I just saw a scary ad on TV tonight. It was from Sizzler, the steak house chain of restaurants. The ad details all new security features that they have implemented to protect their salad bars. They illustrate the salad bar guard who keeps an eagle eye on the food, the new security cameras overhead, and they hint at additional security safeguards behind in the kitchen, but they can't tell you what.
I can only assume that they have armed personal hiding in the back, watching the salad-cam, and waiting for the secret signal from the salad guard, to pounce on the next customer who attempts to use his salad plate to sneak an extra plate of chow to his kid without paying.
Just kidding. I don't know if I should be horrified or pleased. The ad just creeps me out. They treat the salad bar like it was a nuclear reactor being targeted by terrorist.
What promoted these actions, and the ads to publicize them, was the recent incident in Brisbane on March 01 where some crazy woman sprinkled rat poison on the salad bar at two local Sizzler stores.
What happened to the old days when the biggest problem at the Sizzler salad bar was some idiot sneezing on the crutons. What a weird world we live in now.
Speaking of the weird new world. As I am sitting here writing this post, on TV in the background is the 1992 movie "Passenger 57". It is a lame ass Hollywood movie about an airline hijacking specialist who is caught up in hijacking and has to overcome his own demons to save the beautiful flight attendant. It is really lame. But I degress.
What strikes me as odd is that the movie is now so irrelevant in this post 9/11 world of ours. How many hijacking have there been since 9/11? Only a couple that I've heard of. None "sucessful" either. 9/11 single handedly killed in-flight hijacking industry. 1992 was such a innocent time compared to now. Now the hijackers have to plead with passengers not to tear them limb for limb and take the plane down with them.
Hey... I justed noticed that this movie stars a young Elizabeth Hurley. She is one of the hottest women on the planet. She must have been about 27 when they filmed this. Wow....
I gotto go watch Liz. Bye.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Father Deeter and gay marriage
I spend Saturday as a wedding guest here in
The priest was Father Tim Deeter. I've met him last year at the wedding of Loretta's oldest nephew. I mention this because I do like him. Father Deeter is an American, born and raised in
The thing I like about Father Deeter is that he has a fantastic sense of humor. He is very relaxed and easy going. He is a big MLB White Sox fan. I had the pleasure of being seated next to him at last year's wedding and got to taking to him about life back home. At that time, he was going to take business trip to southern
The reception for scheduled for
I just simply started eating my food. I was not going to wait any longer. Loretta poked me in the ribs and told me that it was impolite to start eating until the wedding party was seated and grace was said. That started a debate at our table about what to do. I argued (a) no one told us that we couldn't eat, and (b) if they didn't want us to eat, then why did they put food on the table in front of us? My argument won the day, so we all dug in. This seems to have given the tables around us the permission to eat too. The stricter religious people at our table, *cough* Loretta *cough*, refused and just looked at their food.
Eventually, the wedding party came in, with Father Deeter, and got seated. Father Deeter went up the PA and announced that he was going to give grace. He cracked that some people had tipped him to the fact that a number of people in the room had already started eating. And they wanted to know what was going to happen to them. Father Deeter replied "We were all going to hell." But them he added "That s a bit harsh for a wedding party. So instead, I've asked God to just give us terrible stomach craps at
The holdouts at my table all gave me smug and sanctimonious looks. I was a heathen sinner for eating my food... so I guess I am going to hell. Tell me something that I don't already know :-).
Father Deeter is staunchly conservative in his convictions, which I don't have a problem with. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. He does use the weddings to makes his feeling about marriage very clear during the ceremony. I have to hand it to him. He has the rare ability to deliver his thoughts and reasons with humor, which makes it palatable to the audience. He doesn't talk down to you, or make you feel bad if you disagree with him.
At Paul's wedding last year, he lambasted the ease in which people can get divorced, abandoning their spouse and oaths at any time without cause.
In yesterday's wedding, he attacked the concept of gay marriage. He got on the subject of the movie "Brokeback Mountain", and how it is trying to make the idea of gay marriage politically correct. He blasted the idea of gay marriage as absurd. "What's next?” he asked. "Make it legal for people to marry their pets?"
Well Father Deeter. There is where you lost me. He argues that allowing gay marriage is a slippery slope, which will then open the doors for other alternative marriages. My problem is where he decided to draw the line. He places it between heterosexual and homosexual marriage. He puts homosexual marriage in with the collection of clearly irrational marriage situations.
His "slippery slope" theory is absurd. If two rational and consenting adults love each other, wish to pledge to live together, to be faithful and to care for each other, then who are we to deny that? They key words here are "two rational and consenting human adults". An animal is not a human. An animal can not be rational or consenting. A child can not consent to marriage. An inanimate object can not consent to anything. Therefore, the idea that society would allow such marriages is absurd. To argue that gay marriage would allow this, is in itself, illogical and absurd.
Rather than using reason and logic to defend his arguments, Father Deeter used hyperbole and fear. That is a shame. He is a smart and articulate man. He shouldn't need to stoop so low.
The real argument against gay marriage is children. It opens up a big can of worms. Can we deny any married couple the right to have, adopt, or raise children? That is a difficult question. If this is Father Deeter's problem with homosexual marriage, then just say so. There is no need to go to ridiculous extremes and witty, but meaningless, quips such as "Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve".
There is no doubt that the best homosexual couples would make far better parents than the worst heterosexual couples. So there is no fundamental flaw which renders them incapable of raising a child.
I think a lot of people fear that a homosexual couples are really pedophiles intent on "converting" young children to homosexuality. How on earth the terrible crime of pedophilia became connected to homosexuals in people's minds is beyond me. I've never met a homosexual who was sexually interested in children. I would be willing to bet that heterosexual pedophiles far outnumber homosexual pedophiles. Therefore, heterosexuals rank as a far greater risk to children then homosexuals do.
Also, there is the fear that homosexual couples will raise the children to be homosexual themselves. That is unsubstantiated bullshit. Chances are, the children will be heterosexual. Just because your parents are attracted to people of the same gender does not mean that you will be.
Personally, I wish that homosexuals who wish to be married should take a long term view and accept that they are not going to be able to overcome the child raising issue for a long time. In the meantime, they should focus on simply being able to marry their partner. If that means pledging or accepting that they won't have children, then so be it. They can save that battle for another day.
Steak and BJ Day
March 14th is Steak and BJ Day! This new "holiday" is the guy's version of Valentine's Day. Since Valentine's s all about the women, this holiday was designed to make men happy, at least one day a year.You know the drill. Every 14th of February you get the chance to display your fondness for a significant other by showering her with gifts, flowers, dinner, shows and any other baubles that women find romantic. Every Valentines day you rack your brains for that one special, unique gift that will show your wife or girlfriend that you really do care for them more than any other. Now ladies, I'll let you in on a little secret; guys really don't enjoy this that much. Sure seeing that smile on your face when we get it right is priceless, but that smile is the result of weeks of blood, sweat and consideration. Another secret; guys feel left out. That's right, there's no special holiday for the ladies to show their appreciation for the men in their life. Men as a whole are either too proud or too embarrassed to admit it.
Which is why a new holiday has been created.
March 14th is now officially "Steak and Blowjob Day". Simple, effective and self explanatory, this holiday has been created so you ladies finally have a day to show your man how much you care for him.
No cards, no flowers, no special nights on the town; the name of the holiday explains it all, just a steak and a BJ. Thats it. Finally, this twin pair of Valentine's Day and Steak and Blowjob Day will usher in a new age of love as men everywhere try THAT much harder in February to ensure a memorable March 14th!
The word is already beginning to spread, but as with any new idea, it needs a little push to start the ball rolling. So spread the word, and help bring love and peace to this crazy world. And, of course, steak and BJ's.
Which is why a new holiday has been created.
March 14th is now officially "Steak and Blowjob Day". Simple, effective and self explanatory, this holiday has been created so you ladies finally have a day to show your man how much you care for him.
No cards, no flowers, no special nights on the town; the name of the holiday explains it all, just a steak and a BJ. Thats it. Finally, this twin pair of Valentine's Day and Steak and Blowjob Day will usher in a new age of love as men everywhere try THAT much harder in February to ensure a memorable March 14th!
The word is already beginning to spread, but as with any new idea, it needs a little push to start the ball rolling. So spread the word, and help bring love and peace to this crazy world. And, of course, steak and BJ's.
So mark your wife's or girlfriend's calender guys!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Motorgirls
 |
| My friend Louise here in Perth has a starring role in a locally produced TV series called "Motorgirls" [website]. She is not an actress, but a lawyer. She is quite a lady that I feel privleged to count as a friend. She is tall, very beautiful, plays rugy, rides motorcyles, sails, surfs, and is an awesome, kick-ass, Aussie girl. In the photo Louise is on the right in the lime-green outfit. Her friend Bushy, in black in the photo, is the force behind Motorgirls. She is a video producer, direcor, actress, motorhead, and all around very interesting person. I've met her a few times and I really like her. She is so cool and laid back. She drives this wicked black mucsle car, a Ford Fairlane ZC, around town. If you are in Perth, then check out the show. I think it will go Australia wide, so keep your eyes out for it. |
Friday, March 03, 2006
Truth is stranger than fiction
The most bizarre story is unfolding in Los Angeles right now. I swear, if you had written this as a movie or book you would have been laughed out of town.
The LA Times has been tracking this story, which I too been reading. I now think that a single car traffic accident in Malibu a few days ago has blown the lid off a huge scam ripping off the US tax payers.
It started out a week and a half ago as simply an unusual traffic accident. A rare Ferrari, worth almost a million dollars, crashed into a light pole along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and was totalled. It was reported that the Ferrari was speeding, doing 120 mph, and lost control. No one was injured. You think that would be the end of story. Some idiot with more money than brains in Malibu wrecks his million dollar car. That it when things get weird.
The only person the police found was a 44 year old Swedish millionaire, Stefan Eriksson, with a cut lip. Eriksson lives in the super-rich LA suburb of Bel-Air. He made his money with video games, specifically racing games. Eriksson claims that he was just the passenger. He claims that the driver was some German guy who he only knew as "Dietrich". After the accident "Dietrich" ran off up into the hills of Malibu and never found, despite a 3 hour search by police.
Needless to say, the police are not buying it. Eriksson blew a .09 blood-alcohol level, which is fine if he was a passenger. It would be a DUI of he was driving. So, now we have a name and face for the idiot with more money than brains. And this idiot is trying to avoid a DUI by making up some story about a fake driver. Interesting.
It gets weirder.
It turns out the police can't tell who owns the Ferrari. It was imported from Europe and was not even legal to drive in California. In addition, the police found at Mercedes SLR in Eriksson's home that is listed as being stolen, by Mr Eriksson, in London. A Scottish bank contacted the LA Sheriff's department claiming that they own the Ferrari (and were probably wondering where it was). Also, Mr. Eriksson has a felony conviction back in Sweden where he served prison time for counterfeiting. He recently resigned as a top executive of a failed game company called Gizmondo.
So... now we have a convicted felon, dot.com millionaire, and apparent fraudster, who plays fast and loose. The guy has balls. Despite everything, he still manages to somehow live the high life… fast exotic cars, a mansion in Bel-Air, multi-million dollar business deals, world travel. Wow!
It gets even weirder...
The story takes a strange twist with the involvement of a tiny public transport agency that gives rides to paraplegics in the San Gabriel Valley. The San Gabriel Valley is a cluster of small bedroom communities north east of Los Angeles. Pasadena, home of JPL, CalTech, and the Rose Bowl, is the best known city in the valley.
It turns out that shortly after the crash, two men showed up at the accident site and identified themselves to the police "homeland security" officers from a small San Gabriel Valley transit authority. Stefan Eriksson told investigators that he himself was ‘Deputy Commissioner’ of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority police department's antiterrorism unit.
Huh? The tiny little SGVTA has its own police department? And that department even has it own anti-terrorism unit? All of this was news to the cities and the law-enforcement departments in the San Gabriel Valley. The SGVTA web site claims that their police department has a chief, detectives, marked police cruisers and an "antiterrorism" division. It also claims that they hired a new police chief, one Philip J. Sugar, who has years of experience with the LAPD and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. They say “Chief Sugar takes over at a time when mass transit is faced with perhaps its greatest challenges ever - - the post 911 era…”.
Gee. A simple check of the SGVTA own web site shows that it is nothing but a tiny private non-profit company contracted by local cities to provide transportation services to their disabled citizens. They have some vans that drive people around. It also seems strange that their web site seems to be obsessed with terrorism security levels. Something ain’t right.
The real police can’t seem to find the two "homeland security" officers that showed up in Malibu. It also seems strange that a private company claims to have their own police and anti-terror taskforce. Or how does a Swedish citizen with felony convictions become ‘Deputy Commissioner’ of a law enforcement anti-terrorism unit in California?
I can’t wait for the police and the LA Times to get to the bottom of this story!
I think the whole thing is a scam designed to fleece the America taxpayers out of millions of dollars. They set up a phoney “transit authority”. They then set up a phoney police and security department. They then apply for federal funds to equip that department with the security equipment, staff, and resources needed to meet the new standards that the real Dept of Homeland Security has issued for public transportation to meet when the official threat level reaches high levels. The TSA is giving out $15 million grants to bus companies for security. That is a tempting target, no?
The LA Times has been tracking this story, which I too been reading. I now think that a single car traffic accident in Malibu a few days ago has blown the lid off a huge scam ripping off the US tax payers.
The SGVTA Contraversy
This is one part of a series of posts about The San Gabriel Valley Transit AuthorityIt started out a week and a half ago as simply an unusual traffic accident. A rare Ferrari, worth almost a million dollars, crashed into a light pole along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and was totalled. It was reported that the Ferrari was speeding, doing 120 mph, and lost control. No one was injured. You think that would be the end of story. Some idiot with more money than brains in Malibu wrecks his million dollar car. That it when things get weird.
The only person the police found was a 44 year old Swedish millionaire, Stefan Eriksson, with a cut lip. Eriksson lives in the super-rich LA suburb of Bel-Air. He made his money with video games, specifically racing games. Eriksson claims that he was just the passenger. He claims that the driver was some German guy who he only knew as "Dietrich". After the accident "Dietrich" ran off up into the hills of Malibu and never found, despite a 3 hour search by police.
Needless to say, the police are not buying it. Eriksson blew a .09 blood-alcohol level, which is fine if he was a passenger. It would be a DUI of he was driving. So, now we have a name and face for the idiot with more money than brains. And this idiot is trying to avoid a DUI by making up some story about a fake driver. Interesting.
It gets weirder.
It turns out the police can't tell who owns the Ferrari. It was imported from Europe and was not even legal to drive in California. In addition, the police found at Mercedes SLR in Eriksson's home that is listed as being stolen, by Mr Eriksson, in London. A Scottish bank contacted the LA Sheriff's department claiming that they own the Ferrari (and were probably wondering where it was). Also, Mr. Eriksson has a felony conviction back in Sweden where he served prison time for counterfeiting. He recently resigned as a top executive of a failed game company called Gizmondo.
So... now we have a convicted felon, dot.com millionaire, and apparent fraudster, who plays fast and loose. The guy has balls. Despite everything, he still manages to somehow live the high life… fast exotic cars, a mansion in Bel-Air, multi-million dollar business deals, world travel. Wow!
It gets even weirder...
The story takes a strange twist with the involvement of a tiny public transport agency that gives rides to paraplegics in the San Gabriel Valley. The San Gabriel Valley is a cluster of small bedroom communities north east of Los Angeles. Pasadena, home of JPL, CalTech, and the Rose Bowl, is the best known city in the valley.
It turns out that shortly after the crash, two men showed up at the accident site and identified themselves to the police "homeland security" officers from a small San Gabriel Valley transit authority. Stefan Eriksson told investigators that he himself was ‘Deputy Commissioner’ of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority police department's antiterrorism unit.
Huh? The tiny little SGVTA has its own police department? And that department even has it own anti-terrorism unit? All of this was news to the cities and the law-enforcement departments in the San Gabriel Valley. The SGVTA web site claims that their police department has a chief, detectives, marked police cruisers and an "antiterrorism" division. It also claims that they hired a new police chief, one Philip J. Sugar, who has years of experience with the LAPD and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. They say “Chief Sugar takes over at a time when mass transit is faced with perhaps its greatest challenges ever - - the post 911 era…”.
Gee. A simple check of the SGVTA own web site shows that it is nothing but a tiny private non-profit company contracted by local cities to provide transportation services to their disabled citizens. They have some vans that drive people around. It also seems strange that their web site seems to be obsessed with terrorism security levels. Something ain’t right.
The real police can’t seem to find the two "homeland security" officers that showed up in Malibu. It also seems strange that a private company claims to have their own police and anti-terror taskforce. Or how does a Swedish citizen with felony convictions become ‘Deputy Commissioner’ of a law enforcement anti-terrorism unit in California?
I can’t wait for the police and the LA Times to get to the bottom of this story!
I think the whole thing is a scam designed to fleece the America taxpayers out of millions of dollars. They set up a phoney “transit authority”. They then set up a phoney police and security department. They then apply for federal funds to equip that department with the security equipment, staff, and resources needed to meet the new standards that the real Dept of Homeland Security has issued for public transportation to meet when the official threat level reaches high levels. The TSA is giving out $15 million grants to bus companies for security. That is a tempting target, no?
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