The Financial Crisis...

I don't know a lot about a lot when it comes to this stuff, but I have been trying to follow the bailout plan since it was proposed last week. I know I didn't like the plan when it was first introduced. It was giving Paulson $700 billion to do whatever he wanted to with no accountability.

The revised plan seemed to address a lot of those concerns, but the question becomes if the revised bill will even 'save the economy.' I saw a quote from one person say that when you and I are irresponsible with our finances we may have to file for bankruptcy, why don't these huge corporations to do the same?

Here are some quotes from those who voted against it and those who voted for it. Quotes are taken from this article

For voting to approve

Added Frank: "Today is the decision day. If we defeat this bill today, it will be a very bad day for the financial sector of the American economy."

Boehner told his members, many of whom objected to the measure, that they had to accept something he and many of them found distasteful.

"If I didn't think we were on the brink of an economic disaster, it would be the easiest thing to say no to this," Boehner said. But he said lawmakers needed to do what was in the best interest of the country.

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., a lead negotiator in the bailout bill negotiations said, "If we don't act promptly and effectively, then many people are going to lose their jobs.

Against voting to approve

"This legislation is giving us a choice between bankrupting our children and bankrupting a few of these big financial institutions on Wall Street that made bad decisions," he said. Culberson voted against the bill.

Other conservative Republicans who voted "no" argued the bill would be a blow against economic freedom.

Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., said the bill posed a choice between the loss of prosperity in the short term or economic freedom in the long term. He said once the federal government enters the financial marketplace, it will not leave. "The choice is stark," he said.

Some Democrats voted against the bill for not doing enough to help taxpayers facing foreclosure or unemployment and accused proponents of moving too fast.

"Like the Iraq war and Patriot Act, this bill is fueled by fear and haste," said Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.

What do I think

I think the real question is how dire is the situation really, and that last quote above is key. If this doesn't pass are we looking at 'Mad Max' in a few short weeks? The current administration sure seems to think so. Can we trust the current administration based on things that have happened over the past 4 years? I don't know...

This is the best article I have seen against the bailout...

Movie quote that applies to this situation

We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections.

-The American President-

Not too much to report...

The Cornhole ---

Debbie and I teamed up for the StuCo Baggo Tournament today. It did not go too well. We won our first game pretty easily, got killed in our second & lost a close one in the third. It was a lot of fun though.

Friends that inspire ---

I have a friend named Brian. Actually I have several friends named Brian. This particular Brian is the one who lives in Aurora. Among his many talents is his ability to inspire people. Today he inspired me to go to Long John Slivers and I am indebted to him for it. I hadn't been there in months, and as Frank the Tank would say 'Once it hits your lips, it's so good!'

That is all I have for now. Maybe one day I will blog about important things or more serious things but I doubt it.

Pop culture reference that sums up my week ---

Look at you, you have a baby... In a bar.
-Sweet Home Alabama-

Oh Ack...

Courtesy of theackattack.com

“I think I was in love once.”

“Really? What was her name?”

“I don’t remember.”

“That’s not a good start, but keep going…”

“She was Brazilian, or Chinese, or something weird. I met her in the bathroom of a K-Mart and we made out for hours. Then we parted ways, never to see each other again.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not love.”

“Damn it!”

- Brian Fontana and Ron Burgundy, Anchorman

Forget Chicks - I Just Wanna Dance...

In my last post I forgot to mention the biggest thing that happened last week. My dear friend Shelley had registration for her dance studio that is opening soon. Fifty Seven people signed up over two days. I would say that is an excellent start. This is something she has wanted to do her entire life, and has really been working on in the past two years. It is awesome to see it all come together.

Revolution Dance Studio

The Yankees ---

I don't really want to talk about the season. I am not ready to yet. That will be a post for another time. What I want to talk about is my Yankees hat. No item I've owned has generated the number of comments it has. At least three times a month someone makes a comment to me about the Yankees when I am wearing it.

Thursday I was out and about and three people commented in four hours. A lady said, 'Nice hat. We took our son to The Stadium this summer,' a kid I walked past said 'Nice hat. Go Yanks' and a guy asked 'fan or just like the hat?' when I answered 'fan' he talked to me about the season for five minutes.

The new '90210' ---

The original '90210' is one of my favorite shows of all time. I have a crush on Jennie Garth that dates back to 1990. Needless to say I was intrigued when I heard a new '90210' was coming out.

I finally had a chance to catch up on the first 3 episodes. It is all right. I am a huge fan of the fact they brought Nat back, of course I support having Jennie Garth back, I like how they reference the old characters and things that happened in past episodes, and it's cool to have Andrea & Jessie's daughter and David & Kelly's sister as part of it. The fact Aunt Becky is the mom is a huge bonus.

As much as I love Aunt Becky I do miss Mr. & Mrs. Walsh. The show on the whole isn't the same. I'll probably catch it if I am around but it isn't a can't miss.

Pop culture reference that sums up my week ---

It's too high?
What do you mean too high?
Well the trajectory of the ball and...
Who gives a shizzle, it's gone?
-Major League-

Overheard ---

I see you like your balloons like your men...

Random thought ---

Wikipedia says that Vanna White is 51. She doesn't looked as if she's aged since 'Wheel of Fortune' started - crazy.

The week that was ---

Let's take a look at the highlights of the past week...

Monday - 'One Tree Hill' was intense. I cannot wait to the follow up episode tonight.

Tuesday - I don't think anything of note happened on Tuesday.

Wednesday - Was a crazy day at work. It was one of those days where a bunch of crazy stuff happens all in one day. It is stressful but kind of fun at the same time.

Thursday - The first day of Co-Rec softball, which was a lot of fun. We won both games of the double header. It is safe to say I am leading the league in fielder's choice ground outs & I managed to bite it rounding the bases.

Friday - Was rather uneventful.

Saturday - I watched Notre Dame destroy Michigan and I was sad. I watched USC destroy Ohio State and I was a little happier. The highlight of the day was 20 chicken wings from Hooters...

Sunday - I traveled to Kentucky for Lucas and Charissa's wedding. It was very nice. They had a live band playing throughout the service, which was cool. They are off to Maui tomorrow. I am most jealous.

Pop culture reference that sums up my week ---

Jerry: Well, you know, we were having dinner the other night, and she's got this strangest habit. She eats her peas one at a time. You've never seen anything like it. It takes her an hour to finish them. I mean, we've had dinner other times. I've seen her eat Corn Niblets. But she scooped them.

George: . . . she scooped her niblets?

Jerry: Yes. That's what was so vexing.

-Seinfeld-

Wedding Bells...

Yesterday I attended the wedding of two friends - Rich and Jen. They are a couple that has a good story. Jen is Paul's sister. Paul is my best friend from high school. Paul and Rich worked together early in the college days, and they've been friends for years. Rich, of course, knew Jen but they never really hung out until one New Year's Eve when Jen was looking for a date to a party. Rich ended up 'doing her a favor' (according to him) and went with her - well the rest is history.

The setting was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The festivities were held at Cuneo Gardens in Vernon Hills. I guess some of My Best Friend's Wedding was filmed there. The wedding party walked in to 'Bittersweet Symphony' played by a string quartet. The bride walked in to 'At Last,' and the couple walked out of the ceremony to 'All You Need is Love.' It was outstanding.

It was a lot of fun. I had a chance to catch up with a people I hadn't seen in many many moons. I spent a lot of quality time catching up with Dana and Alana, which did my heart well. It was as though I entered a time machine and traveled to the late 90s/early aughts - and it was good.