Late To The Party

This has been plastered all over the Internet at this point, so I feel like I'm a little late to the party on this one. Then again, being late has never stopped me before. The video below is of a guy named Ted Williams. (No, not the baseball player who had his head lopped off and frozen in some cryonics lab somewhere.) He is homeless, seemingly due to drug and alcohol problems that plagued in him the past. He claims to be two years sober and is now looking for work. What makes him different from all of the other homeless guys that accost my vehicle at the off ramps? Well, this guy actually has a marketable talent that he's hoping to let people know about so that he can find his way off of the street and back into regular life. The video is below. His talent will become obvious as soon as he opens his mouth. For some reason, folks have taken to calling him the Man With The Golden Voice. I don't know what a golden voice would sound like, but it's pretty amazing regardless.

Update on this story: The Cleveland Cavaliers have offered him a full-time job and a free house. I believe that he has accepted. Congratulations, Ted! Now get to work.

Update Part Deux: Originally, when posted on YouTube, this video had garnered over five million hits. This man's story is everywhere. Naturally, that's why the video was taken down due to a copyright claim by The Dispatch, the newspaper that broke this story (I think). What gives, Dispatch? A copyright claim? Are you serious? Wow, good thing that his story got out there before you and your copyright claims took the video down. Maybe if you had done that a little sooner, the guy would still be homeless and no one would know about him. Good idea. Thanks for nothing, Dispatch.

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Dollar Menu "Discrimination"

Hey, San Francisco! How's your utopia coming along? Are you making sure that you're keeping plenty of entitled homeless people around who are disillusioned about what they feel that they should be getting? You are? Ohhh. So that's why there are folks that are sans home complaining about a particular McDonald's that has done away with their dollar menu. Whatever.

Here's the deal according to SF Gate: The McDonald's in the Haight-Ashbury area on the corner of Haight and Stanyan has eliminated the dollar menu from their tasty offerings. Instead of 99 cents, those items are now $1.49, constituting a difference of a whopping fifty cents. (Now, I should probably mention that there are a gazillion homeless in the Haight area. You can't swing a dead shopping cart without hitting one. And they're far from sedate individuals. They are some of the more aggressive panhandlers that I've ever come across. You can't walk by them without them hitting you up for a "donation".) And, of course, the homeless feel that they are being (wait for it) discriminated against. Behold! The discriminatees!

That's right. They have this price hike thing all figured out. See, they're thinking that the McDonald's just doesn't want them hanging around all of the time and sitting in their patio seating. So this is "...the restaurant management's ploy to get them to go somewhere else." A simply shocking assertion. You may also not be shocked to learn that "Management locks the bathroom door and frequently calls the cops." You don't say? Yes, I'm shocked. Stunned, as it were. Uh-huh. Can you imagine wanting to lock the bathroom door and call the cops on the folks below?

I can't imagine why that would be. Why on earth would the owner of the McDonald's not want their business cluttered up with a bunch of scroungy looking homeless people who are asking your entering and departing patrons for money? Not to mention scroungy looking homeless people who take up your seats outside all the live long day. It's a mystery all right. But the owner of the franchise, a one Natalie Gonzalez, claims that isn't the reason. Well, she sort of claims that. In a statement that was issued, she asserts, "The speculation as to why I no longer offer menu items for $1 in this location is absolutely false. This was a business decision based on a number of contributing factors. And while these items are no longer available at $1, they are still available at what I believe to be a good, everyday value."

I like how she doesn't mention the "contributing factors" specifically. I'd say that having a bunch of homeless folks hanging around all of the time and pestering anyone who walks within three feet of them for their hard earned cash a "contributing factor". But for some reason, she doesn't want to say that. And I just don't get that. Why wouldn't she just say that she doesn't like the "clientele" that having a dollar menu attracts? The homeless act like they're just like everyone else, but they fail to see the obvious and striking differences between themselves and the homed. The homed tend to not ask others for money. The homed tend to wear clean clothes. The homed tend to leave the majority of their belongings in their home when they leave it. And the homed don't spend all day taking up seats in the outdoor seating area of the McDonald's. I find it to be perfectly acceptable to change your way of doing business in order to get rid of those who stand in the way of your doing business.


The other thing that really bugs me about the homeless and their fake uproar about this? That would be that they act like it is damn near impossible for them to scrounge a dollar or two. Give me a break. Get over yourself. Or get a job. Either one of those would probably work out pretty well for you. But whatever you do, just pipe down about it. You're not entitled to a dollar menu at every fast food establishment. And is that the only freaking McDonald's in town? I highly doubt it. Why don't you go be sans home outside of a different McDonald's? Say, one with a dollar menu. It's not like you've got anything else to do.

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They Smoke Crack in San Francisco!

When was the last time you were in San Francisco (if ever)? Recently? Within the last year? Two years? Five years? Doesn't matter. Chances are that when you were there, you noticed that there are parts of the city (say like Haight) that are rather, how shall we say, bum ridden. That's right. San Francisco has become rather bummy. They're everywhere. Kind of like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano every year. Only the bums are always there. They never leave, so they don't have to return. But when you think San Fran, you think bums.

I might be painting the wrong picture by describing some of these outdoor inhabitants as bums. That might be too generous of a term. They're the chronically homeless by choice. They're the drug indulging. They're the publicly defecating. (That's right. Publicly defecating. What? You've never seen someone poo in public? You've clearly never been to the Haight.)

Now, the mayor of San Francisco, a one pretty, pretty Gavin Newsom, has always been a proponent of the, shall we say, "disadvantaged". (We could even use the term "underadvantaged". But really who we're talking about are the folks who lounge about on the the curbs and sidewalks and doorways of businesses and engage in their less than savory lifestyle.) But suddenly, the pretty pretty mayor has spoken out in favor of what is called a sit/lie ordinance.

What is a sit/lie ordinance? It's just what it sounds like. (And if you think it sounds ridiculous that one is necessary, you're right on!) It's an ordinance that prohibits sitting or lying on public grounds such as on sidewalks and in doorways. And up until recently, the pretty, pretty mayor was against it. According to the folks over there at SF Gate, Newsom was "telling The Chronicle editorial board earlier this month it (the ordinance) was just too divisive to support." Too divisive?

I don't know about you, but when it comes to me and those who prefer to sit and lie, I prefer a bit of division. In fact, I encourage it. Please. Divide me from that portion of society and do it now. Divisive? Hell yes, it's divisive. That's the frigging point. But if it's so "divisive", why is Gavin suddenly all for it?

It would seem that the mayor "...took his 5 1/2-month-old daughter for a stroll on Haight Street one Saturday morning." A stroll? On Haight Street? How'd that go for you, Mister Mayor? "As God is my witness, there's a guy on the sidewalk smoking crack," Newsom said. Wait. What now?

As God as his witness? Does he actually think that we need convincing of this? Has he NEVER walked on the streets of the fine, fine city that he is mayor of? What in the hell does he mean "As God is my witness"? We KNOW!

Let me get this straight. Gavin Newsom has been mayor of San Francisco since 2003 and he didn't know that people lounged around in doorways of businesses and smoked crack?! Welcome to the city, Gavin! Where in the hell have you been?! Could he be more out of touch? I don't think that he could! That is unbelievable to me.

So now that he is personally effected, now it's an issue. Never mind all of these people that have witnessed this problem getting worse and worse and worse over the years (probably most recently during the past seven years that he has been the mayor, as a matter of fact). Never mind all of their reasons that they had for wanting a sit and lie ordinance. Do you really think that NO ONE ever said to him "Hey, there are people smoking drugs in the doorway of my business." I'm pretty sure that they did. What did he think? That they were just making it up? I realize that he has done his best in an attempt to turn San Francisco into some sort of utopian haven for the displaced in the world. But I had no idea that he was THAT clueless.

Wake up, Gavin. There are people in your city smoking crack on the streets. There are people in your city defecating on sidewalks. There are even prostitutes! I know! Can you imagine?! I guess we all know what to do the next time that some sort of public issue needs addressing in San Francisco. I guess we know that we need to pull Gavin down off his high horse and give him a first hand look at what people are talking about in order for him to take any sort of action that is not nothing. What a joke. I can't wait to see how hard he pushes for this to be passed now that he is personally affected. Well, at least we know where his priorities are and they certainly aren't with the citizens of San Francisco, that's for sure.

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ER = Endless Returns

I'm fairly certain that when the founding fathers laid the framework for this nation that they didn't envision folks that would spend a considerable amount of time looking for loopholes in the system and trying to find ways to take advantage of the generosity that is offered and afforded to all people in this country. A reasonable thought, mind you. You don't want to think that there are some "people" out there who are not content with what is offered to them enough to the point where they actually DO something THEMSELVES to change it and instead choose to take advantage of what is offered to them, usually at the expense of those who are offering it in the first place. Nice way to say "thank you", eh?

Case in point would be the tale of a one Ricky Alardo as told by the The New York Post. It would seem that Ricky (who calls himself Ricky Ricado probably because Ricky the Bum isn't quite as flamboyant) is without a home, but IS with vodka! That's nothing new, but what WAS new to me was how Ricky manages to land himself a free meal and a place to sleep. He calls 911.

What now?

Correct. According to the NY Post, "...four or five times a week (he) phones 911" and then the ambulance shows up to "chauffeur him to the hospital for a free meal and a warm place to sleep." And it's all free and clear for ol' Ricky because his nearly nightly getaways are at the "...courtesy of taxpayers who fund his Medicaid benefits." What in the hell is wrong with people?

Ricky Retardo is 53. For a larger scope of how often he has been abusing the system, we have a quote from a medic who if familiar with him and his antics. He says, "When Ricky passes on, I'll probably even go to his funeral. I've seen him almost every day for the last 13 years." Oh. My. God.

Oh, don't get me wrong, it's not like Ricky Retardo isn't appreciative. According to the NY Post "An inebriated Alardo lauded the medics last week, saying they "treat me like a king." " Hmmm....a king, eh? Don't kings get de-throned in a wild coup by the villagers and have their noggin lopped off on occasion? What KING of a king should be be treated like in this scenario? One wonders.

The best part? The law says that the EMS workers HAVE to tend to these guys. They HAVE to take them to the hospital. They HAVE to treat them at the hospital. And by "treat" I mean that they HAVE to give them the "minimum". The "minimum" is pretty attractive for people like Ricky Retardo there. After all, it includes "...vitamins, showers, hot food and a bed" for their homeless patients. Are you kidding me? I didn't get all of that until I was out of college?!?! HOT FOOD??? Freshman year I practically lived on JUST cereal! (OK, cereal and beer, but we're not talking about me here!)

Maybe if it just stopped at those items it would be more palpable. I mean, it wouldn't, but maybe I wouldn't be quite as angry if that's all that was happening. Since the law is that they have to be seen by someone at the hospital, even that brief eyeballing that the doctor or whomever gives to them can lead them to schedule other procedures. X-rays, cardiograms, MRIs, etc. And if something comes up in any of those, then there is the inevitable medicine that is prescribed. Costly, eh? YES!! And Medicaid (aka YOU AND ME) is paying for it!!

The thing is, as Medicaid does (or doesn't do) it doesn't pay nearly enough for all of this. They'll fork over $175 for an ER visit that it the basic minimum (you know, with the hot food and the showers and all). And that ambulance ride? You may be aware that ambulances these days are rather sophisticated. It's not like they're being hauled around in the back of a flat bed truck. Average cost of an ambulance ride is around $800. Medicaid picks up around $186. I'll do the math for you and let you know that's NOT ENOUGH!! But wait, here's a little more math, this time from the NY Post: These beligerant antics of this one moron add up to (for just Ricky himself) and "...cost the state $300,000 a year." Oh, and he's been doing this like this for about 13 years! That comes to right around $3.9 million. Dollars. US dollars. And by "US" I mean yours and mine! US!! OUR dollars! And that $3.9 million is essentially being spent on absolutely nothing at all simply because one A-hole is too damn lazy to take care of himself and get a freaking JOB and a place to live. Not only is he too damn lazy, but he's also so freaking arrogant as to not think that the consequences of having no job and no place to live should apply to him and so he takes the generosity of the people and spits it back in their faces by taking advantage of anything and everything he can without any regard to the effect it has on other people. What a selfish bastard. (Oh, whoops. Did I say that outloud? Sorry.)

It's not like Ricky is the only one pulling this scam either. Take a one 40-year old Homeless Robert who "...has called 911 as many as 50 times since becoming homeless three years ago." His deal is that he would "...tell the 911 operator he had chest pains or was suicidal." WHAT?!?! I'M suicidal just READING about this crap!! I'M not calling 911!!! Are you kidding me?? THAT warrants an ambulance?? Look, if you're telling someone you're suicidal, you're clearly NOT suicidal. If you were, you'd be too busy to call 911! Busy with all of the suicide!!

But don't get too worried about Homeless Suicidal Robert. He told the NY Post "I'm not really suicidal." Oh, whew! What a relief! For a minute there, I thought he really WAS! (Translation: No I didn't.)

For Homeless Fake Suicidal Robert it took an $800 per ride ambulance driver to chew him out before he "...stopped his 911 habit." Now, Homeless Fake Suicidal Chewed Out Robert says "I haven't called an ambulance for about a month." A month. Congratulations, moron. We're thrilled that you've stopped spending the taxpayer dollar for your own personal homeless indulgences of free green Jell-O and an adjustable bed.

Meanwhile, President Barry and the folks over there on Capitol Hill want to redo the entire health care system to "make it affordable" for everyone. And as long as there are loopholes like the ones that Ricky Retardo and Homeless Robert have made it a hobby to exploit, how is that going to help? I don't think it is! Perhaps instead of just starting over from scratch (which is kind of what they sound like they want to do) maybe they should first look at WHY costs are so high and what can be done about people like Ricky Retardo here. Root out a little fraud and abuse first and then go from there? What a novel idea!

Seriously. There HAS to be an answer for this. I have NO idea what it is though. None. But I'm open to suggestions.

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