Bonds, Pigs, Mayors...

Hurray! This post won't be nearly as long as the previous one. I've only three subjects to cover: Sports, a suggestion, and a logical conclusion.

Sports: As much as it annoys me, this sports section is yet again regarding Barry "Massive Noggin" Bonds (Anyone surprised he plays for the "Giants"?), however it is not about him. Allow me to explain. ESPN (not my employer) celeb Stuart Scott has repeatedly defended the cheater saying that there has been no proof that he actually has cheated. "Innocent until proven guilty" has been his mantra. Well, to that I would remind Mr. Scott (Who currently attends the church I grew up in) that Barry was suing the authors of "Game of Shadows." This is the book that used sealed court documents that were leaked to the authors who chronicled Barry's use of illegal (in regards to both the law of the land and the rules of the game) steroids and other performance enhancers. Now, if Mr. Bonds did not use these substances, he ought to sue for slander and liable. He did not. He sued because they were using sealed court documents. How interesting. His suit does not lead one to believe that their claims were false, but rather added credibility to them! After Mr. Bonds read my post: Dryer Lint, he realized that to sue for slander (meaning that the book was in error in its accusations) meant that he would be perjuring himself and would face jail time, but to sue for improper use of court documents was proving the book to be true and he faced a Pete Rosian punishment, he dropped wisely his suit. While Mr. Scott can ignore these facts as circumstantial, he cannot avoid the comments of Mr. Dan Parsons of Bellingham Washington who wrote into ESPN the Magazine. He writes, "Stuart Scott seems not to understand that "innocent until proven guilty" applies to criminal proceedings only. And to suggest that proof requires a confession or a "positive test" is ridiculous (many criminals would love that standard.) If Barry Bonds is charged with a crime, he will be presumed innocent until he is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If he faces civil charges, the standard of proof will be a "preponderance of the evidence" (think 51%). But even if he never faces an actual judge, the court of public opinion has seen ample evidence to find that Bonds is a cheater." Said much better than I ever could have. I'd also like to remind Mr. Scott that a "reasonable" doubt is not beyond a "Shadow" of a doubt. Barry should face a judge. I have no idea why celebrities like Barry and Paris get special treatment but it is time for that, and for Barry's career, to come to a swift end.

Reason behind the Rhyme? We are all familiar with the little piggies. This one went to market, this one stayed home, etc. I submit to you that this rhyme is actually an anti-Communist pro-capitalist piece of propaganda. Consider this: What if Piggies 1 and 3 were the same piggy? And similarly, what if 2 and 4 also were not two different swine? The rhyme (which, as I now review it in my head, does not actually rhyme) would take on a much different feel. "This little piggy went to market." "Market," is, of course, a widely accepted symbol of capitalism, the free market, the world market, laise faire market, even the stock market. "This little piggy stayed home." Well, if he didn't go to market, if he did not embrace capitalism, he must have selected an alternate economic theory. Perhaps Socialism, but if this is propaganda, it is more likely to be aimed at communism. Back to Piggy 1-3: "This little piggy had roast beef!" Obviously a symbol of wealth and prosperity. This little piggy did not have Spam or even corned beef. No no, he got roast beef! He is basking the fruits of his decision to go to market. Meanwhile, Piggy 2-4 "Got none." Alternatively, he suffers the consequences of not going to market. He does not get the succulent roast beef that the other piggy so lavishly enjoys. The final piggy, the one who "Cried wee wee wee wee wee, all the way home." Is a piggy who is apparently choosing a stance of isolation, similar to the one that America held in the early days of World War II. He is running far from the other two piggies in the hopes that he can wait it out in the safety of his home.

Politics: The Mayor of New Haven Connecticut needs to be arrested. John DeStephano has gone too far in his desire to shield the illegal immigrants in his city from the law. He has, without question, conducted himself in a manner that is a bald-faced attempt to aid and abet and obstruct justice. What has he done? First, he has forced a bill through the city legislature providing "anyone" with photo IDs so that they can take advantage of the services of the city. While anyone may purchase these cards, they are completely unnecessary if you have a drivers license which means only those who are unable to attain a valid drivers license will be in line to receive these cards. It's been no secret that these cards have been specifically designed for illegals (I'll not even add the term immigrant onto the end of their title as that belittles the efforts of honest people to lawfully immigrate into this country). When the bill was passed, there was much celebration outside the government building with shouts of "Yes, we can!" ~ In Spanish, of course. (Anyone else feel like we are being invaded?) Opponents of the bill don't mention the fact that most of the people who will be carrying these cards are felons, they raise the equally valid concern that, with New Haven being the first city in the nation to offer this type of unlawful identification, illegals will now flock to the city and bleed it dry. These cards do nothing more than attempt to provide a safe haven in New Haven for people who brazenly ignore our country's laws. On count one: Aiding and abetting, Mayor John DeStephano is guilty. A few days following the passing of this law and before any illegals could get their government issued IDs (Which will make it easier to obtain drivers licenses which make it possible to attain other benefits they have no lawful right to) the Feds paid a visit to New Haven and rounded up 32 illegals. The Mayor was outraged, calling this a political move. Pardon? Arresting 32 felons is political? What ought we do with felons, then, Mr. Mayor? Let them roam free? What was your little "ID cards for all" campaign? Altruism? There wasn’t a shred of politics behind it? Well, a day or so later 2 more illegals were arrested. What did the Mayor do then? He demanded that the Feds cease and desist. He announced, "Do not conduct any more raids!" Why not?! And who are you Mr. Mayor of New Haven CT to tell the Feds what they can and cannot do while enforcing Federal laws? Perhaps you might want to look up the term "Jurisdiction." You have none over them. Get out of their way and let them do their job. Count two: Obstruction of Justice, Mayor John DeStephano is guilty. He can join his political buddies the former Mayor of Bridgeport and the former Governor of Connecticut in the big house. You are the Mayor, you are to uphold the law. You don't create it, you aren't over it, and you don't speak it into being!

Can you tell that I've been fuming over that for weeks?! Well, now that it's off my chest, I must confess: It is all just my opinion.