Why This Did Not Win An MTV Video Award Is Beyond Me
Published October 12, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a CommentAnother case of “Cover the Tattoo or Else” this just seems like a feeble attempt at screwing with the other team but still.
Lyrics to Street Dogs- There is Power in a Union
There is power in a democracy, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don’t stand
There is a power in a Union
Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers’ blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities to the farmlands in the trenches full of mud
Cuz war has always been the bosses’ way sir
The Union forever defending our rights
Let’s fight the Right Wing, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union
Now I long for the time that they realize
Brutality and unjust laws cannot defeat us
But who’ll defend the workers who cannot organize
When the GOP send their attorneys out to cheat us?
Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
Who’ll come speak for the skin and the bone?
What a comfort to widow, a light for the child
There is power in a Union
The Union forever defending our rights
Let’s fight the Right Wing, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union
With social justice and equality
For every man and woman who wants it
There is power in a Union
My view of the Dropkick Murphys during the song “Skinhead on the MBTA”
To all of my friends and family,
You may want to have one last look at me before July 8, for on July 8th I am going to see the most epic-ly epic concert ever conceived by mortals…..and my face might just melt off at the sheer power of such a lineup. I am willingly going to tempt fate like they did in Indiana Jones and look uponst the stage which by far Dropkicks and the Bostones clearly have more power than the Ark of the Covenant in this particular instance. So at the risk of you never seeing my face again due to meltage you may want to have your final looks.
Signed,
Me
New Rule Compels Los Angeles Firefighters to Cover Tattoos
Ah yes, the nearly age old argument about professionalism. I engage in this argument on a near monthly basis with a variety of people all of which would be eliminated during the U.S. Geography 2nd grade question on “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.” Most contest that to be professional by their narrow minded definition you simply have to “Look” professional placing heavy emphasis on polished boots neatly pressed (and dangerous I may add) polyester shirts. Nothing is said of a Professional attitude and demeanor that you can in fact take the largest pile of shit in the department (or ten of them for that matter) dress them in a Class A Uniform and they still will be the most unprofessional professional firefighter to walk the face of the earth. It’s their attitude that will give them away every single time, their air of incompetence, and general grotesque inability to do much outside of breathing the correct way. Perhaps if management focused a little more on the Acting and a little on the Looking they might actually discover that people don’t particularly care how we look…Don’t believe me, look at the last 50 or so thank you letters sent to the department for services provided to the citizens I can guar-damn-tee they refer to “Acted Professional and Treated me like a Professional.”
I can also tell you that a person well enough to notice scuffed boots and tattoos probably should have refrained from burdening the already abused 911 system with their petty bullshit.
For the next two years no one in my Local is allowed to say the following phrases;
“What does the International do for us?”
“They never asked our opinion on that?”
“Why did they decide that?”
“Why is our Per-Cap going to be spent on that?”
“They raised our Per-Cap for what?”
“Why did that Resolution get passed?”
“Why are we supporting him/her/they/them?”
“How come they don’t support more Republicans?”
“We didn’t know that was going to be ratified?”
“We didn’t know this was an issue going before Congress/Senate?”
“Why don’t we have Heart-Lung or Cancer Presumption?”
“Isn’t that what the International is for?”
-Or any of the other 1,000 questions and snide remarks heard on a daily basis.
By not sending our voice to the International through our Delegate vote we have lost our voice for two years on the International level. Way to go guy’s, way to knock us back a few more decades…you sure you aren’t in the Management Group….perhaps you should be.
Riddle me this….How is it a group of backwoods rednecks in a “Right to Work” state is a more powerful Union than us who have grown up in one of the strongest Union states in the country?
Today across our nation firefighters will pause and reflect on a tragedy that occurred one year ago today. Last year 9 Charleston SC firefighters lost their lives in a fire that to this day the ramifications ripple across the country and have most of us still shaking our heads in disbelief. Obviously the loss of any life in a fire is devastating, as a Professional Firefighter who has seen more than my fair share of time in the “breech” what makes the loss of 9 firefighters in Charleston unpalatable is circumstances surrounding their deaths.
When you are in the business where, on occasion, you walk a razor thin line between success and failure you fall back upon and draw from past experiences, training, equipment, leadership, and gut feelings to get you home at the end of your shift. Leadership, equipment and training failures in Charleston have created Widows, grieving families and fatherless children. The leadership or lack of in Charleston should be held to a criminal standard. In the civilian world the case studies and precedents are clear let us change the circumstance. Let us pretend that a truck driver was allowed to take to the road and he had not received the proper training to drive and he hit a bus killing 9 people…he would certainly be held to a criminal standard as would the people or company that allowed him to do so. Tactics in the fire service change on nearly a weekly basis. Command officers owe it to themselves and to the men they command to stay abreast of the latest information, the latest classes, the latest training. We rely on them to see the much broader picture, to forecast the outcome, and to actively and safely mitigate the problem.
Management of tactics change however management philosophy does not. Take these two texts from a centuries old manuscript on leadership during warfare.
“When the men are well trained, rested, properly fed, clothed, and equipped, if their spirits are roused they will fight vigorously. However, if physical or material conditions have blunted their spirit; if there is any imbalance in the relationship between command and troops; or if for any reason they have lost their motivation, they will be defeated”
“If the leader is weak and unenlightened in his instructions and leadership and the deployment of his troops into formation is askew, it is termed chaotic”
Centuries old management philosophy that still holds true today yet leadership by its very core definition is seemingly a foreign concept to those leaders who were on scene that day in Charleston. Through inept, outdated, and antiquated tactics, strategy, and philosophy are directly responsible for such a tragic loss.
Across the country the same attitudes and directives of outdated tactics, below par training standards and inept leadership that exist in Charleston exist in fire departments to this day. We are not advancing fast enough in the fire service we are simply dodging bullets playing a dangerous game and counting on mathematical probabilities. Tactics, philosophies, training and attitudes that existed in the 70’s no longer have a place in the fire service neither do the ones possessed in the 80’s or 90’s. We can glean valuable lessons from such tragedies as Charleston, Worchester, Brockton, and the countless other Line of Duty Deaths that occur across this country every year. These lessons have been paid in full by guys who have been failed by incompetent leaders and outdated practices. Lessons that our own incompetent leaders seemingly ignore……we are simply dodging bullets.
I know I am a bit late with this but you NEED to read these two books.
If you have seen the series “Band of Brothers” you will no doubt recognize the name Dick Winters. This book is his own account of what happened to him and the men of the 101st during some of the most brutal battles of WWII.
Bagpipe Brothers is the account of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band following the attacks of 9-11. If you can get through this book without shedding a tear…..you simply dont get it. This is truly a gut wrenching story of loss and coping with loss while trying to add dignity and honor to funeral services.
July 8 ….the only thing that would make this lineup any better would be to add Street Dogs. Two legends from the Boston Punk scene and my top two favorite bands of ALL TIME are coming this way.
Call for Boycott….Or Just Call Them And Tell Them They Suck!
Published May 24, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
This flag was seen hanging/draped over a building in Waterford what you cant really see is the torn and tattered flag is being held to the ground with large rocks.. The business is Forster’s Carwash and after the confrontation and ensuing threats I feel further action is warranted. Forster’s runs many carwashes and oil change/ repair businesses in and around Waterford.
Forster Car Wash
248-618-0740
Here they are Bitches and no you cant touch them.
I find it odd (not really) that the sudden spike in gas prices were seen upon the arrival of the Economic Stimulis checks. Dubai must need a few more dollars to complete a few more manmade islands? Its that or a certain leader with a background in Oil is planning his retirement and exit strategy and which retirement villa will he be staying at. My guess is somewhere in this hood.
Pipes and Drums, Honor Guards……DUTY, HONOR and PRIDE
Published May 16, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a CommentDont just listen to the music, listen to the words these guys dont just say the words they live it and instill it in others.
I am not sure if I should take offense to Japanese punks playing Irish Music or relish in the fact that this type of music is so widely popular everyone wants in on it? Ladies and Gentlemen……The Cherry Cokes.
Yesterday I saw the Driver of the Wartabago on the road…..I tailgated him and then flipped him off. Big deal you say…..he was “working” when I did it.
That is all, back to practicing the pipes now.
This Song Dedicated to “The Driver of the Wartabago”
Published April 19, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Soon if you are eliglible you will be recieving your Economic Stimulis Check, what are your plans for the money.
Lets get one thing STRAIGHT and lets get it there in a hurry. For those of you who have failed 2nd grade Anatomy. If you are born with a cock and an apple bag you are a guy. If you are born with a vagina you are a girl.
It is IMPOSSIBLE for a man to get pregnant but it is possible for a woman to get pregnant. If you are somewhere in the middle say…..for instance……some tool who was born a woman and still is a woman from the waist down ……YOU ARE NOT A F*&%^&G MAN. Listen up Oprah!
The freak on a leash tool box who claims to be a man is not a man, enough of this country’s obsession with and glorification of gays and trans-whatever people. Unlike Leno I offer no and will not be saying “I’m Sorry” to the small and insignificant of population of gays.
Since Basball season officially started yesterday in Michigan I decided to post the single Greatest Play in Baseball History.
A man enters a bar in downtown Detroit and orders a martini.
The bar has a Robot Bartender. The Robot serves him a perfectly made martini and then asks him, “What’s your IQ?” The man answers, “150″ and the Robot proceeds to make conversation aboutglobal warming factors, quantum physics, spirituality, biochemistry,environmental interconnectedness, string theory, and nanotechnology The customer is very impressed and thinks, “This is really cool.”
He decides to test the Robot. He walks out of the bar, turns around and comes right back in for a rum and coke. Again, the Robot serves him a perfect rum & coke and asks him, “What’s your IQ?” The man responds, “About 100.” Immediately the Robot starts talking, but this time about the Lions,NASCAR, the Tigers, supermodels, favorite fast foods, guns and women.
Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the Robot one more test. He returns and asks for a beer and the Robot brings himan Old Milwaukee Light and asks, “What’s your IQ?’ The man says, “Er, 50 I think.” And the Robot says…REAL SLOWLY…,
“So…………Ya gonna vote forKwame again?”
Dont know how I missed the release of this video but somehow it escaped my viewing until just the other day. If you ask my 4 year old real nice he may just sing this for you word for word.
De-toilet Grabs Top Honors…..For Most Miserable City In The US
Published February 12, 2008 Uncategorized 1 CommentAmerica’s Most Miserable Cities
Feb 11th, 2008
Imagine living in a city with the country’s highest rate for violent crime and the second-highest unemployment rate. As an added kicker you need more Superfund dollars allocated to your city to clean up contaminated toxic waste sites than just about any other metro.
Unfortunately, this nightmare is a reality for the residents of Detroit. The Motor City grabs the top spot on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Most Miserable Cities.
Misery is defined as a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress. The economic indicator most often used to measure misery is the Misery Index. The index, created by economist Arthur Okun, adds the unemployment rate to the inflation rate. It has been in the narrow 7-to-9 range for most of the past decade, but was over 20 during the late 1970s.
There also exists a Misery Score, which is the sum of corporate, personal, employer and sales taxes in different countries. France took the top spot (or perhaps bottom is more appropriate) with a score of 166.8, thanks to a top rate of 51% on personal incomes and 45% for employer Social Security.
But aren’t there other things that cause Americans misery? Of course. So we decided to expand on the Misery Index and the Misery Score to create our very own Forbes Misery Measure. We’re sticking with unemployment and personal tax rates, but we are adding four more factors that can make people miserable: commute times, weather, crime and that toxic waste dump in your backyard.
We looked at only the 150 largest metropolitan areas, which meant a minimum population of 371,000. We ranked the cities on the six criteria above and added their ranks together to establish what we call the Misery Measure. The data used in the rankings came from Portland, Ore., researcher Bert Sperling, who last year published the second edition of Cities Ranked & Rated along with Peter Sander. Economic research firm Economy.com, which is owned by Moody’s, also supplied some data.
Detroit in the top spot, with its sister city Flint ranked third, is probably not a great shock. “If Detroit were a baseball team, we’d say they are mired in a slump,” says Sperling. Both Detroit and Flint have suffered tremendously from the auto industry downturn. Flint’s plight was immortalized in the Michael Moore movie Roger & Me, which chronicles Moore’s attempts to meet with then General Motors Chief Executive Roger Smith.
Crime and unemployment are closely linked, according to Sperling. Our three most miserable places bear that out (Stockton, Calif., ranks second). All three are among the eight worst cities in terms of both unemployment and violent crime.
The United States’ two biggest cities both induce a ton of misery. New York was the fourth most miserable city by our count, while Los Angeles clocked in at sixth. The Big Apple has the longest commute times (36.2 minutes) and the highest tax rates (10.5%) in the country. As the financial capital of the world and home to write-down kings Merrill Lynch and Citigroup , New York appears poised for more misery in 2008.
The people of La-La Land have some of the best weather in the U.S. (it’s ranked seventh) but scored poorly when it came to commute times, Superfund sites and taxes. And we did not even factor in air quality, where Los Angeles is the worst in the nation by far, according to Sperling.
The biggest surprise on our list is Charlotte, N.C. , which is ranked ninth. Charlotte has undergone tremendous economic growth the past decade, while the population has soared 32%. But the current picture isn’t as bright. Employment growth has not kept up with population growth, meaning unemployment rates are up more than 50% compared with 10 years ago. Charlotte scored in the bottom half of all six categories we examined. It scored the worst on violent crime, ranking 140th.
So take heart, Detroit, you are not alone. After all, misery loves company.
I Have A Bridge To Sell……Anyone Want To Take A Road Trip To Missouri?
Published February 4, 2008 Uncategorized 2 CommentsI guess I need to adjust my “Dumb People” radar…..prior to reading this I thought folks from Missouri were a little smarter than the residents of De-toilet…..here I stand corrected.
I often make comments like “I wish I could have seen Detroit back in the 40’s or 50’s” which is true. Long before it became the monument to corruption and filth, I cant even refer to the city anymore as Detroit I just call it De-toilet.
Imagine what 9 million dollars could have done in the hands of someone who didn’t act like the city budget was his own bank account. I can guarantee that Hip-Hops favorite movie is The Godfather like every other hip-hop wanna be thug in the world today. I can also guarantee he fancies himself quite the “Boss”.
The only quasi safe place to view De-toilet is from across the river standing in a foreign country. This is what politicians want you to believe De-toilet is, in reality is it far from the picture perfect skyline often shown.
I think “Driver of the Wartabago” will recognize the picture below.
