High Crime and Misdemeanors Part 2

It seems like Paul Krugman and I were thinking the same exact thing. Great minds... Alright, I can't really put myself in the same class as a Nobel prize winning economist, but we do agree. I bet Mr.(Nobel Prize Winner) Krugman rocks his bling everywhere he goes. Nothing here from me but check out the article on the NY Times website.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/opinion/19krugman.html?_r=1&hp

Perfect

Existence requires evolution

improvement begs for revolution

All tried becoming a better you

But, you are perfect as you are

A more perfect union requires sacrifice

This begs first for a love of your life

The man in the mirror reflects on you

And you are perfect as you are

Humanity requires we seek perfection

Begging questions of contradiction

Nobody else except you, can perfect you,

till you accept you, are perfect as you are

High crime and Misdemeanors

It is often said that "crime does not pay", but that old wives tale has been debunked time and time again. The truth is "small crimes do not pay." It really pays to be part of a criminal conspiracy looking to separate millions from their cash. Don't deal or smuggle drugs; become a kingpin of cocaine or some other high society drug (crack and weed gets you actual time).

I give this advice as someone who, at times, even hates jay walking. I am learning though that small time guys get vilified big-time but big-time guys get cushy quarters.

Let's say I was a thug who stole a purse or four or four hundred and knocked a few heads in; i would get some shitty cell with a repressed guy named Deebo. What would the damage be? Some people's lunch money or expensive jacket or their week's paycheck; I would rightly be put in the slammer. Let's say i instead used my company to steal those very same people's retirement, as well as their kid's college fund and made them lose their home to boot; i would get part of a 700 billion bailout.

Let's look at another example. If i were a Japanese fighter in ww2 and i tortured Americans for the safety of my "homeland." I would be put to death when evidence was brought. If instead I: started an illegal war on false pretenses, led to the deaths of thousands (some say millions) of people, indefinitely detained and tortured suspects, lost/stole millions of dollars on fraud and waste; I may have a shoe thrown at me.

Quick notes

From the makers and purveyors of maple bacon lollipops comes the bacon bandage*. I really could have used that bacony goodness about two weeks back. Thankfully slow-speed car crashes don't require these either. Few things get the heart going like being T-boned by an over-anxious driver. I am fine;not one pretty pretty hair or bone was harmed.

I know that this has been everywhere but i really can't get over how quick Bush reacted to the flying shoe. That is probably the only section of the P.D.B. he reads.

Shiv's bachelor party was last Saturday, what fun we had. I still can't find my camera so no pics. Seemed like everyone came through. I sported an eye-patch at various points. Only disappointment, that I am allowed to talk about, was that I lost my favorite Brooklyn Industries glove.

*Not true but sometimes the truth must be sacrificed for a good opener.

Car Talk

The big to do (read that as lie) now is that American auto workers get paid $70 an hour. It's easy to get on the rank and file workers who put in their hard day's work. Management are the ones who get paid far more than the regular workers for their wisdom in guiding the company to profitability; they make the big decisions. The union does not decide the marketing or the style of car to be produced or anything else that deals with sales. Yet they are the ones who seem to be under the microscope.

This is all part of the continued march to the bottom. The unions negotiated and were able to get good benefits for their workers; now they are being singled out. I hate to sound like a broken record but wall street got what they wanted without asking their workers to take a cut. That being said, a lot of jobs were lost while the big shots still party (ex. AIG spa vacation thing). Always the mythical little man.

Somehow we have gotten to the point in this country where it is alright to put in a lifetime at work and then be left out in the cold. The $70 an hour costs consists of the legacy costs of retired workers pensions. Pensions that were invested in while the companies were very profitable. The union is what made the three American auto companies behemoths. The workers earned their pensions, this is not welfare.

The post is a little bit snarkey but I had to get the "stress off my chest like breast reductions."

De(mock)racy

There is currently a major cash/credit flow problem in the US and all over the world. Without going too far off the deep end, the whole reason we are in the mess we are in today is because large portions of the world decided to follow the U.S. model. The U.S. model can be best defined as unregulated, out of control capitalism. When capitalism is allowed to run amok in this fashion it also run afoul of democracy.

Given this foundation, or lack there of, there should be no surprise that we are in the position we are in today. Corporatist state anyone? When voting with your dollars is seen as equivalent to one person one vote.When it comes down to a 5-4 supreme court decision on whether campaign contributions can not be limited because such limits hinder free speech, something is seriously wrong. When money is concentrated in the hands of a few Über rich people and corporations, something is wrong.

Now that there is some contraction in the credit markets banks are getting bailed out and home owners, the mythical little guy, get nothing. The dominoes have started falling and now the auto industry has come with hat in hand. The main sticking point to give a loan, not free money, is to reduce the pay of the union workers. No such thing was asked of the rank and file workers of the banks.

With all that said, these are only symptoms, our democracy is sick and needs to be resuscitated. Our democracy needs an informed active populous in order to live and live up to it's true potential.

A Special Birthday

Now most you you expect this to be some rant about pirates, but I assure you it is not. I mean they are totally awesome, but that is really besides the point. They inspire people to grow the most awesome of beards and are in general really funny and entertaining. um... Right. The rest of this is not about pirates.




J to the Wizzow was apparently born on this day. At least that is what my phone said last night at about 10 to midnight. Who can really blame her for choosing today. With greats like Kirk Douglas, the man brought it strong in Spartacus (1960) and Tom Daschel who can blame her for popping out today. She could have chosen the same day as lamers like Guru Nanak or Leonardo, we're close I can call him by his first name. Insteadshe chose the father of Michael Douglas. I mean the man contributed to DNA to "The American President".


I thought about trying to put together one of those online cards but I didn't like any of the free ones. What do you get someone who is so thoughtful and selfless but at the same time throws up at any sign of sappiness from you? I am not sure but I know for certain it's not a hug cause nobody likes upchucking on their birthday. I wish I could recount any of the instances where she has shown her true character but I have no memory. Just take my word for it.

If any of you would like such glowing praises on your birthday I'm accepting checks and favors. :) I got through 2 whole paragraphs without talking about bears or pirates or Pirate Bears or any other combination of the two....

Imagine black bear with a tricorner hat, an eye-patch,
a beard....I guess you don't have to imagine!

Quality Characters

These last couple days have been filled with all sorts of interesting things.

First and foremost, Monday's episode of Heroes reminded me of why i keep tuning in. USA network has a motto or whatever: "characters welcome." To get the point it must be mashed with a phrase/campaign slogan, attributed to President William "Bubba" Clinton to instead read: "it’s the characters stupid!"

Heroes really got that point on Monday. The show returned to the basics by taking the powers away and focused on their motivation. Hiro was reduced to an innocent kid, without the burden of saving the world, he was his cute loveable self; even I want to pinch his cheeks.

Peter was free to return to his seemingly naive nature and to be pushed around by everyone now that he was devoid of powers. I love the fact that he still wants to contribute without his powers. It’s nice seeing him as a bad-ass but this is the part of him that makes the difference.

Back to USA. The story lines in Psych and Monk are usually good but never have to be great because of awesome characters. I tune in for Monk's neuroses and i stay for "here's what happen." this is why I hate the mentalist. He stole Shawn's powers of observation, but lacks his character. He also lacks a best bud for hijinks; the dude is weak.

It was a long way to go for a ''the mentalist'' sucks joke, but well worth it.

Marshmallows

I popped into whole foods the other day and picked up a box of hot cocoa mix and marshmallows for consumption in the early morning when I get into work.
I like sugar.
I'm a big fan of Swedish fish.

LBo makes a good Tilapia dish.
I am not sure that I like marshmallows made of fish gelatin

This is a real marshmallow (Althaea officinalis). Extensive research reveals that it is a plant that is native to Africa; used for medicinal and decorative purposes. It was a delicacy for the Romans, eaten by Egyptians and Armenians to name a few.

The extract from the plant was originally used as a gelling agent in making the marshmallow treat; This is where the name of the treat comes from. Apparently, marshmallows now are usually held together with getlatin of some sort: Beef Bones, Beef skin or Fish.

Can we go back to the real thing?