Welcome to Independence!

Unreturned library book leads to woman’s arrest, really? I’m not quite sure if this falls under the category of irony as the book this lady kept is about getting people to write. If it was about getting people to read, then most definitely call it ironic, in this situation, I dunno. But it is definitely not a good way to encourage people to use your local library and read books (which for you bibliophiles and bookworms is a great way to save some big bucks in the current economic situation, library cards are the best!). Can you imagine being the arresting officer for this?

- suse

Where are Goose and Maverick?

After seeing this video and the variety of individuals (regular joes and janes, Peggy Noonan, Larry King, Abraham Lincoln, Newt Gingrich, Adam Levine, DMC (wearing a Ramones shirt!), Arianna Huffington, Paul Begala, Tucker Carlson, etc.) that participated I’m pretty sure the people over at funnyordie actually run the country.

more about "HIGH-FIVE INAUGURATION! from Almost T…", posted with vodpod

And I’m all about expanding the use of high-fives, they’ve been a pretty stable element of my repertoire.

- suse

I, too, sing America.

Quite perfect for this week.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed–

I, too, am America.

- Langston Hughes

Talk about change…

It would be silly of me to try and write something about a man who was a wordsmith and orator of utter greatness. So here’s a simple link to give you some clips and words about the man and by the man.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

– suse

PB+J+Salmonella!

Fun story, so I clicked on the abc story about peanut butter crackers being pulled off the shelves because of a nationwide salmonella outbreak. The short ad before the story? For Reese’s peanut butter cups. Worst pairing ever.

- suse

The 111th time around

Cause I have way too much time on my hands I was looking though govtrack.us at the new bills/actions introduced by the 111th Congress already this year. There are about a bajillion, so I didn’t look at all of them. I did look at a few and here are the ones I’ll be watching:

- H.R. 2: To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. (Yay SCHIP! Expand away, but do so wisely, thanks.)

- H.R. 18: Powder-Crack Cocaine Penalty Equalization Act of 2009 (long overdue, and interestingly sponsored by a Republican)

- H.R. 11 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and S. 182: Paycheck Fairness Act (I’m not up on all the details of both bills, how they will be implemented in ‘real life’ and if they will actually get results, but I’m interested to see how these play out. Hillary Clinton is the main Senatorial sponsor of S.182, so that’s one thing she won’t be doing anymore.)

- H.R. 59: Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2009 (Allows for felons to vote after a certain period. I’m interested cause I had a previous discussion with someone about how it was interesting that felons can be in office, but they can’t vote.)

On the list to watch because of absurdity or awesomeness of name:

- H.R. 390: College Football Playoff Act of 2009 (That’s right folks, no more BCS rankings determining bowl games, Congress is asking for a full on playoff system, and, unsurprisingly, it is sponsored by a Texan.)

- H.R. 386: CLASS Act of 2009 (Get it, CLASS act, get it? Also could be good, well from my point of view, I think it is giving more tax breaks to those who are currently repaying their student loans. Yeah, I’m a huge supporter of that.)

- H.R. 227: Sanctity of Human Life Act (It is as bad as you think it is. ‘The life of each human being begins with fertilization’. Oy. You can believe that, but don’t put what are basically religious beliefs into law and impose them on the nation. It is also a nice little way to get around the whole debate of Roe v Wade and just make all abortion completely illegal as they would be ‘murders’ under this law. Maybe we should look to actually provide access to low cost family planning programs and contraceptives, but of course, that just encourages sex, silly me.)

- H.R. 87: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Act of 2009 (I’m only in this for the name. Don’t see why this wouldn’t pass, just puts the option of giving $1 or more to the Federal Treasury on tax returns. Most definitely wins for best name.)

Also, Senator Inouye from Hawaii has three (that I saw, maybe more?) interesting health related bills that would expand public health service loans to also cover graduate programs in professional psychology, to expand Medicare coverage to include nursing school clinics, and to provide health care practitioners in rural areas with training in preventive health care, including both physical and mental care.

Also, also, the House has two resolutions that are to stop Congress from automatically getting a pay raise in 2010. Very interesting. Lets see if they actually vote to not give themselves more money.

- suse

Oh those rich folks…

Best thing I’ve read today, courtesy of NYC’s Plaza resident Suna Said (tried to find info on her, but alas, the internet was lacking this time). She is speaking in reference to the charity she founded called the Plaza Foundation:

“The Plaza has always been on the cutting edge of class. And what’s more classy and avant-garde than finding meaningful ways to give to those less fortunate?”

I imagine a slight (elderly) woman, in a skirt suit, wearing pearls, with unmoving hair, impeccable shoes, and accompanied by her Yorkie Poos saying this as if she’s the first person to think of helping the ‘less fortunate’. Someone should remind her that avant-garde means ‘unorthodox or daring; radical’ (Random House Unabridged Dictionary).

- suse

For the story from which I lifted the quote see ‘Eloise Sheds A Tear’ written by Evgenia Peretz in the January 2009 issue of Vanity Fair.