Truth: School Sucks

It was the best of time, it was the worst of times. School Sucks I say.

Growing up I hated school. I can remember when I was younger, probably in the 2nd grade I had a countdown to how many years left I had to attend school. I could not handle the fact I had 10 more years of school and perhaps college.

I did not enjoy school. I was bored. I often found it difficult and I could not stand the structure of it all. I could not stand the homework. I could not stand being told what to do. Now I was not a rebel, and I didn't misbehave. In fact I lived in fear of authority (cops, teachers, nuns, priests, coaches) for most of my school years [Yes some of that still lingers out of habit].

It's not that I didn't want to learn. I did. It's not that I didn't have the drive or discipline. I did. It's just I wanted more. I day dreamed too often. I stared out the window always wondering how I could apply what I was learning.

I struggled in some classes, and others I excelled at. Most of all I was average though. Did I really care? No I can't say I ever did. If I am measured by that, so be it.

What was I supposed to do, fake it?

I always envied those who made it big or successful on their own. Those who had the street smarts and intelligence to succeed in life. The thought of going to school and all that training to work for someone else was always scary and not too inviting. Yet that's the way of success for the most part in America. Someone smarter than you, hires you because you are smart. You make them money, he gives you a piece of the pie...you have your 2.5 kids and live happily ever after.

I never took teachers (still don't) too seriously as much as I feared them. Not that they weren't qualified, but how could they really teach me when I was just another number? They were just passing along the info over and over. No disrespect to the profession at all. I think it's noble and some of my friends are great teachers. It's the system that bothers me, not the teachers. The government is going to tell me history? The government is going to tell me about U.S. history but omit the truth? Come on.

I learned more out of school and after school then I did in school. Maybe I'm just wired wrong? Maybe I needed a school for my own speed without the structure.

Maybe I just need to grow up. Hey, go learn something.

Maury Wills

ADD Rumblings No. 83010

1. Do you think that people who walk with their feet pointed out know they walk like ducks?

2. Waiting in line. I never have ever found a good reason why someone should have to wait in line for anything.  Waiting means, the system is broken.

3. I've yet to meet a paper clip that I didn't bend in to a million shapes.

5. I'm always amused at how people threaten me and drop me as a Facebook friend because I'll question faith (I'm questioning faith, not their faith!).  It's not very Christian like.  Can you say hypocrite?  If you
care about it, then stand up for it.

6. Ginger Ale. The most underrated of soft drinks. I'll take a Canada Dry or Vernor's any day over any drink, except water.

7. Is it just me, or does everyone feel dumber when you hear new country music?

[ This blog is brought to you by the word tawook and the number 5.2]
Publish Post
8. My problem with the Food Channel is they spend more time talking to the chefs than showing the food. I could care less about the chefs. I just want to see the meals man. The meals. Quit wasting my time.

9. When people are more concerned with process over productivity, productivity always declines.

10. Stromboli. Pizza. Calzone.  Are you getting my drift?

Dear HockeyDino: Facebook Deal Breakers

Dear Hockey Dino:

I have been a follower of your blog for some time now and notice you sometimes have guests write stories.  I recently had something happen to me that I thought might interest some of your readers. 
Like a lot of Facebook users I got reconnected with some old friends from high school.  I am in my 40's so I have been out of high school for a day or two. There were 2 women, Judy and Brenda, whom I had developed what I thought was a nice friendship.  We live in communities about 2 hours drive from one another and we had gotten together numerous times.  We had gone to events together and they both had hosted me in their homes a couple of times.  These were friendships that I had considered very important, people I had come to trust and like very well.

They also had a friendship with another woman who happened to have been a bully to me in high school.  That was okay with me...people can choose their own friends.  I did say that if she were to be invited to any events, just let me know, and I will be unavailable.  I felt no need to see her, culture a friendship..."start fresh", not necessary.
Recently, Judy hosted a party and the bully was invited.  Brenda posted pictures of the party on Facebook.  I was fully aware of the party and looked for the pictures I knew would be there.  I  was enjoying the pictures, everyone was having fun at Judy's pool.  Until I came across a series of 3 photos at the end.  For some reason, my friends thought it would be great sport to re-enact a hurtful event that took place with the bully and me 25 years ago, take pictures, post them and then comment on them.
I quietly deleted them from my account, quietly deleted their phone numbers from my cell.  Later, I did hear from them.  Brenda sent me a heartfelt apology, with a bit of an explanation.  Apparently there had been a misunderstanding, Brenda and her husband were convinced that I had maligned them with Judy a year previously.  So instead of clarifying it with me...her husband was judge and jury, took his hurt feelings, convicted me, and thought I should be punished. This was my punishment.  
Judy  contacted me with a half-hearted apology.  And attached to it was a justification for their actions and her pity at my pathetic inability to "get over it".
We all have other common friends on Facebook of course.  I have not discussed it with anyone else.  I don't want any undue gossip.  I don't feel the need to make a "team me" or anything like that.  But I am wondering HD if any of your readers have had something like this happen to them since Facebook.  Has anyone enjoyed a reconnection with old friends, and then felt a betrayal?  Are some things just "deal breakers" or are most things forgivable with enough time? 
Thank you for the space.
Sincerely,

Marlene

_________________________

Marlene, people open up their Facebook accounts to the world.  They are idiots for doing so.  Use security on your wall, and your photo albums, so that those you don't really know aren't seeing things.  There's a reason why security is in place for privacy settings - use it.  People need to eliminate information about themselves too.  The people who are important to you, your close family and friends already know this stuff. Those that aren't so close, don't need to know. If they want to know, reconnect and convey the information when you can surely trust them.  Until then, keep an arms length with everyone and don't set yourself up for getting hurt.  Now, this was not your fault.  You did nothing wrong by dropping them either.  Take the high road and keep your profile sacred.  I would order pizza to their homes often, and get as many magazine subscriptions filled out to their addresses as well.  It's the little things in life that count. 

Love,

HockeyDino

Truth: Taste or No Taste

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  I guess having any kind of taste is subjective. Bad or good. However who really defines taste?  Society with their shared norms, or the individual with their own choices?

I drove by a tattoo parlor the other day. Now personally I think they are in bad taste all together...but to each his own.  The thing that was funny was there was a family sitting in front on a picnic table having lunch.

What was going on? - Carry out?  Bring your own food? Just having a picnic? Family stopping by to have lunch with a worker?

In any event, it just looked bad. Not in good taste at all. Overall not a big deal, but definitely funny.  I'm sure they were oblivious to anyone driving by who were wondering "what the heck is that?".  That always leads to the internal question of when you see people dressed weird, or acting weird; "do they know how they are or are they just seeking attention?". 

I'm not criticizing these folks and their perceived poor taste choice on where to dine.  They make the world go round.  It is pure Americana.  Which often at times is in poor taste to say the least. I did enjoy the momentary comedy of it all.  I realize that makes me seem arrogant, but it made me laug.  Blame my poor internal consitution if you must. 

I just want to know who decides what is in good taste, and what is not.  Is it the individual or society driven?

P.S. I like to wear white socks with my sandals.

Ozzie Guillen

LoveMail HateMail 82710

LoveMail

Damn do I have to put on the red thong and bra and my stilettos AGAIN just to cheer you up? 

 

It's exhausting always changing Dino!  Please figure it out ... MWAH!

Dino Man.  I love this !!   Your irony could be chipped with a chisel...ha ha

I love being married to you when our political views are the same!  Grinning!

"Lol!! Ur2funny!! Luv your pic!! You have a great sense of humor!!"

HateMail

You are a libertarian wacko, who just wants everyone to use drugs.




These were see in the lady's room from Clementine's Restaurant in South Haven, Michigan.

Truth: Those That Don't Know They Don't Know

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  
There's evil.

There is stuipid.

Which is more dangerous?  Evil or Stupid?

The evil are just out to get you or perform some bad action.   The stupid are going to get you because they don't know any better of their thoughts or actions.

The stupid are certain in error, which makes them very dangerous.  They will perform and talk about things which they know nothing of as if they did.  So without any critical thinking, they just accept things the way they are.

I'm not talking about criminals per say, I am talking about people that know there's wrong things in the world, but they don't know why.  They don't care to know, they just go about it.  They complain (much like I do), but never offer any reasons, or solutions.  When you talk to them, they are like deer in headlights - they have no clue. 

The truth is so far from them, they've never seen anything closely related to it.
There's alot of these people, more than you know or are probably willing to admit. These people will say things like "yeah things suck, but at least we don't live in Cuba."
Pragmatists. 

They shrug at any potential criticism or realism to advancing society. Things are just the way they are.

These people may be happy. 

Ignorance is bliss right? 















Micah Bowie

Truth:Eye Tunes

I went to Chicago one time in a rush, but I was with some bad company. Who? It doesn't really matter, let's just say it opened some doors because the queen had her way. At times I felt like a prince, other times like a rolling stone. Yeah we had our run ins with the police too, but we were just grateful we weren't dead.  In times like that when you are in dire straits, you know the cream rises to the top. I felt like a foreigner, and probably should have went to Boston instead. Yes we were looking for nirvana but we settled just to listen to the local talking heads. No doubt our journey made each of us feel like a tool. Traffic was orbital to say the least. We had to be pretenders to deal with the inevitable clash of the underworld. Definitely an a-ha moment this time. Blind faith took us from being animals to zombies.  We definitely were not in Kansas anymore.  Looking for the cure to squelch our moody blues and lack of REM sleep became simply a rage against the machine. As you know, impressions can be smokey, but the temptations can be nothing more than being in muddy waters. So us rascals hit the pavement, praying to the madonna for some guidance. Looking to the big star to take us to shangri la. Who knows, maybe turn a cheap trick or just be the stooges that we were.  It aint easy being a drifter in America or Asia for that matter when you have bad english.  We were hoping for a Cinderella story but it ended up being just a cameo from our car. Legend says we are wanted dead or alive even in Europe. It's true, we made a call about it. But we'll stand firm on our endeavors. Who are we to avoid the system? You can call us stray cats, but we like the word survivor instead. The sheriff may not agree. We have a knack for madness despite all the motels we visit while burning the midnight oil. No matter what, I love this motley crew.  Kiss
Roger, wilco and out.

Shane Halter

Liberty: What We Need To Do

What We Need To Do
We need to bail out more companies that are going under.
We need to rewrite the constitution.
We need to ban any religion except Christianity.
We need to remove the electoral college.
We need to have Congress ignore the will of the people on all votes.
We need to increase the tax rate for all the classes.
We need to give more jobs to China and Mexico.
We need to be more pragmatic about laws and regulations.
We need to increase the rules of the Patriot Act.
We need to make the drug war more prevalent.
We need to give more money to Israel and Egypt.
We need to have a complete nationalized health care.
We need to ignore third parties.
We need to listen to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid who are the experts.
We need to put more people in jail that are committing minor crimes.
We need to ban people from carrying guns.
We need to elect people to office with little or no experience.
We need to make sure congress gets exempt from the laws they pass.
We need to make sure funding for the military increases.
We need to bomb Iran.
We need to invade North Korea.
We need to put more sanctions on Cuba until they become a democracy.
We need to send more troops overseas and have more military bases.
We need to have more government agencies for security.
We need to increase the size of the IRS to handle increased revenues.
We need to ban smoking and increase taxes elsewhere.
We need to allow the state to have more power than the individual.
We need to increase unemployment benefits.
We need to take more from the wealthy to give to the lower class.
We need to get rid of term limits.
We need to increase the power of the vice president.
We need to allow the police state to have more power.
We need to arrest all flag burners.
We need to have a rule that sharia law isn't allowed in the country.
We need to ban conservative talk show hosts.
We need to arm countries than attack them years later.
We need to listen to the United Nations more.
We need to surrender our property rights to the state.
We need to spend more time ignoring the truth, and deal with reality.
We need to ignore philosophy.
We need to make sure God is in every public building.
We need to throw more money at education.
We need to give the unions more power to protect the workers.
We need to not have any tort reform.
We need to create democracies around the world.
We need to borrow more from China.
We need to increase inflation.
We need to give more power to the Federal Reserve.
We need to allow lobbyists to have more influence in congress.
We need to say that all Tea Party members are extremists.



Q: So how do we go about attaining these things? 
A: Carry on.

Pedro Martinez

ADD Rumblings No 82310

1. When I drive through a construction zone, I want to hang out the window and take a baseball bat and bash the hell out of the orange barrels. Who's with me?

2. A guy friend of mine sends me a picture of a "prickly pear margarita" calling it a hidden treasure from a local establishment.  I am not sure when I will give him his man card back.

3. What do you call a musician without a girlfriend? Homeless. The same can be said for a few of my friends over the years.

5. When people without any experience in the business or political world get elected to leadership positions in government it seems sad to me.  On the flip side, everyone should have some hope that they too can be
president, governor, or supreme court justice.

4. Nothing worse than standing in the rest room washing your hands...when you look in the mirror and the guy that just walked in is unzipping his pants on his way to the urinals.  What? You couldn't wait another 30
seconds there fella. I shall look no more.

6. What the heck is forgiveness?  Really what is it? Forgive me for not knowing.

7. When I walk in a parking lot, I like to kick pebbles super hard and hear them ping off of hub cabs.  That's not nice probably.

[This blog is brought to you by the word eggplant and the number .20]

8. I've been a proponent that the States should have rights not super ceded by the Feds.  It hit me that I was just shifting one evil to the next by that silly validation.  I'm apologizing to myself.

9. People there is no such thing as the 3 second rule.  If you drop it,
don't eat it.  Don't be gross. I saw this the other day and I nearly puked on the spot.  I know times are tough but come on.

10. Greenland, Sardinia, and Fiji. I must visit these places. I must. I shall.

Liberty: It's Going To Get Worse

Can things get any worse? 

I keep hearing from friends out there that it's a buyer's market for homes.  Well what does that really mean?  OK so you can get a house for a much lower price than what it was listed on the market for.  I understand and get that.  However the market dictates the value of the home...and all homes are far less than their original value. The only way will be for the market to improve.
Well they tell me the market will get better.

Why? How? When?

Well they said, "just because that's the way it is". 

Now I've been an observer of the "every 30 year" theory that's in place due to the Federal Reserve manipulating inflation, and the war scenarios.  However it's still a theory, and for some reason unless we drastically change the Leviathan that is the government, it won't get better for quite some time.
Consumer confidence is down. Everything is down. Savings. Spending. Investment. These things don't change over night.  They especially do not change when you have amateurs running the show based on flawed ideals.

Then you have a huge majority of the working and lower classes concerned about republicans vs democrats; rather than pay attention to the core issues and solutions.  It's truly mind boggling at times.  Does anyone care?

Those in power and in charge are out of touch.  They don't care about you.  Their words ring hollow because their actions do the opposite.

Economic growth could boom if the right people were in charge.  I may just have to run for office. 













Chilli Davis

Truth: All The Blight

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. As of late of I've been spending some time driving around a great deal.  I've had some errands to run and some visiting to do.  I pretty much spent the entire time driving throughout the entire footprint ofWayne County Michigan, which is the county that houses Detroit city and many of it's suburbs.

There are few nice towns in Wayne County that I would consider exceptional and most are decent places to live.  Now I'm not going to name the towns or cities that I liked and disliked.  I has nothing to do with the specific city anyways.  I just don't want the hate mail to deal it, or the apologists to come out of the woodwork defending the graiffitt in their town.  That's not the point.

What I saw was a quite a bit of blight.  Urban decay.  Empty buildings.  Empty houses. Businesses that once thrived all boarded up and closed. Shattered Dreams.  Boarded up memories.  The end of points in time.

It was sad. It was basically just gross to look at it. I didn't want to look, but I could not help but look.

The failed economic policies of the state had ruined a once thriving metropolis.  Detroit, once consider the jewell of the midwest 100 years ago, is not the armpit of America.   The surrounding suburbs, once densely populate and thriving, now have empty ball fields with weeds a mile high.

People look around you.  How can you accept such an outcome?  Are you going to keep running away or are you going to make a change.  I've been listening to the city apologists since 1975 about the rebirth of Detroit.  How tiring.  How utterly sad that only thing the city can boast about is it's past, and some useless casinos.  It'a all just empty rhetoric as the complete opposite has occurred...the death.

Did you know Detroit does not have a grocery store downtown?  That's pretty much all you need to know about it.  It's beyond sad.

The statists have destroyed what the people built up.  The corrupt have taken and fled.  The rich are long gone.  What is left?  Shambles. Despair. A shell.

I'm sad.

Steve Yaeger

Truth: Watch For The Marauders

I drove by a high school the other day.  The nickname for the sports teams was The Marauders.  I didn't know what a marauder was or is.   I knew they used to be a pro soccer team way back when in the NASL...but I had no idea of the definition.  I assume some sort of pirate or buccaneer.  I think Mercury has a car of the same name too, or at least did.

So I looked it up.   Marauder is an outlaw or mercenary paid or sustained by looting.

What?

Why would a high school want this as a nickname?  hmmm....I'll have to dig more into the why.  However the fact remains, the team name is still a violent leaning name. Then it hit me, most team names are violent in nature.  A fighting animal or warrior.

Some examples:
Spartans
Trojans
Wildcats
Panthers
Rangers
Raiders
Tigers
Bengals
etc.

It hit me because I've been really trying to understand the state's hold on the individual.  The power they have over each of us (for the most part), and it's simply through violence.  They keep the man down with violence.  They go to war which is violence.  If you don't do what they say, they shoot you and arrest you.  They play on to some basic human instinct that it's always us vs them, good vs. bad, the cowboy in white vs. the cowboy in black.  Everyone wants to be on a winner etc.

Now I'm all good with that being the truth. It's plane as day. What I really want to know is though, does that element of violence play into all of human nature, or only those who are alpha?  I tend to think the alphas use it more, but everyone else is brainwashed and trained into thinking violence is the way to go.

I mean how many freaking cop shows are there?  How many freaking news stories and investigative reports are there wrapped around violence?  It never ever ends.  Look at the new ultimate fighting leagues that are very popular too. People seem to think, that violence is acceptable.

One would think through evolution this would not be the case.  However the state has a hold on us, brainwashes us, and the element of fear is a slave to violence.  There is allot more to this that I'm going to have to dive into soon.

In the mean time, watch out for those marauders.

Clete Thomas

Liberty: Why Argue?

What's the point of arguing with a progressive when they don't think rationally, and they are irrational?  They think you are nuts, naive, and out of touch.  They, no matter the proof will need an alternative to even consider your approach or solution.

If you want to cut taxes, then they want to know who is going to do this and that?  It never ends.  You could offer the private solution, then ultimately they blame wall street.

People think I like to argue. I really don't. I love exchanging ideas, but I have no patience for certain fluff.  So I come across as being someone who loves to argue.

I'm not very loud, but I can raise my tone if I'm fired up. In fact I'll admit getting fired up is a weakness. I can't deal with people who are yelling at me, so I can understand when they think I'm yelling at them.
Sometimes I AM YELLING AT THEM OR YOU.  But more often than not, I'm shaking it easy, looking for more truth.  Then there is of course the almighty bait. I get baited, hooked, and thrown into arguments all day long.  I'm weak.

I repeat myself often. I repeat myself often.

It's important to stand your ground and for what you believe in.  The improbability comes when the other person refuses to think on their own.  Not because they are dumb or stupid...but because they are taught to not think.  They just revert to what they know; symbols, traditions, and the same old argument.
Come on..bring it.  It's not about competition. It's about getting to the truth.  If I am wrong, prove me wrong.  Don't prove my source is wrong, that's easy. I make mistakes...you make mistakes. But let's think and get to the point. 

Do not we want the same things in life?

Recently someone told me all I do is rant. I would like to argue about that, but they refuse.

John Mayberry

Truth: I'm No Fun

Aside from my love mail / hate mail that I get that blasts and compliments  for...I get verbal critiques of my blog posts too from you the reader.   I get people saying to me that I'm no fun, or that I'm having too much fun.  That I'm not serious enough. That I don't tackle the real issues.  That I'm too serious.

The crux of this format is TRUTH, SPORTS, LIBERTY, CHICKS

Under those four headings is a wide array of topics pertaining to each.  I get complaints that I have too much fun, and I don't post enough serious stuff. That I also have a responsibility to make a change and influence people.  I get other complaints that when I write under my LIBERTY stance, which is mostly politics, then they refuse to get involved.  In fact, my LIBERTY posts brings the most amount of angst from the readers, but the least amount of traffic.  TRUTH and CHICKS get the most attention, while SPORTS is virtually ignored.

I spent a great deal of the 1990's being a dittohead, hating the Clinton years and being angry as I watched the country fall apart.  Now, while I still get angry I am also trying to have more fun.  It's the one thing the elitists can't take from me even though they take all my money.  Whether you enjoy my sense of humor or not, I know I'm having fun even when I'm ticked off.  I wish I had that ability in the 90's....I may have even liked the music of that decade...but I still don't care for it.  It wasn't fun for me, but it's probably a reminder of my life at the time - not fun at all.

So know that I can have fun and be serious at the same time.

Fun:

Serious:

Fun:

Serious:

I rest my case.



Dizzy Dean

Truth: Swine Before Pearls

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matthew - chapter VII, verse 6.
I've always had an issue with any chance of hanging around whom I considered bad people.  I've always had a problem not accepting certain people to be near, associate with or even talk to.  If it walks like a duck, it probably is.

I don't trust them. 

Why don't I trust them?  I believe it is because I want to protect my friends, my family, my self from being in the vicinity of anything I deem bad. It's more than just getting mugged. It's about avoiding swearing, immorality, cussing, criminal activities, sloth behavior, just persona's that are lame and week. 

It's a very hard thing to do.

The quote I just referred to from the bible means you shouldn't put what is good and what you hold valuable in front of undesirable people. They won't respect it, they won't like it, they will take it, use it, steal it, and knock it down.

So instead of not putting your pearls before swine, I said don't put your swine anywhere near your pearls. 
It may be semantics, but the bible verse indicates you somehow have to deal with swine.  Screw that noise, just don't deal with them.  Why take the chance?  They aren't going to change.  They aren't going to learn.
Protect and serve...be your own cop. You don't have to arrest or shoot anyone, but you have to be defensive.  You have to protect your pearls; as they are you.  You and yours is you.

I do love bacon.

Corey Koskie

Liberty: Liberal Stupidity

Liberty: Liberal Stupidity
This is a very simple concept:
If you raise taxes you will get this:lower spending, lower saving, lower investment, lower business activity, lower productivity, and increasing hiding of taxable income by those that can. The end result being falling revenues to the government and less positive economic activity.

What part of this SIMPLE TRUTH is acceptable?  I'm still at a loss at who benefits from these types of policies.  I just don't understand.

Notice I'm talking about liberals, not democrats.  Democrats just happen to support his statism more so than republicans.  The truth is, anyone who voted for a politician that supports the destruction of an economy is responsible.  Even though your politician doesn't listen to you when you complain.  You are still his boss. You still put him into office.  It is, your fault.

Do you think I'm crazy or wrong? Let's talk about death. The death tax. on midnight of December 31 2010, the death tax kicks in. If you die before than, there is no tax on your beneficiaries property simply because you died, but if you die in 2011, the government will come in after you die and take more of your already taxed before property simply because you are dead! They will take 55% of the property of those who have left behind $1 million or more in savings and redistribute that property to favored political groups in society. 

How nice. Again, your fault.

The Bush tax cuts are also set to expire in 2011. These tax cuts are not just for the rich, will jump 50% from 10% today to to 15% under Barry and the liberals. Yes the liberal left will have worked to raise taxes on the most poor in our society by 50%. Again, your fault.

Is this the change you all wanted?  Idiocy! Criminal!







Schoolboy Rowe

Truth: Pure Michigan

Truth: Pure Michigan

My friend Michael Skupin said recently that Michigan was the best place to live on the planet.

{insert record skip]
So I pretty much asked how could it be? 
It has the same amount of rainy days as Seattle. 
It's one of the top states in obesity.
Unemployment is sky high.
The liberal policies of the government have run it to the ground.
The roads are horrible.

John Dingell.

Winters last forever, days on end with little or no sunlight.
Humidity in the summer months are at swamp levels.
It has some of the ugliest blight in the USA.
Debbie Stabenow.

They haven't had a professional football team in over 50 years.
Detroit
Flint
Pontiac
Ecorse

River Rouge
Zug Island
20,000 people leaving the state every year.

Oh the flip side, someone would say there are 4 seasons, Up North, Birmingham, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Mackinac, The Upper Penninsula, Mission Point, Charlevoix, the Red Wings, U of M, The Great Lakes, Grand Rapids, Jobbie Nooner, Greenfield Village, August, lakes, golf courses, boats, beaches, Porcupine Mountains, Irish Hills, Isle Royale, Glen Arbor, The dunes, Au Sable River, Caseville, Beerfest, Elvisfest, Grosse Isle, Northville, Charity Island...
So if you like the flip side, do you ignore the bad things?  Or do they just outweigh the bad things? Is one in denial if they ignore the bad things, or are they just optimists? Is it a matter of perspective only?
I'm not a glass half empty or glass half full person. I'm a Styrofoam cup person, who knows everything is just a squeeze away from falling out.
What is the balance?

Glenn Wilson

Truth: Mean What You Say, Say What You Mean

I know several people that stick it to you whenever they can. Every time they open their mouths, they have to jab someone.  It's either with an insult to you, to themselves, or just a funny anecdote.
They never stop. It never stops.

I'm trying to figure out (Don't hurt yourself Dino) if it's a mental deficiency (is there a vitamin for that?).  Or maybe it is just a way to deflect from the truth (You can't handle the truth!).  Maybe it's their way to escape reality(You are always on vacation)?  Maybe it's their way of dealing with an uncomfortable situation (like mismatching socks)? I'm not sure why or what is going on, but I notice it (have you noticed my red stapler is missing?).

I probably notice it in others, because I tend to do this at times too (OK who am I kidding?).  Sometimes I catch myself doing it too much (careful you may go blind!). 

My reasoning is this: it's just so easy to do, and I have no patience to not do it. I do often bite my lip as to not be overbearing or intrusive. I'll think about saying something, but then ultimately I'll just let it go. A bit pointless perhaps, but there's an effort to be tactful on my part.

Mean what you say, say what you mean?

It gets to a point though, where it never ends with some people.  I find myself having a hard time communicating with them when it's important because I believe they don't take me or any situation seriously.
How then can I trust them with anything if its always a party?  There has to be a balance with them, but there isn't. 

I remember being at a funeral, and this guy was making jokes at the worst time. My initial thought was he is clueless.  My second thought is always, man I hope people don't see me that way!

Or maybe just maybe they are just funny or trying to be funny and that's it? It could be as simple as that.

Your mother dresses you funny.

Dusty Baker

Truth: Should I Ask For Directions?

Aubrey Huff

Liberty:Conservative Idiots

Conservative Idiots
What we have here is failure to communicate.  What we have here is failure to identify. What we have here is failure to label properly.
I am talking about conservatives.
What is a conservative? This is the definition that I found:
Conservatism (Latin: conservare, "to preserve") is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and opposes rapid change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism and seek a return to "the way things were."
Sounds ok for the most part.  Here's the problem I see with conservatives today.  They don't seek to preserve the Constitution.  They seek to conserve intolerance and the increasing role of the state.  They hide behind a flag. They hide behind the cross, as if God himself runs Fox News and demands everyone wears red, white, and blue all day long.
What is a traditional institution by the way? Aside from marriage what are we talking about here?  I just don't know.  Please don't tell me the Federal Reserve.
A conservative today, will want to keep things they way they are.  The way things are only gives credence to liberalism.  We have a mixed economy and a government gone wild.  There is no free market at play.  There is no capitalism ruling the land.  There is no limited government.  Why would anyone want to preserve that?
If you conserve to keep the things the way they are, then the liberals have won.  You'll just have a tennis match where every 4 years the ball goes to the other side of the court.  Hence, the game remains the same.
A true conservative will adhere to the constitution, protect people from corporatism, and allow the free market to rule without hurting people or the environment.

Where are these conservatives at? 

Honus Wagner

Sports: Keeping Score

Sports: Keeping Score 
I went to a couple of baseball games recently as part of my summer ritual.  I love watching baseball, especially in person.  I am actually sick of hearing people talk about how they hate watching it because it's too slow.  The fact of the matter is, if you watch the strategy in place the game is actually quite fast.
I might also add, if you watch a game on TV make sure Joe Buck isn't announcing it.  Because then I would agree, that it's super boring.

So this guy sitting next to me was keeping score during the game.  Who does that anymore?  Really? You could walk section upon section and not see anyone keeping score. It's a wonder the programs even have the boxsheet to fill in.

In fact the people I were with, could care less. They never heard of most of the players, had no idea what was going for much of the game. It was a social event, and talking was what it was all about. Talking, drinking, getting up 5 times to get food and use the rest room. 

Why even show up?  What's the point?  Why bother?

You might say I shouldn't be bothered or pay attention to those not watching the game.  Well if it was a handful of people, this could be the case.  But it was most of the people there.

I had to listen to some 30 something tramp from Chicago sitting behind me  spout on how she was going to marry the White Sox left fielder all game.  Are you kidding me?

Every now and again I'll hear an athlete go on about how smart Detroit sports fans are.  They are lying and just giving lip service.  It's not true. The fact of the matter is, most Detroit fans are dumb.  They don't watch the game, they don't pay attention, they have no idea what is going on. They don't keep score.
If they did, they wouldn't accept the mediocrity these teams are giving them.

Pay attention.


6 4 3 Double play.

E 7

1 5 3

Keeping score is a must. 

Ken Harrelson

Chicks: Keeping Your Mouth Shut

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

This chick whom I've never met asks me some questions about a friend that I kind of know. Actually, it was more accusatory stuff about about the friend. The friend was trying to date this chick.
The friend has no game. He crashes and burns more times than the British Air Force in WWII. He just isn't smooth. I would not say he is a player, but even if he was I wouldn't care. So this chick says he's a fraud, he's a player, he's this and that. I really don't defend or agree with her...I just listen. It's all her opinion and not mine anyways. She wants me to tell her something, she wants me to agree with her. I played Switzerland. Even if she as right, who am I dis him to her? Unless she was in physical danger I had nothing to add or say.

So months later, another chick asks me about him. Again I'm in a bad spot. What do I say? Do I throw him under the boss and say "oh yeah some other chick hated his guts...etc."? Pointless. I don't think they are good fit, and I say he's to old for her. That's really all I have that's substantial.
She comes back months later and lambastes me for not telling her what a creep he is. Like I'm supposed to know? What defines creep anyways..the fact he wants to sleep with her? [The male species is guilty!]. The fact he says one thing and promises another? The fact he may be desperate or a player or whatever? I mean come on. To each his own.

One chick's creep is another chick's king. It's the way it is. So in short she is mad at me, and believes I am partly responsible because I am the common denominator. Yeah right.

People need to take responsibility for their own relationships. No one can understand the details of what transpired fully anyways. I need to do a better job of keeping my mouth shut.

Ticked off








Earl Wilson

Facebook Status Updates 81010

Facebook status updates can be lame, funny, and boring. More often than not, they annoy the hell out of me and I try to avoid them. Here is my latest collection that made my eyes roll with my comments.


This week is so gonna rock!!!!
-Thank you Nostradamus.

Sneezing like crazy
-So friggin what. Get a tissue and go blow. Yeah, go blow.

Monday Moanin... ugh...
-The Intellectualism of this statement is immense and awesome.

Up and no where to go? HA.. forget FB going for another hour of sleep or so. :)
-Hey thanks! We were worried.

super glue is way harder to peel off your fingers than school glue, but it's giving me something to do on this rainy day...
-You picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.

is just :) for no particular reason.
-I can think of a reason.

there is not a thing I'd want to discuss.
-Except this vague statement which is begging for people to respond Why? How Come?  puke.

is bored and pretty much wide awake, thanks to almost zero sleep last night and several naps in the recliner today.
-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Make love not war ;-)
-40 years to late honey

As sad as this is.....Im going to bed. G'night !
-Not as sad as you telling us about it.

just made appt. for my daughter's school senior portrait. WOW this journey is almost done, and what a journey it's been.
- Yeah that's nice, but please stop referring to life as a journey. Journey is a chick rock band from the 80's and a rip off Dodge vehicle..that's it!

Can someone please come cut my lawn? Diagonal lines, please...thanks!
-NO

I can believe it's Friday - I feel like it has been Friday for about 5 days now! I LOVE SUMMER!!
- Doctor doctor gimme the news, this person needs more happy pills.

 you can't be afraid of what people think...a well behaved woman never made history!!!
- Mother of God, we need to ban this phrase forever.  Ugh!

.I don't know what we've done to finally appease the weather gods but we need to keep doing it!!
- The weather gods like dumb updates. Sunny days are abound.

Thank god Ellen is leavin idol she was awful and I like her just not on that show
- Did you say something?

don't ask.
-I don't blame this update. I blame the people that actually responded to it.

Hating the icemaker in this room with a passion; however ice is a commodity I cannot live without regardless of its noisiness
- That's cold!

has nothing to say. Shocking, isn't it?
- No we can tell it is par for you. Don't worry.

is heading to bed!! Night everyone! sweet dreams...... :)
-Cool I was waiting for you tell me that. Now I can sleep happily.

Its like 2:15 and I can't sleep so I started lookin thru my phone and noticed that I called u 10 times last night. So then I looked at my texts and I was real mad about something. LMAO....I have no idea what I was gonna even say to u. Can't stop laughing. I'm for real not drinking ANYMORE! LOL Are you fu$%ing kidding me???? lmao!
- Are you kidding me?

Beer in hand, burgers on grill.
-NO!!! Then who the hell is Facebooking? No!!!

Steve Carlton

Truth: Get To The Point!

Voice Mail:  Hello you've reached the voice mail of ____ ______.  I am currently away from my phone, or I am not in the office.  Should you feel compelled to leave a message, please do so on my voice mail.  I do check it from time to time, even if I am not around.  I occasionally will check my voice mail to check on messages and will try to return your call if I am able to.   Depending on the nature of the call and the urgency, I will return your call in a reasonable time frame.  Here is my cell phone number if you really need to reach me (___) _ _ _ -_ _ _ _ .  Thank you so much for your time and leaving me a message. Have a wonderful day.

What was that?  That was in summary the voice mail of someone I called the other day.  I kid you not it lasted 30 seconds.  I had to listen to it twice, and then I busted out laughing. 

Are you kidding me?

Get to the point sista!

My voice mail is always the system generated voice mail, because I just don't care.  Just leave the darn message, and I'll get back to you whenever.  I'm still not sure which I HATE worse, voice mails or texting.

Man I know people who update their friggin voice mail everyday with a time stamp.  Why?  No one cares, why should you?  If anything, it's going to drive my away from speaking to you.  Time is money!

Get to the point.

Voice Mail messages have to be a glimpse measure of narcissism.  You can tell who wants to hear themselves talk.  You can tell who takes themselves way too seriously.  You can tell you is brown nosing the boss, as to make a good impression. 

Don't forget to put your long worded voice mail on your resume people. It will really knock em dead.

Just do what do when people call - I answer this way:  PIZZA HUT, CAN I HELP YOU?     

A certain percentage hangs up...and I call that SUCCESS!

Ben Olgivie

ADD Rumblings NO. 8710

1. People that rib you and jab you about something bug the heck out of me.
They just don't know when to stop.  When it's private, I don't care.  However
in a public setting...enough already.  Quit picking on me.

2. Do you ever go back and look at old receipts from previous years?  Assuming
you've kept them of course.  I did, and I was disgusted at all of things I've
purchased in the past that I didn't really need or use.  Do you ever feel
guilty?

3. There's something not cool about stickers that are put on fruit or
vegetables.  Know what I mean?  It makes it seem not so fresh.

5. When I people watch, I like to guess what that person does for a living.
Hey that overweight guy over there, well he works for the city as an
inspector.  He drives all day, eats out for breakfast and lunch, and
occasionally gets a jelly donut at the service station.  See, now you are
going to do it too.

4. Ever notice people who are hungover always have to tell you they are
hungover?  They either want attention or they are bragging.  I'm not sure
which, it could be both.  I ignore them. You should too.

6. Why don't I like thunder? Because after hearing it, within 30 seconds
there's a 75lb dog wanting to lay on top of me or next to me. At 3am, this
isn't cute.

7. When I chew and I hear the sounds from inside my mouth...I wonder if others
can hear it too.  My mouth is closed, but I'm very self aware of it.  So I
chew slower...but I still think people can hear me. I shouldn't care, but I
do.
[This blog is brought to you by the word word and the number 0.05 ]

8. The top two things liberals will always do in an argument: Blame Bush and
mention Fox News.  It's like clockwork.

9. I've come to the realization that I suffer from "A Case of the Mondays" on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  I must have a severe case of it for
it to last 4 days.  Is there a cure or treatment?  Is there a doctor in the
house?

10. Jesus is coming soon!  When? When is soon? I've been reading this on
t-shirts and bumper stickers for decades.  When is soon?  Is soon 1000 years or a few months?

Do you know me?

Sports: Coach Worship

Sorry but even when it comes to coaches in sports, I just don't have the fascination with them like the media wants us to have.  It's something I can't really relate to.

I've fallen victim to the "oh we need to get this guy in to coach our team" routine many times.  I've been over excited about having a coach in that was supposed to lead the team to the promised land.  I've been jealous of other cities who could coax a coach into going to their team.  I've even been on the bandwagons to remove coaches as well.

I've come to the realization that the only thing that matters is how the coach did when he career ended.  I can praise Scotty Bowman, Billy Martin, and John Wooden.  At the same time I'm not going to even pay attention to Bobby Cox, Larry Brown, or Tony LaRussa.

I'm not going to waste my time wondering who the coach is. I'm not going to want another coach because of his past record, and because some reporter found a "link" to the university.  It's pointless.

When college basketball Tom Izzo played with everyone on his coaching decision and there was a campus vigil at Michigan State, I nearly puked.  Are you kidding me?  Talk about embarrassing.

I will never diminish the value of sports, and spout off how in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter.  That's a given.  However in the scheme of the sport itself, it just doesn't matter.

To really judge a coach, don't watch where he follows the money i.e Izzo, Brown, Phil Jackson).  Watch which team he can take from worst to first more than anyone.

I want to see Tony LaRussa coach the Cleveland Indians.  I want to see Scotty Bowman coach the Phoenix Coyotes.  I want to see Bill Parcells coach the Detroit Lions. 

Remember when Bill Belicheck was pretty much booed out of Cleveland, but then was praised as the second coming of Vince Lombardi in Boston? 

Pointless.

Whitey Herzog

Chicks: Got Beer?

Liberty: Progressives Are Sneaky

Progressives Are Sneaky

More brilliance from my friend Armageddon Chris: "Our Republic is being disassembled right before our very eyes… Yet, sadly nobody seems to care. Why do these people think that they are smarter than the founders of our country? Why should we change things now? Why not fifty years ago? Why not fifty years in the future? I will tell you why… It is because the progressives lost an election to George Bush and they want to ensure that this never happens again. They want to ensure that Obama is reelected."
Every time I get an email or talk to Armageddon Chris it's always the end of the world as we know it. 

It's doom and gloom. 

The sky is falling.

Guess what?

He's right. He's spot on. He's a walking Nostradamus. I respect the hell out of him for that.

The progressives (GOD I HATE TERM) are sneaky and corrupt.  They just passed a law in the state of Taxachusetts http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/mass_legislatur.html?p1=News_links that eliminates the electoral college and turns the election over to the popular vote.  Well gee what do ya know? The liberals (aka progressives!) have been crying about this for 200 years!.  They want all voters to be hear, instead of the brilliant foundation Thomas Jefferson bestowed upon us to make the system fair.

The liberals are about keeping the man down. The more you keep the man down, the more dependant the man will be.  The more dependant the man will be, more and more man will become dependant on the system.  Those who are dependant will want and seek more that the system has to offer or can offer...thus creating a bigger system.   Those are votes people. 

The left is screaming for those votes and will do what it can to bring the masses (the ever growing lower class) to the polls to vote. You know like bus in the homeless to vote, or use dead people to vote, or heck..even have people vote more than once.  Why not?

I just don't get it.  Are liberals just stupid or evil?  Are they just pompous elitists who think they know what is best for everyone and that the state should provide for all?  How clueless can they be?  Or are they?
Where are the Kennedy democrats anymore?  They've been shunned by their own party for a bunch of do-gooders who tax and control the hell out of you.

Enos Cabel

Truth: Sensational Journalists

Sensational Journalists

Why why why is every "expert" on the news that comes in so friggin animated? Their head bobs up and down like a bobble head doll.  Their head twists to side like they are a cat looking at a yo-yo. 

Their eye brows perk up at every point that is made.  Their hands flail to accentuate every point as if they are throwing spices while making soup.

They have this look of sadness when the story is heart breaking.
They are either coached, or they have figured out that's what television producers want. 
It's contrived.
It's coached.
It's edited.
It's acting.
It's so lame it drives me crazy.

Give me a Walter Conkrite or David Brinkley who will read me the news, not act it out.  Give me a George
Will who gets to to the point while making a point.  Give me Jack LeGoff.

I want news, editorial, and opinion. I don't want Carrot Top giving me the news.  Who needs it?

No offense to my reporter friends, but I don't want to see you. I just want to hear you.  I just want the story.

I don't want to see you standing in an ice storm. I don't want to see you standing outside the court house. It's not about you. It's about the story.  Can we get the story?

I find no extra trust given to a story because of who is giving it.  I will though find it less appealing when I see a reporter who is going over board with their shtick.

Doctor, Doctor give me the news, I've got bad case of...

Al Leiter

Truth: Do You Care?

I care about aesthetics
I care about critical thinking
I care about baseball
I care about softball
I care about our youth
I care about Michigan
I care about fun
I care about health
I care about family
I care about friends
I care about my bike
I care about my fantasy sports teams
I care about money
I care about profit
I care about less taxes
I care about truth
I care about liberty
I care about freedom
I care about the future
I care about a future
I care about the past
I care about hockey
I care about football
I care about philosophy
I care about Rush (not Limbaugh, the band)
I care about pizza
I care about picnics
I care about fish
I care about dogs
I care about music
I care about basil
I care about shwarma
I care about good movies
I care about good wine
I care about good food
I care about politics
I care about country
I care about history
I care about consistency
I care about stuff
I care about ambiance
I care about not caring

I care about love

Ken Griffey

Liberty: Naive Libertarians

Naive Libertarians

I got into a heated discussion with this evil red head about politics. We were going on and on about Bush and Obama.  Blah blah blah...etc.   I state that I'm a Libertarian and I get this response from her:
"Libertarians would be fine, if they weren't so naive.  The world won't work the Libertarian way.  There is too much corruption for that.  I would take a lobotomy and/or some kind of drug to get people to be that feel goody and laid back as the Libertarian ideas of how it should be are written. 

Don't tell me that I don't know what the Libertarian ideas are...I read it...Here's an example . It's naive at best:  http://www.lp.org/platform.

A lot of it is nice and good, but then when it gets down social and peer pressure being enough to sway people to behave and do the right thing....Hah!! That's a joke..."

Did I respond?  No.  As much as I do respect her, and I do not think she is really evil...I just didn't want to bother.  It just makes me realize that people are too far gone in their political concepts to appreciate progress, liberty, and freedom.

I believe anyone who thinks society needs the government to take care of them, is going to think

Libertarianism is naive.

I believe anyone who thinks that corruption is something that free market and laws can't handle will think

Libertarianism is naive.

I believe anyone who thinks Libertarianism is just about being laid back would think it is naive.

I believe that anyone who thinks Libertarianism is naive, is pretty much a statist. 

I believe that people are so immersed into the 2 party system that they don't know what they want anymore. 

They are pinned between republican and democrat and never shall the twain meet.

I would like to say that the Libertarian Party, while laying out the construct of their platform isn't in itself the mouth piece for the libertarian philosophy. I may be a Libertarian (Capital L), but I'm more so a libertarian (small l). 

I want the free market to handle the economy, not government bail outs. 

I want the government to defend my rights not take them away.


I want peace through prosperity and a strong national defense.

I want the government to stop growing.

I want less federal taxes and less government intrusion.

I want capitalism to reign.

I want the government to ensure free trade exists, and that people aren't taken advantage of by corporatism.

I want there to be a sound money system.

I want accountability in government.

The list goes on...and I won't give up the fight on what the founding fathers set out for us.

I must be naive. Lord help me.

Pete Rose

Liberty: Forced National Service

Liberty: Forced National Service

I have many friends who have served in the military. All great people.  All brave and courageous for doing so.  Some have served in wars.  Some won't talk about their service.   Some though...have told me they think everyone should serve.

That's where my differences lie with them.  While I believe their experiences are great, and its made them better people...I am against mandating any kind of military or national service. 

I prefer choice and freedom.  You know, exactly what they signed up to protect.

Senator Sneak (Charles Rangell of New York the liberal bastion of American) wants to pass this bill.  It's the same bs the president was talking about.  It's the same "thousand points of light" Bush I talked about.

Here it is:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-5741  Universal National Service Act
"To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes."

So let's say you are a robotics engineer for example.  Well Homeland Security needs a robotics engineer in Baghdad for 6 months.  You'd have to go.  Drop your job, your life, and take off to Iraq.

Are you freaking kidding me? 

It is ironic that the people supporting and pushing this bill are all well over this age limit. It may never get anywhere, but it could. The fact that this is even on the table in a "free" society is mind boggling to me.

I prefer liberty, how about you?

Jerry Koosman





 

Truth: The Almighty Purge

The Almighty Purge

Recently I've embarked on a "spring cleansing" extravaganza.  This cleansing takes place in my office, my garage, and my basement.

I've always played along to the tune of "If I don't need it, throw it out".  Or "If I haven't used it in a year, I'm getting rid of it".

I've come to realize that I was just humming the tune and not really singing it.  It sounded good, but I really wasn't applying that concept to my reality. The reality is, I have more stuff than I need.  The reality is, I have more stuff than I use.  The reality is, I have too much stuff.

I'm quite embarrassed at the amount of things I've accumulated and equally embarrassed about getting rid of it all.  The truth is, I really don't need all that I have. I don't think at any point in time I thought about "needing" something, but rather just wanting it.  It's also a case of just accepting gifts and things as what you own.
You get a gift, you put it on a shelf. Before you know it, a few holidays and birthdays have passed and your "stuff" gets bigger and bigger. 

Do I need 20 coffee mugs?
Do I need old school projects and reports?
Do I need every ticket stub for every concert I've been to?
Do I need all of the news articles I've saved over the years?

Probably and most likely not.

So I'm getting rid of a ton of stuff, for good. I'm making space..so I can clear my head and not see the clutter.  I'm selling, I'm donating, I'm deleting things I don't need or want.  Thinks I don't use.

There's no way anyone is going to call me a Hoarder.  My Feng Shui is going to be top notch.  I'm going to focus on things that matter, and not be tied down to clutter.  I'm not going to be another pawn in the American consumer train that takes everyone with them along for the ride...to Debtsville, USA.  No thanks, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

I don't want to be that guy when he dies some day, to have to leave a giant mess of stuff for everyone else to clean up.  


Purge!

Dane Iorg