The retired "statesmen" Baker, Hamilton, O'Connor, have come out with their "recommendations for the Iraq war.
I've heard some of the recommendations and have not read any of the report myself but I don't need to to form the following opinions.
Why was there no military representation on the committee?
Second, apparently, a key piece of report is to encourage more diplomacy with Iran, Syria, et al. When will these duffuses ever come to the realization that diplomacy only works when the opposition knows there is a price to be paid if a resolution cannot be reached.
Iran and North Korea both know that the US will never invade their respective countries so what is their motivation to alter the status quo?
When we pull out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, the middle east leadership will all be fully aware that we will never go back in there to protect our national interest.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Football
As a UC football, fan I get somewhat perturbed by the media complaining about UC's lack of attendance.
Unfortunately, with OSU just north, there is a perception that all college football games must draw 90,000 plus per game, when in reality the OSU's are more the exception than the rule.
So I took it upon myself to look at the statistics for all division one footballs schools that share an audience with an NFL team and here are the results.
U. of Washington 57,483
Arizona State 54,562
Minnesota 52,206
Georgia Tech 50,617
Pittsburgh 43,305
Miami U. 41,908
Boston College 38,843
Vanderbilt 34,861
South Florida 30,222
San Diego State 29,227
Northwestern 27,996
Houston 21,910
Cincinnati 20,373
Tulane 18,942
Univ. Of Buffalo 16,417
Temple 15,810
SMU 15,428
Of particular interest to me is Miami University. A perennial power they drew a whopping 41,000 fans this year. That number includes the FSU game that drew 71,000 people. If you kick that out they drew a paltry 37,000/game.
Many of the schools on the top of the list draw as a result of large fan bases from the opposition attending games (ie OSU & Michigan fans going to Minnesota)
It's apparent that teams that share football space with the NFL face a difficult time in attracting fans to the games. Maybe the Bearcats need to follow the lead of the Reds and host a Dave Curry bobblehead night; they would probably draw 35,000 to the games
Unfortunately, with OSU just north, there is a perception that all college football games must draw 90,000 plus per game, when in reality the OSU's are more the exception than the rule.
So I took it upon myself to look at the statistics for all division one footballs schools that share an audience with an NFL team and here are the results.
U. of Washington 57,483
Arizona State 54,562
Minnesota 52,206
Georgia Tech 50,617
Pittsburgh 43,305
Miami U. 41,908
Boston College 38,843
Vanderbilt 34,861
South Florida 30,222
San Diego State 29,227
Northwestern 27,996
Houston 21,910
Cincinnati 20,373
Tulane 18,942
Univ. Of Buffalo 16,417
Temple 15,810
SMU 15,428
Of particular interest to me is Miami University. A perennial power they drew a whopping 41,000 fans this year. That number includes the FSU game that drew 71,000 people. If you kick that out they drew a paltry 37,000/game.
Many of the schools on the top of the list draw as a result of large fan bases from the opposition attending games (ie OSU & Michigan fans going to Minnesota)
It's apparent that teams that share football space with the NFL face a difficult time in attracting fans to the games. Maybe the Bearcats need to follow the lead of the Reds and host a Dave Curry bobblehead night; they would probably draw 35,000 to the games
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Who really gives?
I mentioned, back on Thanksgiving Day, a conversation my brother-in-law and I had about who is more giving.... liberals or conservatives.
John Stossel has a great article today about just that. Check it out...
"Americans are pretty generous. Three-quarters of American families give to charity -- and those who do, give an average of $1,800. Of course that means one-quarter of us don't give at all. What distinguishes those who give from those who don't? It turns out there are many myths about that.
To test them, ABC's "20/20" went to Sioux Falls, S.D., and San Francisco. We asked the Salvation Army to set up buckets at their busiest locations in both cities. Which bucket would get more money? I'll get to that in a minute."
John Stossel has a great article today about just that. Check it out...
"Americans are pretty generous. Three-quarters of American families give to charity -- and those who do, give an average of $1,800. Of course that means one-quarter of us don't give at all. What distinguishes those who give from those who don't? It turns out there are many myths about that.
To test them, ABC's "20/20" went to Sioux Falls, S.D., and San Francisco. We asked the Salvation Army to set up buckets at their busiest locations in both cities. Which bucket would get more money? I'll get to that in a minute."
Taxes, taxes, taxes
Just as a fun little exercise. Occaisionally I will review the statistics for my tax practice, here are some of these factoids
Our office prepared 551 individual income tax returns. These clients paid 5.4 million in federal income tax alone. In addition, these clients paid 1.1 million in state income tax.
40 clients had to pay Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). 333 itemized their deductions, 201 had capital gain income and 13 qualified for earned income credit.
When you break things down within a small little practice, it makes you think how large some of these numbers really are.
Our office prepared 551 individual income tax returns. These clients paid 5.4 million in federal income tax alone. In addition, these clients paid 1.1 million in state income tax.
40 clients had to pay Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). 333 itemized their deductions, 201 had capital gain income and 13 qualified for earned income credit.
When you break things down within a small little practice, it makes you think how large some of these numbers really are.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Trans Fat
For those who found it acceptable to escentially ban all smoking in the state of Ohio, Guess what? The health nazis will be coming after your vice soon.
Today, the NY health department banned cooking in all trans fat cooking oil effective July 1, 2007.
Doesn't it bother anybody that a government bureacracy with no voter accountability can establish such regulations.? Doesn't it bother anyone that the whole concept of personal freedom/personal accountability gets flushed down the drain with each and every one of these bizarre gov't actions?
By the way, has anyone watched a Hogan's Hero's re run recently? I was just wondering if they've edited out the prisoner's Red Cross packages because they included chocolate and cigarettes.
Today, the NY health department banned cooking in all trans fat cooking oil effective July 1, 2007.
Doesn't it bother anybody that a government bureacracy with no voter accountability can establish such regulations.? Doesn't it bother anyone that the whole concept of personal freedom/personal accountability gets flushed down the drain with each and every one of these bizarre gov't actions?
By the way, has anyone watched a Hogan's Hero's re run recently? I was just wondering if they've edited out the prisoner's Red Cross packages because they included chocolate and cigarettes.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Christians v. Muslims v. Secularists
Having read pieces by a number of prominent futurists, I've come to the following conclusion regarding the current state of the world.
Right now I truly believe the world is in a struggle between three factions of world view. There is currently a European secularist/socialism world view, a Judeo-Christian, free market world view and an Islamist/totalitarian world view. In subsequesnt posts, I will posit the distinctions between all of these.
The fact of the matter is, within the next century, one of these world views will dominate the geo politcal landscape. With the attacks on 9/11, the United States was forced into deciding which of these world views they will espouse and fight for; George Bush decided it was a Judeo- Christian free market world.
If you are the type of person that questions the value of the war and thinks our differences with Islamic fundementalists can be resolved through talking and "diplomacy"; you fall into the European secularist camp.
My prediction is that within the next 20-30 years most of Europe will be run by Totalitarian Islamic regimes.
Right now I truly believe the world is in a struggle between three factions of world view. There is currently a European secularist/socialism world view, a Judeo-Christian, free market world view and an Islamist/totalitarian world view. In subsequesnt posts, I will posit the distinctions between all of these.
The fact of the matter is, within the next century, one of these world views will dominate the geo politcal landscape. With the attacks on 9/11, the United States was forced into deciding which of these world views they will espouse and fight for; George Bush decided it was a Judeo- Christian free market world.
If you are the type of person that questions the value of the war and thinks our differences with Islamic fundementalists can be resolved through talking and "diplomacy"; you fall into the European secularist camp.
My prediction is that within the next 20-30 years most of Europe will be run by Totalitarian Islamic regimes.
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