All Over the Board… » News/Insight
Social Networking, old friends, politics, and the bad idea of limiting deductions
I’ve been on Facebook for quite some time now. What makes Facebook compelling to me is that so many people from my current and past are on it: colleagues, friends, family, old classmates, youth group members, and the like. It’s great to connect with people and find how your interests are the same. I like seeing photos of people I haven’t seen for years. I’ve learned things about people I would never know otherwise (Person A went to Morehouse, Person B’s husband started a new ministry, etc.) In fact, there is even a little Kumbaya feeling to it that only social networking can lend. My “friends” don’t have to live with me, work with me, or put up with my bad habits. They don’t have to be Duke Fans who like … Read entire article »
Filed under: News/Insight
Blatantly Obvious Observation of the Day: MPS Benefits are “uniquely generous”
Just in case you are wondering why the MPS is under a budget crisis, I direct you to the following article. The MPS School Board had to pay a consultant to tell them something that many a Milwaukee taxpayer already knows: MPS fringe benefits like health care are “uniquely generous” among employers. Really… I pay roughly $4,500 a year in premiums for my health care. This entitles me to pay a $4,000 deductible. You mean little or no premiums with co-pays across the board is generous? … Read entire article »
Filed under: News/Insight
Carbon Offset Indulgences
I wish I could take credit for this term, but I have to give credit to Charlie Sykes for linking today’s carbon-offset mania with the Reformation. Being a Lutheran, I was raised to know about the grounds for the reformation. I have to chuckle at the lengths we are willing to go to ease our guilt for living on this planet. I am in the process of replacing some windows so I save money and use less energy. I recycle more than the average person. I don’t think we should destroy the planet just for the heck of it. I believe we should take reasonable steps to keep the planet clean for future generations. What is a Carbon Offset Indulgence? It’s hard to define, but I know one when I see … Read entire article »
Filed under: Humor, News/Insight, Techie
Sarah Palin, Gwen Ifill, debates, and witchcraft
I know many conservatives lament (some might describe it whining) about the bias of the Mainstream media. I myself have been hesitant to complain about this, as the MSM has been caught in this several times. Besides, who watches the 5:30 National Network News anyway? The Internet has opened the door to research and finding news and commentary from several different perspectives. … Read entire article »
Filed under: News/Insight
A Wii bit of product maldistribution
I got a Nintendo Wii for Father’s Day, and I love it. It’s the first gaming console I owned since the Atari 5200 (which I still have), and I can think of no better system for our family. The girls can play Wii Sports: Golf or Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey. Jackson and I can play MLB 2K8 (and I can get livid watching him beat the tar out of me). The Wii Fit is challenging in parts, fun in others, and lame in a few spots (running in place = dumb). With the Wii, I became increasingly fascinated with the supply/demand curve heavily skewed towards the demand side. … Read entire article »
Filed under: News/Insight, Reads, Screens, and Sounds, Sports, Techie
The Cy Young of Youth Baseball
I came across this article today about the pitcher who is “too good” to play in a nine-year-old league. What cracks me up is that there were kids like this in our league too. I don’t know if this is a select league or not, but it makes for interesting reading. The displaced barber who runs the league is a nice touch. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Humor, News/Insight, Sports
Five Star Thursdays: Neko Case sings a Tom Waits tune
I am very conflicted about this week’s choice. I have a link on my blog to Christian Internet Links and am a Christian. Yet here I am about to discuss a song called “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” as my song of the week. I was thinking of Neko Case this evening, and I chose this song whilst alone and chilling out. When I wanted to use this song for the blog, I immediately thought that it would be inappropriate. So I nixed the idea. Then the writer in me knew that to be anything but real would be wrong. So here we go… I own a lot of depressing and dark music, and this may be is the saddest song of them all. The main character in this song … Read entire article »
Filed under: News/Insight, Reads, Screens, and Sounds, The Christian Walk