Corrections and General Grouchiness

During our visit with Leya yesterday, I was gently wirebrushed by my daughter over one of my posts to this blog. Back on the 10th of December, in a post titled "The Footsteps of the Father," I wrote about the modern tendency of children not to follow their fathers into a family business or similar line of work. I discussed the career paths my two sons had taken and how they'd diverged from mine, but as Yasmin pointedly reminded me yesterday, I neglected to mention that she had, in fact, followed me - into international affairs and government service, if not the military (she works as an International Trade Compliance Analyst for the Department of Commerce).

I stand corrected. Sorry, Mausi. I'm proud of you!


On other fronts...

CNN is reporting that Saudi King Abdullah has pardoned the rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for the dual heinous crimes of being raped and of daring to challenge her sentence. Perhaps there is a slim chance that Saudi Arabia may yet be dragged, kicking and screaming, out of the seventh century and into the twenty-first. But we can't be too hasty, because the woman's lawyer still faces a disciplinary hearing for "insulting the Supreme Judicial Council and disobeying the rules and regulations" of the judiciary for taking on her case and speaking publicly about it. The CNN report notes that the hearing has been "postponed."

Congress is still in session, lurching clumsily toward its Christmas recess. Don't look for any sudden growth of spines in your senators and reprehensives, or unexpected awakening of concern for the welfare of actual taxpaying citizens. While we do have a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," it helps if you are one of the Oil People, the Agribusiness People, the Pharmaceuticals People, the Gun People, the Medical People, the Illegal Immigrant Advocacy People, or the Big Business People. If you're an average middle-class taxpayer like me, you're pretty much screwed. Merry Christmas.

Yes, I'm feeling grouchy and Grinchy again this morning. I can't help it. My holiday good cheer and basic optimistic outlook is bumping up against my anger at a government full of pontificating bozos more interested in kissing up to special interests than in taking care of real people. I'll have more to say about this tomorrow. For now, I'll just take a deep breath and calm down, or visit The Mistress of the Dark, who continues to post some great Christmas music at her blog. I think I'll go there and get myself centered again.

Time to walk the dog and get ready for work. Oh, joy!

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo