I'm on a roll now!
I don't know about you, but tax time isn't my favorite time of the year. It really drives home the notion that the world is full of self-serving bastards. Let me give you an example. As I filled out my federal income taxes using H&R Block's TaxCut, the program was conducting its interview to "find" deductions for me. I use the term "find" loosely here. Anyway, it asked me if I was a first-time home buyer in Washington D.C., because if I was, then I would get a special tax credit. So I took about, oh, I'd say...three seconds to ponder exactly who this little credit is for. Yessiree, if you just got elected to congress or took a job working in Washington D.C. and bought a primary residence, well then I guess you just deserve a tax break. The rest of you, the ones that foot the bill, you're just S.O.L.
Okay, here's another thing. We have lowered the standard in this country so far that nobody is held accountable for anything. It's the "American Way" to rip off consumers in every way possible. For instance, DirecTV. I pay about $100 a month for a subscription to DirecTV. This includes regular programming, NFL Sunday Ticket, NASCAR Hotpass, HD channels, HBO & Starz and probably other stuff. Now, I'm not complaining about content. Don't get me wrong, I understand the content of the shows I purchase. What royally pisses me off is when the premium service that I pay for DOESN'T WORK! On any given day, probably about eight or ten of the HD channels I pay EXTRA for can't be received. Today, I couldn't watch NASCAR Hotpass on HD because it wouldn't work. But you can bet your ass that I had to pay for it! I could either watch it on the standard definition channels which look like crap on a big screen or not watch it at all. I chose to not watch it at all.
Computer programs are another good example of the unadulterated crap we get shoved down our throats. When was the last time you bought a computer program and it worked correctly? Probably never. Computer programmers have a tendancy to release bug infested lame-ass work that craps out on you everytime you use it. But it isn't their fault...it's the user's because the user is expected to be able to troubleshoot or work around the bugs the greedy bastard programmer couldn't solve. You see, the programmer has to get his goods out there before they are ready so he'll maximize his profit. Also, they like planned obsolesence. They love to make sure you have to constantly upgrade your software so you can get maximum performance! This is how they fix old screw-ups and introduce new ones.
We've been screwed so many times, we not only expect it, we accept it. We need to do something about this. I propose to speak up more. That's pretty simple, but you know what? I don't think that the greedy bastards that depend on ripping us off for their livelyhood have the guts to stand up to us. I am going to proclaim that March 10th through 16th is "SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF" week. You're going to need your cell phone and camera. When you know you're getting the dirty end of the stick, let them know about it. When somebody at work isn't carrying their weight, call attention to it. When someone is being abusive, especially if it's to a kid or an animal, take their picture and send it to the news. When you get passed by some fool on the freeway going 100 mph and they have a "How's my driving?" sign and phone number, call the number! When you get a telemarketer calling you at home even though you are on the DO NOT CALL list, chew them up one side and down the other. I don't care if the person actually calling is "just trying to make a living." I say if more people wouldn't "just try to make a living" doing something they know damn well is annoying and/or illegal the telemarketers would go away. I promise you, this week I'm going to give everyone exactly what they deserve. Whether it's a pat on the back or a kick in the pants. I will deliver!
And one other thing...hopefully you didn't see the "Marine Throwing Puppy Over Cliff" video. In the chance that you did, I know you agree with me when I say that under no circumstances, whether real or a hoax, is this acceptable behavior by a U.S. Marine. Every government employee has the responsibility to answer for their actions to the American public. That includes military. To read the article go to Marine Corps Times. I'm sure the two Marines shown in the video are exceptions and not the rule however knowing that for sure will be the responsibility of the U.S. Marine Corps. I sincerely pray that the Corps has the guts to handle it properly and advise the American people how it has been concluded.
Okay, here's another thing. We have lowered the standard in this country so far that nobody is held accountable for anything. It's the "American Way" to rip off consumers in every way possible. For instance, DirecTV. I pay about $100 a month for a subscription to DirecTV. This includes regular programming, NFL Sunday Ticket, NASCAR Hotpass, HD channels, HBO & Starz and probably other stuff. Now, I'm not complaining about content. Don't get me wrong, I understand the content of the shows I purchase. What royally pisses me off is when the premium service that I pay for DOESN'T WORK! On any given day, probably about eight or ten of the HD channels I pay EXTRA for can't be received. Today, I couldn't watch NASCAR Hotpass on HD because it wouldn't work. But you can bet your ass that I had to pay for it! I could either watch it on the standard definition channels which look like crap on a big screen or not watch it at all. I chose to not watch it at all.
Computer programs are another good example of the unadulterated crap we get shoved down our throats. When was the last time you bought a computer program and it worked correctly? Probably never. Computer programmers have a tendancy to release bug infested lame-ass work that craps out on you everytime you use it. But it isn't their fault...it's the user's because the user is expected to be able to troubleshoot or work around the bugs the greedy bastard programmer couldn't solve. You see, the programmer has to get his goods out there before they are ready so he'll maximize his profit. Also, they like planned obsolesence. They love to make sure you have to constantly upgrade your software so you can get maximum performance! This is how they fix old screw-ups and introduce new ones.
We've been screwed so many times, we not only expect it, we accept it. We need to do something about this. I propose to speak up more. That's pretty simple, but you know what? I don't think that the greedy bastards that depend on ripping us off for their livelyhood have the guts to stand up to us. I am going to proclaim that March 10th through 16th is "SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF" week. You're going to need your cell phone and camera. When you know you're getting the dirty end of the stick, let them know about it. When somebody at work isn't carrying their weight, call attention to it. When someone is being abusive, especially if it's to a kid or an animal, take their picture and send it to the news. When you get passed by some fool on the freeway going 100 mph and they have a "How's my driving?" sign and phone number, call the number! When you get a telemarketer calling you at home even though you are on the DO NOT CALL list, chew them up one side and down the other. I don't care if the person actually calling is "just trying to make a living." I say if more people wouldn't "just try to make a living" doing something they know damn well is annoying and/or illegal the telemarketers would go away. I promise you, this week I'm going to give everyone exactly what they deserve. Whether it's a pat on the back or a kick in the pants. I will deliver!
And one other thing...hopefully you didn't see the "Marine Throwing Puppy Over Cliff" video. In the chance that you did, I know you agree with me when I say that under no circumstances, whether real or a hoax, is this acceptable behavior by a U.S. Marine. Every government employee has the responsibility to answer for their actions to the American public. That includes military. To read the article go to Marine Corps Times. I'm sure the two Marines shown in the video are exceptions and not the rule however knowing that for sure will be the responsibility of the U.S. Marine Corps. I sincerely pray that the Corps has the guts to handle it properly and advise the American people how it has been concluded.
You want to hear about a "low standard?" We ordered a pay per view on Dish for the children over the weekend. "The Justice League" starring Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, etc., etc. We thought this would be a good thing because if you can't trust The Justice League, who the heck can you trust? Safe enough, right? Wrong!!! They were working on their second viewing - you know how kids like to watch something new over and over - when I caught a profanity floating through the air. My ears, being something akin to an Arctic Fox's, immediately threw my brain into CAM (Cussing Alert Mode) and I ran into the living room to see if they had changed channels. Nope. I grabbed the remote and hit the reverse button. There was Lois Lane having a heated discussion with some animated man when all of a sudden she slapped him upside the head and said "you son of a bitch!" Can you believe Lois Lane, the girlfriend of Mr. Truth, Justice and the American Way, would have the gall to talk like that on an animated film for kids? The tramp. I called your niece in to witness this atrocity because she was saying it had to be a mistake...Lois must have been saying something else. I replayed it (after sending the children out of the room) and sure enough... I thought she was going to go into cardiac arrest. She stood there with her mouth hanging open, unable to speak anything coherent while I fanned her with a Southern Living magazine. She told the 7 year-old that this was going to have to be deleted because Lois Lane was talking ugly. The 7 year old informed her that there was "all kinds of cussin' and ugly talkin' in it." The 3 year old had a throw-down, scrap iron fit because it got deleted. But we knew that in a day or two he would be slapping somebody upside the head and yelling "you son of a bitch!" He is easily impressed by movies and we have to really be careful about what he watches. Yesterday he came hobbling in with a sippy cup on his foot, saying "Arrgg, Matey!"
Reply to this
I've suspected she was trash all along! But you know how it is...get in tight with somebody like Superman and it goes to your head. You start thinking you can get away with anything. Personally, I never could figure out what Superman saw in her. She wasn't smart, she wasn't that pretty and she was high maintenance. She'd go and get herself duct taped to a thermonuclear device on the other side of the world or drive her rental car off into a bottomless ravine just as Superman was sitting down on the commode. Don't you know that would get old after a while? You see, Superman had the same problem as most of us have...he just accepted that crap and did his best to make up for it. What he should have done is say to himself, "that's a bottomless ravine, she ain't gonna hit bottom before I get through taking a dump" and then just go ahead and take care of his own needs first. He should have told her, "This gig is like a Genie, hon. You can get your tail in a crack three times and I MIGHT come rescue you, IF I'M NOT BUSY AT THE TIME! But you do it a fourth time and you're on your own."
You know what? Will Smith would make a good Superman, don't you think? I can hear him now telling Lois how it was going to be. "I be holdin' back a dam over in China, savin' 2 billion people and shit and you be runnin yo mouth and steppin' off in a elevator shaft and goin' 'Oh help ME Superman...come get ME Superman', expectin' me to just drop everything and come save yo ass. And I be like 'Naw, I'm busy' and shit".
It seems kind of hypocritical to use bad language when you're complaining about bad language. Or maybe it's just that guilt requirement we had piled on us during our youth that makes me think like that. Anyway...
Reply to this