Everyone isn’t for war and the taking of life from aother May 27, 2007

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Vice President Dick Cheney today urged the 978 new graduates of the U.S. Military Academy to provide leadership to troops fighting terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan…. blah blah yakitty yak yak yak.  If you’d like the read the full article – http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4838643.html?plckCurrentPage=1

Basically, below is the meat of a conversation I had with a person in the “comment” section of Saturday’s online Houston Chronicle. Let me know your thoughts and if I am wrong, please dictate with your conciance.

Walt wrote:

Or was Cheney there buttering them up for what’s yet to most assuredly destroy their lives. And or get them killed.

texrb wrote:

Last I heard, Walt, there is no draft that forces people into the military academy and since the war has been going on for 4+ years, I assume all of these graduates knew what they were committing to. You liberal pukes do nothing but spew hatred anymore. You offer nothing in the way of useful dialogue.

Walt wrote:

WOW texrb, who’s gaking up the hate here?
War is hell. This war will continue unnecessarily, for years to come if we allow it. The good ol’ boy republican party always stimulates the
US economy in the profiteering of war. We can’t change that which doesn’t want to be changed. It tears my heart out to know many families of dead
US servicemen. Why not turn
Iraq into glass… as in glass from a lot of sand and extreme heat. As originally proclaimed we’d finance this abortion, by war monger #43, how much oil have we, the US, seen in exchange for the billions & billions of ‘charges incurred’ financing this un-winnable war? How much are you paying for fuel? You and your fat cat Bush party are the world’s biggest idiots. I’m embarrassed for you. No wonder the whole world hates the
US.And btw, DICK Cheney is my ex boss. He is as crooked as they come. Since you are obviously immune to death, try putting a face on this debacle of a war. It’s all just so unbelievably ridiculous.oh yes, uhhhh, has anyone seen Binladen? I thought not.Now piss off, you bore me

_____________________________________

texrb wrote:Walt, once again you are spewing socialist hatred without an ounce of factual dialogue. It’s the same tactic the Bolsheviks used in 1917. Whoever disagrees with the socialist agenda, trash them with hate speach. I’m not a republican, yet you say “Your fat cat party”. I am an independent patriot who is sick of the factless diatribes of the likes of you.

Walt wrote:

Get a grip man. “Socialist?” Are we still playing from the same sheet of music here
TEX? Allow reality to be a friend of yours. I get the feeling you are a crotchety stodgy old man. Stuck in old man political oblivion of auld lang syne. Head buried comfortably deep in the sand. Probably polishing your six-shooter rocking on the rear porch where ya stay o’re yonder way.I have no desire or feel the need to quote my sources here big TEX. If you have any sense you might have researched your incessant encumbrance of what is the truth. It’s very simple…we have no business in that entire part of the world.Why can’t our superpower conservative good Christian country finish what war they’ve started? Why hasn’t it all ended by now? With all due respect (literally) let’s finish that which was started by #41. Can you believe I used the words “Christian, conservative & war” all in the same sentence. I can.Daily, as I enter our 42 story Ivory Tower for work, I pass the yellow ribbon adorned placard placed at the building’s entrance – for the past FIVE years (remember, the then classified war was well under way before one cartridge was discharged), announcing “our hearts and prayers go out to all of Halliburton and KBR’s employees and servicemen whom are missing, or have died fighting for our country in their respective line of duty.” I’m reminded at the beginning of every robotic day of my life that war equals unnecessary death. Not only death to our soldiers, but all other soldiers fighting for their own beliefs. You might, as so many others do, prance right by the five year old memorial there at the entrance, no longer noticing what the sign even means. I never miss what that sign says.

Hey, look if you’d like to continue this “diatribe” that YOU started, let’s not bore all of
Houston with your crass, cutting quips. I’ll be happy to entertain myself with anything you might eventually enlighten me with @ wtarpley@juno.com

As you were… patriot?… and that’s no bullshivik. And have a great F’ing Memorial Day.

Forever Friendship May 9, 2007

One of the biggest mysteries in my life is that much of my time, neck deep in my individual assignments or interests of  routine life, I’ve often failed to note the fact that some of my most lifelong memories were occurring right in my lap. I never imagined I’d be looking back upon those times in which I was seeming’too busy’ to notice – for the rest of my life.

I’ve recently received a message from a fine woman that I was privileged to have work with me in Atlanta, GA. She worked for me from early 1998 until around 2000, or so. Or, did I work for her! As we past through times where we bucked up at each other for decisions we’d both made in learning each other, I happened upon an extrodinary friendship. A very unassuming friendship. A friendship finding me completely off guard.

We argued passionately. We respected one another beyond the average and equal supervisor and coworker roles. I’d never managed nine people simultaneously. GOD knows I’d never managed anyone like my Jax. She was definitely NOT mentioned in the managerial handbook on how to corral and handle a passionate and opinionated south Carolinian gal!”

Jackie taught me things about the AutoCad software that kept my head above water, and often my ass out of the fire. I too taught her the ins and outs of yet another, lesser utilized software in the SE Uninted States.

While reminicing back upon your career, have you ever recalled the days where you were so happy in the morning that you couldn’t wait to go to work? Whether or not you were dead tired, hung over, having to face an angry boss or your problematic subordinates and all of their god damned personal drama, or having to ride the train ’cause your raggedy ass car wouldn’t start.

Perhaps unassumingly on her behalf, that’s what Jackie did for me. She kept me wanting to carry on during a very difficult time in my life. To get up and race to work. These are the times I recollect having Jackie as my right hand woman. I always knew she’d speak her mind. And I always knew she’d pull no punches when a schedule was improperly presented. All fucked up if you will. I always knew Jax would handle whatever she was assigned – always on time and always under budget.

I miss my gall pal. My friend that I’d never have known would be a life long friend and fond memory… A life long true friend. A friend that would write nasty messages back and fourth with me, during a rediculous closed door meeting about some idiot manager making a rediculous presentation about the price of tea in China, or some other insignificant time wasting shit. Someone who would hold down the mute button on the phone during a conference call with a client – and say “what a fucking idiot this guy is… what planet is he on… his name must be Jack Me Off.”

Jackie and I had about 50 years of experience between the two of us. And we didn’t mind letting people know ‘what time it was!’ while we were simultaneously showing our utmost respect for our coworkers and subordinates.

We were a good team.  We always will be individually. But just between you and I and the fence post, I think we will be the dynamic duo again in our respective careers. i hope we will be.

I miss you Jax. I know we’ll always be friends. All the best to you and Brady. You are a great couple. I know he was hard to wrangle, but that’s only ’cause he knew you were the ONE! He’s a great man.

Your best pal, Walt… or WALLY if you must. (I’ve never allowed myself to be addressed as WALLY besides anyone but Jackie… Not that I had a choice or anything!!)

wombat1.wordpress.com

Show me love April 23, 2007

Tonight, of all the seven nights to go out and carry on like the common filthy hetaeristic demonic child that I am… I had an extraordinary revelation. True love is pointed directly in all of our faces. We’ve never learned to recognize true love – more than that just considered common. There simply wasn’t a class on it… in-between Home Economics, Sex Ed and Drivers Ed.

Having spent the first 35 years of my life posing in my own self perceived fabulousness, as most of us might have; I came to a conclusion in that horrifically long chapter in my life… say, around 37. I found that I’d never had proper enlightenment, or encouragement to set loftier goals for my future. I was simply put, disregarded… damaged goods… marked down to half price… buy one get one free… unintentionally poised for the probability of being a complete failure…… I was unloved.

At some point during that ignoble young super-sale, say… at 40 years of age, I’ve taken the time to recollect the usual “liberty” visits that my father was awarded during his time defending our country. Since I’m far from being a math wizard, I added and subtracted dates, carried the two, divided by seven, had a drink… and arrived at the reality of me being unplanned. My sister and I were simply a shot in the dark on my parent’s behalf – exactly marked nine months post liberty, times two.

That’s likely is the norm from that era. Regardless, during all the missed opportunities in my life- I was never taught what love is. The expected love and nurturing one might assume from their mother and father. I wasn’t told the many variances of the meaning of said word. Kindergarten love. Real love forever and ever, or even for the moment. Add love at first sight (I’ve always thought that was a ‘crock-o-shit’ – but I’ve experienced it personally). Playful love, perhaps that felt for a family pet. Passionate, desperate, sleep deprived, heart-wrenching unbridled love of a high school sweetheart.

Incestuous love. Love from a trusted neighbor or Pastor. Love from a passerby at the safe haven of a school bus stop. Love improper.

Tonight, at 42.75 years old, during the borderline insanity that is currently my existence – I embraced the meaning of what real love is: the love of my life. As in past tense, I was no where near expectant of where or when this love might have accosted my well worn heart. It came in the form of two Labs and a Hag. For all the finery and riches collected the world over – I couldn’t replace her.You are my sunshine… you are my cloudiest day… you are real.

I love you FILTHY

W

implicit Imperialist April 16, 2007

I’ve always considered myself to be somewhat intelligent. If nothing more, certainly less simple than your average sheep. I wish I could respect the following subject or the institution from which it came. Any sort of test like this leaves so much to the author’s imagination of the way the world is from his/her broad… or grossly limited perspective. Liken it to the Stanford IQ test. Useless to all – period!

On that test I scored “superior to average” in 10 minutes time on a 30 minute test. I’m impatient and do not “go back” to questions that I didn’t know the answers to.  So, with that – and $9.75 I could get a Starbuck’s Latte.

I took this absurd racial test three times. They all three placed me in the “slight preference to white people to black people”.

Duh!! I’m Kilz primer white inside and out. At one point while taking the test – I was making a dry martini stirred not bruised with one Queen olive and one Holland onion served straight up poured from a fabulous 1930’s art deco shaker … simultaneously scratching my balls and just simply picked what I was forced to pick to keep the nonsensical test moving forward.

Still, I rated the same as if I were paying close attention. This ignorant sort of bull shit always surfaces when there is any sort of scandalous firestorm of Ho’s and nappyness – like with Imus, created by some… well, several… Malcolm X wannabies coke headed hate mongering racist perpetuatin’ cheatin’, outa wedlock breedin’ & sinnin’ with filthy assed nappy headed Ho’s posing as good ol’ boy God fearing reverends of the church of what the fuck B happenin’ now!

Anyway, take the fatuous test if you have five minutes to burn. Drunk & disorderly, at church Sunday morn, on your Blackberry, eating blackberry pie, whatever… the results shall be the same. And therefore is as useless as any other test based on chance. A spin at the roulette table is sure to hold a better return. https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html 

later Nappys

PS:  If you wanna see a passionate writer’s carrying on… click here: http://lauriekendrick.wordpress.com/ 

She’s not nearly as filthy as she looks. 

Chronic Chronicle April 12, 2007

I recently read an article on the “top 30” daily news papers in the country. I was disappointed to see that our Houston Chronicle was on the list at all. Since the Houston Post bellied up years ago after being bought by a New York company and lost many of its readers, it was sold to the Chronicle. So since there is no competition, why the hell bother with publishing a decent quality, interesting daily rag… in the true sense of the word. The National Inquirer offers better edited content.

And for the home delivery of this or any paper, what’s the point. I mean, the young men cold sale soliciting the paper have resorted to literally begging me to buy a six month subscription or any of their packages. I’ve been told “I’m a struggling college student”, I need one more six month sale today to win a trip to Tahiti”, even “please man, I have a baby and we’ve been really hungry”. I get less harassment at the corner of ‘walk and don’t walk’ by the panhandlers.  He seemed like I was from Mars when I simply said that I read the Chronicle when I feel like it – when I’m bored – for free on my computer screen.

I did mention that the only disadvantage to not receiving the physical paper version is that I have nothing else to pick up the dog shit in my yard with; my car’s windows have been ridden with lint since having to use paper towels for cleaning them and my local fish monger has nothing to wrap his fish in. My second to last suggestion I offered the young man was to find a new profession. I simply said to him that life has changed in the home delivery business unless he had a pizza or Sesame Chicken; and that perhaps he’d bode a better paycheck in that arena. As he left my stoop, I lastly recommended that he not major in business marketing – then I promptly dug out and posted that NO SCOLICITING sign by my door bell. Not that that will help.

Here’s the top 30 list, for what it’s worth:

Brand or Channel, Unique Audience (000), Web Page Views (000), Time per Person (hh:mm:ss) NYTimes.com: 12,960 — 455,527 — 0:37:09
USATODAY.com: 9,050 — 169,517 — 0:22:08
Washingtonpost.com: 8,030 — 154,836 — 0:20:28
LA Times: 4,546 — 50,986 — 0:12:08
Wall Street Journal Online: 3,436 — 42,067 — 0:15:50
The Houston Chronicle: 3,292 — 93,737 — 0:20:44
SFGate.com: 3,236 — 51,617 — 0:14:56
Boston.com: 3,197 — 57,154 — 0:20:56
Chicago Tribune: 2,973 — 45,283 — 0:13:44
New York Post: 2,684 — 31,335 — 0:09:01
Daily News Online Edition: 2,555 — 9,754 — 0:05:04
Chicago Sun-Times: 2,142 — 14,804 — 0:08:13
Orlando Sentinel: 2,049 — 16,914 — 0:06:21
Newsday: 2,047 — 20,336 — 0:05:13
MercuryNews.com: 1,950 — 9,577 — 0:04:42
Azcentral.com: 1,858 — 19,587 — 0:08:48
The Seattle Times: 1,810 — 18,649 — 0:09:19
The San Diego Union-Tribune: 1,699 — 8,869 — 0:04:58
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: 1,698 — 13,006 — 0:06:48
International Herald Tribune: 1,685 — 3,201 — 0:02:23
MiamiHerald.com: 1,644 — 16,476 — 0:11:54
Sun-Sentinel: 1,630 — 23,437 — 0:10:52
The Washington Times: 1,607 — 6,224 — 0:04:15
Ottaway Newspapers: 1,557 — 12,862 — 0:06:00
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 1,429 — 54,994 — 0:31:29
Star Tribune: 1,385 — 24,944 — 0:23:32
Village Voice Media: 1,377 — 5,205 — 0:04:07
DallasNews.com: 1,358 — 17,174 — 0:08:10
The Detroit News: 1,273 — 16,839 — 0:12:34
Philly.com: 1,243 — 21,785 — 0:17:32E&P Staff (letters@editorandpublisher.com)

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