Odious Occupiers from Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This is not a pretty picture.

"County workers removed 200 pounds of human excrement from where Occupy Santa Cruz protesters encamped. Occupy Wall Street protesters defecated on their doorsteps, residents of lower Manhattan complained.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg evicted OWS squatters from Zuccotti Park because he feared public health was threatened by outbreaks of lice, scabies and lung disease. Health officials in San Francisco also feared disease might spread to the community from the OWS encampment there."

As more and more of the truth about the Occupy protests comes out, public opinion is turning on them. And it shouldn't be a surprise. Those my age have seen this act before from the hippie generation, of which I am a part.

"Who'da thunk a protest movement composed largely of ignorant and arrogant rich kids with no coherent agenda who deliberately disrupt the lives of working people, urinate and defecate in public, steal from street vendors and assault old ladies and little children would become unpopular?

Most normal people would have. Prominent liberals didn't. Why not?

Aging liberals have a romanticized memory of the protests of the 1960s, when they saw themselves as standing up to the establishment -- before they became the establishment."

I share much of his frustration with those aging liberals who still seem stuck in the 1960s.

Odious Occupiers from Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

IPFW Then Colts And Maybe a Doritos Super Bowl Commercial

I posted this blog entry below on July 6, 2011 about Lindsey, a former IPFW Cheerleader who is now an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. She recently tweeted a link to a video in which she appears that has been submitted to Doritos: Crash the Super Bowl contest. You can check back on January 4, 2012 to see who the five finalists are and vote for your favorite.

Here is the video link from Lindsey:  Who Is Holding Your Doritos?
__________________________________________

IPFW Cheerleader Is Now Colts Cheerleader

This News-Sentinel story 2 local women set to cheer for Colts caught my attention when I noticed the mention of Lindsey who last academic year was an outstanding member of the IPFW cheerleading squad. I wish her success as she pursues her dream in Indianapolis and continues as a student at IUPUI.

Interestingly I also have a connection to Erin from Decatur through a co-worker.

Colts' Best Options Exclude Manning | Kravitz in indystar.com

This opinion by Bob Kravitz in the Indy Star is now a week old but maybe even more timely now that the Colts are 0-11 making it almost certain they cannot avoid this decision. Kravitz lays it out for all to see and contemplate.

I still can't wait though to see how Andrew Luck approaches this. If he would take the John Elway path and refuse to play for the Colts, I would not blame him at all because I don't see a lot of upside for him following Manning as the Colts' QB.

Kravitz: Colts' best options don't include Manning | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Privatize the Nation’s Mail Delivery - The Washington Post

George Will discusses the impossible financial situation of the United States Postal Service raising two questions in my mind.

1. Am I the only one who didn't know that the mail used to be delivered seven days a week?
2. Would our nation as we know it really end if we don't get mail on Saturday (and maybe other days of the week also).

Privatize the nation’s mail delivery by George Will in The Washington Post

Obama's EPA Killing Economy | Washington Examiner

This should not surprise anyone coming from an administration that considers the environment as something else out there that does not include our families and communities. We were warned that they would subordinate human needs to every environmental concern, no matter how questionable.

"And let's not forget that Jackson works for a president who before he was elected promised that his environmental policies would 'necessarily cause electricity prices to skyrocket.' "

This is not an accident. The current administration thinks that choking our economy by starving it from the energy it needs is necessary and proper to meet the goals of the environmental extremists. I respectfully disagree. I think families and communities are also part of the environment and deserve the opportunity to thrive within the world we live in.

Obama's EPA is killing the economy with costly rules | Washington Examiner

Signs of Life in the U.S. Economy - Irwin Kellner via MarketWatch

This is the first sign of hope that I have seen reported in US economic activity in quite some time. Let's hope he is right. It could make for a more cheerful holiday season and a much brighter 2012.

"Prosperity may not yet be just around the corner, but a growing number of economic statistics suggest that growth is shifting into a higher gear.

It’s not 'Happy Days are Here Again.' It’s not even 'Morning in America.' Rather, it’s more like the glass is no longer half empty — it’s half full.

What makes this step-up in economic activity even more interesting is that it is occurring just the way the textbooks say it should."

Signs of life in the U.S. economy - Irwin Kellner via MarketWatch

How Is Tea Party Different From 'Occupation'? via The News-Sentinel

Kevin Leininger in his typical straight-forward fashion really nails what this is about. When you consider that local governments have absorbed $13 million in increased costs to date that taxpayers must pay, then it is time for this to be brought to an end.

"The reason for that is obvious to anyone willing to take an honest look at both movements – one of which seeks political change through peaceful legal means while the other seeks economic redistribution through social disruption, mayhem and, if necessary, lawbreaking.

How behaving like fools and thugs creates prosperity is, of course, a mystery. But the Occupy movement has defined itself just that way, even as it claims to have no single spokesperson or message. For any group that claims 'the 99 percent' possess too little because 'the 1 percent' has too much, 'socialistic' is about the most charitable description that applies.

And when Occupy Fort Wayne tells followers that 'We need to be loud, we need to be unafraid to commit acts of civil disobedience when necessary to further the cause,' should anyone doubt that the $13 million tab will grow in the months to come?

So apparently local governments can continue to spend taxpayer's money for such wasteful exercises. And ordinary citizens can continue to worry about their rights to go to work, to school, to shop, and other common activities of daily life being disrupted or denied by a vocal minority.

How is the tea party different from the 'occupation'? via The News-Sentinel

Gingrich’s Brave Words on Immigration - The Globe and Mail

I don't watch the Republican debates because I think they are a horrible way to evaluate and judge candidates for the Presidency. But I am not surprised that Newt Gingrich is surging in the polls because he can debate although that doesn't guarantee that he would be a great President.

This Globe and Mail commentary credits Gingrich for having the guts to talk about the need for immigration reform in the US and suggesting an approach that I have not seen before.

I admit that I like to see any candidate take on the issues with some original thinking and proposals instead of just playing it safe and taking the safe path at every opportunity so as to never offend anybody.

Gingrich’s brave words on immigration - The Globe and Mail

How Can Camping in Parks Be Stopped After Occupy Precedent?

Ric Runestad is part of the group that reserved Headwaters Park on November 5 forcing the Occupiers to move from there to Freimann Square. In this Letter to the Editor in the News-Sentinel he asks a very valid question. From now on how can the City of Fort Wayne insist that everyone else and every other group abide by regulations in using our city parks and other properties?

"First, speech is free, as is our city's facilities, if you are a leftist organization working in lockstep with a Democratic mayor. However, speech is costly, $510 a day at Rothschild Pavilion, for example, if you are conservative.

By working with the Henry administration in what is intended as a lawless uprising, OFW has demonstrated it is nothing more than an adjunct of the city's ruling Democratic Party. To provide your side organizations with free uses of city property, which you charge your opponents to use, amounts to little more than open corruption.

If OFW can use the pavilions for free, why should anyone ever pay for them again? The mayor's office has established a precedent that you don't need to sign the required agreement, have the needed insurance or pay the fee and that you can even stay in our parks at night for free.

How can the mayor's office stop people from camping in the parks without authorization now that OFW has been allowed to?"

If you support the Occupy movement and think his group's actions in reserving Headwaters Park was just a grandstanding move, then consider this question. Would you still support the Occupiers if they decided to take over and camp out in Parkview Field next summer?

We are a nation and city of laws, not of men. And on this issue I think the Henry administration has completely failed the citizenry at large.

Community Voice: How can camping in parks be stopped after Occupy precedent? | The News-Sentinel

Vince Lombardi Quote via Franklin Covey

Winning is a habit.

Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs.

Watch your beliefs, they become your words.

Watch your words, they become your actions.

Watch your actions, they become your habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

- Vince Lombardi

First Thanksgiving Day Without Dad

Dad lost his battle with complications from Alzheimer's Disease on July 20, 2011 so this our first Thanksgiving Day without him. In fact I don't recall any Thanksgiving Day that I never made it back home so I believe this will be the first Thanksgiving Day in my life that I have not had Dad with me in person. But I am sure that I will feel his presence still with us today.

All four of our kids will be here to celebrate the Thanksgiving Day feast that Sue has getting ready for Noon. Sue's Mom will walk from her house just two doors down to join us. And later today I will drive out to pick up Mom so she can be with us for a couple hours during our second meal late this afternoon.

Mom also suffers with Alzheimer's Disease so she is still living at the memory care facility that she had shared with Dad after we moved them there on September 1, 2009 until his passing. I suspect this will be a pretty difficult day for Mom but you can't always be sure what to expect from her on any given day due to the disease process.

I am not sure whether or not this will be a really difficult day for me. I have adjusted to not having Dad with us but I missed him more on Veterans Day than I had in weeks. That was just a couple weeks ago so I feel okay now.

However difficult today turns out to be, I am sure the most difficult time for me will be as we gather to say grace and remember those who have gone before us and bestowed upon us so much of what we have to be thankful for today. That is when I will be thinking of Dad the most and thanking him so much for all the long years of hard work and sacrifice that he willingly endured for all of us.

Numbers Games and the 1% by Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell criticizes the media demonizing the 1% by noting that people move up and down through income brackets throughout their lives based on a countless number of factors. Age is one such factor. Our economy is very dynamic and so are income trends.

"Currently we are hearing a lot in the media and in politics about the "top one percent" of income earners who are supposedly getting an ever-increasing share of the nation's income.

That is absolutely true if you are talking about income brackets. It is totally untrue if you are talking about actual flesh and blood people."

Numbers Games via Jewish World Review

Chevy Dealers' Spat Threatens Kelley Chevrolet Move

I have been wondering why all the dirt has been pushed around at the former Seyfert's Potato Chips property in the southwest quadrant of the I-69 and Lima Road interchange. Now I know. Kelley Chevrolet is planning to relocate there from its historic East State location to satisfy a mandate from GM. Unfortunately that location runs afoul of an antiquated state law as pointed out by the other Chevy dealer in Fort Wayne.

I suspect that Kevin Leininger is correct that somehow GM will broker a deal. But this state law should be repealed. It is another example of how laws are often passed solely to protect existing business to the detriment of competing businesses and to consumers as well.

Chevy dealers' spat threatens Kelley's move north | The News-Sentinel

Educational Improvement Key to Economic Development

Michael J. Hicks is Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and Associate Professor of Economics at Ball State University. He makes an impassioned argument in the News-Sentinel that good jobs and economic development require a high quality workforce which in turn demands a high quality educational system.

"The quality of the workforce matters more than anything else in the long haul of economic development."

"If you live in a school district that is below average in achievement and below average in achievement growth, you had better get angry. If the school does not improve in two or three years, vote with your feet and move. If you stay, expect the value of your home to decline and the local economy to shrink."

What's more, there are no quick easy answers.

"Fixing schools, paving roads, building sidewalks, sprucing up parks and cutting government waste are hard, long, inelegant and thankless tasks – but are the ones that really matter."

Long, steady educational improvement is key to economic development | The News-Sentinel

Users Still Using Extremely Weak Passwords

And #1 on the hit list is still "password." Seriously?

This demonstrates again that the biggest security challenge for dedicated network security officials is combating the threats facilitated by lazy and/or ignorant users.

I have dozens of userid/password combinations for my work-related accounts and for my personal online web accounts. I admit maintaining and remembering secure and varying passwords for each is challenging if not impossible. That is why I am trying out an application called Password Safe and so far my experience is favorable. I will report back on it in more detail in an upcoming blog post.

123456: The Worst Passwords of 2011 via PC World

City of Los Angeles offers buy off to Occupy L.A. via latimes.com

What? You have to be kidding me.

"If the Occupy L.A. protesters will just leave their tent city at City Hall, officials promise to supply them with offices. And a farm. And a place to live, for the homeless demonstrators who have drifted over to the encampment from skid row."

So are they going to buy off every group with a gripe, real or imagined?

Buying off Occupy L.A. - latimes.com

Occupiers' war on police - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This is a very disturbing report from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If you have read and researched those who are really driving the Occupy movement, it should not come as a surprise. Who would not expect that George Soros is funding a lot of groups involved in the Occupy movement?

Nevertheless this is scary in many respects. The Occupy movement is hoping to unite radicals, socialists, and anarchists with union activists and other leftists to insure Obama's reelection in the short-term and the dismantling of our capitalist free-enterprise system in the long-term.

It doesn't take much to imagine with what they want to replace it. Why the average American would buy into it is hard to believe. But again with the Mainstream Media not reporting what is really going on, who knows what can happen over the long haul.

Occupiers' war on police - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pipeline decision will weaken Obama from the Ottawa Citizen

Here is an interesting view from north of the border of the Obama decision not to decide on the Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election.

"Folly is too kind a word for this decision. It is the crassest pandering to a tiny minority of Americans whose demands run demonstrably contrary to U.S. interests. And even that electoral calculation is misconceived, for it will weaken, not strengthen, Barack Obama."

Why should we proceed with the pipeline?

"There is no prospect of reducing Americans' consumption of oil in the short to medium term without a painful and unnecessary decline in their standard of living. Most of the alleged alternatives to oil are simply no real substitute for its unique properties, especially as a transport fuel.

Alternative sources of oil exist, but they tend to come from far less desirable places than Canada - think Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Those places have lower environmental, human rights, labour and rule of law standards than we do. Less oil from Canada doesn't mean less consumption, just nasty sources of oil.

Moreover building the pipeline would unleash a torrent of American economic activity, chiefly in the depressed construction industry. Trade unions, one of the constituencies most assiduously courted by President Obama, were vociferous in their support."

"But the decision to punt the Keystone decision until after the 2012 election was not based on the merits of the proposal, nor on a reasoned assessment of America's interests. Instead the administration kowtowed to a coalition of NIMBYists and green activists whose arguments were embarrassingly thin."

Pipeline decision will weaken Obama

Newt Gingrich Will Fight The Media That Has Him In Its Sights - Investors.com

I think most observers understand that the Mainstream Media can't wait to serve as the PR arm of the Obama re-election campaign team. Any Republican challenger in the primaries who is gaining momentum will be their target and it goes without saying that the eventual Republican nominee to challenge Obama will be subjected to a gauntlet of media smears and attacks to undercut any Republican momentum as often as necessary.

I don't know if Newt Gingrich has a realistic shot at the Republican nomination. But one thing I know is any campaign in which he participates will be a lively one and interesting to watch. And as this story relates Newt Gingrich understands that the media is prepared to do all in its power to defeat him or any other Republican candidate. I also think that of all the potential Republican nominees Newt Gingrich is the best equipped to counteract that threat.

Newt Gingrich Will Fight The Media That Has Him In Its Sights - Investors.com

Bureaucrats Playing Dangerous Game via The News-Sentinel

This story by Kevin Leininger in The News-Sentinel is so typical of what often appears to be dysfunctional behavior by our local elected officials in the city and the county. I was never convinced that the purchase of Citizens Square and its costly renovation were necessary or in the best interests of the taxpayers of either the city, county, or both and I am a taxpayer in both.

When you add to this the delays and questions about The Harrison and now the recent disclosure by the city of cost overruns for the renovation of Citizens Square amounting to several hundred thousand dollars conveniently not mentioned until after the recent municipal elections, I hope you can understand why I am very concerned about the ability of our local elected officials to act in the best interests of its citizens. I certainly get no warm fuzzy feelings about any decisions forthcoming on how to best utilize all the millions of dollars becoming available in the Legacy Fund.

Bureaucrats playing a dangerous game of 'chicken' by Kevin Leininger inThe News-Sentinel

'Follow Those Kids!' via WSJ.com

I understand their goals and their leftist beliefs but it is hard to understand how the Mainstream Media thinks all they need to report about Occupy Wall Street is their sanitized and romanticized view without adequately reporting the crimes and other threats to public safety not to mention added public safety costs and the damage to the daily lives of small businesses and normal people who are just trying to make a living day to day.

Where is it stated that a group's right to free speech allows them to take over public property and even private property in some cities without regard to the rights of any other citizens or private property owners? Why should the City of Fort Wayne allow a small group to take over public property without paying the fees required of any other group? Why should they be allowed to remain on public property at no expense to them but at expense to city taxpayers?

If you want to exercise your right to free speech, then have it. But don't expect me to agree to pay for it or to willingly accept you trampling my rights to go about my business because I have a right of association which also means I have the right to choose not to be associated with you.

Any movement that celebrates Mao, Che Guevara, and their ilk and draws the moral support of Hugo Chavez and the involvement of Obama friend and communist revolutionary founder of the Weather Underground William Ayers is not one I can support.

I have seen this act before dating back to the 1960s with hippies and peaceniks and violent revolutionaries and a lot of this comes out of the same playbook. Anarchy is not a solution to anything and I have always believed that if things really start to fall apart in US society, the US population at large will choose dictatorship over anarchy.

'Follow Those Kids!' - WSJ.com

Occupy Wall Street Fizzles | NYPOST.com Editorial

This New York Post update reports how influential and heavily involved union leaders are in the Occupy movement leading more credence to the theory this is just another leftist attempt in concert with the Obama re-election campaign to seize on any opportunity to galvanize support for Obama because his repeated policy failures have turned off much of the electorate and the far-left is abandoning him for not doing enough quickly enough to turn the US into another socialist state.

Occupy Wall Street fizzles—Editorial - NYPOST.com

The Great Pipeline Sellout by Charles Krauthammer

Charles Krauthammer cites examples where Obama has made decisions based solely on his calculations to boost his chances in the 2012 election without regard to our economy, our chances to decrease our dependence on hostile suppliers of our energy needs, and our national security.

• Delay of the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election ostensibly due to concerns about a major aquifer already crisscrossed by thousands of miles of pipelines despite its boost to the economy from thousands of good jobs and increased energy independence.
• Decision to wind down the Afghan surge in October 2012 in the middle of the fighting season against the recommendation of every military adviser putting our gains won with a lot of blood at risk but timing it conveniently in the month before the election.
• Pledge to veto any debt agreement that was not long-term meaning long enough to get beyond the election.
• Pressure on Solyndra to delay its planned announcement of layoffs and business failure from October 18, 2010 until November 3, 2010 amazingly right after the 2010 election.

Obama’s politically strategic inaction from The Washington Post

Summit League Volleyball Championship at IPFW

Friday and Saturday IPFW hosts the Summit League Volleyball Championship at Gates Center to determine who represents the Summit League in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

IPFW enters the tournament as the #2 seed with an overall record of 21-8 and a conference record of 14-4. The semifinals on Friday match #1 seed North Dakota State vs #4 seed Oakland University at 5:00 pm followed by #2 seed IPFW vs #3 seed Oral Roberts University at approximately at 7:30 pm.

The 2011 Summit League Volleyball Championship Preview provides information on each of the four competing schools.

If you have never attended a women's volleyball match, why would you attend this weekend? Because this is women's volleyball played at a very high level of competition. These are the four best teams in The Summit League which earlier this month was ranked as the 13th best volleyball conference in NCAA Division I right behind the Mid-American Conference and above such highly-regarded conferences as the Big East, the Atlantic 10, and the Horizon League.

Summit League Volleyball Ranked 13th

North Dakota State is currently ranked 45th in NCAA D-I. IPFW is ranked 68th. They split 1-1 in their two matches this season. In the 2009 championship final IPFW upset North Dakota State in Fargo to earn IPFW's first NCAA D-I tournament bid. In 2010 North Dakota State survived several match point opportunities by IPFW in the 4th set to win 3-2 again in Fargo. But there is no guarantee that either team will be there Saturday night for what would be a highly-anticipated rematch of those last two conference finals since all four teams will be very competitive.

So this year the championship will be decided in Fort Wayne. This is a great opportunity to witness women's volleyball played at a very high level in Fort Wayne. Take advantage of this opportunity to come out to IPFW to support the Lady Mastodons.

The Stupidity of "Buy American" - John Stossel

The push to ''Buy American" sounds good but it might often cause negative results to everyone involved. I think it is understandable to "Buy American" when everything else is equal, but when that is not the case I am going to buy the product that provides me with the most value in terms of quantity, price, availability, and all those other factors that play a part in an economic transaction.

And we also have to be careful not to make judgments of economic conditions in other countries based solely on our perspective from our own culture and economy.

"The same applies to so-called sweatshop-free products. I'm for free trade, but trade means you get the lowest price, and that might mean you buy something from what some people call a sweatshop. The name itself conveys abuse.

Henderson says that's wrong. The workers aren't abused.

'In fact, they're better off taking those jobs. ... The mistake Americans make is they think they would never work in a sweatshop and therefore they say these people shouldn't. Well, no one's offering those people green cards. Those people are stuck in those countries. They're choosing their best of a bunch of bad options. And when you take away someone's best of a bad option, they're worse off.'

That happened after Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa complained about sweatshops in Bangladesh. Some shops closed. Then Oxfam discovered that kids who were laid off often turned to prostitution to support themselves.

'The person who tries to get you fired is not your friend,' Henderson said."

The Stupidity of "Buy American" - John Stossel - Townhall Conservative

Obamacare Is Bigger than Roe v. Wade | Cato @ Liberty

"In any event, the Supreme Court has now set the stage for the most significant case since Roe v. Wade. Indeed, this litigation implicates the future of the Republic as Roe never did. On both the individual-mandate and Medicaid-coercion issues, the Court will decide whether the Constitution’s structure — federalism and enumeration of powers — is judicially enforceable or whether Congress is the sole judge of its own authority. In other words, do we have a government of laws or men?"

by Ilya Shapiro

Obamacare Is Bigger than Roe v. Wade | Cato @ Liberty

Ernie Els PSA for Autism Speaks

I often listen to the local affiliate of ESPN Radio where I occasionally hear a PSA (Public Service Announcement) for AutismSpeaks.org featuring professional golfer, Ernie Els. It isn't the most remarkable PSA that I have ever heard, but for some reason it sticks with me and still moves me emotionally whenever I hear it.

If you have never heard it, you can watch the video of it here.

Autism Speaks PSA - Ernie Els

The FCC’s Plan To Bring The Internet To The Poor

This is another give-away plan that I don't have major heartburn over but I sure have some misgivings about it. I know similar programs are already in place to provide cell phone service to low-income households so this idea is nothing new. But I guess there are no longer any limits to what the rest of society is expected to provide to others. Remember that ISPs provide this subsidy from income generated by sales of broadband service to other customers so those other customers are in effect paying for this.

For one thing low-income does not necessarily equate to living in poverty especially when so many monetary benefits are now provided by a myriad of programs that are not counted as income. And eligibility is based on enrollment in the school lunch program but only if you don't already have broadband service. So if you have already decided on your own that broadband service is a priority for your family, you don't qualify for this subsidy even if you are more deserving than many of those who do qualify.

And then we again have a questionable use of statistics.

"How much of a difference does Internet access make? A lot. Genachowski cited a Federal Reserve study that 'found that students with a PC and broadband at home have six to eight percentage point higher graduation rates than similar students who don’t have home access to the Internet'."

I don't question that statistic. What I question is why anyone would assume a causal relationship based simply on that statistical finding.

The FCC’s plan to bring the Internet to the poor | ZDNet

Colts Blame? Chris Polian, For One | Bob Kravits in Indy Star

Well the Indianapolis Colts are now 0-10 and we are already hearing all the bad jokes that at least the Colts won't lose next week (since they have a bye week). Although a bye week is always the most dangerous time for a coach under fire, I really don't expect anyone to predict that Jim Caldwell will be released now.

Sure, I question a lot of what I have seen with the coaching, not just this season but prior seasons too. But I don't see Irsay making a change and I don't see how any other coach could make a significant difference with all the weaknesses that the Colts display every game. And if they don't win their next game against Carolina, I see no way for them to avoid an 0-16 season.

Bob Kravitz of the Indy Star pointed his finger to where he believes the problem begins two weeks ago when the Colts were 0-8. This article was not popular within the upper reaches of the Colts' hierarchy for obvious reasons, but I think he makes a lot of valid points.

If you haven't seen this yet, take a look.

Kravitz: Who's to blame for 0-8 Colts? Chris Polian, for one | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Protesting Could Harm Job Opportunities via MarketWatch

Should this be a surprise to anyone? If you are involved in anti-business rallies, that just might hurt your chances for getting employed by businesses.

"It’s not a good idea to get arrested while searching for a job. A potential employer may believe that getting arrested shows bad judgment, which could take the candidate out of the running."

Gee, really? Well welcome to the real world where your actions can and do have consequences that might last the rest of your life. Duh!

"Dan Rottenstreich, a 28-year-old political organizer for Unite Here, participates in labor strikes often. He admits that his political activities may lead to him being labeled as a troublemaker by some potential employers.

'I’m sure my activism has closed a lot of doors,' he said.

But he also noted that young people can learn a lot of life skills from participating in social movements, skills that could be valuable in the workforce."

I guess he is serious and not joking.

Protesting could harm job opportunities - MarketWatch

Experience Counts in Presidential Race - Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly makes a serious argument that a lack of political experience is a major handicap for a presidential candidate like Herman Cain.

"Barack Obama has a strong legal background, but little hands-on policy experience. That has caused him major problems, especially with the economy.

Because the president believed he could combine economic growth with social justice, he did not listen to opposing points of view. And here we are three years later with massive economic pain.

The lesson is that experience counts. Like Obama, Cain is forceful yet accessible. Millions of folks like him and that for which he stands. But truthfully, Cain simply does not know enough about the world to formulate specific future strategies. If he were elected to the presidency, he would have to rely on a bevy of advisers — just like Obama."

Experience counts in presidential race from BostonHerald.com

Libya: Democracy Is Impossible | Opinion by Walter Williams

Walter Williams, an economist at George Mason University, throws cold water on the expectations that Libya is now headed for democracy. He provides a history lesson of how foreign our practice of democracy in Western civilization is to the rest of human existence, both in the past and in the present. It originated with the Magna Carta in England in 1215 and its development continued through the enlightened thinking of Europeans over the centuries that followed.

"The Magna Carta served as inspiration for other instruments of personal liberty, such as habeas corpus and bills of rights, and five centuries later served as inspiration for the U.S. Constitution."

He then makes a bold statement that can be used to argue against much of what we have been doing in the Middle East for the past decade.

"What should the West do about the gross violations of human rights so prevalent in North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere? My short answer is to mind our own business. The only case in which we should interfere with Middle Eastern affairs is when our national defense or economic interests are directly threatened. That is, for example, if Iran were to meddle with Middle Eastern oil shipments or if we discovered good evidence of its building nuclear weapons, then we should militarily intervene. What they want to do to one another is none of our business."

Democracy Is Impossible via George Mason University and Creators.com

NYC Woman In Medically-Induced Coma After Struck With Falling Shopping Cart

This just makes me sick. The lives of the victim and her family are changed forever. What do you do with the perpetrators of a crime like this?

NYC Woman In Medically-Induced Coma After Struck With Falling Shopping Cart | Fox News

Cafe Owner Sacks 21 Employees Due to Occupy Wall Street

That's the problem with living in reality. When we mature (if we ever do), we realize that in the real world our actions always have consequences. And our irresponsible actions have negative consequences. And those negative consequences always hurt those who are most vulnerable first and the hardest.

Milk Street Cafe Owner Sacks 21 Employees As Consequence Of Occupy Wall Street Demonstration | CBS New York