Goodness

This from a Wall Street Journal article:

"To understand the problem with the stimulus bill, it helps to focus on specific parts. Take the $142 billion for schools, which is nearly double the total outlays of the Department of Education in 2007. Now consider that much of this cash would go to public-school systems that don't even need the money for its earmarked purposes.

The Milwaukee Public School system, for example, would receive $88.6 million over two years for new construction projects under the House version of the stimulus -- even though the district currently has 15 vacant school buildings and declining enrollment. "

"President Obama says education spending belongs in the stimulus because it will help the economy in the long-term. Fair enough. But if the goal is to increase productivity, lawmakers need to be use the money as a lever for better results. Simply doubling or tripling the amounts for states to spend on the same failing schools isn't going to produce different outcomes."

Mark Steyn continues his career with another well written article. Check it out. Here's an excerpt:

"In The Washington Post, E.J. Dionne tried to break it gently to us:

'No occupant of the White House has ever been able to walk on water.'

Yeah, sure, no previous occupant of the White House has been able to walk on water – your Eisenhowers and Roosevelts, your Chester Arthurs and Grover Clevelands and whatnot. But Barack didn't run as just another of those squaresville losers. He was gonna heal the planet and lower the oceans. So, even if he couldn't walk on water, he should at least be able to paddle in it. 'He is a community organizer like Jesus was,' said Susan Sarandon, 'and now we're a community, and he can organize us.'

So how's that going?"

Sarandon really said that at the Creative Coalition’s 2009 Ball.

We know more and more about less and less

Full Article. (It's short).
"You've got some economists and some folks who think they're economists. By the way, these days everybody thinks they're economists," he joked.

As well we should be, Mr. President. All citizens of a democratic nation should be exposed enough to economic, political ideas, etc, to be able to offer critiques. In addition, once we start accepting everything the government does as correct we'll be surfing in the USSR.

Too much good

For your reading pleasure, Dave Barry has a blog about the show 24.

It's way funny. But only funny if you watch it really.

Here's the address.

Dudes, mad stuff has gone down over the last couple of weeks: Chicago trip with a class last weekend, Wheaton to see the bros and friends this weekend.
Well, that's two things.

Don't worry, Obama will fix the economy.

Inauguration

The Inauguration is today, I am watching it now, you should be/have. It's an exciting time for sure.

On that note, according to this AP article:

"It will take years before an infrastructure spending program proposed by President-elect Barack Obama will boost the economy, according to congressional economists."

Here's the key part: "The economy has been in recession for more than a year, but many economists believe a recovery may begin by the end of 2009. That would mean that most of the infrastructure money wouldn't hit the economy until it's already on the mend."

AP Article

Get stoked, because any stimulus plan will probably slide through Congress. Sure, some will put up a fight, Democrats will caution about unwise spending, enough for sound bites at least, Republicans may pull the "I have to set aside my free market principles," and a few may actually, wisely, vote against it. In the end, we will probably end up voting for a literal ocean of money being spent for, ultimately, a significant increase in actual government responsibility and perceived responsibility.

Circuit City bites the dust.
30,000 jobs done with as one article stated.
Why not bail them out?
Hmm...

These past days have been full of catching up with good friends, hanging out, and, oh yes, school. A social life at TU can easily become a full time job. A gift, indeed. I'm glad I came back during JTerm, so as to take advantage of the more relaxed schedule to ease back into the swing.

Tuesday night marked an historical occurrence: attending a Metallica show in Detroit. After the four hour drive, Rosie, Elena and I finally made it to the nearly full arena. As soon as Metallica started playing, it was easily a packed arena. There were flames, lasers, moving lights mounted on giant coffins. Metallica being the band that it is, I feel I have checked something off the list of "To Dos" in my life.

I have also started reading Amity Shlaes' newest book, "The Forgotten Man," which is a history of the Great Depression. It's an entertaining, enlightening read. It's also relevant with the different theories floating around about our current economic malaise being similar to the 30's, comparisons between Obama and FDR and Obama wanting to be FDR (but who wouldn't? Pretty much everyone loves him because he fixed the economy. Maybe). One of the nuggets I have found is a case regarding a minimum wage law in DC in 1923. The case was called Adkins and it was overturned in the supreme court because the majorit saw it as violating individual's rights. What happened to this kind of sense? Why not let individuals and companies (which are composed of individuals) decide what their wages are?

The Weekend

This first Weekend back at school was full of thrills.

First up, we had two movies and card game on Friday night.

Next, Saturday, I went down to Indy with Ben and Josiah to see a Battle of the Bulge re-enactment. It turned out to be more of a WWII infantry skirmish demonstration, rather than a particular skirmish of the Battle of the Bulge. But it was still cool. There were Nazis and Americans, dressed up.
Then we went to Ben's house for some stellar dinner. Thank you, Gollers!
Night was full of more connections and question Jenga: You pull a block and then answer a question, like "What should you not do when you are naked?" A good one to ponder.

Today, I visited a new church with the roommates plus Rachel. We went to Dr. Jones' house for some Bible study and then to the main service where he is the minister. It was good. And in the words of MacArthur, "I shall return." There just won't be any killing.

Ah yes, and in the latest news: Global Warming is now out, Climate Change is now in, because 2008 was freaking cold and we may be headed into a new ice age according to some.

"In capitalism of the 21st century, there is room for the state..." Sarkozy
Boo.
I don't think that's capitalism anymore then.

European leaders meet.

Back

On Friday the 3rd, I flew back to Indiana. Chilled at Ben's house with his family and a few other close friends. The next day hit up the wedding of one of our PAs from our semester in Ireland. Got to see some TU people there. On Sunday headed up to campus and ever since then it's been a barrage of reunions and 1 minute catch up sessions.

The last seven months flew by. I can hardly believe that summer happened and then DC. Now here. It's great to be back, although I'm looking forward to settling in more and genuinely catching up with friends. It'll fly, but it'll be sweet.