Debut of NEW "Real Deal" Format & Same Sex Marriages
Okay....Now that my head has FINALLY stopped spinning
from all the political chaos caused by the Republicans (namely the Bush
Administration) and other things in the news that doesn't make much sense,
I can now blog about it.

But before I do that, let me preface it by announcing that from here
on out that, beginning with this entry,  my blog has been reformatted
to be modeled much like Joe's "Real Deal" on  Scarborough
Country As needed, I'll mix it in with the format from the old radio
show Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel as well by labeling each take
I have in a particular blog entry Real Deal 1, Real Deal 2, Real Deal
3 etc....etc   Sometimes I may only have one "Real Deal"
in one post while at others I may have more than one, hence the incorporation
of the aforementioned old radio show as part of the new format.

In other words, think of it as the Liberal version of Bill O'Reilley's
"Talking Points Memo" which you see so many Conservative bloggers try to
clone.  Sorry Bill, I've tried swallowing your style, but it's just
lost it's flavor.  :-(

Discussions of my family and other personal musings will be moved over
to the  KB0OXD Cybershack
Ham Blog  which I also run.

That.being said, GET READY my fellow Liberal siblings as we're about
to give our obviously CLUELESS Conservative counterparts a ride down the
Information SuperHighway they'll NEVER forget  because we're about
to go into today's Real Deal.  NO PASSING GO. 
NO COLLECTING $200.  AND ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY **NO**
BAILING OUT ALLOWED!!!!  :-)

Today's Real Deal- Same Sex Marriages

It is of little secret by now that President Bush wants to "preserve
the sanctity of marriage" which is now legally recognized as being between
one man and one woman.  Even as the rest of the world, includeing
celebrities such as  Rosie O' Donnell
and  Ellen DeGeneres
choose to seek out relationships with other partners of the same sex and
as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and other state and local governments and the courts remain divided over
the issue, the church-going Republicans want to go so far as to BAN same-sex
marriages.  President Bush has even gone so far as to suggest that
he would actually consider an ammendment to the U.S.
Constitution which would enforce this ban.

This idea is ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS.  Moreover, I am SHOCKED that
the Democrats  DO NOT see
this as an issue WHICH THEY CAN WIN.  In fact, Presidential candidate
front-runner and Senator John Kerry
would rather not even discuss it (even though he has openly said he doesn't
think that same sex marriages aren't very proper).

I see an issue that has divided this country so much, you can practically
DRIVE A FLEET OF TRUCKS through it.

I happen to believe the so-called "Sanctity of marriage" shouldn't neccessarily
consist of just one man and one woman.  But rather, it should consist
of TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY.  If that means one man and woman, then
SO BE IT.  If it means two women the SO BE IT.  If it means two
men then (again!) SO BE IT.

Some so-called "experts" have even brought up the notion that two men
or two women can't conceive children.  OF COURSE NOT.  If God
wanted men to become pregnant and give birth to children, he would have
given us organs to do so.  If God wanted women to get pregnant and
give birth to children regardless of who their sex partner was, he would've
configured a woman's organs whereas she could just that.  But I don't
think this is the real issue that Republicans, the clergy and many Americans
have.

It is THE IDEA of two men or two women adopting children and raising
them.  Some of THE SAME so-called "experts" have even suggested that
a same sex marriage would somehow INCREASE the number of children placed
in the adoption system should there be a seperation or divorce.  My
question is HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IF TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX CANNOT _CONCEIVE_
A CHILD IN THE FIRST PLACE????

Ohh....But the mighty Republican have an answer to that one.  THEY
DO NOT increase the number of children in the system.  They just return
an old one.  They FORGET that the one "sanctity of marriage" which
IS capable of children (the one they are so quick to cherish) and IS recognized
everywhere is the culprit as to why our social serices system is so bogged
down.

Conservatives....Need some some clues?  Stop by your neareast 
Human
Services Social
Services or Adoption
Agency  today.  Need MORE clues, then tune into an episode
or two of COPS or visit your Local
Police Station today and take notice of the number of DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE
calls they get.  Heck, why even bother going down to the Police station? 
There are a bunch of Online
Police Scanners filled with all kinds of police chatter you can listen
to.

Ohh but WAIT my fellow Liberal brethren as our CLUELESS Republican counterparts
have a way of countering THAT.  Some of them have probably no doubt
said that if we don't reproduce offspring, this nation won't need a war
or a nuclear weapon to kill us.  We'll all be dead soon anyway and
with NO ONE around to defend America, the rest of the world can do anything
they want to us because THERE WILL BE NO AMERICA TO DEFEND.  To that
I say WAK UP AND SMELL THE FUCKIN' COFFEE!!!!

WE ARE ALREADY DYING OFF.  One look at the streets of Los
Angeles or New York is proof
of that.

Long and short of it simple.  The recognition of same sex marriages
INCREASES a child's chances of being adopted by LOVING parents by AT LEAST
DOUBLE.  The aforementioned Social Services and other related agencies
have case load after case load that the so-called "convential" sanctity
IS NOT always THE BEST environment for children.  and the sooner the
Republicans get that through their THICK SKULLS, the better off we'll all
be.

And that, ladies and gentlemern, is the first edition of Pat's Real
Deal.

Finally, let me wrap up by disclosing that I am NOT either gay or lesbian. 
I have met some gay people (and have no doubt crossed paths with a few
lesbians in my time as well).  I will admit it felt kinda awkward
at first just talking to them.  But once I got to know them,
I quickly found that, other than their sexual preference, they are JUST
AS NORMAL as any reasonably minded and rationale thinking "straight" person
like myself.

Somehow this is a misgnomer some people just don't understand, so instead
of trying to understand and comphrehend it, they ASSUME the worst and will
do ANYTHING to make the rest of the world just as paranoid as they are. 
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a sad and tragic fact.

Just something to think about.

Cheers for now  :-)

Pat

I'm Baaack (And Just When You Republicans Thought I Was Driven Off Too :-))
It's been awhile since I've blogged.
This is mostly because my cable company
decided to cut me off even though I had made payment arrangements and told
them outright that I could only meet them halfway in part. But since
they waives the re-activation fees (and installed my UPGRADE in cable TV
service), I really can't complain, so I'll skip it and move on.

While I was in the world of the offline and had NO TV (over the air
signals don't penetrate walls very well), my Dad died. Got a call
on the night of February 21st from my one brother Bill who lives in town.
He said he got a call from Hospice (I guess Mom gave them his number or
something since she was too sick and unable to travel). He said that
Dad's condition had become critical and that they were going to put him
on watch. The following day at around 1:45 PM, I got the news that
he had died some 45 minutes earlier. Bill left a message in my voice
mail as he was crying his eyes out. My Mom, who was set to have her gall
bladder removed the following Monday, was also informed as was my brother
Leonard, who lives in Kansas City, MO

Mom went in to have her surgery as planned on Monday February 24th.
We all figured that Dad would want that. She had spent the remainder
of the weekend before at Bill's apartment as the news of Dad's death spread.
She spent most of the time contacting friends (both past & present),
relatives, and anybody else we could think of. Leonard went straight
to the hospital where my Mom was as soon as he arrived in town (He drove
the entire trip from Kansas City to Denver. He even got a "souvenier"
courtesy of the Kansas Highway
Patrol in the form of a speeding ticket to show for it).

Both Leonard and Bill did all the running around and telephone calling
for the upcoming funeral so Mom wouldn't have to be saddled with anything
after surgery besides getting well. I spent the week with her at
her apartment so she wouldn't be alone at a time when someone in her position
shouldn't be and I also helped out as best I could with whatever she needed.

The funeral was on Friday February 28th at Fort
Logan National Cemetery It was a wonderful service.
Both of my brothers spoke and gave eulogies and stuff. Mom was even
presented with the U.S. flag in honor of Dad's military service (He was
in the Army stationed in Germany from 1954-1957).. It was listed
in the obituaries of both Denver papers. If I find one online, I'll
be sure to post a link to the obituary here.

As for the political issues that went on during this time, I'll save
that for another day (my head is STILL spinning). But rest assured
Republicans, you WILL NOT like what *I* have to say. YOU ARE ON NOTICE!!!

Cheers for now :-)

Pat

The Latest On My Dad

Well I paid a visit to Dad this afternoon
at the Hospice Care Facility today.  He looks good (apparently MUCH
better than he did before), but it doesn't look like he'll be released
anytime soon (this is due mostly to my parents' current living situation
- Don't get me started on THAT tangent).  From what I've been told,
he still can't hardly do anything (Even HEARING is a major challenge for
him).  He can hardly get out of bed, let alone do anything else.

Aside from that and a few aches and pains, he's his ol' usual self.

I keep hoping he'll be released sometime soon, but I'm told he needs
a night nurse.  And since my mom is NOT a licensed nurse, even though
she's his Personal Care Assistant, she can't possibly serve as his night
nurse and STILL be expected to do the same during many of the daylight
hours.  In short, he basically needs 24/7 care.  which is why
he's back in the hospital in the Hospice Care Facility.

His dies is mostly liquids as he can't even chew, so it doesn't look
like he'll get his appetite back simply by eating a six inch Veggie Delite
imported  from the nearby Subway
anytime soon either (I was able to pull this trick off with ease when my
Mom had Hip Replacement surgery several years back.  Jared would be
so proud.  :)).

Well....That's the latest news from here, now back to you in the studio
(Wait....I am in the studio.  What am I talking about??? 
:)  *LOL!*)

Cheers for now  :)

Pat

Why Wait for A Manned Trip To Mars?

I keep hearing how badly so many of my fellow Liberals
want to send President Bush to Mars when it becomes to do so.

Well....I just couldn't resist the temptation to post this (and a manned flight to Mars is such a *LONG* time to wait), so I have a better idea. *devilish grin*

We all know that the Bush clan started this whole mess with Iraq in the first place, right? 
Of course we do.  What if we were to MAKE IT CLEAR to the GOP that
a trip to Mars just isn't gonna happen soon enough.  So instead, we'd
like to send THE ENTIRE BUSH CLAN on a ONE WAY trip - TO
IRAQ.

I mean think about the possibilities here.

* The whole clan can build and amintain a ranch somewhere on the outskirts
or Baghdad IN THE OPEN DESERT..

* George Sr. and Jr. can use their GPS receivers or other similar souvenier
gizmos they got for being President and seek out and destroy all the WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION which are said to be in Iraq that used to belong
to Saddam Hussein, but has yet to be proven to exist.  While they're
doing that, they can also TAP INTO THE IRAQI OIL RESERVES WHICH WILL
HELP REIMBURSE _OUR_ GOVERNMENT who almost had to fight this war
almost single-handedly (not to mention who could've just as single-handedly
toppled Saddam's regime in the first place!).

* Laura & Barbara Bush can have a schoolhouse built so they can
both teach all the Iraqi children their ABCs and 123s.  And while
they're at it, they can also teach Iraq's adult population to "Just
Say NO" to Al Qaeda recruiters who are ALSO believed to be still in
the region.

* Jeb Bush (Remember HIM?) can be head of the hired help at the ranch.

Why do I mention Jeb Bush?  Simple.  At least we wouldn't
have to worry about HIM running for President in 2008 against Hilary and/or
Al (Gore not Sharpton)

DOES THIS MAKE $ENSE OR WHAT???

Comments anyone?

Cheers for now  :-)

Pat

BREAKING NEWS ON THE HOMEFRONT - Dad's Back In the Hospital Again

Just got the news from Mom not even 20 mins.
ago. My brother Bill will pay him a visit tomorrow. If he's
still there, hopefully I will do the same in the next couple of days (I'm
almost flat broke as it now that I don't even have the bus fare for a ONE
WAY trip, let alone a round trip one).if they'll allow me to do so (It's
a somewhat complicated issue). Otherwise, I'll try to give him a
call oon the phone. Of course, phone contact isn't the same as contact
in person (especially for someone who may be on their death bed), but it's
the thought that counts, isn't it? He's there due to overall weakness. He's also not eating very well. Doctors haven't a clue why or what's causing his currrent problems.

I'll keep everyone posted on Bill's visit when he updates me tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my other brother Leonarrd in Kansas
City, MO has been informed by Bill & I (and probably Mom too).
Hopefully he won't have to fly in. But if he does, oh well.....

I'm also hopeful that the hospitalization is only temporary, although
since he's in hospice care due to his colon cancer and reaction to chemo
treatment, he'll most likely (and very sadly) be in and out of the hospital
for AT LEAST the bulk of 2004. With any luck at all, he'll live long
enough to see another holiday season, but even that may be somewhat ambitious.

Cheers for now :-)

Pat

RIAA STRIKES AGAIN

When....Oh WHEN will the RIAA get the message? 
WHEN will they understand that the problem with file sharing HAS NOTHING
WHATSOEVER to do with a willingness among the masses to repeatedly violate
the law (a law which was CUSTOM MADE for the RIAA I might add), but instead
has EVERRYTHING to do with their persistent GOUGING of the price of CDs
AND their UNWILLINGNESS TO FAIRLY COMPENSATE THE ARTISTS???

The latest comes in  this
Wired News article

Read it and tell me what you think.

Cheers for now  :-)

Pat