Fish pedicure, anyone?

Ewww.

Me encanta!

OK, I know I'm probably one of the last people on Earth to see this, but now I have and I loved it! I guess you really can't go wrong with a Romeo and Juliet theme. Since I adore musicals, I'm surprised I haven't watched it before. I didn't realize how many well-known songs were in it ("America", "Somewhere", "Tonight"). I'll definitely be buying this soundtrack. As I was watching it, I thought how similar Natalie Wood's voice was to the singing voice of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Well, whatta ya know, I'm a genius! Uh, yeah. But I do have a pretty good ear because I was right. Marni Nixon was the dubbed voice in both. I wish I could sing like that! 

Go watch it...again or for the first time! And don't worry, you'll get used to seeing gang members dancing (but it will make you giggle at first). 

On this day in history...

On February 19, 1945, the US Marine Corp arrived on Iwo Jima to fight in one of the worst battles in modern history. The only reason I know this is because I just read the above book. I'm embarrassed to admit that I knew very little (or nothing) about this famous event in our country's past. The burden we placed on these boys (yes, boys-many were teens) was immense, but they fought courageously under horrific conditions. 

I won't ramble on about the book. However, I will tell you the first thing I learned while reading it was that 3 of the 6 flagraisers were killed after the historic event. I had always thought the conflict was over when the flag was raised, but it occurred only 4 days after the Marines landed. The battle for Iwo Jima lasted over a month. 

I strongly recommend Flags of our Fathers, written by James Bradley (son of a flagraiser). It is a fascinating story about the six men who became heroes to the American public after the iconic Joe Rosenthal picture was published in every newspaper in the country. The most amazing part of the book was that despite the astounding bravery the Marines and Corpsman exhibited during the great battle, they never thought of themselves as such. Time after time, when asked why they risked their lives even after incurring terrible injuries, they would say they were just "looking out for their buddies".  

If it's possible, I now have an even greater respect for those who put their lives in danger for our country.

 

P.S. No, I haven't seen the Clint Eastwood movie, but I intend to. 

"Oh my God! Go. Away."

That is what I yelled at my computer screen as I read this:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — General Motors and Chrysler went hat-in-hand to the US government Tuesday, calling for billions more in loans to stave off bankruptcy and win extra time to undergo painful restructuring.

Both companies met Tuesday's deadline to present plans to the US Treasury to convince government overseers of their long-term viability, one of the conditions of a 17.4-billion-dollar government bailout.

But in grim news they warned they both would need billions more in US government funding if they are to stay afloat, and would have to shed tens of thousands of jobs worldwide as well as cut unpopular lines.

General Motors said it could require a further 16.6 billion dollars to bring its total in US government aid by 2011 to 30 billion dollars, and said it would cut 47,000 jobs around the globe in 2009.

Let them FAIL!! That's how business works. If you don't sell your product at a profit, you FAIL. 

Once again, I say to the Big 3 (and to the UAW): Go. Away. Stay away from my paycheck. Earn your own. 

Brace yourselves...

The Age of Obama is gonna be a bumpy ride. Hopefully, the Republicans will kick butt in 2010 and then Mr. Socialism will have to actually work to push his BS agenda through Congress. Not that the Repubs haven't been guilty of wasteful spending in the past, but at least they've proven to be responsible on this bill (with the exception of the 3 RINOs). 

Here's an interesting read from across the pond. 

I guess I'm a member of the "chattering class".

$838 BILLION Porkulus bill passed the Senate 61-37. 

Repub senators Specter, Snowe, and Collins stick with the Dems. I don't know how they can call themselves conservative. Did they see the number up there? 838 BILLION. It boggles the mind. 

H/T: MM 

Stimuluspalooza!

Please contact your senators and the weak Republicans who are considering this pork-laden bill. 

Here's how to reach them. You have all weekend. Let 'em have it.   

Apparently, I have the wrong government job.

As he tells it, Randall Hinton is paid $93,803 a year to do nothing. 

He spends much of his workday at the State Insurance Fund donning headphones, listening to rock 'n' roll, blues or classical tunes and his superiors are cool with that.

His work agenda involves placing his feet up on his desk, staring out his office window and counting cars on the New York State Thruway. He arrives at 7:30 a.m., leaves at 3:30 p.m., sees no one and talks to no one.

The sickening part about this is that you know this isn't an isolated situation. There are tons of Randall Hintons in this country, but the states just can't seem to find ways to save money. Strange, huh? 

I get so pissed when I hear about this BS. I bust my a** at work and don't make nearly what this guy takes home. Not that I feel I deserve that kind of money, but more so than this leech. In the article, he talks about wanting his "dignity back". I have an idea! Why don't you quit milking the taxpayers and get a job where you actually earn a paycheck? Stop playing the victim card. It's tired and pathetic. 

Here's my favorite part:

He never does any work. It's been this way for Hinton for most of this decade. Hinton said he has handled hundreds of investigations in the past and is trained as a watchdog to weed out theft, abuse and waste in government and has been assigned to check out colleagues sometimes. 

Waste? Nope, don't see any here. Move it along, people.

H/T: AOS

Broken promises already?

Barely 2 weeks as President and Obama breaks a campaign pledge to wait 5 days prior to signing a bill after it passes. 

It was bound to happen. Of course, this isn't the first time in history a politician has gone back on his word. But I thought Mr. Hope 'n' Change was different. Oh well. C'est la vie. 

This is for all the Star Wars fans...

...who are expecting.

Don't say I never gave you anything. 

Via Cake Wrecks.