Grandma's House

Alaska Airlines has turned one of their jets into a giant flying salmon. The jet, lovingly named the "salmon-forty-salmon" (isn't that cute?) received a very expensive paint job, putting a giant salmon on the side of the plane. The promotional paint job was financed by a non-profit agency, the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, to the tune of $500,000. That's all fine and dandy, but here's the kicker:

The money came out of about $29 million in federal funding U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and his congressional colleagues have appropriated to the marketing board, created in 2003, to promote and enhance the value of Alaska seafood. The senator's son, state Sen. Ben Stevens, is chairman of the agency's board of directors.

Frankly, I don't think the federal government should be paying for a paint job on a jet. I don't see them painting my car, and it could use it.