It's Tea Time

My previous post linked to Violent Acres, a wonderful site I recently stumbled across. One of those articles in her "Most Popular Posts" really moved me. It is an article hidden away at the bottom of the list. There is no description for it. In all honesty, I almost didn't read it. I read every single one with military thoroughness from top to bottom, but something about that one told me to leave it be. Part of me wishes I had, but part of me is glad I didn't.

It's called "I'm So Sorry Sandler" and it's a great honest look at a shameful, and despicable earlier life experience.

I felt a lot of different emotions reading through it. At points, I skipped ahead unable to handle it much more. Hind sight is 20/20 and it is obvious that now, having grown over the years, the writer is fully aware of the monstrous mistake she made. The destruction of a creature who's only fault was to be young, loving, and insecure.

I would say I recommend you read it but honestly, I don’t. It’s good for sure, but it’s dirty laundry, and it’s the kind that hurts the reader. Hurts them as if they are taking a little bit of the writer’s guilt off of their shoulders and taking it onto their own. It is, though, a very good reminder that we all have seemingly inhuman little atrocities in our past that we should try to atone for everyday will live after it. That is, after all, what makes us human again.

Another thing a tragic story like that does is remind me of the good I’ve done, and the love I get to give and receive everyday, may I never ever take it for granted for more than a fleeting moment.

And to the writer of such a sad story: I don't think Sandler would think twice about forgiving you for one second, not one.

OK, so everyone in the world is pretty much a waste of space. I get that, you get that. There are occasions, however, when a bright ray of light shines down through the clouds and brings a hopeful tear to our eyes. This is not one of those times.

This is more like the wrath of the vengeful God of common sense. A God who has left his castle in the sky to come down to earth and bitch slap the internet one posted article at a time. It's a joy to watch.

The God I'm talking about resides in a place called Violent Acres, and I highly recommend a visit. I'll tell you this: If most of America wasn't illiterate, crack wouldn't stand a chance put up against this site. It's addictive to the Nth degree and I love it, every juicy bit.

So if you have some free time and are looking for a breath of fresh air, head over there. I promise you you won't regret it. And if you do regret it by chance, I could give a shit about your opinion anyway. Don't you have a TiVo'd American Idol episode you should be watching?

Link.

I don't even know where to begin on this one. If you read this article without the ability to use brain cells effectively, you could easily be duped into thinking that there are no poor people in Germany. It's happy land all the time! Yippeeeeeeeee!

“If we were in Detroit, we could worry every minute,” said Sarah Fuerstenberger, 37. “But here, we’re safe because of the system."

While economic forecasts are just as dire on this continent as in the United States, Germany’s citizens — and, indeed, most across western Europe — can count on a broad government safety net that includes generous unemployment checks, universal healthcare and inexpensive university education to tide them over.

“The German government is really good about taking care of people; we know we won’t be starving one way or another," she added.

I guess she didn't speak to her husbands grandparents too often. Maybe because his grandfather ate a bullet during WWII, who knows. The quotes they choose are just great, "If we were in Detroit"...STFU! Oh and did I neglect to mention, this is MSNBC's LEAD STORY. More wonderful gems:

“I think if we were in the States, we may not have … and it sounds terrible … had the opportunity to have a fourth child that quickly or be sure we could afford it,” Sarah said.

Oh NO! You wouldn't have been able to have your fourth child that quickly or be sure you could afford it! WAHHHHHH! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE!

Lady, "it sounds terrible", but I hope you and your family lose the ability to reproduce beyond this current generation, or just die in an earthquake.

This shit pisses me off to no end. Germany is not the end all be all of countries in this world. You want to bring up some positives in Germany? Fine, do that. What about the negatives though? What about the fact that in Berlin 30% of the children are on welfare?

However, people like the woman in this article have no time for facts and figures. The simple truth that, like the housing market or social security, a system like the one she resides within is impossible to sustain. Of course Germany is out to increase their population, they need the next entrants in the pyramid scheme. Make babies make babies!

If I take in $50K a year, and use $45K of that for various reasons throughout the year, I obviously am in a sustainable position. Now if my pay drops to $35K a year, I cannot afford to sustain my $45K a year lifestyle any longer. I may be able to do it for a short period of time, if I was wise and put some of the surplus amount off to the side for a rainy day over the years, but eventually that will run out and I will have to adjust my life style. The notion that this woman and her families lifestyle is forever safe from harm because she lives in the utopia that is Germany is sickening. She is in far more danger of disaster due to her belief in the illusion that her government will always take care of her. I am sure I could find plenty of people in Germany who might take issue with her statement.

What is happening in the US right now is painful but necessary. The difference between us and a country like Germany is our people are closer to the reality that is the world right now. This is extremely important. It allows for adjustment in lifestyle, in behavior. This is what will lead to a resurgence of success and financial stability. The same old same old can not apply, but if you don't feel the pinch, why change? Why improve? And to illustrate that point, one last quote from the aforementioned article:

“I hadn’t even thought of the word ‘recession,’” said Sarah, a Detroit native who has lived in Germany on and off since college.

Oh don't worry Sarah, you will.

Link.

When the city of Omaha, Nebraska wanted to ban the Pit Bull after a dog---which was tethered outdoors and teased by children---attacked a family walking with a small child in a wagon, the Nebraska Humane Society stepped in to offer up a more sensible alternative to banning the breed altogether. All Pit Bulls must pass a canine good citizen class (CGC) where they can earn a Breed Ambassador vest, or be subjected to wearing a muzzle---the muzzle requirement being part of the legislation that the town refused to budge on.

See, now that's a good idea. This is something that will do what is important, separate out the good owners from the bad. It still targets a specific breed, but that's OK. Pit Bull owners would gladly work their dogs through a class like this. It could be a fun weekend!

More important is what follows down further in the article:

"We were not happy with "breed specific" components (the muzzling and insurance requirement only apply to Pit Bulls and those defined as Pit Bulls under the Omaha Statute) since we have had dog bites from other breeds as well and felt more strongly that the anti-tethering law and the designation of "potentially dangerous" for dogs who menace would be a better route to get to the heart of what creates dangerous dogs and therefore keep our city safe. However as the animal control entity, we are committed to enforce the laws passed by our city. So once we were told there was no negotiation on the muzzling we worked to find at least a partial solution for those people who are responsible, do train, and do socialize their dogs," said Pam Wiese, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Nebraska Humane Society.

Anti-tethering laws, brilliant! Force owners to be responsible for their pets instead of just tying them to a tree/pole/house and leaving them outside all year round. Who would have thought that kind of treatment could lead to an unstable mind. I mean it's not like if we did that to a human two year old he would grow up any different than a normal child.

One thing that does bother me is the following:

What exactly is considered a Pit Bull? According to the city of Omaha, it deems any breed that has the physical traits of a Pit Bull to be considered a Pit Bull.

It goes more specifically into what the ordinance states right after that. Look, all in all this is a step in the right direction. There was legitimate give and take here. Dog doesn't pass the class? Has to wear a muzzle. That's completely fair. Dog has had previous issues that were reported? Can't take the class. Again, completely fair.

This is a real attempt to bring responsibility to the forefront in dog ownership, especially in the ownership of larger dogs, and I couldn't be more hopeful about it. This is something that needs to catch on nationwide.