I Guess In This Economy....Sex Is The First Thing To Go

When I sign on to AOL in the mornings, to check my email, I always take a quick glance at the news headlines. Usually the news is grim. This morning was no different. There was talk of the Craigslist Killer, of Solar Storms, and of TWO American Idol hopefuls going home.

There was also talk about the economy of the world. The reality of the matter finally hit me. The world is in dire straits. People are cutting back on their money-for-sex habits! Say it isn't so!!

In Germany, where prostitution is legal, brothels have had to create their own stimulus packages to lure customers back.

Here are some of the highlights of the article (with a few of my own thoughts thrown in for good measure):

Some brothels have cut prices or added free promotions (All you can eat Tuesdays?) while others have introduced all-inclusive (Exactly what does all-inclusive..well, INCLUDE?) flat-rate fees. Free shuttle buses (that's a plus), discounts for seniors (I'd like the Senior Citizen discount, please) and taxi drivers (how did they decide on taxi drivers as opposed to say, trash collectors?), as well as "day passes" (do they get their hand stamped if they leave so they can get back "in"?) are among marketing strategies designed to keep business going.

Berlin's "Pussy Club" has attracted media attention with its headline-grabbing "flat rate" -- a 70-euro admission charge for unlimited food, drink and sex between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m (Isn't that when most people work? Maybe that's the problem, they need some night hours for the ones with the money!). "Our offer might sound like it's too good to be true, but it's real. You can eat as much as you want (giggle), drink as much as you want and have as much sex as you want." (WHAT A DEAL!) said club manager Stefan, who requested his surname not be published (Of course, he wouldn't want you to think poorly of him).

The manager of the "GeizHaus," said the effects of the economic crisis were clear. "The regular customers who used to come by two or three times a week are only coming by once or twice a week now." (Oh those poor men, they've had to resort to DIY!)

A prostitute in Berlin said "Just about every one's turning to advertising in one form or another,". (Maybe they can start blogging and run ads on their sites!) "If the consumer electronics shop and the optician come out with rebates and special promotions, why shouldn't we try the same thing?" (YOU GO GIRL!) She is worried, however, that the crisis has led to "price dumping". (How immoral!) "You'll find a lot of customers trying to negotiate prices down now, a 30-year-old came up to me and said 'I lost my job so will you give me a discount?'." (How dare he! Listen guy, she works hard for the money! So hard for it honey!)

Some are alarmed that amateur prostitutes -- mostly women with low-paid careers (you know, those lower class people)-- were increasingly turning to prostitution to make ends meet. "More and more women are moonlighting on the weekends," one said. (What about the prostitutes? How do they supplement their dwindling incomes? How do they moonlight?)

Well, AOL can help you there ladies! I think it's no coincidence that they also highlighted the article "7 Great Side Jobs for Extra Cash" today.

1. Dog Walker- (I'm not touching that subject)
2. Handy(wo)man- (Don't forget your tools)
3. Medical Transcription- (Just be prepared to take a skills test)
4. Wills/Medical Power of Attorney- (For all of you Lawyer/Prostitutes)
5. Income Tax Preparer- (Do prostitutes PAY taxes?)
6. Teach a Hobby- (You could have a class for all of those amateurs!)
7. Babysitting- (Most kids have dads...this could be a win-win situation!)

Now, I don't promote selling yourself for money, but I am a true believer in "to each her own". If it works for you, so be it. I hope the economy turns around....for every one's sake.

Probably THE Best Headline I Have Ever Read

I burst out laughing
when I saw the NY Post today.

They couldn't have worded it any better!

Americans Need To Lighten Up

I usually try not to blog about controversial subjects. I like to keep things light and amusing here, because honestly, I can't take the drama. I don't need it and I don't want it. I've got enough of my own, thank you very much.

But sometimes I'll read something in the news that really pisses me off and I've got to get it off my size 40DD chest.

I think we, meaning Americans, need to stop being so freaking uptight. Some people need to pull the rod out of their ass and realize that this country is made up of all types of people. We all come from different backgrounds, different races, and different religions. We live in a FREE country that gives us the right to express ourselves in any way that we choose. That's why we live here, right?

I'm really tired of being told that I can't do this or I shouldn't do that because it might offend someone. I don't tell others how to live their life. I don't shove my views down anyone else's throat. I know that, even though I might not always agree or understand some one's ways, in the grand scheme of things, it's really none of my business. Just as it's no one else's business how I live my life.

Wake up people! It's called acceptance and tolerance!

Thirteen year old, Alex Woinski, from Paramus, NJ, was sent home from school by his principal because his Halloween costume was, "offensive to some students". The son of a Catholic mom and a Jewish father was told that, "it was disrupting the education process".

He dressed as Jesus Christ.

Are you kidding me? Sure kids, come dressed like the devil, or better yet a serial killer with blood dripping from your chainsaw, but don't you DARE dress like a Christian Saviour!

Yes, that would just be too objectionable.

For shame Principal Joan Broe, for shame.

Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act

I had my, vote for me as the Captain of the Cheerleading Squad button, as a sticky at the top of my blog. I have taken it down because there are more important issues to be addressed. Suddenly, my becoming a blog contest winner is not so important.

Did anyone watch Oprah this week? I just finished watching an episode I recorded on my DVR. She did a show on Online Sexual Predators and Child Pornography.

I am sickened. I am angry. I want these monsters stopped. I can help. You can too.

In a few days, on September 26, 2008, Senators will be voting on Bill 1738 - The PROTECT Our Children Act. That is next Friday, so we need to respond quickly.

Please visit Oprah's Website and follow her directions. Be a voice for our children. I did and it only took a few minutes to email my Senators.

Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

• Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
• Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
• Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.

Please urge your Senators to pass this bill. Do it now! We are running out of time. Our children are depending on us to keep them safe!

Have Times Really Changed?

Last week I was reading a post written by Tricia at Shout. After reading an Associated Press article about Raymond Daniel Thurmond, a Georgia man who was charged with holding his wife and four children captive in squalor for three years inside their mobile home, she posed a question to her readers.

Do we ignore our neighbors too much?

Her readers had much to say. Many were sickened and couldn't understand how this could go on for three years and not ONE neighbor noticed anything suspicious. Some believed that due to privacy issues, neighbors just don't want help. And others believed that we just do not have a sense of community these days. We no longer look after one another. The Village no longer helps raise the child.

This struck a deep chord with me.

There has always been abuse and neglect. That has never been different. We are just more exposed to these horrible stories because of our access to so many forms of media. We hear about it more often than we did years ago.

Now, that being said, I do agree that communities did exist that stood watch over one another. I believe those communities still exist in some places.

What I also believe is that there are many who, in the past and present, turned a blind eye toward unpleasant situations that did not directly concern them. People are afraid to get involved. They tell themselves that if they ignore it, it will go away. It won't be real.

What can they do anyway?

I grew up in a very abusive household. My father was an alcoholic. He was abusive in many ways to my mother. To my siblings. To me.

My father's family lived all around us. Literally. His parents, my grandparents, lived next door to us on the right. His aunt, uncle, and cousins lived in the other half of our house, a duplex, to the left.

The walls were not concrete. The sounds, I'm sure, carried. The yelling, the crying, the anger.

No one came. No one stopped him. No one protected the children. No ONE.

Forget The Zohan....You Don't Mess With Mrs. Schmitty!

I had a meeting with the kids on the first day of summer vacation. I told them they were still going to take care of the few chores they had. Daily. Not just when they felt like doing them. They all have their lists of chores and things they need to do, like brush their teeth and hair, get dressed, etc. You know, the things that they have been doing like, forever. The things I, for some reason, need to remind them to do. Daily. Next thing you know I'll be reminding them to breathe.

They are to do all of these things BEFORE friends come over or video games are played. I think that's fair because once fun time begins, well, forget about anything being accomplished.

This morning I found them, in pajamas, rooms a mess, playing Wii. W. was asking if friends could come over. ARE YA KIDDING ME?!

It's only been 3 days since the meeting.

"T., get dressed, please." "T., GET DRESSED!" "HELLLLLOOOOOOO?!" He then began his recent habit of arguing with me. I threatened soap on the tongue.

I told W. to turn off the Wii and clean the pig sty he called a room. He continued to set up a game. "Don't start that game!" I said. He started the game. UUUUUUUUUGH!

I turned off the tv and game console. I started freaking out on them. I think I was justified.

I came downstairs, steam coming out of my ears.

Mr. Schmitty says to me, "When I get back from W.'s church camp meeting, why don't you go back to sleep."

HUH? "Everyone around here ignores me so I flip out. Then YOU tell me I need more sleep?! That's why I flipped?! Are you serious?!

He knew he was doomed. It was almost as bad as the time he excused my justified yelling for PMS. NEVER.EVER.EVER tell a woman, "that's okay, honey, I know you are just PMSing." NEVER.

I told him to go away before I smacked him with the laundry basket I was holding. Any of you that read my blog regularly, know, I may not be able to kick his butt physically, BUT, I will triumph in my own sneaky way. I'm vindictive that way.

I waited for him to get in the shower. I walked in, flushed the toilet and then proceed to pour a glass of, from our cooler, ice cold water over the top of the shower curtain. He was scorched and then I dowsed the burn...'cause I'm thoughtful that way.

"Smell it, smell it, smell it, now take it!"

She'll Be Back In A Few Days

Mr. Schmitty here.

Mrs. Schmitty sent me a text message and wanted me to let you all know, that she will be back in a few days. Apparently, though incapacitated, she was worried that you would feel abandoned.

I'd love to fill you in on the situation, but I really must get back to offer my moral support.

Click HERE to get the scoop.

Sincerely,

Mr. Schmitty


P.S. Thanks to Jenny at The Bloggess for lending us her anchorman.

Connecticut Hit and Run

I woke up this morning and like every morning, I went to my computer. I opened my browser and logged on to aol to check my email. I noticed a news article on aol's main page. I clicked on it and saw one of the most disgusting videos I've ever seen.

I am absolutely sickened by it and even more so, I am appalled at the behavior of those involved.

What in God's name is wrong with people today?! Please take a look for yourself. I must warn you ~ it is extremely upsetting.



Click HERE to read the article.

Comments were left on this post. Some were as shocked as I was. Some made excuses for why nothing was done. Some blamed law enforcement. Some couldn't blame the bystanders because they would have done the same thing to avoid being sued.

WTF?!

No excuse in the world can justify ignoring a HUMAN BEING like that!

I've just lost a little more faith in the world.

I Did Giggle, Just A Little

But I just couldn't help it. It's in my nature.

Did you hear...chuckle... about the Lifetouch Studios...hee hee... incident at McKinney High School in Texas? Snort. Ahem. Sorry. I feel really...giggle, sniff....badly.

Based out of Minnesota, Lifetouch, or Retouch as they should now be named, provides portraits and yearbooks for schools nationwide. Seems they've got a closet Photoshopper in their midst.

One with a sick, twisted sense of humor...guffaw...cough, cough...deep breath.

This is what went down.

McKinney High School had apparently asked for certain alterations to be made by Retouch Lifetouch before the yearbook was printed. They required the student's heads be the same size and eyes at the same level in all student photos. From what I have read, only one Retouch Lifetouch employee had "an unfortunate lapse in judgment".

Only ONE employee worked on making the heads and eyes the same for ALL of the Stepford Children students? No wonder he/she cracked!

You see the culprit switched bodies and heads and heads and bodies of about 600 students in this year's publication. There was no sense of gender, as body parts were mixed and matched. The possibly disgruntled sociopath worker also stretched the necks of some students. Was this the effect that he/she was trying to achieve?

They should have hired me. I could have done SUCH a better job, I mean c'mon, look at MY new image on the side bar. Now that's realism at it's best!

As I was saying....

Things became more gruesome when some discovered a dismembered girl within the pages. Her arm had mysteriously been erased from her photo! OH.THE.HORROR!

Thankfully the employee knew to keep things rated PG-13 and blurred the chest of the girl whose clothes seem to have disappeared. Those involved are under age, after all. Except for that one kid, you know, who's like 23. The one who sits in the back of the room and either sleeps or blows spitballs at the chalkboard. At least he's got all of those previous senior year pictures to look at.

But I digress.

So, this weekend is seriously going to suck for that yearbook staff. They have to figure out which noggin goes with which torso. They have only 48 hours to sort it all out so Retouch Lifetouch can reprint their memories for a whopping $75,000.

That employee has got to be SO fired!

(P.S. I really do feel for the students of McKinney High School. However, after reading about violence, earthquakes, and famine this just seemed, well, slightly humorous. I'm just saying.)

Makes Me Sick

Yesterday on AOL News there was an article about self-admitted pedophile, Jack McClellan. I read it and almost vomited. This man animal has created a website that is a "how to guide" on locating little girls, for other pedophiles. He claims he is not committing a crime because he has not had physical contact with these little girls. The website was shut down by the ISP, however, police can not stop him from creating another website because he has not crossed any lines yet. YET?! So, let's just wait until he does?! Are you effing kidding me?

Men Sick S.O.B.'s like this guy are the reason I don't post complete pictures of my children on my blog. He has taken pictures at children's events and posted them on his website with a rating system. One mother from California saw her daughter on this website! Can you imagine the horror she must have felt?

I am a child abuse survivor myself. I can tell you first hand what something like that does to you. Pedophiles think this is love, they think it's okay. Let me tell you, it's not okay with the child, it's not natural, it's not love, it's a crime and it needs to STOP! This country needs to start protecting our children.

I Googled this guy's name because I was looking for the website of the women who are on a mission to stop him. This group of women from Los Angeles are fighting back, to see their CBS interview, visit Peachheadfamilies.com. During my search I found a website JackMcClellan.com. You would think that this would be the website the freak owns, but in reality it is an anti-Jack McClellan site. The owner, Ron, has acquired the domain and is stealing all of this monsters internet traffic! BRILLIANT!

We need to keep our children safe from these dangerous predators. There are too many sex offenders running rampant. If you visit FamilyWatchdog.us and type in your city, state, and zip you can view offenders in your area. I live in a nice suburban area. There are 39 sex offenders within a 3 mile radius of my home. There are 9 in my town!

I am sick at all of this, it's time for the innocent to come first. Heaven Hell help anyone who comes near my children!