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"Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Budget woes fuel plea for residents to send in census forms:
On Tuesday, the Census Bureau will launch a campaign stressing the importance of counting infants and young children on the forms. As part of Children Count Too, Nickelodeon will broadcast a promotional spot featuring the children's character Dora the Explorer. Census officials say children are undercounted because people in hard-to-count groups, including immigrants and minorities, tend to have more children in their families and because many people do not list babies on the questionnaire. Just when you thought the Census ads couldn't get any more infantile or irritating. I can't imagine that I'm the only one out there driven to fist-shaking, teeth-gritting, under-my-breath-cursing outrage every time I see or hear one of these ads that seems to portray the Census as your Not that I'm against the counting mind you. The Census does serve a valuable purpose and in fact I even worked as a manager for the 1990 Census back when I was attending college (hopefully more on that experience that shortly). But do the ads have to so blatantly appeal to our avarice? One of the reasons that we're in the financial mess we're in is the "what's in it for me?" attitude that Americans have developed toward government programs. Whether it's more funding for local schools, extended unemployment benefits, or tax breaks to buy a new home, this "gimme, gimme, gimme...more, more, more" view is pervasive. Even conservatives will often take the tack that "Well, after all these years of paying in, I deserve to get something back." This entitlement mentality results in almost everyone with their hand out and few willing to reach into their own wallet. Instead of playing to our greed, the Census ads could focus on our patriotism and sense of civic duty. After all, as the Census Bureau's own website notes, the Census is in the Constitution. Maybe they know their target audience well enough to know what really works. Labels: Government Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Anyone who has spent any amount of time studying 20th century history and/or is a big biography buff would likely greet the arrival of a new biography of Winston Churchill with a disinterested shrug. Especially when that biography of one of the greatest figures in modern history chocks in at a very modest one-hundred-and-ninety-two pages. What more could you possibly learn about a man who--in addition to already being the subject of several comprehensive biographies--was a prolific writer in his own right and left behind detailed chronicles of nearly every significant (and some insignificant) event in his life? Why should I even bother cracking this latest volume in the vast literary library on Churchill?
The simple answer is because the author is Paul Johnson. Johnson has written a number of excellent books in his long career, including "Modern Times" which is probably my favorite book on history. His works are informative, engaging, and most of all enjoyable to read. His apt descriptions, elegant use of language, and perceptive insights are on again on full display in "Churchill." Pretty impressive for a man who celebrated his eighty-first birthday last November. He makes no bones about the fact that he's a lifelong admirer of Churchill and his bias is no doubt reflected in his interpretation of Churchill's role in history. So what? At this point, there isn't much in Churchill's life and work that isn't known (although Johnson does include a few nuggets that I have not read elsewhere). I for one don't want or need to read a completely objective above it all historical recounting of Churchill, especially when I can have the option of having Paul Johnson's perspective instead. My only really complaint is with the length, but it shows that Johnson may share Churchill's ability to recognize what really matters. I recently read another short book by another English author named Johnson called "The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia." The paperback version I bought was a mere one-hundred-and-twelve pages, but the novel condenses a lot into its short length: The distinguished English writer's only novel provides a compelling glimpse of his moral views as he assails 18th-century optimism and man's unrealistic estimates of what life has to offer. Rasselas ponders such subjects as romantic love, flights of imagination, the great discoveries of science, and speculations about the meaning of happiness. Even though the work was published more than two-hundred-and-fifty years ago, its exploration of the restless nature of man and our inability to ever truly find complete happiness in this world still resonates today. It's not exactly an easy or exciting read, but it will give you pause to think and realize that the quest to answer the existential questions of life is hardly unique to our age. Labels: Books
Tax soda, pizza to cut obesity, researchers say:
They compared data on food prices during the same time. Over a 20-year period, a 10 percent increase in cost was linked with a 7 percent decrease in the amount of calories consumed from soda and a 12 percent decrease in calories consumed from pizza. The team estimates that an 18 percent tax on these foods could cut daily intake by 56 calories per person, resulting in a weight loss of 5 pounds (2 kg) per person per year. "Our findings suggest that national, state or local policies to alter the price of less healthful foods and beverages may be one possible mechanism for steering U.S. adults toward a more healthful diet," Duffey and colleagues wrote. You gotta love the language, don't ya? "Steering" sounds so benign and gentle. Especially when compared to pushing, prodding, or herding. Such terms would be more appropriate given that the attitude with which these health nannies regard the American people. You are an animal, unable or unwilling to control your urges and appetites. Therefore your betters must "steer" you--using the confiscatory powers of the state as a cattle prod--toward a more healthy lifestyle. Hey, it's for your own good. Stop complaining and eat your government subsidized salad. No dressing though, unless you're willing to pay that added tax. For those of you out there who do manage to take care of yourself and manage your diet and health without government coercion, too bad. You get to pay the soda and pizza tax too. But remember, we're talking about the greater good here. We should all be happy to pay more for a thinner America. Right? Labels: Nanny State Monday, March 08, 2010
Just realized that this coming Saturday, March 13th will be an action packed day. At noon, you have the Kill The Bill rally at the State Capitol. But very likely at the same time you also have the much anticipated Northern Alliance Radio Network First Team interview with one Karl Rove. Yes, the political mastermind/evil genius/talking-point distributor himself will be sitting down with Brian and John to talk about his new book. Connect the dots, people, connect the dots.
That evening, you have the MOB party at Ol' Mexico in Roseville, which I believe will commence at 7pm. At that same time, you also have the puck dropping to begin the second game of the Gopher-Sioux WCHA playoff series as well as the AA championship game of the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. Definitely a time to keep your head on a swivel. Labels: MOB, NARN (10-11)
More reason to suspect that we're unlikely to see a robust jobs recovery anytime soon comes from an article about employers and consumers asking Who will blink first?:
Therein lies the standoff that helps explain the weakness of the recovery and the depth of the jobs crisis. Each side--employers on one, consumers on the other--is waiting for the other to spend more. Until then, the recovery will likely feel shaky. And job openings will be few. Which side will blink first? Many economists predict it will be businesses. Sometime this year, many companies are likely to decide they must replace worn-out equipment or they can't squeeze any more output from their existing staff, according to estimates from Moody's economy.com and IHS Global Insight. Some will then ramp up hiring. Yet business expansion and hiring are likely to remain so modest that it could take until 2011 or 2012 for consumers to respond by opening their wallets wide, Moody's economy.com and IHS Global Insight predict. Once they do, households are expected to finally unleash a pent-up demand for appliances, clothes and cars. Until then, consumers and employers will likely remain wary of hiring or spending much. The jobless rate, now 9.7 percent, will stay high. And employers will create nowhere near the roughly 10 million jobs that economists say are needed to restore the job market to its pre-recession health. "There's a little bit of a standoff--a chicken-and-egg problem," said Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at University of California, Berkeley. Reich holds out the possibility the stalemate will end soon. But short of a major industrial innovation--some new energy technology, for instance--he thinks businesses will remain slow to hire and consumers wary of spending freely for most of this year. The government likely won't help much. Stimulus spending is waning. So are the Federal Reserve's emergency support programs. That leaves more of the job-creation burden for employers and consumers. That doesn't mean that the government won't pretend that it's pitching in to help create jobs. Another fifteen billion piled on our mountain of debt is relatively insignificant, but it's maddening that we're spending any amount money that everyone knows won't make a difference. The only thing that's likely to break this employer-consumer gridlock is for both sides to regain the trust and confidence they need to open their wallets again. And that will only come with time. More government spending in the meantime will do nothing to increase trust and confidence for either group and, especially in the case of many employers, will likely only further delay their willingness to start making long-term investments again. Labels: Economics
Minnesota Majority is organizing a rally this Saturday at noon on the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul to call on Congress to Kill The Bill:
Even though every major poll clearly shows that a supermajority of the American people oppose the current health care "reform" bill, Nancy Pelosi is planning to jam the bill through Congress with a vote scheduled for March 18. If you care about preserving your right to make health care decisions for you and your family, please be sure to come to Saturday's rally. Bring a sign demonstrating your opposition to the bill. Conservatives and libertarians aren't typically wont to organize, rally, and protest as much as those on the progressive side, but if anything is ever going to get you out in the streets (as it were) this is it. This is the time, this is the place, this is the issue that calls us out to make a stand. Labels: Health care Saturday, March 06, 2010
The Northern Alliance Radio Network is back broadcasting LIVE this morning, starting at 11 AM. After a well-earned and rare vacation last week, we're tanned, rested and ready to hit all the major political subjects of the day.
Special guest right at at 11 AM is the distinguished Reprsentative from Minnesota's 2nd district, John Kline. He was featured prominently in the recent health care summit with the President and we'll discuss that experience as well as his thoughts on the reports that the Democrats plan to pass their controversial bill through Congress using various procedural manipulations. We'll also discuss his recent call to fully fund special education programs. And we'll get Rep. Kline's opinion, as a career military man, on new Democrat plans to elminate the "don't ask don't tell" policy for the armed services. Plus, Loon of the Week and This Week in Gatekeeping and much, much more. Following us at 1 PM, Mitch Berg and Ed Morrissey. And, don't forget at 9 AM, The King Banaian Show over at the Patriot's sister station, KYRC (Business 1570). Remember, The Northern Alliance Radio Network starts Saturday at 11AM Central, locally on AM1280 the Patriot. Streaming LIVE worldwide at the web site. You can join the conversation at 651-289-4488. Don't you dare miss it! Labels: NARN (10-11) Friday, March 05, 2010
This article from the Star Tribune explains that not all blacks who make history are welcome during black history month:
During a Feb. 26 parade in the school playground honoring Black History Month, some youngsters carried photos of Simpson, RuPaul and Rodman while others displayed more conventional role models such as President Barack Obama and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Essentially, the principal of this Los Angelis school is very upset that during a black history parade, 1st, 2nd and 4th grade children carried pictures of certain unapproved blacks who made history. Unapproved by the NAACP, who complained to the school district. The district has suspended three white male teachers that they claim were responsible for, "questionable decisions were made in the selection of noteworthy African-American role models," according to principal Lorraine Abner. At first glance, one might agree that inclusion of convicted felon and acquitted murder suspect OJ Simpson is a questionable decision. However, Simpson's name was on a list of approved persons for the school district's Black History Month activities. The district admitted that they hadn't updated the list since 1985, prior to Simpson's controversial actions. The fact that Simpson was on the list published in 1985 means that sports figures were included. Dennis Rodman was a multiple time NBA rebounding champion with a handful of NBA championships in his career. He was also known as an eccentric personality and for occasionally wearing a wedding gown and other items of women's clothing. There is no doubt that Rupaul is the world's best known cross dresser, and is known as a pioneer in transgender performances. I am surprised that the same people who champion diversity based on the color of one's skin cringe at the ide of diversity across male/female gender roles. That those who hail Jackie Robinson as the first to break a color barrier in one popular form of entertainment would scorn someone like Rupaul, who broke ground in a different form of entertainment. The whole attitude seems discriminatory. It would be interesting to know what black figures were on the approved list, besides President Obama and Dr. King. Were any rappers known for violent lyrics or musicians with drug problems on the list? Anyone who's ever uttered a public slur or committed violence against women? How about Congressman Charles Rangel, who'se accused of major ethics violations. As our friend Jay B says, the game of diversity-based rock, paper, scissors is a fascinating thing. Labels: Education
Last night, we had our local BPOU convention. This is the second step in the state party process after the precinct caucuses. We heard from a number of state party officials and candidates for office, elected delegates and alternates to the upcoming state and congressional district conventions, and decided which proposed changes to the state party platform--in the form of resolutions--would be passed on to the next level.
The first speaker of the night was State Chair Tony Sutton. He got off to a bit of slow start, but picked up his pace nicely and made some excellent points about how the MN GOP needs to appeal to independent voters if we want to win elections come November. He also said that winning would not be the biggest challenge faced by Republican candidates. Governing according to the principals they ran on would be. He warned that failure to do so and could cause the party to go "the way of the Whigs." Another speaker was Deputy State Chair Michael Brodkorb. It was good to see the former NARN host again (I believe next year we'll both eligible to be inducted into the NARN Hall of Fame joining Scott Johnson, JB Doubtless, and Atomizer) and Michael was as energetic and engaged as ever. We heard from a variety of candidates for other offices including secretary of state (which for some reason is attracting A LOT of interest this year), state auditor, the 5th District Congressional seat, and even district court judge. Of course the main event was the gubernatorial contenders and we were "treated" to being addressed by all five candidates still in the GOP race (at least I think there are only five left). Since this is really down to a two man race, we'll focus on Emmer and Seifert. Tom Emmer's easy-going manner and red-blooded conservative message--which were both in evidence last night--make it hard not to like him. And I certainly will have no problem supporting him come November if he is the party's endorsed candidate. However, in light of the remarks that Tony Sutton made, I have concerns about his ability to appeal to those very independent voters that he will have to win over to win the governor's race. I've met Marty Seifert a couple of times and heard him speak in the past. He's always come across as a sharp guy with a good sense of humor. For some reason he was off his game last night. He appeared tight and didn't seem comfortable. His delivery was a little fast and his tone a little strident. There wasn't a trace of humor or light-heartedness. Maybe the serious, somber Seifert we saw last night was an intentional image. But if I might be so bold as to offer some advice, he's be better off letting Marty be Marty. Despite the shortcomings in the style, I actually think there was some good substance in Seifert's speech. At this point, I don't have a foot firmly in either camp, although when pressed I'd say I'm leaning Seifert. Of the last two men standing, I believe he has a better chance to win votes among independents and in outstate Minnesota. If he can lighten up a bit. Either Seifert of Emmer will be endorsed at the MN GOP State Convention on April 29th-May 1st. Last night, we elected delegates and alternates to this convention as well as to the CD5 convention on April 10th. There were Seifert and Emmer "slates" being passed around, but I'm sure how much impact they had on the voting. By the time we had heard from all the speakers and completed the voting, it was nearly 11pm. The only business that remained was to finish weeding through the resolutions and so I bailed before I had a chance to see the results. Before I left, I was encouraged by what I heard during the resolutions discussion. There definitely seems to a consensus emerging that the state party platform is desperately in need of an overhaul in the interests of simplification and meaningfulness. There is agreement that there's way too much in the platform already and as a result there was a reluctance to add anything new, especially when it comes to some of the specific pet issues and hobby horses that typically emerge as resolutions. While there is a place for these matters, it is not in the broader party platform. Hopefully, this trend will continue and in the near future we can actually have a clear party platform that serves its intended purpose. I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. One of the cool things about getting involved in politics at the local level is that you never know who you're going to run into. At the caucuses this year, I met Pete--one of the band of listeners of Hugh Hewitt's radio show who interact via Twitter. Pete was also at last night's convention sitting on my left. On my right was a guy named Andy. After talking to each other on and off for almost two hours we finally figured "who" we were. Turns out he's the proprietor of the Echo Zoe blog and podcast. Echo Zoe is the first blog listed in the MOB (Minnesota Organization of Bloggers) blogroll and Andy's the guy who first it up for us years ago. Thomas Friedman claims to the contrary, the world is not flat, but it's definitely small. Finally, in the twelve plus years that I've attended BPOU conventions in SD44, this one--in addition to perhaps being the best attended--was undoubtedly the best organized and orchestrated. The venue was first rate. We had a Boy Scout color guard, a well-sung national anthem, large screen video effects, and musical intros for all of the speakers (with the notable exception of Hennepin County Sherriff Rich Stanek who all but demanded that he be welcomed to the stage by Bad Boys next time around). Kudos to all involved for pulling it off. Labels: Politics-Local (10-11)
Harry Reid reassured Americans today that this messy unemployment problem is finally over. Take it away, Harry:
"Today is a big day in America. Only 36,000 people lost their jobs today which is really good." Well thank God for that. Now they can finally focus on things Americans really care about like global warming, government control of health care and destroying Toyota. Labels: Economics, Politics-National (08-10)
Conservative Bloggers Choose Their Favorite Movies Of All-Time:
Right Wing News emailed more than 255 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to send us a list of their favorite movies. Representatives from the following 55 blogs responded... One of whom was yours truly. All bloggers were allowed to make anywhere from 1-10 unranked selections and over 300 movies received at least one vote. Six of my ten choices received at least enough votes to show up in the top selections. I was pleasantly surprised to see that "The Incredibles" came in at number five overall. Labels: Movies
This week's edition of Beer of the Week brought to you as always by the sprightly folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help put the spring back into your step.
While we're just beginning to see the first hints of spring in the weather, the beers of spring have already made their presence known. When you look at the seasonal selections on the shelves, it's apparent that winter is passing into memory and spring is the hot new thing. Of the all the seasonal varieties, the beers of spring are usually my least favorite. Most spring beer offerings seem to be a variety of the bock style. While I like some bocks, they are often more on the malty sweet side of the flavor spectrum. I tend to be partial to the more hoppy, bitter beers and so don't usually welcome the beer that accompanies spring nearly as much as the weather. We'll see if that pattern continues to hold true with this week's beer. Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock: As winter begins its slide toward the sunny days of spring, we bring you Glissade Golden Bock to help you enjoy the ride. Glissade is a remarkably mellow take on the traditional spring bock. With restrained sweetness, we emphasize subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops. This complex balance helps Glissade slide across the palate--bracing us against the last cold nights of winter, while its bright golden color turns our thoughts toward spring. Standard brown SN bottle. Dark khaki-green colored label features a mountain valley in spring framed by hops.  Beer Style: Helles BockAlcohol by Volume: 6.4% COLOR (0-2): Golden and a bit cloudy. 2 AROMA (0-2): Sweet malt with a hint of hops. 1 HEAD (0-2): White, thick off the pour with good retention and lacing. 2 TASTE (0-5): Sharp with a burst of bitterness. More hoppy than malty which is not typical of bocks. Medium body with thin mouthfeel. Good drinkability. 3 AFTERTASTE (0-2): Crisp and clean finish. 2 OVERALL (0-6): Not what would you usually expect with a bock. More hoppy and bitter flavors and less of the sweet malt give it more of a sharper lager taste. I was pleasantly surprised by this beer and, as promised, it's a good choice to celebrate the coming of spring. Faster please. 4 TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 14 Labels: Beer of the Week Thursday, March 04, 2010
You hear a lot of pundits and politicians these days making predictions about how China is going to surpass America in the coming years if we don't start doing stuff like rebuilding and expanding our infrastructure (including lots of trains), better educating our children, investing in "green" technology, and reducing our unsustainable debt. You even hear some like Thomas Friedman who openly pine for a less democratic, more authoritarian political system so we could just get on with getting things done without all this messy debate and partisan wrangling.
Personally, I believe that for a variety of reasons most of these predictions and fears are unfounded. But even if they are valid concerns, I'm none too worried about being eclipsed by the rising Asian flavor of the day. Because we have a secret weapon at our disposal that will render China's young, predominantly male, generation powerless. It will sap their energy, consume their time, impair their health, and render them largely incapable of productive activity or thought. This weapon is so powerful that there are few defenses against it and once it's unleashed on a population there is almost no way to contain it or limit its damages. No, it isn't chemical, biological, nuclear or even some advanced nanotechnology. I speak instead of video games: Unlike console games in the U.S. and elsewhere, China's game market is dominated by online role-playing titles such as "World of Warcraft" that hundreds of thousands of people can access via their personal computers or Internet cafes. Some of the games are free, particularly those made by Chinese developers, but players buy virtual accessories, such as weapons, or pay to play enhanced versions of the games. The market is attracting increased government attention and software pirates because of its rapid growth. China is expected to see its ranks of online gamers reach 230 million over the next two years, more than three times the current estimated level of 69 million, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, a government agency, in a December study. 230 million Chinese--mostly young men--who could be channeling their intelligence, energy, and passion into helping China rule the world will instead be spending their time playing video games. Yeah, I think things are gonna turn out okay after all. Labels: China Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Story in yesterday's WSJ on how Companies Are Mapping Their Routes to Recovery shows again that while the bleeding of jobs has largely stopped, most firms don't plan on bringing them back any time soon:
Corporate America is emerging from the worst downturn since the Great Depression smaller and thriftier. To survive, companies have laid off millions of workers, closed hundreds of factories and vacated acres of office space. Like those who grew up in the Depression and still reuse sheets of aluminum foil, the experience has left them financially conservative and wary of risk. The road to recovery will likely be marked by slow and steady acceleration, rather than speed. Some companies will see opportunities to amass undervalued assets or steal customers. But it is unclear if their efforts will create enough new jobs to spark broader economic growth. Many companies will likely wait until growth forces them to start hiring again. And it will require some time and a fair degree of pain before they reach that point. Having cut jobs and capacity, streamlined production, distribution and logistics, many companies like their slimmer look. "We have put the genie back in the bottle, and I'm not ready to let it out," says Parker Hannifin's Mr. Washkewicz. Indeed, while some employers have added modestly to their payrolls, the absence of broader hiring remains a problem for the nation's economy, which depends on consumer spending. More than 60% of the 1,000 chief executives surveyed by YPO Global, a network of 17,000 executives, expect their work forces to be the same a year from now. About 30% see an increase and 7% a decrease. If only 30% of companies plan to expand their work forces in the next year, it means we won't see a significant bounce back in jobs that would signal a robust economic recovery. One thing that isn't mentioned in the story is the impact that uncertainty about what's coming next in terms of health care reform, regulations, and taxes is having on companies willingness to add employees. But this is also undoubtedly a drag on how quickly jobs come back as well. And the "job creation" steps the government has taken--whether in the form of stimulus spending or onetime tax credits--seem unlikely to change companies plans in this respect either. Labels: Economics
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