Happy Thanksgiving to All!!!

Family.

Faith.

Friends.

Finance.

Freedom.

The five F's for which I'm thankful.

Along with the four H's.

Health.

Home.

Heart.

Hair.

Followed by the three G's.

God.

Golf.

Games.

Supported by the two L's.

Love.

Landscape.

Ended by the one plus M.

Mother (and Marian).

Embrace your life in whatever form...everyday.

Be thankful.

Nunsense

In some dank dark cave reclines Osama Bin Laden and Al Zawahiri feet up on a rpg rocket launcher smiling at the latest ludicrous TSA images from USA airports around the country. You've seen them. Little kids, grandmothers, salesmen, the elderly, wheelchair bound and now this...a nun being frisked by an agent. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall any recent episodes at airports involving nuns and explosives. I guess in this case, Sister Holy Water's rosary beads set off the alarm. Good grief. Everybody's "junk" is on the line in those lines.

As far as I know, all known terrorist activities brought upon this country while in this country since 9/11, have been perpetrated by "olive-skinned" folks. They are hell bent on killing us....anytime...anywhere. We all think and know this but it's not "pc" to act upon it or say anything about it. (Ask Juan Williams about this reality.) So hell with decorum when our safety and well being is at risk...here's my simple solution to the TSA madness at airports: screen everybody as is required but reserve full body scans or searches on those "swarthy" individuals who fit the profile. And Homeland Security and CIA have profiles whether they publicly admit it or not. So cut the crap TSA, quit wasting our time and target those whom you know are the bad guys.

I know the ACLU and the Justice Department won't like the targeted search approach but we're at war. I know I'll be vilified by some you reading this. Extraordinary times calls for extraordinary measures. But is a full body search on a robed nun an extraordinary measure that is needed now? I don't think so. I doubt she is hiding John Rambo under the layers.

If this folly grows in other sectors of our society, the diminishment of this great country will continue unabated. And isn't that what Osama and his band of psychopaths want?

Heroine for Democracy

Aung San Suu Kyi, Democracy Champion

The Oppressed Burmese People

Than Shwe, The Dictator

So small. So meek. So powerful. Amidst the 40 year cruelty of a combination military junta and China playing eminence grise in her beloved country, Burma aka Myanmar, Nobel Laurete Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured above) stands up bravely and stubbornly for her brutalized people.

For 15 of the past 21 years, this frail charismatic woman, has been under "house arrest" for trumped up charges of subversive political activism by Senior General Than Shwe (pictured above) and his "look-a-like think-a-like" thugs. Away from her people, her constituency and her family, Aung has remained steadfast in her vision of a democratic and open Burma. Sadly for the Burmese people and Aung, the generals don't agree. They continue to starve, imprison, torture and murder their own people for the slightest offense.

She doesn't have hope anymore after all these years. Who can blame her. She calls hope a frivolous indulgence. However, in light of that, Aung seemingly subscribes to the mantra recited by Buddha, "be patient" as time unfolds...for this too shall pass.

Aung's hope may be gone but she perseveres for a Burma freed from the cold hand of the police who rule by the hammer this once prosperous and gentle country and have driven it into stony darkness. The ruling military junta enrich themselves with exports to China and the world's second largest production of opium at the expense of 48,000,000 slaves. How can a ruler be so cruel to his own people? As a Burmese writer said of Than Shwe, "a king does not bother how his slaves are doing. Their death and hardship is not his concern."

Just last Saturday, Aung was freed from "house arrest" in Yangon by her illegitimate captors. Why? Who knows? It's been reported that The National League for Democracy which is led by Aung was thrown a bone by the ruling Generals in order to improve worldwide perception of the kingdom after another sham election was staged. That didn't work very well if that indeed was their objective. Aung came out of the shadows swinging and defiant as ever. Aung "pledges no pullback" was headlines in today's Wall Street Journal.

Upon leaving her "house arrest" headquarters, Aung was asked, "do you fear landing back in house arrest?" She answered without hesitation, "I don't worry about it. I'll do as much as I can while I am free." The saffron-robed monks chanted. The people cried and cheered. The Generals huddled.

Aung struggles and the struggles of Burma remind me somewhat of what happened in South Africa and Nelson Mandela years ago. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for being an anti-apartheid activist against the oppressive Afrikaner National Party. Eventually, he persevered, became President and led his newly-formed country. He and his people were patient too. As he said, "in our country, you must go to jail first to become President."

I suspect as time unfolds, Burma will have its day of rebirth. At some point, China will turn off the spigot to Burma after they don't need them anymore, America's insouciance to Burma will abate, the generals will seek asylum, the military rank and file will flee into the jungles and the people will smile again.

And Aung San Suu Kyi, Buddha willing, will be at home...at peace...free.

Hubris Exposes Another Scoundrel

Rep. Charlie B. Rangel (D.,NY) was censored today by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, a committee consisting of 10 House members, 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats. The recommendation of censure vote was 9-1.

He was found guilty of 11 of 13 ethical misconduct violations ranging from tax evasion, improper fundraising and failure to report income. As stated by Chairwoman, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D.,Ca), there was "clear and convincing evidence" to support 11 counts of malfeasance. The formal vote of censure by the entire House will be conducted after Thanksgiving. If the majority of the House vote for censure, Charlie will be the first member of the House to be censored in 27 years. In 1983, two House members Crane (R.,Il) and Studds (D.,Ma)...I'm not making this name up...were censored by the full House for the congressional page sex scandal.

What does censure mean? Simply, the House Committee issues a formal reprimand to an individual, Charlie, by an authoritative body, The House of Representatives. Censure is one step away from total expulsion from the House. The last time a House member was expelled was 2006, Ney of (R.,Oh) in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal.

For the last 40 years, the octogenarian Charlie represented the good folks in Harlem. They were his own. His roots were there. He fought hard and true for them with apparent class and dignity. So what happened along the way that resulted in Charlie's skullduggery and resultant public humiliation? Hubris or arrogance is what happened. He got greedy, sloppy and then got caught. In doing so, Charlie befouled his office and the public trust.

Some of these folks in power, Charlie included, feel entitled, exempt from the rule of law. Happens all the time to public and not so public figures. Next up on the Ethics Committee hot seat is Maxine Waters (D.,Ca.) for alleged wrongdoing involving a bank and her husband. The pipeline of creepy slimeballs is seemingly always full.

Thinking of poor Charlie reminds me of the "Queen of Mean", another New Yorker, Leona Helmsly, who infamously said of paying taxes, "that's for little people." As Rep. Michael McCall (R.,Tx) stated to the Committee and to a pathetic looking Charlie, "...the failure to pay taxes for 17 years...what is that?"

There is some good news for Charlie. He keeps his job in Congress until he retires or is not re-elected and he wasn't expelled from office. The bad news is, "Charlie, line one is holding for you, it's the IRS." OMG.

Sad, another good man ruined by his own hand. Threw it all away. And for what? a few extra thousands of dollars.

Manny

It was a first for me. I bought the Manny Pacquiao v Antonio Margarito fight on HBO pay per view last Saturday night. I love boxing but I had never bought the fights on HBO until this one. It was best $60.00 I've spent on sports entertainment in recent memory. Why did I pop for the fight? Simply, Manny Pacquiao is the greatest boxer I have ever seen and that includes Ali, Sugar Ray, Oscar, Marvin and all the others. He is magic in the ring and at 5'-6" and 147 pounds, he is as loveable as a golden retriever outside the ring and as fierce in the ring as a pit bull. I did not want to miss this moment. I and millions around the globe got our money's worth.

Manny grew up street poor in the Philippines. His way out of the streets was boxing. A similar road taken for many impoverished kids looking for an exit, including his opponent that night, Antonio Margarito, a poor kid out of the favelas of Tijuana. What both shared equally was poverty, a talent for boxing and a devout Roman Catholic faith.

Manny started boxing at 16 years of age as a 100lb light flyweight. He won. Over the next 15 years, he moved up 7 classes in weight and won those divisions as well. On Saturday night he won an unprecedented 8th weight division, the Super Welterweight, against the biggest and heaviest opponent of his professional career.

His opponent Margarito, a proud and strong Mexican, towered over Manny by 7 inches and 17 pounds. At the start of the fight, it looked like a little kid, Manny, fighting, his much bigger father, Antonio. However, within the middle of the first round, it was apparent that Antonio was in for an ass whippin', Pacman style. As Antonio lumbered clumsily around the center of the ring, Manny was bobbing, weaving, circling and throwing warp speed combinations at a defenseless head. Watching Manny throw punches from both sides is like watching a hummingbird flap its wings. Both are very, very fast.

This went on for the entire scheduled 12 rounds. By round six, Antonio's face began to change and not for the better. Manny's face was untouched. By the 11th round, Antonio's face became so disfigured that Manny implored the referee, Laurence Cole, to stop the fight. Cole permitted the fight to continue. In the 12th round, Manny enforced his own slaughter rule and backed off. He humanely started to "pull his punches" and began to "carry" his opponent. Manny later said, "boxing is not for killing." Antonio later said, "There was no way I was going to quit. I'm a Mexican and we fight until the end." Sadly for both fighters, the fight went the full gruesome distance.

Manny won a unanimous decision. It was not even close. Manny threw 733 power punches and landed 411 mostly at Antonio's dome. These were not glancing blows but full leather shots. An unheard of 61% of his punches landed. A staggering percentage. Antonio suffered greatly at the hands of a smaller yet superior skilled boxer and by an unwise corner. Freddie Roach, Manny's trainer, said of his opponent's corner, "Antonio's corner is the worst. His trainor probably ruined his career by not stopping the fight." What a prescient comment. Tomorrow, Antonio undergoes surgery for a fractured orbital bone around his right eye. That does not sound good if you're a professional boxer.

After the bout with victory validated, Manny knelt in his corner and prayed in his own slice of silence. In fact, throughout the fight both fighters made the sign of the cross abundantly. Obviously both invoking divine intervention for what lay ahead. Obviously both returning to their humble fundamental beliefs.

While the almost blinded Margarito was being helped to the locker room, Manny was besieged by the adoring pushy media in the center of the ring. Manny, victorious for the night, humbly said, "He hurt me. I'm so lucky tonite. I thank God for giving me strength. I'm happy I made the people happy. I fight for the fans."

So they asked, "what are you going to do next Manny?" Manny, the smiling Congressman (recently elected to public office in his Filipino district), said, "I'm going to be a public servant to help the people of the Philippines." "And what about next bout?" Manny, the dimpled boxer, said, "I will talk it over with my promoter and see who's next."

And at Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s house, Floyd turned off HBO after round 7. He had seen enough. He got his money's worth too! "If Manny's promoter calls, tell him I'm retired." He wants to preserve his pretty face. Good move.

Massacre

Is there no place on earth safe from these radical-islamist killers?

The above oxymoronic image of the meek Our Lady Of Deliverance punctuated with bullet holes and broken plaster in the same named Catholic church in Baghdad is a brutal reminder of how dangerous the world is and how your life can change in an instant.

Two weeks ago, a psychopathic band of al-Qaeda crazies stormed this church in Baghdad on a Sunday morning brandishing automatic weapons. Hell bent on wreaking mayhem. Armed to kill. There were 120 Catholics inside that church attending services the moment of the raid and soon became hostages and then tragically, 52 parishioners were executed. As the bloodbath unfolded, the Catholics inside the church wept and called out for Christ and Mary to save them. "While they were praying for help, some their last prayers, their attackers were calling out Allaha Akbar! Allah is great! as they made a place of worship a killing field."

After the carnage and a wild retaliatory assault by government security forces, the inside of a once beautiful and peaceful church was transformed into an apocalyptic "helter-skelter" crime scene. Bodies lay dead or dying. Blood pooled and flesh splattered on floors and walls. Large bullet hole punctures were everywhere. Bullet casings littered the floor. Breakage. Broken glass. Choking smoke. And the fetid smell of war overwhelmed the senses. All this inside a church!

Crippling fear begat unspeakable sadness followed by unbridled rage overwhelmed the sensibilities of the good in our world. While the bad in the world rejoiced and lay claim to their latest atrocity against humanity.

When will this evil end? Without hope, never. But with strength, hope, perseverance, faith and love we will be saved from this pestilence.

A follow-up...the very next Sunday at Our Lady of Deliverance Church in Baghdad the altered community celebrated Mass. With newly deceased parishioners blood soaked into the walls from the massacre a week earlier, Catholics came together to worship. Against all odds these brave believers of good, went to mass to pray...to ask for forgiveness...to question why...to offer thanksgiving...to love as Jesus loves us. As a parish priest in Monterey wrote, "...those Baghdad Catholics knew how dangerous going to Mass could be, and I cannot help thinking of our beloved brothers and sisters here who forego coming to the Eucharist for the most trivial of reasons."

Geaux Tigers! SEC Football Rules!!

Guess who won this game last Saturday night at Death Valley in Baton Rouge? The hatted one who is smirking and eats the playing field grass during the game that's who. If looks could kill, right?

Les Miles, the one on the right, "Coach Embattled?", of 8-1 #5 in the country LSU Tigers is giving the stare down to the disgusted and vanquished self proclaimed great one of Alabama, Coach Nick Saban, at games end. Just two Ohio kids kicking each other ass for four hair-raising quarters in front of 90,000 moonshined screaming cajuns including me and my Walter homies. Les and the Tigers won. Nick and the Crimson Tide lost. That's life. So great. You see, I'm a closet cajun...my great grandpappy on my mother's side was a Hebert. :~} Thank God the Tigers won that game or those cajuns would have torched the stadium like Ole Tecummy Sherman's march to the sea through Atlanta.

You may ask yourself why is Coach Miles "embattled" or under duress with an 8-1 record, second only to unbeaten #2 in the country Auburn in the toughest football conference on the planet. The demanding faithful say his clock management is about as skilled as Gomer Pyle stringing a noun with a verb. Frankly, "f" the clock management condemnation, that's like saying Angelina Jolie doesn't look good today because she has a pimple on her neck. Get a bandaid. And all is good. Same with Les. His style may be unorthodox, frenetic and clueless at times but the guy wins football games against real opponents, no Utah States down here in one of the most demanding arenas in college football.

And isn't winning football games what it's all about. For crissakes cajuns, Les has a .784 winning record, one national championship in 2007, and four bowl wins in 6 seasons. What more can this guy do for the Bayou State to gain the fans love, discover a cure for cancer? And a misshapen guy with bad teeth behind me in the stands unsolicitedly said that Les is heading to Colorado next season because he can't coach and John Gruden will be the next Coach for LSU...blah...blah...blah. Sitting next to him quietly was his suffering in silence wife, probably thinking I wish this jackass husband of mine would go anywhere but home with me.

So the game and the finish on the field was magical. Our team won. Les munched on another handful of grass. Saban and the Tide quickly vanished from the field. After the game, the fans resumed partying in the largest and wettest weekend tailgate community in the world. Upon leaving the stadium, the guy behind me in the stands was right behind me again muttering "Miles was lucky." I looked at his forlorn wife and she mouthed to me "please, take me home." No thanks. I had a responsiblity to revisit Calvin and his crew back at the party central motor home for act two of LSU maniacal celebration.

As General MacArthur told people of the Philippines in 1942, "I shall return." Indeed , I will return to LSU and other SEC sites. For life in the deep south is just too much fun to pass up...especially their football. By the way, their women aren't bad lookin' either. Too bad I'm happily married!!! Oh well.

Put this on your bucket list.

REPUDIATION

I love the "r" words on election day. Repudiation. Referendum. Rebuke. Revenge. Rebirth. You'll hear the pundits spitting them all out the next few days. All mean the same thing, a tectonic change demanded by the majority of the electorate or as they say in street vernacular, "throw the bums out."

Most elections are exactly that, a repudiation, meaning, "a rejection of the incumbent as having no authority or binding force, to cast off, to disown. To reject with disapproval and condemnation." In other words, it's our time to get rid of the do nothings, fast talking empty frauds and replace them with "can-do" fresh innovative leaders who will hopefully get this country moving again for all of us.

The midterm election of 2010 will surely be remembered as the repudiation of President Obama's overreaching, ineffective and damaging policies for the last two years. And any politician who embraced such folly and is up for election today in a sober district (ie. not Berkeley, Boulder or Boston) will probably be punished today at the polls.

And if the winning party today doesn't do anything substantive for the people, their party will be repudiated in 2 years. As it should be...

God Bless America.