Have I ever told you ...

That I love Metallica?

I'm Joining

I'm joining the Public School teachers and their strike. I'm done.

Homeschooling: the wages suck, and you can blame the student's bad behavior on anyone else but yourself.

Oh, yea, and the "principal" doesn't get home until 6:30.

Striking, "For the Kids"

Nothing says "it's not about the money, it's about education" like marching with signs that read:

Hands off my benefits

Yet, you can always count on at least one striker making the asinine comment. This time, it was veteran teacher Audrey Gates:

"It's not about money in our pockets, it's about teaching these kid."

For the sake of the children, of course. Because, you know it really makes a difference to the students if your insurance co-pay goes up.

Articles are stressing that the teacher's want a 5% pay increase, which isn't exactly the case. They want complete protection of their benifits, and a 5% pay increase each year for the next three years. I went to Detroit public schools, but I think 5+5+5=15%.

You'd have to live on another planet to not know that Detroit is broke, and that health insurance costs have gone through the roof. Detroit schools have been bleeding students for years, resulting in a bloated system serving a diminishing student body.

Yet, the public employees believe they deserve more. Keep repeating that teacher's don't make enough, and some fool will believe it. Teacher's in Detroit with a Master's degree can make $70,046. Not exactly second-rate pay.

Perhaps unspoken is WHY they believe they deserve higher pay (because it certainly isn't for the superior product they turn out.) One striking teacher, though, let the honesty seep through after a fight broke out between two girls during registration:

"I need a raise at least as an incentive to come back to this," Dianne Brown-McDuell, an English teacher at Denby, said after witnessing the fight.

Maybe she's got a point. Could we earmark it as "hazard pay?"

Free to be Racist

Tonight, as I was running, two black teens yelled Run Forest, Run. Run from the niggers at me. I live in Detroit, in a racially mixed neighborhood Both of my immediate neighbors are racially mixed couples - and I'm not talking Irish/Italian mix. I have noticed that there are some racist people here - but they are mostly black racists. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. What the neighborhood isn't, is ghetto. But, those two (girls) who yelled at me are pure ghetto. I fumed as I ran. I was, basically, pissed.

I made sure I ran near their house again; preparing the admonishment I would give. They may have thought I was younger- I mean, the audacity to yell such a thing at an adult is pretty shocking, but that kind of stuff happened to me all the time when I was a young (and going to Detroit Public schools.

Anyway, the girls were gone, but there were to adult women out front. As nicely as I could, I informed the women what happen, who were horrified, and promised they would handle the situation.

Maybe Hillary was right; it takes a village.

Great Vent

On Hot Air. Michelle explores the ambulance hoax.

HA!

Why diet when you can Photoshop.

My husband will be so happy, because today was going to be the first day of our diet.

H/t: Hot Air.

The Gang

DSC00675_1
Originally uploaded by Carinroz.

On a hike, in Wilderness State Park.

Hartwick Pines

DSC00680_1
Originally uploaded by Carinroz.

Can you see the kids?

Michigan's "Tunnel of Trees"

DSC00657_1
Originally uploaded by Carinroz.

The most beautiful drive I've ever taken. I cannot imagine how magical it is in the fall.

Trip

I'll be away until Monday. See ya suckers.

Ego much?/link fixed

If you haven't read this you have to. It's apparently been linked a bit, but I just saw it today. The whole thing is so immensely catty, it's really hard to pick my favorite bit, but I think it must be the advice she gives to men who don't qualify to date at her strata:

Lower your standards and stop pursuing women who are out of your league. There are lots of fat single mothers out there who can’t find dates either.

She writes that she gets tons of responses to her single's ad. Hint, Hon, if you are so "all-that", why do you need ads to get dates?

h/t: Electric Venom.

The Other Side of Hollywood

Woot, woot!

"We the undersigned are pained and devastated by the civilian casualties in Israel and Lebanon caused by terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas," the ad reads.

"If we do not succeed in stopping terrorism around the world, chaos will rule and innocent people will continue to die.

"We need to support democratic societies and stop terrorism at all costs."

Eight-four "high-profile" Hollywood types signed the statement, lead by Nicole Kidman. Excellent.

h/t: Riehl World

Belated Birthday

I didn't get an opportunity to wish Fidel a Happy Birthday, mostly because I was hoping he was dead. But, I was visiting Val's blog whic mentions this celebration they had in San Fran. Included in the performance art was this piece of crap poem:


FIDEL CASTRO
by Jack Hirschman

The president of the other America has fallen ill
and it is his birthday. We wish him Happy
Birthday and a speedy recovery.



By the other America, we don't simply mean
his brothers and sister in Venezuela, Bolivia,
Chile, Peru, Brazil, Haiti and the like.



We mean also the 37 million people living destitute
and in misery in these disunited States, of whom
six million kids go to bed hungry every night,



while a murder machine waves the false flag of security
and makes war on the poor of the world.
What is more insecure than the empty belly of a child?



The president of the other America knows that there is
a poverty that is the wealth of the world. Viva the poverty
of Cuba that makes even the comrade on the cross applaud.



Viva the dignity of Cuba, whose island arms stretch
all the way to the equality of love that is Africa.
There is a man who has understood that life is worth



nothing if it is not free, and freedom nothing if it is not
consciousness of necessity---principled, palpable and priceless.
That is Fidel. That is fidelidad. Be well, commandante. Feliz cumpleanos.

You know, it's not enough that most "artists" and creative types are rationally and factually challenged. If they were good at the creative stuff, I'd say they at least served some purpose. The above drek was written by the Poet Laureate of San Fran.

Cool video

Ace already posted it, but it's enjoyable.

That's Going to Leave a Mark

Dr. Sanity has a few words for the American left women marching with and for and next to Hezzbollah:

To the leaders of today's socialist, anti-war, anti-American, anti-freedom, anti-capitalist, anti-Israeli and truly anti-human feminists, I have only this to say:

You now stand voluntarily on the side of monsters who not only oppose any progess for women rights, but who believe firmly that women are no better than dogs and animals; and are only good for breeding. They and their brothers have deliberately subjugated, oppressed, and humiliated women, stripping them of individuality and rights, just to enhance their own inadequate and pathetic masculinity. If ever there was need of a women's movement, it is to combat this kind of evil in the world.

Instead, you have effectively transformed yourself into a terrorism cheerleading squad, supporting a sick, sexist, racist and morally bankrupt medieval culture.

Ouch.

Hezbollah primer

For those who don't see what's so bad about Hezbollah:

Protesters in London have been marching through the streets carrying banners proclaiming "We Are All Hizbullah Now."

Do they know that every Lebanese child killed is a triumph for Hizbullah and a tragedy for Israel, as well as for Lebanon? Do they know that among the prisoners Hassan Nasrallah demands that Israel release are men arrested after rejoicing in smashing out the brains of Israeli children? [The crime of Samir Kuntar - and it is horrifying - can be read here]

Do they know that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the eager seeker of nuclear weapons, considers the utter destruction of Israel an Iranian priority? Or that Hizbullah's Nasrallah has said that he wished all Jews would gather in Israel so they could all be destroyed at once; and that there is no creature more disgusting in the world than a Jew, "and note that I said a Jew, not an Israeli"?

For those who argue that Hezbollah opened schools, and offered social services, I say; I'm sure Hitler did a few OK things as well. You know, like getting rid of all those pesky Jews, right?

T-minus 8 days

So, what is going to happen on August 22? Is the hidden imam going to come flying out of that well, and whisper into Ahmadinejad's ear that the time is now to wipe Israel off of the face of the Earth?

With that in mind, should I continue with my diet/exercise plan? I mean, do I really want to spend what could be my last few days on Earth depriving myself?

Green Helmet Guy

George sends along this for your Saturday afternoon enjoyment :)

HA!

Steve, of Hog on Ice is pretty funny. His new tagline:

-- Islam: the Sole Reason it Takes an Hour Several Hours to Get on a Plane

Moxie has a few of her own:

Or, "Islam, the reason your flight may never land".

Last shot, "Islam, the reason you need to taste your own breast milk (and urine) before boarding a flight".

Oh, so insensitive. But, never fear, CAIR is ready to whip us back into the right state of dhimmitude. From Al Reuters, via Jihad Watch:

U.S. Muslim groups criticized President George W. Bush on Thursday for calling a foiled plot to blow up airplanes part of a "war with Islamic fascists," saying the term could inflame anti-Muslim tensions.

So what is the offensive word Bush used? Fascists.

"We believe this is an ill-advised term and we believe that it is counter-productive to associate Islam or Muslims with fascism," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group.

Well, perhaps CAIR should advise the nutjob jihadists that it is counter productive to associate Islam or Muslims with mass murder. I do know that today, the papers and radio were filled with stories about American Muslims/Arabs who feared a backlash against them. You know what? If they hadn't been out in the street last week praising the terrorist organization Hezbollah and calling Jews Zionist Pigs, I might have a bit more sympathy. And, if I felt that the American Arabs were on our side. Yet, after a near miss like yesterday, instead we get stuff like this:

"When the people we need most in the fight against terrorism, American Muslims, feel alienated by the president's characterization of these supposed terrorists, that does more damage than good," Lekovic said.

Did you catch it? Supposed terrorists.

The "Denial and Displacement" Process

River Rat points to this Dr. Sanity article. It would be funny if the consequences were not so serious. It used to be only the fringe elements of the Left that used to do this. I'm afraid it's creeping toward their middle.

Terror Plot Averted!

And, what do the KosKids have to say? Let's go see:

JEERS to red meat for Fox News.  The U.S. and Britain are now at Terror Alert Level "Mommy!!!" as an apparent terrorist plot to blow up 6-10 airliners is apparently thwarted.  Officials say all liquids are now banned in the cabins of overseas flights.  Great...just what a passenger riding on a potential time-bomb needs: an empty liquor cart.

Don't go LOOKING for an actual story on dKos about the event. There isn't one (at this point.) It's just not as important as the Lamont/soreLoserman issue. From the comments:

It's been going on all night.  Arrests in London.  Terror plot.  Its all we will hear for the next few days.

MAN, that sounds like a real drag. We're going to be overwhelmed with this boring issue for days. You know what else really bugs me about this whole Global War On Terror? The inconvenience of those pesky security precautions. Sometimes, I wonder if it wouldn't just be easier to live our lives, and what happens - Happens. If only Bush had not begun his illegal war for oil...

Who, what happened there? You think BDS might be contagious? Merely reading dKos may be enough to catch a nasty infection. More from comments!

Typical Republican response to a setback in the political arena.  Raise the terror alert level. This has occurred so many times before that it has become a joke.  I wouldn't have thought Lamont's victory over Lieberman would have stressed the Republicans so much.

Oh, yes, a variation on the "I question the timing" theory. It's just so OBVIOUS that this entire terrorism kerfuffle is nothing more that a Rovian plot to distract the voters. I quote Michael Moore; "There is no terrorist threat." Well, there you have it. There is a bit more (mostly complaining about airplane restrictions that might arise due to this, which degenerates into a declaration that one man will piss in the isle), but then the discussion turns back to Lamont.

There is nothing to see here folks, keep moving.

John Conyers, in search of the truth pt 2

John Conyers crossposted his latest crazy rant at HuffPo. The full title of his report is "The Consitution in Crises; the Downing Street Minuets and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War,
and Illegal Domestic Surveillance," Shorter version; Lefty arguments to Impeach George Bush.

If Dems wins the majority in November, this man is going to be head of the Judiciary Committee . After he attempts to impeach Bush, he'll move on to his next project, H.R. 40, otherwise known as slavery reparations.

He's a nut. A hypocritical, unethical nut.

Exellent summation

Ace (via someone else) points to a wonderful summation of the entire war photo kurfuffle. I've been too busy to blog about it, but have been following it with total outrage.

I think this is an indication of the much larger problem; Islamic fundies are master propagandist and anti-war liberals are way to happy to lap this crap up. Truth is not relative.

Dogs or Cats?

Discuss.

(snicker)

See ya'll tomorrow.

I scuk

I'm even too busy to go back and fix the above typo. Blogging will resume tomorrow.

"L" word

I'm having trouble with "L" words -see below. The key is sticking - I either get nothing, or a bunch.

So sorry.

First Day

We started (home) school here today, so busy busy busy. So far, so good. We are actually having fun. At east I am. But, it's not even ten yet, so ...

Dogs

I think I've mentioned before my fondness for my pooch, Greta. She isn't my first dog, that honor goes to Moe, a shepherd/collie mix I picked up at the Humane society back in college. My second dog was a beagle/bloodhound mix. So, I'm not unfamiliar with mixed breeds. Greta is my first "bred" dog, And, she is, either by breeding or coincidence my best dog.

Now, it isn't PC to like bred dogs. You are supposed to get your dog from a shelter, or a rescue organization. There are "X" number of dogs put down each year, we don't need dogs bred intentionally, etc. In addition, I am told that mix-breed dogs have a better temperament and health. Assumedly, the unhealthy and undesirable traits just disappear when the breeding is random.

Moe wasn't "bad." Lets just say she had "issues." She didn't like kids and had a horrible habit of running away. Once I found her five miles from home. She had been a stray, and I guess it was something in her that couldn't be loved away. Malcolm, the beagle/bloodhound, was sweet but about as intelligent as the pavement. He too would run away, but it was more of a straying-until-he-got-lost dealo. Both had health problems as they got older. Moe had hip-displaysia the last few years (she also was epileptic), and Malcolm was put down shortly due to back problems.

And then there is Greta. Greta is loyal, smart, and totally devoted to our family. She is great with the kids (although she does tend to lick them excessively), is playful, and a great watchdog. So far, her health is great, and X-rays show no signs that she will develop the dreaded hip problems that can plague the breed. She is the perfect dog.

Now, I'm not about to convince anyone that they shouldn't get dogs from humane shelters. I've done it myself. That's where we got our cat! I'm not saying that mixed dogs are bad, or inferior, or anything else. What the hell am I saying?

Oh, right. I do have a point.

Earlier today I was chastised for, basically, have a bred dog. Dogs shouldn't be bred, you see, because we should all be rescuing dogs from shelters. We should all be taking up the slack for the irresponsible dog-owners out there. ) Certainly there are some nice dogs in shelters, but if you peruse the cages (which I have) you will find that many of the dogs (since the puppies are usually place quickly in homes) have issues. Like they are not good with children. Or they hate cats with a passion.

Obviously the woman who chastised me is very passionate for her cause. But, it was irritating. I have a feeling that she has now labeled me as one of those inferior pet owners. Oh well, I'll get over it.

I love my dog, and if our love is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Did that sound bad?

"Untitled"

Jeff Harrell was kind enough to email me a link of the story IN ORDER so you don't have to hunt/scroll.
Now, go read.

?

From comments way down :

I am the son of love-the poet from above
that you love to shove
and kick and hate
because i am of peace and you hate the dove
but we all know where you are coming from because
i have been in your shoes and you are going to lose

Is this a poem? I'm not exactly sure to what he is referring, perhaps that crazy dKos poem I quoted that imagined a world without Israel. You get a "C" for rhyming, mainly because shoes/lose sound really forced. As for content, well, what can I say? I don't believe you have the slightest idea where I'm coming from.

Now, Kelly, when I refer to "moonbats" it's stuff like this that makes me use such words.

Fiction

Oh, look what Jeff has been up to. So far he has four parts posted (link is to first part.) Much modern fiction, especially short stories, are more style than substance. He's got a real story going here, and I'm hooked. Just go to his main page and scroll for the rest. Because I'm a lazy blogger.

Speaking truth to power or something

Addressing the breastfeeding fascists:

The lies about motherhood start at conception. Morning sickness is not confined to the morning, and it doesn't disappear after three months. 'Natural' childbirth is nothing of the sort; it's messy and excruciating, like trying to pull an orange out of your nostril. And breastfeeding is not wonderful and fulfilling, but painful, difficult, boring and humiliating .

Blog

[insert content here]

I should be able to come up with some sort of rant later today. Just what ya'll wanted right?