RIGHT NOW! - with Timothy Crawford

Obama Portrait Etch-A-Sketch Style

What Picasso said was true:

"If they took away my paints I’d use pastels. If they took away my pastels I’d use crayons. If they took away my crayons I’d use pencils. If they stripped me naked and threw me in prison I’d spit on my finger and paint on the walls".

Here's some artwork you won't see at the local gallery. This portrait of President Barack Obama was created by artist George Vlosich using an Etch-A-Sketch toy.

This picture took 80 hours to draw.

Who knew you could do that with an Etch A Sketch?  I had one of these things as a kid, trust me, my pictures never came out anywhere in the same galaxy as George's.  It's amazing what you can do when you actually have talent.

Here's another sketch by George Vlosich.  This one's an Election 2008 classic depicting Obama and McCain on the campaign trail:

Vlosich has more to ohh and ahh you with.  Check out the link below for some more examples of his work. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1127863/The-Etch-A-Sketch-President-Artist-uses-toy-draw-famous-faces.html

Like what you see? 

You too can be big like George Vlosich and learn to perfect an etch a sketch. 

Ohio Art Classic Etch A Sketch

 

Hold on to your knobs baby, there's even an "Etch A Sketch" community.  Blown away? I thought you'd be. Etch a Sketch is major. It reminds me of those "Electic Football" games I used to play growing up.  Did you know grown people still play electric football?  They even have leagues, tournaments and a superbowl?  I know it's too much to process right now, so lets stick with one flashback at a time. 

Go here to find support and inspiration for all your Etch A Sketch efforts.   

Etch a Sketch Group on Flickr

Blagojevich Loses Governorship, Self Respect, Bearings and Academy Award Nomination

Get a load of Rod Blagojevich

making an ass of himself as he denies doing what's he so obviously did. What a mouth on this guy.  Does he actually believe anyone on earth with an IQ above 17, actually believes this manure he's a-spewing?

I'd have more respect for Blago if he had the heart to throw some other politician's under the bus along with him.   Blagojevich should've told the nasty truth: Politics is a dirty business and though what he did was dead wrong, this is how it's done.  If a politician wants something he pays for it, either by supporting the other guys legislation or by way of campaign contributions. 

 

Heck, if Blago would've been honest it's possible many everyday American's may have rallied behind him making it harder for so many flaming hypocrites to pretend they never heard of "Pay to Play". 

 

I don't feel sorry for the former Governor, I'm simply saying, if you have to go out, which he most definitely did, don't go out looking for sympathy, go out making some furniture move around. 

 

Bye Blago, see you in criminal court.

 

Here's the video:

 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

LA Man Kills Family, Self Over Job Loss?

 

More Tragedy in Cali

I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali...I'm going back to Cali, Hmm.  I don't think so. 

LL was right. 

Okay, let me back up.  I feel like a boxer with a chip on my shoulder.  Look, I know we're in a recession.  Jobs are drying up.  Factories are closing down.  Companies aren't hiring as often or paying as much.  These are tough times for many families, but the truth remains,  a nut-job is still a nut-job and a coward is still a coward and sometimes you just need to keep the story real. 

Some LA dads didn't get the memo entitled "Fathers are supposed to be family protectors not family executioners". Tuesday, there was another family slaughter compliments of 40 year old Ervin Lupoe.  Ervin is the most recent LA dad to murder his wife and kids because he was stressed out behind the family financial troubles.  You might recall a similar tragedy in LA last October when Karthik Rajaram, another unemployed California man shot and killed his wife, three children and mother-in-law.  What are they putting in the LA water supply?  A double of wuss mixed with a triple shot of coward?

 

Is The Media Giving Wussies The Easy Way Out?

For nearly a year, the media's been howling how bad things are, how we should all brace ourselves for even more of a market downturn, how everyone should be frantic, running for the hills and depressed.  Then there was this huge debate about using the term "Recession" compared to other terms such as, "slow down", rough-patch and "market reset".  The media said America was burning and we believed them because we we're the ones in the fire, but has the latest stream of killings shown us maybe the loonies among us could do without the gloomy statistics? 

Has the mainstream media elite given nut-jobs a moral permission slip to go crazy? 

 

The Economy Doesn't Kill People, People Kill People

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't some folks blaming the economy when they really should be blaming themselves?  Take Erin Lupoe for instance, he and his wife lost their jobs not because of job cuts at the hospital they worked at, but because of lying about their incomes to gain eligibility for childcare discounts. 

Hey, where I come from, the Lupoe's situation is what you'd call a "bad break" or a serious case of getting "hemmed up", but what it isn't, is a good reason to kill your whole family.

I'm probably just out of my depth.  I've had my share of tough times, but I can't relate to being so down about a situation that I'd even consider offing family members.  Didn't Erin have an extended family member he could've moved his family in with for a while?  Come on.  That's what you do.  You move in with an aunt, a sister or brother for a few months, make their lives miserable, overstay your welcome until you can get back on your feet.  It's the American way. 

There is no sane explanation for these murder suicides due to finances.  Just how much debt are we talking about?  10K?  100K?  I read the Lupoe's were a month behind in the mortgage.  A month?  I'm convinced Erin Lupoe snapped and instead of owning up to being a crazy person he instead blamed his actions on his job loss.  What's with this shooting kids over money?  First there was the guy who killed his son because he didn't want to pay child support and now we've got this Lupoe loser.   Hold everything America, I still haven't gotten over the child support story yet dammit!

Men, we need not only to stand up to use a urinal, but we need to stand up when the times are tough.   I see you guys walking around with your chest stuck out in your Hybrid Toyota Camry's living the goodlife.  Anyone can stick out their chest and strut around when things are going well, but a real man is defined by what he does in times of tribulation, not in times of prosperity.  Men, we need to be just as sure of ourselves when the chips are down as we are when they're up.  You can't lose faith.  Faith is what gets you through the tough times.  Faith in yourselves and faith that things will get better eventually. 

I'm sure there's more to this story, but the idea that Lupoe would send a suicide letter to a local news station complaining about his boss, digs under my skin even further.  No, the world does not understand or feel pity for you Erin Lupoe.  We feel sorrow for your wife and kids, because of a sicko, that sicko being you Erin, because of you, their lives were cut short.  I don't forgive you.  GOD maybe in the forgiving business, Timothy Crawford is in the "tell it like it is business", and you Erin Lupoe, are a pathetic coward.  I know I'm not alone when I say how I wish your final gunshot was a misfire that way all us fellow American's could force you to answer in a court of law for your actions.  You took the easy way out chump, and that would've been stupid, but it would've been okay as long as you took that route alone.  May you not rest in peace, wussy!

On Blast: Camera Phone Predator Alert Act

 

Today's 'Pointless Politician of the Moment Award".

  

The Politician:

Republican Peter King

The Pointless Bill:

"The Camera Phone Predator Alert Act"

The Pointlessness of it all:  

Peter thinks he can protect you from strangers snapping your picture without your knowledge by making a law that states:

"...camera-phones must make a sound "audible within a reasonable radius of the phone whenever a photograph is taken with the camera in such phone." 

Why this idea is a big fat waste of time:

 

Not even Batman can protect you from having your picture taken against your will.  In America, there's some risk you have to live with.  If you don't want anyone to see that dry brittle dead skin on your heels you can,

 1: wear socks,

2: hit up Ms. Sue's for a much needed pedicure. 

This bill also doesn't protect you from someone standing a distance further than the little clicky sound can travel, which is probably where most losers would stand to snap undercover pictures.

Tim's Take:

America's in the middle of a recession and this guy isn't introducing legislation for Employment Initiatives,  Foreclosure Protections or Small Business Incentives, no this guy wants to make sure your iPhone goes *click. 

Camera-Phones Mr. King?  Boy, you've sure got your finger on the pulse of the people!  Don't let anyone tell you, you're out of touch. 

Source: Open Congress http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h414/show

Trendsetting Digital Cable Gives Old Time Analogers More Time

 

Analog Humans Living in a Digital World

Still using bunny ears on your tv set?  Aluminum foil?  A wire hanger?  How about a small child with braces holding a hanger in one hand and a roll of quarters in the other humming Caribbean Queen?

You Are Not Alone....yet

The Nielsen Co. estimates that alot of you slackers are still slacking when it comes to updating your boob tube.  More than 6.5 million U.S. households are still rocking the bunny ear television sets?  Seriously.  In an effort not to leave millions of advertising dollars on the cutting room floor, the Senate voted yesterday to extend the analog transition another four months.  So, instead of shutting down analog television transmissions in February your old decrepit on-air television set will get one final dance in the spring just before going dark for good some time in mid-June.

The Digital Divide

I heard somewhere it's illegal to push an old person down a flight of stairs.  Okay.  Well shouldn't it be just as illegal to yank out the tv power-cords of millions of American's who can't afford cable? 

The people are getting screwed. 

Think about it.  I know they give you $40 or whatever towards the purchase of a cable-ready set, but that doesn't cover the cost of basic cable, which I think starts at about $30 a month when you include digital box fees, surcharges and the other "bend over and take it up the outlet" cable penalties they toss in. 

Getting The Clear Picture

Geeks across the country are laughing their mouse-pads off.  Give it a rest Lawrence.  Folks aren't holding back from going digital to avoid a crisper more lucent viewing experience.  Who wouldn't want an upgrade?  It's not that people don't want the technology, it's that some people can't afford it.  That's right Lawrence, everyone doesn't have $30 to throw away to watch repeats of "Wife Swap".

What if you're a drug addict?  Face it America, crack heads need tv, and tv needs crack heads.  Entire shows are devoted to addicts, come on someone's gotta watch "Intervention".  Who else is watching it except junkies considering going clean?  See, that's why I just know someone's going to bail out the poor, the cracky and the shut-in. 

....and who will do this selfless deed?

Taco Bell, that's who!

Taco Bell will do it, but not because they're saintly.  It's just good business  Who do you think is Taco Bell's core demographic?  Stoner's that's who! 

Only someone very, very high leavestheir house at 1am, heads over to a Taco Bell and orders a steaming "Border Bowl" of slop?  We're not talking you're regular consumer here, we're talking die-hard tv programmed stoned out of their minds consumers. Think about the lost revenue.  Name me one of those greedy fast-food chains who'll be able to live with millions of consumers in their demographics NOT seeing their ads. 

Do you still think a blackouts coming for all analog viewers?   America would let the 4 bloated, behind in the times Automakers fail before they let one fast-food chain go down in smoke.  Excuse me.  I'm not a betting man, but I see your Senate 4-month extension and I'll raise you another 4-month extension after that. 

Hey Caveman, do the math.

Sources: Associated Press: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DIGITAL_TRANSITION_DELAY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Bill O'Reilly: Dennis Miller on Jay Z and Young Jeezy Inauguration Party

View this video clip on O'Reilly and Dennis Miller reflecting on their thoughts about Jay Z and Young Jeezy's recent rants at an Inauguration Party.  It's good stuff for analysis.  I for one, have much to say on the issue.

JayZ/YoungJezzy - O'Reilly/Miller Analysis

Saw it?

Good.

Let me break this down so it may forever be broke. 

This is for all the people who watched the video and started ripping the sleeves out of their shirts and slapping themselves in the face shouting
"...the sky is falling, the sky is falling".

Listen up Dummies:  Obama being elected is a great pride to many people, particularly black people. Yes, I said it. Black people are proud of Obama, proud of the acknowledgement of his ability, proud of America for electing him and proud he didn't get shot when he stepped out of his limo on inauguration day.

(Come on black folks, I know I’m not the only one who held his breath when Barack and Michelle got their historic selves out of that nice combat-ready, heavily armored super limousine and decided to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue without an Ironman suit on.) 

People all over the world are jumping for joy. Why?  It's a strange phenomena, but people actually see Obama's election as a sign of hope that maybe, just maybe, any of us, not just White folks, any of us, us being Blacks, Latinos, Asians and Native American's can dream to be whatever we dream to be and not need our heads examined for doing so. 

Bill O'Reilly and Old White Guy Blinders

I realize it might trouble "Bill O" that a couple black guys shouted,
"My President is Black!”

Some white folks never paid much attention to the fact the previous 43 U.S. President's were white.  They just saw a reflection of themselves.  They saw other White men.  It's was and is the norm.  There's never been a reason for a White person to shout;

"Hey everybody we've got a White President!",

If they did, I'm positive other American's would shout back; "No S*it!"

The Super Bowl and Race Relations in America

I understand it’s hard to get what it's like to be Black, Latino, Asian or Native American in America, but if you have any brain power whatsoever perhaps you can follow this analogy.  It's a football analogy, considering the Super Bowl is coming up you should be able to follow me:

Let's pretend you're an Arizona Cardinal fan.  The Cardinals have been in the football league for say ... about 400 years and the commissioner treated them like crap. The Cardinals have never once won a Super Bowl.  That's right it sucks being a Cardinals fan in this league.  It's not really that the Cardinals are a bad team.  It's that the league was rigged.  How so?  Hell, it took you 350 years just to get helmets.  Can you imagine playing football for 350 years without a helmet?  

 

350 years in and the Cardinals finally got some basic equipment.  You know kneepads, shoulder pads and a protective cup.  The Steelers took a lot of things for granted.  Things like team colors, a bench to sit on, a home field, uniforms that match and a real football with air in it. 

As the Cardinals got more stuff to compete, a strange thing happened: they won a few games. 

Who knew? 

Winning got good to the Cardinals.  They even went to the playoffs one year.  As time went on the fans actually started believing regardless of the past bad seasons it was possible the Cardinals could win the big one.  That's right!  Maybe the team that started off with no helmets, no shoulder pads, no bench, no protective cups and no shot - could actually win the Super Bowl.

It was a long, long, long shot and very few thought they even had a snowballs chance in hell, but the Cardinal's shocked the world.  They won.  Fans celebrated.  People cheered and to think, it only took 400 short years.

The Jay Z and Jeezy Reasoning

So, I'm not saying JayZ or Young Jeezy were right or wrong to shout "No More Bush” and “Yay, I have a Black President”, what I am saying is, I understand why they did it and I don’t blame them. 

If we’re lucky, one day no American will feel the need to celebrate people voting based on character and ability instead of skin color, religion, sexual orientation or gender.  Hopefully it will become no big deal to be a Cardinal fan and get a win, but until that day comes, and after the history we’ve had, I don’t see nothing wrong with a little end zone celebration.

....and if Bill O and Dennis have a problem with it,. tell them I said go tackle themselves.

 

The Swearing in of a New Type of President

When others said he couldn't win. 

I ignored them. 

When doubters warned me not to get too excited.

I smiled inside.  I just knew.

When the Clinton machine gave its best punch, and when he absorbed the impact and countered with a strong left....

...the writing was on the wall. 

 

...and when McCain frantically tossed the infamous Palin - Hail Mary...it was obvious,

the game was over. 

Load up the wagons baby, we're going to town!

It happened America.  G'head, pinch yourselves.  Yes, Barack Obama is President of the United States of America!  The fact Obama is a Blackman isn't what moves me most.  What's most promising is Obama himself.  President Obama, the man is inspiring.  He's also likable, sharp, witty, smart, charming, calm and collected, and that's why millions of people came out yesterday to celebrate his swearing in. 

America finally has a leader that speaks to the better parts of us and after the Bush years, that's just what the doctor ordered:

 A huge dose of sound leadership. 

Thank you Mr. President!

Blown Circuits: Circuit City Closing Doors

Circuit City - Down for the Count

Today, Circuit City announced it will begin liquidating its assets, (that means selling stuff on the cheap) after failing to sell the company.  It's a sad day for more than 30,000 Circuit City employees who'll find themselves unemployed at a very bad time to be unemployed.

Best Buy, The Only Buy?

Best Buy Inc is looking to boost sales sans Circuit City, and who can blame them, only the strong survive.  My thing is, how can we keep the screw heads over at Best Buy from robbing us blind when their singular direct competition just disintegrated? There's alot of options online, but who buys big screen tv's online?  There are something's you need to see in person before shelling out money for them, things like TV's, jewlery and women, just to name a few.

Other Retailers Face the Unknown

Nowadays it's like death is floating through strip malls preying on the weak and senile.  Circuit City isn't alone, remember Linen’s ‘N Things, and KB Toys?  Hold on to your cookies, experts claim as many as 25% of retailers may file for Chapter 11 protection in the first quarter of 2009. That's alot of out of work peoples wondering the streets.  There'll be no place to ride my horsey.  Geesh, Obama better suit up quick!  I heard Will Smith was hoping to star in a film role as President Obama, well,  the way things are looking, Obama might want to play a Will Smith character in real life; I'm thinking Hancock.  Obama's going to need some serious super powers to get this country out of the ditch.

No More Bush

  

No more Bush

Last night, Bush gave his final speech as president.  No, I didn't watch it.  I just didn't have the energy to be bored, embarrassed and patronized all at once.  Keep it real. Bush is a non-issue. I'm not saying that to diss the man, but at this point, Bush is about as important as Damon Dash. It's not just me.  No one wants Bush out of office more than Bush. Look back at the painful 8 years, wouldn't you want to get away if you were him?  I'm just sorry he didn't beat feet 4 years ago. 

Hey Dick, Can I Stop Being President Now?

The moment Barack won I can only imagine how happy Bush was.  Not because he's an Obama supporter, not even because he can't stand McCain, but because it meant he was getting closer to his freedom.  I'm not one of those people that sympathizes with Bush because he's in over his head.  I can't stand incompetence and Bush was the most incompetent President in our nations history.  It kills me when people make excuses for the guy.  The way I see it, If you're wearing a McDonald's outfit, complete with visor and name-tag and your standing behind the cash register, well, you'd damn well better be able to ring up my order.  If you can't ring up orders why are you standing there?  Go work the fries or something.  I don't care if it hurts your feelings.  I want my order done right.  Hey, somebody get me a real cashier in here!  All I'm saying is the same hard truths that apply to fast food workers should apply to the President.  If you don't deal well with politics, why be a politician? People who don't like pots and pans tend not to be cooks. I just never understood Bush and I think I'm not the only person who feels that way.

Life After Bush

So where do we go from here?  All signs show we'd better brace ourselves.  Experts predict things can get worse and they will, at least for a little while.  Obama, now has the world's toughest job.  I don't know which is better, a guy who has no clue what he's getting himself into or the guy who knows and is just crazy, cocky, courageous enough to sign up for it anyway?  I, you, us, we ... America took the second guy ... this time.  Reality Check: Don't expect miracles from the President.  If a President Obama can give us logical reasoning and some competence that should be enough, at least for now, especially when you consider the last administration.  I can't imagine Barack and Biden making nearly as many bone-headed moves as Bush and Cheney. 

A Picture's worth a thousand words.  I know I speak for many people across the globe.  Bush and Cheney, the Dynamic Doofuses, we're full of themselves and full of bad policy.  Their mistakes, mis-steps and miscalculations were epic.  They will not be missed.  Good riddance bone-heads.

The Best Job in the World Crashes Server

Tired of poor-pay, wack-weather and crappy-cubicles?  How about a job change?  How about being the caretaker of an Australian tropical island? 

I know your current job sucks, but believe it or not, some lucky people actually do get paid to enjoy themselves. 

Warning:  The job description below may make you want to kill yourself!

A caretaker is needed on the Great Barrier Reef Australian Island of  Hamilton.  The gig pays a very nice $105K for a 6-month stint.  I guess someone will just have to find something else to do with the remaining 6 months of the year.  How about going on vacation from your vacation job?  Poor you!

What are the duties?

Some lucky person will have to scuba dive, snorkel and hike while keeping an eye on 25 nearby beautiful island resorts.  You'll also have to feed fish, clean a pool and collect the mail.

OH, the torture!

In-case picking up the mail is an inconvenience, the recruiters have included as a sweetener,  luxurious three-bedroom home accommodations and 100% free transportation to and from the island

How do you know if you're qualified for the position?

You have a pulse don't you?  There no prerequisites.  No skills or experience is needed, and there is no age requirement.

Hurry up and apply for this fantastic dream job, but be prepared for some heavy competition.  The job has been advertised in 18 countries including the United States and China and response has been so heavy the Island's server crashed several times.

Yes, this is a real job opening. Don't trust your friend Timothy?  Go here and see for yourself.