Pot Dodd accuses Kettle Madoff

"The SEC, already faulted in connection with the collapse of Bear Stearns Cos. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., now faces criticism for failing to detect what Madoff termed “a giant Ponzi scheme.” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, and Senator Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, have questioned its vigilance in enforcing securities laws." Bloomberg

And where was Dodd during the banking failures, during the Fannie Mae melt down, during the scummy scammy non-profit housing agencies blackmailing the banks in the name of diverse neighborhoods and multicultural mortgages? We've got the foxhound watching the fox watching the hen house with nary a yelp or growl.

Too much too soon and too little too late

That's FDR in the 1930s. He extended the Great Depression through government interference and an alphabet of failed public works programs and allowed millions in Europe to die in Hitler's aggression, not getting into the war in Europe until two years--TWO YEARS PLUS--after Hitler invaded Poland. And my goodness, how long had Japan been terrorizing China--certainly years before they bombed Pearl.

The other day I was at the temporary location of the OSU Libraries off Ackerman Road and pulled the September 1939 Life magazine off the shelf, schlepped to a table (they are huge), and sat down to browse. It's really fascinating to see what we the people (I was not yet born, but you know what I mean) knew when and how the U.S. government in our name did nothing. Who knows if it was the will of the people--the polls of the time, mixed in with ads for corsets and clunky shoes, said supplying (either England and/or Germany) arms was OK, but go ahead and you guys have a world war without us. The writers even called it a world war--and we weren't in it. I looked through several issues. Despite Bush's failures on the financial front in 2008, I was again so glad that he pursued the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq and has kept his word for all these years. He acted with virtually total support of both parties, and one by one they fell away, abandoning principals and allies.

Really folks, the USA's record for the 20th century is pretty crummy. Yes, you can talk about the "greatest generation"--they did respond after millions had already died in Europe and China. But we dawdled around in WWI, jumping in at the last moment/months of the war. We abandoned millions of our east European allies to the Soviets in 1945. We negotiated Korea and 55 years later we're still messing with north Korea. Then we ran out on the Vietnamese thanks to our home-grown spoiled boomers like Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn and Jane Fonda.

God bless George W. Bush and we'll let history decide if we had any Presidents in the last 100 years who had all the body parts those guys are reputed to possess, spine, balls, and guts.



Life Magazine September 18, 1939 : Cover - Britain goes to war, gunner loading anti-aircraft shells. Germans beat British - French in first week of propaganda. German tanks push Poles 150 miles in seven days. French vs. the Westwall. Sinking of the "Athenia" - British ocean liner, two page art by Seielstad. American neutrality - Legion commander says stay out of war. Photo essay - Submarines, R14, James Hicks. The week the war began - a retrospective. Beltsville, Maryland research center helps farmers grow more - color feature. Postilion hat. Girls legs on campus go Scottish. Sidney Waugh designs America's first modern glass. Ted Allen wins horseshoe meet. Girls shoot in National target matches. Air-Raid shelters. London moves art treasures to safety. Full page Elgin watch ad with Robert Edison Fulton, Jr., explorer, mountain climber. Full page red movie poster ad for "Dust be my destiny" with John Garfield and Priscilla Lane. Full page Vanta ad, garments for infants and children. Modern American glass. Eleven-year-old soprano Gloria Jean. Life calls on Winston churchill. Photo of Barber Clay Cope shaving Pete Hilton.

The Coming Depression

Instead of calling it The Great Depression which was jointly widened, deepened and lengthened by Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt, we can call this one BOB's Depression, Bush-Obama-Bernancke Depression. Apparently, Bernecke if not a fan of FDR seems to be an apologist.

"It's clear to me that Ben Bernanke wants to go down as the Franklin Roosevelt of this episode, not the Herbert Hoover," said Laurence Ball, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University. . .

"The financial system now is collapsing as quickly and as completely as it did during the Great Depression, but right now the monetary authorities are doing everything right," said Gary Richardson, associate professor of economics at UC Irvine and a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. "In the Great Depression, they did lots of stuff wrong; the problem got worse because they exacerbated it." LA Times, Oct. 11, 2008

Can the man not count the number of years after FDR took office where he ran the economy into the ground? He seems to be a believer in more is better (interference). It would make no difference what Bush does now--he's been totally marginalized by his own party, Hank and Ben, and the "office of the President-elect," and Obama will certainly wait until after January 20, to suggest anything, if he and his Clintonistas have a plan, so he can get the credit.

March 2, 2004 Speech
June 15, 2007 Speech

All in the Family

Today a friend was explaining to me an educator's theory (I've forgotten her name) of class and education:

the lower and working class families tend to live for today, without saving a lot, or looking ahead, and they hold their family members very close and rely on family;

the middle class and upper middle class are more goal oriented, they save, they encourage their children to take risks and achieve, and they are less bonded emotionally to their kids and immediate family;

the upper class and extremely wealthy live on past loyalties and connections, and they also hold their values, family and wealth very close.

Watching the Madoff ponzi scheme meltdown and his family ties I think she's on to something. Madoff's niece married a SEC employee, and Walter Noel (Fairfield Greenwich Fund with close ties to Madoff) has 4 or 5 sons-in-laws in the business and they have involved banks and clients for billions around the world--Spain, Brazil, Switzerland, etc.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to probe the relationship between the niece of financier Bernard L. Madoff and a former official at the agency, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The probe comes on the heels of an admission by SEC Chairman Christopher Cox that the agency was aware of numerous red flags raised over Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, the focus of an alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme." Market Watch

"In 2002, Vanity Fair dispatched the photographer Bruce Weber to shoot a lavish spread of Mr. Noel’s wife and their five grown daughters at his home in Connecticut (“Golden in Greenwich,” read the headline). That was followed, in 2005, by a Town and Country story on the Noel family’s tropical retreat in Mustique." NYT

Makes you wonder if the glossies will be the next victim of the meltdown, because they follow all the socialites and charity balls. Some charities are closing their doors, and the wealthy aren't answering their phones. In today's WSJ, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. asked, "When has the SEC ever found a fraud except by reading about it in the newspaper.?" These allegations surfaced in the late 90s, but the SEC never recommended any action. Sort of reminds me of the banking committees in Congress, aka The Barney and Chris Dog and Pony Show. They didn't think there was any problem in the Fannie and Fred housing schemes to back loans to people who couldn't possibly pay it back. Jenkins also suggested that the government, when Madoff makes bail which is tough since the people who could help him are his victims, he be put in charge of Social Security, an even bigger ponzi scheme.

Chart of Madoff losses

Keeping track

Some things are just easier on paper. Over a year ago I found this journal in the freebie box at church, "God's Little Devotional Journal for Teens." There's a devotion and a column for writing on each page. The original owner had only written on 2 or 3 pages, and then moved on, and someone had dropped it off at church. I thought there might be something in the essays or quotes I could use, so I brought it home, where it sat for some time. Then one day I decided to record the names of people to whom I'd sent notes, because each page was dated (but no day of the week, so the year didn't matter). Although I use e-mail and blog, I still enjoy sending and receiving first class mail the old fashioned way. Along with the name of the person, I also noted why I'd sent the card or letter--illness, death in family*, birthday, new baby, baptism, etc. Today I looked through it, and found over 100 names--and since I didn't have it with me in the summer there may have been more. It is a nice way to recycle an old calendar or day book, and it's much easier than trying to enter it in a computer program. I sit at the kitchen table, go over the names in the church newsletter, or notes I've taken during the week of others I need to thank for something, or that I jotted down from names read during a church service, write out a few words on my little card, record it in the journal, and put them in the mail slot. It's probably not more than 30-45 minutes a week, if that, since I don't do it every week.

I'm so glad I thought to note why I was sending the card--I realize looking through the names that for many people this will be a difficult Christmas because of a death or loss--I've forgotten, but they certainly haven't. And I'd completely forgotten that Tom (our best man and my husband's friend since childhood) and Pat welcomed their first grandchild. Also, it's a reminder that some people are still "at home" or in a nursing facility, and perhaps I need to send another card. I have trouble moving information from my short term into my long term personal memory bank, and just like my computer hard drive, I get glitches and unexplained shut-downs. I also noted if I used my own cards--which I sometimes make just because it's fun, or if I sent a blog post to someone who doesn't use the internet. I used to make little notes on my calendar so I could remember, but this works much better. There's still enough room I can use it another year or two.

Also, looking through it today, I see there are many sayings and proverbs that are great. They have no attribution, so I hope they are in the public domain.

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.

Definition of status: Buying something you don't need with money you don't have to impress people you don't like.

The way to get to the top is to get off your bottom.

You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think.

Don't ask God for what you think is good; ask Him for what He thinks is good for you.

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.

There are times when silence is golden; other times it is just plain yellow.

Then the little essays are worth reading too, even though some are directed toward teen-agers.

"According to nutritionist Pamela Smith one hundred laughs a day provide a cardiovascular workout equal to ten minutes of rowing or biking." [My note: I've never counted how many times I've laughed in a day, but this idea might be worth watching a funny movie rather than riding a bike.]

"Farmers have a saying that goes, "Once you're standing in the pigpen, it's a little too late to worry about soiling your Sunday clothes." And that sound piece of advice carries beyond the farm. The key to avoiding wrongdoing and compromise in life is to decide in advance to stay as far away from it as possible." [My note:] Good advice for future Madoffs and Blagojeviches, whose misdemeanors and crimes are all over the paper today.

After a paragraph or two about a job interview, the essay concluded: "There are a few things you should never discuss with coworkers: your love life, your medical history, and your salary." Good advice at any age!

After a Mark Twain anecdote about a lawn mower, this advice: Treat what you borrow as if it were a prized possession, returning it promptly. If something happens to it while it is in your possession, make repairs or replace it, not to your satisfaction, but to the satisfaction of the owner. Always remember, while the item is in your hands, it is not yours, It still belongs to the other person." [My note:] Rush Limbaugh likes to say, "Talent on loan from God," but that applies to everyone. Instead of thinking God has "gifted" you something think of it as a loan to be given back.

Notes at the end of copied manuscripts: "He who does not know how to write supposes it to be no labor; but though only three fingers write, the whole body labors." [My note: And so it is with blogging, but 9 fingers instead of 3 (I'm a touch typist--ca. 60 wpm. My left thumb has nothing to do; does yours?).

*You can google anything--advice on writing a condolence letter.

Christmas weddings and frozen car doors

There must be some women having second thoughts about a Christmas wedding--or maybe it's Spring. My "How not to marry a jerk" post has been getting a lot of hits lately. Maybe it's gay guys realizing that now that they can, it's time to rethink this. Not as many as "frozen car door"--some really cold weather north and west of us, but enough to make me think someone, maybe Mom, has noticed some problems. I put the jerk (not the car door) into 3 categories, might be, definitely is, and run as fast as you can. With frozen car doors, I just listed a range of possibilities. Seems no one agrees. But one commenter defended her jerk, too.

How's your state doing on freedom of speech?

Nearly three-quarters of colleges and universities maintain unconstitutional speech codes, according to a report released today by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Here's my alma mater--the school that used really poor judgement and hired Bill Ayers as a professor of education. Everyone else has to be silent, but terrorists can speak out about this terrible country and the state that pays his salary, I guess.

"In September 2008, faculty and staff members at the University of Illinois received a memo from the university’s Ethics Office informing them that, “when on university property,” they were prohibited from engaging in a wide variety of political expression, including attending a rally for a particular candidate or political party or wearing “a pin or t-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or Republican Party.” The memo even implied that faculty and staff could not drive onto campus with political bumper stickers on their cars. After news of the memo generated controversy, University President B. Joseph White responded with a vague statement that university employees needed to “use common sense” to determine what types of political activity were acceptable. Eventually, after extensive condemnation fromthe public and fromfree speech and academic freedom organizations including FIRE, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Association of University Professors, White issued another statement clarifying that faculty and staff could, after all, wear pins and t-shirts, place bumper stickers on their cars, and attend rallies on campus, provided they were not on duty at the time." FIRE'S Spotlight on Speech Codes, 2009

In last year’s report, FIRE gave 259 of 346 colleges and universities that designation: 75 percent, compared with 74.2 percent this year. I did a word search on Ohio for "red light" and didn't see Ohio State, but I think I noticed Ohio University.

WAAANNA

White and Asian Americans Need Not Apply. Although in California, it appears that Asian is a minority in a state where they are probably the 2nd largest group, and in Ohio, Asians are called "people of color." I've looked through some of the photos at the websites, and it appears the "one drop" rule still applies.

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/FORDfellowships/fordpost.html Ford Foundation

http://www.apa.org/mfp/pdprogram.html American Psychological Association and Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs

http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/ppfp/ University of California

http://www.cis.cornell.edu/jobs/PostdoctoralFellowshipNotice.pdf Cornell

http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=160822 Michigan

http://www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/DiversityInitiative/postdocs/index.html Colorado

http://www.trincoll.edu/Academics/DeanOfFaculty/AnnPlatoFellowship.htm Trinity

http://www.trincoll.edu/Academics/DeanOfFaculty/AnnPlatoFellowship.htm North Carolina

http://pharmacology.ucsd.edu/IRACDa/iracda/index.html San Diego

http://sbs.osu.edu/sbs/resources/SBS_Postdoc-ad-2008.pdf Ohio State University

The Mayflower Compact

In modern English: "In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620." from the web page, Pilgrim Hall Museum

Transcription of the Original: "In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c.

Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick; for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie: unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye .11. of November, in ye year of the raigne of our soveraigne lord King James of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom .1620." From Mayflower families site.

This document is fundamental in the history of the United States, and appears in The Citizen's Almanac; fundamental documents, symbols, and anthems of the United States, (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Citizenship, Washington DC, 2007) U.S. Government Official Edition, ISBN 978-0-16-078027-1, for sale by the U.S. Superintendent of Documents.

However, in the official U.S. Government document, as it appears in this citizenship handbook (which is quite handsome, by the way), the words "In the name of God, Amen." don't appear, as they do in the original. It's a short document, fundamental, concise and clear; why leave that out? I couldn't see that the editors changed the words or meaning of an Emerson hymn (which I'd never come across before) or a Whitman poem.

There are researchers (University of Illinois) concerned that the Bush Administration has been making changes in government documents that only appear digitially--like numbers and names concerning the war, and that campaign promises of Obama have been scrubbed. There seems little concern about what is happening to "official authenticated and fundamental documents." If you send your child to the library to use various digital collections and compilations of American history, you'll find an extremely selective group downplaying religion, the role of churches, the great awakenings, morality, virtues, and instead highlighting corruption, racial unrest, gender inequity and depravity--probably the worst form of bias, banning, blacklisting and book burning I've seen in my years in the information field, because digital access is key (and easy) when the paper copies have all been withdrawn.

Why do people do these?

This must be the longest meme on the Internet, and I'm guessing there used to be more, because who would quit at #99? I “borrowed” this from Pauline who in turn borrowed it from someone else. The things I’ve done are starred; the ones I’d like to do are not on the list, but your mileage will differ. The ones I might never do are left alone. I guess I don't have any interest in Paris or China or seeing a concentration camp.

*1. Started your own blog. Yes, in October 2003 and 10 more--links on the right side bar.
*2. Slept under the stars. Oh, I’m sure--when I was a teen-ager--Camp Emmaus, and our own back yard (small town--different time).
*3. Played in a band. First chair trombone, high school band, Mt. Morris, IL.
*4. Visited Hawaii. Yes--1985 I think. Fabulous--nothing like it.
*5. Watched a meteor shower. Yes, seems like it was in the 1950s.
*6. Given more than you can afford to charity. Yes, but you always get more than you give--that‘s a promise from God.
*7. Been to Disneyland/World . Yes, both. 1977 California and 1986 Florida.
*8. Climbed a mountain. Someplace in California, summer 1957.
*9. Held a praying mantis Yes, as a teen. Haven’t seen one in years.
*10. Sang a solo. Yes, used to be a soprano--now have a range of about 5 notes.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. I’ve seen plenty on land and over Lake Erie.
*14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Yes. I don’t take lessons unless I’ve learned a lot first. How else would I know I want to do it?
*15. Adopted a child.
*16. Had food poisoning. I remember that pie.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. I’ve seen it up close, but not that close.
*18. Grown your own vegetables. I dug up a small section of the back yard on Abington Rd. once. I think those were the most expensive tomatoes and pole beans on record.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa.
*20. Slept on an overnight train. We did Amtrak in 2003--great trip. Coach isn’t too great for sleeping, we did that a few nights too--cross country.
*21. Had a pillow fight. Probably camp or an overnight.
22. Hitch hiked.
*23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. I had so much sick leave left when I retired, I had to give up several months of sick days, but I’m sure I did at some point.
*24. Built a snow fort. And snow horses.
*25. Held a lamb. Or was that a calf.
26. Gone skinny dipping. No way.
27. Run a Marathon. I walked the “Raccoon Run” at Lakeside about 30 years ago.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
*29. Seen a total eclipse. With a huge crowd at a park in Illinois.
*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. More times than I could count. Most recently in 2008 on the dock at Lakeside.
*31. Hit a home run. I’m sure I did when I was in grade school--I was a very good athlete then. We even played ball in skirts.
*32. Been on a cruise. Alaska 2001. River cruise in Germany/Austria 2005.
*33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. We were there in 1963, and again about 3 years ago. Better the first time--the tall buildings detract and create a misty fog.
*34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. How far back? Grandpa was born near Dayton, Ohio, Grandma near Ashton, Illinois. But I’m 9th generation, so that would be a lot of places to visit just in the USA.
*35. Seen an Amish community. Lots of those in Ohio.
*36. Taught yourself a new language. Not sure what “taught yourself” means. No one else can do it, right? But I’m not too good at it.
*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. Oh, yes. Just about a year ago.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David. In Florence we saw the replica.
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
*43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant. A stranger paid for our meal once--thought our children were well behaved.
44. Visited Africa.
*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Ocean, but also Lake Erie.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. Can you get admitted faster if you go by ambulance?
*47. Had your portrait painted. By my husband.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
*52. Kissed in the rain.
*53. Played in the mud. And the road tar. Small town.
*54. Gone to a drive-in theater often as a teen. White Pines, between Oregon and Polo. Here's a list of some Illinois theaters that might be revived, but White Pines isn't among.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
*57. Started a business. I was certainly part of my husband’s--his staff, and I may have been named vice-president, or something. (He used to say, “The kids left home, Norma got tenure and the cat died, so it was time to start my own business.” Having benefits really helps the transition.)
58. Taken a martial arts class.
*59. Visited Russia. In 2006--took the train to St. Petersburg from Helsinki. I never thought it could happen (was a Russian major in college during the Iron Curtain years).
*60. Served at a soup kitchen.
*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching .
*63. Received flowers for no reason. My husband loves surprises. One time a guy in a Gorilla costume delivered them and I think he sang.
*64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
*67. Bounced a check. Once. I had 2 accounts and wrote a check on the wrong one.
68. Flown in a helicopter. Could have done this in Alaska but I stayed in the lodge and took a nap and my husband went.
*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. I incorporated them in the decorating.
*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. In high school on a church trip.
71. Eaten caviar
*72. Pieced a quilt. It only got to the top phase--never finished it, but I come across it every now and then.
*73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades.
*75. Been fired from a job. I was fired from Beaky’s Barrel (drive-in restaurant) because I couldn’t keep the orders straight and was too slow, but I was only 13.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone. Never.
*78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. It wasn’t exactly speeding--it belonged to a co-worker and I was the passenger, but we did make it to the highway.
*79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. Breathtaking. August 2003.
80. Published a book. I wrote it--no one wanted it. Just journal articles.
81. Visited the Vatican.
*82. Bought a brand new car. First new car was a Volkswagen--1964 I think. Bright blue.
*83. Walked in Jerusalem. Coming up in 3 months. So I’m fudging on this a bit.
*84. Had your picture in the newspaper. Several times. Most recently I think was about an art class I was in.
*85. Read the entire Bible. Might have dozed off in a few places or skipped a few OT battles and laws.
*86. Visited the White House. I think my niece’s husband got us up moved up in line--he worked for a gov’t agency.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Watched Dad chopped off chickens' heads, and cleaned by Mom, but I never did it, never want to.
*88. Had chickenpox. Yes, and measles, whooping cough, pneumonia and scarlet fever, too. In the days before vaccines and penicillin.
*89. Saved someone’s life. I witnessed to someone who became a believer and later a pastor.
*90. Sat on a jury. Hope I never get called again.
*91. Met someone famous. Ran into Rod Serling in the Columbus airport years ago. Passed the “Jackson 5” in the hall at a downtown hotel in Columbus when they were still together. I've been to rallies for John McCain and George Bush, although I probably couldn’t get past the Secret Service.
*92. Joined a book club. Great group--I joined in 2000 when I retired. They stick to business and are all nice people. They’ve been together 26 years.
*93. Lost a loved one. Many.
*94. Had a baby. Two.
*95. Seen the Alamo in person. Library conferences take you to interesting places.
*96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. I was pretty small, so I probably waded.
*97. Been involved in a law suit. One of those group things where you get 10 cents by the time the lawyer takes his share.
*98. Owned a cell phone. Technically--although I always ask which button to push if it rings.
*99. Been stung by a bee. Twice. Once in Forreston at Sauerkraut Day, and once while watch my son play pee-wee football--crawled up inside my slacks.

Happy New Year

Yes, it's a bit early, but I want you to click over and read the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Extension website, by Alice Henneman. I signed up for her newsletter many years ago, while I was still with Ohio State. This year she's looked for a way to use the letters in Happy New Year, and I think she's done a good job. The "R" stands for "reading materials." She uses a quote from Mark Twain, "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Now with the internet we have access to all sorts of strange theories, drugs, spiritual health gurus and health hype. Most of us, assuming we don't have a serious disease or haven't been in a terrible accident, need to eat less move more. ELMM. I know I do. (Would you believe I caved yesterday and bought a bag of corn chips--they weren't Fritos, but tasted just as good, and now I'll have to throw out what's left.) Of course you'd believe it. You've done the same thing. I have a friend from high school who has battled cancer twice, but she keeps walking and is an inspiration I'm sure to the entire town, who see her out there in all kinds of weather. Plus it pumps up those endorphins and strengthens her bones and resolve.

But back to UNL Extension in Lancaster County Nebraska, Go and read it.

Christmas shopping finished

It will be low key this year. Usually we've made a major gift to the children, but this year it will be a modest gift card and a book or two. Always a mistake, however, to stroll through Wal-Mart without lots of resolve. I went there to get my son's gift card, but wandered around finding things I didn't really need which almost doubled the bill. Like 6 kitchen towels for $5. My 40 year old towels are a bit faded and ragged, but they still work. I did find a floor mat made in the USA--"I'm proud to be an American." Didn't buy it. Found some wash clothes--those always get grungy fast--but passed on the towels. I was out of paper towels and some food items, so I picked those up. One bright spot--I had the most pleasant check-out person.

We haven't yet worked out how we're doing Christmas dinner--I think someone's waiting for me to act. Tomorrow we've got our couples group dinner and I'm taking my Christmas salad. I've had 3 hits on it today. So someone else is looking for ideas too--it's great--and very festive. The cards and letters are slowly coming in.

The Network

Usually I don't care for anything Chris Matthews does, but I think this MSNBC video of the Blago-Obama links is pretty good. He left out Patti's sister who is in the Illinois state legislature, but I'm not sure she was on the list to be considered for Senate. Also, Chris missed the opportunity to point out the other governors who went to jail were Republicans. Illinois is an equal opportunity state.



Also, I think the Illinois AG bears a striking resemblance in voice and face to that movie star formerly married to Bruce Willis. I've forgotten her name, she married a kid star, but remember she used to be on a soap, and I was always struck by her deep, husky voice.

Obama’s solution for corruption in government

The Blago story moves closer to BO with Rahm Emanuel's involvement (although I would be surprised if the Team O wasn't interested, money or not--appointment to open seats, usually through death or disgrace of the holder is hands in the cookie jar in every state that doesn't hold a special election). But Obama's ideas on how to reduce corrunption are instructive, seen at James Taranto's column.

It's just human nature, “making enough on the job” includes just about every official’s idea of his own needs, including Blagojevich, but I like Obama’s solution--more private sector jobs.

“We know that the temptation to take a bribe is greater when you're not making enough on the job. And we also know that the more people there are on the government payroll, the more likely it is that someone will be encouraged to take a bribe. So if the government found ways to downsize the bureaucracy--to cut out the positions that aren't necessary or useful--it could use the extra money to increase the salary of other government officials.

Of course, the best way to reduce bureaucracy and increase pay is to create more private sector jobs.”

Unfortunately, this speech was given in Kenya--I don’t think we’ll hear this theme at home. With so many jobs going to the non-profits and faith-based organizations who use government money to run their programs, the party in power doesn't have the patronage and control that a large bureaucracy does--and during the campaign, Obama promised to return that money to the government payroll. His handlers can see that this spreading the money around to the private sector through non-profits and government partnerships with business didn't bring the Bush Administration any loyalty or power base the way one would have if the government payroll had been engorged.

Why do they think they can make automobiles?

“The waste highlighted in this report is only a fraction of the more than $385 billion the federal government throws away every year through waste, fraud and duplication. Yet, each example in this report is a snapshot that tells a larger story, just as the Bridge to Nowhere justifiably became a symbol of the corrupting nature of earmarks. The story the American people already understand is that Congress’ inability to make common sense decisions about spending priorities is putting our children’s future at risk. Until Congress abandons the short-term parochialism that gives us LobsterCams and inflatable alligators, we will never get a handle on the major economic challenges facing this country,” [Senator Tom Coburn, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Relations]. See Full Report, "2008 Worst Waste of the year."

"We could say they spend money like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair--to drunken sailors. It would be unfair, because the sailors are spending their own money." - Ronald Reagan on Congress

Putting political pieces on the board the Chicago Way

Chicago Tribune writer John Kass writes on December 12 that Jimmy DeLeo is the real Illinois powerhouse who controls not only the governor, but Rahm Emanuel. Rahm is vacating a House seat, Rahm works for Obama, who is vacating a Senate seat. Why wouldn't Obama, or any incoming President, want a say in who gets appointed? Why shouldn't these guys trade favors for seats in Congress? These are politicians, for Pete's sake. The man behind the curtain

Other Tribune writers report U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage him to pick Jackson for the job. Link.

The amount of money passing hands in Illinois is pennies compared to the give-aways in Congress. I don't know who DeLeo or Kass are, but do you feel like you're stepping in quick sand and afraid of what you'll find at the bottom? Is there a bottom? Or does it sometimes feels like a trick by the bailed out banks (remember those guys?) or the Fannie Mae execs or the Ben and Hank show so that we stay busy reading the headlines linking Chicago-Springfield-DC and not noticing what they did (or didn't do) with all our money?

Small business bears the brunt of regulatory costs

"The research finds (2005) that the cost of federal regulations totals $1.1 trillion; the cost per employee for firms with fewer than 20 employees is $7,647. . . Governement regulations cost more per household than health care.

Environmental and tax compliance regulations appear to be the main cost drivers in determining the severity of the disproportionate impact on small firms. Compliance with environmental regulations costs 364 percent more in small firms than in large
firms. The cost of tax compliance is 67 percent higher in small firms than the cost in large firms."

The 2005 findings were consistent with those of 1995 and 2001. So how will our government help small business in this time of economy strain? By adding more environmental regulations and higher taxes.

Read the full report for SBA here.

Serbs say he's forgotten his roots

Rod Blagojevich, whose first name is Milorad, son of Radissa, is a second-generation Serb-American. Blagojevich was the second person of Serb descent elected governor in the United States (after U.S. Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, who served as governor in the 1990s).

At Politika:

Miodrag writes: "Blagojevich asked American Serbs to help him financially but he's never done anything for Serbia. To the contrary, he voted for sharp measures against Serbia. ... He came to Belgrade in 1999 with Jesse Jackson to release four American soldiers captured in Kosovo [during the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia]. He did it only to promote himself. That person has never done anything for Serbs." Milos writes: "I'm glad that justice finally caught up with Rod Blagojevich. When he was a member of the Congress, he appealed to Serb Americans to give him donations because he was allegedly fighting for Serb issues. However, when he received thousands of dollars from naive Serbs, he never did anything positive at all for the Serb people. Rod Blagojevich always took care of himself and his pocket." Janko writes: "If somebody is not clear enough on what is a true American myth, the so-called American dream, he should look into the biography of Rod Blagojevich. He was always fighting for himself alone and went from zero to somebody. Serbs did not vote for him. He was elected governor of Illinois with the votes of African-Americans—that is Obama's voters." Slobo writes: "Well, one more piece of evidence that the Americans hate us. They don't let us steal."

Some people drop their middle name, some their first name. It's an American custom, and it's OK unless you're Joe the Plumber.

I didn't smell anything

The Jacksons vs. Obama

Remember last summer when Jesse Jackson didn't have his mike off and said he hoped for an Obama castration? Literally. I'm much too refined to quote him. You can just go to Google. So Blagojevich after the election finds out that he will get nothing for appointing Obama's favorite, Valerie Jarret, but can get a pay off from Daddy Jackson who has all that blackmail money from CEOs with the wrong number of minorities on their staff. The Obamarama Crowd then decided to pay Jackson back by turning on his son, the infamous #5. Now both dad and son have hired lawyers, Obama's still claiming to be tri-squeeky clean (heard nothing, saw nothing, said nothing), and the press is all shaking its collective talking head suggesting, "Oh well, we all know Blago was crazy." That way when he sings, as we know he will do to reduce his sentence (I've watched Law and Order for about 15 years), his reputation and credibility will be totally destroyed. Never you mind that Obama was on his team when he was running for Governor of Illinois--and didn't notice he was a few bricks short of a load. Jesse just needed that pay back. You just don't cross an Obama. After all, Grandma was a bank vice president and he's got all those Ivy League creds.