- Two things Ohioans have decided they don’t like: gambling and smoking. Both of which are fine by me, and both of which appear to have garnered nearly 60 percent of the vote in initiatives on the ballot this past Tuesday. Safe to say that when Phillip Morris supports a ballot issue related to smoking, you want to vote that one down, which Ohio voters did, while passing a tougher anti-smoking law that bans smoking in all public places. That, in tandem with a measure shooting down the idea of allowing slot machines in racetracks and a couple locations in downtown Cleveland, is a very good thing. More crime via gambling, more gambling addicts and an increased chance of lung cancer are just things I can do without in my life.
- Donald Rumsfeld has resigned as Secretary of Defense, God only knows why. Yes, he did head a disastrous invasion of a country we had no business invading to begin with. True, he is in charge of this war effort that has no clear plan or direction, and no withdrawal strategy for U.S. troops. No, he has not come close to finding Osama bin Laden, and no, most Americans don’t feel any safer than they did a couple years ago. So if you want to jump to conclusions and say that just because of the above stated facts that Rummy had to go, then fine. It’s as if people want a sensical, intelligent and competent individual in charge of our nation’s national security efforts. The demanding standards of America never cease to amaze……
- Kevin Federline’s trek down the “White Trash” career path just got another boost. His recent venture into the W.T. Mecca of pro wrestling makes more sense now that we know Britney has filed for divorce from the wannabe wrapper and biggest proponent of wife beaters outside of Ben McKenzie’s character on The O.C. So now Federline is divorced, an aspiring pro wrassler, a wearer of beaters and apparently a stranger to both soap and shampoo and without a place to live. This could go one of two ways for him: he can admit he’s a no talent hack, move to some country bumpkin town and embrace his inner redneck, or he can persist at trying to pretend that he’s an actual celebrity and musician and follow in the footsteps of kindred spirit Vanilla Ice. I’m hoping for the former, if only because we have the chance to maybe see Ice and Federline team up in the Surreal Life: Season 11 and then go on a North American tour whose total attendance may or may not reach triple digits. Wahoo.
- The Dick Cheney hunting trip saga has taken on a new twist. One day with no humans shot for the Dickster, but the troubling news is that his daughter is on the trip with him. Either he has a funny way of showing those close to him that he cares about them, or his daughter has really done something to piss off her old man. I don’t know if they make a full line of Kevlar headgear or just the helmets that soldiers wear, but Cheney’s daughter had better have a bulletproof vest, pants, helmet and face shield before she even considers setting foot into the woods with the VP.
- Last week, news of a runway collision between two Continental jets at Newark’s airport provided disturbing evidence that some of our nation’s pilots are as competent behind the wheel as a 16-year-old girl trying to talk on her cell phone, change the radio station and apply some lipstick while steering with her knees. Yet this warning signal wasn’t enough to get the attention of two United pilots who likewise collided on the runway at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Why don’t we look into widening the runways, making all of the planes bright, fluorescent orange, whatever it takes, just as long as planes stop running into each other. At this rate, terrorists will have no need to try anything while the planes are in the air, they can just wait for the demolition derby that is American airports’ runways to run its course.
- Allegations of good ol’ fashioned voter fraud are popping up, directed at the Republican Party. Voters in Virginia and New Mexico claim they received phone calls either threatening them or directing them to incorrect polling locations. These voters, at least the ones in Virginia, largely said they were planning to vote for Democratic candidates. Republicans in those states deny the claims, but why would it not surprise me if it were true? This isn't specific to Republicans either; I wouldn’t be surprised if it were Democrats, Green Party members, etc. Lying is so inherent in politics that it’s a way of life.
- University of Kansas basketball player C.J. Giles has been booted from the team and the university after being arrested on charges of hitting a woman and dragging her from his apartment by the legs. This is one of those rare instances where a university and athletic team don’t have much of an option. Smoke weed, get into a bar fight, get into a brawl on the field, cheat in class, any of these things probably won't get you kicked off the team. But when you start assaulting women and dragging them from your apartment, you’ve crossed the line. I almost feel like there needs to be a class for college athletes and a refresher course for those entering the professional ranks about why it’s not alright to assault women. Thugs like the NFL’s “Pacman” Jones and Giles really are just the most recent examples of what a big problem this is. The course could cover basic stuff, like not dragging women from your apartment, spitting on them, throwing them to the ground, as well as more advanced topics like not forcing them into any sort of sexual acts when they say no. Sadly, it appears that for too man athletes, basic societal tenets like this aren't things they’ve ever been taught.
No comments:
Post a Comment