This Honky's Nuts!

Shocking Racial Rant from Brazilian President


A work in progress... :)

PITBULL Saves Family from Armed Intruder...

Burn it into your memory because it's a headline that you won't see often. Instead CNN chooses 'Dog Takes Bullet for Family'(video) and local station KOKO5 runs with 'Dog Shot During Home Invasion.'(video) Critics talk about media bias all the time in regards to political or social agendas. The discussion is often blown off with the everyday rhetoric that we have to consume en-route to the 20 second soundbite that's supposed to tell us everything going on in the world (at the moment.) But these headlines shouldn't just be accepted as 'business as usual' and this PITBULL story is a great example for that argument. The reporting of this incident shows clear bias regarding an entire breed of dog. It is the continuance of the cruel and inhumane stereotype by the popular media that the Pitbull is not a canine worthy of the title 'man's best friend.' The stereotyping of Bully breeds is one that is built mostly on ignorance and it's disappointing that major news agencies have chosen to participate. These media outlets are easily aware of the consequences of reckless inaccurate reporting and people like you and me need to take them to task for it every time that we see it. They have a journalistic responsibility to tell the complete story and in this case they avoided it in order to protect their cash cow: Pit Bull related terror headlines.

Think about it folks.. queue music... queue logo... 'Pitbull Attacks Grandmother' live at 6! And don't miss 'Pitbulls Running the Streets of Your Neighborhood' Live at 11! Naturally, none of these hooks that they use to get you to watch their program and their paid advertising tend to follow-up with a complete story. They omit that the grandmother-victim was mauled by a Pitbull that was abused, never properly cared for, and never socialized as all domesticated dogs require. It's the dogs fault right?!? Not the intelligent ones, the responsible ones, the ones that make them fight to live... the humans... who over bred them (continuing bad bloodlines), didn't care for them, and fostered this false perception of a 'bad breed' with their recklessness. I still hold hope that we're all intelligent enough to know that this perception is built on media hype and irresponsible dog owners. Despite the fact that even the CDC has published studies showing that no one breed of domesticated dogs is more likely to bite than another, we're all smart enough to know bullshit when we see & hear it... right?

As the responsible owner of a sweet, playful, loyal, and athletic Pitbull, I often explain to anyone who will listen that Pitbulls have been a part of American culture as far back as our nations beginnings. They were used as an icon for the American Military in WWI. It was a Pitbull named 'stubby' that made it as the highest decorated canine hero in US history and he rose to the rank of Sergeant in combat duty promotions. They used him to alert for gas attacks and incoming shells and he was even creditied with the capture of a spying soldier. That was stubby, then you have the little rascals' Pete, Tige of the Buster Brown shoe commercials and more. During this time, the Pitbull was an American hero. This breed's fall from grace is due to nothing else but human recklessness and irresponsibility. These are the facts folks. What you get on the news now is scare tactics and 'zombie dogs attacking' headlines that are designed to create panic and to get you to watch commercials.

It's a disgrace that we don't take more responsibility in our ownership of these beautiful and loving companions. It's a disgrace that we have policies in some communities that mandate the banning or euthanasia of any bully breed dog. It's a cop-out. Finally, a good story comes along about a Pitbull doing what dogs do.. loving it's family and being a best friend. It's an absolute disgrace that the media doesn't do the right thing and tell the whole story in this situation. What does it hurt to put 'Pitbull' in the headline this time? Why is this case different? These dogs have been implicated in a lot of terrible attacks and situations. But I'll argue until the day that I die that their implication isn't proof of guilt. The guilt lies with us humans. We should know better than to raise our dogs this way. We should all take responsibility for the past abuses of our communities and work to return Pitbulls to their rightful place as trusted family companions. Report abuse, get informed, and hold yourself and your neighbors accountable for how animals are treated. The next time that you see a 'Pitbull story' in the news don't forget to read between the lines!
(This is the story that set me off on this rant)

Sources:
http://www.the-proper-pitbull.com/pit-bull.html
CNN.com
http://www.truveo.com

Fiscal Conservatism Lives On...

I was both impressed and jealous over this brilliantly made speech at the EU Parliament. I guess being thrown into a minority with a bunch of other nut-jobs that proclaim to be 'conservatives' leaves me wanting something with a bit more substance to it. I'm waiting for this argument to take shape over here but the faint murmurs of it that I've heard so far have been somewhat pathetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

This Just Can't Be Good For You:

Paging Dr. Atkins...

All I'm Sayin Is...

Do you ever get the feeling that you're being stalked by a man that looks like the love-child of the evil Gremlin Stripe & Jim Carey? Throw in Jack Nicholson's creepy autonomous eyebrow and Garth Brook's 90s style lame-ass headset microphone and you have Vince of Shamwow! Come on Vinny old boy, you're interrupting Jerry Springer and Maury, you're on the history channel non-stop after 9pm, and I'm ready to get a restraining order!

Let's Take Baby Down to the River!

The same people that expect the Federal government to assume responsibility for every aspect of their well-being get their picture on the front page 'Hurricane Ike' story on MSNBC.com. This should be the included caption: 'Hey it's a hurricane, let's take baby down to the river!'

This photo is just as confusing to me as people that hang out at bridge embankments during flash floods. Why the hell would you be handling your kid down by the storm surge?!

Keep the affected folks in your thoughts, and let's hope they have more common sense than this MSNBC poster child!
Photo Source: MSNBC.com

A Brown Ribbon for George Carlin...

I was saddened when I awoke to news of the passing of hero, legend, and all-around wise-ass George Carlin. It only seemed proper to put this in with my 'rants' and to proudly post my brown ribbon...

George Carlin explains the Brown Ribbon...

“The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it’s all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition,” Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. “There’s an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It’s reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have.” -MSNBC.com

George Carlin @ Wikipedia.com

Sources: Wikipedia.com / George Carlin.com / Youtube.com /MSNBC.com

Send Them a Postcard: Let Old Glory Fly!

Like many, I am truly stunned to hear reports about a US military veteran being threatened by legal action by his home owners association for flying an appropriately displayed United States flag. My resentment and disbelieve over the actions of this disrespectful and callous organization of thugs is beyond measurement. Please view the links below and act accordingly:

Local Channel 6 Coverage
-Initial Story
-Gov. Signs Bill to Protect Flag Displays

Send Them A Flag Postcard!
-Buy Online Postcard
-Send It to This Address
1900 Kings Ridge Blvd, Clermont, FL 43711
(352)242-2955 Office (352)242-5273 Fax

Sources: Local6.com / Zazzle / KingsRidge.com

Houston, We Have A Problem!

The sole toilet system on the international space station has broken leaving the astronaut crew feeling like a kid trapped in the family station-wagon and desperately waiting for dad to find a rest-stop. Big Gulp™ anyone?! The toilet remains partially functional, and the astronauts have managed to rig up a system using bags to capture waste materials. 'The possibility of an embarrassing international zero-gravity poo incident have been avoided for now' stated an unnamed NASA official. The Russian made toilet has broken several times before, but this time it appears to have pooped-out for good! Until a repair can be made or a replacement can be delivered the astronaut team will be left high and dry... well maybe not so dry. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Let's hope they don't try to shoot it out the airlock like Sigourney Weaver in Aliens.
This reader is left wondering: Where is the ingenuity that saved the crew of the stranded Apollo 13 ,which has since been dubbed a 'successful failure'. How is it a bunch of guys can make a life-saving air filter out of nearly nothing but space junk, yet we can't get a simple toilet repair? Let me get this straight.. all that money and engineering and they have one toilet... and now they're using bags? Please someone tell me that when we decide to go back to the moon, we'll at least strap a backup toilet or design a rocket Johnny Blue. Sending people into space with a million dollar recycled MIR toilet just doesn't cut-it.

Sources: CNN / MovieWeb / IGN