Have I mentioned before how much I love the movie Dave and its idyllic depiction of a pared down governmental budget? Yeah, maybe a few times. Anyway, I cling to the dream of a clean budget. Today comes news from the Bush administration I can get firmly behind. It's a happy Monday. :)
President Bush previously signed into law the 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. The bill, coauthored by Senators Coburn, Obama, Carper, and McCain, required the creation of a website (USAspending.gov) for regular people to identify budgeted recipients of federal funding (above $25k). Funny how my political interests come together, eh?
Learn more about pork barrel spending (aka "earmarks"):
* An obviously anti-pork barrel viewpoint can be found at Porkbusters
* Wikipedia's intriguing definition and history of the pork barrel
* Check out the encyclopedic SourceWatch/Congresspedia entry on the above law
14 Feb UPDATE: Washington Post reported today on the 2007 earmark securing habits of this year's top Presidential candidates, in "Candidates' Earmarks Worth Millions." Notice I said top candidates. Maybe you're always suprised come voting time, but there are in fact more than two parties in this country. Check out this list from Project Vote Smart of all the people who formally put their name out there as candidates for President. Wow, that's a long list.
January 28, 2008
Reality Lite
If you're heading out for a movie in the theaters currently, I would recommend Juno, or one of several other films I have yet to see but which I am certain are good (There Will be Blood, for instance). I'd have to assess your cinematic tastes before unequivocally recommending National Treasure: Book of Secrets, but I shall try to give it a fair review here: it's an absurd adventure movie starring Nicolas Cage which I inexplicably enjoyed. Want to know more? Read on....
Starring the same people as the first National Treasure (Nic Cage, Jon Voigt, etc.) but adding guests Ed Harris and Hellen Mirren, NTBS is a fantastical adventure tale featuring the off-limits sections of popular tourist spots: Mount Vernon, the Library of Congress, Buckingham Palace, and Mount Rushmore (so even if you don't enjoy the rollicking storyline, you could stay for the scenery). All these places are visited en route to finding a legendary city of gold.
What allowed me to enjoy the first film was a timely suspension of disbelief. Director Jon Turteltaub seems to have banked on those "don't ask, don't tell" blinders this time and made it all a bit more fun for the viewers. It's an average movie overall, but good enough for a rainy Sunday with friends. Sometimes it's nice to just sit back, relax, and forget about reality for a few hours.
Starring the same people as the first National Treasure (Nic Cage, Jon Voigt, etc.) but adding guests Ed Harris and Hellen Mirren, NTBS is a fantastical adventure tale featuring the off-limits sections of popular tourist spots: Mount Vernon, the Library of Congress, Buckingham Palace, and Mount Rushmore (so even if you don't enjoy the rollicking storyline, you could stay for the scenery). All these places are visited en route to finding a legendary city of gold.
What allowed me to enjoy the first film was a timely suspension of disbelief. Director Jon Turteltaub seems to have banked on those "don't ask, don't tell" blinders this time and made it all a bit more fun for the viewers. It's an average movie overall, but good enough for a rainy Sunday with friends. Sometimes it's nice to just sit back, relax, and forget about reality for a few hours.
January 26, 2008
Stimulating Humor
What a perfect fusion of my recent comments!
(Click on image to see it bigger.) For more of Sheneman's work, go here.
(Click on image to see it bigger.) For more of Sheneman's work, go here.
January 25, 2008
Editorializing
Not that you asked, but...
I love editorials, whether officially sanctioned editorial board pieces, letters to the editor, or political cartoons (such as by Tom Toles and Pat Oliphant).
Here is a nice example of an informative editorial piece, one which I'd encourage potential Democratic voters to read. The New York Times has endorsed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Why do I recommend you read an article endorsing Hillary? Because it is a good example of the informative nature of editorials, it is well argued, and it includes much praise for my preferred candidate. :)
You may now return to your regular Friday frivolity. :)
UPDATE: I realize now that op-ed is the more accurate label for the news articles I recommended. In this opinion piece in the Jan 27 NY Times, Caroline Kennedy says that she had never before been inspired by a candidate like people did during her father's campaign. She supports Barack Obama's bid for presidency.
I love editorials, whether officially sanctioned editorial board pieces, letters to the editor, or political cartoons (such as by Tom Toles and Pat Oliphant).
Here is a nice example of an informative editorial piece, one which I'd encourage potential Democratic voters to read. The New York Times has endorsed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Why do I recommend you read an article endorsing Hillary? Because it is a good example of the informative nature of editorials, it is well argued, and it includes much praise for my preferred candidate. :)
By choosing Mrs. Clinton, we are not denying Mr. Obama’s appeal or his gifts. The idea of the first African-American nominee of a major party also is exhilarating, and so is the prospect of the first woman nominee. “Firstness” is not a reason to choose. The times that false choice has been raised, more often by Mrs. Clinton, have tarnished the campaign.It's the less major issues, like adherence to machine politics, that do it for me, but I'll leave that argument for another day. Regardless of my issues with the Clinton campaign, I am very excited that the Democrats overall have such a decent crop of candidates this year and that the primaries, although too expensive for my tastes, are at least getting people across the country involved.
Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton would both help restore America’s global image, to which President Bush has done so much grievous harm. They are committed to changing America’s role in the world, not just its image.
On the major issues, there is no real gulf separating the two.
You may now return to your regular Friday frivolity. :)
UPDATE: I realize now that op-ed is the more accurate label for the news articles I recommended. In this opinion piece in the Jan 27 NY Times, Caroline Kennedy says that she had never before been inspired by a candidate like people did during her father's campaign. She supports Barack Obama's bid for presidency.
January 24, 2008
The Bluest Eye
Today's lesson: Experiments should never be undertaken without careful preparation.
In the news: This article leads me to believe that some of the adults involved in carrying out a well known, provocative classroom exercise didn't plan well enough to make it a lasting lesson, which is quite a waste. What the school in Idaho did was based on Jane Elliott's eye color discrimination experiment. In the original classroom activity, students were divided along eye color lines, then one group was treated as superior and the other inferior. Simple, right? The results are imaginable and yet horrifying.
There are obvious ethical concerns for anyone who participates in such an experiment (hence the need for careful planning, including a thorough debriefing). But you don't need to participate in order to learn something from it. If you have not heard of the eye color experiment, or have forgotten its bleek but important lesson in human nature and discrimination, check out the Frontline piece, A Class Divided. It's the story of how Elliott devised and carried out her bold lesson in discrimination with third graders in Iowa after the King assassination. The page includes a link to watch the program.
Other powerful and controversial social experiments that I encourage all to become familiar with include Milgram's study on obedience and authority (or read the Wikipedia entry here), and Zimbardo's Stanford Prison study which uncovered similarly fascinating findings on situational behavior.
In the news: This article leads me to believe that some of the adults involved in carrying out a well known, provocative classroom exercise didn't plan well enough to make it a lasting lesson, which is quite a waste. What the school in Idaho did was based on Jane Elliott's eye color discrimination experiment. In the original classroom activity, students were divided along eye color lines, then one group was treated as superior and the other inferior. Simple, right? The results are imaginable and yet horrifying.
There are obvious ethical concerns for anyone who participates in such an experiment (hence the need for careful planning, including a thorough debriefing). But you don't need to participate in order to learn something from it. If you have not heard of the eye color experiment, or have forgotten its bleek but important lesson in human nature and discrimination, check out the Frontline piece, A Class Divided. It's the story of how Elliott devised and carried out her bold lesson in discrimination with third graders in Iowa after the King assassination. The page includes a link to watch the program.
Other powerful and controversial social experiments that I encourage all to become familiar with include Milgram's study on obedience and authority (or read the Wikipedia entry here), and Zimbardo's Stanford Prison study which uncovered similarly fascinating findings on situational behavior.
Stimulating
A rambling soapbox comment on helping the economy. I will clean it up later....
As happy as I am to see Congress acting fairly quickly and cooperatively on an economic stimulus proposal, and I recognize that such a thing could have a positive impact, I have concerns about how the household tax rebate will be spent.
I like the parts of the proposal that focus on helping businesses expand (a peek at the plan). But the personal rebate part of the solution leaves me wondering if we've forgotten part of the equation. I understand that if even half of us ran out and spent or invested all of the couple hundred bucks we get, the economy would feel a poke. Like a jump start or defibrillation, maybe a household cash infusion would put things back on track and ready to chug along. But maybe we'd be propping up a dying entity. Sometimes the only real cure is not a jump start, but a new battery. I see no new batteries in our future.
The United States national debt, according to the Treasury Department's own calculations is over 9 trillion dollars. Our current balance of trade (exports versus imports) means we are dependent on other countries for most of the tangible stuff we buy. The most recent figures (November 2007) show we imported $730 billion dollars' worth of stuff more than we exported--in one month. Check out the value of our imports from China over the last few years, or any of the other countries we trade with. I'm not a big fan of growing increasingly dependent on others; a little dependence is nice, too much and we become hostages. (Um, heard such arguments about foreign oil dependence, anyone?)
I'm no financial genius, but doesn't it make a difference what people spend money on? The rebate plan seems tied to the idea that most people will spend the money they receive, rather than save it (here's insight into how the 2001 rebate was spent). Fine, I'll leave that be. But if we all run out and spend it on cheap clothing for our kids, we might be defeating the purpose. Maybe what we ought to do is encourage this temporary windfall be spent on good quality, domestic (or balanced trade nations') services and manufactured products.
Before you head out to spend your rebate at American stores like Wal-Mart, consider the source country for anything you consider buying (check the inside label or box--where was it made? And don't assume groceries are domestic. Even agricultural products come from overseas nowadays).
Your spending sends a message; consider the quality and nature of the business you give money to before you turn the funds over. Support buying local, and building it better (rather than encouraging the creation of more cheap crap). Balance out some imbalances, if only slightly. Not all domestic spending is created equal, and not all that is manufactured in the US is good quality. Just a few things to think about as you spend your rebate.
Instead of buying unnecessary kitsch cranked out in a sweatshop far away or poorly constructed clothes made close to home, why not use part of your rebate to invest in auto maintenance and a few American made cloth carrying bags. Then, next time you shop for knickknacks or a loaf of bread, you can can return home in a car that burns less oil carrying your purchases in something other than a plastic environmental choke hazard. See, you can boost our domestic economy and help the environment at the same time! (For plan to work you must keep your own carrying bags with you, and stop accepting the plastic bags they give out at store. You can do it.)
Michelle's suggested ways to spend rebate:
* Buy several cloth carrying bags for carting home groceries and other purchases (next day, deliver your accumulated plastic bags to a recycling bin like those in front of some grocery stores)
* Do necessary or preventive auto maintenance (can reduce reliance on oil products and prolong life of your car)
* Buy 1 or 2 products from American manufacturers, such as non-trendy, well constructed clothing, shoes, or furniture (next day donate some older clothing/furniture and check out second hand store for a few additional purchases)
* Cover cost of an hour without pay to volunteer your time with a community organization
* Purchase higher end domestic appliances that reduce your energy or water consumption
* Cover cost of an hour without pay to spend quality time with partner or kids
I like my idea and plan to promote it until someone can show me evidence that it wouldn't help. I figure how much damage could it do to encourage domestic spending?
It frustrates me that the fiscal stimulus idea phase seems to have ended with the rebate and business tax credits. What is lacking is the leadership to get a secondary message across. "Here's money, now spend it wisely. And by wisely I mean XXX." Is it wrong to expect our chosen leaders to advise us? Why are politicians so afraid to lead? And why do we let them get away with it? Maybe we know less than they do about these issues. And maybe there are well paid special interest groups controlling the message in their favor. Hmm, I may be on to something here. :)
This is a good time to remind us all that politicians are elected, and that eligible voters--whether you register and vote or not--are responsible in many ways for the direction this country takes. I cannot beg you enough--PLEASE inform yourself and take positive action. Here's a good reference for contacting politicians. It includes a lookup feature to find your Congressperson, good tips on most and least effective methods, as well as how you should address various elected officials.
Learn more about our trade deficit and debt
* Economic Policy Institute on Debt and the Dollar, 2004
* Brookings Institute on Foreign Holdings of US Debt, 2007
* Business Reference primer on Balance of Trade, what it is and how it affects economy
As happy as I am to see Congress acting fairly quickly and cooperatively on an economic stimulus proposal, and I recognize that such a thing could have a positive impact, I have concerns about how the household tax rebate will be spent.
I like the parts of the proposal that focus on helping businesses expand (a peek at the plan). But the personal rebate part of the solution leaves me wondering if we've forgotten part of the equation. I understand that if even half of us ran out and spent or invested all of the couple hundred bucks we get, the economy would feel a poke. Like a jump start or defibrillation, maybe a household cash infusion would put things back on track and ready to chug along. But maybe we'd be propping up a dying entity. Sometimes the only real cure is not a jump start, but a new battery. I see no new batteries in our future.
The United States national debt, according to the Treasury Department's own calculations is over 9 trillion dollars. Our current balance of trade (exports versus imports) means we are dependent on other countries for most of the tangible stuff we buy. The most recent figures (November 2007) show we imported $730 billion dollars' worth of stuff more than we exported--in one month. Check out the value of our imports from China over the last few years, or any of the other countries we trade with. I'm not a big fan of growing increasingly dependent on others; a little dependence is nice, too much and we become hostages. (Um, heard such arguments about foreign oil dependence, anyone?)
I'm no financial genius, but doesn't it make a difference what people spend money on? The rebate plan seems tied to the idea that most people will spend the money they receive, rather than save it (here's insight into how the 2001 rebate was spent). Fine, I'll leave that be. But if we all run out and spend it on cheap clothing for our kids, we might be defeating the purpose. Maybe what we ought to do is encourage this temporary windfall be spent on good quality, domestic (or balanced trade nations') services and manufactured products.
Before you head out to spend your rebate at American stores like Wal-Mart, consider the source country for anything you consider buying (check the inside label or box--where was it made? And don't assume groceries are domestic. Even agricultural products come from overseas nowadays).
Your spending sends a message; consider the quality and nature of the business you give money to before you turn the funds over. Support buying local, and building it better (rather than encouraging the creation of more cheap crap). Balance out some imbalances, if only slightly. Not all domestic spending is created equal, and not all that is manufactured in the US is good quality. Just a few things to think about as you spend your rebate.
Instead of buying unnecessary kitsch cranked out in a sweatshop far away or poorly constructed clothes made close to home, why not use part of your rebate to invest in auto maintenance and a few American made cloth carrying bags. Then, next time you shop for knickknacks or a loaf of bread, you can can return home in a car that burns less oil carrying your purchases in something other than a plastic environmental choke hazard. See, you can boost our domestic economy and help the environment at the same time! (For plan to work you must keep your own carrying bags with you, and stop accepting the plastic bags they give out at store. You can do it.)
Michelle's suggested ways to spend rebate:
* Buy several cloth carrying bags for carting home groceries and other purchases (next day, deliver your accumulated plastic bags to a recycling bin like those in front of some grocery stores)
* Do necessary or preventive auto maintenance (can reduce reliance on oil products and prolong life of your car)
* Buy 1 or 2 products from American manufacturers, such as non-trendy, well constructed clothing, shoes, or furniture (next day donate some older clothing/furniture and check out second hand store for a few additional purchases)
* Cover cost of an hour without pay to volunteer your time with a community organization
* Purchase higher end domestic appliances that reduce your energy or water consumption
* Cover cost of an hour without pay to spend quality time with partner or kids
I like my idea and plan to promote it until someone can show me evidence that it wouldn't help. I figure how much damage could it do to encourage domestic spending?
It frustrates me that the fiscal stimulus idea phase seems to have ended with the rebate and business tax credits. What is lacking is the leadership to get a secondary message across. "Here's money, now spend it wisely. And by wisely I mean XXX." Is it wrong to expect our chosen leaders to advise us? Why are politicians so afraid to lead? And why do we let them get away with it? Maybe we know less than they do about these issues. And maybe there are well paid special interest groups controlling the message in their favor. Hmm, I may be on to something here. :)
This is a good time to remind us all that politicians are elected, and that eligible voters--whether you register and vote or not--are responsible in many ways for the direction this country takes. I cannot beg you enough--PLEASE inform yourself and take positive action. Here's a good reference for contacting politicians. It includes a lookup feature to find your Congressperson, good tips on most and least effective methods, as well as how you should address various elected officials.
Learn more about our trade deficit and debt
* Economic Policy Institute on Debt and the Dollar, 2004
* Brookings Institute on Foreign Holdings of US Debt, 2007
* Business Reference primer on Balance of Trade, what it is and how it affects economy
January 20, 2008
Seconds
Luckily for me, coming in second place has never lessened the value of something I truly value and enjoy. (A particularly useful sentiment for a second-born child, eh?)
I've spent some time recently volunteering for the Barack Obama campaign, calling into Nevada to check on likely caucus participation. You probably saw how that turned out. But did you know that in the end, Clinton could come away with 1 fewer national delegate from Nevada than Obama? Yet another lesson in not declaring victory before the work (of war, an election, etc.) is truly over.
As someone who rarely gets in on the first round of anything, I appreciate that some things get better with time (yes, this is undoubtedly self serving). As a child of the 70's and 80's, I grew up on music of the 60's and 70's, possibly the best era for proving that good music stands the test of time. My habit of finding beloved tunes after the initial frenzy died down continues well into adulthood. I developed a little obsession with the band The Killers at least a year after their song "Somebody Told Me" saturated the alt rock/pop airwaves. Apparently no one told me. I've "discovered" a number of fantastic albums recently, all of which were released two or more years ago. Where have I been? Off happily catching up on music a few years older, no doubt.
Second hand does save money. I am one of the multitude who rarely goes to the movie theater anymore, saving myself mucho dinero. With rare exceptions, I find most of my film satisfaction in the comfort of my own home for 17 bucks a month (I love you, Netflix). Apart from the occasional impatience this brings when I miss in theaters a highly touted movie months away from DVD release (though the theater-to-disc release span is decreasing), this is an excellent deal. So why treat these second-release flicks like secondhand citizens when it comes to my movie reviews? A terrible oversight on my part. Here you go...
Recommended Rentals
Foreign
* My Best Friend is a cute-but-awkward French buddy movie starring veteran actor Daniel Auteuil.
* Once is a sweet Dublin-based film featuring good folksy tunes throughout, written and performed by the two leads.
* Tipping the Velvet, based on a novel about lesbianism in Victorian England, is a fantastic quirky modern costume drama which aired on the (obviously not US-ratings board controlled) BBC.
Documentaries
Note--each of these domestic docs caught my eye but has its flaws and frustrations
* Jesus Camp is about young Evangelical Christians in the Heartland. Left me depressed, which was surprising, because usually religious freedom is a big thing for me. But people are presented without much outside commentary, which I liked.
* Boys of Baraka relates the experiences of inner city Baltimore boys sent to Kenya for 2 years of boarding school. Left me wanting to learn more about the school, though not necessarily in support of it. Made by the same women who made Jesus Camp (a fact I only just now realized).
* No End in Sight focuses rather pointedly on Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Newsy, provocative telling of a frustrating, tragic series of events.
Thrillers
Note--these two are fine, but not great.
* The Lookout is the story of a brain-injured rich kid who attempts to put his life back together by falling in with some shady new friends. (Side note: star Joseph Gordon-Levitt looked to me so much like Heath Ledger it was creepy.)
* Breach was interesting, more for its insight into Robert Hanssen spy case than anything else. One great thing about DVD format is possibility of including extras; this one offers 60 Minutes piece about Hanssen.
And lastly, there are several television shows which I catch the second time around simply because it's impossible for me, living in the US, not to (well, legally). PBS or SciFi channel might have introduced you to the following, which are available on DVD:
* Doctor Who is an oft-cheesy British sci fi show with a long history. At home you can read up online for backstories to fill in what you don't understand.
* The Vicar of Dibley is a 1990's British sitcom about a single, chocoholic female vicar serving in a small town populated by oddball characters. After regular series ended, several special episodes got made, such as the Dec 2006 show where vicar gets married.
I've spent some time recently volunteering for the Barack Obama campaign, calling into Nevada to check on likely caucus participation. You probably saw how that turned out. But did you know that in the end, Clinton could come away with 1 fewer national delegate from Nevada than Obama? Yet another lesson in not declaring victory before the work (of war, an election, etc.) is truly over.
As someone who rarely gets in on the first round of anything, I appreciate that some things get better with time (yes, this is undoubtedly self serving). As a child of the 70's and 80's, I grew up on music of the 60's and 70's, possibly the best era for proving that good music stands the test of time. My habit of finding beloved tunes after the initial frenzy died down continues well into adulthood. I developed a little obsession with the band The Killers at least a year after their song "Somebody Told Me" saturated the alt rock/pop airwaves. Apparently no one told me. I've "discovered" a number of fantastic albums recently, all of which were released two or more years ago. Where have I been? Off happily catching up on music a few years older, no doubt.
Second hand does save money. I am one of the multitude who rarely goes to the movie theater anymore, saving myself mucho dinero. With rare exceptions, I find most of my film satisfaction in the comfort of my own home for 17 bucks a month (I love you, Netflix). Apart from the occasional impatience this brings when I miss in theaters a highly touted movie months away from DVD release (though the theater-to-disc release span is decreasing), this is an excellent deal. So why treat these second-release flicks like secondhand citizens when it comes to my movie reviews? A terrible oversight on my part. Here you go...
Recommended Rentals
Foreign
* My Best Friend is a cute-but-awkward French buddy movie starring veteran actor Daniel Auteuil.
* Once is a sweet Dublin-based film featuring good folksy tunes throughout, written and performed by the two leads.
* Tipping the Velvet, based on a novel about lesbianism in Victorian England, is a fantastic quirky modern costume drama which aired on the (obviously not US-ratings board controlled) BBC.
Documentaries
Note--each of these domestic docs caught my eye but has its flaws and frustrations
* Jesus Camp is about young Evangelical Christians in the Heartland. Left me depressed, which was surprising, because usually religious freedom is a big thing for me. But people are presented without much outside commentary, which I liked.
* Boys of Baraka relates the experiences of inner city Baltimore boys sent to Kenya for 2 years of boarding school. Left me wanting to learn more about the school, though not necessarily in support of it. Made by the same women who made Jesus Camp (a fact I only just now realized).
* No End in Sight focuses rather pointedly on Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Newsy, provocative telling of a frustrating, tragic series of events.
Thrillers
Note--these two are fine, but not great.
* The Lookout is the story of a brain-injured rich kid who attempts to put his life back together by falling in with some shady new friends. (Side note: star Joseph Gordon-Levitt looked to me so much like Heath Ledger it was creepy.)
* Breach was interesting, more for its insight into Robert Hanssen spy case than anything else. One great thing about DVD format is possibility of including extras; this one offers 60 Minutes piece about Hanssen.
And lastly, there are several television shows which I catch the second time around simply because it's impossible for me, living in the US, not to (well, legally). PBS or SciFi channel might have introduced you to the following, which are available on DVD:
* Doctor Who is an oft-cheesy British sci fi show with a long history. At home you can read up online for backstories to fill in what you don't understand.
* The Vicar of Dibley is a 1990's British sitcom about a single, chocoholic female vicar serving in a small town populated by oddball characters. After regular series ended, several special episodes got made, such as the Dec 2006 show where vicar gets married.
January 04, 2008
Barackomania
Need I say that I was happy with the Iowa Democratic caucus results? I might only add that Obama's speech afterwards was lovely.
I know you didn't do this for me. You did this -- you did this because you believed so deeply in the most American of ideas -- that in the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it. --Barack Obama, January 3, 2008Lovely, indeed.
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