School's for Fools

All of my student loans are consolidated through the federal Direct Loan program. At first I thought this was a good idea but after dealing with a new and exciting level of incompetence I have second, third and even ten thousandth guesses.

I am in the habit of paying my bills early, but as a result I got tagged last month for a "missed payment." I paid one of my student loan bills 3 business days early (on the 3rd of the month) and the next one 5 business days early (on the 30th). According to the loan folks I didn't make a payment this month but, in their definition, two last month.

Are you following? - I sure as hell don't. I called to figure out why the resulting balance this month is more than it was last month and they said I missed this month's payment; even though they do show the two payments. The interest compounds daily and "technically" I have 40 days without a payment so that is why I owe more on my loan today than I did 45 days ago. The customer service guys all stonewalled me. I have talked with three separate representatives for a total of 2 hours. No resolution and no recourse. The FSA is probably the most uncooperative group of assholes since those cops in Guadalajara, at least that just cost me twenty bucks and night of shame, at these (interest) rates I have another 30+ years of shame.

Bring on Summer

I just heard the title track for the new White Stripes album, "Icky Thump." Yummy!

Don't tell my wife but I have the hots for the collective Jack and Meg unit.
. . . So pasty, so pale, so good when it touches your lips.

The new Spoon album is coming out around the same time and sounds like it might cause Dirt to celebrate in joyous revelry as well.

I am going to have a busy summer reading Harry Potter and rocking my socks off.

Do Unto Others

I wouldn't have a problem with the price of gas if it was a legitimate reflection of cost and revenue. What I have a problem with is the amount of profits that the oil industry continue to make while it jacks the cost of fuel up: especially since the oil companies take government subsidies to augment their profits. Republicans get their collective diapers in a wad concerning welfare and immigration, saying that it is a drain to our economy. However, they whole heartedly support business subsidies for companies that, not only don't need them, but don't deserve them.

According to the most conservative US Government estimates, our taxes contributed over $14 billion dollars last year to the profit margins of oil industries in the form of research, development, exploration and distribution incentives. What are they giving back? They have their largest profit percentages ever and give us higher and higher gas prices.

By comparison the most liberal estimates (from the Center for Immigration Studies - a conservative "non-partisan" think-tank) put illegal immigration cost at around $10 billion (a huge chunk of that was INS enforcement costs). Like it or not, illegal immigrants are giving back. They help keep the costs low at that hotel you just stayed at, they help provide the inexpensive produce you just ate, and they just cleaned your local Wal-Mart and about 98% of all the other businesses in your area.

But, hey! I have a great idea. Let's build a fence to keep those dirty immigrants out, and give a ton of cash to the wealthiest of the wealthy to trickle back down to the rest of us. Hmmm, now that's some good economy.

Vengence is Mine Sayeth the Lord

Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

After all of his stupid comments about the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, tornados and the like being god’s punishment for people accepting homosexuals, I wonder why god had to kill him?

The Imperial Voice of the Big G

These democrats just don't get it. . . don't they understand it would be so much simpler to roll over and play dead (like a good republican) for the dick-n-bush administration?

Sheesh! Why do they insist on trying to pass legislation that is just going to get vetoed anyway?


House Pushes New War Funds Bill Bush Would Veto

Thus sayeth the lord, "duh, people, I did make him the 'commander guy', get off his back! Meanwhile you'll have to excuse me whilst I demolish small rural towns in Kansas as punishment for yall's debauchery and moral decline (and you know who you are democrats!)."

Body Says 60, Mouth Says 6

It's good to see that the "decider" is making such stalwart efforts to tie us all together. His response for vetoing the spending bill. . .

"As you know, my position is clear – I'm the commander guy."

Why does the 60 year old GeeDub sound like a 6 year old playing with his friends in a sandbox?

"No, it's my turn to be the commander guy! You always get to be the commander guy, Karl!"

Any wonder that the rest of the world respects us so much? American leadership at its best.

Packaged Goods

A few of Jenn's collogues were talking about the problem they see as apathy amongst their students. While every one of them have pretty valid points ranging from lack of parental involvement to over-saturation of news coverage when things like the bombings, the war, political wrangling, etc exist; I wonder if the apathy might have to do with the lack of choice our society has created.

How can you choose when your choice is Starbucks, Starbucks or Starbucks? Every town you walk into is a carbon copy of the town just up the road. Everything is designed for homogeneity. My brother-in-law is helping to open up a new Dodge dealership and they have to conform to the "Dodge design." A point of example is the 2008 Presidential election. People don’t really get to choose. The candidates are all the same with a different face. Sure Hillary is a woman, Barack, is black and Edwards grew up dirt poor but in the end it all boils down to who is the bigger GeeDub hater (not a lot of depth there). On the republican side, Rudy is a star and Fred is a star and Arnold is a star, but do any of them deserve a vote from the rest of the country?

When we tell kids that they have "a choice" but then give them identical products in slightly different packages to choose from; do we honestly think they will be dumb enough to get excited about their "choice?"

Rich and Dumb

Intelligence Not Linked to Wealth

Did they really need to do a study to prove that? Maybe they should do a study to see if McDonalds is linked to haute cuisine.

The Blind Leading the Blind

OSHA Cares

I don’t quite get this administration’s call to have industry regulate itself. They meddle in the everyday affairs of people but seem to think that industry will take the moral high ground and keep itself in check. With all of the fantastically qualified GeeDub appointees regulating themselves so well I guess I just blew my own argument.

Exploited

Watching this video 19 or 20 times made me realize just how important it is that we begin to pass regulations to stop underage drinking. This poor lady had her growth stunted!

Drunk Landlord

Snow Job

It has been a busy month! First it was the closing on the house (yeah!). Next we had a few weeks of visitors (more yeah!!). Throw in 3 snow storms and just at 5 foot of snow here on the ground and things got very interesting.

All the lackeys where I work are required to provide service 24/7 so we don't get days off (even if someone is sick the manager pitches a fit); I worked Christmas and new years (boo!). Since my job is to cater to rich assholes' flying needs the snow storms pushed the phone calls and requested for charter flights through the roof. I was already stressing about my job situation since, to say the least, I hate this one. But, when my manager called up and told me I needed to make it in to work, even though all of the roads (1-25, Hwy 63, parker road etc) were all shut down due to adverse driving conditions during the first storm, I really started hating my job. When the second storm hit I did go into work (despite DOT warnings not to drive). Shortly after I got there he and the rest of the managers went home "because the roads were getting bad" leaving me stuck there for over 24 hours by myself without any relief (because the roads were closed again the other lackeys, like myself, couldn't make it in either). When he did finally show up I didn't even get a "thanks for covering our ass" instead his comment was, "we need to get you to move closer so we don't have to deal with you missing work again because the roads get a little dicey." WTF!? I really have to get another job.