One week left of being Bushwacked by GW and his band of merry men...

*

The judge decided not to revoke Madoff’s house arrest. Are you serious? He gets to eat well, keep his help and hide his assets? And I have to think about whether I have gas money today? Amazing. Tell me again that they don’t treat the wealthy differently in this country. I’m pretty sure I’d be in jail by now. Even after listening to Nightline talking about how it's fair that Madoff's left in his penthouse under "house arrest" I'm still so unconvinced.

Frustrating times we are living in right now...

News of yet another scam... this time a health insurance rip off (now there's a surprise right?) Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of NY has got a settlement for millions from some companies like United Health Care and Oxford because they have overcharged people with co-pays, reinbursement rates etc... Though they settled they are allowed to admit to no wrong doing at all. They make the settlement payments and nothing happens to the companies at all. No one is fired there is no new oversight. So what stops them from going back to business as usual later on? Probably nothing. They said they based their payment rates on outside "usual, customary and reasonable rates" when actually they were making them up themselves.... So rather than a win for the people that will stop further corruption in it's tracks it's more like a brokered deal to me. A payoff.

This is Justice? No, it's what passes for justice these days. Not even close.

Watched Hillary answering questions today in her secretary of state congressional hearings... a lot about Bill (another surprise) and conflict of interest. Word of the day for Hillary: Albatross Liability Confirmation.

G'night,

Went to doctors over miserable cold. Stay home a few days and take antibiotics for nasty sinus infection. Oh yay. At least it explains the sheer exhaustion, constant headaches and face pain with the coughing.

Laura

Ten more days of GW Bush... or hey it's snowing outside!

*

I'm rather concerned with Obama's economic stimulus plan.
Been listening to the economists blathering (and isn't that an interesting profession?) The only thing they seem to agree on is that we're in economic trouble and that something should be done about it. Gee thanks. I knew that a few years ago and the writing was on the wall before that. Just one big credit party going on out there for years and years.
The American Dream for many years has been basically buy stuff. You'll be happy, just buy stuff. If you can't afford it, charge stuff. The idea is don't deny yourself what you want and it was sold directly to the public.

*George Carlin once said that:
They call it the American Dream for a reason...
You have to be asleep to believe it.

The credit industry (like a few others) are basically loan sharks as far as I can see... they don't break legs, they just threaten people who owe money and repossess or sell off all your stuff. They want you hooked on them, they're scum like coke dealers that give it out free to get people strung out. Bush said post 9-11 go out and buy stuff to help the economy and show "them" that we are strong.
This is the problem. It's like a gambling addiction to spending money on stuff there's no way we need on any level. Whole industries are built on getting you to buy things you don't need because anyone who's anybody has more stuff than you.

So some economists think the stimulus isn't large enough, others criticize where the money would go and what limited jobs it would create. They disagree on what should be done, congress is poised to fight about it and at the same time economists say they hope it isn't too late with too little. Good God nobody really has a clue do they?

So now would be the time to retire those credit cards, try to live only on cash. Just don't buy stuff you don't need.
I'm thinking the party's over probably for some time. Pay bills.
Just finished working up facts for our budget. Got calls to make on refinancing to find out if it's worth it for us or not.

Ann Coulter is still around talking about her book. Sarah Palin is around talking about how everyone in the press was so unfair to her. Blago, Burris, Congress, Democrats, Republicans and everybody inbetween... complaining ever so loudly about how unfair everything is and how it's all someone else's fault. Makes me crazy, sounds so whiney at times I have trouble listening.
Ethics. Honesty. Responsibility. All seem to be badly in need these days.

Hoping to hear on Monday that Madoff is in jail without bail. Sleezy bastard. And I still want to know who knew what was going on? Did anyone else profit from the scam? Makes me sick that he knowingly ripped people off the way he did. How the hell do these people sleep at night, I really don't get it.

Weird start for a New Year isn't it?

Finally feeling better as far as my cold anyway.
Snowing in NY, going out for a walk.
Walking in snow calms my soul.

G'night,

Laura

*

Eighteen days till GW disappears into the woodwork... or the promise of a brand New year.

*

I'd be happier with the start of 2009 if I didn't have such a crummy cold.
Not that I can remember anytime remotely recent going out for New Year's Eve but damn this was sooo boring.
cough, cough, sputter, UGH. Watched the ball go down in NYC on TV by myself.
Yay!! Happy New Year!!! ::sigh::
At least I feel a little better today, thankful of the little things.

So I've kept myself from going completely crazy by watching Season 3, 4 and 5 of Miami Vice on a free trial of NetFlix.
Finished it up today. In between coughing, hot tea, ginger ale, soup, I was watching either a news program or Crockett and Tubbs. The guest appearances are fun. Many of them are still around today except much older.
The cars: to die for. The people all pretty. The music often awesome.

I'm struck by the obvious things that we don't see that much of in men's clothing these days: puffy shirts, pastel colors and linen, linen and more linen jackets, pants and shirts. With the occasional crazy silk shirts. Lack of socks.

But something I'd never noticed before Crockett and Tubbs both had incredibly manicured nails.
Looked like they never put in a hard days work there. Perfect clean, buffed hands and nails.
Don't know why this surprised me, since hair and make up was prime on that series.
Don Johnson and his perfectly coiffed uh, for the most part mullet.
Yea, some things just never seem to go away culturally no matter how we wish it would.

The three ring circus that is our political system continues on...
Can't believe the Madoff mess. Shouldn't have happened. Still want to deregulate everything?
Self regulation seems to be going so well. Somebody could have done something about this but didn't.
Haven't got a lot of faith in the system at large at all anymore. Yay, rah, unfettered capitalism!

Sorry, I'm starting to cough a lot again and I'm going to pack it in now.

G'night
Stay warm and safe,

Laura

*

Nineteen days left of the really lame, lame duck president and a Happy New Year!

*

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
Hope this year is a good one. Let's hope for better times.

The senate democrats don't want to seat Burris because of Blago.
What a dilemma. Wish they were handling it with appropriate diplomacy but as it typical it's just a mess.
No we won't... yes, you will... No you can't... Yes, we will... Look at the other senators folks this is such a joke.
Congress acting like spoiled children that need to get their way. Now there's a surprise right?
However this all plays out, it just adds to the three ring circus atmosphere that surrounds our elected public officials.
Nothing so far is making me trust them anymore than I did before.

And isn't it particularly special that Madoff can afford 10 million dollars bail using security from his homes.
Yea, homes in the plural.
Getting kinda tired of people with more homes than they can remember to count.
Amazing how things seem to work.
Wonder what he did with the money, where it's stashed away?
Here's a toast to hoping that all his assets and accounts are frozen. I'm pretty sure if I scammed folk even with my meager worth that mine would be right away and I'd still be sitting in jail unable to post any real amount of bail.
We're buried in student loans, mortgage, house bills, running a home and trying to keep up with family obligations.
But we keep paying and cutting back on many things. Like Christmas gifts.
Like keeping the thermostat down low... wonder what Madoff's family is cutting back on?
Stuff bought with other people's money I suppose, if at all, yup if at all.

Did I just hear the clinking of Champagne glasses toasting to the new year when I closed my eyes?
Nope, that would be the dish washer trying to chip my Kmart glasses.
Well one small plus... we never had money to invest in Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Oh yay, now I'm feeling great!

Obviously I'm still grumpy because I'm sick.
Now three of us are sick,
Not a fun New Year's Eve but I watched the celebration on TV.
::sigh::

G'night
Hot tea time once again...

Laura

*

Thirty-five days left of George W Bush

*

Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme has turned into a really big deal.
But there are still folk that feel deregulating everything is a great idea.
This year especially was a bad year for those that think that businesses and politics can regulate themselves.
But still we got the billion dollar bail out "to save the economy" even though many folk said don't do it, bad idea.
So what will happen to Madoff? Will anyone recoup their losses?
Good luck fixing the cumulative mess Barack, I can't imagine. I truly can't.

Hard to have faith in anyone anymore... People with education or without, poor or wealthy, equally untrustworthy.
Look at so many of our representatives. Politics as usual reeks. No consciences, how do they sleep at night???

RNC released a new anti Obama ad. This is from a link at the RNC's own site. Interesting. We haven't heard the full story and yet there is the ad. So, we're going to do this the whole 4 years are we? He's not even in office. It seems nothing has been done wrong on Obama's side and we don't know what the feds are advising him either. Of course someone from his staff was in touch with the governer of Illinois, he picks the new senator. Duh. American's are sooooo patient.



Such fuss over Hillary's senate seat. Apparently Caroline Kennedy wants it.
So what? She's capable, seems honest, smart, is a good fundraiser and has strong name recognition...
What really ticks me off are these Hillary supporters... you know the ones, those that refused to vote for Obama because he didn't chose her as the VP candidate, even after she asked them to support him.
Those that now are annoyed because Caroline Kennedy went public with her support for Obama over Hillary for presidential nominee. Also Ted Kennedy gave his support to Obama. Gee sorry, that's the way politics goes. Life goes on.
But they say she's not qualified, she's too pedigreed and not political enough.
Give me a break.
Who should we have? Someone like Al Franken, Ted Stevens, Dianne Wilkerson, Fred Thompson, or folk like Spitzer, Palin, Larry Craig or even John Edwards?
Seriously, get over it. I really wanted Hillary to be the first female president, I voted for her in the primary. But she lost because the voters spoke. I was disappointed but wouldn't in a million years have voted for the McCain/Palin ticket because my feelings were hurt. Grow up, you're not helping women seem reasonable and intelligent by being disgruntled sore losers.
If you're against Caroline Kennedy as senator (and I'm not against it, she's better than many of them) make it for a real reason.

And speaking of NY, Gov. Paterson signed a bill that would stop tax free cigarette sales by Indians... Interesting, need revenue?
New Bill on Indian Cigarette Tax

******
Non political:
If you caught Fall Out Boy on Leno tonight performing Sleigh Bells Ringing it must have made you smile (especially if you like them). I was impressed, it was nice to see a Christmas song that wasn't traditional Tony Bennet.

My mood is slightly better, not a lot mind you, but I guess it's an improvement.
Stressed out, one major gift isn't going to be here for Christmas which sucks because we cut back on the gifting.
Still have to bake and all hell has been breaking loose unexpectedly the last week or so.

UGH. Bah Humbug!

I mean Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Happy Christmas Year Holidays New Hanukkah Season Santa Menorah Tree... Kwanzaa.

And to all a Good Night!

Laura

*

Forty days left of Prince George and his merry men...

*

This might be a short post because it's been a horrible rainy day and now it's pouring and windy here.
My cable keeps going off and on which makes the internet unstable and has to be reset each time.
Went down in the basement and it's been raining so hard for so long that there are three puddles down there.
Nothing to get damaged near them but enough with the rain all ready, don't want the basement to flood.

I love the political machine... no let me rephrase that, I'm constantly amazed by the vast lack of common sense that permeates both parties. That and the "do what I say but not as I do" mentality.

Let's look briefly at a few of the stories:
Of course there's the obvious one Blagojevich. Now Bernard Madoff arrested for securities fraud.
So who is Madoff anyway and why should we care? Well, he's a former Nasdaq chairman. Great huh?
That's why I don't like Mr. "parachuted over from Goldman Sachs" Paulson in charge of the bailout money.
Conflict of interest to me.

Here's yet another dumb statement since Caroline Kennedy while not in the public eye all the time has done many things.
She's a lawyer, she's raised money for NY public schools, she chairs, serves as director, and does more than many others.
But, here's the thing: NY democrat Gary Ackerman (Queens) states that her qualifications are apparently only that she has "name recognition, but so does J Lo... I wouldn't make J Lo the senator unless she proved she has great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet." ::sigh:: Number one I'm from NY and still am pissed at Gulliani, now... look, Gary's entitled to feel what ever he wants to about Kennedy and the senate seat but seriously J Lo??? Reminds me of the comparison between Obama/Britany/Paris in that McCain ad. Wtf were you thinking, better yet, were you thinking at all? Wow.

Whether or not Caroline gets the senate nod hopefully doesn't depend on nonsensical statements said by a congressman.
It's so great to see the hypocrisy of the political system doesn't favor just one party. There are ridiculous folk on both sides that don't seem to understand they should think about what they say BEFORE they say it.

The auto bailout didn't get through the senate... not a surprise I kinda expected it. So now what happens?
The loss of jobs, lack of morality, global recession, heating oil prices, mortgage crisis, stock problems, two wars, polar ice caps melting and all the other problems facing us... makes this a rather disturbing end to 2008.
Tough to raise that ole holiday cheer. Just doesn't feel the same to me this year. Grateful for what we have, yes.
Thankful for my family, yes. But there's an underlying anxiety for the future. Being trained in social work makes you aware of the struggles people have, and this is a very tough time for many Americans, especially hard on children. No way around that fact. Blame it on who ever you want it still doesn't fix anything.

Donate to food banks if you can, they can always use money, non-perishable food items and most of all volunteering some precious time.

The reason I'm really late with this post because I was finishing the second day of baking and packaging 18 plates of cookies, one large box of cookies for my husband to take to work and all those left over are for my mom, brother and of course us!
Only just finished. Promised myself I wouldn't go on the computer until I was done.
These cookie packager are some of the fruits of my labors for the past two days.
Take a breather Laura and de-stress. (I think I've almost forgotten how).


G'night,
Hang in there everybody
Going to bed.
Hopefully I can sleep with all this wind.

Laura

*