Here we are at Monday again.  Rain and freezing rain coming in.  Didn't get here yesterday but is just in time for rush hour today.  Thankfully we don't have to go out.  We don't have anything we need so we are postponing our grocery shopping to sometime later in the week.

Oh, my--the TransAtlantic Trade treaty the Obama administration is negotiating (in secret) is getting some push back from Europeans who don't want their food safety standards modified to something more like the U.S. standards.  I don't blame them.  I don't want those standards either but our corporate-captured government has saddled us with them.  All we can do is try to avoid the worst of it.

Industrialization has some benefits but serious downsides as well.  Unfortunately, those who suffer the downsides rarely experience the benefits.  Didn't the first time around and won't this time.  Those who benefit are far away in clean(er) environments.

Another reason why I simply don't believe any of the hype of an improving economy--anywhere.

Sen. Tom Harkin's last gift to his financial cronies???  I am sure glad this pseudo-Democrat is retiring.  A Repthuglican did win his seat (Joni Ernst) but you know where those idiots are coming from and we know they aren't our friends.  Better the enemy you know than a stab in the back.