More Stuff

Hope everyone’s had a great week.  Mine’s been pretty good.  Even though the week started with more snow in the Deep South, gonna be an awesome weekend weather-wise here.  Sunny and 60’s.   Can’t wait.

Gotta few things to comment on and wanted to throw them out there while they’re still fresh in me noggin.  So, if you’re willing to proceed, here we go:

• A North Carolina congressmen has submitted a proposal to replace Ulysses S Grant on the $50 bill with Ronald Reagan.  Now, I’m about as big a Reagan fan as you will find, however, not so sure about this one.  In the grand scheme of things, Grant did more for our country by winning the Civil War as a soldier than Reagan did during his presidency.  Think all the current folks on our money should stay put.  If they want to honor Reagan with his mug on some money, they should probably come up with another coin like a $0.20 piece.  That would help cover those $0.99 plus tax things you always have to find extra change for.  Just a thought;
• Saw where Scott Matheson was nominated by President Obama to be a federal judge.  So what, you may be asking.  Well, turns out he’s the brother of Jim Matheson, a Dem congressman from Utah, who also happens to be undecided on his healthcare reform vote.  Imagine that.  Now, Obama claims that has nothing to do with his selection, and from what I’ve read, Scott seems qualified for the position.  But, it still looks a little fishy no matter how you slice it.  Just goes to show the more things change, the more they stay the same;
• President Obama had a press conference the other day with a bunch of doctors standing behind him wearing white coats.  Why do doctors have to wear these things when they are out in public?  You see them all the time making public appearances wearing their white coats or surgical scrubs like they just left a waiting room full of patients or someone on the operating table.  Guess they think it lends an air of credibility or something.  Think it makes them look like they are trying to distract you from the dribble coming out of their mouths myself;
• Joined a blog promotion website called SeededBuzz.com.  The concept is you read other blogs and then provide a link to their blog on yours when you use theirs as inspiration on yours.  Sounds more complicated than it really is.  So, if you’re a blogger, suggest you check it out to see if it might be for you.  Ain’t a charge to be a basic member, but, naturally, you can upgrade for a small fee if you like.  They encourage you to remain a free member, though.  Say all this to let you know I will provide comments on other blogs from time to time now.  Will also provide a link to the blog so you can read it for yourself if you like;
• Read about a law being introduced out in California to outlaw cursing for a week on An Authors Journey (link here).  The politician who proposed it says cursing leads to all kind of social mayhem so it should be illegal for a week.  Should be noted there is no penalty if you break the law if and when it is passed.  This brings several thoughts to mind.  One, why worry about this $@^# when California has an economic crisis worse than the US?  Someone else agrees with this question in limerick form here  Two, at what point in language history did these words become bad to say?  If you think about it, why is “manure” or “anus” any better to say than their more colorful alternatives?  Even some innocuous words such as "hole" can be seen as offensive, I guess.  Have watched shows before where the speaker has said “ass” and the second half of the word is bleeped out.  To me, would think they would bleep the former rather than the latter.  Anyway, just seems like a politician wanting to tell his constituents he’s getting legislation passed when it comes time for re-election.  Better hope no one asks him what it is;
• US Common Sense (link here) has a commentary about Starbucks refusing to kowtow to the anti-handgun movement.  Seems California (and 42 other states) has a law which states you can openly carry handguns anywhere you want.  The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence went to several businesses asking them to prevent people from coming into their places if they were openly packing heat.  Several capitulated but Starbucks refused saying they always follow the local laws and regulations.   I say good for Starbucks!  It irritates me when people want to push their beliefs by trying to hold corporations hostage.  Went out and bought a venti non-fat latte this morning just to show my support.  Now, will say I’m not a big fan of handguns myself; however, I will fight to the death your right to own one (legally) if you so choose.  But, that is a topic for a whole ‘nother blog;
• Gonna have an interesting trial coming up here shortly.  Anthony Galea, a sports medicine doctor in Canada, is being tried for attempting to have HGH smuggled from the US into Canada.  He’s treated some big-name stars including Alex Rodriguez and Tigger Woods.  Of course, they deny taking HGH and say they were taking part in some sort of blood-cleansing type therapy the doc is famous for.  Could get real interesting, though.  Not usually a conspiracy theorist, but have always thought it was a little odd that Tigger blew out his knee the year the PGA started testing for performance-enhancing drugs.  Not that I think it gave him an unfair advantage if he did take PED’s.  His mental toughness is what separates him from everyone else.  Probably didn't take them.  Still…;
• Did you see where McDonald’s has struck up a sponsorship deal with…brace yourself…Weight Watchers?  Yup.  Happened in New Zealand.  McD’s will be able to use the WW seal of approval for several of their meals including chicken nuggets and filet-o-fish sandwiches.  Needless to say, not all health advocates are crazy about it seeing as how McD’s is always the poster child for unhealthy eating.  Never would have thought it would happen myself, but more power to them if that’s what both parties want to do.  It’s their name and money 0n the line.  Will be interesting to see if it makes its way to this side of the pond;
• Could be an interesting weekend in Alabama.  The bingo parlors have opened back up.  The state authorities have said they’re gonna raid them.  The county authorities have said they gonna stop ‘em at the door.  And our politicians wonder why people, including our own citizens, make fun of Alabama;
• March is one of the best months of the year for sports fans.  The NCAA basketball tournament (a.k.a – March Madness) will be starting soon.  Baseball spring training has started.  Basketball and hockey are wrapping up their seasons to start the playoffs.  Will be lots of stuff for sports folks to yak about.  Should be a fun month.

That’s all the news that is the news…to me…for now, anyway.  Thanks as always for trudging through it.  Hope you enjoyed it or at least have a few more things to think about, if you need more.  Please be sure to check the links on the left, too.  Some good stuff over there.

Have a great weekend!

Random Synapse Gaps

Every time me thinks the news just can’t get any stranger,  it does.  Reckon that’s what I get for thinking.   So if you want to read  commentary on some recent news, please continue.

• If you are into smoking left-handed cigarettes, Statewide Insurance Services has decided to add coverage for medicinal marijuana to their health insurance policies.  They said it’s already legal in 14 states and they figure won’t be too long before the rest follow suit.  Would it surprise you to find out they are based in California?  Anyway, if you’re into that kind of thing and want some coverage, all you need is to live in a state where it’s legal, find a doc to give you a prescription, and buy their insurance.  Now, that’s what I call thinking outside the box;
• It’s come out the former mayor of Birmingham won 555 times at the local electronic bingo establishments over the last 3 years.  Total winnings:  around $1.5 million.  Although he says he doesn’t remember winning like that, claimed the winnings on his taxes so it must be true.  Some days he won close to $100,000.  Several workers have said they were told by management to take him to the “lucky” machines.  Imagine that.  Don’t have anything against gambling myself. But, does go to show what kind of character the gambling moguls can have.  In case you’re wondering why he’s the former mayor, he was recently convicted of taking bribes from several other folks and is about to be sentenced to the pokey.  Surprised?;
• See where Tigger went home from rehab a little over a week after his statement.  Wonder why he couldn’t have waited another week or two?  Maybe he really was trying to stick it to the sponsor who dropped him during their tournament.  Or, maybe he just wanted to be able to get away for a while from the media hubbub he knew would come after he talked.  Who knows?  The real question to me:  is he sleeping in his bed or on the couch?;
• Nancy Pelosi said the other day the politicians should vote for healthcare reform, even if it jeopardizes their political career, cuz it’s what the people want.  As a friend of mine said, if it’s what the people want, why would a vote for reform put their careers in jeopardy?  Sometimes people really should think before they open their yap in public;
• Read where the Chilean earthquake caused the earth’s axis to shift slightly.  Something about the rocks moving  which caused the earth’s weight to shift.  Anyway, it will result in shorter days.  Have lost about 1.26 microseconds according to a NASA scientist.  Not something I would necessarily think about with an earthquake.  The article said the fact it happened is not that unusual but the length of time is.  In comparison, the quake that triggered the tsunami in 2004 only altered the time by .06 microseconds (whatever that is).  On a side note, have found it interesting the world is not coming to Chile’s aid like it did Haiti.  Reckon it’s cuz of the lower death tolls.  Still a sad event, though;
• Guy Morriss, the head football coach at Texas A&M-Commerce, was bragging about teaching his players how to steal.  Seems the student newspaper had a headline about several players getting busted for selling drugs so he told his players to go out and get every copy they could find.  Problem was, the first paper was free then it’s $0.25 for every copy after that.  Since they were taking them stacks at a time without paying the quarters, the paper accused them of stealing.  Coach said there was nothing wrong with telling his players to take the papers.  How much you want to bet there will be another headline soon which reads, “Morriss Gone!”?
• Just how fickle is the American public?  Jay Leno, who couldn’t draw flies to his prime time show, handily won the ratings war when he returned to his old time slot Monday.  Go figure.  Can’t imagine his show is any different.  Maybe it’s cuz the head musician got canned when they moved back.  Who knew?;
• See where Sully Sullivan has decided to hang up his wings.  Might as well, he’s been making so many public appearances (and rightly so) after he landed that plane, probably doesn’t have enough time for his real job.  Congrats on making it to retirement, Sully!  Hope you have a long and fulfilling flight into the sunset.

Well, that’s all I got for now.  Thanks as always for hanging on to the end.  Y’all have a good one!
Until next time…