A Grand Time – And Nobody Threw Up January 12, 2006March 3, 2017 A GRAND TIME TO BE RICH AND POWERFUL Hourly wages rose last year, but not quite enough to keep pace with inflation, so in real terms wages slipped again. Meanwhile – as the Republican leadership called for further tax cuts for the rich (and Jeb Bush here in Florida called for the elimination of a tax that only affects the wealthy) – the New York Times reports that ‘tax refunds sought by 1.6 million poor Americans over the last five years’ were denied even though ‘the vast majority’ appear to have been valid. It’s a remarkable story, and well worth the click. BROWNBAGGING IT John Vassallo: ‘Taking a lunch to work can save a lot of money (I didn’t see it mentioned in your book). You don’t even need to buy deli meats, etc. I just make extra at dinner time and bring the leftovers to work. I also drink the free coffee (yes, I know, it’s barely passable). I am surprised at the large number of colleagues who buy lunch and gourmet coffee every day. The company fridge is practically empty. Brownbagging would easily save them $500 to $1000 a year.’ GOOD SENSE ON IRAQ In case you missed it: Zbigniew Brzezinski in Sunday’s Washington Post. SMART GUYS AIM BETTER One reason to be so proud of, and confident in, our military is the quality of our recruits. As detailed here: that quality is now slipping. (One partial solution would be to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country, as they serve in the militaries of practically all our major allies. As Barry Goldwater noted, you shouldn’t have to be straight to serve, just be able to shoot straight.) PEOPLE WERE MOVED. NOBODY THREW UP Perhaps not the greatest review of ‘Brokeback Mountain’ – ‘People were moved. Nobody threw up.’ – but an interesting perspective nonetheless. I hereby give you permission not to see the movie; just please may we have equal rights?