Another stop at the Cafe Wha?

Bush in repsonse to a question concerning the allegations that actions by our government are contributing to worsening human rights in the world: "It seemed like to me they based some of their decisions on the word of -- and the allegations -- by people who were held in detention, people who hate America, people that had been trained in some instances to disassemble -- that means not tell the truth."

I reckon those emails from FBI agents expressing concerns over the treatment of prisoners in Gitmo were written by America hating FBI agents? How long has the FBI been hiding 'merica hating agents? This is a problem that really should be addressed.

Does he not fucking understand that as the United States we are expected to lead by example? Is he so fucking clueless that he doesn't understand that these statements by Amenesty International should be addressed seriously and not laughed off? That's what drives me crazy about this guy, I never know if he doesn't get it or just doesn't give a fuck.

I guess any prisoner that is released from Gitmo after years of imprisonment that complains about conditions is an America hater? Gosh, I reckon after being held prisoner without access to representation or a lawyer in a concentration camp might make me less fond of George Bush's America. Jesus, what a dick. Like Frasier Crane once axed Cliff the postman, "What color's the sky in your world?" Like Frank Zappa once asked, "Is he kidding?" Again, the sad thing is that fifty percent of the people within the borders of this country are going to hear or read his remarks and go "Uh huh. Yup, America haters."

Disclaimer: Of course not every person in Gitmo is an angel. Some may actually be America haters and may deserve, at some point before they die of old age, to be tried in public.

Apology: It's been a while since I bashed this clown so there is no apology.

My new hobby

What's the last sport you think I might try and play? You got it, golf. I bought a set of clubs the other day and went to a driving range with my friend, Chris B (not the same Chris who is usually called the big loud guy). This last Sunday we played ten holes of golf. We had to quit because of the fading light. Today I went to a driving range and tried to get that damn slice out of my swing. Nothing is more frustrating than hitting the ball well having it turn left like turn one at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

I didn't invest in the clubs lightly. I have been playing for over a year now a game on my Xbox called Links. It's a golf simulator. That's right, it's not a game, it's a simulator. After having the game for a while and really enjoying it and being coached while playing over the internet with Chris I found myself watching chunks of televised golf and understanding what was going on which was scary. Recently I started contemplating buying a driver and going to a driving range. I mentioned this to a salesman at Dicks Sporting Goods and he said, "shit, if you piecemeal a set together you'll end up spending a fortune. You'd be better off buying a set of clubs." I liked the cut of his jib, so I did. My clubs are cheap, they are a starter set which I reckon I'll have to add to if my interest holds.

George Carlin called golf "boring and arrogant" but I'll just call it hard as a motherfucker. You might think it's easy to hit a ball that's just sitting there and make it go where you'd like, but you'd be wrong. Your margin for error is zero. If you don't hit it perfect it's in the trees or the creek or it might just bounce ten yards in front of you and then you swear, a lot. But...but...but..but if you hit it right and it goes where you want it to then it feels real good. It almost feels good in your pants. Almost.

The clubs set me back a bit and I need to get better because golf balls aren't cheap and I can't afford to keep hitting them into the woods. I've been getting fat and lazy recently and maybe they'll help me get outside more.

Bastards

You know your email address has been found, sold and multiplied when you start getting emails from "banks in Ghana."

I smell insanity plea

Good thing Phil Spector got his personal thing together before appearing for his murder trial. Jesus, he might as well burn a swastika into his forehead and put on a chicken suit.

Webmaster Ed and his furious fingers.

I'm working on the website for my friend Lenny. Right now it's pretty generic and I'm using the templates he and his brother set up when they started the page. I reckon it's not ever going to look like this wonder of the web or this pretty much OK website. Right now I just got it live and running and will worry about aesthetics later.

May god continue to bless George Bush

Amnesty International says US Leads Global Attack on Human Rights.

I started to wonder now that maybe it's good that George the Fuck got his second term. Maybe eight years of his ineptitude after eight years of Clinton's moral ambiguity will guarantee we might one day get another president in the office with some substance.

Various stuff

Saturday night Chris, Wendell and I went over to my neighbor's pad to watch the
All-Star race. My favorite driver, Mark Martin won. I was ecstatic. I was hoping he would get a win during his last season. He's got one, now get a couple more, Mark. Since he has been one of NASCAR's great drivers it would only be appropriate if he went out with a season that would be included in any conversation of "best last seasons ever."

Oops

I committed a party faux pas that night though. My neighbor Scott has a table in his living room that has hinges on and I hit my feet on his table a lot and bounce the section with the hinge up and down. This last Saturday Scott set a full beer on the hinged part of his table. I hit it and his beer went over and soaked some of his photographs, a good chunk of the table and his new carpet. He took it pretty hard, I'm still not sure if he was as crushed as he seemed or messing with me or both.

Webmaster?

Tonight after work I am going to help a friend tweak his webpage. Yeah, you know it: How badly does someone need help with a webpage if they get assistance from me? The ship is sinking, the band is playing, all the lifeboats have left half full and the poor people are sucking cold sea water.


Junk

I went to Dick's Sporting Goods a couple of days ago to buy a new pump for my bicycle. I bought a foot pump for a little under $20 took it home and it didn't work. I took a good look at it then and realized it was junk. It was plastic and rickety and pretty much worthless. I don't know why I didn't notice how substandard it was when I had it in my hand at the store. Good news though, the good pump I have at home that I thought was broken started working right after the new one crapped out. I returned the new one to Dick's today and all is well. I still need to get my back brakes on my bike adjusted though. I don't know why I can't get it right myself.

Softball sharks

Late in my Marine Corps career while stationed at Camp Pendleton I developed a friendship with a big guy who enjoyed playing softball. He was one of those corn fed crewcut-wearing offensive lineman looking guys who spent half his at bats crushing softballs served up on the slow pitch platter over the fences. I think we first started talking because he drove the same old style of Chevy pickup truck that my step-dad owned. His favorite after work pasttime was to drive out to a park in the town of San Clemente and hang out at the softball fields. He would monitor games and wait and see if a team was short a player and volunteer his services. I went along with him and it was a good way to get to play softball with civilians.

The first night I accompanied him to the park I hopped onto a team consisting of a bunch of guys who worked security at a local hotel. I played real well and they invited me back the next week (that was always the goal: perform well and get invited back). Since rosters are supposed to be set before the season started they told me that if anyone asked I should give them a name they chose from the roster. I played with the team for a couple of months and contributed to a pretty good season and it was nice to make a few friends outside of the Marines for a change.

This was right near the end of my enlistment and the manager of the team actually tried to convince me to stay in California after I got out of the Marines and work at the hotel. He said he could get me a job in security if I wanted and I could continue playing on the team. They were a fun tight knit group of fellas and I considered it. I was dating a Filipina bartender at the time who offered to let me live with her. Here was a chance at a place to live with a gorgeous and nice woman and gainful employment in southern California. I've always wondered just how different my life would be right now if I had taken those two offers instead of joining my mom and dad in Charlotte. Knowing me I probably would have left after two months anyway and be right where I am right now.

Nerd Fest '05

Last night I went to a midnight showing of the new Star Wars movie with Billy and a new friend/coworker, Beth. It was the first time I had done such a thing and it was a lot of fun. We arrived at the Stonecrest Regal cinema around 10:15 and stood around gawking at a few folks in costume and just chatted between ourselves and a few people around us. The highlight of the evening was the five teenage boys dressed up as George Lucas. Each of them was wearing a red and black flannel shirt and a pair of cutoff jeans and called each other George all night. They were killing me. At one point they even called for a "George huddle" and gathered together like a football team calling a play. I was pissed I didn't bring my camera.

The movie: Not great, not horrible. Cool action scenes, laughable dialogue. Pretty much what I expected.

Gurgle gurgle

Ever wanted to see an aerial photo of an aircraft carrier sinking? Who hasn't? This is the USS Saratoga after being roughed up in the Baker test at the Bikini Atoll.

Some redneck after the race

As you know I went to Darlington last weekend. After the race we came across the following drunken redneck. I swear that this is not me.