When you gotta go...

Woman Sat on Toilet for 2 Years

I'm searching for a word to describe my reaction to this story. Somehow the words "eww", "yuck", and "icky" seem inadequate.

She sat on the toilet so long that her skin actually grew around the seat!! She had to be transported with the seat to the hospital to have it surgically removed! That's...just...disturbing!!

As I read the article, I couldn't help but wonder what she did to pass (no pun intended) the time in there. Did she have a TV set up in there? Did she read? Did she have access to a laptop or a phone?

And--*shudder*--did she ever clean that toilet?

Well, I suppose if you're going to sit anywhere for 2 years straight, that's a pretty smart place to do it.

Icky.

Crooked Politicians

So why do we keep electing crooks to government office? Are they crooks to begin with, or is it the power that corrupts them once they take office?

And more importantly, why do we put up with it?

Pressure continues to mount for New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to resign over a prostitution scandal.

Off the top of my head, I can name 2 CURRENT members of Congress who are currently on trial for various allegations of fraud--Rick Renzi, R-AZ, and William Jefferson, D-LA.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are others. And it's sad that I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the broken promises. I'm tired of the blatant arrogance. I'm tired of the hypocrisy.

I'm tired of voting for the "lesser of the evils" every election. Evil is evil.

No more.

I will continue to exercise my right to vote, but I will do my research and vote for the candidate who I truly feel is best for the office, regardless of whether they have a chance to actually win the election.

Made in China

I've picked up a quirky, and admittedly sometimes annoying habit: looking at the fine print on things to see where they were made.

I blame my Dad. He has this thing where whenever we go out to eat, he always has to look at the silverware to see where it was made. I picked that up, and now it's carrying over into other areas.

With the word "economy" being flashed across news headlines every day, I guess I've just become more conscientious about the things I own and the things I might buy.

So guess where most of the things I own (besides my house and automobiles) were made?

Yep. China.

Allow me to list the things I can see from my kitchen table as I compose this blog entry that I have confirmed are made in China:

• Television
• DVD Player
• VCR
• Digital Camera
• Microwave
• Stove/Oven
• Electronic Keyboard
• Cordless Telephone
• Toaster
• Electric Can Opener

These are some of the larger items I can see at the moment. There are plenty more scattered throughout the house. I don't think I'm errant in saying that most of the things found in my home were made in the PRC (People's Republic of China).

Is that a good or bad thing? I'll let you decide. I'm not against buying Chinese products. I want to support US products and business, but the bottom line is I've got a family to support. I want the best products I can get for my money, and let's face it, China seems to be supplying most of those kinds of products these days.

If I had comparably priced U.S. manufactured goods to choose from in the store, I'd be all over it. But you go into just about any store these days, and you may not even find a U.S. manufactured equivalent, depending on what you're looking for. And if you do, it's usually on the upper end of the price spectrum.

It comes down to energy. Until we the people of the United States decide we want to become energy independent by drilling for our own oil, building and improving refineries, and developing other cheap, sustainable energies, there is no way we can compete with China.

Just telling it how I see it as a typical middle-class American consumer.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot--the laptop I'm using at this very moment? China.

But at least my fridge was made in Mexico.