the counter or sit in my car for 15 minutes as the teller scampers around the bank to find someone to help; then they both stare into the screen grimacing, until they can finally pull it off.

I have complained in the past to no avail. It always comes down to, is it more painful to switch banks or put up with this crap once or twice a month? What good is it bragging about being open 7 days a week if the employees don’t know how to do their job whenever you go there?

Look at the enclosed receipt the teller first gave me! I have a fiduciary responsibility to my tenants to safeguard their security deposit. Would the first receipt be of any value in solving a problem if the deposit went missing. The second receipt is better, but that information should be printed on the deposit ticket, as in attempt number three.

You have got to do better.

Very Truly yours,




Rosey

NJ's Liberal Senators

Three months ago I sent a letter to the president, the vice president, and my liberal NJ senators expressing my opposition to the immigration shamnesty bill. Below is the boilerplate response from Senator Menendez. A liberal Hispanic from NJ, you can just guess which way he votes...

Fear Big Government!

New Jersey's government has officially run amok. It was probably official ten years ago, but just when you think it can't get worse, it does. It is becoming almost a hobby writing angry letters to politicians. It doesn't seem to really get me anywhere though. In addition to not being able to answer a phone call, the pertinent website is down...read on...

New Jersey Division of Taxation
License Verification Program
PO Box 272
Trenton, NJ 08695-0272

RE License # 1234456

October 7, 2007

To whom it may concern:

I have receive the enclosed letter threatening to revoke my real estate license for failing to respond to your letter dated 10/9/2006. I responded immediately and registered on line. Enclosed please find proof of my registration.

I also called your offices upon receiving your threat letter, only to get a recording saying that no one can answer my call, and referring me back to your convoluted, confusing website. Please do not suspend my license, I did everything you asked me to do.

I would like add that I have no faith in our dysfunctional, parasitic, selfish, corrupt state government. Do you wonder why? All you do is steal our money and waste it. Less of you means more prosperity for us, the taxpaying victims of New Jersey.

Feel free to contact me at the number listed above should you have any questions. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Very truly yours,

Rosey

Impeach George!

While I certainly do not agree with the sentiments of this bill, I did actually find it in my wallet. (Click to enlarge).

E-mail Scam

I received the following e-mail today:

Subject: Mutual Trust...

Attn: Rosey,

My name is Barrister Ahmad B. Zaidi, a legal practitioner with Zaidi Law Firm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I saw your contact and profile and decided that you could cooperate with me in this proposition.

I have a client who was deceased in November 2001,in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.I am contacting you because you have the same surname as my deceased client and i felt that you could help me in the distribution of funds that were left in my deceased client's account.

This fund is close to been declared un-serviceable by the finance house as there were no indicated next of kin or next of beneficiary of the fund in the account, having remained dormant for long.The total amount of cash in the account of my deceased client is US$ 4.7 Million ( Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United States dollars Only ).

The finance house had issued me, a notification to contact the next of kin of my deceased client, to make beneficiary claim, of the fund in the account, with a month surcharge of 6% to be deducted as an Escrow safe keeping fee of the account,so as to avoid the indefinite closure of the account.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent, and to present your kind self as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client, since you have the same last name with him.This means that the proceeds of his account would be paid to you as his next of kin or the legitimate beneficiary.When the proceeds in his account are paid to you, we would share the proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self.

All the legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next of-kin would be provided by me. The most important thing I would need is your honest cooperation in this proposition.This would be done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your Value,feel free to decline this proposal.Please contact me at once if you're interested by replying the mail.

Yours Faithfully
Ahmad B. Zaidi Esq.




So, should I do it?

Response From Frank Lautenberg

The letter below on Amnesty was also sent to my state senators. Here is the response I just received from Senator Frank Lautenberg (Dem, NJ):

Dear Mr. Rosey:

Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you know, our immigration system is badly broken. We need reform that is tough, practical, and fair. Border security is essential. We must know who is crossing our borders and living in our country. In addition, we must enforce our immigration laws and crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. I do not support offering blanket amnesty for undocumented workers. Rather, realistic reform should allow undocumented workers to come out of the shadows if they pay stiff fines, work for a number of years, undergo a rigorous background and security check, learn English, and go to the end of the line.

I had concerns about the recent immigration bill (S. 1639) and I supported amendments to change it. I voted for amendments by Senator Byron Dorgan ( D-ND ) to remove the bill's guestworker program out of concern that it would undercut American wages and encourage guest workers to overstay their visas. While those amendments failed, an amendment by Senator Jeff Bingaman ( D-NM ) cutting the annual number of guestworker visas in half passed with my support.

I thought the Senate should fully debate the best way to enact tough, practical, and fair immigration reform. As such, I voted to continue work on th is immigration bill . However, please know that I continued t o have serious concerns about this legislation, and be assured that I will keep your views in mind when the full Senate again considers immigration issues.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Better Business Bureau Complaint #5123269

Dear Mr. Pressey,

I received today a copy of the response you sent to my Better Business Bureau Complaint #5123269. You told the BBB that, “as of yesterday, the customer is now happy again.” You may consider the complaint closed. But I am not “happy again.”

ADT’s abysmal customer service (two no-shows, and three more service calls to fix the problem) have irreparably damaged our relationship. And it has nothing to do with a death in the tech’s family; the issue is ADT repeatedly telling me a tech is coming when ADT should have known he wasn’t.

Had a qualified tech with the right parts on the truck showed up for the first appointment (that was a no-show), the problem could have been fixed in one service call. I really resent you telling the BBB that I’m happy. The credit you gave me doesn’t even begin to compensate me for my time, and by the way it didn’t appear on the bill I just got.

I realize the system costs about $2000 to install, so that’s why I stuck with ADT rather than kicking you out. Think of us like an unhappy married couple, staying together for the kids and sleeping in separate bedrooms. I’d like a divorce from ADT, but it’s just too expensive.

Regards,

Rosey

No Amnesty for Illegal Aliens!

Rosey
Somewhere in NJ

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

RE: No Amnesty for Illegal Aliens!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Dear Mr. President,
The current immigration bill provides Amnesty for Illegal Aliens, no matter what you call it. I strongly object to this.

Please build a fence and secure our borders first; then we can talk about the people that are already here (illegally).

Very truly yours,

Rosey

tyco psycho

Tyco Fire and Security / ADT
Attention: Customer Service Supervisor
29 Commerce Way
Totowa, NJ 07512

RE: Your Customer Service Sucks

June 06, 2007

To whom it may concern:

It’s 11:16 AM, and I am waiting for a tech to show up for our 8:00 AM appointment. I received confirmation calls last night at 7:30 PM and this morning at 8:20 AM, during the latter of which I was told the tech was “on his way.”

This is the fourth service call to fix the same problem. The first was on May 25, 2007 from 12 to 5 PM. Nobody showed up, in spite of multiple confirmation calls. Furious, I spoke with a customer service supervisor, who rescheduled for the next morning. The tech showed up, said there is nothing wrong with the system, told my wife we probably don’t know how to use it, and said he would replace the keypad if it would make us “feel better.” He replaced the keypad, but since that wasn’t the problem the system still doesn’t work.

The next appointment was scheduled for May 29, 2007. This time the tech showed up, and told us the main panel was no good and needed to be replaced. The part would have to be ordered and it will take a few days. He ordered the part, and scheduled us for the first appointment for this morning. It is 11:55 AM, and I am still waiting for the tech, who always seems to be “finishing up” somewhere else and coming to us next. I have spent the morning waiting for the tech, talking to customer service repeatedly and generally wasting my life. I have had multiple promises broken, and you have zero credibility at this point. I have had no alarm service from May 24, through today.

Very truly yours,

Rosey

P.S. It’s now 12:24 PM, I just received a call that the tech is not coming. He is on bereavement leave, and has the part in his truck. There is no other part in the warehouse, so they have to reschedule for June 11, 2007. I have wasted another four hours of my life waiting for a tech who didn’t show up.

cc: Edward D. Breen, Chairman and CEO Tyco International

Why People Will Continue To Be Shot To Death In America

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's words and attitude make it obvious why the Virginia Tech Massacre won't be the last in America.

***
From CNN.com:
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine announced that at the university's request, he was appointing an independent panel to review Monday's tragedy.

However, Kaine said he wasn't interested in arguments about gun control.

"People who want to take this within 24 hours of the event and make it their political hobby horse to ride, I've got nothing but loathing for them," Kaine said.

***

I'll go out on a limb here and call Gov. Kaine an asshole. The first thing that popped in to my head when I heard about the shooting was gun control. Why was an angry, disturbed young man able to waltz into a gun store and buy a Glock and 50 rounds of ammunition with a credit card? Because it is his right as guaranteed by the Constitution.

You want to buy a shotgun to shoot ducks? Fine, pass a background check, have a waiting period, and go shoot ducks. You want to buy a Glock? No. Glocks are only for killing people.

Don't Try This At Home...

Wife’s comment: “This not a Mythbuster’s lab. Don’t try this at home. Puchaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhahahahahaha!”

So what idiotic thing did I do to my self with the microwave? An urban legend in the making: On my toasted bagel I spread cashew butter as an alternative spread. It was a little dry, so I decided to add some honey. Unfortunately the honey was a solid, sugary lump in the bottom of the squeeze bottle. No problem, I’ll just nuke it for a few seconds. 20 would have done, but no, lazy ass that I am, I hit the add 1 minute button and walked away.

Now I knew it was a little too hot when I took it out, but all my past experience with honey in a squeeze bottle told me that it is thick and slow moving and you have to patiently squeeze and wait for it to ooze out. New experience tells me that when you nuke it for 1 minute it shoots out like a molten honey volcano. It nailed me in the arm, producing a 2^nd degree burn which I hosed for 5 minutes with cold water, then iced for about an hour and a half before the pain was under control. Fortunately my curious 4-year old was on the other side of the volcano.

I’ll say it again: Don’t try this at home! (Do it at work :-) )

Update: 1/28/2007

Thirteen days have passed since this failed mythbusters experiement, and I still have a scab on my arm. It is almost ready to come off and return to normal skin...Can you believe this?

Our Liberal Gubna

My question is, how does someone go from being a captain of Wall Street to being a liberal? Answer, buy your way into the governor’s office. While Governor Jon Corzine’s feel good state of the state address was chock full of common sense ideas for property tax relief and fiscal sanity, we’ve heard a lot of this stuff before over the last 20 years, and nothing gets done because the unions don’t want to give up their free lunches at the people’s expense, and they essentially wield the power to elect a governor or block them from election. Since all politicians strive to get elected, they cave in to the considerable power that the unions wield, and the status quo survives.

Gov. Corzine’s speech also praised his “Successes,” in his first year. Why the quotation marks around successes? Well here they are: providing funds for stem-cell research, reforming the child-welfare system, supporting same-sex civil unions and creating needle-exchange programs for people who are HIV positive or have AIDS. Obviously to the extent that New Jersey’s child welfare system was reformed, I support that because adults who can’t take care of themselves have been producing and harming their children for as long as I have being paying attention, and DYFS or whatever they are called now have stood by and watched. While I am not against stem cell research, I don’t’ want to pay for it. If private companies and universities believe it is a worthwhile endeavor, and it may well be, let them pay for it. I believe like global warming, the hype is ahead of the science, and any liberal agenda I am suspect of, especially when it involves science.

As for same-sex civil unions, while I am not anti-gay, I am pro-family. Consenting adults should be free to do what they want in private, and they can take care of many issues with their own legal work such as wills. I think marriage in general is a good thing, and chipping away at it is bad. Some would argue same-sex civil unions don’t chip away at marriage, I but I think it does, because the next step is same sex marriage.

Needle-exchange programs inherently condone drug use, because they say essentially, well we can’t stop you from shooting up, so here are some clean needles to shoot up with so you don’t’ spread HIV. I think we should try to stop people from shooting up. In my mind, smoking a joint now and then isn’t any different from knocking back a few shots, but shooting up is a one way path straight to hell. So why support it?

So based on that, I would say the only thing the governor has accomplished this year is to raise the cost of living for all of New Jersey by raising the sales tax, which hits business as well as citizens.

So while he talks a good game, the governor will be judged by results. I am waiting impatiently while the noose of taxes tightens around my neck.

Speaking of sane tax policies...

The New Jersey governor, Jon Corzine, together with Senate President Dick Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts announced they have agreed to try to enact a 4% cap on property taxes. The league of municipalities has come out against the proposed legislation, because they want to spend your money on their salaries and pensions.

My property taxes have been increasing $1000 per year since 2001, when they jumped $2500 retroactively. That’s a clip of 9.5% to 10% a year. Unless something is done, I will likely pay $1000 a month in property taxes alone this year for my small 4 bedroom house, an amount unheard of outside the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

My message to the league of municipalities: “Fuck you! I don’t want to run faster on the treadmill to pay your salary and benefits.” I would leave New Jersey in a heartbeat if I thought I could. If Gov. Corzine can push through this 4% cap, and the 20% property tax reduction (down from 30% in his campaign lies) I may actually be able to afford to stay in New Jersey without being a high muck-a-muck at a bulge-bracket investment bank.

Read the Newark Star Ledger article.

Sane Tax Policies

A bi-partisan bill introduced into the senate calls for abolition of the dreaded AMT, the tax meant for the rich that has been snaring more and more middle class Americans in it's tangled web. Read about it here. The bill may not pass the house and senate because there is a perceived drop in tax revenues. I say "perceived, " because the that's how the Democrats think. They link lower tax rates mean less tax revenues, when the opposite is really true. Why? Because when people keep more of their money, they are motivated to make more, save more and spend more. The more they make, the more income is there to be taxed. The more they spend, the more robust the economy is, which creates jobs which in turn creates more incomes tax revenue. The more they save, the more capital is available for business investment in the form of stocks, bonds and bank loans. If the government keeps the money, it doesn't stimulate the economy because government is a drag on the economy, and because government spending doesn't stimulate GDP the way private handling of the funds does.

But the Democrats don't understand that. There view of life is tax people with money and give it away to people who don't have money in the form of entitlements and government programs which will in turn eliminate poverty, which will make America a great country and we can all feel good about ourselves. But that won't actually happen because the poor will waste any money they get as will the government, and they will remain poor. But I digress.

Elimination of AMT will be good for the middle class, good for America, and even good for the poor, because jobs will be created that they can have if they want them.

Sadam Hussein is Toast

Just one of many many brutal dicatators of the 20th and 21st centuries, Sadam Hussein has been executed by hanging prior to 6:00 AM Baghdad time today, according to several unconfirmed reports. Good riddance.

Games medalist fails a gender test!

File this under “W” for what the fuck? A guy runs in the women’s 800 meters and wins a silver medal, only to be stripped of it when s/he fails the “Gender Test.” Why? Just why?

Quote of the Day

"This is not the homo-land, this is the holy land," said Rabbi Yehuda Levin, a member of one Orthodox organization.

Said regarding the gay pride rally in Jerusalem.

 

NY Times endorses no Republicans for U.S. Congress

NY Times endorses no Republicans for U.S. Congress

3:11 p.m. 11/05/2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The New York Times, one of the oldest and most respected U.S. newspapers, said on Sunday that for the first time in memory it was endorsing no Republican U.S. congressional candidates this year.

In an editorial, the Times criticized the Republican-led Congress on matters from tax cuts to energy policy, and charged it has failed to hold President Bush accountable for the unpopular Iraq War.

"This election is indeed about George W. Bush -- and the congressional majority's insistence on protecting him from the consequences of his mistakes and misdeeds," the Times editorialized.

The Bush administration has had a number of clashes in recent years with the Times, particularly for the newspaper's disclosure of its warrantless domestic spying program.

The newspaper, founded in 1851, wrote in its editorial: "On Tuesday, when this page runs the list of people it has endorsed for election, we will include no Republican congressional candidates for the first time in our memory."

"To begin with, the Republican majority that has run the House of Representatives -- and for the most part, the Senate -- during President Bush's tenure, has done a terrible job on the basics," the newspaper wrote.

"It's tax-cutting-above-all-else has wrecked the budget, hobbled the middle class and endangered the long-term economy. It has refused to face global warming and done pathetically little about the country's dependence on foreign oil," the Times added.

No republicans? Gee what a surprise the leftest left traitor newspaper doesn't support anybody but leftys. Let's analyze that last paragraph:

"It's tax-cutting-above-all-else has wrecked the budget." No it's spending that wrecked the budget. Tax cutting stimualtes the economy stupid.

"hobbled the middle class," with 4.4% unemployment, I hadn't noticed the middle class hobbling. If they are, it's due to the AMT.

"Endangered the long-term economy." How is the longterm economy endagered? How about open borders, amenesty for illegals, high taxes, and pork barrell spending.

"It has refused to face global warming..." based on junk science and scare tactics.

"Done pathetically little about the country's dependence on foreign oil;" It's hard to when the DEMOCRATS are constantly voting no to any new drilling in America and no refinery capacity has been added in 30 years.

God I hope the Dems lose today. Maybe John Kerry can go make a speech somewhere...

FW: for those intrepid nuke engineers who were contemplating...

integrating iTunes into the emergency control rod retraction code.

Received from my friend J:

From the iPod license agreement:

THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN THE OPERATION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION OR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES OR OTHER EQUIPMENT IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE COULD LEAD TO DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.

WTF??!!? All I can say is – fuckin’ lawyers. Is this unabashed job security or am I living in a cozy little fantasy where people don’t generally sue companies for protracted stupid shit? Oh, wait – it’s the lawyers that do the suing. I guess it makes sense then. Never mind. Y’know I didn’t see anything in the eula about not jabbing yourself in the carotid artery with a shard of a broken iTunes CD. They missed that one I guess. I suppose this was the “paranoia du jour.”

L.L. Bone

I placed an order at L.L. Bean a few days ago. Here is the rant I sent FedEx:

 

My package was left at night, in the rain, in front of my door. I found it, soaking wet, blocking the door so I couldn’t get out, when I tried to leave in the morning for the train.  This is the second time! I want to know is the driver stupid, mean, uncaring or deranged that he would do this?  Why when there is a covered portion of the porch which doesn’t block the door, which would have kept the package dry, would he choose to block the door again, and leave it in the rain? Oh, by the way the package was full of leather goods, shoes and clothes.  Why didn’t he ring the bell? Deliver the package before 7PM? Or use any kind of common sense?  This is not how you build trust and good will. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Thanks Buddy

9-11 didn’t seem like a good day to continue grousing about commuting, even though NJ Transit diverted NY Penn Station passengers to Hoboken, probably due to something they blamed on Amtrack, as usual. When you commemorate the horrific incineration of 3000 innocent people by Islamo-Facists who hate us because were , rich, we’re American, we’re Jews and our women wear bikinis instead of burkas, it seems petty to complain about mundane stuff like late trains and rude commuters. In fact, if it were not for a cup of coffee I got at Moran’s at about 8:40 AM, September 11, 2001, I might not be alive to commute and grouse about it. NJ Transit made , September 11, 2006 just another day by screwing up as usual.
I refused to stay home and mourn. By getting my ass out of bed and going to work and working and earning money and helping to nudge the US economy along by my contribution to GDP however small it may be, I feel I effectively said, “Fuck you!” to Osama bin Laden and his ilk.
Of course I’m no longer downtown, and I can’t bare to take the PATH train through the pit that used to have the towers towering over it. I can’t watch anything on TV about 9-11 for very long. I caught maybe 5 minutes of the controversial ABC special, but I couldn’t stomach it. I have not seen any of the movies, nor will I, its much too soon for me. I refuse to forget, but remembering is a little too painful and inconvenient right now. I’m glad for the ABC special and the controversy it created. I think Clinton and the Dems need to be exposed for what they are. And I think the country needs to be reminded. Those in the bread basket of America who weren’t on the walkway between the towers or on the sidewalk across the street when the attack occurred, need TV shows to keep the memory of the horror alive. I don’t need that, just the small corner of my brain where it all resides.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let me tell you about the asshole commuters I faced this morning. First after transferring at Secaucus, there was this nice lady that saved me a seat with her pocketbook. I know she saved it for me, because most people won’t ask someone to, “Move your fucking pocketbook, bitch!” This is good, because I will, so I get the seat. All I have to do is ask, and endure the dirty look that says, “My ticket expressly includes a seat for my pocketbook.”

While I was seated and reading, Important-White-Guy-With-Expensive-Watch was yakking into his Blackberry. He dropped his glasses on the floor and struggled to find them while blind and trying not to stop yakking into his expensive Blackberry. Boy was I impressed (actually I a was smirking inside). When we reached Penn Station, everyone jumped up and rushed for the exits. Important-White-Guy-With-Expensive-Watch’s briefcase fell into the aisle and I stepped over on my way out. Like my 8-year-old son and all my tenants he chose to blame someone else: Me. “Hey, thanks buddy.” I wish I could come up with a good come back, like, “Why don’t you call your mommy on your Blackberry and have her help you pick your stuff up.” Even a good “Fuck you!” would have sufficed. I just muttered under my breath. Any suggestions?

1st National Bank of Dad

My brother gave me a T-shirt for Chanukah last year that said "1st National Bank of Dad," and I thought it was stupid. But it has grown to become one of my favorites, right after the Harley T-shirts. I saw a big, burly, black guy swaggering down 7th Avenue this morning with a slightly different design, it had a little sign hanging off of Dad that said, “Sorry Closed.”

Yakkity-Yak

In the on-going belly-aching of commuter hell, I suffered yesterday through what I thought was a young woman on the cell phone, yakking to her friend. When I turned around to look, I noticed the fat, unattractive, zit-faced, yakking beast’s friend was actually sitting next to her. It was a live conversation. Which in theory makes it a little better. But, so loud, so inconsiderate. Well I bought ear plugs at Home Depot for when you’re using gas powered yard tools, and put them in my briefcase for just such an occasion. Not a perfect solution, but does cut down noise considerably.

Well just my luck, but Yakking Beast & Co. boarded again today, sat two rows in front of, and gave an encore performance. I want to move to the woods.