This could be fun

- or - dangerous. I am inspired by the article below.

Company to reprint yearbooks after head switching

Sun May 18, 2:57 AM ET

School officials say they are appalled by altered photos — including heads on different bodies — in hundreds of McKinney High School yearbooks delivered this week.

Besides the head and body switching, some necks were stretched, one girl's arm was missing, and another girl's head was placed on what appeared to be a nude body, with the chest blurred.

A spokeswoman for Minnesota-based Lifetouch National School Studios Inc. said the alterations were "an unfortunate lapse in judgment" by an employee but didn't believe it was malicious.

The high school had required Lifetouch to make heads the same size and eyes at the same level in all student photos, company spokeswoman Sara Thurin Rollin said Saturday. The request was "unusual and definitely very particular, but that's not to suggest what happened here is acceptable," she said.

Rollin declined to say if the company fired or reprimanded the employee who altered the images. She said Lifetouch is taking full responsibility for the altered pictures, about 30 in all, and will pay to have the publication reprinted before the seniors graduate.

Lori Oglesbee, the school's yearbook adviser at McKinney High School, said the yearbook staff would spend the weekend rebuilding the yearbook.

McKinney is about 20 miles north of Dallas.

I think it's time to pull out my year book and so some scanning. Just in time for my 30th reunion. Heh. Look for future posts. BTW: I was on my year book's staff ~ it was a blast!

Long time no blog....

because my mind has been blown.

Yes, dear readers it's time for another Uncle Z melt down. What's the problem/issue/matter? EVERY F'ING THING!

• Clients not paying on time.
• No $$$$$$.
• Will I still have my house by August? July?
• California here we come?
• President Bush gave up golf and all I got was an ass load of debt and 2nd class citizenship in this F'ing country of ours.
• It's getting hot down here and my skin does not like it at all.
• Almost all my Season Pass shows on TiVo are off for the rest of the Summer and Netflix is suddenly offering crap.
• I need a vacation.... from myself.
• Trouble on the home front.
• My mother is insane.
• Just a few hours ago I was laughing and crying at the same time because I feel helpless about where my life stands at this moment.
• I have this urge to go Rambo at the drop of a hat; only problem is I don't own a flame thrower ~ yet. My birthday is coming up: HINT.
• WILL I EVER GET A BREAK FROM THE UNIVERSE?!?!?!?!

Stay tuned. I'm sure this is going to get interesting. I need a nap.

Ass Hat Award & More!

As a gay citizen of South Carolina it is with extreme pleasure I award this weeks "Ass Hat Award" to our state's Attorney General: Henry McMasters.

















Anti-gay A.G. among McCain supporters
COLUMBIA — Queer news and culture blog Queerty.com reported Apr. 23 on the numerous anti-gay politicians supporting Republican Sen. John McCain’s bid for the White House. Among them was South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster. <---UZ: Yea! Go Team! Oh wait... not that team.

In a June 27, 2003, article from The Charlotte Observer, McMaster railed against the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). <---UZ: Okay a str8 guy who doesn't like oral sex ~ or the full spectrum of the meaning of sodomy. Either way I bet that every time he repeats this mantra pennies flow from the heavens into his karmic campaign war chest.

“Texas, just like South Carolina, has the fundamental right and authority as a sovereign state to enact laws prohibiting behavior deemed inappropriate and detrimental to the state,” McMaster said. “The citizens of our state, through their elected representatives, have seen fit to have our law against sodomy in effect since the Lord Proprietors governed South Carolina.” <---UZ: Say What?!?!?!? That statement is indicative of a mouth piece racist. Although it took South Carolina until 1996 (I think) to overturn it's Constitutional Amendment banning interracial marriages. UZ pauses to reflect on this weeks passing of Mildred Loving. "Lord Proprietors???!!!" get the man a powdered wig! Pronto!

Since when has our state's Attorney General been given the all seeing right to be our moral compass? Talk amongst yourselves.

In an effort to end this post on a high note UZ's "Letter to the Editor Gladii Award" goes to (drum roll) James M. Holloway for the following, run in today's State Paper.

• Ministers shouldn’t get tax-free housing

A member of my Sunday school class says that “hell will be full of preachers.” He may be on to something.

Let’s review. Within just the last two years, we’ve had one blame people’s behavior for the occurrence of a natural disaster; another caught purchasing the services of gay escorts; another ranting racist and other offensive statements; and, most recently, a preacher convicted of incest for molesting his daughter. And that’s on top of the ever-present cast of nationally recognized camera hogs and cable TV shakedown artists.

We can’t stop preachers from saying and doing boneheaded things, but we can stop federal taxes from assisting them. Specifically, ordained ministers serving in the ministry of their ordination are allowed a tax-free housing allowance. This allowance is broadly written to include most costs of housing. It is really generous.

As reported during the Rev. Jeremiah Wright incident, his church has taken a reported $1.6 million mortgage to build his retirement house, along with a $10 million line of credit.

The days of preachers working in poverty were over in the 1980s. Its time for preachers to cowboy up, act like the rest of us and pay taxes on their housing allowances.

JAMES M. HOLLOWAY JR. - Columbia, SC

UZ has been wondering the same thing. We're going to have to find new tax revenue sources from somewhere. The working Lower Middle Class Poor of this country are tapped out.

Ahh almost the middle of May....

ALREADY!!!!!!!

Uncle Z's Recession Watch 2008:
Forecast: Looking cloudy with a possibility of sunshine in the mailbox today. Even with that chance we expect it to be as tight as a tic come end of this month.

Hump Day

While surfing around the cable for primary results we accidentally stopped by American Idol. I'd not really seen this Round since the Charleston auditions; perhaps it was the shame? Don't get me wrong N. Charleston and Charleston put on their best outfits - it was the lacking in quality of the auditions.

The following is my unsolicited review of the 05/06/08 Episode of American Idol:

"I Shot My Chances"

Obama has won N. Carolina! - John King is playing with his computer wall. Surf. "Final 4! Tonight on American Idle!" Ok.

First up. Dude who looks uncomfortable in his outfit. Sings a Wham song? I don't remember. He was ok.

Next up Only Female Contestant Standing. She does Proud Mary - Rule #1 if you can't shake your a$$, and strut in some cha-cha heels, do not attempt this song. Nuf said.

Commercial - Surf - Back

Dreadlocks Elf sings "I Shot the Sheriff" ~ it was like the Elf, band, background singers had all taken a big gulp out of Paul's cup during the break. I'll get back to her. Bottom line no one was feeling it. Train wreck.

Then up was David "Archadorable" <---not my nickname. I thought he had been knocked out early on. He sings. He's good. He's got the right spot to ride the wave until the end of this year's freak show musical. After his performance is when the Paula train wreck starts, in slow motion, through the end of the show. There was a point where I though that Randy and Simon were there to make sure she didn't slide out of her seat. Po' thing. I think I heard her knock her big Coke cup off the table too because after a cut away I only saw 2 cups on the table for the rest of the night.

Song #2:
Guy #1 does a Who song. Oh - that's why he's still in the running. A rocker with his Les Paul and kissable lips. Right. He does a good cover of the song. He has a voice and stage presence. He's off the hook for next week.

Only Female Contestant Standing covers Sam Cook's Change - it's like Fantasia singing "Summertime" only not on the stage floor. Judges: Randy = no - Bobble Head Paula & Simon = thumbs & appendages up. Last Female Contestant Standing cries. Paula & Simon point at Randy and blame him; actually I think she was crying cause she knew she was good through next week. Good choice and well performed.

Dreadlocks Elf: Mr. Tambourine Man by Dylan!?!?!!! For your last final 4 choice?!?!?? Judges = general disdain. Elf starts to tear up Ryan quickly makes his move to stop the tear drop from sliding down the Elf's face.....

David "Archadorable" does Elvis. He's in the end zone.... Goal!!!! The 17 year old kicks everyones a$$es for the evening with double knock out of choice and quality. He looks like he is going to cry or pass out. Ryan quickly moves in to hold him up.

Bottom line:
Dreadlocks Boy blew his chances of moving on. Simon told him to "pack his bags." Stay tuned. His crazed Dreadlock Elf fans may out call, out text and back door someone tonight. Oy.

Lifted Quote

from an inspiring site: LINK

Nick5064 // May 3, 2008 at 5:16 am

"Every gay man has a clear and present mother (and I’m talking from experience)."

The Prophet Speaks

Huffington Post
April 25, 2008

Credit Where Credit Is Due
Bill Maher

New Rule: Stimulating the economy is like stimulating your body--there are good ways and bad ways to do it. And John McCain's "gas tax holiday" is basically economic crystal meth.

There's a seemingly dry headline this week that is a lot scarier than it looks: Bank of America's profit declined 77% this quarter. They're a big bank. They're a consumer-oriented bank. And it turns out their losses are not just coming from the subprime mortage crisis. They're coming from small business loans, construction loans, and simple credit card debt. Bottom line--people can't pay their bills. UZ: Amen Brother!!!!!! As I pay bills today I know that I couldn't pay them without borrowing from myself!

The time for arguing over whether or not we're in a recession is not only past, it seems almost quaint now--a little math game that we had the luxury of playing back when things seemed like they might improve at any moment. Whether or not the eventual numbers reveal that this is technically a recession, professional and amateur economists alike can now agree that the economy is technically "in the shitter." UZ: I second that! Most politicians never learned to balance their own check books. How the heck are we to expect them to know the reality many of us are facing?

All that remains, then, is the question of how long things are going to suck, and some frightening questions:
Are we willing to do anything to get out of this? . UZ: I am already taking positive steps; with positive results.

Will we fall for the same old tricks? . UZ: Yes. Who the hell really has the time to stop them? We're trying to pay the bills and juggle our lives. IHO let God take care of the b@stards.

Will we once again accept a couple of cheapo give-backs and dog treats and future-destroying tax cuts as a "fix?" . UZ: Dude, those checks will help to ether pay down debt or keep us afloat for one more month.

If recent history is any guide, those answers are "yes!" and "definitely!" and "Where's my cookie?" . UZ: F#ck that. I want a bit of assistance with the 30 yr fixed loan I was wise enough to take out. We now pay more for health insurance then for our mortgage! That ain't right.... and have you noticed how many less grocery bags you bring home for more money? Praise the Lord for Lean Hot Pockets. Prophet