Security For All

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
From “Strange Days” by the Doors

I spend most of my time in the Peoples Republic of Boulder, so I’m pretty blase about strange stuff. I mean this is a place where a candidate for city council can file a campaign finance report with $14.37 to “Only Natural Pet Store” for dinner for his campaign manager, a cat named Sita. And nobody thinks twice about it. Needless to say, my Bizarro-meter is calibrated way higher than most. Nevertheless, events of this last week have pretty much pegged it.

First there was the whole Balloon Boy saga. As if a runaway helium filled mylar flying saucer thought to have a six-year-old stowaway aboard wasn’t bizarre enough, it turns out to be an elaborate hoax for purposes of snagging a reality TV show. Move over John and Kate plus Octomom. This totally raises (or lowers) the weird-stuff-fools-do-to-get-on-TV bar. Here is a timeline of this odd affair.
Oct 20:
FAA investigating Colo. balloon flight
Griego: A better image of parenthood
Hollywood acquaintances say balloon boy’s dad always wanted fame
Oct 19:
Balloon boy saga “absolutely … a hoax,” Larimer sheriff says
Sheriff admits misleading the media to win trust of balloon boy’s family
Oct 18:
Fort Collins parents face felony charges in “balloon boy” case
Balloon escapade a hoax police say
“Balloon boy” responders dealt with roller coaster of emotions
Experts say TV cameras alter family dynamics, like in “balloon boy” case
Sheriff expects charges to be filed against Colorado family in “balloon boy” case
Oct 17:
Charges pending in “balloon boy” saga
Balloon family has pushed for television spotlight
Sheriff has questions, says he believes family
Oct 16:
‘Balloon boy’ found safe at home
Oct 15:
Feared lost in balloon, boy found at home

Yep. It just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Culminating in what will no doubt be the most popular Halloween costume of 2009 and this YouTube spoof Real Men of Genius: Heene. Just think, all this took place in the normal part of Colorado.

And then there was this pair of stories about insurance company craziness. In the first, an infant was denied coverage due to pre-existing condition: “obesity”. In the second a two-year-old was denied coverage due to another pre-existing condition: “underweight”. Yeah, that’s what I thought too. I gotta tell ya, this doesn’t do a lot for the credibility of insurance companies in my mind. Although I have no problem believing that insurance prices will go up if the health care legislation currently being debated in congress is passed. Or not. Whatever happens I’m pretty sure that they’ll find a way to take more of our money and deliver less coverage.

And in the “Best Job Ever” category Westword, a Denver alternative newspaper posted an ad for a reviewer of the state’s marijuana dispensaries and their products. Hey, they don’t call it the Mile High city for nothing!

All this during the week that the Denver Broncos went 6-0 in a seasons where most of us thought they would be lucky to win 6 at all. If this isn’t concrete evidence of the existence of a God who watches over His Broncos I don’t know what is.

Oh, I almost forgot. Microsoft released their long-awaited new OS – Windows 7 which was Amazon UK’s biggest pre-ordered product of all time. Unseating the previous title holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now if businesses will just follow the consumer herd, Microsoft will be golden. And I will totally need to re-calibrate my Bizarro-meter even higher.