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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.8.3 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:36:18 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/"><rss:title>Tom's Rants &amp; Raves</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><dc:date>2009-11-28T02:36:18Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.8.3 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/im-not-supposed-to-keep-saying-these-things.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/is-glen-beck-nuts.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/9/23/something-stinks.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/18/vicks-still-a-dickl.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/15/the-revolution-needs-to-start-now.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/7/8/someone-else-understands-my-resentment.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/5/21/memorial-day-2009.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/3/13/smoke-em-if-ya-got-em.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/2/1/inflation-by-any-other-name.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/1/12/make-sure-your-duty-is-without-question-before-you-question.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/im-not-supposed-to-keep-saying-these-things.html"><rss:title>i'm not supposed to keep saying these things</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/im-not-supposed-to-keep-saying-these-things.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-10-17T21:10:03Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, wrote e-mails to Minneapolis-based Target and Wisconsin-based BuySeasons, Inc. calling a new halloween costume featuring the mask of an alien with a green card and an orange jumpsuit with "illegal alien" written across the front "distasteful, mean-spirited, and ignorant of social stigmas and current debate on immigration.&nbsp; the only social stigma i can see ruining america is the stigma relative to making me believe i should accept those who break the law and enter this country illegally.&nbsp; ms. salas appears to see this as totally acceptable, does not see it as having any detrimental effect on america, or doesn't care.&nbsp; people who do this should be subject to arrest for treason related charges considering what the results of their efforts do to our country.&nbsp; and if i were her next door neighbor and was harboring criminals she would demand the same.&nbsp; the faction that wants this to win out over the laws of our country believe they have the winning hand at this point.&nbsp; the consistant barrage of politically correct arguments meant to replace patriotism with heartfelt sympathy will win if americans let it.&nbsp; depends on how much your country means to you.&nbsp; as for myself, i'll keep screaming these things until i have no breath left.&nbsp; breathing wouldn't mean much in a socialistic america overtaken by those who respect it not. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/is-glen-beck-nuts.html"><rss:title>is glen beck nuts?</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/10/17/is-glen-beck-nuts.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-10-17T19:14:19Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>imus mentioned that his son had been watching glen beck come to tears and asked his dad, "why is glen beck crying"?&nbsp; imus said he couldn't come up with an answer while in the background, bernard was saying, "our country is going down!"&nbsp; imus muttered, "well, ok". &nbsp; and i'm saying glen beck makes more sense to me with his passion exuding from every pore while every obamamaniac has no clue how to feel passionate about their country.&nbsp; i know i'll be buried with retorts from many who disagree or think i'm being one sided, but it's true. not one socialistic thinker i've debated has ever given me reason to think they have the ability to relate to america with the same heartfelt passion that i do or that glen beck does.&nbsp; if they did, i'd be more accepting of their opinion than i currently am.&nbsp; if i felt they knew it was the accomplishments of the capitalists that played an integral role in the growth and strength of our country, i'd pay more attention to their desire to see industry taken over by the country or be gifted to unions.&nbsp; if i thought they knew the drawbacks of law breaking, i'd listen to their pro illegal immigration arguments and would be able to judge their opinion from some sort of common ground.&nbsp; but it's that involuntary outbreak of patriotic passion that i truly see missing from those eager to&nbsp; see so many attributes disappear from america's identity in favor of socialism.&nbsp; maybe it's the tears some can muster over a hungry person or some who have no place to live that makes the obamamaniacs think they have those same feelings.&nbsp; not!&nbsp; you see, those tears don't relate to my country.&nbsp; i too know those tears.&nbsp; that's why i have been a major business contributor to the food bank, and other charities, and that's why churches do as well.&nbsp; the fact that problems such as poverty exist within this country is no excuse to allow such problems to overtake the priority position of the providers that have bult this country and assumed the responsibility of helping others for as long as i remember.&nbsp; do your tears represent the 10 million or so without health insurance, or do your tears reflect the sadness of a government takeover right here in america?&nbsp; giving those 10 million people health insurance balances out the loss of free enterprise and lessening the strength of a capitalistic america doesn't it?&nbsp; just like the devaluing of the american dollar through initiating all the irresponsible indebtedness we are accomplishing will lead to a stronger america too.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/9/23/something-stinks.html"><rss:title>something stinks!</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/9/23/something-stinks.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-09-23T14:08:27Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>fabreze recently started a new campaign (sure you saw it) about a mom that walks into her son's bedroom and says "jimmy! (or whatever his name is), i thought you were having company over. </strong></p>
<p><strong>it stinks in here! </strong></p>
<p><strong>then she goes into the fabreze "we need to wash this room" thing.</strong></p>
<p><strong>so now when the spot runs, there is no "it stinks in here"! </strong></p>
<p><strong>did the idiots go stupidly pc nuts on us and omit "it stinks in here!" to pacify the outcry from the anti-stink faction? </strong></p>
<p><strong>or was fabreze called out on it's inability to cure "it stinks in here"? what do you think? </strong></p>
<p><strong>im so sick of the chicken shit p c ness of this lame society. </strong></p>
<p><strong>do you p c zombies really believe there is no stink? ignore the stink and trust me it will come back to haunt you much worse than if you got rid of it when you first perceived it..... </strong></p>
<p><strong>never liked fabreze anyway.</strong></p>
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/18/vicks-still-a-dickl.html"><rss:title>Vick's still a dickl</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/18/vicks-still-a-dickl.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-08-18T20:16:39Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>all this hoopla surrounding a dog killer will hopefully be put in it's place after it integrates itself into professional football.<br />it's there that we will realize role models and integrity don't play a role.<br />i never understood how someone like michael vick could play out his debt to society by working with the humane society.<br />would you go see a presentation by michael vick on animal cruelty? i wouldn't, and i can't see why every appearance by him wouldn't be flooded by activists who would rather he stay away. <br />the topic came up the other day and abreu employee, becca nailed the solution on the head.<br />vick shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a humane society function.<br />michael vick should have been involuntarily recruited by the fbi and other peace office organizations to provide information on the dog fight activities still being run in the united states. what other person could shed light on possible locations, breeders, and low life players that still do what michael dick, i mean vick did before they caught him. maybe after giving up a few other "less than    low lifes" or leading the police to their general locales where they can be hauled in and stopped from their putred actions, then i could see how someone might say, michael vick is paying his debt to society. <br />what term did he use to describe his past actions? i think it was "pointless" activity. yeah it was pointless. it was also atrocious,  blood letting, cruel, idiotic, barbaric, heartless, sinful and vicious. where were all those other descriptives when you spoke of your actions michael vick?<br />philadelphia belittled the symbol of america when they chose him to represent them.    <br /><br /><span style="font-size: 24pt;"> </span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/15/the-revolution-needs-to-start-now.html"><rss:title>The revolution needs to start now!</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/8/15/the-revolution-needs-to-start-now.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-08-16T00:10:37Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lately the phrase &ldquo;We the people&rdquo; pops up in discussions regarding political decisions, and I&rsquo;m amazed at how often it never is emphasized in the proper perspective.</p>
<p>Even the lifetime tenures of some representatives and senators are continually ignored even though they fly in the face of the original purpose of limited terms .<span> </span>You see, representatives were supposed to represent the people and at the end of their terms they were to return to the communities they came from to share their learned government experiences thus giving that knowledge back to their neighbors and help to return benefits to those same communities.<span> </span></p>
<p>How did we allow that concept to morph into lifelong careers at the expense of the citizenry?<span> </span>God knows that these days even nepotism gets a blind eye turned toward it.</p>
<p>When your President would throw the Police Department under a bus because his buddy got arrested, I guarantee you that he wasn&rsquo;t thinking of the American People.<span> </span>You should have immediately realized that your own President had a corrupted opinion of Peace Officers, and that should have sent a stench out of the White House to be smelled by everyone no matter what color.</p>
<p>But, getting back to &ldquo;we the people&rdquo;, please refresh my memory as to when the government takeover and gifting of the auto industry to the United Auto Workers received its birth at the hands of the American People?<span> </span>Can you tell me when you first heard the People say,<span> </span>&ldquo;We want our medical care doled out by the White House&rdquo;?<span> </span>When the financial institutions got their handout, how many of you can recall the idea of infusing billions into bailouts came about because of the desire of the American People? And do you really expect me to believe that the People are saying, &ldquo;Let those that enter this country illegally get medical care and social security at my expense!&rdquo; It&rsquo;s awfully quiet out there.<span> </span>No answers?<span> </span>No examples?</p>
<p>Well that&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m scared shitless!<span> </span>I know I&rsquo;m not the only one that realizes when these concepts begin at the top there&rsquo;s already been an anesthetizing of the American People.<span> </span>The voices you hear today of other scared people at town hall meetings better serve to bring you to your feet.<span> </span>You better get those letters written to your representatives and senators now.<span> </span>It&rsquo;s only a half dozen or so.<span> </span>It really will only take an hour or so to get a thought put to paper (yes, including two or three tries to get the body of it to read the way you&rsquo;d like), and to get it to the post office.<span> </span>Why in that amount of time you could get a couple telephone calls off to the offices of those same folks.<span> </span>You&rsquo;d better get used to their names now, because it will seem the time has flown by when election day rolls around again, and my goal when that happens is to remember each and every one of them.<span> </span>They allowed this to happen!<span> </span>They allowed your power to be usurped by the idealists that know better than you.<span> </span>Please reach back to recall the lessons learned earlier on in school when we had teachers that truly understood the basics of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and knew the value of teaching us how our Government is supposed to work.<span> </span>It&rsquo;s been taken away, and we both know it.<span> </span>Start cranking the volume my friends, because you&rsquo;re being suffocated by forces that don&rsquo;t get their strength from &ldquo;We thePeople&rdquo;.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/7/8/someone-else-understands-my-resentment.html"><rss:title>someone else understands my resentment</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/7/8/someone-else-understands-my-resentment.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-07-08T19:14:06Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>meet bill schoonover;</p>
<p>&gt; Here is my final draft to Barbara Boxer.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please give it your widest dissemination.</p>
<pre>&gt; I want the world to know at least one scoundrel who masquerades as a wise solon <br />&gt; and a congress in whose hand $trillions are spent without even <br />&gt; reading the bills.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Babs:<br />&gt; <br />&gt; You were so right on when you<br />&gt; scolded the general on TV for using the term, &ldquo;ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo;<br />&gt; instead of &ldquo;Senator.&rdquo; After all, in the military, &ldquo;ma&rsquo;am&rdquo; is a term <br />&gt; of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position.<br />&gt; <br /> The general was totally wrong. You<br />&gt; are not a person of superior rank or position. You are a<br />&gt; member of one of the world&rsquo;s most corrupt organizations, the U.S. <br />&gt; Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of Representatives.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Congress is a cesspool of liars,<br />&gt; thieves, inside traders, traitors, drunks (one who killed<br />&gt; a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and other low level <br />&gt; swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do anything to <br />&gt; enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense of the <br />&gt; People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be <br />&gt; continually re-elected.<br />&gt; Many democrats even want American troops killed by releasing <br />&gt; photographs. How many of you could honestly say, &ldquo;We pledge our <br />&gt; lives, our fortunes and our sacred<br />&gt; honor&rdquo;? None? One? Two?<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Your reaction to the general shows<br />&gt; several things. First is your abysmal ignorance of all<br />&gt; things militaire. Your treatment of the general shows you to be an <br />&gt; elitist of the worst kind. When the general entered the military (as <br />&gt; most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank check, <br />&gt; offering his life to protect your derriere now safely and comfortably<br />&gt; ensconced in a multi-thousand dollar leather chair, paid for by the <br />&gt; general&rsquo;s taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front <br />&gt; of millions.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Second is you puerile character,<br />&gt; lack of sophistication, and arrogance which borders on the hubristic. <br />&gt; This display of brattish behavior shows you to be a virago, <br />&gt; termagant, harridan, nag, scold or shrew, unfit for your position, <br />&gt; regardless of the support of the unwashed, uneducated masses who have <br />&gt; made<br />&gt; California into the laughing stock<br />&gt; of the nation.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; What I am writing, Senator, are<br />&gt; the same thoughts countless millions of Americans have<br />&gt; toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or time to convey <br />&gt; them. Under the democrats, some don&rsquo;t even have the 44 cents to buy <br />&gt; the stamp. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize politicians are <br />&gt; pretty much the<br />&gt; same, and will vote for the one who will bring home the most bacon, <br />&gt; even if they do consider how corrupt that person is.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Lord Acton (1834 &ndash; 1902) so<br />&gt; aptly charged, &ldquo;Power tends to corrupt and absolute power<br />&gt; corrupts absolutely.&rdquo; Unbeknownst to you and your colleagues, Mr. <br />&gt; Power has had his way with all of you, and we are all the worse for <br />&gt; it.<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Finally Senator, I, too, have a<br />&gt; title. It is &ldquo;Right Wing Extremist Potential Terrorist<br />&gt; Threat.&rdquo; It is not of my choosing, but was given to me by your <br />&gt; Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. And you were <br />&gt; offended by &ldquo;ma&rsquo;am&rdquo;?<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Cheers!<br />&gt; <br />&gt; Bill Schoonover<br />&gt; 3096 Angela Lane<br />&gt; Oak Harbor, WA 98277<br />&gt; <br />&gt; 360-675-3609<br /><br /></pre>
<p><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><br />TomHead </em></strong><br />Abreu Gallery <br />3712 Auburn Blvd <br />Sacramento CA 95821 <br />www.abreugallery.com <br />916.488.1211 <br />Fax 916.488.1213 <br />This account is monitored 6a - 4p <br />tuesday thru saturday only.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/5/21/memorial-day-2009.html"><rss:title>Memorial day 2009</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/5/21/memorial-day-2009.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-05-21T14:54:33Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<pre>at a time when i doubt this countries population is truly made up of <br />people that share the pride in a history that made us a strong nation,<br />i say (for the sake of the few of us that do remember), god bless those<br />that gave their lives to make us free.<br />50 years ago seems so short a time to watch a conversion from 'fighting for your country'<br />to worrying about what others think 'about' your country.<br />yes virginia, there was a time when people pledged<br />allegiance to their country first. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6f_FvZpm3g" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6f_FvZpm3g</a></pre>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/3/13/smoke-em-if-ya-got-em.html"><rss:title>Smoke 'em if ya got 'em</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/3/13/smoke-em-if-ya-got-em.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-13T16:51:30Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><br /> Assemblyman Ammiano of San Francisco wants to make 'Bud' available to all you 'Spicoli' types out there, and he says it's worth over a billion tax dollars a year to California.<br /> For those that don't understand, Bud is short for Cannabis, and Sean Penn played character Spicoli, the pothead in the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", gainingacclaim by falling out the side door of a van as marijuana smoke poured out behind him. He was, as they say, obliterated at the time. <br /> The first thing that went through my head when I heard the cry to legalize from the sanctuary city by the bay, was a basic comparative. If I'm a dope dealer and i need money, i just sell some pot. If I'm a politician and my state needs money, I just legalize pot. It's going to be hard for me to tell the difference from now on.<br /> It's not just the tax windfall folks. It's also the 200 million in savings we'd achieve by not having to continue the foolish front called marijuana law enforcement. <br /> I just don't understand this part of the scenario; if the herb is taken off the illegal list, why wouldn't every toker just plant 2 or 3 plants in the backyard and take the whole buyer seller principal away? It has been explained one way. We are the American consumer, so to think planting our supply so there would be a baggie around at all times, omits their marketed choices brought about by sophisticated bud breeding. See, i'm a dinosaur, and when pot was around when i was a kid, you bought a baggie full of the stuff for no more than a hundred bucks a bag and sometimes it was a couple of ounces. We didn't care if it was Mauie Wowie or Panama Red, we didn't get the magnifying glass out and check to see if there were purple hairs on the buds. We just thought it was an opportunity for a buzz and we got by it after the initial excitement wore away.<br /> Personally, i hope it gets done this time, because the current farce involving Pot Clubs, which was and still is a stupid name for the supposed legitimate distributers of medicinal marijuana, needs to be shut down and the people who truly believe this is a program that effectively helps the sick and infirmed need to be allowed to slither back into their holes. I'm sick of being forced to recognize the Docs that are prostituting themselves out for a hundred bucks to write scrips for recreational users and consider it a necessary evil for the sake of the chemo patient that needs a little pot to keep their appetite? <br /> Ever walk into a pot club? Do you really think the Bob Marley posters for sale in there are for the rheumatoid arthitis patients seeking a little comfort? Sorry, i'm done with the current disguised distribution of pot. <br /> Get this legalization rolling folks. <br /> The truly ill that need it will still be OK because legitmate doctors will see to it that they can find relief. <br /> Force the worthless slimeballs that have been riding the coattails of alzheimers, glaucoma, and aids sufferers to make sure they get their buzz to separate themselves from this "Medicinal Marijuana"lowlife excuse for distribution.</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/2/1/inflation-by-any-other-name.html"><rss:title>Inflation by any other name.....</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/2/1/inflation-by-any-other-name.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-02-01T20:24:03Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It started a couple years ago when I first discovered a beef cut that was cheaper than the rest and lived up to the texture and tenderness needed in some of my recipes. The flavor was a bit different but with seasoning and proper braising, it resulted in great stroganoff dishes and its medallion potential proved exciting. They were called 'clod tenders', a torpedo shaped cut that came from the cross rib section, or the shoulder, depending on which butcher I questioned.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A few months went by, and in shopping for my weekly feed, ( I cook for the shop every Friday), I noticed the name of my little find had changed. Little did I know that a name change to &ldquo;Petite Tenders&rdquo; could cause a raise in the price by some 75 cents a pound.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm a pretty well seasoned consumer. I understand that markets and producers have to raise prices when necessary, but what demographic are you going for when you believe it necessary to relabel a product in an effort to pull more profit out of it? You certainly aren't making a veteran buyer feel better. It just irritates us. The beef council will be pleased to know I still buy them, (even though I grumble), but only because the rest of the beef cuts exploded into higher price brackets by at least the same amount.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Not so lucky were the marketers in other food groups.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The cereal box caper was next. You did notice those clever folks cut back on the weight content but retained the size of the box. Brilliant marketers that they are, the copy on the boxes continued to morph into more health conscious BS. Fiber rich, whole grain, new and improved, and less sugar are examples of some of the meaningless claims your cereal sales sharks resort to in this day and age of &ldquo;perceived value&rdquo;, (one of my least favorite marketing terms) hypocrisy.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It still smacks of making you think you're getting more than you actually are.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ellie, the register clerk at my neighborhood store, revealed the Dreyers Ice Cream move to make you believe you were getting the same amount of ice cream in their package, but the cylindrical container was actually about an inch shorter.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">All of this shouldn't be much of a concern to most of you. You have created a huge quandary in my mind during these fragile days of business survival. I still can't figure out how we can be in this 'recession' when I drive past lines of folks at the Starbucks window dying to give up 5 bucks for a cup of coffee.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Pepsi is the one that sticks in my throat the worst. I have been a devout Pepsi fan for most of my life, because I grew up across the street from Mike Mikulas. He started with the Pepsi company after we left high school, and as a young man I was raised to believe that you should support the companies that supported you and your neighbors. That's over!</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">While picking up drinks for the Friday feed, I ended my faithful allegiance to the Pepsi company over their blatant repackaging of the 12 pack to contain only 8 cans. Those silly little 'half cans' they came out with earlier on were goofy enough. I looked over to see that A &amp; W still had the original 12 can packs, and I went for it. I found that the folks at lunch that Friday even praised the new selection.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you don't find these current methods of charging you more without displaying the increase in prices forthrightly, I guess you're part of the 'more accepting' newer generations. I'm still stuck in the past, when more honesty resulted in a greater following'. Forbes magazine recently compared the whole change in the concept of &ldquo;raising your prices&rdquo; vs &ldquo;charge more by giving less&rdquo; akin to New Yorkers vs Californians. New Yorkers have the decency to stab you in the front.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anyway, the cereal scam ended up with me moving my preferences to the store brands for the first time, and you already know how I dealt with the Pepsi farce.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If Sir Walter Scott will forgive me, just remember; &ldquo;Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we package to deceive!&rdquo;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/1/12/make-sure-your-duty-is-without-question-before-you-question.html"><rss:title>make sure your duty is without question before you question mine</rss:title><rss:link>http://abreu.squarespace.com/toms-rants-raves/2009/1/12/make-sure-your-duty-is-without-question-before-you-question.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Tom Head</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-01-12T18:44:22Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Two people, very close to me, have been going through the circus called jury duty stand by. It&rsquo;s bad enough to have your work or school schedule take a beating over not knowing if you&rsquo;re going to be able to appear for a test or if your employer can count on you to show up for work, but one of my friends was also forced to accept an admonishment from the court after answering the judge truthfully.</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">After several days of telephone checking and appearing at the courthouse with dozens of others, only to return home at the end of the day without knowing what tomorrow will hold, a pool of prospective jurors were asked point blank, &ldquo;can you be impartial regarding this defendants guilt&rdquo;?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My friend made what seemed to be a mistake by responding with a &ldquo;no&rdquo;!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">This response came after being made aware of this defendants alleged crimes, and she was merely being honest, without knowing it may be characterized as a fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The judge was offended by her response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He looked at his formerly potential juror and said &ldquo;I hope you never have to appear in this courtroom on a criminal charge&rdquo;.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well now that&rsquo;s a comforting comment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it supposed to make her feel that she is heartless, judgmental, unreasonable, or what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When the judge came out with his rather pointed comment, it&rsquo;s too bad that she showed respect instead of responding with something like &ldquo;Oh it&rsquo;s doubtful Your Honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I&rsquo;m a respectable citizen and criminal activity just isn&rsquo;t my forte!&rdquo;</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">And furthermore,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>I also doubt that you would understand how a person like me would feel after seeing neighborhood vandalism, car thefts, and helicopters hovering above what used to be a desirable neighborhood. Does that sound like the neighborhood you live in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you awaken to fresh graffiti on the fence across from your house?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you no longer casually answer the front door when the bell rings out of fear that it may be a possible home invasion? No I didn&rsquo;t think so.</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Do you believe everyone thinks the courts are spot on when it comes to swift and just trying?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When a Democracy votes on an issue and a judge believes he or she knows better than their constituency and overrules the vote of the people, do you think it raises the level of respect toward the bench? </span></em></strong></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">So it&rsquo;s doubtful that making one feel guilty over not being a good juror prospect will change their truthful persona, but hey, as long as it made the judge feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></em></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item></rdf:RDF>