Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
So long and thanks for all the fish!
I would like to thank Tad for his hospitality, but I figure it’s time to get my own place. So I’m off to crank on my own blog engine. You can find me at Accidental Incidents over at Blogger. Thanks!
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Sep 22nd, 2008
How Prescient
This movie was released in August. Maybe it’s a little too late?
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (1) : Sep 17th, 2008
GOP Economic Leadership?
The ongoing deconstruction of our economy is a reflection on the policies of one party and the legislation of one man, former Republican Senator Phil “Nation of Whiners” Gramm. As Josh Marshall so eloquently put it
The man most responsible for the financial services and banking deregulation that made [Black Monday] possible, fmr. Sen. Phil Gramm, is the man John McCain wants to put in charge of the whole economy.
Let’s be clear what those policies are and what they’ve given us. Since Ronald Reagan, the Republicans have advocated a form of wealth redistribution that sends money to the top 1% of income earners and then, through their munificience, it “trickles down” upon the other 99% of the population. Hence the term “trickle down economics.” Let’s be honest, it’s a scam. It doesn’t work. It’s a way to raid the treasury and ship it up the financial ladder to the richest 1% of Americans at the expense of the rest of us.
Barrack Obama wants to change that math. His plan is a simple one and it returns us to a pre-Reagan idea of how taxation can be done fairly and equitably. He seeks to increase the tax burdon of the top 1% of earners and decrease it for the rest of us. So if you make less than $250,000 per year, you will get a tax break under Obama’s plan. The less you make, the bigger your tax cut will be.
McCain’s plan continues the failed policies of the previous Republican administrations by cutting taxes at the top 1% significantly more than the taxes of everyone else. This chart shows what this means.
So when John McCain says he’ll cut your taxes, you better hope you make enough to make it worthwhile.
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (3) : Sep 15th, 2008
Guten Taaaaaag!
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (1) : Aug 28th, 2008
Let them have a drink
There’s been a flurry of activity on the interblogs about the national drinking age (still holding steady at 21). A number of college presidents are calling for a more rational approach–a discussion that we desperately need to have.
Federal legislators coerce states into keeping the drinking age at 21 by withholding highway funds for any states that don’t comply. (In my mind, another example of federal overreach, but that’s for another day).
Not long ago, many states (including Wisconsin) allowed drinking at the age of 18. As part of the [overwhelmingly effective] War on Drugs, this was raised nationally to 21. (Another side note - we seem to have an extremely flat learning curve on the efficacy of various drug prohibition schemes.)
Here’s the reality–most college students enter school at 18 or 19 years of age. The atmosphere on most college campuses is very friendly towards drinking. House parties are commonplace and alcohol is readily available to anyone with a bit of cash (regardless of age). I know of very few college students who patiently await their 21st birthday before drinking alcohol. (Zero, to be precise).
And here’s the problem. Every bartender has the legal obligation to stop serving customers when they’ve had “too much”. Bars are staffed with [sober] bouncers to control the rabble rousers and are reasonably safe places to socialize and drink.
Contrast that with the college “house party”. The clientele is usually underrage and drinking heavily. The drinks are prepared by amateur bartenders who are happy to serve anyone as much alcohol as they can handle (and then a little more). Fights, assaults, and theft is common. In short, a pretty crummy place to learn to drink responsibly.
Here’s the best part–there’s a pretty easy solution to this little problem. I agree with the notion that drinking at 18 can be problematic since it makes for easier access to alcohol in high school. But 21 is too old. What about 19 and 20?
I think 19 would be an age for legal drinking in the US. This would encourage young adults to drink responsibly in bars instead of the aforementioned house party. Now if only those bums in Washington would let the states decide!
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (4) : Aug 27th, 2008
Give us clean energy
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Aug 20th, 2008
Multiverses, explained!
Every now and again I’ll hear a podcast that really makes me think. Like brain overheating think. The kind of think where you feel like if you stop concentrating for just a second you’ll slip and lose it all.
What a satisfying feeling!
WYNC’s Radio Lab did just that for me with a podcast about Multiverses and the theory of infinite copies of everything we know. It’s complex, but they do a really good job of making it approachable (as approachable as complex quantum physics can be).
If you have long drive, run, or other mindless task coming up, download this one and listen to it. It’s that good.
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Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (1) : Aug 13th, 2008
Real men don’t think things through
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Aug 11th, 2008
Wordle - Beautiful Word Clouds
Wordle takes your text (or blog RSS feed) and creates really nice looking word clouds. Check out the example below, from this very blog :
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Aug 11th, 2008
Welcome Muttmutt!
After almost 4 years on the job with tadfad.com, I’m trying something a little new. Let me officially welcome muttmutt as a guest blogger!
All regular readers will note that my publishing schedule waxes and wanes, so I’m hoping getting a few more fingers on the keyboard will help to even things out.
To prevent any confusion, I’ve also added a by line at the bottom of all posts (down there next to the date) so you can see who authored the post you’re reading.
Enjoy!
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (2) : Aug 6th, 2008
