Slow day today news-wise, but maybe some in Congress are waking up. Because there's a very good chance that if earmarks aren't completely ended, they'll at least be suspended for a couple of years.
To that end, I found some interesting data about earmarks themselves. They only add up to 1% of the federal budget, but that amounts to $16 billion dollars which equals the median federal income tax paid by 6.9 million Americans. So, while politicians are throwing bones to friends, constituents and contributors, they're taking $16 billion out of taxpayers pockets to do it. But in the end, I guess, its not difficult to spend someone else's hard-earned money to bolster your personal cause when you really don't give a damn about anyone else's financial issues or anything else about them.
On a more personal note, I ran into an acquaintance of mine last evening who I chat with every now and then. He's in a different generation than I am, so although we have much in common, we don't really "hang out" as friends. But, what I do know about him quite well, is that he's quite bright, very articulate, and extremely well read, particularly on current events.
He seemed very happy and excited as he joined myself and some others, and within a short while, explained that he had written a book, and just learned that a publisher had agreed to publish the work. Now, it's far too soon to go into detail about the book itself, it's at the earliest stages of production. But I'll certainly write more about this as the project's completed.
The thing that interested me though, was that although the writer was quite ecstatic he really couldn't describe his feelings completely to others. And that's why I'm typing this entry, because I can identify with his elation in a way that non-writers can't. And that's not to denigrate non-writers, it's just to try to explain why my acquaintance felt such excitement.
What writers really do most of the time is stare at blank pieces of paper, or computer screens. At times, words and ideas flow from their fingers in torrents and pages fill very quickly. At other times it's an endless, wearying trial where words, ideas or any worthwhile thoughts either don't exist or refuse to show up. And, for the most part, writers work completely by themselves, putting their thoughts and words out there for others to determine whether they're of value or not.
And that's why when a professional in the publishing business whose major task is to separate writing wheat from chaff, says we'd like to publish your work, there are few accomplishments in life that can equate with that. Consequently, it's hard to put your feelings in words, because very few can grasp the full meaning, unless they themselves are writers. And please, don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying that writers are better, or special, or in a class above others. I'm simply trying to say that they're unique in the same way that successful professionals in any field are, and that they usually relate best to their peers.
So, for now, I'll just wish the writer well and am as sure as one can be at this stage, that the work will be well worth reading. Because, if he writes half as well as he articulates his thoughts, the book will wind up a best seller.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
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