A Striking Difference

I am not alone among criminal justice professionals when I say there are some flaws in the Three Strike Law. But that is a debate for another day.

Sort of.

You see, Pfizer pharmaceutical as I am sure you read yesterday, was slapped with a multi-billion fine for fraudulent marketing. Imagine our shock that pharmaceutical companies that is arguably our first line of defense against everything from pregnancy to swine flu would act in less than a responsible, righteous and forthright manner.

But, rest easy. The Attorney General tells us that this mega fine "should act as a deterrent".

Really?

Newsflash. This was Pfizer's FOURTH fine since 2002.

Maybe we need a new definition of deterrence.

So here is my point:
Some kid commits three Class I crimes- violent or not- and he/she gets life in prison.

Pfizer? I have a feeling that this is just the top of the inning and it is going to be another winning season

Your Tax Dollars at Worst

So, because I am the unfortunate member of the class known as middle, I had to pay my own way through school. The government gave me a bit of help and now owns me body and soul.
The reams of paperwork that I need to fill out on a quarterly basis to keep them from extracting the funds back from me while I enjoy the benefits of the bad economy is legion.

Here was my latest and perhaps my favorite.
"Please fill out this forma and attached documentation" (shortened version of their request)

So, I did. Made myself copies and sent it off.

One week later.

"Thanks for submitting, but we could not process this because it did not have all the required information BECAUSE- we did not ask for that information as it is a new requirement and we have not updated our forms,"

OK, guys- psychic comes extra. How was I to know to put it on there if they did not ask for it? And how much is it costing them (us) to send out the wrong form, and then send it back?

A weaker mind would snap.

Dreams Through the Years

My oldest son is in New York this week.
He called Amtrak, packed a back and told us all he needed a break- and headed East- for 17 days.

He is spending his days on the upper west side at cafes and parks.
He is tippin' a few with the old timers at Jimmy's on Times Square and he is making his pilgrimages to Lucky Strike- our family's restaurant in SoHo.

He sounds more like Robert DeNiro every day.

I send him emails about where there are Jazz Festivals and Flea Markets happening in the City- but he is not there to see or even here.
He is just there to be.

He is where I want to be.
He told me the other day that he was sitting in Central park and realized that he was doing just what he wanted to be doing as he sat at his desk in California.
So he just did it.

OK...a really cool part about having kids is that they get to live your dreams when you don't have the time.