Friday, March 14, 2025

Waiter Rant #1

     I work as a waiter at a popular chain restaurant, a place that goes out of the way to make for a pleasant customer experience. Separate checks? No problem; the system's set up to make that very easy and quick. Special orders, i.e., no mushrooms, no onions, extra cheese, etc...? Also not a problem; we do "mods" all the time. Didn't like the cheese sauce, or were the fries soggy? We'll comp you an appetizer or even a dessert. My employer has been in business for a long time; their food is good, and the ambiance is a few steps above a traditional diner like Shoney's, Denny's, etc. Its' warm, welcoming environment attracts all kinds of people, and the bar scene is usually lively and fun during happy hour. 

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Why Football in America is Great

 The following is a rewrite from the original, in 2010

Football has been more than just a sport to me; it's been a classroom of life where I've learned the essence of teamwork, the resilience needed after defeat, and the discipline required for success. Each game, each season, has been a lesson in leadership, strategic thinking, and maintaining composure under pressure. But perhaps most importantly, football has taught me about community - how a shared passion can unite people, creating bonds that last well beyond the game. Whether it's learning to accept failure or celebrating success, the field has been my teacher, showing me how to navigate life's plays with grace and determination.

The Journey of Hope: Navigating the American Dream

 

The Human Story:

Imagine Ramon, Nora, and their young son, Felipe, living in Honduras, a nation grappling with violence, poverty, and political corruption. Both Ramon and Nora were laid off from their jobs at a local manufacturing plant, plunging their family into economic hardship. With no job prospects in sight in Tegucigalpa, the capital city, their savings soon vanished, leading to eviction from their home. Desperate for survival and a better future for Felipe, they joined a caravan heading towards the United States, a land rumored to offer opportunities for work and family unity. This narrative isn't unique; it's echoed by many who arrive at border cities like El Paso, Laredo, Nogales, and Tijuana. These individuals don't seek conflict but rather hope, a chance to work, and to keep their families together, despite the sorrow of leaving their homeland, culture, and ancestors behind.

Saturday, February 1, 2025

The Mindset of the Democratic Party in America

        When we were all living in the jungle, before we built cities, some people began to notice that there were people amongst them who were doing a lot better than most. They had better food, women, clothes, etc.-and that made some people envious and hateful. How could you have a steak to eat, when I have nothing? How could everyone praise you, but ignore me? Such a dark emotion to feel at the sight of someone's achievement! Instead of channeling their ambition into productive or creative endeavors, envious individuals direct their energy towards destructive desires, wishing to diminish others rather than elevate themselves.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Trump Haters: A Personal Anecdote

    I've experienced what's been called "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (by his supporters), right here at home. My room mate is an intelligent, attractive lady with a talent for making people feel at ease.  She is often kind, considerate, and thoughtful of others-all in all, what we sometimes call "good people". The problem is, she passionately hates Donald Trump. She has said so many times in our conversations around the house, and often I overhear her on the phone venting this hatred on her friends, who seem to agree with her. Because her tirades against Trump, his wife, and his supporters are so vitriolic, sardonic, and passionately sincere, I wondered, why? I have no problem with people who dislike or even hate Trump's policies, but what is this personal thing that we are seeing all over the world, this irrational hatred for someone who is not a murderer, child molester, thug, or a pervert? Yes, you can disagree with Trump's policies. More power to you! You can work to effect the change you want to see in policy, you can help elect politicians who represent your values, but why, oh why? do you so thoroughly hate the man? Especially when his record, his Cabinet, and his stated platform, is pro-America (for all Americans), pro-prosperity, pro-human progress-where people are truly free to pursue their dreams and goals? 

Sunday, December 1, 2024

    I remember how my Internet usage first started. I was at the University of New Orleans, learning how to use a text only browser called "Lynx" (or something like that), c. 1997.  The "Lynx" browser was essentially an index of hyperlinks to academic texts all over the world. It couldn't show images or play sound. Soon after first using Lynx, I discovered another Internet browser-Windows 3.0. This could deliver pictures and sound files! The transition from text-only to sound, audio and video seemed to happen overnight. People began talking about their favorite websites, like My Space, ICQ, Napster, and others. Wireless modems began appearing on laptops-they were typically the size of a hand held walkie-talkie, and attached to the back of the screen/lid by Velcro strips. The connection speeds were very slow compared to 2024 standards. An mp3 sound file would take about ten minutes to download, for example. The first modems were about 28 kbps, then 56 kbps came out and everyone thought that was great.

Monday, November 18, 2024

On Playing Music

 

"IT'S JUST TWO CHORDS!",  I told the man who complimented me after I played “Ode to Joy”. This  melody was much more complex than just two chords in Beethoven's  9th Symphony, of which “Ode to Joy” is part. Nevertheless, it has become a simple Christian worship song, a song that resembles children’s tunes in chord structure (“Mary Had a Little Lamb”, and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” comes to mind). I briefly discussed this with him, and he confessed to loving such music for it's simplicity, but not really understanding the musical theory behind it. I was absolutely amazed at this man’s kindness, however, because it was obviously sincere. So now, dear reader, let me ask you a question: what do you think is the most real, most sincere way to show your appreciation to a musician you like? Applaud/clap? Tip? Make a shrine to him or her in your closet?

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Drill Baby Drill

A part of the reason why so many elitists support efforts to replace fossil fuels with solar and wind (mostly), is because it would eliminate a lot of their problems. How so? Because of poor people doing poor-people things that interfere with their personal elitist agendas. "We are only trying to make the world a better place for our children and their children", they claim, and that might be true. But, poor people care nothing about green energy-because it's expensive and unreliable. The poor care absolutely nothing for ideas like "diversity", "inclusion", and the rights of transsexuals. No, the poor are concerned with other more important issues, like making the rent, fending off starvation or malnutrition, somehow buying their children clothes and toys, avoiding being robbed on the street, not freezing to death in the winter, etc. 

Saturday, November 16, 2024

The Problem with Politics


 POLITICS SUCK MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE INCUDING DISEASE

-John Russell Turner

This is what's happening in the UK right now. Farmers are being pushed off their farms. Why?

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Demonic Times

I had the experience of dealing directly with someone who hates Donald Trump. This person told me that anyone who votes for him is not welcome in her house. Well, that concerned me a little because I'm her room mate. She's sleeping right now on the other side of the apartment. Fortunately, she can not just call the police and have me evicted. I'm on the lease with her. Last night she had a run against me and Donald Trump that told me a lot. Here's a brief background: before she knew I support Trump, she thought I was a great guy and all, didn't hassle her for sex, cleaned after myself, and paid the bills on time. She'd get drunk and tell me how much she loves me, how much she "really appreciates" me and asks me to never go away. Sober, she's respectful and even affectionate. But, after she knew I supported Trump, I was a "woman hater", "against her children"; she accused me of being a "racist", of being a typical "white guy" voting for the "white guy". After spewing basically the worldview of Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg all over me-the one that posits life as a big "fuck you"-she actually had spittle foam at the corner of her mouth. She wasn't being cute or funny or practicing absurdist comedy. She was "for real". She meant (or perhaps thought she meant) all she told me. And guess what happened when I explained to her-with receipts-that  she was wrong? She doubled down, of course. Shrill, hysterical and consciously evil. All that was what this person showed me in response to learning of my support of Donald J. Trump.

Friday, November 1, 2024

Shame Tactics to Get Out the Vote?

 

About a week or two ago, ads started showing up on X and YouTube. The organization behind this ad campaign to get veterans to vote is called the Vet Voice Foundation. Recently I discovered that the Vet Voice Foundation is also sending out flyers via snail mail, so I got curious as to who these people are at the Vet Voice Foundation. I just wanted too see who it is that thinks trying to shame people into voting is right. 

A simple Google search reveals that Vet Voice filed a lawsuit against an attempt to reform the voting process in Washington State.  The Stranger, a Seattle based left wing news outlet (print and on-line), wrote a sympathetic piece about this lawsuit. A brief visit to the Vet Voice website reveals they consider fighting "misinformation" a campaign, a mission if you will. Click here to view their statement on this issue. So, the people using shame tactics to get veterans to vote are Leftists. Yet another example of their lunacy. 

If You Want Me to Send You Something, Use Email!!!

Ah, the many insights brought about by my experience working in a call center! It's been an overall positive experience, even with the occasional "problem" customer calling in from time to time. This is because it has given me a window in which I can see and even study human behavior. Why should I, or anyone else, want to study and observe human behavior? For me, the answer is to better understand the huge mystery which is myself and my behaviors, and, to be an effective call center employee.  

Monday, October 28, 2024

An Open Letter to Trump Haters

Your vile hatred of Donald Trump is totally evil, for given the good that this man has done, you embrace a monstrous injustice. You call good, evil, and so condemn yourself to a living hell on Earth, because that's all you're about, really-you're about tearing everyone down to your level of depravity and mediocrity. Your ethical systems are exactly in reverse, which does not bode well for you. I also see the smirk on your face when you talk about Trump and his supporters-over 80 million people. In fact, I suspect that you despise the idea of justice, for it condemns you as a metaphysical killer.  He has been falsely charged of crimes, falsely accused of inciting an insurrection, falsely accused of fraud, attempts were made to bar him from state ballots (most famously in Colorado), and fucking shot, narrowly avoiding assassination. You cheer all of this on, against an innocent man. A man loved by literally millions of people around the world for what good he has done, and can still do. And you, you vile piece of shit, hate a man deserving of admiration and respect. Some of you are voicing concerns that Trump and his supporters will embark on a revenge fest against his haters should he win. Given the fact that they tried to silence him by bullet, could you blame him? You should worry about justice being served on you, because you are guilty of wanting an honest man dead. I don't believe Trump will do that, he'd be inclined I think to seek healing and reconciliation with these people, but they do not want healing and reconciliation. They want death, violence, and chaos. 

The verdict is in, Trump haters. You have been found guilty of moral treason, by the court of objective reality. No judge has convicted you, rather, what is the truth convicted you. You supported Trump's persecutions. You traded the truth for a lie, and now you're worried about the consequences? Good! 

Saturday, October 26, 2024

The Beautiful Simplicity of Christianity


Rule 2: "Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping."
-Jordan B. Peterson, from Twelve Rules for Life

Jesus has told us that the best way to live our lives is to love God with all our hearts, and to love others as we love ourselves. That is a challenge for me, because I am an arrogant elitist sometimes, thinking proudly that I despise the entire human race and all its' foibles, making me better than everyone in the room with me. Not because of anything superficial, rather, because that's how fucking awesome I think I am. E
ventually, I wind up boring, and alienating, everyone I meet. No wonder. Most people can spot a selfish jerk immediately. 

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Don't Work for Others All Your Life

Probably the thing that sucks the most about not having enough money to quit working for someone else is...working with people. Why? Because up until the point you met them at work, all of your co-workers were total strangers, complete unknowns. Even after working with them for a while, you'll still know very little about them. Of course, some work places are more close and family-like, but hey! if you don't fit into their family, you're just not in the family, and probably should look for work elsewhere. I always wondered at employers who try to "foster a welcoming environment", and also speak of their hired help as "family".

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Don't Tell Me to Vote

OR ANYTHING ELSE, for that matter, but let's focus on "the vote". Commercials urging me to vote are everywhere these days. One even tried to shame me into voting by mentioning that  my friends and family could look up whether or not I voted. So let's get the record straight, OK? Voting may be a right, but it is not a duty; it is a discretionary privilege. Nothing more. And if you think you can shame people into doing what you want them to do, then you are the same kind of cheap thug who tried to shame people into wearing masks. Try logical persuasion, no, wait, that would require effort on your part.

Sunday, October 20, 2024

An Apology to Alcoholics Anonymous

SO, AA was right all the time, patiently sitting back watching me foam at the mouth while I railed on and on about their inconsistencies and what-nots. 

Friday, October 18, 2024

It's Way Past Time for the Democrat Party to Die


 By this time, many of you have seen the  "word salad" responses Kamala Harris has given to interviewers. She does not answer  questions, she rambles incoherently...a lot. Then there's her blatant, almost gleeful lying about everything. Her constant attacks on Trump and his supporters serves as a cover for her incompetency, a play directly taken from the Democrat Party playbook. She has reversed her position on various topics, but refuses to explain why, giving instead insulting and at times condescending word-salad answers to simple questions. Is she a serious candidate? Why is she running? What exactly are the Democrats offering America with Kamala Harris, and that pervert Walz? Satisfaction for Trump haters? Vengeance on Trump and his supporters? 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

For My Grandchildren

The only relevant things in the job market are competency, and the ability to get along with co-workers and customers. 

Can you do the job? Perform the task efficiently and competently? Can you overlook your co-worker's obnoxious attitude and carry on with your job? Can you respect the customer's humanity, desire sincerely to help him, and ignore their body odor? Do you refrain from being obnoxious and irritating yourself? Are you kind when people approach you with their concerns? In other words, if you can do the job well, and are not a lizard person, then you'll be successful in the job market, and in the other areas of your life. Why? Because in the job market, competency and tolerance of others are paramount.

A Brief Memo to Kamala Harris



I hear what you are saying, but your words seem cacophonous and discordant. Your words are poison, as Eowyn said to Wormtongue. You lie as casually as you do anything in your life, buttressed by the belief that since it gets you what you want, it's OK, it's even moral. You want to be President, and that's all you want, the power that goes along with it. You, a master at prevarication, obfuscation and gas-lighting, care nothing for the people of America who aren't in your elite circle. 

Harris lies to serve herself and her agenda. She has traded the truth of God for a lie, and my God! she wants to be President, and to hell with anything else.