California High Speed Rail Study

“California will receive a $2.34 billion slice of the $8 billion of federal stimulus funds earmarked for high-speed rail projects, more than any other state. But that is only a sliver of the $42 billion it will need to build an 800-mile line to carry the nation's first 220-m.p.h. trains.’

This is nuts.  California can’t afford the other $40 billion.  The Federal Government can’t afford the other $40 billion.  So why not try and use the $2 billion (by the way that is a lot of money) for something that will produce tangible results as opposed to maps, feasibility studies, and environmental analysis for this project that will not happen in the next few decades.

Schwarzenegger commented on how great a partner the Federal Government is.  Are you kidding me?  This is one bankrupt entity trying to kiss up to the bigger bankrupt government.

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A minor role in a minor film

Variety review of the movie New Low at the Sundance Film Festival

Toby Turner has a minor role in this minor film at the Sundance Film Festival is going to be a star.

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I wish we had reporters like Abrose Bierce today

"The Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad companies had received large loans from the U.S. government to build the First Transcontinental Railroad—on gentle terms, but Collis P. Huntington persuaded a friendly member of Congress to introduce a bill excusing the companies from repaying the money, amounting to $130 million (nearly $3 billion in 2007 money).

In January 1896 Hearst dispatched Bierce to Washington, D.C. to foil this attempt. The essence of the plot was secrecy; the railroads' advocates hoped to get the bill through Congress without any public notice or hearings. When the angered Huntington confronted Bierce on the steps of the Capitol and told Bierce to name his price, Bierce's answer ended up in newspapers nationwide: "My price is one hundred thirty million dollars. If, when you are ready to pay, I happen to be out of town, you may hand it over to my friend, the Treasurer of the United States".^[6] Bierce's coverage and diatribes on the subject aroused such public wrath that the bill was defeated. Bierce returned to California in November."  Wikipedia article

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A bankruptcy process for the states

Here is an excellent WSJ article on California’s financial woes.

We need to establish a bankruptcy process for the states immediately (there is no provision today).  This needs to be done in Washington and it needs to be done well.  California as well as other states are incapable of cleaning up their own problems and the longer we wait the more trillions it will cost.

But public sector unions are too powerful in Washington today.  So what are we to do?

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It is time for the National Enquirer to win a Pulitzer Prize

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704509704575019123220714044.htmlIt

David Perel the former editor of the National Enquirer tells about their breaking the story of John Edward’s affair and his paternity of their baby.

The National Enquirer used to be derided for their sensational headlines but now they are sometimes discussed as candidates for a Pulitzer Prize.  And their investigations tend to be far more expensive to conduct, frequently involving sexual indiscretions and lies from politicians and celebrities.   And don’t forget the legal and financial risks they face if they get the facts wrong.

Many will suggest that this stuff is nobody’s business.  And I would agree it is nobody’s business except when a politician lies about it to me.  Because if you lie to me once then I don’t believe you from that point forward.  So if John Edward’s simply stood up and said “my extramarital sex life is my business and I am not going to talk about it”, I would respect that position.  But of course Edwards would then not get elected.  But if you lie to me then you can not represent me.  And it is really only the National Enquirer that is relentless in pursuing these liars.

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If you liked the movie you'll love the book!

Book Review for The Blind Side

Many of us loved the Sandra Bullock movie The Blind Side.  And so I bought the book by Michael Lewis – and it was terrific.  A slightly different and more detailed story of Michael Oher’s rise from from a homeless teenager in the Memphis ghetto, with virtually no education to a starter on the NFL Baltimore Ravens.

But at least half of the book is about the changing salaries of NFL offensive lineman since the free agent system was established in 1992.  For a former offensive lineman (not very talented) it is a great explanation in the changing strategies of NFL football from a run-dominated game to a pass-dominated game.  And with that came salaries for offensive lineman that are sometimes the highest on the team.

A great read.

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Attempted Murder

Why is the jail time for attempted murder less than for murder?  Are we rewarding failure?  The intent is the same.  If the perpetrator was more competent, he would have completed the murder .  It just seems to me that if you try to murder someone you should spend the same amount of time in prison as if you had “succeeded”.

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