An Sionnach

You know I am proud to be an American.  I love the fact that we are a strong people and that within such a short time we have come so far.  But when I see Greed as one of our main pillars I have to admit it’s appalling. No wonder why so many countries despise us.

So your probably wondering what brings this up.

Well the other day I was ordering a Celtic FC Football (Soccer) Jersey for this season.  With shipping, for an official kit jersey, I spent $68 (with the shipping).  It’s still a bit much, particularly since I am such an anti Nike fan, and knowing that the jersey was probably made in some place like Honduras, China, Brazil or some outsourced country for 10% of that if not less.  But when I was looking through the MLS (Major League Soccer) stores wanting to purchase a jersey for the Rapids upcoming first game, I have to say I was appalled by the fact that they were charging $110 for a SHIRT.  Soccer isn’t even big in the US.  Yes, the Rapids won the Cup last year, but ALL the clubs are charging the same amount.  So I am wondering, why would I want to pay $110 for a jersey that advertises for a club, shouldn’t you be paying me.  Afterall, marketing is a companies largest expense, well that is unless the fan is willing to pay the expense for you, at the same time driving a huge profit.  Chances are these jerseys probably cost any where from $5-$20 to produce, if that, which means a $90-105 profit.  INSANE!!  I am all for promoting the world sport, and would love to see it continue to grow in the US, but honestly… your heading down the same road as MLB, NFL, and the NHL  Along with this I find that the largest fans of these clubs are on the end of the field instead of the middle where corporate organizations buy seats yet hardly ever fill them and are as boring as hell during the game, and probably don’t even understand it.  I left going to baseball games, just because of this, and chances are the same will probably happen with soccer.  But HEY, you have your money, that’s all that counts, RIGHT?. I had high hopes in the MLS, but I find myself greatly disappointed.

The problem with illegal immigration is that eventually it leads to big government, particularly when the people decide they don’t want them here for whatever reason, particularly that they are in fact illegal.  So how do we catch them, easy, get every State to embrace a Federalized Immigration Fingerprinting program.  Does this mean that only immigrants are fingerprinted, no this will mean that we are all fingerprinted, and this fingerprinting may in fact may be needed in requirement for work.

Now I am not against fingerprinting as a whole, I have had it done numerous times on the State level for work, particularly considering the work that I do.  But I am against the Federalization of it, thereby requiring both, instead of inter-State cooperation, like many States do with Drivers License records.

This goes back to a previous post of mine in which State in cooperation with Federal TSA are now patting down customers in bus stations.  Security is slowly replacing Freedom, the Socialism we fought so hard against is slowly taking hold.  In so many ways, the terrorists have won already, they don’t need another 9/11, they already have us running scared.

http://www.ice.gov/about/offices/enforcement-removal-operations/secure-communities/index.htm

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-fingerprint-txt,0,4742737.story

I just finished viewing my annual all-nighter of watching Tom Hanks and Stephen Ambrose’ “Band of Brothers”.  I can’t help but think that as much as I have done, it does not compare to all these men have given of themselves: Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally.  I can’t possibly think of a thing that could ever show my appreciation for every thing that you have given and to show my thanks.  I could only dream of a moment where I could meet each of you to shake your hand, or anyone else that gave everything.

I look back at my own life, and think about the numerous things that I, and so many others have given up for others.  I can think of Mary L, who had the shit kicked out of her to protect a youth from 9 others who were trying to attack him; or maybe it’s Mike who dislocated his arm attempting to protect his group from someone who was violent.  But none of it seems like enough.

I spend much of my time now working with mentally ill teens, many of which are not successful, either due to them being so mentally ill, or have been so far damaged by their parents.  In some ways I relate to the guys at Bastogne.  Limited tools, limited resources, and basically stuck, knowing I just need to do what I need to do knowing that perseverance just may pay off, but at the same time watching my team being worn down.  I can’t help but think of the guys that spent that time in the woods with limited food, freezing cold, and watching their brothers die around them, thinking that this is nothing compared to what they went through.

At the same time I can identify with them, that empty feeling, wondering, what is it all for, just hoping that I have the strength to persevere.

Alright here we are with another day in the single digit temperatures.  So I figured I would pull myself out of my hole in the wall, get the truck warmed up and get me some grub.  I was actually thinking pizza would be perfect, plus it makes great left overs.  So I headed over to Palermo’s Pizza over on Lowell in Westminster, it’s right around the corner and has had some good reviews.  ACKKKKK!!! It’s closed, no longer open.

OK, up to 72nd Ave, has to be some Pizza along the way.  Mexican!!  More Mexican!!!  There is another Mexican Restaurant.   At Peco’s and 72nd, has to be one here.  Papa John’s…. Gaaah!!  That’s not pizza, at least not to a New Yorker.  I look right, then back left again, and I catch a glimpse of what the sign says.

PAPA JOHNS: Order from us, we need the dough.

This must be some new strategy, either that or a true sign of the times.  Although I can’t say I am disappointed.  Papa John’s isn’t the only large corporate entity feeling the crunch.  The Blockbuster up in Longmont is having a huge clearance sale of it stuff.  Wouldn’t it be great to see the return of small Mom and Pop Pizzeria’s and Video Stores?  If only the same thing could happen to Wal-mart.

Doesn’t look like pizza tonight.  So I headed to one of my favorite Asian places.  Woody’s Wings and Things.  Yep you heard me right.  They have a huge menu of from from Lao, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, along with some great reviews, although a bit tucked away off the main strip.  Check out the link and you can even see the old location of Palermo’s Pizza as well.