Boswell and Lamberti are debating today.
I'll be heading out to the UAW Hall to witness this around 2, look for my thoughts either tonight or tomorrow morning.
KL
Sunday, August 06, 2006
RAGBRAI: It's inescapable.
Less than a week after I concluded a poll which showed that over two thirds of my readers think RAGBRAI is overcovered, and more than a week after the conclusion of the event itself, today the Register has four more RAGBRAI stories.
Three of them are letters to the editor, which is borderline excusable. The fourth is yet-another RAGBRAI based editorial. For the love of pie, it's over! Can we go back to covering news now?
KL
UPDATE: My mistake, there's five.
Three of them are letters to the editor, which is borderline excusable. The fourth is yet-another RAGBRAI based editorial. For the love of pie, it's over! Can we go back to covering news now?
KL
UPDATE: My mistake, there's five.
Friday, August 04, 2006
How people got here (yes, again)
It's Friday afternoon, so statistics would suggest that not too many people are going to stroll by and read my rants today. (Except you, of course. Thanks for stopping by.)
As a reward for being one of the few who reads on a Friday afternoon, here's a list of things people have googled to get here since yesterday afternoon:
Current snow places: In the northern hemisphere, yeah, I guess I'm pretty much it.
Pronounce Evan Bayh: I know, I struggled with it at first too. It's pronounced "Buy," not "Bay."
Hyperpartisanship definition: I didn't define the term here, but how about some examples?
Gander Mountain: I bet I get 5-10 people every day who get here by googling some form of outdoor retailer, because of this post I wrote about them. Today, I've got several who just Googled "Gander Mountain," and one person from ISP "Tax.org," who got here by Googling "cabela's and administrative ruling and tax and nexus."
So, there you go. Wasn't that fun?
KL
As a reward for being one of the few who reads on a Friday afternoon, here's a list of things people have googled to get here since yesterday afternoon:
Current snow places: In the northern hemisphere, yeah, I guess I'm pretty much it.
Pronounce Evan Bayh: I know, I struggled with it at first too. It's pronounced "Buy," not "Bay."
Hyperpartisanship definition: I didn't define the term here, but how about some examples?
Gander Mountain: I bet I get 5-10 people every day who get here by googling some form of outdoor retailer, because of this post I wrote about them. Today, I've got several who just Googled "Gander Mountain," and one person from ISP "Tax.org," who got here by Googling "cabela's and administrative ruling and tax and nexus."
So, there you go. Wasn't that fun?
KL
So this is when I usually review the Register...
But sadly, today I paged through it online and found nothing to talk about.
Instead, I'll direct your attention to this: Joe Kristan's wrap-up of the Estate Tax battle for 2006. I feel like I understand the estate tax much better after reading it, perhaps you will too.
KL
Instead, I'll direct your attention to this: Joe Kristan's wrap-up of the Estate Tax battle for 2006. I feel like I understand the estate tax much better after reading it, perhaps you will too.
KL
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Just when I thought I was done for the day:
I saw this bit of news:
The real question is, how many of those 200 are currently stationed in Iraq?
KL
More than 200 Iowa National Guard troops have volunteered for about 50 slots to help protect the nation’s border with Mexico, a Guard spokesman said.
The real question is, how many of those 200 are currently stationed in Iraq?
KL
Presidential straw poll(s)
I see today that Common Iowan has a new poll up asking who you will support in the 2008 Democratic caucus. Go vote. I'll wait.
Also, I know Krusty has had a poll up for some time asking the same question about the Republicans.
Both polls raise an interesting question in my mind: Who don't you support?
Two new polls are on the right side of your screen, feel free to vote in both.
KL
Also, I know Krusty has had a poll up for some time asking the same question about the Republicans.
Both polls raise an interesting question in my mind: Who don't you support?
Two new polls are on the right side of your screen, feel free to vote in both.
KL
How much will we pay to avoid paying?
Hat tip to Joe over at the Tax Update Blog for alerting me to this post from The Tax Foundation blog. The intended point of the post, as I read it, is simple: People cheat on their taxes because they don't understand them.
A quote from the post sums it up nicely:
While I agree that complexities in the tax system facilitate cheating, I would argue the premise of this post. My mom's an accountant and so is Joe. My guess would be that both of them would agree that we as a nation don't spend $265.1 billion just to comply with tax laws, we spend $265.1 billion to comply with the tax laws at the lowest possible price.
Certainly some of the blame falls on the tax code and the people who wrote it: the fact that the tax code is over 65,000 pages long allows for the inclusion of thousands, if not millions of little loopholes to slide your money through.
But if we're spending $265.1 billion annually to pay people to find those loopholes, doesn't some of the blame fall back on us? Your tax dollars and mine pay for our education system, health care for millions of Americans who would otherwise go without, national defense, national infrastructure we all use everyday, environmental protection...the list goes on and on. Some of your tax dollars may be wasted or spent in a way you wouldn't approve of personally, but certainly the majority are being used on things that make our nation great and your life significantly better.
At what point did it become socially acceptable to hire professionals to make sure you're making the minimum-possible contribution to that fund?
I'm not saying I'm going to send the IRS a bigger check than I owe them. But, food for thought.
KL
A quote from the post sums it up nicely:
The costs of tax compliance are high: in 2005 complying with the federal income tax code cost the nation an estimated $265.1 billion, which amounts to a 22-cent tax compliance surcharge for every dollar the tax system collected.
While I agree that complexities in the tax system facilitate cheating, I would argue the premise of this post. My mom's an accountant and so is Joe. My guess would be that both of them would agree that we as a nation don't spend $265.1 billion just to comply with tax laws, we spend $265.1 billion to comply with the tax laws at the lowest possible price.
Certainly some of the blame falls on the tax code and the people who wrote it: the fact that the tax code is over 65,000 pages long allows for the inclusion of thousands, if not millions of little loopholes to slide your money through.
But if we're spending $265.1 billion annually to pay people to find those loopholes, doesn't some of the blame fall back on us? Your tax dollars and mine pay for our education system, health care for millions of Americans who would otherwise go without, national defense, national infrastructure we all use everyday, environmental protection...the list goes on and on. Some of your tax dollars may be wasted or spent in a way you wouldn't approve of personally, but certainly the majority are being used on things that make our nation great and your life significantly better.
At what point did it become socially acceptable to hire professionals to make sure you're making the minimum-possible contribution to that fund?
I'm not saying I'm going to send the IRS a bigger check than I owe them. But, food for thought.
KL
New Cityview is out
UPDATE BELOW:
Pick up a copy this week, there's two good pieces worth reading:
First, Civic Skinny has some insight on how Chris Rants is finding ways to spend his $200k+ war chest, despite the fact that he has no opponent:
Then, this week's cover story is about the damage illegal ATV riders are doing to Iowa's few remaining natural spaces. The story is slightly one-sided, but as a bow hunter and outdoorsman who has seen the havoc an asshole on an ATV can cause, I can relate.
KL
UPDATE: In the first paragraph of Civic Skinny, they correctly predicted this news about a possible West Des Moines Hospital. Kudos to Cityview.
Pick up a copy this week, there's two good pieces worth reading:
First, Civic Skinny has some insight on how Chris Rants is finding ways to spend his $200k+ war chest, despite the fact that he has no opponent:
Reports filed with the state show an expense of $237.31 for "lodging while traveling on campaign business" at the Marriott Hotel in Nashville on June 8; $106.78 for "Internet and business office usage (copying and shipping)" while "traveling on campaign business" at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Amelia Island, Fla., on June 11; $818.70 for "lodging while traveling on campaign and legislative business" at the Phoenician on Camelback Road in Phoenix on Jan. 15; $689.45 for "lodging while traveling on campaign and legislative business" at the Fess Parker Doubletree Inn in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Jan. 29 (and another $300.75 for a rental car), and $297.38 for "lodging while traveling on campaign and legislative business" at the Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Tex., on May 11 (and another $365.61 for a rental car). As of July 19, Rants' campaign had $207,914.68 on hand.
Then, this week's cover story is about the damage illegal ATV riders are doing to Iowa's few remaining natural spaces. The story is slightly one-sided, but as a bow hunter and outdoorsman who has seen the havoc an asshole on an ATV can cause, I can relate.
KL
UPDATE: In the first paragraph of Civic Skinny, they correctly predicted this news about a possible West Des Moines Hospital. Kudos to Cityview.
Premature, crazy, unrealistic and just funny: Today's Register
Four things today.
The premature: David Yepsen says Mike Mauro is at a disadvantage in the Secretary of State's race. Right now, I'd say he has an advantage over the Republican nominee based solely on his continued existence. Chris Woods has more.
The crazy: Alden Link, a New York Republican, is running for the Libertarian nomination for president based on his "fat tax":
I don't care much for the idea either. I'm struggling with my weight, but I bet I could still kick Alden Link's ass.
The unrealistic: Jim Nussle proposed a plan to create a network of Iowa (the state, not the University) alumni throughout the nation in an effort to bring them back.
Does anyone really think the millions of Iowans who have left are just waiting for a phone call?
The funny: This headline:
I guess I'm just more used to stalkers saying things like "Is this restraining order really necessary?"
KL
The premature: David Yepsen says Mike Mauro is at a disadvantage in the Secretary of State's race. Right now, I'd say he has an advantage over the Republican nominee based solely on his continued existence. Chris Woods has more.
The crazy: Alden Link, a New York Republican, is running for the Libertarian nomination for president based on his "fat tax":
Then there's his idea to promote public health by levying a hefty tax penalty on anyone deemed to be obese.
The Libertarians don't care much for the idea, he admits, but he maintains the government interference is justified by the cost of treating obesity-related diseases.
I don't care much for the idea either. I'm struggling with my weight, but I bet I could still kick Alden Link's ass.
The unrealistic: Jim Nussle proposed a plan to create a network of Iowa (the state, not the University) alumni throughout the nation in an effort to bring them back.
Does anyone really think the millions of Iowans who have left are just waiting for a phone call?
The funny: This headline:
Stalker: Let's plan for growth
I guess I'm just more used to stalkers saying things like "Is this restraining order really necessary?"
KL
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Just a heads up:
The discussion on Edwards is continuing in the comments section on Lynn Heuss' guest post, feel free to add your thoughts.
KL
KL
Three Register stories today
I'm back. Thanks to all of you who expressed concerns and told jokes about ferrets.
As an aside, I've added three more blogs to the list on your right. See if you can figure out which three they are.
Three things to read today:
1) I agree the Board of Regents' strategy needs to be examined, but I think in this case I can predict what they'll find: education funding sucks everywhere in Iowa right now.
2) Jim Leach laid out his plans for dealing with the replacement of a world leader who isn't going to be replaced anytime soon. I would've blogged about this yesterday if I hadn't been taking a break. Let's look at two key points in the Castro/Leach relationship:
a) Castro isn't dead. Yes, he's 80, but yesterday's surgery wasn't life threatening or even kinda dangerous. It was intestinal surgery. He'll be back on his feet momentarily and probably back in office by Monday.
b) When they need someone to deal with his successor, they probably won't call Jim Leach for advice.
Moving on.
3) Think your job sucks? It could be worse. You could be working as a member of the "elimination team."
I like eating with my dog. I do it at home. I can't imagine eating in a restaurant with 20 other people and their shedding, drooling, barking dogs. Yes, people love their dogs. I love my dog. No, that doesn't mean they should be allowed to take their dogs everywhere. Sorry.
KL
As an aside, I've added three more blogs to the list on your right. See if you can figure out which three they are.
Three things to read today:
1) I agree the Board of Regents' strategy needs to be examined, but I think in this case I can predict what they'll find: education funding sucks everywhere in Iowa right now.
2) Jim Leach laid out his plans for dealing with the replacement of a world leader who isn't going to be replaced anytime soon. I would've blogged about this yesterday if I hadn't been taking a break. Let's look at two key points in the Castro/Leach relationship:
a) Castro isn't dead. Yes, he's 80, but yesterday's surgery wasn't life threatening or even kinda dangerous. It was intestinal surgery. He'll be back on his feet momentarily and probably back in office by Monday.
b) When they need someone to deal with his successor, they probably won't call Jim Leach for advice.
Moving on.
3) Think your job sucks? It could be worse. You could be working as a member of the "elimination team."
I like eating with my dog. I do it at home. I can't imagine eating in a restaurant with 20 other people and their shedding, drooling, barking dogs. Yes, people love their dogs. I love my dog. No, that doesn't mean they should be allowed to take their dogs everywhere. Sorry.
KL
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Coincidence?
Today, the Clinton Herald reports on "Incredible Sex," and the Register warns of an outbreak of syphilis.
So, if you're going out for some "Incredible Sex" this weekend, you've been warned.
KL
So, if you're going out for some "Incredible Sex" this weekend, you've been warned.
KL
Short hiatus
Good morning,
As many of you have probably noticed, posting on this blog has been relatively light the past few days, and will remain light over the next day or so as I continue to work through something. I think the vast majority of things I would say right now would just get me or others I care about in trouble, so I'm going to take a few days to see if I can extricate myself from my current mess and put myself in a better position to move forward.
Take care,
KL
As many of you have probably noticed, posting on this blog has been relatively light the past few days, and will remain light over the next day or so as I continue to work through something. I think the vast majority of things I would say right now would just get me or others I care about in trouble, so I'm going to take a few days to see if I can extricate myself from my current mess and put myself in a better position to move forward.
Take care,
KL
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