mr. blackandwhite

Rollins Dispatches: Letters from a soldier...

Hey what's up. No fun and games tonight. I am going to give you a link to one of Henry Rollins' dispatches. In this dispatch, Henry passes on several letters from a soldier who is currently putting his ass on the line for us over in Iraq.

I hope you will read this story and think about what it says.

When I read these kinds of stories I always feel so helpless and weak and impotent. I wish there was something I could do for those guys over there. It makes me feel ashamed for the problems that I complain about, sitting here comfortable in my cushy life.

I can't believe the shit our guys go through over there in Iraq.

This is the real deal, not the BS you get on the news.

Here it is: DISPATCHES: Letters From a Soldier

I would like to suggest that you check out the 'Worthy Causes' links down there to the right. There are several good links there that will help you support our Men and Women in the Service. Thank you.

WARNING: LOUD MUSIC CAN HURT YOUR EARS

From the completely asinine and ridiculous department:

Apparently, if you listen to your music too loudly, it's entirely possible that you can damage your hearing.

Somebody's going to have to pay.

If this guy has his way, that pay out will come from Apple computer, because I guess the company did not properly warn him that sticking headphones into his ears and cranking up the Mantovani can actually hurt your ears.

Fucking un-believeable.

That sad part is that this idiot probably has a good chance of winning his case. I mean, if you can sue Dunkin Donuts and win because you were not properly warned that drinking hot coffee can burn your tongue, and you can sue McDonalds and win because you were not properly warned that eating fries, burgers and shakes can make you into a fat fuck, why not sue Apple because you were not properly warned that sticking headphones inside your ears and listening to your music too loudly using your iPod could cause hearing loss.

Makes sense to me.

Personally, I just want my iPod back from the dang battery replacement service... Hey wait, Apple told me the repair job was going to take 2-3 weeks and it's been longer than that. Maybe I can sue!

Happy Festivus!

Enjoy Festivus everyone! A Festivus for the Rest of Us!

(Festivus Poles.com)

a small victory: posting good news in the wake of the hurricane...

Michele over at A Small Victory has been doing a great job of posting good news in the aftermath of the hurricane.

If you need a break from 24/7, wall-to-wall, hurricane horror stories on CNN, head on over there...

I take back everything I've said about Brett Favre... Donate to his Hurricane Relief Fund

It's no secret that I have not been very kind to Brett Favre over the years since he beat my team in Superbowl 31, but from this point on, I renounce all my bitterness towards him and I take back everything bad I have ever said about him.

Favre, who's own family has been directly affected by the hurricane, has set up a relief fund that will go directly to those who are affected by the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. You can learn more about it by going to his website. There is a link on the bottom right of the page where you can donate to his charity, The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation.

There is also a banner for the Red Cross over on the right that will bring you right to the Red Cross' donation page.

I know a lot of people are strapped for extra cash (myself included) but any kind of donation or contribution you can make, be it money, contributing to food or clothing drives, helping to get something going at your company, church, whatever, to help with the Katrina relief efforts, anything you can do, no matter how small, it all adds up and will go a long way to helping people who have literally lost everything.

Today is also Blog Relief Day. If you want to help out, go to this page at the Truth Laid Bear to learn more about what it is and how to sign up. Also, check out Instapundit's round-up page and The Truth Laid Bear's list of participants as well.

If you make a contribution, you can let people know about it, here.

Every little bit helps.

Technorati Tags: hurricane katrina, flood aid

Hurricane Katrina....

My heart goes out to everybody that has been affected by this horrible disaster. Watching the hurricane slam into Louisiana and Mississippi was truly frightening. It was an awful, helpless feeling to watch it happen and know there was nothing that could be done about it.

Watching the images of the aftermath and seeing the destruction of peoples lives has been terribly heartbreaking.

Like many people I wish there was something I could do to help the victims. Here are a few links from CNN and here is the link to the Red Cross.

At the same time, I can't believe that there are people actually looting. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. What kind of people are these? All I can say is, hopefully these people will be caught and get what they deserve.

Perspective...

We recently watched a movie called 'Gunner Palace', a documentary about the men and women serving in Baghdad, Iraq. In the movie, several of the soldiers wonder if people at home think about them or care about what they are going through and I wanted to write short post to say thank you once again to all people who are putting it on the line for us in our Armed Forces.

In my mind, I can't say thank you enough, especially reading back on my previous post and thinking how easy I have it while they are over there risking it all for us.

I know my words don't mean much but I just wanted to say it again, to all the people who have served or are currently serving in our Armed Forces, THANK YOU!

London

I just wanted to post something about the attacks in London today and say that my heart goes out to the people there and everyone that has been affected by this truly horrible act. I am feeling sad, angry and concerned all at the same time.

I'm sure this has been said by many people already but the 'people' that perpetrated this act today are not men. They are nothing but a bunch of cowards.

What kind of people attack and murder innocent civilians who are just trying to get to work? Only the very lowest of the low.

Fucking bastards.

I hope they are captured, tried and convicted to a life behind bars where they are given nothing to eat but ham sandwiches every day for the rest of their lives. I hope they rot in whatever their version of hell is.

Maybe this will send a wake up call to people who are confused about what an 'atrocity' is. Fyi, it's not using bad language around some 'holy' book, or taking a picture of somebody in their underwear.

An 'atrocity' is what was done to the innocent people in London today. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

More on the New London Supreme Court decision...

I know I don't usually write about social issues and my opinions about them here, but I am so outraged by this event, in which "The Supreme Court ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses -- even against their will -- for private economic development."

All I can really express on this subject right now is anger and absolute disgust.

I am learning about this too late, after the fact. I wish I had known this was happening before this horrible act occurred. I would have tried to add my support in some meager way to help these people.

I don't feel like I am going over board when I say that this is truly scary folks. YOU could be next, or me, or anybody that has property. After all, what do I do with my house? All I do is live here and cut the lawn and grow kids and flowers. What if some fast food chain decides that my front lawn happens to be the prime location for their expansion into my neck of the woods. Who's going to provide a better tax benefit to the town, me or some corporation?

Think I'm going overboard? Think that it could not happen you or me? WRONG. It just happened to some people in New London.

And look whos next... this is from the Washington Post.

"District leaders said a Supreme Court ruling yesterday that gives municipalities broad powers to seize private property will provide the city leverage in its goal to acquire land for two controversial projects, including a new baseball stadium."

"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random," O'Connor wrote. "The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms."
~ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

From The Day, New London's local paper...

"The decision concludes an exhausting legal battle that began in December 2000, when the Fort Trumbull residents filed suit to prevent the city from seizing their property to make way for offices, upscale housing and a hotel that would support the nearby Pfizer headquarters and help to reverse decades of economic decline."

I will be looking for ways to stand up to this and do something, starting with a boycott of all Phizer products, (not that I am a Viagra user). I also plan to write to Mark Martin, who happens to be my favorite NASCAR driver, and who's sponsor also happens to be Phizer, and ask him if he feels that his conscience can allow him to represent a company that supports the removal of people from their homes for the purposes of replacing them with 'upscale housing and a hotel'. I'll be writing to Jack Roush, Mark Martin's car owner, as well.

It may not be much, after all, I'm only one person, but it's something dammit.

Don't tread on me mutherfucker

SC rules in favor of land developer over private citizens... Holy !@%$!!

Read this: 5-4, For The Takings

This is one of the most frightening things I have ever heard. When I initially heard about this story my jaw litterally hit the floor.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a New London CT land developer to evict people from their homes and demolish their property for the purpose of economic development.

"Under the banner of economic development, all private property is now vulnerable to be taken and transferred to another private owner... Are economic development takings constitutional? I would hold that they are not."
~ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

This ruling by the SC basically means that if a developer targets your property and convinces the local government that they can make better use of your land than you do, provide more tax benefits, etc, your property can now be seized by the government to make way for a shopping mall.

I don't have the words to express my feelings eloquently on this subject. All I can say is, "Holy FUCK!!"

From the article...

"I don't think anyone can regard this decision as putting this issue to bed," said Timothy Hollister, a lawyer who specializes in eminent domain cases for the Hartford law firm of Shipman & Goodwin. "These issues will continue to be in play for years to come."

That is scant comfort to lead plaintiff Susette Kelo, a nurse who has been fighting tooth and nail to keep her home overlooking the Thames River since officials tacked a condemnation notice to her door in November 2000. Or to Matt and Sue Dery, who have long agonized that every holiday and anniversary in the house they restored with their own hands could be their last. Or to Matt's mother, Wilhelmina Dery, 87, who was born in the house where she still lives.

UN-AMERICAN!

R.I.P. Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

I read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson for the first time several months ago. It was one of the best books I have ever read; laugh your ass off funny and totally, utterly insane. I fucking loved it.

I was extremely saddened to learn that Dr. Thompson has apparently committed suicide. What a waste. What a goddamn mutherfucking waste.

People will be writing much better and more eloquent eulogies and accolades than I possibly can.

May you find peace (and a good time) where ever you are Doctor.