After 16 seasons, we have to say good-bye to Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Conan is taking over The Tonight Show and Jimmy Fallon is taking his place at Late Night. All of this has promise, but my Late Night experience will never be the same.
I'm worried about just how much Conan will have to change to be on The Tonight Show. I know that the powers that be at NBC won't let him take The Masturbating Bear along. I hope he can stick with most everything that made him famous. I am very happy to hear that the entire Max Weinberg Seven will be joining Conan in L.A., though.
Two of Conan's skits are tied for my favorite. I LOVE, In the Year 2000 and The Interrupter. I will also miss, New State Quarters and Celebrity Survey. The James Lipton skits are unforgettable. The show is awesome. The whole thing. From beginning to end. I believe it's THE very best late night talk show ever.
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, thanks for entertaining us for 16 unbelievable years, I will miss you.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
My Thoughts: The Death Penalty
An eye for an eye. I believe the best punishment for death, is death. This won't be popular with some or a lot of people, but don't quit reading yet. At least hear me out. My beef isn't with having the death penalty, it's with the costs of this system.
Some people will argue that life in prison is better because they'll have to spend the rest of their lives repenting and living in a horrible environment. You can't be serious. Where are all you religious folks at now? I would think that people of faith would love the death penalty. If these people die, they'll go to Hell, right? So, life in prison is worse than Hell? If my understanding of Hell is correct, I'd say Hell is worse. Maybe that's just me. And why would people want these monsters to be able to repent anyway? Yes, let's have them do WHATEVER they want, no matter how horrible and THEN give them the chance to beg God's forgiveness.
Why spend billions upon billions of dollars keeping these monsters alive? Kill them and get it over with. Here's an idea, how about we take the billions and billions of dollars and kick start the economy again?!? We could start some kind of program to help the homeless get back on their feet. Or how about our enormous national debt? What am I thinking? That's much too easy. Let's just let millions of Americans and their families suffer. Yep, sounds like a brilliant idea. Okay, I did a little bit of research, here's what I'm talking about:
1953 - 131 people under sentence of death (first year I could find)
2000 - 3601 people under sentence of death (highest since it's inception)
2007 - 3220 people under sentence of death (last year I could find)
At year's end 2007, the youngest person under sentence of death was 19. Oldest, 92.
1953 - 62 inmates executed
2000 - 85
2007 - 42
Just for California: "Using conservative rough projections, the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present (death penalty) system to be $137 million per year" - deathpenaltyinfo.org
Not impressed yet? Alright try this on. Again, just for California: "The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without the possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate. With California's current death row population of 670, that accounts for $63.3 million annually." - deathpenaltyinfo.org
Look at all the money we're wasting. And that's just California. What about the other 49 states?
I believe the reasonable solution is to eliminate the people who have been on death row for decades. Clearly they're guilty if they've been there that long, ya know? So, I did a little more hunting and found that a 22 caliber bullet costs $0.38 a piece. You see where I'm going, don't you? Spend $0.38 on each inmate that has been on death row for decades. Say there are 1,000 inmates across the country that fit this criteria. Now, say that the average cost of death row compared to life without parole nation wide is $50,000. I just saved the country $50 million not counting the cost of bullets. These are probably low guesses as well.
On to the inmates that have been on death row for less than a decade. Take the $50 million that I just saved the tax payers and put it towards in-depth investigations to make sure that the inmates are actually guilty. The ones that might not be guilty, give them compensation and some kind of ceremony nationally apologizing for the mistake. Hell, I don't know. For the ones who are guilty....spend the $0.38. It would take a lot of time and money, but once we get the problem solved, it would work out for the greater good. It would only be a problem until we got through all the current death row inmates. We would have a better, less costly system for the future inmates.
Life with or without parole. Other than the horrific cost, is there really a difference between this and death row? I don't see one. If what you did is bad enough for tax payers to have to pay for the rest of your life, who needs you around? I don't. Because I REALLY want to pay for you to watch TV and lift weights your whole life. This is horseshit. Parole or no, if you are sentenced to life, I'll gladly spend the $0.38.
If this were a nationally accepted policy, many problems with the prison system would be forever eradicated. No one would be set free early because of over-crowding. Hell, no more over-crowding in general. And the amount of spending would be a fraction of a fraction of what we are spending now. I don't see how this can fail.
Some people will argue that life in prison is better because they'll have to spend the rest of their lives repenting and living in a horrible environment. You can't be serious. Where are all you religious folks at now? I would think that people of faith would love the death penalty. If these people die, they'll go to Hell, right? So, life in prison is worse than Hell? If my understanding of Hell is correct, I'd say Hell is worse. Maybe that's just me. And why would people want these monsters to be able to repent anyway? Yes, let's have them do WHATEVER they want, no matter how horrible and THEN give them the chance to beg God's forgiveness.
Why spend billions upon billions of dollars keeping these monsters alive? Kill them and get it over with. Here's an idea, how about we take the billions and billions of dollars and kick start the economy again?!? We could start some kind of program to help the homeless get back on their feet. Or how about our enormous national debt? What am I thinking? That's much too easy. Let's just let millions of Americans and their families suffer. Yep, sounds like a brilliant idea. Okay, I did a little bit of research, here's what I'm talking about:
1953 - 131 people under sentence of death (first year I could find)
2000 - 3601 people under sentence of death (highest since it's inception)
2007 - 3220 people under sentence of death (last year I could find)
At year's end 2007, the youngest person under sentence of death was 19. Oldest, 92.
1953 - 62 inmates executed
2000 - 85
2007 - 42
Just for California: "Using conservative rough projections, the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present (death penalty) system to be $137 million per year" - deathpenaltyinfo.org
Not impressed yet? Alright try this on. Again, just for California: "The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without the possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate. With California's current death row population of 670, that accounts for $63.3 million annually." - deathpenaltyinfo.org
Look at all the money we're wasting. And that's just California. What about the other 49 states?
I believe the reasonable solution is to eliminate the people who have been on death row for decades. Clearly they're guilty if they've been there that long, ya know? So, I did a little more hunting and found that a 22 caliber bullet costs $0.38 a piece. You see where I'm going, don't you? Spend $0.38 on each inmate that has been on death row for decades. Say there are 1,000 inmates across the country that fit this criteria. Now, say that the average cost of death row compared to life without parole nation wide is $50,000. I just saved the country $50 million not counting the cost of bullets. These are probably low guesses as well.
On to the inmates that have been on death row for less than a decade. Take the $50 million that I just saved the tax payers and put it towards in-depth investigations to make sure that the inmates are actually guilty. The ones that might not be guilty, give them compensation and some kind of ceremony nationally apologizing for the mistake. Hell, I don't know. For the ones who are guilty....spend the $0.38. It would take a lot of time and money, but once we get the problem solved, it would work out for the greater good. It would only be a problem until we got through all the current death row inmates. We would have a better, less costly system for the future inmates.
Life with or without parole. Other than the horrific cost, is there really a difference between this and death row? I don't see one. If what you did is bad enough for tax payers to have to pay for the rest of your life, who needs you around? I don't. Because I REALLY want to pay for you to watch TV and lift weights your whole life. This is horseshit. Parole or no, if you are sentenced to life, I'll gladly spend the $0.38.
If this were a nationally accepted policy, many problems with the prison system would be forever eradicated. No one would be set free early because of over-crowding. Hell, no more over-crowding in general. And the amount of spending would be a fraction of a fraction of what we are spending now. I don't see how this can fail.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
You're My Little One
I've been dreaming of you
Can't wait to finally meet you
Your image is locked in my brain
Anticipation driving me insane
I wonder what person you will be
I'll have to just wait here and see
I guess I'm getting ahead of myself
Don't wanna put your childhood on the shelf
Can't wait to hold you in my arms
Do my best to keep you from harm
Can't help but wonder if you will like me
I'll be the best dad that I possibly can be
Can't wait to finally meet you
Your image is locked in my brain
Anticipation driving me insane
Chorus
I wanna hold you
I wanna kiss you
To me, taking care of you won't be a chore
Daddy's here and will love you forever more
You can count on me, I am here for you
I will love you, no matter what you do
Whether the hard times, or the times of fun
Just remember that, you're my little one
I wanna kiss you
To me, taking care of you won't be a chore
Daddy's here and will love you forever more
You can count on me, I am here for you
I will love you, no matter what you do
Whether the hard times, or the times of fun
Just remember that, you're my little one
I wonder what person you will be
I'll have to just wait here and see
I guess I'm getting ahead of myself
Don't wanna put your childhood on the shelf
Can't wait to hold you in my arms
Do my best to keep you from harm
Can't help but wonder if you will like me
I'll be the best dad that I possibly can be
Chorus
I wanna hold you
I wanna kiss you
To me, taking care of you won't be a chore
Daddy's here and will love you forever more
You can count on me, I am here for you
I will love you, no matter what you do
Whether the hard times, or the times of fun
Just remember that, you're my little one (repeat you're my little one twice)
I wrote this song after having this reoccurring dream of a baby girl. My first child, a girl, wasn't born until the end of 2005. Kind of weird....
I wanna kiss you
To me, taking care of you won't be a chore
Daddy's here and will love you forever more
You can count on me, I am here for you
I will love you, no matter what you do
Whether the hard times, or the times of fun
Just remember that, you're my little one (repeat you're my little one twice)
Written: 6-16-03
N.H. Piersee
N.H. Piersee
Saturday, February 14, 2009
My Thoughts: Bigotry
Few things annoy me more than an obtuse person. Narrow minds just rub me the wrong way. I don't know what makes someone this way. Do they have a chip on their shoulder? Is it the way they grew up? Is it just plain ignorance? I'll never believe the answers given anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter. I don't think it's ever too late to change.
Racism for instance, an issue quite prevalent these days. Obviously because of last November's election. Does the color of a persons skin really matter? What shocks me, though, is the amount of racists that came flying out of the closet when Barack Obama's name first became known. Genuinely nice people too. It was quite disappointing. I'm not just talking about white people either. No, no, no. I was disgusted to hear black people say that they were only voting for Obama because he was black. Are you serious?!? That's JUST as racist as a white man voting for McCain because he was white!! I was fasinated by both men's biographies. After watching those programs, I had a great deal of respect for BOTH of them. So, that left me voting solely on their politics. From there I made my decision. It's 2009!! Racism should no longer be an issue. For that to happen, though, ALL races will have to drop it.
Homosexuality. Why exactly is this "wrong" again? And who cares if you were born or chose to be gay? I'm a white man married to a white woman, but I think Asian women are some of the sexiest women on the planet. No one's ever asked me if there was something wrong with my brain because of it. It's completely ridiculous. Goddamn it, somebody tell me why they can't get married. Wait, let me guess. It makes a mockery of marriage, right? Yeah, because straight people have NEVER done that. I totally get why they can't adopt, though. Gay couples are gonna raise gay kids. Ya know, just like straight couples ONLY raise straight kids. Also, every child has to have a mother AND father in their life to make them well-rounded. Come on, Barack Obama would NEVER have become the first black President without BOTH his parents. Wait a minute, President Obama and his dad lived....in different countries!! Get it?
Religion. Hey, I have a great idea. Let's persecute and murder people just because our beliefs are different. Yeah, because that's exactly what your God wants you to do. Man, religion makes me laugh. I can't help it. I don't think that's what your God had in mind, though. I know, I'm crazy, right? What am I thinking? That's not even logical. Yes, I'm a smart ass. I'm trying to make a point, though. I am NOT religious in the least. Hell, I don't even know if I believe in God, but I was under the impression that God was supposed to mean peace and understanding. Not death and hate. I also thought that you were supposed to love thy neighbor and all that. I find religious people to always be the ones to cast the first stone. I'm quite fond of the saying, "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Get my point? You see, to me, religion is very silly. If you want to believe in all that, fine. Just don't push your religion on me. And keep it peaceful. Why do you people have to always be picketing sex clinics, or starting wars, or fighting the schools, or just causing general chaos? It's none of your business anyway. If your God had such a problem with all of this, He could do something about it Himself. Now why do people of faith always think that Atheists are devil worshippers? Is it just me, or are these people misinformed? The actual definition of Atheist is, "one who believes that there is no deity". Atheism and devil worship are complete contradictions to each other.
I can see how someone might take this as ME not being open minded. That's just because you're mad that I don't see it your way. I'm just kidding. The point that I am trying to make is, you don't have to hate or be forceful with your beliefs. Everyone's too serious about these issues. They don't even need to be issues. People keep making them into issues. It has to stop. What if you die for your beliefs and there's no God? What if there is a God and they're gay, or a different race than you? What if God is a woman (for all you sexists out there)? I hope you see what I am getting at. Enough is enough. It's time to grow up.
Racism for instance, an issue quite prevalent these days. Obviously because of last November's election. Does the color of a persons skin really matter? What shocks me, though, is the amount of racists that came flying out of the closet when Barack Obama's name first became known. Genuinely nice people too. It was quite disappointing. I'm not just talking about white people either. No, no, no. I was disgusted to hear black people say that they were only voting for Obama because he was black. Are you serious?!? That's JUST as racist as a white man voting for McCain because he was white!! I was fasinated by both men's biographies. After watching those programs, I had a great deal of respect for BOTH of them. So, that left me voting solely on their politics. From there I made my decision. It's 2009!! Racism should no longer be an issue. For that to happen, though, ALL races will have to drop it.
Homosexuality. Why exactly is this "wrong" again? And who cares if you were born or chose to be gay? I'm a white man married to a white woman, but I think Asian women are some of the sexiest women on the planet. No one's ever asked me if there was something wrong with my brain because of it. It's completely ridiculous. Goddamn it, somebody tell me why they can't get married. Wait, let me guess. It makes a mockery of marriage, right? Yeah, because straight people have NEVER done that. I totally get why they can't adopt, though. Gay couples are gonna raise gay kids. Ya know, just like straight couples ONLY raise straight kids. Also, every child has to have a mother AND father in their life to make them well-rounded. Come on, Barack Obama would NEVER have become the first black President without BOTH his parents. Wait a minute, President Obama and his dad lived....in different countries!! Get it?
Religion. Hey, I have a great idea. Let's persecute and murder people just because our beliefs are different. Yeah, because that's exactly what your God wants you to do. Man, religion makes me laugh. I can't help it. I don't think that's what your God had in mind, though. I know, I'm crazy, right? What am I thinking? That's not even logical. Yes, I'm a smart ass. I'm trying to make a point, though. I am NOT religious in the least. Hell, I don't even know if I believe in God, but I was under the impression that God was supposed to mean peace and understanding. Not death and hate. I also thought that you were supposed to love thy neighbor and all that. I find religious people to always be the ones to cast the first stone. I'm quite fond of the saying, "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Get my point? You see, to me, religion is very silly. If you want to believe in all that, fine. Just don't push your religion on me. And keep it peaceful. Why do you people have to always be picketing sex clinics, or starting wars, or fighting the schools, or just causing general chaos? It's none of your business anyway. If your God had such a problem with all of this, He could do something about it Himself. Now why do people of faith always think that Atheists are devil worshippers? Is it just me, or are these people misinformed? The actual definition of Atheist is, "one who believes that there is no deity". Atheism and devil worship are complete contradictions to each other.
I can see how someone might take this as ME not being open minded. That's just because you're mad that I don't see it your way. I'm just kidding. The point that I am trying to make is, you don't have to hate or be forceful with your beliefs. Everyone's too serious about these issues. They don't even need to be issues. People keep making them into issues. It has to stop. What if you die for your beliefs and there's no God? What if there is a God and they're gay, or a different race than you? What if God is a woman (for all you sexists out there)? I hope you see what I am getting at. Enough is enough. It's time to grow up.
N.H. Piersee
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