Coppers

I would like to qualify my right to make the following statements based on my 24 years in law enforcement. Let me first say that I am proud to be a member of one of the best Police Departments in the country and take pride in being a "cop". I often hear stories from friends, family and others who have had less than pleasurable experiences with the police. I first explain that "I wasn't there" so I will take your side at face value. More often than not, if you are being pulled over, you did something wrong. That being said, I don't believe everybody should be ticketed. In 24 years I can't remember ever writing a speeding ticket. I do believe there are many other more productive things an officer could be doing than lecturing grandma because she rolled through a stop sign. But traffic laws do need to be enforced. I do believe there are some officers who take their authority too far, acting as more bully than protector of the public. Hearing such stories makes me angry and embarrassed. Unfortunately the general public has stereo-typed all police as heartless drones. This is not the case at all. The majority of police simply want to catch the bad guy. And remember, they are risking their life for you, doing a job most others won't.

Roger Clemens

First steroids and now infidelity. As a Red Sox fan since conception, I couldn't be happier about Rogers recent troubles. That's what he gets for signing a deal with the devil, and by devil I mean the New York Yankees. Wade Boggs had a full head of hair before he left for the devils den. Johnny Damon's skills have also diminished greatly since becoming a traitor to the nation. Although Johnny wasn't a true Red Sox to begin with it still disgusts me to see him in a Yankee uniform because he was part of bringing the Red Sox their first World Series in 86 years. If he had gone to any other team, he would have remained a Red Sox favorite for life. But now he has been tainted. There's a Red Sox curse alright. It's a curse put on every once beloved Red Sox player who sells their soul to the dreaded Yankees.

Public School Education

My kids go to one of the lowest rated school districts in the country, Clark County, Nevada. It is no mystery to me why. Let me first say that my kids aren't the most dedicated students in the world. What I try to get across to them is not necessarily that they retain everything that is being taught but at least have enough pride in yourself to want to do the best job possible. However, it's hard to maintain this attitude when your school district is administering proficiency exams on topics that no one outside of NASA will ever use, requiring they be passed or no diploma. For example, my daughter has trouble grasping geometry and other complex math equations. But for some reason the school district has deemed this an essential tool to be mastered as a requirement for graduation. Only problem is when I ask them if the school has any tutorial type programs to help her, they have none. I would rather see schools geared more toward vocational type training with basics in math, English, history and science. Electives can be made available for those students who want a career that requires more in depth study. This would solve two problems, graduation rates would rise and kids would leave school more prepared for the real world.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright

Paranoid Radical or Civil Rights Activist? Either way he appears to be on an agenda to become as relevant as his counterparts Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. His ranting and raving would make one believe that slavery still exists. I would liken him and others like him to cult leaders. They have the ability to brainwash others into believing racism is as rampant as it was forty years ago. I'm willing to bet that if you polled most white Americans, myself included, they could care less what race your were as long as you were living an honest, respectful life and taking responsibility for your actions. Reverend Wright still wants blacks to believe that if they are questioned about their actions or don't receive what they feel is do them, then they must be the victims of racism. We all know racism still exists, but Rev. Wright and other alleged black leaders are only harming their own race by screaming racism at every turn. If they could only take some of that energy and march into gang infested neighborhoods or schools and preach responsibility, respect and hard work. Instead they make excuses for being a gang member, pimp or drug dealer. Whitey made them do it!

Cost of Electing President

How much does it cost to elect a President? Apparently tens of millions of dollars. Aside from the millions donated to campaigns for advertising, travel and such, look at the millions more spent on conventions. All just to elect the next president of an ever increasing country of excess with the agenda to put into power the person or persons that will best represent, not the people, but special interest groups. I have a crazy idea. How about all those donations go toward programs like education, health care, veterans and other silly things like that.

Money to Africa

First of all, there are, I believe, 53 countries in Africa. So when money is raised for "Africa" where does it go. Millions of dollars are sent to Africa every year from the private sector. A day doesn't go by where I don't hear of some concert, benefit or whatever to raise money for Africa. Add to that the millions our government sends over there. From the footage I've seen, all this money isn't getting to the people who need it. I'm willing to bet the only people benefiting from the millions sent are the corrupt governments. Why should they do anything to help their own people when we are supporting them. What irritates me even more about this is when I see reports that Catholic Charities can't afford gas to deliver meals to the elderly. Everyday you hear of some American charity, school district or other community services that is struggling to provide services to the less fortunate. Hey, all you do gooders, how about raising some millions for people in your own country.

Weather Reports in Las Vegas

Are weather reports in Las Vegas really necessary? Especially from about May to October, you can pretty much count on it being Sunny and HOT. With the exception of the occasional rain storm. Our weather "experts" seem to always make mountains out of mole hills. Is it really necessary to spend five minutes talking about the wind picking up or a few clouds rolling into the valley. And is it really necessary to have two to five weather reports during any given half or one hour news report. All this makes it even more perplexing for the need to have a seven day forecast every day. If you give a seven day forecast on Monday and it calls for 80 degrees and sunny all week, why then do you have to give another seven day forecast on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc.. People living in areas where extreme weather really occurs would amused by our weather reporters obsession with reporting weather that rarely changes. Lets stop wasting time with the weather reports and spend it on more meaningful news. If some unusual weather should be heading towards Las Vegas, then let us know. It should only take a couple minutes to say it's going to rain tomorrow.

A Cure For Cancer!?

I find it hard to believe that, in this technologically advance country, we have yet to find a cure for cancer. We have no problem creating a tiny computer chip that holds a thousand songs or bits of information. Sure they throw us little bits of hope here and there, but still no cure. Millions of dollars are spent daily for cancer related treatments, surgeries, medicines and doctor visits. Millions more are raised for research, which really got me thinking. There's no profit in finding a cure for cancer. Doctors, oncology centers, pharmaceutical companies, research centers and numerous other cancer related programs stand to lose millions in income if a cure was "found." I hope I'm wrong. I just wish someone would prove it to me....soon!

Racism

Does racism still exist? Of course it does. I don't believe we will ever live in a world where it doesn't to some degree. Rather than minimize it's affects, it seems to me that some people, as well as the media, capitalize on it. Take alleged "black leaders" like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for example. They do more for promoting racism than they do for extinguishing it. Screaming racism, holding press conferences, marches and boycotts at every occasion a person of color it "wronged" only serves one purpose. It keeps Jackson and Sharpton in the public lime light. It is obvious they relish the attention not to mention the "donations" they receive. The media benefits from infusing racism into as many stories as possible because this gives it that shock factor, which apparently relates into ratings. Ridding the world of racism is the last thing they want because that would mean they are no longer relevant. Minimizing racism requires only following some simple rules. Treat other as you would like to be treated. Show respect, kindness and caring to all, regardless of their race.

High Gas Prices

All the political retoric and investigative news reports in the world won't make any difference in our ever rising fuel costs. The simple fact is we are a world dependant on oil and the people who control it know that. As long as there is money to be made on oil there is also no reason to find alternative fuel sources or redesign automobiles. Another thing to consider is that the people who have the power to do something, i.e. our elected officials, are also the ones making money from the high cost of fuel either through stocks or part ownership in oil related companies. Unfortunately the everyday hardworking citizen will continue to suffer, not only with higher fuel prices, but also the price of all other everyday items. Because the cost of doing business, like paying higher fuel prices for delivery vehicles, is passed on to the consumer.