Things I would like to bitch about

Yep, that's what this post is going to be. Just things that I would like to bitch about. Here they are, in no particular order (although my subconscious mind may have put them into order without my knowledge):

1. As of December 11, 2006 the U.S. military casualties in the Iraq war is at 2,927 confirmed dead, and 10 awaiting confirmation from the Department of Defense (here). Don't you just love that word, casualties? It reduces it to nothing but a statistic. We need to start telling it as it is, and if it upsets someone that I say it's about damned time it upset someone. The dead in Iraq are not statistics - there are 2,927 men and women who have returned to the United States in a casket. 2,927 times, families and friends have mourned. 2,927 lives ended tragically too soon. They are not casualties, they are human beings who deserved more than to be added to a numbers column. If you would like to make me a happy girl, pledge to stop using the word casualties and instead say people. Try it with me now. There are 2,927 husbands, wives, daughters, sons, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that have died in Iraq.
2. If you cannot turn off your damn cell phone while you are shopping or even worse, in a restuarant, then remove yourself and the cell phone from the area and leave the rest of us in peace. No, I'm not referring to the 'honey, which kind of detergent was I supposed to get?' kind of call. That's what cell phones are for. I'm talking about the people that have to conduct business, catch up with their sorority sister and have a teacher conference via cell phone while in the middle of the store. I'm sorry, but if the call is that important then sit your ass in your car, have your call, and when you are finished turn the fucking phone off and return to the store or restaurant without making the rest of us hear you yell into your phone about how your boss is an ass and your kid has the shits. Effective immediately, I am taking a small air horn everywhere I go and if I come across someone on a cell phone or using one of those damn Blue Tooth ear pieces and it is not one of those short 'I need to ask a question' calls, I'm going to blast the air horn. If I have to listen to you on your phone then you have to listen to me and my air horn. What's that? You can't hear to have your phone conversation when I blast my air horn? GOOD!!!
   
3. The arrows on aisle in a parking lot are not suggestions to be ignored if it doesn't suit you. When cars come at me in the wrong direction, I will continue my practice of sitting there in the middle of the aisle. The asshole that is too stupid to read an arrow can back his/her own damn car up to get out of the aisle. It's not my fault that your parents blessed you with only five brain cells, two of which sometimes work.

Damn, I'm all out of time. I'll have to continue my bitching tomorrow, but until then if you remember nothing else from this post, remember no. 1 on my bitch list.