Popular Political Opinion

I am the first person to stand up for the war in Iraq. I feel strongly that in order to insure that Iraq is settled as a peaceful country that U.S. forces need to remain there. I am not overly concerned with the death toll of civilians or military. Not because I don't care but because I understand that when you are trying to exact great change there is a cost.

What concerns me is the American Public and how long the Bush Administration will stand strong against the growing number of the who demand the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq. This is still a small group but it's a vocal group. I am afraid that the message that the "U.S. Troops in Iraq is wrong" will become public opinion. It is public opinion that brought the troops back from Vietnam and it could be the same for Iraq. Although I see no similarities in the two conflicts.

Yet I wonder if a major cause of the war in Vietnam is the same as what has created the conflict with al Qaeda. If there was not a "Head of al Qaeda in Iraq" would the situation appear so grim? If Al Zarqawi was dead would peace come to the region sooner? If you saw the documentary "The Fog of War" you know that a major cause of the Vietnam conflict was miscommunication. I think it is clear that communication is a big part of why Osama Bin Laden and his followers hate the U.S. and I think most would agree whether you like him or not that George W. Bush is far from a great communicator. He even calls on invisible reports at press conferences. (Bianca are you there yet?).

It takes time and sacrifice to exact great change.

Lets hope the American Public has the patience to see it through.

Bad Week

Ever have one of those weeks when you feel like a dark cloud is following you around?

This week is one of those for me. You think that everything you touch will break. Whatever you try to do will be a failure. The feeling of frustration and paranoia that you are not capable of doing anything right and you are incompetent and others know it. I ask myself what I did wrong that I deserve such problems?

Maybe if I had donated to Hurricane Katrina Aid?
So if I had donated to this one cause then I would be ok? All the money I have donated through the year (part of which was when I was without a job) to other good causes means nothing because I didn't donate to this cause? Everyone else in the country donated but I didn't so I am destined to break everything I touch and fail every task I attempt? Maybe if I had just purchased a kayak and paddled out to the survivors in New Orleans to rescue them my freezer wouldn't have broken this morning?

Maybe if I hadn't been slacking on my workouts for the past week? My stupid mind could tie my guilt for not working out the last week to bad karma which results in bad luck? When you are in a bad way and frustrated your mind plays tricks on you.

Don't worry, I am not insane, I am just having a bad week.

Really glad I was able to share it with you.

And it's only Tuesday.

Weekend Observations for 09/26/05

When you schedule a service call for certain cable companies (all of them?) between 8am and 10am it really means after 11am. Also you are not capable of attaching a coax cable to a cable box (otherwise why would we need to schedule an appt with you stupid ass?). I have attached cables to boxes for years. There is nothing like a properly attached cable. How complicated can the box be? Anyone who has seen a box before knows how it works and what to do to make it work for you. Am I still talking about Cable TV?

The Raiders are tough. Being a fan of the Raiders is tougher this year than most. Everyone picks them to lose every week, and odds are that in most cases they will be right. The difficult part is that the Raiders are in all these games. On Sunday they tied it up against the Eagles with 3 minutes to go when their defense broke down and the Eagles drove the ball down the field just to have a gimp come out and kick a winning field goal. My heart was pounding, I was all sweaty, the tension was high and then at the big climax I was spent and ashamed. I don't know how many more of these I can take because I am not getting any younger. I am talking about Football right?

The Cold Case season opener last night was nothing too great, until the end. I read this article in entertainment weekly talking about how all these TV shows end with a montage of images set to music. Like a cool music video, but EW asked when it will no longer be in fashion to do this. Cold Case is usually a terrific show but last night I was left unsatisfied because the mystery was just blah. Then the end comes where they roll out "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel as you see the pictures of the characters as they hug, as they are locked up in jail, as they look today, as they looked when the murder occurred and then the final recognition of the dead guy but Det Rush at the end. Damn that makes me all tingly just thinking about it. It was a great music video but just a so-so show.

You don't notice people whispering around you when you are in the IN Crowd. Do you? Are you in or out? Do you spend a lot of time in the IN Group? Do you prefer to be in or do you like it when you are out? Maybe you like being out and then going in and then getting back out again just to be welcomed back in? Sometimes being in is the best.

The Hell Express

In life there will always be people that hate you. There will always be people who no matter what you do will think you are a bad person. Usually these people are relatives that have expectations far beyond reason. Psychos.

The other day Nina and I were discussing how no matter what we do that a certain individual in our lives will always think we are bad. Will always be unhappy with us. Will always think we are going to hell. The option we chose is to not give a crap. I guess we are bad people.

We are so bad in some people's minds that I am sure we are on "The Hell Express". Because not only are we going to hell we are on a plane that has 95% OnTime Performance Record and supercharged engines. I can just see meeting Saddam in the lounge as he asks "What did you do?", and I tell him that I told one of my relatives that they could do whatever they wanted because they won't listen to me anyway. "Rough".

Nina told me that the bad thing is that murders, rapists, and child molesters will be on the express with us. I told her that's ok, because they will be in coach.

Weekend Observations for 09/19/05

This weekend I discovered Bavarian Abbot Ale, imported from Belgium. Nice. With 8% alcohol it about put me on my ass but it was quite tasty with a range of flavors from fruity to spicy in a nice mix of three wheats (Tripel in Bavarian-Speak). All Poulez Fussie's (sic) are not created equal. In Canada we enjoyed a bottle of this variety and it was amazing. Unfortunately I did not note the winery (it was a 2001 though) so I decided to try a few bottles at the Beverages and More store. We sampled two over the weekend and one (Louis Jadot 2002) was ok but did not differ much from your garden variety Chardonnay the other (Joseph Drought 2003) tasted like watered down Louis Jadot. Any recommendations?

Shower repair. Next time I have an issue with plumbing I am going to dive into it instead of being sheepish. Lord knows I am a mechanical clutz but with a year plus of home improvement under my belt I discovered that I can do a thing or two. I discovered that by taking apart my shower massage that I was able to do a sufficient repair that stopped the "spray all over because of hard water mineral collection" problem. I also discovered the folks at Home Depot Expo are not like the guys at Home Depot. They don't know anything about anything related to home improvement. The guy I talked to had one objective, and that was to get done talking to me so he could move on to whatever other crap he had to do. Sheesh! Mineral collection got you down? Try a soak in a little vinegar.

My 1983 TV is nearly toast. The other night there was a green flash and everything went purple. Then the Raiders hit the field and looked nervous, scared and a tad inept. They held there own but in the end fell short of a victory. I am not sure why they got so shaky all of a sudden, they did not look that way in the season opener in New England. Next week they take on the Eagles. This could be a long season.

Local Color:
When in Fullerton (now in Brea too) be sure and check out Kimmie's Coffee Cup. They have the best chicken fried steak and eggs in So-Cal. Sunday we decided to try "Bernies" which advertised itself as good hometown cooking. The place had a line out the door. The food just sucks. It's horrible. I don't know if the place is better for lunch or dinner but the breakfast was a zero. Go to Kimmies.

Shopped for a new bicycle. Since the last time I bought one was in the early 90's I figured it was time to find a new one. I think the bike I liked the most was the Giant Yukon which is a comfort bike that felt quite good. It seems the best one available for me but I am not sure if it's as comfortable as I want it to be. It's also only $100 than the Diamond Back Ascent that I purchased in 1992. Not bad. Anyway I have not purchased it yet but I think I will soon.

What is a good price for alternations? $12 a seam is the price I was quoted on Saturday. Is that good?

If you have a fountain in your yard is it supposed to sound like a rushing stream? I had to get up to pee three times the other night because my neighbor's fountain has been running like Hurricane Katrina for the last few days.

Frick and Frack suck.

Enjoy the week.

Spread the Virus

Opie & Anthony on XM 202.

Stern is done.

Whoo hoo Robin, I'm done.

Oh Howard you will be going to satellite too.

Whoo hoo Robb-in I invented everything.

Whoo hoo but I won't be as funny as Jim Norton.

Don't Give to Hurricane Katrina Relief

Don't give to Hurricane Katrina Relief.

That is don't give until you have properly evaluated who you are giving to and what the people you are giving to will do with your hard earned funds.

I am shocked and amazed at the outpour of help that has washed over those who have suffered from this disaster. It is equally amazing that just because a miss-managed international charity that uses a red plus sign as their symbol spouts off a huge figure for rebuilding far before the actual damage has been assessed.

Let's get real people they botched up 911! Why would you trust them with your hard earned wages now? There are millionaire coke addicts traveling all around the world because they hit the lottery thanks to the red plus sign. Charities like this one and a certain breast cancer fund that plasters pink ribbons everywhere are businesses that make money off the business of helping people. These organizations throw big parties for their management team in 4 star hotels in NYC and nobody pays mind to this. Many don't even know about it.

Let's look at the people we are helping. According to Celine Dion (I love to quote her) these people may have never touched a plasma TV (So sad, tears). She says so what if they steal 20 pairs of shoes because "they won't get far with it. Let them touch these things they never touched." Touch it, rub it leibshen (sic). Und now is the time on shprockets when we dance!

New Orleans has the second highest murder rate in the nation. Even the police were caught looting after Katrina passed.

More importantly, they all knew Katrina was coming. The media tracked this storm for more than a week before it hit the coast. Don't tell me these people don't have TV's, you can drive through south central L.A. and see little shacks that people live in and there in the front room is a huge big screen. Blame the major of New Orleans for being unprepared (like he was), blame the governer of Louisiana for not acting quickly (because she didn't), blame the president for being on vacation (because he does his best sleeping in Texas) but when it all comes down to it we are each responsible for our own survival and the survival of our loved ones.

YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM!

YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT HAPPENED EVEN IF YOU DON'T DONATE A CENT!

You probably have already paid the bill in higher gas prices. The one percent of the petroleum refining that is done on the gulf coast stopped due to the storm. So that equals a $1/gallon increase (on average) in gas prices? I DON'T F---ING THINK SO!

It's high season for the gas station owners!

You will also pay in insurance premiums just like with 911. How many of you had a 50% increase in your property tax because of 911?

You will pay in taxes as Bush asks Congress for billions upon billions of aid for the gulf coast. All before any damage assessment has been made.

After the predicition that it would take a month for the waters to recede, today, a little more than a week after the disaster parts of New Orleans are already opening. Mardi Gras is back on schedule. The plastic bead necklass makers are back in business. And Howard Stern's girlfriend is flying around looking for lost puppys.

It just warms the heart that soon the thieves and murders of the Big Easy well be back to work again.

Hertz Don't It? (Northwest Adventure Part 1)

Just got back last week from a trip to Oregon & Vancouver BC to attend the wedding of my nephew Warren and his lovely bride Dena and to see my niece Paullllla off to her new adventure as a marketing major at the University of British Columbia. There is a lot to cover and I am sure you will be hanging on my every word.

Ya right.

The first issue that comes to mind is my rental car. Despite that fact that I did not have to get the car until three days into the trip, up to that point things had gone quite well. Everyone had arrived and were in good health. Nina had put on a terrific rehearsal dinner with rave reviews. We were a mere day away from Warren & Dena's nuptuals.

I had decided to rent from Hertz because they tend to have newer cars in better condition and my brother-in-law Sam had a coupon for me to borrow. I managed to rent a full size car for 8 days and the tab was about $200. Not bad eh?

I rented from an HLE (Hertz Local Edition) to avoid the added taxes that are put on rentals that are picked up at the airport. I thought this was a smart move. Save money, the place was closer to my sister-in-law's house where we were staying, I had no cares at all. At noon I had my niece Julie drive Nina and I to the HLE to pick up the car. We had a brand new Ford (who incidentally owns Hertz) Taurus waiting for us. The car had barely 2000 miles on it and I thought it would be a comfortable vehicle to transport us from Portland to Vancouver.

On the way back from the HLE I noticed that the temperature gauge was quickly moving to H. I asked myself if I wanted to take a risk driving this car on the 6 hour journey to Canada. I decided that if my car at home had the needle pointing on H I would take it to shop as soon as possible. I decided to take the car back and trade it for another one.

When I returned to the HLE I told them about the problem. They said they didn't have any more cars and would have to get one from another HLE. About a half hour later someone showed up with a Buick. While the pretty boy no brain Hertz agent did the paper work I went out to check out the car. It needed a good wash so I went back in and asked them if they could wash the car. They gave me a card for a free "Kaddie Kar Wash" which is one of those drive thru quick car wash stores. They said that they don't wash the cars.

When have you ever rented a car and it was clear when you picked it up? Was I at Hertz or Rent a Bucket of Spit? (nice image)

So I take the car back to the house and on the way I realize that this car is dirty on the inside as well as the out. They had not tried to clean it up at all since it's last return the day before (the previous renters paperwork was in the car). Pathetic. I called the Hertz 800 number and asked them if I exchanged the car at the Portland Airport would I have more cars available to choose from. Indiria the nice lady from Bangladesh asked what car I wanted. I told her I would be happy with a clean, correctly functioning Taurus, so she reserved one for me. At about 6:30 Nina and I ventured out to the airport to exchange the dirt bucket.

When we got the airport I told the attendent that I was exchanging the car. He called his manager over and the guy took down my story and said that he would file a complaint against the Hertz that I rented from. We went into terminal and waited for the next agent to become available. While we were waiting the guy behind me mentioned that people were going right up to the agents and bypassing the line to "ask questions". I told him that those people are just far better human beings than he and I and were deserving of being first. Then I told him that perhaps I was delirious because this had been the third time I had been in line at a Hertz that day. He was pretty surprised, you could tell he had high expectations from Hertz as I did.

It was finally our shot and the agent was very accomodating. Eventhough I was sick of telling the same story over and over somehow I thought I would get something back for my pain. She offered us a Ford Escape (Ford's compact SUV) for the same rate as the Taurus. After checking the car out in the lot we happily agreed. Hertz finally made the right call from a customer service standpoint. The Escape turned out to be a very smart vehicle that I am considering purchasing in the future. Paula's dad also liked it because he got to shove a bunch of the crap he bought for her to take up to University of BC.

We left the airport at 8pm (note this for future post) and went back to the house.

to be continued...

Open Letter to Best Buy

Your company failed to reach estimated profits because of your failure to respond to customers needs. About a year ago I e-mailed you about your rewards program and how you should not charge a yearly fee to belong to it and my e-mail was completely ignored. I had been a customer of your company for many years and you lost me. I have not purchased anything from Best Buy ever since.

You get nothing. You lose. Good day sir.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/bs_nm/retail_bestbuy_earns1_dc