JURY DUTY

I’ve been experiencing the judicial process known as jury duty this week.  Yipes.  There is certainly something to be said for cowboy justice.  Oh well,  the experience stretches on.

Peggy West…doh!

Now, I spout of sometimes and say some pretty stupid things; but next to good old Peggy I’m a genius.  Peggy West is a 12th District Supervisor in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.  

Thank goodness she’s not on the school board.

Fake President

No surprise that me and Rachel Maddow do not have the same opinions on so many things.  Last night, I came to agree with her.  The Fake President Obama speech I watched on her program must have been due to planet alignment or something.  msnbc is not a channel I watch; but I stumbled upon her bit. 

She needs to be hired to be the stand-in for President Obama for all future speeches.  Her ability to present a speech that gets to the point, shows emotion, and presents leadership is so far beyond Obama’s that he would do well to at least hire her as a consultant (not that I want his ideas to move forward).  She’s got the skills.

And today, she met with Obama along with Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post, columnist Gail Collins of the New York Times, Gerald F. Seib of the Wall Street Journal and a handful of White House staffers according to the Washington Post.

I would like to propose she present to the President the same idea to control illegal immigration---plug the hole.

Now for your consideration…

Afterthought-  Since I live in an oil rich area and the economy here is driven by the success of that privately run enterprise that is overseen by the government, I’m not in a big hurry to stop the use of hydrocarbons and switch to unicorns.  However, locally, Chevron has installed a solar field in a portion of the Kern River Oilfield.  If Kern County and the southwest moved to solar power we just might be able to rule the world (or maybe ride unicorns to work).

The link to the solar field is a production of Chevron so…

Happy Flag Day!

It’s been 233 years since the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that on June 14 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.  Get out and wave your flag.

Yes, before remote control.  Before cable.  We would adjust the bunny ears on the black & white TV and sing along with Mitch.  Everyone was facing the TV and singing the words as they appeared on the screen.  Simple entertainment.

And now for a classic:
James Cagney - "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Roger | MySpace Video

Citizenship

Oh yes, I voted.  I’m one of the few.  Thanks to the rest of you for staying home.  My vote was made more powerful without having to deal with the business of cancelling your vote.  The minority of the population that voted rules the majority that didn’t take the time to mark a ballot.  Thank you.

Additionally, I have been called to jury duty.  What book should I take?  I’m considering True Grit since the movie is being re-made to more closely follow the book.  Do you think the attorneys will look at me with eyes for dismissal if I carry in a copy of True Grit?   Or will they look at with the eye(s) of  Rooster Cogburn?

Memorial Day Comment Addressed

I expressed my thoughts on a Memorial Day post last week.  Aunt Snow left a comment Saturday morning that I feel needs a response in a separate post.  Aunt Snow’s comment is broken down and in blue.  My response follows in bold.  Ready?  Here we go.

Maybelline, this bothers me.

This bothers me too. I’m glad I’m not alone.

I'm not sure I understand who you're talking to when you use the pronoun "you" in this piece.

“You” is 1^st used in my post in reference to those that admire the terrorists of 9/11.

Who admires 9/11 terrorists? I am politically liberal and I don't know anyone who does.

I do not know these people that admire the acts of terrorists. I do however read opinions. The opinion that sparked my post was from a commenter replying to the plea from another blogger to list someone they admired that might be surprising. Here’s the comment:

“I live in NYC. I've lived here for over 20 years. Part of me admires part of the group that engineered 9/11. It was a brilliant plan, brilliantly executed and while it probably didn't do everything they wanted it to do it did change the course of the country for a long time, probably forever. I don't like them. I don't want them to have any more brilliant plans. But I admire that intelligence of the plan and near perfection of its execution.”

To be fair, that commenter was apprehensive to post this admiration. Nonetheless, I see nothing admirable with the 9/11 plan nor the terrorists involved. That commenter is not alone in their view. There are many others that hope much worse happens to America and Americans.

Who wants to take from you so that they can have more themselves?

The 1^st thing that comes to mind is my tax increase. It’s constant. There is never a tax reduction or a temporary tax. More is taken from me in the form of taxes to redistribute to those receiving welfare type services and to support bigger government that doles out those services. Certainly I see the need for social programs to help those through a time of need. That should be such a minimal number in our population. Living on welfare should not be a way of life. Helping people obtain the tools they need in order to support themselves is what I believe works best. This gives people a sense of pride. A sense of purpose. The 2^nd thing on my list is the financial burden of illegal aliens. Please note: I know the difference between immigrant and illegal alien. One brings something to the country in a legal fashion while another crowds and takes from this country.  Those of us that give are really getting tired of those that don’t.

I am politically liberal, and I don't know anyone who does.

I don’t know that you can hang a label on me. Neither liberal nor conservative fits me. Perhaps practical or functional works somehow. I think I like the term “button-down” to best describe me.

Who "spews" (can we have a moratorium on that word, BTW?) shocking junk, and - while you're at it - please quote the junk you find so shocking.

I like the word spew. Spew spew spew spew spew. No limit or restrictions on words here. It’s funny. After reading your comment I was listening to “Wait…Wait Don’t Tell Me” on NPR and heard the word “spew” repeated 3 times during the “Who’s Carl This Time” segment.

Shocking junk can be read and heard from practically all forms of communication today. I provided a quote above from a commenter to a post on another blog. This little blog of mine doesn’t require me to site a ding dong thing; but I would like to list one recent bit of junk I found very shocking from the sweet lips of opinionist (word I just made up) Helen Thomas:

Now THAT’S spew!

who are you addressing?

I am addressing anyone. Everyone. Kind of like art isn’t it? One individual may interpret this completely different from another.

I love talking with you about gardening, but you seem to be addressing a villain that doesn't really exist.

Dear Aunt Snow, I perceive you to be a kind and generous soul. If you could save the world you would. Your glasses are rose colored and I appreciate you for this. However, there are villains and they do exist. The world is a much different place than it was 40, 30, 20, 10 years ago.

Now, I’m not a writer. I studied rocks and I enjoy gardening. I would rather be out working in the garden right now; but I made the original post and need to address your comment. My hope is to communicate clearly with you without any negative tone attached to the typed words.

I live in Bakersfield, California. It’s a completely different place than where you live; but there are many, many more places similar to good old Bakersfield with many, many like minded citizens. Debate is not my thing either. Arguing is not something I cherish. My Memorial Day post is simply an outlet for me to express my thoughts. Your comment on my original post was certainly thought provoking and I do appreciate you taking the time to express yourself.  I hope that I have addressed your questions and concerns here.

Please enjoy this podcast of Wait…Wait Don’ Tell Me.