Post #2.

Lexi and Daddy.

Piggy-back rides.

Post #1.

Lexi got her hands on my camera. Here’s the world through Lexi’s eyes:

The Laptop

Feet

Lines on the living room floor

Speak and Mazie (or at least part of them)

The living room ceiling - I think she was laying on the floor when she took this.

One of the many adoption blogs I read had a link to this family’s website. To be honest I clicked on it because the little girl and I have the same name. Then once I read the whole entry I realized I’d like to be a part of what they are trying to do for this family.

Princess Abby is fighting against leukemia and friends of her family are trying to help her keep her spirits up. They are trying to raise money to buy her a couple of wigs (which cost between $225-$500 a piece) and to send care packages to Abby (because what little kid doesn’t like random presents?!) to cheer her up when she’s having a bad day. So check it out and see if you want to help.

Ford is adding a MyKey system to their 2010 cars. It’s a separate key that is assigned to your car specifically for your teenage driver(s).

The key limits the car’s top speed to 80 mph (although I don’t know why any teenager needs to be driving that fast.)

The key limits audio volume to 44% of the stereo’s ability.

The key gives a more persistent seatbelt warning (it beeps obnoxiously until a seatbelt is put on).

The key also chimes at 45, 55, & 65 mph.

Personally, I think this is a great idea for teenage drivers. It would also be nice if it was able to somehow block cell phone use while driving. I just wish it wasn’t an optional package for new car buyers. I think this should be standard on all cars. I also think OnStar should be a standard safety feature but I doubt that will happen.

I realize that there has been a lack of blogging on my part. Actually, many of the blogs I read have slacked off lately, seriously people, what’s up with that?

I’m out of things to ramble about (for now).

I don’t want to talk politics anymore. That subject got old about 6 months ago.

I really don’t want to talk about economics because
a) I don’t like economics
b) because I don’t like it, I don’t understand it
and
c) everyone’s sick of hearing about it, so what’s the point?

I know that everyone is super excited about all the stuff I’ve been making lately but you can check that link for yourself.

My kid is still cute but today, not so much. She stuck her hands someplace that nobody wants to hear about.

We are at #11 on the waiting list for our baby - but the movement is slow.

My kindergarten is testing the limits. I fear bootcamp may be in their future.

So, maybe I’ll come up with something else soon. But there’s the list of everything I don’t feel like talking about right now.

99% of the time Saturday Night Live annoys me. However, their coverage of the VP debate made me laugh out loud. Check it out.

You want to see your guy win? Here you go. Skew the results anyway you want.

Mine came out for Obama with 296 electoral votes. I gave all the blue states to Obama and all the red to McCain. I also gave all the states leaning blue or red to the appropriate person. The yellow states I looked at their voting history and tried to give them to the appropriate person.

Tomorrow is Eid ul-Fitr. It’s the celebration that breaks the fast which took place during Ramadaan, which when you are a teacher at a school that is 100% Muslim you get two days off of school.

This year it fell on Tuesday and Wednesday which means that we had school today, we’re off Tuesday and Wednesday and we go back Thursday. It’s a little odd having a weekend, then one day of work, then a weekend, then two days of work, then a weekend.

Today was really not worth having. Most families celebrate the holiday by getting together and going some place fun (a popular place around here is Camp Snoopy or Chuck E. Cheese), eating a huge pile of good food and presents. Lots of presents. So today was like trying to teach on Christmas Eve. Not the most productive of days.

I got this as an e-mail forward but still…sounds like a good plan to me.

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$85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it’ll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back, and of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.
Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

__________________________

Dear Guy On A Bike That I See On My Way Home From Work At Least Twice A Week,

A few quick tips:

1. Please use the bike lane. I don’t drive down the middle of the bike lane so I’d appreciate it if you don’t ride down the middle of the street.

2. It’s great that you use your hand signals. But hand signals don’t give you the right to turn left in front of on-coming traffic causing all of us to slam on our breaks.

3. Wearing your noise-canceling headphones while biking is probably not the smartest idea.

4. Helmets are a good thing. If you are not going to use the bike lane, cut off traffic and wear headphones, you may want to invest in one.

Thank you.