If you haven't heard, Ted Kennedy died today. When I heard the news I remembered my own personal experience and memory of Ted. My wife and I were in Martha's Vineyard on our honeymoon when we decided to take a bike ride to the island of Chappaquiddick. We caught the ferry from Edgartown and began to tour the small island going from beach to beach. We turned down Dyke's road and peddaled down to Dyke's Bridge. Niether of us knew we were on the infamous bridge where Ted had run his car into the water. When a local pointed this fact out to us, I looked at the area with a new eye. I stood in the middle of the bridge and looked into the water below. It was crystal clear, about six feet deep, and sandy on the bottom. I thought that if the car had fallen into the water on its side it would have protruded about the surface. I imagined Ted's story of diving down to save Mary Jo until he was so exhausted that he couldn't dive any more. Then he ran 2 miles back to the ferry landing, swam about a quarter mile accross the bay at a time that I believe the tide would be going out and the current would be very demanding, and then headed to his lawyer's house to tell his tale. Let me make this clear, the water under Dyke's Bridge is about the same as a six foot deep swimming pool. If Ted stood in the water, the top of his head would have been above the surface. I don't think he would need to dive at all. The water is also as clear and warm as a swimming pool. No weeds, no rocky bottom, nothing to diminish visibility. To me it seemed obvious that he was lying. I asked a local about the story. She told me that everyone knew it was a lie, but that the Kennedy family had done so much for the state, they felt they owed it to him to keep electing him. 

If anyone out there still believes that Ted was telling the truth, please visit Dyke's Bridge. Watch the 400 horsepower ferry struggle against the current in the bay, ride your bike all the way to the bridge, look down into the water about 4 feet below the surface of the bridge, check out the beautiful sandy bottom through the warm, clear water. Now picture yourself giving up trying to rescue a human being trapped in a car  a few feet from your grasp. Being there will clear up any doubts. RIP, murderer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA

I just heard a congressman, don't know which party, say when asked about the healthcare bill "I will vote my conscience and defend my actions to the public". Thats tough talk and probably brings a lot of support, but since when did we elect congressmen to vote their own conscience and not that of the people who elected him to represent them? If a congressman's district wants an end to abortion, but the congressman wants abortion legal because his under-age daughter is knocked up, shouldn't he vote with his constituents? Isn't that what representative government is all about? Since when did congressmen have all this freedom to vote how they want and not how we want? If I asked you to go to the store and get me some bread and you came back with a Snickers bar because that is what your conscience told you to do, I probably won't ask you to go to the store for me anymore. If your representative is not voting with you, maybe he/she shouldn't represent you anymore. Am I wrong on this? Am I missing something?  

Anyone else out there looking for a job? I have been interviewing for about three months and have nothing yet but a dry cleaning bill for the suits, and poor self-esteem. I sit there and talk about myself and why I'm the best person for the job, and they eat it up! They love me, the company can't function without me, I'm witty, talented, will be a benefit to the team. They call me back for the next interview with even more people. Again, I'm the greatest candidate to walk through the door! Next interview with even more people. Wow! When can we sign this guy up? Then at decision time it's "You were really great, but someone else was a better fit. Thanks anyway and good luck". What is that all about? If I suck, tell me I suck. Don't break it to me gently. Don't beat around the bush. Hit me between the eyes. Forget all the interviewing I don't need to be stroked for weeks on end. Anyone out there on an interview committee? Can anyone explain this to me?

OK, one last thing on the subject since I have been in a three day Facebook fight with two rather nasty atheists. Here is my analogy: One day a piece of carbon fiber washes up on a beach, then 5 million years later it's the space shuttle. That's it in a nutshell. What do you think?