2-15-2005 The World According to Kev or: The Return of the Son of The Hallucinatory '60s Demigods.


What a joke! I mean, this is now a joke, Nancy! It's a joke!

And what, forty-five cents for tsunami aid?--Kevin Lynn during his daily Bush-bash this morning.

Did anybody watch the Grammy Awards? No? Yeah, that's what I thought. How many awards did the newly departed guys get? How many did the rappers that haven't been murdered yet get? And the Hip-Hoppers? Were there any awards left for the actual musicians? No? Yeah, that's what I thought.

I ran across a picture of Mary Kay LeTourneau yesterday. You know her, she's the teacher who molested her twelve year-old student a ways back and is about to marry him after doing her time in prison. She looks awful familiar to me. I may be wrong, but I think my son dated her when he was playing little league. Or was it the entire starting infield that dated her behind the dugout? Not sure.

What a way to start the day. Believe it or not, I'm still sick and I was up very early this morning as my body was desperately trying to evict one of my lungs from my chest. Came close, but not quite. So I put some tea on and turned on WILK just in time to catch the soon to be explored agenda for today's installment of "The World According to Kev or: The Return of the Son of The Hallucinatory '60s Demigods."

Gee, what have we today, Demigod Jr.? Huh? Oh, I should have known. Bush sucks dead puppies right after he kills them? Well, of course he does, if you say so. And you say so quite often, don't you? But, please, do we have to suffer through the same tired screed for the 730th consecutive morning? Stupid question on my part.

So what did Bush do now? His '06 budget proposal puts the C.O.P.S. program on the chopping block so...to hear the all-knowing demigod tell it...we can hire cops for Iraq but not for here at home. Nifty. Very nice anti-Bush misrepresentation. Way to spin it in a negative light without doing any homework. Bush cut the cops! Bush cut the cops! Bush ate my children! Bush ate my cops! This is what avoiding sobriety at all costs for decades can do to a thought process. Did Kev mention a single detail about the C.O.P.S. programs in question? Nope. Did he know any? Nope. He did what he always does. He took a headline and immediately went to hacking. And if anyone called in to WILK that wasn't 100% on board with his idiosyncrasies confused as "genius," they were immediately interrupted, barked over, and belittled. I fail to see how this adds up to a dialogue.

I don't think you're supposed to drink the hempnotic tanning elixirs.

For Kev's information, the C.O.P.S. (community policing) program is funded by the feds...for a while. The monies, if you can get them, will allow you to hire a cop, but the cop is then deployed as the community policing guidelines demand that they be. The new hires don't bolster your ranks out there on the front lines, the new hires end up, for instance, as School Resource Officers. There won't be any decent fist fights in the local high school cafeterias, and there won't be any additional cops out on our streets. Nice try and all, Kev.

There were some variances where the new cops could become bike cops, or cops set up in community policing substations (cardboard boxes with a logo and a telephone), but that was before the available funding from the feds started drying up as the years passed. And what of that funding? The feds would fund 75% of the costs of any new hires for three years, and after that, your community was totally on the hook for those costs. So what f**king good was that? We'd hire cops we couldn't otherwise afford. But when the federal subsidies ran out, what then? Do we keep and pay the cops we couldn't afford in the first place? Kev? Any further brilliance coming from you?

By the way, there were no open solicitations for new hires under the C.O.P.S. program for fiscal year 2004.

Bill Clinton funded the hiring of 100,000 new cops? Yeah, and pigs can f**king fly.

And demigods are known for their meticulous show prep.

READY!!!...AIM!!!...


From the e-mail inbox Hey Mark,

I've always been a big fan of your site as you know. But your football breakdown for the Super Bowl was quite a bit slanted and WAY off base! So TO is an A-hole, is Jeremy Shockey Mr. Congeniality? Eli's got at least two more years of developing before he has a chance at the NFC Championship and the Eagles are still young and will contend for at least the next two seasons. You had your fun in the 80s and 90s, at least let us enjoy this little run that we're having, its been since 1960 for God's sake! Stick to politics, at least there you don't get my feathers as ruffled!

Your pal,
Ex-King's Employee Dude

Dude, it's not my fault. Zoltar the Magnificent (my dad) and Zorgon the Malevolent (my mom) were both exposed to zygon gasses during the Waxon/Waxoff wars. By the Sons of Zorcorz, I swear this to be true.

I wasn't really trying to ruffle any feathers. That was my no-sh*t assessment of the Stupor Bowl and the Eagles in general. TO? Oh! Terrell Owens. For sure, he's a bigtime f**king asshole. It won't be long before he'll be disgusted and wanting out of Philly. Count on it.

Shockey? An asshole? Maybe to an Eagles fan. To me he comes off more like an overly emotional hammerhead, or a Mark Bavaro sans the quiet demeanor, if you will. Tough sumbitch? There's no denying that.

Eli? Who knows how long it'll take? But, for a variety of reasons, I sure wouldn't bet against him. I still wonder about Phillip Rivers in a Giants uniform though. That's who I wanted on draft day. That kid laid some serious beatings on some serious college defenses. Oh, well.

The Eagles are still young and will contend for a while? Sure they will, but expect to see the spokes start getting a tad out of true as early as next season. In these days of parity, getting to and losing a championship game for four consecutive years is about as big a death blow as an NFL team could ever dare to envision. I'm not busting balls. The Eagles have reached their apex and are now on the other side of the hill heading due south. That is, unless Andy Reid is destined to become the Bobby Cox of the NFL.

And trust me, I know what droughts can be like. The Jints made the playoffs in '81 thanks to guys like Phil Simms, Harry Carson and a crazy rookie named Lawrence Taylor. Before that special year, the Giants last appeared in a post-season contest in 1963. Do you have any idea how old I was in 1963? Every year there seemed to be reason for optimism, but every year went up in smoke just as fast as the preceeding years. That's why these guys have to seize the moment and win the big games when they actually arrive at one. Your guys have had four straight opportunities to win a big game and failed. Those big games are going to stop presenting themselves very soon.

Yeah, we had some fun in the '80s and '90s, but to be perfectly honest, even if it took the Jints another ten years to get to a big game, I'd be having fun just watching them stumble along. I've loved the New York Football Giants ever since I was but a wee lad traveling into the big city to see them play and I probably always will. I've seen them play at Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Giants Stadium and the Yale Bowl. By the way, seeing them play at Yale was like having them playing out back behind the barn. That was too cool.

Here's a stat for you to watch very closely next year. Donovan McNabb threw 31 TDs and only 8 INTs while tossing up "jump balls" week after week. Wanna bet he doesn't even come close to those numbers next year?

Whoops! I know, I know, stick to freakin' politics. I do get that a lot.

Let's do another no-sh*t assessment of the Eagles, this time for the upcoming '06 season. Yeah, let's quote one of those characters from one of those Aliens movies. Why not?

One more word. I can't speak for your chances, but... you have my sympathies.

Philadelphia, we have a problem.


More on Dubya's mistaken notion that CDBG funding is some sort of wasteful program that won't be missed if significantly scaled back.

February 8, 2005

Mayors, County Officials, and Business Leaders Denounce Elimination of CDBG - Coalition Says Move Is Totally Unacceptable and Will Have Devastating Economic Impact on Local Communities

Washington, D.C. - Following the release of the President's budget, leaders from three national organizations - The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the National Association of Counties (NACo), along with a coalition of local officials and business leaders held a press conference today to denounce the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program which is the signature program for cities and counties to create jobs, increase economic development opportunities and expand homeownership.
As the national debate on budget priorities unfolds, CDBG, as it has traditionally been known for the past 30 years, will no longer exist and is sure to have a devastating economic impact on cities, counties, and local communities of all sizes. Under the new proposal, CDBG will be consolidated with 17 other programs into a new program, called Strengthening America's Communities Grant Program, which has yet to be fully defined.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said, "This new proposal is totally unacceptable and we are extremely disappointed that this tactic is being used as an excuse to eliminate CDBG and cut much needed resources to local communities.

"A key priority of this Administration is stimulating the domestic economy by creating jobs and expanding home ownership, and that is exactly what CDBG does. CDBG is good business and is the foundation of our nation's communities," he continued.

The business community also has a stake in the community development block grant program. In FY 2004, CDBG created or retained 90,637 jobs. Furthermore, for every one dollar of CDBG funding, approximately $2.79 in private funding was leveraged for economic development projects like shopping centers and grocery stores.

National League of Cities President and Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said, "President Bush supports vigorous economic growth for this country. One of the best tools that the leaders of cities, counties and towns across America use to achieve those goals is the Community Development Block Grant program. When a community says, 'We need retail' or 'we need housing' or 'we need a sit-down restaurant,' it is CDBG funds that are used to empower neighborhoods. "

In Los Angeles, California, CDBG funds were used in the Chesterfield Square project in Southwest Los Angeles which brought a major supermarket, a Home Depot, a major drug store and other stores and restaurants to this underserved community. This project alone created over 500 jobs and brought newfound pride to the community.

Another major component of CDBG is the ability to expand homeownership and provide affordable housing. In FY 2004, the program assisted 168,938 households with their housing needs which included homeownership assistance, construction of housing, rehabilitation of existing housing, and energy efficiency improvements. In Rochester, New York, where 65% of the population is eligible to be served by the CDBG, more than 3,000 affordable housing units were rehabilitated or constructed over the past ten years.

"Federal funding for community development helps provide affordable housing, create jobs, further economic development and enables our citizens to improve their quality of life," said Montgomery County (MD) Executive Douglas M. Duncan, representing the National Association of Counties. "Substantial cuts to this program, as a result of the Administration's budget proposal that will consolidate 18 development programs into two, will severely curb community development in the hundreds of counties across the country that receive direct funding," he continued.

The coalition of mayors, county officials and business leaders contends that for the future of this nation, CDBG must not be eliminated, nor see any major cuts to the program. "CDBG is an effective program that helps millions of Americans by investing in our communities. We will take our message to Capitol Hill to fight for our federal and local government partnerships that have been successful for over three decades," Plusquellic concluded.

Members of the coalition to fight the elimination of CDBG include: The U.S. Conference of Mayors, The National League of Cities, The National Association of Counties, the NAHRO Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, National Community Development Association (NCDA), and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

Today's press conference at the National Press Club can be viewed online at www.usmayors.org

This one came to me via the e-mail inbox. This story might shock some of you, but at this point in time, it really shouldn't.

GOPUSA.com

A Frightening Message from Inside Islam

By Barbara J. Stock

February 10, 2005

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail message from a man who called himself "Tim." He explained that this was not his real name. "Tim" was using this name so that he could remain anonymous. He needs to stay in the realm of the unknown. Tim is a marked man because he has done the unthinkable--the unforgivable. Tim has left Islam and in doing so, he has become a "kaafir"--an infidel--and an apostate. The Quran says: "Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe and disbelieve again will never be forgiven by Allah."

According to the laws of Islam if a Muslim dares leave the faith, he becomes the worst of the worst, an infidel, and a traitor. These poor souls might be killed if discovered and so, they often must move to faraway cities, change their names and pray that they never run into anyone who knew them in their previous life. Allah has stated in the Quran that, "Whoever changes his religion [leaves Islam], execute him." Being forbidden to leave Islam is one of Islam's dirty little secrets.

With Tim's permission, I posted on my website his sobering message. When I received it, I thought it was quite pessimistic. Since that time, I have had lengthy conversations with several Muslims that have given credence to Tim's words. So much credence, that I feel compelled to give his statement a wider audience.

Here is a sample of Tim's warning to all "infidels."

"I was born and raised as Muslim. My whole family is still Muslim. I know every genetic code of Muslim. I know Islamic brain. I live and breathe with them. I am an insider. I left Islam when I understood that Islam is a sick and evil religion. Following is the Islamic message to the West. To the infidels of the West: Constitution for the new Islamic Republic of EU and USA is under construction. We will fight the infidel to death.

Meanwhile:

American laws will protect us.

Democrats and Leftist will support us.

UNO will legitimize us. (United Nations Organization)

CAIR will incubate us. (Council on American-Islamic Relations)

ACLU will empower us. (American Civil Liberties Union)

Western Universities will educate us.

Mosques will shelter us.

OPEC will finance us.

Hollywood will love us.

Koffi Annan will pass politically correct sympathetic statement for Jihadists."

As ominous as Tim's warning to non-Muslims is, is it possible that all the dangers he cites would be crushed if moderate Muslims would admit that there is a threat? If these people are truly "moderate" they will be considered weak and will be killed as well. Moderate Muslims seem oblivious to the danger and seem to feel that the mere fact that they are Muslim will protect them. That certainly isn't helping the Iraqi Muslims.

Perhaps I am being somewhat paranoid, but I have begun to wonder if these "non-violent, moderate" Muslims simply don't see the danger or are they just remaining silent, biding their time--waiting and multiplying, just as Tim has said. The question is how many are just "waiting?" Tim seems to feel that number is very large. He is in a position to know far better than I.

Tim continues:

"You infidels at this site cannot defeat us. We are 1.2 billion. We will double again. Do you have enough bullets to kill us? On the camera: We will always say, 'Islam is the religion of Peace.' We will say, 'Jihad is actually inner Jihad.' Moderate Muslim will say there is no link between Islam and Terrorism and the West will believe it because the West is so gullible. Moderate Muslim all over the world will incubate Jihadists by their talk by defending Islam. Using Western Legal system we will assert our Sharia Laws, slowly but surely. We will increase in number. We will double again."

The conversations I have had over the past few weeks bear out Tim's warning that moderate Muslims swear there is no link between Islam and terrorists. In fact, the first words of those who write to me are usually, "Terrorists are not true Muslims" or "Terrorists are not practicing true Islam." When I point out the words in the Quran damning all "unbelievers" to hell and the very plain and clearly stated orders to "kill all unbelievers," I am told that I am taking the words "out of context."

Readers of the Quran may wonder how one can take out of context statements such as: "Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars" or "Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them." "Christians will be burned in the Fire" seems rather straightforward to me. Yet, the denials come every day. Then, when I question those that contact me, the outrage follows. It has all become quite predictable.

Non-Muslims must understand the definition of "unbeliever." In Islamic terms, it does not mean someone who does not believe in God. Unbeliever means anyone who does not believe and strictly follow the laws of Islam and Allah.

I am told that it is I that is full of hate and that I hate Muslims. Americans hate Muslims and that is why we hunt them down and kill them all over the world. "War is ordained by Allah" and "When you fight with disbelievers, do not retreat. Those who do will go to hell," it is argued, are not words of hate driving Muslims to kill. No, those words are "misunderstood" and twisted by those of us just don't understand the peace and love that is true Islam.

"Christians hate Muslims!" I am constantly told. Don't I realize that Jews are the root of all things evil in the world? Israel has waged war on poor Muslims and Arab states for over 50 years. America is just the "slave" of Israel and we do their bidding. The world's only super-power is a puppet of the tiny Jewish state. Many Muslims tell me this and they absolutely believe it.

There is a constant flow of hate from the Muslim web sites and blogs where the Islamic terrorists in Iraq are still referred to as "freedom fighters" and "martyrs" and Saudi officials are claiming that Osama bin Laden was sent by the evil Jews, thus absolving Saudi Arabia and Islam of any guilt for bin Laden's actions.

I have read the words of many ex-Muslims and though not all are as frightening as Tim's words, they all say the same thing: Islam is not a religion of peace but a source of hate and total domination. Most ex-Muslims that I have read just fear for their lives if discovered. Shouldn't we unbelievers heed their warnings? They have been in the mosques. They have heard the words of hate and war. Are they not in the position to know the heart of Islam better than we?

There is only one flaw in Islam's plan--the Quran. The plan for world domination is clearly laid out for the followers of Mohammed, including the punishment that awaits those who fail in their mission. "Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will be burnt with fire and suffer a painful doom." For many who now wage war against us, it is not because they hate us, but because they fear the punishment promised for eternity if they disobey the words of Allah. "Those who deny Allah's revelations must endure the flaming fire." If you had heard these words every day of your life, what would you believe?


WARNING: Please swallow all liquids before proceeding. Trust me.

From The Times Leader:

Posted on Tue, Feb. 15, 2005

City towing contract

Kadluboski: Bid terms are a ‘scam’

By LANE FILLER lfiller@leader.net

WILKES-BARRE – Bob Kadluboski keeps on fighting.

The owner of City Wide Towing and formerly the exclusive tow operator for the city, Kadluboski lost his contract late last year, accused of being rude to customers and not providing itemized bills.

Monday, Kadluboski fired a letter off to the state Attorney General’s Office claiming the new bid specifications are illegal. He called the situation a “scam” that would place a tax on the “poor consumer who had their vehicle towed.”

The city has put the service out to bid, with the bids due by Feb. 18. The two providers who are alternating duties until a new company is selected, Ayers Towing and Falzone Towing, offered to pay between $50,000 and $60,000 for five-year contracts in 2002, the last time the issue surfaced.

In a different letter, Kadluboski implored Police Chief Gerry Dessoye and Assistant City Attorney Bill Vinsko to halt the selection process.

Kadluboski asserted in the letter that ever since he stopped towing for the city, the rates for towed vehicles have doubled.

“This is nothing but a racket because whatever the tower pays the city for the contract, they’re just going to add that right on to their bills for the vehicle owners,” Kadluboski said Monday.

Mayor Tom Leighton answered that accusation, saying that the city would not accept a bid that didn’t include reasonable towing charges.

Asked if the best deal for the consumer wouldn’t be awarding the contract to the lowest rate bid, with no fee for the city, Leighton answered, “Yes, I guess. But other cities are getting money for this and the income in our general fund lets us keep up the roads.”

Kadluboski lost his contract after arbitrator and City Purchasing Director Ronnie Trimble ruled the city had the right to cancel the deal because Kadluboski had been accused of being rude to people whose cars he towed and refused to provide itemized bills.

Kadluboski says he lost the contract because he openly supported measures meant to cut the pay and benefits of elected city officials.

For years, it’s been whispered that Kadluboski was able to get the contract without ponying up any money because he had secret information about former Mayor Tom McGroarty, but Kadluboski said the real reason was the law.

“I have a letter from McGroarty where his attorneys researched it and he realized this stuff, it’s called high-bid franchising, is against the law,” Kadluboski said.

“I never had anything on him at all, but he knew the city taking that money was wrong.”

The “poor consumer who had their vehicle towed.” (?????) Hardy har (funking) har!!! Gimme a sec...I gotta puke up my generic oyster crackers. Whew. Thanks. All better now.

Since when is Mr. Personality (FBI) himself worried about the "poor consumers?" This guy oughta be a writer for freakin' Conan O'Brien. The only thing anybody could get out of this guy was "Cash only," or "I've got a gun." Now he's the champion of the poor consumers? HA! HA! HA! Progress or no progress, at least this city isn't getting boring. Wait! It gets even better.

Kadluboski says he lost the contract because he openly supported measures meant to cut the pay and benefits of elected city officials.

That's complete bullsh*t, but even if it wasn't, how smart is it to openly support measures meant to cut the pay and benefits of elected officials that had already tolerated enough frickin' hijinx from one city subcontractor? How f**king smart is that? I support cutting their income, but they better not touch mine??? Are we serious?

This is a f**king classic:

For years, it’s been whispered that Kadluboski was able to get the contract without ponying up any money because he had secret information about former Mayor Tom McGroarty, but Kadluboski said the real reason was the law.

“I have a letter from McGroarty where his attorneys researched it and he realized this stuff, it’s called high-bid franchising, is against the law,” Kadluboski said.

“I never had anything on him at all, but he knew the city taking that money was wrong.”

Oh, the building supplies bought with federal funding that went for the construction of a certain mayor's home? Or the fact that on-duty city employees helped to construct that home? Whispered? By whom? Gotta dig a ditch for the sewer line. Funny, though. Why would a city ambulance and a city tow truck be needed for such an undertaking?

Sewer line

McGroarty's attorneys??? High-bid franchising???

It may be time to get the truck's exhaust system checked up at Cole Muffler.

Sez f**king me.

I considered attending the funeral of Sergeant Christopher Daniel for a number of reasons. One was his having served with the 109th in Iraq for over a year. Another was the fact that he was a Wilkes-Barre native. A third reason was his close connection to the WBFD. Anyways, I thought about it, but I chickened out.

If that event was an event tied to my very own family, I think I'd be looking for a reason to get out of it. Talk about a complete bummer. I don't know what you should say to the surviving relatives under such taxing circumstances and I don't want to find out anytime soon. I saw the television video of that kid's mom filing out of the church in South Wilkes-Barre and it pained me to even imagine how she felt at that moment.

The right thing to do would have been to throw on a tie and pay my last respects. The right thing to do would have been to show up for one measly hour and say the right things such as "I'm sorry for your loss," or "You should be proud of your boy." But, quite frankly, I don't know how much that might have helped, or if it'd even be remembered as being said immediately afterwards. And rather than having to deal with such a horrible, horrible turn of events, I completely wussed out and stayed at home.

I'll never forget flocking down to Nanticoke and welcoming home Rory and his Bravo Battery mates after a tough year spent in Iraq. That was a joyous occasion the likes of which are few and far between in an average lifetime. And for a completely different reason, I'm sure I'll never forget Sergeant Christopher Daniel. If only that wasn't the case.

According to the newspapers, Memorial contributions may be made to the 109th Field Artillery, the Sgt. Christopher Daniel Memorial Fund.

I called on down there and talked to one Sgt. Stempien, who helped me out a while back when we were trying to pinpoint Rory's whereabouts in Iraq. He said to make any checks out as follows:

Battery B, 109 FA
490 E. Main Street
Nanticoke, Pa, 18634

He said to write Sgt. Daniel's name on the memo line of your check and to also include your name, address and phone number.

Have at it, kiddies.

Talk to ya

Later