White House town hall meetings for credit cards... ?

From the article

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Friday that Obama will focus on legislation and urge lawmakers to "get something done on an issue of tremendous importance to middle class families.

"For many people credit cards provide an opportunity to finance purchases," Gibbs said. "But we think there's a more equitable way to do that and I think that those reforms are on their way through Congress."

The "equitable way" is to SAVE FOR YOUR PURCHASES! Don't ring up debt you CAN'T pay for and then use money that's borrowed.

Meeting adjourned...

Who's moving the line?

As I get older, I find myself wondering if I moved or did the line move?

I ask this as I feel as though someone, somewhere is moving the line moreso than I am shifting my views around the world and the US in general.

In today's episode: I want one of two things...

I want one of two things... my own Capital One "image card" or... Zach Braff money. Now Zach probably doesn't make crazy-dope kinda "dolla-dolla-bill-y'all" money, but it may be enough to keep certain government officials from pointing their greedy finger(s) at me... whilst, at the same time, being able to front like "I got the money, if you got the time".

Reid: Obama casino rule "nonsensical"

Snip of a letter from Sen. Harry Reid to President Obama
"A couple of specific examples are illustrative of the problems caused by the overly broad language. The Department of Justice-Office on Violence Against Women's Transition Housing Assistance Program offers funding to provide victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking supportive services such as short-term housing assistance. In many Nevada rural communities the only hotel rooms available are in casinos. The overly broad restriction deprives victims of a safe place away from their attackers."

Nevada rural communities is not specifically defined to a location, but the following maps.google.com search shows 4 pages of searches with "+hotels -casinos Las Vegas NV".

Link to Map

Why not have the funds go towards establishing better shelters - or new shelters - if there is THAT much of a need to support various activities that normally are only designated as "casino" activities.

Another snip...
"...which has created a unique environment in which hotel/casino complexes are often the most appropriate venue for certain activities, particularly holding public events such as community outreach events, Parent Teacher Association meetings, domestic violence trainings, and other workshops."

Can't these meetings be held in schools, churches, and the like.

Another search for "+meeting -casinos las vegas nv" (LINK) shows 5,000+ locations.

There are so many other options that don't require the involvement or intervention of the casinos. What would the supposed people he is looking after have done without this stimulus money? Keep the money that can be used for casino based meetings and subsidize additional meetings in non-casino venues.

Done. Everyone is happy.

Next topic.

Now I know what these guys feel like

Firefighters

Save the newspapers?

I was reading through the following article and found myself curious about the intent and breadth of the nationalization of every industry unable to shift with the economic times and wondered, yet again, "Where's my bail-out?"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/MNIA16GCBO.DTL

I started with the understanding of how my wife and I started in our holy matrimony and what steps have resulted in a vast change to the way we use the newspaper.

WAAAYYY back in the day, my wife would buy multiple newspapers, specifically Wednesday and Sunday, in order to accumulate multiple coupon offerings.

As we moved forward with technology, we were no longer burdened with requiring an actual coupon to save $.25 on a box of mac-n-cheese. The grocery stores were able to move their sales to a key fob type setup where either through the off-shoot coupon or the key chain store card, we were able to save a bunch on the "sale" items.

Technology plays an important piece in the newspaper landscape. The main intent, from my understanding, is to provide the news in written form and report on events from the last 24 hours. The hard copy newspaper is simply outdated and archaic.

Until recently, I was limited to only MY COMPUTER to be able to log into any newspaper website and peruse the articles and see information about what is going on in that entities community - regardless of size. This can include national newspapers - like U.S. Today or the local scribe, the Star Tribune. All of that being said, even for the bus, I haven't bought a newspaper in over five years.

Why?

One reason is that cellular companies have migrated the need for paper news to bits and bytes. Also, the same stories on on the digital version of many newspapers and magazines. I now get PC World via a link from my email. I no longer receive a hard copy version... I am fine with that. It saves me cleaning the old copies off of the back of the toilet.

Speaking of bathroom reading: Now that I have swung over to the G1 from T-Mobile (friends say I am ADDICTED!!), what is the point of a printed newspaper. Worse yet... NAY, a better question... WHY attempt to save the newspaper if that newspaper is not able to create a 21st century business model that keeps them equitable and contemporary? What is the intent behind Pelosi's drive?

Oh wait - it's left wing... correct? And in her district?

2009 Newspapers Filing Bankruptcy


Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Daily News
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/business/media/23philly.html

Star Tribune (in Minneapolis)
http://www.startribune.com/business/37685134.html

Now, the article starts "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, worried about the fate of The Chronicle and other financially struggling newspapers...", but never discusses what other entities SHE is worried about.

Can someone... anyone... provide what SHE is attempting to do for the greater good and position herself as a respected Speaker of the House? Outside of picking and choosing what hometown businesses to attempt to save by making use of her title and influence. I thought the left saved that for right wingers.

And yeah, I take my G1 to the shitter. Never know when you are going to be in there longer than the norm and need a little brick-breaker to pass the time. Go F^&$# yourself...

:)

Glassbooth.org - survey to see how your beliefs align...

I started a Google search for "best presidential candidate" and found a couple of interesting links.

The first link is an article on ideamarketers.com and revolves around how the author suggests a way to determine your presidential selection: read AND understand the Constitution of the United States.

This is a great idea! From the article, "Read the rule book".

The second link provides some clarity around hot topics and how your selections match against the voting records and rhetoric of the candidates:

Check out the links and pages to see where you thoughts are leading you.

Now is the time to ask

Now is the time to ask does our government have our best interest at hand? Does our government actually represent the people of this great nation? I say no. I say this for numerous reasons and most of those reasons are quite obvious. We do not see our government moving to a position of oil independence. We do not see our government confronting nations that act in an irrational manner. We do not see our government actively finding ways to protect it's citizens.

So now is the time to question those that lead us. Now is the time to realize that many of our representatives are only it in for the money. Now is the time to hold people responsible for the their decisions.

We need to start demanding term limits. We need to make sure our judges understand that they are not in a position to legislate from the bench but to interpret law. We need to raise up and say, "We are the government of the people and the decisions that the government makes will be based on the will of the people and not for political expediency." That argument starts here and with the people.