What the heck is going on in Arizona. Immigration is not just the issue but possibly an issue in general for people to be different. Being completely clear, I don’t think people should come here illegally what ever your shade or background. The word illegal itself states that something less than correct has been done. While I can’t remember a time when I have gotten away with doing something I wasn’t supposed to, I still can’t see supporting a law that enables simply looking at a person to be the jump start for the are you legal question. Lets just be honest for a second, making a law that allows local law enforcement to have authority to ask such questions is going to lead to unfair scrutinizing of certain people. We all know that this law is aimed at those who don’t satisfy the blend quotient. You know for those whose presence creates a level of concern and angst. Governor Brewer knows exactly what she is doing, just keeping it honest. Sorry governor, your plan stinks. What is the answer for immigration, who knows, but simply suspecting that a person isn’t legal by sight just isn’t going to cut it. But wait, that’s not enough for Arizona and good old governor Brewer, they are really on the ball out there aren’t they. Now not only if I look at you and think you might not belong will you have an issue but the fact that you may dare to learn about your heritage is also cause to throw up a big red flag. How dare you! Who do you think you are? According to the governor’s spokesman “the governor believes public school students should be taught to treat and value each other as individuals and not be taught to resent or hate other races or classes of people.” Truly laughable excuse. I guess the history lessons are next. You might as well not even worry about the few who are taking an ethnic studies course if the true concern is about potential resentment or hate for groups of people because of what might be learned in a classroom. Again I’ll just say, there go the history lessons or at least the accurate ones. I guess the governor doesn’t want anyone to think about the times when groups of people have been oppressed, mistreated and devalued or maybe just doesn‘t want anyone to learn about it. After all she wouldn’t want anyone to get upset. Too bad governor Brewer isn’t enlightened enough to want to open up dialogue about various aspects of a cultures history instead of trying to stifle it. Why shouldn’t it be a lesson in of itself that even if things were once a certain way that was inequitable to a particular group or groups that as a people, an American culture and forward moving and thinking country despite those inequities there is room for growth, development and conversation. Long story short, I think most people can agree that as a nation, especially at this time of concern for American safety, there needs be some serious oversight of immigration into the country. But as governor Brewer contemplates what she feels may be deemed as anti-white it seems that in no uncertain terms she has declared herself anti-, I’ll just say other.
Archive for the ‘Money Gab’ Category
If You Blend, You’re In
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010I’m The Man
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with Sen. Bunning getting a “deal” to agree to allow an extension for unemployment benefits. I guess he has come up with a commodity other than money to help people pay bills and maintain a sense of normalcy within their lives. No, that didn’t happen? Oh for Sen. Bunning I guess it is acceptable to exist while holding your breath waiting for your life’s bubble to burst. I’m trying to figure out why he has been given so much power. Okay so politics requires tit for tat, we all know that, but what a blatant example of peacocking at the expense of others. I agree there is an extreme amount of debt piling up without knowing what the long-term outcome will be, but when did the basic standard of living get to be an acceptable sacrifice? When I see someone think somehow its cool for everyone else to do without and be okay, I can’t help but wonder what they would, scratch that, have given up as they dictate and decide what everyone else should be able to do without. So Sen. Bunning as you take your grand stand, I just have a few questions. Are you in jeopardy of falling behind on your mortgage and if not are you willing to downsize, probably at a loss, to cut your expenses? How many vacations have you skipped? Have you and your family forgone shopping? Have you parked your car? What exactly have you done other than say other people have been receiving too much money and it needs to stop. Did you forgo your salary or benefit package in the order to offset spending? Probably not. It’s really easy to sit in the only chair in the room and tell others to make themselves comfortable. Cutting off peoples unemployment benefits without offering another options highlights your humanity and true concern for your brethren. After all who cares if they have four walls if you Sen. Bunning, don’t get an extra vote.
Mechanic Needed
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010I just had a wonderful experience, as wonderful as dealing with a car repair can be. The auto shop that I sent my car to for a diagnostic test actually left me with good feelings despite the fact they told me I needed a new engine. So when I initially contacted the shop they told me the test would be over a hundred dollars. What was I charged? A cool 52 bucks with a written assessment of what was needed. If you are like me, you probably don’t have much faith in auto repair shops. But anytime you can walk away with an assessment, not be sweated about making an immediate decision and can even leave the car for over a week without it being the end of the world, well that is an auto shop I can learn to love. Thanks Chicago Import Services for renewing my faith in mechanics.
Spectacle Please
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010So posting new information is not the only thing that I‘m behind on, both of the dvrs are 95% full, my father knows more about YouTube than I do and I’m constantly asked by family and friends if I’m on Facebook yet. Okay, okay, I’m getting around to all of it. There is absolutely no way that my father can be more up on things than me. So while I’ve been catching up on Oprah and The View, a couple of stories struck me. One of my favorite is about a guest who was on The View, Dave Carroll, who has gotten to corporate America in my new favorite way. Can anyone say Spectacle! Much applause to you Dave Carroll, thanks for showing us the way. While the question that must still be raised is why most companies require “spectacle” in order to do the right thing, if that’s what gets it done I am certainly on board with creating a three ring circus at their front door. Mr. Carroll your performance was one of the best showcases of musical talent combined with spectacle. I loved it. By the way spectacle is one of my new favorite words and trust me that will certainly be my angle when I encounter future insurmountable and or unforgivable levels of denial, unconcern, and irresponsibility from any company. My heart attack days are over and I’m going to release all the drama that talking to customer service can offer. Again Dave Carroll, bravo on calling American Airlines out in such a truly interesting and charismatic way. I wish I would have thought of it myself. Now personally I don’t think that it should have to come to that, but congrats on demanding accountability from a ridiculous situation. American Airlines and all other companies who need it, the circus can always be open to your business.
Sick and Tired!
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010There is nothing worse than being sick. I take that back. There’s nothing worse than having a sick kid. Well I kind of take that back. There’s nothing worse than having a sick kid and feeling like you can’t take them to the doctor because you don’t have insurance or can’t afford to create a new bill. Honestly I am not sure whether or not universal healthcare is the answer, but I do know in a country where we fund so many things I wonder why there is such a problem with deciding to fund this. One thing I know for sure is healthcare should not be tied to a job. Having a job should not be the key to health and not having one should not mean your health is irrelevant. Particularly at this time when employers are cutting so many workers either to part time which means no benefits or coverage so limited that it might as well be considered no benefits, or all together, something has got to be done. For those who oppose everybody having healthcare my question to you is why are you opposed? Is it due to feeling that people just aren’t worth the expense of everyone having coverage? Or does it have more to do with politics and not wanting to see the President be successful? Is it perhaps because somehow “others” shouldn’t be entitled to benefits that the elite are privileged too (um Congress, I might be talking to you). Irrespective of politics and hey even money, where is the humanity? Most people can’t walk by a sick animal and not want to help, but the underprivileged, unemployed or underinsured, well I guess that’s another story.
Life Goes On
Friday, September 4th, 2009Hooray! Wedding obligations are temporarily over; I don’t have to start again until November. Maybe now I can give my opinion on something other than floral arrangements and seating charts. Since my mental occupation has ended, I am ready to re-acclimate myself to things that don’t have anything to do with love, bells, or expensive dresses. So as the many happy couples start a life that will soon be a little less so, I am ready to once again delve into the issues that can make life unhappy with a frequency that may only be rivaled by marriage. No I’m not necessarily speaking from personal experience. And no I’m not jaded, just realistic, living a life that constantly meets or exceeds your wedding day is pretty unlikely. Just keeping it real but hey, hugs, kisses and best wishes all around.
Tis The Season
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Okay so I went on and on before about attending all the weddings this summer but it doesn’t end there. There is a seeming never ending list of engagements to occupy my time and money throughout the summer season. Honestly I need a vacation from summer, there’s just too much going on. Okay so there is a new trend at least in my family to shower the graduate heading off to college. Not entirely a bad idea since setting up an exciting beginning for a college student can be expensive. So here we go, first we have the graduations, honestly I am happy and proud of the accomplishments but by the fifth one be it from grammar, high school or college, I am about spent, money and attention wise. Then of course we have the party or celebratory dinner that follows, which is not necessarily the same as the pending “college shower” that usually follows shortly thereafter for the college graduate. Did I mention the frequent enough baby showers, birthday parties and barbeques, out of town friend visits and of course weddings that happen throughout the season too. Om. Don’t mind me, I’m just going to pause for a second because I’m exhausted and well just a little bit broke and I haven’t even put my own children into the mix, both of whom have birthdays this time of year. Om. I think I am going to take up Yoga because I need to work on my relaxation techniques. Om. And we thought the holiday season was budget breaking, summer is quickly coming along for the ride. Om. Tis the season.
Wedding Bells
Monday, August 17th, 2009Wedding Bells are ringing for my younger brother and actually for a good amount of other family and friends this year. This summer I will have attended four weddings with each costing a shiny penny just for having been invited. There’s the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, the hair, the gift for the wedding and if you’re an honored member a gift for the shower, and let’s not forget that always fun money dance. I really have to take a deep breath here because the list just goes on and on. Despite my delight for the various people, most of whom I do believe will live in marital bliss, sorry I’m not naming any names or pointing any fingers, the expense of a wedding is big business. The flowers, the pictures, the cars, the dresses, the pre-wedding parties, it all adds up and gets to be pretty overwhelming. I have to say whatever my thoughts of their future, and irrespective of whether I’ve shed tears of joy or sadness, I will truly be happy when my dance card can be withdrawn from the all this wedding business at least for a while. Oh wait, I have two more weddings before the end of the year. I’m afraid it will never end.
The Business of Death
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009Lately with everything that has been going on from the seeming one after the other deaths of the” rich and famous” to grave selling schemes of the “unimportant and forgettable”, not my sentiment but evidently the way the despicable people who could even think to do such a horrific thing must have felt, it has been highlighted that death is a big business. From those who can and do capitalize from the passing of an icon to those who are never satisfied with the knowledge that there will always be business, death is a never ending money scheme. I guess the question is when has it crossed the line? Well for certain I can tell you when you decide to dig up people’s remains and toss them around like you are throwing, hmm, I actually can’t think of anything that should be tossed aside like the remains of the people in the Bur Oak incident and if I’m not mistaken I believe we’ve had something like this happen before, trust that you have not only crossed a line but evidently no line exists for you. You know I think the really sad part of all of this is that no matter the life you lead on earth if there’s money to be made by a business; there is not even peace in death.
Equity Is Key
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Okay, admittedly it’s hard to be sympathetic to someone who is making what appears to be an exceeding large salary when they are still not satisfied and want more. I know many would gladly accept that salary and at this time I will happily throw my name into the bucket for getting paid to share opinions especially since right now I’m doing it for free. Tell you what American Idol, I’m feeling really generous and I’ve got a real bargain for you, I’ll do it for one-fifth of Paula Abdul’s salary. Sorry Paula, a girls’ got to eat. Irrespective of the fact that Paula and others in her position do not have to worry about everyday things like so many of us do, the fact of the matter is companies garner lots of money from having certain “names” attached with their projects, sports teams, television shows, etc. Because of this, I do believe that individuals should be fairly compensated within the realm of fairness for that specific circumstance. Of course that does mean that we will continue to hear ridiculous sounding salaries like those of many athletes and entertainers. However, as with anything, I am in favor of equity. An organization shouldn’t make millions and feel that they should not compensate appropriately those who contributed to them having those earnings. I’m sure it is also a big blow to the egos of entertainers and athletes alike to learn they are not exempt to those issues of us non-clouted individuals, you know when someone else makes judgments on your worth. Being compensated based on your “value” to the company for all but the one at the top will always knock you down a peg. You know businesses have the unique ability to make you feel like crap on so many levels, whether you are the third assistant removed or the co-star of a movie you still can get it handed to you. It’s got to be hard to sit next to someone who is making say $45 million for just a couple of years of work when you feel your work is no less important than theirs and you only get 10. Plain and simple, that sucks. I think I would complain too. No matter what these companies pay those who assist with their operation, rest assured, the company is without doubt getting theirs. Companies just show some respect for those who helped you get it.