Randomness

I love being about to do random stuff.

Tony Snow is stepping down from being the White House Press secretary. Talk about thankless jobs. He said that he needs to be in a position to make more money. I sadly suspect that he is grappling with the possibility or probability that his life span is going to be on the short side and he's looking to provide for his family. Confronting one's mortality when one's mortality is SO there, right in front of you, is painful to be sure.

The coal mine disaster in Utah is just so sad. Evidently this mine has been a disaster waiting to happen. Now rescuers are among the dead. The disaster waiting to happen did happen. Federal inspections and expectations of mine safety are, surprise surprise, not up to standards and those mine was an ongoing problem.

Recently a flight on its way to NYC was diverted to Baltimore because of weather. The plane was left out there for hour after hour. It was hot and the AC was not working. There was no food and no water and the commodes were overflowing making the plane smell like....well, it smelled not so good. The people signed a petition to the captain who was locked away up front that they were angry. He would not come back and not respond. They began to chant and pound their feet, etc. They had been out there for over 5 hours and were hot, thirsty, and miserable. The pilot called for help.

The help came. 10 officers from Homeland Security who were breathing threats of arrest to the passengers. I guess, ultimately, they weren't arrested, but Homeland Security sure gives me great hope.

This was the group who missed the fact that the Civic Center in New Orleans was a disaster...and they didn't even know it two hours after it was broadcast on CNN. (I think, in fairness, Homeland Security doesn't watch CNN, but Faux News which ran a tribute to Tom DeLay instead.

This is the group who tells us that taking our shoes off and having our shoes inspected pre-flight makes us safe.

This is the group that banned a mom and baby from a plane because the baby had water in her sippy cup.

This is the group that gives me the hope that my loved ones and I are far away from anything that happens because Homeland Security might miss the fact that it happened. That is unless Faux News actually goofs and reports a news story.

I do not want Michael Vick to take the plea agreement. They have him and if he goes to trial he's going to have his behind nailed in a big way and has the potential to serve lots of time in prison. Frankly, for the horror of what he's done it would be good for him to go away for a while.

One upside. Whatever flag football team he goes on in prison has to be the prison yard favorite this year.

I recently read Randall Balmer's book, Thy Kingdom Come. This is one fine book. It gives a great insight into the rise of the Religious Right and its impact on Christianity and American politics. I have always found Balmer to be very thoughtful and knowledgeable. This book is no exception to my thinking.

And finally, how I could I forget Britney Spears. She's been in rehab and some magazine has her topless (discreetly) in a pool with some guy holding a drink. I'm wondering what she was in rehab from....escape from IQ or escape from thinking??? Ugh.