To start the weekend, I whistled for my trusty bicycle and set a land-speed record on the way home from work, despite the fact that I have triceps where most people have quadriceps.
Later, I enjoyed an Italian Combo hoagie and Summit EPA at Pizza Luce. Then we progressed to the live music scene at the Turf Club, near the intersection of Snelling and University. We were listening to the first band when somebody in the audience yelled out.
"Cock fight!!"
I was highly enthused. However, seeing no agitated gamecocks or people affixed with metal spurs, my enthusiasm declined to amusement of a random outburst. Then it was revealed to me that the band's name was Cockfight.
On Saturday, we visited Goodwill and then Everyday People, a thrift store where I found a stylish brown sports jacket for 13 USD. Then I played basketball in my sports jacket. Actually, I didn't. Sports jacket?
After months of failure, I progressed in achieving my New Year's resolution to watch more movies. Over the weekend, we watched Team America and Meet the Fockers. We also recently watched Crash.
On Sunday, we feasted at the home of the gracious Ziyad Al-Rashid. Good times.
On Monday, we landscaped. It looks good. I also fixed the outdoor faucet; it had a cracked stem valve seal.
In other news, I escalated the war of man versus beast. A rapacious raccoon had been plundering my compost bin by digging down and under the bin. I fortified the bin by burying plastic floor tiles down the sides and placing bricks around the base. Should the raccoon continue to display a brazen disregard for private property rights, I may be forced to shock and awe.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Friday, May 27, 2005
Track
The Division III National Track and Field Championship is currently underway in Waverly, Iowa. Josh Moen of Wartburg won the 10K last night with a time of 30:31. Jeff Metzdorff of Hamline was 7th in 30:51, six seconds away from second place, and Malcolm Richard of St. Olaf finished 13th, posting a 31:15. The woman who won the 10K ran a 34 flat. Wow.
In Nebraska high school track and field news, Kearney finished second by three points to Fremont, thus failing to win the team title for the first time since I was a freshman, one decade and one year ago.
About Nebraska
Largest cities
Omaha: 390,007
Lincoln: 225,581
Bellevue: 44,382
Grand Island: 42,940
Kearney: 27,431
Fremont: 25,174
Hastings: 24,064
North Platte: 23,878
Norfolk: 23,516
Columbus: 20,971
Papillion: 16,363
Scottsbluff: 14,732
Memorial Stadium has a capacity of about 74,000.
Bellevue and Papillion are basically part of the great expanse that is Omaha.
In Nebraska high school track and field news, Kearney finished second by three points to Fremont, thus failing to win the team title for the first time since I was a freshman, one decade and one year ago.
About Nebraska
Largest cities
Omaha: 390,007
Lincoln: 225,581
Bellevue: 44,382
Grand Island: 42,940
Kearney: 27,431
Fremont: 25,174
Hastings: 24,064
North Platte: 23,878
Norfolk: 23,516
Columbus: 20,971
Papillion: 16,363
Scottsbluff: 14,732
Memorial Stadium has a capacity of about 74,000.
Bellevue and Papillion are basically part of the great expanse that is Omaha.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Out With The Old
From the nytimes:
U.S. 'Thumbs Its Nose' at Rights, Amnesty Says
Who thumbs their nose these days?
That saying is old.
How about these:
U.S. Yells at Rights and Grabs Crotch / Gestures Toward Nuts / Cups Ball Sack, Amnesty Says
Or this
U.S. Displays Shocker Sign at Rights, Amnesty Says
U.S. 'Thumbs Its Nose' at Rights, Amnesty Says
Who thumbs their nose these days?
That saying is old.
How about these:
U.S. Yells at Rights and Grabs Crotch / Gestures Toward Nuts / Cups Ball Sack, Amnesty Says
Or this
U.S. Displays Shocker Sign at Rights, Amnesty Says
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Material from Nate
R.I.P.
Nebraskan Thurl Ravenscroft died on Sunday. He was best known as the voice of Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's Frosted Flakes television commercials and as the singer of the song "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in the Christmas TV special based on the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Down the Road with the Filibuster
I watched the Lehrer “Real” News Hour last night until I had the urge to vomit. Gwen Ifill was interviewing nauseating Senators Nelson, Chafee, Sessions, and Schumer about the Memorandum of Understanding, signed as an expression of trust between Republicans and Democrats, which vows to use the filibuster only under exceptional circumstances, allow a vote on an agreed number of judicial nominees, and refrain from changing the rules to quench dilatory tactics.
Gwen: How does the MOU resolve the conflict between Democrats who want to filibuster judicial nominees and Republicans who want to change the rules to force a vote?
Senators: Bar, bar, bar.
Gwen: Hmmm. Although I don't suspect it, perhaps my question needs refining. Considering the disparate opinions between Democrats and Republicans regarding the merit of judicial nominees, what happens next when Democrats want to filibuster and Republicans want to force a vote?
Nelson and Chafee: Bar, bar, bar.
Schumer: Bar, bar, bar. Now the rules cannot be changed. Bar, bar, bar. But Democrats can filibuster.
Sessions: Gwen, let’s get one thing straight: Democrats are huge pussies. If necessary, Republicans will change the rules to force a vote on judicial nominees.
US flips its lid over 'middle finger' tag
PepsiCo president Indra Nooyi gave a graduation speech at Columbia Business School in which she compared the United States to the middle finger. There’s no need to read the transcript of the speech or engage in reasonable cogitation. Please form an opinion based on this blog, and my message to you: Indra Nooyi is unpatriotic. Coke is better.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
State and Local Taxes
When arguing for no new taxes, Minnesota Governor Tim "Fees and Gimmicks" Pawlenty is wont to cite a study by the unbiased Census Bureau that ranks Minnesota as the state with the 4th highest taxes. I looked at the study. Minnesota is 4th in the nation in state revenue per capita.
I recommend perusing the data on this site:
States IN Profile
Select a state.
Click on Income & Taxes.
Enjoy.
States without state income tax:
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Jesse Ventura
On Saturday afternoon, Klinker and I were sitting outside my house enjoying Summit IPA and Lake Superior Oatmeal Stout, talking about piercings, wetsuits, and trucks, when a purple Porsche drove by slowly, with the woman in the passenger seat staring at us.
We resumed our conversation until we saw the nose of the purple Porsche pull into view on the wrong side of the street, facing the nose of my Ford Escort. The man I saw walk into view from around the corner of my house was a man of incredible girth with black beard hair woven into braids, carrying a large well-chewed cigar.
I'm Jesse Ventura. This is my wife Terry.
I used to live here. My parents lived here from 1949 to 1969.
I invited Mr. Ventura inside to have a look around.
“It's so cute,” said Terry.
Thanks.
Jesse talked about the kitchen. His father and grandfather tore down the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Having a counter in lieu of the wall opened the house from front to back and distinguishes it from traditional craftsman bungalow homes. George Janos built all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. He installed a unique clock above the kitchen sink too. I showed Jesse that his dad had stenciled George Janos on the inside of one of the drawers. It was a hemotional moment.
Then Klinker led the way toward the porch, where the plaque commemorating the unofficial historic site hangs. “Childhood home of Jesse Ventura, beloved governor and kick-ass WWF wrestler.”
Jesse said his dad occasionally slept on the porch during the summer.
The intersection out front used to be dangerous, car accidents all the time. His dad was concerned that the kids might get hit with a car while they were playing in the front yard.
The Janos family had a disciplined English bulldog named Bozo. An animal control officer came by one day to take the dog away because it wasn’t on a leash. Jesse’s dad said “if you can make the dog leave the yard, you can take it away.” The animal control officer tried for 15 minutes to goad Bozo into leaving the yard, but to no avail.
The sandbar down by the river was a popular play spot.
There were a lot of families and kids in the neighborhood back in the day. Jesse had a lot of friends nearby, so nearby that he could make prank calls summoning a taxi for his friend’s dad. Jesse and his fellow conspirators would sit by the window and watch with glee as the patient taxicab driver turned disgruntled and drove off. That was in fourth grade.
Jesse recalled that the Minnehaha Academy field catercorner from the house used to host football games. The field was bordered with a big wooden fence, which Jesse and his friends had lifted just enough so that they could squeeze under and watch the games. Their secret entry to the field was directly behind the players’ sideline. One night, Jesse decided he couldn’t see well enough, and what provided a better view than endzone seating. I’m sure it was good while it lasted. The referee took his hand and escorted him away.
Jesse lived upstairs (1/2 story) with his brother. That’s hard to imagine, especially when the hulking Jesse Ventura is walking around and says “it seems so much smaller now.” His dad built the knotty pine ceiling and walls and the built-in bookshelves. Jesse pointed out where his desk used to be. He also alluded to locking his mom in the attic.
Outside, Jesse talked about his former neighbors. The Carlsons lived there… the fat kid lived three houses down.
Jesse talked about the neighborhood and how nice it was, and is. He went to Cooper elementary school one block away. Cooper is closing down because of decreased enrollment. Thirty-second street used to be the dividing line between those students who attended South high school and those who attended Roosevelt high school. “I know you probably hear this all the time,” but I walked to Roosevelt – that was a long walk.
Jesse commented about his fondness for Minneapolis. Then he went on to mention the incident on Dave (Letterman) where he lauded the logic of the Minneapolis street grid and joked about the Irish (glug, glug) designing St. Paul streets.
Overall, the experience was an emotional one between Jesse and Terry, where a nostalgic Jesse was excited to give his wife a more vivid glimpse into his childhood. Jesse was polite, personable, and gracious, and Terry was very amiable too.
Anyway, that’s basically what happened. Unfortunately, I don’t remember everything because my memory is interspersed and overwritten with this: “Holy shit, this is Jesse Ventura.”
Dr. Klinker, feel free to fill in the story.
We resumed our conversation until we saw the nose of the purple Porsche pull into view on the wrong side of the street, facing the nose of my Ford Escort. The man I saw walk into view from around the corner of my house was a man of incredible girth with black beard hair woven into braids, carrying a large well-chewed cigar.
I'm Jesse Ventura. This is my wife Terry.
I used to live here. My parents lived here from 1949 to 1969.
I invited Mr. Ventura inside to have a look around.
“It's so cute,” said Terry.
Thanks.
Jesse talked about the kitchen. His father and grandfather tore down the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Having a counter in lieu of the wall opened the house from front to back and distinguishes it from traditional craftsman bungalow homes. George Janos built all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. He installed a unique clock above the kitchen sink too. I showed Jesse that his dad had stenciled George Janos on the inside of one of the drawers. It was a hemotional moment.
Then Klinker led the way toward the porch, where the plaque commemorating the unofficial historic site hangs. “Childhood home of Jesse Ventura, beloved governor and kick-ass WWF wrestler.”
Jesse said his dad occasionally slept on the porch during the summer.
The intersection out front used to be dangerous, car accidents all the time. His dad was concerned that the kids might get hit with a car while they were playing in the front yard.
The Janos family had a disciplined English bulldog named Bozo. An animal control officer came by one day to take the dog away because it wasn’t on a leash. Jesse’s dad said “if you can make the dog leave the yard, you can take it away.” The animal control officer tried for 15 minutes to goad Bozo into leaving the yard, but to no avail.
The sandbar down by the river was a popular play spot.
There were a lot of families and kids in the neighborhood back in the day. Jesse had a lot of friends nearby, so nearby that he could make prank calls summoning a taxi for his friend’s dad. Jesse and his fellow conspirators would sit by the window and watch with glee as the patient taxicab driver turned disgruntled and drove off. That was in fourth grade.
Jesse recalled that the Minnehaha Academy field catercorner from the house used to host football games. The field was bordered with a big wooden fence, which Jesse and his friends had lifted just enough so that they could squeeze under and watch the games. Their secret entry to the field was directly behind the players’ sideline. One night, Jesse decided he couldn’t see well enough, and what provided a better view than endzone seating. I’m sure it was good while it lasted. The referee took his hand and escorted him away.
Jesse lived upstairs (1/2 story) with his brother. That’s hard to imagine, especially when the hulking Jesse Ventura is walking around and says “it seems so much smaller now.” His dad built the knotty pine ceiling and walls and the built-in bookshelves. Jesse pointed out where his desk used to be. He also alluded to locking his mom in the attic.
Outside, Jesse talked about his former neighbors. The Carlsons lived there… the fat kid lived three houses down.
Jesse talked about the neighborhood and how nice it was, and is. He went to Cooper elementary school one block away. Cooper is closing down because of decreased enrollment. Thirty-second street used to be the dividing line between those students who attended South high school and those who attended Roosevelt high school. “I know you probably hear this all the time,” but I walked to Roosevelt – that was a long walk.
Jesse commented about his fondness for Minneapolis. Then he went on to mention the incident on Dave (Letterman) where he lauded the logic of the Minneapolis street grid and joked about the Irish (glug, glug) designing St. Paul streets.
Overall, the experience was an emotional one between Jesse and Terry, where a nostalgic Jesse was excited to give his wife a more vivid glimpse into his childhood. Jesse was polite, personable, and gracious, and Terry was very amiable too.
Anyway, that’s basically what happened. Unfortunately, I don’t remember everything because my memory is interspersed and overwritten with this: “Holy shit, this is Jesse Ventura.”
Dr. Klinker, feel free to fill in the story.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Go Johnnies
While coasting to victory over the final ten meters of the 200 meter dash, Carson Glad of St. Thomas twisted his upper body toward the stadium crowd and extended his arm upward, showcasing the exclamation of his index finger. Carson Glad continued his smug celebration by running through the finish line and around the curve, presumably looking for an American flag to wave. After failing to find any further means of expression, such as sportsmanship, Carson Glad walked the straightaway back to the starting line, leaving the other runners at the finish to exchange congratulations.
It gets better.
The Thommies got second.
For only the third time since 1983, the Thommies failed to win the outdoor track and field conference championship. The Johnnies won in 1997, 1999, and 2005.
1 Saint John's 172.5
2 St. Thomas 165.0
A field judge (Macalester '01) bearing an animus toward St. Thomas DQ-ed a St. Thomas 400 meter hurdler in the final. The hurdler ran the fourth fastest qualifying time.
Consider this:
In the absence of the DQ, St. Thomas would have gained five points with a fourth-place finish and St. John's, having a hurdler bumped down a place, would have lost one point. Without the DQ, the final meet score would have been:
St. John's 171.5
St. Thomas 170.0
Now consider this:
St. John's edged St. Thomas by one one-hundredth of a second in the last event of the day, the 4x400 relay. Without the DQ, the meet winner was determined in this race. Johnnies win.
Just for the record, the DQ was fair.
It gets better.
The Thommies got second.
For only the third time since 1983, the Thommies failed to win the outdoor track and field conference championship. The Johnnies won in 1997, 1999, and 2005.
1 Saint John's 172.5
2 St. Thomas 165.0
A field judge (Macalester '01) bearing an animus toward St. Thomas DQ-ed a St. Thomas 400 meter hurdler in the final. The hurdler ran the fourth fastest qualifying time.
Consider this:
In the absence of the DQ, St. Thomas would have gained five points with a fourth-place finish and St. John's, having a hurdler bumped down a place, would have lost one point. Without the DQ, the final meet score would have been:
St. John's 171.5
St. Thomas 170.0
Now consider this:
St. John's edged St. Thomas by one one-hundredth of a second in the last event of the day, the 4x400 relay. Without the DQ, the meet winner was determined in this race. Johnnies win.
Just for the record, the DQ was fair.
Congratulations Mac Pack
MIAC Results
4x800 relay
3 Macalester 7:54.63
(Bo Rydze, Will Kennedy, Nate Crider, Matt Wegmann)
800 meters
8 Josh Springer, Fr, Macalester 1:57.01
1500 meters
5 Nate Crider, 1, Macalester 4:01.93
9 Derek Loudermilk, 4, Macalester 4:05.96
Steeplechase
4 Bo Rydze, Sr, Macalester 9:38.95
10 Eric Olson, Sr, Macalester 10:02.00
15 Matt Wegmann, Fr, Macalester 10:15.87
5k
3 Dylan Keith, So, Macalester 15:18.67
18 Bo Rydze, Sr, Macalester 15:50.24
28 Tim Stendahl, Jr, Macalester 16:14.97
31 Kyle Braam, Fr, Macalester 16:32.48
10k
15 Tom Hammer, So, Macalester 33:10.80
19 Kyle Braam, Fr, Macalester 33:28.18
4x800 relay
3 Macalester 7:54.63
(Bo Rydze, Will Kennedy, Nate Crider, Matt Wegmann)
800 meters
8 Josh Springer, Fr, Macalester 1:57.01
1500 meters
5 Nate Crider, 1, Macalester 4:01.93
9 Derek Loudermilk, 4, Macalester 4:05.96
Steeplechase
4 Bo Rydze, Sr, Macalester 9:38.95
10 Eric Olson, Sr, Macalester 10:02.00
15 Matt Wegmann, Fr, Macalester 10:15.87
5k
3 Dylan Keith, So, Macalester 15:18.67
18 Bo Rydze, Sr, Macalester 15:50.24
28 Tim Stendahl, Jr, Macalester 16:14.97
31 Kyle Braam, Fr, Macalester 16:32.48
10k
15 Tom Hammer, So, Macalester 33:10.80
19 Kyle Braam, Fr, Macalester 33:28.18
Goodbye Pete
This coming Thursday Pete Dillon will leave Minnesota. He will be traveling via greyhound to Albuquerque, where he will begin his bicycle journey to the Grand Canyon, to Utah and on to Oregon, then to Mazama, Washington, for Steve and Yarrow’s wedding, and eventually to the Berkeley campus to become a doctor of philosophy. Pete is leaving Minnesota for the West. During times like these, I find it helpful to remember the words of Pete Dillon:
“Fossil fuels are a finite resource, but you can tap love forever.”
“Fossil fuels are a finite resource, but you can tap love forever.”
Thursday, May 12, 2005
You're Trashy
How Do Japanese Dump Trash? Let Us Count the Myriad Ways
I enjoyed this article. In an effort to make conscious humans faithfully follow the three Rs (reduce, recycle, reuse), the Japanese are required to sort their trash into anywhere from 10 to 44 categories. 3R-ing decreases the costs of incineration. Eighty percent of trash generated in Japan is incinerated, whereas eighty percent of trash generated in the U.S. is landfilled. When news of Japanese environmental standards was presented to an American, he responded by saying “Stewardship is a cock in the ass.” But sir, why do you hate personal responsibility.
Hastings pummeled by storms
My hometown in Nebraska was pounded by golf ball to baseball size hail last evening. Streetlights, building windows, and car windows were shattered. Structures were battered and cars were dented. Thank goodness the crops weren’t up yet.
Bengo Mrema was honored by being named Big Brother of the year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.
For Gay Men, an Attraction to a Different Kind of Scent
Maybe people don’t choose to be gay; however, they still remain the biggest threat to national security and quality of life.
“Legislators can see consequences that individual citizens sometimes overlook.” Who would say such a thing.
Church Split in Dispute Over Bush
A reverend endorsed Bush from the pulpit and claimed those voting for Kerry need to repent or resign from the church. The reverend continued his crusade after the election, eventually ousting nine members. Issue numero uno, abortion.
Here is a precious quote from one of the church members:
“I don't believe he preached politics. I don't believe anyone should tell a preacher not to preach what's in the Bible.”
Awesome.
I enjoyed this article. In an effort to make conscious humans faithfully follow the three Rs (reduce, recycle, reuse), the Japanese are required to sort their trash into anywhere from 10 to 44 categories. 3R-ing decreases the costs of incineration. Eighty percent of trash generated in Japan is incinerated, whereas eighty percent of trash generated in the U.S. is landfilled. When news of Japanese environmental standards was presented to an American, he responded by saying “Stewardship is a cock in the ass.” But sir, why do you hate personal responsibility.
Hastings pummeled by storms
My hometown in Nebraska was pounded by golf ball to baseball size hail last evening. Streetlights, building windows, and car windows were shattered. Structures were battered and cars were dented. Thank goodness the crops weren’t up yet.
Bengo Mrema was honored by being named Big Brother of the year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.
For Gay Men, an Attraction to a Different Kind of Scent
Maybe people don’t choose to be gay; however, they still remain the biggest threat to national security and quality of life.
“Legislators can see consequences that individual citizens sometimes overlook.” Who would say such a thing.
Church Split in Dispute Over Bush
A reverend endorsed Bush from the pulpit and claimed those voting for Kerry need to repent or resign from the church. The reverend continued his crusade after the election, eventually ousting nine members. Issue numero uno, abortion.
Here is a precious quote from one of the church members:
“I don't believe he preached politics. I don't believe anyone should tell a preacher not to preach what's in the Bible.”
Awesome.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Bungalow History
We received documentation of our house's entire title history.
The Janos family lived in our house from 1949 to 1969.
James Janos was born in 1951.
Later, James Janos became Jesse Ventura.
And of course, Jesse Ventura became Governor Ventura.
He was a good governor.
The Janos family lived in our house from 1949 to 1969.
James Janos was born in 1951.
Later, James Janos became Jesse Ventura.
And of course, Jesse Ventura became Governor Ventura.
He was a good governor.
Monday, May 09, 2005
I am a mucus membrane ready to burst
So, I wrote a letter alerting Pamida I was disconcerted by the fact a Pamida pharmacist in Glencoe, Minnesota, denied a birth control prescription to a woman.
Here is Pamida's response:
"Dear Ben,
We appreciate your concern and opinion regarding the Pamida pharmacy in Glencoe, MN. You should know that our overriding concern is that our customer’s health needs are taken care of. We feel that situations like the one described are rare and if they do occur, we expect our pharmacists to make certain that provisions to have the prescription filled at our pharmacy or another convenient pharmacy of the patients choosing are followed.
Thank you for your letter.
Mike Bettiga
Sr. Vice President of Retail Health Operations
ShopKo Stores, Inc."
Here is my response response:
Dear Mr. Bettiga,
I appreciate your ambiguous response to my letter.
I feel that homicides are rare and if they do occur, I expect the murderer to make certain that provisions not to murder are followed.
Hyperbole is amusing, but it may not convey my point.
Is birth control a health need?
Who enforces the action of the pharmacist?
What are the consequences for the pharmacist’s action?
Assuming the Pamida pharmacist in Glencoe, Minnesota, had referred the woman requesting a birth control prescription to another convenient pharmacy where the woman could have the prescription filled, do you believe the following statement absolves the pharmacist?
“We expect our pharmacists to make certain that provisions to have the prescription filled at another convenient pharmacy of the patients choosing are followed.”
Thank you for your vacuous flatulence. I deprecate -- I mean I appreciate it.
Here is Pamida's response:
"Dear Ben,
We appreciate your concern and opinion regarding the Pamida pharmacy in Glencoe, MN. You should know that our overriding concern is that our customer’s health needs are taken care of. We feel that situations like the one described are rare and if they do occur, we expect our pharmacists to make certain that provisions to have the prescription filled at our pharmacy or another convenient pharmacy of the patients choosing are followed.
Thank you for your letter.
Mike Bettiga
Sr. Vice President of Retail Health Operations
ShopKo Stores, Inc."
Here is my response response:
Dear Mr. Bettiga,
I appreciate your ambiguous response to my letter.
I feel that homicides are rare and if they do occur, I expect the murderer to make certain that provisions not to murder are followed.
Hyperbole is amusing, but it may not convey my point.
Is birth control a health need?
Who enforces the action of the pharmacist?
What are the consequences for the pharmacist’s action?
Assuming the Pamida pharmacist in Glencoe, Minnesota, had referred the woman requesting a birth control prescription to another convenient pharmacy where the woman could have the prescription filled, do you believe the following statement absolves the pharmacist?
“We expect our pharmacists to make certain that provisions to have the prescription filled at another convenient pharmacy of the patients choosing are followed.”
Thank you for your vacuous flatulence. I deprecate -- I mean I appreciate it.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Double Fist Pump for Soren
Dr. Skills Anderson will be joining the Bush Council of Economic Advisors as a Junior Staff Economist.
Here's a little about the structure of the CEA:
From the "Employment Act of 1946":
"There is hereby created in the Executive Office of the President a Council of Economic Advisers (hereinafter called the "Council"). The Council shall be composed of three members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and each of whom shall be a person who, as a result of his training, experience, and attainments, is exceptionally qualified to analyze and interpret economic developments, to appraise programs and activities of the Government in the light of the policy declared in section 2, and to formulate and recommend national economic policy to promote employment, production, and purchasing power under free competitive enterprise. The President shall designate one of the members of the Council as Chairman.
It shall be the duty and function of the Council--
1. to assist and advise the President in the preparation of the Economic Report;
2. to gather timely and authoritative information concerning economic developments and economic trends, both current and prospective, to analyze and interpret such information in the light of the policy declared in section 2 for the purpose of determining whether such developments and trends are interfering, or are likely to interfere, with the achievement of such policy, and to compile and submit to the President studies relating to such developments and trends;
3. to appraise the various programs and activities of the Federal Government in the light of the policy declared in section 2 for the purpose of determining the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing, and the extent to which they are not contributing, to the achievement of such policy, and to make recommendations to the President with respect thereto;
4. to develop and recommend to the President national economic policies to foster and promote free competitive enterprise, to avoid economic fluctuations or to diminish the effects thereof, and to maintain employment, production, and purchasing power;
5. to make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and recommendations with respect to matters of Federal economic policy and legislation as the President may request.
Here's a little about the structure of the CEA:
From the "Employment Act of 1946":
"There is hereby created in the Executive Office of the President a Council of Economic Advisers (hereinafter called the "Council"). The Council shall be composed of three members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and each of whom shall be a person who, as a result of his training, experience, and attainments, is exceptionally qualified to analyze and interpret economic developments, to appraise programs and activities of the Government in the light of the policy declared in section 2, and to formulate and recommend national economic policy to promote employment, production, and purchasing power under free competitive enterprise. The President shall designate one of the members of the Council as Chairman.
It shall be the duty and function of the Council--
1. to assist and advise the President in the preparation of the Economic Report;
2. to gather timely and authoritative information concerning economic developments and economic trends, both current and prospective, to analyze and interpret such information in the light of the policy declared in section 2 for the purpose of determining whether such developments and trends are interfering, or are likely to interfere, with the achievement of such policy, and to compile and submit to the President studies relating to such developments and trends;
3. to appraise the various programs and activities of the Federal Government in the light of the policy declared in section 2 for the purpose of determining the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing, and the extent to which they are not contributing, to the achievement of such policy, and to make recommendations to the President with respect thereto;
4. to develop and recommend to the President national economic policies to foster and promote free competitive enterprise, to avoid economic fluctuations or to diminish the effects thereof, and to maintain employment, production, and purchasing power;
5. to make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and recommendations with respect to matters of Federal economic policy and legislation as the President may request.
No Damn Cat, No Damn Cradle
In Kansas, Darwinism Goes on Trial Once More
On a related note, Massachusetts’s public schools are requiring science classes to teach Bokononism. Fucking liberals. Anyway, all the excitement has persuaded me to change my name to Ben Scopes, change my vocation, and begin teaching kids the truth: life was shot coitus interruptus out of a chimera’s cock during an orgy of the gods, seeding nothingness with being. Required science reading will include The Silmarillion. And I will not stop until every child has been inculcated with the concepts of Ptolemy’s geocentric solar system. Lastly, since my curriculum is fair and balanced, I will include a dose of deism.
Earth Has Become Brighter, but No One Is Sure Why
The earth’s surface is receiving more sunlight.
Chimeras on the Horizon, but Don't Expect Centaurs
The lines have long been blurred.
Standard & Poor's cuts G.M and Ford debt rating to junk status. These companies are numbers 3 and 4 of America's Fortune 500. The Ford plant in St. Paul, home of the Ranger, makes the news on a daily basis announcing additional furloughs.
Treasury Says 30-Year Bond May Be Revived
Big-government Republicans have to do something to sponsor their prodigal spending.
Sex in the air in China
Not that interesting, but I thought of Alf in the air in China.
On a related note, Massachusetts’s public schools are requiring science classes to teach Bokononism. Fucking liberals. Anyway, all the excitement has persuaded me to change my name to Ben Scopes, change my vocation, and begin teaching kids the truth: life was shot coitus interruptus out of a chimera’s cock during an orgy of the gods, seeding nothingness with being. Required science reading will include The Silmarillion. And I will not stop until every child has been inculcated with the concepts of Ptolemy’s geocentric solar system. Lastly, since my curriculum is fair and balanced, I will include a dose of deism.
Earth Has Become Brighter, but No One Is Sure Why
The earth’s surface is receiving more sunlight.
Chimeras on the Horizon, but Don't Expect Centaurs
The lines have long been blurred.
Standard & Poor's cuts G.M and Ford debt rating to junk status. These companies are numbers 3 and 4 of America's Fortune 500. The Ford plant in St. Paul, home of the Ranger, makes the news on a daily basis announcing additional furloughs.
Treasury Says 30-Year Bond May Be Revived
Big-government Republicans have to do something to sponsor their prodigal spending.
Sex in the air in China
Not that interesting, but I thought of Alf in the air in China.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Balls
I drove a Ford F250 XL Super Duty over the the capitol today. The F250 has command seating. Is that a Land Rover down there, I can't tell, it's so small. I parked it on the stone stairs in front of the State Office Building. The security guard didn't demur; in fact, he addressed me as Balls Knudson.
CostCo pays $16/hour, 65% more than the average wage at Wal-Mart stores and 33% more than the $12 average at Sam's Club. At CostCo, 82% of the workers are covered by company health insurance, compared with 48% at Wal-Mart.
I'll tell you what I like to do. I like to shop at Wal-Mart. Then I like to lament the plight of low-wage workers. I like to vote Democrat to atone for my purchasing sins. When it's my money, I will discount shop. When it's the government's money, I spare no expense.
In other news, several pharmacists in Minnesota have refused to fill birth control prescriptions.
Rage building up, anger taking over, blood boiling.
Snyder drug store is one of the culprits. I encourage you to write a letter to Snyder and boycott the store.
Leave no egg behind.
"One of the greatest tragedies of life is that so many sperm are wasted. If only we could staunch this horrendous loss of life." -God
CostCo pays $16/hour, 65% more than the average wage at Wal-Mart stores and 33% more than the $12 average at Sam's Club. At CostCo, 82% of the workers are covered by company health insurance, compared with 48% at Wal-Mart.
I'll tell you what I like to do. I like to shop at Wal-Mart. Then I like to lament the plight of low-wage workers. I like to vote Democrat to atone for my purchasing sins. When it's my money, I will discount shop. When it's the government's money, I spare no expense.
In other news, several pharmacists in Minnesota have refused to fill birth control prescriptions.
Rage building up, anger taking over, blood boiling.
Snyder drug store is one of the culprits. I encourage you to write a letter to Snyder and boycott the store.
Leave no egg behind.
"One of the greatest tragedies of life is that so many sperm are wasted. If only we could staunch this horrendous loss of life." -God
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
What do Kingpin's Roy Munson and President Bush have in common?
First Lady Laura Bush spoke at a White House Correspondence dinner
Quotes from Cleaver Peasantry and the LA Times:
"George always says he's delighted to come to these press dinners. Baloney. He's usually in bed by now," she said to laughter. "I said to him the other day, 'George, if you really want to end tyranny in the world, you're going to have to stay up later.' "
A typical White House evening goes like this, she went on: "Nine o'clock, Mr. Excitement here is sound asleep, and I'm watching 'Desperate Housewives' — with Lynne Cheney. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife. I mean if those women on that show think they're desperate, they ought to be with George. One night after George went to bed, Lynne Cheney, Condi Rice, Karen Hughes and I went to Chippendales....I won't tell you what happened, but Lynne's Secret Service code name is now Dollar Bill."
She noted that she and her husband were "complete opposites — I'm quiet, he's talkative; I'm introverted, he's extroverted; I can pronounce 'nuclear.' "
"The amazing thing is that George and I were just meant to be. I was a librarian who spent 12 hours a day in the library, yet somehow I met George."
She discussed the family she married into, saying of Barbara Bush: "People often wonder what my mother-in-law's really like. People think she's a sweet, grandmotherly, Aunt Bea type. She's actually more like, mmm, Don Corleone."
And the native of the Lone Star State poked fun at her husband's patrician upbringing: "George didn't know much about ranches when we bought the place" near Crawford. "Andover and Yale don't have a real strong ranching program.
"But I'm proud of George. He's learned a lot about ranching since that first year when he tried to milk the horse." She paused. "What's worse, it was a male horse."
From Kingpin:
Munson: Hope you don't mind, I got up a little early so I took the liberty of milking your cow for ya. Took a little while to get her warmed up, she sure is a stubborn one.
Amish Guy: We don't have a cow, we have a bull.
Munson: I'll brush my teeth.
Quotes from Cleaver Peasantry and the LA Times:
"George always says he's delighted to come to these press dinners. Baloney. He's usually in bed by now," she said to laughter. "I said to him the other day, 'George, if you really want to end tyranny in the world, you're going to have to stay up later.' "
A typical White House evening goes like this, she went on: "Nine o'clock, Mr. Excitement here is sound asleep, and I'm watching 'Desperate Housewives' — with Lynne Cheney. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife. I mean if those women on that show think they're desperate, they ought to be with George. One night after George went to bed, Lynne Cheney, Condi Rice, Karen Hughes and I went to Chippendales....I won't tell you what happened, but Lynne's Secret Service code name is now Dollar Bill."
She noted that she and her husband were "complete opposites — I'm quiet, he's talkative; I'm introverted, he's extroverted; I can pronounce 'nuclear.' "
"The amazing thing is that George and I were just meant to be. I was a librarian who spent 12 hours a day in the library, yet somehow I met George."
She discussed the family she married into, saying of Barbara Bush: "People often wonder what my mother-in-law's really like. People think she's a sweet, grandmotherly, Aunt Bea type. She's actually more like, mmm, Don Corleone."
And the native of the Lone Star State poked fun at her husband's patrician upbringing: "George didn't know much about ranches when we bought the place" near Crawford. "Andover and Yale don't have a real strong ranching program.
"But I'm proud of George. He's learned a lot about ranching since that first year when he tried to milk the horse." She paused. "What's worse, it was a male horse."
From Kingpin:
Munson: Hope you don't mind, I got up a little early so I took the liberty of milking your cow for ya. Took a little while to get her warmed up, she sure is a stubborn one.
Amish Guy: We don't have a cow, we have a bull.
Munson: I'll brush my teeth.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Do You Compost
Time for more of my staccato posting.
It is of greatest importance to look at Klinker’s comment on Friday’s post.
The City Pages “Best Of” addition is out.
It snowed (flurried) here yesterday. All you need to know is this: peeps in Yakutsk are currently enjoying a milder May than we are here.
We watched the runners of the Get in Gear race run by. Carleton alum Matt Hooley ran a good race.
I volunteered at the Living Green Expo on Saturday. There were Jainists everywhere. Not really, but people were interested in sustainable living. The highlight of the expo came late in the afternoon when I saw a young man with a neck beard – awesome! I bought a four-foot-high two-foot-wide black plastic compost bin at the expo. Now I can reduce food waste in the garbage and create a soil to rival mollisols.
I gave myself a hairscut yesterday, the potential mullet is gone.
We went to the Dakota on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis last night, compliments of Andrea. Jazz artist Karrin Allyson was performing.
It is of greatest importance to look at Klinker’s comment on Friday’s post.
The City Pages “Best Of” addition is out.
It snowed (flurried) here yesterday. All you need to know is this: peeps in Yakutsk are currently enjoying a milder May than we are here.
We watched the runners of the Get in Gear race run by. Carleton alum Matt Hooley ran a good race.
I volunteered at the Living Green Expo on Saturday. There were Jainists everywhere. Not really, but people were interested in sustainable living. The highlight of the expo came late in the afternoon when I saw a young man with a neck beard – awesome! I bought a four-foot-high two-foot-wide black plastic compost bin at the expo. Now I can reduce food waste in the garbage and create a soil to rival mollisols.
I gave myself a hairscut yesterday, the potential mullet is gone.
We went to the Dakota on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis last night, compliments of Andrea. Jazz artist Karrin Allyson was performing.
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