Recently I made a statement (mostly as a joke) about the “body scanners” that are being used by the TSA, at some airports. The point of my “joke” was that I really didn’t care if someone wanted to see a somewhat distorted image of what was under my clothing. While I had people on both sides of the issue offering their opinions (which I ALWAYS welcome)….there was one person's comments that at first intrigued me….but alas, in the end....just kinda' pissed me off…….
Here’s an overview of the conversation…….
ME:.......“My thinking is that a security mistake on an airplane is not very likely to end well.....You cant say to some idiot with a bomb down his pants...’Hey you...sit down....Don't make me have to land this plane and come back there’....Its not a frickin' bus...While I feel that many of the TSA people are probably not the brightest french fry in the tool shed (see malapropisms).... even a blind hog can find an acorn every now and then....and if that "acorn" happens to be on the plane that my family is on....and that "blind hog" happens to be the screener of the day....then I guess I wont complain. YES....I have been delayed...and YES I pissed and moaned about it....but I got over it. This whole thread started as more of a joke about what the screeners might, or might not see...and has turned into this. Thankfully we can still debate these issues....and agree or disagree with one another. (of course if you disagree with me...you are wrong...but that's ok. It probably wont be the last time for either.....lol)”
That was polite enough….right? I guess not….here’s a response from someone who disagreed (and was obviously not only wrong, but somewhat delusional)…….
SOMEONE WHO DISAGREED (and was obviously not only wrong, but somewhat delusional):.........“I will not subject myself to any kind of nano-radiation, nor will I let them pat me down, nor feel me up. Don't worry about getting blown up, you don't live with that fear, but the people in the Middle East do. Who is blowing who up. I don't believe this is about OUR security. Those alleged bomb threats were plants by people within our own agencies. Doing extensive research will show enough evidence of that fact. Don't be fooled. I just believe, that if ever there was a bomb explosion within the US, then more than likely it was one of our own, a dual agent, who dunnit.”
And finally….my response…….
ME:......“Wow...I'm not sure how to respond to that. I have never been ‘felt-up’ while going through a line at the airport. I'm guessing that you are not planning on doing much flying in the future....if you are not going to allow any kind of screening.
You said ‘don't worry about getting blown up......the people in the Middle East do’....Can whoever (or is it whomever) is blowing up the people in the Middle East not make it over to here and get on one of our planes....or are you insinuating that the U.S. is blowing up the people in the Middle East?
The events if 9/11 were not ‘alleged bomb threats’....although my son is in NYC right now somewhere near where the World Trade Center was.....and I can have him look and see if all of that stuff we saw on TV was made up...and those two massive towers are still standing......(just a heads up...a couple hours ago...he told me that they were gone)
Here are some facts......as much as you might want to believe that the US government is blowing things up and causing all of these "alleged bomb threats"....there are a couple things that you should consider
1) There is VERY little that can be done by the government, that 50,000 people dont know about (so its hard to keep secrets)
2) There is a LARGE number of people within the Muslim religion who want to kill anyone who isn't a Muslim (i.e. Americans, etc) How do I know that?.....Stay with me for a minute. There are approximately 1.4 billion (with a "B") Muslims in the world. The estimates on how many of those are extremists range from 1% to as high as 14%. Let’s go with the 1%. That means that there are approximately 14 million people in the world who feel that it is their duty to kill Americans and any others who are not Muslims. Now I know that the number of employees in our US government has grown to a ridiculous size.....but it doesn’t even come close to 14 million....in fact it’s under 3 million.
My point is this....I'll take my chances against 3 million federal employees (many of whom are dumber than a rock) as opposed to 14 million radical nut-jobs who feel as if their religion is requiring them to kill me. Keep in mind that the Islamic extremists are willing to die for their beliefs...and a lot of Federal employees aren’t even willing to WORK to get a paycheck....much less spend any time off the clock plotting to kill me.
WOW....I guess I DID know how to respond to that after all”
So there you have it…..After that little “back and forth”….this person un-friended (or de-friended, I’m not really sure what the official term is) me and blocked me as a “Facebook Friend” (and I am currently in therapy as a result of that trauma)….Seriously? Can we not have an honest debate over issues without someone getting their “knickers in a swivel”? (thank you Jack Harris for that phrase) After reading back over this “conversation”….I came to three possible conclusions…..The first was that this person was a "radical nut-job" terrorist, who was planning to sneak an underwear bomb onto a plane….and didn’t want me to expose her evil plot. Secondly....she was a "blind hog" and was offended by my "blind hog/acorn" reference. And lastly (and probably MUCH more believable)…..was that this person worked for the federal government and again didn’t want me to expose her evil plot. Of course THAT evil plot would NOT be that she was a “double agent”…..rather just an overpaid rock. Then Again….That’s Just Me
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Election Is Over…..And My Neck Still Hurts
For several weeks prior to yesterday's election...I read…listened...and watched the statements of those who were running for office...as well as the comments of many others regarding those statements. I have to honestly say that many times my only reaction was to shake my head back and forth and say….”We are without a doubt headed to hell in a hand-basket”. I heard candidates make blatant statements proclaiming their socialist leanings or in some cases totally embracing socialism…..and then see that there were actually those who would (and did) vote for them anyway. And I would just shake my head. I watched people in Congress who not only completely supported the out of control federal spending of the past several years….they insisted that the best way to get out of debt was to spend even more money….and then see that there were people would actually say…”yeah that sounds good to me”. And I would just shake my head.
Now the election is over….the Republicans have won the House of Representatives, they have closed the gap in the Senate, and have made tremendous strides in many state and local races...and as happy as I am….I still find myself shaking my head…(and honestly…my neck still hurts). The fact is that I still see an awful lot of head shaking in my future. Why, you ask? Well since you asked….I’ll tell you
356,969 people in South Carolina voted for Alvin Greene. This is the guy who instead of making a concession speech after losing his run for a South Carolina Senate seat….told reporters that one of his ideas for stimulating the economy was to create an “action figure” of himself. The character would be known as the “Ultimate Warrior”….and Greene described his action figure in the following way…. "This superhero is greater than……um Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk…..and all those other characters…..He can see into the future. He is faster than Maurice Green and he can outleap (Michael) Jordan" Then Greene went on to say…."I see projects like this…..what is DeMint offering y'all -- just more gridlock….. Politics". 356,969 huh?....And I just shake my head.
The people of Nevada (or at least the unions of Nevada) have re-elected Harry Reid. Of course, this IS the Harry Reid who single-handedly saved the entire world economy. A few weeks ago Harry said this….”So people have been hurting and I understand that. And it doesn't give them comfort or solace for me to tell them, you know, but for me, we would be in a worldwide depression”…..Wow…sounds to me like Alvin Greene’s “Ultimate Warrior” is going to have a run for his money in the super-hero world. In spite of that…..Harry Reid won over 50% of the vote in Nevada…..And I just shake my head.
In race after race….especially in California….I look at how people voted and I shake my head and say to myself….”How did these people even find their way to the polling place”…(Actually in a lot of cases the Democrats sent buses out to pick them up….so that explains some of that)
But here’s the really big one that almost makes my head fall off…from the violent back and forth shaking………
In spite of the Democrats getting slaughtered in elections all across the country…..because of the economy….out of control spending….unemployment at almost 10% (or much higher in some areas)…..and a complete disconnect from what most Americans are facing in their lives…..President Obama is getting ready for yet another trip.
Oh….but not just any trip. This trip will include the president and around 3000 other people....including (but not limited to) Secret Service agents….other US government officials…..and of course journalists. So that’s ok…right? Well, before you answer….let me tell you that it is going to cost the US taxpayers $200 million dollars per DAY. Let me say it again…(this time a little bit slower)...$200 million dollars per DAY. Let me do the math for you. If the trip lasts for 5 days….that’s a BILLION dollars of tax money that is being spent on a 5-day presidential trip to India. Still having trouble with those numbers?..... Let’s break it down a little more…..
If you make It would take you this long to pay for this trip
$50,000 per year 20,000 years
$100,000 per year 10,000 years
$250,000 per year only 4,000 years
All I can say is that if you plan on going on a trip like this some day……NOW is the time for you to start saving……OR the alternative would be to befriend Alvin Greene’s “Ultimate Warrior”….or Harry Reid (the man who saved the economy of the entire world by himself)….and see if they can help you out…..If you paused to think about the validity of that suggestion….I would guess that you actually voted for one of them….and if so….I blame you for my neck hurting….because AGAIN I’m sitting here shaking my head. Then Again….That’s Just Me
Now the election is over….the Republicans have won the House of Representatives, they have closed the gap in the Senate, and have made tremendous strides in many state and local races...and as happy as I am….I still find myself shaking my head…(and honestly…my neck still hurts). The fact is that I still see an awful lot of head shaking in my future. Why, you ask? Well since you asked….I’ll tell you
356,969 people in South Carolina voted for Alvin Greene. This is the guy who instead of making a concession speech after losing his run for a South Carolina Senate seat….told reporters that one of his ideas for stimulating the economy was to create an “action figure” of himself. The character would be known as the “Ultimate Warrior”….and Greene described his action figure in the following way…. "This superhero is greater than……um Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk…..and all those other characters…..He can see into the future. He is faster than Maurice Green and he can outleap (Michael) Jordan" Then Greene went on to say…."I see projects like this…..what is DeMint offering y'all -- just more gridlock….. Politics". 356,969 huh?....And I just shake my head.
The people of Nevada (or at least the unions of Nevada) have re-elected Harry Reid. Of course, this IS the Harry Reid who single-handedly saved the entire world economy. A few weeks ago Harry said this….”So people have been hurting and I understand that. And it doesn't give them comfort or solace for me to tell them, you know, but for me, we would be in a worldwide depression”…..Wow…sounds to me like Alvin Greene’s “Ultimate Warrior” is going to have a run for his money in the super-hero world. In spite of that…..Harry Reid won over 50% of the vote in Nevada…..And I just shake my head.
In race after race….especially in California….I look at how people voted and I shake my head and say to myself….”How did these people even find their way to the polling place”…(Actually in a lot of cases the Democrats sent buses out to pick them up….so that explains some of that)
But here’s the really big one that almost makes my head fall off…from the violent back and forth shaking………
In spite of the Democrats getting slaughtered in elections all across the country…..because of the economy….out of control spending….unemployment at almost 10% (or much higher in some areas)…..and a complete disconnect from what most Americans are facing in their lives…..President Obama is getting ready for yet another trip.
Oh….but not just any trip. This trip will include the president and around 3000 other people....including (but not limited to) Secret Service agents….other US government officials…..and of course journalists. So that’s ok…right? Well, before you answer….let me tell you that it is going to cost the US taxpayers $200 million dollars per DAY. Let me say it again…(this time a little bit slower)...$200 million dollars per DAY. Let me do the math for you. If the trip lasts for 5 days….that’s a BILLION dollars of tax money that is being spent on a 5-day presidential trip to India. Still having trouble with those numbers?..... Let’s break it down a little more…..
If you make It would take you this long to pay for this trip
$50,000 per year 20,000 years
$100,000 per year 10,000 years
$250,000 per year only 4,000 years
All I can say is that if you plan on going on a trip like this some day……NOW is the time for you to start saving……OR the alternative would be to befriend Alvin Greene’s “Ultimate Warrior”….or Harry Reid (the man who saved the economy of the entire world by himself)….and see if they can help you out…..If you paused to think about the validity of that suggestion….I would guess that you actually voted for one of them….and if so….I blame you for my neck hurting….because AGAIN I’m sitting here shaking my head. Then Again….That’s Just Me
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