I was reading an article about the out-rage over how little has been spent on oil spill response and cleanup technology over the years. Billions spent to drill, very little spent to effectively respond in the event of an emergency. The failure of the oil companies as well as the government to properly address common sense risks.

Why be surprised? That is the story as old as time. Even Emperors would erect massive construction plans, new methods to enhance living, without much concern and no emergency plan should something go wrong. And it’s continued into modern engineering and politics.

Don’t be surprised. Oil companies and governments are filled with people. People are greedy. That one flaw has been the consistent cause of death, disaster, and chaos in each society throughout time.

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Kellogg’s is recalling 4 cereals:  Apple Jacks, Honey Smacks, Corn Pops and Fruit Loops for an odd odor and smell that is causing illness in some consumers.

Kellogg said that it’s something in the plastic lining that they need to research.  Only US shipments are included in the recall.  Apparently Canada got the non-poisonous shipment (?).

They said the potential for serious illness is low. Tell that to the kid puking his guts out from eating Fruit Loops.

My question is as this recall covers products from March…why did they change their lining in March…why isn’t it all cereal…who produces the liners now?

I venture to say to cut costs…because it’s kids cereal so who really cares…China or some other out-source country with low quality assurance standards.

Money and politics over health and human concern; I guess that’s what replaced the free toy.

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The next generation iPhone is out.  In Europe there are all kinds of complaints.

The iPhone 4′s sides are covered in a metal all the way around.  If you cradle the phone in your hand to speak in a natural manner, the strength of the signal plummets, and the call drops.  Apple’s solution, avoid holding the phone in such a way to cause it to do that….   WHAT???

What a way to treat consumers who were first in line to drop hundreds of dollars (euros) for Apple’s latest creation.  Apple’s strength is not just branding, but the people.  They have a strong following; much like a religion.  Don’t burn those who bring you rising stocks.

In the US, AT&T is the only iPhone provider, and they already can’t handle all the iPhones on their grid.  In NY you can’t even purchase an iPhone anymore.  Imagine the issues the next gen phone will bring.

We should all get used to this fact about technology:  We’ll get the latest and greatest, and be expected to accept short comings that just weren’t in the budget to correct.

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I was flipping through channels and came across “Bridezillas” on the WE Channel. For those who have never seen the show, it’s women about to get married who are freaking monstrous during the entire process of planning their wedding.

Many are just over acting to be a “diva” or “queen bitch” and so on. But there are some you know are legitimately a nightmare to date much less marry.

As I watch this one woman go off on EVERYTHING, the groom to be is miserable and getting yelled at. According to friends and family she’s always like that. I’m inclined to believe she is. So why the hell is he marrying her?

To a certain extent I think we are brainwashed to believe we have to fall in the cookie cutter romantic life. You have to get married by a certain age, have kids, etc.

Maybe the sex is just good. But I can’t imagine it’s good enough to sign up for a life time of torment and getting yelled at for freaking everything you do for the next 50 years.

They don’t appear in love. They appear to have settled and accepted this is the way the rest of their life will be. They appear to have a high potential to add to the ever increasing divorce rate.

Maybe if we could learn to be more honest with ourselves and ignore the societal pressure of age and commitment, the divorce rate would lower because people would feel comfortable following their heart…not convention.

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In Indonesia, little Ardi Rizal is racking up the bill for his 2 pack a day cigarette habit and getting alot of attention on YouTube.  I say “little” because he’s two years old.  Yup, two.

And you thought it was bad to catch your kids at age 12 stealing a ciggy out of your pack.

His father gave him his first cigarette at 18 months and he’s been hooked ever since.  He’s two, severely over-weight, smokes 40 cigarettes a day, and gets wheeled around in a toy truck because he’s in no physical condition to run and play with other children.  However, the parents see no issue.   The officials in Sumatra have taken notice of our 2 year old friend and even offered to buy the family a car if they get their son to stop smoking. The parents are unaffected by this offer.

Earlier in the year there was a different video of a 4 year old showing off his swearing and smoking skills while adults laughed in the background on YouTube.  Again, the adults saw no issue.

Why should they?  It’s not illegal.  Indonesia is the world’s 3rd largest consumer of tobacco products.  There’s a fight to pass legislation on age along side a fight to get out non-smoking public information, but that fight still has a ways to go.

One of many videos are below.  If the link is broken, go to YouTube and search “smoking toddler Indonesia”.  I believe it’s against YouTube’s TOS to show videos of children smoking.  Not sure why that should apply for a journalistic piece.

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Laura Bush was on Larry King Live.  During the interview she revealed that she supports gay marriage and believes abortion should be legal.  She acknowledged it was a point of contention between her and her husband.  He was always aware of her opinions, but ignored them as he needed to represent the opinion of those in power in the Republican Party.

Laura can’t win for losing.  Liberals are attacking her because they feel she should have come out about this while her husband was in office.  Republicans are upset that one of their icons has gone against their manifesto.  Reality is she’s always hinted at her beliefs; further reality is that she was the woman behind a successful Republican politician.  While he was pursuing and in receipt of his desired power, she had to stand by his side.

Everyone wants to condemn someone if they don’t behave in strict accordance to widely accepted ethics.  Those same people aren’t nearly the masters of ethics they expect the rest of the world to be.

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Over 200,000 non-profits across the nation are losing their tax exempt status.  They are going to have to pay taxes on donations they weren’t prepared to pay, and have difficulties moving forward.  Many non-profits barely break even as it is.  They are out there doing good, so God forbid they prosper.

The reason their exempt statuses are in jeopardy is because they did not file a new form with the IRS.  Interestingly enough, they never heard of these forms until the media started to contact them.  The IRS did far from due diligence to roll out the new regulations.  Why be concerned with organizations who aim to make the world a little safe, a little smarter, a little more in touch with its historical roots?

Gee, couldn’t be because the government is dead broke and needs more money could it???

Too many individual tax payers are out of work; they’ve already increased taxes on small business; they can’t increase taxes on big business because they’ll lose campaign contributions…let’s tax non-profits now, f*** it.

Some-one’s got to fund the country’s budget until the under-handed deals with drug cartels and terrorists pay off.

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I was reading an article about how the single baby boomers are not only suffering financially but suffering in the love department.

They used this woman who has been unemployed for over a year as an example.  She was laid off from her developer job.  She hasn’t had a date in almost a year.  She can’t afford online dating, and the free sites are full of other people without money looking for love.  Gyms and high end bars are too expensive for her to meet the caliber of man she requires.  And then there’s the added concern of what he’ll think of her broke ass.

Here’s a suggestion:  go on the free sites and have Appleby’s with some other broke dude, have a couple laughs, some good lovin’ and just enjoy life while you look for a job in your new found era of frugality.

If you have been out of work for over a year, I’m not sure you are in a positive to demand the six figure salaried employed man should come to your door and rescue you with his wallet.  Why can’t a working Joe, a WORKING Joe, be enough for your stuck up ass?

Hard working, probably hard playing, probably very enjoyable…that is a bad thing?   That is worse than being alone, poor, and out of a job?  At least then you know you have a man who wants you for you, not for what you do or have.

Oh, but wait, you want a man for what he does and has, not for him.  I guess that makes it even.  Have fun by yourself in your golden years lady.

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