About Me

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Birmingham, Alabama, United States
43 Years old Born in Wilson, North Carolina. Work in Law Enforcement / Patrol, married I am a Political Conservative without a party to represent my vote. I dislike liars, especially the type who are politicians and preachers. I oppose abortion of any type at any stage. The baby is innocent and deserves life regardless of the mothers circumstances. I also dislike racists. Especially the kind that always scream racism at others when life doesn't go there way! Get a life, it's only skin color and God made idiots in all colors. I also dislike Democrats, they wouldn't know the truth if it bit them on the ass. I dislike Republicans, they are truly the most spineless creatures on God's green earth. I dislike arrogant environmentalist who think we can destroy what God created. If your homosexual, I don't dislike you, but please keep it in your own bedroom behind closed doors for the sake of the untwisted.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Coach Nick Saban, A Legend Created By Desperate Tide Fans!

I'm sure you, like most of us, have seen the movie Forrest Gump. One scene from that movie shows young Forrest playing football at Alabama for the legendary Bear Bryant. You may have also heard references to the "Crimson Tide" in old 70's songs, and so forth, but most people do not understand the importance of college football in the South—in the old south in particular. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida take this love or fascination with college football to a higher level, but in the heart of that region, the state of Alabama is capital of college football. Within the borders of this state are two universities that have the highest importance to college football: The University of Alabama and Auburn University. The fans of these two teams equate there respective university to that of religious institutions. Before you laugh, or dare to say that I exaggerate the truth, let me assure you that people have lost their lives in incidents where anger and rage between fans of these two schools boiled over into bloody fights and outright assaults. There have even been documented divorces as the result of mixed marriages. By mixed marriage I mean a married couple who’re fans of opposite teams. Men and women have also lost jobs, due to being too vocal about how bad their team beat the other. Similar incidents became such a common problem that both schools ended the tradition of playing each other in the sport of football! The two schools met and physically buried a hatchet to vow to end the hatred. Alabama and Auburn did not play each other in football for more than 40 years until it was again scheduled in the 1940s. From the 1940s through to the 1970s, the University of Alabama had more success with more big name players going on to the professional ranks, and during this time, Alabama has accumulated most of its 12 National Championship titles. Alabama also holds the college football record for the most Bowl appearances and wins. Auburn, on the other hand, had one National Championship in 1957 and 2 Heisman Trophy winners, Pat Sullivan and Vincent "Bo" Jackson. Not quite as successful as Alabama, but always a threat on the field each season. One fact that has transcended the love and appreciation of Alabama football into something that closely resembles Idol Worship, or outright religion, to the Alabama Fan is the arrival of Coach Paul W. "Bear Bryant."—The University of Alabama in physical and human form. This brings us to the development or transformation of the Alabama fan. The success and tradition of this man is, without a doubt, the cornerstone of what we now know as the "Alabama Fan." From 1958 through 1981 Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant not only ruled the University of Alabama, but was more powerful than Governor George C. Wallace, himself, within the state of Alabama. Now that you get the point of a quickly painted picture—a sketch, if you will—of Alabama/Auburn football history, I believe I can show you why Coach Nick Saban is being treated as if he has a coaching record like Jimmy Johnson or Joe Pa. Since the passing of the greatest Alabama hero, Alabama has had various troubles trying to fill the shoes of Bear Bryant. In a nut shell, that has been the downfall of Alabama football. They have been trying to find the reincarnate equivalent of Bear Bryant without accepting the fact that he is dead. Without going through all the boring history of these failed Bear Bryant replacements, I will say that the closest they have come to the Bear was when Coach Gene Stallings brought home the 12th National Championship title in 1992. Since then it has been one disaster after the other. Enter Coach Nick Saban. Alabama fans can be suckered in by apparent success while searching for a coach. During this latest episode they tried their best to woo Coach Steve Spurrior away from the University of South Carolina. After they realized Spurrior was nobody's dummy, they moved on to Saban and then West Virginia's Coach Rodriguez. After Coach Rodriguez turned Bama down for the job Alabama AD Mal Moore held a press conference to announce that he would only hire a proven winner for the head coach position. That meant they could only hire someone who had previously won some type of championship in football. Finally, after weeks of embarrassment, the job was taken by Coach Nick Saban, who gladly took the money and ran after he realized his time was short at the end of the Miami Dolphins season. The price tag for Coach Nick Saban? Try 32 Million Dollars. Is that not desperate? Is that not the biggest gamble on a "Proven Winner" Coach with a 91-42-1 record that boasts a shared 2003 National Championship at LSU? LSU had a strength of schedule ranking of 29 that year. If you can understand this, you may be able to understand all the fuss over Coach Nick Saban. The cross state rival of Alabama, Auburn University, has been on the rise since the arrival of Coach Pat Dye, Bo Jackson, and other very talented people. Auburn continued to grow over the years and now Coach Tommy Tuberville "The Riverboat Gambler" has built a strong Auburn Tiger football team that has dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide. Currently the Auburn Tigers hold a 5 year win streak over Alabama with win number 6 on the horizon—a streak Auburn has never before been able to accomplish. The Alabama fan, like never before, has been in a panic-driven state of mind that resulted in the firing of their head coach, Mike Shula, who was once their very own Quarterback. Coach Shula suffered the "Fear the Thumb" 5th loss to Auburn that was too much for even the Alabama trustee's to stomach. They fired Coach Shula one year after a 10 win season and contract extension raise to satisfy the blood lust of the out of control and impatient Tide Fan. I hope you can now understand why such a build up over Coach Nick Saban has occurred, and how desperation at the University of Alabama could create a legend before his time in Coach Nick Saban. Imagine the luck of being in the right place, at the right time, during the right set of circumstances such as Coach Saban and walk away with a cool 32 Million? Wow!

Racial slurs are wrong in any form!

Racial Slurs are wrong in any form, from anyone!I do not understand how one race can be shielded from racial slurs while other races are free game for any type of verbal assault.When someone uses a word to belittle another person, that word has been uttered to offend.Just because a particular race has suffered more to racism than another does not give them a free pass to turn around and offend someone else, nor does it privilege you to use the particular offensive word against another member of your own race.Furthermore, to elevate or decrease the degree of hate or offensiveness of a word based solely on skin color, race, religion or gender would be prejudice in and of itself.How can you value one persons pain more than another's?Lets stop splitting hairs, racial slurs are wrong in any form.Edwardsthegreat

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Finebaum loses stock- Coach Nick Saban

Paul Finebaum has completely lost his objectivity while under the Saban Spell that has quickly consumed the Tide Nation. He boldly, if not arrogantly announces the best Alabama Head Football Coach since the Paul Bear Bryant days. It is very hard for me to believe any average Joe Six-pack sports fan would make such a wild prediction, least of all Paul Finebaum. Has he forgotten Coach Gene Stallings? Has he forgotten the National Championship Gene Stallings brought to the University of Alabama? Paul Finebaum has also bought into the notion that Coach Nick Saban will indeed provide the Tide Nation with it's 13th National Title within the incredible window of time of only 4 years. That is a fantastic prediction. That my friends is a bold sign of faith that Paul Finebaum really believes that Coach Nick Saban, and the Alabama Crimson Tide will be the perfect match. Therefore, all Alabama needs is Coach Nick Saban, and all Coach Nick Saban needs is the University of Alabama.How arrogant!Coach Nick Saban has a NCAA career record of 91-42-11 hotly argued share of the 2003 National Championship.WOWScoot over Paul Bear Bryant, Joe Pa, Bobby Bowdon, Steve Spurrior, and Eddie Robinson, Coach Nick Saban was all Alabama needed!

I could see the excitement reach a fever pitch as it has with Paul Finebaum and the drunk Tide girl that draped Saban and was later arrested for DUI if Bama had landed Coach Steve Spurrior, but Nick Saban? This is a Coach who did a great job at LSU, a One Major University State filled with talent and very little recruitment competition. Also Saban inherited a talent rich team recruited by Coach Gerry Dinardo. He hardly started from scratch.

And all it cost was 30 + Million dollars and defaulting on a previous contract with a Coach that really loved Alabama and was there when Alabama needed him the most. But all is fair in a contract buy out.

Paul Finebaum has really set the bar high for Coach Nick Saban, but even more interesting than that is that Finebaum has set the bar extremely high for his own credibility.

I knew Paul Finebaum was a big fan of the University of Alabama, but I was shocked that he would so quickly lose all objectivity. We all heard his 11-2 Auburn Who? Comments, and other ridiculous and disrespectful comments on other teams and coaches. I could chalk it up to a lashing out in frustration, a sense of desperation while being totally dominated and drowned by the success of the cross state rival in Auburn University, which Paul so fondly refers to as the "Red Headed Step Child University."

I can imagine in this same way of reasoning that Paul Finebaum and his Hallelujah Saban Quartet must be fantasizing about the other SEC coaches like Tubberville, Fullmer, Spurrior, Nutt, Meyer, Richt and Miles calling a meeting to throw in the towel since Alabama now has the incredible Coach Nick Saban. Yes, Mr. Finebaum I'm sure that they are!

Of all the people who have commented on this latest Alabama Head coach hiring, I believe former Alabama Quarterback Andrew Zow was the most objective and used a heaping amount of common sense when he made his comment that the Tide will improve with Saban as the coach, but he did not go overboard with his opinion or predictions. When asked if Auburn or Tubberville should be shaken that Nick Saban is now the Alabama Coach, Zow stated, "Not at all! I don't think they would be shaken at all, they are a winning program, they are proven. They know what they need to do to keep their program going. Alabama on the other hand is still building their program back up to where it needs to be. Tubberville on the other hand has been winning, beating Alabama the past 5 years."Now I believe Andrew Zow is being objective, not trying to belittle anyone's program but instead looking at the facts and trying to make logical predictions based on that.

What surprises me the most is the total blind faith of Paul Finebuam, and the Tide hopeful. What are they seeing that the rest of the country fails to see? Did they not see how Coach Saban acted as he met the fans at the airport? Or at the press conference? I did not see excitement at all. I saw a man that looked like he was ready to cash his check in a bank line.

Do you all actually believes he gives a rip about Alabama other than the ridiculous lottery score they are providing him with?

Edwardsthegreat

Monday, January 01, 2007

Sex, Lies, and Roadside Bombings!

Sex, Lies, and Roadside Bombings!

There is no way you can escape hearing that the American death toll has reached 3,000. The news media has held their breath long enough for the number to reach 3,000 and now they are reminding everyone how many soldiers we have lost in the Iraq war. Congressmen grimace as they shake their heads in blame. Senators scramble to be the first to proclaim that America is losing the Iraq war. Protesters light candles and wear armbands to show their support of withdrawing our troops, and casting blame on the president for ever daring to protect the citizens from terrorist attacks on our own soil.

It must be devastating to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty. Giving everything they had in the greatest of sacrifices. This selfless act demands the respect of all Americans. Every single soldier lost on the battlefield is a sacrifice in the name of freedom. Freedom is not cheap; it is paid for with the blood of our fallen.

All we ever hear from the media is how horrible the war is going. How we are losing this war, how we should have never invaded Iraq. How much we underestimated such a vicious enemy.

The media has acted for the benefit of our enemy as a propaganda machine doing everything in its power to make the American people believe we are losing this war. The national media market has portrayed the American soldier as a barbaric thug, killing innocent Iraqi citizens in an illegal war designed to profit from the regions oil supplies.

The media wants you to believe we are losing this war, crunching numbers to highlight all the negative realities of war, without showing any positive influences we have had during this war.

3,000 troops Dead!!!

Hey, let’s look at some numbers the media doesn’t want you to think about!

42,116 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2001. That’s 114 a day!

The common Flu kills 20,000 people a year in the United States!

15,517 people are murdered on average in the United States each year!!!!!

17, 229 people die from falls each year!

3,306 people drown by accident in the United States each year!!!!

3,369 people die from smoke, flame, or fire in the United States each year!

19,457 people die from accidental poisoning “drugs” in the U.S. each year!!

2, 855 people die from complications of surgery and medical treatment each year!

The Media wants you to believe that 3,000 American soldiers dying in a war is much too costly, and not worth fighting terrorism over.

Let’s crunch these numbers!

KIA = Killed In Action

The Revolutionary War
American Troops Dead- 10,623
War lasted 80 Months Average KIA: 55 Per Month

War of 1812
American Troops Dead- 6,765
War Lasted 30 Months Average KIA: 75 per month

Mexican War
American Troops Dead- 17,435
War lasted 20 months Average KIA 75 per month

Civil War
Union Troops Dead- 634,703
Confederate Troops Dead- 335,524
Total combined Troops Dead 970,227
War lasted 48 months Average KIA 2,293 per month

Spanish – American War
American Troops Dead- 4,108
War lasted 4 months Average KIA 1,000 per month

WWI
American Troops Dead- 320,710
War lasted 19 months Average KIA 2,816 per month

WWII
American Troops Dead- 1,078,162
War lasted 44 Months Average KIA 6,639 per month

Korean War
American Troops Dead- 136,935
War lasted 37 months Average KIA 909 per month

Vietnam War
American Troops Dead- 211,471
War lasted 90 months Average KIA 526 per month

Iraq War
3,000 American Troops Dead in Iraq
Almost 4 years in combat. Average KIA 50 per month


The American media needs to start reporting the truth, whatever the truth may be. The fact is that the American citizen is a lot smarter than the spin doctors of the out of control media, and we are just about fed up with all the lies.

Report the news or get out of the business.

Edwardsthegreat

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Brokeback Senate

Brokeback Senate


I heard Geraldo say on his show the other night that “Now is not the time” for Bush to bring up the ban on Gay Marriages, stating that the war in Iraq and high gas prices were two examples of why this is not the right time to bring up such a divisive issue. Geraldo stated, “I just don’t buy it” meaning this is nothing more than an attempt of Bush trying to shore up his support base before the elections.

I must ask Geraldo, just when is the time to bring up this issue? To me it is insane to start with; I can not believe this qualified to be a debate. I know, I know, go ahead and call me silly little names such as homophobe, right wing nut, Bible thumper, separatist, prejudice or any other tag you wish to place on me because I disagree with the sanctity of marriage be all inclusive instead of the traditional vows to God between a man and a woman.

You believe I should not have a right to voice my opposition to Gay Marriages. Well guess what? I do! That is my God given right as an American born citizen, and by God I stand on that right.

I am so sick of every television I turn on, every newspaper I pick up to read, every movie I go see, and every talk show I listen to telling me how gay people have rights and I should be ashamed of myself for not supporting their rights. It is a constant bombardment of homosexual propaganda being both spoon fed and shoved down my throat. Your attempts to brainwash me have no effect but to strengthen my resolve to voice my own opinion of my belief on the subject.

Get out of my face! I have my own belief system as you do yours.

Want to know what it is? I thought you did or else you wouldn’t still be reading this, so here it goes!

I believe the Bible to be the Holy Spirit inspired word of God. To me that means it is God’s instruction book to mankind on how to act and believe properly. Also included is how to not act. No, I am not going to preach to you. I am simply stating that the Bible is the Constitution (for lack of an easier word to understand) that I regard as the foundation of my belief system. Why? Because it has never been proven wrong in thousands of years and it is still continuing to prove correct all the time with the new findings of evidence. Find me another book completely accurate such as the Bible and we can debate it. But for now I will move on with my point.

God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. The only way to procreate is with a Man and a Woman. Two men can not breed; two women can not breed together. Simple, there is no reason for a man and a man or a woman and a woman to marry. The reason I believe gay’s desire to be allowed to legally marry is to create a sense of acceptance from all others.

Most important to me is this, where will this end should gay marriage be allowed under law? What next? A man and a Goat should be allowed to marry? A woman should be allowed to marry a Donkey?

You say but they love each other, they can not help their sexual orientation, they were born that way! Okay, then who is to stop a man who is sexually orientated towards small children from marrying one? He or She can give the same reasons for marriage if a legal precedent is set in law for gay marriage.

You see my point is this. It dissolves the sanctity of marriage. If this is allowed marriage will mean nothing anymore, it will become a ritual equal to a circus sideshow. And if it is made into law there will be nothing to stop it from becoming anything less than a circus sideshow.

Personally, gay people or people who are gay do not bother me. I could not care less what anyone else does behind closed doors with their friends of choice as long as it is legal and consenting, and it does not involve children. Really, I do not care. I do not look at them mean, roll my eyes at them or make any comment to them about my belief unless they want to know. Nor do I judge them to hell or look down on them. I know many gay people and I treat them as anyone else. If you want to be gay, be gay, but do not try to shove your sexual orientation down my throat or try to change my mind and heart to fit your own sexual desires. I do not do you that way, so show some respect and afford me the same courtesy.

I can not believe that in this day and time that the Brokeback Senate could not stand up and vote for the ban on gay marriage out of fear of being labeled insensitive or homophobe. Those who could not vote for the ban who are not gay themselves are weak spineless souls that will trade off every American Tradition out of fear of losing their public office. What a complete disgrace to all the founders of the United States Constitution, all the great forefathers of this great nation. Surely they roll over in their graves in pure disgust!

For those that are left with some backbone I stand and applaud you!

Let the people of this great nation decide for ourselves whether we want to ban gay marriage or not. I sure do not want this Senate to believe for one minute I allow them to think for me!

The Useless Philosophy of:

EDWARDSTHEGREAT!

Sunday, April 16, 2006

The Trojan horse of the American Invasion

Immigration and Political correctness
The Trojan horse of the American Invasion



I have passively watched the newscasts of protests from our Hispanic community with little interest, dismissing it as just another group voicing complaints against the government of the United States. Another group of people labeling themselves as a victim of the evil empire of the greatest civilized country to ever exist, America!

Again I turn on the television news only to be spoon fed the plight of the illegal alien. I have listened to many, many sound bites from the Hispanics declaring how important to the American economy they are. How they are merely here to provide for their families in a peaceful law abiding manor. I see the news reels flickering on the screen showing the solidarity of the protesters marching, picketing, and shouting their rights to remain in the United States to pursue the American dream without threat of deportation.

Later I see more footage of the same marches and protests popping up around our country. But the difference now is that we get to see the politicians jockey for positions on the issue. After all, it is another opportunity for more air time for them. Our President George W. Bush continues to push for immunity and registration of the illegally transplanted.

Finally, the media grants me the opportunity to hear the other side of the issue. As always they search the world over until they find a willing Bubba that will gladly give his best to express the concerns of the legally born American citizen. Someone that has limited communication skills and best fits the stereotype of your average bigot. After all we must be fair since the Hispanics are a little harder to understand.

So by the end of the coverage, I am faced with making a judgment on which side of the issue I stand. So hear it goes, at the risk of being called an insensitive bigot I will attempt to bare my feelings.

I have had very little unpleasant experiences with any person of Hispanic origin. They seem to be very respectful, polite, and very hard working individuals. I must admit if I were born south of the border of America I would eventually run, jump, swim, or do whatever it took to get to this wonderful land of opportunity and freedom if it were denied to me through legal process. For that matter I would do the same from any piece of dry land which is outside the borders of the United States. So I do not look down on or condemn them for their desires to be here. In some ways I even admire the courage it must take to leave home and journey into a foreign land where they are unwanted, and start from scratch to build a new life of hope.

Here is my personal problem with the Hispanic protesters. They escape their home countries of government corruption and poverty to come to the land of plenty. They are bold and opinionated about the fairness of the policies and laws of the American people and their government. They stand in solidarity calling for boycotts and the temporary closing of Hispanic owned business in an attempt to temporarily harm the economy to prove they are a viable asset to America.

Here is my question, why do you not do this in your own Country? Why do your people not try to fight and protest the corruption and poverty in your own land in order to live free and prosper? Why do you not take over your own country and make it the home it should be? I believe I know the answer to this, first of all because you would find your head in a hand basket. Before the paint dries on your picket posters you would be cut down in the street by automatic gunfire. Your homeland is not as kind, gentle, and compassionate as we Americans are they? You are not allowed to use the media to voice protest of the inhumane treatment and poverty of your own country are you?
Of course your not! You would be sought out and murdered in cold blood for taking a stand against them.

So why come here illegally to pursue salvation from oppression only to protest the laws of this land? Stay home and protest the laws that force you to leave your homeland for America if you want to protest and challenge a government. One more question, should the United States grant the illegal immigrants immunity?, how would they feel about having to pay not only the sales tax they currently have to pay, but every other form of taxation Americans are burdened with? Would that dampen the American dream any? There is an old saying that we have here, it would behoove the illegal alien to abide by it. “Do not bite the hand that feeds you!” Another point they make is that they are unjustly targeted for police harassment by the means of racial profiling. You want to remain in this country anonymously until such times when you are in need of assistance. Taking this stand against law enforcement is only an attempt to cloak yourself within the safe arms of political correctness. You attempt to shift the focus of being here illegally by pointing fingers at the law enforcement community as a whole as being the bullies of poor minorities. The fact is that if you are here illegally, you are criminally trespassing and therefore a law breaker. You further claim that this does not make you a criminal, yet you do not contribute your fair share as a citizen by exchanging taxation for lower wages provided by the willing underground employer. I could go on by making countless other examples of how the illegal alien burdens the middle class tax payer, and robs the working citizen of his own wages, but this would be pointless. We all know how it is done.

Again, I do not blame the Hispanic community for their desire to become American citizens. Who wouldn’t considering what they want to leave behind? So who is to blame? Our government?

I would definitely blame the American government for their lack of foresight. We as a nation have turned our head away from the problems that an unprotected border creates. It is no longer just a problem it is a national security crisis that is already too far out of control. We as a nation have adopted the ideology that it is not correct to mention the faults or crimes of those who do not belong in the majority classification of race, religion, or creed. This has festered and grown to the point that there is no longer the privilege to free speech or expression unless you belong to a minority group. You are brought under swift condemnation and tagged as prejudice or insensitive for speaking your own opinion unless of course you do not belong to the majority.

It has come to the point to where we as Americans are unable to enforce the laws of the land due to the fears of being labeled bigots. The politicians are the ones who fear this the most, and the end result is the inability to make a stand on the laws of the land and have them enforced. They choose rather to go with the popular opinion of the day to ensure their popularity and ability to be elected again, ultimately becoming whores for the popular vote. Meanwhile the laws of the land become weakened due to the lack of willingness to enforce the law and penalize the law breaker.

What does this have to do with immigration or national security you may ask? Everything! Our government has allowed immigration to continue to the point that our economy is burdened to the stressing point of collapse. The invasion of America has already taken place. The illegal aliens who consist of innocent minded foreigners, along with illegal criminals, terrorists, and other political enemies of this country are already here. They already live among us. They have been allowed entry into this country in the form of a very real Trojan horse, political correctness. The hatch has already dropped; the illegal aliens have spread to the far corners of this country and have taken root, establishing themselves among us. Have they adapted to our way of life as Americans? Or have they brought their own way of life and concepts regarding the future of this country?

No, I do not believe every illegal alien is a threat to our country, to believe this would be prejudice, but how many are already here that are?

We all know full well that our country could close down the borders forcing any entry to this country be legitimate. We have become the peace keepers of the world, defending freedom around the globe while we have left the back door of our home wide open for anyone with a halfhearted desire to enter it walk right on in among us. Yes I blame the government for this problem. But there is also someone else that holds the greatest responsibility.

The American people!

That’s right. You and I have allowed this to happen by sitting around being concerned with only our own little slice of the American pie. We absentmindedly go to the polls and vote straight party tickets for our favorite party, believing our team will get the job done. Let everyone else march and picket for their rights as ours are steadily taken from us. We sit around drinking coffee and complaining about how the country is going down the tube, but we as individuals do nothing to stop it. We only rely on our legislators to handle the problem instead of holding them accountable for the votes on the issues that affect our future. What if we did what the Hispanic community is doing now? What if we stood in solidarity voicing our own demands that we be protected and defended as we should be? What if we ignored the accusations of the politically correct, and held our own rallies nationwide to force those elected to represent us, represent us? Why don’t we as separate, but united, states create and demand our own immigration laws and demand they be enforced? It all starts and ends with the average American citizen. How much longer until we demand our own rights be defended first? No, I do not blame the Hispanic community, I blame the American citizen for taking the power of the American vote for granted.

The Useless Philosophy of:

Edwards the great!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Road Rage!

Road Rage


So, your driving down the interstate, no doubt thinking on the events of your day or what you have on the agenda tomorrow. Your minding your own business, traveling between the posted speed limit of 70 mph and 80 mph. Then all the sudden your vehicle interior fills with blinding light. You glance up at the rearview mirror to see an 18 wheeler's radiator grill just off of the bumper of your car. No warning, no idea he snuck up on you so quickly. Before you are even able to change lanes, he is flashing those huge bright lights in your eyes. You want to check over your shoulder to see if the middle lane is clear to merge over into the next lane, but you can't see behind you for the blinding lights.

Suddenly, you are now thinking about the movie Maximum Overdrive, the movie that featured vehicles taking on a life source of their own with a lust for running over anything and everything in their path. But this is not a movie, you have 20 tons of metal bearing down on the trunk of your car traveling at 80 mph.

Road Rage sets in.

This is the unexplainable urge to take the situation personal. We as drivers of our vehicles now become as territorial as lions, tigers and dogs. My lane is my lane by God, and nobody will bully me into giving it up. What gives that trucker the right to rule the road? He is probably from out of state anyway, I live near here. Pride is also an important factor involved with road rage. You rationalize the situation. I was already doing the speed limit, maybe a little bit more, what gives him the right to be driving faster than me? I'll show him. I'm not going to merge over, heck no, I'm going to slow down. This will chap his backside. So you slow down. 80 mph, 75, mph, 70 mph, 65 mph. There, you think to yourself, I bet that got his panties in a wad. Sure enough, the trucker abruptly changes lanes almost kissing the back bumper of your vehicle. Now he is gaining on your right side. Now enters competition, this is the compelling urge to hold your ground, keep in the lead ahead of the truck. As the cab of the truck moves along side where you can see the front of his rig through your passenger side window, you step on the accelerator. Slowly you progress forward, watching with pleasure as the front of the rig falls behind. A giddy feeling of excitement and payback encourages you continue to put distance between you and the truck. Now who is the King of the road? You watch the trucks headlights fade smaller in the rearview mirror. You ease back in your seat with a smug feeling of victory, after all, you showed him who was boss. He needs to go down the interstate a bit further to find a driver who has no backbone. Maybe as far as Mississippi you think to yourself.

Now the traffic picks up a bit more and slows you down. You scan the lanes in front of you in order to choose which lane will give you the best possible strategic advantage over the trucker who has gained momentum. Yes, a slower vehicle just merged into the middle lane, you merge back to the far left lane. The trucker confirms your wise calculations by getting back into the far left passing lane. A smile brightens your face. You know round 2 is about to begin. You judge your speed against the slower middle lane driver, making sure he doesn't spoil your plans by merging in front of you. You accelerate to the point that you are side by side with the middle lane driver. All lanes blocked momentarily. Here he comes. The truck advances on your rear rapidly. You accelerate just enough to appear that you will overtake the middle lane driver and merge over in front of him, allowing the truck to gain the fast lane.

Just as the truck has built up enough speed to gain on you and maneuver around you in front of the middle lane driver, you lift your foot from the accelerator, rapidly losing ground to the middle lane driver. The trucker continues his speed until he is back on your bumper again. Success, you have boxed him in again. There they are, the high-beams flashing inside your vehicle again. You smile, you know the trucker's blood pressure has boiled over. He is at your mercy. You decide it is time to cruise at a leisurely pace for a few miles or 5. The trucker cannot get over due to other traffic that has caught up. You are in the drivers seat.

You have grown accustom to the bright lights and closeness of the 18 wheeler on your behind. It doesn't strike fear in you anymore. He can kiss my 4-wheeling, 4 cylinder butt, you think with pride. Besides, driving a big heavy truck like that is dangerous. He could hurt someone. Your thoughts are interrupted by a loud air-horn and more flashing headlights. Well, what do you know, your exit is coming up, and now you must gain enough speed to overtake both lanes of traffic to the right of you. You accelerate full speed ahead, leaving the group of travelers behind. now you take the exit lane and slow down enough making sure the trucker can catch up to you. As he pulls along side, you lift your hand to give him a 1 fingered salute. You see his brake lights flash on as you laugh knowing that he has no chance of making the exit lane. He gives up and continues on with his travels. You sit back and marvel at the nerve he had to challenge your right to drive however you see fit.

Now the excitement ebbs. You replay the whole experience from start to finish. After the joy of irritating this trucker goes away, you start to wonder why you even bothered with it in the first place. After all, that isn't how you normally react in your everyday life. You question yourself, why did I not just get over and let him go about his business? It wouldn't have hurt anything, I was in no hurry. Why did I let it get to me that way? You think to yourself, maybe he had a family emergency and was just trying to get home in a hurry and dint realize he was driving rude. You also realize that chances are that if you had met that same truck driver during the course of your day, you may have liked him enough to buy his lunch.

Now guilt sets in. The truth of the matter is that you as a responsible and courteous driver should have just merged over and given him the fast lane. Wow, you think to yourself. IM the inconsiderate driver. How did that happen? Is it the fact that when your in a car, your really anonymous to all others? Do you really feel safe in the surroundings of your vehicle to the point that you will act in a manor that is normally not your personality? This is something to think about the next time you are driving. You never know who is in the next car, and what they are capable of doing.

The useless philosophy of:

Edwardsthegreat

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

What's Wrong With Wal-Mart?

What's wrong with Wal-mart?

I happened to read an AOL news story featuring Wal-mart and their quest to improve their self image. Hey, I can help here! I can tell you everything you want to know and more about what's wrong with Wal-mart.


First, out of kindness I'll say this, Wal-mart provides a place you can go to shop and get anything you need in one trip, from groceries, underwear, and Rolaids, to getting an oil-change for your vehicle. Okay, now that I said that, I'll tell you what I really think about Wal-mart.

The commercials on Wal-mart show the hard working women who juggle being a mother and a career woman. They express their glee of being able to go to Wal-mart, get everything they need in one place, while saving big money hand over fist for their effort. Well, that's the idea and genius of Wal-mart. Now, let me tell you what happens when you enter the doors of your local Wal-mart for this one stop shop experience.

After choking out the second hand cigarette smoke from all the Wal-mart employees gathered around the entrance, smoking like a tar pit, usually you are greeted by an older employee wearing a blue vest and a smile. (the first and last smile you will see from a Wal-martster) you choose a shopping cart that least resembles a dumpster. At this point, most families split up and go different ways in search of their priority products. The lone shopper decides which way to navigate first.

You then begin browsing a particular section in search of that must have item. Well, darn, there it is, but the only package left has been torn open. It's still there, but even if it is something you wont be eating you don't dare buy it because it has been opened already. After all, we all remember the Tylenol tampering. So off to find that Walmartster you saw wearing a blue vest with "How can I help You? " written on the back. There she is putting something back in place on a shelf. You ask her if she knows if there is any more of what you can't find somewhere else in the store. She stares, blinks. And then lets you know with pride that she does not work in that section. Now you stare, Blink. After a moment of déjà vu (surely ive been here before, in this same situation) you watch the blue vest with (How can I help You?) disappear to the next isle. Great! after a moment of suppressing your skyrocketing blood pressure, you say the heck with it and move on to continue your one stop shop experience.

As you navigate past a small group of bluevester's arguing about when their next break is, and guide through a pickup game of Nerf football on isle 5, you find your next destination. You are browsing at some ties or bra's, whichever you wear, and suddenly you hear a loud voice over the intercom screaming code 7 in zone 4, code 7 in zone 4. You think to yourself, their looking for shoplifters, everybody knows that! You look around forgetting about the tie (or bra) to see if your being followed by secret service bluevester's (undercover of course). You fantasize about being tackled by Secret Agent Bluevester so you can sue the great Wal-mart Machine for false arrest. You grow bored with this thought, and this one stop shop experience and head towards the check-out counters with your buggy load of impulse buying you managed to collect while looking for what you needed.

Then you find yourself searching for a cashier that has less than a dozen customers. You notice that they have at least 40 cash registers, but only 5 of them with a cashier. Then you remember you needed a tobacco product. So you go to the one and only line that will provide you with this commodity only to find fifteen angry buggy pushers waiting for the one and only cashier allowed to provide you with this commodity to return from behind the Great Wall of Tobacco with a pack of Lucky Strikes. Now the bluevester cashier rings up the other 60 products the man had to go with the Lucky Strikes. 1 down and 14 to go. You thumb through a few gossip rags featuring the Freak Hollywood Star of the month to fill the precious time Wal-mart loves to detain you with in the store. (Best chance for that last minute impulse buy). 8 down and 7 to go. Oh no, the register light on the pole turns on as the cashier stops checking items and begins picking the nail polish from her register worn fingernails. After a few minutes you see Sergeant redvester stroll up to the register to insert her key card in and like magic the bluevester is checking items again. Finally only 2 to go. "This cannot be happening!" you hear yourself scream inside your head. A fresh bluevester walks up with an empty register tray in hand.

The nightmare continues. The bluevester's tally up the take for the Walton family in ever so slow fashion, after all, they are paid by the hour. finally it's your turn to experience the charm of a bluevester cashier. In your attempt to speed up this one stop shop experience, you place the big bag of dog food on the conveyor belt table top. Forbid waiting on her to do it, after all your just another paying customer. Now you use your debit card to make the purchase (another attempt at saving time) praying there is no malfunction while you remember shopper number 8's child pushing all of the buttons on it. Now, at last you get your receipt. At this point you clutch it as if it's a winning lottery ticket. You quickly head to the door, you cringe. You guessed it! the friendly bluevester greeter has been replaced by the receipt-Nazi. Yes, you must prove your an honest shopper by showing your proof of purchase. You smile because all she has left to do is place that silly orange smiley face sticker on your bag of dog food. As you leave the bluevester thanks you for your prolonged visit, and once again you are a free citizen with all your rights restored.

If Wal-mart can correct these problems with their earned self image that surely all shoppers experience, they will no doubt continue to dominate the retail world.

The Useless Philosophy of:


Edwardsthegreat

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Always Opinionated! Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Defending Condoleezza Rice!

Eugene Robinson is a columnist for the Washington Post.

Mr. Robinson, in your Thursday, October 27th, 2005 column you wrote of how you have long wondered what the deal was with Condoleezza Rice and the issue of race. You pose the questions, "How does she work so loyally for President George W. Bush, whose approval rating among blacks was measured in a recent poll at a negligent 2 percent? How did she come to a world view so radically different from that of most black Americans? You then question Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mental state of mind and intelligence by asking "is she blind'? "Is she in denial"? "Is she confused or what"?

Eugene Robinson, are you suggesting that black Americans are unable or not allowed to think and choose for themselves? Are you suggesting that black Americans are unable to develop their own point of views on the issue of race due to the color of their skin? Are you suggesting that the 2 percent of black Americans must be blind, in denial or confused if they do not agree with you and the rest of black America?

I also have to ask if you expect Condoleezza Rice to be unloyal in her work as Secretary of State just because she is an African American appointed by President George W. Bush? How ridiculous and unprofitable would that be to the American people and their nation, to have the Secretary of State to be disloyal in her work under the President?

You then suggest that during your whole three day tour of duty following Condoleezza Rice and her entourage as she toured her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama that you have discovered a partial answer to why she thinks and believes the way she does. This is no doubt an amazing skill you possess. You first determined that she grew up in a protective bubble as the tumult of the civil rights movement swirled around her. Your asinine partial answer is that Condoleezza Rice is still closeted in her beloved Titusville, the neighborhood of black strivers where she was raised in Birmingham, able to see the very different reality that all (except Condoleezza, mind you) other African Americans experienced, but she herself was unable to reach outside of her protective bubble, not able to touch that other reality (racism), and thus not understand it. Incredible, you were able to come up with a theory of how it must have been for a young black girl to be raised in Birmingham during the civil rights era and develop a mindset and belief system different from your own! How arrogant. Maybe it is the reality of the fact that an African American woman could be raised by decent, loving, and dedicated parents that you refer to as a Protective Bubble, during that most challenging era and still achieve the third highest position in American government without using the race issue as a platform to her success. I bet that upsets you most of all.

You accuse the parents of Condoleezza Rice for sheltering her against Jim Crow racism, and thus allowing their daughter to show no bitterness (Hate) when she recalls the warm memories of her childhood in a town whose streets were ruled by the white segregationist public safety commissioner Bull Conner. I noticed there was no praise in your column for the Rice parents for raising their daughter to love and not hate a person due to the color of their skin, but to judge someone by their character. There is also no mention of the fact that her parents taught her the value and importance of a good education. They were also most successful in this area of child development.

Condoleezza Rice was quoted of saying, " Ive always said about Birmingham that because race was everything, race was nothing." In other words she saw that racism could hold no power over her and keep her from achieving success, only she could do that. She chose to consider the race issue a non-issue for her life. Maybe Condoleezza Rice could teach all the rest of America, black and white her understanding. Maybe then racism and bigotry would end if we appreciate each other for who they are, not by what they look like.

You stated that when Condoleezza Rice reminisces, she talks of piano lessons and her brief attempt at ballet, not of Bull Conner setting his dogs loose on brave men, women and children marching for freedom, which is the Birmingham that other citizen's you met still remember. Is this what you ponder on when you reminisce of your childhood? Maybe Condoleezza had stronger memories of love, family, and personal interests that burned more deeply into her mind. You are suggesting that Condoleezza shares no part in the African American's Struggle for equal rights. This is an absurd assumption, an unfair at best.

You do grudgingly admit that that Condoleezza Rice lost her childhood friend to a white racist who planted a bomb in the little girls church, yet because she can speak of her loss without visible emotion to your approval, you doubt she suffers true emotional scars. You are quite a judge of other's personal grief and emotions.

You write that Condoleezza doesn't deny that race makes a difference. She stated, "We all look forward to the day when this Country is race blind, but it isn't yet!" I believe this statement is half wrong and half right. You do not wish this Country to be raceblind, you wouldn't have anything to write about in the press to keep hate and strife alive and well between the blacks and whites. The half right part of the statement is true, " It isn't yet!" (raceblind) because their are too many people with your world view who refuse to see anything but race in every issue. Condoleezza added, " The fact that our society is not colorblind is a statement of fact!" I agree, except that it must be mentioned that white and blacks are not colorblind in our society.

You wrote "but then why are the top echelons of her state department almost entirely white?" Only a question someone who is not colorblind could ask. Her answer, " That's an artifact of foreign policy, it's not been a very diverse profession. You translated that into, " in other words, there are aren't enough qualified minority candidates, you then added, " I wonder how many times those words have been used as a lame excuse"? Counting yours Mr. Robinson? It seems to me that if you believed that yourself you would encourage the type of raising you described earlier as a protective bubble. Maybe each parent in America should adopt this protective bubble theory for raising their children, then there would be more Condoleezza Rice's in the upper echelon positions. Great idea!

Again you knock Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for not reaching back to her home neighborhood to bring others to the same status. Just how many people from your hometown neighborhood did you reach back for that currently work with you at the Washington Post? I bet I could answer that for you!

You also mocked Condoleezza's interpretation of the history of civil rights being fought from inside the institutions, such as Martin Luther King demanding that institutions live up to what they said they were, challenging America to be what it said it was, the land of the free. You wrote, " I know very few black Americans who think of themselves fully as insiders in this society, no matter how high we may rise, [How inspiring!) there is always that reality that rice acknowledges: The society isn't colorblind, not yet its not always in the front of your mind, but its there. Well, no wonder when there are African Americans as yourself on the inside of American institutions such as the free press who constantly remind all Americans the color of their skin and offer an excuse for their failures in life.

Your last assault on Condoleezza Rice and her upbringing was, " When Rice was growing up, her father stood guard at the entrance of her neighborhood with a rifle to keep the Klan's night riders away. But that was outside the bubble, inside the bubble, Rice was sitting at the piano in pretty dresses to play Bauch Fugues. It sounds like a wonderful childhood, but one that left her able to see the impact that race has in America-able to examine it and analyze it-but not able to feel it. If there is a "rosebud" to decode the enigma that is Condoleezza Rice, It's Titusville." I believe I know Condoleezza rice better than you do Mr. Robinson.

It seems to me that you are green with envy that you were not raised in this same "rosebud" of a protective bubble. After all, Condoleezza Rice overcame, your still struggling obviously with the fact that a black woman on her own merit rose to the top, and has placed herself in position to realistically being elected the first black and the first woman ever to occupy the oval office as President of the United States of America. She will have my vote when the time comes! What an inspiration to all races and genders. May God Bless You Mr. Robinson and open your blind eyes to the fact that we are all Americans.

Edwardsthegreat

Insults from Bama Bubba's & Homers!

IM sorry, I was reading the posts and wouldn't you know an Alabama fan would be calling an Auburn tigress White Trash!

People, if you have ever visited the great state of Alabama, you have been exposed to what the Darwin Theory believers call the Missing Link. This is the type of human being that appears to be stepping out of the crouch from Ape to man in your 5th grade science book explaining evolution. If you do not understand what I am trying to explain, pay close attention to the next "person" you see wearing an Alabama T-shirt, Cap, or Jersey. Notice the extended forehead and deep set eyes that are almost always set too close to each other. Listen to this "person's" Speech, notice not only the slurred and simple words spoken, but also the structure or lack thereof of the speech pattern. Also notice the element of fantasy mixed in with facts. Please try not to focus on obvious distractions such as "Tide" Washing Detergent boxes or Rolls of toilet tissue worn as a cultural Headdress. If the offensive odor emanating from these "person's" does not prevent a closer look you will no doubt see a Dale Jr. #8 or a Houndstooth hat tattoo somewhere on this "person's" body. Right now is a great time to find one of these "person's" strolling through Wal-Mart or K-Mart stores, Since the Alabama football team has actually won Seven games in a row. In the past few years you had to spot one of these "Person's" by their similar facial features as noted above, mostly wearing overall's, Greasy Jeans and Dale Jr. Ball caps due to their embarrassment in associating with the Crimson Tide when they have losing seasons. Just in case the Tide drifts out to sea again you can always find any local trailer park, flea market, state fair or even a quick trip out to the Talladega speedway to find this common breed of "person's".

A word to the wise, please do not provoke these "persons" by shouting a War Eagle! Or Go Vols! Within earshot of them, they have not advanced enough to overcome the animalistic urge to throw Jack Daniels bottles while cursing wildly, slash tires, and using obscene body language in their frustration to communicate as we do. Being called White Trash or any other insult from a Tide fan can only be a compliment.

Weight Loss Infomercials



Lets be honest, we all have been fooled at least once by these weight loss commercials, ads and infomercials that promise extreme weight loss in 30 days, 60 days or even in just two weeks. All you have to do is pick up the phone, or log onto the net and by next month you will look like you did your junior year in high school. whether it be a pill, a cookie, an exercise contraption that looks like a Nazi torture device, or a jogging suit guaranteed to destroy your self esteem when your neighbors see you jog around the block in what they think is a rescue worker in a Hazmat space suit. Really, take a look at one of the commercials (every fourth commercial, any channel) and see what they are promising. Don't you just love the actual before and after (use of their product) photo's? Like the ever present fat man in a Hawaiian shirt with the sun glasses on? and the picture next to him that looks like Sylvester Stallone. I have always been particularly fond of the gorgeous women who are exercising on the machines in perfect stride and harmony, and yet they maintain a smile that stretches from ear to ear the whole time they are working out. This is supposed to mean, Hey, this is fun! maybe, just maybe if I get one of those machines for only four easy installments of $49.95 I too can have fun and achieve a super model body in only twenty minutes a day, three days a week, in two months. But really the reason they are smiling so brightly is because they are being paid to pose on this machine for just a few camera shot minutes while a group of overweight people admire their body. I mean come on, have you ever seen one drop of sweat on their pretty little faces during these commercials? Why don't they have honest commercials, say like an overweight guy like me with his shirt off, pouring sweat onto his gym shorts and grimacing with agony? I mean really, that's what I do when I ride my exercise bicycle! And the pills, my favorite is this one, "when is a diet pill worth paying over a hundred dollars for, when it works! really works!". Plus it is guaranteed or a full refund less shipping and handling. OK, lets figure this up. I pay $125 bucks for the bottle of pills, plus $12 dollars for shipping and handling. That's $137dollars. OK, I take the pills, lose the weight, everyone is so happy. Or I take the pills and remain the slob that I am. No problem! I mail the empty pill bottle back, if I can find the address. I wait several months and receive a check for $125 bucks. OK, I still lost $12 bucks shipping and handling, they gained at the least $10 off of me. That's if I bother with the refund. And have you seen the one with the Ski type motion? you know the one. You can use this machine and make believe your in Colorado skiing the slopes, and lose weight doing it. I have to admit, I tried one of these at my neighbors house. I know fat people are not known to have great balance anyway, but when I got on this machine, I almost lost a leg to its scissors like motion. I mean it is made of wood and metal after all. I guarantee you Mary Lou Redding would have had trouble staying on that wild ride for more than two minutes in her prime Olympic days. One more thing should throw up a red flag if your bright. Ever noticed the quick little warning on the commercials for diet pills that say, " use of this product alone or in conjunction with any prescribed medication may cause minimum to severe side effects or reaction, including runny nose, heart palpitations, headaches, rash, temporary blindness, hair loss, vomiting, liver failure, or dizziness?" OK guys, this is a red flag! I mean what good is being slender if your walking around holding on to a rolling IV stand?

The useless philosophy of:

Edwardsthegreat