Zombies

Zombies seem to be “in” these days. Zombie movies, zombie documentaries, zombie TV series, zombie video games, highway traffic signs warning of zombies, smart phone apps regarding zombies, and countless websites dedicated to zombies. Apparently zombies are the new vampires. We’ve had a few predictions for the end of the world with those remaining turning into… zombies. So far, I think those didn’t come true.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has a blog for Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness a http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/ and a county in Ohio had a mock drill for a zombie outbreak http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45087497/ns/health/ . Even a hardware store offering a Zombie Preparedness Center http://www.westlakehardware.com/specialties/zombies .

Will they be the traditional slow moving, brain eating zombies? The ones that lumber along, moaning and groaning, in search of a free meal of flesh and human brains. Perhaps a new breed of zombies will emerge. Faster, smarter, more agile zombies now those would be really frightening. We should be able to outsmart the old school zombies.

Or maybe… zombies are already among us. The ones that look like they need their cell phone surgically removed from their hands. They wander through the stores staring blankly at their phone in their hand. Paying little or no attention to whatever is happening around them. Those are like the old school zombies. They are pretty easy to out maneuver. Then you have the ones that insist on surfing the internet or sending some extremely important text message while driving. They even have traffic signs, commercials on TV, pledges to follow, and laws on the books for those. “Don’t Text and Drive”. These aren’t zombies in the classic sense. They didn’t catch some new strain of virus or were put under some ancient curse, but I’m sure they fall into some yet unknown category of zombie. We could call then Phombies! They are oblivious to what’s going on around them, seem to have only one purpose on their mind, and are often heard moaning and talking to themselves.

Discrimination

Here's a thought or two about discrimination. First I believe that discrimination is a terrible thing. No one should be discriminated against for any reason. That being said, what is the general idea about what people who feel discriminated against want? Equal rights! To be treated and acted upon as everyone else is! Not to be treated unfairly! That sounds reasonable.

Then why was it when a lesbian couple was recently asked to debark from an airplane before it took off due to supposedly in appropriate behavior, the discrimination flag was raised high? Does that mean if a heterosexual couple would have been engaging in the same behavior it would have been OK? I think not. Inappropriate behavior is, well, inappropriate, no matter who is acting in that matter. It shouldn't matter what the offending persons lifestyle choices, race or anything else that could be used as an excuse be used as a defense for bad behavior. So, isn't that equal? Isn't that what everyone wants?

How about the fact that major insurance companies will insure your spouse. Which is defined as the person your legally married to and they will insure your same sex partner. Which implies that your not legally married to your "spouse". OK... I don't know, but I would imagine that you would have to prove that you both live under the same roof and more perhaps. So now we are insuring married heterosexual couples and non married homosexual couples. I don't have an issue with that... What I have an issue with is NOT insuring a heterosexual couple that is not married and could pass the same vetting that a non married homosexual couple passes and gets insurance. Is that equal or fair? Is that discrimination?

How about this.... Can we pick a set of rules and follow them for everyone? You use vulgar language or partake in a full on tonsil hockey kiss your going to get kicked off an airplane. If you can pass the test to get your "spouse" insurance, their going to be insured. No flag waving, no headline news, just fair.

Tale of the Hot Dog

During a recent stop at the local mega/super/enormous store where you can purchase almost anything you like under one roof (if your willing to crawl on the floor to get your soda from the back of the bottom rack), I discovered that my usual pack of bargain polish sausage is now in a package of 14 instead of 16. If my math is correct that is a 12.5% reduction in meat by product for the same price. It also appeared that the plastic "cans" of coffee are now a tad smaller. For the same price... I'm really not sure what else, but I'm sure there are many more. Think about the increase in profit for the company that manufactures those dogs. The new packaging gets them a free one to sell every 7 or so. I know this has been going on for years, but come on... Usually the decrease the amount of product and cut the price a tiny bit to make you believe you're getting a deal. Not anymore. We live in a "take it or leave it" market place. Believe that. Don't want to pay the high price for fuel? Walk. Don't like the age or conditions you work in? Join the ranks of the unemployed with little hope for finding a job, let along a well paying job. There was actually a politician, a short time ago, that made the comment on a radio station that it was time to realize that our children are not going to get to go to college. Can you believe that?? He's saying that the next generation as little hope of doing as well as this generation has done. I think he's wrong, or at least I hope he is, and what a great thing to say to boost peoples morale.

So, what's going to happen from here? More of the same I suspect, at least for a while longer. It's going to take a change like we have never seen before to turn this trend around. Maybe it will come next year, the Mayans seem to think something big is going happen in 2012. Maybe we'll get our 2 hot dogs back.

Once Again

Once again I ponder the state of life, the universe, and whatever. After re-reading my post over four years ago I see the basis hasn't changed.  If anything things are worse.  Take a moment to look around you as you go through your day.  People just aren't happy overall.  It seems everyone is stressed out about something.  The economy is in the tank and the average person on the street, either trying to make a living or trying to survive (or more likely both) doesn't see any end or improvement in site. It is refreshing to see some brave folks around the country protesting.  Let's stand outside some building or street corner hold up signs, yell at the passing cars and maybe sing a protest song or two.  I'm sure the good folks that are making the decisions that cause our fuel prices or food prices to increase while our wages stall will at least be amused.  It most likely won't do a thing to improve our lot.

I wrote before about the lack of customer service.   That lack is still there.  But where's the incentive?  I'm one that was raised to go to work early each day, work hard and be rewarded for my efforts.  I still do that and always will.  But I look around at those folks that pass through my day.  Barely skating by, doing as little as possible and getting the same pay and  increase in salary as I do.  While the demands for improvement pile on.