If you love someone, set them free. If they come back to you, they’re yours. If they don’t, take out billboards around the country trying to shame them into realizing that you’re more important than their wedding vows.

That seems to be the logic used by YaVaughnie Wilkins, the mistress of tycoon Charles E. Phillips who, when dumped, spent a small fortune on billboards around Manhattan — not to mention similar ones in Atlanta and San Francisco — designed to humiliate the man for breaking her heart.

Proving that men really don’t see things the same way as women, Phillips told the New York Post that since he and Wilkins ended their 8-year relationship, they “wish each other well.”

Really? Damn, I’d hate to see what she does to people she doesn’t like!

Did I mention that there’s also a website — http://wwwcharlesphillipsandyavaughniewilkins.com (I can’t believe that was still available!) — at which the curious can see evidence of the pair’s love affair? (Whatcha wanna bet his wife, Karen, has the site bookmarked?)

According to the paper’s report, Phillips’ wife filed for divorce in 2008, but never followed through. The couple reunited, and YaVaughnie was, in the words of the paper, “kicked to the curb.” 

Given both YaVaughnie’s name and flair for the dramatic, it probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone that she is supposedly a “writer/actor.” It probably will also come as no surprise that it’s tough to find any evidence of her ever having done either.

A more cynical man than I might suggest that she was looking for publicity. Or maybe she’s just hoping to shame him into recognizing that he’s the love of her life.

Yeah, I’m gonna go with the first option.

 

 

“Treason” isn’t a word that should be tossed around lightly, but it might best describe what is happening on a near-daily basis on the Fox News Channel, whose motto is “fair and balanced” despite their Senior Vice President for Programming’s declaration that they are “the voice of the opposition” where the Obama administration is concerned.

 

For some time, it’s been clear to most rational Americans that Fox News commentators in general – and Glenn Beck in particular – are more entertainers than true believers in the stream of fear-mongering, fringe-friendly drivel they put forth each night. But at a certain point, one has to wonder where the line is crossed.

 

 

Several nights ago on THE O’REILLY FACTOR, Fox News contributor Monica Crowley accused the President of the United States of America of wanting to see its citizens die in order to forward his own agenda.

 

She said, in part, “I think President Obama is a true believer. What I mean by that is that he is a disciple of Saul Alinsky… who was a radical, who believed in the radical remaking of America by shattering its very foundations. I believe that President Obama… has taken that to heart.”

 

When host Bill O’Reilly said, “But he can’t want Americans to be killed!” Crowley countered with, “How else do you explain his incredibly flaccid reactions to… attacks against the United States?”

 

That’s right, a Fox News commentator suggested that President Obama wants citizens of this country to be killed by extremists as part of his “radical agenda.”

 

Ladies and gentlemen, the line has been crossed.

 

 

 

Since the election of Barrack Obama, we have seen Fox News commentators literally call our president a racist (“I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people, I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” – Glenn Beck), put aside that pesky “fair and balanced” thing in order to openly support the so-called “tea party” movement and help blatantly spread misinformation about everything from his status as an American citizen to his attempts to push for healthcare reform.

 

 

Funk & Wagnall’s standard dictionary defines “treason” as “betrayal of one’s sovereign or government” and “treasonable” action as anything “of, involving, or characteristic of treason.” So one has to ask: When does a supposed news organization go from taking full advantage of its First Amendment right of free speech to, in word and deed, taking part in actions that can be seen as “a betrayal of one’s government” and therefore treasonous?

 

If the charge seems a bit heavy handed, keep in mind that it is one the network itself has had no trouble using to suit its own purpose. For example, Beck – reacting to a rumor that had already been discredited by the White House – said that President Obama and his administration had behaved in a manner “that borders on treason.” In fact, not once, but three times within the hour, Beck used the term “treason” in conjunction with the White House.

 

Another definition of treason is “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance.” So how is one to take it as anything but treason when O’Reilly boasts that, “The conservative media is winning now. They’re damaging the president of the United States.”

 

There is, of course, one way in which this could all be viewed as something other than treason on the part of Fox News, and that is if their allegiance is to a government other than the one we have here in the United States. But that would mean that in the childhood tradition of “he who smelt it dealt it”, Fox News has cleverly been accusing Obama and his administration of being Nazi capitalists when, in fact, it’s all part of their own wicked plot to usher in a fascist regime. So which is it, Fox? Are you traitors to your country… or the ultimate in subversive commies?

 

 

 

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Given the frigid temps and raging winds outside my window, I thought it might be nice to get away from the frozen tundra that currently is New Jersey by heading back to Florida via a repost of one of this site’s most popular pieces ever.

 

If you’ve got people who love The Happiest Place On Earth hot under the collar, it might be time to evaluate your social skills or lack thereof. Because let’s face it… Walt Disney World is where millions of people go to escape their problems and be enveloped in the magic, and most of those folks are willing to do everything from shell out a small fortune to suspend their disbelief in order to have the best vacation possible.

 

But one fact even the most happy-go-lucky Disney lover eventually has to face is that no amoung of pixie dust can keep others from not only raining on their parade as it comes down Main Street USA, but then trying to poke their eyes out with an umbrella.  In fact, when asked to cite examples of bad behavior at the Disney theme parks, posters at Disboards.com – a site where fans gather to discuss anything and everything related to the House of Mouse — responded with nearly 500 messages. (It’s worth noting the discussion might have gone on indefinitely had not a few irony-challenged bad apples allowed their own bad behavior to get the thread shut down by moderators.)

It quickly became apparant that this topic was going to require more than one posting. So after touching on the rude, the crude and the socially unacceptable in this piece, there will be follow-ups to come on two the of hottest topics among Disney visitors: visitors with children vs. those without, and the never-ending battle between those who use wheelchairs or other assistive technology vs. their non-disabled brethren.

The Rude
One Line, No waiting: You know those long lines of people you see waiting to ride Space Mountain or Mission: Space? Fools! Every last one of them! Just ask any of those who figure “Why stand in line when I can just cut?” As one poster said, “My favorites are the people who have one member of their group stand in line and then, after the rest have gone off to get something to eat or ride another ride, come back and push their way up to where their place-holder is. And all along I thought everyone who wanted to get on the ride had to stand in line!”

Mary, Go ‘Round Me: Another oft-mentioned group are those who push and shove their way into a theater (such as the ones used for It’s Tough To Be A Bug in the Animal Kingdom or The Little Mermaid at Disney’s Hollywood Studio) only to then completely disregard instructions. Despite Cast Members (as Disney employees are called) specifically asking that all guests pick a row and move to the opposite end in order to accomodate as many guests as possible, these folks inevitably plop themselves down in the middle of a row… and then grouse about those forced to climb over them to get to seats on the other side.

(Personal) Space Invaders: True Disney fans know that when the parks are crowded, the one and only way to get a great view of the parades is by picking a spot early… or just pushing yourself in front of those who waited and just pretend that they aren’t there. After all, your kids wanna see Mickey, right? As one poster said, “My children are just as important to me as yours are to you. If my kids are willing to find a good spot and wait an hour for the parade, then they are entitled to it.”

 

 Telling Tales: Instead of sending postcards saying “wish you were here”, more and more people simply pick up their cell phones and describe everything they’re seeing… as they’re seeing it, and with complete disregard to those around them. Sure, the Hall Of Presidents is impressive, but it’s not going to keep Dad from calling the office to find out if he won the Superbowl pool!

The Children’s Hour: Yes, keeping kids in line can be a daunting task when they are in sensory overload thanks to everything Disney has to offer. But as one Disboarder so perfectly summed up, “You brought ‘em, you control ‘em.” Seeing a child have a complete meltdown as the parents ignore the situation is bad. Hearing a parent tell an unhappy child “Mickey told me that he hates you and never wants to see you again!” — as one poster did — is worse.

 

Lighten Up: You know why they call attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean or The Haunted Mansion dark rides? Because they’re supposed to be dark. And those announcements that say “no flash photography?” Crazy as it sounds, they’re directed at you, mister “I Gotta Get A Shot Of The Dancing Ghosts!”

The Crude
I Swear: Nobody wants to spend their end-of-day monorail ride back to the hotel exlaining to Little Susie the meaning of the new words she heard today or why they really shouldn’t be used in polite society. Or why that very mean man was screaming them at Minnie Mouse.

Hammer(ed) Time: Drinking your way around EPCOT’s World Showcase always sounds like a good idea… in theory. And it’s all fun and games… until someone throws up on Test Track or decides it’d be a kick to try and climb the pyramid-like Mexican pavillion.

 

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Ire: It’s a toss-up as to which is worse: People who willingly ignore the designated smoking areas set up by Disney and puff to their hearts content wherever they see fit… or the non-puffers who, for whatever reason, plop themselves down in said smoking areas and then proceed to complain loudly about the fumes they’re being “forced” to inhale. “One woman,” shared poster CM, “pushed her stroller with a tot in it into the smoking area and, after a few minutes, started coughing and fanning herself. She proceeded to lecutres us all about smoking around her toddler!” 

Socially Unacceptable
Anytime, Anywhere: This one, my friends, is a stunner, but apparently, some people believe that the world is their toilet. More than a few Disney visitors have encouraged their children to pee in bushes or pools, and one shocked Disboarder even watched as a parent instructed their child to take a poo of the non-Winnie variety in the middle of a sidewalk in EPCOT!

 

In the end, however, it’s worth noting that while the generous folks over at the Disboards were happy to share their tales, most agreed that the secret to a successful Disney trip is to avoid letting the little stuff get you down. And in a spirit that Walt Disney himself would have no doubt admired, a poster named Jennifer — aka TheTXTaylors5 — suggested that perhaps the best way to combat heinous behavior was by setting a good example. “Why not pay it forward?” she wrote. “If one person sees someone doing something kind, like giving up a seat [on the bus] to a Mom holding a sleeping child… it would be such a better ‘civilized’ world. Being a parent, I don’t expect or feel entitled to anything, but being kind and selfless are very rewarding character traits.” And if there were more people with that attitude on the face of this earth, it would be not just a small world after all, but a better one as well.

I was on a conference call with a group of approximately five co-workers when we somehow got off topic and started discussing recent promotion announcements. Jokingly, I made the comment that I obviously need to figure out who’s sleeping with who so that I could get a promotion as well. One of my co-workers spoke up, saying, “Don’t you know the right person to sleep with? Rumor has it we’ll be reading about your promotion next.” I was extremely pissed at her!

A friend of mine fell on hard times in August. I offered her my couch. Fast forward 3 months. She was still on the couch, getting $800.00 a month from SSI waiting on SSD, and I find out she is selling her pain pills for $700.00 a month. (Thats what got her off the couch.)
She would shop for fancy shampoo , creams, and even bought a pair of boots. Meanwhile, my main job as a Realtor was slow due to a downward market. I reinvented myself. I started caring for the elderly in their homes and, thanks to great word of mouth, ended up with a lot of clients.
Meanwhile couch friend is spending money eating my food and has the nerve to tell me “Don’t forget to get toliet paper!” GRRRRRRRR.
While painting my kitchen on her last day here, she decided to go for juice. Or claimed to… she really went to sell her pills. I called her on the lie, and she had a nasty attitude. I said “You put me in jeopardy when you do that since you use my address,” but she didn’t seem to care. I said ” I am done”. She started putting all her stuff in her car. It has been 3 wonderful weeks since I reclaimed my condo. She moved in with another friend of ours.

Once was bad enough: You told me my pain and fatique MUST be caused by depression, so if I’m still ill in a week to come back and get on anti-depressants.

Today was the straw that broke the camel’s back: You had your employee call me and question my symptoms, “because don’t you have gynelogical problems?”

Wow. I’m deeply offended at your Victorian attitude toward women’s health! You, sir, are an idiot. I will be taking my (female) health care needs elsewhere!

No love,

The Angry Feminist

At various points in the evening, practically everyone in the mid-sized, mid-town restaurant turned to look at the woman and her companions. Not because they were particularly well-dressed or unusually attractive, especially by Manhattan standards. But when the overly-made-up blonde threw back her head to laugh, it was a little too loud; and every few minutes, the cellphone belonging to one of her companions would emit a jarringly loud ring, inevitably triggering an extended conversation easily overheard by anyone within a three-table vicinity.

Even the coldest of winds blowing outside the restaurant on that blustery winter night couldn’t match the chill of the glares directed toward the woman and her companions, who remained either blissfully oblivious to the level of annoyance their behavior was causing or, as seemed increasingly likely, didn’t care in the least.

Despite my best efforts, their boisterous conduct eventually managed to impact my own mood and evening, leading me to join my fellow diners in shooting icy glares at the diners to absolutely no avail.

I left the restaurant with a hunger for a smackdown that went unfulfilled.

Fastforward a week or two. Another restaurant, another racous group of diners, another group of neighboring tables being disturbed by peals of loud laughter and excited exclamations.

This time, I was seated much closer to the action… right in the middle of it, in fact. I’d been out for drinks with friends and we’d decided to stop in one of our favorite restaurants for something to eat. Thanks to the good time already in progress — not to mention several rounds of cocktails — we had unwittingly become “those people.”

We were now the people at the next table.

The ones who had annoyed me only a week earlier with their loud conversation and fun-fueled frolicking. We were cackling wildly at our own jokes as we drunk dialed a friend and tweeted every thought that entered our alcohol-soaked brains.

And never did it occur to us that we’d become Those People, at least not until it was much too late and the cold glares I’d reserved for others were now being directed toward me and my fellow diners.

Like many who wind up on the receiving end of looks that could, but don’t, kill, it wasn’t our intention to disturb anyone. And had we been able to step outside ourselves and witness the scene from another perspective, I’d like to think we’d have been mortified… or at least mollified.

But the next time you’re in a situation where a tableful of diners are having a little more fun than you might like them to be having, instead of looking upon them with anger, smile and remember that almost every single one of us has been, at one point or another, in their place.

We’ve all been the people at the next table.