Random thoughts

One post - many topics...

Hillary Rodham Clinton apologizes to Chelsea
This past weekend Senator Clinton apologized to her daughter Chelsea because she implied that she doesn't work hard. What Clinton said was "young people have a sense of entitlement after growing up in a "culture that has a premium on instant gratification." She also said that young people today "think work is a four-letter word". Chelsea called the Senator upset, saying "Mom, I do work hard and my friends work hard,'" - and then the 26-year old returned to her six-figure salary job. Seems like Ms. Clinton might have taken this a little too personal?

To be serious - what Senator Clinton needs to realize is that there isn't an aversion to work - but an aversion to what the government and specifically corporate america has to offer. I'm sort of in between at 37 years old - but I count the friends that are happy with their job on one hand, And what might appear as an aversion to work might be better characterized as apathy and disenchantment. Someone send her a copy of Office Space.

Walking the streets of Philly
Walking to work from the train station this morning, my path was blocked by a SEPTA construction vehicle that decided at the last minute that it wasn't a good idea to run a red light. The city of Philadelphia is installing traffic cameras, talking about getting countdown pedestrian signs, but when it comes to the simple pedestrian laws - there's no one enforcing them. Crosswalks are where cars wait for the light to change. It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured. And in a city that is grappling with homicides, no one cares.

Gun violence in Philadelphia
In today's Inquirer columnist Nate House wondered where is the outrage with all the young people being killed by gun violence in this city. As of May 8, 127 people have been murdered in Philadelphia - and while this rate is down, I bet that people that live in North Philadelphia feel more threatened than ever. Let me tell Mr. House why there is no outrage - the people that are being killed are predominantly young black males and the majority of those in this state still believe blacks are worth a fraction their lives. The rulers in this state simply don't care. They see this as a city problem, a democrat problem which means it's a black problem - and they will get no heat from their backwater constituents to do anything to save the lives of the children who die every day on our streets. Want to know when there will be outrage - when some young, pretty blonde girl is killed. Then all of a sudden, there will be a problem with guns.

Libya is off the known terrorist list - but Cuba...
No greater example of political pandering than this. Libya has a history of terrorist attacks while Cuba not so much. Yet Cuba is still persona non-grata to the U.S. government. There is no reason for this. Our embargo keeps poor Cubans poorer. The only reason we continue to view Cuba this way is because of the political clout Cubans wield in Florida. Otherwise we deal with countries that are far greater threats than Cuba ever was.

Lighter stuff
Saturday night ESPN spent the first 10 minutes of Baseball Tonight talking about the the Giants/Dodgers game and the fact that Barry Bonds didn't hit home run 714. I am tired of this pre-occupation with Bonds. The media has spent so much time villifiying Bonds for damaging the sport, but yet is so fascinated with the story they are ignoring the rest of the league to cover.

West Wing ended last night and ended well. Loved the fact that even until last night, the show was written as if there was a tomorrow.

Hillary Clinton, Philadelphia, Libya, Cuban embargo, Barry Bonds, The West Wing