This is clipped from an actual disclaimer for life insurance, I kid you not!
Exclusions and Limitations
A critical illness benefit will not be paid for any loss caused directly or
indirectly by:
/*Other fairly resonable stuff snipped out for brevity*/
>>>>> * Engaging in hazardous activities such as but not limited to
skydiving, hang gliding, auto racing, dirt bike riding, mountain climbing,
Russian roulette, autoerotic asphyxiation, bungee jumping or using off-road
vehicles.
No single one of these acts is covered, but it says nothing about these
acts in combination.
Think about it; you know you want to.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Monday, September 5, 2005
Man, what a rant
First off Happy Labor Day!
ALL PRAISE AND HAPPYNESS TO THE WORKERS!
Okay, so there was the “happy” bit. Now for the bit that will most likely piss off people. Let me start with if you think that your one of those people who is likely to get pissed at what I may prefix with a warning, you may be right. Thanks for stopping by, check in later for a new update. You will be happier, trust me.
If you feel you want to be argumentative with me about what I am going to write or try to “correct” me, please take this time to go someplace else. I got a good head of steam worked up and a first class case of pissed off going on. I will eventually settle down but it may be in the majorities’ interest not to discuss this with me unless your willing to take the brunt of the possible backlash. Do not confuse what I am going to write with a discussion. There will be no question and answer session afterwards nor is there a Cliff Notes version available. Remember, you were warned. Turn back now, bridge out. No exits back onto the highway. No Outlet, no detour. Do not immerse in water, may cause cancer in lab rats. May interact with other medications; ask your Doctor or Pharmacist for more information.
You have been warned!
What the hell is going on with what seems to be a large amount of people suffering with a bad case of head up their ass????? Let me share a few examples.
Let’s start with Gasoline and the stupidest quotes:
“Oh, it is just getting in line with Europe. They pay $6.00 a gallon there...”
Yea, they do. Big fuckin deal. They eat snails and piss in the streets as well. They are also collectively not on the top 10 producers of oil in the free world. Free clue here: Ever wonder why so many Saudis are so rich? They get paid a share of the oil revenues that are generated from the natural resources of their country, but in the US the corporations do not have to do that, even when drilling on public lands. Here is a little more free information for you, did you know that there have been NO (that is ZERO, NADA, NIENTE, NIL) refineries built in the US in 30 years. So what we have is a system using processing infrastructure that has not grown to meet the production needs of the country. Here is a system that stopped growing in the 1970’s. Remember the 70’s and the whole gas shortage? How about this: it is a huge lie! A synthetic deficit to help drive up prices. If you price out a barrel of crude with all the transportation costs AND a 20% markup, guess what, it costs between $7.00 to $10.00 a barrel, not $70.00. Force the corporations to balance the system out. Show us where the money is going. Screw this different gas blend for every fucking state in the union and the summer & winter bends. We need gas, plain old simple gas. Just because something happens in Europe doesn’t mean it has to happen here. Hello! Many of our ancestors fled Europe for one simple reason: IT SUCKED! Let us not bring the Euro-suckyness here. If you like the idea so much, MOVE. Look, I have friends who are European, so it is not that I hate Euros. But then again, just cause I like Mickey Mouse doesn’t mean I want to live at Disneyland. Visit maybe, but not live there.
“It is because of the hurricane that prices are rising.”
Nope, wrong. It is because of oil speculators and bastard profiteers that the price is rising. The gas at the pumps today came out of the ground about 2 months ago. It is a really stupid way of making money, but it has made many people millionaires. Another reason for the prices rising is the Federal Government has done little to nothing in a timely manner to help stem the tide of these people who try to profit of the misery of others. We get a little upset at a 10-cent jump in prices, while in some markets like Atlanta, the price skyrocketed to almost $6.00 a gallon. I hope the bastard who did that burn in a very special hell for trying to squeeze refugees of what little money they had as they try to flee to family and friends. Yes, a special hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk in movie theaters. Hey Mr. President (aka Fuck-knob), how about a national price freeze to pre-hurricane prices for oil. Oh, I forgot, you own oil wells too. Sorry thought you were actually interested in helping.
“Higher prices are good as they will help spur investment in alternative energy..”
Excuse me? Right, and Elvis will help you plan out your financial future. All higher prices will do is help create a bigger gap between the haves and the “have-nots”. There are already people who are quitting their jobs because they cannot afford to go to work. Would you be willing to work 6 hours out of an 8-hour day just to pay for the gas to get to your job? Watch the welfare rolls and the unemployment numbers. Higher prices mean fewer people who can afford to work and consequently the prices for any transported good becomes higher. True, eventually there will be a point of equilibrium, but when we reach it how many will be left behind? Fewer working people means lower tax revenue and therefore smaller tax bases for cities, counties and states to use to provide public services. So, to make up for it they raise taxes and cut services. If you work, you start to pay a larger share of your paycheck out every month. And what your see/get for it is less and less. Screw higher prices.
Okay, let us move forward onto more social commentary. I just feel like getting on the giant soapbox and screaming at these people “What the fuck are you doing?!?!?!?” I feel a sense of frustration that I have not had in years. And you know what? It pisses me off.
Now I look at the news and say “What planet are these assholes from?” Yes, our fearless leader Fuck-knob and his ass-puppets. Sounds like a bad ska-punk band “Fuck-knob and The Ass Puppets.” Excuse me, bouquet of hand-grenades for the band, compliments of the audience.
“Well, they should have left when they ordered the evacuations, so it is their own fault.”
Okay, lets lay down some simple logic here. You are with this statement blaming the victims. Um, err…how the hell do you respond to such bullshit? I do know the source of a lot of this and here is another one of the “piss-people-off-warnings”.
It seems that a member of our government made this statement; a member of “Homeland Security”; a dammed Yankee. Now hold on and hear me out. I do not feel it was totally his fault. He more than likely went to good northern schools and very nice northern colleges. He had a nice simple and well-funded northern childhood with his nice well-dressed and properly educated private school friends. Can’t blame him for being born into money. I can blame him for being a dammed idiot.
See it is like this, and I will try to explain to my northern born and raised friends so you can understand. You see, for many, the war never ended because the original questions were never answered. It was not about slavery until the North made it such an issue. That part is over and done with, let it lay. Slavery happened, right or wrong, and now there is no slavery. Many southerners did not own slaves. A surprising amount of them disliked the idea of slaves as it took away jobs poor folk could be paid to do. The main issues had to do with states rights and the ability for self-determination. Southerners like to think for themselves. We rely on our good judgment and then we deal with the actions afterwards. Perhaps I should clarify a little. You see what I am speaking about is probably best described as a “Neo-Southerner”. Someone who maintains certain positive southern values but leaves behind the bigotry of the past that is based on race or religion.
Let me give you a little example:
I was living in Mobile Alabama for a little while. One day I stopped to help an older black man who had broken down along side the road. He was quite appreciative of the help and insisted I come to his home for dinner. I tried to politely refuse (as is the custom) but he insisted and said he would be “downright hurt” (translation: mortally offended) if I did not come to dinner so I could be thanked properly. So, I went. His wife made us cornbread and soup beans and fried potatoes. To many this does not sound like anything all that spectacular, but this is all they had, and they were insistent and proud to be able to share it as a thank you. Situations like this test a man and his ability to keep his composure, as the sight of it was enough to make one cry. I had dinner and stayed for chicory coffee, then said my goodbyes, never to see them again. Such is life in the real south, not the impression from the movies many like to think they know. See, this line of thinking is different for those of us who were southern raised and educated. Our world is different and we view the world that way. We would never have blamed the old man by saying “Well, if you were not driving you would never had broken down.” That is just to us silly and dammed rude.
“Well, they got what they deserved by building there in the first place.”
Okay, try this. Mosey down to the Hocking River (For those of you that are in Athens) and wade out to the middle, where it gets about ankle deep. Now, look around. This was once a navigable river with SHIPPING TRAFFIC, as in BIG BOATS carrying TONS OF CARGO.
To steal a quote from Dune “So how can this be?”
Simple, The Army Corps of Engineers. See some brilliant person thought to outsmart nature and reroute the river down a concrete sluice. The same type of brilliant planning that is silting out the Delta. See, New Orleans was not sub sea level when it was built, but the river kept rising so the levees kept getting higher to keep it in its banks and keep the old town dry. Top this with the feds cutting funding to help maintain the levees that are there because of the federal government projects up north. Can we see a trend here in things? Now you maybe can understand why New Orleans is where it is in the shape it is in.
Look I could go on for a lot longer and perhaps later I will. Right now, I’ll leave you with a little something so you might get a better glimpse of a few things in my head.
The Times-Picayune of New Orleans printed this editorial in its Sunday edition:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/times.picayune.editorial/index.html
Now, they are saying 2 New Orleans police officers have committed suicide after working this entire time. It was just too much for them. I hope whatever god they believe in gives them the rest and peace they have earned. Soon, rescue efforts will turn to recovery. For some, there will never be recovery or closure. Then comes the part that few have even considered: The Retribution. Heads will be called for on pikes. Fingers will begin to be pointed. For the sake of the Union as it stands, let us hope that the kinder side of southern sensibility wins out. If not, I hate to speculate what may happen.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake...
ALL PRAISE AND HAPPYNESS TO THE WORKERS!
Okay, so there was the “happy” bit. Now for the bit that will most likely piss off people. Let me start with if you think that your one of those people who is likely to get pissed at what I may prefix with a warning, you may be right. Thanks for stopping by, check in later for a new update. You will be happier, trust me.
If you feel you want to be argumentative with me about what I am going to write or try to “correct” me, please take this time to go someplace else. I got a good head of steam worked up and a first class case of pissed off going on. I will eventually settle down but it may be in the majorities’ interest not to discuss this with me unless your willing to take the brunt of the possible backlash. Do not confuse what I am going to write with a discussion. There will be no question and answer session afterwards nor is there a Cliff Notes version available. Remember, you were warned. Turn back now, bridge out. No exits back onto the highway. No Outlet, no detour. Do not immerse in water, may cause cancer in lab rats. May interact with other medications; ask your Doctor or Pharmacist for more information.
You have been warned!
What the hell is going on with what seems to be a large amount of people suffering with a bad case of head up their ass????? Let me share a few examples.
Let’s start with Gasoline and the stupidest quotes:
“Oh, it is just getting in line with Europe. They pay $6.00 a gallon there...”
Yea, they do. Big fuckin deal. They eat snails and piss in the streets as well. They are also collectively not on the top 10 producers of oil in the free world. Free clue here: Ever wonder why so many Saudis are so rich? They get paid a share of the oil revenues that are generated from the natural resources of their country, but in the US the corporations do not have to do that, even when drilling on public lands. Here is a little more free information for you, did you know that there have been NO (that is ZERO, NADA, NIENTE, NIL) refineries built in the US in 30 years. So what we have is a system using processing infrastructure that has not grown to meet the production needs of the country. Here is a system that stopped growing in the 1970’s. Remember the 70’s and the whole gas shortage? How about this: it is a huge lie! A synthetic deficit to help drive up prices. If you price out a barrel of crude with all the transportation costs AND a 20% markup, guess what, it costs between $7.00 to $10.00 a barrel, not $70.00. Force the corporations to balance the system out. Show us where the money is going. Screw this different gas blend for every fucking state in the union and the summer & winter bends. We need gas, plain old simple gas. Just because something happens in Europe doesn’t mean it has to happen here. Hello! Many of our ancestors fled Europe for one simple reason: IT SUCKED! Let us not bring the Euro-suckyness here. If you like the idea so much, MOVE. Look, I have friends who are European, so it is not that I hate Euros. But then again, just cause I like Mickey Mouse doesn’t mean I want to live at Disneyland. Visit maybe, but not live there.
“It is because of the hurricane that prices are rising.”
Nope, wrong. It is because of oil speculators and bastard profiteers that the price is rising. The gas at the pumps today came out of the ground about 2 months ago. It is a really stupid way of making money, but it has made many people millionaires. Another reason for the prices rising is the Federal Government has done little to nothing in a timely manner to help stem the tide of these people who try to profit of the misery of others. We get a little upset at a 10-cent jump in prices, while in some markets like Atlanta, the price skyrocketed to almost $6.00 a gallon. I hope the bastard who did that burn in a very special hell for trying to squeeze refugees of what little money they had as they try to flee to family and friends. Yes, a special hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk in movie theaters. Hey Mr. President (aka Fuck-knob), how about a national price freeze to pre-hurricane prices for oil. Oh, I forgot, you own oil wells too. Sorry thought you were actually interested in helping.
“Higher prices are good as they will help spur investment in alternative energy..”
Excuse me? Right, and Elvis will help you plan out your financial future. All higher prices will do is help create a bigger gap between the haves and the “have-nots”. There are already people who are quitting their jobs because they cannot afford to go to work. Would you be willing to work 6 hours out of an 8-hour day just to pay for the gas to get to your job? Watch the welfare rolls and the unemployment numbers. Higher prices mean fewer people who can afford to work and consequently the prices for any transported good becomes higher. True, eventually there will be a point of equilibrium, but when we reach it how many will be left behind? Fewer working people means lower tax revenue and therefore smaller tax bases for cities, counties and states to use to provide public services. So, to make up for it they raise taxes and cut services. If you work, you start to pay a larger share of your paycheck out every month. And what your see/get for it is less and less. Screw higher prices.
Okay, let us move forward onto more social commentary. I just feel like getting on the giant soapbox and screaming at these people “What the fuck are you doing?!?!?!?” I feel a sense of frustration that I have not had in years. And you know what? It pisses me off.
Now I look at the news and say “What planet are these assholes from?” Yes, our fearless leader Fuck-knob and his ass-puppets. Sounds like a bad ska-punk band “Fuck-knob and The Ass Puppets.” Excuse me, bouquet of hand-grenades for the band, compliments of the audience.
“Well, they should have left when they ordered the evacuations, so it is their own fault.”
Okay, lets lay down some simple logic here. You are with this statement blaming the victims. Um, err…how the hell do you respond to such bullshit? I do know the source of a lot of this and here is another one of the “piss-people-off-warnings”.
It seems that a member of our government made this statement; a member of “Homeland Security”; a dammed Yankee. Now hold on and hear me out. I do not feel it was totally his fault. He more than likely went to good northern schools and very nice northern colleges. He had a nice simple and well-funded northern childhood with his nice well-dressed and properly educated private school friends. Can’t blame him for being born into money. I can blame him for being a dammed idiot.
See it is like this, and I will try to explain to my northern born and raised friends so you can understand. You see, for many, the war never ended because the original questions were never answered. It was not about slavery until the North made it such an issue. That part is over and done with, let it lay. Slavery happened, right or wrong, and now there is no slavery. Many southerners did not own slaves. A surprising amount of them disliked the idea of slaves as it took away jobs poor folk could be paid to do. The main issues had to do with states rights and the ability for self-determination. Southerners like to think for themselves. We rely on our good judgment and then we deal with the actions afterwards. Perhaps I should clarify a little. You see what I am speaking about is probably best described as a “Neo-Southerner”. Someone who maintains certain positive southern values but leaves behind the bigotry of the past that is based on race or religion.
Let me give you a little example:
I was living in Mobile Alabama for a little while. One day I stopped to help an older black man who had broken down along side the road. He was quite appreciative of the help and insisted I come to his home for dinner. I tried to politely refuse (as is the custom) but he insisted and said he would be “downright hurt” (translation: mortally offended) if I did not come to dinner so I could be thanked properly. So, I went. His wife made us cornbread and soup beans and fried potatoes. To many this does not sound like anything all that spectacular, but this is all they had, and they were insistent and proud to be able to share it as a thank you. Situations like this test a man and his ability to keep his composure, as the sight of it was enough to make one cry. I had dinner and stayed for chicory coffee, then said my goodbyes, never to see them again. Such is life in the real south, not the impression from the movies many like to think they know. See, this line of thinking is different for those of us who were southern raised and educated. Our world is different and we view the world that way. We would never have blamed the old man by saying “Well, if you were not driving you would never had broken down.” That is just to us silly and dammed rude.
“Well, they got what they deserved by building there in the first place.”
Okay, try this. Mosey down to the Hocking River (For those of you that are in Athens) and wade out to the middle, where it gets about ankle deep. Now, look around. This was once a navigable river with SHIPPING TRAFFIC, as in BIG BOATS carrying TONS OF CARGO.
To steal a quote from Dune “So how can this be?”
Simple, The Army Corps of Engineers. See some brilliant person thought to outsmart nature and reroute the river down a concrete sluice. The same type of brilliant planning that is silting out the Delta. See, New Orleans was not sub sea level when it was built, but the river kept rising so the levees kept getting higher to keep it in its banks and keep the old town dry. Top this with the feds cutting funding to help maintain the levees that are there because of the federal government projects up north. Can we see a trend here in things? Now you maybe can understand why New Orleans is where it is in the shape it is in.
Look I could go on for a lot longer and perhaps later I will. Right now, I’ll leave you with a little something so you might get a better glimpse of a few things in my head.
The Times-Picayune of New Orleans printed this editorial in its Sunday edition:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/times.picayune.editorial/index.html
Now, they are saying 2 New Orleans police officers have committed suicide after working this entire time. It was just too much for them. I hope whatever god they believe in gives them the rest and peace they have earned. Soon, rescue efforts will turn to recovery. For some, there will never be recovery or closure. Then comes the part that few have even considered: The Retribution. Heads will be called for on pikes. Fingers will begin to be pointed. For the sake of the Union as it stands, let us hope that the kinder side of southern sensibility wins out. If not, I hate to speculate what may happen.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake...
Friday, September 2, 2005
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