Friday Wrap-Up

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I saw something in my son this week that I haven’t seen in quite some time – PRIDE! When I got home from work on Monday, he couldn’t wait to tell me about his day. Seems just about every one of his classes had a paper due, or a test given, right before spring break. He had gotten back all of the scores and there was nothing below a B. He even scored a 96% on his Social Studies test – a class he really struggles with. It was good to see him excited about school, and about himself.

In that moment, the apprehension and fear that overwhelmed me when deciding whether he should be on meds for his ADHD evaporated. We are still tweaking the dosage, but there is definitely progress.

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Wednesday morning conversation with my company’s CEO as I held the door open for him:

Me: Good Morning! I just can’t seem to let a door shut when someone is just seconds away from walking in behind me.

CEO: (serious tone) That’s a bad habit. We need to toughen you up!

Me: (sarcastically) Yes, what would this world come to if we all started looking out for other people rather than ourselves all of the time.

CEO: (in astonishment) Well, I can tell you one thing. You’ll never get ahead in life looking out for other people.

Interesting ... something tells me I need to soften him up!

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SAGINAW, Mich. - A man police caught performing a sex act with a car wash vacuum has been sentenced to 90 days in prison.

Police say Jason Leroy Savage was arrested after a resident called officers early on Oct. 16 to report suspicious activity at a car wash in Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.

Ummm … dude? Go to Sears and buy yourself a Craftsman wet/dry vac. That way you can experience the joys of high powered suction in your own home AND take advantage of that Craftsman life-time warranty! Of course, your neighbors might wonder why you vacuum every night … for hours … and why you named your vacuum Sucking Suzy, but still! It’s much better than actually having to appear in court to plead “no contest” to indecent exposure. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the idea behind a “self-serve” car wash!

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I’ve started planning the summer vacation schedule. It looks like we’ll be heading to southern Texas mid-June for my niece's graduation. Not sure what kind of free time I'll have, but I might be able to carve out an hour or two for a local excursion.

I’ve also got eastern Washington on the agenda again this summer in either late July or early August. It will just be me and Cam again, but I think this time we’ll fly. Of course I’ll rent a car while there and hopefully make a side trip or two. I’m guessing grandma would love to spend some one-on-one time with her only favorite grandson!

Anyone in either of those areas wanting to confirm my 6’ stature and overall good nature? It’s been a while since I’ve met up with any bloggers and I’m feeling the itch. Not that itch you ninnies, although it has been quite some time since it's been scratched by anyone but me!

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HNT - Spring Skirt (RETRO)

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Ahhhh ... spring! It really is my favorite season of the year, especially after the incredibly cold and long winter we've had. And as much as I love to get those long skirts, heavy sweaters and tall boots out in the fall, I am equally thrilled to get the shorter skirts, fitted t-shirts and strappy sandals out in the spring!

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“It's not really a shorter skirt, I just have longer legs...”
~ Anna Kournikova

*clicking will just get you bigger - it's the retro, remember?? OK, I lied ... as Karl pointed out clicking will NOT make you bigger, but it will make ME bigger. All you guys can stop clicking now - giggle*

This week marks the third anniversary of "...the other HNT" - a place where HNT takes a plunge on the wild side. You might want to take a gander over there if you are looking for a little more ... well ... nekkidness. Maybe you'll even recognize someone *WARNING* Make no mistake, "... the other HNT" is definitely NOT safe for work (or small children, or cute puppies, or ... or ...) and might be considered offensive by some ... but they would be wrong *wink*

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UAW, GM and Other Acronyms

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Accountability. There has been much talk about it, but like so many things, it seems to be lip service. We are going to hold the banks accountable, but only after we've given them billions of dollars that they've fiddled away. We're going to hold the automakers accountable, well, at least GM's CEO Rick Wagoner, but UAW president Ron Gettelfinger? Nahhhh ... let's not get carried away here!

Actually, firing Wagner was justifiable. When the government is majority owner of private industry, they get to make the hiring and firing decisions (does this terrify anyone else?). But the government hasn't bailed out the UAW - they have no place to make demands that he step down. In fact, the UAW (and unions in general) have done quite well in an economy that has caused grief for most everyone else.

Ask any union member and they will tout the wonders of the union as the fearless champions of the downtrodden working man. Look at unions from an economic standpoint and you'll see monopolies raising wages above competitive levels.

Yes, there was a time when unions were necessary - when working conditions were deplorable - when wages were shameful. Unions won higher wages and better working conditions for their members - members who were without any other recourse. But like all things in life, there was a price - a reduction in the number of jobs available in unionized companies. It's a matter of the basic law of demand: unions successfully raise the price of labor and employers purchase less of it - or find a way to purchase it somewhere else (overseas) for a lot less.

What do unions cost our economy? In 2002, full-time nonunion workers had usual weekly earnings of $587, 21 percent lower than the $740 earned by union members. Looking just at the UAW, the Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis conducted a study in 2007 that found GM was paying workers a combined total of $73 an hour, factoring in benefits like health care and pension payments. That's compared with the $45-$50 an hour foreign automakers in the U.S. are paying workers, including benefits. And we wonder why GM and Chrysler are having financial problems?

Of course, the UAW is not the only factor in the auto industry meltdown. There are issues of too many dealerships, "old" automotive technology and the decline of consumer spending due to the credit crunch and overall economic turmoil just to name a few, but it really is time to take a look at the economic impact of unions. You tell me - would you rather see 10 people employed at $73 an hour, or 16 people employed at $45 an hour?

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