Monday Night Football On ESPN

Is it just me or is ESPN trying too hard to make Monday Night Football appeal to "all fans"? As a fan of football and the NFL I could care less what celebraties are in the booth, who is calling the game or who is singing the opening theme song! Don't get me started on Pink and NBC! What happened there! I would have payed Bocephus whatever he wanted to keep him! I stuck with MNF during the Dennis Miller experiment, and I absolutely hated it when they got rid of Dan Dierdorf. To this day I think he is one of the top 3 color commentators in the business. Here's a quick tip for ESPN and the producers of MNF. It's only about the games, man! We only care about the games.

DT

Michael Richards aka "Cosmo Kramer" aka "Racist Pig"

Man. Just when you think you know someone, you're soon brought to the realization that you don't know them at all. Especially when it comes to celebraties. We get to see such a small part of them, and that part is fake! However that doesn't stop us from "relating" to the character they play and soon we are sucked into believing that this is who they are. It's not their fault, as they're only doing they're job, and who would really want to know that one of their favorite characters was in reality nothing like they one they played on tv or in the movies? Such is the case with Michael Richards. You also know him as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. I was a huge fan of this show and of Richards taping episodes twice a day and watching them in the evening, even though I have the first three seasons on dvd. Now, I don't know if I can ever watch the show again. After seeing and hearing the venom spewed forth by Mr. Richards I will have a hard time laughing at his character from now on. I'm a black guy and even though I only saw a hand full of African Amercians even appear on the show, it was still one of my favorites and I will miss watching it. Am I being to harsh on Mr. Richards? I don't think so. He will apologize for the remarks tonight on the David Lettermen show, when he appears via sattelite with his friend Jerry Seinfeld, but will it be genuine? Or did Jerry Seinfeld make the guy the get up there and apologize just keep his fortune from crumbling? The Seinfeld empire could be at stake here, you know! Rumor has it that the apology is filled with tears and such to make sure we know that he's sincere. Whatever. When you speak the words he did, I will always think they are deeply seated feelings that he's always carried with him, and for that it will take more than appearance on a late night talk show even with Mr. Seinfeld himself before I am able to forgive and forget. So long Seinfeld and cast. It was nice knowing you.

DT

Avoid This Man At All Costs!

This is one angry black man, and along with all other angry black men should be avoided at all costs! Do not attempt to apprehend him, as he posseses super human strength, able to slit the throats of two full grown adults at the same time without recieving a single scratch! He used to be seen in airports hurdling benches and befriending unsuspecting decent white folks, but lately he has been relegated to the golf courses of sunny California. If you see him checking out your wife, daughter, friend, sister, neice, or cousin and they are white, you'd better get them and yourself the hell out of there! The situation will not end well, and you could all find yourselves on the business end of a machete.

DT

Movie Review: Firewall

Summary: This movie never even comes to a smolder. The plot is ridculously laughable, and the action sequences are even more hilarious. If you're a Harrison Ford fan you have to be asking yourself why he took this role.


I like Harrison Ford, and up until this point I can't think of one movie he starred in that I didn't like. Heck I even liked 7 Days, Seven Nights. (I still can't believe Anne Heche is gay! Ellen Degeneres? It's one thing to be hot and gay, but at least have good taste! Yech!) But I digress. This is the kind of movie that makes you wonder why Ford took this role. Paying off a favor for an old buddy? Maybe he lost a bet? Who knows but this movie is flawed from the beginning.

Plot: Ford's character is some big shot security guy at a major bank. He designs the computer security systems to safeguard against computer hackers. He and his family are being held hostage by a thug and his minions and will be killed unless he helps them rob the bank. They need him because only he can crack the security. Sounds good so far, right?

His character is married (Virginia Madison) with 2 children, both of which are extremely annoying. The boy also starred in Hostage with Bruce Willis which was a whole lot better than this movie. His wife is a famous architect and it just so happens that she designed the house they live in. Ain't forshadowing great? Only if it's used properly in the movie!!!!! Remember this for later in the review.

Ford gets into his car and notices the man he just had dinner with hops in the back seat and is now pointing a gun at him. "Your daughter has pretty eyes," he says to Ford. Then he shows a picture of his daughter taken by a cell phone. She is bound and gagged and is obviously in great pain. Ford lunges for him, but then remembers the guy has a gun. They get back to the house to find everyone tied up and hating life. 16 minutes later we find out why they are being held hostage! 16 minutes!!!!! Why did it take so long to get the plot going!!!

Ford is fitted with this high tech James Bond stuff before he's sent off to work. Pen that's really a video camera, and a tiny microphone. There's also a guy tailing him, and this same guy has this monitoring equipment in his car so he can see and hear everything that's going on. Right. Here's where the movie just gets plain silly. You mean to tell me that he couldn't write a simple note on a pen and paper to someone in his office letting them know he was being held hostage and to send the police to his house? Right. No one in his office wondered why he was acting so strangely? Right. He fires his secretary he's had for god knows how many years for no apparent reason and she doesn't get suspicious? Right. We later learn that he fires her only to advance the plot later on in the movie. Pathetic really. Here's the best part. Later on in the movie he is alone with the lead thug for the entire second half of the movie and he never tries to knock him over the head with a blunt object, then send the police to his home! Ford couldn't take that "limey Brit" out? Ha! This is the same guy that single handedly defended Air Force 1 against 100 terrorists, and the plane didn't crash!!!!!!!

Remember the forshadowing bit? Well, his wife designed the house so they devise a plan to escape. They are making their way through the air ducts and down into the garage. They all make it into the car, she starts it up and just as she's about to drive off the bad guy flashes a gun in the window and she's forced to abort her plan! Curses! Usually when forshadowing is used in a movie, any movie it almost always works out in favor of the victim meaning they usually don't get caught. They usually get caught earlier in the movie to build up suspense for the second attempt. They blew it on this one.

There are so many unbelievable sequences in this movie that it really makes it more of a comedy than the thriller/action movie it's supposed to be. Harrison Ford I'm ashamed of you! Next time don't sell out. Your fans deserve better than this heaping pile of pooh you've delivered here. Save your money on this one folks. If you want a good Ford action move stick with Airforce 1. It may not be totally believable, but at least its entertaining.

DT

Know Who You Are Voting For!

With the elections tomorrow I thought it would be a good idea to put you wise to exactly what party each candidate belongs to. I want the facists out of power, and if you're with me you will vote the Democratic ticket for every contested office, and that includes the garbage collectors!

Governor/Lt Governor; State of Ohio
Larry Bay/Debra K. Fries, Independent (Write-In)
Robert Fitrakis/Anita Rios, Independent
James Lundeen/Kevin Becker (Write-In)
Ted Strickland/Lee Fisher, Democratic
William S. Peirce/Mark M. Noble, Independent
J. Kenneth Blackwell/Thomas Raga, Republican


Attorney General; State of Ohio
Marc Dann, Democratic
Betty Montgomery, Republican

Auditor of State; State of Ohio
Barbara Sykes, Democratic
Mary Taylor, Republican

Secretary of State; State of Ohio
John A. Eastman, Independent
Jennifer L. Brunner, Democratic
Greg Hartmann, Republican
Timothy J. Kettler, Independent


Treasurer of State; State of Ohio
Sandra O'Brien, Republican
Richard Cordray, Democratic


State Representative; District 50
John P. Hagan, Republican
John Johnson, Democratic


State Representative; District 51
Scott Oelslager, Republican
Kody V. Gonzalez, Democratic


State Representative; District 52
William J. Healy, II, Democratic
Eric Waldrop, Republican


State Representative; District 61
Mark D. Okey, Democratic
Brant Luther, Republican

State Senator; District 29
Thomas E. West, Democratic
Kirk Schuring, Republican

State Senator; District 33
Tracey Winbush, Republican
John A. Boccieri, Democratic

US Representative; District 16
Thomas Shaw, Democratic
Ralph Regula, Republican

United States Senate
Sherrod Brown, Democratic
Mike DeWine, Republican
Richard Duncan, Independent (Write-In)


Judge; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/1/07
Terrence O'Donnell
William Michael O'Neill
Judge; Ohio State Supreme Court

Judge; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/2/07
Robert R. Cupp
Ben Espy

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 5; 6 Year Term Starting 2/09/07
John W. Wise

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 5; 6 Year Term Starting 2/10/07
Scott Gwin




State Issues

Issue 1 Referendum on Am. Sub. SB 7 - Workers' Compensation
Shall certain measures from Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 7 to reform Ohio's Workers' Compensation Law be approved?
Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 7 makes changes to Ohio's Workers' Compensation Law, including the following:
Changes procedures for determining the amount of compensation that may be received for wage loss or permanent total disability. Allows workers' compensation and benefits to be awarded to a victim of sexual assault at the workplace. Prohibits certain prisoners from receiving workers' compensation and benefits while confined to a county jail and designates the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Special Investigation Department a criminal justice agency. Exempts the addresses and phone numbers of workers receiving workers' compensation and benefits from Ohio's Public Records Law and from public access, except to journalists. Allows employment in a sheltered workshop for injured workers with traumatic brain injuries even if a worker is receiving workers' compensation and benefits. Requires that workers demonstrate "substantial aggravation" of a pre-existing condition by certain objective criteria before workers' compensation and benefits may be awarded, specifies eligibility qualifications for permanent total disability compensation, and reduces the time frame for which claims may be brought. Improves the ability to settle workers' compensation claims under certain conditions, voids certain settlement agreements upon death, increases amounts available on specified attorneys' fees and changes rules of procedure related to certain appeals. Prevents the Workers' Compensation Oversight Commission from setting a different policy than requirements outlined in Ohio law regarding who may serve as investment managers. Allows self-insuring employers to pay compensation and benefits directly under certain conditions. IF APPROVED, THESE AMENDMENTS AND ENACTMENTS WILL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY



Issue 2 Proposed Constitutional Amendment
To adopt Section 34a of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. Except as provided in this section, every employer shall pay their employees a wage rate of not less than six dollars and eighty-five cents per hour beginning January 1, 2007. On the thirtieth day of each September, beginning in 2007, this state minimum wage rate shall be increased effective the first day of the following January by the rate of inflation for the twelve month period prior to that September according to the consumer price index or its successor index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers for all items as calculated by the federal government rounded to the nearest five cents. Employees under the age of sixteen and employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or less for the preceding calendar year shall be paid a wage rate of not less than that established under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act or its successor law. This gross revenue figure shall be increased each year beginning January 1, 2008 by the change in the consumer price index or its successor index in the same manner as the required annual adjustment in the minimum wage rate set forth above rounded to the nearest one thousand dollars. An employer may pay an employee less than, but not less than half, the minimum wage rate required by this section if the employer is able to demonstrate that the employee receives tips that combined with the wages paid by the employer are equal to or greater than the minimum wage rate for all hours worked. The provisions of this section shall not apply to employees of a solely family owned and operated business who are family members of an owner. The state may issue licenses to employers authorizing payment of a wage rate below that required by this section to individuals with mental or physical disabilities that may otherwise adversely affect their opportunity for employment. As used in this section: "employer," "employee," "employ," "person" and "independent contractor" have the same meanings as under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act or its successor law, except that "employer" shall also include the state and every political subdivision and "employee" shall not include an individual employed in or about the property of the employer or individual's residence on a casual basis. Only the exemptions set forth in this section shall apply to this section. An employer shall at the time of hire provide an employee the employer's name, address, telephone number, and other contact information and update such information when it changes. An employer shall maintain a record of the name, address, occupation, pay rate, hours worked for each day worked and each amount paid an employee for a period of not less than three years following the last date the employee was employed. Such information shall be provided without charge to an employee or person acting on behalf of an employee upon request. An employee, person acting on behalf of one or more employees and/or any other interested party may file a complaint with the state for a violation of any provision of this section or any law or regulation implementing its provisions. Such complaint shall be promptly investigated and resolved by the state. The employee's name shall be kept confidential unless disclosure is necessary to resolution of a complaint and the employee consents to disclosure. The state may on its own initiative investigate an employer's compliance with this section and any law or regulation implementing its provisions. The employer shall make available to the state any records related to such investigation and other information required for enforcement of this section or any law or regulation implementing its provisions. No employer shall discharge or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee for exercising any right under this section or any law or regulation implementing its provisions or against any person for providing assistance to an employee or information regarding the same. An action for equitable and monetary relief may be brought against an employer by the attorney general and/or an employee or person acting on behalf of an employee or all similarly situated employees in any court of competent jurisdiction, including the common pleas court of an employee's county of residence, for any violation of this section or any law or regulation implementing its provisions within three years of the violation or of when the violation ceased if it was of a continuing nature, or within one year after notification to the employee of final disposition by the state of a complaint for the same violation, whichever is later. There shall be no exhaustion requirement, no procedural, pleading or burden of proof requirements beyond those that apply generally to civil suits in order to maintain such action and no liability for costs or attorney's fees on an employee except upon a finding that such action was frivolous in accordance with the same standards that apply generally in civil suits. Where an employer is found by the state or a court to have violated any provision of this section, the employer shall within thirty days of the finding pay the employee back wages, damages, and the employee's costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Damages shall be calculated as an additional two times the amount of the back wages and in the case of a violation of an anti-retaliation provision an amount set by the state or court sufficient to compensate the employee and deter future violations, but not less than one hundred fifty dollars for each day that the violation continued. Payment under this paragraph shall not be stayed pending any appeal. This section shall be liberally construed in favor of its purposes. Laws may be passed to implement its provisions and create additional remedies, increase the minimum wage rate and extend the coverage of the section, but in no manner restricting any provision of the section or the power of municipalities under Article XVIII of this constitution with respect to the same. If any part of this section is held invalid, the remainder of the section shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force and effect. A majority yes vote is necessary for passage.

SHALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE ADOPTED?
YES
NO



Issue 3 Proposed Constitutional Amendment - Gambling and college scholarships - Learn & Earn
To adopt Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
This amendment to the Constitution would:
Permit up to 31,500 slot machines at seven horse racing tracks and at two Cleveland non-track locations. Permit expanded gaming in the four Cuyahoga County locations if approved by the county's voters. Distribute the revenues as follows: 55% to the slot and casino owners and operators. 30% to the Board of Regents for college scholarships and grants to eligible students and administration of the program. The remaining revenues to be divided among local governments, race tracks for purse money, gambling addiction services, and The administration of the Gaming Integrity Commission comprised of five members appointed by the governor and the majority legislative leaders. The moneys provided by this amendment are to supplement and not supplant existing and future constitutional obligations to post-secondary education and local governments.



Issue 4 Proposed Constitutional Amendment - Restrict smoking places - Smoke Less
To adopt Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
This proposed amendment would prohibit smoking in enclosed areas except tobacco stores, private residences or nonpublic facilities, separate smoking areas in restaurants, most bars, bingo and bowling facilities, separated areas of hotels and nursing homes, and race tracks. The amendment would invalidate retroactively any ordinance or local law in effect, and would prohibit the future adoption of any ordinance or local law to the extent such ordinance or law prohibited smoking or tobacco products in anyplace exempted by the amendment.



Issue 5 Proposed Law
To enact Chapter 3794. of the Ohio Revised Code to restrict smoking in places of employment and most places open to the public. The proposed law would:
Prohibit smoking in public places and places of employment;
Exempt from the smoking restrictions certain locations, including private residences (except during the hours that the residence operates as a place of business involving non-residents of the private residence), designated smoking rooms in hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities; designated smoking areas for nursing home residents; retail tobacco stores, outdoor patios, private clubs, and family-owned and operated places of business;
Authorize a uniform statewide minimum standard to protect workers and the public from secondhand tobacco smoke;
Allow for the declaration of an establishment, facility, or outdoor area as nonsmoking;
Require the posting of "No Smoking" signs, and the removal of all ashtrays and similar receptacles from any area where smoking is prohibited;
Specify the duties of the department of health to enforce the smoking restrictions
Create in the state treasury the "smoke free indoor air fund;"
Provide for the enforcement of the smoking restrictions and for the imposition of civil fines upon anyone who violates the smoking restrictions.

SHALL THE PROPOSED LAW BE ADOPTED?
YES
NO


There you have it. In closing, if you enjoy watching this great country become the laughing stock of the world, then by all means be a sheep and vote along your Republican party lines. But if you want to take this country in a new direction vote the Democratic ticket. Hey, they can't do any worse than the crooks in office now!

DT

Before You Vote On Tuesday, Who Are You?

As we approach zero hour to voting Tuesday before you pull that lever you should ask yourself "Who Am I?" Are you a Republican or a Democrat? How do you know which is which? I will attempt to distinguish the two for you, then you can decide for yourself.

Let's start with Republicans. Until recently, the 1994 to be exact neither party had a "monopoly" on the moral authority in the country. Both parties have always been somewhat corrupt each erupting with their own scandals over the years. There was Nixon and Watergate, then Clinton with the infamous intern. Leading up to 1994 the Democrats had enough scandals in the paper to warrant Newt Gengrich's "contract with America". This contract would restore trust in the government and it succeeded in running the Dems out of power, giving the Republican party control of the house and the senate. Newt never said just how long that "trust" would remain restored, and as it turns out it didn't take long before the Republicans found themselves as the immoral party trying to regain the trust of the American people. It's remarkable how history repeats itself. What's the saying, "find me an honest politician and I'll......." I had to give you that brief history so that we can once and for all do away with the nonsensical idea that only Republicans have morals and good values! Rubbish. There's bad in everybody, just as there's good in everybody. Be wary of anyone that tells you otherwise. Here is some of what the Republican party stands for.

Small Government - Before the this current president this was true, but government spending has grown exponentially since he came to power. Small government refers to government programs such as welfare and other progams designed to assist the public. Republicans tend to have an "every man for himself" attitude. Bush's "faith based" initiatives are not only un-republican, but they're also unconstitutional. That however is an entirely different subject.

Conservative - This could mean a few different things, but I will sum it up for you. They don't like gays or lesbians. They also don't look favorably upon abortion or a woman's right to choose. That being said they are all extremely hypocrtical! Mark Foley, Tom Delay, Rudy Guiliani, Bob Ney, Bob Taft, and most recently Rev. Hogard. They guilty to some degree of the same type of behavior they supposedly disdain! Give me a break. Throw the bums out!


Now, the Democrats founded they're party on helping out the underdog. Basically they believe that the goverment should play a role in making the lives of everyone better, especially those less fortunate. This is how they get the Big Government moniker The Democrats understand that rich business owners wouldn't be so rich if it weren't for the common less fortunate man. He works in their factorys and buys their products. If the less fortunate guy wasn't there to buy those products how would the rich guy get rich????? They owe it to society to give something back to the community which is why they pay higher taxes. It's a perfect system, right? You get rich off the sweat and brow of your neighbor then you should pay more into the system. It makes sense to me, which is why I've never complained about paying taxes. It's a neccessary evil in a civilized society and I for one am willing to do my part. The "Dems" believe in social programs, such as welfare and social security, which were both Democratic programs.

So what about Bush's "Faith Based Initiatives"? Well in my opinion these are nothing more than payoffs to his base for re-electing the bum! I also question the constitutionality of these programs. Are they available to all religions or just those that the administration deems fit or acceptable. Does for instance a "Wican" or "Muslim" organization have access to the same funds if they're also doing charitable work?

The Democrats have a rap of always raising taxes, but you can't have it both ways. Do you want everyone to get a fair shake or do you want the rich to get richer and the rest of society to fend for themselves? You have to make that decision on your own. But the next time taxes are raised, ask yourself if you'd rather have your kids and grand kids pay for this huge national debt or do you want to start dealing with it now. You can't have it both ways.

DT

Gone But Not Out!

I had to take a bit of a hiatus to get the new store prepped and ready to go. We still have a long way to go before we're ready for our first customer, but things are going very smoothly. For those of you that have taken the time to come out to visit I'd like to ask what you think so far? Customers have been trickling in all day wanting to pay bills and start new service so I think we picked a great location. It should be an exciting run and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I will post finished pictures next week!

DT