So the government in its infinite wisdom a couple of years ago instituted ARRA. This is supposed to be money spent on projects that will help America get back on its feet. How's it working so far?
I have a great project for it that will take years, if not decades to complete, will hire thousands of blue collar workers and keep them employed for many years after.
Let's move our electrical grid underground. It will be more reliable and more secure from weather and terrorists.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Business 101
It would seem to me that customer satisfaction should be high on any company's priority list. Certainly small to medium size businesses. Why is it then that at 85% of businesses don't understand that concept?
On the flip side: there is a mechanic near where I live that is honest, hard working and regards customer satisfaction as job 1. We brought our car in because our front brakes were shot. We first got an estimate at Midas, not because we don't trust our mechanic, he charged us over $100 less. Not only that but he worked after 5. He needed to order a part but the supplier's drivers had already gone home. The owner of the repair shop picked up the part himself. The job was done around 6:15 and I picked it up 25 minutes later. I will go back to this guy for everything my car needs. I will even buy gas there even if its a little cheaper elsewhere.
Instead of nickel and diming me and telling us to come back tomorrow he finished the job well and cheaply. Now I will spend more money in his business. What a concept, thinking about the future.
On the flip side: there is a mechanic near where I live that is honest, hard working and regards customer satisfaction as job 1. We brought our car in because our front brakes were shot. We first got an estimate at Midas, not because we don't trust our mechanic, he charged us over $100 less. Not only that but he worked after 5. He needed to order a part but the supplier's drivers had already gone home. The owner of the repair shop picked up the part himself. The job was done around 6:15 and I picked it up 25 minutes later. I will go back to this guy for everything my car needs. I will even buy gas there even if its a little cheaper elsewhere.
Instead of nickel and diming me and telling us to come back tomorrow he finished the job well and cheaply. Now I will spend more money in his business. What a concept, thinking about the future.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Dark Ages Today
Over 135 years ago Sir John Lister spoke at the Philadelphia Medical Congress about the sad state of affairs in terms of survival rate for post-surgical patients. 90% of them died. Sir Lister said the problem was germs. They laughed at him and mocked him. Today, while the mortality rate has improved, the conditions in 'modern' surgeries are abysmal. The number 1 reason for post-surgical death remains germs. I understand sterilizing surgeries is very expensive, but you would think that at least the tools were sterilized- no most of the time they are simply washed in soapy water. Your dish washer does a better job of cleaning your silverware than hospitals do cleaning scalpels. Why do we continue to allow this? Why does congress do nothing while people die?
There is a huge push for constant hand-washing in schools, yet we allow germs into surgery? It just doesn't make sense. My son was put into a medically induced coma after a supposedly routine surgery for his acid reflux. How did it happen? An infection that occurred during surgery. SURGERIES NEED TO BE STERILE!
There is a huge push for constant hand-washing in schools, yet we allow germs into surgery? It just doesn't make sense. My son was put into a medically induced coma after a supposedly routine surgery for his acid reflux. How did it happen? An infection that occurred during surgery. SURGERIES NEED TO BE STERILE!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Good news or bad news?
According to Reuters:
By Susan Guyett
INDIANAPOLIS | Fri Aug 5, 2011 11:08am EDT
(Reuters) - Up to 150 students at a Missouri high school that ordered "Slaughterhouse-Five" pulled from its library shelves can get a free copy of the novel, courtesy of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, library officials said on Thursday.
The offer for students at Republic High School comes on the heels of the Republic School Board's decision to remove Vonnegut's novel and Sarah Ockler's "Twenty Boy Summer" from the curriculum and the school library shelves.
"All of these students will be eligible to vote and some may be protecting our country through military service in the next year or two," Julia Whitehead, the executive director of the Vonnegut library in Indianapolis, said in a statement.
"It is shocking and unfortunate that those young adults and citizens would not be considered mature enough to handle the important topics raised by Kurt Vonnegut, a decorated war veteran. Everyone can learn something from his book."
Slaughterhouse-Five, considered Vonnegut's most influential and popular work, is a satirical novel centered around the bombing of the German city of Dresden during World War Two.
The Republic School District took the move at its April 18 meeting following a complaint lodged by local resident Wesley Scroggins in the spring of 2010.
In his complaint, the Missouri State University associate business professor called on district officials to stop using textbooks and other materials "that create false conceptions of American history and government or that teach principles contrary to Biblical morality and truth."
Neither Scroggins nor Republic School Superintendent Vern Minor were immediately available for comment.
Whitehead said she was talking with the American Civil Liberties Union in Missouri and Indiana to support the First Amendment rights of the students at Republic High School.
The offer of a free book to any Republic high school student who requests one is a way for the fledgling 7-month-old library, located in Vonnegut's hometown, to show support, she said.
(Writing and reporting by Susan Guyett; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Cynthia Johnston)
let's parse Wesley Scroggins' comments to the board. 'stop using textbooks and other materials "that create false conceptions of American history and government or that teach principles contrary to Biblical morality and truth."'
Is anyone aware of the fact that Slaughterhouse-5 is fiction- that means it is false or not true. Putting it simply, its a lie a mock a satire. How does fiction create false conceptions of any kind of history? Wouldn't we have to ban ALL books that talk about real events as fiction? Maybe I shouldn't give anyone any ideas.
Then there is the end of the statement... Biblical morality... Last time I checked there is nothing that says you must teach Biblical morality, or any kind of morality, in a public school. Quite the opposite, we are supposed to SEPARATE Church and State.
THANK YOU to the Vonnegut Memorial Library for stepping up and doing the right thing. Lets put a gun in Scroggins hands and let him go off to fight a war. Let's hope the school board realizes their mistake and steps up to un-ban the books.
By Susan Guyett
INDIANAPOLIS | Fri Aug 5, 2011 11:08am EDT
(Reuters) - Up to 150 students at a Missouri high school that ordered "Slaughterhouse-Five" pulled from its library shelves can get a free copy of the novel, courtesy of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, library officials said on Thursday.
The offer for students at Republic High School comes on the heels of the Republic School Board's decision to remove Vonnegut's novel and Sarah Ockler's "Twenty Boy Summer" from the curriculum and the school library shelves.
"All of these students will be eligible to vote and some may be protecting our country through military service in the next year or two," Julia Whitehead, the executive director of the Vonnegut library in Indianapolis, said in a statement.
"It is shocking and unfortunate that those young adults and citizens would not be considered mature enough to handle the important topics raised by Kurt Vonnegut, a decorated war veteran. Everyone can learn something from his book."
Slaughterhouse-Five, considered Vonnegut's most influential and popular work, is a satirical novel centered around the bombing of the German city of Dresden during World War Two.
The Republic School District took the move at its April 18 meeting following a complaint lodged by local resident Wesley Scroggins in the spring of 2010.
In his complaint, the Missouri State University associate business professor called on district officials to stop using textbooks and other materials "that create false conceptions of American history and government or that teach principles contrary to Biblical morality and truth."
Neither Scroggins nor Republic School Superintendent Vern Minor were immediately available for comment.
Whitehead said she was talking with the American Civil Liberties Union in Missouri and Indiana to support the First Amendment rights of the students at Republic High School.
The offer of a free book to any Republic high school student who requests one is a way for the fledgling 7-month-old library, located in Vonnegut's hometown, to show support, she said.
(Writing and reporting by Susan Guyett; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Cynthia Johnston)
let's parse Wesley Scroggins' comments to the board. 'stop using textbooks and other materials "that create false conceptions of American history and government or that teach principles contrary to Biblical morality and truth."'
Is anyone aware of the fact that Slaughterhouse-5 is fiction- that means it is false or not true. Putting it simply, its a lie a mock a satire. How does fiction create false conceptions of any kind of history? Wouldn't we have to ban ALL books that talk about real events as fiction? Maybe I shouldn't give anyone any ideas.
Then there is the end of the statement... Biblical morality... Last time I checked there is nothing that says you must teach Biblical morality, or any kind of morality, in a public school. Quite the opposite, we are supposed to SEPARATE Church and State.
THANK YOU to the Vonnegut Memorial Library for stepping up and doing the right thing. Lets put a gun in Scroggins hands and let him go off to fight a war. Let's hope the school board realizes their mistake and steps up to un-ban the books.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Let's Think About This...
Who is running Hollywood, deciding what should be put on television...
Last season Charlie Sheen was the highest paid actor per episode. His fellow actors on 2 and a half men, had written into their contracts that they would be paid for the entire season regardless of it actually being filmed.
Guess who won. Only 16 episodes made it to air- usually there are 22 episodes in a season. What were they thinking paying an alleged drunk who didn't even have to act since his character was a drunk. Yet the producers decided he was worth the money.
Last season Charlie Sheen was the highest paid actor per episode. His fellow actors on 2 and a half men, had written into their contracts that they would be paid for the entire season regardless of it actually being filmed.
Guess who won. Only 16 episodes made it to air- usually there are 22 episodes in a season. What were they thinking paying an alleged drunk who didn't even have to act since his character was a drunk. Yet the producers decided he was worth the money.
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