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A recent investigation found that hundreds of airplane mechanics in the United States cannot read or write English, the language in which repair manuals and maintenance reports are written. Next time you fly in an airliner, check and see if the flight crew are wearing parachutes

The problem is economic- trained airplane mechanics earn upwards of $35 an hour, while day laborers can make only $10 an hour. Not to mention that all those expensive tools and parts. 

Maybe it's part of a plan to begin raising rates. Hey, if you don't want the door to fall off at 30,000 feet, you can pay the "I won't fall out of the sky" surcharge..

The Senate voted to check credit card rate increases and excessive fees. Now, they didn't vote to put a cap on the interest rates, just made the credit card companies let you know ahead of time that they are going to clobber you. And not right away. The law doesn't take effect for another year, so there's plenty of time to make the credit-burdened public cough up more dough. That's the way to lean on 'em, you stalwart defenders of the working man.

Los Angeles was shaken by a 4.1 magnitude aftershock today following this week's earthquake. Some people say the Governor is going too far by creating earthquakes to scare voters into passing his budget propositions. 

Polls are showing that although voter turnout is going to be sparse, most of the propositions will go down in defeat, which throws the solution to California's disasterous budget back at the Legislature and the Governor. More wrangling, more arguing, more finagling over the most important matter on their agenda- will they be able to maintain their per diem?

They will have to sit down in Sacramento Wednesday and figure out whether to slash state employee rolls or pile on even more taxes and fees to begin fixing the state budget. The choices are difficult and frought with deadly pitfalls. Whatever decisions they make they are going to have to face the voters and somehow convince them that their decisions are in the best interests of everyone and for the future of the State. It's the equivalent of Baskin Robbins replacing their 31 flavors with boiled cauliflower.

The times demand that Californians pull together in shared sacrifice, foregoing expectations and accepting reduced living standards to get us all back on track. In some neighborhoods, rumor has it the pool man will also have to cut the grass. Hard times, my friend. 

Archeaologists have discovered what may be the fossil of the "missing link".  A 47,000,000 year-old skeleton of a pre-primate with four legs, a tail and opposing thumbs is being exhibited to interested scientists around the world. Reconstruction by forensic sculptors suggest that the creature may be Senator Robert Byrd.