The Shannon Family Website

Everyone should read this

Tim Rutten's column in today's (11/3) L.A. Times.

posted by John Shannon @ 9:01 AM
|

Marsha Blackburn gets CRUSHED by David Shuster

Partial Transcript:

Shuster: "Let's talk about the public trust. You represent, of course, a district in western Tennessee. What was the name of the last solider from your district who was killed in Iraq?"

Blackburn:"The name of the last soldier killed in Iraq uh - from my district I - I do not know his name -"

Shuster: "Ok, his name was Jeremy Bohannon, he was killed August the 9th, 2007. How come you didn't know the name?"

Blackburn: "I - I, you know, I - I do not know why I did not know the name..." [Snip]

Shuster: "But you weren't appreciative enough to know the name of this young man, he was 18 years old who was killed, and yet you can say chapter and verse about what's going on with the New York Times and Move On.org." [Snip]

Shuster: "But don't you understand, the problems that a lot of people would have, that you're so focused on an ad — when was the last time a New York Times ad ever killed somebody? I mean, here we have a war that took the life of an 18 year old kid, Jeremy Bohannon from your district, and you didn't even know his name."

Labels: Marsha Blackburn

posted by Dave @ 9:08 PM
|

Worth getting suspended for

A high school student who tricked football fans from a crosstown rival into holding up signs that together spelled out, "We Suck," was suspended for the prank, students said.

Kyle Garchar, a senior at Hilliard Davidson High School in suburban Columbus, said he spent about 20 hours over three days plotting the trick, which was captured on video and posted on the video-sharing Web site YouTube. He said he was inspired by a similar prank pulled by Yale students in 2004, when Harvard fans were duped into holding up cards with the same message.

I think the school overreacted. This is pretty funny.

Labels: Darby, Prank

posted by Dave @ 10:36 PM
|

Senator Larry Craig's Guide to Mensroom "Signals"

I found this pretty funny:

Labels: Larry Craig, YouTube

posted by Dave @ 8:41 AM
|

Television's Funniest Moments #3

Family Guy FCC song. I saw this when it was originally on and laughed til it hurt.

Labels: Family Guy, FCC

posted by Dave @ 11:12 AM
|

Follow-up to Asheville, NC Hates Free Speech

I send emails:

(copying Kelly Miller (kmiller@exploreasheville.com) of the Explore Asheville Tourism group (http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx))

Dear Mayor Bellamy:

I just read Jonas Phillips's account (http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/25922) of being arrested in Asheville, NC for standing on a sidewalk and holding a sign that reads, "Impeach Bush/Cheney"... a sentiment I happen to agree with but apparently your police department doesn't and decided to arrest him (apparently Sgt. Randy Riddle was "sick of this shit").

Is this really the policy of your city? Do you welcome visitors of all political persuasions, or just conservatives? If I decide to visit your city and I wear a t-shirt that reads, "impeach Bush/Cheney" and stand on a sidewalk in your town, can I expect a visit from Sgt Randy Riddle?

I look forward to your response.

Labels: asheville, free speech, north carolina

posted by Dave @ 8:32 AM
|

Asheville, NC hates free speech

Here's why you might be afraid to visit Asheville, NC. Apparently, standing on a sidewalk holding a sign that reads, "Impeach Bush, Cheney", gets you arrested by the local police.

According to Jonas Phillips:

On Wednesday August 15, I was standing alone with my sign for about 10 minutes, when I was approached by Police Officer Russell Crisp. He asked me how long I was planning to stay there and I told him just a few more minutes because I had to go to work at 8:00. He asked for my ID and I obliged. I asked him if I was doing something wrong, and he said that his Sergeant was on the way and he was going to wait for him. SO, I went back to my sign holding over the interstate.

A few minutes later Sergeant Randy Riddle showed up with a paper in his hand. He spoke briefly to Crisp, then walked over to me and told me to put down my sign, put my hands behind my back, and that I was under arrest! I was shocked and almost thought he was joking until he told me again to put down the sign and put my hands behind me and I was under arrest. So I peacefully agreed and he cuffed me. I asked him why I was being arrested, he told me I was in violation County Ordinance 16-2, (the print out in his hand that he didn't bother to read to me or show me.) He told me I was obstructing the sidewalk. I told him I was not and that officer Crisp had witnessed a guy walk by me moments before.

Riddle yelled at me, "You were obstructing the sidewalk!" and "I'm sick of this shit!" then he said, "Here's your 15 minutes of fame buddy!" I looked back to see his name plate and he said in a mean condescending tone, "Yea, that's 'Sergeant Riddle' get it right!" He then put me in Officer Crisp's police car. Riddle took my sign with him and I was taken downtown and booked by Crisp. I was never read my Miranda rights.

While at the jail I was asked several times about what groups or organizations I was with, like a local group Veterans for Peace. And more specifically the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action group that had protested at the Bank of America on Monday. I was told by officer Crisp that since that protest the police had pulled out this ordinance. I was searched, and they took pictures of me and my tattoos. Since I haven't been in trouble in 15 years, I was given a court date and allowed to sign a written promise to appear in court.

Here's some contact info if you want to let them know what you think of this:

Mayor Terry M. Bellamy
Contact Information
Office of the Mayor
Mayor Terry M. Bellamy
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC, 28802
Location: Asheville City Hall, Second Floor, 70 Court Plaza
Phone: (828) 259-5600
Fax: (828) 259-5649
E-mail: mayorbellamy@ashevillenc.gov

mayorbellamy@ashevillenc.gov mayor
whogan@ashevillenc.gov police chief
jrichardson@ashevillenc.gov assistant city manager
gjackson@ashevillenc.gov city manager

Labels: asheville, free speech, north carolina

posted by Dave @ 7:53 AM
|

Family Guy

This is just funny. Lois does a great Rudy Giuliani impression.

Labels: Family Guy, Rudy Giuliani

posted by Dave @ 9:11 PM
|

Mission Accomplished

This is funny. Democrats are sending the emergency funding measure -- that Bush has vowed to veto -- to Bush, timing it so that his veto may fall on the 4 year anniversary of the infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech.

Labels: Mission Accomplished

posted by Dave @ 7:26 AM
|