Posts All Around!

Well there's only so many things I can blog about (and only so many hours in the day). As my wanderings go, I've found a few others articles that you, the good reader, might be interested in:

The Real Ugly American writes about the downfall of communist radio. And no, it's not in China, it's communist radio in California. Take a peek.

4 The Little Guy points out yet more hypocrisy of the far-left at another public institution that YOU are paying to support. But in the liberal mind, it is OK to crush religion while outright encouraging anti-religious ideas and speech.

And over at Stop the ACLU, Jay gives up some news from Johnny "Injured War Veteran" Kerry. The news? Kerry thinks the Democrats should filibuster Alito (or Alyoto if your name is Kennedy). I say let that one rip -- I want to see that happen. But it's just talk for fund-raising letters, not actual ideas.

So have a read and see what else is going on these days!

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Helping America

In response to my attempt to respond to The Alliance's precision-guided humor assignment, blogless "Small Town Hick" said:

Hillary is not the anti-Christ, either. Nor is Dean, Murtha, et al. Accept the fact that they are trying to help America. Badly, but trying.

Okay, I'll accept that "fact," as long as I finish the sentence "they are trying to help America:"

They are trying to help America become a socialist state.
They are trying to help America have no freedoms.
They are trying to help America no longer be the best country on the planet.
They are trying to help America be subservient to Islam.
They are trying to help America be a land ruled by Democrats, not by free elections.
They are trying to help America be a utopian society that simply cannot exist.
They are trying to help America be a country where Christianity is despised and hidden.
They are trying to help America be a place where there is no self-government but rulership by a select few.

So I admit it. They are trying to help America.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:04 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Time to Change Banks

I've not been unhappy with my bank, but I am going to change banks this week. BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust), headquartered in North Carolina (and who does about 25% of their business in NC) has announced that they will not lend money to any business who gets their land from government takings.

Now that took real guts. Of course the Charlotte Observer, who hates freedom, tries to downplay the announcement by claiming that such things are against the law in NC. Not surprisingly, the Observer is just plain wrong on that issue. The law states that land CAN be taken if the need is justified.

What is real interesting is how little play this is getting. When a company announces that they are supporting some liberal or left-wing cause, they are celebrated in press, held out as heroes, and everyone is told to go do business with them. But since this is a cause to support freedom, the liberal press doesn't care.

"The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by the government solely for private use is extremely misguided, in fact it's just plain wrong," Chief Executive John Allison said in a statement.

Now THAT is a company *I* want to do business with. Any other business that wants my money, publicly support freedom, and I will beat a path to your door!

I'm going to stop by a branch on my way home TODAY and open an account there.

(Linked to Cao's Open Trackbacks).

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Pot? Meet Kettle.

Stop the ACLU has a post up that clearly looks like satire. I mean, if you saw this headline, surely you'd think you were reading The Onion or something:

Saddam Sues Bush

But no, it's apparently real. Tell me again why we didn't just drop a grenade down the spider hole? Or at least turn him over to the people he tortured and killed for so many years?

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Stop the ACLU!

Crossposted from Stop The ACLU

Convincing liberals that the ACLU is leading us down a dangerous path is about as productive as talking to a rock. Perhaps this is because I mostly deal with far left liberals who share the same insane views and have the same radical agenda as the ACLU. Anyone who believes that the ACLU is there to purely defend the Constitution is naive at best. Surely there are some moderate liberals out there that can concede that the organization is in need of reform.

A balanced society can not survive resting in the fringe. A Nation only concerned with security will drift toward a police state, and one that follows the absolutist views of liberty like the ACLU will drift toward anarchy. more...

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Soup is Racist

No, really. According to officials in France, soup is racist. And you were worried about being accused of being racist. Now completely inanimate food objects can be considered racist. I'm not sure if they're going to put the soup in jail or not.

Strasbourg officials have banned the hand-outs and police in Paris have closed soup kitchens in an effort to avert racial tension.

Police have closed soup kitchens in the capital's Montparnasse and Gare de l'Est train stations on administrative grounds.

You read that right. People were volunteering their time and their soup to feed homeless people who had no food. The POLICE in France stopped them.

I'm just beyond comment on this one.

The police banned giving away food to hungry, homeless people.

Food.

To people who are hungry.

Sorry, not in France.

Man, that country is REALLY screwed up.

(H/T to Kender).

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More Government Giveaways

The NC State Auditor (a Republican) audited the state-funded Museum of Art (run by bureaucrats and democrats). He found some quite interesting figures.

The foundation, because it is funded by the legislature (that means tax dollars) doesn't have the power to arbitrarily determine salaries. The salaries of the various "officials" are set by the legislature. And you might think that museum director Larry Wheeler might be happy earning a $97,621 annual salary.

However, the foundation wanted to give away much larger piles of taxpayer money, so they found a way to raise Mr. Wheeler's salary drastically, while not officially changing his salary -- consulting fees.

The foundation gave him $135,642 in consulting fees, $111,192 in "salary supplements" and $13,856 in vehicle expenses. Now when is the last time you, working for an actual company that has to be accountable for their expenditures, got a "salary supplement" that was larger than you actual salary?

The foundation also gave another $372,999 to 33 other employees. And yes, this is a clear violation of state law -- the law says that state workers cannot receive pay beyond their salary to perform duties within their own department.

The foundation defends it's actions, saying the money is needed to keep Wheeler from being "lured away" to other museums. Which museums would those be? Well, perhaps PRIVATE museums. So the state is trying to compete with private companies. That's wrong.

Furthermore, why won't the foundation follow the law? If they need more money, all they have to do is ask the legislature! The legislature sets the pay -- if it's not enough, ask them for more instead of breaking the damn law and wasting my money, morons.

Yet another example of the total and utter corruption of the government in Raleigh, NC. Hey, Mr. Tabor, this is what you're going to be facing if you win your election...are you ready?

Posted by: Ogre at 12:07 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Democrat Code of Conduct, Part 2

Earlier today, we tried to present a preview of the Democrat ethics strategy for the 2006 elections. The crackstaff is still not awake, so we're left to just throw out baseless accusations and conjecture. But hey, that's fun, so let's give it a shot!

Whenever someone comes out with something new, there's two questions to be asked immediately: "Why is this being done?" and "Why hasn't it been done before?" In this case, the answers are really easy.

Why are the Democrats doing this? To win an election -- plain and simple, nothing more. And yet, the idea of having ethics just to win an election doesn't seem to bother anyone...

Why hasn't it been done before? Well, it's never been tried before. This is a new concept in this century. It's an idea that really hasn't been tried since, oh about 1800 or so -- the idea that a politician might actually HAVE ethics.

Since this is about politicians, and we don't want to shock their fragile systems and egos, we shouldn't really hit them hard. Instead, we should start with small, baby steps, until they get used to the idea. Keeping all that in mind, here's a few suggestions for the Democrats who suddenly want ethics:

1. If someone dies while in your personal automobile and you were driving, do not run and hide in a motel room.

I know this one should be really obvious, but remember what we're dealing with. I think this one really is non-negotiable and really needs to be on the Democrat Party's list.

2. Tell the truth.

Again, this one is really obvious to anyone over the age of 3 that isn't either a lawyer or a politician, but it really is the basics of ethics. If you skip this one, there's really nowhere else to go with this whole idea. I know for many politicians, this will be nearly impossible.

So many have been telling so many lies for so long, it may feel funny inside to actually tell the truth. My advice to them? Keep with it -- the funny feeling will go away. Try it, you might like it.

3. Forget the phrase "neither confirm nor deny."

As soon as those words come out of your mouth, everyone knows you're guilty. Really. Nothing else you say after that really means anything, because you're done for. When you think of uttering this phrase, think of rule #2.

4. Remember: Bush is not the anti Christ.

Democrats, think about this -- a large number of people actually voted for Bush, no matter what you think. A VERY large number. He's the head of this country. Just opposing him because he takes a position makes you look even more foolish than you already are. Give it a break, it just doesn't work.

5. Be yourself.

Closely related to #2 above. If you have a position on something, just tell people what that position is -- no matter what it is. Millions of people will respect you, even if that position is that you think everyone with pinky fingers longer than 2.5 inches should have to pay higher taxes -- at least you'll HAVE a position!

Well, that's 5 rules, and that's enough for people who simply have no ethics now. Try not to hurt yourselves putting them into place.

(An Alliance precision-guided humor assignment).

Posted by: Ogre at 11:06 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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The Garbage Man

For the record, I would like to state that the person in this video is NOT Ogre. I'm not saying that it is or is not Contagion.

(Found at Moby Shtick).

Posted by: Ogre at 08:08 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Click to get 50,000

Sissy of And What's Next is trying to do the impossible -- coordinate visits to her blog site. She is hoping that she will hit 50,000 visitors on the exact same day as her 1-year blogiversary.

Well, she just hit 40,000 and only has 22 days until the Big Date. So let's all get together and go visit her a bunch of times every day for the next week or so, and see if we can actually coordinate this gaggle of bits called the internet. Think she'll make it? We can only try to help! Go Visit!

Posted by: Ogre at 06:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Democrat Code of Conduct

Well, The Alliance happened to notice that the Democrats, as a plan to supposedly help them get elected, have decided to create a code of conduct. And the Alliance, being what it is, was wondering what this might be.

So, being the good Alliance slave participant, we once again sent out our crack staff to see if we could uncover any memos about the Democrat plans...quite surprisingly, our staff returned three sheets to the wind, but with some documents that reveal the secret plans:

Official Donkey Democrat Code of Ethics Rules:
Rule 1: No Poofters!
Rule 2: No member of the faculty is to maltreat the Abbos in any way at all -- if there's anybody watching.
Rule 3:

No, no, no, that's not it. Wrong paper, sorry about that. When alGore invented the internet, it seems he didn't make it work just right. There's another list that I was posting here, now where is it...oh, here it is. Here is the information typed in a memo, to be distributed to all federal Democrat Party Candidates:

Members of our esteemed party, we need to remember a few things as this election season approaches. We are facing a difficult battle against the evil that is Republicans, so remember this:

Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise....

*smack*

Once again, sorry about that. Our "crack" staff seems to be on crack today. After sorting through the empty pizza boxes and beer cans, it does seem they really did find something useful, but with the grease stains from the pizza and the beer spillage (I think that's beer), we simply cannot read the memo.

We're going to wait until the crack-staff wakes up and we'll send them back out tomorrow to check for more information...

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Idiots in the News

Well, it seems Casto has decided that he hasn't been making enough noise lately, so he's making noise. And since he can't complain about anything legitimate, check out THIS headline:

Castro Orders March to Protest Electronic Signs

Okaaaaay. What's next? A protest against small white pebbles? Perhaps a protest against running water and indoor plumbing. Yeah, this is a guy I want leading my country. I just don't see what the fuss is all about:

Posted by: Ogre at 03:03 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Government School Eye Scans

Well, yet again government has provided an incredibly expensive solution to a problem. The fact that there was no problem to begin with, of course, will not deter those in government from spending the money to solve the problem. In this case, we've got almost $400,000 of federal tax money gone.

So, what solution did they create? They added eye scan technology to schools in NJ -- so all parents and teachers get their eyes scanned before they're allowed to enter the schools, and all visitors and activities of all scanned people can be tracked.

This will certainly solve that pesky problem with the school shootings done by students -- oh wait, no it won't. It must solve that problem of terrorist attacks on schools -- well, actually, it won't do much to stop a bomb or a bomber.

I guess it will solve that problem of so many non-students trespassing on school property when they weren't supposed to. Oh, that's not a problem? As I first said -- leave it to government to find massively expensive ways to either just create problems, or to attempt to solve problems that don't exist.

Is there any possible reason left to allow government to run anything remotely associated with education? No, there is not.

Posted by: Ogre at 01:04 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Woman Wants Cash from Durham, NC

We have yet another entry into the lawsuit lottery. In this case, the target is the City of Durham, who has, quite literally, a completely endless supply of money from which victims can take.

Details on the case are a bit light on the internet. From what I can gather, a police car was traveling approximately 50mph on it's way to an emergency call when it hit a woman crossing the street. The woman wants a pile of cash because she's "permanently disabled." There is no notice as to what about her is disabled, although a picture of her shows a woman in good health.

The state supreme court ruled that the officer was not liable. The city claims it was an accident. Unfortunately, very few lawyers and judges have ever heard the word "accident," much less know what it means. So now, after at least 3 different groups have decided it wasn't the officer's fault, they are appealing again.

I understand the woman was hurt. But she says, "It's not fair." Well you know what? That's right. Life isn't fair. And it won't be made more fair if she wins this lawsuit. What would happen if she wins? The taxpayers will be out a pile of cash and the police in Durham will now only be able to drive 25mph while stopping at all crosswalks in the city before they can respond to an emergency call. Is that MORE fair?

I have one other question -- if the officer was going 50mph and headed to an emergency call, how did this person get in the middle of the road? Didn't the bright, flashing lights and loud siren register at all?

Posted by: Ogre at 10:04 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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All Hail the Uber Nerd

Found at Bad Example.

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Sunshine (Go Away Today)

Just heard this song this morning and really felt, well, annoyed.

Sunshine go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone, he's tried to run my life
Don't know what he's asking

That "Some Man" is Governor Easley and his pals in the NC Legislature who have decided, apparently by royal decree, that they completely know what's best for me. They know what I should do, and when I should do it. More importantly, they know what I should NOT be allowed to do -- even if it has no effect on others.

As for the "don't know what he's asking," well, mostly they don't CARE. They get their cash, so they pass their laws restricting me. Why? Because they are, completely in their minds, utter and complete royalty. It's my damn life, you @#&$-heads, leave me alone!

He tells me I'd better get in line
Can't hear what he's saying
When I grow up I'm going to make it mine
But these aren't dues I been paying

That's just perfect. The royalty in North Carolina wants me to get in line, but they won't tell me quite exactly how -- have you ever read the laws in this state? Good luck trying to decipher exactly what they mean. For example, if you're a royalty-approved private investigator, you cannot carry a badge -- but if you're not licensed, you can. Does that make any sense?

And no, they're no dues I've been paying, because my hard work is drastically reduced by very heavy taxation -- and I will get NO benefit from those taxes. Feel free to write about the roads and police service I "get," but realize that I could get all that for 1/100th of the damn taxes I'm forced to pay.

(Chorus)
How much does it cost, I'll buy it
The time is all we've lost, I'll try it
But he can't even run his own life
I'll be damned if he'll run mine, Sunshine

He can't even run his own life? Hello, Jim Black -- corruption defined. He's just one of these morons who just absolutely are idiots and utterly corrupt and morally bankrupt, yet who are convinced that they know what's best for me.

Just shut up and let me be free. I want damn freedom. I really want freedom. However, I have yet to meet an elected official who actually wants freedom, too. They all want control, power, and money. It's wrong, and I truly hope in my lifetime that freedom will exist, no matter the cost.

Sunshine go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone he's tried to run my life
Don't know what he's asking

Working starts to make me wonder where
The fruits of what I do are going
He says in love and war all is fair
But he's got cards he ain't showing

I know where the fruits of my labor are going -- in the damn pockets of Jim Black and his pals. He literally has a checkbook that is drawn on my money. That's not an exaggeration -- taxpayer funds are in his personal checking account that he uses for whatever he wants. And yet almost no one seems to care.

It's my damn money, I earned it. It's not yours, it's not government's, it's damn mine. But 1/3 or more of my labor is taken by the government. So, in my 9-hour workday, the first damn 3 hours, I earn zero dollars so government can write checks to pay someone else to have a damn oyster farm.

(Chorus)
Sunshine come on back another day
I promise you I'll be singing
This old world, she's gonna turn around
Brand new bells'll be ringing

(Jonathan Edwards Lyrics, 1971)

This world's going to turn around? Again, I sure hope so. I really do have faith that one day people will wake up and DO something about this crap and the crapholes who are running the government. I just hope it's in my lifetime so I can be a part of it.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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That Ragged Old Flag

"Ragged Old Flag"

I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.
I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down",
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town".
I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it".
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down,
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of
That Ragged Old Flag

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
and It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key
sat watching it, writing "Say Can You See"
It got a rip in New Orleans,
with Packingham & Jackson tugging at its seams.
and It almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
That Ragged Old Flag

"On Flanders Field in World War I,
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp, and low, a time or two,
She was in Korea, Vietnam,
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
and now they've about quit wavin' back here at home
in her own good land here She's been abused,
She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused,
And the government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearin' thin,
But she's in good shape, for the shape she's in.
Cause she's been through the fire before
and I believe she can take a whole lot more.

"So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I *do* like to brag
Cause I'm mighty proud of
That Ragged Old Flag"
--Johnny Cash

Posted by: Ogre at 04:10 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Energy Prices Going Up

ANY time you hear about a legislative body "moving quickly," hold on to your pocketbook, because it is NOT going to be a good thing. Now I am very sorry for those families who lost someone in the recent mine accidents, but to react quickly as the WV legislature has done and the US Senate is trying to do is VERY WRONG.

The WV legislature quickly passed new "safety" laws. The US Senate wants answers. They're all morons.

News flash for the apparently brain-dead people in the two legislative bodies:

MINING IS DANGEROUS

To stockpile oxygen in a mine makes no sense. Does anyone know how oxygen is stored? In compressed cannisters that can explode. Let's put that under a ton of rocks in a narrow, enclosed space, shall we?

Adding radio locators? In the mine tragedy earlier this year, they knew right where the miners were, they just couldn't GET to them! Oh, and the ones who just died in the fire? There was never any question about where they were -- they were dead.

So, what will the result of these legislative actions be? Let's see...the mining companies will have to spend millions of dollars traipsing back and forth to Washington, to hearings. They will have to hire numerous lawyers to help them determine what they should and should not say.

They will have to buy and train miners on various new types of equipment. They will have to hire more people to buy and maintain new equipment. They will have to spend less time mining to train people on using this new equipment. So, they will have to spend piles of money.

And where will they get that money? From those who buy their products. So, the end result of this horrible government officials is that because some people died in a dangerous occupation, we will all be forced to pay more for energy -- and it's highly unlikely that anyone, anywhere, will be any safer than before.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:02 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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More Taxes For The Children

Wake County commissioners' chairman Tony Gurley says it's time to ask the N.C. General Assembly to let all counties raise sales taxes to pay for school construction if they want, and also floated the idea of a real-estate transfer tax, the N&O reported.

Why do people keep electing this socialist morons? Why can this type of person see every single solution as spending more money that's not theirs? Is there no way to stop this total and utter nonsense?

There is a very simple solution that would not only not need a tax increase, but could actually result in LOWER taxes -- but that would require that morons like Tony Gurley give up some power and control, so it's highly unlikely. That solution? Get government the heck out of the way of the free market.

If government would stop spending billions of dollars on bureaucrats in education, education would suddenly get very inexpensive. A very simply solution of tax credits where the money followed the student would completely stop this demand for money for the damn children.

Yes, it really is that simple. The schools would cost a great deal less, more people would be gainfully (and profitably) employed, the quality of the schools would drastically increase, and taxes could be reduced. But there are so many people currently sponging off the system that they will never willingly give up their power and control.

So where's the hope? What can be done? Elect better people. Get this idiot Tony Gurley out of office and put someone in there who can think about something other than spending other people's money. Do NOT give school boards MORE power and the ability to raise taxes on their own!

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Vote Tabor

Well, this is also a "New Advertiser" post, but I thought you might not read it if I put that in the title again...

This week there's two new advertisers to introduce. First up is Nathan Tabor. Who's Nathan Tabor? Well gee, follow the link (in the post or over on there on the left) and find out!

Actually, I'll give you a little more about Nathan -- he's running for election to the NC Senate, in District 31 (Forsyth County). If you are in that area, be SURE to check him out! His web site sure says the right things -- and we certainly need more conservatives in the NC Senate, if for nothing else than to point out the insanity of the Democrats who rule that place with an Iron Fist! I'll certainly have more on this one later!

The other new advertiser this week is via BlogExplosion. Yet again, Haunted House Dressing has opted to put an ad on this blog. It must be a good deal, or they wouldn't get buying ads here (hint, hint).

And hey -- this month there's a contest! You get entries into the drawing for the contest by writing reviews of items posted on the site. There's no limit on the number of entries you can have...but you're going to have to go over there to see what the prize will be...

Posted by: Ogre at 07:05 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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