Posts

Ezra Klein and Me

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Great Minds, etc. I love it when someone I admire and respect agrees with me. Today, Mr. Klein , The Washington Post’s wunderkind (he’s 26!) highlighted four NY Times pieces that I just happen to think are super. He did it in his “Wonkbook” newsletter. (It’s free and good every day!) 1. Paul Krugman’s “ Eat the Future ” about how the Republican budget slashes are “unserious and inhumane” and kind of dumb in that they hardly touch the deficit while they crush actual people (Don’t forget, they slash NPR & PBS too). 2. Steven Pearlstein’s “ It's Make-or-Break Time for Manufacturing ” about how government can help (hear that, Repubs?), but it’s also up to the multi-national corporations to stop the cancerous loss of manufacturing in America. 3. Felix Salmon’s “ Wall Street’s Dead End ” about how the market is no longer doing what it’s supposed to do, let all Americans share in the success of American companies. I’v

USA! USA!

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Tough to Find, But Definitely Worth It! A tool made in the USA! And at a Big Box store (Home Depot) to boot. In these times when it's harder and harder to find that "Made in U.S.A." note - especially on tools - this was a great find. And it's a great tool. Super stripper, bolt trimmer, etc. Klein Tools. The default store for tools, "Harbor Freight" is the big chain that is basically a Chinese manufacturing outlet. I challenge you to find "Made in U.S.A." there. I think I'm becoming a protectionist. Horrors. Pretty soon, I will propose a boycott of S. Korean cars. But I'll wait 'til I research it a bit more.

Just The Facts

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...About Climate Change If you are casting a dragnet for clarifying info on the (apparently to some) confusing facts about the REALLY BIG MESS we are heading into with our dosing the atmosphere with our carbon refuse, try this site . Like weekly. It's on my new favorite web site, Architecture 2030 . Give it a shot. pix credit

101

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...Years Old! My Mom. Today. This is that sweet girl at 17. And she still looks good. Not many dudes my age can still go see their moms in person. Happy birthday, Jimmie Duff. love, scooter

Cut Money for Cops, Cancer, Students and Firefighters

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Here Come the Republicans! Oct. 1 ( Bloomberg ) -- U.S. House Republicans’ pledge to cut $100 billion from the federal budget next year would slash spending for education, cancer research and aid to local police and firefighters. A 21 percent cut in Pell Grants would take almost $5 billion from student tuition. A 21 percent cut across the board would take about $15 billion from education. A 21 percent cut at the National Institutes of Health would take about $6 billion from health research. A 21 percent cut would take $400 million from police. I could go on, but it makes me cry, and you don't want a sobbing blogger. Especially when letting the tax cuts for those making over a quarter million bucks a year expire would save all that and have about the same impact as those cruel cuts on the budget. You know I don't think the Democrats are always right, but I agree with their statement about all this cutting into the hearts of our citizens: “It will have a serious impact

Graphics from The Whitehouse

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YEA G R A P H I C S !!! Not since Ross Perot has a major politico used graphics to "draw" the facts. Finally, Austan Goolsbee gives it a shot. 'Tain't perfect, but it's pretty good. [ NOT Austan Goolsbee ] Check it out. I reiterate my many-times-recommended-to-Prez-Obama plea: "Use graphics; Use video; Use stills; USE VISUALS to make your points.

The Biggest News on Earth

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Geometric Growth! "Modern science is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and the amount of scientific data is doubling every year ." And that's the biggest story I can find anywhere. The quote is from the 27 August issue of Science Magazine, but their reference is back to a 2005 paper. If you Google (or any other search engine) " Scientific data doubles every year " you'll see what I mean . It's enough to make you optimistic. Pix credit: http://www.maricopacomputer.com/