unculturedswine

Have you seen Minority Report? Iron Man? Love the cool hand-interaction computers they use? Well… it’s not far away. Actually, it’s already here.

So, yesterday I mentioned that I feel like I live at Smith’s. I haven’t even been home 12 hours yet and I’m getting ready to head back for another long day. I really don’t mind the work, it’s fun to meet lots of people and have co-workers again, but I don’t like the random shifts and only knowing my work schedule barely 3 days in advance. So… maybe this plan for a non-techy job is kinda backfiring on me.

Yesterday I was watching CNN on my break at work (it’s on the TV’s in the Deli) and they showed a poll they did recently: Do you have confidence in either President Bush or President-Elect Obama in fixing the economy? The numbers were ridiculous – 12% said yes. TWELVE. Now, here’s my take. President Bush is responsible in part for spending a lot of money; however I really don’t hold him responsible for the ‘crisis’ that we are in. That was put into motion years ago by congressmen out to make the world fair, where everyone can buy anything – you just need to slacken your standards. But, this has been beaten to death.

The ‘Crisis of the Month’ now is Detriot. They’re broke and almost broken. And NO ONE in the media or politics is pointing the blame at the right place – the United Auto Workers Union. They’ve been crippling the industry for decades. The Big 3 have no money because everything they earn goes towards paying past employees long retired and barely holding on to current employees. Even if there is no work for a current employee to do, they’re not allowed to lay them off so they pay them even if they don’t go in for a shift! And guess who’s right at the front asking for $25 billion? The UAW President. He won’t bend one inch to lessen the benefits of the workforce, rather he’d prefer they kept they’re overpaid, over-benefits jobs and let us, the taxpayers, fund that lifestyle.

And sadly, no one can lash out towards them because of the backlash that would happen. Unions are so intertwined in any major industry that you have to keep silent – the businesses are held captive by the Unions. Gas is back to levels we haven’t seen since 2000 and yet the airlines still can’t make a dime. Lately they said it was high gas prices and we bought into it; but now what’s the problem? One word – Unions. Southwest doesn’t have a Union and they’re doing just fine.

So, back to the poll, am I part of the 12% that believes politicians are going to fix the economy? Nope, not with the fixes they keep suggesting. As one wise Senator has said, giving Detroit $25 billion only delays the inevitable 6 months. Oh, and if I recall correctly, guess where most of that $25 billion is asked to go – Unemployment and benefits. What a joke.

The new Smith’s opened up last week, and I swear I’ve been living there. Not sure how I feel about these 8 hour workdays! It’s starting to remind me of Heritage where I’d wake up, go to work for 8 hours, come home and complain about work with fellow co-workers, go to bed and then repeat. Only I don’t really complain this time, but it sure does eat up your day. At least the shifts I’ve been getting. Yesterday was 1pm – 9pm. Today is 12pm – 8pm. Those are pretty crappy. But it’s fun for the most part. Just lots of standing.

Past that I don’t have too much news to talk about. My brother Kurt just bought a killer 1975 AMC Gremlin, a totally rad car. My new passport arrived yesterday which is cool, but they don’t send back your old one. I wanted to keep it! But the Post Office made me send it in. Goobers. The ‘Cruiser runs like a champ, I like having it around. I have quite an itch to go camping but so far haven’t convinced anyone to go yet except Hans. Rock on Hans! Next Tuesday my friend Dan Beck is doing a CD release concert. I built his website for him and he called me yesterday asking if I’d like some tickets. I said sure. He said ‘Okay, there will be 2 at will-call for you’. That’s kinda neat. Now I just need to find #2.

So that’s that. Nothing too exciting going on. I’ve rung up more food than I thought possible to sell, I can’t believe the store has anything left. And I can’t believe people have any money left. We sold a lot of groceries opening week. I’m back to talking about Smith’s if you couldn’t tell. Weekly payday’s will be nice…