On the international front, socialism is on the rise in France. Socialists recently won control of most of the government and immediate set to work solving their deficit problems by raising taxes on the rich. Those taxes were one factor for Johnny Depp's decision to return to the U.S. There have been other reports of France's elite moving to the U.K., Belgium, and other countries to avoid those confiscatory tax rates.
Recently, France's Prime Minister had a hissy fit over several high profile actors, and others that took similar precautions to preserve their earnings.
I find the bureaucratic outrage to be more than a little amusing. It is as if these socialists believe that those people are the property of the state rather than being individuals who have the freedom to choose the conditions in which they live. Why should they be surprised when those individuals exercise that freedom in the face of an overly bureaucratic government that is imposing an intolerable level of taxation?
The exodus is predictable, as is the socialist response. Sadly.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Reading The Rule Book
One reason why I lean towards the GOP is that they attempt to maintain the pretense of have read and understood our Constitution at some point in the recent past.
The Democratic leadership abandoned that idea a long, long time ago.
Each member of the House has had to attach a Constitutional Authority Statement (CAS) to every proposed bill since Jan. 5, 2011.Newt Gingrich, for all of his flaws, had at least one redeeming quality. He thought that members of Congress should read the Constitution as well as the works of the founders so that they would have some sort of familiarity with what the words in the Constitution mean.
However, one group of Republicans is unimpressed by the offered justifications for constitutionality.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) analyzes each statement—3,865 in the first year alone—and in response to some of the more questionable justifications began emailing every congressional office a “Questionable Constitutional Authority Statement of the Week.”
“We started highlighting horrible Constitutional Authority Statements because there were so many of them,” said Brian Straessle, RSC spokesman. “Think of it as a shaming mechanism to get people to think seriously and carefully about the intended limits of the federal government’s power.”
The Democratic leadership abandoned that idea a long, long time ago.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Perspective
Via the outstanding men and women at BlackFive:
A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,'
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
- written by Michael Marks in 2000
A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,'
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
- written by Michael Marks in 2000
Monday, December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas 2012
All of the best this season to my many valued readers. As a Christmas treat, please enjoy this unique Christmas tale. And always remember why being away in a manger may not be the most sanitary condition in the world.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Unreal Reality TV
One of the few "reality" TV shows that we watch from time to time at Casa de Todd is "Storage Wars". The premise of the show is that people compete at auctions for the contents of storage containers. The folks on the show are given a limited opportunity to view the container from an aisle way (no touching/entering please) before bidding on the contents. What they see is what they get.
In theory.
A recent story suggests that the show's producers were juicing some of the containers that were won by the show's paid participants. One of the participants, Dave Hester, had a spine and a conscience and protested the deceitful practice. As a result, they stopped juicing his containers. And then they fired him from the show.
What is interesting is that on the show, Mr. Hester is presented as a bit of a self-centered ass. Perhaps he was just covering his. Or perhaps reality TV really isn't all that real to begin with. In either case, it is good to see someone doing the right thing for a change.
In theory.
A recent story suggests that the show's producers were juicing some of the containers that were won by the show's paid participants. One of the participants, Dave Hester, had a spine and a conscience and protested the deceitful practice. As a result, they stopped juicing his containers. And then they fired him from the show.
David Hester's suit claims producers have added a BMW Mini and newspapers chronicling Elvis Presley's death to lockers in order to build drama for the show and that his complaints about the practices led to his firing.
Hester is seeking more than $750,000 in his wrongful termination, breach of contract and unfair business practices lawsuit. A&E Television Network declined comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
"Storage Wars" follows buyers who bid for abandoned storage lockers hoping to find valuables tucked inside.
"A&E regularly plants valuable items or memorabilia," the lawsuit states. Hester's suit claims he was fired from participating in the series' fourth season after expressing concerns that manipulating the storage lockers for the sake of the show was illegal.
What is interesting is that on the show, Mr. Hester is presented as a bit of a self-centered ass. Perhaps he was just covering his. Or perhaps reality TV really isn't all that real to begin with. In either case, it is good to see someone doing the right thing for a change.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Twitter Classic
Via the Blogfather comes a pointer to:
"being democratically elected doesn't mean everything you do thereafter is by definition democratic"Indeed.....
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
I Hate Spammers
And I work hard not to hate anyone.
My recent post, "Nefarious", resulted in 19 hits. Oh man was I excited!
Until I saw that they call came from one website and that it had nothing to do with anything. Just someone looking for a trackback.
My recent post, "Nefarious", resulted in 19 hits. Oh man was I excited!
Until I saw that they call came from one website and that it had nothing to do with anything. Just someone looking for a trackback.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Nefarious
The Blogfather has this precisely correct. If this had been done by some people/groups on the right, then the media would be screaming bloody murder and calling for new regulations.
More than 4 million people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 did not vote this year. But by applying new voter science, Obama nudged enough replacements in key states — many who were rare or first-time voters — to give him his margin of victory (leveraged even larger by the Electoral College).Just imagine if the Koch brothers had been involved....
Years of stealthy multimillion-dollar efforts paid off forAmerica’s left in the 2008 and 2012 victories by President Barack Obama. Using new voter science to get rare and first-time voters to go to the polls, the races have changedAmerica’s electorate — those who make the country’s decisions by showing up and voting.
Aided by $5 million minimum from George Soros, plus millions more from others, at least two secretive institutions were created to enable this effort by focused research on behavioral science. Their results are made available only to liberals and their causes.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
How Far Will This Go?
Much further...I hope.
State Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) publicly acknowledged Saturday that he is gay, making him the first openly gay lawmaker in Pa. and the only* currently sitting openly gay Republican state legislator in the entire country.A GOP that has abandoned the culture wars can only be a progressive step for our country.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Book Review - The Missing Ring
It was not my original intent to visit this year's college football national championship game, but it seems that circumstances have led us back to a repeat of the 1966 season where Notre Dame edged out Alabama. The controversy surrounding the selection of Notre Dame that year is documented in "The Missing Ring", written by Keith Dunnavant.
So my recent reading of this book is certainly timely.
I think it is fair to put the weakest part of this book up front. The author is a "homer"; a graduate of the University of Alabama. A man who received some modest assistance during his time at Alabama from Paul "Bear" Bryant. He writes about the 1966 Crimson Tide team that narrowly missed achieving a phenomenal three national collegiate football championships in a row. While I think it is obvious that his relationship with Alabama fueled his passion for researching this book, I think it is also fair to note that his history with Coach Bryant and his time at Alabama may...or may not...have affected his perspective.
"The Missing Ring" arrived in my book pile a few years ago for no discernible reason. Such was the sales job performed by whoever prepared the book cover. The fact that it was in a bargain books bin probably helped.
Mr. Dunnavant begins his story with the training camps and recruiting efforts of 1965. The image he creates of training camp is one of a crucible where boys are forged into men via discipline and rigorous exercise. It is a place where one imagines "character" as oozing from the walls and seeping into the skin. The garbage cans kept in the team's gym as receptacles for athletically induced regurgitation served double duty establishing the mood for the facility as well as yet another bonding experience for the athletes.
The theme that Mr. Dunnavant reiterates time and again are how Coach Bryant expected effort, achievement, and unswerving loyalty to the program which in turn produced the sort of young men that he could then mold into national championship caliber teams. The sole weakness of "The Missing Ring" is the persistent return to this theme after it had been adequately addressed in the initial chapters of the book.
The story continues with views into the personal lives of various Alabama players of that era. Imagine my surprise to discover that Kenny Stabler had played for the Tide. I watched many of his professional football performances on Sunday afternoons as a young lad. The story of his youth and his time at Alabama was quite interesting. See the book for details.
When it gets down to it, Mr. Dunnavant's case on behalf of the 1966 Crimson Tide comes down to two essential elements; the reaction to racism in the state of Alabama and disproportionate enthusiasm within the sports media for Notre Dame.
The civil rights struggles in Alabama were deep and bloody. Anyone with a passing sense of American history understands that the white political leadership was in the middle of making their last stand against progress for everyone in general and black Alabamans specifically.
The continuing specter of segregation caused many across the country to take a rather dim view of southern states in general and Alabama in particular. This presence of this perspective created a situation where the sports writers only needed the flimsiest of excuses to justify their national champion votes for another team; any other team.
The Notre Dame football program has been the long time beneficiary of positive press coverage. This is a bit ironic given that during the 2012 season, the media constantly underestimated and dismissed Notre Dame's achievements on the field. And yet the Irish will play for the national championship this year against...Alabama.
Mr. Dunnavant suggests that Coach Bryant was not pleased with segregation at Alabama. He also suggests that the coach felt that opposing segregation at the university would harm his football program. Coach Bryant's critics may justly criticize that stance as defending the comparatively unimportant health of a football program while sacrificing the far more important issue of civil rights for oppressed Americans.
Mr. Dunnavant suggests that the coach envisioned blacks playing at Alabama "some day". In lieu of developing such valuable additions to his program, Coach Bryant apparently steered young black men to integrated programs where they could be successful. In another small irony, one such young man ended up playing a role in the 1966 tie between Michigan State University and Notre Dame that year.
In any case, Mr. Dunnavant suggests that the media used the heightened racial tensions as an excuse to under-rate the 1966 Crimson Tide.
MSU nearly beat Notre Dame that year. Perhaps the most controversial game on Notre Dame's schedule that year. At the end, with time running out, Notre Dame elected to control the ball in pursuit of a tie rather than to play for the win; and potentially lose the game as well. Notre Dame's coach apparently felt that the media would not penalize his team for a tie with the then #2 ranked team. But they would penalize him for the loss. He wanted the national championship more than he wanted to win that game.
The combination of the negative perspective of Alabama and the optimistic perspective granted to Notre Dame cost Alabama a third straight national championship; their "missing ring".
The final piece of the puzzle in the story is the absence of any sort of playoff requirement at the end of the year. At the time, the AP and UPI polls ruled the championship race. A split between the polls resulted in co-championships. One poll or the other may decide to declare a champion before the college bowl games or after.
It is one of the most compelling arguments for the current BCS system. It remains a strong argument for a real, multi-game playoff system today.
I am unprepared to unquestioningly accept Mr. Dunnavant's narrative as the definitive truth. But it is an interesting and well told perspective.
There are many golden nuggets of collegiate football history to be found within the pages of "The Missing Ring". Enjoy.
So my recent reading of this book is certainly timely.
I think it is fair to put the weakest part of this book up front. The author is a "homer"; a graduate of the University of Alabama. A man who received some modest assistance during his time at Alabama from Paul "Bear" Bryant. He writes about the 1966 Crimson Tide team that narrowly missed achieving a phenomenal three national collegiate football championships in a row. While I think it is obvious that his relationship with Alabama fueled his passion for researching this book, I think it is also fair to note that his history with Coach Bryant and his time at Alabama may...or may not...have affected his perspective.
"The Missing Ring" arrived in my book pile a few years ago for no discernible reason. Such was the sales job performed by whoever prepared the book cover. The fact that it was in a bargain books bin probably helped.
Mr. Dunnavant begins his story with the training camps and recruiting efforts of 1965. The image he creates of training camp is one of a crucible where boys are forged into men via discipline and rigorous exercise. It is a place where one imagines "character" as oozing from the walls and seeping into the skin. The garbage cans kept in the team's gym as receptacles for athletically induced regurgitation served double duty establishing the mood for the facility as well as yet another bonding experience for the athletes.
The theme that Mr. Dunnavant reiterates time and again are how Coach Bryant expected effort, achievement, and unswerving loyalty to the program which in turn produced the sort of young men that he could then mold into national championship caliber teams. The sole weakness of "The Missing Ring" is the persistent return to this theme after it had been adequately addressed in the initial chapters of the book.
The story continues with views into the personal lives of various Alabama players of that era. Imagine my surprise to discover that Kenny Stabler had played for the Tide. I watched many of his professional football performances on Sunday afternoons as a young lad. The story of his youth and his time at Alabama was quite interesting. See the book for details.
When it gets down to it, Mr. Dunnavant's case on behalf of the 1966 Crimson Tide comes down to two essential elements; the reaction to racism in the state of Alabama and disproportionate enthusiasm within the sports media for Notre Dame.
The civil rights struggles in Alabama were deep and bloody. Anyone with a passing sense of American history understands that the white political leadership was in the middle of making their last stand against progress for everyone in general and black Alabamans specifically.
The continuing specter of segregation caused many across the country to take a rather dim view of southern states in general and Alabama in particular. This presence of this perspective created a situation where the sports writers only needed the flimsiest of excuses to justify their national champion votes for another team; any other team.
The Notre Dame football program has been the long time beneficiary of positive press coverage. This is a bit ironic given that during the 2012 season, the media constantly underestimated and dismissed Notre Dame's achievements on the field. And yet the Irish will play for the national championship this year against...Alabama.
Mr. Dunnavant suggests that Coach Bryant was not pleased with segregation at Alabama. He also suggests that the coach felt that opposing segregation at the university would harm his football program. Coach Bryant's critics may justly criticize that stance as defending the comparatively unimportant health of a football program while sacrificing the far more important issue of civil rights for oppressed Americans.
Mr. Dunnavant suggests that the coach envisioned blacks playing at Alabama "some day". In lieu of developing such valuable additions to his program, Coach Bryant apparently steered young black men to integrated programs where they could be successful. In another small irony, one such young man ended up playing a role in the 1966 tie between Michigan State University and Notre Dame that year.
In any case, Mr. Dunnavant suggests that the media used the heightened racial tensions as an excuse to under-rate the 1966 Crimson Tide.
MSU nearly beat Notre Dame that year. Perhaps the most controversial game on Notre Dame's schedule that year. At the end, with time running out, Notre Dame elected to control the ball in pursuit of a tie rather than to play for the win; and potentially lose the game as well. Notre Dame's coach apparently felt that the media would not penalize his team for a tie with the then #2 ranked team. But they would penalize him for the loss. He wanted the national championship more than he wanted to win that game.
The combination of the negative perspective of Alabama and the optimistic perspective granted to Notre Dame cost Alabama a third straight national championship; their "missing ring".
The final piece of the puzzle in the story is the absence of any sort of playoff requirement at the end of the year. At the time, the AP and UPI polls ruled the championship race. A split between the polls resulted in co-championships. One poll or the other may decide to declare a champion before the college bowl games or after.
It is one of the most compelling arguments for the current BCS system. It remains a strong argument for a real, multi-game playoff system today.
I am unprepared to unquestioningly accept Mr. Dunnavant's narrative as the definitive truth. But it is an interesting and well told perspective.
There are many golden nuggets of collegiate football history to be found within the pages of "The Missing Ring". Enjoy.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Predictable Results From Obamacare
It seems that Walmart has decided that future new hires that do not work at least 30 hours a week will no longer be eligible for the company's health care plan. Currently that is not the case.
Instead, those people will have to apply to the newly expanded Medicaid program.
Anyone that has watched the last 80+ years of American history should not be surprised.
We passed Social Security. Employer pensions steadily declined.
We passed Medicare. Employer paid health care for retirees is now nearly non-existent.
At each step of the way we have separated those with money from their moral obligation to assist others. They figure that having paid their taxes, that they have have discharged their civic duties.
Why should anyone be surprised that CEO salaries have skyrocketed in the wake of the government assuming (illegitimately) the civic responsibilities of corporations?
Instead, those people will have to apply to the newly expanded Medicaid program.
Anyone that has watched the last 80+ years of American history should not be surprised.
We passed Social Security. Employer pensions steadily declined.
We passed Medicare. Employer paid health care for retirees is now nearly non-existent.
At each step of the way we have separated those with money from their moral obligation to assist others. They figure that having paid their taxes, that they have have discharged their civic duties.
Why should anyone be surprised that CEO salaries have skyrocketed in the wake of the government assuming (illegitimately) the civic responsibilities of corporations?
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Never Trust 'Em
Yet another cautionary tale about the capricious winds of government devastating private business owners. The short version appears to be that a couple asked their local township if they could use their residential driveway to access land they owned that was zoned for commercial purposes. The township agreed.
After a few years of rapid grown, the couple's new neighbors complained. The township reversed itself and decided to start enforcing zoning restrictions on the couple without compensating them for effectively taking their established businesses.
After a few years of rapid grown, the couple's new neighbors complained. The township reversed itself and decided to start enforcing zoning restrictions on the couple without compensating them for effectively taking their established businesses.
Friday, December 14, 2012
News Flash - West Point Still Stands...
...even after a lesbian couple gets married there. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
The U.S. Military Academy's Cadet Chapel at West Point hosted its first same-sex marriage Saturday
Penelope Gnesin and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, exchanged vows in the regal church in a ceremony conducted by a senior Army chaplain.
The ceremony comes a little more than a year after President Obama ended the military policy banning openly gay people from serving.
The two have been together for 17 years. They had a civil commitment ceremony that didn't carry any legal force in 1999 but had longed to formally tie the knot.
The couple live in New Jersey and would have preferred to have the wedding there, but the state doesn't allow gay marriage.
"We just couldn't wait any longer," Fulton said.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Paying The Bills
Having been following trends in education for some time, I was particularly surprised to find that the theoretic economic benefits of a college education that are sold to high school students fell so short.
We cannot continue subsidizing educations that do not make economic sense. Students cannot continue to sign up for a lifetime of indebtedness. Like every other economic bubble in the world, this one will break eventually.
Wouldn't we be better off by not having our government create them in the first place?
The obvious...to me....solution is to put colleges on the hook for the debt if students are not able to find fiscally rewarding employment within their field of study. And to require colleges to advertise the benefits of what they are offering on a "by field of study" basis.
Most kids are smart enough to avoid a train wreck, if they can see it coming.
We cannot continue subsidizing educations that do not make economic sense. Students cannot continue to sign up for a lifetime of indebtedness. Like every other economic bubble in the world, this one will break eventually.
Wouldn't we be better off by not having our government create them in the first place?
The obvious...to me....solution is to put colleges on the hook for the debt if students are not able to find fiscally rewarding employment within their field of study. And to require colleges to advertise the benefits of what they are offering on a "by field of study" basis.
Most kids are smart enough to avoid a train wreck, if they can see it coming.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Change Is A Comin'
Or at least we will have it if Congress decides to the smart thing instead of the popular thing. Recent history isn't encouraging on that perspective.
In any case, we really need to do away with the paper dollar and replace it with coins. I'd even go so far as to suggest that we copy Canada and establish a $2 variant.
I know a lot of people don't like the current $1 coins due to size issues that make is slightly similar to the current quarter. We have managed do deal with pennies and dimes that similar in size, so I'm not sure why this is such a big deal.
However, the government might consider making two-tone coins for easier visual recognition. They might also consider using other features (scalloped edges, a hole in the middle, etc.) that will make it easier to tactilely differentiate the $1 coins from their $0.25 cousins.
In any case, we really need to do away with the paper dollar and replace it with coins. I'd even go so far as to suggest that we copy Canada and establish a $2 variant.
I know a lot of people don't like the current $1 coins due to size issues that make is slightly similar to the current quarter. We have managed do deal with pennies and dimes that similar in size, so I'm not sure why this is such a big deal.
However, the government might consider making two-tone coins for easier visual recognition. They might also consider using other features (scalloped edges, a hole in the middle, etc.) that will make it easier to tactilely differentiate the $1 coins from their $0.25 cousins.
The sooner the better.The GAO's Lorelei St. James told the House Financial Services panel it would take several years for the benefits of switching from paper bills to dollar coins to catch up with the cost of making the change. Equipment would have to be bought or overhauled and more coins would have to be produced upfront to replace bills as they are taken out of circulation.But over the years, the savings would begin to accrue, she said, largely because a $1 coin could stay in circulation for 30 years while paper bills have to be replaced every four or five years on average."We continue to believe that replacing the note with a coin is likely to provide a financial benefit to the government," said St. James, who added that such a change would work only if the note was completely eliminated and the public educated about the benefits of the switch.Even the $1 coin's most ardent supporters recognize that they haven't been popular. Philip Diehl, former director of the Mint, said there was a huge demand for the Sacagawea dollar coin when production began in 2001, but as time wore on, people stayed with what they knew best.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Just Piss On That!
You may have heard about Glenn Beck's recent kerfuffle. It seems that he took a figuring depicting Barack Obama as Jesus Christ and put in in a jar. He then filled the jar with urine. It turns out that the fluid was actually beer, which is pretty humourous for what should be obvious reasons.
Now I don't watch or listen to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh. Primarily because I find some of their attempts at sarcastic criticism to cross lines that I am unwilling to cross.
But this particular stunt is perfect.
A few years back, an artist by the name of Andres Serrano created a bit of a kerfuffle with his "art" image of a plastic figurine of Jesus on the cross submerged in a yellow fluid that Mr. Serrano claimed to be his own urine. The piece won an award that was funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts and became yet another in a series of incidents that suggest that the NEA is wasting our tax dollars.
Fast foward to today, and we have folks that are supportive of Mr. Obama's agenda making favorable comparisons between Jesus and the President.
Mr. Beck then takes that near-religious fervor and criticizes it a way that mimics that of Mr. Serrano's artistic criticism of Christianity.
We end up with the folks that thought that Mr. Serrano and the NEA had done nothing wrong now being outraged when similar contempt is expressed towards one of their icons. Apparently, do as they say, but not as they do?
It most certainly is not a step in the right direction with respect to comity and tolerance between different points of view. But it a timely reminder that if one expects a certain amount of deference toward one's icons, then perhaps one should demonstrate a certain amount of deference towards the icons that are important to others.
Now I don't watch or listen to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh. Primarily because I find some of their attempts at sarcastic criticism to cross lines that I am unwilling to cross.
But this particular stunt is perfect.
A few years back, an artist by the name of Andres Serrano created a bit of a kerfuffle with his "art" image of a plastic figurine of Jesus on the cross submerged in a yellow fluid that Mr. Serrano claimed to be his own urine. The piece won an award that was funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts and became yet another in a series of incidents that suggest that the NEA is wasting our tax dollars.
Fast foward to today, and we have folks that are supportive of Mr. Obama's agenda making favorable comparisons between Jesus and the President.
Mr. Beck then takes that near-religious fervor and criticizes it a way that mimics that of Mr. Serrano's artistic criticism of Christianity.
We end up with the folks that thought that Mr. Serrano and the NEA had done nothing wrong now being outraged when similar contempt is expressed towards one of their icons. Apparently, do as they say, but not as they do?
It most certainly is not a step in the right direction with respect to comity and tolerance between different points of view. But it a timely reminder that if one expects a certain amount of deference toward one's icons, then perhaps one should demonstrate a certain amount of deference towards the icons that are important to others.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Book Recommendation - Old Man's War
Courtesy of the Blogfather, I have been reading about John Scalzi for several years. I just didn't have a chance to read any of his work due to the already sizable pile of my reading list.
As fortune would have it, I have been reading Mr. Scalzi's blog for longer than I have been reading his fiction. He is overly enamored with sarcasm like so many others. Regrettably. His writing there is otherwise most enjoyable.
His first science fiction book is called "Old Man's War". Many have favorably comparied Mr. Scalzi's style to that of the late Robert A. Heinlein. The closest of Mr. Heinlein's books that is comparable with "Old Man's War" is "Starship Troopers". As I have observed before, the movie is nothing like the book.
I was reading a review of "Old Man's War" that described the plot as a cheat when compared with the plot of "Starship Troopers". I find the two plots to be reasonably similar.
In "Starship Troopers", the protagonist joins the military. During basic, he he learns how to wear an operating powered armor. The reason for the armor is to make the soldier stronger, faster, better than the alien hordes that humanity is fighting.
Mr. Scalzi takes a little different approach, but the result is the same. Part of that approach is a personal computer that is integrated with the user. It operates something like Apple's Siri. Except most folks call it "Asshole".
I will leave that aspect of the book there so as to not ruin the book for you.
I was most impressed with Mr. Scalzi's ability to create very human characters. Our protagonist is John Perry; a 75 year old retiree that has decided to enter the Colonial Defense Forces. Earth is well protected from conflict with the aliens. Earth colonies....not so much. So people living on Earth, like John Perry, are recruited to leave the Earth and join the CDF.
One of the reasons why John Perry is willing to leave the planet is that he really has little left to live for on Earth. His wife had died of a stroke a couple years prior.
He didn't want to live out his days as a man who lives for nothing more than his next visit to his wife's grave. It is a portrait of a man who hurts so deeply. I hope I never hurt like that.
Part of the process of joining the CDF requires tests and evaluations. One of those evaluations is designed to evoke an emotional response.
"Old Man's War" accurately expresses a military experience. He nails the camaraderie and esprit de corps that is part of any successful military experience.
I particularly appreciated that he spelled "Marines" correctly; capitalized. It was a back-handed reference to the earth bound USMC, but it was accurate nonetheless. His use of the Corps' Rifleman's Creed also demonstrated a depth of knowledge on the subject of military relationships and practices.
Another example would be the military treatment of race. Marine Drill Instructors teach that there is no such thing as white, or black, or brown, or anything other than "green". The intent is to break down any sense of individuality and to build a common perspective. Mr. Scalzi's CDF does something similar, but with a twist.
Given the many comparisons with "Starship Troopers", I think it is worthwhile to note the dissimilarities between the two works.
As I suggested in my review of "Revolt in 2100", Mr. Heinlein's characters never used coarse language outright. But it was readily implied.The That goes for sexual activity as well.
Mr. Scalzi is a bit more expressive in these two areas.
A deeper difference is the deeper sense of analysis and purpose within the plot. At a deeper level "Starship Troopers" seeks to express a successful social framework for human progress and expansion. It explores issues of individual rights and responsibilities. It explores the unbreakable bond between authority and responsibility. It also explores how all of those issues affect successful governance.
By contrast, "Old Man's War" is just a ride that takes the reader along. It presents some very interesting technology. It certainly presents an intriguing and engaging narrative. But it only explores what exists. It does not explore why those conditions exist. It is the difference between a trip to the African savannah and taking a safari ride in a zoo. Both can be entertaining and enjoyable experiences. But only the former is enlightening.
As Mr. Scalzi acknowledges the influence of Mr. Heinlein's work on his own, I think it is fair to observe where he falls a bit short of that comparison.
"Old Man's War" was an enjoyable read. It was also successful enough that I bought and read "The Ghost Brigades"; Mr. Scalzi's follow up to "Old Man's War".
As fortune would have it, I have been reading Mr. Scalzi's blog for longer than I have been reading his fiction. He is overly enamored with sarcasm like so many others. Regrettably. His writing there is otherwise most enjoyable.
His first science fiction book is called "Old Man's War". Many have favorably comparied Mr. Scalzi's style to that of the late Robert A. Heinlein. The closest of Mr. Heinlein's books that is comparable with "Old Man's War" is "Starship Troopers". As I have observed before, the movie is nothing like the book.
I was reading a review of "Old Man's War" that described the plot as a cheat when compared with the plot of "Starship Troopers". I find the two plots to be reasonably similar.
In "Starship Troopers", the protagonist joins the military. During basic, he he learns how to wear an operating powered armor. The reason for the armor is to make the soldier stronger, faster, better than the alien hordes that humanity is fighting.
Mr. Scalzi takes a little different approach, but the result is the same. Part of that approach is a personal computer that is integrated with the user. It operates something like Apple's Siri. Except most folks call it "Asshole".
I will leave that aspect of the book there so as to not ruin the book for you.
I was most impressed with Mr. Scalzi's ability to create very human characters. Our protagonist is John Perry; a 75 year old retiree that has decided to enter the Colonial Defense Forces. Earth is well protected from conflict with the aliens. Earth colonies....not so much. So people living on Earth, like John Perry, are recruited to leave the Earth and join the CDF.
One of the reasons why John Perry is willing to leave the planet is that he really has little left to live for on Earth. His wife had died of a stroke a couple years prior.
He didn't want to live out his days as a man who lives for nothing more than his next visit to his wife's grave. It is a portrait of a man who hurts so deeply. I hope I never hurt like that.
I hate visiting here. I hate that my wife of forty-two years is dead, that one minute one Saturday morning she was in the kitchen, mixing a bowl of waffle batter and talking to me about the dustup at the library board meeting the night before, and the next minute she was on the floor, twitching as the stroke tore through here brain. I hate that her last words were "Where the hell did I put the vanilla."
I hate that I've become on of those old men who visits a cemetery to be with his dead wife. When I was (much) younger I used to ask Kathy what the point would be. A pile of rotting mean and bones that used to be a person isn't a person anymore; it's just a pile of rotting mean and bones. The person is gone -- off to heaven or hell or where ever or nowhere. You might as well visit a side of beef. When you get older you realize this is still the case. You just don't care. It's what you have.
For as much as I hate the cemetery, I've been grateful it's here, too. I miss my wife. It's easier to miss here at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, that to miss her in all the places where she was alive.
I didn't stay long; I never do. Just long enough to feel the stab that's still fresh enough after most of eight years, the one that also serves to remind me that I've got other things to do than to stand around in a cemetery like an old, damned fool. Once I felt it, I turned around and left and didn't bother looking around. This was the last time I would ever visit the cemetery or my wife's grave, but I didn't wan to expend too much effort in trying to remember it. As I said, this is the place where she's never been anything but dead. There's not much value in remembering that.
Part of the process of joining the CDF requires tests and evaluations. One of those evaluations is designed to evoke an emotional response.
A little later in the afternoon, I got pissed off.After missing his wife so terribly, he ends up having his memory of her terribly abused. But all is not lost. He gets to see her again....sort of. It's complicated.
I've been reading your file," said the Colonial, a thin young man who looked like a strong wind would sail him off like a kite.
"Okay," I said.
"It says you were married."
"I was."
"Did you like it? Being married."
"Sure. It bests the alternative."
He smirked. "So what happened? Divorce? Fuck around one time too many?"
Whatever obnoxiously amusing qualities this guy had were fading fast. "She's dead," I said.
"Yeah? How did that happen?"
"She had a stroke."
"Gotta love a stroke," he said. "Bam, your brain's skull pudding, just like that. Good that she didn't survive. She'd be this fat, bedridden turnip, you know. You'd just have to feed her through a straw or something." He made slurping noises.
"Old Man's War" accurately expresses a military experience. He nails the camaraderie and esprit de corps that is part of any successful military experience.
I particularly appreciated that he spelled "Marines" correctly; capitalized. It was a back-handed reference to the earth bound USMC, but it was accurate nonetheless. His use of the Corps' Rifleman's Creed also demonstrated a depth of knowledge on the subject of military relationships and practices.
Another example would be the military treatment of race. Marine Drill Instructors teach that there is no such thing as white, or black, or brown, or anything other than "green". The intent is to break down any sense of individuality and to build a common perspective. Mr. Scalzi's CDF does something similar, but with a twist.
Given the many comparisons with "Starship Troopers", I think it is worthwhile to note the dissimilarities between the two works.
As I suggested in my review of "Revolt in 2100", Mr. Heinlein's characters never used coarse language outright. But it was readily implied.
Mr. Scalzi is a bit more expressive in these two areas.
A deeper difference is the deeper sense of analysis and purpose within the plot. At a deeper level "Starship Troopers" seeks to express a successful social framework for human progress and expansion. It explores issues of individual rights and responsibilities. It explores the unbreakable bond between authority and responsibility. It also explores how all of those issues affect successful governance.
By contrast, "Old Man's War" is just a ride that takes the reader along. It presents some very interesting technology. It certainly presents an intriguing and engaging narrative. But it only explores what exists. It does not explore why those conditions exist. It is the difference between a trip to the African savannah and taking a safari ride in a zoo. Both can be entertaining and enjoyable experiences. But only the former is enlightening.
As Mr. Scalzi acknowledges the influence of Mr. Heinlein's work on his own, I think it is fair to observe where he falls a bit short of that comparison.
"Old Man's War" was an enjoyable read. It was also successful enough that I bought and read "The Ghost Brigades"; Mr. Scalzi's follow up to "Old Man's War".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)