I know some of you want to forget, but with today comes the marking of eight years to the day that my city was changed. And if you would care to indulge me for a few moments, i'd like to briefly reflect as the raindrops patter away outside. It reminds me of the rains on Friday, September 14th, 2001. It was the first day of rain following the 11th. It was cold. Raw. One of those fall rains that made you think it was going to be a long, hard winter.

Then I remember the days following. Warmth returned. The Indian summer they call it. It seemingly extended far into the winter from what I recall. Fueled by the fire that drove all of us to dig deeper and find the extra something in our self to push through unimaginable tragedy with remarkable strength and compassion. Compassion for fellow humans.

We rose through horror and showed the very best humanity could offer.

Every year I write these soliloquies and I don’t necessarily write them for one specific group or person, other then myself I suppose. If that sounds selfish I apologize.

8 years shouldn’t seem so far gone now, really it shouldn’t, but for some reason it is. I look back to then from now and I feel like I might as well be looking back to 1960. 8 years ago on that rainy Friday, I visited my old high school and ran into my former English teacher, who I remember, and I honestly don’t know how I remember this seeing as how my memory is picky at best, but I remember her nearly breaking down, which I had never seen from her. I had never seen real emotion from a teacher like that before. She had mentioned that another former teacher of mine’s brother had been a firefighter who hadn’t yet been heard from. Every year I see her at the tribute here on Staten Island, and she still carries this open wound with her, she hasn’t forgotten. You can tell she still remembers.

Everyone should remember. While each year I "preach" that people seem to have forgotten, I also realize that people do remember in their own way. I just hope that people remember that while it might not be as hard for them, and it’s easy to just throw it under the rug, for others, this is more then just some day. Much more. Many people here on Staten Island either lost or know someone who lost a loved one or friend. I don’t want to be “celebrating” a “Patriot Day Sale” in 15 years.

I want simple things. Common decency. It might not seem like anything at first, and I may be hoping for a miracle, but hey, it might start something good. I don’t know. I think of myself as a bit of an oddball, some say I’m a cynic, some say I’m still a dreamer, but dammit, all I want is what’s good and right. Even though the rains will dampen today, I will remember, I always will and I have the hope that anyone reading this does as well.

I just finished eating a recipe I got from “The Unsinkable Bathroom Reader.” for those of you who don’t know what that is, the Bathroom reader is a series of books, about as thick as a college textbook filled with random facts, stories and information, and as the title says, they’re meant to be read when on the can. I’ve gotten one every year, and many an entrant to my bathroom has found them enjoyable.

Anyway, the recipe was for “Bell Peppers in Creamy Sauce”, which was essentially melted marshmallows in hollowed out red peppers. Excellent right? Well, I tried them, and they were…well…not awful, but not as well as I hoped. Has the bathroom reader let me down? No, I’m sure my neighbors cats will manage to find them tasty, as they do most of what I give them(hence why they are fat.)

Those of you who read my rants and raves and musings in the past are probably scratching your head as to how I’ve managed to begin this with a story about cooking via the can. Wish I could give you a good answer but right now I’m gonna blame it on…hmmm….my lack of green socks.

I used to pound out at least 3 or 4 of these bloggy things a month, but for some reason, lately I’ve felt un-inspired, or maybe lazy, I’m not sure, but I’d like to make an attempt to connect with the masses more because I believe I am excellent, and you should all know about it. So what shall I address this time around?

Well, I know a “hot button”(where the hell did that term come from? I’ve never felt a, "hot button", nor do I know anyone who has, and I’ve touched many a button. I think from now on, I’m gonna call it a boiling potato issue, those I’ve touched, and eaten, and man are they deliciously excellent.) issue is this whole health care debate. While I do watch the news, and am a bit of a journalist myself, I frankly am still slightly confused as to why it’s such a big deal. Healthcare in this country is a mess, I will admit.

I’ve had my battles with healthcare companies over the past few years, and while they’re not as good as Letterman V. Palin, they’re tough. They shouldn’t be. You sick? Go to a doctor and the government will pay for it, plain and simple. I believe that’s how it’s done in Sweden and Norway. Seems to be working out for them, and last I checked those countries were pretty good, hell Sweden gave me my desk and TV unit. And I like those, so why aren’t we like Norway? I like the Adderall pen I got from my doctors office as much as I like any pen I’ve stolen….er…borrowed from anywhere, but I’d like to know I got it from them cause they liked the green color, not because Pfizer or whatever crazy sounding drug company paid em for it.

Every time I’ve turned on the news in the past few weeks, it’s the same thing, people screaming at some poor schmo standing behind a podium before they can say anything. Who even knows if they’re gonna talk about healthcare? Maybe they’re gonna say “hey, who wants free muffins?” but no, some nut job who had a too many Red Bull’s has to start acting like Lou Pinella. At least let these people talk before acting like a soccer mom in Wal-mart on black Friday(man, did I just sound like Larry The Cable Guy?).

Everyone says it’s the Republicans going against the Democrats or vice versa, and that’s where I get sick to my stomach, cause frankly, I’m tired of that crap. It shouldn’t be about that at all. This is why politics make me sick. We all should have got over this high school garbage ages ago. They’re all adult aged and yet they don’t act it. Sometime ago, someone asked me if I was Democrat or a Republican. I am NEITHER. I like the way come people do some things, and I like the way others do other things, that doesn’t make me anything other then a human, and that is how I want to be treated.

I’m tired of all this back and forth, it gets nothing done. Especially on this Island, where everything has to go through some kinda study. We’ve had more studies done on this island about transportation then little kids in michael jackson has had kids in it’s crotch(too soon?)Know what the studies say? We need more trains and mass transit. Same thing was probably said in another study 20 years ago and not much has changed.

I don’t need a bunch of scientists with clipboards and hard hats telling me there needs to be a train on the Island, just build the damn thing already. Go get it done, now. I don’t care if it’s labor day weekend, firefighters and doctors don’t stop cause it’s labor day weekend. Why should anyone else? Well...alright, get to work Monday at least, and I want it done no later then next Thursday dammit.

The Empire State Building was finished in 13 months, and that’s when there were only 5 channels on TV, and we had to walk 35 miles to get to the nearest Home Depot/Jamba Juice/Jc-Penny/Shop-Rite(give it time, they’ll all be in one spot sooner or later.)

Speaking of construction, my damn neighbor needs to build a driveway. 3 cars, and a front yard with enough land to build another Connecticut, but he can’t wrap his head around a few bags of quick-rete.

That, by the way is one cool invention. Maybe I’ll start making random ramps along major highways just to screw with old people. Then when I reach that age and wonder why the left turn I took somehow deposited me in Minneapolis I can blame it on, “those damn kids.” I’m gonna make an excellent curmudgeon some day. I should probably get a cane, since I already have the rocking chair. Man do I love that rocking chair.

Since I’m not presently at that age however, I won’t complain about everything. I do have good news. I have finally accepted the new Pepsi can design. I can safely look past the fact that the new logo looks an awful lot like a plumbers crack and enjoy my tasty beverage. Some people say its bad for you, but it has water in it, and water is healthy. You don’t hear anyone saying water is bad for you do you? Well maybe they do, but it’s usually that crazy guy in the pink leotard on a unicycle in Herald Square, and hes not so bad, once you get past the smell.

Cheese Doodles are also healthy. It’s true. Cheese is good for you, and it comes from a cow, which as we know is responsible for hamburgers, and seriously, who doesn’t love hamburgers? Anyone who doesn’t is just plain retarded with a capital bike helmet. Think about it, cheese is healthy, it’s in a food group, we give cheese slices to kids when they’re little so whats wrong with it in doodle form? Why is there a anti-doodle movement in this country? That’s racist. Racism gets you no where, ask that guy who played Kramer on Seinfeld. If you don’t like cheese doodles, you are no better then him. Did I just blow your mind or what?

So I think it’s time I chime in on this media mess we’ve all been subjected too for the past few weeks.

First and foremost, in regards to the music-freak, I have no respect for anything that molests kids(and don't give me, "allegedly", it happened. Saying it, "allegedly" happened is like saying Jupiter is, "allegedly" a planet.), I honestly don't. Speaking of which, shouldn't the cast of Law And Order: SVU be releasing a statement now since everyone else from Earth To Hoth has at this point? Mr. President, I love ya man, but really? This? Aren’t there more pressing issues facing the nation at this point?

So it (that's what I’m calling "him") sold a bunch of records and danced a bit(Moonwalk? really? Neil Armstrong did not do that, he kind of bounced and hopped)...that doesn't allow all the right to child abuse. I don't understand how anyone can look past that. I really don’t.

There was a catcher for the Yankees, Jim Leyritz, who was a huge part of their '96 championship run. I was a fan of his since '93, I followed him a bit even after he was traded. Last year he drunk drove and killed someone, now I’m not fan. Some may find that wrong. I’m not sorry to say, that when you break the law and knowingly kill or injure someone, I lose respect for you.

No amount of money that Jackos legal team threw at those kids will truly erase those scars. And those are just the kids that came forward. Who knows how many didn't? Money doesn't heal all. They settled with his plaintiffs out of court. Unless you had something to hide, why would you do that? Especially when you have the money and the power to shut anyone up? Whoever doesn’t believe it happened or has looked over it is both blind and ignorant.

Why does everyone want to clear it’s past because it’s dead now? Being dead doesn't negate the fact that it did a lot of bad things. I’ve never liked jacko.

You can argue that “he” did a lot for music and should be celebrated for it. Well, in that same vein, Saddam did a lot for nerve gas and mass genocide, so why not celebrate him too?

The world should not come to a halt because some celebrity who was out of their mind died. I don't see L.A. being shut down because a teacher or a soldier died, and I can tell you those people did a hell of a lot more for the planet than this freakshow.

Now you can say that the soldiers and teachers aren’t "public figures" and that people have a tough time grieving for something they can't put a face or a name to. A friend of mine said; “They, sadly, don't feel any connection to these people for whatever reason but with celebrities, they do because they "see" them on a constant basis. Invite them into their homes and cars.” This is total proof as to how royally messed up our values have become.

This is not to say that I am not guilty of following a celebrity, HOWEVER, to completely alter my life around one is beyond me. How can people call this…thing...a role model? How is dangling your own innocent newborn over a balcony forgivable?! If that was me, I’d be tossed in prison and be meeting Jimmy John in the back of my cell. Celebrity should not give one free reign to act as if there are is no law.

Somewhere along the line, our values and standards got really, really fucked up. When I turn on Eyewitness news here in New York, I want to see New York news, like information on subway fare hikes, not two New York reporters covering this love in out in L.A. Ratings be damned, what happened to real journalism?

And god forbid anyone say anything negative about jacko, because if they do, they’ll be viewed as the most horrible person on the Earth. So to the 9 or 10 other people out there who have defied the norm and spoke the truth, I salute you.

This is getting entirely too much attention and it is completely undeserved. So call me the worlds biggest cynic, but i do not feel an ounce of pity here.

This all leads me into my next bone of contention. While I may be a bit late commenting on it to the masses, The whole Letterman vs. palin crap really set me off. First off, Dave never said "rape", palin and her morons made that up. Second, what right does she have to preach about family values when for starters her daughter got knocked up, and second, she’s charging rape victims in Alaska for rape kits? Pot calling the kettle black there?

Third is the fact that Dave is a COMEDIAN. he's supposed to make jokes, it's what they all do. I don't see anyone getting annoyed at Leno or Stewart when they make a joke about them. People get waaaay to easily offended nowadays, and often times it’s over nothing! All they do is protest this and that. Does it ever do anything? Sometimes it does minute things. But yea, most of the time its pointless. And then the parents wonder why the kids turn out frigged up. It's because while the parents were complaining, they weren't raising Billy and Janey and then Billy got shot and Janey got high and crashed the car.

I don't understand how a parent can get annoyed about a few people boning on a show while they let the son or daughter watch "24", nothing against that show, just saying...if i had the choice, I’d rather have my kids see the natural act of doin' it sideways instead of Keifer torturing someone. The U.K. has no problem with naked news, why can't we have that? If I saw some naked girl tell me the economy is in the toilet, I’d damn well take it better then if Wolf Blitzer told me, and if a lady wants to see a naked guy, or a guy wants to see one, more power to them, nudity for all, except Wolf Blitzer. No one, and I mean no one, needs to see that.

Whatever happened to free speech and freedom of expression? I don't get it. Look, I can't stand eminiem, and even though what I think he does is sometimes sexist and racist, he's got every right to say it. You know what I do? I turn the dial. Or I change the channel, and I put on something I want to see and a few moments later I forget about him.

I have another friend who is very into be what many would call an activist. After our “mayor” decide he was gonna close firehouses, this guy went out and essentially started a grassroots campaign to keep them open. When the whole palin crap started, did he get distracted by a fight that he knew was pointless? No! He kept doing what he was doing, fighting a battle that was worthwhile, and ya know what? He succeeded! And that was worth fighting for.

Now while I know that was long winded and at times overly wordy, damn it felt good. So throw your shoes at me if you want, but I don’t feel sorry about what I’ve said.

"So This Is How Liberty Dies...With Thunderous Applause."

Those words were spoken by Natalie Portman in "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." And while liberty may not have died today, democracy certainly did. And the applause came from supporters of a shell of a man.

After only a month-long debate, the New York City Council passed "king" mayor michael bloomberg's bill to extend term limits, making it easier to run for a third term in office next year. It passed by a vote of 29-22 among the 51 members. Those 29 members no doubt had their votes bought by the billionaire, who will most likely pump $80million into his re-reelection campaign. This will far exceed what any other potential candidate can spend.

Thankfully, and what is hopefully only a start, after the final tally was read, a crowd of protesters immediately voiced their displeasure. I intend to join their ranks in the coming months. You can't change the rules of the game mid way through mikey. It's undemocratic, a bully tactic and simply put, wrong. You cannot override the will of the people who elected you, because they will run you out of this town, and rightfully so.

The law limiting the cities elected officials to two terms was approved twice by voters in public referendums in 1993 and 1996. Today Councilmember David Yassky proposed a similar referendum as an amendment to the bill, and each councilmember was given two minutes to speak for or against. But, it was voted down with 22 supporting it, 28 against, and one abstaining.

Supporters of the moron's bill said allowing the voters to decide for themselves would have been "ideal", but is not practical due to the possibility of a prolonged court battle, which is total bullplop. What they really meant to say is "We know what we're doing is wrong and potentially illegal but king bloomberg filled our pockets with so much cash we don't know how to oppose him because we're to busy rolling around in the money mountain we've built." The majority of the council wastes time on pointless things daily, yet they couldn’t pull this off somehow.

Bill supporter, City Council Speaker and mayoral lackey christine quinn(bloomberg) said she thinks this measure will allow New Yorkers a greater choice. What the spineless shrew doesn't realize is that the choice should have been made before she thought we would have a choice.

Another note is that of the 51 city council members, 35 of them would have been prohibited from running for re-election next year had term limits not been extended. Conflict of interest? Not so says the city's Conflict of Interest Board(yes, it is real) who ruled "the council could vote on the proposal even though they could directly benefit from the change." So the conflict of interest board is about as useless as most of the council itself. Council members are probably afraid they’ll have to go out and look for a real job like the people they claim to represent have to.

This jagoff of a "mayor" is once again acting like a spoiled crybaby. In 2004 when the education board didn't give him what he wanted, he replaced opposing members with ones who sided with him.

In 2005, he fought for a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan. A part of the city that is notoriously clogged with traffic. A stadium would, in all likelihood have created a traffic nightmare unlike any ever seen. This stadium would likely have hosted a proposed NYC Olympic games. When he didn't get what he wanted, he attempted to build another Olympic stadium in Queens, which was also shot down but later turned into the new Mets stadium.

Meanwhile firehouses are closing, teachers are losing students and the poor still sleep on city streets.

And lets not forget about congestion pricing.

Congestion pricing would have fees for cars and trucks entering Manhattan in what the mayor called "an attempt to reduce traffic in the island of Manhattan", yet we all knew it was just a way to try and squeeze more money out of taxpayers wallets to build more of his pet projects. Skyscrapers and townhouses and lavish retreats for the rich and elite, like himself to look down upon the rest of the city from. This, thankfully was shot down by the state assembly.

The re-election nonsense comes from the recent economic recession(i know the press and rest of the people won't say it, but it's true, we're in a friggin recession. Stop tiptoeing around scaring people and say it.) See, "king" bloom-turd thinks he's the only one man enough for the job, when, for starters, when he talks, he sounds like schoolgirl whining about Hannah Montana.

He is a self made billionaire, owner of his own media empire, and yet for some reason the city he claims to care about so much is facing a fiscal crisis the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 1930's. If he is such a smart businessman, how could he not have seen this coming? I know, maybe he'll put some of his money into the city! No...wait...he's just going to implement across the board budget cuts and possible layoffs for essential city services and raise our taxes.

How can city residents afford to pay an 8% tax hike if he's putting them out of work? Those don't sound like the bullet points on the resume` of a great savior to me...

But it's ok, because bloom-turd's got his city council buddies to back him up, because they won't say no to him. Well they did at first, then he probably started writing them all checks and they then collectively smiled and said "whatever you want Mr. Moneybags!"

What was demonstrated today was a clear lack of caring for the people. The hairdresser from Staten Island, the cook from Brooklyn, the painter from Queens, the carpenter from the Bronx. The mayor does not care about what you think. All he wants to turn the city into a police state for the middle class and poor and a playground for the rich.

But there is hope within this madness. You still do have a voice. Come next year you can vote. And I urge you, i beg you, to please, vote for anyone but him. Vote for Anthony Weiner, Vote for Tony Avella, Vote for Bill Thompson.

Bring democracy back to the people. Help kick this piece of crap out of your city.

I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing lately, back to 2 points of my life, relatively recent times for some reason, and I’m not sure why.

For a while now, I’ve spoken to some people about the summer of 2001, particularly the days leading up to September 11th. For some reason, I don’t remember much, if anything about them. A lot of people said “Well, you can’t remember every part of every day.” I realize this, I just find it odd that almost that whole summer is missing. I saw a documentary on the 2001 World Series and it mentioned that the night before the 11th, the Yankee game was rained out, but I honestly don’t remember that. I think one of the things that really set these thoughts into motion is when, a few months back I was looking through my Amazon.com wishlist. On September 10th, 2001, I put a book about the World Trade Center on the list.

Its probably just an eerie coincidence. I was watching another documentary(Yea, I watch a lot of them.) where they showed the towers at night, a few days before the attacks, and life just seemed simpler back then and I miss it. I miss those buildings.

There was a brief snippet in the documentary that showed a saxophone player on a city street at night, and you can tell it was one of those hot city days. Not brutal hot, but still steamy, and I miss that too. That’s probably due to the fact the temperature around here has averaged about 10 degrees the past couple of weeks.

But when I look back at “that time” it seems almost bizarre that it was only 7 years ago. In the grand scheme of things to me at least, 7 years shouldn’t be that long ago. But when I see these images, it just seems like centuries ago.

There is another delay with the Freedom Tower, which now seems as if it will never really get built. A lot of outsiders, not all, but a lot, seem to think that all of the delays are meaningless, and I’ll admit, sometimes I did too. But when you look at the big picture, you’re looking at a piece of land that is more then that. It is not a piece of land, it is a grave site, a crime scene and holy ground all in one, and no one answer will solve all the problems…and yet no one can seem to find any answer to any of the problems.

The other “time” I’ve been thinking about is when I worked in Manhattan at Hanley’s and again, I don’t know why.

I suppose part of me misses my daily commute into the city on the ferry, working across the street from the Empire State Building and though I’ll probably regret saying this, part of me misses Hanley’s? Not the store so much as the people…and not all the people, hell not even the whole time I was there, just for some reason the spring of 2003. It is immensely bizarre, but I can’t seem to get past it for some reason.

I think I need a vacation.

Saturday will be the culmination of years and years of studying and practice for me. It is on this saturday, January 20th, 2007 that I will take the written entrance exam to become a New York City firefighter. My dream will finally, after years of painstaking preparation start to take shape. It has not always been an easy time, some times I have felt completely lost and desperate. During those times, i'm reminded of what Captain Timothy Stackpole once said.

Captain Stackpole was a firefighter in FDNY Division 11. In 1998 he was fighting a fire in Brooklyn when the floor gave way and he plunged 10 feet below, and was covered with burning debris. He was burned over 30 percent of his body, to the point where just the act of bending his legs caused extreme pain. His rehab was hard and long, and he could have easily retired with full benefits and then some.

He didn't. He came back to work, and when then fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen asked him why, Timmy simply said; "This is where I want to be." Captain Stackpole returned to work a few days before September 11th, and was killed that day.

If someone who suffered way more then they needed to can come back to the job because they love it that much, I damn well can get this job. Timothy's is one of hundreds of stories of the guys who didn't make it that day, and many of them have pushed through all sorts of adversity to reach their dream, and you better fucking believe I will too.

There's a sticker i've seen on a lot of the trucks and in the houses, and it says "FDNY: Still the greatest job on earth!" And I can't wait to be a part of that job. I know for a fact that it is not easy, and not always glorious, and there will be moments of absolute horror, but with them come moments of unimaginable pride. I want this more then anything I've ever wanted before, and nothing worth wanting ever came easy.

Tomorrow would have been my mom's birthday, and I know she would have wanted me to have this and i'm not just doing it to honor everyone in the city or in the FDNY, i'm doing this because I know how much she would want me to have it. And I know she would be proud of me.

Today I found out that NASCAR legend Benny Parsons lost his battle with lung cancer. I had the immense pleasure of meeting "BP", as he was affectionately called. I knew him, he, obviously didn't know me, yet he took the time to sit with me and just talk cars and racing for an hour. Me, a complete stranger, and him, a legend in his field. He treated me like he knew me, and I admired that, he was a down to earth man who kept true to his roots and what he loved. And to be honest, i will really miss him. He kept fighting till the very end, and I will too.

   Normally I don't talk about issues such as the ones I'm about to talk about, either because I don't know enough about them and don't want to sound foolish, or because everyone else has already done so and I don't want to "beat a dead horse" so to speak.

In 2004, Christopher Reeve, known the world over as Superman succumbed to injuries he sustained in a 1994 horse riding accident. He fought a long and hard battle, much like the hero he portrayed. He became a symbol of hope and courage not only on the silver screen, but in real life. His determination to do something as simple as walk, something we all take for granted made us all believe that there are better things in this world. He proved to truly be a Superman.

In 1991, fellow actor Michael J. Fox, probably best known to us as Marty McFly from the "Back To The Future" movies, was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. This disease is crippling. It causes Tremors, speech disturbances, fatigue, just to name a few symptoms. Fox didn't come public with his condition until the late 90's. At first, he appeared to be doing OK, at least from what we can tell. Tonight, however, a friend sent me this brief clip of him in a recent commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo

Now you see just how bad this disease can be. You may be asking just how this ties into Christopher Reeve. You will notice that Mr. Fox spoke about Stem Cell Research. This research could have potentially saved Christopher Reeves life, and it can also potentially save Michael's.
Now I know a little something about this after doing a paper on it for a college writing class last semester. I also know about the "controversy" behind it.

First, a stem-cell line is created from a group of other cells, these cells can replicate for a long time. This line is then given nutrients to help it continue to divide. The process of which this is done may embryonic cells, which can be done through something called Therapeutic Cloning. Now, I know that word "Cloning" sounds scary, but we are not talking cloning of actual people, we are talking cloning of cells. Cells that can and will save countless lives.

A team of Korean doctors transplanted cells into a paralyzed woman who had not been able to walk for nearly 20 years. This woman can now walk on her own without difficulty. While her condition was not as bad as Mr. Reeve's, this shows how amazing this process can be.
A procedure with healthy stem cells could potentially cure Michael J. Fox.

Stem Cell Research can also potentially lead to cures for everything from Lou Gehrigs disease, to blindness, to even baldness.

Then why do so many in this country suffer and die due to diseases that could be cured through this amazing science?

president bush chose not to permit funding on the research, citing the fact that it was "unethical" and against the catholic church. Well Mr. President, isn't allowing someone to die when they have the right to live unethical? And don't give me that religion bull. I'm tired of all these religious freaks deeming what is good and what isn't. Just because some book tells you it isn't right doesn't make it so. Now i'm not saying everyone should just go and listen to me, your beliefs are all yours. I am merely presenting my opinion on the subject.

Frankly, I don't want to have to see another person die when a cure could have been created but wasn't because commander coo-coo bananas is too busy deciding what country to invade next. Unethical my ass, georgie. I've said it before, and i'll say it again, religion is being exploited by far to many people for the wrong reasons. That is why I have a hole in my city.
Which leads me to my next topic.

In the spring of 2002, the mayor brought cleanup and recovery efforts at Ground Zero officially to an end. Everything cleaned up, no places left to dig, no more Bodies to recovery he said.
However, Across from where the towers once stood, at 130 Liberty Street, things were different. The building was ravaged so badly by the collapsing towers that it was declared a total loss and the process of demolishing it began. But, in September of last year, they began finding body parts on the roof of the building. Then this past March, workers removing now toxic materials began finding human bone fragments.

Naturally, families and friends of the victims were notably upset. These were their loved ones, almost thrown out with the trash. A complete and through examination of the building was done again and over 300 more bone fragments were found.

This past Thursday, October 19th, more then 5 YEARS later, on the western edge of the World Trade Center Site, electrical crews doing work on the "Freedom Tower" found more remains, in a manhole on the site. 5 years and they are still finding remains. This is not a criticism of the rescue crew that toiled non stop at that site for months and months on end. They were not trained in this type of work. That is the work of a professional anthropological team.

This team offered their assistance in the recovery efforts in 2002, while the recovery was still in an active state. The mayor, however, turned them down. No one is quite sure why he did that. One would easily think that now, after more then 90 bone fragments have been discovered in the past 6 days, the mayor would call in the experts.

Wrong. The mayor continues to show his thoughtlessness to the victims families and friends, and to the city. The mayor also refuses to stop "work" at the site while some crews do look for more remains. I used quotations because, 5 years later, nothing is being done down there. Its a political photo-op and nothing more. No memorial, no rebuilding, just a lot of back and forth. The mayor argues that shutting down the site to search for remains would set back the "timetable" of rebuilding. Well lemme ask you this mikey...how many times did you set back the timetable? This nonsense has to stop.

2,749 people didn't make it out that day. 1,151 of them have never been found. Now that more can be identified, the mayor shuns the notion of helping those who have been dealt an unbelievable tragedy. These people can be given at least some comfort in knowing that finally, there loved ones are at peace.

President and Mayor. These guys are supposed to be our leaders??

5 years. Has it really been that long? I started writing this at 1:47am. 5 years ago at this time, who knows what I was doing? Do many people, if any, really remember September 10th, 2001? It all seems almost non-existent to me. I’m pretty sure it was just a normal night, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing spectacular.

9 hours later everything was totally different. People were struggling, people were dying, people were helping others. In the face of absolute horror, an alarm bell rang out in peoples heads that told them “others need my help.” These people didn’t care if the person they were helping was black, white, Hindu, Jewish or anything like that. They cared because of compassion for a fellow being. Some of these people wore a suit and tie, some a t-shirt and jeans, and some a helmet and bunker coat. Some of these people helped with merely a window washing tool, others with a heavy axe.

Some had only the will and determination and a simple saying of “Let’s roll.”

For the past 5 years, many have called these acts heroic. To me, they are legendary. Heroes wear capes and jerseys. Those people, while heroic, do not posses the characteristics of legends who, despite facing certain death, pushed forward to give all of something to hope for. They gave us the hope that despite the horror we were facing at that moment, we would see another day. They gave us that chance.

Their sacrifice cannot be forgotten.

Many people heeded a call then. Many did not. They could have simply turned and walked away. But they didn’t. They rose up to the greatest challenge many would ever face, and not only succeeded, they far surpassed, perhaps even their own expectations. They showed us the power of will can be stronger then even physical strength. Many selfless acts were performed that day, and the days after.

These are people we probably wouldn’t have given a second glance to before. In this one day, a city and a nation stood up to a challenge of horrific proportions that no one could ever have imagined and selflessly persevered.

5 years ago right now it was 2:11am, September 11th, 2001. The last hours of “normal.” New York City was then the greatest city on earth, and since then has become even greater.

I love this town.


-Luke

Yesterday there was a fire in the Bronx. A Bad one. Before it was all said and done, A rookie, or probationary firefighter, Micheal Reilly was killed. Today, Lt. Howard Carpluk succumbed to his injuries received while fighting the same fire.

It has been told to me that the job is dangerous and these things, sad as they may be, happen. This is something I know and have known since deciding to chose this career path. I know its dangerous. I know its hard, and I know its sad. That does not make this or any other incident in which a firefighter or any emergency worker is killed any easier to take.

A few minutes ago I heard someone saying "ohh the fashion at the Emmy's last night was so horrid." I immediately had to think to myself "how fucking shallow are these people?" People in this world are fighting for their lives and our lives, hell...one year ago, a hurricane caused people to live in rags for months, and shallow fucktards like these are bitching about fucking $700 dresses and tuxes?!? How about you send a lil bit of that money or a lil bit of those thoughts to people who actually deserve it?? Huh? Is that to much to ask?!

This world is becoming increasingly shallow and its really getting to get to me.
Where are the values and sense of truth in this world? What happened to the day when people would care about real things and actually try and solve problems? What happened to the good? Why does everyone care what stupid-ass celebrity is wearing or eating? What the hell is wrong with people?

So today the NYPD announced that theyre going to be purchasing some of the new Dodge "Chargers" as part of a pilot program to see what they can use to replace the Ford Crown Victoria and Chevy Impalas that theyre presently using.

http://assets.cobaltnitra.com/teams/repository/export/0c2/1c13855c0100487be0003ba703341/0c21c13855c0100487be0003ba703341_355x0.jpg

For starters, that P.O.S....ain't a charger. It's a glorified Chrysler 300 and lucky to be called that much. The real humor for me is the idea of NYPD using a car that was made famous by "The Dukes Of Hazzard." So this means that all the cops are gonna start sliding across their hoods, and "Pull the vehicle over" will now be replaced with "Ya'll pull the car over now ya hear?" But perhaps the one good thing to come outta this will be the possibilty of seeing some of the NYPD female officers wearing Daisy Duke Shorts...

http://www.apparelsearch.com/Definitions/DEFINITION%20IMAGES/Daisy_Dukes_Catherine_Bach_as_Daisy_Duke..jpg

Now to the FDNY...oh boy...Here, we have the Hazmat 1 unit, almost finished:
http://www.emtbravo.lunarpages.com/SpyShots/FDNYHazmat.html

And here we have the secondary piece to Hazmat 1:
http://www.emtbravo.com/SpecFeat/FDNYHazmat.jpg

Now you'll notice both of them have "Chrome" or "Silver" rims, or wheels. So could Hazmat 1 be switching their nickname from "Better living through chemistry" to "The Bling Boyz"? While they're at it, why not have jewel encrusted Hazmat suits? Install some hydruallics so the rigs can bounce to the scene? Have Sean John design some bunker gear? Maybe we can replace the chemical retardent foam with "Cristal"? (Yea I don't know exactly how its spelled either.)

To me this is just more proof the doomberg really is out of touch with...well...everything.

By the way...we have 211 athletes in the Olympics, which is more then the host country, Italy's 170 something. So should they just give us our medals now or have us wipe out almost everyone on international tv?

One year ago today, three New York City legends went to work not knowing that they wouldn't return home. They did a job not everyone would do, they were New York City firefighters. There names were John Bellew, Curtis Meyran and Richard Sclafani. One year ago today they were killed in 2 seperate fires, one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx. These men had families and friends.

4 other firefighters, Brendan Cawley, Eugene Stolowski, Jeffery Cool and Joseph DiBernado were seriously injured. Some to the point of having to leave the job.

Aristotle is quoted as saying; "We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, and brave by performing brave actions."

What these men did and continue to do is not only brave, but legendary. To do what they do in a city like this is not at all the easiest task, but since the 1800's they have done this job, not for the glory or the fame, but for the love of the job. The camaraderie of the job is something not everyone can understand, for you have to expeirece it firsthand. In what other job do you sit down to dinner with the rest of the crew?

Many years from now, hopefully people will look back and remember these men as not only heroes, but as the legends they truly are.

Watching the news on the Mine...tragedy I guess you can call it now...it makes me actually sick to the stomach that a company can cover up the fact that 12 people didn't make it....not only that but have the nerve to make the families believe that they were alive...I feel sick...its not even anger that I feel...it's just shock...these are peoples lives and families that...just....i'm at a loss.

Well here it is....the end of 2005. It was an interesting year. Mother Nature showed she can be as fickle as a Hollywood marriage, she first gave us an endlessly freezing and snowy winter, followed by a warm and surprisingly super-stormy summer. We were also given the new "It couple" of Bush and Clinton following the Asian Tsunami. Frankly...that couple seems a lot more normal then Cruise and Holmes.

The Terri Schavio thing was a big deal for a few weeks here...then replaced by "mayor" Doombergs stadium debacle as he tried to get the Olympics for NYC...but surprise...no one here really wanted them! We got enough crowds. Thankfully the International Olympic Committee chose London, who subsequently suffered devastating terror attacks in July, further proving that the war on terror needs to be led by a true leader...RAMBO!...who will actually get another movie in which he not only fights osama, but also Old Sal who took Mr.Rambos fruit cup at the old folks home....not funny? gimmie a break, it's 3:30am.

Hollywood was big this year and I’m not just talking about the size of Star Jones Ass. Yes I know who Star Jones is. Sad I know. 2005 saw the return of "The Dukes Of Hazard"...yea...another remake, which in true remake fashion blew more then Tara Reid in a locker room. But wait! Peter Jackson’s "King Kong" gives us proof that maybe some remakes can be good...I say maybe because I haven't actually seen it yet for fear that it may make me wanna act like a monkey and throw poop at people.

The Space Shuttle finally returned to orbit and successfully to Earth...and was quickly re-grounded after having the same problem that ended Columbia's mission in tragedy. This re-grounding thus brought about a wave of criticism directed at NASA. But to the nay Sayers I say this; Have you any idea how difficult it is to put together and fly a piece of machinery such as the shuttle? It is the most sophisticated piece of machinery on Earth, and things can go wrong. Sometimes this ends tragically and sometimes it doesn't but you cannot fault an organization for its entire existence based on a few incidences.

The whole Scooter Libby thing confused me a tad. I get the general jist of the story...releasing a CIA agents name...not good. I mean if you're gonna be on the VP's staff, one would think you'd be a bit smarter, but his name is Scooter...Personally I think Cheney picked him just so he could have someone to make fun of when Dubya wasn't around. That’s what I’d do if I knew someone named Scooter.

April saw the flight of the worlds largest plane, The Airbus A380. The planes designers said that not only was it the safest plane, but that it would also never crash. I think I smell sequel for James Cameron and Leo!!!

And of course there was Katrina. Originally a Hurricane, it slowly built into a massive government screw up that could be saved by only one person...Sean Penn. That’s right, the humorless and smile less actor, sickened by the images of violence and overbearing press coverage quickly flew to New Orleans....with a shotgun and a photographer (Not me.). Katrina taught us many things. For instance, we learned that "Doin a heckuva job" is actually a coded way of saying "You're fucked." It also taught us that the Coast Guard does more then FEMA. It showed that the Weather Channel has an audience other then....well....me.

Death reared its head in more forms then Katrina and Turkey Flavored soda. The Pope died...and was then laid out like a display at Macys for a few days. Sam Anderson, the inventor of the Crash test dummy, finally slammed into that big Volvo in the sky. Johnnie Cochran passed away, much to the joy of L.A. District attorneys.

The years sports stories were also somethin to take note of this year. Though the Yankees didn't win it all, They still provoked Boston’s suicide rate to increase with the winter signing of "Caveman lawyer" Johnny Damon, the self professed "Idiot." Well said Johnnie.

Rafael Palmerio pointed his finger and congress and stated he didn't use performance enhancing drugs. Then he proceeded to make more commercials for Viagra until he was caught with his pants down and hand up Sammy Sosa’s ass.

Tiger Woods hit a tiny ball with a crooked stick and walked after it. Does anyone really care? I don't.

Philadelphia Eagles player Terrel Owens started talking. And wouldn't shut up. Much like me. Unlike him however, I don't have a jersey to burn.

The NHL had a work stoppage, leaving fans who wanted to see mindless morons wail on each other having to watch other sports such as boxing and everyone vs. Tom Cruise.

Nascar driver Tony Stewart gave what I think might be one of the better quotes of the year. After winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July, Stewart proceeded to climb the 30 foot protection fence on the track and then huffed his way back to victory lane where he proclaimed "I'm too damn old and too damn fat to be climbing fences."

Nascar also furthered its attempt at landing a spot in NYC by continuing to move forward with its plans to build a track right here in Staten Island. I may be a Nascar fan, but I’d rather not see Carl Edwards doing back flips here. Move it to Queens.

Speaking of local news...anyone else find the transit strike kind of neat? I mean other then the sheer inconvenience of having to huff over the Manhattan bridge in Decembers -23 degree weather...it was good to see some people stand up to the evil empire known as the MTA. They even got to add to their slogan; "MTA, going your way....if your way is standing still." Granted the strike did little to benefit the workers, its further proof that New Yorkers can band together despite whatever faces us.

Personally for me, 2005 was a better year then previous. I met some pretty spiffy folks, from an immensely large man who can barely fit into a car, to a blonde Texan known for singing songs about Iodine. I learned things about some others...like Joeys solution to a missing car registration, or the fact that Speedy can make good use outta sweat pants.

I learned that when one door slams in your face, another 4 open, all with hands helping you up.

I learned that despite the fact I can be a total ass sometimes, I will always have friends who mean more then I ever knew. Friends that will put their life on the line, even when they don't have too.

I learned that you can find a friend in sometimes the unlikeliest of places, be it a radio station, or even Idaho.

You all kept me strong and gave me a new belief in the kindness of humanity, and I hope that will continue for years to come.

I learned that in some ways, you can go home again. But you must do so with caution.

I look forward to 2006. I hope to build on the momentum of 2005.

I may still be single and jobless, but I can at least say that I have a room that is really, really green.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy and fun 2006!

Its 3am on Christmas and i'm dog tired but can't sleep for some reason so bear with me here...

Christmas. "Most wonderful time of the year" they say. Well who is "they" excatly? Is it the greedy corporations that will do anything and everything to cash in an extra buck? Is it the people who write the overly sappy holiday songs just becase they think it will cement them? Is it the sidewalk Santas who will no doubt ring their bell in your ear to get a few pennies for the red cross? No one really seems to know whos idea it is that this is the "most wonderful time of year." Is it really wonderful though?

Think of it this way, more stress, accidents, suicides, foreclosures and just genreal bad luck events take place this time of year. Now before you say to yourself "oh great another holiday downer.", I offer you the information that I don't intend for this to be a "down" writing.

Many people, myself included seem to have lost the christmas spirt as its affectionately called. I suppose this happens whence you hit a certian age or have a specific major life event occour. Whatever it may be, something inside you takes away that wonder and magic that you had before. Its not fair that it happens but it does. Yet, you know that deep down inside, tucked away...its still there, waiting for something amazing to happen to awaken it....or just maybe waiting for something tinily good to awaken it.

People complain and moan about traffic and crowds and say they'd be better off without them. Not nessacarilly true. Those crowds and that traffic is all going to, in some way put those extra few bucks for that christmas present in your pocket. That person who just cut you off might be rushing to their job at the mall to better serve you. Someone in that crowd will have enough kindness in their heart to help guide your lost little brother or sister back to you. In some way, everyone of the things you find troublesome will help you or someone you care about.

That hidden christmas spirit shows it self in weird, little ways sometimes. That little spark inside you that wants to be a kid again can be re-lit, you just have to beleive in the goodness of humankind.

Lots of people claim they are alone. This is not true, everyone has a friend, espeically this time of year, and as it was so excellently put in the classic, "Its a Wonderful Life", "No man[or woman] is a failure who has friends." You are not alone, especially at christmas.

For those of you who are thinking i've lost it...like I said, its 3am on christmas and I havent slept well lately. Good night and Merry Christmas.

Ok, this is gettin a wee bit...well...odd. For the second time in 2 months, people all over the city have called 911 reporting a sweet smell, very much like maple syrup or butterscotch all over town. The first time it happened at the end of October, FDNY, NYPD and OEM(Office of emergency managment) dispatched crews all over the city...and no source was ever found, and the smell disappeared within a few hours. People weren't complaining about it...but it was noticable enough that everyone had to find a source. Well yesterday at around 3:30 in the afternoon, the smell apparently returned. Personally I haven't smelled anything...other the the usual Staten Island smells. This is getting a little strange though I must admit...and when the OEM says that the smell is not dangerous, you gotta worry at least a little bit. Since the smell is pleasanat, we can definately eliminate it coming from jersey. Some people joke that IHOP is taking their marketing a little too far. Could be. If the smell can be smelled in Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens(Staten Island left out again...goodie), one would have to think that whatever the source is...it is most liekly mobile...or at least emmited from a few spots, carefully placed. It'd be kinda keen however, to have it continue in its mysterious ways for a while...If its not dangerous, and some people seem to enjoy it, I say let it smell.

It's 3:18am and i'm sitting here with a bowl of rocky road topped with a lil bit of Cranberry syrup...cause...well...this time of year theres an abundence of Cranberry stuff (I don't care how abundence is spelled, it's 3am like I said).
The holidays are coming up, and they're supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year as the song goes. Well...not for me. Not for a lot of people. I don't know why, but I seem to have lost my holiday spirit. I want it back. When I was a kid, hell up till a few years ago, the weeks leading up to and following christmas were somethin else. There was this excitment and anticipation in the air. There was a crisp...joy to it.
Now it's gone...just up and left. Don't know where or why. Christmas comes now, and even though I try my best to put a happy spin on it...it doesn't work. When I see scenes of people rioting on "Black friday" and getting arrested...it just makes me wonder where it went wrong. It seems like almost everyone else is having a good time or at least superbly masking the bad time they're having.
People ask me what I want for Christmas...I tell them to donate to charities i've picked out. They laugh in my face...not all, but some. And it bugs me. Maybe the reason I want that is for others to be happy, which in turn makes me happy. I guess thats selfish? I dunno. All I know is that I think it's time for me to get my good christmas break. I wanna enjoy it this year and I don't know how.
I'm not saying I wanna go carrolling or drink 32 cartons of eggnog, but I want to have a christmas where I can genuinely smile and enjoy it again. I don't think it's too much to ask. I just wanna have a good time again and not feel alone. I want to feel like George Bailey did at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life"

Any and all comment spammers:

By posting a spam comment, you hearby enter a contract allowing me to pursure legal action against you and your company. By posting spam, you violate said contract, simple as that. This goes for all posts from here on out. ALL posts.

I need to clean. This house is a wreck. Actually what I need is more space. I have a lot of stuff in a tiny amount of space. This doesn't work out well.

I've noticed some of the comments on this blog are ad's. I don't like that. Any ad folks reading this...please stop. No one is interested in your lame ass product. Pick up your corny ad revenue and stick it some place else.

So here in NYC, we got a billionare "Mayor", mike bloomberg.(yes I know its not capitalized; he doesn't deserve that honor.)
Said Mayor and Governer Pataki last 4th of July laid the cornerstone for the freedom tower at Ground Zero. The tower to replace the World Trade Center towers. The Freedom Tower, planned height of 1776 symolibc feet would be the tallest building in the world.
Many buildings take at least a year to complete, skyscrapers obviously longer. One would think that the foundation and basement for the tower would be completed by this point right? Guess again. Absolutely NOTHING HAS BEEN BUILT. Security concerns that were brought up and ignored in the inital design process meant that the building had to be completely redesigned.
This is both a blessing and a "curse" as the saying goes. The following is the original design. Look it over and use the vomit bag at your left.



Now, i've spent a lot of time in lower Manhattan, and in this time i've had the chance to talk to a few construction workers who are rebuilding the subways and the now nearly completed World Trade Building 7. These are your hardcore, all out American steelworkers. These are the guys who walk on beams 10 inches wide, 900 feet off the ground. They know what they're doing. Imagine my shock to hear them say that the desgin could not be built! "physically impossible to build something like that." they said. IF these guys can't build it, no one can.
So, after finally caving into security concerns, the city, architectural firms, and state finally went about redesigning the tower and moving it further back from the street. The new design is this:



It's at least a little bit better. Not by much. They estimate that the project will be completed in 2010. 2010. Right. Sure. This proves even more how completely out of touch bloomberg is with the common citizen, the one who voted for him, the ones who make this city run, who make it what it is.
They say 2010...yet still nothing has been done. The new plans were released in June and nothing has been started. Whats the excuse this time mikey? trying to fit a stadium in there too? It shouldn't be to much of a surprise that nothing is done however, becuase we can't even get a mile of highway paved in under 3 years, let alone build a tower.
I, personally do not want anything built on this site. I say leave the hole as a reminder. You don't build on a gravesite. Plain and simple. Others say you need to replace lost commerical and retail space. Ok, if its that important, consider this. Much of lower Manhattan, especially the site of the World Trade Center sits on landfill. Not garbage, just land dug up and place there to extend what was already there. If this precious office space is so damn important, why not do the same thing uptown or in another, larger borough?
Why? Because the mayor is completely out of touch. Teachers just recently recieved a contract after working without one for 2 years. The Police officers recently recieved a new contract, yet firefighers remain without one, another clear sign of how little bloomberg cares about the citys bravest. The mayor concerns himself only with building stadiums, of which the city already has pleanty of and needs no more. He goes about on mindless quests attempting to get these stadiums approved.
One could look to the citys thankfully failed bid at getting the Olympics and a west side stadium. An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers did not want the stadium or the Olympics. Did the mayor hear the concerns of the citizens? NO. Why? Because he is a rich, arrogant man who does not know how to run a city. Money can only get you so far. The respect of the people is a far greater gain. You need to boost morale and make the city liveable for people who don't drive 12 cars and live in 4 story appartments. This man has failed to do that. And now he wants to continue doing it. Four more years of this headstrong jagoff is not going to help New York.
I point to the South Bronx. Yankee stadium. An American Insitution. A landmark. A place where countless memories have taken place. Now scheduled to be replaced by a more modern stadium The reasoning? "It's an 80+ year old building." That, I suppose is old, but lets move a little south, to Queens, and Shea Stadium, home of the Mets. Built in the 60's, Shea is in good shape. Yet, this to is scheduled to be replaced, with the same reason cited.
These were built in the 20th century and you mean to tell me that jsut because they're old they need to be replaced? They still function a hell of a lot better then most buildings, and sentimentally hold far greater value then any ballpark built within the past 10 years. But they're "old" says the Mayor. The I guess he's going to start razing the buildings in lower Manhattan that have been around since colonial times, such as Fraunces Tavern and Delmonico's resturant? Perhaps he'd like to update the Statue of Liberty with one of Jessica Alba? Wiping out historical places simply because of the fact your ass is to lazy to renovate and repair them is not a good excuse. If you're rich enough to have you're own tv station, spring for some crack sealer for Castle Clinton. It's about $8 down at Lowes.
Instead of spending all this money flooding my TV with lame re-election ads, bloomberg should using the money to create low income housing for people who need it. He should be cutting tuition for CUNY students...although I beleive he claimed thats the states deal...Really? then why is it called the CITY university of New York? If the Mayor would stop patting himself on the back so god damned much, he'd realize how bad he is for New York and take his private jet elsewhere. He is not a real New Yorker. A real New Yorker would have fixed this problem already.

Ok...racists...fuck off. It's getting old. So you don't like Black people, you don't get along with Jewish people. It's the 21st fucking century. There is nothing wrong with them, you're the ones who are screwed up and wrong. DEAL WITH IT. Be a normal respectable human like the rest of us. You'd be surprised what you can learn from forigen cultures too, some of that stuff is good, you should get on it. Use that part of your brain that lets you have a heart. It's there for a specific purpose. USE IT.

You moody bipolar whiny overly emotional crybabies. I have zero, I repeat zero sympathy for you. So what if it's cloudy out? It's not a reason to be sad and whiny. If you really hate the world and your life that much, do us all a favor and kill yourself. Matter of fact, do it on national TV. It'll make TV fun for us all again, because frankly no one really gives a shit which celebrity is fat and what a bum from Nebraska is doin on a tropical island. We really don't care. We, as a people like the ambient noise that this shit creates.

The people who refuse to talk to others because of their political affiliation need to be beaten in the back of the head with a sharpened basbeball bat dipped in Arsneic. So I don't like republicans...BIG FUCKING DEAL. In the course of our friend,realtion, or family ship, it's not goint to matter as much as you all think it will who I support. Unless of course the next president decides to put us all on a rocket to Neptune...you shouldn't care what bureaucratic blowhard signs a bill that will give a 90 year old medication to get laid. If you don't want to talk to someone because they have a different political opnion then yours, or if you want to dislike that person I want you to find the nearest gabage disposer, shove your leg in it and turn it on.

All of you oeverly hyped up, stressed out people are annoying. So you can't afford to get more bling on your hummer...I hope you and your hummer go rolling down a hill in a big ball of flame. There are people in the gulf section of America who don'ty even have a home. Yes, thats right, America. Not Iraq, not South Africa, AMERICA. Helping others is indeed nice, but we need to help us right now. Sitting on our asses and disscussing things in committees...surprise...gets jack shit done. So put the pen down, stop gassing up your BMW and roll up your sleeves and do something.

If you have a job, or a title, you need to fufill said position and lead with a stong, firm, but respectful hand. You need people on your said and a diplomatic soloution to 95% of the problems you could face. If you can't do this you need to be tossed into a vat of sulfuric acid in front of your family.

Oh, and we live in a day in age where we have cell phones, regualr phones, email, IM, text messaging, snail mail, smoke signals, and cans with string. So when it comes to contacting someone...if you don't want to talk to someone, simply say that. Don't leave them hanging. It really makes you look like a complete and utter idiot. The "to busy excuse" doesn't fly any more either. AS noted just a few short words ago, we have many forms of communication nowadays. USE THEM.

This being said, Fuck all.