Air Travel

Well it is time to take to the skies and enjoy it not. Right from the start the TSA is there too complicate your life. Be silent, for fear of what you might say is grounds for arrest. Take off your shoes. It is the most ridiculous practice I can think of. It serves no purpose other than to antagonize passengers. It is the major roadblock to getting through security efficiently. I think TSA does this because they can. Remind those "cattle" that we are in charge and can do anything that we want. It is time to fight back and take the bus.

Lee dewyze new album

I must confess that one of my guilty pleasures is following American Idol. Seems a bit out of character for a 65 year old fat guy. I usually tune in after they have selected the top 10 or 12. So I was pleased with Lee Dewyze as the winner. Not so much based on his talent but his perceived character. He just seems to be a hell of a nice kid. If I had a son I would want one like Lee. (Maybe a bit taller.) He gave us several excellent performances on AI, my favorite was his cover of Sinatra's That's Life. Now we have his debut CD and many hormonal females are singing his praises, but objective reviewers are not so enthusiastic. The CD is ok but so far I do not find it terrific. I think he would have done better to do some classics along with the original stuff. The CD was put out in a big hurry to strike while the iron was hot (understandably). But I cannot imagine how one can turn out that many original songs in such a short time and still maintain quality. I will keep listening to it and see if I change my mind. I had a similar problem with David Cook who turned out a very formulaic CD. Every song sounded just the one before and the one after. Their management should be thinking about the artist and not the bottom line. They both may just fade into obscurity like several other of the AI winners. If their second albums don't create a stir, they are destined to the B list of singer/songwriters. I hope not since I want good things for these two good guys. Time will tell.

Have you ever tried to deal with ATT. They have turned me into a certifiable psychotic.

I have spent the last hour at least trying to change my service. Never could do it online. They just kept me running in circles. I finally found a phone number and started the process of going from computer voice to another and then to several real people. Finally I think I have what I want. We'll see if it works out. I now have internet only and have no land line. Have to figure out how to use VOIP and my cell phone.

Beginning

So I am just a regular guy not unlike millions of others, yet very unlike them. I am totally irrelevant in this world, but this world really gets me going. There is always a first rant and this is it.

Gay Marriage. There is nothing gay (as in joyous) about marriage. Just ask the millions who have spent time in divorce court. The whole issue comes down to the fact that in this country, there is not a clear distinction between legal marriage and the sacrament of holy matrimony. If I am not mistaken, most European countries only recognize civil unions as legal. Therefore if one wants to be legally married one must have a civil ceremony. Marriage in the church is a separate deal and in and of itself is not a legal union and is purely optional. This seems to have worked for many, many years for Europe, so why should it not work in the USA. Second, is that any two consenting adults can enter into a civil marriage. A religious ceremony would be optional and each religion or church could have its own rules. So I should be able to enter into a civil union with any woman or man and it may not have anything to do with marriage. We would not have to live together, or even speak to each other except on legal matters. How much more simple could it be?

Future Rants: Energy Tax Rebates on non-existent products.
Federal income tax insanity.
Why I am a liberal with issues that make me sound conservative.
Why did we let the ultra-right wing religious wackos hijack our flag.
Who keeps hiding my wallet, cell phone, keys, glasses.
Why did my mother insist on introducing me as her brother Andy?
How to find your lost cell phone.