The Newsroom - Tea Party is the American Taliban

I refuse to be bullied by people who claim to act in the public interest, when their actions and words are contrary.

Tea Party detractors call Tea Partiers 'Tea Baggers'.

What's amusing about this, is in gay slang, it means eating the ejaculate out of a condom.  So, the junxtaposition of something nasty being associated with something that is considered nasty is hilarious!

America Isn't The Greatest....

Click and watch and learn.

Ryan, why must you lie?

https://upworthy-production.s3.amazonaws.com/nugget/503ffe4af3c1d30002001b7c/attachments/RyanRNCSized.jpg

Respect? Where is it in this election from hell?

Where is our sense of national pride?  It seemed it went out the window about 4 years ago, but its roots go further than that.  I'd say 24 years ago....

We might have not liked them, but we respected Reagan, Carter, Ford and Nixon.  Despite all their individual misgivings, out of patriotism and American pride, they were respected.

Then it changed.  People needed change....  So, this fiasco started with Bush Sr, and continues to go downhill from there, as our country evolves and our politicians and lawmakers are either in denial and fighting it, or are paralyzed from making consensus to be a true government by the people.

From a societal train of thought, I'm thinking that people need a government more in tune to them, whilst there's a huge faction that is fighting to keep things were like 40 years ago, so-called "traditional American values".  Those traditional values have changed, but it seems there are hangers-on.

We need to move on as a people, and figure out what those commonalities are, and go from there and create a new way, a truly American ethos.  While we must respect the tradition that is "The American Way", we must also accept the reality that the nation is changing in many ways.  There is good change happening, but we're not working together to fix the bad changes or the bad things about our nation.  It makes me sad that bloc politics is going to tear this nation apart.

We will never see civil war in the traditional sense as we are a 'civilized' people, nor will we see an 'American Spring', until people are tired enough of the games that are being played in our government.  Will that time be now?

I believe that until all parties decide that it is pointless to fight each other and it is finally time to work for a common good and purpose, we will have a government from hell, with politicians from hell, with legislation from hell.

Until then, respect will not return....

Romney/Ryan makes me puke!

The delusions that Romney/Ryan have, disgust me.  They and their party have refused to take responsibility for their part in the fiasco that is our government, yet they preach that they are the solution?    

The two of them just need to go away!

We have to think for ourselves, in order to save ourselves.

Bite me, Romney....

You blame the President for our political issues?  When it's your party that's causing all the drama!  Karma is a bitch, sir, and it won't be kind to the likes of you and your party.

This article from the BBC should remind you how ridiculous this truly is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19388344

All my rants, political and otherwise....

Have been moved onto this blog.  I've decided that due to the election and my strong opinions, I will voice a majority of them here, instead of Facebook.  I want to keep Facebook social and not a major turn off by those who 'friended' me.  So, there you go.

REVEALED: THE GOP STRATEGY

If the GOP is going to play games, then they need to be more transparent, and not sneaky wimps.  If they're going to play dirty, let's not disguise it, just be frank about it.  We'll hate you for it, but at least we know where you stand.  The fact I posted this video in this post 4 times, can you tell I'm being a little emphatic?!? 

NEW Romney-Ryan LIES about Medicare & Welfare reform! - Last Word

I love liars....  Not!  Since when did the GOP get into the business of lying?  Since the dumbasses of the tea party entered the political arena in this country.

Romney & Ryan's GOP: Back to the Back Alley

My body....

....my rules

http://vimeo.com/jasonstefaniak/thisismybody

I think the Tea Party needs a major rethink... Watch this

The Best Takedown Of A Tea Partier Came From The President Of Ireland

Dr Pepper Always One of a Kind Commercial

My inner monologue, in the form of a Dr Pepper Commercial

I gotta be me!

I have to share these lyrics....  It's being featured on a Dr Pepper commercial at the current moment.

Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I've gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won't give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am

That far-away prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won't settle down, won't settle for less
As long as there's a chance that I can have it all

I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I've gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I've gotta be me

Who I do business with?

As long my money and I are welcome, I will do business with you, as long as you treat both with respect and dignity.

However, I will not do business with those who show blatant disregard to their vendors, suppliers, and customers, like WalMart.  (However you will see how I contradict myself with them.)  I will not do business with those whose politics are shoved down people's throats, like, Domino's and Chick-Fil-A.  Or treat their employees with blatant disregard to the law and/or actively discriminate, allegedly like Cracker Barrel.

WalMart is an interesting case study.  I am forced on many occasion to do shop there, despite the crappy customer service and at times less than desirable clientele, as I -- and most of my neighbors -- have to make the budget stretch and make every dollar count.  The great thing is many of their products are made in the USA, which I try to support my nation's factories, or what's left of them.  The bad thing is what's not made in the US, is imported from other places where their workers are exploited and mistreated AND WalMart forces all their vendors to sell to them at razor thin margins, so they'll only make money on volume alone AND they try to circumvent the law.  You see those trailers in the parking lots?  Since the merchandise in the trailers isn't in the store, it is not officially inventory, so therefore, they don't pay taxes on it, until it does finally get in the store.  All for cost savings. 

The factory workers overseas are another topic of discussion I'll save for later writings.

Anyway, as long as they don't hurt me or piss me off, I'm good with doing business with everyone.

Nothing lower than a used car salesman?

I've come to believe that most politicians, specifically Romney and Ryan, and even my beloved Obama, whom I didn't support at first, have lowered themselves to a level even LOWER than a used car salesman.

I've come to believe that politicians no longer have the regard to their position their predecessors had.  Instead, this honor to serve the people is abused to serve their own interests, big business, and mob rule.  There are a few, like Alan Grayson, that truly care.  But knights in shining armor like Mr Grayson are few and far between nowadays.

I'm tired of the bloc politics that the Right has created, so legislation that could have helped the country and the world is stalled because they're acting like a bunch of babies when the other side tries to reach out to them.  I'm tired of my own Left for not fighting back hard enough and seeking and fighting hard to reach consensus. 

I'd say to fix the system, we need to get rid of the electoral college so the vote can truly represent the will of the people.  We need to adopt a parliamentary system so that dissenting and diverse voices can be heard, without the constraints of the party line, hopefully making reaching consensus easier.

We need a serious change in how this country is run.  What will it take to get many people, who are sick and tired of this bullshit, get others to realize the system isn't working the way it's supposed to, the way the Founding Fathers intended? 

The Occupy Protests are a start, but people like myself are afraid of upsetting the Status Quo, in the event that our valiant efforts have failed, and facing the repercussions.

I'm hoping this post gets passed around, and people think about these points I have pondered, and ask themselves:  What can I do to be part of change?

Politische Amerikaner

Today's Facebook post:

I've decided that I will exercise restraint in sharing political stuff, unless it seriously moves me to do so or the orgs that I 'like' post it on my page. I know who I'm voting for and why, to share that with people to the point of shoving it down their throats is wrong. I understand that by not doing so, may do a dis-service to the causes I believe in. However, quite frankly, since we hear this stuff on TV, read it in the media, I want to enjoy my social media outlets more without adding to the political drama and angst that many people I know have. After November, it will be back to Status Quo, whatever that may mean.  I just find the tones and the tactics used in the past 20 years to be conduct unbecoming to those who wish to serve the people and their interests. What started out as a mere annoyance to me, has become a major irritant. So, I've opted to, unless I am moved to speak, not become a party to this crap that has become American politics.

However, I will post my thoughts and share stuff on my blog, so if people really cared about what I thought, they can come here.

 

I don't care

My not caring is not indicative of my work ethic, how I'm feeling or state of mind. I am choosing to detach myself in order not to drive myself or anyone around me crazy in this messed up world we live in.

I'm feeling a bit evil....

I'll give you what you want, but I'm going to make it hurt first.

Wow!  A not so subtle way for a government to tell its citizens to breed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxU89x78ac&feature=youtube_gdata_player
(Just in case you don't see the video in the blog entry.)

The kids

Small Business Owner Rant

A couple days ago I got eBay feedback from some buyer telling me my shipping and handling fees were too expensive.

I feel that they are fair, as unlike other eBay sellers, I don't nickel and dime them or 'rape' them over the coals.  The amounts I charge cover:  Postage, packing materials (though I do recycle, there are things I still have to buy), my time, my gas.

We sell items on razor thin profit margins, not for my benefit, but for the customers.

So as a reminder, small businesses:

--Are not like markets in some third world country, where one can bargain and try to force the seller to sell at a loss, like this Temple Street Market, Hong Kong, Market Outside the Market deal

--Are NOT a charity

--Are NOT banks

--If we do have problems staying in business, there is no government bailout for us

So, there you go.  Part of my response to this person was:  We run a small business, not a charity, and therefore have to make business decisions that aren't going to please everyone.

I mean really, how much did they think it actually costs to ship a 16oz bottle of liquid latex weighing 24 ounces from Florida to where their sorry ass lives in California?  Seriously. 

Hopefully after blocking this buyer from doing business with us again, they'll get the picture that small businesses may deliver a good bargain, we still have to make money to stay in business so that they can become repeat customers. 

Some people give me gas

Just spent a lovely afternoon with a co-worker who has been there for a year.  She was quite the bitch, quite frankly.  Got her to back down, but she was still a bitch.

Sorry your experience has been less than magical.  Sorry you're experiencing culture shock.  Co-workers being mean and nasty like you were to me today?  I totally understand.  I went through it too, for my first six months.  And you know what got me through?  Caring managers that wanted to get me to know my fellow co-workers and vice versa.  After time, they became part of my work family, and I would hope theirs.  They saw that I was not such a prick after all, that I worked as hard as they did, and even more.  Especially when the stockers called in sick, and left me with 17 palettes of stock to put away by myself.  I did it mostly myself, and even had time to clean and help stock the floor.

Get over yourself, learn some humility, shut the hell up, and stop being such a bitter bitch.  You haven't been with the company long enough to be so bitter and angry.  Me on the other half, have a lot of reasons to be that way, but since I'm kinda perpetually stuck in the 'responsible person' role, I try not to let it show, even though people are now seeing I'm being worn down by all of it.  But that's another blog post for another time.

In time you will get to understand and appreciate your job for what it is and what it isn't.  No, I'm not asking you to go on autopilot and not care.  Just let whatever issues you have go, and enjoy the ride.  Some of it will suck, some of it will be great.  But it will be rewarding and memorable.

Had to vent.  Thank you for allowing me to do that.

I have hypospadias. 

It's a birth defect.

I knew I was different in many ways.  I didn't know how different this really made me.

I found out about my condition on a TLC show, learned what the treatment was in Wikipedia.  It explains a lot more about me than what I thought I knew about myself.

The treatments mostly begin in infancy, and try to be completed by the age of 5.  There are additional surgeries to correct issues, that include removing scar tissue.  I look at the scars on my body, and realize, they had to do skin and bone grafts, and my left arm looks like a junkies.  In fact, my veins are collapsed in my arm, they've had to start putting IVs in my hands many years later.

This condition has affected me in ways I didn't realize.  Everything from intimate encounters to something as simple as using the toilet.  It's affected me mentally and emotionally.  For a child that didn't know any better, the treatments, the surgeries, etc. is like being abused.  It's a major source of my insecurities --  emotionally, mentally, intimately.

I function like every other guy.  I have a healthy intimate life.  It works like those of other men.  However there are somethings I have to do differently, concealing them lest there are rumors going around.

One of the things that suck that this condition affects size, however, I am not micro.  (I know my dad and brother are way bigger than me.)  Even if I want to, this condition has rendered me almost infertile.  I get constant UTIs, that I am so accustomed to, I don't know when I am getting them.  They are confused as NGU's whenever I seek treatment.

They say 1 in 250-300 boys are born with this condition. 

I say that to my fellow friends -- gay and straight -- that have this condition:  You are not alone.  There are others that have underwent what you went through.  It is not embarrassing.  It is not your fault, nor anything your mom and dad did.  You are not alone.

Why Working for OP sucks ass, Part 2

(7/4/2012:  I thought that this was published, unless people bitched about this and had this removed from public view.  I am reposting this as a reminder that I do not appreciate being screwed with.  And yes, I do understand how unprofessional this is and what kind of fire I'm playing with.  But I will not be censored.)

Or, This isn't over yet....

In the past year, I have been awaiting communication from them as far as my future with working with them. Obviously, they have heard my opinions loud and clear, and have told a third party that I will not be working with them, based on my online rants and criticism.

I fully expected it, as posting such criticisms would get me in trouble. However, I did win, since they heard my opinions about the subject at hand.

Sorry that they have fragile egos, for such arrogant attitudes towards their jobs and dealings with people.

I shall begin by saying these things:

In order to be a world class organization, you have to have to have world class people thinking about the big picture and the details that go into it. They have neither. They try, but do not listen to criticism or constructive feedback, and blame others when their way doesn't work. The lack of ownership or pride in their work is disgusting, as they do not learn from their mistakes. Rather they bandage it up or totally ignore it for a number of insane reasons. Their leadership doesn't enforce accountability, or even endeavor to create standards, resulting in people running around reinventing the wheel, not learning from their mistakes, doing their jobs with no guidance or feedback until something goes terribly wrong, and a bunch of people thinking that they are the best and making decisions without consequence to the results.

If this organization is indeed a family, then why, prey tell, do they treat others -- the unpopular, the unknown, the new people, and the people they hire on a contract basis, all of which is otherwise known as the outsiders -- like they're not. What results is a lot of miscommunication, lack of transparency, and the efforts of the outsiders to do their jobs effectively is undermined. The outsiders are reminded on a constant basis that they do not belong, and they are not part of 'the clique', where they are often excluded in participating on decisions that affect the way these people do their jobs. What a total hypocrisy!

These people have no respect for their jobs. Even though it is totally none of my business, without saying too much, don't cancel meetings because you want to visit relatives, go shopping, or change your flights, whatever. Don't abandon your boss, because you don't respect or want to hang out with him. Seeing that, shocked me, as it shows total disrespect to him. When one travels for business, one can have fun, but remember, first and foremost -- do your jobs!

And to the one that was abandoned: You could have two people hanging out with you, to drink, comisserate, and have fun. But you pissed off at least one of the two people so badly over the years -- me -- that I no longer trust you or wish to be seen in public with you. I can tolerate working with you, as long as you treat me with respect and allow me to do my job. I have a list of issues with you so long, almost as long as my grievances with your team, since most of those involve your team.

So I return to the conversation at hand. So, Vicky, really, did you have to send a third party, like your former boss, to send me the bad news? You really should have written me a letter and solicited a response from me before you decided to 'sack' me. Seriously, I wasn't fired, because I never was offered the job in the first place.

Todd, sorry, we didn't talk any more when we last saw each other. You should have requested, to my face, an audience with me. Not pussy footing around and sending messages through a third party. You had a year to say anything additional that you had to say. Not my problem, not my fault. You have my email. You know how to get a hold of me.

To the organization I have insulted and heavily criticized: You had it coming. Your undermining tactics have my attention. Though I hoped that my online attacks would force you to see things, I see that you all are reticent, in seeing the error of your ways.

I end this with the same curse to Vicky, Todd, Canda, and Ashida:

Until you do right by me, everything you think about is gonna crumble.Until you do right by me, everything you even think about gonna fail.The jail you plan for me is the one you will rot in.Everything you done to me, already done to you.-- Miss Celie, The Color Purple

This isn't over yet.

Sorry I've been gone for a while....  Just had to chill out for a while.