Ramblings as the day progresses...

I read this morning that a meat cutter used to make an average $19 an hour starting wage, and now it's around $10. I wonder how many meat cutters are named Jesus?

I watched my daughter load her iPod with music and photos. It's the replacement for the replacement, of her original one. She's had this one longer than the others. They were all made in China. Apple is up on the stocks market again today.

If you had invested just $5000 in Apple stock three years ago, you could now be a millionaire. Along with the iPod, Apple has made inroads in the PC market with Intel chips, and beautiful computers that don't crash (unless you decide to run Windoze for some exotic chase car game).

Apple stock sold for around $13 just three years ago. It is just under $90 as I type. Last week it was $94-95. But, over the three years, an astute observer would have had his stock increase in value and split. When it got back around $85, he would have sold last year. It then plummeted to the $50's and a buy back would now make you a millionaire by holding on.

Don't sell if you're in. I did, and then watched in chagrin as it continues to rise.They are going to be making more inroads with new products. They are good at marketing good computer stuff. Can you say iPhone? That is just one rumored project. Zune is cursed with Windoze...

iPods are quite elegant little computers, replete with hard drive and color monitor. She regrets not waiting to get one for video, but instead bought a PSP for music videos, and games. It has a larger screen, but Apple is rumored to be working on that as well.

We stopped at a pawn shop yesterday, and she bought a couple of little DVD's for the PSP (paid $14 for $45 retail value, used. She loves to shop like daddy...). She then watched "Kill Bill" in all it's gory detail, while I navigated home.

We're taking a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl this month. We will visit Cozumel, Mexico. It is a different kind of place, and has a decent sized ex-pat community. The beaches are great, the mayan ruins are all over the island, and the key lime pie at Tony Rome's place is rumored to be the best available anywhere. Since we stop in Key West first, I will compare and report back.

I am a travel agent, and like to cruise. One of the reasons I chose to do this (a)vocation is for the good discounts, and great places to visit. I like the idea of "unpack once", while visiting numerous sites and cities. The food is always good, and if you know how to wash your hands, you won't suffer ill effects while others snort and sniffle. My 17 yo daughter is going, and I will rarely see her on the ship, if it is like our other cruises These cruise lines do take good care of the kids, with lots of activities. But, I don't worry too much. She is never far out of my sight! She knows how to defend herself, as well!

There are no free cruises. Though sometimes you don't pay for accommodations, you always end up spending plenty. NCL awarded me the cruise in a drawing among other travel agents. They gave away 20 cabins on the ships first Caribbean trek. We can't wait to board it. They gave us the first leg, but we are paying for the rest, so we can spend more time away. Hey. It's 31 outside right now, and supposed to be 14 tonight!

NCL is still celebrating their 40 years and still giving free cruises to ANYONE that signs up. Go to the site, and maybe you can win one like me! There are only a few days left.

Another Great Quote from Ann Coulter in her latest column:
 "The Democratic base is at a fever pitch with visions of storm troopers listening to their phone calls and ruthlessly torturing innocent accountants at Guantanamo, where the average inmate has his own lawyer, his own prayer rug and is wondering what to do about that extra weight -- known as the "Gitmo 20" -- he's put on since being captured. They are oddly copacetic about actual storm troopers' daily harassment of actual citizens at airport security checkpoints. Liberals have no problem with government oppression as long as it's mandatory and applied equally to all Americans..."

I am driving to Miami, from WV, to board the ship. It's about 16 hours driving one way. I figure we will save around $300 cash plus 10-12 hours of not sitting around waiting, nor standing shoeless in wavy lines. I despise the lines. I hate to take off my shoes, for the TSA to do what?

I am looking into charter for some groups so they can get around some of this crap. People don't like to fly for a variety of reasons. Why don't they just put an armed Marine on every flight, sitting behind the cockpit door. There would be a procession of them down the flight corridors, heading onto each flight ramp as they go. Who's going to screw with the Marines? (Disclaimer: I was never a Marine. I was US Navy. There is a difference!) The folk in the cabin don't need to see him. He should have a first class quality seat, a video player, and great food. Pamper him, and tell him to stroll through every now and then to the head. I doubt he would even need to be armed!!! He would certainly breed confidence!

Who is winning the war on terror? Those Imams ranting allah akbar and making fools of themselves on an airplane should be placed under arrest, not giving g press conferences and staging protests. Deport the lot of them. Oh yeah, they can just come back across the Mexican Border, or the Canadian border, or they can just drive down Broadway in an armored van loaded with explosives. Or, are they going to barricade it , too?

Why can't we just seek out our enemies foreign and domestic, and take them down. Where is Rambo when you need him? Chuck Norris needs to find some followers, and go kick some islamofascist butt. I'll bet he could find some Marines! cocked and ready...