The Cranky Bastard

What ever happened to the FCC? Pay Phones and Bullshit

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:39:00 +0000

So the other day the Cranky Bastard started at a new job. Is not a bad one, pays well, workload is relatively light for the moment, will let me take off my 2 weeks in july/august., so all is good MOSTLY.

See the problem came up when trying to go home. Because I am currently a brokeass bastard, I have been regulating my gas usage to absolute minimum. Usually no huhu as I don't go anywhere anyway. Well I went to work, and my gas was low, but had enough if all went well to get me there and home again. RIGHT!

Now as some of you already know I dislike the way North Carolina marks it roads. In short they DON'T. So I got lost trying to find my way to this new job. Lost by about an hour on North Carolina roads. It is akin to the cloverleaf from hell only even THOSE has exits!So I get to work late, start new position and all is just ducky. Till the end of the day. I get on the road and after about 6 miles I get the put gas in me NOW bastard! light. The dreaded low fuel warning.So I dont panic yet, and pull into a parking lot. I figure I will call a friend, have them paypal me 5 bucks and im gold right?

WRONG!!!!!

I find I have a handful of quarters, no huhu, I will go make a call (I do not at this time have a cellphone, sue me). I mean a phone call only is a quarter right?

WRONG!!!!!

I FINALLY find a working phone and am shellshocked. The phone call costs FIFTY CENTS!! WTF!?! OK still no panic, I can get a hold of SOMEONE right?!

WRONG!!!!!

I try for almost FOUR HOURS to get someone, with no luck. Left a lot of voicemail. So now I am out of quarters. I start to sweat a bit. But WAIT! I can make a collect phone call right!?!

WRONG!!!!!

When I dial the operator and try to make a call, I get a hispanic operator who is NOT with AT&T but a another outfit who kindly tells me I CAN'T Make a collect call! WTF!?! So I Invoke the stranded motorist clause, NO cant do it. In short it came down to if you don't have cash you cant make a call! So If I have an emergency (which I did) and was out of cash (which I was) I had NO WAY of contacting help EVEN THOUGH I had a working payphone right there! Now please oh assembled readers tell me where the problem here is! If I remember correctly the FCC orignally had it so you could make a collect call to anywhere from anywhere on a payphone. When did this change? Or was this little piddling phone company who is catering to the immigrant population in the wrong? I really want to know, because if it comes down to you cannot even make a emergency call anymore there is a problem!

s 1033 secure america and orderly immigration act OR Lets make em legal so we can keep em for nothing!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Fri, 18 May 2007 04:15:00 +0000

Today while listening to Michael Savage I found out about a bill that has been passed that would basiclly give illegal immigrants amnesty, as long as they pay a fine and promise to be good from here on in. The bill I am talking about is:

GovTrack.us. S. 1033--109th Congress (2005): Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation)

This bill seriously irritates me. These people are here illegally, taking work from those who are born here or immigrated legally, hoping for a better life, working for less wages and instead of working with our economy by putting those wages back into it, they send it back to their home countries to benefit there, thereby lowering the standard here for all. These people by and large have refused to learn english (to the point now that everything is written in both spanish and english, if I remember history right, the first colonists were ENGLISH and spoke it), refused to integrate with American society as a whole and laugh at us, thinking we are jackasses and they are sliding! And NOW our government in its infinite wisdom has decided to legitimize it! I guess they want to keep their maids and houseboys on the cheap.

Here are some of the highlights of the bill which made my nose wrinkle in disgust:

The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a probationary "Z visa" and — after paying fees and fines of up to $5,000 and returning to their home countries — ultimately try for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. The process couldn't begin until border security improvements and a high-tech worker identification program were completed

Yeah right I am going to come forward, state i'm an illegal, pay 5 grand and go home, Yeah like THAT'S gonna happen!

This is a ridiculous bill people! People born here in the US are striving to find jobs, even low paid ones and we are going to just say TOUGH?!? "I'm going to give the job to Manuel over there cause he'll work cheaper and I don't have to document him. Sorry Joe" That really says something about our government people, that they'll create legislation because they can't have "A Day Without a Mexican" and dont want to help build our own economy.

I have a better way for these 2.2 million unregistered aliens to get citzenship and stay here. This idea is not originally mine but by science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein in his book "Starship Troopers" and expanded on some by me. You want citizenship? Join the military. You have sign on for a 8 year tour, all pay goes into a America based account and cannot be withdrawn except for basic needs beyond what the military provides (which means NONE can be sent home unless it is in America to a documented citizen). Your training will be include english as a first language, american history, ethics, civics and economy. It will also include American law. If you cannot do 8 years as an American soldier you are free to opt out any time you wish BUT You will not attain citizenship, and you will be shipped back to your country. If you are caught on American soil again illegally, you will be shot. You couldn't serve, you opted out, you lost the right to be here.

As always I will have a shirt or button on this to show you agree at my Cafepress Store

Family finds son's killer working when supposed to be institutionalized

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Thu, 03 May 2007 00:24:00 +0000

A family finds the killer of their son, who was judged to be criminally insane and institutionalized, is working at a convenience store on a work release from the institution

read more | digg story

The jackass did it!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:27:00 +0000

As reported HERE President Bush vetoed a war funding bill because it contained a timetable to bring our troops home.Citing:

I look forward to working with members of both parties to get a bill that doesn't set artificial timetables and doesn't micromanage and gets the money to our troops," he said Monday during an appearance with European Union leaders. "I believe there's a lot of Democrats that understand that we need to get the money to the troops as soon as possible."

It WOULDN'T be an artificial timetable if you stuck to it jackass! And stating "micromanagement" is another way of saying Wah wah wah I cant get my way! Congress is watching me! WAH! If you signed the damm bill with the stipulations in it we would have a working course as to when our troops would be coming home, how we would fund them up to the withdrawal and YOU would understand this personal Vietnam you have created would be over! It's NOT about you jackass its about those men and women fighting a war that should have been over MONTHS ago! It has now not become so much about fighting terrorists abroad but how you are going to save face for dragging your ass and keeping our troops there. There are only so many times you can say "We WILL win the war on terror" and be believed. Right now your believability scale with me is at about -50 bucko. Bring them home Dubya, this is a fight we cannot win because it is no longer our fight! Let them duke it out on their own and we'll aid the survivors if they aren't militant islamists. Your gone in a year and somebody else will need to clean your mess. Why not start sweeping now and at least give them a chance to bring things around? You won't as your a self centered jackass and nowhere near as capapble as your dad was. But it is a thought.

This whole Veto fiasco has got me so steamed up I am becoming one of those who feel Dubya should be impeached. His disregard to what the american public wants, his total disregard for congress and his self centered hopes with this war to make the history books, make him no better than the leader he deposed to start this all off. To show my feelings on this I have made a Bumper Sticker staring what should be done. here is a pic of it:

Kill people, be found insane, go to work

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:49:00 +0000

So I am reading one of the local newspapers and this articles attracts my WTF!? attention. The article can be found HERE

R.B. "Nick" Nicholson learned only recently that the mental patient who killed his son and three others is working 50 hours a week at a Wake County convenience store.

His son's killer, Michael Hayes, was acquitted by reason of insanity in the shooting spree at a rural Forsyth County crossroads in 1988. Hayes, 43, has lived at Dorothea Dix mental hospital in Raleigh since then and been deemed too mentally ill or too dangerous to be released.

Because Hayes was sent to a mental hospital, the victims' families weren't entitled to information about Hayes that they would have received if he had been convicted and sent to prison. Nicholson and his wife, Doris, represent a rare class of victim and employed a rare technique to monitor their son's killer: They used a $2 million judgment they won against Hayes in 1990 to summon him back to court two weeks ago to answer their questions.

Hayes' job off hospital grounds disgusts Nicholson and his wife, Doris, who have been married 52 years. "It's the most horrible thing there is. He has no business out working," Doris Nicholson said at their home last week.

Their son, Thomas, was a former high school student body president who was working as a mechanic and engaged to be married when he was killed. Hayes said that during the shooting spree he thought he was killing demons in human bodies. Nick Nicholson describes the acquittal as that "stupid jury decision" and "the unfortunate outcome."

Six of the 31 current Dix patients who were found not guilty by reason of insanity are in the off-campus work program, said Dr. Jim Osberg, the hospital's director. "Our goal in the hospital is to help people return to the community when it's appropriate," Osberg said. He added that learning how to hold a job is part of that transition.

Hayes has a right to privacy; Dix officials cannot even acknowledge Hayes is a patient.

As Hayes' attorney, Karl Knudsen of Raleigh, explained: Hayes is at the hospital for treatment. Once his treatment is complete, he will be released. "It's certainly understandable that those people would want to know everything about him but they have no legal right," Knudsen said.

Hayes, through Knudsen, declined a request for an interview.

In 17 years, the Nicholsons have collected only $600 from Hayes by having Wake deputies seize a television, VCR and other items from his hospital room and selling those items.

"We just did it to rattle his cage," Nick Nicholson said.

Two weeks ago, the Nicholsons' attorney deposed Hayes under the auspices of trying to find ways to collect the judgment. Nicholson said Hayes had to answer questions about bank accounts (none), his weekly salary ($455) and whether he donates money to churches (three).

Nicholson concedes the couple has no hope of collecting millions from Hayes, just information.

"That's the way we have put the civil judgment to good use," he said.

Knudsen thinks the Nicholsons aren't just seeking information. "It is, in my opinion, a vehicle to obtain information that otherwise would not be obtainable and as a way to exact whatever retribution is available to them," he said.

It is a tool the Nicholsons will have for only three more years when the judgment expires and is no longer renewable. After that, they will be able to get information if Hayes requests a hearing at which he can argue for his release from Dix.

Victims' relatives were able to hear about his treatment and privileges at such hearings until 2001, when he quit asking for them.

Nick Nicholson said he found out within the past year that Hayes was working off campus because a friend spotted him going to work. Nicholson initiated the most recent litigation to find out more details about Hayes' job. In response to a questionnaire, Nicholson said, Hayes said he worked at the Han-Dee Hugo's on Ten Ten Road.

Haddon Clark, who owns the store, said Hayes was already an employee there when he bought it last summer and learned about Hayes' past from the previous owner. "We found him to be an exemplary employee," Clark said. "I did not know the families didn't know that he was out doing work. That's news to us."

Patients earn the privilege of working off campus by performing well in supervised and unsupervised activities on- and off-campus, according to Dr. Mark Hazelrigg, who oversees the forensic treatment program. Such patients are not approved for unsupervised activities without court authority -- either by a judge or the district attorney, according to Hazelrigg and Knudsen. Those court orders are not public record, Knudsen said.

Knudsen said Hayes stopped having hallucinations shortly after the killings and has not taken psychiatric medications since 1988. At the last hearing, Knudsen said, six mental health professionals believed Hayes was no longer ill. The trial judge and appeals court ruled otherwise. Since then, Knudsen said, Hayes has focused on demonstrating that he neither suffers from mental illness nor represents any danger to the community.

Knudsen said his client has suffered by living the past 19 years in a mental hospital.

"It has been particularly difficult for Michael because he has been a sane man living in an insane asylum for years and years and years," he said. "That is punishment."

So let me see if I have this right, this person flips out, starts killing people thinking they are demons in human bodies (WTF???). He then gets arrested for said killings. OK I don't see a problem there, one more psychotic off the streets. He then goes to trial for the killings and is judged to be too insane to go to jail (WTF??). So they then put him into a asylum as he is deemed too unstable to be with the public at large. OK I can agree with that (after all he did think demons were hiding in human bodies). He is deemed too dangerous to be let loose. Because he is deemed too mentally unstable, the victims family cannot find out that he is being let out on work release to a convenience store (WTF??). It seems the way the system works on this the hospital cannot say if this guy is even a patient there due to his right to privacy!

This is the part I love best about this little fiasco!:

As Hayes' attorney, Karl Knudsen of Raleigh, explained: Hayes is at the hospital for treatment. Once his treatment is complete, he will be released. "It's certainly understandable that those people would want to know everything about him but they have no legal right," Knudsen said

THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT to know the person who killed their son and they have won a judgement against is out and working instead of receiving treatment in a mental institution!!!!!!! So he is earning money, working, and in short laughing at the system! That money should be going to the victims family as they won a 2 million dollar lawsuit against him. Instead that money is being donated to churches! UMMMMMMM...............how about NO!!! That money should be going to the victim's family! Actually there shouldn't be any money AT ALL as this person should not be out working in a convenience store! He should be safely tucked away at the asylum receiving treatment and away from society as a whole! The man killed people, and was judged too dangerous to be released. So what does the state do? Gives him work Release! You tell me is this idiotic or what?

As usual I will be making a shirt for this over at my Cafepress Webstore

A Ham Steak is NOT A Hate Crime!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cranky Bastard) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:58:00 +0000

A friend of mine posted this story to me via email, and later I heard it being discussed on a talk radio show. This is what inspired me to create the cranky bastard blog. This is so ridiculous I had to post and comment on it! This article is by reporter Bonnie Washuk , Staff Writer of the Sun Journal and the article can be viewed Here

LEWISTON - One student has been suspended and more disciplinary action could follow a possible hate crime at Lewiston Middle School, Superintendent Leon Levesque said Wednesday.

On April 11, a white student placed a ham steak in a bag on a lunch table where Somali students were eating. Muslims consider pork unclean and offensive.

The act reminded students of a man who threw a pig's head into a Lewiston mosque last summer.

The school incident is being treated seriously as "a hate incident," Levesque said. Lewiston police are investigating, and the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence is working with the school to create a response plan.

"We've got some work to do to turn this around and bring the school community back together again," Levesque said.

Placing ham where Muslim students were eating was "an awful thing," said Stephen Wessler, executive director of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence. "It's extraordinarily hurtful and degrading" to Muslims, whose religion prohibits them from being around ham. It's important to respond swiftly, Wessler said.

"Incidents like this that involve degrading language or conduct are often said by the perpetrator as a joke. I know that conduct is never static," he said. "It's part of a process of escalation."

If people think insulting Muslims with ham is OK, "More degrading acts will follow, until at some point we'll end up having violence," Wessler said.

The incident does not reflect the moral values of the school staff and students, Levesque said. "We need to take a look at this and review how a careless act is degrading and causes hurt to other people. All our students should feel welcome and safe in our schools."

He said a letter would be sent home to parents explaining what happened and outlining the school's response. Wessler will meet with students to address the school's climate, and staff will talk about how to respond to and prevent future hate incidents

'I didn't feel safe'

A 14-year-old Somali boy, whose mother asked that his name not be published, said he was eating lunch with four other Somali students on April 11. He noticed many others in the cafeteria "standing up, looking at us."

One boy came near, began laughing and threw a bag on the table while other students laughed and said, 'Good job.'"

"We didn't know what was in this bag," the boy said. "One of my friends reached inside it. It was a big ham steak. There were five of us at the table, all Somali. It was intended for us."

The boy said he looked up at students he thought were his friends. "I felt angered, offended."

He suddenly felt like he was alone. "At the school the next day, I didn't feel safe. I felt like everybody was against me. Before I felt like I fit in, and everything was normal."

He began to think white students didn't like him, and the act was their way of letting him know.

On Thursday, several students came up to him and said, "Those guys who did it were jerks. I apologize for them, and I hope you feel better."

The boy said they did make him feel better. "But for the rest of my life when I remember middle school, this will pop up right away."

He spoke out because he wants the community to know what happened, "that there is something like this going on in our schools."

Wessler and Levesque said the act happened the day before April vacation began, which prevented educators from gathering information.

"This is not done," Wessler said.

Now the way this whole incident has been blown up is blatantly ridiculous! If they are that offended that easily then they really need to develop a sterner hide. It is a HAM STEAK people! And it was placed on the table! If anything it was a typical middle school prank. Malicious? Yes to a degree. A hate crime? NO! If said students walked up to the Somali students and then proceeded to ram the ham steak down their throats THEN it would be a hate crime!Calling in police over a HAM STEAK!?! The Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence?!? Give me a freaking break! Give the kids responsible detention and maybe bring both sides together for discussion as to they whys and wherefores as to why it was wrong but the POLICE? The CENTER PREVENTION OF HATE VIOLENCE? Over a ham steak placed on a table???!!!! That is over the top! What's next? No more ham sandwiches at the school? Delis not being allowed to sell ham salad ? A complete ban of IHOP sausage and pancake specials? Saying this will lead to violence? It was a prank people! The kids need to deal that they screwed up and make amends and it is done, there is no need to bring in police and hate crime units over a ham steak unless it is already escalated to violence. People GROW UP AND TAKE ACCOUNT FOR YOURSELVES! If it offends you either A) Walk away, don't look ,whatever from it or B) Tell the offending party it offends you and why and work it out between yourselves!

Now then to commemorate this first post of The Cranky Bastard, I went over to the people at Cafepress and made some shirts about it, This way if you feel as I do you can say so to everyone! The url for said shirts is Here