Our second President, John Adams wrote; Independence Day "ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."
If only we could...
We do alright with the pomp and parade, we even manage to see shows, play some games, and view some sports. Bells do ring. But guns, bonfires, and illuminations?
Virtually every community in America has laws prohibitng bonfires. Many states prohibit the private use of fireworks. In the great State of Ohio, you may purchase them and possess them, just don't light them within the borders of Ohio. You may have a "campfire" in our community as long as you are cooking on it. Guns? Yeah right. If you have a CCL in Ohio you may carry it, however if it is visible you are in trouble. If it is concealed when in your car, you are in trouble. Many merchants mistakenly post "no firearms permitted" signs in their windows (thus letting the bad guys know that they are unprotected). And, there aren't too many places where you could even fire the weapon without going to jail, even if you were merely shooting at paper targets.
Tonight, every police department in Ohio will be deluged with "complaints" about fireworks. By policy, they must respond. Most cops I know, would prefer to be home lighting their own bottlerockets. But, we must be protected from ourselves. Otherwise, we will not buckle-up or wear our helmets. We will mutilate ourselves with fireworks, guns, and bonfires. We will take too many drugs, drink too much alcohol, eat too much fat, smoke too many cigarettes, etc, etc, etc.
America used to be free. When Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, and the others risked their lives and pledged their fortunes to free us from tyranny, they really didn't plan that someday we would legislate our freedoms away over time.
Don't get me wrong, I wear a seat belt all the time. I think people who ride motorcylces are idiots if they don't wear a helmet. I don't want everyone in America to carry guns. I do however believe that we all have inalienable rights that include the right to mutilate ones self with fireworks, drink too much, drive in a car without a belt, squash our brains on pavement if we so choose and when properly trained carry a gun to help protect ourselves, our families, and this great country.
Disagree with me? That's your right. Many men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice to give us all the right to voice our opinions. Let's stop watering down their efforts, by legislating away our freedom.
It is the fourth of July. The birth of the greatest nation on earth. Let's celebrate with pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations. When the cops arrive, offer them a hot-dog, coke, and some apple pie.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
DaVinci Code vs Monty Python
Our minister delivered a wonderful sermon on Sunday in which he made it quite clear that the DaVinci Code is FICTION. He further stated that anyone whose faith would be shaken by this movie must not have had much faith to begin with. I couldn't agree more.
Anyhow, the sermon prompted some discussion over dinner yesterday and got me thinking...Why was there no fuss over "The Quest For The Holy Grail" as presented by Monty Python? In it, the French claimed to all ready have one. "It's very nice."
"Bring me a shrubbery."
Anyhow, the sermon prompted some discussion over dinner yesterday and got me thinking...Why was there no fuss over "The Quest For The Holy Grail" as presented by Monty Python? In it, the French claimed to all ready have one. "It's very nice."
"Bring me a shrubbery."
Monday, May 29, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
The land of the free
Once again I must apologize to my loyal readers. It has been a long time since my last post. I haven't been feeling real creative lately, so my comments tonight are pretty much limited to a catch up of everything that has been going on...
Both my aunt and uncle are having heart challenges. Aunt Ann is recovering, Uncle Arney is about to have a bypass.
My Dad has now purchased a new Chevy Impala equipped with On-Star and is very proudly driving around talking on his new hands free On-Star cell phone. Mom continues to cook.
My nephew Steve just bought his first house. By now, he should have his belongings in place. In just a few weeks he will make his first mortgage payment ( on a loan I set up for him ). Welcome Steve to the world of having a mortgage, which I believe is a word that actually means "death grip".
My kids all went to Macinac Island for the weekend. I hope they at least bring me back a cheap T-Shirt!
I attended a WMD/Haz-mat/know your terrorist training class at the Columbus Police Academy. The class was pretty good, but the best part was the tour of their state-of-the-art facility.
Robin planted our garden yesterday; tomatos, 4 types of peppers, zucchini, beans, and various herbs ( the legal kind ). I found a potato in the basement when I was looking for beach towels. It had quite a long root on it, so we planted that just for yucks.
My friend Todd just got a really great promotion. When I spoke to him about it, he paid me a wonderful compliment. Todd had worked for me at one point, and he told me that I was by far his best boss ever. That really meant alot to me.
Stefanie graduates from college on June 11. Then she will start grad school. She will not be coming home as we had thought. But she will be closer to home this summer than she has been for the last 3 summers. She did bring her truck home with about $3,000 worth of damage. It seems a brick sorority house broadsided her.
I opened our pool this weekend. The filter pump was dead so I had to buy a new one. It also seems that a family of mice took up residence in our "molly brown" floating raft. Neither us or the mice will be using it any longer.
New cars, damaged cars, college, surgery, new jobs, gardens, vacations, mortgages, and etc. All possible because somewhere in a distant part of the world, men and women sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have. Lower your flag to half staff tomorrow until noon. Then raise it high. Take time to say a prayer for those brave souls that gave the last measure of courage. You might even sing The Star Spangled Banner.
Both my aunt and uncle are having heart challenges. Aunt Ann is recovering, Uncle Arney is about to have a bypass.
My Dad has now purchased a new Chevy Impala equipped with On-Star and is very proudly driving around talking on his new hands free On-Star cell phone. Mom continues to cook.
My nephew Steve just bought his first house. By now, he should have his belongings in place. In just a few weeks he will make his first mortgage payment ( on a loan I set up for him ). Welcome Steve to the world of having a mortgage, which I believe is a word that actually means "death grip".
My kids all went to Macinac Island for the weekend. I hope they at least bring me back a cheap T-Shirt!
I attended a WMD/Haz-mat/know your terrorist training class at the Columbus Police Academy. The class was pretty good, but the best part was the tour of their state-of-the-art facility.
Robin planted our garden yesterday; tomatos, 4 types of peppers, zucchini, beans, and various herbs ( the legal kind ). I found a potato in the basement when I was looking for beach towels. It had quite a long root on it, so we planted that just for yucks.
My friend Todd just got a really great promotion. When I spoke to him about it, he paid me a wonderful compliment. Todd had worked for me at one point, and he told me that I was by far his best boss ever. That really meant alot to me.
Stefanie graduates from college on June 11. Then she will start grad school. She will not be coming home as we had thought. But she will be closer to home this summer than she has been for the last 3 summers. She did bring her truck home with about $3,000 worth of damage. It seems a brick sorority house broadsided her.
I opened our pool this weekend. The filter pump was dead so I had to buy a new one. It also seems that a family of mice took up residence in our "molly brown" floating raft. Neither us or the mice will be using it any longer.
New cars, damaged cars, college, surgery, new jobs, gardens, vacations, mortgages, and etc. All possible because somewhere in a distant part of the world, men and women sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have. Lower your flag to half staff tomorrow until noon. Then raise it high. Take time to say a prayer for those brave souls that gave the last measure of courage. You might even sing The Star Spangled Banner.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Too much TV
Does anybody else think that UPS has made a huge mistake in remarketing themselves as: "Brown"? It just seems to me that UPS already had tremendous equity in the name: UPS. Everyone knows who they are, what they do, and how well they do it. What kind of advertising agency decides that this type of equity should be traded in on something as bland and unidentifiable as "Brown". Am I alone on this, or does the whole concept of "Brown" conjur up something that most people don't want to discuss? Maybe they just think it is cute. I think long term UPS will regret this campaign.
Meanwhile, there was a news teaser tonight indicating that microwave popcorn contains dangerous chemicals... Here we go...
Some idiot on the east side of Cleveland went "postal" on one of the new electronic voting machines. It seems that he was frustrated with the operation of the device...I really have trouble idenifying with people who find voting so difficult. Whether it was the old written ballots, punch cards, or the new electronic machines...these things just aren't that difficult to use. Are people just getting dumber, or have our brains really been turned to "Brown" by too much TV?
Meanwhile, there was a news teaser tonight indicating that microwave popcorn contains dangerous chemicals... Here we go...
Some idiot on the east side of Cleveland went "postal" on one of the new electronic voting machines. It seems that he was frustrated with the operation of the device...I really have trouble idenifying with people who find voting so difficult. Whether it was the old written ballots, punch cards, or the new electronic machines...these things just aren't that difficult to use. Are people just getting dumber, or have our brains really been turned to "Brown" by too much TV?
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
HUA
Two more cops have been hit by an HUA driver. There are now more cops injured or killed in traffic accidents than by gunfire.
Last year Ryan Nagy of the Middleburg Hts. PD lost his leg and almost his life because of a driver crossing over two lanes of traffic and ramming into his cruiser as he wrote a traffic ticket. Earlier this year an Ohio State Trooper was hit in a similar accident. One of our guys got hit while directing traffic around an accident. He got hit by a woman who evidently didn't see the two police cars, and the two-car mva in the intersection. Now, last night two Bratenahl officers got clobbered by an 18 wheeler.
Last summer I had several close calls myself...One teenage driver didn't see the construction equipment, the police car or me in the middle of an intersection and almost clipped me. One drunk driver just shouldn't have been on the road, almost hit me. One irrate idiot aimed at me. At an accident scene one driver just didn't think he needed to slow down as he swerved around the wreck, the tow truck, the ambulance and three police cruisers. Several elderly drivers just plain got confused when they couldn't use their normal route to get to the Giant Eagle store...so far I have been lucky.
I have an idea...hang up the phone, put your make-up on at home, read the paper at your breakfast table, leave the radio alone, have sex in bed, quit smoking, and slow down. A cop's job is dangerous enough without having to worry about getting run over.
Oh yeah...HUA: Head Up Ass
Last year Ryan Nagy of the Middleburg Hts. PD lost his leg and almost his life because of a driver crossing over two lanes of traffic and ramming into his cruiser as he wrote a traffic ticket. Earlier this year an Ohio State Trooper was hit in a similar accident. One of our guys got hit while directing traffic around an accident. He got hit by a woman who evidently didn't see the two police cars, and the two-car mva in the intersection. Now, last night two Bratenahl officers got clobbered by an 18 wheeler.
Last summer I had several close calls myself...One teenage driver didn't see the construction equipment, the police car or me in the middle of an intersection and almost clipped me. One drunk driver just shouldn't have been on the road, almost hit me. One irrate idiot aimed at me. At an accident scene one driver just didn't think he needed to slow down as he swerved around the wreck, the tow truck, the ambulance and three police cruisers. Several elderly drivers just plain got confused when they couldn't use their normal route to get to the Giant Eagle store...so far I have been lucky.
I have an idea...hang up the phone, put your make-up on at home, read the paper at your breakfast table, leave the radio alone, have sex in bed, quit smoking, and slow down. A cop's job is dangerous enough without having to worry about getting run over.
Oh yeah...HUA: Head Up Ass
Monday, April 03, 2006
more news
It just keeps on keepin on...
Now TV news is reporting a study that is linking grilling meat to cancer. Of course, this is not the lead story. It is just the "tease" throughout the evening. The lead story has to do with a stray dog.
Does anyone want to send me some money to fund my study? I believe that watching TV news can lead to permanent brain atrophy.
Now TV news is reporting a study that is linking grilling meat to cancer. Of course, this is not the lead story. It is just the "tease" throughout the evening. The lead story has to do with a stray dog.
Does anyone want to send me some money to fund my study? I believe that watching TV news can lead to permanent brain atrophy.
This just in...
Here we go... This evening's news report ( on Newschannel 5, or Power of 5, or whatever WEWS in Cleveland is calling itself these days) included a story reporting that people are using their cell phones.
WEWS reported that people are doing business on their cell phones, calling friends, calling for information on directions, entertainment, restaurants, etc. They reported that this is indicative of a society wide "cell phone addiction". There was a time when this was considered market saturation. Evidently, it is far more serious.
So, here is some news that I feel it is important to report...
The National Institute of Highway Safety reports that people are driving their cars from point A to point B.
The Food and Drug Administration reported today that people are utilizing refridgerators to keep food cold.
The City of Cleveland Water Treatment Plant is reporting that people are utilizing toilets as a depository for human waste.
The list goes on and it is terrifying. Duan Puelman and the I-Team better get going on this before society as we know it comes to an end.
I would like to write some more, but I have to admit, I am so addicted to using my cell phone, I am getting light headed and experiencing stomach cramps. I must get to my cell phone and dial someone, anyone...
WEWS reported that people are doing business on their cell phones, calling friends, calling for information on directions, entertainment, restaurants, etc. They reported that this is indicative of a society wide "cell phone addiction". There was a time when this was considered market saturation. Evidently, it is far more serious.
So, here is some news that I feel it is important to report...
The National Institute of Highway Safety reports that people are driving their cars from point A to point B.
The Food and Drug Administration reported today that people are utilizing refridgerators to keep food cold.
The City of Cleveland Water Treatment Plant is reporting that people are utilizing toilets as a depository for human waste.
The list goes on and it is terrifying. Duan Puelman and the I-Team better get going on this before society as we know it comes to an end.
I would like to write some more, but I have to admit, I am so addicted to using my cell phone, I am getting light headed and experiencing stomach cramps. I must get to my cell phone and dial someone, anyone...
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