If you ever get the chance to visit Washington D.C and Smithsonian Museum of National Air and Space Museum, you will find Martin B-26 Marauder called “Flak Bait”.

My grandfather was a tail gunner and bombardier on that plane.  Recently looking at old photos of WWII most notably D-day, I started to think about Nose Art and plane painting.

My thoughts quickly were saddened that in a world run amok of “PC” we will not see many of the pictures and could not even think of doing it now.  Sexist would be thrown out!

Please take the time to look at the website I have listed below and some of the pictures of the art and think about our history and where we are going!

I would have posted them, but those who just want to complain and find objectable and offensive things would complain to Mark Maley.

So, I will not post them and my rights of free speech are diminished. 

These same people would love to have the bloody pictures I am sure wiped clean because they might be offensive.  Yes, change the whole history of things!  In the end, those “PC” people will have diminished more than our rights and freedoms!  They will have diminished the sacrifices those that fought and came before us.  They will have diminished our future and that of our children.

My niece told me that in school she is taught, “Practice makes progress not perfection!”  She told me that her teacher said you cannot be perfect, so don’t try! 

Oh yeah remember teachers are not suppose to be political just like Mayors, Alderman and school board members.  All nonpolitical positions!  All non-partisan positions!  Yeah, right!  Ideology is in the core beliefs of all.

Pictures here

C-47 "Lady Luck"

C-47 "Ready 4 Duty"

EC-135 "Nasty Stuff" Avionics Test Bed

EC-135 "Bird of Prey" Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA)

"Widow Maker"

I wish everyone a safe Good Friday and Passover!

God Bless Everyone!

When - Saturday April 11th from 10am - 2pm

Where - Cousins Subs at 2965 S. Chicago Ave. South Milwaukee, WI 53172-3133

Ph 414-768-1111

http://www.wisconsin.wish.org/

Meet Cudahy & South Milwaukee Police Officers as they raise money for the MAKE-A-WISH & prepare for the Badge Ball Tournament

Meet the K-9 Unit (Ezzo and Officer Olson)

10% of all sales from the event will be donated to make a wish through the badge ball tournament

Badge Ball 2009

Join us as some of the cities finest engage in a friendly battle to see who will be crowned Badge Ball Champion 2009!  On Saturday, April 18th the Cudahy Police Department will face off in a border battle against the South Milwaukee Police Department and on Saturday, May 2nd the Cudahy Police Department will face off against their arch rivals the Cudahy Fire Department.

The Badge ball tournament between Cudahy Police and the South Milwaukee Police will take place on April 18 at Cudahy High School at 6PM.

This is our 8th year of Battle of the Badges.  Since we started, we have raised $20,187 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The proceeds for the May 2nd game will benefit disabled Cudahy Firefighter Dennis LeDoux.  We need to get the word out to the community and make some money for Dennis and his family.

Information courtesy of CPD Sgt Blunt

I knew you would not fall for that one twice.

First, let me give you two emails I received about the first part.

“Let me know if you get any real negative response to this blog.  It was a funny move.”

“Loved your gimmick post. You are absolutely right and don’t bow down to the wishes of those who would like to for a lack of a better word neuter you! Keep telling it how it is, many people are waking up. You have more supporters than you know.”

You cannot please everyone

You can please some people

Most people blogging are highly opinionated people.  Not all, but most. 

Click here to continue to the next page

This post is based on an email I received from an individual upset over my post “The Next Cudahy Mayor”

Typically, my email comes in 3 to 1 in favor and when this one came in it was too good not to share.  It made me laugh so hard.  I don’t think that was the response they were looking for.  This email smacks of pure desperation.

Now I like it that people have their own opinions and I fully understand that people will disagree with me and I have stated that I am fine with that.  Reasonable people can agree to disagree.

Again, this comes courtesy of an out of touch Cudahy resident, who does not represent who or what Cudahy is!  I have not changed anything with their email (minus removal of their name).  I have only included my translation below in blue.

Once more, I have blanked out the name partly out of respect, but mostly out of embarrassment on their part.  I know I would not want to own up to this email or the ideals that are held up in it.

Please take the email seriously, if you can, because at first, I thought it was a joke.  However, you will see with further emails (I will share them all) they could not be more serious.

Cue the Twilight Zone theme!

Dear Randy,

  I read your rant with great interest.  My academic training from the University of Wisconsin in urban planning, urban affairs, urban geography, administrative leadership, adult education, history and governmental affairs says this.  Your understanding of society is short sighted and lacks the concept of a strategic plan.

Translation: I am better than you and nearly everyone else except those few I deem my equals.  My credentials and opinions are beyond reproach.  I am a liberal elitist.  No one who at the very least has my equivalent background can possibly understand the complexities of society, especially you as I know from your blog and my friends you're a conservative.  You will see my rant is far superior to yours for I am writing it!  When I said I read your rant with great interest, I only glanced at it for a moment because I already knew what it was about and would not waste my time actually reading it myself.

  The current administration in the City of Cudahy has the history of training in government from a city, state and federal perspective.  The current Mayor has successfully recruited new smart educated individuals who will move this City forward.  As a research scientist your "opinions" are only opinions.  If you want to educate the public with your blog, why not read research provided by the University of Wisconsin.

Translation: The current administration of Cudahy is leaning far left.  The mayor and some of his friends run in my circle and I have deemed them superior to the common people.  They've complained about you and your blog so I went online to glance at it for the first time; not open minded but instead sympathetically to the perceptions of those in my circle.  Behold by credentials again: research scientist.  Common people like yourself need to remember your place in society.  You should not speak or cause problems for your superiors for they are superior.  You should only consider speaking if you are going to support the political views and plans of your superiors, and you should look to UW research, as a left leaning educational institution, to find how you should be thinking and writing.  How the “federal perspective” I don’t know, but I will throw it in because it sounds grand.  I will state the obvious that opinions are opinions and attempt to put you down, as I know you are not a research scientist.  The only opinions that matter are mine and my friends.  Any dissenting opinions shall and will be stricken by the land of the law in a decreed set forth by me!

  Apparently, you seem to speak only to the older citizens and street people.  Have you had the opportunity to speak to the young college educated people who live in the city?  There is a core group of citizens who back the "educated strategic plans for the City."  Remember Rome was not built in a day.  All cities evolve and it takes time.  Bashing is not the appropriate response to encourage people to take action.  Assigning the blame is always the plan of the less educated.

Translation: You are stupid.  Only the poor and elderly could possibly believe your prattling.  This is because the poor, the elderly, the middle class are all extremely stupid compared to me and my ilk and shall be replaced.  They must be herded like the cattle they are by the Mayor and the "educated" like myself.  Bashing is not the appropriate response to encourage people to take action, unless they are conservative.  Anything that can be perceived as wrong in the last 8 years (Iraq, Katrina, financial crisis) should be blamed on Bush, Republicans, and Conservatives and all should be "bashed".  Any problems that occur during the Obama administration, or under Doyle as Governor aren't really problems, you're just not capable of understanding the complexities involved.  Be patient and remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.  You are proving to be incredibly articulate and politicized in a way that we do not like.  You cannot be allowed to speak your mind about issues you feel passionately about for we do not want an informed citizen uprising.  You should only speak if spoken to and Caesar and his entourage have not and will not speak to common folks like you.  You have been deemed unworthy.  You are common peasants and have no usefulness.  I have asserted blame on you simply because I can.

  Did you start this blog to get your name out there for free advertising for your political agenda?  And if you really did anything of substance for the City of Cudahy you would have been asked to author a story for our "Generations of Pride" history book.  Is your name in the book?

Translation: Here's a personal attack as I didn't know how to end this e-mail.  I'll throw out again how superior I am to you by pointing out my involvement in this Cudahy history book that most people probably haven't heard of.  Notice how I didn't point a single specific issue I disagreed with you on, just my credentials in hopes I'd impress you.  Quit bullying my liberal friends and the mayor around, you're having an impact and I don't like it.  What I tried to do is mask my lack of understanding of the topic at hand with a lot of fluff in hopes to dazzle you with information that my superior words and credentials shut you up.  I have received accolades that you could not.  I hope all of my indoctrination by liberal professors has taught me enough catch phases that I will make you look as stupid as my circle says you are.  Just give up already and come to grips with defeat at the hands of the Aristocats, no darn it that was the Disney movie, I mean aristocrats.  Again, only those deemed to my personal standards shall be allowed to have an opinion regardless of the Constitution because only properly vetted college educated professionals are allowed to have opinions because they are so much smarter than the rest of the common folks that Cudahy has.  You could join us “IF” and only “IF” I deem it so.  We are trying to setup a Utopia here and start over, but the meddling fools like yourself are getting in the way.   Soon you will see statues of me and my circle sprouting up around the city.

Name placed here

Translation: Liberal elitist, who judges their actions superior to the majority of the lowly people of Cudahy around them.  I must be rather conceited to repeatedly state my credentials to try to prove to you my superiority.  That or low self-esteem because I was a coddled spoiled brat.  Then I need to end that my actions are positive?  Humility is certainly not one of my qualities, not based on this e-mail anyway.  See I have to state my agenda is not hidden as a misdirection because my agenda is as clear as mud but my actions are easily seen.  I was asked to help fight the losing war with you because you don’t seem to stop, so they recruited me as the brain trust.

I wish…

…all gas stations would have the option of no receipt for credit card usage at the pump.  It would save the stations money on paper because I think a good group of people would choose not to print one out.  I mean how many times have you seen "please see attendant" because it won't print your receipt?

…all gas stations would have squeegees and washer fluid actually in the squeegee bucket/holders.  Stop putting water in or watering down it because it freezes in winter!  I understand they have costs associated with it and realize when I pay $1.39 for a one liter MD that I would buy a two liter at K-Mart or Wal-Mart for that price or cheaper. 

…the people pulling into the gas stall would pull all the way through to the last one in the line instead of stopping short and making it harder for others.  Those people not pulling forward to the furthest pump when there is more than one open truly get under everyone’s skin.

…people that drive huge cars or trucks that don't pull forward far enough at the first pump leaving no room to pull into the second one behind them, basically taking up both pumps would get a clue.

…the people's inability to get close to a pump and if they do, they block the other one because the car is not straight and parallel with the pumps

…people would not be smoking while pumping gas.  Not for their own safety but others.  If they are that dumb and cannot follow directions on signs or common sense they might just deserve what they get, but others do not.

…the city and state would crack down on gas stations not putting up the price on the pylons.  At first when I contacted the state about it the problem was that the gas stations didn’t have extra number 2,3,4’s.  So with gas now back into the 1’s what is the reason?

…all gas stations would get electronic pylon signs, so the above one would not be a problem and much easier to see.

…the state would monitor gas stations more often for changing the price more than once a day.  I have contacted the state with proof numerous times with one in particular.  They send a letter not to do it again and after a few more times a small fine.

…gas stations would keep up the restrooms better!

…all the gas stations where on the pricing sign pylons where the eights are upside down in the price.  Let us not forget that the little loop goes on the top, the big loop goes on the bottom.

…all gas stations would have bulletproof glass for the tellers and very good video cameras inside and out.

…people not being considerate when you are turning back into traffic since they want to come in to the station.

…people next to you blasting their music with their Sub box would understand that we don’t need to hear it and their windows rattling

…the pumps would not ask me if I want a Car wash and ask me if I am sure

…people stealing your pump as you maneuver into position

…gas stations that when you put your card in the pump and start filling up and when you get to $50 it stops and makes you start over again.  VISA doesn’t have a problem with my $300 dollar purchase at Best Buy

…gas stations where the last open pump has a plastic bag on it and it has been that way for awhile!

…gas stations where the pumps that take an abnormally long time to fill up the gas tank.  Now I know that they do that to protect themselves from drive offs, but most stations now require prepay or credit card at pump.

…why with all of the technology they cannot make it so people don’t spill a few drops of gas on the ground putting the nozzle back

…gas stations where the attendants speak some English when you have to go in and pay or buy stuff.

…attendants, the ones that don’t speak very good English, would not be talking on the phone the entire time I am at the counter to pay.

…please don’t forget that the reason why gas stations charge so much for their beverages, candy, and other stuff is that they don't make that much money off of the gas.  Therefore, to stay in business or make a profit, they have to mark up their stuff.  Please do shop them every so often.

While listening to Vicki McKenna’s show a few weeks ago, she talked about “The tearing down of masculinity in the U.S.” and she had callers calling in talking about how commercials poke fun of men. 

Vicki’s Podcast

This reminded me of a college discussion talking about “White Man TV Commercials.” 

With all of this talk about race relations and gay issues, I thought it was time to post this thought after Vicki’s show.

Okay, first I need you to turn your TV on.  Keep one eye on the TV while you read this. 

Most of you thought I would have a link or video inserted.  I don’t have to, 60-70% of TV commercials on air and 30% of commercials on the radio poke fun of the white man.

During my time at college, I talked to my professor in marketing about this some years ago.  I asked him “Why do most TV commercials poke fun or make the white male look bad?  Just watch and you will see that the woman or any other race other than white male will be the smart person and making the white male look stupid.”

He told me, the “White man” is the undesirable mainstream and TV uses that edge to focus on the other groups.  He went onto say it started in the early 70’s with the Woman’s movement.

I have found this to be unacceptable; yet not many people have noticed or care.  Just another one of the society’s double standards for no reasonable reason.

Now if you already didn’t know, watch for it and you will see it!

One of Vicki’s callers noticed the poking fun of men and my college professor took that one-step further that the white male will be the one poked fun of.  If we want to move beyond race issues and sex equality, we need to stop putting down men in commercials as a small step forward.  We now will have a mixed race president as a large step forward, but it takes all steps forward to move large and small.

Argument to the person

An argument to the person means attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.  It’s also know as the ad hominem or ad homunem (Latin for “to the man”) attack.  When a person’s appearance, habits, or character is criticized instead of the merits of that person’s argument, the attack is a fallacy.  Here’s an example:  “We’d take her position on child abuse seriously if she were not so nasty to her husband.”  What does nastiness to an adult, though it isn’t nice, have to do with child abuse?  Most people when losing a debate do this “You always think you are right, but you are not!”

Guilt by association

Guilt by association means that a person’s arguments, ideas, or opinions lack merit because of that person’s activities, interests, or companions.  For example, here’s the fallacy in operation:  “Jack belongs to the International Hill Climbers Association, which declared bankruptcy last month.  This makes him unfit to be mayor of our city.”  The fact that the group that declared bankruptcy and has Jack as a member has nothing to do with his ability to be the mayor.

Jumping on the bandwagon

Jumping on the bandwagon means something is right or permissible because “everyone does it.”  It’s also called ad popilim (Latin for “to the people”).  This fallacy operates in statements such as “How could smoking be unhealthy if million so people smoke?”  Just because one can do something doesn’t make it right to do. Also done as justification of actions.

While I may have been duped when a Cudahy police officer emailed me a fake email chain hoax that snopes.com did show was false.  I posted info on the blog stating it was a fake.  It is just too bad CNN doesn’t know about snopes.com or many other checkers.

From news busters

“CNN Duped by Sarah Palin Bikini Photoshops”

CNN got duped! The supposed photo of Sarah Palin in an American flag bikini holding a rifle is a proven photoshop.

Oh well, CNN isn’t known for doing any actual fact-checking.  They leave that to us bloggers.  But, they could at least keep updated on the stuff we debunk.”

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/john-stephenson/2008/09/09/cnn-duped-sarah-palin-bikini-photoshops

Hasty generalization

A hasty generalization draws conclusions from inadequate evidence.  Suppose someone says, “My hometown is the best place in the state to live.”  And the person gives only two examples to support the opinion.  That’s not enough.  And others might not feel the same way, perhaps for many reasons.  Therefore, the person who makes such a statement is indulging in a hasty generalization.  Stereotyping is another kind of hasty generalization.  It happens, for example, when someone says, “Everyone from country X is dishonest.”  Such a sweeping claim about all members of a particular ethnic, religious, racial, or political group is stereotyping.  Yet another kind of stereotyping is sexism, which occurs when someone discriminates against another person based on gender.  For example, when an observer of a minor traffic accident involving women makes negative comments about all “women drivers,” the person is guilty of a combination of stereotyping and sexism—both components of hasty generalization.

False analogy

A false analogy draws a comparison in which the differences outweigh the similarities or the similarities are irrelevant.  For example, “Old Joe Smith would never make a good president because an old dog can’t learn new tricks” is a false analogy.  Joe Smith isn’t a dog.  Also, learning the role of a president cannot be compared to a dog’s learning tricks.  Homespun analogies like this have an air of wisdom about them but tend to fall apart when examined closely.

False cause

A false cause assumes that because two events are related in time, the first caused the second.  It’s also known as post hoc, ergo propter hoc (Latin for “after this, therefore because of this”) or the Butterfly effect.  For example, if someone claims that a new weather satellite launched last week has caused the rain that’s been falling ever since, that person is connecting tow events that have no causal relationship to each other.  One must be careful that the two are connected.  Cause and Effect can lead to the ripple effect though.  When many events are related and can be traced back to each other much like the “to build a mousetrap game.”  This is a major cause of jumping to a conclusion for many that do not carefully look at the outcome and logically reason out the problem. 

Parenting from a new father’s perspective.  First I would like to share my thoughts on Fatherhood.

Fatherhood is a 'true joy' and the “Best thing I ever did” or better to correctly say, the best thing to happen to me.  Not that Carrie and I didn’t plan my daughter Ria, because we did, but that GOD allowed me to feel the love and joy of fatherhood.  Gone were the feeling and thoughts of holding something so small and precious all the while feeling I could accidentally break her or the guilty feelings of having Ria to hold close to my heart while she sleeps and not being able to do this with my son Ryan.  No father should ever have to bury his children or know the pain left by the void, as others and I have. 

Scars don’t move or go away, but they do heal and fade a bit.  But, this makes my time with Ria all that more special. Fatherhood completely changes your perspective and certainly takes the focus off yourself, but having kids is really the most extraordinary thing I've ever taken on and have had the pleasure of doing.  Seeing my daughter smile and laugh is the greatest joy I could ever ask for!!  I can barely wait to what is to come.

Advice from others comes fast and most are upset when the advice is not taken.  I know everyone means well, but I listen to all, but take only those I find meet my ideals.  One person was even mad to the point she said that things don’t change and my kids turned out fine. 

I look at this way, if they were having kids now, they would do the things that the experts say today to do.  Those that act that way need to remember, did they take all the advice that was given to them?  Family is the most important thing in life, and I look forward to my kids doing better than I.  If they don’t, then I failed them.  One must not be envious or jealous when the children do better then the parents, that is the way of the land.

Family is kids, mother and father period.  The extended family is great, but the internal family of the kingdom is what matters.  When people live under one roof a society forms.  A pecking order and government with laws, rules, and commandments, so know your place in it and know their place.  I believe we are all equal, but we are not all the same, and that equality within society and the law should give the benefits to those individuals seeking it whether they are fortunate enough to be blessed with it or work for it.  Don’t stand in the way, lead by example and guide them.  Be the light for their path, not the lines or rails of it.  In life there is ONLY one thing and only one thing that is for sure and that is death.  Be thankful of what you have.

Lee Iacocca said it best:  “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way!”

As NASA has stated many times, “Failure is not an option!”, and it should never be.  Don’t give up.

Ten Commandments of fatherhood as told to me and have come to me from others.

1. Let it be known that a lie is much worse than telling the truth no matter what it is.  Lies just make things worse and erode the fragile bond of trust one might call the family.

2. Be the dad first and best friend second.  You must know when to whisper. Know when to shout.  Know when to say NO and when to say yes.  Teach them to know when to forgive.  Teach them patience and tolerance.  Know when to take the training wheels off, just as easy as when to take the gloves off.

3. Be strong, yet bendable when it comes to disciplining.  Don’t insist on always having things your way.  Listen to their side of the story before making a decision.  Remember there are always three sides to the story, yours, theirs, and the truth, which is somewhere in the middle.  Hard and fast rules have a way of backfiring.  Learn to compromise and adjust to the situation.

4. See the long and big of the picture.  You are the role model, the measuring stick that they may gauge their future mate to.  Little girls first fall in love with their daddy, and look for someone like them for a husband.  Your kids will listen to you more times than not.  My dad said to me “Son, the longer I live, the more right I will be!”, and for the most part he was correct.  Not always, but a good part of the time he was and is right.  Your kids will learn values/morals from you.  That old thing we call right from wrong.  For the rest of their lives, one of their first thoughts in most situations will be, “What would dad do or say!”

5. Strive for perfection, but know that there will never be perfection and at times their best is good enough.  Let them know you are not perfect either.  People have a hard time dealing with me because I am the type of person who is right most of the time, about 98.6 percent of the time to be exact.  I am very black/white, right/wrong, yes/no person.  My grey area is very small.  I have an awe that intimidates some, make others feel uncomfortable, some even feel scared of.  I do make mistakes and when I do I am big enough of a man to admit it.  Don’t be too stubborn not to admit a mistake to your children.

6. Spend as much time with them, because at some point they will want to spend very little time with you and more becoming an individual.   They will disengage from parents and before long, develop their own family.  Be sure to always wave and blow kisses when are doing their play at school.  Be as important as they want you to be, show up for their track meets or wrestling matches.  Know what activities are in their hearts not just in their lives.

7. Show them we should be fair, but all things are not always fair. Life isn’t fair and that is a hard lesson to learn even for adults.  If you should be so lucky that they have an exceptional high IQ, teach them you don’t have to feel sorry that others don’t.  Allow them to share, but not to be taking advantage of.

8. Show them that planning and organization is very important, but so is improvisation/shooting from the hip.  You can plan for all outcomes and still not get it correct.  You should have a BP (battle plan) and also a plan B.  Teach them the “6P’s”--- Proper --- Planning --- Prevents --- Piss --- Poor --- Performance.  Tell them that the lines are not always your friends and sometimes thinking outside the box is not enough.  Sometimes you have to live outside the box.  Teach them that a circle block will fit in the circle hole, but also in the square hole with enough force.

9. Help guide them, but realize you cannot relive your life through them.  You cannot vicariously relive your life through your kids.  You had your chance.  This is their time to shine.  Support them on whatever path they may choose to take.  You can makeup for mistakes your parents made with you, but you will make new ones.  After all, they are your mistakes to make, even GOD allows for mistakes in your and their DNA.

10. Let them be kids.  Most of the time kids need to be kids.  Many parents try to turn their kids into mini-adults and some think that the two are the same.  They are not, there are some things that kids should not see, hear or experience.  Too often, because it is convenient for the parents, they allow their kids to act or do adult things.   A lot of parents signup their kids for all these activities, just so their kids are busy.  Just so the parents don’t have to spend their time with the kids, much like an activities babysitter.  Kids want to play and have fun with other kids, not always just learning how to hit a baseball, or shoot a jump shot, or stuck in some classroom.  Teach your daughter that if she wants to be a race car driver or a fighter pilot, she can go for it.  She can do what ever she puts her mind to it.  Don’t let old school, chauvinistic pigs tell her or influence her that she cannot or should not.  A few things in life are truly men’s or women’s only.  If she has a stick in her hand it maybe to her a magic wand or a sword.  Let her play along.  Forget being “PC”, but be mindful not to fall into the society pressure to turn boys into girls and girls into boys.

Ages to allow:

15 - Go to mall alone

10 – Ride bike alone

13 – Be home alone or baby sit

13 - Ride in front seat of car

Walking to school:

8 - With help

10 - Alone

1 in 3 parents lacks knowledge about babies

Many have little understanding of infant development, study finds

Source Here

Breast-feeding may boost children's IQ

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24482257/

While I didn’t have any flood damage from the once in 500 years rain that some are calling the storm in June, I do feel bad for those that truly did have problems. 

Then came the big “Food Stamp Fraud” fiasco in Milwaukee.  FOX 6 Investigators & Bryan Polcyn did an excellent job of looking at the ensuing problem on Sunday’s News in case you missed it here it is.

Food Stamp Fraud

Millions of dollars in federal aid meant for flood victims may be going to people who didn't have so much as a wet basement.  Nearly 20,000 people in Milwaukee County alone applied for emergency food stamps.  FOX 6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn does what government officials did not - ask them to prove that they are, in fact, flood victims.  

While I understand everyone is hurting from the recession we are in (yes, I have said it before we are in a recession) people should not be taking advantage of the system when it smacks people, who really did have problems, in the face.

Reverend Jesse Jackson not only scolded Obama off the air, he uttered the very bad word not at Obama.  Rev. Jackson used an emotionally charged racial slur during a break in a TV interview in which he criticized presidential candidate Barack Obama, Fox News confirmed Wednesday.

Just unbelievable how bad this could be for Jesse Jackson.  Fox News will not release the full transcript. I am against the use of the word by anyone.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/16/jackson.nword.ap/index.html

Foxnews

One of my Professors in college told me “The victor writes the history!”  One of his most famous discussions was “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and how we in fact don’t know if Paul Revere was the one to warn the colonists at the time in question.  He could live with the fact we don’t know exactly which leg of the ride the quote came from (multiple riders on the route), but the fact that the quote of "The British are coming!" is wrong. 

At the time, colonial residents considered themselves British as they were all legally British subjects, and the correct saying would be “The Red Coats are coming!”, since the colonists, which would become Americans, wore “Blue”.

A more modern humorous one is Darth Vader from Empire Strikes Back.  Most people think the quote is “Luke.  I am your father” and it really is “No.  I am your father.”

Over time quotes change and become accepted with the change.

History is a pack of lies we play on the dead.
- Voltaire

Begging the question

Begging the question tries to offer proof by simply using another version of the argument itself.  This is also called circular reasoning.  For example, “Wrestling is a dangerous sport because it is unsafe” begs the question.  Unsafe is a synonym for dangerous, so the statement goes around in a circle, getting nowhere.  Evidence of the claimed danger is missing.  Here’s another example with a different twist.  “Wrestling is a dangerous sport because wrestlers get injured.”  Here, the support fro the second part of the statement is the argument in the first part of the statement.  Obviously, since wrestling is a popular sport, it can be safe when undertaken with proper training and practice.  And here’s yet another example:  “Wrestlers love danger.”  This time, the problem is the unstated assumption that wrestling is supposed danger, not the sport, is what attracts wrestlers.  Yet the audience can’t be assumed to share the opinion that wrestling is dangerous.

Irrelevant argument

An irrelevant argument reaches a conclusion that doesn’t follow from the premises.  It’s also called a non sequitur (Latin for “it does not follow”).  This happens when a conclusion doesn’t follow from the premises.  Here’s an example: “Jane Jones is a forceful speaker, so she’ll make a good mayor.”  What does speaking ability have to do with being a good mayor?

Quebec: A judge has ruled that a 12-year-old girl who was grounded and not permitted to go on a school trip because she broke her father's rules for using the internet may indeed go on the trip.

The father had grounded the unidentified 12-year-old because she had circumvented security measures on the computer to access forbidden sites and had uploaded images of herself described as "inappropriate for a child her age.”

"I don't think this tribunal was the proper forum for a decision like this one.  If we don't learn at the age of 12 there are rules to follow, when do we?" said lawyer Kim Beaudoin.  An appeal to the ruling is planned.

Source: www.upi.com

And to think how our courts are beginning to be so liberal that something like this is headed our way.  I see a time where the Judge and Government tells the parents no more paper bag lunches because we have to make sure not peanuts and the food you send your children with is healthy enough for them.

When people talk about the military taking away our freedoms and they feel it is okay for a Judge and the Government to parent our children and there is no outcry there is something wrong.

For now and the near future, I will not be accepting comments directly to my posts.  All comments will need to come from email so they can be tracked.  I am sorry for this, but with all of the sockpuppeting, fake users, name calling, un-adult like comments on an opinion blog I do not want any wrong ideas. 

As someone stated this morning “While it has happen yet, several people in the Cudahy Blogoshere are getting close to the fine line.”  That in itself is a statement of an opinion on how that person feels. 

When time has passed and people can act responsibly, comments will be turned on.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

First some info on the Webkinz so readers are up to speed courtesy of Wikipedia.

Webkinz ($15-30) are stuffed animals that were originally released by the Ganz company on April 29, 2005.  The toys are similar to many other small plush toys, however they come with a special code on their labels that allows access to the "Webkinz World" which is a website to own a virtual version of the pet for virtual interaction.  There are also smaller, less expensive versions of the toys called Lil' Kinz($8-15).

Each Webkinz stuffed animal and Webkinz accessory comes with an 8-character code.  By registering this code on the Webkinz website, you "adopt" this pet in the virtual Webkinz World, which is an online play area with its own economy.  The user receives money (called KinzCash) by adopting new pets, playing online games, answering general knowledge questions, and through daily activities like clicking "I love my Webkinz!", spinning the Wheel of WOW, playing Wishing Well 2, or completing jobs (minigames) available once every 8 hours.  Each day, there is a Game of the Day, which can be played for bonus KinzCash, and other bonuses are available each hour.

Offline, users can purchase clothing, body spray, lip-gloss, backpacks, purses, Figures, trading cards, or charms for their pets.  They each come with a code to type in online and receive prizes.

Users can spend their KinzCash at what is called the W Shop, where they can purchase food and clothing for their pet, items for their pet's room or to build additional rooms onto their house, or outdoors areas etc.  Users can decorate a room for their pet with pre-made themes, or mix and match their own furniture.

The online world also contains many rare or exclusive items.  Some of these items require developing a friendship with the Curio Shop owner to purchase, while others you get for registering other Webkinz accessories you purchase in the real world.  Each type of pet gets a special food available exclusively for them.  Also, a Pet of the Month is announced at the beginning of each month.  If a person registers the announced pet in that month, they will receive other exclusive items.

Many of the tasks in Webkinz World involve collecting items.  For example, recipes are released for the players through cookbooks you can purchase or one of the TV Shows called The Secret Chef.  Gems can be mined once a day at the Curio Shop, with a full set of gems being turned into the Webkinz Crown of Wonder.

Another feature of Webkinz includes the ability for players to create their own shows with the Webkinz Studio, and enter to be chosen to appear on the Webkinz television.  Other features include buying a swimming pool, where you can have your Webkinz swim around, which increases their health, sending gifts or letters to friends on a peer-to-peer network, invite a friend over to your house, participate in the hourly events, play Wacky Bingoz, a form of bingo where you get one, two, and three ball games every day, and many more.

Whew… Now that is over. 

About a month ago, a good friend of mine told me all about the Webkinz.  He went on to tell me how this was good life lessons for his children.  They have to learn responsibilities to feed (good food vs. bad food), walking and pet love, how a better education gets them better jobs that pay more.  This would instill life values while entertaining them.

This all sounds great.  It came across that children can have fun while learning.

Today, a month later.  Now comes the bomb.  Besides the cost of buying the toys and charms, he informed me that on the Internet are cheat codes.  He then said he was going to cheat for his kids.  I was stunned he was going to try this.

We stopped at a store to buy a stuffed animal to try the cheat codes on.  He was worried that if his children used the codes and got caught they would lose everything they worked so hard for.  The policy is to delete the virtual world account for cheaters.  I said that I was very disappointed in him that he would use these cheat codes, and what message was this sending to his kids.  Big mistake on my part.  Other parents don’t want another parent critiquing or giving advice.

Things then changed that it was not a learning tool, now it was just for fun.  He then asked me if I have ever used a cheat code on video games.  To which I told him NO!  I have never seen the allure to cheating.  In school, I was an “A” student.  In college, I was a 4.0 student and belong to Phi Delta Kappa.  I was one of those students that could do well with little effort.

Now if it was for him, I would careless.  However, this is for his children.  I  think that showing and allowing children to knowingly cheat is wrong.  This sends the wrong message.  It tells them that it is okay to cheat.  Cheaters only cheat themselves in life.  While playing the games inside when it comes to questions, the questions are age appropriate.  You select the age category you are.  There is no one stopping a child from selecting an age under what they are, but as a parent, you should tell your children not to cheat.

So where does this leave us, he asked me.  DISAPPOINTED I told him!  Yes, it is cheaper to cheat, easier to cheat, just not wiser.

Microsoft's Xbox Live Publicly Humiliates Cheaters

Microsoft has made good on threats to make 'bad things happen' to users who artificially inflate their Gamerscore.  The Gamerscore is built up by playing games and meeting objectives but some users have been doing so by hacking.

Microsoft has punished cheats by resetting their score, making it impossible for them to complete falsely claimed objectives, and putting "I'm a dirty cheater" on their profile.

Microsoft has not provided any avenue for appeal, saying that they identified players "who have used external means to earn achievements without really playing the game" using "specific and automated criteria.”

Source Here

Day 20 – Still No real response from the Mayor – Inability to make decisions based on anything other than his own self-interest

I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day and pauses to remember those in the military that are no longer with us!

In one of my writing classes in college years ago, my teacher gave us a print out/hand out of Logical Fallacies to watch for.  I have scanned them and converted them to word.  There was no mention of a source nor did she cite it (I guess teachers can forget to work cite in handouts, such an oversight.  Should we flog them or let them off.  What do you think Mike?).  I was able to track down the current source of it as the Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers, Seventh Edition and it has a few new things to which I didn’t include.

She said it was so important to watch these unfold in debates.  Since we are in the mitts of the Presidential debates, each week I will post one.  Watch for them and you will see them happen all around you.  You might even become more educated/informed and isn’t that a good thing.  To one person I think not.

Logic is correct reasoning.  Logic is the process by which statements are supported with adequate proof by being tested against the right amount and kind of evidence, the process by which knowledge is rendered reliable—in short the “Science of proof.”  Pure Logic is unbeatable. 

How can I recognize and avoid logical fallacies?

Daily Practices to improve logic:

1. Don’t accept anything as true, which you do not clearly know to be such; that is, avoid hasty judgments and prejudice will prevent jumping the gun.  It requires a disciplined mind.
2. Divide each difficulty under examination into as many parts as possible, or into as many as necessary for the solution of the problem.  Most problems are combinations of problems and this failure to understand such will lead to jumping to conclusion.
3. Begin with the things that are simplest and easiest to understand, and then ascend to knowledge of the more complex.
4. Make enumerations so complete, and reviews so comprehensive, that you may be assured that nothing is omitted.
5. Draw out in tables or lists of what you know, and that which is wrong.  If Boolean algebra is needed make, your truth tables of items.  Make flow charts of the problem(s).
6. The answer is in the details. Study each part as itself and then as a whole.
7. Ask yourself this: “Is it logical, illogical, or nonlogical?  Nonlogical does not mean illogical.  Nonlogical is a statement like “I like to travel,” or “I love you” (showing emotion or opinions) are ordinarily regarded as nonargumentative and do not require supporting evidence since it solely is in the head of the person making the statement.  Illogical is one, which violates the rules of sound reasoning (like added 2 plus 2 and getting 5).
8. Do not use All, Always, Never, Forever, Not ever, as they lead to false conclusions by over simplifying and generalizing.
9. The most simplest answer may or may not be the one.  If it truly is only one problem, then the simplest answer is most likely the correct one.  If it is a series of problems, or more than one interconnecting problem, then it is no longer just simple.

Here are the topics I will be posting on this subject.  I will post one or two of them together depending on size.

Hasty generalization

False analogy

Begging the question

Irrelevant argument

False cause

Self-contradiction

Red herring

Argument to the person

Guilt by association

Jumping on the bandwagon

False or irrelevant authority

Card-stacking

The either-or fallacy

Taking something out of context

Appeal to ignorance