BLACKWATER'S DECEPTION

Let me see if I have this correct. Blackwater Worldwide, you know, the company that has made millions of dollars from this present Washington administration, for its shadowy work in the Iraq War, has leased a 61,600 square-foot warehouse in a business park, three blocks from the Mexican border, in Otay Mesa, CA, which is zoned for a vocational school.

Blackwater, the military training contractor, applied for permits under the names of their affiliated companies, (thus not raising the tainted name of BLACKWATER), with their applications stating they were leasing the building for a vocational school. They immediately built an indoor shooting range, a simulated Navy ship, and classrooms for counter terrorism training. Just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill vocational school.

Naturally, the city took them to Court. Blackwater countered seeking a temporary restraining order, insisting their due process rights had been violated and failure to open on time would jeopardize its contract with the Navy. U. S. District Judge Marilyn Huff, took the side of Blackwater, saying there is,"a strong likelihood of success on the merits of that claim." And Blackwater, opened its vocational door to the Navy, the next day.

Doesn't this whole operation smell of the current administration in Washington? Obfuscation. Secrecy. National Security. Federal Judges.

Comments welcomed...Please click on the "Comment" link just below and let us know what you think - CJ.

LETTER TO OBAMA

On this night when Barack Obama officially became the presidential nominee of the democratic party I'm going to send him a letter. This letter contains an idea that has been rolling around in my mind for the past few months. If this idea appeals to you, then join me and write to the Senator.
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Dear Senator Obama:

In as much as you have spoken out against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I would appreciate your consideration of this idea.

When you are elected our next president, I would like you to PUT A HOLD on all of the celebrations in Washington, on inaugural day. That hold to last until our troops have come home from the wars. Then, and only then, will we hold a HUGE CELEBRATION all over this great country.

What would you do the rest of the day after your inauguration? Announce at the end of your speech, that you are headed to the Oval Office for a meeting with your commanding officers to start the process of bringing these terrible wars to a close. When that happens, church bells will ring throughout the land, and we will all celebrate.

Sincerely, Charlie Jones

Comments welcomed...Please click on the "Comment" link just below and let us know what you think - CJ.

FOR GRADUATES ONLY

This is that special time of the year known as graduation. From Kindergartens to Universities this is both an end and a beginning. Here is my graduation present for you.

On my first day as a 17 year old freshman at the University of Southern California my first class was Speech 101. I arrived early and grabbed a seat in the fourth row on the far side of the room, away from the door. There was a lot of talking, when suddenly the door swung open, but no one was there. The room became very quiet. Next I heard a scrapping-sliding sound, but I had no idea what was happening. Some of the students in the middle of the room stood up to see what was going on and they completely blocked my view.

Then from behind the podium in front of the class, like Phoenix rising from the ashes, this tall gaunt, ageless woman appeared. She dramatically raised her right hand. Paused. Then she spoke for the first time. "Dare to be different."

Those four words, from this wonderful teacher, who crawled into our classroom on her hands and knees, 60 years ago, have meant more to me than all the schools, all the classes, and all the diplomas. I give them to you. Guard them well.

And always,"Dare to be different."

Comments welcomed...Please click on the "Comment" link just below and let us know what you think - CJ.

LET HIM RUN

The Court of Arbitration For Sport has ruled that Oscar Pistorius can run in the Beijing Olympics in August. They over turned the IAAF, the ruling body of International Track and Field. The South African can now participate in the 2008 Games providing he is able to post a time at least equal to the Olympic standard of 45.00 in the 400 meters, (Oscar's best time so far this year is 46.56), or be chosen by the South African's for their Olympic team.

Why is this such a big deal? And trust me, this is a big deal.

Oscar is known as "the fastest man on no legs." He was born, 21 years ago without fibulas - the long, thin outer bone between the knee and the ankle -and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee. Oscar runs on "blades," Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs.

A true athlete, in high school he played tennis, water polo, wrestling, and rugby. In fact "Oz" was introduced to running, four years ago, while recovering from a rugby injury, and "he never looked back." In the 2006 Paralympic World Championships, he won gold in the 100, 200, and 400 meter events. Now he wants to run against the "World's Best," in the 2008 Olympics.

His personal motto is, "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have." Sounds a lot like the Olympic Motto.

p.s. We received our first comment. A very nice one on our blog titled MEMORIAL DAY. Many thanks to Anonymous.

Comments welcomed...Please click on the "Comment" link just below and let us know what you think - CJ.

"IT'S OUT OF HERE"

Sometimes "it's out of here." Sometimes "it's out of here, but not really out of here". Sometimes "it's not out of here, but it really is out of here." Sometimes "it's fan interference," or no, but it looked like "fan interference". Other times it's either "fair" or "foul," take your choice. It's all up to the men in blue and it's politically correct to say the umpires are right 99% of the time. (Or 85%, or 77%, or maybe it's a 50-50 proposition.)

Recently the four umpires working all Major League Games are having serious trouble with the home run. Does it hit the yellow line on top of the fence, does it hit below the yellow line, or does it clear the fence?Sometimes, your guess is as good as theirs. But, the replay doesn't have that problem. TV time after time makes the right call. But the umpires can't use the television replay.

Baseball is "the grand old game", because it is "grand" and it is "old". With few, very few, exceptions baseball has not changed since the turn of the century. Not the more recent century, the one 108 years ago. So don't hold your breath.

Think back, way back when the NFL finally decided to allow just a few calls on the field to be overturned be the replay. Then each year they modified it, added to it, took away, until they have almost got it right. The officials are now a part of the process and if their call is overturned it doesn't effect them. They pride themselves on making sure it's the right call.

Major League Baseball can start with the replay of the Home Run. Then next spring check out calls at home plate. Hey that works. On to first base. Why not include the fans at home. What replay do they want to see?

Onward, and upward, "It's out of here." It just might work.

Comments welcomed...Please click on the "Comment" link just below and let us know what you think - CJ.