More liberal tricks!
Topic: Humor
-Newsmax 10/30/04

This election is already fraught in controversy from having observors in the voting polls to falsified and destroyed voter registrations. But the Democrats have outdone themselves. In Akron, Ohio, Democrats were actually found bribing voters to vote for John Kerry in the election.

On October 29, the Kerry supporters were holding a dog and pony show to help "explain Kerry's stance on the issues" and to help encourage democracy. What they were also trying to do was to encourage people to vote for Kerry and not for Bush by bribing them. Their slogan for the show was blatently pro-kerry, "Candy for Kerry." As the supporters had the Firestone Elementary school children in the auditorium chanting "Candy for Kerry," you could clearly see the Democrats handing out small bags of candy with the Kerry election symbol on the bag. The children, ranging from the age of 6 to 10 all cheered. "Candy for Kerry... Candy for Kerry."

"I love John Kerry," said 8 year old Melissa Strongman. "He gives me candy. I want to vote for John Kerry."

"I love Mike and Ikes," said 7 year old Timmy O'Toole, as he looked to see what he got. When asked who he would vote for in the mock election, he said Kerry was the "bomb diggity."

Not all the students were happy. "I don't like Whoppers," proclaimed 10 year old Stan Hewitt. "I don't like any of this, Kerry sucks!" Children like him seemed to be the bare minority as all the children, in a sugar frenzy rushed to the voting booths to cast their votes. Kerry won in a landslide. Bush is appealing.

"This isn't a unique thing," said Bush's campaign manager. "The Kerry people are doing this in elementary schools all across America! This has got to stop. Its bribery and a federal offense! They should all be shot!"

Yes, they all should be killed!

More Liberal Tricks
Topic: Humor
-Newsmax 10/28/04

Much anticipation is leading up to the current 2004 Presidential elections, where a polarized nation awaits to voted on November 2nd. Lawyers are lining up to head to court to send the election into a long process of litigation. The liberals, however, couldn't wait, and have sued Mars Incorporated. The lawsuit, which can be read here, lists among many complaints that the company is broadcasting commercials on television and radio without even identifying that they are a political commericial. The lawsuit further states that the law requires political advertisements to announce who funded the said advertisements. The liberals claim that the Mars Corporation, who isn't even listed under the IRS as a "527" organization, does not do either of these tasks and that this has given George W. Bush an unfair advantage in political advertising.

The liberals wouldn't stop at attacking free speech though. In fact, the liberals have asked a federal court to prohibit sales of Mars Corporation candies which, according to the lawsuit, "Prominently acts as an advertisment" for the candidate seeking re-election. The candies in question can be bought at virtually any grocery or convenience store. Additional lawsuits have been threatened by these liberals towards the stores that sell what they call "irrefutible endorsements" towards George W. Bush. Walmart has already announced that they will pull the candies to avoid the lawsuit.

The liberals have shown what distaste they have for free speech and the free capitalistic market and should be killed at once! Calls to the liberals who have launched the lawsuit went unanswered. Attempts to throw rocks at their office went unsucessfully. Calls to the Mars Corporation are still lost somewhere in the automated answering system.

Another day, another race
Topic: Sports
Today I ran in a 5k race in Akron. The race was relatively local and started at 9:30, so I got to sleep in unlike last Sunday's triathlon wakeup time of 5 AM. It was a nice day to run, a bit chilly for mid-September, but I'm always prepared for such things, with my swooshy pants and windbreaker. It was a bit breezy, which didn't help the breathing early on in the race.

Warmed up running the course, a slightly uphilly first half to the turn around and then reverse the grades for the run back to the finish. I did notice something rather humorous before the race. I was looking at people's sneakers. I had never seen so many gleaming white running sneakers all huddled together before in my life... and this was my 49th race! I looked at my worn down, no longer gleaming white, sneakers. I pondered, this group would be easy to beat, a weak field if you may. The question remained, how many serious runners were going to be mixed in with this crowd of gleaming white sneaker owning every other weekend warriors?

I snuck in near the front right before the start. Then we were off. I manuevered up ahead, so that I wouldn't waste time getting around those that would ultimately finish behind me. By the first quarter mile, the race took shape. I was in the top 5, a place I would go no further below. The winner was already choosen. He was about 20 meters ahead early on. I figured, he was going to win without a doubt. He did. So me and three other runners were packed together, trading positions for a mile. I surged up the hill, momentarily taking 2nd spot, another would surge after the hill, I was in fifth right before the turnaround. I made a pass for fourth at the turnaround and then for some reason people were grabbing for water in a 5k in 60 degree weather? I took advantage and snagged 3rd as well. Me and a competitor would swap that position for the remainder of the race. I was tired though. I was stealing looks back to see if I could hold onto 4th... which I could, but I had to keep my pace up. So I made an attempt to kick at the end to make sure those in 5th and 6th didn't get any funny ideas about reaching me. I took 3rd for a few seconds, hoping the guy I just passed didn't have a kick either. He did have a kick and trounced me in the end. Happifully though, I kept my 4th place finish overall intact and crossed the line with a happy, though not astonishing 18:50 (6:04 mile pace). I was right, the field would be easy to beat.

I was first in my non-competitive age-group, but I'll take what I can get. Its nice to win a trophy every once in a while. I think my next race with be in mid-October, a local race next door, so that should be fun. It will be my 50th race. Then there is a Turkey Trot in November. I'll need to look some races up. Until then, its just nice being back in the racing.

Debunking GW Bush's Election Propaganda
Topic: Politics
A cute attempt to make Bush's first term look better than Clinton's first term

Claim 1: 97,000 manufacturing jobs were created between January and August in 2004, while only 25,000 manufacturing jobs were created between January and August 1996.

I'll tell you what is true! During that same time period in 1996, the "Employment level" increased by 2,047,000 new jobs compared to 1,115,000 in the same period in 2004. Of course, they want to suggest a sluggish job performance under Clinton. The numbers don't lie, but the Bush Campaign does. And of course, the whole, loss of millions of manufacturing jobs during the rest of the Bush presidency could be mentioned here as well.

Claim 2: Income Growth. They claim income has increased by $1444 during Bush... though don't say when the time period is. They claim in 1996 that Clinton is was only $1256 which relates to a 13% higher increase after inflation.

Well, in 1996, "average weekly earnings" of all private "production workers" increased by 5%. From August 2003 to August 2004, the increase was only 3%.

Claim 3: Unemployment rate of Hispanics is lower in 2004 than it was in 1996. Also, African American unemployment is lower now as well.

This is true, but it is very misleading. In January 1996, unemployment rate for Hispanics was 9.4%. At the end of the year it was lowered by 20% to 7.4%! Bush wants to brag that the rate is only 6.9% today. This is true, but when he took office, it was 5.8%! So I don't understand how Bush can claim to be the reason for lower Hispanic unemployment, when it is higher today than when he took office. In August 2003, the rate was 7.8%, so for the year, it did drop 14%, but not as much as it did under Clinton. Odd to be bragging about such a thing!

For African American unemployment? In August 1996, it was 10.6%. In August 2004, it was 10.4%. Oh wow! What an improvement. When Bush took office in 2001, it was 8.2%! That's an increase of 27% unemployment for Bush. While from the beginning of Clinton's first term to August 1996, Clinton saw a decline of 25% in the unemployment level for African Americans. This is supposed to be the Official Website of Bush's campaign. Why the hell are they misleading everyone there?


Claim 4: National debt was 48.5% of GDP in 1996, while its "only" 37.5 in 2004.

Interesting attempt at hiding a word there. National debt, someone will think annual deficit spending. Besides, the national debt only decreased during Clinton's presidency, so how can Bush take credit for that? Lets look at numbers that actually count for something.
In 1996, the deficit spending by the Clinton Administration was 1.2% of the GDP. In 2003, the deficit spending by the Bush Administration was 3.4%! It will be worse in 2004. For Bush to claim some sort of good economy because the debt with relation to the GDP is better seems completely screwy. He didn't lower the debt!

Claim 5: Same number of people with health insurance in 1996 and 2004.

Well, what is Bush saying? That he hasn't made it better?

Claim 6: Home Ownership is higher now that it was in 1996.

I can't disagree with that statistic. It is probably true. Problem is this. Bush wants people to think that the extra $300 to $500 a year us common folk got back from his tax cuts helped as a down payment for a home. Speak about a guy out of touch with reality.

Simply put, the rate of home ownership is up because the mortgage rates were the lowest they've been in many decades!

All employment statistics were taken from tables generated at The Bureau of Labor Statistics website, and all spending statistics were taken from The Congressional Budget Office.

"Liberal" Media Ignoring Casualties of War
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Politics
This is becoming very disturbing. According to CNN:

September 6 Attacks led to 12 American Soldier deaths
September 7 Attacks led to 4 American Soldier Deaths
September 8 Attacks led to 4 American Soldier Deaths
September 12 Attacks led to 5 American Soldier Deaths
September 13 Attacks led to 8 American Soldier Deaths

In a period of one week, that's 33 American soldiers killed in Iraq. Why the hell is this not in the news? Sure, the numerological 1000 was a little newsworthy, but its almost like American soldiers are barely dying. You hear about the bombing in Baghdad that killed 47 civilians, but no one is reporting, atleast not outloud, that 33 American soldiers died because of enemy attacks between 9/6 and 9/13.

This is so wrong!

First race in 37 months ends very well
Topic: Sports
My first race in 37 months finished very well, I'm glad to say. I raced in HFP's sprint triathlon (750 m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) at Portage Lakes this past Sunday. This being my 25th multi-sport event, I knew how to prepare, and going through my preperations (now as a vegetarian), all went as well as could be. My swim was a typical middle of the pack sort of swim. I managed only to get clobbered by an arm in the head once. The bike was a rather strong bike, though ranked only 60th in the race, timewise, I was able to hold a strong enough pace, and thanks to the hills, made some passes. My run, ranked 11th overall in the race, made up for my weaknesses in the swim and bike, as usual. I felt real strong, storming out of the transition into the run. With about 3/4 of a mile left, I actually ran out of age groupers or even guys in general to pass. I only had four racers within 200 meters of me! The rest was very open. So I passed those four racers and finished with a 29th overall position out of 182 finishers, and a 5th place age group (25-29) placement.

Not too bad for a person who hasn't done this in 37 months. I plan on racing atleast one 5k this up coming weekend.

Paul Hamm
Topic: Sports
Here is the question, would you give up the gold that was awarded to you by mistake? I know I would in a second... well I really already have done so in one case... though it is a bit different.

The New York City Biathlon was my best biathlon ever. I had excellent runs and a great bike. I finished well up in the competition, I think top 20 overall, as a senior in college. When the awards were handed out, I received first place in my age group. I was actually stunned, though I knew none of the competition, I was used to always having someone in my age group better than me in an event. My 1st place lasted about 120 seconds. It came to the attention that a person was improperly classified in the wrong age group.. that person came in first, I came in second. I had to go up and give the first place plaque back. I thought nothing of it. The person who came in first obviously did better than I. The technicality wasn't one of mere judgement, rather one of in your face logic. Who would I have been to keep that plaque that I didn't win, but merely was awarded?

If a day passed instead of just 120 seconds, I would have done the same in a split second. I deserved what my finish that day deserved, nothing more. Yet we have Paul Hamm who has seemed to of gotten away with one, though to no fault of his own. Paul Hamm has no shame in finishing second because someone bested him. The mistake by the judges wasn't one of personal judgment, but of obvious statistical error. Granted, the time had passed to make a protest, but we aren't talking a week or a month, but a day. Should an Olympian be so petty to take an arbitrary deadline over sportmanship?

I know my 1st place age group plaque is nothing compared to a gold medal. However, in my case, that is the closest I'll ever get to such an accolade, so I can only judge from my own experience. I find it shameful that Hamm hasn't already given the medal up. Hamm shouldn't have to give up the medal by rule or law, but Hamm should feel compelled to give it up because of proper sportmanship. He lost to another person that day. There is no shame in coming in second. There is shame in coming in second and pretending that it was first.

Man who saved Thurlow in Vietnam says there was gunfire
Topic: Politics
Vietnam Vet who pulled Lt. Thurlow out of the water says there was gunfire that day

Oddly enough, another person who was actually there during the actions in question has said that Kerry didn't lie. Though Robert E. Lambert isn't a supporter of John Kerry, being critical of Kerry's anti-war stance and having served only 4 months, Lambert spoke honestly and in detail about the events that happened where John Kerry won a Bronze Star.

"Lambert, now 64, was a crew member on swift boat PCF-51 that day. The boat was commanded by Navy Lt. Larry Thurlow, a now-retired officer who questions why Kerry was awarded a Bronze star for bravery and a third Purple Heart for the March 13 incident.

"He and another officer now say we weren't under fire at that time," Lambert said Wednesday afternoon. "Well, I sure was under the impression we were."

Lambert's Bronze Star medal citation for the incident praises his courage under fire in the aftermath of a mine explosion that rocked another swift boat on that day 35 years ago.

"Anytime you are blown out of the water like that, they always follow that up with small arms fire," he said."

Regarding who wrote the report:
Nor does he have much time for the debate over who wrote the medal citations. Thurlow says his citation for a Bronze Star, which states the boats were being fired upon, was based on an initial report written by Kerry.

Lambert doesn't know who wrote the documents.

"They took what everybody said after they got in, piled it altogether and shipped it off and somebody wrote that, either at the division level, squadron level or commander of naval forces, Vietnam level," Lambert said. "They decided what kind of medal was going to be put on it.

"Mine was for pulling Lt. Thurlow out of the river while we were under fire," he said.

The number of people coming out and saying Kerry is speaking the truth continues to climb. Equally, the connections between Bush's Campaign continue to increase, including the resignation of two members of his campaign and a detailed NY Times look at the Swiftboat Vets and Bush's Campaign.

Bush Amazes World, Breaks Clinton's Trend!
Topic: Politics
The US Census Bureau and Poverty

Bush needs to get his due whenever it is due. This is no exception. During the terrible Clinton years, Clinton was to take the rising poverty rate (in this case, people living below 50 percent of poverty rate) of 6.2% of all Americans in 1993 to 4.5% by 2000, a decrease of over 25%. That evil Clinton also lowered the actual number of people that were below 50% of the poverty level by over 3,000,000!

This huge monsterous momentum, of lowering the population in poverty, faced Bush square in the face. Citing the need for rich people to get money back from taxes they hadn't even paid yet, Bush moved hard to create economic policies to reverse the heavy and harsh momentum known as getting rid of poverty. And it has worked! In merely 2 years, Bush has been able to reverse the tide and increase poverty in America. Over 1.5 million people, half of what Clinton removed from that poverty, are now back into that level of poverty.

Now that is awesome results!

My first blog entry
Mood:  cool
Topic: General
Wow! The honor of being able to blog. I can't quite find the words to express such a feeling. I mean, to be one of the few to have a blog. Such honor, such honor... Of course, I think millions probably already blog now. In fact, blogging may not be cool anymore. Even worse, most blogs probably go unnoticed by the public. Maybe even like this blog!

So why am I doing this, if no one is ever to notice? The heck that I know. I just can't deny the magnetism of "the blog." It draws you in and BOOM! You are mesmerized by it, by its blogness. And so, now a slave, atleast temporarily, to the blog, I must post to it. And this, being my first post, I am done.

Million Person March of Shame
Topic: Humor
AP

4/28/04

On Tuesday, over 900,000 conservative men and women took to the streets of Washington DC to affirm their shame of themselves and their bodies. Accompanying the marchers were thousands of signs from "I don't want to talk about masterbation" to "Condoms are evil" to "It's just wrong!" John MacLenny, the march organizer, explained the purpose of the march. "What we wanted to show Americans is that its alright to be ashamed of yourself. We believe there is nothing about the body that warrants special attention or openness. We feel its better to be hush hush. If you ignore it, it doesn't exist."

Meanwhile at the march, John MacLenny began the speech by saying that openness was a bad thing. That it was good to pretend that bodies were clothed. He stated, "Even Adam and Eve were shamed of their bodies. We should be too!" That was answered by a rousing applause.

"Do we want to be able to buy condoms without being embarrassed about it?" asked Sheri Winterbourne to the crowd. The crowd resounded with a loud "No!" Sheri Winterbourne is a worker at the ministry of James Dobson and helped co-author his latest book, Raising The Future Generation's Beaten Wives. "Of course we don't," she continued. "There is nothing but shame with our bodies. If we go to a store and purchase condoms without being ashamed of ourselves and fear what other people might be thinking, we become prideful in our bodies. That's just wrong!" This was followed by a standing ovation.

Another speaker was Jon Williams of the Against Planning Parenthood organization. He has spoken in all 48 continental United States and plans soon to bring his crusade internationally by speaking in Toronto this summer. His crusade is against current sex education standards in school. "They try and teach our kids that masterbation is a natural (makes quote marks with his fingers) thing. They tell them, there isn't anything shameful with it. They tell them that sex is a natural thing. They tell them not to be ashamed! That's just wrong!" This was followed by a huge standing ovation. "Do we want them to change our own standards?" he asked the crowd which again replied with a loud "No!" "Of course we don't. We should be able to teach our children to be ashamed of whatever we want them to be ashamed of. If those liberals can try and make our kids ashamed of our American History, then we can teach them to be ashamed of their own bodies!" He then led the crowd in a chant of "Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! All we want's our status quo!"

Critics of the march said that they just didn't understand what was wrong with those people. "They want to deny reality. You can't do that. It's just wrong," said Kyle Anderson of George Washington University. "While we all can appreciate how some people want to keep certain matters private, there is an obligation to society to end these mindless stereotypes stigmas about certain things, especially our body and sex."

John Osbourne, a pastor at a local church said, "While God has planted within us certain rules that must be abided, he never said or intended that we be ashamed of what he has given us. Genesis reads that we were created in God's image. I believe this fully and to be ashamed of our own bodies is to be ashamed of God."

John MacLenny answered the critics by saying, "They're just wrong!" which again was followed by huge applause.

New $50 bill released to thwart counterfeiters
Topic: Humor
-AP
4/26/04

The US Treasury released the new $50 bill (below) in an effort to keep people from counterfeiting them. Annually, over $1.2 billion in counterfeit money is accepted at places all over America, including a person who passed off a $1000 bill with GW Bush's face on the front. In order to try and end this the Treasury Department has made a few new additions.

- Adding addition watermarks
- Multiple colors including a red and white flag on the front
- increasing the bill's size from 2" by 6" to 2' x 6'



Above, you can see the head of the Treasury in front of the new $50 bill. He said, "We figure, it will be much tougher to replicate a bill that is 2 feet by 6 feet. The cost would be more than the actual bill's value!" When confronted by the question as to how the Treasury would pay for the larger bills, he muttered something about "not being given that question ahead of time."