Addendum to "Heroes"

One of the soldiers who lost their life yesterday was one Michael Strange.

Michael was a Philadelphia boy, graduated from North Catholic in 2004.

Michael was a friend of my nephew, Andrew.

It's hitting closer and closer to home, folks.

The families of this hero and the 30 brothers in arms who perished with him have my most sincere condolences. If and when Warriors Watch is contacted, I will proudly welcome this soldier home with grace and honor.

B.



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Heroes

This afternoon, I heard some terrible news as I'm sure all of you had also, that 31 US soldiers lost their lives today in Afghansistan. The first thought that went through my mind was "I know some boys, er, men deployed in that shithole of a kitty litter box...hope and pray it wasn't anybody I know".

After some reflection, I realized that I actually know each and every one of those men. They are our sons, they are our brothers, they are our fathers, uncles, and grandfathers...each who have fought in every war since the dawn of time to preserve the freedom of others. They are the ones who selflessly, at one point in their life. wrote a blank check payable up to and including their life, payable to us, the citizens of this great nation.

Never again, when I hear that another hero loses his life in this war, will I wonder if I knew them or their family. I know each and every one of them, because they are all my heroes. I will shed a tear, and I will quietly reflect on the fact that they died so we can continue to be free.

And, I will know that they are already being held in the arms of their creator, comforted that they did their duty to God and country.

My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives today. I hope they know how much I appreciate the sacrifice their sons made and that I will hold their memory in my heart forever.

B.

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A Rant

Tonight I was lucky enough to be involved in an event that was both moving and important...I was part of a Warriors Watch/A Heroes Welcome ride to welcome Sgt. Daniel Furtak, the son of a friend of mine.

Danny was deployed twice to the shithole Afghanistan, and put his life on the line for his country.

The warriors Watch mission is to make sure that each and every soldier deployed overseas gets the hero's welcome they deserve when they come home. Our Viet Nam vets were spit on, abused, and basically forgotten when they came home from their time in hell. Warriors Watch and A Hero's Welcome were started to be sure that no Vet comes home "forgotten".

Enter my rant.

Tonight, WPVI, our local channel 6 ABC affiliate was on hand to film Danny's welcome home parade, which started at Ruby Tuesdays on Chemical Road and culminated at the Furtak home, after a loud and boisterous parade through parts of Plymouth Meeting and Conshohocken.

I sat and watched the 11:00 news tonight and planned on DVR'ing it to post on the internet tonight...not for my benefit, but because it is important that our returning soldiers get their due diligence when it comes to a big, huge "Thank You".

Nothing.

Two full minutes on "The Bachelorette", a TV show that, mind you JUST FINISHED AIRING , but nothing on a hero who put his life on the line for his country.

Egregious is an understatement.

Danny, Welcome Home, and thank you for your service. Below are some photos I took tonight. I hope I've done you due diligence. You deserved better than Channel 6 decided to give you.













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Video Interview with PJ's & Coffee's, Chris Durante Visco on How Social Media Works

Great interview with Chris Durante Visco (my boss), whom I subcontract for in her social media business.

It's 22 minutes long, but it explains a lot about how social media marketing works, and what we actually do to promote our clientele.

Visit the PJ's & Coffee website by clicking this link: PJ's & Coffee


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Alot to Say in 140 Characters or Less

Dear Ryan,

Happy 24th birthday.

24 years, 1 week ago, your mother and I were separated, she was due to deliver you, and I had heard nothing from anybody. I found out from your mom's friend, Dawn, that you were born. The phone call went exactly like this:

B: Hello?
Dawn: Bill, it's Dawn...I think you should know, you have a son.
B: uh, ummmm, a son...when?
Dawn: He was born on the 28th. His mother made me swear that I wouldn't tell you, but you have a right to know. Now go see your son.
B: (incoherent blubbering and crying)

You were a week old before I knew you existed. it took another couple of weeks before I actually got to see you., It was love at first sight.

Ryan, I've loved the very thought of you from the day I found out that you were conceived. Your mother and I really tried to work out our marriage, but that wasn't meant to be. I fought every day for 15 years to be your father, to be part of your life, to help raise you, and she tried to sabotage us every step of the way. (she went so far as to offer to have her second husband adopt you, just to get me out of your life)

She spent much of her three marriages trying to make my life, your life, and the lives of my loved ones miserable. You know there was no end to the lies and falsehoods said to keep us apart. At some point, a judge saw through the bullshit and stripped her of her parental rights.

What I'm trying to say here is that there was never a time in your life where I haven't loved you, wanted to see you, wanted to hang out with you, go fishing, just do father and son stuff.

On the day you were christened, my Pop-pop took me aside and told me "Billy, thank you so much for giving me a grandson to carry on the family name. That meant something to me, and I never forgot it.

Why am I telling this to the world? Well, for starters, nothing is perfect, not even our relationship. It was a rocky road, with lots of hazards thrown in the road by a woman who made it her sole purpose in life to sabotage our relationship. That didn't work. there were ups and downs, alot of downs, but, through it all, I never stopped loving or caring about you.

I just wanted to say, Happy birthday, son. I'm proud of you, love you, and am longing for that first grandchild with the last name "Shaw" myself.

In due time, that is...enjoy your birthday today,and if you need a ride home after all the partying, call me, you have the number.

Love, Dad.



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PJ's & Coffee Social Media, Chris Visco Interview

Here is a nice interview with my boss, Chris Visco, on the importance of social media in today's marketplace, on KikScore.

I started working for Chris as a subcontractor back in March of this year, and have watched her business grow by leaps and bounds in the few months I've been doing graphics, landing pages, and editing copy for her social media marketing strategies.

It's well worth the read.

B.

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The Skin I'm In.

About 40 years ago, my folks bought me a mini bike and a biker was born. I used to ride trails, race in the Acme parking lot, literally ride it all day just to get my face in the wind. When I was 12, someone stole it out of my back yard. I never saw it again, but I yearned for the wind in my face.

I traveled everywhere on my bicycle from that point until I got my license, at age 19.Then, I bought another motorcycle, a 350 Honda CB350. It was a quick little bike, street legal and I could wheelie in three gears...the biker that laid resting, dormant until then, was aroused and I once again enjoyed my face in the wind

By time I was 21-22 years old, I had the misfortune of having two accidents on that motorcycle. Fixed after the first, my father thought it prudent that it not be fixed after the second one. I sold it for parts sometime a few years later, and that was that, for many years.I was a bit reckless on that 350, mainly because I was young and stupid, taking unnecessary chances when I didn't need to.

20 or so years passed, and that biker once again laid dormant. 5 or so years ago, we were doing OK financially and I decided that I'd like to entertain the idea of getting another bike. Gas prices were soaring, and we owned two gas guzzlers. Karen and I talked about it in depth, and after countless discussions (and promises to always wear a helmet) I started actively looking for a motorcycle again. I looked on eBay, checked the want ads, looked at private sales, Craigs list, but found nothing. Until that one day...a beaut of a bike, and right in my own "backyard", just a few miles away in Norristown.

I took Scraps with me to check it out, and after a test ride, decided I wanted this bike. I didn't care that it wasn't a "Harley", I'm not hung up on labels like some...the bike just "fit" me perfectly. Went home, talked it over with Karen, and bought my 2005 Yamaha V-Star Silverado.

The biker was yet awoken, again. As per a pre-arranged agreement with Karen, I signed up for and passed the advanced PA motorcycle skills course, with an 88% score. I learned a lot, for someone riding since he was 7 years old.

My love of motorcycles started when I was 7. It's not a mid-life crisis, I'm not enjoying a second childhood, I'm finally living in the skin I seem to have been born in. I'm happy, but not in a "f*ck you, look at the bad biker dude" kind of happy, I'm happy that I can finally be myself.

I've learned a lot about myself in these past 4+ years of owning a bike again, too...and I like what I've learned. I've learned acceptance. We're all different and deserve to exist, equally, in this world. I've learned that I will always use my phone hands free when I drive, because too many assholes have almost hit me while driving with their phone attached to their ear. I've learned that I love more madly, deeply and with a greater passion...both my wife, children and my friends. One left turn by an idiot who doesn't see me could shut it down for good, and I want everybody to know what they mean to me.

I've learned that I don't care if you don't like my long hair, cut & colors, or my tattoos. I love being me, and you're not going to make me feel bad for doing so. I've learned that life is way too short and you should live it...really live it, every day. I almost died back in 1998 (sepsis) and my total outlook on life has evolved & changed. I've learned not to judge. What you do, who you love, how you earn your living, where you live, doesn't matter to me. Used to, but that was back when I was an asshole...well, I'm still an asshole-LOL, but a more tolerant and loving one.

The best advice I could ever give anybody, at this point in my life is twofold...First, find what you're really passionate about and figure out how to earn a living doing it. Second, be yourself, even if others don't like it. The hang-ups are theirs, not yours. Get your ink, get your piercings, get your hair dyed sky-blue-pink...but be true to yourself and be the best you possible. I guess I have to add a third...Love with all of your soul and energy. You may get hurt, but to never have experienced that kind of love is sad.

Keep your heels up, your face in the wind and ride it like ya stole it. Love, Peace and good times to all!

B.

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Brown/Castor Publicly Oppose Rte 422 Polls

Bruce Castor & Jenny Brown Publicly Oppose 422 tolls, get the support of several state representatives who's district lies in the corridor.

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Brown/Castor Website Launched

Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr and running mate Jenny Brown have launched their campaign website.



Click here to visit the site.

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hehehehe

Westboro Baptist "Church" gets a taste of it's own medicine!

Bikers? F*ck, yeah!




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Sarah Bashing...S.M.H.

Experts back Sarah Palin’s historical account

Sarah wasn't so wrong, Liberal media still won't admit it. Asshats.

H/T to Tony Phyrillas...Follow him on Facebook.

B.
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Cinco de Mayo, Yearly History Lesson

Cinco de Mayo...giving white people in America a reason to drink tequila and act stupid for over 140 years!

Cinco de Mayo is not, as most people believe, Mexican Independance day. That day is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo commerates the battle of Pueblo, where Mexicans met the French in one of the bloodiest battles in Mexico's history.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. The paper notes that:

"The holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863, is virtually ignored in Mexico."

The holiday of Cinco de Mayo is primarily a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated in the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.

So, make a "run for the border", hit your favorite Mexican restaurant, or just go to the local watering hole and have a Dos Equiis, a shot of Two Fingers and eat the worm in honor of the most misinterpreted Mexican holiday, "5 of May!

¡En este Cinco de Mayo, les deseo a todos mis familiares y amigos un día maravilloso y feliz! Read Full Text/Comments

Boo-F*ckin-Yah!

Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001.

I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude.

This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.

The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.

- George W. Bush

God Bless America.

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Greetings from A Better Place

Well, good friends, I've decided to end my self-imposed exile and start posting again. I'd been posting previously sometimes two a day and kinda got myself burned out. I'd also been out of work for over two years and felt that I should be concentrating on finding a job, rather than blogging.

Well, I've found a job. My creative juices are flowing again, as my new job entails writing and editing ad copy and creating graphics for the web. Hopefully, my muse is back and I'll write more than one or two posts a week, but until then, I'm going to ease myself back into the swing of things and just write when the mood hits me. I'm in a "better place" than I have been for quite some time.

It's been a while, November, in fact, so I'll end this by saying I'm back, not full-time, but back, nonetheless. I'll also be posting more personal things, especially about my kids (I'm so proud of them).

Short and sweet is the order of the evening, so I'm signing off now, I'll be back sooner than later and that you can take to the bank.

B.


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Time to Catch My Breath

There's a lot of change going on here at home. Some of it good, some of it bad, but there's definitely a change.

We have something new here that hasn't been tried before, at least in this household. My oldest child with my wife, Karen (I have an older son from the "practice" marriage), has started high school. Now I know you may say "we all have (or have had, or will have) kids in high school, Bill, what makes this so different?". Well, good friends, it's different because it's happening to me.

Yup, it scares me to say, I've unleashed a teenager on Plymouth Writemarsh High School.

Skipping back a bit, at the end of 8th grade, Jesse decided that he wanted to join Drum Line, so he could play bass in the "pit". Going to the meetings and the mini-camp at the end of the school year, he was recruited to play in the pit for the marching band, also. What he didn't realize then, was that when he joined, so did his whole family.

The commitment to the band is not for the casual user or the faint of heart. Jesse, who does not yet drive, has either practice, a game or a competition or any combination of the three, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He has scouts on Monday, so 5 nights a week, Jesse is out of the house from at least 5 until 9-9:30 at night. Guess who drives him?

I'm not writing this to complain. You see, I've become rather fond of the Plymouth Whitemarsh Marching Colonials. So much, in fact, that I'm starting to feel a bit melancholy that the season is just about at it's end.

Some of the senior kids will be moving on to college or tech school, and new faces will replace them next year. These seniors never looked at my son (or any of the freshmen) with the normal disdain that the "regular" kids may, but took these newbie band members under their collective wings, mentored them, and became role models, someone to aspire to be like. These kids are something special, and it will be bittersweet to see them go...happy for them because they now get to start a new chapter in their lives, sad because this very well could be the last time we cross paths with these special young people.

I've also seen a huge change in Jesse. He's become his own person, not just "our son" but really developed into an incredible personality. He plays the bass like a seasoned pro, and is better at it than I ever was, at 14 years old. He has nowhere to go but forward.

I've realized, too, that Jesse is not at all like me. He looks a bit like me, enjoys the same music and movies that I do, but things pretty much end there. Scraps is laid back where I'm kind of intense. He's got a very dry sense of humor, I'm more bold and in your face about it. He likes muscle cars, I'm into bikes.

He has one very important trait that I've never had...the talent and drive to succeed. He knows what he wants out of life, at 14, and I'm still searching.

While I'm waxing nostalgic about the season that just passed, he's looking forward to Jazz Band, and Drum Line. Sign up meetings are in a week or so. From what I gather, he'll only be out of the house 4 or 5 nights a week.

I'm glad I have a few weeks to catch my breath...hopefully, he'll ask me to drive him.

(Plymouth Whitemarsh placed first overall in their division at their first competition at Lower Bucks Central High, placed second at the State Championships at Hershey, PA, placed third at a regional competiton at Abington High School, and placed 6th at the Nationals today in Annapolis, MD. PW's scores were increasingly better with each competition, scoring their highest point total of the year, 91.465, at the Nationals)




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'Nuff Said!

F*CK YEAH, WE WON!



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Last Post For a While

Things haven't been too good lately for you humble blogger.

I've been spotty in posting here on my beloved blog for the past 2 years, but there's underlying issues that have been keeping me from doing so, none of which are important enough to share.

Understand that I am loathe to do so, but I must concentrate my energies and talents elsewhere for the time being.

Therefore, your humble blogger is taking a hiatus...a sabbatical so to speak, to pursue more important things without the distractions of trying to keep up with my blog.

I'm sure I'll see you later. Maybe on the 'cooler, maybe back here, but not for a while.

Anyway, I'll be around.

Peace, out.

B.

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An Open Letter To Michael Nutter

Dear Your Honor, Mr. Mayor Michael Nutter,

I write a blog.

I live in Montgomery County.

People in Philadelphia read my blog.

Am I subject to the "blogger tax" also? If so, would you be so kind as to come collect it yourself? I could use the laugh while I explain the first amendment to you. I could also explain to you that you can't tax thoughts, just because someone writes them down. Otherwise, you could tax my 10 year old daughter's diary, couldn't you? Or, tax Stu Bykofsky's column, because that's not news, that's an opinion column, just like blogs.

See, Mr. Mayor Nutter, the possibilities are endless. If you really need the money, maybe you should change the Philadelphia 911 service to a 1-900 number. There's money in that and it would cut down on false alarms and nuisance calls to your emergency services. Or, change the number for the city hall switchboard to a toll call. Then all the kooks who call on a regular basis will be charged for bothering your receptionists while they are chatting and texting and filing their nails. Can you imagine the $$$ you would generate while your staff kept some poor slob on hold for 40 minutes?

Oh, and another thing you can do...copywrite the word "Philly Cheesesteak". Then, you could collect a fee from every crappy stand across the country who thinks they can make our hometown sandwich actually taste like the real deal.

Or, you could just leave everybody alone and realize that you can't tax free speech. It's guaranteed in our constitution, so important, our founders thought, that they made it the First Amendment. If you want to charge a blogger (who may not have the means to pay) to speak his mind, then you violate his constitutional right to free speech.

By the way, drop the $300.00 business fee to bloggers who earn a measly pittance for running ads on their blogs...you're going to lose that one, too and you've already embarrassed yourself enough by the mere mention of it.

That is all.

Sincerely,

Bill Shaw


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Ethics (?) Czar J-Huff Seeks State Supreme Court Ruling

More taxpayer money is to be wasted, folks, if Joe Hoeffel gets his way.

It seems that the Commonwealth Court is no place for J-Huff, he expects his and Jimbo's flawed ethics policy to be ruled on by the State Supreme Court.

Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr., thinks it probably should go to the Supreme court, just to have it done and over with. Commissioner Castor's response? From this mornings Inquirer (on Philly.com):

Castor said Wednesday he believed the Supreme Court would uphold his belief that the ethics rules Hoeffel and Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews passed were inherently flawed. He objects to their creating rules for employees of other elected officials.

"They've become the laughingstock of Pennsylvania for thinking that they can do this," Castor said. "So that the county taxpayers don't suffer, I'll argue the case myself."

Jimbo could not be reached for comment...he's probably in his Taurus, headed down the shore to spend some campaign mon...er to relax for the weekend.

I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear of this kids...read the Philly.com article here.
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Jimbo/J-Huff Lose in Commonwealth Court

Like we didn't know this would happen.

Our clueless leaders, Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel, took their "Ethics Clause" case to the Commonwealth court to once again, try to block any and everybody employed by Montgomery County from "being political"

The so-called "Ethics Clause" was struck down in Montgomery County Municipal Court as being unenforceable, as the Commissioners can't tell the individually elected row officers who can or can't work for them...or what they can or can't do during their free time. According to Judge Nicholas, the commissioners “do not have statutory authority to regulate the hiring, firing or supervision of employees of row officers.”

Well...just to waste taxpayer money a bit more, Jimbo and J-Huff decided to argue the case a bit further, and got their asses handed to them. According to the Times Herald:

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania dealt a fatal blow to Montgomery County’s ethics ordinance by affirming a prior decision that invalidated a law barring row officers and their employees from participating in political activities.

The opinion Tuesday by a seven-judge panel was unanimous. And although the opinion by President Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter affirmed Section 1 of the ordinance applying specifically to lawsuits brought by two row officers, Montgomery County DA Risa Vetri Ferman and the late Sheriff John P. Durante, and remanded the rest of the law for further consideration, a concurring opinion by Mary Hannah Judge Leavitt characterized any further legal challenge as “an exercise in futility.”

With this ruling coming from the Commonwealth court, it is now binding statewide. By tipping at windmills, both Jimbo (Don Quixote) and J-Huff (his faithful servant, Sancho), both incomprehensible egomaniacs, have actually created policy statewide that they never intended.

According to Republican Commissioner, Bruce L. Castor, Jr., “...what Matthews and Hoeffel had done was meant to hurt me and my friends (in DA’s Office), but they effectively made a law binding the entire state (opposite of what was intended).”

Matthews has redefined "The Peter Principle" in a whole new way. It should be renamed "The Jimbo Principle".

You can read the Times Herald report here.
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