Early Time Change

In case you haven't heard, Daylight Savings Time starts 2 weeks earlier beginning this year. DST begins on March 11, 2007, and ends the first weekend in November rather than the last weekend in October. And already the problems this change will cause are being anticipated. Now the problems are not expected to be anywhere near the magnitude of the problems predicted in Y2K, but if people do not change computer that do not change themselves there could be some problems: airlines could be off schedule, people may miss meetings, cell phones could mistakenly be billed for peak hours, etc., etc., etc. Microsoft Corp. has sought to minimize any time-change difficulties by issuing updates to the most current version of its Windows XP operating system, and the change in time has already been inputted in the new Microsoft Vista, but for computer systems such as Windows 2000, individuals need to be aware that the system will not automatically change the time. So make sure you know what system you have and make the necessary changes!

AT THE MOVIES

Just bought Dave Koz AT THE MOVIES CD. For those who don't know Koz, he's a fantastic saxophonist that is my favorite. The CD is a great collection of movie themes, such as "Over the Rainbow," "The Pink Panther," "The Way We Were," and "The Shadow of Your Smile" just to name a few (14 all total). David Koz is joined vocally by such greats as Judy Garland, Barry Manilow, India Arie, Donna Summer, Anita Baker, and on and on in Koz's renditions of these classic movie songs.

I know....you're thinking "how corny?" But for those that love movies, and just need some time to relax, this is the CD to buy. Get a glass of wine, cozy up to the fire, and enjoy! It will also bring back many memories for many of you I'm sure. I highly recommend Dave Koz AT THE MOVIES.

Could it be because of lice? That would be my suspicion. Maybe she got bugs! Maybe she's shaved down below too?

Isn't There More Important Things To Worry About?

With all the problems that NJ supposedly has such as the highest property tax in the nation and one of the highest insurance rates in the country, one would think that the least problem facing NJ is gay marriage. But the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage has begun a petition drive to try to get at least 20,000 signatures, hoping to persuade legislative leaders to allow a vote defining marriage as a union between one woman and one man.

I am still so confused about what the big deal with gay marriage is really all about. I will never understand what two men or two women do, and whether or not they join in a marriage union, effects any heterosexual marriage whatsoever. Everyone has the right to believe gay marriage is right or wrong, everyone has the right to his or her opinion about gay rights, but gay individuals are productive members of society and they should have every right available to them that any other citizen has, including the right to marry if they so desire.

I have been proud of NJ and the proactive measures it has taken to protect the civil rights of its citizens, particularly in respect to gay rights! I hope NJ will reject attempts to set back those rights and further discrimination. I hope groups such as the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage will leave us the hell alone and go somewehre else!

Where Were They 4 Years Ago?

Where oh where were you Congress 4 years ago when Bush & Company were selling us a load of BS to justify a war with Iraq? Today Hillary Clinton and other Congressmen warned Bush that he better not be preparing for war with Iran without the approval of Congress. And I applaud the stern warning to Mr. Bush. But why wasn't Hillary and her gang demanding such approval before the US invaded Iraq? Why wasn't the intelligence that led to war with Iraq as much in question as the intelligence that links Iran to the death of American US military in Iraq? If Congress had been as inquisitive 4 years ago as they are today, maybe thousands of lives could have been saved.

I know that 4 years ago 9-11 was only 2 years old, and any questioning of Bush & Company and the fight on terrorism that the US was taking to them rather than letting them bring it to us, was unpatriotic. But Congressmen and women should have had the balls (or whatever women have) to question Bush then! But politics is a funny thing. Rather than risk a future in office, politicians tell people, or neglect to inform people, what they want to hear, not the truth! Our politicians are so worried about continuing in politics, a "career" for them, that they refuse to stand up for what they believe, or what they feel is best for the country. (Rick Santorum, despite his arrogance, and in my opinion incorrect thinking, stood up for what he believed to be right, and look where he is now. But at least he took a stand)!

When are the American people going to look beyond the lip service and put those in office that fight for them? When are Americans going to elect people who want what's best for the US? I can only hope that day comes soon.

If you see one of these, don't touch it!!! (It's a Bushmonkey and it may bite)!

Yes, America Has Gotten What It Deserved

I attended a family birthday party yesterday, and while there the topic of President's Day (next Monday, 2/19/07) came up. Along with the mention of President's Day, someone said, "Yes. It's President Bush day!" That was followed by many unflattering comments about George W. I could not resist. For I know that a few of the people in the room, the same ones making some of the negative comments, voted for George W., not only in 2000, but also in 2004. (These are family members and I will forgive them, but I will never forget). I then started with my "told you so" attitude. I reiterated what I said after the 2004 election: Americans deserve exactly what they get for the next 4 years.

And I still hold to that exultation! If Americans are so unhappy with George W. & Company, if Bush's ratings are so low, many Americans only need look in the mirror to find the answer to the puzzling question: how did such a moron become President of the U.S.? Bush, a man who while suffering from Delusions of Grandeur, feels he was placed in U.S. history at this time because God wanted him there! I hope he still feels God has his back because many of Bush's supporters have deserted him. His own party has disowned him for fear of future political devastation.

So to all those who voted for George W. in 2000 and 2004, "I TOLD YOU SO!" Once an asshole, always an asshole, and I hope everyone is finding that out now about George W. He has destroyed this country's reputation throughout the world! One can only hope the next president can restore the world's confidence in the greatest country on the face of the earth!

Haggard's Healed! It's A Miracle!

Praise the Lord and pass the potato chips! The (dis)honorable Ted Haggard is now healed and he is completely HETEROSEXUAL! Remember Ted? He's the minister that was having the affair with the male prostitute that outted him just before the November election. "He (Haggard) is completely heterosexual," the Rev. Tim Ralph of Lakespur told the Denver Post. "That is something he discovered. It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing." Well thank God for that! It was only the "acting-out situations where things took place." Whatever the hell that means! Oh! He was only "acting-out" his homosexuality! I think I get it. And besides, Haggard only "acted-out" with the male prostitute and no other men! BIG B.S.!!! I don't believe any of it, but one thing I can say: I am glad he plays for the "other" team now because the other team can have him!

A Day at the Beach?

Not really a day at the beach, but a day at The Pier at Caesars in Atlantic City. Sit around the windows sipping a cup of coffee, or visit one of the restaurants at The Pier for a relaxing time after shopping 'til you drop. Or enjoy the dancing water show. Whatever, it's a great way to spend a cold wintry day...until you can get out on the beach for real when the weather warms up a bit.

Mr.Bush's Psyche

A very interesting article in New York (February 5, 2007), in which John Heilemann takes a look at George W.'s brain. It's titled, "What's going on in George Bush's mind? A political survey." Mr. Heilemann calls George W. " The lonliest president," and quotes many individuals on the status of Mr. Bush's mental status and psyche. The following are excerpts from some of the quotes since I could never say it better myself:

"One of the most unnerving things about George Bush is his smile. As the situation
in Iraq has grown more calamitous, the smile hasn't disappeared. It's become
markedly patronizing, saying, "I'm right on this. The rest of you just dont' understand."
A pitying smile."
(Deepak Chopra, president, Alliance for a New Humanity)

"I have enough sympathy for anybody in that position that I wouldn't say he's mentally
deranged: I feel sorry for him. I think he must know that he's going to go down in
history as the most incompetent president since Buchanan."
(Ted Sorensen, speechwriter for President Kennedy)

"I think Bush didn't have a view of America's role in the world until after 9/11, and
then it was provided to him by those around him in power. They had two big ideas:
One was to depose Saddam and use Iraq as a base to pacify, in an imperial way, the
Middle East, and to control its oil. The second big idea, carried over by vice-president
and secretary of Defense, was that of the unitary presidency."
(Gary Hart, Wither Chair Professor at the University of Colorado at Denver)

"He (Bush) shows signs of an "authoritarian personality" as well, which involves a special
vulnerability to stature and power, to demonstrations of force, and also profound personal
need for power, order, and control."
(Susan Andersen, professor of psychology, NYU)

All I know is the man is nuts!

And We're Surprised (Things Are So Messed Up)!?

Almost not a day or week has gone by since the beginning of the war in Iraq that we have not seen on the news how things have been royally screwed up! We are constantly reminded how incompetent those in charge have been. We have also seen how things were handled in domestic situations such as Hurricane Katrina. And we wonder why?

George W. is one of the biggest baffoons ever to lead this country. I previously said after the 2004 elections that Americans deserved what they get in the coming years. Unlike my friend Pax Romano, I am not resolved to "stop saying to people who voted for Bush, "Told Ya' So!!!". I will never stop saying to those who put Bush into office for a second term, "I Told YOU so!" Morons and assholes! They elected this idiot and they deserve exactly what they have gotten!

Here's a man who said "mistakes were made", but "Mybad..........OH well!" Bush has been responsible for the death of thousands and he can simply say, "MyBad....OH well!" If he were a man, he'd take responsibility for his mistakes and resign. If Bush was a Samuri warrior responsible for the unnecessary death of thousands, he commit harikari. If you or I mistakenly killed one individual, we'd be charged with manslaughter at least.

So why do we sit in amazement when we hear how incompetent George W. is. A moron will always be found out eventually!

It's About Time Congress Steps Up To Bat!

"The Constitution makes Congress a coequal branch of government. It's time we start acting like it." This is what Senator Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) said at a hearing today on Congress' war powers. Senator Arlen Spector (R-Pa) stated that, " I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider (about what happens in the Iraq War)," and that "The decider is a shared and joint responsibility."

For too long, with the Republican controlled House and Senate, whatever George W. has decided has occurred with little or no debate, and certainly no contradiction. But that time is now over! Mr. Bush is going to have to realize that he is president, not dictator of the US. George W. is not going to have things done just because he wants them done so. George W. is going to have to have the approval of Congress on this issue and many others. The US was thrust into this ungodly war because of the failure of Congress to debate and disagree, and it's about time Congress takes up its appropriate role and share some of the responsibility in the decisions made about US involvement in the world.

Congress could actually halt the war by stopping funding of the war. But this would be a political gamble that not too many in Congress seem willing to take. Vice President Dick Cheney challenged Congress to back up its objections to Bush's plan to put 21,500 more troops in Iraq by zeroing out the war budget, understanding that such a drastic move is doubtful because it would be fraught with political peril. But I believe the Congress has the backing of the Americam people who spoke in the November 2006 election, showing their disdain for the war. George W. & Company have chosen to use the election results as a means to say Americans wanted a change in direction, not an exit from Iraq. But I believe the American people are ready to see the US involvement in Iraq STOP! And I hope Congress takes the gamble and does what the president will not: get our troops out of Iraq NOW!

Gay Marriage Coming To Connecticut?

In the state that gave the US the first non-court odered civil unions, Connecticut may soon become the first state to allow gay couples full marriage rights. Connecticut legislators are expected in the next few months to take up a bill that if passed would allow same-sex couples to marry. This comes about two years after civil unions became law in Connecticut. It's hard to say whether or not a bill that will soon be filed will become law, but Senator Andrew McDonald (D-Stamford), one of the bill's co-sponsors said, "I think there's a very real possibility that we will be able to pass it in the Legislature." Here's to Connecticut today, perhaps New Jersey in a few years?

Anybody Miss Me?

Ok. Be honest? Did you miss me? And don't say so just to make me feel good! I haven't blogged since New Year's Day, 28 days ago! I know Mommanator missed me because she told me she so; she said she missed reading what I had to say. So here's to you, Mommanator! You're looking better than ever, and I wish you would get back soon and keep your boys in line!

Oh yeah. I turned another year older in December. That's my birthday cake that my special someone bought for me. A strawberry shortcake birthday cake! YUMMY! Another year older, and another year wiser! As the old saying goes, "if I only knew then what I know now!" How true that is.

So again I will blog my heart out even though blogs are supposed to be a thing of the past. It gives me a place to make my thoughts known and vent some of my frustrations and bang my pulpit for change in our world. It gives me a place to say what's wrong with our world as well as look at the positive things that are going on. So I will be blogging on!

NYC Christmas 2006

Took my annual Christmas pilgrimage to NYC this past week. What a fabulous place NYC is anytime, but especially at Christmas. As is customary, I get out of the city before the big New Year's Eve Bash, making only a stop in Times Square to see the NYE preparations. That way I can sit in front of my television watching the party on NYE and say, "I walked there....and there....and there."

Ate at two great restaurants, Geisha, and Tao. Geisha is an satisfies the Japanese desire and Tao the Pan-Asian cuisine. Both were exceptional. Went to two shows, Martin Short, Fame Becomes Me, and The Little Dog Laughed. Totally different, one a musical and the other a play, both were very entertaining.

I LOVE NY!!

SCUM

I don't often condone the death penalty, but these 2 should be taken out and shot!

What Planet Is Bush On?

I have always believed George W to be a complete idiot, but his speeches today have totally confirmed that. While Bush was stating that, "...One result that Iraq would like to see is for the Iranians to leave them alone," Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was in Tehran meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadnejad. I don't know about you, but to me that does not sound like the Iraqi people, at least not all of them, want the Iranians to leave them alone!

What planet does George W live on? What news does George W watch? Hello, George! Reality check, George! The Iranians and Syrians are going to just step into Iraq and solve the problems that the US has been unable to do the past several years. And the Iraqis are going to greet the Iranians and Syrians with open arms. So which is it, George? Do the Iraqis, or do the Iraqis not want, Iran's and Syria's assistance?

But then George gave the explanation of the real problem in Iraq. It is Al Qaeda! Al Qaeda is responsible for the latest wave of sectarian violence and Bush vowed not to withdraw troops “until the mission is complete.” (Whatever the fuck the "mission" is)! There is no civil war in Iraq! All the violence is the work of Al Qaeda! Now when the Sunnis retaliate when the Shiites kill someone, that does not sound like Al Qaeda to me. THE REAL WORLD, GEORGE! There is no election to be won here now, so you can stop trying to frighten Americans with Al Qaeda!

Someone who really cares about George, maybe his mother, father, Dick Cheney, or whomever, needs to bring George back into the real world!

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

Did You All Get Out On Black Friday?

Thank God I didn't do any shopping today, Black Friday 2006. I did have to make a trip past the Hamilton Mall on my way to the gym, and boy was it crazy. The parking lot was packed and the traffic around the mall was outrageous! Why do people think they have to do all their Christmas shopping in one day? Sure there are great sales, but guess what? There will be sales everyday until Christmas. People are crazy! My sanity kept me away from the stores today. But starting tomorrow, look out world; Karl's on the prowl for those hot gifts!

Oh What A Mess We've Made (Or Should I Say Bush Has Made)

I turned on CNN this morning to catch up on the world's events and CNN introed the Iraq update with the title, Iraq In Crisis. Damn! What a mess the US has made in Iraq, not to mention the entire Middle East. What a big screwup for George W.! The US went into Iraq first and foremost because of the threat Iraq posed to the US. Secondly, George W. wanted to bring, catch this, STABILITY, to the Middle East! Look at the stability! Hundreds killed yesterday and many killed everyday. Sectarian violence soon to end up in an out and out civil war. US soldiers killed almost everyday in Iraq! Sounds like stability to me. I hate to admit it, but Saddam Hussein had control of Iraq.

It's actually pretty scary when you look at what's happening in Iraq. Syria and Iran are joining together to assist in the stabilization of Iraq. You can't really blame them; Iraq is their neighbor, and since the US has only screwed things up there, why shouldn't Syria and Iran move in? God only knows what will happen to the US, not to mention Israel, when that entire region becomes ultra-Islamic and goes after the US and Israel. The Apocalypse?

How does the US "fix" Iraq? I haven't got the faintest idea. George W. has really messed things up, and as UN General Secretary Kofi Annan said the other day, the US is trapped in Iraq. We cannot just leave, and if we stay only more and more turmoil will take place.