Observations

 

It’s hard to know what’s news sometimes in a world gone mad and doesn’t know it. Okay, maybe not mad, but we’re certainly pushing the bizarre envelope. Consider that on a day a plane crashes in Benin, a person blows up a bus in Tel Aviv, and more bombs explode in Baghdad, two of the headlines on the AP news digest were "Jennifer Aniston Cries on 'Oprah' Show" and "Garner Happy to Be Home for Holidays" which referred to Jennifer Garner, not James -- a sign of the times -- and home being Charleston, West Virginia. Who cares?

In other news, Jeb Bush dedicated the nation’s first faith-based prison. The Florida governor says the Lawtey facility, now home to inmates of 26 faiths, will encourage prisoners to turn their lives around. All sorts of religious studies, counseling, prayers, and other spiritual activities are offered seven days a week. Said Bush, "This is not just fluffy policy, this is serious policy." Its purpose being to reduce the 38% rate of recidivism. The ACLU is considering filing a lawsuit based on the issue of separation of church-‘n-state.

Weather threatened the 54^th annual re-enactment of Washington crossing the Delaware this year. Heavy rains jeopardized the crossing in 60-foot wooden boats. But sitting on the sidelines anyway were a bunch of history buffs unhappy at the way Pennsylvania officials were horning in on their activities. Among the government’s changes were try-outs for who would play Washington, and requirements that participants take medical exams, wear historically-accurate costumes, and bring written excuses if they miss rehearsals.

Airport security folks in Miami stopped a returning Pennsylvania church missionary who was carrying a hacksaw and razor blade in his shoe. His explanation was that he’d received death threats while doing his god’s work in Brazil and had wanted to make sure that if he were kidnapped, he could cut his way out from inside the trunk of a car, and he’d forgotten to change his shoes.

Finally, Virginia pols may be throwing caution to the wind, or it might just be another smoke-‘n-mirrors thang. Reports have it that the state may raise its cigarette tax from 2.5 cents per pack, the lowest in a nation, where some state taxes per pack are over $1.50. Even the Virginia tobacco industry, which grows the state’s largest cash crop and invests heavily in legislators, seems ready to bite the nicotine bullet and accept a slightly higher tax. It is asserted that a price increase of 10% a pack leads to a 7% decline in youth smoking.

And that’s SetonnoteS...I’m Tony Seton.

 

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