I have a lot of respect and admiration for Bill Cosby. He's rich, he's famous and he's trying to make a difference at an age in his life when he could just be sitting back enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Now he's taking on Detroit.

You go Bill.

In February I'll have been in Michigan, Detroit area for 6 long years. Thankfully and finally I'll be leaving Michigan shortly thereafter. It's been a long stay. My biggest gripe about Detroit has been the lack of acknowlegement of all that is so wrong here. Mainly the stress, aggressiveness and the spirit of violence that is constantly brewing below the surface. It is a city on edge that I've come to believe doesn't even realize it is. How can you know Detroit is different if you've never lived away from it? It brings Rumsfeld to mind with "But there are also unknown unknowns - - the ones we don't know we don't know." I'm sure you get the picture.

In yesterday's Free Press they bring it home with a series of articles on the soaring violence and deaths.

It's not uncommon to see a scene with multiple gunshots. The violence in Detroit has morphed into something new, something truly evil. The code of the street has changed. Ten or 20 years ago, there was a morality to street violence. There were unspoken rules: Never kill children. Never kill family members. Take one person at a time. But now, the killers shoot at anyone. They empty a clip into a crowd. They shoot in any direction. The situation is getting worse, not better. Criminologists, community leaders and police say that the recent spike in violence stems from a mix of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, drug use, hopelessness and a gangsta rap culture. It forms a violent cycle that has spun out of control for generations.

The articles lay it on the line. Finally one can see:

Through November, there were 1,279 people shot in Detroit -- 247 more than in all of 2003 -- and 341 people have been killed. Why is this city killing itself? What has it done to the community's soul? That's what the Free Press wants to show you, in this special series starting today. After you meet the victims, after you travel with the detectives and see their frustrations and successes, after you walk through the neighborhoods and feel the tension and fear, you will find some surprises.

There are no solutions mentioned. I'm clueless as to what they could be. I'm just glad it's not my job to come up with a few besides I'm getting out of Dodge.

Here are the links to all of the articles:

Echoes of Violence.

Death on the Doorstep.

Homicide in Detroit.

Robbery Turns Fatal on 8 Mile Road.

Yesterday I signed up for Pubsub, a service that matches prior set keywords and gives you hits from newswires, blogs or whatever. I made the mistake yesterday of having "Detroit" as one of the keywords. Then the crap happened last night and this morning I was bombarded with hits.

Now we have all the finger pointing going on. Fans fault, players fault, the Palace's security is at fault. Give me a break.

File charges on the fans, file charges against the players involved and fire the players. This is their job right? Zero tolerance for work place violence. Sometimes you really need to clean house and take the garbage out. Can their asses and make a real statement for a change.

Seems real damn easy to me.

We are fat, homicidal, STD ridden, poorest air quality....shit I can't even remember all of the list. I guess the experts have figured out why:

Detroit earned the dubious distinction of "worst place for sleeping," writes Sperling. Detroit had low scores across the board -- in the Happiness Index, in physical and mental health, and in employment rate. "The lone bright spot was the commute time, which was average for our study," he writes. Detroit residents had nine days of poor sleep per month, 10% higher than average.

Yawn.

Whoa. Is this week off to a roaring start?!? I have only 4 more work days to get through before I fly out of this crazy town for a few days. There is always something in the air here before Devil's Night, the night Detroit always claims no longer exists. Remember last year when Kwame baby claimed the night had been quiet and the citizens of Detroit were good? Then a week later it's announced in the back page of the paper that over 200 fires were put out? Oh...that's right, we aren't supposed to talk about that.

I had a few conversations with some police people yesterday and we were discussing shootings and I was told in a no nonsense sort of way "well if a shooting happens in Detroit you won't read about it, it's kept out of the news. Doesn't look good you know?"

Don't I. We must be spared from the truth at all cost, right?

This article is a hoot.

No proposal is complete, no financing finalized and no land identified, but there is plenty of emotion over a Detroit City Council plan to create a black business district known as African Town.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's administration is distancing itself from the plan; council members want to separate the rhetoric behind the plan from what they say is a need for the city to help black entrepreneurs, and Detroiters share mixed -- albeit heated -- feelings. Even the federal government is weighing in.

The outcry stems from a controversial report commissioned by council members to look at ways to improve the economic state of poor blacks through increased business ownership. But the report also rails against immigrants for taking opportunities away from blacks, says integration has failed and warns officials about nonblacks moving into the city.

Well I think their hearts are in the right place for a city dying from a slowly metastasizing cancer and obviously it's spread to the brain. I'm not sure what more can be said. Although this guy summed it up nicely:

"I think it's one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard about and frankly insulting," said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. "How would residents of Detroit feel if I would propose having a Honky Town in Oakland? I would be run out of office, and rightfully so."

Can we have an Amen.

I'm reading this story in the Detroit Free Press this morning about police officers that were chasing 4 teens who at 1am that stole 3 different cars. One of the thiefs cars crashed during the chase, one is dead, one in the hospital. Two more are ok. These wonderful felons were 14 and 15 years old out at 1 in the morning. One AM?

So now "we" are pointing the finger at the cops - did they follow police procedure in doing a proper chase? Did they or did they not act at the scene of the crash?

These are not the questions I want the answer too. I want to know where the hell was the Moms and Dads and why weren't they doing their job? That's where my finger wants to slowly but yet firmly gravitate towards.

Finally the ugly truth is coming out. Isn't it about time?

More than 800 people were shot in Detroit in the first six months of this year, a 70 percent jump in gun violence that experts and police blame on a variety of factors, from upheaval and scarce resources in the police department to high unemployment rates among young males and a hip-hop culture that condones gunfire to solve disputes.

I read the Detroit papers almost daily online. I never watch the local news it just doesn't fit my schedule. On the back pages on most days you'll find "Three Shot Down", "Gun Battle Kills Two", but never an article that's putting the tallies together. No running scoreboard for the public like Iraq. If you live in this area there is no doubt you have this cold pit in your stomach, that nagging fear in the back of your mind that things are consistently changing. Changing fast and not for the better.

Of course "the experts" are putting the blame on the police, unemployment rates, and last but not least entertainment artists. After all we don't want to look at the parents of these lowlife fools for not teaching them any morals, ethics or simple respect for your fellow man. Let's just let them continue to breed more corrupt offspring to follow in their footprints.

I've been saying for a few years now this area is "different". Something is so very wrong here. I can't understand the press in not pulling the whole picture together before today and saying "What the hell is happening?" or "What do we need to do about this?". The acceptance of declining morals and values in this city blows my mind. Why isn't anyone pointing the finger and placing the blame on the people pulling the triggers?

I don't have any answers or any solutions but I do know ignoring and blaming others for a cancerous growth doesn't make it go away and it will eventually metastasize. I've never understood why Detroit is in such denial. Can someone bring in a team of surgeons please? This place needs help.

I ran across an article this morning in the Detroit Free Press that has me sitting here shaking my head.

Margaret Horvath is suing William Hubner, her lover of 17 years, for breach of contract, saying he promised her a lifetime of luxury. It will be up to a jury of eight to decide whether she is entitled to up to $27 million to maintain the life to which she has become accustomed.

Actually I'm not even sure what I'm shaking my head at. The inability of some people to walk away from a relationship gone sour? The ability of some to act like a fool over money? The need many feel for revenge? Or maybe it's the press who feel the need to exploit the rich?

Then it makes me wonder how I would react in their shoes. I would hope I would not act the fool, but I guess we all have our moments. Frankly I think she needs to move on and get a job.

I've been bitching and moaning about Detroit's healthcare system for 5 years now, especially regarding nursing home care. People I work with are probably tired of me saying "Well in Iowa it wasn't like this!" Frankly they just don't believe me. I've worked in Nebraska and Illinois also and it wasn't like this.

I'm definitely going to print this article and show it to them:

Los Angeles is the nation's best city for nursing home care, according to a new study. Detroit led the company's list of cities with the worst nursing home care.

Fifty-four percent of Detroit's facilities had actual harm federal deficiencies in the last 4 years. Scarey shit.

People that live here, grew up here will give you all kinds of excuses as to why. The why is this area has the largest percent of workers with the poorest work ethics, and amazing belief that the "system" owes them, and no desire to do a good job. Also I personally believe the easiest cirriculum for nurses in the U.S. that is mass producing under educated nurses.

This attitude goes far beyond the healthcare here. You can witness it daily in restaurants, retail stores and bank lines. A total disregard for others. It's the "Life is all about me, so fuck you" syndrome. There is a reason Detroit's homicide rate is so high. I'm sure that's not even counting the neglect in their nursing homes.

Anyone who lives in this area and has never lived in another portion of the country for any length of time would tell me I'm so full of shit. Well I am, but not about this.

Sometimes the things I read in the paper just crack me up. So for this mornings laugh I read:

Since the beginning of the year, Detroit police said, there have been 62 homicides in the city: 35 in January, 24 in February, including the fatal shootings of Detroit Officers Jennifer Fettig and Matthew Bowens.

Sixty-two killings, in sixty-two days. But wait....now for the kicker:

The poll shows 56 percent supporting capital punishment for first-degree murder, and 34 percent opposed. But voters are evenly divided when given a choice between execution and locking up convicted killers for life without parole -- the current Michigan penalty for first-degree murder. The strongest support for capital punishment is in central Michigan, while it is most strongly opposed in the city of Detroit, according to the poll.

Detroit is the nations murder capital but it doesn't want capital punishment. Apparently we don't want the state to take over yet one more of our rights? Have I ever mentioned Detroit is fucked up?

From the Detroit News :

Fifty days into the new year, the city is reeling over a spate of violence that has left 51 dead — four of them gunned down in the last week.

Apparently a few are pissed off about being the fattest city in America. I guess holding the highest homicide rate has a little more esteem to it. Think maybe someone should do a study correlating fat with aggressive behavior? I wonder what percentage of murderers are overweight when they are caught? I wonder if the people being killed are skinny? Has there ever been a vegetarian killer? I wonder if they prefer Whoppers over Big Macs? Taco Bell? I mean curious minds really want to know.

Just think, it's warm out today for Detroit. All kinds of assholes will be crawling out from under their rocks today. Sad isn't?

Can you imagine pulling up to a Burger King, ordering that Whopper with fries and having the intercom squawk back "You are too fat to be ordering that!" Sounds like Candid Camera doesn't it. Well it wasn't. I think my version might be somewhat more kind also.

Federal investigators will try to identify the radio pirates who commandeered a Troy Burger King's wireless intercom last week, spouting profanities and goofball comments.

The illicit broadcaster hassled store staff and customers several times last week but has not been on the air since Thursday, when he broke into the drive-in order system to tell patrons they were too fat to eat a Whopper.

Well you don't want to get inbetween a Detroiter and their food, now the FCC is involved.

Read the rest.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this yet, but I'm definitely leaning towards this is a good thing.

After watching in disbelief for more than two years as people came to Oakland County Circuit Court dressed for a day at the beach or the movies, Judge James M. Alexander had seen enough.

“The courtroom is one of the symbols of our system. And I think people who come here should show some respect for the system,” Alexander said. “This is a hall of justice. Even McDonald’s says they will not serve you if you don’t have shoes on or proper attire. I understand that some people may be coming to the court from work, but you can only take casual Friday so far. A certain amount of respect has to be given.

“If people can dress up to attend church, they can do the same for any office of government.”

I've never been to an Oakland County court room, but I did have to testify in a civil suit in Wayne Co. before. The whole episode of going downtown Detroit and to this building was nightmare. The panhandlers and the bums hit you up before you even make it in the building and the doors doesn't hold them back.

As I waited to testify outside the courtroom which happened to be across from a door marked Wayne County Sheriff the lights went out in the hallway. Well sitting a few benches down was a skinny assed drunk that smelled like a diaper pail. Well not actually sitting he was laying on a bench talking to himself. When the lights went out, he decided it was a good time to make his move on me, being the "handsome gentleman he was that could give a woman a good time." Which I just responded "no thanks" and moved to another bench. Well he followed.

I got up and tried the Sheriffs door. Locked. Isnt' that a kicker. Finally after about ten minutes of this crap, someone came out of the Sheriffs door, seen this person and told him to move along. About fucking time.

About an hour later I'm called in and the courtroom is filled with people reading books, newpapers, dozing etc. WTF? The judge never once looked at me as I testified, he typed on a laptop the entire time. Probably blogging. All in all I could definitely see why no one would have any faith in the court system. Definitely not like TV.

So here is what Judge Alexander imposed with the sanction of Michigan Supreme Court:

Courtroom decorum

The Oakland County Circuit Court has imposed the following rules about the conduct and dress of everyone who enters the courthouse:

* Clothing such as short shorts, halter tops, sweat suits, camouflage garments, swimwear, exercise garb and revealing garments such as tank tops are not permitted in the courtroom.

* Smoking, eating, drinking (including bottled water), and chewing gum are prohibited at all times, including during recess. All conversations and reading of books, newspapers and periodicals except those necessary for trial are also prohibited in court.

* The court will display a more detailed list on its Web site by the end of the week at http://www.co.oakland.mi.us/courts/

Ok, well not quite, how about the storm of the week. A few inches of snow with freezing drizzle on top of that. Detroit traffic is a bitch on a good day, but I've been dreading this day for two weeks. Big 3 back to work and all the little kiddies back to school. My radio went off this morning already blaring about accidents on all the major freeways.

I think I'll be leaving late for work and I really, really wish I was driving one of these:

Want another peek at the auto show photo galleries?

...If not can you pass it on up here to Detroit? We are once again on the top of a list, but this time for "The Fattest US City".

Yes all of it's true, we drive our Cadilacs fast to get to the nearest Dunkin Donuts and we will damn well shoot down anyone that gets in our way.

Want to come visit? I hear there is some great specials on tourist packages right now.

Detroit is number one!

Now for the most livable states. Check out Iowa.

I have to have this for Christmas!

When I read about this in the Detroit News this morning, I was so excited I could of peed my pants. Could of..ok?

Just the headline alone was enough to make me sit up and take notice:

Gadget may wreak traffic havoc.

Three of my favorite words in the same sentence: Gadget. Wreak. Havoc.

Let me tell you I was hooked. Then the next line: Oh Dear God YES!

In-car device lets drivers change stoplights

At that point I lost about 15 minutes of time as I traveled the streets of Detroit in my mind wreaking havoc with a gadget and never stopping at a red light again. I imagined what a goddess must feel like with all that power held in her hand.

I gotta, gotta, gotta get me one of those.

From the The Detroit News:

Rising unemployment and a steep drop in good-paying manufacturing jobs are taking a wider toll on Michigan residents -- including a 50 percent explosion in the number of people collecting government food assistance.

Today, about one in 11 Michigan residents relies on government help to keep food on the table. That's a seven-year high. With Michigan's economic outlook still shaky, and with unemployment expected to remain near 7 percent next year, the number of recipients is likely to continue to increase.

This is scarey.

When I first moved to Michigan in '99 the unemployment rate was at an all time low. Fast food restaurants would have their lobbies closed and only the drive-thrus open because of lack of help. Most health care facilities were using agency help, you could advertise all you wanted...and no one would apply.

Times have definitely changed here rapidly.

My employees have been begging me for overtime. My boss is putting the hammer to me to get rid of it. The attendance problem has completely disappeared. I know many of my employees are working two jobs now since the overtime has decreased. They will ask to leave 15 minutes early, or come in 30 minutes late to allow for travel time between jobs. Some of the other employees will bitch that this makes the changing shift time difficult...and it does. Sometimes people who are doing the best they can need a little help.

Well it seems I've gotten some serious linkage from this Yahoo Group, Great Lakes Roads from my Michigan Highways and Byways post.

So if somebody knows somebody who is somebody with the Michigan Roads department...let me tell you something.

Last night driving home on I 96 in the pouring rain in the damn dark was a bitch. Why? Let me tell you. It seems DOT or whoever is responsible to paint those little white lines that separate the 4 lanes..ran out of paint. What a thrill! Who the hell needs to go to Cedar Point for excitement when we have I-96. Yes...at some point in the 90's it probably did have paint. I know for a fact the last 3 years it hasn't.

Ahhh..one more question, just because this bugs me. Why is there a "No Right Turn" sign on the bypass over I 96 and Southfield road..heading north? The one lane, one way ramp without exits? The one I'm sitting on top of every morning stuck in traffic where I can see for miles around in any direction. Just a little joke? I think "No Jumping" would be more appropriate.

I bet you thought I was going to post all about the damn potholes didn't you?

Please see the update too Michigan Highways and Byways. I've been graciously corrected. My apologies.

I've posted before how Michigan roads and traffic patterns are FUBAR. I stumbled across this site via the Detroit Free Press. Apparently Michigan has to have it's own website to explain the stupidity logic behind their reasoning for doing what they do.

Make sure you check out the Michigan left hand turn. This is the completely fucked up way that Michiganders have to turn left. To sum it up:

When you want to turn left, get rapidly into the right hand lane, turn right, cut across 3 lanes of traffic to get into the far left lane, turn left. And if you are wanting to go some place on the right hand of the street, that means cutting across 3 lanes of traffic to the far right hand side to turn right.

The dipshitsexperts say this is to prevent blocking traffic from those turning left to allow smoother flowing traffic. Apparently they don't give a shit about the traffic flow on the cross street with all those cars dodging across 3 lanes to make a right turn into that damn White Castles.

Of course if you are a policeman or drive a mass transit bus, apparently there is an obscure law that states you can turn left wherever the fuck you want.

Check below for even more wits of wisdom thats been posted to this official site.

***Update: I obviously screwed up. This is not an official site. Please see the comments.

I read an article not long ago where there are more traffic accidents during a full moon then any other time. The driving experiences I've had the last 2 days, we have to be getting damn close to that Hunters Moon.

Part of my travel to and from work takes me down Interstate 696, which at any given moment or mile marker day or night traffic speeds can run from 0-90mph.

At one certain moment and mile marker yesterday traffic in the outer 2 lanes was averaging 75, probably 40 in the inner 2 lanes. I was in the 3rd lane when a older woman in a white honda pulls out in front of me going about 20mph. Comes to a complete stop...buckles her seat belt, and takes off.

Obviously she thought she was in her Cessna at the airport and prepared for take off. I don't think she even realized how close she was to both of us being taken out. Moron.

At this point in time I want to thank Belle Tires for doing such a wonderful job on my brakes, and Comcast Cable company for keeping the brakes serviced on their van that was behind me. Just for that I will pay my bill timely this month.

The drive to work was interesting this morning, apparently Detroit motorist decided to observe the moment of silence with the rest of the nation this morning since all traffic was at a complete standstill. We are such a patriotic bunch.

I actually forgot for the rest of the day that it was 9-11, work always seems to be it's own little world where the outside does not creep in unless something big happens like blackouts and terrorist attacks. So today was business as usual.

On the drive home I seen a large group of leather clad long haired Harley riders each caring a rather large US flag...wish I would of had my camera out. They were getting honks and cheers. I assume it was for the flags and not the half naked women riding on the back.

Then interesting enough there was a whole (flock, brigade, group, bunch) of police on motorcycles about one mile behind them. Maybe they were all going to a parade or something....who knows. They didn't get as many honks and cheers...I wonder why? Is Bush in town and I missed it?

This woman has been laying in a hospital for over a week in critical condition after being hit by a truck.

No one seems to have reported her missing, no one has been by her side. The local TV stations carried her picture without any good leads coming in. The police stated her well kept appearance and jewelry indicated she was not homeless.

I can't imagine the horror of being in this bed with no one beside me, and I can't imagine turning on the TV to see one of my children laying on that bed with a ventilator attached.

I hope someone claims her soon.

Now I didn't blog about an experience I had going to work Friday morning...because it was just too stupid for words. Actually who would of believed me. With this a picture is worth a thousand words. Yes I had my camera with me but if you look at the pictures Erica posted about the whole damn mess, I would be in the link picture "down the on ramp" where all those semi's are sitting.

No I do not drive a semi but if I'd of been running about 5 minutes earlier..that would probably be my car sitting in all that water.

That was my reward for doing the happy dance to Allah.

I want to see the Shotgun Serial Bandits life made into a movie. Samuel L. Jackson has got to play the leading role.

Arrested 25 times. Hello? What is wrong with this picture?

Ok, so Albert is geographically challenged. Obviously his acting skills are first rate. But wait, it gets better...

Expertly? Somebody used that word because they fucked up big time. So he roamed the streets of Detroit for 4 more years.

I'm still wanting to know why he was arrested 25 times. There is alot of story missing there. Lots of potential slapstick comedy for actors.

What blond actress should play that part? I'm sure hope the papers follow more of Albert's shenanigans.

Well it seems Northwest Airlines is determined to make a profit on everyone's misfortune. Now I'll be leaving on the 29th. Hopefully. Sothis cost me an extra $100 because I can not fly out by the 21st, although the price of a ticket on the 29th is $50 cheaper. Asswipes.

I finally made it to the gas station...yes, there was still a line, but everything was moving very quickly and efficiently. I grabbed a couple bottles of water and some lemonade.

I came home and put on a couple of pans of water to boil for coffee later and ice cubes. While I was doing this I flipped on the news, finally. It seems Detroit is back to 100% power..almost. We are being asked to power down..rolling blackouts are expected around 5pm and later. Lovely. Fine. I turned my a/c up to 74, shut all the blinds, limited myself to one load of clothes (necessity). That's it..that's my part.

I was lucky enough to catch a video clip of the mayor saying how Detroit was the best behaved city during the blackout...although the rest of country was ready for the acting out and throwing down. Well hello Kwame...guess what, we were expecting it here too.

Even though curfews were imposed on the entire area...most didn't want to be caught on the street in a car or not after dark. Everyone I talked to that owns a house said they slept on their living room floors or front porch...watching and waiting.

Detroit usually gets a bum rap...for good reason. We were good because we scare ourselves shitless. Hell with the rest of the country...no one is more shocked then us that life in metro Detroit was peaceful.

Now the power is back on...tonight will be a free for all. Let the games resume.

Well after ten hours sleep I'm back walking among the living. The a/c is running and the coffee (thank God) is good. What a wake up call that was. Instant coffee is now added to my list of things to have on hand. But yesterday morning boiling water and pouring it through a coffee filter into the pot works really, really good. Addicts know how to improvise.

The ice cold shower with the trickling stream was exactly what I needed to be able to face another marathon day at work in a healthcare facility with only generator power, no water or phone lines.

Well damn if it hasn't been a roaring two days. When I pulled into the drive just a little bit ago and seen that the power was on...I coulda cried.

Obviously I didn't go to Iowa since work was in a crisis situation. I'm hot, tired and I stink. The water is on but only at about a 50% capacity. So for now..I'm going to sit back and drink a big damn glass of Alize, turn my a/c down to 68 and sit here and catch up on the news half naked.

I honestly have been so busy at work I have no clue what caused all of this hell.

Only in Michigan, we don't do this shit in Iowa. Now you have to feel sorry for this poor guy...here he is getting a lap dance, hopefully his boner is in full throttle, and the completely unthinkable happens. He is visciously attacked by breast milk. I'm sure the man will be forever psychologically damaged and with a fear for strip clubs the rest of his life. He should sue. Check it out.

Looks like Detroit is doing something to cut down the prostitution, finally, by publicly airing photos of the johns. Whatever will the crackheads do for money now? After seeing these women I'm thinking maybe they need to get the johns some serious psychotherapy. Ugh. They pay for that shit? Sick. Sick.

Check out the video.

Ok, I just stumbled across this article. If Michigan is in such damn financial trouble to the point sick elderly people can't get their meds, what the hell are we doing paying a million dollars to renovate the damn governors mansion? Granholm's priorities are just as screwed up as the rest of them. Who the hell monitors these people?

I'm reading this article this morning on the states funding of adult education to obtain GED's and the whining going on. Now even Michigan has public schools. All of these people have a chance to get their education for free the first time around. They fucked up. How many times should the tax payers keep having to pay for fuck ups?

Is there any other society in the world that lets people know they can be total ass bums and not to worry about it the government will take care of you? Go to work at McDonalds you lazy asses and pay for it yourself. It's called work. It's what the rest of us have been doing for your free ride.

See what the rich have to whine about. Oh yeah, I feel sorry for him. My ass.

It seems a bomb was found on Selfridge National Guard Air Force Base yesterday here in Michigan. I guess for terrorists it was good timing since there was an air show. Luckily it was found and detonated before anyone was hurt. Sure didn't see that on CNN.

I moved to this area a little over 4 years ago. I know I've posted before I felt like I was in a different country. I wanted to share some of the odd things they do:

Interstates are expressways. Not only that, they name them: Walter Reuther, Jeffries, Southfield, the Lodge etc.
Liquor stores are party stores. Who is gonna argue with that one?
Hotdogs are coneys. Cafes are coneys, well some of them, others are Deli's. What's up with that?

The first time I heard someone ask in a restaurant coney for a "diet" and the waitress wrote it down. My mouth hung open and I asked my friend "Why did you ask for a diet menu?" She looked about as shocked as I did then. So then I asked "How do you know she's not going to bring you a diet 7-Up or Mountain Dew, or Rootbeer?" She went "Huh?" Then I looked at the menu...umm, no choices.

Why does every thing have to have mayo on it?

I failed to find a gas station that wasn't owned by an Arabic. Or a party store for that matter. If someone happens to own non-Arabic, sorry I missed you. Maybe you would let a woman who has been stuck in a traffic jam for 90 minutes use your toilet? If so, please email me your location and I'll mapquest you out for further reference. I promise I'll buy gas.

The Golden Archs are the only place to find a restroom. Ok, I drink way too much coffee.

These guys really do think they are above any law. Isn't it amazing. Either that or there is a scam going on and someone in the DPD is benefitting. I'll detain you a couple of days, you sue, we'll split it. Shit for $500,000 they can detain me for a damn month. I like bologna sandwiches.

Now why couldn't I have had a date to see him. Yeah, I know I'm too old but I like him, and I think he's cute. Read about it.

The Free Press reports that flammable liquids were found in the 1.6 million dollar home that the Queen of Soul uses for "storage". The kicker is the same flammable materials were found on her son's clothing. I need a closet like that.

The Detroit News reports this morning that Detroits population is continuing to decline to 925,000. This should not surprise anyone.

When I came to this area 4 years ago I was shocked. The city is filthly, there is a barred up party store damn near on every block. There are hundreds of houses that sit empty that are completely trashed or partially burned out. Mounds of gargage sit in front of these houses. The majority of nicer houses that remain have barred up windows and doors.

Crackheads are everywhere. Police drive by, ignore them as we would a cobweb in the corner of our living room. Traffic rules are long forgotten, it's every man, woman and child for themselves.

As you travel out from the inner city the areas are not quite as bad, in another decade it will look the same. Whatever disease infects Detroit is obviously spreading at an alarming rate.

I think the majority of us understand that if you never take out the garbage or do anything to contain it, it will continue to expand and the stink will become overwhelming. Other undesirable organisms will grow until a point is reached the stink will never leave. You have two choices, clean it up or move. Now if the owners or keepers of this garbage continue to ignore it and pretend it does not exist. Shame on them.

In my opinion Detroit has reached the point where the stink will never be able to be cleaned away. The disease has spread and palliative care is the only solution.

I love Dean Esmay's blog. But damn him and his controversial issues that I can not stay away from. Today Dean has a great post Who's Afraid of the Religious Right? His post and links has my head spinning and fingers twitching to write an essay on my take of the religious right and separation of church and state. I won't.

I'm very passionate about my views and I'm rarely swayed to others opinions. I can't be...my views are right, in more ways than one. So there. I have found over the years I waste of lot of mental energy and peace when I start delving into these issues.

This is where I will not make sense to many. If you are not a Christian, you might as well stop reading right now. As a Christian who has back slidden way back down the mountain I've found that these issues are nothing but barriers to what is actually profoundly simple and black and white.
At one point in my life I threw my heart, body and soul into the issues of the day. Now in my opinion it is not the "Christian" thing to do. Leave politics to the politicians. The religious right are simply politicians. Fear all politicians. Ok...enuff said, the end.

Detroit police officer John Bennett has been suspended with pay due to his website Jerry Oliver Must Go. Apparently old Jerry aka Police Chief, showed up in person to suspend Officer Bennett. Yes, I would say the rift has become personal.
Check it out.

Apparently the lawyer for Daniel Franklin has asked for a postponement because he needs time to prepare. Yeah I'd keep postponing it in the hopes I'd die before I'd have to defend this scum.

In case you missed my previous post regarding Macheika Robinson and her children being murdered. Also the Pontiac police screw up. Regarding the insanity plea...wouldn't you have to be to commit murders like that? I guess my next question is: Why can't we execute the insane? Seems like the sensible thing to do.

I've never heard of "rip currents". I heard about the drownings over the weekend, but didn't expect to read anything like this. That 7 people would drown on the same stretch of beach? I grew up on the Missouri river, I know all about currents...but currents like this under calm waters is news to me.

Strange days. Check it out.

So I did a Google search on rip currents. This site from the National Weather service says rip currents are easy to spot and can not pull you under. The guy was in four feet of water....sounds like something from Stephen King novel to me.

Ok, I was going to try and keep quiet for awhile about the Detroit PD. Today's paper is just too much, I can't do it. I honestly tried.

Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Two Detroit cops pull into a gas station...well, read this for yourself. Now what is wrong with this picture?

Next a Detroit cop shoots himself doing something illegal, check this idiot out. Can we all say "Damn Fool".

Last but not least, the Detroit Free Press top headline. Officer Ramona Shepheard was drunk as a skunk, crashed and came up with the stupidest damn story. Now if she was any kind of intelligent person you think she could of came up with a story better than the lame one she told. Which was: She being chased by an off duty homicide sergeant.

Well than again, if it was a Detroit homicide sergeant, maybe his ass couldn't catch someone driving on 3 wheels. What ever was I thinking.

Now for something positive about Detroit:

I feel better now.

Now for the ironic.

I have a staff of approximately 125 women. Too many times I've seen women come to work battered. Unable to come to work because they've been battered or battered and raped. I have no proof, but too many times they come crying to me, scared..who can blame them. Saying they've gone to the police, but they say there is nothing they can do. That's why this story burns my ass....let me share it.

Did you catch that...the asshole should not of been out of prison to start with some damn politician trying to save a Michigan buck allowed him to be released.

It seems universities can continue about their business in creating a "diverse" student body. The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to uphold UM admissions policy.

I have to share some info from two articles that finally made the front page of the Free Press. Check out 17 officers accused of city reign of terror and their shenanigans:

Do you get the feeling these guys could of written the TV show The Sheild? Then this article went and confirmed it Detroit's RoboCop. Hang on to your hat...here is yet another taste of what these guys get away with.

Eleven times? Adrenaline rush...uh huh. I wish I could tell you this was a unique situation. It's not. It happens too often...but the mentality here is this: This is Detroit and it happens all the time, what's the fuss? No one is shocked or disgusted when they hear this anymore. It's routine. I'm glad the Justice Department is at least starting out with a bang...but it will fizzle out here. They will become immune to all the complaints and investigations. It would take years and years to sort out. In the end nothing will change.

First Amendment and "Kops Kourts Krooks"

Ohhh....I love this one.

Now this is pure bullshit:

Yeah right....freedom of speech but not in the courtroom. Pursued the claim independently my ass. So much for the First Amendment. It's contemptible alright.

Again the shenanigans of the DPD make me laugh...because it's so sad. Make sure you catch this part:

Would the 8 other people caught be policemen? Well this newspaper definitely won't say....again. No wonder the dipshits have "cash woes". I think this police department could be HBO's next big comedy hit.