Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Chief Justice Roberts Has a Seizure
Initial reports said he fell or had an accident but Roberts has had seizure and according to the article he had another one in the past. If he has to take anti-seizure medication, that is very significant because all anti-seizure/ anti-convulsant meds have side effects including impacts to your ability to concentrate, decreased energy level, drowsiness, etc. If he ends up taking some drugs, I would be very interested to know if watchers of the court see any change in his behavior, speech, thinking, etc.
Monday, July 30, 2007
updates from camp
my daughter is spending a few weeks at a day camp and here are some funny highlights:
- there is a pond on the property and with complete belief, she told me that her counselors told her a giant squid lives in the pond and will grab kids if they get too close. Is this a bad way to get kids to stay away from the pond?
- the older kids have the choice to sit and read the new harry potter book for choice time and my 5 yr old wants to get in on that even though she is has not read any of them and can't read. Is she too young for us to start reading the first one to her?
- one of the choice activities - putting on nail polish and dying your hair a funky color. Not something I recall from my camp days.
- there is a pond on the property and with complete belief, she told me that her counselors told her a giant squid lives in the pond and will grab kids if they get too close. Is this a bad way to get kids to stay away from the pond?
- the older kids have the choice to sit and read the new harry potter book for choice time and my 5 yr old wants to get in on that even though she is has not read any of them and can't read. Is she too young for us to start reading the first one to her?
- one of the choice activities - putting on nail polish and dying your hair a funky color. Not something I recall from my camp days.
Don't forget to bring your PJs when you go shopping
Ikea is opening a hostel/ hotel in a store in Norway.
"There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together. We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed," he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children to join into the Ikea fun. None of the guests will be charged for their stay."
This model would never work in the US but I think lots of people travel to Minneapolis and stay in a nearby motel to shop at the Mall of America.
"There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together. We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed," he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children to join into the Ikea fun. None of the guests will be charged for their stay."
This model would never work in the US but I think lots of people travel to Minneapolis and stay in a nearby motel to shop at the Mall of America.
I Keep The Hot Sauce Hot,Not Mild and Weak It's Gonna Burn Your Mouth Until You Wet Your Beak
On the ride in this a.m. I listened to the great Beastie Boys song "Hey F* You". Despite the title this is a hilarious brilliant piece of music. The song is basically a big diss on other rappers. There are so many smart rhymes and clever things in there. "To the Five Boroughs" is a great album in part because of the post-911 political poetry + you can really hear and understand the lyrics. Check it out. My question (and the question of other BB fans online) who is the song about? Is it about Eminem? They have kind of denied it in an interview but I am not so sure they were being honest.
Which of you schnooks took my rhyme book? Look give it back you're wicky wack
You sold a few records but don't get slick
'Cause you used a corked bat to get those hits
You've been in the game, your career is long
But when you break it down you've only got 2 songs
Which of you schnooks took my rhyme book? Look give it back you're wicky wack
You sold a few records but don't get slick
'Cause you used a corked bat to get those hits
You've been in the game, your career is long
But when you break it down you've only got 2 songs
Carousel
You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan and A Real Nice Clambake were two of the songs that made me laugh when I heard them; I can't get them out of my head. I went to see Carousel this weekend at the Overture Center. I did not know what to expect but it was a very good show. It was in the small 350 seat Playhouse, it was a very intimate place to see a big musical. I don't think I would have liked to see this show in a larger venue. The show was a little long.
It was a tragic play with some serious themes (domestic violance, class, and more) which seems odd given the some of the silly parts. Some of the lyrics and dialogue seemed cheesy or campy but I guess it was the way people talked at the time. Thumbs up. Large cast, there were sometimes as many as 17-20 people on the small stage. It did not end until 10:40 and there was a super cute little girl in the show who looked around 6, she looked a little tired.
When The Children Are Asleep is good song for parents of young kids.
It was a tragic play with some serious themes (domestic violance, class, and more) which seems odd given the some of the silly parts. Some of the lyrics and dialogue seemed cheesy or campy but I guess it was the way people talked at the time. Thumbs up. Large cast, there were sometimes as many as 17-20 people on the small stage. It did not end until 10:40 and there was a super cute little girl in the show who looked around 6, she looked a little tired.
When The Children Are Asleep is good song for parents of young kids.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Althouse: The summer associate who sent a senior partner the text message: “Are bras required as part of the dress code?”
Althouse: The summer associate who sent a senior partner the text message: “Are bras required as part of the dress code?” Althouse focused on the "no bra" part of the article and there are some funny comment on this part of the story.
Another link to the story on Gawker with lots of comments from readers. Regardless of whether the story is true (there is a post with some information about the source of the story), the comments from readers are very funny and tell about the variety of work settings out there. While my office is very causal (aka dumpy/ styles from the 70s), it is missing the vibe described in the comments.
Another link to the story on Gawker with lots of comments from readers. Regardless of whether the story is true (there is a post with some information about the source of the story), the comments from readers are very funny and tell about the variety of work settings out there. While my office is very causal (aka dumpy/ styles from the 70s), it is missing the vibe described in the comments.
Generation Y gets a Job
When Whippersnappers and Geezers Collide This is a fun article with a great title. While I am sure this clash goes on it seems somewhat ridiculous that people need to go to training to deal with it.
Part of me things that the Gen Y people had better catch on quickly to the appropriate way to act at their jobs or their career path will be limited. Should the employeer's job be to hold their hands and tell them how to act professional on the job, sink or swim I say. One interesting part was the survey of younger workers - 97% want a job that "allows me to have an impact on the world." If this is really a survey of all Gen y age people, there is a big problem because many jobs (accountant, banker, computer programmer, sales, retail, engineering, etc.) do not have big impacts on the world. The 3% are going to have a much easier time in life if they don't have that expectation. I am lucky in that I feel my job acutally does improve the world.
In someways this article makes me wish I worked somewhere else since the average age here is around 50 and we not had a new staff person under 30 start working here in years.
Part of me things that the Gen Y people had better catch on quickly to the appropriate way to act at their jobs or their career path will be limited. Should the employeer's job be to hold their hands and tell them how to act professional on the job, sink or swim I say. One interesting part was the survey of younger workers - 97% want a job that "allows me to have an impact on the world." If this is really a survey of all Gen y age people, there is a big problem because many jobs (accountant, banker, computer programmer, sales, retail, engineering, etc.) do not have big impacts on the world. The 3% are going to have a much easier time in life if they don't have that expectation. I am lucky in that I feel my job acutally does improve the world.
In someways this article makes me wish I worked somewhere else since the average age here is around 50 and we not had a new staff person under 30 start working here in years.
No Gifts at Kids Party
Kids B-Day Party with No Gifts article from NYT
I like this idea however, I think giving money to charity seems a little hard for a 4 year old to understand. To say to a kid who has always gotten gifts at age 6 or 7 now we are going to give the gift money to charity, the kid may get it, but a 4 year old is very egocentric. I am fine with just asking people not to bring gifts at all. Birthdays should be about family and friends having fun, celabrating, and cake of course. Even though this seems like a trendy upperclass parenting fad, it seems pretty cool.
I like this idea however, I think giving money to charity seems a little hard for a 4 year old to understand. To say to a kid who has always gotten gifts at age 6 or 7 now we are going to give the gift money to charity, the kid may get it, but a 4 year old is very egocentric. I am fine with just asking people not to bring gifts at all. Birthdays should be about family and friends having fun, celabrating, and cake of course. Even though this seems like a trendy upperclass parenting fad, it seems pretty cool.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Free Transit!
Long article about the idea of free public transit - Great thought provoking article. I think this sounds like a great idea. This would have a large impact on our communities and lives. We have this in a small way here because UW staff and students have free bus passes which I think is great. I have heard many say how great that is for them. Whidbey Island, Wash. sounds great. Reasons for the switch:
1. A barrier-free transportation option to every member of the community (no more worries about exact change, expiring transfers or embarrassment about how to pay)
2. Eliminating a "toll" from a mode of transportation that we as a society want to be used (transit is often the only way of getting around that charges a toll)
3. Reducing the inequity between the subsidies given to private motorized vehicle users and public transport users
4. Reducing the need for private motorized vehicle parking
5. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, other air pollutants, noise pollution (especially with electric trolleys), and runoff of toxic chemicals into fresh water supplies and ocean environments
6. Reducing overall consumption of oil and gasoline
7. Eliminating the perceived need to spend billions on roads and highways
8. Contributing significantly to the local economy by keeping our money in our communities
9. Reducing litter (in some cities transfers and tickets have overtaken fast food packaging as the most common form of street garbage)
10. Saving trees by eliminating the need to print transfers and tickets
11. Allowing all bus doors to be used to load passengers, making service faster and more efficient
12. Allowing operators (drivers) to focus on driving safely
13. Giving operators more time to answer questions
14. Providing operators a safer work environment since fare disputes are eliminated
15. Eliminating fare evasion and the criminalization of transit-using citizens
16. Fostering more public pride in shared, community resources
1. A barrier-free transportation option to every member of the community (no more worries about exact change, expiring transfers or embarrassment about how to pay)
2. Eliminating a "toll" from a mode of transportation that we as a society want to be used (transit is often the only way of getting around that charges a toll)
3. Reducing the inequity between the subsidies given to private motorized vehicle users and public transport users
4. Reducing the need for private motorized vehicle parking
5. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, other air pollutants, noise pollution (especially with electric trolleys), and runoff of toxic chemicals into fresh water supplies and ocean environments
6. Reducing overall consumption of oil and gasoline
7. Eliminating the perceived need to spend billions on roads and highways
8. Contributing significantly to the local economy by keeping our money in our communities
9. Reducing litter (in some cities transfers and tickets have overtaken fast food packaging as the most common form of street garbage)
10. Saving trees by eliminating the need to print transfers and tickets
11. Allowing all bus doors to be used to load passengers, making service faster and more efficient
12. Allowing operators (drivers) to focus on driving safely
13. Giving operators more time to answer questions
14. Providing operators a safer work environment since fare disputes are eliminated
15. Eliminating fare evasion and the criminalization of transit-using citizens
16. Fostering more public pride in shared, community resources
I Heart This American Life!
I am addicted to the radio show This American Life. I have been listening on-line or on my iPod. You can listen for free on line or get free podcasts. Some of the best recent ones that I highly recommend.
1. Three Kinds of Deception each act is better than the next. There were laugh out loud funny parts during act 1 and 3. David Sedaris' (who I don't always like) story about being mistaken for a pick pocket in Paris is so funny. BTW, who cares if he makes up some parts of his stories.
2. Notes on Camp Great Great - makes me embarassed about myself when I was very into camp back in the day. I wonder if the camp thought this would be good PR for them because I don't think it really makes them look so great. The kind of come across as cult like freaks. I know many camps are similar but they seem a little obsessed with their traditions and they (even the staff) don't seem to have any sense that it may come across odd to an outsider.
3. In the Shadow of the City The first act was the best. I was laughing out loud on the bus, people must have thought I was smoking something. The third act was interesting because I know the guy Brian who was interviewed. I used to work with him and he is very nice and does great work helping to cleanup the air in Chicagoland.
Check these out!!! you will not be disappointed!
1. Three Kinds of Deception each act is better than the next. There were laugh out loud funny parts during act 1 and 3. David Sedaris' (who I don't always like) story about being mistaken for a pick pocket in Paris is so funny. BTW, who cares if he makes up some parts of his stories.
2. Notes on Camp Great Great - makes me embarassed about myself when I was very into camp back in the day. I wonder if the camp thought this would be good PR for them because I don't think it really makes them look so great. The kind of come across as cult like freaks. I know many camps are similar but they seem a little obsessed with their traditions and they (even the staff) don't seem to have any sense that it may come across odd to an outsider.
3. In the Shadow of the City The first act was the best. I was laughing out loud on the bus, people must have thought I was smoking something. The third act was interesting because I know the guy Brian who was interviewed. I used to work with him and he is very nice and does great work helping to cleanup the air in Chicagoland.
Check these out!!! you will not be disappointed!
Richardson in Iowa
Nice article about Bill Richardson at a recent Iowa event - He is my favorite candidate and I am very unhappy that the media doesn't give him much attention and considers him a 2nd tier candidate (I will have more about this later). Abolish 'No Child Left Behind' - great idea. From what I can tell the whole law seems worthless and does nothing to help America's schools.
Why do I care about Target?
For those of you who don't know I am on the board of the Regent Market Coop grocery store. I local neighborhood grocery store that sells natural and regular food and is owned by the neighborhood members. For many reasons, I support efforts to support locally owned neighborhood businesses. See the Dane County Buy Local website.
People can shop where ever they want and I shop at chains like Target sometimes. Part of what bothers me is that government would may extra efforts to help and subsidize big chain businesses and that the media would give them any free advertising. You can tell what a small town Madison is when you see this type of stuff in the news. Today's State Journal has a cover store about the store! The Isthums has an article which says that the city used TIF to help pay for the development. Yes it was a quarry but this this seems like standard big parking lot sprawl development. What is the government (city, county, state) doing to help businesses like the Coop? nothing. I could go on an on about this...and probably will.
People can shop where ever they want and I shop at chains like Target sometimes. Part of what bothers me is that government would may extra efforts to help and subsidize big chain businesses and that the media would give them any free advertising. You can tell what a small town Madison is when you see this type of stuff in the news. Today's State Journal has a cover store about the store! The Isthums has an article which says that the city used TIF to help pay for the development. Yes it was a quarry but this this seems like standard big parking lot sprawl development. What is the government (city, county, state) doing to help businesses like the Coop? nothing. I could go on an on about this...and probably will.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Interesting way to solve crimes
Playing Cards for Prisoners with Unsolved Crimes This is a great idea. Law enforcement folks are usually not that creative. It does seem a little creepy that some rapist may be playing Solitaire with a photo of my dead sister but whatever works.
Another Article about Target!
Another Cap Times article about SuperTarget Again, they have to give this business some free PR. Wow you can hurt local grocery stores, book stores, and toy stores all on one trip. Why do communities roll out the red carpet for these type of businesses and do little to help the small local businesses already there.
Frozen Rabbit in Window?!
What the heck - I saw this email from Ald. Gruber in Madison about neighborhood news (this is the area around Hilldale):
Frozen Rabbit Thrown Trough Window of Home
On July 8, 2:30 AM, Fond du Lac Trail, corner of Langlade, a home owner was closing up the house after a late night and noticed a car (white ? sedan) parked in front of his home. At least two men, probably age 20-30, were bickering noisily in the car. Homeowner locked front door and while securing the rest of the house was startled by the crashing glass of his picture window. The window had been broken by a hurled frozen rabbit. The homeowner followed the car by foot for more identification but the car sped off on Langlade and out of the neighborhood. The police and homeowner were mystified by the used of the frozen rabbit, but it is suspected this was a device which might distract a guarding animal from a break and enter. In any case a frozen rabbit would not stay frozen for long in this heat so it may have been from freezer of an earlier "hit".
If you have information about this incident, please call the Police Department at 266-4275 or Crime Stoppers at 266-6014
Frozen Rabbit Thrown Trough Window of Home
On July 8, 2:30 AM, Fond du Lac Trail, corner of Langlade, a home owner was closing up the house after a late night and noticed a car (white ? sedan) parked in front of his home. At least two men, probably age 20-30, were bickering noisily in the car. Homeowner locked front door and while securing the rest of the house was startled by the crashing glass of his picture window. The window had been broken by a hurled frozen rabbit. The homeowner followed the car by foot for more identification but the car sped off on Langlade and out of the neighborhood. The police and homeowner were mystified by the used of the frozen rabbit, but it is suspected this was a device which might distract a guarding animal from a break and enter. In any case a frozen rabbit would not stay frozen for long in this heat so it may have been from freezer of an earlier "hit".
If you have information about this incident, please call the Police Department at 266-4275 or Crime Stoppers at 266-6014
Rudy's Temper and Family Issues
Rudy's thoughts about the interest in his temper Of course the public has a right to ask about what type of manager and person he is. If he is a mean guy with a nasty temper, he will be that way as President which has huge impacts on his ability to govern. Also, a person's personal life and relationships are relavant to how someone will serve in this type of position.
Lance Armstrong For President
Article from Des Moines paper - My friend's kids are in the paper watching the ride across Iowa looking for Lance. The ride went right by my friends mom's house.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Campaign $ and Blogs
The Volokh Conspiracy has a interesting post about a complaint against DailyKos being subject to election law. I don't understand the complexities of the applicable FEC rulings and laws but in my view it is hard to separate blogs from campaigns if the blog gets money from a campaign. It does not appear that this complaint against Kos addresses the issues of blogs getting campaign money. I am not sure if Mr. John Bambenek is aware of the huge amount of $ that some blogs deal with (see this business week article) ($1000 a year - it sounds like some get $1000 a week) and that cash comes into blogs from campaigns (see the article from Mother Jones) I think this issue will grow in as the blogs become more important in elections. Can a blog take money from a campaign and others and then say vote for that person and recommend people donate to that person and say things about the other candidates, etc. and not even report any of this publicly?
Monday, July 23, 2007
Big News - New Target : (
Cap Times "news" Why give the big company free PR because they are opening a new store. This will further hurt local businesses and they have plenty of cash to pay for their own ads. It is not like you can miss the store which will add to the already bad traffic on PD and Vernona Road. You have to get halfway through until they mention anything bad about the location or the store. Part of they way these large developments are successful is to change the planning to meet there needs; new roads are being build to basically help the store while all the businesses in the older parts of town have to live with what the've got.
YouTube Debate
I don't know if I will be able to watch but I like the idea of the CNN YouTube debate however, allowing for CNN editors to select questions lets them basically ask whatever they want. Let’s finds someone without health insurance to ask about that. Also, the format favors younger more educated people who have computers with cameras, etc. If I had to ask a question, I would ask "The President is the chief executive of the whole federal government, millions of federal workers, 100s of agencies with billions of dollars in budgets....describe your experience as the manager and administration of large organizations?...what will you do to efficiently and effectively run all these government programs you will oversee?
Go Russ
Feingold on Bush I am very surprised that the Democrats have been so unwilling to take any formal actions against the president. Given what the GOP did to Clinton over such a minor issue, it seems odd that the dems have not make more of an effort and there is not more support for impeachment or at least censure. It seems like a no brainer. While I guess some are trying to take the high road and focus on the issues of the country, but he needs to be held accountable. Why won't he get more support in congress?
Knocked Up Review
We saw the movie Knocked Up last night. It was really really funny. It combines the low brow humor that I love from Wedding Crashers, Harold and Kumar, Old School, etc. with parenting/ pregnancy humor. I did not think I would like it but I laughed out loud many times. It also did a good job of pointing out the doldrums of parenting and grownup life. There is a great line by Paul Rudd that is something like "marriage is like an unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond, only it doesn't last 22 minutes".
Friday, July 20, 2007
Mobility Matters?
Mobility Report from Reason Foundation
I don't know why I read this slick report from the libertarian/conservative Reason Foudnation but I found it interesting. They are trying to make the case that traffic congestion has huge impacts on our lives. The report does not get into recommendations but I bet they would recommend we spend more on wider roads, more roads, pro-sprawl policies, etc. Any smart growth liberals could not argue with the heart felt anicdotes in here and public transit would not fix all these probelms but you can't build your way out of traffic and the cost to make even a small dent would be huge. Worth a skim.
I don't know why I read this slick report from the libertarian/conservative Reason Foudnation but I found it interesting. They are trying to make the case that traffic congestion has huge impacts on our lives. The report does not get into recommendations but I bet they would recommend we spend more on wider roads, more roads, pro-sprawl policies, etc. Any smart growth liberals could not argue with the heart felt anicdotes in here and public transit would not fix all these probelms but you can't build your way out of traffic and the cost to make even a small dent would be huge. Worth a skim.
What is in it for me?
Lack of Support for Trains
Short article from Isthmus about how to pay for the proposed Madison/ Dane County trains. This seems like a good funding idea- spread the costs around.
Sun Prairie and other folks opposed to this don't see the whole picture. Even if the train doesn't go to some communities or neighborhoods in the county, everyone will benefit from the economic development spin off. Many people in Sun Prairie will be employed by companies which will be benefiting directly or indirectly from efficient transportation system with lots of options.
Sun Prairie folks coming to a Badger game or farmers market will have to pay less for parking and face less traffic with trains.
Also, better transit could result in less spraw which Dunn and others don't want.
Overall property taxes for all could be less as a result of the economic prosperity spread across region as employers and businesses grow and strive with good transportation. That said, Falk and Dave C should have made more of an effort to build countywide support.
Short article from Isthmus about how to pay for the proposed Madison/ Dane County trains. This seems like a good funding idea- spread the costs around.
Sun Prairie and other folks opposed to this don't see the whole picture. Even if the train doesn't go to some communities or neighborhoods in the county, everyone will benefit from the economic development spin off. Many people in Sun Prairie will be employed by companies which will be benefiting directly or indirectly from efficient transportation system with lots of options.
Sun Prairie folks coming to a Badger game or farmers market will have to pay less for parking and face less traffic with trains.
Also, better transit could result in less spraw which Dunn and others don't want.
Overall property taxes for all could be less as a result of the economic prosperity spread across region as employers and businesses grow and strive with good transportation. That said, Falk and Dave C should have made more of an effort to build countywide support.
Draft Gore? No Thanks
I listen to AirAmerica a lot and they have all these ads asking for Gore to run for President. They are cute but I do not think he would make a strong candidate or president. I find the whole global warming issue to be somewhat hard to believe because as VP the Clinton/ Gore adm. did very little to address the issue other than to promote "voluntary" efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. As presidential candidate, he did not make this a big issue either. If elected, I guess he would take a pro-business, do little stance on climate change.
Also, he is not that interesting and charismatic of a person. Does he have good ideas on health care, poverty, etc.? These draft Gore people should get behind one of the actual candidates.
Also, he is not that interesting and charismatic of a person. Does he have good ideas on health care, poverty, etc.? These draft Gore people should get behind one of the actual candidates.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
progressive bloggers paid by campaigns
interesting article in mother jones mag
While a popular progressive blog could take campaign money I would not want to read it anymore and I would not consider it an independent or credible source of information. This seems like a very slippery slope of conflicts of interest. I completely agree with Maryscott O'Connor and think that Mr. Armstrong's comment from 2005 seems very arrogant. Right or wrong I treat blogs like independent journalism. If a blog becomes an arm of a campaign then maybe I should just read the campaign website. Do campaigns have to disclose which bloggers they give money to?
If I were a candidate, I would be very leery of any kind of partnership with a blogger because people could connect you with anything blogger said in the past.
While a popular progressive blog could take campaign money I would not want to read it anymore and I would not consider it an independent or credible source of information. This seems like a very slippery slope of conflicts of interest. I completely agree with Maryscott O'Connor and think that Mr. Armstrong's comment from 2005 seems very arrogant. Right or wrong I treat blogs like independent journalism. If a blog becomes an arm of a campaign then maybe I should just read the campaign website. Do campaigns have to disclose which bloggers they give money to?
If I were a candidate, I would be very leery of any kind of partnership with a blogger because people could connect you with anything blogger said in the past.
bringing edwards down
interesting article from Ruth Conniff about the GOP and Edwards see this Isthmus article
It seems to me that the GOP are holding back on any criticism of Obama and Clinton now because they want either of them to be the nominee. The haircut thing does seem like a non-issue, almost all politicians are rich and spend a lot of money looking there best.
It seems to me that the GOP are holding back on any criticism of Obama and Clinton now because they want either of them to be the nominee. The haircut thing does seem like a non-issue, almost all politicians are rich and spend a lot of money looking there best.
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