Stupidity – Page 3 – The Daily Brief

You’ve Got to Laugh (051229)

29. December 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Air Force, Memoir, Stupidity, The Funny

There was a particularly contrary officer that worked in my area. He wasn’t in my chain of command, but I had to deal with him on a regular basis. His problem: He simply didn’t trust anything enlisted people said. He wanted chapter and verse and a copy of the page where it’s written. And sometimes even when he’s wrong he’ll argue that it didn’t apply to us because we weren’t assigned to the Air Force at the time. He made me tired.

After two plus years and two hours of going around on one issue in particular, I threw up my hands in exasperation and simply said:

“Sir, I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter what I say to you, I’m going to be wrong.”

Without any irony whatsoever his response was:

“Now that’s just not true.”

Luckily we were interrupted by one of the older civilian guys dragging me away because he needed something and I didn’t ruin the rest of my time there by laughing in the man’s face.

Big Brother in the Heartland

22. December 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, Domestic, Stupidity

I received my new liscense plates and registration the other day and forgot to mention something weird on them:

Bar Codes. There are bar codes on my liscense plates. So not only does the state government have me cross referenced by my liscence plate number, it also has me related to this bar code. Somewhere there’s a database that has my name attached to that bar code.

Part of me really wants to take that code to a tattoo artist and have it done just below the collar line in the center of the top of my back. But that’s also the part of me that still listens to XTC and New Order so…the rest of me doesn’t pay much attention to him…unless we want to dance badly and look completely like a middle-aged white guy. My hips don’t slip as easy as they used to.

I’ve Been Out of It Lately

20. December 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, Allied Treachery, Iraq: The Good, Rant, Stupidity

…but I’ve had a little time to catch up on the news and I’m confused about something.

Taking off my glasses and pinching the bridge of my nose:

Another unknown scum-sucking traitorous bastard (or bitch, I want to be politically correct) turns over classified information to the press. The press holds onto this information until things are looking good, no, great in Iraq with an amazing turnout for the elections, something we should all be feeling good about and celebrating. The press then releases that classified information, embarassing the United States, completely destroying an ongoing intelligence operation, letting our enemies know that our civil liberties are no longer a cover for their operations.

The story from all the media outlets is that the President ordered the electronic surveillance of Americans (whispering) who are in contact with terrorists overseas?

The story isn’t the ongoing scum-sucking traitorous actions of people who believe that releasing classified information is okay and that our press continues to sell us out to our enemies?

And unless I’m mistaken, the same people who are currently beating up the President for being over-zealous about protecting our country are the exact same people who have been blaming him for not being zealous enough about protecting our country from the attacks on 9-11-01.

Do I have that right?

Because if I have that right, I think I’m going to get ready to retire soon. My country has gone batshit crazy.

And yes, IF the President acted illegally then the Senate should have exercised their powers of oversite and done THEIR FREAKING JOB and they should have done it quietly so as not to embarass the country and ruin the intelligence that may have been gathered. This was a bullshit hit job on the administration for purely political purposes and it didn’t do anyone any good what so ever.

Update: If you want to read and mess around with the various legal arguments, head over to Protein Wisdom. Goldstein has a real good wrap-up. Start at the top of the page and scroll down, because some of it’s just plain funny.

Jackson Lee Jumps The Shark

20. December 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT, Politics, Stupidity

I have never had much respect for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D. TX). But, on today’s Kudlow & Co. on CNBC, she surpassed even her own level of idiocy: On the economy, it was just her whole stock monotone – “the only ones to benefit are the top 1%.” So Sheila, do I take it all the new jobs that have been created are for CEOs?

But then the discussion turned to the domestic (actually domestic/foreign) communications spying kerfuffle. And she issued a demand the Bush administration SHOULD RELEASE THE NAMES OF EVERY TARGET OF THE PROGRAM! It took me a minute to scrape my jaw off the floor after hearing this. As if our national security hasn’t been damaged enough already – let’s just compromise everything. What does she think this is, an Easter egg hunt?

Internet Grins & Giggles

21. November 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General, Reader Mail, Site News, Stupidity

The following appeared in my hotmail inbox this afternoon; there is a zip-file attached, who among you thinks I am fool enough to open it?

But I will listen to any amusing guesses as to what these idjits were after.

Dear Sir/Madam,

we have logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal Websites.

Important:
Please answer our questions!
The list of questions are attached.

Yours faithfully,
Steven Allison

*** Federal Bureau of Investigation -FBI-
*** 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 3220
*** Washington, DC 20535
*** phone: (202) 324-3000

We’re Not The Only Ones Who Need Tort Reform

12. November 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: My Head Hurts, Stupidity

This from Perry DeHavilland at Samizdata:

Alexia Harriton, an Australian woman who is deaf, blind, physically and mentally disabled and requires round-the-clock care, is suing a doctor for allowing her to be born, with the full support by her mother. Never mind that rubella during pregnancy does not guarentee what happened to Ms. Harriton.

Tom Delay vs Ronnie Earle

21. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Domestic, Politics, Stupidity

I’m sorry, I have no idea if Tom Delay is guilty or innocent. Personally, I think he looks like a snake oil or used car salesman and I wouldn’t play cards wth him.

However, if you’re over 15 and people are still calling you “Ronnie,” then dude, you got issues no matter how many people you’ve indicted. It doesn’t make you “one of the boys,” it doesn’t make you “just plain folk,” it’s creepy. Grow up already.

Just sayin’…

Shiny

21. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

The Headmisstress has a list of good and bad detergents for camoflage uniforms that she received from her Cousin Joe.

They’re talking specifically about the latest and greatest material, but anyone who’s played with night vision goggles knows that some guys just glow in the dark and others don’t.

You’re Kidding, Right?

14. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

Apparently there’s a just a bit of a ruckus (click link for description of the ruckus…I knew someone would ask) over the fact that an ~~Publc Affairs Rep~~ Assistant Secretary of Defense prepped some soldiers for their televised video teleconference with The President.

If you think any member of the Armed Forces is going to be caught unprepared talking to The President of the United States on live television, you’re simply an idiot. The President wanted to give WETHEPEOPLE a briefing on the situation in Iraq and this was a very good format for that. He asks questions, soldiers answer.

Let me ask you a question: If The President was to show up in your office over a Video Teleconference Link and was going to ask you questions on the status of your business dealings, and the answers would be shared with the rest of the freaking world, would you want to be prepared or would you like to just wing it?

Update: Seems I’m not the only one who thinks this is teh stoopid…

MORE: Michelle Malkin has the text of one of the soldiers who blogged his response to the ruckus. I’d link him but I’m thinking the Malkin-lanche shut him down, I can’t get to his site.

Buses Moving In New Orleans After Katrina

04. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

But whom were they moving? The Jawa Report is on the case:

After going back and forth with Paul, you know, I think he’s right. If someone thought to use these busses two days after the storm hit, then why did no one think to use them the day before the storm hit? And why were these busses not used to evacuate the people out of the Superdome?

So, in summation, Nagin is an idiot. That is all.

Go there, check out the photos.

Piglet Banned In Britain

04. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: European Disunion, Stupidity

This from Mark Steyn at the Daily Telegraph:

Alas, the United Kingdom’s descent into dhimmitude is beyond parody. Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (Tory-controlled) has now announced that, following a complaint by a Muslim employee, all work pictures and knick-knacks of novelty pigs and “pig-related items” will be banned. Among the verboten items is one employee’s box of tissues, because it features a representation of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. And, as we know, Muslims regard pigs as “unclean”, even an anthropomorphised cartoon pig wearing a scarf and a bright, colourful singlet.

Cllr Mahbubur Rahman is in favour of the blanket pig crackdown. “It is a good thing, it is a tolerance and acceptance of their beliefs and understanding,” he said. That’s all, folks, as Porky Pig used to stammer at the end of Looney Tunes. Just a little helpful proscription in the interests of tolerance and acceptance.

And where’s the harm in that? As Pastor Niemöller said, first they came for Piglet and I did not speak out because I was not a Disney character and, if I was, I’m more of an Eeyore.

And aren’t we all? When the Queen knights a Muslim “community leader” whose line on the Rushdie fatwa was that “death is perhaps too easy”, and when the Prime Minister has a Muslim “adviser” who is a Holocaust-denier and thinks the Iraq war was cooked up by a conspiracy of Freemasons and Jews, and when the Prime Minister’s wife leads the legal battle for a Talibanesque dress code in British schools, you don’t need a pig to know which side’s bringing home the bacon.

I could see the same thing happening here, pursuant to a “hostile workplace” lawsuit.

Hat Tip: LGF

If You Didn’t Fear World Government Before…

04. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity, World

…Perhaps it’s time to start. The BBC just did a “fantasy election” to find the most popular leaders of a world government. The results:

1 – Nelson Mandela
2 – Bill Clinton
3 – Dalai Lama
4 – Noam Chomsky
5 – Alan Greenspan
6 – Bill Gates
7 – Steve Jobs
8 – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
9 – Richard Branson
10 – George Soros
11 – Kofi Annan

Actually, Branson might not be so bad. Virgin Group is frequently brought up by business pundits as one of the world’s best-run major businesses. One of the key features: a very small headquarters organization, with maximum atonomy given to individual units.

Hat Tip: Tigerhawk

Perhaps We’ve Won The GWOT

20. September 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT, Iraq, Stupidity

By order of Congress, the FBI has placed high priority on fighting adult pronographers:

Either the FBI has too much money, or the government’s priorities are screwed up, or both. If there’s another terror attack in America, how will Gonzalez and Mueller justify this? Maybe by blaming Congress: “Congress began funding the obscenity initiative in fiscal 2005 and specified that the FBI must devote 10 agents to adult pornography.”

This story is actually a few weeks old. It just comes to the fore now, as growing numbers of Americans support reduced funding for the real war, in Iraq, to make more money available for Katrina recovery:

TIME TO GET TOUGH IN SUDAN

21. July 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Allied Treachery, General, Rant, Stupidity

Yesterday, our Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice, visited the nation of Sudan as part of her Africa tour. According to Fox News in this story, members of her entourage were roughed up, not once but several times, during a visit to the Sudanese President’s compound. This angered Ms. Rice, as it well should have, and I’m sure that Sudan will pay for this incident in many ways.

That whole African continent, for the most part, is ruled by thugs, criminals, and outright terrorists, not the sort of place that I want my tax dollars going. I would be much in favor of the US government doing a deep, healthy review of our giveaway policies. I’ve always favored holding onto our dollars until AMERICANS are fed, housed, and cared for. We seem to just give away money to anyone outside our own country with a hand outstretched, while we have homeless veterans, starving children whose single mothers have no education, no help, and no hope, as well as elderly folks who have to choose between food, medicine, or a roof over their heads! Come on, Mr. President, come on, congress! Let’s do something to help our own, and maybe then we can help those foreigners who want to share in our bounty. I have nothing at all against that kind of prioritization.

And we should squeeze extremely tightly on the nutz (if existant) of those idiots in Sudan who dared to insult our nation by putting their filthy hands on our SECSTATE’s staff and PA folks!

Felonious French-Kissing

09. July 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General, Stupidity

This is the first of a few posts by Eugene Volokh on the subject:

Consensual French Kissing Can Be Felony Near-Statutory Rape, at least when it’s “a lengthy, ‘good,’ ‘deep,’ ‘passionate,’ ‘intimate,’ ‘romantic,’ and ‘memorable’ french kiss in the bed of the defendant after an overnight stay, and the kiss achieved emotional arousal and was followed by professions of true love and repeated encounters involving the same conduct.” So says the Kansas Court of Appeals, though without word on what you’re allowed to do if there’s no overnight stay, or if it was followed by professions of something other than true love.

This case involved a female high school teacher and her 16-year-old student; in Kansas, the age of consent is generally 16, but there’s a special rule for teacher-student relationships when the student is 16 or 17. However, the same would apply to two 15-year-olds French kissing, which is also a felony; it’s a lower-grade felony than full-on statutory rape, but it’s a crime nonetheless. Presumably in states where the age of consent is 18, two 17-year-olds could be similarly punished, at least if the statute uses similar terms (“lewd fondling or touching”).

IF NOT GITMO, THEN WHERE?

25. June 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General, GWOT, Home Front, Stupidity, War

The raging debate over the use of Guantanamo prison to hold detainees such as those who are there now, whom the government calls enemy combatatants, lacks perspective. There is no sense of judgement on the side of those who oppose Gitmo, as to what we should do with the detainees. According to our military authorities, the 550 or so prisoners there are dangerous, and would kill Americans if released. At least one case of this has been confirmed, with one raghead found on the battlefield who had been released, and there are probably more instances that we ordinary citizens just don’t know about. So, what do we do?

All I hear, coming from the left and from various other America-haters, is that we should close the prison. No one that I’ve heard from, has suggested what we should do with the detainees, and that is the question that must be answered before the controversy moves even one inch from its present position. Unless we put these folks on some uncharted south sea island, with no means of escape, perhaps the best idea is to leave them right where they are. Torture? I don’t think so. The evidence indicates that, from the food they eat, to the deference shown their so-called “holy book,” the qu’ran, they seem to be treated far more humanely and even with more respect, than they deserve. These guys are prisoners for Pete’s sake! And here we are, putting on display just how good they have it, better than the soldiers guarding them. And reports are, that all of them have gained weight! ARRRGGGHH!

Let’s let the President end the debate, leave them at Gitmo, with a few changes: (1) a little less appealing food in the prison diet. I think PBJ sandwiches a couple of days a week for the evening meal, might be appropriate — replacing the fish almondine. (2) Hard labor. Get them out of their cells, put them in a deep rock pit, and give them hammers with the order to make little ones out of big ones. A six-day work schedule of 12-hour days, somewhat like I had to work in Southeast Asia a few years ago, might be the ticket. (3) No TV or radio. Get rid of the luxuries, let them be a bit less informed, and with them tired out from the work schedule, they might not be so interested in starting trouble. (4) Let them have some hope of going home. At the age of eighty-five, provided they have not caused any trouble for the past 20 years, they could be released. Any detainee released, who gets back into trouble fighting against the US, would face automatic execution, no appeals, just fry ’em.

Maybe, with less pampering and more prison-like environments, these idiot camel jockeys might feel a little less inclined to make jihad against us, and they may quake in their boots instead of grinning when the name of America is mentioned. Just a few ideas, maybe somebody has a few more?

Michael Jackson Aquitted of All Charges

13. June 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, Stupidity, That's Entertainment!

In a move that literally stunned millions who have been watching, pop singer Michael Jackson was today aquitted of all ten counts with which he had been charged. The jury sent word of a verdict around 12:15 PM, PT, and the verdict was read when all the principals were in place at 2:00 PM, 5 PM ET. Thousands of fans were gathered outside the Santa Barbara County courthouse listening to their pocket radios when the verdict was read by the court clerk, and they erupted in shouts and screams of joy as the “not guilty” verdicts were read.

The Jackson family emerged from the courthouse minutes later, looking much more confident than when they entered. They all entered their characteristic black SUV’s and headed for Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.

Tom Sneddon, the District Attorney for Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, responded to questions in a short news conference after the trial. When asked if he was finished with his chase of Michael Jackson, he responded, “No comment.”

So, what happens next? No one knows, we shall see.

So Much For Agreements

26. May 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, Cry Wolf, General Nonsense, sarcasm, Stupidity

It seems the “gentlemen’s agreement” reached by the alleged “gentlemen” of the US Senate does not hold water. In fact, instead of leaking like a sieve, it apparently elicits waterfalls on its own!

On Thursday evening, just days after a group of Senate “moderate centrists” patted themselves on their backs, (breaking at least five arms in the process) congratulating themselves profusely for having saved the ~~empire~~ union from certain destruction by elimination of ~~blusters~~ filibusters, Senate Democrats totally surprised the entire world by breaking the agreement and blocking a cloture vote on” Mr. Nice”, John Bolton, the President’s pick to ~~kick ass~~ represent the US at the UN – or something like that! While Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was receiving medical assistance in the cloakroom (or was it bathroom?) for having passed out in shock over the event, ~~Majority~~ minority leader “Dingy” Harry reid was grabbing every microphone in the corridor, while his associates and acolytes rounded up all the TV camers so he could ~~gloat~~ assure all of the rest of us that this was not really a filibuster.

Mr. Bolton will now have to go back to the end of the line to await his turn, and recess may be over by then, so he may not get to play at all.

Sorry for all the strikeouts, Nurse (sister) Jenny kept hitting me on the hand with a ruler.

WTF? Over.

09. May 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Domestic, Stupidity

Does anyone here know if this is a joke or not? If not, could someone tell me exactly where we’re being “overcompensated?” I want to get stationed there next time.

Via the Headmistress.

UPDATE: Jack Army points us to The Jump Blog for more on this and to be honest…I’m sorry I even mentioned it. I’m just giving this yahoo the attention he so desperately craves.

Memo to Conspiracy Theorists:

30. April 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense, Stupidity

Some people, including a lot of Americans, see things happen and they assume the worst about everyone involved. They assume there’s a cover up. They assume the politicians are lying. Of course the U.S. Military is lying because we’ve never told the truth about anything ever. I know, I was one of those folks. I believed all that stuff even as I was joining the Air Force 21 years ago.

And then life happened. I grew up. I got some experience under my belt and realized that most conspiracy theories are crap. The reason that most conspiracy theories are crap is simple; Most folks when given the opportunity will do the right thing versus the wrong thing simply because it’s the right thing to do. I know…I had a hard time believing it myself at first, and as life went on it just became more and more apparent to me that the people I’ve met in the military aren’t walking around wondering exactly how they were going to do the absolute WORST they could. They strive to do the BEST they can. Almost every one of them. There’s another reason why the most elaborate military conspiracies don’t hold up under scrutiny…we’re just not that good at keeping bizarre crap quiet…but that’s another post for another day.

Scumbags don’t last long in the military. We usually weed them out in basic or advanced training. If not, we’ll get them during an exercise when the pressure is cranked up to above and beyond normal. Sometimes though…they slip through. Rarely do they make it to the higher ranks, and even when they do…we get them…because they’re the rarity, they’re the exception, and no one has unlimited, unchecked power because though the respect of their rank may get them some coverage…without personal respect, they just don’t last. The higher you climb the more eyes you have on you, both from above and below and if you don’t have that personal respect, you ain’t gonna make it long.

Basically the military’s dirtiest, blackest, most discusting secret is that we do the best we can on a daily basis to protect our country. That’s our job. Sometimes that means we try to take care of our own dirty laundry before the enemies of our country can find out we messed up and use it against the country as a whole. We aren’t always successful. Sometimes the whole world finds out that we screwed up and our enemies get to celebrate. That means we didn’t do our job as well as we should have that day.

Yes, I believe that if the press gets ahold of something, they have the right to publish it. Absolutely. The public has the right to know. You’ll forgive us however, if we aren’t eager to help make ourselves and our country look bad in front of the world as a whole. We’re weird that way.

I Simply Don’t Care (MJ Edition)

16. February 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity, That's Entertainment!

Is it just me? I don’t care about the whole Michael Jackson thing. It’s not that I don’t think he did it; It’s not that I think he did it; It’s complete apathy about the entire situation. I simply don’t think it’s breaking news that he was rushed to the hospital for the freaking flu.

Rant
Why am I supposed to care about this trial? If you’re going to shove another freakazoid reality-slash-Court TV-slash-Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong-slash-American Idol meets The Surreal Life-slash-Where’s The Nanny When You Need Her?-show down my throat would you please cram it all into an hour or two on Fox Entertainment one or two nights a week so I can miss it?
End Rant

You gotta see this……

15. February 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General, Stupidity

Huh, the latest and most recent round of e-mail scams, and since someone thought I would fall for it, or not know who Koffi Annan is, and I am one of the 13 percent of American children who knows where I raq is on a map, I’m just gonna lay this out there for every one to see.

BARRISTER ANNAN E. KOFFI ,LLM,LLD,Dipl.Admin

PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY KOFFI LEGAL CHAMBERS

No.10 RUE AVENIDA LOME TOGO

TELEPHONE : 00228 920-65-11

ATTN/ Dear Mr. ,

I am Barrister. Annan E. Koffi , a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to late (Engr.W.C.) a foreigner who worked with Mobile Oil Servicing Company here in Togo untill his death in September 11 2001 in world trade centre New York with other two staff of the company and he was the principal owner and Director of ‘S CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTAINANCE INC. here in Lome-Republic of Togo Herein aftershall be referred to as my client LATE ENGINEER W.C. Richard.He was a Foreign National of your country who Leaved in My Country Republic -Togo West Africa .

My clients who died at the world trade centre, following the attack in New york and Washington on the 11th September 2001 and he has huge fund deposited with Ecobank International Lome Republic of Togo and his account has been dormant with EcoBank International without any claim of the fund from the bank custody either from his family or relation since his death and just before last week the bank issued a notice to My legal Chambers to find my client relations.

Since then I have made several efforts to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has proved ansuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the ECOBANK-TOGO, where this hug deposits were lodged. Particularly, ECOBANK-TOGO where the deceased had a deposit value of $ 6.5 million dollars.

The bank has issued a notice to my legal chambers to provide the next of kin or have the deposit confiscated within the next three official working months. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 7 months now I seek your consent to present you as the next of Kin of my deceased client to enable us take over the proceeds of this deposit value at $6.5 million dollars be paid to you and then you and me will share the money.

I want to ask you, If you are not capable to quietly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank a/c or An Euro Bank Account immediately will serve well to receive this money, even a new dollar a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end for this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I will want us to have a meeting to enable us agree on the modalities to do the business and the sharing ratio and the method to carry out the operation. Above all the meting will afford us the opportunity to know ourselves and to know the roles to be played by any of us! .

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. You have to assure me of your honesty and sincerity that you will not sit on the fund when it is finally claimed to enable us forge ahead immediately.

Comfirm to me your telex and fax contact so that i will reach you and we will this fund being transfered to your bank account as the next of kin to late Engineer ..

Please get in touch with me through e-mail to enable us discuss further. koffilegaloffice@yahoo.com

Thanks and I awaits your immediate response. c

Barrister Annan E.Koffi .LLM,LLD,Dipl.Admin

Eason Jordan Resigns

12. February 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General, Media Matters Not, Stupidity

News reports late on Friday are stating that Eason Jordan, a long-time executive with CNN, has resigned secondary to a furor raised mostly by bloggers over remarks he allegedly made at a conference in Davos, Switzerland last month.

CNN does have the story, but it is buried deep in their files. It took a bit of searching to squeeze it out of their cold, dead hands! You can read it here and there is an earlier item that CNN put on their website, written by the AP.

CNN, though, as well as the conference holders, continues to hide under their desks regarding a deluge of demands for transcripts of the remarks made at the conference. Both CNN and the conference deny that any transcripts exist. (If you believe that, I have a bridge that I’d like to sell you!)

Where will this story go from here? Who knows! Sgt Mom has already written on this subject in an earlier post, referring to CNN as the most “busted” news organization out there. Right on, Mom! It looks like if anything further develops it will be due to persistent pressure from dedicated, really nonprofessional bloggers! Just like a dog worrying at a bone, we will dig it out eventually. I am so very proud to be even a small part of this important, vital, and earth-shaking fraternity.

I just can’t wait!

UPDATE: my links don’t work…we’re working on that so be patient!

Update 2: It should work now. Otherwise, I saved the stories. — Kevin

From Angus Burger to…

12. January 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, Stupidity

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government on Wednesday told Americans to slash their calorie intake and exercise 30 to 90 minutes a day, updating guidelines that advised people to lose weight but gave few specifics on how to do it.

Sooooo, eat less and exercise more?

“Eating fewer calories while increasing physical activity are the keys to controlling body weight,” the guidelines said.

I’m just flabbergasted. Who knew?

The advice is not really new, but the government sees the guidelines as an opportunity to change people’s ways.

This is a food pyramid showing what you should eat a LOT of and what you should eat a little of. Take the hint.

So disgusted

09. January 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

Oh.my.God. See I knew there was a reason why I didn’t watch shows like Fear Factor. My husband is watching it and I just happened to walk through and these two girls are having to eat horse rectum. I even watched to brunette take the first bite. Now way. No amount of money. Blehck!

Michelle’s “Lump of Coal” Campaign

03. December 2004 · Comments Off · Categories: General, General Nonsense, Stupidity

Michelle Malkin (and others) reports on Denver’s decision not to allow a church group in its “Parade of Lights” this “holiday season” (in years past, this would have been known as a CHRISTMAS PARADE!!!!). Might offend, you know.

Michelle writes:

I am hereby launching the Lump of Coal campaign. Later today, I will box up a lump of charcoal, mark the package “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” and send it to the Denver Mayor in protest of his idiotic policy. Please join me in doing the same (and if you take a photo of your creatively designed package, I will link/post).

The Mayor’s address is at Michelle’s website.

–Update:
A closer reading of the DenverChannel article makes me want to post a couple of clarifications:

It’s not the mayor who is keeping the group from participating, it’s the parade “organizers.” I guess Michelle is doing this lump of coal thing because of the mayor’s decision (since rescinded) to replace “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” on the city building (maybe on a banner?).
This decision to ban this group appears to be consistent with policy from years past in Denver:

“Our policy, which we have applied consistently for years, is to not include religious or political messages in the parade –in the interest of not excluding any group,” said Jim Basey, the president of the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Orwell is spinning in his grave! “We won’t include because we don’t want to exclude.”

Anyway, maybe it’s premature to send the lumps of coal. Or maybe the mayor is the wrong gift recipient. Or maybe we can let the good people of Denver (there must be a few sane ones) deal with this.

… or maybe it’s time for me to go to bed.

— one more update (before going to bed):
I decided to change the title: Was previously “Send a Lump of Coal to Denver’s Mayor” — I guess I’m not on that bandwagon anymore. Sorry , Michelle.

Getting fat

04. October 2004 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

Leave it to the Army to put a set of scales in the break room between the fridge and the microwave. I got on them while my lunch was heating, and cringed.

I went on a little drive this weekend, mainly because my kids can’t run in the car, and tend to go to sleep thereby eliminating the screaming as well. In other words, I needed some quiet time. I stopped by McDonald’s since they were complaining about being hungry, and even though I prefer Wendy’s, McDonald’s is the easiest/less messy to eat while driving. For some reason I started thinking about fat people who blame fast food restaurants for why they are fat. It amazes me how some people can tell the whole world they are stupid and lazy just to try and get some easy money. See, I know why I’m getting fat. I quit exercising, and quit eating relatively healthy. Plain and simple. I can remember early September 2001 I had to go to a medical appointment. I had managed not to get weighed prior to this for several months, probably prior to my MEB in March/April of 2001. I got put on the scales and nearly freaked. I was 2 pounds over my max. I took off the 3 lbs for clothing, and that still put me in taping territory. It wasn’t an official weight check, so I decided to take steps to lose some poundage, mainly because I had less than a year before terminal leave and was NOT going to buy new uniforms because I got fat. I also didn’t want to deal with the hassle of the “fat-girl” program, officially know as “Weight Management.”

First thing I did was cut out chips completely. That was not easy as I love my chips. Second thing was to take my fat-ass to the gym 5 days a week, even on days off. I then altered my diet to avoid eating so much deep-fried food, and opted for foods with less fat. I didn’t avoid carbs or calories, just fat. I still drank regular soda rather than diet. My goal was to lose 20 pounds. It took a year (OEF took care of my trips to the gym), but I did it. Of course, by the time I reached my goal, I was on terminal leave and threw the diet and exercise out the window. Now I need to lose 30 pounds. But I digress.

Back to the point, fast food restaurants should not be held responsible for individuals getting fat. If you’re fat, and don’t have a medical condition, get off your lazy ass and exercise, and eat healthy. Otherwise, shut up and color.

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