Friday, August 15, 2008

There's a black man roaming America asking for change

This is straight from the onion - but I pasted it for those too lazy to go there. It's as relevant now as it was in March and still just as funny :-D

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/black_guy_asks_nation_for_change

CHICAGO—According to witnesses, a loud black man approached a crowd of some 4,000 strangers in downtown Chicago Tuesday and made repeated demands for change. "The time for change is now," said the black guy, yelling at everyone within earshot for 20 straight minutes, practically begging America for change. "The need for change is stronger and more urgent than ever before. And only you—the people standing here today, and indeed all the people of this great nation—only you can deliver this change." The black guy is oddly comfortable demanding change from people he's never even met. It is estimated that, to date, the black man has asked every single person in the United States for change. "I've already seen this guy four times today," Chicago-area ad salesman Blake Gordon said. "Every time, it's the same exact spiel. 'I need change.' 'I want change.' Why's he so eager for all this change? What's he going to do with it, anyway?" After his initial requests for change, the black man rambled nonstop on a variety of unrelated topics, calling for affordable health care, demanding that the government immediately begin withdrawing troops from Iraq, and proposing a $75 billion economic stimulus plan to create new jobs. "What a wacko," Schaumburg, IL resident Patrick Morledge said. "And, of course, after telling us all about how he had the ability to magically fix everything, he went right back to asking for change. Typical." "If he's really looking for change, he's got the wrong guy," Morledge added. Reports indicate that the black man has been riding from city to city across the country, asking for change wherever he goes. Citizens in Austin, TX said they spotted the same guy standing on the street Friday, shouting far-fetched ideas about global warming. Cleveland residents also reported seeing him in a local park, wildly gesticulating and quoting from the Bible. And last week, patrons at the Starlight Diner in Cheyenne, WY claimed that the black man accosted them while they were eating, repeatedly requesting change. "I saw him walk in and I knew he was headed straight for our table," said mother of three Gladys Davies. "He just stood there smiling at us for a while, and asked how our food tasted. Then he went and did the same thing at the next table over. The nerve of some people." Those who encountered the black man Tuesday said he engaged in erratic behavior, including pointing at random people in the crowd and desperately saying he needs their help, going up to complete strangers and hugging them, and angrily claiming that he is not looking for just a little bit of change, but rather a great deal of change, and that he wants it "right now." "I'll be honest, when that black guy said he would 'stop at nothing' to get change, it kind of scared me," local mechanic Phil Nighbert said. "Just leave me alone." Though many were taken aback by the black man's brazen demands, some, such as Jackson, MS's Holly Moser, sympathized with him. She gave the black man credit for boldly standing up and asking every last person around him for change. "I told him I'd give him some if I saw him later, even though I probably won't," Moser said. "Very nice man, though." Most, however, ignored his requests. "I'm a hardworking American who pays his taxes, and the last thing I need is some guy on the street demanding change from me," said William Overkamp, a Springfield, IL gun-shop owner. He added, "What he really needs is a job."



Here's another great read: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1045090/Obama-President-Dont-count-chickens.html




Friday, August 8, 2008

teehee

This picture made me smile - the guys all look so peaceful going about their business with their new friend :)

Thursday, August 7, 2008

angels or luck or something...

guardian angel
n : an angel believed to have special affection
for a particular individual

I used to believe I had a guardian angel. When times were tough there would always be a way out, when things felt like they couldn't get any worse, daylight would shine through. A white feather appearing in the strangest of places, always gave me hope that my belief was real. (No thought of course that it could have come from a throw pillow, cushion or duvet!) For years now I've carried a gold angel with a pearl body - hidden in my suitcase whenever I fly. On my keyring there's a single angel wing. I don't know whether I really believe in this anymore, but it certainly makes me more comfortable in my fears. This week has been just plain odd. If ever there was a time when I suspected someone was filming a movie around me without telling me I was the star - this is it. Why can't they just pay me damn it?! Monday - I'm walking down the street and as I cross an avenue, a car comes much to fast and tries to make the turn parallel to me, they are going too fast and so skid sideways straight towards me and my 3 children. They stop about 6 feet from us. I walk very quickly across the rest of the road and almost vomit from fear. Then today, Wednesday (yes I know I'm writing this at almost 1am Thursday :)), I took my son to the Drs and while walking our usual route towards transport home I decide to cross the street then avenue instead of avenue then street. I have no idea why I hesitated, and chose a different path, but I'm sure glad I did. As I crossed the street I noticed a bunch of fire trucks and as I stepped off the pavement to cross the avenue a manhole cover blew up, exploding black smoke and fire and debris right in front of us. We were ushered inside a pizzeria until the smoke cleared, after another couple of loud bangs. Now had I done my usual journey and crossed the avenue then the street - I would have been standing almost on top of that manhole cover. I don't think I'll leave the house tomorrow!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Fuck Joe Schmuck

One of my children's favorite books is Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?... took on a whole new meaning for me after reading the news today :( I read the Anchorage Daily News every day. Yes I know I live in NYC, but Alaska is the only other place I'd live, truth be told. Anyway, it saddened me to read this story, so I thought I'd share because hey if I feel doom and gloom why should you not feel it too?! State wildlife officials had to euthanize a wounded sow grizzly and her three cubs on the Kenai Peninsula. An Anchorage fisherman was hiking to a fishing spot about 150 yards downstream when he saw the bear. He said it charged him from about eight feet away. He shot two to three times in her face and gut with a .44 magnum. The sow with three small cubs did not die. Wildlife officials were called in and tracked the trail of blood and after finding her gravely injured, decided killing her was the best thing to do. The 3 small cubs, born this year, were too young to make it on their own, so the decision was made to kill the cubs too. (Mental note - when I have money to burn I will open a bear orphanage). Now don't get me wrong, I'm not going all Timothy Treadwell on you - but what the hell did City Joe Schmuck think he was going to come across 150 yards off track in bear country. And hey if you're carrying a .44 magnum at least know how the hell to shoot. Many of the comments said the same, or worse. A sad day for Grizzly Adams.