One Pissed Wet Cat

Big Money seeks to undermine the will of the people -- Again!

2012-01-29T15:53:00.001-06:00

I've been absent from my page too long. My sincerest apologies. While I was gone, much happened, and most was covered by others who feel the need to point out the hypocrisy and injustice (maybe not with my flair), but they did it.

Now, as the will of the people has spoken loud and clear in Wisconsin -- the people are in accord and demanding the recall of Governor Scott Walker for his union busting and illegal ethics in conducting open public meetings secretly or not at all before issues are voted on -- Big Money (GOP and Tea Party organizations/SuperPacs who are funded by corporations and top 1% billionaires) has sent in a team to WI to KILL the recall!

You see, corporations do not want you, the people, to control how they conduct business. They want to control you! This control means for them record profits and CEO bonuses while unemployment remains at an all-time high, conducting business how they see fit despite that those practices may be illegal towards other smaller businesses and people or damaging to the environment.

Big Money wants to whip out its big, green dick and beat you over the head with it until you back down and bow to its power; plain and simple.

It's up to you to make sure this doesn't happen. The GOP call what is going on in America with Occupy Wall Street a 'class war', but just who is it that is dispatching special ops teams to undo democracy? Last I knew, democracy was and always will be the will of the people being governed, not the other way around.

Below is a release from The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama. Pass this around, and then flood your representatives offices with phone calls and emails letting them know that Governor Walker's recall can find its way to their door, too, with their name on it the petition if they don't work to get Big Money out of Washington, D.C.

There may be a lot of money in their pockets, but there are more people than money, and the people are pissed off!

From:	Joe Wierzbicki, Executive Director
Date sent	01/28/2012 09:01:38 am
Subject:	Breaking News: We've sent a team to DEFEAT the RECALL !!

Hello, it's Joe Wierzbicki, Executive Director of The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama. Last night we sent a high-level team into Wisconsin via a red eye flight - our objective: to DEFEAT the RECALL that has been launched against Gov. Scott Walker.

Above: Team members board this jetliner for Wisconsin

We're working with our Wisconsin members and supporters as well as constitutionalists and other patriots in the Badger State. And here are the headlines that greeted us when we arrived on the scene - they are all biased, nasty headlines either celebrating the RECALL effort or suggesting Gov. Walker has done something wrong:

Right now we are setting up our first round of War Rooms in Wisconsin to fight to DEFEAT the RECALL and we need your help. We're going to raise an additional $100,000 to fund this effort and our next wave of TV and radio ad campaigns here.

Please, join us in the campaign to support Gov. Scott Walker and DEFEAT the RECALL. Please, support our campaign to DEFEAT the RECALL and help us reach our $100,000 goal by making a contribution online - HERE.

Gov. Scott Walker needs us now more than ever. He's been a principled leader who made the tough choices that so few politicians have the courage to make. We must stand by him now in his hour of need.We need people from all across the nation to make a contribution to our campaign to DEFEAT the RECALL.
The following individuals on our "Hero's List" contributed $200 or more to help us DEFEAT the RECALL in the past few days. You can add your name to this list by making a contribution of $200 or more - HERE.

John McCain tweets Putin but the joke is on him

2011-12-17T01:53:00.001-06:00

You know that evil little pain-in-the-ass kid who laughs at the other little kid when he drops his ice cream? Then the evil little kid turns to run away, trips, and his ice cream bites it in a big pile of dog poo? That's John McCain.

"OMG Vlad! R U serious?" (Image - thelede.blogs.nytimes.com//)

McCain was invited on CNN to discuss his recent tweet (more like a tweak) to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that said "Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you", referring to the beginnings of a major uprising in Russia. The cold war veteran was not amused, firing back with some mish-mosh about how McCain has enough blood on his own hands being a Vietnam Veteran, then going on about how America killed Ghadaffi.

McCain, feeling unusually cheeky, fired back with "Was it something I said, Vladimir?"

I don't like McCain, but I did find that humorous. Here's the not so funny part of it. First, America didn't kill Ghadaffi, Libyans did; really pissed off Libyans who were not going to turn the ousted ex-leader loose to anyone.

Second, although uprisings are spreading like California wildfires, McCain needs to lift his nose-hairs out of his Twitter account and look around. He told the CNN correspondent (John King) that the Arab Spring is fueled by people tired of having their democratic rights stripped away and that's why Russians are building momentum towards revolution.

True, but John-boy!...What, exactly, do you think the Occupy Wall Street protests going on all over the United States are? What McCain is poking fun of at Putin is happening right here at home. Is he that out of touch that he doesn't see his fudge ripple swirl is attracting flies already on the pile of poop?

McCain is so out of touch with so many issues that it almost doesn't surprise me that he's oblivious to the uprisings right here at home. He's an uprising denier. I guess he figures if he ignores it, it will go away.

Good strategy, John. Ask Ghadaffi how that worked for him? Oh, wait....he's dead.

$0.99 eBook downloads from me to you!

2011-12-13T23:47:00.001-06:00

Things are going so well with the recent publication of my two eBooks, Harvest and The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer, that I wanted to give something back. So I am making my books available all day Wednesday for only $0.99. It's a steal!

I thought it might make for a nice Christmas gift for adult and little readers, alike. I couldn't do it without you all.

It might also be prudent to point out that if you happen to be an Amazon Kindle Prime member, the download is FREE! (Kindle Prime membership is like Netflix for readers - but it also offers instant streaming of movies and videos, too! Wow!) You may want to check that out here.

Did I mention these are available in other countries, too?

Harvest - UK Amazon, DE Amazon, FR Amazon, ES Amazon, IT Amazon

The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer - UK Amazon, DE Amazon, FR Amazon, ES Amazon, IT Amazon

Both books are available in paperback as well for those of you who prefer the feel and smell of a real book! I know I'm guilty of that, myself.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Love,
The Cat

(United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy)

(Great Britain, Deutchland, España, Italia)

Free Download of Harvest by Michele Gwynn on Amazon

2011-12-11T20:55:00.000-06:00

FREE download of my book, Harvest, to Amazon Kindle Prime members!

That's right. If you're a Kindle Prime member, you can get a free download of my Sci-Fi short story. Kindle Prime is like Netflix for book lovers.

If you don't have Kindle Prime, you can try it free for 30 days. Don't have a Kindle? Get one at Amazon.com or just download the free Kindle application to your Mac or PC. Once installed, sign up for Kindle Prime's free 30-day trial and order a download of my book. Three easy steps to lots of free books!

Try it today, and share this link with friends who love to read!

Amazon.com: Harvest (9781468013764): Michele E. Gwynn, Michele E, Gwynn: Books

Harvest - Human greed and gluttony can exist only so long before consequences catch up to actions. For Dave Forrester, the actions of every human living were about to be addressed in his home town of Farley, Oklahoma. A haunting memory from the past becomes a real-life nightmare after a curious car accident in the middle of the night. Stranger yet, the people of Farley have disappeared without a trace! It's up to Dave to figure out why, and how to save the few that survive....the harvest.

Sexy, Silky-Smooth Skin in Winter! - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

2011-12-06T17:28:00.000-06:00

As soon as the temperatures drop each fall, women everywhere begin to scratch. It's no secret that the lack of moisture in the air during winter months causes dry skin, leaving the ladies rubbing up against any rough surface or available fingernails like a bear scratching his back on tree bark. Sure, it feels good for a moment, but then they're left with dry, scaly red patches that just begin to itch again in a few minutes. Torture!

Working in a dermatology clinic for several years taught me a lot about how to get through the winter months with soft, glowing skin. Lucky you! Try these tips and stay smooth and itch-free until spring, and all her April showers, returns.
Keep showers short and luke-warm. Hot water dries skin out and the longer you remain under the spray, the drier you get. Keep it on the cool side to avoid dry skin.
Use a fragrance-free, organic soap for ....Click link to read more.

Have Sexy Skin in Winter! - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

(Photo from Google Images/iDesignphones.com)

Good BBQ gone up in flames begins reconstruction

2011-12-04T02:19:00.001-06:00

Harmon’s Barbecue, a landmark in downtown Cibolo, Texas (yea, terming it ‘downtown’ when Cibolo is such a small town seems kind of funny) burned on November 22, two days before Thanksgiving. The story was covered on KSAT 12 news. (See video here)

The tragedy of this was not lost on me as Harmon’s is my favorite BBQ joint, but I was still reeling from losing a new fave to a fire located on N. Main in downtown San Antonio (a ‘downtown’ worthy of the title) called Meat Market Barbecue. I began to wonder if some evil force was declaring war on good BBQ?

Tender, tasty brisket is hard to come by, and when you find a place (especially one so close to home) you tend to hold it dear to your heart. The old building that housed Harmon’s actually protected it from worse damage than it received. The double brick walls helped keep the flames from spreading to a next door jeweler so that it only ended up with a lot of smoke damage.

The determination seems to be that the fire started in the kitchen due to some faulty electrical wiring. It spread to the dining room, an authentically rustic area with a large screen television where diners could watch sports and news. This whole area is gone now. Damn those evil forces!

I drove by there today and snapped a few pictures to show the reconstruction in progress. It hurt my heart to see the old place looking so decrepit; a shell of its former self. However, I’m looking forward to Harmon’s re-opening, and will try to slip a little Holy water in for a quick blessing when next I dine on potato salad, BBQ chicken, and pintos. It can’t hurt, right?

And is it wrong to say that was probably the best-smelling fire ever?

Congressional Term Limits Petition

2011-12-02T03:36:00.000-06:00

The Cat has typed out a petition on WhiteHouse.gov (which was really hard to do without thumbs!) to get people to speak out in support for Congressional term limits. You've bitched enough. It's time to put up or shut up! Follow the link, sign up, and put your John Hancock on the dotted line. Let's get rid of career politicians.

amend the Constitution to limit congressional terms to 3 two-year terms for the House, and 2 four-year terms for senate. | The White House

"This petition, in response to the lowest ever approval rating of congress in history, is proposed to weed out career politicians who make party politics priority over the will and welfare of the people. Term limits are needed to allow new ideas into congress. This has become necessary as we've seen generational biases and out-moded ideas affect policy and civil rights issues. Career politicians fail to recognize and identify with societal changes. This type of Constitutional amendment was proposed once before in 1951 when the 22nd Amendment was ratified, limiting the term of the presidency to two 4-year terms. As the president must be subject to term limits to avoid dictatorship, so should the House and Senate."

amend the Constitution to limit congressional terms to 3 two-year terms for the House, and 2 four-year terms for senate. | The White House


"tired, now...wake me when we hit 25,000 signatures..."

"The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer" available in time for Christmas

2011-11-22T16:15:00.000-06:00

It's my second eBook, but first children's story! The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer is now available for download for NOOK on Barnes and Noble online.

This heartwarming tale about a cat named Sam and his journey to discovering who he is and what he's thankful for makes a great gift for kids 9 and under. The eBook is fully illustrated and in color to help bring the characters to life.

The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer is the first in a series of children's stories that will take the readers on a journey around the world, teach a little of many different languages all while inspiring children's imaginations.

Download yours today at BarnesandNoble.com.

NYPD Midnight Military-style Raid on OWS Protesters in Zuccotti Park Ends in Injuries and Arrests

2011-11-15T04:19:00.002-06:00

Photo by Mother Jones reporter, Josh Harkinson - OWS crowd tries to block dump truck from entering Zuccotti Park

In an action expected only in dictator-run countries like Syria, Libya, and Iran, NYPD in riot gear have descended upon the Occupy Wall Street peaceful protestors in Zuccotti Park in the middle of the night, forcefully evicting some and arresting many.

Mother Jones reporter, Josh Harkinson, is Tweeting live the events taking place.

Harkinson: "I can see the park from se barricade. Cops dismantling tents. There is a huge dumpster by the park already filled to the brim with tents and other belongings of occupiers. People are massing at Wall Street bull right now. Cops have the bull blocked off. Not letting people stand on sidewalk there. National Lawyers guild says NYT journalist arrested already. Crowd now blocking dump truck on broadway. Crowd has successfully blocked this dump truck. It's now backing up. Big cheers! Tons of riot cops surrounding #OWS kitchen. A slew of riot cops with batons heading down broadway. Cops have a giant orange bulldozer that they've used to scrape everything up. There are, very roughly, 25 ppl in the food tent resisting cops. So far police leaving them alone."

"Kid wearing gas mask holding sign: "No law shall abridge the right of the people to peaceably assemble". Another occupier is waving an American flag. Overheard from cop: "They've been violent against their own people." There are police big wigs in suits all around me. Sweaty guy in suit and neon vest ripping off signs: "I've been waiting a long time to do this." Still big garbage piles around perimeter. Sani guys behin me sweeping and loading dump truck. Cops with zip cuffs now massing by food tent. Arrests seem inevitable. I am afraid of walking around because I could get arrested too. "

"Cop on bullhorn now: "If you refuse to leave the park you are subject to arrest." I am very close to food tent. Have a good view of impending arrests. Riot cops now surrounding food tent. I just got shoved out of the park by a police officer. I'm now going to explain what I saw. The riot police moved in with zip cuffs and teargassed the occupiers in the food tent. Then they wrestled them to the ground and cuffed them. Everyone I witnessed being arrested was resisting peacefully. As I was observing, a cop approached me and asked me who I was. I told him that I am a reporter with a national magazine, He asked me who, I said Mother Jones. That's when he said I had to leave. I told him I wold not. That is is my right to be here and observe what is going on. He said that all the press is in the press pen, and that's where I had to go. I said I would not,.That he would have to arrest me, but I would go peacefully. At that point he grabbed me by the arm and started hauling me away. He literally started hauling me across the park. My feet were slipping on the ground. All around me, protesters were being pepper sprayed and zip cuffed. I decided it would be better to stay out of jail and keep reporting on what's going on tonight, so I let him haul me out, arguing with him. "

"He told me if I stayed in the park I could get hurt. I pointed out that there was no chance of that. I had just been standing around. Cleanup already done for the most part. Then he dragged me in front of a dump truck that was backing up. He said, "Look, this dump truck is backing up, you could get hurt". I pointed out that he dragged me in front of it. Then he deposited me on the other side of the street, where I am now sitting on a bench in front of a pizza joint. "

Photo-Josh Harkinson - "Nothing left in Zuccotti Park"

Harkinson says he’s going to find people to interview who’ve seen the reported use of police batons. One city council member has already been reported to have been beaten upside the head and bloodied.

Where is our leadership during this raid? Who ordered it? Why is unnecessary force being used on peaceful protestors who were asleep for the night?

Is this the United States of America or a Middle Eastern country where democracy is crushed under the iron fist of the police and military?

OWS protestors in Zuccotti Park are harming no one. They are exercising their First Amendment rights according to our Constitution, but tonight, the city of New York under Mayor Michael Bloomberg has demonstrated that our rights are not respected, are an illusion.

Shame, New York! Shame, Denver! Shame, Oakland! Those in power do not respect your individual rights. They will beat you, pepper spray you, intimidate and threaten you to protect their own interests.
The question is…is this their America, or is it your America? The time to decide is now. This is the defining moment.

Update: Cops just violently shoved me away as I tried to shoot this man in a stretcher being loaded into ambulance http://twitpic.com/7efa2v. The man was on oxygen, indicating serious injury. He was wheeled out of the park.

Photo/Josh Harkinson - Protestor taken by ambulance on oxygen.

Tea Partiers as stupid criminals and GOP family values conflict with punishment of Eve

2011-11-13T17:56:00.000-06:00

I've been on a bit of a roll this past week on my other blogs. I feel bad for not getting here sooner to share those bits of information with you fine people. So without further ado, let me lead you on the path of enlightenment...

Three bumbling Tea Partiers bungle plot to avert recall

In what can only be described as “Stupid Crimes/Stupid Criminals”, online watchdog mag, Mother Jones reports some seriously red-neck, Deliverance-minded individuals (some right-wing extremists and professed Tea Partiers) with a big plan to avert recall of Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin by fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as recall pollsters, collecting signatures by the thousands so they can destroy them, shred them, burn them, even.

But these bumbling brain-dead morons have openly bragged about this and their misguided plot on Facebook. I kid you not. You just can’t make this shit up.

Meet Will R. Jenkins (an angry, cantankerous fool), Matt Wynn (an ex-Navy Veteran now turned small-time accessory to crime and a disgrace to his uniform for even encouraging Jenkins), and Terry Dippy..er, Dipper (who seems to have shut down his Facebook account). (Note: All links provided to these individuals are showing up as public profiles – not even smart enough to set their profiles to private!)

Apparently these right-wing extremists (the kind even extremist try to disassociate themselves from) don’t realize that interfering in a recall election is a federal crime.

This was first reported by Politiscoop before getting some more traction through Mother Jones. Well, I’m here to help put these Bubba’s on blast! You guys have got to be the dumbest....Full article here.

Hard Right Agenda Punishes Daughters of Eve for that Whole Apple 'thing'

No one ever reported Adam's part..

The Bible says Eve tempted Adam with an apple from the tree of knowledge, and ever since then, man has been tossed out of the Garden of Eden forever to live in a harsh world of sin, suffering, and pain. it's all Eve's fault, and she and her many daughters have been punished for it ever since.

Far right wing conservatives eat this nonsense up. They believe every word in the Bible (or say they do, but no one, no matter who they are what they say), can live their life according to Bible exactly. Why? Two reasons; contradictions and plagiarism.

The Bible is full of both. The Secular Web points out contradictions; "Genesis 1 and 2 disagree about the order in which things are created, and how satisfied God is about the results of his labors. The flood story is really two interwoven stories that contradict each other on how many of each kind of animal are to be brought into the Ark--is it one pair each or seven pairs each of the "clean" ones? The Gospel of John disagrees with the other three Gospels on the activities of Jesus Christ (how long had he stayed in Jerusalem--a couple of days or a whole year?) and all four Gospels contradict each other on the details of Jesus Christ's last moments and resurrection. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke contradict each other on the genealogy of Jesus Christ's father; though both agree that Joseph was not his real father." And these...Full article here.

As if that's not enough to keep you occupied for 20 minutes, here's some more fun stuff to check out!

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GOP denies conspiracy to rig elections; I say BS - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

2011-11-07T22:24:00.002-06:00

"Trust me. I'm a sheep, too. Bahhhh" (Google Images/rob-peters.com)

GOP denies conspiracy to rig elections; I say BS - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

Actions? Firing a state official without just cause. Words? A whole lot of sputtering and stuttering.

Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer has some ‘splainin’ to do! After what appears to be her being ‘strong-armed’ by the Republicans in state office who might not do as well in the next election if the district lines are drawn fairly, Brewer has succumbed to the pressure (probably didn’t have to twist her arm all that hard), and removed the state’s bi-partisan re-districting committee chairwomen, Colleen Mathis, from her position. She stated “well she acted, uh, inappropriately. Well it was very, pretty much obvious that she in communications, and doing things, uh, not in the public, and the people of Arizona deserve that –“ to Alan Colmes on his radio show. Sounds serious, right? (And Jon Stewart accused Rick Perry of imbibing!) Actually, it sounds like the sputtering and hedging of someone who has no answer or justification for her actions.

The state senate voted 21-6 to remove Mathis for the apparently impeachable offense of drawing fair and non-partisan redistricting maps.

Firing someone under a false pretense happens all the time, especially in an ‘at will’ employment state like Texas, but in cases such as this one, charges should be brought by Mathis against the governor for illegally removing a state official without just cause and for the purpose of illegal gain.

This nation-wide conspiracy by the GOP to rig the electorate is as obvious as flies on feces; disgusting and it just plain stinks. Worse, they keep denying that this is exactly what they're up to...while they're up to it! That's like getting caught with your penis in another woman's vagina by your wife..and then saying "Honey, it's not what it looks like!" I guess they might try to schloff it off by uttering the old stand-by; "I tripped and my dick fell right in her vag. It was a freak accident." More like, "We didn't mean to cut those Latinos and college students out of their voting rights. They just happened to receive veiled threats about voting..." Riiiiggghhht!

Texas now finds itself embroiled in its own re-districting scandal.

It’s the pot calling the kettle black, and then getting a state Supreme Court smackdown.

Rick Perry’s red state wants to stay red, and will sue its own Justice Department to get it, but the JD says “No way, Jose!” to redistricting that denies Latinos the ability to elect candidates of their choice. “Partisan gerrymandering is also involved. The Justice Department has concluded that two new Texas districts violate the Voting Rights Act by deliberately “diminishing the ability” of Latinos to elect their preferred candidate to Congress.”

Another way the GOP wants to hinder voting of the lower classes (the low-income earning ethnicities) is through shortening the number of days a person can do early voting. In Germany, national elections are held on a Sunday so everyone can vote without worrying over missing work (and this is the country that suffered through Hitler! – What’s the GOP excuse for trying to restrict voters from getting to the polls?) They figure that the less number of days a person can go vote, the harder it will be for those low-income voters to take time off from work. They also want to eliminate Sunday voting.

Another real problem is college students who want to vote. If they attend college away from their home voting district, they would normally register under their college dorm address, but now, that right is being taken away because by doing this, “Students who vote with their college address are a particular target. In 2008, the Montgomery County, Va., election director announced that students who registered at their college addresses would no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns. This is a strong-arm intimidation tactic designed to make a voter choose between continuing to qualify for college financial aid or being able to vote. It’s BS and I call it like I see it.

According to the same article linked above, the following intimidation tactics were used and should not only be illegal, but the campaign responsible should be put in jail from the approving candidate down to the campaign manager and the person who sent the fliers or hit the button to initiate the robocalls. “Another tactic is to circulate fliers, use robocalls or send postcards to minority voters, falsely advising them to vote on Wednesdays. In 2010, many minority voters in Louisiana, Maryland and New Hampshire received robocalls telling them they could vote by telephone or email. In 2002 in Baltimore and 2003 in Georgia, black voters received fliers warning them that if they had failed to pay utility bills, had outstanding parking tickets or were behind on their rent, they would be arrested if they tried to vote. In 2006, voters with Latino surnames in Orange County, Calif., were given fliers suggesting that naturalized citizens were not entitled to vote. (Politico)

The ‘conspiracy’ theory is shown here to be far more than a theory. The preceding examples show empirical fact (actual actions) supporting the GOP’s agenda to win by any means necessary even if that means cheating voters out of (or scaring them away from) their right to not only vote, but vote without the threat of some kind of illegal repercussions from this party.

They are being disgusting. I’m so turned off by the GOP that I have a hard time giving credit to the few representatives who might actually be ‘good guys’. I view them as wolves in sheep’s clothing, smiling their toothy smiles at us while licking their chops, ready to pounce.

My, Republicans, what big teeth you have!

Well, fortunately for us intelligent types who see right through your disguise, both Governor Rick Perry, and out-doors-y poster girl dipstick, Sarah Palin, (hard-core right wingers) advocate for shooting wolves on sight…from helicopters, no less!

More from M. Gwynn that's completely unpolitical, but every bit as captivating!

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Follow me on Facebook and TWITTER! ...and check out my blog covering all other topics - One Pissed Wet Cat

Download HARVEST, a sci-fi short story from author, Michele Gwynn, available on Barnes & Noble online for NOOK, Kindle, and Kobo eReaders.

All articles by Michele Gwynn are under copyright and cannot be re-posted whole without written consent by the author. Partial re-posting with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, email megwynn@msn.com.

Showtime's Gigolo Nick Hawk gets raw with San Antonio's Sex and Relationships columnist Michele Gwynn

2011-10-17T14:56:00.000-05:00

I’m Jane-come-lately to the first season of Showtime’s new hit series, Gigolos, a reality show that follows the lives of five real-life straight male escorts, but thanks to a good friend who thought I’d really appreciate what the show offers, I fell in love with it.

One man stood out from the pack of hotties for me, the most self-proclaimed competitive man in the world, gigolo Nick Hawk.

He’s hot, and honest to a fault. He’s also kind and has that follow-through quality I so dig in a man. When he consented to an interview, I nearly melted! So here he is ladies; bold, raw, and getting right to it. Meet Nick Hawk.

MG: I know most women would be drawn to you on the physicality alone, but honestly, I did a little research and it was your English major and focus on creative writing that did it for me. I imagine you use that in writing lyrics, but have you done any other type of creative writing, and.........MORE HERE.

Texas Bighorn Society's connection to Perry campaign donations - National animal rights | Examiner.com

2011-10-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

Texas Bighorn Society's connection to Perry campaign donations - National animal rights | Examiner.com

In my article "Rick Perry 'errs' on the side of life by condoning killing burros", it was pointed out that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division were killing off native burros (300-400, appoximately) from a region of Big Bend Ranch State Park in West Texas. The reason cited by TPWD is that these gentle donkeys tear up the land and destroy watering holes.

Anyone who has ever owned or cared for a donkey knows this is not true. Further investigation by animal activist, Marjorie Farabee, revealed that the burros are being culled to make way for Bighorn sheep. (Sign Marjorie's petition to stop the killing of burros here.)

These sheep are coming from the Texas Bighorn Society who have made it clear they will not release these sheep to TPWD until the donkeys are gone. Texas Bighorn Society claims to be about conservation of the species yet these Bighorns are already being advertised on the TPWD site as 'big game' hunting. In addition, the native burros being killed on sight at Big Bend Ranch State Park are being labeld 'exotics' by TBS; "the department and its partners are taking various steps to prepare for the reintroduction of bighorn sheep, including control of exotic species " Worse, new information reveals that TBS is actually funding aerial gunning of 'exotics' to include

Continue reading on Examiner.com Texas Bighorn Society's connection to Perry campaign donations - National animal rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animal-rights-in-national/texas-bighorn-society-s-connection-to-perry-campaign-donations#ixzz1b4PwGFuc

Texas Congressman Lamar Smith wants to outlaw 'talking' about drugs

2011-10-10T04:17:00.000-05:00

District 21 Texas Congressman, Lamar Smith, wants to make a name for himself (after being relatively quiet amid his Republican co-horts), by introducing a bill in the House that would make it illegal to talk about or plan the use of illegal substances, even if the usage were to occur in another country where usage is legal!

This smacks of McCarthyism! Since when is it illegal to talk about drugs? If such an idiotic bill actually stood a hope in hell of passing both houses AND the president's desk successfully into law, would that mean I could no longer say the word "Doobie" out loud without fear of some hidden squad of secret narco police jumping out of the bushes and arresting me?

What kind of ridiculous piece of shit legislation is this?

“Under this bill, if a young couple plans a wedding in Amsterdam, and as part of the wedding, they plan to buy the bridal party some marijuana, they would be subject to prosecution,” Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for reforming U.S. drug laws, told the Huffington Post. “The strange thing is that the purchase of and smoking the marijuana while you’re there wouldn’t be illegal. But this law would make planning the wedding from the U.S. a federal crime.” (allgov.com)

Not surprisingly, this bill passed the House Judiciary Committee (Republican controlled). Surprisingly, this bill is co-sponsored by a California Democrat, Adam Schiff [D-CA29].

The current status of this bill is as follows:

Status:

	Introduced	Jan 18, 2011
	Referred to Committee	View Committee Assignments
	Reported by Committee	Oct 6, 2011
	House Vote	...
	Senate Vote	...
	Signed by President	...

Our government spends billions each year trying to fight the importation of illegal drugs, (and the selling of illegal drugs grown inside the U.S.). Half that money could be saved if they'd just legalize marijuana, which is no better and no worse than smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol. I might get arrested for saying that if Smith gets his way.

Funny how congress is spending its time trying to come up with ways to further strip Americans of their rights (I'm referring to Freedom of Speech, where discussing drug use is still legal), instead of focusing all their attention on solving the problems of this downed economy. Could they possibly waste any more time? They already want to eliminate the department of education, take away Social Security and health care, dismantle the EPA, repeal the repeal on DADT, and more backwards, unacceptable crap.

The GOP have become an enemy of the American people and their way of life. To continue to allow any of these regressives to hold office is to allow them to strip Americans of all rights. This is what people voted into the House in 2010.

There's but one chance to correct that colossal mistake in 2012. If not, then don't say I didn't warn you when they come and take your pot plant away....which will eventually lead to the outlawing of your cigarettes, alcohol (regressive prohibition), and soon, your Beyer Aspirin (the only 'health care' you'd have left by the time Republicans took away all health care except for the ridiculously expensive variety only the top 2% would be able to afford by then).

District 21 in Texas. Wake up! It's time to vote the long-standing Congressman Smith into retirement. His generation of ideas don't fit in with this generation's needs.

Wanna kill food cravings on the cheap? Take Zinc!

2011-10-08T00:22:00.000-05:00

I have tried 'diet' pills of all kinds. Most have some kind of side effect that isn't pleasant like a speeding heartbeat, jitters, nausea, diarrhea, sharting..you name it. And these so-called diet helpers cost a lot of money; anywhere from $20 - $100 bucks a bottle for a 30-day supply. Worse, they don't freaking work!

I stopped trying any of these ridiculous promises a while back, started eating right and doing a little exercise instead; the only tried and true way to better health and healthy body weight. Still, I'd get cravings for stuff like Rocky Road Ice Cream (hell yea!), M&M's (I do loves me some chocolate covered peanuts), Mama's Cafe Chocolate Chocolate Cake, and Tollhouse cookies. Don't judge. You know your big ole butt has waddled to the fridge in the middle of the night for some nocturnal noshing on these very same items!

Recently, while catching an episode of Dr Oz (I LOVE this dude. I learn so much from his show), I learned that taking a simple 15mg tablet of Zinc each day would not only boost my immune system, (a great idea now that flu season has begun), but would also curb my appetite, especially my cravings.

It works like this. There's a naturally occurring protein hormone in the body called Leptin. The job of Leptin is to regulate energy intake and expenditure (controls appetite and metabolism). Some people have an absence of Leptin in their systems which leads to uncontrolled appetite and obesity. In these people, their bodies have stopped making enough Leptin to control the appetite and metabolism. Results? Fat-ass syndrome.

(Facts about Leptin) -

Leptin levels decrease after short-term fasting (24–72 hours), even when changes in fat mass are not observed.^[37]

In the obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Leptin is increased, but decreases after administration of a [CPAP].^[38]^[39] In non-obese individuals, however, restful sleep (i.e., 8–12 hours of unbroken sleep) can increase leptin within normal ranges.

Serum levels of Leptin are reduced by sleep deprivation.^[40]^[41]

Increased by perceived emotional stress.^[42]

Decreased by testosterone and increased by estrogen.^[43]

Chronically affected by exercise training.^[44]

Enter Zinc.

Zinc supplementation helps the body manufacture Leptin in those who are Zinc-depleted. A mere 15 mg tablet a day will curb cravings. I know this from actually trying this out recently. I couldn't find Zinc in a 15mg tab, but did find it in a 30 mg tab ($4-$6 depending on brand and comes in a 60-day supply). I don't recommend taking the full 30 mg a day. I tried this and it made me nauseous. Too much? I suppose so. Dr. Oz did say people only need 12-15 mgs a day. All you need is a pill cutter and that 60-day supply becomes a 120-day supply. It's a bargain.

Since beginning taking Zinc, I'm able to plan out regular meals (of decreased portions) without having those gnawing cravings in between that derail any good effort at eating a proper and healthy diet.

It works. The only side effect is a stronger immune system. How 'bout them apples? Now don't you feel foolish for buying that expensive Alli crap that just makes your Brown-Eye leak?

Alli helps you lose weight the old-fashioned way; Shart it out!

A True 'Jobs Creator' dead at 56

2011-10-05T19:42:00.000-05:00

At the age of 56, former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs has passed. He suffered health issues that included pancreatic cancer, and more recently, a liver transplant. His body just never seemed to be able to bounce back.

A few months ago, Jobs officially stepped down as CEO of Apple after appointing Tim Cook to his former position. But Jobs' wasn't just an amazingly creative, advant garde tech guy. Jobs was clearly a liberal.
His record of political donations over the years supported various Democrats from Nancy Pelosi, to Edward Kennedy, to Rahm Emmanuel; even including a $4,000 donation for the 2010 March for Progress (D).
Steve Jobs didn't talk much about his political views, but his donations and those made by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs (to the Obama campaign), speak louder than any words.

And although he wasn't known as a philanthropist (at least, publicly), the 'idea guy' did believe in work. He was a true hybrid of capitalism and liberalism.

In a world of advancing technology (largely because of himself), Steve Jobs was a REAL Jobs creator (think Apple stores, tech builders, assemblers, packagers, advertisers, etc).

More from this author that's completely unpolitical!

Oral sex now linked to throat cancer

As if getting a regular old STD or HIV wasn't a bad enough concern, now researchers have made the connection between a rise in cases of throat cancer in men and oral sex!The HPV (Human Papilloma Virus...

Sexy gadgets; The trick is in the treat!

October is my favorite month! I love the change of weather to nippier temps. I love the leaves falling off the trees. I love the spooky movies on TV, and I dig the depravity of Halloween sexy...

Putting the naughty back into the ‘nice guy’

Nice guys. All women know at least one man who they tell all their friends is “such a nice guy”. These women love Mr. Nice guy…like a brother! This is the guy who...

Jesus was a Liberal

2011-10-01T04:24:00.005-05:00

Despite their stated Christian morals, Republicans seem to conveniently look past the hard-core facts that the man they fully support, and are fond of quoting to the masses and holding him up as the example, was, indeed, a liberal.

I'm talking about the number one son, Jesus of Nazareth!

Tonight on Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher made some rather brilliant points that I never really thought about, but they sure are on point!

He listed the reasons why Jesus could NEVER in a million years be the GOP nominee for president; why the Republicans would reject Him as a radical, left-winger.

Jesus said 'feed the poor' which smacks of welfare;

HE said "Heal the sick"...(What? For free?);

"Turn the other cheek" (Darn it, JC, didn't you hear the crowd applaud executions in Texas?);

Tea Partiers would demand a birth certificate after finding out Jesus wasn't born in America!

Old Republicans would decide they don't want a Jew for president...plus..he's a carpenter! Doesn't that make HIM pro-Union?
A few of my own observations.

His hair is too long; evidence that Jesus is a rebel hippie.

He forgives, rather than publicizes, people's sins.

He's a huge animal advocate.

He encourages reading, living a frugal lifestyle, working hard, and being honest; obviously he's anti-corporation!
He accepts anyone who comes to him with an open heart. (There goes that wall on the border!)

He says 'judge not, lest ye be judged!" Well, there goes another GOP hopeful down the drain! Where's that tubby Repubby, Chris Christie? Dangle a hamburger in front of him and get him to the next debate 'cuz this Mexican dude, Jesus, just isn't working out!

Throughout the entire Bible, either version, there is no evidence that Jesus would condone pollution, dishonest big money-lenders (so sorry, banks and Wall Street), wars, casting judgement (that's the big guy's job), leaving people to suffer and die, hating anyone because of personal prejudices, denying those same people equal rights, or support those people who are for all of the above!

Yet, He is in every campaign speech. I'm surprised they haven't realized just how liberal Jesus was. Maybe they need to sit down and read that good book again?

How to be romantic (for men)

Women say they want romance, and men, usually completely clueless, try and give it to them, but often fall short of the mark. Why?Because many men think romance is just flowers, candy, maybe dinner out, and then it...

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Reader question answered; He forgot my birthday! What should I do?

Dear Michele,"Hi there, I wanted to run something by you. I've been in a serious relationship with this guy for a few years now, and I'm looking for at least a hint of...

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Behavior can make or break a relationship

How one person (or both) behaves in a relationship can make or break it. Take Snooki from Thursday night’s episode of Jersey Shore. She and boyfriend, Jionni had a major blow-out over her behavior at a...

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Sexy gadgets; Fun fruity lubes and elegant clean up wipes

Everyone remembers the condoms, maybe even a sexy toy or two when planning a naughty evening, but who ever remembers the really important stuff? I'm talking about some fun tasty lube for the 'appetizer', and...

The Fickle Right Wing and Their Inability to Commit - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

2011-09-27T03:13:00.000-05:00

The Fickle Right Wing and Their Inability to Commit - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

Oh those fickle, fair-weather Republicans; so excited over Michele Bachmann, until she waved her kook panties in the air like a personal freak flag. They hung their heads, pining for Palin, but she has merely teased her fan base with her political poll dance. Then they got excited by Rick Perry and his crotch-forward-shoot 'em up, bang, bang entry into the race...until he pulled a Tommy Chong at the debates..all THREE! (Seriously, I thought he was going to whip out the bong he must've been smoking before the Florida debate and offer a puff to Romney!)
The fair-weather Tea Partiers gave Herman Cain a passing glance, then realized the Pizza-making businessman with the 9-9-9 tax plan was....horrors!..black! Well, that just won't do, not that they're RACISTS or anything. (Morgan Freeman calls out Tea Party as Racists).....MORE

Who needs al Qaeda? Americans already have the GOP!

2011-09-23T04:25:00.001-05:00

Tonight's GOP debate yielded more of the same -- a bunch of horse manure. But while I can shake my head and blow these insane clowns off as the joke they are, I have to stop and take a second, realizing that these fools really are very dangerous.


Santorum would have the U.S. military all over the globe, much like another megalomaniac who brought down a nation.

One only has to hear Rick Santorum argue that Americans have to fight wars to win!...not for political gain when challenged by the much more level-headed John Huntsman (who sanely states we need to bring our troops home from both Iraq and Afghanistan), to know that ole Ricky advocates more wars, and a large American military presence around the globe (he actually said as much, but I paraphrase).

Worse, an audience of retarded hyenas actually applauded when candidates promised to repeal DADT, the Affordable Health Care Act, and to never raise taxes on the rich. I'm betting the people in that audience aren't in the top 2% of income earners in the U.S., so I'm not quite sure what the hell they were applauding.

The Rev. Chuck Currie put it quite right in his blog tonight. "Again tonight, the GOP showed they do not have the moral courage or imagination to face the difficulties of our time" referring to the GOP continued hard-line of not raising taxes.

Indeed, not. They don't even have the courage to move forward, but are keen on moving backwards!

The GOP candidates have shown that all they wish to do is UNDO every good thing the president has accomplished -- against overwhelming opposition by the American people who support the repeal of DADT, who support (and statistics are also proving the effectiveness of) the Affordable Healthcare Act, who support by a margin of 80% (heretofore unheard of numbers) to close tax loopholes on the top 2%, and still the GOP stand before America, sucking up the applause of a few (not even a decent size minority), promising to take us backwards, to take away affordable health care, to force gay service men and women back into the closet--violating, once again, their civil rights, to never, ever tax a rich person while taking away every last cent earned by the middle and lower classes along with any program designed to help them get a leg up. This is their promise to the American people. Can we afford such a promise? Shit..with a political party like this, who needs al Qaeda? We already have American-hating terrorists right here in our government! Talk about your 'sleeper' agents!

These sad representatives should be on the FBI's MOST WANTED list.

Pay attention middle class, before you're a memory. Pay attention Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender community, before you're outlawed. Pay attention college student, before the American Dream is out of reach!

Uncanny? Instead of shaving a beard, she IS a beard!

To all who benefit in any way or pay into programs like Social Security (the vast majority of Americans), Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants, Unemployment benefits, new medical insurance policies that you can now afford to have for your college-age children, anyone who doesn't fit the tax bracket of the top 2% of income earners in the United States....PAY ATTENTION! There's a revolution going on under the guise of a presidential campaign. Fidel Perry, Fidel Bachmann, Fidel Paul, Julius Caesar Santorum, Raul Romney (the other Castro brother), and Raul Cain all want to gain your trust so you'll follow them. All want to feed you a line about how 'the people want this revolution!"

Look at how that turned out for the people of Cuba! The country was successfully over-thrown. Batista was outed. Fidel and his brother Raul took over, promising the people free elections -- then they took over the country and put anyone who opposed their rule into prisons or executed them publicly, effectively stripping them of their rights. That's exactly where the GOP are taking the sheep who follow them blindly.

Look at Cuba today. A poor country where the economy is so defunct, it's only 53 years later that the autocrat has retired (and only because he's so old and frail), and his brother has taken control, finally realizing that their way has done no good for their country. Is this where you want America to be?

Worse, our Fidels are also religious zealots (not unlike the Islamic radicals who rule Iran) who want to shove their theological beliefs down your throat.

Is this the vision you have of America? Is this what you want for your children? Your grandchildren? Where's your freedom under any one of their presidencies?

Fidel Paul wants to abolish the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Just what do you think would happen to our environment, our ecology, without rules preventing businesses from irresponsibly destroying and polluting our world? Do you trust businesses to do the right thing? Are you really that naive?

It's a sad sight to see each time the GOP candidates gather. The only half-way decent individual is John Huntsman, and I still wouldn't vote for him.

The Republican party has deteriorated into a gang of thugs hell-bent on mindless destruction. They no longer even represent the moderate conservatives who have sense, so far to the right they have strayed.

Whatever you do, don't turn around!!!

I urge Americans to pay attention. Now is not the time to ignore the lunatics. The lunatics are not securely locked away. They are out on the streets and running full speed ahead for the presidency. The American-hating (yes, they hate gays, they hate the poor, and they hate any sane effort to progress in the fields of science, technology, and green energy) Right - Wing are out to get you. They've morphed into the monster under your bed. If you turn out the lights, they'll eat you alive!

How many millionaires does it take to screw in a light bulb over the GOP?

2011-09-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

President Obama gets tough.

All I've heard about today in the news is "Obama's debt plan is Class Warfare!" Of course, this comes from the Republican party who are bleating this phrase over and over again like Chicken Little crying "the sky is falling!"

Much like Chicken Little's message, it's all crap. The sky isn't falling, and Obama is not waging class warfare. If anything, the GOP have been the ones waging war on the middle and lower classes by taxing the heck out of them while doing everything within their power to protect the top 2% from paying their fair share.

Warren Buffet, a millionaire, is behind President Obama's plan to close the tax loopholes. Buffet has even stated that he does not believe it's right or fair that he pays less percentage in taxes than his secretary (who is not a millionaire).

Today, another millionaire (actually, a billionaire) ventured to say that he, too, thinks the rich should pay "a lot of taxes". Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and many other business enterprises, opened his famously big mouth saying in his personal blog "titled "The Most Patriotic Thing You Can Do," the post told readers that wealthy Americans should "do something positive" with their money by hiring, training and paying employees and spending money on rent, equipment and services." (Source: The Huffington Post)

Cuban goes on to say that the rich should enjoy being rich by making more money, spending it (on jobs -- in the U.S.), happy in the knowledge that the more they make, the more taxes they pay, the better it benefits everyone.


John Fleming (R) cries 'foul'.

In response to Obama's debt plan and tough speech where he threatened to veto any bill sent to his desk that only calls for budget cuts to Medicare and Social Security without addressing any tax increases (about time, Obama!), GOP Congressman, John Fleming had the nerve, THE NERVE, to complain that he can't afford a tax hike because after feeding his family, he would only have about $400,000 left! Are you kidding me?

I say to Mr. Fleming, shut the hell up! Poor people can't even hear what you're saying over the rumble in their stomachs.

Honestly, how dare this fool say such a completely asinine thing at this time? In this economy? Unemployment is at a record high. Our government needs revenue as well as budget cuts, and this yahoo has the audacity to complain about his measly nearly half a mil leftover income?

It's comments like this that make it abundantly clear who the GOP are really protecting; themselves.

My question is this; How many millionaires does it take to screw a light bulb in over the heads of the GOP? How many more need to come forwards and say "go ahead, tax me", before the GOP realize they're trying to gallop on a dead horse?

America sees what they are doing, what they're about. It's become a farce to watch them try and spin every proposal the president makes into some sinister piece of Republican propaganda. It's just a comedy of errors at this point. No one is buying it. They can't afford to. Just stop, already.

How the GOP really feel about doing their job

2011-09-12T20:54:00.000-05:00

President Obama gave a powerful jobs speech last Thursday night (September 8, 2011). Public speaking is something he does exceedingly well. He also tries very hard to make good on his promises to the American people which is quite difficult when faced with the unprecedented Republican opposition that we are witnessing in this sitting congress. (American Jobs Act)

There is a lot of good to be had in Obama's jobs proposal. It contains many ideas proposed from the right as well as the left. Like he said in his speech, "This jobs proposal should not be controversial". Yet here we are not even a week later, and guess what? It is!

A senior House Republican had this to say about the president's proposal; "Obama is on the ropes; why do we appear ready to hand him a win?"

Really?

It seems that, as usual, the GOP can't pull their heads out of their asses long enough to wake up to the fact that the "win" they're so worried about handing over isn't to the president, but to every unemployed American. Once again, the GOP are putting party above the needs of the people who hired them to do a job.

Obama had it right when he said "the American people CANNOT afford to wait another 14 months for congress to act."

How succinct. I see it this way. If congress continues to use the unemployment rate and lagging economy as a chess piece for political gain, it is they who should be out of a job come November, 2012. It is the Republican representatives who should find themselves trying to file for unemployment without extensions, without benefits, and without any job opportunities on the horizon.

Since when do the employees tell the employers when and how they will do their job? Congress is not in charge. The American people are. It's time that the EMPLOYERS exercise their 'at will' policy and fire those who are not willing to do the work they were hired to do.

It's important for the American people to know where these GOP candidates stand on positions that affect them as well. Here's a little recap of last week's Republican debate talking points.

Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Perry - All support abolition of the minimum wage (which would allow businesses to underpay employees legally. Think 'sweat shops".)

Ron Paul - Supports de-regulating businesses. He's completely against government mandates of any kind. Here's the reality of that situation. Leaving regulation up to businesses is like letting all the doctors and nurses go so the lunatics can take over the asylum. In a perfect world, it would be nice to know people could be trusted to do the right thing, but in the real world, we know how moronic that idea is. Someone has to be the adult in the room, and that's the role assigned to the federal government. It's also a pretty damn good reason why those in political office should have absolutely no ties, no affiliation whatsoever, with the businesses they they pass laws about. It's a monstrous conflict of interest and is symptomatic of what is wrong with government today.

Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann - Support abolishing Social Security and Medicaid. Rather than fixing the problems that plague these programs, these two candidates would rather dismantle them altogether leaving seniors without any means of support or medical care; and that is support that these seniors have paid into all their working lives! Dismantling the programs amounts to grand larceny when weighing the monetary value of every American's contribution to these programs. How can they justify this?

Michele Bachmann - Supports the dismantling of the Department of Education, saying she believes that states, parents, and the communities they reside in should be responsible for educating our children. America is already at the low end of the totem pole when it comes to our ranking in education. Without a national standard, we'd fall even further. Education is one main area we need to improve upon, not do away with. Of course, just listening to Bachmann fudging her American history facts tells us how little she values learning anything.

Ron Paul - Wants to abolish the TSA. He'd rather leave it up to the airlines to regulate their own security rather than have a government agency overseeing a national standard of safety. Again, this like letting the lunatics run the asylum.

Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann - Do not believe in evolution or science. Perry went so far as to denounce scientific findings on climate change despite empirical evidence to the contrary. The same goes with evolution. Despite evidence of Homo Erectus, Neanderthals, Cro magnon man, Homo Sapiens, etc., Rick Perry just isn't having it, and neither is Bachmann. Their belief is strictly Creationism; that Adam and Eve were created by God in God's perfect image. I say the two categories can co-exist. We have no idea what God's perfect image is, so who's to say it isn't the image of a monkey-man? And who ever said, with factual authenticity, that man was created in God's image? Who came down from heaven and said, "Hey, write this down. It's important."

Either way, there has been no discovery of perfect humans in all these years; only the discovery of men in various stages of evolution. That aside....

Throughout this entire debate, not ONE candidate outlined a jobs plan. All said something or other to the effect that they could 'create jobs' or had a history of jobs creation in their various other positions, but not one had anything concrete to say. The only thing they did say was a repeat of what they always say; "We have to cut the budget, cut taxes." That's how they intend to create jobs...by further taking any kind of funding away, and any kind of possible revenue for the federal government to provide programs designed to help the American people. This is their tired old chant; one that has not worked in the past, and will not work in our future.

The GOP care only about the GOP and their cronies. The American people don't even figure into the equation. It's damn sad, but there's the cold, honest truth.

Are these the people you want running your country?

Spartacus hunk Andy Whitfield dies

2011-09-11T22:22:00.004-05:00

At the young age of 39, actor, Andy Whitfield -- famous for his role as Spartacus on STARZ, passed away Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Reports claim Whitfield passed away from complications of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He was with his wife, Vashti, at his home in Australia when he passed.

This is sad news. As a fan of the show, this breaks my heart. I truly enjoyed Whitfield's portrayal of Spartacus. He was a beautiful man on the outside, and by all accounts, on the inside as well. He'll be truly missed.

Please enjoy these photos and videos of Gladiator Camp and Spartacus Blood and Sand trailer, and let's remember him always as the strong and powerful action hero who brought so much joy and entertainment to his fans. (Pics from Google Images/Video from YouTube)


A beautiful man....

Paul Ryan violates constituent's First Amendment rights

2011-09-10T04:22:00.000-05:00

Rep. Paul Ryan violates constituent's First Amendment rights - M. Gwynn - Open Salon

The First Amendment rights of a Wisconsin constituent were disgustingly violated at a recent Town Hall meeting held by Paul Ryan (R-WI). What's worse is that this tax paying citizen paid to attend this meeting.
The 71-year old retired plumber stood up to protest Ryan's proposed policy of ending Medicare, and was forcefully led away by police, taken to the ground, and handcuffed. Handcuffed!

What I want to know is this; since when is it okay to arrest a person who is protesting in a non-violent manner? Since when did it become okay for Rep. Ryan to even charge constituents to attend a public town hall meeting? How is he getting away with this? He seemed completely unconcerned about this situation and never once stopped talking to listen to what the old man had to say. (See video here)

Ryan has become infamous for his budget proposal to end Social Security and Medicare, and his insistence on not speaking with the very people who either voted for him or are citizens of the state he represents is unacceptable. If he's going to dish it out, he has to have the 'cojones' (as we say in South Texas) to take it, too.

His autocratic ideas affect these people's lives, and he cannot summarily dismiss their requests for an audience or arbitrarily have them arrested for exercising their Constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.

Paul Ryan should be the one arrested for violating these people's rights, and if I were them, I'd pursue that legal avenue.

I'd also advise this; with people's livelihoods on the line, Wisconsin cannot wait for the next election to oust this dictator-in-the-making. They need to recall Paul Ryan now.

Unless, of course, Wisconsin enjoys having more of their rights stripped away. I mean, they've already lost collective bargaining rights. If the Republican party has their way, everyone in all 50 states will lose not only the very regulations that protect them from those who would take advantage (like the minimum wage mandate), but they'll also lose any legal avenue of protest over that abuse.

It's time to wake up, America. The Paul Ryans of this nation are out to push you further down into the dirt while they rise up on the backs of the fallen.

What's it going to be? A mouth full of dirt, or a megaphone; shouting from the rooftops, "no more!"?

The Cat comments on recent GOP activity (or lack, thereof)

2011-09-08T04:51:00.000-05:00

I post some blazing comments on my Facebook page about the absolute crap going on in America and the perpetrators (the usual suspects), the GOP. I always seem to have a lot to say there, but by the time I roll over here to my blog, I'm just spent, ya know? Well. I've come up with a solution...to share my commentary from Facebook with your fine folks along with links to the articles/news that inspire my fur to fly!

Hope you're sitting down, because I've been on a rant.

Topic: Washington insiders reveal their true colors/view that Americans 'don't matter'.

"Really can't argue the point...because whether it's the right or the left...this is what we get....because 'the ones who don't matter' don't speak out, don't do anything..like vote these assholes out of office. That's the first and best step. Get rid of those whose interests are for self and corporations."

Larry Summers: A revealing outbreak of candor

www.salon.com

Political and financial Masters of the Universe make it clear who "matters" -- and it's not the American people

Topic: The GOP Debate and the sparring contest between Romney and Perry

"You gotta love the facts! Just proves you shouldn't accept everything people say, even if they say it with conviction....bunch of lying polititards!" ( I invented a new word just for ya'll)

Perry, Romney twist records in debate

www.msnbc.msn.com

When Mitt Romney and Rick Perry thumped their chests over their job-creation records as governor during the Republican presidential debate Wednesday night, they left the bad parts out.

Topic: Welfare term limits in Michigan

"I don't have a problem with this bill, itself, but with its timing. Republicans should be focusing on job creation before yanking the safety net out from under people. This is just sad and sorry...when there are no jobs to be had, especially in Detroit right now, what are these people supposed to do? The GOP are the most ass-backwards individuals...just stupid. Something like this should come when the economy and jobs are on the rise...not when there are none to be had."

Mich. governor signs 48-month welfare limit

www.msnbc.msn.com

Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed into law a stricter, four-year lifetime limit on cash welfare benefits, prompting advocates for the poor to warn that tens of thousands of residents will find themselves without cash assistance on Oct. 1.

Topic: Article stating Gov. Perry asked for disaster status from Obama admin, but was refused, initially.

"It's called protecting civilians. There isn't any insurance protection for non-firefighters and both the state, and the federal government have to protect not only these good-hearted volunteers, but also themselves in these situations. Untrained persons would only get in the way and cause needless delays for those who are trained to do the job. Also, Gov. Perry cut funding to the Texas Forestry Service severely this past year making their job that much harder to do. In addition, Texas actually has the funds necessary to take care of this disaster without federal aid (in the rainy day fund), but Perry won't release it. Instead, he'd rather put his hand out to FEMA (who will be paying approximately 75% of the costs to fight these wild fires), all the while bitching out the other side of his mouth about federal spending and bailouts. This is the same Perry who wouldn't use the rainy day funds to cover the massive Texas budget short-fall for 2010-11 and 2012-13. But he seemed happy enough to quietly accept federal money to cover that problem, too. And, up until these wildfires began a few days ago, Texas was NOT in a state of emergency, negating any need for the federal government to declare Texas as such. You don't have to like the current White House administration to gather facts. The states recently hit by hurricane Irene were only declared emergent right before the storm hit land. No one can predict wildfires on a weather map, so unless one occurs, one cannot predict when and where they will happen. I'm seeing only one side of the argument in this article."

After repeated requests for Obama help with Texas fires, locals see controversy

www.examiner.com

During Governor Rick Perry’s proclamations earlier this year, declaring parts of Texas as official disaster areas to set in motion requests fo

Topic: Texas' Gov. Perry and his budget cuts...how they hurt the hell out of Texas.

"Ain't that a bitch...Texas has the funds necessary to cover the budget short-fall (the one Perry accepted FED funds to cover), and pay for the cost of fighting the devastating wild fires, but won't touch the 6.2 Bil 'Rainy Day' fund. He'll accept FED money from FEMA instead, while bitching about fed expenditures..Hey Rick Perry, shouldn't a 'Rainy Day' fund be used to put out fires caused by no rainy days???? Idiot"

Perry's stand against spending meant significant cuts to Forest Service

blog.chron.com

Cash-strapped state lawmakers – led by Gov. Rick Perry’s stand against raising taxes or dipping too deeply into the state rainy day fund – cut appropriations for the Texas Forest Service even as they had to dig for more money to meet its existing expenses.

After tonight's GOP debate (which I'll get to tomorrow...hey, it's the wee hours of the morning and I'm tired, alright?), all I can say is this. The rhetoric of the GOP has NOT changed. It's the same tired-assed dogma they've been spewing all along. One of the candidates said (about Obama's planned speech for Thursday night concerning jobs) "he's just offering the same failed plans that he's offered up in the past". I put this to you, Mr. GOP candidate....how can you refer to Obama's jobs proposals as 'failures" when your party refused to even CONSIDER implementing them? How?

It makes no sense when the GOP doesn't have any kind of jobs-creating strategy except to "increase tax cuts for the rich". That's the same bullshit policy that's been in place since G.W. Bush was in office and it hasn't worked!!! It's also the same bullshit policy Ronald Reagan started cranking out in the 80's, along with mucho spending, (just like Bush Jr.), and it led to a recession. Big surprise, Bush Jr.'s corporate tax cuts and lavish spending have led us to....wait for it....a recession! Wow!

And here our current president wants to do the OPPOSITE of that, and you dumbasses call that a 'failed policy'? How so? It's like trying to reason with drunken frat boys, talking to anyone of these Republicans. They will stubbornly cling to their small-minded, selfish, self-interested beliefs no matter how many facts or figures are put before them.

You can't argue with drunks or lunatics...that's just an exhausting and unrewarding pursuit. However, you can lock up drunks, and commit lunatics. I'm for that!

Final thought to ponder: This current congress has enacted nearly 3 times less legislation than any other sitting congress. That's how little work they are doing. My question is this; why the hell do we continue to pay these lazy, uncooperative children? Why do they get a great salary, benefits, health care, paid vacation, and perks for doing fuck-all, while the rest of America struggles to find jobs and keep their homes? Why haven't we fired them all?

Think on that....until we meet here again. And I'm expecting answers, dammit!

What the Republican party wants for Christmas 2012

2011-09-06T03:03:00.000-05:00

If all you want for Christmas, in any year, is two front teeth, better not vote for the Republican ticket. Why? Because they could care less if you have two front teeth. In fact, they want to abolish every program that might help you achieve the goal of getting two new front teeth!


The current state of our government....

It started with their lunatic attack on Planned Parenthood. The GOP and Tea Partiers said they don't want federal money (or state money) funding abortions. What these idiots didn't say, (or maybe they didn't know) is that there is already a law in place that disallows use of federal money for abortions via Planned Parenthood or any other free women's clinics receiving federal funds. But that was their excuse; part of the propaganda they spread to help further their personal moral agenda of ending ANY assistance for women for cancer screenings, check ups, and birth control. (The GOP really do idealize the 1950s).

Next, they're taking on Medicaid at the state level through the Republican governors like 2012 presidential candidate, Rick Perry, who signed into a law a piece of personal morality-laden trash requiring all women who opt for an abortion to first have a vaginal sonogram where she MUST hear the heartbeat and be told the exact size of the fetus (arms, legs, and internal organs) by the physician. This is Perry's attempt to shame women into changing their minds, to make them face the reality of their decision. What Perry doesn't realize is that every woman who ever chooses to abort, already knows the reality of what she's doing, is probably sick about it, but for reasons of her own, has chosen not bring that child into the world. And it's her body. She doesn't need further shame heaped upon her. What if the woman in question is a rape victim? What if she's dirt poor and can't even take care of herself? What if there is endangerment to her own life if she carries full term? Should she then still be subjected to such emotional blackmail and shame?

Of course not! And a federal judge in Texas felt the same way. Provisions of the Sonogram law requiring that a patient MUST hear the heartbeat and other information regarding the size, etc, of the fetus were struck down as unconstitutional; a violation of the First Amendment and free speech rights of both the doctor and the patient.

Of course, Right to Lifers are appealing this to a higher court, but unconstitutional is unconstitutional. There's no getting around that no matter how loudly one shouts about personal morals and religion.

On to the subject of education. Recently, the third leg in the triumvirate for GOP presidential pick, Michele Bachmann, made quite a horrifying statement regarding how the federal government could save money; by demolishing the Department of Education! She would rather see individual states and communities be responsible for education rather than having Americans educated by a national standard. Could you just imagine the regression and chaos, the very destruction of our educational system under the guidance of this moronic woman? The U.S. is already listed far below too many other countries in the arena of education. Bachmann would have us fall further back! Well, it doesn't surprise me when you consider where she earned her law degree; from Tulsa's Oral Roberts University in 1986 (a school not unfamiliar with scandal) and a Master of Law degree in tax law from the College of William and Mary in 1988 (a degree one cannot earn at William and Mary) (Lies about, and told by Michele Bachmann)

We all have seen and heard for ourselves how Bachmann skews her personal history, and history in general, getting facts wrong time and again. The worst part is that she sticks by her words no matter how blatantly wrong they are. It's amazing. She makes Sarah Palin look like Albert Einstein!

Then there is Mitt Romney, known as 'the flip-flop". Romney can't seem to stick to one side of any issue which means he'd be a puppet for stronger personalities (by stronger, I mean corporations with lots of money to donate, contribute, or just hand over). Romney claims to be some sort of wizard in the field of jobs creations, saying that's what he's been doing all his life. The reality is, Mitt buys companies in trouble, and tears them apart for resale. It's much like the character played by Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. Gere's company bought other companies and sold them off for parts, basically. Only in the movie, Gere realizes he isn't accomplishing anything, "We don't MAKE anything", he says; and he's right. Somehow, I don't think even a pretty hooker could make Romney have that sort of epiphany.

The rest of the wild pack of dogs running for the GOP nod aren't even worth mentioning. It only gets worse after these three.

The Republican party isn't trying to help create an environment for job growth. They're doing everything in their power...to return to power, and that's it. They don't care about protecting the environment. They simply want to tear it up so their Big Oil cronies can make more money. They could care less about advancing American in the fields of technology and science where we could be the leaders on green energy and efficient modernization of our infrastructure. No sir. They can't see the benefits of doing this (although it would make more money in the long run for the companies that have such vision). They don't understand that once our environment is destroyed, it's just plain gone! They don't concern themselves with those who cannot care for themselves, have invested all their lives into a social security program that they would like to toss out like garbage after government has raided those coffers for decades. Nope.

The GOP want an elitist society run by the haves, and can't be bothered with looking at the bottom of their shoes to the fate of the have-nots.

A vote for any Republican from this generation is vote against everyones best interests. I'd say, "go ahead and vote for one of these yahoos so you can see for yourself", but the stakes are too high. Such an attitude would ultimately affect me, too, and so it is with great urgency that I encourage one and all to educate yourself on all these issues....before Bachmann has her way, killing the Department of Education.. and you'll be forced to educate yourself and your children on your own.

One Pissed Wet Cat

Big Money seeks to undermine the will of the people -- Again!

John McCain tweets Putin but the joke is on him

$0.99 eBook downloads from me to you!

Free Download of Harvest by Michele Gwynn on Amazon

Sexy, Silky-Smooth Skin in Winter! - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Good BBQ gone up in flames begins reconstruction

Congressional Term Limits Petition

"The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer" available in time for Christmas

NYPD Midnight Military-style Raid on OWS Protesters in Zuccotti Park Ends in Injuries and Arrests

Tea Partiers as stupid criminals and GOP family values conflict with punishment of Eve

The Misogynist Behind the Businessman Revealed

GOP denies conspiracy to rig elections; I say BS - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

Showtime's Gigolo Nick Hawk gets raw with San Antonio's Sex and Relationships columnist Michele Gwynn

Texas Bighorn Society's connection to Perry campaign donations - National animal rights | Examiner.com

Texas Congressman Lamar Smith wants to outlaw 'talking' about drugs

Wanna kill food cravings on the cheap? Take Zinc!

A True 'Jobs Creator' dead at 56

Jesus was a Liberal

Jesus said 'feed the poor' which smacks of welfare;

HE said "Heal the sick"...(What? For free?);

"Turn the other cheek" (Darn it, JC, didn't you hear the crowd applaud executions in Texas?);

Tea Partiers would demand a birth certificate after finding out Jesus wasn't born in America!

Old Republicans would decide they don't want a Jew for president...plus..he's a carpenter! Doesn't that make HIM pro-Union?

A few of my own observations.

His hair is too long; evidence that Jesus is a rebel hippie.

He forgives, rather than publicizes, people's sins.

He's a huge animal advocate.

He encourages reading, living a frugal lifestyle, working hard, and being honest; obviously he's anti-corporation!

He accepts anyone who comes to him with an open heart. (There goes that wall on the border!)

He says 'judge not, lest ye be judged!" Well, there goes another GOP hopeful down the drain! Where's that tubby Repubby, Chris Christie? Dangle a hamburger in front of him and get him to the next debate 'cuz this Mexican dude, Jesus, just isn't working out!

Yet, He is in every campaign speech. I'm surprised they haven't realized just how liberal Jesus was. Maybe they need to sit down and read that good book again?

More from this author that isn't the least bit political!

The Fickle Right Wing and Their Inability to Commit - Michele Gwynn - Open Salon

Who needs al Qaeda? Americans already have the GOP!

How many millionaires does it take to screw in a light bulb over the GOP?

How the GOP really feel about doing their job

Spartacus hunk Andy Whitfield dies

Paul Ryan violates constituent's First Amendment rights

The Cat comments on recent GOP activity (or lack, thereof)

"You gotta love the facts! Just proves you shouldn't accept everything people say, even if they say it with conviction....bunch of lying polititards!" ( I invented a new word just for ya'll)

What the Republican party wants for Christmas 2012