Line of Thoughts

The economy is falling apart.  Credibility that this administration can handle the current crisis is fading by the day.  What does congress set its eyes on?  Why how college football picks the number one.  Stupid.

 The incredible article.

You use a band aid on 99% of wounds and get stitches if it is too bad.  You use your eraser when you mis-write and only replace the entire sheet when there are too many changes.  So what do you do if you are the city of Seattle facing 8+ inches of snow in a once in a decade snow stom?  WHy not put salt down of course.  The politicians of Seattle have decided to put their citizens at risk in order to make an environmental stand that is hallow in its meaning.  Nice way to play with peoples lives Seattle.

 Story is here.

I am not sure what it is but this election cycle has been more painful then most.  Perhaps it is the fact that you can’t even play a video game without seeing campaign ads.  Or maybe it is the fact that the recorded voice ads are so prevalent that I have chosen not to answer my phone may evenings in the last 2 weeks.

While trying to find news not related to politics today (anything!) I cam across this really cool story about a Salmon carcass found in California.  The Salmon was 85 pounds and 4 feet long.  Not to mention it is just really, really cool looking.  Regardless of the politics, regardless of the winners and losers and regardless of my 401K balance there are still very cool things out there to think about and see if we take a step back (or forward).

There are few more sordid political stories unraveling these days then that of Detroit Mayer Kwame Kilpatrick and his ongoing legal issues stemming from lying about the sexual relationship he was having with an aid and the ramifications this had on a multimillion dollar city settlement.

Now the Hip Hop Mayor of Detroit is getting the privilege of being locked up in jail overnight per a Judges order.  This all stemmed from Kwame taking a trip to Canada without first informing the court.

 When will this all end?  Only when Kwame decides to put the city and state first and resigns.

See the story here.

First off this is not an April Fools Joke.
A tower a mile high.  This is the dream of a Saudi prince.  The tower, which will rise 5,250 feet into the air and cost over 5 billion US Dollars, is planned for construction in the Saudi Arabian dessert.  (The Sears Tower is 1,730 feet with antenna!)

I wonder what the purpose of this is?  Can there really be a overwhelming need for a mile high skyscraper in the middle of the dessert?  In a land that has an abundance of space first and oil second what is the great fascination for this? 

One wonders if it will be built and if it is will it be another Spruce Goose?

Grandmother, Son, Granddaughter plus seven other family members living on the dole and proud of it.

A friend of mine forwarded this to me. I read this several times and then researched to make sure this wasn’t a hoax. I cannot believe this is true. I can’t fathom that there are human beings that are this useless.

This is exactly the kind of excess that conservatives point to when referencing how social welfare is harmful rather then compassionate. Three generations and nearly the entire family lives off the public dole. None of the family members feels guilty. Most of the family seems to feel that they are not only entitled to the public hand outs but seem they deserve to have more.

Granted this is Great Britain but it struck me that the Grandmother claimed she was entitled to be happy. I disagree. As our founding fathers wisely made clear we are guaranteed the pursuit of happiness not happiness itself. That is for us to yearn for, cry for, bleed for and make for ourselves.

I have compassion. I hurt for those in need. This is not need. This is selfish greed and is a disservice to all of humanity.

Wal-Mart claims this is being done for the benefit for all. I really don’t know what to say about this. I don’t want to write about it. I just think this is evil. This is the kind of think that makes Wal-Mart appear evil to America. This woman’s husband had to divorce his wife to get more money for her. Her son has been killed in Iraq. What a horrible story.

Story Link. - This is video.

**UPDATE** 4/02/08 - Wal-Mart backs down.  Agrees not to seek the moneys any longer.  Says that the rules might be worth bending this time around.  Sad it took this type of attention to do the right thing.  See for yourself.