I’ll be honest, I love a good debate or conversation about those issues society tells us to shy away from. I still believe there’s a time and a place, and that we should pretty much avoid name calling and all that playground stuff. But I think it’s a blast to spend hours talking religion, politics and how retarded the DH is. So, like everyone else, I have an agenda. I’m sure they think they, like my self, have the best of intentions. And maybe they do. But my wife sent me an email that she received yesterday, and all I can say is, game on. Well, that’s not all I can say, if that were the case, I wouldn’t be writing what I imagine will be a 1,500 word response.
It appears that the Post Office is going to produce a stamp that honors the end of two Muslim celebrations, EID for short. Funny enough, the email has a link, http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/e/eid.htm, and it appears those sending it around haven’t even taken the time to read their own link. The website explains that the Post Office produced similar stamps in September 2001 and October 2002.
But here’s what scares me, the text that’s circulated inside the email:
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine Barracks in Lebanon,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military Barracks in Saudi Arabia,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE.
REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01.
REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM
attacks. Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the EID MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class holiday postage stamp.
I strongly urge you to REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this
stamp when purchasing your holiday stamps at the post office. To use this stamp
would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands
of those whom this stamp honors. I also strongly urge you to pass this along to every Patriotic AMERICAN you know, whether by email.
They (MUSLIMS) don't even believe in Christ, & they're getting their own Christmas stamp! BUT, don't dare to dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property! This is truly UNBELIEVABLE !!!
--
It is truly unbelievable, unbelievably full of bull shit, hate and hypocrisy.
First off, those acts were committed by small groups of fundamentalists, who just claim to be of that faith, a rather clever tactic used by, well the three major religions. There’s an old adage, “all’s fair in love and war,” sure you’ve heard it before. No, they didn’t play by the rules of engagement, so shame on them, and the horror of these acts isn’t lost on me. But I can understand this much, if we lined up to fight a war with them, and everyone agreed to play by the same rules, we’d absolutely slaughter them. So what’s left? Any means necessary, sorry, but survival is our most basic instinct. And when one group feels threatened, they can use that fear to their advantage. They can spread hate, and inspire some wack jobs to do some crazy ass shit. Sound familiar?
Secondly, I call another old adage to the stand. Mr. Pot calling the Kettle Black, is true that we can tie some horrific acts to many religions? Exhibits 1-5: The Crusades, slavery, murdered doctors, President Bush claiming that God told him to invade Iraq, and the taking of land from the Native Americans. I can go on, but instead I’m going to quote President Bartlet (again):
“Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you?”
Thirdly, Muslims DO believe in Christ. Really, this is pretty widely known, so I can only wonder why kind of jackass added that bit of commentary. They see Jesus as a Prophet, but not the Son of God. The Qu’ran, what’s what “they” call their “bible,” actually contains the 10 Commandments. It’s not “them” that opposes having the Ten Commandments on federal property. It’s people like me, and people that you know, truly believe in the separation of Church and State and Freedom of Religion.
Those rights are where one could find a legitimate beef with this, and all religious stamps. Yes, even your cute red nose reindeer. If you do the math, and add up all of the American’s killed in those listed attacks, the total is about 11,000. Which is truly tragic, no question. But if you do the math on the other side, we’ve killed (from various sources online) almost 150,000. So we can keep hating them, spread false information about their beliefs and they can do the same. The hate and the killing can keep going, I guess. Who benefits? On our side, there’s politicians who get more powerful, and companies that get richer. Might cost us a few neighbors or family members, but we’re fighting the good cause. The bitch of it is, they think the same thing.
The only real solution I see, that’s more than a band-aid, is also the least likely solution. Actually, it’ll never happen, but the best way to end the hate is to end organized religion. Not just theirs, and not just ours. Imagine you have two kids in the playground fighting, you don’t do anyone favors if you only send one to detention, and having them sitting there pissed that they got in trouble, isn’t going to end any hostility. Or you know, I guess you can wait to see what kind of emails they send about each other and believe who ever types in all caps AND bolds their text first.
September 29, 2009
September 28, 2009
iGoogle
It’s not H1N1 (um, I can’t believe I didn’t blog it, but last spring I really did say it was just the effin’ flu!) and I think we’ve ruled out Mad Cow, SARs and the plague. All signs point to a sinus infection, but it’s been a bitch for almost two weeks. The point, as I do have one. I can’t wait for a good nights sleep again. From time to time Mrs. Hirp and I discuss a mini-Hirp, then we either see a parent dealing with a baby throwing a fit in the middle of Target, see an ad for daycare that makes my wallet quiver or we experience a few sleepless nights. Then we realize, we’d be just as happy to babysit for 30-45 minutes. That, and the Magic 8 ball says, “my sources say no.” Pretty scientific, I’m sold.
This weekend was act three, of trying to teach the Kyd how to ride a bike. First of all, I really find it hard to teach anyone something that I know how to do. Trying to teach my dad how to upload photos from his camera and email them, damn near gave me a stroke last night. Explaining to my mother how to use Facebook, took a year and two months off of my life, and trying to explain to a co-worker how I produce a report nearly led to some work place violence. Yet, some how, I’ve remained pretty patient with the Kyd. Surprisingly patient, so much so, that I’m a little afraid of when the well is dry. But really, it’s a lot of fun. If she’d just relax a little, stop worrying about falling, and you know, do what G says. Then again, her life would be a lot easier if she’d just listen to her father, mother and I. Mostly her mother. Like when she pointed out the Emo kids at Oktoberfest were wearing, and how they were acting, and told her, “never bring one of them home.”
When she said “them” she was referring more to the piercings, the dyed hair and using language that even Fox frowns upon. I was thinking more along the lines of “them” as, anyone with a penis. She says potato; I say potato is to be thrown at boys. We’re on the same page. These are some what related. Fact is, today I’m going to Google “teaching a kid to ride a bike,” just as if we ever did have a baby, my wife and I have discussed how I’d Google everything. Seriously, I mean starting from pregnancy. And I’ve been around mothers-to be more than any guy my age that never had one of his own. I’d be able to give my wife 36 opinions on what kind of water she should drink during the pregnancy, I’d read the first 83 pages that discuss how to properly secure a car seat, and I’d finally read up on that soft spot. Might even give up my old joke about how playing with the ride side of the soft spot will make the left leg do funny things. Porqchop’s nanny didn’t appreciate that one. I can’t imagine how parents did anything without Google. Just like I can’t imagine how any business ran without email, or how we really functioned without cell phones.
This weekend was act three, of trying to teach the Kyd how to ride a bike. First of all, I really find it hard to teach anyone something that I know how to do. Trying to teach my dad how to upload photos from his camera and email them, damn near gave me a stroke last night. Explaining to my mother how to use Facebook, took a year and two months off of my life, and trying to explain to a co-worker how I produce a report nearly led to some work place violence. Yet, some how, I’ve remained pretty patient with the Kyd. Surprisingly patient, so much so, that I’m a little afraid of when the well is dry. But really, it’s a lot of fun. If she’d just relax a little, stop worrying about falling, and you know, do what G says. Then again, her life would be a lot easier if she’d just listen to her father, mother and I. Mostly her mother. Like when she pointed out the Emo kids at Oktoberfest were wearing, and how they were acting, and told her, “never bring one of them home.”
When she said “them” she was referring more to the piercings, the dyed hair and using language that even Fox frowns upon. I was thinking more along the lines of “them” as, anyone with a penis. She says potato; I say potato is to be thrown at boys. We’re on the same page. These are some what related. Fact is, today I’m going to Google “teaching a kid to ride a bike,” just as if we ever did have a baby, my wife and I have discussed how I’d Google everything. Seriously, I mean starting from pregnancy. And I’ve been around mothers-to be more than any guy my age that never had one of his own. I’d be able to give my wife 36 opinions on what kind of water she should drink during the pregnancy, I’d read the first 83 pages that discuss how to properly secure a car seat, and I’d finally read up on that soft spot. Might even give up my old joke about how playing with the ride side of the soft spot will make the left leg do funny things. Porqchop’s nanny didn’t appreciate that one. I can’t imagine how parents did anything without Google. Just like I can’t imagine how any business ran without email, or how we really functioned without cell phones.
September 23, 2009
HIRPreaching
The better half and I watched Bill Maher’s documentary, Religulous over the weekend, and I can’t seem to get it out of my head. I never saw Passion of the Christ, but I get the feeling that this movie was for me, what that meant to so many Christians. Except, you know, for the fact that one movie was fiction and the one we watched, is one of those pesky non-fiction flicks.
What really gets me is when I think about how these religions perceive God. First off, we can all agree, that with so many different religions, not everyone can be right. I mean, it’s just not possible. If the beliefs were taught as ideas, as Chris Rock said, then everyone would be better off. But every side thinks they’re right, and everyone else is wrong. Even religions themselves have different sects, so they’re waving the same flag but arguing over if the flag is going from left to right or right to left. So they can’t all be right, but at the same time, they CAN all be wrong. We understand that much when it comes to politics, most of us anyway.
Then when I think about many of the stories I’ve heard, from the different faiths, I can’t help but think about what a bad parent God would be. Believers think God picks favorites, can be pretty violent, wants us to follow strict rules without exception or explanation, sometimes cares who wins sporting events, cares more about specific parts of his land than others, and never takes out the trash or washes dishes. Who of us would like to parent like God, or have a parent like God?
I see some of the attraction to religion, and that’s community. Ask me what I believe, I’ll tell you I’m agnostic. But ask me what religion I am, and I’ll still say I’m Jewish. Weird huh? But for me, my Judasim really isn’t about the Torah or arguing about when the Messiah will come. It’s connecting with where I come from. Its’ partaking in some of the traditions that my parents did before me, and those before them. It’s a way to bond with people. Sports does that too, as does politics. I know, because last week at Target, I was received a smile from a stranger, simply because we both were wearing KU shirts. I know because, as bad as it sounds, I’m slightly less likely to want to ram the guy that cut me off, because I saw an Obama sticker on the back of his BWM.
I once posted here that we should treat religion as we do our favorite teams, and I still believe that. But till then, I’d really like for a Nascar driving to be sponsored by an Agnostic organization. I can’t think of a better way to reach millions of Christians on a Sunday.
Now here’s something I don’t do often, but I admit, I just might be wrong. That possibility does exist, well, about God. There really could be some supreme being that made this universe happen. I’m not wrong, however, in thinking that every religion has it wrong. Being someone who believes what I do, which technically makes me agnostic, also pretty much means that I’m against the idea of organizing those with like beliefs. If we went out, got our little tax exemption, and gathered on a regular basis to preach about our beliefs, that’d be a pretty giant step in the direction of hypocrite city. Been there, didn’t care much for it. Expensive real-estate.
But at the same time, that’s almost what we need to do. Maybe its time to start arguing for my side, in a similar fashion to the way the religions argue theirs. Anytime I write a blog, tweet or Facebook some thing critical of religion, I end up wondering if I’ve offended anyway. I mean, I know I’ve offended some, but I wonder who. It’s actually not my intention, but at the same time, why shouldn’t I voice my opinion? Every day I see countless bumper stickers that voice some ones opinion. I drive by multi-million dollar churches that stand for the opinions of some. My money tells me that in God we trust, even if, as I learned in Religulous, our Forefathers thought more like me. So let me be clear, my intention isn’t to look down on anyone, even if it sounds like that (hey, did I basically say “I mean this with no disrespect”) but I don’t think I should bite my tongue for the sake of what’s socially acceptable. I no longer think that we’d be better off if everyone just kept their religious beliefs to themselves, because those beliefs carry too much weight.
I’ve often heard from those that oppose affirmative action, speak about how they feel that the best man or woman should get the job. Sure this makes perfect sense, in a perfect world. I’ve also read those posters at work, the ones that mention how, among other things, religious beliefs can’t be used in the treatment of employees. Yet, some how, the religious beliefs of politicians isn’t just open for debate, it’s used as tool to gain voters. What the hell is that all that about?
And I saw on Youtube, a comment made on some Religulous clip that those who don’t believe will “find out soon enough.” That’s not good enough. I’m more concerned with my life on earth, making things better for the Kyd and everyone that comes after. So I can’t wait to find out later. Yeah, and by the way is complete bull shit. If so many people really felt that way, well, Sarah Palin would welcome those fictitious “death panels.” If death was so great, it’d be really easy to cut health care costs. All those who believe, please feel free to decline any and all health care.
That won’t happen, because death is freakin scary. The unknown, sure, that’s scary, but more so the known. It’s knowing that all decisions will now be final, and that all of our on going conversations are done. That we won’t see someone else get married, or kiss our loved ones goodnight one more time. It means we won’t see the sunrise, or at the very least, you might not. Maybe you’ll see everyone up in a place called heaven. I can imagine Tupac and Biggie doing a song with Frank. Michael Jackson as a black man, singing with skinny Elvis, and those loved ones we lost, along with all the previous generations. And those generations would probably ask Tupac and Biggie to turn down the music, some might not like that dark Michael fella, or question why the white Elvis is singing negro music. Because, really, what are the odds that our bigotry stays behind?
Maybe there’s something after our time here, since no one has come back and told me, I’ll just follow Red’s advice: Get busy livin’, or get busy dying.
He also said, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Maybe its time to speak up. Maybe, if we could all just imagine a world with no religion. It’s easy if you try. With no religion, do we think those “extremist” are really going to attack us? With no religion, is the United States of America spending so much time on foreign oil, “delivering democracy” (along with some bibles). Really, imagine a world with no religion. That isn’t to say imagine a world without God, if that’s what you believe in.
What really gets me is when I think about how these religions perceive God. First off, we can all agree, that with so many different religions, not everyone can be right. I mean, it’s just not possible. If the beliefs were taught as ideas, as Chris Rock said, then everyone would be better off. But every side thinks they’re right, and everyone else is wrong. Even religions themselves have different sects, so they’re waving the same flag but arguing over if the flag is going from left to right or right to left. So they can’t all be right, but at the same time, they CAN all be wrong. We understand that much when it comes to politics, most of us anyway.
Then when I think about many of the stories I’ve heard, from the different faiths, I can’t help but think about what a bad parent God would be. Believers think God picks favorites, can be pretty violent, wants us to follow strict rules without exception or explanation, sometimes cares who wins sporting events, cares more about specific parts of his land than others, and never takes out the trash or washes dishes. Who of us would like to parent like God, or have a parent like God?
I see some of the attraction to religion, and that’s community. Ask me what I believe, I’ll tell you I’m agnostic. But ask me what religion I am, and I’ll still say I’m Jewish. Weird huh? But for me, my Judasim really isn’t about the Torah or arguing about when the Messiah will come. It’s connecting with where I come from. Its’ partaking in some of the traditions that my parents did before me, and those before them. It’s a way to bond with people. Sports does that too, as does politics. I know, because last week at Target, I was received a smile from a stranger, simply because we both were wearing KU shirts. I know because, as bad as it sounds, I’m slightly less likely to want to ram the guy that cut me off, because I saw an Obama sticker on the back of his BWM.
I once posted here that we should treat religion as we do our favorite teams, and I still believe that. But till then, I’d really like for a Nascar driving to be sponsored by an Agnostic organization. I can’t think of a better way to reach millions of Christians on a Sunday.
Now here’s something I don’t do often, but I admit, I just might be wrong. That possibility does exist, well, about God. There really could be some supreme being that made this universe happen. I’m not wrong, however, in thinking that every religion has it wrong. Being someone who believes what I do, which technically makes me agnostic, also pretty much means that I’m against the idea of organizing those with like beliefs. If we went out, got our little tax exemption, and gathered on a regular basis to preach about our beliefs, that’d be a pretty giant step in the direction of hypocrite city. Been there, didn’t care much for it. Expensive real-estate.
But at the same time, that’s almost what we need to do. Maybe its time to start arguing for my side, in a similar fashion to the way the religions argue theirs. Anytime I write a blog, tweet or Facebook some thing critical of religion, I end up wondering if I’ve offended anyway. I mean, I know I’ve offended some, but I wonder who. It’s actually not my intention, but at the same time, why shouldn’t I voice my opinion? Every day I see countless bumper stickers that voice some ones opinion. I drive by multi-million dollar churches that stand for the opinions of some. My money tells me that in God we trust, even if, as I learned in Religulous, our Forefathers thought more like me. So let me be clear, my intention isn’t to look down on anyone, even if it sounds like that (hey, did I basically say “I mean this with no disrespect”) but I don’t think I should bite my tongue for the sake of what’s socially acceptable. I no longer think that we’d be better off if everyone just kept their religious beliefs to themselves, because those beliefs carry too much weight.
I’ve often heard from those that oppose affirmative action, speak about how they feel that the best man or woman should get the job. Sure this makes perfect sense, in a perfect world. I’ve also read those posters at work, the ones that mention how, among other things, religious beliefs can’t be used in the treatment of employees. Yet, some how, the religious beliefs of politicians isn’t just open for debate, it’s used as tool to gain voters. What the hell is that all that about?
And I saw on Youtube, a comment made on some Religulous clip that those who don’t believe will “find out soon enough.” That’s not good enough. I’m more concerned with my life on earth, making things better for the Kyd and everyone that comes after. So I can’t wait to find out later. Yeah, and by the way is complete bull shit. If so many people really felt that way, well, Sarah Palin would welcome those fictitious “death panels.” If death was so great, it’d be really easy to cut health care costs. All those who believe, please feel free to decline any and all health care.
That won’t happen, because death is freakin scary. The unknown, sure, that’s scary, but more so the known. It’s knowing that all decisions will now be final, and that all of our on going conversations are done. That we won’t see someone else get married, or kiss our loved ones goodnight one more time. It means we won’t see the sunrise, or at the very least, you might not. Maybe you’ll see everyone up in a place called heaven. I can imagine Tupac and Biggie doing a song with Frank. Michael Jackson as a black man, singing with skinny Elvis, and those loved ones we lost, along with all the previous generations. And those generations would probably ask Tupac and Biggie to turn down the music, some might not like that dark Michael fella, or question why the white Elvis is singing negro music. Because, really, what are the odds that our bigotry stays behind?
Maybe there’s something after our time here, since no one has come back and told me, I’ll just follow Red’s advice: Get busy livin’, or get busy dying.
He also said, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Maybe its time to speak up. Maybe, if we could all just imagine a world with no religion. It’s easy if you try. With no religion, do we think those “extremist” are really going to attack us? With no religion, is the United States of America spending so much time on foreign oil, “delivering democracy” (along with some bibles). Really, imagine a world with no religion. That isn’t to say imagine a world without God, if that’s what you believe in.
September 14, 2009
Mike and 'Ye
Words often used to describe Michael Jordan: great, icon, unstoppable, focused, gravity defying, champion, clutch, phenomenal, and extraordinary and that’s just the very tip of the iceberg. After watching his Hall of Fame induction speech on DVR over the weekend, I have some new adjectives to describe the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time). These first come to mind: petty, small, insecure, immature, jackass, and damn near pathetic.
He started of talking about how we already know pretty much everything about him, and I get the feeling he was actually holding back from telling how what a nuisance all his fans have been. Then it becomes perfectly clear, why we never really saw Jordan being Jordan in all those years of being in the spotlight. He’s really a dick. Those of us, who followed his career, heard the stories of him punching out teammates. But that was just him being ultra-completive. Or so we thought. He’s not nearly as articulate or humble as he’s portrayed, and that’s the real reason he never spoke candidly the media, the way Shaq, Barkley or Magic did.
I watched John Stockton’s speech, and he spent his career trying to downplay how great he was, and he was self deprecating, funny, humble and thankful. David Robinson was totally awed by the induction, grateful and sincere. Jordan spent more time thanking those who he felt wronged him throughout his career, and rubbing their faces in the fact that he was better.
When Stockton and Robinson spoke to their children, you saw them as proud dads. Mike still made it about him. “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.” And after years wondering what it’d be like to have MJ as a parent, I can safely say that I wouldn’t want to be them either. And maybe this is me being, well me, and being a little too picky, I thought it was classless that Jordan sat next to his piece of arm candy, rather than his children. So now he’s divorced, which of course was done after he was out of the spotlight, and he has the right to date. But going into the Hall of Fame is supposed to be a pretty huge honor, and no one sacrificed more for his career than his kids. But he spent about 19 seconds on his kids, told them to look around, that the price of admission to the Hall of Fame inductions used to be $200 and was now $1,000 and had the gall to say, “but I paid it, I had no choice. I had a lot of family, a lot of friends I had to bring in. So thank you Hall of Fame for raising ticket prices, I guess. ”
Funny thing, to me anyway, is that for the first part of his career I really didn’t like him much. I was a Magic guy, and he was the best ever to me. That Jordan guy was exciting, but a ball hog. After he retired, the first time, I realized what we were missing. When he came back, I could finally admit to myself that he was the best, and it wasn’t even that close. After he came back the second time, well, I thought the same things that I think about Brett Favre now. Move on, dude. Now I realize that, after his second retirement, he should have stayed retired and just left the public arena.
Be like Mike? Nah, like Stockton did over and over again, I’ll pass.
Next target: Kanye West.
When dude came out in 2004, I thought he was a breath of fresh air. Exactly what both hip hop, and the music scene in general needed. After bling and cash had taken over hip hop like greed took over the 80’s, he rapped about Jesus, his mom and school. Then the ego landed. When he didn’t win awards he was nominated for, he acted like a brat. But last night, at the VMA’s he raised his game. When Taylor Swift won for best video, he actually got on stage, took the mic from her, and voiced his opinion that Beyonce had one of the best videos ever. What the hell?! Even B herself, couldn’t believe what was happening.
Now I know the VMA’s are a far cry from being the Oscars, but can you ever imagine seeing Sean Penn jumping on stage, and telling us how someone else should have won? I can’t think of a situation where anyone would do anything like this. Well, maybe Michael Jordan would want to.
He blogged his apology:
I’M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD’VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED! I LIKE THE LYRICS ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER AND SHE’S IN THE BLEACHERS! …………………… I’M IN THE WRONG FOR GOING ON STAGE AND TAKING AWAY FROM HER MOMENT!…………….. BEYONCE’S VIDEO WAS THE BEST OF THIS DECADE!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FANS IF I LET YOU GUYS DOWN!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FRIENDS AT MTV. I WILL APOLOGIZE TO TAYLOR 2MRW. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!!!! EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOOO ME BUT I’M A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE!!! NO DISRESPECT BUT WE WATCHIN’ THE SHOW AT THE CRIB RIGHT NOW CAUSE … WELL YOU KNOW!!!! I’M STILL HAPPY FOR TAYLOR!!!! BOOOYAAAWWWW!!!! YOU ARE VERY VERY TALENTED!!! I GAVE MY AWARDS TO OUTKAST WHEN THEY DESERVED IT OVER ME… THAT’S WHAT IT IS!!!!!!! I’M NOT CRAZY YALL, I’M JUST REAL. SORRY FOR THAT!!! I REALLY FEEL BAD FOR TAYLOR AND I’M SINCERELY SORRY!!! MUCH RESPECT!!!!!
And my response is this: first, lose the caps lock thing. What are you, 12? Second, in a decent apology, one that’s you know, sincere, one usually stops arguing how their opinion was right. Lastly, by saying “no disrespect” that doesn’t mean you can say “fuck you” and have it mean something else. Then he implies that she should give her award to Beyonce, because you supposedly gave yours to Outkast? Well you just gave Taylor Swift a few thousand of your fans too.
He started of talking about how we already know pretty much everything about him, and I get the feeling he was actually holding back from telling how what a nuisance all his fans have been. Then it becomes perfectly clear, why we never really saw Jordan being Jordan in all those years of being in the spotlight. He’s really a dick. Those of us, who followed his career, heard the stories of him punching out teammates. But that was just him being ultra-completive. Or so we thought. He’s not nearly as articulate or humble as he’s portrayed, and that’s the real reason he never spoke candidly the media, the way Shaq, Barkley or Magic did.
I watched John Stockton’s speech, and he spent his career trying to downplay how great he was, and he was self deprecating, funny, humble and thankful. David Robinson was totally awed by the induction, grateful and sincere. Jordan spent more time thanking those who he felt wronged him throughout his career, and rubbing their faces in the fact that he was better.
When Stockton and Robinson spoke to their children, you saw them as proud dads. Mike still made it about him. “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.” And after years wondering what it’d be like to have MJ as a parent, I can safely say that I wouldn’t want to be them either. And maybe this is me being, well me, and being a little too picky, I thought it was classless that Jordan sat next to his piece of arm candy, rather than his children. So now he’s divorced, which of course was done after he was out of the spotlight, and he has the right to date. But going into the Hall of Fame is supposed to be a pretty huge honor, and no one sacrificed more for his career than his kids. But he spent about 19 seconds on his kids, told them to look around, that the price of admission to the Hall of Fame inductions used to be $200 and was now $1,000 and had the gall to say, “but I paid it, I had no choice. I had a lot of family, a lot of friends I had to bring in. So thank you Hall of Fame for raising ticket prices, I guess. ”
Funny thing, to me anyway, is that for the first part of his career I really didn’t like him much. I was a Magic guy, and he was the best ever to me. That Jordan guy was exciting, but a ball hog. After he retired, the first time, I realized what we were missing. When he came back, I could finally admit to myself that he was the best, and it wasn’t even that close. After he came back the second time, well, I thought the same things that I think about Brett Favre now. Move on, dude. Now I realize that, after his second retirement, he should have stayed retired and just left the public arena.
Be like Mike? Nah, like Stockton did over and over again, I’ll pass.
Next target: Kanye West.
When dude came out in 2004, I thought he was a breath of fresh air. Exactly what both hip hop, and the music scene in general needed. After bling and cash had taken over hip hop like greed took over the 80’s, he rapped about Jesus, his mom and school. Then the ego landed. When he didn’t win awards he was nominated for, he acted like a brat. But last night, at the VMA’s he raised his game. When Taylor Swift won for best video, he actually got on stage, took the mic from her, and voiced his opinion that Beyonce had one of the best videos ever. What the hell?! Even B herself, couldn’t believe what was happening.
Now I know the VMA’s are a far cry from being the Oscars, but can you ever imagine seeing Sean Penn jumping on stage, and telling us how someone else should have won? I can’t think of a situation where anyone would do anything like this. Well, maybe Michael Jordan would want to.
He blogged his apology:
I’M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD’VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED! I LIKE THE LYRICS ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER AND SHE’S IN THE BLEACHERS! …………………… I’M IN THE WRONG FOR GOING ON STAGE AND TAKING AWAY FROM HER MOMENT!…………….. BEYONCE’S VIDEO WAS THE BEST OF THIS DECADE!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FANS IF I LET YOU GUYS DOWN!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FRIENDS AT MTV. I WILL APOLOGIZE TO TAYLOR 2MRW. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!!!! EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOOO ME BUT I’M A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE!!! NO DISRESPECT BUT WE WATCHIN’ THE SHOW AT THE CRIB RIGHT NOW CAUSE … WELL YOU KNOW!!!! I’M STILL HAPPY FOR TAYLOR!!!! BOOOYAAAWWWW!!!! YOU ARE VERY VERY TALENTED!!! I GAVE MY AWARDS TO OUTKAST WHEN THEY DESERVED IT OVER ME… THAT’S WHAT IT IS!!!!!!! I’M NOT CRAZY YALL, I’M JUST REAL. SORRY FOR THAT!!! I REALLY FEEL BAD FOR TAYLOR AND I’M SINCERELY SORRY!!! MUCH RESPECT!!!!!
And my response is this: first, lose the caps lock thing. What are you, 12? Second, in a decent apology, one that’s you know, sincere, one usually stops arguing how their opinion was right. Lastly, by saying “no disrespect” that doesn’t mean you can say “fuck you” and have it mean something else. Then he implies that she should give her award to Beyonce, because you supposedly gave yours to Outkast? Well you just gave Taylor Swift a few thousand of your fans too.
September 11, 2009
Remembering
Hard to believe it, but it really has been eight years. 2921 days since we were all changed. Only I don’t really believe that. No, I’m not in the Charlie Sheen group, that believes 9/11 was the work of our own Government. I just no longer believe we’ve changed. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that’s how we win, by not letting them really change us.
Things have changed, don’t get me wrong. Longer lines at the airport, for starters. Then there’s the argument about the rights we’ve lost in the aftermath. But I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the change we all felt in the seconds, minutes, days, weeks and even months after 9/11. Back when it was cool to care. There was less road rage, we had more patience for the lady in line at the grocery store who happen to forget when paying the cashier took place. Drives finally pulled to the side of the road when they saw those flashing lights behind them.
That’s still not what I’m talking about. There was a period of time, and I can’t say when it ended, I just know it did, that we had genuine concern for our neighbors. A time when we all got misty when we heard the National Anthem, and even cheered for the Yankees for one October. Party affiliation was an after thought, and the color of your state didn’t matter.
Eight years since we watched those two giants come plummeting down to earth, and even though we all remember exactly where we were, I think we’ve forgotten how that felt. Maybe that’s for the best, because we’re supposed to push forward. That’s healing, right? But today I say screw that. Today, and every September 11th we have left, should be dedicated to remembering. Not just the date, or the other numbers we’ve etched in our brains. Numbers like: Flight 93, 1 World Trade Center, 2 World Trade Center, Flight 77, 19 hijackers, and Flight 11, as those are easy to remember. I want to remember that knot in my stomach. I remember how I wanted to check in with my family and friends, especially those who travel often. I remember that a friend of mine was in New York when it happened, and how his brother-in-law escaped the World Trade Center just days before he was married. Today I remember the sound of those who jumped from the windows, and how many kids didn’t get to see their parents come home that day. I know it’s another number, but an estimated 3,000 kids lost at least one parent that day. And with that, I want to remember how I felt the first time I watched “Telling Nicholas” on HBO.
“Mom’s not coming home, little man.”
I want to remember the pride I felt. Proud of how American’s acted that day. Today is about that day, not the other shit that came after. We promised to never forget, and although it’s probably the least we could do, it’s also the best we can do.
Things have changed, don’t get me wrong. Longer lines at the airport, for starters. Then there’s the argument about the rights we’ve lost in the aftermath. But I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the change we all felt in the seconds, minutes, days, weeks and even months after 9/11. Back when it was cool to care. There was less road rage, we had more patience for the lady in line at the grocery store who happen to forget when paying the cashier took place. Drives finally pulled to the side of the road when they saw those flashing lights behind them.
That’s still not what I’m talking about. There was a period of time, and I can’t say when it ended, I just know it did, that we had genuine concern for our neighbors. A time when we all got misty when we heard the National Anthem, and even cheered for the Yankees for one October. Party affiliation was an after thought, and the color of your state didn’t matter.
Eight years since we watched those two giants come plummeting down to earth, and even though we all remember exactly where we were, I think we’ve forgotten how that felt. Maybe that’s for the best, because we’re supposed to push forward. That’s healing, right? But today I say screw that. Today, and every September 11th we have left, should be dedicated to remembering. Not just the date, or the other numbers we’ve etched in our brains. Numbers like: Flight 93, 1 World Trade Center, 2 World Trade Center, Flight 77, 19 hijackers, and Flight 11, as those are easy to remember. I want to remember that knot in my stomach. I remember how I wanted to check in with my family and friends, especially those who travel often. I remember that a friend of mine was in New York when it happened, and how his brother-in-law escaped the World Trade Center just days before he was married. Today I remember the sound of those who jumped from the windows, and how many kids didn’t get to see their parents come home that day. I know it’s another number, but an estimated 3,000 kids lost at least one parent that day. And with that, I want to remember how I felt the first time I watched “Telling Nicholas” on HBO.
“Mom’s not coming home, little man.”
I want to remember the pride I felt. Proud of how American’s acted that day. Today is about that day, not the other shit that came after. We promised to never forget, and although it’s probably the least we could do, it’s also the best we can do.
September 02, 2009
JstSayin'
What’s the deal with farts and burps? I mean, I think they’re gross too. Ask my wife, she almost never hears or feels one of mine, and I hate it when one slips. But what I don’t understand is; how, and who, determined what bodily functions were offensive. Shouldn’t a sneeze be the largest offense? Ranks highest in germs, has the ability to make a mess, but instead of saying “excuse me,” we get blessed. Or a hiccup, those are just somewhat embarrassing, but only because it gives the impression that you’ve been hitting the bottle. Why are those so innocent, but a burp or fart are damn near felonies?
*
I’m just thinking here, but if there’s a sex offender in your neighborhood, and he has a bunch of tents set up in his backyard, this should probably raise some flags with someone. I get that they did their time, and some should be allowed to TRY and become contributing members of society, but when they’re on parole, can’t the cops just drive by every once in a while? They could be on the lookout for something as suspicious as, oh I don’t know, maybe a backyard full of tents. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
*
Looking forward to the long weekend, it’s much needed. I know it’s much needed because, last night I couldn’t sleep. And why couldn’t I sleep? I kept seeing Pivot tables and Excel. All sorts of numbers, and at some point, I think I saw a Pivot Table containing statistics on why I couldn’t sleep. So, is it Friday yet? Don’t know what a Pivot Table looks like? Well, please don’t brag.
*
I’m just thinking here, but if there’s a sex offender in your neighborhood, and he has a bunch of tents set up in his backyard, this should probably raise some flags with someone. I get that they did their time, and some should be allowed to TRY and become contributing members of society, but when they’re on parole, can’t the cops just drive by every once in a while? They could be on the lookout for something as suspicious as, oh I don’t know, maybe a backyard full of tents. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
*
Looking forward to the long weekend, it’s much needed. I know it’s much needed because, last night I couldn’t sleep. And why couldn’t I sleep? I kept seeing Pivot tables and Excel. All sorts of numbers, and at some point, I think I saw a Pivot Table containing statistics on why I couldn’t sleep. So, is it Friday yet? Don’t know what a Pivot Table looks like? Well, please don’t brag.
September 01, 2009
Jim Bob Duggar Kemp?
Please, someone stop the Duggars. That crazy family, with the show “18 and Counting” is preggars again. No shit. I did the math on this, and its mind boggling. The mom, Michelle, is 42. She’ll be 43 when baby #19 just plops right out (there’s an image for you). She was 23 when her first was born, so that makes for 19 babies in 23 years. She’s been pregnant 62% of the time since she was 23. She’ll have been pregnant for 14.25 years.
On the low end, the average cost of a delivery is $5,000. Multiplied by 19 deliveries and that’s $95,000. That raises one question for me, how much are condoms again? Babycenter.com has a calculator, and based on average diapering costs and not paying for childcare, the average cost for a baby’s first year is $5,550. Again, do that 19 times and you’ve spent over $105,000. And that’s just for the first year of each kids life.
In our house there’s three of us, and we spend about $400 a month on groceries. I’m sure the Duggars grow their own veggies, kill cows themselves and mom probably squeezes out milk for dinner every night, but if they bought food at the same rate as us, they’d spend $2,800 a month on groceries. And we don’t have any teenagers in the house, let alone seven. Shit, that’s over $30 grand a year.
Here’s the kicker, according to Wikipedia.com, the Duggars live debt free. You know what, fuck them! They live in a 7,000 sq ft house, and supposedly make their money on commercial properties they own. No surprise here, but they home school their kids, with 12 of their kids being old enough to attend school. What are the odds that they’ll learn abstinence? The only way I thought a man could have 19 kids, is if he plays in the NBA. This family scares me to death.
On the low end, the average cost of a delivery is $5,000. Multiplied by 19 deliveries and that’s $95,000. That raises one question for me, how much are condoms again? Babycenter.com has a calculator, and based on average diapering costs and not paying for childcare, the average cost for a baby’s first year is $5,550. Again, do that 19 times and you’ve spent over $105,000. And that’s just for the first year of each kids life.
In our house there’s three of us, and we spend about $400 a month on groceries. I’m sure the Duggars grow their own veggies, kill cows themselves and mom probably squeezes out milk for dinner every night, but if they bought food at the same rate as us, they’d spend $2,800 a month on groceries. And we don’t have any teenagers in the house, let alone seven. Shit, that’s over $30 grand a year.
Here’s the kicker, according to Wikipedia.com, the Duggars live debt free. You know what, fuck them! They live in a 7,000 sq ft house, and supposedly make their money on commercial properties they own. No surprise here, but they home school their kids, with 12 of their kids being old enough to attend school. What are the odds that they’ll learn abstinence? The only way I thought a man could have 19 kids, is if he plays in the NBA. This family scares me to death.
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