It's Never Been About Anything Else

My son walked in as I was watching the news the other day, and he asked me, "So, now that bin Laden is dead, does that mean the War on Terror is over?"  I shook my head, "no," and said, "bin Laden was just one man.    We didn't cut the head off of a snake, we just cut one off of a hydra."  He gave a quick nod of understanding, then said, with an annoyed sort of confusion, "why do they want to kill us, anyway?"  Well, I could have given him the old George Bush line, they're jealous, they hate our freedom, blah blah blah...but that isn't it, not truly.  No, it's because we support Israel. Groups like al Qaeda  launch attacks on Americans because they think if they kill enough Americans, America will change its' policies in the Middle East, that we will forsake the only democratic nation and our only real friend in the region, Israel.  To put it bluntly, they hate Jews.  There will never be any successful peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians because the Palestinians do not now, nor will they ever recognize Israel's right to exist.  Up until 1948, the land that is now Israel was under British rule.  When Israel declared itself an independent nation in may of that year, the were attacked the very next day by a total of four different nations- Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.  Yemen would have attacked, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have an army.  That ought to tell you something.  In fact, everywhere from the streets of Hell's Kitchen in New York to the Warsaw ghetto in Poland, everywhere Jews have tried to live in peace, they are persecuted, blamed, threatened, and killed.  They were enslaved by Egypt. They were thrown out of Spain.  They were murdered by the millions in Germany and across Europe. Why?  Because they are Jews.  Palestinians and other Arab Muslims will tell you that America and Great Britain have been interfering in Middle Eastern affairs for far too long.  What that really means is, "throw the Jews under the bus and we'll stop flying planes into your buildings."  It doesn't matter how much land Israel gives up, or what any President of the United States says.  The Arab Muslim world will not tolerate a Jewish state, and any friend of Israel is their enemy.  It's not about oil.  It's not about American Imperialism.  America has been a shield and protector of Israel just like the archangel Michael. They hate us for that. It really is that simple.  "Why should we care," you ask?  Why not just mind our own business?  Well, what kind of friend are you? Do you stand up for your friends?  Do you defend people who are weaker than you when you see them being shoved around by a bully?  If someone threatened to beat your friend to death, would you step in and help them?  Would you watch as your neighbor was dragged from his home and shoved to the ground and kicked, as long as you thought you were safe?  And who moves in when your neighbor is gone?  Someone who beats his wife because she tried to drive the car, or read a book, or because her bare ankles were exposed for a brief moment in public?  None of your business, right?  You're a good German.  Not me.  I stand with Israel.  I've been criticized here because I "oversimplify."  No, I don't.  I break things down to their most basic components.  What is golf?  Hit the ball with a stick until it goes in the hole.   That's how I see things.  I guess I'm simple, but that's the path to truth.  It's all about Israel.  It's never been about anything else.

Bigmouth Strikes Again

This is becoming an epidemic.  It looks like the sickness has now spread to professional athletes.  That's right, Rashard Mendenhall of the Pittsburgh Steelers has DCS...Dixie Chicks Syndrome.  While most Americans were expressing relief and joy that Osama bin Laden had been brought to justice (read: assassinated), Mendenhall posted this on Twitter- “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people hate a man they never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side.”  Actually, Rashard, we have heard him speak.  He put out enough video, didn't he?  I got the message loud and clear.  Mendenhall also tweeted this gem- “We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take down a skyscraper demolition style.”  Given the live footage of the planes hitting the Twin Towers and the cell phone calls from the planes, I'd say we have a good idea what happened.  And yes, Lefty, fire can melt steel.  That's actually how it's made.  Well, everyone has a right to their opinion and to speak it openly...but everyone else has the right to think you're a jerk.  So, in keeping with that last part, Champion Apparel fired Mendenhall and released a statement of their own- "Champion is a strong supporter of the government's efforts to fight terrorism and is very appreciative of the dedication and commitment of the U.S. Armed Forces."  They then went on to say that Mendenhall is a great athlete, and they liked him well enough before he popped off with that crap, but he's fired.  Wish ya luck, buddy.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  "What's the matter with you, Mr. Johnson, how can you defend free speech and Champion's decision at the same time, you puss-filled boil of a republinazi?"  First, wash your mouth out with soap, Lefty, then clean out your ears.  I am a defender of free speech, but I'm also a defender of market forces.  Just like the Dixie Chicks, Mendenhall has a right to speak his mind, but people have a right to not give them their money, too, whether in the form of concert ticket sales or merchandising endorsement deals. You can go scream at the top of your lungs that you don't believe in the moonlanding, post any crazy crap about Kennedy's assassination that you want on Facebook...but your boss can fire you if he thinks you're making the company look bad.  Now- at it's core, some of what Mendenhall said is fair.  We shouldn't rejoice in death.  But I'll be damned if some pro ball dingus is going to make me feel bad that bin Laden's obituary made me smile.  I'm just not wired that way.  I've also seen this floating around in the comments section of news articles and on Facebook- "I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."~Martin Luther King Jr.   Guess where that quote really comes from?  Facebook.  So give it a rest.  Even Dr. King would have to agree that getting rid of a murderous beast like bin Laden is cause for joy.  You can find the scoop on that here: http://thedailywh.at/2011/05/03/follow-up-of-the-day-fake-mlk-quote-origin-found-on-facebook/   But getting back to poor Rashard...Yes, you have the right to free speech.  No, that right doesn't guarantee you won't get fired.  Understood?  I wish these celebrities would have taken this advice when it was given to the Dixie Chicks...but what can you say?  I hope he wasn't wearing his cleats when he put his foot in his mouth. 
Read more here: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/05/03/mendenhalls-tweets-stir-up-controversy/
and here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Apparel-company-dumps-Mendenhall-over-bin-Laden-?urn=nfl-wp1880

Also- I just have to share this...some guy actually referred to him as Retard Bendandfall.  I just thought that was funny.  Steelers fans probably hate that, though.  Oh, well. 

Peeping Aaron

And You Were Worried About Big Brother.  The national rental chain Aaron's is being sued for spying on its' customers  by using software installed on their rent-to-own computers without their knowledge.  The software, PC Rental Agent, is installed on the computers as a way to track the store's property and to act as a "kill switch" in case a person doesn't pay, but according to at least one Wyoming couple, it's also been used to secretly activate their laptop's webcam and even log keystrokes.  The couple,  Brian and Crystal Byrd, discovered this when an Aaron's manager came pounding on their door to repossess their Dell Inspiron with a photo of Brian using the computer taken with the built in webcam as "proof" that he'd been using it.  As it turns out, the Byrds had already paid for the laptop, a month early, in fact, but Aaron's goofed when they recorded the transaction.  Even if they had missed a payment, though, can a company just peek in on you whenever they want?   As a computer technician, I've seen this software at work.  It does just what it says- if you miss a scheduled payment, your computer is locked down, and the only way to access it is to call Aaron's and get a special (and very lengthy) code, not once, but twice.  I've also seen a lot of spyware.  That's 99% of my business.  From a privacy standpoint, I'd say "alarming" is a mild word.  Naturally, the Byrds were worried that someone from Aaron's had taken webcam pictures of Crystal or their daughter as they were coming out of the shower, or getting dressed.  It's not the kind of thing a person wants to find on YouTube.  What if Aaron's staff had taken pictures, then saved them to a flash drive and taken them home with them?  First, they called the police, who confirmed the computer has spyware installed on it, then they called a lawyer.  Now I know what you might be saying.  "Really, Mr. Johnson, you're such an alarmist!  This was one case!  And besides, doesn't Aaron's have a right to protect their property until the renter pays in full?"  Sure.  But that doesn't mean that my landlord can install a camera in my shower to make sure we aren't tearing the house apart.  I think people have a right to protect their investment, but I also think people who rent from Aaron's have a right to know that their privacy is being invaded.  And what else could be compromised?  Sony Entertainment can't protect your information, Apple is tracking your whereabouts, and Aaron's is watching you while you sleep...or worse!  People have their identities stolen everyday and their bank accounts drained...a rogue application takes over your computer and holds it for ransom until you pay $49.95 for a bogus antivirus program.  All of this goes on while you post on Facebook that you're not home, not even in town,, or that you just dropped the kids off at soccer practice.  In today's digital world, I'm worrying less and less about big brother...Aaron's and the like are creepy enough.
Read about it here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383216/Rental-chain-Aarons-caught-spying-customers-home-taking-webcam-photos.html
I stole the picture from
http://chris.pirillo.com/do-you-spy-on-your-children/

Disgusting Bug Squashed By Team of Seals

I read this weekend that Superman renounced his U.S. citizenship, and I was going to write about that, but who needs him when we've got the U.S. Navy SEALS?  Let the Man of Steel stand in silent protest in Tehran.  Today, I'm celebrating real men of action.  And yes, Lefty, I'm celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden.  I know what you're going to say.  "That's not a very christian attitude, Mr. Johnson!  You shouldn't be celebrating the death of another person, you filth-mongering jackhole!"  Well, that's just it, Lefty, I'm celebrating the death of a cockroach, a disgusting waste of oxygen that spread garbage and hate and death.  Yeah.  I'm not sad he's dead.  And this is really going to knock your socks off, Lefty, I'm going to congratulate the president, Barack Obama, for a job well done...this time.  Now, I know that this is not going to stop al qaeda.  I know they are still plotting to murder as many of us as they can, and I promise you, every time I see a plane in the air, I'm going to wonder.   As mad as they probably are right now that we cratered his face with bullets, then dumped his sad corpse off an aircraft carrier into the ocean, I hope they get the message.  You can run.  You can even hide.  But we will find you, and you will die.  Thanks to the interrogators at Guantanemo Bay, thanks to SEAL Team 6, thanks to some great intelligence gathering, and, yes, thanks to the president, the world is rid of an evil man who revelled in mass-death in the guise of religious devotion.  Now...I have some questions.  First, I've heard it said before that the intelligence community knew he wasn't hiding in a cave in Afghanistan, but in a comfortable compound in Pakistan.  That was two years ago.  What took so long?  Why didn't we act on this intelligence sooner?  Second, Why did we go out of our way to let everyone know we handled his body so carefully and followed the Muslim burial traditions, cleansing his corpse and giving him a service, then dump his body in the ocean?  Some have said we don't want to antagonize moderate Muslims by desecrating his corpse, but since he wasn't killed at sea, his being buried at sea is seen as an insult anyway.  I get that we don't want a martyr's grave for terrorists to visit.  I get that we are not at war with the entire religion of Islam.  I'm just wondering, because I'm betting every sailor on that carrier at least had the urge to pee on the white sheet they wrapped him in and shove some bacon in his boxer shorts before the commander said, "heave-ho."  Anyway, I hope this gives the victim of September 11th, 2001 and their families some feeling that justice has been done.  I, for one, am glad he's dead.  I know we're supposed to live up to our higher ideals, but hey...don't we have Superman for that?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/03/us-binladen-victims-idUSTRE7416LP20110503

UPDATE!  5.MAY.2011

If the information in the link below is accurate, then my congratulations and thanks to the president are officially rescinded.

http://socyberty.com/issues/white-house-insider-obama-hesitated-panetta-issued-order-to-kill-osama-bin-laden/