Let's Roast These Wienies!

Have you ever wondered how the millions of people in the world have managed to survive? Consider the quake in Haiti, the droughts in Africa, the squalor of the slums in Rio not to mention war! All take their toll on the human condition yet somehow we manage to survive.

Of course in more advanced countries, like our own, Big Brother does all he can to protect us. From teddy bears whose eyes might be swallowed, from bikes whose paint may contain lead. On this level, especially, I wonder how I made it! I had my share of toys which had parts that surely put me at risk. I had a bike, though I never thought to eat any of the paint on it. Wash and shine it, yes. But eat it?

Ah, but even eating is becoming hazardous to our health. Especially kids who are prone to choking. It would seem I wasn't but apparently far too many are. Because of this, a group of pediatricians are pushing for the redesign of some of our more common foods. Especially the hot dog. The hot dog?

It's the shape, you see. Long and cylindrical. It poses a risk. What? If the kid tries to swallow it whole? They've really looked into this. A member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury had this to say,

"If you were to take the best engineers in the world and asked them to design a perfect plug for a child's airway, you couldn't do it better than a hot dog. It's the right size, right shape. It's compressible so it wedges itself in. When they're in that tight it's almost impossible, even with the correct training and the correct equipment, to get it out. When it's wedged that tightly, that child is going to die."

So would an adult, should one find themselves in the same situation, I should think!

Grocery manufactures, somewhat dryly I would imagine, suggested there be some responsibility assigned to parents, teachers and other care givers tending children. I should think!

It's not much fun living in this world of regulation that's being foisted upon us. Now they want to take away hot dogs as we know them. What to do at a ball game? Or around a camp fire? Or from the street vendors heaping it with onion and mustard and relish, maybe kraut or chili?

I won't even get into their suggestions about candy!

In thinking of the dangers of hot dogs, however, I would think pediatricians, of all people would be more concerned about the nutritious value of the ingredients rather than the likelihood a child would get himself into the stuffing of a hot dog down his gullet so tightly he suffocates!

Wouldn't you?

Blog Fest 2010

We here in Coeur 'd Alene, Idaho, have a very unique community of bloggers. Led for the past six years by the Spokesman Review's Dave Oliveria, it has gone through a lot. It waxes and wanes according to the mood of Dave and those who contribute. It is often contentious. It is often funny. It reflects the community from which it originates. It is unique.

Every year we have a Blog Fest, a time for all of us to put aside our pseudonyms and politics and celebrate that which binds us. Blogging. I've missed one over the years. In that period of time, last year, people have come and gone. Today I had the pleasure of greeting old friends and meeting new ones. As I roamed around with camera in hand I knew I'd never meet the name with the face test so I'm not even going to try. I'll leave that to those who are more connected with the community. Click on the montage, however, and those who could not attend will see familiar faces.

I'll add the video I took, while taking a walk through, to show you what our little community is all about. A huge thanks to Steve Widmyer and his staff at the Fort Ground Grill for hosting a wonderful spread.

A special thumbs up to Dave Oliveria, out host from Huckleberries Online for showing once again that we can all get along if we really want to. Those in attendance, from politicians to police officers to we ordinary folks who just enjoy blogging, do.

When Doing Right Isn't Enough

Much is being made about the Dalai Lama leaving the White House passing a huge pile of trash. It isn't as though he was forced to exit through a service entrance for kitchen deliveries. He was exiting through the Palm Room doors.

That being said, it makes me wonder if he had his meeting with the President as a gesture of palming off a problem! I know, that's a stretch. Our President is slow at learning, but he did realize refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama to appease China was also a mistake.

It seems to me it could have been more gracious. Knowing that the meeting was to be in the Palm Room, I'd have had the trash moved to another location temporarily. I can't imagine the Pope being put in such a position. Not even Jeremiah Wright! Probably not even a Chinese dignitary. After all, they hold so much of our paper one must give respect where respct is due!

One day politicians will learn that cameras are everywhere. Images such as this only reinforce the notion that this White House is a bit short on class.

Class is the Dalai Lama not making an issue of it.

The Mad Hatters Of The Tea Party Movement

Tim Burton has done it again! This time it's the casting of his pal Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in his cracked looking glass version of Alice in Wonderland!

It got me to thinking about what a wonderful symbol he would be for our very own Tea Party movement, especially those who need something to differentiate themselves from the Republican right.

As I've listened to the speeches being given at CPAC I sense the Republican right is trying to shape the movement into their image. If they are successful it will be the demise of the Tea Partiers. Their strength is their support for candidates that embrace their core values , regardless of party.

• Fiscal Responsibility
• Constitutionally Limited Government
• Free Markets

If they get sucked into the ideology of the Far Left or the Far Right, they will lose their impact and become spoilers rather than agents of change.

Perhaps there needs to be a movement within the movement. One that makes sure they stay their course. I think the Mad Hatters would be fitting name for this group!. Depp's Mad Hatter is described as a human mood ring, his clothes changing color with his moods. Granted, our clothes can't change color according to the way we think but if they did the most effective Tea Partiers would be wearing purple rather than red or blue. They would be choosing the best ideas and candidates from each party.

Here's to the Mad Hatters! Oh yes. The idea is mad. Quite mad. Considering the political climate today, what could be more fitting?

The Terrorists Get The Last Laugh

Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, expect to witness the demise of the airline industry? I sure didn't but I fear it may be fast approaching.

Meanwhile back in the cave the terrorists are getting one more good laugh. The industry is going broke. We are now paying extra for everything including our luggage. Crews have been cut to the bone and their attitudes show it. Pilots are under trained and over tired. Forget the possibility of a passenger having explosives tucked in his BVDs. If all the afore-mentioned is true how can you possibly feel safe on a plane? I would not bet that maintenance shines where all else does not.

Never-the-less, we must be kept safe at all costs because another terror attempt may succeed. We are patted and probed and puffed with air. Now we are to be bared for total strangers to see. Yet that isn't enough. Security personnel are going to be roaming the concourses choosing people at random for more searches and swabs. Tell me. I've never, ever seen it. How many "terrorists" have been stopped by any of this?

So here we are. It takes longer to fly from Spokane to Seattle than to drive yet both Boeing and Air Bus are working on planes that will seat up to 800 passengers. We'll have to get to the airport a day ahead of our flight to get everyone through security and still hope all the gadgetry works!

You know what? The terrorists are still getting the last laugh. Every time we go berserk from a near miss they are busy figuring out their next tactic. They are way ahead of us.

Just today a flight from Denver to San Francisco was diverted to Salt Lake City. Who and what got through? A note. Pencil to paper. A bomb threat. Found in the galley.

The plane is being searched. Luggage is being "sniffed" on the tarmac. Passengers are being rescreened. Plans delayed. Nerves frayed. The industry in chaos once again.

Will they find who wrote the note? What price will we pay when they don't?