Remember Andrew Meyer? Yep...the idiot who (deservedly IMHO) was tased after disrupting a Q&A with John F. Kerry*
Well, it's been a while and the state of Florida has been running an investigation into whether the cops' actions were justified.
Guess what they found:
University of Florida cops were exonerated in the stunning of a student.
What's the poetic justice? The student may face charges.
The officers have been reinstated to full duty.
Just as I said before...he wanted to create a spectacle and martyr himself. Well, a martyr is only a martyr until he is revealed to be a fool.
Fool, thy name is Andrew Meyer!
TASE HIM AGAIN BRO!
* Who served in Vietnam
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
All for one
Continued from here
Troopers ran past me hurrying to their posts. I saw a few straggling civilians being herded by Militia into the shelters before they too rushed to their stations.
“Commander!”
I stopped and turned toward the sound. A young man carrying a sniper rifle caught up and saluted. “Corporal?”
“Sir, all snipers are in position.”
“Excellent, fire on my command.”
“Yes sir!” He turned and vanished into the front door of the last tall building before the city walls. I stared for a second after him before breaking into a run again. The gates began to close and I slipped through along with several other latecomers. With a resounding boom, the gates closed and sealed. Through the hazy distortion of the energy shield I could see the tree line off in the distance, soon the quiet plains in between would be covered in smoke, debris and blood.
I ran down the main road until I arrived at the final ring of trenches. There, I lowered myself down and set off again, I tapped a nearby Lieutenant’s shoulder and asked for Major Daramis’s location. He pointed and I thanked him. As I approached, I could overhear her giving final orders to the troops nearby and in the other rings.
“Major, could you use another soldier?” She turned around and looked at me with a grin like I hadn’t seen in years.
“Always Commander, even if you’re Navy now.”
I saluted, “Once infantry, always infantry Major. Where do you need me?”
She didn’t hesitate, “I’m going to command from the center. Captain Noe is taking the left flank and I’ve got Sergeant Redding on the right but he’s still pretty green. He only made squad leader a month ago. Our defense would be a more unified if you would take command over Redding’s men.”
“I’ll break it to him easy.” She nodded and moved to the side, clearing the way for a squad of troopers double timing it through the trench.
I started toward my new assignment, paused beside her. “After this is all over, I want you to seriously consider transferring to the Navy, we could really use you.”
“We’ll see sir.”
A voice sounded in my ear, “Commander? OP Three, I have movement five kilometers due west.”
I keyed my comm, “Acknowledged. Yofin, what have we got?”
She responded instantly, “Their whole force is moving sir, this looks like it. They’ll be in maximum firing range in two minutes.”
“Right, Rogue out.” I met Dara’s eye, “Party’s on.” She nodded grimly, checked her rifle and saluted.
“Good luck Commander.”
I returned her salute, “And to you.” I made it through the trenches faster than I’d thought I would and found Sergeant Redding’s squad with ease. He acknowledged the abrupt change in command without expression. I glanced over his deployment and nodded my approval. He may have been lacking in combat experience, but he knew his stuff.
I keyed my comm again. “Where are they OP Three?”
“Four kilometers and closing fast, I see infantry mixed with artillery, no air units yet.”
“Acknowledged, attention all sniper units, hold fire until my order. Artillery, begin bombardment at three kilometers”
I stepped up to the trench wall, squeezing in between two other troopers. “Rogue to Daramis.”
“Go ahead Commander.”
“Major, after the artillery and snipers open up, you may fire at your discretion.”
“Thank you sir.”
“OP Three, three kilometers and closing.”
“Artillery, open fire!”
With the thunderous roar of nearly sixty artillery pieces, the Battle of New Downtime began. I watched the approaching forces to see the results. I wasn’t disappointed. Shells burst all through the formation, flinging troopers into the air and causing the ranks to disintegrate into chaos.
The trooper beside me snickered, “They weren’t expecting that.” The approaching troopers increased their speed. They seem intent to overwhelm us with sheer numbers.
“Snipers, fire at will.” Acknowledgements sounded in my ear, followed immediately by Dara’s.
“All forward units hold fire until my order. Remember you’re the only thing standing between the Dominion and all those civilians. Aim high.” The enemy artillery began to return fire. Above our heads shells exploded against the shield. They were close enough now to be seen as individuals, any time now Dara would order... “Ready weapons!” Simultaneously every trooper on the line flipped off the safeties and sighted along their rifles.
“FIRE!”
With another roar, five hundred rifles opened up. The approaching line collapsed under the withering hail. Return fire began to fill the air around us. An energy bolt struck the ground not more than 6 inches from my nose. Blinking dirt from my eyes, I cursed and reached up, slapped my visor down. Maybe Navy had made me a bit rusty. The harsh tones of blaster cannons filled the air as the jury rigged emplacements began sweeping the lead ranks.
More troopers fell. A shriek to my right, cut off almost before it began. A soft grunt beside me. I glanced over, the trooper to my right slid to the trench floor, his head missing. I forced my attention back to my line of fire. No time to call a medic, one wasn’t necessary. A beep from my rifle as it clicked empty. Eject the cartridge, slap a new one into place, resume fire.
Endless seconds passed. More bursts from above. Another man near me dropped. An energy bolt passed me so close I could feel the heat. Another reload, maintain fire. Yofin’s voice sounded in my ear. “Their first wave is falling back Commander, second wave forming out of rifle range.”
Dara had apparently also noticed the retreat. “Cease fire! Squad leaders, call out losses.”
“Acknowledged,” I grunted back. I released the trigger, turned and slid down the trench wall. Around me, troopers did the same. Medics raced past tending to the wounded and carrying fatalities out.
I looked around and motioned over to Redding. He gave me a quick tally and I called it in to Dara, “Major? Right flank has thirteen down, seven killed.”
Dara grimly absorbed the casualty reports then ordered replacements from the forces on the eastern side of the city. Throughout the entire time, the artillery fire on both sides continued non-stop.
“OP Three, they’re moving again sir!”
“Ready weapons!”
I stood up, looked outward. I slapped a new cartridge into my rifle; made sure my visor was locked and sighted. Again the forward lines came into focus. This time, missiles from above and behind me began screaming outward toward the vehicles mixed in.
“FIRE!”
Once again the fusillade of weapons fire cut through the lines like a scythe. This time however, their onward movement continued. I could begin to distinguish facial features when Dara’s calm voice sounded. “Flanks begin pulling back to second line. Center, we hold to cover their retreat.”
I spun around and shouted at the troopers nearby. “You heard the Major, fall back! Move! Move! Move!” As the last man in the area passed me heading for a cross trench, I fell in behind them double timing it through the trenches.
“Center units, fall back! Flanks, give us some cover!”
I shouted, “Rifles up! Fire!”
Dara passed me and shouted over the tumult of battle, “That’s it, we’re clear!”
I slapped a switch. Anyone who entered the first line of trenches or any of the crossovers to it would be in for a nasty surprise now.
“Commander, we won’t be able to hold them much longer. I recommend falling back into the city.”
I grimaced. “I was afraid of that. Yofin, where’s the fleet?”
“They have engaged the Dominion’s forces outside the sixth planet sir. Estimating another two hours before they can begin evacuation.”
“Blast! Ok, Dara, pull back to within the walls. Yofin, I need all Militia units on the walls. Also, inform the shield techs they’ll need to pull the shield back in to the wall’s perimeter.”
“Aye sir.”
Dara waited until I had completed my order before issuing her own. “You need to order the retreat sir.”
I smirked, “I prefer to call it ‘redeployment’, Major.” She grinned back at me.
“All forces, this is Commander Rogue, fall back to the city. Colonel Michaels, initiate Foul Nest. Missile teams, give us as much cover as you can.”
I nodded once toward Dara, “Fall back Major.”
“Aye sir. FALL BACK!”
I turned back to cover the retreat but Dara yanked me back down. “Sir, as senior officer you have to evacuate to the city.”
I stood silently, grappling with my need to stay with the men and the fact that she was right. “All right Major, but you and your people better be right behind me.”
“Naturally Commander.” She smacked my shoulder, then stood up and began firing back toward the enemy lines, barely a stone’s throw away. I joined the flow of men back to the city.
Passing the third and final line of trenches, I glanced back. Dara and her troops were still holding firm. Dominion forces reached the first trench and dropped in. She tossed a grenade, watched the result, then began retreating.
I passed through the hatch into the city. Militia forces were already taking up positions behind and along the top of the wall giving our retreat cover. I found a ramp and headed up to the top of the wall.
Looking out over the parapet, I saw the first and second lines of trenches had been completely overrun. The artillery pieces placed around the city had also been taken but my order to Michaels had had the crews render them useless. To my left, I saw Dara and her final few troops in a running light fight with the Dominion forces. A grenade from the Dominion flew over her head and detonated. The trench wall ahead of her and her squad collapsed. They were cut off from the city.
I shouted to the men nearby. “Cover fire, 7 o’clock!” We opened up on the Dominion but to no avail, as I watched Dara and her squad were overrun. I shouted again and then raced back down the ramp. I saw a familiar figure, “Redding! With me.” He didn’t hesitate, motioned toward his men and they immediately followed me back toward the now closed hatch. Captain Noe saw me and ran to intercepted.
“Commander no! You can’t go out there sir. She’s already dead!”
“You don’t believe that anymore than I do Captain! Now are you with me or not?”
“I can’t allow you to endanger the city sir; and that’s exactly what you’ll do if you open that hatch!” From the hatch a loud crash. In a way, I was calmed by it. He was right but I couldn’t -- wouldn’t -- accept what it entailed.”
“Blast it Jay’em! We’re not leaving her out there!”
“If she’s alive sir, we’ll bring her home. All for one.” I looked at him, and my mind’s eye flashed back to Arneb IV, when the four survivors of our squad, Captain Daramis, Lieutenant Noe, Private Redding and myself, gathered around a dirty table in a run down bar to toast fallen comrades, and vowed to watch over each other. All for one, one for all.
Troopers ran past me hurrying to their posts. I saw a few straggling civilians being herded by Militia into the shelters before they too rushed to their stations.
“Commander!”
I stopped and turned toward the sound. A young man carrying a sniper rifle caught up and saluted. “Corporal?”
“Sir, all snipers are in position.”
“Excellent, fire on my command.”
“Yes sir!” He turned and vanished into the front door of the last tall building before the city walls. I stared for a second after him before breaking into a run again. The gates began to close and I slipped through along with several other latecomers. With a resounding boom, the gates closed and sealed. Through the hazy distortion of the energy shield I could see the tree line off in the distance, soon the quiet plains in between would be covered in smoke, debris and blood.
I ran down the main road until I arrived at the final ring of trenches. There, I lowered myself down and set off again, I tapped a nearby Lieutenant’s shoulder and asked for Major Daramis’s location. He pointed and I thanked him. As I approached, I could overhear her giving final orders to the troops nearby and in the other rings.
“Major, could you use another soldier?” She turned around and looked at me with a grin like I hadn’t seen in years.
“Always Commander, even if you’re Navy now.”
I saluted, “Once infantry, always infantry Major. Where do you need me?”
She didn’t hesitate, “I’m going to command from the center. Captain Noe is taking the left flank and I’ve got Sergeant Redding on the right but he’s still pretty green. He only made squad leader a month ago. Our defense would be a more unified if you would take command over Redding’s men.”
“I’ll break it to him easy.” She nodded and moved to the side, clearing the way for a squad of troopers double timing it through the trench.
I started toward my new assignment, paused beside her. “After this is all over, I want you to seriously consider transferring to the Navy, we could really use you.”
“We’ll see sir.”
A voice sounded in my ear, “Commander? OP Three, I have movement five kilometers due west.”
I keyed my comm, “Acknowledged. Yofin, what have we got?”
She responded instantly, “Their whole force is moving sir, this looks like it. They’ll be in maximum firing range in two minutes.”
“Right, Rogue out.” I met Dara’s eye, “Party’s on.” She nodded grimly, checked her rifle and saluted.
“Good luck Commander.”
I returned her salute, “And to you.” I made it through the trenches faster than I’d thought I would and found Sergeant Redding’s squad with ease. He acknowledged the abrupt change in command without expression. I glanced over his deployment and nodded my approval. He may have been lacking in combat experience, but he knew his stuff.
I keyed my comm again. “Where are they OP Three?”
“Four kilometers and closing fast, I see infantry mixed with artillery, no air units yet.”
“Acknowledged, attention all sniper units, hold fire until my order. Artillery, begin bombardment at three kilometers”
I stepped up to the trench wall, squeezing in between two other troopers. “Rogue to Daramis.”
“Go ahead Commander.”
“Major, after the artillery and snipers open up, you may fire at your discretion.”
“Thank you sir.”
“OP Three, three kilometers and closing.”
“Artillery, open fire!”
With the thunderous roar of nearly sixty artillery pieces, the Battle of New Downtime began. I watched the approaching forces to see the results. I wasn’t disappointed. Shells burst all through the formation, flinging troopers into the air and causing the ranks to disintegrate into chaos.
The trooper beside me snickered, “They weren’t expecting that.” The approaching troopers increased their speed. They seem intent to overwhelm us with sheer numbers.
“Snipers, fire at will.” Acknowledgements sounded in my ear, followed immediately by Dara’s.
“All forward units hold fire until my order. Remember you’re the only thing standing between the Dominion and all those civilians. Aim high.” The enemy artillery began to return fire. Above our heads shells exploded against the shield. They were close enough now to be seen as individuals, any time now Dara would order... “Ready weapons!” Simultaneously every trooper on the line flipped off the safeties and sighted along their rifles.
“FIRE!”
With another roar, five hundred rifles opened up. The approaching line collapsed under the withering hail. Return fire began to fill the air around us. An energy bolt struck the ground not more than 6 inches from my nose. Blinking dirt from my eyes, I cursed and reached up, slapped my visor down. Maybe Navy had made me a bit rusty. The harsh tones of blaster cannons filled the air as the jury rigged emplacements began sweeping the lead ranks.
More troopers fell. A shriek to my right, cut off almost before it began. A soft grunt beside me. I glanced over, the trooper to my right slid to the trench floor, his head missing. I forced my attention back to my line of fire. No time to call a medic, one wasn’t necessary. A beep from my rifle as it clicked empty. Eject the cartridge, slap a new one into place, resume fire.
Endless seconds passed. More bursts from above. Another man near me dropped. An energy bolt passed me so close I could feel the heat. Another reload, maintain fire. Yofin’s voice sounded in my ear. “Their first wave is falling back Commander, second wave forming out of rifle range.”
Dara had apparently also noticed the retreat. “Cease fire! Squad leaders, call out losses.”
“Acknowledged,” I grunted back. I released the trigger, turned and slid down the trench wall. Around me, troopers did the same. Medics raced past tending to the wounded and carrying fatalities out.
I looked around and motioned over to Redding. He gave me a quick tally and I called it in to Dara, “Major? Right flank has thirteen down, seven killed.”
Dara grimly absorbed the casualty reports then ordered replacements from the forces on the eastern side of the city. Throughout the entire time, the artillery fire on both sides continued non-stop.
“OP Three, they’re moving again sir!”
“Ready weapons!”
I stood up, looked outward. I slapped a new cartridge into my rifle; made sure my visor was locked and sighted. Again the forward lines came into focus. This time, missiles from above and behind me began screaming outward toward the vehicles mixed in.
“FIRE!”
Once again the fusillade of weapons fire cut through the lines like a scythe. This time however, their onward movement continued. I could begin to distinguish facial features when Dara’s calm voice sounded. “Flanks begin pulling back to second line. Center, we hold to cover their retreat.”
I spun around and shouted at the troopers nearby. “You heard the Major, fall back! Move! Move! Move!” As the last man in the area passed me heading for a cross trench, I fell in behind them double timing it through the trenches.
“Center units, fall back! Flanks, give us some cover!”
I shouted, “Rifles up! Fire!”
Dara passed me and shouted over the tumult of battle, “That’s it, we’re clear!”
I slapped a switch. Anyone who entered the first line of trenches or any of the crossovers to it would be in for a nasty surprise now.
“Commander, we won’t be able to hold them much longer. I recommend falling back into the city.”
I grimaced. “I was afraid of that. Yofin, where’s the fleet?”
“They have engaged the Dominion’s forces outside the sixth planet sir. Estimating another two hours before they can begin evacuation.”
“Blast! Ok, Dara, pull back to within the walls. Yofin, I need all Militia units on the walls. Also, inform the shield techs they’ll need to pull the shield back in to the wall’s perimeter.”
“Aye sir.”
Dara waited until I had completed my order before issuing her own. “You need to order the retreat sir.”
I smirked, “I prefer to call it ‘redeployment’, Major.” She grinned back at me.
“All forces, this is Commander Rogue, fall back to the city. Colonel Michaels, initiate Foul Nest. Missile teams, give us as much cover as you can.”
I nodded once toward Dara, “Fall back Major.”
“Aye sir. FALL BACK!”
I turned back to cover the retreat but Dara yanked me back down. “Sir, as senior officer you have to evacuate to the city.”
I stood silently, grappling with my need to stay with the men and the fact that she was right. “All right Major, but you and your people better be right behind me.”
“Naturally Commander.” She smacked my shoulder, then stood up and began firing back toward the enemy lines, barely a stone’s throw away. I joined the flow of men back to the city.
Passing the third and final line of trenches, I glanced back. Dara and her troops were still holding firm. Dominion forces reached the first trench and dropped in. She tossed a grenade, watched the result, then began retreating.
I passed through the hatch into the city. Militia forces were already taking up positions behind and along the top of the wall giving our retreat cover. I found a ramp and headed up to the top of the wall.
Looking out over the parapet, I saw the first and second lines of trenches had been completely overrun. The artillery pieces placed around the city had also been taken but my order to Michaels had had the crews render them useless. To my left, I saw Dara and her final few troops in a running light fight with the Dominion forces. A grenade from the Dominion flew over her head and detonated. The trench wall ahead of her and her squad collapsed. They were cut off from the city.
I shouted to the men nearby. “Cover fire, 7 o’clock!” We opened up on the Dominion but to no avail, as I watched Dara and her squad were overrun. I shouted again and then raced back down the ramp. I saw a familiar figure, “Redding! With me.” He didn’t hesitate, motioned toward his men and they immediately followed me back toward the now closed hatch. Captain Noe saw me and ran to intercepted.
“Commander no! You can’t go out there sir. She’s already dead!”
“You don’t believe that anymore than I do Captain! Now are you with me or not?”
“I can’t allow you to endanger the city sir; and that’s exactly what you’ll do if you open that hatch!” From the hatch a loud crash. In a way, I was calmed by it. He was right but I couldn’t -- wouldn’t -- accept what it entailed.”
“Blast it Jay’em! We’re not leaving her out there!”
“If she’s alive sir, we’ll bring her home. All for one.” I looked at him, and my mind’s eye flashed back to Arneb IV, when the four survivors of our squad, Captain Daramis, Lieutenant Noe, Private Redding and myself, gathered around a dirty table in a run down bar to toast fallen comrades, and vowed to watch over each other. All for one, one for all.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
What happens in Vegas...Monday
After the night before, I can completely understand why the first thing on the conference agenda didn't begin until 10 am, and that was only for the Board and Committee members. The first thing that average delegates were able to attend would be seminars beginning at 11:15 am. My supervisor glanced at them the night before and neither caught his fancy, either for himself or for me. So instead of attending, we slept in, went to breakfast at the Rio's Carnival World Buffet. To say it was delicious would not do it justice. Soooooooooooo good.
Then we decided to see some sights and headed out to Hoover Dam. Having just saw Transformers, it felt like I'd just been there, but while the Dam was just as large as I imagined, the bridges that connected the towers were a lot smaller than they looked. Based on the size of the bridges, Starscream isn't really that big of a Transformer. Go figure.
Anyway, after we spent about 30 minutes at the Dam, we headed back to Vegas and attended the afternoon seminars. The one we attended was called, "Rental Taxation Issues". Let me tell you something. That thing wasn't nearly as exciting as it sounds. Though it started good, the suit that was opening the session began by saying that taxes had to be paid yada yada bad things happen when you don't pay your taxes and he had a friend who was going to tell us what happened when you don't pay your taxes. Elvis came on stage and sang "Jailhouse Rock". He was good! I still don't like Elvis though.
After that seminar (it honestly wasn't that bad), we met up with our company's group and one of our Regional managers was disappointed we'd already gone to the Dam because he hadn't seen it before, but since it was only a 25 min drive, and the dinner wasn't for another two hours my supervisor decided to go again. So we all piled into the van and headed out again. Back to the Dam, oohed and aaahed then headed back to Vegas, up to our respective rooms to change for Monday's evening activities.
Dinner was at the Flamingo along with an awards ceremony. It was a decent buffet though the chicken was dry. After dinner we were all given our tickets for the next show. After Sunday's "entertainment" I was a bit hesitant. But our company was sponsoring the event I attended. I got the added perk that our company got front row seats (I was literally resting my elbow on the stage.)
Monday night we saw The Second City. It's an improv comedy show. Saturday Night Live meets Who's line is it anyway? They were good, I had many hearty laughs though some of their stuff was a tad edgy. Though compared to Cool, they were positively prudish.
After the show, our group headed out to another night on the town. A couple of bars including one that was very good, across the street from the Mirage, outdoors, shaped like a carousel, with a live band. The music was great, the drinks I wouldn't know because I abstained. Simply because I was so tired that any additional alcohol (I'd had a drink at the show) and I'd fall asleep. Eventually I was nodding off enough that the big boss of the group handed me a twenty and told me to catch a cab. Fare was $7 back to the resort, I tipped the guy $3, went to the room and fell asleep. Tomorrow was my flight home.
Then we decided to see some sights and headed out to Hoover Dam. Having just saw Transformers, it felt like I'd just been there, but while the Dam was just as large as I imagined, the bridges that connected the towers were a lot smaller than they looked. Based on the size of the bridges, Starscream isn't really that big of a Transformer. Go figure.
Anyway, after we spent about 30 minutes at the Dam, we headed back to Vegas and attended the afternoon seminars. The one we attended was called, "Rental Taxation Issues". Let me tell you something. That thing wasn't nearly as exciting as it sounds. Though it started good, the suit that was opening the session began by saying that taxes had to be paid yada yada bad things happen when you don't pay your taxes and he had a friend who was going to tell us what happened when you don't pay your taxes. Elvis came on stage and sang "Jailhouse Rock". He was good! I still don't like Elvis though.
After that seminar (it honestly wasn't that bad), we met up with our company's group and one of our Regional managers was disappointed we'd already gone to the Dam because he hadn't seen it before, but since it was only a 25 min drive, and the dinner wasn't for another two hours my supervisor decided to go again. So we all piled into the van and headed out again. Back to the Dam, oohed and aaahed then headed back to Vegas, up to our respective rooms to change for Monday's evening activities.
Dinner was at the Flamingo along with an awards ceremony. It was a decent buffet though the chicken was dry. After dinner we were all given our tickets for the next show. After Sunday's "entertainment" I was a bit hesitant. But our company was sponsoring the event I attended. I got the added perk that our company got front row seats (I was literally resting my elbow on the stage.)
Monday night we saw The Second City. It's an improv comedy show. Saturday Night Live meets Who's line is it anyway? They were good, I had many hearty laughs though some of their stuff was a tad edgy. Though compared to Cool, they were positively prudish.
After the show, our group headed out to another night on the town. A couple of bars including one that was very good, across the street from the Mirage, outdoors, shaped like a carousel, with a live band. The music was great, the drinks I wouldn't know because I abstained. Simply because I was so tired that any additional alcohol (I'd had a drink at the show) and I'd fall asleep. Eventually I was nodding off enough that the big boss of the group handed me a twenty and told me to catch a cab. Fare was $7 back to the resort, I tipped the guy $3, went to the room and fell asleep. Tomorrow was my flight home.
Monday, October 8, 2007
If you don't like it here then leave!!
Sorry to interrupt my summary of my trip to Vegas but I saw something over the weekend that so angered me I had to post a rant. I live in a decent apartment complex and my neighbors are a varied mix of folks. Some have political bumper stickers, some don't. I have my Darth Vader antenna topper (Thanks again Mum!) which I am immensely proud of. Anyway, I pulled into my building's parking lot and I saw a car parked with the this on a bumper sticker:
Kansas - As bigoted as you think
Don't get me wrong, the only connection I have to Kansas is, I currently live here and my wife is from here though she, like myself, was born in Missouri, unlike me, she lived the majority of her life here. I on the other hand don't really have a "home state". I call Missouri my home since, in bits and pieces I have spent more time in Missouri than anywhere else. But I'm definitely Midwestern and while Kansas isn't home, it's close enough.
This state is NOT bigoted! I won't deny there aren't racists here, there are racists everywhere, for a short time there was one in my family (thank god my aunt divorced that loser).
I better than anyone should know this. Looking at me, you see a white guy, looking at my name, you see a Hispanic. Now I've seen employers (and colleges) who were obviously expecting to see a "minority" walk through their door for an interview and I've seen people who weren't expecting a white guy to have Mexican blood. But these are so few and far between as to be negligible.
In a way, that sticker is right, this state is only as bigoted as you think. Facts are it isn't but that won't convince the those who want to believe it is.
Oh, and the most ironic thing (least to me) is that right above that sticker (they've got it in their rear windshield) is a sticker for Kansas State University.
So I'll say it again...you think this state is so bad, then get out of it! It may not be home, but it's good enough for me.
Kansas - As bigoted as you think
Don't get me wrong, the only connection I have to Kansas is, I currently live here and my wife is from here though she, like myself, was born in Missouri, unlike me, she lived the majority of her life here. I on the other hand don't really have a "home state". I call Missouri my home since, in bits and pieces I have spent more time in Missouri than anywhere else. But I'm definitely Midwestern and while Kansas isn't home, it's close enough.
This state is NOT bigoted! I won't deny there aren't racists here, there are racists everywhere, for a short time there was one in my family (thank god my aunt divorced that loser).
I better than anyone should know this. Looking at me, you see a white guy, looking at my name, you see a Hispanic. Now I've seen employers (and colleges) who were obviously expecting to see a "minority" walk through their door for an interview and I've seen people who weren't expecting a white guy to have Mexican blood. But these are so few and far between as to be negligible.
In a way, that sticker is right, this state is only as bigoted as you think. Facts are it isn't but that won't convince the those who want to believe it is.
Oh, and the most ironic thing (least to me) is that right above that sticker (they've got it in their rear windshield) is a sticker for Kansas State University.
So I'll say it again...you think this state is so bad, then get out of it! It may not be home, but it's good enough for me.
Friday, October 5, 2007
What happens in Vegas...Sunday
Sunday began well. I awoke feeling semi-rested and went about my morning routines. Breakfast was served at the conference, it was good (you really can't screw up fruit and pastries) and the first speaker got up. "Welcome to..." blah blah blah. Next came introductions of new companies in the organization. Brief descriptions of inventory and what areas they're seeking for their clients. Next came those companies who had purchased booth space so they got a few extra minutes to extol not only their inventory, but also the benefits of their companies and services that they provide in addition to travel services (travel insurance, accounting, property management software, etc)
Next came the keynote address. Dan Thurman (I highly recommend you watch the video) is a motivational speaker who mixed acrobatics (handstands, backflips, etc) with juggling and unicycle riding into his presentation. At one point he was riding his unicycle while juggling a coffee mug, a bowling pin, and a machete. Definitely one of the best presentations I've ever seen.
Lunch! Again, you can't go wrong with salad and cold cut sandwich buffets. Then came more introductions, these just of normal members. Again, what inventory we get, what areas we're looking for, etc. Then we "networked" and I was able to get in contact with several people that have inventory I'll be needing and with several that needed stuff that I have, mainly Tennessee.
That was it for the actual "conference" day, now came the entertainment.
Later that evening, we all met at 6 pm for cocktails at the Paris Casino at the Risque' lounge. Had a couple of drinks, some hors d’œuvres and some fun times with friends.
Moved on to dinner at the Le Provencal Restaurant within the casino. Bread was great, I always judge a restaurant by it's bread. In this case, first impressions were sorta wrong. The salad was absolutely horrible. I don't know what I ate, I know it wasn't the parsley sprig and that it was supposed to be part of the salad cause I noticed that several of the sprigs were mixed in with the rest of the greens, but it was the most bitter, horrible thing I've ever eaten. Salad was pushed to the side. Main course, some salmon (meh), chicken with capers (good) and some angel hair pasta (would have been perfect except it was drenched in tomato sauce and I don't like tomato sauce).
Then we moved to our scheduled show for the evening. We went to see Anthony Cools. To say that his performance was good would be true, he was good. To say that his show was shocking...would be understating the facts. JM would have died. Sean would have been in heaven.
The show was warmed up by a couple of girls from the neighboring show, "Oh la la", from the title, I'm sure you can gather what kind of show it is. The girls (Fifi and I can't remember the other) and were dressed in skimpy maid uniforms and by the end of their performance they were in thongs and bras only.
Then came Cool, he joked with the crowd, called for volunteers and then hypnotized them, weeded out those who didn't go under and then started the actual "show" by having all those still on stage (3 guys, 3 girls) believe they were in an orchestra playing the William Tell Overture. Some of them really got into it.
Next act, one poor fellow was picked by Cools to think that every time he heard Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire, he thought his....rear sphincter...was experiencing a burning pain that could only be extinguished by dragging his butt across the stage for the duration of the song being played.
Then one of the girls was told that ever time her name was called a voice yelled out some sort of intensely personal information about her that could be heard in the back of the room. Boy you never seen someone blush so hard...and damn if she didn't try and figure out where that voice was coming from.
Then another girl was convinced that she had completely forgotten her name unless she sang "Happy Birthday" first.
Then the...uh, colorful, things started. No nudity, even partial or "wardrobe malfunctions" were allowed, if any of the girls were in mini or short skirts, their laps were covered with a blanket.
The subjects were told they were all porn stars trying out for a film and they had to demonstrate their talents with a chair. I must say, one of the girls had to have a professional background in her past...not to mention, I can also say with complete confidence that she was not wearing a bra and that the room she saw herself in was extremely cold. If you need that further explained...don't ask.
Her husband was also a subject (didn't learn they were married until later) and boy they must have interesting weekends.
There were a couple of other similarly themed performances that I won't mention...unless asked ;)
He finished by telling the subjects that when he shook their hand, they would experience the most intense orgasm they'd ever had for as long as their hands were touching. Surprisingly the girls were mostly silent (though one did kinda moan)...the guys on the other hand....well, one was quiet, the other moaned then kinda straighted and exclaimed, "I'm done!" Professional lady's husband was yelling at the top of his lungs, he also happened to be Ring of fire guy and of course the song was played...so he's griping Cool's hand, yelling at the top of his lungs while scooting his butt across the stage. He wasn't the funniest though. The girl who'd forgotten her name...WOULD...NOT...LET...GO! No matter how hard Cool tried to disentangle himself, she would not let go, she even grabbed his arm with her other hand.
Finally, all were released and allowed to remember everything. Again, blushes all around, coupled with a few laughs. Audience loved it, though several (including myself) bore stunned expressions of disbelief.
Following the show, those in my company stayed in the Paris and found a little bar/live show alcove and sat around chatting, dancing (I didn't), some drinks till around 1:30 am and we headed back to our condo, exhausted.
Next came the keynote address. Dan Thurman (I highly recommend you watch the video) is a motivational speaker who mixed acrobatics (handstands, backflips, etc) with juggling and unicycle riding into his presentation. At one point he was riding his unicycle while juggling a coffee mug, a bowling pin, and a machete. Definitely one of the best presentations I've ever seen.
Lunch! Again, you can't go wrong with salad and cold cut sandwich buffets. Then came more introductions, these just of normal members. Again, what inventory we get, what areas we're looking for, etc. Then we "networked" and I was able to get in contact with several people that have inventory I'll be needing and with several that needed stuff that I have, mainly Tennessee.
That was it for the actual "conference" day, now came the entertainment.
Later that evening, we all met at 6 pm for cocktails at the Paris Casino at the Risque' lounge. Had a couple of drinks, some hors d’œuvres and some fun times with friends.
Moved on to dinner at the Le Provencal Restaurant within the casino. Bread was great, I always judge a restaurant by it's bread. In this case, first impressions were sorta wrong. The salad was absolutely horrible. I don't know what I ate, I know it wasn't the parsley sprig and that it was supposed to be part of the salad cause I noticed that several of the sprigs were mixed in with the rest of the greens, but it was the most bitter, horrible thing I've ever eaten. Salad was pushed to the side. Main course, some salmon (meh), chicken with capers (good) and some angel hair pasta (would have been perfect except it was drenched in tomato sauce and I don't like tomato sauce).
Then we moved to our scheduled show for the evening. We went to see Anthony Cools. To say that his performance was good would be true, he was good. To say that his show was shocking...would be understating the facts. JM would have died. Sean would have been in heaven.
The show was warmed up by a couple of girls from the neighboring show, "Oh la la", from the title, I'm sure you can gather what kind of show it is. The girls (Fifi and I can't remember the other) and were dressed in skimpy maid uniforms and by the end of their performance they were in thongs and bras only.
Then came Cool, he joked with the crowd, called for volunteers and then hypnotized them, weeded out those who didn't go under and then started the actual "show" by having all those still on stage (3 guys, 3 girls) believe they were in an orchestra playing the William Tell Overture. Some of them really got into it.
Next act, one poor fellow was picked by Cools to think that every time he heard Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire, he thought his....rear sphincter...was experiencing a burning pain that could only be extinguished by dragging his butt across the stage for the duration of the song being played.
Then one of the girls was told that ever time her name was called a voice yelled out some sort of intensely personal information about her that could be heard in the back of the room. Boy you never seen someone blush so hard...and damn if she didn't try and figure out where that voice was coming from.
Then another girl was convinced that she had completely forgotten her name unless she sang "Happy Birthday" first.
Then the...uh, colorful, things started. No nudity, even partial or "wardrobe malfunctions" were allowed, if any of the girls were in mini or short skirts, their laps were covered with a blanket.
The subjects were told they were all porn stars trying out for a film and they had to demonstrate their talents with a chair. I must say, one of the girls had to have a professional background in her past...not to mention, I can also say with complete confidence that she was not wearing a bra and that the room she saw herself in was extremely cold. If you need that further explained...don't ask.
Her husband was also a subject (didn't learn they were married until later) and boy they must have interesting weekends.
There were a couple of other similarly themed performances that I won't mention...unless asked ;)
He finished by telling the subjects that when he shook their hand, they would experience the most intense orgasm they'd ever had for as long as their hands were touching. Surprisingly the girls were mostly silent (though one did kinda moan)...the guys on the other hand....well, one was quiet, the other moaned then kinda straighted and exclaimed, "I'm done!" Professional lady's husband was yelling at the top of his lungs, he also happened to be Ring of fire guy and of course the song was played...so he's griping Cool's hand, yelling at the top of his lungs while scooting his butt across the stage. He wasn't the funniest though. The girl who'd forgotten her name...WOULD...NOT...LET...GO! No matter how hard Cool tried to disentangle himself, she would not let go, she even grabbed his arm with her other hand.
Finally, all were released and allowed to remember everything. Again, blushes all around, coupled with a few laughs. Audience loved it, though several (including myself) bore stunned expressions of disbelief.
Following the show, those in my company stayed in the Paris and found a little bar/live show alcove and sat around chatting, dancing (I didn't), some drinks till around 1:30 am and we headed back to our condo, exhausted.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
What happens in Vegas...Saturday
Up bright and early for my flight. Get to the airport and check in, get my boarding pass, go through "Security" and get to my gate. Wonder of wonders, our flight actually arrives on time, loads and takes off on schedule! Trips off to a great start. Enter Murphy. Storms over the Rockies, gotta detour around them. So I get a great view of Santa Fe, New Mex and then Hoover Dam as we fly into Sin City. Flight does land on time however, take that Murphy! We land, deplane, get our bags, and miracle of miracles, even my supervisor's (who literally was the last man on the plane just before the door was sealed) bag made it to LV unharmed. Murphy's pissed by now. He plots revenge, he runs down his list of options, target selected, locked...fire at will.
We spend the next hour in line at the rental car agency finally make it to the desk and get our car (and a discount) and head to the garage. Speak to the valets and they say they'll have our car up momentarily. 30 minutes later, we're still waiting. Valet supervisor goes and gets the car himself, pulls it up and hands us the keys, after writing on our paperwork we get an additional 15% discount. So, 90 minutes after landing, flight alone was only 3 hours mind you, we're off! Damn you Murphy.
My first ground level sight of the Strip was magnificent. Truly impressed, yeah, I've seen it hundreds of time on TV and all, but still, nothing compares to actually driving down Las Vegas Blvd and seeing the Mandalay Bay, Luxor, New York, Excalibur, Bellagio, Caesar's Palace etc. The conference I was there to attend was being held at the Flamingo and the majority of the delegates were staying there. My supervisor and I elected to stay at a condo resort our company offers called the Wyndham Grand Desert in a 2 bedroom unit. Room was awesome, as was the resort itself, though I admit all I did at it was sleep.
After we arrived, we registered at the conference, received our packets and then met up with the rest of our company's delegation. We have several offices scattered across the country and each had sent at least one person. Our group then headed to lunch at the Flamingo's Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville restaurant. Food was excellent (I had a rum and coke [yeah, it was 3 pm Vegas time, but it was 5 pm my time and I felt like a drink] mushroom burger and fries), and there were guys in costumes on stilts walking around joking with the patrons and tying balloons into hats for the ladies. We had a great time.
We left the restaurant and just meandered through the casino and the hotel's lobby/shops. I saw my first Elvis impersonator, he was okay...and I saw 8 separate brides in the lobby within one hour.
After that, my supervisor and I went to check into our resort, got to our room and changed into formal wear for the conference's reception/dinner. Finally got to meet many of the people I've been working with via email/phone for the past year. It was great. Dinner...was not. We had a meal catered by the Flamingo, I ordered the steak. It was a piece of shoe leather. Now, I admit I'm biased against well done meat, I like my steak rare, however, one of the people seated at my table prefers his steak well done, and even he said it was awful. *shrugs* What'dya do?
After dinner everyone was pretty exhausted since we'd all flown in on Saturday, so we headed home looking forward to tomorrow!
We spend the next hour in line at the rental car agency finally make it to the desk and get our car (and a discount) and head to the garage. Speak to the valets and they say they'll have our car up momentarily. 30 minutes later, we're still waiting. Valet supervisor goes and gets the car himself, pulls it up and hands us the keys, after writing on our paperwork we get an additional 15% discount. So, 90 minutes after landing, flight alone was only 3 hours mind you, we're off! Damn you Murphy.
My first ground level sight of the Strip was magnificent. Truly impressed, yeah, I've seen it hundreds of time on TV and all, but still, nothing compares to actually driving down Las Vegas Blvd and seeing the Mandalay Bay, Luxor, New York, Excalibur, Bellagio, Caesar's Palace etc. The conference I was there to attend was being held at the Flamingo and the majority of the delegates were staying there. My supervisor and I elected to stay at a condo resort our company offers called the Wyndham Grand Desert in a 2 bedroom unit. Room was awesome, as was the resort itself, though I admit all I did at it was sleep.
After we arrived, we registered at the conference, received our packets and then met up with the rest of our company's delegation. We have several offices scattered across the country and each had sent at least one person. Our group then headed to lunch at the Flamingo's Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville restaurant. Food was excellent (I had a rum and coke [yeah, it was 3 pm Vegas time, but it was 5 pm my time and I felt like a drink] mushroom burger and fries), and there were guys in costumes on stilts walking around joking with the patrons and tying balloons into hats for the ladies. We had a great time.
We left the restaurant and just meandered through the casino and the hotel's lobby/shops. I saw my first Elvis impersonator, he was okay...and I saw 8 separate brides in the lobby within one hour.
After that, my supervisor and I went to check into our resort, got to our room and changed into formal wear for the conference's reception/dinner. Finally got to meet many of the people I've been working with via email/phone for the past year. It was great. Dinner...was not. We had a meal catered by the Flamingo, I ordered the steak. It was a piece of shoe leather. Now, I admit I'm biased against well done meat, I like my steak rare, however, one of the people seated at my table prefers his steak well done, and even he said it was awful. *shrugs* What'dya do?
After dinner everyone was pretty exhausted since we'd all flown in on Saturday, so we headed home looking forward to tomorrow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)