This video says it all.  Here is a person that could have so much to offer and yet this is what she is concerned about.  I can't make this stuff up.  Watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS7KXhK3sro

The housing market, the stock market, the banking industry... oh woe is me... Enough already. Everybody chill out. This is most certainly not the end of the world. If there is one guiding principal that we can all follow here it is KISS or Keep It Simple Stupid for the uninitiated. Where did all of these problems we are experiencing now start? (Complex) Greed. Can't afford to put 20% down on a house, that's no big deal. Just sign here and we'll get you that house of your dreams. No need to know the details, after all you deserve that house, right? Granted, you have done nothing to earn it, (like save money), but this is America and you want it now. That was then and this is now. Those details about your interest rate and payments seem to be pretty important now. Perhaps some folks should have been paying better attention in class...

Try as I may, Ken Rockwell (the photo guy) explains way better than I can why we all need to cool it.

No More Whining
 

I ran across some sites today, and I thought that since there has been a lack of content on this site, I would just post it out here.  Who knows, someone might actually read it...

Here's a site for Comically Large Things.

Then, there are just things that are "Gooder Than Hell!"

Finally, sometimes you just have to ask a dumb guy.

Enjoy!

I have to say, I'm really irritated with the notion of paying to check my luggage.  My flight today on US Air is the first of what is likely to be many carry on adventures for me.  But wait, I didn't pack the arbitrary 1QT Ziplock bag to pack my 4oz carry on liquid containers.  Shoot, that'll be $15 for checking your bag, although you'll be sure I'll be picking some up this week in Los Alamos.  On a side note, the airlines really need to hire the lobbiests from the major soap companies as well as Ziplock, who likely are now making a killing in the air travel market. 

I know that other carriers have started this policy as well (was it United that started than reversed their decision?) but, since I am flying US Air and I have never liked US Air, they are in my sights right now. 

Quite frankly, it wouldn't actually bother me so much if their fair structure made sense.  Southwest Airlines and some of the other "low cost carriers" (who, by the way, are the only airlines to be making money right now, or even for the last 4 years...) have always spelled out their fares very clearly and make it simple for people flying.  They don't charge for a "better seat", checking baggage, or, as US Air is now doing, ALL BEVERAGES IN FLIGHT OTHER THAN WATER.  Thats right folks, my favorite cran-apple drink that I have enjoyed on so many flights over the past years is now $2.  Blankets?  Yep, thats coming too.  How is it that SWA, flying the venerable Boeing 737s, can be making money and proclaming that "bags fly free" on their website can be making more than USAIR?  There's about a thousand reasons (none of which have to do with the price of gas, btw), and all are leading to their failure.  Simply put, sell your stock in USAIR.

I've been meaning to make a rant about this for a while and since it is the topic of the day (possibly decade), Energy consumption and wealth transfer in the U.S. is basically bankrupting us.  But, I'm not the expert, this guy is (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/21/pickens.interview/index.html).   PLEASE read this article.  I know we want to move to renewable energies in this country and we will have to eventually.  This guy outlines a very do-able path to it with some tech that is available right now and some that has to be developed.  Stay tuned...