Harsh economy claims a car dealership and two brothers in western Pennsylvania.

Sad, but true.

LIGONIER, Pa . -- Third-generation car dealers Gregory and Randolph Graham watched helplessly over the past year as their business collapsed under the weight of the recession. Now the Graham brothers are gone.

I have all the respect for the danger a police officer has to face in the line of duty. The job of serving your community in law enforcement is one that requires the utmost in bravery. I feel that most police officers deserve a ton of respect for their dedication to keeping our communities safe. Unfortunately, there are those who misuse and abuse their power granted to them when they take their sworn oath to serve and protect.

PLANO, Texas -- A Dallas police officer who delayed Houston Texans' running back Ryan Moats from visiting his mother-in-law before she died in a Plano hospital has been reassigned to dispatch pending an investigation.

According to Dallas-area media reports, Moats' vehicle, which rolled through a red light, was stopped by Officer Robert Powell in the hospital's parking lot.

Powell kept Moats and another family member for 13 minutes, threatening Moats with arrest and lecturing him. By the time Moats was released and entered the hospital, Jonetta Collinsworth had died.

When the car was pulled over, Moats' wife, Tamishia Moats, and her great aunt got out of the car to get into the hospital.

"Get in there!" Powell said, according to the Dallas Morning News' account of the footage. "Let me see your hands!"

"My mom is dying," Tamishia Moats replied. She and her great aunt ignored the officer and headed into the hospital, while Ryan Moats and another family member stayed behind, according to the report.

"I waited until no traffic was coming," Moats told Powell, explaining why he had rolled through the red light. "I got seconds before she's gone, man," he said, the newspaper reported.

Powell demanded his license, which Moats produced, and proof of insurance, which Moats could not find. "Just give me a ticket or whatever," Moats said, his frustration beginning to show, according to the report.

"Shut your mouth," Powell told him, the newspaper reported. "You can cooperate and settle down, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."

In another exchange reported by the Morning News, Moats again asked the officer to complete the traffic stop quickly.

"If you're going to give me a ticket, give me a ticket," Moats said.

"Your attitude says that you need one," Powell replied.

"All I'm asking you is just to hurry up," Moats added.

"If you want to keep this going, I'll just put you in handcuffs," the officer said, "and I'll take you to jail for running a red light."

Powell continued on, making several more points, and Moats replied "Yes sir" to each.

"Understand what I can do," Powell said, according to the report. "I can tow your truck. I can charge you with fleeing. I can make your night very difficult."

"I understand," Moats responded. "I hope you'll be a great person and not do that."

Hospital security guards then arrived and told Powell that the Moatses' relative really was upstairs dying, the newspaper reported. But Powell spent several minutes inside his squad car, checking Moats for outstanding warrants. He found none.

Another hospital staff member emerged from the hospital and spoke with a Plano police officer who had arrived on the scene. "Hey, that's the nurse," the Plano officer told Powell, according to the Morning News. "She said that the mom's dying right now, and she's wanting to know if they can get him up there before she dies."

"All right," Powell replied, according to the report. "I'm almost done."

As Moats signed the ticket, Powell made another point.

"Attitude's everything," he said, the newspaper reported. "All you had to do is stop, tell me what was going on. More than likely, I would have let you go."

Losing isn't a great feeling – especially in an overtime shootout.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is now safe.

WASHINGTON, DC—Manufacturers of high fructose corn syrup in the United States and Canada commissioned independent testing and expert review following a recent report alleging mercury findings in high fructose corn syrup. No quantifiable levels of mercury were found, according to the independent lab Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratory, whose work and results were reviewed by Woodhall Stopford, MD, MSPH, of Duke University Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading experts in mercury contamination.

“The American public can rest assured that high fructose corn syrup is safe. Safety is the highest priority for our industry, which is why we immediately commissioned external testing as well as independent expert review of claims concerning mercury and our corn sweetener. No quantifiable levels of mercury were found in high fructose corn syrup,” said Audrae Erickson, president, Corn Refiners Association."

Throwing some money at an independent lab will get you the results you desire. How much does the Corn Refiners Association stand to lose should an independent lab post results showing significant levels of mercury in their product – MILLIONS or even BILLIONS. Of course these results are going to lead you to believe that high fructose corn syrup is safe. The shit is in practically every product on your grocers shelf.

If HCFS is safe and poses no health risks, why are more food producers returning to using sugar?

Here is some factual information regarding HFCS:
Mercury in high fructose corn syrup
Diabetes and high fructose corn syrup

I propose that rather than having AIG executives pay taxes on their tax-payer funded bonuses, we should have all the bonuses returned and reallocate the funds to rebuilding New Orleans.

Remember the damage New Orleans sustained in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit and the lack of response from the federal government in aid relief for New Orleans.

Well things haven't changed much.

Dropkick Murphys – "I'm Shipping Up To Boston"

Rage Against The Machine – "Freedom"

Were the corporate minds at A.I.G expecting a warm and fuzzy reception for paying out $165 million in bonuses to 463 of its executives with tax payer dollars?

For months, the Obama administration and members of Congress have known that insurance giant AIG was getting ready to pay huge bonuses while living off government bailouts. It wasn't until the money was flowing and news was trickling out to the public that official Washington rose up in anger and vowed to yank the money back.

Looks like the Obama administration called a play from the Inspector Renault playbook.

H/T to Dr. S for reminding me of this scene from Casablanca.



Here is President Obama on AIG:

This weeks winner is: Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict, who's beginning a tour of Africa, has released a statement saying that condoms will not solve the HIV/AIDS problem. In fact, he says condoms would only make matters worse. Pope Benedict, like his predecessor Pope John Paul II, promotes abstinence.

The pontiff's comments have brought strong and sometimes angry reaction from some health agencies and advocacy groups. One of the organizations that's critical of the pope's comments is the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), one of South Africa's leading HIV/AIDS advocacy groups. Rebecca Hodesis the TAC's director of policy communication and research. From Cape Town, she spoke to VOA English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua about Pope Benedict's position on condom use.

Condom use is to blame for the HIV/AIDS infection rates worsening in Africa? That's news to me.

Let's see what the Centers for Disease Controls findings are concerning condom use and preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Sorry your "Holiness" but misinformation creates more problems than it solves.

In gearing up for the upcoming baseball season I found myself in need of a new pair of metal cleats.

I found myself searching high and low for the perfect pair at a reasonable price. After tirelessly trolling the net, I found myself on the home page for The Sports Authority.

I made my purchase from The Sports Authority, not only because they offered the best price, but also because they offered free shipping.

A few days later I received the cleats I ordered but unfortunately the shoes were not the right size. The shoes were very narrow and looked as if I had two torpedos strapped to my feet.

That was no problem because with my free shipping The Sports Authority also offered free return shipping.

I repackaged my shoes and dropped them in the mail. Two or three days afterwards, I received a confirmation email letting me know that my order had been returned and my account would be credited the full amount.

I did purchase a new pair of cleats and they were bought at my local Sports Authority store. Having the ability to try the shoes on in person was a plus.

I just thought they should be recognized for great customer service! As a satisfied customer I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

As if it wasn't obscene enough for the government to tax those collecting unemployment benefits, now the banks have decided they want a piece of the action.

If you're out of work like Steve Lippe, who was laid off from his job as a salesman in January, you know you already have problems. But looking at the fine print that came with his new unemployment debit card, he became livid.


A brochure that goes out to Pennsylvanians seeking unemployment via debit card lists a number of fees.
1 of 3

"A $1.50 [fee] here, a $1.50 there," he said. "Forty cents for a balance inquiry. Fifty cents to have your card denied. Thirty-five cents to have your account accessed by telephone."

He was quoting fees listed in a brochure that goes out to every unemployed person in Pennsylvania who chooses to receive benefits via debit card. He was given the option when he filed for jobless payments: Wait 10 days for a check or get the card immediately. Like most of the 925,000 state residents who received unemployment benefits in February in Pennsylvania, he chose the debit card and only then, he says, did he learn about the fees.

"I was outraged by it," he told CNN. "I was very noisy about it. I just couldn't believe it. An outrage is just too weak a word. It's obscene."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 30 states offer direct deposit cards to the unemployed. Many of the nation's biggest banks have contracts with the individual states. JP Morgan Chase, for instance, has contracts with seven states and has pending deals with two others, according to Chase spokesman John T. Murray. About 10 states, the Labor Department says, pay by check only.

Bravo, Jon Stewart! Bravo!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Interview Outtake Pt. 1

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Interview Outtake Pt. 2

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Interview Outtake Pt. 3

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

Chris Matthews grills Bush admin lackey Ari Fleischer about the economy and the war on terror.

Listen for what Ari has to say at 1:13 in on the video.



Ari, don't ever say "How dare you" to Chris Matthews when the fact of the matter is that, yes, we were attacked on Bush's watch and no, President Bush did not inherit 9/11.

Let's not let facts get in the way of a good talking point, right Ari.

Secondly quit trying to spin Iraq, September 11th and Saddam Hussein – that completely fabricated cover for war created by the Bush adminstration has been proven over and over again to be complete bullshit.

Another shameful attempt by the U.S government (under President Bush) to try and divert the public from the truth. The more disturbing fact is that they would knowingly expose the soldiers serving their country to these toxic chemicals.

There again, why should I even think that they would have anyone's best interest in mind. F.E.M.A. had no problems throwing people in those toxic trailers after Hurricane Katrina.

A newly leaked military document appears to show the Pentagon knowingly exposed US troops to toxic chemicals that cause cancer, while publicly downplaying the risks exposure might cause.

The document, written by an environmental engineering flight commander in December of 2006 and posted on Wikileaks (PDF) on Tuesday, details the risks posed to US troops in Iraq by burning garbage at a US airbase. It enumerates myriad risks posed by the practice and identifies various carcinogens released by incinerating waste in open-air pits.

Because of the difficulties in testing samples, investigators could not prove that chemicals exceeded military exposure guidelines. But a military document released last December found that chemicals routinely exceeded safe levels by twice to six times.

Chris Rock's views on politics in America.

An asshole – that would be my first response if I were being confronted by Republican senator David Vitter of Louisiana.

The Republican senator who found himself on a DC madam's client list is drawing new attention over "impulse control."

After missing a flight last Thursday from Washington to New Orleans,
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter opened an armed security door and went off on a United Airlines employee, according to a report filed Wednesday by Roll Call.

The door sounded a security alarm.

Vitter had arrived at the gate for a flight from Dulles Airport, only to find that the door had been closed twenty minutes prior to departure.

After setting off the security alarm, the Louisiana senator proceeded to dress down an airline employee who told him entering the restricted area was forbidden. He invoked his standing as a senator, delivering a "do-you-know-who-I-am" tirade, the paper said.

Way to be a real fucking prick Senator Vitter.

Here is a video of Senator Vitter on the sanctity of marriage.



How do you feel again about the sanctity of marriage?



You keep it classy Senator Vitter. Stay "Hard" at work when you are banging prostitutes while protecting the sanctity of marriage!

This week's winner is: Chuck Norris

Chuck has gone from a bad acting, pseudo ass-kicking vigilante in such commercials shit balls as Delta Force and Walker: Texas Ranger to secessionist as he is nominating himself for President of Texas.

The call by some right wing leaders for rebellion and for the military to refuse the commander in chief’s orders is joined by Chuck Norris who claims that thousands of right wing cell groups have organized and are ready for a second American Revolution. During an appearance on the Glen Beck radio show he promised that if things get any worse from his point of view he may “run for president of Texas.” The martial artist/actor/activist claims that Texas was never formally a part of the United States in the first place and that if rebellion is to come through secession Texas would lead the way.

Rep. Zack Wamp (R) of Tennessee taking a page out of the Newt Gingrich playbook on President Obama's plan to reform healthcare in the United States.

There's not a lot I can say about this clip that Rep. Wamp doesn't say. He simply starts speaking and instantly the "I'm a regressive thinking fucking asshole" light starts flashing.

Notice he accuses President Obama of class warfare before he claims that having healthcare in America is a "privilege".

My good friend Dr. S of Redsoxville has a weekly forum entitled "Douchebag of the Week." I am following in the footsteps of the great Dr. S in creating my own weekly forum titled "Dumbass of the Week"

"Dumbass of the Week" will target those people who make headlines for doing exactly at the headline dictates.

This weeks winner is: Acea Schomaker of Lincoln, Nebraska


Mr. Schomaker decided to calm his girlfriends hyperactive cat by shoving it into a makeshift bong and then smoking marijuana with the cat trapped inside.

Mr. Schomaker did this not once, not twice, but three times and he claims that he never intended to hurt the cat.

Lancaster County sheriff's deputies responding to a domestic disturbance at the residence ticketed the 20-year-old Schomaker on suspicion of misdemeanor animal cruelty Sunday after catching him smoking marijuana from a boxlike contraption that had the cat stuffed inside its 12-inch by 6-inch base.

___________________________________________________________

Even though this is the first week it was a tough competition to take the title of "Dumbass of the Week." However there is an Honorable Mention for this week's runner-up.

And the runner-up is: Latreasa Goodman of McNugget 9-1-1 Fame


A Florida woman was charged with misusing the 911 emergency system after police say she called 911 three different times to report what she thought was an emergency: A McDonalds Chicken McNugget meltdown.

Latreasa Goodman, 27, ordered a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal on Saturday night in Fort Pierce, Fla., but then she was told that the restaurant was out of McNuggets. The restaurant offered another item from the menu, but would not refund her money due to store policy. Goodman called 911 to report the incident. "I called 911 because I couldn't get a refund, and I wanted my McNuggets," she is quoted as saying in the police report.

When police explain to Goodman that this was not an emergency situation, she replied: "This is an emergency. If I would have known they didn't have McNuggets, I wouldn't have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don't want one."

Here is the link to the actual 9-1-1 calls.

Last night David Letterman must not have found Katie Couric to be a very enlightening interviewee which caused him to go into a rant against the fat bag o' shit conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Good job Dave!




Here is the Eastern European Gangster photo:



Hey Rush – I've got two words for you – JENNY CRAIG!