just me

A few weeks ago I posted that I didn’t think Michael Phelps needed to apologize for taking a few bong hits at a party. In that vein, I present to you an excellent blog piece, A Letter I’d Like to See (But Won’t). It goes without saying that I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

My wife and I went to see Gran Torino this past Saturday night. It’s an excellent movie, and Clint Eastwood’s performance as Walt Kowalski was perfect. I won’t give anything away, but it’s both a depressing movie and an uplifting movie. Perhaps bittersweet is a good word to describe it. It is definitely worth the price of admission, even at $9 a ticket.

For those of you who have ever had to deal with the public: Not Always Right | Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes.

In case you don’t read the article, the proposed law is about taking a DNA sample from people charged with a crime, not convicted. I’m sure this will pass somewhere in the next few years. Then, in a couple of decades (probably less), they’ll just start collect and cataloging everyone’s DNA at birth. Smells of fascism to me…

Law Proposed to Collect DNA from Shoplifters

GM, Chrysler suing taxpayers with taxpayer money

I have zero faith in Chrysler products and most GM vehicles (unless you shell out big bucks) feel cheap inside. Foreign automakers certainly can make crappy vehicles (VW, Kia, & Hyundai, to an extent), but many of them are of superior quality, of superior design, and are a better bang for your buck. I’m pissed that the government gave GM and Chrysler any money, as they should have been left swinging in the wind. They made their bed now let them sleep in it. Isn’t that how capitalism is supposed to work? If you can’t make a better product and/or can’t compete in the marketplace, you fail. You want to succeed? You make a better product and beat your competitors. At least Ford is trying to save their own ass. But taking $14,000,000,000 and still suing the people who are paying for your loser asses is beyond reproach. It’s reprehensible.

My initial reaction to hearing about Michael Phelps’ apology was, “You coward. Taking the advice of your agents, publicists, and handlers instead of standing up for yourself. You did nothing wrong until you apologized.” My wife says he’s an idiot for doing it, or at least at a party, as he’ll surely lose millions in endorsements. She does have a very good point. But here’s an excellent post on why he shouldn’t have apologized: AlterNet: Michael Phelps Has No Business Apologizing for Taking Bong Hits.