Well, let's be honest. There are A LOT of problems with my state, but this one in particular has got my blood boiling today.
This is precisely why I refuse to live in anywhere outside of the county in which I currently live (which, it just so happens, is the only one in the state where members of the dominant religion are the minority). I'm sorry, but where does "personal choice" come into play here? Isn't it pretty obvious that there would be smoke inside of a hooka bar? And that being the case, doesn't it stand to reason that the people going into a hooka bar would be aware of that fact?
Sure, don't smoke in buildings where no one expect there to be smoke, but in a bar? And in a hooka bar for that matter? COME ON! I'm not saying that everyone who goes to a bar smokes. I am saying, though, that people EXPECT THERE TO BE SMOKE IN BARS, and personally I don't think there are too many people out there who thought to themselves: "Wow! No more secondhand smoke in the bar! That means I can go in there and destroy my liver without having to worry about lung cancer. That is so awesome!"
In fact, I'm prett sure the people who were all petitioning the state to crack down on the whole indoor smoking thing are the same ones that would prefer to ban the smoking of cigarettes (and everything else) all together. And drinking, for that matter, because the sight of alcohol being poured and mixed behind the bar at Applebee's might polute the innocence of a child's mind. All those brightly colored alcoholic beverages, and the smiling people enjoying them could seriously scar a poor child's mind, and just that glimpse is more than enough to turn them to a life of SIN!
I wish I were exaggerating. They recently took wine coolers and what not (i.e. bitch beer) out of gas stations and grocery stores for the same reason, because such things were OBVIOUSLY intended to be purchased by underaged drinkers, and because the rest of us should be subjected to the morals and standards of the fundamentalist that founded the place.
For those of you that have never been here, consider yourselves lucky. It used to be that if you wanted to even go into a bar around here you had to put your name in the database and become a "member," or you had to be with someone who was already a member AND still put your name in the database. Thankfully that law has been done away with, only it was replaced with a scan of your ID. That sure does make it convenient for the DOT to see where you are on a Friday night, doesn't it?
Oh, Brother Big. You sure do keep a close eye on us.
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Clive, I've Been So Good To You...
I have been wondering most deeply if it is more than just coincidence that my car's starter is going out just now as my warranty is running thin. Probably not, which doesn't make the situation any better. And to add to it, here's what else needs to be fixed:
1. The Windshield. I've been driving around with a giant crack for about 2.5 years because I didn't have to go through safety/emissions last year.
2. The back brake pads. According to my mechanic, they'll be completely gone within the next 100 miles...
3. The A/C, which is going to cost me $700 just for the part because there is a three inch bolt embedded in the front air filter right below my license plate. Don't worry, that bolt is keeping the hole mostly sealed, and the air on the passenger's side is great. It's just the air on the driver's side that is warm all the time...
4. The back tires. I just had the front ones replaced at the beginning of June because there was a bubble in the front driver's side tire, but the back ones still have to be replaced.
The most excellent news of all is that I have to get all of this done before the end of August because my registration is up. Well, the A/C part isn't critical. I drive with my windows down anyway, and I don't exactly have $700 extra laying around (wouldn't that be nice?). But the starter isn't going to be cheap either. According to this new fangled internet, a replacement starter for my car is going to run $200, and of course that doesn't include labor. And to top it all off I just paid the dealership $140 for an oil change and to find out about the bolt in my air filter.
Honestly, I want a new car. I know that Hondas are supposed to last forever, and that at 100,000 miles they're only just getting started, but it does scare me a little that all of these problems are cropping up just as my warranty expires (I'm at 93K+ miles total). What happens when I cross that magical limit on the odometer? I'm scared to find out.
1. The Windshield. I've been driving around with a giant crack for about 2.5 years because I didn't have to go through safety/emissions last year.
2. The back brake pads. According to my mechanic, they'll be completely gone within the next 100 miles...
3. The A/C, which is going to cost me $700 just for the part because there is a three inch bolt embedded in the front air filter right below my license plate. Don't worry, that bolt is keeping the hole mostly sealed, and the air on the passenger's side is great. It's just the air on the driver's side that is warm all the time...
4. The back tires. I just had the front ones replaced at the beginning of June because there was a bubble in the front driver's side tire, but the back ones still have to be replaced.
The most excellent news of all is that I have to get all of this done before the end of August because my registration is up. Well, the A/C part isn't critical. I drive with my windows down anyway, and I don't exactly have $700 extra laying around (wouldn't that be nice?). But the starter isn't going to be cheap either. According to this new fangled internet, a replacement starter for my car is going to run $200, and of course that doesn't include labor. And to top it all off I just paid the dealership $140 for an oil change and to find out about the bolt in my air filter.
Honestly, I want a new car. I know that Hondas are supposed to last forever, and that at 100,000 miles they're only just getting started, but it does scare me a little that all of these problems are cropping up just as my warranty expires (I'm at 93K+ miles total). What happens when I cross that magical limit on the odometer? I'm scared to find out.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Overcompensation
Dear Mr. Dodge Truck with Ridiculously Large Wheels Driver that Nearly Ran Me Over on I-15 this Morning:
Look, buddy. You aren't fooling anyone. I know life must really suck for a guy with such a small penis, but seriously? There is absolutely no other purpose for tires that big except to compensate for what you so obviously lack. I may have let it slide if there was any indication on your truck that it was used for heavy lifting or towing (let's say a construction company decal or a not-so-clever license plate holder that boldly declares that you'd rather be doing motocross), but your truck and its naked-lady-silhouette mud flaps were SPOTLESS.
Now, I don't know about anyone else, but a clean truck is one that obviously is not being put to its proper use. So why don't you just give it up and put the appropriate bumper sticker on your truck? I know that they make 'em, because my brother in law saw one on a truck similar to yours. It said "Yes, I have a small penis" and I guarantee that it has gotten him laid at least once. I'm even inclined to shake that man's hand, because at least he's aware of the fact that his giant truck is a dead give away. And there is a lot to be said about self-awareness.
That's definitely something you should look into, because apparently you don't realize that your giant monstrosity of a truck takes up more than its allotted amount of space on the freeway. I know you probably can't see just how far your tires are in my lane over your insecurity, but they're about halfway and closing. My car is moderately sized, not tiny, so it's not like I'm hard to see. If you're going to change lanes, GET THE F!#$ OVER ALREADY! If not, then stay in your own damn lane. And for god's sake USE YOUR BLINKER! It's one of the wands that sticks out from behind your steering wheel. The one with the most dust is probably your best bet.
Still, even a blinker won't save me if you decide to take me out monster truck style while I'm trying to pass you. It's called a blind spot, dumb ass, and you of all people should be checking it before drifting across the line. Of course why would you bother when you don't seem to realize that you're doing it? Considering the way you're drifting from side to side you're lucky that I or any of the other drivers on the road (all of whom are managing to stay in between the lines) don't call you in as a drunk driver. You should be thanking us, not running us all off the road.
Seriously, dude, we're onto you. Your giant truck doesn't make up for the fact that you got the short end of the stick (pun most definitely intended) when it comes to manhood. But that fact alone can be forgiven, particularly if you are not the insecure, unaware jerk that you appear to be. However, at this point, what with your tires coming within an inch of my passenger side doors and your inability to identify and utilize the dusty lever that is your blinker, it's not looking too good for you in terms of redemption. Still, I'm open to hear your defense. Or, perhaps, the more appropriate response would be to drop trou and prove me wrong. Either way, I still think you're a douche.
Sincerely,
A Concerned non-Utahn Utah Driver.
Look, buddy. You aren't fooling anyone. I know life must really suck for a guy with such a small penis, but seriously? There is absolutely no other purpose for tires that big except to compensate for what you so obviously lack. I may have let it slide if there was any indication on your truck that it was used for heavy lifting or towing (let's say a construction company decal or a not-so-clever license plate holder that boldly declares that you'd rather be doing motocross), but your truck and its naked-lady-silhouette mud flaps were SPOTLESS.
Now, I don't know about anyone else, but a clean truck is one that obviously is not being put to its proper use. So why don't you just give it up and put the appropriate bumper sticker on your truck? I know that they make 'em, because my brother in law saw one on a truck similar to yours. It said "Yes, I have a small penis" and I guarantee that it has gotten him laid at least once. I'm even inclined to shake that man's hand, because at least he's aware of the fact that his giant truck is a dead give away. And there is a lot to be said about self-awareness.
That's definitely something you should look into, because apparently you don't realize that your giant monstrosity of a truck takes up more than its allotted amount of space on the freeway. I know you probably can't see just how far your tires are in my lane over your insecurity, but they're about halfway and closing. My car is moderately sized, not tiny, so it's not like I'm hard to see. If you're going to change lanes, GET THE F!#$ OVER ALREADY! If not, then stay in your own damn lane. And for god's sake USE YOUR BLINKER! It's one of the wands that sticks out from behind your steering wheel. The one with the most dust is probably your best bet.
Still, even a blinker won't save me if you decide to take me out monster truck style while I'm trying to pass you. It's called a blind spot, dumb ass, and you of all people should be checking it before drifting across the line. Of course why would you bother when you don't seem to realize that you're doing it? Considering the way you're drifting from side to side you're lucky that I or any of the other drivers on the road (all of whom are managing to stay in between the lines) don't call you in as a drunk driver. You should be thanking us, not running us all off the road.
Seriously, dude, we're onto you. Your giant truck doesn't make up for the fact that you got the short end of the stick (pun most definitely intended) when it comes to manhood. But that fact alone can be forgiven, particularly if you are not the insecure, unaware jerk that you appear to be. However, at this point, what with your tires coming within an inch of my passenger side doors and your inability to identify and utilize the dusty lever that is your blinker, it's not looking too good for you in terms of redemption. Still, I'm open to hear your defense. Or, perhaps, the more appropriate response would be to drop trou and prove me wrong. Either way, I still think you're a douche.
Sincerely,
A Concerned non-Utahn Utah Driver.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
La Niña
Happy Independence Day, all! Today is the officially designated day use to celebrate when our Forefathers declared us a free nation. History tells us that they actually voted to confirm the Declaration of Independence on July 2. The thing was actually signed on July 4, though, so that's apparently why we celebrate today. UNLESS today falls on a Sunday, in which case all celebratory events must take place on Saturday or on Monday. Personally I think that's bullshit. Why? Because today is July 4. Tomorrow isn't July 4, and yesterday wasn't July 4. Today is July 4, 2010. We aught to be celebrating today because today is the day. And the most messed up part? I'm working today and not tomorrow. That's all sorts of backwards.
I could go on and on, but honestly there's no point. I live in UT, after all, and the reigning religious mindset will have its way regardless of my interference or non-interference. So that's enough of that.
What I really wanted to write about today is this girl:
Freaking hell she's cute! I seriously can't get enough of her. And neither can you. And I do nothing but aim to please. So, here are two more overdoses of cute:
I don't know about you, but I just want to squeeze her little cheeks. She's looking a lot more like her mom these days, and I can't figure out if it's because of her big blue eyes and cute little nose so much as it's because they have pretty much the same haircut. Paisley's hair has gotten a LOT lighter since she was born. It's a dark blond now, and it was so dark brown! Crazy how it'll do that, right? Right. She's just a sweet little thing, though, weighing in at just about 20 lbs. And she's mobile now too! Crawling around getting into things, constantly threatening to hurt herself...you know, the usual crawling baby routine. It sure is fun for her parents. And for me. I love being an auntie!
I could go on and on, but honestly there's no point. I live in UT, after all, and the reigning religious mindset will have its way regardless of my interference or non-interference. So that's enough of that.
What I really wanted to write about today is this girl:
Freaking hell she's cute! I seriously can't get enough of her. And neither can you. And I do nothing but aim to please. So, here are two more overdoses of cute:
I don't know about you, but I just want to squeeze her little cheeks. She's looking a lot more like her mom these days, and I can't figure out if it's because of her big blue eyes and cute little nose so much as it's because they have pretty much the same haircut. Paisley's hair has gotten a LOT lighter since she was born. It's a dark blond now, and it was so dark brown! Crazy how it'll do that, right? Right. She's just a sweet little thing, though, weighing in at just about 20 lbs. And she's mobile now too! Crawling around getting into things, constantly threatening to hurt herself...you know, the usual crawling baby routine. It sure is fun for her parents. And for me. I love being an auntie!
Monday, May 24, 2010
One of These Things....
Good morning. If you would, so kindly, note the date on which this post is being written and published. It should say May 24, right around 8:30 a.m. (mountain time). With the date noted, please review the following photos:
The two trees at the entrance to my complex bloomed really early this year, and much to my delighted surprise, the flowers are huge! None of this petite, fragile little cherry blossoms, this is a flower!
Along those same lines, here are some leaf buds from a few weeks ago. Aren't they cute? This little tree is right outside the entrance to my building, and they put it there early this season after ripping out a big, dead evergreen last season. It had pretty little white flowers on it for a whole day.
And this is a cute little rosebud, growing happily away on the bush at T's complex. I can't wait til it and all its friends bloom in the summer.
I like to collect these types of things. Little signs of Spring that bring warmth and joy to my heart after the cold dreariness of Winter. I hate the cold (just like my mom, and her mom before that), so when Spring comes around with its color and heat, I get so excited for the gloriousness of summer. The flip flops, sandals, shorts and tanks come out right around the first of May, because in my mind that is when it should be warm more often than it is cold. Well it's May 24 now, so we should be completely done with the cold, right? Right.
Wrong. Behold the view out my office window as of about 10 minutes ago:
Yes. That is snow falling. SNOW. In May.....it boggles my mind too.
Seriously, WTF? Memorial Day is in exactly one week from now, and I dunno about you but Memorial Day, in my book, is supposed to be the OFFICIAL kick off to summer. How exactly are we supposed to do that while we're still covered in effing SNOW?? Granted we were warned that this would happen. I can't deny that. During the ONE time I've seen the news in the last two months (at or near the beginning of April), the weatherman did say that we'd be cold up through the end of May. But c'mon! Since WHEN is the weatherman EVER right about anything more than seven days in advance? I'll tell you! Since NEVER! Except for this once. And maybe there's been this ONE other time, but I swear that's it.
I remember that it rained basically all through June 2009. I remember how badly that sucked. I sure hope that this is the last of the weather's feeble attempts to ruin all the beautiful sunshine because I am past DONE with the cold. I'm ready for warm and hot and my pool to be open so that my fading Mexico tan can be salvaged. Global warming be damned. I want regional warming. If it could just be warm in Salt Lake, that'd be cool. I could handle that.
Well I'm done ranting, even though it is still snowing. In case you're wondering, the weather report for tomorrow is 71 degrees and sunny. Welcome to UT.
The two trees at the entrance to my complex bloomed really early this year, and much to my delighted surprise, the flowers are huge! None of this petite, fragile little cherry blossoms, this is a flower!
Along those same lines, here are some leaf buds from a few weeks ago. Aren't they cute? This little tree is right outside the entrance to my building, and they put it there early this season after ripping out a big, dead evergreen last season. It had pretty little white flowers on it for a whole day.
And this is a cute little rosebud, growing happily away on the bush at T's complex. I can't wait til it and all its friends bloom in the summer.I like to collect these types of things. Little signs of Spring that bring warmth and joy to my heart after the cold dreariness of Winter. I hate the cold (just like my mom, and her mom before that), so when Spring comes around with its color and heat, I get so excited for the gloriousness of summer. The flip flops, sandals, shorts and tanks come out right around the first of May, because in my mind that is when it should be warm more often than it is cold. Well it's May 24 now, so we should be completely done with the cold, right? Right.
Wrong. Behold the view out my office window as of about 10 minutes ago:
Yes. That is snow falling. SNOW. In May.....it boggles my mind too.Seriously, WTF? Memorial Day is in exactly one week from now, and I dunno about you but Memorial Day, in my book, is supposed to be the OFFICIAL kick off to summer. How exactly are we supposed to do that while we're still covered in effing SNOW?? Granted we were warned that this would happen. I can't deny that. During the ONE time I've seen the news in the last two months (at or near the beginning of April), the weatherman did say that we'd be cold up through the end of May. But c'mon! Since WHEN is the weatherman EVER right about anything more than seven days in advance? I'll tell you! Since NEVER! Except for this once. And maybe there's been this ONE other time, but I swear that's it.
I remember that it rained basically all through June 2009. I remember how badly that sucked. I sure hope that this is the last of the weather's feeble attempts to ruin all the beautiful sunshine because I am past DONE with the cold. I'm ready for warm and hot and my pool to be open so that my fading Mexico tan can be salvaged. Global warming be damned. I want regional warming. If it could just be warm in Salt Lake, that'd be cool. I could handle that.
Well I'm done ranting, even though it is still snowing. In case you're wondering, the weather report for tomorrow is 71 degrees and sunny. Welcome to UT.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I Read it on Wiki....
From Wikipedia: "Wikipedia's 15 million articles (3.2 million in English) have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world, and almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site."
Translation: anyone can write/edit for Wiki. In my mind, that means that anyone can make up whatever they want and throw it into Wikipedia as fact. And yet, Wikipedia is toted as the end-all of the online resources. It is used and allowed as legitimate source material for writing a research paper (which, while I think that is a huge detriment to the advance of information in a digital age, I can't really complain because all of the research papers I've written in the last three years were helped along by Wikipedia). I bring this all up because during a conversation about cars last night I was told point blank, "It's true! I read it on Wiki." To me, that sounds an awful lot like "It's true! I saw it on Fox News." Click on that link to read the insanity. Not recommended for conservatives that love the channel, but pretty dang useful to those of us rational people who expect our "news" to be relevant AND true... Okay, the "rational people" comment is probably uncalled for, but seriously? Suing for and winning the right to lie to your viewers and yet people still watch it...? I'm so confused.
At least Wikipedia takes some precautions against full on lies being published. Of course, I'm sure plenty still get through. Not surprisingly, Wikipedia and Fox News fit pretty perfectly into Baudrillard's theory of Simulacra and Simulation. Maybe one day (perhaps not to long from now), the only information we know will have come from Wikipedia, and the absolute truth about reality will be distorted to the point that we don't even suspect that it is.
Then again, "absolute truth" is nothing more than a concept at this point. Information, regardless of source, is never delivered unhindered or unaltered by some sort of bias to the general public. Sometimes the alterations are unintentional, of course, because people can't help but relate things in their own view and with their own words, but sometimes (cough cough the Bush administration) information is altered on purpose to serve certain interest.
This is more or less why I am so cautious about any "fact" on the internet. A new term should be invented to describe this wave of half truths and biased fact, and then everyone should agree to use it so that people can tell the difference!
Anyway. Be skeptical is all I'm saying.
So here's some awesomeness for you.
I heart P!ink, and I particularly like that her ex is in this video with her. You go girl!
Translation: anyone can write/edit for Wiki. In my mind, that means that anyone can make up whatever they want and throw it into Wikipedia as fact. And yet, Wikipedia is toted as the end-all of the online resources. It is used and allowed as legitimate source material for writing a research paper (which, while I think that is a huge detriment to the advance of information in a digital age, I can't really complain because all of the research papers I've written in the last three years were helped along by Wikipedia). I bring this all up because during a conversation about cars last night I was told point blank, "It's true! I read it on Wiki." To me, that sounds an awful lot like "It's true! I saw it on Fox News." Click on that link to read the insanity. Not recommended for conservatives that love the channel, but pretty dang useful to those of us rational people who expect our "news" to be relevant AND true... Okay, the "rational people" comment is probably uncalled for, but seriously? Suing for and winning the right to lie to your viewers and yet people still watch it...? I'm so confused.
At least Wikipedia takes some precautions against full on lies being published. Of course, I'm sure plenty still get through. Not surprisingly, Wikipedia and Fox News fit pretty perfectly into Baudrillard's theory of Simulacra and Simulation. Maybe one day (perhaps not to long from now), the only information we know will have come from Wikipedia, and the absolute truth about reality will be distorted to the point that we don't even suspect that it is.
Then again, "absolute truth" is nothing more than a concept at this point. Information, regardless of source, is never delivered unhindered or unaltered by some sort of bias to the general public. Sometimes the alterations are unintentional, of course, because people can't help but relate things in their own view and with their own words, but sometimes (cough cough the Bush administration) information is altered on purpose to serve certain interest.
This is more or less why I am so cautious about any "fact" on the internet. A new term should be invented to describe this wave of half truths and biased fact, and then everyone should agree to use it so that people can tell the difference!
Anyway. Be skeptical is all I'm saying.
So here's some awesomeness for you.
I heart P!ink, and I particularly like that her ex is in this video with her. You go girl!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
SMOG
Dear Rocky Mountains (specifically along the Wasatch Front in Salt Lake):
I love you dearly, don't get me wrong. You are gorgeous and grand, and you make me feel safe living on a long-overdue-for-"the big one" fault line. You provide hours and days and months of outdoor activity, which is what really attracts non-Utahns to the state in the first place. I really do love you for all of these things.
But.
But you also keep all of this gross air trapped in the valley. This causes me to cough and choke and generally hate life because my lungs do NOT appreciate having to chew for oxygen. Is it really necessary? I mean, honestly. What good does it do you? It can't be much, if any. I would imagine that the settling in of this bad air could only be bad for you, though perhaps it inspires people to climb up your heights in order to escape it. Well if that's the only reason then that is LAME.
Anyway. I would really appreciate it if you would stop. In fact, I'm sure that all of us who live here in your shadows would greatly appreciate a break from the smog. I seriously couldn't even see past either side of the freeway this morning due to its density. So if you could just move a little bit...like, I dunno, just a few miles north or east or both so that the winds can just blow the air past us like they should, that'd be great. I really think that our relationship (and not to mention my lungs) would be much healthier if you just complied. It's called compromise, right? Right.
I really do love you. I just need more space. And less pollution.
Sincerely,
Jess
P.S. I know that this bad air was sent our way by California (spiteful bastards polluting my air!), but why does it have to stop here? Just let it pass on through to Colorado. They won't mind it, I'm sure, and we will all just be so much happier.
I love you dearly, don't get me wrong. You are gorgeous and grand, and you make me feel safe living on a long-overdue-for-"the big one" fault line. You provide hours and days and months of outdoor activity, which is what really attracts non-Utahns to the state in the first place. I really do love you for all of these things.
But.
But you also keep all of this gross air trapped in the valley. This causes me to cough and choke and generally hate life because my lungs do NOT appreciate having to chew for oxygen. Is it really necessary? I mean, honestly. What good does it do you? It can't be much, if any. I would imagine that the settling in of this bad air could only be bad for you, though perhaps it inspires people to climb up your heights in order to escape it. Well if that's the only reason then that is LAME.
Anyway. I would really appreciate it if you would stop. In fact, I'm sure that all of us who live here in your shadows would greatly appreciate a break from the smog. I seriously couldn't even see past either side of the freeway this morning due to its density. So if you could just move a little bit...like, I dunno, just a few miles north or east or both so that the winds can just blow the air past us like they should, that'd be great. I really think that our relationship (and not to mention my lungs) would be much healthier if you just complied. It's called compromise, right? Right.
I really do love you. I just need more space. And less pollution.
Sincerely,
Jess
P.S. I know that this bad air was sent our way by California (spiteful bastards polluting my air!), but why does it have to stop here? Just let it pass on through to Colorado. They won't mind it, I'm sure, and we will all just be so much happier.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Dear Mr. President
(It's been a while since I've ranted about anything political. This came to be last night while I was cleaning my house. I figured I'd share, just for funsies :) Enjoy!)
You know, I'd like to have a conversation with the President. As a voting member of society I see it as my right to do so. I have some things to say to him, and since I voted for him he should listen, right? Right. I really just want to look him in the eye and say, All due respect, Sir, but what the fuck? You make us all these promises during the campaign, and so far you have been nothing but one epic fail! To be fair, Sir...(he'll probably try to interrupt me at this point, but I will not allow him to do so), if you please, Sir, I voted to put you in this office because you asked me to. Well, I did, and so far you have not carried through with your part of the bargain. So, Sir, if you please, I have some words to say as a concerned citizen of this United States. So, yes, to be fair I know that you came into some really shitty circumstances. You are assaulted on all fronts every day. Well guess what! This is the job you signed on for. You can't have been so naive as to think that you would never have to muscle your way through the opposition. Hello?! Have you met your predecessor? He's basically retarded, and he still managed to get shit done. Why? Because he was an arrogant motherfucker who did not take no for an answer!
So, Mr. President, I would like to give you this message, from all of us that did and did not vote for you (because, let's be honest, no one is happy with you right now) to you: Man up. Seriously. Grow a pair. Fire some people if you have to (and you should, because you've surrounded yourself with people who are only holding you back). Whatever it takes to get it done, do it! I know that congress is a big fat thorn in your side (trust me, we all feel that way), but we will not accept your excuses any more! We voted for you because you promised change. You promised that you were different than the politicians that we already know, but so far you have done nothing but prove yourself a liar. I hope that you realize that, and I really hope that it affects the way you sleep at night, because things only seem to be getting worse.
The economy is recovering, as it does, but what's being done about the warS we are STILL fighting? Nada. And guess what. We're never getting into Afghanistan, my friend. That nation has turned out every other nation that has tried to invade it from the beginning of time. Just because we helped them turn away the Soviets doesn't give us the right to turn around and expect them to welcome us in. They want to be LEFT ALONE to live the way they want to live. The pursuit of happiness is a basic human right, and they want to pursue their own happiness just as much as we want to pursue oil in their country, and since they were there first, logic learned by any child before kindergarten dictates that it is theirs, and we have no right to tell them what to do or how to live their lives. Bush started this war under the pretext of saving the Muslims from themselves. They don't want or need to be saved, and you do not need to be carrying on this holy war just so that the fat Republicans that own the companies which are profiting from it can continue to do so. You and I and all of us common folk (you know, the ones that voted you into office) are most decidedly NOT benefiting from it.
I know what you're thinking: that I think that I could do it better. Well that's not the case. I don't think I could run the country. That's why I did not (nor do I ever intend to) go out for the job. You did, though, and you got it, so you must have had some sort of plan for dealing with the giant mess of a situation, right? You must have, because you said that you did, and that's why people like me did or did not vote for you. Well you won the popularity contest, and now it's high time to be getting down to business. We thought you were better than them. We thought that you were the genuine person you claimed to be. So why don't you just answer me this one question that has been burning in my brain since your 100th day in office: how do you sleep at night knowing that you have failed so miserably at what you were supposed to do? You don't have to answer right away. I'll wait. I am already accustomed to waiting for you, so it's not big thing. Just think about it for a while. But not too long. You still have a job to do.
You know, I'd like to have a conversation with the President. As a voting member of society I see it as my right to do so. I have some things to say to him, and since I voted for him he should listen, right? Right. I really just want to look him in the eye and say, All due respect, Sir, but what the fuck? You make us all these promises during the campaign, and so far you have been nothing but one epic fail! To be fair, Sir...(he'll probably try to interrupt me at this point, but I will not allow him to do so), if you please, Sir, I voted to put you in this office because you asked me to. Well, I did, and so far you have not carried through with your part of the bargain. So, Sir, if you please, I have some words to say as a concerned citizen of this United States. So, yes, to be fair I know that you came into some really shitty circumstances. You are assaulted on all fronts every day. Well guess what! This is the job you signed on for. You can't have been so naive as to think that you would never have to muscle your way through the opposition. Hello?! Have you met your predecessor? He's basically retarded, and he still managed to get shit done. Why? Because he was an arrogant motherfucker who did not take no for an answer!
So, Mr. President, I would like to give you this message, from all of us that did and did not vote for you (because, let's be honest, no one is happy with you right now) to you: Man up. Seriously. Grow a pair. Fire some people if you have to (and you should, because you've surrounded yourself with people who are only holding you back). Whatever it takes to get it done, do it! I know that congress is a big fat thorn in your side (trust me, we all feel that way), but we will not accept your excuses any more! We voted for you because you promised change. You promised that you were different than the politicians that we already know, but so far you have done nothing but prove yourself a liar. I hope that you realize that, and I really hope that it affects the way you sleep at night, because things only seem to be getting worse.
The economy is recovering, as it does, but what's being done about the warS we are STILL fighting? Nada. And guess what. We're never getting into Afghanistan, my friend. That nation has turned out every other nation that has tried to invade it from the beginning of time. Just because we helped them turn away the Soviets doesn't give us the right to turn around and expect them to welcome us in. They want to be LEFT ALONE to live the way they want to live. The pursuit of happiness is a basic human right, and they want to pursue their own happiness just as much as we want to pursue oil in their country, and since they were there first, logic learned by any child before kindergarten dictates that it is theirs, and we have no right to tell them what to do or how to live their lives. Bush started this war under the pretext of saving the Muslims from themselves. They don't want or need to be saved, and you do not need to be carrying on this holy war just so that the fat Republicans that own the companies which are profiting from it can continue to do so. You and I and all of us common folk (you know, the ones that voted you into office) are most decidedly NOT benefiting from it.
I know what you're thinking: that I think that I could do it better. Well that's not the case. I don't think I could run the country. That's why I did not (nor do I ever intend to) go out for the job. You did, though, and you got it, so you must have had some sort of plan for dealing with the giant mess of a situation, right? You must have, because you said that you did, and that's why people like me did or did not vote for you. Well you won the popularity contest, and now it's high time to be getting down to business. We thought you were better than them. We thought that you were the genuine person you claimed to be. So why don't you just answer me this one question that has been burning in my brain since your 100th day in office: how do you sleep at night knowing that you have failed so miserably at what you were supposed to do? You don't have to answer right away. I'll wait. I am already accustomed to waiting for you, so it's not big thing. Just think about it for a while. But not too long. You still have a job to do.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Rough Morning
In the words of the ever-so-fabulous Puss in Boots..."I hate Mondays."
So, my morning started a full hour earlier than usual. Why? Probably because I'm a total slacker and didn't finish my homework last night. In my defense, the majority of my afternoon/evening was taken up by the SuperBowl. I don't really care about football; yesterday's game was the first I've watched in a few years. It was still a lot of fun, though, because it was a really good game. I watched it with a bunch of Albanians, who know absolutely nothing about American football (though they quickly caught on that there are A LOT of rules), so I spent a good amount of time explaining why certain things were called the way they were, and what would happen if and when, etc. etc. etc. I lost my voice screaming at the Steeler's quarterback. I could not figure out why he was hesitating so long. I don't think I've ever seen a quarterback get sacked so many times in one game...
Anyway, back to my original point. I did not finish my homework, so I disturbed my own sleep by worrying about it. When I looked at my clock and found that it was 4:07 a.m. I figured that I wouldn't be getting any more sleep anyway. So I got up and got to work an hour early. Fortunately I was able to finish my homework before my shift started at 6 a.m. Class was good--I think I probably already mentioned that my professor seems to have repented of his crazy ways and there is actually some learning going on now. But then I got back to work and was bombarded with stupid questions (not that that's surprising, tis the season for such things after all).
It probably would have been less annoying if I had had my coffee, but the coffee maker that I usually use is out of order for some reason. Not a big deal because there are several others on this floor of the building. So, I go to the other one down the hall and put a pot on to brew. I come back 30 seconds later and someone has taken the pot out from under the filter and is trying to pour themselves a cup while the coffee brews away without anything to catch it. Seriously? How do you NOT notice that the coffee is still brewing? I understand that the pots are not clear, but honestly? When you pull it off the warmer, how are you not immediately aware of the stream of hot liquid that should be going into that pot in your hand? And the really messed up thing is that my department shares the floor with the tech department--these people are supposed to be the geniuses that my company hires to keep our systems and our Web site running as smoothly as possible.
Apparently common sense is not necessarily included in the "genius" requirement.
So, my morning started a full hour earlier than usual. Why? Probably because I'm a total slacker and didn't finish my homework last night. In my defense, the majority of my afternoon/evening was taken up by the SuperBowl. I don't really care about football; yesterday's game was the first I've watched in a few years. It was still a lot of fun, though, because it was a really good game. I watched it with a bunch of Albanians, who know absolutely nothing about American football (though they quickly caught on that there are A LOT of rules), so I spent a good amount of time explaining why certain things were called the way they were, and what would happen if and when, etc. etc. etc. I lost my voice screaming at the Steeler's quarterback. I could not figure out why he was hesitating so long. I don't think I've ever seen a quarterback get sacked so many times in one game...
Anyway, back to my original point. I did not finish my homework, so I disturbed my own sleep by worrying about it. When I looked at my clock and found that it was 4:07 a.m. I figured that I wouldn't be getting any more sleep anyway. So I got up and got to work an hour early. Fortunately I was able to finish my homework before my shift started at 6 a.m. Class was good--I think I probably already mentioned that my professor seems to have repented of his crazy ways and there is actually some learning going on now. But then I got back to work and was bombarded with stupid questions (not that that's surprising, tis the season for such things after all).
It probably would have been less annoying if I had had my coffee, but the coffee maker that I usually use is out of order for some reason. Not a big deal because there are several others on this floor of the building. So, I go to the other one down the hall and put a pot on to brew. I come back 30 seconds later and someone has taken the pot out from under the filter and is trying to pour themselves a cup while the coffee brews away without anything to catch it. Seriously? How do you NOT notice that the coffee is still brewing? I understand that the pots are not clear, but honestly? When you pull it off the warmer, how are you not immediately aware of the stream of hot liquid that should be going into that pot in your hand? And the really messed up thing is that my department shares the floor with the tech department--these people are supposed to be the geniuses that my company hires to keep our systems and our Web site running as smoothly as possible.
Apparently common sense is not necessarily included in the "genius" requirement.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Are You KIDDING Me?
This is just WRONG!
We're in the midst of a recession and Exxon is reporting a $42+ BILLION PROFIT??? Does anyone else see how messed up that is? And here the oil companies are trying to tell congress and the world that their profits are within reason. Reason? HA! How is $42+ Billion reasonable when hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off so far? And, no doubt, hundreds of thousands of more people will be laid off in the weeks and months to come.
It makes me sick. SICK I tell you.
We're in the midst of a recession and Exxon is reporting a $42+ BILLION PROFIT??? Does anyone else see how messed up that is? And here the oil companies are trying to tell congress and the world that their profits are within reason. Reason? HA! How is $42+ Billion reasonable when hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off so far? And, no doubt, hundreds of thousands of more people will be laid off in the weeks and months to come.
It makes me sick. SICK I tell you.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Driving 101
I live in UT, and as some of you may know, UT driver's are known to be pretty bad. Having lived and driven in SLC for a few years now I will admit that there are a lot of UT drivers out there that do not fit into the stereotype. BUT! The stereotype exists for a reason. So I'm taking it on myself to give a little bit of a refresher course on how to drive on the UT freeways:
1. Different Lanes are for Different Speeds
The furthest right lane is the slow lane. The furthest left lane (not including the carpool lane) is the fast lane and is meant to be a passing lane. This holds true whether there are six lanes on the freeway or if there are only two. If you are in the fast lane and someone comes up behind you, MOVE OVER if you have the space to do so. It is RUDE to make someone pass you on the right. And now, in UT at least, you can get cited for it.
2. It's Called a Blinker
There are two wands near your steering wheel. One of them is for the windshield wipers, and the other is the blinker. If you push that one up or down, the red/yellow lights on the back and front of your car will begin to flash depending on which direction you intend to go. The blinker is not for your own entertainment purposes--it is to let the people around you know what's going on in your head. Don't honk and flip me off if I don't let you into my lane. If you had turned your blinker on, I would have let you!
3. Ice Happens
It snows here. Every year at least once. When the snow comes, it does not bypass the freeway. It falls there just like it falls everywhere else. If you try to drive on the snow like you would off the snow, you are likely going to end up hurting yourself or others. So, for the sake of all of the rest of us, SLOW DOWN! I don't care that you're in a big truck or an SUV w/four wheel drive. That won't make a difference if there is nothing for your tires to get a grip on!
4. Tailgating: An Accident Waiting to Happen
I understand that you are in a hurry, I really do. I'm in a hurry too. But as you can see, there are 1,000 other cars around us all going the same direction at the same speed. Tailgating me is not going to get you where you're going any faster. It might just end us getting us both into a wreck. Considering the danger, wouldn't it just be easier to stay more than two feet back? Seriously. I will brake check you if I have to.
5. The On Ramp is There for a Reason (Part 1)
When you are traveling on the freeway, you will inevitably come upon an on ramp. If there is someone on that on ramp you are supposed to move so that they can merge safely into traffic. So, if you have room to do so, change lanes and let them on.
6. The On Ramp is There for a Reason (Part 2)
If you've ever wondered why on ramps are always so long, I'll tell you. They are long because the civil engineers that designed the whole road system wanted to give you ample time to get up to freeway speed so that merging with the already flowing traffic would be safe and easy. So speed up while you have the chance, not when you get to the freeway.
7. It All Comes Down to This:
You are not alone. There are other cars and other drivers out there, so PAY ATTENTION to what goes on around you and don't be a jerk. You don't own the road, and the rest of us have just as might right to be there as you do!
1. Different Lanes are for Different Speeds
The furthest right lane is the slow lane. The furthest left lane (not including the carpool lane) is the fast lane and is meant to be a passing lane. This holds true whether there are six lanes on the freeway or if there are only two. If you are in the fast lane and someone comes up behind you, MOVE OVER if you have the space to do so. It is RUDE to make someone pass you on the right. And now, in UT at least, you can get cited for it.
2. It's Called a Blinker
There are two wands near your steering wheel. One of them is for the windshield wipers, and the other is the blinker. If you push that one up or down, the red/yellow lights on the back and front of your car will begin to flash depending on which direction you intend to go. The blinker is not for your own entertainment purposes--it is to let the people around you know what's going on in your head. Don't honk and flip me off if I don't let you into my lane. If you had turned your blinker on, I would have let you!
3. Ice Happens
It snows here. Every year at least once. When the snow comes, it does not bypass the freeway. It falls there just like it falls everywhere else. If you try to drive on the snow like you would off the snow, you are likely going to end up hurting yourself or others. So, for the sake of all of the rest of us, SLOW DOWN! I don't care that you're in a big truck or an SUV w/four wheel drive. That won't make a difference if there is nothing for your tires to get a grip on!
4. Tailgating: An Accident Waiting to Happen
I understand that you are in a hurry, I really do. I'm in a hurry too. But as you can see, there are 1,000 other cars around us all going the same direction at the same speed. Tailgating me is not going to get you where you're going any faster. It might just end us getting us both into a wreck. Considering the danger, wouldn't it just be easier to stay more than two feet back? Seriously. I will brake check you if I have to.
5. The On Ramp is There for a Reason (Part 1)
When you are traveling on the freeway, you will inevitably come upon an on ramp. If there is someone on that on ramp you are supposed to move so that they can merge safely into traffic. So, if you have room to do so, change lanes and let them on.
6. The On Ramp is There for a Reason (Part 2)
If you've ever wondered why on ramps are always so long, I'll tell you. They are long because the civil engineers that designed the whole road system wanted to give you ample time to get up to freeway speed so that merging with the already flowing traffic would be safe and easy. So speed up while you have the chance, not when you get to the freeway.
7. It All Comes Down to This:
You are not alone. There are other cars and other drivers out there, so PAY ATTENTION to what goes on around you and don't be a jerk. You don't own the road, and the rest of us have just as might right to be there as you do!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Annoyed.
Look. I am all for alternate teaching methods. I really am. But honestly, there are certain things that teachers should do. In particular: making a syllabus. You can't expect the students in an introductory level class to be able to make a syllabus for a class and a topic about which they have no freaking clue! Especially when you go on and on and on about how much you don't like the text book that we have to use, and that you've never taught this course before. There are probably a lot of other professors that have taught the course that could lend you a syllabus, so get one from one of them. Serioulsy, do your job. Don't waste a whole week of my time trying to figure out what we're going to do for the rest of the semester. These decisions should be made BEFORE the semester starts. I didn't pay $350 for this course so that I could do your job for you.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Where are We Going, and Why am I in this Hand Basket? (Part 1)
As you might be able to tell, I'm not being terribly productive at work. It's Friday, and my mental capacity had fallen to dangerously low levels. I blame it on Lehman Brothers, and AIG, and Washington Mutual, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Washington's love affair with Big Oil and Corporations in general...it's all their fault that I'm mentally exhausted and becoming poorer and poorer with every passing day. Damn them! Damn them all to the depths of hell!
So, that's a little melodramatic, but it's the best I can come up with at the moment...
Why are these things exhausting me? Because I'm trying to figure out why (oh why!) I should let the Government issue me a $30K tax bill so that they can buy bad assets off of these failing companies. I understand (believe me, I do) that if the Government doesn't do something, the economy is going to go from bad to worst ("The Greatest Depression Ever" as we were joking at work last night). I understand that. But let me hit you with a scenario (and this is 100% true):
A man is hired as the CEO of a major banking institution in 2002. At that time, he is given a $7.5 Million signing bonus. In a matter if six years the bank in question has completely collapsed--in fact, it is being called the largest bank failure in U.S. history. So, what does this CEO get? He got fired, of course, but don't feel bad for him. He gets to keep the signing bonus, and he gets $11.5 Million in a severance package....
This scenario begs many questions in my mind. The first of which is WTF?! This guy ran an established bank, that has been in operation for 120 years no less, into the ground in six short years. He should be getting nothing! Just like the thousands of employees that have been and will be laid off because the company cannot afford to pay them. He should be standing in line at the unemployment office with the rest of them, waiting for his $400 unemployment check. He should not be getting any sort of severance, much less one worth multi-millions of dollars.
Secondly, and more importantly I think, if the company has to lay off thousands of employees because there is not enough liquid assets to pay them, AND the company is failing because it doesn't have enough cash to back up its bad assets, where exactly are the severance package dollars coming from?
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to that question. I do know, however, where the $700 Billion that the Government wants to use to bail these failing companies out with will come from. Me. And you. And every one you know. And everyone you don't know.
Now, don't freak out, but I have to say that I agree with the House Republicans at this point (gasp!). They're pushing for a program that would benefit us as tax payers, not just the corporate giants responsible for this mess. Thank you, House Republicans, for looking out for me in this situation. I truly appreciate it. I really hope that you get your way here. I rather like the idea of putting the responsibility of funding this bailout back on Wall Street, as the individual investor and tax payers are hurting enough as it is. Shame on you, Democrats, for thinking that tax payers should foot yet another bill we can't afford. Have you seen gas prices recently? Or how about food prices? Shame on you.
Something needs to be done. That's an absolutely indisputable fact. If the Government allows all of these major corporations to fail, we're all screwed. If the Government buys all of their bad assets for $700B using tax payer money, we're still screwed.
I'm glad that I won't be the next president.
So, that's a little melodramatic, but it's the best I can come up with at the moment...
Why are these things exhausting me? Because I'm trying to figure out why (oh why!) I should let the Government issue me a $30K tax bill so that they can buy bad assets off of these failing companies. I understand (believe me, I do) that if the Government doesn't do something, the economy is going to go from bad to worst ("The Greatest Depression Ever" as we were joking at work last night). I understand that. But let me hit you with a scenario (and this is 100% true):
A man is hired as the CEO of a major banking institution in 2002. At that time, he is given a $7.5 Million signing bonus. In a matter if six years the bank in question has completely collapsed--in fact, it is being called the largest bank failure in U.S. history. So, what does this CEO get? He got fired, of course, but don't feel bad for him. He gets to keep the signing bonus, and he gets $11.5 Million in a severance package....
This scenario begs many questions in my mind. The first of which is WTF?! This guy ran an established bank, that has been in operation for 120 years no less, into the ground in six short years. He should be getting nothing! Just like the thousands of employees that have been and will be laid off because the company cannot afford to pay them. He should be standing in line at the unemployment office with the rest of them, waiting for his $400 unemployment check. He should not be getting any sort of severance, much less one worth multi-millions of dollars.
Secondly, and more importantly I think, if the company has to lay off thousands of employees because there is not enough liquid assets to pay them, AND the company is failing because it doesn't have enough cash to back up its bad assets, where exactly are the severance package dollars coming from?
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to that question. I do know, however, where the $700 Billion that the Government wants to use to bail these failing companies out with will come from. Me. And you. And every one you know. And everyone you don't know.
Now, don't freak out, but I have to say that I agree with the House Republicans at this point (gasp!). They're pushing for a program that would benefit us as tax payers, not just the corporate giants responsible for this mess. Thank you, House Republicans, for looking out for me in this situation. I truly appreciate it. I really hope that you get your way here. I rather like the idea of putting the responsibility of funding this bailout back on Wall Street, as the individual investor and tax payers are hurting enough as it is. Shame on you, Democrats, for thinking that tax payers should foot yet another bill we can't afford. Have you seen gas prices recently? Or how about food prices? Shame on you.
Something needs to be done. That's an absolutely indisputable fact. If the Government allows all of these major corporations to fail, we're all screwed. If the Government buys all of their bad assets for $700B using tax payer money, we're still screwed.
I'm glad that I won't be the next president.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
SAY IT AIN'T SO!
And in the "Well, duh!" category:
CLAY AIKEN IS GAY!
I'm sorry, but hadn't we already cleared this up? I didn't even think it was a question to start with.
CLAY AIKEN IS GAY!
I'm sorry, but hadn't we already cleared this up? I didn't even think it was a question to start with.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
So many...
You know, paying attention to the news can actually be rather depressing. I've been focusing more on national and world events lately (as opposed to the celebrity gossip...), and while I like being informed of what's going on, the things that are happening make me sad and angry. More angry than sad. I'm not really an angry person, but there are things that make me really angry.
Where do I even begin?
I think I'll start with this.
First of all. If this doesn't make you angry, then read the article again. You don't even have to read the whole thing. The title alone was enough to get me angry. Let me say, before I get beat with the "innocent until proven guilty" rhetoric, I would be perfectly willing to withhold judgement on these people until they are proven guilty. However! They found beds in the temple. BEDS. IN THE TEMPLE. Why the hell else would there be BEDS in a place that performs "spiritual marriages" of older men to girls who have just reached puberty? Can I just emphasize that girls generally go through puberty between the ages of 12 and 14 (if not earlier)? So mostly it just doesn't even matter if they're having sex in their temple. The fact that these adult men are having sex with children is disgusting. It's so disgusting that there are not even words bad enough to describe just how disgusting it is.
CNN or MSNBC (whichever channel it is that the TVs in each breakroom are permanently stuck on) was reporting on the whole thing while I was getting my lunch, and the reporter made the following comment:
"The men seem to show no remorse for their actions."
Shocked? I wasn't. I've lived in UT and ID (where there are more "plygs" than anywhere else), and I know a little bit about their culture. I can sum it up in one word: brainwashed. These people are taught from the time that they are born (to 15 year old mothers) that the outside world is evil and should be avoided. The leaders (who I'm pretty sure know that the whole thing is bull) inflict this fear on their congregants in order to keep them inside the compounds. They teach the boys that they will grow up to have as many wives as they are "worthy" of. The girls are taught from birth that their only purpose in life is to become a wife and mother. So of course these men don't show any remorse for their actions. Some of them (dare I say most of them) probably believe that marrying and having sex with underage girls is a commandment of God. They're taking the whole "multiply and replenish the Earth" thing very literally.
Their brainwashing, however, does not make up for the fact that they were having sex with underage girls. It really only explains why they don't think there's anything wrong with it. Nothing makes up for that. It's sick and wrong to the nth degree.
It makes me angry at the men in charge of this "religion," Warren Jeffs and his family. One can really only hope that Jeffs, and whatever of his brothers they can round up and put on trial, will go to prison for a really long time. Maybe prison will let them experience what it's like to be violated....
Where do I even begin?
I think I'll start with this.
First of all. If this doesn't make you angry, then read the article again. You don't even have to read the whole thing. The title alone was enough to get me angry. Let me say, before I get beat with the "innocent until proven guilty" rhetoric, I would be perfectly willing to withhold judgement on these people until they are proven guilty. However! They found beds in the temple. BEDS. IN THE TEMPLE. Why the hell else would there be BEDS in a place that performs "spiritual marriages" of older men to girls who have just reached puberty? Can I just emphasize that girls generally go through puberty between the ages of 12 and 14 (if not earlier)? So mostly it just doesn't even matter if they're having sex in their temple. The fact that these adult men are having sex with children is disgusting. It's so disgusting that there are not even words bad enough to describe just how disgusting it is.
CNN or MSNBC (whichever channel it is that the TVs in each breakroom are permanently stuck on) was reporting on the whole thing while I was getting my lunch, and the reporter made the following comment:
"The men seem to show no remorse for their actions."
Shocked? I wasn't. I've lived in UT and ID (where there are more "plygs" than anywhere else), and I know a little bit about their culture. I can sum it up in one word: brainwashed. These people are taught from the time that they are born (to 15 year old mothers) that the outside world is evil and should be avoided. The leaders (who I'm pretty sure know that the whole thing is bull) inflict this fear on their congregants in order to keep them inside the compounds. They teach the boys that they will grow up to have as many wives as they are "worthy" of. The girls are taught from birth that their only purpose in life is to become a wife and mother. So of course these men don't show any remorse for their actions. Some of them (dare I say most of them) probably believe that marrying and having sex with underage girls is a commandment of God. They're taking the whole "multiply and replenish the Earth" thing very literally.
Their brainwashing, however, does not make up for the fact that they were having sex with underage girls. It really only explains why they don't think there's anything wrong with it. Nothing makes up for that. It's sick and wrong to the nth degree.
It makes me angry at the men in charge of this "religion," Warren Jeffs and his family. One can really only hope that Jeffs, and whatever of his brothers they can round up and put on trial, will go to prison for a really long time. Maybe prison will let them experience what it's like to be violated....
Friday, March 21, 2008
6 AM on a Market Holiday
Yes, it really is 6 a.m., and yes, it is a market holiday. For those of us non-Catholics out there, it's Good Friday.
So, you may ask yourself, what the hell is Jessa doing at work at 6 a.m. on a market holiday when 90% of her coworkers are probably still in bed at home? That's an excellent question, my friend, and I have an excellent answer for you.
Two words: Triple Pay.
That's right. I am getting paid TRIPLE what I usually get to be here today. That, my friends, is why I dragged my ass out of bed this morning at 4:30 a.m., got to work at 5:45, and it is why I will be here until 2 p.m. today even though it's my husband's birthday (Happy Birthday, Baby!), the market is closed, and just about everyone that I know does not have to work.
The things I do for money.
So, you may ask yourself, what the hell is Jessa doing at work at 6 a.m. on a market holiday when 90% of her coworkers are probably still in bed at home? That's an excellent question, my friend, and I have an excellent answer for you.
Two words: Triple Pay.
That's right. I am getting paid TRIPLE what I usually get to be here today. That, my friends, is why I dragged my ass out of bed this morning at 4:30 a.m., got to work at 5:45, and it is why I will be here until 2 p.m. today even though it's my husband's birthday (Happy Birthday, Baby!), the market is closed, and just about everyone that I know does not have to work.
The things I do for money.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Elliot Spitzer = Distraction
I have recently begun to realize some things about the current administration that have seriously made me consider leaving the country for good. Not the least of these things concerns the issue in this article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/08/national/main3919474.shtml
So. The President of the United States of America has basically said that torturing people is okay as long as it keeps the country safe. First of all, why isn't this being more widely covered? Why did I have to Google "President Bush vetoes torture bill" in order to find information on this? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FRONT PAGE NEWS! It happened on March 8, 2008.
Guess what happened on March 10, 2008. News broke that stupid Elliot Spitzer was involved in a prostitution ring. As I have stated in a previous blog, I've been wondering if there is, in fact, people working behind the scenes to manipulate whats really going on in this country. Turns out that I might just be onto something. The Bush Administration needed a distraction to keep too many people from hearing about the bill he just vetoed that would have done away with torture interrogation techniques like waterboarding. So, Elliot Spitzer had to be exposed as practically the same time. Coincidence? Something tells me that there's no way....
How anyone believes in the Bush Administration's credibility anymore is beyond me. Intelligent people, at least, should recognize the gaping holes in the reasoning behind the "war on terror." Every single citizen of the United States should be aware that we are in the Middle East for OIL. OIL. Not to keep the country safe from the imminent threat of terrorism. Oil.
Wouldn't you think that, in a country where we now have prescriptions for EVERYTHING and anything, and in which so much research is being done to find cures for what ails us, we would have come up with an alternative energy source that could reduce our addiction to oil? I mean, there has got to be someone out there who has developed or discovered and energy source that is both ecologically and economically sound. But, sadly and surely, the big oil companies do not want such things to become widely known. If the world's dependence on oil begins to slacken, then the people who run the oil industry will start losing money. And heaven forbid that something so utterly terrible like that happen.
I don't really expect anything to happen about oil in my lifetime. I do not expect much in general to happen during my lifetime, really. I have very low expectations of my country, which I find really sad. People should know about this stuff. People should be aware, for example, that nowhere is it written than we must pay Federal taxes as citizens of the United States. This is not a law, people. Go look for it. You won't find it. The only kind of tax that is technically legal in the United States is one that is proportionate for everyone. Our current tax law is anything but proportionate.
Why aren't more people aware? People should know, and people should talk about these kinds of things.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/08/national/main3919474.shtml
So. The President of the United States of America has basically said that torturing people is okay as long as it keeps the country safe. First of all, why isn't this being more widely covered? Why did I have to Google "President Bush vetoes torture bill" in order to find information on this? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FRONT PAGE NEWS! It happened on March 8, 2008.
Guess what happened on March 10, 2008. News broke that stupid Elliot Spitzer was involved in a prostitution ring. As I have stated in a previous blog, I've been wondering if there is, in fact, people working behind the scenes to manipulate whats really going on in this country. Turns out that I might just be onto something. The Bush Administration needed a distraction to keep too many people from hearing about the bill he just vetoed that would have done away with torture interrogation techniques like waterboarding. So, Elliot Spitzer had to be exposed as practically the same time. Coincidence? Something tells me that there's no way....
How anyone believes in the Bush Administration's credibility anymore is beyond me. Intelligent people, at least, should recognize the gaping holes in the reasoning behind the "war on terror." Every single citizen of the United States should be aware that we are in the Middle East for OIL. OIL. Not to keep the country safe from the imminent threat of terrorism. Oil.
Wouldn't you think that, in a country where we now have prescriptions for EVERYTHING and anything, and in which so much research is being done to find cures for what ails us, we would have come up with an alternative energy source that could reduce our addiction to oil? I mean, there has got to be someone out there who has developed or discovered and energy source that is both ecologically and economically sound. But, sadly and surely, the big oil companies do not want such things to become widely known. If the world's dependence on oil begins to slacken, then the people who run the oil industry will start losing money. And heaven forbid that something so utterly terrible like that happen.
I don't really expect anything to happen about oil in my lifetime. I do not expect much in general to happen during my lifetime, really. I have very low expectations of my country, which I find really sad. People should know about this stuff. People should be aware, for example, that nowhere is it written than we must pay Federal taxes as citizens of the United States. This is not a law, people. Go look for it. You won't find it. The only kind of tax that is technically legal in the United States is one that is proportionate for everyone. Our current tax law is anything but proportionate.
Why aren't more people aware? People should know, and people should talk about these kinds of things.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Headphones without Music
One of the girls on the team behind me is being extremely loud. She's trying to verify a client over the phone, and the client either doesn't get it, or is hard of hearing. It is situations like that that make me very glad I don't have to take phone calls any more. I can hear, even from a good 20 yards away, that she's getting really frustrated, but is trying not to let that frustration filter into her voice. It's a tricky game, over the phone, really. It's easy in writing, because you can voice your frustration without the client having to hear it.
Anyhow. I wish my iPod was charged so that I wouldn't have to listen to all of that nonsense. It makes me sympathetically frustrated for her, because I've been there and it sucks. Unfortunately, however, I did not have the forethought to plug my iPod in to charge when I got here this morning, because I didn't have the forethought to see what the battery power was before I turned it off last night. I really should pay more attention to these things so as to make my life easier.
So, I was thinking about the whole Elliot Sptizer thing today. Not that I really had a choice in the matter, considering that he has been the headline on every single news web site out there for the last four days. So it's not really that I WAS thinking about the situation on my own, it was more like I was being force fed the situation, and have furthermore decided to contemplate it more fully.
First of all. WHAT THE HELL? Seriously. What is wrong with people? I will never understand WHY in the WORLD someone would do something so stupid in the first place, especially when the person is a PUBLIC FIGURE!! Did Bill Clinton's debacle teach anyone anything? Maybe I'm just an overly rational person, or maybe Elliot Spitzer is just a complete idiot, but why wouldn't someone who is in a public office (even someone who isn't in public office) say to themselves "Maybe it's not such a good idea to hire a prostitute because it would be the end of my career and devastating to my family if the news were to get out." That, to me, just seems like common sense. But apparently, common sense is scarce in the political world.
This man had been planning to run for President, which makes me wonder what country he thought he was in. He must be new here, because any conscious citizen of the United States could tell you that it is not a good idea to hire a damn prostitute if you plan to run for President. Even if no one finds out about it right away. News flash: Your opponents have people dedicated to digging stuff like this up!
I honestly do not get it. I really don't. I probably never will. I just cannot even begin to fathom what would drive a person to make such an idiotic decision. Not only did Elliot Spitzer ruin his own life (he will forever be the disgraced ex-Governor of New York), but he ruined his family's lives as well. Sometimes I wonder if it is all just a big fat ruse (and by "wonder" I really mean desperately hope). I wonder if maybe there is some bigger force working behind all of these politicians. A force that decides whose turn it is to mess up and how, in order to keep things interesting. The Media, perhaps? I think that the Media is really just a direct benefactor of the plan. No, I wonder if there is something or someone bigger than that whom all of the Politicians know about (but naturally keep their mouths shut), who gets to say who is going to have the next big scandal, and what the scandal is going to be.
Sounds a lot like selling your soul to the Devil to become a politician. Sometimes I truly hope that is the case. Of course, I know that it is not, but somehow it would make it easier to contemplate such things. Unfortunately the simple truth of the matter is that these stupid men in power become morally bankrupt. Or, in some cases I'm sure, they are morally bankrupt to begin with. Either way, it's not cool. I don't want those kinds of people running my country. And you know me, I'm no conservative by any means. I believe that people should be free to do whatever they want. Who am I to tell someone how to live their life? But there has to be some sort of consciousness to it. People should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be aware that their actions are going to affect the people around them. No man is an island...
Anyhow. I wish my iPod was charged so that I wouldn't have to listen to all of that nonsense. It makes me sympathetically frustrated for her, because I've been there and it sucks. Unfortunately, however, I did not have the forethought to plug my iPod in to charge when I got here this morning, because I didn't have the forethought to see what the battery power was before I turned it off last night. I really should pay more attention to these things so as to make my life easier.
So, I was thinking about the whole Elliot Sptizer thing today. Not that I really had a choice in the matter, considering that he has been the headline on every single news web site out there for the last four days. So it's not really that I WAS thinking about the situation on my own, it was more like I was being force fed the situation, and have furthermore decided to contemplate it more fully.
First of all. WHAT THE HELL? Seriously. What is wrong with people? I will never understand WHY in the WORLD someone would do something so stupid in the first place, especially when the person is a PUBLIC FIGURE!! Did Bill Clinton's debacle teach anyone anything? Maybe I'm just an overly rational person, or maybe Elliot Spitzer is just a complete idiot, but why wouldn't someone who is in a public office (even someone who isn't in public office) say to themselves "Maybe it's not such a good idea to hire a prostitute because it would be the end of my career and devastating to my family if the news were to get out." That, to me, just seems like common sense. But apparently, common sense is scarce in the political world.
This man had been planning to run for President, which makes me wonder what country he thought he was in. He must be new here, because any conscious citizen of the United States could tell you that it is not a good idea to hire a damn prostitute if you plan to run for President. Even if no one finds out about it right away. News flash: Your opponents have people dedicated to digging stuff like this up!
I honestly do not get it. I really don't. I probably never will. I just cannot even begin to fathom what would drive a person to make such an idiotic decision. Not only did Elliot Spitzer ruin his own life (he will forever be the disgraced ex-Governor of New York), but he ruined his family's lives as well. Sometimes I wonder if it is all just a big fat ruse (and by "wonder" I really mean desperately hope). I wonder if maybe there is some bigger force working behind all of these politicians. A force that decides whose turn it is to mess up and how, in order to keep things interesting. The Media, perhaps? I think that the Media is really just a direct benefactor of the plan. No, I wonder if there is something or someone bigger than that whom all of the Politicians know about (but naturally keep their mouths shut), who gets to say who is going to have the next big scandal, and what the scandal is going to be.
Sounds a lot like selling your soul to the Devil to become a politician. Sometimes I truly hope that is the case. Of course, I know that it is not, but somehow it would make it easier to contemplate such things. Unfortunately the simple truth of the matter is that these stupid men in power become morally bankrupt. Or, in some cases I'm sure, they are morally bankrupt to begin with. Either way, it's not cool. I don't want those kinds of people running my country. And you know me, I'm no conservative by any means. I believe that people should be free to do whatever they want. Who am I to tell someone how to live their life? But there has to be some sort of consciousness to it. People should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be aware that their actions are going to affect the people around them. No man is an island...
Monday, March 03, 2008
Creative Juices
I've been feeling the need to be creative all day, but there was a very noticeable lack of creative inspiration at work (where I desperately needed the distraction). My work is not exactly a pea tree dish for creativeness. They make it that way, of course, so that we will all focus on our not-creative-at-all jobs. Which is probably a good thing because if I could be easily inspired at work then I would actually want to go to work. And that, my friends, would make me a crazy person. I'm already crazy enough as it is, I think, so heaven forbid I actually find a job to which I would willingly go. That would just be silly and somewhat irresponsible (because if I'm crazy then I can't be held accountable for my own actions, right?).
However, now that I'm home I feel the creative juices flowing. I like that about my home. It is very conducive to creative thinking. That's a really good thing for me because I spend about 90% of the time that I am not at work at my home (funny how that works, eh?). So I sat down to write out an idea that I had had on my way home (my car is also a very good place for creative thinking) and as I was doing so, I was struck by the notion that I write about cold weather a lot these days. All of the fictional scenes that I've described in writing recently have involved cold weather. I found myself wondering if that was happening because it's cold outside, or if there is some deeper, psychological, subconscious-level reason for it.
Well, personally, I hope that it's the former, because investigating the latter is probably a journey I should never take (at least not in public). But it has been cold for the last, um, 6 months or so? Probably not, but it's certainly felt like it. I hate the cold (a clue?). I tend to get depressed when there is no sunshine (which is why I could never live happily in Seattle), and when it is cold, and especially when it is cold and there is no sunshine. So, obviously, I hate the winter.
Last week was so beautiful. It was in the 50s most of the time, and It wasn't pitch dark when I went to work. It wasn't pitch dark when I left work either. It was awesome. I really thought that Spring was going to come on in to usher Winter out, and then stay until my best friend Summer showed up. But no. I was not so lucky. Winter, apparently, was not picking up on the clue that he had overstayed his welcome, and was rather annoyed that Spring had tried join the party early. It wouldn't have been so bad if Spring and Winter could have just cooperated. Then it would have just rained on Friday night. Spring put up a pretty valiant effort though. It didn't start snowing until the sun went down. Then Spring didn't even have a chance. Winter always wins out when it's dark. And Winter is sneaky too. He'll cast out his ugly rain cloud friends, and they'll gang up on the poor old sun and block him out so that it gets darker more quickly.
Usually, I can handle the snow. Snow wouldn't be that bad if it would just go away quickly, you see. Unfortunately, seeing as Snow is the spoiled love child of Winter and Water, it sticks around as long as Winter does (which is too long to begin with). Snow also wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have the unbelievable annoying side effect of making people who drive cars on the freeway complete and total idiots. But, since it neither goes away quickly nor makes people any smarter, it's bad. It's bad, but I can handle it.
But when Spring comes to tease me with a week's worth of warm weather, then just surrenders without much of a fight, and lets Winter come bareling back in, snow and all, I get a little bit testy with the Seasons. So testy, in fact, that I'm seriously tempted to leave them all behind here in Salt Lake and move some place like San Diego where it is always the same warm, beautiful temperature. You'd better believe that if I had the money, I would get far away from all of this cold nonsense!
So there is my creative rant for the day. Thank God for coming home!
However, now that I'm home I feel the creative juices flowing. I like that about my home. It is very conducive to creative thinking. That's a really good thing for me because I spend about 90% of the time that I am not at work at my home (funny how that works, eh?). So I sat down to write out an idea that I had had on my way home (my car is also a very good place for creative thinking) and as I was doing so, I was struck by the notion that I write about cold weather a lot these days. All of the fictional scenes that I've described in writing recently have involved cold weather. I found myself wondering if that was happening because it's cold outside, or if there is some deeper, psychological, subconscious-level reason for it.
Well, personally, I hope that it's the former, because investigating the latter is probably a journey I should never take (at least not in public). But it has been cold for the last, um, 6 months or so? Probably not, but it's certainly felt like it. I hate the cold (a clue?). I tend to get depressed when there is no sunshine (which is why I could never live happily in Seattle), and when it is cold, and especially when it is cold and there is no sunshine. So, obviously, I hate the winter.
Last week was so beautiful. It was in the 50s most of the time, and It wasn't pitch dark when I went to work. It wasn't pitch dark when I left work either. It was awesome. I really thought that Spring was going to come on in to usher Winter out, and then stay until my best friend Summer showed up. But no. I was not so lucky. Winter, apparently, was not picking up on the clue that he had overstayed his welcome, and was rather annoyed that Spring had tried join the party early. It wouldn't have been so bad if Spring and Winter could have just cooperated. Then it would have just rained on Friday night. Spring put up a pretty valiant effort though. It didn't start snowing until the sun went down. Then Spring didn't even have a chance. Winter always wins out when it's dark. And Winter is sneaky too. He'll cast out his ugly rain cloud friends, and they'll gang up on the poor old sun and block him out so that it gets darker more quickly.
Usually, I can handle the snow. Snow wouldn't be that bad if it would just go away quickly, you see. Unfortunately, seeing as Snow is the spoiled love child of Winter and Water, it sticks around as long as Winter does (which is too long to begin with). Snow also wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have the unbelievable annoying side effect of making people who drive cars on the freeway complete and total idiots. But, since it neither goes away quickly nor makes people any smarter, it's bad. It's bad, but I can handle it.
But when Spring comes to tease me with a week's worth of warm weather, then just surrenders without much of a fight, and lets Winter come bareling back in, snow and all, I get a little bit testy with the Seasons. So testy, in fact, that I'm seriously tempted to leave them all behind here in Salt Lake and move some place like San Diego where it is always the same warm, beautiful temperature. You'd better believe that if I had the money, I would get far away from all of this cold nonsense!
So there is my creative rant for the day. Thank God for coming home!
Monday, February 04, 2008
2008 State of the Union
I know, I know. I'm a total slacker and the speech was made a week ago. Hey, better late than never, right? Right. First of all, the links:
State of the Union 2008
Bush's Proposed Budget
The first link is a transcript of Bush's seventh and FINAL (hooray!) SOTU address. I actually watched it this year (well, most of it anyway. He lost me when he started talking about Iraq--I tried to stay engaged, but I just couldn't. So I switched to Scrubs). The second link is an article about the budget he proposed today. More on that later. First and foremost, the speech.
I'm not all that sure why I had the intense urge to watch the SOTU address this year. I certainly have never had the inclination before. I think that I was so inclined because it was his last SOTU address, so I was interested to see what exactly he would say to wrap up his presidency. Some of the things he said I agreed with, some of them I flat out disagreed with, and others made me wonder if he's living in denial (sometimes I wonder if we even live in the same country). Mostly, though, I was skeptical.
One of the other reasons that I wanted to watch the speech was because of the current state of our economy. Days before, the major market indicators had all dropped to 10-month lows. The Federal Reserve had decided to drop the rate 0.75% in between normal sessions (which hasn't happened since 1990, apparently). And, an "Economic Stimulus" plan had been proposed. This is what interested me the most. I wanted to know how the $150 Billion stimulus was going to be funded.
President Bush got to the economy pretty quickly, thankfully. He urged the Congress to keep his previous tax breaks effective, saying that raising taxes would be even harder on American families. While I completely agree that rebuking the tax breaks would probably be hard on many people (the middle class like me would be hit the worst, no doubt), how else is he going to pay for everything? When Bush came into the Presidency seven years ago there was a budget surplus that was supposed to have lasted for years. Now, a relatively short time later, we have a deficit of several hundreds of billions of dollars.
This debt is seriously hurting our economy. The dollar is as weak as it’s ever been (which is really bad news for those of us who are going to Europe this year) because the US has all but lost its financial credibility. All we do is borrow money from other countries like Japan and China, which in turn makes their economies stronger while making ours all the weaker. Not cool, Bush. Not cool.
To add to that, the credit crisis is far from over. These banks, these unbelievably stupid banks, are now reaping what they've been sowing for the last three years. There is a reason we have credit scores, people. There is a reason why you should not make big loans to people who have bad credit. Isn't that the point? Of course, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people out there that have bad credit due to divorce and identity theft and what not. Those people are not the problem. The problem lies with people who have bad credit and know they have bad credit, and the banks who knowingly loaned thousands upon thousands of dollars to these high-risk people. And, not only did they make the loans in the first place, but they all but tricked these people in to adjustable rate mortgages--the dreaded ARM.
So these things, among others, are leading the country into (or have led us into, in my opinion) an economic recession. There. I said it. I think we are already in a recession, kids. We're there. Of course, the actual data proving this hypothesis won't come out for several months, but I'm going to say it anyway. So, an "Economic Stimulus" package was proposed by Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress, and Bush urged the rest of Congress to pass it as soon as possible. This package includes rebates of $600 per person, or $1,200 per married couple and up to $300 per dependent child, if you made under a certain income level in 2007.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love it when the Government gives me free money. Who doesn't? But in all honesty, I think the economy would benefit much more if Bush and Congress made more of an effort to get Government spending in check. Bush said in the SOTU that he'd be proposing a budget that cut over 150 "wasteful or bloated programs" that should come up with $18 million dollars. He also verbally backhanded Congress for not cutting down on their sneaky little earmarks. I 100% agree with him there. Earmarks are stupid and unnecessary, and I think that the people in the committees that come up with these proposals should be individually fined each time an earmark comes up.
Which brings us to Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, which starts in October 2008. The Yahoo! article gives a pretty general overview of what he's trying to accomplish. In the SOTU address, Bush mentioned that his budget would produce a surplus by 2012, and he's sticking with that argument in this proposal. Personally, I think it's crap. First of all, he's asking for a total spending allowance of $3.1 TRILLION dollars. Not billion, TRILLION. And not just one single trillion. Three trillions. But, he's cutting costs by not printing out the plan and distributing it to Congress the old fashioned way. He's being "innovative" by doing it digitally (honestly? Is anything still done on paper?).
WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM??? Seriously. He's not raising taxes, and we're already in debt up to our eyeballs, so there is no available cash to pay for all of this. Am I the only one who sees the problem with that? No wonder the US has a negative rate of savings. Someone recently told me that Government is essentially a reflection of its people. I think it works both ways. The Government spends money without thought of the consequence, and the people spend without thought of the consequence, and it's a vicious cycle of debt on both the personal and the national levels. I don't like it. I don't like where its heading. I don't like where its taking us as a nation.
Hopefully, and I say this with all the sincerity I posses, the next President is able to fix the CF of a financial situation that the country is in. I won't even care if it's a Republican, as long as the problem gets fixed for reals (though I don't think that a Republican will be inclined to cut down on the war spending, which is the bulk of the problem).
State of the Union 2008
Bush's Proposed Budget
The first link is a transcript of Bush's seventh and FINAL (hooray!) SOTU address. I actually watched it this year (well, most of it anyway. He lost me when he started talking about Iraq--I tried to stay engaged, but I just couldn't. So I switched to Scrubs). The second link is an article about the budget he proposed today. More on that later. First and foremost, the speech.
I'm not all that sure why I had the intense urge to watch the SOTU address this year. I certainly have never had the inclination before. I think that I was so inclined because it was his last SOTU address, so I was interested to see what exactly he would say to wrap up his presidency. Some of the things he said I agreed with, some of them I flat out disagreed with, and others made me wonder if he's living in denial (sometimes I wonder if we even live in the same country). Mostly, though, I was skeptical.
One of the other reasons that I wanted to watch the speech was because of the current state of our economy. Days before, the major market indicators had all dropped to 10-month lows. The Federal Reserve had decided to drop the rate 0.75% in between normal sessions (which hasn't happened since 1990, apparently). And, an "Economic Stimulus" plan had been proposed. This is what interested me the most. I wanted to know how the $150 Billion stimulus was going to be funded.
President Bush got to the economy pretty quickly, thankfully. He urged the Congress to keep his previous tax breaks effective, saying that raising taxes would be even harder on American families. While I completely agree that rebuking the tax breaks would probably be hard on many people (the middle class like me would be hit the worst, no doubt), how else is he going to pay for everything? When Bush came into the Presidency seven years ago there was a budget surplus that was supposed to have lasted for years. Now, a relatively short time later, we have a deficit of several hundreds of billions of dollars.
This debt is seriously hurting our economy. The dollar is as weak as it’s ever been (which is really bad news for those of us who are going to Europe this year) because the US has all but lost its financial credibility. All we do is borrow money from other countries like Japan and China, which in turn makes their economies stronger while making ours all the weaker. Not cool, Bush. Not cool.
To add to that, the credit crisis is far from over. These banks, these unbelievably stupid banks, are now reaping what they've been sowing for the last three years. There is a reason we have credit scores, people. There is a reason why you should not make big loans to people who have bad credit. Isn't that the point? Of course, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people out there that have bad credit due to divorce and identity theft and what not. Those people are not the problem. The problem lies with people who have bad credit and know they have bad credit, and the banks who knowingly loaned thousands upon thousands of dollars to these high-risk people. And, not only did they make the loans in the first place, but they all but tricked these people in to adjustable rate mortgages--the dreaded ARM.
So these things, among others, are leading the country into (or have led us into, in my opinion) an economic recession. There. I said it. I think we are already in a recession, kids. We're there. Of course, the actual data proving this hypothesis won't come out for several months, but I'm going to say it anyway. So, an "Economic Stimulus" package was proposed by Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress, and Bush urged the rest of Congress to pass it as soon as possible. This package includes rebates of $600 per person, or $1,200 per married couple and up to $300 per dependent child, if you made under a certain income level in 2007.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love it when the Government gives me free money. Who doesn't? But in all honesty, I think the economy would benefit much more if Bush and Congress made more of an effort to get Government spending in check. Bush said in the SOTU that he'd be proposing a budget that cut over 150 "wasteful or bloated programs" that should come up with $18 million dollars. He also verbally backhanded Congress for not cutting down on their sneaky little earmarks. I 100% agree with him there. Earmarks are stupid and unnecessary, and I think that the people in the committees that come up with these proposals should be individually fined each time an earmark comes up.
Which brings us to Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, which starts in October 2008. The Yahoo! article gives a pretty general overview of what he's trying to accomplish. In the SOTU address, Bush mentioned that his budget would produce a surplus by 2012, and he's sticking with that argument in this proposal. Personally, I think it's crap. First of all, he's asking for a total spending allowance of $3.1 TRILLION dollars. Not billion, TRILLION. And not just one single trillion. Three trillions. But, he's cutting costs by not printing out the plan and distributing it to Congress the old fashioned way. He's being "innovative" by doing it digitally (honestly? Is anything still done on paper?).
WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM??? Seriously. He's not raising taxes, and we're already in debt up to our eyeballs, so there is no available cash to pay for all of this. Am I the only one who sees the problem with that? No wonder the US has a negative rate of savings. Someone recently told me that Government is essentially a reflection of its people. I think it works both ways. The Government spends money without thought of the consequence, and the people spend without thought of the consequence, and it's a vicious cycle of debt on both the personal and the national levels. I don't like it. I don't like where its heading. I don't like where its taking us as a nation.
Hopefully, and I say this with all the sincerity I posses, the next President is able to fix the CF of a financial situation that the country is in. I won't even care if it's a Republican, as long as the problem gets fixed for reals (though I don't think that a Republican will be inclined to cut down on the war spending, which is the bulk of the problem).
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