Is Netflix A Bad Guy Here?

When I see stories like this I often feel both confused and a bit irked. It seems like much of the frustration here is misguided. (pic via Wiki)

First, no one is is forced to be a Netflix customer for any reason that I am aware of. Which right out of the gate makes the criticisms ridiculous, imho.

So here we have Netflix, a private business, offering a fantastic service at a fair price. But some still aren't happy that it doesn't cater to their narrow niche desires. So these groups malign Netflix as a bad or evil business.

I find this viewpoint to be quite warped and here's why. Netflix offers many thousands of movies, some of them with subtitles (and the list is constantly expanding), and they are made out to be the bad guy. Many other businesses offer not only no subtitles, but also not a single movie of any kind! Using the above logic, shouldn't they be considered even more evil than Netflix?

It would be one thing if Netflix came out ahead of time and claimed that they would serve the deaf community and offer every title with subtitles, then reneged on the promise. They would then be legitimate targets of this criticism. But I don't believe that's what happened here.

Why doesn't say Costco get even more criticism for this? Costco doesn't offer any streaming movies with subtitles. And none is markedly fewer than some. You would think following this logic they would be disliked even more than Netflix.

There may be too many people who believe that the world owes them something.

Netflix Adds Subtitles to More Streaming Content, Stirs Up Controversy - Fast Company: "The company has just announced plans to increase subtitles on streaming content. But it's not enough, say deaf advocates. For some, in fact, Netflix's recent shift to streaming and its price hike, looks like something of a 'deaf tax.' Is Netflix listening?"

A Few Random Morning Links ...

The Urwerk UR-110 is Uber-Cool. (pic via aBlogToRead)

Hands-down the coolest calculator ever, the TI-NSpire CX.

Turtles are cool, they use magnetic fields to travel, and ever wonder how they survive under frozen lakes for months without breathing? (the book)

Puerto Rican rice with green olives, I'm 100% on board with that.

Wait, what the heck is a Porsche Tapiro?

I would love my own archipelago.

Rochester, NY subway fire, 1904.

Did you know that Lewis and Clark used an air rifle on their famous expedition? (more here & here)

Don't believe the nonsense that the U.S. manufactures nothing anymore.

Noodler's Bernanke Black and Blue 'Fast Dry' Inks, and an earlier post.

Pentagon keeps redoing the bidding until Boeing wins the USD $30 billion-plus tanker contract. Guess where Boeing's HQ is? Yup, Chicago.

Is traffic enforcement in large part just a source of revenue generation? (hint: yes)

I love pine nuts, this is an odd story.

Lotus rebrands itself, and swings for the fences.

Old-school, the Fuller Brush Man.

Babs Boxer, WI Democrats, and Elections

Are Wisconsin Democrats against democracy?

Babs Boxer tells us that elections have consequences ... ouch.



Related links:
Wisconsin Union Fiasco Round-Up

A Libertarian Anti-Poverty Agenda

Fantastic column from Steven Horwitz. A must-read.

A Libertarian Antipoverty Agenda - The Freeman: "About a month ago I published an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer arguing that poor Americans today are better off than poor Americans were back in the early 1970s (and certainly before that). Not surprisingly, it has generated quite a stream of “fan mail” from those who either cannot or will not believe it. I’m used to getting strong reactions like that, although one of the responses was among the nastiest pieces of fan mail I’ve ever received. But what really bothers me about several of these responses is the accusation that I “hate” poor people and don’t care about their well-being."

Monopoly? Or Not?

Have you ever noticed that the same people who wring their hands over a market being (allegedly) controlled by too few entities (e.g. Google, Microsoft, Exxon, Apple, etc.) out of fear of lack of competition, have no problem promoting a near-monopoly position for government schools?

"[A]ny provider that commands 90 percent of the market -- whether we're talking about software, phone service, or heating oil -- is, by definition, a monopoly. Our government employs thousands of bureaucrats to track down and break up monopolies on the grounds that monopolies stifle competition and thereby produce bad products at high prices. Doesn't it strike anyone as strange that the same government protects its own monopoly in education? And stranger still, that nearly everyone accepts this state of affairs as normal -- as something that has always been and must always be? ... [C]ompetition forces public schools into making long-overdue repairs. And it offers poor parents the choices they desperately desire."
-- Jennifer A. Grossman
Source: How Philanthropy Is Revolutionizing Education

A Few Random Morning Links ...

John Legend, feel free to send a check, but please, don't throw the rest of us under the bus. (related post)

Great column from Dr. Boudreaux of George Mason Univ. on inflation.

D@mn, this jacket looks good.

In case you wonder how to be a hipster.

Looks like the M14 is back.

Kindle for free? All you need is a smart phone? Sweet.

Dolby Laboratories and the 3-D Movie Sound Revolution.

So many cool places to visit one day: 10 Iconic Streets and Boulevards.

Remember back under the 'W' regime? We were told that whistle-blowing was one of the highest forms of decency. No longer.

Sure, but is the new rubber layer sustainable?

I wonder how they would describe a bottle of Mad Dog?

The General Welfare Clause Is Not A Blank Check

The general welfare clause is not a blank check. I firmly believe it's a preamble to the specific itemized list that follows it.

If the general welfare clause permitted anything as some claim, what would be the point of following it with a detailed list of permissible actions/items?

Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare,
but only those specifically enumerated.
-- Thomas Jefferson

If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will
promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing
enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.
-- James Madison, letter to Edmund Pendleton, 1792

They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only
to lay taxes for that purpose. To consider the latter phrase not as describing the
purpose of the first, but as giving a distinct and independent power to do any act
they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and
subsequent enumerations of power completely useless.
-- Thomas Jefferson

With respect to the words general welfare,
I have always regarded them as qualified
by the detail of powers connected with them.
To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be
a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which
there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.
-- James Madison
(1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President

If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the
sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of
religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county
and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their
own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools
throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may
undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every
thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute
object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress. ... Were the
power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would
subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited
Government established by the people of America.
-- James Madison
(1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President

Additional links:
Walter E. Williams on the General Welfare Clause

These Are Your Overlords, Tiger Costume Edition

These are the people who run your life, have a say in nearly every facet of your daily life, from the bed you sleep in, the car you drive, the water you drink, to the light bulbs you use. (pic via AP)

Newspapers, GOP call for congressman to resign - Yahoo! News: "SALEM, Ore. – A photo of Rep. David Wu wearing a tiger costume and other unusual revelations about his mental health are increasing pressure on the seven-term Oregon Democrat to step down. But the lawmaker says he's not quitting even as an editorial in one of the state's largest newspapers and the state Republican chairman called for his resignation. Wu said this week that it was 'unprofessional and inappropriate' to send pictures of himself wearing a tiger costume to staff members while he was in the middle of a heated campaign last year. He also acknowledged taking two tablets of a pain killer that were given to him by an unnamed campaign donor."

A Few Random Morning Links ...

You can buy Hemingway's double-barreled .577-caliber Nitro Express elephant gun. Can you imagine the kick this thing must have?! I wonder if it could be fitted with a picatinny rail?

Brother makes a massive balls to the wall sewing machine.

I would have loved this old-school spy kit as a kid.

A friend's photo slideshow, Toronto Street pics.

Dr. DiLorenzo explains the problem with public-sector unions.

This new ceramic JLC Master Compressor Chronograph looks great.

I could learn to like this pizza oven in the yard. ($5,000)

You can also buy a vintage 1961 Soviet space capsule.

For German Butchers, a Wurst Case Scenario.

Apple's new Thunderbolt: A primer - CSMonitor.com

Reviews of Classic American Whiskeys - Esquire

Borrow eBooks From Libraries With Your iPad

I have an iPad, my dad has a new Kindle. I'm looking forward to trying out some ebooks at the library.

A Review of the OverDrive App for Borrowing eBooks - WSJ.com: "Get out your library cards: Now you can wirelessly download electronic books from your local library using the Apple iPad or an Android tablet. Last week, OverDrive Inc. released OverDrive Media Console for the iPad, a free app from Apple's App Store. With the app, you can now borrow eBooks for reading on the go with a tablet. You can already borrow an eBook from a library using an eReader, including the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook, but you'll need a PC and a USB cable for downloading and synching. Amazon's Kindle doesn't allow borrowing eBooks from libraries. For the past week, I borrowed and wirelessly downloaded digital books onto tablets primarily using OverDrive, the largest distributor of eBooks for libraries. I tested the OverDrive Media Console for the iPad. I also used the Dell Streak 7 tablet to test the app on the Android operating system; this app also works on Android smartphones. An iPhone app is available."

Additional links:
OverDrive – Reading eBooks on Your iPad?
OverDrive

Medicaid Stat of The Day: NY Edition

1 in 4 New Yorkers (state, not city) is on Medicaid.

Cuomo's Medicaid Warning - WSJ.com: "Over the years the Empire State has expanded this joint state-federal program originally meant for poor women and children deep into the middle class—much like the model the 2010 health bill will impose on all states in 2014. Mr. Cuomo's ambitious reform plan runs in the opposite direction, and little wonder. Spending for this $53 billion-plus program in New York will increase automatically by 13% this year even as Mr. Cuomo must close a $10 billion deficit. In his executive budget, Mr. Cuomo proposed cutting $982 million, or 2%. To find another $2.9 billion this year and $4.6 billion next, he appointed a 27-member 'stakeholder' panel, which is due to report next month. Graded on the Albany curve, merely floating such heresies is astonishing against a heretofore inviolable claim on taxpayers. Today, one of four New Yorkers is on Medicaid, which is staggering. A quarter of a rich state's entire population is dependent on government health care. Recall that ObamaCare will bring national Medicaid enrollment to about the same level. ... New York Medicaid has also become a kind of a health-care Tammany Hall, and not only for the usual entitlement reason of the political class promising ever-richer benefits to more and more people to win re-election. The program's price controls and operational details are explicitly spelled out in legislative statute; most states give Governors more administrative discretion. With its usual subtlety, Albany uses this power to directly subsidize constituencies like the greater New York City hospital industry and SEIU 1199, the powerful health-care workers union."

Wisconsin Union Fiasco Round-Up

I think the core question is this ... are the government schools run primarily for the benefit of taxpayers, parents, and students? Or for the benefit of teachers?

Athens in Mad Town - WSJ.com: "Under Governor Walker's proposal, the government also would no longer collect union dues from paychecks and then send that money to the unions. Instead, unions would be responsible for their own collection regimes. The bill would also require unions to be recertified annually by a majority of all members. Imagine that: More accountability inside unions. ... Public unions have a monopoly position that gives them undue bargaining power. Their campaign cash—collected via mandatory dues—also helps to elect the politicians who are then supposed to represent taxpayers in negotiations with those same unions. The unions sit, in effect, on both sides of the bargaining table."

Are Public School Teachers Overpaid or Are Private School Teachers Underpaid? - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine: "The National Center for Education Statistics puts it this way: Using 2007-2008 data (the latest available), the average 'total school-year and summer earned income' for public school teachers was $53,230 . The equivalent for private-school teachers was $39,690. That's a whopping $13,540 differential on salary alone."

George Will: Union leaders fear loss of dues: "'I am convinced,' he says, 'this is about money - but not the employees' money.' It concerns union dues, which he wants the state to stop collecting for the unions, just as he wants annual votes by state employees on recertifying the unions. He says many employees pay $500 to $600 annually in union dues - teachers pay up to $1,000. Given a choice, many might prefer to apply this money to health care premiums or retirement plans."

Medical Fraud in Wisconsin - Ideas On Liberty: "I asked this doctor what he was doing and he told me they were handing out excuses to people who were feeling sick due to emotional, mental or financial distress. They never performed an exam – he asked me how I was feeling today and I said I’m from California and I’m not used to the cold, so he handed me a note."

The alternative to unions: "The effect of unions, to the extent they are effective at all, is to make it harder for people to find work in particular areas. Unions try to raise wages above what they would otherwise be. Employers respond by trying to substitute capital for labor or more skilled workers for less skilled workers. You want negotiating power? Get educated. Get a skill. What keeps wages up in a world of 7% unionization in the private sector is that I have alternatives. So stay in school and study something serious that has value alongside whatever else you’re interested in. Or study something interesting that has little market value. But if you do that, don’t complain about your low salary and lack of a union."

Additional links:
Markets, Not Unions, Gave us Leisure
A History of Labor Unions from Colonial Times to 2009
The Myth of Voluntary Unions

A Few Random Morning Links ...

Bread & circuses, Saudi damage control style.

Hey, it's King Cake Season!

Mr. Peanut finally has a new car.

Rivet Head is a fun blog. As is Rugged Old Salt.

Nice shell monks.

Social Security is A Ponzi Scheme, Why Do We Take These People Seriously?

I like this cool chest.

More pics from the NZ earthquake.

Crossing the United States on Foot With a Camera and a Dog

Ultimate Factories: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Featured on National Geographic

A bit of WWII horological history.

Advertising welfare.

What Cars Of The Future Looked Like In 1990

Watched Total Recall with my daughter a few nights ago. It allowed us to see what the near future was supposed to look like from the perspective of 1990 (the cars in particular). It's amazing how far off the mark the implied predictions are about technology only 21 years into the future. Though it wasn't quite as bad as Logan's Run. ;-)

It's for this reason that I am very skeptical of claims that we will run out of oil in 20 years (in 1978 my 3rd grade teacher told us oil would be gone by 2010), the global average temperature will be 2 degrees higher in 100 years, the stock market will be ABCD a year from now, we will be overrun by landfills, run out of water, etc. I find such claims as these to be a mottled combo of hubris and ignorance. (pic via IMCDB)

I realize that people user computerized models to allegedly predict climate decades into the future. But those models are inherently flawed, we can not possibly know all of the variables that need to be taken into account. Those are just the unavoidable flaws, I'm convinced that many of them are tweaked and rerun until the "researchers" find the results they prefer.

Definitely read some Julian Simon:
Book Review: Hoodwinking the Nation by Julian Simon
Book Review: It's Getting Better All the Time: 100 Greatest Trends of the Last 100 Years
Julian Simon - The Doomslayer (Wired) (or PDF here)

Additional links:
Substances, Resources, and the Future
Why Economic Experts' Predictions Fail

More On The Cars of Total Recall:
Total Recall taxi at Hemmings Blog
The futuristic cars of Total Recall
Really? that was the Boonie Bug in Total Recall?

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Not a single person in Little Italy was born in Italy.

This thing looks like a giant freaky strawberry.

Kari Voutilainen's amazing work of art, as a chronograph.

Space freight and taxis go private? Could be.

Leuchtturm 1917 pocket size journal review.

So the body scanners may not even really work well, all other problems aside.

From the ACLU, "Donald Rumsfeld Is Above the Law and Jose Padilla Is Beneath It -Kind of disappointing.

New Zealand earthquake pics here and here.

10 Things Your Spouse Won't Tell You, ouch.

What the heck is a music egg?

I've wanted a batman bust switch since I was 5 years old.

John Tyler may have been the "best" U.S. president.

Anyone else want a personal submarine? (more here, and here)

Two-Thirds of Wisconsin Public-School 8th Graders Can’t Read Proficiently—Despite Highest Per Pupil Spending in Midwest. Awkward. More on Wisconsin here and here.

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Not too many things creepier than an abandoned hospital, reminds me of the opening scene of 28 Days Later.

Which item do you think has the most federal taxes and fees attached to it? Airfare edition.

This Rube-Goldberg tea pot is plenty cool, but a little complicated, and plenty expensive.

The History of Computers 1938 to 2010 [Infographic]

Ron Paul explains: Central Economic Planning at its Worst

A Wallet Lost 40 Years Ago Now Is Found, very cool story.

This could make a good beater, a mil-spec watch w/ some street cred for $70.

A playable "Angry Birds" Birthday Cake.

I support Ralph The Pelican.

This is certainly unpleasant, Japan unearths site linked to human experiments.

Glow-In-The-Dark Spyderco Manix knife.

Bastiat on Liberty, Property, and Rights

You can not delegate a right you do not already have.

"If every person has the right to defend -- even by force -- his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly. Thus the principle of collective right -- its reason for existing, its lawfulness -- is based on individual right. And the common force that protects this collective right cannot logically have any other purpose or any other mission than that for which it acts as a substitute. Thus, since an individual cannot lawfully use force against the person, liberty, or property of another individual, then the common force -- for the same reason -- cannot lawfully be used to destroy the person, liberty, or property of individuals or groups."
-- Frederic Bastiat

Related links:
Is Basic Health Care a ‘Right’?
Rights Versus Wishes by Walter Williams

There's Not Any Fat Left To Trim At Libraries?

A few thoughts right out of the gate.

1. I am a longtime frequent public library patron. Libraries are fantastic.
   
2. I would prefer to see the government at all levels out of the library business, though the fact that the vast majority of them are done at the local (rather than state or federal) level is a comfort to me.
3. Given my druthers (I love the way that sounds), if I could start getting the government's hands out of various things, libraries would be FAR FAR down the list of my concerns. You probably couldn't convince me outright that libraries are an example of a public good, but you would have my ear for a while.
   

On the article linked below, note the all-too-common refrain of a recipient of taxpayer's money. Without these funds the operation is "imperiled." Are we to honestly believe that libraries really can not cut expenses by 10%? There is no fat left to trim? Seriously? Households need to cut this much and more on a regular basis. What happened to collective belt-tightening?

Libraries say 10% too much to cut state aid - Democrat and Chronicle: "ALBANY — The Finger Lakes Library System is urging patrons to take a few minutes to speak up for their library, warning that the future of the public institution is imperiled. 'Without adequate support, the library resources that our community members depend on may disappear,' the system's website says. ... New York's 755 public libraries say they would be devastated by a 10 percent aid reduction proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his budget. The hit would be $8.45 million statewide, leaving a total of $76 million in aid."

And I'm more than a little skeptical of this claim. The dollar amount, that is.

"Inter-library loans provided 9.2 million items to patrons in 2009, saving libraries and taxpayers more than $185 million ..."

Wait, what? So only 10% of the library funding is from the state, so we're talking 10% of 10%? Is the claim here that a reduction in funding to the tune of 1% will "imperil" the institution of public libraries? And we are to take these people seriously?

"About 80 percent of library funding is from local governments, 10 percent from the state, and the rest is from donations and grants."

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Bhutanese Red Rice and Lentil Pilaf? Yeah, I need to try that.

Limited edition Seiko "Snow Monster," I think I like it. (more here)

Nice pen artwork here.

Maybe you're a libertarian and don't realize it?

High-speed in rail in China may not be totally safe. (via MR)

Another batch of ink links.

"It’s gotten so private industry can’t afford union labor, taxpayers can’t afford union labor, unions can’t afford union labor — and apparently the DNC can’t afford union labor. Union leaders need to first sit down at the negotiating table with themselves."

Absolutely love these: Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute To Deep Sea Alarm and 1960's Jaeger-LeCoultre Diving Chronograph Worldtime.

I don't even know what to say about this story.

This Story Is Dripping With Irony

How can you prosecute these people with a straight face? Which is the bigger fraud?! :-)

U.S. charges global warming company was a fraud - Reuters: "(Reuters) - CO2 Tech Ltd, a publicly traded company that lured investors with claims about products and services to fight global warming, was full of nothing but hot air, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday."

It May Be Better To Ask The Question More Honestly

The question asked in the article is, "Should Poor People Get Free Eye and Dental Care?"

There is no such thing as "free" in this sense. I think the question might be more appropriately asked as, "Is it okay to force people to pay for the eye-care and dental-care of their neighbors under threat of violence and/or imprisonment from the state?" That seems like a much more honest description of what is being asked.

Should Poor People Get Free Eye and Dental Care? - 13WHAM.com: "Rochester, N.Y. – Yessenia Troche and her son need glasses. They went to the Anthony Jordan Health Center, where 70 percent of the patients are poor and on Medicaid. “If I couldn't come here, I wouldn't have anywhere else to go, because my doctors are here at Jordan,” Troche said. “If they cut the services, there's a lot of people that wouldn't have anywhere to go. They need this resource here,” Troche said. New York is one of few states that offer eye care to Medicaid patients."

Remind Me Why We're Still In Afghanistan?

I don't think we can afford this any longer in terms of men, treasure, or morality. (pic: LINDA DAVIDSON / The Washington Post)

"Army Pfc. Terry Heise, center, screams in pain as flight medics work on his leg wounds. At left is Spc. Jeff Springer and at right is Sgt. Rodrigo Santos. A Washington Post photographer was embedded with the division when the attack occurred."

Brighton native Terry Heise goes to hell and back with tour in Afghanistan - Democrat and Chronicle: "Terry Heise heard screaming, and a sharp pain shot through his legs and back. Dazed, he felt someone pull him out of the destroyed vehicle and lower him onto a stretcher before placing it on the ground beside the Afghanistan dirt road. The Brighton native lay in agony as a Black Hawk helicopter flew in, and while he watched the spinning rotor blades above him, images from the movie Platoon flashed through his head. Lifted into the chopper, medics tried to remove his combat boots, but at every attempt, Heise cried out with such anguish that they just left them on. Then someone grabbed his hand. It was Sgt. Santos, lying on a stretcher next to him."

Additional links:
2010 Afghanistan death toll of US troops nears that of 2001-2008 combined ...
U.S. to Leave Afghanistan in 2011, Errr 2014 Never
The Cycle of Violence in Afghanistan by Ron Paul

Today's Quotes: Block, Chodorov, & Reed

Protectionism is a misnomer. The only people protected by tariffs, quotas and trade restrictions are those engaged in uneconomic and wasteful activity. Free trade is the only philosophy compatible with international peace and prosperity.
-- Dr. Walter Block

The more subsidized it is, the less free it is. What is known as "free education" is the least free of all, for it is a state-owned institution; it is socialized education - just like socialized medicine or the socialized post office - and cannot possibly be separated from political control.
-- Frank Chodorov

When people say 'let's do something about it,' they mean 'let's get hold of the political machinery so that we can do something to somebody else.' And that somebody is invariably you.
-- Frank Chodorov

It constantly amazes me that defenders of the free market are expected to offer certainty and perfection while government has only to make promises and express good intentions. Many times, for instance, I’ve heard people say, 'A free market in education is a bad idea because some child somewhere might fall through the cracks,' even though in today's government school, millions of children are falling through the cracks every day.
-- Dr. Lawrence W. Reed

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Cr@p, can't believe I didn't think of this great webcam idea!

Wish I was part of this Tweed Run in Helsinki.

The hippest neighborhood in Malibu right now is … a trailer park?

Love these, Amazing Libraries Around the World. (via John Cook)

Let's end farm subsidies.

I love this retro Seagull Chinese chrono.

Keith Jessop was apparently quite the adventurer.

In Praise of Vending Machines.

Hillary's free speech.

That's one big-@ss bear.

Libertarian, not conservative.

Are They Supposed To Be Adults?

You don't expect a vote to go your way, so you pout, take your ball, and head home?

Budget Battle: Democrats Who Left State are Located - WTMJ: "MADISON - Democratic State Senators who protested the budget repair bill by leaving the state have been found. The lawmakers are in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford Illinois. Law enforcement officials have been looking for at least one Democratic senator to bring in for a quorum required for a fiscal measure, but Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach confirmed to Newsradio 620 WTMJ that he and all of his Democratic colleagues boarded a bus and left the state."

And how about these firefighters in Vegas. And the govt. employees of the City of San Jose.

It's not unions per se or collective bargaining that are the problem. The problem is that the unions have an unfair advantage for three reasons. First, "management" is forced by law in many cases to meet the demands of unions, they can not just ignore them as they should be free to do. Second, at times the unions use thuggery to get what they want and the govt. turns a blind eye to it. Third, when "management" is government as in the case of public employee unions, they are not playing with their own money and are more likely to accede to union demands. If unions were not given special privileges, I would fully support collective bargaining. People should be free to bargain collectively, and others should be free to ignore them.

Additional links:
Wis. Gov. Walker calls Democrat boycott a 'stunt' - Yahoo! News
Wisconsin School Staff and Salary Data
Markets, Not Unions, Gave us Leisure
A History of Labor Unions from Colonial Times to 2009
The Myth of Voluntary Unions
More on Teachers Unions and Controlling State Spending: Have We Reached a Tipping Point?
Unions want to overturn election result - JSOnline

Obama's HHS Is Bigger Than LBJ's Entire Government ...

Just a little perspective.

Jeffrey on Socialism's Trajectory: Obama's HHS Is Bigger Than LBJ's Government - CNSnews.com: "Anyone who doubts that the trend toward socialism is pushing America toward ruin should examine the historical tables President Obama published Monday along with his $3.7 trillion budget. In fiscal 2011, according to these tables, the Department of Health and Human Services will spend $909.7 billion. In fiscal 1965, the entire federal government spent $118.228 billion. What about inflation? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, $118.228 billion in 1965 dollars equals $822.6 billion in 2010 dollars. In real terms, the $909.7 billion HHS is spending this year is about $87.1 billion more than the entire federal government spent in 1965. 1965 was a key year in the advancement of socialism in the United States."

Thursday Grab of Links ...

Architecture. (pic via DM)
CG House in Mexico by GLR Arquitectos
John Lautner: Hollywood’s favourite architect
YKH House
Inspiring Modern Home in Aspen
Villa Geldrop by Hofman Dujardin
Casa Batllo in Barcelona

Watches.
Gorgeous Breitling Transocean limited edition
Seiko SBBN019 “Oreo Diver”
Harry Winston : HISTOIRE DE TOURBILLON 2
The essence of Grand Seiko 50 years
Interview with Juan Carlos Torres, CEO, Vacheron Constantin

Economics.
Collusion, Price-Gouging, or Predatory-Pricing?

Style.
Bespoke – The Book
(Black) Watch Your Back
The Trad: The Maroon Blazer "Front!"
Land's End Vintage Linen Blazer

Shoes / Boots.
Longwing Lust - A Headlong Dive
Alden 3 Eyelet Boat Shoe from the Cape Cod Collection
Leffot Blog - Church Gatcombe MTO
Admiral Cod: Cleverley Black Brogues
Bass Weejuns: A Pretty Penny
Allen Edmonds Grayson Tassel Loafer

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Sailor Resin Maki-E Chrysanthemum
Platinum 3776 Black Resin With 14K Music Nib
The Senator President
Moleskine Launches Journals with Community-Sourced Designs
Moleskine Cover Art Collection
Whatever: G. Lalo Éclats d'Or
Pelikano has turned 50!
Noodler's Nib Creaper Rollerball and Baystate Blue

Photography.
The iPhone Telephoto Lens

Gadgets / Gear / Kit.
Fetchtastic Automatic Fetch Machine for Dogs
Jagermeister Deer Head Shot Glasses
Amatoya ATV - Gear Patrol
Schiit Lyr 6W Tube Headphone Amp

Animals.
Frodo the Koala Joey's Recovery
The Frame: 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Gallery: Meet the Original Dogs
Iso the Dachshund Puppy Gets a Bath in Slow Motion HD

Food.
10 Weird Exotic Fruits
Its all about the Hokkaido sea urchin
Boulevard Brewing Company’s Chocolate Ale
Nutella Stuffed Cupcakes with Sea Salted Buttercream
7 Best Beer Cities in America - Esquire
The Mexican You Thought You Knew
Red Rice with Habanero Sausage and Red Beans

Real Estate.
The hippest neighborhood in Malibu right now is … a trailer park? - Vanity Fair

Retro.
Egypt, 1920s, in colour

Misc.
Visualize Your Data with Google Public Data Explorer
Elevated Benches

What Are The Lessons of The Lara Logan Story?

It is very hard if not impossible to read this story and not feel anger, frustration, helplessness, and maybe even rage.

A strong argument could be made that what happened is democracy in its purest form. In this case, as revolting and disturbing as the actions were, the majority vote ruled. Democracy can result in good outcomes, but there is absolutely no guarantee that it will. I would much rather live in a society with a strong constitution that defended individual liberties than under a democracy. As if on cue, the most recent column from the always sharp David Harsanyi touches on democracy.

In grammar school we were taught to almost worship democracy, but as an adult I realized that it has the potential to allow 51% of the people to steal from or even enslave the other 49%.

The other sad lesson from this story? I guess it's that women are still at risk in this world and must always watch out for themselves.

Lara Logan Egypt Assault - Lara Logan's Last Interview Before Egypt Assualt - Esquire: "Breaking this evening is the upsetting news that CBS News correspondent Lara Logan had been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering President Mubarak's resignation last weekend. The assault reportedly took place on February 11 in Cairo, where she 'suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating,' according to CBS. Brian Stelter at the New York Times reports that in the midst of an estimated 200-person crowd, Logan was dragged into a 'dangerous element' and was eventually 'saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers.' This was the day she arrived in Egypt, one week after being detained, accused of being an Israeli spy, and then told to leave the country."

Additional links:
How I Survived an Attack in Cairo: GQ
CBS News' Lara Logan recovering in U.S. after Egypt attack - latimes.com
CBS shouldn't have withheld Lara Logan's story

This Week In ShakeDowns: Chevron and Furniture

Ugly business.

Review & Outlook: Shakedown in Ecuador - WSJ.com: "Woody Allen made 'Bananas' in 1971 about a South American banana republic, but as a slapstick comedy it's hard to beat this week's $8.6 billion judgment against Chevron by a provincial court in Ecuador. The only thing more preposterous than the case is that the plaintiffs want more. The suit, filed in an Ecuadorian court in Lago Agrio in 2003, charges that Texaco (since merged with Chevron) failed to clean up oil spills from wells it drilled in the 1970s, and thus should be liable for as much as $113 billion. The fact that Texaco cleaned up its sites and was released from liability by the government of Ecuador and state oil company PetroEcuador didn't stop the plaintiffs, led by attorney Steven Donziger, from concocting a case through legally dubious tactics."

Chinese Furniture Makers Buy U.S. Peace - WSJ.com: "Some U.S. furniture makers and their lawyers have found a reliable way to extract cash from Chinese competitors deemed by U.S. officials to have 'dumped' their products in the U.S., selling them at unfairly low prices. Each year since 2006, they have asked the Commerce Department to review the U.S. duties paid by Chinese manufacturers on imports of wooden bedroom furniture. Many Chinese firms, fearing a steep rise in duties, agreed within months each time to pay cash to their U.S. competitors in return for being removed from the review list."

This Week in Bad@ssery: Snowmobile Edition

Edgar Hetteen died recently. He was the founder of Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat.

The pic below, from Polaris Industries, shows Mr. Hetteen in 1960 during a trip across Alaska. Not only is he doing it on the cool retro sled, check out the sharp sport coat. The guy had style. ;-)

Related links:
The Plaisted Polar Expedition Speedmaster
Snowmobile Pioneer Cut a Fast Trail for the Sport

Steve McQueen and The Rolex Explorer II

I've been a fan of Steve McQueen since first seeing him in the 70s. Towering inferno, Great Escape, Papillon, Bullit, The Magnificent Seven ... (pic via Jake's Rolex Blog)

Well, he's also known for, ar at least associated with, the Rolex Explorer II model #1655. It's the SS Explorer II with the orange GMT hand. Jake's Rolex Blog has a large number of pics of the watch here.

These watches are rare, in high demand, and frankly demand exorbitant prices. So no chance of me getting one to wear. But I see Steinhart makes an homage of the watch (they call the "Ocean vintage GMT" see here and here). MKII watches has it's own version as well.

And Bernard Watch offers its own limited edition version with an ETA 2893 movement, called the Avier Adventurist.

I kinda wish Seiko would make their own version of this. Much more about the history of the watch with many pics here and here. It would be great to get my hands on one of these, I think I like it as much as the Rolex GMT IIc.

Additional links:
Any Other Steve McQueen Fans Out There?
Rolex Coolness: Steve McQueen The King Of Cool
Here he writes to Hugh Hefner

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Remember the great movie Kingpin? Well, some people really hustle bowling for a living.

Read Economics in One Page

Old-school retro Kodachrome pics. (more)

TSA Thugs, making you safe and free?

I know you've been asking about Current Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption per capita.

Nobody likes a foodie, okay, some do.

Love this house is Vilnius. And this place in Hawaii? Wowww!!!

Is the Coke formula out of the bottle?

How a Remote Town in Romania Has Become Cybercrime Central.

Margolis weighs-in on the revolution in Egypt.

But Isn't It All Discretionary?

The word "discretionary" when used to describe various parts of the federal budget always has me a bit confused. Isn't it all discretionary? Couldn't Congress vote to change any of it tomorrow?

Budget puzzle: "In fiscal year 2007, the federal government spent $2.7 trillion. In 2010, the federal government spent about $3.7 trillion. Obama is proposing to spend that amount next year."

Additional links:
Just How Bad Would A 25% Budget Cut Be?
Obama’s Budget: The Greek Model of Public Finance

I Just Can't Get Excited About Watson on Jeopardy

I would be much more interested in this Jeopardy business if Watson had a voice like Twiki from Buck Rogers. (pic via Wiki)

IBM - What is Watson?: "Follow the story of the development of Watson from a modest DeepQA machine to a formidable Jeopardy! contestant."

Additional links:
How I Beat IBM's Watson at Jeopardy (3 Times!)
The 50 Best Movie Robots Of All Time

A Few Misc. Links ...

So, did JC Penney get caught with its hand in the SEO cookie jar?

Worst anti-Walmart argument ever?

Free markets are the friends of consumers, not the enemy.

A Virtual Preview: Highlights from Antiquorum NY's 10 March Auction, great pics and a modem-destroyer.

So-Called "Young Americans for Freedom" boot Ron Paul from advisory board, show their true colors as NeoCons. They name is rather ironic now.

Hey, Buy American! Or at least Virginian.

How about 100 ways to cook a sweet potato?

Mmmm, Zombie-Jerky.

I would never make it through a 30 course meal.

Decode your credit card numbers.

Have they found Atlantis?

Armed notebooks. I'll pass.

What If The Wipers Distract You?

It feels like we're well on our way down the slippery slope, and picking up speed.

Bill would ban stoplight texting - Washington Examiner: "Texting while stopped at a traffic light soon could be illegal in Maryland, if lawmakers approve legislation that would expand the state's texting-while-driving ban. Two state senators and three delegates are backing the legislation, which would prohibit drivers from texting while in a 'main roadway,' regardless of whether their vehicle is in motion. The bill would require drivers to pull over to the shoulder if they want to text. The bill also would ban drivers from reading texts while driving"

What Are We To Make of Using Prisoners For Labor?

I don't mean forced labor, I mean supposedly volunteer prisoner labor. My gut reaction is that it makes me uncomfortable. It seems like a situation ripe for abuse.

Isle prisons become key source of labor - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com: "Private and public groups hit hard by the recession are increasingly hiring less costly inmate workers ... The demand for prison work crews as cheap labor for nonprofit groups, schools, churches and state and city agencies has skyrocketed over the past two years in an economy that forced deep cuts, layoffs and a mounting backlog of repair and maintenance projects. Prison officials can't keep up with the requests pouring in for inmates to clean, do heavy lifting and even scour Leeward Coast beaches for medical waste in the runoff from Waimanalo Gulch Landfill last month. Since the economy fell apart in 2008, "there has been a vast increase in requests for the past two years," said Francis X. Sequeira, warden at Oahu Community Correctional Center, who oversees 12 prisoner "work lines." "We can only address a finite amount of requests," Sequeira said in an e-mail. Prison officials do not track the number of requests from all islands for prison labor, but there has been a clear increase, said Michael Hoffman, institutions division administrator for the state Department of Public Safety."

Audio Cassette Tapes, R.I.P.

Kind of sad in a way, but certainly won't miss them. I can remember almost wearing holes in Led Zeppelin IV, BTO's greatest hits, The Who, and The Doors. (pic via Wiki)

Is there a hash tag for "mullet?"

For Car Cassette Decks, Play Time Is Over - NYTimes.com: "FOR all of you who were planning to pack up your oldies tapes and go shopping for a 2011 car, there is bad news: you’re too late. According to experts who monitor the automotive market, the last new car to be factory-equipped with a cassette deck in the dashboard was a 2010 Lexus. While it is possible that a little-known exception lurks deep within some automaker’s order forms, a survey of major automakers and a search of new-car shopping Web sites indicates that the tape deck is as passé as tailfins on a Caddy. "

Monday Grab Bag of Links ...

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
The Meera House by Guz
The DPR House by MCK Architects
House In Sedrun / Flavio Loretz
Publishers Hideaway / Alma-nac
YNH / HHF Architects
Amazing Rental Villa with Panoramic Views in South Africa
KILKORO architekci

Food.
Provolone Valpadana, Cheese in Italy

Retro.
The Kahiki - The Pegu Blog (more & more)
Communication: a history in stamps

Travel.
Auberge du Soleil Celebrates its Anniversary
9 ultra-luxe spa getaways - CNN.com
On the World’s Largest Cruise Ship the Sea Is an Afterthought
Royal Caribbean Cruises to come up with ‘next-gen’ ships

Music.
The 5 Best Sites To Download Music From Commercials You Liked

Watches.
New Korona K3 in white gold from Sarpaneva
Newton man loves fixing clocks
Watchmakers follow the money to Asia
Norwich City Hall clock’s £13k repair bill
The Great Return of Bespoke Watches?
Happy Chinese New Year and Valentines Day!!!
Pictorial essay and in-depth interview with Zenith CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour
The new Breitling Transocean Chronograph (video)

Gadgets / Gear / Kit.
PockeTweez

Sports.
UConn Quarterback Trick Shot Video Goes Viral

Animals.
Mini Antelope is Back by Popular Demand!

Style.
Maxminimus: Flat Front Sensibilities
Deadstock Vintage Brooks Brothers Oxford Shirts
The myth about Italian style of 50s
The Glengarry Sporting Club: Trap Hunting
Worth Every Penny : A Brand New Barbour (with a twist)
Brooks Brothers: American Icon (Part 1) (Part 2)
Taking Care of What You Wear

Shoes.
Santoni
WIWT - Friday

Computing.
Set Up Google's Two-Step Verification Now

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Twsbi Diamond 530
YOTFP - Warden's Mix
Ink Links - The Pen Addict
Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen – 0.3 mm in Blue-Black
Visconti Homo Sapiens With Ef Nib
Unique Texas independence declaration on exhibit

Cars.
Fast Lap: 1964 Greeves Silverstone
Grail Quest: Land Rover Defender 90 - Part 1
Fresh 1973 DeTomaso Pantera L
Making Exotic Cars: Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Liberty / Govt.
Atlanta PD Will No Longer Harass Citizens Who Record Cops
CPAC unironically presents Donald Rumsfeld with its “Defender of the Constitution” award

Misc.
How Netflix Plans to Fend Off Amazon, Hulu Plus, HBO, and Time Warner
Sotheby’s to Sell the World’s Largest Toy Collection

A Few Misc. Links ...

Dark chocolate Mallo Cups, best candy ever.

Do you work one of The 15 Most Dangerous Jobs In America?

A look Inside the Offices of Moleskine.

Time Capsule Mansion Opened After 100 Years.

Egypt photos here, here, here, and here. Oh, and here.

How about a revolver ... shotgun?!

360 Degree View of the A380 Flight Deck.

Still think WWII ended the Great Depression?

A man, a hotel room, and a high-speed HD camera.

Milton Friedman discusses Hayek's Road To Serfdom.

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Nutella isn't a health food? Who knew?! (pic: Alberto Pellaschiar/AP)

15 Secrets Your Waiter Will Never Tell You

Would you drink something called "Chickencock 'potable spirits'?"

Pelikans are my fav. birds.

GREAT brief letter from Dr. Boudreaux.

The stigma of Japan's 'suicide apartments'

Is there hope for small bookstores in a digital age?

More on corn subsidies.

Come on, is anyone really confused by this? Ford sues Ferrari over F150 name

Hmmm, ObamaCare as a comic book ...

Things disassembled, and exploded in diagram form.

How much does the govt. cost you?

The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park is housed in an impressive building from the early 1930’s.

This place looks cool, so does this one.

Markets In Everything: Grass On Cruise Ships

God Bless Markets. ;-) (pic: Jason Henry / WSJ)

Cruises Where the Grass Is Greener - WSJ.com: "Celebrity Cruises' Silhouette, which sets sail in July, will have two new restaurants with outdoor seating, an open-air art studio where guests can take painting lessons and VIP sea-view cabanas for rent. All will be located on the top of the ship surrounding a 12,000 square-foot lawn of growing grass. Norwegian Cruise Lines' 4,100-passenger Epic, which debuted in the summer of 2010, has an open-air nightclub: The dance floor rises from the pool. The Magic from Carnival Corp.'s Carnival Cruise Lines, which begins sailing in May, will feature a 9,300-square foot water park, an outdoor video game area and an open-air sports facility with exercise bikes and rowing machines. Some suites on Oceania Cruises' new 1,250-passenger ship, the Marina, have balconies outfitted with Jacuzzis and 42-inch flat-screen TVs specially made to withstand wind and salt water. ... The ship employs two full-time lawn keepers aboard to ensure the grass stays healthy and attractive."

A Few Misc. Morning Links ...

Engineering involves trade-offs: Honda's Civic Hybrid software fix hurting real-world mpg for some.

The Last Roll of Kodachrome—Frame By Frame!

Rediscovering WWII's Top-Secret Computing 'Rosies' (more)

Some good ways to speed up your internet connection.

I'll pass on the Customized Cupcake Car.

One man's vintage Porsche obsession.

Would you take a nap on a couch made from a coffin?

Funky cool coffee shops. Coffee, bean to cup.

How about some old-school motorcycle photos.

Open Letter To The Catholic Bishops Re: Medicaid

I see the New York State Catholic Conference has published a document (PDF, 70k ) titled, "Statement of Core Principles Regarding Medicaid Reform." (Henceforth known as the Manifesto) The document begins with "... it is only reasonable that one of the largest items in the state’s budget, Medicaid, be examined for savings and efficiencies," then spends the better part of three pages detailing the items that should not be cut and why.

Implicit and explicit in these arguments is that Medicaid be maintained (indeed even expanded according to the paper) for moral reasons. It seems to me to be a suspect moral calculus (particularly one claiming to be Roman Catholic) that defends and promotes the stealing of property. Medicaid is not charity. The money is confiscated from its rightful owners (taxpayers) with threat of force or imprisonment. By my count at least three of the Ten Commandments (7, 9, 10) decry theft in one form or another. Helping one's neighbors is certainly laudable and what we are called to do. But using the legislative process to forcibly take property from its rightful owners is in my view improper and immoral (in addition to being of very questionable economic efficacy). The fact that you can get a majority vote to enable it in a legislature makes it no less theft. Are we to believe the ends justify the means?

Christ implores us to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" but for those Catholics who are comfortable letting the modern day Caesar take their property and distribute it in an (allegedly) just fashion, consider the following: At one point the Manifesto exclaims "More than $45 million in state and local taxpayer dollars are spent each year on induced abortions through the Medicaid program." Age old wisdom tells us that if you make a deal with the devil you should not be surprised when it does not go your way.

Amazingly, near the end of the document is this statement: "No person or institution should be compelled by law to participate in actions which violate fundamental religious and moral beliefs or mission statements."

I could not possibly have summed it up better; I only wish the previous three pages of the document followed this reasoning.

Only 5% of Rochester City School Grads Prepared for College

What if a business had a 95% failure rate? Do you think customers should be forced to subsidize it? Should it continue putting out its product.

Even if we want to be charitable and argue that the 95% number is unfair as not everyone is really college material ... the Rochester City School District has a graduation rate of approx. 50%. That's not 50% with Regents diplomas, that's just 50% they were able to push through the doors. Can you image how many of those diplomas are essentially fraudulent for practical purposes?

The RCSD's motto? "Every child is a work of art. Create a masterpiece."

State: Only 5% of RCSD Grads Prepared for College - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com: "Rochester, N.Y. – A state study shows less than half of students who graduate from high school are ready for college. The state education department data, first reported in the New York Times, shows that 41 percent of students who got diplomas in 2009 were prepared for college. In Rochester, the picture was bleak, with only 5 percent of students prepared for college. That’s the lowest rate of the state’s cities."

Related links:
"Nobody Gets Married Any More, Mister"
Rochester City School District: 277 People Make Over $100,000 !!
We Can Barely Make Kids Literate, But At Least We're Green ...
Rochester City School District Fleeces Taxpayers
Most New York Graduates Are Ill Prepared, Data Show - NYTimes.com