All Bluster and no Substance

Some would say that title fits the blog. Huummm. But I really was talking about the weather.
Once again the weatherman was wrong. Thank goodness. No ice, no snow, just cold. It rained, but the temperature stayed at just above freezing, just cold enough to be miserable, but not cold enough to freeze. Where are the 70 degree days???

Fodder for Discussion
I've read the first section of the AJC and I've got fodder for rants:

A radio station out west sponsered a contest to see who could drink the most water before going to the bathroom, and the prize was for a Wii system (or whatever). One woman died of water intoxication. She was 28, had signed a waiver and voluntarily participated in the 'contest'. Now her family wants to file a wrongful death lawsuit. First, this was a stupid contest to begin with, and the radio station approved and funded it. What were they thinking? There have been other contestants in other similar contests who have died, so they knew it could happen. Second, the woman willfully participated, having signed a waiver. She knew of the consequences. She wanted a Wii system for her kids. This whole thing smacks of greed. Now the family wants money, more greed. Let it go. The only thing anyone should be sued for is Stupidity.

In the investigation of the Delta flight that crashed in Kentucky and killed everyone but the co-pilot, they have found the pilot and co-pilot broke the 'sterile cockpit' rule and talked about something unrelated to the job they were doing. This is a completely unenforcable rule. These people are supposed to be professionals, so a little chatter might be a good thing, to relieve stress. The only way to prevent people in a cramped space for hours to not talk is to partition off each section of the cockpit. Yeah, like that will happen.

Michael Vick, the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons is under suspicion for attempting to bring drugs on an airplane. Seems he was bording a flight in Miami to Atlanta and hesitated to toss his water bottle when asked. (the 3-ounce rule, you know). One of the TSA attendants found that strange, recovered the bottle and discovered it had hidden compartments that smelled of Marijuana and had small flakes that the Miami-Dade police are checking out. Vick wasn't arrested, but the press found out. What is wrong with this picture? A professional athlete carrying drugs? Never, no way! (<== Sarcasm) A fake water container? The 3-ounce rule? The fact that he maybe had some trace amounts of marijuana? The fact this made the news? At least Vick was travelling on the airlines that has paid him lots of money to be a spokesman for. And I use that term lightly, Michael Vick has a hard time being understood.

Monday marks the 34th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, making abortions legal. Ever since then, the conservative right wingers have tried to repeal this decision in any way they can (packing the Supreme Court, ban on so called partial-birth abortions, killing abortion doctors). There is a bill before the Senate, entitled Prevention First Act, to be followed one entitled 'The Reducing the Need for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act. ' This bill is supported by a pro-life Dem and a pro-choice Dem. They seem to be attempting to focus on common ground, reducing the need for abortions. The office overseeing this legislation is the Office of Population Affairs (who knew?) and is headed by Eric Keroack, an OB-GYN, the medical director for a faith-based 'crisis pregnancy center' in Massachusetts that reguards birth control as 'demeaning for women... and adverse to human health and happiness.' An advocate of the marriage first philosophy, he teaches that 'premarital sex is really modern germ warfare.' There doesn't seem to be any chance for any common ground. (Most of the above information was taken from today's editoral by Ellen Goodman)

And speaking of Closed Minded individuals, what's up with Sonny Perdue??? He's stated that even if the Sunday Alcohol sales issue is passed, he will veto it. This bill isn't saying that the State of Georgia has to sell alcohol on Sundays, it's putting the power in the hands of local authorities, for local vote. He's a Republican, don't they believe in 'less government'? He's saying he'll veto it, but won't say why. He's not up for re-election, what's the big deal. The Liquor industry is against it because it only deals with beer and wine, so some feel he's in their back pocket, but I think it's even worse than that. He's not recognizing the line between church and state. His religious beliefs are the reason. Shame on Sonny.

And I haven't even read the article on the hip-hop DJ's being arrested...

More to come...
As things happen, I'll be posting. Thanks for taking the time to read. You're opinions are welcome but if you have to start calling me names, don't bother, I won't read them. As my Dad says 'Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.'