My friend John has a point.............

My friend, John Chellemi, and I had a spirited discussion last Friday night. John was drinking Sierra Nevada and I was drinking Tullamore Dew. We attempted to resolve America's foreign and domestic problems during and after dinner. John's son, Jack, and my wife, Pam were just about fed up with the both of us. Pam kept saying we were yelling. I don't think it was really yelling, just spirited discussion.

John is a contractor and spends some of his time riding in his truck listening to talk radio. This has given John the opinion that America is a mess and it is all because of illegal Immigrants, Obama, or liberals. These are the BIG THREE in the on-going right wing talk radio list of things to bash. I will try to list a few of John's points for consideration:

Illegal immigrants are draining this country because they use services and do not pay taxes. They send their kids to schools but don't pay property taxes, they go to the emergency room but the tax payers, like John, have to pay the bills. My point was that illegal immigrants DO pay taxes. They pay sales tax just like everyone else. They rent apartments and part of their rent goes to pay property tax. They buy gasoline and pay fuel taxes. And, many of these illegals use fake social security numbers to find work. Their employer with holds taxes and because the numbers are fake, they cannot file for a tax return. Illegal's pay Taxes, just like everyone else.

John thinks we need to win the war in Afghanistan. I think we need to follow the golden rule of do unto others as you want done to you. We do not want to be invaded and should not be invading other countries. The war in Afghanistan is UNWINNABLE and cost far too much. We need to bring the troops home and secure America. I suggested they be reassigned to the Mexican border to stop Illegal immigrants. John agreed that might help but he doesn't want us to give up in Afghanistan. He points out that "those people attacked us on 9/11." In fact the attackers were Saudi citizens and NOT Afghans.

John thinks health care reform can only take place after tort reform. John feels that too many people sue Doctors and Nurses and that these law suits drive up healthcare cost. He may be right. Regardless, do you want to be able to sue the doctor who amputates the wrong leg? I think we need some form of Universal Healthcare as a safety net for the poor. We currently pay these costs for uninsured patients in our Health Insurance premiums.

The bigger questions we need to decide are these: What do we want government to do for us? How do we want to pay for it?

The current $1.8 Trillion deficit and the decline of the value of the dollar will force these discussions and decisions over the next two years. These are not going to be easy times. I'm looking forward to a time when everyone is as smart as John and can discuss these options and alternatives as well as John. Thanks John, come back again soon.

GOLD GOES WILD

The graph shows Krugerrand pricing over the last five years. It means if you bought one Krugerrand in 2004 for $450 it would be worth $1089 today....just five years later. This is a 142% increase over five years.

The only reason for this incredible change is the shrinking value of the US Dollar. Gold and Krugerrands do not change in value. The only change is in the value of the currency used to buy gold.

Nearly two years ago I predicted this continued decline of the US Dollar as a result of the coming housing crisis. It is painful to say, I was right and the buying of gold is your only way to hedge against the current financial mess. Money in the bank is earning about 1% interest. Money in housing is earning negative interest. In 2010 and beyond you can expect that the dollar price of gold will creep up to $1500 an ounce. It would increase higher and faster but the demand for gold among jewelry makers has declined due to recession. You can see the price in the last 18 months has been stalled at or near $1,000. Again this is due to reduced demand for jewelry.

Don't say I didn't warn you. Buy now if you want to hold on to the value of the dollars you have.

PEACE PRIZE BINGO

Wow. I think the only people more surprised than me were Barrack Obama and Osama Bin Laden.

The Nobel Peace Prize is kind of a big deal. It has also been widely criticized. Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps the leading pacifist of all times, was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace prize. In 1948, the year Gandhi was assassinated, the Nobel committee did not give a Peace Prize. Clearly the Nobel Committee has made misjudgments in the past.

Obama really hasn't done much of anything, except talk. He is quite good at talking and creating a vision for the future. Bill Clinton was the only other President who was really good at talking. The prize seems to mean that the Nobel committee is hoping Obama can deliver on some of his talk. Many of us in America are hoping he can't, or at the least we don't want to have to pay for his "change." The one clear opportunity for Obama is to end the War in Afghanistan. It is unwinnable and after eight years it is costing us too much.

I 'hope' Barrack Obama sees the Nobel Peace Prize as his chance to end the War and save taxpayers a few billion dollars, when we need it most. Thanks Nobel Committee, this might just make up for your screw up with Gandhi.

Observations

Our recent trip to Orlando was an eye opener in more ways than one.

First, I have never seen so many fat people in one place. I read all about the growing problem of obesity in America but I just had no idea how bad the situation really was. Fat is out of control.

Second, people are so fat that they can not walk. Disney World is a place where walking is sort of required. Forget about it. Fat people who have reached the point of no return have given up all hope and moved in MASS to electric carts. The status symbol of the RICH FAT is to own your own electric cart to haul you around. Between baby strollers and electric wheel chairs of all varieties, it was nearly impossible to walk at Disney World.

Third, Fat people are even less atractive when it is over 90 degrees. It was hot and waiting in lines for a 30 second ride was not much fun. It was made worse by the sweat running off the fat people in line. There were puddles of sweat in the ground from fat people waiting to get on rides.

Finally, I have always been BIG and in the last five years I have gained weight, but this trip to Disney World has put me on a mission. I am going to drop this extra weight or move to a trailer in Alabama trying.

POT for $ALE

I read today that the Federal Government will have a $1.4 Trillion dollar deficit in 2010. California has been "running on empty" for over a year by borrowing money and playing with the state budget. The interesting thing was that next to the article about the deficit, was this article about Marijuana legalization. It seems like a new source of tax revenue is waiting just around the corner.

SAN FRANCISCO — Marijuana advocates are gathering signatures to get at least three pot-legalization measures on the ballot in 2010 in California, setting up what could be a groundbreaking clash with the federal government over U.S. drug policy.

At least one poll shows voters would support lifting the pot prohibition, which would make the state of 40 million the first in the nation to legalize marijuana. Such action would also send the state into a headlong conflict with the U.S. government while raising questions about how federal law enforcement could enforce its drug laws in the face of a massive government-sanctioned pot industry.

The state already has a thriving marijuana trade, thanks to a first-of-its-kind 1996 ballot measure that allowed people to smoke pot for medical purposes. But full legalization could turn medical marijuana dispensaries into all-purpose pot stores, and the open sale of joints could become commonplace on mom-and-pop liquor store counters in liberal locales like Oakland and Santa Cruz.

You may say.....NO! Ha, remember when gambling was illegal? Way back in 1970 the only legal gambling was done in Las Vegas. Slowly it crept into nearly every state via some loop hole in the law. It came either as "River Boat Gambling" or "Indian Casinos". Regardless, today Gambling is paying taxes in nearly every state and I think Pot is just around the corner.

You may not realize it but the same government that is nearly broke and owned by China with a $1.4 Trillion dollar deficit is still trying to legislate morality. It doesn't work and it is far too expensive. As I have said repeatedly.....We have lost the war on drugs. Everyone who wants to get high, is getting high now. It's time to stop kidding ourselves and make Pot legal and taxable. We really need the money here in the USA as opposed to sending it to Mexico.

AMERICA FIRST

Our number one priority as a Nation should be to create Economic strength. Our Nation's proud history in the 19th and 20th centuries was a result of building wealth. Our future depends on our ability to reclaim this economic strength before China, Russia or India surpasses us.

To achieve this Economic Strength we need to cut Federal and State cost and reduce taxes. This means we need to support this 8 step plan:

Ending expensive foreign wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars are not winnable and they are much too expensive. Regardless of the potential for Terror, massive military invasion and deployment will not stop fanatics and it is far too costly.

Ending US Military occupation in foreign countries. We still have troops in Germany and Japan from the 1940s. We need to bring these troops and their cost home to America.

Ending expensive financial aid to foreign countries including Israel, Latin America, and Africa. No amount of spending can buy us friends or change basic conditions which cause poverty or regional wars. We need to stop spending our money trying to pay off people who do not support our values.

Ending the domestic War on Drugs and Decriminalizing simple drug possession. Everyone who wants to get high is getting high and the costly war on drugs is a failure. We need to educate the population against drug use and decriminalize minor possession to lower police and jail cost.

Reducing domestic TSA cost through "Smart" ID programs for citizens. We have heard for years that the "government" can tack us through cell phone and credit card use. Why don't we put this to good use and reduce TSA search cost to people who are "Unknown" to our data base.

Passing Federal and State Balance Budget legislation. We cannot spend more than we earn as a family or a government. Each of us knows this is wrong and we need to stop.

Passing term limits for Federal and State elected officials. Representative government should not be a career choice. We do not need "Professional Politicians" the original Constitutional plan was for citizens to be selected to represent their states and districts. We need to end the Political Class in America.

Passing Federal and State "Flat tax" reform to end Income Tax. Leaving more money in the hands of citizens will lead to better investment and spending. This will create jobs and National wealth.

Our goals should be simple flat taxation, reduced government spending, security at home, and a balanced budget. The outcome will be increase investment, wealth, employment, and a higher standard of living. In short a return to America First. The current single party "Demopublican" political system does not have a candidate who will support these critical and necessary changes. We need a new system with a focus on Leadership and decision making.

Last night I, like many Americans, watched the President speak about Healthcare. As he looked into the camera it was clear that his speech was to the American voters, not to Congress. Today, several news sources are reporting how America felt about the speech and the Healthcare issue. I'm not trying to make a point about Healthcare. I am in favor of universal care but not in favor of paying for people who smoke and over eat to contribute to their own high cost of care. But, that is a different issue. I'm writing today about the end of Representative Government.

You want to save money, eliminate Representative Government. Walk with me back a few years to 1776. Back then there was no TV, internet, or Twitter. My Blog was written on parchment back then and posted in the town square. Government could not reflect the views of the citizens without one person, The Representative, going to Washington to vote on our behalf. It made sense. The concept of one man one vote really came down to one person voting for his state or district. Bu t things have changed.

Today, we can vote for the American Idol with our mobile phones. We do online banking and I post my Blog on the internet. No need to walk all the way down to the Square and hang up my sheet of parchment. So, why do we need some FAT CAT blow hard politician going to Washington to vote for us? The answer: WE DON'T! For the last 25 years everyone in Politics has been following Polling numbers. They already know who will win the elections before we finish voting. There is no current need for a Representative to go to Washington to vote for us. We could do our own voting on our mobile phones while the President is speaking.

Think of it. Ryan Seacrest walks out after the President's speech and says: "All of you in favor of national Healthcare can text 666 on your cell phones now. Those of you opposed can text 000 now." The money saved by not paying for Congress could balance the budget.

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH

Col. Nathan R. Jessep, [Jack Nicholson] in a Few Good Men summed up the critical difference in the way we think about National Security.

"Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. .... You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall."

The recent investigation into CIA interrogation techniques following the 9/11 attack has me confused. Have we had a second attack? Do you want these people stopped or not?

The simple fact is we live in a nation that makes up the rules as we go along. We came here 250 years ago from Europe out of hope and greed. We stole the land from the people who lived here. We killed most of the original natives and then rounded up those who fought back into "Reservations". They were really concentration camps. We, our ancestors, called this all, "Manifest Destiny." It was our god given right to take this land and make it better.

Our history in Europe, and later in America, is clear. We are the civilization that has taken control of the world. Many serious people before us made tough decisions that have led to the way of life we lead today. It is not perfect, but it is better than any known alternative. Ask yourself; Would I rather live in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Afghanistan? Our culture and civilization is in conflict with that of the radical Muslim world. Like we did to the Lakota Sioux, and Apache, we need to stamp out this enemy before they destroy our homes. It is a hard decision and we need tough people to carry out the dirty business. We do not need to second guess the people who are keeping us safe or chasing down the terrorist. We may not like the way they work, but we all like our way of life and want it to continue.

Threatening to prosecute the CIA Agents who interrogated these terrorist is just plain crazy. Do you want these people bombing the mall near your home? Look at Israel. If we do not stop this now, it will become much worse and we need all the tough guys on our side....not in jail.

Dodgers Cardinals 8-18-09

My entire life I have listened to or watched baseball. My Dad loved the game and like many kids who grew up in the depression, it was his escape from the dull life of poverty. He and his brothers played "ball" almost everyday and listened to the games on radio.

As a kid in the 50s I can remember living in Alaska, Dad was in the Air Force and we lived in Anchorage. We listened to the "ball games". Either, the Dodgers or the Cardinals were the favorites. Both had been Managed by Branch Rickey, the Best Manager to ever lead a team. Branch Rickey led the Cardinals from 1919 to 1942. He was the Manager as my Dad grew up listening to the Cardinals. In 1943, Rickey moved to Manage the Dodgers.

Tonight, Jack, Pam and I are going to the Dodger Game. They are playing the Cardinals in Los Angeles. Vin Sculley said last night that these two teams have played each other over 1,800 times in the last 100 years. In all that time, they are about even with both winning about 900 games. Branch Rickey must be smiling.

The Dodgers are Managed by Joe Torre. He grew up in Brooklyn, the home of the Dodgers. He is one of the only players to have played for three teams and then Managed those teams. He was a Cardinal player in the 1960s and he Managed the Cardinals in the 1990s. The Cardinals are Managed by Tony Larussa. He, like Branch Rickey, is a lawyer who said, "I would rather ride the minor league bus than to ever step into a court room." Tony Larussa speaks fluent Spanish.

It should be a good game. Dad and Branch Rickey will be watching with Jack, Pam and me.

Healthcare Debate

I have listened to the current debate about Healthcare. Clearly, some type of action needs to be taken. 40 years ago this same debate was going on with dismal forecasts about the future of Healthcare in the 21st Century.

The future has arrived and in 40 years of debate, not much has been done. I honestly thought that the AMA would have done the long term research and come up with a viable alternative acceptable to the Health Delivery community. Clearly,the Liberals have been focused on Healthcare since Hillary suggested Universal Care back in the 90's.

With 40 years and the best boom times in the history of mankind, why haven't we solved this problem?

I guess the main reason is that so many people have gotten rich in the Health delivery business. Drug companies, equipment companies, insurance companies and Healthcare workers have all done pretty well over the last 40 years. This high profit incentive has helped to create one of the best Healthcare systems in the World. The problem is, it only works for those you can afford it. Many, far too many, can not afford quality Healthcare.

The second question: Is Heathcare a right? Should people expect high quality Healthcare? Maybe the answer is found in other similar questions. Do people have a right to high quality food, or housing, or education? In general, we have said YES, but only if you can afford it.

It's a tough world and the harsh reality is that you are only "entitled" to what you can afford. Dad used to say, "piss poor planning predicates poor performance." If you made poor career choices and have little or no education, maybe you can't afford high quality Healthcare, housing or food. Wow, that is a hard listen, but it maybe reality.

So, yes I want everyone to have quality Healthcare, but I have planned and worked hard to care for myself and my family. I just can not afford to pay for other people who have not planned and do not have the resources to afford Quality. No matter how you look at it, we are faced with a two tier system. One that continues to offer excellent high quality care for those who can afford it and one that offers minimal care for those dependent on government. Helathcare it seems, is like public housing and food stamps.

FACEBOOK

It has been years but thanks to our new friend, the Internet, I am back in touch with my niece. I am not listing her name because she has asked to keep our reconnection private. No Drama. I was on Facebook and the computer asked if I wanted to be "friends" with a person who knows some of the people I know. Turns out it was my niece. Thanks Facebook for reconnecting long lost family. Now if I could get reconnected to Kate and Jennifer things would be much better. I'm on Facebook and Twitter if you are looking for me.

X5 Pam's Batmobile

We bought a new car. It is the direct opposite of the Chevy Volt.

I had a Mercedes ML 320 for about seven years. It was good but there were some problems with the windows and the transmission. After tons of research, we decided on a BMW X3. It was the right size and got good mileage. In January of 2008 we leased a new X3 and loved it. It was the Eco Friendly SUV for the 21st Century.

Slowly we became less than thrilled. The X3 was not quite as fast as Pam liked. It also was a little too small inside when we had grown ups in the back seat. Yes, it got good mileage but it wasn't a Range Rover Sport or and X5.

So we caught car envy. We would be driving and an X5 would blow past us. Pam would look at me. I felt like I had failed to provide the rock ship car she wanted. The news said car dealers were hurting. So, we went to BMW to trade our X3 for a new X5. What a disappointment. All the cars on the lot were bloated over prices show boats. Running boards. Rear seat DVD. Navigation systems, like I can't find the grocery store or target. Many had the "new Diesel engine." Ugh! They were all $70K+ and it would take over $15,000 to lease a car for $1,000 a month. No way.

We went home. We planned to just be happy with the X3. Then Roger told me about his new car. He bought it from Carmax. Yes, it was "used" but it had very low mileage and it looked brand new. It was an Audi A6 that was leased and turned in after one year. I searched the Carmax site and found a year old BMW X5 with 12,000 miles for $48,000. This was a huge saving over the new X5 and it did not have all the silly extras. No running boards.

We went to drive it a week ago. It has a 4.8 liter V8 with 350 horsepower. It really goes. It also has third row seats and mush more interior room. So, we traded the X3 for the new "Batmobile" X5. It is Anthracite Black Metallic with black leather. Just like Batman would have on the Batmobile. Pam drives it like she stole it. On the way home from Carmax she hit 110 on the toll road. There is a read out on the dash that tells average miles per gallon. She is currently getting 16. This is a high, up from her original 12.

So much for Eco Friendly.

LIGHTNING BOLT

I have been wrong before. I repeatedly said the iPhone was a gimmick and that Obama could never be elected. Both turned out much better than I had expected. Now I want to discuss the Electric Car. Chevy's new Volt [aka "Dolt"] makes me wonder about collective intelligence. They have shown this car for over two years and keep telling us it is "coming". Coming when? And, who really cares?

Like the original iPhone, the Volt is just a gimmick. They said yesterday that it gets 230 miles per gallon. Ya, it's a plug in electric car. Tell us what it will do for your home electric bill. Here in Kalifornia, we have repeatedly had summer hot spells with rolling Black-Outs of electricity. Everywhere they are telling us to use less electricity by "Flexing our Power". Then the very next commercial is telling us to buy plug in electric cars? Huh? Do these tree hugging Green Peace Hippies talk to each other? The ones trying to cut electricity use need to tell the electric cars guys....there ain't no electricity to run air conditioners and dryers. Why would we add to the load the recharging of cars?

Everyone says the answer is wind energy. Out in Palm Springs they have miles of wind mills designed to generate electricity. I have never seen half of these things working at any one time. Are they shut off? Why are we "Flexing our Power" if they aren't even running all the wind mills now? I just don't understand how all this clean power and eco friendly future is going to work. I'm setting my air conditioner to 78 on hot days and they are telling me to buy electric cars?

Finally, let's say everyone does buy electric cars. I will be the very last person in line. How does this help the need for oil to fly airplanes and fuel trucks? Is some genius working on the plug in all electric airplanes?

How long?

The recent arrest of Henry Louis Gates upset me. No, not because he was arrested or because of the Police Officer was white. What upset me was the reaction among Blacks in America. Including our President.

I want to jump ahead to the big question that nobody seems willing to ask: WHEN WILL BLACK AMERICA BE READY TO LET THE PAST GO AND MOVE ON?

My family never owned a slave. We were Irish and too poor to own shoes. My family came to America in the 1890s and struggled to survive. Our story is just as heart breaking as many others about poverty and family. My mother learned from her mother to hate the English. She told me Ireland had been at war with England for 400 years. When asked if she would like I drink, she would ask for that "Irish Whine." Then say, "We wish the English would go home." So, being Irish, I can understand how people would hold a grudge. Still, even the Irish seemed to have come to some peace with the Occupation.

Why after over 150 years and the end of slavery, with a Black President, are Blacks still "outraged"? Will there ever be a day when their issues won't be about being black? Can you see a day....off in the far distant future, when a white cop arrests a black professor and the media says....the guy was an asshole and deserved it?

How long must we listen to this "outrage"? Hasn't America, most of whom never did anything to a Black person, listened to this whining long enough? If Black America wants to be treated equal they only need to stop crying. Everyone else has a long sad history too. The Jews, no walk in the park. The Mexicans, we stole California and Texas. The Chinese, worked to death building the railroads, and the Irish....England still owns the Northern corner of our island.

Time to rethink Pot

I read this article below as part of a Billion dollar pot bust this week in California.

"The federal government is not going to pull back on its efforts to curtail marijuana farming operations, Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, said Wednesday in Fresno.

The nation's drug czar, who viewed a foothill marijuana farm on U.S. Forest Service land with state and local officials earlier Wednesday, said the federal government will not support legalizing marijuana."Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine," he said."

Do you think a federal or state government with over a trillion dollars of debit can ignore the tax potential of legalization and tax on marijuana? I don't.

California has moved quietly into this opportunity by taxing the sale of marijuana at "medical marijuana stores." Nearly everyone knows these stores are really the first steps toward legalization. Anyone who wants to buy marijuana, can walk in and claim some problem only to have an on-site physician write a prescription.

I think it is time for us to decide what our priorities are with regard to government at the Federal, State, and City level. We need to stop funding the silly war on drugs. We lost that battle 30 years ago. Anyone who wants to get high is getting all the drugs they want.

It makes no sense to me that we watch TV and see dozens of Drug ads for erectile dysfunction and other made up new age diseases while we still pay billions to fight marijuana. We could reduce the national debit by stopping the war on drugs and taxing marijuana consumption, just as we do alcohol and tobacco.

The FLU....deja vu all over again

On the cold afternoon of February 5, 1976, an Army recruit told his drill instructor at Fort Dix that he felt tired and weak but not sick enough to see military medics or skip a big training hike.Within 24 hours, 19-year-old Pvt. David Lewis of Ashley Falls, Mass., was dead, killed by an influenza not seen since the plague of 1918-19, which took 500,000 American lives and 20 million worldwide. Two weeks after the recruit's death, health officials disclosed to America that something called "swine flu" had killed Lewis and hospitalized four of his fellow soldiers at the Army base in Burlington County.

Brother, here we go again. The old story holds true; if you live long enough you get to see things a second time.

I am opposed to any and all flu vaccines. In my opinion they represent a weakening of the human specie. It's a slippery slope. Once you begin mass vaccinations for flu the population will only become weaker and more vulnerable. Yes, I know others do not agree. I also have heard all the fear of the great flu of 1918. Regardless, you need to practice good hygiene and if you get sick...stay home and get better. This new round of Swine Flu will likely turn out like it did in 1976....a big joke, much like Y2K.

The Onion

It was an interview. My Plan to find new salespeople in Central Illinois had turned up a few prospects. One was a waitress / hostess in Champaign who also happened to be from Belleville.

I was to meet Bob Splan at a Restaurant in Champaign, called the Bermuda Onion. It was a nice day, July 13, in St Louis and I drove to Champaign with the top down. I wore shorts. What the heck, it wasn't me being interviewed....or was it?

Bob and I met and briefly talked waiting for the candidate to show up. She did, limping with a broken toe. We explained the position, selling food to restaurants. She had worked as a waitress and understood the business. But then, somewhere around discussing sales goals, the conversation took a hard left and went off road.

We began to discuss music and the upcoming Grateful Dead Concert in St Louis. No I wasn't going. My favorite band was the Gin Blossoms. Then she said, they played in Urbana and she saw them and like lighting, I was struck. Blam. It all began to flow, so easy and so similar. We really did have a lot in common. She had Linda Emigg for her teacher at Wolf Branch. This was the beginning of my life with Pam.

It was today. Fifteen years ago and a million miles away in Urbana, Illinois. The rest has been history and wonderful. I love you Pam, more today then ever. Thanks for 15 wonderful years and for believing in me when nobody else did. Thanks for Jack and the Swiss Army watch.

"...if you don't expect too much from me you might not be let down."

The London SUN

Just a quick follow up to my Blog about the Michael Jackson Cry Fest.

The London Sun had some things to say about it also: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2523526/Michael-Jackson-memorial-was-like-a-macabre-circus.html

Click and go read the article 'Memorial like a macabre circus' . It hits the nail on the head.

PLEASE GET REAL

As a father, I have to say I do not miss this pedophile who overdosed on pain killers. Regardless of the music, which always seemed simplistic and over produced, Michael Jackson is no "Star."

Here is what we know, and what is not discussed today at the NAACP Cry Fest in Los Angeles:

From the web site: http://www.statementanalysis.com/jackson/

In 1993, a 13-year-old boy accused Michael Jackson of sexual molestation. Jackson had befriended the boy in 1992. Soon the boy became a regular guest at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, California. Jackson gave the boy gifts and paid for several vacation trips around the world. In 1993, the boy started to spend the night at Jackson’s residence. This was not unusual as Jackson would often have children sleep over at his Neverland Ranch. According to the allegations, Jackson had kissed and fondled the boy while they were alone in bed. Allegedly, this repeatedly took place during a four-month period. At the suggestion of the boy’s father, a civil lawsuit was filed in 1993. Jackson denied the accusations. He continued to tour and make public appearances. The boy’s father talked to the Jackson camp about a financial settlement while the police continued their investigation. On January 25, 1994, Michael Jackson settled the civil lawsuit paying an undisclosed amount to his accuser. Many believe that he paid between 15 and 20 million dollars. After receiving the settlement, the boy refused to testify in any criminal matters. Therefore, the prosecution was not able to pursue a criminal case.

On September 3, 2004, "Dateline NBC" correspondent Josh Mankiewicz investigated allegations that more than one boy accused Michael Jackson of abuse in 1993, and how the case has been kept quiet until now. "Dateline NBC" learned what evidence authorities had against Michael Jackson, as well as details about the civil case against him that have remained sealed in the basement of the Los Angeles county courthouse for more than a decade. Jackson's accuser swore in a declaration filed in the civil suit against Jackson:

"Michael Jackson masturbated me many times both with his hand and with his mouth. Michael Jackson told me that I should not tell anyone what happened. He said this was a secret."

I may be alone in making this point. Regardless, I am glad that one less pedophile is gone. I wasn't invited to speak at the event in LA. My guess is my Irish background kept me off the list. Had I been there, I would have said, This was one sick kid who never grew up. He, and his parents should be ashamed.

LANCE on Twitter

I signed up to follow Lance Armstrong on Twitter during the Tour de France. There are over 1,240,000 people following Lance on Twitter for the race. It should be really interesting over the next month.

Go to: http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong