In contrast, here is a phenomenally inspirational video. I love this guy!
And he is on to the finals. Go Paul!
Now, okay, he is not quite the "shower singer" bumpkin and has performed opera on stage, but, dude, he does sell car phones for a living!
And quite frankly, anyone who can make Amanda Holden weep twice is mensch in my book.
6.15.2007
Who's Responsible?
Okay, I am tremendously conflicted on this. Six teenagers hit a stalled train and the four in the back seat were killed. The father of one of the victims is very upset in the video. (He lost a niece also.)
How can I be conflicted? The drivers were 15, the victims were 14. It was 3:30 am. The vehicle was stolen.
I really feel for the guy's loss (nice Father's Day, huh), but he goes off on how the grade crossing was dangerous. Well, yes. ALL grade crossing are dangerous. The train was stalled, there were no lights; it was an accident waiting to happen.
But what the hell is his 14 year old doing out at 3:30 am? What prompted her to participate in the theft of a vehicle?
This was a tragedy of parenting as well as a tragic loss of life.
How can I be conflicted? The drivers were 15, the victims were 14. It was 3:30 am. The vehicle was stolen.
I really feel for the guy's loss (nice Father's Day, huh), but he goes off on how the grade crossing was dangerous. Well, yes. ALL grade crossing are dangerous. The train was stalled, there were no lights; it was an accident waiting to happen.
But what the hell is his 14 year old doing out at 3:30 am? What prompted her to participate in the theft of a vehicle?
This was a tragedy of parenting as well as a tragic loss of life.
6.14.2007
No Brotherhood Afterall
From Captain's Quarters:
"'They're firing at us, firing RPGs, firing mortars. We're not Jews,' the brother of Jamal Abu Jediyan, a Fatah commander, pleaded during a live telephone conversation with a Palestinian radio station.
Minutes later both men were dragged into the streets and riddled with bullets."
This no surprise. Nor will it clarify the problem (Islamists addiction to violence) to those who have not understood this yet. The most prevalent motivation in the Middle East for centuries is "hate." You cannot build anything on hate. You can only destroy.
But at least they are destrying each other.
"'They're firing at us, firing RPGs, firing mortars. We're not Jews,' the brother of Jamal Abu Jediyan, a Fatah commander, pleaded during a live telephone conversation with a Palestinian radio station.
Minutes later both men were dragged into the streets and riddled with bullets."
This no surprise. Nor will it clarify the problem (Islamists addiction to violence) to those who have not understood this yet. The most prevalent motivation in the Middle East for centuries is "hate." You cannot build anything on hate. You can only destroy.
But at least they are destrying each other.
6.06.2007
The Candidates
One other comment of the GOP field. It is a truly deep field. Mike Huckabee from Arkansas and Duncan Hunter from California have neither the name recognition or the money to be a viable candidate, but would make excellent presidients as well. With the exception of Ron Paul (TX) and Tom Tancredo (CO) who are, IMHO, niche candidates the rest of the field has the chops to be president.
This may be because I do not know enough about, say, Tommy Thompson to dislike him, but I don't think so.
This may be because I do not know enough about, say, Tommy Thompson to dislike him, but I don't think so.
In Bed with Fred
No, this is not a sordid follow-on to Thew's Porky's problems. While I happen to support Mitt Romney in the current field of Republican candidates, I do support the phantom candidacy of Fred Thompson. (See Donation Box on lower left.) I find I don't agree with him only a few issues (tort reform and campaign finance), but think he represents a different set of perspectives - perspectives needed in the GOP field.
The good news for the GOP is that all the front-runners - Giuliani, McCain and Romney - would make fine presidents, while only two Democrats - Clinton and Biden - would have that potential. (While I would not support Hillary, my gut feel is that she would do the right thing once she has no need to pander to the Far Left and would ultimately be a better president then Bill.)
The bad news is that the GOP I love stands for freedom (personal and economic) and SMALL government. None of the current Big Three has come out for decisively reducing the size of government. Fred has.
Of course, the last actor turned president didn't do half bad.
The good news for the GOP is that all the front-runners - Giuliani, McCain and Romney - would make fine presidents, while only two Democrats - Clinton and Biden - would have that potential. (While I would not support Hillary, my gut feel is that she would do the right thing once she has no need to pander to the Far Left and would ultimately be a better president then Bill.)
The bad news is that the GOP I love stands for freedom (personal and economic) and SMALL government. None of the current Big Three has come out for decisively reducing the size of government. Fred has.
Of course, the last actor turned president didn't do half bad.
Whoa, Trigger
I guess my response is "I don't care." I am just saying that having broken down in the travel lane, it is reasonable to assume that someone might be coming and take extra care. Late at night, it is possible that the person might be impaired. What precautions (flares, reflectors, etc.), if any, the tow truck driver took are important to understand before you say he is off the hook.
6.05.2007
Location Location Location
A car is stalled in the travel lane. Where is the tow truck SUPPOSED to park? Haven't you ever been in a traffic jam caused by an accident or a stall? To get the vehicle on the flatbed you have to usually pull it on the truck bed using a winch of some sort - you can't do that from the side unless you have the ability like that of the cranes they use to life indy cars off the track. WTF dood?
Doesn't matter whether I was the Porkee or Porker, it's still rude and inconsiderate and perpetuates a stereotype of the "horny fag on the prowl leering at anyone and everyone". I don't appreciate it in the damm men's locker room.
Doesn't matter whether I was the Porkee or Porker, it's still rude and inconsiderate and perpetuates a stereotype of the "horny fag on the prowl leering at anyone and everyone". I don't appreciate it in the damm men's locker room.
Hold on a Sec
Wait, while I do not agree with the "sue the world" approach and believe Josh Hancock was responsible for his drinking, I understand the towing truck was in the travel lane, not off to the side. I think the towing service has some 'splaining to do.
As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...
As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...
6.04.2007
More Victims of Stupidity
Now, let me first say that this is a TRADGEDY, the kind that snuffs out a life prematurely, a child/husband dead, the family left grieving. My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of Josh Hancock, tragically killed in an automobile accident.
HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.
Let's break down the list of defendents:
Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."
Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".
Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.
I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.
EDIT: yay for some common sense.
**********
TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:
KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."
But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.
This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.
Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.
**********
2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!
HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.
Let's break down the list of defendents:
Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."
Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".
Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.
I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.
EDIT: yay for some common sense.
**********
TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:
KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."
But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.
This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.
Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.
**********
2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!
Stupidity, Yes, But Whose?
Thew asks an interesting question: is there liability there? I will put aside the issue for now as to WHO is liable, because Speaker claims he was told traveling was fine.
First off, to be liable, someone has had to suffer damages. It is not enough to be anxious you might have caught TB, but you must have caught it. (That said, if one could prove demonstrable suffering based on the incident, it MIGHT be compensable.)
But even if someone catches TB and dies, I am unclear if the law will award damages. One could claim civil assault (an intentional act which causes a reasonable and imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact which is unconsented), but the "intention" has to be there. (Battery of assault & battery fame is the physical contact part.) In addition, I don't know how much time can pass before "reasonable and imminent" is no longer applicable. (Someone shoots an arrow at you, but misses...you do not notice, but find out later. Assault?) Here you would have to argue that "imminent" extends through the phase of being tested and cleared of TB...a logical position.
Now "intention" can also be a disregard for safety so reckless that any reasonable man (that term, again) would have understood the action to pose a threat. But on the facts as I know them...I am not sure that is the case. The tests did not come back showing the drug resistant strain until he was in Europe. So anyone on the flights until that point he can't be accused of reckless endangerment.
But I would also point out that this is a very slippery slope. Suing someone you catch a cold from? That forces you out of your hourly job for three days? I am just not sure we want to go there.
First off, to be liable, someone has had to suffer damages. It is not enough to be anxious you might have caught TB, but you must have caught it. (That said, if one could prove demonstrable suffering based on the incident, it MIGHT be compensable.)
But even if someone catches TB and dies, I am unclear if the law will award damages. One could claim civil assault (an intentional act which causes a reasonable and imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact which is unconsented), but the "intention" has to be there. (Battery of assault & battery fame is the physical contact part.) In addition, I don't know how much time can pass before "reasonable and imminent" is no longer applicable. (Someone shoots an arrow at you, but misses...you do not notice, but find out later. Assault?) Here you would have to argue that "imminent" extends through the phase of being tested and cleared of TB...a logical position.
Now "intention" can also be a disregard for safety so reckless that any reasonable man (that term, again) would have understood the action to pose a threat. But on the facts as I know them...I am not sure that is the case. The tests did not come back showing the drug resistant strain until he was in Europe. So anyone on the flights until that point he can't be accused of reckless endangerment.
But I would also point out that this is a very slippery slope. Suing someone you catch a cold from? That forces you out of your hourly job for three days? I am just not sure we want to go there.
6.01.2007
ProBono Work
So Tilam, any legal ramifications from Andrew Speaker's stupidity?
Reckless Endangerment? Is there a crime or lawsuit possibility if no one gets sick? What's the scoop?
Reckless Endangerment? Is there a crime or lawsuit possibility if no one gets sick? What's the scoop?
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