What do Catholic's Believe

GOD’S 7 GIFTS – THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION)

2010-06-13T22:10:00.001-05:00

Jesus gave to His Church 7 very special gifts we call Sacraments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Sacraments are "An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1131). These 7 gifts are the Sacrament's of: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

In this article we will discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation or "Confession". I want to write and explain each of the 7, but I must begin with this one, in part because I have in my lifetime, utilized this Sacrament frequently, and therefore I should be an expert and I should be able to explain this with ease right? Wrong, for you see we can't explain why thie Sacrament of Reconciliation is most likley the most precious gift ever given to mankind without also explaining to those who do not understand it, why this must be done with a Catholic Priest.

That statement in itself provokes a lot of eye rolling and a lot of humor among non Catholics. Most non Catholics either believe they must either confess there sin directly to God or to one another. Even some Catholics don't understand why we must utilize the Ministry of the Church to gain forgiveness for our sins and receive our penance.

Another statement I'm going to make does not just provoke eye rolling, but can, in some folks, provoke a genuine feeling of disgust or anger. When I say that the most powerful words I have ever heard in my lifetime are; "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sin, through the ministry of the Church. May God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Woo who, man I love those words! But many cringe at the thought of the words "I absolve you of your sins". They say no man has the authority to forgive sins. So let's get right to it.

In John 20:19–23 AND Let's just go ahead and read it; "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

It's cut and dry. It is crystal clear. It is without doubt that in this passage, Jesus Christ gives to the Apostles and His Church, the ability to forgive the sins of others.

Jesus was the only human being to ever have authority to forgive sins and He did so frequently while He walked with us. For those who say that only God can forgive sins, I say You’re absolutely right. Only God can forgive sins. In Mark 2:1–12 we find what you are saying in the story of the healing of the paralytic. When Jesus saw the paralytic, he said to him, "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). The scribes gave the same objection that objectors raise—that is, that only God can forgive sins. They asked, "Who can forgive sins except God alone?" And they were right. But notice how Jesus changes this later in the story. He performs the miracle of healing precisely to show that "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10). So what was once only in heaven is now on earth because Jesus has the authority to forgive.

Let’s go deeper. The formula of absolution by the Priest bestows peace on the sinner with the words, "May God give you pardon and peace." These words are real familiar to Jesus’ words in John 20:19 and 21, "Peace be with you." Jesus wished peace on his followers. He also gave that peace to the Apostles by breathing on them the Holy Spirit. A very strong argument for what this means is this; in John 20: 22, "He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’" The formula states this important role of the Holy Spirit when it says that God "sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sin." The Holy Spirit is alive and well in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and is THEE key player of bringing Christ’s forgiveness to sinners.

I can tell you from a personal standpoint, that one of my best friends is a Evangelical, in fact, he is studying to be a Minister in his faith. I practice with him the protestant form and belief of confessing to one another. I must admit that it gives me a little more time to discuss my sins, I’m less nervous about confessing my sins with my buddy and I have received a great amount of fruit from our confessions and discussions. Having said this, I think Jesus knew exactly what He was doing in instituting this Sacrament and putting it into the hands of the Priests of the Church. So I do both. I confess to my buddy, (we keep each other in check) but then I can’t wait to get to a confessional. I hope you’re not reading this and gasping for air, let’s admit it, WE ARE ALL SINNERS. If you have never been in a confessional, it is a very humbling experience. Imagine for a moment, assuming you’re not Catholic, going in to the Pastor or the head Elder of your Church and having to tell him how bad you have been. Let’s say you got extra cash back at the grocery store when the cashier made change and didn’t say anything, you just kept it. Maybe you refused giving a handout to a person in need. How about, you lusted in your heart for the neighbors wife as she paraded around her back yard in her bikini. Or worse, you acted that lust out with your neighbors wife all without your wife knowing a thing. Think about that for a moment. In the Catholic Church, confessing the sins I just mentioned, to a very holy man who has forsaken MONEY, MARRIAGE AND SEX for the kingdom of God. Then let’s take a step further, imagine being a repeat offender and meeting this man to tell him your failures again. It is not like confessing to your buddy, it is very very humbling!

With all that said, I do not want to leave the impression that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a place to be scared of. As humbling as it is and as hard as it is sometimes to do it, I still go and have had some of the most powerful moments of my life inside those walls, in front of that Holy man, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Confessing your naughty’s to a Priest in a Holy setting, in front of Christ and the Holy Spirit joined together is powerful.. If you are Catholic, the Church says that it is mandatory for you to receive Reconciliation no less than once a year. To become Catholic or for more information visit http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/HOW2.htm

Father John Corapi puts it this way; Sin is like driving a nail into your soul therefore creating a wound. A major or mortal sin is like using a huge railroad spike, a minor or venial sin is like using just a regular nail. In either case, Reconciliation removes these spikes and or nails from the soul and receiving absolution and receiving and doing the penance begins the healing of those wounds.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the sacramental celebration in which, through God’s mercy and forgiveness, the sinner is reconciled with God and also with the Church, Christ’s Body, which is wounded by sin. CCC

Apostolic Authority - The Papacy-St Peter

2010-05-17T22:01:00.002-05:00

So how did the Church end up with a “Pope”, and why do Catholics believe he is the supreme leader of Christ’s Church? The answer is not easy and it takes some work, and that for some, including many Catholics, is a challenge. Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals could not possibly be farther apart on any issue. Apostolic Authority and the Papacy is an outright rejection by most all other religions. That is unfortunate, because the one thing that I have discovered in this study, is that it is clear, concise and without confusion, Jesus Christ installed the first Pope, a leader for His Church. Scripture supports it in the Holy Bible.

Establishing leaders by God was not new when Jesus did it. God established a “living, continuing authority” in the Mosaic priesthood when He made His Covenant with the Nation of Israel. (See 2 Chr 19:11; Mal 2:7) This was the safeguard of God’s word and the real interpreter of Sacred Scripture.

When Jesus established His Church, the New Israel, He too set up a “living, continuing authority” to “teach, govern and sanctify in His name”. Because it began with the 12 Apostles and continues through their successors, it is called “Apostolic”. From the beginning, this Apostolic authority has preserved and interpreted the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is this same Apostolic authority that determined which writings or books would make up the Holy Bible because they were inspired writings of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:13-19 says
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Now, I’ve heard many arguments on how this didn’t mean Jesus wasn’t building a Church and He didn’t mean the Catholic Church and on and on. Even though Jesus says “I will build my Church”. It is so clear on what Jesus is doing and saying that its hard to believe any argument can be made to the contrary. But I was wrong there are many many arguments against this saying of Jesus. I used to hang my hat on this one and say that this is why the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ and Peter was the first Pope. I mean it should be enough right? I mean how many other human beings received the keys to the kingdom of heaven? I can answer that, none.

I want to share one of the best arguments made by others here. They point out that the Greek text for Peter is Petros (a masculine noun) while the word used for rock is petra ( a feminie noun). Petros means “small stone”, while petra means “massive rock”. They claim, therefore, that the “massive rock” (petra) upon which Christ will build His Church must not refer to Peter the “small stone” (Petros) but rather to Peter’s profession of faith or to Jesus. The problem with that argument is simple, Jesus spoke Aramaic which leaves no room for the Greek (petro/petra distinction. In Aramaic the word is one word, “kepha”. What Jesus said was, “You are Kepha” (Rock) and upon this Kepha (Rock) I will build my Church.” In Aramaic the identification of Peter as the Rock is clear. In the translations some of this was lost, the writer could have in no way used a feminine word to describe a male.

Jesus is drawing this image of “the keys” from Is 22:19-22. From this context, at least 3 concepts are included. 1st The keys are a symbol of authority given to the chief official-the Prime Minister-of the kingdom of David. 2nd. Remember, “Pope” comes from the Italian word for “Papa”-father. 3rd. The office implies a dynasty succession. The office of prime Minister continued as long as the kingdom of David did. Catholics believe that Christ is the King, and that the Pope is the Prime Minister of His heavenly kingdom, the Church. Christ is the head of the Church, the Pope is His earthly representative.

For me, this was so tough, it is no wonder so many disagree over the validity of the Papacy and the issue of whether or not the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus began. I’m not a language expert and neither are most Christians but simple prayer and reflection on these so important scriptures have helped to give me a better understanding. I encourage you to ponder some other things after reading all this. Jesus is God, He changed Simons name to Peter (Rock), Jesus says that nothing will prevail against His Church until the end of time, and yet He knew everything, He must have known Peter would be dead by 70 AD. Christ must have intended the office of St Peter to last until the end of time. St Peter is given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, an awesome gift, He gave this gift to no one else, this ruling power, this unique privilege was given to one man and one man alone.

Why would Jesus give such an awesome authority to St Peter and not intend for it to be passed on? Learning about the Gospels in the early Church was much easier 2000 years ago, many of the early Christians were hearing it right from Jesus himself and then the Apostles, many of them knew the Apostles, but then the Apostle’s died. Of course Jesus knew that His Church would come under attack early on, when so many enemies tried to corrupt the teachings of Christ, the need for the power of the keys would have been and still is an absolute must!

The Apostles as a group were given the power “to bind and to loose” Mt 18:18, but it is St Peter who is given power individually when he receives the “keys”. Remember, Jesus guaranteed to back up St Peter and his successor’s doctrinal teachings. He would not have done any of this unless He was going to protect them from false teaching as shepherds of His Church.

Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail; Peter in turn would strengthen the other disciples. (Luke 22:31-32). So it’s pretty obvious, Jesus clearly makes Peter the Shepherd of the Church telling him to “feed my sheep” in John 21:15-17. St Peter is the Rock on which Jesus builds His Church, He is given the Keys to the kingdom of heaven and is made shepherd of Christ’s flock, all of this is pretty solid evidence that Jesus made Peter the first Pope.

An account of the first Church council being established can be read in Acts 15, this was the “Council of Jerusalem”, it was called at the request of St Paul to decide whether both the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ had to be followed. There was much discussion among the Apostles and presbyters, but, after Peter spoke the assembly fell silent. His statement ended the discussion and it is obvious that this council viewed Peter’s authority the final word. However, more argument, others conclude because James gave the concluding remarks including some discussion on marriage and dietary regulations that he must have been the head of the Church.

I am going to be quick to point out that the other Apostles look to St Peter for answers in all the Gospels. St Peter is always presented as the leader among them, not St James. If you read the first 12 chapters of Acts which really describe the early Church in Jerusalem, every chapter except chapter 6 and 7 which describe Stephen’s martyrdom, shows St Peter as a leader of the Church.

In Gal 1:18-19 we’re told that after St Paul’s conversion he went to Jerusalem to seek council with St Peter. He stayed with Peter for 15 days. The Bible speaks only of a brief visit to St James by St Paul.

At the “Council of Jerusalem” everyone was silenced after Peter spoke, including James. St James was the Bishop of Jerusalem and as Acts 21:15-25 describes, his main concern was the Jewish Christians who were upset about their ancient customs being turned inside out by the great number of Gentile converts. This information explains why he would have made the final remarks during the council assembly in Jerusalem.

Others say that Peter himself did not view himself as leader when he referred to himself as a fellow elder in 1 Peter 5:1, which of course is ridiculous. It’s kind of the same thing as the President of the United States saying “my fellow Americans”, that doesn’t indicate to us fellow Americans that the President has equal or less authority than do we.

Peter definitely considered himself to have more Authority than an ordinary elder. He went on to admonish these same elders 1 Pet 5:2-4. It bugs me for those who insist that St Peter an Apostle, had no greater authority than a regular Church elder, if they truly believe that, it really shows how little they appreciate what Scripture says about the great office of Apostle.

The question of Peter’s infallibility is always raised by others as well. Many will quote Gal 2:11-14 to show Peter was not infallible and Paul did not consider him the head of the Church. That’s not a supportable position to take. First, if Peter was not infallible why do they accept Peter’s two letters as inspired and therefore infallible? We have to accept the fact that all the Apostle’s were infallible. Remember, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto them to guide them in their teachings. After the Apostles, the popes individually and the bishops as a group in union with the pope.

As far as St Paul correcting St Peter for his behavior is no different then St Cathrine of Sienna correcting the weak popes in the middle ages. He wasn’t correcting him over doctrine. The issue was already settled by Peter at the Council of Jerusalem, and remember, St Paul was one of those who was silenced after Peter spoke. St Paul was correcting St Peter for his unwillingness to confront the Judaizers from Jerusalem.

St Peter was mentioned and conspicuously involved in all the Church’s firsts. He led the meeting that elected the first successor of an Apostle when they replaced Judas (Acts 1:13-26). At Pentecost he preached the first sermon (Acts 2:14). And received the first converts (Acts2:41). Peter preformed the first miracle after Pentecost (Acts 3:6-7). Executed the first excommunication on Simon the magician (Acts 8:21). Peter is the one who received the revelation to admit Gentiles into the Church (Acts 10:9-16). And he commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48).

Peter spoke so many times on behalf of the Apostles (Mt 19:27; Mk 8:29; Lk 12:41; Jn 6:69) The Apostles are sometimes referred to as Peter and his companions (Lk 9:32; Mk 16:7; Acts 2:37). Peter’s name always heads the list of Apostles (Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16;Act 1:13). Peter’s name is mentioned 191 which is more than all the other Apostles combined (130 times) the Apostle John is 2nd at 48 times.

The history of the Papacy is clear. As early as 80 AD, the Church in Corinth (the Church St Paul established just a few years before) removed all its leaders. (Fired everybody) Pope Clement I, the 4th Bishop of Rome, was called in to settle the craziness even though St John the Apostle was still alive and living much closer to Corinth than to have someone come from Rome.

The Romans certainly knew who the leader of the Church was. For 250 years Roman Emperors tried to destroy the Church and Christianity through persecution. Every Pope but one, in the first 200 years was martyred!

I am going to end this by asking a question and of course giving you the answer. Use your own logic in this. If the owner of the company you work for, calls everyone together and tells them he is going away for awhile, but before he leaves he gives the Vice President of the company his keys to the joint and tells the entire company he is doing so and whatever the Vice President says in my absence I will back him up. Is there any doubt who is in charge? Of course not!

Is Holy Communion Just for Catholic's?

2010-02-10T16:38:00.014-05:00

The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of Holy Communion.

Communion is an intimate encounter with Christ, in which we sacramentally receive Christ into our bodies, that we may be more completely assimilated into his. "The Eucharist builds the Church," as Pope John Paul II said (Redemptor Hominis 20). It deepens unity with the Church, more fully assimilating us into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; CCC 1396).

The Eucharist also strengthens the individual because in it Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, forgives our venial sins and gives us the strength to resist mortal sin. It is also the very channel of eternal life: Jesus himself.

Is Holy Communion just for us? Occasionally, an Evangelical is at a Catholic Mass, perhaps for a marriage or funeral. Some feel the Catholic Church is prideful or snobby for not allowing non-Catholics to join Communion, but it has nothing to do with pride or being snobbish. Also, most Eastern Orthodox Christians are welcome to celebrate communion with us. It's not about having an “exclusive club”. Most Catholics would love everybody to be in a position to receive the Eucharist. As written in the Gospel of John, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (Jn 6:56)

Why are we so protective of this Holy Sacrament? The Catholic Church believes it is quite serious to consume the Eucharist without believing ("discerning") that it is the Body of Jesus. "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Cor. 11:29). Transubstantiation means more than the Real Presence. According to transubstantiation, the bread and wine are actually transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. This is why, at the Last Supper, Jesus held what appeared to be bread and wine, yet said: "This is my body. . . . This is my blood" (Mark 14:22-24, cf. Luke 22:14-20). If Christ were merely present along side bread and wine, he would have said "This contains my body. . . . This contains my blood," which he did not say. It is a desecration, and it would trivialize the center of our faith. This is one area that we cannot pretend that there is unity by compromising what we believe is the Body of our Lord, the source and summit of our faith.

Why do we believe it’s the flesh and blood of Jesus? Within Scripture, the bread of life discourse in the Gospel of John brings out the Catholic Church’s understanding of Christ’s real presence within the Eucharist: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51). When Christ announced this and even to this very day, many have found this very difficult: “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?'” (Jn 6:52). Even his Apostles had a difficult time with it. Even though everyone had a very hard time with what he was saying, Jesus did nothing to dissuade them from the literal interpretation.

Often the claim is made that in this and the other Gospels, that Jesus was only speaking metaphorically. As expressed above and in the Bible, Jesus' listeners took it literally. Jesus did nothing to dissuade them from the literal interpretation or call them back because they had misunderstood him. Furthermore, in the Aramaic language that our Lord spoke, to symbolically “eat the flesh” or “drink the blood” of someone meant to persecute and assault him. (Ps 27:2, Isa 9:18-20; 49:26, Mic 3:3, 2 Sam 23:15-17, and Rev 17:6, 16) If Jesus were only speaking metaphorically about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He would have been saying that whoever persecutes and assaults Him will have eternal life, and that just makes no sense.

We never want others to think Catholics believe we are superior. On the contrary, Catholics want others to understand our faith. In Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical titled Ut Unum Sint, he quotes the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: “...the Church is not a reality closed in on herself; rather, she is permanently open to missionary and ecumenical endeavour, for she is sent to the world to announce and witness, to make present and spread the mystery of communion which is essential to her: to gather together all people and all things into Christ; so as to be for all an 'inseparable sacrament of unity'”.

We are therefore called by the Church to work together with all our brothers and sisters in Christ. Understanding what the Church teaches us about our faith is vital if we are to win the hearts, minds, and of course, the respect of other Christians.

What is Lent

2009-02-19T14:42:00.003-05:00

The other day my colleague, (a former history teacher), said he didn't realize that Catholics still did the "ashes thing", he ask me what it really meant, and I really didn't have a good answer, so I went to studied it, and from research and my own up-bringing, this is what I surmise. The word Lent is an Old English word meaning, Spring. Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season with the blessing of the foreheads of Catholics from all over the world, the ashes are actually left over Palms from Palm Sunday the year before. They are burned into ashes and mixed with a bit of oil to make the ashes pasty so they'll stick.

Ash Wednesday (not a Holy Day of obligation) is actually a nick name, the official name is the "Day Of Ashes", because on that day the foreheads of the faithful are marked with ashes in the sign of a cross. In biblical times, a mark on the forehead was a symbol of ownership, so by having our foreheads marked with the sign of the cross, we symbolize that we belong to Jesus Christ. Also, they are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. In Bible times the custom was to fast, wear sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put dust and ashes on one's head (cf. 1 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam. 1:20, 13:19, 15:32). Ashes also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. When the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with the ashes and says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return," he is echoing God's address to Adam (Gen. 3:19; cf. Job 34:15; Ps. 90:3, 104:29; Eccles. 3:20). This phrase also echoes the words at a Catholic burial, "Ashes to ashes; dust to dust," which is based on God's words to Adam in Genesis 3 and Abraham's confession, "I am nothing but dust and ashes" (Gen. 18:27).

"The Day Of Ashes also marks the beginning of our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the lynch pin of Christianity. In Lee Strobels book, "The Case For Christ" Lee puts forth the most intelligent argument I've ever heard. Lee points out the fact that in Jesus' time, women were not only viewed as dumb as rocks, but they were the most UN-trustworthy, they just were not to be believed at that time in history, so considering this when contemplating if they were faking the Resurrection, wouldn't the Apostles have tried to use someone else to discover the body missing, and the tomb empty? Someone more trusting than women, the least trust worthy people on the planet? For me it's not even a question, I can't ever remember a time in my life when it was, I view my faith as a gift, I have to, it just comes too easy to me.

Growing up a Catholic I always heard, and maybe you've heard, that Lent begins 40 days before Good Friday and ends with the beginning of the celebration of the Lords Last Supper, on Holy Thursday at the beginning of the Mass, (sorry Ma).

Holy Thursday is the day before Good Friday, the beginning of Jesus' Passion, and is the night that Jesus broke bread with his Disciples for the last time, thus Instituting the Holy Eucharist and celebrating the first Mass. Holy Thursday is also the night Jesus was arrested and brought before the Jewish High Priest, then ultimately to Pontious Pilate, where he was sentenced to death for Blasphemy. Jesus was crucified sometime on Friday morning, (Good Friday) and suffered for several hours before dying between noon and 3:00pm. He was buried and on the third day rose from the dead.

Lent forces Catholics to focus on one thing, the last days of the worlds Savior. We contemplate the ultimate sacrifice Jesus Christ made for humanity, we contemplate the misery, suffering and the brutal punishment of God's only Son, and His glorious Resurrection. To pay homage, we emulate the suffering by fasting, we fast by eating no meat on Ash Wednesday, and all Fridays during the season. People over the age of 12 are also asked to sacrifice something else, or "give something up", something they truly love, many chocolate lovers (my Mom & Sister) give up chocolate, others give up drinking, smoking etc., all in an effort to sacrifice as did Christ. That's Lent to me and many other Catholics, I hope I was able to shed a bit of LIGHT, no pun intended......Y

Vice Presidential Candidate Gov. Sarah Palin (AK) Full Speech at the RNC

2008-09-05T21:17:00.005-05:00

Ohhhhhhhh, I still got goose bumps, what a hottie! America fell head over heels in love with Governor Sarah Palin Wednesday night as she spoke at the RNC. I firmly believe she nailed the coffin shut on the "Smoke and Mirrors" Obama. All I have to do is shut up on this one, go ahead and watch the speech in its entirety right here…..R

I DIED

2008-09-04T12:02:00.010-05:00

September 2nd marks an ugly anniversary for the friends and family of Tony Kraus. Tony was killed at the precious age of 23 yrs old in a tragic automobile accident on this date 1year ago. I am blogging today for a couple reasons, one I guess it helps to talk about it and two because Tony touched my life and has continued to do so even after his death.

I have learned some valuable lessons from the tragedy and have adjusted accordingly, but no lesson has ever been as important and as valuable as the lesson I learned on July 26, 2008. What you are about to read is true and to the best of my recollection.

You may or may not know, I recently had a significant change in my career status and as a result have had to hit the road again in an effort to retain my customer base and to sell them on a new product line. If you are one of those who knew me around 2000 you know that I was around 100 lbs. less than what I currently weight now. The last 8 years has been hard on my body, drinking mass quantities, eating great food at all hours of the day and night have taken a tremendous toll on my body.

During the months of May, June and July of this year, I lived on the road pretty solid, I returned on July 24 after 90-days of hard work with lots of party thrown in as well, even partying the day after returning home, I met up with some buddies downtown and hit it again, closing up that bar.

The very next day, Friday July 25, 2008, was a tough day. I had been having trouble breathing, I had been really short of breath, I couldn’t walk anywhere without being extremely winded. I kept blaming it on my asthma, and my Doc was on vacation and I couldn’t for the life of me get anyone at his office to call in my inhaler prescription.

As I settled in for bed that night, I believed at the time that I was having an asthma attack, I was really uncomfortable, but I sleep with a CPAP machine (this forces air down your pipe, and keeps you from snoring and from stopping breathing in your sleep), so this gave me some relief, enough where I could fall to sleep.

At some point, and I believe it to be near the end of my night’s sleep, although I can’t say for sure at what time it was, I believe I died in my sleep, that is to say that I believe my heart stopped beating for a period of time. I believe this because I’ve read the books and have seen it on TV; you know what I’m talking about, the “Near Death Experience”. That is exactly what will make this event hard for anyone to believe, because we’ve all heard of it and each of the stories we’ve heard seems to always be the same story we’ve already heard before or read about, so it’s easy to doubt it, I know because I was always one of those doubters. It’s easy to say, well that was just a dream……..

I was suddenly in a black hole and a very narrow tunnel almost immediately began to take shape, my 1st initial feeling was very simple, it was one of just, W O W, this is really cool! At 1st, I thought oh right I’m sleeping so I must be dreaming, but then just saying that I realized this is not a dream, and this is more real than a dream, in fact, this entire experience was more than real, more real than if I were telling you this in person, I know that doesn’t make any since, but it’s the only way I can explain this.

This black hole started with a bright flash of light (more bright than I’ve ever seen) that rushed in from all around me, this light was so brilliant, but it didn’t hurt me to look at it, and then as fast as this light appeared it suddenly became just a pinpoint of light at the far end of what became a tunnel.

I started moving into and up the tunnel toward the brilliant light, and as I moved up the tunnel and toward the light it became brighter, the light gave me an overwhelming feeling of love, the light was a being I thought, it has to be a being because that light loves me, and as soon as I acknowledged that the light loved me it became abundantly clear to me that this light was Jesus, it was the Light Of Jesus Christ, and at that point the race was on, I moved faster and faster toward the light, I wanted to be with the light.

Suddenly, my Mother was with me (my Mom passed away in 2004), and then both my maternal and paternal grandparents as well as my father were all with me (all who have passed away). I have missed my Mother dearly, I used to call my Mom every single day of my life and I miss her and now all of a sudden here she was, I could see her as if you and I were sitting here in a room looking at one another, although it was even different than that, I have to say that it was like there was an added dimension to this “tunnel” and then even that doesn’t explain it good enough, and I know that makes no since, but it’s the best I can come up with with my limited use of the English language.

My Mother looked at me with great concern in her face, they all looked at me with this same look in their faces, my Mother spoke to me, and she was the only one of my family who spoke to me. My Mom said “Oh Rodney, you can’t be here, you’re not supposed to be here, you have to go back”. My Mom’s tone was that of one that I had heard many times before, but it was from a long time ago, from when I was a little boy, that was the tone that I recognized in her voice. I wasn’t doing something bad, it’s just that I felt my Mother was trying to advise me on how to do something and when not to do something and that this was not the time to be moving toward the “Light”, does that make any since?

I did not listen to my Mother, I moved faster and faster to the “Light”, Jesus. I wanted to be with Jesus, I wanted to meet Him, I was not scared, I was excited, I was as excited to meet Him as I was to see my Mom, so I moved faster and faster, all the while my Mother was trying to persuade me not to, and just about the time I was about to ask my Mother why I couldn’t be here, she suddenly moved back, they all moved back.

Tony Kraus was suddenly in front of me, with the same look on his face as everyone else, he was in between me and the “Light”, I wanted to grab him and hug him, but he grabbed me by my hands and I was halted in my quest to get to the “Light”. He was holding my hands and he said to me “Dude no, you can’t be here right now, you’re not supposed to be here right now, you have to go back”!

I awoke and practically jumped from my bed, I took my CPAP mask off without even un-hooking the strap, I set on the edge of my bed and said out loud, “WTF was that”! Within moments, my doorbell was ringing and I had company for coffee, I couldn’t focus on the conversation with my company, all I could do is think about my sleep experience. I knew it was not a dream, this was something more real than a dream, this was something more real than real.

My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour, I wanted to tell my friend Ed Kastelz who was right in front of me now in this world having coffee, I wanted to tell him, but I was afraid he would think I had completely went off the deep end or wonder what it was that I was smoking.
Ed didn’t stay long, one cup and he was out the door, and the minute he left I regretted not telling him. I did tell him the very next day, and he was the first person I told, and I’m very glad I did, he believed me and that gave me strength to tell others, not many, just a few. I’ve told family members and a few close personal friends.

I couldn’t wait to tell Tony’s Mother, but yet on the other hand, for me, Yolanda was the most difficult to tell this too, I wanted to tell her so she would know Tony was safe and Ok, but on the other hand, her heart aches for her son Tony and the last thing I would ever want to do is to add pain unto pain, plus how safe is it to tell someone this, I mean it sounds like Rod has lost his mind doesn’t it?

I have been very careful who I’ve told my story too, for fear of ridicule, but today I was asked by Tony’s Mom whether or not I had written my experience down, this made me realize that today shouldn’t just mark the anniversary of an extremely heart breaking experience for those of us who loved Tony Kraus, this day should also be a day that we tell others why Tony is so missed, what a great kid he was. Tony died, Yolanda lost her son, Chase Anthony lost his Dad, and I’m worried someone won’t believe me or they’ll think I’m nuts? Who cares!

Let me tell you what I believe, I believe my heart stopped beating while I was asleep, and I believe that Tony Kraus started my heart beating again when he grabbed me by my hands, I believe I began a journey in the “tunnel” to another world, I believe Tony was asked by God to stop me from completing the journey, and that’s exactly how I felt when Tony took my hands.

I even reported this to a medical doctor a few weeks after I first started seeing her which was on July 28, 2008 (2-days after I died). She too believed me, this Dr. had informed me the week after I died that my heart was enlarged and really weak, (info gathered from chest x-rays, EKG’s and some other ECG something or another) and that I had a lot of fluid around my heart causing me to be extremely short of breath (not my asthma as I suspected). When I told my Dr that I believed that my heart stopped beating in my sleep, she was not surprised and said, “I believe that, it happens all the time, especially when someone is in the condition you were in when you first walked in here”.

My experience took place in my sleep on a Friday night/Saturday morning. That Monday, I quit smoking and anyone who knows me, knows how hard that should have been for me. Also that Monday, I did my first walk, it was 250 yards round trip and I couldn’t breathe. Wednesday of that week I saw my Doctor at the Born Clinic, this is when she ordered all the testing.
The Born Clinic is a preventative health care clinic, it’s where Muhammad Ali has gone for years for the controversial medical treatment called Chelation, an IV of a cocktail of drugs and peroxide, this cocktail is called EDTA. Chelation was used in the 50’s to cure lead poisoning, and many believe it helps diabetics by improving circulation, it removes plaque from the walls of arteries around the heart thus reversing coronary artery disease and in short many believe it’s like giving the body a tune up or an oil change.

Today, five weeks later and on the anniversary of Tony’s tragic death, I walked my usual 3 mile walk this morning, and tonight I rode my bike 5 miles further than my normal nightly 6 mile trip, I did this by riding to Tony’s grave and back for a round trip total of 11 miles. I rode to Tony’s grave to thank him for saving my life, and for turning me back in the “Tunnel” and making me realize it was not my time that night, I went there to show him that I heard him, and I’m not wasting the opportunity. I have lost 15 lbs. and remain on a great diet, I have not smoked and have my blood sugar under control, and I wanted him to know that I made up my mind once and for all that “I choose Life”.

I share my story not only because I am proud of my accomplishments, but I want people to know the good about Tony Kraus, he wasn’t just a great kid who had struggles with drugs and overcome addiction, he was a person who loved you back, if you loved Tony, he loved you back and would do anything for you, I will never forget the day he told me that he wished he could buy his Mom a spa and that someday he would, he immediately started working me for the best price he could get for his Mom, this still makes me smile. J

If Tony could do something that could help you out he did it, we would set on the deck and he would get up and light my tikki torches and every time he would say, I guess I gotta light these things again, am I the only one who fills these things, it seems like every time I have to light them the dam things are empty”. He would say this every time, LOL, he knew I loved those torches!

Tony helped me out on July 26, 2008, he set me on a course to make changes, I am on a mission to live as long as I can, and my life will be that of a healthy man. I’m not sure why that night was not my time, and maybe tomorrow will be, I just know that night wasn’t and my own Mother couldn’t make me understand that, but Tony Kraus did and I am very thankful for a second chance!!!!
Spread the news, "Even If You Die, You Live"

I MIS YOU BIG BOY

2007-09-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

This is Tony Kraus on August 31, 2007, just two days later, on September 2, 2007, he was killed in an auto accident. I'm both broken hearted and devastated, I've been on my knee's for nearly two weeks. I have never been stricken with such grief in all my life, and I never realized just how much the young man in the picture meant to me.

I know in my heart and mind that he's in a better place now, but I still can't shake it, it makes no since at this time, but I also know at some point it will become crystal clear.

This was my Eulogy to Tony's family and friends at his funeral, I tried to shed a little light on who this kid was, the Eulogy falls far short of the whole story;

Yolanda, Jeff and Terry, and all of Tony’s family, your since of loss is absolutely unimaginable, I’m sure of that! But take comfort in the fact that Tony was a really remarkable man.

I have known Tony since he was 14 or 15 years old, I met him thru my kids, and once I did, I knew I wanted him a part of their lives and mine, and he was, I’m so grateful for that! Thanks for sharing him.

Tony was electrifying and always filled a room with his exuberance. You just always wanted Tony to be around! Tony loved many and many loved Tony. Tony fit everywhere and with everyone, both young and old, he was a precious soul, he was thoughtful, kind, respectful and had a great since of honor (Good job Yolanda)

Like many of us he made mistakes, but unlike so many his age, he was able to persevere and step up to the plate, like a real man. Tony not only admitted his mistakes, but did his utmost to correct them and to make amends.

I know if Tony is listening right now and I were to say to him something like “now Tony why is that, why are so strong this way” he would say something like “ it’s cause I’m Mexican”!

Last Saturday I was one of the luckiest people on the planet. You see I spent some of Tony’s last hours with him. My granddaughter Cyanna and I picked Tony and Chase up and made a trip to Chuckie Cheeses, after 1 quick ride together in a 4x4 kiddy ride there were only three smiling faces and none of them were Cyanna’s, This thing was rockin Chase right out of his socks, Cyanna was jumping out of the ride and Chase (the driver) was ear to ear smile, I looked at Tony and he too was ear to ear grin as well and cheering Chase on, “Go buddy go”

Chase and Tony quickly dumped the old guy and the girl and were off on their own. Cyanna and I were doing girl things but as we searched around and around for more calmer things to do we would watch Tony and Chase, they were doing all the rough rides, but when it got right down to it, Tony ultimately had Chase playing games, mostly the ones where two players could play, I want everyone to know and understand of the joy and the happiness I saw in Tony’s face that day, that child was Tony’s new world and Tony was a great dad, and he knew it!

A few weeks ago I had customers in from Norway and Arizona, we had a couple of my good friends and sales reps in as well, but I had one last minute cancellation. This was too bad to because I mean we had a big day planned, we had a Limousine lined up, taking us to Tiger Stadium, Greek Town and then a Dave Matthews Band concert to end the night. Guess who was with me when I got the cancellation? Yep Tony was right there and said “I can go”. Now I had to think real fast because after all these were a couple of my biggest customers, I said “Tony, I don’t know dude, these are some of my biggest hitters” and then I stopped and said to myself, wait a minute this is Kraus, he’ll own em and he will represent himself and Viking Spas well, and DID HE EVER!

I have spoken to all of the out of town guest that rode in that Limo with Tony that night, and informed them of what has happened to Tony, and every single one of them had a story to tell me about Tony and the impression he had made on them, there were 13 of us total, but Tony sought them out, made his rounds and made friends that quickly with some of the most successful people in the pool and spa industry, I know reps in the business 20yrs that can’t do that.

All of these successful business people had one thing in common to say about their new friend Tony, and it came from every one of them, they all said how proud Tony was of his son Chase, everyone in that Limo saw a picture of Chase Anthony that night.

Tony was supposed to go to Church with me last Sunday morning, he was going to meet the Religious Education Director at my parish because he had made the decision to make his 1st Holy Communion and his Confirmation, I know he wants’ everyone here to know that, I had forgotten but I suddenly realized how important it was to him and how serious he was when he left me that night and in shaking my hand he said, I’ll see ya for church right? I said oh that’s right; just make sure you’re up in the morning big boy, he said, “I will be”.

I, along with everyone else who knew Tony will miss him greatly, but I am comforted by the thought that he was looking to make a bigger commitment to God, he had the intent before God took him home, I know it my heart, I feel it, he’s there, probably cutting a deal for Chase to be able to live long and prosper.
Tony, I love you, thanks for being my friend!

Since the funeral, I've tried to stay busy. I am posting the following in the interest of explaining what it is I've actually been up to. Sometime this week we will have http://www.tonykraus.com/ up and running. We've started a trust fund for Tony's 31/2 yr old son Chase. Also this week we will begin selling raffle tickets for the "TK Christmas 2007 Raffle", you will actually be able to purchase raffle tickets online at his website, for the chance to win some really fabulous prizes. I'll keep you updated on the progress of the site......

Dear Potential Raffle Ticket Purchaser,

On September 2, 2007 Anthony “Tony” Kraus of Grand Rapids Michigan, was tragically killed in an auto accident. Tony was a loving and dedicated father just 23 yrs old, and his son Chase was Tony’s whole world and visa versa. The Tony Kraus Memorial Trust Fund is an irrevocable trust that has been established for the sole benefit of Tony’s 3 1/2 yr old son Chase Anthony, who without his father’s support needs your help. Our main goal is to help with Chase’s health, education and welfare, your generous contribution and big heart, insures that security for this innocent young boy’s future needs.

In addition, your purchase of each ticket enters you in the “TK 2007 Christmas Raffle” drawing to be held December 24, 2007, with a chance to win one of the fabulous leisure products listed below from the spa and hot tub industry, and with only 5000 tickets sold, your odd’s are a whole lot smarter than any other gamble I can think of.

Ticket costs are $25.00 each, every ticket purchased is another entry, all proceeds from this raffle will be deposited into the Tony Kraus Memorial Trust Fund, this money will be invested over the next 14 plus years by a Financial Advisor named, Ronald Monchilov. Tony's Mother Yolanda Freeman has been appointed Trustee.

Your check is more than welcome, please make payable to Tony Kraus Memorial Trust Fund

Tony Kraus Memorial Trust Fund, “TK Christmas 2007 Raffle”
1st Prize: Viking Supreme Spa-Viking Spas
2nd Prize: DynaQ Outdoor Kitchen Island & BBQ Grill-Dynasty Spas
3rd Prize: Cannon Pool Table-Taylor Hayes
4th Prize: 2-Person Infrared Sauna-Watson’s of Indianapolis
5th Prize: USB Tanning Bed-Watson’s of Nashville
6th Prize: Bow Flex Treadmill-Watson’s of Cincinnati

In the unique and sincere form that Tony had when expressing his gratitude,
“Thank you, So So much for helping me. Dude you have no idea how much this means to me”!

MAYBE I'LL COME BACK

2007-08-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

I've been on a bit of a vacation of sorts, not a real vacation, but a vacation from the blogesphere. I'm not sure what happened, I think I blog over loaded. I've even stopped watching the television news channels and listening to the news channels on my XM radio. I'm serious when I say I may have over loaded. I down right got tired of the current world events, maybe even a bit frightened by what I was watching, listening to and writing about. I think when you are paying such close attention to world events as I was, and then even writing about them, you ultimately and even unwillingly get pretty wrapped up in it and it can be a bit overwhelming. After all, I do have a real job that keeps me really busy, especially in the summer months.

I've had a pretty scary medical issue since my last post on June 2nd. I had what they call a TIA or Transient Aschemic Attack. This is a "Mini Stroke", a blood clot that passes thru the brain, but the body eradicates the clot within seconds or sometimes minutes, thus leaving you no long term symptoms or effects. In most cases all symptoms are gone within a few hours to 24 hours. In my case, all symptoms were gone within 3 1/2 hours.

This was probably one of the most surreal moments in my life. I couldn't move my left side for a few seconds and everything on my left side went limp, I knew it was a stroke and was terrified, I said "No, please God not right now", and than my mind went blank and I mean blank, I remember getting out of my chair from a high table and grabbing the table with all my might with my right arm, because I had nothing on the left side. My next memory is my friend walking me to a booth in the restaurant and he was asking me if I was OK and should he call an ambulance, I remember the terror in his 20 something face and I didn't want to scare him anymore than I already did, but I said, " no, I'm not OK, get the car, your driving me". The waitress watched this and she too was at the booth and asking if I needed an ambulance, I said " no honey, just give me the bill, my friends going to drive me".

The test were immediate at the ER, results on the other hand trickled in, I prayed the Rosary and truly expected the BIG one was yet to come, I asked God that if I was to have another one and it was going to leave me a vegetable, to just take me home. I asked the Blessed Mother of God to intervene and ask God to spare me and my family of a possible vegetative state of mind and please bring me home!

I thought of my kid's and how this was going to effect them and this terrified me the most! My grand daughters would never remember me and I would not get to see them grow up and have kids of thier own. My sudden death or disability would devastate them! I thought of my Siblings and how long it's been since I've seen them and suddenly began to feel a sense of regret for this.

The Doctors informed me of the "TIA, or mini stroke", and I remember thinking, well, mini stroke sure sounds better than a regular stoke, I asked God to let it pass, and he did. In retrospect, I believe God took over in the restaurant. In my family, blood clots don't disappear on their own. Jesus said that our Father knows what we are about to ask even before we ask, he also said that our Father will give to you what you ask for, " ask and you shall receive", I asked at the "moment" in the restaurant and He gave me what I asked! Thank you God, I love you! Please let me do better for you!

Shoe Bomber

2007-06-01T21:41:00.000-05:00

Sentence of Reid
Remember this ass hole? The guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?

Didn't think so. Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stating, "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject. Pass this around. Everyone sh ould and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home. God bless America

Please forward this http://juststuff-yendor.blogspot.com/2007/06/shoe-bomber.html so every American has a chance to read it

I'm Back!

2007-06-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

I've been on a nationwide tour of my dealers for the last three and half weeks, whew, long time to live in hotels. all the entertaining/partying takes it's toll, but now I'm home and it's time to get on with the hot issues of the day. I had my laptop computer with me and sat in front of it on many occasions trying to formulate my thoughts, but by the end of each day I was either too drunk or too tired, but that was than and this is now and after a 7900 mile drive, I've had plenty of think time, so get ready, I've got some new idea's to keep you coming back!

What's up with the dude with this freaky rare TB? We're now in a he said she said battle of words, with the CDC telling the world they told the dude not to travel because this form of TB is highly contagious, and now the man does an interview with Good Morning America, pretty riveting I might add, I mean this guy was pretty convincing when he said the CDC told him he was not contagious, and they gave him a wink and a nod and told him he the only reason they were telling him not to travel, was just policy and covering there ass! I really feel kind of bad for this guy, he has a small child and was getting married, would he really have wanted to expose them if he truly believed he was contagious?

What else is happening? Oh yeah, Paris Hilton is on her way to serve the sentence that was cut in half because everyone was feeling sorry for her. The 45 days in jail will now be 22 1/2 days, huh? That wouldn't happen to you or me, we would be parked for the full 45 days or more!

Who the hell is Lindsey? I can't write about her escapades because I don't know who the hell she is. All I know about her, is that her Mom is hot and loves to party with the kids, anyone want to help me out here? I guess I should ask my 12 year old nephew, I bet he knows who she is!

America picked the newest idol while I was on the road, it boiled down to Blake and Jordon. I got to watch that Tuesday, and when it was done, I knew I didn't have to watch the results on Wednesday, because that good looking 17 year old nailed it and spanked Blake right out of the competition. She will be BIG!

I got the chance to eat a lot of BBQ on the road, and being 345lbs., you know I know my BBQ. While criss crossing the country, I had the idea to blog about the countries BBQ capitols, Carolina's, Texas, KC and Tennessee. Look for my up coming judging of these BBQ regions and see who wins it hands down, know where to find the countries best!. I'll share details of the actual meals, and remember, when ever I'm in an area, my mother didn't raise no fool, I always get the locals favorite restaurants. Until than, I leave you with this hysterical clip from Fox' Half Hour News Hour, Oxy Clinton, the new drug.......Y

GET THE BOOK ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BBQ AND THAN TAKE IT FROM THE BIG MAN, A REAL AMERICAN BBQ EATER, I'LL TELL YA WHERE TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE COOK IT FOR YOU....

RUDI ON ABORTION, WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

2007-05-13T15:02:00.000-05:00

I have recenley heard some pundents, Democrat's and Republican's alike, commenting that the Republican's need to get it together, stop bickering over the little issues such as thier position on abortion.

I think, pretty much all of the Republican candidates have flip floped on this issue, with the exception of maybe McCain, http://www.johnmccain.com/landing/?sid=google&CMP=KNC-RU9055186769 nding/?sid=google&CM P=KNC-RU9055186769 NC-RU9055186769 of course he is a bit wishie washie on his support of the Bush administration, and that's always bugged me, because as I've said before on this blog, that if American's would get behind Bush, the war on terror would be won very swiftly with the might of the American will and resolve!

The people are afraid of Mitt Romney for a couple reasons, first is his Religieon, he's a Morman, I fail to see how that will ruin the country. He believes in God and His only Son Jesus Christ. Mitt too has flip floped on the issue of abortion, but, has fliped to the side of the un-born child, now this is the right flip is it not? His record in Massechussets prooves it. http://www.mittromney.com/Learn-About-Mitt/index

Rudi Giuliani http://www.joinrudy2008.com/forbes.html?gclid=CJKEnPmIjIwCFRlmWAod12FqBw has flip floped many times on the issue and has finally, in the heat of the national spotlight, had to admit that he is a true believer in the womans right to choice, although he would urge any woman to consider adoption, because he doesn't support abortions. That is code for I'm really fishing for votes from all sides! Face it Rudi was elected mayor in one of the most Liberal cities on the planet, it's true he fought the high rate of crime and won, he was an outstanding leader in the city of New York after 9/11, but the issue of Abortion, http://www.unclejoes.com/how_many_babies.htm is not little, it is our responsibility as citizens of the world to protect God's greatest gift, if a person does not understand, or even if they do understand the moral sacrifice they are making when having an abortion, and the fact that they are killing a gift from God, then we must make the law of the land to save the child!

Ronald Reagan flip floped and came down on the side of life, something other than politics changes these men as they grow in thier political careers, I don't know what made Reagan change his mind, just like I don't know why Romney changed his. I've heard Romney say that it was a family decision, he talked it over with his family before making the change, maybe it was the guidence they recieved from God himself as they turned to Him during thier political careers.

Republican's do need to step up in this election, they need to challenge one another on this issue, make each other make a final declaration and than move on! They must stop Hillary and Obama before Americans are bamboozeled into following them into the next election. I still believe that if former Senator Fred Thompson http://draftfredthompson.com/ get's in, he will win by a landslide, he's a hard core Reaganite that will inspire the consrvatives to put him in the oval office!

IRS SMACK DOWN

2007-05-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a colonoscopy? I have, and I got to tell you that believe it or not there is something far worse than a simple routine instrument being run up your ass for a look see! That's right, if you guessed from the title that I may have run into a little trouble, your right! I've recently got frozen by the IRS. I had a business that I closed up in the late 90's and when I did, I still had a couple, well shall I say, issues. I had a tax due from December 1997 of $8800 that I let fester and just months away from the statute of limitations the Gestapo, I mean the Internal Revenue Service Levied my wages, bank accounts and slapped a lien on my American dream. I'm frozen, unable to move, literally. The tax is now $17,168, I've always felt guilty about my unpaid debt to uncle Sam, but 50% interest and no negotiating, come on. Plus, have you ever stooped to think of the taxes we all pay, take a look at the following, I guess I don't feel as bad as I did after thinking this one over, Enough is enough! But than again, don't f... with the bull, he may turn and horn you......Y

Tax his land, Tax his bed,
Tax the table at which he's fed.

Tax his tractor, Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes are the rule.

Tax his cow, Tax his goat,
Tax his pants, Tax his coat.

Tax his ties, Tax his shirt,
Tax his work, Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his cigars, Tax his beers,
If he cries then Tax his tears.

Tax his car, Tax his gas,
Find other ways to tax his ass.

Tax all he has then let him know
you won't be done till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers, then tax him some more,
Tax him till he's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he's laid.

Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom..."

When he's gone, do not relax,
It's time to apply the Inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax,
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense
Inventory tax
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road usage taxes
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class
In the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
And I still have to "press 1" for English?

American Idol Results

2007-05-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

I have not wanted to say it, I have tried to look on the bright side of this years American Idol, but it's really starting to bite. Early on Randy Jackson on a couple different ocassions said "There is no clear front runner", Maybe he was really saying, "Dawg, this year sucks". Howard Stern and his wacky web site to vote for the worst may really have screwed things up, I mean, some really talented people were voted off the show all the while Sanjaya moved on from week to week, bizzare. At any rate, Chris Richardson and Phil Stacey are gone and now there are 4. The B-Bopper Blake Lewis, the beautiful 17 year old Jordan Sparks, the Cindeerella of Flint Michigan, Lakisha Jones and the always the back up singer Malinda Dolittle will battle it out to be the next American Idol.........Y

http://www.americanidol.com

American Idol Elimination Night

2007-05-02T15:58:00.000-05:00

Which two are going to get the boot tonight? My understanding is that American Idol will take the two lowest scores from two weeks in a row and boot the two tonight. Now if you think Jordan Sparks had the lowest last night, I say she had the highest last week, so she can't go! Can she? I was never good at math, all I know is that either her or Malinda Dolittle will most likley be # 1 & #2, but stay tuned, I'll post tonight after the results.....Y
http://www.americanidol.com

Bon Jovi and Top 6 This Week, Simon Kisses Lakisha, WOW, What A Night!

2007-05-01T18:42:00.000-05:00

The pressure mounts this week, as our votes will be sending TWO Idols packin. This was also be a BIG Rock night as Jon Bon Jovi mentored the remaining six contestants, and tomorrow night is the big double vote-off as Idol will reveal the Top 4...Ooooo this is exciting....

Phil Stacey opened the show and rocked the house, Randy said it was Phil's personal best this season, Paula said it was the best of all openers of this season and of course Simon said he sucked and didn't do enough to make it thru to next week!

Next came Jordan Sparks with Livin on a Prayer, I say so so, Randy said versues were rough and it wasn't your best, Paula said you went for it, your hot and your out there, Simon said Jordan's outfit was like something out of the Adams Family, and the singing was out of control and on the verge of shrieking, it was terible. I hate to agree, but I do, and it's a bummer, because I think she could win it all if she makes it thru to next week.

Lakisha put the usual black soul on the classic Bon Jovi song "This ain't a Love Song", Jon Bon Jovi said he's not a bettin man, but he'd "bet she isn't going home this week singing this song". I agree, she NAILED it, Randy was over joyed, Paula said you gave everyone a little sumin sumin, and low and behold Simon got up and kissed her! Ooo caca!

Blake Lewis takes a risk on a classic and makes "You Give Love A Bad Name" his own bee bop sound. Bon Jovi told him it was a gamble, he'd have to sell a song that was loved by millions and sell his own version, I feel he lost the gamble, but Randy said the most original version ever on American Idol, a big leap of faith and he won it. Palua says it was amazing and Simon said half will love it and half will hate it, Simon said this was very brave and it will keep you in the competition next week.

Next to last comes Chris Richardson who was shakey last week but had big balls tonight and steped up and did the same song Chris Daughtry did last year, Wanted Dead Or Alive, and NAILED IT BIG TIME, Bon Jovi told him to step up and sell it to America, and I think he did just that. Randy said he was worried for him but he did it nice and he liked it, Paula was on her feet and said what a great night, Simon said you did is much as you could do because this isn't your style, and weather you did enough to stay til next week he's not sure!

Last and never least and closing the show was Malinda doing one of Bon Jovi's newest, Have A Nice Day, Jon told her when they were finished that she just joined the band, what a compliment. She rocked tonight, she may win it all. Randy said it wasn't her best, but it was good, Paula said it was great and asked how does it feel to be a Rock Star, Simon said he didn't know the song, but he loved the Tina Turner spin she put on it!
http://www.americanidol.com/

This Is Justice????

2007-04-26T21:53:00.000-05:00

by Rush Limbaugh:

I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty, and those who die serving our country in Uniform, are profound. No one is really talking about it either; because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers just pass by; because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement
mentality of this country.

If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.......However; if you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a big $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.

Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.

Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. But our military men allow themselves to be put in harm's way FOR ALL OF US , and they and their families know the dangers.... ( a willing sacrifice....)

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation, as well.

You do see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East, while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing . Make any sense?

However, our own Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month! ( And most are now equal to being millionaires plus.) They do not receive Social Security on retirement, because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, while the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month …….I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks, before they start cutting out more benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting!

When do we finally do something about this? If this doesn't seem fair to you, it is time to forward this to as many people as you can. How many people CAN YOU send this to? And How many,WILL YOU?
COPY, CUT, PASTE AND SEND http://juststuff-yendor.blogspot.com/2007/04/this-is-justice.html

SANJAYA-MALAKAR, DOES DAVID LETTERMAN TOP TEN

2007-04-26T21:30:00.000-05:00

Un-Believable. He's back. One thing you can say about Sanjaya is that he is resilient!

Alec Baldwin Leaves Violent Voice Mail For Daughter

2007-04-21T21:16:00.000-05:00

Narcissistic infantile dumb ass! You see Alec, I can call names too, the only difference is that were both adults, and we can handle this tone and language. This guy doesn't even know how old his daughter is, if you listen and analyze, it really doesn't matter to him, he just doesn't care, it's all about him, not the poor little girl who had to listen to his tirade. I don't know, on the one hand, I think this tone and language is mild, but the only thing I have to compare it to is my dad, and he would have made Alec Baldwin sound like Mr. Rogers. I can't believe the amount of people going after the story of "who released the recording to the media". What does that mean? Kim Bassinger is a bad Mom for exposing Baldwin? The man is threatening his daughter, "I'm going to fly up there and straighten you out, your going to understand how angry I am, you've done this for the last time". I think the man's out of control, I think his threats should be taken serious in light of this weeks events at VT. If this were anyone else, we would be under investigation for child abuse, the police would at the very least question the person making the threats, I hope Baldwin has to face the questioning of the police, maybe he'll learn how to talk to his young daughter, maybe he'll realize that his divorce from Kim Bassinger doesn't just effect him, it effects the child even more.......Y

Virginia Tech Massacre

2007-04-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of a very disturbed individual. I am not going to even identify him by name, I almost didn't include this picture, because that's what this evil SOB wanted, fame. He is the killer of 32 innocent victims on the campus of Virginia Tech, a campus where young men and women have gone to better their life and fill their minds with information and knowledge, that's all they wanted. They wanted to have the college experience, the college years, the time of their life while building their future, and this little evil bastard stole it from them.

People are tempted by evil, the evil one, the devil, call it what you will, but every person has a choice, and this weak pussy chose the devil. Look at his face, listen to him on television in his so called manifesto, he's not nuts, he's not incoherent, he knew exactly what he was doing, he is just pure evil!

Reports from the university say that more than one professor wanted this guy out of their class room, one professor even threaten to quit if the administration didn't remove the student from their class. This dude roomed in a suite with two other students and never spoke one word to them in nine months, shouldn't the University recognized this guy as a threat to others?

I am a Conservative Republican, I do not want to tear up the constitution, but their is something wrong with this guy being able to buy a gun over the Internet, and then another 2 days later at a gun shop near the campus in a matter of ten minutes. You have to wait in line at K-mart longer than that to buy chewing gum! There is documentation that this guy got into trouble for stalking two different girls and a court said he was a danger to himself and others. Changes have to be made, and I hate it, but guys like this are ruining it for the rest of us responsible gun owners.

Along with a better reporting system for cook coo's like this, we should arm the campus ROTC guys, let them take guys like this down before they can ruin the lives and break the hearts of so many.....Y

Sanjaya Eliminated

2007-04-18T20:48:00.000-05:00

Sanjaya is gone! America finally gets it right, or enough people decided to put an end to the idiotic and malicious efforts by Howard Stern to screw up the show by getting people to vote for the worst contestant. Tuesday nights American Idol beat all voting records with over 39 million, and Sanjaya got the boot.

Ryan Seacrest kept it suspenseful, with breaks and a awesome performance by Martina McBride. Seacrest broke the 7 into two groups of three with Blake, Lakisha and Sanjaya in one group, Jordan, Chris, and Phil in another, he brought Melinda Dolittle in the middle, Ryan announced right away that she was safe, then asked her to pick the group she thought had the least amount of votes, she refused and sat right down on the middle of the stage. Simon made the comment that he thought something good was coming, smiling Simon did not hide the fact that he thought Sanjaya was headed home. Finally the announcement came, and Sanjaya was sent packing.

Tuesday night, after criticizing Chris Richardson, Simon got into a little trouble when he was caught on camera rolling his eyes while Chris Richardson was expressing his support for the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy, but tonight it was explained and video clips were shown of Simon and Paula talking to each other while Chris was speaking and Simon didn't hear him, Simon was rolling his eyes over what Paula was saying, not over the VT comments of Chris, you may not like Simon, and he may be an ass sometimes, but he is not dumb or that cold hearted for that matter, so let's keep that story straight! Y

USA Today 25 Most Memorable Books

2007-04-14T05:57:00.000-05:00

25 Most Memorable
USA Today

25 Books that leave a legacyBooks tell a story about our reading preferences, certainly, but also about what's happening in our world. USA TODAY's book editors and critics chose 25 titles that made an impact on readers and the publishing industry over the past quarter-century. If your choices differ, let us know at usatoday.com. We'll post your picks.

#1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneBy J.K. Rowling (1998)Midnight book parties, all-night readathons, overnight deliveries: A boy wizard named Harry got kids (and adults) thinking that reading was cool. And mega sales of the magical series redefined what it meant to be a best seller.

#2 The Deep End of the Ocean By Jacquelyn Mitchard (1996)What was America reading? Whatever Oprah Winfrey was reading. The talk-show host became a publishing powerhouse on Sept. 17, 1996, when she made Mitchard s novel her first book club pick. All 57 selections have been instant smash hits.

#3 The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown (2003)The religious thriller about Jesus s love affair with Mary Magdalene became the fastest-selling adult novel in the history of publishing with 75 million copies in print worldwide. It drew a warning from the Vatican and spawned months of water-cooler debates, a movie, countless Code wannabes and an entire travel industry.

#4 The 911 Commission Report By the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (2004) Praised for its riveting depiction of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, this is the only government report ever nominated for the National Book Award. First-day sales pushed the $10 report to the No. 1 spot on USA TODAY s Best Selling Books list.

#5 Chicken Soup for the SoulBy Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield (1993)Comfort food for readers, the Chicken Soup books, which told short, bright stories about overcoming adversity, quickly became a franchise. The 144 titles now in the series are geared to teens, single parents, even NASCAR fans.

#6 Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus By John Gray (1992)We always knew men and women were from different planets. Gray explained why (women like to talk, men don't), and the Mars/Venus image seeped into the lexicon.

#7 Dr. Atkins' New Diet RevolutionBy Robert C. Atkins (1992)Dr. Atkins ignited the low-carb craze, the reigning diet of the '90s. Bread and pasta were out, and high protein was in.

#8 And the Band Played OnBy Randy Shilts (1987)Shilts, a reporter at The San Francisco Chronicle who would die of AIDS in 1994, helped wake up the USA to the emerging AIDS epidemic. His book was the first definitive analysis of the medical, cultural and political! dimensions and was written with the power and sweep of a novel.

#9 BelovedBy Toni Morrison (1987)Morrison s masterpiece about an escaped slave who kills her baby to save the child from slavery won the Pulitzer and propelled her to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. She is the last American to win it. In a 2006 poll of writers byThe New York Times Book Review, Beloved was named the best American novel of the past 25 years.

#10 The Greatest Generation By Tom Brokaw (1998)The former NBC anchor popularized the expression greatest generation when he paid tribute to boomers parents with stories about men and women who survived the Great Depression and fought in World War II.

#11 Bridget Jones's DiaryBy Helen Fielding (1998)Singletons, smug marrieds, v.v.. funny diary observations: This British import set the stage for a flood of chick-lit novels, from The Nanny Diaries to The Devil Wears Prada.

#12 Left BehindBy Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (1995)The first in the fictional apocalyptic series about the Rapture clicked with evangelicals and then found a wider audience. Fifteen books about the end of the world followed with titles such as Armageddon and Glorious Appearing. The series wrapped up with a bang on April 3 with Kingdom Come.

#13 The Purpose Driven Life By Rick Warren (2003)Everyone has a purpose in God s plan, according to this Christian devotional guide. Sales surged in 2005 when an Atlanta woman used the book s teachings to persuade a murder suspect who took her hostage to turn himself in.

#14 Fast Food NationBy Eric Schlosser (2001)This expos of fast-food restaurants and meatpacking plants earned comparisons to Upton Sinclair s 1906 classic The Jungle. The book helped transform the American diet as we were reminded we are what we eat.

#15 The Satanic VersesBy Salman Rushdie (1989)Riots and political uproar on three continents greeted the publication of the Indian-born writer s novel of good and evil. Fundamentalist Muslims called it blasphemous, and the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa (death sentence) on Rushdie.

#16 The Closing of the American Mind By Allan Bloom (1987)The conservative scholar s attack on the shortcomings of colleges and liberal professors provoked an intense debate as well as self-criticism on campuses across the USA.

#17 The Bonfire of the VanitiesBy Tom Wolfe (1987)Wolfe's first novel captured the Wall Street greed of the 80s better than any non-fiction. It vividly illustrated the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in American cities.

#18 The Joy Luck ClubBy Amy Tan (1989)In 1949 San Francisco, four Chinese women gathered to play mahjong and forget the pain of the past. Tan, daughter of Chinese immigrants, created a debut novel out of this fresh material and launched a wave of immigrant literature.

#19 What To Expect When You're ExpectingBy Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway (1984)Boomer parents ditched Dr. Spock in favor of this accessible baby guide. The eight books in the series span toddlers to baby-sitters

#20 A Brief History of TimeBy Stephen Hawking (1988)Theoretical physics suddenly was sexy thanks to a wheelchair-bound Cambridge University professor (he has Lou Gehrig'sdisease). Hawking explained black holes and the Big Bang theory for the rest of us.

#21 Iacocca By Lee Iacocca (1984)The Chrysler chairman's autobiography rolled off the assembly line and found eager buyers, proving a business memoir could be a hit.

#22 Waiting to ExhaleBy Terry McMillan (1992)With her profane, sassy voice, Terry McMillan s groundbreaking novel about black women looking for satisfying relationships was a wake-up call for the publishing industry. Readers of all races were hungry for entertaining stories about African-Americans.

#23 Cold MountainBy Charles Frazier (1997)The Civil War saga got millions of readers talking about a literary novel. It was a rarity: a debut novel by an unknown writer that was both a critical and commercial hit.

#24 BacklashBy Susan Faludi (1991)Faludi, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, took on the media, Hollywood and anti-feminist propaganda as she examined the backlash that developed in the 1980s against successful women.

#25 Final ExitBy Derek Humphry (1991)The topic of assisted suicide exploded in controversy in the 90s, thanks to Michigan pathologist Jack Kevorkian and his suicide machine and this how-to manual by an English journalist who helped his cancer-stricken first wife kill herself.

Don Immus, Racist Comments?

2007-04-10T19:52:00.000-05:00

I previously posted an article on the Imus situation http://juststuff-yendor.blogspot.com/2007/04/imus-comments-on-rutgers-women.html and I was WRONG in my opinion that Imus should be fired. Don't mis understand me, I do not like Don Imus, I don't like his left wing loony views, I don't like his brand of humor and I can't stand his voice on the air. Having said this, I was cold hearted when I jumped on the band wagon to have him fired from MSNBC after his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. After careful analysis and a sleepless night, I have to ask the question. Is saying "nappy headed ho" racial? If nappy headed comes from the slave era get out of my site, I'm tired of hearing it. My brothers, sister and I were slaves to my father, he whipped us like the slaves were whipped, he worked us like slaves and slapped my Mom around like she was the family dog. But, that was then and this is now, I've forgiven him and moved on, MOVED ON is the key word here.

I could not ask for special treatment because of something that happened to my ancestors over 200 years ago. Don Imus' comments were wrong, mean spirited and ignorant, but I don't believe they were because the old man is a racist. I think the 70 something dude was trying to be cool or hip, by using the words that younger people use all the time, which I will talk about in a minute.

Have you noticed who's leading the charge to have Imus fired? Yep, it's the usual black civil rights leaders, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Both of whom have made racist comments in the past. Sharpton has yet to even apologize for the famous rape case of Tawana Brawley, who accused white boy Steven Bagaonas of viciously and brutally raping and beating her. Reverend Sharpton raced to her defence and called that cracker to task, only to have Tawana later recant her entire story and admit he never touched her.

And then there was that Central Park jogger who was accusing a black man of raping her in the park and Sharpton said she was a liar and her white boyfriend did it. Al Sharpton referred to Jews as Diamond Merchants and white interlopers, he just continually gets a pass. No one has ever asked him to step aside from his position as a civil rights leader, no one has ever suggested he be fired from his radio show.

This is all a double standard, it's OK for blacks to refer to whites in any manner they feel like, but it's not OK for whites to do the same. Powerful House democratic leader Charlie Rangle once said that the "congress was no longer calling anybody Spics and Niggers, they are now saying let's cut taxes". if that's not a racial comment then there is no such thing as racism. Why is it OK for Record companies to allow black rappers to record offensive music with words like kill the police, nigga's, ho's, crackers, music that just plan gives you a head ache? Is it because of the power of the black producers? Why don't we demand they be fired?

Racism is real, it exist everywhere, but going after a 70 something year old man who has been in radio for 40 years and most of that as a "shock jock" is not going to end racism. All the firing of Imus will do is take away his freedom of speech. The man's apologized so much it's getting ridiculous. I watched the apology in greater detail on television, I believed the man when he said he is not a racist.

I remember a rare occasion of watching Imus In The Morning, it was right after Katrina hit New Orleans. Imus was talking about the relief efforts and how slow everyone was in responding, he said it was "sickening to watch the government respond so slowly and how America in general was slow to respond, he was emotional, he said "I'll tell you why America is so slow to respond to this, it's because the faces re black, if those people were white, America would be faster, but it's because of racism in our America that the efforts in New Orleans are moving so slowly". Does that sound like a racist?

I'm sorry Imus, you're still a pinhead, but I was wrong, you DO NOT DESERVE TO BE FIRED. I'm linking to the Opie & Anthony web site http://www.opieandanthony.com/index.cfm to help them make the point to America, that there is a double standard.......Y

Pop Culture Super Tuesday

2007-04-09T05:28:00.001-05:00

This Tuesday will tell us who the baby's daddy is and weather or not Sanjaya makes it thru to the next round. Millions are on edge waiting for the DNA results of Anna Nicoles baby Dannilynn. Will it be Howard K. Stern, Larry Birkhead, Zza Zza Gabores husband, or my brother Raymond. All are lined up to stand up and stand in for the billion dollar fortune and to be daddy for Dannilynn. This past weekend brought the comments by Stern that if it's not his, he will unite behind Birkhead to fight Anna's mother, Vergie Arthur, and her attempts to be a part of all this. Insiders say that Anna and her mother have been at odd's for many years, and that they had no relationship at all in the last few years of Anna's life, so I guess it's the money thing for mother Vergie too. Billion dollar fortunes tend to make people a bit crazy I guess. The public's facination with all this is a bit crazy as well don't you think? Course I'm blogging about it, so I guess that makes me a bit nut's too.

Another American obsession is American Idol contestant, Sanjaya Malakar, who is definetly hanging in the finals without the calibur of talent needed to truly hang with the rest of the contestants. Week after week it's a new shocker, but as I pointed out in a previous post, http://juststuff-yendor.blogspot.com/2007/04/american-idol-elimination-sanjayas-safe.html I believe the assinine website that radio shock jock Howard Stern is promoting, is sabatoging this years show. I hope for the sake of free enterprise, America can stand up and vote this kid off.....Y

Imus Racist Comments On Rutgers Women

2007-04-09T05:11:00.000-05:00

If this were O'Reilley, Gibson, Hannity or any other Conservative talker, they would instantly be fired. "Nappy Headed Ho's"and Jiggerboos, Imus you are so dumb We will see how tough MSNBC will be, chances are Imus is as safe as Sanjaya. I found a total of 2 very short paragraphs on the MSNBC website in regards to Imus' comments, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are already descending upon the offices of MSNBC, and that should shake things up a bit over there, go check it out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17999196/. OR check out the original story http://wcbstv.com/topstories/topstories_story_099061932.html. Imus has made the following apology that takes about 10 seconds, and has since appeared on the Al Sharpton Radio Show, where he did some big time butt kissin. Waita go you nappy headed pimp. You know I'm talking about Imus right? Let's keep it straight.......Y

Oh Imus, thank you so much masta.

Easter Sunday

2007-04-08T00:05:00.000-05:00