Why Not Ban Christmas and Marriage

This is a Fox News report:

COVINA, Calif. — Stinging from an acrimonious divorce, a man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party and slaughtered at least eight people before killing himself hours later.

Bruce Pardo's ex-wife and her parents were believed to be among the dead. Investigators planned to return to the scene Friday and sift through the ashes of the home, which Pardo set ablaze using a bizarre homemade device that sprayed flammable liquid.

A car that Pardo apparently parked near his brother's home, where Pardo was found dead, exploded Thursday evening and more ammunition was found in it, Los Angeles police Sgt. Francisco Wheeling said. She had no immediate details on what set off the explosion. No one was hurt.

Investigators seeking further information about Pardo's motives have begun searching his home in the suburban Los Angeles community of Montrose.

Pardo, 45, had no criminal record and no history of violence, according to police, but he was angry following last week's settlement of his divorce after a marriage that lasted barely a year.

"It was not an amicable divorce," police Lt. Pat Buchanan said.

I am just rondering here. The marriage didn't even last that long. Pardo(n) my cynicism, but how could he have killed someone he hadn't owned more than a year?

My big question is, if this had been a story about a gay man dressed as a woman who did this because of a relationship breakup, wouldn't we be hearing preachers(Rick Warren, John Hagee, etc...) calling for a ban on gay marriage and homosexuality? After all, didn't they suggest Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath against gays?

I was 50; she was only 8, but I fell in love with her

Each year a few local organizations take children from area after school programs Christmas shopping.

This particular organization was a regional liquor association, a group of bars, taverns, saloons, pubs, liquor stores, restaurants, diners, etc..., had raised enough money throughout the year to give 250 kids ages 6-10 a $50 Christmas shopping spree.

So it was, 250 kids and about 50 adult volunteers on an early, blustery, snowy Sunday morning at Target. A 5:1 ratio was doable. At 15 minutes per five kids, we would all be done in less than 90 minutes.

I stood in the adult line waiting for the next kid to come forth, hoping it was a boy with an idea of what he wanted. Well, things do not always work out that way.

Next up was a cute, yet homely looking girl. She was just as afraid of me as I was of her. She waved bye to her daddy, who probably had his own doubts about me, and walked ahead of me.

I broke the ice. " Hi, how are you, and what's your name?

"I'm Cindy(not her real name) and I am fine."

"Nice to meet you. Do you know what you want to buy with your $50?"

"Well, my daddy said to buy some clothes."

Shit. Just what I needed. She has no idea what size she wears, and I ain't going nowhere near a dressing room with a an 8 year-old girl who looks nothing like me.

"OK. So do you have something in mind like shoes or jeans?"

"I don't know," she said, as we entered the girls' clothing section.

She picked up several things as I tabulated in my head, $7.99, $14.25, $22.80, $29.35. "You have about $20.00 left," suggesting she pick up the pace as it was now about 20 minutes later.

She then put everything down and had a look that said she was going to start all over. At the same time I'm thinking her dad must be thinking what's this guy doing with my daughter all this time.

Then she looked up at me with a confused, guilty look and asked, " Do I have to buy stuff only for myself?"

"Well, you were chosen for this trip because you earned it somehow. Probably because you are a good girl. So, I would say yes."

Her eyes told me I had disappointed her. The little runt was really starting to try my patience. It was now going on 30 minutes, and I had seen several other adults with their second and third child.

Looking up at me, she whispered, " I don't want anything. Do you think I would be in trouble if I bought my little brother something?"

Damn. Just that quick, this little brat had morphed into the most loving , unselfish, considerate creature.

"I'm sure that would be ok, but we need to hurry."

She picked up her step and marched over to the toy section, grabbing stuff at random.$5.99, $12.00, $21.00, $32.00, I calculated. "You have about $18 left," I warned her with the urgence of a referee's two minute whistle.

"OK, " she said, grabbing just one more thing, a big truck, "that's it."

Thankful my hour was almost up, I led the way to the register. Without realizing it, I traced our steps back through the girls' section. I found her previous choices on the floor where she had dropped them. I picked them up and headed to the event's designated register.

Before the clerk began ringing the items, I explained to her that I would cover the amount over the $50 limit. By my count, the total should have been almost $90.

She quickly scanned the items and said, "Wow, that's exactly $50. What a smart shopper you are," smiling at my little shopping companion and giving me a wink, pushing my $50 bill back into my hand.

I watched Cindy sprint to her dad with two big bags dragging the floor. He picked her up, giving me an approving smile.

Meanwhile, my wife, who had taken about four kids shopping during that same time, asked how things went.

"It was an adventure, " I said.

"Took you long enough. I thought you had met someone and fallen in love."

"I did," was all I could say as I watched Cindy and her dad leave the store.

I knew John McCain was full of crap

If things had worked out differently, Sarah Palin would be on the verge of running this country in less than a month.

Oh, but it didn't happen that way.

Remember, oh, way back in September/October when John McCain said with full confidence that Sarah Palin was capable of assuming the role of president on day one should something happen to him in the interim? That meant on January 20, 2009, Mrs. Palin could have been sworn in as president with McCain's full endorsement, presumably from his grave.

Yet, now McCain says he can't say he would support her candidacy four years hence. He even mentioned a couple of other GOP governors (none from Illinois) that would make great candidates worthy of his support.

How is it that she was the best choice 60 days ago, but won't be in four years?

Help me. I can't think of the appropriate words to describe McCain.

War hero doesn't immediately come to mind.

Maverick, my ass.

4 year-old's Pledge of Allegiance to Obama

Obama's got it easy

Historic, yes. Precedent, yes. Difficult, no.

Much is being made of Barack Obama being the first non-white dude to be president. Unlike all the race barrier breaking heroes before him, Obama's task is much less daunting.

History is on Obama's side.

When Jackie Robinson broke the major league baseball color line, he had to be superior to most of his fellow white ballplayers in order for future black ball players to get a chance. He had to perform at or above the level of such names as Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter and many more. While doing this, he had to endure threats against his life without the benefit of Secret Service protection.

Obama's timely ascension to the White House finds him with less of a task at hand. Yes, the whole world will be watching. But Obama only has to be better than the worst white president, and fortunately for him, that is the guy he is replacing.

Create one new job. He is better than Bush. Tell one less lie to the American people. He is better than Bush. Keep one less person from his administration from being federally indicted. He is bettter than Bush. Keep our troops one day less in Iraq. He is better than Bush. Spend one dollar less on that same war. He is better than Bush. Don't hire Colin Powell. He is better than Bush.

Obama doesn't have to make the All-Star team or lead his team to the Super Bowl. Basically, Obama can do absolutely nothing and he will have accomplished more than Bush.

So, Mr. First Black President, just do your best. Whatever you do will be better than our last eight years. And whatever you do, don't try to be the best black president. Just be the best president you can be.

Hopefully, history will remember you as a great president more than it will for being the first black one.

We remember Jackie Robinson because he was great. Does anyone remember(without Google's help) the first black NBA, NHL, or NFL player?