The Way I See It ...

1. There is no "win" in war. The Middle East has been at war for centuries: no surge or conventional warfare is going to change that. If we aren't going to drop the bomb and literally level the field of battle, let's try leaving them to their own devices. It's their decision to IED themselves into oblivion if the PEOPLE who are being bombed won't stand up for their own safety. We have serious work to do within our own borders, so either get it done or get the hell out of the Middle East.

2. Yes, they did it for the show and their well-rehearsed press conference to the contrary lacked believability. They knew their lines better than Raven, but it was the same scam. Turn the cameras off the party crashers.

3. The record-breaking profits in the auto industry were made on the backs of the taxpayers who funded the Cash for Clunkers program, not by a new business model or a new product line or new consumer-friendly pricing strategies. The auto industry cannot rebound until cars are once again available at prices the consumer can afford. The MAJORITY of the consumer base cannot afford $40k even when stretched out with a 5-year payment plan that adds another third of the purchase price in interest!

4. Contrary to public opinion, Tiger Woods' personal life is his business. Neither he nor his wife nor anyone else associated with the Tiger Woods brand needs to explain what happened -- or did not happen. Tiger adhered to the letter of the law; it was no big deal; we need to move on, people.

5. The new financial philosophy needs to hammer home the "live within your means" point, rather than exhorting the consumer to spend, spend, spend its way out of "these tough economic times." The cycle of living on credit cannot continue, no matter what enticements the businesses and/or the credit card vendors offer to help the public through "these tough economic times." Don't spend money you don't have and you'll be debt-free. Eventually.

6. The family members who sheltered the career criminal who gunned down four police officers catching up on paperwork at a local coffee shop should be prosecuted as accessories after the fact. Their perspective that the man was mentally ill and deserved to be treated humanely, not hunted down like a common criminal, lacks substance: he murdered four innocent men in a public place, then ran! The family hid him, obstructing a murder investigation and putting the entire community into jeopardy, and now cry on the TV news to take the onus off their actions. Nope. Hold ALL criminals accountable for their actions, even those who commit a crime for which they do not want to go to jail.

7. I willingly throw out a head of lettuce that has gone bad because, face it, tearing up lettuce for lunch doesn't do it for a sugar addict, but I refuse to toss out the sweet rolls I made for b'fast! Priorities skew when it's an emotional time of the year. Really, Santa, I've been good for months and months and months!

8. No matter how many donations I make to worthy charities, there are always several more in tomorrow's mail. I hate saying "no" to any of them, but I'm drowning in donations.

9. It offends me that so many employees do their holiday shopping by computer during the workday. It equally offends me that the media covers the increase in the number of employees doing their holiday shopping on the company dime as if it were another work-related task during the day. If people have that much leisure time to spend doing personal business during the workday, either cut their hours or dock their pay or charge them a usage fee for the company equipment. When I'm on the clock, I'm on the clock!

10. Hurrah to everyone who loves Christmas and celebrates it for days on end. My only request for Christmas this year? Leave those of us who are not so enamored alone to do our own thing. Don't extend invitations to holiday parties we don't want to attend. Don't ask us to go shopping with you because that is probably one of the aspects of the holiday with which we are less than enchanted. Don't ask us to share your holiday dinner so we "don't have to eat alone." I am used to making my own decisions the other 50 weeks of the year, so allow me the courtesy of doing the same during the holiday season. I'm okay with that. Really.

All done.