Please Help Me Understand Why Anyone Cares About Princess Di

I just don’t get it. Seriously. She wasn’t particularly interesting, and her main accomplishment in life was marrying a guy who’s only accomplishment was hitting the sperm lottery, and being born the prince of England.
Yeah, I know, she did great charity work, but really, what else did she have to do? Re-arrange the furniture? Wave at people? I am truly baffled by the interest people have in this woman, especially in the U.S. I expect it from the looney Brits, but not from the Paris/Lindsay car crash/rehab lovin’ Americans. Help me out here, I’m clueless.

The Cult Of The Child

More nanny state buffoonery from Colorado, where a school has banned tag. Only two parents complained about the ban. Two. I guess most of the parents want their kids to grow up to be terrified pussies just like them.

Using kids to implement ridiculous bans is very convenient these days, as we all have to sacrifice for “The Children.” In fact, when banning smoking in bars that serve food here in Vegas, one of the big selling points for the anti-smoking lobby, was that people couldn’t bring their precious Children to a bar to eat. To a bar. To eat. Because you know, bars should be Kid-Friendly.

When did this asinine over-protection of kids start? I live near probably 5 or 6 schools, yet I never see kids walking to school, ever. Every precious little prince and princess have to be chauffeured to school now. I rarely even see school buses, I guess because they don’t need em anymore. You have a better chance of seeing a Yangtze River Dolphin, than to see an American kid outside. On the rare occasion you actually spot one, they’re wearing a gigantic BackPack, containing a small version of their room, because God forbid, they leave the house without 20 video games, an iPod, a cell phone, and a couple bottles of water. And maybe a helmet in case they have to step off a curb. When I was a kid, if I wore a helmet to ride my bike, I would’ve gotten my ass kicked.

I can only guess that this is the result of a combination of things:
1) Lawyers- Being a lawyer isn’t like being a doctor, that is, any tool can become a lawyer, and now we have an over abundance of them, guaranteeing a zillion frivolous lawsuits based on a Child being injured, (easy money, juries love Children).

2) Single Mothers- The “Oprah-ization” or celebration of single motherhood, has made it not only acceptable to be a single mother, but desirable. If you’re a single mom, you get a lot of “You’re so brave!” and ” I have so much respect for you, that’s really hard!” You get so many more “props” than if you’re actually married to a man. This is actually kind of an epidemic in this country, boys being raised only by women, and we all know how they over-protect.

3)Media- The media loves to scare the crap out of parents, with endless horrible stories about Children being hurt or worse. I doubt crimes against Children have dramatically risen in the last 50 years, but the media would have us believe there’s a child molester behind every mailbox, just waiting for you to take your eyes off your kid for one second.

4)Parents Who Want To Be “Friends” With Their Children- This is a weird phenomenon that seems to have happened as a result of adults not wanting to grow up. I see it all the time, parents having debates with 5 year-olds, cause they want to be “cool,” and not yell at their little buddy. The most important thing, above all else, is that they’re friends with their kids. Or to prove to their kid that they are just as hip as them. Something that I see all the time now, is a 4 or 5 year-old kid with a Mohawk. The parent using the kid as a prop, to prove how cool they are, because they refuse to grow up and be a parent.

Sorry, got a little off topic with that last one.

George Carlin has a routine about this, in which he says (Whiny voice) “The children, the children,” and then,”F*ck the children!” and goes on to describe swimming in polluted water when he was a kid, and how this over-protection is screwing up natural selection. He did this routine in Vegas, and a bunch of people got up and walked out, I assume because how dare he say something like that about The Children.

Rehab-a-Palooza

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Lindsay Lohan reached a plea deal Thursday on
misdemeanor drunken driving and cocaine charges that calls for her to spend one
day in jail, serve 10 days of community service and complete a drug treatment
program.
“It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because
I am addicted to alcohol and drugs,” Lohan said in a statement released by
publicist Leslie Sloane Zelnik.

I don’t think she is an addict, like say Robert Downey Jr. He pretty much dropped off the face of the earth, because he was incapacitated by hard-core drug use. I think she, and the rest of these girls just do a little blow, and have some drinks, and are stupid enough to drive their own cars everywhere. Missing a couple call times is hardly the sign of someone about to die from drugs and alcohol. Rehab is for people who will cease to live if they don’t get help. All this rehab and drug treatment is a huge over-reaction, and an utter waste of everyone’s time. It’s just become such an easy cop-out to claim addiction every time you do something stupid. It’s also a slap in the face to the people who really need rehab. This chick is young, and has a ton of money. Guess what she’s gonna do: Party! Just like anybody else would, and there ain’t no “treatment” that’s going to stop it.

History Channel Debunks Crazy People

I meant to mention this the other day, but it got past me. Anyway, I watched the History channel program about 9/11 conspiracies, and yeah, it was good. Of course they debunked all the B.S. no sweat. I just wanted to link an essay about this, and other conspiracies, that dissects the problem, rather than a laundry list of “proof.” This is a brilliant take-down of conspiracy theorists of all kinds. Warning: It’s long, but worth it. Many of you may have already read this, but if not, it’s more than worth your time. Right Here.

Watching Pundits Will Make Your Head Explode

This is audio of Laura Ingram and Geraldo arguing about immigration. To be honest, I didn’t listen to it. I don’t have to. I already know what I’ll hear. It’s boring at this point. Laura is really good, but who needs to hear what Geraldo thinks about anything? Memo to the world: Nobody takes Geraldo seriously, including Geraldo. Do you think she’ll win him over by the end of their conversation? It’s an exercise in futility.
That’s why I just can’t take pundits anymore. Listening to them is a complete waste of time and energy. I’m sick of people yelling talking points at each other, and never answering a single question. You will never hear a queston answered on Hannity and Colmes. Ever. Example:
Hannity to random Democratic Strategist: “Is the sky blue?”
Democratic Strategist: “It’s funny you mention the sky Sean, because of Republican war mongering blah blah blah..today’s talking points..blah blah….
Then back to Hannity who repeats the question 10 more times, with the same result. Colmes then begins the vicious cycle all over again, repeat, ad infinitum.
This is the same process at every other cable news outlet by the way, not just Fox.
This is what passes as debate. Every talking head is a lawyer, or has a law degree, or hangs out with lawyers enough to know not to ever actually answer a question, under any circumstance. What’s the point?

MSNBC Newsroom Booed Bush State Of The Union Speech

No surprise here. What bugs me is not that they’re biased, that’s a given. What bugs me is that they are such children. Booing the state of the union address? Cheering Karl Rove resigning? What are they…12?
What kind of retards are working at the MSNBC newsroom?
Seriously, cheering Rove’s resignation? Do they think that really matters? It’s not like he got caught with a 9 year old boy. Bush is a lame duck at this point, do they think Rove leaving is some kind of gigantic victory for the left? Do they get a gold star to put on the fridge? An extra 5 minutes for recess? Do they get to stay up past thier bed-time? Now it makes a little more sense why this day-care center employs “grown-ups” like Olberman and Mathews.

“Judge” Suspended With Pay

This is a Judge in Las Vegas, that was recently suspended with pay, $130,000/ year.
 

Some of the allegations against her include:
 

Asking a bailiff to kill her husband.
 

Making aides rub her feet.
 

Regularly sleeping in court.

Dining with jurors, during a case.

Being abusive to staff. And a host of other nonsense. Obviously, this woman is obese, in fact, she can’t walk, and has oxygen tubes up her nose at all times. But of course we can’t hold that against her, and here is the obligatory PC piece in the local paper pointing out that her weight is irrelevant.
Uhh..I think it is relevant. Being morbidly obese speaks directly to your character as far as I’m concerned. If you can’t make the proper judgement on weather or not to have another twinkie, am I supposed to trust you’ll make the proper judgement as may regard something important? I’m just glad they ferreted out this nightmare before she could do any major damage. She only began her tenure as a judge in January.
This is the problem with electing judges. If you’re not directly involved in the legal/court system, how are you supposed to know anything about these people? Most responsible people don’t have the time to research that stuff. I for one, won’t cast a vote if I don’t know anything about that person, and that’s how people like this get elected. Maybe we need a new system.

Where There’s Smoke (There’s idiots)

While I’m on the subject of smoking bans, here is another one from New York:

Smokers have already been banned from New York bars and restaurants, and
soon they could be prohibited from lighting up in cars carrying minors, an idea
giving added fuel to critics who say the city has become a nanny state.
If enacted, smoking in cars with riders under the age of 18 would join a
growing list of activities barred by the city, including making too much noise
at night, serving trans fats in restaurants, and allowing students to carry cell
phones in school.

My prediction: Smoking will be completely outlawed within ten years.
Full disclosure, I am a smoker. Wish I never started, but I did, and to be honest, I enjoy it. Smoking has been demonized to such an extent, that I feel like a leper when I smoke in public. Seriously, child molesters get less hateful glares. My wife and I vacation in California sometimes, and when I smoke there, I fully expect to be lynched by an angry mob. With torches and everything. I understand that cigarette smoke is unpleasant to non-smokers, and I make an effort to spare people from that in public, just as I make an effort to not fart directly at people. But the bottom line is, when you leave your house, it’s not my job to make your day pleasant, nor is it the job of government to make sure you don’t get offended outside of your personal sanctuary. Life is offensive, and it should be. Maybe your cologne is offensive to me, but hey, that’s your problem, I’m not gonna let it ruin my day, or try to pass legislation against Old Spice.
That is why this type of legislation is personal. People hate dirty, filthy, low-life smokers. Smoking is a personal choice, just as eating 5 Big Macs, or riding dirt bikes on the weekend is. They all have inherent health risks, known to the person engaging in said activity.
Whether or not you smoke, you should be very affraid of these laws being enacted. Today it’s smoking and Trans-Fats, tomororrow, it’s red meat. The day after that, it’s guns. Believe it.

Smoking Bans

ATHENS, Ala. – Voters have a chance on Tuesday to return this northern
Alabama city to the days of Prohibition.

Might be time to leave Athens, Alabama.

A measure to end the sale of alcohol in Athens is up for a citywide vote, a
rare instance where voters could overturn a previous vote to allow sales.
Business interests are against repeal, but church leaders who helped organize
the petition drive that got the measure on the ballot are asking members to pray
and fast in support of a ban.

Christians who oppose drinking on moral grounds believe they have a chance
to win, however small.

They certainly do have a chance to win.

This is not unsimilar to something that happened here in Vegas last November. You may not know this, but here in Sin City, smoking is banned in bars that serve food, even if your entire menu consists of a basket of fries.

Let me tell you something about Las Vegas. We have the highest per capita number of smokers in the entire U.S., as well as probably the most bars. There is literally a bar on every corner. Within a square mile of my house, I can think of ten right off the top of my head, within walking distance. All of these bars make their money from video poker, and people that play video poker like to smoke while they’re losing the rent money. As a result of the smoking ban, most of these bars closed the restaurant portion of their establishment, because the food is secondary to the gambling. Everything is secondary to the gambling.

Because we have an influx of people from southern California moving here, and believe me they really hate smokers, the ban went into effect, cleverly placed in mid-term elections, which usually see’s a turnout of about 30%. As a result of the California tree-huggers hatred of smokers, a lot of people lost their jobs, a lot of businesses lost a ton of money, and now we have more drunk drivers on the road since people are drinking and not eating anything at all.
Vegas is a big town, there’s plenty of non-smoking restaurants. There was no need for this ban, it was personal.
I never thought I’d see the day that smoking would be banned in this town, but it happened.
The most smokers per capita in the U.S….. No smoking. In bars. In Las Vegas.

Numbers Game

So the Dems spent last night pandering to the gigantic voting bloc of gay people on LOGO, a gay cable station, that exists because I guess BRAVO just wasn’t gay enough. This entire debate is a red herring. Gay marriage in and of itself is a non-issue, this is more about Liberal Values being forced on Americans.
Morality aside, here’s my take on why gay marriage just doesn’t make sense.

The gay population is estimated between 6 and 10% so for arguments sake, let’s say it’s 8%. Are we to assume the entire 8% even wants to marry? I doubt it, so let’s take off 2%, which leaves us with 6%.
Of that 6%, how many are in serious relationships, that would even consider getting married? I can only guess, because there are no estimates for that, but I think we can safely cut the 6% in half, leaving 3%. BTW, this is in no way scientific, just my opinion.

Now that we’re down to 3%, how many of them would get married just because they can? That’s a tough one, but my guess would be at least 1%.

Ok, down to 2% of the gay population that could realistically want to get married, at any given time. Again, not scientific, but I think, probably pretty close.

Of that 2%, how many want to get married just for things like health insurance, and property rights? With that, we may be at around 1% of the gay population, that wants to marry for noble reasons. That is not to say heterosexuals always marry for noble reasons, they don’t, I’m just talking numbers here. If we are to change an institution, that has existed one way, for thousands of years, we should realistically look at how many people it actually affects. By my un-scientific, but I think reasonable, estimation, somewhere between 1-2 percent of the general population. Or something like that.
Like I said, all morality aside, no matter how you personally feel about it, this would affect so few people, it’s really not even worth considering changing the very definition of marriage, let alone splitting this country even futher apart.