Screwed: Administration struggles to find high schools to enter contest for Obama to speak at their graduation

CBS News: The White House is ramping up an effort to promote a nationwide competition to decide which high school wins a commencement speech by President Obama.

An internal White House memo indicates that the White House is facing a shortage of applications less than a week before the deadline.

The competition was extended from the February 25 deadline until Friday, March 11 after few schools met the original application deadline. CBS News has learned a White House Communications Office internal memo dated February 22 noted "a major issue with the Commencement Challenge."

"As of yesterday we had received 14 applications and the deadline is Friday," the memo said. The memo also urged recipients to, "please keep the application number close hold."

A follow-up memo on February 28 reported receipt of 68 applications. Noting the competition among more than 1,000 schools last year, the memo said, "Something isn't working." It called on staffers to ask "friendly congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral offices" to encourage schools to apply. [MORE]

This is a perfect example of "one good screw deserves another". After two years of Obama and the Democrats screwing the next generation with mountains and enacting policies that dry up jobs like a sponge, is it any wonder that the next generation is telling Obama "screw you"?

Quite frankly, Obama's speeches have been over sold for quite sometime. Whatever magic he was able to conger back in 2008 has long disappeared. Today Obama's speeches are dry and highly forgettable. Who wants to ruin a happy day by inviting such a bore?

Via: Memeorandum
Via: CBS News

Swine Flu: Hype or Horror?

I am kind of getting that “don’t believe the hype” feeling about the Swine Flu. Remember SARS? Vaguely, right? Well it was covered by the media much the same way and nothing happened. Same for the Bird Flu when it first popped up.

Yes, we will face one of those population decimation diseases sooner or later. When it comes, it is going to have to be something that completely catches our science off guard. It will be during that time we are figuring it out, that it will take its toll on our populations. I just don’t see this happening with a different type of the flu.

To date there are about 70 known cases here in the United States. The media reports this in such ominous tones. However, when you remember that we are a nation of 300 million, you realize that we are not even talking about 1% of the population. The odds of not catching it are still greatly in your favor.

Only 2 Americans have died from the Swine Flu and almost 200 Mexicans. I think those deaths have more to do with the ineffectiveness of the Mexican government and its crummy healthcare system, than with the potency of this new strain of flu. Every year thousands die from the flu and we don't scream Pandemic!

For myself, I plan to watch how it progresses and follow normal flu season precautions (wash your hands regularly and avoid people who carelessly hack and spew in public). If it does take a turn for the worse, I have plenty of surgical masks and rubber gloves left over from handling my mail after 9/11.

What’s your view?