Flag Wrapping

In the past few weeks - between the Columbia crash and our government's vendetta against Iraq and probably Korea - I've heard just about as much senseless patriotism as I can stand. And I mean that as in words used without any thought behind them at all. I find myself cracking wise to the TV news on a good day and really ranting out loud to it on the others. Jon Stewart seems to have the only thoughtful view of world affairs these day.

Yesterday fj posted a really thought provoking entry. For several years now I have had good friends from other countries point out that we say the United States is the free-est country in the world and we are not. I have noticed that their friendly rhetoric on this topic is getting more and more fractious recently. And I certainly understand.

I have a lot of personal freedom but there are many personal freedoms available to people in other countries that are not available to me here. And I know of no other country in the world that says they are the free-est. Or that spends as much time and energy wrapping their flag around every single thing like we do here. It's really childish and annoying and now moving into really pissing off some people with guns.

I am sad that my country is acting like a six year old school yard bully.

Flag Wrapping

In the past few weeks - between the Columbia crash and our government's vendetta against Iraq and probably Korea - I've heard just about as much senseless patriotism as I can stand. And I mean that as in words used without any thought behind them at all. I find myself cracking wise to the TV news on a good day and really ranting out loud to it on the others. Jon Stewart seems to have the only thoughtful view of world affairs these day.

Yesterday fj posted a really thought provoking entry. For several years now I have had good friends from other countries point out that we say the United States is the free-est country in the world and we are not. I have noticed that their friendly rhetoric on this topic is getting more and more fractious recently. And I certainly understand.

I have a lot of personal freedom but there are many personal freedoms available to people in other countries that are not available to me here. And I know of no other country in the world that says they are the free-est. Or that spends as much time and energy wrapping their flag around every single thing like we do here. It's really childish and annoying and now moving into really pissing off some people with guns.

I am sad that my country is acting like a six year old school yard bully.

Soap Box Put Away

I'm tired of hearing myself complain so there will be no more of that for a while - at least until the end of this entry.

Jake seems to be better. As I type this, he and Betty and rough housing here in the living room. I've never heard of a cat getting a cold but I swear that's what it seemed like. He was sneezing a lot and then for a couple of days he had kind fo a cough/sneeze and then it moved up to just his nose and now he's not sneezing nearly as much and they are little tiny nose sneezes. All the while he ate fine. He did seem to be a little lethargic but he's always lethargic. However this afternoon he seems to have a bit more zip in his lazy.

We have this big project going at work. There have been about 8 of us working on it - some together and some with pieces of our own. I'm the end of the sausage machine. Everyone is to get their final bits and pieces to me and I do the last leg. Well... everyone's ducks - most especially mine - are all lined up except for one guy's. He's the guy that kept implying that I would not be ready. HA! The deadline was noon today. I had to send a little note to the project manager this afternoon telling him that my 5 days needed for production could not start until I had all the pieces and I don't have them yet so he's not allowed to start the clock. In other words... TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Soap Box Put Away

I'm tired of hearing myself complain so there will be no more of that for a while - at least until the end of this entry.

Jake seems to be better. As I type this, he and Betty and rough housing here in the living room. I've never heard of a cat getting a cold but I swear that's what it seemed like. He was sneezing a lot and then for a couple of days he had kind fo a cough/sneeze and then it moved up to just his nose and now he's not sneezing nearly as much and they are little tiny nose sneezes. All the while he ate fine. He did seem to be a little lethargic but he's always lethargic. However this afternoon he seems to have a bit more zip in his lazy.

We have this big project going at work. There have been about 8 of us working on it - some together and some with pieces of our own. I'm the end of the sausage machine. Everyone is to get their final bits and pieces to me and I do the last leg. Well... everyone's ducks - most especially mine - are all lined up except for one guy's. He's the guy that kept implying that I would not be ready. HA! The deadline was noon today. I had to send a little note to the project manager this afternoon telling him that my 5 days needed for production could not start until I had all the pieces and I don't have them yet so he's not allowed to start the clock. In other words... TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Money

I just heard that someone in Washington State won big in the Mega lottery thing. I don't think it was me since I didn't buy a ticket.

I did get the insurance thing about my head bump removal. The doctor's estimate, as it turns out, was a bit high. Instead of the $450, it was $250. My insurance wants a $200 deductible but otherwise, cost to me was $17. Not too bad. The last time I remember paying a deductible - which I guess was the last time I used insurance - was in the 80's and it was $25. Still $217 is a better deal than $450!

But the really good news is that my Costco American Express rebate came in! Stand back... I got a coupon good at any Costco for... drum roll please... $4.05!!

Yahoo!!!

Money

I just heard that someone in Washington State won big in the Mega lottery thing. I don't think it was me since I didn't buy a ticket.

I did get the insurance thing about my head bump removal. The doctor's estimate, as it turns out, was a bit high. Instead of the $450, it was $250. My insurance wants a $200 deductible but otherwise, cost to me was $17. Not too bad. The last time I remember paying a deductible - which I guess was the last time I used insurance - was in the 80's and it was $25. Still $217 is a better deal than $450!

But the really good news is that my Costco American Express rebate came in! Stand back... I got a coupon good at any Costco for... drum roll please... $4.05!!

Yahoo!!!