MY OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MERYL STREEP’S SPEECH AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES

I think the general populace would do well to remember that Ms. Streep comes from The Land of Perpetual High School, where your fate is directly linked to your popularity, and your ability to act like someone you are not.

Why should we care what she says? The world she lives in is nowhere close to what reality is for the majority of Americans.

I would rather hear from the winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Truck Driving, Auto Mechanic, Grocery Store Manager, or any other number of leaders who have spent a lifetime working with real people who face real problems.

Besides, if your fate is linked to your popularity you are compelled to say what is popular in The Land of Perpetual High School. Pretty much anything an actor says is suspect, though if they are bucking the trends, I might give a listen and see what would motivate them to abandon the security of Popular Opinion in their Land.

But mostly, I don’t spend much time worrying about what People Who Are Good At Acting Like Someone They Are Not have to say.

I suggest you do the same.

Apparently, modesty is just for girls who don't look good in bikinis...

Lately, I keep hearing things about modesty and how the church objectifies women by insisting on it. They think that pretty soon, we’ll be all turtlenecks and burqas, and HOLY COW, how oppressive is that!

I hear women saying that THEY ARE WOMEN, hear them roar, and THEY ARE SEXY and that it is their right to be sexy. For men to look at women and note, perhaps with a lustful thought or two, that they are sexy is objectification, and the result of a character flaw. Control yourself, you sex-obsessed beasts. We are curvy, and have breasts – deal with it!

(But I thought you wanted to look…sexy…which, is it not, an attempt to be especially appealing to the male of the species?)

The new standard feminists are demanding is that sexiness be included as a characteristic in the equality of value, capability, and performance of women. I think they’re saying, “We’re just the same as men, except we’re different!”

Given that God created men and women with an urge to merge, I think it is foolish for us to expect that women can dress with physical assets on display, and men will be blasé about it.

I reiterate, isn’t the purpose of dressing sexily to prove one’s hotness? The feminist clarion call, for many years, has been that we are more than sex objects; we are intelligent, capable, contributors in our society. When a woman dresses so that her cleavage is on display, isn’t she objectifying herself? Isn’t she saying, I’m smart, and capable, but be sure you don’t miss that I have big breasts too? Isn’t she saying, my physical assets are on par with my character and capabilities? Are they? What about those of us who don’t look good in bikinis? Aren’t they implying that we are inferior women because we lack the physical characteristics whose display they are defending?

Women can holler and complain about men’s objectification of the sexy, but I maintain that the woman who dresses with low-cut bodices and tight, short skirts is objectifying herself. She’s saying that her breasts and booty are equal in value to her intangible characteristics, and it’s an invitation for others to assume the same.

I’m not advocating for turtlenecks and burqas, don’t get me wrong. {Sidebar: Why do the burqa and the bikini get paired anyway? As if those of us stumping for more modesty are going to embrace the practices of a culture who treat women as chattel! There’s a lot of spectrum between the bikini and the burqa!}

Burqas are another form of objectification. That culture is saying to their women, “You are a collection of parts which, if seen, can only lead to perversion.” This requirement is not protective. It is disrespectful.

I think that, for the most part, we women know when we are dressing to expose and draw attention. We know what kind of attention we are seeking. If I am wearing something that makes it difficult for a man to look me in the eye, I am reducing my opportunity to be respected as a contributing member of society…not because of his view of me – but because of the value I put on myself.

As I said, I’m not seeking to clothe the women of America in turtlenecks and shapeless dresses. I think every culture has varying standards when it comes to modesty, and immodesty. I’m not proposing a universal uniform. There is nothing wrong with dressing attractively, or with being beautiful…Just as there is nothing wrong with being fashion-challenged, or physically outside of the current standards for being beautiful.

For myself, I wish to dress in a way that doesn’t draw attention, either by flashiness or homeliness. I enjoy my wardrobe, but I don’t want it to compete for the definition of who I am.

I just don’t understand why women, who are wholly committed to equality, now turn to demanding the right to objectify themselves.

It seems nonsensical to me.

Change, The

Apparently, I am going through The Change.

And I’m kind of anxious to see how I turn out when it’s all over. Maybe I’ll finally be energetic, optimistic, and send birthday cards on time! I wonder if I’ll stop worrying, and lose my voracious appetite, and start to like to exercise…Oh the possibilities!

However, I have to admit, that most days the evidence doesn’t support the realization of these hopeful transformations.

I’ve heard that some women display Jezebel-like behaviors as they go through The Change. Some seem to lose touch with reality, and create conflicts wherever they go. These incidents are usually reported by someone who also says, “She was never like this before!!”

I’ve always been kind of afraid of that happening to me…And I’m not sure that it has, or hasn’t – because the overwhelming feeling I have at this time is not malice, but one of being fed up. Yes – just fed up. I’m over it. Not my circus; not my monkeys. Nothing to prove and nothing to lose...I won’t be dropping everything to work on your problem.

My new mantra: I’m going through The Change, and things are gonna be different around here!

I submit that these “Jezebels” just might be women who have been stuffing it for many years and finally decide to speak their mind -- and damn the torpedoes! They say what they see, and don’t sugarcoat it anymore. They register an opinion, and don’t cede their intended plan to the perceived common good. They object, and don’t worry about feelings. They pick up and pursue goals they have left on the back burner for years.

And the people around them are surprised, bewildered, and say “She was never like this before!”

Sorry to rock your world, people…but I am like this now. And it’s not so much about what I’m doing, as it is about what I am NOT doing anymore. I’m done with measuring myself by others’ standards. I will live by my own convictions, and not always strive to be acceptable to the elusive and changing values of the world. I have gained a thing called confidence, and I don’t have time to mess around anymore. Life is for living, not for wishing…And that means accepting what is, and dealing.

And that means, dear loved ones, you have to deal with me too.

Here’s hoping you can see beyond the surprise, and not think of me as Jezebel…And here’s hoping that I retain a little tact even as I accomplish The Change.

Because, you know: total depravity and all that. It’s still a bad mix with hormones.

The ban on shame...

Yesterday I heard Dave Ross say this: "We have to know how he {Tamerlan Tsarnaev} got radicalized because, since this is something anybody could do, we have to figure out how to make sure nobody wants to."

This could be pretty difficult because we live in a society that seems to be committed to making everyone comfortable with their choices. Let's make alternative lifestyles normal. Let's make pot legal. Let's reward the lazy with a free ride. Let's explain away evil as the result of a bad childhood ...and so on and so on...

A lot of effort has been spent making shame shameful. I don't think it's helping.

At the base of this is the rejection of absolutes...If you reject shame, you reject that there are truths that apply to everyone. How can you make something unattractive without imposing shame on the activity? How can you make sure nobody wants to bomb innocents without imposing your truth on them?

It seems that moral relativism is all well and good -- until somebody you love gets hurt. Then come the demands to impose your particular belief system on everyone.

But you can't have it both ways...There ARE absolute truths -- absolute morals, and shame is appropriate when they are flouted.

Certainly, every culture has misapplied shame, and probably always will to some extent, but we are foolish to attempt to make everyone feel good by eliminating the emotion instead of the action.

A little bit of shame could go a long way, in my opinion.

To legalize or not to legalize...

I’ve been puzzling over the initiative to legalize marijuana. Well, more accurately, I’ve been puzzling over the implementation of the legalization of marijuana.

I keep asking how they are going to the get the drug dealers to sign up for a license to sell marijuana, and to take a huge pay cut. I suppose the lack of eventual jail time might be a motivator.

But I would think that the drug dealers might not be too happy about the possibility of legalization because now they will have to sell a lot of marijuana to make the same amount of money…and probably buy a license, and charge/pay taxes on their sales, and be liable for income tax on the now-documented sales of their product.

Not to mention, they will likely have to become farmers if they are going to profit from it at all. Hard work.

Somehow, I just don’t picture most drug dealers making the transition. And so far I haven’t seen any interviews on how they feel about the initiative.

{snicker, snicker}

I have to say that I don’t follow the reasoning of the backers of this initiative…They always begin their promos by saying that years of enforcement of marijuana laws have not reduced the number of users…Like this plan is going to do that! The premise of the plan is to increase the number of users.

If you legalize, you widen the market, you bring the price down – and more users (or more usage) is needed to make a profit.

That just might mean more DUI’s, and the costs associated with that…some much worse than monetary.

Of course, the proponents’ biggest justification is that the dealers are making all the money now, and why shouldn’t the state get some of that money? After all, the state needs money badly…and this business is already successfully running out there, just waiting to be exploited accessed.

So, again, the end justifies the means, especially when the end is money.

But I still don’t get how this is good for the drug dealers, and how they are going to get them to buy into it…Some of them are willing to risk death to do what they do now. I don’t think they are just waiting to be freed into a life of legitimacy…I suppose the marijuana dealers will move up the chain into the profitable drugs, and leave the mary-jane to the dispensary types.

And then, in a few years, there will be an initative to legalize crack.

Whatever happened to progress?

In my blog wanderings, I came across this post: Cloth Toilet Paper: How and Why...and I am thinking, mostly, WHY????

This earnest, frugal person, whom I will say must be a "better man than I", uses cloth for, uh, you know what...And then she has to keep a container next to the toilet in which to collect the, uh, used cloths for later washing.  Apparently, the container is sealed, because, well, you know why...

I'm not gonna add this to my to-do list, people...And I'll bet there aren't many old-timers-- who once thought that the Sears catalog was an upgrade -- that will want to bring it back either.

Progress means you can send the, uh, foul stuff away with a flush, and without extra, uh, handling...or smell...or collecting it...ewwwww...Using toilet paper used to be considered an UPGRADE...another improvement for the homemaker, and for hygeine...time-saver, and so much better than a corn cob or a catalog...

So many of the improvements in "technology" that our grandparents and parents hailed as new luxurious conveniences, upgrades in hygeine, in food storage & safety, and in reducing their workloads, have fallen out of favor today.

Oh -- I know chlorine is used to make toilet paper white, and that the toilet paper has to be dealt with at the water treatment plant...But so does the water from your washing machine, and you have just shifted the e.coli to another source for the water treatment plant. I'm not saying cloth does not lessen the effect on water treatment, but I am suggesting that it may not be a very large percentage of improvement for the environment. Not to mention the increased risk of having an e.coli source sitting on the floor of your bathroom while it waits for the wash...

In my opinion, some of these radical shifts back to "the way things were" do more for the psyche of the doer, than they do for the environment, or the purposes used to justify the practice.

More power to you, I say! But I'm staying with paper, and the luxury of flushing some of my troubles away.

Wisdom for Wednesday...

In honor of the rapidly approaching deadline for filing your income tax, these words:

THE POINT TO REMEMBER IS
THAT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES
IT MUST FIRST TAKE AWAY.
--John S. Coleman

Thanks to all for your forced contribution.

R.I.P...

Turner, Log Cabin


Log Cabin Turner expired suddenly on Saturday, December 17, 2011, in the midst of turning a pancake on the griddle at the Randy Honcoop Family Home. Log Cabin Turner began somewhere in the east part of the country, but was transported by shrink wrap and Log Cabin syrup bottle to the Honcoop Home at the beginning of his career. A lowly freebie, he, through a delicate balance of strength and flexibility, enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the utensil hierarchy, far surpassing the abilities of many other more expensive and sophisticated pancake turners. He served the Honcoop Family well for over 10 years, and was a favorite – in fact – THE favorite. Never was a turner found to duplicate his skills, even when it was observed that he was suffering from small cracks in the backbone. He continued to valiantly serve in this state, until complete backbone failure occurred.

A committal service was held in the garage as Turner was laid to rest in a big blue bin, then wheeled curbside.

He will be sorely missed.

In lieu of cards and flowers, please petition Log Cabin Syrup for more free pancake turners. The world needs more turners like Log Cabin Turner.

Belated Thoughts about Independence Day

I've been reading Bill Bryson's book, At Home: A Short History of Private Life -- highly recommend it, by the way. In relating the challenges that Jefferson and Washington had in building their beautiful estates -- Monticello, and Mt. Vernon, respectively -- he explains Britain's Navigation Acts.

This series of laws required that any product bound for the New World had to originate in Britain, or pass through Britain on the way there. Britain saw its colonies as raw material providers for manufacturing in the homeland. Though beaver pelts came from the colonies; they must be sent to Britain to be made into hats, and then imported back. If a product needed in the American colonies was made in the West Indies, it still had to be shipped to Britain before doubling back to the colonies for use.

This kept the colonies dependent on Britain, and constantly in lack of materials. Anything you needed had to be ordered through a distant agent and shipped over the ocean, a time-consuming and wholly inefficient process. If, after waiting a year for your fireplace to come from the British factory, you found that they have forgotten to pack the mantel with it -- well, you were just out of luck, or had to wait another year.

I say, those Brits sure had the drop on bureaucracy, didn't they.

And I can understand more thoroughly the frustration of the colonists. They were being used. I can't imagine the frustration of being dependent on people who didn't understand your situation, or care about your needs, who gave no opportunity for ingenuity and efficiency, and were primarily concerned with following rules that lined their own pockets.

And then again, maybe I can imagine it.

It doesn't take too long to think of codes, zoning, rules, and regulations today that create the same kind of frustrations...and the same consequences.

The American colonists were moved to revolt against the British government...a huge risk, as they began with no central government, no general fund, not even money to pay the soldiers they would so desperately need.

But they were willing to risk it because they had the vision of the opportunities it would create. There would be great cost involved -- danger, insecurity, perhaps a failed experiment in a new way of governing.  But they also saw what could be if men were free to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So why are we not so moved? Have we become so inured to the erosion of our freedoms that we don't recognize it? Are we so comfortable as to have become complacent? Are we so distracted or deceived that we don't see the consequences of the path we are traveling? Are we cowardly for the confrontation required to maintain liberty? Perhaps we would rather have peace at any price...

It may be the backside of the American Experiment -- We are so busy pursuing our own happiness that we have little time to understand the principles that gave us the opportunity. We are so enamored of our own happiness that we expect it is our right. We accept degradation of opportunity in trade for what we believe is security. We demand outcomes, instead of opportunity.

I don't like to think about what it will take for us to become aware of what is at stake...How much will we have to lose to see the truth?

More than ever, I admire the patriots of the Revolution, and the high aims of the Founding Fathers...Unless we begin to acquire and display some of their better traits, we will find our selves needing another Revolution to buy back what they fought for.

I beg to differ, Sir...

The other day at his convo with Facebook founder and workers, President Obama said the following about how the Republicans want to "change our social compact":

"No matter how successful I am, no matter how much I've taken from this country...{he lists numerous ways his family received aid from the government}Their notion is, despite the fact that I've benefited from all these investments, that somehow I now have no obligation to people who are less fortunate than me; and I have no real obligation to future generations to make investments so that they have a better future."

A lot of people took offense at his implication that those who don't want to pay more taxes are not generous or caring toward those who have less than they...and yes, that offends me too. But even more, I am offended that many of us who provide jobs directly through our businesses, and indirectly through the purchases we make in our community, are not considered to be making "investments" in our country.

Apparently, in the President's value system, you are a taker if you become successful -- no matter that you never took a dime of government help, and instead provided employment that allowed people to invest in their own success.

Apparently, in the President's value system, you can only invest in your country by paying taxes...If paying our taxes is such a good "investment" -- implied that a dividend, or gain will be enjoyed -- why are we constantly paying more and more taxes?  Good investments pay the investor back...

That isn't happening with any of the taxes we've paid...Too much money is going to reward people for being inactive and unproductive.  Wouldn't it be better for businesses to be able to use their own money to expand and hire more and produce more, passing on the benefit of that investment to the individual to use as they see fit?

It's not about equality of outcomes; it's about equality of opportunity, Sir! I beg to differ with your definition of investing in our country.

PS...I didn't sign up for the "social compact" you say the Republicans are trying to change...and I dare to be there are a lot more out there like me...

Oh those Crappy Meals!

I feel sorry for all those little kids in San Fran...their rights to the toys that came with Meals Formerly Known as Happy have been ripped away!

Now if they want a toy, they will probably have to be force-fed some heinous tofu concoction with baked unsalted pita chips and nonfat chocolate milk. (What's the use of non-fat chocolate milk? I don't get it!) I suppose they WILL be given some fruit and veggies -- that have been soaked in something to keep them from discoloring while they are shipped around the country...

I'm sure the franchise owners really appreciate this great new marketing strategy, courtesy of the SanFran powers-that-be... "We have the right to tell you what to sell, because it is our job to save the people from you, you selfish, profit-mongering, health endangerers!"

Not to mention that it seems to be the government's aim to save the people from themselves. The ignorant masses can't be trusted to make good choices for their children when a toy is involved. 

Face it SanFran council, no one goes to McD's expecting to eat health food. In fact, we go there because it is NOT health food...It just tastes good -- fat and carbs taste good! We like them...and we need them -- amongst other nutrients-- and our kids will not die from fast food consumption.

And -- as a mom, I feel it is my duty to let the people who passed this law know this truth of child behavior: Just because you bought the healthy meal with a toy doesn't mean the kid is going to eat it.

But they will play with the toy.

Someone's liable...

Yesterday, I was listening to the Joe & Patti Show on KGMI. They were discussing the legal case of an injured firefighter whose court-award of $12million was challenged when he was investigated and found to be physically capable of much more than his original complaint claimed. Despite the video footage and photographs that showed him playing bocce & horse shoes, and even dancing, his award was re-instated.


A caller defended this guy saying that you can’t see all the consequences of the original injuries, so it’s not fair to judge. Someone may be disabled and not look that way...Besides, the caller stated, “SOMEONE is liable...”

Apparently, that’s a given. When something bad happens, SOMEONE is liable.

In this case, the firefighter was injured when he got up to use the restroom one night in a firehouse he was not familiar with. In the dark, he chose the wrong door, and stepped off into the hole for the fire pole down to the first floor. He suffered a head injury, 10 broken ribs and worse, if you can imagine that.

This just stuck in my craw, and I don’t mean the specifics of this case. You can argue about what this guy did or didn’t do, and whether he should have the money but that’s not what’s bugging me. I’m sorry that this guy suffered such severe consequences from an unfortunate mistake, but what about personal responsibility? No one shoved him over the edge. Why isn’t HE the one responsible? Why is SOMEONE (read: ELSE) liable? Why is this the immediate response?

There seems to be the attitude that because this firefighter has lost something, someone must make it up to him. It’s a general attitude these days, I fear. If I have less than you, someone should make it up to me...and most likely you. Or the government should...Or those rich, uncaring corporations...

People want to dissociate merit, or effort, or the lack thereof, with outcomes. They want us to think that we’re all the same, and deserve the same. We are all made in the image of God, and deserve the same respect, and the same opportunities – but we do not have all the same motivations, nor do we all deserve the same kind of outcomes. And sometimes we make bad, maybe even stupid, mistakes, that set us far back from where we want to be...

If you take the time to think about it, you recognize that while we all want security and happiness, no one defines them in the same way. As we persist in the pursuit of equal outcomes for all, we restrict our ability to freely pursue that which is our own unique definition of security and happiness. I may have to settle for yours, you may have to settle for mine, or worse, we both have to settle for the government’s definition of these.

So much is wasted by encouraging people to wait around for others to make up what they lack, when, all the time, opportunity and freedom are right there for us to grab hold of in pursuit of our unique dream of security and happiness.

This is America, people! -- the place where initiative, creativity and hard work allow us to take our talents to undetermined heights! Why are we ceding our dreams to wait for equal footing? We’ll never get it and we don’t even need it.

It’s time we stopped whining for equal outcomes, and grabbed the equal opportunities that already exist.

If someone is liable for what you lack, most likely that someone is YOU.

The whole world is getting played...

Much ado about nothing?

I think we're all getting played on the issues of the "Ground Zero" mosque, AND the Florida pastor's threatened burning of the Koran.

Mosque, Shmosque...I hate the thought that a mosque is being built near the place where thousands fell to the evil purposes of terrorists who declare Islam their religion...Probably as much as abortion providers hate it that the law allows protestors to stand across the street from their clinics. The obvious point being that we are free to express ourselves as long as we do not break the law. We are free to have poor taste, be stupid, be confrontational and insensitive, and even be a bully -- along with all the appropriate ways there are to express ourselves.

If the builders of this mosque are trying to express the ultimate "neener, neener" to the United States, how should we respond? Don't bullies grow in power, as their victims grow loud protestations? I think indifference might be the most appropriate response. If their "parishioners" (?) are as moderate as they claim, do you think they will want to be seen attending this particular mosque? This issue may have already died, except that the media blew up the conflict to give it life...And so many have fallen for it, spending much loud energy opposing it...

Then there's a little issue with the owner of the property...I've heard that a buyer with 20 million could come in and make the whole conflict go away...Just buy the property from the mosque builders...What a clever way to increase the value of property...get the whole country angry, upset, incensed, offended...and just a few million sacrificed by someone will make SO many people happy...

Pardon my cynicism, but I think that the Florida pastor may have shown his ulterior motives for the Koran burning stunt as well...First, who would have ever known this guy if he had not proposed this activity? Second, for a little bit, it looked like HE would be the one to make the whole country happy by striking a deal to stop the "Ground Zero" mosque...a hero!

Seriously, Pastor -- you think the Islamic radicals are that upset about 200 Korans being burned? Come on! "Oh, please, please don't burn our Korans! We'll stop plans to build that mosque immediately if you just don't burn our holy book!" Ridiculous that this Pastor even believed that it was possible...I'm sorry, hero will not apply in this case. It's all foolishness...

To me, it was all much ado about nothing until I heard our President make a plea to the Florida pastor to not burn the Koran because of the suffering that would be caused by his action. Mr. Obama implied that our servicemen & women might be harmed...

Neither is this an appropriate response to a bully..."Please don't do anything to make the terrorists mad. We don't want to get hurt..." assumes powerlessness.  We won't stand on our principles. We won't stand against evil done against our people. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep from getting hurt...What?

I can't believe that our President would communicate such a weak position to the terrorists and to the world. I'm appalled...angry...embarassed...and I'm sad for our country. 

God help us to be committed more to what is RIGHT than to what is comfortable...

And God help us discern the truth in every situation so we are not deceived into inadvertently aggrandizing the "players" who create situations that hurt our country for their own gain...

Love It/Hate It

Have you seen these Zappos ads yet? I LOVE THEM!! They are so clever, and so cute...and very effective.

I learned that some of these ads are actual recordings of people posing as customers, making strange requests of actual Zappos customer service reps. Then they recreated the scene with the puppets. Obviously, their customer service reps are great!

On the other hand, here is an ad I HATE!!



Even though it's a cartoon, it's just TOO GRAPHIC for me...YUK!! I just don't want to think about that...

And I'm embarrassed that you brought it up...PLEASE!! Some problems just don't need to be discussed in public!

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.

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

So mad I could spit nails...

I am incensed and disbelieving at the 1am vote on Health Care "Reform" (that's using the term very loosely) in the Senate.

Arguments about the content of the bill aside, why would you schedule a vote on such a contested bill at 1am on a Monday morning?  Only a couple of reasons that I can think of would cause you to pass it while the fewest Americans can see what you are doing...when the fewest people can react to it...Full implementation will not occur for years, but apparently it is urgent to pass it in the dead of night a few days before Christmas.

What? This is blatantly disrespectful of the American people! Do they really think we won't notice? Do they really think that we will see this action as plausible instead of highly suspicious, and downright disingenuous? I can't believe that they think we are this stupid -- and I am incensed that apparently they do!

I admit to having a very fatalistic attitude about our Congress most of the time. They're going to do what they're going to do, and we can't stop it...But this time, this time I am ANGRY, SO ANGRY that I will be letting them know, and letting everyone know that I am not about to forget this disrespect, nor will I let them forget it either!

I say, THROW THE RASCALS OUT!! And will do whatever I can to facilitate this...

Dear Retail World...

...please stop making my receipts so lengthy. I don't want to fill out your surveys. I don't need a coupon for the diapers I picked up for someone else. I don't need 2 feet of information when I purchase 2 items at your store.

My purse is bulging with useless information wrapped around a little bit that IS important to me...

Stop! Please stop! If I appeal to you on behalf of trees everywhere, might you consider it? I know, I know -- you have a captive audience for your advertising when I am trying to find the list of items I purchased amongst all the impertinent information. I have to read about my chance to win $10,000 if I take the time to fill out your survey. I now know that on Dec. 14, from 9:30-10:45 am I can get an extra $5 off clearance items priced between $20 & $25. Of course, I must save your receipt and bring it back to the store and buy another item...and get another 2 feet of great deals...

Here's the problem: I DON'T CARE. So just cut if off! You are annoying me!