Four years ago, the United States elected a black President. It seemed like a truly unbelievable time in this country. However, the apparent backlash by our country's racist underbelly has been strong and, in many ways, not even subtle. I realize that in life and in politics, an extreme event often draws an extreme response. But I am honestly amazed at how state republicans have responded by creating laws that clearly target black people. How has this happened just four years after what seemed like such a momentous event at the time? It really makes me wonder what this year's election will look like.


Rodney King
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

It is hard to believe it's been twenty years since Rodney King asked us all to "get along" in the wake of the LA Riots. Sadly, we don't seem to be getting any closer to getting along. Trayvon Martin and voter ID laws are only a couple of ways our collective racism has been revealed.

Student Loan
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

Obama is hitting college campuses hoping to energize the young voters who helped him win in 2008. He is promising to reduce the interest rate on their student loans. Granted, that's better than the republicans who want to raise the rate ... but I'm not sure it'll be enough.

The news just isn't the same without you, Sonni.

I hate the NRA more than I hate guns.


NRA Ground
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

The NRA is nervous about all the national attention being paid to the Trayvon Martin case because it is making the public more aware of the dangerous "stand your ground" laws that have been passed by half of our state legislatures. These laws are invitations for racists and other zealots to carry guns and use force even when it isn't necessary. The NRA isn't concerned about the victims, they are only concerned with protecting easy access to guns.

The U.S. government is truly an embarrassment . . .

GSA Scandal
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

The General Services Administration scandal has many of us taxpayers wondering what government workers do with all our money. Some argue that this is the behavior of a few rogue employees at the GSA and that most government workers are honest hard-working people. This may be true, but it is also a fact that there are those in government who have been engaged in this kind of activity for years.
 

Why does D. Raja seem to want to get into politics so badly?


He needs to wear a sweater vest.

Buffett Rule
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

Over 60% of Americans are in favor of the rich paying their fair share of taxes under the so-called "Buffett Rule." Naturally, that means congress will listen to the will of the people and pass a bill to that effect, right? Wrong. Happy Tax Day!

"Hey, Bud. Let's party."

Opening Day
Thursday, 05 April 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

It is opening day of baseball season! Yay! It's time for the 99% to buy tickets to sit in the stands and cheer for the 1%.

JIM: So...Mike Milbury called Sidney Crosby a punk. Funny how that word seems to keep following him around.

DAVE: I don't understand it.

JIM: Duh. Of course you don't.

DAVE: He seems like such a nice, young man.

JIM: I am sure that his mother loves him. Well, kind of sure.

About once a week, I trim my eyebrows with a beard and mustache trimmer. One of the four beard and mustache trimmers that I own. But I only use this particular one for my eyebrows. Otherwise, well, you don't even want to know. I have what may well be the fastest growing hair in the world. I'm not a particularly hairy fellow. It's just that the hair that I have grows very quickly.

Brewed On Grant: Crooks
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

State Senator Jane Orie is the latest Pennsylvania politician to be convicted of corruption. Fourteen counts of it to be exact. Orie follows Bill DeWeese, Mike Veon and John Perzel, to name a few. If this keeps up we may have to replace the Pennsylvania state bird (the Ruffed Grouse) with a jailbird.

Trayvon Martin
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

I hope all the attention surrounding the Trayvon Martin case will remind Americans that young black men are dying in huge numbers every day. These deaths have become as commonplace on the evening news as traffic reports. Where is the outrage for these young black men? Where is the justice for them?

Last night, on an apparently beautiful night in Bradenton, Florida, the Pirates played one of only a few nighttime Spring Training home games against the Baltimore Orioles. My parents have tickets to all of the Pirates' Spring Training home games. However, rather than go to one of the four remaining home games at McKechnie Field, my parents decided to stay home and watch "Dancing With the Stars."

Maybe the signing of Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos will bring more attention to Denver's truly odd airport:

http://thechive.com/2012/03/08/something-is-rotten-in-the-denver-airport-25-photos/

DAVE: I'm watching the Peyton Manning press conference. Denver. I never thought the Broncos would pursue him, but they are a good fit for him.

JIM: I think Peyton probably went to the best team available that he could take over at quarterback for. He was looking for a good team that would give him a chance to get to the Super Bowl, or at least the playoffs. That's why he looked at the 49ers too. I never saw him playing in Miami. that was all just made up by the media I think.

Ultimately, Peyton Manning choosing a team ended up looking a lot like what Lebron did, only Peyton wasn't quite so obnoxious about it.

DAVE: Yeah, I was wrong about Miami. But you were way off with the Jets. As I said, it didn't occur to me that teams like the Broncos and the 49ers (both of whom made the playoffs with their QBs) would go after a 36-year-old. But I was wrong. I still can't believe the Broncos are dumping Tebow. The fucker made fantastic throws to beat the Steelers. He had the game of his life. But he sucked, otherwise. And they knew it.

JIM: Yes, the game he played after the Steelers win had to be one of the all-time worst playoff performances by a QB.

DAVE: That's why it hurts to have lost to him.

JIM: Ha ha.

If you think the look on the face of 2012 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is bad, take a gander at Uncle Rich's facial expression.

My HP computer is not working right. I'm not sure what the problem is. I don't know whether it's the computer hardware itself or the software installed on it. And the most frustrating thing is that there is really no one for me to consult about the problems I've having. There's certainly no one whom I can call. And I'm not going to take my computer to a business that fixes computers. I'm really on my own here. It's rather frustrating. You buy a computer, and then you're pretty much on your own from the moment you open the box. Maybe it's true that Apple computers don't have these problems, and maybe that makes them worth the extra money. I honestly don't know. The only Apple computer I've ever had was my first computer, a Macintosh Classic II in college. Tiny little thing in black and white. Good times.

I feel that I owe my vast and loyal readership an apology for neglecting my blog in recent months. I need to try harder.

So, um, how exactly does this happen?