It's Official - "Working 4 Utah"

To Our Customers,

Beginning Monday, August 4, 2008, all State Tax Commission and Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices will be CLOSED on all Fridays in conjunction with Governor Huntsman's "Working 4 Utah" initiative.

In addition, these offices will have new extended hours of operation Monday through Thursday, except holidays. The new hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. These hours of operationalso include the Tax Commission and DMV phone centers.

Remember that many tax and motor vehicle services are available online. Visit http://tax.utah.gov/ or http://dmv.utah.gov/ for a list of office hours and available online services.

Please note that these new hours of operation extend to most state government agencies. You are advised to check with the various agencies prior to visiting. You can also go to the state web page at http://www.utah.gov/ for more information.

Thank you for your understanding and support of this important initiative to address the energy issues facing Utah and the nation.

Sincerely,

Rodney Marrelli
Executive Director, Utah State Tax Commission

Oil Shale - Step Towards Energy Independence

Currently, the United States uses 21 million barrels of oil a day, though consumption has been flat for the last 3 years, and dropped 3% in just the first 6 months of 2008. Unfortunately, the US only produces about 6 million barrels a day. This means we send $200 billion a year overseas to import oil.

No one likes being dependent upon others, particularly when what we are dependent upon is of such vital importance. Worse, a lot of that $200 billion goes to fund governments that at best are undemocratic and at worst bankroll and support terrorism.

The problem is, most of the world's oil is controlled by these less than friendly, to put it mildly, regimes. It is estimated that there are 1.3 trillion barrels of proven oil reserves worldwide, of which the US controls 21 billion. This data makes it seem impossible for the US to ever get out from under OPEC's thumb.

Impossible, that is, until you consider that the United States has an additional 2 trillion barrels of synthetic oil just waiting to be captured and refined. It's called oil shale, and the United States has over 60% of the world's supply. The technology used to extract oil from shale has steadily improved since the 80's, when conventional oil prices fell precipitously from their 70's oil crisis peak, making shale too unprofitable to pursue. But now, shale oil can be profitable with oil prices as low as $20 a barrel. Prices now sit in the $125 range.

Clearly, if the United States wants a push for energy independence, oil shale has to be at the top of the to-do list.

Founders on God & Country: George Washington

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Founders on God & Country: Thomas Jefferson

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."
--Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.

Founders on God & Country: John Adams

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
--Adams wrote this on June 28, 1813, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson.

Founders on God & Country: Patrick Henry

Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Founders on God & Country: George Washington

That the Troops may have an opportunity of attending public worship, as well as take some rest after the great fatigue they have gone through; The General in future excuses them from fatigue duty on Sundays (except at the Ship Yards, or special occasions) until further orders. [1] The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it

Founders on God & Country: Benjamin Rush

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation of life. Happy they who are enabled to obey them in all situations!"
--The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush, pp. 165-166.

Founders on God & Country: James Monroe

"When we view the blessings with which our country has been favored, those which we now enjoy, and the means which we possess of handing them down unimpaired to our latest posterity, our attention is irresistibly drawn to the source from whence they flow. Let us then, unite in offering our most grateful acknowledgements for these blessings to the Divine Author of All Good."
--Monroe made this statement in his 2nd Annual Message to Congress, November 16, 1818.F

Founders on God & Country: John Adams

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."
--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9

Founders on God & Country: Benjamin Franklin

"Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped.

That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see."
--Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790.

Breaking News: Jazz Draft Kosta Koufos

So it's old news. Sue me.

I (mostly) like the pick. A seven footer with skills is always nice. He was expected to go much higher, so either we got a steal, or other teams know something we don't. He's done ok in summer league so far, but nothing spectacular. I don't like that he's "a seven footer who can shoot from outside." We've already got one of those, and I'd just as soon have a seven footer who plays like a seven footer. Regardless, I get the sense that if I want to watch him this season I'll have to head to Orem for a Flash game.

So who could the Jazz have had instead? There was a power forward who fell out of the lottery, but I don't think much of him. I really liked two guys, but neither really filled a need for the Jazz. They were Mario Chalmers and Chris Douglass-Roberts. Chalmers is a point guard who was drafted by Miami in the second round. I think he'll be a great pro, and would have made a perfect backup to Deron Williams. But again, not really a need right now. Douglass-Roberts was drafted by New Jersey in the second round. He's listed as a shooting guard, but I had him pegged as a small forward. I watched him a bit in the NCAA tourney and liked him a ton; I see him as an upgrade over AK. However, if his espn bio is accurate, he's probably a little small for a forward position, and frankly the Jazz have a ton of shooting guards to sort through right now.

So the Jazz did pretty well. I don't think anyone drafted after Koufos will have a better career than he will.

As for the second round of picks, the Jazz had two: Ante Tomic and Tadija Dragicevic.

Tomic is 7'2", espn loved the pick, but he'll be overseas for a while. Whatever.

Dragicevic? He's a small forward of whom Chad Ford had this to say, "I've never seen this guy." Nuff said.

BYU alum Trent Plaisted went in the second round as well, to the Detroit Pistons. We'll see if he sticks or if he's off to Europe. Utah State grad Jaycee Carroll wasn't drafted at all, which is a shame. He's on New Jersey's summer league team, but will probably have to go to Europe. The kid can shoot, and during the college season I had hoped the Jazz would spend a late second round pick on him. Oh well.

Founders on God & Country: Benjamin Rush

"I know there is an objection among many people to teaching children doctrines of any kind, because they are liable to be controverted. But let us not be wiser than our Maker.

If moral precepts alone could have reformed mankind, the mission of the Son of God into all the world would have been unnecessary. The perfect morality of the Gospel rests upon the doctrine which, though often controverted has never been refuted: I mean the vicarious life and death of the Son of God."
--Essays, Literary, Moral, and Philosophical, published in 1798.

Another Benefit of $4 Gas

If Utah's 41 state parks and 13 national parks are beautiful, but no one can afford to visit them, does it matter?

Magic Happens - BYU Picked to Win, Again

With BYU football being ranked number one in the Mountain West Conference pre-season poll, I thought it time to post the following video:



And here's a few more.

BYU Player Beats Up Jose Canseco

American League Rookie of the Year. AL MVP. Baseball's first 40/40 season. World Series winner. And once-favorite player of yours truly. Sigh.

Founders on God & Country: Thomas Jefferson

"I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."
--The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.

Founders on God & Country: John Quincy Adams

"The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made 'bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God' (Isaiah 52:10)."
--Life of John Quincy Adams, p. 248.

Founders on God & Country: Roger Sherman

"I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance equal in power and glory. That the scriptures of the old and new testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. That God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, so as thereby he is not the author or approver of sin. That he creates all things, and preserves and governs all creatures and all their actions, in a manner perfectly consistent with the freedom of will in moral agents, and the usefulness of means. That he made man at first perfectly holy, that the first man sinned, and as he was the public head of his posterity, they all became sinners in consequence of his first transgression, are wholly indisposed to that which is good and inclined to evil, and on account of sin are liable to all the miseries of this life, to death, and to the pains of hell forever.

I believe that God having elected some of mankind to eternal life, did send his own Son to become man, die in the room and stead of sinners and thus to lay a foundation for the offer of pardon and salvation to all mankind, so as all may be saved who are willing to accept the gospel offer: also by his special grace and spirit, to regenerate, sanctify and enable to persevere in holiness, all who shall be saved; and to procure in consequence of their repentance and faith in himself their justification by virtue of his atonement as the only meritorious cause.

I believe a visible church to be a congregation of those who make a credible profession of their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, joined by the bond of the covenant.

I believe that the souls of believers are at their death made perfectly holy, and immediately taken to glory: that at the end of this world there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a final judgement of all mankind, when the righteous shall be publicly acquitted by Christ the Judge and admitted to everlasting life and glory, and the wicked be sentenced to everlasting punishment."
--The Life of Roger Sherman, pp. 272-273.

Founders on God & Country: Patrick Henry

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
--The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrick Henry of Virginia, p. iii.

Sir Ken Robinson on Education

"Our education system has mined our minds in the way that we strip mine the earth for a particular commodity."

Founders on God & Country: James Madison

"Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ."
--America's Providential History, p. 93.

Founders on God & Country: John Adams

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever."
--Adams wrote this in a letter to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776.

Founders on God & Country: George Washington

It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States,
No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States.

Founders on God & Country: Patrick Henry

Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

Founders on God & Country: John Witherspoon

"While we give praise to God, the Supreme Disposer of all events, for His interposition on our behalf, let us guard against the dangerous error of trusting in, or boasting of, an arm of flesh ... If your cause is just, if your principles are pure, and if your conduct is prudent, you need not fear the multitude of opposing hosts.

What follows from this? That he is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind.

Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy of his country."
--Sermon at Princeton University, "The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men," May 17, 1776.

Founders on God & Country: John Hancock

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."
--History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.

Founders on God & Country: John Adams

"Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.... The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a greater Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. They will only exchange Tyrants and Tyrannies. You cannot therefore be more pleasantly, or usefully employed than in the Way of your Profession, pulling down the Strong Holds of Satan. This is not Cant, but the real sentiment of my Heart." -- letter to Zabdiel Adams, 21 June 1776

Iran Shoots 4 Missles - Okay, Okay One Didn't Fire...

Remember that old Sesame Street game where you try to pick out the differences in two pictures? Well, apparently they watch a lot of Elmo in Iran.





In order to avoid further hits to their journalistic integrity, maybe the New York Times should watch a little more Sesame Street.

Founders on God & Country: Thomas Jefferson

"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia

Founders on God & Country: George Washington

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
--The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343

The President Says...

"We will protect our environment. But when this nation critically needs a refinery or a pipeline, we will build it."

-President Jimmy Carter

Founders on God & Country: Alexander Hamilton

"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man."
--Famous American Statesmen, p. 126.

Founders on God & Country: Patrick Henry

There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
--St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia March 23, 1775.

Let Them Eat Cake

From my old Senator, Mike Crapo of Idaho:

"The driving distances between places in our state as well as limited public transportation options mean that many of us don’t have any choice but to keep driving and paying those ever-increasing prices for fuel."

It is this reality that drives my anger at the "let them eat cake" conservationists barely containing their glee at higher gas prices. After 30+ years of no new drilling, no refineries, and no solutions there are way too many people in this country pleased at all the "lifestyle changes" higher prices are causing.

In order to inject a little reality into Congress, Senator Crapo is asking for real world examples of the effects of rising energy prices:

So I am asking for your help. I'd like to share your stories about the impact that high gas and energy prices are having on your lives. It is important that my colleagues in the Senate better understand how real people in Idaho are coping with these escalating costs. Idahoans cannot ignore rising gasoline prices, and your stories could help convince federal lawmakers to stop ignoring this crisis.

If you'd be willing to share your story, please take a few minutes to send me an e-mail at energy_prices@crapo.senate.gov with a paragraph or two about how you and/or your family are affected by high energy prices. It would also be worthwhile for you to share the priorities that you think Congress should set in resolving this crisis—increased domestic oil production, expanded nuclear energy research, incentives for conservation, whatever you want to share.

Honesty in Government

"The most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history" has worked hard to ferret out the evildoers within the Repugnican party (which is all of them) and bring them to justice. Being from the Republican "I love business and bankers" Party, it was obvious that they would be in bed with the evil mortgage lenders like Countrywide. Senator Chris Dodd, the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, called practices of lenders like Countrywide "abusive". Because of our most ethical Congress the banking perpetrators are beginning to come out of the woodwork.

Problem is, they're Democrats.

And one of them is "Chairman of the Banking Committee" Senator Dodd.

Michael Ramirez

Others involved include Democratic Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, and the now former head of Barack Obama's vice presidential search team, Jim Johnson, who also performed those duties for Walter Mondale and John Kerry.

It seems the sheen of the Democratic ethical revolution is beginning to fade.

And don't even get me started on William Jefferson.

President Carter's Energy Policy

Largely because of OPEC embargoes and Middle East instability, the United States faced an energy crisis throughout the seventies. In 1976 Jimmy Carter was elected president, and he spoke often about energy and what the US needed to do to avoid these energy price hikes in the future.

Today, in the midst of another round of energy price increases, I have heard a number of people hearken back to the days of President Carter, lamenting the fact that we didn't implement the alternative energy policies he endorsed.

What's interesting to me is the policy they often leave out. What was one of the fundamental planks of his energy policy platform?

Coal.

For instance, in his April 1977 speech on energy, he said,

"We must conserve the fuels that are scarcest and make the most of those that are more plentiful. We can't continue to use oil and gas for 75 percent of our consumption when they make up seven percent of our domestic reserves. We need to shift to plentiful coal while taking care to protect the environment, and to apply stricter safety standards to nuclear energy."

President Carter revisited his energy policy two years later, again advocating a significant increase in domestic coal production and use,

"I'm asking Congress to mandate, to require as a matter of law, that our nation's utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50 percent within the next decade and switch to other fuels, especially coal, our most abundant energy source."

Had we followed (or been allowed to follow) President Carter's advice, it's likely we'd all be driving electric powered cars right now, with electricity from coal power plants - as well as from alternative energy derived power plants. As technology advanced, those alternatives would have a ready market available to them, slowly replacing coal. $4 a gallon gasoline likely never would have happened, and if it did, nobody would care. We would have produced almost all of our own energy, rather than importing from the unstable Middle East - which robbed us of much of our sovereignty in foreign policy decisions. In fact, had we followed Mr. Carter's advice and used more coal, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil, the Middle East could be a vastly different place than it is now.

But who needs peace, prosperity, global stability, and economic freedom when you can create $140 a barrel oil and force "behavior changes" instead?

Great Apes are People, Infants Aren't

Recall Peter Singer, the Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University? He who argues that, "Simply killing an infant is never equivalent to killing a person", and that perfectly healthy, normal infants can be killed if their parents want to?

Well, despite those troubling stances, he is probably more known for his animal rights activism - particularly that of great apes. He has written extensively about affording legal rights to chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans and is part of a group called the Great Ape Project (GAP).

This group recently achieved a major advancement in Spain, where:

"Members of parliament's environmental committee urged the government to comply with the "Great Apes Project", backed by scientists and philosophers who argue man's closest genetic relatives deserve such accords."

The law is likely to pass, giving our closest genetic relatives basic human rights - meaning they can't be used in experiments or be killed.

How genetically close to humans are they? According to GAP Board Member, Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian,

"Between the two of us we could even have a 0.5% difference in our DNA. The difference between a Chimpanzee and us is only 1.23%. Human blood and Chimpanzee blood, with compatible blood groups, can be exchanged through transfusion. Neither our nor the chimps blood can be exchanged with any other species.

We are closer genetically to a chimp than a mouse is to a rat."

Which is all well and good, but how is it that Peter Singer is so concerned with the life of a non-human (but genetically close to human) and simultaneously show such unconcern with 100% genetically actual humans - infants. He is part of a group that has lobbied for 14 years to get world governments to recognize the right to life of chimpanzees, while at the same time advocating the permissability of killing a 2 day, 2 month, even 2 year old child.

All because of his stout defense of what makes a person a person.

Here's hoping someday I don't fall out of this ethics professor's definition.

Energy

Michael Ramirez

Woloquoi Davis

From the United Nations Population Fund:

Woloquoi Davis was just seven years old when the conflict in Liberia broke out. Rebels slaughtered his uncle and grand uncle before his very eyes. Forced to flee for his life, along with his few remaining family members, Woloquoi ran as fast as his young legs would carry him. Throughout his search for safety and freedom, he witnessed rebels killing innocent civilians and looting and burning the houses and property of his community members.

The Liberian conflict, which began in 1989, displaced hundreds of thousands of people and devastated the country’s economy. In 2003, the conflict came to an end and communities have had the opportunity to focus on the rebuilding of homes, neighbourhoods and basic infrastructures. But in a country where ritual murder, systematic rape, and torture were commonplace for more than a decade, some have found it hard to leave behind the habit of violence. After so many years, the thread of violence has become intertwined with the culture.

Woloquoi, now 25 years old, is trying to change his world by advocating for Liberia’s young people in the fight to stop all forms of the violence that he says “is destroying the social and moral shape of Liberia”. In his self-appointed role, Woloquoi volunteers for the United Youth Movement against Violence, an organization based in Paynesville City in the outskirts of the country’s capital, Monrovia. The Youth Movement, which teaches young people living in impoverished communities about issues such as gender-based violence through sports, art and other recreational activities, is supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

In an interview during the Reproductive Health in Emergencies Conference, Woloquoi talks about how participating in the recreational activities helped him heal from the painful experiences of his past and empowered him to change the course of his life for the better. He also addresses some of the key issues affecting young people in Liberia today, such as the lack of education and the problem of prostitution and he explains why it is beneficial for communities and organizations to invest in young people early on.

What are some of the key issues affecting young people in Liberia today?

First is the lack of educational opportunities. Throughout many communities there are few or no schools. And if there is a school, most young people can’t afford it as there is no one to pay the fees since many have lost their families in the conflict. If a young person has completed primary school, there is hardly a secondary school. Higher education is purely a luxury. That is the problem I am facing myself, as I have finished high school, but can’t afford college now.

Other problems include violence perpetuated both by and against young people such as armed robbery, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, sexual exploitation and the threat of AIDS. Also related to these problems is the acute poverty in the country which leads to hunger, deprivation, and a high rate of prostitution for both males and females.

What role has education played in helping you to get where you are today?

There is a saying that “ignorance leads one into the deep pit”. I am not in that pit now because of the little education I have received. I have always seen education as my ultimate goal. And even though I have not had a constant flow of support for this goal, I have fought and will continue to fight to get to the highest level that I can possibly reach. This is what motivates me.

As for now, I use the limited education I have. The teaching job that I am doing in the community primary school gives me the small salary that I depend on every day for survival. I have the opportunity to teach and meet great people because of my education. If I was not educated, I would simply not be where I am today!

Can you explain how the United Youth Movement Against Violence was established and what its objectives are?

Violence was established in 1995 to gather young people to stand up against all forms of violence that had infested our community and country as a whole. Unfortunately soon after the group of young participants was mobilized, the community was attacked, and we were all isolated from one another. .

Today, the United Youth Movement Against Violence consists of about 150 members in Monrovia and has now spread to 7 of the 15 counties of Liberia. Is objectives are to involve young people in all levels of society where decisions for the future are made and to sensitize young people on the problems that stem from all types of violence, including physical, family, sexual and gender based violence. We also concentrate on mobilizing young people to take action against violence and other youth related issues like education, AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and culture.

What are some other ways United Youth Movement Against Violence works to motivate young people to take a stand against these types of violence?

We encourage young people by using drama, sports, cultural performances and musical concerts that incorporate our key messages, and we involve community leaders in our activities. We also distribute materials such as flyers, posters, T-shirts, banners, stickers, and wrist bands . And we use the media to get positive messages out in a youth-friendly way.

What are some positive changes you have seen in the attitudes of young people participating in the United Youth Movement Against Violence’s activities in regards to sexual and gender-based violence?

In Liberia, girls and women are at constant risk of all sorts of violence in their communities. Some are intimidated and afraid of their community members. Others have decided that sex means nothing and are now involved in prostitution which they consider to be a sign of strength and defiance. In fact, a good number of girls and women are afraid or reluctant to marry because of the violence that exists in the homes with husbands. Gender-based violence is destroying the social and moral shape of Liberia.

However, a good number of girls have benefited from our programme and have decided to abandon prostitution. They no longer see it as a viable alternative. The young men who participate also talk more about protecting themselves and their communities against violence. Many of our activities revolve around these topics and also sex and condoms. As a result, our participants have become leaders in their communities and therefore they have to live by what they preach.

Why is it important that young people in crisis situations have a space to be able to participate in sports, art, theatre, dance and similar recreational activities?

Through these activities, I have been encouraged to move on, to dream, to compete and to succeed. These recreational activities have motivated, empowered and given me a reason to live up to my responsibilities again and to feel human in the midst of my inhuman experiences. Right now, I have my own children’s football team that I coach to be able to help other children that have to deal with such difficult circumstances and have hope.

Why is it important for humanitarian aid organizations to include young people in all stages, such as the implementation and design, of projects that support them?

Young people are resourceful , and I believe that young people are the hope of tomorrow. Therefore if you invest in us, you will have a useful society. Also, if a vulnerable young person does not have help from anybody then he or she will feel that nobody cares for them and will engage in activities that will be detrimental to themselves and their communities.

Woloquoi, how will you work to help young people overcome hardships and find hope in the future?

After I lost my father in 1993, when I was just ten years old, I had no structure or society to turn to, and I wanted to give up. I know I had a choice to sit and dwell over my past and the loss of my family or to do something to make my late father proud of me. So instead, I decided to face life’s challenges and to stand up as a young man and move on.

Now, I want to complete my education. I want to go all around the world and preach messages that will help young people who are dealing with difficult circumstances to know that they can survive and change their lives for the better. I want to be able to say to them, ‘‘Hey, I have gone through terrible situations which are probably worse than most of yours. But I have overcome them and you can do the same my brothers and sisters! If I can make it, so can you!”

-- reported from New York by Shannon Egan

Minimum Wage

Last year, amid some controversy, Congress passed an increase to the national minimum wage. There was the usual nonsensical political gamesmanship of course, but also something interesting. For the first time, American Samoa was included under the US minimum wage law. Until that point, their minimum wage had been determined by a Labor Department committee with significant input from local elected officials and business leaders. Every two years the wage was revisited and adjusted if called for by local conditions.

American Samoa's congressional representative, Eni Faleomavaega, argued that by raising the island's minimum wage Congress was ruining its economy. You see, much of the population is employed by the tuna industry, and should labor costs rise exponentially, those factories will shut down. An industry spokeswoman agreed with Representative Faleomavaega, as did a Department of Labor study. Sadly, no one in Congress paid attention.

What was so interesting about this whole episode were the economic principles on display. American Samoa's economy is far different than California's, and for decades they had been able to set their own wages according to their unique needs. But, isn't Utah's economy different than California's as well? In fact, doesn't Utah have varying mini-economies within its own borders? Then why shouldn't we be allowed to set our own wages?

As we ponder what happened to the American manufacturing industry, and why we call India for tech support, and wonder why our jobs were shipped overseas, maybe we should take a closer look at American Samoa. It appears there is an economics class being taught there in real life.

Quote For Friday

Teach a child to be polite and courteous and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to merge his car onto the freeway.

War Protesting, War Undermining

Another gem from Orson Scott Card:

"Lincoln, facing probably defeat in the election, called together his cabinet and handed them a sealed memorandum, which he directed that they should sign as witnesses, so that when, after the election, the document was opened, they would know that this was what Lincoln had written at that time.

...because McClellan was running with the pledge to let the South have its victory in the Civil War after all, the Confederacy based all its hopes on prolonging the war long enough for McClellan to become president."

"This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probably [sic] that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the Government President elect, as to save the Union between the Election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards."



Card argues here that enemies of the United States listen to public opinion and presidential candidates and adjust war strategy accordingly - namely, they try to hold out long enough for the American public, and by extension American politicians, to tire of the effort and quit. What the Democratic Party has done the last five years is undermine the war effort. Which shouldn't be surprising, since that's the express purpose of their protests and non-binding resolutions and campaign stump speeches. They want to leave Iraq, so of course those groups fighting for control of that country need only wait long enough for US policy to change with the new prevailing winds.

I've written on this topic a few times:

'Jane's Back: The Effect of War Protests'
'Thanks For The Support, Dad'
'Render Them Hostile to Bush'
'Speak Up And Speak Out: The Portland Protest March'

Bill Simmons

I really like this guy. He's a huge Boston sports fan, loves basketball, and writes a good column. From his latest:

"for the Lakers' fans to have the gall to question any other NBA star's character is three times as insane. In retrospect, Pierce's only mistake was not diffusing the Lakers fans before Game 3 by settling with his right knee out of court and buying it a $4 million diamond ring."

"For the final shot of the first half, Kobe spotted Salvatore on the right side in front of the Lakers' bench, then drove right so he could be as close as possible to the ref if there was any contact. ... Of course, Salvatore obliged with a quick whistle for him. When a referee is affecting basketball decisions specifically by his particular place on the court, you know he has accomplished something special in life."

"here's a guy with a can't-miss 20-footer, superb footwork on the low post, great passing skills and legitimate athletic advantages over every Laker who will defend him in this series. Is there any reason Garnett shouldn't be averaging 30 a night? I can't think of one. Either way, there isn't a more fascinating character in the 2008 Finals with the exception of Kobe, who might end up killing Lamar Odom with his bare hands if the Lakers lose this series."

"All I can say is I sat close to the court for Games 1 and 2 and can confirm everything -- the glares, the yelling, the extended staring, the poisonous body language and everything else. If this had been pickup hoops, some of Kobe's teammates would have intentionally thrown a game just to get back to the sidelines, then done the "No, I'm running with these four guys" routine when he came over to ask if they wanted "Next" with him."

"Kobe is a wonderful basketball player. We all concede this point. Just don't keep trying to sell us on the fact he's a good teammate. We have a decade's worth of evidence that says otherwise. When the going gets tough, he goes into "me mode" and it's way too late for him to change. Sorry."

"Here's what I'm trying to tell you: Not only has the table has been set for a dramatic, memorable basketball game Thursday night, I think it's going to happen. After three choppy games, these teams are about to bring out the best in each other. Now, if they could only do the same for the Laker fans, we'd really have something."

Alternative Energy Sources

From Orson Scott Card:

The correct solution to the oil problem, according to the Puritans, is to have fewer humans. Now, I haven't noticed them volunteering to lessen the population starting with themselves; nor have I seen their heroes bicycling everywhere (environmental ayatollah Al Gore's plane being a legendary instance).

But they do systematically resist every solution that doesn't involve wrecking the American economy and destroying the American way of life.

No insecticides! But also no genetically altered crops with enhanced resistance to insects and disease!

No coal-fired power plants! But also no clean nuclear plants! (Even though France has proven that standardized nuclear power is safe and relatively cheap.)

Yes, you can build windmill farms -- but you can't put them anywhere.

Solar collectors? Excellent -- but don't put them anywhere, either, because they interfere with the natural ecology -- even in the barest desert. (God forbid that lizards should have more shade.)

Collect solar power in space and beam it to Earth? Fine -- except that you are forbidden to actually receive the power anywhere because it's too dangerous.

Hydroelectric power? Great idea -- except that you can't build a dam anywhere because it transforms a surface environment to an underwater one, which, naturally, annoys the squirrels. Squirrels, being natural nonsinners, take precedence over evil, sinful humans, the only animal that is forbidden to act according to its nature.

Electric cars and public transportation? Great idea -- but not until after we've converted all power plants to non-carbon-emitting fuels. (Never mind that it can only ever happen the other way, converting to electric cars immediately, so they're already in place when the oil runs out or, as I hope, we stop buying it because we've met the need in other ways.)

It's so Calvinist, so Jonathan Edwards. To the environmentalists, the only reason we aren't a spider suspended by God's will over the fires of hell is that spiders are natural and don't deserve to be punished.

We have to do something -- the Environmentalists are right about that. But they are so puritan that there isn't actually anything that you are allowed to do because all the solutions are also sinful.

Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy Baseball is where you pick real players to compile your fantasy team and use their stats to compete against other fantasy teams. I have played fantasy baseball for almost a decade and have always done well, finishing either first or second every year. This year I have two teams I'm managing, so based on a decade of experience I had high expectations for how the year would end up.

So here we are, almost midway through June and my teams are in 6th place (out of 12 teams) and last place (out of 8 teams) respectively.

My sixth place team has been as high as second and as low as last. My pitching is weak, largely because I traded my best pitcher for an outfielder who was supposed to solve my stolen base problems. He's batting .215 and has been on the disabled list for a month. I traded that pitcher because he has a history of injury problems. So of course he's completely healthy now - and the pitcher I kept is hurt.

My offense is little better. I have Big Papi as my DH. He's now on the DL. I already mentioned my base-stealing outfielder. The one silver lining was that I have the best player in the game on my team - Albert Pujols. He hits for power and average, drives in runs, and even steals a few bases. He's a lock for the Hall of Fame. Imagine the sunshine that filled my world when I found out this morning he's headed for the injured list with what could be a year ending leg injury.

This is the sort of thing that happens to other fantasy managers. The ones in last place, the ones I dominated for years. I'd go look at their roster and see it decimated by injuries and off years. Poor guy, I'd think. He should have known that those players were injury prone. He should have seen the down year coming. I prided myself on spotting those players and avoiding them. I considered it the secret to my success.

Oh how the mighty have fallen

This Is What We Mean By 'Big Government'

This gem comes courtesy of the Daily Mail in Great Britain. Apparently, their "Environmental Audit Committee" thinks a personal carbon credit system should be made mandatory - meaning the government tells people how much carbon they are allowed to use each year, and gives them a credit card to keep track of it. Every time you buy gas, you'd have to swipe the carbon card to make sure you haven't gone over your limit. Every time your heating bill comes in, it zaps your carbon allotment. The system could even extend to buying food.

Sounds like a great idea! Unfortunately, the rest of the government isn't quite on board yet, saying it's wonderful, but maybe a bit ahead of its time.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report into the scheme found it would cost between £700million and £2billion to set up and up to another £2billion a year to run.

The scheme would penalise those living in the countryside who were dependent on their cars, as well as the elderly or housebound who need to heat their homes in the day.

Large families would suffer, as would those working at nights when little public transport is available.

It would need to take into account the size of families, and their ages. There is huge potential for fraud.

Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers' Alliance said the cards would be hugely unpopular. 'The Government has shown itself incapable of managing any huge, complex IT system.' he said.

Or, you could just do us all a favor and end your life now. With fewer of you carbon pigs out there there'd be more to go around for the rest of us.

NBA Finals

"The Laker fans conveniently forget that Kobe was a GRADE-A CANCER from 2001-2006. He was having probs with Shaq as far back as 1999. Of the 25 greatest players ever - and he's one of them - he was by far the worst teammate over the course of his career. Just because he's settled down and embraced principles like "not showing up guys on the court" and "not being a jerk" doesn't change what happened from 2001-06."

Bill Simmons, ESPN

Tiananmen Square

Wikipedia
Wang Dan, Exiled Protestor
"The Chinese people are not their government. Since 1989, my country and its people have changed much. But the government has changed remarkably little."

On Plaisted & Hibbert

This pretty much sums up my thoughts.

Lifted from the Deseret News comment board:

McDuck | 8:10 a.m. June 4, 2008

Hey, I take pride in my ability to get winded on my walk to the fridge and get beatin off the dribble by 14 year olds in church ball. It elevates my soul when I put icy hot on my back as I sit on a conference call in the office under life draining flourescent lighting. Good luck to Plaisted, he'll get to play somewhere and play better than 99.**% of the people on planet earth, maybe not at the NBA level, but good enough to get paid for it. I'd rather be shooting jumpers than chewing on an office phone. As for the Jazz, Hear! Hear! To another lathargic, unmotivated 7 footer who irritates all fans with his great potential, and less than mediocre results.

Sandy Pride

Sandy is a city just south of Salt Lake City. Every year for the last 20+ years they have had a "Sandy Pride" day, which affords its citizens the opportunity to do service projects and city-wide cleanup. Tomorrow is the Sandy Pride day for 2008. Some of the activities scheduled include tree planting, edging headstones at the cemetary, removing trash from empty lots, repairing hiking trails, cleaning and repairing parks, painting houses, and a fundraiser for the prevention of child abuse.

The Salt Lake City Weekly is a free, weekly newspaper I frequently found scattered on the floor of buses, outside of classrooms, and under desks at the University of Utah. By sheer force of volume I read a number of issues - that is, until I realized the articles were written by these guys:



What does Sandy Pride Day have to do with City Weekly, you ask? Well, City Weekly has a blog, and this blog linked to a competing newspaper story (The Trib, so at least it wasn't whitebread icky Deseret News) about Sandy Pride. Now, City Weekly, being the serious journalists you see above, wrote the following:

Of course, Sandy pride is about pride in the bland sameness that is Sandy, not about queer diversity. But still! Wouldn't it be fun to show up and plant trees carrying rainbow flags?

Imagine the raised eyebrows that would cause! If anybody does this, please send photos.

Yes please, more photos like the one above. That is absolutely what is needed at the service projects painting the elderly's houses, fixing parks and trails, beautifying cemeteries, and raising money to prevent child abuse.

Washington Post Says Democrats Are Racist

Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause:

"The contrast between the large, adoring crowds Obama draws at public events and the gritty street-level work to win votes is stark. The candidate is largely insulated from the mean-spiritedness that some of his foot soldiers deal with away from the media spotlight.

Victoria Switzer, a retired social studies teacher, was on phone-bank duty one night during the Pennsylvania primary campaign. One night was all she could take: "It wasn't pretty." She made 60 calls to prospective voters in Susquehanna County, her home county, which is 98 percent white. The responses were dispiriting. One caller, Switzer remembers, said he couldn't possibly vote for Obama and concluded: "Hang that darky from a tree!"

Documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, the daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, said she, too, came across "a lot of racism" when campaigning for Obama in Pennsylvania. One Pittsburgh union organizer told her he would not vote for Obama because he is black, and a white voter, she said, offered this frank reason for not backing Obama: "White people look out for white people, and black people look out for black people."

Kobe, We Love You!

Member that time when you hurt your back, and, um, you still played? That was awesome.



Member that time when, um, you like, won the game? That wasn't you? Stupid! I'm so stupid!

Stop The Presses, Jazz Owner Doesn't Watch Games on Sunday!!

This received some press last week leading up to Sunday's game, and it left me slightly amused at all the attention. But here's a pretty good interview with Jazz owner Larry Miller covering a range of topics and conducted while Miller drove around instead of watching the game:

On the next coach of the Jazz:

Miller says Sloan wants to coach for at least another season, maybe more. But when he does call it quits, longtime Jazz assistant Phil Johnson will get first crack at the job. That's written in stone.

If Johnson takes a pass, Miller is likely to make a run at John Stockton. They've discussed the job in the past, but Stockton's interest in the position -- or, more correctly, in coaching in the NBA -- has cooled. For now.

On when the Jazz will change their name:

"I'll change our name right after the Lakers change theirs,"

(The name "Jazz" came with the team when they moved to SL from New Orleans, just like how the name "Lakers" came to LA when the team moved from Minneapolis. What, you thought there were lots of lakes in Los Angeles?)

He doesn't listen on the radio either:

Miller could probably listen to the game without incurring the wrath of God. Same goes for watching it on TV. After all, there are actual Mormons at the game.

"I'm not trying to be holier than thou," he says. "I've got plenty of faults. But the radio … TV, we're talking shades of gray. It would be hard for me to compromise it."

Miller has a set of primo tickets for every game. He called five Mormon friends to see if they wanted his Game 4 seats.

"You going?" each one asked.

Miller said no.

"Then I'm not going."

Guilt. A powerful thing.

Jazz - Lakers Tied, Williams A Stud

Well it's about time! From J.A. Adande on ESPN's Daily Dime:

Deron Williams forced himself back into the NBA conversation just as much as the Jazz clawed their way back into this series with the Lakers over the weekend.

Actually, the second part of that sentence depended on the first. For a young team seeking consistent efforts in these playoffs, Williams is turning into the Jazz's most reliable option. Carlos Boozer had his best game of the postseason Friday night, then regressed to a 5-for-15 shooting performance Sunday. Williams followed a solid effort in Game 3 with an even better Game 4, a 123-115 overtime win, the central recurring character in the two Jazz victories that evened these Western Conference semifinals at 2-2.

So while Chris Paul has the accolades, the Sports Illustrated covers and all that, Williams has coaxed his team to the conference finals once, and now is halfway to another. Just saying.

And Williams was named SUNDAY'S BEST for good measure:

Deron Williams, Jazz guard: Goes for 29 points on 9-for-13 shooting along with 14 assists in Utah's Game 4 win over the Lakers. Sinks all eight of his free throws, too.

Deron Williams had a truly great regular season and has had an outstanding postseason but is the only star to not receive much attention. While dispatching the Rockets in round 1, most of the talk was about Tracy McGrady's failings instead of Deron's role in winning. Anyone watching these games realizes that Deron does so many things for this team. He's an all-around talent. I am admittedly biased, but I think Deron Williams is a better point guard than Chris Paul, and it frustrates me that Paul gets all the attention. It's kinda nice to see him and his team get worked over a bit by the Spurs.

Peter Singer: Your Friend and Neighbor

Peter Singer wants me to kill my uncle. In fact, Mr. Singer would have already murdered his mother, but his sister won't let him. Peter Singer is the man who said this:

"Simply killing an infant is never equivalent to killing a person."

He's also the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. That's right, he's Princeton's ethics professor. And he believes that infants and handicapped people aren't really people. They may be humans, but that doesn't qualify them for his definition of a "person".

When I wrote "A Philosophical Study of Abortion" I commented on what seems to me to be the fundamental question of abortion - what makes a person a person? This is critical to the abortion question because most people intuitively know that killing an innocent person is wrong. Therefore, in an attempt to rationalize abortion, academics have parsed out new definitions of personhood. Singer's definition goes like this:

Human babies are not born self-aware, or capable of grasping that they exist over time. They are not persons.

As I noted in "A Philosophical Study of Abortion," each of these definitions has led down the dangerous road of excluding people like my seriously disabled uncle, or Peter Singer's Alzheimer's-stricken mother, or newborn babies. Most people go down this road, see the ending, and recoil at its baseness. But not Professor Singer.

"There appear to be only two possibilities: oppose abortion or allow infanticide."

Singer chooses infanticide.

There are two thought processes in regards to "thinkers" like Professor Singer. One is to dismiss him outright as a crank and a nutjob. Outlandish views like his make it easy to condemn our liberal, secular society and leave it at that. Another way is to dismiss him as "just" a philosopher, an academic, with no real say on policy or society.

Both reactions would be wrong.

First of all, as far as the world is concerned, he's not just a nutjob. He's a nutjob with a very important position with one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It lends he and his views credibility, as well as gives him a platform to teach the world his view of personhood.

Secondly, although he is "just" an academic with little influence on society, his views are far more commonplace than one might think. Consider for instance the fact that he partly came to his conclusions based on not wanting children or their parents to suffer with physical or mental handicaps. These parents could simply abort the fetus or kill the infant and then produce another child that will likely by "normal". The intention is to ease suffering, to reduce pain.

Now compare that with this often-used quote:

"We women know when it is or is not the right time to bring a child into the world...We act out of compassion when we wait to have a child until the time when we can give it the kind of life every child deserves. We act out of love when we consider what we would be taking away from the child or children we already have if we brought another child into our family now...We women know the truth: That given certain circumstances, abortion is the most morally responsible and loving choice we can make."

-Jean Stewart Berg and Anne Baker

Don't you get it? It's all about love, people. It's compassionate to end human life because that life might suffer or cause others to suffer.

Shortly after I wrote "A Philosophical Study of Abortion", I had numerous discussions and debates with various people about abortion. All of the arguments Singer uses were used by everyday people in these debates. I wrote about them here. From the "compassionate choice" argument, to being a "fully formed human", to a fetus being aware of itself and its own life - all of these are variations of Singer's arguments and all of them were used by non-nutjobs and non-academics.

Peter Singer's view is out there folks. People I interact with fairly regularly have espoused these views in some form or another. Commenters on this blog like Democracy Lover and Geoffrey have used them. Utah's own Green Jenni used them over and over again.

While it may be shocking to read Peter Singer's opinions, it's even more shocking to see them repeated by those in my own community.

"I do not think it is always wrong to kill an innocent human being."

Donate to Help Myanmar

I've previously written about some of the worldwide charitable work done by the LDS Church, and now via lds.org/ldsfoundation is another opportunity to be of service:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extends its sympathy and assistance to the citizens of Myanmar following the recent devastating cyclone.

Church leadership has approved funds to purchase large quantities of tarps, blankets, basic food, medical equipment, and especially clean drinking water for those in need. All items are being purchased in Myanmar or in nearby countries. The Church is partnering with Atlanta-based CARE International, a well-known non-governmental organization, to distribute the supplies.

Church humanitarian representatives will continue to monitor and assess the situation.

Donate to the Emergency Response Fund.

What Happens in Vegas...

...Gets your luggage checked on the way out of town (and in Spanish for good measure):

TSA - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: TSA

Rockets Players = Bitter

Look at Me! I can Dribble!



Hmmmm... Who Is That Guy Again?



Oh, Yeah...



I'm a Rocket Fan!

Rockets Fans = Bitter

I love it! Clutch City? Try

"We lost game 7 on our home court last year" City

or better yet,

"Our star has never made it past the first round of the playoffs" City.

HT: KVNU

Utah Gets No Love - Again

From Ric Bucher of ESPN:

"Let's be honest: They're Mormon, and they're in Salt Lake, and there's nothing else there. You gotta smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious."

Those darn smiling happy Mormons will get you every time.

On the bright side, two computer models picked the Jazz to go to the Finals, and one of them picked them to win.

What If Sports
John Hollinger

That'd put a lot of smiles on Mormon faces.

TED Talks: Hans Rosling & Emily Oster on AIDS & Poverty

TED stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Design". It is an annual conference that brings speakers from those three areas together. They each give 18 minute talks. Many of these talks can be found for free on the ted.com website.

I found TED as I researched and wrote my "American Idol, Bono, and Africa" post from a week ago. I used one of their videos in that post. There are a few more that I have found that make a good follow up to that post, so I'm putting them here:

Hans Rosling has developed some pretty impressive data analyzing and presenting software, and used it in the following two speeches. The data shows some very interesting findings regarding poverty in the world.






Emily Oster is an economist, and in this talk she shows data which debunks most of the things we think we know about AIDS prevalence. Interestingly, just months after this presentation was given, the UN lowered its AIDS estimates.

Tax Cuts for the Rich: 1999 vs 2007

Let's take a married household earning about $45,000, with three dependents, owns a home, and gives slightly more than average to charity (as Republicans are wont to do).

For tax year 2007 this household would pay $0 in federal income tax. In fact, not only would they pay $0, but they would get over $2400 from the federal government. This is not money being refunded to them - it's free money from the government.

Now, if this same household had filed using 1999's tax laws, they would have owed $950. That's a $3,300 swing in the wrong direction.

So, over the next year or so as the Bush tax cuts are debated, the phrases, "tax cuts for the rich" or "tax cuts for the wealthiest 1%" or any derivation thereof, are hereby banned.

American Idol, Bono, and Africa

I watched the "Idol Gives Back" episode of American Idol last night, as well as the one they did last season. The intent of the show is to get people to donate to charity funds like the Children's Defense Fund, the Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children and the Children's Health Fund. This year there were segments on New Orleans and Appalachia, as well as on Africa. The images of poverty and sickness in Africa are particularly compelling, especially in context of that continent's history and perception of never-ending poverty and civil war, as well as malaria and AIDS epidemics. Many of the celebrity presenters became emotional as they asked for donations.

But are donations what African nations need?

In an article titled "U.S., European Subsidies Undercut African Farmers", NPR reveals the following:

The United States ships millions of tons of food aid to Africa each year. While the food is desperately needed in many parts of the continent, some activists and economists say the inflow of huge amounts of surplus Western-grown grain stifles agricultural development in Africa.

In fact, this article is one in a 5 part series that NPR did in October of 2006 titled "Africa's Lagging Development".

In June 2007 the group "Technology, Entertainment, Design" held its annual conference in Tanzania. U2's Bono has long been a vocal proponent of aid to Africa, and in fact was the one that pushed to bring the conference to Tanzania last year. He spoke at the conference, but was actually angered by some of what was said; mainly because rather than focus on more charity work, many presenters instead spoke up about increased investment in entrepreneurship in African nations. One notable presenter was Andrew Mwenda, who said that decades of outside aid has accomplished little in Africa, and in fact can be blamed for the continuing troubles there. A video of his speech follows:


For his part, Bono responded to Mwenda by noting that,

Well, I will tell you that 20 million children in Africa are going to school today as a direct result of debt relief, 3 million right here in Tanzania alone. The reason Ireland now has one of the hottest economies in the world and gets all this direct investment from companies like Google and Intel is that they realized Ireland had an extremely well-educated population. Even I was extremely well-educated. Combine a well educated population with the kinds of tax relief that was offered to companies coming in and you have economic growth. Only the state can offer that package...

3000 African kids will die today of malaria so you have to work on the micro as well as the macro economic issues."

I think that some sort of middle ground between American Idol-like charities and Andrew Mwenda-like entrepreneurial growth is warranted. Clearly there are people suffering today that need assistance. But what about tomorrow? Liz Dolan writes:

I have worried in the past that because so many of the resources that come to Africa come in the form of aid, that Africa's best and brightest are working for NGO's and charities, instead of starting their own small businesses. Two years ago I met a fantastic young man in Lusaka, Zambia running an orphanage. His managerial skills were so impressive that I couldn't help thinking to myself whether the country would be better served if this young man were given the money to start a business instead of an orphanage. Does aid create a brain drain away from agriculture and industry and towards relief work? It clearly can.

Perhaps for too long the emphasis has been on immediate relief at the expense of long term growth - a sort of give a man a fish vs teach a man to fish scenario. Here's hoping we can change that.

Number 11

Who cares if my Final Four picks were a disaster? Who cares if my little sister beat me in our NCAA tournament bracket challenge?

I'm riding a three week stay in the BlogNetNews top 20 political blog rankings, and this week I've ascended all the way to #11.

So there.

TDIH: Martin Luther King Jr Assasinated

April 4, 1968

King was cut down April 4 by a rifle slug that tore through his jaw and spine as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. James Earl Ray, a petty criminal and prison escapee, pleaded guilty to the murder. He died in prison in 1998.

Nancy Pelosi Already Knows

It looks like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is up to her old tricks again.

At this time last year she had "scheduling conflicts" when General Petraeus went to Washington to meet with the US House of Representatives and provide them with classified information and expert analysis of the situation in Iraq. Ms. Pelosi's spokesmen said that she just forgot about the meeting and didn't realize she had the conflict until that very morning. So I wondered if we should start up a collection fund so she could get a pda or blackberry or something. It just seemed like a pretty big deal to miss out on classified information from a four star general, especially at a time when Congress was debating including a withdrawal timeline in a war funding bill. Luckily I had an astute commenter point out that the Speaker probably already knew what the general was going to say, so there was no reason to grace him with her presence.

Well, now General Petraeus is scheduled to visit Congress again. Just like my commenter noted last year, Nancy Pelosi has already made up her mind as to what she wants the general to say:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Thursday not to "put a shine on recent events” in Iraq when they testify before Congress next week.

“I hope we don’t hear any glorification of what happened in Basra,” said Pelosi, referring to a recent military offensive against Shiite militants in the city led by the Iraqi government and supported by U.S. forces.

178th General Conference

This weekend is the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From lds.org:

The 178th Annual General Conference of the Church will convene in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, 2008. The Saturday general sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Sunday sessions will be held at 9:30 a.m. (which includes Music and the Spoken Word) and 2:00 p.m. The general priesthood meeting will be held in the Conference Center on Saturday, April 5, at 6:00 p.m.

In addition to television and radio, all sessions of conference are available online at lds.org