Saturday, May 01, 2004

The Buck Stops Here

Well, actually, it appears that the buck is stopping at one of the many dollar stores popping up around the country.  Are they giving the discounters a run for their money?  Tyler Cowen, at Marginal Revolution, shares a few facts that may show just that.  A couple for you to consider.

"6. Families earning $70,000 and above are the fastest-growing group of customers for dollar stores. Dollar stores are beginning to lose their dowdy image.

7. Dollar stores are starting to attract name brands on the shelves.

8. Wal-Mart, feeling the competitive heat, is experimenting with “dollar store” sub-sections in some of their superstores."

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 05:21 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Smoke Em if You Got Em

"Any of you in the Tampa-St. Pete area need to take a trip to Buddy’s Smoking Pig restaurant. Spend some money while you’re there.

When the state snuffed all cigarettes in restaurants, the popular barbeque joint turned outlaw.

“We put a sign up that says this is a smoking establishment,” explained owner and namesake Buddy Clark. “I think everybody should have a right to do what ever they want to do.”

“The people have a choice. They can either eat here in the non-smoking, or eat up here in the smoking. Or if they don’t like it at all, they can go to another restaurant,” added Clark’s wife, Barbara…

...Meanwhile, Buddy’s smokers and non-smokers both appreciate the restaurant’s atmosphere. None of them want to see Wildwood’s favorite lunch spot close up shop.

“You can’t smell it at all over here so it doesn’t really bother me,” a diner explained from the non-smoking section.

“Who in the hell is the state to come in and tell you and me what we can do in our own place?” observed smoker Sonny Schmidt.

We need more Buddy and Barbara Clarks. Sounds like good eats, too."

Indeed we do need more Buddy and Barbara Clarks.

Entire post lifted from The Agitator.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 05:12 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Wolves in Sheep Clothing

Nicholas Provenzo asks, "Why do communists get a free pass, and yet Nazis don’t?," after reading this post by Eugene Volokh.

Nicholas answers his own question, in his post, and also states the following.

"The failure to condemn the communists is the failure to condemn a movement that brutalized and murdered millions. People are outraged over the absurdity of the holocaust deniers, but what about the absurdity of those who mitigate communist atrocities--people who seem to forget just what the communists stood for and the cost of their handiwork?"

Well said.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 05:04 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Said to Me by My Son

One of my twin boys recently started his first job.  Bussing tables at a small local restaurant.  Last night, while speaking with him on the phone, he mentioned that he received his first paycheck.  The very next words out of his mouth were,

“I can’t believe how much money the government stole from me.”

That’s, my boy.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 04:47 AM
(1) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

May Day

Over at the blog Catallarchy, they are commemorating May Day, but not in the way you may think.  In fact, my friends at Catallarchy are commemorating May Day in a way that is very appropriate to what I think of when I hear the term May Day.  An internationally recognized call for help.

Thanks, Catallarchy contributors.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 04:28 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Perspective on Torture

The photos of the goings on in the Abu Ghraib prison are making the rounds of the internet.  This morning, it appears as if the British have not been left out the controversy either.

President Bush is “deeply disgusted." As well he should be.  British General Sir Mike Jackson, had this to say about British troops involved.

"If proven the perpetrators are not fit to wear the queen’s uniform. They have besmirched the good name of the army and its honour."

My friend, Billy Beck, notes this also, in a post at No Treason, where he expresses a couple of thoughts that bear consideration.

"At the very least, nobody so lacking in a moral center as to stand around smiling in photographs like that can be permitted anywhere near those responsibilities for a single hour."

"And I should think it might go without saying. If anyone can find someone who approves of it, I’ll go out of my way to give them hell, too."

But it is this thought, from Billy’s post, that I’m thinking about this morning.

"I didn’t hit on this at my place, either. The main reason has to do with the density and frequency of “outrage” these days. It’s bloody everywhere, in every form, and impossible to keep up with, piece by piece. That is no reason to presume, however, that anyone sanctions this sort of thing."

Too true.  And the outrage will blow over like a summer afternoon thunderstorm.

But, when I first read the story and viewed the photos yesterday, the first thought that popped into my mind was, the assholes who were involved in this are no better than terrorist dogs who blow themselves up killing innocents, whether it be in the streets of the Mideast, or buildings in Manhattan.  The soldiers involved, both American and British, should immediately be stripped of their ranks, court-martialed if need be, dishonorably discharged, and sent packing.  They are scum.

The second thought that passed through my mind was a question.  The question is, why is the level of outrage being displayed in regards to these few disgusting military individuals, at such a pitch, as to make the stories of torture under Saddam appear to be non news?  Is it because there are not any photos which chronicle Saddam’s minions torture work?  Tsk, tsk, you know we expect torture stories from Saddam, and mass graves, and such, but the Americans, well the Americans deserve to be humilitated so lets wind this story up for maximum effect.

Think about that, but get your perspective glasses on.  The American and British involved in these incidents are scum.  They are no better than schoolyard bullies.  But don’t get so worked up that you can’t see the big picture.  And remember this.  As disgusting as the scenes depicted in the photographs are, they are scenes of humiliation, not death and torture of likes that occurred in the dungeons of Saddam Hussein.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/01 at 03:46 AM
(10) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Page 14 of 14 pages « First  <  12 13 14