Merry New Year

Enjoy your extra 'leap' second tonight at 23:59:60... Above all, be safe. Here's to an even more prosperous 2006!

Are Any of You Playing Sudoku?

I realize that I'm late to the party on this one (nothing new) , but what an addictive puzzle! Here is a site that posts a new puzzle every day- with varying degrees of difficulty. For those who don't know, it's not a math puzzle, it's more of a spatial thing... Try it, it's fun.

I Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Boring Posts

for a friends and family-related post: a recent picture of my 1 year old daughter, M:


A friend suggested naming this one, "Happy Meal."

Too Bad Satellite TV is Not as

Hassle-free as satellite radio. Just when I thought that Dish TV had stopped finding ways to infuriate me, I find out this morning when I tune to my trusty Bloomberg Information TV channel that it's no longer part of my package and costs and extra $1.50/month. The cost isn't the issue; they just keep nickel-and-diming me (it costs $5 just to change anything on your programming) , so I think I'll look into DirecTV (cable is not an option out here in the sticks) and see if they are any better. I won't hold my breath.

I Just Achieved

The rank of 1st degree Black Belt in Hapkido today. Hapkido is one of the more realistically useful traditional martial arts, so it has been a fun process. I believe I will continue further with it. It's hard on your body at times, but if it weren't, it wouldn't be any fun.

It's really weird thinking that I have two different black belts now, but believe me, the more you know about unarmed combat, the more you realize that there's so much more to learn. A black belt doesn't mean that you're invincible; it really means that you have mastered the basics of a particular style, and that perhaps you have an advantage over an untrained fighter...

As it stands now, my training will proceed like this:

Taekwondo: pursue a 3rd degree black belt (almost complete), then stop with official rank

Hapkido: pursue a 2nd degree black belt

Gumdo: work toward black belt, but I'm in no hurry

Jiu-Jitsu: I have no official rank in jiu-jitsu, but will continue with it and some mixed martial arts with some talented fighters I know.

I haven't had occasion to be in a 'street' fight since I started training back in 1998; if anything, the martial arts have probably made it less likely that I ever will. It really has to do with controlling yourself, particularly emotions and self-discipline. Everyone should give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

I'm Off to Tunica, Mississippi

For my wife's company xmas party. She works for one of the local steel manufacturers, and they are nothing if not pretty good to the employees. Time to go to the Gold Strike for some good food, drink, and maybe a little black jack and poker. Always good fun.

The Phrase 'Happy Holidays' is Not an Attack on Christmas,

For two reasons. First, people are lazy. Let's face it- for most people, expressing holiday sentiment carries no more meaning than it does when you see someone and say, "how are you doing?" Most people could care less. It's just nice to say it. When someone says, "Happy Holidays," it is possible that they are being politically correct. I personally believe that they're just being lazy- why take the time to get to know a person, at least to the point of where you know their particular religion and what holiday they celebrate? Christmas? Kwanzaa? Festivus? Hanukkah? Nah, takes too much effort. Don't bother. Just say "Happy Holidays."

Second, businesses are frugal. If a business wants to get signs and decorations for each of the holidays, go for it. I don't think many of them will. Why not just get Santa-related decorations and signs that say, "Happy Holidays?" Much less expensive. Don't think that the business is assaulting your holiday if it isn't expressly acknowledged. It's not as if the employees of the business are really expressing their heart-felt holiday sentiment to you anyway- they're not; they just want your patronage! Follow the money. Business is business.

If there is a 'War on Christmas' (some of the right-wingers believe there is), my relatively few ultra left-wing secular socialist jerk friends have not informed me of it. Rest assured, Christmas will never go away. I leave you with this: Peace on earth, good will towards men (Wait a minute! I can't say men- that wouldn't include women) ummm- good will towards people (Damn! Can't say that either, it doesn't include the animals, which have 'rights' like we do) ummm- good will towards the world, and happy kwa-fest-chris-hanu

Ah, forget it-this is taking too much effort: Happy Holidays.

A Word of Advice Regarding Law Enforcement

Specifically, if you are the one being confronted by law enforcement, at any level: Do exactly what they tell you to do, don't say a word unless asked, and things will usually turn out relatively well for you... This applies to any situation, especially traffic stops. Hands on 10 and 2, mouth shut. Don't give the officer a reason to harass you further.

The air marshal who shot the mentally ill guy was doing exactly what he should have, in my opinion. The officer had a credible threat, and when ordering the man to leave his carry-on bag alone, the man reaches into his bag. In the marshal's mind, it wasn't to share a piece of gum with the officers. What if a detonator had been in the bag? From the linked story: The incident was the first time an airplane passenger was shot by air marshals since the enforcement program was beefed up after the September 11, 2001, hijacked airline attacks.
Adams said the two air marshals had been with the service since 2002. He said they followed "textbook training" in the incident in which they shot the passenger, identified as Rigoberto Alpizar, as he ran off the airplane and after he ignored demands to stop and put down his bag.

There is no room to err on the side of caution these days in terms of public transportation counterterrorism efforts. I'm no huge fan of many law enforcement tactics, but the decision was a good one, even if it resulted in a tragedy for the man and his family.

I'm Home Early Today,

and I'm listening to Kudlow & Company on my Sirius satellite radio... Walter Williams and Robert Reich are guests on today's show- Williams is pretty much beating him senseless- Reich continually pounds back with his class warfare crap (but the top 1% blah blah blah- Hey Bob- you go become one of the top 1%, then you can bitch about them) ... I think it's time to switch to Alt Nation, or maybe the Big 80's... Beats Reich any day.

Financial Television

Are any of you hooked on financial television? Uncle Jack suggests that CNBC is just financial cheerleading. Maybe he's right, I don't know. Jack seems like a fairly sensible financial guy most of the time. I'm thinking of blogrolling him.

So what do you think? Does financial TV do more harm than good? Do shows like Cramer's Mad Money harm the market, or do they educate and give perspective to small investors? I've personally found Cramer to be highly entertaining, and helpful to some degree in terms of market psychology... Discuss.

Lite Holiday Reading

Ok- I've done the legwork, so the least you can do is click through here for a nice little piece of philosophy, On Bullshit. Worthwhile!

Murder on Turkey Day

In personal (good) news, I've recently caught up with a number of friends from St. Louis, Atlanta, and Mississippi... Always glad to hear what they're up to- It's a shame that I don't get to see them any more than I do these days...

Wednesday, this wreck occured on Interstate 55, within a few miles of my office and on my daily commute (Suburban vs. Tanker truck, nearly head-on) . Nasty crash, with lots of fire. These folks were off to a family gathering one minute, dead the next. I heard that a wheel on the Suburban could have come off entirely, causing the vehicle to cross into the northbound lanes... It took most of the afternoon to get everything cleaned up... Traffic was messed up all day long- a rarity for such a rural stretch of road.

And finally, yesterday a man from Hayti shot and killed his ex, and he was arrested here in Caruthersville that afternoon. Seems that Pemiscot county law enforcement was on its toes. Maybe he'll get more than a few years jail time...

Just When I Said the News was Slow Around Here,

this prison escapee was recently caught not 10 miles from my house... I've lived near Interstate 55 for quite a while now, and I've determined this: you never know who you may encounter on or near the interstate highways of this country... In fact, do any of you have any strange highway encounters to talk about? Comment below.

This Blog is Nothing if Not Educational

I mentioned back in June that one of my most-visited posts was a photo I took of something called 'slime mold' that showed up in my flower bed in 2004. It turns out that many of those visitors are from IP addresses that are clearly schools, according to my stat counter. Come for the slime mold, stay for my heartless politics and free-market capitalist drivel!

Things are a Bit Quiet

in Southeast Missouri lately; which is a good thing, I suppose. Not even a local governmental flap to get my blood boiling. One of the drawbacks to living in Third-world Missouri is that the news cycle can be slow at times. In terms of raising a family, however, it's clearly a plus.

Business is relatively slow until the start of the year, so now all there is to do is enjoy the Fall weather, read often, and get ready for the holidays!

Paris is Burning

It'll be interesting to see how France deals with its increasingly hostile Muslim population...

I Never Thought I'd Hear Myself Say It,

But in the midst of all the comments about Rosa Parks' death, Al Sharpton may have made the most sense of them all. I only caught pieces of his speech at the funeral, but it seems that his comments were very dignified, MLK-esque, and right on the money. He even incorporated a bit of that Bill Cosby personal responsibility vibe into the speech. Wow. Al Sharpton, I am truly surprised. Is it possible that I could become a Sharpton fan? Better withhold judgement for now. One good speech does not a convert make...

On the other hand, there were clearly some posers speaking as well. Jesse Jackson totally looked like a fool- I can see why he would want to glom on to the memory of a real hero. He has zero credibility these days. In that same category, Bill Clinton, our first black President, made an attempt at a rhyming speech- perhaps poetry? Lots of words that rhymed with 'free.' Uh-huh. Well crafted, Bill. You've inspired me to borrow some of your speech:

Bill, you have made me see

and we can all agree

that you are free

to be a poser!

Proof that Afghanistan is Improving

Life is on Cruise Control

And all is well with the world; the socialists in Congress are pissed, my office is being remodeled, it's been an absolute blast riding the motorcycle since all the leaves are changing, plus - my daughter has her first birthday tomorrow. Time flies when I'm having fun!

I Bragged on Wal-Mart

back in January, but while a medium dose of the PR machine is good, now they've gone too far. Now the CEO (in nothing more than a political 'feel-good' move, in my opinion) claims that the minimum wage should be raised. Never mind that it won't affect Wal-Mart in terms of its own employees. The dirty little secret that those of us who understand basic economics will tell you is that it will affect Wal-Mart's smaller competitors- think of the 'mom-and-pop' shops that Wal-Mart hasn't yet defeated.

It makes me sick when companies have to rely on the mechanism of the government (regulations and policy) to defeat its competitors instead of slugging it out in the marketplace. Shame on you, Wal-Mart.

The Right to Work States Win Again

According to my local NBC (Paducah, KY) affiliate, Tennessee wins again: A new river port on the Mississippi in northwest Tennessee will bring 5600 jobs to the region. Tennessee Congressman John Tanner made the announcement Thursday afternoon in Tiptonville along with members of the Regional Port Authority and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The new port will be built at Cate's Landing. That's near Highway 155, which connects to interstates 40, 55, 24 and The Purchase Parkway. It's also close to the future site of Interstate 69. The new port is about 30 miles from rail lines connecting to Canada and the Gulf of Mexico.

No doubt this will be good for the entire region-mine included, but as I've said time and again, Missouri had better do something quickly if it is to retain industry of any consequence.

We've Lost all Credibility

When it comes to free trade issues. The United States talks a good free trade game, but only when it benefits us; the recent political flak over a Chinese bid for a U.S. oil company put our true colors on display for the world to see. It's not enough that we slapped China in the face over that situation. We barely passed CAFTA, revealing our fear of the Caribbean sugar industry. Never mind the fact that our consumers (and theirs) will benefit greatly from the arrangement.

I recently read in the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. has repeatedly ignored several NAFTA rulings against us regarding restrictions on the importation of cheaper Canadian lumber. These restrictions add approximately $1000 to the cost of an average new home. Over a 30 year loan, that adds up. The administration is not only screwing the home-building consumer, but also one of our best trading partners.

Hospitals are Great When You Need Them

But when you're a visitor, they seem really depressing. Two members of my family had major surgeries this week. Damn. On the bright side, both will be OK. Here's to those people who have the resiliency, brains, talent, and yes - ego to become surgeons. Good for them. As it turns out, good for my family...

A Good Ride

I've been commuting to work quite a bit lately on my BMW motorcycle, but yesterday afternoon I went on a 'for fun' ride with my friend Rick. He has a 1985 BMW K100RT, and he had no problem keeping up with my new bike. It was a nice, chilly fall ride, with a great sunset. Fantastic.

It's Gonna Be a Long Hockey Season

for those of us who are St. Louis Blues fans, in my opinion. The Blues have lost too many important players, so now we're left with a good team, but not a great team. Another 'rebuilding process.' I've been a fan since the early 90's and I'm starting to relate to the Chicago Cubs baseball fans (although I know they've waited far longer)... At least we have some exciting rule changes this year which will lead to higher-scoring NHL games.

Damn You, Jackington!

Jackington Viego (see blogroll on the right) has suckered me into playing this tag game, which of course includes a questionnaire... Here is my response:

Step 1: Go into your archive.
Step 2: Find your 23rd post. Why 23rd post, I wonder?
Step 3: Find the fifth sentence (or closest to). I was ranting about Sandy Berger that day. Use the site search at the bottom of the page if you want to read it.
Step 4: Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions. Here it is: Whether or not Berger gets jail time over this will indicate if the USA is a nation of laws, or if we're a nation of laws that apply only to the unconnected.
Step 5: Tag five other people to do the same. Here is where I have to disobey- I'm only playing this little game to humor Jackington, an extremely funny blogger- so bring on the bad luck or whatever curse is in store for me- I can take it!

Here is the questionnaire:
1. Legal First name? Dennis
2. Were you named after anyone? Yes.
3. Do you wish on stars? Uh, No.
4. When did you last cry? Haven't you heard? Boys don't cry.
5. What is your favorite lunch meat? Chicken. Gotta love yardbird.
6. What is your birth date? August 25.
7. What's your most embarrassing CD? Shania Twain. I bought it for the pictures.
8. Would you be friends with you? Sure.
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Some.
10. What are your nicknames? I was briefly known among friends as the 'detonator' when I lived in St Louis.
11. Would you bungee jump? Sure.
12. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes.
13. Do you think that you are strong? Yes.
14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate.
15. Shoe Size? 10.
16. Red or pink? Hmmmmm.
17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I'm a procrastinator at times.
18. Who do you miss most? My grandparents.
19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Blue and black.
20. What are you listening to right now? The TV in the other room.
21. What did you eat for breakfast? Coke and Three Musketeers: it all starts with good nutrition!
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue.
23. What is the weather like right now? Cloudy, windy, 62° F.
24. Last person you talked to on the phone? My wife.
25. The first things you notice about the opposite sex? Clearly a question for single people.
26. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Don't know him, but I like his writing- I think he'd be fun to have a beer with.
27. Favorite drink? Yes.
28. Hair color? Brown.
29. Do you wear contacts? Yes.
30. Favorite food? All food is generally fantastic.
31. Last movie you watched? A History of Violence.
32. Favorite day of the year? First day of fall.
33. Scary movies or happy endings? Either.
34. Summer or Winter? Winter. By far.
35. Hugs or kisses? Kisses.
36. What is your favorite desert? I usually eat so much that it's not necessary.
37. Living arrangements? House.
38. What books are you reading? The Island at the Center of the World.
39. What's on your mouse pad? A Compaq advertisement.
40. What did you watch last night on TV? CSI: NY.
41. Favorite smells? Food.
42. Favorite junk food? Anything chocolate.
43. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles.
44. What's the farthest you've been from home? Seattle or maybe Lake Louise, Alberta.

Bootheel man charged with animal abuse

Apparently, we have trouble treating animals (horses, in this instance) well in Southeast Missouri. Even more troubling, our local officials have been part of the problem.

Office Etiquette

This post is absolutely hilarious. Click HERE.

Back from Chicago

I spent the early part of the week in meetings with my largest business supplier- it was a lot of fun, mainly due to the fact that we were eating at some fairly swanky restaurants on their nickel. Plus, I got to make some new acquaintances from Europe (Germany and Poland), which is always interesting.

I post today to say this: The most interesting observation of the week has to be the possibility that maybe, just maybe people have become sick and tired of all the cell phone interruptions that nearly everyone is switching their phones to vibrate or silent... YES! We had uninterrupted meetings in a room of 60-80 people. Amazing. It's one of those little niceties that make you think that things are going well in the world.

Day to Day Life-

My daughter M. crawled across the room last night for the first time, only to grab a big handful of her sister's food and smear it on the floor... it was fairly entertaining...

The Disaster After the Disaster

As a hawkish Libertarian, I often find myself on economic matters to be far to the right of most people. Strangely enough, I believe that government should be limited to its functions laid out within the Constitution, and nothing more. The tone of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers is generally in agreement with that concept.

There are a number of things that I admire about the President, but his plan for the recovery of the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina is a disaster in its own right. Will the Gulf Coast be rebuilt? Certainly. Will New Orleans once again become a tourist destination that feels and behaves like a third-world country, with presumably less corrupt police? Sure. Will the same problems arise, with no real solutions offered? Maybe.

If any of you Republicans are laboring under the notion that Bush is a free-trade capitalist, let that speech he gave last week put that idea to bed. When the chips are down and the political waters are getting hot, where does Bush look for solutions? The blank check of the taxpayer. He talks a good game when it comes to self-reliance and free-market capitalism, but once again we see that actions are louder than words.

Of course, government does have a role in this recovery. Ensuring security and rebuilding infrastructure certainly qualify. Throwing money at the human and property problems with no overall plan is no solution at all. Why are we not at least taking the time to study other bold ideas? Recently in the Wall Street Journal, someone suggested that the city be rebuilt with the idea of flooding it intentionally, making New Orleans the new American Venice. Surely the Corps of Engineers would have a much easier time dealing with the water if that were the case. Some say the Gulf Coast would be rebuilt far faster than the government could ever do if it were made into a true free-enterprise zone, like an American Hong Kong… People of ability from all over the world would flock to the area to stake out their fortunes, and New Orleans would become a major world player.

Bush’s and by extension America’s knee-jerk reaction to this recovery is a real disappointment. Republicans can really ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to terrorism, but on any number of other issues, they are paper tigers. By the way, was that Bush on TV last week, or was that LBJ? No, it must have been FDR with the New New Deal…

(cross-posted on Framptonia)

Quagmire?

From this Yahoo News/USA Today article, "Number of Attacks Decreases on Baghdad Highway to Airport":

'Attacks on and around the 7-mile highway linking Baghdad to its international airport have dropped 41% since May, the result of increased U.S. and Iraqi troop presence and new tactics to battle insurgents along one of the world's most dangerous roads.

There hasn't been a suicide car bombing on the road since April, according to U.S. military statistics through August.

U.S. officers attribute the decline to an influx of Iraqi troops who have been stationed at key points along Airport Road, which goes by the military designation Route Irish. '

Well, Well, Well...

I read in the September 9th print edition of the Wall Street Journal that a judge fined Sandy Berger $50,000 for taking classified documents from the National Archives... I posted about this situation last year, and now have but one question: Do you think that if YOU were caught taking classified documents from the National Archives that you would be fined, or would you be jailed? I think we all know the answer... Damn, I'm glad we're all equal under the law!

It's Been 4 Years.

This is a photo I took of Lower Manhattan earlier this year. The empty gap in the foreground is where the World Trade Center towers stood. Everyone who can should go to Ground Zero. You will be outraged at all that radical Islam is- We forget that day at our peril.

(cross-posted on Framptonia)

If you enjoy sarcastic humor,

then you've got to have a look at this post by Jackington Viego. Hilarious.

Considering

the high gas prices of late, it's been an even greater pleasure riding my motorcycle to work every day... (45.5 mpg) No complaints here!

It's Human Nature

to blame everyone and everything when it comes to a major calamity such as Hurricane Katrina. A few things about the situation should be pointed out:

• Mother Nature has neither conscience nor ill will. All this talk about "Mother Nature's Revenge" or "wrath" or "fury" is just sensational crap. No human is to blame for this storm; the President didn't order it up. Our refusal to handicap ourselves by not signing on the the Kyoto Protocol also had no bearing on this storm. The atmosphere didn't think to send the storm because it's warming up slowly. The people who advocate such ideas are idiots.


• It's time for all the politicians to quit crying racism over the response of the federal government to the disaster. The response to 9/11 was so much more rapid because New York already had some disaster plans in place on the local level. New Orleans didn't. Case closed. By the way, the people on TV ranting about calling the last people in the city refugees need to consult their dictionary- a refugee is one who seeks refuge. If those people don't meet the definition, no one does. The term 'refugee' is not racist in any way. So get over it.


• Finally, it occurs to me that any half-way observant Islamic terrorist would now be eyeing New Orleans as an excellent target when things get back to normal... It would be far easier to blow up levees than to hijack airplanes; I hope Homeland Security is on its toes from now on in New Orleans. We're just now seeing the disruption in gas prices nationwide, not to mention all the things (grain exports) that go through the port down there. To see the same disaster repeat in New Orleans at the hands of terrorist thugs is probably more than many can take.

I'm a Bit Puzzled by my Local TV Station

and their decision to send a local reporter and crew down to the New Orleans area to cover Hurricane Katrina. Why in the world would a Cape Girardeau, Missouri CBS affiliate do this? Isn't hurricane reporting Manuel Gallegas' job? Aren't the major networks, as well as the cable news networks already there, covering the story 24/7?

I heard a spot on KFVS 12 this afternoon that said something to the effect of: "KFVS 12- the only Heartland TV Station covering Katrina live..." Maybe that's because they're the only Heartland TV station foolish enough to send someone down there... The local flooding in Kentucky due to Katrina was far more relevant to our news.

That being said, you go, Channel 12. If sending reporters to far-flung locations makes you morph into a major news powerhouse, congrats, and here's hoping you make a pile of $...

Occasionally, the Justice System

works as it should, even in Missouri; this guy got some sort of probation or deferred sentencing and made restitution... He keeps his current job (I'm sure his current employer has no idea about all this) , and we got our money back. It's probably the best of all outcomes at this point...

Robertson Apologizes for Chavez Remarks

Check out this ABC News article: Robertson Apologizes for Chavez Remarks

Clearly, Pat Robertson has gone mad. His call to assassinate Chavez makes his moral consistency more suspect than ever.

That being said, my take on Chavez is that he is the 'Kim Jong-Il' of South America, and we will experience difficulties (mainly oil-related) in the future due to his hatred of the U.S. and misplaced sense of himself as a 'powerful world leader.' Stay tuned...

Oh yes, I almost forgot. Happy Birthday to me today- 36- Glad to be alive and happy for yet another year!

Happy Early Birthday

To ME: Some years, I buy myself something or I just go do something really cool for my birthday. This year, it turned out to be a BMW R1150R motorcycle. My past riding experience was limited to dirt bike riding, which is an entirely different world from the street.

If any of you live near Southeast Missouri, I highly recommend the safety course put on by these guys – they really know what they’re doing, and it’s a fun way to get your Missouri motorcycle endorsement.

Most of my riding will probably be to and from work, but hey, it is a BMW – it should take me across the country if I decide to go…

The End of the Debate

On public schools: I recently went to a McDonald's for a breakfast biscuit- the total was $2.02. I handed the cashier (a grown woman, not a teenager) a fifty-dollar bill and two cents. Her computer was down, and she couldn't figure out that my change was $48.00. CASE CLOSED!

Back from the Lake

Norfork Lake, Arkansas, to be specific. Hung out with the family, got to scuba dive a little bit: north end of the lake, 55 ft deep, cold water, almost no visibility- but better than not diving ... I'm pretty content with my 'new-to-me' Zeagle Ranger BC. Whew! A safe ebay transaction!

The baby really enjoyed the water, so the trip was worth it, even though it was just a quick week-ender.

Rational Self-Interest is Good for Everyone

On my recent trip to New York, something happened with a bus driver that reinforced my notion that rational self interest should be the proper reason to take any action. I knew this well, but I slipped on this occasion:

My friend Carl and I were waiting for our wives to finish up some shopping, so we could move on to our next destination. A bus pulled up to the stop, and a guy on a wheelchair started to get off the bus. Of course, the driver didn't pull the bus up far enough for the man to unload onto level pavement, so I thought I'd help the man. As I did, the bus driver shows up back there to help out as well, but says to the man, ' this guy just wants your money'. WHAT? I make my own money, thank you. If I were a more violent man, I would have smacked the driver around a bit. (For those of you who don't know, training in the martial arts often makes a person very tranquil and peaceful - I am no exception) The man in the wheelchair then looked at me suspiciously. That's what I get for trying to help.

On the other hand, I have a situation where acting rationally in my own self-interest works for everyone. My neighbor, Mr. H, is an elderly gentleman and really has no business being out mowing his lawn in the Southeast Missouri heat and humidity. I offered to mow his yard when I do my own, and didn't ask him for anything in return. However, I benefit greatly from the arrangement: I get to keep an excellent neighbor around for as long as possible. Good neighbors are hard to find, and I don't want to lose this one. The arrangement is good for both of us.

Organized Labor Troubles

You've all heard by now that the AFL-CIO has had a big fight within its ranks... Can't say it breaks my heart. Expanded thoughts posted here.

Random Graphic of the Week

Futures Market for Hurricanes?

Check this out: New Futures Market Gambles on Hurricanes - Yahoo! News
Leave it to good-old American know-how to monetize natural disasters! The free market is a wonderful thing...

Stop Me if You've Heard This One

Before (specifically, one of my posts of October, 2004): Health minister says Canada intends to ban the export of bulk prescription drugs

They may not practice free trade in medicine, but Canadians seem to understand basic economics...

From the article: "In light of potential American legislation legalizing the bulk import of Canadian prescription and other medications, our priority must be the health and safety of all Canadians and the strength of our health care system," Dosanjh said. "We must be proactive in making sure that the supply of affordable prescription medications remains stable and sufficient to meet the needs of Canadians.

Here we go again

with all the price gouging complaints after Hurricane Dennis... People, the free market works this way in times of calamity and market disruption. Get it through your heads!

They're Back!

The NHL, that is. Didn't you miss them? I did. The owners win, the players lose. As it should be. Case closed. Now back to the action this October!

Random Picture of the Week

This photo is of the 'Blue Boys Detail Shop'- probably the most colorful building in Caruthersville, Missouri. Very reminiscent of Jamaica.

Hurricane Dennis Traffic Jam

Blog traffic is up sharply since I mentioned Hurricane Dennis... Good for me, maybe the ranks of my regular readers will grow...

Isn't This Interesting...

I noticed in the June 27th edition of the Wall Street Journal that Putin is attempting to reassure U.S. and German executives about the investment climate in Russia. What? A major world leader having to spend time selling his country as a good place to do business? Hey Putin, do you think that the outright theft of Yukos Oil perpetrated by your government might have something to do with the fact that foreign direct investment in Russia is drying up? I can't imagine why our executives would be holding back!

It was a fairly obvious call, but as I said back in December of 2004, Russia is in big economic trouble, and the situation won't be improving as long as Putin and his ilk are in power.

Hurricane Dennis?

We'll see if my namesake storm becomes a memorable one...

Random Picture of the Week

Another pic from the recent New York trip...

New Addition

to the blogroll, that is... Check out Tran Sient. A thought-provoking political guy.

Strange Blog Traffic

I've noticed a fair amount of international traffic lately on two rather strange posts on this blog:

• This photo of a fungus called "slime mold," which made an appearance in my flower bed for some reason last year, and
• This semi-political rant about the new Hooters in Shanghai. No one reads the post, they just dig the picture...

I can see why the Hooters post would be popular, but slime mold? C'mon...

Take That Property...

THIS, if true, would be perfect justice for the recent Kelo v New London Eminent Domain decision... Of course, it would never happen to a well-connected Supreme Court justice...

Gotcha!

I once had a corporate finance professor in college who, when occasionally off on a tangent about ethics, would say, "Never steal anything from your employer with a fair market value of LESS than one year's salary." In other words, don't steal.

My partners and I recently caught an employee of ours stealing inventory from us and selling it on eBay... Not enough to break us, but enough to be a felony. Strangely enough, a minor change in his normal routine is what exposed his process... To you employers out there, change up the routine on your employees every now and then. You might be surprised with what you learn. Trust, but verify.

It will be interesting to see if the wheels of justice roll as they should.

In Light of

the Supreme Court putting a "For Sale to the Highest Bidder" sign up on YOUR property this week, a new link must be added to this blog:

Get involved. It could be your house next. John from the Arkanssouri blog created a page to expose companies that are involved in eminent domain property theft: http://landthieves.wikispaces.org Take a look at his page, and vote with your wallet...

The Supreme Court

pissed all over the Constitution today. For those of you who haven't heard yet, the court ruled today that local governments can take private property and turn it over to other private parties through eminent domain. Now every city in America has a profit motive to use eminent domain. Whoever can bring in the most tax money gets the property. And you THOUGHT that you owned your house! Turns out, you don't.

(cross-posted on Framptonia)

An Interesting Discussion

about the Patriot Act is over on Whymrhymer's blog. Go read.

Frill America?

Take a look at THIS little commentary by Robert Reich on June 15 (National Proletariat Radio).

From his last sentence- "Its all just another sign of the widening gap – between frill and non-frill America," Mr. Reich continues his frequent attempts to incite envy and class warfare in this country. So there are people who want to live large. Big deal. Go out, make some money, and do it yourself if you want to. Nobody's holding you back.

Mr. Reich's play on economic ignorance is what really gets me. His first paragraph makes it sound as if all major airlines have conspired to take away from the have-nots (coach passengers) their beloved curbside baggage service and in-flight meals... He knows damn well that major airlines can't profitably deliver those services to coach passengers in today's market. The discount airlines have proven that passengers by and large just want to get from point A to B, no frills. The major airlines had to adapt.

The plain truth from his commentary: "Now, in cutting the amenities for coach and loading up on luxuries for business and first class, big airlines are merely responding to the market. You see, regular passengers increasingly care only about one thing: They want to lowest possible fare. But upscale passengers are eager to pay for more and more comfort and attention. That's what it means to be upscale in America today."

What a shame that airlines are responding to the market and to the needs of their customers- and maybe even making some money (only on the 'frills' types) while they're at it!

Soybean Rust May be a Problem After All

This is a recent satellite pic of Tropical Storm Arlene, which certainly has the capacity to bring Asian Soybean Rust to a significant part of the bean-growing area of the US... Up till now, rust has only been confirmed in Florida and Georgia. For those of you who don't know, Asian Soybean Rust can completely defoliate a soybean field within days - a serious problem for those who produce and consume soy.

I've said before that rust may not be a big problem in this country, mainly because it doesn't winter well here (Hurricane Ivan brought the infestation along in 2004- fortunately, that was late in the year, after beans were harvested). All bets are off when hurricanes and tropical storms enter the fray.

Here is a recent map of the soybean rust situation. This topic is not a problem for most of my readers, but here in the Midwest, it could be huge. I remain confident that rust will be contained with modern fungicides, even if the infestation becomes widespread. Time will tell.

Iraq Dinar a Winner

Take a look at THIS story... From the article: The upsurge in violence has worsened conditions for almost everyone and everything in Iraq, but the new currency. The Iraqi dinar is the winner as it has so far weathered the impact of mounting violence and car bombs that would have sent any other country’s currency tumbling.Since its launch in October, 2003, the new dinar has preserved its value vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar and other major countries. It is probably the only symbol of stability in a car torn by wars, civil strife and violence. However, Iraqi economists are not surprised to see the currency fending off the political turmoil and the descent into violence, a major characteristic of the past two years. Thanks, they say, are mainly due to the Central Bank, which is one of the few government branches of the post-war era untainted by corruption. “The (central) bank has pursued sound monetary policies,” says Thuraya Khazraji, Baghdad University’s professors of economics. Other factors leading to the currency’s stability, in her opinion, include “the slight improvement in oil exports and the writing off of 90% of Iraq’s foreign debts.” In the 1970s one Iraqi dinar was worth more than three U.S. dollars as Central Bank coffers were then stashed with hard cash, gold and other assets to support the currency. But the dinar started losing its shine in early 1980s mainly due to the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war.And the currency began to decline drastically after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and plunged to nearly 3,000 to one U.S. dollar in mid 1990s. A new currency was launched shortly after the fall of the former regime. While Iraqis had no trust in the former currency, confidence is growing in the new dinar which is currently changing hands at about 1,400 for one U.S. dollar. “The adoption of new monetary policies by the Central Bank … has led to higher confidence locally, regionally and internationally in the new currency,” said Khazraji. Imad Ali, professor of fiscal economics at Baghdad University, said many Iraqis were even turning to have their savings in the new dinar instead of foreign currencies. “The issuing of the new currency has been very important for the Iraqi economy … it has offered Iraqis their first chance in nearly two decades to have their savings in the dinar rather than other hard currencies,” he said. Ali also praised Central Bank policies and its attempts to stabilize the currency. “Today demand for the dinar is higher than foreign currencies inside Iraq. The (central) bank’s polices have given a big boost to the dinar,” he said. Yahya Najar, of Baghdad University’s College of Economics and Administration, said the new currency “is backed by foreign cash and gold and has earned the trust of the public.”

This is good news, since I bought some New Iraq Dinars just for fun recently. It will be interesting to see if the Dinar ever returns to its former glory... If it does, I know several soldiers and contractors who will be quite wealthy...

Blogroll Update

I'm trying to keep only frequently-updated blogs in my blogroll- If yours makes my blogroll but disappears, it will likely be back when you're updating regularly... Just trying to keep my house clean...

Random Picture of the Week

A view from the Empire State building...

Not so United

By now you're well aware that France rejected the proposed European Union Constitution on Sunday. Apparently, French voters just don't understand that current global market forces will not be kind to their rather socialist-leaning tendencies... Voting against their best economic hope doesn't help matters any.

Read THIS article in the CS Monitor. An excerpt: "It could be a historical watershed, a turning point," predicts Dominique Moisi, one of France's most pre-eminent commentators on international affairs.
That, he says, is because few French citizens voted on the merits of the highly technical and laboriously written legal document presented for their approval. Instead, most of them were expressing their anger at their government's failure to create jobs, and their fear that the European Union can no longer shelter them from the harsh winds of globalized competition.

I have two problems with that: First, the premise that it's the government's business to create jobs is unacceptable. The only thing a government can do to create jobs for its entire population is to get out of the way of the private sector and let it create the jobs. Second, as to their fear of globalized competition, the French need to get over it. China and India may be taking many of the manufacturing jobs from around the world, but the U.S. and Europe still have the edge in terms of service industries and technical innovation. It's our job to make sure it stays that way.

What will this mean for investors? Again from the article: "People will have to go away and think again," says Denis MacShane, Britain's Europe Minister until earlier this year. "Europe will have to carry on under existing treaties, but there will be a period of stasis in European affairs that won't be cleared up until the political question of leadership in Germany, France and Italy is cleared up at elections."
That stasis, and the period of introspection that would follow the death of the Constitution, would clearly undermine French-led efforts to build the EU into a confident global counterweight to the United States. It may be more problematic for currency traders than for stock investors, but to me it looks like purgatory in the E.U. for a while...

A Bad Day for Free Speech

I believe that the First Amendment to the US Constitution not only protects your right to say anything, no matter how despicable, it also should protect you from being forced to say something... Check out this article: Supreme Court Says Beef Producers Can Be Forced to Fork Over for Ads

Basically, the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of US Beef producers being forced to pay for the industry advertisements we see on television. I'm sure you remember the 'Beef: It's what's for dinner' ads. From the article: But dissenting justices said the majority ruling is flawed, in part because the beef marketing program tends to mask its government sponsorship. The tag line on beef program commercials and advertisements is "Funded by America's Beef Producers." (emphasis mine)

Justice David Souter in dissent said, "No one hearing a commercial for Pepsi or Levi's thinks Uncle Sam is the man talking behind the curtain. Why would a person reading a beef ad think Uncle Sam was trying to make him eat more steak?" Without accurate identification of the source of the speech, Souter said, the government is not accountable. Also dissenting were Justices John Paul Stevens and Anthony Kennedy.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns applauded the decision in a statement issued Monday. "This is certainly a win for the many producers who recognize the power of pooled resources. As this administration has always contended, USDA regards such programs, when properly administered, as effective tools for market enhancement." Johanns replaced Ann Veneman as the appellant in the case when he became agriculture secretary in January, so the decision is now known as Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Association.

Lawyers representing the dissenting ranchers criticized the ruling as a setback for free speech in the face of corporate interests. "The First Amendment protects the right to dissent as much as the right to speak," said Institute for Justice lawyer Steve Simpson in a statement. He filed a brief in the case on behalf of dairy farmers who object to the "Got Milk" milk promotion program. "Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has just made it a lot easier for government to compel support for the 'party line' in a particular industry, and drown out any dissent."

Pooled resources? Is that a fancy way of saying, "money extracted from taxpayers or industry participants at the point of a gun?" The next thing you know, we'll 'pool' our collective resources and come up with an organization that promotes, say, the arts. Arts that could be quite objectionable to most folks. See how you like your forced speech then. Oh wait, we already have an organization like that...

A Great Day for the Free Market and Small Business

Check out this story: Wineries that sell vino via the Internet stand to gain - Yahoo! News. Small wineries finally had their day in court to take a stand against the overly burdensome restrictions against shipping their product into several states...

The restrictions were nothing more than naked protectionism. From the article: The court's 5-4 decision could dramatically expand markets for small wineries that use the Internet to boost sales. It was a victory for small vineyards that had challenged state restrictions in New York and Michigan, and for consumers who have been prevented from buying wine online because their states' laws are aimed at protecting local producers.

And: In a majority opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court agreed. It said the 21st Amendment, adopted in 1933, did not allow bias against out-of-state liquor producers. "States may not enact laws that burden out-of-state producers ... simply to give a competitive advantage to in-state businesses," Kennedy wrote.
The decision is likely to end the current patchwork of laws, under which some states ban direct shipments altogether, others do so only for out-of-state wines, and still others require reciprocity.
Under the ruling, the states that ban or limit shipments of alcohol from out of state essentially will have a choice: Restrict all wine shipments - both in-state and out-of-state - or allow them all.
Attorneys for the small wineries are hoping states will drop their shipping restrictions. New York Gov. George Pataki said his state likely will opt for in-state and interstate direct shipping of wine, but he called for "safeguards" to ensure that minors do not get new access to wine.

Glad to see that the free market and common sense occasionally can win one. The Institute for Justice was involved in the case- chalk one more up for my favorite lawyers!

Random Picture of the Week

'The Three Stages of Life,' as seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York on our anniversary trip.

One Year and Counting

This blog is one year old today, and just as worthless as it was the day I started! I won't stop, however, since it's just too fun to spout off random thoughts on the internet... Hopefully, I'll continue to make the socialists out there mad, particularly over on Framptonia. Have a great day, all.

My Thoughts on CAFTA

(the Central American Free Trade Agreement) are posted here. Check it out.

Stepping Stone to the UN?

Did anyone else see the article in Friday's Wall Street Journal about the Clinton Global Initiative? While I stick with my prediction that Mr. Clinton has his sights on replacing Kofi Annan when the time comes, it seems that he is following in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter and attempting to make a difference with his ex-presidential clout.

Is this project a clever stepping stone to the UN for Clinton? Is it an ongoing advertisement for Hillary Clinton's Presidential aspirations? Is it a legitimate effort at solving world problems? All of the above? Click the link and decide for yourself.

And the Mystery Destination Was...

New York City... The wife and I had a fantastic time this past weekend! Of course, all the touristy things were on the agenda. We managed to take in a little culture, visiting the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both are amazing places. A visit to Ground Zero reaffirmed my hawkish position on terrorism - we are most definitely doing the right thing in the Middle East... The above photo is of myself, being not-so-stylish in Times Square...

Mystery Trip

Headed out for a long weekend, to celebrate our anniversary. If all has gone as planned, my wife still has no clue where we're going, much less what we're going to do when we get there. She will find out Friday afternoon, when we get on the plane.

Ah, a long weekend in a city, no kids. A nice little break in the routine. Will post a photo or two of our trip when I get back.

New Scuba Gear

Recently bought a BCD (Zeagle Ranger) on ebay. Dangerous to buy used, I know, but it seems to work just fine in the pool. Now I can't wait to get in the open water...

Congressional Back-Stab

I'm disappointed with Congress. Big surprise, I know. Here are some expanded thoughts I posted to Framptonia.

A Little Backlash on the Leeches, for a Change...

Check out this story, it made my day: Yahoo! News - Cops Nab Woman, Say Wendy's Finger a Hoax

The price of swimming in the waters of success in this country is that the leeches always come after you. You can quote me on that. It doesn't matter if your success is corporate or just personal wealth/fame, it's a fact of life.

It's nice to see a little hardship and public backlash for this woman who apparently put a finger in her Wendy's chili... Perhaps the days of lawsuits over these hoaxes and coffee that's too hot are coming to an end... Well, maybe getting a little more scrutiny, at least!

From the article: "What we have found is that thus far our evidence suggests the truest victims in this case are indeed the Wendy's owner, operators and employees here in San Jose," Police Chief Rob Davis said.

Score one for Wendy's and the concept of personal responsibility, and none for the leeches!

Upside Down Gasoline

(Casey's, Portageville, Missouri)

I'm not sure why super unleaded is cheaper than regular unleaded, but I'll take it! (not a mistake, I've been filling up at Casey's lately)

The Free Market Works with Labor Rates Too!

This story: Chinese factories struggle to hire is proof that the free market works with everything, including labor rates. Economics 101 tells us that when market conditions change, and the prevailing labor rates are too low, a shortage inevitably results. The Chinese factories that adapt will retain good workers. Those that don't will lose them. It's really that simple.

From the article: "The unthinkable is happening in China: This country of 1.3 billion can no longer find enough people willing to work long hours for low wages churning out cheap consumer goods for the export market." "Last year, the Chinese Labor Ministry put the factory shortfall at 2.8 million workers nationwide. Here in southern China's Guangdong Province, factories are short 1 million to 2 million workers this year, and 73% say they're having trouble filling job openings, the provincial government says." And: "Factories must learn a lesson," says Cheng Jiansan, an economist at the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences. "There is no longer a limitless supply of workers." "The labor shortage, along with rising materials and shipping costs, has big implications for China's surging export machine and its customers in the United States and other rich countries. Factories in Guangdong and other booming east coast provinces must find cheap labor elsewhere, make do with a reduced workforce or raise wages and benefits - and hope they can pass along at least some of the higher costs to foreign customers used to rock-bottom prices."

The article is well worth the read, since it has implications for everyone as consumers and as businesspeople... (cross-posted at Framptonia)

A Rare Treat in Mixed Martial Arts

Just saw the live conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter TV show on Spike TV last night. The highlight for me was the match between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin, the two light heavyweights. It's rare to see such a slugfest go the distance in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), but these guys were apparently bound and determined to prove to the other and to the world that they could go toe-to-toe with anyone... Take all their opponent can dish, and give it right back. What an exciting fight! Both fighters attempted at least one ground submission, but the fight always came back to striking.

MMA has become wildly popular since the first UFC in 1993, and with such a good live show last night, will likely become even more mainstream.

Interesting Observation

Yesterday, my family joined the Caruthersville Recreation Center, mainly so we can take our daughters swimming anytime we want, any weather... We decided to walk around the track for a while, and perhaps make that a frequent family activity. My step-daughter, K. (almost 4 years old), noted: "Dennis, how are we gonna go somewhere when we're walking in circles?" Well said, little girl.

High-Level Diplomacy

THIS is quite the diplomatic photo- it looks like his intentions are clear!

Annan close to quitting over UN scandals

Sean at Soundoff points out this article from the Sunday Times- Depressed Annan close to quitting over UN scandals. I don't feel a bit sorry for Annan. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. More interesting, however, will be the outright organized campaign of Bill Clinton to take his place. I think Clinton sees this as a chance to influence world affairs, and perhaps secure the legacy that may be lacking from his Presidency. Stay tuned...

Highway Patrol Priorities

Recently, a Missouri Highway Patrolman was shot dead outside his home in Van Buren, Mo. While this is certainly a tragic event, I have a problem with the way some of the troopers prioritize their jobs when something like this happens. Perhaps it's just what they say to the media that makes me mad.

One of our local TV stations was interviewing one of the investigating patrolmen, asking him how the work was going. He mentioned that the work was physically difficult, but more emotionally draining. Then came the clencher- he said something to the effect of: 'we keep working, the adrenaline kicks in, because now our work has a real purpose'.

Unbelievable. I thought that in their job as public servants, ANY murder would have 'real purpose' and meaning. That one statement, probably unnoticed by many, speaks volumes to me about where Missouri civilians rank in the food chain.

U.S. Congress Sends Schiavo Bill to Bush

This: U.S. Congress Sends Schiavo Bill to Bush is utter nonsense. Congress insists on wasting time on this and MLB steroids, when they should be working out the problems with our favorite National Ponzi scheme, Social Security.

From the Yahoo News article, first paragraph: "The U.S. Congress early on Monday rushed legislation to President Bush aimed at prolonging the life of a brain-damaged woman, Terri Schiavo, in an extraordinary intervention to move the Florida case into the jurisdiction of federal courts."
It seems like it's fashionable these days to try and move every controversial topic away from the states to federal jurisdiciton. Don't like your state law regarding this Schiavo woman's situation? Take it to federal court. Don't like your state's position on same-sex marriage? Create an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. What happened to the notion that each of the states would be an 'independent experiment' in democracy and capitalism? In the past, if you didn't like your own state laws, you could move to another state anytime you wanted. Now, what's the point?

Nathan Frampton beat me to the punch on this Schiavo business. From his post on Framptonia: "The government should not interfere with a husband’s right to insist that his wife be taken off of feeding tubes. When you get married, your spouse should have the right to make such a decision, not your parents or siblings." And: "Do we really think that it is the will of God to remain alive in such conditions?"

Well said. If you are incapable of making personal medical decisions, your spouse is the only logical choice to do so in your stead. Otherwise, you have the legal chaos we are witnessing.

As to the will of God, I'm getting tired of people presuming that they know what the will of God is. Any number of evil things throughout history have been done because they were the ' will of God.' 9/11 quickly comes to mind. I would add the interference into this family's situation by people who are interested in nothing more than political and legal grandstanding to the list.

The Iranians do Some Things Well...

THIS is a photo of a convicted rapist and murderer, being whipped before he was executed. Hard-core justice... I am unresolved on the issue of the death penalty, but I have to admit - it is refreshing to see something like that happen to a child rapist...

Let's Drill for Oil...

The Revolutionist has some interesting thoughts on drilling in ANWR. It ties in with recent comments I've made here and here. Go look.

Shaolin Kung Fu Master appeals to Legislators for Protection

THIS story was just too good to pass up, as it contains two subjects that are near and dear to my heart: the martial arts, and private property rights.

From the article: A top kung fu master from Shaolin Temple has urged China's legislature to enact a law to better protect the world-renowned martial arts centre's trademark rights, state press reported.
"China needs to make a law at an earlier date so that Shaolin kung fu and other intangible heritage are better protected within a legal framework," Xinhua news agency quoted master Shi Yongxin as saying.
The 1,500-year-old temple, known as the cradle of China's martial arts {probably the cradle of ALL martial arts- my addition}, is under siege from competitors taking advantage of its name, said Shi, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp parliament.
Also- "We have to wake up to the fact that some other nations might have already begun to capitalize on our traditional know-how to sharpen their own competitive edge and make profits amid fierce international competition in a globalised society," he said.

Please understand that private property rights, in my opinion, are the number one basis for a sound, free civilization. Number two would be the profit motive and free-market capitalism. The Shaolin Master is probably justified in asking that the Temple's rights be protected, even though the martial arts are now so wide-spread that it would be difficult not to consider them to be in the public domain. That being said, I find a few things about this article rather strange-

First, I would think that a true Shaolin Master, living according to his code of simplicity and lack of desire, could care less if every martial art school in the world called itself the Shaolin Temple, because he would know that his temple is the real deal and that would be sufficient. Second, and here's the clencher: How can anyone from China, the world hotbed of intellectual piracy, dare to ask that their intellectual property rights be respected? Has China not 'capitalized on the world's traditional know-how to sharpen its own competitive edge and make profits amid fierce international competition in a globalised society?' Sweep your temple floors first, before you complain that my house is messy...

A Little Humor

The Cranky Liberal has posted a great one about people and their newspapers... Go check it out.

What a shame!

John over at Arkanssouri points out a case where a lawyer has effectively sued himself. Hate to see that!

Perception is King

Isn't it funny how perception often trumps reality? You see it in so many facets of life... The stock market is a good example. It doesn't matter what your company earnings are, just convince the analysts that you'll have future earnings, and your stock price will climb... Midwest farmers are currently in a full-blown panic over something called Asian Soybean Rust, which may or may not become a big problem here as it is in other parts of the world. Certain agricultural manufacturers have created the perception that the problem already exists, so it does.

What interests me today, however, it perception and politics. Check out my post on Framptonia about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and how certain senators are demanding that the administration release the oil so that prices will stay low for the benefit of 'working families.'

All this just in time for peak driving season. Food for thought.

Gangs Reach Out of Prison to Commit Crimes

I heard about THIS on All Things Considered (National Proletariat Radio) yesterday. Gotta give NPR some credit, they do have some fascinating stories from time to time.

It's amazing how complex the operations of this 'Nuestra Familia' gang are, as well as the extent of their reach into life outside the prison system...

How do you stop a gang like this, without completely isolating all their members while they're locked up?

For additional reading, check out this story.

Even I Get it Right Sometimes

Sean at Soundoff points out a Washington Post article about the massive changes going on in the Middle East. From the article: "It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq," explains [leader of Lebanese intifada Walid] Jumblatt. "I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world." Jumblatt says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. "The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it."

Well, well. As I said back in September of last year, the dominoes in the Middle East are beginning to fall: "Now that the Muslim world has seen that we are willing to do what it takes to destroy the terrorists, it seems the Muslim countries are jumping at the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their goodwill by making positive gestures to the world- some substantive, some token. The dominoes started falling with Afghanistan, then Libya. We all know what happened there, and it seems that Libya is serious about rejoining the civilized world in trade and peace. Fantastic. Next, Syria made a token gesture of loosening internet restrictions on its people... Sorry, but that won't cut it. Now, we have Yemen demonstrating true justice with the Cole terrorists. Chalk another one up for the good guys. Once we knock over the Iraqi domino once and for all, my view is that the Muslim world will have ample evidence that Bush wasn't kidding... It's time for Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iran to start seriously thinking about their respective futures. I would much rather see the remaining dominoes fall on their own, instead of having to knock them over. We'll see more substantive gestures soon, just wait."

Now Lebanon is trying to rid themselves of the Syrians. Good for them. They can see the writing on the wall. More exciting changes are sure to come in the next few years, and on balance, they will be more for the good...

Good Weekend

Just back from the Quad-State Karate Tournament- Calvert City, KY. Lots of good action, especially in grappling. Next weekend, I get to go to Tunica, MS. for the Freestyle Fighting Championship. Should be interesting!

Big Endorsement

The Mad Tech has chosen to endorse Framptonia, the other blog I occasionally write for. Maybe he's right, and Framptonia will develop into something big in the blogosphere...but they'll have to kick me out to accomplish it! Seriously, a great endorsement from a really good blog. Check it out. Both blogs are in the blogroll to the right ->

Bush Raps Russia on Democracy, Rule of Law

Check out THIS story... I've said it before, it's time to start publicly questioning Putin and his motives... From the article: "We recognize that reform will not happen overnight. We must always remind Russia, however, that our alliance stands for a free press, a vital opposition, the sharing of power and the rule of law," Bush said.

Glad to see a little pressure on Putin for a change!

Um, You Guys Might Want to Rethink This...

Syria, your 'common front' defense agreement recently made with Iran doesn't add that much to your military leverage. You might want to rethink your resistance to pull troops from Lebanon

Kyoto Protocol Now in Effect Around the World

THIS is a very interesting article about the Kyoto Protocol on gas emissions that came into effect yesterday...

It seems to me that even the countries who ratified it don't know how they will enforce it, monitor it, or comply with it within the appropriate time tables. From the article: In Japan, a tireless supporter of the pact, the enactment was being met with a mixture of pride and worry that the world's second-largest economy is unprepared to meet its emissions reduction targets.
Canada also has no plan in place to meet its commitments under Kyoto. Environment Minister Stephane Dion said Tuesday the plan won't be spelled out in the Feb. 23 budget as had been widely expected, but "in the weeks after the budget."

He gave no deadline. Canada has agreed to a six per cent cut in greenhouse emissions from 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

As to our refusal to sign it, we did the right thing. Emerging economies like China and India get a free pass, while the already industrialized world gets handcuffed. It's like the 100 Meter dash in the Olympics, but with varying degrees of difficulty- OK, India and China, you run freely, with no ankle weights. USA, Australia, Canada, you guys put one of these 5 pound ankle weights on each leg, to make it fair.... I'm sure the race would be exciting.

Kid Rock Arrested After Tennessee Bar Fight

Looks like Kid Rock has put on a few pounds. Don't worry Kid, it happens to most everyone in their 30s...

Only in Southeast Missouri

THIS is what we do to six-year-olds who are flooding our streets with- bags of dirt? Apparently this girl was disciplined for bringing a bag of dirt to school to give to one of her friends. From the article: "If she would have been 14, we would have been arrested her and taken her to jail.” Sgt. Shirley Porter said. Unbelievable.

We have a war on everything these days, so maybe its time for a war on dirt. Little miscreants, corrupting our schools!

And I Thought Snoop Quit...

Check out THIS photo of Snoop Dogg smoking- well, something. I chill with Red Stripe, he has his ways...

Cattle Tags for Your Children

Take a look at THIS story... What do you think about attaching RFID tags to school kids? Good idea, or invasion of privacy?

And From Our NATO Friends...

This photo from a carnival parade in Germany... My blogshot at NATO is over at Framptonia.

Bush Proposes Steep Cuts in $2.57T Budget

Check out THIS story about the President's proposed budget. Steep cuts? HA! All this 'belt-tightening' only impacts maybe 15% of the total budget. Everything else is pretty much automatic defense spending and entitlements... I knew the lefties would cry foul, no matter how small spending reductions are, but come on!

Maybe someday we'll actually reduce the entitlements themselves. I don't remember reading anything in the Constitution about you having a right to a government-guaranteed retirement, an education, or money stolen from fellow taxpayers to subsidize your business...

Annan Warns Sudan to Stop Darfur Killing

Or what? He'll get tough on them? Maybe put them on double-secret probation?

Yahoo! News - Annan Warns Sudan to Stop Darfur Killing

Good Weekend

Just back from Tunica, Mississippi. Went to my wife's corporate Christmas party- always an interesting thing, and always fun. Managed to play poker for quite a while Saturday night. I have to say, low limit Texas Hold-em sucks - it's too easy for several players to stay in the action... So it's very straight-forward poker, with little opportunity to bluff. Like scuba diving however, some poker is better than no poker at all...

What an Interesting Idea!

Check out this article at the DesMoinesRegister.com. The idea is to reverse the brain drain of young Iowans leaving the state by 100% state tax relief for all under 30 years old. This is an amazing idea, on many levels. What strikes me most about the article is that both Republicans and Democrats seem to agree with the premise, which is easily extended logically: Lower taxes, more attractive place to live. Higher taxes, not so much. Iowa is a high tax state. Check out the part about the Governor:

Vilsack, a Democrat, was keeping an open mind about the Senate Republican plan. He said it would be considered, along with a raft of other proposals from various groups to help Iowa's economy."It's early in the session. There will be other proposals. The governor appreciates the early attention to education and job creation" from both parties, said Matt Paul, the governor's spokesman. Michael Blouin, the state's economic development director, said: "I'm glad they have a package on the table. We need options. We need 'em fast."

This notion is true of nations as well... Unless we quickly cure the ills of social security in this country, the younger workers two decades from now will likely not tolerate the European-level taxation that will be required to pay off the retirees of that time... I wonder how many enterprising young workers will be willing to leave the country and strike out for greener economic pastures?

Progressively Faster

Last week, as I drove through Arkansas on business, one of those cool little Progressive insurance SUVs came passing by me at what I estimate to be about 75-80 mph, in a 55 mph zone. I wonder if they'll raise his rates when he gets caught speeding? ;-)

Time to Grow Up

Check out THIS story about baby-boomer drug addicts...

From the article: It is a largely unforeseen consequence of the aging of America. As the elderly population continues to grow and baby boomers move into their senior years, the number of older adults who abuse drugs - from pain pills to marijuana and cocaine - is increasing. And the nation should prepare to meet the special needs of older addicts, says Ron Hunsicker of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers. ALSO- the number of people 50 and older who will need treatment for alcohol or drugs will nearly triple in the next 15 years, to 4.4 million in 2020 from 1.7 million in 2001.

Come on- it's time to grow up, stop fiercely clinging to your youth, drop the drugs, and be the best grandparents you can be... I wonder how long it will be before the AARP starts demanding special treatment centers for older addicts- at taxpayer expense, of course!

I Thought He Was Smarter Than That

Check out this story: Survivor millionaire Richard Hatch agrees to plead guilty to tax evasion

Random Picture of the Week

My step-daughter's latest offering for my office...

Long Weekend

It's been a long weekend - lots of things to do around the house, plus the newborn required quite a bit of attention, which I was happy to give... Bottom line, there was little time for poker or martial arts. I will endeavor to make up for it this coming week.

Public Relations

I've put a few thoughts on the recent Public Relations campaigns of the drug companies and Wal-Mart over at Framptonia. Take a look.

Unarmed Marines?

Does anyone else find THIS news troubling? Why would we send the Marines (on a humanitarian mission) to a predominately Muslim area of Indonesia with no weapons? Our agreement to this situation is nothing more than an advertisement for any radicals to come in and inflict as much damage as possible... It's the equivalent of me putting a sign out in my front yard that says: ATTENTION HOME INVADERS: My Family is Unarmed!

The safety of our troops now depends on two things:

1. The competency of the Indonesian Armed Forces, which are 'protecting' our people.
2. The temporary suspension of hatred towards the US by any radicals in the area.

I don't know about you, but I don't think that's much to go on. This is a situation where we should have taken all the political heat from the do-gooders and politely declined sending our Marines to Indonesia. There are plenty of other needy areas where we might win a few hearts and minds...

It's Time for Republicans to Walk the Walk

Check out this story in USA Today: Opposition to Bush Social Security plan lining up within GOP

Republicans have talked the talk about Social Security for some years now. Now either walk the walk, or be exposed as frauds. They have both Houses of Congress, and the White House. No more excuses. Real Social Security reform like partial privatization is the only hope for any of us younger workers to see one cent of all the money we've put into the system...

Abbas Elected Palestinian President

Let's hope that Abbas is the real deal...

I wonder what the neighboring Muslim reaction would be if the Palestinians and Israel arrive at a lasting peace? Would the surrounding countries accept the situation? My guess is that they can never be fully satisfied as long as Israel exists...

My Corporate Governance and Social Security

blogshot for the day is over at Framptonia. Take a look.

Random Picture of the Week

Some of you may have realized by now that the Random Picture of the Week isn't exactly a weekly thing... I'll try to do better. This week's offering is a photo of what you see from the main road (Route 3) when traveling through Wolf Lake, Socialist Workers' Republic of Illinois... Enjoy!

Thanks

Thanks to TaylorTree for linking me- I'm not sure how he found me, but it's always good to land in someone's blogroll. Those of you who are securities junkies might enjoy his blog...

The United States got Played

Jan Egeland, the U.N. official who slammed the U.S. as 'stingy' over the tsunami aid, completely goaded us into taking action that may or may not be appropriate. He made an inflammatory comment about rich countries being 'stingy' with relief funds, then quickly backpedaled. Instead of a calm, measured response by our government, we were apparently so terrified of being labeled stingy by the U.N. that we proceeded with the knee-jerk reaction of opening the checkbook...

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for some assistance by our government, namely all the wonderful things that our military and its equipment can do for the victims in terms of transport, clearing debris, and the beginnings of a rebuilding effort. Perhaps we can assist with the development of a tsunami early warning system for that part of the world. I have never believed that just throwing money at a problem will solve it. It won't work in this case either. Furthermore, the United States Treasury is not an insurance policy for people who choose to live and work in the coastal areas of foreign lands.

The administration could have waited, determined what we can efficiently do for these people, then acted with the appropriate resources. In the meantime, they could have also reminded the world that private charities and several NGOs are already acting with tremendous resources at their disposal. What would be wrong with waiting to see what can be accomplished by the private sector first? Want to call me stingy? Fine. You can bet that I won't over-react just to disprove you. By the way, Strengthen the Good has links for tsunami aid, if you're interested.