The Week in Review

Let's see, it has been a week since I've written... and so much has happened:

Dean Goes Nuts
First, I'm not sure why the media made such a big deal about this. I've listened to the speech and I kind of see the scream as a war cry. Sure it was unusual...but has Dean done anything the usual way? He raised more money than any of his rivals by harnessing the power of the internet and taking in hundreds of thousands of donations of less than $250. He hasn't pulled his family into his election. Finally, he speaks his mind and doesn't speak "Washingtonese." If it weren't for the fact that he is a pinko-commie (that's a phrase you just don't hear much anymore...ahhh...the days when the Wall stood). Anyway, the Democratic Establishment sees him as a loose cannon and they are scared of him. He can not be controlled...therefore, he must be marginalized. So they get their media moguls to make a big deal out of nothing. The Republicans are always looking for a way to poke fun at democrats...so they make a big deal out of nothing.

Now, Dean did get angry and go a little crazy during the speech. He was a little like a kid throwing a temper tantrum. Dean has always gotten everything he has wanted. It has been very easy for him. I think this is the first time he has ever been denied anything. Because of that, he feels he is entitled to what he wants. When that entitlement is pulled from his grasp, he falters into a frenzy.

Bush the big Spender
The State of the Union speech was marvelous, except for the new entitlements and the big spending. The whole line about keeping the increase to only 4% this year. Puh-lease. I want a president who says we will reduce the budget by 4% this year. We will find ways to be more efficient and get rid of pork and wasteful spending. For a man who is running on a platform of limited of government, he sure is adding a lot to it. He has yet to name one federal program he has cut. I can not believe that there is not one...just one, itsy-bitsy , tiny-winy piece of the federal government that could be sliced from the budget or the administration. But, hey, what do I know...I just have to manage my family's budget. I know nothing about living inside your means...

Great Website for Election Season
Want the unspun truth?

Jury does the Right Thing
have your heard about the two sisters, Louise Sawyer and Grace Fuller, who decided that they were going to make some big bucks from a harmless nursery rhyme on an airline? They boarded a Southwest Airlines flight in Las Vegas to return home. While the airplane was at the gate a flight attendant got on the intercom and said "Eenie, meenie, minie moe; pick a seat, we gotta go." They're black and they claim that the little poem was aimed at them. Many, Many years ago, the poem ended in "pick a *offense term to black people* by the toe." I didn't know this...I always thought it was about a ferocious feline. Obviously, though, the airline stewardess knew the racial overtones and was directing that racism towards them. They were so upset by the slight that they suffered physical and emotional distress. Racism rearing its ugly head yet again.

Well, the case went to trial in Kansas City on Tuesday. By Wednesday night the jury had told the sisters that they didn't have a case. Sorry, girls. No money. You're just going to have to live with the physical and emotional distress. If there was true justice out there you would be picking up all of Southwest's legal costs as well.

Bid Award
The committee I've been working on decided to whom the bid should be awarded. Its a secret until this coming Friday, though...

Internet Redesign
I'm also working on redesigning the Alabama College System website. I've split it into three separate sections: a Public side, an extranet for College Personnel, and an Intranet for Department personnel. We are cleaning up the graphics, moving to a standardized format, and database driving as much of the content as possible. The project will be ready to reveal on or about March 1.

Area Wide Youth Devo
On Sunday our church hosted an area wide youth devo. We had about 300 teenagers from churches from Birmingham to Birmingham. After the devo, a punk rock band named Bixler played. You can see pictures of them performing at our church on their website. It was pretty cool. I was at church all day on Sunday because I helped them get set-up and cleaned up after they left. We never did anything like this when I participated in TABS in high school...I wonder why???

That's enough
Sorry for the really long post...I will try to be better this week and get here more often to update this. It was just such a busy week at home and work. I've got four big projects at work (bids, website, technology task force, and new web-based time and leave system). I worked on my project for my brother this past weekend, spent all day Sunday at church, and Erin and I filled out all of the adoption paperwork. We have our first in-home meeting next Tuesday (Feb. 3) at 6:00 PM. I've got three big projects I'm working with Joe on...but I can't talk about those...corporate secret.