Valparaiso Downtown

Now I can say something positive about Valpo, my hometown.

When struck with the inevitaility of a great project, they take a little longer to say yes than they should, but eventually they say "yes"

Downtown project to move forward, read on

Why is it that cities have such a hard time letting good redevelopment take place? Why is it that people appointed to boards to create a better city, think they were appointed to be "protectors" of the masses? Why is it that a little power goes to the brain?

Just a rant today. Good job Valpo, now watch your fees and taxes. You're starting to look a bit spendy ... let's use this next half of the administration to cut some waste.

Don't know much about medicine

I'll be honest, I don't know a lot about medicine or health care. I know that while the rest of our economy is growing at a 3% rate and prices are relatively stable, health care is increasing at up to 8-10% per year. Why? More research to come. I'll throw some webs up, you do the same.

I did run across this interesting story from Tom Peters. He's actually frustrated with himself for not "ranting" at a hospital guy for a witty one-liner. Try that thought on for size, should we be more apt to "rant" or should we seek 'peace" at all costs. Did Thomas Paine and Nathanial Hale "rant" or seek "peace" and "understanding"

Read the story.

NIPSCO finally getting smaller

We pay more for electricity than anyone else in the state
We pay more for gas than anyone else in the state

Our utility developed a neighborhood that didn't work, and I think that means we get to bail it out.

Time to cut NIPSCO down to size

I feel bad for those that are working there, but trust me you'll find the entrepreneurial world that is Northwest Indiana so healthy and ready to assimilate you into its workforce

Try hbcareers.com for a start

Take a look at the Times article today, and watch for details tomorrow morning

Steve Jobs Commencement

The founder of Apple Computers never graduated college ... so when he spoke at commencement his remarks were watched. I am amazed at the number of people who made their own way in this world. Are you teaching your kids to make their own way ... or are you accidentally teaching them to follow?

Read the transcript

Slides with Highlights from Tom Peters thoughts and reflections

Why dont we innovate

Does it seem to you that the Russians and Chinese are doing all the scientific push right now? Why is that?

The Russians pushed a solar sail experiment today. It didn't work as well as they wanted ... but at least they tried something

Go ahead tell me I'm wrong ... I want to hear about the US scientific exploration that is innovating the next century

UPDATE: OK i just learned that this research was actually conducted by a private group of donors and that it's failure will be borne by all of them. Good and bad. The good is that groups are stepping up to research and we're letting government go back to governing. The bad is that they had to choose Russia to launch because we decided to shut down NASA three years ago.

Maybe NASA should be privatized?
More on that thought.
Privatize NASA and the Postal Service and Amtrak and Tennessee Valley Authority and use the proceeds to balance the 2006 and 2007 federal deficit. It's a start.

Durbin's a jerk

Let's see how did this work? He accuses his own country of being Nazi ... then waits 2 weeks to say he's sorry if it offended anybody. Did he mean he's sorry for being a Senator? Did he mean he's sorry for being from Illinois where all you have to be is liberal to get elected.

At least Illinois could reach out to a smart liberal

"I really didn't mean it"

Wanna see him in the act? Watch the video

Wondering

Ever get up in the morning with a question that needs to be researched?

So today i asked: "what's being done in these terror ridden countries to spread the hope of Christ?"

I'll post more as i find them today.

But try this site first Afgan Christian Radio.

First NAFTA then CAFTA

The battle over CAFTA will start this week in Congress. The liberals and protectionists will say that we will be opening ourselves to exporting more jobs and turning over control of our destiny to the third world. This conservatives and free traders will say that all increases in global trade are good for the United States since we are the largest economy. Read the Heritage Foundation research.

I say it's somewhere just inside of the free-trade position. I will support CAFTA because the net consequences will be positive. First, will be a gradual increase in standard of living for Central American countries. This will allow more jobs and more economic activity. Can you say less illegal drugs and less illegal immigration?

Free Trade though is a misnomer. We get taken advantage of by the other countries that we sign these deals with. They smile as they push more and more cheap goods into the United States. Sometimes they dump em. Sometimes they get the intellectual rights, or steal them, and then start doing things at home that used to be our strenghts. Shame on us for being so easy to dupe. "It's not free trade, it's stupid trade" is a direct quote from the website stopnafta.org. They may be wrong, but you better be educated enough to see why.

I disagree though with the liberal position that the way to keep from getting tricked is to stick your head in the sand and pretend the other guy doesn't exist. Pass CAFTA >>> and then it's high time that Americans do what they do best >>>> Innovate into the next great generation.

Read an American farming expert's opinions voiced in Iowa to farmers.

By the way, our farming exports are declining, why? Because other countries are making it hard to ship farm produce to them. CAFTA could be a positive for our farmers.

The Ownership Society

Did you see the President's most recent "push"? He's been suggesting that our country move from the information society to the ownership society.

Sounds a lot like Tom Peters' Re-Imagine doesn't it? Take a look at Tom's blog, and see that though he may be a bit of a liberal, many of his innovative thoughts jell with our President's ownership society ideas.

So what you say? Why should I care about the President and-or Tom Peters and their oh so lofty thoughts concerning society?

Are you a renter? Do you live in an apartment or townhome with a lease?

If so then you are at that crossroads that both Tom Peters, innovative business guru, and our President are watching. Will you stay a renter and look at your housing as a consumable product similar to your car and your groceries ... Or, will you stand up and say "I am a viable member of the ownership society"

Read about how our mortgage rates, the lowest in the world, have stayed low so long that they have to go back up ... soon

Follow a recent internet based interview with Newt Gingrich, with questions from bloggers, and comments on "ownership"

Let's do the math

You're paying $800 in rent
If you modify your employer witholdings to take home a bit more pay, you can increase your income $100 a month, take that $900 and buy a house for $130,000
You can buy with no down payment ... and you'll get the possible appreciation of the house, the write-off for taxes, and the pride of ownership.

Face it Tom Peters and The President have finally agreed ... time to buy a house.

How to start? Call Wells Fargo Mortgage ... ask for a loan officer ... be ready to get on the train

Want an update on Syria? It seems to have lost it's place in the media headlines, but important things may be brewing there.


Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq ... the former Soviet bloc, African military states

Is it possible that democracy is actually taking root and being given a chance to rise up and rear it's freedom adorned head?

Don't get too ansty. These things take a long time

Re-Imagine

Wondering what Tom Peters is blogging about?

Here's a blog by Tom himself on China
Hit the main page and read about his A.D.D. thoughts all over the place

On you worst day, read this post by an American in Uzbekistan.
I dont ever have days fraught with that much ethical and moral depravity.

Does this culture ever have the chance to become free?

Ever wanted a full insider look into the medical business? Try this site, chock full of blogs and commentaries on medicine, the business of medicine, the technology and the innovations.

Remember that bio-tech is our only remaining industry of domination in the world economy. For how long?

Financial Market Update

Good friend Tim Scannell publishes a weekly update on the market. Follow the link to a pdf file that does a good job of asking "What happens now in a five year flat market"