breakfastpop

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day, and apparently there is a lunatic out there somewhere who wants to infect our computers with a virus capable of capturing sensitive information and disrupting routine operations. Not wanting to tempt fate, I have decided to attempt to cook breakfast now and keep my computer off tomorrow. Perhaps you should do the same.




This evening I am preparing a goat cheese souffle for "breakfast". I need eggs, goat cheese and butter and the patience to wait forty minutes while it bakes in the oven. I sit down with a cup of coffee to read the paper and discover that the Obama administration is now in the business of designing, manufacturing and selling cars. Is this for real or am I having a out of body experience?



The more I read, the more I realize that in the blink of an eye, President Obama has managed to fire Rick Wagoner, the chief executive of General Motors. Can he do that? I mean, I know he's the president, but can he do that? I'm also wondering why he would choose this particular moment in time to ask Mr. Wagoner to step down, considering that he was already in the midst of trying to restructure the company. Shifting the captain in mid stream seems more than a little bit foolish.



Clearly the administration has no problem blurring the lines between big government and the private sector, and I am very concerned about this trend and where it is heading. It sounds like the road to socialism, but I hope I am wrong.



What does anyone in Washington know about running a corporation? The answer is nothing, absolutely nothing, and that can't be a good thing. It would have been better to let General Motors go through a restructuring through a controlled bankruptcy under the guidance and jurisdiction of laws and systems that are already in place. Instead, we have politicians calling the shots because it would seem that they believe they can do anything they please.



My goat cheese souffle has collapsed in the oven and so have my spirits. Happy April Fool's Day everyone.

breakfastpop

Good morning! It's Tuesday, March 31st and I am absolutely famished. I'm in the mood for something different so I am preparing Eggs Sardou, a dish for artichoke lovers. If I cook it correctly a delicious poached egg will sit in an artichoke bottom that is sitting atop a heaping spoonful of creamed spinach. As I wait for the spinach to cook and the eggs to poach my eyes drift to an article about North Korea. Unless I'm seeing things, North Korea is poised to launch a missle that is capable of reaching Alaska! Will somebody please tell me why this isn't front page news? I'm so upset that I don't notice the artichoke heart slipping off the spinach mound. By the time I do , it's too late. What is swimming around the pan doesn't look like anything I would want to eat so...POP...no more breakfast. I just hope we won't be able to say the same thing about Alaska.





What are the North Koreans thinking? Is this the international crisis that everyone has predicted Obama will have to face? That this is a test of North Korea's missle capability as well as President Obama's effectiveness in dealing with threats from abroad is fairly certain. What is even more certain is the fact that I don't think this impending event is getting the attention it deserves.





The U.S. military has stated that it could with "high probality" intercept any missle heading for the U.S. The term"high probality" is a bit too tenuous for me.





This entire mess reminds me of the one floating around in my pan. Let's hope that the missle blows itself up upon takeoff, just like my Eggs Sardou!

breakfastpop

It's 7:00a.m. Monday morning, March 30, 2009 and I am trying to decide what to have for breakfast. I 'm not in the mood for traditional breakfast food , so I'm thinking leftover dinner food . My fridge has a scrumptous stuffed shrimp left over from the week-end and I am going to re-heat it in the oven. While I am waiting for the shrimp to warm, I hear something on televison that stops me in my tracks. Apparently, a middle school in Connecticut has issued a ruling that forbids all physical contact between students. The school has banned high-fives, handshakes, hand-holding and hugs! The dubious rationale behind this ruling is an attempt to cut down on "horseplay", whatever that means. Apparently, the ban was implemented after a student was injured in a "groin kicking" incident. Is there anything remotely normal about equating a kick to the groin with a high-five? I think not. Isn't it a given that violent and dangerous behavior is forbidden in school already?


So, it stands to reason that my breakfast/leftover dinner remains in the oven, untouched and I am about to...POP. How in the world could a rule like this be enforced in a country like ours that is supposed to be more enlightened than let's say the outer regions of Pakistan? Apparently, we are breaking all the rules of of common sense and we are doing so with complete abandon.


Just a few blogs ago, I discussed the unbelievably upsetting case of a student who was strip-searched at school . Clearly, there is a pattern emerging here and I , for one, am very upset about it. To add insult to injury, a highly regarded high school in Millburn , New Jersey announced that it was was planning on using drug sniffing dogs to root out illegal drugs in the school. Are we sending our children to school or the penitentiary? It's becoming exceedingly difficult to tell the difference.





By the way, do you think it's safe to eat shrimp that has been languishing in the oven for hours? Maybe I'll just throw it out. I'm not that hungry anymore.

breakfastpop

This is a test...only a test. It has come to my attention that my friends and followers are unable to post comments on today's blog entry. This really makes me want to POP because I look forward to these comments with great anticipation. I am going to publish this mini blog right away and see if it is possible to post a comment. Wish me luck!

breakfastpop

It's Friday, March 27th, and I am preparing spicy huevos (eggs) with salsa and chilies for breakfast. All I need is some butter, eggs, chilies, salsa and some salt. The eggs are almost perfectly cooked and as I wait for the salsa to heat up, I am reminded of the powerful and dangerous drug cartels that have a grip on Mexico as well as the United States. Suddenly...POP... I am no longer in the mood for spicy huevos and I am filled instead with fear and apprehension.





It has been reported over and over again that there are Mexican drug cartels operating in over 200 U.S. cities. Although there clearly have been attempts to break up these cartels, one has to wonder if enough is being done. The rise in population of Hispanic communities throughout the country has made it possible for cartel operatives to hide in plain sight by blending in with honest hard-working citizens.





Before the violence that threatens Mexico's existence spills over into our cities, the Obama administration must take steps to secure our borders and rid our cities of this dangerous criminal element. Clearly, this is a matter for Homeland Security and it must be dealt with swiftly and decisively.





I guess I won't be preparing Mexican food for a while. I just don't have a taste for it right now.

breakfastpop

Today is Thursday, March 26, and I am looking forward to breakfast. I have just prepared a broccoli and cheddar cheese frittata. I am going to place the frittata under the broiler for about two minutes after cooking it on top of the stove. As I wait for the frittata to brown, I am reminded of an upcoming doctor's appointment that I have scheduled and ...POP...I become consumed with worry over the future of healthcare in this country. Will my ability to receive quality care be denied me because of government intrusion in my life? Needless to say, the frittata goes up in smoke and so does my hope for a calm morning.

There is a proposal in Congress that, if adopted, would begin taxing individuals on the value of their employer paid health benefits. Its intent is to help pay for an extension of health care coverage to low income families. The proposal would place an overwhelming tax burden on middle income people who currently receive insurance benefits through their place of employment.

Surely, there are other avenues to explore. Think of the enormous amount of money hospitals waste in advertising. The practice is ludicrous , expensive and a complete waste of time. Perhaps the quality and cost of a hospital stay could be reduced if this money were put to better use. The same principle applies to drug companies that advertise constantly on television and in print. It is doctors who should be in charge of suggesting the correct drugs patients should take, not the other way around. Think of the savings if this practice was eliminated.

There is another really interesting and workable solution to the current health care crisis and the key to it just might lie in the hands of Dr. John Muney. Dr. Muney has been in practice in New York since 1975. He believes that our current system is bloated with waste, fraud, abuse and bureaucracy. He has a very simple plan to lower healthcare costs and he has put his plan into action. The doctor has a thriving practice that cares for about 7,000 people. He doesn't deal with insurance companies, so he has eliminated the need for costly and time consuming paperwork. He charges his patients $79 a month and they can see him as many times as needed. The $79 covers the cost of such things as bloodwork and x-rays.

Unbelievably, NewYork State stepped in and forced the doctor to charge his patients $79 for preventative care and an additional $33 for sick visits. They decided that charging a flat fee of $79 characterized his practice as an insurance business.

And so boys and girls, that is why we want the government to keep their sticky and unskilled hands out of our business!

breakfastpop

It's Wednesday, March 25 and I have just created a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict. I used whole grain bread and Canadian bacon so I believe it may actually be good for me. As I bring the fork to my lips, my eyes drift to the front page of today's paper and POP another good meal down the drain!

On April 21st of this year, the Supreme Court will hear a case that will force the justices to decide just how much leeway school officials should have in policing zero tolerance policies for drugs and violence. Their ruling will provide important guidance to schools all over the country.

The case before the court concerns a terrible incident that happened six years ago in a middle school in Arizona. Savana Redding was thirteen years old when she was strip-searched at her school by a nurse and a school secretary. They suspected her of having in her possession prescription strength ibuprofen pills. The suspicion stemmed from an accusation by another student who was found with the pills. The student blamed Ms. Redding for providing her with the drugs. The assistant principal of the school ordered the school employees to search both students. The searches did not turn up any additional pills.

Ms. Redding said she was never asked if she had any pills before she was searched. In point of fact, this young girl was completely inncocent. Her record at school , had anybody bothered to look, revealed an excellent student who had no history of problems. Her ordeal was so terrifying and humiliating that she could not return to school for months. In the end she transferred to another school.

Her story is one we should all care about and pay attention to. The Supreme Court's ruling in April could impact everyone of us who have children or grandchildren in school. When we send our children off to school in the morning, we expect that they will be in class getting an education. If we knew that it was possible they could be subjected to a strip-search, would we send them off to school at all? I know I wouldn't.

breakfastpop

It's 6:30a.m., Tuesday, March24 and I have just prepared a delicious Florentine Omelet for breakfast. Along with the eggs and spinach, I have decided to add some pignoli nuts for extra flavor. As I take a bite of the omelet and taste the nutty flavor , I am reminded of ACORN and POP , I am so worried about the next census that I can't eat another thing. Census numbers influence the allocation of billions of dollars in federal and state funds. The U.S. Congress uses the census total to determine how many seats your particular state will have in the House of Representatives. The states also use census numbers to allocate seats in their law-making bodies.





Given the obvious importance of these numbers and the impact these totals will have on funding and representation , it is inconceivable to me to learn that the Census Bureau has chosen to partner with the group known as ACORN in conducting the census for next year. ACORN will assist with the recruitment of 1.4 million temporary workers needed to go door-to-door to count every citizen in the United States.





Employees of ACORN have been accused of voter registration fraud and have been investigated in many states. The organization has a very checkered past which is well documented and available to all interested parties. Surely, the Census Bureau has to be aware of questions surrounding this group's activities, so one has to wonder why they would involve ACORN in conducting the census. It seems awfully strange that the bureau whose job it is to count, can't put two and two together!

breakfastpop

It's 6:20A.m. Monday morning, March 23. Today is my birthday so I am treating myself to a hot, sweet , gigantic corn muffin with butter and jam. It has been at least three years since I've tasted one, so I am really looking forward to it. As I slather the butter over the muffin I notice two stray blueberries that have somehow found their way into my corn muffin. At least I hope they are blueberries, so I lean in for a closer look. I can't believe it, the berries bear a striking resemblance to President Obama and Jay Leno and POP my muffin has lost its appeal and my appetite is gone. The memory of President Obama's disastrous appearance on the Leno show comes flooding back to me and I am completely incredulous. Did the leader of the free world say that his bowling skills belonged in the Special Olympics? The President of the United States went on national television to tell the world he bowled like a retard! His apology didn't resonate with me and I am quite confident that it did absolutely nothing for parents across the country who are raising children with disabilities. Now, I completely understand why President Obama never speaks without his trusty teleprompters at his side. His thoughtless and insulting remarks about the Special Olympics give new importance to the American Express motto,"Don't leave home without it". It is going to be a long time before I can look a blueberry in the eye again .

breakfastpop

It's 6:15a.m. and I am really enjoying my breakfast of french toast and turkey bacon. The toast was soaked in a creamy mixture of eggs and milk and cooked to perfection. I'm happy and content as I bite into the luscious meal before me and then , POP, breakfast is ruined and once again Congress is to blame!



Faced with the public outcry over the A.I.G bonuses, Congress passed, in record time, a bill that will impose a 90% tax on bonuses paid by companies that received more than 5 billion dollars in bailout money. Employees whose income is $250,000 or more will be subject to this tax.



There is no denying that I am thoroughly disgusted with A.I.G's decison to award bonuses for poor performance, but I am completely alarmed by the fact that Congress thought it prudent to pass an insane bill that can't possibly be constitutional. I believe that our elected officials have acted irrationally and their attempt to recoup this money is merely a grandstand play to deflect the public's outrage away from them.



Congress has seen fit to rewrite history and turn the clocks back at the expense of the Constitution. It will be up to the courts to determine if this bill is legal. The one thing I am certain about is that they are guilty of ruining my breakfast!

breakfastpop

It's 6a.m. Thursday, March 19th 2009 and I am enjoying my breakfast of eggs and sausage. The eggs are perfectly cooked and the sausage is turkey so I am not feeling too guilty. All is well and then POP, my head feels like it is going to explode because I have just read the front page of the newspaper and my appetite is gone. Clearly the world in Washington has gone mad and Congress has clearly lost their collective minds. All of these brilliant men and women who we have entrusted to represent our best interests are scrambling around like lunatics trying to distance themselves from the damage they caused by passing a stimulus bill that they didn't take the time to read! Washington is handing out billions of dollars of our money without regard for how it is being spent. A.I.G. gave millions of dollars to employees who were no longer employed by the company. The company tried to justify these bonuses by characterizing them as retention bonuses. There are two very glaring problems with their assertions. First , the employees are gone so there is no one around to retain. Second, why would anyone attempt to retain employees who drove the company to the brink of collapse? Clearly this represents the death of common sense and I along with countless others mourn its demise.