Spin Doctor Needed

Roberto Gonzales is resigning. The press conference is happening this morning. I can't wait to hear why....My money is on: "Because you guys just keep bugging and bugging me I am unable to do my job."

Copyediting alert: I'm guessing Charles Schumer said that the justice department needs new leadership, not readership. (And delete the extra "announced.")

Reuters has offered up some Gonzales facts here. It's a bullet list. Enjoy.

Who is to blame?

(Besides Canada.)

The latest news I've read on products from China being recalled is pseudo-recall by Wal-Mart of a few dog treats and pseudo-recall by Toys 'R' Us of a some baby bibs. These aren't official recalls; both companies are "just checking." In addition, New Zealand has begun officially recalling some clothing products imported from China for containing poisonous levels of formaldehyde. Following Thomas the Tank Engine, Barbie and Polly Pocket (among others) can now give you lead poisoning. Toothpaste, tires, space heaters, lamps, chairs, and dog food all make the list as well, but this is old news. What's next?

To whom do I direct my anger? China for being cruel and greedy? The U.S. importers for being cruel and greedy? Did the government drop the ball, or is this oversight the responsibility of private manufacturers, buyers, distributors, and sellers? I'm going with China first, because we all know they know better. Then with the U.S. importers because obviously the toys etc. were cheaper for a reason. And Merry Christmas kids: at least 70 percent of the toys in U.S. stores are made in China (a Forbes article has this a 80 percent).

How embarrassing for China, who has launched a campaign to redeem themselves (my favorite defense regarding the Mattel recall being "well, no one got hurt"). How embarrassing for the company who sold the toys. What shameful ways to make a profit.

This special report by BusinessWeek highlights some of the most recent recalls. You may want to double-check that you aren't currently using any of these products.

Ugh. Sometimes I'm so ashamed to be a human.

This horn I'm tooting? Yeah, it's mine.

As the appointed "convener" of the BishBash 2007 I get to take credit as "leader" of the event. Although, as anyone who attended the event could see, many people did a whole lot of work and it was truly a team effort--someone just needed the head title for answering questions and taking blame :-)

The planning committee worked on BishBash from September/October 2006 until the event in July. Even with all of the late registrations and last-minute potato chip buying, everything was ready and together for the day of the event. Some people even dared to call the event organized. So I'm shamelessly taking pride in BishBash 2007, planned and executed by young adults (and the bishop of course). Anyone who helped should toot their horns too.

Here are some photos from the day and an article written on the Conference Web site. I'm quoted in the article, and sound super flaky (so don't worry: humility is balancing out my pride).
BishBash article
BishBash photos
BishBash photos

P.S. Maybe some, just some, credit should go to GOD.

What I just learned:

Bed-and-breakfast is spelled with hyphens.

It never occurred to me to look it up before, but this morning I wanted to see if the abbreviation, B&B, had spaces. (For example, R & D, research and development, should be spelled with spaces between the characters.) I learned that neither B&B nor B & B is in Webster's, but "b and b" is, so I concluded that the abbreviation needed spaces. When I looked at the definition of "b and b" I noticed the hyphens in bed-and-breakfast, looked it up, and learned something new.

Now you maybe have too. Use this knowledge to impress others. You're welcome.