Kevin’s Word

For original post on Get it Straight, click here.
Over on Get it Straight, I have to act professional. Here I can say this:
What the hell is in the water at the US Dept. of Justice?

Just in case ya’ll forgot, the purpose of the Anti-Trust division is to keep the market free and open for competition, not from it.

FirstGroup PLC, the UK’s largest provider of transit services, also owner of First Student, the nation’s largest provider of clowns who don’t know what the hell they’re doing, announced a merger with Laidlaw back in February. They are the largest school bus company in the US, and owners of Greyhound.

In order to protect competition in the school bus arena, First Student agreed to give up contracts to some school districts and sell them off to other companies (presumably others beside Laidlaw). So, what happened? They sold of one contract. One. In Anchorage, Alaska.

One.

So, what do they get in return? The investigation into their merger has been closed. Meaning: Break out the beer and chips, First: You won.

Yes. You’ve almost certainly got your merger. You’ve got the United States’ largest school bus contractor. You’ve got the US’s largest bus line. And you’ve got millions of children in your buses each morning (provided you show up) and in the afternoon (unless you’re late everyday for over six weeks). And who do you have driving? Well, if the amount of jobs you advertise is any indication, not many people. You know, some people actually train their drivers. “Dry runs” I’ve heard First Student claim they do. Except then you change the routes and the drivers once again have no clue where to go. Oh, and skipping stops, not going down streets, driving unsafe, wow.

You’ve got a lot to be proud of, First.

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Steve Jobs dillusion field was in full force this morning, as Stephen Jobs introduced new everything.
I don’t want to get to specific, but if you want to know everything that happened, walk outside and scream “What happened at Apple this morning?” It’ll work.
But quickly:
Shuffles got new colors.
Nano’s got fatter and video.
Apple copied from Coca-Cola and now have a Classic- 80-160 GB Video iPod starting at $249
The iPod Touch, a rip off, also known as the iPhone - Phone. 8-16 GB starting at $300
The only good news for cheap fanboys: iPhone 4 GB Discontinued, but if you hurry you can get it for $300, previously $600 iPhone now at $400.

Apple: Seriously?

The Nano just looks ugly. I respect it for playing video now, but what’s the use? It’s just as large now, so why?
Classic: Again, why? Instead of wasting time developing a strange new interface, make the iPod Touch the 80-160 GB hard drive player.
Touch: Great idea. Except why would it be necessary to include WiFi? If people want web browsing, just buy iPhone. Jeez.

Before anyone says anything, I should mention I like Apple’s hardware. But why they think everything they do is genius (Like Genius Bars.) is beyond me.

CORRECTION (yes, I occasionally do them): As pointed out to me, the purpose of the iPod Touch could be to have a PDA iPod without the phone. Yes, I do think the Touch will go the way of the Newton.)

I realize that there is a reason I get up in the morning. Why? Well, aside from the fact my iHome clock blaring Evanescence off my iPod at seven o’clock hampers my sleep, it the knowledge that there will always be stupid laws made somewhere in the world. Today’s comes from our friends in Mansfield and Delcambre, Louisiana. (Somehow I knew the first stupid law of the month was going to be from here, I just figured it would be south Louisiana)
There shall be no sagging pants.
Yes, for those not familiar with the United States, we have nothing like education or drugs or a war to worry about, so we like to regulate pants. The International Herald-Tribune has this to say on the issue:

Behind the indecency laws may be the real issue — the hip-hop style itself, which critics say is worn as a badge of delinquency, with its distinctive walk conveying thuggish swagger and a disrespect for authority.

I really hate hip hop, but I like disrespect for authority. Escpecially when authority is taking advantage of power and money to help themselves.

Also at work is the larger issue of freedom of expression and the questions raised when fashion moves from being merely objectionable to illegal.

Sure, sagging pants could be construed as indecent exposure. But then, if that’s true, then wouldn’t current indecent exposure laws take care of this? I agree (remember that, I don’t say it often) that there should be a line from where it goes to making you look stupid to making you look stupid, and indecent exposure; but then current laws should fix that right up.
I should mention, and I really hate saying this, because I say it so much, but this is America (make yourself a note, lawmakers). What does that mean? You have a right to look stupid! Is this fad harming our children? Well, think about it this way, now they think real hard as to whether to choose boxers or briefs (Because that just isn’t right.)