Big Leather Couch

Look, I know I said politics would be a small part of this blog...and I believe I have stuck to that pretty well, but the news of our two soldiers being kidnapped, tortured and killed has me boiling mad...

When is this madness going to end? Are we really thinking of staying in Iraq longer then we already have? Why? Can anyone tell me why we are still losing men and women over thee in a country where we are not even appreciated? Can our troops tell the friendlies from the enemy? How much longer before our President sees the futility in this war?
WMD...nope never found any.
Was this truly just a "Yo, Dad, I will go back there and do what you didn't have the balls to do" situation?

The similarities to the Vietnam War are eerie. Protests are beginning now over this ridiculous war. The administration is walking around with their heads up their collective asses while the country begs them to bring the troops home...The one main difference, and this is one that does warm my heart, is that our troops are being treated as heroes when they return home. What our Vietnam era veterans went through upon their return is a disgraceful blotch in our history and should never be repeated again.

Below are some quotes. Some are from Richard M. Nixon, the others from George W. Bush. Can you pick who said which? - Answers below--NO peeking

1. "When we make a pledge, we mean it. We keep our word, and what we begin, we will finish."
2. "We are all in it together. This is a war. We take a few shots and it will be over. We will give them a few shots and it will be over."
3. ". . . For once, we've got to use the maximum power of this country . . . against this *shit-ass* little country: to win the war. We can't use the word, "win." But others can."
4. “It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.”
5. "I strongly believe what we're doing is the right thing. If I didn't believe it — I'm going to repeat what I said before — I'd pull the troops out, nor if I believed we could win, I would pull the troops out."
6. "I wish I wasn't the war president. Who in the heck wants to be a war president? I don't."
7. "By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of the healing."
8. "My view is that one should not break up a winning combination."
9. "We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the
   worst threats before they emerge."
10. "This will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome
    except victory."
11. “It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.”
12. "You're so goddamned concerned about the civilians, and I don't give a damn. I don't care."
13. "The ultimate aim is for the infrastructure to be the best in the region. And the political process is moving toward democracy, which is a major shift of system in that part of the world."
14. "As far as I am concerned now, I have no enemies in the press whatsoever."

1. Bush
2. Nixon
3. Nixon
4. Nixon
5. Bush
6. Bush
7. Nixon
8. Nixon
9. Bush
10. Bush
11. Nixon
12. Nixon
13. Bush
14. Nixon

From all over the world comes those stories that make you scratch your head in wonder...

Zacarias Moussaoui, who was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 9/11 attacks now wants a new trial! He wants to withdraw his guilty plea and says he lied when testifying at his trial. Seems he pled guilty because he felt the U.S. legal system was flawed and now he feels he can get a fair trial.
Riddle Me This Kids...He lied and said he was a par of this operation because he felt our system was flawed...so let's show him how unflawed it is and put him in a jet plane. Fly him over some unpopulated area, open the door and push...well we may be a bit flawed...

Therlow Roberts, 48, and his golfing buddy, Dwayne McCray, 40, were out on the links enjoying a beautiful spring day of golf. Seems at one point they got into a bit of an argument over whether one of their shots was out of bounds or not. Now there were a few sheckles bet on the round, but when McCray began to walk away from the argument, it seems that Roberts was not happy. So, he reached into his golf bag, pulled out his 5 AND 6 irons and began to pummel his playing partner. McCray's worst injury was on his arm where one of the broken clubs left a gash. As McCray fell to the ground, witnesses say Roberts (above) yelled "You cost me two clubs!" and stormed off. This Roberts character has a long arrest record - 37 arrests - on charges that have included Aggravated assault and failure to pay support.
Riddle Me This Kids...Now, don't you think this proves that out legal system IS flawed if this thug is still walking around.

Is Keith Richards brain damaged or not? There is conjecture that he may be after falling out of a coconut tree and hitting his head. He had a hole drilled to allow blood to drain from his brain. There is speculation it could be his second operation, but his "people" deny that.
Riddle Me This Kids...Love the Stones, always have been, but...he does look like he could be from this picture. What? This was before he fell? Oh ...sorry.....

The police in Vermilion, OH have to have this on their billboard...Seems they arrested one of their local citizens when he was spotted weaving his way home from a store a mile away. They arrested him for the third time on DWI charges. He was hauled away to the police station. They also towed his vehicle. What? You don't understand why this story is here? Well it seems this person was on his RIDING LAWN MOWER when arrested.
Riddle Me This Kids...Do you think they needed lights and sirens when pulling him over? Was he fined for also driving on the grass?

In Asia, elders are loved and respected more then anywhere in the world. It is their culture. So, it comes as no surprise that in South Korea the gift given with love is cosmetic-surgery gift certificates! "Appointments for procedures for parents Day have increased over 50% from five years ago," says the head of Seoul cosmetic surgery center. The most common uses for the certificates; Botox treatments, wrinkle removal and face lifts.
Riddle Me This Folks...how exactly can you tell if your parents are truly happy after having one of those procedures... they can't smile, there are no laugh lines and they look as plastic as a mannequin!

Now for a bit of seriousness...Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated has put a call out to all of us to assist in helping stop the spread of malaria. Almost 3,000 kids die every day in Africa from this disease.
How can you help? This is a no brainer folks...donate $10.00. Yup, that's all ... just $10! If enough people do this, we can wipe malaria off the map. What does $10 do? It buys special netting to be used over their beds. Nets coated with insecticide costs between $4 and $6, so with shipping, you get to $10.
I know, you are saying..sure I send in $10 and $9 goes to administration costs and $1 to a net. WRONG!
Seems Ted Turner donated $1 BILLION to create the U.N. Foundation, which covers all overhead. Andrea Gay, the U.N. Foundations Director of Children's Health says "every cent goes to buy nets."

As a sports nut, nets means so many things.. in this case, it means LIFE.

To use some of Reilly's column: "If you are a coach. parent. player, gym teacher or even just a fan who likes watching balls fly into nets, send $20. You saved a life, take the rest of the day off.
You ever have a net in your driveway, front lawn or on your head at McDonald's, send $20. You ever imagined Angelina Jolie in fishnets, send $20."

The address is: UNFoundation.org/malaria. Then just look for the big SI's Nothing But Net logo (or call 202-887-9040) and donate $20.

Here is the link to the full article.

American Idol tonight. The final three sing three songs each. One is their selection, one is a selection by one of the judges and one is the selection of Clive Davis, producer.
Taylor Hicks looks like he cold blow the roof off the joint tonight:
Judge (Randy Jackson): Joe Cocker "You Are So Beautiful"
Clive Davis: Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark"
Taylor: Otis Redding "Try A Little Tenderness"

Has Barry Bonds retired yet? No? Too bad. AVG. .221 HR 5 RBI 13 SB 0
Babe...even when he passes you, you are more about baseball then he ever will be. Hank, he will never catch you...never.

Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.

Marketing message... Remember to show support to the sponsors by clicking the links at the top of the page. (It also earns me some dough)!!