Our federal government, hard at work

So I am reading about Bush's economic stimulus package tonight (excellent Friday night reading for those of you wondering), trying to figure out just what our federal brain trust is going to do to help fix a potential recession. The Bush proposal originally called for tax rebates for all taxpayers, amounting to $800 per taxpayer or $1600 for a couple. Don't know the exact amount that would 'tax' the federal budget, but hey, its our money anyway. They should reduce their freaking spending in Washington, but that is a topic for another day.

So back on topic: Now, due to concessions made to House and Senate socialists ( I mean Democrats), the rebate has been trimmed to $600/1200, so that those who don't pay any taxes at all (low income wage earners) can get their share of the pie. So with that being said, let's call this what it is... not a rebate of individual taxation, but a redistribution of national wealth. This is absurdity, but I guess I should expect no less from a government that spends more than it should every day of the year. Teddy Kennedy and his goons have led this change, and I am more embarassed every day that some electorate votes him into office every six years. And add to that the senior retirees who think they should get some of this as well.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080125/ap_on_go_co/economy_stimulus

So now this has become the lottery winnings for those who have not contributed to their piece of the pie originally. I am all for the government getting money back to the hands of the people, but give it back to the people who gave it in the damn first place!! And I use the term 'gave' incorrectly. Give it back to the people who the fed gov TOOK it from. And no, I don't believe that we shouldn't pay taxes, but the spending programs that we have in place now would make any business in the world go bankrupt in months, if not days. I am sick and tired of the politicians thinking that the citizens of this country are here to give them what they need to stay in power. Its the exact opposite. And the sad part is that I see myself in the minority of this viewpoint when it really comes down to it. So I guess we will wait with anxious eyes to see what the final package looks like, and when it all gets passed. Not holding my breath though.

4 years!!

Celebrated the 4 year anniversary today with my wife.... I can't believe that we have been married for this long already. More importantly, I can't believe Summer has been able to put with me for this long. Seems like yesterday that we were walking down the aisle. Its been a fun and eventful four years, and I look forward to many more....

And a congratulations are in order to my brother Andrew and mother-in-law for their correct answers to the trivia question from the other night. The funny thing is that they knew for different reasons. My bro could quote Dazed and Confused up and down, but MaryJo only knew because Summer won't ever stop drooling over Matthew McConnahey.

And it so it goes...

Mr. Law & Order did as I expected him to today, by dropping his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. I am disappointed, but I don't think he stood much of a chance with his showing to date. So, now it looks like I am going to have towards Mr. Huckabee for the nomination. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks. And for the record, I think it is safe to say that Fred married up when he and Jeri exchanged vows... good for him.

Sitting here right now watching 'Balls of Fury', a classic ping pong movie... Actually, its probably one of the dumbest movies I've seen in a while but pretty dang funny. Christopher Walken is his typical goofy self, and there are quite a few cameos I didn't expect. Not a bad way to waste 90 minutes of my life. I'd give it a 2 out of 5, simply for the laughs.

I saw where Heath Ledger died this afternoon in his NYC apartment. Very sad news, as I think he was a great actor, and I am really looking forward to his role as the Joker in the upcoming Dark Knight movie (second in the line of new Batman movies). And as usual, the media can't stop talking about his death. Its been on the front page of every site I have visited tonight. Definitely a sad story, but I don't want to be bombarded with stories for the next week about him. Nothing against Ledger, but this celebrity worship culture we live in makes me want to vomit. Give his family some privacy and just report on news that will actually make a difference in people's lives. The family doesn't deserve the hoopla and I don't want to see it.

On a positive note, it appears that the Fed cutting rates by the greatest amount since 1984 may have averted a tumultuous slide of the global economy. Foreign and domestic markets rallied after the action, but who knows what will happen next. It will be interesting to see how this plays into the presidential race.

What the deuce???

I don't know about all of you reading this, but I have become a bit infatuated with Stewie Griffin and the rest of the cast of Family Guy. Not the most wholesome show on TV, but I can't stop laughing when I watch.

Does anybody else watch Law and Order? The real Law and Order, not SVU, CI, or whatever other edition that has come about. The new season that kicked off in Jan is not so bad, but it is not the same without Fred Thompson as the DA of NYC. Speaking of, I wonder what his camp is thinking right now with his disappointing third place finish in the South Carolina primary. I'm a big fan of his conservative record and his dry, witty responses in the debates I have watched, but he has not connected with the voters as of yet. Which is too bad, b/c I would love to have to choose between him and Huckabee on Feb 5th here in the GA primary. That would be a tough call for me, despite my earlier postings about Huck being my guy. I probably won't have the choice by then.

Trivia Question for the night: What actor played the role of David Wooderson, the city worker hanging with high school kids, in the classic 'Dazed and Confused'? Hint: My wife is in love with him... seriously. And if you have to look it up on the web, you are not much of a film fan.... "Alright, alright, alright." Answer to come in the next edition.

And for those of you interested in seeing a tiger attack a man on an elephant in the wild, check this out. (Not graphic, so don't be scared) If you can't spend 3 minutes and 18 seconds watching the video, just go to the 2:00 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LjG7S8aqJg&feature=related

Global Warming???

Just had 2 days of snow here in Woodstock, GA in the last 4 days.... Each snow brought us a little less than 2 inches, which is more snow than we have seen in a while. I am shocked of course, that we are getting snow in GA with all of the global warming going on. I had actually planned on doing a little sunbathing at the pool this weekend, but the weather screwed it all up.

Sitting here tonight watching the Packers-Giants NFC Championship game, where the temp is a balmy -2, with wind chills nearing -30. That's NEGATIVE 30. Way too cold for me. Hoping the Pack can pull this out and get Favre back the Super Bowl.

But back to the weather in ATL. I think my favorite part of snow is the mass hysteria of the local population with the threat of snow comes. Packed grocery stores, drivers going 5 mph before the snow ever begins to stick, etc, etc. AM 750 made it sound like ATL was going to be wiped off the face of the maps with this "storm". And my biggest question is this... If we are expecting a few hours of snow and MAYBE one night of ice, why does everyone go and buy bread and milk???? That makes no sense. Buy something that you might want to eat for a night, don't stock up on rations for a two-week bunkering in. I can't believe that the biggest seller isn't beer and liquor. I'd much rather be stocked up on Miller Lites than Mayfield for a Saturday night snow-in.