Miscellaneous short topics

My mind is all over the map tonight, and as a result I am having a difficult time making headway on any sort of coherent entry tonight. Nevertheless, I'd like to get something on the books. As such, I just want to toss out a few short items that are on my heart and mind.

- I am continually saddened and disappointed by the continued slow march of our country into depravity and heartlessness. I heard from a close friend over the weekend that the hosts of a sports radio program here in SA took a perverse pleasure in the death of Michael Jackson. Regardless of your feelings toward the man, or his past dealings, to rejoice in his passing and to take comfort that he is "burning in Hell" indicates a malice toward humanity that is to be reviled and repudiated at every opportunity.

- I hope that as the media focus on Jackson's passing wanes, they remember to return their attention to the still-ongoing issues in Iran. The potential for a democratic and religious awakening in that country invigorates me. I pray for a positive outcome from the strife currently ongoing.

- I'd prefer to avoid issues of politics as much as possible on this blog, but when the President openly prevaricates with such callous disregard to reality, I feel compelled to bring light to it. In a press conference today, discussing the passage of Cap & Trade legislation in the House, President Obama pointed to California as proof of the positive benefits of this legislation. He directly praised their energy consumption, job creation, and economic growth.

In reality, California's energy infrastructure is terribly lacking - their onerous state restrictions on power production have resulted in the majority of their energy needs being produced by neighboring states, then sold to Californians at a much higher cost than is seen in much of the rest of America. The regulations have even hampered their power distribution networks, as evidenced by the rolling blackouts they endure every summer. Their current unemployment is 11.5% (2% above the national average) and continuing to rise faster than the national rate. And their budget problems have been national news for months now, and have reached the point where their credit rating is in danger of being reduced to 'junk' status. I believe that they would be the only state in the union with that particular designation.

press conference notes here - http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-Energy/

And don't even get me started on the Cap and Trade legislation itself. Part of me wants to download it, review it and post the most egregious sections for the world to see, but I don't have the stamina to crush my own will in that way. Besides, at 1200 pages, I'd be one of about 7 people in the country who have actually read it, including those who just voted on it.

/end political section, hopefully not to return for quite a while

- I love my wife. She is unable to avoid my political rantings, my philisophical ramblings, or my various other foibles and vagaries, yet she puts up with me anyways. She seemingly has infinite patience for my mental acrobatics, and I am always grateful.

- Go out and talk to somebody new. We could all use a little pick me up every now and then, and unexpected, random human interaction often seems to pack a little extra wallop. Especially when the person you talk to feels a genuine interest in their well-being and life.

I hope that I haven't alienated too many of you tonight. If you have an issue with my political views, let me know, and I'll make more of an effort to avoid them in the future. If you want to engage in debate, I'd be happy to seek an alternative forum.