Yada Yada Yada

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DISCLAIMER: this blog is mine & mine alone. It bears no reflection on my friends, family, or place of employment.

Part I
Leaving town tomorrow & flying to Buffalo for the weekend to see my cousin graduate from the U. of Rochester. First trip in a long time, and first time flying since right after 9/11. Air security has gotten tighter, and loosened up, but honestly I don't think it's any better than it was pre-9/11. Just more of a hemorrhoid. It's still quicker than driving from south-central VA to upstate NY but the hassle factor increases exponentially. WTF, it'll be fun to see my family & that part I look forward to. It's also my first trip w/my eldest step-son which'll also be fun. His first plane trip, and our first time to see Buffalo (and probably Niagra Falls) so there's something else to look forward to.

Part II
Gas prices continue to creep up in a less than subtle fashion, now topping $3/gallon at most stations. Some off-brand e.g. Kroger, Sheetz, etc. stations offer >$3 prices, but not by much, and for discount gas it just doesn't seem worth it. All the while the oil companies continue to rape, er, reap outrageous, heinous profits. Normally the raping & pillaging of the mid & lower classes would be enough to raise my ire, but since I drive 120 miles+ roundtrip each day of the work week this hits not only my sense of fairness & corporate responsibility, but it also wounds my wallet too. No "Subway fat wallet syndrome" here!

Part III
Sports-wise, the Chicago Bulls are attempting a gi-normous comeback vs. the Detroit Pistons. After being down 3-0 the Bulls won the last 2 games & if they win tonight will force the infamous Game 7 this weekend. Not many teams in any sport have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series, but Chicago could be the latest if things go their way. Speaking of sports, the Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick owns some property here in VA, and the tenant(s) - a cousin of his I believe - was busted on drug suspicions, and found to have what appears to be a dog-fighting-training-breeding operation on grounds. Vick claims zero knowledge/involvement, but unnamed friends of his claim quite the contrary. Officials are investigating, yada yada. Charges may or may not be leveled against him. After he somehow got off of the water bottle incident in the Miam airport, I doubt all the more that he'll actually be charged, but I don't necessarily believe his lack of complicity. Animal abuse is one of the worst crimes to me, and not much gets my blood boiling hotter. I hope that Vick's tenants go down hard, that state officials exercise due dilligence to determine or exclude his involvement, and the NFL gives him a good hard talking to & warning.

Part IV
I just started reading yet another book about the planning & execution of the war in Iraq (Cobra II). One thing that strikes me as ironic is that Donald Rumsfeld drastically limited the number of troops Tommy Franks & his planners wanted to initially send to Iraq for the ouster of Saddam & post-war peace-keeping/nation building phase. Rumsfeld really put the choker on the deployment of troops for actual war-time activities, and the support of the troops i.e. logistics. But now, in order to attempt to quell the continued violence, Bush has asked that more troops be sent. He's pushed like hell for it this year. Why in hell didn't he push Rummy to send more troops to begin with? A rhetorical question to be sure, but just one of the glaring errors one can easily spot. Our executive & legislative branches will bandy back & forth on spending bills for the war, and any implicit or top-secret timetable(s) for withdrawl of our troops. Bush's term is up, which means he can absolutely ignore the voice of the American people & the massive want to start bringing our troops home, and stay his own ignorant way. Fortunately this buttnugget is out of office in under 18 months, but unfortunately he can now - w/out having to pay heed to the voice of his constituents - act as he pleases so long as nobody in Congress has the balls to impeach his stupid ass. I believe I've said it before, but history will not look kindly upon George W. Bush & his presidency, and eventually he will be labeled as the worst, most damaging president our country has ever seen.

Part V
Well, it's time to close up shop, pack up the laptop & finish packing for the trip tomorrow. Gotta catch a little SportsCenter & love the shih tzu's before bed. To all my friends, family, and those that choose to read my little slices of conscious/conscience, I bid you adieu! Go Live Life!