Odds and Ends

A few unrelated, yet potentially interesting items for today ...

Sixty-eight Burmese Pythons were captured or killed during this year's Python Challenge in Florida, where the gigantic snakes are becoming a nuisance. Florida state wildlife officials estimate that there may be as many as 100,000 of the huge reptiles living in the Florida swamps, where they have all but eliminated rabbits, foxes, raccoons, opossums, and other small animals. The snakes are a dangerous invasive species that is very powerful and breeds rapidly ... much like lawyers and lobbyists in Washington.

Congress is still on vacation while the nation lurches toward the next economic wound our elected reprehensives have inflicted on it ... the so-called "sequester." I vaguely recall a time when going on vacation without finishing your assigned work was cause for being fired, and I definitely recall a time when my parents wouldn't let me budge from the house until my homework was done ... but I guess times change. Do you wonder why government at all levels is held in such low regard?

It seems that the next season of the hit "reality" TV show Survivor has started pre-production ...

Russia is cleaning up after the spectacular meteor impact that hit the Siberian region of Chelyabinsk last week. The impact injured more than a thousand people, most of them cut by flying glass from shattered windows, and caused damage estimated at more than a billion rubles (about $33 million). According to scientists, it was the largest amount of damage not attributable to Congress in the last ten years.

Pope Benedict XVI is finalizing plans for his retirement as the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave that will select his successor.  Many different opinions are circulating as to the most appropriate choice for the next pope, with various groups arguing for selection of an Asian, Latin American, African, or even a female pontiff. My father once told us a story about the selection of the pope following the death of Paul VI in 1978. It seems that the front-runner was an unknown cardinal named Emilio Sicola who had attracted a great deal of attention because of his piety and good works. Unfortunately, he was passed over because of opposition by the very powerful Italian soft drink lobby, which maintained that Pope Sicola would provide an unfair advertising advantage to ... well ... you know*.

Troubled country music star Mindy McCready** has been found dead, having apparently committed suicide by shooting herself in the head. A gun didn't kill Ms McCready, Ms McCready killed herself. With a gun. Just an observation.

And that's it for today. If you are a federal government worker, I hope you're enjoying the President's Day holiday today. If Congress has its way, you'll be getting a lot more holidays in the near future ... of course, they'll be called furloughs and you won't get paid for them, but your elected reprehensives will continue to draw their salaries and enjoy their perks of office. Just something to consider as you watch the ongoing kiddie circus operating where good government used to be.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* Shamelessly reproduced from a comment I left on Angel's post a few days ago. You've gotta love self-plagiarism.

** The link takes you to a Wikipedia page ... the singer's personal website is offline.