Top 10 things I just don't undestand

Top 10 Things I Just Don’t Understand

24Jul2008 Filed under: Life Author: Lori

I like to think that I am a relatively smart woman.
The grades listed on my formal education transcripts say that I am.

*However* there are some things in life I just don’t get.

Here is a list… if you can explain to me why these things occur, I’d love for you to skool me!
In no particular order:

How is it that our Yale and Harvard educated U.S. president, despite having said the word oh, say, a billion times over the past 8 years, cannot pronounce the word “terror” correctly? The way Mr. Bush says it, it sounds like “turd.” Since when in the word “terror” pronounced “tuurrrr-urr?” And why haven’t one of his 50,000 aides corrected his speech yet? It’s sad that Heidi Klum better enunciation skills than our own president.

When will the US budget be balanced in a way that doesn’t expand the national debt? Why doesn’t our government make more of an effort to do so? Washington DC is populated by some of the most brilliant minds in the universe. Many of our elected officials have earned advanced degrees from prestigious institutions of higher learning. So why is it so hard to abide by the simple rule “don’t spend more than you earn?”

Is there really a “Kennedy” curse? Or, is this family more prone to tragedy because wealth and power provide access to “riskier” situations like flying a plane or becoming an assassin’s target? Or is it just that we hear about tragic circumstances that befall influential people more readily than those of “common” folks?

Why would have Prince Charles preferred Camilla over vivacious Diana? Even the “grass is greener” explanation just doesn’t make sense here.

Why, after the whole I’m-as-crazy-as-a-loon head-shaving incident, can’t Britney Spears get a decent set of extensions? Her old ones look like she has never washed them, and the new ones do nothing to camouflage her washed out puffiness. In fact, I think she is the new Courtney Love. ’Nuff said.

Speaking of bad behavior, why do Olympic athletes take steroids and act shocked when they get caught despite mandatory drug testing? Here’s a recap of the notable Olympians who have tested positive: Ben Johnson (most notorious not for his 100m dash time, but for bringing the use of steroids to light), Marion Jones (who will most likely be stripped of her three gold and 2 silver medals won in 2000 and may even face prison time), Bulgarian athletes Vanya Stambolova (European 400m womens’ champion) and high jump silver medalist Venelina Veneva, and most of the Greek weightlifting team who blamed their failed tests on a bad batch of ‘supplements’ from suppliers in China! Hmmmm. Anyone else note the irony of that claim since the Olympics take place in Beijing this year?

If you think that no one participating in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics will test positive for using performance-enhancing substances, you would be mistaken. 80% of athletes surveyed at the Sydney Games admitted taking at least one substance and another 20% admitted five or more, and one ‘junkie’ admitted taking 26 different concoctions. Who do you predict will get caught during this year’s summer games?

Quick: Name the only two industrialized countries that don’t provide guaranteed paid medical or maternity leave for new mothers! Why, that’d be the United States and Australia of course! Out of 168 nations, 163 had some form of paid maternity leave. Aside from these two, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland are the only others on the list. (Can you even find those other nations on a map??? I can’t!)

Though five U.S. states offer some form of mandated paid leave, the remainder of mothers nationwide do not receive any guarantees of paid leave. The exception to this is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which gives 12 weeks of job-protected leave for people employed by companies with 50 employees or more. However, this leave is not paid. How ridiculous!

Why don’t we celebrate the philanthropy of billionaires more? Bill Gates, his fortune worth an estimated $32 BILLION, established the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fight poverty and improve health and education around the world. In 2006, the foundation donated $287 million to help find a vaccine for AIDS. Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive, is committed to donating most of his $31 billion fortune to the Gates foundation, making it the biggest philanthropic contribution ever made.

In September, George Soros, the Hungarian-born financier and committed supporter of democracy around the world, said he would give $50 million over five years to help fight AIDS and poverty in Africa. Part of his donation will go toward providing HIV/AIDS treatment in 33 villages in ten sub-Saharan countries. Sir Richard Branson, the publicity-friendly entrepreneur behind Virgin Group, started an AIDS treatment center and pledged to donate up to $3 billion of profits from Virgin’s train and airline businesses to fight global warming.

James Sorenson, the genius inventor, left his entire $4.5 billion fortune to help disadvantaged children, schools and medical facilities in Sorenson’s home state of Utah. Blackstone co-founder Peter Peterson gave $1 billion to his own foundation, which hopes to raise awareness on America’s out-of-control federal deficit. David Rockefeller, the only living grandchild of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, gave $100 million to Harvard, the largest gift the school has ever received from an alumnus.

In 2006, gifts from 12 individuals totaled almost $35 billion. Why don’t these individuals get more positive press for trying to change the world?

How is it that America’s Most Wanted has captured 1021 criminals to date, and the US military can’t find Osama Bin Laden?

Why are there so many professional athletes in jail? Some notables in the NFL Jailhouse Hall of Shame: Perhaps the most hated, vilified, and best known felon to make my list is Former Atlanta Falcon’s Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick. Vick is currently serving a 23 month sentence for running an illegal dogfighting ring out of his mansion.

Stupidity and criminal activity must run in the family… Michael’s younger brother Marcus Vick- a former Virginia Tech standout - was convicted of marijuana possession, contributing to the delinquency of a minor by having sex with an underage 15 year old girl when Marcus was 17. Later, in 2006, Marcus Vick pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with an incident in Suffolk, VA where a gun was pulled on patrons of a local McDonald’s! Though he briefly played for the Miami Dolphins, Marcus has been busy off the field. Since that time, the younger Vick has been arrested four times and is currently charged with DUI, misdemeanor eluding police, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. Marcus Vick is awaiting his day in court.

Adam “Pacman” Jones had a lengthy rap sheet before entering the NFL, and has been arrested 6 times SINCE joining the Tennessee Titans. He has multiple convictions for assault, drug possession, and felony vandalism. Most recently, Pacman was involved in a Las Vegas strip club incident last year that left three people shot and one man paralyzed. Just a few months later, Sadia Morrison - who was with Jones during the Vegas incident - was found dead in New York under suspicious circumstances. Coincidence?

Some other notable NFL criminals: St. Louis Ram Leonard Little was convicted of DUI and involuntary manslaughter for killing a woman in 1998. He was arrested again in 2004 for DUI. Former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth is currently serving a nineteen- to twenty-four-year sentence for conspiring to kill his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, and their unborn baby. Adams died of multiple gunshot wounds in 1999.

Some other names and cases you may have heard about: Former Green Bay Packers’ tight end Mark Chmura was arrested on allegations of third degree sexual assault on the girl that babysat for his two children (he was later found not guilty) and for providing underage teenagers with alcohol at a post-prom party. Baltimore’s own hometown hero - the Ravens’ 9 time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis - was charged with double murder following a stabbing that left two man dead at a Buckhead club after the 2000 Super Bowl in at Atlanta. (He later accepted a plea bargain and testified against his former friends. Lewis plead guilty to a lesser charge of obstruction of justice, received 1 year probation and record $250,000 fine by the NFL.)

And the litany of “fallen heroes” continues:After Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez of TLC burned down their house after a fight, Former NFL star and Toronto Argonauts receiver Andre Rison became infamous. Just a few years later, Rison’s off-field woes continued, when Rison was sentenced to jail for failing to pay $107,000 in back child support. Tampa Bay Storm Arena League linebacker Darion Conner got fifteen years for drunkenly running over and killing bicyclist Jonathan Michael Conklin in September 2004. In 2006, Michigan State defensive back Cole Corey was sentenced to two to ten years for sexual assault and rape. An offensive tackle and a defensive end for Texas A&M were indicted for felony robbery.

In 2006, at least 35 NFL players were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to felony burglary. Not all were convicted, but how many NFL players have a criminal record stemming from prior convictions?

Certainly, football is not the only sport to see its share of “fallen heroes.” A 2004 survey found that a whopping 40% of NBA players listed on the 2000-2001 roster had a criminal record! Every major sport has been tainted by the stain of bad behavior. Obviously, money and fame does not exempt one from making bad decisions, but does, in fact, provide access to better lawyers. What would the outcome have been for these former “stars” if they were forced to use public defenders at trial? Would that have deterred them from committing these heinous crimes in the first place?

All in all, these are just a handful of the issues that I question and struggle with. What are yours? What makes you scratch your head and wonder why? Leave me a comment so we can open the discussion (and maybe even get some answers along with some spirited debate!)

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Tags: Bill Gates, billionnaire, Britney, Bush, charity, criminal, felon, Johnson, Jones, Kennedy, maternity leave, NBA, NFL, Olympics, Pacman, philanthropy, Richard Branson

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17 Responses to “Top 10 Things I Just Don’t Understand”

Elliott - 21st Century Dad
July 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I’m happy to see that photos of my favorite NHL players can’t be found too often in a police lineup.

I don’t understand why people say, “I could care less.” To me, that implies a capacity to care less.

If the plural of mouse is mice, why isn’t the plural of house hice?

I don’t get the Atkins Diet. A bacon double cheeseburger is probably one of the worst things you can eat. According to Dr. Atkins, if you remove the bun, it becomes a healthy meal? C’mon. We’ve been eating bread since the dawn of civilization. All of a sudden it’s bad for you?

How can a perfectly capable human being “forget” to take out the trash, but can remember the complex timing and sequence of button presses and moves to defeat 63 different video games without the help of cheat codes?
Dad of Divas
July 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

Lori,

Great post - you truly spent your time on your research! This is a great list of society’s mysteries and I have also seen them in my own life as well. Let me see if I can comment on the 10 that you mention.

1) Don’t get me started on Bush and his vocabulary. I definitely question highly educated individuals who cannot pronounce simple words. Some would also question how well he actually did at his institution and his true eligibility at even attending the institution in the first place…was he admitted on his merits or on the coattails of his family?

2) Balancing the Budget - I don’t know when this will change until they start making better decisions about what they are funding. I mean you hear about politicians sneaking in a special project for their state or some strange research project that only impacts a small population.

3) Kennedy Family Curse - I would say all of the above on this one… I think that society is intrigued by inflencial people and the media places them - with all of their positives and negatives into the spotlight. Also welath does allow for more high risk activities and events that they can be a part of. I mean you hear about Ted Kennedy coming out of the hospital and going right to his huge sailboat to get away.

4) Prince Charles - I would guess is is a grass greener attitude…I also though think there is something to marrying into a class that was acceptable to the royal family, for which, from what I can tell, Diana was from…where Camilla was not. There also was some pieces to the public’s approval of Diana and how she was with people that Camilla just did not have which may have had some berring as well…but those are my assumptions.

5) Britney Spears - Many people would say that Britney was suffering with a mental illess and from her activities as of the last few years I would question this as well. I think this gets back also to your question of the Kennedy Family and the media spotlight. There is almost a feeling for some in society that they want to see those that are highly successful to be taken down a peg…maybe it is jealousy or envy, but if society did not care, the media would not focus on it.

6) Athletes - Doping is something that I believe has been happening behind the scenes for many years. There were many gymnasts in old Russia that admitted (Many years later) that that was a part of their rigorous training. There is so much pressure from their coaches and their country to succeed that they turn to these drugs. This is unfortunate as these athletes are such role models for so many young people and when they see that they are using drugs, what is that telling our kids? I have no idea who will be next, but I wish that we could have the games without the drugs… but I know that is wishful thinking.

7) Maternity Leave - It is sad that the US does not require this of companies. I would add that it is sad that all companies or the government does not provide access to health care to all individuals…but this would bring us into a whole other blog topic!

Philanthropy of Billionnaires - I think we need to do this. I think that our media love to promote the negative things in society and fail to spend much time on the positive things that people are doing for others except for the quick 1 minute spot left to the end of the news. I think that it is not just the Billionnaires but it is also the less fortunate that provide and do these important things for others that also need to be shared with others.

9) Finding Osama bin Laden - I have long questioned this as well…what has happened to our intelligence gathering. Why can we not find him when we have spent so much money and time searching for him….I don’t know whether we will ever find him.

10) Athletes in Jail - Some people would say that the athletes in jail has something to do with the money and fame that goes with the sport. SOme would say that it has something to do with the testerone that is exuded by these individuals. I was shocked to see that 40% of NBA players had a criminal record. I don;t know if the media wants to tout this much as I think it would reiterate the “Bad Boy” image that the Detroit Pistons tried to capitalize on back in the 90’s (Remember Dennis Rodman).

I can’t think of any topics now…but again this is a great list, and you did a great job on your research! Keep up the great posts!

Dad of Divass latest blog nuggle..Operation DIVAS
OhCaptain
July 24th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

Question 1: College education doesn’t guarantee any help in speech patterns. Hell, most college educate people I know have o problem saying “The book is very unique.” Can you find the flaw in that sentence? It will unlock one of my greatest pet peeves. Just like saying “I need to hit the ATM machine” is positively horrible and please never tell me how pregnant someone is. Pregnancy, by definition, is a binary state. You either are or your are not.

Qeustion #2: not bringing home the pork makes sure your don’t get re-elected.

Question #3: no, there is no curse, but remember, the family fortune was created during prohibition. Grandpa was a rum runner. Live fast, die fast.

Question #4: Prince Charles is an idiot or he’s lost all sex drive.

Question #5: Brittney Spears is someone I should care about because….

Question #6: It’s the same response you get when you watch the news after a hurricane rips through southern Florida and someone is standing there crying because she is shocked her house was hit by a hurricane. They are kidding right? I live in Minnesota, we would genuinely be shocked to be hit by a hurricane, but southern Florida? I’d be shocked to not be.

Pro athletes are raised and bread to think that because they are gifted athletes, their supporters will make sure nothing gets between them and the goal of winning. Unfortunately, most of society worships them as well. They are getting rich doing it, why change? If you want better behaved athletes become a Minnesota Twins fan like me. We like our guys, well behaved and running out those ground balls.

I’ll disagree with you on the paid maternity leave. Having a job isn’t a right. Having children isn’t a right either. Creating an environment that can sustain a child or two is the responsibility of the parents not the government. Business’ don’t print money, they work to earn it. Telling them how to spend their money is just as offensive as you telling me how to spend my money. If you chose to have children, you must understand the costs that go with it, otherwise, people need to quit having sex until they figure out how to raise a kid on their own.

This is a big problem for me. I have a relative that had a baby kind of young and out of wedlock. She has many friends in the same boat. Some of the friends have started having more kids. I asked how they can afford to have any more kids, her response, “They are fine, they are getting (government) support.” WTF? That means you can’t afford it.

Expecting your employer to pay for something extra that you chose to do is no different. If you chose to get pregnant and have a child, then its your responsibility to pay for the time off, not the employer. Should childless people get a bonus check at some point since they didn’t? It would only be fair.

I’ll give back the soapbox now…sorry about that little tirade.

OhCaptains latest blog nuggle..Are you a hypocrite dad?
Dad of Divas
July 24th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Dang it…I had a HUGE response to your post and then it was deleted when I submitted to post…I will try and encapsulate what I was trying to say again though…

You do a great job with your post today and you can definitely see how much research that you have done to make this happen.

One of this things I have continued to question is how our country cannot support a system to allow all individuals to have access to healthcare.

Elliott stole another one about how everything will eventually kill us - or so it seems.

I am still bummed that my HUGE response was deleted - if I am motivated I will attempt to come back and go through the ten as I had done earlier.
Lori
July 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

@ Ellliott
In order of your comment:
Go Penguins!
I have no idea.
Ditto.
I love carbs. Period. Screw Adkins. I’d rather die.
It’s called selective memory. Many of us have it!

@ OhCaptain…
Point #1 that sentence doesn’t look or sound right to me, but I am still trying to process it. (I agree, college does not guarantee poise or intelligence or eloquence, but shouldn’t it help some? I guess I’m not as smart as I thought I was.)
Point #5 We shouldn’t care, but obviously a lot of people do or TMZ wouldn’t have a million photos of her bad weave.

Point #6 ….WOW! OhCaptain just schooled me on his take on paid maternity leave. I get your point that people should be able to afford children on their own or not have them. I agree with you there.
But, it strikes me as ironic that if I had some horrible disease or became permanently disabled, my company or the government would see fit to assist me financially during the time I was unable to work.
In the case of maternity/paternity leave, most employees return to work after their absense. What better good faith gesture is there to ensure a happy, rested employee coming back to work than offering paid leave while they’re TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF AN INNOCENT CHILD after birth?
Most employees get paid vacation, correct?
Shouldn’t having a child be just as important as blowing off steam in Cabo San Lucas?

@ Dad of Divas - please recreate the wheel! I am dying to know your thoughts!
Elliott - 21st Century Dad
July 24th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

@Oh Captain: It is our responsibility to provide a positive environment for our children, not the government’s. However, employers do need to be more sensitive to family needs.

Fathers are getting the short end of the stick here. I know two guys who were fired from their jobs because they had the nerve to ask for a 1 week paternity leave upon the birth of their children. To add insult to injury, poor job performance was cited as the reason.
Lori
July 24th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

@ Elliott - that’s such a shame. It’s crap, in fact. And ILLEGAL, I might add.
I am very fortunate that my company offers paternity leave… I actually covered a district for one of my colleagues while he took 6 weeks of leave after his daughter’s birth three years ago. More employers should be as family-friendly. I hope your friends found one that is!
OhCaptain
July 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Funny thing, I agree with all of you. I think you guys are confusing my belief that companies shouldn’t be FORCED to do this with my belief that companies just SHOULD do this.

Most companies should be more family friendly, but I really just don’t think we should be mandating that they be.

In most states, you can’t fire someone for asking for father’s paternity leave. If they do, this is probably a really crappy company to work for and this isn’t the only thing that sucks.

Companies are just like people in that they should chose how they want to conduct themselves as long as they aren’t harming the unwilling. I would never expect my company to treat me any different then they would treat any other employee.

I expect my company to want me to work for them. I push myself to be such a valuable employee that they will do what it takes to keep me. I don’t expect them to solve my problems for me. I don’t expect them to take care of me because I can’t/won’t take care of myself. I expect them to understand that I have a life outside of work. I don’t think I can do my job thoroughly if my personal life always takes a precedent over my job. They pay me to do the job not to be a dad or a husband.

OhCaptains latest blog nuggle..Are you a hypocrite dad?
Lori
July 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

In the interest of full and total disclosure, I should probably preface this next statement by telling you I live in the fine and fair state of Maryland…

Anyone else remember that the potential golden boy of the upcoming Beijing Olympics, 5 time Olympic champion and the pride of Baltimore Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation in December 2004 after pleading guilty to drunken driving shortly after the last Summer Games?
Jeremy (Discovering Dad)
July 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Great comments and conversation! The only thing I would add is that I disagree that the government doesn’t have a role in forcing employers to offer health and leave benefits. The reason is that those of us who do pay for benefits are paying too much for them because of all of the people who are getting medical care without insurance and defaulting on payments. We are paying for them in ever-increasing premiums. The government needs to regulate this industry, but it can’t do it effectively if it doesn’t spread the cost out among all users. As it relates to paid maternity leave, I believe this benefit leads to situations in which children are better cared for in general, and one could argue that society benefits from this as a whole. Companies will spend more money recruiting, hiring and training a new employee than they will paying for leave for one who is already proficient at the job too. Just my thoughts.
Ed (zoesdad)
July 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am

This was a pretty exhaustive list–well researched and discussed. Though several topics could be discussed ad nauseum and never resolved. I also have an outlandish idea regarding the national debt that would never fly so I’ll keep that one to myself. My addition to the conversation will be my own WTF thought and that is…

The issue of salraies for professional athletes. Millions of dollars are given to these guys to—be kids, to play games. Something is seriously wrong with our priotities when entertainment has that high a price!
Lori
July 25th, 2008 at 11:05 am

I hear ya, Ed! Many pro athletes make more in a year than I’ll make in a lifetime. Depressing and SAD!
Elliott - 21st Century Dad
July 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Professional athletes get some obscene paychecks. However, there is something to be said for the product they provide. It takes exceptional ability to perform at the level that they are expected to.

Ever try strapping on 30 pounds of equipment and stand in front of a projectile traveling 100mph? Oh, and move like a caffeinated cat while 2 or 3 guys are whacking you with a big stick repeatedly. And do it once every two or three days for 3 hours at a time from October to April.

If you’re lucky enough to make it to the Stanley Cup finals, you get to do it every other day for 2 months straight while being away from your family.

And every time you make a mistake, a big flashing red light goes on over your head and 20,000 people yell at you.

I do agree that it’s sad that they choose to conduct themselves poorly off the playing field.

Elliott - 21st Century Dads latest blog nuggle..Goodbye Portnoy
Tara R.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Kinda makes you go ‘HMMMM.’ Great list.

One of the saddest things about Marion Jones, is that if she is stripped of her medals for doping, her teammates on any relays may also lose theirs. Don’t tell me this is a victimless crime. They had no choice in the decisions she made.

Tara R.s latest blog nuggle..Friday Blessings ~ 3.75
Jeremy (Discovering Dad)
July 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am

I agree that the value of entertainment in the U.S. is highly overrated. Makes you wonder what else could be done with that much disposable income?

Jeremy (Discovering Dad)s latest blog nuggle..Spotlight on Dads - Greg Tatum
what it ain't
July 26th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

1. The man fried way to many brain cells in the 70’s & 80’s.
2. Suse Orman
3. yes- cursed with money and looks=access to way to much!
4. remember when he met her? Young pimply faced guy, huge ears meets nasty married cougar!
5. Don’t forget the great British accent?
6. peer pressure?
7. It’s probably easier to get Welfare.
8.Oprah’s to damn busy in Africa!
9. good question
10.see #6 add money and talent= instant a-hole
Matt
August 1st, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Awesome list. Actually kind of got me fired up. I’m just going to comment on one thing though, the professional athlete thing.

I think you have to break up the salaries by sport instead of lumping them all together. Major League Baseball players? Make way too much money. I love baseball but, sorry, some of em aren’t even in shape.

NFL players however, deserve every penny they get paid. Ever seen a football game from 30 years ago and then watched one now? Those guys take a beating. HUGE beatings. The game is faster, they players are bigger, and the hits are gigantic. These guys are expected to play every game no matter what. Ever seen a player get wheeled off on the stretcher only to return to the game like 10 minutes later? Thats because the trainers shoot ‘em up with drugs, patch them um and send them back out. Some of those guys, especially running backs, can barely even walk at 40 years old. I think if you’re going to make that kind of sacrifice with your body, you ought to make millions for it.

Second, I am a HUGE St. Louis Rams fan, and was surprised that you mentioned Leonard Little, just because that case wasn’t as widely reported as some of the larger ones like Vick. I completely agree with you. I loved Little. He’s the best pass rusher that St Louis has ever seen. And then he goes and kills someone. Then, he goes out and drives drunk again! I’ve read all the stories about how bothered he is and how he’s so sorry, but I just can’t get past it. I know its been said before, but at $8 million/year, can’t you afford a frikkin driver?!

Great list. I’ve been mommy blogging all day and it was nice to vent about sports. Now if you do a post and review Blu-Ray players, I’ll be all set!

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Welcome to Mama Nuggle. I'm a wife, mom, stepmom and working professional. Every night when I get home from work, my toddler son asks with outstretched arms and puppy dog eyes, "Mama nuggle?" Every mom loves to nuggle. I couldn't think of a more appropriate name for this site.