Newt Gingrich Loses the Gary Busey Voting Block...

       The continued climb of Newt Gingrich went on a wild roller coaster this week.  Just when the former Speaker of the House had some serious mojo going, he got an added boost - and then it suddenly disappeared just as fast... It seems a key GOP operative gave Gingrich his blessing, then pulled it back a day later.  Who was this?  Dubya Bush?  Nope.  Maybe John Boehner or Reince Preibus... Double nope.. No, the big push and pull back came from Gary Busey...


    Yeah, THAT Gary Busey.  No, we're not sure if it was solicited or if Busey volunteered his opinion, but it got out there.  Yes, the endorsement of Angelo Pappas from the Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze vehicle ,Point Break, certainly does carry a lot of weight in Republican circles.  But, just as quickly as it came, it went.  Almost as though Busey smacked his head on a curb (sorry, couldn't help it), he announced that he was pulling his endorsement.  For Newt, it was nice while it lasted.


     We're not sure why the Buddy Holly Story star dropped his OK, or if he is endorsing someone else, but does it really matter?  We're sure none of the other candidates are hoping for his endorsement.  Just because you've been on Celebrity Rehab doesn't mean your opinion is worth our time.  Did anyone swig their vote for Mike Huckabee in 2008 because Ric Flair went with him, or Barack Obama becuase Matt Damon and Ben Affleck endorsed him?  Don't answer that.... they shouldn't.


     Will Newt Gingrich's ascension to GOP nominee be suddenly stemmed off becuase of the Busey switch?  Who knows, but we doubt he will have anything to do with it.... You never know.

.

Bowl Names Get Dumber and Dumber ....

The Potato Bowl ??? Are We F**king Kidding ???? Time for Marketing 101 Again, Guys....


    It's that time of year again!  No, not BOGO at Payless, or McRib being back at McDonald's... It's college bowl time.  They call it Bowl Week, but it's obviously WAAAYYY longer than a week.  For people my age and older, we've seen a big change in Bowl Season.  The whole season ended on New Year's Day.  We've gladly given that up for the BCS Championship. No, it's not perfect, but we'll take it.


    The games used to get more important as the week went on, but that's down the tubes as well.  There are NO GAMES on New Year's Day... They didn't want to interfere with the NFL schedule, so the usual games are now Tuesday, when we're all back to work, followed by games on each weekday afterwards.  Of course, the big game is preceded by two crap bowls in Alabama, before the BCS on January 9th... 9th!!  You want to know why BCS games often suck?  Because they haven't played a down for six weeks! It's like watching a first scrimmage in camp....except it's for the National Championship.


     The goofiest thing to us is the weirder and weirder bowl names.   It used to be simple: Holiday, Gator, Cotton, Sugar, Rose, Orange.  No sponsor names, no dot.com's.  The first one we remember is the Sun Bowl becoming the John Hancock Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl tacked Tostitos on the name.  After that, it just took off.... The bowls seemed to have lost the focus on the games or teams, and just concern the sponsorship and money.  Some bowl names are OK, but others are frigging stupid.  Lets grade them all...

Gildan New Mexico Bowl - C.  Hey, where is the game anyway?  Lack of ingenuity in the name, and a t-shirt maker seems a dull sponsor for a spicy state like New Mexico.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - D+.   Horridly cliche'd name made even worse with using the term 'Famous'.... as opposed to the infamous spuds, or potatoes of no particular distinction.  Nothing like adding to the joke, is there? We know, Idaho - you're proud of your potatoes..

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - C.  Nothing screams The Big Easy like a cargo company.  Yeah, New Orleans has a port.  But, this is one where R&L could have left it's name off.  It's not like you're going to get business from this. No one cares, guys.

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl - D.   Much like the previous one, but there are some sponsors that have names that just don't need to be on a bowl game - and Beef O Brady's is it!  We've been to Florida twice, and never heard of Beef O'Brady's .... Say it ten times, and see how stupid you feel. Now you know how the announcers will feel..

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. C+.  Could you make it longer, guys?  No marketing tie-in, other than the game is in San Diego.  We had it at D+, but knocked it up a grade because at least Poinsettias have SOMETHING to do with Christmas.

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas - C.  Vegas adds zest to anything, right?  Well, this says blah to us... A auto body repair franchise says nothing Vegas to us... At least MAACO can keep the bowl franchise and put it anywhere else.  How about MAACO Bowl Long Island?  We have enough body shops up here...

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl - B.   Ahh, one that makes sense to us.  You think Hawaii, you think vacation, right?  One grade off for using the sponsor in the name, but the rest fits.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, D+.  Terrible, terrible, terrible... WTF is an AdvoCare V100?  We don't know either.  The name is like a sledgehammer. You take an All-American term like Independence, and wreck it with Neo-Tech AdvoCare V100... God awful.

Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl - B.   Any sponsor takes a grade off. Aside from that, we're cool with it. Pizza and football go well, and the game is in Detroit, home of Pan, Pan..

Belk Bowl - D.  Just when we thought the Continental Tire Bowl sucked, it gets worse.  WTF does Belk have to do with football? Maybe the teams will dress in Donna Karan inspired uniforms.  It's in Charlotte, so why not the Belk Queen City Bowl? That'd get at least a C. Might be our worst grade...

Military Bowl - A.  Just as it should be.  No sponsor, no dot.com, it's in DC, and Air Force is playing in it... Good Luck , Toledo!  It's what bowls USED to be...

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl - C.  Too long, and exactly who are you guys? No doubt we'll find out during the commercial breaks... 

Champs Sports Bowl - B.   A decieving B to us.. Short name  helps a lot, but most people might not be familiar with the Sporting Goods retailer, as opposed to Foot Locker.  But, it is an obvious good relationship..

Valero Alamo Bowl - C+.  We'll give a plus just that Valero sounds like it goes with The Alamo, although it used to just be Alamo Bowl. If Alamo Rent a Car were still around, it would've been ideal, but they'd just add the Rent a Car anyway..

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl - C+.  Good cross marketing, and honoring our military, but Bell Helicopter pretty much pushed their old buddy LBJ into Vietnam, and some remember that.  Also, no branch of the military is in the game.  Nice try...

New Era Pinstripe Bowl , B-.   Not bad, but there are some non-bowl like factors making it tough.  There is too much of a baseball feel here.  New Era makes ball caps, and the pinstripes are for the game site - Yankee Stadium.  Enjoy the game outdoors, because it's gonna be frickin' cold...

Franklin Am. Mortgage Music City Bowl - D+.  Simply put, TOO DAMN LONG... Six words!  It inspires us for our ow bowl next year - The Mike Reino SC6 Republican/Conservative Blog Palmetto State Carpetbagger Bowl....Our suggestion to the FAM people - drop the 'M', and pick a shorter bowl next time.

Insight Bowl- B+.  This is making something good from nothing.  Nice and short, and the sponsor's name doesn't sound corporate. 'Insight' just makes it sound like this bowl knows SOMETHING the other bowls don't.  Kudo's....

Meineke Car Care of Texas Bowl - C.  OK, so the Meineke dealer around the corner from my house DOESN'T give a crap about the game?  Why go see him? We all are getting sick of Texas pushing Texas so much... Rick Perry is finding that out, maybe Meineke - which sounds about as Texan as Chicago deep dish pizza - will too. Drop the 'of', and call it the Meineke Texas Bowl.  We know who you are.

Hyundai Sun Bowl/ AutoZone Liberty Bowl, B-.   Yeah, we're starting to get a little tired (another problem, too many bowls), so we're lumping these two together.  Good minimalist job by keeping the original name in there, without too much of yours. Down a tick for no cross reference for the sites...

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - B.  We're torn all over the place on this one.  Great cause, but it's a bit of a downer.  Plus Kraft is the one making the food, so they could fight it with one hand behind it's back.   And the game is taking place in - GULP! - San Francisco.  We see a football game, but expect three hours of liberal preaching on every commercial break.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl, C-.   This is a totally biased score.  This is the Peach Bowl, was the Peach Bowl, and has ALWAYS been the Peach Bowl!  Chick Fil A dumped the name, and we still haven't forgiven them.  Here's a suggestion: add the Peach back, and cross market Peach Tea for December with it.  Yes, we have good ideas for everything....

TicketCity Bowl, B-.  Kudos for shortness, but unlike Insight, TicketCity is obviously a sponsorship.  Oh, and ANOTHER bowl game in Texas, one of six... Doesn't exactly make you want to go, does it?

Outback Bowl, B. Nice and short, but we wonder what Tampa has to do with Australia?  At least it's short. Aside from that, we can live with it.

Capital One Bowl, B-.  Much like the Outback Bowl, except we think CapOne is a more obvious sponsorship.  That, and we think it should be the Gamecock Bowl, because South Carolina seems to be in it every year.

Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, C+.  It sounds cool, but again, let's wreck New Years Day by reminding you it's time to do your taxes.  Yippee!!  Gator Bowl - probably the best bowl game name.  Taxslayer: ugh!

BBVA Compass Bowl/ GoDaddy.com Bowl - C.  Two shit bowl games, with four shit teams in Alabama, with two sponsors that have nothing to do with he locations.  Seriously, these games should be held on December 18th, not the days preceeding the Championship Game. Based on the irrelevance, the C is being kind....

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl/ Allstate Sugar Bowl/ Discover Orange Bowl/ AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.  B-.  They're all the same: great bowl games that have been co-opted by corporate America. Damn Shame.  We also miss the fact that the teams in the games aren't tied to the conferences like they used to, but by the BCS, and at-large bids. At least Notre Dame hasn't been getting unearned bids lately. But they will soon... Which leaves us with one more.


Rose Bowl - A+.  It isn't the Granddaddy of them all for nothing.  No sponsor.  no dot.com, no change of venue every year. Most of all, it's still the Big Ten champ versus the PAC-10 (now 12) Champ every year, unless either makes the BCS Championship.  College football like it used to be.  Beautiful....


Damn, that was long!  Hope you enjoyed it, and add any critiques you wish.... Play ball!!

.

Men, You Have Now Been Rendered Useless ...

A Lover, A Friend..... And a Chocolately Treat!  What Else Does a Woman Need Nowadays ??

     To the two women who read SC6 (we know of Miss June, the other one we're not sure of yet), don't ever say we didn't take care of you!   Thanks to an anonymous friend (appreciate it, Bobby! OOPS!!), we just got a copy of an SNL clip from Tina Fey's hosting appearance early in 2010.  No, we never saw this one, but if we did, it would have been on a long time ago....


     We'll keep it short, and right to the point.  Women don't REALLY need Men.... they just kinda keep us around in case all else fails.  Aside from a plug-in, Do It Yourself device, we found something that satisfies a woman in every other way.  We give you Duncan Hines' Brownie Husband....


  www.hulu.com/watch/141546/saturday-night-live-brownie-husband


.

Mande Wilkes Outfoxes the Competition On Equal Time ..

    Right now, with all the hubbub of the Presidential Primary coming in January, not much attention is being paid attention to the smaller races yet.  Well, maybe you're not paying attention (neither are we) ,  but the good candidates have been working on this for months or years.  Those with an actual plan usually aren't surprised when good things happen later on.  It's no accident. Planning makes better candidates, and better public servants...


   Honestly though, we're a little torn on the small space between smart and legal and sneaky... We're going to do our best to avoid judging anything here.  Instead, we'll do our best to state the facts, give all sides, and let you guys decide for yourself.  Maybe as a former candidate, we're jealous of a tactic that we never thought of, or could afford even if we did think of it...


    I was slightly familiar with Mande Wilkes.  I often remember Will Folks ogling over her on his blog, and that she was an up and comer on the GOP scene.  One day a few weeks ago, I ran into her page on Facebook, so I requested, and it was accepted. Ok'ing a blogger to see your FB page and comments may not always be a good thing, but it is what it is... Last week, I read the notes about Mande holding an event, and much to our surprise.... she was a candidate for the 7th Congressional district!  That, and she hosted a show on WPDE, called On The Spot.....


     Almost immediately, the question popped into my head: How does a candidate for office manage to have a TV show without violating Equal Time laws with the Federal Election Commission?  To me, it made no sense initially.  Wilkes is promoting her candidacy on her website, on Facebook and there is some cross marketing between the two.  The rule seems pretty simple: if you are a candidate, you cannot have air time or work for a media company , without giving all others equal time on that market, at the same rate.  To our surprise, no one asked about this.. Our guess is it's from one of three possibilities: they are infinitely more familiar with FEC laws than us, they didn't know either, or they don't give a damn... We went straight to the horse herself on this, and Wilkes DID bother to check with the FEC.  Long story short, Wilkes' ass is covered. We think....

     iIf you don't care, indulge us anyway, because we think it's a good nuts and bolts campaign story... We called WPDE and e-mailed Wilkes, and here is the skinny.  Wilkes is not an employee of WPDE, and the show she hosts is a paid programming ad - kinda like Wayne's World, except that Mande is the schwing!!  We haven't seen the show, but Wilkes states it has disclaimers left and right during the airing.  On it, there is no mention of her candidacy. Of course, that doesn't mean viewers aren't aware of it.  What does the FEC have to say?  Wilkes says nothing...


     To us, the minute you say 'I'm running' , you're running - but the FEC doesn't see it that way.  The moment a campaign really starts is when you raise or spend $5000.  Until then, you're up to your own vices.  Our first question was a local TV paid programming can't be cheap, so the $5k has to be coming up soon... Wrong again, Mister Know Nothing!  Wilkes says the TV program is a separate business venture. Again, not having actually seen the show, we don't know if the business is selling her book or what it is... That being the case, whatever she is spending at WPDE, the FEC is cool with it...


    We'll give Wilkes credit... It is a shrewd game plan.  Mostly when a woman beats the guys at their own game, they call her something else. There is no denying that being on WPDE is going to assist the campaign - an ancillary benefit.  Direct or indirect, Wilkes is getting help from being on TV, when no one else is... Will it propel her above the crowd? That remains to be seen.



   No, this is not a strategy that we'd go for.  To us, we think selectively marketing your campaign, while still sending out promotions online that mention both the book, the show and the candidacy will backfire once someone sheds more light on it than we could.  That isn't our motivation here.... We don't even know the entire field of candidates in the 7th District race yet (and we're not alone), and we don't know Mande Wilkes at all.  Never met, and Will is the only one that has ever mentioned her.  If anyone in the race were employing this tactic, we'd be asking...  It's a rare opportunity for us to discuss a REAL campaign issue, not just jokingly attacking our Congressman for molesting puppies..


    It's an odd case of what is legally acceptable, and what could be hopskotching what is fair and right.  What do you guys think? Are we asking about nothing, is Wilkes a marketing genius, or is she headed for due criticism?


.  

SC6 Civil War Rewind, Part Nine: Charleston Burns

Massive Fire Does What the Union Army Couldn't... Yet.


     Welcome to the 9th installment of our marking of significant events in the Civil War - 150 years after they occured... Today, we mark an event close to many South Carolinians hearts: the Great Fire of 1861.  Long a contraversial event, it left Charleston wounded for almost the duration of the War.  If you've ever gone on a tour of downtown Chucktown, you'll notice that many houses were built well before the war, or a good five years after.  The 1861 fire explains a lot of that...


     In late 1860, Charleston was the epicenter of rebellion.  Just 11 months later, it was almost reduced to rubble - not by the Union Army, but by natural disaster.  We think.  No one knows for sure. The Post and Courier noted that none of the papers gave any blame on arson, but we found an article from Harper's Weekly that stated just that.  Since both the Charleston Mercury and Courier newspapers were burned out, who was around to note it?  There is mention of freed slaves starting it, but since we don't know, we'll pass on judgement.


    Late on December 11, 1861  three separate fires started, almost simultaneously, on King Street, Tradd Street - and by all accounts- at the Russell Sash and Blind factory on Hassell Street in the Northeast area in Charleston.  Aided by winds from a nearby Nor'easter, and a dead low tide that hampered the firefighters ability to pump water, the fire quickly spread south and west...

    The devastation was pretty complete in it's path.. The mostly wooden buildings burned up like kindling .  The fire cut a swath across Market and Broad Streets, where both the Circular Church and Institute Hall, where Secession was officially passed, burned to the ground.  It continued on there straight to the Ashley River, where it ran out of things to burn.  That, and a slight rain, and the work of residents and slaves worked to save their homes.  It would seem odd now for enslaved blacks to work hard to assist their 'owners', but this was their homes as well...


     The fire caused $8 million in damage (about the price of ONE HOME on Battery Park now), and was visible to both Union and Confederate armies stationed or traveling nearby.  While the North dreamed of setting fire to the birthplace of Secession, it somehow did it to itself...  Of course, the Sherman and the Yankee army got their chance in early 1865, but a third of Charleston was already gone, not to be rebuilt until after the War.  


     Suddenly, war and secession and states rights took a back seat to more important and basic things...like where to live , work and rebuild.  Of course, it did rebuild eventually, and is today one of the greatest and most beautiful cities in America.  If it weren't for the I-26 traffic, it might be perfect - but Earl is working on that!  And it all happened 150 years ago today.


     See you at the next installment!

.  

And the Gloves Come Off In the GOP Race .....

Get Up, You Sissy !!!  Time Is Running Out, So The Candidates Start to Ignore Reagan's 11th Commandment..


     We're only three weeks away from the Iowa Caucus.  It's funny to us that a state whose voters are so assbackwards, compared to the rest of the country, get so much of the attention every 4 years.  But, it is what it is... This isn't like 1968, when Bobby Kennedy jumped into the race in MARCH... Getting off to a good start is paramount.  For candidates like Michele Bachmann, doing well in Iowa is everything... Don't let her BS you. If she finished 4th, she is toast, which means...... she is toast. Let the clock begin.


     Just about all of the candidates, with the exception of Rick Perry, held back from attacking any of the other guys.  But time is getting short, and the perpetual revolving door of front runners seems to have settled on Newt Gingrich.  With the bullseye clearly on Newtie's back - and no time left - the knives are out in full force.


      Perry is still attacking Mitt Romney.  Romney is attacking Gingrich. Gingrich is hitting Romney back.  Bachmann is going after both Romney and Gingrich.  Ron Paul is attacking Gingrich and Perry, although Perry's mouth does more to kill himself than any opponent does.  Jon Huntsman's tree that falls in the woods eeks criticism at Gingrich and Romney.  Hell, EVERYONE is going after Gingrich... Meanwhile, Rick Santorum is out there somewhere....


      Will it all work? Nope.  Will any of it work? Doubtful.  The truth is there are no new slings to toss at any of the candidates.  Perry's assault was the exact same attack that he used four months ago.  Of course, Romney made an ass of himself by betting Perry $10,000 on the truth of it.  We were waiting for one of them to break out with 'My Daddy Can Beat Up Your Daddy' or 'Yo Momma So Ugly' jokes, but we weren't so lucky...


     Like most politicians, with the exception of Gingrich, they all failed to see the date coming up so fast, and their shortcomings have caught up with them.  They planned last minute moves, only to find that voters are making up their minds a few weeks ahead of time.  Is Gingrich the clear winner? No, but his mojo hasn't quite peaked yet, which is a good sign going into January, which it almost is.... Snuck up on you guys, didn't it?  Maybe ONE MORE attack will work.  Anyone have some new dirt?

.

Hey, Isn't Chicago Supposed To be Obama's 'Home' ???

Where Would You Rather Go For Your Christmas Vacation..... This , Or THAT???


     This is never a topic that we understood.  Why? Because we're poor, and where do poor people go for Christmas? Straight to the living room, around the tree.  Actually, we don't even have a tree - just presents and and empty stocking, but we know Santa will come through for us...


    The rich and powerful have options.  They go on vacation for Christmas, which to us is the most effed up tradition ever.  I spent New Years Eve in Florida once... Once.  It was 70 degrees, which is not what the holidays are to us.  Barack Obama likes to get away from DC, like everyone else.  You'd think him, Michelle and the girls would celebrate 'back home' in Chicago, gathered around a warm fire, having snowball fights and enjoying the season.  Uhh, nope.


    Yeah, Obama is taking 17 days off for Christmas, which is by our calculations the same number of days off we've gotten since 2001.  Rather than go into the old argument about taking so long off when America is going down the shitter, we're going to focus on WHERE the Obama's go now...


    You have to feel for the city of Chicago lately.  Back in 2008, Obama touted himself as a Son of the Windy City.  Why not?  It's where he served as a state and US Senator. They met there, and raised the kids there.  Plus, there is a certain amount of toughness that comes with living in Chicago.  It definitely helped Obama's image in the election.  Would Obama be President if he were Hawaii's Senator?  Doubt it....


   So, it surprises us to see Obama almost abandon his Land of Lincoln trademark whenever he bolts DC.  The campaign may be based out of Chicago, but Obama definitely is not.  As soon as Washington closes up, Barack is headed for the sun and sand of Hawaii - his actual home state.  And what about his Summer vaca's?  He's gone to Martha's Vineyard the past 2 years.  It's not a coincidence - the Obama's are avoiding Chicago's freezing winters and stagnant summers like the plague.  Maybe if they put a Target store near their house....


    We're not sure exactly WHY they no longer go home.  Maybe they like living like gypsies, with no real home.  When you know eventually you'll be leaving the White House, you know it's not home.  They do have a place in Chicago, but there is about as much security there as the Clark Street garage on Valentine's Day, 1929.  So, maybe you CAN'T go home again... Our guess is they're done with Illinois. It served it's purpose, and afterwards, they'll all go back to the Aloha State in a nice private compound.  Don't take it personally, Chicago.... It's just business.


.

Today's Founders Quote: The Way Everlastingly Happy

"May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy."

- George Washington, 1790.

    This could be our shortest analysis ever: God Bless Us, everyone!  One thing that seems heaven sent to us is model Chloe Pridham.  I think Moye dated her once!

.

Cartoon of the Week, Half Price For the Holidays

     It was a very odd week in political cartoons.  Yes, they're supposed to be witty, but no one likes 'toons that are inside jokes.  A couple of them had us wondering WTF they were getting at.... A Titanic parody that took us a couple minutes to realize it was Angela Merkel?  Vladimir Putin judo chopping a Russian briefcase?  Luckily, they got better as we went along...


    Yeah, we think Donald Trump 'mediating' a debate is a bad idea... The guy is a narcissist, who thinks he knows everything, and if I were a candidate, I'd avoid him like the plague - and most are...

And why did we pick this one?  Well, the motorcycle is cool, although the handlebars are WAAAAAY too short (good luck turning with those puppies), we like the scruffy facial hair and leathers.  But yeah, the ladies do like the bad boys. Is there such a thing as a bad boy named Newt?

.

Kooky Picture of the Day..

      On Wednesday, I took a trip to the South Shore Mall in my old stomping ground in Bay Shore, New York.  It's changed a lot.  I couldn't tell you which end I was in, the old Loews Theatre is now a Sears... and apparently you can get ANYTHING you want!  Not really - it was the Unisex Palace Hair Salon.  We can't be the only ones to notice this, but who knows.

.

Lights, Camera, PROTEST ! It's Mockupy Wall Street

If This Post Doesn't Convince You That the OWS Protestors Are a Bunch of Attention Starved Media Whores, Nothing Will...


      Time to preface our post today.  We didn't have a big grudge against the Occupy Wall Street protestors at first.  Sure, we had them pegged as a bunch of followers who watched Michael Moore's movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, and decided to take his advice.  No, we understand the '99%' and their complaints.  This is America... Everyone has a right to protest.  But, they don't have the right to take over public spaces, thus denying pretty much all others from using the places they took over and funked up.  After that, we started viewing them as the cousin who comes to visit....then never leaves.


      Nope, in our opinion, for too long now, the message has been lost, and for too many of the OWS participants, it is now about THEM.  Don't believe us?  The story today might convince you..  New York has just about everything going on.  One of those things is a thriving TV and movie business.  Very often, entire sections of the city are closed off to film scenes.  Citizens pay little attention to it, because it goes on all the time....


      One of the TV shows that films here regularly is the 'Law and Order' franchise. Long known for taking shows direct from the headlines to give the show an up to the minute feel, the 'SVU' version of the show rented out Foley Park in downtown Manhattan to film a scene that was like the OWS movement.  Word of it got out, and the Occupy protestors decided that nothing would be better than having the real thing there.  So, the gang left Zuccotti Park, and went up the block to Foley Park - and took over the place.


      Now, we get it.. You don't have anything else to do, so why have someone act like you, when you can do it yourself?  Therein lies the problem. This is a TV SHOW SET.... not the protest, and the people there are ACTORS.  This isn't real.  Don't you think if the producers, directors and NBC wanted to have you guys filmed, they would have just gone to Zuccotti Park and filmed you?  Apparently, they didn't. 


      But, when your group is an unorganized mess of people without a clear vision or agenda, except they don't like people with money - the message is not as important as you are.  They've lost their goodwill with the people, and those that are left mainly are there to be 'discovered' somehow.  Trying to get their 15 minutes of fame.. The good news for the rest of us is winter has finally come - with overnight temps dropping below freezing.  Even the media won't want to go outside, so once the TV cameras go, their true mettle to their 'values' will be tested. We have a feeling they will fail.  


.

SC6 Remembers Harry Morgan....

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, Colonel Potter !


    Yet another part of our childhood goes away... When I was a kid, M*A*S*H* was my favorite show.  In high school, I had every episode on tape. This wasn't when you could buy each season at the store, or get the box set.... No, every weeknight at 700PM, I taped EVERY episode for over a year. I missed the last episode live, because I had a Boy Scout dinner to attend. I was pissed off....


    Yeah, I was a big fan... No, I wasn't a fan of Alan Alda's politics making their mark on the show, but it was still funny and touching, which is what make great TV - like life, good TV has the ability to make you laugh and cry - usually at the same time.


    Over it's 12 seasons, M*A*S*H* went through lineup changes - changes that most thought would kill the show.  It's tough when a show loses main players, but good shows (especially ensemble shows) survive and can even thrive them.   BJ Hunnicutt was deeper than Trapper John McIntyre.  Charles Emerson Winchester was every bit the match that Frank Burns wasn't, yet he had a heart stuck in there somewhere that came out occasionally...


     When McLean Stevenson's Henry Blake character was killed off, Harry Morgan took over as gruff  Col. Sherman T. Potter.  A lifelong army soldier, Potter could have been the new bad guy on the show.  But instead, Morgan made the character the paternal, no nonsense yet wise and sensitive role model that real Colonels in the military actually are.  On the surface, they are tough as nails, but no good officer earns their soldiers respect without caring for them. That was Sherman T. Potter in a nutshell...


     Morgan was a staple on the big screen and TV for almost 50 years.  I saw a few reruns of Dragnet as a kid, but that was before my time... Like people growing up in the 30s and 40's, where Joe Louis was always Champ and FDR was always President.  M*A*S*H was always on, and Morgan is forever Colonel Potter.   As he used to say "Or Revore!!" We salute you..


.

Bakari Sellers Puts In His 1.6 Cents ...

Sorry, But We Couldn't Find a Penny That Was Chopped In Half....

One thing about polticians that makes us laugh is their penchant for trying to change things that they have little to no control over.  Case in Point: SC Representative Bakari Sellers (D-Bamberg) has proposed a 10% tax on the state's gasoline tax.  On the surface, you're thinking 'Hey, that sounds pretty cool and significant.'   When you put it that way, yeah it does.  The again, it's like me saying that I will totally quit smoking cold turkey forever - then you find out that I've never smoked...

While not that extreme, Sellers proposal is not that far off.  Why? Because SC's gas tax is on 16 cents a gallon, the 4th lowest in the US.  For consumers, that means the cut is a miniscule 1.6 cents per gallon.  Sellers states that the lower prices at the pump will attract North Carolinians across the border to get their gas.  It gives you an idea of how clueless either Sellers could be - or just how gullible he thinks you are.  Numbers don't lie, so let's do the math....

Got your calculator ready? Here we go... 1.6 cents is about 1/20 of the total price of gas, so assuming that you have a pretty fuel efficient car at 30 mpg, you would have to drive 1.5 miles ROUND TRIP or less for the tax cut to be worth the trip... That means if you live in Charlotte, you need to find a station before you even get past Carowinds.... Not exactly worth it, is it? 

Secondly, SC's gas tax is already much lower than both North Carolina and Georgia, so there will be no additional gain than we already have.  We're not talking about crossing the border to play Powerball and winning $160 million.... But we would be cutting funding for road improvements.  

Sellers has an odd supporter in our buddy, Will Folks at FITS News.  Hey, we don't disagree that lower taxes are better, but South Carolinians are far from overtaxed.  If you want to see overtaxed, come on up here for a little while, where gas is $3.60 a gallon for regular, cigarettes are $10 a pack, and property taxes are $10,000 per year and up...... WAAAAY up.  We support South Carolina never becoming New York, but we do need to pay for some things, and infrastructure is one of them.

Lastly, we have one final critique.  We live in the real world, and a 1.6 cent tax cut would NEVER show up to consumers at the pump.  You have the oil companies, refiners and retailers all taking their cut along the way.  If you ever think you'd see that savings at the pump, think again. 

Yes, Sellers' idea on the surface seems nice, but there are other, more necessary places to cut.  Politically, it makes good press, but the kid got it wrong.  The only real change we'll see is the SCDOT having it's funding cut.  Maybe not a totally bad idea on the surface, but if there is extra money later, cut the budget then.  No one's life will change over this plan.  As Shakespeare said, it is Much Ado About Nothing... but we're not sure if Sellers ever read Shakespeare....

. 

Congress Can't Get ANYTHING Right Sometimes..

Light Up, Dammit !  LIIIIIIIIIIIGHT !!!!!!


     For those of you who think that Washington DC is incapable of doing even the smallest task without screwing it up....... We give you further proof that you are correct.   Yesterday, the official Capitol Christmas Tree was lit by Speaker John Boehner.  Or at least it was supposed to have lit up.


     Yeah, it started out OK, then on two occasions, the tree stopped lighting.  the official word was that the wiring got wet and shorted.  Being the untrusting conspiracy theorists that we are (or at least our readers are), we have a couple, more likely ideas of what happened.  Here they are:

1. Environmentalist Kooks unplugged it before being pepper sprayed.
2. Tea Party Caucus refused to keep it lit until confirming that the tree was actually PAID FOR.
3.  Barack Obama vetoed the lighting, citing that he needed until 2013 to decide if the tree was a good idea or not.
4.  An Occupy DC protestor accidentally drove a tent spike thru the extention cord.
5.  The power was deliberately cut off until Grover Norquist had the tree sign a promise that it would BE LIT, and ALWAYS stay lit.
6. Boehner was following directions from Mitt Romney, who kept saying, "Turn it on. No wait - shut it off! No, wait - turn it on!"

.

Once We Ruin Earth, We Can Start Over.. 620 Light Years Away

Scientists Discover a 'Goldilocks Planet' - Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold ... Just Too Far.


     And now for some good news - sort of.  Word is that NASA scientists have located a planet that is perhaps the most similar to Earth ever seen.  It's in a zone with a star very similar to the Sun, and the distance from it may allow it to sustain life, but they're really not sure at this point.  Hell, they don't even know if it has an atmosphere or clouds yet.


    If it seems like these guys are somewhat speculating , they are.  You see, the planet, called Kepler 22b, is over 620 light years away.  Still, it gives us all hope.  I'd comment on it further, but me and this girl are hopping in our space traveling pod, and headed for the place now, where we will be like Adam and Eve, and try to get it right this time.  Don't worry - I brought along extra sodas and Twinkies for the trip....

.

Marking the Day of Infamy .

Pearl Harbor Day Hits It's 70th Anniversary...


      We're making a quick post today to note the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - a day that cost the United States 12 ships, 160 planes and over 2400 American lives..


       There is little to add to the event.  Most people who were alive that day remember exactly where they were when they heard of the attack that launched us into World War II.  The sad part is that number is dwindling with each passing day.  Worst news of all is the word that the Pearl Harbor Survivors group has decided to disband - partly due to the age of the men who lived, and because there are so few of them left.  Soon, Pearl Harbor will be like World War I and the Civil War, where stories are passed down from generation to generation - and exagerrated and distorted. Such is how things go...


.

Today's Founders Quote: Understanding Principles

"There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so much as the business of taxation. The man who understands those principles best will be least likely to resort to oppressive expedients, or sacrifice any particular class of citizens to the procurement of revenue."

- Alexander Hamilton, 1788.


   Hamilton hits the nail right on the head here, and it explains why we are having such trouble with our taxation system right now.  Basically, it takes a certain skill to be able to determine fair taxation and how it affects the economy... Need a reason why the Supercommittee was doomed from Day One?  Take a look at it's members, and see how many of them have ANY expertise in finance or economics... If America can make an equitable , simple tax system, then she will progress, and the divisions between classes will lessen.


    Now, this is the first time we had a guy in one of our Founders Quote pics.. We kinda HAD to put Dale Earnhardt Jr here, because he was glued to his girlfriend, Amy Reimann, at the NASCAR Awards this month.  We would be too - she's hot!  No wonder Dale had an off year.  Again...

.

Kooky Picture of the Day...

      For those of you who think we are strange, we let you know this.... Our friends are MUCH, MUCH stranger!  This was a pic from a co-worker who found this on a wet floor sign at work.  The artist was another co-worker, who first did this on a similar sign at the hospital where his dying father was at...  The things you think about in moments of stress, eh?


.

Florence Leaders Show How It's Done....

Former Rivals Leatherman, Wukela Join Forces to Fix Oakland Ave.

As we often state, DC is in gridlock.  Political affiliations matter more than the idea that the person who brought it up is.  The greatest idea on Earth is meaningless if the member is a 'D', and you're and 'R' or vice versa.  Quite possibly the biggest reason nothing happens, partisanism to us is a four letter word - with a few extra letters for good measure.

Republicans in Florence County often get very frustrated with both sides of the aisle.  Nothing is as it seems. All Republicans are former Democrats, and most Democrats are Republicans who are afraid of losing by not getting the black vote.  Yeah, it's a generalization, but it's true for the most part.  The good part about it is that the nebulous and fuzzy party affiliations often make the strangest - and most constructive- of bedfellows...

Case in point.  In 2006, Sen. Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) was up for re-election against a young attorney, Stephen Wukela.  No one gave Wukela much of a shot against Leatherman, but Wukela gave a good race, and showed that he had some chops to be a good candidate for the Democrats - he just was running for the wrong office.  Leatherman won handily, but Wukela would soon be back when the right job came up.

Fast forward two years... Wukela takes on current Mayor Frank Willis (Republican in disguise?), and Wukela stuns Willis by a single vote.  Meanwhile, Leatherman pisses off a good portion of the local GOP by talking any and all viable candidates from running, so when Wukela wins, there is NO Republican opponent.  A token independent candidate runs, and Wukela rides to victory, based on his hard work, and some help from the Barack Obama wave....

Now, many candidates win and think the hard work is done, but what does a smart winner do? He shores up his weak spots, and works with the other side to build his base.  Meanwhile, rather than just resting on his laurels, Leatherman recognized (along with a lot of others in town) that Wukela has done a pretty good job, and will likely cruise to re-election in 2012.  So, what does each do? They find a way to make some good happen, and stick it to a common foe.

That foe, of course, is City Councilman Ed Robinson.  His home base is North Florence, easily the poorest section of town.  Oakland Avenue is the crown jewel of poor there: a main drag of no commerce, poor drainage and too many kids loitering in front of a gas station with more security gating than any place I've ever seen.  Robinson's solution is not more cops, but a building for them to play basketball.  Leatherman and Wukela have a better idea: infrastructure, and the possibility of commerce.

Wukela and Leatherman announced a major project to redo Oakland Avenue, which includes improving drainage and I'm sure some aesthetic improvements.  If you've ever been to Oakland Avenue, you know there is absolutely NO commerce going on.  You have to build the sewers and roadways to attract businesses there first.  Yeah, kids need places to play, but their parents need places to work.  That, and if your neighborhood looks better, you're more apt to show more pride in it.

Politically, it's extremely smart and shrewd.  Wukela has already amassed an impressive list of staunch Republican supporters, including Kingmaker Eddie Floyd.  Hickory Head will have no trouble getting re-elected, as long as he gets more than the 400 votes Robinson gets every 4 years. Meanwhile, Leatherman is Leatherman.. the job is his til he quits or dies...  Meanwhile, Robinson has little response for the improvements if he does run.  It might be time to just admit these guys DO care at least a little bit about fixing his neighborhood...

Thanks to bi-partisanism, North Florence will look a lot better, and have a shot at a brighter future. For it, Leatherman and Wukela will be rewarded with easy re-elections.  You see, it actually works.  Washington, are you listening?

.      

If We Could Color Code Stupidity.....

Uhh, We Guessing The Part of the Label That Says 'Coca-Cola' Lets You Know What the Product Is, Not the Color of the Can!


    Working in retail, we are never surprised at the mindlessness of consumers.  They don't think about anything involving products they purchase, how they work, and how to operate them.  If I had a dollar for everytime I had a customer ask 'can't the car just DO IT for me??' ..... well, I'd have probably about 13 dollars.  That's what operators manuals are for..


   No, we don't want to have to think about anything.  This is America - we want what we want, we don't want to have to learn or think- and if you can't do it, we'll find someone who can.  That is, until they realize they can't, and we'll find someone else, until we finally end up back at your doorstep. Then the cycle starts all over again....


   In retail, branding is everything.  Even little kids know the Golden Arches before they're two years old, and their parents are no different.  God forbid if you change even the color of your product.  Coca-Cola is finding that out.  It's Christmas season, and the usual colors are red and green.  Well, Coke is already in a red can, so they decided to make a special can, with proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund.  We'll avoid anything on that, and just stick with the can...


   Coke decided to use their famed Polar Bear motif (A Christmas staple), but instead of red, they went with a white and silver can.  The problem is, comsumers are brainlocked to think that the silver can is DIET COKE, not regular Coke.  Nevermind that it says COCA-COLA... People just think 'Duh, Silver Can, Diet Coke'.  It wouldn't matter if the label said 'Rat Poison' in Diet Coke font, as long as the can is silver, they'd buy it.  And if there's one thing we know, diet soda drinkers CAN'T STAND sugared cola!  Right up to the point of the can touching their lips, people weren't noticing.. They didn't know the gun was loaded....


   Naturally, there was Diet Coke drinker outrage.  So, Coke was forced to introduce new red cans for the promotion.  Here is where I have a little expertise.. I worked for one of the labelmakers that makes the Coke cans.  They may look similar, but for each promotion, there is a new label that must be designed, approved, printed ,shipped and affixed for the cans.  It takes probably 2 months to do all of this... So now Coke and the labelmakers have ten of millions of useless labels, and the WWF may lose millions of dollars in donations - all because we don't take the time to read.  Next time, maybe they'll require an eye exam at the supermarket to buy stuff....

.