Listening to the show Friday morning about Left-Handed persecution, I wanted to call in, but I was driving up north to help my parents remove 2 trees from the roof of their cabin.

Anyhow, I wanted to tell you about a paper I wrote in college.  Each of us were asked to think of a time in their life when they had been discriminated against.  I'm white and male.  I couldn't think of one occasion when I had been a victim of discrimination, so I decided to take a light-hearted approach.  I would write a humourous paper about being left-handed in a rightie world.

As I began researching the paper, I actually started getting angry.  As I looked deeper and deeper into the subject, I bagan to realize how opressed we are.  Things as simple as computer keyboards, televisions or telephones are right handed.  All of the switches and buttone (when not universal) are orientated to the right.  I wish I still had a copy of that paper.  It would have been my first blog entry!

 Oh, about The 4400.  If you're not familiar with this USA Network series, you would probably enjoy it.  Anyhow, on the series, it is possible for non-4400 humans to become a 4400 (the number of people who were originally abducted, then returned with special powers by us from the future).  However only 50% of the worlds population can do it successfully.  The other 50% would die trying.  A test was developed to determine who would live or who would die trying to become a 4400.  It was discovered that being left-handed nearly 100% insured that you could become a 4400, and not die.  Thought you would enjoy that.  I sure as heck did!

A friend just sent this for Thanksgiving travelers.  Main message:  Pack Neatly.  You'll get through security faster.

WASHINGTON — Airline passengers, who already are required at airport checkpoints to remove their shoes, take off their coats and carry only small bottles of liquids, now have a new task: Pack neatly.

In anticipation of the most popular holiday for travel in the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today launches a campaign urging travelers to eliminate clutter in carry-on bags. Pack in layers. Keep items neat.

Messy travelers could spend more time in line if their carry-ons are cluttered because such bags are more likely to be pulled aside and searched by hand, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe says.

The added search could add up to three minutes to time in the security line, Howe says.

"Whether or not the (TSA) campaign is effective, the effort is certainly welcome because, with 27 million-plus people scheduled to fly over Thanksgiving, every effort to speed up the security checkpoint will help," says David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, the major airline trade group.

Some of those traveling may not be familiar with security checkpoint rules. "This is one of the holidays where you're dealing with the less-savvy traveler," Castelveter notes.

I caught part of the show this morning where you were discussing the correct usage of the word "illegal immigrant." This is the preferred terminology, courtesy of the Minnesota Advocates of Human Rights webpage (mnadvocates.org):

 A person who is an “undocumented immigrant” is either:

• a person who did not have permission to enter the U.S. (approximately 55% of cases) (1) or
• a person who came with permission, but overstayed their visa (up to 45% of cases). (2)

In the current immigration debate, different groups have used the terms “illegal immigrant” and “undocumented immigrant” to refer to the same group of people. Here, “undocumented immigrant” is used. The word “illegal” connotes harmful criminal behavior, arousing unfounded fears and suspicions toward a group of people that have come to the U.S. to make a better life for themselves and their families. Most undocumented immigrants are here to work and to join family members and are contributing a lot to our society and our economy.

Great interview with Jay Dobyns on Not an Angel and his experience's undercover with the Hell's Angels.  The open-line callers sadly did not disappoint me with their views of his activities with the ATF.

Sadly our nation seems to have lost a clear view of right and wrong and the differences between "Good-Guy's" and "Bad-Guy's".

One callers choice of who he would rather date his sister only shows that gap.

But the battle goes on and evil only prevails when the good do nothing.

Fight the good fight even if it's only in the common daily doings of our lives. For only a nation or person that has truely lost it's fear of God is truely lost.

                                                                                          Fan and Listener......TZ