Black Friday: There outta be a law!!!

Black Friday. Stores put items on sale. Stores open the doors at midnight. Shoppers line up around the block to be the first ones in. Some people get hurt in the mad rush to get the sale items.

Some people are calling for laws to protect consumers from the dangers of Black Friday.

STOP, STOP, STOP!!!! Let's take care of ourselves here!! If you don't want to be subjected to the dangers of a mob trying to save $10, DO NOT GO!! It's that simple. Nobody is making you go to the store at midnight (or 5am or 9pm... whatever the time is). This is nonsense and we have to STOP asking the GOVERNMENT to protect us from the nonsense.

I must admit, this is one area where I strongly agree with Ron Paul. The government has no business getting involved in this. There are already enough laws on the books that protect us from assault. We don't need any special ones for Black Friday.

Super Committee Failure

I'm not surprised, though I'm still disappointed. Our political system is badly broken. I fear for our future. What more can I say.

Airline Baggage Fees

Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., has introduced legislation that would require airlines to allow passengers one checked bag and one carry-on bag for free. Just exactly why does the government have any business telling the airlines how they should run their business? Sen. Landrieu sites passenger dissatisfaction with the overloaded luggage bins on crowded flights. Perhaps the problem could be solved if the airlines charged for carry on bags as well. Perhaps they should charge by the pound regardless of where the luggage is carried.

I think the flying public needs to resolve this directly with the airlines. Express your dissatisfaction, fly Southwest Airlines, stop flying; but don't expect the government to do everything for you.

The Resurgence of Lay-Away

Lay-away is back at many big-box stores this year. And, once again, the government is stepping in to take care of us so we don't have to take care of ourselves.

Sen. Chuck Schumer is appalled that stores charge a fee for providing the lay-away service and that, depending on the cost of the item being bought, the fee could exceed normal credit card rates. Chuck, PLEASE; let us take care of ourselves!!! If a store wants to charge a $100 fee to lay away a $100 item, let them. Shame on the person who accepts such a stupid deal. Obviously the fee must be stated up-front, but let's start encouraging Americans to look out for themselves rather than expecting the government to make everything OK. We are adaptable creatures. We may make a few mistakes along the way, but we WILL learn.

Isn't there a fine line between.........

Isn't there a fine line between someone who hears voices in his head and acts on them (e.g. a psychotic) and someone who hears voices in his head and acts on them (e.g. a presidential candidate who does it because "God told me to")? Do we want someone as president who makes decisions based on some unseen, non-accountable, supernatural being or based on sound, reasonable, informed judgement?

Hang it up Mr. Cain.

Have you ever wondered.......?

Recently, while traveling the highways and byways of central New York on bicycle, I've noticed a large number of bolts along the side of the road. Where did they come from? Wouldn't you think that some number of them fell out of some "safety critical" part of a car or truck? Think of it; we're sharing the road with these cars and trucks that are missing bolts that hold the steering together??

12 Month DST?

If we had 12 months of Daylight Savings Time, would that become Standard Time? Then would we have DST on top of that?? Regardless, I'm for doing away with all this clock changing crap, let's just stick to what we currently call Daylight Savings Time. The light in the evening is good... why switch back in the winter. It's too depressing!!

Herman Cain is Toast

What more can I say? There is no way to dig out of a hole as big as his sexual harassment hole. Too bad. While I'm certain Herman never would have made it through the primaries, he has added some interesting and necessary angles to the contest so far. Sadly, we must say goodbye to 9-9-9.

What's next B of A??

The banks needed $0.44 per transaction to cover the cost of providing debit cards. Out "protectors" in congress decided they should only get $0.22 per transaction. "That's OK", said the banks, we'll just charge a $5.00 monthly fee for the privilege of using a debit card and all will be cool. (Of course, prices for merchandise went down as a result of the limitation on debit card fees. Haven't you noticed?)

Guess what?!?!? Customers revolted, banks backed down. So now what they gonna do?? If it really costs 44 cents and they are getting 22 cents, it's gotta come from somewhere. Or..... maybe it didn't really cost 44 cents after all???