Rod Grams and Jim Oberstar, candidates for the Minnesota 8th District Congressional seat, have been pointing fingers at each other about job creation or loss. Grams thinks that Oberstar is responsible for the loss of mining and forestry jobs. Oberstar is proud that his efforts created 100 jobs here and 400 there. They both cite projects they support that will create jobs.
First, is it the business of Congress to create local jobs? Isn't that something best left to the states and other local governments? Even then, by creating specific projects, other than for projects with a public use, like transit, isn't government favoring a specific interest over other interests.
Second, how much can one Representative influence a whole industry, either favorably or unfavorably. Can a Representative put ore back in the ground after a mine is worked out? Can a Representative restore resources which have been taken off the market? Can a Representative create a market for a product that has been replaced by other products? Can a Representative mitigate the effects of automation on reducing the number of employees needed?
Some of the Mesabi Range deposits have been worked out. An act of Congress won't put the ore back. Some deposits are of lower quality than deposits elsewhere. Can Congress mandate that those deposits will be worked even if the company will lose money.
Forestry jobs are down for two reasons. One is that forest land has been taken out of production because the paper companies can make more money selling their land than harvesting the trees. The land is being sold for development, often for private recreational use. Many of the new landowners have no interest in seeing their land clearcut. Two, huge amounts of paper are being recycled, reducing the need to cut more trees. There is such a glut that landfill operators use newsprint to cover the day's take of trash.
Many things that used to be built with steel are now made with aluminum or plastic. Shall Congress mandate that more steel be used in automobiles, thereby increasing fuel consumption?
Productivity increases are generally regarded as a good thing, but productivity means fewer jobs. Huge electric shovels can quickly fill a huge truck with a third of the production of a single deep mine? Shall Congress mandate that more ore be mined with pick and shovel, and possibly with more death and injury?
What Congress and other governments can do is create a climate for entrepeneurship? That includes changing expectations from finding jobs to looking for opportunities, making it relatively simple to create most businesses without a horde of lawyers, and by not favoring some businesses which will take resources or opportunities from other businesses.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Some complex things are simple, sort of
For the seven years we've owned our house, we've had a bedroom blind that didn't close completely. No, nobody could see in, but it still bothered us. I tried fixing it, but I couldn't figure out how to get the cords undone and reset. And we really didn't want to pay someone else to do it.
Several weeks ago I saw a display of blinds in a hardware store. The store would cut the blinds to the needed length. I went home and measured the current blind and the window frame it was covering. Then did nothing more, partly because I didn't want to carry a six-foot package on the bus.
Last week we had a series of errands that we would be doing with the car. Before leaving, we took all the width measurements for the window, including that for each of the two windows in the set.
As I looked for help in the hardware store, my wife discovered much shorter blinds that would fit the individual windows without cutting.
Yesterday was the day to install the new blinds. I gathered all the tools I thought I would need and opened a package. The directions were straightforward and I could see how everything would work. The blinds would fit in the window without problem, neither too big nor too small. Note that we intended to mount in the window frame rather than on the outside. That is, we would mount them inside the box that the window fits in.
I picked up a mounting screw and looked for a drill bit in the bunch of old bits I had in the house. None were small enough! I looked again and I looked in the tool box in the truck. The best I could find was a small box nail.
I mounted the nail in the drill, but as I suspected, the drill was almost too big to drill the topmost hole. I would have to go in at a slant. Now I knew why whoever installed other insert blinds had used only one screw.
I did succeed in getting the brackets mounted, but I had to use the smallest screwdriver to do it. The handles of the others were to big to get a decent grip in the small space.
I slid the blinds in the brackets, put the covers on the brackets, and mounted the valences without much fuss. We did crease a couple of valences, but we probably won't notice most of the time.
Wow, what a difference! The two smaller blinds make the room seem much bigger and open than the one huge blind did. And with less light coming in, we may get a few more minutes sleep in the morning.
Several weeks ago I saw a display of blinds in a hardware store. The store would cut the blinds to the needed length. I went home and measured the current blind and the window frame it was covering. Then did nothing more, partly because I didn't want to carry a six-foot package on the bus.
Last week we had a series of errands that we would be doing with the car. Before leaving, we took all the width measurements for the window, including that for each of the two windows in the set.
As I looked for help in the hardware store, my wife discovered much shorter blinds that would fit the individual windows without cutting.
Yesterday was the day to install the new blinds. I gathered all the tools I thought I would need and opened a package. The directions were straightforward and I could see how everything would work. The blinds would fit in the window without problem, neither too big nor too small. Note that we intended to mount in the window frame rather than on the outside. That is, we would mount them inside the box that the window fits in.
I picked up a mounting screw and looked for a drill bit in the bunch of old bits I had in the house. None were small enough! I looked again and I looked in the tool box in the truck. The best I could find was a small box nail.
I mounted the nail in the drill, but as I suspected, the drill was almost too big to drill the topmost hole. I would have to go in at a slant. Now I knew why whoever installed other insert blinds had used only one screw.
I did succeed in getting the brackets mounted, but I had to use the smallest screwdriver to do it. The handles of the others were to big to get a decent grip in the small space.
I slid the blinds in the brackets, put the covers on the brackets, and mounted the valences without much fuss. We did crease a couple of valences, but we probably won't notice most of the time.
Wow, what a difference! The two smaller blinds make the room seem much bigger and open than the one huge blind did. And with less light coming in, we may get a few more minutes sleep in the morning.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Terrorists there are stopped by an army?
"We're fighting the terrorists there so we don't have to fight them here." This sounds eerily like the "domino theory"; we had to contain the Communists in Viet Nam or else we would be fighting them on our shores.
But terrorists will not be contained by an army - people in London and Madrid found that out the hard way. If there is a current terrorist plot against the U.S., it won't necessarily be planned in Iraq or Afghanistan. Why run the risk of disruption? Let's see, it could be planned in Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany. Germany? Yes, Germany, remember some of the 9/11 attackers were in a cell in Hamburg.
But terrorists will not be contained by an army - people in London and Madrid found that out the hard way. If there is a current terrorist plot against the U.S., it won't necessarily be planned in Iraq or Afghanistan. Why run the risk of disruption? Let's see, it could be planned in Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany. Germany? Yes, Germany, remember some of the 9/11 attackers were in a cell in Hamburg.
If God said...
Michele Bachmann, candidate for the Minnesota 6th Congressional District seat, said that God told her to run for Congress. If God told her to run, why didn't God tell her opponents, Patty Wetterling and John Binkowski not to run?
Harry Welty leads in 8th District Poll
Harry Welty, the independent candidate for the 8th Congressional District, leads in a radio station's online poll. KDAL-FM has a poll on its homepage. The choices are Jim Oberstar (DFL), Rod Grams (GOP), and Harry Welty. The results as of a few minutes ago out of 243 votes were
I would say that there are a lot of dissatisfied voters who don't like the two candidates that get all newspaper coverage.
Oberstar 11.11%Considering that most polls actually talk to between 750 and 1000 people, this is a rather outstanding result, even for self-selected voters.
Grams 7.00%
Welty 81.89%
I would say that there are a lot of dissatisfied voters who don't like the two candidates that get all newspaper coverage.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Making news or reporting news
If you search for Welty on the Star Tribune's web site, you will find two recent stories: one on shingles ("a welty rash") and one on Eudora Welty, the late writer. This from a newspaper that boasts in one of its blogs that its political home page "includes the latest profiles of candidates, their stand on the issues, fresh news, a good list of political blogs of all perspectives and other links."
Harry Welty is on the ballot for Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, has appeared on Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac debate for this seat, and is mentioned several times on Minnesota's Public Radio site. But nada for the Star Tribune and nada for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Duluth News Tribune did invite Harry to submit an essay and published it on October 20. But they would not include him in a debate on local public television. He was not a major-party candidate.
I think newspapers and other media are doing two things that are not in the public's interest. One, by excluding candidates from coverage, they are making news rather than reporting news. Two, their requirements for major-party affiliation are a self-fulfilling prophecy. "How do you get coverage of a political campaign?" "Be with a major party." "How do you get major-party status?" "Get news coverage."
Harry Welty is on the ballot for Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, has appeared on Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac debate for this seat, and is mentioned several times on Minnesota's Public Radio site. But nada for the Star Tribune and nada for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Duluth News Tribune did invite Harry to submit an essay and published it on October 20. But they would not include him in a debate on local public television. He was not a major-party candidate.
I think newspapers and other media are doing two things that are not in the public's interest. One, by excluding candidates from coverage, they are making news rather than reporting news. Two, their requirements for major-party affiliation are a self-fulfilling prophecy. "How do you get coverage of a political campaign?" "Be with a major party." "How do you get major-party status?" "Get news coverage."
Thursday, October 26, 2006
History repeats and nobody learns
Last night I read "Islam in Afghanistan" by William T. Vollman in Inside Islam. He wrote how Muslims from many countries went to Afghanistan to oust the infidel invaders, the Soviets. Interestingly, for its grander games, the U.S. funded and supplied these fighters, calling them "Freedom Fighters" even though they used terrorist tactics.
Now in addition to insurgents in Iraq who do not want foreign invaders, Muslims from other countries are pouring in to defend a Muslim country from infidels.
Not only do many of the U.S. policy makers not understand the culture of Islam, but they do not see the repeated lessons of history. Have they forgotten about the Crusades, which supposedly were to push the Muslims out of the Christian holy places?
Now in addition to insurgents in Iraq who do not want foreign invaders, Muslims from other countries are pouring in to defend a Muslim country from infidels.
Not only do many of the U.S. policy makers not understand the culture of Islam, but they do not see the repeated lessons of history. Have they forgotten about the Crusades, which supposedly were to push the Muslims out of the Christian holy places?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Simple living is not always simple
One of the ideas of simple living is to heat with wood rather than oil, gas, or electricity. The latter "commercial fuels" are actually simpler for daily life.
You set a dial to the desired heat level and the furnace takes care of the rest. Gas and electricity are delivered to your home on an as needed basis. The oil company watches the weather and notes your past usage. When they think you have used up over half your tank, they deliver more and leave you a bill. Except for the cost, could anything be simpler?
As the price of fuel goes up, wood becomes more and more tempting. To use wood you have to have a proper stove or fireplace. An antique wood stove won't do in a modern house. They are inefficient and can be dangerous. The best thing is to have a sealed unit in which all gases go up the chimney and not into a room. These can be pricey. Expect to pay $6,000 for purchase and installation, including any necessary chimney work.
You could purchase wood and might save compared to the other energy sources. If you purchase wood, you need to find a reliable dealer who delivers the promised wood in the promised quantity at the promised price. And you thought buying an auto was tricky.
If you own a rural property with lots of trees, you might save over commercially bought wood. On the other hand you will be doing much more work at a decrease in your personal safety. Just one small act of carelessness can bring a tree crashing down on you or a chainsaw sawing you. You also have to plan well. For next year's wood you have to cut this winter to let it dry properly. Waiting until summer or fall will give you lots of green wood.
You can do like we have to do this year, rely on already dead trees. The problem is that the dead trees may already started to rot, making starting fires even more difficult.
Remember about the automatic nature of oil or gas. A wood fire is not automatic. First you have to lay the wood just so to ignite it. Then you have to adjust the damper or air intake as the stove heats up; this is to maximize the heat that goes into the room instead of up the chimney. Then you have to periodically adjust the wood to keep it close enough to burn well or add more wood. Oops. I have to check our fireplace now.
Well, I didn't add any wood but I pulled out the air intake. The fan hadn't come on because most of the heat was going up the chimney.
Unless you build very big fires and use lots of wood, don't expect a toasty house. With two small logs, the temperature five feet from our fireplace is 64 degrees (18 centigrade). We have a three-bedroom, two-story plus basement house. We wear lots of layers.
Expect to add 1/2 to one hour of chores to your daily routine. Besides bringing in the wood and tending to the fire, you will need to empty ashes, clean the debris on the floor, and clean the glass door.
I don't know if we are saving a lot of money or not, but I think of it as doing our part to "starve a terrorist". Our oil furnace rarely comes on during the day. I don't know how well we'll do when it is below freezing all day.
References:
"How to buy firewood", Minnesota Dept. of Commerce, accessed Oct. 25, 2006
"Firewood sales heating up", Minnesota Public Radio, Oct. 4, 2005, accessed Oct. 25, 2006
You set a dial to the desired heat level and the furnace takes care of the rest. Gas and electricity are delivered to your home on an as needed basis. The oil company watches the weather and notes your past usage. When they think you have used up over half your tank, they deliver more and leave you a bill. Except for the cost, could anything be simpler?
As the price of fuel goes up, wood becomes more and more tempting. To use wood you have to have a proper stove or fireplace. An antique wood stove won't do in a modern house. They are inefficient and can be dangerous. The best thing is to have a sealed unit in which all gases go up the chimney and not into a room. These can be pricey. Expect to pay $6,000 for purchase and installation, including any necessary chimney work.
You could purchase wood and might save compared to the other energy sources. If you purchase wood, you need to find a reliable dealer who delivers the promised wood in the promised quantity at the promised price. And you thought buying an auto was tricky.
If you own a rural property with lots of trees, you might save over commercially bought wood. On the other hand you will be doing much more work at a decrease in your personal safety. Just one small act of carelessness can bring a tree crashing down on you or a chainsaw sawing you. You also have to plan well. For next year's wood you have to cut this winter to let it dry properly. Waiting until summer or fall will give you lots of green wood.
You can do like we have to do this year, rely on already dead trees. The problem is that the dead trees may already started to rot, making starting fires even more difficult.
Remember about the automatic nature of oil or gas. A wood fire is not automatic. First you have to lay the wood just so to ignite it. Then you have to adjust the damper or air intake as the stove heats up; this is to maximize the heat that goes into the room instead of up the chimney. Then you have to periodically adjust the wood to keep it close enough to burn well or add more wood. Oops. I have to check our fireplace now.
Well, I didn't add any wood but I pulled out the air intake. The fan hadn't come on because most of the heat was going up the chimney.
Unless you build very big fires and use lots of wood, don't expect a toasty house. With two small logs, the temperature five feet from our fireplace is 64 degrees (18 centigrade). We have a three-bedroom, two-story plus basement house. We wear lots of layers.
Expect to add 1/2 to one hour of chores to your daily routine. Besides bringing in the wood and tending to the fire, you will need to empty ashes, clean the debris on the floor, and clean the glass door.
I don't know if we are saving a lot of money or not, but I think of it as doing our part to "starve a terrorist". Our oil furnace rarely comes on during the day. I don't know how well we'll do when it is below freezing all day.
References:
"How to buy firewood", Minnesota Dept. of Commerce, accessed Oct. 25, 2006
"Firewood sales heating up", Minnesota Public Radio, Oct. 4, 2005, accessed Oct. 25, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Where have all the Iron Range jobs gone?
In the Grams-Oberstar debates, one of the arguments is the loss of jobs on the Iron Range. Most of the blame seems that a U.S. Representative should be held responsible for this loss. However, there are technical and economic reasons for a smaller work force.
The biggest technical reason is productivity. One has only to go to the Tower-Soudan mine and compare it to modern open pit mining. The Tower-Soudan mine employed 475 men working three shifts with picks, shovels, and explosives. They loaded the ore into small cars to be hauled to elevators. It closed in 1967 because other techniques were less costly. See Pioneer Mine. Open pit mining involves huge electric shovels loading trucks holding 240 tons of ore. That is less than the fifth of a day's production from the Tower-Soudan mine. See the size of equipment used in "The Taconite Breakthrough".
One economic reason for the reduced Iron Range smaller work force is competition from other sources. Mini-mills produce steel at less cost from scrap metal than the taconite process.
I wonder if a single person in Congress can control forces like these.
The biggest technical reason is productivity. One has only to go to the Tower-Soudan mine and compare it to modern open pit mining. The Tower-Soudan mine employed 475 men working three shifts with picks, shovels, and explosives. They loaded the ore into small cars to be hauled to elevators. It closed in 1967 because other techniques were less costly. See Pioneer Mine. Open pit mining involves huge electric shovels loading trucks holding 240 tons of ore. That is less than the fifth of a day's production from the Tower-Soudan mine. See the size of equipment used in "The Taconite Breakthrough".
One economic reason for the reduced Iron Range smaller work force is competition from other sources. Mini-mills produce steel at less cost from scrap metal than the taconite process.
I wonder if a single person in Congress can control forces like these.
No new taxes means no old fixes
"No new taxes" has become a mantra for many Republican politicians and they have carried out their pledge. However, the result has been that as costs go up many public services and facilities are not being maintained at an appropriate level.
The latest dodge around this is the proposed Minnesota Constitutional amendment to provide a formula to allocate money for roads and transit. The state legislature has been using automobile taxes for other things for years, and rather than raise taxes in other areas, they are using this gimmick to "raise" more money for roads and transit. That is, using the Constitution to do what they should have done politically.
Many who defend "no new taxes" say that government should live within its means, often comparing a government budget to a household budget on a fixed income. Many, including some of the "within its means" people, say government should be run like a business. If this is so, then, like businesses, government should raise prices to meet increased costs, including for the cost of new features that the public wants.
I hope we can have some politicians who are courageous enough to say, "The question is not whether taxes are too high or too low, but are taxes at the appropriate level for the services that people want."
The latest dodge around this is the proposed Minnesota Constitutional amendment to provide a formula to allocate money for roads and transit. The state legislature has been using automobile taxes for other things for years, and rather than raise taxes in other areas, they are using this gimmick to "raise" more money for roads and transit. That is, using the Constitution to do what they should have done politically.
Many who defend "no new taxes" say that government should live within its means, often comparing a government budget to a household budget on a fixed income. Many, including some of the "within its means" people, say government should be run like a business. If this is so, then, like businesses, government should raise prices to meet increased costs, including for the cost of new features that the public wants.
I hope we can have some politicians who are courageous enough to say, "The question is not whether taxes are too high or too low, but are taxes at the appropriate level for the services that people want."
Major party shift coming?
Will a major party shift occur by the next Presidential election? There are signs that it is beginning in Kansas and elsewhere.
This morning's Duluth New Tribune carried a Washington Post story, "Moderates in Kansas decide that they're not in the GOP anymore" (Washington Post, Oct. 19, 2006). I'd call it RINO becomes RINNA (Republican in name only becomes Republican in name not anymore).
Right now the Green Party is a distant third party in many areas. It has won many local and some state offices, but has no representation in Washington. Much of its agenda matches that of the "progressive" wing of the Democratic Party. If moderate Republicans start moving to the Democratic Party, will they, allied with moderate Democrats, take over the Democratic Party. If so, will more left-leaning Democrats start moving to the Green Party? And if this shift occurs on a large scale, will it leave the Republican Party as a minor third party? Will we be saying GOP R.I.P. (Rest in Peace)?
This morning's Duluth New Tribune carried a Washington Post story, "Moderates in Kansas decide that they're not in the GOP anymore" (Washington Post, Oct. 19, 2006). I'd call it RINO becomes RINNA (Republican in name only becomes Republican in name not anymore).
Right now the Green Party is a distant third party in many areas. It has won many local and some state offices, but has no representation in Washington. Much of its agenda matches that of the "progressive" wing of the Democratic Party. If moderate Republicans start moving to the Democratic Party, will they, allied with moderate Democrats, take over the Democratic Party. If so, will more left-leaning Democrats start moving to the Green Party? And if this shift occurs on a large scale, will it leave the Republican Party as a minor third party? Will we be saying GOP R.I.P. (Rest in Peace)?
Friday, October 20, 2006
The invisible hand controls the market?
I just updated my Northland Reader article from 2000 on executive pay, "Talk about Boards with Conflicts of Interest!" I found that many of the links were no longer valid, and so I did another search. One search was
fiorina pay 1999 "69.4 million"
Carly Fiorina was the newly hired CEO of Hewlett-Packard and was one of the highest paid CEOs at the time.
Google only gave me six hits and only one seemed relevant:
The Winner-Steal-All Society and the persistence of the CEO-market mythIt has a great quote:
"[When] it comes to CEO pay, the grasping hand usually trumps the invisible one."
fiorina pay 1999 "69.4 million"
Carly Fiorina was the newly hired CEO of Hewlett-Packard and was one of the highest paid CEOs at the time.
Google only gave me six hits and only one seemed relevant:
The Winner-Steal-All Society and the persistence of the CEO-market mythIt has a great quote:
"[When] it comes to CEO pay, the grasping hand usually trumps the invisible one."
Help make voting private
Secret vote? Not really, anymore
Your actual vote is still secret, at least at most polling places, but politicians are working harder to predict how you will vote. According to the above story in today's Star Tribune of the Twin Cities, politicians are using detailed public and private data to predict how you will vote. If they think you are likely to vote their way, they will phone you, visit you, send brochures to you, and more to make sure you vote on election day.
If you consider this an intrusion on your privacy, you can help make it less profitable for those who practice micro-management of voting. Do whichever of these which suits your personality.
1) If you don't hear a voice when you answer the phone, hang up immediately. You are being called by a machine dialer. You may free a caller up to make the next call, but you are reducing the pool of people they have to talk to.
2) If you didn't hang up fast enough and the caller identifies himself or herself as a solicitor for this or that organization, say something like, "I do not respond to unsolicited calls" and hang up.
3) If you feel opposed to the calling organization, you can possibly get off their list by either asking that you be removed or by saying, "What makes you think I'm interested in your cause?"
4) If you're feeling ornery, you can draw out the conversation as long as possible. This reduces the time the caller will have to talk to other people, reducing the efficiency of this method of getting votes and increase its costs.
You can apply some of these same tactics to pollsters. By not responding you help reduce the accuracy of polls and thus help make a more competitive race. A more competitive race also gives third-party and independent voters a better chance of participating.
Your actual vote is still secret, at least at most polling places, but politicians are working harder to predict how you will vote. According to the above story in today's Star Tribune of the Twin Cities, politicians are using detailed public and private data to predict how you will vote. If they think you are likely to vote their way, they will phone you, visit you, send brochures to you, and more to make sure you vote on election day.
If you consider this an intrusion on your privacy, you can help make it less profitable for those who practice micro-management of voting. Do whichever of these which suits your personality.
1) If you don't hear a voice when you answer the phone, hang up immediately. You are being called by a machine dialer. You may free a caller up to make the next call, but you are reducing the pool of people they have to talk to.
2) If you didn't hang up fast enough and the caller identifies himself or herself as a solicitor for this or that organization, say something like, "I do not respond to unsolicited calls" and hang up.
3) If you feel opposed to the calling organization, you can possibly get off their list by either asking that you be removed or by saying, "What makes you think I'm interested in your cause?"
4) If you're feeling ornery, you can draw out the conversation as long as possible. This reduces the time the caller will have to talk to other people, reducing the efficiency of this method of getting votes and increase its costs.
You can apply some of these same tactics to pollsters. By not responding you help reduce the accuracy of polls and thus help make a more competitive race. A more competitive race also gives third-party and independent voters a better chance of participating.
Property rights vs. property rights
Rod Grams, a candidate for the Minnesota 8th Congressional District seat, has written about and brought up in debates a property rights case that he considers an overreach of Federal authority. He used up almost all of his 600-word essay in today's Duluth News Tribune on this case. As I suspected, the Rapano wetlands case is more complicated than Grams makes it out to be.
The National Association of Counties reports that the Supreme Court decision was 5-4 and five opinions were written.
Amicus curiae briefs in Rapanos’ favor:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Attainable Housing Alliance files amicus brief
More details of the case in
Environmental Times, The voice of the environmental industry
Notes and Trends, "Bench and Bar of Minnesota", October 2003
Washington Report, City of Lincoln, Nebraska
This first of these three shows that the Rapanos are not as Grams depicts them. They are developers with many property holdings, and they intended to build a shopping center on a large property that had 48 to 58 acres of wetlands. The second deals more with the legal issues, and if I understand the article correctly, the Federal government's case was upheld by lower courts after the Supreme Court's remand of the case. Note that the Supreme Court did not rule completely in the Rapanos' favor, just that the case was argued in the wrong way. The third is a report on how Congress was dealing with this issue this year. It doesn't paint Jim Oberstar, the incumbent Representative, as such a callous Federal power-grabber as Grams does.
However, I found very little with a search on “rapano” and “wetlands” that was strongly in opposition to the Rapanos’ case. The closest was a blog of an Arkansas canoe club. Even this discussion was not all one-sided.
I’d say that this is mostly a state case. The question is did the Rapanos have all the proper state and local permits. They did not, and they even ignored the advice of their own consultant. There is also what would the impact of their development be on their neigbors. For example, was the wetlands a natural storage area that replenished ground water? If the water is no longer retained, the neighbors wells could have much less water.
There are two issues about property rights here, one clear and one not. The first is just how much authority does the federal government have? If Grams wants to limit authority here, is he willing to limit the authority in the Patriot Act? The second is what are the limits on “property rights”. People can’t start fires in their woods to clear them for farming. Or put another way, your property rights end where my water supply begins.
Disclaimer: I am an advisor and aide to Harry Welty, also a candidate for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District seat.
The National Association of Counties reports that the Supreme Court decision was 5-4 and five opinions were written.
Amicus curiae briefs in Rapanos’ favor:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Attainable Housing Alliance files amicus brief
More details of the case in
Environmental Times, The voice of the environmental industry
Notes and Trends, "Bench and Bar of Minnesota", October 2003
Washington Report, City of Lincoln, Nebraska
This first of these three shows that the Rapanos are not as Grams depicts them. They are developers with many property holdings, and they intended to build a shopping center on a large property that had 48 to 58 acres of wetlands. The second deals more with the legal issues, and if I understand the article correctly, the Federal government's case was upheld by lower courts after the Supreme Court's remand of the case. Note that the Supreme Court did not rule completely in the Rapanos' favor, just that the case was argued in the wrong way. The third is a report on how Congress was dealing with this issue this year. It doesn't paint Jim Oberstar, the incumbent Representative, as such a callous Federal power-grabber as Grams does.
However, I found very little with a search on “rapano” and “wetlands” that was strongly in opposition to the Rapanos’ case. The closest was a blog of an Arkansas canoe club. Even this discussion was not all one-sided.
I’d say that this is mostly a state case. The question is did the Rapanos have all the proper state and local permits. They did not, and they even ignored the advice of their own consultant. There is also what would the impact of their development be on their neigbors. For example, was the wetlands a natural storage area that replenished ground water? If the water is no longer retained, the neighbors wells could have much less water.
There are two issues about property rights here, one clear and one not. The first is just how much authority does the federal government have? If Grams wants to limit authority here, is he willing to limit the authority in the Patriot Act? The second is what are the limits on “property rights”. People can’t start fires in their woods to clear them for farming. Or put another way, your property rights end where my water supply begins.
Disclaimer: I am an advisor and aide to Harry Welty, also a candidate for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District seat.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The future of energy
Harry Welty, congressional candidate, asked me to proofread his answers to a public radio questionnaire for candidates. One of the questions was about a huge goal-gasification plant proposed for northern Minnesota. See MPR: Coal gasification plant: worth the tradeoff?
This plant will produce 1000 megawatts of electricity. The area in which it is being built doesn't need that much power. Are there sufficient transmission lines to distribute that power to other parts of the state? If not, what kind of battles are going to be fought on the location of new lines.
Coal gasification requires steam. Where is the water going to come from and where is it going to go? The plant is proposed in the Hoyt Lakes area. Are these lakes big enough to provide steam for a large plant, drinking water for the area's residents, and recreational water? See Fossil Energy: DOE's Coal Gasification R&D Program. This site also says that gasification "eliminat[es] nearly all air pollutants and potentially greenhouse gas emissions"; but carbon, the chief fuel makes carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
Has anybody concerned the national security issues for large power plants? It is much easier for a determined few to take out a large plant than dozens or even hundreds of smaller plants. Remember the havoc wreaked by those who were toppling transmission towers a couple of decades ago.
Will solar and micro-turbines provide for power generation closer to the source? What is the future cost and efficiency of solar panels and batteries. Would a few solar panels and a couple of batteries provide evening lights and cooking power for a house? Even if the house got most of its electricity from the grid, would the future cost be low enough that neighborhoods would not go dark when a transformer blows or a storm brings down lines?
I can't do all the research I would like at the moment, but consider these statements:
“By 2030 the cost [of solar generation] will be comparable to electricity produced by a nuclear power plant.”
“Fossil fuel resources will be totally out by then.”
- Solar costs halved by 2010? Sharp thinks so, MSNBC, Aug. 31, 2006
I think this may be the basis of my next article for the Reader Weekly.
This plant will produce 1000 megawatts of electricity. The area in which it is being built doesn't need that much power. Are there sufficient transmission lines to distribute that power to other parts of the state? If not, what kind of battles are going to be fought on the location of new lines.
Coal gasification requires steam. Where is the water going to come from and where is it going to go? The plant is proposed in the Hoyt Lakes area. Are these lakes big enough to provide steam for a large plant, drinking water for the area's residents, and recreational water? See Fossil Energy: DOE's Coal Gasification R&D Program. This site also says that gasification "eliminat[es] nearly all air pollutants and potentially greenhouse gas emissions"; but carbon, the chief fuel makes carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
Has anybody concerned the national security issues for large power plants? It is much easier for a determined few to take out a large plant than dozens or even hundreds of smaller plants. Remember the havoc wreaked by those who were toppling transmission towers a couple of decades ago.
Will solar and micro-turbines provide for power generation closer to the source? What is the future cost and efficiency of solar panels and batteries. Would a few solar panels and a couple of batteries provide evening lights and cooking power for a house? Even if the house got most of its electricity from the grid, would the future cost be low enough that neighborhoods would not go dark when a transformer blows or a storm brings down lines?
I can't do all the research I would like at the moment, but consider these statements:
“By 2030 the cost [of solar generation] will be comparable to electricity produced by a nuclear power plant.”
“Fossil fuel resources will be totally out by then.”
- Solar costs halved by 2010? Sharp thinks so, MSNBC, Aug. 31, 2006
I think this may be the basis of my next article for the Reader Weekly.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Foxes guarding the chicken coop (CEOs setting own salaries)
William McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealth, is the latest to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar. No wonder health costs are so high.
I wrote about the conflict of interest six years ago; I said that all the interlocking directorships of CEOs serving on each other boards does not give them an unbiased view toward executive compensation. You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours.
I wrote about the conflict of interest six years ago; I said that all the interlocking directorships of CEOs serving on each other boards does not give them an unbiased view toward executive compensation. You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours.
Education or training
My friend Don pointed out that much of what passes for education is really training. Are doctors and dentist educated or trained in their respective schools? Are engineers, musicians, and artists educated or trained? Many other skills that require higher education for employment are more learning best practice than learning how to create something new.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Education - a boon or a boondoggle?
The Atlantic, Nov. 2006, has an opinion piece, "A Matter of Degrees" which argues that a college education is not all that beneficial. One thing that is skewing the statistics on wages is that some college graduates' salaries are increasing dramatically, giving the idea that all college graduates' salaries are much better than non-graduates' salaries. A graduate with a degree in materials science may be earning quite a lot, but a Ph.D in medieval history may be earning less than an auto mechanic with a two-year degree.
Another problem is that employers are requiring more formal education for jobs that had traditionally been learned on the job. For example, hotels used to promote staff through the ranks with in-house training; now some chains require a four-year degree in hotel management.
Over-specialization of job requirements also limits the supply of available workers, thus driving up the cost. See my article "Tech staff shortage", a different perspective on the so-called tech staff shortage that was claimed during the .com boom.
While reading about the need for long-range goals of students to meet these new requirements, I thought about how we try to stimulate a result with tests rather than work from the beginning with encouraging interest in general. For example, rather than test for reading ability with teachers teaching to the test, why don't we spend more effort encouraging students to read in the first place?
I sent the following letter to the Duluth News Tribune on July 24, 2005. I do not remember if it was published.
Another problem is that employers are requiring more formal education for jobs that had traditionally been learned on the job. For example, hotels used to promote staff through the ranks with in-house training; now some chains require a four-year degree in hotel management.
Over-specialization of job requirements also limits the supply of available workers, thus driving up the cost. See my article "Tech staff shortage", a different perspective on the so-called tech staff shortage that was claimed during the .com boom.
While reading about the need for long-range goals of students to meet these new requirements, I thought about how we try to stimulate a result with tests rather than work from the beginning with encouraging interest in general. For example, rather than test for reading ability with teachers teaching to the test, why don't we spend more effort encouraging students to read in the first place?
I sent the following letter to the Duluth News Tribune on July 24, 2005. I do not remember if it was published.
Which is more responsible for improvement in reading scores – President George W. Bush and his No Child Left Behind Act or J. K. Rowling and her “Harry Potter” series? Often it is the indirect influence that works better than the direct action. I would say engaging literature children want to read improves reading ability far more than testing of reading ability. If such is true, then well-stocked school and public libraries would improve reading far more than merit pay, mandated tests, and a whole array of top-down mandates.
Will the last Iraqi turn out the lights?
I wrote the title before I remembered the popular Iraqi TV show, broadcast from outside Iraq of course. It is "Hurry Up, He's Dead", a break-up of the Arabic word for "The Government".
I also came across "The Last Iraqi Insurgency", New York Times, April 18, 2004, a recap of the British occcupation of Iraq starting in 1920. The last British soldier left in 1955.
I thought about this entry while reading "Carriers of Conflict" in the November issue of The Atlantic (sorry, only a preview is available to non-subscribers). However, the accompanying map is available.
Over 700,000 Iraqis have left Iraq for Jordan, 450,000 for Syria, and 54,000 for Iran. That's out of a CIA 2006 estimate of over 27 million population. What would we think if over 12 million U.S. citizens fled to Canada or Mexico?
But these refugees are not the stereotypical mother and child. They include many who are willing and able to fight. They will not only make forays back into Iraq, but they take over camps and other refugee settlements, pushing aside traditional tribal leaders. They also destablize the host countries. The author compares the Iraqi exodus to the Palestinian diaspora. Consider what happened in Lebanon and Jordan.
I think we might call the Iraq War "Bushdora's Box". "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana.
I also came across "The Last Iraqi Insurgency", New York Times, April 18, 2004, a recap of the British occcupation of Iraq starting in 1920. The last British soldier left in 1955.
I thought about this entry while reading "Carriers of Conflict" in the November issue of The Atlantic (sorry, only a preview is available to non-subscribers). However, the accompanying map is available.
Over 700,000 Iraqis have left Iraq for Jordan, 450,000 for Syria, and 54,000 for Iran. That's out of a CIA 2006 estimate of over 27 million population. What would we think if over 12 million U.S. citizens fled to Canada or Mexico?
But these refugees are not the stereotypical mother and child. They include many who are willing and able to fight. They will not only make forays back into Iraq, but they take over camps and other refugee settlements, pushing aside traditional tribal leaders. They also destablize the host countries. The author compares the Iraqi exodus to the Palestinian diaspora. Consider what happened in Lebanon and Jordan.
I think we might call the Iraq War "Bushdora's Box". "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Equal opportunity vandalism
A few have written to the Duluth News Tribune that their lawn signs for Republican or conservative candidates have been stolen or damaged. These letter writers charge that it is Democrats or liberals who steal or damage signs.
A smaller number have written to state that their lawn signs for Democratic or liberal candidates have also been damaged or stolen. These writers point out that the vandals are probably apolitical.
This past week I had my Welty sign stolen. Harry Welty is a moderate, ex-Republican who is running for Congress. There were also a beer can and fast food containers on the boulevard or sidewalk.
I think the sign stealers are the jerks that park and picnic outside their own neighborhoods. They don't care about littering and they think their vandalism is "only having fun".
A smaller number have written to state that their lawn signs for Democratic or liberal candidates have also been damaged or stolen. These writers point out that the vandals are probably apolitical.
This past week I had my Welty sign stolen. Harry Welty is a moderate, ex-Republican who is running for Congress. There were also a beer can and fast food containers on the boulevard or sidewalk.
I think the sign stealers are the jerks that park and picnic outside their own neighborhoods. They don't care about littering and they think their vandalism is "only having fun".
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The world needs amorality
Why does the world need amorality? Isn't there moral behavior and immoral behavior? Yes there is, but if you only deal with people who share your moral values, you will have a very constricted world. Also, if you see yourself as moral and thus a good guy, then you will see those who you judge as immoral as the bad guys.
This is especially true in foreign policy. It is not that a country should turn a blind eye to immoral behavior, but that a country cannot afford to lose allies for common goals. A country cannot even understand another country if it treats it solely as immoral and has little if any relations with it.
We've seen it over the last century as the U.S. cast China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, and Libya as pariahs. None of these countries have had leaders whom I would consider paragons of civic virtue, but we do have to share the world with them. We have managed to forgive China and Libya, but we still hold the others at arm's length. And our difficulties with them continue, especially when our President uses derogatory names toward them. Granted, a brutal dictator should be called a brutal dictator, but we still have to deal with him, if for nothing else than our national security.
The real statesmen will find those areas of common interest and failing that, use the interests of the "immoral" country to achieve an action that suits our interests. If we don't understand the "immoral" countries, we'll have little opportunity to discover their true interests.
See also my article Know thine enemy.
This is especially true in foreign policy. It is not that a country should turn a blind eye to immoral behavior, but that a country cannot afford to lose allies for common goals. A country cannot even understand another country if it treats it solely as immoral and has little if any relations with it.
We've seen it over the last century as the U.S. cast China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, and Libya as pariahs. None of these countries have had leaders whom I would consider paragons of civic virtue, but we do have to share the world with them. We have managed to forgive China and Libya, but we still hold the others at arm's length. And our difficulties with them continue, especially when our President uses derogatory names toward them. Granted, a brutal dictator should be called a brutal dictator, but we still have to deal with him, if for nothing else than our national security.
The real statesmen will find those areas of common interest and failing that, use the interests of the "immoral" country to achieve an action that suits our interests. If we don't understand the "immoral" countries, we'll have little opportunity to discover their true interests.
See also my article Know thine enemy.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Education philosphy in three words
Education consists of three steps repeated over and over:
We need to change our behavior toward our goal: adapt to our surroundings, change our surroundings, understand our teachers and so on.
We need to practice how we've changed.
The hard parts are observing well, deciding how to change, and actually following through with sufficient practice. Having patient teachers and associates helps, but we need also to motivate ourselves to learn.
ObserveWe need to observe our surroundings, our teachers, our reading, and other persons or things we wish to learn from.
Change
Practice
We need to change our behavior toward our goal: adapt to our surroundings, change our surroundings, understand our teachers and so on.
We need to practice how we've changed.
The hard parts are observing well, deciding how to change, and actually following through with sufficient practice. Having patient teachers and associates helps, but we need also to motivate ourselves to learn.
Monday, October 09, 2006
The "Real" Story from Iraq
Harry Welty posted on his blog a link to a letter from a Marine officer in Iraq. It was published in Time.com as "The Secret Letter from Iraq". The author wrote to friends and acquaintances but his letter soon circulated far beyond that circle to retired generals, the Pentagon, and Capitol Hill.
I think anyone who purports to understand what's going on in Iraq should read it.
I think anyone who purports to understand what's going on in Iraq should read it.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Genesis of Justice
A couple of months ago I borrowed a book by Alan Dershowitz on terror, but I never got around to reading it, even after renewing it. I checked other books of his at the Duluth Public Library and was intrigued by The Genesis of Justice: Ten Stories of Biblical Injustice that Led to the Ten Commandments and Modern Law.
Dershowitz is a lawyer, law professor, and a Jew who has studied the Torah and other religious writings. As a Jew, he is proud of the tradition of arguing about the Torah, the Talmud, and tradition itself. In fact, one of his favorite stories is Abraham arguing with God about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Dershowitz thesis is that the stories of Genesis lead from anarchy to tribalism to a civil society. In the beginning people were on their own and had to defend themselves against others. Punishment was promised but never materialized. "Eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge and you will die." Killing is forbidden, but Cain lives a long life.
Later people lived by trickery to survive against stronger foes. Jacob tricks his brother Esau into giving him his birthright and later tricks their father into giving Jacob the blessing intended for Esau. But the price of those who live by deception will themselves be deceived. And punishment is often passed on to following generations.
However, as people saw that evildoers got by with their deeds and that future generations were not punished, the belief in an afterlife arose where punishment was meted out forever. That such punishment was given or not give could not be proven by observation, only by faith.
God also changes as Genesis unfolds. Dershowitz writes "the God of Genesis ... is a petulant, vengeful, demanding, and petty God, as well as a forgiving, merciful, life-affirming, and even repentant God."
Dershowitz very much believes in this God. However, I see more that God is created in the image of Man. As human societies develop they change their ideas of God to match their current situations. From a need to sacrifice to appease God, to a sense that law is from God, to a sense of an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God.
Whatever your view of God, The Genesis of Justice is a fascinating read of biblical and legal scholarship.
Dershowitz is a lawyer, law professor, and a Jew who has studied the Torah and other religious writings. As a Jew, he is proud of the tradition of arguing about the Torah, the Talmud, and tradition itself. In fact, one of his favorite stories is Abraham arguing with God about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Dershowitz thesis is that the stories of Genesis lead from anarchy to tribalism to a civil society. In the beginning people were on their own and had to defend themselves against others. Punishment was promised but never materialized. "Eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge and you will die." Killing is forbidden, but Cain lives a long life.
Later people lived by trickery to survive against stronger foes. Jacob tricks his brother Esau into giving him his birthright and later tricks their father into giving Jacob the blessing intended for Esau. But the price of those who live by deception will themselves be deceived. And punishment is often passed on to following generations.
However, as people saw that evildoers got by with their deeds and that future generations were not punished, the belief in an afterlife arose where punishment was meted out forever. That such punishment was given or not give could not be proven by observation, only by faith.
God also changes as Genesis unfolds. Dershowitz writes "the God of Genesis ... is a petulant, vengeful, demanding, and petty God, as well as a forgiving, merciful, life-affirming, and even repentant God."
Dershowitz very much believes in this God. However, I see more that God is created in the image of Man. As human societies develop they change their ideas of God to match their current situations. From a need to sacrifice to appease God, to a sense that law is from God, to a sense of an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God.
Whatever your view of God, The Genesis of Justice is a fascinating read of biblical and legal scholarship.
Wimpy moderns
I wrote this on Friday night and had hoped to post it yesterday, but...
Brimson - sometime before 5:30 p.m. the power went off. How did Abraham Lincoln do it? I am sitting in our cabin relying on a Coleman lantern. I can see well enough, but I have to sit with my notebook (paper that is) propped on my knee.
I called the power co-op to report this; a recording told me that power was out in Brimson and they were working to restore it.
We went for a walk because Jan was getting a headache from the lantern fumes. It was getting stinky.
There was a full moon behind some clouds and I got some interesting photos. I don't know if they will be sharp enough. [They weren't.]
I was getting cold and we walked back to the cabin. Just as I turned up the lantern, the radio came on, signaling the power was restored. [The time was about 7:30.] Now I have a window open and a fan going to clear the air. Ah, I hear the clink of coffee beans; Jan is making coffee.
Postscript:
I didn't mention that before our walk we had a cold supper, mostly by eating Saturday's lunch on Friday evening and having Friday's supper for lunch on Saturday. We do all of our cooking at the cabin on a hot plate or with a microwave. We could have pulled out the Coleman stove, but we would have had to use it outside with fading light. Poor wimpy moderns!
I checked the Two Harbors Chronicle online for any news of the incident and found none. We thought maybe a car hit a pole. Nothing in the Duluth News Tribune either. If I hadn't written this, I wouldn't have emailed Co-operative Light & Power. I bet I receive a reply tomorrow. A lot better than calling or emailing some far-off call center that doesn't even know where Brimson is.
Brimson - sometime before 5:30 p.m. the power went off. How did Abraham Lincoln do it? I am sitting in our cabin relying on a Coleman lantern. I can see well enough, but I have to sit with my notebook (paper that is) propped on my knee.
I called the power co-op to report this; a recording told me that power was out in Brimson and they were working to restore it.
We went for a walk because Jan was getting a headache from the lantern fumes. It was getting stinky.
There was a full moon behind some clouds and I got some interesting photos. I don't know if they will be sharp enough. [They weren't.]
I was getting cold and we walked back to the cabin. Just as I turned up the lantern, the radio came on, signaling the power was restored. [The time was about 7:30.] Now I have a window open and a fan going to clear the air. Ah, I hear the clink of coffee beans; Jan is making coffee.
Postscript:
I didn't mention that before our walk we had a cold supper, mostly by eating Saturday's lunch on Friday evening and having Friday's supper for lunch on Saturday. We do all of our cooking at the cabin on a hot plate or with a microwave. We could have pulled out the Coleman stove, but we would have had to use it outside with fading light. Poor wimpy moderns!
I checked the Two Harbors Chronicle online for any news of the incident and found none. We thought maybe a car hit a pole. Nothing in the Duluth News Tribune either. If I hadn't written this, I wouldn't have emailed Co-operative Light & Power. I bet I receive a reply tomorrow. A lot better than calling or emailing some far-off call center that doesn't even know where Brimson is.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Deliberate or pontificate
I was looking for material for Harry Welty to use in his debate with Rod Grams and Jim Oberstar on Almanac on Twin Cities Public TV on Friday, October 13. I think he should be taking the high ground instead of all the finger-pointing that is going on. Although they are striving for a seat in the House of Representatives (8th District, Minnesota), they should keep in mind the idea that the U.S. Senate has been called the "greatest deliberative body in the world". You can't deliberate if you take fixed positions and put down those who have other positions.
The first quote I looked at was by Sen. Margaret Chase Smith in June 1950. Although her words apply to the witch hunts that had already started against citizens, they apply equally to the blame against members of the opposition parties.
The first quote I looked at was by Sen. Margaret Chase Smith in June 1950. Although her words apply to the witch hunts that had already started against citizens, they apply equally to the blame against members of the opposition parties.
Great cities need three great things
Barb Kolodge, a heavy equipment operator for Duluth street maintenance wrote an impassioned op-ed piece in the Duluth News-Tribune, October 6, 2006. She asked readers to write the city leaders whether we think streets are a need or a want. I sent the following to the mayor, two councilors, and the director of public works.
I just read Barb Kolodge’s op-ed piece in yesterday’s News Tribune.
I think good streets are a need. I appreciate the work the city has done on E. 8th St., the upper end of Woodland, and Snively Rd. Our vehicles appreciate the smooth ride (except for the sunken sewer grates) and our backs are in better shape. But there is so much left to do.
A great city needs three things – a great police department, a great fire department, and a great transportation system. Transportation includes streets, sidewalks, and public transit. Police and fire have been great, but unfortunately there are those who want to cut back these. Transportation is a mixed bag. There are streets and alleys that look like third world roads. I’ve mentioned how pedestrian-unfriendly some sidewalks are. Buses are in good shape and most drivers are friendly, courteous, and skilled. But given the streets, riding a bus can be a jarring experience. BTW, when was the last time you took the bus regularly?
If police, fire, and transportation are not great, nothing else matters. You can build all the fancy buildings you want, but if the infra-structure is not great the buildings will matter little except to those outside the city.
I just read Barb Kolodge’s op-ed piece in yesterday’s News Tribune.
I think good streets are a need. I appreciate the work the city has done on E. 8th St., the upper end of Woodland, and Snively Rd. Our vehicles appreciate the smooth ride (except for the sunken sewer grates) and our backs are in better shape. But there is so much left to do.
A great city needs three things – a great police department, a great fire department, and a great transportation system. Transportation includes streets, sidewalks, and public transit. Police and fire have been great, but unfortunately there are those who want to cut back these. Transportation is a mixed bag. There are streets and alleys that look like third world roads. I’ve mentioned how pedestrian-unfriendly some sidewalks are. Buses are in good shape and most drivers are friendly, courteous, and skilled. But given the streets, riding a bus can be a jarring experience. BTW, when was the last time you took the bus regularly?
If police, fire, and transportation are not great, nothing else matters. You can build all the fancy buildings you want, but if the infra-structure is not great the buildings will matter little except to those outside the city.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Freedom and democracy except in...
Very frequently President Bush talks about freedom and democracy in his speeches, but he doesn't seem to realize how much his policies are eroding them in America. His administration is deciding who is guilty without benefit of courts and makes many attempts to stifle criticism. There may not be a direct link to the incident Garrison Keillor reported in his column, "Old Scout", published in the Star Tribune on October 4, 2006, but it is indicative of the atmosphere created by this administration.
Keillor wrote that he was to speak at the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas. He was met by security guards with walkie-talkies. Some welcome for an invited speaker. He was shortly told by three people "that this was the Bushes' church and that it would be better if [he] didn't talk about politics." He was even asked not to mention his latest book, Homegrown Democrat. So, he made a parody of how he didn't have to worry because he was a citizen, had money, and his grandsons were years away from being in military service. He was applauded!
Read the article if you can. Also read Homegrown Democrat. It is a heartfelt telling of his disappointment in the loss of civil society in America.
Keillor wrote that he was to speak at the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas. He was met by security guards with walkie-talkies. Some welcome for an invited speaker. He was shortly told by three people "that this was the Bushes' church and that it would be better if [he] didn't talk about politics." He was even asked not to mention his latest book, Homegrown Democrat. So, he made a parody of how he didn't have to worry because he was a citizen, had money, and his grandsons were years away from being in military service. He was applauded!
Read the article if you can. Also read Homegrown Democrat. It is a heartfelt telling of his disappointment in the loss of civil society in America.
Dessert or a table for the next customers
In my latest Reader Weekly article, "Why pick on McDonald's and Wal-Mart?" I wrote that super-size portions were often found in small, locally owned restaurants. I didn't mention desserts which often are more than one person can eat. Earlier this year I had a piece of chocolate cake that took me two additional days to eat.
On the other hand, many servers don't ask if customers want dessert and present the check as soon as the customers are finished with their entrées, if not before. This happened to three of us yesterday. Long after the server presented our check she asked if we would like anything else. We looked at each other and said, "Too late!"
It is surprising that restaurant managers don't train their staff to sell. Many servers always ask for drink orders first, but a lot never ask about dessert, coffee, or after-dinner drinks. Maybe they are ready for a break, or maybe management would rather see turnover of tables. Considering that, except for coffee, these items are often higher-margin than the main course, one would think it would be standard policy to make sure customers had all they wanted before presenting the check.
On the other hand, many servers don't ask if customers want dessert and present the check as soon as the customers are finished with their entrées, if not before. This happened to three of us yesterday. Long after the server presented our check she asked if we would like anything else. We looked at each other and said, "Too late!"
It is surprising that restaurant managers don't train their staff to sell. Many servers always ask for drink orders first, but a lot never ask about dessert, coffee, or after-dinner drinks. Maybe they are ready for a break, or maybe management would rather see turnover of tables. Considering that, except for coffee, these items are often higher-margin than the main course, one would think it would be standard policy to make sure customers had all they wanted before presenting the check.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Walking Eagle by Mockingbird
At the latest Lake Superior Freethinkers meeting an unattributed story was circulated that President Bush was dubbed "Walking Eagle" at "a major gathering of the American Indian Nation in Arizona. The name "Walking Eagle" is supposedly a name of disrespect rather than respect. According to About.com's Urban Legends and Folklore, the same story was circulated in 2004 with Democratic candidate John Kerry as the subject.
Surprisingly, no one in the roomful of skeptics never questioned this story. I think the problem was that the story was so in character with our perception of Bush.
Surprisingly, no one in the roomful of skeptics never questioned this story. I think the problem was that the story was so in character with our perception of Bush.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Freethinker Blogs
Tom Patten, one of the steadfast Lake Superior Freethinkers members, suggested that I start an LSF blog. I begged off in that it would be a lot of work. I did check on Freethinker blogs and found four:
http://www.freethinker.co.uk/Only two have recent updates.
http://freethoughtguy.blogspot.com/
http://leados.blogs.com/blog/
http://thoughtsfortheopenminded.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Lake Superior Freethinkers October meeting
This morning I attended the Lake Superior Freethinkers meeting to listen to Bill Payne's documentary on American voters, "50/50: The American Divide". For some reason he didn't show, and so we had an open forum instead. Contact information for the DVD is available at http://www.50-50movie.com/.
John Keturi, acting moderator, said that he had a solution to the squabbling in Congress - bring back dueling. As Charles Gessert stepped up to the mike, he replied, "The Republicans are probably better shots."
Charles Gessert told about the petition by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to the Kansas Board of Education to have its theory of the creation also taught. The theory of gravity is wrong; it is the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) who holds people down to the earth with his numerous invisible tentacles. The adherents of the FSM are also known as the Pastafarians. But be safe on the web; I discovered that the website of that name is only a come-on to many commercial sites.
Charles Gessert also made several observations during the following give and take. I take any blame for misquoting him or falsely attributing him.
Bill Sanville, a retired EPA employee, told about the closing of many EPA libraries, libraries that were open to scientists and made much research available to the public via the Internet. The reason is budget cuts. Somebody pointed out that the budget for the EPA libraries is $200 million, a drop in the bucket compared to much of the waste in the Federal government.
You can get over two million hits on "EPA" and "libraries". I chose the EPA Online Library System and entered frogs as the subject. I was shown 35 titles and chose
John Keturi said that a stable neighborhood can lose trust of one another if a single person can instill fear. I think he made this observation in a discussion of the "war on terror".
I didn't intend to be a minutes-taker and only jotted a few interesting thoughts down.
The Lake Superior Freethinkers is a loose coalition of people dissatisfied with traditional religion, and so there is no website or even contact person. It generally meets on the first Sunday in each month at the Radisson Hotel in Duluth, Minnesota. Coffee and conversation start at 9, brunch for $9 at 10, and speaker at 10:30 or 11. No topic or speaker were mentioned for the November 5th meeting.
John Keturi, acting moderator, said that he had a solution to the squabbling in Congress - bring back dueling. As Charles Gessert stepped up to the mike, he replied, "The Republicans are probably better shots."
Charles Gessert told about the petition by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to the Kansas Board of Education to have its theory of the creation also taught. The theory of gravity is wrong; it is the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) who holds people down to the earth with his numerous invisible tentacles. The adherents of the FSM are also known as the Pastafarians. But be safe on the web; I discovered that the website of that name is only a come-on to many commercial sites.
Charles Gessert also made several observations during the following give and take. I take any blame for misquoting him or falsely attributing him.
We choose problems on the basis of the solutions that are available that fit our ideology. (Discussion of "war on terror")I asked people to vote what they believe, not against a candidate. If you vote according to the polls, you may be wrong. I pointed out how neither Truman nor Ventura were predicted to win by the polls. In reply to another speaker who mentioned the accuracy of the polls, I pointed out that statistical sampling is fine for widgets on an assembly line, but that people are too variable. Others pointed out that large number of people don't even respond to polls. An afterthought: the polls will never reach people who have only cell phones and no land lines; this means many younger voters will never by polled - shades of Dewey-Truman poll predictions.
To have democracy we must have confidence in the integrity of the elections. (Discussion of fairness of elections)
Bill Sanville, a retired EPA employee, told about the closing of many EPA libraries, libraries that were open to scientists and made much research available to the public via the Internet. The reason is budget cuts. Somebody pointed out that the budget for the EPA libraries is $200 million, a drop in the bucket compared to much of the waste in the Federal government.
You can get over two million hits on "EPA" and "libraries". I chose the EPA Online Library System and entered frogs as the subject. I was shown 35 titles and chose
Sensitivity of Vertebrate Embryos to Heavy Metals as a Criterion of Water QualityIt was an abstract which said copies were available on microfiche or on paper at many EPA libraries. Could it be that certain people don't really want the public to know about such studies?
John Keturi said that a stable neighborhood can lose trust of one another if a single person can instill fear. I think he made this observation in a discussion of the "war on terror".
I didn't intend to be a minutes-taker and only jotted a few interesting thoughts down.
The Lake Superior Freethinkers is a loose coalition of people dissatisfied with traditional religion, and so there is no website or even contact person. It generally meets on the first Sunday in each month at the Radisson Hotel in Duluth, Minnesota. Coffee and conversation start at 9, brunch for $9 at 10, and speaker at 10:30 or 11. No topic or speaker were mentioned for the November 5th meeting.
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