Thats Right, I Said It!

September 4, 2010

Stephen Hawking – Seeking Scientific Truth Or Disputing Religion?

Filed under: Perspective — Tags: , , , — TRISI @ 4:19 pm

I am not an atheist nor am I religious. I believe things of the universe are far too complicated for us to even comprehend. Apparently I share this view with Stephen Hawking. In an interview with Diane Sawyer of ABC News, Hawking said, “They [Religious people] made a human-like being with whom one can have a personal relationship. When you look at the vast size of the universe and how insignificant an accidental human life is in it, that seems most impossible.”

There is a difference between seeking science and disputing religion. The difference is intent.

Religion should be left at belief, not stated as fact. Science is fact once theory is proven, until then it’s just theory. Theory is a very important part of science. Once scientific theory is used as a weapon or tool to disprove beliefs of others it ceases to become science – if my Mother were still alive she would say it is just being hateful.

Stephen Hawking – 1, Atheists – 0

There is no room in science for anything other than facts and the search for facts to advance our knowledge and understandings. Attacking religion in the name of science is no different than attacking a fat man simply because he is fat. It might be true, that he is fat, but going out of the way to point that out is a step backward, not forward. Science is about moving forward. As brilliant as Stephen Hawking is, he is still just an infant in a universe beyond human comprehension. With that said, I do believe Stephen Hawking’s statements that the media has paraphrased as ‘God Did Not Create the Universe’ are legitimate disputes in seeking the truth in science. It’s all about his intent. Atheists using these statements to disprove organized religion is, well, just hateful.

Your thoughts?


September 3, 2010

Friday Funny – Portable Toilet Prank

Filed under: Friday Funnies — Tags: , — TRISI @ 6:00 am

Sometimes the best pranks take a little effort. This one is funny as hell. I wish I had time for cool things like this. What’s your best prank? Feel free to link to it.

August 30, 2010

Acai Berry Scam Still Going Strong

Filed under: That's Right, I Said It! — Tags: , , — TRISI @ 2:52 am

Winding down for the weekend I thought I’d check the weather on Weather.com and while there I noticed a local ad ‘Acai Berry EXPOSED (Van Buren Twp Report)‘. I clicked the link and at first glance Channel5healthNews.net looked like an actual news site. These scammers went out of their way to deceive consumers.

Check the site out Channel5healthNews.net, it’s loaded with repeated affiliate links. Hell, even the weather links [Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar] are disguised affiliate links. I’d be very surprised if that wasn’t in violation of someone’s TOS. Unbelievable!

Speaking of violations, the site appears to be in blatant violation of the FTC’s Guides Governing Endorsements and Testimonials. They have plenty of fine print at the bottom of the page but I see no acknowledgment of affiliate links. I’m not an attorney but it looks pretty plain to me.

I found these sites, all identical or very similar:

  1. http://channel5healthnews.com/
  2. http://www.channel5healthnews.net/
  3. http://www.news6report.org/
  4. http://healthybegins.com/acaiberrydiet/
  5. http://www.consumerbuzzweekly.com/
  6. http://www.healthnews6.tv/
  7. http://consumershealthtips.com/
  8. http://www.healthybegins.com/acaiberrydiet/

What’s the big deal? Here’s what unsuspecting buyer’s are in store for:

  • Acai Berry Plus – You must cancel within 10 DAYS to avoid a membership fee of $169.95 and charges of $22.95 per month.
  • Vita Cleanse – Your free bottle will actually cost you $69.95 plus $4.95 s&h immediately and then a month later you pay another $74.90! Where’s your free bottle? After you have dropped almost $150, IF you qualify for their Mail-In Rebate Program you can receive a rebate of $69.95. That’s your FREE bottle of Vita Cleanse.

Your thoughts? Should these people be shut down? Is the whole Acai Berry weight loss fad a scam? Know of any other low life Acai Berry scams taking advantage of the unsuspecting consumers with deceptive tactics?

August 23, 2010

Was eBay’s Top Affiliates Indicted for Fraud?

Filed under: Just Commentary — Tags: , , , , — TRISI @ 12:29 am

I’m very reluctant to post on this issue because I cannot find a single legitimate news report about it. There are tons of blog and forum posts but is this even real? There are reports on sites like AuctionBytes.com and ReveNews but where are the main stream media reports?

Basically, the story is that eBay sued [allegedly] three of its top affiliates, including Shawn Hogan of Digital Point, for cookie stuffing fraud. The suit is on hold while federal charges take their course. After a FBI investigation, Shawn Hogan and Brian Dunning were [allegedly] indicted by a California grand jury for various accounts of wire fraud.

I just finished reading Shawn Hogan’s blog post on DigitalPoint. First of all, I can’t believe his attorneys let him post that, if indeed he was the actual author. It seems like it could eventually backfire, or maybe it just doesn’t matter anymore.

Click To Read: Shawn Hogan’s Post On DigitalPoint

Anyway, the entire story smells wrong. Shawn would have everyone believe he was an innocent pawn of eBays and was trying to do the right thing. Little things like him paying $50,000 for an eBay employee’s car to get them to ‘stop complaining about a car’ seem a little ridiculous. And why would someone earning a million dollars a month need to point out they had ‘a crappy TV and crappy laptop‘? Everything doesn’t seem to add up. How does a grown man say he kept saying ‘no‘ and eBay wouldn’t accept no for an answer [paraphrased]. No one was forcing him to be an affiliate. I mean, unless eBay works like the mafia of something. I suspect it would be very difficult for anyone to turn away from that kind of money.

This is all speculation on my part and I’m in the dark as much as anyone but it seems like someone smart enough to build that much money would cover their own ass. If I’m being asked to break someone’s own terms, I’m getting that request in writing. Otherwise you’re jeopardizing future earnings when they suspend or revoke your affiliate status later. If they ask me to violate the law or illegally hurt another person/company, I’m walking away, period!

If you have found any legitimate news report on this issue please share it in a comment. Feel free to link to it.

What do you think? Is the story real? Does the post on DigitalPoint ring true? Who do you believe? Go ahead and have your say.

Special Thanks to Yan Susanto and Mitch Mitchell for their Facebook conversation that led to this post.

August 21, 2010

Why Do Politicians Get So Much Vacation?

Filed under: Just Commentary — Tags: , , — TRISI @ 1:31 am

I have totally enjoyed my vacation this week. I spent nearly the entire week sitting on my front porch. (photo)

I’m fortunate to get three weeks’ vacation a year. It took ten years at one job to qualify for that. I’m not sure how many days the average working Americans gets for vacation each year but it couldn’t possibly compare to those in office.

President Barack Obama is on his 6th Vacation of the Year. Admittedly, his vacations have been short with a total of just 20 for the first five. That’s a total of 70 days since he took office.

In comparison President George W. Bush spent a total of 225 days of vacation at this point of his first term. In fact, George W. spent a total of 879 days on vacation or holiday in his eight years in office.

Our Soldiers get thirty days a year and they deserve every minute of it. I believe the President, Congress and everyone in public office paid with tax payer’s money should be limited to thirty days a year.

I’ve heard the arguments before as far as congress. Washington isn’t their home and their family lives elsewhere. Too bad, they fought tooth and nail to get the job and spent a ton of money as well. If they need to spend months a year off they should shut the hell up and retire. Soldiers spend tour after tour overseas in the worst conditions possible and they don’t get to whine about home time.

“Enjoy Your Vacation, Mr. President. This puts you at your thirty day maximum for the year so once you get back get your ass to work.”

How much time off do you get? Do you think politicians should work a little more? Go ahead, speak your mind!

August 19, 2010

Mandatory Tithing For Church Membership Is Business

Filed under: Getting Down To Business,That's Right, I Said It! — Tags: , , , — TRISI @ 8:14 am

My mother always said, “Never talk about politics or religion“. So in the true spirit of my questionable upbringing, let’s get this thing started. I fully expect to strike a nerve in many and look forward to the backlash. That is if I can get people to read this blog. Don’t hold back, go ahead and say it!

The tithing debate, at least on TRISI, shouldn’t be confused as an attack on religion or churches. Personally, I’m referring to required tithing or high pressure tactics by the Church or its management.

Many churches require mandatory tithing by Christians (giving 10% of their gross income to the Church) in order to become Church members. This is where I have a problem with tithing. Voluntary tithing or twentything (joking) is fine as long as it’s not required to become a member of the Church. And I’m not talking about some lame ass ‘exceptions’ for certain situations such as laid off or unemployed members. No one should be forced to donate to become a member.

Voluntary offerings to support their Church, house of worship or religious institutions is an admirable thing to do. If you attend, you should contribute in my opinion. That’s not the issue. As far as I’m concerned, even mandatory tithing isn’t a problem; as long as the Church operates as a business and pays the appropriate taxes.

Once donations or offerings become mandatory, they are no longer donations. They are membership dues. They should not be tax deductible and the Church should pay tax on the proceeds. Fair is fair. Either you want tax free status or you want a business. It’s simple math. Service provided for cost equals business.

And while I’m on the subject, stop saying it’s for God. That’s bullshit; God isn’t asking for money, the Church is. Nothing wrong with that but at least be honest about it. It’s to run the lights and pay the bills. To keep the Pastor/Minister/Reverend/Priest or whatever else they call themselves in decent cloths and housed properly. All good things if done with the right heart and for the right reason. Fear of hell or rejection is great business but not very Godly… Well, Ok, you got me there. lol

BTW, Send donations to my PayPal account or you are going to hell. Joking, I’m a very funny guy.

Just for your personal interpretation. I just want to be fair:

Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Malachi 3:10 (New Living Translation)

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Malachi 3:10 (King James Version)
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Post inspired by a Facebook discussion started by Scotty Reid of the Black Talk Radio Network.

August 18, 2010

30 Acceptable Ideas For Ground Zero

Filed under: That's Right, I Said It! — Tags: , , , , — TRISI @ 12:46 am

Since everyone would rather ignore the fact that two blocks away is not ground zero and that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, not Muslims, I thought it time to give up and try to help out a little. So I came up with 30 things main stream America might find more acceptable to put two blocks north of Ground Zero.

  1. An ice cream shop that only serves vanilla.
  2. A Rush Limbaugh memorial complete with his fat ass statue.
  3. A GOP recruiting/converting station.
  4. A permanent hall for all future republican national conventions.
  5. School of white Christian evangelism.
  6. World’s largest Christmas store. Sorry Bronner’s ):
  7. Holy Bible printing facility – Only the English versions of course.
  8. Christian Tattoo parlor. Heavenly angles and crosses galore.
  9. Union hall dedicated to more Sabbath observance. Go Football!
  10. A deli that only sells right chicken wings and requires a tithing commitment.
  11. Politically correct night club. No cameras allowed and leave your wedding rings at the counter.
  12. A buy only American novelty store. Everything’s made in China.
  13. A big ass Baptism fountain.
  14. Casino with a five year tax break.
  15. Brand new hundred thousand watt Christian Radio Station.
  16. Family restaurant with daily specials of hot dogs and apple pie.
  17. An over seventies bingo hall.
  18. Conspiracy theorists’ club house.
  19. White trash rescue mission.
  20. The Bill Clinton White House Sexual Museum. Have you seen the dress?
  21. The New Testament Whiteness (oops, I mean Witness) Protection Company.
  22. Don’t ask, don’t tell insurance agency.
  23. The Caucasian Persuasion mega theater (unless you mop the floors).
  24. Gourmet coffee shop where all types of tea are forbidden.
  25. Covert anti-diversity training grounds. The ATG, branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
  26. The White Folk Inn, we’ll leave the vibrating bed on for ya.
  27. Canadian forgiveness center. We just want to be humble.
  28. Private security/police service with the authority to boot out the wrong kind at will. Yep, that a be Black Water.
  29. A racial profiling and patriot act acceptance (RaP-PAAC) center. It’s all in the name of national security.
  30. And last but not least, home of the new Congressional White Caucus.

Once everything is in place, we can organize an annual White To Life Parade. Sorry, slip of the tongue, I meant Right To Life. We can have a giant Sarah Palin float. Won’t that be special?

Subtle Call To Action:
I’m sure there’s more than thirty, can you think of any? Or perhaps I’ve offended you. I certainly hope so. If so, don’t sit there like a sheep, set me straight!

August 16, 2010

Two Blocks From Ground Zero IS NOT Ground Zero!

Filed under: Just Commentary,That's Right, I Said It! — Tags: , — TRISI @ 7:43 pm

All weekend we’ve seen and heard breaking news about republicans criticizing President Obama for comments he made in a speech about a proposed mosque near The World Trade Center’s ground zero.

I’m not a big fan of President Obama, or religion as far as that goes, right now but I didn’t hear anything inappropriate in that speech. Even if he had said something wrong, get over it you hateful bastards, there are far bigger issues to worry about. To me, and I hope to most, this in a non-issue for several reasons.

  1. First of all, Muslims didn’t attack the World Trade Center, terrorists did.
  2. Second, it’s New York, not federal property.
  3. Third, it’s private property, not the Governments and not yours.
  4. Fourth, and most obvious, it’s two blocks away stupid! I can’t believe everyone’s so eager to attack each other they are willing to act like two blocks from ground zero is ground zero.

Hell, we measure how far pedophiles and convicted sex offenders (real criminals, not criminals because of their religion) must stay from schools in feet yet two blocks is too close for a Mosque? I have an idea; let’s insist terrorists stay two blocks away from ground zero. How’s that for an idea?

I swear, dumb asses speak and the sheep follow.  How about everyone think for themselves and stop jumping on every hateful bandwagon. The hell with getting along, just stop stabbing each other in the back.

That’s Right, I Said It!

August 15, 2010

Ugandan LRA Rebels Need Their Asses Kicked

Filed under: Just Commentary — Tags: , , — TRISI @ 3:32 pm

I know we have enough to worry about with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the California gay marriage debate, not to mention who’s going to be the next judge on American Idol but this American wants to fix something for a change.

Ugandan LRA (The Lord’s Resistance Army) rebels have kidnapped 700 people in the Congo in the last 18 months, many of which are woman and children being forced to fight as soldiers or forced as sex slaves. The LRA has killed at least 250 of those abducted.

LRA rebels have killed 2,500 people since 2008. The U.N. peacekeeping mission says these are just small groups of 10 or less people doing this killing. We’re not talking about huge armies of solders here.

I don’t think we should be policing the world but this seems like an easy fix. Just toss a big wad of cash to the Hells Angels, pay their expenses, and fly their motorcycles to the Congo. Put a bounty on each Ugandan LRA rebel’s head and let nature take its course. If nothing else it gets them out of California for a while and later on it will make a great movie.

Seriously, it’s just more killing and human rights violation in the name of religion. It just makes me sick.

July 27, 2010

Profits Over People – Boycott Wal-Mart?

Filed under: Just Commentary — Tags: , , — TRISI @ 2:39 am

A couple weeks ago I noticed one of my Facebook friends re-posting a ‘Boycott Wal-Mart‘ message. She posted this lame message every day until I finally unfriended her. Ok, I get it. Your panties are in a twist because the corporate giant buys cheap imports and forces competition, or they pay employees less than you think they should. Or is it the lack of employee benefits, or hours, or perhaps you think the door greeter should get a comphy chair.

Whatever the case, let me hold in my initial “shut up stupid” response and try to put things into a little perspective. First of all, the whole notion of corporate ‘Profits Over People‘ is evil and we deserve better is nonsense. I’d love to see a corporation that doesn’t put profits first. I guess the bloggers and feel-good cry babies should have a voice in how to run the company holding the top spot of the Fortune 500. I’m sure they could do a much better job running things.

Am I pro Wal-Mart? Not at all. Here’s the way I see it…

First of all, boycotting Wal-Mart can ONLY hurt my friends and neighbors working there. Second, when I need something for the house and I run to the closest retail store, Kmart (gag), I almost always leave there disgusted that I have to go all the way to Wal-Mart. I don’t have any love or hate feelings for Wal-Mart. It is what it is, and in Wal-Mart’s case that’s a huge corporation earning big profits… Period!

The same with Kmart, except Kmart sucks big time. <- My expert analysis

What do you think? Don’t be shy, let me have it!

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress