Unemployment: I’m Surprised at the Surprise

Posted on August 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Someone has to say it.  It desperately needs to be said.

Does ANYONE know the meaning of “unexpectedly?”

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Posted in Economy, Politics: National

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Liberty Dances

Posted on August 4, 2010 | 7 comments

Everywhere Liberty is forced into hiding.

From the Left and, in California, from the Right.

Today, she has loosened the bonds restricting her a little more.

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Posted in Liberty, Politics: National

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Not Nightmare – Daymare

Posted on August 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

I had a dream last night that Barck Obama wasn’t President.

Then I woke up.

Very scary.

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How to Positively Affect Health Care Costs

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 2 comments

Just this afternoon I experienced a classic fundamental of economics:  Consumption.

I had lunch at a pizza buffet.  All the pizza and soda I could consume for the low low price of eight dollars American.  of course I had to render to Caesar, so it REALLY was about $8.50, but I digress.

At some point I pushed away from the table satisfied; I was fat dumb and happy.  Full.

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Posted in Economics, Health Care, Politics: National

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Minimum Wage Characteristics

Posted on August 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Interesting Characteristics of the Minimum Wage earner:  2009

  • 19% of teens who work and are paid by the hour make the minimum wage or less.
  • The % of the population over 25 and paid by the hour making minimum wage or less?  3.  3% of wage earners over 25 make minimum wage.
  • School Pays:
    • No High School Diploma:  10% of wage earners make the minimum wage
    • High School Diploma:  4% make the minimum wage
    • College Degree:  3% make the minimum wage
  • Married?  3% of people who are or have been married make the minimum wage
  • 13% of the population making the minimum wage works in the service industry.

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Posted in Economy, Politics: National

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From My Lips…..

Posted on August 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

To God’s ear?

I hope not!

1 day after posting that we haven’t seen a bunch of himacanes we get this!

Still, pretty low chance that we’ll see a real storm.

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Posted in Global Warming, Technology

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Tragedy of the Commons

Posted on August 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Some time ago {okay OKAY!  It was this morning!} I was arguing with Liberals.  We were talking about what a government can do, should do and then, what they WILL do.  In our examples, we specifically were speaking about the “common good” as it relates to non-National Defense.*

For example, can/should/will the government regulate medical doctors?  How about florists?

Another example, can/should/will the government regulate the workplace safety?

And even another.  Can/should/will the government regulate food quality in our grocery stores?  How about stereo component quality?

As you can imagine, a very clear divergence of opinions evolved.

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Posted in Economics, Liberty, Politics: National

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Senate Race 2010: VII

Posted on August 2, 2010 | 1 comment

Been awhile. As predicted, the races are gelling, firming up.  There are run a ways and there are tight races.  In some cases the candidates have swapped front-runner position. Here is the rundown:

State Circumstance Democrat Republican Incumbent Front Runner Spread
CT Retiring Dem Blumenthal McMahon Democrat Democrat 16.3
DE Retiring Dem Coons Castle Democrat Republican 11
IL Retiring Dem Giannoulias Kirk Democrat Democrat 1.7
IN Retiring Dem Ellsworth Coats Democrat Republican 21
ND Retiring Dem Heitkamp Hoeven Democrat Republican 27

This is an interesting group.  And only because we are seeing a much tighter race in Illinois than folks anticipated.  The reason?  This is Barack Obama’s seat; the Dems can NOT afford to lose this one.  They are pouring it on.  My prediction?  They lose it.

+4 to the Republicans

State Circumstance Democrat Republican Incumbent Front Runner
FL Retiring Rep Crist Rubio Republican Independent
KS Retiring Rep Republican Republican
KY Retiring Rep Conway Paul Republican Republican
MO Retiring Rep Carnahan Blunt Republican Republican
NH Retiring Rep Hodes Republican Republican Republican
OH Retiring Rep Fisher Portman Republican Democrat

This one has stayed stable.  Ohio remains a wild card but so does Florida.  I stay with my original prediction that the Dems take a seat/

-1 to the Republicans.

State Circumstance Democrat Republican Incumbent Front Runner Spread
AR Term Dem Lincoln Boozman Democrat Republican 25
CA Term Dem Boxer Fiorina Democrat Democrat 4.4
CO Term Dem Bennet Norton Democrat Republican 6
HI Term Dem Democrat Democrat
MD Term Dem Democrat Democrat
NV Term Dem Reid Angle Democrat Democrat 1.6
NY Term Dem Gillibrand Blakeman Democrat Democrat 17.7
NY Term Dem Democrat Democrat
OR Term Dem Wyden Huffman Democrat Democrat 17
PA Term Dem Sestak Toomey Democrat Republican 2
VE Term Dem Democrat Democrat
WA Term Dem Murray Rossi Democrat Democrat 2
WI Term Dem Feingold Johnson Democrat Republican 2

And then this group; crazy!   Washington and Wisconsin are in the mix.  And Nevada is back in play.  I no longer think the Dems will split Colorado and Pennsylvania; the Republicans will take ’em both.  Nevada back in play with Wisconsin and Washington?  Repubs get one of ’em.

Republicans +4

And the termed Repubs?  No chance for the Democrats to steal one.

Final score?  Republicans +7.  52-48.

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Posted in Elections 2010, Politics: National, Senate

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Hurricane Season: 2010 – July Review

Posted on August 2, 2010 | 1 comment

June has come and gone.  July too.  Where are we with our hurricane prediction so far?

Let’s review.

If you remember, back in April we had the experts claim that we were due for 15 named storms with 4 of ’em becoming major hurricanes.

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Posted in Technology

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Site Hits

Posted on August 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

So, back in March and April I was excited because traffic to the site increased by 300% over the previous few months.  I thought I was “on my way.”  Whatever THAT means.

However, May and June not only failed to increase traffic, those months actually came in with LESS traffic than the previous months.

July?  Well, slightly better than June, it’s still well below March and April.

As the month came to an end I was bummed.  I enjoy doing this because it’s a hobby; I have fun AND I learn a lot.  But I admit, part of it is an addiction to readers.  And I was stalling even slowing.

I blamed it on summer, lack of interest and all kinds of other things having little to do with me.  Then I noticed something:

I posted just over a third as often as I did in March, just under half of what I posted in April.

Funny thing that free market.  When less is offered for sale, less will be “purchased.”

Also, powerful lesson in cause and effect.  More often the thing that I want but don’t have has more to do with me, my attitude and my effort than any other single cause.

As I often say;

Go. Do.

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