Sorry. Just saw a report on the Thin Mint Maggot Scandal. As one woman who was interviewed said, “…and they were moving. I mean, it’s jus as bad if they aren’t moving, but when you see them moving around in there…”
I have to agree. While maggots in my cookies are pretty gross, moving maggots are much worse. Deep fried is the way to go.
One more reason to never buy Girl Scout cookies.
It’s a darn shame today isn’t Friday. I blame Leap Year. If it wasn’t for that whole Feb 29 thing, today would be March 2nd.
Since I know you want to see it, here’s a picture of Fritz and his puppies keeping an eye on that sneaky old Roomba.
If there wasn’t an extra day at the end of February, then the first Friday in March would be the 3rd. So if I were you, I’d start preparing to complain about day light savings time.
I like Daylight Saving Time.
That’s a great shot, PJ. That Roomba had better behave or its vacuuming days are over.
Andrew Breitbart dead in Los Angeles at 43
…
I just saw that. Wow!
My condolences go out to his victims, those whose reputations he smeared and lives he destroyed with his lies and deceit.
He probably choked to death on his own vitriolic bile and hypocrisy. đź‘ż
He had the belly fat distribution that is reflective of hardened arteries, so it would be no surprise to find out he died of a heart attack or stroke. Karma can be a bitch. Can’t say I’ll shed any tears over this đź‘ż slanderer and liar. Guess he couldn’t afford Dick Cheney’s docs.
Breitbart got to experience the freedom of not being able to afford Cheney’s healthcare. I’m sure it gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling.
A Big Day’s Coming
By GAIL COLLINS
Published: February 29, 2012
On Sunday, we commemorate one of the most seminal moments in American history, the inauguration of President William Henry Harrison.
I know you have been waiting for this for months.
Harrison, who was elected in 1840, is remembered today for giving an Inaugural Address that was almost two hours long. The first sentence alone ran 100 words. The weather was wet and cold. He did not wear an overcoat, and he caught pneumonia and died a month later.
I believe that every March 4, stores should have special Harrison Inauguration Memorial sales in which all the warm winter clothing they are trying to clear off the shelves could be offered at stupendous savings. People could also give their loved ones special William Henry Harrison umbrellas, just to show they care. It would be great for the economy.
The William Henry Harrison story is also an excellent opening for a discussion about one of the policy issues in the current Republican presidential campaign. It’s about Mitt Romney and Social Security.
Romney gave an important speech about his economic agenda recently that hardly got any attention from the news media because reporters were distracted by the fact that Romney spoke to an audience of about 1,200 in a stadium that seats 65,000. It is small-mindedness like this that ruins presidential elections. Would that we were back in the days of William Henry Harrison, when the public worried about important things, like which candidate’s supporters could roll a huge ball plastered with campaign posters through more towns.
Anyhow, among other things, Romney called for fixing part of the long-term Social Security imbalance by raising the retirement age. Then, in an effort to make a human connection with his audience, he mentioned that his wife has two Cadillacs and, really, that was pretty much the end of the day.
Romney has several ideas for Social Security, all involving cuts in benefits. He always makes it clear that near-retirees won’t be affected. “For the people who are already retired or 55 years of age and older, nothing changes,” he said in a recent debate. Fifty-four-year-olds, have you noticed that you’re always getting the short end of the stick? You really should consider forming an irrational one-issue political pressure group. If people who want the right to carry concealed weapons into bars can have one, so can you.
But about Social Security. When it became law in 1935, the retirement age was 65, but the average life expectancy was about 60 for men and 64 for women. Now the retirement age for full benefits is approaching 67, but the average life expectancy is over 78. Romney’s thinking is that, the way we’re going, retirees will be collecting forever. So we ought to raise the starting age.
All this brings us back to William Henry Harrison, who was 68 when he was sworn into office in 1841. The average life expectancy then was in the low 40s. Harrison was overdue! One of the Democratic newspapers called him “a living mass of ruined matter.” Personally, I think he gave that long speech in the rain just to prove he could. Although, apparently, he couldn’t.
Now we see ads featuring handsome, energetic 60-something retirees announcing that they are finally ready to live out their dreams and move to Peru or start a rock band in the garage. If they have that much energy, why not make them keep working?
There are some good arguments against it, only one of which is all the unemployed 20-somethings who would really appreciate it if these people would get out of the way so they could take their jobs.
Another is that life expectancy statistics are heavily influenced by infant mortality, and the people in 1935 who actually made it to 65 tended to hang around for a good long time. Also, while urging people who are 65 to continue working is a fine thing — presuming the person in question is not a coal miner — I would like to hear Mitt Romney lead a discussion on professional opportunities for laid-off 63-year-olds.
The basic answer to fixing the long-term Social Security imbalance is just to eliminate the payroll tax cap, which currently exempts all income over $110,100 a year. Do that, and you have solved the problem. Politically speaking, you would probably have to agree to mix a limited tax increase with one of the fixes desired by fiscal conservatives, like reducing benefits for the wealthy, or changing the cost-of-living adjustment or, yeah, raising the retirement age a little. But the main answer is that cap, and anybody who refuses to even discuss the payroll tax cap is not serious about fixing Social Security.
Romney has already ruled out the payroll tax cap. Also, he once drove to Canada with his dog tied to the roof of the car. End of story.
And, remember, only two more shopping days until William Henry Harrison Inauguration Memorial Day.