All around me the souls of those waiting to depart, waiting to exit, waiting to do anything, walk around like those lost without a map. Booming voices are calling from over head but the muffling static prevents any audibility. These souls look to the sky for direction but only longer lines await. I get behind a mass of others; one by one looked over by demons, swiped by their seeking tails, searching for anything that’s not right. And there it is; the gate. As you pass through it makes a sound, permitting you to your final destination. If it beeps, you’re sent back. This electronic Minos only lets those pass who have committed their sins to a large, plastic bin. As I pass through the gate with no instance, it’s nice to think that I have a destination but this is just an illusion. I walk though endless corridors, heckled by other demons, hocking pretzels, sunglasses…and foreign language cd-rom’s. I pass through these passage ways, lights flickering and there it is. The vestibule.

Filled with rows and rows of seats for its unlucky patrons it calls me towards it. Amid animated signs and roped off doors lies the ultimate punishment, the waiting room, Here hundreds of souls unsure of their future come and sit and worry. Sitting next to strangers in small uncomfortable gray seats only adds to the pain. As I look around at my fellow passengers I hear a scream… “NO IN-FLIGHT MOVIE?!” and to myself “oh the humanity” the journey now seems longer than ever.

But soon, Salvation! A voice from above calls me, “Zone 4” At last…my journey is able to begin. I pick myself up and rush to beat others who want to take my space in deliverance. I go through a dark and shaky hallway towards my transport with a breath of freedom in my lungs. I follow the signs to my place and finally start to relax. As the rest of the souls pile in I realize this is just a mirage, my journey has just started. Hours of pain look me in the face, this eternal punishment will never end and lucky me….I have a center seat.

Fasten your seatbelts.

Charon's New Ferry

The less cynical, and more analytic critique of the tax code that I posit is this: we have a very unequal distribution of wealth these days, so why not have a very UNEQUAL tax code? Why not let the tax code reflect the society’s extreme inequality, and use it as an engine to fix it? Why do we stop creating tiers at a measly 350 Grand mark, and extend it up to 1, 5, or even 100 million in income?  The income tax has been MUCH higher in the past, around 90%!  That is unimaginable today, only because we are forced to believe this will dampen economic growth.  That is nonsense, and borderline propaganda.  It is time to tap one of America’s greatest Natural Resources:  Millionaires.

The current tax system greatly favors the Rich and lets the ever-shrinking Middle gnaw on what’s left.  It is unfair and crippling our economy and polity.   Higher tax rates for the rich does not constitute socialism.  Quite the contrary, it’s a return to our American roots and history.  It is time for a more sane tax regime, that reflect reality, not the interests of the Rich.

to Las Vegas lately you will see some very creative marketing going on. Every cab has

ads…everywhere (many of questionable nature). From the roof, to on the truck, in the passenger seat

to my personal favorite – modified spinner hubcaps with ads on them, cabs are moving billboards. From

a marketing and economics view, this is genius. Vegas has thousands of cabs, that pick up thousands

of people a day, but more importantly they are seen by tens of thousands a day throughout the city.

With this much exposure, marketers would be crazy not to capitalize on this format.

So what

does this have to do with school buses? With school taxes on the rise, and for most salaries not

increasing with cost of living, why not apply the same technique to an even bigger billboard – school

buses. Now I’m not suggesting that Percillas Pussycat Lounge be featured next to the blinking lights,

but think of the possibilities! Who sees school busses? School Children – advertise toys. Parents-

grocery stores, car insurance, cell phones. People stuck behind them on their way to work – satellite

radio to sooth the nerves, and I’m SURE Starbucks would love to slap their name on the back to entice

frustrated commuters.

With the extra revenue from that ad placements, not only could schools

expand their budget with less tax payer money, but also stop cutting valuable programs like art,

music and sports that have plagued under funded school districts.

So the next time you’re

stuck behind a bus, just think…how much money COULD I be saving with Gieco?

So easy, even a school administrator could do it.

New York. One- I attended a wedding, Two- I got to have a couple beers with Dennis. Result = blog

post. (Disclaimer – this post was inspired by Dennis rather than the

wedding) Regardless what the Fed, or Greenspan or the Dow says…we’re still in a

recession. In this age of skeleton crews and meager plates, the business of love is still booming.

According to most resources, the average US couple spends just over $20,000 for their wedding –

twenty…THOUSAND…dollars, according to the US department of Health and Services that

amount is just under the poverty threshold for a family of four. And this is just the average – of

course with anything someone has to go big. With weddings able to skyrocket past the 100k mark one

has to wonder…what’s the point?

Perhaps its my rational economic mind speaking here but I

don’t see much sense in spending a healthy house down payment, or a decent half years salary on one

day to celebrate this event. What really gets me is how commercial the institution of marriage has

become. With vows like “…in sickness and in health” (which with health care in America, might be wise

to invest in a health fund rather than a wedding) and the ever hypocritical “…for richer or for

poorer” (most likely the latter after this party!)

Marriage should be about the love of two

people devoting their life to each other, not the matching platinum napkin rings and your choice of

chicken, beef or fish.

What to do? Dennis mentioned a great point. We both love the idea of

Micro-anything. Tasks put on a small localized scale to achieve efficiency – the micro-wedding was

born. In these tough times couples need to take a good hard look at their special day. Does anyone

REALLY have 60 cousins that need to come? And I bet you don’t even like your uncle Larry… who isn’t

going to give a good gift anyway- so why bother? Bring your wedding down to size. The

micro-wedding would not only be cheaper, but also simpler. Locally outsource the tasks, invite local

friends and only close family. Make your wedding focus on the real purpose – love. The wedding will

never make the marriage, and make it so its death…rather then debt that causes the couple to

part.

"I do...have my checkbook"

that just plain make me laugh. Maybe its a pet peeve, maybe I’m a visionary (unlikely) but there’s

one thing that just bothers me. I walk around campus and see people wearing college gear from every

college EXCEPT the one they currently attend. These supporters almost always brandish a logo of a

school that is far better then the school they currently attend. What does this say about the person?

And how does it effect school spirit? I can only imagine what is running through potential students

minds as they see support for every school but the one they are about to enroll in. Id like to give

these people the benefit of the doubt and say perhaps it was a gift from a friend, or its their

parents school…but more likely than not its that strange quirk of human nature that thinks somehow

that shirt = a better education. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus said it best

“ Know, first, who yo u are; and then adorn yourself accordingly”.

No...You didnt do there.