Flotsam & Jetsam

Words & Phrases That Don’t Mean Anything Anymore
I’ve heard these words and phrases used – and misused – so often that it now makes me wince every time I hear them:

“Defining moment” – Just yesterday the President told us that we had yet another “defining moment” in Iraq. How many is that now in the last 5 years? It’s interesting because I’ve only had about 3 defining moments in my entire life. I’m not sure Dubya really understands what a “defining moment” is, because it seems he throws it out there every time he opens his mouth about whatever is happening in Iraq. Calling every single thing that happens a “defining moment” is kind of like saying that you had an “epiphany” every time you learned something new.

“War on terror” – For those of you who don't realize it yet, there is no “war on terror”. What there is is a handy-dandy slogan which is continuously used to justify whatever the government wants to do next. It’s kind of like having a “get out of jail free” card, or maybe the “immunity rock” on the TV show “Survivor”. It makes your actions untouchable. The difference is that it can be used pro-actively. Handy indeed.

“Progress” – It amazes me how much progress we’ve made in Iraq. Every day I hear how about how much progress we’re making. Makes me feel real good. I just wish somebody would tell me where we’re going, and how we’ll know when we get there. Apparently the noun form of the word “objective” must still mean something, otherwise we might actually hear it used too. In a bad homage to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”;

Progress, progress, every where,
And all the dead did stink;
Progress, progress, every where,
What end? did no one think.

“Sorry” and “Regret” – Do I even need to give examples for these? Everybody’s apologizing these days. Everybody regrets something. And nobody really means it.


Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm . . .

Have you ever wondered why people will pay $6 or $7 dollars for a small bottle of dog shampoo and then pay $1 or $2 for the shampoo that they intend to use for themselves? Isn’t that a little weird?

For that matter, do you ever wonder why we’ll buy dog treats (very expensive, by the way) that we won’t even eat ourselves? I switched to Ginger Snaps. They’re cheaper, my dogs are spastic about them, and we can all share a treat together.

Does anyone else realize that “tuna flavored” canned cat food costs significantly more than a can of actual tuna in a can the same size? Do cats not like real fish?

Isn’t it interesting that while the stock of just about every other major company has tumbled in the past 12 months, Monsanto’s stock has doubled in the last year? (and in case you’re wondering, it has tripled in the last 2 years and has had a 12x increase in the last 5). They’re just a bunch of good guys, those Monsanto guys are.

Why does it always seem that we leave it to auto manufacturers to “lead the way” in designing an electric car for the masses, and we wait for the big oil companies to find good, alternate fuels? Isn’t that kind of like leaving it to the pedophiles to stop child pornography?


and finally . . .
“Your Papers, Please”
Mayra Figueroa — a naturalized U.S. citizen, community organizer and licensed driver — had no reason to fear being arrested, no need to worry about deported. Then she was pulled over by a Houston police officer, who told her he found it suspicious that a Latina was driving a late-model car. The first thing the officer requested? Figueroa's Social Security card, as proof of citizenship.

"I have been living here for the last 17 years, and to have an officer stop me for no reason and ask for papers, it made me feel like he didn't think I belong here," said Figueroa.

Land of the free, brother. Land of the free.