Ukraine, Wekraine, EVERYBODY KRAINE! Part One of ???

We were talking about military and I grew up with PacMan so it seemed to fit.

Not Russian troops, just some heavily armed well equipped masked men who happened to invade after a Rebellion!

 

Before we start this little verbal Tango, let me state once again just in case people missed it the last dozen or so times I said it that I am NOT a Political Commentator. I have a rather extensive knowledge of history and literature, but my studies of the folly that is Politics is fairly limited. This is why my forays into the Death Zone of Politics is generally comedic in nature not serious. The few times I have made serious commentary (relatively speaking) it has been purely my opinion and not the results of any in depth studies. I am merely a loud mouth with a blog trying to entertain my readers. Now, having said that...CHARGE!!!!!

Now anyone who has access to a newspaper, Interwebz, tin cans and string, smoke signals knows what is going on in the Ukraine right now. Depending on your source, it is either “Freedom Fighters have overthrown a brutal Dictator and freed the people from his regime” or “Rebels have ousted the legitimately elected President of the country and promoted Anarchy across the country.” I lean more towards a “Mind controlling Squids from Planet Kudzu have invaded and taken over in the first stage of their plan for global domination” but everyone thinks I am crazy.

(As a historical note here, I am reminded of the Japanese Emperor and other Monarchs who were thrown out of their kingdoms, but liked to pretend they were still rulers when I see the Ex-Ukrainian President sitting in Moscow claiming that he is still president and in control of the country. Reality Check, Dude. If you are sitting in a hotel room hundreds of miles away from the country you are supposed to be in charge of while a standing arrest warrant is in state if you ever return, you aren't in control. Sure, you may regain control if things go your way, but history kind of shows the chances of that are between slim and none.)

But hey this little rant isn't about who is in charge or who did what to who (whom?). This is more an observation on human nature. See the Ukraine is split between the side that really wants to play nice with Russia and keep close ties with them and the side that wants to join up with the EU and play stick ball with the Big Boys. There is a concrete danger of the country being split into two smaller countries with one side Pro-Russia and one side Pro-EU. You know kind of like a modern day East/West Berlin. (Well okay not exactly since East Berlin wasn't exactly pro-USSR but hey this is my blog right?)

Of course, the Pro-West Side doesn't want this to happen. They feel that the country must remain whole and united even if some people would rather drink Vodka instead of...Gee what do people in Europe like to drink besides Warm Beer? There have even been veiled threats of military action by the current rulers of the Ukraine if rebellion is attempted.

And folks, that is where the Knee Slapper rises up. You have just succeeded in overthrowing the duly elected rulers of your country through insurrection because you felt that you were being treated unfairly and now you want to rise up in arms against people who might do the exact same thing? That is HIGHLARIOUS! So it is okay for Group X to say Group Y SUCKS and do some serious damage to overthrow them . However, when Group Z screams that Group X is baddy bad bad and makes noises that they might do something about it, then it HAS TO BE STOPPED! Man, contrary much?

I am reminded of a great quote from the excellent musical 1776 (If you haven't seen it, you should. It has great music and funny lines and teaches a little history when you aren't paying attention.) where Ben Franklin talks about rebellions. “A rebellion is always legal in the first person, such as "our rebellion." It is only in the third person - "their rebellion" - that it becomes illegal.” The same thing happened during that rather unpleasant business between the States a ways back. (Please keep in mind I am not saying the CSA's reasons were all valid or that Slavery was an institution worthy rebelling for.)

The States that would become the Confederate States of America felt that the Union was being grossly unfair and threatening their livelihood and well being so they threatened to rise up in rebellion against an oppressive government. The Union screamed no no you can't do that and well that is when the fight started. Of course, this is a mite funny because only a century or so before, the people screaming No Rebellion had pretty much done the same thing. Now in the Ukraine, one group wishes to secede from the other because they don't like the way the country is headed and the newly appointed leaders don't want it to happen. Seems a tad silly if you ask me.

Now, before I close this rant, take a peak at the link I provided. Even though Moscow denies it, it seems pretty obvious that our Soviet buddies are taking an active role in what is going on in the Ukraine. Subtlety has never been their major strong suit...well at least as far as military actions are concerned. So that raises a rather tricky question. Corrupt or not, Nutzo or not, the Man Formerly Known As President (Hey it worked for Prince.) is the duly elected, official President of the Ukraine and at least part of his country supports him and close ties with Mama Russia. So the question arises, If Russia invades the Ukraine to either “restore stability” and replace the MFKAP or If they simply move in to help support the splinter section that is Pro-Russia, what will the EU do about it? No ponderings on that at this point, just tossing it out as a final question.

 End of Rant

Use your words very carefully

Warning: Offensive Language and Offensive Video (No joke this time)

Wow, really?

"Media, news, and information for White people against White genocide."

 

Now folks, anyone who has known me for any period of time (Or who has read more than a couple of my blogs) knows that I just ain't right in the head. I am a major oddball who seldom sees the world the way most other people do. Most people look at a situation and think Duck. I look at it and think Gizzards. As my Daddy might have said, “I'm a bit teeched in the head.” This often leads me to strange thoughts or tangents that make a lot of people go, “Who da, What da, HUH?”

Take the above article link. Now the actual story is a sad one where a man essentially beat another man to death and got off with a minor slap on the wrist. The article itself is more than a tad racist, but what do you expect from a website called The White Voice? I mean it sells books like Murdering Multiculturalism and has the tag line of “Media, news, and information for White people against White genocide. “ I shift you not. It uses the rather graphic term “African Beast” to describe the attacker. Now most people with any self respect would be up in arms over the combination of African and Beast. Not little old me.

I have always had problems with people being described as “beasts” or “monsters” or even “inhuman.” We use these terms to describe men and women who do things that completely and utterly shock us to the very core of our being. We do this because we simply cannot imagine any human being committing the kinds of atrocities we have seen done over our history. We paint them as something other than us to help us grasp what was done.

The problem with this is it gives both them and us an out. A man who had millions murdered isn't a man, he is a monster. We can feel better about ourselves because no true human being would ever do such a thing. Making them something less then human makes us feel better about ourselves and our race.

The problem lies in the simple fact that they are human, just like you or me. They aren't demons sent from the bowels of Hell to do horrendous things in the world of man. They aren't shadowy beasts flitting at the edges of the light killing over and over again. Hitler, Stalin, Dahlmer and all of the other bloody figures that haunt our nightmares were all 100% human beings.

Calling them Monsters and such gives us an out. We don't have to imagine us doing things like that because we are humans and they are Beasts. We can shrug our shoulders and shake our heads thinking, “Well, what do you expect from monsters?” We can politely ignore the elephant in the room that carries a flag that reads, “Whups, no they are humans just like you.”

People that commit atrocities are horrible people and they should be despised, but we have to understand that despite their crimes they are still humans. Until we understand this, we run the risk of even more evil being done. We need to stop hiding behind descriptions and start working on the problems. 

End of Rant

Help the Animals and Get a Book!

      Help the Animals and Get a Book!

     I am working on a new project designed to help the numerous groups that help rescue and take care of all the animals that cannot take care of themselves and that have no home to call their own.  All proceeds from the sales of the books will be distributed to various animal rescue organizations around the world to help them do more to help.  Your help and support is always appreciated.

They took him back to Wal-mart.

Have I gotta a deal for you!

Clean Out Aisle Nine, Clean Out Aisle Nine.

Now as most of my friends and many of you readers know, my past is somewhat colorful and more than a little checkered. I often joke that I could never write an honest Autobiography because people would think it was all fiction. I mean, “Willing suspension of disbelief” only goes so far, right?

One of the many colorful aspects of my earlier years was the fact that I was an accomplished Dishonest Type Person. Picture any sort of larceny that doesn't involve violence and I have probably done it. Not something I am particularly proud of 35 years later, but it is a part of who I am so I don't avoid the issues. Among my many “talents” was the fact that I was an accomplished Con Man. I was taught by one of the best in the business and have at one time or another ran pretty 90% of the classic cons. From the classic Double Bag Switch to the Alabaster Shuffle, I did them all at least once.

So even though I have been an honest person for a long time now, I still appreciate the beauty of a good con, especially one that is simple but effective. I also chuckle when I see Con Artists break the NUMBER ONE rule of the con, “Don't get greedy.” So when I read the above article, I felt both a twinge of admiration for the young Con Man and shook my head at his stupidity.

His con was simple and elegant playing peoples' reluctance to question authority AND their inattention to details. He even switched out the aspects of the con from one mark to the next. With nothing but a Wal-Mart vest and name tag, he successfully stole nearly 40K before he was caught. At his age, $40K would have tided him over for quite awhile and up until his final attempt, no one suspected him of anything. He had literally gotten away free and clear. Then he got greedy.

The way most inexperienced/stupid Consters get caught is they get over confident. Things are going so well that they think they can't get caught. They think that the con they are running is so perfect that no one will ever figure it out. They forget or never learn that Someone always figures it out. ALWAYS.

In this case, our budding criminal decided to go for JUST ONE MORE strike using the techniques that had served him well the first two times. I am sure he had very little fear of being caught because his previous experiences had shown him that people were pretty much dumb. I mean, he put on a vest, walked into a store and convinced people he was supposed to be there to the point where he was left alone in a room filled with money and in the second case was actually put on a cash register by some member of management. You can understand why he felt he was safe.

However, another truism of the Con is “Not everyone is as dumb as you would like to think.” Even if you assume that 90% of everyone who works some place is an idiot, there still leaves 10% who aren't and if you keep playing the odds just remember that the House Always Wins in the end. This kid got greedy and played the odds and he lost.

End of Rant

That is Egg-zactly right!

Something to crow about.

Son, I say Son!  Lissen up when I am talking!

It is that old conundrum. Which comes first, the Chicken Law or the Egg? So California is instituting a new law that puts some very specific requirements on what type of eggs may be sold in their state and some egg producers are crying “FOWL!” (Sorry couldn't resist.) Essentially in an egg shell, the law says that the feathered hen fruit producers have to be able to move around a bit and lay down in their cages. Certain out of state egg producers are extremely unhappy with this and are suing to have the law blocked.

The logic (and I use that word loosely) behind their arguments is that is would cost them too much money to make the changes that CA is asking for. Since a huge chunk of these cloistered eggs are sold in California, they argue that it puts illegal restrictions on their eggs. They shout that California is essentially prohibiting the future sale of eggs because of the unfair requirements. In short, they say that they will be prevented from selling their products in California and “unfair advantage” will be given to California Egg Producers.

Well, first off, no one is prohibiting anything or forcing anything. The out of state egg producers are not being forced to make the changes California wants. They are perfectly free to keep raising eggs the way they always have without any interference. However, IF they want to keep selling their products in California, then they will have to make the changes required. They can sell the eggs some place else if they'd like without any form of restrictions other than...well whatever laws that state may have.

Secondly, the whole arguing that the law gives Callie Egg Growers an unfair advantage seems a little silly. One can assume that if the law governs all eggs, then California Egg Makers already follow the requirements of the law or are in the process of following the law since it doesn't actually take over till 2015. So IF California type people are complying with the law, then it is only fair that other states should have to as well.

I guess what it boils down to is States Rights. Every single state in the Union has (With one or two notable exceptions) the right set their own laws and regulations. California has the right to put into place any laws that it wants about what can or cannot be done in their state. They cannot put into place laws that say what other states HAVE to do, but they are well within their rights to state what conditions must be met for any products coming in the state. If anything Missouri and any other state that jumps onto this lawsuit are trying to infringe on California's states rights by saying Callie can't decide what eggs are allowed to be sold.

As an ending note here, I want to say that I was very proud of myself. Except for one or two, I avoided the dozen Egg/Chicken jokes that popped into my head. For a rabid punster like meself that is quite an achievement.

End of Rant