Stop Living On Our Sidewalks

The estimated number of homeless people in Jacksonville, Florida tops 1500.  During the winter months, hundreds of them line up outside of the city's only homeless shelter with hopes of getting one of the 300 beds.  The others slowly place cardboard or quilts on the ground, and lay down, side by side, on the cold sidewalk just outside the City Rescue Mission.

Lately, police have cracked down on city ordinance regarding trash and obstruction and are forcing the homeless to "remove their trash" (which is in essence, their personal belongings).  Many of the homeless sleep on the sidewalk outside of the mission because it is a "safe zone."  Many of them have been mugged, beaten, and robbed when they stray away from the group.  It's no coincidence that the actions taken by the officers came just days after Mayor Peyton vowed to move the homeless from Laura Street as a part of the city's downtown renovation pledge.

Thoughtlessness by the city leaders?  Or a last resort to a growing problem?  If they really think it's the latter, how is bothering the less fortunate on a daily basis a solution?

CDA2

Dept of Education To Buy 27 Shotguns

It takes a lot to have me at a loss of words.  You can thank the Department of Education for finding a way to shut me up.

I can see the need for them though:

Kindergartener: Mrs Smith, I don't feel like taking a nap right now.

Mrs Smith pumps the handle on her Remington 12 guage.

Kindergartner: "Zzzzzzzz."

On the bright side, this would certainly be an improvement over the "No Child Left Behind" program.

CDA2

NYC Legislature Wants Your Salt Shaker

Felix Ortiz, Democratic Assemblyman from New York, believes that the government needs to help you decide when to pass the salt.  He introduced a bill that reads, "No owner or operator of a restaurant in this state shall use salt in any form in the preparation of any food for consumption by customers of such restaurant, including food prepared to be consumed on the premises of such restaurant or off of such premises."  Yet another reason why I believe New York (city and state) is the armpit of American politics (Chicago is another smelly body part.

Any food/drink taken in excess can be bad for one's health.  What's next?  Will lawmakers limit the amount of WATER we are allowed to drink daily?  Where does this type of gubbment control end, folks?

CDA2

Crude Comments=Bad; 7 Kids, 6 Mothers, 5 States=Good

Let me get this straight.  Rush Limbaugh, who's made a career of flammable comments, was essentially kicked off a group to purchase the Rams after pressure from the NFL commissioner and the president of the Players Union because he's seen as divisive.  The argument was that controversial members of the NFL, do not represent the NFL.  So, since when did fathering seven children by six mothers in five states become a non-trivial act?  Recently acquired New York Jets cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, has done just that.  Apparently his ball skills are superior off the field as well.  What's interesting about this is that the New York Jets (in brokering his new deal), fronted him $500K to assist him with his overdue child support payments so that it wouldn't become a distraction.  I suppose having enough kids to have a basketball team (plus two reserves) calling you "daddy" can't be a distraction at all.

Dude, you have officially entered Shawn Kemp and Travis Henry territory.  Get is snipped and clipped, brother.

CDA2

Jihad Jane Looks Like My Neighbors

What do you do when your enemy looks like you, talks like you, and can infiltrate virtually any business or organization withing your borders?

Meet "Jihad Jane."  You read that correctly.  This isn't a soccer mom.  This isn't a white supremacist.  She's a recent convert to the radical side of Islam who is every "let's just strip search every Muslim looking..." person's worst nightmare.  She's being charged by federal authorities in a plot to kill on foreign soil, to provide material support to terrorists, and identity theft just to name a few.  She is accused of using her MySpace account to recruit others to her cause of helping "desperate" Muslim people and she even stated that she wanted to become a martyr.

So much for only checking people that "look Middle-Eastern" at the airports.


CDA2

Big Ben, Serial Rapist?

For the second time in two off-seasons, Ben Rothlisberger, starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is being accused of sexually assaulting a woman.

So, let me get this straight: Tiger has consensual, adult sex with several women.  He loses multiple sponsors and is forced to apologize (although to some, even his apology wasn't good enough).  Kobe has consensual, adult sex with one woman.  He lost sponsors (for a short time) and is constantly criticized by many for his unfaithful act.  Oh, but Big "where there's smoke, there's fire" Ben is accused for the second time of sexually assaulting someone.  This time, with a woman who's not yet old enough to legally drink.  Not one sponsor has released him.  In fact, ESPN showed a Big Ben commercial just tonight!  Speaking of the network... ESPN barely reported the story last year, and hesitantly reported on it this year.

Nope.  No such thing as a double standard.

CDA2

Lil Wayne is a CHUMP

Normally, I would write in support for someone who is going to jail for gun charge.  After all, states/cities writing their own laws to deny the basic right to self defense is laughable.  But in this instance, I simply want to "LOL" at the defendant.  Dwayne Michael Carter (aka, Lil Wayne) was sentenced to one year in jail yesterday.  Instead of serving his time at Rikers like a "man", Dwayne has requested that he serve his time in protective custody and be given special medical attention due to his massive dental problems.  Let's start with the first.  Dwayne, you say you're a member of the Bloods gang.  You "soowoop" (A "Blood" call sign) on your raps.  You're tatted up as if you've really done dirt and put in hard time.  In one of your songs, you say:

"Hold On To Your Surf Board When The Gat Wave.
Homie, You Can Be Deleted Like Backspace.
I'm Coming Threw Like A Fax Page.
I'm Just A Gorilla In A Unlatched Cage"

(Please note, these are his lyrics and his spelling... not mine).

Dwayne, you spoke this into existence.  Finally there's some truth to your raps.  You will be a gorilla in a cage.  A 5'6", 135-150 lb gorilla.  A gorilla who wears skinny jeans.  Stop hiding behind your money.  If Bernie Madoff (who' never claimed to be a thug), can serve his life sentence in prison without preconditions, SURELY you can handle Rikers for 8-12 months!  Practice what you preach, "gangsta."

CDA2

President Obama Can't Sell Watermelons

Those dirty, nasty, racist Republicans are at it again.  In speaking about the health care plan, Dan Rather stated that "Obama couldn't sell watermelons if it, you game him the state troopers to flag down the traffic."  Wait.  Dan Rather's not a conservative; he's a liberal!  In that case, it's okay.  Between Harry Reid and Chris Matthews, we all know liberals can make statements with racist undertones and never get thrown under the bus the way a conservative would.


CDA2

Church Shooting in Richmond

Brazen is the word repeatedly used because it best describes this bold attack inside a church.  I am confident that the police will catch these monsters.  Hopefully, the judicial system will do its part and put them away for some time.  

Based on early reports, we will soon learn that the shooting was not random.  These thugs targeted this church, not for the purpose of a mass killing, but rather a particular victim(s) (after all, they were armed with one handgun between the three of them).

Many Christians believe churches are to accept just anyone as its members (the ole, "come as you are" mantra).  Would you be willing to accept this as one of your church's principles even if it puts you and the rest of your parishioners at risk?


CDA2

Oprah and Drew Brees

Clearly Oprah isn't a fan of football.  At the least, she's never seen Drew Brees or a picture of Drew Brees.  Watch Oprah's reaction to Drew's facial birthmark.


I thought Oprah was going out on top.  So much for that!

CDA2