Stuff...

I'm here. Sort of. I've been busy lately, primarily with work, but also with another project. Some of you know what that other project is. Others do not. And I'd like to keep it that way -- at least for now.

I spent $336 on my truck today. I needed to replace the front-end brakes and rotors, and had a brake fluid leak. And my heat shield was rattling, so the mechanic went ahead and tightened that up too, since he was down there. No charge on that one. Labor was only $100. Parts cost a bit more. But my truck runs (and, more importantly, stops) like new now. It's nice. The rotors had been warped for a while, causing some pulsations when I stepped on the brakes. Then this morning, when I started to drive to work, I barely tapped on the brake pedal and heard a weird noise -- not really sure how to describe it. But yeah, it was coming from the brakes. So I had it fixed. I feel a lot safer now. And this brake replacement was a lot cheaper than the last one about five years ago.

Of course, I'm also toying with the idea of buying a small car, like maybe a Yaris, to use as my everyday vehicle, and then keeping the truck parked in the alley. Of course, that requires money. Money I currently don't have, but I hope to, someday soon.

Honey is a gateway drug.

I went to the airport yesterday to collect some baggage for some of our international students who arrived from China late Monday night. The bags, for the most part, made it ok. However, there was one bag – it was basically a plastic tote bag with a zipper – that was clearly at the end of its lifespan. As I loaded it into the van, I took a closer look at it.

And then I took a picture of it, because I knew I had to document this somehow. Otherwise, none of you would believe that this bag actually exists.

I’m guessing it’s supposed to say “bear” – and that it is not officially licensed by the Disney corporation.



And yes, I have already submitted it to the fine folks at Engrish.

Why I'm still up.

It's 1:50 AM, and I'm wide awake. I'm wide awake because right as I was crawling into bed, I turned on the TV and saw a certain local blogger on a certain cable news show, discussing the health care reform issue.

You probably know who she is. I'm not going to mention her name here because based on an ordeal a year or two ago with a guy running a news feed site, I got the impression that she's really quick to lawyer up at the slightest bristle, so she shall remain nameless. Besides, she gets enough attention as it is, so she'll do just fine without my three readers linking to her as well. Plus, it doesn't really matter if you know who I'm talking about. Just know that she's a spokesperson for the anti-reform crowd. And she and her "followers" are not adding anything to the health care debate. Just recently, she was repeatedly invited to have an open and honest discussion about the health care issue via a series of twitter posts in which another local blogger called her out. The result of that -- the person who was on TV just now blocked the other blogger who had invited her to have a discussion.

She argued that most Americans who are against reform know what's in the bill and know why they're protesting. She argued that the crowds of tea baggers who are showing up to shout down their elected officials are tired of calling their offices and leaving a message with an aide. That they're tired of filling out online forms over and over again with their complaints.

Ron Reagan, who was arguing on behalf of reform, said that these people were not doing anything to foster an open discussion about this very important topic. In fact, he argued that these folks were being sent to shut down the debate. I couldn't agree more.

She countered that someone in St. Louis put an ad on Craigslist offering $90 an hour to people to come to the debates and support the pro-reform side.

I haven't seen the ad to which she was referring. However, apparently she isn't aware that any jackass can put an ad on Craigslist. Especially a jackass looking to stir up some shit in the community. Besides, anyone who has ever used Craigslist for anything knows that any job advertised on there as paying $90 an hour isn't actually going to pay $90 an hour, and probably isn't actually a real job.

But I digress...

Here's what the pro-reform side wants. We want an open, honest dialogue. If you're against change, that's fine, but articulate your reasons why in some way that doesn't devolve into a yelling match.

We want you to read the proposal that is out there. No, really. Go read it. It's at www.whitehouse.gov. Take the time to learn something about an issue before blindly supporting it or opposing it.

Then let's talk.

Until then, I think this commentary I heard on All Things Considered sums up how I feel about the state of the health care debate:

Oh, the irony...

Read this.

Okay -- to recap...

This guy, Kenneth Gladney, attended Rep. Russ Carnahan's town hall meeting in Mehlville to protest health care reform. According to many, Gladney was instigating a lot of the shit that happened outside, and even assaulted someone himself. According to others, he was accosted. I guess it all depends on whose side you believe.

Either way, it's unfortunate that we can't have a civilized discussion. I put some of the blame on Carnahan for not being able to handle the situation. I am also disappointed that things got down to this level, and that someone was hurt.

Anyway, the Service Employees International Union -- a group in favor of health care reform -- sent its members there to show support for Obama's plan. Apparently Gladney got into a scuffle with some SEIU members and was hurt. So, naturally, there was a protest a couple days later at the SEIU office. Gladney was there in a wheelchair, protesting, and saying he was accepting donations for his medical care BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

The irony in here is deafening.

UPDATE

Apparently, Gladney is now saying he's insured. But he's still asking for donations.

Also, Gladney appears to be just fine in a video made immediately after the alleged attack.

I smell an opportunist.