Of course, everything didn't go as planned.  After 13 1/2 hours, I got to see the kids and the Amazing Mrs. Jake for about a half hour before they all went to bed. The delivery van was backed into in a hit-and-run in the parking lot last night, so the former owner and I have to figure out whose insurance pays for the damage.  I also found out that two key employees will be leaving at the end of June, so I've only got a few weeks to learn the business, then train replacements.

But, the good news is, I came home with a lot of cash and checks to deposit tomorrow.  And, I don't have any useless meetings to attend tomorrow, nor do I have to answer to anyone but my customers. 

Many thanks to all surviving members of the Allied armed forces during World War II.  Remember in your prayers all those who gave their lives to defend our freedom.

So is there anything to worry about on this auspicious day?  I sure hope not, as I will at long last be closing escrow on my new business later today.  The Amazing Jake will be a tax-paying employer of legal employees as of 6am tomorrow.  

The lease has been approved, legal structure completed, business insurance and payroll service obtained, workers' comp insurance and credit card processing almost complete.  Fourteen hour days begin tomorrow.

I just hope Armageddon doesn't happen after I sign my papers today. 

A double-amputee Iraq-war vet is suing Michael Moore for $85 million, claiming the portly peacenik recycled an old interview and used it out of context to make him appear anti-war in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Sgt. Peter Damon, 33, who strongly supports America's invasion of Iraq, said he never agreed to be in the 2004 movie, which trashes President Bush.

In the 2003 interview, which he did at Walter Reed Army Hospital for NBC News, he discussed only a new painkiller the military was using on wounded vets.

"They took the clip because it was a gut-wrenching scene," Damon said yesterday. "They sandwiched it in. [Moore] was using me as ammunition."

Damon seems to "voice complaint about the war effort" in the movie, according to the lawsuit.

But what the father of two from Middleborough, Mass., was really talking about was the "excruciating" pain he felt after he lost his arms when a Black Hawk helicopter exploded in front of him.

Damon wasn't expressing any opinion about the war, the suit charges, but rather extolling the drug. (snip)

Newsman Brian Williams ends the NBC clip by adding, "These men, with catastrophic wounds are . . . completely behind the war effort," according to the lawsuit.

That part, which wasn't shown in the Moore movie, is a far more accurate depiction of Damon's feelings, he said.

Lawyer Dennis Lynch said he took the case last year and they held off filing the lawsuit in a bid to settle the matter.

"We attempted to resolve the situation amicably with Mr. Moore [for a year] but he refused," he said.

Damon is asking for up to $75 million because of "loss of reputation, emotional distress, embarrassment, and personal humiliation."

In addition, his wife is suing for another $10 million because of the "mental distress and anguish suffered by her spouse."

I'm pretty anti-litigation for the most part.  I don't think this veteran is going to get very far with his suit, but I wish him luck.  In any event, it will draw more attention to the deplorable tactics of Michael Moore.

1. Jake, you know I love ya. But really, Michelle Malkin? I’m sure Ann Coulter has come choice venom to spit at Al Gore, too. But some people willingly forfeited their credibility long ago.

   Of course, if I ever post any drivel by the intolerable Michael Moore, please call me on it, too!

   Comment by Geo — May 27, 2006 @ 8:07 am |Edit This

2. Oh, I should have said: you make a good point with the marginal increase in cost of a trip based on gas. Of course, a marginal increase in the price of oil/gas effects the cost of goods and services across the board (transportation, manufacturing, etc.) impacting far more than just what we pay at the pump.

   Still, the gas I buy right now borders on US$6 per gallon, so I remain a bit philosophical about a $3/gallon price.

   I wouldn’t buy Evian, though!

   Comment by Geo — May 27, 2006 @ 8:12 am |Edit This

3. Just a note, so I can’t be said to simply attacking the messenger: Gore actually pays for verifiable CO2 credits to offset the CO2 created when he travels.So he’s definitely sincere about this, and is walking the walk, which completely undermines the whole premise of Malkin’s screed.   Comment by Geo — May 31, 2006 @ 7:23 am |Edit This

 So, not having heard of these "CO2 credits" I googled it, and found this:

We all contribute to global warming every day. The carbon dioxide you produce by driving your car and leaving the lights on adds up quickly. You may be surprised by how much Co2 you are emitting each year. Calculate your personal impact and learn how you can take action to reduce or even eliminate your emissions of carbon dioxide.

And, seeking to neutralize my own carbon emissions, I found this:

This travel calculator will tell you the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that is produced by your auto, air, rail and bus travel – and your accommodations. You can use it for personal or group travel. At the end of the calculator, you will have the chance to offset your emissions with wind or farm methane-based renewable energy.

Just fill in the blanks where the calculator asks for information, such as miles travelled or number of hotel rooms. At the left margin, you will see your progress as you move through each section of the calculator. You can skip a section by clicking the silver ‘Skip’ button.

Your total tons of CO₂ emissions will appear on the last page: “Your Travel Emissions Results.” From here, you can choose either wind or farm methane to offset 1 or more tons of CO₂.

By the way, my own "carbon footprint" comes in at a whopping 25,400 pounds of carbon emissions per year, compared to the "average" of 15,000 pounds per year.  I wasn't able to use the calculator to figure, however, the carbon footprint of Mount St. Helens, or Mount Kilawea, or the Rodeo-Chediski wildfire, or any other naturally occuring event.  It doesn't really matter though – natural disasters can't write a check to offset their offending carbon emissions!

This whole concept of offsetting CO2 emissions is laughable, and is just another example of how limousine liberals like Al Gore think.

According to this site, the distance between Phoenix and Sedona (an appropriate Memorial Day get-out-of-Phoenix destination) is 125 miles. 

A quick Google search found this site, which gives today's high and low gas prices in Chandler as $3.02 and $3.14 per gallon.  Split the difference for an average of $3.08.

Pick your gas-guzzling environment devastator of choice, but for this example we'll use a generic SUV getting 18 MPG.

If my public school math instruction holds true, we find that it will take $21.39 to purchase the gas for a hypothetical Memorial Day jaunt to Sedona (125 miles / 18 MPG = 6.944 gallons required for the trip, times $3.08 per gallon = $21.39 for the total gas price).  Now imagine that the price of gas goes up to $3.35 per gallon.  Surely that would prevent us from enjoying our holiday weekend, would it not?  Suddenly the price of gas for the trip would go from $21.39 all the way up to $23.26!  That's shocking!  Congressional inquiries are sure to follow.  Now imagine that the price of gas goes up to $4.00 per gallon.  The rivers will run red and the clocks will turn backward!  But, the cost of our holiday excursion will only be $27.78, merely $6.39 more than at the average price of $3.08 per gallon.

Now I know you're thinking, "Amazing Jake, that makes sense on paper, but Al Gore says the planet's going to explode if we don't stop driving so much.  What are we to do?" 

To that, I offer the following:  Just do as Al Gore does. (click on the screen cap of Michelle Malkin).

One final thought.  A gallon of Evian water costs $6.40 per gallon.  Now I know we don't consume Evian water at the same rate as gas in our cars, but COME ON!  It costs money to produce goods and services.  Give the unscrupulous windfall profiteering capitalists a break.  They give us jobs and an affordable product that makes it possible for our mobile economy to exist.

And as she points out, it didn't appear to be close:

Trinity Donovan – 8,367 total votes (5,631 early, 2,736 today)

Jeff Weninger – 7,610 total votes (5,260 early, 2,350 today)

Becky "No Action" Jackson – 4,638 total votes (3,546 early, 1,092 today)

Congratulations to Trinity and Jeff!

It looks like Jeff Weninger finally got a website up and running, so check it out.  I've made it clear that Jeff has my vote, and I also voted for Trinity Donovan.

For those who haven't made up their minds yet, let me give you this to think about on your way to the polls today.

There has been a lot of discussion during this race about various levels of community involvement among the candidates.  This one sat on such and such a board, that one volunteered for this organization, etc.  All of these volunteer activities are admirable, but ultimately, not that important in determining the suitability of a candidate for office.

Personally, I find it insulting when candidates and pundits proclaim that a particular candidate is more qualified than another because they have spent more time grooming their candidacy by sitting on boards and commissions.  I find it insulting because that attitude says that I, the Amazing Jake, have no business having an opinion on how tax dollars should be spent because I haven't ladeled soup at a soup kitchen (that YOU know of), or held fundraisers (that YOU know of), or any other worthy, but not-necessary-for-public-office activity.  That attitude says that I, a concerned citizen, have NO RIGHT to feel outraged enough by the actions of my elected officials to stand for office myself, should I feel the calling to do that.  That attitude says that if I feel that outrage I should NOT fill out candidacy paperwork, circulate petitions in support of my candidacy, and start fundraising.  Instead, I should carefully focus that energy into applying for a board or commission post, and then, when my anger has subsided and the councilmember(s) I oppose may no longer be in office, well THEN, I might finally be qualified for office.  Essentially, I should patiently wait my turn while I build a resume.

The Amazing Jake has no such aspirations.  I have the time in my life the same as anyone else, but I choose to spend that time differently.  But I have every respect for those who do choose to serve the community by standing for office.  What I DON'T respect is anyone who tries to tell me that I'm not good enough to do it, if I chose to. 

I'm supporting Jeff Weninger and Trinity Donovan in this race.  I'm actively in opposition to Becky Jackson. 

Jeff doesn't need to explain or justify to ANYONE how he spends his time.  He's a successful business owner, knows how to manage a P & L, and knows how excessive business regulation by the government can ruin a business.  As a prospective small business owner, that's the kind of experience I'd like to see on the council.

Trinity has an impressive background of service, but it's the kind of background that is focused.  You know that her service has been sincere and leading toward something.  I don't get that sense from Becky Jackson.

Finally, I find Becky Jackson's decision to hold office simultaneously with her Chamber of Commerce duties an egregious conflict of interest, and as you can tell by my rant, I am deeply offended by comparisons of her "public service" with Jeff Weninger's. 

Vote today for Jeff Weninger and Trinity Donovan.

I have to say, I was STUNNED at the voting results from last night.  If I would have picked the top four, it would have been Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Elliot Yamin, and Mandisa.  Taylor Hicks is a good singer, and I like his voice, but he is getting on my nerves, and he should have been voted off last night.  Chris has been my pick from the beginning, but I would have been OK with the outcome if Katharine or Elliot were the ultimate Idol at the end.  All three are outstanding, but if I would have bet, I would have bet on Chris being in the top 2.

When they announced the voting, I actually couldn't believe what I was hearing.  I don't think Chris could believe it either.  I think this now makes Katharine the favorite, but based on this week's voting, it could be anyone at this point.  Even Taylor, although that would be a massive disappointment.

So, now begins the due diligence process.  Assuming everything checks out with the financials, business equipment and fixtures, etc., I'll close on the business at the end of the month. 

It's a little disconcerting to take such a huge chunk out of your personal savings.  But, I feel more stress-free than I have in a long time.