I'm Not a Celebrity, Make it Stop

With the announcement of Rod Blagojevich's wife's participation in the ever intelligent series "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" on the Today Show this morning, I say make it stop. She claims that she only agreed to be on the show for financial reasons (due to the struggling economy, not her husbands famed indiscretions, of course), and not because she thinks she is a celebrity. Which she is clearly not. But she also clearly likes the attention and the money. The wife apple apparently doesn't fall far from the husband tree. All I have to say is an SNL Really? You couldn't find any other form of income? You were forced into this reality series? Really?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Leprechauns, Law, Layoffs, and Long Hours

As we enter the Summer months, I will not be able to blog as often due to long hours on the job...but, every once in a while, I will Leprechaun post. Yes, I said Leprechaun post.

Defined:

Leprechaun (or any other mythical creature ; I chose Leprechauns because the YouTube videos 1 and 2; but, I probably should have gone with Vampires as they are sure to be the new airbrushed poster subjects replacing the famed unicorn) Post - (n) a blog post that contains elements of wonder and magic; also a blog post that is rarely seen - one might have to squint or look up in a tree to catch a glimpse of said post; a special rarity worthy of airbrushing or a pot of gold.

O'blog continued: In continuing with the graduation theme from my last post, this past weekend was Baylor's graduation. The local news in Waco reported on how this year is a very tough time to be graduating - according to 1 study, only 10% of graduates have been able to secure a job. This number is pretty staggering, but this morning while I was surfing the WSJ. com website, I found another disturbing article discussing the grim prospects for graduating law students. In an interview with legal consultant Peter Zeughauser, the reporter asks:

"Not a good time to be coming out of law school, is it?

It’s not. But it’s really not a good time to be a 2L. They’re going to get hit the worst, I think. "

The article also discusses the possibility of seeing "dramatically reduced offers to summer associates at the end of this summer, and dramatically reduced offers for people to come in as summers in 2010. These cuts could be very dramatic, as much as slashed by 90 percent."

Dum dum duuuuuuuum.

Potemkin and Circumstance

"Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The Royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, Pomp, and Circumstance of glorious war!".

After Michelle's (Jesse's younger sister's) graduation this past weekend, I was reminded how Sir Elgar's march perfectly illuminates the pageantry of ceremonies - perhaps, gratuitously?



Also, with regards to Obamacare, the WSJ.com used some serious rhetorical language - perhaps gratuitously?

"This new entitlement -- like Medicare but open to all ages and all incomes -- would quickly crowd out private insurance as people gravitated to heavily subsidized policies, eventually leading to a single-payer system. So Democrats are trying to seduce diffident Republicans with a Potemkin compromise. A "soft" public option would limit enrollment only to the uninsured or those employed by small businesses, or include promises that the plan will pay market rates. As recently proposed by Chuck Schumer, it would pay claims entirely with premiums and co-pays. But if the plan can't force down reimbursement rates through brute force, and doesn't get taxpayer dollars, why bother to "compete" with private plans?

The truth is Democrats know that any policy guardrails built this year can be dismantled once the basic public option architecture is in place. The White House strategy is to dilute it just enough to win over credulous Republicans. That is what has always happened with government health programs..."

Potemkin healthcare promises or not, prepare yourselves for the congressional "Pride, Pomp, and Circumstance of glorious war!" to come.

Los Pantelones de Pakistan Estan en Fuego

"Let me be blunt," Rep. Gary Ackerman said. "Pakistan's pants are on fire."

Laughing already? Honestly, the audio is even better. Oh NPR, how you make my morning commute!

Although the Congressman's comment is a ridiculous rhetorical use of childhood name calling/taken our of context awesome, the recent events in Pakistan are extremely serious with regards to Obama's laissez-faire Middle East policy. I am not advocating that the Bush Doctrine is correct, but like it or not we are 100% involved and a new President doesn't suddenly erase the ghosts of Middle East past.

The facts are clear:

1. The Taliban is a real threat to U.S. national security
2. The Taliban advocates the suppression of women
3. The Taliban is supported by al-Qaeda
4. Pakistan is a nuclear nation
5. The Taliban has "advanced beyond their Swat valley stronghold to Buner valley, which is just 60 miles (100 km) northwest of the capital, Islamabad."
6. We fear the consequences of N. Korea and Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
7. Please reread numbers 4 and 5.

Yes. Very serious, indeed.

Tracking the Trek

Although I have never been a Trekkie, I did grow up watching The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager with my dad. (Geek note: we also might or might not have had a Star Trek phaser remote.) I really did enjoy the series, but I have never seen a Star Trek movie - nor do I understand all the intricacies of Star Trek culture, jargon, or the Klingon language. I just find it entertaining. So, all this said, I am looking forward to seeing my first Star Trek movie in a few days:



Also, Kingons are awesome.

Swiss Chee$e, No More Holes

Swiss $$ and Tax Loopholes, that is. Although my fellow conservatives may disagree (mainly on the principle of the government telling you what you can and can't do with your own money), I actually agree with Obama and applaud his effort to "shut down offshore tax havens and end provisions that U.S. companies have used to underreport overseas profits..."

Here is a link to video of Obama announcing the news from WashingtonPost.com.

Now we must wait until later this week to find out the details of these efforts and whether they will be constitutional and whatnot. Details, shmetails - right?

Sout Up!

As rumors of Justice Souter retiring from the court are running rampant this morning, let's consider "What would Barney do?" The answer: Sout Up. As Bush Uno nominated Souter as a conservative shoe-in, all we can hope for is a similar, fair and equal nominee from Obama. Muwhahahaha...Justice served.

Anyways, if you are not familiar with the Suit Up reference from How I Met Your Mother, please find some educational resources below: