WTF?!?

So yesterday morning I was sweating like a pig in an attempt to lose enough weight/waist to prove to my new commander that I am trying to pass the Air Force PT test, so he will have a heart and let me stay in the service. It would suck more than just about anything I can think of to be separated from the Air Force at 17 years of service. If I am able to stay in, I have 3 years to be eligible to retire from active duty at age 39. And retirement doesn't mean stop working, it just means move on to a new career after serving my country for 20 years. I can't think of any bigger stress than to be told by your new commander that his view is it doesn't matter if you are making progress, you either pass or I boot you. Especially coming from a unit where the commander was very up-front about the policy of "Here are the teeth behind the program. Screw up and I'll chomp you, do what you need to and keep making progress and you are safe."

So anyway, I'm watching the TV and notice a news story that I had to go read for myself. Apparently, Reese Witherspoon is at the top of "The Hollywood Reporter"'s annual list of the highest-paid actresses. She commands between $15-20 million a movie...WTF?!? $15-20 million for what...6 months to a year's worth of work.

Apparently, Angelina Jolie came in second with similar salary demands, while Cameron Diaz was third. Nicole Kidman was fourth with a measly $10-15 million per film. Renee Zellweger and Sandra Bullock both pull in $10-15 million per film, as does Julia Roberts (although she hasn't been in a movie since 2004 - her next film is due in December). The top 10 ends with Drew Barrymore and Jodie Foster, both pulling in $10-12 million, and Halle Berry at a mere $10 million.

I work like a dog to make my measly Air Force Staff Sergeant pay to support my family and these ladies are paid $10-20 million to entertain us??? Wow, this system is screwed up! We will allow this to continue because we have to be entertained, but we will continue to pay our military members, police officers, firefighters, EMT's, and teachers like chumps.