Random Access Memories

Sarah got a birthday card that was as follows:

“Happy Birthday from Charlie, the Birthday Armadillo!”

(The front shows a very depressed looking armadillo wearing a party hat)

The inside is as follows:

“Look, you and I both know there’s no birthday armadillo, but charlie’s had a run of bad luck – no work, a bitter, messy divorce – so please, just humor him and have a happy birthday, okay? This could be the one little thing he needs to turn his life around. Thanks, and have a good one.”

Yeah, makes me feel cheery, what about you?

EDIT: We decided to return the money, since that is what seems to be important to them.

I was just asked today to help someone break into a facebook account.

I’m sorry, but what? They want me to risk my freedom and my livelihood so they can stick their nose into someone else’s little back and forth squabble?

Hell no.

The USA has gotten stupid as a society.

We’ve allowed people with the most money, the scariest message or the loudest voice to convince us they are right without us demanding proof of their wild speculation.

What happened to intelligence trumping emotion?

Years ago some nut would say “The end is near!” and people would say “uh huh, sure, I’ve got work to do.” and now they’re able to build a huge cult following.

And now in politics there is no positive message, there is just a message of fear against the other guys.

It’s a no-brainer that this is unsustainable in the long term.

The US economy is in the tank, consumer confidence is down, sales are stagnant, but to listen to the GOP getting thigns turned around means “Less regulation and less taxes on business.”.

My take on that? In a word, bullshit.

Talk to a small business owner, chances are they will tell you they are not hiring people right now because demand for their products or services is down. If nobody wants something done there is no reason to pay someone to do it.

Frankly. business has one goal, “To make money”, and if that means it’s more profitable for a business owner to fire 500 people than to hire 500 more which do you think he’s going to do? You guessed it, 500 people get pink slips.

I might not trust the US government firmly, but I trust it a hell of alot more than I trust business to “do what’s right”.

We need a huge spending package to put people back to work or this mess is going to last a long, LONG time. And by the look of Washington, it’s not going to happen.

Maybe things would change if the government was not made up of the rich and the business owners who are trying to take care of, well, the rich business owners.