Yes, because electrical privatization worked so well last time we tried it...

I do not have a good sense of whether or not people really want to have a serious discussion about political stuff up in here. Not that that will stop me.

Tim raised a point, a ways back, about how the Coast Guard stood out from the governmental pack in the Katrina thing. All valid, as usual.

I happen to know some first-responder types (in the CG [a cousin], my son [with WHO], and some police-oids who are blind in the herbal bandwidth, who are known to come by Casa Gus on occasion). All of them complain that government is a big piece of the problem.

All three groups (CG, WHO, cop-oids) have a great deal of esprit about their unit (ship, response team, station house), but not so much for the enclosing political entity.

(Katie, I am trying to work out a thing.)

Ah, crap. I have turned into Adam Baldwin, John-Wayning around the thread looking for a friend.

How big is Tim's head anyway? Is it like TV star big or movie star big?

So, a lobster claw-cracker would be too small, is what you're saying?

Government is always a problem. That is government's job. Government is what makes it illegal to scoop out somebody's brains with a melon baller. Does government consider Allyson's needs when it makes this activity illegal? No!

... Government is what makes it illegal to scoop out somebody's brains with a melon baller.

Actually, government is what makes it legal to scoop out somebody's brains with a melon baller...

Dang! I am arguing the case of everyone that I think is terminally weird.

All three groups (CG, WHO, cop-oids) have a great deal of esprit about their unit (ship, response team, station house), but not so much for the enclosing political entity.

This is the nature of human beings. Similarly, if you ask Americans about public schools in general, they'll tell you the schools are terrible -- all except for their local schools, which are great. They'll tell you this even if the local schools are lousy to an unbiased eye.

Similarly, at a toxic employer you always assure each other that at least your department is sane.

I was just in the car, listening to "The Real Slim Shady." This, of course, made me think of Allyson and her melon baller.

I have two melon ballers and might start looking at them askance now. I know one thing for sure, they are getting locked away if Allyson ever comes to visit.

In my head Kristen was boppin her haed, grabbing her crotch and had the other hand outstretched at shoulder level while in the car.

if you ask Americans about public schools in general, they'll tell you the schools are terrible -- all except for their local schools, which are great...

I would like to have your back, Betsy, but this is not the way I remember my high school.

In my head Kristen was boppin her haed, grabbing her crotch and had the other hand outstretched at shoulder level while in the car.

I was totally in the parking lot, circling, screaming "I don't give a fuck," with my windows down and my system up.