Spencer’s Corner

In regard to Faisal Shahzad, I just read his statement which he made in Federal Court.
According to the Associated Press, “U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum challenged Shahzad repeatedly with questions such as whether he had worried about killing children in Times Square.
“One has to understand where I’m coming from,” Shahzad calmly replied. “I consider myself … a Muslim soldier.”
Shahzad dismissed the judge’s question about the children by saying the U.S. didn’t care when children were killed in Muslim countries.

Okay, this guy has clearly been brainwashed by the Pakistani Taliban who assisted him in funding his operation which ended in failure.
The Taliban are agents of evil and do not represent Allah (God) in any way, shape or form.
The TRUTH is that we, the people of the United States of America, care about everybody no matter what color, creed, nationality, race or what church, temple, synagogue or gathering you belong to or go to.

“Shahzad dismissed the judge’s question about the children by saying the U.S. didn’t care when children were killed in Muslim countries.
“‘It’s a war. I am part of the answer to the U.S. terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people,’” he said. “‘On behalf of that, I’m revenging the attack. Living in the United States, Americans only care about their people, but they don’t care about the people elsewhere in the world when they die.’”

Once again, this is completely wrong. We do not like to see people die. We don’t like to see people suffering in any manner, way, shape or form.
To know that you could think we don’t care is proof of the Taliban’s evil influence and the way they twist words and use images to their advantage to warp minds.
With enough reinforcement, even the most resistant minds can be brainwashed.

“Cedarbaum also asked Shahzad if he understood that the people in Times Square might not have anything to do with what happened overseas.
“‘The people select the government. We consider them all the same,’” Shahzad said during the hour-long hearing.”

Wrong again. True, even though we elect who our so called Leaders are, Governmental Policy does not always reflect the thoughts, philosophies, feelings or desires of the people of the United States of America at large. My Government does not represent me and to quote the late John Lennon, I don’t represent anyone but my SELF.

Faisal Shahzad said that he wanted “to plead guilty and 100 times more” to let the U.S. know that if it did not get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, halt drone attacks and stop meddling in Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.”

Okay. Here’s the situation, Mr. Shahzad.
The reason that we are in Afghanistan in the first place is because we are hunting a wanted fugitive who committed acts of Mass Murder and Terrorism against innocent people.
By attacking us, Mr. Bin Laden didn’t kill us or even weaken us. He only made us stronger and our love for freedom more powerful as well as our determination that we will not live under the threat of terrorism, be it foreign, domestic, by one man or by a thousand.
In regard to Iraq, that is the one and only thing I agree with you upon. We do not belong in Iraq. We were lied to and too many people have paid the ultimate price for that lie.
Our so called Leaders and OAF-ficials have told us that we would be withdrawing our troops from Iraq.
That hasn’t happened yet, so we’ve been lied to again.

And so, Mr. Shahzad I would like to close this…..letter thusly: We are not the enemy.
The Taliban is the enemy and their enemy is all people who seek to live free.
In regard to the battle for your mind and your heart, they have won that battle. You have lost.

Peace.

I’ve gotten tired of living in Killeen. Violence seems to be everywhere.
Last year some guy right down the street from me fired off several shots from a rifle he had stolen.
Last week during the night someone fired shots at someone behind my house saying, “I’ll bust a cap in your ass!”
The cops never found the shooter or what the guy was shooting at.
While at a restaurant last week I was listening to Police Radio on my iPhone and heard the cop saying something
about “tested positive for cocaine.” Suddenly there were 4 gunshots. “Oh my God!” That from the cop.
People here in this town drive like maniacs!
And of course there was the massacre at Fort Hood.
I think it’s God’s way of saying, “Tine to move on.”
Thus, I am in the planning stages of selling my house here in Killeen, buying and then moving to a new location in Wimberley, closer to Mom.

The house will need new carpeting, some work on the walls (filling screw and nail holes), painting and professional cleaning.
ALL Non-essential furniture will go into storage. I will only need the following:

Bed
Bedside table
One dresser/drawers
Dining Room Table with 2 chairs
Computer Desk
Desk Chair
Computer
1 Floor Lamp
1 Desk Lamp
One Back-up Battery
2 Surge Protector Power Strips

After repairs have been made I will put the house on the market.

Things I will need in the new house:

Cable Phone, TV and Internet
Alarm/Security System
Automatic Garage Door with opener

That’s all for now.

I decided to throw caution to the wind and reconnect with all the people I told you about in my 12/28/2009 entry. I have 110 friends on Facebook from this group of people and I find that amazing.
What I don’t find very surprising and in fact a bit disappointing is that not even half that number contacts me on a consistent basis. Some of them don’t even contact me at all.
True to my fears, I think some of them are still judging me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Five of these friends I have spoken with on the phone which is nice.

Well, now that I’ve been thrown out of the Find A Grave Forums for good by the Powers That Be, I’m thinking that I should once again create my own forum.
I got the old heave ho for voicing my considered (and at times extreme) opinion once too often.
It’s hard work, but in the end, it’s worth it. Spammers are the biggest problem. I’ve seen Spam-bots join forums and completely ruin them and it’s annoying as hell.
I wish that I could find the Ning group I was in because we talked about Ghosts.
I’m going to have a go at trying to find it and then try to get the good people over to my forum.

An Editorial

Mo’Nique, or how ever she spells her name, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in “Precious”.
Guess what? Grab a hold of something and hold on tight because you aren’t going to believe this one.
The Reverend Al Sharpton posts the following tweet:

“I am back in NY. I got back in town just in time to see MoNique win an Oscar. I am so proud of her. She is a dear friend. I am sooo happy.”

Oh really?
And when did she become your “dear friend”? Was this before or after you saw “Precious”? 5 will get you 10 you insinuated yourself into her circle once you saw the movie and realized she would be rich & famous.
I remember how you were during the Michael Jackson media circus. You praised him publicly at the Memorial Service, the Tributes and finally at the Private Funeral Service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park when he was laid to rest at last.
The Jackson Family continued to be in the Media for a time afterward, but you know what?
You weren’t with ‘em!
Once Michael Jackson was out of the picture forever, you were out of there and decided that it was time to board another gravy train.
So my thought is this. How long will you stick by Mo’Nique’s side after she starts to disappear from the public eye.
How long will it be before you have no use for her and abandon her like you did the Jackson family?
I’ll be watching.

At 12:30AM on the morning of Thursday, January 7, 2010 I called your Applebee’s Restaurant to find out how long they would be open. The woman I was speaking with said they would close at 2:00AM. Being quite hungry and since I had no car, I called a cab to take me to the restaurant. My cab arrived at my house at 12:57AM and we proceeded to the restaurant. When I arrived, I was somewhat surprised to find the place locked. I knocked on the window until I was able to get the attention of the hostess. She stayed where she was and mouthed the words, “We’re closed.” I motioned for her to come to the door which she did and I told her that I had been told that closing time was at 2:00AM. After once again telling me that the restaurant was closed, I politely asked to speak with the manager. When he came to the door (which remained locked), and very curtly asked, “What do you want?” I explained politely that I had taken a cab to the restaurant to have dinner. I told him that the cab ride had cost me $20.00 and because of their closing early, it was wasted. He said that he would give me some tickets to eat at their restaurant in the future. He went and got some and then without even an apology, handed the envelope to the janitor, turned his back on me and then just walked away. I went and had dinner at International House of Pancakes. I will never again patronize any of your restaurants and neither will my family.

I just recently reconnected with a group of friends and acquaintances that I knew from 25 years ago. I’m depressed and anxious and unsure of what to do. I did a lot of things wrong back then, things that I look back on now and regret. There were good times and good things, too, but I am afraid of their judging me even after all these years.
I know how to be myself but in being myself I am uncertain that people will like who they see.
Mom told me that she thought it would be best to let go of them.
My gut is telling me one thing but my head is saying something else.
They wouldn’t be here unless it was for a good reason.
I could really use some guidance on this, so I’m giving it to God.

Okay.
I know I’m gonna get rapped in the mouth for this, but here goes nothing.
This is just my opinion but after tonight I think that Adam Lambert should be blacklisted and shunned!
I was absolutely disgusted! Why was it not censored? There are kids under the age of 17 watching that, for God sake!
What does it say about our society that we feel that this kind of behavior is acceptable?
What does it say about performers today that they have to go to such lengths to entertain?
I remember 4 guys from Liverpool. All they needed to entertain people were the following:

1 Bass Guitar
1 Lead Guitar
1 Rhythm Guitar
1 Drum set.
4 mics
4 amps
A different look
A good sound

You didn’t need a damn circus back then. You still don’t!
Circuses are for people who need that kind of atmosphere (Britney Spears anyone?) to confuse the public, to overload their senses on SOUND, LIGHT and TRICKS and to mask the fact that they don’t have any real talent.
The only reason I watched was for Michael.

(sigh) That’s all.

I was driving from Killeen to Albuquerque one day on my way to LA and I passed through a ghost town. It had about 3 buildings left but most of the glass in the windows had been broken.
I want to go back through that place and see what kind of story may lie there, if any. At the least, I want tog et some photos and video.

That’s what I’ve decided to call the Travel section of my blog.
It is simple, catching and thus easy to remember, at least for me.
The road has called to me several times during the past two years, but since I’ve been without a car during this time, I have had to be content with reading or listening to the stories of the travels of others. Soon that will change when I buy Tim’s car.
Tim’s a neighbor of mine renting the house on my right side while the owner is away in Washington, D.C.
Tim is a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Hood and I don’t think I’ve ever met a finer officer or gentleman.
My youngest brother Bryan offered to cut his grass, but for some reason, Bryan only worked his yard once.
One evening, Tim came to my door with a plate of hot Lasagna.
I was quite surprised and delighted by this and after thanking him but neglecting to invite him in, I sat down and set to.
Our friendship began then.

I’ve sometimes taken for granted things that I’ve seen along the way time and time again, especially when driving in Texas.
Every place has it’s own story here, even out in the deserts and mountains of West Texas as you approach El Paso.
El  Paso is Spanish, meaning “The Step”, which suits me just fine because it literally steps down into neighboring New Mexico.
It is also the first step driving to LA and literally the halfway point.
My first driving trip to LA wasn’t supposed to be to LA at all.
I had planned and packed for a quiet weekend out in Marfa, home of the mysterious Marfa Lights and a movie called “Giant”.
I missed the turn off, though and instead of doubling back, I decided to just keep going.
I would take the highway north up I-25 to Santa Fe to take in the mountains, the antiquity and of course, the ghosts.
But as though being guided by Fate or whatever you want to call it, I again missed my exit.
The Great Desert stretched all around me in every direction. I was slightly intimidated having never driven this far from home before.
I made a stop for the night somewhere in Arizona, but I can’t remember where.
I do remember passing a couple of prisons. Signs were posted along the highway cautioning drivers not to pick up “hitch-hikers”.
I came to a border town in Arizona to fill up both the gas tank and my grumbling stomach. From there, it was all the way to LA.

While driving through the Mohave Desert on I-10, I called the hotel I’d decided to stay at and made my reservation.
The highway climbed up into the mountains but as it was full dark, I could see nothing.
I came to the top and as I crested it, I looked down and out at the magnificent tableau before me.
Stretched before me were the light of Los Angeles. They sparkled and twinkled and took my breath away.
Oh, to have been able to pull over and get a shot of that sight, but there was no rest stop.
I kept driving until I took the 101 Exit having just a little trouble with the traffic. A man driving a Porche behind me was
getting just a little too close to my back bumper, so I hit my Emergency Light to warn him off.
He backed off and was very cool about it, acknowledging with a gesture that he was sorry and would be careful.
I smiled, nodded and got my attention back on the highway. I took the exit onto 101 which took me to Sunset Blvd.
I almost got into an accident turning onto N. San Vicente Blvd to get to the hotel. A blast of the startled man in the oncoming lane told me so.
I corrected just in time, went 50 yards and turned into the Hotel Lot.
I got my bags out and with the help of the Valet, checked in with no trouble as my car was being parked.
I was given my magnetic keys and up we went to my room.
I was delighted to see that I was staying in the room I’d stayed in during my first stay in LA.
I tipped the man, thanking him and he left.
As I looked around, I saw that a bottle of wine was on the table with a big plate of chocolate chip cookies.
I opened the doors to the balcony, poured myself a glass of wine and sat down to enjoy the view.
Afterward, I got out of my clothes, into bed and fell into a happy sleep.