Archive for November, 2007

Common sense prevails, briefly

Published by
Aaron
at November 30, 2007 in education, government and policy. 0 Comments
Suffolk County’s police department is dropping DARE, the widespread school anti-drug program that has faced questions about its effectiveness, the police commissioner said.

“Has faced questions about his effectiveness” is a generous term here. The 2003 Government Accountability Office study on the effectiveness of the program used the term “no statistically significant long-term effect on preventing illicit drug use.”

But surely that’s not enough reason to stop spending government money on something, right?

Is school choice the best choice?

Published by
Morgan
at November 30, 2007 in Uncategorized, education, government, kentucky, louisville and policy. 0 Comments

Last Monday, Jefferson County Board of Education approved the bias protection for gay and lesbian workers.

Over 400 people were in attendance for the vote. Those in support of the bias protection were holding signs which read “Protect the Workers” and “Fairness for All.”

While those in opposition were holding signs urging the board to, “Protect the Children.”

But I couldn’t find any sign pleading to, “Protect Parents’ Choice.”

Personally, I don’t give a flip if you want gays, lesbians, bisexuals, cross-dressers, or any other type of (for lack of a better phrase) sexually diverse people to teach your child – just so long as my own child is not forced to sit in their classroom.

Once again, school choice seems to be an obvious solution.

With school choice, not only would Mike Slaton, and all other members of the so-called Fairness Campaign be free to send their children to schools which do employ homosexuals. But also, those parents who are uncomfortable with gays teaching their kids would be free to send their children to schools which do not employ homosexuals.

As a result, both sides of the aisle are satisfied. 

School choice not only, “Protects the Children,” but is truly, “Fairness for All.”

Kentucky’s pension problems

Published by
Kentucky Pundit
at November 30, 2007 in kentucky and pensions. 0 Comments

A state commission is researching ways to “fix” Kentucky’s unfunded state employee pension mandate. Here’s the bitter medicine that state employees must take in order to help get this problem under control:

Two of the more controversial proposals include reducing the cost-of-living adjustment and increasing the age or years of service before retirees qualify for full benefits.

Even more “controversial” was Sen. David Williams’ plan to switch the defined benefit pension program over to a defined contribution program that would work like a 401 k:

The proposal has not emerged as a recommendation for the commission’s final report, Crall said.

Commission members who represent government and employees say the concept would not solve the real problem with the pension systems — skyrocketing health-care costs.

“I hope most members now understand it’s a dumb idea,” said Bill Hanes, retired executive director of Kentucky Retirement Systems and a commission member.

 Guess Hanes doesn’t realize that most private companies offer their employees 401 k retirement plans. People can actually accumulate savings by investing in the stock market. Amazing!

Only time will tell if the Kentucky legislature will actually take any action to tweak the KY pension system. State employees and teachers make up a large part of the voting population and most politicians would rather not rock their boat. I’m not holding my breath.

 

Joe Elliott Booted from WHAS Radio

Published by
Caleb
at November 30, 2007 in louisville and radio. 2 Comments

I used to work with Joe Elliott. He’s a class act, an excellent host and it’s a shame that he’s been laid off:

A popular radio talk show host is off the air. WAVE 3 has learned from several sources that Joe Elliott — who for years has hosted the 9:00 p.m. to Midnight show on 84WHAS — has been let go.

Elliott — who is blind — grew up in Louisville. A college professor told him he’d never make it in radio. He ended up covering much of the nation on the 50,000 watt station dissecting all the important issues of Kentuckiana.

WAVE 3 contacted Clear Channel which owns WHAS radio. They offered no comment and haven’t released a statement. But our sources say it’s a cost cutting measure and that the time slot will likely go to a nationally syndicated program.

New kid on the block

Published by
Morgan
at November 29, 2007 in Uncategorized, government, policy, politics and spending. 0 Comments

I am the newest author here at catallaxy.net. Read my short bio here.

I describe myself as a conservative. I am often told that I am a libertarian. [Editor’s Note: She’s a libertarian.] To which my response is an old Reagan quote explaining that, “I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.” I got my political start in the Republican Party, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that today’s Republican Party is no safe place for any true conservative.

If you’re a small-government gal like me, there are countless reasons to be disenfranchised from the current Republican Party; e.g. wiretaps, the drug war, the ‘terror’ war, massive government spending, suspension of habeas corpus, unprecedented debt, and on and on…

The fact of the matter is that the Republican Party, as it is now comprised, stands for massive government (whereas, of course, the Democratic Party stands for gargantuan government.).

So, you may be asking, where do disgruntled former Republicans go from here? I am not sure yet. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

In the meantime, I look forward to writing here at catallaxy.net.

The jury is not out: alcohol is good for you.

Published by
Aaron
at November 29, 2007 in food, health care, healthcare and wine. 0 Comments

The science is settled. It’s more persuasive than global warming. It turns out that our parents and grandparents were right: a nightcap or a cocktail after arriving home from work is good for you.

“The healthiest people do include moderate drinking in their lifestyle,” says Eric Rimm, Sc.D., associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. You can reap alcohol’s health benefits within weeks, and the gains accumulate over time. (Stick to one drink a day, and fewer than seven a week.)

It turns out that moderate alcohol consumption raises HDL (good cholesterol) and makes blood platelets less sticky, lessening chances of blood clots and strokes. It also helps your pancreas regulate insulin levels and may dampen inflammation and suppress the immune response that can lead to painful rheumatoid arthritis.

Some notes on wine tasting, and a great riesling

Published by
Aaron
at November 29, 2007 in food and wine. 1 Comment

People often ask me what makes a good wine… good. The simple answer is: if you like it and you enjoy it, then it’s good. Ignore what the magazines and the ratings and the snooty people at the wine shop tell you. If you like it and you want more, then it’s good, and that’s that.

On a more general note, what makes a good wine is balance. There are different flavors in a wine, from the fruit flavors of the grape to tannins (sharper, more bitter) from the skins, acidity, and of course alcohol. These flavors need to be in balance to compliment each other.

A well balanced wine is like an experienced piano player striking three notes at once to play a perfect chord. There is a certain harmony in the taste.

A poorly balanced wine is like a cat leaping onto the keys. It’s just annoying and bothersome.

An excellent example of a well balanced wine is the new Riesling Kabinett from Donnhoff. This is an excellent white wine where the fruit flavors of green apple, pear, and apricot jump right out at you, but are balanced by a tinge of acidity and just enough sweetness to make the fruit seem right. At around $25 a bottle, this is still an excellent value.

Pair this with just about any food, excepting heavy, rich sauces and cream-based dishes, like anything with alfredo sauce.

Or, just chill this bottle down to about 50 degrees and drink it on it’s own. It certainly stands up to it, and you won’t be disappointed.

Who helped defeat vouchers in Utah?

Published by
Caleb
at November 28, 2007 in education, kentucky and labor. 0 Comments

Kentucky teachers did:

I’m not a fan of vouchers, for reasons I’ll explain momentarily, but even I was horrified by the spectacle of teachers’ unions from across the nation — California, Washington, Colorado, Kentucky, Connecticut and twice as many more — assembling money to vanquish the Utah referendum. The National Education Association and its front organization, Communities for Quality Education, dropped just under $3.5 million into what should have been a local campaign.