Christopher A. Wheeler

Chairman Bill Gates said Wednesday he wished he were not the world’s richest man.

“I wish I wasn’t. There is nothing good that comes out of that,” said Gates, whose personal fortune sank by billions since last week when the software giant disappointed investors by saying new investments would crimp earnings.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

So apparently Bill Gates wishes he weren’t the world’s richest man. I have a few ideas for him if he wants his wish to come true.

• Give money away to strangers. He can start with me. I’d gladly take any amount of money off of his hands. $10,000… $5,000… whatever you wish Mr. Gates, I can help you.
• Donate a few billion dollars to the federal government to go towards the national debt. He and 799 other multi-billionaires could each donate $10B, which would completely wipe out the debt. OK, not completely, but close (relatively speaking)

OK, I’m sure there is more, but I am so tired that I am having problems thinking of more.

So I have my Aging final exam today, as well as a Microbiology Lab exam. I slept less than two hours last night. I’m not feeling too well now.

Picasso’s 1941 portrait of his mistress, “Dora Maar with cat,” sold for an astounding $95 million at Sotheby’s on Wednesday, becoming the second most expensive painting in auction history.

FULL TEXT HERE

OK, so this painting that Picasso did, of his mistress, sold yesterday for $95M. That is approximately $94,999,999.52 more than I would pay for it.

I realize I am not very trained when it comes to art, so I have no idea what’s “good” and what’s not, but to me, Picasso’s work is… ugly. And apparently so was his mistress. I just don’t get what is so appealing about this picture that somebody would pay any amount of money for that. I mean, seriously. I don’t get it.

UPDATE: According to Wikipedia Pablo Picasso’s full name is Pablo Diego José Santiago Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso. How long do you think it took him to learn to spell that?

OK, I am reading an article for my Basic Aspects of Aging Course and I came across a paragraph that strikes me as odd. I’m not sure what to make of it.

In his letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times, Hack (1999) reported on a 1993 study by Meecham and Shaw conducted near the Los Angeles International Airport. The results indicated that living near that airport was related to a two-year loss in life expectancy among seniors 74 years of age and older. The negative factors that contributed to a decline in life expectancy were excessive noise levels and air pollution. As worries of the Leisure World residents concerning the noise and pollution associated with the airport grew, so did the success of pro-city activists.

I was not aware that loud noise could decrease life expectancy, unless you go deaf from the loud noise, and then get hit by a car because you couldn’t hear it coming.

A high school teacher in Belleville, Ill., was arrested and charged with breaking the neck of a 17-year-old student and then leaving her to die in some woods, according to police.

H.S. Teacher Accused Of Trying To Kill Student FULL ARTICLE HERE

As if parents don’t have enough to worry about, now they have to watch out for their kids getting killed as well.

OK, so I saw this photo posted on Drudge and I’ve got to wonder, why can I not eat burritos if there are no illegals? Do all Mexican restaurants hire only illegal immigrants undocumented workers? Is that legal?

And why were yesterdays rallies/protests called “A Day without an Immigrant”? I read that is was in response to pending debate in Congress regarding immigration. Oh wait, just illegal immigration. So now I am confused, because I thought the point of the rallies were to show how much worse the American economy would be without immigrant labor. How disingenuous. And if it really was to be “A Day without an Immigrant” how come all the talk I heard was about Mexicans protesting? Aren’t there immigrants here in America from all over the world?

For the record, I don’t hate Mexicans or any other groups of people. One of my best friends, Hector, is here legally. I think so at least, I guess I never asked, but I presume he is. And he cooks up a tasty legal burrito.

OK, so apparently Kellie Pickler doesn’t know what the word “ballsy” means, made obvious by the fact that when Simon said her performance was ballsy, she asked, “What’s a ballsy?”

The funny thing is, I’m watching a video clip of Kellie on “Fox and Friends” and Brian asked her what song she sang, and what her “faux paus” was. She didn’t even flinch. How in the world does she know “faux paus” but not “ballsy”? Is it because she doesn’t have to try and play dumb for votes anymore?

So today, 02 May 2006, is the 6th anniversary of the day Kate, Michael and I were sealed together as a family in the Chicago Illinois Temple. I remember the day well. Michael was about 15 months old, and he looked adorable all dressed in white. I’ll never forget the day, kneeling at the altar, making commitments to each other to be together as a family for all eternity. And even though Audrey wasn’t there, I hope she wants to be a part of that too!

So today, on the anniversary of our sealing, I am making a new commitment to try and be a better husband to my eternal companion, Kate, and a better father to my children. It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not all going to happen at once. But I’m going to try really hard, because I love them so much.