Top Of My Head

This is an actual quote from Mitt Romney from Mitt Romney.com:

“I think this is a time when young people are questioning the support they gave to President Obama three and a half years ago. He promised bringing the country together; that sure hasn’t happened. He promised a future with good jobs and good opportunity; that hasn’t happened. And the pathway that he pursued is one which has not worked. Young people recognize that and I think that’s why they’re going to increasingly look for a different approach.” –Mitt Romney

Below the quote, there are links to the “facts” that support his data.  Two links to the same Time Magazine article written by Josh Sanburn (which I haven’t read) from February of this year,  there’s a couple of links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and some more links to articles .

Here’s the thing:  Mitt Romney is hoping that you won’t research any farther than that.  He’s hoping that he can convince you that President Obama hasn’t done enough and he’s handing you little tidbits that support his claim.

So, I did the research myself.  Below is a chart.  This is the annual unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) from 1948 until 2011. I’ve broken the data down by age: 16 – 24 and over 25.  The third line is the combined annual unemployment rate.  I obtained the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics site.  (Side note: If you love data, like I love data, you could spend hours on this site running queries!)

Here’s the thing:  Romney is trying to make you think that somehow our youth have it so much worse than the rest of us and President Obama is responsible for it.  However; the truth is that the unemployment rate for 16 – 24 year olds has always been higher than the unemployment rate for the rest of the population.

Annual Unemployment 1948 - 2011

I realize that not all of you are Christian, but hear me out anyway.  I was praying the other day on my way into work.  (I do that.)  And, the following thoughts occurred to me.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  God loves me.  God made me who I am.

For a good portion of my life, I have struggled in my relationship with God and being gay.  Right-wing “Christians” will point to all sorts of passages in the Bible as proof that God hates gays.  Just last week, a right-wing co-worker proclaimed that if I am secure in being gay, it must be because Satan has been answering my prayers.  Satan – not God.

And, they wonder why we hate them.

Actually, I don’t hate my co-worker, I pity her.  And, her comment led to a very interesting discussion with my pastor (yes, I attend church – although, I admit that I miss some Sundays).  And, that conversation led to something I believe that God revealed to me while I was praying.  Ready?  Because I’m serious:

God loves us – every single one of us – and He wants us to be happy. On top of that, He wants us to have a relationship with Him and His Son. And – anyone who interferes with our relationship with God is not working for God and they are not taking orders from God – they are doing Satan’s work.

Think about that. I’ll wait. Read it again, if you must.  I’ll even repeat it – if someone interferes with your relationship with God, they are doing Satan’s work.

See, Satan wants our souls.  He has a deal with God.  He can tempt us and if we give in to him, he gets our soul.  BUT, we have to freely give Satan our soul.  I’ve never done that – have you?  Well, if you have, you can get it back, by asking for forgiveness from God.  But, that’s another topic.

See, Rev Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church – you know, the “God Hates Fags” guy – He’s working for Satan.  NOM – the National Organization of Marriage people – Satanists.  American Family Associations – HUGE SATAN FOLLOWERS.  And, all these groups have something in common – they are very sad and we should pray for them.  They don’t realize that they are working for Satan.  They have been so overtaken by believing in themselves, by their destructive self-righteousness, that they have scales on their eyes.  These people are the modern day Sadducees and Pharisees – you know, those people who were so against Jesus in the Bible and tried to trick Him. They had an answer for everything.  And, they were wrong.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

Don’t forget that.

I’m not saying that we aren’t sinners.  We are.  Everyone is a sinner.  But, we’re not sinners solely because we’re gay.  Should we try to live a righteous life?  Well, I can’t speak for you, but I try to do so.  Do I succeed?  Not always.

And, now a quote from Spencer Tracy: “Don’t let the bastards get you down.”  If you have a relationship with God, don’t hide it.  Live it, breathe it and pass it on.  If you don’t, don’t hide from Him.  He loves you and He wants a relationship with you.  Don’t run from Him.  And, don’t let the bastards get you down.  Don’t let the right-wing terrorists separate you from the love of God.  Living in His light is better than living in their darkness.

God Bless!

Oh, come on, the Republicans are getting a bit ridiculous!

I’m reading this story on Huffington Post about the upcoming Supreme Court decision on the Individual Mandate in the Health care law.  The article supports the notion that there are a lot of things the government mandates that everyone must do.  The example used is Medicare.  If you work, you pay into Medicare – you have no choice.

But, here’s what really got to me:  Mark Hayes – “former chief health counsel for the Republican staff of the Senate Finance Committee” states:

“Congress used more clearly defined constitutional powers when it created Medicare. “The power to tax and the power to spend…” “‘Here, with the individual mandate, it’s a different question – regulating interstate commerce. This is a novel question from a legal standpoint.’”

How is that novel?  Article I Section 8 Clause 3 states:

“To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;”

Novel question? Um, I don’t think so. The word Novel, when used as an adjective and not as a noun means:

1. new and not resembling something formerly known or used
2. original or striking especially in conception or style

Um, if the Commerce Clause has existed in the Constitution since the beginning, how is Congress being able to use it now a “Novel” question?

I’m just wondering.

I don’t usually watch reality TV.  I do my best to stay away from American Idol, The X Factor, all those lousy bachelor shows and the granddaddy of them all – Survivor.  I believe that reality TV has done it’s best to ruin and dumb down the minds of most Americans.  However; while we were up at Kim’s last month, we watched some of this season’s episodes of  The Voice.  I have to admit, I can see the allure.  Blake Shelton is a beautiful site to behold – and he has his country charm and sense of humor up front and center.  The concept that talented people are judged solely for their actual talent and not the way they look does put an interesting spin on the selection process.

And, Cheryl loves the show, so – sad to say – I’ll have to find room for it on our DVR.

Moving on.  While we were watching the show, we noticed that Cee Lo will do his talking to the camera while holding a very beautiful, fluffy white cat.  I asked Kim about it and she said she didn’t understand why he was holding this cat, but she thought it was his.  This morning, I’m flipping through this week’s Entertainment Weekly and there is CeeLo and his cat.  Except, it is not his cat.  It is a rental.  Apparently, you can rent cats (and, I am assuming, other animals).

Seriously?

Dude, you wanted a cat to make you look evil – I’ll get back to that in a moment – and you didn’t want the responsibility of actually owning one?  Personally, I think the producers should’ve gone to an animal shelter and found a cat to rescue rather than rent one.  And, if that couldn’t work out (let’s face it, rescue animals make the best pets, but not necessarily the best actors – Benji is the exception), at least donate some money to a local shelter to make up for the fact that you’re RENTING a cat.  Is it me?  I just find that creepy.

Getting back to a fluffy, white cat making you look evil – seriously?  Because if that is the case, Cee Lo, I’ll see your white fluffy cat and raise you a tailless, black fluffy cat and throw in two more while cats and another black one.  If owning a cat makes you evil, then I’m as evil as you can get.

Here is his quote:

President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob. There are good, decent men and women who go out and work hard everyday and put their skills to test that aren’t taught by some liberal college professor that (tries) to indoctrinate them.

Don’t we all want our children to go to college? Haven’t we learned that the majority of people who are unemployed are those with less than a college education? Our manufacturing jobs have gone overseas and they’re not coming back.

And, there’s a quote I want you to read:

“The unemployment rate among (the) non-college-educated is well into the double digits in America. It’s 4 percent or 5 percent for people who have college degrees.”

Who said that? Rick Santorum – the horse’s ass of the Republican Party. Surprised? I’m not. He can’t even keep his own quotes straight. In case you’re wondering, here are the breakdowns of the unemployment rates for January, 2012 by education:

How can you think anyone that wanting all of America to be college educated is a bad thing?

Here it is, the morning after the Oscars and I’m wondering if anyone was surprised. 2011 was one of those rare years in which I hadn’t seen any movie nominated for any award.

In fact, I didn’t even walk into a movie theatre last year. I’m not alone. Movie attendance was down all across the country. Amazingly, the biggest money maker last year – Harry Potter – No Best Actor nod, no Best Actress nod and, in a field of 9 pictures, not even a nomination for Best Picture.

And, speaking of Best Picture, nominating 9 pictures seems a bit much, don’t you think? In a year of critically acclaimed dramas, did anyone actually believe that Bridesmaids had a chance?

Last night, for me at least, was not a night of surprises – save one. I drove Cheryl nuts by telling her the winner on all but three awards.   I don’t know why I don’t enter those contests.  Only of my misses surprised me and that was Meryl Streep finally winning again after 30 years and 15 nominations. I thought this would be Viola Davis’s year.  However; I am thrilled that Meryl Streep won!  I love her in every movie.

Finally, thank-you Mr. Billy Crystal! It had been a long time, but certainly well worth the wait. He brings a class and style no one else can.

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Today kicks off the effort to remove Scott Walker from the Governor’s office.  We could’ve saved ourselves a lot of trouble and never voted him to be Governor in the first place, but that’s another story.

So, why remove Governor Walker?

He’s done almost exactly what he said he would do.  We are now all able to carry concealed weapons in this state.  He’s limited the power of those nasty unions.  Wisconsin is now open for business.  He’s created more jobs.

Um, wait, no he hasn’t.

Now, pay attention:  Governors and Presidents do not create jobs.  Small businesses and corporations create jobs.  People purchase items, which creates demand, which creates the need for more employees, which creates jobs.  Companies are not going to hire merely because they’re sitting on millions of dollars.  Most of the large corporations and companies (I am not discussing small businesses, because I don’t have the facts about them) that had trouble are now back in the black.  A lot of corporations are showing record profits on the books.  Thanks to tax cuts, subsidies and other benefits, they aren’t paying all that much in taxes.

They’re not hiring.  Why?  Because there’s no demand there.

Now, that said, I would like to point out that unemployment rate in the state of Wisconsin was 7.4% in January, 2011 – when Scott Walker took office.  With the exception of a brief moment (April, 2011 7.3%), the unemployment rate has steadily grown to a high of 7.9% to 7.8% (September, 2011).

Walker’s campaign was about how we were going to balance the budget and create jobs.  He pounded his Wisconsin’s open for Business slogan until you wanted to choke him with it.  He hasn’t created jobs.  Unemployment has gone up and not down.

Is it fair to judge him on something I really don’t think he could do anyway?  Yes.  Yes, because job creation was his own standard.  He was opening Wisconsin for business.  He was going to create jobs.  Then, he turned away the millions for the high speed rail system and cost the state 4,000 jobs.

And, the lack of jobs isn’t my only beef with him.  He’s made our state unsafe with the concealed carry law.  Sorry, no – I don’t believe that every single person who legally obtains a weapon is sane, rational and knows how to use it.  No, I don’t think being able to carry a weapon into bars and office buildings make us all safe.  Just one example:  Charles Julius Guiteau legally obtained his weapon and he used it to shoot a president.  (That’s one example, from 130 years ago, but this discussion isn’t about concealed carry.)

Anyway, there’s only been 2 successful recalls of governors in US history – let’s make it 3.

RECALL WALKER!!!

And, while I am not affiliated with this group in any manner, here is a link to United Wisconsin’s website.  You’ll learn even more information on the recall effort and why you should support the recall.

Today is the day that we honor the men and women who gave the absolute sacrifice for their country.  Without these men and women, our country would be very different than it is today.  We wouldn’t be free, the majority of us wouldn’t speak English and we wouldn’t be the amazing country we are today.

But, I wonder about those men and women who have survive.  I wonder, do we do enough for them?  Do we show our gratitude often enough?  Do we give them our thanks?

So, here’s what I purpose for anyone reading this article – starting today – every time you see a vet, tell him or her, thanks.

It doesn’t matter where you are when you do so.  If you see a soldier, Marine or sailor in uniform, shake their hand, look them in the eye and thank them for their service.  If you see someone in a hat that says veteran on it, do the same thing.  These men and women put their lives on the line for us.  They serve their country with honor and for little pay and benefits. Their families live with the separation of war and service and they’re rarely thanked.

Remember this:  If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If you can read this in English, thank a vet.

God Bless our vets and God Bless America.

And, now, my all time favorite commercial…

‎”Marriage is a tax shelter and a smart way for a couple to combine assets. Love is the thing that’s sacrosanct. The sooner we understand the difference, the sooner we’ll understand why Kim Kardashian’s wedding was never holy, and why countless gay couples around the United States who love each other despite marriage bans are truly righteous.” – Cord Jefferson

Do you read the posts over at Bilerico?

If yes, then you’ve probably seen this one and if no, why the hell not?  They’re short, to the point and very well done.  I found this one (I’ve taken the liberty of putting a couple of sentences to get you started below) and I found it well written and interesting.  Anyway, click the more link to read the whole post over at Bilerico – come on, you know you want to.

I have a friend who steals. More accurately, he’s a friend of a friend, and whenever I see him he always has a story or two of things he’s recently stolen. It’s little stuff. Usually food. He can definitely afford to buy food, so it’s not about need. And I don’t think he gets much of a thrill out of stealing…more