At the risk of alienation...

From time-to-time I wander out on a limb and express an opinion, in the realm of politics/world affairs. It's usually in response to some article that I've stumbled across, that finally just sent me over an edge of sorts. In this case, I came across this CNN article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/14/iraq.torture/index.html?eref=rss_topstories, entitled Powell aide says torture helped build Iraq war case. Central to the story are the allegations made by Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff for then-Secretary of State Colin Powell against the Bush Administration and former Vice President Dick Cheney, that the "abusive interrogation program's" primary focus became to find a "smoking gun" linking Iraq and al Qaeda. As opposed to "preventing future attacks against the U.S." Let me say that... I don't really think those two goals are necessarily at odds with one another. But here's the thing... The U.S. has taken a lot hits (translation shit) from the international community, militant terror groups, foreign press, and domestic as well; on interrogation and torture tactics that have been used particularly related to Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. But, you know what... I think I heard it said before... WAR IS HELL! I don't recall anyone standing up and saying that kidnapped or detained American's were served milk and cookies on a daily basis. I doubt things were all champagne and caviar on the hijacked airplanes of 9/11... How about the victims of the grisly beheadings that "news agency" Al Jazeera was all too willing to help sensationalize? I don't think if a stray missile or several had wiped those broadcasting stations and facilities off the face of the planet, that I would have lost any sleep over it. There were days when the thought of making that whole troubled, Taliban, terrorist, jihadist, whack-job of an area, into a giant parking lot seemed like a good friggin' idea. But that's just the anger and hatred talking... But to all you liberal, finger-pointing, interrogation/torture is "mean" types out there... this hasn't been a war fought with pop-guns and harsh language. It's ugly and brutal and bloody and we weren't trying to make nice along the way, cause dammit neither were they. It seems to me some are all-too-quick to point out the "evil" done by the U.S. whilst glossing over a whole laundry list of despicable acts by the "other side." So, in summation, or to wrap it up before I really go off on a rant and alienate someone else... Cross us and we will be on you like a pack-of-dogs on a 3-legged cat! And as Toby Keith put it, "We'll put a boot in your ass it's the American Way!"

Now... I'm putting the soapbox, back under my desk for the rest of the day... please don't make me pull it back out again! I mean it... I promise F-BOMBS will fly!

Regards,

cheer_dad

WARNING, the F-bomb will be dropped in this post...

A friend of ours has been wronged, by a cowardly, lying, insignificant, little man. She was fired without cause yesterday! (Don't stop and question that statement to yourself, it is what it is, she got fired for nothing.) The girl was fired from her job of 1-1/2 years having never been written up, reprimanded, or otherwise informed that she wasn't doing a good job for her employer. All that she was told when she was fired Friday evening at "closing-time" was that she and the worthless bastard of a boss just weren't going to be able to get along anymore. Oh and by the way the sniveling little weasel didn't even have the balls to fire her on his own, he called the manager of the other office and had him do it while he pretended to run off on an errand. When our friend asked what she had done to deserve being fired she was told "nothing." She reminded the other little weasel of a man that did the firing that she had never been written up or reprimanded in any official manner. Further, reminded him there was nothing like that in her personnel file. He agreed. Then, she paused to ask, was there something in her file that she wasn't aware of... This wasn't answered, so much. She asked to see what, if anything, was in her file and then she was told that "he didn't have to show her anything as she was no longer an employee." What a miserable fuck! Only the guy who caused her to be fired can possibly eclipse his degree of "fuck-ness" in my mind at the moment. I'm not sure what the girl will do now. Of course, life will go on, it always does whether we like it or not. She'll find another job and hopefully a better working condition for herself. Big Red and I will do anything we can to help her. We went out with her last night and some of her other friends to console her, make sure she ate, and help get her at least somewhat liquored up. She has my deepest sympathies. Her enemy is also my enemy. She will seek legal counsel, which I can't blame her at all. There are additional matters with which to be reckoned (i.e. harassment and behavior bordering on stalking.) I hope she shoves them all straight up his ass. I reserve for him my worst condemnation... he's a Motherless Fuck!

Okay, to those of you who think I've gone a little "blue" on you here. Cracked the "profanity nut" so to speak... You know me. You know it takes a great deal to make me angry. I have had 40 years to tame and train a temper, and honestly playing cards and avoiding tilt for the last several of those years has benefited me greatly. BUT, there is a time for anger. There is also a time for revenge. Yes, there are times every once in a great while someone really does deserve an ass-kicking. And on top of that sometimes only one thing'll make you feel better, and my friend Erik P, once summed that up quite well. "Sometimes, the only thing that will make you feel better is just to punch someone in the face!" I know, I know civilized society dictates otherwise. But how many times have you really just wanted to a little "Sopranos-style" justice? Take the guy down to pavement, and just kick the shit out of him!

Anyway, as I do on a number of occasions, I look for a quote to sum up my mood and general outlook on life. I've taken to finding one throughout the week and emailing it to my team at work, as a way of provoking thought, reflection, and a small attempt at building team unity. The jury's still out on whether or not it helps, but it does tend to get people talking. That's never a bad thing... I think. Today, I needed a quote to help me grasp it all. So I headed over to the Subjects page of http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/ to find one. My thoughts and mood are anger and revenge. Luckily, for me they had both. Unfortunately, most quotes on the matter, were a bit mamby-pamby for my taste at least for today. "Live and let live," "turn the other cheek," "hug a friggin' tree," gimme a break! These weren't what I was looking for. I wanted a quote with teeth, and searing venom. I got your Chicken Soup for the Soul right here! I was very nearly about to settle with a Klingon quote of "Revenge is a dish best served cold," when I came across these two, and although my interpretation may not today be what the author had in mind, it made me feel better, so just deal with it:

"I have a right to my anger, and I don't want anybody telling me I shouldn't be, that it's not nice to be, and that something's wrong with me because I get angry." ~Maxine Waters

I liked the sentiment here. Anger is an emotion that's mine, and I'm entitled to it. Right on Maxine...

The other, gets a little more old school:

"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." ~Niccolo Machiavelli

Take that one either way you want, but I think of it this way. If you're going to do a thing be prepared for the fallout, otherwise you'd better make sure to beat someone down so far that they can't get up to do anything about it. In this particular instance he hurt her, knocked her down... but she got back up. Has he never heard of "Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned!?!"

In closing... payback's a bitch. See the picture above? Better lube up.

Regards,

cheer_dad

F-Bomb

This is how I get fucked bonus chasing...even when I don't do anything wrong. I sat down to relax just for a few hands, and on hand number two I get pocket rockets. I reraise to $11 preflop (at a .25/.50 NLHE table) to a guy who made it $3 to go in the first place. I learn later when I get BEAT that he was holding 6-7s...how do you combat this?

Welcome to Long Winding Road
>Disconnect all ins are not allowed in this game!
Any disconnects will be treated as a fold by the player.
>Game # 1,421,148,033 starting.
> Dealing Hole Cards(As Ah )
> gnapsack, you have 10 seconds to respond
> gnapsack, you have 5 seconds to respond
> chip_tastic shows Two Pair, Aces over Queens(As Ah Qh Qd 7h )
> odds77 shows a Full House, Sevens full of Queens(7h 7d 7c Qh Qd )
> odds77 wins $97.25 with a Full House, Sevens full of Queens

Maybe it'll get better luck tonight at Frank and Julie's house, but I wouldn't count on it. I was so close to claiming my bonus and being above $200 that I started with, now the best I can do if I can even fuckin' hang on is $185. But hell there's plenty of time for cocksuckers like odds77 to bust me again, and leave with me with nothing before I put in the next 181 hands.

AND NOW, after this OTHER hand...I'll be lucky to GET to the bonus $'s at all, I mean REALLY...
Some days I really hate this fuckin' game!

Regards,
cheer_dad

...Epilogue...

I dropped the $50 rebuy at this table too. I'm the small blind, and since it's unraised I call the .25...and hit two pair on the flop w/8-4os. I bet out, and get called, of course. I push all in and I make my boat by the river, only to be beat by a better boat, by the guy who had ALSO HIT TWO PAIR (ACES and Eights) on the fuckin' flop! I now have $35.64 in my Poker Rewards account. Yes, in 26 raked hands...I lost $100!

I just may not recover, from this year of bad poker.