A Unique Christmas Experience

Remember the classic movie A Christmas Story? Well, if you've got a few thousand dollars lying around not doing anything, you can spend Christmas Eve and Day in the house where the movie was shot. The package includes airfare to Cleveland, a Christmas Eve Chinese dinner, a stay at the Renaissance Cleveland hotel, two BB guns, and more. I wish I had the money for this.

Romney on the Detroit Big Three

Excellent op-ed piece in the New York Times (of all places) by former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on the bailout the Big Three are seeking. What I really appreciate about this is that he doesn't just say let them fail, he outlines what they can do to regain their footing, and what the government can do to help them. As he states in the article, his dad was brought on to run American Motors after the death of its president, and he learned a lot from that. His most important point, though, is that if Detroit wants help from the government, they need to create a win-win situation, which they haven't done yet. Go read the whole thing; it's not long, and I guarantee it's worth it.

Side Note: Post number 75! 100 here we come!

Big Three Bailout: Not So Fast

CNN is reporting this afternoon that while Congress intends to keep the Big Three afloat, they will need to show what it is they are going to do with the $25 Billion they are after. Said Pelosi: "This is an important industry in our country and we intend to save it. Until they show us a plan we cannot show them the money."

While I don't think a bailout of the Big Three is a great idea (they got themselves into this mess, let them go to bankruptcy court and get themselves out, not to mention the first bailout was supposed to get credit flowing again), there is no doubt in my mind that it will happen. I am at least encouraged that Congress is not going to simply throw good money after bad. But, here's the catch; most of the members of Congress are going to be leaving town on Thursday, and aren't expected back until next year. So, if this doesn't get done by Thursday... things will get interesting, fast.

Cat Sleeps On Turnstile

Video from an unmanned train station in Hiroshima, Japan, where there is a cat that lives at the station, and is often found sleeping on the turnstile. Even as the train was coming in and leaving, and people were putting tickets in and scanning passes... the cat just sleeps through it all. My cats are nowhere near this calm.

OK, I'll Bite

Elliot at From Where I Sit made an interesting offer that I decided I had to take him up on, so, here goes.

If you're not reading From Where I Sit, you really should. It's a well-written blog, and since he posts far more often than I do, it's worth your time to add him to your feed reader. Yes, I know, I should blog more. It's just that I'm busy with work, school, and volunteer stuff, although there's no shortage of stories in the news that irk me to the point that I have a few things (or a lot of things) to say about them.

So what are you waiting for? Get over there already!

Another Place where Photo ID Is Required

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am currently enrolled part time at MATC, attending classes at the downtown campus. As I was walking back to my car after class today, I passed the Student Accounts window, where students can pick up financial aid checks. Prominently displayed is a sign stating that in order to do so, a student must present their valid MATC Student ID card and... a driver's license, state ID, or Milwaukee County ID.

And yet, MATC brings in Jim Doyle to speak to the student body. The same Jim Doyle who has opposed Voter ID at every turn. In order to pick up a financial aid check at MATC, I need a photo ID. But in order to vote, all I have to do is walk in and tell them my name.

What's wrong with this picture?

The Lie of Deregulation

Tip of the hat to Verum Serum for putting up this video and the bullet point summary. I'll send you there instead of reposting the whole thing here.