YOUR TUITION, FEES AND TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!

Observation of the Day!

Your Tuition, fees and Tax Dollars at Work!

Do you ever wonder what the richest institutions in the world. our colleges and universities, do with student fees and your tax dollars.? I was called by my alma mater, Michigan State, for the upteenth time. This pitch was for the general scholarship fund. She said that tuition was going up some thirteen percent next year, and they wanted to help out students who were having a hard time funding their education . All well intentioned. but I suggested, being the smart ass that I am, that perhaps she was talking to the wrong person. Maybe she should be talking to the administration who raised the tuition.

Also the University of Minnesota had funding cut by the legislature and "had" to raise tuition. In the same issue of the Star Tribune was an article saying the University had made its one billion dollar fund raising goal.

The following story would be very funny, if it weren't true.

Katherine Kersten column MSP Star Tribune and Minnesota Daily also reported the following news from our fine "research" university in Minnesota.

"If you're interested in learning some new knot tying skills or leather craft but loath the Boy or Girl Scouts, you may be interested in attending "Kinky U".

Kinky U is a student group at the University of Minnesota that promotes sexual awareness and safety for those who choose to indulge in adventurous sex practices that range from biting and scratching to power exchanges and bondage.

The group was organized under the U of M's Queer Student Cultural Center and hopes to finish its constitution within a month to become an official campus group that welcomes all students to explore sexual endeavors through discussion and demonstration.

Michael Lent, facilitator of Kinky U, said. "It's an open discussion for both queer and straight, and any gender is welcome. Other groups aren't geared toward everyone -- we're ' pansexual.'" He also described it as a milestone for the metro area and a big step for sexual freedom.

Genevieve Clute, co-chairwoman of Sexual Health Awareness and Disease Education, said the idea of empowering someone to be comfortable and in a safe environment is a great idea. She also went on to say, 'We're there if you ever decide to have this type of sexual relationship, because it can be a part of your life in a safe way. It can be a hard step to take, but it's a positive and necessary step to take if you're interested."

Stephan Robberts, a club member said "There is a lot of misconception about kink, which has given it a bad name." He's an older member (28) and wishes he had a group like Kinky U when he was younger, just to have that knowledge base."

Robberts directed a leather workshop for club that included teaching participants how to dye and treat leather so that it can be made into something like a collar, which can otherwise be expensive to buy.

Facilitator Michael Lent wants to take more outings with the group, such as to the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies at Andersen Library, or tours of sex-oriented stores in the Twin Cities area. He'd also like to invite more speakers from the community to provide various perspectives on the subject.

Not completely without controversy, a handful of U of M students are not happy how Kinky U receives it's funding. Being under the Queer Student Cultural Center, it receives it's money from the University ~ from student tuition and fees."

I'm not really sure what to think of it all. The only thing that has come to mind so far are horny college girls in skimpy cheerleader uniforms. I do plan to give it some coherent thought, however.

*****

Have a nice day!

Sammy Carl

THIS JUST IN!

FLIP FLOPS ARE NOT ALWAYS FOOTWARE!

Hillary Does a Back Flip!

An ABC News analysis of the videotapes of at least four stockholder meetings where Clinton appeared shows she never once rose to defend the role of American labor unions.

A former board member told ABC News.com that he had no recollection of Clinton defending unions during more than 20 board meetings held in private.

Clinton would not agree to be interviewed on the subject but now says she no longer shares Wal-Mart's values and believes unions "have been essential to our nation's success."

And

Obama does a Full Gainer

Last fall during a nationally televised presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana.

But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate four years ago, Mr. Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession, according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was obtained by The Washington Times.

"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana. " .......HUH!!!!

Just tell them what they want to hear, not your honest positions and beliefs. You phony bastards. Politicians always put their flip flops in their mouth.

Have a nice day!

Sam




T

A QUIET RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

Observation of the Day!

A Quiet Rainy Sunday Afternoon

It is a quiet rainy Sunday afternoon. There are virtually no cars on the street. Hotmail is silent. Mac.com is silent. Gmail is silent. The outside world and cyber space are quiet. The outside world is at peace, as the rain gently falls. Could this be another Nirvana for me? Quiet, calm, peaceful, wonderful. I wonder?

Then I remembered it is Super Bowl Sunday, loud commercials, loud cheering and Tom Petty rocking out. The peace is shattered. America and the world are focused on the big game. My Nirvana is bashed under cleated foot and helmeted head and drowned out by the sounds of commercials.

I gave up my thoughts of finding a Nirvana this rainy Sunday afternoon. So I popped some popcorn, popped a beer and popped on the television.

I became engaged in the game, as the excitement built. It was a back and forth, well played game by both the Giants and the Patriots. The severely under-dogged Giants scored the final touchdown on a pass with forty-five seconds to go from the baby-faced Eli Manning. It was Giants 17, Patriots 14. MVP Eli Manning has now has equaled his brother, Payton. I am sure there is a pot of gold waiting for the Manning brothers at the end of the commercial rainbow.

I came to realize that even the violent game of football has a natural rhythm of men on the field of battle, giving the bodies up for the glory they hope is theirs. At this point it really isn't about the money, but the ring. The game offers a genuine excitement, as the adrenaline of the sport rushes through both players and fans alike. Emotions run to the front of the logical line.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy was awarded and the confetti and the tributes began and ended. And then it was over until next year. What began in the late summer ended on a rainy Sunday afternoon in February. Thirty teams started the season, but only one became the champion. The stadium fans and people full of beer and party guacamole emptied their respective locations and the rainy Sunday afternoon has turned into night. And all is peaceful in the world again.

Can baseball be far behind?

Have a nice day!

Sam

SOME POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS!

Observation of the Day
Some Political Observations, An Opinionated Public Service

I tried to capture and send to my blogees the video of the highlights of Barack Obama’s speech at Target Center in Minneapolis, but I couldn’t make it work. A man still stuck in the twentieth century. If you are interested go to startribune.com, to see a portion of his speech. It is longer than the sound bites you get from TV.

I really like Obama, even though McCain is still on my radar. Doe is also interested. She says she is not against a woman as president, but not Hillary. She is pretty vocal about her belief. I am truly an undecided.

I do hate the pandering that candidates put forth in political speeches. Wellstone will always be mentioned as an applause line in Minnesota. The fact is he was a loud angry speechmaker, who actually accomplished very little and never passed up a photo op. R.T. Ryback is mayor of Minneapolis. He could only be elected in left wing Minneapolis. He is an incompetent, as are most socialist who call themselves DFL in Minnesota. Minneapolis is truly as close as to socialism as any city in America, except San Francisco.

That said, I think Obama may bring some change. He was chastised for invoking Reagan as a president that brought change. He was simply giving credit to Reagan as change maker. Many Dems hate Reagan and cannot bring themselves to give any rational credit to the man..

As Clinton's (Bill) legacy unfolds it is beginning to be noted that he was lucky enough to be president at a time when the economy was strong and there was no war. I don’t think a president can do much about the economy, good times or bad. He didn't do much about the threat of terrorism. In other words he had too much time on his hands, and you know what happens then. His legacy will always be Monica and the scallywag he is. Even in his current speeches, it is still all about Bill. He was even told to shut up many the Democratic leaders. There is no doubt, however, I would still like to hang out with him.

To balance this out, I’d like to say a word about Mitt Romney. He is not going to be the candidate, but I kept hearing about his business success. However, there was little detail of that success in his speeches or the media. I went to Wikipedia to learn more. He has a BA from BYU, and law and MBA degrees from Harvard. He worked in investment banking. He left to run the Olympics, when it was in dire money straits and turned it around and made money. He returned to Bain and Company, an investment banking firm, when it too was in major trouble and turned it around. As an individual who has turned two companies around, I admire that. I do believe he is the best executive available and is running primarily against the Senate. If the economy is your issue, then Romney should be your man.

Super Tuesday is next week. The fog should clear a little.

Have a nice day!

Samuel C. Arnold

View From Nirvana!

Sunset from the Beach Club

The Old Man in the Hat!

Observation of the Day in the Past!

The Old Man in the Hat

Several years ago, I walked into the lobby of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. In the lounge area sat an old man dozing in the chair. He wore bib overalls, a blue flannel shirt, white socks, comfortable old shoes and a baseball style cap. On the cap was a simple statement – “Too Old To Give A S**T”. As a statement that captures a state of mind, it ranks right up there with Rhett Butler’s, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

It seemed to say: It’s my life; I’ve got the answers, but nobody asks the questions; I’ve seen the world and it’s going to hell in a hand basket. So to hell with it. Don’t disturb me.

It must be relaxing and therapeutic to not give a s**t and tell people right up front before they bother you. Does he really mean it? I doubt it very much, however, consider yourself warned before you engage this curmudgeonly gentleman in meaningless conversation. Unless, of course, you’re a child, then he is old enough to care -- very much.

Have a nice day!

Sam

SONG OF THE WEEK!

The Meaning of American Pie

The Day the Music Died!

The hidden meanings and words of Don McLean's American Pie have been studied by many over the years in an attempt to understand the various word pictures painted by McLean. It is a tribute the the monster talent of Don McLean. The video is extremely well done and will shake your memories.

Watch, listen and follow the lyrics. It will make you appreciate the song, its meaning, the complexity and the talent of Don McLean even more.

American Pie

A long, long time ago...I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance,
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for awhile.
But February made me shiver with every paper I'd deliver,
Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step.
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside, the day the music died.

So, bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in god above,
If the bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him,
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
You both kicked off your shoes,
And I dig those rhythmic blues,
I was a lonely teenaged bronking buck,
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck, the day the music died.

I started singing, bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

Now, for ten years, we've been on our own,
And moss grows fat on our rolling stone,
But that's not how it used to be,
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean,
And a voice that came from you and me,

Oh and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown,
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark, the day the music died.

They were singing, bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The Byrds flew off for the fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

Now the halftime air was sweet perfume,
While sergeants played a marching tune,
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance
`Cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed, the day the music died?

We started singing, bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space,
With no time left to start again.
So, come on; jack be nimble, jack be quick,
Jack flash sat on a candlestick,
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died.

He was singing, bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

And in the streets, the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast,
The day the music died.

And they were singing....
Bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die.
This will be the day that I die."

They were singing....
Bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye,
Singing, "This will be the day that I die."

Listen and enjoy and have a nice day!

Sam