Major Mike’s Musings

Obama Salutes

Congratulations, Mr. President. You’re the first President that I can remember who could render a proper military salute.

If you’re going to honor the fallen, you might as well do it right.

Way to go!

So long, Senator Kennedy.

From the White House Blog:

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care.  These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Seems a little Orwellian to me. Beware: don’t post anything anti ObamaCare or your web site, ip address, or email might make it to the White House suspects list.

Oh, crap . . .

Formerly called health care reform, now called health insurance reform bill has been delayed until fall. Whew. That was close. I was afraid we’d get a reform bill that nobody in Congress or the administration will have read. Maybe there’s time now to get some things right. (Warning: this is Congress, however).

As you’ve probably noticed, I haven’t published anything substantial in quite some time. I’ve just not been very motivated to express my observations of the world lately. Maybe I’m just lazy.

Anyway, not to break the string of insubstantial posts, here’s a fun article I found in this morning’s The Daily Sun:

Wilmington News Journal, Delaware.

In an effort to have a little fun and reverse an age-old stuffy stereotype, teams of librarians across the country are gearing up to compete this weekend in the Book Cart Drill Team World Championship in Chicago at the American Library Association’s annual meeting.

Think a blend of synchronized swimming and Rockette-style dancing.

This will be the third year the Delaware Diamonds have competed. The first year, they came in third. Last year, they didn’t place. But this year, they’re going for the ultimate prize: a gold book cart.

I think this would be loads of fun to observe.

Looks like the Manning boys will be able to watch the Super Bowl together this year.

OK, so Congress passed the bailout (and about $150 billion of pork) and the stock market continues to tank. Could it be that fear, not tight credit, is fueling the market? Did it help that both presidential candidates said that this is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Do the cries of the media help the situation?

The Theory of Rational Expectation in economics says that the economy will follow the expectations of the population. Are we expecting the economy to tank?

I found this over at The Point blog. They’re quoting The Eugene, Oregon, Register-Guard:

After her oncologist prescribed a cancer drug that could slow the cancer growth and extend her life, [Barbara] Wagner was notified that the Oregon Health Plan wouldn’t cover the treatment, but that it would cover palliative, or comfort, care, including, if she chose, doctor-assisted suicide. . . .

Are these folks in Oregon crazy?

From The Ivy Jungle Network Campus Ministry Update Summer 2008

Although the US is one of the most religious nations in the world, a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows many believe things which contradict their stated faith. 70% of those who claim religious affiliation believe multiple religions can lead to salvation and 68% believe in multiple interpretations of their own religion. 57% of self-identified evangelicals believe multiple religions can lead to salvation. 21% of self-identified atheists believe that some kind of God exists. 80% of respondents believe in moral standards of right and wrong, but only 29% claim their religious teachings help them determine those standards. A copy of the report can be read at www.pewforum.org (SFGate.com June 23, 2008)

Last week 90 some people were rounded up in a drug raid in San Diego. More than 60 of the culprits were students at San Diego State. One of the students, a criminal justice major, asked one of the arresting officers, “Do you think this will hurt my chances of employment with federal law enforcement?”

Ya think?

Is it today’s cultural influence that causes someone to even ask that question? Or are today’s college students just dumber than they were decades ago? Or was it just this one?