It's back! But let's be easy about this—take this nice and slow, like. Just a few links to ruin your weekend this time.

"FDIC gives up on Silverton Bank"
Sometimes banks are just so difficult. I mean, who can blame the FDIC. Silverton just needs some time to stand in the corner and think about what it did.
"States propose $24 billion in tax hikes"
You know, most of us like taxes. In theory. We like schools and roads and an economic infrastructure. But as cute as tax hikes are, soon, taxes are simply going to become what we're fans of paying. Not what we can actually pay.
"The new 'good' job: 12 bucks an hour"
No comment.
"U.S. dollar 'seriously overvalued' -- study"
I know, right. So, everybody stop making such a big deal about the dollar. Clearly, it's not worth it.
"German debts set to blow 'like a grenade'"
Ok, stop making a fuss about the German economy, too. Also not worth it.
And my favorite . . .
"Pastor Organizes Gun Celebration at Church"
You have got to be god-damned kidding me. That's just too precious for words.
And terrifying.
"FDIC gives up on Silverton Bank"
Sometimes banks are just so difficult. I mean, who can blame the FDIC. Silverton just needs some time to stand in the corner and think about what it did.
"States propose $24 billion in tax hikes"
You know, most of us like taxes. In theory. We like schools and roads and an economic infrastructure. But as cute as tax hikes are, soon, taxes are simply going to become what we're fans of paying. Not what we can actually pay.
"The new 'good' job: 12 bucks an hour"
No comment.
"U.S. dollar 'seriously overvalued' -- study"
I know, right. So, everybody stop making such a big deal about the dollar. Clearly, it's not worth it.
"German debts set to blow 'like a grenade'"
Ok, stop making a fuss about the German economy, too. Also not worth it.
And my favorite . . .
"Pastor Organizes Gun Celebration at Church"
You have got to be god-damned kidding me. That's just too precious for words.
And terrifying.



Now, since the dollar's waning, we just need crude to trade lower, or we're going to have another awfully expensive summer.
Interesting. Do you have a link for that? I'd love to look it up.
You might also like to check out this program. It's something that's being introduced in the town where I live.
If our pastor were encouraging our congregation to bring our guns to church, I'd honestly have a bit of a problem with it and have to question why the need to be armed there all of a sudden.
Otherwise, I think it's sensationalist and rather elementary. If folks already have their gun-sense about them, then there's the--forgive the pun--element of preaching to the choir. On the other hand, I'm not sure I want some neophyte gun handler coming into a non-range environment with a weapon they know jack crap about handling in the first place. Even at a range, just like driving, you have to watch out for the other shooters.
In a nutshell, the four rules of gun safety go a long way. Open carry in KY isn't as restrictive as concealed carry, apparently, in the same state.
Me? I tends to like my freedom to worship and freedom to tote a bangstick separated. So long as ol' boy and the congregation don't wax extreme or incite anybody to anything, though, apparently they'll end up meetin' and packin'.
I am, on principle, not opposed to anyone's right to religion—in fact, I'm quite, rabidly, fond of my right from religion.
However, as Thoreau told us, "I was not born to be forced." To take his meaning slightly out of context, arming ourselves in our ideological gathering houses is all well and good until we start riling ourselves up about how to enforce our ideas of what's right and what's wrong onto another individual.
It would seem to me that the difference between gathering to share a religious perspective and gathering to share a religious perspective while also demonstrating to ourselves which of us are armed and to what extent is a quite serious one. Our country is in a rapid state of polarization, so people arming themselves in groups other than non-ideological demonstrations such as collectors at gun shows, traders at gun shows, or enthusiasts at shooting ranges is a nerve-wracking thing.
I believe in gun rights, but I also fear what happens when those rights are exercised en masse in an environment wherein one is told by a person one believes to be divinely ordained by God that one is right by God in doing something like gathering with one's fellow believers in a community of armament.
Technically, there's nothing illegal or unconstitutional about it, but that does not change my fear of the situation.
You know?
Yep, at the community college, our enrollments are up 10%, but because of the state budget problem and decreasing county tax rolls, we have been given a flat budget this year. More students in need of classes and services, same amount of money. Fan-frakkin'-tastic!