Am I Nuts? WTF!

[M.D. Holloway]

I think I have an accurate grasp on reality. In the broadest sense of generalities and universal truth, am I missing something? Am I too much of an optimist here or what? I just don't see where life is as terrible as the media and the politicians would have us believe. Seriously...

[Buckterrier]

Sensationalism sells. Who wants to hear life is wonderful?
But you are absolutely correct, That's what I say everytime the market craps out, (like today)... "What, did some rice paddy dry up in China"? It's ******* ridiculous.

[Superman]

Fear is a very effective tool. We saw it in action seven years ago, and continuously since then. It's an election year now. The Dems hope to scare you into changing leaders. The Reps hope to scare you into voting Republican. It will be a scare-fest. From the perspective of the politicians, late September will be a perfect time for a catastrophe.

[MRM]

Fear and loathing, please meet bread and games.

[scottmandue]

It is all about the Benjamin's... if it bleeds it leads!

Super is right on with this one!

Vote for me or you are all doomed!

[Jim727]

Don't forget guilt. Lots of leverage to be found in guilt.

[NICKG]

The news is only about bad things...you know the whole conspiracy to keep americans living in fear so they are easy to control thing?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I live a great life.

For the time being at least, I am healthy and well fed enough to be a bit overweight. As a nation, we are well (term used advisedly) fed enough that we develop food allergies. Ever hear Chris Rock do a riff on people in poor third world countries with distended bellies and ribs showing? There "...ain't no effin food allergies".

I live in a clean nice home. I sleep in a warm bed. I lack for nothing except what I CHOOSE to dream up. I dare say, many if not all of us on this board are lucky enough to be in the same shoes.

[The Gaijin]

Time for change!

[Oh Haha]

I was just telling my wife the same thing last night. WHile things aren;t great here in Michigan, overall life is good for America.

really.


Ok, we bi$%^ about high gas prices but at least we are able to do that in our air conditioned houses while drinking a $5.00 latte from Starbucks.

For the record: I don't have an SUV, air conditioned house, or drink ANYTHING from Starbucks

I'm just sayin'.

[Rot 911]

Lube, you aren't nuts. Just lucky like most of us on here. Rising fuel and food costs may be irritating to us, but that is all they are. On the other hand, families that are just making ends meet are running into some real hardships. I feel for them. I'm not talking your welfare hand out types, just people trying to do the best they can with the job they have.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

Lube, you aren't nuts. Just lucky like most of us on here. Rising fuel and food costs may be irritating to us, but that is all they are. On the other hand, families that are just making ends meet are running into some real hardships. I feel for them. I'm not talking your welfare hand out types, just people trying to do the best they can with the job they have.

So true. I was at a customer today running a trial. While waiting for parts coming out I was watching the workers loading the line etc. I was thinking how in the world are these people able to afford ANYTHING other than putting food on the table. They work hard, do a good job, all just to live.

No whining here

[red-beard]

No News is Good News.

Bad News sells News!

[teenerted1]

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

[mattdavis11]

I don't want to sound like I'm being put out here, but next week I begin riding the bus to work because it's penny pinching time. It's a 100 degrees outside, people need a/c in their cars, and I'm happy to have the work.

What I'm not willing to do is receive a check for something I did not earn.

Things could be a whole lot worse.

[john walker's workshop]

if the media says we're in for a recession, the usual 95% of the population looks up from their tv and accepts it. that's why we're in trouble more than anything else, not enough people calling BS.

[Tidybuoy]

I'm lucky to work 6 miles from home. For the past three weeks, I have ridden my bike m-w-f's. Not really because I can't afford gas but more because I need to get off my fat ass.

The first ride was hard, but now it's not bad at all - And, my beautiful Porsche is still spotlessly clean at the end of the week

[teenerted1]

Our politians here are really coming up with some great ideas to combat this global warming issue i keep hearing about too.

First the facts about the soggy weather this weekend
Seattle, WA
Fri 58°/48°F
Sat 60°/46°F
Sun 64°/48°F
Mon 61°/48°F


Then their solution to combat the incredible hot june we are having
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366025_bonfire06.html?source=mypi
Beach bonfires may be banned
They fuel global warming, parks department says
By KERY MURAKAMI
P-I REPORTER

Even with the skies overcast and threatening rain, Khang Nguyen, 18, and Joel Juan, 19, kicked back after school at Alki Beach.

"It's just a relaxing way to hang out with friends," Nguyen said of the bonfire crackling in front of them one evening earlier this week.

But Seattle Parks and Recreation might do what even this week's chilly weather couldn't -- douse the long tradition of beach bonfires at Alki and at Golden Gardens.

Park department staff is recommending reducing bonfires at the two beaches this summer and possibly banning them altogether next year.

The park board will hear the recommendation Thursday, and the city plans to run public-service announcements and hand out brochures later this month about the effects of bonfires on global warming.

According to a memo to the park board from the staff released Thursday, "The overall policy question for the Board is whether it is good policy for Seattle Parks to continue public beach fires when the carbon ... emissions produced by thousands of beach fires per year contributes to global warming."

Under the proposal, the department in July would reduce the number of fire rings at Alki from six currently to three and at Golden Gardens from 12 to seven.

Then later this year, the department would consider banning bonfires or requiring fees and permits to reduce the number of bonfires next year.

It's the second time in the past few years the tradition of lounging by a fire at the beach has run up against the environmental ramifications of bonfire smoke.

Parks and Recreation recommended banning the fires in 2004, after a violation notice from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to the city after someone set a couch on fire at Alki Beach. However, 1,200 people signed a petition to save Alki's bonfires, and 100 others signed a petition to save the ones at Golden Garden.

Instead, park staff said the department should do more to regulate what people burn and make sure the fires are out by 11:30 p.m.

"I think people still feel the same way (about preserving bonfires)," said Larry Carpenter, treasurer of the Alki Community Council. "Old-timers see bonfires as a tradition that they did as children and growing up. It's a nostalgia thing."

At Alki on Wednesday night, Linda Garcia, a 56-year- old West Seattle resident, walked her dog and made a slightly rose-colored argument for preserving her beloved bonfires. "It's so windy around here it probably doesn't pollute that much.

"They have to try to take everything away," she said.

Sara Russell, 34, who also was walking her dog, rolled her eyes at the idea of banning bonfires to stave off global warming.

"If they really wanted to do something, they could enforce the no-cruising law, because in the summer you see so many cars cruising around here," she said.

Russell's neighbor, Debbie Nichols, said that last July Fourth, she got up at 5:30 a.m. to grab one of the fire pits. "I wrapped myself in a blanket and sat there all day," Nichols said. "We use the fire pits all year round."

Since the park board last heard the issue, the department assigned more staff to the two sites. The number of fires using illegal materials has dropped by two-thirds, according to the park memo.

The memo also noted that restrictions could cause illegal fires and fights over the limited number of fire pits. Charging fees to use the pits could disproportionately bar youths and low-income people from having bonfires, the report said.

But Mayor Greg Nickels' plan to reduce climate-threatening pollutants "begs the question of whether Seattle Parks is acting responsibly ... to systematically reduce controllable contributions to global warming," the memo said.

"I can certainly understand it. (Global warming) is a legitimate concern," said Robert Drucker, vice president of the Sunset Hill Community Association.

Still, he said of the bonfires at Golden Gardens: "It's a long-standing tradition. I think people would be upset to see it go."

But at Alki, Nguyen said he'd be OK with banning bonfires.

"By all means, I'd rather not have bonfires than have global warming," he said.

As a sliver of silvery sky shrank under the growing clouds, Nguyen played a guitar, and maybe for the last year, the flames licked the salt air.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

I think I have an accurate grasp on reality. In the broadest sense of generalities and universal truth, am I missing something? Am I too much of an optimist here or what? I just don't see where life is as terrible as the media and the politicians would have us believe. Seriously...

you have to look hard the price of raw goods has doubled. that's food wise though. plus i just found out i get laid off in 30 days YEPPIE

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

plus i just found out i get laid off in 30 days YEPPIE

That just means more time on PPOT! (Hey, just trying to find the silver lining.)