First, let me state right up front that I had NOTHING riding on the outcome of the Jets/Steelers game. I picked the Jets for two reasons:

1. 1. 1. 1. I hate Rothlisberger and the fact that he got a measly suspension at the beginning of the season for his role in making unwanted advances to women, one of whom was under the legal drinking age reportedly groped (and whatever else) by Ben.  (Thankfully he didn't get caught hosting dog fights with Pit Bulls or he may have done jail time — or maybe he can be thankful he's white.)
         2. With Jets' stud quarterback out of the picture, we won't get to see Latina reporter Ines Sainz on the sideline (ahem),  reporting the game or interviewing Sanchez.

Now I know this sounds awkward and the two reasons appear to be in direct contrast with one another.  The irony of the situation is not lost on me.  But Rex Ryan, or whoever was calling the offensive plays, blew this game.

You are first-and-goal from the 3 yard line and you have Ladaniel Tomlinson in your backfield and you throw on second and third down — WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?  Then they gave it to LT on fourth down when everyone and their brother knew that would be the call, and the Steelers crowded in and blocked the attempt at six points.  They should have come out of that end with a touchdown and momentum.  Instead they turn the ball over on downs.  (Now as fate would have it, they end up with a safety and two points on the very first play by the Steelers, but it still isn't 7 and there was a bit of a let down as the fans were let back into the game.)

Really coach, you should have had your head in the game because you blew it brother.  What are you doing down on the sideline, daydreaming?  Playing footsies?  (Okay, that wasn't necessary, I'm sorry, but dude, you brought this upon yourself!)

Glenn Beck is on a tour of sorts pushing his new book on how we, as a people, need to "fix ourselves." I forget the name of the book, but I recall it sounding a lot like  7 Habits …. so not so original there Mr. Beck.

But really, what's the deal with Glenn Beck lately?  Seems like he's shifted a bit toward the middle (to his left from where he was).  We saw it first when he produced that big deal last year in Washington DC where he softened the political rhetoric a bit in favor of evangelical rhetoric (although it's tricky for the average amongst us to tell the rhetoric apart!).

Something fishy is going on and I have to say, I'm not sure folks on the left are all that pleased that he's moved closer to them.  But it's deeper than just his views.  Take a good look at this photo and notice that as Beck ages, his African heritage is starting to show.  Notice the hair.  Notice the skin tone changing a bit — seriously folks, I think he may be coming out that there's more in his family background than he'd shared with us previously.  

I knew he'd come around, but this discovery blew me away.  I'm glad he'a embraced his true self and as he did, he's telling us with this new book to fix ourselves.  It is so much clearer to me now.

I have to admit, I really like Sara Palin.  A lot.  If you haven't noticed, she has a slight change to her hair style.  (This photo is with the new style.)

I thought she was pretty attractive before this style change, but she's hotter now.  A lot.

But if her people can just get her to talk LESS, she'd be attractive to more people.  Every time she opens her mouth and says something stupid or uninformed, which has been most of the time over the past 2 years, I want to poke myself in the eye with a pencil.

And now with all the nonsense where some idiots suggested we blame her for the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gifford and others 10 days ago, she's talking again.  Please, make it stop.  And to hear her the other day on Fox (where she's a paid guest) where she defends her going on the offensive, only to end her comments with "I will not shut up."  And we were so close! 

It's difficult to say which misstep she's taken in the past 12 months sealed her fate as a non-threat to President Obama as contender for the 2012 presidential race, to which she's stringing along her acolytes, but regardless, the cameras seem to seek her because the result is often quite entertaining. But she must consider getting new handlers that will lead her correctly and help her to adjust.  She doesn't need any help with her hot-ness (yes, that's a word), but she does need help for when she opens her mouth to speak.  A lot.

Okay you decide — you encounter THIS in the drive-up line as you approach to order your favorite cup of coffee:  does it mess up your appetite?  The one of the left is the Tim Horton's on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn, MI, the one on the right is at the Dunkin' Donuts on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn — they're only about a mile apart.  So is it that they're both coffee joints?  Maybe it's that they're both on Michigan Avenue. Or can it be that they're located in Dearborn, Michigan?  Hmmm.

It's great that any establishment puts out a garbage receptacle so that lazy people can move their refuse from their vehicle and pass it along for someone else to clean up.  But what's the point for said establishment to place the receptacle if they can't keep it clean?  Garbage is all around the base of these units because stupid people that pull up and see that the receptacle is full insist on attempting to place their item in there as though and watch as it falls to the floor.  Another great idea that is poorly executed.  

Jared Loughner, the maniac that went on a rampage in Tucson, Arizona killing six people Saturday is a terrorist, plain and simple.  But what is it that makes us afraid to use that term?  Is it because he doesn't wear a white flowing robe or doesn't have a beard?  Or maybe it's because he's American and on our soil — but really, what he did and what he stands for is no different than some fuck that flew an airplane into the WTC.  So let's call this sick puppy what he is — and label him along with the many others just like him: terrorists.  

What Loughner did last weekend was heinous and sickening.  And just like acts done by others we refer to as terrorists, it was cowardly.  This whack-o had an agenda and a plan that he carried out.  He also has sympathizers that like him, believe the US government is what's wrong with the world and that its members should pay dearly.  That scares the hell out of me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think all idiots that spew hate and divisive rhetoric, forcing people to cower in fear should be locked up at Guantanamo Bay.  Hell, we'd have to disband congress and followers of Limbaugh, Palin and Hannity would have to find other ways to fill their time.  (Nice how I worked that in.)  But just because someone doesn't "look like a terrorist" doesn't mean he isn't, it just means we need to get our mind around this way of thinking and used to the fact that our enemies are all around us, and maybe even the neighbor next door. 

Sorry for the sideways view (although that can be said about me in general).  But really, why place a garbage can in the lane as you approach the drive-up window.  Tim Horton's on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.  All I want is my small coffee, 2 cream no sugar.  Crazy thing is that much of the garbage ends up on the ground anyway as this mess overflows.

California Republican Representative Darrell Issa says that CNN got it wrong when he claimed President Obama was corrupt — that they somehow were the only ones that misunderstood what he meant when he made claims on the Rush Limbaugh show back in October.  First of all Darrell, you were on the Limbaugh show — you knew exactly what you were saying and to the audience that was receiving your message.

But trying to claim that Obama was "one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times" is somehow the same as " 'Corrupt', or 'corrupted' or 'failure', it's no different than a disc drive that's given you some bits that are wrong."  What sort of moron makes that type of comment after having had weeks to prepare a response?  (On a side note Mr. Issa, you should fire your handlers because you were ill-prepared to talk with John King from CNN.)  Calling someone corrupt is personal and suggests criminal wrong-doing (use a dictionary next time) and a corrupt disk drive is one that has had data erased, trampled on or otherwise disturbed and rendered inaccessible. Hmmmm, just described what happens to well-intending politicians once elected to office! 

Making those claims without ANY evidence or corroboration, and even before being sworn in as the Chairman of the Oversight Committee  – another politician that makes the American people out to be mindless followers.  Not so Mr. Issa.  And all you had to say was that you used the word improperly — King gave you two opportunities to save face and say that, or that you were sorry in some way and you totally avoided addressing your error.  So much promise. What a shame.

It's hard to believe that Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has already spent nearly 25 years in jail.  He was convicted in 1987 of spying for Israel and thought we've convicted many spies in the past 50 years, no one ever got life in prison.

It's not surprising that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is pleading for Obama to release Pollard — and why not ask, the US government has never turned down any request from Israel.  The balls to ask for us to forgive this man of the crime he committed against our government — screwed by our so-called ally without so much as a kiss.  Funny how that works: take billions of US tax dollars from us every year in the way of technology, war gear and forgiven loans, fuck us as you have your spies entangled in our government and affecting our foreign policy then ask for forgiveness ONLY because you were caught.  

I hope President Obama isn't swayed by the powerful Israeli lobby and doesn't give in to the pressure he'll no doubt get from the GOP to let this criminal go free.  Israel has done nothing for the US government except to sway its decisions in world affairs.  Let Netanyahu know that the American public is tired of his government's arrogant tactics and policies and that we'd consider Pollard's freedom if they cleaned their act up with the Palestinians — let's start by giving them back their land and finding peace in a two-state solution.  

Really, what Pollard was caught doing in the 80's is no different than the sort of terrorism we are fighting today.  He compromised the USA's national security putting lives at risk.  And who knows, there were likely lives lost that we simply don't know about.  Pollard was a terrorist with an agenda, and the agenda was created and driven by a government we've supported blindly for over 40 years.  Enough already.

My rant on the cheaters taking open handicapped parking spaces at my local Target store isn't complete — not until I blast the lazy-ass MFers that park in the handicap space while they're waiting for someone to come out of the store.  Unbelievable — they sit in their car and wait for their friend or family member to come out.  It's like the handicap space is this great convenience so their fat-assed partner doesn't have to walk too far.  It makes you want to ask them what the hell they're doing.  The answer you'll likely get is "waiting for my wife/husband/lazy-ass kid to come out of the store, they'll only be a minute." 

What are we to do with this nation of parking lot cheaters? I say we rise up and confront these bastards, let them know they're not getting away with anything because we can see what they're doing.  They're cheating and we don't need to take it any longer!  Rise up people.

Ever notice how many able-bodied people park in the handicapped parking spaces around retailers?  Is it just me or do Target and Walmart stores seem to attract a greater share of these lazy asses?  I love my local Target store — to the tune of 2 or so visits a week — but what is it that brings out the worst in folks to where they park in a space reserved for someone less fortunate than themselves?  

You know who I'm talking about — the trailer park trash that gets out of their car, usually some beater, often in full conversation on their cell phone, as they jump to their feet and stride into the store.  This moronic lazy affliction knows no boundaries and is without prejudice as it impairs men and women, black and white, young and old.  It makes me nuts almost to the point of speaking up, which I won't do because I'm chicken shit.

I understand that not all handicaps are ones you can see, but trust me when I say this, you can tell who needs the close parking spot versus someone who doesn't, even if they have a mental handicap that you cannot see.  The idea of a near-the-door parking space is for those that are physically impaired and need the benefit of the shorter distance to the front door. 

I am not wasting this space in hopes of sending a message to the offenders — those idiots likely don't own a computer and/or cannot read anyway.  What I'd like to see is for the local police to deputize more citizens like me and allow us to confront these losers before they move on to become hardened criminals.  I suggest the local police outfit everyday citizens, many of us with too much time on our hands, and give us a badge, a pad of tickets and a gun (just in case), and that will be one less matter for them to deal with.