How powerful media COULD be

Some weeks ago, the CBS show "60 Minutes" did a 20 minute segment on our US Congress and their individual ability to trade in stocks with "insider information." So what happened next? Nearly immediately, the President mentioned creating a law prohibiting it and now, just a few weeks later, Congress has created just such a law, making that kind of thing illegal. Finally, our representatives can't benefit any more than they already do from being in Washington. Just like that, nearly. This is evidence to me of a couple things. First, it shows, as the title says, just what, exactly, COULD happen if we truly did have an engaged, working, searching media in washington and across the country--from Washington, DC to every state house and every major city in the nation. I've written here before about how our own Kansas City Star occasionally--but not nearly frequently enough--researches important, piercing articles about our governments, either city, county or state. Here, CBS News rather "blew the lid" off a dirty little Washington secret and made some change. In the following weeks, however, they did articles on truffles, for pity's sake and turned back into an 'infotainment" source instead of maintaining higher, more important standards. Even now, if you go to the CBS "60 Minutes" website (link below), you'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to find the video from their insider trading segment. I know I couldn't find it. To actually find the video, I had to go to YouTube. You'd think CBS would be proud--very proud--to have both come up with that story and made change in Congress and the nation. On the contrary, they seem rather ashamed of it. They've buried it on their site. I think it's easy to assume that they don't want to be "too controversial" for the Senators and Representatives in Washington as they want them as "good friends" and on their side. They don't want the people in Washington to see them as "enemies." So here's evidence of how the old, big networks could help the people and nation get better government. The fact is, it likley isn't going to happen. CBS and the other networks will "lay low" and continue to give us pap and, again, "infortainment" instead of hard news about our government, our officials and the corporations that run this country. In the meantime, we have to go to other, harder sources for good, dependable information. I believe better sources for this information will arise if we demand it, as we must. Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/us/politics/house-passes-bill-banning-insider-trading-by-members-of-congress.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha24; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/house-passes-insider-trading-bill-153829455.html; http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Some history of Black History Month

Entertainment overnight

Are we this old?

"Know your rights"

Man, I'd love to go

Complete information here: http://kcstarlight.com/concerts/james_taylor.aspx

Someone in town is three million dollars richer, apparently

According to a friend's post on Facebook just now, the Royal Liquors store at 103rd Street here in town--Kansas City--sold the $3 million winning ticket that was drawn last evening for the Missouri Lotto Lottery. Start checking those tickets, folks.

Kansas City, barbecue and Debbie Gold in "Taste of the NFL"

There is an article right now in Forbes Magazine on "Super Bowl's 'Taste Of the NFL' - The Best Food Event You Never Heard Of" and apparently, the city's own Debbie Gold of the American Restaurant represented our fair city. This is, as you might guess, an annual event and charity fund raiser--for food banks across the country--that takes place before the big day, in the host city, and has for the last 21 years. A description: "every one of the NFL’s 32 teams picks a chef, restaurant and dish they think represents their hometown taste, and these are all assembled under one roof. Each chef gets a stand and serves up a small plate, accompanied by a carefully chosen wine paring (you can go back as many times as you want). Also, each team sends an ambassador, a current or former player, to man the booth, signing autographs, and in many cases, talking food with the guests." It was also covered on NBC's "Today" show, for that matter. (see links below) According to the article: "The Kansas City Chiefs honored their legendary hometown BBQ heritage with Cider Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onions." Ms. Gold said of it "This is one of the years best events and I am proud to be a (sic) part of it!" So no, of course our team wasn't in the Super Bowl--as if--but at least we were represented here--and very well, I'm sure--by Debbie Gold, the American Restaurant and some great Kansas City barbecue. Many thanks to Ms. Gold, the Chiefs and the American Restaurant for representing us so very well, I'm sure. Links: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/02/09/super-bowls-taste-of-the-nfl-the-best-food-event-you-never-heard-of/2/; http://www.tasteofthenfl.com/index.htm;

"Recent history" lesson: George W. Bush started Detroit's bailout

Okay, here it is, your "recent history" history lesson. News out today shows: Bush would "do it again" on auto bailouts Former pres. tells dealers it prevented “21% unemployment.” He started it. Now-former President George W. Bush began the Detroit auto company bailouts, okay? And he did it because adding all those millions of people to the unemployment lines would have been horrible--really bad--for the entire country. Added to that, we likely would have lost those industries and all that production and not gotten them back, once gone. So let's have no more of that nonsense about this current president being the one who started this big spending spree and that he's a Socialist, trying to take over and/or buy everything up by the government. It's nonsense. It didn't happen. It isn't happening. It's unfair. It's patently wrong and untrue. Could we move on now? To other problems we need to solve? Please? Link: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bush-would-do-it-again-on-auto-bailouts.html

If we get an aquarium even half this good

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

I saw this video last evening and thought, if the aquarium at Crown Center is even half this big--and good--we'll have a great, new asset to the city. We'll see. (Of course, there's also the one we are to get in Mission, too. Near the new Wal-Mart. Right.)

On doing your taxes online now

If TurboTax is free and H & R Block is free (for doing your taxes online) and you're not from Kansas City (because, after all, you would want to support a local company otherwise, right?), how do you know whom to select, anyway?

Quote of the day

“Some people think that you can’t let same-sex couples get married without changing the definition of the word 'marriage.' When we let openly gay people join the army, did we have to change the definition of the word 'Army'? Did Rosa Parks make us change the definition of the word 'bus'?It’s one thing to blame the Bible for your bigotry, but don’t blame the dictionary.” --Bill Smith, attorney, California

Entertainment overnight

I've always been a sucker for Vivaldi. And his "Four Seasons." And Venice (though I haven't been there yet). And violins. And so many things European.

How about if we kill THIS kind of welfare first?

From Senator Bernie Sanders (Indep., VT) Facebook page: "From '08-'10 General Electric made $10.46 billion in US profits, paid $0 in federal taxes, received $4.7 million in tax rebates, spent $84.35 million on lobbying and laid off 4,168 employees. Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, is also the head of President Obama's 'Jobs Council'". Source: http://publicampaign.org/sites/default/files/ReportTaxDodgerLobbyingDec6Final_rev.pdf

Happy hump day

Enjoy your day, y'all.

Quote of the day

"One of our two major parties, the Republicans, has become an insurgent outlier—ideologically extreme, contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime, scornful of compromise, unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science, and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition." — Thomas Mann, of the bipartisan Brookings Institution, and Norman Ornstein, of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, in the forthcoming book about Washington dysfunction, ‘It’s Even Worse Than It Looks'

Oh, pardon me--about that budget deficit?

From Fox "News", last evening: Budget deficit shrinks to $349 billion in last four months The U.S. budget deficit registered at $349 billion for the last four months, marking a $70 billion decline from the same period a year ago, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Huh. First much higher employment numbers last week and now this. Maybe that guy in the White House isn't so stupid after all. Link: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/07/budget-deficit-shrinks-to-34-billion-in-last-four-months/

Bradley Manning up for Nobel Peace Prize?

This is big news. Army Private Bradley Manning, originally "arrested in Iraq on suspicion of having passed restricted material to the website Wikileaks"...and then "charged with a dozen crimes from transferring classified data into his personal computer to aiding the enemy" has been nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. THAT'S going to upset a lot of people. At the same time, it will make a lot of others happy, too, the ones fighting for his release. Last note: one thing I find additionally very interesting about this is that Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is for freeing Mr. Manning. Links: http://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/hero-or-traitor/; http://www.BradleyManning.org

Legislators funnelling money through "earmarks"

There is a 2nd of two great articles today The Washington Post has put out. The first told of legislators in Washington who funnelled money to projects that they themselves own property close to, thereby likely increasing the value of their own property, of course. Nice, huh? No surprise, right? Our own example, out of Missouri is the one and only Republican Todd Akin, bless his pointy little head and it falls under the first category--funneling money to property near his own.

From The Washington Post: Earmark near personal property: $3.3 million Between 2005 and 2009, Akin helped secure $3.3 million to upgrade part of Route 141 in his district west of St. Louis. Less than a half-mile east of Route 141, Akin and his family own nine acres. Akin's family has applied to construct six homes on the land. His spokesman said Akin's land had no bearing on his support for the earmarks. "It is going to be helpful as a connector but not helpful for residential property values whatsoever," he said. Anyway, the 2nd article, today, tells of legislators who funnel "earmarks"--read: money--to institutions and organizations that--surprise!!--their own family member happens to run. I'm certain--like you, I'm sure--that it's purely coincidental. Right? On the far more positive side, it mentions our own Senator Claire McCaskill for sponsoring a bill to eliminate earmarks, yet again. Yay, Claire! Go get 'em. It'll stick one of these days. We're behind you. Links: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/capitol-assets/public-projects-private-interests/; http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/capitol-assets-some-legislators-send-millions-to-groups-connected-to-their-relatives/2012/01/10/gIQAyrzdxQ_story_1.html

Yet another wasteful, Republican screw-up out of Jeff City

Missouri's sleepy little beauty contest vote today for the Republican presidential primary hit NPR today: Why Missouri Voters Have The 'Beauty Contest' Blues (see link below) While they're pointing out why so many Missourians don't care, I hope you saw Steve Kraske's article on why it was so pointless and really a Republican waste of our money out of Jefferson City: Missouri primary debacle is costly (2nd link) Links: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/02/07/146535729/why-missouri-voters-have-the-beauty-contest-blues; http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/03/3409159/steve-kraske-missouri-primary.html

Jefferson City corruption via "campaign contributions"

There is a terrific read right now over at a blog I don't think a lot of people in town are familiar with--The Turner Report. It usually has a great deal of stories about Joplin and its tornado clean up---but not today. Check it out: On a clear day, you can see corruption in Jefferson City Link: http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-clear-day-you-can-see-corruption-in.html

How did I miss this one?

The Republican conundrum

Eeny, meany (and I do mean meany), miney... "Lesser of two evils," indeed.

Quote of the day

Think you understand how many earthquakes Japan had last year?

What would you think? 2? 6? Well, check this out. This guy--StoryMonoroch, whoever that is, over in Japan, apparently--put together this graphic to show just how many earthquakes the island nation of Japan suffered through last year. You truly won't believe it. Have your sound on, too, because he added that to the graphics as well. And please be patient. Yes, it's in Japanese but just wait. When they start hitting, you'll know it. January alone is a surprise, sure. But just wait until March 10. Then stay tuned, too. Don't quit. It's fascinating, if a bit disturbing. Yikes. What those poor people have been through. Links: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/fukushima-nuclear-crisis-update-for-january-3/blog/38925/; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16795329; http://gma.yahoo.com/japans-nuclear-exclusion-zone-shows-few-signs-life-131155854--abc-news.html

Todd Haley lands on two feet

Former Kansas City Chiefs head coach lands his next gig: Report: Haley Steelers’ next offensive coordinator PITTSBURGH (AP)— The Pittsburgh Steelers will hire former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley to be their offensive coordinator, according to an ESPN report. The move, first reported by 610 AM in Kansas City, has not yet been announced. Haley will replace Bruce Arians, now with the Indianapolis Colts. Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-haley

In case you haven't seen it

The latest from the group OK Go Notes from the video: "The new music video from OK Go, made in partnership with Chevrolet. OK Go set up over 1000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took 4 months of preparation and 4 days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; Damian took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they'd play the right note no matter where they were struck." Philip Glass would be pleased, I think. This one, below, however, will likely always be my favorite. It was their first: Well, it will be my favorite until they top it. (To me, they haven't. Yet).

Kudos on you, sir

"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Well, that was fun

We love wierd but fun, right?

One finger, much bigger celebrity

I don't know about you but I was one of the estimated 111 million people worldwide who watched the Super Bowl last evening and I watched most of the whole thing. It was a good, close, fighting, scrapping game and you couldn't tell how it would end. I also watched the halftime performance. I thought it was great, if wildly decadent and that Madonna's entrance as a Greek (or was it Roman?) goddess was hilarious and maybe even a poke in the eye of the whole Super Bowl extravaganza with her maybe having fun with the modern-day gladiator aspect of it. Who knows? What we do know is that one of the performers--I refuse to name her here or put up her picture so she doesn't get yet further notice--"flipped off" the audience with that one middle finger. And with that one finger, she attained exactly what she wanted, too. Huge headlines. Lots of talk. Her name everywhere. Well, everywhere but here. It seems she took the old quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, that is "Well-behaved women rarely make history," to its extreme. I expect, in the future, at this same venue--and perhaps others--we'll have lesser-known performers trying to do more of the same, and for the same reason.

In case you missed Clint Eastwood's Super Bowl commercial

Now, as I've said here before, could we stop being this political party or that one, all be Americans again and work together as one country, one people and solve our problems? Please? New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said virtually the same thing today on NBC's "Meet the Press" from Indianapolis at the Super Bowl: