Walmart Ain't Sweet

I'm getting extremely annoyed with my local Walmart. Over the course of the last year, they've had the big bags of Splenda on their shelves exactly once. They've got the smaller sizes, the boxes with the individual packages, plus the sugar/Splenda mixes (what's up with that?) but not the large size bag.

I would prefer buying my sweetener there instead of the grocery store as I can save a buck a bag at Walmart. At least the last time I spent an extra dollar I got a free Koolaid spoon.

I did purchase a new item from Splenda, a nifty little dispenser that, with one click, drops a tiny pellet that's equiv. to one half a teaspoon of sugar. For some reason I always think of rabbits pooping in my coffee when I sweeten it.

Just as well, I guess, that I have to monitor my Splenda intake; some say it's toxic.

Sex, Nazis and Burritos

According to Reuters, internet users in Egypt, India and Turkey Google the word "sex" more than anywhere else in the world.

From the article:

Germany, Mexico and Austria were world's top three searchers of the word "Hitler" while "Nazi" scored the most hits in Chile, Australia and the United Kingdom, data from 2004 to the present retrievable on the "Google Trends" Web site showed.

The top searchers for other keywords were as follows (in order from first to third place):

"Jihad" - Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan
"Terrorism" - Pakistan, Philippines, Australia
"Hangover" - Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
"Burrito" - United States, Argentina, Canada
"Iraq" - United States, Australia, Canada
"Taliban" - Pakistan, Australia, Canada
"Tom Cruise" - Canada, United States, Australia
"Britney Spears" - Mexico, Venezuela, Canada
"Homosexual" - Philippines, Chile, Venezuela
"Love" - Philippines, Australia, United States
"Botox" - Australia, United States, United Kingdom
"Viagra" - Italy, United Kingdom, Germany
"David Beckham" - Venezuela, United Kingdom, Mexico
"Kate Moss" - Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden
"Dolly Buster" - Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia
"Car bomb" - Australia, United States, Canada
"Marijuana" - Canada, United States, Australia

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I've NEVER googled Nazi OR Burrito, btw.

From Here to Eternity

R.I.P. Deborah Kerr

Winners & Losers

Note: This is from an article in the Washington Post a week ago; it wasn't reported in Drudge nor in my political forum. I don't understand; this is one of those issues near 'n dear to my heart. Texas gets 88 cents back from every dollar "we" send to Washington.

I guess I should feel lucky; that's better odds than a slot machine.

(Click for a larger image)



By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The federal government's system of taxing and spending works well for people in New Mexico, Mississippi and West Virginia. Not so well for those in Minnesota, Delaware and New Jersey.

New Mexico received $3.10 in federal spending for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington in 2005 -- more than any other state -- said an Associated Press analysis. Delaware fared the worst, receiving 42 cents for every dollar sent to Washington. It was followed by Minnesota, which got 46 cents, and New Jersey, 57 cents.

In all, 30 states and the District of Columbia received more money from the government than they paid in federal taxes.

The Census Bureau report on 2005 spending documents the geographic distribution of $2.3 trillion in government spending, including salaries, grants, military pay, government contracts and Social Security payments. It excludes interest on the national debt, overseas spending and intelligence agency budgets. The AP compared the census data to IRS figures for 2005 tax collections.

The analysis shows that wealthy states pay more than poor ones, blue states subsidize red states and states with powerful politicians on key House and Senate committees fare well in federal spending.

High-income states like New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts paid more in taxes than they received, while low-income states like Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama got a much higher return for their tax dollars. The exceptions were Alaska, Hawaii, Virginia and Maryland -- high-income states that also received high levels of government spending.

Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, a Washington research group, said the numbers represent a redistribution of the nation's wealth.

Responding, James Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said: "I think it is appropriate for people doing well to pay a higher share."

Onli If U Lern to Spel

The Lee Brothers

Ug Lee and Home Lee

Nah, they're my nephews. They both have children older now than they were then.

Taken in my swinging bachelor pad, a garage apt., circa summer '76. Rent was $50/month.