Oregon Politician Not Able to say the G-word

Washington, DC -- A libertarian politician from Oregon likes to hang out in bars after work and is often asked what he is doing in Washington from Oregon. "I'm a lobbyist" is his standard answer.

The problem with Peter Longmire is that he hates government. He does not like any government, but he thinks the federal crooks are the worst. But here is the problem. Just like the crooks, he gets a paycheck from the government.

"I'm not here to pass any new laws. Not any laws that might be signed by Obama. I'm here to make sure no more federal restrictions are placed on individuals. I'm a lifetime NRA member."

When conversation at the bar gets to his favorite subjects, he hints that he might be able to "do something." They ask "like what?" He then asks them to name something specific.

As the evening moves along and the plans get crazier and crazier, he might let is slip that he is out there in "congress." He might be in Government, but certainly not working FOR the Federal Government. "I work for the people back home. We want the government out of there with the wild life refuge land. We can take care of a few birds and critters." Turning to his bar crowd he says: we'll shoot them!

Since he works for his voters in Oregon and gets a federal paycheck, he says he is not really taking anything away from Oregon. In fact he saves a lot of his salary and invests it back home.

Trader Joe's Refuses To Hire Philosopher

Farmington, MA -- Area philosopher Matt Geiger, 25, has applied at the local Trader Joe's stores every time there is an opening. Currently he is working in a shoe store near one and is on a first name basis with all the clerks in the store. Sometimes he goes in there to straighten out the produce packages and sweeps coffee off the floor near the coffee grinder.

He has the experience and is friendly, but has figured out they discriminate him because he has an MA in philosophy and has never used his degree. "They even employ dropped out chemistry majors, failed architects, auto mechanics between jobs, you name it! I feel there is a corporate policy against philosophers. I've asked around, they never hired one that I know. One psychologist."

Meanwhile, the corporate office denies any discrimination. One of the employees thinks there is a bell curve approach to hiring. "If you fall outside the bell curve in three things, like former salary and stuff like that, they do not hire you."

Matt was even willing to change his snappy dress style to a more relaxed baseball cap and shorts all year. It seemed like a desperate attempt. Shoppers at the local store have started treating the young man with the suit jacket as an employee, and are not aware of the conflict.

Single Mom: I Need My Coal!

Covington, KY -- Area mom Madge McCarthy has gone vocal just before Earth Day to complain about the cost of electricity.

"I don't care about Al Gore and his warming. He can sit in his cozy castle and warm all he likes. I need my electricity!"

She has obviously been watching the Fox Channel, as she seems to think coal is the solution. We in fact sell coal mining rights cheaply and it has been providing a steady source of energy for over a hundred years in the US.

"And I want my kids to be able to go in our little yard and see robins and pigeons. I don't want them killed by windmills. "

She does not seem to know the robins and pigeons are not migratory in Kentucky and there is not a wind mill within a hundred miles they could fly into.

"And  I don't care about sea levels rising and corals dissolving or whatever they do. My kids will never see any coral anyway."

Though she had no high school chemistry, she is probably right there, her kids are unlikely to travel to the ocean.

And what about the polar bears?
"The polar bears can go to the zoos! We go to the Cincinnati Zoo once a year with my ex-husband's mom to see the polar bears. When it dies, we'll take another one from Canada. They'll have some till I have grand kids, right?"