Forget the Flag, how about respect for the homeless defenders of it.

Trash Talk

     Pretty sure everyone has heard at least one version/side of the VSU flag debacle where a soldier turned Porn Model decided that Protestors didn't have the right to step on and destroy the US Flag.  I thought about writing a long diatribe about it, but someone more skilled than me did it for me. 

     The above blog is by my esteemed Brother Ben Baker and pretty much says everything I was thinking about saying and even a few things I wasn't thinking about saying in a very colorful and extremely cranky sort of way.  So read it and then buy the clue.

     For the record, I did a little research and visited 10 different websites that sold US Flags.  Of the ten websites, only two actually sold flags made in the US.  Of the other 8, 5 were made in China and 3 were made in Pakistan.   See as my Brother points out, people are getting peeved about the wrong thing.  Instead of getting annoyed that someone exercise their right of freedom of speech/expression, get peeved that we are EXPORTING the production of our national banner to other countries, one of which is a Communist Nation and the other one is a Terrorist Supporting state.  Better yet instead of sending 100s of thousands of dollars to a bakery that wants to discriminate against Homosexuals, send all that money to the programs that support the THOUSANDS of Homeless Veterans.  If you really want to show your support for the troops that you claim to respect, feed them and cloth them.  Help them find a home or a least a shelter from the storms.

     People in the US need to buy the clue and get mad about the important things.  In the end, a Flag is just a symbol and a piece of cloth.  If you don't respect and support the people who gave all to defend it, you really don't have the right to cry over someone else stepping on it.

End of Rant

Constitution, you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Huh, yeah nothing can go wrong with this. Right? 

A Christian Nation? 

     So just so all of you are straight on this (pun intended), Oklahoma (OHH where the winds coming sweeping down the plains...Ahem sorry.) has passed a Bill that would restrict marriage (in the legal sense as well as the religious sense) to "people of faith."  Meaning that if you aren't of one of the approved Faiths, then you will be unable to get married.  This of course includes all of those evil nasty viscous Atheists who we know are out to destroy all that is good and right in the world.  (Waves at Mary Anderson.)  Even bigger, the Bill requires and ANY marriage licenses have to be approved  by a member of the Accepted Clergy before being issued.

     Just so you get the impact of what I am saying, REPUBLICANS in OK (Sooo not OK) have created a Bill that will eliminate the right of basically anyone they disapprove of to marry the person they love AND they want to put the Church (Pick one there are so many.  Dunkers or Sprinklers anyone?  And I am not talking about Donuts.) in power over the Government in determining who gets the right to get hitched.

      Now keep in mind these are Republicans or as I like to call them, Reboobicans.  Reboobicans claim to worship the Constitution and everything it stands for.  They claim to be fighting the evil Fascist workings of the Democrats (Damnocrats is my pet name for them.)  They claim to know the Constitution backwards and forwards and pretend to be its stoutest defenders.  So bearing these claims in mind, HOW THE FUGG can these morons in OK pass such a moronic piece of crap?

     Lets ignore the fact that Government controlled marriage (Not weddings, that is where the Conservative disconnect seems to be) is a right granted to pretty much everyone regardless of race, creed or color (Okay the gender thing is still ongoing, but besides that one).  That means if a man and a woman wants to get hitched, they can do so legally no matter which faith they are or what race they are.  If two Atheists want to head on down to the Courthouse and get hitched, they can do so freely.  If two Buddhists want to get legally married, they can go down and get a marriage license.  ANYONE CAN GET MARRIED!  But like I said, we are ignoring that one. for the second.

     Let us focus on the really scary idea behind this POC.  The fact that Reboobicans want to put Leaders of the Churches in power over Government Officials.  Essentially, they want Priests, Preachers, Bishops etc to be able to look at a couple's application for marriage and decide whether or not they can actually get married.  The really frightening thing about this is not that such a Bill was put forth.  There are a lot of nutjob fanatics out there who want to force their beliefs on everyone else.  No, the scary part is that it actually passed.  (Please note that it passed purely on Party lines so this is purely a Republican/Conservative steaming pile of poo.)

     Our Government was set up with the idea of religious freedom and a separation of Church and State.  Here is a quick recap of the 1st Amendment  since so many Conservatives seem to have forgotten it or misremember it.  Note the very first line.  Now sure we have danced around this issue in the past and probably will keep dancing in the future, but one thing is pretty clear.  Setting up the Clergy to have power over any function of the US Government is counter to the very basic tenets of what this nation was founded on.

     In closing, I want to remind all of the so-called Christians out there who are so eager to make Merrica a Christian Nation officially of one simple fact.  Be careful who's rights you restrict and who's freedoms you take away.  The time will come when it is your rights and freedoms are being stolen because someone else doesn't like the way you think or the way you believe.  Freedom has to be for everyone, regardless of whether or not you like them or they are meaningless. 

End of Rant

Iran Out of Letters.

     Yah know I been hearing a lot of fuss over the moronic letter the 47 Reboobicans sent Iran and I am not sure if what they did was treasonous or criminal or even that insulting towards the POTUS.  However, I do know this and it is a pretty obvious thing.  What they did was STUPID!!!!!!  In what may have been an attempt at grandstanding or an attempt to undermine Obama, they have basically plugged their own pooch.
     I mean, what they said about Obama's policies being overturned with the swipe of a pen stands true for any other president.  So if (and brother I do mean if.  Have you seen the list of current GOP Presidential Hopefuls?) a Republican does get elected to be the next President, his own party will have already shot him in the foot metaphorically speaking.  I mean what foreign power will want to negotiate anything from a Arms Treaty to the Powdered Doughnut Supply if in 4 to 8 years some other President can come along and eliminate all their hard work with the swipe of a pen?
     I get it, Reboobicans and Teabeggars.  I really do get it.  You are dead set on doing everything you  can to make Obama look bad.  Even if it is at the expense of your own party.  I mean your leaders did say early on that it was their job to make sure Obama was a 1 term president.  (I shift you not!  Here the link.  One Term President  Okay as a side note, a couple of weeks later, he did try to explain what he meant and for the sake of fairness I present that explanation.  Explanation (Sort of) Course to me, it sounds more like Covering his own ass at this point, but I let you my readers decide.) 
    Obsession and Dedication are separated by a tiny tiny line.  Loyalty and Insanity are even closer together.  If your obsession with destroying and mocking your opponent hurts only him him, all is well and good.  However, if your insane need to make someone look bad makes you look like a bunch of nutjobs who don't care who you hurt, then you only show just how far away from reality you are currently hanging out at.
     Hit Politics and Dirty Deals aren't anything new.  I am pretty sure Ogg told all the Cave Persons that Togg was dating a Mastodon when they were running for Cave Boss.  Read an excellent short story called "Counting Potshards" for an example of how the Ancient Greek did it.  Heck, I appreciate and enjoy in my own masochistic sort of way watching the various hit pieces produced by both sides during elections.  However the trick with trying to hurt or embarrass your opponents is to make them look bad, not you.
     The whole invite BiBi over to speak without informing the POTUS was childish and a little silly, but at least that left the GOP looking fairly good.  The leader from a nation who is nominally our ally came at your request and spoke words that made you look good.  Kudos for that one.  However, 47 of you (Several Presidential candidates, God help us all.) essentially told the leaders of a "terrorist" state that "Hey Dude, nothing we do has any real power over you!"  See all that did was make you look really really dumb.  (Also made you look like you really didn't understand how the US Government works since what you described isn't actually true, but we are leaving that alone.)
     In closing let me say this to all sides of the political system here in the US.  We know you are all about as dysfunctional as you can get and that you are more interested in making the other side look bad.  We get it.  Hells, even the most partisan and dedicated member of each side has to know it by now.  So fine, you would rather take shots at each other than govern.  All we can ask at this point is to at least make it entertaining.  Make it good.  Make it solid.  Fire all your cannons at the other side in a flashy show of useless fireworks.  Just don't shoot yourself in the face while you are firing.  Is that too much to ask?

End of Rant

Anti-Vaxx? Pro-Pain, suffering and death. Nuff said.

     So I was reading another round of Anti-Vaxx stories (I know I should stop, the idiocy can rot my brain.) and I was struck with two thoughts.  Don't worry, I struck back and a lively tussle ensued.  I escaped relatively unharmed.  Any ways, onward and downward.
     Thought the 1st:  I wonder how many of these rabidly anti-vaxx people take their children to eat fast food, allow them to drink sodas or even feed them sea food caught from the oceans?  Ocean Caught seafood contains massive amounts of mercury and other deadly poisons which have been proven to cause physical and mental damage when you eat too much and fast food/sodas have dozens of chemicals in them that can do harm (not to mention the fat and cholesterol in all those burgers and fries people eat.)  I bet the answer to at least the fast food/soda part would be..most.  So the idea you can rail against the "harmful" ingredients in Vaccines, but feed your kids poison is funny. 
     Thought the 2nd:  Anti-Vaxxers keep whining about how people mock them and no one takes them seriously.  They talk about how "instead of mocking them, doctors and scientists should sit down and try to talk to them rationally."  Well news break!  They've tried that, been trying it for years.  But Anti-Vaxxers would rather get their scientific information from Celebrities, discredited Doctors and Doctors who kiss the butts of their patients by pretending to believe like they do.
     See here's the thing, roughly 92% of Doctors agree that Vaccines are safe to get and serve a incredibly important purpose.  (You know, to keep people from dying?)  Think about that, 92%.  Anti-Vaxxers would have you believe that those 92% are in the pockets of Evil Government/Big Pharmaceuticals and are part of some vast conspiracy to poison our children and weaken the world.  They claim that the other 3%  (5% have no opinion on the subject.) are the lone voices crying out in the wilderness trying to protect the world from evil.
     See, that is the problem with trying to reason with Anti-Vaxx people.  In their demented minds, they truly believe that there is a conspiracy to push vaccines, hide the side effects of the evil things and make everyone Autistic.  If you produce the vast (and I do mean VAST) amount research conducted by thousands of researchers around the world that disproves their paranoia, they brush it off as part of the conspiracy.  (Interestingly enough, this process is practically identical for Climate Change, but that is another blog entirely.)
     So, I for one am perfectly willing to sit down and talk rationally about vaccines.  I am willing to discuss their RARE side effects which can include death, brain damage and organ damage.  I am willing to also point out that the diseases they defend against have much more frequent and just as horrific side effects.  I am willing to discuss the facts.  Note I said facts not BS inspired by one defrocked doctor in Europe or stories about how your neighbor's cousin's roommate's child got vaccines and got Autism/Lycanthropy/ADHD. 
     While Anti-Vaxxers rant on and on about "their right to choose," diseases that were, for all intents and purposes, wiped out are coming back.  With 100s of cases of Measles and literally 1000s of cases of Whooping Cough popping up in areas where Anti-Vaxx groups congregate, who knows what fun almost forgotten disease will make an appearance next?
     Oh and as a final note.  For all of you ranting that Illegals from across the border are bringing in these diseases (Not yet proven, but possible) from across the border.  Instead of using this as justification for people getting sick, don't you think the "fact" that aliens bringing plagues might just be an even better reason to get your child vaccinated?  Just saying...
      When all is said and done, Anti-Vaxxers are right.  They have the right not to vaccinate their children.  Yup and more power to them.  I mean the world is already over crowded so when all your kids start dying off from easily preventable diseases, it just means there will be more space for the rest of us.  However, your right not to vaccinate ends at your front door.  (Well okay, I will give you your yards too.)  From that point on, you are existing in the same world with the rest of us and some of us (For health reasons) cannot be vaccinated or (also for health reasons) have a severely suppressed immune system which makes us susceptible to illnesses.  You don't have the right to put the rest of us at risk by bringing your non-vaccinated children into contact with us.  So no vaccines, keep your kids at home and out of school.  Simple as that.

End of Rant

Baker, Preacher, Reporter, Friend.

 Baker Family Rides!

     Okay normally, this space is used to rant, mutter and outright scream about the things I think about.  I use my skills of snark and sarcasm to poke fun at the things that make me go Huh!?  Well not today.  Today I hope to use the power of social media and the written word to help out someone who truly and utterly deserves it.
     The Baker Family is one of the most amazing group of people ever invented.  They spend a huge chunk of their time helping pretty much anyone who needs the help.  They do this with no expectation of reimbursement.  They help others every single day and they never ask for help in return.
    Well now they need our help.  Of the two vehicles they own, one has been rendered inoperable and the other needs some serious repairs.  Mrs. Baker has health issues and they need a better vehicle for her to use.  Quite simply put, money is not there and they truly need the help.
     So I am asking all of readers to help me prove that there are good people in the world who appreciate kindness and love.  Click on the link above and donate.  It can be a dollar or it can be a 100 dollars.  Every little bit helps.  Come on folks, prove me right!

Anti-Vaxx Nation Day One or Spreading The News...err Germs

The Epidemic Continues To Spread

 

(Well, to be honest, this is technically day two, but who's counting?)

So yesterday, I did a little rant about how Anti-Vaccination Groups are blaming other parties for the recent outbreaks of Measles and Whooping Cough. I kind of not so gently implied that these people were a tad mentally challenged for not getting their kids vaccinated if they truly believed that Illegal Aliens were being brought across our borders to wage germ warfare on the US. I may have also possibly questioned their reasoning abilities and maybe even their parentage. I don't really remember. I tend to have memory lapses and am too lazy to go back and read my own stories.

So as my long term readers (All three of you Hey Sam!) know, I occassionally do a series of blogs on subjects that catch my attention. So after reading the above article earlier, I decided to do a few blogs on the subject of Vaccinations and the Anti-Vaxx nutjobs who seemed determined to bring back the Black Death. So go ahead and read the linked article. I'll wait till you get back.

Back? Okay good, moving on. Now as anyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past few weeks knows there has been a major outbreak of Measles in California due to a group of unvaccinated people visiting Disney Land and then carrying their diseased selves back home again to larger groups of unvaccinated people. Last time I checked the current total was about 120 with possibly hundreds if not thousands more that have been exposed to the virus, but have not yet manifested symptoms.

Well, now 5 new cases have been confirmed Not in California, but Chicago. That's right, Chi-Town! And of course, besides the 5 kids actually sick there are even more who have been exposed and may become ill. Worse yet, these kids were all very young and contracted the illness in a place where they should have been safe, a Daycare Center.

The ever expanding Epidemic (And don't pretend it is anything but one) has lawmakers in many states considering reducing or even eliminating waivers for vaccines. Currently most states offer some exceptions to getting your children vaccinated, mostly due to religious reasons. Most states demand that any child entering public school be vaccinated and many have the same demands for private schools. Lawmakers are trying to shrink the number of exceptionss in order to try and prevent even more outbreaks of easily controlled diseases.

Given the strength of the growing Anti-Vaxx movement, I think this takes a lot of courage on the part of people who depend on being popular to keep their jobs. Already the talk of “Personal Liberties” (More on that one tomorrow) and “Government overreach” are sounding out. Gotta give folks props when their actions may lose them their next election.

However, I think it is far past time something was done about this child endangering movement. Not just children, but also older people and people who have compromised immune systems. (I happen to fit both categories being 52 years old and a Diabetic, so yeah I take this sort of thing very personally.) Someone needs to step up and stop these people from bringing back diseases that we successfully stopped decades ago. How many people have to get sick and possibly die before we stop letting people who think debunked doctors and famous people are the people we should listen to?

Anti-Vaxxers are a clear and present danger to the safety and health of the entire nation. They will not stop themselves so it is high time that other people stepped in and stopped them before things go completely to hades. Hopefully more and more lawmakers will realize this and step up before things get truly bad.

End of Rant

Anti-Vaxx = Anti-Logic

So the current Internet meme running amok among the Anti-Vaxx crew is something along the lines of “It ain't my fault that folks are getting sick, it is all of the disease carrying illegal aliens that Obama has let across the borders.” The “logic” behind this thought process is that if 1000s of illegal aliens hadn't moved into the country, then all of the nasty diseases that had been eradicated decades ago wouldn't be seeing a resurgence.

Now, just for the sake of argument, let us assume that the basis of their argument is true. Let's pretend that the current Epidemic of Measles and Whooping Cough are the direct result of Obama's evil master plan to destroy the US of A by infecting all its citizens with nasty diseases so that they are to weak to resist when his evil Muslim Communist minions take over the country.

So, if this is true. If our beloved country is being ravaged by everything from Measles to Lycanthropy, how does it make sense to keep your children from being vaccinated? If we really are under some sort of biological attack, how does it make any sense to expose your children to possible illness and even death? Even if every single one of the infected people were rounded up tomorrow, the damage is already done so shouldn't every caring parent want to protect their children?

The pattern of this particular meme fits perfectly with pretty much every single Anti-Vaxx argument. The whole gist of their mentality is “It is not my job to take responsibility for my actions. Everyone else has to take responsibility instead.” Their attitude is that they should be allowed to do whatever they want and that others just have to deal with it. Don't believe me? Look at some of their arguments.

1. I have the right to not have my children vaccinated because the only people affected by it is my children.

2. If other people cannot be vaccinated because of health or medical reasons, then they should stay home.

3. Other people should be vaccinated so that they are protected from my unvaccinated children.

Needless to say, there are more arguments used by Anti-Vaxxers, but they pretty much all sound the same. My personal favorite is number 2 since Anti-Vaxxers would be honked off if someone suggested that they should keep their diseased little brats at home to keep Them from making other people sick.

Vaccinations save lives. This is a fact. There is no evidence that vaccines are dangerous. Also a fact. (Sorry but one study done by a doctor long since discredited does not eliminate the proof of literally 1000s of studies done since then to prove him wrong.) This Ludicrous idea that it is somehow better to allow your child to be infected by diseases such as Measles that can cause horrible scarring, serious complications and even death than to get them vaccinated is moronic.

Sadly, when the pandemics come the Anti-Vaxxers will still not admit that it is their fault. As their kids get sick and die, they will sue the government or which ever fast food joint they were in when their kid was infected. In no way shape or form will they accept the responsibility for the pain and suffering they will cause. Course, like I have said before, the Anti-Vaxx movement is a self correcting sort of stupid. As more and more people become ill, everyone who is a member will eventually die off from a disease that was considered eliminated decades ago. My only regret is that so many innocent people will have to suffer along with them till the problem is solved.