And away we go...

Just read a story on Boston.com about how credit card companies have started a massive reduction in available credit. Essentially, the long and short of it is that to reduce the debt on their books and to lessen the chance that in these economic times someone may use a credit card with a large balance to cover expenses that they can't cover otherwise, they are starting to reduce the credit limits of many of their customers' cards.

I have two problems with this:

1. Many of these banks are the very same banks which received bailout funds from the government which was partially targeted with the purpose of easing their lending standards; not tightening them. This was supposed to increase the flow of credit, thus increasing the public's spending power and helping the economy to recover. This action is effectively the exact opposite of that.

2. A reduction in the balance of one of your credit cards could negatively impact your credit rating. Ultimately, if you have less credit available, you are therefore using more of your available credit when you carry any balance. Since the ratio of used vs. available credit is a factor in your credit rating...you see where I'm going.

I think it's the exact wrong thing to do right now, especially given that these institutions were just standing in front of the government, hats in hand, asking for money. Money that was supposed to help them increase the flow of commerce. Shame on them for taking it and then turning around and essentially exacerbating the problem. And shame on the government for this "blank check" that they've essentially written. Ultimately, the complete lack of oversight and control over how the money is used completely pulls the teeth right out of the bailout.

How the F&*K is this news?

This is worthy of the front page of ESPN??? Really?? There's nothing else to talk about? I can't believe that there is a story entitled "Favre sends text message to Packers GM" on the front fucking page. That's unbelievable. For a second, I thought I was looking at CNN.com...their lead story was about an album that came out 30 fucking years ago.

Honestly. I mean, come on.

Bus stops

So, I'm driving to work today, a bit later than usual since I'm in training. Normally, this would be a good thing, but what I've discovered is that that is not the case.

You see, the road on which I work also has an elementary school. This week, I seem to be getting to the road just in time to be behind the bus.

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem; however, it's where the bus is stopping that is really getting on my nerves.

There are two houses, the first of the two being 100 yards from the school driveway and the second being maybe 20 yards away. The bus stops at both of these driveways. Let me repeat that...the school bus stops two separate times and picks up children at two separate houses; both of which are less than a football field away from the school itself. Oh and did I mention that the houses are on the same side of the road as the school? Oh yeah, and also, these kids have to cross the street to get on the bus.

People, this is getting out of control. I mean, this makes no sense at all. One of the parents (the one who lives literally next door to the school) actually walks his children across the street to get on the bus. Why doesn't he just walk them to the school???

Or, a better question I think is why isn't there just one spot for the bus to stop? Back in the day, if you lived on a cul-de-sac, the bus stopped at the end of the damn road and every kid that lived in the circle was expected to wait in the same spot. Does the bus really need to be stopping twice within a football field distance from the school itself? Argh!!!