random pictures of the week...

Every once in a while I'll come across a few pictures that will either make me smile, laugh, or think. I'd like to share a couple with you:

Apparently these are selling on stores across the internet...i'm thinking of getting one for my cubicle.

Someone decided to float a hot-air balloon like the one in the movie Up. That's pretty cool...

The Vice Premier of China, Wang Qishan, getting some pointers from Obama...

gop

I find it interesting that Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee that have been trying to slow down Sotomayor's confirmation have been repeatedly referred to as racist and sexist. They've been labeled as such because of their hold on the nomination. We should all keep in mind that with a Democratic White House and a Legislature of the same party, a confirmation is almost a sure thing. It's still important to thoroughly investigate someone who will be handed a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land.

Keep in mind i'm not opposed to liberal minded justices; however, long gone are the days where the anchor of the conservative side of the court argues with the strong liberal base. Often the best dissents arise from such occasions, written 20 years before their time, only to be uncovered years later, with brilliant arguments that may recently have emerged into relevance.

These days when judicial nominations have become a political tug-o-war, we're stuck with the moderates; unimaginative and cautious. Even so, we still need to thoroughly analyze their positions, especially when they could be camped out in that seat for 40 or more years.

As for those who may villify the Republicans holding up the confirmation, please keep in mind that it was a Republican president who nominated Sotomayor to the US District Court, starting her off on her judicial career.

selling out

So it appears that even in today's economic climate, companies still have money to blow on corporate sponsorships. Lance Armstrong just announced that he's starting a team sponsored primarily by Radio Shack, and I have no issues with that kind of sponsorship. I dislike, but can even tolerate corporate naming rights for ballparks and sports teams. It's annoying enough that the Astros are playing at Minute Maid Park in Houston or the Mets at Citibank Field (probably now funded by taxpayer dollars), but they're private, for-profit teams selling their rights to make some money. I think we have to draw the line there. I just heard that the New York MTA has just sold the naming rights to a subway stop. The iconic stop at Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Street and Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn will now have Barclays in it's name. The pricetag: $4 million. If public entities are now selling naming rights, I can only shudder at what may come next. Now this may be an over-reaction, but I think the day may be coming when we have to report to jury duty at the Tostitos County Courthouse and pay or respects at Harrah's Arlington National Cemetery. Trust me...that day is coming.

The start of a journey to nowhere in particular...

Ok...not really sure why I started a blog but here goes...I guess i'm gonna use this to just rant about random crap that I think about throughout the day. I guess eventually this blog will have a purpose or a target audience or whatever...but i'm not holding out much hope. In anycase, we're gonna see if I have better luck updating this thing than my now defunct xanga. Alright that's pretty much it for the first post. See? Shouldn't have gotten your hopes up huh?