Alright! That's it!

I'm officially calling for a boycott of all biased media. No more NBC's The Today Show, no more Oprah, no more The View, no more NBC Evening News even! These programs are so completely biased, so unbelievably slanted that I just can't bare to watch. So sugary sweet are they to one end of the political spectrum that my teeth end up hurtting after only a little while. They smile and throw softballs at anyone leaning their way while they bulldoggingly attempt to entrap and trip-up those who refuse to go along.

I wonder, in the face of so quickly attaching 'President Elect' to 'Obama', why it is they had such a hard time attaching 'President' to 'Bush', opting instead for the all to frequent 'Mister'. The title of the office is 'President'. It's not unlike the common courtesy extended to 'Doctors', so why can't it be extended to the office holder. Resisting the temptation, I will call the President, 'President', no matter the party.

I wonder how long they'll hang in there with their boy, what kind of learning curve will they allow, what kind of tolerance and understanding they'll throw his way. I can only imagine, a whole lot more than they gave the sitting President they want so badly the hang in effigy.

On an only slightly related note, now that President Elect Obama has had his top level briefing by the CIA, I wonder if he has any new insights into the decision making of President Bush.
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I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for...

Did I miss something? Since when did a half-gallon of ice cream become 1.75 Quarts? Did someone forget that there are 4 quarts in a gallon, which means 2 quarts in a half-gallon? Is this too complicated? It must have happened at the same time that the price went up.

Well, I don't like it. Not even one little bit. I want my .25 quarts of ice cream back! By my calculations, thats 48 spoonfuls of ice cream that's no longer in my freezer.

Senator McCain, Senator Obama - you want my vote? Start running on the half-gallon ice cream platform.
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What's for dinner Al?

Congratulations to Al Gore's daughter who recently got married.

According to People Magazine, "The Gore family hosted a rehearsal dinner for 75 family and friends the previous evening at Beverly Hills' Crustacean restaurant, a longtime favorite of the Gores. Executive chef Helene An created a six-course tasting menu that included Chilean sea bass and roasted crab."

Nothing says, "Let's all save the environment!" like having a mess of threatened, all-be-it short of endangered, Patagonian Toothfish flown in from who-knows-where.

This post was generated from Jay Leno's 7/19/07 monologue and a site I'll be checking out more after tonight, NewsBusters.
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Trophy Wives

OK Today Show/NY Times, we get it. Yesterday I was inundated by your coverage of Fred Thompson and his so called Trophy Wife. I know the term can be considered less than complimentary, especially now since your 'insightful' coverage of the term and the negative light you continuously used in Senator Thompson's case.

Of course, you never mentioned Dennis Kucinich and his wife, and the 31 years between them, her obvious attractiveness. On his website (I lowered myself) several comments on their story showed approval - and deservedly so.

You also never mentioned that every wife should be a trophy for her husband. I mean that in a good way. I mean that in the way that I consider my wife a trophy - valuable, illustrative of my accomplishment as a husband, worthy to be shown to the world and feel proud of. My wife is a trophy. Not all wives are.

Proverbs 5:18 - "... may you rejoice in the wife of your youth."
Proverbs 12:4 - "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown ..."
Proverbs 31:10 - "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."
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GI Joe's

I was reminded this morning by a radio commercial that GI Joe's, an Oregon based company specializing in sporting goods and auto gear dropped the GI from its name last April. I was steamed then, just as now, with the obvious (to me at least) slight to the US military.

Gryphon Investors, the outfit of misfits that bought GI Joe's, a one man show in 1952 that quickly became a NW success story, announced the name change a month after taking control. Bone head move!

Sure, they say that GI doesn't represent its product line and that they don't sell military surplus anymore - which is fine I guess. It's their business and their name - but it's my money and I doubt I'll be spending it in their store any time soon.

Think... then speak

I've been waiting for the dust from the Hardaway comment last week to settle before I wade in. Evidently, that will take a while, especially if you watch ESPN or listen to talk radio.

Basically, my two cents are this; you may think what he said was ignorant, stupid, or just plain wrong, you may disagree or agree with what he said, or maybe you're starting a fan club for the guy - but when did we all start playing 'thought police'? Some people are so intent on making sure rights are leveled (I vote responsibilites leveled first, then we can talk about rights) and that everyone has access (whether they earn it or not) - but as soon as someone voices their opinion, the same people get very self-righteous and forget about affording someone equal rights and equal access to say what they think.

It's called the First Ammendment.

Again, just my two cents.

The Vote

I whole heartedly agree with Skor when he writes in his blog;

Whether you agree with me or not, if you want your opinion to be more than just an opinion, you should register to vote. If you live here in Washington, you can find out how to do that here. If you live somewhere else in the USA, find out how to register here.

Of course, I advise you to do some research before you vote, so you know you are making the right choice. Here is a good place to start that research. A few things that you should never base your vote on:

• Political radio or TV ads
• Campaign websites
• Your emotions (i.e. - anger, pride, etc.)
• Party affiliation
• The evening news

Don't just be an opinion. Make a difference.

I would only add to his list;

• Rhetoric
• Bumper stickers
• Hearsay
• Anyone else's opinion (adopted solely on the basis of your lack of opinion)
• The loudest voice in the throng
• Name calling
• Group think

Where's the fire Al?

Whenever I do something fast, and I have occasion to say "I did (so and so) faster than..." my new phrase will be "... faster than a former Vice President heading to the Oregon Coast."

For example... "My lunch was so good today, I ate it faster than a former Vice President heading to the Oregon Coast." or "Work was so bad, I got out of there faster than a former Vice President heading to the Oregon Coast."

Badges, we don't need no stinking badges...

Imagine... a tunnel from Mexico to San Diego. Who'da thunk it.

And to top it off, the article closes with this comforting thought...

About a dozen tunnels have been found along the U.S.-Mexican border since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when authorities increased border security.

One nation, under God...

As short lived as I'm sure the respite will be - I'm a firm believer (as a patriot, a Christian, a Traditionalist and a Potentialist) that the Supreme Court ruling of this morning, keeping '...under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance is an absolute good thing.

Red Skelton and his teacher, Mr. Laswell explain my position well.

Nick Berg

Although I haven't written about it, I have been thinking about the heinous murder of Nick Berg. I just can't believe there isn't more public outrage at the massacre of this man. That it's already left the news cycles only adds to the travesty.

It's most shocking in its simplest statement:

  This innocent man was brutally beheaded at the hands of others.

It ought to shock us. It ought to wake us up. It ought to fuel our resolve.

The New York Post OpEd piece reflects in part what I think we ought to be feeling.

Freedom is not Free

"God Bless America"

Today, the world fights for peace. Not like the subversive jerk I saw in the grocery store a couple of nights ago with his peace symbol button and hand scrawled sign pinned to his jacket. Not like the conglomerate yellow bellied reds who march on our cities, willing to break laws to oppose those who fight for the very freedom they're so willing to taint.

I'm all for checks and balances, speaking your mind, even questioning authority to some degree. But, I doubt that's even what the peace-nicks are about, really.

I support US troops for many reasons, chiefly that they support us. They know there are those who choose to ignore their sacrifice, actual and potential. They know what's being said by some, done by some, believed by some. Yet, these brave troops continue to support us. They fight in light of those who would cut their legs out from under them with banners, chants, songs, and marches.

There is right and there is wrong. There is good and there is evil. There is peace and there is not. My frustration is when people blindly confuse these things and try to blindly lead others to adopt their blind thinking. The problem is that they, and those they lead, both fall into the same pit. When they find themselves down there... they'll look up and cry out. The soldier they figuratively spat upon will still come, extend a hand, and pull them out. Perhaps then, they'll be thankful - but I'm not holding my breath.

My daughter will have a safer world in which to live, not because of those who say we should let the inspections work (first, that's not their job, secondly, how could they) but because of those who fight the good fight, risking their lives for hers.

"God Bless America"

First Post

"A good beginning is half the work." Irish Proverb
"Every dog is brave on his own doorstep." Irish Proverb


It's only fitting that I begin this blog with two Irish Proverbs as today celebrates St. Patrick's Day. I know many could care less, and that it's not really even a bona fide holiday or celebration in Ireland, but I enjoy it. If nothing else, it's an excuse to look like I've put some planning into my wardrobe. I like that I feel a connection to my heritage.

As for this blog, I have no idea what will come of it. Novelty? Diversion? Time suck? I have no plan or purpose. I stayed up late last night watching TechTV and heard, again, about blogging. Seems easy enough. Seems geeky enough. Might as well try it. I highly doubt that I'll 'over do it' so don't look for twice a day postings - or anything close.

I chose existimationis (ex-is-ti-mat-i-o-nis) partly because it sounded cool. It's latin meaning is what I'd hope for this blog (as if I were hoping for anything): [the opinion that a man (specifically: me) has , judgement; the opinion that others have of a man (specifically: me)], esp. morally, [reputation, good name, honor, character] (specifically: of me).

Like most people, I have opinions. Also like most people, I'm not really known for standing bravely by them and shouting my opinions from the roof-tops. I probably fear reprisal or discomfort in being wrong, but its probably because I'm far too used to sitting on the fence and not committing. I'm finding that comfortable feeling no longer acceptable, viable, or responsible. There's value in it for sure, in that I can see both sides of an issue - but with that, comes a lack of zealousness or passion.

Maybe I'm just getting old.

If you're reading this and still choose to read on, it'll become no secret that I'm a recovering perfectionist (my wife says, "recovering?") who too frequently falls of the wagon. I'm a one time semi-liberal turned compasionate-conservative who asserts his political party as 'Independent'. I'm a renaissance man without enough time. I've owned a guitar for a couple of years now but haven't learned how to play it. I'm a born and bread Mac man who spends most of his time on a PC. I'm a 'Controller'/'Lion' and 'Supporter'/'Golden Retriever', but I have strong 'Analyzer'/'Beaver' tendencies.

God, my wife, my daughter, my family, my friends, and my work are all important to me.

I'm a creative. I'm a teacher. I'm a Christian.

But don't discount what I have to say just because of that.