Okay, what do Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy, Charlie Sheen, Alicia Silverstone, Rob Schneider, Mayim Bialik, Michele Bachmann, Alex Jones, Holly Robinson Peete, Aiden Quinn, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Lisa Bonet, Jenna Elfman, Kirstie Alley, Erin Brockovich, Juliette Lewis, Bill Maher, Esai Morales, and Don Trump all have in common?
Each and everyone of them, in one way, or another, have spoken against vaccines such as the one which prevents measles, mumps, and rubella in children (MMR).
Some of them, like Brockovich and Bialik claim they aren't actually against vaccines, but oppose any government bill, or plan to make children get them before they're allowed in school. It's known as the personal choice argument. Maher also admits vaccines work, but feels our over use of them has caused a wide spread weakening of the natural human immune system which has led to the spread of other maladies.
To put it mildly, Morales doesn't trust the trifecta of big pharma, the medical industry, and the government to have our best interests at heart. Carrey on the other hand believes they are polluted with toxic chemicals and metals, as does Sheen. The former, "Two and a Half Men," star went so far as to take his ex wife, Denise Richards to court in order to stop her from vaccinating their kids. After he lost the suit, he reportedly paid the pediatrician in nickels.
Alex Jones, of course, believes everything is a conspiracy, including school shootings, the moon landings, and perhaps even his own existence. As for Trump, well we know he'll say he believes anything so long as he thinks it will get him some votes from the fringe, no matter what that fringe might be.
Finally there are people such as Jenny McCarthy, Aiden Quinn, and Holly Robinson Peete. They all fervently believe vaccines caused autism in their children. Robert Kennedy Jr is on record saying he not only believes the same thing, but the government is covering up evidence which proves it.
The vaccine/autism connection is, in fact, the most common argument used by anti-vaxxers. It was born in 1998 thanks to an English physician, Andrew Wakefield. That year he published a paper in the British medical Journal, The Lancet.
The paper linked the MMR vaccine to not just autism, but chronic bowel disease. In 2004 it was discovered Wakefield had failed to disclose he had financial interests which would profit from his conclusions. Additionally, by that time, no other researchers in the world had been able to duplicate his findings. In other words the whole thing was a fraud.
In January, 2010 Wakefield was found guilty of 36 charges, including four counts of dishonesty and 12 counts of abusing developmentally delayed children by the British General Medical Council. Within weeks The Lancet retracted the paper, claiming it had been deceived and the Wakefield's findings were, "utterly false." Shortly afterward the General Medical Council pulled his license to practice. Since then numerous studies have shown there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism, or toxic metal poisoning.
It doesn't matter though. Once a conspiracy takes hold in the minds of many, there is no disproving it. Indeed, even when you present evidence to the hard core they are wrong, no matter how incontrovertible your proof is, they'll simply shrug their shoulders and say you too are part of the conspiracy.
Think not? Just go on line and challenge any of the vile loons who to this day claim all the kids murdered in Newtown, CT never existed. I have more than once. My favorite response was, "Are you the best they could send?"
Listen, I am deeply sorry for the pain felt by Jenny McCarthy, Aiden Quinn, Holly Robinson Peete, and others. However their beliefs and the campaign against vaccinations flies foul in the face of proven science. It has also put millions of kids at risk of contracting possibly fatal diseases, all of which were on the verge of complete eradication, but now are making a preventable comeback.
And, in the end, that sort of thinking puts them in the same company as birthers, truthers, deniers, Alex Jones, and Donald John Trump.
sic vita est
3-29-19
Friday, March 29, 2019
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
America is Different
Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess, and enjoy early and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world, or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Of course now days that sense of superiority described by Fitzgerald can be applied to a couple of different demographics, besides the rich. You can see shades of it in both celebrity and race and in politics and faith.
Indeed, here in the 21st century, it appears being rich, even when you aren't, is simply a state of mind.
How else can you explain that millions of blue collar Caucasians believe a mega million dollar real estate developer with a sordid history, both financially and morally, speaks personally for them--that they have more in common with him than they do with minorities dwelling in the same decaying ruins of what used to be the greatest middle class in the world?
Or, that a couple of celebrities and others who rest comfortably in the top five or ten percent financially believe it is perfectly okay to make sure their kids, who are too stupid to be admitted to elite schools, get into those institutions through bribes and fraud.
Super patriots, fools, congenital liars, and vile cons have always been with us. As have used car salesmen who claim to speak for God. However, these days they have become, it seems, institutionalized, in some cases venerated. The rules don't apply to these perpetrators because they are better than the rest of us. You might be unemployed and living in in a trailer park, but because you are white you're somehow entitled to an entire nation people of color aren't.
It doesn't matter if some deserving student, who actually took his, or her own entrance exams, misses out at USC, or Yale so long as your child gets in. After all, going to a lesser school is for those other people.
It doesn't even matter if your health care coverage is a nightmare compared to the populations of other countries. Any change in the system, especially that one put in place by a black man, is an admission the United States--your home--isn't as great and wonderful as you've always said it was.
Yes, things like affordable health care, free higher education in public schools, paid extended maternity and paternity leave, although it's working just fine else where, is for the weak and poor. It is a plot to make them like us, or worse, us like them.
That's why we should never allow any of it here in America. We don't need it, or want it because we are, as Fitzgerald said, different.
Right.
3-26-19
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Of course now days that sense of superiority described by Fitzgerald can be applied to a couple of different demographics, besides the rich. You can see shades of it in both celebrity and race and in politics and faith.
Indeed, here in the 21st century, it appears being rich, even when you aren't, is simply a state of mind.
How else can you explain that millions of blue collar Caucasians believe a mega million dollar real estate developer with a sordid history, both financially and morally, speaks personally for them--that they have more in common with him than they do with minorities dwelling in the same decaying ruins of what used to be the greatest middle class in the world?
Or, that a couple of celebrities and others who rest comfortably in the top five or ten percent financially believe it is perfectly okay to make sure their kids, who are too stupid to be admitted to elite schools, get into those institutions through bribes and fraud.
Super patriots, fools, congenital liars, and vile cons have always been with us. As have used car salesmen who claim to speak for God. However, these days they have become, it seems, institutionalized, in some cases venerated. The rules don't apply to these perpetrators because they are better than the rest of us. You might be unemployed and living in in a trailer park, but because you are white you're somehow entitled to an entire nation people of color aren't.
It doesn't matter if some deserving student, who actually took his, or her own entrance exams, misses out at USC, or Yale so long as your child gets in. After all, going to a lesser school is for those other people.
It doesn't even matter if your health care coverage is a nightmare compared to the populations of other countries. Any change in the system, especially that one put in place by a black man, is an admission the United States--your home--isn't as great and wonderful as you've always said it was.
Yes, things like affordable health care, free higher education in public schools, paid extended maternity and paternity leave, although it's working just fine else where, is for the weak and poor. It is a plot to make them like us, or worse, us like them.
That's why we should never allow any of it here in America. We don't need it, or want it because we are, as Fitzgerald said, different.
Right.
3-26-19
Saturday, March 23, 2019
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: Being Trendy in March
Going into the NCAA men's basketball tournament there were four trendy upset picks floating around places like the internet and television studios. Trendy meaning a quartet of scrappy mid major teams were pitted against power conference stalwarts who appeared highly seeded on reputation alone and were over rated.
There is, however, an inherent danger in opting for trendy teams in situations where money is involved. First, chances are you've never seen them play. Second, 99% of the time when they do play in the regular season it is against teams with names like, Loyola of Muskogee and Will Rogers State University.
Be that as it may you can be certain the first round games will be pock marked with upsets. Some will be mild and not totally unexpected. Others are so gut wrenchingly huge they make you want to tear up your bookie's phone number, head directly to the nearest protestant church, and proclaim yourself, Born Again.
First on this year's list was Belmont. Until I looked it up on the internet I didn't even know the school was located in Nashville, TN. But there is was when I checked their web site. Take 11th seeded Belmont against 6th seeded Maryland everyone said. So I did. The Bruins lost by two, but covered the spread. Unfortunately, while covering the spread is wonderful on a single game wager, it doesn't do a thing for your bracket bet which takes a hit.
The second was 14th seeded Yale. Great brains, great athletes and did you see what they did to Harvard? Yeah well Harvard isn't LSU. The 3rd seeded Tigers built a big lead and coasted at the end, eventually winning by five.
All of a sudden this whole trendy pick stuff was beginning to look like so much bull shit.
Then 12 seed Murray St. whacked 5 seed Marquette by 19 points. Joy filled the room and dollar signs began to dance in the head. That's what we're talking about baby. Trendy, trendy, trendy.
Sometimes, though, you have to buck the trendy. That's especially true when you've actually seen the 4th seeded Kansas State Wildcats play during the regular Big 12 season and in the conference tournament. As opposed to not knowing a thing about UC-Irvine except they have a funky mascot--Irvine Peter the Anteater--and what the network experts have told you. Indeed, we shouldn't be completely swayed by all that is trendy. Sometimes it's best to go with a known rather than a fucking anteater.
Too bad the experts actually knew what they were talking about. After K-State lost by six the joy fled the room and dollar signs dissolved in the mist. A terrible pall fell upon the proceedings and not even a couple of dry martinis could dispel it.
Yes, March Madness isn't simply entertainment. For some of us it is a business nearly as ruthless as politics and at times just as costly--both financially and emotionally.
At this moment it is touch and go. I have 13 of my sweet 16 teams still alive. Plus, the entire field of the elite 8, and my final four picks remain intact. By this time last year my brackets were already in a shambles and my single game bets were tanking faster than stones thrown into a pond.
So, onward we plod. By tomorrow night the 64 teams which began this drama will be reduced to a mere 16. The hopes and dreams of many will have been shattered and more than a few healthy bank balances will have disappeared.
Just think of the tournament as a microcosm of capitalism. The strong thrive while losers aren't tolerated and are soon forgotten.
Hey, who says America isn't great?
3-23-19
There is, however, an inherent danger in opting for trendy teams in situations where money is involved. First, chances are you've never seen them play. Second, 99% of the time when they do play in the regular season it is against teams with names like, Loyola of Muskogee and Will Rogers State University.
Be that as it may you can be certain the first round games will be pock marked with upsets. Some will be mild and not totally unexpected. Others are so gut wrenchingly huge they make you want to tear up your bookie's phone number, head directly to the nearest protestant church, and proclaim yourself, Born Again.
First on this year's list was Belmont. Until I looked it up on the internet I didn't even know the school was located in Nashville, TN. But there is was when I checked their web site. Take 11th seeded Belmont against 6th seeded Maryland everyone said. So I did. The Bruins lost by two, but covered the spread. Unfortunately, while covering the spread is wonderful on a single game wager, it doesn't do a thing for your bracket bet which takes a hit.
The second was 14th seeded Yale. Great brains, great athletes and did you see what they did to Harvard? Yeah well Harvard isn't LSU. The 3rd seeded Tigers built a big lead and coasted at the end, eventually winning by five.
All of a sudden this whole trendy pick stuff was beginning to look like so much bull shit.
Then 12 seed Murray St. whacked 5 seed Marquette by 19 points. Joy filled the room and dollar signs began to dance in the head. That's what we're talking about baby. Trendy, trendy, trendy.
Sometimes, though, you have to buck the trendy. That's especially true when you've actually seen the 4th seeded Kansas State Wildcats play during the regular Big 12 season and in the conference tournament. As opposed to not knowing a thing about UC-Irvine except they have a funky mascot--Irvine Peter the Anteater--and what the network experts have told you. Indeed, we shouldn't be completely swayed by all that is trendy. Sometimes it's best to go with a known rather than a fucking anteater.
Too bad the experts actually knew what they were talking about. After K-State lost by six the joy fled the room and dollar signs dissolved in the mist. A terrible pall fell upon the proceedings and not even a couple of dry martinis could dispel it.
Yes, March Madness isn't simply entertainment. For some of us it is a business nearly as ruthless as politics and at times just as costly--both financially and emotionally.
At this moment it is touch and go. I have 13 of my sweet 16 teams still alive. Plus, the entire field of the elite 8, and my final four picks remain intact. By this time last year my brackets were already in a shambles and my single game bets were tanking faster than stones thrown into a pond.
So, onward we plod. By tomorrow night the 64 teams which began this drama will be reduced to a mere 16. The hopes and dreams of many will have been shattered and more than a few healthy bank balances will have disappeared.
Just think of the tournament as a microcosm of capitalism. The strong thrive while losers aren't tolerated and are soon forgotten.
Hey, who says America isn't great?
3-23-19
Monday, March 18, 2019
March Madness Arrives and We All Get a Break From The Age of Trump
If the last few days taught us anything it's that the NCAA men's basketball tournament can't get here fast enough. Let's face it the human brain can only take so much horror, tragedy, disgust, and revulsion before it shuts down completely. Indeed, when Thomas Paine wrote the line, "These are the times that try men's souls," he had no clue they'd be just as pertinent in the 21st century as they were in 1776.
It all begins tomorrow night and Wednesday with the play in games. A ritual which has come to be called the, "First Four." It involves eight teams so far on the edge of the bubble the selection committee couldn't bring themselves to give them actual berths in the tournament. To get to the real deal, which begins Thursday, these guys have to settle things between themselves in order earn a spot.
Although I never put money on the First Four plenty of others are doing exactly that as these words are being typed. And it will be a rather large wad of cash.
The American Gaming Association estimates $8.5 billion will be wagered on the tournament by approximately 47 million Americans. That accounts for roughly one in every five adults residing in these United States. The sum itself is just a shade under half the $18 billion Donald Trump wants for his, Great Wall.
According to the AGA's estimates things break down this way: $4.6 billion will be bet on up to 149 million brackets. $3.9 billion will be wagered at sports books on line, with a legal bookmaker, or some pal who went to a different school than you. $4 plus million will be put on the line at casino sports books, or on legal apps.
In addition, $2.4 million will be wagered with illegal bookies. Another $5.2 million will be put at risk online, but with illegal offshore sites.
When you see numbers like those, to quote Dr. Emmet Brown, in the movie, "Back to the Future." "We're going to see some serious shit."
So much so, NBC News cited a stat from the Chicago outsourcing firm, Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. Their estimate is this year's tournament could cost businesses up to $1.7 billion in lost productivity. That is a lot of live streaming on the job and out right hooky.
Hey, everyone needs to take a break once and a while these days. Especially in the current business environment. Hit a game, or games big, go deep into the brackets unscathed and that discontinued bonus you used to count as part of your yearly income could magically reappear.
As usual I'm in on the action, or at least I will be by Wednesday. After the disaster last year I'm spending much of my time today and tomorrow poring over stats and trends. Let's face it, some teams are coming in hot while others, like Oklahoma, are on life support after starting the season with impressive wins.
Then there is Duke. My sordid history with that misbegotten gang from Durham has been well documented over the years. This season they are completely dependent on a child prodigy named Zion Williamson. With him they appear unstoppable. Without him, which they were for a couple of weeks thanks to a wrenched knee, they're downright pedestrian.
And let's be honest, just the notion of laying a bunch of cash on some eighteen year old who has never been to the dance and might have a gimpy knee reeks of what could be described as naivete--or worse, blatant self destruction.
Well, sometimes a great leap of faith is called for when faced with logic, observable facts, and the odds. If we didn't make them every now and then there wouldn't be any big winners, or religions. On the other hand there is a reason tens of thousands of losers over the next three weeks will be asking themselves, What the fuck was I thinking.
Which ever the case we can all, at least for a few moments during the 21 plus days of the tournament, step away from crazed xenophobia and mass murders. We can focus on something other than rampant corruption, a screeching, polarized, media, and treasonous behavior. In short we can take a break from, The Age of Trump.
That alone is worth the price of admission. Enjoy it while you can America. Just beware of Tennessee. They might be a two seed, but did you see what Auburn did to them this weekend?
3-18-19
It all begins tomorrow night and Wednesday with the play in games. A ritual which has come to be called the, "First Four." It involves eight teams so far on the edge of the bubble the selection committee couldn't bring themselves to give them actual berths in the tournament. To get to the real deal, which begins Thursday, these guys have to settle things between themselves in order earn a spot.
Although I never put money on the First Four plenty of others are doing exactly that as these words are being typed. And it will be a rather large wad of cash.
The American Gaming Association estimates $8.5 billion will be wagered on the tournament by approximately 47 million Americans. That accounts for roughly one in every five adults residing in these United States. The sum itself is just a shade under half the $18 billion Donald Trump wants for his, Great Wall.
According to the AGA's estimates things break down this way: $4.6 billion will be bet on up to 149 million brackets. $3.9 billion will be wagered at sports books on line, with a legal bookmaker, or some pal who went to a different school than you. $4 plus million will be put on the line at casino sports books, or on legal apps.
In addition, $2.4 million will be wagered with illegal bookies. Another $5.2 million will be put at risk online, but with illegal offshore sites.
When you see numbers like those, to quote Dr. Emmet Brown, in the movie, "Back to the Future." "We're going to see some serious shit."
So much so, NBC News cited a stat from the Chicago outsourcing firm, Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. Their estimate is this year's tournament could cost businesses up to $1.7 billion in lost productivity. That is a lot of live streaming on the job and out right hooky.
Hey, everyone needs to take a break once and a while these days. Especially in the current business environment. Hit a game, or games big, go deep into the brackets unscathed and that discontinued bonus you used to count as part of your yearly income could magically reappear.
As usual I'm in on the action, or at least I will be by Wednesday. After the disaster last year I'm spending much of my time today and tomorrow poring over stats and trends. Let's face it, some teams are coming in hot while others, like Oklahoma, are on life support after starting the season with impressive wins.
Then there is Duke. My sordid history with that misbegotten gang from Durham has been well documented over the years. This season they are completely dependent on a child prodigy named Zion Williamson. With him they appear unstoppable. Without him, which they were for a couple of weeks thanks to a wrenched knee, they're downright pedestrian.
And let's be honest, just the notion of laying a bunch of cash on some eighteen year old who has never been to the dance and might have a gimpy knee reeks of what could be described as naivete--or worse, blatant self destruction.
Well, sometimes a great leap of faith is called for when faced with logic, observable facts, and the odds. If we didn't make them every now and then there wouldn't be any big winners, or religions. On the other hand there is a reason tens of thousands of losers over the next three weeks will be asking themselves, What the fuck was I thinking.
Which ever the case we can all, at least for a few moments during the 21 plus days of the tournament, step away from crazed xenophobia and mass murders. We can focus on something other than rampant corruption, a screeching, polarized, media, and treasonous behavior. In short we can take a break from, The Age of Trump.
That alone is worth the price of admission. Enjoy it while you can America. Just beware of Tennessee. They might be a two seed, but did you see what Auburn did to them this weekend?
3-18-19
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
God and Guns at the Walker House
Mike Walker was 50 years old and his wife Rachael was 44. Apparently they were both deeply religious. He had taught percussion at places like Southwest Christian University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Langston University. He also played drums at his non-denominational church in Edmond, OK. She served as a secretary there.
Mr. Walker's skill on the drums was proficient enough to land him a running gig with the band, Aranda. The group has been described on various sites as an alt-rock and metal outfit. Despite the description, according to one source, their main success came on Billboard's Main Stream Rock Top 40 list. One of their songs was covered by Kelly Clarkson who will never be described as either an alt-rock, or metal artist.
The Walker's religion was deep enough they named their two sons after the Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Isiah. Eli, at 19 is the older of the two boys, Isiah is 17.
When Edmond police entered their house early on the morning of March 4th they found a jug of water on the living room coffee table labeled, "Blessed Holy Water." A piece of paper with the Ten Commandments written on it was taped to the utility room door.
Tragically, the cops found more and none of it had to do with Jesus, or Christianity. Inside Eli's bedroom they discovered four hand made explosive devices, a Glock 17 semi automatic pistol, an AR-15 rifle with a laser scope, more than 500 rounds of ammo, a homemade silencer, and a collection of knives. In addition there was a set of ear protectors, a hatchet, a compound bow, and what Oklahoman reporter, Nolan Clay described as, "evidence of marijuana use." In another bedroom they found an inert grenade.
It's unknown at this time, at least publicly, if Eli collected the cache of weapons on his own, or if he was aided in the purchases by his Mom and Dad. What we are sure of is, at the very least they knew he had the Glock, because Isiah told police his brother used to carry it around the house. What we're also sure of is Eli Walker is bat shit crazy and, according to family members, has been for years.
He proved it last Monday morning when he shot his mother and father multiple times. He told police he did so after he asked Mike Walker a question about Satanism which set off an argument. He explained to the police he had come to believe his parents were Satanists who were sending him telepathic messages. He also told Edmond cops he believed he did, "the right thing."
In today's, The Oklahoman, Clay quoted Eli's attorney, Derek Chance as saying, "I've had an initial assessment done on him and it clearly indicates he is acutely paranoid and delusional. This, we believe, explains the horrible tragedy."
Not entirely.
What Chance didn't talk about is how a 19 year old living at home could afford a Glock-17 which retails at Bass Pro Shop for $599.99, plus an AR-15 which runs anywhere from $500 to $900 without the added cost of a laser scope.
He also didn't question why anyone would allow their kid, who everyone knew was and is nuts, to either purchase such weapons, or let him walk around their house with at least one of them.
Was it Mike and Rachael Walker's fault they are dead? No, just like it wasn't Nancy Lanza's fault she was killed that terrible morning in Newtown, CT. However, just as in Adam Lanza's case, someone in that home, steeped in religion, damn sure enabled Eli Walker to possess the weapon which was used to murder them.
In case you were wondering, up until Monday of last week, Elijah Walker didn't have a criminal record. He, like young Mr. Lanza, was, as they say, clean. So if he had the money, he could well have bought both firearms without any problem despite his illness. The truth is, there isn't a sales clerk at a gun store in this country who will question the mental health of a customer.
But, hey, what else is new? Look, this is America and buying guns is as easy and common as picking up a bunch of bananas from the local grocery. After all, it is our God given right. At least that is what the NRA tells us again and again and again.
It's just too bad, a little over a week ago, despite their faith, the Lord wasn't at Mike and Rachael Walker's house, but those guns were.
sic vita est
3-12-19
Mr. Walker's skill on the drums was proficient enough to land him a running gig with the band, Aranda. The group has been described on various sites as an alt-rock and metal outfit. Despite the description, according to one source, their main success came on Billboard's Main Stream Rock Top 40 list. One of their songs was covered by Kelly Clarkson who will never be described as either an alt-rock, or metal artist.
The Walker's religion was deep enough they named their two sons after the Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Isiah. Eli, at 19 is the older of the two boys, Isiah is 17.
When Edmond police entered their house early on the morning of March 4th they found a jug of water on the living room coffee table labeled, "Blessed Holy Water." A piece of paper with the Ten Commandments written on it was taped to the utility room door.
Tragically, the cops found more and none of it had to do with Jesus, or Christianity. Inside Eli's bedroom they discovered four hand made explosive devices, a Glock 17 semi automatic pistol, an AR-15 rifle with a laser scope, more than 500 rounds of ammo, a homemade silencer, and a collection of knives. In addition there was a set of ear protectors, a hatchet, a compound bow, and what Oklahoman reporter, Nolan Clay described as, "evidence of marijuana use." In another bedroom they found an inert grenade.
It's unknown at this time, at least publicly, if Eli collected the cache of weapons on his own, or if he was aided in the purchases by his Mom and Dad. What we are sure of is, at the very least they knew he had the Glock, because Isiah told police his brother used to carry it around the house. What we're also sure of is Eli Walker is bat shit crazy and, according to family members, has been for years.
He proved it last Monday morning when he shot his mother and father multiple times. He told police he did so after he asked Mike Walker a question about Satanism which set off an argument. He explained to the police he had come to believe his parents were Satanists who were sending him telepathic messages. He also told Edmond cops he believed he did, "the right thing."
In today's, The Oklahoman, Clay quoted Eli's attorney, Derek Chance as saying, "I've had an initial assessment done on him and it clearly indicates he is acutely paranoid and delusional. This, we believe, explains the horrible tragedy."
Not entirely.
What Chance didn't talk about is how a 19 year old living at home could afford a Glock-17 which retails at Bass Pro Shop for $599.99, plus an AR-15 which runs anywhere from $500 to $900 without the added cost of a laser scope.
He also didn't question why anyone would allow their kid, who everyone knew was and is nuts, to either purchase such weapons, or let him walk around their house with at least one of them.
Was it Mike and Rachael Walker's fault they are dead? No, just like it wasn't Nancy Lanza's fault she was killed that terrible morning in Newtown, CT. However, just as in Adam Lanza's case, someone in that home, steeped in religion, damn sure enabled Eli Walker to possess the weapon which was used to murder them.
In case you were wondering, up until Monday of last week, Elijah Walker didn't have a criminal record. He, like young Mr. Lanza, was, as they say, clean. So if he had the money, he could well have bought both firearms without any problem despite his illness. The truth is, there isn't a sales clerk at a gun store in this country who will question the mental health of a customer.
But, hey, what else is new? Look, this is America and buying guns is as easy and common as picking up a bunch of bananas from the local grocery. After all, it is our God given right. At least that is what the NRA tells us again and again and again.
It's just too bad, a little over a week ago, despite their faith, the Lord wasn't at Mike and Rachael Walker's house, but those guns were.
sic vita est
3-12-19
Friday, March 8, 2019
Four Things We Learned This Week
So here are some of the things we learned this week.
1. Judge T.S. Ellis proved federal sentencing guidelines aren't really meant for people like Paul Manafort. Ellis sentenced the former Trump campaign manager to 47 months in jail after he was found guilty of eight counts of bank and tax fraud. Prosecutors said the guidelines carried a recommendation of 19 to 24 years.
On the other hand, last March a black woman in Texas was convicted on one count of voter fraud after she cast a ballot in the 2016 election while still on supervised probation. The judge in her case slapped Crystal Mason with five years in the joint. For those not mathematically astute, that is 13 months longer than Manafort got.
2. Donald Trump continues to hear things that have never been said. On the south lawn of the White House this morning, among other things, The Big Orange Guy said this about Manafort's sentencing, "...but if you notice both his lawyer, a highly respected man, and a very highly respected man, a judge, said there was no collusion with Russia."
Actually the judge didn't say there was, no collusion with Russia. He did say Manafort's entire trial wasn't about, "anything having to do with colluding with the Russian government." In other words no one ever said the trial was about collusion. That whole ball of sticky wax is being handled by Bob Mueller and it's an entirely separate affair.
3. Locally, if your 19 year old son, in the words of his sister, "...has not been in the right state of mind for a few years now," he shouldn't be allowed to carry a Glock 17. Monday, Eli Walker admitted to police he killed his parents with the gun. Walker told cops he, "...believed he did the right thing because they were sending him messages telepathically and they were Satan worshippers." Eli's brother, Isaiah told authorities his brother often carried the Glock around because he was, "paranoid." He shot his dad, "...anywhere I could hit him," then plugged his mother in the back as she tried to get away. Officers retrieved 19 spent shell casings.
For those wondering how Oklahoma handles nightmares like this, in November a new state law kicks in which allows anyone 21 and over to openly carry a firearm without a whit of training, or any certification. It goes without saying mental competency exams aren't required either. The gun crowd calls the new measure freedom. The rest of us have other names for it.
4. And last, but not least, don't get yourself chucked into the Oklahoma County Jail. The Oklahoman reported this morning, Charles Lemons was thrown into the county lock up Saturday, July 21 of last year after being accused of a probation violation. He sat there eight months without an attorney, or even an arraignment. Lemons, who is homeless, told Oklahoman reporter, Nolan Clay, "I was thinking, they forgot me. I really didn't know what to do."
Today a team of public defenders will conduct a court ordered inmate by inmate audit at the facility to see if anyone else has been, "forgotten." Sheriff, P.D. Taylor complained to the media the audit will take, "hours." At this moment his jail holds 1,650 prisoners--one less than it did yesterday. In addition the odds are overwhelming Charlie Lemons will finally get an attorney and he, or she will be a really good one.
Well, this sort of shit happens when, you're a black woman, a congenital liar, let your bat shit crazy son possess a gun, and don't have the sort of juice Paul Manafort does.
We even have a name for it. It's called, The American Way.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you've probably guessed, it is time to, once again, retire to the bar.
sic vita est
3-8-19
1. Judge T.S. Ellis proved federal sentencing guidelines aren't really meant for people like Paul Manafort. Ellis sentenced the former Trump campaign manager to 47 months in jail after he was found guilty of eight counts of bank and tax fraud. Prosecutors said the guidelines carried a recommendation of 19 to 24 years.
On the other hand, last March a black woman in Texas was convicted on one count of voter fraud after she cast a ballot in the 2016 election while still on supervised probation. The judge in her case slapped Crystal Mason with five years in the joint. For those not mathematically astute, that is 13 months longer than Manafort got.
2. Donald Trump continues to hear things that have never been said. On the south lawn of the White House this morning, among other things, The Big Orange Guy said this about Manafort's sentencing, "...but if you notice both his lawyer, a highly respected man, and a very highly respected man, a judge, said there was no collusion with Russia."
Actually the judge didn't say there was, no collusion with Russia. He did say Manafort's entire trial wasn't about, "anything having to do with colluding with the Russian government." In other words no one ever said the trial was about collusion. That whole ball of sticky wax is being handled by Bob Mueller and it's an entirely separate affair.
3. Locally, if your 19 year old son, in the words of his sister, "...has not been in the right state of mind for a few years now," he shouldn't be allowed to carry a Glock 17. Monday, Eli Walker admitted to police he killed his parents with the gun. Walker told cops he, "...believed he did the right thing because they were sending him messages telepathically and they were Satan worshippers." Eli's brother, Isaiah told authorities his brother often carried the Glock around because he was, "paranoid." He shot his dad, "...anywhere I could hit him," then plugged his mother in the back as she tried to get away. Officers retrieved 19 spent shell casings.
For those wondering how Oklahoma handles nightmares like this, in November a new state law kicks in which allows anyone 21 and over to openly carry a firearm without a whit of training, or any certification. It goes without saying mental competency exams aren't required either. The gun crowd calls the new measure freedom. The rest of us have other names for it.
4. And last, but not least, don't get yourself chucked into the Oklahoma County Jail. The Oklahoman reported this morning, Charles Lemons was thrown into the county lock up Saturday, July 21 of last year after being accused of a probation violation. He sat there eight months without an attorney, or even an arraignment. Lemons, who is homeless, told Oklahoman reporter, Nolan Clay, "I was thinking, they forgot me. I really didn't know what to do."
Today a team of public defenders will conduct a court ordered inmate by inmate audit at the facility to see if anyone else has been, "forgotten." Sheriff, P.D. Taylor complained to the media the audit will take, "hours." At this moment his jail holds 1,650 prisoners--one less than it did yesterday. In addition the odds are overwhelming Charlie Lemons will finally get an attorney and he, or she will be a really good one.
Well, this sort of shit happens when, you're a black woman, a congenital liar, let your bat shit crazy son possess a gun, and don't have the sort of juice Paul Manafort does.
We even have a name for it. It's called, The American Way.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you've probably guessed, it is time to, once again, retire to the bar.
sic vita est
3-8-19
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Laura Loomer is Too Nuts For CPAC as Don Trump Calls Bullshit
It is always a strange and hateful bunch that gathers at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference--also known a CPAC.
Traditionally it is full of speeches and panels all of which are designed to inform the assembled faithful about the devious, yea, satanic nature of anyone to the left of Donald John Trump. As usual this year's get together bounced back and forth between a wild pep rally for the current resident of the White House and dark prophecies of an apocalypse if democrats take control of any political office, right down to dog catcher.
Of course, sometimes, the raucous confab draws an individual who is considered too crazy, too overtly evil and stupid even by the rabid right. It is a feat which never ceases to take the breath away.
Laura Loomer proved to be this year's designated psychopath. Yesterday, after relentlessly heckling CNN reporter Oliver Darcy in the CPAC media center, she was ejected from the hall. The not so bright bulbs running CPAC had granted her media credentials as a representative of that world renowned news agency, "Illoominate Media." Get it? IL-Loom-inate. Clever, huh?
As she was being denied entry earlier today she was heard whining, "Don Jr. follows me on Instagram. Kimberly Guilfoyle follows me on Instagram." She added, "I'm one of Trump's biggest supporters, I had 265,000 followers on twitter, before I was banned." Her protests were in vain. Security not only refused her entry, they confiscated her press pass. Later she stated, CPAC had, "...decided to bow to the leftist outrage mob."
Well there is a lot of outrage going around now days on both sides. However, Ms. Loomer tends to stand out in the crowd when it comes to the areas of religious intolerance, xenophobia, and alleged government black ops. She should also be well accustomed to banishment.
Twitter, along with PayPal, did indeed remove her from their sites thanks to her incendiary anti-Islamic lies and mass shooting conspiracies--you know, like the Parkland, FL massacre and others were faked. Then, after she started advocating for a ride share app which wouldn't hire Muslim drivers, Uber, Lyft, and the food delivery app, Uber Eats also kicked her to the curb.
Shortly after Ms. Loomer was escorted out, Don Trump showed up to deliver the keynote address. When it came to his own political problems, he told the crowd, "Unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there and all of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bullshit, okay."
In other words, I hired some fuckers who refused to fire people who weren't loyal to me. And now those deep state sons of bitches are coming after me with bullshit.
Of course Mr. Trump's bullshit rings a tad hollow as it becomes increasingly evident he is the single most corrupt individual to hold the highest office in the land. Not that criminal enterprises matter to 21st century conservatives.
As one infamously said, "Trump could shoot my dog and I'd still vote for him."
Yes, with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez out there the awful specter of socialism is suddenly real--at least in the minds of The Great and Almighty Base. Indeed, it's better to have an utterly crooked, dog killing, Putin puppet in the White House rather than things like universal health care and a living wage for all Americans.
Let's face it, racism, hunger, and disease are the backbones of American democracy aren't they? Think not? Just ask the rubes assembled in Maryland the last three days. They'll set you straight.
3-2-19
Traditionally it is full of speeches and panels all of which are designed to inform the assembled faithful about the devious, yea, satanic nature of anyone to the left of Donald John Trump. As usual this year's get together bounced back and forth between a wild pep rally for the current resident of the White House and dark prophecies of an apocalypse if democrats take control of any political office, right down to dog catcher.
Of course, sometimes, the raucous confab draws an individual who is considered too crazy, too overtly evil and stupid even by the rabid right. It is a feat which never ceases to take the breath away.
Laura Loomer proved to be this year's designated psychopath. Yesterday, after relentlessly heckling CNN reporter Oliver Darcy in the CPAC media center, she was ejected from the hall. The not so bright bulbs running CPAC had granted her media credentials as a representative of that world renowned news agency, "Illoominate Media." Get it? IL-Loom-inate. Clever, huh?
As she was being denied entry earlier today she was heard whining, "Don Jr. follows me on Instagram. Kimberly Guilfoyle follows me on Instagram." She added, "I'm one of Trump's biggest supporters, I had 265,000 followers on twitter, before I was banned." Her protests were in vain. Security not only refused her entry, they confiscated her press pass. Later she stated, CPAC had, "...decided to bow to the leftist outrage mob."
Well there is a lot of outrage going around now days on both sides. However, Ms. Loomer tends to stand out in the crowd when it comes to the areas of religious intolerance, xenophobia, and alleged government black ops. She should also be well accustomed to banishment.
Twitter, along with PayPal, did indeed remove her from their sites thanks to her incendiary anti-Islamic lies and mass shooting conspiracies--you know, like the Parkland, FL massacre and others were faked. Then, after she started advocating for a ride share app which wouldn't hire Muslim drivers, Uber, Lyft, and the food delivery app, Uber Eats also kicked her to the curb.
Shortly after Ms. Loomer was escorted out, Don Trump showed up to deliver the keynote address. When it came to his own political problems, he told the crowd, "Unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there and all of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bullshit, okay."
In other words, I hired some fuckers who refused to fire people who weren't loyal to me. And now those deep state sons of bitches are coming after me with bullshit.
Of course Mr. Trump's bullshit rings a tad hollow as it becomes increasingly evident he is the single most corrupt individual to hold the highest office in the land. Not that criminal enterprises matter to 21st century conservatives.
As one infamously said, "Trump could shoot my dog and I'd still vote for him."
Yes, with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez out there the awful specter of socialism is suddenly real--at least in the minds of The Great and Almighty Base. Indeed, it's better to have an utterly crooked, dog killing, Putin puppet in the White House rather than things like universal health care and a living wage for all Americans.
Let's face it, racism, hunger, and disease are the backbones of American democracy aren't they? Think not? Just ask the rubes assembled in Maryland the last three days. They'll set you straight.
3-2-19
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