It's Official...

In a deliberate effort to decrease ticket sales, the Houston Texans pass over Vince Young and Reggie Bush, and waste their No. 1 pick by selecting Defensive End Mario Williams.

No offense to Williams, but I agree with the fan that I saw on tv:

"I would rather lose 67 to 63, than to win 3 to 0.".

Chalk this up to another reason that I refuse to be entertained by the NFL.

Nation Braces for Day Without Immigrants

Or was that headline... Nation Embraces Day Without Immigrants? Just checking.

Maybe My Shrink Was Right

I've been making what I believe are positive lifestyle changes in the last couple of weeks, and I'm feeling a surge of energy.

That energy, however, is being drained by certain personal interests and passions... in particular, my interest in, and passion for current events: the news and compelling news stories.

I was raised in a politically charged family. Current events were a maintstay of conversation. My father was my role model, and he valued my opinion and the basis upon which I formulated it, far, far, far more than he ever appreciated my agreeing with his own opinion.

In short, he encouraged and applauded my interest and endeavors to formulate an opinion or theory. My reward was his listening and respecting. He often followed up with more reasonable guidance and a gentle attempt at redirection, but the tone was never critical. It always encouraged further thought and further development.

My father taught me the political game. He gave me a reference for a job in the state legislature, and he nurtured my way into understanding how things get done. I will never understand all that he knew, but he certainly provided me a unique and insider's view of "the news" and other media statements.

The old saying, "Don't believe everything you read." is true, but the truly wise are able to see through the statement and to determine the reasoning, direction and concealed issues that were likely at hand. To this day, I analyze everything I learn from the MSM.

And it's no secret that I entered the world of web sleuthing with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. This wasn't the first missing person case that enveloped me, but it's the case that drew me deep into the depths of the internet underworld (ha), including sleuth forums, scarey connections and other blogging sites. It is amazing how little time it takes to learn a massive amount of private information, (not limited to, but) particularly if the subject is of the "myspace" generation. (PARENTS BEWARE!).

All of that said, there are certain issues which are causing me a great deal of anxiety. At the same time that I'm feeling so good, I'm aware that I'm also feeling really bad:

1. Natalee Holloway is STILL missing.
2. The hate sites are beyond my comprehension and annoy me. Only those that personally knew and loved Natalee, in my opinion, are entitled to such deep emotions. The fact is... J2K lied. Even if innocent, they created the bed upon which they lie. They, more than Beth, are responsible for the malodies from which Aruba now suffers.
3. Taco Joe is such a putz!
4. The ALE are a collective putz!
5. The arrest of GVC and surrounding rumors are driving me nuts!
6. Kendrick Jackson is still missing and Quanell X is calling for his (injury to a child charged) father's release so he can help in the search! Puh... leaze! (or is that po... lice!). Daddy-who-beat-da-bebe can help from the confines of jail, but he has by all accounts terminated his cooperation with authorities.
7. The Duke rape case and all of the surrounding drama. Please! Let's get this trial on the docket and move on!
8. Illegal immigration and elected representatives who are both hard of hearing... and don't give a poo.
9. Iran.
10. Gas prices.
11. Property taxes.
12. School funding (on my back!).
13. Kids shooting at kids. Kids plotting to kill kids. Bullet riddled school buses.
14. Inequality. Everywhere.

My shrink once told me to stop watching news programs and listening to talk radio.

Maybe she was right.

041406 Random Thoughts

1. I've spent the last week concentrating on making some positive lifestyle adjustments. More on that later.
2. Kendrick Jackson is still missing. And this just makes me sick.
3. Dave Holloway is one class act. The photos that he's provided, of a younger Natalee, have broken my heart. I can't help but envision my own father...
4. I can't mention Dave without paying homage to Beth. I don't "get" the hate sites. Beth, first and foremost, is a mother. And I relate her to my own. My mother would have moved heaven and earth, by will or by scorn...
5. Dompig is kin to the Kalpoes??? And to some "credible witness" drug dealer that might have been camping in the shrubs across from Natalee's hotel room? ODG...
6. They go to all the trouble to size Deepak's car for their (9 1/2 month late) re-enactment, and then hire a non-white actor to play Joran?
7. Duke Rape Allegations... who knows? I had a hunch, initially... but who knows now...
8. Tom Cruise... what a loon! And poor Katie. I have a feeling she doesn't know what hit (brain washed) her. Oh the price of fame... May Our God watch over their innocent 'spawn'.
9. South Park might have just slipped over the edge.
10. Illegal aliens/immigrants (insert your own politically correct term here)... name another country where illegal immigrants could gather to protest the government/law en masse, and that goverment would provide police protection. Go figure...
11. 48 homeruns in one day? You wanna tell me the ball isn't juiced? Don't get me wrong. I'm in favor! Juice the ball all day, everyday! But keep the players on an even playing field!
12. Barry Bonds... If you let this guy play another day, you've gotta let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame. Period. End of Story. If anything (and I'm certainly not alleging that he 'threw' any opportunities), Pete discounted his value to the game, rather than taking illegal enhancements.

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?

Here are my results:

You are Joshua Abraham Norton, first and only Emperor of the United States of America!

Born in England sometime in the second decade of the nineteenth century, you carved a notable business career, in South Africa and later San Francisco, until an entry into the rice market wiped out your fortune in 1854. After this, you became quite different. The first sign of this came on September 17, 1859, when you expressed your dissatisfaction with the political situation in America by declaring yourself Norton I, Emperor of the USA. You remained as such, unchallenged, for twenty-one years.

Within a month you had decreed the dissolution of Congress. When this was largely ignored, you summoned all interested parties to discuss the matter in a music hall, and then summoned the army to quell the rebellious leaders in Washington. This did not work. Magnanimously, you decreed (eventually) that Congress could remain for the time being. However, you disbanded both major political parties in 1869, as well as instituting a fine of $25 for using the abominable nickname "Frisco" for your home city.

Your days consisted of parading around your domain - the San Francisco streets - in a uniform of royal blue with gold epaulettes. This was set off by a beaver hat and umbrella. You dispensed philosophy and inspected the state of sidewalks and the police with equal aplomb. You were a great ally of the maligned Chinese of the city, and once dispersed a riot by standing between the Chinese and their would-be assailants and reciting the Lord's Prayer quietly, head bowed.

Once arrested, you were swiftly pardoned by the Police Chief with all apologies, after which all policemen were ordered to salute you on the street. Your renown grew. Proprietors of respectable establishments fixed brass plaques to their walls proclaiming your patronage; musical and theatrical performances invariably reserved seats for you and your two dogs. (As an aside, you were a good friend of Mark Twain, who wrote an epitaph for one of your faithful hounds, Bummer.) The Census of 1870 listed your occupation as "Emperor".

The Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, upon noticing the slightly delapidated state of your attire, replaced it at their own expense. You responded graciously by granting a patent of nobility to each member. Your death, collapsing on the street on January 8, 1880, made front page news under the headline "Le Roi est Mort". Aside from what you had on your person, your possessions amounted to a single sovereign, a collection of walking sticks, an old sabre, your correspondence with Queen Victoria and 1,098,235 shares of stock in a worthless gold mine. Your funeral cortege was of 30,000 people and over two miles long.

The burial was marked by a total eclipse of the sun.

Another Successful Day

1. I got to work on time, which is considerable since DST began.
2. I finished my third project for the week.
3. I got two months of filing in order.
4. I started a new project! (I spent 30 minutes on it, but hey! It's a start!).

01:02:03 04/05/06

OK.

I got it.

I get it.

I took a snapshot of it.

Because this won't happen again in my lifetime.

(And yes, I cheated by posting this in advance, as I have every intention of enjoying the moment from the deep depths of peaceful slumber!).

Today's Thoughts on the Natalee Holloway Case

1. Anyone interested in the case should read today's Riehl World View blog, "Natalee Holloway Update - Corruption Alleged" regarding the possibility that as the "resolution" unfolds, it will be disclosed that corruption played a part in this "unsolvable"crime.
2. If you've got four to six free hours, you should really read through all of the comments (334, when I visited).
3. Even more interesting, follow the links included in the posts. You'll get a crash course in the web sleuth coverage of this case.
4. Even and interesting article in theNational Enquirer is linked, alleging "dirty hands" of the A.L.E. (Arawaks).
5. Read also RWV's past post about the possibility of blood on the hands of" the King".
6. Tie it all together with the recordings of Shango and Simian, mysterious personalities that have provided chronicle and hint, from the very beginning, as to how this case has been and will be played out.

This is but a tiny glimpse into the intricate web of lies and truths surrounding this case. One might find amusement in the mystery, if it weren't for the tragic loss of a young woman's life, the criminal circumstances, ultimate disrespect, unfathomable and inhumane treatment without conscience, and the deep deep levels of corruption and other abuses of power.

Remember... Natalee was a victim by chance. This could just as easily be me, or you, or one of your loved ones.

A Successful Day

1. I finished my project that was due yesterday.
2. I finished my project that is due tomorrow.
3. I have a third project that is also due tomorrow, and I will likely have the time to complete it on time!