A Prayer For A True American Hero

Tomas Young is just one man. One person. Just one of thousands of men and women that have served our country's military with great honor, courage, and patriotism. He is without question a hero to me and so many other Americans. Today, he and his family are in need of our prayers. It's been reported that Tomas remains in intensive care in his hometown of Kansas City, MO. after lapsing in and out of a coma following a pulmonary embolism brought on by a blood clot that started in his arm.

For those not familiar Tomas or his story, his post-war life has been told in a critically acclaimed documentary, "Body of War", produced by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue. Eddie Vedder and many other musicians such as Michael Franti, Serj Tankian, Public Enemy, Brendan James, and Bruce Springsteen have collaborated to produce the soundtrack to the film.

After serving only 5 days in Iraq ,Tomas was paralyzed by a bullet while on patrol in an "unarmored" vehicle. Since his return and throughout his rehabilitation process, Tomas has been a staunch opponent of the Iraq War, working with groups such as the Iraq Veterans Against the War. These pictures were from a recent gathering of support for Tomas in Kansas City. His mother has passed on everyone's cards and well wishes that have been sent to the hospital.


As the 4th of July quickly approaches, we all need to pause and be thankful for Americans like Tomas who give so unselfishly to protect our freedom and livelihood...Tomas is one of us. A son, brother, husband, and most importantly the epitome and definition of a true American hero. We're all pulling for you Tomas, and thank you beyond words for your incredible display of courage and resiliency. Our prayers are with you and your family. Cards and well wishes can be sent to the following:

Tomas Young/Patient
St. Lukes Hospital
4401 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111

My Vote For Photo Of The Day...

I was just checking out Michael Franti and Spearhead's website today to get the latest news on the band, and I was pleased to see this photo prominently displayed on the homepage...It was taken by a fan by the name of Dave Doebler. Apparently he purchased a copy of 'Yell Fire' and was kind enough to pass it on to Senator Obama as a gift during a recent encounter. Thoughtful guy...Hopefully he'll enjoy the album as much as we all do. Hell, I'd throw Franti's name in the hat as a VP candidate at this point...A foreign relations and policy advisor at the least...

I was also super stoked to see that he'd posted a new song and video on YouTube/FrantiV and on their website for a new, upcoming album!!! Here's the video for "Hey World"...

What Say You Sheep...This Guy's Your Moral Compass?

This 'Pinhead', otherwise known as Bill O'Reilly, has got to be one of the most deceitful, bigoted, homophobic, hypocritical, worthless, and dangerous gas bags in the social/political commentary portion of today's entertainment media...Notice I didn't improperly tag him as a 'journalist'...which clearly he's not.


The reason why he's so dangerous is that for years, the 'Sheep' have gobbled up his lines hook, line, and sinker, viewing him as the moral compass of their media (Fox News)...someone who's allegedly "Looking out for you..." The problem...is that this guy has got an extreme temper, as evidenced by his recently uncovered Inside Edition rant...He's parlayed his fear-driven fame into numerous best-seller's...including children's books...That...more than anything scares me the most.





I've come to grips with the fact the 'Sheep' can't think for themselves, but to subject their children to the views of this vile man...? That's borderline child abuse in my opinion. In fact, if it wasn't for his ability to pay off his former Producer for sexual harassment charges she'd brought up against him...He'd be in jail, where he rightfully belongs! And yet this A-Hole is still allowed to spew lies to the 'Sheep' each and every night of the week without any ramifications...Well, thank God for watchdog groups like Media Matters, for continuing to document his lies over the airwaves and on 'Fixed News'...Below is a video that makes my point completely...



This guy is judging the value-system of suburban teens on issues of allegedly improper sexual conduct? This is a joke, right? Plus, he shows his bigoted views once again by commenting "you'd expect this type of thing in inner-city schools"...? OK...Time Out Here...This is also the same sexual pervert that "Allegedly" described his sexual fantasies to his Producer, which included him using a loofah and "falafel" on a stick on her? That's right, fava beans and chick peas on a stick...What an idiot this guy is! I love how Keith Olbermann kicks his ass every night on "Countdown", routinely awarding him the nightly, "Worst Person in the World"... A title he richly deserves.

Only in America could a sick piece of crap like this rise to fame and fortune and garner the admiration of the brainless masses...Pulling the 'Wool' over their eyes. If you don't believe me, feel free to read the copy of the officially filed court papers yourself from "The Smoking Gun."...How this man is still on the air is beyond me...Oh wait, he works for "Fixed News"..."We Distort, You Comply..."

1/20/09...It Just Can't Get Here Quickly Enough

One could probably make the argument that by now...it's like beating a dead horse. But when you see things like this...how could you not comment? We've only got a few months left to pile on and I intend to fully take advantage of all opportunities that present themselves...The fact that a man of this complete ineptitude could have duped the 'Sheep' into twice voting him into the White House...is utterly amazing.

Meeting recently with Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, "W" was caught in another classic moment that will inevitably end up as part of a highlight reel compilation of idiotic statements. At least we know he appreciates the true accomplishment of Filipino-Americans...cooking.

Gag Order Anyone...?

How shocking...Don Imus is back in the news for once again allowing his UNDENIABLY racist views to be broadcast over the airwaves. This time his target was Pacman, I mean "Adam" Jones. I don't think Adam needs any additional publicity at this point, so thanks 'Cowboy', for giving him MORE media attention by opening your babbling feed hole once again.

You would've thought that the complete humiliation of his previous racial debacle would've made him stop and think twice about bringing up ANYTHING regarding race on his program ever again, but apparently 'Cowboy' likes to dance closely to the proverbial brush fire. Someone needs to punch this idiot square in the face...and by the way, what's up with the cowboy hat anyway? What a freaking idiot this guy is.



The best part is his explanation of what he said..."My point was, there's no reason to arrest this kid six times. He's a football player. He's a lovely kid." Apparently he's unaware of a man by the name of Tom Urbanski, who's now paralyzed following the strip club riot this "lovely kid" is charged with inciting, after another one of Adam's monetary thunderstorms. 'Cowboy' also said he was using his probing race question to make a point that because he's African-American he's been targeted by law enforcement and arrested too many times.

Are you freaking kidding me...? It's bad enough he thinks he's a cowboy, but now he claims to be an expert in Sociology, particularly regarding the topic of the disproportional arrest rate and incarceration of African-Americans due to racial profiling....? Nice try, but people like me with a shred of intelligence can see that this is nothing more than a bigot attempting to back peddle out of another career-ending incident. I sincerely hope he's fired once and for all and someone shoves his microphone down his racist throat to finally silence him. Maybe when 'Cowboy' dies, and before he unquestionably descends to his final 'hot' resting place, old Bill Pickett will appear to him...and get a shot at "bulldogging" this pretender...

Gammons Knows...Diddly?

Peter Gammons has been a staple of ESPN's baseball coverage for years. He's a Hall of Famer, and it's hard not to see his journalistic impact and importance on the reporting of the game. He's a walking baseball encyclopedia and can give you the low-down on every pitcher in the Major Leagues, and probably the Minors for that matter as well. I've often joked of his marble-mouthed spoutings, waxing on about the most minute details about the players, especially the Pitchers, who he appears to be quite smitten with.

But one thing he's not known for, is rocking out...When I saw this on ESPN the other night I was mortified...Gammons claimed this horrendous rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' was a tip of the cap to the recently deceased Bo Diddley...

There's one thing Bo knows for sure...Gammons, please put down that beautiful Fender guitar and spit out the marbles...You're killing us, and this version of the song is laughable at best...Please go scout some Pitchers in the Cape Cod League or something and leave the music to the professionals...Sorry Bro, but this is bad.

The Truth Finally Comes Out...How Convenient!

This cartoon...pretty much sums things up. While I can hardly claim to be the first person to theorize that not only has George Bush's entire presidency been a mission to line the pockets of his friends from the start, but the Iraq War is nothing more than a profit-seeking mission of identical intent... Just look at all the no-bid contracts awarded to companies in Iraq with ties to the Bush family and "Dick"...These ties were revealed years ago and continue to be ignored by the undereducated, redneck 'Sheep' of this country, turning a conveniently blind eye to reality once again...These are the same idiots that have elected him to office the past two terms...and I'm sure the same mindless people that are now opposed to the Iraq War and bitching the loudest about the price of gas for "My Truk..." The 'Sheep' are just as guilty as Bush and the oil companies in my opinion for aiding in the destruction of this country, buying into the terror hype and allowing their vote to be kidnapped by this administration.

Jonathan Alter of Newsweek brought up a great point on "Countdown" last week regarding offshore oil drilling explorations. He explained that Bush and "Botic's" assertion that we need to lift current embargoes on offshore oil drilling exploration...is nothing more than a political smoke screen. Bush/Botic supporters (i.e. the 'Sheep') will inevitably be duped into believing that their demand to lift these embargoes will ultimately drive down the price of oil...and subsequently the price of gas through an increase in supply and production of crude oil. Well, not so fast...What REALLY happens in these situations, according to Alter, is that the oil companies set up rigs in new locations...SLOWLY release oil output from the refineries for a tactical period of time...then, amazingly...they wait for the demand and PRICE of gas to go up, ultimately deciding to increase output and release their reserves...AND CONTINUE TO RAKE IN THEIR RECORD PROFITS! What he claims makes a lot of sense. Think about it...the traditional models of supply and demand are thrown out the window here. More refineries will have nothing to do with lowering the price at the pump. We've surpassed the $4/gallon mark. Do you really think prices will go down in the future? Don't hold your breath.

Now, like so many had predicted...the truth about the REAL reason we entered into the Iraq War finally comes out 5 years later...The proof is now in the pudding. These companies have been working there "pro-bono"...? My Ass. This is no shock these companies were rewarded no-bid contracts. What a coincidence that now that the price of oil is at record highs, these companies have an inside track to scoop up the oil and profits when the Iraqi oil industry is eventually deregulated...Probably a few years from now, lobbied by a company with monetary and political ties to the Bush Family...Mark my words...You think "Sr." retired to some dusty ranch in Texas? Ever hear of the "Carlyle Group"? Kind of funny that Osama bin Laden's brother, Shafig has also been an advisor to this company along with Sr. and Jr. Bush...What a coincidence that we have allowed him to escape capture since 9-11...It's not hard to piece together people...Talk about the "Fleecing of America"...Thanks 'Sheep'...Do us all a favor and leave your vote at home this November...Please...I beg you. The pocket books of educated Americans with a mind of their own will thank you!

A Day To Reflect

Today marks a day of reflection..A time to pause and remember the people and things in our lives that we should all be thankful for. Our family lost Dad on May 25, 2005 all too suddenly, and certainly too quickly. Today marks what would have been Dad's 60th Birthday. The three-week stretch from the end of May, through Father's Day, and to Dad's birthday is tough on all of us and certainly isn't the same without him. While he's no longer with us physically, I certainly feel he's still with us in spirit each and every day. He did the very best he could to raise his family to the best of his ability, while garnering the respect and admiration of those around him. He taught us great life lessons, helping to build our character and mold a value set that I proudly carry with me each day. Today, I certainly would've been able to call him "Old Man". Happy Birthday Old Man...I hope you're still hitting 'em straight. Your family misses you, but certainly hasn't forgotten you.

A New Member Of The Johnson Family

The last weekend of May brought a new member to the Johnson Family, as Mom brought home her new Bichon Frise puppy, Crosby. We picked him up from a local breeder here in Eau Claire.
He was born April 13th, so he just celebrated his 8-week birthday. He's quickly acclimated himself to Mom's house and loves to run around in the back yard and thoroughly enjoys chasing around the overabundance of new toys he's been showered with. He's teething pretty bad right now, temporarily earning the nickname "Baby Biter"...Already a favorite with all the gals at the Vet's Office, I'm sure he'll quickly find his way into the hearts of all he meets. Mom, Kevin, and I couldn't be happier with this little guy and we're all looking forward to having him as a part of our lives for many years to come. He's something special for sure.

Bearing Witness To History

Not only has my interest in politics spiked during this election, but my involvement in the process has as well. I voted in my first primary election this year and have been fortunate enough to attend two political rallies...one at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and the second was at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul two weeks ago...both in support of Senator Barack Obama. In both instances I stood outside in VERY long lines for over 3 hours, just to get in to be a part of what in my opinion is a very historic run to the Presidency by an extremely inspirational politician. The St. Paul rally immediately followed Senator Obama clinching enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party's candidate for the Presidency. This was truly a historic moment and I was very proud to be able to be a part of it...albeit from the extreme nosebleed seats atop the arena. It was rumored that over 10,000 people were turned away after capacity had been reached. I was very fortunate to make it in to see this historic speech...

Ready To Rumble - Obama vs. The GOP McBush Robot...

The Political Primary Season is over and it's time to get in the ring. While it's true that I love sports, I've become even more interested in politics in recent years...And who could blame me? The utter debauchery, better known as the Bush Administration, has systematically screwed nearly all of us over the past 8 years...Pulling the wool over the eyes of the legions of sheep-like Americans that chose to drink the White House Kool-Aid, subsequently allowing the piss-filled pitcher, "W" to crash through the walls and pillars of prosperity that the Clinton years seemed to build for us...OH YEAH!

You're damn right I'm going to take interest in this election. I'm only one vote, but at least I can make my voice heard and use this space to rant and rave about my views on politics and my utter disbelief at the direction of this country...



In fact...I may be going out on a limb here, but...After watching the debates and many television interviews...I truly feel that John McCain is a Robot (or "Botic" as I've nicknamed him)...Programmed to convince the same idiots that voted to put Bush in office the past 8 years to vote for him to continue his policies...All you need to do is watch the way he moves and speaks and you'll be convinced...He walks upright and stiff...His arms barely move...he talks out of the side of his mouth...He pounds on podiums, waives his arms and fists around like a dictator, telling the sheep "We will never surrender"...? The fact of the matter is that he offers nothing new to the American people...As Barack Obama has said, he's running to carry out a Bush third term.

It's so obvious. The guy has admitted on camera that he doesn't know how to use a computer...His temper has been called into question...and he's been busted numerous times "Flip-Flopping" (a GOP favorite term) on his exit strategy for the war and his support of Bush's policies...His latest comebacks? He says Obama is running for a second term of Jimmy Carter....? Uh, Botic...most of the folks that support Obama probably weren't even alive during his presidency you dumb ass, but nice try. Oh, and his latest commercial is priceless...Waxing on about how he doesn't like war? And the relevancy of the Grandpa that died the day after he returned is...? I'm puzzled by this.

To hedge the horrible possibility that this man may be elected President, I may need to pick up an "Old Glory" policy...Robots, and especially this Botic model has been known to eat old people's medicine for fuel...err maybe that was the gas bag drug addict Rush...? Can't remember. Either way, robots can strike at any time and when they grab your wool with their metal claws...you can't break free. If this guy gets elected...I'm moving...out of the country.

Tiger Leaves Us Speachless Again...

Most who know me understand my great passion for sports, particularly PGA Golf and NFL Football. While I can hardly admit to watching EVERY golf tournament on TV each weekend, I do my best to watch all the Majors and important events each season - Especially when Tiger's playing.

I know the "Tiger Effect" is a term that's long been used to describe many aspects of Tiger's effect on not only golf, but pro-sports and sports marketing as well. As far as his impact on TV viewership goes, I don't think anyone could ignore his impact on the ratings...Just ask the major advertisers...It's just not as enjoyable, or profitable for them for that matter, to watch when he's not playing in a tournament...I think the problem lies in the fact he has no main adversary or direct competitor each week...

I watched most of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds of this year's US Open on TV and I have to admit that Tiger has once again left me in awe of his completely indescribable and incomprehensible talent...His 3rd round performance is one I'll certainly remember the rest of my life...What a gutty effort. This guy is fresh off of knee surgery, in visible pain following many of his shots, but still manned up to vault to the top of the leaderboard with his eagle on 18...



At the beginning of the day today, I thought for sure that the knee would hinder his play all day and cause him to lose the lead, which it did. But that EPIC putt to tie Rocco Mediate on 18 was just another highlight in his storied and yet to be fulfilled career. When it's all said and done, Tiger Woods will be remembered as the greatest pro-athlete the world has ever seen.