I just thought I’d share a sentimental photo with you on this special day.

(I don’t really feel this way about you, but I thought I’d share something that got sent my way just to let you share the warmth!)

photo credit: jnicholls357

Leave it to Dane to find this one. I’d say it might come in handy one day.

In the former Soviet Union, there was a market for burnt out lightbulbs:

For most of us, it is hard to fathom the rationale for a market in burnt-out light bulbs. But in the scarcity-driven Soviet economy, the market was entirely reasonable. Light bulbs were rarely available to individual consumers, but were obtainable for state-sponsored activities. Thus, it would be difficult to purchase a light bulb for a new lamp in one’s home, while burnt-out bulbs in state-run offices or factories were routinely replaced. So if someone purchased a new lamp and needed a bulb, he would buy a used light bulb for a small fee and replace a functioning bulb at work with the dud. He would then take the functioning bulb home for the new lamp, while the burnt-out bulb at the office/factory would be replaced with a new functioning bulb. Meanwhile, the maintenance person at the office/factory would take the used bulb and sell it on the used light bulb market.

via Marginal Realism.

It has eerie similarities to conversations I’ve had in the past!

No wonder there’s a “sub prime” crisis.

It makes me wonder what self-employed and “work at home” business people are doing about their own pension plans?

We like to say we are “building a business” that we can “sell” and “cash out”. What if just as Henry Ford was producing the Model T you were saying that about your buggy whip business?

We sneer at the big corporate dudes who make silly – unethical – projections about their businesses out of an inflated ego.

Do we fall prey to the same delusions on a less grandiose scale perhaps?

If you’re kinda bored and want to see what Gary Busey is doing these days, give it a look see. It’s mildy risque and not nearly as funny as I hoped.

If you can’t see the video below, click here.

“Tennessee ranks 30st for children’s health care”

I can’t figure out (even after reading the story) if that means 31st or 30th.

Does the state rank 50st for “readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic”?

Dave Barry on the Economic Stimulus Package:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?

A. It is money that the federal government will
send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?

A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?

A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?

A. The plan is that you will use the money to
purchase a high-definition TV set, thus
stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of
China?

A. Shut up.

Evidently though that lack of entrepreneurial drive and “Get’ em Tiger” attitude may not mean you’re depressed at all… you may just be British according to this humorous post from a British blogger.

This DOES sound exactly like our psychiatric system however which isn’t so humorous.

DEPRESSED MAN DIAGNOSED AS “BRITISH”

George Farthing, an expatriate British man living in America, who was recently diagnosed as clinically depressed, was dosed up on anti-depressants and scheduled for controversial electro-shock therapy when doctors realised he wasn’t depressed at all–only British.

‘Not depressed, just British’

Mr Farthing, a British man whose characteristic pessimism and gloomy perspective were interpreted as serious clinical depression, was led on a nightmare journey through the American psychiatric system.

Doctors described Farthing as suffering with Pervasive Negative Anticipation–a belief that everything will turn out for the worst, whether it’s trains arriving late, England’s chances at winning any international sports event or even his own prospects to get ahead in life and achieve his dreams.

“The satisfaction Mr Farthing seemed to get from his pessimism seemed particularly pathological,” reported the doctors.

You can read it all here and find how to get an upgrade in that diagnosis…

HT