I'm officially buying what Ron Paul has to sell.

I've watched the debates. I've looked at the issues. And as a former Republican turned Democrat, I have to say I'm going back again. After all that I've seen, his audacity, his intelligence -- but most of all his honesty -- just blow me away. In his 10 terms in Congress (at least from what I can see from his voting record), Dr. (That's right, folks. He's an OBGYN.) Paul has never wavered on his stances. He's never participated in the double-talk and constant outright lying that other candidates seem so adept at and willing to do.

But what draws me most this elderly man with the grandfatherly manner is the fact that he draws support from people of all ages, classes, races, political affiliations and NATIONALITIES (he is the only candidate with meet-up groups in other countries). Oh, and by the way, he's got the official support of the most military veteran groups in the country. I mean, how can a guy getting support from such a diverse group that is so representative of our diverse country have anything less than great ideas?

But you don't have to believe me. After all, I'm just an everyday citizen like you. But at least take a look at the guy's record. In today's world of pandering, paid-off politicians, these facts alone almost win my vote:

Ron Paul has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.

He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

And now, here's the media. Within these videos you can see his stances, his supporters and the Ron Paul Revolution that may just be a lot bigger and a lot more important than any of us thought it could be. So just watch. I'm not going to preach to you anymore, mostly because I feel that when you hear what Ron Paul has to say, I won't have to.







To find out more about Dr. Paul, or if you think you might want to donate a few dollars to help the cause, go to:

www.RonPaul2008.com

Celebrities: They really aren't any better than you.

In fact, they're probably worse.



A short thought on all the celebrity endorsements of various presidential candidates (Oprah for Obama, Angelou for Clinton, Nugent for Paul, etc.): Who the hell cares? Is Oprah or Maya Angelou or Ted $%#@*^ Nugent any more qualified to make an informed political decision than some bum on the street? Doubtful. I get the feeling that they choose a candidate based on image and mud-slinging just like everybody else does.

See, even Jayhawks don't like Jayhawk country

Nice (if old) quote from Drew Gooden in the Lawrence Journal-World. He uttered this gem when a reporter asked him about a rumor that he might be drafted by the Grizzlies to play in Memphis.

"I lived in Kansas," Gooden said, smiling, "and that's probably the worst it can get. But Memphis probably isn't that bad."

How did we arrive here?

As some of you may know, I just don't buy organized religion. I was raised Catholic, and after 21 years of believing firmly in God and His son, it just got to the point where Catholic "teaching" and doctrine seemed like nothing but mysticism.

That said, I truly respect people who believe in a higher power. They possess a faith and commitment that just isn't in me at this point in my life. What I can't respect, though, is when those who believe in organized religion (and Christianity in particular) start to think that their faith somehow ties in to their nationality.

I mean, just look at this:



When did we stop looking to the founding fathers for advice on how to run things? When did God become a public officer? Shouldn't all these politicians who seem so keen on serving the Lord be realizing that calling in the ministry and not the government?

I don't know, but I certainly think that, at least when it comes to running a country, we might want to start looking more at the words in the Constitution, and less at those in the Bible.

So, uh, what are you up to Friday?

I rarely sweat the small stuff.
I'd rather have fun.
I'd rather fly by the seat of my pants,
because life always seemed to be more fun
when I couldn't see past the weekend.

I like not seeing what's next.
I like not caring what's next.
It gives me a certain power over the world,
or at least I think it does.
It's my way of saying
"You may be able to flip me
and dip me
and turn me around,
but you can't lick me, world,
because I'll just stride a little different,
and glide on by whatever you can give me."

But lately, it seems I don't want to fly as much.
I want to plan.
I want to see around the next corner.
For once, I want to look before I leap.

Maybe I'm growing up.
Or maybe I know that what I do now,
in these next few years, will guide my life
forever.

Forever. Wow.
That's a long way past the weekend.

We know what you want, but we just can't admit it.

I work in advertising, and my particular agency has a couple of pretty good research folks. They're always looking for facts, figures and tidbits about what our consumers really want from their ads. They tell us about demographics, generational gaps and what each target audience likes, dislikes, desires, avoids and aspires to.

But (with all due respect to ad research departments everywhere) this is all people really long for:

Here's the mandatory Heath Ledger post.

My parents always told me that God does everything for a reason. I never believed them. I didn't see how my God (when I believed he existed) could create wars in which thousands died. I didn't see how he could create husbands and fathers that beat the life out of their wives and children. And I didn't see how he could take some of his young, talented creations from their existence before their time.

It's not that I didn't think God was capable, mind you. It's just that I could never find a reason for it. Well, I just talked to the guys down at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, and they let me in on a little secret.

God killed Heath Ledger because he hates fags and anybody that played one in the movies once.

That's right folks. Heath Ledger died because he helped to further the gay agenda by playing a gay cowboy.
And the Westboro Baptist Church Fightin' Bigots are gonna tell us about it.
On TV.
At Ledger's funeral.

Which leaves me asking one question: If God does everything for a reason, then what on earth was his reason for creating hate-mongers like these?