File under the heading - Don't let this happen to you!

I was reading the local paper, specifically the the letters to the editor, when I ran across this! As the title is written, "Big Family Inspires on Many Levels," you can imagine the opinion is about. Here is the executive summary. Conservative right Arkansas family keeps having kids (18 at the latest count) and that's OK. Well, as you might imagine, the op ion raised a few hackles with me. As I was spinning myself up to write some thing criticizing any person who would "choose" to have 18 children, I came across this.

Thanks to Erica Barnett for so eloquently hitting all of the points I would have attempted myself. That being said, I have to respond to the idea of what thoughts, in fact, a family of 20 (18 kids 2 spawning machines) actually inspires.

Here is the top ten list:

10) It should inspire women to just say no... to sex, forced servitude, limited education...
9) Vasectomy
8) Is anybody really surprised that a dude with the name Jim Bob Duggar can't stop impregnating his wife?
7) Once again, the Republican Party, right wing, conservative family values triumph!
6) If you want to be treated like a baby making machine, start at age 17 and don't stop until the eggs dry up or god comes in to your bedroom and says stop.
5) Whatever happened to replacement value?
4) Hey Duggar, why don't you adopt one or more of those hard luck, poor kids who come from broken, fatherless, abusive homes?
3) Polygamy is illegal but siring 18 children with one woman on one income is lauded as the work of god?
2) Hey, Duggars, thanks for attempting to keep the human race populated by yourselves.
1) I'm sure those 18 kids really appreciate all the time the parents can spend with them. Of course dad is working most of the time to bring in enough cash to feed the lot. Then there is that pesky 24 hour day, 8 of which is spent sleeping. Lets just say that there 3 hours of work per day. That leaves 13 hours of kid time. But wait, some of that time has gotta be saved for more baby making. There is some home schooling there. What about post postpartum depression. I guess after 18 some odd pregnancies you either learn how to deal with it or you've just resolved to not be postpartum for very long.

Oh well. This is the holiday season. So, I should wish the Duggars a merry Christmas. Yes! The birth of Christ, and point out that god had the good sense to stop after one.

kids are too soft

What is the deal with people not shoveling the sidewalk. Isn't there suposed to be an small army of kids roaming American neighborhoods offering to shovel the walkway snow?

I did mine, and the neighbor kid and his little brother looked at me like I was a fool. Looking down the sidewalk today reveals that for one half city block, it's clear sailing. Of course, after a walker exits my area, it's back to slip-and-fall-o-rama.

Back to the kids. I know there are some enterpising youth in the hood that I reside, but what is the deal with no action. A quick survey of the several block where I live indicates that infact, less than 5% of the walks are clear.

Sucks to be old and fearful of falling on brittle bones.

Well, I guess I could write it off to just not getting enough snow in this area for anybody to care too much. Or perhaps it is equally likely that folks just don't have the tools to deal with the snow. But for the next few days, I see a golden oportunity to make some cabbage.

Drivers should get off their high horse

Regarding a handful of letters about what bicyclists should do, should wear for safety, how they should behave on roads, licenses they should get and even what taxes they should pay, I respectfully submit the following: Get your own automotive house in order before demanding the cycling-should-do list!

That being said, let's review the list of things drivers should and shouldn't do. You should stop at all red lights and stop signs. You should yield to pedestrians who wish to cross the street. You shouldn't get all liquored up and go out driving only to crash into other parked cars, vans carrying families, pedestrians, trees or large bodies of water.

You should remind yourselves that motor vehicle accidents still top most lists as the leading cause of accidental death. You should pay more attention to the road and stop applying makeup, eating, texting, reading, fiddling with the radio or reaching into the backseat. Perhaps if you were watching the road, checking your blind spots, scanning for hazards, anticipating problems and generally being a truly responsible motor vehicle operator, then those pesky, difficult-to-see cyclists would be more visible.

You should behave so that the term "road-rage" will never be applied to you. As you sit alone in traffic, you should consider car-pooling, taking the bus, a shorter commute or even riding a bike. Perhaps you should investigate the true costs of driving, such as the social costs associated with sprawl-type development, the medical costs of soaring childhood obesity rates and the cost of military spending in oil-rich regions of the world.

Finally, the Toyota Motor Corp. suggested in one of its marketing campaigns that perhaps we should all thank Prius drivers for contributing fewer CO2 emissions. I say, one more thing drivers should do is thank cyclists for simply driving less.

For those considering having a baby, or buying a Ford.

Aran, and guest blogger submits the following:

It was Friday night and Gretchen and I thought it would be nice to go down to Central Market for a cheap dinner. Everything was going well, we had a nice little dinner and got in some shopping. Elsa was starting to fuss so we packed things up and made our way to the checkout. And that's when our luck ran out. It started raining pretty hard and being rookie parents, I suggested that Gretchen and Elsa wait inside and I would run out to car and drive it back so they wouldn't get wet. Right at that moment, the rain really started to pour down, it was cold and dark and I wasn't wearing any rain gear. As I pulled the car around Gretchen ran up with Elsa in her arms and jumped into the back seat to strap Elsa into her car seat. The rain continued to flow down as I loaded the stroller and all the other baby stuff into the car. After getting everything loaded up, I then jumped back into the driver seat. I was cold and dripping wet, the windows were all fogged up and all you could hear was the rain pelting the car and Elsa sreaming in protest, because she hates her car seat. In a calm voice I tried to reassure her that we would be home soon. I went to turn the key and nothing happened, the lights and radio came on but not the engine. For the next twenty minutes I tried everything to get the car started, to make things worse Elsa was really belting out her frustration. I could stand outside of the car in the cold rain where it was quiet or I could sit inside and be dry and listen to Elsa scream.

To make things worse Gretchen and I both forgot our cell phones. At that moment, we would of gave anything to have our cell phones, just because we could of called a friend to help get us home. Niether one of us could remember a single persons phone number because that info is programed into our cell phones. To get us through this crisis we had to join AAA road side assistance to have the car towed, call a taxi that has an infant car seat attachment, and find a shop in the area that could work on the car. All of this on a Friday night around 9 PM. We also needed the tow truck driver and taxi to arrive at the same time, because its still raining. After waiting for 45 minutes the tow truck driver arrived and then we waited with the tow truck driver for anther 20 minutes until we finally had to accept that yellow cab wasn't coming and Elsa wasn't happy. I guess in desperate times you do things you normally wouldn't do. So we bribed the tow truck driver to take us home after he dropped off our car with the mechanic. I guess its agianst the law and tow truck policy to put two adults and an infant without a car seat in the front cab of the truck.

In the end we made it home safely, that cheap diinner wasn't so cheap and I will never buy a Ford again. Because what pisses me off the most is that I've done all the scheduled maintance on that Explorer and it has less than 60K miles....the car shouldn't off just died like that. And these guys want a bail out, maybe they should make cars that work.

Eight is Hate

So today, I walked with a few thousand other people to chant and cheer for equal rights.

It's obvious to say that the crowd supports equality for all now. The order of the day was opposition of the Prop 8, CA constitutional change that prohibits gay marriage.

My comment on this entire subject reverts back to a simple litmus test I use for evaluating laws and policy: Does it increase or decrease freedom or choice? Clearly in the case of prop 8, there is a decrease in freedom.

Shame on you Californians!!!! You too Florida. However, in the case of Florida and the current conservative octogenarian population currently voting in the state, I could halfway understand. Give the Florida situation a few years, and things will change. That being said, there is no excuse for a bellweather state such as California to make such a blunder as limiting freedoms.

On the bright side, and if todays crowds are any indication, perhaps the frustrations of the masses who desire change and equality have been ruffeled enough to act.

One of the speakers, who I could barely here advised that for the next year, the 10th of every month would bring a new rights-sporting opportunity. FYI. You heard it here first.

Just unstuck the mystery jam in my Brother printer. It made the worst cracking sound when I attempted to print off my spin work out just minutes prior to my class today.

I note this because the printing problem has been resolved and I feel good about the "repair" which really just involved opening all the various door on the printer and then closing them.

With that said I listened to Dave Ross today. Not much to report. There was some talk about Rev. Jesse Jackson's son noting that all (paraphrasing) the black community now is reflecting on the president. It's interesting to think about this in that Jackson's comments seem absurd, but are they really? Take me for example, do my actions reflect back W? I would hope so, but really I think not. However, in the sense that there are those out there who still don't think a black politician should hold the highest office, perhaps the actions of us minions do reflect back.

That being said, having a black president is not a racial get out of jail card for anybody. Live still takes effort. Just because Obama is President, doesn't make getting in to Harvard Law any easier for anybody. And, for people who struggle with bigotry, it's still going to be an effort to learn another way of treating people.

So, the thing I find most exciting about the whole election process is that there is this sense of hope and excitement in the future of our country. It's a new feeling for most I think. For some, those who have felt the thumb of oppression in what ever form it takes, this feeling is new and possible something they have never felt. It is this feeling and energy, that must be harnessed to the struggles we all face.

Back to the printer. I know, lame comparison, but I had thought that the printer had crapped out and the struggle I faced, I was not looking forward to. In the end with a little effort, I prevailed, but that was not before I groused around the house being generally an ass.

Out

American Dream

The people have spoken. In my opinion, and the numbers reflecting the vote of the people, the people have stated clearly no more. No more of the same old policy that for the last eight years hasn’t served anybody but right, religious elitists.

I listened to President Elect Barack Obama’s acceptance speech last night and I was exited as I have never been. For the last several elections, even with Clinton, the rhetoric always seemed hollow and laced with promises that never seemed to materialize for me or people like me. However, with Obama’s speech, it seemed to be more of a promise of hard work and asking all to carry the load. This idea really resonates with me, because as much as it is a politician accepting responsibility, it perhaps is a chance for the people to once again accept their responsibilities for a great society.

The idea of race is exciting. I’ll just say that there seems to be an excitement of possibility that has never existed. All manner of good can and likely will spring from simply the inspiration of last night’s election. As I sit here, pecking out these words, my mind jumps from folks (really of any race) who haven’t felt represented or connected here in the US to the world which has been watching our democracy at work. Perhaps this is the air of excitement and promise that I spoke of earlier. Perhaps it is just that people have an innate sense of true possibility.

Now on to elements of the speech that I liked: I especially liked it when Obama told Republicans that he may not have been their candidate, but he would be their president and he would work for them. I liked the relatively few promises proposed, and finally I liked his personal piece about the 106 year old woman who, in her age really represented everyone.

My impressions are amazement, relief, and satisfaction. I am amazed that this country could make history in this manner. It seems so organic, real and raw in a way that Carl Rove could have never orchestrated. I feel relief from almost two years of tension. And finally I feel satisfaction in the notion that the people have spoken and for perhaps the first time, have finally been heard.

Mad Money

The more I hear about the bailout (now a rescue) I think that it is just another Bush administriation calling wolf. The sky was falling after 911. Terrorists were all but rushing our boarders. Sadam had is finger on some sort of cataclismic button.

It's fear for sure that is being applied to us. Robert Paulson writes a reported three page document/plan asking for a seven hundred doller bail out. Hmmm. It seems that three pages of anything linked with seven hundred billion ($700,000,000,000)deserves more that than three pages. Not to harp too much on the Paulson plan, but a three page document associated with that much money seems to be more like the kind of the thing you slide to the teller an AnyBankUSA which says, "GIVE ME THE MONEY. THIS IS A STICK UP!"

mortgage mess

I paid my big mortgage the other day. I paid it for the previous month and the month before that. Come to think of it, I've been paying on that debt obligation since I signed on the dotted line several years ago. I got a 30 year fixed at a great rate (I know, I'm bragging a bit) because I wanted the security of knowing what my monthly payment would be give or take a few bucks.

Now comes the mortgage-crisis of the masses. Essentially it's folks who were lured in to homes, actually payment schemes that they could never afford from the onset by other not-so-fine folks (mortgage brokers, and the entire banking/financial industry that thrived on easy money.) Inevitably lots of these fine folk crapped out on there obligations only to leave their assets on the market. Skip to present day, when lots and lots of fine folks have stopped payment on their obligations likely because they were faced with a decisions like food or housing. As a result, the market is flooded with homes of decreasing value, no buyers and no lenders.

Now let’s talk about responsibility. The fine folks who originally purchased the homes are screwed. Their credit is a mess. They are likely out of a home, or a bunch of money, or maybe they are still struggling by to make the payments and sacrificing other necessities like food and/or medical care. The point is, that the individual is paying currently for their part in this whole debacle. My question is what responsibility is being born by the rest of the system - the brokers, the banks, the multi million dollar CEOs who are floating to ground on their golden parachutes even as wall street institutions (Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns) crumble? Conservative rhetoric often pegs individual responsibility. So, I ask what is the responsibility of those who made (stole) all that mortgage money?

It seems that a partial answer is a 700 billion dollar bail out is on it's way. Our fine leader, Mr. Bush wants to ram it through congress (no lube) so that horrible things (depression) won't take hold in America. Hmmm, the private financial system (read in irony that conservatives will always say that corporate America does it better and more efficiently than government) which created the mess, (its executive and under-minions who all enjoyed the perks financial hey days) seem to the avoiding responsibility here. The bail-out is a 700 billion $ tax on the people (me and you and some who have already been hit with these f'ed up mortgages.) Great!

Now not only am I paying my own mortgage responsibly, but I’ll potentially be paying to bail out the fools (wall street institutions that we’ve tied our entire economy to) who have managed to orchestrate the biggest financial collapse since the great depression.

Thanks.

And finally, confidential to George Bush and the those right wing conservative think tanks: I’m trying to be independent and responsible, but your pro-corporation economic policy and blatant failures are making it really hard.

The National

As I sit here at my da-man desk writing reports for da-man, I'm listening to the most excellent band The National.

These guys rock tunes with a message not bound in mundaine lyrics and bad melody. Fake Empire from the Boxer CD just makes me want to type faster. Of cours the only problem with that is that speed roughly coorilates to more mistakes.

Oh well. PS, I'm currently enjoying The National on non-Mac head phones, because they suck!!!

Crow...

Mac Ear Phones Suck

You know those little while ear phones that Mac. sells with iPODS and all the other marvelous gadgets? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Well, no news here, they suck! I'm not sure why it is that I've had to buy several to find this out. The sound quality is relatively poor and the durability is absolute crap. Namely, the white becomes not-so-white quickly, the comfy band around the ear contact area disintegrate quickly and the wire mesh that protects the inner components of the phone is too delicate to be durable except when it poking me in my ear part all too frequently.

I'm done with mac. earphones. I don't care that what I got sticking out of my head isn't trendy and white.

Crow out -

See comments on habeas corpus dating back to oct 2006.

I'm not sure what to think on this. Is there some random reader and prowling the back logs of the Crow blog?

I'm aware that readership is low. Err... non-existent. That being said, why comment on this particular entry?