Libertarian Lifter

New blog is a year old already

2010-03-28T12:01:00.001-04:00

I've been posting here

paulstagg.com

for a year.

Nice to see Blogger has added some additional features!

New site updated

2009-04-01T16:35:00.001-04:00

New posts!!!

Read them here:

http://paulstagg.com

Moving

2009-03-30T19:05:00.003-04:00

The libertarian lifter is moving. I've redirected my personal domain to a new wordpress.com account. Wordpress allows for the addition of pages, which is what I wanted to do with my website.

I'll be working on moving posts over in the next few days, but for now, all new material will be posted here:

http://www.paulstagg.com

Aren't we transferring the environmental consequences to something else?

2009-03-29T18:11:00.000-04:00

Yes.

Via the Agitator

Not much to say

2009-03-29T11:57:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the gaps in posts, haven't had much to say or much time to say it. I do have a lesson for President Obama on how "those who are more fortunate" behave, and maybe how most of them got that way, and why increasing taxes by lowing deductions for charitible contributions will indeed reduce the amount of contributions. But then, that's what he wants.

Anyway.

I'm thinking I might revamp my blog/website thing. I has a website, but I havent' been updating it. I looked at wordpress, and it looks like I could build something with a blog and articles/information, which is kinda what I'd like to do. Make a project of it, or something.

Still figuring out twitter, but I'm there if you are interested.

Training updates will be back soon.

3/21/09 training

2009-03-21T14:42:00.001-04:00

Squat
45x5
95x5
135x5
185x3
230x5
270x5
305x5
135x10

Leg curl
50x10
60x10
3x10 @ 70

fin.

3/20/09 Training - Bench

2009-03-20T15:52:00.001-04:00

Bench Press
45x10
95x5
135x5
170x5
200x5
230x6
5x10 @ 135

DB Row
5x10 @ 50

I am out of shape.

No Bias

2009-03-19T19:32:00.002-04:00

I wonder, why didn't any US mainstream media cover this?

Pretty sure they would have covered a similar blunder by the last President.

Brilliant

2009-03-19T19:25:00.004-04:00

Rush Limbaugh needed Barack Obama to become President. Nothing brings out the best in Rush as an administration with opposing policies who also appear to be losing their footing (see: Clinton). I've always found Rush entertaining, but sometimes his commentary really bothered me, so I didn't listen much. Having Obama in the White House, though, has me tuning in more often.

He's taken to referring to everything the President says as "what Obama's telepropmpter told him to say." Honestly, the first time he said it, I just did a double take, but the second I laughed so hard I thought I was going to run my hybrid off the road.

Now, Obama's teleprompter has a blog.

If we can avoid universal health care and much damage to the economy, this is going to be a very entertaining 4 years.

Social networks are public!

2009-03-18T08:00:00.003-04:00

I'm finding I get a kick out of twitter. Mostly due to who I follow, not so much what I post, although I'm learning how to add value to all the noise.

What's funny is how some people don't understand that twitter is public. Really. Think before you post.

I know I've tried to be very careful about identification. I don't hide who I am, so if my boss wants to find me in the interweb, he can. But when discussing politics, or, frankly, any controversial issue, I keep it clear that it's MY personal comments, that no way reflect my employer. I don't identify my employer on twitter or on my blog (although if you look hard enough, you can find out).

I know my boss can see my Facebook page, and I've got a website where the URL is my name. I'm not going to trash my company, make them look bad, or discuss anything I don't want them to know on any internet medium other than secure email.

Seriously. How can anyone not get this?

Link via problogger on twitter.

Awesome Rant

2009-03-17T20:19:00.002-04:00

The AVI has a message for our friends on the left.

You have believed that politicians saying nice things to people who are oppressed - and insisting that everyone else say nice things - is more important than the downtrodden having actual jobs and dignity. You have believed that people having stuff collectively is worth more than self-respect. You have voted for that and you have gotten it, and when it tanks, you must not think it is some accidental misfortune.

You have believed that regular people will not get good things unless government makes it happen. You take it as a given that something called the market will treat people unfairly, and civil servants, not perfect but well-meaning, are needed to prevent abuse. You have thrown your lot in with the idea that the government is far less corrupt than private industry, and have hired that fox to guard the henhouse. This is exactly where Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Rangel, Dodd, et alia are taking us. When government corruption prevents recovery, it is not because you have had the bad luck to elect a few bad apples in with the good folk.

All this especilaly fitting the nitwits in Congress threatening to take action against specific individuals, even as they WROTE IN THE LAW that AIG had to honor it's contracts.

This gets scarier by the minute.

3/16/09 Training

2009-03-16T16:37:00.003-04:00

Trying something new and different. (Over and above actually going to the gym)

OH Press
45x5
65x5
85x5
95x3
105x5
120x5
135x8 (PR)
2x10 @ 85
3x10 @ 65

Neutral Grip pullups
2x5

Pulldowns
5x5 @ 180

15 minutes treadmill.

I reject your phrasology.

2009-03-16T10:08:00.001-04:00

I, um. What?

Free Agency

2009-03-06T12:26:00.002-05:00

Ozzy Newsome and company again look like they know what they are doing.

Some commentary:

Bart Scott to the Jets. Scott is a hell of a player, and probably has the most potential long term upside given his age. However, he's not worth $8million a year. The Jets overpaid, and are going to find out that the Ravens' defensive schemes and the other players make these guys better. Take a look at some other Ravens who moved on and haven't been anywhere near as productive. Certainly a loss, but good for him to go get the payday.

Jason Brown to the Rams. As with Scott, Brown is a great inside lineman and good for him for getting the big payday. But also as with Scott, he's just not worth the $7million a year he's getting. I know there was a disagreement on how he should be paid, as a guard or center, but in my opinion, that just didn't matter. He's good, but can be replaced.

Jim Leonhard to the Jets. Who doesn't love this player? He wanted and deserved a shot at a starting spot, and the Ravens' depth at safety just wasn't going to give him that opportunity. I think he's worth the money even as a backup/special teams guy (3 years at $6million), but the cap limits I think precluded signing him, and he wasn't going to be happy if he didn't have a starting spot. Another good for him, he's going to be a factor.

Terrell Suggs franchised by the Ravens. I don't like this move at all. I think they needed to find a way to work something out without using the tag, and I think now they need to work out a long term deal before the season starts. If they don't, he'll be gone in 2010. While there's a lot of depth at linebacker, I think Suggs is worth locking up for 5 years.

Matt Birk to the Ravens. Great signing, good deal, some experience on the line and a little better protection for Flacco. Sign a big play reciever, and you'll see this pay off.

Ray Lewis re-signed. 3 years and $22million seems about right. I was suprised he didn't get more interest, but I think it was true the Ravens were willing to outbid anyone for Lewis. He's going to retire a Raven, and his leadership and passion have unlimited value. He's going to be the reason these young linebackers are going to be great for years to come.

Matt Stover let go. Well, maybe. He got an offer from the Jets, the Ravens said they would let him go, and the Jets signed someone else. From an emotional standpoint, I hate that Stover might play somewhere else or retire like this, but from a business standpoint, I think carrying two kickers takes up a roster spot better used for something else, and it probably is time to move on. I'm not happy about it, though. We love this guy.

I can't wait for the season to start!

I find populism oddly arousing

2009-03-05T13:09:00.001-05:00

Awesomesauce.

Austin Bloggin'

2009-02-28T09:52:00.002-05:00

Greetings from lovely Austin, TX.

Came for a long weekend on our continuing research on warm places we might want to live. General verdict on the city is that it's pretty nice, lots of new building going on, clean, nice people. Weather for us has been pretty good, it was in the upper 80's for the last couple of days, today is low 60's. It can get really hot in the summer from what we hear.

Some restaraunt reviews:

On Wednesday, we had lunch at Iron Cactus on 6th St. Awesome. I had Steak Colorado Enchiladas, J had the Acapulco. We may return before we go home. 9/10

Wednesday evening, we went to Bess Bistro. Ambiance and location are great, food was good, service was a little off. 7.5/10. The Artichoke hearts and spinach appetizer was fantastic. J really liked her seafood risotto, I thought the steak frites were OK, but not spectactular. Prices were OK.

Thursday, we had lunch at Jo's on 2nd St. Awesome. I had a pulled pork sanwich, and J and I shared Frito Pie. Very well done, friendly service. Outside seating needs to be a little cleaner (or bussed mor quickly), as we made close aquaintence with a number of birds finishing off someone else's Frito Pie. 8/10 (9/10 without birds).

Friday night, we went to Louie's 106. Had some build up, as they've won awards from Wine Spectator, and the place looked really nice. Inside, the ambiance is great. Classy place, nice bar, open kitchen. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was quite lacking. Our server had no interest in being there. We had to ask her what the specials were, I was served a warm (like warmer than room temp) glass of wine, and she was generally inattentive. The food, likewise, was dissapointing. My Ceasar salad was good. J had Veal Risotto. She liked the risotto, but the veal was not of the quality the price made us expect. I had a 16 oz ribeye, which wasnt' bad, it just wasn't the $36 steak I was expecting. It was also overcooked (I asked for medium rare, I got medium to medium well). Since we could see into the kitchen, it was clear my steak was sitting under heater for several minutes while the risotto finished. Wine by the glass list unimpressive, and the general wine list was quite overpriced, in my opinion. 6/10.

Today is touristy stuff, then going to an art/food thing tonight. Back to the grindstone on Monday.

Your tax dollars at work

2009-02-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

Study finds that if you eat less, you lose weight.

What's more awesome? The study was apparenly poorly conducted.

So not only do we find out what Physics (Thermodynamics) taught us quite some time ago, but we couldn't even conduct a proper study to do it.

This is why the government shouldn't have anything to do with science.

Or anything else, for that matter.

A picture says a thousand words

2009-02-26T18:41:00.001-05:00

A graphic representation of the 2009 defecit

This is going to be a great 4 years. Change, indeed.

This explains a lot

2009-02-26T18:38:00.001-05:00

Apparently, I may be mentally ill.

Quote of the day

2009-02-22T17:37:00.000-05:00

"Congress is their last chance to find a sucker who will give them more money."

Maths, who needs them?

2009-02-22T17:03:00.004-05:00

More jovial posts, because really, how can you not laugh.

Obama will touch on his efforts to restore fiscal discipline at a White House fiscal policy summit on Monday and in an address to Congress on Tuesday. On Thursday he plans to send at least a summary of his first budget request to Capitol Hill. The bottom line, said an administration official Saturday, is to halve the federal deficit to $533 billion by the time his first term ends in 2013. He inherited a deficit of about $1.3 trillion from former President George W. Bush.

The first step: Spend $800 Billion.

So this must mean raising taxes, which as we know always works so well to increase revenue (just ask the Teflon Leprechan).

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the president has not yet released his budget for the fiscal year 2010, which begins Oct. 1, said the deficit will be shrunk by scaling back Iraq war spending, ending the temporary tax breaks enacted by the Bush administration for those making $250,000 or more a year, and streamlining government.

Those mean old rich.

The best part, these two sentences are together. How can anyone think this is serious?

Obama has pledged to make deficit reduction a priority both as a candidate and a president. But he also has said economic recovery must come first.

Last week, he signed into law the $787 billion stimulus measure that is meant to create jobs but certainly will add to the nation's skyrocketing national debt. He also is implementing the $700 billion financial sector rescue passed on Bush's watch; about $75 billion of which is being used toward Obama's plan to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

Now, something a little lighter

2009-02-22T14:39:00.003-05:00

Mandate

2009-02-20T21:16:00.000-05:00

Wondering what universal health care will look like?

Click here.

Enjoy.

Horrifying

2009-02-19T14:32:00.002-05:00

Horrifying that a state government would allow this to go on, even after they knew it was happening.

I wonder what, if any, criminal charges will be filed. I have an idea.

None.

Remember this when you wonder why people don't trust the government. Remember this when you think criminals get too many rights. These scumbags put countless people in prison. Or worse.

Failing experiments

2009-02-13T10:14:00.004-05:00

NASCAR season isn't off to a good start from a ratings perspective. The Bud Shootout ratings are off last year by 22%.

I normally would watch. Didn't this year; I didn't care. Why? Stupid rule changes, again. Instead of being all the pole winners from last year, plus folks who had won the Shootout in the past (usually a good 25 car field of top teams/drivers), NA$CAR had to change the format because of sponsorship (Coors Light now sponsors the pole award) So, now since qualifying is essentially meaningless, and there's no 'all star' race reward, the pole becomes even less important.

Anyway, instead of what it was, they took the top 6 teams by manufacturer, then added in some extras... too complicated to even care to understand. But pretty much every Dodge got in, since there are only 6-7 teams left.

Just dumb. So no one cares to watch.

Since the 150's don't matter any more, I'd bet ratings for those races yesterday were off, too. (I didn't watch, and didn't even bother to record them.)

Wow... just... wow.

2009-02-11T09:48:00.001-05:00

"Would you have done that if McCain were elected?"
"No."

1000th post

2009-02-11T09:46:00.001-05:00

1000 posts in a little over 4 years. How about that.

As I'm getting older, I'm becoming more resolved that what I say here (or anywhere else) really doesn't matter that much. I'm not going to change anyone's mind. I had this realization with lifting about a year ago, when I was spending way too much time trying to teach people who didn't want to learn about training. The power of the Bro is strong, and I can not overcome it. Same is true with the power of the majority in this country.

People think they have the right, through the government, to take other peoples' stuff and give that stuff to the more deserving. That's not going to change, we are too far down the road. So I have to focus on doing the best I can, and defend my rights to the best of my ability, realizing, of course, I can't fight the state. I'll get some satisfaction when they finally get what they want, and someone in the federal government is deciding they can't have that joint replacement because they don't deserve it. Hopefully I'll be able to afford to outside the system, then, assuming that's legal.

I'll keep doing good things, keep helping where I can, and work hard so I can get to the point I don't have to anymore.

The Solution

2009-02-11T06:48:00.002-05:00

I've figured out the solution to the economic "crisis". I, alone, can save 500,000,000 jobs.

End Social Security. That's all. No stimulus package needed.

Think about it. You immediately give every working person 12% more money each year to spend. It's a "progressive" tax cut, as the rich don't pay as much as a percentage (the cutoff for wages taxed is about $100k). You also give people the option to take a lump sum of what they have paid in, or leave it for when they retire. Those who are already retired and drawing Social Security payments would not be affected, as they just draw down the Trust Fund (assuming it exists. If not, I'm pretty sure the total liability of retired people isn't the $1 Trillion the 'stimulus' package will cost).

Sure, you'd have to iron out some details for people nearing retirement, but all in all, I think it would work. I'd even be willing to forgo the lump sum - they can keep what they have, so maybe have a cutoff of age 40, where if you are under 40, the government keeps what they took, if you are over 50 you have the option to stay in the program.

Think of how well that would stimulate the Economy! And give us a little freedom back.

Real Change.

Rain Tomorrow

2009-02-11T06:44:00.002-05:00

A quick read on the decline in clarity of business writing.

I work for a big corporation, and I see evidence of this every day. Not only are kids rewarded for using lots of words, we are rewarded in the workplace for using more words (and bigger words) than required, and certainly for using buzzwords.

"Speak to" drives me nuts.

Seriously. Simpletons

2009-02-08T12:13:00.003-05:00

How do these idiots get elected?

Yes, that's correct. If we don't Do Something, we will lose more jobs than there are people in the United States. This truly is an unprecedented economic catastrophy, eliminating the jobs of people who do not yet exist.

And this wasn't a one off. She said it multiple times.

Self fulfilling..

2009-02-08T11:45:00.002-05:00

Talking us into a depression at Coyote Blog. Interesting employment stat included.

To add some anectdotal evidence: I deal with a couple of small business owners on a regular basis, as well as some very large organizations. All of them are having trouble hiring.

That's right.

Seocnd hand, through them, I'm hearing an awful lot about people cutting back and slowing growth in anticipation of poor results. Business is fine, but they are cutting back anyway.

I think all this doom and gloom talk might have something to do with that behavior.

Simpletons

2009-02-08T11:15:00.003-05:00

So much has been said about the insane spending bill about to be passed, I don't really have that much more to add, other than to remark we are governed by simpletons.

This kind of stuff amazes me. It amazes me it gets said, it amazes me people buy it.

President Barack Obama pounded Republicans Saturday for policies that fueled the economic crisis, while welcoming a Senate deal on his stimulus bill that ideologically split lawmakers hope to finish by mid-month.

Obama said quick action on the package was imperative to avoid catastrophe and praised the group of moderate senators from both political parties for coming up with a compromise.

Senate Democrats agreed late Friday to trim spending proposals and support tax cuts in a roughly $800 billion bill. They rolled back an earlier $937 billion proposal by culling what critics, mostly Republicans, called billions of dollars in unwarranted spending.

Doesn't anyone understand this bill is the policies of the last 8 years, just more? Anybody realise the actual 'stimulating' spending (without going into too much detail on why government spending isn't any more stimulating than non government spending) is on the back end of the bill, at the same time we'll be coming out of the recession if we do nothing?

Which is what Congress should be doing. Nothing, other than cutting taxes. That's the only thing they can do to help the economy. The rest of it has to play out, and it will.

(By the way, this isn't the 'worst economy since the depression'. It isn't even close. But the more our President says it is, the more people act like it is, as he is the Messiah.)

SHOCKING BREAKING NEWS!!!

2009-02-01T14:54:00.001-05:00

College kid smokes pot in his girlfriend's dorm room.

Don't we have something more important to worry about?

Sorry

2009-02-01T09:11:00.003-05:00

I had to commute back and forth to Philly every day this week, so I only had time to drive, work, eat, and sleep.

I'm reading up on what's happening, and may have something to say later today or tomorrow.

Oh - government spending on social programs doesn't stimulate the economy. I hope y'all wake up and call your Senators before this mess passes.

Getting what you asked for

2009-01-24T11:23:00.003-05:00

To quote a quite popular radio host (with whom I disagree quite often): Elections have consequences.

Republicans can complain all they want - this is their doing. This starts with the election of G. W. Bush in 2000, his reelection in 2004, and the nomination of McCain in 2008. Now, we have a President and a Congress who (rightfully) claim 'they won', and now will do what they want to do.

You want to make a statement? You want to get things under control? First, stop them. Stop helping load pork into these bills, and fillibuster them in the Senate. Second, recognize the big government Republicans in your midst, and get them out of office in the primary elections in 2010.

Of course, the treatment of Ron Paul shows us where the Republicans really stand, so I'm not holding my breath; I'm working on finding ways to ensure I can maintain my standard of living regardless of how much money the government takes from me.

By the way, on the "how much of an idiot do you really think I am" front:

Reid said a Congressional Budget Office report that says the stimulus funds won’t be pumped into the economy until 2010 doesn’t provide an accurate picture.

Republicans have used the report to back up their argument against a near $1 trillion package. But Reid said Obama Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag told them CBO only analyzed 40 percent of the bill.

He also said Orszag guaranteed “that at least 75 percent of the bill would go directly into the economy within the first 18 months.”

18 months is 2010, you moron.

Also, best combination of sentences I've seen today:

“How can you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives?” Boehner asked. “How does that stimulate the economy?”

Boehner said congressional Republicans are also concerned about the size of the package.

*Chuckle* He said "package".

This stimulus bill is a bad thing. Plain and simple. It's loaded with pork (seriously, how does funding for contraceptives stimulate the economy?) and pet projects, and doesn't include the single most important stimulus: letting people keep more of their money. Taking my money and sending it to people who don't pay taxes doesn't stimulate the economy.

She "does not disagree"

2009-01-22T16:14:00.002-05:00

Under the mayor of Baltimore's guidance, the city's top attorney is looking into making the taxpayers of the city pay for her legal defense.

Seriously, these folks have no shame. The goal is to put the policy on the books as soon as possible. Gee, I wonder why.

How about we compromise: want the city to pick up the tab, use the Public Defender's office. Seems those of us footing the bill ought to be able to pick the lawyers.

So far, so good

2009-01-22T16:06:00.002-05:00

Two days in, and I'm pretty happy with President Obama's actions.

Yesterday, he made it clear he was reversing the course of government in keeping everything a secret by instructing his staff to find ways to better comply with FOA requests (a 180 of the Bush Administration's policy).

Today, he issued orders to close Gitmo and secret CIA prisons and to stop using torture. The new top intelligence dude said no more warrantless wiretapping. Seems the Obamanator read him some Constitutions.

Yeah, I know he's still working on the 'stimulus' package that's a pork laiden travesty, but were we going to do any better on that front with anyone else?

Hair of the dog

2009-01-22T14:42:00.002-05:00

I agree with and liked this explanation on why government spending won't get us out of a recession.

One could make the argument that the money pumped into the economy won't come from bread baked today and taken from the baker, but is instead from bread baked in the future, and that in the future, there will be such economic growth that the baker will have lots of excess bread.

But isn't that (spending now what we will have to pay off in the future) what got us into this mess?

How to fix the Economy, in 60 seconds or less

2009-01-22T09:21:00.002-05:00

Anyone listening?

The funniest thing I've seen today

2009-01-22T09:08:00.001-05:00

At least, so far:

As an overweight, hairy man with a penis no more formidable than your average contact lens case and only a very basic, limited working knowledge of female genitalia, I need all the help I can get when m’lady and I decide, hand-in-hand, to enter the musty realm of lovemaking.

From Jason Mulgrew.

Well said

2009-01-22T08:52:00.005-05:00

A message from an inauguration party pooper.

I didn't see much of the coverage, as I didn't take the day off from producing goods and services that build wealth for my company, thus building wealth for shareholders, etc. What I did see was embarrassing.

I agree, if someone held a gun to my head and made me pick between Obama and McCain (thank goodness they didn't and I had a Libertarian on the ballot), I would have voted for Obama. My main concern isn't so much the creeping socialism or the insane 'stimulus' package, it's the troubling behavior of the media. The One can do no wrong. He is what you want Him to be. I fear the media may not fairly cover the inevitable missteps, mistakes, and unpopular choices. They certainly won't point out where He continues the "failed" policies of the Bush administration, for example.

They haven't pointed out the people he's putting in his cabinet are insiders, not agents of change. They are ignoring (as did the Senate) legitimate issues with Hilliary Clinton's fundraising and conflicts of interest, they are ignoring the tax cheat who is going to run the Treasury, and they ignored an Attorney general who supported freeing actual terrorists from prison. (This isn't necessarily a shot at the new President. He's a political animal, and he owes some people).

We are going to more and more have to rely on alternative media... I hope everyone realises that.

What a run

2009-01-18T22:44:00.003-05:00

What was probably the best Ravens season comes to an end. Dissapointing loss, but face it, the Steelers are the better team.

The Ravens will be back next year, and they'll be better.

(Go Cardinals!)

Doughnuts and Abortion

2009-01-15T21:06:00.003-05:00

From the WTF files: The American Life League is upset because Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut of customers' choice on January 20th, Inauguration Day.

Why?

"The unfortunate reality of a post-Roe v. Wade America is that 'choice' is synonymous with abortion access, and celebration of 'freedom of choice' is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand," the group's president, Judie Brown said in a statement.

Freedom of choice = Abortion. Republicans, take note. We can't take you seriously if you continue to pander to these folks... this might be why Mr. Obama is about to be President. (Of course, removing freedom of choice is part of the Republican philosophy, not just abortion.)

Hat tip: The Slackmistress via Twitter

What's Our Name?

2009-01-11T09:12:00.001-05:00

The team no one wants to play does it again to the Titans. The most stressful and exciting 13-10 game I think I've ever seen. Playoff win #2. 2 more to go.

Honestly, this feels better than 2000.

Lookee there

2009-01-09T18:38:00.002-05:00

The esteemed mayor of Baltimore got indicted today.

Shocking.

Because poor outcomes means we need more solutions

2009-01-08T22:02:00.002-05:00

Scott Gottlieb asks the question that generates the above answer. It's a good editorial, even if it's meanspirited.

It isn't about good outcomes.

001100110010

2009-01-08T21:58:00.001-05:00

Not so fast, please, says The One.

President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans who rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air channels won't be ready.

In a letter to key lawmakers Thursday, Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta said the digital transition needs to be delayed largely because the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. People who don't have cable or satellite service or a TV with a digital tuner will need the converter boxes to keep their older analog sets working.

Obama officials are also concerned the government is not doing enough to help Americans — particularly those in rural, poor or minority communities — prepare for and navigate the transition.

"With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively mandated analog cutoff date," Podesta wrote to the top Democrats and Republicans on the Senate and House Commerce committees.

Ending the failed Economic policies of the last 8 years

2009-01-08T21:49:00.003-05:00

By pretty much continuing them?

Interesting. The Busch tax cuts were horrible! But these, these tax cuts will work, because we're doing it!

It's pretty clear our new President didn't get an MBA.

Tax cuts stimulate the economy. Whoever does it. Redistribution of wealth doesn't.

A Playoff Win!

2009-01-05T07:55:00.002-05:00

What a great year. Just dominant over the Dolphins. Dominant.

The offense is still the weak link, but this team is able to do what needs to be done to win. Everything from interceptions to blocked PAT.

Next week's a tough challenge, but I think the Ravens can beat the Titans. I don't know if they will, but they can.

I was 2-2 this weekend (I picked Indy, Falcons, Ravens, Eagles)

Next weekend's predictions:

Cardinals vs Panthers

Panthers blow the Cards out.

Ravens vs Titans

My heart says the Ravens, my brain says the Titans win this game, and I'm not sure it will even be close. The Titans are a better team; but I sure hope I'm wrong.

Eagles vs Giants

The Eagles are on a roll, but they didn't really look so hot yesterday. I think the Giants are the best team in the playoffs, and I don't see Philly beating them. This is another one where I hope I'm wrong.

Chargers vs Steelers

This is going to be a good game. The Chargers match up well against the Steelers, but I still have to pick the team with the best D, and that's the Steelers. It will be closer than you think.

Donation Suggested

2009-01-03T10:20:00.002-05:00

You can win tickets to the inauguration, plus plane tickets and free hotel by writing an essay on what the inauguration means to you!

Conveniently, you may also submit a donation at the same time.

There's no connection. We promise.

When the Messiah comes to town, traffic's gonna be a bitch

2009-01-02T15:27:00.003-05:00

Baltimore Sun story on the expected travel nightmare on Jan 20 for the swearing in of The One.

The expectation is traffic will be screwed up all the way to Baltimore.

Why can't all these people stay home and watch it on TV? Why do you have to be there?

What newspaper writers aren't eager to tell you about prices.

2008-12-31T18:08:00.002-05:00

That they have little to to with the cost of an item or service.

Don't let that stop them from getting worked up, along with polititians (D) who think text message profits might be too high.

Simple truth: The prices are set by the consumers and the wireless companies. There's plenty of competition to go around, in as much as regulators allow for it. If texting is too expensive, people will stop texting. (I don't text for just that reason.) Profits are not evil.

IOU

2008-12-31T15:40:00.002-05:00

That's what California residents might get instead of income tax refunds this year.

Of course, if a taxpayer tried that, well, they'd go to jail.

There's something very much wrong with this. The state takes your money by force out of your paycheck. You discover at the end of the year they took too much. You, of course, have to prove they took too much via your tax return. And instead of returning the money with interest, you get an IOU.

I guess they deserve it, they keep electing these clowns.

Goals 2009

2008-12-31T11:34:00.003-05:00

Some goals:

Total USAPL Class III as a 220 or 242 (about a 1200 total) by 8/31/09 (450, 300, 450)
Total USAPL Class II as a 220 or 242 (1320 or 1364 total) by 12/31/09 (525, 350, 525)
Reach 12% bodyfat over 220 pounds (as caclulated via waist/weight ratio) by 6/1/09.
Maintain bodyfat at 15% or less over 220 pounds for remainder of year.
Take and pass SCUBA certification by 12/31/09
Write at least 12 articles (1 per month) for my personal website
Write at least 20 blog posts per month.

There are more, I'm sure. This is off the top of my head.

I'm 4 years old

2008-12-30T11:34:00.001-05:00

Today, this blog turns 4 years old.

It isn't all bad

2008-12-30T11:32:00.000-05:00

Radley Balko points out there's lots of good news out there.

Best football day, ever

2008-12-28T20:21:00.003-05:00

Ravens go to the playoffs, when no one expected better than 8-8.

Patriots win, go 11-5, and don't go to the playoffs, because Miami beat the Jets.

Favre goes out like a lamb. Serves him right. It's also poetic that Pennington went back to NY and won.

Cowboys get embarrassed by the Eagles.

The only way this gets better is for the Chargers to beat the Broncos tonight.

New Orleans

2008-12-27T16:35:00.002-05:00

Spent a week in New Orleans earlier this month. What a fantastic city. The French Quarter and Frenchmen street are much like my neighborhood in Baltimore (well, Fells Point, which is near me), just a larger scale.

A great mix of interesting history, interesting things to see, and fantastic food and drink. We skipped hitting Bourbon Street (a couple of beers at the oldest bar in the US), and instead focused on the incredible food scene.

We arrived, late, on Wednesday the 10th. We sucked it up, and went to Emeril's.

You go to Emeril's with high expectations. Seriously high. I mean, it's Emeril's. Expectations, dare I say it, exceeded. Service was fantastic, the place is very cool, and the food was outstanding. The stand out was the sausage. If you go to New Orleans, go here.

On the 11th, it snowed. In Louisiana. We wandered to Mother's for lunch, apparently this is one of the places to get a po' boy. Eh. It was OK, but it was a seriously cool place. Ambiance counts for something.

We took a cooking class given by Frank Brigsten, of Brigsten's. Very cool experience, and we met the owner of NOLA brewing.

We ate a couple of meals at a little place called Eat. Fantastic, brunch and lunch.

Saturday was spend on a holiday house tour in the Garden District, where we had a fantastic lunch at a place I can not remember.. it was on Magazine St, and I could find it again.

Saturday night was the Bombay Club, on the recommendation of a dude we met in a mall. Quite nice place, and the food was very impressive.

We also ate at NOLA, Emeril's place in the Quarter. The only dissapointing meal, mostly because the service was off. The food was quite good.

On Monday, it was K Paul's. If you don't go here when in town, you are really missing out. Outstanding food, outstanding service, and it's the home of the original New Orleans Chef.

We saved the best for last, however. Herbsaint was incredible, one of the best meals I've ever had.

I don't have much other commentary. The people in this city are incredibly friendly, the food is awesome, everywhere, and the rebuilding is still happening. I will go back.

Some sort of record

2008-12-22T18:38:00.001-05:00

This may be the dumbest guy on the internet. And I think he makes a living training people.
go to about minute 8 of the vid posted on Dec 20 on the smoothie tasting.

Gaps

2008-12-21T11:28:00.002-05:00

Lots of gaps in posts, again.

I went to New Orleans on vacation... what a great food town. A post or two is coming in the next day or so.

How 'bout them... Ravens?

2008-12-21T11:26:00.001-05:00

33-24 over the 'boys.

I only watched the 4th quarter, but that was probably the most fun I've had watching 15 minutes of football... ever.

The McClain stiffarm I could watch over and over again.

What an awesome season this has been.

Quick hit

2008-12-07T10:29:00.002-05:00

Sorry posting has been sparce... been busy.

If you are really intersted in keeping up with me, feel free to find me on facebook. Just tell me who you are and that you read the blog.

Hopefully I'll have time to put some posts up over the next few days.

Nice

2008-11-30T11:58:00.002-05:00

Cystic Fibrosis is not inclusive enough.

It isn't hard to see this behavior when Technocrats are running universal health care.

Link via Balko.

Reason #346 my property taxes are so high

2008-11-29T12:27:00.003-05:00

If this were a good idea, ZipCar would be doing it.

This is the same city that can't afford to lower property taxes, and is cutting back on spending for police and fire.

36-7!

2008-11-24T09:10:00.003-05:00

I didn't get to see the game, but by all accounts, it was pretty ugly offensively.

But we'll take it.

10-6 is required to get to the playoffs. Right now, the wild card is Patriots, Indy, Ravens. I don't know how the tiebreakers turn out against the Patriots; I know the Ravens lose a tiebreaker to Indy. Given Indy's remaining schedule, I don't think they'll be tied, I think they could end up 12-4.

Random

2008-11-21T15:20:00.001-05:00

I do not understand Twitter. Not at all.

Can someone explain?

The Giants are the real deal

2008-11-16T21:39:00.002-05:00

Ravens got dominated on both sides of the ball today. A good reminder this is an 8-8 team. They've shown signs they'll be great, but after the performances against the Giants and Indy, they still have a ways to go.

As always, I'd rather be wrong, and have them go 10-6, but given the remaining schedule, I just don't see it.

Mikulski comes up with a (sort of) good idea!

2008-11-13T18:44:00.002-05:00

From the Credit Where Credit is Due Department, the senior Senator from Maryland, Babs Mikulski, suggested tax breaks for people buying new cars.

Given I'm pretty much a fan of all tax breaks, I find this would be a good thing. Her proposal is to allow people who buy cars to deduct the sales tax and the interest on financing for cars purchased for the rest of 2008. Doesn't really help in states that don't have a sales tax on vehicles, but otherwise, sounds peachy.

Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat, said the temporary tax break she proposes is intended to "stimulate demand" at flagging car dealerships across Maryland and the rest of the nation, which have been hit hard by the economic downturn. Under Mikulski's plan, which she said she'll introduce in the Senate next week, consumers will be able to deduct the sales tax and the interest paid on a car loan, if a vehicle is purchased between today and Dec. 31. The tax break is available for cars priced under $49,500.

But wait. Why are expensive cars excluded? Are they not cars that carry the highest profit margins for automakers? And why did the Sun exclude one little tidbit, that the incentive is only for households making less than $250k a year.

Why would you do that, other than to continue to foster class warfare? Why limit the break to lower profit vehicles? Why not encourage "The Rich" to buy new cars?

It might have made the difference for me. Now I'll buy a used German car just out of spite.

What a coincidence!

2008-11-12T14:25:00.003-05:00

According to the USA Today (known for it's extreme Right Wing bias), President Elect and Messiah Barack Obama's transition team is loaded with big fundraisers.

I'm shocked at the coincidence. He's promised change, though, so I'm sure it's not intentional.

Campaign watchdog experts, such as Craig Holman of Public Citizen, say the close involvement of these big fundraisers — known as bundlers because they collect money from friends, family and business associates — could give them undue sway in the new administration. "The whole point of these bundlers bringing in so much money is that they get to exercise influence in the next administration," Holman said. Obama's pledge to clean up Washington "is encouraging," Holman said. "But this is a warning sign."

LOL @ "warning sign".

Change you can believe in.

Hat tip: The Agitator

Blowout

2008-11-09T16:16:00.002-05:00

41-13 over the Texans. Yeah, it's the Texans. The same Texans that almost beat Indianapolis.

This team is really playing well. They've had a couple of games where their opponent looks like they just quit late in the game, even when they are ahead. I don't know why that's happening, I wonder if it is the physicality of play.

To 6-3, yet we still should remain cautiously optimistic. The Ravens still have only beaten one team with a winning record (Miami), and they are about to play a bunch of them.

At the Giants next week. The Giants should be heavy favorites.

Upgrade

2008-11-09T10:00:00.003-05:00

As of last night, I can announce it is possible for the coolest thing ever to get even cooler.

Sonos upgraded their software; I downloaded it last night. The system now loads local radio stations into the system based on my location (which I can change), and there are more than 10,000 stations and shows.

Sonos is, without a doubt, the single best purchase I've ever made, and the favorite thing I own. If you love music and want it everywhere in your house, this is an investment you must make.

Not ready for prime time...

2008-11-07T22:21:00.004-05:00

At first, I saw this photo and just thought it was stupid... Like something someone who won the 10th grade class presidency or something.

Turns out, he's wrong, too. He's not the President-Elect until the Electoral College actually votes in December.

A training interlude...

2008-11-07T18:28:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in training and in Dave Tate and Elite Fitness Systems, check out this interview.

I have Under the Bar, and am looking forward to the sequel. Dave's a hell of a smart guy.

Change

2008-11-07T08:15:00.004-05:00

Naturally, the guy who won the White House by telling you how he would change things, has picked a true outsider to be his chief of staff. These are the people who will fix the failed policies of the Bush administration. The fact that they were actually responsible, well, that doesn't matter one bit.

And y'all fell for it. It didn't occur to you that he was spending more than any other candidate, ever, and more than 5 times what his opponent spent, to win the election... no... this is CHANGE, this isn't politics as usual.

Anyone else notice the largest 2 day drop in 20 years for the DJIA the two days after the election?

Equal time

2008-11-06T08:42:00.003-05:00

Just to show I'm not picking on any one group, the enlightened voters of Arkansas voted overwhelimingly that kids are better off in an orphanage than being adopted by gays.

Hat tip: Balko at Reason

The first (of many) unintended consequences

2008-11-06T08:36:00.004-05:00

High Black voter turnout hurt gay marriage.

Go figure.

(As an aside, my stance on gay marriage can be quickly summed up by "who cares?". I don't think the state should have any standing in any contract between two people other than to deal with violations of that contract. My marriage is between my wife and me, I don't see why I need permission from the goverment to enter into that contract. If my neighbors Jim and Mark want to get married, I certainly don't care one way or the other. Of course, this issue is exacerbated due to government welfare programs, primarily Social Security, where marriage has a benefit.)

Election hangover

2008-11-06T07:58:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm glad that's over.

I was thinking yesterday while driving that I guess it could be worse, but I'm really not sure that's the case. As a Libertarian, this Presidential race came down to an expansion of the welfare state vs an expansion of the warfare state. Welfare won. Great.

For the country, I honestly don't know if Obama's better, but he might be. Personally, there's no doubt I'm a big loser. My tax rates will go up, probably significantly, in 2010. Thing is, if you pay taxes, yours will, too, The One just didn't tell you that. Expansion and creation of social programs is always a net loss for me, because I am unfairly wealthy (after I unfairly went to grad school at night and unfairly worked my ass off).

Although he's so enlightened and powerful and good, maybe he'll cure cancer. He pretty much promised everything but.

One thing I did notice, with all the talk about 'Change' (there's another post about how Obama isn't anything close to 'change' sometime); Congress has an 18% approval rating, yet we reelected most of them.

Good job, America!

How you should vote

2008-11-04T08:39:00.002-05:00

Since most people assume their elected officials are smarter than they are, I figure they might think I'm smarter too. So here goes, the 2008 Libertarian Lifter voting guide:

President: Bob Barr/Wayne Root (Libertarian)
This is the only shot you have at getting us going in the right direction again.

Representative in Congress, District 3: Thomas Harris (Republican)
This guy is kinda, actually, not so bad as far as Republican's go. Plus, he's not Sarbaines.

Circuit court Judges: None. They all suck.

Question 1: No.
This is the early (often) voting provision which would allow you to vote early, and vote wherever you feel like it. It's just too rife with fraud. If you can't get to your polling place one day every year, you are probably too stupid to vote.

Question 2: No
This is the Slots amendment to the Maryland Constitution. This is the Democrats way to support something without supporting it... the locations of slot parlors have no place in our Constitution.

The rest of these are Baltimore City specific:

Question A: No.
We don't need another department of anything

Question B: No
We don't need to borrow more money for schools.

Question C: No
We don't need to borrow more money for libraries.

Question D: No.
We don't need to borrow more money for the Mayor to use however she wants for "community development".

Question E: No.
We don't need to borrow more money for the Mayor to use however she wants for "economic development".

Question F: No
We don't need to borrow more money to spend on parks.

Question G: No.
We don't need to borrow more money to fix public buildings.

Question H: No
We don't need to borrow more money to give to the Lyric Opera house.

Question I: No.
We don't need to borrow more money to give to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Question J: No.
We don't need to borrow more money to give to Port Discovery.

Questions K thru P: No
We don't need to borrow money to give to the Everyman Theater, Aquarium, Science Center, Walters, Meyerhoff, or the Zoo.

Easy.

Oh, Hell yeah!

2008-11-02T16:12:00.001-05:00

Came back from 14 down to stuff the Browns. Offense looks pretty damn strong, with a little help from Mr Suggs.

Dare I start to think playoffs? Not just yet.

Wow, this is gonna be great!

2008-11-01T10:56:00.003-04:00

The list of promises from just one Obama speech.

"give a tax break to 95 percent of Americans who work every day and get taxes taken out of their paycheck every week";
"eliminate income taxes on Social Security for seniors making under $50,000";
"give homeowners and working parents additional tax breaks";
not increase taxes on anyone if they "make under $250,000; you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime –- not your income taxes, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains tax";
"end those breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas";
"give tax breaks to companies that invest right here in the United States";
"eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country";
"create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, and schools -- by laying broadband lines to reach every corner of the country";
"invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade";
"reopen old factories, old plants, to build solar panels, and wind turbines";
build "a new electricity grid";
"build the fuel efficient cars of tomorrow";
"eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in 10 years";
"lower premiums" for those who already have health insurance;
"if you don't have health insurance, you'll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that members of Congress give themselves";
"end discrimination by insurance companies to the sick and those who need care the most";
"invest in early childhood education";
"recruit an army of new teachers";
"pay our teachers higher salaries, give them more support. But ... also demand higher standards and more accountability";
"make a deal with every young person who's here and every young person in America: If you are willing to commit yourself to national service, whether it's serving in our military or in the Peace Corps, working in a veterans home or a homeless shelter, then we will guarantee that you can afford to go to college no ifs ands or buts";
"stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq whole the Iraqis have a huge surplus";
"end this war in Iraq";
"finish the fight and snuff out al Qaeda and bin Laden";
"increase our ground troops and our investments in the finest fighting force in the world";
"invest in 21st century technologies so that our men and women have the best training and equipment when they deploy into combat and the care and benefits they have earned when they come home";
"No more homeless veterans"; and
"no more fighting for disability payments."

Now, McCain isn't any better, but I think this might be a little over the top. Some of them are absolutley laughable.

Via Coyote Blog

So, why are you voting for Obama?

2008-10-31T13:00:00.003-04:00

via Hit and Run

Oh, yeah.

2008-10-31T11:51:00.001-04:00

New Slayer, Summer 2009.

Socialism Lite?

2008-10-30T17:33:00.002-04:00

Don Boudreaux answers the question "Is Obama a Socialist?"

This "socialism-lite," however, is as specious as is classic socialism. And its insidious nature makes it even more dangerous. Across Europe, this "mild" form of socialism acts as a parasitic ideology that has slowly drained entrepreneurial energy – and freedoms – from its free-market host.

Could it happen in America? Consider the words of longtime Socialist Party of America presidential candidate Norman Thomas: "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." In addition to Medicare, Social Security, and other entitlement programs, the gathering political momentum toward single-payer healthcare – which Obama has proclaimed is his ultimate goal – shows the prescience of Thomas's words.

The fact that each of us depends upon the efforts of millions of others does not mean that some "society" transcending individuals produces our prosperity. Rather, it means that the vast system of voluntary market exchange coordinates remarkably well the efforts of millions of individuals into a productive whole. For Obama to suggest that government interfere in this process more than it already does – to "spread" wealth from Joe to Bill, or vice versa – overlooks not only the voluntary and individual origins of wealth, but the dampening of the incentives for people to contribute energetically to wealth's continued production.

Constitution? Who needs it.

2008-10-29T16:42:00.001-04:00

The Judge on Congress and the President ignoring the Constitution.

The $700 billion bailout of large banks that Congress recently enacted runs afoul of virtually all these constitutional principles. It directly benefits a few, not everyone. We already know that the favored banks that received cash from taxpayers have used it to retire their own debt. It is private welfare. It violates the principle of equal protection: Why help Bank of America and not Lehman Brothers? It permits federal ownership of assets or debt that puts the government at odds with others in the free market. It permits the government to tilt the playing field to favor its patrons (like J.P. Morgan Chase, in which it has invested taxpayer dollars) and to disfavor those who compete with its patrons (like the perfectly lawful hedge funds which will not have the taxpayers relieve their debts).

Read all of it.

Be careful what you wish for...

2008-10-29T16:04:00.001-04:00

An excellent essay on the European economic model, and why it might not be what y'all really want.

Easy Money

2008-10-29T15:44:00.002-04:00

Is it just me, or does anyone else think we probably won't solve a problem caused (at least in part) by too much easy credit by reducing the price of money?

Am I missing something? I'm more of a Microeconomics guy, perhaps someone with a Macro background can help.

Realignment?

2008-10-28T14:25:00.001-04:00

Did Carl Rove destroy the Republican Party? Is McCain finishing the job?

This Libertarian hasn't voted for a Republican for President since George HW Bush in 1988. The Republicans threw me away with the zealous war on drugs, and cemented my distaste with the last 7 years of trading freedom for "security". The gay marriage thing is pandering to evengelicals, and not a real issue, any more than abortion is a real issue. It is much bigger than that.
But this Libertarian certainly can't consider voting for Obama (and has never voted for a Democrat for President), for pretty obvious reasons.
The Republicans have a serious identity problem, and while a split will create issues of power in the short term, we may find something positive comes out of this long term; one can hope a splinter of the Republicans can unite with freedom loving Democrats and build a more libertarian coalition.
Hey, a guy can dream.

Ok, so it was the Raiders

2008-10-27T09:19:00.003-04:00

And make no mistake, the Raiders are a bad team. When your kickoff return guy runs out of bounds at the 2, you've got a really, really bad team. The game was a bigger blowout than the 29-10 suggests.

I had the opportunity to go to the game yesterday, and had great seats 5 rows off the field at the goal line (the Raiders TD call happened right in front of me, and that was not a touchdown, but it didn't really matter). Got to take my dad, who hadn't been to a professional football game in 54 years. That's honestly enough fun to make me consider a PSL and season tix.

Flacco is a stud. I love the 'Suggs' package with Smith in the game. Again, this team might not finish better than .500, but they are a lot of fun to watch. And I do think they can beat anyone.

They have 3 road games in a row, now, going to the Browns next week, then Houston, then the Giants. They can win all three, but we have to be happy with 2 out of 3 (my preseason prediction has them losing to the Browns and to the Giants, but the Browns look hopeless, and the Giants are vulnerable).

My big concern right now is the secondary. A little banged up for my tastes. They also need to get the penalties under control. Penalties cost them 10 - 14 points yesterday.

For National Security reasons, I suppose

2008-10-24T16:16:00.001-04:00

They aren't going to tell us where the $700 Billion bailout is going.

Your government at work

2008-10-24T10:49:00.001-04:00

The TSA's effectiveness exposed.

Schneier and I walked to the security checkpoint. “Counterterrorism in the airport is a show designed to make people feel better,” he said. “Only two things have made flying safer: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers.” This assumes, of course, that al-Qaeda will target airplanes for hijacking, or target aviation at all. “We defend against what the terrorists did last week,” Schneier said. He believes that the country would be just as safe as it is today if airport security were rolled back to pre-9/11 levels. “Spend the rest of your money on intelligence, investigations, and emergency response.”

Schneier and I joined the line with our ersatz boarding passes. “Technically we could get arrested for this,” he said, but we judged the risk to be acceptable. We handed our boarding passes and IDs to the security officer, who inspected our driver’s licenses through a loupe, one of those magnifying-glass devices jewelers use for minute examinations of fine detail. This was the moment of maximum peril, not because the boarding passes were flawed, but because the TSA now trains its officers in the science of behavior detection. The SPOT program—“Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques”—was based in part on the work of a psychologist who believes that involuntary facial-muscle movements, including the most fleeting “micro-expressions,” can betray lying or criminality. The training program for behavior-detection officers is one week long. Our facial muscles did not cooperate with the SPOT program, apparently, because the officer chicken-scratched onto our boarding passes what might have been his signature, or the number 4, or the letter y. We took our shoes off and placed our laptops in bins. Schneier took from his bag a 12-ounce container labeled “saline solution.”

“It’s allowed,” he said. Medical supplies, such as saline solution for contact-lens cleaning, don’t fall under the TSA’s three-ounce rule.

“What’s allowed?” I asked. “Saline solution, or bottles labeled saline solution?”

“Bottles labeled saline solution. They won’t check what’s in it, trust me.”

They did not check. As we gathered our belongings, Schneier held up the bottle and said to the nearest security officer, “This is okay, right?” “Yep,” the officer said. “Just have to put it in the tray.”

“Maybe if you lit it on fire, he’d pay attention,” I said, risking arrest for making a joke at airport security. (Later, Schneier would carry two bottles labeled saline solution—24 ounces in total—through security. An officer asked him why he needed two bottles. “Two eyes,” he said. He was allowed to keep the bottles.)

We were in the clear. But what did we prove?

“We proved that the ID triangle is hopeless,” Schneier said.

Read it all.

This should scare you.

2008-10-20T08:42:00.002-04:00

We continue to move towards the government tracking your every move.

An Iowa-based research center is looking for 450 Baltimore-area motorists willing to have their every driving move tracked by satellite to test a system that could theoretically replace the federal gasoline tax with road use fees.

The federally funded study will use a global positioning system satellite to track not only the mileage driven over eight months, but also whether each road traveled is funded by the state, federal or local governments.

Participants will receive a simulated bill each month for the road use fee owed to each level of government. Volunteers who take part in the study will get $895 for their services. It's all part of a $16.5 million study in six states to test the technology as well as motorists' reactions to the concept of road use tracking and fees - an idea that has received the outspoken support of U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters and other critics of the federal motor fuel tax.

Opponents of what is known as the gas tax say it's a dwindling source of revenue that is only crudely related to how much someone drives and where. Supporters of the road use fee argue that it would allocate money more precisely than the tax. But critics doubt that citizens would ever accept a system that gives the government specific information about their traveling habits.

They say now citizens won't stand for it. 50 years ago, they would have said the same about the Federal government telling us how much water we can flush. California will soon be telling people what temperature their thermostats can be.

The subjects will accept it. They are about to elect a Marxist.

A solid performance

2008-10-19T15:48:00.002-04:00

1:00 left, 27-13 against the Dolphins. Solid game for the defense, and a good performance from Flacco and the offense as well to go to 3-3.

Still on track, they needed to win this one to have any chance, it's a tough stretch coming up.

Hayek's Revenge

2008-10-16T21:32:00.001-04:00

An awesome post at Ideoblog. Mostly great because of the phrase "Hayek's Revenge".

Compare and contrast

2008-10-14T08:36:00.002-04:00

Radley Balko at theAgitator finds an interesting comparison.

Although I'm not all that surprised to hear our President sound more like a socialist than the French.

Another prediction comes true

2008-10-12T15:50:00.001-04:00

31-3 Colts with 3 minutes left in the game.

A pretty pathetic showing by the ravens. The offense was never in the game, and the defense just didn't look sharp. Way too many missed tackles. And too many turnovers. This team has to create turnovers, not give them up.

Hopefully they'll look better next week

Fin and Theater

2008-10-12T15:47:00.001-04:00

Went to Fin last night. Dissapointing.

Service was eager, but not on point. Little things, like the menu being misprinted (the last thing on the menu had the last line of the description cut off (how does that happen and no one notice for this long?), and the waiter didn't know what the full description was.

I had a ceasar salad that wasn't as good as the one I make at home with store bought croutons and bottled dressing. (The description is "with toasted garlic croutons and shaved parmesean", it had croutons out of a box and grated parmasean that might have also been mass produced). J had crabcakes that she described as 'adequate'; I had rack of lamb that was pretty good, but not spectacular. Waiter forgot about my glass of wine (twice), but they didn't charge me for it. Finished it off with a stawberry shortcake that was very good.

Ambiance is fanstastic. The space is really cool, especially the bar area.

Service: 4/10
Food: 7/10
Ambiance: 9/10

Overall: 6.5/10. Return trip doubtful. There are too many places in town that are just better.

Then went to see "Legally Blonde".

I'm a 235 pound powerlifter who's favorite band is Slayer. It bordered on torture. However, for light mindless entertainment, it was better than television. The UPS guy steals the show.

Why isn't anyone listening to me?

2008-10-10T14:45:00.002-04:00

I said:

BE COOL

A little optimism won't hurt you

2008-10-08T11:37:00.002-04:00

I looked at my Smith Barney account the other day. YTD, my wealth is down over $100k. That hurts, and it's scary. The 'crisis' is all around us, we can't make a move without seeing a 500 point drop here, or a bankruptcy there.

With all that, there is reason for optimism. This isn't the first person saying this, but it's the first one I came across today when looking for a link.

Galambos has been thinking for half a century about why economies thrive or fail. Besides his project of editing President Dwight D. Eisenhower's papers, he is one of the country's leading business chroniclers, having written or co-written numerous books on pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, business ethics and other subjects.

"I'm optimistic about the economy other than housing and finance," he said in an interview at his book-and newspaper-festooned house in Guilford.

"That does not seem to me to be running out of steam. I still think companies like Hewlett-Packard, companies like Intel - I see those kinds of companies grinding ahead. Wal-Mart and Target - I see them still on track. So the core of the economy seems to me to be still successful, still moving forward. The question is, can we pull up" out of the dive.

It is important to note that we are living in a vibrant economy. There are people making things, providing services, buying things, and buying services. That isn't going away. We still need computers, and drills, and TVs and sheets. I still need someone to fix my car and clean out my gutter.

So hang tough, we will get through this, and end up better off than we were before.

Just be cool.

(Assuming the government doesn't screw it all up, but I think we can stop them)

As predicted

2008-10-06T08:54:00.004-04:00

The Ravens go down to the Titans, 13-10, as predicted. (Or not. But who thought they would be 5-0??)

I think the team continues to be fun to watch. It's a little frustrating to see another 4th quarter letdown, both offensively and defensively, especially when at one point the other team was so frustrated they were fighting amongst themselves.

A couple of things swing the other way, this is a win. They need to make those plays.

Flacco continues to impress. We have to remember, this is a rookie, and he's going to make some mistakes. He's gonna be the real deal.

Indy next week, in Indy. I don't see how the Ravens win this game, although the Colts are vulnerable.

Timely

2008-10-02T11:23:00.002-04:00

An article written by Rothbard in 1969, that everyone should read today.

There are, however, some critical problems in the assumption that the market economy is the culprit. For "general economic theory" teaches us that supply and demand always tend to be in equilibrium in the market and that therefore prices of products as well as of the factors that contribute to production are always tending toward some equilibrium point. Even though changes of data, which are always taking place, prevent equilibrium from ever being reached, there is nothing in the general theory of the market system that would account for regular and recurring boom-and-bust phases of the business cycle. Modern economists "solve" this problem by simply keeping their general price and market theory and their business cycle theory in separate, tightly-sealed compartments, with never the twain meeting, much less integrated with each other. Economists, unfortunately, have forgotten that there is only one economy and therefore only one integrated economic theory. Neither economic life nor the structure of theory can or should be in watertight compartments; our knowledge of the economy is either one integrated whole or it is nothing. Yet most economists are content to apply totally separate and, indeed, mutually exclusive, theories for general price analysis and for business cycles. They cannot be genuine economic scientists so long as they are content to keep operating in this primitive way.

But there are still graver problems with the currently fashionable approach. Economists also do not see one particularly critical problem because they do not bother to square their business cycle and general price theories: the peculiar breakdown of the entrepreneurial function at times of economic crisis and depression. In the market economy, one of the most vital functions of the businessman is to be an "entrepreneur," a man who invests in productive methods, who buys equipment and hires labor to produce something which he is not sure will reap him any return. In short, the entrepreneurial function is the function of forecasting the uncertain future. Before embarking on any investment or line of production, the entrepreneur, or "enterpriser," must estimate present and future costs and future revenues and therefore estimate whether and how much profits he will earn from the investment. If he forecasts well and significantly better than his business competitors, he will reap profits from his investment. The better his forecasting, the higher the profits he will earn. If, on the other hand, he is a poor forecaster and overestimates the demand for his product, he will suffer losses and pretty soon be forced out of the business.

The market economy, then, is a profit-and-loss economy, in which the acumen and ability of business entrepreneurs is gauged by the profits and losses they reap. The market economy, moreover, contains a built-in mechanism, a kind of natural selection, that ensures the survival and the flourishing of the superior forecaster and the weeding-out of the inferior ones. For the more profits reaped by the better forecasters, the greater become their business responsibilities, and the more they will have available to invest in the productive system. On the other hand, a few years of making losses will drive the poorer forecasters and entrepreneurs out of business altogether and push them into the ranks of salaried employees.

If, then, the market economy has a built-in natural selection mechanism for good entrepreneurs, this means that, generally, we would expect not many business firms to be making losses. And, in fact, if we look around at the economy on an average day or year, we will find that losses are not very widespread. But, in that case, the odd fact that needs explaining is this: How is it that, periodically, in times of the onset of recessions and especially in steep depressions, the business world suddenly experiences a massive cluster of severe losses? A moment arrives when business firms, previously highly astute entrepreneurs in their ability to make profits and avoid losses, suddenly and dismayingly find themselves, almost all of them, suffering severe and unaccountable losses? How come? Here is a momentous fact that any theory of depressions must explain. An explanation such as "underconsumption" — a drop in total consumer spending — is not sufficient, for one thing, because what needs to be explained is why businessmen, able to forecast all manner of previous economic changes and developments, proved themselves totally and catastrophically unable to forecast this alleged drop in consumer demand. Why this sudden failure in forecasting ability?

Go read the whole thing. Learn something today.