Minimum wage then (1970s) and now (2010s)

Saw an article on Reddit about a guy that used to work at McDonald's back in the 70s. A simple read but interesting to hear about the changes over the years as far as his experiences goes. One thing that caught my eye was someone asking about paychecks. This man earned minimum wage and felt like he was "rolling in money." Granted he wasn't supporting himself but he also didn't plan on flipping burgers as a life-long career choice but who does? Apparently those people protesting that minimum wage is to minimum.

I think this is what is lost on the current minimum wage debate — minimum wage is not a support-the-family wage. It's a stepping stone towards (potentially and expectantly) earning more money by either moving up within a company or moving to another company.

As defined:  Minimum wage is the lowest wage as permitted by law.

Do you minimum wage earners hear that? Do you understand it? It's the MINIMUM wage allowed by law! Employers can't pay below that rate but they sure as hell can pay just that rate.

If you want to earn more, learn a SKILL or take some college or continuing education courses specific to learning a skill or craft. Do you really, I mean REALLY expect to earn $15/hr working at a McDonald's or Wal-Mart? Those are very easily learnable duties and do not take any sort of educational training or specialized skills. Let's put employment at McDonald's and Wal-Mart into perspective:

At McDonald's you either take orders at the front or drive thru, flip burgers, deep fry things like fries or chicken and maybe occasionally clean the restrooms. At Wal-Mart you either walk the floor as a "helper" for customers or refolding/refixing things the customer messed up on shelves or hangers, "guard" the dressing room, checker, stocker or greeter. All in all the McDonald's employee seems more happy/friendly than the Wal-Mart employee even though both think they should make a lot more per hour but I feel the McDonald's worker could have a worse job because of all the grease, food smells, nasty restrooms, etc. Anyway, do any of the duties I listed require any kind of specialized training and/or education? HELL, NO! So, why in the world would you think you DESERVE ANYTHING more than minimum wage? Again, it's the MINIMUM an employer can legally pay and not a minimum LIVING wage. Hell, I'm not making too far above the latter and I AM skilled and educated! So fuck y'all!

Anyway, most minimum wage jobs were previously occupied by 15-18 yr olds or so until they went off to college. Sometimes they'd come back during holiday breaks and summers to that same job. I'd bet none of them complained about it like the minimum wage earners now.

Minimum wage is a stepping stone to learning about working hard to earn money...no matter how little that was after getting raped by the governmental taxes. A step to learning how to stretch that money over time until the next paycheck. A step to learn a sense of responsibility and build trust with employers, family and friends. A step towards life maturity. A step to learning that there's got to be a way to make more money whether it be a college education or learning a skilled profession as an apprentice or something. It sucked to earn minimum wage and sometimes it took a while to earn more but no one EVER wanted to stay making minimum wage in ANY job. The minimum wage worker at McDonald's typically stayed there for a long period of time to try and work their way up the ladder to assistant manager, then manager and then whatever is next. They didn't EXPECT to earn more than minimum (or even double as the bitchers are bitchin' for now) as a burger flipper or order taker.

Wake up people! Why should we cater to you people that want to stay in the same job doing the same duties for ever and ever and ever? Many jobs are like educational courses — you take one and then move to a new one at a higher level unless you fail or suck at it and you stay at the same level. Stop looking for free upgrades that you feel you are entitled to because you ARE NOT entitled!

Article here while it lasts.

In the news 09/19/2013

This is ridiculously stupid. From the Park Cities BubbleLife News:

HPHS Softball Field Lighting Still in Limbo

A decision on whether the Highland Park High School girls softball team should have lights at their stadium, one that has been in the making for over two years now, still was not reached at Tuesday’s University Park city council meeting.

Click here for article while it lasts.

This is just ridiculously stupid! Did I type that already?

These residents are bitching about the possibility of noise and light pollution from the high school for which probably is the reason why they moved into the area in the first place!? Highland Park residents are the whiniest, most egotistical people. The odds are probably zero for any activity at the fields in Highland Park to go past 9:30 or 10 p.m.

I wonder what the residents around the TCU, SMU, UT Austin, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and others schools say about the noise and light pollution—not to mention parking pollution.

Texas is running out of death penalty drugs

There are many things we do have an abundance of to replace the drugs:

• The rope
• The firing squad
• The guillotine
• A grenade—duct taped to the head
• Bullet(s)—in general
• Push off a tall building
• Push in front of a high-speed moving train
• Push out of an airplane without a parachute

I think we can improvise with just about anything these days. Of course, critics would be crying about some methods (even the one-drug dose they are planning to use) as cruel and unusual punishment.

Seriously!? These fuckers are on death row for a reason. They caused cruel and unusual punishment to their victims and the victims' families. Who gives a shit if we cut off one appendage at a time until they are dead?

I would sleep just fine if I had to pull the switch, the trigger, the pin, or do the push. In time they too would call me "Executioner" (say that in the voice of The Emperor from Return of the Jedi).

In the news 05/25/2011

As I've said many, many times before, I am not politically motivated. I don't give a shit about politics because no matter what you may think of the politicians or the politicians think of themselves, 99% of them are corrupt in some form or fashion. It's the way of politics and nobody that has been involved in politics for a long period of time can deny it. Those that got out because of the corruption, here's a high-five. Those that are still in it are just good at hiding it...for now.

So, today there is an article in the Star Telegram about Gov. Perry signing the "sonogram bill" for the state of Texas.

Let me say that I am not pro-abortion or anti-abortion. I am pro-choice...a choice made by the individual and not by the government. So...

Here's a quote to show how stupid Perry and his followers/supporters are:

"Every life lost to abortion is a tragedy we all must work together to prevent," said Perry, who had designated the measure an "emergency" item this session. "This important bill will ensure that every Texas woman seeking an abortion has all the facts about the life she is carrying and understands the devastating impact of such a life-changing decision."

What this bill to me tries to do is push their agenda onto the patient and, down the road, to taxpayers. I feel like the pro-life people think that if the abortionee hears and sees the "baby" that they will miraculously change their minds. I don't know about you but anyone I've ever talked to that has had an abortion did not say, "If I had known all the facts beforehand, I never would have done it." They all knew the facts. They researched it because it's a medical procedure and they wanted to know every step of how it would occur, what would it do to the fetus, what would it do to them personally health and safety wise, etc. These stupid politicians think that every female getting an abortion is just some ignorant person not knowing the decision they are making. Now they are ignorant in that fact that they were not thinking of the consequences of having sex but it always seems people are more "informed" after the fact when it comes to dealing with those consequences.

This affects the taxpayer down the road because what if someone doesn't have insurance. Who pays for the sonogram? Not the pregnant one.

Also, how many behind-closed-garage-door abortions are going to occur now because people don't want to have the sonogram pushed on them? How many more stupid teens that got knocked up are not going to tell their parents because now the parents have to pay for one extra medical visit/service? Most stupid kids are willing to handle this problem on their own so their parents never know about it. That's smart to me although some people may feel differently. It's human nature...how many mistakes did you make that you tried to fix before having to tell your parents? Why is this any different?

Before I stay on my soap box, there is one more stupid point I'd like to mention from the article:

"The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, requires doctors to make the image of the fetus, and the fetal heartbeat, available to a woman, although she may decline to see or hear it."

To this I say, what is the reasoning behind this again? You can force the sonogram onto the person but you can't force them to see or hear it? Really? I would think you shouldn't be able to force either but that's just me.

Two interesting quotes in the article from opponents of the bill (and then I'll let you read the damn thing yourselves):

From Bebe Anderson, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York: "One of the big problems is the way it forces women to hear or see information when they have chosen not to do that...It gets the government in between the doctor and the patient in a totally inappropriate way."

From Sara Cleveland, executive director of the NARAL Pro-Choice Texas group: "Once again, Rick Perry has chosen to put the health of his political career ahead of the health of Texas women...Our state is facing a record budget shortfall...yet interfering in women's health is what Perry has chosen to declare an 'emergency' and focus his time and resources on. He should be embarrassed and deeply ashamed of his actions."

[Absent-Minded Jay steps off soap box]

Click here for the article while it lasts.

The Trinity River is still toxic?

DUH!

It'll always be toxic. It's like the Mississippi River. No one willingly jumps into the Trinity River unless they are evading the law or life.

Read an article the other day in the Dallas Observer about part of the "Trinity River Project" which is basically the stupid city officials of Dallas trying to make a sewage, dumping-ground river pretty.

Here is a portion of a quote from a Trinity River canoeing "specialist":

"...one of the most toxic rivers in the state."

Click here for the article while it lasts.

I've lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth for a very, very long time. I have ALWAYS known that the Trinity is never to be walked in, waded in, and especially not submerged in! It smells of dead fish and animals.

When I first read about the "rapids" project, I thought WTF!? Why? And if someone sold this to the city, I'd like them to sell my sand in my backyard to the Sahara Desert.

Anyway, that's all I've got as I've moved on now and lost my train of though.

Raise Your Hand Texas - Tommy Lee Jones PSA

I'd follow Tommy Lee Jones more than I would Rick Perry!



44^th out of 50 states helps to prove the stereotype of Texas...a bunch of gun-toting, tobacco-chewing, cattle-raising, horse-riding, cowboy-hat-wearing bubbas!

Where can I get one of those?

I don't mean to minimize the views, reasons or whatevers of the protesters of the Bush Presidential Center but I got to know where they got those masks.

Courtesy of Tyler Williams/The Daily Campus

Photo and story can be found here at The Daily Campus.

In the news 11/16/2010

There was a groundbreaking today for the George W. Bush Presidential Library today. I read in an article from the Dallas News (here) and I think one of the most mature words I've heard (read) the former President say are these:

The decisions of governing are on another person's desk, and he does not deserve criticism from me.

I don't dislike Bush nor do I like Bush. I'm really apathetic, I guess. He reminds me a lot of the father who believes fully that it is his way or the highway. I sort of grew up with that mentality and that's really the only part that bothers me about him. The 10% of intelligence in my brain though makes me think that you have to have some sort of arrogance and self-righteousness to be President. We all make mistakes when we are in leadership roles and hopefully we and those after us learn from them. Unfortunately, Bush's 'mistake' (it depends on which side of the fence you are) has cost quite a few American soldiers' lives.

Every President will have a some sort of "stain" on their time as President. It's inevitable. We, as Americans, will move on. That's what we do...persevere. It may suck and it may not be immediately fruitful but we can move forward because we are also human.

So, off my squawk box.

I think the library and institute will be a good thing for the university it is being built upon. It can be good or bad but it puts that campus in a global view. Who said bad publicity isn't good? Nobody, because almost always any publicity is good publicity.

In the news 10/14/2010

From cbs11tv.com

A federal appeals court has rejected a Dallas-area parent's challenge to the Texas pledge of allegiance over the words "under God."
Click here for article while it lasts.

I say, "GOOD!"

I'm not a religious fanatic. Heck, I miss church on a regular basis because "better" plans come along. I know, I'm a sinner.

I think this is a good thing in the sense that some things don't need to be changed because they aren't really harming anybody. God is and has been a fundamental part of the country whether its inhabitants like it or not.

The Constitution says "Year of our Lord" under Article VII where it lists all the witnesses.The Declaration of Independence uses "God," "Creator," and "Divine" within the text.

The Bill of Rights gives Americans the freedom of speech and religion. It doesn't say that America needs to change the historical significance God has played to please the many different religions. It means that you can practice whatever religion you want. It means that you have the right to not say "under God" during the Pledge of the state or nation. Nobody is forcing you to believe in God versus Allah versus Buddha versus Buddy Christ.

The point I'm trying to make is nobody is forcing you to believe in God. IMO, it's a foundational thing that doesn't and shouldn't be changed for the few, if even at all. There are far worse things that need to be "fixed" in the cities, states, nation and abroad. Let's spend our monies wisely on those things versus some asinine thing like "we are Atheists and my kid shouldn't have to say, 'under God,' during the Pledge." Just mouth the word or skip it altogether, ya dumb ass! That's what I do when I don't know the words to something and nobody knows the better.

Besides, as far as I've heard, saying "God" never hurt anybody except for that one time when I was a wee little boy and it started pouring rain like cats and dogs and then hailed. I ran from the backyard to the breezeway and said, "Oh my God!" My dad said, "What did you say?!" And I said it again. That's when he hurt my feelings by yelling at me for saying "God" and ruined my happy excited moment about the harshness of the weather.

How to get a raise Hinojosa style

Follow the steps of Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent:

1. Say you want to stay in your current position
2. Say you are not looking for another job
3. Interview for another job
4. Other job says you are one of their top candidates
5. Say you really aren't looking to move but this opportunity "just came up"
6. Continue to say you'll stay while waiting to see if the other job offers you something
7. Have your current employer panic and scramble to make offers to keep you
8. Say you still aren't looking to leave
9. Tentatively agree to contract extension aka "raise"
10. Other job offers position to someone else
11. Deny that you seeked out the job but it was an opportunity you couldn't "pass up"
12. Say you can't wait to get back on track in your current job and you will mend the fences you burned in looking for another job
13. Take the "raise" and continue to seek other opportunities as the "come up"

A man after my own heart. I don't blame him. I've done it. We've all done it. But it makes good gossip in Big D.

Click here for article while it lasts.

What's wrong with this picture?

Saw this on the cover of today's New York Times. I thought we were training these Afghan "police" to take over as the American troops pull out. Why is the American soldier the one that's on-guard and paying the hell attention to his surroundings?

This is why that country and others are not worth "defending" because you can't defend people from themselves.

The homeless are on my nerves

I am so done with dealing with the homeless! Okay, so I don't actually "deal" with them but I do have to see them. I can't go to an intersection these days without seeing a freaking vagrant on the corner. Not only do they "pollute" the street with their presence, they have the audacity to come up to my window looking like pitiful people with these cardboard signs that say, "Please help, God bless" or "Hungry, please help God bless" or some variation of the form. Most of the signs usually have something about "God". Now, if these people truly believe in God do they really think that it was his plan for them to sit on a street corner looking for hand outs? Ok, ok...I know some of you will say that a lot of these people aren't there by choice. They are mentally challenged or some bullshit like that. Give me a break! I'm mentally challenged. Sure I have a high IQ and I have a job and family and blah, blah, blah, but that doesn't mean I'm not mentally challenged in some form or fashion!

I'm sick of these people invading my space. I can bare with the fact that they are on the street corner or wherever they may be. What I don't like is when they approach my vehicle. I don't know if they are just going to stand there and beg or they are going to reach in my window - if open - and grab my McDonald's double cheeseburger! Seriously though, they are inches from my vehicle and they could attack me, my vehicle or anyone else for that matter.

I consider these people no different than the phone salesman that calls me at home anywhere from 9am to 9pm. You don't like these people so why do you feel any pity for the vagrants stinking up our street corners? They both are making money. The phone salesman probably is making a steady base versus the vagrant who reaps what he sows. A lot of these vagrants make a decent, tax free living. Our local news channel did a study on these people and one reporter even pretended to be homeless and made about $100 for his day of work. I've seen a few myself walk from the street corner to a local parking lot not far from where he was pacing and get into a vehicle that's newer and in better shape than mine!

My problem with these people, whether they are on the phone or on the street, is that they are intruding on my personal time and space. Why should I be made to feel - it's a very quick feeling - a sense of guilt for these "homeless and hungry" because they are putting themselves in my personal space? I work hard for my money. I work hard for my free time. I don't need my time and space infringed upon by these people. I mention again how safe do you feel when some burly man - black, white, mexican or whatever - comes about a foot away from your vehicle window? It's a dangerous situation, especially if you encounter one of the "mentally ill" ones. Why would a person feel safer if one of these vagrants approached their car versus some other "normal" person? No sane person would.

They could buy buy some island in the middle of the ocean or something that has vegetation and wildlife - I don't want the guys to starve to death anymore than they already are! But I do think that they should fend for themselves and stop polluting our streets with their...bodies. There is this movie called No Escape where prisoners are sent to this "prison" island. In the movie, they get supplies dropped off periodically but all in all they pretty much fend for themselves. No bothering people that contribute to society and no littering the city streets. Now I don't know how fancy we'd get with the homeless because in the movie they were hardened criminals - most of them anyway.

Sometimes I drive by these people on the street and they are wearing name brand clothing like Nike, Addidas, Gap or FUBU. Some even have newer clothes than I do. I even saw one guy with a dog. I can't even afford to have a dog! Anyhow, I am sure these people have tried to enter and contribute to society in an "official" manner but have failed or bailed for some reason. It's never their fault, right, like a druggie or alcoholic?

My local city is a booming metroplex. They have come up with a possible plan to "help" the homeless problem. They have proposed to make some kind of center downtown, which is where the homeless typically tend to hover, wander and sleep. This sounds like a wonderful thing but that's only if the homeless take advantage of it, the center provides them with whatever the hell it is they might be looking for and if they bums stop begging on the street corners. I hope that the city doesn't expect the working people in the city to pay for this venture through our tax dollars. I'm not into helping out those that don't want to help out themselves. I need all my money just as much as they don't want to work!

So there is my rant. Just put your feelings into perspective...you don't like that phone salesman calling while you are eating dinner or waking you from a nap. Why would you want to have this "street salesman" interrupt you while you are driving or leisurely walking around town with your family or friends? At least the phone salesman doesn't have the chance to reach into your vehicle window or attack you on the street!

Later!

Could the immigration problems be solved?

I was thinking today. I know. I know. The tides were high and the earth was quaking. Anyway, I've come up with yet another way to handle - or monitor - the illegal and legal immigrants within this country we call the great old U.S. of A. I think President Bush should take some notes.

First, we take the money we are wasting on this "war on terrorism" in Iraq and put it towards protecting our OWN land first! These people in Iraq don't really give a shit about democracy. They are happy that they aren't being suppressed by Saddam anymore. That's pretty much where their support and appreciation for the US ends. They live by a completely different religion and code of ethics than Americans. Let them figure this shit out from this point forward. That's what the found forefathers did.

Second, anyone that wants to enter the United States must pay an immigrant/immigration fee - whether it be weekly or monthly, yearly is too long - and have to check in with the local immigration office. This fee will help cover the costs that the governmental people say keeps the US from being more stringent and proactive to combat illegal immigration. These immigrants can't move without letting the local immigration office know. If they have a job, they have to fill out proof of residency forms before being able to work and this new immigration fee is automatically deducted from their paycheck. This will help keep track of them and allow the government to collect fees that will in turn help pay our immigration officers/workers. If these people refuse to pay these fees, then they are refused legal entry into our country or deported out of it.

Third, we need to do a recollection of those immigrants, legal or illegal, that are already in the country and have them sign up in this program.

Fourth, if a legal immigrant is caught doing something illegal like drug dealing, breaking in and entering or something similar - not speeding or running a stop sign, for the first few times anyway - they should have their visa revoked and shipped back to wherever they came from. These people have been given the opportunity to live the "American dream" and they have disrespected the very citizens that have basically accepted them into this country. If an illegal immigrant is busted for anything, they should be immediately deported because they weren't in this country legally to begin with. And I don't think that they should be flying out of this country first class. More like cargo!

Monitoring is the key, like it or not. I'm not saying that it's going to be the end all be all. I'm just saying let's step back and take a look at what we are doing now and see how it isn't working efficiently. The government can spend the money to monitor or kill people in other countries so why can't we spend the funds to monitor or protect those in our own country? I'll have to come up with some more steps but I think these would be a good start.

Did you get all that Mr. President? I could fax or email you a copy. Let me know!

In the news 08/10/2010

From an article at ClickOrlando.com

Tyler Shepard received a ticket in the mail for more than $100 after the city snapped a picture of him running the light at Conroy and Vineland roads.

"I was not very happy about it, because I don't have a lot of money. I'm in college, so it was a very hard ticket to pay," Shepard said.

Click here for article while it lasts.

Like a couple of the commentors said, "Shepard, grow the fuck up! You broke the law. You pay the fine!"

Do people really think that the excuse of "I'm in college" going to really work?

These kind of kids are America's future?!

In the news 06/17/2010

I would have punched her face too and then some. I don't know when this happened but it was on the YouTube most popular page. What I see in the video posted is nothing wrong that the police officer did other than let the situation escalate almost completely out of his control. Before the chick, who isn't even really involved until she shoves the cop, gets popped, you can see some male holding her back. He apparently was the smart one out of the three. What pisses me off more is that women think they shouldn't deserve the same retaliation as men. If a man had swung at the officer, they would have just turned this into a black "racial" thing instead of a black, female racial thing. Again, why the fuck the NAACP has to get involved is beyond me. It wasn't a racial thing. It was a stupid mother-trucking human being thing. Black or white wasn't the issue. It's just complete ignorance and stupidity! Just like all the YouTube comments...I would have punched her and punched her and punched her and had lunch and then come back and punched her some more. Oh, and yes, if it was my mother or daughter, I would definitely think differently. Then if I saw this video, I may get a little more perspective on what went down. After, I would probably punch my mother/daughter/wife in the face too for embarrassing me not just in town but on the World Wide Web!

---

In a story from Dallas News,

"I thought that was a racist move on their part to have that picture of a little black boy with his head in a trash can," Wallace said.

Click here for the article while it lasts.

Okay, why does the NAACP or any "black" agency always have to cry wolf...er, racism!? That was my first thought when I saw this article and photograph...that someone was going to blame racism. My immediate thought after was not that the situation screams racism. It screamed a little bit of stupidity on the librarian's part but racism? Puh-lease! Reading anything into this other than a good idea with a bad marketing plan gone bad and you are the reason America is so jacked up these days: the dumb are getting dumber and the rich are profiting off the dumbness!

Besides, how the hell does the mother know, the kids know or anyone know for that matter, which "little, black boy" this is as don't they all look alike?

We need to trim our "garden" and keep it that way

Okay, seriously!?

I get an email from the "landlord" saying that the city is pressing to have the alley ways more clear than they have been. They are no longer going to warn the tenants. They will just fine them.

She was nice about it and this is part of what she said:

You all do not have much back there but there are some weeds that exceed the 8” limit – behind the fence and garage. You need to trim them and keep them trimmed from now on.

I can't believe that this is what she considers "overgrowth" in the alley.

How stupid!

I will pull this shit up and leave it in the alley just to spite them. But then again, I may not be quite as angered when I pull it up and I will probably think more clearly and chunk it in the neighbor's yard.

Quote: "I was only inside for a few minutes..."

This is a few days late but I'm okay with that...

From the Star-Telegram

Arlington woman’s parking mistake costs her $640

Click here while the link lasts

All I have to say to this woman is, "Shut the wholly fuck up, stupid ass bitch!"

Pardon my French but stupid, ignorant people like this make me want to hit them with a bat multiple times. I'll tell them to stand up and then proceed to beat them down again. They'll continue to stand and I'll continue to beat them. That's how stupid they are!

Parking illegally is illegal no matter how long you are doing it. Would you stop your car in the fast lane of the highway because you wanted to make a quick call on your cell phone? Hell no! I mean it's thoughtful but it's dumb and ILLEGAL!

So, now this stupid woman is probably putting out more money to fight the ticket. That shows even more how smart this dumb woman is! Oh, and the article says that she was just going inside to see how long it would take to pay her daughter's fine. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

I guess one thing is good about her hiring an attorney to fight the fine. She wants to "raise awareness." Good, people should know how much they are going to pay when they get busted for doing something illegal even if it's not seemingly as bad as "driving drunk or speeding in a school zone."

Geez, the rationale of this woman! I'd be embarrassed if she were my parent!

Food, Inc [The Movie] (2008)

I just got an email from my Corporate Ethics and Social Responsibility class. Yep, the one I just did my presentation in yesterday.

He forwarded a link to a movie that will be playing on KERA Channel 13 (locally for Dallas) from 8-10pm tonight.

It's called Food, Inc (2008)...official web site here. The trailer looks pretty interesting. I think I may have to watch it...for brown-nosing and actual-learning purposes. I'm always inquisitive up until the day/time of actual execution. Things, more interesting ones, come up and I take the better option of the two, three or more.

In the end, after all the boasting and bragging, I'm sure I'll end up watching it just because I truly am curious AND I have no life...tonight!

In the news 04/20/2010

From Dallas News, headline reads

Whitewater park for kayakers planned on Trinity River in Dallas despite water quality concerns

Click here for the article while it lasts

Um, I don't know if you are familiar with what's called the Trinity River within the DFW city limits but it's not pretty. It's not a body of water I would willingly get into. I might even take death by execution-style versus getting in and submerging my head into the Trinity. This isn't the Holy Trinity. This is the Holy-Shit-That-Smells-Unsafe Trinity!

Some quotes from the article:

The Trinity River, which often seems like a dirty drainage canal...

The state has long deemed Dallas' stretch of the Trinity unsuitable for activities such as swimming, diving and water-skiing because of elevated bacteria levels that signal the presence of animal waste and human sewage.

And many paddling enthusiasts say they aren't worried.

But it is not those chemicals in the sediment that are likely to pose a hazard to kayakers; it is fecal matter that flows in from storm-water runoff.

It doesn't mean you shouldn't go in, but you should have caution...You should be careful. Don't be drinking a lot of it. When you get out of it, make sure you wash your hands before you start eating.

There is NO amount of justification for getting into the Trinity water. Unlike the mentioned bodies of water compared to, the Trinity has a lot of industrial runoff from many places like manufacturing and even residential.

This "river" has all kinds of shit in it: tires, grocery carts, all kinds of trash, maybe even a few bodies. It is not at all inviting and even if they did make it so, I still would not jump in.

A few years or so back there were talks of amoebas and parasites in the water. Deformed and poisoned fish. Even the article says there are industrial compounds in the water "making fish unsafe to eat." If the fist are tainted (and sea life is pretty resilient) what the hell do you think is going to happen to kayakers, especially after prolonged exposure.

Oh well, you psychos that want to get diseased, you drop right in there. I won't even use the viewing area. Why would I, to have a place to sit and smell the awful aroma from the Bog of Eternal Stench? Blah!

Email humor 04/14/2010

ECONOMIC STIMULUS

This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format:

Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment ?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money ?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen of it.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment ?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

* If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka.

* If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.

* If you purchase a computer, it will go to India, Taiwan or China.

* If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

* If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea.

* If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

* If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in America by:

1) Spending it at yard sales, or
2) Going to ball games, or
3) Spending it on prostitutes, or
4) Beer or
5) Tattoos.

(These are the only American businesses still operating in the U.S.)

Conclusion:

Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day !

No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.

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Now You Know And Knowing Is Half The Battle!

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