Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Hmmms of Inspiration

I was rather uninspired this morning. I know I needed to come up with something to write, but I really couldn't get a good rolling boil going, so to speak. I've had several experiences over the past few days, but nothing really got my dander up, or gave me a good laugh.
So, I did what I always do when I get in one of those mental funks. I watched the early morning news. Today, I chose channel twelve, mainly because I fell alseep watching Conan. I heard three stories that had me going "hmmmm"...stories to inspire me. Here they are in no particular order.
First, I heard a report that some meteorologists or some sort of weather scientists had done a study. Here's what they found out. This may come as a shock, but did you know that hurricanes are affected by the temperature of the water. The report elaborated...seems warmer water energizes the hurricane. Who'd have ever thought that?
Second story is somewhat of a puzzler. Now, I'll admit, I don't listen all that closely, so I may have missed a point or two, but there was this business news report proclaiming that many companies in Virginia would be doing more hiring in the coming months. That's good news. But, the reporter said certain types of industries would be doing more hiring than others. The reporter went on to say that the industries which would be doing the most hiring were: contractors, wholesale, retail, as well as those offering products or services. Okay...sounds good. Now, I'm trying to figure out which types of businesses aren't included in that list. If you can come up with an answer, I'd love to hear it. I'm not being facetious. I merely have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
There was one more story that caught my attention. It's been all over the news. Seems the Richmond city council has come up with a piece of genius legislation. They want to crack down on prostitution in the most popular prostitution areas of town. I think two of those areas are near Chamberlain Avenue and the third is out on Jeff Davis. I really wasn't paying that much attention. I promise.
But, anyway, the legislation or the ordinance, or whatever you call it basically allows the police to arrest a previously convicted prostitute if she is even found in these three areas. She doesn't have to be doing anything. She can be locked up just for being in one of the three zones.
Now, all of the truly briliant minds have been debating the brilliance of that, or even the legality of it, but my mind is trying to figure something else out. The report said that the prostitute wouldn't be arrested if he/she/it lived or worked in the zone. Think about that. Wouldn't you agree that it's probably been pretty well established that the prostitute definitely works in that area. I'm not saying she has a job pumping gas, but she is working.
So, if the police find a prostitute in a NO PROSTITUTION ZONE (I'd love to see what that traffic sign would look like), the only way she won't be in trouble is if she's engaged in the act of prostitution. I guess you can just chalk another one up to city council.
There was one more thing I saw on TV that leaves me marveling at the great media minds out there. It was a commercial for a law firm. The lawyer is doing a voiceover. He says, "This is the facility where Johnny was electrocuted." Then the picture changes and he says, "This is Johnny's parents being told what happened." The parents were looking real sad in that one. Then he says, "This is me getting the family a huge settlement." Every one looks happier. Then he says, "Johnny survived, but he'll be crippled the rest of his life." Johnny survived his electrocution. Talk about inspiring.
I guess there must have been some sort of Frankensteinien resurrection of Johnny. Boy, I bet he was shocked. Just as shocked as I am virtually every time I watch local TV. But, at least it gives me something to hmmm about.