Suburban Conspiracy

My attempt as an Art Critic

2007-01-29T21:57:00.001-05:00

I wrote up a post to Newsbusters regarding the "Unauthorized Abortion of W" sculpture presented during this weekend's episode of Showtime Network's The L Word. Most of the contributors to the site expressed the vitriol one expects from such a deplorable display. I attempted to develop a comparative criticism that the art world, and producers of the show, may want to consider:

In junior high, I made my sole trip to New York City, taking part along the way in an obligatory visit to the UN. Amongst their sculptures on the grounds is the famous one that shows a revolver with the barrel tied in a knot. You can argue about the intentions of the artists if you want, and you may even disagree with the political insinuation, but the piece itself is not objectionable and presents a point of view in a manner that encourages responsible debate and progression of human nature.

Compare that to the abortion sculpture. It makes me think of the stories regarding how Nazi propaganda, whatever form they used, was so powerful in hate that it caused women to orgasm. No thought comes from this type of art. The only rational response is rage, whether you are for or against. It is akin, in some degree (not equating), to the emotions experienced amongst witnesses to a lynching. There are people who watch in a state of catatonic jubilation, while others are equally terrified and angry.

The simplest recourse is to terminate your services with Showtime. I don't subscribe to them anyway because their programming overall is pitiful. You could take it a step further and go after their parent, CBS. Remember, the Super Bowl is on CBS this year. If a boycott was sufficient enough, it would be devastating to their network. That is not likely, of course. Wish it could be like Super Bowl I when 2 networks carried it.

Compare to Any Article

2007-01-16T21:14:00.000-05:00

This list of journalism groaners provides excellent humor material when reading any over-the-top piece of drivel hacked-up by a supposedly learned reporter.

To Google, or Not to Google...

2006-08-18T18:52:00.000-04:00

Google is receiving flack again for its attempts to "protect its trademark" by discouraging the use of its name as a description for general Internet searching. Honestly, I do not see how having a name that integrates itself into the international lexicon is a bad thing for any company. Not everyone will use Google "to google," but not everyone drinks Coca-Cola when they say they are "having a coke" (except in the South, where Pepsi is a no-no).

Google is better off focusing only on those who directly make money off the trademark, not everyone who uses it (especially the media).

The Billy Graham Interview

2006-08-06T20:07:00.000-04:00

Just finished reading an extensive article on and interview of Reverend Billy Graham, written by Jon Meacham for Newsweek. The work focuses on a "moderating" of Reverent Graham's views, in an effort by the writer to expose the differences between the world-renowned evangelist and today's leaders of Christian fundamentalism (including his son, Franklin). One such effort at identifying contrasts goes like this:

"For Graham, politics is a secondary to the Gospel, which transcends party lines and, for believers, transcends earthly reality itself. When NEWSWEEK asked Graham whether ministers—whether they think of themselves as evangelists, pastors or a bit of both—should spend time engaged with politics, he replied: "You know, I think in a way that has to be up to the individual as he feels led of the Lord. A lot of things that I commented on years ago would not have been of the Lord, I'm sure, but I think you have some—like communism, or segregation, on which I think you have a responsibility to speak out." Such proclamations, however, should not be "the main thing," and he admits he has no perfect formula: "I don't know the total answer to that."
"A partial answer may lie in a distinction Graham draws between lobbying organizations and the spirit of individual Americans. "In the founding era of our country, it was not organized religion but personal faith that brought focus and unified the early leadership—maybe an unspoken faith in God, and certain values that came with that faith," he says. "So in that sense, we cannot discount, in my judgment, religious faith in politics." But he is talking about faith as one factor—perhaps the most important, but still just one—in the life of a people, not about churches or lobbies using the name of God to win votes.

"One way for a minister to fulfill his duty to his flock on public-policy questions is to focus on ends while leaving the means to others. An example of this in Graham's own life was his work for nuclear disarmament. When he spoke out on the cold-war arms race, he urged a change of heart—he did not rally support for a particular treaty or a particular agenda.

In reality, the author draws his own conclusions to Reverent Graham's thoughts in a way that promotes the belief that modern Christian fundamentalist has "strayed" for true Christianity. While I will be the first to admit that some of their doctrine does not abide well to the modern world, or to positive values that we hold within it, I do not see their actions as an affront to the message of Christ. They are merely interpretations designed to guide followers in living a better life, so long as they do not endanger the lives of others who pose no threat ( Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will).

At the Movies (on my comfortable couch)

2006-07-18T03:51:00.000-04:00

Since I'm up a little past 3 in the morning, I thought I would share some thoughts on recent movie screenings. I'm not going to crib my work with a rating system, so you will have to read what I say to understand the review (sorry for being so difficult).

Cars

Overall, this is a pretty good film. The animation appears amazingly realistic, especially in several landscape scenes (except for the cars, of course). The story works well, yet it still follows Pixar's continued effort to interject some degree of liberalism into their plots. This time, they discuss how the creation of the Interstate Highway, ruined one facet of America. Not as bad as the politics of Monsters, Inc., which infuses commentary on energy source dependence and the promise of alternative fuels, but it is still there. The best part is including Richard Petty as the voice of "The King". I was also impressed how they incorporated a remake of his spectacular late-1980's Daytona 500 crash during the into the script. One review I saw criticized the movie for manufacturing a moral focal point, as if it was trying too hard. Honestly, it was telegraphed from about the first 5 minutes of the movie, and everything fell pretty easily into place. Not much guess work for an adult, but plenty of fun and thoughtfulness of younger audiences.

The 40-Year Old Virgin

My wife prefers Wedding Crashers, but I really think, having now seen this movie a couple more times, that this is easily comparable. The fact that Steve Carrell and friends join an adult movie full of debauchery with a pretty serious and positive message promoting responsible relationships without making it seem like it is preaching in a sinner's lair ( i.e., Christian Metal), shows what is possible if Hollywood's inspiring minds focus on their craft. The humor gets better with every viewing, as does the acting.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

This movie just made the video rental counter after a short time early in the year in theatres. It should have gotten more publicity early on, because it is a great film. The banter between Val Kilmer and Robert Downey, Jr. is fantastic, as is the storyline intermixing Hollywood, murder, rekindling of relationships, and personal introspection. The best part, in my mind, was the fascinating action sequences, featuring some of the best gun play I have seen in quite a while. What else do you expect from Richard Donner (of Lethal Weapon fame).

Brokeback Mountain

Yes, I saw the film. For a movie to work, especially a drama, you have to have sympathy for at least some of the characters. Not all, just some. This would include identifying a protagonist. Even if they are only a shade of gray better than the antagonist, it does help to have one. This film does not have one, nor do its characters encourage you to feel sympathy or share their struggles. Gay sex aside, the principals (Jack and Ennis) are both flawed and undeserving. Those around them, save Ennis' wife and Jack's parents, are not much better. It also does not help that the second half of the film feels twice as long as the first half. Perhaps this was Ang Lee's intent, to emphasize that Jack and Ennis, though they did not know it until it was too late, had a long, meaningful life together. I really do not know. If someone can clue me in, please do so.

Transamerica

This was far better than Brokeback. Your are able to come away from this film without morally judging Felicity Huffman's character, a transsexual awaiting gender changing surgery. You can still disagree with her lifestyle, as I do, but the film does not portray her as anything more than someone seeking to be happy with themselves, not necessarily concerned with the acceptance of others. While the film does probe into the lead's relationship with their estranged family, made complex with the revelation of a teenage son, you do not see the usual "will you accept me for who I am" cry often found in movies featuring characters of alternative lifestyles. Also, you have to kind of admire an successful mainstream television actress (and network at that) performing in a full frontal nude scene that actually, as my wife explained it, served a purpose with regard to the story.

Match Point

To wrap up this round, I want to praise my choice for last year's Best Picture. It should have been nominated, and it should have won. Woody Allen finally resurrected himself as a writer and director, putting together a riveting story that resurrects the forbidden love storyline, cast in a modern light. The acting was superb as well. I remember the previews emphasizing the conclusion, and I honestly felt disappointed... until the last three minutes. I honestly think that this is Allen's best work, of those I have seen.

With the exception of Cars, all of these films were seen at home, on DVD (The 40-Year Old Virgin is now available on HBO). Honestly, it's how I prefer to see them nowadays. Theatre visits are for important, life-changing exceptions.

Is training useless?

2006-07-18T03:17:00.000-04:00

Most of it, according to this management coach . His arguments are sound. I agree that the best training leads its students toward searching out for their own information. As a self-starter, this is pretty easy. Noticing a deficiency in my work, I seek out information and perform self-study. Not everyone acts this way, especially when dealing with skill improvement (rather than knowledge).

Are we really serving the people... or talking with their money?

2006-07-06T19:59:00.000-04:00

Instapundit linked to a blog that published a recent New York Times Letter to the Editor where the writer described how a recent article made them think of a personal episode where a friend borrowed a couple of dollars in order to have a conversation with a bum. The blogger looked beyond the writer's initial context and argued that they should have been angry that someone wasted their money for their own selfish purpose. I agree with her.

This also makes me think about the effectiveness of the public sector in solving society's problems. I do believe we have success, but often the results are disappointing. How often do we initiate programs and services (and spend the money of others, through charities and government) just to busy ourselves? Public servants want to be creators just as much as artists or private entrepreneurs. The difference is we use other people's money with no mandate to return (or increase) it.

I appreciate the lesson of the analogy and its relevance to my field. It is definitely something worth thinking about for all of us in the public sector.

The Wrong Kind of Green

2006-06-30T23:31:00.000-04:00

Tennessee's public universities (of which I am an alum) seem to be focusing on energy lately. Not research, mind you, but the use of it. Among fee increases for the coming academic year approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents was a "green power" fee for students at Middle Tennessee State University. The extra $16 a year was "voted" for by the student body earlier this year.

This information comes on the heels of announcements by three state universities, including my Alma Mater Tennessee Tech, that purchases of electrical generators meant to reduce overall electricity costs through peak demand arrangement with TVA will actually cost more due to fuel costs. On this, it is probably a case of how ideas conjured up by academics in professional fields like economics often fail when faced with real world realities that practitioners recognize at first glance. Of course, given the fluid nature of energy prices in recent years, everybody may have been in the dark on this one.

Regarding MTSU, I want to first say something about referendum votes. The idea that the indicate the desires of the student body as a whole is grossly inaccurate. Most students do not participate in these elections, partly because of apathy, but mainly because their lives are too busy to be occupied with trivial matters like "green power." A total of 3,800 votes were cast in the election, which based on my projection, represents about 20% of the student body. While I did serve in Student Government as an undergrad and feel that administrators should listen to the ideas expressed by their students, they must do what is best for the institution as a whole. Raising costs on all students for a pet cause is not acceptable. It may not sound like much, but it is wrong on general principle.

I also noticed that a similar referendum was passed at TTU, which alarms me greatly. I expect better from them. They should think about the nontraditionals, the part-timers with full-time jobs and full-time families, who will likely fit the bill.

Drop the Wright Amendment, Now!

2006-06-24T16:44:00.000-04:00

It does look like Congress will repeal the Wright Amendment, an unfair corporate benefit and attack on free enterprise that prevented Southwest Airlines from offering nationwide service to its home airport, Love Field in Dallas. I am not a huge fan of Southwest, but regardless, the Federal government should not hinder their ability to provide flights in the marketplace in order to prop up another airline (in this case, American). The deal will phase in the repeal over eight years. Congress should make the full repeal effective immediately.

Education Policy Myths... Good Read

2006-06-23T22:02:00.000-04:00

Last month, I caught a John Stossel special (done to promote his new book) where he discussed the widely-perpetuated myth regarding teacher pay inequity. I have not read Stossel's book yet, but I imagine that the information he provides is similar to that found in an overview of education myths published recently in the magazine of the American Enterprise Institute. Before listening to another educrat or School Board member cry about why public schools fail, I encourage you to read it.

The Price of Taxes

2006-06-23T21:04:00.000-04:00

Do taxes really cost you what you pay? According to new research, the answer is "no, it costs more."

Not Surprised

2006-06-18T09:53:00.002-04:00

I'll admit that when I learned about a man of Hispanic descent who fled from police in Nashville and caused an accident that killed two people, I thought he was likely an immigrant. This would not be new, as columnists/bloggers like Michelle Malkin have chronicled the criminal activity of immigrants, particularly illegals. My suspicions were correct, as we now know that the individual was not only an immigrant, but was a repeat criminal offender whose previous run-ins with the law had not resulted in deportation .

The article did not say whether or not the individual was illegal, but it is clearly apparent that he should have been flagged by Federal authorities and deported following prior transgressions. It is easy to connect the dots and argue that failure to enforce existing law did result in the death of two innocent American citizens. More fuel for the fire when it comes to the immigration debate.

What Kids Should Know About Cuba

2006-06-18T09:53:00.001-04:00

Miami-Dade public schools will remove all copies of a children's book that apparently glorifies Cuba's communist government. This decision was made by the citizen-elected School Board and is the opposite of the recommendations of educrats. The ACLU is also likely to step in arguing censorship.

Personally, I rarely think removing a book from a school library really serves a positive purpose. All it does is encourage students to read it and think, "hey, the authorities do not like it, it must be good." I understand the concern when it comes to younger students. Are they really old enough to critically evaluate what the book glamorizes when comparing it to the harsh realities faced by Cubans under Castro's totalitarian regime. For older students, however, proper education would make it where the book would be available as an example of the propaganda often encouraged by oppressors to help glorify their image in contrast to the truth. Honest teachers would discuss it with a critical eye, and it would probably help the students understand the means by which enemies of freedom try to coop others in broadcasting their messages.

Of course, this means that the educators and educrats have to be committed to the truth. Some of them, however, may think that the book is right. Others would ignore the hidden message and consider the book harmless.

There really is not a right or wrong answer to this issue. The action of the School Board likely reflects the lack of trust they and the citizens have in the educators' commitment to the truth. If they possessed trust, they would not be concerned with the presence of a little book.

For the King and his "Throne"

2006-06-18T09:53:00.000-04:00

The iPod-inspired accessory market continues to grow, with one of the newest offerings being a docking deck with speakers and charge integrated with a toilet paper dispenser .

This might appeal as a Father's Day gift for you last-minute shoppers (only kidding).

(Thanks to NRO's Phi Beta Cons)

Don't Slam the Door on Cars

2006-06-13T21:01:00.000-04:00

I haven't gone to see Cars yet, but the story and makeup of voices makes it appealing. Unfortunately, initial response this past weekend was not viewed well enough. Wall Street is not happy, since the movie did not take in a gross for its opening weekend that exceeded all past Pixar creations. Reviews are mixed, with my trusted reviewer at NRO not liking it. I trust her on most things, but she liked Finding Nemo (which I did not), so she may be wrong on this.

The key I see with box office is not week one, but the following week. Cars may not have opened as highly as The Da Vinci Code, but I have a feeling that it will hold on to more of its take from week to week than Da Vinci. Despite the stronger opening, people have argued Da Vinci to be a failure. If Cars keeps moving along, its critics may have put their comments into reverse.

One note, however. The product tie-ins and toy marketing for Cars have been pretty extreme and have lasted quite a while. Perhaps there is a correlation, indicating viewer shell shock.

Worth the Paper It's Printed On?

2006-06-13T20:47:00.000-04:00

NRO's Phi Beta Cons used an announcement of a new Doctoral program for education administration to comment on their displeasure with the concept of requiring such specialized education, often focusing on bureaucratic culture, to obtain positions like principal or school system administrator. Their concerns are understandable. Despite the growing specialization in education study, an effort designed to improve the performance of educators, school performance is worsening. At the same time, educrats are establishing credential-based criteria for positions that leaves out those with natural leadership skills who are interested in helping improve education without having to go through years of suspect instruction to have the opportunity to prove themselves.

There are those who believe that one of the problems with education is the teaching of educators. Making it a niche market with programs such as PhDs in education administration may work for some, but it can also serve as credential-building for those with questionable natural abilities who weed their way from promotion to promotion in the education bureaucracy, all at the expense of the students. The same can also be said about most bureaucracy-laden fields, including my own.

Continuing education, including the graduate level, does have its place. I find the knowledge gained during my graduate studies to be valuable in my work. However, education at any level should have a quantifiable result that benefits not only the recipient, but those he or she serves (public or private). If graduate programs in education just produce credentialed mediocrity, the concept needs to be questioned.

It's What We Wanted All Along

2006-06-08T19:25:00.000-04:00

Harvard Scientists are now using non-government funds to develop new embryonic stem cell lines . Naturally, some opponents to the research method will criticize this move as immoral, but it is by all means linger. Embryonic stem cell supporters aghast over President Bush's decision to prohibit the develop of new lines with government funds should remember that he did not stand in the way of line development funded in other ways. He believed, like the majority of Americans, that it was not appropriate for the taxpayers to pay for a research methodology that they do not agree with on moral grounds and has yet to provide any credible results. However, as abortion is legal, there is nothing he can do to prevent development by privateers. This is exactly what should happen. Perhaps it will signal the further transition of scientific research into the private sector, where more and more of it belongs.

The Demise of Synergy and Consolidation in Media

2006-06-08T19:22:00.001-04:00

Time Warner, one of the world's biggest media and communications companies, was once the temple of the church of synergy, the concept where a company builds itself in multiple divisions and products, then makes them work together to increase market presence. After decades of believing the gospel, however, Time Warner is now pulling away from the concept, selling off under performing divisions and encouraging its operations to find the best deals for partnerships, even if they are outside of the corporate family.

They are not the only one, as other companies like Viacom have gone through splitting and reduction. This likely signals the beginning of an era in the media industry, where large conglomerates will realize that their size and breadth do not result in greater revenues, but likely stymie innovation and development that occurs best in an independent environment. What is important to note is that the market is making this happen, not governments, as it should be.

It makes perfect sense why big media is in decline. Buying up other operations uses up cash that would be better spent improving existing operations. It also creates debt that only serves to put undue pressure on the corporate culture, indirectly impacting innovation in the negative. Then there is the law of diminishing returns, which makes it clear that the more you have, the less profitable it is.

Opponents to relaxing of media consolidation rules by Congress and the FCC argued that big media would create eternal monopolies, reduce competition, and harm the consumer. Today's media, however, is infinite (way beyond the boundaries of the finite broadcast television and radio of the past), with competitors coming online everyday. With competition growing, big media cannot grow market share, which they need to survive (and was the goal of their efforts all along). Thus, the market eliminates the benefits of synergy and consolidation, forcing these players to recognize current and future trends and adapt accordingly, and break-up.

I believe this will be true for all media. This includes print and radio. With regard to print, we are already seeing that newspaper companies have stopped growing, and some, like Knight-Ridder, have been bought in order to be cracked-up. When it comes to radio, eventually the growth and costs associated will catch up with the heavyweights (even Clear Channel will eventually start selling stations).

Again, the market and consumers are responsible for this trend. Their demand for freedom of choice prohibits bringing too much under one umbrella. With the trend going towards redistribution and synergy in decline, the public will continue to win. Perhaps we will see consolidation once again, as these trends go back and forth. When it does, however, we should not be alarmed, as it will not last too long.

Could Google be Strategizing in China?

2006-06-08T19:22:00.000-04:00

Google's cofounder admitted what many observers rightfully called the company on the carpet for in recent months: the compromising of stated corporate values in order to enter the Chinese market with a censored search site. The comments reflect the potential philosophical conflict experienced by Google executives over their decisions regarding China, which were likely not the way they wanted to proceed. I still believe that they should have demanded Internet freedom outright from the beginning or refused to play ball. However, these comments could be the start of a strategy (just hypothesizing here) for Google to broaden the freedom of its search system in the Communist country.

By establishing a foothold in China, they are creating demand for their service among the Chinese people. If they were, as the article suggests, to openly consider pulling the service, it may create unrest amongst the public there against the government. Now, China does not have a great history when it comes to catering to the public interest and modifying its policies accordingly, but the country is under far more scrutiny today than it has been in the past. It is possible that a situation where a major international entity were threatening to close itself off from China, after already establishing presence there, because of government censorship may force China's hand.

One may argue that I am trying to see the silver lining here. Regardless, if Google did threaten to pull out of China, it will be interesting to see the government's response. They could easily say "good bye" and forget it, but we can always hold out hope that they will see the light of freedom. I am not being naive, just hopeful.

Korean War Veterans Honored with Bridge

2006-06-04T12:34:00.000-04:00

For some, it may be insulting. Others will find it appropriate. Yesterday, Nashville's Gateway Bridge was renamed in honor of the veterans of the Korean War.

My grandfather is a Korea veteran, and I am happy to see that Nashville chose to honor these fine individuals for their contribution to our defense of freedom. Regardless of the personal opinions some have regarding the Korean War, whether or not it was worth it, the commitment our soldiers showed toward serving their country is worthy of our respect. It has taken a long time for these veterans to receive proper recognition, far longer than it did for those who served in Vietnam (and are just as deserving).

Prepare Yourself

2006-06-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Today is the start of Hurricane Season, so it best to be prepared for the worst. Plenty of resources exist online to learn more, including this one.

The biggest mistake made when it comes to severe weather is the lack of individual preparedness before the storms. Do not let this endanger you or your family. Remember, as well intended government emergency planning is, it cannot fulfill your personal needs. You must be self-reliant in the face of disaster.

Be Careful Around the Water

2006-05-27T18:43:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day Weekend is not even in high gear, the summer just started, and we are already seeing the tragic consequences of ignoring water safety. People in both Tennessee and Georgia have died in accidents on lakes and rivers. If you plan to enjoy the water, make sure you are properly prepared.

If you build It...

2006-05-27T18:33:00.000-04:00

Michelle Malkin provides a good rundown on the newest Minutemen initiative: a border fence. The volunteer effort is a practical manifestation of the anger these patriots have over the lack of enforcement of immigration and border control laws. It shows the practical nature of the movement to go beyond rhetoric and offer meaningful solutions.

Some would argue that their effort will only serve to feed illegals through other crossing sites, since the fence will only extend across a limited area. However, for the land owners agreeing to the service, it is still worthy protection.

Despite plans from Washington to build such a fence, this volunteer initiative may prove, if not joined by the government, to be one of the largest self-reliant protection efforts in American history. Time will tell, but while the Minutemen and their supporters may be angry at the Federal government for their lack of action (and deserve to be), they should be even more proud of their own dedication to this important issue that involves every American and their security. I do believe the Feds will join in, and if not them, states and countless volunteers. In a way, the fence represents its very own positive Field of Dreams for citizens.

Iraqi Struggles with Terrorists extend to Sports

2006-05-27T18:19:00.000-04:00

We are aware of the efforts of radical Islamic terrorists to inflict pain and death upon the majority of Iraqi people. This week, an Iraqi Coach and two players were murdered by such a group . Their crime? Actually, it was two-fold. First, they were wearing shorts, a violation of Islamic social law. Second, while the coach was Sunni Muslim, the two players were Shiite.

Incidents like this emphasize just how important it is to win the war on terror. This cannot stand anywhere, especially if we have the opportunity to eliminate it.

Just How Bad is Your State in Driver Knowledge?

2006-05-26T19:33:00.002-04:00

In case you are interested, GMAC Insurance just released the state-by-state results of its drivers' knowledge test . Surprises are minimal. Specifically, the data backs up the experiences I have had dealing with drivers from DC.

Not a Proper Comparison, Idol to Elections

2006-05-26T19:33:00.001-04:00

When it comes to voting, it is not right on any level to compare participation in American Idol with that of our Presidential elections. It's a cute sound bite, but when thought about for more than a second, represents apples and watermelons.

Personally, I look at the two in the manner of passive versus active voting. American Idol is passive, based on superficial preferences (sensory, mainly eyes and ears) with no thought of future impact. All that matters is the present (Does anybody really care who gets to sell a million copies?) since their minds (I'm sorry, that is not part of the equation here) change from week to week. Political elections are (or should be) active choices, requiring in-depth mental consideration and analysis. Even those who vote absentmindedly have to compare what they hear to what they believe (even if all they say in response is, "What he said sounds good to me"). There is also the fact that political elections represent long-term decisions, necessarily long-term to ensure continuity and smooth function of government.

With this post, I am beginning to understand while many opposed the California Gubernatorial recall in 2003. Is it in our best interest to enable the changing of minds after just one year? No doubt, former Governor Davis would still be considered awful even if he made it to this point. However, looking at the tenure of Governor Schwarzenegger, it does not look like anything has been substantially accomplished, and division within government in California is just as strong. All the recall may have done is encourage people to think that they can change their minds on important issues at whim, which only ensures further friction, loss of principle, and voiding of strategic initiative essential to long term success.

College Suicides are No Joke

2006-05-26T19:33:00.000-04:00

Suicide amongst college students is a serious issue, as is suicide in general. Its appearance on campus magnifies the impact, given the close ties within the community and the high number of impressionable young adults. Slate is featuring an article (Thanks, Phi Beta Cons) that discusses the problem and how some institutions are responding (both good and bad).

Of specific note, the article profiles administration's response to suicide-inclined students at the University of Illinois . Their response, a specific disciplinary policy that addresses the student's problems, works very well, according to research. There are some who do not think students considering suicide should be dealt with in a disciplinary manner, but the tact brings the seriousness of the matter to light. It is better to directly deal with the problem than ignore it. The program also avoids the mistake other schools appear to make in placing the problem under the general disciplinary umbrella, where it does not belong.

The one thing the article does not mention is whether or not Illinois' program protects the confidentiality of its students. This is important. While I am all for their approach, I would make sure that it does not negatively impact a student's record. Schools should exercise discretion in these manners, while making sure that action is taken to mitigate possible suicides. It should not be included in permanent records or transcripts, unless an attempted suicide does cause harm (and then the act should be noted while not mentioning the reason why).

The key is to treat the issue seriously, just as anyone faced with a friend, family, co-worker, or anyone else considering suicide should. Illinois appears to be on the right track, and other schools should follow suit.

Show the Troops Your Support

2006-05-25T13:14:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day is upon us, and while we enjoy the respite and arrival of summer, it is important to remember the reason for the holiday: remembering our men and women in uniform, past and present. Take this opportunity to thank those you know for their service, whether they are still in or retired. Personally, I am grateful for the service of those in my family.

To go further, there are many outlets available to express your gratitude. Here are three:

Through AmericanSupportsYou.mil, you can send a message of thanks directly to the troops. I have done this a couple of times, and it is a great service.
For a more personal touch, mail a letter or thank you card to A Million Thanks, a wonderful effort led by a school in California who is trying to provide a personal note of thanks to every member of our military.
From now until June 14th, you can drop off care package items at any local Checkers or Rallys drive-thru restaurant.

I hope you will choose to participate in one of these activities.

This is Disgraceful, GOP

2006-05-25T13:14:00.001-04:00

Republicans joined Democrats in the House of Representatives by demanding that the FBI return documents seized from the office of Democrat Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana, who is implicated in a Federal bribery probe. This is unacceptable. When a Congressman commits wrongdoing, the body as a whole should demand that he be held accountable. Sure, he is innocent until proven guilty, but they should not use their status to shield themselves from displaying the truth. The fact that the GOP joined with the Democrats on this shows how broken the body has become. I have higher expectations of Republicans in Congress, but it seems that they are failing every chance they get (not all Republicans joined in the decision, thankfully).

Of other note, Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi did call on Jefferson to resign from his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, which he refused. This allows the liberal weasels to cover their backs by calling on action while demanding protection from the law. Too bad the Republicans are joining suit.

UNC, Duke, Terrorism, Rape, and Moral Clarity

2006-05-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

This column by Town Hall's Mary Katherine Ham is dead on when it comes to the absurdity one notices when comparing the responses to the UNC terrorist attack with the Duke Lacrosse alleged rape incident. While I have a soft spot for UNC, this is not surprising, given that the attack happened in a college town. If some Islamofacist had run his car into a crowd at Tennessee Tech, it would be labeled loudly as terrorism and any talk of "tolerance" would be directed toward the right party: Muslims.

Kicking It Up Another Notch in Gallatin

2006-05-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

The Principal of Gallatin High School in Tennessee is living by his promise of citing anyone who interfered with their Graduation ceremony by seeking a warrant against the Valedictorian, who disrupted the solemn event with an act of immature hooliganism. His father is now irate at the school, but he should be angry with his son for violating his family's reputation. Perhaps these two men do not care about their family's name. It used to mean something to everyone.

We need more men like Gallatin's Pincipal in America to teach our "crumb-crunchers" a lesson in respect.

Sportswriting as Bush Bashing

2006-05-23T23:25:00.000-04:00

When thinking of sports and Bush, I tend to lean towards the New Orleans Saints new running back Reggie. However, a Nashville Scene sports columnist, for some reason, prefers to utilize a discussion on NBA coaches to engage in President (and Congress) bashing, which is too typical for an alternative weekly.

The only examples of bad politicians he gave (besides one softball at Kerry) were Republican, and while the GOP may not be winning itself any friends right now (me included), this sort of one-sided hate fest is getting pretty old. Of course, this is probably the closest the writer will ever get to "real news." Sportswriters, as I have stated before, are simply underachieving, or under skilled, journalists who choose to make something bigger (sports) than it really is in life. They are fun to read, but they should know their place in the grand scheme (and that is entertainment). Now, a sportswriter for an alternative weekly, that has got to be a real low point in a career. These type of papers do not really cover sports, and they usually do not care about the level of talent (or lack thereof) in their sports staff (usually a committee of one).

In the Spirit of the Season: Bicycle Safety

2006-05-16T21:33:00.000-04:00

Friday is National Bike to Work Day, which I hope to join in on. The coming summer means youth will leave the classroom and cruise their neighborhoods on their bikes. One key element to a good time cycling is safety, and I am glad to see that the Police in Elberton, Georgia, a favorite town of mine, are making their own effort to educate the youth. I saw way too many examples of unsafe riding during my time there, so this is long overdue.

Honestly, it is long overdue everywhere. I am amazed I do not hear more news accounts of children dying as a result of bicycle injuries. Most of these accidents are preventable, especially if the rider is properly educated and equipped. It goes beyond just wearing a helmet, and includes understanding traffic rules, keeping your bicycle in proper working order, etc.

I recommend this site if you want to learn more and prepare your children (and yourselves) for safe riding. The Canadians also have a good site. While I am not for legislating safe riding and believe that people (and their parents, if children) are responsible for their actions, this is an important matter that deserves careful consideration. Again, congrats to the Elberton Police Department for their hard work.

Security Compromised, Now the Lawsuits Begin

2006-05-16T17:28:00.000-04:00

A Tennessee woman and her attorney instigated a class action lawsuit against Bellsouth today. They are one of the phone companies mentioned in a USA Today story last week that provided phone logs to the National Security Agency.

I believe I have said before on this blog that I do not believe in the manufactured right of privacy. In case you are wondering why I am saying it was manufactured, that is because it is actually not mentioned specifically in the Constitution or Bill of Rights. Instead, it was cobbled together by the Supreme Court during a string of cases in the 1960's and 1970's, starting with Griswold v. Connecticut and continuing to its best known utilization in Roe v. Wade.

Privacy as a right cannot exist in a free society. Is my belief contradictory? No. In order for us to possess the liberties associated with a free society, we must also accept the responsibilities inherent with our actions. I believe that this includes accepting the fact that our lives must be open so that we can be held accountable by society. I also believe that we are granted the privilege of discretion, being that as long as we do not hurt others (physically, mentally, verbally, etc.), our actions are really not the business of others and should be ignored. Together, openness and discretion can work well together, ensuring freedom without creating a nation of prying eyes.

Unfortunately, the Court and most Americans do not see it this way. The nation, on the whole, has bought into the right of privacy. I do believe that most understand rational limits, but that does not stop the liberals from seeking to cordon off all matter of action from responsible review. This is what is happening here. By reviewing phone logs (not the calls themselves), the NSA can mine the data to identify commonalities where certain numbers ( i.e., citizens or other people inside this country) are calling other numbers of ill repute (i.e., terrorists). This makes perfect sense in the post-9/11 world, and I see no problem with it.

We are all accountable for our actions, and that does include who we call. Should we go to jail based on who we call? No, and I do not believe you will see the FBI imprisoning anyone just because they made a phone call, unless they can prove violent intent. The information is key to intelligence gathering, something we did not do very well before 9/11. The more data the better.

As for society, most people should not throw stones on this issue. After all, what are we more obsessed with than anything else? Stalking the lives of celebrities (including politicians). If we expect their lives to be an open book, then ours darn well better be.

Politics and Mother's Day

2006-05-15T21:30:00.000-04:00

It seems that there are some people who cannot leave well enough alone. In Nashville (and I believe elsewhere), a ragtag of Mothers and their children took time out of their Sunday celebrations to protest the War in Iraq. To make it even more obscure, they argue that their actions were in touch with the true spirit of Mother's Day.

From the Tennessean article:

Many of the women wore aprons as a symbol of a mother's work, said Paige La Grone Babcock, an organizer of the event. She said the aprons stand for much more than sweeping and tending the hearth, and they were part of the plan to reclaim Mother' s Day as it was originally intended.

"This is specifically about building a community and advocating for the welfare of our children," La Grone Babcock said.

These individuals likely believe in evolution, so let me express my feelings in their language. Guess what? We involved from the initial concept and took the politics out of it. We decided to limit the politics in our holidays to election day, where it belongs.

Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy my favorite Mother's Day traditions of taking Mom out to lunch or visiting the family cemetery. That is the price of living far away from home. My Mom is liberal enough that she may have joined the protest, but I am glad she did not. This is one occasion when Moms, this particular group, are wrong.

UGA President Dunderhead Does It Again

2006-05-15T21:16:00.000-04:00

I have never liked University of Georgia President Michael Adams. As an alum, I am ashamed of his tenure, most notable his hiring of Jim Harrick as basketball coach, a disgraceful individual who brought shame to the school with his own behavior. What made it worse was Adams covered his own tail by pinning the blame on and firing beloved (and respectable) Athletic Director Vince Dooley. Adams has no respect with students, alumni, or most faculty, and I doubt his most recent action will only worsen his stature.

Adams has requested that CBS no longer use the phrase "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" to describe the UGA/Florida football game , which is held annually in Jacksonville, Florida. The game is the focal point of a weekend of revelry by students and alumni alike by most schools. It is of special interest to the UGA student body, since it is also the weekend of their fall break. By removing the moniker, Adams hopes to encourage maturity and discourage the common alcohol-induced behavior associated with the weekend, since he thinks it hurts the school's reputation.

This is ridiculous. I will be the first to admit that UGA deserves its reputation as a party school. The climate in Athens (a prototypical college bar town) encourages it, and the upward mobility of its student body, as well as nature of its undergraduate academic program (not easy, but not Ivy League) only enhance. A former graduate teaching assistant, I could tell that many a student were still nursing hangovers on Monday from the drinking they did on Saturday. Alcohol is a staple of athletic events, but this is characteristic of the SEC schools. It may contrast with the "Bible Belt" identity of the South, but I have yet been to an SEC game where drinking was not the preferred pre-game past time. Without it, I doubt you would fill the seats.

At the same time, I do not necessarily think there is anything wrong with campus drinking. Most young adults, whether they are in college or not, "experiment" with alcohol. Some go overboard and reap the consequences (sometimes fatally). It is human nature to test limits, and the way I see it, those who cross the line into drunken oblivion deserve what they get. If they die, it only means less competition come job time for the rest (I am not condoning alcohol-related deaths, especially of bystanders. If you kill someone else from behind the wheel, you deserve whatever hell the afterlife or our justice system can render. However, if you are a single-fatality wreck, I chalk it up to natural selection at work.). Kids working for a living are just as likely to drink heavily as college students, and no form of supposed research will convince me otherwise.

Adams attempt to "purify" UGA's stature will only be met by anger from students and loss of support by alumni. Heck, the alumni are just as responsible for the "cocktail party" naming as the students. If you want to correct it, you have a very simple action: ban alcohol on campus and school events (including the UGA/Florida game), enforce it strictly, and expel anyone who violates (or revoke their tickets, if alumni). That's the solution, but neither I, or Adams, would go that far. If he does, all he ensures is the end to his Presidency, which has already lasted too long.

More Madness with Indoor Football

2006-05-10T21:23:00.000-04:00

The rise of Indoor (arena) Football as the game's mass-market, minor league inception disturbs me greatly. Now, the craziness goes a step further, with one of the teams posting a roster spot for a game on eBay, won by an admitted fanatic.

This is not baseball, where fantasy camps and roster stunts are commonplace, or even basketball, where it happens occasionally in the minors. This is a full-contact sport played at a far faster speed with far bigger athletes. While this "winner" thinks he is set for a great opportunity, he is putting himself in grave danger of being pummeled by superior athletes without the skill level of big league professionals (or control).

The team offering the spot thought it would be best to put the winning bidder on kickoff coverage. This is also insane. Most of the most vicious hits I have ever seen occurred in this facet of the game. Not just on returners, but on blockers and those trying to make the tackle. Kickoffs are all out mad dashes for the ball, where anything can happen. This crazy individual has the potential to suffer serious, perhaps fatal, injury being hit by another player at full speed, or worse yet, hitting another player incorrectly while being caught up in the intensity of the game.

I try to be Libertarian and will not suggest that Indoor Football on the minor league level should be curtailed or regulated. However, I do think that teams, in the interest in ensuring that fans understand the seriousness of the sport, should not resort to publicity stunts like this. Hopefully, the "lucky" individual will survive, and all will be well, until the next time.

At Least NPR Gets It on Gas Prices

2006-05-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

There are time when the souls at National Public Radio do get it right when it comes to news. This week, their website features an article discussing the reasons behind high gas prices (brought to my attention by NewsBusters). Its analysis repeats the very points anyone could make on their own if they applied basic economic principles and the fact that gasoline endures a high tax burden to the situation. Unfortunately, emotion and political opportunism are leading the way in this debate, which could prove even more damning to the American future when it comes to the future of our energy situation.

Populism is a Dirty Word

2006-05-09T22:14:00.000-04:00

Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online hits the nail on the head with today's discussion on the problems with Populism and how conservatives must continue to fight its growing presence in political and social debate. I have thought about writing something about my concerns on the movement for quite some time, and Goldberg's analysis expresses many of my own thoughts on the matter.

To me, Populism is the acceptance of emotion over thought (fact) in society. While gaining popular support for beliefs and ideals is key to success in a movement, it is essential for the welfare of a nation (or the world) that rational thinking remain the focal point for promotion, rather than the raw and often times unchecked entity that is our feelings. Populism led to the rise of totalitarianism in its many forms (including socialism, communism, fascism) in the 20th Century, movements who utilized their publics to gain power and inflict horrors we still recover from today. Even our current ideological nemesis, radical Islam, relies upon a Populist message to spread its hateful, intolerant vision of the world.

Populism is alive and well in the United States, as it has been throughout our history. For the most part, it is practiced on the small scale by those seeking power through coercing the people that they (and not individuals themselves) are destined to look out for their best interests. The establishment of the Internet and 24-hour media provides an excellent medium for their endeavors. Some of their efforts are harmless, as they work outside the political framework and will have little impact on public policy. However, established interest groups and politicians are now utilizing public emotion over rational fact to promote their agendas.

The best current example, in my opinion, is the outcry encouraged by certain lawmakers over gas prices and profits of oil companies. Basic economic principles of supply and demand, as well as the fact that government profits more on the sale of gas than oil companies do (when analyzing taxes), are ignored while specific liberals (and supposed conservatives) join the chorus of an outraged, uneducated public. Their proposals of windfall profit taxes, gas credits, and even increased regulation, would create long term negative circumstances that would erode our energy situation. Regardless, it is possible that the Populist effort will succeed in enacting at least one initiative, to the strategic detriment of our nation.

Goldberg's primary assertion that Conservatives must stand against the growth of Populism is critical. Our movement is that of truth and rational judgement, not emotion. Liberals thrive on feelings, which they have use to misguide this nation into many failed policies. We cannot allow this new wave of populist politics gain an ever growing foothold. If it does, the potential for social and/or economic calamity is too great.

Inappropriate Practical Joke, Sympathies with Illegals

2006-05-03T11:36:00.000-04:00

A group of players for the Seattle Mariners decided to play a practical joke on their manager by indicating before the start of their game on Monday that they wanted to honor the "Day without Immigrants" boycott and not play. In my opinion, this is disgraceful. These players are here legally, and their choice to sympathize with violators of Federal law (illegal immigrants) shows where their true colors lie. If I had been Seattle management, I would have done my own practical joke. Not only would I threaten to sit them out a game without pay, I would also threatened to kick them off the team and void their residency status. Perhaps they would rather play ball back where they came from for $1 a day.

These players, like anyone else in this country, needs to remember which side their bread is buttered.

Rush's Battle is Over, In One Way...

2006-05-01T16:17:00.000-04:00

Late last week, the news broke that Rush Limbaugh succeeded in officially establishing his innocence on Florida state charges of doctor shopping after nearly three years of investigation by a liberal, politically-minded prosecutor. His "deal" results in dropping a single charge (to which he will plead not guilty) following an additional 18 months of treatment for his admitted addiction to prescription pain killers.

The article linked was written by two former Federal prosecutors and chronicles the depths of improper conduct of the Florida State Attorney in this case. Despite extraordinary efforts to violate doctor-patient confidentiality and expose investigation material to the public (a no-no), Limbaugh will come away with no criminal record, no conviction, no admission of guilt. All the prosecutor gets is the chance to have a Rush Limbaugh mug shot (which I think Rush should be the first to post on his website so as not to give the liberals any material).

Rush's addiction is a serious matter. I do not think Rush has been hypocritical, given prior statements on drug users and dealers. He would never argue against a person's right to vigorous defense, and he maintained his innocence. He did not try to distance himself from other drug addicts, which some could argue for, given that his resulted from drugs that were initially prescribed for pain, not recreational or illegal to start with.

Shortly after his admission, most of his supporters forgave him and supported him. I support him, but I never forgave him. In honesty, I believe his strong faith probably leads him to believe only one form of forgiveness matters (that of the Lord), so people acknowledging it here on earth is likely meaningless to him. I still listen to his show, though I haven't lately given my recent lack of interest in politics (save the occasional blog post).

The article does point out something to keep in mind that further degrades the charge. It is easy to charge someone with a crime. Personal experience taught me how easy this is (especially in certain states, like Virginia). When done in vengeance or the intent of personal gain, it is disgraceful, and that is the case here. At least Al Franken did not get his "perp walk".

Limbaugh's unfortunate legal witch hunt is now over. He can focus his personal attention on his addiction, an eternal struggle. I do believe his chances of relapse are minimal. His resolve and will are pretty strong, as anyone can tell by listening him defend his beliefs against opponents on both sides of the aisle. I wish him well, and I believe the Lord forgave him long ago.

Go Out and Shop May 1st

2006-04-28T12:52:00.000-04:00

By now, you are aware of the "day without immigrants" scheduled for May 1st. This event is being organized by the ultra-left and supporters of illegal immigration. Their intent to somehow negatively impact the American economy by not working or buying anything on Monday may have some visual impact, but it will matter little to our nation's bottom line, especially if real Americans ( i.e., citizens) pick up the slack.

I strongly encourage citizens and those who wish to side with real Americans to show teach these quasi-communists a lesson and go out and spend on Monday. We will probably do our grocery shopping then, maybe even go out to eat. If there is an impact, then perhaps I will actually be able to find a place to park and get through grocery shopping without having to wait 20 minutes in line or listed to a bunch of squealing kids.

In all honesty, this is really just a way for Mexicans to enjoy a second three-day weekend in a row, with Cinqo de Mayo occurring on Friday.

The Sad Side to this Story

2006-04-27T20:04:00.000-04:00

An owner of a professional football team in Montgomery, Alabama, fired her entire squad of players over a pay dispute. Namely, the players were not being paid.

The most telling quote of the story, in my opinion, belongs to the owner when asked how she will field a replacement team.

"There are 100 ball players to replace anyone that doesn't want to play football," LaMunyon said. "And these guys don't want to."

She is absolutely right. It used to be (and probably still is for some) professional baseball that captivated its competitors to the point of doing everything in their power to continue their careers, no matter where it took them. Now it is football. With the explosion of indoor football (there are many leagues and teams are scattered across America, especially the southeast), the sport has its own unlimited minor league where those still inkling for a shot can state their case on the field.

There is a romantic quality to it, but it is also very sad. For every minor leaguer who makes it to the big time, in any sport, hundreds, perhaps thousands, will never see the light of day. Unlike baseball, where risk of injury is far less, football is still dangerous no matter the level of competition. One could argue that in the minor leagues, with lesser skilled players perhaps more bent on making statements and not thinking about how to properly "hit" someone, the chance for serious injury is greater. Taking into account the limited medical facilities afforded by the cash-strapped teams (most of them lose money), injuries can fester into serious illness and even death. In recent years, we have heard many horror stories of players hoping for one more day in the spotlight, only for it to be their last on an unknown field in a no name town.

At some point, this explosion of minor league football, and its ramifications, will be noted by the sportswriting community and others. Until then, the boys will keep playing, and we can only pray for their safety.

Muggles and Books

2006-04-21T15:34:00.000-04:00

A group of Gwinnett County, Georgia, parents spoke out at a hearing in support of banning Harry Potter books from a school library. To aide their defense, a student exposed to the books at a young age described how they led her to witchcraft, the primary complaint of the parents, which in turn led to depression and thoughts of suicide. As a result, the now-reformed girl believes as well that the books should be removed.

I do believe that the testimony of the child is true. Some are very impressionable when exposed to stimuli and can be drawn into just about anything. It is their parents' responsibility to ensure that exposure is controlled and that corresponding impact is mitigated. I also agree that there are some written materials that are inappropriate for children and should not be found in grade school libraries (depictions of sex, for example). However, while Harry Potter is not a favorite of mine, I do not see anything wrong with its availability in school libraries at any level. The material is written for all ages and, while dark, expresses a fantasy world that is purposely detached from reality. In other words, it is hard to confuse fantasy and reality in this case, which makes it less likely to be impressionable on children.

The article mentioned that an overflow crowd attended the hearing, which tends to be the norm when it comes to parent interaction with school affairs, focusing on the details instead of the big picture.

Free Wireless for College Kids

2006-04-14T16:46:00.000-04:00

It appears that start-up Xero Wireless plans to establish a "free" wireless phone service, complete with free phones and minutes, to college students this fall. In exchange for the minutes, the consumers will have to watch approximately 4 ads on their phone a day, possibly tailored to their interest.

Skeptics naturally believe that the advertising requirement will doom the service, believing few have any interest in being forced to sit through a commercial. Others think that with the young adult focus, Xero is focusing on a demographic more willing to put up with the matter in order to acquire free minutes. Personally, I do believe this will appeal to students, especially their parents, who would not mind shifting their kids to a service that reduces their cost.

That is, until you realize that prepaid for the average user is still not as good of a deal as a regular plan. It can force better rationing of time, but if kept unchecked, it is like most no-credit services, charging a premium for the lack of commitment ( i.e. contract). This could, however, benefit the elderly, who really need cell phones only for emergencies and would not mind the interraction of the commercials.

Then there is the advertising itself. While there will be many companies who may sign up, it is still untested as to whether or not the ads will generate sales. I could probably open the phone, turn on the commercial, then leave it running and walk away. Their long term health will be whether or not students, who have been made a consumer force due to easier access to credit than in the past and penchant for low-cost consumables, will purchase what they see.

Free internet was a novel idea, but it failed. I don't know if free wireless will, but chances of success are cloudy at this point.

Yes, this post was convoluted, but I didn't feel like writing about anything else.

Urban Push Not New at Wal-Mart, Just the Support for It

2006-04-05T13:26:00.000-04:00

Wal-Mart recently announced a plan to open stores in depressed urban areas, which will also include some programs for local economic development. The move is being touted by the media as an effort for the retailer to improve its image. However, I really do not see anything new with the strategy except that they are organizing it on a national level. Over the past several years, Wal-Mart has attempted to open Supercenters in several urban areas, including Atlanta, Washington, and Chicago. Instead of support for the jobs, tax revenue, and economic boom these stores would provide, not to mention access to cheaper goods by populations who need them, they have been met with criticism and significant opposition. Perhaps the unified strategy will soften the response, but I doubt it. Despite their efforts to improve the quality of life for others through stores in areas that need them, some are just bent on decrying the retailer every chance they get. This is unfortunate, just as much as those who suffer the most when Wal-Mart is not allowed to expand.

Golfing as a Business Class

2006-04-01T12:31:00.000-05:00

Many universities across the country, notably in this case both David Lipscomb and Vanderbilt Universities in Nashville, are offering a specialized course for their students that helps them learn how to play golf and conduct business while on the golf course. The faculty, which includes golf instructors, and the students do take the course seriously, which is commendable. My issue is whether or not this is a good utilization of class time and incorporation into the coursework that comprises a student's degree (the students quoted in the article are primarily graduate or law students).

I will be the first to admit that college does not provide a strong background in skill application, in other words, using the skills you develop in part through the knowledge you acquire with your education. However, colleges and universities are making significant strides to focus more on skills development in their programs, since that is what employers want to see in the graduates they hire. Business, law, and other professional-oriented majors are more in tune with demand response, given that their reputation depends on graduate hirings more so than other majors.

Still, the issue remains, is this taking the focus on skill development over knowledge acquisition a little too far? Isn't it really up to the students to develop these types of communication and facilitation skills on their own through the open campus of learning by doing? Classical educators may scoff at such programs, and while they are used as electives, they probably take the place of theory or knowledge course that is likely just as or more essential to the foundation of the student's education.

If done properly, this course does not have to be an example of the "watering-down" of collegiate curriculum. There are plenty of "traditional" courses that already receive that designation. I'm just not for sure if it is a good idea in the long run for colleges to go this far in skills application. There is definitely a place for it, such as capstones or group project courses often required today of seniors. Schools must remember, though, that they cannot prepare their students for every situation they will face in life. It is likely better to provide them with a general understanding rather than overspecialize on specific situations. Not all business takes place on the golf course.

Money Where It Matters Most

2006-03-31T16:24:00.000-05:00

Bribery is a characteristic of human nature. If you want something done, and the rules will not allow for it, it is natural to use your wealth to get it done anyway. It runs hand and hand with bureaucracy and governance. Of course, at the same time, it is a sin and should be condemned and punished when identified.

Bribery really shows its ugly head where it matters most, on the playing field, which brings us to Nigeria. A national soccer official there has announced that it is okay for their referees to accept bribes from teams, so long as they do not affect the ref's conduct. Literally, he encouraged the officials to take the money, then deliver nothing in return.

"Referees should only pretend to fall for the bait, but make sure the result doesn't favour those offering the bribe," Amun said.

This is perhaps the most naive statement on human behavior I have ever heard. It is likely that people willing to bribe are also willing to enforce their desired outcome. If an official is paid for a result and does not deliver, I imagine he probably lands himself in some field riddled with lead.

For all the complaints made about American sports officiating, we can say that it is in far better shape than elsewhere, especially when compared to examples like Nigeria.

GOP Should Not Support Further Campaign Finance Regulation

2006-03-30T14:40:00.000-05:00

The majority of Republicans in Congress appear prepared to support legislation that would continue to undermine the rights of political express under the auspices of Campaign Finance Reform. This latest endeavor would curb gifts to 527 organization, groups created thanks to loopholes in the tax code that were not incorporated into the draconian McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform package who coordinated attacks against people running for office in the 2004 elections (mostly against Republicans, especially President Bush).

I agree with the article's assertion that Republicans supporting this measure are reneging their principled support of freedom of political expression. A strong majority in the GOP fought unsuccessfully to stop McCain-Feingold for the right reasons then. To now show support for similar acts is an example of partisanship over principle. Yes, they will likely injure the Democrats more, but in the end, we all loose freedom.

An alternative legislative package sponsored by Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana (also mentioned in the linked article) would somewhat restore political expression rights by doing nothing to 527's and loosening up contribution limits of hard money to candidates and parties. I am pragmatic enough to know that change in government is an incremental endeavor, and as such, this legislation deserves support. Hopefully, the GOP majority will return to their convictions and support it as well.

In the end, campaign financing should return to a free exercise, with unlimited personal contributions, a ban on "non-personal" contributions from organizations and companies (since they do not vote, why should they contribute), and real time posting of contributor information (complete transparency). It is up to the people, not the government, to review the information and decide how it will influence our vote. If not, they may start going after letters to the editor next.

Blogger Troubles

2006-03-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

This blog, and all of my others, are hosted by Blogger, which is not a bad site for free use. However, they have been having some recent troubles with blogs being mysteriously deleted. What is worse is that once deleted, the names of the blogs are "snatched up" by other users before the error is caught. This requires a good amount of work trying to make everything right.

Anyway, perhaps the most notable Blogger erasure occurred recently when Google's Own Blog was deleted. For those not knowing, Blogger is owned by Google.

As far as I know, this blog has not been susceptible to the problem. Perhaps we don't get enough traffic to matter :)

A Nation of Immigrants, or a Nation of Americans?

2006-03-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

President Bush once again made the "nation of immigrants" mention during his radio address yesterday. This comment infuriates many Conservatives, including blogger and columnist Michelle Malkin:

From her blog:

We are not a "nation of immigrants." This is both a factual error and a warm-and-fuzzy non sequitur. Eighty-five percent of the residents currently in the United States were born here. Sure, we are almost all descendants of immigrants. But we are not a "nation of immigrants."

The comment does serve as an excellent defense for anyone like-minded who is criticized for the support for immigration enforcement on similar grounds. It definitely gave me something to think about.

The reason why people perhaps buy into the whole "we are all immigrants" mantra is because so many no longer believe that they are simply "Americans." Everyone is aware of the classifications for ethnicity that serve to divide us instead of promote an assimilated culture. If we focus on our ethnicity more than our united national identity, then we are more likely to think that we are something that, in reality, we are not.

Ethnically, I am a mutt. Like most Americans, I have no clue about my blood lines except they are Western European with some Indian. There could be others, but I simply do not know. In reality, while I would like to know more about my ancestry, I do not care that much where they came from, as it does not affect who I consider myself to be. I am simply an American. The only requirement you have to have, in my opinion, for such a description is citizenship. However, there is also the matter of cultural assimilation so key to the success of our nation that also follows suit.

While I am not happy with the President for his standing on the immigration issue, promoting actions that would reward violators of the law and undermind national security in this particular area, I do not hold ill will toward him. He has been completely consistent on this issue since the start of the administration, and while there are many Conservative who would like him to change his mind, I do not see it happening. It will definitely be a litmus test for the next Republican candidate, that is if they want Conservative backing. From an honor standpoint, he is a helluva lot better than the Democrats, who continue to flip-flop on the issue in their efforts to outsmart the polls and play politics. For Bush, I believe he thinks this is the right thing to do. I just disagree with him. You will not find that sincerity with Hillary Clinton.

However, if the President would think about how far we have strayed from the simple unifying recognition of each other as Americans, I believe he would understand how his use of words like "nation of immigrants" would be wrong to use. He would either have to change the tact of his argument, or understand how he could be wrong on this particular matter.

Good News from Afghanistan

2006-03-26T14:20:00.000-05:00

An Afghan Court dismissed charges against Abdul Rahman, who had been held on the death penalty-level charge of converting from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago. Many Conservative bloggers expressed frustration with the Bush Administration for not doing more to publicly condemn the charges, showcasing public statements made by nations. While they are right to critize the response in the public arena, I do believe that the President and the State Department were probably very involved in this turn of events. Much like with my feelings on the Port Deal, they worked behind the scene to encourage an appropriate resolution without injuring their alliance.

I will be the first to admit that I would love to see the President speak up more openly on matters such as this. I have also learned that it is not his style. The bottom line is that we must remember that actions speak louder than words. More than likely, the Afghans did not change their mind because of a phone call (as nice as it was) from the Prime Minister of Canada. This situation is by no means over, and will not be until Rahman is freed and his life is secured.

Olbermann's Barking Up the Wrong Tree

2006-03-24T15:57:00.000-05:00

I usually kick a laugh reading over the transcripts from Countdown with Keith Olbermann to see which conservatives he lambastes in his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment. The former Sportscenter hack is living proof of my theory that sports journalists are on a rung below news journalists (which is not saying much) and should not be given the chance to function in the "real world" arena. By the way, I read the transcripts instead of actually watch or DVR the show, as I would hate to add to its abysmal ratings.

Earlier this week, I commented on the decision by a judge to increase the sentence of an individual, who happened to be the brother of a Pittsburgh Steelers' player, for failing to show us for jail because he was at the Super Bowl. Olbermann decided to comment on it as well Wednesday night, but from the other perspective:

(Transcript begins)

The bronze tonight, Judge Stanton S. Kaplan of Broward County, Florida. When convicted traffic offender Tank Carter turned himself in to begin a sentence a month late, Mr. Carter explained he knew he had done wrong and was prepared for the judge to increase his six month jail term but he had a reason. His brother Tyrone played in the Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers and he just had to be there. Judge Kaplan reportedly said, yeah, right, and increased Tank Carter's sentence from six months to five years for driving without a license.

But Tank Carter's brother Tyrone did play in the Super Bowl for the Steelers. The judge increased his sentence by 10 times.

(Transcript ends)

I have no problem with the judge's ruling in this case, as probably do most people. The fact that Olbermann does not see it our way is an indication of how out of touch he is with America. No wonder nobody watches him.

For the Kids

2006-03-24T09:42:00.000-05:00

I imagine that my wife and I's children will be politically-minded, given who their parents are. That being the case, it makes sense getting them to think the "right" way with the "right" educational materials. A woman has provided such an avenue through a series of conservative children's books known as the "Help! Mom!" series.

Some may scoff at the idea, but when you consider the subtle and not-so-subtle liberal political leanings of most mainstream children's books and programming, I see nothing wrong with it. At least it's honest.

Is Cosmeo Good for Your Kids?

2006-03-23T12:11:00.000-05:00

Discovery Television announced home subscriber access to Cosmeo, a primary and secondary education research site, this week. The portal includes interactive quizzes, encyclopedia-like articles on education topics, photos, and a bevy of other learning features. It mimics a similar service already offered to schools, and it is available for as little about $12.95 a month.

There is no doubt in my mind that many parents will sign up for this service, especially those who already enrich their children's education on a daily basis. There are probably many great advantages with the product, and I see nothing wrong with Discover charging for the service. However, there is the old-timer in me that thinks that Cosmeo is another example of making learning too easy. While its users may gain access to specific information, they do not develop the study and research skills often associated with obtaining the information in the first place. What happens when they need to know something not covered on the Internet? How do they confirm what information is out there?

I am not attacking the Internet. It definitely broadens access to information and is a powerful, positive educational tool. However, I do believe that there is something essential lost when we take the "research" out of research education.

Family Over Law

2006-03-22T11:20:00.000-05:00

A brother of a Pittsburgh Steelers player had his jail sentence increased from six months to five years this week. The reason? He skipped on entering jail as scheduled so he could follow his brother through the playoffs and Super Bowl.

The jailbird's conviction that he would do it again does not surprise me. However, the fact this his brother, a professional football player, would condone the activity is very disturbing. I realize that family is important, but so is obeying the law. He should have demanded that his brother turn himself in as scheduled. Anyone, especially role models, should be expected of such behavior.

If the player in any way aided his brother's continued presence away from jail, he should be charged as well with aiding and abetting a fugitive. Actions such as these are not acceptable.

Advanced Placement Impact Questioned

2006-03-21T15:25:00.000-05:00

A story from USA Today discusses how some Universities are taking a second look at whether or not to permit students with passing Advanced Placement scores out of High School to be exempt from specific introductory courses upon admission. The institutions listed are mostly the elite, but they also mentioned reconsideration going on at The University of Georgia.

The concern is that with the growing popularity and accessibility of AP programs in high schools across the country, they are potentially being "watered down," no longer reflecting the curriculum of the introductory courses they are supposed to replicate. The article points to recent research indicating that high performance in Advanced Placement does not specifically mean mastery of entry-level collegiate knowledge in the same subject area. This comes at the same time that AP has been advanced as a key to improving academic performance in the country's secondary education system.

I completed AP Calculus in high school, passed the AP exam, and managed to pass both Calculus I and II in college. While I did not ace them, I do believe that AP provided me with a strong foundation. I only tested out of 2 courses as an undergrad, Pre-Calculus and the first semester of English Composition. Neither course would have benefited me had I taken them, and I do believe that if properly prepared in AP, students are worthy of some exemptions from their initial classroom load.

There are two problems I find with colleges reconsidering exemptions for AP credit. First, if they do change their minds, I believe it will negatively impact the level of preparation in their incoming students. If high school students are denied the opportunity for college credit through AP, then they will not pursue it. This means they will have less skills mastery when they start school, requiring colleges to cover more material in entry-level courses.

Second, colleges better be prepared to offer more and better entry-level courses if they are not going to grant AP credit. Many "elite" institutions really give second thought to these courses. Their professors usually do not want to teach them, so they turn them over to graduate assistants who in some cases are not prepared. Other professors use these as opportunities to "weed out" students, straying away from academic objectivity to reward certain students and punish others. If it were not for AP at places like Georgia, some students would not graduate on time because of the lack of availability of entry-level and other courses. In other words, right now, exemptions are key to success in the University environment for many students.

In my opinion, the focus should be on reevaluating the AP programs and making sure they cover the proper material. Another certainty is that AP teachers need to veer away from "teaching for the test" and make sure that the goal is college-level knowledge in the subject field. If this happens, the scores will work themselves out, as was the case with me and Calculus.

Is Whole Foods Wholesome?

2006-03-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

Slate, a questionable website when it comes to reporting, has an article that expresses concern over Whole Foods , a well-known and highly-profitable niche grocery story that "specializes" in organic foods. They also did a story on Trader Joe's, a similar chain. Both of these companies have taken the place of the food co-ops of the 70's, providing shoppers who can afford it with "natural" foods, both processed and raw, to a wider section of the American public.

I must confess that my wife and I do shop Whole Foods, predominantly their Vienna, VA, store. This is primarily out of necessity due to some dietary requirements of my wife. I have bought and eaten food from the store for myself, and while it is true that organic goods are of a higher quality than those produced by convention farming, I do not think they are worth the price. The store does have some unique finds that make it nice, but it is not the model for the grocery needs of the general public.

The Slate article discusses how Whole Foods misleads its customers by publicly touting local farming while bringing in most of its crops, especially organics, from corporate and foreign fields. However, the article does not stop with the store. In fact, it tries to reduce blame on the retailer by placing responsibility on the Federal Government and its handling of regulations regarding organic farming.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with organic farming, so long as its patrons, often far wealthier than the rest of us, understand that conventional farming is the key to our sustainability. If it were not for its advances in production and yield, most people would be paying far higher prices for basic necessities. In fact, food costs, as a percentage of household income, have continued to decrease while most other life requirements have grown at or exceeded the rate of inflation. Organic farming does not contribute to that.

To prove the point, just drive into the parking lot of a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, or any other organic chain. You can tell by the vehicles alone the audience they cater to. Now, if the regular public has affordable access to organics through the marketplace (not government), so much the better. That is being made possible through product lines at some grocers, and because of a major rollout by a true American corporate hero, Wal-Mart.

Personally, if you are looking for locally-grown produce, I recommend Farmer's Markets. As a warning, I will say some do not feature local crops (like the one in Manassas, VA, which will start back soon). However, permanent markets like the one in Nashville, TN, usually carry local crops at affordable prices. Honestly, it is the way to go when shopping for fruits and vegetables, since you get to deal directly (or close to it) with the grower.

Finally, when it comes to chain organic grocers, I heartily recommend Earth Fare.

Good News in Iraq

2006-03-20T10:28:00.000-05:00

Just for information purposes, here is an excellent chronicling of improvements in Iraq resulting from US and Iraqi military efforts, courtesy of Bill Crawford and National Review Online. Naturally, stories like this are pretty hard to find amongst the mainstream, "bad news is good news" ilk.

Immersion Should Be the Other Way Around

2006-03-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

Prince William County, VA, recently decided to phase out Spanish immersion programs at two elementary schools that have been in existence for over a decade. The reason: low interest. My question is how the heck these programs got implemented in the first place.

Performance analysis is showing that our children are barely able to understand proper English, and we are drawing attention away from that? I realize that Northern Virginia is an increasingly bilingual area, but English is still the primary language. It is also the main language for the country, and world, as a whole. We should not waste resources immersing our children in an other language, when they need that time to hone their skills in their native tongue. Immersion in English does work to help those of other languages develop their skills, and it should continue.

All immersion in other languages do is encourage bilingualism, which only serves to exclude people from society. A common language is essential to social order and efficiency.

Growing a Pair, Maybe

2006-03-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

It is possible that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist finally found some toughness. I must say that I am overall disappointed with his tenure in the Majority Leader position. Since his Senate term this year, Frist probably feels that he needs to get something done in order to have any chance of a successful Presidential run in 2008 (which I believe he does not). So, he took the reins yesterday and proposed his own Immigration Reform Plan after the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to act.

Frist's comments on the plan and its general provision make me believe, initially, that he is on the right track. However, I am still leery of what he will do, given his shady track record so far.

Can Anybody Explain...

2006-03-16T17:01:00.000-05:00

...to everyone in the GOP that recruiting Jessica Simpson for a publicity stunt at a fundraiser is always a bad idea. At least she and her father have the brains not too accept. Seriously, you can really tell that they support us.

Web Anonymity

2006-03-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Kim Komando, I learned about efforts in the New Jersey legislature to stop anonymous posting of information, primarily commentary, on the Internet. It is important to note that this initiative is being supported by legislators on both sides of the aisle, which also shows just how many RINO's there are out there in politics.

Legislation is not the place for an elected official to handle personal business, which appears to be the reasoning for their actions. These individuals must not take criticism very well, which makes them even less qualified to handle the positions entrusted to them. The best thing when faced with this material is to devalue its significance. If someone really wanted their comments to matter, they would put their name behind it.

Then there is the whole matter of Internet legislation. How would you enforce such a law if adopted? Most of the sites people view online are not in their home state, so how would you require bloggers and commentators to identify themselves there? Given the interstate, international quality of the Internet, it makes absolutely no sense for a state to attempt to enforce government control over something that in itself is not illegal. Slander and libel are grey areas of the law, not certainties.

When I started this blog, I believe I did not post my name initially. I changed that because I wanted the postings here to be taken seriously. Like many on the 'Net, I have taken the liberty of anonymously emailing various elected officials to vent my frustration on matters. I imagine, if they had any mettle, that my comments did not have any impact on their decisions. Besides, if a posting is too caustic, or perhaps a sign of danger, there are plenty of tools that can be used to track the sender down. All I probably did was add material for my FBI dossier.

While the Internet community opposes the legislation, I have not seen action by the ACLU. This is truly an item in their court, unlike most of their usual crusades. It might be a time to score some points on the right side of liberty.

Sheesh, Hollywood

2006-03-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Scouring the entertainment articles online, I found two items of note that are disturbing.

First of all, there is Jack Black. Apparently he got married over the weekend. Congratulations. However, the article ended with the announcement that he will host this year's edition of the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. While some may find childish characteristics to Black's work in movies (primarily School of Rock), I still think we need to examine the entirety of work, which includes his band Tenacious D and one of their most popular hits, **** Her Gently. While I admit there are not many "child-friendly" choices out there in Hollywood, I think they can do better than this.

Then there is Michael Douglas, who used an interview in a coming issue of GQ to question the antics of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger, and Julie Roberts when it comes to marriage and family. I can understand the frustration, as it likely exists with many Americans who are tired of seeing the example set on these matters by celebrities. However, Douglas needs to be careful not to cast too many stones, for his own personal life is not rosy. I am still trying to figure out why a man like him should be married to someone 25 years younger and having kids.

Beneath the Ground

2006-03-15T09:08:00.000-05:00

A common complaint by the public is that government employees (whether you call them public administrators or bureaucrats is up to you) possess a cold demeanor, void of humanity. There are plenty of examples of this, as well as similar individuals acting just like normal, warm individuals. However, this interview with a city cemetery supervisor does show how they sometimes forget the human side of things.

We can do all, and so can they

2006-03-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

Rich Lowry of National Review Online commented today on the notion that American citizens and legal immigrants will not work the jobs often done by illegal immigrants. I agree wholehartedly with his arguement that Americans are capable of doing anything, even the so called "undesirable." I also agree that the negative economic impact some associate with stopping illegal immigration is a red hering. Businesses will adapt to the changed economy, perhaps taking advantage of technological innovations similar to mechanized grape harvesting in Australia.

I also find it disgraceful that Latino leaders would degrade their own when it comes to their skills and abilities. With the proper education, they are probably just as capable of skilled and profession labor as anyone else. In a way, these leaders and subjugating their fellow immigrants into a substandard social class.

Sportswriters... Argh!

2006-03-13T12:22:00.000-05:00

Sunday was the first time I watched ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" in a while. The show features a cadre of elitist northeast sportswriters going on and on about various topics in the world of athletics, both on and off the field. In its early days, under the direction of the late Dick Schapp, the show was pretty good. However, the few times I have seen it sense, it feels like the show continues to devolve into preaching by the panel on how they are holier than thou. Perhaps they are trying to compete with the Sunday morning staple of religious programming, expressing their own gospel.

Yesterday provided an ideal example when panelist Mitch Albom, sportswriter and occasional novelist, argued against the performing of above-ground stunts by college cheerleaders. His announcement was in reference to an incident where a cheerleader for Southern Illinois University was injured after falling off a human pyramid during a routine. Albom's response was classic elitism, demanding that the aristocrats at the NCAA take action to ban these type of stunts.

I have honestly grown tired of sportswriter elitism over the years. Their efforts to try to lift their profession above what they should actually do, cover the action on the field, is becoming quite atrocious. There is a certain inferiority complex that they maintain, for most of their stock is comprised of journalism school graduates who were not good enough to land jobs in business news (the top field) or actual news (the second field). They should take solace in the fact that they are better qualified than entertainment reporters (perhaps the lowest field).

Personally, I think the marketplace can handle this matter. The costs associated with liability insurance, which grow as a result of the increased number of cheerleading accidents, will encourage school administrators to either bulk up safety or cancel the stunts altogether. This is where the decision should rest. Of course, if we eliminate stunts from cheerleading routines, I do have some questions. First, does this disqualify them as athletes? Probably not, as there is still a gymnastic element to their work. Second, if there are not any stunts, why have male cheerleaders? Granted, this is from a male point of view, but I really do not see the need to have men on the squad if they are only there to yell "Go team go!" After all, you do not see men on spirit dance teams.

Regardless, I really do not think that the issue of cheerleader safety is really one for the sportswriting community. Their job is counting balls and strikes, the equivalent of reporting events as they happen, which is the job of every journalist. At least that is what it used to be.

Clincs for the Uninsured

2006-03-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

Doing a little snooping this morning, I learned about this Clinic in Greeneville, TN, that does provide a solution for those without health insurance seeking care. I hope the example is being followed elsewhere.

I finally speak and...

2006-03-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

It appears the solution I discussed on the ports deal has been taken. Politicians will dissect the specifics, especially the Democrats, who will try to use this as an opportunity to skewer President Bush further. They should be careful, however, not to go overboard.

As for who the U.S. company taking over the ports will be, I have no idea. Can Halliburton really handle the job?

The Ports Deal

2006-03-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

It's time to post something here again, so why not write out the ports deal. This has been a tough one for me. My initial gut reaction was disgruntlement, though I do not consider the UAE in the same realm as the rest of the Islamic Middle East. Mountains of facts support claims of their ambivalence and support toward terrorists before 9/11, but they also show that they have reformed significantly since. The UAE, compared to the rest of the Islamic Middle East, is pretty westernized (they are currently enjoying their sporting season, with many of our top professional golfers and tennis players competing in their tournaments). I do believe that we can do business with them in many ways, and we do.

I shifted for and against the deal as I studied articles both pro and con. At this point, I do believe that we should not grant P&O's new owners, Dubai Ports World, managerial control of several east coast ports. The political climate is not ready for this, and there is still a certain unknown factor regarding the UAE and its commitment to fighting terrorism. I do believe that these type of deals involving Muslim countries will pass eventually. One of the keys to a successful conflict against an enemy is not only to defeat them, but eventually make them an ally (and trading partner). If the UAE continues to step up its endeavors against terrorism, which likely poses them a threat as well, then they should be welcomed in the future with open arms.

I have no quarrel with those supporting the deal. There might have been a lack of oversight regarding the initial review and approval of the deal, but I do not believe that they blatantly ignored national security with their decision. They probably believe that the safeguards do exist. While I disagree with President Bush's support of the deal, I do not take it personally. It does make sense, in a global war on terror with numerous enemies and potential allies, to turn potential combatants. As I just said, the long term strategy for successful relations with the Middle East not only calls for eliminating Islamofacism, but also establishing positive ties, diplomatic and commercial. Think of our present relations with our World War II enemies. They developed pretty quickly after hostilities ended. We had more trouble with our allies (Soviet Union).

My greatest disagreement with the President is on his reaction to opposition toward the deal. There are populist who are taking advantage of this issue to advance their ideologies, which are not beneficial to America and do nothing to provide national security. They are isolationist and socialist, mostly on the left, who believe a weaker nation is key to mutual security (not ensured security). However, this is a minority of the port deal opposition. Most of the disagreement on the right is rational based in fact and evidence. Yes, they initiated their concerns based on gut reactions, but the truth backs them up. To characterize them as racists is a major mistake. Bush's implication of this, and the more direct labeling by his few supporters in the media, are a serious problem for the conservative cause.

Congress will likely work together (gasp) to block this deal. Their constituents, mostly rational but a few led by the populists, demand it. The Republicans will have a problem with this in the mid-terms, even though their delegation is working against the President. The Democrats now have an opening, though all they can say about their approach toward national security is that they wouldn't allow deals like this to occur, which is by no means enough.

Another thing to consider. It is possible that the President's support of this deal is not personal. Something makes me think that based on the significant opposition out there, especially on the conservative side, he would have pulled back unless something else is at play. Remember that P&O was a British company. Perhaps Prime Minister Blair has asked for the President's support as a favor in exchange for his support of our war on terror. I am not saying that this is a justification, but it is worth considering.

The best thing, as has been proposed by others suck as Bill Bennett, is for Dubai Ports World to pull out of the deal voluntarily, similar to the Chinese decision to stop their efforts to buy Unocal. If the deal does go through (unlikely, but still possible), I will hope that the long term impact is positive. President Bush is betting on the long term with this deal, as he and everyone around him must have known the short term response would be extremely negative. Strategic action is an essential characteristic of his leadership style, like it or not. This is all not over, of course, and we will have to see what happens.

Maryland Democrats Establish Trial Lawyer Trust Fund

2005-01-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

With their override of Governor Erlich's veto, the Democrat-controlled Maryland General Assembly established a taxpayer-subsidized trust fund for their trail lawyer friends, all under the auspices of "liability insurance reform."

The legislation resulted from a Special Session Governor Erlich called to push for real reform, which would have led to caps on doctor's liabilities in malpractice lawsuits. Without caps, Doctors are facing massive annual increases with insurance premiums that are forcing many to retire or move practices to other states.

"Caps" are a four-letter word to Democrats and their trial lawyer supporters. These "judicial terrorists" want unlimited awards possible in order to maintain the growth of their associated legal fees (in other words, caps or no caps, the people actually injured get nothing anyway). Their compromise assesses a tax on HMO's to establish a trust fund that would ensure that liability insurance premiums grow no more than %5 annually.

In other words, the money pit stays open and continues to grow, and the judicial terrorists have found a new outlet to take from the people what they want for themselves through taxation.

Tennessee GOP Doesn't Get it Done, Wilder Still Lt. Gov.

2005-01-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

Despite securing its first elected majority in the State Senate since Reconstruction, Republicans were not able to stand united during this morning's election of Lieutenant Governor, as enough broke ranks to re-elect the ancient John Wilder to yet ANOTHER term.

From a political standpoint, this is the second setback for the state GOP in two consecutive days, as Governor Bredesen further secured his re-election, and the likelihood that the GOP will not be able to give their GOP nomination away next year, by announcing popular, drastic enrollment cuts and benefit reductions to the TennCare program.

While Tennessee continues to lean ever more conservative, it does not appear that the state's Republicans can make anything out of it, save securing US Senate and House seats. Without success on the intrastate level, however, the GOP's national gains will seem meaningless, as continued Democrat control will eventuall lead to higher taxes as soon as they build sufficient political capital. Bredesen will consider an income tax if re-elected, and if he does so, the chances of it passing are as strong as ever. Even if he decides to seek the Oval Office (which I firmly believe he has as good of a shot of as any Democrat in the country), he can still push for the income tax and use it as an example of tough leadership, using the newspeak of the not-so-eggheads to encourage people to believe that it is a "better" choice.

In the end, the Liberals would get their way, and Tennessee will suffer under the grip of another "progressive" regime.

Bredesen Shows "Guts, Mettle" for Presidency (Maybe...)

2005-01-11T08:57:00.000-05:00

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, after a few months of waiting, took decisive action on behalf of taxpayers yesterday, eliminating state-subsidized health care benefits for over 300,000 and reducing the level of benefits for an additional 400,000.

The timing obviously shows that Bredesen intends to maintain his stature as a fiscally-conservative Governor, increasing his national exposure amongst mainstream Democrats and making him more likely to be a strong potential Presidential candidate. The move guarantees him a second term in the Governor's Office, and he did manage to emphasize the cuts with a degree of passion and regret, making him all the more attractive to his liberal ilk.

The Republicans should really look carefully at Bredesen, as I do believe he will be one of the candidates they will have to prepare for in 2008.

More on the Revival of DDT

2005-01-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, Michelle Malkin put together a nice summary of the growing support for the use of DDT in devastated South Asia, which I mentioned last Monday. The summary also featured a strong, fact-filled commentary from Dr. Walter Williams, often the King of foresight, who brought the issue up back in July.

Hometown Still Fighting Wasteful Spending for New Highway

2005-01-10T12:42:00.000-05:00

The people of Cookeville and Putnam County are still fighting a decades' long battle over Corridor J (State Route 451), a proposed northern bypass connecting State Routes 111 and 56.

Most of the public complaints center around loss of open (green) space and potential unwelcomed economic investment. My biggest complaint is the waste of tax dollars associated with the project, as it replicates the existing connector between these two routes, Interstate 40. I am not opposed to developing the roadways in the area, but it would make more sense to widen I-40 to 3 lanes each way between the 2 routes (about 8 miles), which could probably be done within existing state-owned right-of-way. They could also improve both interchanges for these routes with the Interstate, as they are not really designed for the type of traffic the routes handle (i.e., tractor trailers). All of this could probably be done for far less than the costs associated with buying land (i.e., using eminient domain to steal land through condemnation) and building a new, 4-lane highway from scratch (in an area known for expensive road construction due to geographic impediments).

As with the HOV article before, I am siding with the opposition because if we are to have a limited, conservative government, we cannot accept wasteful projects such as this that threaten the property rights of citizens. With the significant opposition posed by those who live in the highway's proposed path, the State will have to use eminient domain to confiscate land (many people will not sell it to them by choice, nor should they be forced to). Remember, if we are to fight for the property rights of our fellow Americans, we must be willing to sacrifice those improvements that are not necessary and enable governments to take property away by force.

More information on the opposition movement is available here.

Another Example Current HOV Policy Doesn't Work

2005-01-07T16:16:00.000-05:00

It is not surprising that Northern Virginia is having problems with its HOV Lanes. In the first half of last year, lawmakers were considering transitioning the HOV lanes along I-95 into HOT (i.e., toll for non-carpoolers) to increase use. Now, with the onslaught of hybrids, it appears that the lanes are full.

Some of the fault belongs to efforts a few years back to chip away at the HOV concept, such as the decision to drop from HOV-3 to HOV-2 on I-66 inside the Beltway during rush hour. While local residents may not be "thrilled" about the idea of having to carpool, the simple fact is that their desire to take high-incomes jobs in this area, then live out in the suburbs, necessitates one of two things: either we can spend billions on building new roads (and increase the taxes associated with their funding), or we can live with what we have (a far better alternative).

The long-extending negative externalities of continued roadway expansion discourage its choice as an alternative. If VDOT would work to increase the application of HOV on existing lanes, it will encourage carpooling and REDUCE the tax burden on commuters. In addition, we will not see the continued increase of government land ownership and property tax base reduction that results from the increasing of right-of-way that new road construction or expansion requires.

As for Hybrids, HOV exist to reduce congestion, not for environmental reasons. They should't be using them unless they meet the passenger requirement.

US Turning Tsunami Relief to UN - WHY?

2005-01-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

I actually heard a conservative radio talk show host comment yesterday
that if he could, he would send his tsunami relief donation to the
Untied States Government.

I wonder how he feels about those comments now, as the US has turned
over its successful handling (so far) of the effort to the inept
United Nations? Why do we continued to bail these bastards out and
give them the opportunity to do things they prove unable to do?

For future relief donations, make sure they go to credible, US-based
organizations, like the American Red Cross.

Hopefully, the environmentalists will back off...

2005-01-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

Today's National Review Online featured an article encouraging the immediate use of available chemicals known to reduce the spread of disease-carrying insects, including the oft-criticized DDT, on tsunami-ravaged areas in the Southwestern Pacific and South Asia. No doubt there will be environmentalist opposition to this idea, but given the grim choices, the chemical solutions should be applied forthwith.

Not All Tsunami Relief Donations Tax Deductible

2004-12-30T16:33:00.000-05:00

Hundreds of thousands of Americans contributed millions to relief
efforts centered on the victims of the December 26th tsunami in the
Southwestern Pacific, with more coming in each day. While the motives
of those donating are purely honorable, there will be a time when many
donors think back on their contributions to itemize them for a
deduction on their Federal Income Taxes. This is especially true with
this situation, as it is close to the end of the 2004 tax year for
most Americans.

However, not all contributions toward disaster relief in this foreign
calamity are eligible for use as tax deductions, according to Federal
Tax Law. To claim a donation given in response to a foreign disaster,
or for any chartable use in a foreign country, the donation must be
given to a nonprofit organization that meets the following
requirements:

â¢Is recognized as a tax exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service;

â¢Is a US-based charitable organization; and

â¢The organization has primary authority over the allocation of donated
funds, either through itself or a foreign organization that it
operates and administers for fund distribution.

Several international relief organizations are US-based and fulfill
these requirements, such as the American Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse,
and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Foreign-based charitable organizations are not usually eligible for
tax-deductible contributions. Exceptions do exist in countries that
have tax treaties with the United States, which are Canada, Mexico,
and Israel. While each nation's requirements are different, they
all require that the donor receive income from the country to whom
they are making the donation.

Specific information applying to policies for deducting donations are
available in IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, available
online at www.irs.gov. If you are interested in donating to a specific
organization and wish to know whether or not they are tax exempt, you
can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, or access IRS Publication 78,
Cumulative List of Organizations, also available online.

Copyright 2004, Kenneth Hunter (kwhunter@gmail.com)

Note: Information available from the Internal Revenue Service
contributed to this report. Permission to reproduce and distribute
this article is authorized.

Americans Providing Strong Tsunami Relief, Many Avenues Available to Contribute

2004-12-30T13:52:00.000-05:00

The generosity and compassion of the American people to their fellow Man around the world is on display again in the outpouring of support for the millions devastated in the wake of the December 26th tsunami that killed over 100,000 and destroyed much of the coastal regions in
several countries in the Southwest Pacific.

Along with the tens of millions of dollars allocated by the Federal government, with potentially billions more on the way following the convening of the next Congressional session, individual citizens and businesses are also turning their attention toward the calamity with important donations. In its first four days of operation, a special link set-up by Amazon.com, enabling customers to donate directly to the American Red Cross, raised approximately $3.5 million.
Additionally, several businesses are donating millions each in financial and material support to provide relief supplies and fund the massive airlift underway to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and other affected countries.

Almost anyone reading this wants to help in ways more appropriate for them, regardless of their means. Here are some avenues through which your contributions can make it to those who need it in an effective, time-sensitive manner.

American Red Cross (www.redcross.org, or through Amazon)

Along with financial contributions for food, water, and other essential supplies, your donations also help cover costs associated with the transport of fellow Americans who assist with this esteemed agency's Disaster Services. More than likely, thousands of Americans will join other Red Cross volunteers around the world in the affected area to provide relief-related services and assist with the arduous, and in some cases, morbid tasks ahead.

WorldVision (www.worldvision.org)

This group was among the first to provide direct assistance to the affected areas, due in part to their long-standing presence throughout the Asian Pacific.

Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org)

The international relief organization of Rev. Franklin Graham has established an effort to provide needed relief services, utilizing their existing networks within the affected area and incorporating the aid of others.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (www.jdc.org)

This is another long-standing, US-based international relief organization providing direct financial assistance to tsunami-related relief efforts.

Copyright 2004, Kenneth Hunter (kwhunter@gmail.com)

Writer's Note: Feel free to distribute this message to anyone.

Achievement in Rural Education, the Key is Simplicity

2004-12-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

We often hear our parents and grandparents tell us about how different schools were during "their day." In many ways, they are absolutely right, and the key element of their comments is perhaps the most important: they were simpler, thus much better.

The Tennessean ran a story today on Pelham Elementary in GrundyCounty, a K-8 school in a rural area with less than 100 students. The article tells a "David-like" story how the school, in spite of dual-grade classes, limited facilities, and faculty/staff assuming multiple responsibilities, the school manages to effectively educate all of its students.

Of course, the lesson here should not be that the school accomplishesits success "in spite of" its limitations. Instead, I imagine that itis because of them. Decades ago, many rural and middle-sized schooldistricts closed these schools for these very reasons, assure of the recommendations made to them by educational professionals that students needed to be in schools large enough to provide a widevariety of educational (and social) services. Thus, we saw elementary schools grow to over 500, some even more than 700. At the same time,we now have middle, junior high, and high schools with as many as 3,000 students a piece dotting the landscape, featuring campuses that look more like community colleges or small universities than the intimate,closeknit environment vital to successful primary and secondary education.

There are two elements of Pelham that should create pause in the continued "reform" efforts of today's professional education elite. First, Pelham has minimal staff, with even the Principal serving as a teacher and his Secretary assuming all administrative assistant responsibilities (as well as being a teacher's aide). This is rarely the case elsewhere, where Principals are often years (and many bureaucratic levels) removed from the classroom, multiple levels of Assistant Principals and Counselors shepherd student flocks through grades, disciplinary matters, and paperwork, and administrative support personnel have no background or connection with the primary focus of the school: education. Of course, most schools no longer focus enough of their resources on education in the first places, serving instead as vehicles for the distribution of social services (medical care, public assistance, counseling, etc.). While these may be important, their presence within the confines of a school take attention away from the learning process, further undermining the lackluster efforts of the unmotivated teaching faculty.

The second element is the nature of the classroom at Pelham, where each teacher leads a dual-degree class. The classrooms are the same size, in terms of students, as other classes elsewhere, but the necessity of serving two grades at the same time forces the teacher to not allocate full attention to the students as a whole. This works to the student's advantage. With the advent of the "smaller class size" logic, teachers began to spend too much time helping individual
students, preventing them from having the time necessary to learn "on their own." As a child who once spent a year in a dual-grade class, I can tell you that the splitting of time between grade groups forced me and the other students to focus attention on our own learning efforts,
as we could not simply ask the teacher for help on every question we had with our studies. At the same time, the greater difficulty naturally gives the teacher greater latitude with respect to
maintaining discipline.

There is also the fact that by introducing a higher grade level in a class, some students in the lower grade level will learn additional information by "following-along" with their older classmates. Likewise, the older grade will be more likely to pay attention and perform, as they will not want to be shown up by the younger students.

I imagine that there are some drawbacks to Pelham, probably most noteable in the services provided those needing special education. However, with school choice, those children can be served by other schools within their district, or if necessary, personal instruction. The bottom line is that for the vast majority of students, simpler often means better when it comes to their educational environment of the classroom and school house.

DOD News Channel Arrives

2004-12-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Actually, it looks to have been around for a while. Think of it as a
CSPAN for our military and service personnel, without the call-in
shows (who calls-in to CSPAN anyway, especially on the "Independent"
line?).

The Pentagon Channel
http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/

It is unfortunate that this has to take shape, as the government
should leave the reporting of news to the private media. However,
given the destructive, demeaning, false manner of much reporting on
our activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the war against
terror, I really do not see any other way for the Defense Department
to provide the public, and their own personnel, the straight,
unfiltered information they deserve to hear and see.

Don't Confuse American Red Cross Heroics with International Red Cross Idiocy

2004-11-30T21:36:00.000-05:00

The International Council of the Red Cross made another stink for the humanitarian efforts of its member countries, especially the United States, today when it further condemned the treatment of terrorists imprisoned at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. These baseless indictments, founded on interpretations of international law that do not, cannot, and should not apply to the situation at hand, only serves to undermine the honest, positive, and needed efforts of those agencies that call themselves the Red Cross (Red Crescent in the Muslim world).

Americans should be careful not to judge the American Red Cross, a valuable and needed asset in our communities and around the world, as part of the International Council of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC is predominatly European in makeup, based in Switzerland. Its actions are not related to those of nation-state Red Crosses, especially in the United States.

While the ICRC undermines our efforts to ensure freedom and safety for millions, if not billions, of citizens around the world, the American Red Cross provides important services to our servicemen and women home and abroad. It serves as the primary conduit for distribution of information, especially emergency messages, from home to bases and battlefields. In addition, it continued relief, education, and emergency preparedness programs remain the bedrock of our nation's emergency management/homeland security policy, perhaps the most influential beneift provided by a private organization within the United States.

The American Red Cross also does not have a great relationships with ICRC, in large part due to the International body's unwillingness to recognize the Israeli equivalent, the Magen David Adom Society. The outright discrimination against the Israelis, who provide emergency services backbone in a area continually assaulted by terrorism, represents one of the many problems associated with the International movement component of the Red Cross cause. However, they do not diminish the efforts of the American Red Cross, and they should remain deserving, both on the national basis and at the local chapter, of your supportive donations.

Liberal Anger Against Bush, War has More to do with Past than Today

2004-11-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

We all remember the various comments and quotes from the extreme leftists within the Democrat Party expressing their utter anger over President Bush and his policies with respect to the War on Terror. We can picture, in our own mind, recognizable faces in politics, entertainment, and academia broadcasting unsubstantiated comments in a manner that made them appear absolute fact. They claimed Bush was destroying democracy, that Ashcroft was in charge of a "justice" regime that sought to destroy civil rights and liberties. For added measure, some even made promises, as if to encourage their fans or supporters to vote against Bush, that they would leave the US if Bush were re-elected.

Of course, we doubt that any of those who made these promises will actually keep them. Take for example Nashville-based singer/songwriter (more emphasis on the later, as I do not believe an album of hers have ever sold more than 50,000 here in the US) Nanci Griffith. She specificaly indicated prior to last Tuesday's election that Ireland would become her new permanent residence if Bush was victorious. Today, she recanted, stating that she would now "split" her time between a house she had already bought in Ireland and her existing residence in Nashville. To make it sound like she was "justified" in doing this, she incorporated a meeting she had with Country legend Brenda Lee (who once lived next door to my Great Grandfather and was the only celebrity I saw to attend his funeral back about 10-12 years ago) into the story.

The biggest name (sorry Ms. Griffith, you are not even close) to pledge emigration to Ireland is venerated Actor/Director/Gadfly Robert Redford, who indicated plans to vacate his shangrila in Sundance and cross the pond if the election results didn't fit his fancy. Since the election, Redford has tried to ignore criticism of his action and calls for following up on his promise. Some of the efforts, like the campaign coordinated by Glenn Beck, are actually serious (as they should be).

Naturally, many Americans (after all, they are the majority) are more than happy to send these fellow American's off in a one-way ticket manner. I am with them, but do not find anger or frustration in the tone of the comments. My infuriation focuses on the lack of any prevalent truth or fact with respect to the charges made against Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, and fellow leaders. Can they prove in any honest manner how this country has seen an erosion in its democracy or the civil rights and liberties of its law-abiding citizens since Bush took office? Has the Patriot Act really done anything to obstruct freedom except for those intending to do harm to our fellow citizens? Has anyone actually been arrested for speaking their mind since January 2001?

Those who have been arrested have done more than speak their mind. Our Justice Department proved with honorable evidence that certain individuals, including a college professor, were not only expressing hateful opinions against America within their classroom in a manner that could be construed as "fighting words" (a form of speech that has not been protected by the First Amendment since World War I), but also aided and abetted terrorists by directly and knowingly contributing and helping raise funds for their efforts.

However, I do not believe that their anger is based on the actions of the Bush Administration since September 11, 2001. Instead, it perpetuates a seething hatred initiated by the 2000 election. Despite all respected accounts that prove that Bush won Florida, thus acquiring the majority of electoral votes, they still cannot get over the fact that their candidate lost. They still believe in the unsubstantiated charges of fraud perpetuated by Republicans. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that the US Supreme Court decided to end the Florida Recount not because of political interest, but because the recount was a direct violation of state law enabled by politically-motivated judges. They cannot get over this, and it remains the source of their vitriol, even with another Presidential election concluded and their minority presence in American politics shrinking smaller and smaller.

If the Democrats want to have a chance at reclaiming national victories in the political arena, they have to learn to give up fighting the 2000 election over and over again. They did so in 2002 and 2004, and it served to defeat them both times. They must move forward, which means they must learn to remove the anger and negative emotion they feel towards the majority of citizens and learn to accept the fact that most citizens are actually intelligent and capable of knowing the difference between truth and deception. They can no longer use deception to win votes, they must rely upon facts.

If they had run a candidate with a better record on national security and supported a campaign where the focus centered on an honest evaluation of our military actions of late, identification of errors coming from the Presidential level of decision making, and recommendation of specific new strategies that offered a better chance of securing victory, then perhaps they could have had a shot. Instead of talking about trying to regain favor with Europe, whey didn't they challenge Bush to institute a trade embargo against all European nations involved directly in illicit activity with Iraq perpetuated under the UN Oil for Food Program? Why didn't they demand that the President institute a "defeat they enemy first" strategy in Fallujah, pomoting bombing and extinction of insurgents by any means necessary over the current trend of seige, street fighting, and negotiation? Instead of asking "where is Bin Laden," they should have asked "where is Zarqawi?" These are all reasonable criticisms that would make sense to the American people, and the people would have listened to and supported decisions that indicated a more decisive, victory-first vision than that which has been presented by the President.

To keep things in context, the last paragraph was not meant as an attack on President Bush. His policies, vision, and actions have led us to significant, monumental accomplishments here and abroad in the last three years. However, with any operation of this magnitude, there are setbacks and errors. The key in political battle, though, is to capitalize on those errors by offering solutions that do not change the tone, but reinforce it with a creater degree of commitment.

Still, the Democrats chose the path of 2000. Despite the harm to democracy that was the presence of 15 million new voters and a higher participation rating than 4 years ago, the American people had no interest in buying the hate and outdated anger the Democrats tried to sell them. When it comes to those within their ranks who promised to leave our country if Bush was elected, perhaps it is their fellow Democrats who should buy their tickets. Perhaps with them gone, they can learn to reconnect with the real America.

Taking Over Where It Counts

2004-11-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

For some reason, national reporters are ignoring a major occurence that resulted from Tuesday's elections. It is entirely possible, from an historical perspective, that the 2004 General Elections represented the end of an era for Democrat Party dominance in Southern State Legislatures. First, two critical victories in local races in Tennessee led to a first-ever, post-Reconstruction Republican majority in their State Senate by election. More impressively, numerous victories and changes of power in Georgia brought down the last vestage of the Democrat era that dates back to Reconstruction with their impressive takeover of the State House.

With most Southern States now represented by Republican Governors, Republican Congressmen, Republican Senators, and Republican-controlled legilsatures, one could easily argue that the reign of the Democrats in the South is now over. As former Georgia Governor and soon-to-be-former Senator Zell Miller alluded to with his recent book, the Democrats, once a sea-to-sea bastion of power, especially in the South, are A National Party No More.

Here are county-by-county maps of both Tennessee and Georgia, showcasing their Republican dominance (related to Presdidential Election results).

Does this actually increase shopping?

2004-11-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

This morning's Washington Post details plans by several "hip" retailers to inject remixes of holiday classics during the coming shopping season as a means of increasing sales amongst their primarily-young consumer base. Now, does it really matter what type of music you play in your store? I honestly believe that the more stores attempt to track teens and young adults with "trendy" gimmicks like hip music, flashing lights, and technicolor displays, the more likely they are to alienate the other consumer groups (i.e., parents and older adults) who really comprise the heart of the retail market.

All in all, developments like this make me want to do more shopping online, while enjoying the soundtrack from a true holiday class, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (no remix).

Target Bans Salvation Army Ringers, Deserves Holiday Boycott

2004-11-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know already know, Target has decided to institute a company-wide policy this year forbidding the Salvation Army from setting-up bell ringers at the entrance to their stores. Naturally, this will directly affect donations to the venerated public service organization (doing what the government could never do well, take care of those in need) in a negative manner. For more information, here is an article describing the situation.

Honestly, Target's justification does not make sense. As a private business, they are completely open to decide who does and does not run fundraisers in front of their stores. They have the right, as does any other business owner, to tell other fundraisers and nonprofits "no," while making an exception to the Salvation Army.

I have no direct affiliation with the Salvation Army, so I can recommend the following as a private citizen: BOYCOTT TARGET FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Show them you do not approve of their policies against a long-standing, respected social services nonprofit by refusing to shop there. After all, they need your purchases most at the holidays, just as the Salvation Army needs your help most during the same time of year.

There are other reasons, of course, not to shop Target (inflated prices, long lines, poor quality of staff), but this is perhaps the best reason.

The Mastermind of Electoral-Vote.com EXPOSED

2004-11-01T19:56:00.001-05:00

For some reason, the man behind the popular electoral-vote.com poll consolidation site decided to unmask himself today. I really do not know why, except I tend to believe that he wanted to take pride in his work, and the final result he appears to be hoping for (and advertising), before the actual election happens. Maybe the guilt inside of him took hold? Maybe he really thinks that Kerry will win (which, obviously, he hopes for)? I don't know, but his information clearly indicates that he has voted for Kerry, if not used this site to campaign for him via misrepresentation as a news site. For proof, consider this portion of his profile:

Why Did You Do This?

In a nutshell, because living abroad I know first hand what the world thinks of America and it is not a pretty picture at the moment. I want people to think of America as the land of freedom and democracy, not the land of arrogance and blind revenge. I want to be proud of America again. The U.S. media do a spectacularly bad job of informing Americans about what is going on in rest of the world. After Sept. 11, the U.S. could do no wrong. The entire world was on America's side. The invasion of Afghanistan was seen as completely justified. After all, the Al-Qaida leadership had to be decapitated. No one questioned that.

But Iraq was a completely different matter. Bush, Cheney, and Powell said they had conclusive proof that Saddam had WMD and could attack at any instant. The rest of the world wanted to see the proof. No proof was forthcoming. The answer was "trust us." We now know there were no WMD. There weren't even factories or labs to produce them. Saddam was an evil dictator with evil fantasies but he was no threat to America. Yet former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said that the planning to invade Iraq began the day Bush was inaugurated. The administration simply misused the horror of Sept. 11 as a convenient excuse for doing something that was already in the works.

Let me tell you a short story. When I was in elementary school, the school was plagued by a bully. He was the biggest, strongest kid around and would beat up anyone he didn't like. We were all exceedingly polite to his face, but hated his guts behind his back. One day he was chasing some poor kid and he tripped and skidded a considerable distance, scraping his face on the rough asphalt of the playground. He was bleeding and in pain, screaming for help. But nobody came to help him. We all just walked away. George Bush is the world's playground bully. The world sees him--and by inference, America--as arrogant, self-centered, and mean. I spoke to Americans from dozens of countries at the DA caucus. Everyone told the same story--the world hates America. When talking to foreigners, I can tell them about the Bill of Rights or freedom or World War II, or whatever I want, but all they see is this big, stupid, arrogant, playground bully and a stolen election in Florida last time. I think America deserves better. I want America to be respected in the world again, and John Kerry can restore the respect America deserves.

Don't believe me that the world hates us? The Guardian, one of Britain's most respected newspapers, ran a column by Charlie Brooker last week ending with this paragaph: "On November 2, the entire civilised world will be praying, praying Bush loses. And Sod's law dictates he'll probably win, thereby disproving the existence of God once and for all. The world will endure four more years of idiocy, arrogance and unwarranted bloodshed ..." Then it gets so bad that I refuse to quote it. Maybe Brooker is a nut and maybe it was a joke, but the fact that a serious newspaper would publish this piece shows how deep the hatred of George Bush runs. And this comes from our closest ally. Imagine what people in Spain or Indonesia or the Arab world think.

In other words, he lost his bearings on being a patriot and proud American quite a while ago. I can understand that he faces a certain degree of disdain, living in all places The Netherlands (home to the legal drug and prostitution capital of the world, Amsterdam), but why handle it in this matter? He seems to be an intelligent guy. Why not use history to stand up and take pride for his country and simply tell off those who oppose us philosophically. Perhaps remind them that a prior generation of their countrymen did not initially see an enemy in the rise of the Third Reich, and to some degree didn't mind their invasion and the nice "cleansing" they did of their local Jewish "problem"? Would they still want to be under a Reich now, or are they glad that the United States and Great Britain chose to respond with an invasion that, while distrubing the countryside and ruining some cities, did manage to thwart evil, save an ethnicity from potential total extinction, and ensure the peace and freedom that enables them now to relish in all-you-can dope and poke drug and hooker fests?

In other words, we can now officially ignore the electoral-vote.com results. I had some rather negative feelings about them last week, as I noticed that the polls he used were rather suspect (i.e., I never heard of some of them).

Also, this proves that in all honesty, the media and the intellectual elite (along with the cultural elite that we already knew were in for it) are completely committed behind Kerry. It is time for the citizenry to stand up to them and prove their efforts wasted.

Do You Really Want Them Expanding their Power?

2004-10-31T13:45:00.000-05:00

Club for Growth launched a campaign last week highlighting the certain link between the Kerry/Edwards cabal and attacks on vaccine manufacturers that have created dangerous situations like the current Flu vaccine shortage.

We all know that a Kerry/Edwards win will result in the opening of new "mass tort" frontiers for the charlatan class, enabling them to further erode our health care system through their sick exploitation of other's grief. By the way, what about Kerry's plan of requiring attorneys to secure "deposits" prior to filing liability cases? All this does is ensure that their specific trail-lawyer friends, who long ago graduated to the multi-billion dollar "mass tort" side of the business, receive less competition from smaller lawyers who are actually interested in serving individual clients who have individuals complaints of merit. In other words, the "pot of money" the charlatans seek will be more available for them, as it will not be "pilfered" by those few who actually deserve compensatory compensation for their problems, and the respectful lawyers they hire to help them in the process.

Is the concept of medical liability law the problem? Of course not. The problem, as it usually happens, is with the execution. Congress and state legislature are fully within their right (constitutionally) to implement limits that ensure accountability and care for those injured, while at the same time making certain that the industry itself does not collapse or is negatively-hindered by the weight of litigation. Health care is a public interest (though it should not be a public service), and indirect actions like tort reform provide the best means to correct its ills, not large-scale government health programs matched with an "open season" nod to greedy trial lawyers.

Look to Canada, Australia for Validity of Polls

2004-10-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

Yes, the polls do not look good. I try not to look at them, but their use by reporters in these final days of the election forces one to take notice (though I don't think I saw one at all yesterday; thank God for college football).

Still, we can take solace in something that has nothing to do with the bell-weather polls we like to think prove Bush to be the winner (i.e., Weekly Reader). Earlier this year, national races in Canada and Australia were considered too close to call in the days immediately before the election. When the actual ballots were counted, however, the incumbents (good for Australia, bad for Canada) won easily. Yes, their utilization of parliamentary systems makes it an "uneven" comparison, but it still provides a good example of how insufficient polls can be in terms of actually predicting who will win.

I still believe that the polls are being "skewed" to ensure closeness so that the media can draw people's attention to Tuesday's election. Bottom line: political news like elections is cheap and easy to cover, and it draws large viewerships that attrack more advertisers. Is this hard news? Only about 10% of it is. Real news is more expensive, actually takes a degree of human effort to investigate and report, and can sometimes turn off viewers and advertisers. Of course, that is the paradox of what is really known as journalism.

The media outlets want to ride the election stallion for however long they can. While some may be "in the tank for Kerry," they're real desire is for a contested result, recounts, court cases, and months of controvery that extend their coverage up to the holidays. They hit a goldmine in 2000, and they naturally want an easy repeat. What are they going to do? Actually take off their make-up, grab their notebooks, and report on real stories? That would take too much time away from their "happy hours."

Disclaimer (the Joys of a Split-Party Household)

2004-10-29T22:41:00.000-04:00

First of all, I know it is a little late to get on the Bush Blog bandwagon. However, there are a few people who view this blog, so I thought what the heck when it came to linking up with Blogs for Bush.

However, just so no one is confused... I have no idea how my wife will vote on November 2nd. That is her business. I do know, however, that if this was her Blog, it would not be part of "Blogs for Bush." Though I own this blog, she does post from time to time in response to my ramblings.

In other words, those of you who know my wife, my support of President Bush is not an indication that she supports the President in the November 2nd Presidential Election. Okay, I hope we've got that clear.

The Conspiracy... in a Nutshell

2004-10-29T21:41:00.000-04:00

As we await the November 2nd Presidential Election, I think back to the campaign and political career of John Kerry and how he emulates what I define as the "Suburban Conspiracy."

First of all, Suburbia is the target of the conspiracy, not its origins. The reasons for this I will allude to later, and hopefully they will make sense.

The foundation of the conspiracy is power, as are all of them. Those in power choose, of course, not to relinquish it, even when it is easily apparent that their reign cannot continue within existing confines. For some, they adapt and continue onward. For others, they seek to restrict the "rules of the game" to their long-held existence. This conspiracy deals with the later.

For more than two centuries of our history here in the land that is now the United States, our distribution of power depended heavily on the ability to maintain and control large quantities of human labor. Whether agricultural or industrial, our existence primarily depended upon the ability to centralize a vast group and organize them in a productive manner. This included seeing to their personal and family needs. Thus spun the factory towns, public administrations, and union/social networks of the north, where industrialists eventually overcame the inefficiencies of the pre-modern cottage industry era and sought to build their fortunes through the manipulation of manpower into factory might. This same philosophy also describes the Southern aristocracy that enabled our "Golden Era" of Slavery in the early and mid-19th Century, then reconstituted it via some degree into the Jim Crow era of the early to mid-20th Century.

Prior to the end of World War II, these elites who possessed control of mass labor, via factories, slavery, sharecropping, mining, etc., ruled America and reaped significant rewards in terms of power and wealth. To some degree, they adapted to the challenges that faced them, adopting socialist concepts in regards to public policy to make sure that the masses they controlled did not riot against them. They eventually succeeded in conquering the Unions, even though existence did less to challenge them than the bougeoisis of the age (i.e., the Carnegies and Fords). Even the "blip" of mass individualism that was the 1920's was contained by the horrors of the Great Depression, which only strengthened the power of the elites. With the return of mass industrialization, and the power via labor concentration that came with it, through World War II, the elites saw very little that could challenger their strangle hold on true power and distribution of real human rights and liberties, including one of the most important of all, fulfillment of personal desire.

Of course, the elites realized that the masses would clamor for some reward for their efforts following the war, but they would have chosen other means than the suburbs. Prior to their creation, they were able to concentrate and control power over their labor pools via a social culture where the workers owned no property, lived in "equal" surroundings, and existed within an environment (the cities) that did not value individualism (i.e., the worlds constructed by the works of Ayn Rand). With the suburbs, however, ordinary people, regular cities (the so-called "Middle Class" or "Working Class") could find their own identity and possess some degree of personal stake (ownership). The very existence of the suburbs and their culture of individualism stood as a serious challenge to the dreams of the elite, who sought to limit the desires of their subjects in a manner where they could suffice them via a socialist policy that only cost those (via income taxation, not wealth taxation) who challenged their "status quo."

But the American people refused to submit. All people, as endowed by their creator, yearn for freedom and individuality, and the suburbs (along with the opening of higher education to all) provided their outlet. Once this happened, very little could be done to stop it. Initially, the elites sought to reclaim the halls of academia. They corrupted the following generation, the baby boomers, into a haven of materialistic heathenish who could not find their true identities as a means of displaying the evils of individualism. They thought that by turning them against society, first with their counterculture, then with their rampant selfish consumerism, they would scare future generations away from pursuing their own identifies and towards accepting their roles as subjects in a nationwide collective.

They succeeded to some degree, transforming part of the target generation into a class of unfit radicals who never understood the significance of citizenship, patriotism, or religious guidance and how they serve to develop individual "limits" on personal behavior. However, not all succumbed to their wishes, choosing instead to thank the heavens for their gifts and strive to serve their Lord by seeking a better world, where the freedoms they enjoyed were extended elsewhere and where individual pursuits were not taken for granted via the illicit guise of immorality. For them, the suburbs were a refuge of individuality and freedom, while the cities decayed and crumbled under their own weight of generations of unstopped oppression.

The elites also worked to coopted the suburbs themselves, succeeding in turning some into reproductions of the socialist culture they established earlier in the urban cores. We all know of a Long Island or Arlington within our immediate area where individualism is opposed and socialism reigns. They not only built them, but later praised them as utopias, seeking to shame the rest (i.e., calling those who did not comply centers for "sprawl") into adopting "their" policies via concepts like new urbanism. Unfortunately for them, their successful was limited by the decay these very areas endure today, as they are now the new locations of plight resulting from the burdens of their chosen, socialist path.

However, these battles do not come close in value to the primary development within the last 50 years that enabled the people to regain power from the elites. With the advent of the age of modern technology and growing accessibility to education, more and more sought to use their minds and ideas, rather than there physical labor, to make a living. In doing so, they sought greater freedom by branching out into self-businesses and new fields. Their initiative eroded the power structure, as they became less dependent upon unions and socialist communities to ensure their economic security. They also achieved great income and wealth in many cases, although their success will be shorted lived than prior generations, given how the growth of our "mind economy" encourages faster and faster delivery of ideas to replace prior ones.

The elites cannot have this development take greater hold and maintain their hold of power amongst society. They have achieved, in some way, to create a culture of "job-specific" education upon some groups, utilizing higher education as a means of teaching skills, not as a means of developing the ability to create new ideas. With these people, they still seek to maintain human pools that can provide "mass labor" in developing technologies, even though the further we progress, the less necessary these groups will become. Through their allies in the environmentalists movement, they are now trying to turn back the clock on our age of technological enlightenment, claiming it is damaging the world around us. At the same time, their political representatives, some who belong to their families, others who seek acceptance by doing the bidding of the old guard, utilize fear and envy to punish the dreamers in order to secure favor among those they oppress.

John Kerry is a classic example of this. His ascension was the result of courting favor amongst the elite, whose strongest base remains in the Northeast. His campaign, with its lauding of socialism and attacks against the certifies of small business (the engine of our modern economy), he seeks to restore the national power base of the elite political machine. Without this resurrection, the elite will continue to lose their power. Without power, they cannot maintain their wealth. Currently, they rely upon punishing the dreamers (i.e., income taxation), a tax that does not affect them (they could care less about estate taxes, as their trusts and endowments protect them from its reaches). How else do you explain how Kerry and his wife paid only 12% in taxes last year, while President Bush (who chose to ignore the elite's advances and chart a course more in line with the desires of the new idea-driven working class) pays around 35%?

Kerry's campaign epitomizes the efforts of this cabal against the American people. This "suburban conspiracy" is an opposition to the modern incarnation of what was often held as the American Dream. The suburbs represent personal opportunity, as their individualist appearance draws its inhabitants to chart their own course without fear of interference by their neighbors or the society as a whole. If Kerry is elected, these neighborhoods of enlightenment, the homes of our 21st Century Renaissance, will be attacked relentlessly, punished in a manner reminiscent of the Inquisition for the crime of daring to go beyond the intellectual capabilities of the collective. That is what we are fighting now, and that is the conspiracy we face today and tomorrow.

Someday, I will write a book on this. Until then, I hope this suffices as some effective pre-election reading.

The Food Nazis Strike Again... Against our Children

2004-10-29T21:35:00.000-04:00

Perhaps my title for them is a little extreme, but I despise theirefforts and the degree of influence they have in our lives, especiallywith regard to our children.

First of all, I do not believe that the type of food people eat onoccasion is the primary influence in their health. It all depends onthe "balance" instituted by their parents and family with respect to overall diet, along with their exposure to exercise and recreation activity. It doesn't matter what you serve someone at school, as they are most influenced by what goes on (food and activity wise) at home. This holds true for education in general, so it should not be any different with respect to a child's health.

Of course, the goons who populate public health and school nutrition programs (not all of them, as there are some who aren't this way,including an in-law who just retired from a career in public health) cannot accept this. As a result, they overreact to the issue of child obesity by banning sweets at school, as the new policy in Milford, CT, stipulates. This is par for the course among many, and it is one of the issues that often gets my blood boiling when it comes to government (at any level) crossing boundaries of reasonable action.

It reminded me of an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article last yearregarding the "heroic" actions of School Lunch diretors banning soda and candy machines that just about made me want to find them and stuff some twinkies down their fascist mouths.

Personally, if I had the time and money, I would go down to Tennessee, pick-up a truckload of Little Debbies direct from their bakery, stop off somewhere along the way to pick-up some "hot" Krispy Kreme donuts, then barrel right through the cafeteria of Milford's largest public school (in a manner that does not endanger any lives) and start passing out the bounty to every student and teacher within reach. This may be overreacting, but it is as ludicrous an idea as what the food nazis established in Milford.

There is also another way to look at it. Is this what we want on a national level? Do we want this degree of "Nanny" protectionism extended across America? If you do, you can find a perfect candidate in John Kerry, as his policies alude to. If you don't, if you actually want to take care of yourself and your families without the totalitarian guise of government officials telling you what you can and cannot eat, your only reasonable choice is George W. Bush.

Watch Before You Vote

2004-10-29T11:25:00.000-04:00

Not too many media outlets are providing links to the "Azzam the American" video shown (in brief) by ABC and FOX News yesterday. The terrorist's words deserve consideration as we approach the polls this coming Tuesday (or earlier, if you choose), as they remind us of the real issue of importance that will face our President and the country he leads over the next four (or more) years.

Remember, for more than 3 years, President Bush and his administration have kept the events as described by Azzam and his hate bretheren from happening here in the United States. Do we want a change from this? Do we really wish to see body bags pile up again in New York City? How about Boston? Washington, DC? San Francisco? Seattle? What about Atlanta? Perhaps even Omaha? These may become realities if we change our current tact in the War on Terror. John Kerry has promised as much, and he will change our direction in order to court the favor of his "allies." When the attacks hit, he will blame them on the actions of Bush (who has never blamed the 9/11 attacks on the inaction of Clinton). He will not respond to future terrorism, giving those who hate this country a "green light" to invoke their immoral, unfathomable rage against us for crimes we have not committed, and will never commit.

The threat is real and ongoing, but it has been mitigated, eliminated (in some ways), and effectively suppressed by the Bush Administration since 9/11/2001. For this, and their continued campaign across the globe that will eventually lead us to a day where terror as we know it will be silenced under the awesome pressure of freedom, representative democracy, and human rights, our President deserves a second term.

If you don't think so, please watch the tape before you vote. Can you really afford to take a risk with Kerry?

Never to Return (Maybe)

2004-10-28T15:03:00.000-04:00

The French have decided to provide Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat a medical refuge as he deals with various severe illnesses, as reported. While there is a place for humanitarian activity, part of me does hope that the Israelis, while granting him permission to leave Ramallah, will not grant him permission to reenter after he recooperates.

It actually makes sense. He wife resides in Paris, and I doubt he will find a more friendly place to enjoy his final years in exile. The French would welcome him with open arms, healthy or sick, and this only reenforces our growing disapproval over their actions on the international stage. If he has any intelligence, he will stay put in Paris once his medical issues are resolved, leaving Palestine finally available for peace and resolution with Israel.

Kerry's Drain on Economic Development

2004-10-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

Campaign bumper stickers on cars do not bother me, even those of the candidates I despise. However, when I know who drives those vehicles and what they do for a living, I sometimes have to stop and wonder, "why?"

A certain individual whose job involves "economic development" has a Kerry sticker on their vehicle. I cannot understand how someone whose job involves trying to foster economic growth, the starting and development of local businesses (or expansion of existing ones into the local area). When you consider the economic plans being proposed by the Kerry campaign, along with his/their agenda for health care, taxes, and most importantly, national (in)security, you have to wonder if there will be any economic growth anywhere if Kerry were to be elected.

I just finished listening to Glenn Beck's second hour monologue, where he specifically tied current downturns in economic activity as a result of the election. If you want to see a reemergence of the recession that took hold back in 2001-2002, vote for Kerry. The wells of investment and economic expansion, which have grown during the second half of the Bush Administration, will dry up the minute Kerry is elected. The reason is simple. Whether you agree with him on other issues, I do not know of anyone who honestly believes in a rational manner that John Kerry, as President, will enhance or even maintain our current level of national security. Without the certainty that Bush and his administration have established in protecting this country from terrorism via agressive, active mitigation of its sources abroad, one cannot act with the degree of certainty necessary to continue our recent economic growth.

The perceived closeness of this election, in no small part the product of public manipulation on the behalf of misguided journalists and the influence of the so-called "intellectual elite" within the confines of mainstream media, have created a philosophical "malaise" that will only be eradicated if Bush wins convincingly. If he can pull 300 electoral votes and 55% or more of the popular vote, the tide will return completely positive. If the election is disputed, and anything less than 300 votes and 55% popular vote will lead to that, the current lack of confidence will continue at least through the end of the year.

Police Enforce Law... Media Ignores Rule of Law and Citizen Safety

2004-10-27T02:32:00.000-04:00

Articles in both the Manassas Journal-Messenger (Potomac News) and Washington Post this week try to spin the arrest of two dozen migrant workers in Woodbridge last week as a blow to both civil rights and efforts to foster “goodwill” between law enforcement and the immigrant community.

I hate to have to ask, but how do you foster “goodwill” between law enforcement and a culture completely okay with ignoring the rule of law in their new home?

The dozen or so migrants still in detention, along with those out and on their way back home, represent a minor fraction of the exploding presence of illegal immigrants throughout the National Capital Area. Thousands live in Prince William County alone, and their visible presence underscores one of the greatest threats to community and national security we face in present time.

The explosion of illegal immigration has brought many negative externalities, most notably a significant increase in violent gang activity within area suburbs. These gangs, originally-organized by illegal immigrants in the 1990’s, now rely upon the masses of illegals here in Northern Virginia to inflict a reign of terror upon all law-abiding citizens.

While I commend the efforts of Congressman Frank Wolf in establishing and securing federal funding for a District-wide, multi-jurisdictional gang task force, I believe that its actions resemble the treating of symptoms rather than the actual disease. Illegal immigration is the illness that faces us, and until we turn its tide back towards our borders and a policy of immediate mass deportation, our efforts against gang violence, domestic assaults, public health risks, and other issues associated with the high presence of these individuals among society will not prove effective in the long-term.

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth granted limited powers to local law enforcement to detain individuals on immigration violations. The General Assembly and Governor can take a real step toward helping the situation and make the power more broad, enabling police departments to enforce the rule of law in the exact matter that it should be.

I don't wish him one either...

2004-10-23T20:17:00.000-04:00

During the week, Cuban despot Fidel Castro fell and broke bones in his arm and leg during a graduation speech. Apparently, several world leaders have sent their condolences in response to this event, as reported out of Pakistan.

The United States has yet to offer a sympathetic word to the dictator. I hope we keep it that way.

We Found our Marie Antoinette...

2004-10-22T11:03:00.000-04:00

I don't vote for candidate because of who their family is or is not, but after reading this article in today's Washington Times, I honestly think people should consider the ramifactions of Theresa Heinz-Kerry becomming First Lady should her husband win the Presidential election in less than 2 weeks.

The article, honestly, was less about Theresa's behavior and obvious excentricities than a retread of the disdain the Washington elite hold for the Bushes. These elites, who stopped caring about public service decades ago and only care about their exposure in the society pages, cannot seem to understand that there are some of us (including our President and his wife) who simply do not adhere to their imbred, royalistic manners and attitude. Does anyone really care about people like this when they make these types of ridiculous comments:

Quoting French Wallop, the ex-wife of a former Republican Senator, in pointing out her disappointment in the low number of (expensive, money-wasting) state dinners held by Bush and his wife, "what, four or five state dinners in four years? These people don't understand that to get things done you have to have these stupid dinners."

If these dinners are "stupid," do they really get anything done? That's like saying that summits often get things done (if you're lucky, you'll find something productive about once in five or six).
Basically, both of these are examples of government waste where foreign leaders are brough over here, comped their room and board, and introduced to our American "royalty" (i.e., the inbred old money types) who feel more important for actually meeting them (instead of actually working to accomplish change).

There are also some pictures on the Drudge Report, showcasing Theresa with a couple of longnecks (probably the $5/each microbrew type) while on the campaign trail. Honestly, this looks like a trap, as I have a feeling that the Democrat's October Surprise this time around will be to showcase similar pictures of the Bush Twins (especially if they can manufacture a follow-up story involving a secret abortion or other embarassing incident). We've already seen that they have no shame going after the Cheyneys and the First Lady, so we shouldn't be surprised if they go after the only ones remaining that have yet to be touched in this campaign (saving their best-worst for last).