A Voice in the Wilderness

Warren Buffet, the third richest man in the US, is calling for higher taxes on the wealthy. He's been singing that tune now for several months, but few of the other super-rich are joining in the chorus. According to Buffet's informal survey, his tax rate was just under 18%, and that was with no tax planning or tax shelters. That's 18% as compared to that of everyone else in his office where the average was over 30%. No one paid a lower rate--certainly not his secretary or receptionist.

It's not exactly a revelation that our tax policy is just wrong in any number of ways. I'm not smart enough to know how to fix it, but it doesn't matter. I haven't seen a Congress in the recent past or currently that cares enough or has enough courage to make the kinds of changes necessary to have a fairer tax scheme.

And the answer is . . .

The line from yesterday's post is the opening to The Godfather. It is spoken by Bonasera, the undertaker, who is in the process of asking Don Corleone for a favor.

The Godfather, released in 1972, won three Oscars, Best Screenplay, Best Picture, and Best Leading Actor for Marlon Brandon. Brandon did not show up to pick up his Oscar, and refused his award, sending instead a woman dressed as a Native American as a protest the way Hollywood treated Native Americans. James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Al Pacino were also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

The Godfather is one of my favorite movies. The juxtaposition of the scenes from the baptism and the settling of family business at the end is incredible.

And now to digress . . .

If you missed seeing this video on any number of stations, it's worth watching. Talk about an incredible finish. Exciting enough to merit a call from K1, who attends Trinity and was excited about all the national attention.

Famous First Line

"I believe in America. America has made my fortune."

So begins a well-known movie. Can you name it? You're welcome to include your answer in the comments or keep your answer to yourself. Either way, I'll post the answer tomorrow.

Cause for concern

First there's the home mortgage crisis. Then petroleum prices hit record highs this week, with gas prices expected to increase 50 to 75 cents. And now this, a shortage of hops, meaning beer prices are expected to go up too.

I don't really like beer. It's been probably 20 years since I last gave it a try since I don't even like the smell of beer. But this can't be good news.

Face reading

This morning, the Today Show did a segment about Kate McCann, the mother of Madeline McCann who disappeared about six months ago. Mrs. McCann made the news because in an interview, she broke down, showing emotion for the first time. One of the criticisms of Mrs. McCann was that she had shown no emotion about her missing daughter, causing some laypeople to suspect that she must be involved with her daughter's disappearance.

That bothers me. So, if Kate McCann had appeared on camera bawling her eyes out, like say, Susan Smith, who ultimately admitted to murdering her two boys, McCann would appear less suspicious? Or, as was the case with Susan Smith, would there have been questions about sincerity of her tears? How much is enough emoting, and when does one cross the line? When should one appear stoic? Or is stoicism never appropriate in these situations? That's the problem with trying to read the faces or interpret the conduct of people one doesn't know.

Darlie Routier was convicted of killing her kids. One of the images that appeared repeatedly was Routier playing with silly string at the grave of her sons to commemorate what would have been one of their birthdays. The incident occurred shortly after the boys' deaths, so the implication was that she wasn't grieving enough. I can't imagine ever disturbing the peace of a cemetary with silly string, but I've attended enough wakes where there was plenty of laughter and celebration as the friends and loved ones of the deceased remembered that person fondly. A snapshot or videoclip of that laughter might suggest that we weren't grieving enough.

So maybe, the networks and the newspapers ought to focus on reporting real news as opposed to giving us updates and feeding the speculation on whether one is displaying the right kind and amount of emotion.

Finally!

November 14. That's the date. The date when season 4 of Project Runway finally premiers. There's not much reality TV that's worth watching in my opinion, but a show with drama, talent, and great clothes (mostly), and Tim Gunn? Would that all reality tv was so good.

Wow!

There were classes that I disliked when I was in law school, and text books that I'd just as soon have not had to purchase, tote around, and read, but this guy seems to be a few fries short of a Happy Meal. The fact that he was in possession of an AK-47 and an AR-15 is pretty scary. Never good to drink and play with your assault weapons.

Now ANOTHER reason not to read Harry Potter

For those who already thought the Harry Potter books were a bad influence on youth because the stories involve witchcraft, now they have yet another reason to protest (and probably seek to ban) the Harry Potter books. Dumbledore i s gay! So says J.K. Rowling, as reported here, among other places.

I was rather surprised that Rowling would admit as much, but not entirely surpised about Dumbledore. I knew Dumbledore and Grindelwald weren't just good pals.

Too late for me and my Ks, at least the older ones, to unturn the pages. We've already read the books. So far, no signs that it's turned any of us gay.

Would you marry this woman?

Would you hire this woman? Would you marry her? Elana Elbogen Glatt is a New York lawyer who is suing her florist for $400,000! Why? Because the hydrangea centerpieces for her wedding reception were pastel pink and green and not the dark rust and green she claims to have been promised by the florist, as reported here. To be fair, she also complained the some of the flowers were brown, the vases were dusty, the the vases weren't all filled with water and various other complaints. Either way, $400,000 for flowers that cost $27,000 seems a tad excessive, even in a pleading. It was a lovely wedding, except for the clash between the color of the flowers and the linens, favor boxes, etc.

I'm all for holding sellers liable when their goods are sub-standard. Refunding some part of the purchase price seems fair. But would a florist, based on a picture shown him by a customer, really promise flowers of a certain color? How much injury did she really suffer from the lack of perfect flowers?

Did no one tell Glatt that there is no such thing as a perfect wedding? Get over it already! I bet her firm, Kelly, Drye, is loving all of the free publicity.

But there is some good news to this story: proof that the groom's mother and wife really can get along.

Saturday the 13th

If Friday the 13th is unlucky is Saturday the 13th lucky? It was for us. Let's see. K3 won a bike in a raffle. K2 placed 3rd and 5th in different events at a debate tournament today. K4 had a granola bar, a banana, a donut, chocolate milk, orange juice, and Skittles all before 9:30 a.m. (he was happy). Both K1 and I placed in our respective age groups in the Advocacy Center's 5K race today. And K1 celebrated her birthday.

It was a pretty good day.

What, if anything, should be done?

I took a break from work to troll the internet for a few minutes and found this article about a Adam Key, law student who is facing discipline by Regent University for having posted a picture on Facebook of Pat Robertson, Regent's founder, seemingly making an obscene gesture.

My initial thoughts are that Key's posting displays an astounding lack of judgement and professionalism, particularly for someone enrolled in a professional school, who has designs on entering a field for which good judgement is key. In addition, Key's picture posting serves as yet another reminder that one should think before posting anything on Facebook, MySpace, blogs, etc. Ultimately, he may find that employers are less than impressed with his maturity. And quite frankly, Key probably should rethink his legal argument.

That said, I can't help but question the response of Regent. The idea to write the brief was a good start. However, Regent's very appropriate "no comment" stance leaves no clue as to what it believes is the wrong committed by Key. To the extent Regent's complaint is that Key was critical of Robertson, under the mistaken belief that that can't be allowed, then I think Regent has missed the point. If on the other hand, it views Key's posting as inappropriate means for lawyers-to-be, and wishes to teach Key what is appropriate, I would hope the punishment would indeed be structured to get that message through to Key. Thoughts anyone?

Different time; different place; different QB. Same result

What a game! The 'boys!

Plus . . . K4 scored two goals at soccer tonight. Oh what a night!

What would Jesus do? Really?

This story caught my eye because I'm currently reading The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, by A.J. Jacobs, who is the subject of the story. It's taking me awhile to finish the book, mostly because I'm treating it like a stop light book, that is I read it in short spurts, about the time you wait at a stoplight. But it is enjoyable, and laugh out loud funny at times.

His latest book, The Year of Living Biblically, has an intriguing concept--trying to live according to the Bible for a full year. I wasn't sure what to make of his idea. As a secular Jew, was he serious? Was Jacobs trivializing the foundation of the religious beliefs of millions? Would he follow the diretion of only the Old Testament, given that he is a Jew? The Today Show video is rather goofy, and had I relied on only the lead-up to the interview with Jacobs, that might have been enough for me. But having read the excerpt from Jacobs' book, I think it will make it to the list of books I expect to read. Sometime. When I have more time.

Fantastic weekend

Some weekends are wonderful for their ordinariness. That was this past weekend. The Fall Fest with K3 and K4 on Friday. Two youth soccer games Saturday afternoon. A game of Clue with everyone playing, including K2 before going to a movie with his pals. Even K4 got in on the game, rolling the dice and keeping track of the confidential envelope. A quiet Sunday afternoon, followed by watching Bears/Packers game with K2, who is a far better commentator than any of the guys on TV. The fact that the Bears won, spoiling the Packers' perfect season, had nothing to do with how good the game was.

It was a good weekend.

Memo to Southwest employees

Okay, let's try this again: there is no dress code for passengers flying on Southwest. That, however, didn't stop an employee from threatening to remove yet another passenger based on his clothing. This time, the passenger was wearing a shirt from a fictional fishing shop that read "Master Baiter." He agreed to change shirts, thus avoiding the threatened removal from the plane, as described here.

For such a well-run airline, Southwest just can't seem to get straight whether it has a dress code and what exactly it requires. The challenged t-shirt is a little closer to the line, although I wonder how many people got the double entendre--it took me a second. Either way, allowing employees to determine for themselves with little guidance will result in continued embarassment for the company and fodder for this blog.

Just in case . . .

I was at the downtown post office today when I overheard a woman ask the counter attendant whether the Christmas stamps were available. The Christmas stamps! It's 90 degrees outside and Halloween is yet to occur, let alone Thanksgiving. But the USPS can be slow to deliver sometimes, and you never know when there'll be a run on Christmas stamps, so better safe than sorry.

Banned book week

In celebration of Banned Book Week, sponsored by the American Library Association, I thought I'd pick and list my 10 most favorite books from the list of 100 most challenged books from 1990 to 2000. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. The Harry Potter books

2. The Giver (Lowry)

3. The Color Purple (Walker)

4. The Handmaid's Tale (Atwood)

5. To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)

6. The Outsiders (Hinton)

7. Native Son (Wright)

8. The Dead Zone (King)

9. Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret (Blume)

10. Brave New World (Huxley)

The complete list can be found at this link. In addition, the Texas ACLU recently released its report on banned and challenged books in Texas. It lists by public school district the books that have been challenged and the action taken by the district or the individual school. That report can be found here.