SON OF THE CUCUMBER KING

Ghost, you say? Well, I can tell you exactly where...

2012-06-01T11:47:41.675-04:00

Ghost, you say? Well, I can tell you exactly where they are...the ghosts I mean. They're making phone calls during the night to sleeping unsuspecting TWC customers and non-TWC people from my phone! I have had countless calls from people who have had calls from my phone, of which I had not made. They tell me that my caller ID shows up so they call me back (as I would too if someone called me at 3am!)I have reported these "Ghost-calls" to TWC many, many times yet they have no idea how to correct it. I have spoken with people I do not know at 2, 3, & 4 am who, like me, was hoping to get a full night's rest. When speaking with TWC they see no where on my records of the out-going calls. However, the incoming call records of the TWC customers indeed show my phone calling them. There has even been "collect call" requests! The only offer of compensation has been for $9.81. This amount was quoted because of the three days I have constantly called stating that I had no use of my phone...which was because of one of their service people coming out to "check-on-things"...the guy moved some equiptment around and while doing so something was unplugged. Hense, I was without service of any kind! At this point I think I know how to fix the problem...I'm changing companies before one of my unsuspecting phone-buddies gets mad enough to do their own investigating and come to my home!

Forgive me, Mr. Fox, but I am trying desperately t...

2012-05-18T19:05:02.588-04:00

Forgive me, Mr. Fox, but I am trying desperately to catch up with my blog reading, and better late than never, I suppose, because I definitely consider your writings a "must read" even when we disagree.

What burden could showing a photo ID possibly be in return for the privelege of participating in the world's greatest democracy? I too believe there to be no organized fraud schemes running rampant, but there are those individuals who, for whatever reason, may dishonestly cast a ballot while legally not being allowed to due to illegal immigrant status, felon status, etc. Again, I don't believe it happens all that often, but that's just my opinion and supposition.

I do believe the act of having to show a photo ID does not amount to a poll tax, as some Democrats have alluded to (at least in my state) but to a responsibility one must meet in order to cast a ballot. When people come into my lab to be drug tested, they must show a photo ID. They MUST. And believe me, we have had in incredible uptick in drug screening for oil and gas companies here in South Texas due to explosive growth in industry because of the Eagle Ford Shale. But I digress. You would be surprised at the deception I have seen attempted even for a drug screen. And I have people telling me that this could not possibly occur at a voting venue. It can't? It most certainly can and does.

All I am saying is that I respectfully disagree with you, sir on this topic. To show a legitimate photo ID can be no burden to bear since most will have a government-issued ID such as a driver's license, and if one doesn't, one is easily obtained. It seems we need to remind the populace that voting is a privelege and should be treated as one. I think too many take too much for granted in this nation. Asking a photo ID could never be cumbersome, at least not to me. I wonder if those citizens in Communist or Socialist countries would mind being asked for a photo ID? How about those in Iraq or Iran, where the power to vote is still a new concept to its citizens? Theirs may not be a perfect system or government, but it is a start. I'll bet that they would never view having to show a photo ID to vote as a burden. I believe they respect the opportunity, as should we.

Before we have online voting we'll have telepa...

2012-05-04T14:44:16.742-04:00

Before we have online voting we'll have telepathic voting. We'll just think a candidate into office. Kind of like what they did with Nobama.

After the Supreme Court tells us that these few st...

2012-05-04T11:50:17.062-04:00

After the Supreme Court tells us that these few states are violating the spirit of our constitutional right, it will all ultimately be resolved by online voting.

As usual, this blog is more visceral than factual....

2012-05-04T08:54:35.628-04:00

As usual, this blog is more visceral than factual. In Crawford v Marion County (533 US 131 2008) SCOTUS held that that an Indiana law requiring voters to provide photo IDs did not violate the Constitution of the United States.

Supremely liberal judge John Paul Stevens writing for the majority said:

"The relevant burdens here are those imposed on eligible voters who lack photo identification cards that comply with SEA 483.[2] Because Indiana’s cards are free, the inconvenience of going to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, gathering required documents, and posing for a photograph does not qualify as a substantial burden on most voters’ right to vote, or represent a significant increase over the usual burdens of voting. The severity of the somewhat heavier burden that may be placed on a limited number of persons—e.g., elderly persons born out-of-state, who may have difficulty obtaining a birth certificate—is mitigated by the fact that eligible voters without photo identification may cast provisional ballots that will be counted if they execute the required affidavit at the circuit court clerk’s office. Even assuming that the burden may not be justified as to a few voters, that conclusion is by no means sufficient to establish petitioners’ right to the relief they seek."

In terms easier for you to understand, the court basically stated that the STATES right to protect the public from fraud is greater than the right to commit the fraud. Of course neither the Obama admin or their DOJ recognize STATES rights as being in the constitution so in the liberal mind the court overstepped its power.

By the way, just so your britches don't burn when it happens, Obamacare will be struck down for similar reasons. STATES rights and the rights of the individual trump the whining of the few who hate themselves and hate this country.

Good day to you.

Judge Law

I'd take writer's cramp and writer's b...

2012-04-19T22:43:06.242-04:00

I'd take writer's cramp and writer's block if I could write like that!!

One imagines that writer's cramp and writer...

2012-04-15T15:45:32.771-04:00

One imagines that writer's cramp and writer's block are, perforce, mutually exclusive. So, at least be happy that you've been prolific enough to suffer the former and avoid the latter!

All the best,
Tom Bisky

Honestly, I'm amazed you were able to get this...

2012-04-15T01:55:58.088-04:00

Honestly, I'm amazed you were able to get this far into your career without your hands freezing up yet!

Thank you, I do, guardedly. On a Manhattan street...

2012-04-14T01:22:50.352-04:00

Thank you, I do, guardedly. On a Manhattan street, that can get you in a lot of trouble.

Flex you fingers vigorously...

2012-04-13T18:09:48.442-04:00

Flex you fingers vigorously...

I want to see the sequel... to this! A Great Admi...

2012-03-22T22:16:46.582-04:00

I want to see the sequel... to this!

A Great Admirer

Hard to believe at first but this free service rea...

2012-03-09T07:35:57.347-05:00

Hard to believe at first but this free service really helped me choose a carpet cleaning professional.
carpet cleaning mesa

Makes me feel like I knew him too! Thank you!

2012-03-07T19:29:37.943-05:00

Makes me feel like I knew him too! Thank you!

As I read (and enjoy) your writings, I can't a...

2012-03-02T18:58:03.697-05:00

As I read (and enjoy) your writings, I can't avoid the conclusion that I wasted too much of my time with you -- talking when I could have been listening.

Will W.

May Howard's Life Be For a Blessing.

2012-03-02T18:22:30.845-05:00

May Howard's Life Be For a Blessing.

Hi Ray, Personal Attacks on Women Today--the preju...

2012-03-02T18:20:31.961-05:00

Hi Ray,
Personal Attacks on Women Today--the prejudice continues today with hatred and bigotry from the pulpits to high ranking public officials to TV and Radio commentators--

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-rings-limbaugh-slut-georgetown-sandra-fluke-200016515.html

Hi Ray, I am so sorry for Howard's loss and th...

2012-03-02T18:14:48.941-05:00

Hi Ray,
I am so sorry for Howard's loss and the prejudicial slurs while growing up. Unfortunately, prejudice surely remains today.
My beloved Mom (died age 46) never finished High School. Throughout her Senior Year my Mom's English teacher at Fifth Ave. H.S. in Pittsburgh kept calling her a "dirty Jew". My Beloved Grandmother, her Mother, would hear her tell of this teacher and ask her Mom, "why does she keep calling me "dirty"; I wash everyday,as she sobbed throughout her entire year with this "bi..." of a teacher. The month before graduating that same teacher, called her a "dirty Jew" and slapped her across the face. When my Mom came in tears, her Mom never let her go back to school again. Later in years, after my Mom worked at Frank & Sedar's Dept. Store selling shoes, the store closed. I taught my mom, with very little help, to get her GED. My mom ended up working for Koppers, accounts receivable. In the summer of my Junior Year in college, I had the honor to work on the floor directly above my Mom at Koppers in Research and Development. I cherished every moment that we would spend eating lunch together a George Aikens Fish House. Koppers offered for me to stay with them, but, I wanted to complete my college eduction and become a Math Teacher. Just about four years, my Beloved Mom, passed away. Throughout my own personal experience, after the fire in our Apt. complex in the 1964 with no insurance, no money, We lived in terrace Village, the Hill District.After getting out of the Hill district in Pittsburgh and getting my Mom and my Brother away from very abusive father that could never hold a job, gambled all the money that my Mom earned, beat My Mom, me, and seeing just beginning on my 2 year brother abuse starting, I got them in a cab and we moved to the South Side. The place we moved was painted with Swastikas and other anti-semantic slurs. Somehow, they knew that a Jewish family was moving into their WASP neighborhood(no offense meant, that was "their term" of the neighborhood). During my first few years of teaching, I was called "little Jew Boy" by my fellow teachers. They thought it was funny. In my first year teaching in Ca., Palm Springs School district, a female teacher would sing during the daily announcements and give a "this day in history" story. On April 20, 1993, this Principal, after singing, honored Hitler's Birthday by saying that "he was a great leader that helped Germany regain its stature with virtuous acts of courage against all odds." Needless, to say, i reported this anonymously to ACLU and the
Anti-Defermention League. I quickly left to to teach in Murrieta the following year.
I am sorry to take up so much time on your Blog, my friend, but this story brought much of my personal life that I could relate to the late Howard and his life of Hell in the 40's and 50's that really hasn't changed much. Just listen to the GOP attacks on Women in these recent times.

Sounds like he was a very good man. I never knew ...

2012-03-02T11:22:04.689-05:00

Sounds like he was a very good man. I never knew him, but I will miss him too just for that.

“Crouching Kitten, Hidden Dragon”! Yay, Santorum i...

2012-03-01T19:25:22.207-05:00

“Crouching Kitten, Hidden Dragon”! Yay, Santorum in a nutshell!!!

I believe the best actor award should go to G.W. B...

2012-02-26T21:03:13.518-05:00

I believe the best actor award should go to G.W. Bush for "Wars Without End" and no money to pay for the production.

I think the Romney campaign deserves a Best Visual...

2012-02-26T12:14:15.674-05:00

I think the Romney campaign deserves a Best Visual Effects nomination for turning an entirely empty stadium into a spectacularly empty one.

Hi Ray, Nice to see you haven't lost your ele...

2012-02-20T20:55:52.490-05:00

Hi Ray,

Nice to see you haven't lost your elegance and humor.
Your writings have inspired, entertained, and educated your readers with your personal touch that I hope will continue for many years to come.

All my best,
Barry

2012-02-20T20:54:27.235-05:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

And Pres O is a good man? He sends in our forces ...

2012-02-18T08:13:19.911-05:00

And Pres O is a good man? He sends in our forces to supposedly help the poor Libyan civilians from Col K but stands by as thousands are slaughtered by Syrian troops. Yeah Pres Black O...it has nothing to do with Oil...Hypocrit!

Add a Grammy Award for Matt, Trey and Bobby! Best...

2012-02-12T18:56:56.076-05:00

Add a Grammy Award for Matt, Trey and Bobby! Best Musical Theater Album!