Greg's World

I am just SICK of Luis Gutierrez. I just saw him, yet again, telling us how inhumane and unjust some of our laws are. Would someone PLEASE tell me what we are paying our hard earned tax dollars to this MORON for? He is, yet again, defending someone who has, not once, but twice crossed our borders ILLEGALLY!! Hey, if I go rob a bank, will he fight for me telling everyone how inhumane our laws about robbery are? Nope. That’s different, they will say. It’s not the same thing. Bull….oney!!! We are a nation of laws. These laws apply to EVERYONE, not just those who obey them!! If you are here illegally, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS in this country. If you have been deported once already and came back, yet again, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL, PERIOD!!! How DARE Luis Gutierrez sit there, while he’s being paid by THE U.S. TAX PAYERS, and tell us how the laws don’t apply to this two time law breaker!!! The laws apply to EVERYBODY!!!

 

I am sick and tired of paying this MORON my hard earned tax dollars to ignore the sovereignty of this country. He was elected to represent the LEGAL U.S. CITIZENS, not every sob story law breaker who wants amnesty because they don’t agree with our laws!! If they don’t want to obey our laws to get here, what makes us think they are going to following ANY of them? Don’t you think we should all be able to pick and choose which laws we want to obey? That’s what Luis seems to want for certain people. It’s time for this scumbag to be shown the door. He is NOT representing the LEGAL citizens of this country. He is more interested in giving amnesty to two-time law breakers!! All I can say is, “Not on MY dime, pal!”

Would someone please explain something to me? We have an extreme financial problem in the US. There is a presidential debate scheduled for Friday, September 26. Both of the candidates are US Senators. One wants to postpone the debate and actually DO something about the crisis at hand. The other just wants to go on with the debate and not actually do what he was elected as a Senator to do. Yet the polls seem to be showing that the latter candidate is moving up in the polls. Isn't the fact that our politicians have been too busy debating the issues instead of actually DOING something about them the reason we're in this mess to begin with? Why do people think it's more presidential to just debate everything than to actually attempt to SOLVE the crisis? What is going to be accomplished by NOT postponing the debate? Talk is cheap, people. I have never heard a word from EITHER candidate that actually fixed anything. Does anybody remember the old adage, "Actions speak louder than words"? Or does that not apply to presidential candidates who are, technically, still being paid to be Senators.

It would really be great, wouldn't it, if you could just tell your boss, "Hey, I'm going to go out and look for another job, but you still have to pay me while I'm out looking. Plus, if I don't get that job, you still have to let me take my old job back like I never left. Also, if you want me to come back to work before I get the other job, I'll just tell you no, because I want to have a debate with the other people who want the new job and I don't want to be bothered with doing my current job while I'm doing that." Well, folks, that is EXACTLY what we are being told. The current employer, the citizens of the US, do not, apparently, have the right to expect their elected officials to actually do the job they were elected to do if they are busy running for the presidency. What are we going to expect if this person actually gets elected? Since he doesn't feel that it is important to listen to or help his employers now, while he is just a Senator, why would he feel obligated to listen if he becomes president?

While I fully understand that the president needs to be able to multi-task, I also understand that serious issues, like the current financial crisis, need to have massive, focused action. Sitting on the side lines and just waiting to see what happens next is a fools errand. This attitude reminds me of the inaction of former president Jimmy Carter when Iran took our embassy and held the staff hostage. Diplomacy, while important and necessary, does not solve everything. In fact, it never works in times of financial crisis or terrorist attack. This leads us to the question, do we really want someone who would rather talk and do nothing else running our country or do we want someone who is prone to action?

I just don't get it. How do you increase your lead when you do the exact opposite of what you should be doing? Who are these people who are continually impressed with politics as usual masked by a label of change? I'm sorry, it just doesn't compute.

So, it's July fourth once again. Happy Birthday, America! It's time for those of us who love this country to remember why it exists.

 Our founding fathers were tired of the tyranny of the British crown and outside forces determining how they lived their lives. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation due to the spinelessness of Senators and Representatives. These people who were elected to run our "Government of the people, for the people, by the people" who seem to think that the "People" are those who have violated our borders and come here illegally. Lately they are under the impression that "We, The People" for some reason actually WANT 12 million plus illegal aliens to water down our employment pools, to collect Social Security, which they have paid nothing into, and to thrust their language and culture upon us. The founding fathers are rolling in their graves!

Whether it is enacted into law or not, the language of this country is English, not Spanish, Italian, Polish, German, Swahili, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Ebonics or any other language. When people come here legally, they come here to become AMERICANS! That means they no longer wish to be whatever they were before, they want the freedoms and opportunities that only the United States can offer. This is not to say that they wish to forget their heritage and we don't want that to happen.

One of the great thing about the US is that we ARE all from somewhere else. Our motto is "E Pluribus Unum" which means from many, one. We cannot be "ONE" if there are outside forces allowed to divide us into many. The influx of millions of illegal aliens who demand that they be allowed to retain their languages and their customs undermines the fabric of our society. How can we be "ONE" if we have two or three languages?

This morning, there was a story about a group of new Americans. Everyone who was interviewed was from another country. Everyone one of them spoke excellent English. What is the difference between these people and the 12 million plus illegal aliens that we don't want to give amnesty to? Simple, motive. The new Americans are here because they want to be Americans, plain and simple. They want all the rights and privileges of being citizens of this great country and are willing to go through all of the procedures and red tape required to do so, legally. They and their families have sacrificed to be here. They have struggled to do things the proper way so they can be PROUD of being Americans. They aren't complaining about how the "laws are broken." They did what it takes because they want to be AMERICANS.

The 12 million illegal aliens want our jobs, social services and anything else they can get. They don't want to be bothered with going through the process of applying for legal citizenship, because they really don't want to be Americans and they know that most of them would not be allow in this country, if they did it the proper way. They want all of the benefits without the responsibilities. They don't want to have to learn English or assimilate to our society. They don't want to wave our flag or pledge allegiance to it. They don't want to have to BECOME an AMERICAN!

We are not German-Americans, Italian-Americans, French-Americans, Japanese-Americans etc., etc. We are AMERICANS. Period. Our founding fathers chose to to create "One Nation, Under God" for a reason. Our current elected officials need to remember why and what we are celebrating today. We are not celebrating every other country, we are celebrating the birth of THIS country. We are celebrating the brave men and women who came here for a better life, free from tyranny. We are celebrating the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. We are celebrating "From many, ONE!" We are celebrating "The land of the free and the home of the brave!"

 Happy Birthday, America! Long may your flag wave over the land of the free and may your elected officials get a clue before it becomes a land divided, again.

I am posting the latest news on the Amnesty Compromise that is about to get through the Senate. WE, as freedom loving LEGAL citizens of The United States, need to act NOW to stop this travesty of justice from passing. WE need to call our Senators NOW and DEMAND that they NOT PASS this bill.

 Here is the latest:

Tentative Agreement Reached on Senate Amnesty / Guestworker Bill

(May 17) Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and other Senate negotiators are expected to announce a tentative agreement on an amnesty/guestworker bill today. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has set a May 21 cloture vote to begin debate on a bill.

Although the legislative language is not available yet, these are the key components of the compromise:

An immediate amnesty for nearly all 12-20 million illegal aliens who will get legal status for residence and jobs (with assurance of green cards no later than 13 years);

Mandatory workplace verification and some extra enforcement to try to slow the flow of the next 12 million illegal aliens enticed by the amnesty;

Tripling of the rate of chain migration of extended family from around 250,000 a year to around 750,000 a year for about a decade; and

New flows of 400,000 temporary foreign workers each year, bringing their families and having anchor babies who will be given U.S. citizenship.

We MUST contact our Senators, Ricardo Durbin and Barrack Obama, to express our outrage that most of the Senate Democrats have abandoned Barbara Jordan's goals of protecting American workers.

Here are the numbers:

You can reach any member of Congress through the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

DC Office of Senator Richard Durbin Washington, DC:   202-224-2152

Marion Office of Sen. Richard Durbin Marion, IL:    618-998-8812

DC Office of Senator Barak Obama Washington, DC: 202-224-2854

Moline Office of Sen. Barack Obama Moline, IL:    309-736-1217

We have included a few talking points below to help you with your call. Feel free to re-word these talking points in your own voice - but please focus on the issues described below as our Capitol Hill team believes they will be the most influential on DEM Senators. Thank you.

Talking Point:    Shame on the Senate Democrats for even considering the massive influx of foreign labor that President Bush wants to ram down the American people's throats.

Talking Point:   If the Senate Democrats pass the amnesty compromise negotiated by President and Senators Kennedy and Kyl, they will be responsible for ensuring that recruiters will not truly look for employees among the 40 percent of Black American men who do not currently have a job. What a disgrace.

Talking Point:    There are 10 available legal U.S. residents without a job for every one illegal foreign worker with a job. Instead of rewarding illegal behavior, shouldn't the Senator be finding ways to replace illegal workers with unemployed Americans - as recent workplace raids have done across the country?

Talking Point:   Barbara Jordan appears to have been the last Democrat who cared about American workers. Her U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform concluded that: (1) annual legal immigration numbers should be reduced by eliminating chain migration; (2) illegal immigration should be substantially curbed by eliminating the job magnet; (3) illegal foreign workers already in the U.S. should be removed from our labor markets; and (4) large-scale foreign guestworker programs should be avoided. Senate Democrats, however, are trying to pass an amnesty compromise that would do the OPPOSITE of what Barbara Jordan recommended!

All of this information is from www.numbersUSA.com where you can sign up to send free faxes to your Congress persons. You can also read the real information on how illegal immigration impacts our nation. 

We have only just begun to fight! 

I recieved this email a few days ago. Although I haven't been able to authenticate the interview, I have found that protests did occur and, even if it's not real, it sure sounds like the type of thinking that has been going on regarding this issue.

 Here is a REAL INTERVIEW with an illegal Mexican at a protest march in Texas

 

Trying to reason with an Illegal Mexican

 

This is good! Below is a good example of a discussion with a master of circular logic. Don't be logical, don't respect the truth or your adversary, just say what you think makes a new case when the previous case gets too difficult to defend. On the streets of downtown Houston, May 1, 2006.

 

Jim Moore reporting for a Houston TV station:

 

Jim: Juan, I see that you and thousands of other protesters are marching in the streets to demonstrate for your cause. Exactly what is your cause and what do you expect to accomplish by this protest?

 

Juan: We want our rights. We will show you how powerful we are. We will bring Houston to its knees!

 

Jim: What rights?

 

Juan: Our right to live here...legally. Our right to get all the benefits you get.

 

Jim: When did you come to the United State s?

 

Juan: Six years ago. I crossed over the border at night with seven other friends.

 

Jim: Why did you come?

 

Juan: For work. I can earn as much in a month as I could in a year in Mexico. Besides, I get free health care, our Mexican children can go to school free, if I lose my job I will get Welfare, and someday I will have the Social Security. Nothing like that in Mexico!

 

Jim: Did you feel badly about breaking our immigration laws when you came?

 

Juan: No! Why should I feel bad? I have a right to be here. I have a right to amnesty. I paid lots of money for my Social Security and Green Cards.

 

Jim: How did you acquire those documents?

 

Juan: >From a guy in Dallas. He charged me a lot of money too.

 

Jim: Did you know that those documents were forged?

 

Juan: It is of no matter. I have a right to be here and work.

 

Jim: What is the "right" you speak of?

 

Juan: The right of all Aliens. It is found in your Constitution. Read it!

 

Jim: I have read it, but I do not remember it saying anything about rights for Aliens.

 

Juan: It is in that part where it says that all men have Alien rights, like the right to pursue happiness. I wasn't happy in Mexico, so I came here.

 

Jim: I think you are referring to the declaration of Independence and that document speaks to unalienable rights ... Not Alien rights.

 

Juan: Whatever.

 

Jim: Since you are demanding to become an American citizen, why then are you carrying a Mexican Flag?

 

Juan: Because I am Mexican.

 

Jim: But you said you want to be given amnesty ... To become a US citizen.

 

Juan: No. This is not what we want. This is our country, a part of Mexico that you Gringos stole from us. We want it returned to its rightful owner.

 

Jim: Juan, you are standing in Texas. After wining the war with Mexico, Texas became a Republic, and later Texans voted to join the USA. It was not stolen from Mexico.

 

Juan: That is a Gringo lie. Texas was stolen. So was California, New Mexico and Arizona. It is just like all the other stuff you Gringos steal, like oil and babies. You are a country of thieves.

 

Jim: Babies? You think we steal babies?

 

Juan: Sure. Like from Korea and Vietnam and China. I see them all over the place. You let all these foreigners in, but try to keep us Mexicans out. How is this fair?

 

Jim: So, you really don't want to become an American citizen then.

 

Juan: I just want my rights! Everyone has a right to live, work, and speak their native language wherever and whenever they please. That's another thing we demand. All signs and official documents should be in Spanish. Teachers must teach in Spanish. Soon, more people here in Houston will speak Spanish than English. It is our right!

 

Jim: If I were to cross over the border into Mexico without proper documentation, what rights would I have there?

 

Juan: None. You would probably go to jail, but that's different.

 

Jim: How is it different? You said everyone has the right to live wherever they please.

 

Juan: You Gringos are a bunch of land grabbing thieves. Now you want Mexico too? Mexico has its rights. You Gringos have no rights in Mexico. Why would you want to go there anyway? There is no free medical service, schools, or welfare there for foreigners such as you. You cannot even own land in my country. Stay in the country of your birth.

 

Jim: I can see that there is no way that we can agree on this issue.  Thank you for your comments.

 

Juan: Viva Mexico!

As I was watching Fox News this morning, they kept going to the school that Jennifer Hudson attended, for reactions from the current students and faculty. I was absolutely floored when they interviewed one young lady.

Her comment was that Jennifer was “expired” by her grandmother. REALLY! And just to make sure she wasn’t just excited, she used the word again, saying that Jennifer was “expiring” her to follow her dreams.

Would someone PLEASE tell me how these children in our public schools are supposed to compete for decent jobs when they can’t speak or use the English language properly? How do these kids get to High School and not know enough English to tell the difference between “expire” and “inspire”?

I only partially blame the students themselves. The majority of the blame needs to, and rightfully should, be placed on the shoulders of the educators. Obviously, they are not doing the job they are paid to do and must be held accountable. These kids are being short changed on their education and it is way past time to do something about it. There is no excuse whatsoever why the greatest nation in the world cannot give it’s children the best education.

One of my biggest issues is with the Chicago Teachers Union. This, for lack of a better definition, political bully, has been the downfall of the Chicago Public Schools for years. Yes, I am anti-union, having been forced to be in one at my last job, I have seen first hand exactly what a farce the union rhetoric is. They complain that their members would not get a fair wage if they didn’t exist. Wrong! The useless members would be out on the streets and the teachers who care and actually teach the kids would be making very competitive wages. Why? Because when you want the best, you have to pay for it. Why do you think the union makes such a huge stink whenever a magnate school opens? No union dues and only the teachers who perform, stay. No deadbeat teachers dragging down the schools performance and failing to teach the students the basics. WHAT A CONCEPT!!

The Teachers Union does nothing but reward complacency and mediocrity and line their own pockets. This not only denies the students a quality education, but it destroys morale. Ask someone who is in a union how hard it is to fire anyone, even the most useless members, it’s near impossible. The membership has been brain-washed into believing the feces they are fed by the Union leadership. The Union has absolutely no interest in the quality of education in the city of Chicago. They are more interested in the quantity of members they have. The more members, the more dues they collect and the more money the Union leaders make. It’s a very simple equation that most of the membership has become oblivious of. Find out where the union held it’s last national meeting. I’ll bet it was someplace nice where many people would like to take a vacation. And the union pays for almost everything, nice perk, eh?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving the Chicago School Board a free ride here. Ultimately, they are responsible to make sure that ALL of the students in the Chicago public schools get the education they deserve. It’s time for the leaders of this city to get off their butts and get these kids educated, INSPIRE them so they don't EXPIRE!

First, let me state, for the record, I am not against immigration. My wife and her family are legal immigrants themselves. But, I did receive a link today to a very interesting web site that I think everybody should check out. It lets everybody know exactly what our government has allowed to happen to our society and explains things far more eloquently than I possibly could. This is NOT an anti-immigrant site. It is a Pro-United States site.

The web site is at http://www.numbersusa.com and they have produced a video that will blow your mind. The video is entitled “Immigration By The Numbers”.  When you go to the website, click on the link on the left, seven from the top, entitled “Our Videos and Posters”. Then click on the link in the middle of the page the says “Click here to view this video online”. The video is about 14 minutes long but well worth the time.

I feel that everybody should be able to come here to enjoy the freedoms the we take for granted. But that would be neither possible nor practical. We need to fix a broken system before it's too late. We need to save the USA for US citizens first or we won't have a country left to share.

This site also has some very interesting information about the fourteenth amendment to the constitution. This is the amendment that some people claim gives citizenship to anyone born on US soil. Read their page about this when you have a little time. It's very enlightening. 

 Please check out the website BEFORE you comment. It's hard to have a debate when both parties don't have the same information first.

 

Following is the winning entry from an annual contest calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.

This year's term: Political Correctness.

"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous, mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. "

I recently received an email that explains about illegal immigration better than I’ve seen in years. Below is the email as I received it. I don’t know if this was really in an editorial section anywhere, but, it sure expresses how I feel about the whole issue. Way to go lady, whoever you are!!

"A lady wrote the best letter in the editorials in ages!!!  It explains things better than all the baloney you hear on  TV.

Her point:

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal immigration. Certain people are  angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. 

Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests:

Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you  insist that I leave. But I say, "I've made all the beds and washed  the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your  house).

According to the protesters:
    * You are Required to let me stay in your house  
    * You are Required to add me to your family's insurance plan  
    * You are Required to Educate my kids   
    * You are Required to Provide other benefits to me and to my family  
    * My husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest (except for that  breaking in part).
    * If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs  that proclaim my RIGHT to be there.
    * It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to  better myself.
    * I'm a hard-working and honest, person,  except for well, you know, I did break into your  house.  
    * And what  a deal it is for me!!!
    * I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about  it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and  bigoted behavior.
    * Oh yeah, I DEMAND that you to learn MY  LANGUAGE!!! so you can communicate with me.
 
Why can't people see how  ridiculous this is?! Only in America."

It's time for Coach Smith to open his eyes. Rex Grossman, when he is on his game, is a GREAT quarterback and his numbers show. Conversely, when he throws his first bad pass of the day, his numbers are the WORST in the league. Rex has not been on his game the past three weeks and the coach needs to realize this. The Bears have two other quarterbacks. When Rex is having a bad day, it's blatantly obvious and it's time to pull him. Okay, we get it, he's the starting quarterback. Does that mean you should throw the game away when he isn't playing well? Rex is not ready for prime-time and if the recent trend continues, our post-season will indeed be short.

Chicago fans deserve better. It's time for the coaching staff to wake up and smell the coffee. The only thing keeping the Bears at 10 and 2 is the fact that special teams and our incredible defense have out-performed almost everybody else. You can't win in the playoffs without a decent offense to go with it. The Bears offense is lacking in the quarterback position when Rex is having a bad day. Let's see Brian Griese take over when Rex is having trouble. Maybe it will motivate him to REALLY improve his play. As long as the coaching staff refuses to take action, he has no real motivation to improve.

I know it's been said before, but it bares repeating. If you receive a letter in the mail that says you have won a lottery that you don't remember entering, it's probably a fraud.

Last week, I received a letter in the mail that contained a check in the amount of $4,975.00. I looked at the check and it had watermarks and everything. "Wow, this is interesting!" I told my wife. The letter claimed to be from the OLGC Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The letter stated that I had won a North-American / European Sweepstakes Lottery held on December 30th, 2005. I gave a ticket number and the winning numbers and claimed that I had won $250,000.00 US. The enclosed check was supposed to be a first installment to cover the applicable "Taxes". This is where I got really suspicious. I've heard, repeatedly, about advance fee scams and this had all the ear-marks of one. They even requested that I forward $2,800.00 to them via Western Union or MoneyGram within a 48 hour period! BIG RED FLAG!!

Next, I started doing some real hard research. I called the bank that the check was supposedly drawn on to find out if it was valid. The bank told me that they only verify bank to bank, so I would have to contact my own bank to verify it. Next, I checked the web and found the site for the actual Ontario Lottery and Gaming. There I found all sorts of useful information including the fact that the OLG ONLY sells lottery tickets in Ontario, Canada, and does not ever offer games or lottery tickets outside of Ontario. Plus, you must be an Ontario, Canada, resident in order to win their lottery. Plus, the Canadian Government, unlike our own, does not consider lottery winnings to be taxable income, we should convince our government of that! Next, it states that all winnings of $250,000.00 or more must be picked up in person at the lottery headquarters, they cannot be mailed.

So, what did I do next? Well, I called the number on the letter and talked to the claim agent. She asked me for my claim number, which I gave her, and then she asked me to verify my name. Now, I didn't just fall off of the turnip wagon yesterday, so, I gave her a false name. She didn't even flinch. She came back and said that, yes, I had won the lottery and that I won $250,000.00. She then gave me the name to my tax collection specialist and his address so I could send the $2,800.00 to him within 48 hours. If I failed to do that, they would void the check (how do you void a forged check?) and I would lose my winnings. When I asked her about the information on the official web site about the fact that OLG doesn't have any drawings outside of Ontario, she stated that OLG had several divisions and that didn't apply to this drawing.

My next move was to contact the Canadian Authorities with the information that I obtained. They were not surprised about the letter and told me that it was indeed fraud. If I had attempted to cash the check, it would have come back with insufficient funds at best. I was also informed that some people who had tried to cash the check had their banks go after them for the almost $5,000.00 since the check was invalid. Not something I was willing to try. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre can be reached at 1-888-495-8501 in North America. If you have any information about this or other scams originating in Canada, they are more than happy to get the information to shut down these crooks. They also suggested that I contact the media to get the word out (that's why I'm here) and to contact my local police (I'll get to that later today). I already filed a complaint online with the FBI. That should cover all of my bases.

Something to remember, never ever send money to someone you don't know for the release of money that you supposedly won. ALWAYS check out any letters that you receive claiming that you have won a substantial amount of money, especially if you don't remember entering the sweepstakes or lottery. Never believe a letter that is sent to you claiming that someone in another country somehow found you so you can help them recover money. Never ever give out your bank account number or social security number to someone you don't know, no matter how convincing they may be. You will never win a lottery or sweepstakes that you never entered, no matter how much you wish it to be true.

Be safe and ever vigilant,
Greg

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish every Boil and Ghoul a very happy and candy filled Halloween. This is one of my favorite times of year and I love to see the reactions of the kids and their parents when they come over to MY haunt. I'll be posting a couple of pictures of my ever growing Halloween display either later today or tomorrow. ENJOY and be safe!

Greg

Is it just me, or are the NFL refs getting worse? I noticed, during the Bears game last night, that the officials are either unsure of their calls or down right wrong.

The call that really jumped out at me last night was the unneccesary roughness call against Mike Brown. Since when is it a penalty to hit a receiver when he is still in bounds? Now, if Mike had hit him after he had taken three or four steps out, okay, penalize him. But, even during the initial view it was clear that it was a hard hit yet legal. The defensive players know you can't back off at the last second or that receiver is going to somehow gain additional yardage. If these officials can't take seeing guys get hit, then they are in the wrong business.

Another questionable call was a short toss to Bernard Berrian for what should have been a first down. His forward progress was over a yard past the first down marker, but he was hit and forced back after the catch. The officials marked the ball two yards back from his forward progress and, for some unknown reason, Lovie didn't challenge it. The very next play, Rex Grossman did a Quarterback Sneak to get the first down. Now, I was always under the impression that, if the receiver gets hit and forced back, the ball gets marked at the point of forward progress. Was that rule somehow disgarded for that play? Why the heck didn't the spot get challenged? Was Lovie gun-shy because of the failed challenges last week?

Regardless of the poor officiating, the Bears still overcome because they have a balanced offense and a powerful and effective defense. This is the best start for the Bears since, well, 1985. I would hate to have crummy officials put a damper on that.

Alright, as a first installment, I'm going to lay out my opinion of the "Big Box" ordinance. I have heard both sides of this arguement and I can fully understand that people want jobs that pay a living wage. However, the bottom line is, companies, both large and small, are not going to pay higher wages in the City of Chicago when they can build on the outskirts and pay the minimum wage. Also, it is unreasonable to require a company to pay new-hires and trainees a premium just because they are in the city. Yes, Wal-Mart, Target and others DO make millions of dollars every year. But, they also employ hundreds of thousands of people and they didn't start off as multi-million dollar companies.

I have also heard the ridiculous arguement that, because these companies only pay minimum wage to start, that they are somehow racist. Really? If they pay ALL of their employees the same starting wage, regardless of color, race, relious beliefs, age or even physical ability, how in the heck is that racist?

Here is what a lot of these "Big Box" supporters are failing to look at. The old addage, "You have to learn to crawl before you can walk" can be applied here. By allowing these large companies to build in the city, you are inviting economic development. The low paying jobs do actually allow people to have a little bit of money. Nobody goes to work for ANY retailer with the hopes of being able to make a living wage. As a matter of fact, you'd be hard pressed to find ANY job that requires no skill and provides all the training and pays better than minimum wage to start. Now, once the WalMarts and Targets move in, they attract other businesses such as Starbucks, Borders Books and others. They move in because, now, people have an income, however small it may be, and have the ability to buy things. This brings more jobs which allow more people to make more money. Can't make it working just one job, now you have an opportunity to get another one. If you have no job, you have no income. If you have no income, you can't buy anything. If you can't buy anything, the retailers can't count on you as a customer. Without customers, the retailers can't make any money, even WalMart and Target. If they aren't making any money, they close the stores and the employees become unemployed, and the cycle continues.

On the flip-side, if you penalize these large companies because of their past success, they will just go somewhere else. They are under no obligation what-so-ever to build in a city that penalizes their success. If I were the CEO of any of these companies, I would flat refuse to do business if that were the case. In fact, I would build all of my new stores just outside of the city limits just to irritate the people who told me I couldn't do that.

One thing alot of people seem to have forgotten over the years is, this is the land of opportunity. You have the right to life, liberty and the PURSUIT of happiness. There are no guarantees and no entitlements. If you want a higher paying job, you need the skills, motivation and desire. If you don't have the skills, you need to get them either through on-the-job training or through schooling of some sort. As far as motivation and desire are concerned, you have to come up with those yourself.

Alright, I've gone on WAY too long already, but, I have to say that I applaud Mayor Daley for his decision to Veto this ordinace. I normally don't agree with everything he does, but, this is one of those times when I do. Do I support these multi-million dollar companies that pay low wages? Well, I support the jobs that they create and the economic development they create. I do think that the executives of large corporations are EXTREMELY overpaid, but, that is a blog for another day.