I'm not a huge movie goer. I like to wait for most to show up on HBO and recently saw Evan Almighty, several times. I like Morgan Freeman as an actor. Seems like he's equaled George Burns in the number of times playing God. Something that stuck with me was his telling Evan, a newly elected congressman who wanted to change the world, that the best way to do it was by ARK, Acts of Random Kindness. I doubt that the acronym works in other languages but it is a warm, fuzzy thought.

Pat was recalling how our family had tough times in our early years and how hard it was to make the food budget stretch out. Seeing some sandwich meat on sale for $1.00 and other items made her think that some family will hopefully see the sale and benefit from it. When I was out of work for many months after a nasty crash, the church collected some much needed food to help our family get through it. My dad would have bursts of generosity from time to time and one day bought bags and bags of groceries for a distant relative whose family was going through tough times. He did other generous acts for people, most I never knew about.

We recently found out about some family needing help so the ARK floated from our house to theirs. If all of your family and friends are in good shape, financially, please help make sure that the food pantrys are able to help those that don't have friends or family that can help. After all, we are all riding in God's big round ARK together, and we can improve it by doing Acts of Random Kindness.

Did you know that City of Waukesha gas stations can't sell beer? I didn't. Since people are cutting back on their driving and buying less gasoline, the walk-in business for Slim Jims and Twinkies has dwindled. Now some are asking the city to reconsider the ordinance so they can buck up some of the shrinking profits.

This is a tough one for me as you probably know of my family's recent loss to a convicted drunk driver that should have been sitting in jail rather than behind the wheel of an Escalade. I believe that the intention of this ordinance was to reduce the possibility of popping one open after gassing up. One can argue that beer is available at many places. Grocery stores and the liquor stores for example. Although not quite as quick and easy as getting a 12 pack at the gas station, it is just as easy to pop one open driving home from there.

Personally, I'd rather it be easier to get some air for the tires than it is beer from today's serviceless stations, but that is change. So, it is fine by me with two conditions. First, we also require them to sell the cheap, disposable blood alcohol breath analyzers in a prominent location by the beer. It will at least serve as a "sobering reminder" of the consequences of driving under the influence of the stuff. Second, how about lifting the ban on sales of non-alcohol beer after 9PM? What part of non-alcohol do we not understand?

Which makes me wonder, why stop the sales of alcohol after 9pm when the taverns remain open, where people are getting schnockered and then driving rather than just transporting a six pack home?

I don't know about you, but I'd be willing for a tax raise to fund a "Department of Logical Analysis and Recommendations" for the city! I suspect it'd pay for itself and maybe reduce our taxes too!

I was going to write about an internet purchase experience and a local experience but a news item begs for comment.

As I opened WaukeshaNow, I saw a headline that the Sentry next to Walmart on the Les Paul Highway is closing. Such is competition. I'm in the minority, it would seem.  I don't like the huge supermarkets. It seems everything I want is about a mile away from the entrances or I have to sort out through expensive gourmet stuff that I'd never consider buying, but somebody must.

I miss my Sentry on Moreland and Delafield and the one that was downtown next to the bank. I can't help but blame those who were in power at the time for allowing that to happen. Would a tax exemption have helped the bottom line? How about the state helping out by eliminating some or all of the payroll taxes for a struggling food store? We are talking about a basic necessity of food and not spas or car dealers.

In the business section of Sunday's paper, an article about Buell reminded us about the government's tariff on Japanese motorcycles to allow Harley Davidson gain some footing to keep it alive. This was done by a Republican, Nixon, if I recall correctly.
 
Does all of this sound out of the question in the near future? Somehow it is something that I think presidential candidates Obama and Edwards just might consider. My votes during the last 20 years have been solidly Republican. However, I'm listening to the messages that have the Democrats so enthralled with these two people. It seems that people are indeed looking for change that is real rather than change that is only rhetoric. I think this also explains Mike Huckabee's rise in favor. Thus far I am still supporting Rudy Guliani, but until the pencil has made its mark on the ballot, who knows?

Could it be that true conservatism is gasping for air?