Mental Solstice

Corporate Slavery?

Does it get any stupider than this? A California woman was awarded $500,000 because she was spanked in front of co-workers as part of a team-building exercise. The jury is still weighing the possibility of awarding punitive damages. Her attorneys have asked for $1.2 million. The exercise, which management claims was voluntary, also included making employees eat baby food and wear diapers.

The CEO of this company must have one of those mail-order MBAs hanging in his office. And where on earth did the company's lawyer get his degree?

Toys ARE Us

Beware, I'm going to address a pretty sensitive subject, young children should not be present. I live in Alabama, which is pretty bass ackwards. We have a racist constitution and a regressive tax system. So far, nothing short of hell freezing over has spurred our state lawmakers to change these problems. However, in recent years, the good women of Alabama have been protected from the sale and distribution of mechanical sex toys...thanks to our previous state attorney general, now federal appellate judge Bill Pryor (compliments of a recess appointment by Shrubby).

Now other states are emulating our bad acts. Why can't we all be adults? What gives? What's the problem? Why can't consenting adults do whatever? Why are states wasting their time, when there are much more pressing problems? Don't they realize people can get substitute products at Sharper Image, or Bed, Bath & Beyond... in the electric toothbrush isle? Please indulge me with a good explanation...

A Snow Job...

And other jobs, is what he'll be pulling on "The American People," as our Dear Leader likes to call his children. Tony Snow, formerly of Fox News (doh!) has been named the new WH press secretary.

Bush: He Can't Always Get What He Wants

But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need! It seems that Mick and the boys booked a suite in Vienna's Imperial Hotel that has served as residence to several past U.S. presidents, including Poppy Bush. Shrubby wants the suite, and the entire floor it is on, while attending a summit, which coincidentally occurs at the same time that the Stones will be in Vienna on their concert tour.

Mick booked the suite several days before the administration attempted to (to the tune of $6400 per night). When asked if he would be willing to give it up, Mick, a staunch critic of our favorite little brat, refused to do so.

Oh well, maybe if Bush is the 9th caller, he can still score a couple of front row passes to the concert.

Jesus & His Mary Kay Makeover

As many close to me know, I'm going through a period of questioning organized religion (Christianity) and the Catholic Church in particular. Matthew Parris, of the London Spectator (subscription req'd), in this reflection of what the real Jesus must have been like, and how the Church and the Christian extremists could have never invented such a character, offers:

If Jesus Christ had not existed, it would almost certainly not have been necessary for the Church to invent someone like him. What does the Church want with a man who plainly despised ritual? Can you imagine the man who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey wanting anything to do with bells and smells and frocks, with gilt and silver and semi-idolatry, and repetitive chants and chorused inanities? The man who said he had come to break up families being paraded as a paradigm of family values? The man who had absolutely no interest in politics or administration and preached forgiveness, not 'the rule of law', wanting anything to do with the Conservative party or the Third Way? ...

When we consider all those painfully counter-intuitive sayings and parables - the Prodigal Son, the idea that it is no good restraining your actions if your thoughts are bad, the impatience with good works ('the poor always ye have with you') except as a means for personal purification - and when we consider how Jesus keeps saying ... the wrong thing, it becomes even clearer that he must have been real: if Jesus had been a hoax, the Church could have invented someone so much more convenient.

All good points for pondering. (Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan)

Democracy & Free Speech Can Be So Inconvient

Stanford Univ. students came out in force to protest George W.'s visit to their campus on April 21. As a result of the peaceful demonstration, Bush and his hacks had to relocate a meeting that was supposed to occur at the Hoover Institution to the nearby home of former Secretary of State George Schultz.

Unfortunately, the protesters were unable to disrupt W's bike ride in Napa Valley's wine country this morning.

Out Damned Spot! Out, I Say!

I feel a little sorry for the retired generals and ex-government officials who are now revealing the Bush administration's actions leading up to the war. Perhaps, with some fortitude, they could have stopped a misguided military action that has cost so many lives. It's sad to think of so many who will spend the rest of their lives pondering the "could haves" and should haves."

Rove Is All Shook Up

As part of the big shake up announced at the White House today, it was announced that Karl Rove, while remaining deputy chief of staff, will be focusing more on politics rather than policy.

So, are we to assume that Alvin the Chipmunk is now going to be a squirrel?

Unruh, Schmunruh

On the recent South Dakota legislation which seeks to outlaw all abortions, Leslee Unruh, founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, said:

UNRUH:
I've been that woman. There is no freedom after an abortion. You carry an empty crib in your heart forever. There's no freedom.

HINOJOSA:
And so, when you hear people saying, "Someone like Leslie is trying to actually take away women's rights and taking away their freedoms--"

UNRUH:
I'm giving women freedom. We are giving back the women what they really want. This is true feminism.

I love these conservatives, and the way they know what's best for all of us. Unruh has it all wrong about feminism. Feminism is really about women being empowered to make the best choices for themselves. Such empowerment comes with education, fair and equal wages, and good health care.

Unruh kinda reminds me of a former boss who, with a big ol' patronizing smile on her face, fired me. She said that she knew I would be much happier not having that job (actually it turned out the bitch was right, but that's beside the point).

Hat Tip: Digby

Scotty Gets Beamed Up

Scott McClellan, press secretary for the lil' prince, has issued his resignation. This is one guy who deserves a vacation. Can you imagine having stinky brown stuff flung in your face every day? And then having to go out and 'splain it all to the White House press corps with a big smile on your face?

Neither can I.