RIP Michael Jackson: Aug 29 1958 - Jun 25 2009

Wow!! First Ed, then Farrah, and now Michael. I can't believe he's gone already. Even with every news channel covering him now, it feels surreal. I can remember dancing in the car whenever "Don't stop till you get enough" came on the radio when I was 7 years old. I should say, "trying" to dance like him. Watching his videos over and over again, unable to completely understand how anyone could move like he did. And then he did the moonwalk on MTV during "Billie Jean"......OMFG. That was it! I just HAD to do it. Exactly like he did. But..no matter how many different pairs of shoes, or socks I tried....I just couldn't figure it out. Ha! Yeah, he was the man.

And there's always been the gossip, the rumors, and unfortunately the lawsuits. And even though I didn't really follow him once I moved on to junior high and high school, I never stopped being a fan. Especially during the controversial times. Any problems he had are no one's business but his own.

Did the,(Liz Taylor labeled), "King of Pop" have weaknesses and/or vices? Of course he probably did....who doesn't? He was a human being.

So for now, good night and God bless your soul Michael Jackson. You're a mega-icon of American culture, and will always be remembered that way.

He was a legend....but more importantly, a human being. (with a BIG heart)

You'll be remembered always & forever MJ

This is the Michael Jackson that will always be in my mind's eye.......ALWAYS!!

In Memory of Neda

Hey all.......long time no talk here. Things have been "interesting" lately to say the least. Married life is good though, nothing like that. :) Jus life.

Anyway...I felt compelled to post on the incredible events going on in Iran , (sic: E-Ron), at this very important time in their history, had to try to convey the proper pronouncement out of respect for those fighting, and more importantly, risking their LIVES by openly opposing the Dictatorship that is the current "Supreme Leader" BS of the Ayatollah.
(Along with "I'mahdinnerjacket")

I found this article @ the BBC's news site tonight, which offers some insight on the actual "polling irregularity issues" that are being brought into light by the opposition party(s)...not Mousavi's party only. (Very good info)

Sample from article:

• "Early on polling day, the SMS network was shut down, that made me worried about what was going to happen," says Tehran journalist Ali Pahlavan.
• "Then the interior ministry [where results from polling stations around the country are collated] started kicking out its own employees so that just a skeleton personnel and the top officials were left," says Mr Pahlavan.

And then of course there's this story of NEDA, who's graphic killing has been all over the news, and the web. THIS IS NSFW in case you are weary of blood, or jus plain, sick and disgusting video of a woman DYING on the streets of Iran yesterday. NSFW NSFW NSFW
The beatings, killings, kidnapping going on there are CRIMES against HUMANITY. Plain and fucking simple folks. This is what happens when a minority of people take complete and unquestionable control of an entire county. Which leads me to the following:

I thought long and hard about actually posting it. And 1 thing kept nagging me. It's called REALITY. The TRUTH. This is as real life as real life can get.
So, don't say I didn't warn YOU!

Keep faith IRANIAN'S EVERYWHERE!!!

Allah-o Akbar!!

Swine Flu Info - ****BREAKING NEWS****

Ok folks. As of today, April 29th, there are 91-94 reported cases in the U.S. And the World Health Organization has raised the pandemic alert to LEVEL 5, just 1 short of a FULL BLOWN PANDEMIC.

WHO Pandemic Alert Page

But don't let this panic you because every year, 36,000 ppl die from regular influenza in this country alone. Keep your hands and your home clean, and if at all possible, I'd also recommend not traveling at this time.

Here's some basic facts about this potential pandemic EVERYONE should know:

From Factoidz:

There is a vaccine to protect pigs from the virus but currently no vaccine to protect humans from catching swine flu. A seasonal influenza vaccination grown and manufactured for humans will only partially protect a person. Since there are 4 substrains of swine influenza type A, the seasonal flu shot will give a person only partial protection from only one of the variations of the swine flu but not against the main species of the swine flu that we are seeing in the world news in the past week or so.

The symptoms of swine flu closely mimic the symptoms of human influenza. Coughing, fever, runny nose, fatigue, headache and a loss of appetite are consistent with both human and swine influenzas. Additional symptoms which may require being seen by a physician include chills, nausea, congestion, sore throat, lethargy, a fever over 101 degrees, vomiting and diarrhea which can bring about dehydration and put the sick person at additional risk. This will usually land the person a night or two in the hospital with IV fluids and meds. Swine flu doesn’t usually infect humans but this does occur when a person has close proximity with pigs that are infected and then is around other people. The person can catch the swine flu virus from the pigs that are infected and it is then passed on from an infected person to others through coughing, sneezing and casual contact. Just as in human influenza, if a person touches something which has the flu virus on it and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth they can then contract that virus.

(KEEP READING)

Last time 2 Space Shuttles on launch pads together

It's hard to believe it's been 20+ years that Nasa's been using the shuttle.    But all good things must come to an end.     And though most people will always think of either the Challenger or Columbia disasters first,  I think it's important to think of all the ways in which we benefited from these aging marvels of achievement.

Here, here to the remaining SST's for so many years of hard work!!

Dear smokers. Screw you! Signed, B. Obama

No I couldn't think of any ONE particular topic for tonight's title, because it's late and I'm tired. BUT....I've got to get this off my chest before going to bed, so forgive me if some of the following isn't perfect, or starts to ramble. (I'll edit it eventually)

Anyway, I don't even know where to begin. Let me first say that YES, I do smoke cigarettes regularly and YES, I do realize the harmful effects it's had/having on my lungs/body.

But I'll be completely honest and tell anyone who asks the inevitable question: "So why don't you just quit smoking?" Because I don't have the BALLS/WILL/COURAGE/PATIENCE/RESOLVE to quit right now. As plain and simple as that.

Which leads me to my 1st rant.
The House of Representatives yesterday voted 289-139 to pass a 156% increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes (taking it from 39 cents per pack to $1.00, not counting state taxes which average over $1 a pack). The estimated $33 billion tax hike (over 4-1/2 years) would be earmarked to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)

Why in the HELL, during such times as these. When MOST, if not ALL of middle-class America are being SQUEEZED dry, would a 586% tax in-fucking-crease be signed into law on ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS??? Effectively compounding the financial situation of those of us who choose to, for whatever reason(s), use tobacco!

Because it's not like the price of everything else has gone up dramatically in recent years already. *read: Food, gas, shelter, medicine...etc, etc* ON TOP of losing our jobs, homes, savings.

Why isn't ALCOHOL being hit with an almost $2.00/bottle, ounce, whatever tax along with tobacco? Hmmm, lemme think. Maybe because, as much as we smoker's have been demonized, and told of all the death's directly linked to our evil, sinful pleasure called smoking. But guess what? When all of the consequences/costs of each product's use are analyzed and compared to each other, ALCOHOL actually LEADS TOBACCO in it's destructiveness in human terms.

NCSL - State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization

(To be continued)

Countdown w/KO

Check out this "Cat rescue", and sleepwalking, err, running dog on the "Oddball" segment on Countdown with Keith Olberman. Ha!

Hilarious stuff.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From MSNBC

Topic of the Day (TOTD)

So this morning on our commute to work, Jill asked me if I thought MJ would ever be regulated the same as tobacco is in our life time. To which I replied how funny she mention that today since I've been hearing snippets of this same question on TV, and the interwebz. And that I no longer feel as optimistic about that happening as I once was in my younger years. But also that anything's possible with the state of our nation nowadays. (and having a sensible administration in office doesn't hurt either)

Anyway. I get home, jump online, check my email, yada-yada...and just a few minutes ago, checked out the day's news, even going so far to scoop the Drudge Report....and I see the following article.

Taxing pot could become a political toking point

Quote:
Reporting from Sacramento -- Could Cannabis sativa be a salvation for California's fiscal misfortunes? Can the state get a better budget grip by taxing what some folks toke?

An assemblyman from San Francisco announced legislation Monday to do just that: make California the first state in the nation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol.
Via LA Times

Wow. It's so refreshing to hear commen sense legislation for a change. I don't care what anyone says. It makes absolutely NO SENSE to have something such as TOBACCO, which is one of the leading killers of American's today, regulated and readily available for personal use if one wishes. NONE!!!

Listen. No one is saying this is a perfect solution. Or that MJ doesn't have ANY consequential factors to consider. But just like alcohol and tobacco, the choice to either use or ignore MJ should be left up to each individual.

NOT A GOVERNMENT!

So, there's my thoughts. Let me know yours.

Bill-O vs Christian Bale

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Woman refuses to give candy to Obama supporters children

I swear you can't make this shit up. Check out this pathetic excuse of a human, Shirley Nagel from Michigan...who actually REFUSED CANDY to ANY Obama supporters kids on Friday, (Halloween), night.

This woman should be bitched slapped for this kind of crap. I mean, with this sort of stunt, she's obviously a far-right, conservative christian? And is practicing the teaching's of our Lord. Something about intolerance, and hate, etc?? Oooh noooo's, didn't He mean "love thy neighbor" (irregardless of color/political affiliation)



Yepper's! Way to go Shir'!!

Oh, and in case you'd like to convey your thoughts to Ms. Nagel personally, here's her phone #: 313.884.2**8

GO OBAMA!!!

The 2nd Great Depression

Man i hate always posting negative shit on here and wasn't going to. But i had to get my anger out on here. We should ALL be OUTRAGED at these past few days events. This has to be one of the SADDEST DAYS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. The DOW lost apporx 1.2 TRILLION dollars in SIX HOURS!! It's actually LOWER today than it was when Bush took office in 2001. Holy crap. I know we're not "officially" in a depression as of this post....but what we're seeing it unfold, right before our eyes. I mean WTF?

There's soooo many talking points on this subject between the rejected bail-out vote today, to who's to blame for this mess, etc. I could prolly type a 20 page post on my thoughts.

But why bore ya with that crap right?

Still no gas in metro Atlanta

Wow! I'd be pissed if this was the issue here in Florida. I wonder why only the SE part of the country? They say the hurricane's are the reason as always....but you'd think all 5 or so states would be exp this issue instead of just Atl.



On CNN:
I ventured out this morning to see if I could find some gas, and after passing 7-8 gas stations I finally saw one Gas station that was open and had gas. The line was pretty long, and it was causing major traffic problems at the intersection that it was located at. The Gas crisis in Atlanta is still very bad, and looks like it might have even gotten worse

Source

Meet Google's Android

Ok all you Google-addicts.....if you're in the market for a new phone, and are fond of the Side-Kick, then you should dig Google's new "smartphone" that runs Android, Google's new mobile OS. (phone by HTC) The integrated gmail features are really slick and get this......it's the FIRST OS that actually lets you COPY THE URL in a browsers address bar. I know that doesn't sound like that big a deal, but i've been bitching about not being able to do it on my Tilt since i got it.

Check out the vid

How despicably sad......

This is absolutely stunning! How the hell is John "McSame" leading in the polls 2 mths before the election?? How the hell is ANY republican on top of ANY poll after these past 8 years? Is this some kind of a sick joke? Is there really just a wizard behind a curtain pulling all the strings of life and we're all pawns of the charade?

Let's get real here. We've become so used to taking things at face value these days, that the lies and deceit just blend right in with the truth, and usually miss the point. I mean, look at the sheer amount of information we're bombarded with each and everyday. Who has the time or resources to mine it all? When you really think about it, all of this technology we've created for ourselves actually "hinders" as much as it "helps".

So you see...it's rather easy to slide one's agenda/talking points in with the facts when you're running a campaign for Prez. Waaaaay too easy.

Take for example, the whole "country first" bullshit slogan they use. WHAT COUNTRY? They can't possibly referring to OUR COUNTRY. Cause like all of us already know, Mr. McCain voted WITH BUSH just about 90% of the time on most issues. Oh but they must've been putting COUNTRY FIRST right?

I guess that depends on your point of view.

McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000.

McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.

McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.

McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.

Stop the madness

Before things like this can be silently put in place. Not exactly the lead-in story on the nightly news.

Federal law already protects individuals who prefer to not participate in abortion services and many states have refusal clauses for either individuals or institutions that object to providing or participating in abortions. The Bush Administration proposal goes far beyond those measures and attempts to define abortion services so broadly that it would include many types of birth control, including oral contraception and emergency contraception

Read full article

But did he WIN anything?

Upper-Class Income is UP 123%

That's right. The avg income of the wealthiest American's rose by a mind-numbing 123% in the past 21 years according recent survey says CBS News.

Middle-class prosperity overall also lagged compared with richer Americans. From 1983 to 2004, the median net worth of upper-income families - defined as households with annual incomes above 150 percent of the median - grew by 123 percent, while the median net worth of middle-income families rose by just 29 percent.

At the same time, most middle-class people remained upbeat when asked to measure their progress over a longer timeframe, although their level of optimism lagged behind their richer counterparts. Two-thirds, or 67 percent, of middle-class Americans say their standard of living is better than the one their parents enjoyed at the age they are now.

In contrast, 80 percent of richer people said they exceeded their parents' standard of living. Among the lower class, only 49 percent reported better conditions.

FULL ARTICLE

Screw the Wii!

Who wants a kiddy console with a "motion sensor controller" when u can keep playing PC games using this thing.




Oh and she can "feel my little sphere" anytime. ;)

Not a April Fool's Post

What's the point? Done it a hundred times, kinda lame @ this point. But that's just me, on this particular day. Next year I'll say the complete opposite.

I got a txt msg from Keith today, saying he "saw someone get murdered in cold blood last night" while he was at some festival up in NPR. And at first I didn't believe him. Being the prankster he's known to be. So i hopped on TBO and sure enough. Dude put 5 or 6 bullets in some guy on the sidewalk with a heavy police presence all around him. ???

In other news........April 29th is just around the corner. I'm just as excited at the next guy @ the chance to play GTA4, and found the "History of Grand Theft Auto" @ IGN

Happy Birthday...........

to VIAGRA. 10 years worth of stiffy's is something. 10 years of stiffy's w/o medical attention is also highly dangerous. Like that disclaimer for Cialis that says: "erections lasting longer than 4-6 hrs should seek medical attention" Ha! Ya don't say? Can u imagine how much money they've made off of guys, well.........getting off? Millions or Billions?

Hmmm. Makes u wonder what else some of these pharm co's have secretly stashed away in a test tube somewhere. We've mapped our own DNA, figured out how to split an atom, and sent men to mars. How come there's no little red/green/yellow, whatever color, that you could take for, say........the common cold.

Or is it just that getting and maintaining a boner is far easier than killing germs? Yeah, that must be it.
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Weblink roundup
Microsoft cracking down on XBL achievement/gamerscore cheaters
US Printing Office outsourcing new passport RFID tech
Ever wonder where your emails go?
Answer is: SERP - The results page given by a search engine

Easter: continued

You better RECOGNIZE!! The way these faithful, Catholic fillipino's show their faith every Easter. More guts than me.