Davemunn.com

Patriotic?

I think this guy is on the right track.

CNN Commentary
By Paul Begala
CNN Contributor

Editor’s note: Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, was a political consultant for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to Clinton in the White House.

Paul Begala says April 15 is the one day the government asks us to sacrifice for the greater good.

(CNN) — Happy Patriots’ Day. April 15 is the one day a year when our country asks something of us — or at least the vast majority of us.

For those who wear a military uniform, those who serve the rest of us as policemen and firefighters and teachers and other public servants, every day is patriots’ day. They work hard for our country; many risk their lives — and some lose their lives.

But for the rest of us, the civilian majority, our government asks very little. Except for April 15. On this day, our government asks that we pay our fair share of taxes to keep our beloved country strong and safe.

Freedom isn’t free. That’s what the courageous World War II veterans of the American Legion taught me back in Texas Boys State decades ago. That phrase had special meaning for them. Those guys had seen buddies blown apart at Anzio or Guadalcanal.

I grew up in a different era. There was no draft, and while I have friends and family members who joined the military, most of my peers, like me, opted for the security and prosperity of the private sector.

This country has showered me with the blessings of liberty. So what do I owe my country in return? Paying my fair share of taxes, it seems, is the least I can do. Thanks to President Obama and the Democratic Congress, 95 percent of Americans will get a tax cut this year. No one — not even the wealthiest 1 percent — will have to pay higher income taxes until 2011.

So why are a bunch of Fox News clowns and right-wing cranks hosting “tea parties” all over the country? The Boston Tea Party, in case the clods at Fox didn’t know it, protested “taxation without representation.” Note the second word: without. The goofballs tossing tea bags today have representation. They voted in the election; they lost.

That a bunch of overpaid media millionaires would lead a faux-populist revolt is comical. They somehow held their populist instincts in check as George W. Bush and the Republicans cut taxes on the idle rich and put the screws to the working stiffs.

Bush’s tax policies were a godsend to the Paris Hilton class, but they sent the country on the road to bankruptcy and helped ruin the economy. But now that we the people have decided to set things right, now that we’ve hired Obama to fix the mess conservatives created, now they’re protesting?

Give me a break. Instead of tossing tea bags for the cameras, the Fox phonies ought to go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. There they would find better, braver men who have truly sacrificed for their country. They deserve nothing but the best — not the shameful and shoddy conditions they endured during the Bush administration. iReport.com: Share your thoughts on taxes and tea parties

You want something to protest? How ’bout protesting how little we give back to our veterans? Or how ’bout protesting that the entire budget of the National Cancer Institute (where government researchers battle a disease that will strike half of all men and a third of all women) is 0.03 percent of what we gave the bandits at American International Group alone? Oh, but veterans benefits and cancer research might cost money. It might require — dare I say it? — paying taxes.

If the whiners at Fox News want to advertise their selfishness, they are free to do so. But please don’t dress it up as patriotism. Patriotism is putting your country ahead of yourself — which is the precise opposite of what the tea party plutocrats are doing.

*The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Begala.*

Walking

Didn’t have plans today so I went for a walk. What started off as just a way to get out of the house became a personal journey to see what i was capable of. I left the house headed towards Maymont park. I crossed the nickle bridge which i have never done on foot before. The Nickle is a great old bridge with a walkway on one side and traffic moving in both directions crossing the river. No one ever seems to pay attention to the speed limit. I made it up to Maymont and decided that at 2.75 mile walk would only be a little over 5 Miles when i made it home so I kept on going. I walk over past the Round House and thru Byrd park past the lake and came out at the end of The Boulevard. It was only a few blocks up to Cary so I thought Id continue on. When I came to the intersection of Cary and Boulevard. The crossing light wasn’t in my favor so I kept going for another block, I just didn’t feel like waiting for the light to change. By the time I made it to Main I was able to cross as soon as I got to the intersection. So I walked all the way up to Ellwood. There was a light rain starting to develop but I continued on. Once I made it to Ellwood I walked back up to Cary. Down thru Carytown and back towards The Boulevard. I headed South to the Carrilon Where, just for good measure, I walked up the stairs around the back and back down. I went past Dogwood Dell and Barker field back across the Nickle, the South side Hill wasn’t this big going down, and headed home. All in all It was 9.5 Miles. I’m not as sore as I thought i might be but i defiantly need new shoes.

Wing Night

Matt and I were talking about wings the other day and he got a wild hair to go ahead and follow A.B’s Recipe for Wings. I had Jackson that night and wasnt the most help in the kitchen. Matt Steamed the wings at his place and the brought them over to my place to roast them finished and make the sauce. Because we cant find a Wing place good enough here in Richmond we have to make our own which is fun. Matt and i have had some fun cooking on the grill over the past year. I keep telling him we are going to buy a competitive grill and go to some of the competitions. Too bad we are both to busy right now.

I was having an issue with the photos loading but you can see a couple here.

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Photography

IMG_2250, originally uploaded by davemunn74.

I have been taking some photos for the Ebay store I have been working on. This is a shot of my set up I have been using. You can see the ebay store @ http://stores.shop.ebay.com/cycleconceptsva__W0QQ_armrsZ1

SHOTS!!!!

IMG_0906, originally uploaded by davemunn74.

It was a good night.

jackson

jackson, originally uploaded by davemunn74.

Portland!

I also flew out to Portland for Lauren and Lincolns new Brand Launch. It was quite an affair, a beautiful thing to enjoy and be a part of. Those two are a beautiful couple and I wish them the best in the world. They inspire me to be someone not afraid to chase the dream, whatever it may be.

Going to Portland was a great time to get together with some old friends and meet some new folks. I found everyone in Portland to be Awesome. The Beer was fantastic and Portland is the kind of city you can feel good about. It reminded me of a version of Charlottesville with a Real City Vibe to it. Nestled between Mt Hood and Mt Saint Helen’s with a Broad River running thru the middle of the city that manages to merge the new metro type of city with the old architecture that built the city. I loved Portland.

Projects projects projects…

I have been busy working on a few different projects recently. I have a new car that needed a new stereo so I installed one. The P series Vespa is done at powder coat and I have been staining a dresser for Jack. I haven’t done any wood work in quite sometime and I wouldn’t say its my forte but it is really fun to do. I think I will finish the new dining room table when I get all moved into the new House.

Matt was super helpful in getting the dresser ready for stain.  He has worked in a wood shop in the past and had some time to Sand and prep the wood.

Crossroads

A coffee shop where I go just about everyday. Sitting at the little table to the right as you enter the door. Sitting at the outside seat facing into the rest of the shop. Just sitting there fumbling with my phone to get it out of my pocket and check for any messages.

I see a Black Male about 5′7″ 5′8″ walk through the door fumble with his face and raise a gun. I noticed the gun and it was a small caliber revolver about a .38.

The Normal din of a coffee shop came to a deafening silence . A muffled voice  then a shot fired.  Just as I saw the gun and heard the  voice I thought  Holy shit tackle that guy. Then the shot  changed my mind as I instantly  turned to getting Catherine to safety. I put her and another woman in the bathroom, she demanded I come to and now was not time for discussion. The other woman began to pray over everyone as Catherine joined in and I got on the phone with 911.

As I spoke with the 911 operator they couldn’t help me and continued to ask me the same questions over and over again. Apparently they don’t understand that armed robbery means the guy had a weapon. Then the line dropped.

Feeling helpless I ran out of the bathroom and went to see what was happening outside. I made it out side to find another customer already miraculously in his car and heading to chase the guy down. I heard the approaching sirens of the cops and decided to stay where I was and point the cops in the direction of the chase. Thanks to the fast action of the police and the community the would be robber was quickly caught and taken into custody.