General

So Much for Catwoman

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I’m not even sure how to begin with this one. It seems that the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops finds it necessary to have Senator Danny Martiny file a bill that will prohibit Louisiana scientists from creating human-animal hybrids for experimentation. I’m not kidding.

Conference lobbyist Danny Loar said the bill is designed to be a “pre-emptive strike” against scientists who might want to mix “human and animal cells in a Petri dish for scientific research purposes. . . . It is becoming more of an issue globally.”

Then there’s this statement…

Martiny and Loar said they are unaware of any attempts to do that type of research in Louisiana.

However, that won’t stop them from proposing legislation to ban it. I mean, it’s becoming a global issue! It’s not like there’s more important stuff that should be dealt with in Louisiana right now, anyway. Maybe they should also propose legislation banning the use of insects in space-flight research. I’m unaware of any attempts to do that type of research in Louisiana, but it could happen!

Martiny’s bill would make it illegal to “create or attempt to create a human-animal hybrid, . . . transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a non-human womb . . . (or) transfer or attempt to transfer a non-human embryo into a human womb.”

That’s a far cry from doing some stem cell research. It seems that, about a year ago, the British Parliament approved legislation allowing scientists to mix human and animal DNA in cloning experiments. Any human embryos created this way would be destroyed after 14 days, the goal being to create new stem cells for use in research into the curing of diseases. They did, however, reject using sex cells of a human and an animal.

The Louisiana bill, however, seems to take issue with creating growing creatures in the womb… sort of a Doctor Moreau thing (though he was a vivisectionist). There doesn’t seem to be any attempt by scientists to create any sort of viable human-animal hybrid, yet it seems to be a fear of the Catholic Bishops… enough so to persuade a state senator to propose legislation banning it.

I’m not really sure what’s sillier: the fear that scientists are going to make mutant human-animal hybrids or the fact that a state senator actual proposed a legal ban on the act, presumably with a straight face.

At least Vincent gets grandfathered in.

What a Load of Crap!

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Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has announced that he will oppose the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act” which he previously supported. That’s good news as far as I’m concerned because at least he’ll be nullifying the support given by  Senator Casey (D-PA) for the legislation.

What’s absurd is Change to Win chairperson Anna Burger’s statement about the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Employee Free Choice Act is a vital component to restoring our economy, rebuilding the middle class and renewing the American Dream for America’s workers. Allowing workers the choice to join together, free from intimidation and harassment, to bargain for job security, better wages and health care will stimulate our economy and put working families back on the path of prosperity. We will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans, including Sen. Specter, to pass this critical legislation and make our economy work for everyone.

Now that is a load of repulsively odiferous crap.

The statement about allowing workers to join together, free from intimidation and harassment is complete nonsense. They can already do that now, with less potential intimidation and harassment than they would be subjected to if this legislation would pass! Allowing the EFCA to pass would be like opening the virtual floodgates of uninhibited union harassment onto employees… with no repercussions… which is why unions desperately want this to pass. By taking away any practical chance of a secret ballot election, the EFCA would completely remove the current protection granted by anonymity, letting the union know exactly who it needs to target and where to apply the pressure, making harassment and intimidation its key tools. Getting employees to submit to union representation, willing or not, would never be easier.

The EFCA would remove employee choice, negate employee rights, and open a Pandora’s Box of harassment and intimidation abuses that haven’t been seen for decades.

And that is not good for the economy.

Hello, Pot? This is Kettle.

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Republican Sermon
Click to embiggen

I’ve been following the shenanigans regarding the new stimulus bill, and have been shaking my head in dismay. I see the usual accusations of pork (which are almost always warranted) and the sniping by both sides about how something is or isn’t going to work… the usual ideological tripe from both sides.

What I find most amazing, though, is the hypocrisy. Isn’t that always the case? The Republicans are screaming about all the spending and unanimously voted against it in the House. However, for the original “bailout” when there was a Republican administration in the White House, fully half of the House Republicans voted for it, pushing it out so fast that the promised “oversight” of the companies receiving taxpayer money basically flew out the window with our 800+ billion dollar commitment.

Now that there’s a Democratic administration in the White House, though, the thought of spending all that money for a bailout somehow offends Republicans. They claim that it’s because of the pork and the faulty ideology behind the bailout plan, but make no mention of the fact that the plan they previously voted for did virtually nothing. Far be it from them to give a different set of ideas a fighting chance.

Given some time to look into the proposed new bailout, I have no doubt that I could find a lot of things that I’d think were absurd, wasteful, and irresponsible. I would, however, probably find a lot of things that sound promising. Despite my distaste for partisan politicking, I understand the reality that the political process is one big (probably corrupt) negotiation and if both sides don’t come to the table with the mutual goal of doing beneficial things for this country and a flexibility to listen to contrasting opinions, Congress might as well just close its doors.

Republicans, seemingly unwilling to do that, have their “We Love Rush” blinders on and their pouty bottom lips out in a hypocritical, childish display of misplaced solidarity.

Wells Fargo CEO doesn’t get it

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Yesterday, CNN’s Campbell Brown took Wells Fargo to task, not for canceling their lavish Vegas shindig, but for taking out two full-page ads in newspapers as a “thank you” to employees and to blame the media for the cancellation of their extravagant employee recognition festivities.

In the ads, Wells Fargo’s CEO announced all of its big employee events for the year have now been canceled. He then blamed the media and said that our one-sided reporting on this subject makes every employee recognition event sound like a boondoggle. And that ultimately, our misleading reports have hurt Wells Fargo employees who deserve a pat on the back, and hurt the tourism industry since they aren’t taking these trips anymore.

I echo Campbell Brown’s reply of “Give me a break.” Wells Fargo shouldn’t be whining and complaining that the big, mean media is trashing them for a flagrant waste of taxpayer money. They should be thanking the media for setting them straight and reminding them that, without that taxpayer bailout money, they wouldn’t have jobs to appreciate in the first place.

She continues.

And do you really think the best use of your money right now is to buy full page newspapers ads trashing the media, disguising the ads as thank you notes to your employees?

You want to thank your workers, try e-mail. Put the letter on your Web site instead. It won’t cost a dime.

Exactly. If they really were just concerned about thanking their employees, that’s what they would have done… used email or their website. Taking out full-page ads just shows that what they’re interested in is playing the victim. They want to portray themselves as “poor Wells Fargo” because they can’t properly thank their employees. They’re pouting because they can’t throw their big, extravagant, 12-day party this year because of that damned media. Then they have the gall to say that they “hope Americans will understand when a company tries to do the right thing by honoring its employees.”

Yes. I think Americans will understand when a company honors its employees. But I don’t think Americans will understand, or more importantly sympathize with, a company who takes taxpayer bailout money and then wants to spend it in irresponsible, unproductive, and outlandish ways. Once that bailout money is paid back in full with interest, they can do whatever they want with their income.

To add insult to injury, the Wells Fargo CEO evidently has warned of possible job cuts this year.

If they’re strapped for cash and need to lay people off, spending bailout money on parties is even more reprehensible.

I think it’s time for their CEO to step down… with no parachute.

Lunch Bag Art

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Lunch Bag ArtI just found this website while checking out PvP, a web comic that I follow.

It’s a dad who creates new artwork on his kids’ lunchbags every day and he’s got a bunch of the bags on display on his website. Check them out. They’re pretty amazing… and it’s such a fun thing for a dad to do for his kids!

Cool dads rock.

Wells Fargo Cancels

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It seems that Wells Fargo canceled it’s all-expense-paid employee extravaganza in Vegas very shortly after the Associated Press article hit the news.

The company initially defended the trip after The Associated Press reported it had booked 12 nights beginning Friday at the Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore Las Vegas. But within hours, investigators and lawmakers on Capitol Hill had scorned the bank, and the company canceled.

I’m stunned and impressed by lawmakers actually commenting on this so quickly and laying the smack down. It’s refreshing… and surprising.

What did Wells Fargo have to say about the whole thing?

“In light of the current environment, we have now decided to cancel this event as well,” the company said Tuesday night in a news release that also said the it had never planned to use taxpayer bailout money for the trip.

“The current environment” must mean the environment where everyone in the entire country, including investigators and lawmakers,  is screaming obscenities at their absurd lack of judgement.

And what’s this about never planning to use taxpayer bailout money for the trip? Until they pay back the full amount they were given via the bailout, every penny in that company is taxpayer bailout money. It’s not like they were given a loan to make some improvements to their facilities. They were given bailout money to keep their company from going under due to poor management and bad business decisions. Without the bailout money, they’d be done… finished… game over.

So until they demonstrate they can be fiscally and managerially responsible by paying back all the bailout money and making a profit without government assistance, they’ve got no money that isn’t taxpayer bailout money. Until that point, every single cent of expenditure should be watched with a proverbial magnifying glass to make sure they don’t try, once again, to bilk their customers… and their country… out of billions of dollars.

Buying some extra staples is fine. Buying a  12-day, all-expense-paid, hedonistic party for the employees… not so much.

No, no, no, no, NO!!!!

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Filled with stolen taxpayer money
Filled with stolen taxpayer money

According to this article on MSNBC, Wells Fargo, which received about $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money,  is planning on having a “series of corporate junkets” to Las Vegas casinos this month.

From the article…

Wells Fargo, once among the nation’s top writers of sub prime mortgages, has booked 12 nights at the Wynn Las Vegas and its sister hotel, the Encore Las Vegas beginning Friday, said Wynn spokeswoman Michelle Loosbrock. The hotels will host the annual conference for company’s top mortgage officers.

The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.

Other banks have cancelled their “employee recognition” outings due to financial cutbacks, but not Wells Fargo. Evidently, they feel it’s okay to spend all this taxpayer bailout money on parties and “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” shenanigans.

“I was amazed with just how lavish it was,” said Debra Rickard, a former Wells Fargo mortgage employee from Colorado who attended the events regularly until she left the company in 2004. “We stayed in top hotels, the entertainment was just unbelievable, and there were awards — you got plaques or trophies.”

What’s the excuse for continuing this lavish event even though the company needed (and received) bailout money to stay afloat?

“Recognition events are still part of our culture,” spokeswoman Melissa Murray said. “It’s really important that our team members are still valued and recognized.”

“Part of our culture?” Is poor management to the point of bankruptcy part of your culture, too? Is misusing public funds part of your culture? Is destroying the public trust part of your culture? Is lavish excess funded by taxpayer money part of your culture?

Evidently, it is now.

If they actually hold this event, I think all their bailout money should be returned… forcibly if necessary. Let them fail because they certainly aren’t doing anything to succeed. They are just taking in public funds for their own grand, hedonistic enjoyment, flushing the money down the financial toilet of delusional entitlement.

There was supposed to be some pretty stringent oversight attached to this bailout money. I hope Congress steps in and puts the smack down on this Wells Fargo fiasco, but I sadly fear that they won’t.

Murray did not immediately have details about the size or cost of the events or what was planned.

No surprise there. The MSNBC article provides this detail, though.

Rooms at the Wynn and the Encore are consistently among the most expensive in Las Vegas. The $2.3 billion Encore opened in December as sister hotel to the Wynn. Its decor includes a 27-foot Asian dragon made from 90,000 Swarovski crystals and artwork by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. One of the restaurants features Frank Sinatra’s 1953 Oscar.

I guess the Red Roof Inn is out of the question.

Farewell, Ricardo Montalban

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Welcome to Fantasy Island!
Welcome to Fantasy Island!

I was saddened to hear that Ricardo Montalban died yesterday. When I was growing up, I always watched Fantasy Island every Saturday at my grandparents’ house and Mr. Rourke was always so cool, debonair, and mysterious. I so wanted to be just like him.

Then, later in life, after having a daughter, she and I would watch the animated Disney show Kim Possible and Ricardo Montalban voiced the character of Señor Senior, Sr., one of the main villains on the show. That simply added a sense of fun to my impression of him, so then he was cool, debonair, mysterious, AND fun.

Reading about his real life, it seems he was all those things (except for maybe the mysterious part) in addition to being humble and gracious, and was well-loved by both business associates and family. It’s always nice to hear that an actor you looked up to as a child turns out to be a good person in real life.

Almost as if it was a fantasy granted.

(On a lighter note, I now picture him hanging out with Raul Julia and partying it up in some post-life Mexican cabana with lots of liquor and scantily clad island women. Shots are on the house, Ricardo! You’ll be missed!)

Time to Relax

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Well, almost all of the Christmas festivities have ended around here. We have a little more gift exchanging to do tonight and then I think all the focus goes to New Year’s Eve.

It’s a very quiet day today. I can almost hear Bill O’Reilly’s blood pressure dropping as he packages up his imaginary “War on Christmas” for next year. The various frenzies over religious displays are beginning to wind down, with people on all sides of the issue meandering off shaking their heads in disgust or dismay (or both). Christmas seems to bring out the best in some people and the worst in others.

Here at our house, however, Christmas just rocked. Everyone at the various family gatherings got along wonderfully and there wasn’t even an inkling of tension or annoyance (that I noticed, anyway). The people were fun, the food was great, the gifts were wonderful and, once again, my wife did phenomenol job with the decorations and the cooking… and all the other stuff that she does behind the scenes to make things go smoothly.

Now if I can just keep from gaining 10 pounds from all the leftovers in the fridge…