1. Taboo Plaza

I drove by a sign today advertising "Vacation Bible School."
I thought what a great idea.  The kids will be on vacation for more than two months in less than 7 days.  They've got an event planned to keep the kids occupied.  They want a decent turnout apparently, so they've advertised. 
Maybe this will work.
The time advertised on the sign was June 4 through June 8.  That made me stop.  I remember trying to read the Bible when I was on summer vacation in college.  I got 2/3rd's of the way through the Old Testament before I ran out of time.
That's a dense book.
How in the world are they going to get those kids through that book in less than a week?  I can only imagine torturing the children all night to stay awake and read, but even then what is the discussion going to be like afterward?
Sleep deprived children don't focus well and I can't even imagine coherent thoughts surrounding Sponge Bob Square Pants after 5 days without sleep.  It didn't make sense to me so I went in and asked them how they planned to get these children to read the Bible in 5 days.
They informed me that I was mistaken.  Apparently certain parts of the book are more important than others.  They weren't going to take the children all the way through the Bible.  They had selections from the Bible they would teach the children so the children might better understand the Word of God.  The Holy Gospel didn't lie in all of the words, but rather only some of the words.
I thanked them for their time and left. 
I tried a similar tactic with a cookbook once and the dinner tasted like refuse.  I don't need someone tackling my child with an agenda.  I teach my children to be respectful to adults, be good people and listen.  My children aren't experts in any of those areas by any means, but they're kids and they'll learn.  I think if they can accomplish those qualities in their life then a higher form of life might find them salvageable.
Christians want to save your soul.  They want to give you hope.  They want your money.  They want your children to believe heart and soul.  They want you to act in the correct manner.  They want to teach you the correct manner. 
They want you to be like them.
If these qualities were assigned to an individual Muslim in America, what would be the reaction?
After my discussion with the Church I suddenly understood all of the schisms that have occurred throughout history. 
People are bored with the book. 
Professed followers don't even want to have to read it anymore.
'Can we just cut it up and speed it along, a bit?  I like it when the lions eat people.'
I think I'll just rent the kids some movies and call it a summer.

2. Current Affairs

The governors of 17 states proposed legislation to the U.S. House of Representatives last week to make gas price gouging illegal.  The bill is a great idea and the House passed it with little time for a thorough review. 
H.R. 1252 is a problematic bill for several reasons.
For one, the definition of breaking the law this bill establishes states that charging "unconscionably excessive" prices for gasoline is a felony.  Who defines "unconsionably excessive?"  Also, who is the target of these prices?  There is nothing in this bill stating that the focus would be on gas stations.  This bill will more than likely end up supporting legal attacks on people American citizens can't even imagine.  If we start attacking the suppliers who feed the gas stations, supply will diminish and prices will only continue to climb for the consumer.
Another problem, this bill could not be written in plain English apparently.  The mess I was left to read left me scratching my head and wondering in amazement how many lawsuits will get tied up in court based on semantics and lack of case history.  Apparently, the Federal Trade Commission will also be allowed new powers of investigation and apprehension through policies established in another document that the writers of this document did not even bother to reiterate for us in this bill.  
This bill doesn't make sense.  If you think I'm wrong, have ten random people in any location read the bill and then explain to you without help what the bill means.
If you had fun reading monkeys pounding on a keyboard you'll have a blast reading House Resolution 1252.  It's just a real snoozer and dry enough to bore the public.  Those people who don't need to worry about the details.  Everything is right out in the open and the public doesn't care about the details because the writing is excessively imprecise. 
With a title like Gas Price Gouging Bill this quagmire of legal meaning and legal definition just may pass the Senate.  That's too bad.  The bill was railroaded through the House by a majority of Democrats.  Procedural systems were by-passed to ensure a speedy vote with very little discussion or time to digest the material. 
This is doggrel brought to the political stage.  A broken pair of sunglasses bound for the trash heap.  What this bill does well is identify a central problem with our society. 
A corporation cannot be sent to jail, so they get fined excessive amounts of money with the option to declare bankruptcy (which individuals are severely limited to take advantage of.)  People get sent to jail and also pay excessive amounts of money.


3. Then Humans Discovered...(The Chronicle of Mirn finale)

Continued from May 21st posting.
Mirn did much for advancing the cause of human suffering.  Mirn figured out how to capitalize on the misery of the Group.  He could not have explained it, nor had an inkling of what he was doing.  Mirn did what came naturally to him.  He did what others had done before him, but the moment was right.
The Group formed an emotional atmosphere conducive to acceptance of what would not have been tolerated in the past.  The leadership structure liberalized from one dominant alpha to a climate where another might have his say.  Mirn had his say.  He took the knowledge of Krunk and all of the connotations accompanying that knowledge then he intertwined himself with that history.
Mirn indirectly established historians and tyrants.

4. Getting to Know Your Government
Last week's batch of Senators averaged 6 years in public office as U.S. Senators. This week's batch of Senators average 12 years as U.S. Senators.
 
Ron Wyden (Democrat, Oregon)
Religion:Jewish
1971: Stanford University, A.B.
1974: University of Oregon Law School, J.D.
1981 to 1996: U.S. House of Representatives
he resigned, having been elected to the Senate; elected to the Senate in a special election on January 30, 1996, to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1999, left vacant by the resignation of Robert W. Packwood
1996 to present: U.S. Senate

Gordon Smith (Republican, Oregon)
Religion: Mormon
1976: Graduated from Brigham Young University
1979: Received law degree from Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles   
1992 to 1997: Oregon State Senator
1997 to present: U.S. Senate
unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in January 6, 1996, special election for the remainder of the term ending January 7, 1999, left vacant by the resignation of Robert W. Packwood; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1996, becoming the first individual to run for a state’s two United States Senate seats in one calendar year

Arlen Specter (Republican, Pennsylvania)
Religion: Jewish
1951: graduated University of Pennsylvania
1956: graduated Yale University Law School
1959 to 1964: Philadelphia assistant district attorney
   1964: Assistant Council with Warren Commission
1966 to 1974: Philadelphia District Attorney
1981 to present: U.S. Senate

Bob Casey, Jr. (Democrat, Pennsylvania)
Religion: Roman Catholic
1982: graduated College of the Holy Cross
1988: Catholic University of America, J.D.
1997 to 2005: Pennsylvania Auditor General
2005 to 2006: Pennsylvania State Treasurer
2007 to present: U.S. Senator

5. Our Nation is Dumber for This...Thank You for Your Participation!

Charles Nelson Reilly died on May 25th, 2007.  Who really knew what he did until now? 
I watched Match Game and Hollywood Squares as child.  I knew he was a classic talent, but at what I had no idea.  He was just a permanent part of my viewing patterns for a very long time.  I had no idea then what a Tony was or its significance.  (I honestly can't say I've made that distinction even today.)  One thing about Charles Nelson Reilly, he always seemed willing to please.
He was a funny guy.
He was flamboyant.
He will be missed.
Rest in peace Charles Nelson Reilly.

6. Down On Rage Street
      And the beat goes on...

7. I Sure Do Hate It for You
       And the beat goes on...

8. Tip of the week

Talk to people as if you will wake up with them around tomorrow.  Treat the world as something you borrowed.  Give what others do not possess.  Live as if you're going to die. 
One day you will.

9. Birthday Shout Outs (5/27- 6/2)

May 27th
(1911) Vincent Price- Spooky resume.
(1922) Christopher Lee- It's spooky how long his resume is as well as an impressive bout of working on the last Star Wars trilogy at the same time as the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
(1936) Louis Gosset, Jr.- Where you're from there's only steers and queers.
(1965) Todd Bridges- What you talkin' 'bout Willis?
(1975) Andre 3000- A bad man.

May 28th
(1944) Gladys Knight- Soul Sister.
(1945) John Fogerty- A great performer.

May 29th
(1903) Bob Hope- An enterprise unto himself.
(1917) John F. Kennedy- The 35th President of the United States of America.
(1973) Steve Corino- A great in ring comedian.  Normally I don't like that kind of stuff in wrestling, but he had superior mic skills.

May 30th
(1908) Mel Blanc-  This resume is unreadably long.  He has been stored away in so many portions of my mind that it seems I must have worshipped him for some time.  He did the voices of: Barney Rubble, Captain Caveman, Bugs, Daffy, Elmer Fudd and Pepe Le Pew to name only a few.  Wow.
(1955) Jake Roberts- He had his moments.

May 31st
(1819) Walt Whitman- A hippy a century before they knew what a hippy was.
(1930) Clint Eastwood- He was in so many good flicks it's difficult to count.
(1948) John Bonham- Did anyone hit the skins any harder?

June 1st
(1921) Marilyn Monroe- I would've done her.
(1926) Andy Griffith- A comedy genius.  Didn't care for him so much in the dramatic stuff.
(1937) Morgan Freeman- No one knew Andy Duphrane like Morgan.
(1947) Ron Wood- The Stones could rock.  Now they should rock themselves to sleep.
(1974) Alanis Morrisette- An example of an interesting voice and lyrics.
(1974) Amanda Cole- Any opportunity to play a little En Vogue is alright with me.

June 2nd
(1941) Charlie Watts- The Stones actually have some pretty heavy music.
(1941) Stacy Keach- He will forever be in my mind for the work he did in the Cheech and Chong movies.
(1948) Jerry Mathers- Locked in my mind as well and I'd like to get him out.
(1970) Louis Freese <aka B-Real>- Brother can rock the house.