Still alive

Last week my unit had a big inspection, so I spent the last few weeks prepping for it.  This week, we are having an exercise, so I am on 12-hour shifts.

I swear my blogging will pick up next week... and it won't be about politics (probably)... I am so burned out on the election.

My kids are doing fine, though they still get to many stupid homework assignments.  Hint to teachers... if your homework assignment requires construction paper, and you aren't teaching Art, then chances are you are an idiot.

Oh, my 2 1/2 year old is potty trained.  She is some sort of potty training prodigy... she picked it up in less than a week.  Took my other kids ages.  Of course now I spend my time emptying the little kid potty bowl.

I need to start taking classes again, but I am procrastinating.  Going to have to get it over with... only a few more classes until I get my Bachelors degree.

Interesting tidbit:  I have written way more words, and done way more research, on this blog than I have done in my entire college career.

I rock

I just smoked some salmon.

It tastes awesome.

To the teachers... Stop the Stupid Projects!

To all the educators who read this blog.

Stop the useless projects.  Seriously, please stop it.  

Stop wasting my kids time coloring stupid stuff that has nothing to do with the subject.  

You think you are being creative.  You think you are making things interesting.  What you don't see is the hours my kids spend at the table, stressing over whether their glue smeared or their lines are straight.  You don't see the $100's of dollars we spend every year on poster boards, crayons, printer ink, felt pens, etc... 

If you really think my kids have too much time on their hands at home, just have them copy sentences out of a textbook.  They would learn more... and I wouldn't be cleaning dryed up glue off of my kitchen table as a result of a Social Studies project.

Thank you.

No worse than the experts...

The experts seem to be wrong at least half the time, so let me try my hand at a little economic forecasting.

False bounce.  The DJI isn't finished diving.  I predict a low of 7500 +/- 200.

That, and buy Siemens.  (Actually I bought Siemens last Friday at 62).  Even at 73, I think its a good long term buy.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am talking about.  Only follow my advice if you are a fool.

[update] the dude who predicted it all agrees with me.

From Bloomberg: Roubini Sees Worst Recession in 40 Years, Rally's End

Nouriel Roubini, the professor who predicted the financial crisis in 2006, said the U.S. will suffer its worst recession in 40 years, causing the rally in the stock market to ``sputter.'' 

via Calculated Risk

Obama will win

Obama will win the election.  Not a terrible thing.

The global recession is going to require the United States to start a massive jobs and infrastructure program.  Taxes will have to be raised.  Health care for the unemployed will have to be sorted out.  These are all things that the Democrats are much more poised to handle.  McCain's heart just wouldn't be into it.

I seriously wonder if we are witnessing a paradigm shift.  I predict in 20 years, this election was the year that the business/corporate world switched allegiance from the Republicans to the Democrats.

I think we might see a break-off of the far left from the Democratic Party, which will eventually start to be viewed as the new center.

The Republican party will need to take the next four years to re-identify itself.  I imagine that Palin will play a big part in its turn to social conservative populism.

The mystery to me is what affects the changing demographics will have on the parties.

Whatever happens, I definitely see the United States listing to the left politically.  Good or bad, well that's for the history books to decide.

Irony

Palin is said to have abused her power by "failing to act" to prevent her private citizen husband from lobbying to have an Alaskan State Trooper fired, after the trooper tasered an 11-year old, threatened to kill his father, and drank on duty.

Meanwhile, not a word in the media about the "coincidence" that Obama lobbied to get his wife's hospital a $1 million dollar earmark after his wife suddenly received a 250% raise.

Keeping it real.

UPDATE:  J.D. Fisher, from the excellent blog Text Savvy, links to the orginal report in the comments, confirming part of my analysis above.

Cheering the Crash

I have a guilty admission to make.

I love that the market is crashing.  I started cheering out loud today when the market went below 8,000.

I had cashed out of the market last year right before I moved to Alaska, to pay off some debt.  Now I am about to start buying again.

Things are going to get pretty bad, but Alaska will do better than most places. I have a government job and my wife is a recession proof nurse.

Interesting times.

Media Watch

MSBNC's headline is: "A legislative committee's investigation concludes GOP VP nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her authority in firing public safety commissioner."

Wrong.  The investigation found that the firing was lawful.  It says she abused her power by not doing more to stop Todd Palin from advocating for Trooper Wooten to be fired.  Big difference.

Idiot reporters.

Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority

Nuff said.

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/552393.html

In the second finding, Branchflower says Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten was not the sole reason for his dismissal but that it was a "contributing factor." Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority.

First snow

October 5th, and we already have our first snow of the year.

Time to put up the bikes and break out the snow suits.

Time Magazine does a hack job on Governor Palin

From Time magazines attempt at objective reporting, Palin's Pipeline to Nowhere? By MICHAEL WEISSKOPF AND NATHAN THORNBURGH/ANCHORAGE.

Over the past 25 years, the average Alaskan has received roughly $1,200 from the state each year. When fuel costs spiraled out of control in rural Alaska, instead of focusing on suggestions to help rural residents weatherize their homes or develop small-scale renewable energy sources, Palin wrote every Alaskan a second check for $1,200.

I guess the hacks reporters investigating in Alaska don't bother to watch or listen to local news.  Otherwise, they would of heard the countless mentions of the three energy conservation programs sponsored the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation: the Home Energy Rebate Program, Weatherization Program, and the Second Mortgage Program for Energy Conservation.

The U.S. Department of Energy even highlights Governor Palins programs on their website.

July 2008

Alaskans endure some of the highest energy costs in the nation, but they are seeing some relief, thanks to legislation signed by Governor Sarah Palin in May. The measure provided $300 million to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) for three programs to help Alaskans reduce energy bills and make their homes more energy efficient.

The Anchorage Daily News did a story about how popular the rebate program was a few days ago.

With a fresh infusion of $60 million into the state's Home Energy Rebate Program, thousands of Alaska homeowners are clamoring to receive home-improvement rebate checks worth as much as $10,000, creating an unprecedented backlog and leaving many people frustrated and stressed with the process to get a piece of the big state giveaway.

I would wager to say that this program was more successful than anything that Barack Obama has done to improve energy conservation.

Doggone it Joe, you lost...

Ok, Palin finally redeemed herself.  Maybe it was low expectations, but it's clear she got more positives out of the debate than Senator Biden.

Predictions:  

- Obama will still win (sorry, it's just to big of an uphill battle)

- Palin set her self up as a heavy favorite to be the first woman President (in a few years)

- You will shortly see a youtube clip of Joe Biden about to cry

Bottom line: I still can't vote for McCain because of the bailout vote, but I will write in Governor Palin's name.  (Don't worry, I live in Alaska.  I won't affect the outcome of the race)

To Ellis

That was pietastic...

ha ha

Not voting this year

Well, I swore I wouldn't vote for anyone who supported the bailout, so I am skipping this year's election.

Too bad.