Aloha Daze

Ah, the ACLU. Out to protect everyone’s rights. Well. Everyone else’s rights. Find yourself being a Christian, believing in Christian values? Duck and cover, my friend.

In this liberal day and age of being Politically Correct [read that: having to apologize if you're an American and trying not to hurt the feelings of any terrorists], the ACLU belongs somewhere else. A Socialist or Communist country would probably fit them perfectly.

Actually, I couldn’t care less which country they call home… except - and unfortunately for us proud Americans who happen to be Christians - they call home the United States.

Lucky us.

If you feel the same way, and have a blog, check out the “Trick or Treat Weekend Trackback Party!,” over at the Stop the ACLU website. Or, if you just want to know more, check out their site. Get informed.

RLR

I didn’t know that Chicken Little hosted ABC’s Nightline… Nightwhine.

So, there’s Ted Koppel, and it’s the last 5 or so minutes of Nightwhine. It’s a montage of how badly things have gone for Bush, and they’re loving it. His approval ratings are worse than Clinton’s or Reagan’s. He screwed up with Katrina. Rove is going to be indicted. And Libby. And Cheney! And now his presidency can be compared to LBJ’s, because he’s got an “unpopular war,” implying that the War on Terror is really another Vietnam.

Like George Carlin, I tried turning up the brightness on my TV set, but to no avail: stupid things kept being spout from within it.

Now, I’m no political… anything. I get my news from Fox News [because they tend to actually deliver some useful info], from a news program off the radio, a little Rush Limbaugh, and my own point of view [distorted as it might be]. But, I’m a little confoozed here…

First, I challenge the entire idea of approval ratings. I did a quick check on Google, looking for some ratings during the Clinton years. (CNN’s report from Dec 20 1998.) There is the usual “Clinton is wonderful” numbers [big surprise]… then down below is a couple of fun ratings to read about: “Do you approve of the military attacks on Iraq? Approve - 78%; Disapprove - 18%.” Hm. “Do you believe Clinton ordered the attacks on Iraq to divert attention from impeachment? No - 66; Yes - 25%.” Yeah. I believe he probably did… but I digress. My point is that, polls don’t matter. No? One last entry from that CNN page: “Is Vice President Al Gore qualified to be president? Yes - 63%; No - 27.”

If that doesn’t tell you that these polls are a bunch of tripe, then I don’t know what will.

As for Katrina.. wasn’t that supposed to be the responsibility of local government? Then the state? And finally the federal? Oh well. No need to allow the facts to get in the way of a good Bush-bashing story.

Also, Rove is going to be indicted. And Libby. And Cheney! And now Bush’s presidency can be compared to LBJ’s, because he’s got an “unpopular war,” implying that the War on Terror is really another Vietnam.

And I just got the news that Libby will be indicted today.

The liberals are about to have a party. I can only but hope that the Bush administration is just about ready to have enough of this poo. Accusing loyal and hard workers on the Right (Tom Delay; “Scooter” Libby) just to remove them from the playing field. (Evidence? We don’t need no stinkin’ evidence!)

Folks, it’s official… The Twilight Zone does exist, the liberals are living in it, and - unfortunately - it’s beginning to merge with reality.

I’m looking forward to seeing the fireworks start. I can’t help but feel that Bush and this administration has just about had all they can stands… and they can’t stands no more.

RLR

With Hawaii having the only gas-cap law in the 50 states, everyone keeps watching to see if it will work. Frankly, I don’t have a clue if it will or not, and don’t really have any opinion, except for this: if it lowers the gas prices, I like it.

Gas prices were supposed to go down this week, and they have - depending on which gas station you visit on the island. Prices are actually ranging from $3.00 to $3. 65 or so. Needless to say, there is a wide range of prices [and in my opinion, price gouging].

In any event, last week I paid $3.29 per gallon for 87 octane. This week, the price actually dropped, and I paid $2.97/gallon.

Is the gas-cap law working in Hawaii? Don’t know. But I’m happy with the results so far.

RLR

So a few cops in the New Orleans police department, that are supposed to protect and serve, did just that: protected each other’s backs and served up several punches.

Robert Davis, a retired elementary school teacher that hasn’t had an alcoholic drink in 25 years, was the recepient of a caught-on-tape beating by cops that claimed that he was drunk in public and resisting arrest. Check the FoxNews site for the story.

RLR

Some days, it doesn’t pay to get out of bed.

Jennifer calls me up: her grandfather died last Sunday. Their family is quite close, and she’s really not feeling great. The weddding expo booth we [OahuBride.com] have this weekend? We’re looking into - if not a refund - moving the booth to the April 2006 show.

I hate to miss the expo, but I can’t blame anyone. A death in the family? Nobody to blame but fate. Run the booth myself? Unlikely. We’re located right smacky dab inside the door at the convention center. Traffic is expected. 5 hours one day, about 7 the next. But nobody to relieve me. And I have to drive home to Makaha in between. (the other side of the island.)

Too much, too late in the game. We’ll just move to the next show and cut our losses.

Let’s move on…

Before I explain the next Thing, you have to understand what started the process:

“State Implements Law Leaving Used Car Buyers Left With Parking Tickets”

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=3931621

On that site is a link for potential buyers to check to see if the car they’re checking out has anything outstanding. I ran mine.

Imagine my delight when it responded “Safety Check Expired.”

Only, it’s not. I got it inspected. Insurance is up to date. Everything is great.

Oops. Except, apparently, one thing.

After digging through my wallet I found the culprit: Car registration has expired.

At the end of August.

And the city never sent a renewal notice. Which is besides the point: I read the small print: Just because I didn’t get a renewal notice to remind me of YET another thing to pay the city for, that’s just too bad. My problem.

The next line makes things even better. Late fee will be added. Lovely.

The line after that takes the cake: “Hawaii has no grace period.”

Ah, I just love it. In my never ending attempt to follow the law by the book… they failed to send me all the pages. And it’s my fault.

That’s my Monday.

Satellite City Hall, here I come. Have yet another bill, will pay.

And that’s how I’ll start my Tuesday.

Heaven help me. I need a vacation.

RLR

So Tropical Storm Kenneth is breaking apart.. but that just means lots of rain and thunderstorms for the Hawaiian islands.

Speaking as a guy that spent most of his life viewing storms from a point of view inside of Tornado Alley, I find lightning storms to be, well, commonplace. Not to be trifled with. Not to be ignored. Just respected. But still, common.

Imagine my shock when, while listening to a local radio station, they’re going over what to do during a thunderstorm. Lightning, you see, isn’t common in Hawaii.

Don’t stand under a tree. Lay flat if you think you’re about to be hit (yes, because lightning always proclaims it’s moves before making them by several minutes). Don’t shower during a storm, or talk on the phone.

Good advice, all of it. But things I learned as a child. Here, just a mystery.

Such is the climate here. If there is a thunderstorm, it usually knocks out power to different areas/cities on the islands. My opinion on that is that the electrical systems here weren’t designed to handle such intense electrical spikes.

BUT, the battery backups work well, kick in, and we’re all good to go again.

I am curious how this will effect this weekend’s AVP Best of the Beach , sponsored by Paul Mitchell, here in Honolulu. It’s pretty much an all day event, both Saturday and Sunday. But if it’s all about the rain and weather… well, speaking from personal experience, a wet volleyball makes a lousy serve. When you can hit it.

All I know is that a) Best of the Beach takes place on Queen’s Surf beach where I play volleyball at and b) I’ll be glad when both Paul Mitchell and Kenneth go away, so I can get back to playing.

RLR