0118 999 88199 9119725 3

I would just like to take a minute to promote a great show that is unavailable in the U.S. on television. It is called the IT Crowd. I think they were going to make a U.S. version or they may have already tried it and failed. The U.K. version is hilarious and it is unnecessary to try to change it for the U.S.. Follow these links and enjoy the hilarity:

IT

0118 999 88199 9119725 3

Team

Pension

I recommend it as long as you are aware that they have different ideas in the U.K. for what is considered offensive language.


It’s Like You Never Left

Someone put up a billboard with a picture of George W. Bush on it with the words “Miss Me Yet?” on it. If only there was another billboard right next to it, then I would put a picture of Obama on it striking the exact same pose with one of the following phrases on it:

  • “No”
  • “It’s like you never left”
  • “Why should we?”

Or something similar to those.

Some people seem to forget or were never aware of what Bush did that was awful. Many of the things that defined the Bush presidency are the same things going on in the Obama presidency. Bush expanded medical entitlement programs. Obama wants to. Bush got government further into education. Obama will probably want to, although if he doesn’t, school children sing enough songs about him that we can count that. Bush abandoned free market principles to save the free market. Obama has continued the same non-free market policies. Bush seemed subservient to the Saudis at times. Obama has bowed to everyone and their dog. Bush wanted some form of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Obama will go for the same thing. Bush nominated an idiot for the Supreme Court and so has Obama. If you were looking for change in Iraq, Guantanamo or Afghanistan, you should be disappointed as well. The differences are few; more apologies, higher taxes and more speeches. Indeed it is as if he never left.


Great Depression Policies

I am very tired of hearing that FDR and the New Deal helped America get out of the Great depression after Hoover put us in it. In history classes I remember being taught that the depression was Hoover’s fault and that Franklin Delano Roosevelt bravely pulled the plane out of its collision course with his New Deal. FDR and Hoover have always been set at odds with each other in my mind, but something has never seemed right with this set up.

As I started to take more of an interest in history, I learned about the period of time that saw the largest dive in U.S. price level that it had ever seen. A 24% drop in GNP was a definite sign of the painful times that were ahead. The president at the time decided that he should dismantle some government bureaucracies that had been established during WW1. This leader of the nation also had deep concern over the $25 billion in debt that had been run up on the tab and the whole time his mantra was, “less government in business”. This president was quoted as saying, “We need vastly more freedom than we do regulation.” This period of time brought about a lot of charity and soup kitchen work for those looking to help fellow citizens who had fallen on hard times. The unemployment rate reached 11.9%. As the problem seemed to worsen, the president pulled back and removed many government pieces from the puzzle. Congress wanted to come to the rescue but the president told them to hold back. Even the president’s own secretary of commerce pleaded and argued with him to get involved to rescue the economy, but he wasn’t having it. The big reveal that you may have built up in your minds is that the president was Herbert Hoover and his policies made the Great Depression happen. This is part of what has never quite felt right about the story that I have been told in history classes. I was indeed told that Hoover did not want government intervention. But I was then given a lesson about the Smoot-Hawley Tariff which made things in the Depression worse after the crash in 1929. I have also read about wage freezes that were ordered during this time, which again, did not help. Those seem like government intervention to me. Now is the moment when I bring out the actual big reveal that the president I spoke about earlier was Warren G. Harding and the year was 1921. All the products in the country dropped half of their value in 1921 and Warren G. just cut taxes and waited it out. His secretary of commerce that was so antsy to intervene (prepare for another big reveal) was Herbert Hoover. The U.S. pulled out of this disaster quickly, with unemployment pulling back to 6.7% by 1922 and by 1923 the roaring twenties were well underway. When they crashed down Herbert Hoover was in charge and free to intervene all he wanted.

At this point the history classes have told us that Hoover did so much damage that it took at least 3 terms of FDR to fix it with the right kind of intervention. This is where I say bullcrap. With the 20/20 vision of hindsight Harold L. Cole and Lee E. Ohanian of UCLA looked over Great Depression policies and found that Roosevelt actually hurt more than he helped. In addition to prolonging the Great Depression FDR also trampled all over the Constitution of the United States. He was called on it a few times with the reversal of some policies. A huge unconstitutional dream of his was to have a second bill of rights (which I guess would have been constitutional if it had been amended in). The principles behind this second bill of rights are enough to make anyone who doesn’t like being forced to do anything sick to their stomachs. Included in his wishlist were the right to food, the right to a house, the right the a job, the right to medical care. As I will further demonstrate in an impending post none of these things can be claimed as rights by anyone. Claiming those as rights for people and forcing citizens to provide such things for others goes against the purpose of our established government and is a violation of any official’s oath of office.

In case you missed it I would have been very frustrated with people who kept voting for FDR as he was holding them down. To drive that point home a bit more I will leave it to the great Thomas Sowell:

To me FDR and Hoover are not at odds with each other, but rather had only slight disagreements about which ways government should overstep its bounds and make things worse. Protect rights and enforce laws. And do it in that order, that is all government should do.


Satisfied Mind

This here is a song that my grandpa first introduced me to while we were buying supplies to build a fence for my aunt. Everyone and their dog has done their own version of it, so I figured I would throw mine in too. I really see this song as one of the all time greats.

Satisfied Mind
Words & music: Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes

[gplayer href=”http://www.everydaynormal.com/files/Satisfied Mind.mp3″]Satisfied Mind[/gplayer]

The message of the song has always been a favorite of mine too. Some other versions worth checking out are from Johnny Cash, The Byrds, Porter Wagoner and Jeff Buckley. My version is kind of a mesh of their versions in whatever tiny or glaringly gigantic way.


Good Decision – Smack Down on McCain-Feingold

I have had the misfortune of listening to ill informed and irrational people that are upset about the Supreme Court of the United States decision in favor of corporations being able to spread messages about candidates near election time. Many such individuals complain that the court has given corporations freedom of speech. I must ask if people who work at corporations are not ‘people’? Are they not included in ‘We the People’? Using logic anyone can see that they should be allowed to voice their opinions in politics. This court decision is one of the few ways the constitution has been upheld.

Corporations are people. They are collections of people. Just as our country is a collection of people. Last time I checked, corporations were not run by animals or furniture. As people they have all the same rights as any of the other citizens in the country. Even the right to assemble together and make a political ad that voices their opinion on any subject.

Such groups are obviously not an individual person, which is where many foolish individuals go awry. Many seem to think that people in corporations don’t have rights. Corporations are groups of people. Simply because there are more individuals does not mean that their rights are then removed. In fact, individuals have the right to assemble. When assembled do these individuals lose their rights? As a group they still have the ability and right to speak freely.

Some people act as if having more messages out there regarding choices in elections is going to force them to vote for someone they don’t want to.

Foreign entities cannot give money to candidates. Many people who misunderstand seem to think that more voicing of opinion equals more corruption and foreign money influencing our country. The Court’s decision did not change laws about foreign money in our elections or candidates and corporations getting together and plotting victories.

Some are concerned that corporations are too powerful and will get away with corrupt behavior when given their freedom. If they do something wrong, find the law they broke, gather evidence and charge them with the crime. If you can’t find anyone in government who will do their only job (enforce laws and protect rights) then you have a bigger problem than just evil corporations. (Which problem, I contend, we do have.)

All anyone ever does is push legislation that they want or like. Again I must question why people think that seeing a commercial put out by a corporation is going to force someone to vote a particular way.


2009 Razzies

Alright people, the only awards that mean anything are back and they have all the worst junk from the previous year. They also have some special decade awards for those who have tortured us the most for the last ten years. This year is also special because they have been going for 30 years now. Who doesn’t love the Razzies?

Worst Picture:
All About Steve
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of The Lost
Old Dogs
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

My Pick: I haven’t actually seen any of these movies. I would have to pick Transformers though, because of the sweet How it Should Have Ended video.

Worst Actor:
All Three Jonas Brothers – JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3-D CONCERT EXPERIENCE
Will Ferrell – LAND OF THE LOST
Steve Martin – PINK PANTHER 2
Eddie Murphy – IMAGINE THAT
John Travolta – OLD DOGS

My Pick: Again, haven’t seen any of these. I would have to go for either Ferrell out of pure hatred or Travolta because of his track record.

Worst Actress:
Beyonce – OBSESSED
Sandra Bullock – ALL ABOUT STEVE
Miley Cyrus – HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE
Megan Fox – JENNIFER’s BODY and TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
Sarah Jessica Parker – DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?

My Pick: Wow, haven’t even heard of most of these. And I can’t decide who deserves it based on my equal distaste for them all. They all win my pick.

Worst Supporting Actor:
Billy Ray Cyrus – HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE
Hugh Hefner (as Himself) – MISS MARCH
Robert Pattinson – TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
Jorma Taccone (as Cha-Ka) – LAND OF THE LOST
Marlon Wayans – G.I. JOE

My Pick: At this point I am really just listing them for your information. I have not seen one of these films so far.

Worst Supporting Actress:
Candice Bergen – BRIDE WARS
Ali Larter – OBSESSED
Sienna Miller – G.I. JOE
Kelly Preston – OLD DOGS
Julie White (as Mom) – TRANNIES, TOO

My Pick: Still no.

Worst On-Screen Couple:
Any Two (or More) Jonas Brothers – THE JONAS BROTHERS 3-D CONCERT EXPERIENCE
Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper – ALL ABOUT STEVE
Will Ferrell & Any Co-Star, Creature or “Comic Riff” – LAND OF THE LOST
Shia LaBeouf & EITHER Megan Fox OR Any Transformer – TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
Kristen Stewart & EITHER Robert Pattinson OR Taylor Whatz-His-Fang – TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

My Pick: Oh Boy.

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel:

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of The Lost
Pink Panther 2 – (A Rip-Off of a Sequel to a Remake)
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
Twilight Saga: New Moon

My Pick: To mix it up I will throw another pick at stupid Will Ferrell.

Worst Director:
Michael Bay – TRANNIES, TOO
Walt Becker – OLD DOGS
Brad Silberling – LAND OF THE LOST
Stephen Sommers – G.I. JOE
Phil Traill – ALL ABOUT STEVE

My Pick: I give it to Will Ferrell again.

Worst Screenplay:
All About Steve
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of The Lost
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
Twilight Saga: New Moon

My Pick: Not much variety in these lists.

Worst Picture of the Decade:
Battlefield Earth (2000) – Nominated for 10 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 8 (Including Worst Drama of Our First 25 Yrs)

Freddy Got Fingered (2001) – Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 5

Gigli (2003) – Nominated for 10 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 7 (Including Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Yrs)

I Know Who Killed Me (2007) – Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 8

Swept Away (2002) – Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 5

My Pick: I have only seen Battlefield Earth so I have to pick it from this list. But I really must pick ‘Lost in Translation’ starring Bill Murray which is one of the most pointless and stupid movies ever. Don’t watch it.

Worst Actor of the Decade:
Ben Affleck – Nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® DAREDEVIL, GIGLI, JERSEY GIRL, PAYCHECK, PEARL HARBOR, SURVIVING CHRISTMAS

Eddie Murphy – Nominated for 12 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES®
ADVENTURES of PLUTO NASH, I SPY, IMAGINE THAT, MEET DAVE, NORBIT, SHOWTIME

Mike Myers – Nominated for 4 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® CAT IN THE HAT, THE LOVE GURU

Rob Schneider – Nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 1 RAZZIE® THE ANIMAL, BENCHWARMERS, DEUCE BIGALO: EUROPEAN GIGOLO, GRANDMA’s BOY, THE HOT CHICK,
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY, LITTLE MAN, LITTLE NICKY

John Travolta – Nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES® BATTLEFIELD EARTH, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, LUCKY NUMBERS, OLD DOGS, SWORDFISH

My Pick: hmmm, Ben Affleck, John Travolta, Affleck, Travolta.

Worst Actress of the Decade:

Mariah Carey – The Single Biggest Individual Vote Getter of the Decade: 70+% of ALL Votes for Worst Actress of 2001 – GLITTER

Paris Hilton – Nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 4 RAZZIES® THE HOTTIE & THE NOTTIE, HOUSE of WHACKS, REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA

Lindsay Lohan – Nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES® HERBIE FULLY LOADED, I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, JUST MY LUCK

Jennifer Lopez – Nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® ANGEL EYES, ENOUGH, GIGLI, JERSEY GIRL, MAID IN MANHATTAN, MONSTER-IN-LAW, THE WEDDING PLANNER

Madonna – Nominated for 6 “Achievements,”“Winner” of 4 RAZZIES® DIE ANOTHER DAY, THE NEXT BEST THING, SWEPT AWAY

My Pick: Did you expect me to be able to pick just one? Winners all around.

A Disturbing Piece of History – Update: Twisted History

In 1966, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America awarded Martin Luther King Jr. the Margaret Sanger Award for “his courageous resistance to bigotry and his lifelong dedication to the advancement of social justice and human dignity.” After reading about this I could only say, “What the ****????!?!!?” Why did Doctor King accept this award? Why would anyone accept this award, let alone one of the most popular black leaders of all time?

If you are baffled by the paragraph above then you clearly do not know anything about the history of Planned Parenthood or the personal beliefs of Margaret Sanger. When I learned about history and found out about Margaret Sanger I was shocked that anyone could think she was a great lady who should have an award named after her. Then of course, there is Planned Parenthood which Sanger helped found, that supports some of the most disgusting acts ever perpetrated by humans.

Margaret Sanger was a big fan of eugenics as a means to rid society of “undesirables”. In 1939 she started “The Negro Project” which had the goal of suppressing the black population through “family planning”. Planned Parenthood was started by Sanger with the purpose of racial purification. Sanger would often give speeches to members of the KKK. She references black people as “human weeds”, “reckless breeders” and as “human beings who never should have been born.”

All this brings me back to the original and baffling question; why would Dr. King accept an award named after Margaret Sanger from an organization started for her sick purposes? I really have no clue. I have the utmost respect for Dr. King and his accomplishments and I would just like to know about this occurrence which has bothered me for a while.

For a comprehensive history on the whole subject, I recommend the documentary “Maafa 21”.

UPDATE: I just saw this video in which Dr. Alveda King sheds more light on the lies about the history of the relationship between MLK and Planned Parenthood.

I would have liked to have seen an outright refusal of the award, but this definitely helps me to see more of the picture.


10 Crimes Against Music

There are thousands of things that have happened in the world of music that have made many a good man sick to his stomach. These are 10 of the most vile and abhorrent offenses against music and all that is good and right with the world.

10. We are the World

I wanted to be specific so I chose one prime example of a cheesy celebrity sing-a-long, but there are many more painful examples of this. Anytime there is a problem in the world there will always be a long list of sappy celebrities to sing a song about it and make everything worse.

9. Carl Lewis Starts a Human Chain

A wonderful treat straight out of the 80’s. An Olympic athlete tries to unite mankind with the power of song and an old woman blowing bubbles at him in the weight room. Hilariously bad and definitely a crime against music.

8. Perfect Turd Music

This is one of the stupidest songs ever written. It will make anyone who likes actual music want to vomit. Some whiney buttmunch complaining about his Daddy. To quote the great Beavis, “Awww, is Daddy’s little girl gonna cry?”

7. Robert Plant is In The Mood

Wow. That is all I can say as I watch and see how the mighty singer of Led Zeppelin has fallen. Another of the tremendous atrocities against music that we get from the 80’s, this one seems to hurt more than others.

6. Mariah Carey Tramps it up and Goes Crazy

She used to be that wholesome, very talented girl that anyone could respect. Then one day everything changed. Her voice seemed a lot less golden and she was nuts.

5. Coolio Rips Off Stevie Wonder Then Gets Upset With Weird Al

Coolio had a hit with “Gangsta’s Paradise” which was a rip off of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”. When Weird Al Yankovic did “Amish Paradise” Coolio was upset because he never gave permission. Coolio received royalties from the song, even though he stole it from Stevie Wonder.

4. Aerosmith Medley Featuring EVERYONE

Too many cooks in the kitchen. Unfortunately all that any of them know how to cook is reheated, day old macaroni and cheese.

3. Wish You Weren’t Durst

I wonder if he did this for the nookie. I would rather hear Gilbert Gottfried cover this song than to see it soiled in such a way.

2. St. Anger

This was the culmination of many years of Metallica not being Metallica. I cried when I realized they were gone for good. I could not believe that the same name that graced the cover of “Master of Puppets” was involved with this melee of pangy crap.

1. Jimmy Page Disgraces Kashmir

Not only were there horribly retarded lyrics involved but a really bad movie too. Why did Jimmy Page let Puff Daddy do this and not let Weird Al do a polka tribute to Zeppelin?

This list is by no means complete so feel free to let me know what I have missed.


What Has Bugged Me About Popular Music For a Long Time

I have always been annoyed by music being the same old junk sung by a different person under a different song name. There are two or three extremely overused chord progressions that drive me crazy and I saw a video the other day that demonstrated what I hate. They do a lot of songs that used the same progressions but, sadly I can think of quite a few more (I think I heard some salty sailor language somewhere on it. In case you are sensitive.)

It is too bad we don’t demand more of our “musicians”. They should have to come up with original material. I think this happens because there’s always a new crop of stupid kids to jump on board with the latest trendy music, even if that trendy music is the same trendy music of yesteryear. No one listens to classics. We should have a lot less “musicians” in this world because there is plenty of music to listen to already. Radio stations should all play old stuff with a couple of new songs that are actually good. I am very opinionated about music and could go on forever.