Originally Posted 12/20/2008

Closer to Christmas
from The Daily Scream by Dan
We are now another day closer to Christmas and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of holiday cheer this year. The economy is in the toilet, family is so far away and even the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating with enhancing the festive mood.

It seems like someone is trying to take Christmas away from us. Screw the politically correct and their lame happy holiday greetings....Merry Christmas! Peace on earth, good will toward men. If your religion doesn't believe in God or Jesus...you are granted the right here in the United States to not believe....but I am also granted the same right to believe. I am also granted the right to believe in Santa Claus or any other mythical, mystical, magical or otherwise figure that I so choose to accept as real. If I want to believe that reindeer can fly and have glowing red noses...so be it.

Someone decided to make up a holiday called Kwanzaa. If folks wish to celebrate it, it certainly is within their rights to do so...if I don't care to participate in that particular celebration, I also have a right to do so. The key element here is that while I might not choose to celebrate Kwanzaa, I have no right to expect others to not want to participate. Somewhere along the line we lost track of that concept. When the United States was founded, nearly the entire population was Christian and accepted the Christian tenets. Today, our cultural make-up is far more diverse, but the same laws, rules and regulations still apply. If someone wants to set up a Nativity scene, they have the right to do so...they are under no obligation to hide such a thing from view because it doesn't correspond to your beliefs, you right is your ability to simply walk away and not view or interact. Same thing applies if someone wishes to display a Menorah. That is their right, your right is again to walk away should you not find that display in line with your personal beliefs.

Whatever you decide to do this year, take a moment and slip a buck or two in the kettle for the Salvation Army. They don't ask victims of circumstance their religious beliefs prior to giving aid and comfort, they simply give in times of need. I spent nearly 30 years of my life working in emergency services and when the chips were down and people needed a hand...the Salvation Army delivered!

Don't waste your money making cash donations to the Red Cross, they spend more time attempting to sell comfort and trying to profit from the misfortunes of others than they do providing the aid they claim to dispense. Two huge events come to mind...during a major flood in NY, my father's cousin and her family lost everything to the flood waters, their house dislodged from the foundation and moved downriver. The Red Cross arrived on scene and tried to sell them a sample tube of toothpaste and a child's toothbrush for $3. Similar prices applied to any number of other trial and sample sized products. The Salvation Army arrived and handed the same stuff out for free. Several years later, northern NY State was hammered with an ice storm...power was lost and temperatures were hovering in the brutal cold range. Once again the Red Cross showed up and tried to sell relief...while the Salvation Army quickly set up their mobile canteens and began providing free hot meals to those that needed.

If you want to give to the Red Cross, give them the gift of blood, the gift of life. That is one area where they manage to excel and have yet to contaminate. Donations of blood are typically low this time of year and the need increases. This is a great gift to give, as it truly is a gift straight from the heart...with no strings attached and no expense involved!

Originally Posted 12/24/2008

APD Gives a Christmas Gift to the Parking Public
from The Daily Scream by Dan
It has only taken 8+ years for something to be done, but finally the Asheville Police Department has given an early Christmas gift to folks that park in downtown. After years of complaints of predatory towing, APD finally decided to attempt a sting operation...it didn't take long.

How sad is it that these sleaze balls would rig payment boxes to make it appear that customers hadn't paid...all so they could haul off the car and then charge exorbitant fees for the (questionably) safe return of the vehicle. How many visitors and even locals have been scammed? This gives the whole city a black eye.

APD...don't stop now. Based on the complaints, you have only touched the tip of the iceberg...it is time to put a stop to this nonsense and regain a small measure of justice for those folks that have been ripped off.

Originally Posted 12/25/2008

Merry Christmas
from The Daily Scream by Dan
Season's greetings. May your day be filled with peace, love and good cheer!
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Historic Day

Today marks the dawn of a new era in America. Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. Some folks think that the simple act of assuming the role of President is going to be enough to effect sweeping, overnight change. I'm afraid they are in for a rude awakening.

As the old saying goes...Rome wasn't built in a day...and the US is not going to change in one either. It will take some time to implement any true change or meaningful new direction in the country. Obviously, the more cooperation from Congress and the general population, the swifter and easier change will come.

One of the grand ideas of the new administration is to get folks to volunteer. It is a great idea, but we have too many people in this country that think it is their right to sit on their ass while lesser people do the volunteering. It will be interesting to watch this one play out.

One burning question...who dressed the new First Lady for the Balls? Mrs. O is usually quite the striking dresser...the gown she had for the first dance looked like it was made from used toilet paper. That had to be one of the least fashionable and foolish looking things ever worn to an event of that magnitude. She should have stuck to wearing things from her own closet. At least they would have had some style.

Is Football Fixed?

Let me preface this post...I am just a casual football fan. I don't live or die by who wins or loses each week. I don't play fantasy leagues. I am more appreciative of good players than of good teams. That said, I do have a couple of teams that I would have to say qualify as favorites.

So, three of the four playoff games for this weekend are complete. We are already assured of having a Stupor Bowl. Philadelphia playing Arizona for the NFC championship? No way in hell....something isn't adding up. The two best teams in the NFC just played like they were really first year high school teams. I don't mean they had an off day, I mean they played like they had never even seen a football before. I don't think I have ever seen such pathetic play in the nearly 50 years that I have been watching the game.

Well then, since one half of the league did so poorly, one would have to expect the cream had floated to the top of the other. Guess again, that is not the case. The two top teams here have also been eliminated early, one last week and the second yesterday. There is no way in hell that San Diego or Baltimore could have legitimately beaten the Colts and the Titans.

Regardless of who wins from this point out, the NFL has lost all credibility. One Cinderella story a season might be possible...but there is no way that every single good team loses to a bunch of second rate, no-talent hacks. Hell, anyone that even thinks that San Diego or Pittsburgh deserves to be playing is delusional. I don't think I need to waste any more time watching the NFL...the bets are in, the games are fixed. This is just a shame.