What Does A Government Do Well?

I believe that a notion solidified in my mind when the Red Cross and Salvation Army's efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina were turned aside by Louisiana state homeland security and FEMA officials. My notion: government isn't the answer for everything. I'd like you to take a moment to think of a few things that a government does well... here is such a list compiled by U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah. Personally, I see at least 5 in that list that are pretty laughable and a few I can agree with but that really isn't my point.

In several decades of questionable governmental spending which has brought about the much discussed $200 hammer and $500 toilet seat, do we really think that a government action is the best solution for all of our societal ills? Usually an incompetent elected government official is discarded during the next election (unless they resign, pass away or are removed in a special session) but an incompetent executive or employee can be sent packing or even sued a lot quicker. Funding is scrutinized much closer as the company, organization or business wish to cut costs to show acumen and possibly earn a bonus. Also, much government action goes through committee after committee with revision and addendum which pushes the project(s) back considerably.

I'm not saying that everything should be taken out of bureaucratic hands but I ask, "What does a government do well?"

Life Update - 072606

It's been a very odd week. I guess usually it is good to start from one end of the spectrum and work to the other (bad news then good.) Back some time ago, I figured out that one of the biggest problems that I had with the master bathroom (other than the need to have it gutted and redone) was that it needed storage space. So I added a little cabinet on the only wall that was available. It keeps up with the wood look that is already going on in there.

Anyhow, it was a regular Monday (meaning that I was trying to get the newsletter done before heading off to work) and planned to save a little time by shaving off the weekend stubble growth. So, I grabbed my shaving cream from inside the shower (view of the shower and the cabinet from inside the shower.) I headed to the sink and started lathering up. I then returned to inside the shower to grab my razor. I headed back to the sink. If you ever had an obstacle around the house that you normally avoid out of habit, you know what happens when for some reason you break that habit... you trip, slip or hit something. I hit something -- the edge of the cabinet... right in the middle of my forehead.

So I firmly held a towel to it for about 15 minutes to cut down on the gushing blood and promote clotting followed by the application of Neosporin. It hasn't been without that salve and a band-aid for longer than 3 minutes since then. Doesn't look like it's bad enough for stitches (kinda made an L shape... can anyone say loser?) but should be interesting to see it if leaves a scar (hence the optimistic abundant use of Neosporin.) So far so good. The photo was taken just moments ago (it's almost 3:30 a.m.)

I also wound up returning from dinner with Kerry, Teri and Lloyd on Saturday night and found something interesting. That new front door that I had installed had a nifty foot print on it placed high in the middle (must have been at least a size 12+.) It wasn't long until I was out in the yard clipping the bush that obscures the door from the street by over a foot. With all the weird things going on around here in the neighborhood, it does give me more of a reason to consider placing a loud alarm at the door. Maybe, I've just seen too many home security commercials where the thief throws himself at the door and it opens with the alarm blaring.

After returning home that night, I lined up all the books on my headboard in cue for my reading pleasure. (You can also see the new $49.99 iPod stereo to the left and new Peter Kitchell print above it which I picked up at a yard sale for $12.00. The owner had a tag on it that said $35 and before I left she offered to sell it for $10. I felt guilty and added $2 more so she can proudly say she got more than she asked.) This book list was extended quite graciously by Teri and Lloyd who shocked me with a bag of books and a load of chocolate chip cookies (Teri used Alton Brown's recipe and they are great!) Yes, I don't say it often enough but I'm very lucky to have friends like them.

Lastly, I returned home this morning to an answering machine message from Mom. I believe that it is worth placing here verbatim for me to remember and for her possible future embarrassment:
"I'm looking at the clock and it's 11:56 p.m. 35 years ago, your Dad and I were traveling to the hospital at Sutter Memorial. And we checked in at 12:04 -- to avoid having to pay extra for the day before we had to wait until the A.M. And of course, four hours later my first beautiful baby was born. I'm so grateful for that. You are such a special special son to me. I'm so grateful to have you. I'm just want to let you know now, so I won't be calling you at 4:30 a.m. I'll see you tomorrow." Who says that text messages are all that fabulous when I can get an answering machine message like this? Love ya, Mom. Anyhow, I took today off for a change and am going to try to have lunch and/or dinner with the family (Mom is heading to her high school reunion this weekend which doesn't work with the standard Sunday dinner thing for family birthdays but it's all about enjoying your time together, isn't it. B)

Mid-East Musings

One of the two things that I find interesting about U.S. coverage on the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah are the way the latter is spelled. Essentially, it's a transliteration from the Arabic حزب الله but depending on how it's translated it's spelled in various ways: Hezbollah, Hizbollah, Hizbullah or Hizb Allah (commonly used by Al Jazeera.) As to what determines their usage of which spelling... who knows.

The other thing that I find interesting about the coverage isn't that rival cable news networks CNN and Fox News have chosen sides in the battle but that they are actually reporting from both sides of the battle (with some censorship.) This makes it pretty interesting for homes with multiple televisions as you can walk from one room where you were watching the launching of missiles to the other room to see where they landed and the damage taken. Kind of makes you wonder what some of our other military actions look like in multi-room view.

For some reason, I'm shocked that the Human League hasn't released a timely 2006 remix of their U.K. hit "The Lebanon."

Taking My Brain Back To School

Now to clarify my previous mention of CCSN. I've recently come to the realization that I went about my college education ass-backward. Sure, I heard "take your core requirements first" but I rushed into it and took any classes that fit my schedule. At UNLV, I took a science class and Philosophy In Ethics. What the hell was I thinking? Don't know. At CCCC (before changing names to CCSN), I took Nevada History (good class but I wasn't prepared for the essay work) and Music Fundamentals (which was pretty useless because I couldn't tell a whole note from a half-note at the time if my life depended on it.) After dropping most of those classes I went off to Reno and took a Creative Writing class as well as Biology at TMCC. The first went very well (if I recall, as I haven't seen the transcripts yet) and the other I'm pretty sure wasn't so good.

With all my reading, I've come to the decision that I should use some time to take classes and at least finish a degree (which helps with the appraisal field.) Heck, if I started when I started my job nearly 13 years ago, they would have paid for the classes. So I need to take advantage of it now, albeit a bit late. This also means taking placement exams. But, it should be another interesting adventure and if I can do the classes online... easier for me to fit it into my schedule.

Farewell Mr. Brooks

All bras hang at half-strap this week at Hooters as chairman Robert Brooks, 69, was found dead in his home on Sunday. The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that an autopsy is planned for today. The man told Fortune magazine in 2003, "Good food, cold beer and pretty girls never go out of style."

















I can't say the food is Emeril's or Wolfgang's but maybe I'll make a pilgrimage this week and pay my respects at the Hooters hotel with a beer and some wings. I mean, if it weren't for Hooters, Carrot Top's funnies joke (other than going through the Wendy's drive-thru with pigtails and hearing someone scream, "Oh no! It's the boss!") would be lost to all. (The joke: The Hooters application... which is similar to the one shown in the pixelated photo below.)

The New New York Adventure

Usually, this would be a great photo to use when talking about immigration. But, I put it up for another reason. It looks like I will be able to see it in person if time permits. I received a call from my father yesterday. Those photos that I showed you earlier from Tony Bennett's birthday party/charity auction were actually an early birthday for the crooner. Dad called to ask if I could get free from Aug. 2nd to Aug. 5th for a trip to New York City for Tony's real birthday party. This morning, I received confirmation on the vacation days that I put in for last night. So... I'm heading to New York City.

Now, I've been to the state of New York before. It was the furthest East that I've ever been. Oddly enough, it was for another event. I traveled with my friends Daniel Black and Jim Jerome to Syracuse for Jim's wedding. Prior to the wedding, we decided to hike to the highest point in the state (Mt. Marcy) and my legs were really sore from that. It was during that trip that I discovered how bad my eyes were. We also spent a day walking around Albany taking some odd photos. I'm sure that I have a bunch around here but then again, it was me taking the shots (I've always been better behind the camera than in front of it.)

So now, I'll be seeing the big city that I missed during that trip. So, I confirmed it with Dad this morning and he let me know that it looks like both my brothers Matt and Michael are going to make the trip. I then asked him, "Do you think we could visit 'Ground Zero?" The odd response back floored me, "Sure, we'll see if we can find a piece of the plane for you." I'm worried that he was serious.

Mia's 1st Birthday - Attempt 23

So many photos that I wanted to post today. Yet, it seems that Blogger isn't liking me too much. I'll have to post the photos from Mia's 1st birthday later. Anyhow, I'm off to talk to CCSN. I'll explain the hows and whys of that later also. Maybe, I'll try one more time to get a photo in there. Oh sure, now it works hours after my first attempt as I'm getting ready to leave for work.

Mia really enjoyed her birthday cupcake. She ate all the icing and the cake itself wound up on her and the tray in front of her. I think Connor and Olivia liked watching someone else make a mess.

The other photo here is of Connor and Olivia playing basketball. We lowered the hoop extremely for them and they both made shots. I even got a few photos of their dad lifting them over the rim so they can dunk the ball. I guess you have to take those photos now or they'll be too big to lift. Instead of putting one of those photos in, I'm opting for a photo of Lillian with my sister Michelle. That way we have photos of all of them here. Ok, now that this is working... I'm going to be late heading to CCSN but I can do that tomorrow.

Sins Of The Father

"Few of the sins of the father are visited upon the son."

This is a line from one of my favorite songs, "Forgotten Years," by Midnight Oil. I think about it often. When someone has wronged another, how long does it take to forgive them? If it's someone they love, it could be moments or years. Heck, many don't hold World War II over the heads of the people residing in Germany, Italy and Japan. We do hold the leaders of said nations responsible and still equate their names with evil in oration and textbooks. This can be said with many other wars, misdeeds and failures. Then, I think about the many years of calls for reparations to pay back those affected by slavery from those who made profit from it. Are any of those leaders still around? I wonder... how many generations have to go by before one can be forgiven for the sins of their forefathers?

The Right Name

Well over a year ago, I was contacted by an online radio station that wanted a weekday radio segment of our weekly 80's Nuts newsletter. I had already done some radio news spots before at local radio stations and always had this weird dream of being a DJ myself (they really don't make much money.) So I started the 80's Nuts Update. It was pretty difficult at first to squeeze the contents of the newsletter into little 2 minute segments (less actually after the intro music and exit) but I had it down. Sadly, the radio station went off the air and even though another station wished to pick it up... it wasn't the same.

During my time doing the radio segments, I had talked with the station about the idea of podcasting. They were excited about the concept. At the time, I really didn't know enough about how to set one up to make it a reality... until now. The only thing holding me back from taking the next step forward is the lack of a good name for it. When I started the 80's Nuts newsletter, I had no idea that it might confuse some people. Some wanted movie and television news also. So then I acquired the 80sMusicCentral.com domain name to go with my 80sNuts.com domain. This helped people understand that it was about the music and not about elderly testicles or collecting peanuts, pistachios and almonds from the 1980s (don't laugh, I got emails about both. The worst were the food preparation companies that called and emailed me when I ran the 80's Buffet DJ Service.) If I can find a name that says 80's music news without sounding that generic, I can feel better about this thing and worry about the technical issues. Any suggestions?

Walking In My Shoes

As I've mentioned before, I've been heading into the gym about 3 days a week. Pictured above are my running shoes. Notice anything funky about them? Probably not. You see for some reason, shoe manufacturers have this idea that we want shoe laces that can wrap around our ankles multiple times. (For some reason it reminds me of going skating as a kid.)

Usually, I tie them normally and tuck the bow loops (and anything that would drag on the ground) in next to my ankles. Sure, that's probably going to rub, chafe and cause problems but there isn't much else to do other than breaking out the scissors and tape. I just wish this was the problem with only this pair of shoes. It seems my tennis shoes and a few others have this problem. If I was running the shoe company, I'd probably say, "Hey, we are wasting money on laces... let's shorten them." Just one of life's oddities, I guess.

An Eyeball View Of Corporate Reinvestment

Working for a big company is quite different than working for a little one. One of the things that stand out most between the two are how they go about saving money. Both types of companies will look at labor to see if they could cut hours. But one thing that I notice most often is reinvestment. Some of the bigger companies, when trying to cut deeper than labor, will avoid spending funds on repairs to materials, delay shipments of replacement materials or allow a substandard level of service. Most companies would rather avoid the latter but let's look at laser eye surgery as a subtle example.

Each company uses a specialized blade to cut a flap over the cornea prior to the laser being employed. This expensive blade can be sterilized for reuse but each reuse dulls the blade more. Some companies will use the same blade 3 times, some may use it more and a few use it once and toss it. Every reuse of the blade cheapens the cost of the procedure but increases the risk of a tear of the flap. So one could save money by not replacing the blade and taking a chance on customer dissatisfaction (with a longer healing time and higher chance of infection.) So in this instance putting money aside to replace materials improves your chances of a successful operation. But, this happens in many industries. Tires have to be replaced in auto racing. Sandpaper has to be replaced in carpentry. Sprinklers have to be changed in landscaping. But of course, cutting the costs of any of these items increases hazards, shoddy products or water waste. Have you ever seen a lack of reinvestment in your industry?

Last Read: Neuromancer

It is rather intriguing that my interest in 'cyberpunk' started way back at the end of high school yet it would take me well over a decade later to read William Gibson's Neuromancer. I actually remember gathering with a few friends to play a roleplaying game (ala Dungeons & Dragons) based on the world created in several of these novels. Heck, I was also really excited in 1993 when Billy Idol released his Cyberpunk album (which included the video for "Shock To The System" which gave a nod to the genre -- yet wasn't critically hailed with guitarist Steve Stevens not part of the project and Wendy and Carnie Wilson adding background vocals.)

With a lot of doubts going in, the book was actually a pretty quick read. I could see many people, that were reading it when it was released in 1984, getting lost in the technological terms. I was also amazed at the uses of the words "cyberspace" and "matrix" which of course have broader appeal today yet mean pretty much what they were intended. (Actually, there is a very interesting breakdown of the similarities between Neuromancer and The Matrix which is worth viewing.) Also noteworthy was the mention of Johnny Mnemonic. Yes, it seems that Gibson wove the character of Molly Millions into a trilogy of stories about the seedy futuristic area called the Sprawl... including this one. If you remember the name, Johnny Mnemonic, you may also recall the 1995 movie starring Keanu Reeves. That may be the only negative that I had about the book as I could not separate the character of Case in the book from the thought of Keanu Reeves (the description just fit him.) Overall, very good book and one that I'm a little shocked they haven't attempted to convert to film (as the video game in 1988 stank and looked more like Leisure Suit Larry.) Here's hoping that I find a few more books that I may have bypassed that excite my imagination.

The Doomsday Vault

There has always been a fear of the annihilation of humankind. Plague, global war, global cooling, global warming, judgment day, etc. But, what if not everyone perishes? It seems that a lot of other people have considered this.

As we speak Norway has broken ground on the doomsday vault. If the seeds of all the world's plant life (some 3 million is what they expect) were able to be housed as a form of Noah's Ark, maybe survivors could revive them at a later date. Kind of reminds me of the Lost World idea and maybe a vault containing DNA from many animal species can also be held for future generations. Anyhow, my question to you is: If there was only one herb that you could keep from disappearing from existence, what would it be?

Father's Day '06

Happy Father's Day to all that it applies to. Looks like I'll be joining my family at Lindo Michaocan (I probably mentioned the terrific Mexican restaurant to you before) to celebrate.

Went over to Dad's yesterday to help get his Tivo working (it had trouble getting an update but I think we have it fixed now.) It actually was a pretty good day. We made some chicken tacos, ate pistachio nuts and dropped off some flowers for someone he knows at the hospital. Sometimes, I do really miss living there at the house with him. It'll be 3 years since I moved into this house in about 2 months. I still can't believe that it took me moving in with him back then for me to me to understand him and consider him my friend. I guess as bad as some child-parent relationships can be, they can improve with time and maturity. I'll stop by his house on the way to dinner just to make sure we fixed everything yesterday and see if he wants a ride.

Meanwhile, yesterday I set up a new MySpace page. You see, I had one set up for networking and music information gathering but I had several personal friends that wished to keep in touch. So, I decided to to set up the new page but don't expect the little blog on there to overtake this one. Just a way to separate business and pleasure.

Life Update - 061606

Remember several months back how I looked longingly at the gym being built just blocks away from my house? It opened... months ago and I've been timid about going in there. I think some of it is: If I wake up at noon-ish, is it better to go to the gym then or after work (1 am)? This and pure laziness have been on my mind as I pass the amazing complex daily on my way to work. So today I threw caution and calories to the wind as I walked through the doors with my trusty iPod. I had the tourist gaze working (stopping in the most inappropriate spot and heaving my head to and fro to take in my surroundings) as I made my way to the cardio area. After 45 minutes over there, I headed over to the weights for another 15 minutes. This is my new start. Now to create a habit of it.

I was also made aware by my neighbors that someone was shot while refusing to give up her purse across the street from my house... directly across the street. I heard a little bit about it yesterday as I was running off to work, getting the mail and talking to someone on the phone. So today, after the workout, I decided to get the whole story. The lady will be in the hospital for a week. I just worry about her 11 year-old daughter who saw the whole thing and is staying at her grandparents house with her brother until things calm down. When things do, I'd like to drop some food off or ask if there is anything I can help with.

Been eating healthier. My Tivo picked up a show on FitTV talking about the revamp of the food pyramid. So, I'm working on eating more carrots, peas, cantaloupe, whole grains, brown rice and smaller portions. So far so good. More Triscuits, less Pringles. More peanuts, less gummi/cinnamon bears. The hardest part will be working this into whatever is available to eat at work but so far, so good.

Mom's recovery is going well. It's amazing to listen to someone all your life and tell the difference between how they are feeling just by noticing changes in their voice. For so long, my mother has been going through health issues and after her latest hernia surgery her voice is perceptibly higher, lighter, livelier and ready the new day. I think Mom has rediscovered herself and this can only lead to good things to come. I'm extremely proud of her.

Martin Math: On The Road

You've been hit over the head since Monday with the name Ben Roethlisberger. Yes, he's the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Yes, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers' first round draft pick was also first quarterback to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. I also know that right now people are still saying how idiotic it was for him to have been riding his motorcycle like he normally does -- without a helmet (which isn't against the law in Pittsburgh.)

What I'd like to talk about are car accidents. I have figured that I've been at the wheel for 4 or 5 in my life. Automobiles tend to be the most standard and safest vehicle on the road excluding NASCAR which in my mind gives them a fair risk factor. So in Martin Math (5 accidents times 1 risk factor divided by 6570 days of driving,) I can find my daily chance of getting in an accident (.0761%). Of course, I don't see myself increasing my risk factor by driving a motorcycle. Cyclists often get lost in blind spots easily, ride between cars lanes, ignore posted speed limits and sometimes use the breakdown lane as a place to show off the art of the wheelie. No wonder why they often say they aren't respected on the road by other vehicles. But even with my percentage chance of getting in an accident being that low, I probably will have another accident in my life and probably wouldn't want to go through it without the safety of a seatbelt/airbags/windshield... then again, I don't make millions of dollars a year either.

Setting A Date For Swift Justice

Whether you've listened to him or seen him before, the picture you see is of R. Kelly. I'd like to think that he is staring at a throng of reporters wanting to know why it has taken over 4 years for him to go to trial for 14 counts of child pornography and having sex with a girl who may have been as young as 13. I doubt that was the case though. I'm sure it was a publicity photo for one of the 5 studio albums that he released (2002's Best Of Both Worlds, 2003's Chocolate Factory, 2003's Happy People/U Saved Me, 2004's Unfinished Business and 2005's TP.3 Reloaded) or 2 compilations (2003's The R. In R&B Collection Vol. 1 and Remix City Vol. 1) since the charges first surfaced in February of 2002. Yet, I'm not disturbed by the money he has made since the charges on album sales or tour ticket sales.

What I do find a bit unsettling is that a trial date has still not been set. I can't remember if I've seen the heavily downloaded video which spawned the original lawsuit but that could be because it is taking prosecutors longer to bring this case to trial than Def Leppard takes to record a studio album. I personally don't know if he is guilty or not but leaving it in the public consciousness for so long creates a stigma (which hasn't hurt his record sales) that may make trying him in court more difficult. But, let's put this another way. Michael Jackson turned himself in, was put on trial and cleared of charges all between R. Kelly's 2002 arrest and now. Oddly enough Kelly worked with Jackson on the yet to be released charity single, "I Have This Dream," for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Although through our rights we are granted a "quick and speedy trial," I am left to wonder how long one should have to wait for redemption or conviction in front of a jury of their peers. Then again, I haven't heard R. Kelly complain.

Cold-filtered Inebriation

You have to love thermochromic ink. Think about it. How often have you grabbed a canned beverage and thought "this isn't as cold as I hoped." Essentially, this new area in design for the classic aluminum can has been out for about a year but I haven't seen many companies make good use of it. If you look at the photo on the right, one can of Coors is cold enough to drink and the other isn't -- this is noted by the color of the little mountain at the bottom of the can. I mean, no one wants a warm beer (unless you are desperate or in college) but most want a consistent level of freshness. There is also another reason why I mention this.

You see, I tend to fall back on Coors Light when I'm drinking. Sure, I like many other beers and some wines but I actually like the taste of a good cold Coors Light. And the process for brewing beer at the Coors brewery is "a unique cold filtering and sterile-fill system that stabilizes the beer at its freshest point without heating it by pasteurization." Remember all the Coors commercials where they rave about "ice cold Coors" or the Coors train seemingly bringing snow with it? There's a reason. You see, heat pasteurization kills the good bacteria fermenting the beer. (I was lucky to taste a beer right from a brewery prior to the heating and cooling... it is amazingly much tastier than the end product.) Coors just brings it to a very low temperature so it remains inactive. Early on this method limited growth of the chain nationally as it needed to be distributed cold also... and possibly another good reason for them to consider that little temperature guide on the can. Did I mention that they were the first to introduce the two-piece all-aluminum beverage can in 1959? Personally, I will only grab mine from the store refrigeration unit. I do need to look to see if some stores actually sit some of the cases out in displays (which would kind of ruin temperature control.)

Interactive: Not My Job, Man

I was reading a book recently and stumbled upon an interesting statistic. Essentially, when we hit 45 years of age we are entering our prime earning potential years. By that time, the average wage earner has held about 9 jobs. I thought about it for awhile and I'm right in there (a bit early in my life, though.) Dishwasher, cook, tennis pro, security, bus person, casino change person, car rental runner, valet person, auto detailer, head of computer-operations, belldesk relief supervisor, hotel employee... I'm sure there are many others that I can't think of at this moment.

I've talked about entry-level/minimum wage jobs before. But, what I find interesting are those that don't take the skills they learn in those first jobs off into another position somewhere else. Sure, if they do well in their position, they will be promoted from within (I call promotions new jobs as they require new or extra responsibilities.) So, today I thought that I'd ask you: How many jobs have you held so far?

My Life, Rated And Approved For Mass Consumption

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7.3
Mind:	7.9
Body:	8
Spirit:	7.5
Friends/Family:	6.6
Love:	6.9
Finance:	7.2
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

I decided to take this quiz. I wish I could remember where I saw it again as I've been holding onto this awhile. What I am happy to see is that I was over the average and that's all I can ask for.

I've been feeling like I'm in a funk today. I'm sure that it will pass shortly. I think it's lack of sleep yesterday prior to a blood donation. It was interesting giving blood though. They had me on a machine that separates the plasma from the red blood cells (I'm B+.) Instead of the standard needle, it has two holes in the end. One for drawing and one for replacing. Essentially, I have all my plasma back as well as some added saline. No wonder why I feel funky.