In case you haven't heard, you should know that the Rocky Mountain News is scheduled to stop production, issuing its final edition on Friday. The news came fast from one of my colleagues in Ohio that the owner of the Willoughby (Ohio) News Herald and the Lorain (Ohio) Morning Journal has filed for bankruptcy.
I love nothing more than the feel of a newspaper. Sure, I am as much of a web news junkie as anyone in this Internet era, but I still love the feel of a paper and I know that dailies are one of the most critical components of a democratic society.
I wish more people would understand that and do more to help save the dailies.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Blame the Sheep
First it was cows, now it's sheep whose gas production is being blamed for global warming.
Check out the story at www.wsj.com
Oye vey.
Check out the story at www.wsj.com
Oye vey.
The First Canine
It's cute and feel-good that the First Family is about to pick out some canine that will keep them company at the White House and fulfill a father's promise to his two daughters.
But I don't care.
What I care about is results. Congress and President Obama are navigating this country during one of the most historically economically important times. Crucial, in fact.
I think it's embarrassing when news media covers the First Dog and get focused (and some of them have, even a little bit here and there on NPR).
I guess on the other hand we have to see that the Obamas are still human and that they possess this soft side.
I get that.
But I don't care.
What I care about is results. Congress and President Obama are navigating this country during one of the most historically economically important times. Crucial, in fact.
I think it's embarrassing when news media covers the First Dog and get focused (and some of them have, even a little bit here and there on NPR).
I guess on the other hand we have to see that the Obamas are still human and that they possess this soft side.
I get that.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Bristol Palin doesn't regret teenage pregnancy
I'm very outspoken (surprise, surprise) when it comes to teen pregnancy. Most people are, right?
I've seen the effects of teenage pregnancy personally in my life, including but not limited to my sister's experience. She has five children that she started having when she was 14.
She has struggled and so have her children. I have seen family friends who have had to give children up for adoption.
Bristol Palin can go on national news and speak out about how she doesn't regret teenage pregnancy, but she can also say that with the benefit of a very supportive (and famous) family who will help her raise the child.
Unfortunately, most teenage mothers are not in that situation and should not look to Bristol Palin as a role model.
Also, Bristol Palin can say now that she has no regrets, when her child is roughly four months' old. Get past the diaper stage, get into those very difficult trials and tribulations of child-rearing where a parent's emotional maturity is the best support a child can have. Then we'll see if you have any regrets.
Child-rearing isn't about having a cute baby, a real-life doll that is fun to dress up. Child-rearing is about sacrifice and helping a human being that you created navigate the tricky waters of life.
Bueno suerte.
I've seen the effects of teenage pregnancy personally in my life, including but not limited to my sister's experience. She has five children that she started having when she was 14.
She has struggled and so have her children. I have seen family friends who have had to give children up for adoption.
Bristol Palin can go on national news and speak out about how she doesn't regret teenage pregnancy, but she can also say that with the benefit of a very supportive (and famous) family who will help her raise the child.
Unfortunately, most teenage mothers are not in that situation and should not look to Bristol Palin as a role model.
Also, Bristol Palin can say now that she has no regrets, when her child is roughly four months' old. Get past the diaper stage, get into those very difficult trials and tribulations of child-rearing where a parent's emotional maturity is the best support a child can have. Then we'll see if you have any regrets.
Child-rearing isn't about having a cute baby, a real-life doll that is fun to dress up. Child-rearing is about sacrifice and helping a human being that you created navigate the tricky waters of life.
Bueno suerte.
Mom's Birthday
Today is my mother's birthday, and this is a special tribute to her. We love and miss you, Mom.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Edmond Tornado
http://www.koco.com/video/18684132/index.html
Here is a video of the F2 tornado that came through Edmond.
Edmond, where we live, is a Northeastern suburb of Oklahoma City.
Here in Tornado Alley, we really don't get worked up about the storms. We don't get panicked. I think that's primarily because the people who report the weather are very good at what they do (I know that seems counter to what we know about the weather reporters, but it's true here); I work on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman which houses one of the premier storm prediction centers in the world. They can tell exactly where a tornado is going to hit in terms of the street corner and if you really wanted it, I'm sure they can provide an address where the tornado will pay its first visit.
It's cool. Really.
Here is a video of the F2 tornado that came through Edmond.
Edmond, where we live, is a Northeastern suburb of Oklahoma City.
Here in Tornado Alley, we really don't get worked up about the storms. We don't get panicked. I think that's primarily because the people who report the weather are very good at what they do (I know that seems counter to what we know about the weather reporters, but it's true here); I work on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman which houses one of the premier storm prediction centers in the world. They can tell exactly where a tornado is going to hit in terms of the street corner and if you really wanted it, I'm sure they can provide an address where the tornado will pay its first visit.
It's cool. Really.
Tornadoes In Edmond
It's true, we did have tornadoes in Edmond on Tuesday. It's very strange for February, indeed, and one tornado in particular was an F2. It hit Northern Edmond; we live in south Edmond. Our house and property were fine; I stayed in Norman and waited it out. Dante was at work in Oklahoma City.
We're still having storms now as I write this; let's hope no more tornadoes form!
We're still having storms now as I write this; let's hope no more tornadoes form!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
As a Person Thinketh
I am a fan of Robert Reich.
I am a fan of George Will.
I am a fan of Peggy Noonan.
I don't necessarily agree with everything each person listed above says, but I admire each person's ability to think. And I especially admire each person's ability to challenge my thought process and force me to think on a different level.
This is an important distinction as I present one of the better Reich pieces, which was published on Salon.com http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/02/03/after_the_stimulus/index.html
Reich very astutely identifies and discusses the difference between structuralists and cyclists when it comes to the United States economy (or any economy, for that matter). And this supports my argument all along that no single United States president can make or break an economy.
All of you partisans out there, calm down. It's true. There is too much built into the making of an economy. Politicians will argue to advance their own positions, but Reich contends that the underlying fundamentals of the United States economy are what has put it in its current position.
And it goes back to the 1970s.
Read that again. It goes back to the 1970s.
I can't stand it when people try to blame one administration, so I was especially happy to see an economist I really respect put it in writing. Things do not happen in a vacuum.
Reich says, "...median U.S. incomes began to stall. Because wages got hit then by the double-whammy of global competition and new technologies, the typical American family was able to maintain its living standard only if women went into the workforce in larger numbers, and later, only if everyone worked longer hours. When even these coping mechanisms were exhausted, families went into debt -- a strategy that was viable as long as home values continued to rise."
Read Reich's piece. It's very well done.
I am a fan of George Will.
I am a fan of Peggy Noonan.
I don't necessarily agree with everything each person listed above says, but I admire each person's ability to think. And I especially admire each person's ability to challenge my thought process and force me to think on a different level.
This is an important distinction as I present one of the better Reich pieces, which was published on Salon.com http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/02/03/after_the_stimulus/index.html
Reich very astutely identifies and discusses the difference between structuralists and cyclists when it comes to the United States economy (or any economy, for that matter). And this supports my argument all along that no single United States president can make or break an economy.
All of you partisans out there, calm down. It's true. There is too much built into the making of an economy. Politicians will argue to advance their own positions, but Reich contends that the underlying fundamentals of the United States economy are what has put it in its current position.
And it goes back to the 1970s.
Read that again. It goes back to the 1970s.
I can't stand it when people try to blame one administration, so I was especially happy to see an economist I really respect put it in writing. Things do not happen in a vacuum.
Reich says, "...median U.S. incomes began to stall. Because wages got hit then by the double-whammy of global competition and new technologies, the typical American family was able to maintain its living standard only if women went into the workforce in larger numbers, and later, only if everyone worked longer hours. When even these coping mechanisms were exhausted, families went into debt -- a strategy that was viable as long as home values continued to rise."
Read Reich's piece. It's very well done.
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