Happy New Year!

To my readers,

May you have a Happy New Year and here's hoping that 2009 turns out to be a great year.

Tony

Israel needs to keep up the pressure on Hamas

Violence is the only thing that a terrorist group like Hamas understands. When you have pledged to destroy Israel as Hamas has, then you don't really want to ever negotiate for peace. Hamas doesn't want peace. They want to eliminate Israel and nothing else. And they don't care how many of their own innocent civilians get caught in the crossfire.

Therefore, Israel has no choice but to continue their campaign against Hamas in Gaza. And Israel needs to ignore the false outrage coming from some quarters over civilian deaths in Gaza. Israel has military objectives in Gaza, and unlike Hamas, which purposefully targets civilians, Israel does not. But since Hamas locates military facilities inside of civilian areas, there are going to be civilian casualties.

What kind of a barbarian would actually locate a missile battery in a school? Well, that sort of thing is commonplace in Gaza. The world needs to stand up with one voice and condemn the nefarious tactics employed by Hamas. It's no wonder that Israel has had enough.

I say Godspeed to the brave people of Israel who are fighting for the very survival of their country. Yes, Israel needs to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. Just because Hamas targets Israeli civilians doesn't mean that Israel should do the same. And Israeli is not doing that. Yet where is the outrage directed for Hamas, which is totally responsible for this crisis?

It is gratifying to see this statement coming from Obama spokesman David Alelrod.

Well, certainly, the president-elect recognizes the special relationship between United States and Israel. It's an important bond, an important relationship. He's going to honor it … And obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks. As Hamas began its shelling, Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to.

Good for David Axelrod.

So we have another war in the Middle East

This whole situation in the Middle East is very frustrating. Will there ever be and end to the violence there? I don't think so.

It's the same old story. Hamas has been firing rockets into Southern Israel. Israel warned them that if it didn't stop they would have to do something about it. Well, of course it didn't stop so Israel initiated a bombing campaign against the Gaza strip.

Israel says that only legitimate military targets are being bombed. I believe them but the problem is that Gaza has one of the highest population densities in the world. It is not possible to bomb military and government targets in Gaza without causing significant civilian casualties.

So what is Israel to do? They have concluded that they cannot continue to allow rockets to be fired at them. I don't blame them for that. But what about the innocent civilians in Gaza who are being killed and maimed?

I lay the blame for this violence raining down on the people of Gaza squarely at the feet of Hamas. They are firing rockets over an internationally recognized border into a sovereign country, Israel. This is unacceptable, and IMO Israel had no choice but to react as they did.

Israel should use as much restraint as possible in order to avoid civilian casualties, even though many civilians will inevitably be caught in the crossfire. Contrast that with Hamas. They actually target civilians. Yet I see a lot of trumped up outrage over Israel's actions, while at the same time there is nary a mention the many atrocities committed by Hamas.

Hamas must immediately stop firing rockets into Israel. Then Israel must stop it's bombing campaign. And then in the long run Hamas must recognize Israel's right to exist if Hamas is going to be allowed to play a constructive role in the peace process.

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. May peace be with you.

Interesting take on the Rick Warren controversy

I don't usually reprint articles from other blogs, but I ran across this article about the Rick Warren controversy which I believe is really spot on. The author says about what I am thinking about this whole affair. This is taken from The Wizard Blog.

I simply must take today's five minutes to express my profound disgust at the giant cadre of liberal pundits and bloggers who are mounting an unrelenting attack on Reverend Rick Warren, pastor or the immensely popular Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, California, a "new age fundamentalist Christian church." Warren's egregious sin? He was chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009.

The level of intolerance and absolute stupidity being portrayed on the pages of The Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Slate Magazine and others is stunning and deeply saddening, especially coming during the holiday the celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. So much for peace on earth and good will toward men.

I absolutely refuse to post a single link to any of the crap out on the blogosphere from those who insist on condemning Warren for actually daring to believe the tenets of Christianity. Warren is roundly condemned for daring to both believe the basic dogma of his church and then to actually have the intellectual and moral courage to practice his faith in his daily life.

I am a deeply devout Unitarian Universalist. Warren and I share very few religious beliefs. I disagree with him profoundly on most theological issues. I most certainly disagree on the issues of human sexuality and lifestyle, especially Gay Marriage, which I strongly support.

But I disagree with almost every large and fundamentalist religion worldwide. I strongly disagree with most Islamic teachings and abhor the discrimination against women embedded in many religions.

But I DO NOT EXPECT, LET ALONE DEMAND that Pastor Warren magically abandon his core beliefs, just because liberals find some of those beliefs distressing. Far from it. I actually expect Warren to believe, follow, live and preach the word and commandments of God as he believes them. If Warren failed to do this he would simply not be a fundamentalist Christian.

Many, in fact most, of my close personal friends are Jewish. Many are Orthodox and live very conservative lives, keeping the Sabbath and following the laws of Judaism as closely as they can. Like Warren they reject homosexuality, They also deny that Christ is the savior.

Some day very soon a strongly conservative or ever Orthodox Rabbi will give an invocation at an Obama state function. Likewise I'll bet we soon see a Muslim pray at a state sponsored event. Will we so-called liberals DEMAND that they renounce their most sacred beliefs?

Or do we only demand that Christian ministers give up their beliefs and deny their God, as so many are now demanding of Warren?

And why do these supposed liberals insult and ridicule Christians, but remain reverent and respectful of other world religions? I've actually read these moronic pundits insult Christ in the most foul mouthed and demeaning language possible and then turn around and condemn the Danish who published the Mohammad cartoons for insulting Muslims and failing to respect their "deeply held beliefs."

Frankly, if Barack Obama chose Rick Warren to give the invocation at his Inauguration, I suspect that Barack Obama actually wanted a conservative Christian of deep moral faith to give that Invocation. Otherwise Obama could have chosen one of the many extremely fine and talented Methodists, Episcopalians or Unitarian Universlists to give the Invocation, or perhaps a great rabbi or Buddhist monk.

As to my fellow bloggers and pundits, have the courage to direct your outrage toward the person who chose a fundamentalist Christian to speak. Direct your outrage toward Barack Obama.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

More thoughts on Aaron Hughes

I just can't get over these latest accusations about former Elko PD Captain Aaron Hughes. Now, suddenly Police Chief Don Zumwalt is shocked about the news about Hughes. Do you mean to tell me that he didn't at least suspect that there was something really wrong about Hughes? After all, Hughes was in the department for many years, and Zumwalt knew Hughes well. Hughes was the department's second in command.

Or could it be that the reason why they are feigning outrage over this is because they are trying to hide their own misconduct? Where there is smoke there is fire, and there is so much smoke coming out of the Elko PD that you need a gas mask.

The time has come for the Nevada Attorney General to launch a full fledged investigation of the Elko PD. The investigation must be fair and thorough, and the AG must use his subpoena power. That will be the only way to get to the bottom of this. The Elko PD cannot be trusted to investigate itself.

Meanwhile, as far as I know Hughes is still in jail and has not raised the $600,000 bail money. I hope that he stays in jail and gets to enjoy the company of all of the other inmates, especially the jailmates who he helped put in jail. I'm sure that these jailmates have a real party planned for Hughes. LOL.

Former Elko PD Captain Aaron Hughes arrested for child pornography

Readers of this blog will remember Elko, Nevada Police Captain Aaron Hughes. He is the one who got busted for stealing equipment off from a construction site while off duty.

Well now, the former second in command of the entire Elko Police Department is in trouble again. This time he has been arrrested on charges of incest and child pornography.

And this is the type of person who was chosen for a high leadership position in the Elko PD? Need I say more about the rampant corruption in the halls of justice in Elko?

My people, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Someone screwed up and this got out in the open, and they finally had to act. But I will bet you that a long list of Caption Hughes' misdeeds has been known for a long time. And there is a lot of dirt out there too about a lot of other higher-ups in Elko.

I hope that this will finally cause the voters of Elko to wake up and vote all of these bums out of office in the next election.

The Rick Warren controversy

President Elect Obama has set off a firestorm on the left and especially among the GLBT left with his choice of Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration.

First, let me quote Obama's response to the controversy.

Pastor Rick Warren has a long history of activism on behalf of the disadvantaged and the downtrodden. He's devoted his life to performing good works for the poor and leads the evangelical movement in addressing the global HIV/AIDS crisis. In fact, the President-elect recently addressed Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to salute Warren's leadership in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and pledge his support to the effort in the years ahead.

The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community. They disagree on other issues as well. But what's important is that they agree on many issues vital to the pursuit of social justice, including poverty relief and moving toward a sustainable planet; and they share a commitment to renewing America's promise by expanding opportunity at home and restoring our moral leadership abroad.

That's good enough for me, although I realize that nothing can be good enough for some of Obama's more strident critics on this issue.

I don't know what the left expected Obama to do on this issue, but during the campaign Obama made it very clear that while he supports gay rights and opposed Prop 8, as a matter of personal philosophy he opposes gay marriage. And in saying that Obama is on the same page with most of the establishment of the Democratic Party. Hillary Clinton also opposes gay marriage. So do Joe Biden and John Kerry, among many others, although most of them do support the concept of full gay rights and civil unions.

Plus Obama made it very clear that his administration would be inclusive and would work to bring together people of various viewpoints on issues. With all of the problems that we are facing today as a country, thanks to shrub and his cronies, we Americans must unite with a single purpose. Obama's invitation to Warren was in that spirit, as was his invitation to a minister who supports gay marriage, Rev. Joseph Lowery, to give the benediction. Yet I don't hear anyone on the right screaming about Obama's choice of Lowery. It's just the left that's going crazy.

The left has got to grow up. Obama faces so many problems that it's unrealistic to expect that he can solve many of those problems in just four years. Hence, he has got to be reelected in 2012. But if he turns out to be a captive of the left wing of the Democratic Party, he just might not be reelected. Under that scary scenario we might even be looking at President Sarah Palin in 2012. Is that really what the left wants?

Christmas music on the Internet

If you are looking for Christmas or holiday music on the Internet, try the holiday music directory at Shoutcast.com.

There is a huge selection of stations that play everything from classic 1940's Christmas music tracks to the very latest releases by contemporary artists. And you can hear everything from country Christmas stations to Christmas jazz to classical Christmas music. You can sort the directory to reflect your connection speed.

The stations should open in your default media player when you click on them. If you are a Windows user who is looking for a media player I would recommend Winamp. Linux users might wish to try the Helix Player.

Bush and the shoe

Video of the shoe throwing incident

Or is this what really happened?

Or this?

In the Islamic world, throwing a shoe at someone is the greatest possible personal insult. So apparently the shoe thrower, Mr. Al-Zaidi, has a lot of contempt for Bush. And now Al-Zaidi is widely viewed by many Muslims as a hero.

There are news reports that indicate that Mr. Al-Zaidi is being tortured at a US-run prison. The report goes on to say that "Al-Zaidi is in a difficult condition, with broken ribs and signs of torture on his thighs. Also he cannot move his right arm."

If these reports are true, the US government must take immediate steps to see to it that Mr. Al-Zaidi is released without further harm. And then whoever has carried out the torturing, as well as whoever either oredered that the torturing be done or allowed it to happen, whether American or Iraqi or anyone else, needs to be put on trial for their crime.

Sarah Palin makeover

The Makeup Place has some beauty tips for Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin may have lost her chance to become vice president but it certainly wasn't her "looks" that hurt her. Here are a few tips for Sarah, most are right in line with her rugged, outdoorsy lifestyle, to keep her looking youthful right on into 2012 when, well...who knows?

First: EAT A Lot Of Moose Meat...
Moose meat is tough, (not unlike Sarah) and being tough that makes it chewy. All that chewing will serve to keep that jaw line nice and taunt! Note: You may need a new set of teeth before long but you'll have a great, firm jaw to put them in and absolutely no signs whatsoever of a dreaded, turkey neck.

Second: Quit Sleeping With Todd...
He's too darn good looking and the temptation to play around at bedtime will lead to too little sleep, and as we all know, getting a good nights sleep is the first step in keeping a youthful, refreshed appearance.

Third: Spend 3 Nights A Week Sleeping Outdoors In A Tent...
Crisp, cool air is good for your lungs and it certainly won't hurt to have good, strong lungs come 2012 just in case you find yourself having to do a lot of public speaking engagements...Plus, cooler air keeps you from having to bathe everyday, something that dries your skin out dreadfully. Of course, as an added measure to keep your skin soft and moist, a good rub down nightly with whale blubber really can't be beat!

LOL. Sarah, there is hope for you yet!

I am an American

I am an American, oh no, I am white, and I am hated for my parents' hatred.

I am an American, oh no I am Asian, black, a mud with full white brothers and sisters, maybe full Asian or even black, or oh no, a Muslim who lives with Islamic culture.

I am an American and I have to protect my country against other countries. Oh no, my brothers and sisters are of those others countries.

I am an American, but I hate all others who do not look like me. I am an American, but I hate you because you don't think like me. I am an American, so are you, we are all Americans.

A few observations

An 82 year old lady got taken in Elk Grove, CA. Two ladies walked up to her and said that they found $125,000 and they will share it with her, but they needed to pay the taxes on it to get it. The 82 year old went to the bank and got the money to pay their so-called taxes. She has not heard from the two ladies since.

Was the 82 year old lady trying to commit a crime too by not telling the two ladies they needed to report the $125,000 to the cops first? What are people thinking when they rob someone, especially a senior? I know of a few seniors who have been robbed, not by just someone on the street, but by justice systems like the system of justice in Elko, Nevada, and everyone looks the other way. Some people are so dishonest.

I went to a shopping mall these last two evenings. Things looked very slow to me, but all of the sales workers that I talked to told me that they are very busy. Maybe I was there at the right time to get in and get out without a long line.

I stopped by a few bars to check out their business. One kind of seemed busy. An ornament exchange party was going on. A customer who had just brought a restaurant were giving out free food. He says he is doing very well. Huh, is he, or is he trying to get customers into his restaurant? I heard the food was pretty good.

Do you think that there should be some law about restaurants catering to just any place using the same dishes that are used in the restaurant in a very germ infested bar? I got into a small talk conversation there and a lady felt that it is bad enough to reuse the same dishes in a restaurant that so many have touched, but in a bar that has no proper cleaning of the dishes it is just passing on major diseases, germs and so on. Huh, what about the dishes being washed when they are returned to the restaurant's kitchen? Is is fair to say that the dishes are washed properly and all diseases and germs are gone without being transferred to the counters, walls and other areas of the restaurant before being washed? What about people who never go to a bar? Is it fair to them to come in touch with germs that came from a bar, a place they will never go to because they are doing all they can to stay germ free? You know they say that you can pick up more diseases and germs from a bar counter than almost anywhere else.

While there someone got me a beer. It was so cold and smooth. I enjoyed it very much. While making small talk, I realized that these people had gone all out spending $10 to $50 to come sit in a disease infested place, picking up lord knows whatever while spending what they really don't have, including buying drinks for just anyone. Well, I'm just trying to find out what is wrong with people. Are they depressed and just don't care about tomorrow? Maybe they are just living for today because no one really knows what tomorrow will bring. Huh.

Remember the guy who just bought his first restaurant? Is he nuts or very smart? Do you think he got some business for his restaurant from that party? Maybe he was just being jolly. That's it.

Regarding all of this talk about Mrs. Obama's outfits for the inauguration ball, huh, what is the big deal? Lets hear more about how people are going to get back a bit, just a bit to where they were a year ago. I still think Obama will do a good job for this country. It's going to be tough, but he will do good by us.

Save, save, save.

Auto bailout fails in the Senate

Things are looking very bleak for GM and Chrysler this evening after the US Senate could not come to agreement on a bailout for the US auto makers. This development could mean that bankruptcy is imminent for both GM and Chrysler. Ford might be able to survive for a while.

This also means that auto dealerships around the country might close, and a multitude of companies that supply the auto makers might also fail. This could mean that the unemployment rate in the USA could reach double digits. In fact, a total and complete collapse of the US economy, once thought unthinkable, is a real possibility.

My people, this could be a crisis of historic proportions, and what's worse, the economic depression that the US might be headed for could become a world wide phenomenon.

Look for food riots and global chaos if things do go from bad to worse as now seems likely. I wonder if Barack Obama might be reconsidering whether or not he really wants to be president. This crisis might very well be beyond the ability of Obama or anyone else to fix any time soon.

My people, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Headzup: Blagojevich reacts to arrest

Well, we have a new member of the scumbag club. Blagojevich joins Larry Craig, Elliot Spitzer, William Jefferson, and Mark Foley, among others, in this infamous group of politicians gone bad.

If you think the government really thinks about you, think again!!

How long has it been since so many lost their homes, jobs and all of what they have? How long, my people? Do you see news conferences about those big people trying to fix your problems? Huh, but with all this talk about the auto companies getting to stay alive, what about all of those who have already lost their self respect and may never get it back? Do you think that most of those big boys on the Hill own stocks in those companies they choose to help? Think again. All that they talk about is just a show. They will give your money to bail out their friends. They don't care about you. They care about the country going in their interest and their interest only, not yours, my people. God does not need to come down and slap your head. Just do some thinking and you will see. I repeat, they are in it for themselves and not
the middle class or poor Americans.

Do you think that Detroit should file bankruptcy? I think so. They will be able to pick up and start all over. That way many of the employees can keep their jobs. But no, they want us to bail them out. I say again, what about you or someone you know who is going to have the worst holidays ever?

Have you seen the daily shows and talk shows on TV lately? What is wrong with those people? They are trying to sell to people they know should be holding on to all of what they got. And those prices such as $9,000 for a dress, jewelery for hundreds of thousands of dollars, shoes for $900, etc, etc. Huh. My people, they do not care about the middle and the poor classes in this country. They just don't want you to have anything and want to make sure you stay broke and mentally damaged. Why are the talk show trying to sell us things at a time when they know most can't afford them? Think about it.

I understand that businesses need to make money to stay alive, but damn my people, you too need to save your few dollars to survive. They will not be there for you. It's all about them. You don't need to do a lot of thinking people. STOP SPENDING WHAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE. THE FACT IS YOU HAVE 100 TIMES LESS THAN WHAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE ANYWAYS.

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE..

Discrimination in America!!!

I still can't get it out of my mind how 70% of African Americans in California voted for Prop 8. Aren't these the same people who complained for centuries how they were considered third class citizens and went around blaming all of their mishaps on all other races?

Do you think this happened because of the way it was set up, yes meaning against and no meaning for? Because I just don't understand. There are many problems in the African American community, meaning married men having gay sex or having children out of wedlock. Name it. Sin upon sin so this can't be about religion. So what is it these people were thinking to think it is not OK to hate and discriminate against them, but it's great against another group such as GLBT's.

I just can't figure it out..

Random thoughts

Do you have a kitchen? Then start cooking daily. Eat out for a treat. Are you a
drunk? Drink at home if you must drink. Or try to quit. Quit cigarettes too. It is also bad for us.

If you don't need to drive, don't drive. Why drive only few blocks that you can walk?

Stop buying and wearing those expensive clothes. Do you know that when you are wearing those expensive shoes and clothes your stress level is way up the whole while you are dressed up like a tree? Think about it, most are so careful about all they do just to protect their shoes and clothes. Is it because you know you are wearing your pocket book on your body and all you are getting is you look nice? People will tell you you look nice in cheap nice stuff also. And you know what, they don't look good on you anyways. You are much, much better off in the cheap stuff because you can really be yourself.

Some people are saying we are out of the worst. I just don't buy it. How can millions have lost their homes, cars, 401K savings and some are even on the street and fools are saying we have seen the worst already.

Do people think because gas prices are lower for the last month or so it means
we made back all of what gas cost us in the last few years? Think again.

Over 41 states in this country are in serous financial trouble. And if you think you should be spending money like it's running water, you are in for a nasty empty pocket blow.

My people, do you think the government will be there for you? What about right now, who you think they are there for? You? Huh.

Times will be hard here for us for a very long time. I made it my business to talk to many since Black Friday. And let me tell you, many spent and got some of the needs and even wants. But most of them are sick worried about how much they spent, knowing the economy is terrible.

This couple told me they planned to spend only $200 for their two children and loved ones, but ended up spending over a $1000. Their excuse is the vendor tricked them into buying. So much seems so cheap. My people, come on, the vendors are trying to survive and make all they can. They are hurting too you know from this economic mess. They may be going out of business in the near future and it is nice of you to spend there, but it is not nice for you to spend your everything like a fool and than blame the vendor. Did those vendors know you before when you were shopping in their stores? Do you think they can even remember you or even who brought what? They gained and you lost.

Should we be sorry for those who are still losing money after we all know something bad is happening to the world's economics? Don't they have a name for that...thinking with something else, not your head.

I trust that Obama will do his best and make much right, but we have to face it. We all need to do our part. I met a very sweet older lady the other day. She was so glad that Obama will be our next president. She had just spent over $5,000 she had been saving for medical expenses. She told me that Obama was going to buy her new teeth and take care of her. I asked her how he was going to do that. She said "health insurance for all. And my daughter-in-law say he say he will and she never told me a lie before."

Well so much Obama said he would like to do will not get done. Not because he
doesn't think it's necessary and important, but this mess we are in is way
over, I say way over our heads until hell freezes over.

Last night's political funnies

Bangladeshi Bricklayers

I hope he doesn't get a headache!