19.24 Billion

That is the amount of money that has been considered pork by several Republicans in this upcoming 900 Billion stimulus package. Here is a list from Senator Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Dept. of Energy defunded last year because the project was inefficient
• $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film
• $650 million for the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship)
• $448 million for constructing the Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters
• $248 million for furniture at the new Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees
• $400 million for the CDC to screen and prevent STD's
• $1.4 billion for a rural waste disposal programs
• $125 million for the Washington, D.C. sewer system
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion
• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities"
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings
• $500 million for state and local fire stations
• $650 million for wildland fire management on Forest Service lands
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs
• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service
• $412 million for CDC buildings and property
• $500 million for building and repairing NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service
• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the VA "National Cemetery Administration"
• $850 million for Amtrak
• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint
• $75M to construct a new "security training" facility for State Dept Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Its a good thing the democrats in congress are looking out for us right now...

Change 2009?

Being without power in Fayetteville for 5 days was rough. But, last Saturday afternoon power was restored to my area. It's good to know that after having power back for 54 hours, SWEPCO decided to go ahead and cut power off to half my apartment complex this evening.

The ice storm labeled "Jan 27 Ice Storm" by many utility companies really wasn't that bad. Only 3/4 to 1 inch of ice in most places. However, falling trees knocked out power lines to much of the NWA area. But these were not trees that have been around generations. Most of these trees were small ones, no older than 10-15 years. These trees were protected by the city because it wanted to be known as a tree-friendly city. They prevent trees from being trimmed around power lines because it exposes lines and it makes for ugly trees. 

The city of Fayetteville, has been a member of "Tree City USA" for 13 years and has only strengthened the grip of conversationalists on this area. To cut down a tree in your own yard, you are required to ask the Urban Forestry department permission. This department is made up of people who oppose growth, push for pointless higher taxes (Fayetteville, when including state/county taxes, has a 11.25% sales tax on hotels, motels, and restaurants), and push for "beautification projects" on the outskirts of town. 

Power companies recommend that small trees are placed no closer than 15 feet from utility lines, medium 30, large 40. By driving around this city you can clearly see, that the city of Fayetteville, does not abide by these recommendations.

In the aftermath of this storm, one thing has become clear; Fayetteville, AR, USA will not be included in the annual listings for Tree City USA. What a shame.  

Just so you know, I don't like to make up my facts. So for your viewing pleasure The City of Fayetteville, Landscape Manual.pdf

It is always good to know that events like the recent ice storm can be drasitically avoided when following proper guidelines given to us by our ultility companies.

And knowing is half the battle.

"With great mustache, comes great responsibility" - Peter Griffin

Time.com posted a great article by Michael Kinsley about what kind of President this country needs. Although, some of his finer points I disagree with, he makes a good overall arguement. We cannot elect a great leader. Our next President will either be the man we need him to be, or the man we do not need. We need a President who will do whatever is necessary, not popular with voters.

Edit: How about I link the article for you. 

Google

So Google came out with a new variation of its search engine. It has been out for a while but I've never visited it. It is called Google Scholar. It is way too cool. This applies a filter which focuses your search on papers in progress (like ssrn.com) and journal papers.

This makes writing a paper way to easy.

No title needed

From an Economics professor:

I hate stupid people

A friend of mine sent me an email that had been passed around. Luckily for this friend, he removed all the recipients that passed this along before it got to him.

Sometimes I wonder if people ever read these things a second time to see if they make sense. I really think that because the topic was Obama, people discredited it and forwarded it along to "help spread the word."

Subject: Hillary to Replace Biden

Can not verify this but it would not surprise me. (I received this from my aunt who was a bank president for many years and worked at the same bank for over 40 years)
 

Let me share some info with you that I have gotten from excellent sources within the DNC: On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2. There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the "health problem" cited in those articles was aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings. However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.

So, let's start mixing this one up and cut the Obamaites off at the pass - send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs - etc etc

If this is exposed before it comes about - we can beat Obama at his own game.

My comments are in red below.

Subject: Hillary to Replace Biden

Can not verify this but it would not surprise me. (I received this from my aunt who was a bank president for many years and worked at the same bank for over 40 years)  What is the point here? I really wish I could hit the "reply all" button and see if the orignal idiot could tell me.

Let me share some info with you that I have gotten from excellent sources within the DNC: On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2. Why would you time it then. It does not make sense. It would give Hillary more credit to be in the debate to pull the Palin supporters to the Democrat's ticket. Again, idiot thing to say. 

There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. Sure, you succeeded. Its on my blog, but only to critizize your stupidity. Now you've introduced "we." Who is we? Your aunt who is extremely knowledgable in politics thanks to 40 years at a bank? Maybe if you got better information from your source you could release "your information" to actual news sites.

 I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the "health problem" cited in those articles was aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings. However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is. "with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go.", So, now you are telling me that you had inside information that this was going to happen before "your source" in the DNC told you? You told us above that you found out about this from "your source" why wouldn't you mention that you've heard this elsewhere in the begining? It would give your statement more credibility.

So, let's start mixing this one up and cut the Obamaites off at the pass - send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs - etc etc

If this is exposed before it comes about - we can beat Obama at his own game.

I hate stupid people.

A Step in the Right Direction

The Arkansas Attorney General, Dustin McDanial, has won a great battle in keeping people who don't know better (see previous article posted moments ago!) away from high-interest payday lenders.

The only reason I would ever be a teacher one day

Gwen Moritz, an editor of the Arkansas Business publication, talks about what is keeping Americans financially ignorant.

I'm ready to open my own shop up considering how many friends call me for advice.

Obama plans to keep jobs here

I really do not visit The Onion enough, especially in an election year.

Fucking A!

There is no crisis forthcoming in the Housing Industry

The Bush administration is pushing to put regulations on Freddie Mae and Fannie Mac. What's that? Old news you say?

Well read this article and see how old this news really is.


Originally from Greg Mankiw's blog

Economic Doom

Dick Armey posted a great read talking about the impeding apocalypse if Obama gets elected. I cannot argue against anything he says in this article. The Fourth Horseman is the one I fear the most.

But, fear not. All we need to combat this evil is another Greenspan Commission with the end result being the destruction of this program and starting with the youngest people, a repayment of all their social security payments.

One man's Oil CEO is another man's Freedom FIghter

Larry is at it again and I'm glad to see more people are siding with the annoying "Drill, Drill, Drill" campaign by Kudlow.


We'll be alright as long as we don't dip into the Strategic Petroleum Reserves as one candidate has idiotically mentioned.

Constitution, Shmonstitution

Recently, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission signed a deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp. to drill on 11,500 acres of land. The five year deal provides the Commission $29.5 million with the option to renegotiate when the lease ends. The Commission, about as independent as an agency can get from the state government, has already been generous enough to share that money with the Oil and Gas Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality.

I may not be to fond of the Game & Fish Commission but they are entitled to spend the money as they will to improve the "Natural State."

However, Governor Beebe has demanded that the money be turned over to the state and be dolled out to many agencies that may not spend this money on wildlife/environmental protection.

In the article, Beebe even stated that he was willing to change the constitution amendments to get his way.

The big article can be found in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette for Wednesday July 30th and to smaller articles can be found here and here.

WTF?

So, if I were to ask you what you thought the letters NGR meant what would you say? Had this article not been pointed out to me, I would have thought it was an abbreviation of the Country Niger, or even worse, absolutely nothing. Abbreviations can mean anything our imaginations want them to mean.

I guess we can say goodbye to WTF (as South Carolina just did) MLF, GFD, FTW (5th definition), BLK, WHT, RED, YLW, etc. See, even I can make some normal letters to mean something wrong.

At least people support causes of such great importance. Especially these people

Power to the States

Texas approved a multi-billion dollar energy project to upgrade their power grid. This will help get electricity from the wind turbines to all corners of the state. This will be the main problem in the years to come and Texas has stepped up to the plate to get the ball moving.

Also, Even if T. Boone Pickens' plan doesn't work like he plans, he is pushing this country in the right direction.

Texas has been the Oil state for decades, now they will become the Wind state.

ManBearPig?

I may give Al Gore a lot of crap and I may not agree with his global warming theories, but I cannot disagree with him on switching to renewable sources of energy. I don't see us becoming 100% renewable in 10 years, but every bit counts. He also brings up a good point about state of the U.S. power grid,which I'm sure articles will be popping up about that in a few days. Check out his Generational Challenge to Repower America.

Maybe this guy should just lobby congress for help.

As expected, here is the response to Boone Pickens' plan for reducing oil imports (see below). I still support this plan, and I don't see how you can knock it unless you've got a better idea. Even if wind power doesn't fully replace natural gas, its still frees up resources at home to replace imports.

Begging from the tarmac.

So, over a dozen airline companies signed a letter sent to frequent fliers asking them to contact Washington and tell them that something must be done to curb oil speculation. I'm not sure which is worse, the airlines begging for help, or the fact that they are asking us to beg those folks on Capitol Hill

And even worse, Southwest Airlines is one of the signers. Its disappointing considering how much I've talked them up in a couple papers a few years back.

Funding the Wind Belt

We should never expect the U.S. Government to solve all our problems. Boone Pickens feels the same way. Although his idea may not be perfect, he is on the right track. I don't expect the U.S. to change overnight. I know me and my Tahoe can't, but every step we take is in the right direction.

I caught the tail end of his interview this morning on CNBC's Squawk on the Street.

Then, this evening, I found an article he wrote for the Wall Street Journal Tuesday morning talking about his plan.

Although he won't admit to the money he is investing, he's spending at least $10 million on ad campaigns that began airing Tuesday. I'd bet he's putting up over $250 million.

"Hold on a second Jared..."

Larry Kudlow is a brilliant man that I don't always agree with, and his "Drill, Drill, Drill" message, no matter how right he is, is starting to get annoying (anyone who watched CNBC this morning will know what I'm talking about). But I digress. He posted a nice little piece on his blog today that sums up McCain's latest two speeches. I'm glad McCain is finally figuring out this whole economic voodoo/witchcraft thing.