Looking forward to a quiet weekend
My weekend plans involve me being home almost every hour between now and Monday. I am going to a movie on Sunday morning (This is the End) and I have a couple of errands to run. Otherwise I am going to be home and mostly rest. I'm tired. Really tired. Even though I got a good night's sleep last night I am still feeling the effects of going to the midnight movie on Thursday. It's a "Top Gun" moment this morning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRNWFtgXo2E
Clearly seeing midnight movies carries a significant cost in terms of fatigue and being less able to do things the following day. But in a cost/benefit analysis I see no reason to stop going to them. It is a rare occurrence and only when it is a 'big' movie. I suspect there may even be one more midnight movie to come for me, this summer.
* * *
We're all charitable people, to a degree. Some more than others. But the desire to be generous and to donate needs to be tempered with at least a grain of caution. Why? The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central and North Florida is one of dozens across the country. They collect millions in donations each year and spend 60% of that granting wishes. Not bad. On the other hand, there is Kids Wish Network. Over the past ten years this so-called charity has raised $127.8 million and spent $109.8 million on paid solicitors to raise that money. Only 2.5% of what they raised goes to their stated charitable purpose.
Here's a list of the 50 worst charities in the U.S. compiled by the Center for Investigative Reporting, working with the Tampa Bay Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/americas-worst-charities/
The worst part is that the IRS doesn't take these companies on, because proving a 'crime' is difficult.
* * *
I'm going to appoint you to be a judge for a moment. Here is the case before you. The defendant is pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, first-degree criminal damage, two counts of second-degree criminal damage, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In a domestic dispute, the defendant assaulted their ex-significant other, smashed the windows of the ex's vehicle, and fired a gunshot at the vehicle.
What would your sentence be? Five years in jail? Three years in jail? Six months in jail? Try three years of probations, 120 hours of community service, anger management classes and an order to stay away from the ex.
Is that an appropriate sentence? Without searching out who this case involves, can you hazard a guess as to why this defendant got off so easy?
* * *
Isn't one of those "Christian" values to "hate the sin but love the sinner"? If so, why is a private, conservative Christian college hounding a student they expelled for having a love affair with another woman for payment of tuition that was covered by government grants and student loans? It makes no sense. Their claims that they must do this because of federal law is completely false. Isn't therre something about not bearing false witness as well? They are even withholding official transcripts while this alleged $6,000 bill remains unpaid.
* * *
This Date In History:
On this date in 923, at the Battle of Soissons, King Charles the Simple was arrested by supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy (just loved the name King Charles the Simple).
On this date in 1215, King John of England puts his seal on the Magna Carta.
On this date in 1502, on his fourth voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Martinque.
On this date in 1520, Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther.
On this date in 1775, George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
On this date in 1836, Arkansas is admitted as the 25th U.S. state.
On this date in 1844, Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization (in this case, not connected to Star Trek).
On this date in 1864, Arlington National Cemetary is established.
On this date in 1877, Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American to ever graduate fro West Point.
On this date in 1896, a tsunami kills over 22,000 in Japan.
On this date in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth group with a federal charter.
On this date in 1944, the U.S. invades Saipan to wrest it from the Japanese.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Kobayashi Issa
Ion Antonescu
Sam Giancana
Yuri Andropov
Lash LaRue
Waylon Jennings
Ward Connerly
Harry Nilsson
Xaviera Hollander
Lee Shallet-Chamel
Lee Purcell
Dusty Baker
Russell Hitchcock
Jim Varney
Steve Walsh
James Belushi
Julie Hagerty
Robin Curtis
Courtney Cox
Ice Cube
Leah Remini
Neil Patrick Harris
Movie quotes of the day comes from "Airplane" since it is Ms Hagerty's birthday:
Ted Striker: My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow. We're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 1800 hours. We're coming in from the north, below their radar.
Elaine Dickinson: When will you be back?
Ted Striker: I can't tell you that. It's classified.
#2
Rumack: You'd better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?
Rumack: It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.
#3
Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.
#4
Rumack: Captain, how soon can you land?
Captain Oveur: I can't tell.
Rumack: You can tell me. I'm a doctor.
Captain Oveur: No. I mean I'm just not sure.
Rumack: Well, can't you take a guess?
Captain Oveur: Well, not for another two hours.
Rumack: You can't take a guess for another two hours?
Clearly seeing midnight movies carries a significant cost in terms of fatigue and being less able to do things the following day. But in a cost/benefit analysis I see no reason to stop going to them. It is a rare occurrence and only when it is a 'big' movie. I suspect there may even be one more midnight movie to come for me, this summer.
* * *
We're all charitable people, to a degree. Some more than others. But the desire to be generous and to donate needs to be tempered with at least a grain of caution. Why? The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central and North Florida is one of dozens across the country. They collect millions in donations each year and spend 60% of that granting wishes. Not bad. On the other hand, there is Kids Wish Network. Over the past ten years this so-called charity has raised $127.8 million and spent $109.8 million on paid solicitors to raise that money. Only 2.5% of what they raised goes to their stated charitable purpose.
Here's a list of the 50 worst charities in the U.S. compiled by the Center for Investigative Reporting, working with the Tampa Bay Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/americas-worst-charities/
The worst part is that the IRS doesn't take these companies on, because proving a 'crime' is difficult.
* * *
I'm going to appoint you to be a judge for a moment. Here is the case before you. The defendant is pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, first-degree criminal damage, two counts of second-degree criminal damage, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In a domestic dispute, the defendant assaulted their ex-significant other, smashed the windows of the ex's vehicle, and fired a gunshot at the vehicle.
What would your sentence be? Five years in jail? Three years in jail? Six months in jail? Try three years of probations, 120 hours of community service, anger management classes and an order to stay away from the ex.
Is that an appropriate sentence? Without searching out who this case involves, can you hazard a guess as to why this defendant got off so easy?
* * *
Isn't one of those "Christian" values to "hate the sin but love the sinner"? If so, why is a private, conservative Christian college hounding a student they expelled for having a love affair with another woman for payment of tuition that was covered by government grants and student loans? It makes no sense. Their claims that they must do this because of federal law is completely false. Isn't therre something about not bearing false witness as well? They are even withholding official transcripts while this alleged $6,000 bill remains unpaid.
* * *
This Date In History:
On this date in 923, at the Battle of Soissons, King Charles the Simple was arrested by supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy (just loved the name King Charles the Simple).
On this date in 1215, King John of England puts his seal on the Magna Carta.
On this date in 1502, on his fourth voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Martinque.
On this date in 1520, Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther.
On this date in 1775, George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
On this date in 1836, Arkansas is admitted as the 25th U.S. state.
On this date in 1844, Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization (in this case, not connected to Star Trek).
On this date in 1864, Arlington National Cemetary is established.
On this date in 1877, Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American to ever graduate fro West Point.
On this date in 1896, a tsunami kills over 22,000 in Japan.
On this date in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth group with a federal charter.
On this date in 1944, the U.S. invades Saipan to wrest it from the Japanese.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Kobayashi Issa
Ion Antonescu
Sam Giancana
Yuri Andropov
Lash LaRue
Waylon Jennings
Ward Connerly
Harry Nilsson
Xaviera Hollander
Lee Shallet-Chamel
Lee Purcell
Dusty Baker
Russell Hitchcock
Jim Varney
Steve Walsh
James Belushi
Julie Hagerty
Robin Curtis
Courtney Cox
Ice Cube
Leah Remini
Neil Patrick Harris
Movie quotes of the day comes from "Airplane" since it is Ms Hagerty's birthday:
Ted Striker: My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow. We're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 1800 hours. We're coming in from the north, below their radar.
Elaine Dickinson: When will you be back?
Ted Striker: I can't tell you that. It's classified.
#2
Rumack: You'd better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?
Rumack: It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.
#3
Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.
#4
Rumack: Captain, how soon can you land?
Captain Oveur: I can't tell.
Rumack: You can tell me. I'm a doctor.
Captain Oveur: No. I mean I'm just not sure.
Rumack: Well, can't you take a guess?
Captain Oveur: Well, not for another two hours.
Rumack: You can't take a guess for another two hours?
posted by me at 1:53 PM
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