Dumb (Ass) Comment

I subscribe to the Amarillo Globe-News Facebook page. Recently they linked to an article on their website about the US Marines bringing home Smoke, a donkey that had been a mascot of the Marines in Iraq.

The comments on the FB page were mostly positive, except for some who griped that it wasn't news, and then there was this, a comment about education funding and a few posts later, another comment. (I put them together in order to save space.)  For privacy, I blacked out the names.

Education is very important and we need to fund it, but if our educational system is churning out functionally illiterate jackasses like that, then something has to change.

The donkey is probably smarter than that person.

I'm Not Typical

We Can't Predict Who You Voted For

According to our quiz, there's a 42% chance you voted for Obama. But that means there's an 58% chance you voted for McCain. You aren't very typical. You tend to be independent, and your vote is highly coveted. While we can't predict how you voted, there's a good chance you voted for the winner!

Did You Vote for Obama or McCain?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

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An interesting political quiz. As I've said before, I'm a conservative, but that's by my own definition and not by anyone else's. Some of the answers I gave are responsible for the 42% chance I voted for Obama (I did not)such as gay marriage (I really don't care, but let them call it something else - "marriage" is between a man and a woman. My only objection is one of semantics, I suppose)

Another question that put me in that 42% is "Do you think America has changed for the worse since September 11, 2001?" I said yes but it's not for a single reason - it's the economy, the political hatred from both sides, the ever present threat of terrorism, the eroding of our civil liberties...many reasons. Another question that put me in the percentage is "What should we do in Iraq? Keep our troops there/bring them home?" I want them home, just as I want our troops home from all over the world. We're financing the very socialism we decry in other countries mainly because they're not paying for their own defense and are instead spending that money on socialistic programs.

Other questions that put me in the other percentage category are where do I live, do I have a favorable opinion on Bush (I did when I took the test, but ask me again tomorrow and I might have a different answer)

Take the test, see for yourself. I know these tests aren't to be taken seriously or literally, but I AM proud of what it says in my results:

"You aren't very typical. You tend to be independent, and your vote is highly coveted."

misnomer

misnomer \mis-NO-muhr\ , noun;

1. The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment.
2. Any misnaming of a person or thing; also, a wrong or inapplicable name or designation.

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I've been seeing plenty of misnomers lately in the political forums I frequent;  since I am a conservative, that's the type of discussion group I most often read.  Many posts from my fellow conservatives label liberals as baby killing America haters - a silly and stupid characterization - while I often see posts by professed liberals saying that conservatives are environmental hazards and religious nutjobs - again, an idiotic and false stereotype.

The worst I see, however, are the misnomers by both sides towards Ron Paul, namely that he's a racist, an anti-Semite as well as an isolationist.  Those accusations, as well as many others leveled at the good doctor, are all patently false. Paul's supporters are almost always labelled as "Paulbots" or "Paultards" because of the heated exchanges between themselves and RP devotees. The detractors take offense at the heat they get, but it's almost always started by the ones doing the name calling.

Personally, I think what really scares the Repubs and the Dems is the vast spectrum of the American public (as well as many in other countries) that love Ron Paul and for what he stands for and his steady consistency over the years on the issues.   His broad base of supporters includes young and old, conservative and liberal but the common ground they all have is the belief that the U.S. Constitution should be the supreme law in this great country and that our govt. ignores the Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights - powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved, respectively, to the states or the people.

I don't think Paul has a chance in hell of gaining the nomination, but I still plan to vote for him.  I don't care who tells me it's a wasted vote (if you vote it's not a waste, no matter who you vote for) but I'm so tired of voting for "the lesser evil". 

Even the lesser evil is still evil.

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist \TSYT-guyst; ZYT-guyst\ , noun;

1.[Often capitalized] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.

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I've loved this word since I first saw it used in a sentence and had to go look it up to see what it meant. I actually considered using it for an MSN Group back when I was involved there, but "Zeitgeist" was already taken. (and annoyingly, the group was empty and not being used). After finding that out, I wanted to use some sort of alliteration such as "Zany Zeitgeist" but that was just a bit too cutesy.

I never did create a group using the word, though, because I wanted it to be a discussion group that adhered to the definition, namely current events and the politics of the day. After seeing how busy the successful groups were in that category, I changed my mind. I foresaw the hard thing wasn't just going to be keeping up with the news of the day, but also having to patrol the group, monitoring each and every post to keep it within the MSN Code of Conduct. I predicted it would quickly turn from fun to work - or at least a hassle - and MSN provided enough of that.

Picked One - But I'm Not Picky

Your Hatred of Tofu Says You're Old-Fashioned

You are conventional and traditional. You don't feel a need to change what works. You are always ready to take a leap of faith. If something doesn't work, you will change! You dance through life, even when there isn't any music playing. You spice things up. You are good at getting people to let loose. You are the fun one in your group.

What Does Your Least Favorite Food Say About You?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

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I had to pick one,so I chose tofu. I'm not a huge fan of the soybean product, but I will eat it. In fact, it's not bad in Chinese dishes, especially stir-fried w/ some slices of beef or chicken. It's not horrible on its own, just bland, like oatmeal with no sugar or cinnamon. (and I love oatmeal)

That's the trouble with some of these quizzes, the choices offered. In this quiz the choices were:

Tofu
Mayonnaise
Mushrooms
Fish
Broccoli
Chocolate

Now, my second choice for food I "hate" would have been mayonnaise. I prefer the similar salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip) because mayo is so rich. I will eat it, though, and don't "hate" it. I also love mushrooms, fish and broccoli...and I would probably really love a dish made with all three. As far hating chocolate?

What are you, nuts?

I really can't think of any food I hate.  Oh, I'm not fond of coconut, but love it in Mounds or Almond Joy candy.  What I really don't like is how it works its way in between my teeth.   I'm also not fond of pineapple, but that's because I O.D'd on brandied pineapple as a kid, plus I'm slightly allergic to it. (as I am kiwi fruit, which I used to love to eat.  Now it makes my throat itch, just like pineapple.)

I'll eat just about anything - mountain oysters (bull testicles), snake, even liver and onions.  I've had calamari before that didn't taste good, but I expect that was because it wasn't fresh, ditto for snails.  About the only things I can think of offhand that I bet I wouldn't like are eels and geoduck. Still, I'd certainly try them once. I've never had tongue, but I bet I'd like it. Shoot, I've always wanted to try some brains.(I wouldn't be too enthused if Hannibal Lecter was the cook, though.  I'd be afraid I'd be the next course)

No, I'm not picky. I'll even eat leftovers.

Officially Summer

Oh, I know the calendar date for the start of summer is still over a month away, but I put up my air conditioner just now. Yesterday was horrible (heat-wise) and I think it was hotter in my bedroom than it was outside. I drank 4 liters of water and 6-7 Diet Dr Peppers and lay sweltering with only a wet wash cloth for relief. It was after midnight before it got cool enough to fall asleep.

Wrestling with my huge window unit is always a chore and I always cuss myself for not buying a smaller one....until I crank it up and get my bedroom cold enough to hang meat.

Growling Mother, Munching Monkey

I think about my mom every day, but more so that today is Mother's Day. I often beat myself up, thinking about the times I disappointed her or wasn't the son I should have been, but most memories are about the good and funny times. I like to think I inherited her sense of humor.

One recollection I had earlier made me smile; we were having a family dinner with the main course being ribs. I had just polished off my last rib (there were none left on the platter) and jealously looked over at mom eating one of her ribs. She saw me eyeballing her rib and she put an exaggerated bite on the bone, narrowed her eyes and growled at me.

I laugh out loud every time I think of that.