Jay Leno...

Thanks to George for sending this to Matt.

JAY LENO..." HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD"

*** Written by Jay Leno...

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

~Jay Leno

Spring To Do List - Partial

Plant 100 bulbs (check)

Mulch

Plant flowers

Go to Camp Osto for a camp opener!

Order Poison Tickets (check)

Pick up white trash pick up truck (yee haw)

Wash windows and screens (ick)

Party at Kales Korner on Saturday night

Go to three, wait four, baseball games this week!

American Pride

President Bush came to East Grand Rapids High School recently for a speech on foreign policy. I have been thinking about our men and women in Iraq a lot lately. (If you haven't caught the PBS specials "America at a Crossroads", you need to check it out.)

Even for Bush-supporting Republicans like me, it is difficult to know if we are doing the right things for Iraq. "Stay the course, get out now, another Vietnam, finish the job." A lot of conflicting information and the media's doom and gloom reporting makes it confusing to know what is right and what is wrong. Top that with an Iraqy army / police force that is confused about its own moral ties and you have a big mess. How do you begin to re-program thousands of years of religious beliefs?

I don't know what the morale of our soldiers is like over there. In fact, most days I think the American public forgets that there is a war. We hear the 2 minute blurb on the news of how many people were killed by a suicide bomb today, and then we go on with our "morning coffee, get to work, running the kids around, why did Britney Spears cut her hair" days. The American public needs a call to action - and not from the likes of Hillary Clinton - who seems to have forgotten that she too thought there were weapons of mass distruction.

I also came across a touching photo and article and have attached it below for you to read. Seems that some people know why we are there.


Heroes Call

This amazing picture has drawn a lot of comments from readers of the Nashville paper, The Tennessean. See Jay's letter below.


Dear Tennessean:
The Tennessean’s April 5 photograph of young Christian Golczynski accepting the American flag from Marine Lt. Col. Ric Thompson is one of the most moving and emotion provoking images I have ever seen.

I attended funeral services for Christian's father, Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, on April 4, along with my six year-old son, dozens of Marines, and several hundred others who came to pay tribute to this fallen hero. As one would expect, many of your readers were touched by this incredible picture.


On April 9 you published two letters from those who have used this image as a basis to criticicize President Bush and the war in Iraq. These writers should know that Staff Sergeant Golczynski had previously served one full tour in Iraq. He wrote to his family, shortly before his death on March 27, that he had volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so our families don't have to.


Tragically, Staff Sergeant Golczynski had only two weeks remaining on his second tour. I look at the photograph of Christian every day. It is displayed prominently in our home. Our hearts ache for Christian and for all those who have lost loved ones in this controversial conflict. Our nation is at a historical crossroads. Do we call an end to the struggle in Iraq or press on? Staff Sergeant Golczynski eloquently told his son how he felt about giving up.


Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us in this man's life and the choices he made. He was undeniably a man of tremendous courage and conviction. America must now choose whether to complete the job. When I look at the face of Christian Golczynski, I am reminded that doing what is right is not always easy and doing what is easy is not always right. Christian's dad knew that too.

James Drescher, Franklin TN

Mother Son Survivor Night

Saturday night, T and I went to Mother Son Survivor night at his school. I was hoping for some old school competition style games like capture the flag or 3 on 3 basket ball, somthing where we Osto's could prove our athletic prowess and put a little woop arse on on the other mother/son survivors (I'm way too competitive). Turns out the most competition we had was with each other.
There was only one real "survivor" style event - a obstacle course - and T was able to scoot about it and down his marshmallow faster than his ol' mom.

We did have a lot of fun and it was great spending time with just T.

Camp Osto Poll: Favorite Firsts!

Ok friends and voyeurs, its time for the 1st Camp Osto Poll!

As I load my new Ipod with all the CDs I've collected since college (when I bought my first stereo with a CD player), I can't help but think of the memories associated with each one. From Al B. Sure to Will Smith and a little bit of everything in between - I guess you could say my taste ranges from R&B to Country to Hip Hop to Classic Rock to easy listening. I mean there is everything from 10,000 Maniacs, Bobby Brown, Creed, Clapton, Eagles, Freedy Johnston, Grateful Dead, Indigo Girls (yes, Matt, I know they are lesbians), the Johns (Mayer and Mellencamp, that is), PM Dawn, Pearl Jam, Kid Rock, Madonna, Matchbox 20, Neil Young, Nora Jones, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roy Orbison, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Stone Temple Pilots, TLC, and just about everything in between...and that doesn't even touch on the country stuff!

The Poll Question is: "What was the first 45, LP, 8 Track, Cassette Tape, CD or mp3 you ever bought?" (We're not age discriminators here at Camp Osto!)

My answers are:
First record album was Kiss - "Love Gun" from 1977. (I wanted to be Peter Criss).
First 45 (that's a single song on a record for all you youngsters) was Rod Stewart - "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" from 1978. (Every six year old's favorite! HA!)
First cassette tape was Cyndi Lauper "She's So Unusual" from 1984

Let me know your favorite firsts!

Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER - HE IS RISEN!

For the tail end of spring break, we headed to our favorite northern town - Traverse City!

We braved the blizzard like conditions for a little R&R

at the Grand Traverse Resort with Nannie and Papa. The snowy view from the 12th floor!

New swim suits! New pool toys!

T-bird in the pool.

Chooch (with bunny teeth) lounged in the whirlpool tub.

Pre-egg hunt pep rally. Due to the snow, the thousand (?) kids headed to the conference room in the hotel for a egg hunting melee.

Cal shows us how its done.
Counting our loot!

Whew! We hauled in the candy and lived to tell about it.
Nan and Chooch blowing bubbles in the room.

Cal "smooches the moose" at Sleder's!

The kids had a great time swimming, playing video games, hanging out with their grandparents, and of course seeing what the Easter bunny brought. Cal was kind enough to write a letter letting him know where we would be. The big people had some fun at the casino, however, we still aren't able to buy property on Grand Traverse Bay. Maybe next time! Happy Easter.

Milkmen

Don't you wish we still had milkmen? (Only now they would be milk people or milkers or milk technicians or milk delivery specialists). I mean, here it is 2007 and I cannot conceive of why we ever got rid of such a wonderful thing as fresh milk arriving on our doorsteps at dawn.

Who wants to pack up three kids in a snow storm to run to get a gallon of milk anyways?

Bring back the milkman, um, milkpeople!

Star Wars invasion

Storm troopers and clone troopers and Darth Vader.....Oh My! There was a Star Wars invasion at the Van Andel Arena Saturday night. We were in our glory!!!