As I work through the logistics of blogging I've decided that I need at least one day a week away from the blog. I'm going to make that day Sunday. You know, day of rest and all that. So don't expect anything in the way of a Sunday post. I guess you really can't "expect" anything as I may want or need to take leave from this keyboard any day of the week. But Sunday will be a given.

An open letter to Rush Limbaugh:
OK Rush, you finally did it. You went over my line and I shut you off. I have to admit I never have been a "good" listener. I'm not a dedicated ditto head, dropping everything for the EIB between noon and 3 every afternoon. Still, I liked listening to you. You speak a lot of the thoughts and philosophies I hold to. It is good to have a voice on the air, unafraid to say out loud what needs to be said.
My difficulty with you has not been your message. It's been your method. I characterize myself as one of those "kinder, gentler" conservatives. Lets face it Rush, if your method is anything it's neither kinder nor gentler. I'm sure that's part of your appeal, the in-your-face expression of the conservative philosophy. Still, I remained on your listener list because I found a chuckle every so often as you appealed to my intellect.
However, on Dec. 10th you began to cross a line I (and from the sound of it, many others) feel you shouldn't have. And it wasn't so much the use of legitimate anatomical language. Though I could say that in my opinion you are on the "slippery slope" (remember that) of "shock-jockdom" and like the Howard Stearns of the media, you'll find yourself having to get off the curb and immerse yourself thoroughly in the gutter to keep getting a reaction from your audience.
But no, it wasn't so much what you said, to begin with. It was your lack of consideration for the opinions for your listeners. Isn't that something you accuse the liberals of. So full of themselves as to not give credence to the opinions of others. You said there was a time when you would have apologized, but you refused and tried to make a humorous bit of it. I know there are times a person has to be steadfast, but that is in convictions and strongly held beliefs. Not in methodology. This was a time when you should have been a bit humble, if that is possible, and admit the possibility of error in judgement. Yes, I know it's your show. But we, the listeners, have opinions too. And those opinions include what we will put up with.
Rush, when some faithful listeners let you know you were on the line, you as much as rubbed their faces in the dirt, picked up your bat and ball and left them there. It was as if to say, "tough, it's my game, play it my way or you don't get to play."
Thursday when you read the e-mail from a concerned listener about the coffee shop talk, then took on your self to slap them straight across the face with your Hillary t_______l spoof-ad, you went way over the line in broadcast excellence and listener consideration.
OK Rush, I choose not to play. When that ad came on I hit the off switch on my radio. I've waited better than a week just to see if I could do it, (I really had no doubts) and now I'm giving you notice that you haven't been on my radio since that day. Nor will I make you a part of my day again. OK, maybe on a rare occasion, but it'll have to be because there is absolutely no other source. Believe me, I'm starting to look now to minimize that possibility.
So, Rush, this is to say good-by. I hope you get the message as I'm sure I'm not the only one who's finally fed up with your arrogance.

So here’s the burning question of the day. Why? Why do we do it? We know we shouldn’t but that doesn’t stop us. What? What do you do you know you shouldn’t but still do. Think about it. I’m sure you can think of a lot of stuff that fits into that scenario. But what I’m talking about seems to hit its stride this time of the year. Christmas. Parties, gatherings, people together, laughing, enjoying each other and eating. Eating lots and lots of food.
You make those promises to yourself every year. “I’m not going to do it. Not this year. I’m going to be strong and resist. Just a few veggies and some water, that’s it. No more.” Then you get there. The table’s so full of wonderful looking, great tasting stuff. The cheeses, chips, party mix, sandwiches, li’l franks, potato salad, breads, nuts, cakes, cookies, pies, cheesecake and on and on. You start out slow, “I’m only gonna do just a little bit. No big deal. I can handle this.” And as you start down the line, a little here and a little there. Not much of any one thing. Just little bits of everything. When you get to the end of the table and look at your plate, “ Oh my God! What have I done! Well, I can still fix it. I just won’t eat it all and discretely throw most in the trash.”
Then you begin to nibble. A little off this corner of the sandwich, that nut, that chip, a little taste of the cake and I’m done. I head towards the trash, get stopped by Joe who I really don’t care for and usually avoid but for some reason he wants to talk. It’s the holiday and everyone is in a good mood. So to keep from saying too much I nibble some more and slowly edge away. Then it happens again, and again. By the time I reached the trash I look at my plate and I’ve nibbled my way across the room and it’s empty.
I’ve only been here a half-hour and I’ve already blown it. But hey, that carrot cake looks great! And those cookies, and what about that fudge!
By the time I head out the door I’m stuffed, miserable, mad at myself, but…what about those rum balls! Wow! Weren’t they great!

First let me say I'm in the process of personalizing this blog and will be experimenting with backgrounds and colors. Hang in there with me. This is the St. John's River looking out from Fletcher Park near Cresent City, FL.

Listening to FoxNews today there was a brief story about comments former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made in the "green room" prior to appearing on a show. She was reported as saying the "Bush administration is holding Usama bin Laden captive, waiting to break him out at the best political moment." See the story. Ms. Albright has dismissed the comments as "tongue in cheek" but I have to wonder.
In politics little is said without reason. Especially by someone regarded as a spokesperson. The Dems made no bones about demonizing Trent Lott over his ill thought out comments at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. Comments made in jest at a party honoring a respected statesman. They have recently been embarrassed by a leaked memo from Sen. Jay Rockefeller's office strategizing the politics of an delaying a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation into the Sept 11 attacks. The intent to try to bring the greatest embarrassment to the Bush administration. (If the allegations are so important, isn't it disservice to the country to delay looking into them?) Yet comments by a former Clinton administration official made to a journalist just prior to his going on the air are said to have been in jest.
The Dems are masters at manipulating the media. They will make comments, complaints, and announcements to an news conference, controlling the airwaves and print media, getting their message out and with the help of the media have it repeated so many times speculation and wish lists become a psuedo-reality. I only wish the Republicans were so good at using the media to get their message across and answer the lefts message.
I believe Albrights comments were not "tongue in cheek" but a salvo across the bow of the Republican political ship. They are going to use these types of speculative comments to redirect and control the opinions and thoughts of the voters to try to bring distrust to this administration as we come into an election year. They see the polls rising on the news of the capture of Saddam and it worries them, so "time to bring out the big guns," so to speak. They also know it is very difficult if not impossible to prove a negative. You can't confirm what ain't.
To the Republicans and administration, don't sit back an let the Dems control the debate. If you don't put forth strong and convincing arguments they will win the debate by default.

Burr! A cold front's coming through and after starting the day this morning with temps in the 60's @ 3am and a bit of a shower, it's now 48 and falling. 'Sposed to hit the low 30's tonight. Now that's chilly for central Florida. When I moved here 15 years ago from Missouri I had worked outside there and 30 was nothin'. Now I seem to be a little more sensitive to the chill. Still, I like it cooler better than hotter.
'Course folks north of the Mason-Dixon line look down here with envy this time of the year. 2 feet of snow...Bahh! There was a time...even now I sometimes wish I could be in the snow, for a day. Just to enjoy it. But I can't imagine living in the snow belt. I'd rather battle the heat and humidity May - September than the snow/slush/ice through the winter.
I do miss having the allergies only for a few weeks in the spring and late summer. The first 5 years here were great. No sniffles. itchy eyes and so forth. But then allergies Florida style hit and they stay with ya year round.
But then, it's still nice to sit on the back porch in December-February in my shorts, sandals and t-shirt sipping ice tea and pick up the phone and dial up one of those friends hunkered down in the cold and snow. Makes me smile just thinkin' 'bout it!

It's that time of the year when things go a little wacky at work. All this gift giving, card sending and so on really boosts the volume, and with it, the work load. Love the work (without it there would be no job), the overtime is good (provides dough for some of the extras), but there is also a tired factor to put into the mix. I used to look forward to Christmas, now, more and more, I look forward to Christmas being over. No, I'm not in the "bah, humbug" mode, it just seems to have lost the joy it once held.
On another note, today on CNN Jim Bitterman in a story about fmr. Secretary of State Jim Baker going to Paris and then a few other European nations to help formulate a plan for the EU naysayers to save face on the Iraq issue with loan concessions/adjustments, made a statement something like this: "Jim Baker is there to assure the Europeans that the grownups are back in charge and the neo-Ayatollas are gone." What was that all about? Is he implying (or even explicitly stating) that the Bush administration is a bunch of immature demagogues and power mongers? Sounds like Mr. Bitterman has migrated from reporting to opining. So what else is new? Sounds like he is a "bitter man."

Well, I thought this might be a way to get some quick thoughts down without having to edit and upload a web page. Most recently the news of the capture of Saddam is on most everyone's minds. Just a couple observations.
1) I noticed several of the talking heads referring to Saddam as looking like a homeless person. What jumped in my mind was, "Oh great! Now we're going to hear from all the homeless advocates about 'the insensitivity and demeaning nature of this talk comparing the homeless to Saddam." Just wait, it's bound to come.
2) Now that Saddam is in custody, the opposition politicians will be calling for moving up the date of bringing the troops home and setting a firm date. Well duh! If I was one of the terrorists floating around Iraq, when I found out the Americans were leaving on a specific date I'd start lying low. Then as soon as they're gone, the countries mine! No more Yanks to hide from.
'Course I've come to question more and more how loyal to US soverignity, freedom and our democratic republic some of these of the "loyal opposition" really are. But even more, how much common sense they really have a firm grasp on.