Blucie Blog

Red Lips

2010-01-30T22:44:00Z

What does it mean to our psyche to feel beautiful? What does it mean to our humanity? I recently came across this powerful narrative in Rob Bell's book Sex God. It's an entry from the diary of a British soldier who was among the first to liberate Bergen-Belsen, one of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. Granted, the details are vile, but it is also rich with significance and, in that way, beautiful.

"I can give no adequate description of the Horror Camp in which my men and myself were to spend the next month of our lives. It was just a barren wilderness, as bare as a chicken run. Corpses lay everywhere, some in huge piles, sometimes they lay singly or in pairs where they had fallen.

It took a little time to get used to seeing men women and children collapse as you walked by them and to restrain oneself from going to their assistance. One had to get used early to the idea that the individual just did not count. One knew that five hundred a day were dying and that five hundred a day were going on dying for weeks before anything we could do would have the slightest effect. It was, however, not easy to watch a child choking to death from diptheria when you knew a tracheotomy and nursing could save it, one saw women drowning in their own vomit because they were too weak to turn over, and men eating worms as they clutched a half loaf of bread purely because they had had to eat worms to live and now could scarcely tell the difference.

Piles of corpses, naked and obscene, with a woman too weak to stand propping herself against them as she cooked the food we had given her over an open fire; men and women crouching down just anywhere in the open relieving themselves of the dysentery which was scouring their bowels, a woman standing stark naked washing herself with some issue soap in water from a tank in which the remains of a child floated.

It was shortly after the British Red Cross arrived, though it may have no connection, that a very large quantity of lipstick arrived. This was not at all what we men wanted, we were screaming for hundreds and thousands of other things and I don't know who asked for lipstick. I wish so much that I could discover who did it, it was the action of genius, sheer unadulterated brilliance. I believe nothing did more for those internees than the lipstick. Women lay in bed with no sheets and no nightie but with scarlet red lips, you saw them wandering about with nothing but a blanket over their shoulders, but with scarlet red lips. I saw a woman dead on the postmortem table and clutched in her hand was a piece of lipstick. At last someone had done something to make them individuals again, they were someone, no longer merely the number tattooed on the arm. At last they could take an interest in their appearance. That lipstick started to give them back their humanity."

Clearly, man does not live by bread alone.

An extract from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin DSO who was amongst the first British soldiers to liberate Bergen-Belsen in 1945. Source: Imperial War Museum.

Plain Yogurt Taste Test

2010-01-19T23:46:00Z

I've been on a yogurt kick lately since it's a great low-glycemic food. My sampling caused me to conclude that all plain yogurt is not created equal. In fact, it's amazing how different every yogurt I try is. Here is a ranking from my recent taste tests. Every yogurt I purchase is plain and high fat:

1. Cultural Revolution - the best!!! It's creamy and delectable, reminds me of yummy sour cream.
2. Seven Stars Farm - also wonderful!
3. Nancy's Organic - pretty darn good
4. Stoneyfield Farms Cream on Top
5. Trader Joe's Organic Cream Top
6. Dannon
7. Old Home

And here are the worst. Not even worthy of ranking are:

1. Trader Joe's European Style (bad)
2. Soygurt (awful!!!)
3. Goat Milk Yogurt (ick!!!)

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington

2009-11-10T18:59:00Z

In the same way that a jealous spouse suspiciously watches his or her partner's every move for fear of misbehavior, the government puts us under surveillance. They also become the thought police out of fear. "Innocent until proven guilty" can only be practiced by a healthy government. Ours is beyond that and now treats everyone as a potential threat to security.

No one is more fearful than the power-hungry because they are worried about losing that power. That's why we must have a smaller government, to send the control freaks home where they can do less damage.

Politispeak Definitions #1

2009-11-02T16:01:00Z

"Too big to fail" - politispeak used to justify the theft and transfer of taxpayer money to politicians' favorite businesses (i.e. corporate welfare). Generally effective when employed to persuade the public that said theft is in everyone's best interest.

Old-Fashioned Christmas Events in Minnesota

2009-10-09T21:19:00Z

Before I had my own family I spent holidays at an idyllic Victorian home overlooking the St Croix River in Stillwater. Being at that beautiful home, with its warm hosts, wonderful smells and holiday trappings, I felt nearly like royalty. One-nineteen Cherry Street was to me what Tiffany & Company was to Holly Golightly: I felt nothing bad could happen there.

After Grandma Sue died and the house was sold, it became apparent that the Cherry Street holidays died with her. Since then I've been asking myself how I can best recreate that Cherry Street Christmas feeling for my family. So for my pleasure and yours I have assembled a list of old-fashioned, homey holiday events in Minnesota (suggestions welcome -I will gladly add them to this list ):

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE
STILLWATER
NOV 20-22

The holidays begin at the Victorian Christmas event in the elegant 1870s Historic Courthouse in Stillwater. A beautifully decorated building, high-quality arts and fine crafts, a Tea Room, live music and costumed volunteers and vendors combine to create a vision of an elegant, old-fashioned holiday celebration. Bring your camera for pictures with a Victorian Santa and get a start on your holiday shopping with unique, handmade gifts. All proceeds from the event go to the restoration and operation of this historic site.

Price: Friday Nov 20, 6:30 - 9pm is a preview with champagne, appetizers and desserts for $25; Sat 10am - 5pm $3; Sun 11am - 4pm $3

101 West Pine Street
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-275-7075
historiccourthouse@co.washington.mn.us

RED WING HOLIDAY STROLL
RED WING MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN
NOV 27

Red Wing presents the quintessential hometown family holiday celebration with FREE activites! Friday Nov. 27 Red Wing is transformed with festivities beginning at 4pm-8 pm. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive in grand style with reindeer, FREE family fun includes chili sampling,lighted parade at 6pm, live nativity, horse drawn carriage rides,roasted chestnuts & almonds, prizes, refreshments &treats,carolers, and spectacular fireworks at 7 pm.

Price: FREE

Downtown Red Wing
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 385-5934
visitorscenter@redwing.org

MY SWEDISH GINGERBREAD HOUSE
SWEDISH INSTITUTE
NOV 29 2-4pm

Bring your family to the American Swedish Institute to celebrate the season with the sweet smell of pepparkakor (gingerbread)! Learn about how Swedes prepare for the coming of Christmas with baking, candles and home decorating.Each family will receive one pre-assembled plain pepparkakshus (gingerbread house), along with candy decorations. You are invited to set your creativity alight! The cost is $15 ASI members,$20 nonmembers.(Just one house per family, please.) Space is limited and advance registration is required. Please call 612-871-4907 to sign up.

Price: $20 nonmembers, $15 MNHS members

Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407
612-871-4907

OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAY BAZAAR
ST PAUL LANDMARK CENTER
DEC 3-5

My favorite Victorian Christmas event is the Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar. It will only set you back a few dollars and it's well worth being surrounded by a feeling that is best described as Norman Rockwell. Beautiful handmade goods abound. Carolers serenade you as you are surrounded by the smell of cranberries and cider. The bazaar contains an amazing assortment of peer-reviewed (a.k.a. not junk) local products in an amazing variety. Out the windows are ice skaters in Rice Park and the white lights that decorate the courtyard. It's an aesthetic taste of heaven.

Price: $3

Landmark Center
75 W. Fifth St.
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 292-1239

VICTORIAN SANTA CLAUS
ALEXANDER RAMSEY HOUSE
DEC 12, 10:30am - 2:30pm

Head to the Carriage House to meet a Victorian-era Santa Claus. At the top of each hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. listen in as Santa Claus reads from the 1823 poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Before and after the readings, children can make their own ornaments and tell Santa what they would like for Christmas. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take their own photos. Optional tour of the mansion included.

Price:$9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to17, $3children ages 5 and under; $2 discount for MHS members

Alexander Ramsey House
265 S. Exchange St.
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-296-8760
ramseyhouse@mnhs.org

CHRISTMAS DINNER AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
GERMAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE
DEC 12 5-9PM

The annual beloved GAI Christmas Dinner will be held on Saturday,December12th. Once again, we will be hosting the Christmas program before dinner in order for families with young children to attend. Please note, there will be fewer vendors at the Christmas Dinner this year, as they will instead be attending the Open Haus in November.

Christmas Dinner Schedule:

5:00 Christmas Program in the ballroom
6:00 Social Hour
6:30 Dinner (menu TBA)
8:30 Community sing-along

*Seats in the ballroom for the Christmas Program will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, when making dinner reservations, please let the office know

The number of GAI members, non-members, and children in your party
If you would like to be seated with another party and their name
Where you would prefer to be seated (main floor or Ratskeller). Seating preferences subject to availability. Make your reservation early in order to state your preference!

Price: $27 nonmembers, $10 children

ENGLISH CHRISTMAS
OUTING LODGE
DEC 12

Fireplaces,candles and other decorations surround you at this country Edwardian estate in Stillwater, Minnesota. Sleigh rides will be at 6pm, so hopefully the weather will stay above freezing.

Price: $180 per couple or $90 per single

Menu:
Consumme Celestine
Lobster and Mushroom Salad
Prime Rib with Horseradish Cream
Brussel Sprouts and Parsnips with Roast Potato
English Cheese Plate
English Trifle
Wines with dinner and Cash Bar

Outing Lodge
11661 Myeron Road N.
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
651-439-9747
info@outinglodge.com

Greed: It's not just for the private sector

2009-10-02T20:40:00Z

A couple nights ago Jon Stewart interviewed Ron Paul on the Daily Show. Midway through the interview Stewart asked Paul how to fight corruption and corporatism in the absence of any regulation or in the absence of any controlling entity.

It's a good question and Congressman Paul had a good answer: We prevent it. He went on to say that if a company is successful because they make a desirable product and people are willing to pay for it, that's great. However, if a company is pulling in loads of cash because they managed, through wheeling and dealing, to secure sweetheart deals with the government (ahem, Halliburton), that's corporatism and it's evil. The only way to truly prevent it is for the government to have less power.

The flaw in assuming that more regulations can prevent corruption is that regulations are written by politicians and they are at least as greedy as business people. Worse, politicians have the "legal" ability to confiscate and/or print money. That's a super power Lex Luthor could only dream of. Put differently, Apple has to seduce us with iPods for us to give them our money, but the government simply bills us for unsolicited services and payment is demanded.

With force on their side, the only roadblocks to government corruption are the integrity of politicians and the accountability of the people. Although pocketing the money outright would be suspect by the general public, with enough savvy they are able to divert it as they see fit. Occasionally politicians cross the line and their corruption gets them in trouble. But for most of them, packaging corruption as altruism appears effortless.

One would think that watching them enjoy sweetheart deals from companies who get legislative favors, witnessing their travel expenses soar as they flit all over the world, SCUBA diving on the Great Barrier Reef, acquiring and using the finest private jets, staying in exclusive hotels and enjoying stellar cuisine, all on the taxpayer dime, would be as galling to the American public as Marie Antoinette's extravagant lifestyle was to the French. Unlike the queen, however, our politicians are savvy in packaging their excesses. Ask questions and they will say it's all for the public good - they're snorkeling and dining for the people.

So because politicians are greedy, when we plead with them to protect us from greedy business or Wall Street we often get a synergy of avarice that is more than we bargained for. Corporatism inevitably follows. Politicians come riding in on their white horses to save the day and hey, you wouldn't notice if we just sweetened things a bit for us in the process, would you? Namely, many politicians make certain that their legislation benefits them, either directly or indirectly. Cookies come in many forms: Besides the aforementioned special deals, they may get campaign cash, the benefit of monetary fines that benefit state coffers, higher stock prices for companies in which they have an interest or out and out material favors.

Here's a newsflash: Despite what so many of the WGP (World Greed Police) want us to believe, there is no magic wall between greed and the public sector. Greed has been with us since the dawn of humanity and is only exacerbated by permitting politicians the power to dole out goodies. As Thomas Sowell noted, “If you have been voting for politicians who promise to give you goodies at someone else's expense, then you have no right to complain when they take your money and give it to someone else, including themselves.”

No, the answer to corporatism is simple and it doesn't involve more regulations. Fraud has always been illegal. To fight corporatism, we need the government to stop stealing from us, stop the profligate spending and get out of the goodie business. If the favors stopped coming and the contracts dried up, corporate lobbyists would find themselves out of work. Even better, Washington DC would attract politicians with the public interest in mind, rather than their own.

If only Ron Paul had 10 Sons

2009-08-07T14:54:00Z

Finally, a man running for high office who doesn't want to spend us into oblivion, micromanage our lives or march our military all over the
globe. :0

The Great American Identity Theft

2009-01-12T19:27:00Z

By removing the gold standard we allowed our identities to be stolen collectively as citizens. If we think that those who advocated lifting the standard were well-intentioned, check out this quote from the man for whom Keynesian economics was named, John Maynard Keynes (context below):

"By a continuous process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens. By this method, they not only confiscate, but they confiscate arbitrarily; and while the process impoverishes many, it actually enriches some."
~John Maynard Keynes [A.K.A. Evil Overlord]

Removing a gold standard is a deliberate attempt of a government to loot the savings of a nation. Ours was lifted in 1971 and since then our currency has been tied to nothing. As Alan Greenspan noted in 1966, "In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation." As long as the government isn't required to keep to some sort of anchor (be it a gold standard or other), they need only write out IOUs and US taxpayers are on the hook for payment.

It has become so egregious that recently the Federal Reserve gave out two trillion dollars in loans, and refused to disclose the recipients to us, their lender. It's cockiness to the nth degree. It's like a thief has stolen our credit cards and is racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt that we cannot pay back. Except it's legal.

The following is excerpted from: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard"

1) During the 1939–1942 period, the UK depleted much of its gold stock in purchases of munitions and weaponry on a "cash and carry" basis from the U.S. and other nations.[citation needed] This depletion of the UK's reserve convinced Winston Churchill of the impracticality of returning to a pre-war style gold standard. To put it simply the war had bankrupted Britain. John Maynard Keynes, who had argued against such a gold standard, proposed to put the power to print money in the hands of the privately owned Bank of England.* Keynes himself said: "By a continuous process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens. By this method, they not only confiscate, but they confiscate arbitrarily; and while the process impoverishes many, it actually enriches some".

* Replace "Bank of England" with "Federal Reserve Bank" and that's us

2)Alan Greenspan, at that time the Chairman and President of Townsend-Greenspan & Co., Inc., an economic consulting firm in New York, argued in 1966, before the advent of monetarism, that, “…under the gold standard, a free banking system stands as the protector of an economy's stability and balanced growth… The abandonment of the gold standard made it possible for the welfare statists to use the banking system as a means to an unlimited expansion of credit… In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation.”[11]

The Wisdom of Kitchen Nightmares

2008-12-30T21:43:00Z

A couple of weeks ago I caught an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. Restaurants on the show are mere weeks from having to shut their doors. In their hour of need, world-renown restaurantier Gordon Ramsey sweeps in to save the day. He takes inventory of the menus, tests their food and takes inventory of their facility, workflow and books. At the end of his evaluation, he directs a complete overhaul of the restaurant, from the menu and décor to the marketing strategies and workflow.

Three restaurants were featured, but “The Secret Garden” was in a class by itself. Outside it looked like a quaint European cottage. Inside was a different story. Ramsey was astounded by what he found. His meal was ugly and salty with poorly mated flavors. Back in the kitchen, the scene was even worse. It was filthy; the racks were covered with unidentifiable slime; the cooler was full of rotting produce and putrid meat. Maggots were well established, and much of the food was growing mold and fungi. At the helm was an insufferably arrogant French chef.

One would think the chef would have been desperate for Ramsey’s wise counsel. After all, he was facing insolvency and stood hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. And it was true, he listened for a while, but it seemed he was only humoring Ramsey to obtain his help and publicity. Under pressure, he reverted to his old failed recipes and stuttering workflow. Stress revealed his true colors and he became combative and insubordinate.

It was remarkable to watch a man so full of pride that he would blow his opportunity to get free consulting services from a world expert in his field. He was uncooperative, insulting and offered nothing positive about any of Ramsey’s changes. Of the three restaurants highlighted, his was the worst, but he was the least open to change and the most belligerent.

As I marveled at this man’s hubris, it dawned on me that I do the very same thing with God. I’m completely bankrupt on joy and purpose on my own, and yet under pressure I frequently revert to old familiar habits of obtaining worth and happiness. I flip the bird at God's counsel, sometimes blatantly. In that moment of revelation, my foolishness astounded me. I claim to know better than the Creator who knows all.

Gordon Ramsey's counsel was a rare privilege. My fortune is that I may call on the wisdom of the wisest of all. How dumb would I be to squander that? For the chef's sake, I hope he eats some humble pie before it's too late. For my sake, I hope I never miss a slice again.

No White Flag

2008-07-29T01:07:00Z

Never again. That's my answer to those who suggest the "right" thing to do is vote for the lesser of evils. There are no lesser evils. There are simply two brands of evil, both of which will control the populace if given the opportunity. It will look different, but a vote for either major candidate is a vote for expanding tyranny.

In one ring, we have those who want us all to fork over our rights to avert "climate change."  When I was a kid, the prevailing climate fear mongering was that we were heading toward the next ice age and we were all going to freeze to death. Now they're telling us we're going to boil over. Incidentally, it was when the world cooled that we had major disaster; remember the Dark Ages? Anyway, since it's a such a travesty that the climate is changing (isn't that always the case?), I'm supposed to give up my incandescent light bulbs. Incandescents, by the way, turn on immediately, offer more flattering light, and coincidentally (???) have a much lower profit margin for GE, one of the companies who lobbied for the change because . . . they're so concerned about the environment.  Isn't that sweet? So yeah, let's all save the planet by making everyone buy fluorescents and help GE make a profit while we're at it.

In the other corner, we have the 9-11 fear mongers. They have expanded Big Brother like I never dreamed possible prior to the big, bad day. The Patriot Act rendered our constitutional liberties worthless. It's all in the name of protecting us though, so that's supposed to make it okay.

Our forefathers warned us about people who would promise us security in exchange for small losses in liberty, but as far as I can tell we didn't hear a thing they said and are diving in head first.

So this time I am a one issue voter: FREEDOM.  This November I will not hold my nose as I vote, and I will not walk away from the voting booth ashamed.  If I must write in my candidate, so be it. Both major candidates promise to protect from different villains, but their promises will go up in smoke, along with our liberties. I was fooled before, but not again. If I must, I will go down with this ship. There can be no more compromise or there will be no more freedom to give: Go RON PAUL 2008.

Mini-blind Operators Needed

2008-07-15T21:08:56Z

In one of the opening scenes of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Andy Anderson's friend doesn't show up to work because she's been dumped for the umpteenth time. Andy brings a cashmere sweater and a coffee to the friend's apartment, opens her blinds, gives her a pep talk and gets her back in the game and on her way to work.

In thinking about popular shows (Seinfeld, Friends, Sex and the City, etc.), friends are like that. They barge into each other's lives and mess with each others' programs. This morning as I was lying in bed in my clothes from the night before at an hour too embarrassing to mention, I wondered if anyone has real friends like that. I had a kitchen full of dishes, a pile of work looming over me and my daughter sighing bored moans. Andy Anderson would have been a welcome sight.

Don't get me wrong, I have great friends, but I don't know anyone who has friendships like that. I can't be the only one who thinks that sounds appealing. Why else would that be such a popular storyline?

We could be and have friends on par with SATC, etc. - I'm sure of it. And if I paid attention to the needs around me of those I care about, I know it would motivate me to get my own butt in gear. All it would take is truly listening to one another and being willing to take risks. Those mythical people have nothing on us: The people I know are just as flawed, ridiculous, talented and funny as the rest of them.

Anyone need Caribou tomorrow?

New Police Community Service: Unsolicited 3am Wake-up Calls!

2008-06-27T04:17:00Z

I don't know about you, but occasionally I leave my garage door open after I hit the hay. Maybe I'm tired; maybe I want to air it out. Who knows why? It's my property and no one is welcome inside unless I've invited them. This is America, after all, land of private property rights.

Or so I thought. Apparently some Lakeville, Minnesota cops disagree. Last week Troy Wolde left his garage door open overnight. Two police officers noticed, let themselves into his home and woke him up by banging on his walls at three o'clock in the morning. Why? Just a friendly reminder not to leave his doors unlocked.

How thoughtful. It feels so good to live in a country where police don't do unreasonable searches without probable cause that a crime has been committed. Lakeville must be way too boring.

Ron Paul is the Man on the Scene

2008-01-01T21:37:00Z

Well, my dream candidate has arrived. Looks like I'm not the only excited one. Last time I checked on meetup.com there were 89,000 members of Ron Paul meetups across the country so far. Compare that with the candidates in second place: Mike Huckabee and John Kerry have about 7100 members.

Last night several dozen supporters with two big banners and a drummer braved the cold streets of Minneapolis for a New Year's Eve rally for our man Ron Paul. It was fun and cold. There were lots of cheers and honks, with occasional jeers. A smaller group of us stood behind Don Shelby at WCCO's 10pm newscast, waving our signs and cheering. Shelby appeared annoyed and they closed the shade. All the negative attention just seemed to encourage us though. When I saw the irritated face of a newsman in the window, I was filled with amusement. Then a cute blonde woman behind me smiled at him and he warmed and smiled in return, a scene which seemed apropos in Revolution fashion.

Grassroots as it is, the official campaign seems to gravitate to cheeseball ads, but there are some great ads on YouTube that can now be supported independently. Here's one that can't be, but worth checking out:

I showed that one to my mom (a baby boomer) and she loved it. However, there are a few in this series that can be supported. They're great too, although not as gritty or succinct:

Check out www.operationbroadcastfreedom.com for opportunities to put these on the air.

My Blue Period

2007-02-26T13:47:00Z

I decided that, like Picasso, I'm going through my blue period. The world and the policymakers in it have been nothing but getting on my nerves lately. The good news in this nomenclature is that blue periods by definition are only snippets in time, i.e. they MUST be temporary.

After Mark ran for office a second time I went through a blissful period of apathy, due to a combination of fatigue and hopelessness.  Reports would come to me of stupid things politicians in DC and here in the Minnesota capital were doing and I would laugh a hearty laugh, gaily aware that I would have never found out on my own if someone hadn't told me because - ha ha! - I didn't pay attention anymore!!! My laughter was further bolstered because I didn't give a rip about the idiotic thing I had just heard. It was pure heaven.

For just a little while, I got to experience the joy of being one of those individuals who can't see beyond her own four walls, who never thinks about the big picture and never worries that we're flushing our nation down the toilet.  No wonder the apathetic are such a large bunch - they're so damn happy!

Sadly, I'm back to being a news and policy junkie. Maybe it's an addiction. First I discovered Estonia and the success they've had there with good policy, which is really a ray of hope when I think about it. But that's just the problem. Having hope returned me to a state of dissatisfaction.

Then the inevitable happened. I started reading Free to Choose, which was the book that inspired the policy decisions of Estonia's prime minister Mart Laar. It was only a matter of time before the little activist monster inside of me began to stir. Apparently the flip side of my hopelessness was apathy, and I truly was an apathetic person for awhile. I hoped it would be permanent.

I should have left well alone. So perhaps I can be beaten into hopeless bliss again, but in the meanwhile I must care. I'm driven.

Tales of a Bleeding-Heart Libertarian

2007-02-16T03:07:00Z

Growing up my dad would repeat the cliché, "If you aren't a liberal [socialist] when you're young you've got no heart."  He didn't finish the quote because he's still a socialist and I'm not sure if he considers himself old either . In any case, as a libertarian I've been called selfish and heartless, and as a bleeding-heart libertarian, I'd like to set the record straight.

What if I like giving to charity, but I have a problem with the fact that the government "charity" is inefficient, wasteful and doesn't help those I'd like to help?  What if I prefer to choose the charities I support? I select my charities carefully - I don't throw my money at every pizza-selling fund raiser who shows up at my door and every email I get from Nigeria. The charities I give to are all held to strict reporting standards and brag about the small percentage of their budgets that are used for administrative purposes. When corruption is found in a private charity, they are smeared all over the press. People then take their money elsewhere until they get their act together or the charity folds. That's accountability for you.

The government doesn't have anything close to that kind of accountability. By force, I as a taxpayer must give to their bloated, wasteful charity. Never mind that I have no interest in supporting half the things on their special-interest payroll; I have no choice. What results is waste in bureaucracy and a drain on our economy.

I know what some detractors are thinking because I've heard it so many times before: Sure, the government's a lousy charity, but if the money wasn't confiscated charitable giving would dry up.

That assessment is historically unsupported. In fact, it has been in periods of the greatest economic freedom (and least government intervention) that countries not only improved everyone's lot as a whole, but charities thrived.  The biggest charities in this country were all started before the New Deal in the 1930s. They saw a need and they met it out of the goodness of their hearts. How's that for a concept?

Is it too much to ask to want more bang for my buck and for the freedom to choose where my charitable dollars go? Personally, I'd like to give more money to International Justice Mission to help rescue kids from sexual slavery. I don't want to pay for free government condoms. Call me a Nazi, but don't worry; I won't begrudge any charitable condom-fairies out there the freedom to spread the world with condoms.  Just don't take my money to do it.

What I find irritating is politicians taking my money, pretending it's theirs and buying votes with it. No one spends another person's money more responsibly than one would spend one's own. Ever. Certainly not a stranger's. Politicians play on our greed and/or pull our heartstrings and bit-by-bit, whittle away our wages by promising little favors to whichever group or groups they think will get them reelected. In the end, these groups get table scraps while the bureaucrats sit down to the feast.

So recently I asked my dad if he was concerned over this broken system we call Social Security, since soon (when the flood of baby boomers begin retirement around 2012), there will only be two workers to support each retiree. "Nope," said the liberal, big-hearted multi-millionaire, "They'll just raise your taxes to 80% to cover it." And I'm the one who's heartless?

Truth, Justice and the Estonian Way

2007-02-16T02:09:00Z

In 1992, 32-year old Mart Laar became the prime minister of Estonia. At the time the former Soviet state had 1000% inflation, was corrupt and poor.

Laar was a history teacher, not an economist. He admits he only read one book on economics, Milton Friedman's Free to Choose. However, he knew the Russians couldn't stand Friedman and censored his writings. He concluded that Friedman must have some powerful ideas.

Laar was naive enough to assume that Friedman's recommendations in Free to Choose had been implemented in the West already. Thinking they sounded practical, he decided to implement them in his own country as well.

Consequently, Estonia had a remarkable economic recovery. It's been documented ubiquitously. The inflation rate dropped from the out-of-conrol 1000% down to a manageable 2.5%. They've had numerous startups, attracted several high-tech employers, now have a labor-shortage, and most importantly, they have pulled their downtrodden country out of the mire and into a productive first-world nation. They are now referred to as "E-stonia" and the "Baltic Tiger" because of their remarkable rags to riches tale.

Since then, the "Baltic Tiger" has inspired many Eastern European states to follow suit with flat taxes and other similiar economic reforms. Even old-Europe Germany, which has been largely nationalized, is considering implementing a flat tax. Laar himself is heralded as a revolutionary and has been nicknamed the Father of the Flat Tax.

What I want to know is this: When countries like Estonia and economic-havens like Hong Kong continue to grow more prosperous, what's wrong with us?  Is it really the economy, stupid? Who's running this place anyway? As a former Republican, I have to say they had their chance. They had all three houses and they stunk it up big time. They proved, once and for all, that they are no less the big spenders and buyers of votes than their idiot big party counterparts.

I had nowhere else to turn. So I am proud to say that I rejoined the Libertarian Party.  We may be small in number, but we have great ideas. Great, tested ideas. I hope we in the US don't return to insane Carter-administration levels of inflation to get the message, but maybe that's just what we need.

Why should we choose to be less prosperous than we could be? Beats the hell out of me, but I won't be a part of it.

Superman Is Way Cool

2007-02-14T22:47:00Z

Recently it dawned on me that Superman wasn't rich. Sure, he had his Fortress of Solitude, but let's face it, it was sparce. He could have used a little help from Martha Stewart there.

The thing that surprised me is that he could have been. He could have capitalized on his powers and made himself one wealthy SOB. But that wasn't his way. Instead, he devoted himself to living the life of the rescuer, helping people in desperate situations.

He is sometimes accused of being a boring superhero because he had everything going for him. He isn't the thinking person's superhero - Batman probably wins that category. But Superman, come on, he can fly, has incredible strength, laser vision, freezing breath - did he even need to sleep?

So as a superhero, he's not all that challenged. But what's inspiring is what Superman does with his gifts. He isn't on a power trip, isn't driven by vengeance and doesn't need to amass an adoring fan club. Instead, he feels that he has a calling, that the world needs him, and to the world he gives himself as a hero. What a guy

If Women Could Have Eggs

2007-02-13T17:23:00Z

I'm pregnant. And for someone who is used to having that telltale "do you work out?" line down the middle of her abdomen, watching my belly expand isn't fun or cute. It's like watching years of Pilates fade into non-existence in a matter of weeks. But I'll live.

Then last night my husband came up with a great idea - why can't women just deliver eggs? A woman would feel a little tickle inside, squat and then ploop - out comes the egg. Our bodies would be saved all kinds of torture and then couples could just take turns sitting on it until it hatches. No abortions necessary, either. Don't want your egg? Don't hatch it.

Better yet, in this age of ever-expanding technology, we would have eletrothermal egg-hatchers. Stick it in this microwave-like hatcher for 9 months and then presto! Out comes the beautiful baby, who didn't, by the way, need to come through a drain hose to get here. Newborns would be so much better looking for it.

Of course then there would always be those bucolic-idealist hold outs - they're the same people who become Nazis about having drugs at the hospital. They would insist that the egg needs the closeness of the mother, that the mother's body rythms are essential to the wellbeing of the baby. They would warn that because of the selfishness of using an electrothermal egg-hatcher, babies would have a lower immune system, a higher incidence of asthma and stunted intellectual development. All because a woman didn't want to do nothing except knit baby hats and sit on her egg like a Ludite.

Well, who needs 'em? I'm PRO-EGG-HATCHER! I'm pro-egg!

What I Learned from Forrest Gump

2007-02-13T04:39:00Z

"I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is." ~Forrest Gump

When I first saw this scene - where Forrest proposed to Jenny - well, my heart went out to her. I mean, really, Forrest was nice and all, but who could look past that slow speech and developmental disability? How could she love him back?

Then one day, it dawned on me. And I realized how foolish I'd been not to realize it before.

Forrest Gump was a GREAT catch. In fact, he was a one in a million. He wasn't what we think of as the typical romantic love interest: i.e., worldy, savvy, quick-witted and charming.

Instead, he was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get, simple man. But he was heroic in his simplicity because he carried a rare depth of faithfulness and a rare capacity to love. Forrest was an excellent friend, son, faithful to the woman he loved and a hard-worker who took care of everyone around him when they needed it. He knew what love was.

And now I know that if Jenny had been smart - "smart is as smart does" smart - and if she hadn't had the cards stacked against her from childhood, she would have run into Forrest's arms and kissed him and told him he was the only one for her. Because he was. He loved her better than anyone else could.

Keeping the World Safe From Terrorism & Logic

2006-11-28T01:48:00Z

Safe from Terrorism & Logic

Mark and I flew out of the Denver airport a few weeks ago. As we checked our bags, I asked what items might be the contraband du-jour so I'd know what to ditch from my carry-ons. I thought to check my executive lighter (it's titanium and lights up when you lift the top, very slick) and of course I remembered to check my nail-clipper-of-death.

All set, we headed for the security checkpoint. In line we were greeted by a dynamic lightboard informing us that liquids, gels, etc. had to be removed from purses or bags and placed in a bin and sealed in plastic bags. It also stated that any liquids or gels in quantities higher than 3oz were not allowed. I grabbed a bin early so as not to hold up the line. And although I figured I was being more compliant than necessary, I took every item of makeup out of my handbag and placed it out in the open in my bin. I didn't want any trouble. We then lined up to go through security, dutifully took off our shoes and gave our bins a shove down the little assembly line.

In line Mark warned me not to give them any lip. I've been known to shoot off my mouth when confronted with irrational policy seasoned with injustice. It's my least favorite combination platter. So I agreed, but I didn't mention that my agreement was based on the condition that they not give me any problems. I'd play by their rules and they had better leave me alone. Those conditions met, no lip.

The security guy assisting the bins pointed to my pile of cosmetics and warned, "Next time these need to be sealed in a plastic bag, alright?" giving me the nod. "Sure," I told him, annoyed, thinking how lovely that I'm already getting hassled and I've been such a good little Nazi. My next bin approached the scanner and he asked, "There a laptop in here, ma'am?" "No," I said, "It's my camera equipment." "Is it a video camera?" "No - it's a still camera." "Okay," in a tone that told me I had been warned. About what, I have no idea.

I walked through the metal detector and as I waited for my bins to come back out I noticed a cute blonde woman having an altercation with a security guy at the end of the line. He was on a diatribe and gesturing with her half-full bottle of perfume. Although it clearly didn't contain the verboten 3oz, the security guy told her that the bottle was shaped wrong and he was going to have to confiscate it. He also wanted to cart off with her collection of MAC makeup, which is a small fortune, not to mention that it's powder, not liquid or gel. She was livid, talking about being a chemistry teacher and viscosity, but the bumbling Neanderthal would hear nothing of it. He was on a power trip - saving the world from MAC cosmetics and perfume.

As I was watching all this, I was thinking that we had plenty of time, maybe I should offer to exit security and take her stuff and mail it for her. Then from behind me I heard, "Weheheell, what do we have here?" The security guy had pulled a jar of lotion from my backpack. Confused, I said, "It's my lotion." I made a move toward him and he backed up and challenged me with a raised eyebrow, "I can't let this out of my hands."

The lotion scrimmage caught the attention of the chemistry teacher. Since she had already decided to send her boyfriend out of the secured area to mail her perfume and cosmetics, she said "I'll mail her lotion too," giving the Neanderthal the evil eye. Now there's a woman after my own heart. So I gave her my address and chatted a bit while she waited for her boyfriend's return.

I'm sure the Neanderthal congratulated himself that the world was safer thanks to his keen observant eye.

Just last week we went to South Carolina, and this time we drove. I was afraid another trip to the airport might cause major stomach upset.