Evil

EVIL

Yesterday as I was at my desk, I heard someone yelling for help outside my office. It sounded like a child and didn't sound good. My business partner and myself ran out to investigate, and found two agents with a youth in a hammerlock.

The kid was kicking, screaming, and cussing while the agents did their best to calm him. We, on the other hand, were not buying they were agents. We quickly confronted the two and threatened to intervene unless proper I.D. could be furnished. Even then, we were not completely convinced.

This is a child on the line here, and we were not going to blindly walk away. As we questioned their actions, we called local police and checked I.D. and badge numbers. As it turns out, they were legit.

Kudos to them for their professionalism as we did not make their job easy for them. They were kicked, spit on, and cussed at by a 10 year old who kept screaming that he wanted to kill himself. On top of that, they had two adults ready to get into the mix if they did not check out and we smelled something fishy.

It could have been an ugly recipe. As it turns out it was an eye opener.

I replayed the event over in my head the remainder of the day, and I came out of it with a few thoughts:

There are times in your life when confronted with a clear case of standing up and doing the right thing. In my mind, you fail as a person if you do not.

Now, mind that we did not have to intervene in this case, but we were ready to if need be.

There was no doubt in my mind, that if was two thugs or pervs assaulting this kid, we were going to blows to save the kid. No questions asked. I would do it for any child. Instead, that was not the result as it was two plain clothed officers doing their job.

Which in turn, brings to mind the situation at Penn State. A 60 year old predator was allowed to roam for years as everyone turned a blind eye. Nobody had the balls to come forward. Nobody had the moral strength to do what was right. Everybody just turned their head and said, "not my problem".

They might sing a different tune now that the cat is out of the bag, but the reality is they would have towed the company line all along until now.

In doing so, they all failed as human beings and should be hung. Period. The crimes committed on these young boys is inexcusable. Forget what the law says, there is a MORAL obligation to stop these actions, and silence is tantamount to accomplice.

For those of you with children, ask yourself what you would have done if it was your kid?

Better yet, listen to this.

My high school assistant basketball coach was a sexual predator. He loved teenage boys. It was an open secret among the team. We all knew never to be caught dead alone with him. He took a run at all of us. Would offer alcohol, dirty movies, all the stuff a young guy wanted at that age.

Hell, he wasn't even the only one at our high school. There were two more EXACTLY like him. We all knew them, and always watched our backs when they were around. Why? They always came around after workouts when we were in the showers, or in the trainers room. Loved to take a lookie or pat you on the ass or try to stick a finger in your jock.

Evil fucks.

Well, he never got to me. We all suppose he got to one of our team members, but we can't confirm it. He never said.
(side note--we went to college together, and he had definitely become a different person by then. What comes to mind the most, was his rampant hate of homosexuals. It was something he wore like a badge.)

Still, my high school looked the other way and he resigned before it broke and they swept it under the rug.

My school failed. Penn State failed. Others fail every day.

Myself, I will never fail. Not for my children. Not for my friends kids. Hell, not for any of them if I could help it.

Would you?

-the Cap'n

Time......

"And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you've missed the starting gun."


-Pink Floyd 1973


Generally, I don't care much for lyrics. Strike that. Generally, I don't care for lyrics or those who try to find too deep a meaning in them. Lyrics have always been an accompaniment for me, just as much a part of the song as the bass, etc. Either they are in tune with the feel of the song, or they stick out as being just not right.


It was the same way with how I lived my life. I had my goals, and everything around it was just white noise. If you were an impediment, or deemed as a roadblock then I removed you from my life.


Many girlfriends met that fate. They wanted more than I was willing to give and would not settle for being number two or three in the pecking order. Same could be said about friends. They became more of a nuisance then a help in most cases, so they were just discarded.


Some probably had it coming, but most did not. All I really cared about at the time was me. My goals, my reputation, my place in this world. That was all that mattered.


Why? Because I hold the belief that to be truly great in anything, you need to be married to it. It must be your all encompassing desire and obsession and you must not compromise that belief.


That belief has not changed. I still believe it to this day. I can back it up with a decade long alcohol tab that would boggle your mind, three trips to the ER and a few longer stays in the hospital from stress related health issues that almost claimed my life twice.


Still, I outran them all. I outran the clingy girlfriends, the hangers on, the fake friends, the bad employees, the scam artists-- all of them.


Except time..


When my wife had our kids, I instantly wished I was 27 and not 37.


I wished for all the time in the world because I wanted to see everything my kids had in store for the upcoming years.

Mind you, I'm not wishing to change how I lived my life. I wouldn't give back any of the experiences over those years (read: hot one night stands /flings /parties /trips...etc). Those aspects all helped shaped my eventual outcome of today, and I dare say I'm a better person for the experiences.


What I am saying though, is everything has it's price and you have to be mature enough to understand that and accept it.

Every morning my son and daughter run around the house looking for their daddy. When they find me, they smile and give me a big hug.

That is what makes my world go round now, and I want to be around it for as long as humanly possible.

I am looking forward to seeing them grow up and grow as individuals, and can't wait to see how they handle success and adversity.


It's a completely new adventure every day, but also one that brings me time to pause and contemplate.....



"Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines."



-The Cap'n

The Second Annual Things I Hate!!!

Without any fanfare, let us begin:

* Roads anywhere in California. All you enviro Nazis have won...it's true. It is easier to take a bicycle or horse and carriage from point A to B in this state. Thank you Jerry Brown and associates in the early 70's for creating this god awful mess you call the California road system. Throw in good 'ole government corruption, and you not only have a steadily aging and decrepit, but inadequate roads system. I'll take the horse please....just what you backward ass progressives wanted.

* MTV....except for the Jersey Shore. I have extensively written how it went from a musical nirvana to bull shit propagandist extension of Viacom. As for Jersey Shore, everyone has to have a little vice here and there....and I hate that J-Wow hasn't shown us her ta-ta's yet.

* White Honda or Toyota minivans or sedans. Anyone who drives them cannot drive worth a crap. Period. End of Story. You suck. Now you will pay attention and know I am right.

* Dancing with the Stars. Other than looking at Cheryl Burke's awesome ass, this show is a total waste of time.

* Progressive Liberals. You are the height of ignorance masquerading as pseudo intellectuals. Please come down to the real world and help in the fight instead of being a pawn to government control. Repeat after me: It's only your fault you didn't take advantage of your opportunities....

* Quirky women who think they are cool. Message to you: You are neither. Quirky is this generations way to excuse immaturity and infantile behavior. Grow up and put away your Strawberry Shortcake folder....Fuck, you are 30 years old already!!!

* Rachel Maddow. Do I really need to explain?

* I hate how the daily newspaper is slipping away into the night.

* I hate the fact my twins are already 20 mos. old...Damn time flies.

* New Style video games. Why do I need twenty buttons on my X Box just to make a pass? What happened to the good old A and B buttons? Keep it simple guys!!!!

* That they moved the Big Bang Theory to Thursday...It was perfect on Monday!

* That once I found out Neil Patrick Harris was gay, I no longer believed his character on How I Met Your Mother. Like the guy, just not that believable now, though...

* Chelsea FC...God I hate the Blues...Stop dominating the EPL!

* San Francisco Giant Fans...Retards..I'd love to have a monopoly on anti-depressants after the Phillie's series is over for these delusional idiots.

* Light Rail. It has done nothing for anyone here in my hometown other than back up traffic for miles while two passengers ride it to and fro. What a colossal waste of taxpayer money and time.

*That I couldn't find any more ways to incorporate more hot women's pictures into my rant!

Well, that was all that came to mind this time..Maybe some you agree with, others you don't. The great part is that I don't care whether you do or not-- it is my list.

Regardless, use your brains, don't settle for the low hanging fruit, and vote in the upcoming elections. it is your duty!

-the Cap'n

Never Forget, Never Forget.....

Take time during that day to remember the Heroes and the Fallen. We have changed for the worse ever since, and I sincerely believe we will find our ass kicking boots once more. Kiss your wife and hug your kids!

-The Cap'n

Dear Liberals.....

Every time you want to say something stupid about the rights of Muslims to erect a mosque at ground zero, take a look at this picture:

Then do some reading on Islamic history and the construction of mosques on conquered territories/places.

Then, kiss my red, white, and blue ass.

Not in my lifetime,

The Cap'n

Check This One Off the List....

Well at least they finally found it.

Now we can try to figure out the whole Social Security card mess.....

-The Cap'n

Ohhhh Mexico....

The Cap'n was talking to the General (my father) the other day, and I heard this brilliant take on the Arizona immigration fiasco:

Let's say you have bought a ticket on Southwest Airlines to take a trip. Your credit card has been charged, you checked in over the Internet, went through TSA, and are now waiting in line.

As you board the plane and get to your seat, you find that it has been occupied by a non paying customer who boarded the plane through the rear entrance after managing to walk through an unguarded entrance from the terminal to the tarmac. (Sort of like Burbank)

This non paying customer refuses to give up their seat. It is not their fault nobody was guarding the entrance to the plane, even though there are certain standardized entrance and exit points.

It is also noted that they have brought four more non payees aboard with them and in doing so, not only have you lost your seat, but four more paying customers have lost theirs also.

They have also brought numerous bags for the overhead bins, so paying customers must check in their baggage or send it on a later flight.

The cabin crew refuses to dismiss these people (even though a few crimes have just been committed), but offers to find "reasonable" accommodations on the plane for you and the others by charging the entire plane $50.00 more per person.

If not, you are just shit out of luck.

Sound Familiar???

I found it to be spot on, and would love to hear a logical counter that does not include "racist" because this model is race/gender neutral.





- the Cap'n

An Early 4th of July Thought....

It seems like everybody is miserable.

This seems to be a universal position. Everybody is bitching and moaning about something. If you are a Communist Lefty you are unhappy with the Right and continued ineptitude and failed policies of your Savior. If you're on the Right, you are incensed about Obama and his trashing of the Constitution and middle finger to Allies like Israel and Great Britain. If you are out of work, you are like 30% of the rest of the country and wondering when benefits will run out and whether a job opening will surface for which you are not over qualified. If you own a business, you are wondering when the government will finally back off and allow you to operate in a "semi" free market economy and not add to the unemployment numbers. If you hate Summer, you are bitching about the heat. If you hate big business, you are bitching about BP and the Gulf fiasco.

If you hate....you get what I mean.

The point I am trying to make is that it seems nobody is happy. At a time when the sun comes up in the East everyday, you can still draw a deep breath, and your children still love you....why is everything so exacerbated and full of intolerance and dare I say hate??

I'll tell you why: Americans took our hands off the wheel and allowed all the mother fuckers in government (Donkeys and Elephants) to sell us out. Factor in an infantile President for the last 20 years (present office holder included) and we have had this recipe for disaster brewing.

The American people have become more concerned with watching Lost or American Idol, then what their Congress has passed or failed to regulate over the last two decades. We have willingly been led to the altar and sacrificed as we were lured in by the Tech Bubble, the Real Estate Bubble, the Mortgage Bubble without ever questioning the fundamentals behind them.

We have no stomach for a protracted conflict in the Middle East because it is not convenient to us--regardless of big picture consequences. We would rather fall for bull shit straw men by complete idiots like Michael Moore, Bill Maher or Sean Hannity than actually study an issue and come up with an informed opinion. (I will not include Jon Stewart in the mix because although I do not agree with his politics, I do not find him an idiot.)

We have allowed our excess to make us insulated from the real world. Mind you, I am a hardcore capitalistic, fiscally conservative but socially liberal Republican. I will tell you from years of business ownership that once you relax, you become the second place finisher. We have relaxed through the Bill Clinton (an era of absolute nothingness), Bush (a lack of fiscal responsibility) and now Obama (to be remembered as our worst president EVER).

In doing so it has left us angry--angry at everything we perceive as different or threatening to our little lifestyles.

That is just plain wrong. We should be angry at ourselves. We the American people allowed this to occur. Nobody else is to blame.

We control our own lives, not the government.

We control our destinies, not some mentally retarded legislator.

We are ultimately the caretakers of this nation.

Whether Left or Right, if you love this country you understand this basic right.....

As we near the 4th of July, we should ask ourselves one question: What would the greatest era of our time have done? When confronted with tyranny, they took it on their shoulders to kick the crap out of everything and anything that came in the way of freedom. No ocean too wide, no mountain too high, no enemy too fierce.

We are still those people, we just forgot it along the course of some very fat years and even fatter legislators who preach discord from the top.

We are still the people that stuck it to the English in the beginning, and never looked back. Period. From Korea to Iraq, we are still the baddest asses on the planet who will kick your ass to the dirt, and then pick you up, dust you off, and help get you back on your feet.

That is who we are.

It is time to honor our forefathers by becoming those people again.

Happy Fourth of July!

-The Cap'n

When MTV was the S#!+...

As the Cap'n was taking a drive into work the other day he had the satellite radio on 80's on 8. I know I'm dating myself, but that was the pop music I grew up with. It is my only musical vice and I enjoy the hell out of it.

As the country is turning to shit with the evolution of Barack Obama's vision of Bolshevism, I am growing increasingly nostalgic. Well, Obama's destruction of America as we know it, getting older, seeing family members die, having friends come down with horrible conditions, etc. etc. etc. is probably an exact description of my feelings of nostalgia....

Anyway...I was singing along to Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" and started thinking when was the first time I heard this song. Amazingly, it was in 1982 when I was eleven years old. It was also the first time I watched MTV on cable television.

Wow....1982..It actually came back pretty clear. I was with my grandparents in San Francisco at their friend's house in Pacific Heights during the Christmas season. They had stopped by to have a drink and visit, and the family's daughter brought me upstairs to hang out and get out of the way. She was in her late teens, so she was heading out, but turned on MTV and gave me the remote.

Awesome! I'd never even seen cable TV before, and MTV was only talked about on the schoolyards. Hell, we were lucky to be able to watch Friday Night Videos on NBC if Mom and Dad let us stay up, or taped it on the vcr.

Now, I had music videos coming on one after another after another. First one: Golden Earring's Twilight Zone. Truth be told, it was like watching the Holy Grail. I was mesmerized watching all these different videos and cool VJ's from a room in New York.

If we ever got cable television, I would never watch anything else. MTV was the coolest thing I had ever seen.

I also got to thinking how times were just simpler back then. No Internet, XBOX360, 500 channel cable systems, on demand anything for instant gratification, I Phones, etc.

Back then it was just 5 or 6 television stations, your radio, and your friends you hung out with. Maybe an Atari 2600, and if you were lucky a Commodore 64.

Back then our enemies were the Commies. Now it is our self.

Back then it was Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Now it is Avatar.

Back then you read a newspaper. Now you read a blog.

Back then it was records. Now it's mp3's.

Back then my heroes played baseball. Now they wake up every morning and go to work to make sure their family is taken care of.

Back then MTV was the coolest. Now it is my kids.

Stay Strong,

The Cap'n

WTF?

I always hated that little bit of texting heaven. It's just another cute way of dropping an f bomb without having to say it. Stupid. Still, it seems that any and everyone will try to drop in an occasion to curse without REALLY saying it.

What kind of B.S. is that?..

With the obvious pun just above, why even say it? If you want to say "what the fuck", then man (or woman) up and let it fly. Do not even throw out an excuse of whether it is appropriate or not because you are just trying to be cute. If you are going to curse, then goddamn do it. Otherwise, use another expression and move on.

It's like tattoos now. Tats used to be for rebels and real anti-society types. Now it's just for pieces of trash who think they look cool. In fact, if you are not in a band or a slut, you shouldn't even have them. Period. Sorry Johnny wanna be a rapper white kid.

Speaking of that, what says "Please hire me" more than a moron in baggy jeans, a sideways hat, tats, and piercings. Better hope they don't legalize pot or you're out of one of your few career choices.

Ouch. Career choices. What is actually going to be left if Obama keeps steering the ship? Let's see....Welfare recipient, government worker (maybe), the military (if it's not dismantled), unemployment recipient (see above), landscaper, professional television watcher/gamer with my government issued flat screen from my stimulus check, and my favorite: stripper!

Now there is something that makes no sense: California wants to outlaw flat screen televisions that use too much energy. You mean you are telling me that I no longer have the right to buy the biggest t.v. possible--just like an automobile. I can see it now- Flat Screen Energy Consumption Stations. Just like a smog check you will have to have your Plasma (or LCD/LED) certified in order to use it or face fines. Maybe then, you could buy energy credits which allow you to play your NHL10 on the Xbox 360...oh, oh..I'm onto something...

Which leads right to that piece of floating excrement Al Gore. If there was ever a bigger con man in this nation (please do not insert the obvious), I would love to know. He's got a great scam working. Stoke the fears of the populace. Set up a system for energy cap and trade which you are the principal shareholder of the brokering company. Invest in ancillary companies. Get them government contracts. Stoke more fears as you travel the world. Repeat process. Do it with a straight face as you try not to snicker under your breath. Damn..How was I not a child of privilege?

And finally....how privileged do you feel to watch it all going wrong on your watch? In some eyes it's going right and that is a scary shame. Somewhere in there is a middle ground which needs to be hammered out. It's like a marriage. If it's going to work you better find a compromise or you are headed for divorce.

Well, if we're going to go down all Planet of the Apes style, then I'll go with one of these:

And a little music to end the day....be sure to find your way home.

-The Cap'n

What Happened When I Was Sleeping?

Wow, the Cap'n comes back from Daddy time with the kiddies for a few months and the whole place has gone to hell. It was arguably the most trying yet fulfilling weeks of my life, but I wouldn't trade it back for the world...I miss the little buggers during the day already!


Well, instead of musing on one probably over dated subject, lets throw some thoughts out for consumption:

* Did you know that in my hometown there are 35 medical marijuana dispensaries within 15 miles of each other. You have got to be kidding me. Throw in the probable 350 dealers in the same grid and you have one hell of a business running during the day. No wonder the Feds and Local want a piece of this cash economy. My question: How much of the daily population is on a controlled substance to make it through the day? Factoring in prescription meds, the Cap'n says probably around 75%.....

* Is Robert Gibbs retarded? Well, that's an easy one...How about: If you are a crooked son of a bitch, is it standard operating procedure to have a retarded dis-information officer to just piss everyone off and make them go away?

* Why is the left so hot to trot with health care? Medi Care is a joke. VA hospitals are a crying shame. Social Security is a fucking nightmare. Hmmmm....lets now take the wrecking ball to the economy again with an overhaul of the health care system. To all you over educated, broke ass lefties: Quickly--name anything the federal government has run successfully and at a profit? Or, even in the estimated loss brackets? Good luck. I feel much better about health care now.

* Quick Econ lesson for all you PHD holding lefties also: Sub Prime mortgages were all written in '05, '06, and '07. All come due in '08, '09, an '10...Do you think the economy is going to rebound? Thank your local congressman for that one (and especially Frank, Barney)....but there is more-- commercial real estate defaults are now coming in late 09, 10, and 11. There will be ABSOLUTELY NO RECOVERY until 2012 at the earliest unless the banking system relaxes lending rules and allows bridge loans. Better get used to 10-15% unemployment and small business being eradicated.

Why? Your great leader and his bull shit stimulus plan hasn't put any money into the true economy. All it's done so far is grease the palms of his constituents.....In '11 when it kicks in to full effect ( if it ever does-- the Repubs will sweep out the Dems in '10 and the plan will get demolished) it will be to late.

If you are a conspiracy theorist and believe in a NWO, this is one hell of a playbook to get there.

* Why are there absolutely ZERO good movies out to bridge the gap between summer and Thanksgiving?

*Why do I have an unending picture in my head of the old Wiemar Republic and a man lugging a wheel barrel down the street full of Deutschemarks going to buy a loaf of bread?

*Neil Young is still one sick dude! A living legend!

Regardless of left or right, it's about freedom....Keep on Rocking in the Free World!!!!!

-The Cap'n

Morons

Well, I was all set to do a post on my buddy Fang (who has a wonderful liberally slanted blog ), his back problems, and how he will see the quality of his care reduced if Das Leader gets his way. Instead, I wanted to focus on Mr. 52.7% sidekick.

Look at this whopper:

"I say, 'Don't let your opposition to the Recovery Act blind you to its results. Come see what I see everywhere I go: workers rehired, factories reopened, cops on the street, teachers in the classroom, progress toward getting our economy back on the move.'"

-Washington Post.com 7/17/09

Workers rehired?

As of the end of May 2009, California's job losses were quantified as :

California's year-over job losses totaled 739,500 (4.9 percent) in May 2009. This was the State's largest year-over job loss on record. Unofficial historical data suggest that California's 4.9 percent year-over job loss in May 2009 was the State's largest since March 1946. Year-to-date in 2009, California's nonfarm job losses totaled 348,000 jobs, or an average of 76,800 jobs a month. This was nearly twice the average monthly loss of 38,500 jobs in 2008...

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/article.asp?ARTICLEID=1258&printerFriendly=true

But there is more:

Nationally, the largest job loss was in manufacturing (156,000). Three additional industry sectors lost more than 50,000 jobs: construction (59,000); trade, transportation, and utilities (54,000); and professional and business services (51,000). Notably, each of these three industries had averaged job losses of well over 100,000 jobs over the six months prior to May. Information (24,000), natural resources and mining (10,000), government (7,000), and other services (1,000) were the other U.S. industry sectors that lost jobs in May 2009.

Four California industry sectors experienced losses of more than 100,000 jobs over the last year: trade, transportation, and utilities (191,000); construction (149,200); professional and business services (126,100); and manufacturing (122,200). Two additional California industry sectors lost more than 50,000 jobs over the last year: leisure and hospitality (62,300), and financial activities (51,600).

Three more California industry sectors lost more than 10,000 jobs over the last year: information (29,200), other services (15,500), and government (14,200). Year-over losses in natural resources and mining totaled 1,400 jobs. Three U.S. industry sectors lost more than one million jobs over the last year: manufacturing (1,570,000); trade, transportation, and utilities (1,193,000); and professional and business services (1,139,000). Year-over job losses in construction totaled 990,000 jobs.

Two additional U.S. industry sectors lost more than 300,000 jobs over the year: financial activities (397,000), and leisure and hospitality (328,000). Information (152,000), other services (123,000), and natural resources and mining (31,000) were the remaining U.S. industry sectors that lost jobs over the last year.

And then the kicker: Nationally, two industry sectors experienced year-over job gains in May 2009: health services (417,000), and government (140,000).

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/article.asp?ARTICLEID=1258&printerFriendly=true

Thank you California EDD for the Labor info in a May 2009 article.

Well Pinocchio, what does this mean?? It means you are full of fecal matter.

"Workers re-hired":

If you are what? A nurse or government employee? It would make sense for the health workers since everyone is either stressing out or numbing themselves to the insanity coming out of Washington. I'm damn well sure the number of heart attacks, alcoholism, and suicides will go up the next few years all due to the insane economic policies coming from this administration. Just try to get life insurance at a decent premium..

"Factories reopened":

Look at how hard the manufacturing sector has been hit you moron. There isn't an idiot in the room who would dare open one here in California. Hell, I just shut mine down because of OVER REGULATION AND OVER TAXATION. The state of California is insane. It is the gold standard for how liberal and over the top environmental regulation DOES NOT WORK. It strangles any chance a small business has. Now we will have cap and trade--economic suicide! Throw national health care on top of that and it's 8% non compliance penalties--Hello more layoffs!! Get ready Pinocchio, the sky is about to fall!

"Cops on the street":

There were too many layoff links to post, but this one struck me as interesting:

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=10415019

75 cops laid off in Toledo led to mass gun buys. Well, at least there is a plus to the situation

"Teachers in the classroom":

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Joins Educators in Recognition of Record Number of Teachers Receiving Layoff Notices.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr09/yr09rel40.asp

26,950 teachers have received pink slips so far...

I could only think of one way to wrap this one up.....

-The Cap'n

Cap'n House Husband!?!

Well, you never know what life is going to throw you. After the Cap'n told the State of California where to stick it by selling his business, he know finds himself at a crossroads.

Once a Cap'n of Industry, it looks like he will now be Cap'n of the house for the next six to eight weeks as the wife goes back to work and my mother in law waits to retire.

What a weird turn of events.

Some background: After the business was sold, there was definitely work to be done selling equipment, cleaning buildings, selling inventory, etc. etc. etc. That took about a year, and was painfully sad as well as challenging. During that time I looked at other opportunities on the horizon.

The problem was that they were all in unrelated fields and there was really no opening for "37 year old ex-vice presidents" with 18 years experience in management, production, marketing, and sales. I was a jack of many trades but a true expert in none (except production).

Still, being that "A" type personality, I wanted to keep charging forward and have absolutely zero downtime. BIG MISTAKE!!!

In doing so I jumped into a start up during a recession/depression while at the same time trying to shorten a learning curve by about 10 months. Now, I have never quit anything in my life. No matter how bad I get beaten, I am too stubborn to walk away a loser. I always figured the difference between a quitter and a loser was in the spelling.

I am however starting to change my mind as my perspective has changed. Why? My kids.

After having a beautiful set of twins, my personality changed on the spot. My anger (which fueled my success) was gone. My impatience had waned. My overall want to destroy every obstacle in my way had dissipated.

In a word, I was "anew".

Don't get me wrong, the Cap'n loves money...but he has money. What he is missing now is the logical next step in his progression. For most people, CEO/President/VP is the culmination of a career..That was done by age 32....now what?????

Well, for the next eight weeks it is this:

And I tell you, I am psyched.

I really think this time will allow me to get my thoughts together and look at the future in the right frame of mind. Although I have definite fears about current goings on in our state and in D.C., there is always the optimism of and for youth which I see every morning.

I'll also get to see a little of this:

-The Cap'n

A Few Thoughts....

Well, I guess the Cap'n is a little tired of fighting the fight today. When Stuart Smalley is elected as a state senator it shows the overall I.Q. of a state to be total to the wattage of a small appliance light bulb..

Oh well..After the Dems run this country into the frickin ground they now have no one else to lay the blame on except for themselves. That should banish them into irrelevance for a good 20 years or so.....

With that being said some "New Thoughts":

Why I went to see Transformers 2 with the wife:

Why I really went to see Transformers 2:

Is Eric Clapton the greatest ever? After seeing him and Steve Winwood together this week I would dare say YES!

Is there anything worse than really, really wanting a Popsicle and then finding the box empty in the freezer?

The greatest holiday in the United States? Need you ask? All Socialists should not be allowed to celebrate this country's Independence as they push for its peoples enslavement! Better yet: No Hot Dogs for You! Halal Kabobs and Piroshkis Only! (The Cap'n ain't completely laying down today!)

Who we should be thankful to for every day we have the ability to disagree and not be thrown in jail or executed:

Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

-The Cap'n

My Man Billy

There have been alot of celebrity deaths lately, but the one that really saddened the Cap'n was one of his favorites: Billy Mays.

He wasn't a closet pedophile or pin up. He wasn't an awesome sidekick or kung fu master...but he was a master.

Billy was the ultimate pitchman, a symbol of America and Capitalism, and a downright hilarious dude. Make no mistake, he knew EXACTLY who he was and what he was doing. That is what made him so awesome. There were no pretenses, and if you watched the show Pitchmen (with partner Anthony Sullivan) it clearly showed that.

After watching a piece on CNBC the other day about infomercials and their rise, it became rather evident that Billy Mays was good for America.

Well, like everything that WAS good for America, it now seems that his time has passed. After a freak blow to the head, the great one is no longer and so are my beloved Awesome Auger commercials.

R.I.P. Billy and condolences to your family.

-The Cap'n

Does This Look Familiar?

THE 10 PILLARS OF THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

As we speak now city, state and the federal government are restricting land usage through large regulatory fees, environmental restrictions, taxation rates, and removal of exemptions, thus rendering land/buildings useless.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

Pretty self explanatory with Mr. 52.7%'s camp. His perfect tax rate for the wealthy will be a higher number than the percentage of those who voted for him.

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

All one needs to do is look at estate tax rates to see it is already in play...well except for 2010! That is the year to kick it if you are wealthy.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

They are trying right now as corporations leave to pursue better (i.e. lower tax rates) venues for manufacturing and corporate headquarters overseas.

5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.

Hmmmm....

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

Fairness doctrine...Cap and Trade...ABC and the infomercial about nothing...

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

Cap and Trade...GM...Chrysler...etc..

8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

UAW...AFL/CIO...ACORN...whatever is brewing behind the looming National Energy Tax

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

There just might be if California, New York and Florida price out their populace...

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.

Check..

Hmmm....Democrat = Socialist...sure would seem so by definition of policy. So far, as we have seen in California, it DOES NOT WORK. It is sheer folly to expect it to work on a national level, so I think I figured it out....There can only be ONE plausible explanation:

The Alien Confederation of Planets has decided that the Earth must unite under one voice or we will be left behind to muddle in our own human waste. Therefore, we must destroy the sovereignty of the U.S. in order to suit our galactic purposes.

There you go...its the only thing that made sense to me...Otherwise we are all just a bunch of stupid mofo's who are allowing ourselves to be sold into financial slavery by the Democratic ruling class as they restrict the access to wealth and means of production. That would never happen...never...I think it must be the alien dilemma.

Speaking of Aliens

R.I.P. King of Pop and Jesus Juice..Someone, somewhere, had a sigh of relief yesterday.

Nahh......It was all perfectly natural and you just needed to understand him...tell it to the sealed testimony.

And in closing, a beauty from my friend Gilbert Gottfried. Not for the easily offended, but for those with a hearty sense of humor..Enjoy the weekend

-the Cap'n

Tighten My Belt?

I guess I just don't get it. There is an old saying in management: The queen must not only be virtuous, she must also appear to be. For those liberals out there for whom I've confused let me make it even simpler: You don't lay off parts of your crew, tell your remaining employees to tighten their belts, and then show up the next day in a brand new CL55 Mercedes Benz.

Does that sound familiar? Are you sure? I swear that is what I have seen coming from Mr. 52.7% and company.

I know, I know, before I even get started the howling will begin on the hypocritical Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Big, bad Bush sold us a river of lies on WMD's and it was really about oil.

Was it? Deterrence has kept American soil safe since WWII. From 1993 to 2000 we stood by and allowed 6 separate attacks on U.S. interests starting with the February 26, 1993 WTC basement bombing to the USS Cole attack on October 12, 2000. We all know who was steering the ship back then. Do I need remind anyone what happened less than a year later? Do I also need remind we have had nothing since occur on our soil thanks to our brave men and women.

If a fortress in Mesopotamia, control of another oil supply, and the possibility of democracy in the region are the by products, then sign me up.

Sorry for digressing....As I was saying....

The CEO's of the major car companies were killed in the press for begging for public money as they came in on their private jets.

Execs from AIG and Citi were under threat of public humiliation and possible public retribution when it was learned of lavish bonuses and parties with public money.

Now, in the "most transparent" administration ever we have a man preaching of conservation and corporate responsibility showing his true colors. They are so transparent they won't even disclose the cost of the trip on your dime!

Even better, he used the excuse "I promised my wife...blah...blah..blah.."

Hell, I promised my wife a great anniversary, but I got hit with $3.00 gas, a 50% tax rate, a shrinking GDP, monetization of our debt, and possible nationalized health care. I'll be lucky to afford two Super Sized Extra Value Meals, but hell--have a great night on me!

All that B.S. is for you, not for him. He is above that. This is definitely not a lead by example kind of guy.

I have a new slogan for this administration: Do as I say, not as I do.

Assa lama laken

-The Cap'n

Star Trek Lives!

It's time for a good old fashioned fun post. I can't be angry at the hypocritical, moronic lefties all the time. Hell, if they want to destroy the country today let them take a shot at it. Why? Because I saw the new Star Trek movie yesterday and it was freaking AWESOME!

I can admit I'm not a die hard Trekkie, nor do I have the outfit, go to the conventions, nor can speak Vulcan. I did however watch it religiously growing up. I was fascinated with science fiction (still am actually) and loved not only Star Trek, but Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and even Buck Rodgers.

I must say though I went into this flick with some trepidation. Bill Shatner was cheesily awesome as Kirk. DeForest Kelley was a walking cliche as Bones. Leonard Nimoy was, well, he WAS Spock. As I watched the show growing up on syndication, they became more like friends. As the first four movies came out their bond with me was solidified. There was a real emotion to the movies, and in some aspects it touched me to the core.

Why? Because these earlier movies were about friendship, accountability, loyalty, and duty.

This Star Trek "prequal" misses none of that. J.J. Abrams is my second favorite director behind Chris Nolan and he delivers. By forming the early years of Kirk and Spock and introducing all the familiar players in thoughtful and thought provoking ways, this movie is as good as it gets for me.

I won't delve into plot lines or endings, but I will say DO NOT WAIT FOR THE DVD. This movie deserves the big screen experience and you will be glad you went.

One more thing though.....I was really struck by the evolution of James T Kirk. Here was a young hellion, hell bent on going forward at all costs. There was no looking back from earlier adversity. Caution was thrown to the wind because he believed he was right, and they were wrong.

There is one quote in the movie after Kirk commands the bridge: "Take your battlestations and prepare for war. We are either going to take them out or they are taking us out."

He was going to confront the Romulan menace head on. He was not going to duck it. There was to be no conversation. It was either us or them and there were no apologies.

Hell, I was all fired up during that scene. It reminded me of us, the U.S. at an earlier time.

He understood that to "live long and prosper" you had to confront your enemies and take them down. If you ran away today, you would just have to take it on tomorrow and by that time it might be far worse.

We would all be well served to learn that lesson and live by it.

-The Cap'n

Random Thoughts.....

Wow..If you haven't figured it out yet, let me spell it out to you in plain English: There are no political parties, just idiotic, greedy, opportunistic, two faced politicians. Case in point- Arlen Specter.

You can bend it any way you want, but when you are getting hammered in the polls by Pat Toomey 41% to 27% and have up to a 70% disapproval rating in certain Republican segments, you are going home.

Wait, no you are not, you are going to switch parties and become the swing vote to enable killing Republican filibusters after you've brokered a sweet deal for yourself.

That my friends, is the definition of a P.O.S. who has lived off of our tax money for way to long.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kudos again to the Dems for their photo op with Air Force One yesterday in NYC




I guess it is ok to cause a panic in Downtown Manhattan and possibly endanger American lives through the panic, but please, PLEASE DO NOT WATERBOARD A TERRORIST! Their lives are important too!

Wait..I just figured out what was going on.....


Damn Snoop is always down for a party!

Still, the children in the White House need to know it is time to put away their toys and start acting like grownups. When is the first White House hunting trip scheduled??

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My throat is itchy, my joints ache, I might be sick.....Oh no it's the swine flu....oink oink... Listen to reason with Mr. Ron Paul:



My gosh..I wonder how many people died of T.B. last year in the U.S.? Heck, I wonder how many people died last year of overdosing on Viagra and booze? I bet it was more than 64!

I'm willing to bet my buddy a few dinars on that one!

Until next time,
-the Cap'n

The Hypocrisy of the Majority

I really didn't think I had much to say lately. Seems like idiocy is running wild and there is going to be no end in sight. Still, as I was holding my baby boy, a thought turned into a thread, which turned into my topic of today: The Majority.

What really does that mean nowadays? The standard definition of "majority" as defined by Webster is " a number greater than half of a total ". Seems simple enough. Six out of ten would be a simple majority.

In terms of governance it's enough to pass most laws and measures (unless a state mandates a super majority for amendments or certain measures) and to elect our officials.

It is how our country has functioned for over two hundred years. There are always going to be flaws in any system, but on the whole I believe it can be argued that our poor are better off than Somalia's poor. Our health care system is better than Canada's. Our disenfranchised have a clearer voice than those in Cuba or Venezuela.

Although I will argue with you that any district which gives Nancy Pelosi 73% of the popular vote is clearly mentally challenged, it was well within their right to elect who they saw fit to protect their interests.

Okay...back to my line of thought on the Majority...

Example One: Our glorious leader received 53% of the popular vote or 69,492,376 votes by those either living, fictional or dead. His opposition received 46% or 59,946,378.

This is not by any way a clear cut, super majority (we did not reach 60% +) and would indicate that you could almost flip a coin as many times and get the same result. There is no "mandate for change". There is just a simple majority who believed the Republicans had screwed up just one too many times.

Example Two: California Proposition 8 of 2008. The infamous same sex marriage bill. Yes votes= 6,322,732 or 52.2% No Votes= 5,796,637 or 47.8

Again, pretty much a coin flip. No clear mandate there either but a simple majority overturned the previous court ruling outlawing same sex marriage.

In both cases "The Majority" had spoken......

Quoted after the presidential election by Time Magazine:

"Barack Obama Elected President with Mandate for Change"

"...when historians analyze the 2008 campaign, they're going to remember that the two-term Republican President had 20% approval ratings, that the economy was in meltdown, and that Americans didn't want another Republican President. They'll also remember that Obama was a change candidate in a change election."

Well, kinda. Let's look at the House of Representatives for an example. Of the 435 seats up for grabs, a grand total of 23 incumbents were defeated. Factor in the 13 open seats and that makes 39 total incumbents out the door. Of those 39 total newbies, the Dems took all 13 open seat elections and added 8 more through defeating incumbents. Their popular vote percentage was 53.04% versus 44.16% for the Republicans.

From an incumbent standpoint, however, only 9% were voted out. Is that change when 90% of the pigs at the trough are still feeding?

Is that "change" when only 53% voted Democrat in the House and Presidential elections?

Judging by Time, and other gleeful lefties it sure is:

“Good morning, Republicans! Welcome to the wilderness. We saved you a seat right over here, next to us. Looks like we'll have a lot of time to talk in the next four years.”
—libertarian blogger Katherine Mangu-Ward on Reason’s Hit & Run blog.

Stay with me now because here is the kicker......

From the Sacramento Bee.com:

"It's time. The 4 percent difference between the people that voted yes and people that voted no are not enough to change the state constitution."
-Tina Reynolds, Sacramento community activist


"Those amendments applied universally to all Californians. This is a situation where you are removing rights from a particular group of citizens, a class of individuals the court has said is entitled to constitutional protection. That is a structural change."
-Joel Franklin, a constitutional law professor at Monterey College of Law

Two anti Prop 8 quotes from liberals who believe that the 4% voting difference does not speak for the "majority" of voting people.

If 7% and 9% are mandates for change, even though they are not "super majorities", than the 4% number must be looked at in the same light. You cannot just pick and choose "mandates" because they suit your political needs or beliefs. There needs to be a consistency in the line of reasoning. With the left, so far it doesn't exist.

Aside: Because of the many difficult angles of Prop 8, this blogger's belief is that the people will decide and that the majority must abide by it's decision. It is not in the hands of the Supreme Court, and should it be overturned by the people- it is for the good of the people because the majority has spoken.

Anyway..you know the joke, and what a voice! We need more of this and less of the other crap that drags down this world!



Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy


Regards,
the Cap'n