"Three People Die in Fatal Garage Fire"!

I can't be held responsible for the photo and accompanying story that appeared in this morning's paper, just a weird coincidence if anything. Three people were killed in a garage fir yesterday evening after barbecuing with an unattended grill placed in a garage. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find three people dead. According to a neighbor's testimony, the burning grill was seen with 20 foot flames for nearly an hour. A full report is pending while forensic experts sift through the charred remains...oops?!

"My Gift To You"

Make a big splash to kick off the holiday with this fun recipe! Double click image to enlarge!

Dave's grilling tip #31: "Grilling on a breezy day" -Despite how well you may plan ahead, one thing you can never control is a gusty wind... until now. When the fire keeps blowing out, move your grill into an enclosed area such as a patio or garage. What I generally like to do is get the flame started again on my own however, to guarantee it stays lit,, douse a generous amount of gasoline directly on the flames and you'll be back in busuness in no time!

"The Yin and Yang of War in Iraq Ignites War of Words Between Two Administrations"!

TODAY'S HOT BUTTON: "After two terms as Vice President, Dick Cheney thinks he's still in office"! Take away former Vice President Dick Cheney's NRA license, his car keys, and bring out the smelling salts...Cheney thinks he's still Vice President! In Cheney's eight years as VP, the only publicity he ever recieved was due to his longtime heart condition and all his gaffes. Why he chose this moment to crawl out from his underground bunker to publicly scrutinize our current President is beyond me! It was said to be an eerie coincidence that after President Obama's press conference yesterday, Cheney would have one of his own to say he's in opposition of everything the current Administration is planning to do. Mr. Cheney should have chimed in with his thoughts when it actually mattered rather than fearing for his life and pussy-footing around the subject of Iraq years ago. At least someone may have listened to him then and taken him seriously! Why the television networks allowed Cheney more airtime than Obama is also a mystery to me. For the record howevver, I must agree to take Cheney's side in this debate over interrogation during wartime and the hot topic of "water hoarding" and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The topic of "water hoarding" sparks a debate that will probably be around as long as arguing over Roe vs. Wade. Either you agree or disagree...there is no "gray" area. While the Bush Administration confirmed this tactic was used as a way to prevent future "9-11's" from happening, Obama and orginizations such as Amnesty International have called this torture and inhumane. You know, they may be right. I agree that any detainee that went through this nasty torture will remember the event for the rest of their life. It is cruel and unusual punishmet however, we'll never be certain how many plots were going on to make "9-!!" look like a day at the races. Inhumane? Yes! Did it serve the purpose? Yes! Should continue as a means of interrogation? Yes! Afterall, we've seen how innocent Americans have been scooped up and held hostage and tortured and publicly humiliated over the years. Who can forget the plane full of hostages that were held captive in Iran in the 1970's in Iran and finally released the day that Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President? When it comes to how Americans are jeld prisoner against their well in foreign places, no one ever apologizes to us and Amnesty International is nowhere to be found! How we see Americans being tortured by terrorist groups on television is only the tip of the iceberg! What really goes on is ten times worse! Water hoarding shouldn't be an issue, it's necessary.

Finally, the controversial issue of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Obama's promise to shut it down. A neutral parcel of real estate in Cuba was picked as the location for a penitentary to imprison some of the world's worst terrorists that are considered a threat to National Security with their plots of terrorism against the United States. Many possible tragedies have been nipped in the bud before they were actually carried out, all in thanks to a place like this. President Obama also calls this place "inhumane" and made it's closing part of his campaign promise. There's somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 or so terrorists currently held there and many were linked to 9/11. 99% of the muslam inmates awate their fate in the future and have taken the contents of the Curran out of context translating the contents as a green light to inflict pain on death and acts of terror to justify their cause. Let us not be fooled by their claims to have been "rehabilitated" into accepting Christianity...a zebra doesn't awake one morning to decide he's going to get rid of his stripes. No ones deep seeded beliefs can be swayed swayed within a matter of a couple of years and using The Bible as a get out of jail free card doesn't sit well with me. It's not logical for me to believe that the facility should be closed and all 200 inmates free to go home. There's still plenty possible scenarios getting planned against the United States on a daily basis. Let's face it, things have been quiet too long post 9/11 and the next big thing is in the works and will take place one day regardless however, let's not give the opposition the opportunity to speed up the process of our own demise....now that's plain stupidity!

"Drew Peterson's Attorney is as Crazy as Drew"!

TODAY'S HOT BUTTON: "Defense Attorney, Joel Brodsky" Mr. Brodsky is the Defense Attorney hired to represent accused murder suspect, Drew Peterson in his pending court case. If there was ever a plan to choose a spokesperson to represent a correspondance school's cirriculum for earning a degree in litigation, this would be the guy they should ask! Now, the job of being a Criminal Defense Attorney isn't an easy job in the first place however, this guy's haed is stuck so far up his rear end, you question if perhaps someone "blew his pilot light out"! Ask yourself if this guy really helps or hinders the future of Drew Peterson. This froot loop is almost as nutty as Peterson is, and I can't understand how a legal eagle like he claims to be, thinks he's got a good case that proves Peterson is innocent. Peterson always uses humor he claims, as a "way to deal with his grief". After the events of the past 24 hours, Brodsky has also said quite a few things that make me question his santy.Last evening, the skeletal remains of either a male or female were discovered washed up along the banks of a river in close proximity to Peterson's home. The remains were so decomposed that the body must now be examined for any DNA evidence to suggest that these are the remains of Peterson's missing fourth wife, Stacy who's been missing for two years. Like Peterson, Brodsky enjoys going television to give his two cents worth however, what he said today to news agencies took everyone by surprise, and validated my argument that he too is a sarcastic, misinformed, and heartless human being. While all the world waits for the results to come back from the autopsy and DNA test, Mr. Brodsky was more than willing to take questions from reporters about his thoughts of this having him wonder if his client didn't actually commit the crime. "Absolutely not", Brodsky fired back quickly... Even when he was asked about the evidence that washed up on the riverbanks which match the testimony from witnesses questioned back in the beginning, and they do match all the allegations we've heard thus far, Brodsky jumped in to say that his client would never do such a thing and he will show that his client is innocent and will be a free man within a few days. "Bodies and blue barrels washing up along shore happen more often than you know", he explained..."I f I had a dollar for every corpse and barrel that mysteriously came to the surface in a river, Icould have retired years ago"! Really? I never realized that finding the skeletal remains of someone along side a blue barrel is almost as easy and common as catching a bass or a muskie! What a nonsensical thing to say! Whoever this victim was, and if it's relevent to Drew Peterson or not, this is a person that obviously came up missing from someone's family. What exactly is so funny about that? Brodsky and Peterson both need medication and if Peterson gets off the hook easy and out of prison, there's something seriously wrong with our judicial system and that worries me!

"Home Sweet Home"!

TODAY'S HOT BUTTON: "Calumet City Elected Officials Need Electric Shock Therapy, A Good Psychiatrist, and a Prescription For Prozac"! Calumet City, IL. has managed to do it again! For two consecutive days, this community has managed to be the top story on the evening news. Unfortunately, for Cal. City's Chamber of Commerce, it's always for a crime! Yesterday, it was a Citibank robbery that hit the news and today, it's about a homicide at a bar that left two men shot to death. With the shennanigan's that take place here, this would be a dream come true for any scriptwriter creating a storyline for CSI! Sad but true, a long standing bad reputation has gotten worse, far beyond all the monkey business done by Al Capone in the 1920's. Visit Cal City's website and see what a lovely picture they paint this town to be...you might be convinced to moving here. Afterall, this is a community of diversity, economic strength, as well as unicorns and rainbows seen every day of the year! Sadly, there was once a time when this lovely scenario wasn't too far away from reality and I remember it well. If you had the music too loud in your car, the police would ask you to turn it down........if you were a kid, you could sometimes get away with occasionally staying outside to play hours after the street lights came on, and as for retail, if you were hungry for something in particular or wanted to take advantage of a sale at at a specific store, it wasn't a problem. There were more stores and restaurants in one area that you could shake a stick at. Since then, times have changed and the department of Housing and Urban Development opened up lots of opportunities to allow Chicagoans to move this way and purchase a home for $200 down! Drugs, guns, prostitution, and gangbangers run the town and nobody blinks an eye. Calls to 911 occur so frequently, the police and fire department are never able to take the keys out of the ignition of their rescue vehicles. Current Mayor, Michelle Quakenbush sees this as a safe and happy place to live however, keeps a dog collar on law enforcement because of fears of legal and civil rights issues. Television news trucks and reporters visit this place so frequently, they ought to consider moving their studios from Downtown Chicago to here. The damage has been done and unfortunately, can't be fixed so why try?

"Drew Peterson Whistles the Jailhouse Blues While Awaiting Trial"

TODAY'S HOT BUTTON: "Drew Peterson". Accused murder suspect Drew Peterson sits quietly in Will County penitentary awaiting the posibility of having another judge appointed to listen to the case. Peterson, a former Bolingbrook Illinois police officer, is behind bars with a $20 million dollar bond. Peterson was charged as the being responsible for the murder of his third wife, Julia Savo. At the time of her death, it was determined to be a suicide as she was discovered lying in a bathtub. The case was re-opened late last year and through eyewitness accounts, testimonies, and circumstancial DNA evidence obtained from the victims exhumed body, the case was determined that this was a homicide and the Coroner recorded this as a case of "Dry Drowning". All fingers have been pointed at Peterson throughout the ordeal and he remains to stand firm with his testimony by saying he had nothing to do with the death. He's entered a "Not Guilty" plea and the next move is awaiting the decision to possibly get a new judge and have his bond lowered to a reasonable amount. Meanwhile, Drew's fourth wife, Lacy has been missing for nearly two years. In this ongoing investigation, Drew also continues to hold his position that he had nothing to do with anything and calls himself simply, "a victim of circumstance". Peterson has been smug and despite advice from his defense team, Drew has made several network television appearances and has continuously used humor when questioned about his involvement with the mysterious crimes. Drew remains convinced that within a month or so, he will be released and the case will be closed and perhaps be classified as a ""cold case". While I think this guy is thumbing his nose at the court system and making a mokery of some serious charges, I must admit, I don't understand how someone can drown in a bathtub with no water! In any case, things are not looking good for the guy and if there's any hope at all for a judge to take his testimony seriously, he'll keep his lips zipped until this is over. Let's be honest though, Peterson has become a characture of himself and will more than likely reap the benefits of this ordeal financially through movies and book deals. Let's face facts... Drew is as guilty as the day is long! Bad things often occur to people that around him and that's no coincidence! Here's what will happen in the next few months. Watch and see how this story unwravels according to what I think will happen... As a taxpayer in Illinois, be prepared to shell out big bucks in the next few years because Drew isn't going down quietly. He's got a majority of Law Enforcement Agents in Illinois tucked away in his back pocket. He also knows the court system and has made any of his involvement in these crimes virtually impossible to trace. This was a well calculated move on his part. With no physical evidence available, this is one case that will drag through the court system for years to come. I also guarantee that the ruling on his case will indeed be a guilty verdict however, his Defence Attorney's will quickly find the judge or jury to be biased and will quickly appeal the case. In about another ten years, the case will be opened again and the ruling will result in a hung jury only to be sent back to the appelate court to await a third trial. By this time the court and legal fees will have risen to a six figure number and we will be paying for it. During that time period, several movies will be made and several books written. Drew may write his own memoirs or have someone else doi it but he'll still enjoy the residuals. Twenty five years from today, there will be a final verdict. Drew will be charged as guilty for murder and will get a 60 year jail term however, will die in prison before any chance of parole. Either way, there's certainly nothing to laugh about now!

"Twittering: America's New Health Hazard"!

TODAY'S HOT BUTTON: "Why 'Twittering' may be hazardous to your health"! Connecting with friends and family is a good thing for many of us. In recent years, websites hae popped up to help us find old contacts and they've each had their Andy Warhol moment...fifteen minutes of fame. Now, some sights are better than others and equally so, some of these websites are notorious for causing chaos. "My Space" is one of those places were bad things have happened. NBC's Dateline had exposed underage users being "phished" into sex with predators. All of which, were folks who went out of their way to put young kids in a an awkward and illegal circumstance. e-Bay has a reputation for bad transactions with people purchasing big ticket items sight unseen who return days later to get their money back. People's Court is where many of these lawsuits eventually turn up and nobody learns their lesson. Then there's Craig's List. Another website with classifieds and people to mingle with. We all know about that particular sites link to prostitution, drugs, gay sex, and most recently, homicide. So where does a "Facebook" or "Twitter fit into the mix? Sure, there's rotten apples everywhere. This site has had problems with scams and "phishing" and people claiming to be someone they're not. Nine times out of ten, these get screened out before any damage is done. Now, the big thing that everyone talks about these days is, "Twitter". Do you "Twitter"? Are you a "Tweet"? Oprah does as well as Ashtom Kutchner. They think you should too however, I don't and I won't. Here's why... Everything you do on the Internet leaves a thumbprint already. To check on a bank account or confirm an order, or sometimes as little as accessing a website, you are asked for personal information like Social Security numbers, address', phone numbers, credit card and ban information, and they often ask for your very personal information such as where you work, if you're married, and if you have any kids or make more than a hundred grand a year. With all this information out there already, why do I need to "Tweet"? Twitter takes things one step further by making it possible to find where a particular person is in the world right at this moment. Who they are talking to, where they're going, and what they're going to do next. I don't need that in my life. Google for example, has given us "Google Earth". A nifty computer application that can give you a virtual 360 degree view of your home as it is as well as your name, address, and telephone number. Within the past five years, college interns have toured the world in a van while filming your home. They've been doing this from street level as well as satellite making it as easy as a mouse click away to see who's cheating on you with your wife. I've got my hands full with "Facebook" and I don't always keep up to speed withis one either but, if I feel the need to talk to you, I'll e-mail you back or pick up the good old fashioned phone and call you but, please don't invade my privacy!

"Why Chapter 11 is a good thing for the 'Big Three" to survive"!

I've been vocal about my feelings about the current status of our troubled auto industry and it's future. A lot of people don't see it my way, and I'm not surprised. This was a billion dollar industry that has been left in turmoil and is literally on it's last legs unless some dramatic changes are made. Sure, these changes affect people's jobs, economy, and health however I don't see any big changes taking place anytime soon. Greed is the problem here along with mis-management and unions not willing to give an inch to make things better. Dealerships are being forced to close...steel mills are shutting down and as far as I'm concerned, they can all go belly up. If we can get steel shipped to the United States from Asia, Europe, or the Middle-East cheaper, I'm all for it. This recession didn't just pop up out of the blue. Just like cancer, it began and spread to where it is now. Controversial filmaker, Michael Moore brought this to our attention several years ago with his documentary examining the Detroit Auto industry which was already showing signs of collapse. Oil industries and prices per barrel fluctuate minute by minute and are determined by the numbers on Wall Street. The fact of the matter is, we need other sources of energy and put it to good use. The oil shieks have us hook, line, and sinker and know that Europe, Asia, and the United States would be in turmoil without oil as a main energy source. So, what has been done? Nothing. About a decade ago, General Motors received a grant by our government to produce electric cars. GM's spinoff corporation, Saturn was taking off and got the contract for the majority of the work. Lots of automobiles were produced as a result however, with little enthusiam. They just weren't practical. At best, they could 30 or 40 miles before needing to be serviced and the battery recharged. Top speed was about 40 mph and to say the least, they didn't look too attractive either. Consumers who went out and took advantage of the deal, they were stuck. Getting to and from work with the car sometimes required the motorist to pull over and plug the car in for 24 hours before proceeding on. It was a failure. The government then bought the remaining inventory back and had the steel melted down and that was the end of that. Since then, a lot of other stuff has come along the way... in the early 2000's the SUV and pick-up were best sellers. The bigger the better. There was never any reason to believe that oil prices would rise to $5.00 a gallon but, it did. Now, we're reverting back to the old way again and going back to smaller cars and buying used cars, or even keeping the hunk of junk you have. Didn't anyone learn a lesson from all of this? You would think that unions such as the UAW and USW would be willing to cave in a little bit but, the won't do it. They've managed to sideline the American dream. While people can't afford the cost of a new car, factories continue to spew new vehicles off the assemnly line every 20 seconds regardless of the fact that they will more than likely rust away in an empty lot. Still, the unions persist to keep things as is. Regardless of who's buying what, they insist they work 24/7 and 365 days out of the year at $20 an hour. They don't have this problem in Europe, and that's why Honda, Toyota, and others are getting the lion's share of business! Everyone in this country has taken advantage of a good thing and greed always wins. People are broke but still find the need to have more kids, new cars, and mazed out credit cards. When it's time to pay the fiddler, if they lose what they have, things turn out bitter. The government has no business meddling in the auto industry and needs to close the book on bailing big corporations out of trouble. Charity, as they say, begins at home. Why is then that the U.S. Postal Service continues to raise the cost of mail delivery and eliminate days of the week? Shouldn't the help get started right there? I still say, make the Postal Service a public entity where mail can be sent and delivered for free. It can be done through the use of advertising to offset the cost of a stamp. Would you rather have your mail delivered for free with a stamp for Home Depot on it, or do you want to continue to pay for the continuous rising cost of a stamp? Think about it!

""It's Not a B.A. so, it must be B.S."

You can't blame the guy for trying... Even so, President Obama's attempt to make friends with the faculty at Arizona State University has left the man with egg on his face. It appears that someone out in the desert went out of their way to invite the man to speak at commencement ceremonies and receive an honorary degree. All systems were, "go" until the University President suggested that Obama isn't deserving of the diploma because as he put it, Obama is "yet to accomplish anything"! Obama took this reacation with a grain of salt, shrugged it off, and joked that First Lady, Michelle feels the same way about him as a list of chores remains unattended to. Next stop on the "whistle stop" tour of Universities is Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, where Obama is expected to address an uneasy crowd who disagree with his stance on pro-life. Now why can't we all just get along?

"Da Vinci: Revisited"

When Director, Ron Howard approached Tom Hanks about the possibilities of a sequel to the film, "The Da Vinci Code" a few years ago, Hanks was a bit skeptical however, because Hanks has managed to navigate his career to stardom, and with success of past projects with Ron Howard, Hanks reconsidered and accepted this latest challenge. "Angels and Demons" arrives at a time that has put it at the epicenter of a whirlwind of controversey. Based loosely on the cryptic writings of the prophet, Nostradamus, this particular story examines the possibilites of the "final days" on earth scenario. A few years in the making, hours of completed footage were "red flagged" by the Vatican in Rome and production would have to resume in the United States in a mock setting. The backdrops, city streets and historic landmarks were reproduced in a small scale reproduction constructed by styrofoam. The Catholic Church has already labeled this movie as "nonsense" and has written off any possibilty that perhaps there's some sort of truth deep within. If Da Vinci's, "The Last Supper" gives us anything to think about, it suggests that Mary Magdalene was seated next to Christ and goes on to further give the idea that Jesus was secretly wed to the Saint and had a son at the time he was crucified. According to religious zealouts, Jesus Christ's bloodline still flows into a small group of family to this day! No one knows for sure about the truth and perhaps no one will ever know however, before the protests begin and folks take to the streets saying this is making a mockery of Christianity, let's not be so quick to jump to any conclusions. I have a feeling that we'll all learn the answers somewhere down the line. Besides, anything including Tom Hanks other than a "Turner and Hooch" sequel is welcome by me!

"The Donald" finally plays his Trump card the right way...

"Beauty" as it has been said, is in the eye of the beholder. In 2009, we've had our fill of contests and pagentries with the good looking women dressed to the nines. No matter how you slice it, the bottom line is that us S.O.B.'s still judge the book by it's cover. You can be dumb as a box of rocks, but still have a nice ass when walking away and that may make you a "Miss America", or "Miss World", or "Miss USA". In this particular case, let me put the focus on "Miss USA". For once in his life, Donald Trump was given the responsability to make a rational decision that doesn't involve slot machines and crap tables. Give the Kudos to "The Don" for not caving in to pressure to others who suggest he yank the crown from "Miss California USA". Now, you may or may not agree with Carrie Prejean's family values or what she stands for. Hell, I don't really care one way or the other if Miss USA is for, or against same sex marriage. What you do in your private life should be kept as is. I was expecting Donald Trump to strip away Miss USA's title however, am pleased that this chickedie said what was on her mind, even though the choice revealed most of America isn't in agreement.One thing I can't defend her on is her underage photo shoot of her posing in bra and panties. What can I say? The other missing piece of the puzzle is Trump's relationship with Joan Rivers. What a perplexing situation! In any event, I guess "The Trumpster" does have some brass balls afterall!

"Enterprise Blasts Off Without Shatner in New Hit Summer Blockbuster"!

Call it what you want. I call this a case of life imitating art or ego vs. ego. The new "Star Trek" pre-quel upened up last weekend and set another box office record. The writers of television's most peculiar show, "Lost" are also behind the cameras of this flick. While I haven't seen the film yet, I hope this movie has a point, unlike it's television counterpart. "Lost" is the most perplexing thing to hit the airwaves since, "Twin Peaks" in the 1980's. Because I don't like to use the GPS to navigate through a storyline, I;ve taken a pass on trying to attempt to follow the show. Perhaps "Star Trek" will be easier?!

The "Star Trek" cinematic series got it's start in the late 1970's on the big screen and has become a franchise as popular as "Star Wars". We've seen the movies evolve from original cast members to most recently inclyding the cast of, "The Next Generation". There is always one constant in the dozen or so flicks that have been made... William Shatner. He's made it his business to swarm the movie sets like a pesky mosquito and stick his two cents worth in regardless of who the Director is. For this particular entry, Shatner's input was shot down. He tried to work himself into the script as hard as he could however, no one flinched. On the other hand, Leonard Nimoy provided his own creative insight and in this particular film, we see the Spock character evolve, and also learn a lesson from Nimoy who suggests that the "V" shaped hand signal for "Live long and prosper" is actually a symbol taken straight from the pages of Judaism. Considering we've seen about five different incarnations of a crew running the ship over the span of a few Centuries, it didn't make any sense to cast Captain Kirk who is a humanoid, into this move however, try and explain this logic to Bill Shatner. He's been the guest on talk shows recently and has a beef that he was left out for once. He calls Nimoy, his good friend, a "backstabber". Nimoy shouldn't have to give one Bill Shatner any reason for not having a role in the movie... he just didn't fit or as Spock would say, to cast William Shatner in the movie would have been "illogical". Shatner should thank his lucky stars that he's still got work, even if it is for Priceline.com. This comes only a few months after his public falling out with George Takei. He's managed to distance himself from his old friends and obviously has an axe to grind with Vulcans and gay Koreans! Oh Bill, give us a break already!

"Show Some Respect!"

• God and War Veterans alike should combine forces to rid the earthof the perils of evil from members of the cloth! Michael Pfhlager is a Chicago Catholic Priest who just loves the media attention he gets by preaching his milarkey to whoever may have an ear open. Needless to say, this is one Padre that needs to recognize what the U.S. Constitution is all about. As far as I know, both "Church" and "State" are kept apart... Father Pfhlager is a well known "Miser of Mischief" in Chicago for his wacky ideas, poor common sense, and inability to lay down any convincing arguments to justify his protests and parades. According to his Gospel, 99.9% of inner city crime, drugs, and shootings are a mere result of making guns such as rocket launchers, AK-47's, and .38 Specials accessible to teenagers. Call it what you want however, Pfhleger managed to create a whirlwind of controversey this past week by justifying his cause by displaying an American flag upside down on a flagpole outside his church. Such a practice has been used in the past and sparingly, as a sign of distress. To do such an act as outlandish act as this stirs up a lot of emotions in Vets. and makes a mockery out of what they fought for! Not only is this a silly way to excercise a person's 1st Amendment Rights, it's also illegal to display the flag this way just to make a point! Since when did Catholicism set the groundwork for our political system? I say to Mr. Preacher as do a lot of Vets..., "Go out and stand on the front lines in a place such as Kuwait. Crawl on your belly through temperatures exceeding 100 degrees without food or water for a couple of days trying to find the elusive Osama Bin-Laden. Maybe you'll see that the true meaning behind it all and finally see that the flag is more than a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester and actually serves a purpose! In the meantime, stick to the church instead of guessing if Jesus is a Democrat or Republican... Believe me, he's got a lot of other business to worry about!