Yesterday, I found myself driving to work in the wee hours of the morning. Around 4 am, I snaked along the dimly-lit back roads of Frederick County as I headed to my destination in Urbana, MD. On a nice, sunny day, I don't mind driving on the country roads. It's kind of relaxing and if you're lucky enough to find some John Denver on the radio, it can be quite euphoric. But in the middle of the night, it's a different story....
I guess I sometimes let my imagination run wild. As I passed a large cornfield along route 75, I envisioned an Amish guy (complete with a pitchfork) jumping out in front of my car. Amish people have always freaked me out a little. I think it might be the Moe Howard haircuts and the moustacheless-beards (It's ok to say things like this because the Amish don't have the internet yet).
Whenever I'm out in the boonies late at night, I'm always reluctant to stop. One time, I can remember being really thirsty. So, I figured I'd grab a drink at the next convenience store. After a few miles, I found an old gas station/country store. And it wasn't Shell or Exxon either. I can't remember the exact name of the place but it was something really catchy like "Cheap Gas and Grub". I'm pretty sure they sold fishing bait too. Anyway, I wound up pulling into the parking lot (which happened to be totally vacant). As I gazed into the store from the safety of my locked car, the sign on the front door said "Open" and the lights appeared to be on, but no one seemed to be working. I have to admit, it made me feel a bit uneasy. I know it sounds crazy, but I could feel the presence of the banjo-playing kid from "Deliverance". I wound up driving away and stopping at a 7-11 when I got back to civilization.
Another problem with driving late at night is the various animals that you encounter. Now, I don't mind a raccoon or an opossum. I look at those things as small speed-bumps. But if a deer, even a small one, runs in front of your car, you could be in some serious trouble. I can see myself trying to drag the deer off of the hood of my car while the Texas Chainsaw family looks on from the nearby woods. And sometimes you'll see animals that you don't even recognize. On more than one occasion, I've done a double take and said, "Whoa! What the f*ck was that???"
Aside from the animals, you've also got the insects to deal with. Several years ago, I was driving home from a town called Earleville. It was a hot, humid Maryland night. As I breezed along the country road, a variety of insects sacrificed themselves on my windshield. My washer fluid was working double-time as my vision was reduced to a blurry haze. Just as things began to clear, something smashed into my windshield with reckless abandon. My initial thought was that I had hit a large bat. I'm serious, when it hit, you heard a loud "THUD!" I had to roll down my driver's side window just so I could see the road. With my head hanging out of the window, I looked like Ace Ventura Pet Detective. I frantically pumped the washer fluid and desperately tried to steer the car. It turns out that it wasn't a bat that I had hit. It was some kind of large dragonfly. This was the Sasquatch of all dragonflies. I figured that I would probably need to hire a sandblaster to clean my windshield by the time this was all over.
And lastly, another thing that drives me nuts is when someone blasts you with their high-beams. The other night, I was driving up an incline on a very dark road. Just as I crested the hill, a car coming from the opposite direction blinded me with his retina-damaging headlights. It was like that scene in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." I instantly pulled over as I rubbed my eyes and tried to shake away the spots.
I'd be willing to bet that John Denver wrote "Country Road" during the day..........
kw
Monday, July 27, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Confessions of a Born-Again O's Fan
As a young kid, I can still remember walking up those ramps at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. Peeking through the rails as I climbed my way to the upper deck, I marveled at the manicured field. The grass was so green that it didn't seem real. The anticipation of watching Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell and Paul Blair was much like the feeling that I got on Christmas Eve.
By the time I was ten years old, I had almost become obsessed with the Orioles. I could give you the stats of almost any player. I would sometimes encounter an old-timer who was sitting on his front porch listening to the O's game on a transistor radio. I would frequently stop and ask, "Any score yet?" This would often lead to a lengthy baseball conservation as we simultaneously listened to game on the small radio.
Through my rebellious teenage years, I continued to follow the O's. I can still remember the excitement and, ultimately, the extreme disappointment of the '79 World Series. The O's had a 3-1 lead in the series against the Pirates. But somehow, Pittsburgh came back and won the final three games to win it all. But it didn't long for the O's to get back in the driver's seat and in 1983, they beat the Phillies to claim their third World Series crown. I felt like I was walking on cloud nine. My beloved Oriole's were the World Champs!
The O's would have their ups and downs during the rest of the 80's. Who can forget the infamous 21-game losing streak to start the 1988 season? This is something that was completely foreign to most O's fans. Eventually, some moves were made and in the mid-90's, we had another contending team. With guys like Rafael Palmeiro, Robby Alomar and Mike Mussina being led by manager Davey Johnson, it appeared that Baltimore would be back in the Series before long. But they fell a little short, losing the 1996 AL Championship Series to the Yankees.
And then the wheels really came off........
The Orioles amazingly went on to endure 15 consecutive losing seasons. By mid-point during this dismal period, as much as I hate to admit it, I lost interest in the Baltimore Oriole's (and baseball in general). The "Oriole Magic" that filled the Baltimore air for so long had seemed to have run it's course. I no longer felt the "connection" to the team and the players seemed to be going through the motions of a season that couldn't end quickly enough. And when the Orioles signed Albert Belle, this was the nail in the coffin for me. This guy was an A-1 asshole and I really couldn't see myself cheering for him. Of course, all of this was around the same time when the Ravens were coming into their own. So, it was an opportune time for them to steal some of the Oriole's thunder. Nonetheless, I figured that my beloved "baseball days" were forever gone.
But then something happened...
A few years ago, out of curiosity, I tuned into an O's game. I was impressed with the way the players were hustling. Adam Jones was a guy to whom I developed an instant liking. His Gold Glove spoke for itself in center-field but I particularly loved his attitude and his overall approach to the game. He's the type of guy who is capable of jump-starting a team. His attitude is contagious.
As the team played through the season, I could tell that something had changed. The players seemed to genuinely like one another. The chemistry that had abandoned the clubhouse for the past decade appeared to be back. I found myself watching more and more games as the season progressed. I had rediscovered the team that had brought me so much joy as a youngster.
........................................................................................................................
The Orioles recently finishing a disappointing series in which they were swept by the first place Yankees. This was a very crucial series and it certainly left the O's in a pretty deep hole. It will be an uphill battle to get to the post-season. But it's still July and there's plenty of baseball left to play.
When the Birds blew a lead in the game Friday night against Tampa Bay, you could see the display of frustration from Manny Machado as he came off the field in the 9th inning. And when the usually reserved Wei-Yin Chen was pulled from this afternoon's game, he showed a rare display of emotion as he walked off the field. He even then threw his hat when he got into the dug-out. It may appear to some as nothing more than an emotional outburst. But I see it as passion. And that's precisely what led me to rediscover this team.
O's skipper, Buck Showalter made an interesting comment after today's game. When an interviewer asked him about the recent criticism of the team by the fans, Buck replied, "I'm glad they're criticizing us. It means they care."
I think that pretty much sums it up!
kw
By the time I was ten years old, I had almost become obsessed with the Orioles. I could give you the stats of almost any player. I would sometimes encounter an old-timer who was sitting on his front porch listening to the O's game on a transistor radio. I would frequently stop and ask, "Any score yet?" This would often lead to a lengthy baseball conservation as we simultaneously listened to game on the small radio.
Through my rebellious teenage years, I continued to follow the O's. I can still remember the excitement and, ultimately, the extreme disappointment of the '79 World Series. The O's had a 3-1 lead in the series against the Pirates. But somehow, Pittsburgh came back and won the final three games to win it all. But it didn't long for the O's to get back in the driver's seat and in 1983, they beat the Phillies to claim their third World Series crown. I felt like I was walking on cloud nine. My beloved Oriole's were the World Champs!
The O's would have their ups and downs during the rest of the 80's. Who can forget the infamous 21-game losing streak to start the 1988 season? This is something that was completely foreign to most O's fans. Eventually, some moves were made and in the mid-90's, we had another contending team. With guys like Rafael Palmeiro, Robby Alomar and Mike Mussina being led by manager Davey Johnson, it appeared that Baltimore would be back in the Series before long. But they fell a little short, losing the 1996 AL Championship Series to the Yankees.
And then the wheels really came off........
The Orioles amazingly went on to endure 15 consecutive losing seasons. By mid-point during this dismal period, as much as I hate to admit it, I lost interest in the Baltimore Oriole's (and baseball in general). The "Oriole Magic" that filled the Baltimore air for so long had seemed to have run it's course. I no longer felt the "connection" to the team and the players seemed to be going through the motions of a season that couldn't end quickly enough. And when the Orioles signed Albert Belle, this was the nail in the coffin for me. This guy was an A-1 asshole and I really couldn't see myself cheering for him. Of course, all of this was around the same time when the Ravens were coming into their own. So, it was an opportune time for them to steal some of the Oriole's thunder. Nonetheless, I figured that my beloved "baseball days" were forever gone.
But then something happened...
A few years ago, out of curiosity, I tuned into an O's game. I was impressed with the way the players were hustling. Adam Jones was a guy to whom I developed an instant liking. His Gold Glove spoke for itself in center-field but I particularly loved his attitude and his overall approach to the game. He's the type of guy who is capable of jump-starting a team. His attitude is contagious.
As the team played through the season, I could tell that something had changed. The players seemed to genuinely like one another. The chemistry that had abandoned the clubhouse for the past decade appeared to be back. I found myself watching more and more games as the season progressed. I had rediscovered the team that had brought me so much joy as a youngster.
........................................................................................................................
The Orioles recently finishing a disappointing series in which they were swept by the first place Yankees. This was a very crucial series and it certainly left the O's in a pretty deep hole. It will be an uphill battle to get to the post-season. But it's still July and there's plenty of baseball left to play.
When the Birds blew a lead in the game Friday night against Tampa Bay, you could see the display of frustration from Manny Machado as he came off the field in the 9th inning. And when the usually reserved Wei-Yin Chen was pulled from this afternoon's game, he showed a rare display of emotion as he walked off the field. He even then threw his hat when he got into the dug-out. It may appear to some as nothing more than an emotional outburst. But I see it as passion. And that's precisely what led me to rediscover this team.
O's skipper, Buck Showalter made an interesting comment after today's game. When an interviewer asked him about the recent criticism of the team by the fans, Buck replied, "I'm glad they're criticizing us. It means they care."
I think that pretty much sums it up!
kw
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Trump - Not Your Average Candidate
The other day, Republican Presidential contender, Donald Trump, made a controversial comment regarding Senator John McCain's "hero status". Trump basically said that McCain was only a viewed as a hero because he was captured (during the Vietnam War). This, as expected, generated a harsh round of criticism for Mr. Trump. Although Trump's initial intention was to blast McCain's stance on immigration and his role in covering up the VA scandal, he somehow ventured down a dead-end road regarding McCain heroism.
This comment came not long after Trump called out illegal immigrants for being rapists, murderers, etc. He has also recently lambasted reporters for asking "stupid questions". Trump seems to have no filter and calls things exactly as he sees them. No matter how you feel about the guy, you've got to admit, he knows how to draw attention to himself. (I'm almost expecting Trump to decorate his campaign headquarters in Confederate Flags.)
No doubt, Trump continues to supply the American media with plenty of sound bites. Even fellow Republicans have turned on him. Senator Lindsey Graham recently referred to Trump as a jackass. (Trump promptly responded by giving out Graham's cell phone number during a speech in South Carolina). And other GOP candidates have made clear efforts to distance themselves from him.
So, with all of this being said, how do you think Trump is fairing with potential voters? Drum roll please........Trump is leading in almost every poll! Yes, that's right, with every new controversial comment, Trump seems to get more popular! So, how can this be?
I think Trump is doing well because he has quickly established himself as the one candidate who isn't afraid to speak his mind. It doesn't mean that he's necessarily right. But at least he has the balls to say it. On the contrary, Democratic Presidential contender/bozo, Martin Owe'Malley recently got himself in trouble for saying "all lives matter" in front of a mostly black audience. The crowd, obviously not feeling a whole lot of love for pale folks, voiced their opposition by booing Owe'Malley off of the stage. Ironically, their blatant racism was spun to make Owe'Malley look like an insensitive leprechaun. So, what did he do? When he was subsequently lambasted by a young, black reporter, he apologized. Yes, that's right. He basically apologized for being a recipient of racism. It was pathetic.
Do you think the Donald would have apologized to the reporter in this situation? Hell, no. He would have said something like, "F*ck you, you race-baiting moron! Next question!"
Owe'Malley currently has roughly 1% of the vote in Democratic pols while Trump leads the GOP polls* with about 20%. Coincidence?
Some of Trumps fellow Republican candidates have called for him to drop out of the race. Can you guess why? He's beating all of them!
Trump's campaign slogan is "Make America Great Again!" Of course, many criticize Trump for being too inexperienced to accomplishment this task as our next President. Ironically, several years ago, they didn't seem to care when a rookie Senator from Illinois was running for the White House.
In a nut shell, this is where Trump stands on the major issues: He believes we need to cut government spending. However, he doesn't support cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits. Instead, he believes that we should grow the economy to support those programs. On gun control, Trump supports a ban on assault weapons and supports longer wait periods for gun purchases. He thinks that climate change/global warming is bullshit. On the abortion issue, he is pro-life. Regarding gay marriage, he believes that it should be left to the states. He believes that the US should walk away from nuclear talks with Iran and increase sanctions. He opposes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. He wants to repeal/replace Obamacare. And he wants to end corporate taxes and lower the individual tax rates. He also proposed a one-time (14.25%) tax on the wealthy to help pay down the national debt.**
When Trump announced his candidacy several weeks ago, almost everyone took him for a joke. But now, the other GOP candidates are scrambling to knock him off of his soapbox. And as I mentioned before, whether you like him or not, he has effectively fired up the Republican base. While I don't really expect Trump to win the nomination, maybe some of the other more "stable" candidates can learn something from all of this. If nothing else, Trump has shown that people are tired of the bullshit that's constantly being fed to us by "the usual politicians".
kw
* http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_republican_presidential_nomination-3823.html
** http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/donald-trump-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/
This comment came not long after Trump called out illegal immigrants for being rapists, murderers, etc. He has also recently lambasted reporters for asking "stupid questions". Trump seems to have no filter and calls things exactly as he sees them. No matter how you feel about the guy, you've got to admit, he knows how to draw attention to himself. (I'm almost expecting Trump to decorate his campaign headquarters in Confederate Flags.)
No doubt, Trump continues to supply the American media with plenty of sound bites. Even fellow Republicans have turned on him. Senator Lindsey Graham recently referred to Trump as a jackass. (Trump promptly responded by giving out Graham's cell phone number during a speech in South Carolina). And other GOP candidates have made clear efforts to distance themselves from him.
So, with all of this being said, how do you think Trump is fairing with potential voters? Drum roll please........Trump is leading in almost every poll! Yes, that's right, with every new controversial comment, Trump seems to get more popular! So, how can this be?
I think Trump is doing well because he has quickly established himself as the one candidate who isn't afraid to speak his mind. It doesn't mean that he's necessarily right. But at least he has the balls to say it. On the contrary, Democratic Presidential contender/bozo, Martin Owe'Malley recently got himself in trouble for saying "all lives matter" in front of a mostly black audience. The crowd, obviously not feeling a whole lot of love for pale folks, voiced their opposition by booing Owe'Malley off of the stage. Ironically, their blatant racism was spun to make Owe'Malley look like an insensitive leprechaun. So, what did he do? When he was subsequently lambasted by a young, black reporter, he apologized. Yes, that's right. He basically apologized for being a recipient of racism. It was pathetic.
Do you think the Donald would have apologized to the reporter in this situation? Hell, no. He would have said something like, "F*ck you, you race-baiting moron! Next question!"
Owe'Malley currently has roughly 1% of the vote in Democratic pols while Trump leads the GOP polls* with about 20%. Coincidence?
Some of Trumps fellow Republican candidates have called for him to drop out of the race. Can you guess why? He's beating all of them!
Trump's campaign slogan is "Make America Great Again!" Of course, many criticize Trump for being too inexperienced to accomplishment this task as our next President. Ironically, several years ago, they didn't seem to care when a rookie Senator from Illinois was running for the White House.
In a nut shell, this is where Trump stands on the major issues: He believes we need to cut government spending. However, he doesn't support cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits. Instead, he believes that we should grow the economy to support those programs. On gun control, Trump supports a ban on assault weapons and supports longer wait periods for gun purchases. He thinks that climate change/global warming is bullshit. On the abortion issue, he is pro-life. Regarding gay marriage, he believes that it should be left to the states. He believes that the US should walk away from nuclear talks with Iran and increase sanctions. He opposes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. He wants to repeal/replace Obamacare. And he wants to end corporate taxes and lower the individual tax rates. He also proposed a one-time (14.25%) tax on the wealthy to help pay down the national debt.**
When Trump announced his candidacy several weeks ago, almost everyone took him for a joke. But now, the other GOP candidates are scrambling to knock him off of his soapbox. And as I mentioned before, whether you like him or not, he has effectively fired up the Republican base. While I don't really expect Trump to win the nomination, maybe some of the other more "stable" candidates can learn something from all of this. If nothing else, Trump has shown that people are tired of the bullshit that's constantly being fed to us by "the usual politicians".
kw
* http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_republican_presidential_nomination-3823.html
** http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/donald-trump-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/
Sunday, July 12, 2015
City On Fire - Watering Things Down
Yesterday, during an appearance at the infamous Mondawmin Mall, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was doused with a cup of water by a woman in the crowd. The Mayor hasn't exactly been Miss Congeniality lately, so it's not that surprising that someone might display a bit of animosity towards her. But it's never a good idea to throw stuff, even it's only water, at a public official. And in SRB's case, she spends a lot of money on her hair and make-up, so splashing her with water is just downright mean.
The masculine looking water-tosser, was quickly arrested and charged with second-degree assault. This, in itself, isn't too surprising. However, if you rewind the calendar a couple months and replay the scene where Baltimore City cops were being doused with bricks near this very place, it definitely makes you go, "Hmmmm."
So, if you toss water on someone, you're immediately arrested. But if you trade in your water bottle for a harder item, let's say a brick, you can reload and fire away without any worries of being arrested. Apparently, the "stand-down" order only applies to items that can knock you unconscious.
Through social media and news sites, I read through some of the comments regarding the water incident. Several people commented that they were surprised the Mayor didn't melt when she was hit with the water. And that was one of the more milder comments. It seems pretty obvious that there's not a whole lot of love for SRB these days.
The water incident came a day after another controversial bombshell was dropped on the Mayor. A leader of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP, Hassan Giordano, announced that the Mayor had told him that Republicans were not allowed in the Baltimore offices*. This came after Governor Larry Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford were scheduled to come to the office for a Republican outreach hosted by Giordano. Not surprising, the Mayor has denied making these alleged comments.
(Additionally, it was reported that the National leaders of the NAACP called the Baltimore office and said "There is no way in the world they can come into our office." Of course, the "they" was Hogan and Rutherford. So much for trying to work together. Remember that they next time the NAACP tried to feed you some bullshit about diversity.)
Coming back to the water incident, is it possible that it was all staged? Perhaps, for exchange for Big Gulp and a chicken box, a local crack addict was hired to throw water at the mayor. It would definitely be something that would generate a fair amount news coverage. Additionally, it would absorb some of the impact of the NAACP accusation. And as a bonus, it might even possibly garner a little sympathy for the embattled Mayor. I know it sounds kind of far-fetched but anything is possible in Baltimore City these days......
kw
* http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/10/baltimore-naacp-leader-says-stephanie-rawlings-bla/
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Maryland! My Maryland! - Offending Everyone
Yesterday, a crowd gathered in Columbia, South Carolina to watch the Confederate flag come down for the last time. As the SC Honor Guard slowly lowered the flag, the crowd cheered wildly. You could hear brief chants of "Take it down" and "U-S-A!". As the drama unfolded, TV cameras panned the audience for any signs of emotion. And when the ceremony concluded, people were already talking about other things that should be banned....
There's already a push to take down statues of Robert E. Lee and any other memorials of the Confederacy. Although these people and events were an integral part of our nation's history, there are those who seem to want to erase it. Sorry folks, you can't change the past by simply removing any references to it. So, instead of removing a statue of someone like General Lee, wouldn't it make more sense to use it as a teaching opportunity? I'm using logic and reason here, so nevermind.
Recently, in my home state of Maryland, Delegate Karen Lewis Young recently submitted a bill to have the state song changed. According to the Frederick delegate, "Maryland, My Maryland", which has been the state song since 1939, celebrates the Confederacy and disparages the Union government. And Guy Djoken, president of the NAACP's Frederick County chapter, chimed in by saying that the words in the song make people uncomfortable. Really? Aside from the title, I have to wonder how many people actually know any words to the song. Perhaps the most "hurtful" line comes in the final verse:
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She's not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She Burns! She'll come! She'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!
Since we're at a point where we're now splitting hairs in the name of political correctness, there's enough beef in this verse to offend just about everyone. Of course, the "Northern scum" reference is the one which is supposedly the most "hurtful". Yes, I can see how an insult from 150 years ago can cause a liberal to lose sleep at night. But what about the other stuff? For instance, what's with all of the shouting? Did you catch all of those explanation points? WTF? It's enough to give a child a case of PSTD! (Oops, sorry for the explanation point in that last sentence. I'm a bit excited.)
And what's with the deaf and dumb reference? There's gotta be something in the American with Disabilities Act that bans such a derogatory line. Get the lawyers on the phone! And while we're at it, let's sue The Who for those lyrics about that pinball-playing kid.
By the way, what the hell is a Huzza? I have absolutely no idea but I'm pretty sure that someone will find a reason to be offended by it.
And do we really have to call the line "old"? Is that really nice? I'm thinking that the AARP might have something to say about this.
Lastly, let us dive into the deep end and examine the line: She breathes, she burns, she'll come! This sounds like something you'd hear on a late-night Cinemax channel. My God! There hasn't been such emotional distress from a song since Robert Plant squeezed his lemon and let the juice run down his leg. Promiscuous young women from Cumberland to Ocean City are probably lining up to breed as we speak! We must ban this song before the next illegitimate child is conceived in Baltimore!
Agghhhhh!
Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But you can see how ridiculous things are getting. I can hardly wait to hear what's next....
kw
There's already a push to take down statues of Robert E. Lee and any other memorials of the Confederacy. Although these people and events were an integral part of our nation's history, there are those who seem to want to erase it. Sorry folks, you can't change the past by simply removing any references to it. So, instead of removing a statue of someone like General Lee, wouldn't it make more sense to use it as a teaching opportunity? I'm using logic and reason here, so nevermind.
Recently, in my home state of Maryland, Delegate Karen Lewis Young recently submitted a bill to have the state song changed. According to the Frederick delegate, "Maryland, My Maryland", which has been the state song since 1939, celebrates the Confederacy and disparages the Union government. And Guy Djoken, president of the NAACP's Frederick County chapter, chimed in by saying that the words in the song make people uncomfortable. Really? Aside from the title, I have to wonder how many people actually know any words to the song. Perhaps the most "hurtful" line comes in the final verse:
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She's not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She Burns! She'll come! She'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!
Since we're at a point where we're now splitting hairs in the name of political correctness, there's enough beef in this verse to offend just about everyone. Of course, the "Northern scum" reference is the one which is supposedly the most "hurtful". Yes, I can see how an insult from 150 years ago can cause a liberal to lose sleep at night. But what about the other stuff? For instance, what's with all of the shouting? Did you catch all of those explanation points? WTF? It's enough to give a child a case of PSTD! (Oops, sorry for the explanation point in that last sentence. I'm a bit excited.)
And what's with the deaf and dumb reference? There's gotta be something in the American with Disabilities Act that bans such a derogatory line. Get the lawyers on the phone! And while we're at it, let's sue The Who for those lyrics about that pinball-playing kid.
By the way, what the hell is a Huzza? I have absolutely no idea but I'm pretty sure that someone will find a reason to be offended by it.
And do we really have to call the line "old"? Is that really nice? I'm thinking that the AARP might have something to say about this.
Agghhhhh!
Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But you can see how ridiculous things are getting. I can hardly wait to hear what's next....
kw
Thursday, July 9, 2015
City On Fire - Out With The Old Boss
Since the riots back in May, the leadership in Baltimore has taken some heavy criticism. The ongoing barrage of daily shootings has many believing that the Mayor and police department are powerless to the street thugs. The numerous murders have transformed Baltimore into The City That Bleeds.
So, it was only a matter of time before someone in the city's leadership got thrown under the bus. Yesterday, the Mayor announced that she was firing BCPD Commissioner Anthony Batts. Although many people were calling for his resignation, it was somewhat of a surprise that Rawlings-Blake actually fired him. You see, the Mayor was between a rock and a hard place. First off, SRB brought Batts to Baltimore, so by firing him, she kind of concedes that she made a mistake. And up until yesterday, the Mayor had pretty much stood by the Commissioner's side and defended him against any criticism.
The Mayor herself has been heavily criticized in recent months. So, by sacrificing Batt's, I assume her goal is to distance herself from the political lightning rod. With the move, she's rolling the dice in hopes of a gradual decline in the city's violence under the interim Commissioner. With her re-election campaign looming, she needs anything that can help end her current term on a positive note. I don't expect much to change for the good in the near future, but if it does, Rawlings-Blake can then "legitimately" claim that she had the insight to make the difficult decision to fire Batts. She gets feather in her hat while the former Commissioner continues to clean the tire tracks off of his back. (Are you starting to understand how politics work?)
I am certainly not saying that Batts didn't deserve to be fired. During the riots, he allowed his men to by hung out to dry. Standing by while his troops were getting pummeled by bricks and bottles was pathetic. I don't care if Jesus Christ issued the order to stand down, you don't allow your guys to take an embarrassing beat-down like that. Especially, when it was being broadcast live across the world!
One of the City Council members said that Batts had "lost the locker room." After what I've heard from a few cops, I'd say that's a pretty good analogy.
One of the City Council members said that Batts had "lost the locker room." After what I've heard from a few cops, I'd say that's a pretty good analogy.
I did find it rather odd that during the press conference yesterday, SRB continuously praised Batts for his good work and dedicated service. It was almost like she was about to present him with a merit award. She also mentioned something about the crime rate going down under his watch. Really? Someone dies in the streets of Baltimore everyday and crime is going down?
Summing it up, the Mayor basically said that Batts was becoming a "distraction". Personally, I find the random gunfire in the city more of a distraction. But what do I know?
kw
Thursday, July 2, 2015
The Confederate Flag - Does It Make A Difference?
The Confederate Flag has long been a contested symbol of southern pride and/or racism depending on who's side you're on. Should it continue to fly on government property in places like South Carolina? Should it continue to fly anywhere at all? Regardless of the debate, it seems like heavy pressure from politically-correct crowd has energized the removal process.
The latest push to have the Confederate Flag eradicated came shortly after the recent Charleston church tragedy in which nine blacks were murdered by a deranged "white supremacist". And while almost everyone agrees that this was a cold and absolutely senseless crime, a narrative is being spun that the Confederate Flag somehow contributed to the killings. And it's now being launched into the predictable "never let a crisis go to waste" mode.
Within the past week, we've heard about retailers such as Amazon pulling Confederate Flag related items from their virtual shelves. Even the gift shops at the Gettysburg Battlefield have caved in and have pulled various "controversial" flag items from their inventory. I guess we're supposed to ignore the fact that the Confederacy ever existed? The Gettysburg tour guides are going to have an uphill battle trying to describe that imaginary army who fought against the Union soldiers. And, in one of the most egregious displays of political correctness ever, TV Land announced that it will no longer show re-runs of The Dukes of Hazzard. Why? Because the General Lee (oops, can we still mention his name?), one of the most iconic cars in television history, has a Confederate Flag painted on it's roof. For over 30 years, no one really seemed to mind. But now, the '69 Charger is suddenly offensive. You can't make this stuff up, folks!
So, while Confederate Flags are disappearing quicker than Hillary Clinton emails, the big question remains..... Is any of this really going to matter? If we outlaw all of these flags, will we see an instant decrease in black homicides in places like Baltimore? Will life suddenly become much better for the countless "disenfranchised" youths of the black community? I think we all know that it won't make a bit of difference. But still, the race hustlers beat their chests and push ahead with these senseless campaigns. Instead of promoting unity, they find ways of instigating racial tensions. And after they create it, the media then packages and sells it.
After the Charleston church shooting, we heard about how we need to have a honest dialogue on race relations in this country. While it sounds like a great idea, the reality of it actually happening is nothing more than a pipe-dream. When the dialogue becomes honest, people have a tendency to get their feelings hurt. And then the race card is thrown in and all progress goes out the window. The next thing you know, we lose focus and start blaming trivial things like the Confederate Flag.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At one of the funerals of the slain Charleston church members, a Reverend was giving the eulogy. During the speech (I'm paraphrasing), he paused and said, "They tell me that Dylann Roof took the lives of our nine brothers and sisters in order to start a race war. Well, if Mr. Roof really wanted that, he came to wrong Church!"
Wow!!
It was one of the most powerful statements that I've ever heard. I actually got goosebumps when I heard it. Instead of allowing this senseless tragedy to divide us, the people of this church opted to use it as a healing opportunity. Unfortunately, other than the initial broadcast, the Reverend's message got virtually no media attention. Instead, they chose to run extended coverage on the outrage over the Confederate Flag. Is there any wonder why we're not making a whole lot of progress?
kw
The latest push to have the Confederate Flag eradicated came shortly after the recent Charleston church tragedy in which nine blacks were murdered by a deranged "white supremacist". And while almost everyone agrees that this was a cold and absolutely senseless crime, a narrative is being spun that the Confederate Flag somehow contributed to the killings. And it's now being launched into the predictable "never let a crisis go to waste" mode.
Within the past week, we've heard about retailers such as Amazon pulling Confederate Flag related items from their virtual shelves. Even the gift shops at the Gettysburg Battlefield have caved in and have pulled various "controversial" flag items from their inventory. I guess we're supposed to ignore the fact that the Confederacy ever existed? The Gettysburg tour guides are going to have an uphill battle trying to describe that imaginary army who fought against the Union soldiers. And, in one of the most egregious displays of political correctness ever, TV Land announced that it will no longer show re-runs of The Dukes of Hazzard. Why? Because the General Lee (oops, can we still mention his name?), one of the most iconic cars in television history, has a Confederate Flag painted on it's roof. For over 30 years, no one really seemed to mind. But now, the '69 Charger is suddenly offensive. You can't make this stuff up, folks!
So, while Confederate Flags are disappearing quicker than Hillary Clinton emails, the big question remains..... Is any of this really going to matter? If we outlaw all of these flags, will we see an instant decrease in black homicides in places like Baltimore? Will life suddenly become much better for the countless "disenfranchised" youths of the black community? I think we all know that it won't make a bit of difference. But still, the race hustlers beat their chests and push ahead with these senseless campaigns. Instead of promoting unity, they find ways of instigating racial tensions. And after they create it, the media then packages and sells it.
After the Charleston church shooting, we heard about how we need to have a honest dialogue on race relations in this country. While it sounds like a great idea, the reality of it actually happening is nothing more than a pipe-dream. When the dialogue becomes honest, people have a tendency to get their feelings hurt. And then the race card is thrown in and all progress goes out the window. The next thing you know, we lose focus and start blaming trivial things like the Confederate Flag.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At one of the funerals of the slain Charleston church members, a Reverend was giving the eulogy. During the speech (I'm paraphrasing), he paused and said, "They tell me that Dylann Roof took the lives of our nine brothers and sisters in order to start a race war. Well, if Mr. Roof really wanted that, he came to wrong Church!"
Wow!!
It was one of the most powerful statements that I've ever heard. I actually got goosebumps when I heard it. Instead of allowing this senseless tragedy to divide us, the people of this church opted to use it as a healing opportunity. Unfortunately, other than the initial broadcast, the Reverend's message got virtually no media attention. Instead, they chose to run extended coverage on the outrage over the Confederate Flag. Is there any wonder why we're not making a whole lot of progress?
kw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
