What the Hell Has Obama Done So Far?

Could Obama be the worst president ever? That’s what some voters are saying, and while some of us would still rather have him than Gingrich, it makes you wonder, why do so many people hate him? After all, Osama Bin Ladin was captured and killed under Obama rule. How quickly we forget. So let’s take a look.

  1. The Anti Bullying Campaign – Okay so maybe you don’t care, because you think there are bigger issues at hand. However, for me, this make Obama seem at the very least, more human. Maybe it’s because he has daughters who are still in school and he wants schools to be better for all kids in the future, maybe it’s just because he thinks it’s good marketing. Either way, more suicides due to bullying have come to light, and Obama has started a movement that involves many previously bullied kids. There are still plenty of parents who believe that “toughing it out” is best and teachers and administrators who continue to do nothing, but is it really so horrible for an American president to try to change things up on a national level?
  2. ObamaCare – Let’s be honest for a moment. Most of us have no idea what ObamaCare actually entails. We think that this is a socialist movement that is going to make the government our healthcare provider. Technically, ObamaCare does extend government benefits to more low income adults, but private companies are still in place. Citizens are required to have insurance, and insurance companies have to adhere to stricter regulations, which include being unable to turn clients down due to certain medical conditions. Many diabetics for one can appreciate the positive effects of this.

This is all fine and good, but what has he done for us lately? Half of us hate ObamaCare, and many think that an anti-bullying campaign and better food in schools is inconsequential.

  • Signed a financial reform law to protect the average American
  • Required lenders to verify applicants’ credit history, income, and employment status to prevent another lender crisis
  • Prohibited proprietary trading in banks (trading the bank’s money to turn a profit in a way that conflicts with consumers’ interests).
  • Signed a financial reform law so that shareholders of publically traded companies can vote on executive pay
  • Reduced prescription drug costs for Medicare patients by 50%
  • Signed away $12.2 Billion in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act
  • Gave same sex partners of federal employees greater benefits
  • Appointed openly gay officials, more than any other president in history
  • Created more private sector jobs in 2010 than the entire Bush era
  • Provided a voluntary list and disclosure of white house visitors for the first time in American history.
  • Eliminated the Global Gag Rule, which allows the US to give money to organizations, regardless of whether or not they provide abortion services.
  • Allowed the FDA to regulate the manufacturing, marketing, and tobacco for the first time ever

Sounds like Obama has done pretty much nothing. What a horrible president….

How Much Do Celebrities Get Paid to Speak at Big Events?

Can you imagine having Bill Gates speak at your commencement ceremony? I for one might be inclined to actually go to my graduation. There are some celebrities like Paris Hilton for example that I don’t care to see, and yet we still see them speaking all over, sometimes in events that really don’t match up. However, what some of us don’t necessarily realize is that you have to pay. Regardless of the celebrity, somebody is paying out big bucks to get them there, sometimes more than you might think. Here are a few of the most overpaid celebrity “speakers” for your buck.

1. James Carville – $30,000
He’s a lot cheaper than Sean Hannity who requires $100,000 and a private jet, but who is this guy? Most of us have never even heard of him and yet he charges $30,000 an event. What you may not know is that Carville was lead consultant for Bill Clinton and what could be considered a great strategist, but that was how many years ago now? He currently teaches political science at Tulane University.

2. Newt Gingrich – $60,000
Is it politically correct to say that he might very well be crazy? With all of the things that Gingrich has said, especially in this particular election, it’s a little bit scary to think that he could really be a presidential candidate. Of course, he really has no chance against some other candidates, at least we don’t think that he does, but he’s being supported as a major philanderer among other things, by major Christian groups. The bad news is that you can’t win without the support of the South. This said, I don’t want to pay to hear from someone who is literally crazy, let alone $60,000!

3. John Edwards – $65,000
Last I checked, the country still hated John Edwards. Who doesn’t hate a man who cheats on his wife when she’s fighting cancer? Add to that the fact that he is currently facing the prospect of some serious and we do mean serious jail time, and what are we crazy?

4. Donald Trump – $1.5 Million
This one really has me stumped. Trump may have been in real estate for years, but he has also gone bankrupt not once, not twice, but 4 times! How exactly is that considered to be business smarts? Steve Jobs took his annual salary down to $1 the second time he started working for Apple and never actually went Bankrupt, and yet Donald Trump, who we are paying $1.5 million has gone bankrupt 4 times. Maybe we just love his hair?

5. Bristol Palin – $30,000
This may be the worst one. She is the daughter of a previous presidential candidate who was made famous for saying things that make her the female George W. Bristol got pregnant as a teen, has not gotten married last we checked, has an extremely Republican family background, and we’re paying her $30,000 to promote sexual abstinence and pro-life. It’s like the fact that we have a TV show dedicated to teen moms, some of whom are being arrested for all sorts of fun stuff. It doesn’t make sense. Her mother charges $100,000, again why are we paying the female George W who we make fun of that much!

6. Kim Kardashian – $75,000
Bristol Palin has been beat. Kardashian is a reality star, and frankly, no one actually knows why she’s famous. She has gone into all areas of business since she started on the reality show route. But she’s not an actress, she’s not a singer, she is the daughter of Robert Kardashian, a lawyer in the OJ Simpson trial, and step daughter to a former Olympic athlete who got a really bad facelift. She charges an average of $75,000 per appearance. Apparently, stupid really does sell.

7. Paris Hilton – $110,000
Another one of why is she famous? She’s the daughter in a major line of hotels, she has made a sex tape. When she first became famous, starring in her own reality show, she was not an actress (she’s still not an actress), she wasn’t a singer (she’s still not really a singer), we can go down the list if you would like.

Kim Kardashian: Divorce or Annulment?

After rumors of many fights previous to the marriage and even allegations of abuse on the part of Kim Kardashian (yes, it can still be domestic abuse even if no serious injuries are sustained and the perpetrator is 1/3 of the size of the victim), it is official. Kardashian is filing for divorce, and her now ex-husband is filing for annulment. While the Kardashians have suffered some backlash, with some fans even accusing them of faking the whole thing, they insist that the problems are painful for the whole family, and the male in the story is getting most of the grief.

After just 72 days of marriage, this was actually Humphries first marriage and Kardashian’s second divorce. To be honest, neither side has been all that cordial about the whole thing, but that’s Hollywood. We all know about the recent problems created by the fact that Brad Pitt stated that his marriage to Aniston was essentially “boring”, after which he quickly apologized and said there was some kind of mistake. Nothing can be simple in the public eye.

However, while Kardashian admits the messiness of the whole thing, she claims that this particular experience actually made her better, even teaching her to follow her heart. On twitter, she states, “Maybe our mistakes r what make our fate, wout them, what would shape our lives? Perhaps if we never veered off course we wouldn’t b who we are.”

The wedding officially cost $15 million, and it may as well have been a royal wedding, outside of the fact that it only lasted 72 days and the partners weren’t exactly William and Kate. She is sure that the divorce has made her a “stronger” person, but we somehow doubt that Humphries has the same sentiments.

We really can’t blame him for wanting to erase this one from the records. Whatever the story behind it, we’re pretty sure he expected his marriage to last a little longer than this. However, Humphries is not completely without. Rumor is he’s dating Dollicia Bryan, a longtime rival of Kardashian after rumors that she hooked up with Kardashian’s previous beau Reggie Bush while he and Kim were dating!

There is one source that says that Kris knew exactly how furious Kim would be and that the two would be photographed, but the facts remain to be seen. According to reports, Dollicia has also been tied to Rob Kardashian, who subsequently invited her to Kim’s wedding. However, it doesn’t sound like things are going to be too serious between the two, mostly just for jealousy sake. He was spotted flirting at NYC’s Beauty & Essex with 3 different girls that looked quite similar to Kim. Sounds like at least one side was actually invested.

Green Bay: America’s New Team

Move over cowboys, there’s a new game in town, and it’s known as Green Bay. America likes winners, and with Tony Romo at the helm, you are not winners. On the other hand, the consistent and effective Aaron Rodgers literally teamed with players who are setting NFL records or coming close to in their first and second years in the NFL until recently, seemed unbeatable. The chiefs left more than one fan shaking their heads.

In fact, Rodgers alone is gaining quite a bit of recognition, being referred to as a major MVP and major contender. The difference between him and many other famous quarterbacks is that not only is Rodgers young, he also seems to be taking everything in stride, not necessarily letting things get to his head.

22% may not seem like a lot, but with so many teams, competition is fierce. The cowboys finished second with half that, only 11% of the vote as many watcher’s “favorite team” in the NFL. The cowboys were followed by the Bears, Giants, and Steelers.

Green bay was the first team to ever win a superbowl, and since then, they have played many landmark games and seasons. However, up until now, attention was always on the Cowboys, who have arrogantly called themselves “America’s team.” However, ironically, there are some polls that show that the Cowboys may now be America’s least favorite team picking up 22% of the vote in those polls. The Chicago Bears came in second with 8% of the vote, and Green bay stands at 7%.

I guess there are some people who just don’t like winners, instead vying for the underdog in most cases. At least for the Kansas City Chiefs, that kind of mentality finally paid off. They’re not known for winning, but beating an undefeated team no matter the circumstances is still something to celebrate.

You should also know that when split up by party, there was a definite bias toward Green bay among virtually all parties. When comparing Green bay to the cowboys, 60% of Republicans, 44% of Democrats, and 44% of independents all jumped on board with Green bay.

Gingrich and the “Jewish Conspiracy”

Call him what you will, Gingrich has brought an interesting face to the Republican elections. He has recently been offered $1 million according to reports, because Michael Savage wants him to drop out of the race. Not only does he have a very public history of philandering, it seems the only reason some Christian religious groups are sticking with him is because they hate Mormons. They liked Cain….until his problems came out and he conveniently used his wife to explain his removal from presidential candidacy.

However, whether or not you are anti-semetic, or maybe you are among those who just don’t like Middle Eastern people, specifically Muslims, you gotta admit, Gingrich has sunk to a new low. McCain got in trouble for racist remarks and even a slur used when referring to the Vietnamese, but that was largely swept under the rug because he “didn’t mean it”, and there just aren’t that many Vietnamese people around.

The problem for Gingrich, outside of what he has recently said, is that there are just as many supporters who are especially sensitive about anything he might say about Middle Eastern people as there are people who are determined to think of them as terrorists. Frankly, some of the people who hate Muslims also hate Jews and anybody who they believe is part of the “Jewish conspiracy”, so you get a sort of catch 22. They love Gingrich for joining their fight against Islam, but they hate him for protecting Jews. What do you do.

So what did he say that was so bad?

According to Newt, Palestinians don’t even exist, and you gotta admit, even to the most fervent oppose of Islam, this seems incredibly stupid, and that’s if you’re being generous. According to Gingrich, they are an “invented people” specifically made up to destroy Jews…..a little paranoid, or maybe drunk or high today Mr. Gingrich? He may just be trying to please the media to keep them on his side, because who in the media doesn’t love controversy. Let’s face it, it sells papers, air time, everything, and whether or not they agree with him, they make more money.

Maybe he’s just trying to appeal to the eccentrics of our day, the people who will keep screaming and never shut up. Either way, we say epic fail. According to Gingrich, Palestinian groups are “terrorists.” Nevermind the fact that half the attacks in that area come from Israelis, who are just as violent, in some cases more violent. However, he seems to think that “sometimes it’s helpful to have a president of the United States who tells the truth.” If that’s his version of the truth, maybe he should be on a 72 hour hold.

His key opponent, Mitt Romney has graciously limited his statements to thinking that Gingrich’s comments were a “mistake.” Likewise, Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut and an Orthodox Jew himself has stated, “whatever one’s view of history, the Palestinian people-hood is a reality today, and we have to respect and deal with that reality as we try to resolve the conflict.”

New Victim Reports Sandusky Abuse, Files Lawsuit

Reported to now be a 29 year old man, one John Doe has filed a new lawsuit against former Coach Sandusky. Less than 2 weeks from his trial, the statute of limitations has long passed on this man’s case, leaving some wondering why he stayed silent for so long. Technically, this phenomenon has been explained on various media features, but it never hurts to explain it again.

This particular victim claims to have been molested by Sandusky over 100 times when he was a teenager, and his family claims that their entire family was torn apart by it. Obviously, there is no physical evidence, but none of this is particularly surprising considering everything that has come to light.

Starting in the early 90’s, this man alleges that Sandusky sexually abused him, and because of that, he is filing a lawsuit against Sandusky, Penn State, and the Second Mile for going so far as to cover the problem up. Realistically, it was only a matter of time before a lawsuit like this would emerge.

The Phenomenon Behind the Silence

This particular victim stayed silent for quite a few years allegedly, and we cannot really blame him as much as we would blame other authorities and disgraced coaches and Penn State staff. Yes, he could have prevented multiple victimizations had he come forward, but he has been alleged to be a victim himself.

It has been studied and shown that many victims feel that it is their fault. These survivors feel that they somehow contributed to the problem, feeling a growing sense of shame and remorse, even though they obviously didn’t do anything wrong. Especially with children so young, in this case starting when he was 10, many victims can be easily intimidated with some perpetrators even threatening their families’ safety if they come forward.

In this case, Sandusky was one perpetrator who allegedly threatened the victim’s family. With his position in the community and his position of power, it would be perfectly plausible to a child that this could happen. Obviously, adults thought to protect him or fear the backlash, and with all of the protests, sometimes even leading to threats against those who did come forward, he had valid reason to be afraid. Even though he couldn’t have known how bad the response would be from the community, he feared this older man who was at the time a lot bigger than him.

The victim claims that he was showered with gifts and trips, which only added to his feelings of guilt. After all, this person was treating him well, how could he betray him and report the abuse?

This case may or may not be valid. Many experts in the field of sexual abuse would investigate any allegations closely. There are plenty of people who would come forward in order to get money or attention. Parents have been known to sacrifice their children for just this purpose.

Psychologists will most likely evaluate Sandusky’s “type” before supporting or denying this man’s or any other victim’s allegations. That is actually one of the easiest ways to weed out the fakes. Even perpetrators with hundreds of victims tend to follow a pattern, choosing victims in the same basic age group, with the same hair color, same eye color, or other similar physical characteristics.

Franco Harris Fired for Supporting Paterno

The latest in a string of firings, Franco Harris, an old Penn State alumni has been fired from his newest job for his very public support of Paterno and his related comments. Are Penn State students going to protest this too? Ashton Kutcher may have expressed support for Paterno and said stupid things, but at least he thought twice when he actually bothered to find out why it was that Paterno was being fired now and not at the end of the season as he would have liked, when he was planning to retire anyway.

Harris was a spokesman in the Pittsburgh area, a Superbowl MVP, Hall of Famer, Businessman in his own rite, and all around someone who seemed like a good guy, a good representative. I can guarantee that his employers didn’t see this bombshell coming, even for a second.

He was hired to “assist in the entertainment facility with various outreach activities, charitable events, and public appearances”, but now the same company doesn’t want his name staining their reputation, which is perfectly understandable. Unlike Kutcher, Harris has been perfectly aware of the circumstances behind the scandal, we would assume right from the start.

He started by blasting the Penn State Board of Trustees for firing Paterno, saying that “I thought they showed no courage, not to back someone who really needed it at the time. They were saying the football program under Joe was at fault.”

Frankly, I don’t see how this situation ruins the football program. Yes, they had to change coaches mid season, but realistically, he ignored repeated reports from staff and players about child abuse in his locker room, in his school, and in his organization. I’m sure the victims that could have been saved by his reporting the incidents wouldn’t agree with extending him a courtesy they never got.

He further stated “They’re linking the football program to the scandal, and possibly, the cover up.” Investigation has shown that there were coaches, school officials, school police officials, and even a detective at the time who were informed of the situation and chose not to report or prosecute it. That reflects on the entire school, not just the football program and staff.

As a result of this, a statement was released reading “In light of recent developments with Franco Harris regarding Joe Paterno’s dismissal, Franco and the Meadows have mutually decided to put their business relationship on hold at this time, while these matters are looked into further.” In other words, it’s a polite way of saying “you’re fired.”

Sandusky is currently facing 25 counts of deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and indecent assault against 8 victims so far with new victims popping up every week, or at least so it seems. Things are not looking good for Sandusky, anybody involved with the coverup, ad in general, anybody involved with him or Paterno, especially with his most recent released of “I shouldn’t have showered with those boys,” but somehow he’s not a child molester.

The Kardashian Divorce on SNL

SNL makes fun of everybody, and I’m surprised that South Park didn’t beat them to it, but the SNL skit on the Kardashian divorce is pretty funny. Even some of the Kardashians agree. When you’re in the public eye, SNL is going to make a skit when your marriage only lasts 72 days. We’re not talking about Britney Spears, who claimed that it was just meant to be a “joke.” I’m not sure how you get a wedding license and everything as a “joke.” We’re talking about Kim Kardashian, who claims the marriage was legitimate, but it was just that bad, even before they actually got married. So why go through with the whole ceremony?

The reality is that Khloe and Kourtney find it funny, because even though they are usually the first to jump to their sister’s defense, they realize that this is just what SNL does. Featuring Nasim Pedrad, Abby Elliott, and Vanessa Bayer, it pokes fun at the “Fairytale divorce” with Kim saying “Whoopsies, I got divorced.”

Kristen Wiig has what even daughters Khloe and Kourtney admit is a dead on performance of their mother saying, “Can you believe I’m old enough to have a daughter who’s getting divorced? No, you can’t, because my surgeries worked.” Jenner got a facelift right before the marriage, which is why this came up.

The best line comes from Kim when she reveals why she got divorced, saying “Marriages are hard, and it turns out Kris was only half the man I wanted him to be. And by that, I mean he was only half black.”

According to the Kardashian sisters, they couldn’t stop laughing. How can you really miss the humor in all of this? According to reports, their favorite part is the actress who portrayed their mother.

Ashton Kutcher Cheating on Demi Moore

I always wondered when the rumors would start and when it would actually happen. Yes, Demi Moore is fabulous for her age, but she is still an almost 50 year old actress married to a guy who is barely older than her oldest child. Yes, technically Bruce Willis did it too, and he continues to do it with much younger women, but the generation gap makes a difference, regardless of what we might like to tell ourselves.

Technically, Kutcher and Moore have been married for 6 years, which is a lifetime in Hollywood. However, rumors are emerging that Moore has seen a divorce lawyer, and there is even another woman who has officially come forward. According to a source close to the couple quoted in Star Magazine, “Ashton and Demi have separated and the marriage is over. The relationship ended because of Ashton’s serial cheating. It’s a painful time for Demi.” No wonder there were so many reports of Demi’s “jealousy.”

However, it’s not so much all the repeated cheating according to reports as his cheating on a recent trip to San Diego that actually destroyed the marriage. According to sources, Kutcher spent September 24th evening, what was supposed to be his anniversary night with Moore, in a room at the Hard Rock Hotel with the 23 year old woman who has come forward, Sara Leal.

According to a friend of Leal’s, “Ashton Kutcher told Sara Leal that him and Demi Moore are separated and the public doesn’t know yet.” Considering the fact that Kutcher was filming “Men in Los Angeles while Moore was on the other side of the country filming “Magic Mike” in New York, it’s plausible.

Of course, Leal isn’t coming forward for free. She is being paid a reported $250,000 to tell her story, and she is currently planning to meet with a lawyer.

Other lovers have come forward before. For example, Brittany Jones allegedly claimed to meet Kutcher in a bowling alley, then meeting him at his and Moore’s house for sex on the couch. However, at least for me, the drama is not unexpected.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs has been one of the most influential figures in technology. While it is said that he didn’t come up with a single idea, he knew how to recognize the good ones. After all, it was his company that produced several iPhones, iPods, and iPads, all of which have literally stomped out the competition.

He spoke at a major University graduation ceremony, he motivated people who wanted to succeed, and he always said, do what you love, defying everything that some have believed in the past. However, there are things about Jobs that most never knew.

1. A Famous Family
While it is known that Jobs was adopted, not everybody knows about his famous family. Mona Simpson, one of the 80’s most famous novelists, is Jobs’ sister. Her first novel “Anywhere but here” was written about her parents, Jobs’ parents as it turns out. However, he didn’t know that they were siblings until the 90’s when he tracked her down.

Both siblings turned out to be famous, and both brought a unique perspective to the world. Who would’ve known, nature vs. nurture.

2. His Father’s Name was Abdulfattah Jandali
That’s right, Steve Jobs’ was half Syrian Muslim by birth. Most never would’ve known that he was anything but Caucasian judging by his looks. His adoptive parents were supposed to be college graduates, but it turned out never were. His mother almost refused to sign the papers. The original adoptive parents decided they wanted a girl, but obviously it didn’t turn out that badly for Jobs.

3. He Created “Breakout”
He’s most famous for technology such as the iPhone, but Jobs also created the game “Breakout”, which was a huge success. It appeared on every Blackberry since 2000, and like many other Jobs productions, it exploded.

4. He Once Claimed He Was Sterile
When his first child was born, he denied paternity, claiming that he was sterile. The mother of his first child raised said child on welfare checks, though eventually Jobs took responsibility. The Lisa Computer in fact, which was the Apple III, was named after his first child.

5. He Was a Pescetarian
He stayed away from red meat, white meat, etc., but he chose to eat fish, dairy, and eggs. Pescetarians are actually 34% less likely to die of heart disease, and obviously, cancer made that a little inconsequential, but what do you do.

6. He Didn’t Donate to Charity
When he first created Apple, he said “Wait until we are profitable.” Apple is obviously profitable, but he still never donated to charities of any kind. Obviously, with all of his inventions, he has changed the world, but no recognized charity so far.

7. He Lied to Steve Wozniak
Wozniak and Jobs were both responsible for Breakout. They were supposed to split the profits 50/50. However, while Jobs was paid $5000, he told Wozniak that he only got $700.

8. He Was a Zen Buddhist
At one time, he thought about joining a monastery and becoming a monk, go figure. Of course, he got a late start in marriage and family, but he became quite the family man in the end. His guru, a monk, ended up marrying him and his wife. Some would say but he became a millionaire. I might add, then he lost everything and had to start all over. The idea is not necessarily to be poor and destitute your whole life, you just have to avoid getting too attached to things.

9. He Was a College Dropout
Some of the most successful men in business are college dropouts. Go figure. He stated that he didn’t necessarily know what he wanted to do, and his adoptive parents were pouring who knows how much money into paying for him to go despite that fact. So after one semester, he dropped out and ended up starting his own company in his parents’ garage. Considering just how many computer guys are self-educated these days (no college), it’s not that big a surprise.

10. He Used LSD
At one time, Jobs has admitted to using LSD at least once during his younger years. He said “it was one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life.”