(written by yours truly)

2004 Schedule for the Republican National Convention:

7:00pm - Kenneth Starr welcomes and greets everybody.

7:05pm - Dick Cheney announces that he and the President will only speak behind closed doors for 3 minutes each at the same time.

7:08pm - Donald Rumsfeld shows everybody his special photo album.

7:30pm - WMD party games: little toy missles are hidden throughout the room and whoever finds the most gets to pick which country the US will attack next.

8:00pm - George W. Bush does Tequila shooters with his daughters and then ropes a cattle for the audience.

8:30pm - everybody gets a free quart of crude oil from Iraq.

9:00pm - Colin Powell shows the picture of the meaningless buildings he showed the UN then he leaves.

9:30pm - Jeb Bush shows everybody what the Florida 2004 ballots will look like (wink wink).

9:45pm - Rush Limbaugh calls everybody a sissy for not turning all our National Parks into oil refineries.

10:00pm - George Bush senior closes with the statement, "READ MY LIPS, ANOTHER 4 YEARS."

I don't like the word outsourcing. It is like trying to put a silk hat on a pig really. I can think of more suitable terms to replace the word outsourcing.

1. outhousing
2. outstreeting (because you will be in the street)
3. greedsourcing
4. jobstealing
5. lay-offing
6. job-take-away (almost sounds British huh)
7. job-carry out (the American equivilent)
8. cardboard boxing (first you will be putting your items in the box then you will be living in the box for shelter)
9. delivelyhooding (almost sounds dirty)
10. tasting the grapes of wrath (see the movie or read the book if you don't get it)

In fact I propose a "Grapes of Wrath" day. Any upper level manager that has done outsourcing or is considering it must watch the movie non-stop for 24 hours.

When you step outside your house and look up at the sky and it is green with funnel clouds, all you want to do is walk back in your house. Unless your house is a rickety trailer and your job has a policy of better off dead than late for work. After I got about 2 miles up the road the sky opened up with 90 mph winds and marble sized hail. Visibility was at 0%. I parked on a side road. I figured I was in a tornado. I didn't pray. I figured if this was my time to go then so be it. I figured I might have a fighting chance in my car anyways. I called my work and told them I may be running late. Then the worst passed over, but something even more irritating than sitting in the eye of a hurricane happened. I had to drive through lakes on the road. I really dislike that. Cars aren't meant to drive through small ponds and rivers. I have only seen a green sky about 3 or 4 times in my life, it is always accompanied by hail shortly thereafter. Usually a tornado touches down nearby as well. Just a sidenote here, when you hear on the radio "take shelter!!" and you are in your car, it doesn't do much good. There is nowhere to take shelter. So always remember green sky=BAD & blue sky=GOOD.

Also in sports......Randy Johnson at the age of 40 threw a perfect game yesterday for the Diamondbacks. This breaks a record, the previous oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game was Cy Young himself at the age of 37. Pretty darn impressive pitching. See ya in the hall of fame someday Randy.

Horse Racing Trivia: What horse won the 1919 Kentucky Derby and then went on to capture the Triple Crown?????

The horse was Sir Barton.

The jockey was Johnny Loftus.

...."In this corner, the heavyweight champion of the world, the Philadelphia Flyer, 8-0 at any distance, SMARTY JONES !!!!"

He didn't just win the Preakness he devoured the track. This horse is a Ferarri. One last jewel left to add to the triple crown. If any horse could ever do it, Smarty can. Much credit is due to trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott. Remember those names, they will be referred to in horse racing history books for years to come.

In all seriousness, the upcoming Belmont is considered the toughest leg of the triple crown. The distance of the race compounded by the fact these horses have run 2 tough races usually ends up separating the good horses from the greats. In my humble opinion Smarty Jones is a champion. Triple Crown material all the way. I think he has enough gas in the tank to win the Belmont.

Lionheart, ya screwed up my trifecta. It is ok though, I had the exacta, I thought you looked kinda tired.

Should I mention the place and show horses? Why bother, they were fading at a mile and 3/16ths and Smarty looked like he was just getting warm.

I'm not one to jinx things by making predictions that seem so obvious, so I will just raise this simple question to anybody that follows racing. What horse out there could beat Smarty Jones in the Belmont? I think we will see a field similar to the Derby. Horses that are rested up trying to pull off the upset. Nick Zito is gonna throw a horse or 2 or 3 in there most likely. Maybe The Cliff's Edge will be ready to run by then.

Keep up the good work Smarty Jones, the others are watching you from the back of the pack.

The Cliff's Edge has officially been scratched due to an injury of his right front foot. For all the racing info you'll ever need in your life try: Daily Racing Form

The 129th running of the Preakness Stakes will happen on Saturday, May 15th. It is the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown. If you haven't heard of Smarty Jones yet, you don't like horse racing. They call him the Philadelphia Flyer. A fitting nickname for this speedster. Just for you betting folks, I put Smarty at the top of all of my trifectas and exactas, except one that I boxed with a longshot in it. Smarty is still in the money though.....I ain't crazy. The Cliffs Edge may or may not run due to foot problems. He lost 2 front shoes in the derby and either has gravel or an abcess in his foot. So he might scratch. The field is 11 horses if Cliffs Edge doesnt scratch. Smarty is running from lucky number 7 post position, while Lionheart is running from 1 on the rail where he will try to go wire to wire. Some other horses to watch, Eddington and Rock Hard Ten, both didn't make the derby because their earnings were to low, both good horses though. Borrego ran in the derby and finished poorly in the slop but is liking the fast track at Pimlico in training. I think this is going to be a fast track and a fast pace. It is one race at a time to win the Triple Crown. I am rooting for Smarty Jones even though his odds will be bet down to next to nothing. Right now either an 8/5 or 7/5 line on him. He has to pass this hurdle before the ever vexing Belmont. This mile and 3/16ths race should favor the speedsters, so enjoy the ride.

OK it has been a couple days. So here it is. More photos and videos released to congress. Lewd and perverse torture. A Debate if the public should be able to view the evidence. Republicans say no, Democrats say yes. Reminds me of true story from WWII.

In the aftermath of the second World War, a US General (I believe it was Eisenhower) gathered up all the townspeople that lived a few miles from a concentration camp in Germany that was performing unspeakable atrocities during the war. Most, if not all, of the townsfolk did not know what was going on in the death camp. The women fainted and threw up when they saw the horror. Perhaps some or most knew, perhaps not. That is not the point. The point is, "Hey take a look at the unspeakable acts that were committed". "Think twice before you follow blindly". "Treat people as humans".

If we see the photos or the video we will be sickened. We should be sickened. Let me refresh a few people's memories here. They wanted to IMPEACH Clinton for "obstructing justice" in relation to a matter in his personal life. Now tell me that concealing this and covering it up isn't an obstruction of justice. If Bush doesn't have to go before congress, then he better deliver Rumsfeld in front of a full congressional investigation. Time to answer up to congress, and I don't want a fake little dog and pony show hearing either. I want hard hitting questions, and resignations, and people being kicked out of the Defense Department. I want each and every rotten apple thrown out of the barrel. If we don't live up to our standards of a DEMOCRACY then we will suffer global humiliation. If a precedent is set here that the Department of Defense can get away with this, then basically the executive branch of our government can run wild. Rumsfeld answers directly to the president and the president alone. Is he more powerful than all of congress? It appears he is. He is running this war. Is he doing a pretty good job? Only thing he wants or ever needs from congress is $$$$$$$. Our tax money. This administration makes the Nixon administration look like saints and apostles. Even Nixon pulled out of Vietnam and he didn't even start it. Nixon wasn't an idiot either. Crooked as hell, but he could pronounce NUCLEAR and every other sentence he spoke wasn't "Bring em' to justice".

There's a crooked sheriff in town and his name is "Tex". A drunk driver with a rich daddy that sent him to Yale. He rustles cattle, and drills for oil, while he sends the economy swirling down the toilet along with your job.

Teen Confesses He Created 'Sasser' Worm

From Excite news

On this day: May 08, 1794, The United States Post Office was established.

Some of us are still waiting for our mail. (Just kidding)

Well, was anybody satisfied with Rumsfeld's apology? Did you find it to be truthful and sincere? Did it make you feel safe that this is the guy running the defense department? A little background on Donny. He started out in the Nixon Whitehouse. His job back then was the reconstruction of Vietnam. I am not making this up as I go. These are real facts. Check into it for yourself.

Democracy: (as I learned in grade school) means government by the people for the the people. Maybe this current adminstration went to a slightly different grade school where they taught, Democracy:A premptive military strike against a dictator we formerly supported based on lies or half truths to create a government that is a so called democracy. The one thing, maybe the only thing I agree with Rumsfeld about is that Democracy is not a road without bumps. I think he has lost sight (if he ever had it) about whos road it is, and whos bumps, and why are we on somebody elses road making 3 bumps for every one we supposedly repair. A better description might be potholes not bumps. I have just envisioned a new program to coincide with "Food for Oil" it shall be called "Potholes for Democracy". For each step towards Democracy we give you 50 potholes in your streets. We will do this even if you don't want the potholes or the Democracy we propose. It won't be free of charge, you will have to give us oil and the American taxpayer will have to give money, the Bush Administration will make the potholes. Oh also part of the program is that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney get to keep any oil that we find in the potholes. Sound like a good deal?

I am not sure of the last time I commended or agreed with Ted Kennedy. Maybe it was about his healthcare reform proposals. I will remember this time however for the rest of my days. I'd also like to hear more from Senator John McCain, I don't believe he stands for this crap. What a better world we'd live in if he had gotten the nomination in 2000. It is not too late Mr. Senator. Go out on a limb. Your party is run by a corrupt bunch of corporate fat cats. Get in there and help clean it up.

Opinions: Drop me a line and let me know what you think of Donald Rumsfeld. He speaks today to explain or make excuses or whatever it is he will do. Let me know what your thoughts are. Lamprey187@hotmail.com

Well since my blog has read like a racing form for awhile now, I'll write about some news. I want to discuss the Iraqi POW photos and abuse of these prisoners. First off, why don't we call them POWs anymore? Is that term offensive? They aren't just prisoners, they are prisoners of war. They were not put into the prison for shoplifting so let's get our terminology straight. Ok, I'm just getting warmed up here.........let's talk about the abuse of the prisoners. It was sick and wrong. Plain and simple. These MPs whether acting on orders or not should all be stripped of all military status after they face a severe military trial from the top all the way down. Military law is always different than civilian law but can be more severe in cases such as these, as it should be.

This can of worms, now that it is open, brings many thoughts about this war to the surface. I am glad that people are shocked and outraged at this terrible treatment of the POWs, I only question why those same people are not shocked and outraged at the war itself. I wonder sometimes how simple logic is elusive to people. What I mean by this requires a simple example. Let's say instead of taking one of these prisoners off to the prison and abusing them, we blow up his house, or kill his brother, or destroy his shop he spent his whole life building. That somehow does not cause outrage or make the news. Let's not forget to add to the mix that we are looked upon as a foreign invaders, and all of our so called reasons for being in Iraq no longer exist. I will repeat some facts that are archived in my other posts. Saddam is gone. Time for us to go too. No WMDs. Time to go. No links between Iraq and the 9-11 bombing or Al Qaeda. Time to go. World view of America in the toilet. Time to go. Iraqis want their freedom from us. Time to go. Here is a good one for you if I haven't appealed to you yet, US death toll in Iraq approaches 800. Have we made the world safer yet? If Bush gets a 2nd term you are looking at Vietnam all over again, this time over oil and money. Something to think about on election day.

How long can you poke a hornet's nest with a stick and not get stung?

I am by no means soft on foreign policy. This current policy is failing however. We have acheived none of our objectives except for the fall of Saddam. We achieved that at a very high price. We fooled nobody in the world into thinking that it wasn't over oil. There are many other countries with dictators and hostile regimes and WMDs that they wave in our face. They don't sit on a huge oil well though. So we don't go to the UN making our case and form a coalition or even care what happens in these other countries.

Well that's my 2 cents. Here is an old quote, "War is Hell."

One more thing that rubs me the wrong way, so much of a big deal was made about Bill Clinton's sex life and here we are talking about the loss and devastation of human lives. Where the hell is Kenneth Starr now? Why isn't he over there investigating what is going on? Why not investigate Bush or Cheney's financial deals and war profiteering.

Side note: look for (if you can ever find it after its release) the up coming Michael Moore movie about 9/11. Disney shelved it because they own Miramax and did not want to upset Jeb Bush, who gives tax breaks to Dinseyworld in Florida, and also an unamed Saudi Arabian prince who owns a big piece of EuroDisney who would not be pleased by the movie.

Have a great day !!!!!

The Preakness: 2nd leg of the Triple Crown
When: May 15th 5:00-6:30pm eastern on NBC
Both Smarty Jones and Lion Heart are probable to race in the rematch. It will take a little more heart from Lion Heart this time, the distance at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will be shorter than Churchill Downs. Look for The Cliff's Edge also to be there hopefully under better track conditions. The Cliff's Edge as well as Birdstone (both trained by Nick Zito) both lost shoes in the Kentucky Derby, and I thought horseshoes were lucky. Too soon to make any predictions or speculations about the race. Side note: Smarty Jones's earnings: $6,733,155. I may be mistaken but I believe there is another 5 million dollar bonus for any horse that wins the Triple Crown. Yes it is true, Visa will write a check for $5 million for a sweep of the Triple Crown. What a story that would be.

Smarty Jones the favorite wins it. 2nd goes to Lion Heart. 3rd Imperialism. Limehouse finishes 4th. 15-3-10-1 if you are keeping track. Now the only question left unanswered is does the undefeated Smarty Jones capture the triple crown? Not out of the realm of possibility at this point. Last horse to race undefeated into the derby and kept it that way was Seattle Slew. Keep an eye on Smarty, 2 more races to win if he wants the crown. An added bonus of 5 million dollars was awarded for this horse's Derby win. A prize for sweeping the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes, then winning the Kentucky Derby. Add that to the Derby purse of about $900.000 or so and you have a 6 million dollar horse and some spare change. His earnings were already over $600,000 before the Derby. Onto the Preakness and the Belmont.

whoaaaaaa it just started raining and the track is turning SLOPPPPPPYYYYY. Woohooo. That just throws all the handicapping out the window. Slow track evens up the playing field. Which horse can turn up the speed in the slop? Mins. To Post: 90

Mins. To Post: 112
Total bets to win: $ 10,973,768
Still almost 2 hours to bet and they say the real money gets bet right before the race.

Mint Juleps for everybody......on the house...it is derby day.
Here is how you make a Mint Julep. I was not aware of the recipe, I hate mint so I think I would have thrown up if I was ever served one. Enjoy the race, post time 6:04 pm eastern time. Try to be moderate with the Mint Juleps as they seem to mainly consist of bourbon.