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November 30, 2006

Role Models

Role models. Are there any left? Who are our role models? Some of us
would say sports figures, actors, business tycoons or someone we know
or live with. But generally, america's perception of a role model comes from Hollywood.
Two examples have come to mind today.

Britney Spears. I remember a time I bought a Britney Spears CD for my young niece.
I told my wife that Britney was a wholesome singer with good values. An excellent role model for a young girl.
A southern girl. Boy have things changed! The recent reports of Britney "flashing" the fact that she
no longer finds it necessary to wear underwear has moved her off my list of wholesome models
for young girls, reducing her to just white trash. Don't you know her mother is proud?

Danny DeVito. Not your most wholesome guy to start with, shows up on Rosie O'Donnell's
"The View" sloshed. DeVito was there to promote his new movie "Deck the Halls". The
movie is supposed to be a family friendly holiday comedy. But DeVito spent very little time
talking about the movie and a lot of time describing exploits with his wife in the White House.
Information I really don't need. He was obviously drunk and had to be bleeped when he
called the President a less than flattering name. I don't think he will be invited to the
White House for a while. Appearing intoxicated on a national television show is not a good
way to become role model of the year. Sorry Danny your are off my list.

Hollywood has proved to be severely lacking when it comes to wholesome models.
These two are only two of many Hollywood types who have "check their brain" at the door
of responsibility. Sadly, so goes Hollywood so goes America. Which explains why it is so easy
to wave your hands in the air and say "That's America".

November 26, 2006

It is Sunday. No garbage has been picked up in the city since last Tuesday.
The DDT has already published a scathing editorial on this matter. I will not beat
that dead horse anymore. But let me ask one question that the DDT overlooked.
Since we the citizens of Greenville pay for twice a week trash pickup and we only
received one pickup this past week, will the charge for one days pickup be deducted
from our bill?  I doubt it.. Such behavior as this by our government is just why many
people have given up and said "That's America".

November 25, 2006

Now for something completely different.
I had the pleasure of visiting a local coffle shop today.
Delta Grind in Greenville, MS. is worth a visit. The service is good,
the coffee is good and the chicken salad sandwich is great.
I enjoyed the atmosphere in spite of the football game on the tv.
I am not a football fan. However the artwork displayed is different
and refreshing. A steady traffic of customers is a sign that this establishment
is well liked and popular in the city. I believe this little shop is a cultural jewel
in a city which is fast loosing its identity.
Visit this coffee shop, you will not be disappointed. It is places like this that
make us say "That's America".

November 24, 2006

Made in America?

This will not be a rant on Christmas commercialization, I promise.
So let me just say we went shopping today. Name brand children's clothes
were on the list of items sought. As we browsed Carters, Osh-Kosh, Gap and others
I began to notice that none of these good old American companies sold any
A American made products. American pride and American quality was what
I intended to buy. But instead I found Vietnamese,Chinese,
Indian pride and quality. I began to examine the labels. There were button up shirts
made in India, knit shirts from Malaysia, jeans from Kenya and even fleece lined
winter coats from Bangladesh. There were items made in Vietnam, Cambodia,
Hong Kong, Mexico, Guatemala and Turkey. Not one item was made in the United States.
It appears that all the clothing manufacturers have either moved out of the country or
outsourced their work outside the USA. These items were very reasonably priced and that is
a very good hint to why none were American made. Money. We Americans demand bargain
prices for quality merchandise. That order cannot be filled with products made in the USA.
Cheap labor is the answer to the demand. We americans have priced ourselves out of a job.
The manufacture of clothing has moved out of the country. In those other countries workers
are paid as little as 25 cents per hour and it is cheaper to manufacture, package, ship and distribute the
items from overseas plants than to do the same in the U.S. at American wages. Am I the only one to see a problem here?
We have priced ourselves out of a job! I don't mind clothing being made in third world
countries, but what good is cheap products if we don't have jobs. No jobs means no money. No money
means we cant buy those cheap products. Most of america is living on credit. Debt gets higher, cash gets less because
jobs are few. It is the elephant in the room. But know one wants to see it. I see a crash coming. Just a thought. That's America.

November 21, 2006

The Christmas shopping craziness is upon us once more. Can't you just feel
the joy? That spirit of greed. We skipped right through all the minor holidays
and plunged head long into the Christmas season, at least that is what the department
store have been calling it since early September. The day I walked across a hot parking lot
past the lawn mowers and barbecue grills into the local Lowe's to buy swimming pool chemicals and
was slapped in the face with christmas music and decorations, I knew we had finally gone
too far. It is the season to be jolly but that must be just for the retailers. I get no real thrill having
Christmas cheer shoved down my throat. Greed drives the season now.
Recently a food pantry in Jackson, MS. was burglarized and all the stock was taken.
Just one week before Thanksgiving the charity was without food to operate soup kitchens around the city.
Wal-mart, being the charitable company that it is, stepped up and contributed $2,500 to the
organization. And in a further act of "charity" Wal-Mart loaned the use of a van, telling all it's customers
they are free to contribute any amount of food and place it in the van. What's wrong with this
picture? So far Wal-Mart is out $2,500 and the use of a van. The customers will probably be buying the food from
Wal-Mart to place on the van. So the mega store gets the benefit of the sales. Charity?
Wal-Mart could keep that organization stocked, if it wanted, and never miss the money.
That act of charity looks like a marketing ploy to me.
What ever happened to chestnuts roasting on the fire, Carolers, hot cider, fireworks?
Most americans go into debt each year just to buy presents for people they don't even
like, insert person of your choice here. This Christmas, slow down, go to church, sing the old carols,
send Christmas cards, give gifts and don't expect one in return. Enjoy Christmas the way it should be.
Because that's America the way it should be.

A great Holiday gift idea!!!!!! Their own web site. It's not expensive
and it's easy. Follow the link to 1&1.

November 20, 2006

Speaking of weirdo's, oddballs and misfits lets discuss the big event.
"The TomKat Wedding", that's what the media is calling it. Hooray for the happy couple!
Now can we drop it. I am a little tired of pictures of what is
obviously nothing more than a publicity stunt. We all know Tom Cruise is
not going to give up his film career for the love of Katie Holmes. It pays
too well. He is not stupid. He might act it sometimes; but he is not. I want to ask
the media why they report in such detail these public "private" events but then I
remember it is because we americans demand it. We have become
a shallow minded audience of dunces hungry for gossip while ignoring the
important issues. The rest of the world shakes its head and says, That's America.

November 18, 2006

America is definitely populated with weirdo's, oddballs and misfits.
I recently saw a Fox News story about plastic surgery for dogs.
Can we say stupid. It's a dog!!! Removing wrinkles and flab so the animal
can look younger is just dumb. What if  your dog was one of those really
wrinkled breeds. Take the wrinkles away and you have fat Chihuahua.
Have we gone a little too far? Pets are nice to have around but
am I the only one who thinks a nip or tuck for Fido is just a little weird.
Maybe our societies obsession of appearance has now stepped over the line.
What's next, purr enhancements for cats? Get a grip america.
That's quirky and that's america.

November 17, 2006

America could be defined as a collection of weirdo's, odd balls and misfits.
Ok, I'll agree not everyone fits in these categories but most do, including me.
Some may argue that every society has it's share of these people. Most are harmless.
But some turn dangerous when caught up in a feeding frenzy.
The frenzy I recently noticed is the hype over the new Playstation release.
These otherwise harmless gamers waited in line for hours, some overnight in
front of department stores for a chance to purchase this new product.
So what went wrong?  A walmart in California had to close up because these
enthusiast became over zealous in their desire to get their hands on one of the new
machines. The situation turned tense and the police had to be called. All over a game.

Lets stop being polite.
The truth is these gamers need to get a life! Camping out in front
of Walmart in hopes of buying a Playstation is weird and in my opinion dysfunctional .
Do you really need one that bad? Why do you think you must be the first on your block
to have one of these. Is it bragging rights? This looks like an obsession. Why don't you just
slow down and think about what your are doing. Do you really need a new game machine?
What's wrong with the old one? How about waiting a few months, the price might go down a little.
Don't you think nearly $700 is a too much for this thing. Gee wiz get a life!!!

Millions of young americans are part of a subculture of socially inept misfits.
This craziness is a prime example of what is wrong with us, yes I said "us". We have become a shallow materialistic society.
That's America.

PS: Is it Sony's fault that so much violence resulted from the release of their new product?
Some say it is good marketing. I believe its irresponsible marketing.
That's America too.