Texas Gov. Rick Perry is not applying for up to $700 million in federal stimulus dollars for his state’s education fund.

In his letter, Perry said it would be “foolish” to accept the funds – arguing that it would too firmly tie his state’s hands on education.

Let’s see. Perry didn’t want the stimulus funds for our unemployment system, because it would “too firmly tie” his hands. So we ended up taking a loan from the federal government for it anyway, our unemployment system is still a totally screwed up mess, and now the unemployment tax on all businesses –small ones included– has tripled. Now he’s doing the same thing for our educational system, which is just as screwed up (if not more so). I guess I should expect our property taxes to triple in order to keep it going as well. And no, Mr. Perry, our educational system is not on the right track for improvement, unless you truly believe that teaching children that McCarthy was a hero and that the planet was created in 6 days is a good thing, which I suspect he and many of his supporters do.

The Food and Drug Administration has reversed its position on the safety of Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic bottles, soda cans, food containers and thousands of consumer goods, saying it now has concerns about health risks.

The FDA had long maintained that BPA is safe, relying largely on two studies funded by the chemical industry. The agency was faulted by its own panel of independent science advisers in 2008, which said its position on BPA was scientifically flawed because it ignored more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that raised health concerns about BPA. Recent data found health effects even at low doses of BPA — lower than the levels considered safe by the FDA.

It’s taken them long enough to even admit there might be a problem with this chemical leeching into foods and beverages. I imagine it’ll be a really long time yet before they admit it shouldn’t be used around foodstuffs. You know, I hear the plastics industry has well paid lobbyists.

“This is a fledgling revolution, that’s what it is.”

A few hundred people protested near our statehouse this weekend, insisting Perry nullify any health care legislation coming out of Washington. “We” don’t want anything to do with your Marxist/socialist/communist agenda!!! My suggestion to the federal government is that should the government of Texas follow the wishes of a handful of crazy people and deny whatever health care legislation to be carried out in our state, then I guess “we” don’t need Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid too. If ever there was anything “socialist” in our government, those three programs would fit the definition, and I want them gone!

IT’S SOCIALISM!! AMIRITE!?

Always interesting to me to see photos of these protests and count all the senior citizens in attendance. You know, the people who currently benefit from the taxes us younger folk pay, and who won’t be paying any taxes for health care in the future. Doesn’t freaking touch their lives at all, except it might make our health care system better for everyone, but NO, NO, NO … “we” don’t want any of that nasty socialism (unless it’s our Social Security and Medicaid).

The quotes from those in attendance are priceless. Really, you need to read the article.

The parents of a Galesburg soldier charged with possessing child pornography in Afghanistan say he did nothing wrong and are furious about the way he is being treated by military authorities.

Miller’s mother, Terri, said the family e-mailed their son pictures of his 4-year-old niece last summer. The pictures show the girl in a swimming suit and were taken during her birthday party last summer while Billy was in Afghanistan. Terri said Billy is very close to his niece. The pictures were on Billy’s laptop, which the Army has confiscated.

The photos in question are published alongside the story, which makes me wonder when the news outlet will be charged with publishing child porn. For the record, I don’t believe they are porn at all, especially not in a society that allows child beauty pageants to be what they are and fashion magazines to publish the photos they do. To people saying a two piece suit isn’t appropriate for a four year old … bite me, and to the people saying a child doesn’t pose in a sassy way without being told to do so … bite me. They didn’t know me (or many of my friends) when we were four years old. There may be more to the story, and I’m sure we’ll hear about it if there is, but with what I know now, this case seems ridiculous, overblown, and completely uncalled for.

Johnson & Johnson issued a massive recall Friday of over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol, Motrin and St. Joseph’s aspirin because of a moldy smell that has made people sick.

The recall includes some batches of regular and extra-strength Tylenol, children’s Tylenol, eight-hour Tylenol, Tylenol arthritis, Tylenol PM, children’s Motrin, Motrin IB, Benadryl, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph’s aspirin.

Just thought I should pass this on, because it doesn’t seem too many people have heard about this recall. From what I can gather, if you have a bad batch, you will know it as soon as you open the package, as it seems the smell alone is making people sick. All the same, if you use any of these products, maybe check out the information anyway just to be safe and be sure you aren’t putting something into your body that contains things it shouldn’t.