So this is what it has come to...

I couldn't believe what I was reading in the Sunday Herald! I'll quote it (partially) here, with credit to the author, in an effort to not get in trouble for copying without permission...

TANNING TAX MAKES SOME SALON BUSINESSES BURNING MAD
by Nathan Olivarez-Giles  LA Times

"Eydie McNeill was fuming about the newly passed health care bill, but her rage had nothing to do with socialism, death panels, or the deficit.

She just likes a good tan, and because of a provision in the bill that puts a 10 percent additional tax on tanning salon fees, her sessions are going to cost her more.

'I'm angry, I'm really disappointed by all this,' said McNeill, 51, waiting for a tanning bed at the Tanning Club in Westwood. "It just feels like we are being taxed for everything nowadays."

She was not just thinking of herself. McNeill is a sorority house mom at Gamma Phi Beta at the University of California-Los Angeles.

'A lot of my girls tan, most of them, and they don't have a lot of extra money,' she said. 'They're students. Most students live on a tight budget.' "

I have 3 observations:
1. Sorority girls of UCLA -- if you can afford to tan, you don't know what a tight budget is!! Holy cow!! These are the depths of victimization that we have fallen to? We are now supposed to be concerned about people who can't afford to tan -- as much as they are accustomed to.

2. Of course, this is a legitimate reason for the health care bill to be repealed. Girls in CALIFORNIA will not be able to tan!! Thank you, liberal media for finally finding a good reason for the American public to be concerned and fearful about how this bill will change their lives.

3. Though I reject the idea that taxing tanning will lead to the prevention of skin cancer, I would like to encourage you entitlement-minded out there to note this: You want free health care. You want the government to provide for your "right" to quality health care. You know how they're going to take care of you? They're going to limit your freedom to tan as much as you want, to eat as many french fries as you want, to smoke if you want, to ride motorcycles if you want, etc., etc...by taxing you, or the business that provides these services...Yep, it will COST more...one way or the other...and probably both ways.

You know, it would be nice if you entitlement-minded people would think these things through, and not just live by your gut.

I don't think I've ever said a less diplomatic thing in my life.

LONGING...LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGIIIINNNGGG...

That describes me after all the Health Care Reform Hoo-Haw...

I'm LONGING for SOMEONE, ANYONE in the halls (no longer hallowed) of Congress to speak the truth...to make a decision based on what is good for the people he serves, NOT based on what his good for his position, or for his next election.

I believe that I am not the only one feeling this kind of longing. In fact, I think that anyone who had the courage to do this would find himself in front of a very large following. However, besides the lack of courageous people of integrity in Congress (not a dearth, a lack), I think this doesn't happen because most citizens are not aware of how bad things are, and are not paying enough attention to require accountability in their own representatives and Senators.

Was it Plato that said, "The price men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves."?

That's it, folks. We need to make our government representatives accountable. Make them answer for what they are doing...And show the door to those who are in power for power, not to serve.

Easier said than done...but imperative!

Another reason I am against health care reform...

"Of all tryannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. "
                                                                                                    -- C.S. Lewis

Oh for goodness, people!

Big news today is that WA Ceasefire is putting the pressure on Starbucks to make their coffee shops gun-free zones.

Can one think of a more ill-conceived and ill-timed campaign?

Good idea, guys! Let's start this movement in Seattle, which is next-door to Tacoma, where 4 gun-carrying police officers were shot & killed in a coffee shop by an armed crazyman. Because one of these officers was able to fire at the fleeing perp and wound him, they were able to find and arrest the crazyman, protecting the public and other officers from being further targets.

Isn't this illustration enough that it is not the presence of guns that cause the problem?

WA Ceasefire is demanding that Starbucks create a law of their own -- not supported by the codes and laws of the state, which allow gun-totin' (they're all cowboys anyway, right?)citizens to go purchase their grande double shot caramel macchiato extra hot while packing their own heat...So who is going to enforce it? Can you see the barista going up to the gun-packing coffee drinker and asking him to leave? I don't think so.

And, by the way, how big a problem do they think this is? I can't say I've ever gone into any coffee shop wondering how many people in there were carrying guns...I have my doubts that's where all the sketchy gun-carrying people go...Starbucks...Right! The coffee shops are rife with people just waiting to shoot it up...Though, if they know people with guns are not allowed there, maybe now they will give it a try. No worries about somebody trying to be a hero when you're robbing the place...

I'm glad that, so far, Starbucks is sticking to their guns (pun intended), and not changing their policy. But I have to say that I know a lot of Seattlite liberal types will think it a moral victory if they cave...and they just might -- for marketing reasons. It will make some people feel good, and feel safer (-- and self-righteous too) and they will LOVE Starbucks.  "I'll have a little world peace with my coffee, please." Awwww...

Foolish people are willing to FEEL good, instead of looking at facts with reason and responding appropriately.  WA Ceasefire members seem to be passionate and proud that they are working to make people feel safe...But when a crazyman breaks down their door, I think they might wish they had a gun.

Oxymoron: "Congressional Hearing"

I’ve just watched a portion of the Congressional hearing into the Toyota recall crisis...


It’s not riveting. In fact, it’s kind of comical to me. Congressmen with grave faces challenging the Toyota execs...Yes, Congressmen from Congress – that paragon of efficient problem solving. Oh, the irony!!

But, they are putting the screws to them. They even asked the $64 question: Do you intend to address these quality control issues in such a way as to restore the safety of Toyota drivers and be an example for other car manufacturers?

I tell you, I was waiting with bated breath for that answer!

What’s Mr. Toyoda going to say? “Uh, no...we’ve really made enough money already, big uncaring corporation that we are. We’ve always marketed our cars as reliable, quality vehicles and we and our employees have taken pride in making them. But what you’re asking us to do is too much work. We’ll just let the whole thing go down. Yes, probably fewer and fewer Toyota’s will be sold, and we’ll end up in bankruptcy. But, we know that when we get to that point, you will bail us out – so no worries. In the meantime, we’re going to try a new marketing campaign: TAKE YOUR CHANCES, DRIVE A TOYOTA! It should appeal to the Gen Y’ers with their love for risk.”

In my opinion, he could have said: “This is a stupid question because, obviously, we are doing that already! In the real world, unlike Congress, quality results are a pre-requisite to success. If we don’t build safe, quality cars, people don’t buy them. We don’t make money. We can’t employ people. We won’t have a business. Quality products, and corrections to any deficiencies that show up, keep us in business, so we have a vested interest in getting things right. We know that you have us here so you can look like you’re holding our feet to the fire and as a result, it will be perceived that is Congress who is making American drivers safer. Well, sirs, in that you are wrong. We are already at work to make drivers safer, and you are wasting our valuable time by requiring us to be here to answer stupid questions.”

Instead, Mr. Toyoda gave the politically correct answer, and the expected abject apologies and groveling. I know he couldn’t say the kind of things that I was thinking, but I’m still kind of disappointed. So many of these Congressional hearings are a farce. It is just an opportunity for Congress to look like they are in control of curing all American ills. Goodness! How would we have survived this recall crisis if they had not intervened???

Very well, thank you. And it would please me immensely if you, Congress, would recognize that looking like something is very different than BEING something. Stop with the laughable hearings that are just a stage for your ulterior motives, and start doing more for the American people by doing less!

How you know your pre-SuperBowl coverage has gone on too long...

You know your coverage has gone on too long when you hear your commentators say:

COMMENTATOR #1: {Paraphrased} "The Saints need to force the turnovers! Statistically, the teams that recover the turnovers win the most games."

COMMENTATOR #2: {Quote} "But will the Saints be able to do that today?"

COMMENTATOR #3: {Quote}"We don't know -- that's why they need to play the game..."

CUT TO COMMERCIAL

Yes, PLEASE, PLEASE! cut to a commercial!! It seems quite obvious that this may be only one of MANY, MANY reasons why they need to play the game... Another might be to see who wins...and what about the revenue from all those commercials? Somebody needs to play a game for there to be commercials, right?  And don't forget that lots of people bought tickets to see a game, so someone might as well play one...

At least we know it has been statistically proven that teams that do things right often win over those that make mistakes.

Maybe 5 1/2 hours is too long to talk about a football game that hasn't happened yet, ya think?

Perhaps I was a bit too harsh...

...in my review of Disney World.


Oh, cynical, hypocritical me, the one who likes to watch movies with HAPPY endings, railing against the artificiality of Disney World! (Blush!)


I have to agree that it is joy to watch wonder-filled innocents meet Cinderella and Mickey, and see their faces light up at the marvels of a fantasy world come to life.


And there's nothing wrong with having fun either -- hours and hours of just plain, laughing fun...


Okay -- I was too harsh...So I want you to know that while I have my reservations (not the hotel kind), I do not condemn the Magic Kingdom nor its aficionados.


Mr. Walt, and Mickey -- forgive me for diminishing  your contributions to the world.