And now for the annual entry in the...

most ridiculous 'holiday' ever devised.

No, it's not 'bosses day' but it's close.

Why, it's Kwanzaa of course!

It's perfect that Kwanzaa was the brainchild of a socialist criminal.

The fact that it was not originally celebrated anywhere-especially not in Africa-before the 1960s just makes it more ridiculous.

As the linked article states: "The foundation of the holiday is focused on seven principles called Nguzo Saba. They are umoja (unity); kujichagulia (self-determination); ujima (collective work and responsibility); ujamaa (cooperative economics); nia (purpose); kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith)."

The 'reporter' neglects to point out how the 'holiday' came into being.

You can go to the History Channel for some 'history' that has been extremely sanitized:
"Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa."

In other words, it's a lie. But that's okay, so long as people know it. Valentines Day is a scam, but we all know it. Hell, I don't believe in the Easter Bunny either, and neither does any child over five years old.

A better primer on this bogus holiday is found here.

UPDATE (1/03/08)

Ann Coulter (natch) has a kick-ass...and informative article...on just this subject.

Another Nanny Steps Up

Yep, Marion County is the newest nanny on the block. So watch out you evil smokers. No more free ride for employee benefits.

County bars tobacco use by new hires- New policy begins Jan. 1
OCALA - Starting New Year's Day, Marion County government will light up the no-smoking sign for new employees.

Under a new policy that takes effect Jan. 1, county government will no longer consider job applications that do not include sworn affidavits from prospective employees stating that they have not used tobacco products for at least one year and will not use them for as long as they are county employees. If an employee hired after the policy is in place violates it, they may be subject to discipline up to termination.

Yeah, I know all the reasons why the county...and any employer...can do this. And as a long ago former smoker, it would have no impact on me if I were to apply for a county job.

And I believe that an employer should be able to hire-and fire-any person for just about any damn thing.

But damnit, doesn't it seem that there is more and more 'nanny-creep' each day?

Next, they will come for the fat employees, and then those who don't exercise enough.

Hell, I can't wait until someone tries to make the case that promiscuous and unprotected sex causes more health costs than plain ol' boring married sex. And what about homosexuals and AIDS? Can that be far behind?

We so willingly seem to throw our rights and freedoms out, just so long as we get some financial benefit.

Interesting times.

I wish you all...

a safe and happy new year. I think 2008 will be a better one than I've been expecting.

Then again, what the hell do I know?

If at first you don't succeed...

rob the frickin' bank!

OCALA - The Central Florida State Bank at 1025 E. State Road 40 was robbed shortly before 11:30 a.m. by a lone man who had come in earlier to ask about a loan.

Police say the man first entered the bank at 10:30 a.m., went to the business office and inquired about a business loan. After that inquiry, he left. Then around 11:20 a.m., the same man returned to the bank, walked up to a teller, threw a bag on the counter and told the teller to fill it up.

"Ocala man given Carnegie Hero Medal"

An 18-year-old Ocala man who saved a 51-year-old Massachusetts man from drowning in a lake has been named a recipient of a Carnegie Hero Medal.
*********************
The Hero Medal is awarded by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, whose mission is to recognize persons who perform acts of heroism in civilian life and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed helping others.

Now this is the type of award that we in Marion County can be truly proud of.

Why I voted for Katherine Harris for Senator (Part 6)

Answer: Because of this petty Democrat controlled Senate.

Case in point-the Senate will be "in session" in order to keep President Bush from making any recess appointments. Petty assholes! The Republicans never did this to Clinton. And I know I'm being petty, but I hope a future Repub Senate does the same to any Dem president.

The whole process of recess appointments has long since past its historical need. We're not in the nineteenth century after all. But I thought the big deal about the Senate was its collegial nature and respect for tradition. I know that's bullshit as far as Dems are concerned, but it continues to show what petty children they remain.

Oh, and way to go Senator Webb. This proves what a crock the whole conservative Democrat shtick is. There are none, and any of you who voted for one should now know you were hoodwinked. What are you going to do about it?

My Favorite Christmas Card

No, I don't know where I got it, so I can't give it proper acknowledgements.

But it just cracks me up.

Madness in Marion (Elementary School division)

Unfortunately, this is what constitutes logic in the educational system here in Marion County.

OCALA - Marion County school officials Thursday said they seized a 4-1/2 inch steak knife from a 10-year-old student, who brought the knife to school. But unlike so many incidents in schools across the nation, she wasn't threatening anyone with the blade, students say.

She was cutting her steak.

Now, she is facing a felony charge of bringing a weapon to school.

School employees at Sunrise Elementary School told Marion County sheriff's deputies the girl was eating lunch and using the knife to cut her steak when she was spotted by two school officials. They took the knife away from her.

The student told deputies she brought the knife to school so she could use it for her lunch, according to the Sheriff's Office. She reportedly said she had brought a knife to school on more than one occasion.

Okay, maybe she didn't show good judgement. But damnit, she's 10 years old. You would expect the adults in the school to show better judgement on how to deal with this.

But you would be wrong.

Several students told the deputy the girl never tried to hurt or threatened anyone with the knife. The girl was arrested on the felony charge and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

The girl has been suspended for 10 days, which I think is asinine. But 'jailing her' on felony charges. That takes asshole-ery to a whole new level.

The Ocala Star-Banner contacted the girl's uncle for this article, who said:

"I certainly understand the school's concern," he said "but, at some point, someone should've stopped and said she's a good girl and a good student, instead of throwing her into the system."

That would be the adult thing to do. When did school administrators stop doing that?

UPDATE: Oh, look. The Florida Masochist has given one of his "Knucklehead of the Day" awards to this story. Thanks, Bill! We are so proud here in Marion. And we well deserve this award.

More Murder in Marion (Update)

An update on 2 young killer scum.


Teens indicted in baseball bat murder; both to be tried as adults
BY AUSTIN L. MILLERStar-Banner
OCALA - Two Ocala teenagers arrested by police detectives in the baseball bat murder of a 44-year-old man last month were indicted Thursday on charges of first-degree murder.

The grand jury proceedings for William Myers, 17, and his cousin James Roberts, 18, began 8:30 a.m. and concluded shortly before noon.

Prosecutor Rock Hooker said the State Attorney's Office has decided to charge Myers as an adult due to age and the severity of the crime. Because the Nov. 28 murder of Robert T. Leigh occurred when Myers was still a minor, Myers, if convicted, could not face the death penalty.

Hooker said no decision has been make yet on whether to seek the death penalty against Roberts. The decision, he said, rests soley with State Attorney Brad King.

Ocala police Capt. Jim McGowan said, "I'm very please with the outcome of the grand jury findings." He called the incident "an unprovoked attack."

Another Marion County Genius (Part 2)

You may wonder why I post stuff like this. Well, it's because I hope ya'll know what yer gettin' inta when ya'll comes to Marion County.

Consider it a public service from the heart of the KKK, to hear Wesley Snipes tell it anyway.

Our latest contender for brightest bulb...prison league.

OCALA - Without blinking his eyes, 27-year-old Tyrone LaMont Summers vowed to carry out his threat of killing Circuit Judge Brian Lambert if he's ever released.

"Once I get out, I'm going to go look for him. He should be worried," Summers said.Already in the Marion County Jail without bond since Aug. 22 on a charge of sexual battery on a child under 12, Summers was charged Tuesday with threatening a public servant.

Summers reportedly sent a threatening letter to the judge from the jail. The judge opened and read the letter on Dec. 10. It was signed by Summers.

Detective Donald Buie of the Sheriff's Office interviewed Summers who admitted to writing the letter "because he was pissed off at Judge Lambert," his report noted.In a Star-Banner interview, Summers said he wants to harm the judge because he believes he has mishandled his sex case.

"I didn't do it. It's a bunch of lies and he knows it and he doesn't want to do anything about it," Summers said.

Summers told the Star-Banner that he wrote the letter last Friday. Asked if he thought about the possible consequences of his action, Summers said, "at the time, I wasn't thinking about that." He added, "I think I've got his attention."

Judge Lambert declined comment.The graphic letter began: "I will kill you and your whole family with Anthrax."

Just makes you proud to be a Marion County resident. Even our sick bastard criminals are geniuses.

I wonder if he might make The Florida Masochist list of "Knuckleheads"?

Mitt Romney, Mormon for president?

No, it's Mitt Romney for president. I've linked my only post on Mormons which, in summary, I'm cool with.

Yeah, I guess I understand why he need to make the "religion" speech this week. But it's so pointless. He's proven himself to be a capable leader and administrator. That's good enough for me.

The fact that Romney's led an apparently moral and exemplary personal life is good - for him - but has damned little to do with my opinion of his ability to be president. Hell, Bill Clinton boinking other women was (mostly) OK with me and had nothing to do with my opinion of him. I despised him because of his policies and his treason in selling out America to China for campaign funds, among many other scummy things he did.

So, Mitt Romney is a Mormon. That's just fine with me. He's not my first choice for president...but he'd make a damned good one. (Frankly, I think my first choice has a little problem on the moral and religious fronts.)

Murder in The Villages-Justice Continues

The dominos are beginning to fall.

One of the killers (Theodore Houston) has confessed...to the murder of Diana Miller and attemped murder of her husband, James...by entering a plea arrangement, which included guilt on the other charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. He is to testify against the other two murderers.

OCALA - The youngest of three men facing murder charges in last year's slaying of a Villages woman, the wounding of her husband and the abduction of their daughter, pleaded guilty Friday.

Theodore Clifford Houston, 18, entered the plea for his role in the July 2006 murder of Diana Miller and the attempted murder of her husband, James, in exchange for his testimony for the state.

Circuit Judge Brian D. Lambert accepted Houston's change of plea to the lesser charge of second-degree murder with a firearm. In the five-page agreement, Houston also pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, robbery with a firearm and kidnapping with a firearm. Houston now faces from 25 to 40 years in state prison, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the trial of his two co-defendants.

Houston, along with Renaldo McGirth, 19, and Jarrord M. Roberts, 21, are accused of entering the Millers' Villages home on July 21, 2006, and fatally shooting Diana Miller, 63, in the chest and head and shooting James Miller, 70, in the head during a robbery. The three also are accused of kidnapping the couple's only child, daughter Sheila Miller, 40, who was in a wheelchair at the time with injuries from a vehicle accident.

So far, Sheila's getting a pass. The next trial should be more informative.

Be sure to read the comments to previous posts on "Murder in The Villages" by people who know the family and really seem to know the real Sheila.

Oh, and check this out:

Bill Miller and Camille Concannon, two public defenders who no longer represent Houston, were in the courtroom Friday.

"We just care about him very, very much," Miller said. "He is an incredibly nice young man."

How heart-warming.

More Murder in Marion

This time it's two teenage punks, who killed a man just passing through. With a baseball bat.

OCALA - Police have arrested two teens in the aluminum baseball bat beating death of a 44-year-old man that a prosecutor has described as "brutal" and committed "for entertainment or out of pure meanness."

James Roberts, 18, told the Star-Banner Saturday that he was defending William Anthony Myers, 16, and that he lashed out at Robert Towns Leigh because the man "was messing with my cousin."

Police, however, agree with the prosecutor, including Capt. Jim McGowan, who said, "This crime was an unprovoked, vicious attack on another human being."

Leigh's body was discovered Wednesday slumped over on a bench in front of the Western Roundup store, 3130 N.W. Blitchton Road.

Leigh, who had lived in Miami for two years, had called his brother and a friend to say he was headed for Tallahassee on Tuesday.

These two are prime examples of the need for the death penalty.

Bastards should fry.