ZombieChatter.com

    Over the past several weeks we have seen peaceful (and not so peaceful) protests regarding the Beijing Olympics. We, as Americans, have the right to protest, although I believe that a peaceful protest is more dignified and potent than attacking runners who carry the Olympic torch. They are, after all, engrossed in the Spirit of the Olympics. When we attack an innocent person, we ourselves are no less tactless that the ones we are protesting, right?

    I have read many articles that call for an all-out boycott of the Olympics, circa 1980 in Moscow. I believe that there is validity to this argument, we (the worlds most powerful) should make a PEACEFUL stand for the world’s weaker (Tibet and China’s oppressed). After all, our current governmental regime’s mantra is “liberating the world from tyranny”. America has taken such an aggressive stance in the Middle East, why not make a statement without armies and with a simple action…..Boycott.

    Believe me I understand the dilemma here, a complete boycott would deprive some of the world’s top athletes the chance to compete on a global stage; but a partial boycott (say boycotting the opening ceremonies) would send a subtle yet unmistakable message to the world that we hear, we understand and we will not ignore. Critics will claim that it would be the world that might need to Boycott the U.S. for our action or (mis) actions in the Middle East, to those folks I say “It’s always helpful to learn from your mistakes because then your mistakes seem worthwhile.”-Garry Marshal

    I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics. I remember watching Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson break into super-sonic speed around the track. Greg Louganis coming back and winning gold after cracking his head in the diving platform and The Dream Team’s dominance over the world in 1992. I’ve never missed an opportunity to watch the Olympics, but this year I will Boycott. I will not watch any coverage of the Olympics. It sucks, but I think it’s the right thing for me to do. Will it make a difference? Maybe only to me.

    To be honest I’ve never followed the plight of the Tibetan or Chinese people, but I feel like protesting (or Boycotting) the Olympics will bring to light the situation to educate people like me on the travesties that are occurring in China.
I hoped, although it was an empty hope, that our government would take a compassionate stance and stick up for the “little guy”, but needless to say our “leadership” has disappointed me. I really don’t think our President gets it. I read an interview that states he considers the Olympics only to be a sporting event….Really? Mr. President ever heard of Jesse Owens, Tommie Smith or John Carlos?

    The Olympics are only a “sporting event” where the entire world is watching and what we do (or don’t) speaks volumes to our character as a nation.

       As the counter in the upper right-hand corner counts…6729 hours left

I found this close-up pic of George Bush….before they put the make-up on him during a press conference.  This new evidence indicates that the President of the United States is actually a Zombie.  This explains many things. 

A Russian tank crashed into a villager’s house when the crew stopped in a small town to buy more vodka.  Someone caught the whole incident on a video camera phone (below).

Footage from the phone shows a drunk-ass tank driver walking towards the tank and awkwardly trying to climb into the tank holding two bottles of vodka.

According to the Reuters article entitled “Hey Tanks Alot“, the army promised Friday to pay compensation and said the tank must have been broken and fallen behind a column heading to a test site for exercises. Earlier it said the vehicle slid on melting ice.  

I think they are full of shit, but you decide for yourself….

I was driving from the office to a client this morning when I happened to switch the channel from XM’s Opie and Anthony to the Glenn Beck show.  To my suprise, there was a guest talking about global warming.  But, this wasn’t your typical global warming guest.  It wasn’t a guy screaming about how all of the algae is going to die and the world is F*&Ked if we don’t all sell our SUVs and go buy a Hybrid Prias right now!  He wasn’t calling for everyone to reduce their carbon footprint, recycle, or even carpool.

In fact, he was discussing something that I found particularly interesting (as an accountant who deals with compliance issues about 70% of my work-time):  the rules and guidelines used by NOAA temperature reading sites.

If you don’t know, NOAA (the National Oceanic Atmospheric Adiminstration) is the agency that compiles lots of weather data for the US.  This data is used for all sorts of things, especially research (I have used NOAA data before for several litigation support cases I’ve worked on to prove things like how much it rained in a particular location over a couple year span, and hurricane weather activity).  And this data is very instrumental for researchers across the globe in determining the Earth’s climate changes and climate activites.  There are a little more than 1,200 weather stations around the US that record and trasmit weather data in the NOAA network.

So this guy was looking to do some research, and he wanted to study the effect of a policy change by NOAA which resulted in the re-painting of its temperature reading stations in the 1970s.  Many of these stations were built and designed in the 1800s, and were designed with the typical “Tom Sawyer” white-washing exterior.  In the 1970s, it was decided that they would be re-painted with latex paint.  This researcher was hoping to study if the new paint had any real affect on the temperature readings being measured at the locations.

So he located 3 stations and set out to see first if they had been re-painted.  When he got to the first one, he did note that it had been re-painted, but he also noted that there was tons of electrical and computer equipment within feet of the thermometor providing the temperature reading (odd, in that why would you place equipment that produces heat near something you’re trying to get an accurate climate reading from?).  Surely this was an anomoly, he thought.  But, he ran into the same thing on at the third station, and his research took a turn in its scope.

From this innocent discovery came Surface Stations.org: an organization of volunteers dedicated to examining weather stations for poor conditions.  To date approximately 40% (500) of the 1,200 stations have been examined, and most have been found with violations of NOAAs own station guidelines.  Things like not having an official thermomiter within 100 feet of asphault, automobiles, electrical equipment, and such.  In fact, 69% of the stations examined so far have been found to have deficiencies in conditions that could result in differences in teperature readings of at least 2 degrees.  14% of the stations have conditions so poor that temperature readings could be overstated as much as 5 or more degrees!

What does this mean?  Well, this whole global warming thing could be a result of nothing more than poor conditions used in keeping temperatures for the past 20 or 30 years!  As cities and counties have sought to find new uses for their weather stations, and ignored guidelines for correct and accurate placement of temperature reading devices, they have perhaps created a larger problem by inadvertantly manipulating temperature data….resulting in the national phenomenom …or epidemic…known as global warming! 

Now it appears that the voices of those scientists claiming that the global warming issue is not as conclusive as the media or most people think might be gaining a little bit of credence.

Of course, as someone who’s not sold on the whole global warming issue, I’m not suggesting that people not try to be conscious of their actions and try to make the environment a better place.  Honestly, it really couldn’t hurt, and it’s probably the right thing to do.  But in today’s world of shock-journalism and researchers trying to get their name out there, is it any suprise that the data surrounding global warming would be suspect to manipulation (inadvertant or not)?

This is very similar to how I feel these days…

ST. PAUL, Minn. - In an effort to help Sen. Larry Craig, the American Civil Liberties Union is arguing that people who have sex in public bathrooms have an expectation of privacy.

Craig, of Idaho, is asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to let him withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct stemming from a bathroom sex sting at the Minneapolis airport.

The ACLU filed a brief Tuesday supporting Craig. It cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling 38 years ago that found that people who have sex in closed stalls in public restrooms “have a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

That means the state cannot prove Craig was inviting an undercover officer to have sex in public, the ACLU wrote.

The Republican senator was arrested June 11 by an undercover officer who said Craig tapped his feet and swiped his hand under a stall divider in a way that signaled he wanted sex. Craig has denied that, saying his actions were misconstrued.

The ACLU argued that even if Craig was inviting the officer to have sex, his actions wouldn’t be illegal.

“The government cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Senator Craig was inviting the undercover officer to engage in anything other than sexual intimacy that would not have called attention to itself in a closed stall in the public restroom,” the ACLU wrote in its brief.

The ACLU also noted that Craig was originally charged with interference with privacy, which it said was an admission by the state that people in the bathroom stall expect privacy.

Craig at one point said he would resign but now says he will finish his term, which ends in January 2009.

What the fuck is up with this Larry Craig guy?  Why won’t this senile old man just admit that he is a flaming butt-sexual and move on.  And why is the ACLU jumping in to argue the “privacy” of a bathroom stall?  The fact that they call these places “Public Restrooms” should be all you need to know when privacy comes into question.  How many of you have gone into a ”Public Restroom” only to find that some turd-wrangler has just “set up shop” in a neighboring stall and has already begun to dominate the atmosphere with his shit-mist?  If that stall was private, he would be keeping it to himself.  Also, let’s not forget that Larry Craig was accused of touching the foot of a man that was not in the same stall as him.  The privacy issue is null at that point.    I will end this rant here before the sex issue is brought into the mix.

Is sex in a bathroom stall private?  What’s your opinion?

Al Sharpton is amazing. The man is endless in his zealousness for media attention and is willing to flock to the cause of any minor or major atrocity to the African American Race. Now if a Caucasian, Oriental, Muslim, Jew, Hispanic individual was crucified across the street from his house he might just walk on by and not give notice. If an African American was spanked in a classroom in Alaska too hard as part of punishment Al Sharpton would be on the plane holding a press conference immediately. This is Al Shaprton and he is here to save the African Americans

You probably want a little back story on why Al has me fired up this morning. Have you all seen the news about the Golf Channel’s anchor Kelly Tilghman? Probably not who the hell even watches the Golf Channel. Let me fill you in quickly:

Kelly is doing a segment with fellow anchor Nick Faldo about the possibility of some of the up and coming Golfers Challenging Tiger for the Number 1 spot in the world. They both agree it is crazy and no one currently has the combination needed to knock Tiger from his perch. Nick goes as far as saying “Maybe if they gang up against him” . Kelly then laughingly says “Yeah maybe they can Lynch him in a Alley”. A comment that was surely in poor taste. Even I can admit that, but no harm was meant from it and actually it was a compliment to Tiger’s skill.  Afterwards realizing the statement was in poor taste Kelly issued a personal apology to Tiger. Through his agent Tiger has said it was a non issue and no offense was taken. Also Tiger and Kelly are on good terms. They have known each other for 12 years and consider each other friends.

This passed with not much being said for the first day or so, but unbeknownst to all the normal people in the world Al Sharpton heard the call deep in his Afro American Cave. I mean seriously the guy is like Batman. A word is said about an African American and BOOM its like the Bat Signal over Gotham Al is on the case. Al  calls for her to be fired immediately from her job because of this statement.

So it was a minor statement that was meant as a compliment, but perhaps poorly worded. It was said by someone who is a long time friend and already apologized. That apology was not only accepted, but was called a non issue by the offended party, but Al still felt he had to swoop in to protect the African American victim Tiger Woods……

Maybe it is just me but this kind of bullshit irritates the hell out of me. As Tiger said this is a non issue. Where was Al  last Fall when the Indian couple in  New York were accused of keeping their servants as slaves???? Not only were they accused these folks were found guilty. I did not hear a peep out of Al. If those poor folks who were  forced to endure beatings with brooms, hot water scoldings and  forced to eat hot chili peppers  by their Masters were black Al would have been there so fast he would have broke the speed of sound getting there.

Al champion the cause for good for everyone not just African Americans and pick your battles for the ones that will count and help to cause change. Not the ones that will put you in the media the most and get you the most exposure over trivial issues. If the best thing you have to do with your time is protect the fragile Tiger Woods from an off color comment made by a friend of his in a joking manner perhaps you need to find something better to do with your time. I hear there is a conflict in Darfur that might warrant a little more attention then Tiger’s comment.

/end rant

This is part of an article I have written that has been published in Impeached Magazine.  Click on the link to the website to read the rest. 

It may seem unthinkable, but the recent success of the surge in Iraq could spell doom for the Republican presidential hopefuls in 2008.  The current stumbling of the Giuliani campaign stands as a glaring example, and his fellow candidates would be well advised to take notice if they plan on escaping a similar fate. 

It was only months ago when many Republicans were wondering who Giuliani’s running mate would be after he sowed up the Republican nomination. Some of my friends on the right were talking about his chances against a Democratic opponent like it was a foregone conclusion.  Talk radio and cable news were buzzing like a high school cafeteria during prom week.  Giuliani was the big man on campus and everyone wanted to know who he was taking to the dance.  Rumors and innuendos were flying like spitballs in 7^thperiod study hall. “I heard he’s gonna ask John McCain”, whispered one commentator.  “No way, he’s totally taking Mitt Romney!” another snapped.  “Shut up. Everyone knows he likes that Huckabee guy, and plus, they look cute together.”   

  http://www.impeachedmagazine.com/national/national/GOPnightmare.html

Since we all know a Republican candidate does not have a chance of winning this presidential election I think it is fair to say that the next president of the U.S. is either going to be a black man or a female. Holly Shit! I am cool with either one honestly, but I am still surprised that we are in this position. If you would of told me a few years back that our next president was going to be a black guy or a female I would not have believed you. I figured that maybe someday I would see a non-white ritch guy be a president in my lifetime, but not before 2030. All I know is that I can not wait for the political satire on SNL and Robot Chicken if we get a black man or female president.

I guess it is still possible for Edwards or an outside chance of a Republican candidate to win by the “lesser of two evils” mentality that so many people take when voting. I would like to give my vote to a third party candidate that has not been associated with a party that is guilty of exploding nasty diarrhea all over the American public for the last 30 years. I think a lot of people agree with me based on conversations I have had with people I know.

Also, did anybody hear about Hillary crying in a coffee shop? I bet Iran is licking its chops for her to win. Can you imagine her crying at a diplomatic meeting where the stakes are possible war. “You really hurt my feelings”, she would say as she cried hysterically in front of the UN to the Prime Minister of Iran.

While waiting in one of the longest “security” lines of my life at the Atlanta airport, I passed this glass enclosed case displaying all the different types of weapons and deadly materials you are not allowed to bring onto an airplane during your flight. 

Fire crackers, knives and explosive materials have been well known for some time.  But now, all of a sudden, according to this box, we can no longer bring chainsaws on an airplane.  I truly feel that my liberties have been infringed upon….. 

What kind of world do we live in where I can not put on a hockey mask and wield a chainsaw on an airplane? 

I mean seriously, I can’t bring the gasoline to run the chainsaw, so why can’t I just have a chainsaw?  I have seen other people bring larger items on a plane.  A chainsaw would comfortably fit in the overhead.  Jeezzz. 

Anyway, this irritated me, so I decided to visit TSA.gov.  For those of you who don’t know…TSA is short for the Transportation Security Administration.   

Click here to see the list of permitted and prohibited items.

You will notice that a chainsaw does not appear on this list…..so weird.