Since I'm not allowed to sit (I can only lie down or stand), I can't write too much. So, I'll just give y'all an update.

The surgery was a success and I came home Sunday. I'm less sore each day and am able to get around easier. Although the pain has been easing, I'm still on Tylenol #3 for my back pain. I can only stand for so long and end up lying down a lot. This makes my back ache quite a bit. Generally, I take Vicodin for it, but the Tylenol seems to work as well.

I appreciate all the get-well wishes and calls. It gets pretty boring during the day (especially without being able to sit at the computer), but with the election coming up, I'm getting a chance to see all the TV talking heads fall over themselves prognosticating.

It's actually enjoyable watching this all play out. Last night, I watched the "Al Franken Show" on Sundance. I was quite insulted at a piece called "The Oy-yoy-yoy show." I'm guessing stereotyping old Jews gets him off, but it only proves to me that it is the far-left that is mean-spirited and crass.

Party of the people, my ass.

By the way, I wonder, does John Kerry ever listen to his own speeches? Does he really believe that he has proven himself worthy to be President? Does anyone believe he has?

When you vote, please keep in mind just one thing - Just because you may feel Bush is a lousy President, consider the overwhelming possibility that John Kerry will be worse.

Kerry is not the anti-Bush. However, he has proven, time after time, to be the anti-American.

I took this week off from writing an article. Much of what I wanted to say this week had already been written by other writers. Most notably by Charles Krauthammer, in his latest article, and by Michelle Malkin.

I can not even begin to express my dislike for John Kerry. After his comment the other day about "gettin' me a huntin' license," I read with interest all the comments from Ohioans who felt that Kerry was mocking them.

Whether he was or not (I'm sure it was just his way of trying to get a cheap laugh) is irrelevant. Kerry simply does not appeal to the average American. He may very well win this election, although I sincerely doubt it, but it would only be due to many American's short-sighted disdain for George Bush - not for any love of the senator.

I also noticed the backlash against the letter-writing campaign initiated by the British newspaper, The Guardian. It's unfortunate that many Europeans do not realize that most Americans bristle at the idea of foreigners instructing us what to do. I heard from one person who told me that after receiving a letter (begging her to vote for Kerry in order to "protect the World" from George Bush), she decided to vote for Bush (she was leaning towards Kerry).

I will be taking a short break from my blog for a few days. I'm having surgery to repair a Epigastric Hernia (in my stomach). The hernia came about during my transplant two years ago. It was supposed to be repaired last year, but due to a humeral rejection a year ago and then insurance issues, it is finally getting done. I'm nervous (I hate pain and I feel like I've had my fair share of it), but excited about finally having it done. Now my life can really begin again.

Talk to you soon.

Is the American media honestly biased?

The Drudge Report links an article from The Omahachannel.com, regarding comments made by Peter Jennings. Apparently, ABC News issued a memo last week that stressed that President Bush should be held more accountable than Senator Kerry.

In the memo, ABC Political Director, Marc Halperin stated that although both campaigns distort the truth, Kerry's comments should be overlooked. "Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win," Halperin wrote.

Jennings, interviewed by KETV, during a stop in Kansas City, said that he is "a little concerned about this notion everybody wants us to be objective." (read the article -- HERE)

In light of the National Guard scandal that has greatly tarnished Dan Rather's formidable career, it seems there is no longer an objective, non-partisan news source in America. Although FOX News claims to be "fair and balanced," I took notice of an intro to a news show that showed the President in a much brighter light that his opponent. While I feel very similar about the candidates, I believe that there should be no slant, or spin. played by the press.

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So Kerry really is "just one of the boys."

Did you hear his comment during his trip through Ohio? His motorcade stopped at the Village Grocery store in Buchanan (ironic? I think not). Upon entering, he asked the store clerk, "Can I get me a hunting license here?"

Well, Uncle Jed and Jethro must be waitin' in the back.

What a phony.

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A 13-year-old Seattle area boy was arrested last week for posting child pornography on the Internet.

Normally, this story would be just about a kid who did a bad thing. However, there is a weird twist to the story.

The pictures were of himself!

Apparently, the boy was arrested Wednesday by investigators from the State Patrol's Missing and Exploited Children task force. They also seized three computers.

I have to wonder...

Where are the child's parents? Also, who was "exploited."

I agree that this is a serious matter, but come on. They aren't even allowing him bail. He's 13-years-old for crying out loud.

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The more the baseball playoffs continue, the more I realize just how cursed the Chicago Cubs truly are.

They miss the playoffs by choking (yet again) at the end of the season and then have to endure the very real possibility that The Boston Red Sox (who haven't won a World Series since 1918) and the Houston Astros (who have never even been to one) will play till the end.

But, don't worry Cubbie fans. As much as I had to admit it - and I mean this sincerely - I don't think Derek Lowe can beat Kevin Brown in New York. As much as I loathe A-Rod, the Yankee lineup was built for this one game.

As for the Astros, while they have the Cardinals on the ropes, it's tough to win in St. Louis. I'm rooting for them, though. They have surprised me every step of the way, but I think somehow the Cards will pull it out.

Of course, I picked the Cowboys to beat the Steelers last week - so what do I know.

What About Now?
Lonestar

The sign in the window said for sale or trade
On the last remaining dinosaur Detroit made
Seven hundred dollars was a heck of a deal
For a four hundred horsepower jukebox on wheels

And that road rolls out like a welcome mat
I don't know where it goes, but it beats where we're at
We always said someday, somehow
We were gonna get away, gonna blow this town

What about now?
How 'bout tonight?
Baby for once let's don't think twice
Let's take that spin that never ends
That we've been talking about

What about now?
Why should we wait?
We can chase these dreams down the interstate
And be long gone before the world moves on and makes another round
What about now?

We've been puttin' this off baby long enough
Just give me the word, and we'll be kickin' up dust
We both know it's just a matter of time
'Til our hearts start racin' for that county line

What about now?
How 'bout tonight?
Baby for once let's don't think twice
Let's take that spin that never ends
That we've been talking about

What about now?
Why should we wait?
We can chase these dreams down the interstate
And be long gone before the world moves on and makes another round
What about now?

We could hang around this town forever making plans
But there won't ever be a better time to take this chance

What about now?
How about tonight?
Baby for once let's don't think twice
Let's take that spin that never ends
That we've been talking about

What about now, why should we wait
We can chase these dreams down the interstate
And be long gone 'fore the world moves on and makes another round
What about now?
What about now?

I often take notice of comments posted on this blog as well as emails sent to me by people I know and some I don't. The writers either agree with my opinions or they don't. I appreciate the opinions of those with whom I don't see eye-to-eye and I revel in the notes of support from those I do.

It's what makes politics and writing so much fun.

Tonight, I posted an article on my website, titled, "My Epidermis is Showing". The motivation for this article were these very comments and letters I've received over the last 6 months. Here is a sample from it:

When I was a young boy, I was pretty naïve. I often fell for the simplest
of gags. One that I remember well was when a few classmates of mine started
laughing at me while yelling, "your epidermis is showing!". Now remember I'm
all of maybe 6 or 7-years-old.

What did I know?

I ran home crying to my Dad and told him that the other kids were making fun of me. I
told him what they said, and after he stopped laughing at me (must have been
something in the air), he explained that my epidermis is just my skin. Well,
technically it's not. It's actually just the outer, protective, nonvascular
layer of the skin of vertebrates, covering the dermis. But you get the
idea.

What bothered me the most was not that I didn't know what an
"epidermis" was. It was the fact that I was allowing my classmates to ridicule
me. I hardly recall standing up for myself. I seemed to be afraid to let my own
voice be heard in contradiction.

It is time for me to be heard.

To read the whole article, click -- Here.

I may cause some hard feelings with this article, but I simply can not tolerate sitting back and keeping my mouth shut.

Let me know what you think!

I don't get it.

The U.N. announced today that nuclear material, relevant to Iraq's nuclear program are missing. According to Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the IAEA, equipment and materials were removed sometime after the U.S. invasion.

I don't get it.

Is this to say there was WMD materials in Iraq??? I thought it was all just a way for Bush to lie to the world so he could avenge his Daddy!

If there weren't WMD material in Iraq before the invasion - which I believe is Senator Kerry's contention this week (wait, I need to check his calendar. This may be the week he believes that war was justified), then why the announcement?

President Bush has stayed on message consistently. Yesterday, when free elections were held in Afghanistan for the first time in forever, Kerry was criticizing Bush's energy plan.

That's right. Kerry considers the price of gas, which in terms of real dollars is still cheaper than it was during the Clinton, and most suredly, the Carter years - to be the topic of his speech just 3 weeks away from election day.

I don't get that either.

I have never been a conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if Hillary is laughing right now.

In the news today, there are two classic examples of why John Kerry is unfit to be president:

Rich Lowry, of the National Review, writes about the hypocrisy of Kerry's own words regarding the US attack on Tora Bora. The article, "Tora Bora Bull" (read it -- HERE), notes that Kerry was very positive and that he strongly endorsed and applauded the President on every aspect of the mission. However, Kerry rings a very different tune now, criticizing the way the attack was handled.

Once again, this is a man who claims that he has been exceedingly consistent.

The second example comes from comments Kerry made in a New York Times Magazine article, Kerry's Undeclared War. In this article, the Senator is asked, "what it would take for Americans to feel safe again." His response was, "we have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,''

He is talking about going back to the September 10, 2001 mind-set. Meaning once again we should bury our heads in the sand and hope the situation goes away.

How can we trust John Kerry to keep our nation safe when he doesn't even understand the threat???

Cats In The Cradle
Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Dad?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play"
"Can you teach me to throw?"
I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do"
He said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah"
"You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Dad?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and then said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys"
"See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time"
"You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu"
"But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad"
"It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
Yeah, my boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"

Beating a dead horse is never fun. However, I really believe something's need to be reminded. In writing my latest article, "Where is the U.N.’s Penitence?," I started to feel that just writing about the absurd double standard commonly expressed by the United Nations was a waste of time. As always, this article can be read on my website.

However, I read a few other pundits, notably Michelle Malkin and Alan Dershowitz, and it made me realize that until everyone understands the fallacy of the UN, the subject must remain alive.

Furthermore, I recognize the desire of a lot of people to remove President Bush from office (an opinion I certainly do not share). However, do not be fooled by John Kerry. While voting against Bush may be a strong motivation, voting for Kerry would be very dangerous for this country.

Aside from his personal record regarding Vietnam, two other important considerations must be made. His 20-year senate record, where he has consistently voted on the wrong side of many vital issues and his fascination with the United Nations. (His grotesque ability to doubletalk not withstanding)

The UN has proven itself to be a corrupt and anti-Semitic organization. The fact that Kerry is so attached to it is extremely worrisome. Both for the United States and Israel.

Voting against Bush may not be irresponsible, voting for Kerry certainly is.

Hey Jealousy
Gin Blossoms

Tell me do you think it’d be all right
If I could just crash here tonight
You can see I’m in no shape for driving
And anyway I’ve got no place to go
And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I’d ever had
If I hadn’t blown the whole thing years ago
I might not be alone

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place...hey jealousy

And you can trust me not to think
And not to sleep around
If you don’t expect too much from me You might not be let down
Cause all I really want is to be with you
Feeling like I matter too
If I hadn’t blown the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place...hey jealousy

She took my heart
There’s only one thing I couldn’t start