Hooray 5 technology!

     So we got new phones today of the smart  variety.  Now this is completely awesome cause these things weren't even a twinkle in any science fiction writers eye when I was a kid.  I mean this thing does everything besides milk the cows and feed the chickens.
     So I decided to see if the app I have been seeing on the Blogger website would actually let me blog from m phone.  Well guess what?  It apparently does.
     So now I have zero excuses not to keep on my running  rants on pretty much anything and everything.  So I guess my readers out there had better  hang onto their hats because it is bound to be a bumpy ride.
                    End of rant

We have nothing to fear but fear it...OMG WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!

     With the recent outbreak of Ebola in the US (One death, several confirmed cases, I find myself pondering the exact nature of fear and the US fascination with it.  Pick a news source, any news source and listen in while they speak on pretty much any subject besides maybe cute kittens and puppies.  Nine times out of ten, it is going to be some sort of story to inspire fear and even sheer terror in the people listening to it.  Cantservative News Sources scream about Ebola, Immigrants, Terrorists and Liarberals.  Liarberal News Sources scream about Guns, Terrorists and, well Cantservatives.  Either way, it almost seems like they are trying to provoke us into hiding in our closets with hoarded food and water till the Alpacalypse is over with.
     Now, one has to ask the question (Well okay, you don't have to, but if you didn't then there would be no need for this blog and I'd be out of work so please ask the question already.  Did you?  Good, moving on.), "Exactly why are 90% of all the news services preaching some sort of fear?"  I mean, even news is a business and businesses are in business to make money, right?  So why preach fear, death, destruction and Honey Boo Boo (Shudder)?  Simple, because fear sells.
     Humans have had a almost unhealthy fascination with fear, death and terror since...well since there were humans running around.  We love having the pants scared off of us.  We live for that adrenaline surge we get when we are convinced that things are about to hit the fan.  Look at any year's list of movies.  How many of them feature Zombies, Weresomethingoranothers, Vampires, Killer Shrews (I kid you not), Giant Killer Bunnies (also kidding you not), end of the world kind of plots?  I betcha it is a significant number of them. Look at the current run of TV shows.  We got Vampires, Killer Witches, Headless Horsemen (Well Man not men) and Walking Dead.
     News agencies like Fox News, CNN and so many others depend on their advertisers the same way entertainment circles do.  Advertisers only give away the green stuff when they can be sure that people are watching the shows that run their ads.  So News Agencies go where they know the money is.  No matter how much we might claim otherwise, on some subconscious level a huge number of us want to be scared.  The more scared we get, the happier we are.
     I think the scare stories being pushed by News Agencies are even more attractive to our addiction to fear because they have some basis in reality.  Ebola is real and it does kill.  Immigrants are flooding over our borders and "could" possibly harbor some hidden threat to the US besides taking the crappy jobs that no one else wants.  Guns are dangerous and can put very large holes in people and lets face it, both segments of our One Party System of governance are scary as heck.  (Although I might argue the real part on that one.)  So because these things actually exist and could pose some threat to us, they are scarier.
     I suppose that as long as we live to be frightened, our media sources will continue to put things on that are exaggerations or even out and out lies.  I do question how wise it is for the powers that be to be feeding our addictions, but as long the junkies keep crying out for more we will keep being fed.  I look forward to the next "Day of the Walking Ebola Immigrant Terrorist" episode.

End of Rant

Schooled by preschoolers on what is really important.

Nuff Said, End of Rant

And now for a word from the Nuthouse.

     This is not so much a comment about the situation in Ferguson or any place else for that matter.  I have pretty much avoided the whole discussion because, unlike many of my friends, I refuse to comment on something I don't have all of the facts for.  I have not made my judgement on whether or not a Good Cop shot a "Violent Thug who deserved to die" nor have I made a judgement on whether a "Gentle Giant was executed by a racist cop."  I have not judged guilt or innocence based off of an edited (Yes edited whether anyone wants to believe it or not) video.  I have not assumed innocence or guilt based off differing testimonies.  Unlike so many, I am still waiting for all of the facts to come out.
     No, this little rant, like most of these blogs, is about the basic stupidity and gullibility of humans.  This insane need people have to believe pretty much anything they read or hear OR think they have heard.  The stupid need to see massive conspiracies based off the most flimsy of "evidence."  I give to you the below rant by a guy who's commentary picture is a Confederate Battle Flag.  If you actually click on his commentary link, you will find plenty of oh so precious and oh so racist comments, but lets stick with this little paranoid rant.
     "luminaughty 4 hours ago     0     27
Eric Holder’s career has survived a long list of scandals; The 2008 Black Panther debacle, overturning Arizona’s immigration laws and ‘Fast and Furious‘ immediately spring to mind. These, however, pale in comparison to the recent allegations against Holder, the likes of which could easily land the Attorney General behind bars.
Evidence has been uncovered showing Eric Holder contributed funds to Ferguson’s gang population as incentive to loot and spread civil unrest in the area. These angry, government-sponsored terrorists have systematically infiltrated peaceful protests with the intention of escalating the situation and inciting riots.
A local gang leader came forward last week after being arrested during a night of mass-looting. The unnamed criminal is using his information to bargain for a reduced sentence.
Allegedly, Holder’s goal behind pouring the proverbial gasoline on an already volatile scene is to test militarized police response in a martial law scenario. It is also suspected that the riots have been started as the latest in distractions from the diabolical duo of Obama and Holder. This isn’t the first time they have created a media bait-and-switch to cover up any of their numerous crimes and blunders.
Officials have yet to publicly identify the damaging evidence submitted by the gang member, and are still in the process of verifying the legitimacy of said items. Judge Rineheart of the 22nd Circuit Court in St. Louis is presiding over the case, and has reviewed the materials. During a phone interview with National Report Judge Rineheart stated “The evidence I have seen is incredibly convincing.”
Holder is not yet officially charged with a crime, but it’s expected that a warrant could be issued for him within the coming days. Obama’s spokespeople have declined to comment.
- See more at: http://nationalreport.n"
     So folks, remember, if you need to see truly ignorant and racist comments done by a mind who has a very limited grip on reality, just keep an eye out for more from Luminaughty.  He/She/It(?) is so very precious.

End of rant

I Wanna Iraq and Roll all night or ISISn't where we came in?

     So anyone who has even the vaguest interest in News and the World around them knows all about the current Debacle going on in various parts of the ME ranging from Israel VS Palestine to Radical Islamic Forces effectively dividing various parts of different countries into their own version of home.  This disaster (or as I like to call it, Phase WTF of the Middle East Cloister Flock.  MECK for short.)  (WHAT?  Yeah yeah I know, but I am Mormon now and we ain't supposed to curse so deal with my evasions of the rules, okay?) is just the current tip of an Iceberg of Violence (tm) dating back pretty much as far as we have...well dates.
     Any student of history knows that many many different outside forces have tried to instill their own version of peace and stability to this arid area.  Turks, Ottomans, Russians...Heck for all we know aliens tried it at one time.  One can count the number of actual successes on one hand and have five fingers left over.  Matter of fact, about the only real times there was any real level of stability in these areas was when Local Dictators/Holy Leaders/Western Propped up Puppets essentially took over and installed a State of ME in an area.
     So why do outside forces still think that they can make any sort of lasting difference in lands where no one likes anyone and even the ones who like each other can't agree on anything?  Using the US as an example even though we are far from the only ones, we invaded two separate nations (We liked one of them so much we invaded them twice.) under the pretense of Self Defense. 
     I say pretense even when speaking about Afghanistan and 9/11 simply because the Nation of Afghanistan didn't attack the US.  Radical elements within that country did attack us and I do feel our response was justified however the Nation and the majority of its people never attacked us.  So after a decade of two wars and over 6 trillion dollars spent, what do we have to show for it?  A lot of American Dead and Maimed and the moment we removed our forces, all heck broke loose.
     Soooo, now ISIS or whatever the fudge it is calling itself at the moment is roaring across Syria and Iraq.  The defensive forces, many of which we helped train and equip, are being about as effective as ice cream in a forest fire.  They seem to be setting a new record for atrocities not seen since WWII (Or as I like to call it, Phase II of the Global Conflict) and don't get me wrong.  If half of the reports about some of the crap they are doing are even half true, then things are pretty damned bad.
     So now, all of the experts who were screaming that we needed to end our involvement in the current phase of MECK, BRING OUR BOYS HOME etc are screaming that something should be one and that enough wasn't done to prevent it.  The same Geezers who demanded that all US troops be brought home (To defend the borders of course j/k) are in a rage saying "American forces should have been left behind to keep an eye on things.
     Obama, who won two elections on his promises to end the wars and bring US troops home, is now authorizing air strikes against ISIS (or is it the IS now) and is rumored to be considering following some GOP (you know the same geezers who wanted the US out of the ME and our boys brought home?) suggestions of sending in limited ground support.
     So we move back to my opening statements.  No outside force has been able to effectively create lasting peace in the ME.  The 2 wars in Iraq and the 1 war in Afghanistan should have showed us all that no matter how much money and blood you pour into that region, it won't make a whit of difference once the support stops.  It is high time we stopped trying to fix their problems for them and just let them work it all out on their own.
     Now do I believe with all of my heart and soul that we should do everything we can on a purely humanitarian level to help those caught in the crossfire?  Absolutely.  Fly as much medicine and food and other supplies as we can to help them.  Heck, lets start another Berlin Airlift.  Maybe with our help, there might actually be people still standing (or hiding in holes) once all the shooting stops.

End of Rant 

Woah, slip sliding away. Slip sliding awayaya!

A Serious Coverup

Wouldn't the rich diet be bad for the lions? 

     By now you have all heard about the Lobby of Hobby and its victory in the highest court in the land.  (I actually think these old geezers must actually be high given some of their rulings recently)  In case you have been hiding under a rock, put quite simply the SCOTUS ruled that Hobby Lobby has the right to not provide certain forms of birth control based on their own personal religious beliefs.  Never mind that a healthy chunk of their employees do not follow the company's beliefs, the Chain still has the right to deny services to these employees.  In short, the Chain is forcing its employees to follow certain tenets of the Chain's faith.

     Now for the record, let me state that I am okay with this action.  Hobby Lobby has the right to fun their business the way they see fit.  The employees thereof have the choice of following company policies or finding employment   You won't find many companies that don't have their own specific code of conduct and rules that all employees must live by.  You don't have to like them but you do have to follow them to work there.

     No, my little ramble here is based off of just how much a slippery slope it is when a branch of the Federal Government decides that a public company has the right to enforce its religious beliefs on everyone who works there.  First it is Hobby Lobby and Birth Control, but what happens next?  What happens when a Non-Christian store decides that its Christian Employees must follow its religious laws?

     The two articles above are both Satire and should not be taken seriously.  (They are also a pretty funny read especially the Little Caesars tossing its employees to the lions.)  However, they illustrate in the absurdity the problems that can be caused by the SCOTUS ruling.  I have found that Christians, especially White Christians are okay with the Fed making rulings that effect everyone's rights just so long as those rulings are favorable to Christians.  What happens when the same rules start being applied to other faiths?  Under the SCOTUS ruling, a Muslim based business would be well within their legal rights to require its associates to dress in what the Religion demands.  Heck it could even demand that all employees refrain from eating pork products during their meals.  

     See despite what so many people seem to want to think, a SCOTUS ruling on religious rights doesn't just affect the religion you like, but ALL religions.  If a Christian Business can require its employees to be a certain way than a Pastafaran Business will be well within its rights to demand that everyone wear a colander on their head.  

     So you see, we are facing a slippery slope and I suspect that when the slide starts, a whole lot of people won't like where it ends up.

End of Rant 

A plague on all your houses!

     Let me start this rant by stating that this rant isn't about Immigration, Immigration Reform or any sort of more complicated ideas.  This is simply my observations on human nature.  If you read any more into it then that, you are thinking too much and inferring way to much.  Okay disclaimer done, on with the rant. Now anyone who hasn't been living in a cave for the past few months (Heck with WiFi, even those folks probably know) knows that a massive influx of underage children from Central and South America has hit our borders and this has provoked a Poop Storm ™ of commentary from both sides of the political bunkers and more rhetoric than you can shake a stick at from all of the talking heads you see on the magic talkie box.  Liarberals are screaming “Oh Lordie!  We has got to do everything we can to welcome these poor homeless waifs into the country!” and Cantservatives are screaming, “Got those dead beat, terrorist spawn back across the borders!”  (I paraphrase here,  but that is mostly the gist of it.) A big phrase I am hearing being bandied about, mostly by Fox News, is “Diseased Illegals” and sometimes the long form “Diseased Illegal Aliens.”      
     They go on and on and on about the clear and present danger these Plague Spreaders are presenting with their TB, Swine Flu and Ebola (Note here that despite what Cant Pundits want to think, Ebola isn't very common (See non existent) in Central and South America.  But hey we can let that one slide since most of these people are not medical types.)  If you believe the Cants we are on the verge of World War IA (Illegal Aliens) and the IA are using germ warfare.
     As another disclaimer here, let me say I am not medical type either so I cannot state specifically that the Cants are wrong.  Course if they are, I do find it rather ironic since Cants also tend to be Vaccination Haters so if we suddenly have an epidemic of Whooping Cough or Measles from Unvaccinated children coming to our borders we know who to blame. 
     Anyho, moving on. So after that rather long intro, we finally reach the meat of my rant (BACON!).  Anti-Immigration types have done everything in their power to dehumanize people who cross our borders illegally.  Comparisons to Leeches, Parasites and other much less kindly words have been used in abundance over and over again to make these people appear less than human.  Cantservative rhetoric has gotten harsher and harsher as the years have gone by.   Now we have a new buzz word for Pundits to use.  “DISEASED!” 
     That is right.  Now not only are they illegal drains on our wealthy nation, their very existence is a threat to our health and our continued survival!  Cants say that if we don't stop these disease carrying people from entering our borders, all Heck is going to break lose. Any student of history can tell you that the first step in making one group hate another group is  to make the target group seem somehow less than human or even animal like.
      Hey it worked for all the Greats, Hitler, Stalin and don't forget good old Mao.  You take your target group and convince your people that these less than humans are some kind of threat.  Then you keep repeating that same dross over and over again.  People start believing you and poof you can take any actions you need to fix the problem.  (BTW I would be amiss if I didn't mention the US treatment of American Indians and Black Slaves in that list.)
     So here is the plan.  Cantsevatives and their Rich Backers (won't name names but one group's last name sounds suspiciously like another name for male anatomy) have their bought and paid for Taking Heads rage on and on about Diseased Illegals.  People start panicking and thinking “OMG, we are all gonna die from Laughing Cow Disease!”             
     These panicked people start pressing Cants to “do something!”  Since these people are no longer people but instead Diseased Illegals, pretty much anything goes.  Its okay if some get hurt or even killed, because they are DISEASED!  If we don't respect their basic rights its okay. Besides any sort of moral reasons, there is one reason why this particular approach is dangerous.  It is a slippery slope.  Not far a slide to getting rid of other groups for similar reasons. 
     Homosexuals are the most common carriers of HIV/AIDS so wouldn't it make sense to get rid of them to keep the rest of the country safe?  Old People are a drain on resources so why not get rid of them.  (Huh on second thought, that one is prolly safe considering most of the Grand Old Party are well, really really old.) Is illegal immigration a problem?  Yes and I feel it should be dealt with. 
      However, inciting people to hate other people and dehumanize them isn't the way to do it.  The vast majority of Aliens coming across our borders are not criminals.  They aren't evil and dead set on destroying America.  Most of them are simply looking for a better life for themselves and their families.  Send them home, yes, but quit trying to turn them into monsters.

End of Rant