Rantings Of A Mad Rodent

Last night, we lost our beloved Lab/Chow mixed pooch of 15 years. I was told that she lived a year and a half past her life's expectancy, but that doesn't make it any better. She was an erratic acting dog at times, and she always seemed to be on the hunt for food, but she was still a great dog. She basically house trained herself, and she also seemed to understand what we were saying after about 2 years. She was a VERY smart dog. She will be sorely missed, as evidenced by my wife's constant tearing up. My son basically grew up with Storm, so they were very close.

As I contemplated where to bury her in the backyard, something weird happened. Suddenly, everything that Michael Vick was charged with, seemed a WHOLE lot worse to me. Keep in mind, I'm one of those that feels that Vick has paid his debt to society, and that he deserves a 2nd chance in the NFL, so this isn't an anti Vick post. It's just a musing, so to speak, of how my dog's death put Vick's actions into perspective for me. I was one of those guys that felt that Vick's punishment didn't fit the crime, and I still do. However; after watching my beloved pooch laying there peacefully, and feeling the hurt that I felt, I wondered to myself, "How in the fuck could someone do this on purpose?!". After thinking about the ways he killed and tortured his dogs, and looking back at my Storm of 15 laying there, suddenly I thought, maybe the punishment did fit the crime, but then again, that's just emotion talking. Peaceful journey, old girl.

Stop with this so called freestyle crap! Seriously, who gives a shit if you can go off the top of the dome? You sound like ass! How many of us have tuned in to a radio show, or clicked on an internet link to hear or see our favorite rapper, only to be let down? You know the scenario. First the beat kicks in and they start going, "Unh, yeah. Where (insert town here) at? Check it out.", and then proceed to sound like drunken babbling baboons. Afterwards, they'll go, "That was off the top!". No! Really?! And here I was thinking you was trying to sound like hot garbage on purpose, but as it turns out, you was just freestyling.

Charles Hamilton is the latest in a long line of delusional rappers. Dude fancies himself as a freestyle god. Everytime you see him, he's freestyling, and everytime you see him, he sounds like shit. He's not the only one. I heard Method Man, one of my favorite rappers ever, try to freestyle the other day. EPIC FAIL! How many times have you heard a rapper really feeling it, and then do something stupid like say the word "encyclopedia", and when he realizes that he has nothing that rhymes with it, he reverts back to, "Unh, yeah. Mic check.". "Mic check"?!! That's the same damn mic you've been using for the last 3 minutes, now quit stalling, and come up with something that rhymes with "encyclopedia"! Here's what I suggest; get a notebook and label it "Interveiw & Radio Show Raps", write some very clever and witty verses in it, and before every radio appearance, pick out which rap you're going to use, and use it! And don't you dare go on a promotional tour without that notebook! Please don't get salty with me, I'm just the messenger, but unless your name is Supernatural, you have no fucking business trying to freestyle! Better you hear it from me, than from Joe Buddens.

Here are a few letters from Litton Finance's satisfied customers. Believe me folks, they're not the only ones. Nothing has changed for the little guy, and it probably never will, regardless of who's in office. Wanna know why? Because noone gives a shit!

Christopher of Livonia, MI March 31, 2009

February 2009 I called Litton loan to make an arrangement to pay my mortgage payment. Agreed to pat payment plus late fee and the fee for payment by phone. Went on line to pay my bills days after. Litton had taken 550.00 more then agreed. This caused a series of bounced checks. When I called to complain I was switched from person to person and then hung up on. After many phone calls I thought the problem was resolved. They promised to give me back the 550.00 plus any bounced check fees that occurred. I was satisfied and thought everything was fine.

Then in the March I get a Letter in the mail that Litton is going to accelerate a foreclosure on my house for an unpaid balance in February. They sent letters regular mail and registered mail. Phone calls everyday. They even sent someone to come out and take pictures of my home. This all got started by Litton's screw up now they want to take my home.I have lived here for fourteen years. Litton took over my mortgage in November of 2008. They have been nothing but trouble from day one. Looking at my account on line I have found all kinds of fees they hide and charge. The principal will never go down with this loan.

John of Dingmans Ferry, PA March 23, 2009

I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran and living in PA, I have received a Property and School Tax Exemption. Litton has placed my monthly payments of principle and interest into the tax escrow account and are now threatening foreclosure. I have paid exactly what I owe every month and they refuse to correct their error. I would welcome any legal help available! I DO want an Attorney to contact me!

I have been harassed for five months and have been hung up on, transferred to every department with no result, and now get 6-8 recorded phone collection calls daily. When I speak to a human, they either transfer me or hang up when I ask to speak to a supervisor. I have written and supplied all of the documentation to no avail!

Jason of Housatonic, MA March 16, 2009

We had been dealing with Litton Loan for almost three years now; during this time we had nothing but problems. The last major problem was that I received a billing statement saying we owed 2,556.00 and we went to send them the money and then they stated that we owed 5,000 and something. I had stated that we received a bill stating this is how much we owed and they said it was not a bill it was a statement.

The had done a loan modification and raised our payments to over 1,000 dollars a month. I can not afford that and told them that. We had eventually moved out and in the process of selling our house because of Litton Loan are dreams of owning our own home went out the window.

Jacqueline of Detroit, MI March 10, 2009

Litton Loan Service is trying to screw my family as well. Litton paid my property taxes and hiked up my mortgage which should be 751.22 and my property taxes are 709.20 a month which brings my mortgage to 1462.42. So I supposedly owe back taxes of 8000.00 dollars. When I asked if I could pay my own property taxes the answer was no. When I asked how much are my property taxes monthly and why was the payment so high!!! They could only tell me they were back taxes and they could not give me a monthly amount. I was furious.

I am laid off and cannot afford this amount even though this is suppose to be a loan modification. I am 3 months behind, currently awaiting the Stimulus results and finding out about my taxes. I told Litton since I live in the home I am suppose to get a personal exemption on my taxes and that should be taken into consideration which should automatically knock money off my taxes. No adjustment has been made. They are the worst mortgage company in the world they do not try to work with you to save your home. We should all file a class action law suit against Litton Loan Service.

The physical damage that has resulted from Litton paying my property taxes my mortgage payment being too high, and I am laid off, and they are threatening to foreclose on my home.

Ray of Mesa, AZ August 30, 2008

Sold my home @auction after seating up repay plan had been signed by my self. The proper funds where in Litton Loans account before sell date. They out and out lied to me and the are trying to keep the moneys sent.

Sold home out from under me. I have lost 80,000 in equity

Before we start, let me assure you, this isn't a request for handouts or bailouts, just an observation. Someone who works for county government told me that alot of the IT work they have done, is outsourced to people in Canada. Really?! They can't find any good IT people here in America? Let me get this straight, the same government that promised to save America's jobs, is also outsourcing tasks to people in foreign countries?! I don't know about you, but I find that to be kinda fucked up. If local governments are outsourcing jobs, why should corporations give damn? How can this government punish and criticize corporations for outsourcing jobs, when they're doing it themselves? Furthermore, why aren't they talking about this in the news? If it was Apple, Nabisco, or GM, it would be the lead story, and these dipshits in their red, white, and blue t shirts would be picketing. In fact, it has been the lead story. Where the hell are all of these news investigators and their expose's now? Probably too busy spying on county road crews trying to catch one of them sleeping on the job.

To the guy that had the huge rebel flag waving from the back of his pickup truck: When that truck's a Toyota, it kinda loses its oomph.

To the lady in the green Volvo sipping a Bud Lite with the MADD sticker on her bumper: I think the A in MADD stands for "against" not "allowing".

To the teen overheard saying, "I wear Abercrombie & Fitch, so bitches know I dominate.": Um, okay.

To the pregnant woman in Big Lots with the 3 unruly children: Seriously?!

To the 20 something year old guy posted up against his black Dodge Charger with the black custom rims outside of a high school during let out: C'mon, dawg.

To the guy in the fur jacket, sagging jeans, and mismatched Air Jordans: No!

To the prison work crew working on Ronald Reagan Pkwy. trying to holla at passing female motorists: Stop playin'!

To the old man in the mall wearing hip hop gear, bling, and trying to holla at young girls: Let it go, dawg. Let it go.

To my married friend who's pissed off that his "girlfriend" is seeing someone else: For real, bruh?

To the undecided woman in line at McDonald's: The menu hasn't changed in over 30 years. Order something already!

To the would be bank robber who requested to be buzzed into the bank's lobby while holding a rifle: Really?!

To the guy that bragged to me last week that he's about to start flipping houses for profit: Way to get in on the ground floor.

Man, I don't know about you, but listening to classic rock, funk, soul, rap, and r&b really lifts the spirits. It's also kind of sad, because you know that that era is long gone. I was listening to a Cd of classic r&b love songs, when something occurred to me: some of these lyrics sound like the verbal meanderings of a stalker! Seriously, if I was to put some of the lyrics in a letter, and send it to a lady, she'd probably turn it over to the cops!

One of my favorite songs, is Stevie Wonders' "All I Do", but when you listen to the lyrics, you get an image of a guy with one of those homemade shrines. You know the ones with the woman's picture surrounded by a gaggle of candles? Example:

"Gonna tell you girl
I'd light a candle every day
And pray that you'll always feel this way
And pray that our love will forever be new
I'm gonna tell you girl
If I cannot have you for my own
I'd rather be lonely and all alone"

It all seems innocent enough, until the letters and late night phone call start up! Still, it's one of my faves.

Let's take "Lady" by The Whispers, another classic, and great song as well. Towards the end when he does the ad libs? I start to become somewhat concerned for the object of his desire's safety, especially when Scottie does the skat part.

"I want you to hear every word I say yeah girl (Lady)
(Bweeble bwee bweeble bwee bwee)
That means I love you baby
(Bweeble bwee bweeble bwee bwee)
And that means that I want you baby
(Bweeble bwee bweeble bwee bwee)
And that means that I'm gon' get you baby
Well, well, well, well, don't you know that I love you girl
You kiss me and drive me crazy, yes you do girl
Kiss me, love me, squeeze me, love me
Do anything that you wanna do (Lady)
But don't you ever, ever, ever, ever go nowhere
Please I don't want you to go nowhere baby
Ya see I love you girl, can't you see that I'm saying that I need you, gotta have you..."

Be honest, if a person came up to you, and said that, you'd reach for the pepper spray, wouldn't you?

Don't get me wrong, I love these songs, but hey, sometimes you can't help but notice. Patti LaBelle's "Love and Need and Want You", has "300 yards at all times" written all over it. Then there's "It's All Over" by the Ohio Players. It's about a woman leaving a man, and he ain't having none of it!

"Put that suitcase down! You ain't leaving town!"
&
"Aw girl, put that suitcase down, you ain't kiddin' nobody. You can't leave me! You love me!".

Um sweetheart, I think you'd better drop them damn bags, and just try to get the hell out of the house alive! Sugarfoot is about to snap! Maybe you and the cops can go back for your stuff later. Who remembers the breakdown from "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men? In it, dude says something like, "Baby when you was with that other man, I knew about it, but I didn't care. That's just how much I love you. Please, just come back.". Whenever I hear that, I can't help but think of the phrase, "And then he turned the gun on himself."

Even though I make fun of some of these songs, they're still among the best ever recorded and I'll put our generation's music up against anyone's, but sometimes thay make you wonder.