Don't get too excited

http://rawstory.com/2009/11/corps-negligence-katrina/

Judge: Corps’ negligence caused Katrina flooding

For all you folks that don't live in NOLA, let me explain yesterday's class action suit ruling against the Corpse of Engineers. It leaves most of Orleans Parish out in the cold - anyone who was flooded because of the outfall canals, such as 17th Street and London Avenue, will get ZIP in this lawsuit. However, because of the ruling that the Corpse was negligent in maintaining the MRGO, I'm hoping that this will open the door for similar suits regarding the outfall canals. Because, in my opinion, it was the negligence of the Corpse, regarding the building and maintenance of these Canals, that caused the flooding that claimed almost everything we owned. And I haven't been reimbursed for my belongings. Some people haven't been reimbursed for much more than that.

Lovely

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33920495/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

A third of teens say they’ve texted while driving
Pew survey finds some are ‘blasé’ about it, others cite parents’ behaviors

Violated

So, I went to an interview for a part-time job on Friday, and they wanted to hire me, but it's contingent on a background check and me peeing in a cup. It's debatable to me whether this job should require a urine test - it's really borderline. You may have guessed that I feel that these kinds of tests assume that everyone is guilty; everyone must be punished. You have to prove that you're innocent. I don't like them. I needed a job, though, so I consented, which is really the only reason that anyone consents to having their rights violated. It's the American way to violate poor people's rights.

So I pee in the cup and hand it to the woman, wash my hands, and ask her, "Don't you want to know what medicines I'm taking?" She said, no, due to the new HIPA laws, they can't ask what medicines I'm taking. So, basically, if you're taking medicine, it seems to me that you're guilty right off the bat. Glad I didn't take any of my Ambien recently - that's a controlled substance. You can get freakin' intimate enough to take my pee and my Social Security number, but not enough to find out what medicine I'm taking that might affect the test???!!!

I know Wonderful Hubby will be sad

One of his favorite shows is The Equalizer, which we watch on DVD.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/entertainment/2009/11/16/D9C0KFKG4_eu_britain_obit_woodward

Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79

Corporations gone wild

This is somewhat akin to price gouging and jacking up the price of gas before a hurricane.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/?cid=hp:cheatsheet1#cheatrow_11078

Drug Makers Jack Prices

Further evidence that cell phones and driving don't mix well

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33906595/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Texan drives $1 million sports car into marshes
Driver blames bird, dropped cellphone; Bugatti Veyron is world's priciest car

Yay, free market!!!

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/apartments_are_available_but_r.html

Apartments are available, but too costly for many, study finds
Rents went up 44 percent between 2004 and 2007

Baguettes and black holes

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/11/lhc.large.hadron.collider.beam/index.html

Huge $10 billion collider resumes hunt for 'God particle'

Lovely

Further evidence that testosterone has deleterious effects.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33832513/ns/health-cancer/

Men more likely to leave spouse who has cancer
Divorce rate is 21 percent, compared to 3 percent when husband gets sick

Wah

OK, regular working folk - here's your cue! You all should now stomp out of your offices because raises are limited for regular working these folk these days to 2 or 3%, if you even get a raise at all. I feel so for these poor, impoverished CEOs. And they had nothing to do with causing these regulations.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/?cid=hp:cheatsheet4#cheatrow_10935

AIG Chief Threatens to Resign

What I'm reading

Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. I can't put this book down. I'm only on page 30, but it's absolutely amazing that someone who was born in this century, around the same time as my Grandmother, had to be sold at the age of 15, to a warlord as a concubine and had her feet bound at age 2. These women were probably less valued than cattle.

I used to tell people, "When they go on sale"

Some of these are just plain silly, but the argument about overpopulation and mass of the planet is the most important reason.

http://www.alternet.org/sex/143846/9_silly_things_people_say_when_they_hear_you_don%27t_want_kids_(and_ways_to_counter_them)?page=1

9 Silly Things People Say When They Hear You Don't Want Kids (And Ways to Counter Them)
Wanting kids isn't just the social norm, it's said to be a biological imperative, the only supposed "duh" of evolution. But yet, some of us choose not to -- and for good reason.

Unacceptable, part II

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2009/11/weekly_call_from_7-year-old_da.html

Soldier-father of slain 7-year-old learns her fate during overseas call