The Least You Should Know (1/31)

A statue of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro will be placed in front of Churchill Downs. But it's not without controversy; he was named in the Mitchell Report.

A Rebate?

It's troubling to know that in Washington there are creepy Congressmen talking about a stimulating package, and Tuesday they'll debate it on the floor of the House.

Even more troubling is the language they use when describing the double espresso shot to the economy. I understand that my family could qualify for a "rebate" check, based on income and how many people in my house call me Dad.

Okay. Awfully nice of them to send some money since it used to be mine and I didn't go all Wesley Snipes.

The rebate I'm concerned about is the $300 given to the people who don't make enough to pay taxes. Isn't a rebate a partial refund for something that has already been paid? They aren't paying anything in, but now get a check. I want that job.

This is nothing more than welfare. When I was a kid I kept buying bottles of Pepsi because they had a promotion offering rebates for crappy stuff that I couldn't live without. I think in the end I got a free bottle of the devilish beverage that cost me around $27.00. Essentially, I paid for a lucky kid somewhere who got even better crappy stuff after buying just one bottle.

People in the upper income bracket -- those who pay the most taxes -- are out of luck. They went and became too successful for the rebate.

If this sweepstakes gets through Congress, the tax-paying grownups are paying for the first-time Pepsi winners. Let's call it what it is: re-distribution. But that doesn't sound as cool as rebate.

The Least You Should Know (1/25)

A fire broke out Friday at the Monte Carlo hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Officials say the fire was started by a pair discarded pants belonging to one of the candidates after last weekend's caucus.

The Least You Should Know (1/24)

On this day 35 years ago the Beatles reached #1 on the U.S. music charts with "I Want to Hold Your Hand," a song written by a young Larry Craig.

The Least You Should Know (1/23)

John Edwards told David Letterman that because he's running against a woman and a black man he feels like a minority. He should; it can't be easy being a liberal.

The Least You Should Know (1/22)

Osama bin Laden’s son Omar says he wants to be a peace advocate. Close friends say he’s following the lead of his brother, Martin Luther bin Laden.

The Least You Should Know (1/21)

ABC announced they’re going to remake “Circus of the Stars.” They got the idea from reading The Globe.

The Least You Should Know (1/17)

The FDA says that over-the-counter cold medicines are risky for children under two. Apparently it makes them throw food from their high chairs.

The Least You Should Know (1/15)

A Florida teenager faces charges for using a knife to try and steal a cheeseburger at Burger King. Apparently she didn’t get it her way.

The Least You Should Know (1/11)

A company in India created a 4-passenger car that sells new for $2,500. Of course that’s the base price; you’ll pay more for the extras -- like doors.

The Least You Should Know (1/8)

Two men who disrupted a Hillary Clinton rally by shouting, "Iron my shirt" said they oppose the thought of a woman in the White House. Later they showed up at a John Edwards rally.

The Least You Should Know (1/7)

Animal advocates are hoping that recent dogfighting scandals will force lawmakers to pass tougher animal abuse laws. The most vocal about animal abuse are dogs dressed in sweaters.

I Don't Care About Religion

So much has been made about Mitt Romney's religion during the last two months. He's Mormon. And?

I'm Catholic, but I know a little summin' about the the LDS Church.

• They follow the same 10 Commandments as we do
  
• They're family centered
  
• Many of them volunteer two years on missions to share the teachings of the church (yah, I know -- Al Gore has spent more than two years spreading the global warming gospel).
  
• Mormons teach that the body is a temple and should not be polluted with alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes.
  
• They believe in abstenence
  
• They respect life

Sounds like a good list for anybody claiming to be conservative. As a guy who would love to multiply his hairs, I'm certainly not going to split them on what one religion believes is the best way to get into heaven.

The Least You Should Know (1/4)

The official overseeing Madonna’s adoption of David Banda said Madonna is the “perfect mother.” She went on to add, “Not like Norma Arnold perfect, but more like Tom Arnold perfect.”

The Least You Should Know (1/3)

A teenager in London extinguished the flames of a kitchen fire by grabbing a pair of his mom’s size-20 underwear. In other news, Britney Spears' house burned down.