Global warming... just kind of happens.

It is a sad day indeed when a "science" channel refuses to report on the findings of... science. All out of fear of upsetting a fringe group. Of course, this is the same network that turned "The Learning Channel" into TLC, your  home for rock bottom reality swill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/business/media/discoverys-frozen-planet-is-silent-on-causes-of-climate-change.html?_r=1

Politics and Religion, like peanut butter and chocolate but not delicious

Both political parties claim Jesus... Nothing new here. There are many reasons that this argument really means nothing to the large group of non-believer/non-affiliated. Here are 2 biggies:

• Starting with the very likely possibility that Jesus never existed.

• Followed by confusing teachings that contradict one another depending on the author and book of the bible, as well as which group is interpreting the book.

Anyway here's a link and stuff:

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/16/150568478/christian-conservatives-poverty-not-government-business

4 Observations about Escalades

To be fair, most of this argument applies to all oversized SUV's, from Avalanches to Yukons to Expeditions. But for the sake of this list, I really feel like the Escalade has "escaladed" itself above and beyond as the shining shit pile example of American over indulgence and status symbol addiction.

Note: Total disclosure, I have a few friends and acquaintances who own these behemoths and I have been sighted drunkenly falling out of an Escalade or two in my recent past.

#4: Escalades are literally "The Cadillac" of oversized SUVs

Huge, gas guzzling, monster vehicles that are aimed at the wealthy/upper middle class are one thing, but when it has the Cadillac brand, it is now something else. The brand has managed to maintain its image of wealth and success unlike some of its Detroit competition (Lincoln? How many rappers do you see wearing Lincoln hood ornaments for jewelry? Hold off on the rapper thing, getting to that). When you drive a "Caddy" you are assumed to have arrived at some point of success in life, wealth, etc. When you have the largest road hogging Caddy there is, you should be the Big Dick Mayor of Pimptown to justify that special kind of outrageous boastful land yachting.

#3: Escalades as a symbol of American overindulgence

Americans get enough accusations of being big loud and dumb, so let's all pile into our big loud dumbass truck with 15 seats, LCD TVs for the kids, and an air conditioning unit that could refrigerate a warehouse. At least we'll get 8 miles per gallon and kill all the polar bears in the process.

#2: Escalades in "Culture"

Do rappers even still put these in videos? Or is this even a joke to them now? Either way it was a symbol of great wealth and status, bravado over their rivals. These were shown in the same company as Bentley's, which cost significantly more. To most normal people, a $50 grand car may as well be a half million dollar car.

#1: Escalades are the end of the American Dream

Escalades were the chariots that drove us into the "Great Recession". We came in yee-hawing and drove them to the McMansions as the housing bubble burst. Now more children 18-25 are moving back in with their parents (or never leaving) due to weak job prospects and poor paying jobs that can't cover their massive student loan debt. I feel my generation was raised to do better than our parents, are we raising this generation to hope to maybe get to do almost as well as their parents? If excess and luxury are made glamorous and more and more people will never be able to afford them, then are we not creating discontent and frustration? Did I mention I had a "friend" who would offer to drive us places in his Escalade then pick up so many people that I would "volunteer" to sit in the cargo area of that massive gas guzzler (I'm one of the more lean and limber of the males in my group of friends)? This friend also fell for the American Dream scam, had to buy out the lease on his aging Escalade and probably can't sell it for what it is worth... and yeah that sucks riding in the back.

Student Athletes

I've been following this more, and it is something that has long overstayed its welcome. Frank Deford did a bit on NPR some weeks back about it, and I just listened to this interview on Fresh Air.

College students are poor, we all get that. However if you are a student that the college has sought out and coerced into playing for their college due to your valuable skill set, and that college stands to make millions off of your playing and crowd draw, then why do we not pay these people? Why is loaning money or giving gifts illegal? The real answer is that the colleges make too sweet a margin off of their free work force. If the players were employees, such as they are in the NFL, then things would make a little more sense, and we can stop being mad every time some poor kid gets too excited when someone offers him to "borrow" their Escalade for awhile (Note: I fucking hate Escalades and everything they stand for).

Finally!

I've been away too long and feel it is time to start to wake this thing up. I plan on taking this in a whole new direction. Although now is a time more than ever to remain vigilant in the fight for reason and science, there are other things related to family, relationships, business, and life in general that I feel are worth putting out there. Of course every asshole with a PC and even decent typing skills can do a blog, so with that said I am going to try and use my unique perspective and experience to keep my voice apart from the crowd.

By the way, don't ever forget your blogspot login. Also do not forget the email you originally used to sign up for said login. I had to do multiple email resets, text codes, and "are you human" tests to get logged back in to this thing.