Quote of the moment...

A new favorite quote of the moment:

"If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less."
--Retired U.S. Army General Eric Shinseki

We all need to evolve, learn, grow, change. It's inherent in being human. Change or die. We don't want to become dinosaurs, do we? I know change is often difficult, and at best only disconcerting, but it is a natural progression and evolution. Things change, people change, technologies change, hairstyles change... I recognize that I, myself, am resistent to change in certain areas, but I also realize that I need to keep learning and growing. Good thoughts to think on...

Is ANYONE worth this much money?

According to a recent Associated Press story, Exxon Mobil Corp. Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond, who recently retired, received a $69.7 million compensation package and $98 million pension payout. And according to a financial analysis by Brian Foley of The New York Times, Raymond was compensated more than $686 million by the oil giant from 1993 to 2005, which comes out to $144,573 per day of his employment.

Now I don't really want to get into the whole discussion of big oil executives defending their record profits and dodging questions of price gouging, although it is worth noting this in light of impending $3 per gallon gas prices. Also, I'm sure it's not an easy job to run a large multinational corporation. I'm sure other people have earned big money, Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, comes to mind. (Although I have to give Mr. Gates credit, as he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various charities, especially noteworthy are his donations to fight AIDS in the Third World--but I digress.)

Simply put, this amount of money is unfathomable to me (and, I hazard to guess, to most people). Most people I know make between $20,000 and $50,000 per year. Exxon Mobil's CEO made three times more money in a single day of work than most people in America (or the world) make in a year or more! Can you honestly imagine what it would be like to make $144,573 per day?!? You could buy a new house every day! Or two to three luxury cars every day! What else could someone do with this kind of money?

Just one day's worth of the Exxon Mobil's CEO pay could feed 18,071 people an $8 meal. (I wonder what kind of meal Halliburton could provide for $8 a plate? Digressing again, sorry.) Charity is good, but what about "teaching a man to fish" so he'll have fish to eat every day?

According to CNN, the cost of attending a four-year public university (including room and board) averaged $12,127 per year in 2005. At the Exxon Mobil's CEO pay rate, one month's salary could allow 357 students to attend college for a full year, or a year's worth of that salary could pay for 4,283 students to enrich their minds in college for a full year - imagine what they could do to improve the world!

I just realized I'm not really going anywhere with this post... Still, it boggles my mind. Is anyone truly worth $144,573 per day? I mean, really? Is anyone's knowledge or skill so god-like? And what does one do with that much money? I mean how many gold fixtures, summer homes, and recreational yachts can any one person really use anyway? Let's think about it... And there are people in the U.S. who go to bed hungry and uneducated every night. Think about it...

I likes me some 'o that Daylight Savings Time

Man, I love the spring as the temps get into the 60s and 70s and the days are increasing. It's great to get home from work and still have a few hours of sunlight. It certainly improves my mood. When I lived in northwest Minnesota 90 miles south of the Canadian border this time of year was always something to look forward to. I recall in June there was still light in the western sky at 10:30 p.m.! And when I visited my sister in Alaska in June, it was great because it never really got dark.

I'm fairly certain that I have SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm usually in the best mood with increasing daylight hours in April, May, and June. Conversely, I begin to feel increasingly ornery in October, November and December. I think November is the worst by far. Usually if I can make it through to Thankgiving I level off.

I'd be totally supportive if sunrise was always at 7:30 a.m. and sunset at 10 p.m. Oh well, cycles are nature's way. Without all the dark crappy weather in November, I guess I wouldn't appreciate the light happy weather of April as much.

R U ready 4 the Apocalypse?

Sorry about going all Prince in the headline, but it looks like we should all start partying like it's 1999. (Fu)'king Insane Emperor G.W. Bush ('king W. for short) is discussing a nuclear strike on Iran with his military buds. It's all over the Sunday news shows, and we all knew Iran was next of his list. Hell, it might even happen in time for Jesus' return on Easter Sunday this coming week!

The self-appointed Chosen One (and I'm NOT talking about Jesus here; Jesus is innately humble and peace-loving) and his cronies have done a lot to hasten the end of the world.

'king W. and his cronies have refused to acknowledge global warming and have set back environmental protections by 40 years or more, even allowing some of the worst polluters to keep polluting. He and his cronies have squeltched civil rights and eroded the wall separating church and state so it became easier to get all his Christianist buddies into power positions (note that I said Christianist, not Christian; Christianists are those radical fundamentalist politicians who are morally superior, extremely judgemental, and eagerly awaiting the Rapture - I'd love to see the looks on their faces when they get "left behind" for politicizing Jesus and judging lest they be judged).

There's more....

'king W. and his cronies have created a climate where questioning their actions is equal to being seen as traitor - don't question him or his plans or the terrorist win! He and his cronies have given the biggests tax breaks to the very wealthiest, so they can buy their stairway to heaven and eliminate the middle class. He and his cronies have cut funding for higher education and mandated the No Child Left Behind program in order to keep America's youth ignorant so they can easily be led...

But wait, there's more...

He and his cronies have gotten us into a quagmire of a civil war in Iraq and they all lied to get us there. He and his cronies have purposely leaked confidential information for political gain. He and his cronies have alienated essentially all of our world allies. He and his cronies have employed torture techniques and laughed in the face of the Geneva Convention. And now we hear talk about he and his cronies looking at options for various attacks on Iran, specifically NOT ruling out a nuclear attack.

Impeach him now before he pushes that button and unleashes the worst war in human history. You may think I'm overreacting, but I'm sincerely afraid that 'king W. and his cronies could really, really screw us all over TO THE MAX. Oh well, maybe in the resulting post-apocalyptic wasteland some of those nuclear zombies will attack his little protective bunker and eat his brains. Then the cockroaches can take over...

Oh, by the way, if I conveniently disappear for sharing this opinion, you'll know the Men in Black came for me.

More lyrics of the moment: Skeleton Key

I've been listening to a LOT of new music in recent days. This one struck me in particular... All the more interesting considering that a skeleton key is essentially a very basic key that can open virtually any door.

"Skeleton Key" by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's

I did a sick, sick thing to my love.
My lack of loyalty, it swallowed her up.
And she cooked me food.
She squirmed and turned like a skeleton key.
She left her man and attended to me.

Don't call me that. Don't claim you love me
'cause you know that ain't true.
My dire affliction I attribute to you.
And you're finally free
to twist and turn like a skeleton key.

You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.

I did a horrible thing to that girl.
I bred my misery and drowned it in her.
And she got me high, and I hardly noticed
there were tears in her eyes.

And I miss you less and less everyday.
This stream of whiskey's helped to wash you away.
And it's clear to see you're nothing special.
You're a skeleton key.

You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.

Whooo!

Lyrics of the moment...

Wow! The final episode of Six Feet Under is powerful. The final montage that reveals the fates of each of the main characters is backed by the song "Breathe Me" by Sia. It fits perfectly.

"Breathe Me" by Sia
Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me