Paying Dues

Documentaries

2011-03-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Blood into Wine -Apparently Arizona is an emerging wine center. This one follows the band Tool's Maynard as he explains the rigors of winemaking in a unique climate that is not traditionally associated with the vine. A lot of info about winemaking, great landscape shots, funny. Recommend watching this with Pinot Noir, duh.

Man on Radio in Red Shows -Garrison Keillor can make just about anything sound interesting in a relaxing sort of way. Offers a good look at all that goes into making Prairie Home Companion and of course praises the under appreciated far North. A lot of focus on average, real people. Recommend watching this on a rainy, contemplative day when you're a little more open-minded than usual.

Exit Through the Gift Shop -A Banksy documentary on the guy who sought to document Banksy. I think anyone can appreciate this one regardless of their knowledge of art, politics, Banksy, etc. At the bare minimum, it's fun to watch graffiti come alive. Ultimately, it offers an interesting commentary on art, street art, consumerism, etc. Recommend watching this with a mixed group.

180 º South -The protagonist travels down to Patagonia to meet up with the founders of both North Face and Patagonia. Several points of view and themes to this one. Largely a political message but travel/self discovery is prominent as well. Phenomenal landscape shots alone make this worth watching. Recommend watching this one late at night with a travel buddy/wife.

Tuition Increases

2011-01-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

A renewed case for increases in college tuition is gaining momentum. See Parliament's recent passage of a bill which significantly raises the ceiling on tuition and multiple states in the U.S. cutting funding for state universities. As usual, both Becker and Posner summarize the arguments for and against far better than I can so a visit to their blog is encouraged.

In general, I subscribe the to the school of thought that education is always good, particularly formal education in a university setting. The more educated a populace, the healthier the long-term economy. Not only do college educated people get better jobs, they create better jobs. So what better way to encourage education than to make it as accessible as possible? A free university education is unfortunately out of the question, so what's left? Low tuition. Why mess with that?

A university is only as good as its funding and the best funding is monetary. Public universities enjoy public funds or taxes. Long ago, someone imagined that it was to their community's benefit to promote education with public funds because an educated populace bring in more tax revenue via a healthier long-term economy. It worked. The problem with that system is that it is heavily dependent on public funds which from time to time dry up. The globe is in one of those droughts. Funding for public universities take up a decent portion of strained state budgets and at least for the moment, it must take a back seat to higher budgetary priorities. So why mess that? Sometimes you have to.

Both Becker and Posner make compelling arguments for a weaning off of public funding for universities. Discussion topics include include the increased stability that comes with greater budgetary diversity, the hypocrisy of having a college student attend a school funded by tax payers who are overwhelmingly non-college educated, and the arguments for further increased federal funds (Isn't it really a federal benefit since most university students do not live out their employment in that state) as state funds decrease.

The Lost Continent

2010-04-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

The thing about it is, when someone sets off with a tank full of gas saying that they are going to travel the continental United States at their own pace in search of something that they haven't really grasped yet and with no real plan, you shouldn't be surprised when they fail to write much worth reading. This was the fourth book of his I've read and unfortunately, I cannot recommend it. This reads more like a private journal than a travel book in that he spends the bulk of the ink griping about how dumb/fat/lazy the people he encounters are and how poorly planned/dirty/crime-ridden/backwoods the towns are. He says very little positive about anything. The worst part of all, is that he fails to get a grasp of the people or places because he was either too pretentious, too rushed, or too lazy to make an attempt. The best example that comes to mind is his treatment of the South. It reads as if he spends about 4 days in the actual South, yet has no problem listing all of its faults -which I suppose he learned while growing up in Des Moines and living abroad for 20 years. To sum it all up, the reader spends more time reading than Bryson did experiencing anything worth the ink and paper. I'm on the brink of two significant road trips, one North and one West, and I would hate to miss something because I went into the trips with no plans or goals in mind. That said, I'm making a list of things I want to take away.

A travel book that I would and have highly recommended is Blue Highways. The biggest difference between the two books, is that Heat-Moon actually gets out of the car and talks to people. Go outside. Experience it.

Confrontation

2010-04-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

It is inevitable that every so often you'll run into that guy who loves to talk about his exploits. He's the guy with the left over high school locker room mentality in full rage and cannot get enough of letting everyone know that he has a pair. This guy loves to ignore common courtesy and say just about anything in front of just about anyone just about anywhere he feels like it. Confrontations with these guys are tough, but from time to time, they are utterly necessary.

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was eating lunch with his lady and had the misfortune to be seated next to a table of these guys. Suffice it to say, the conversation was a distraction and all but ruined their meal. My friend really handled it with class. After giving them a while to get it out of their systems, he approached their table and asked them to cool it. He got the expected reaction but difussed the situation by telling that he and his date were only going to be there for a few more minutes and he'd appreciate it if they found something else to talk about in the meantime. End of story.

Confrontations with guys like that are tough for a few reasons, but mostly because they want the reaction. In my limited experience, the best way to handle it is just how my friend did. Don't give them the reaction they want; just tell them what they're doing and politely ask them to cool it. If they want to cause a scene, let it go. Even so, the whole thing can be embarrassing for your date. I'd recommend waiting until she goes to the ladies room, or if she doesn't, ask her to.

Discussion questions include: 1) Why is it important to take a stand in those situations? 2) What is your breaking point -at what point does is become necessary to say something? 3) What is actually worth fighting for, if it comes to that?

Lessons from T.R.

2010-03-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

I recently finished The River of Doubt: Teddy Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, which retells the events of the first decension of the River of Doubt and one of the earliest explorations of the Amazon's deep interior. The author discusses each of the team member's motivations for making the treacherous journey. Men have strange reasons for sticking something out long after they should have left it behind. Overall, this book is the story of a misearable trip made worse by many mistakes, poor planning and genuine bad luck. Anyone who has spent any amount of time hiking has a trip in the back of their mind when it all went to hell for the same reasons. The goal is to learn from it, laugh about it, but never let it happen again.

Recommendations for avoiding such disasters include: 1) stay hydrated 2) stay dry -no cotton 3) stay warm -don't skimp on a sleeping bag 4) bring extra batteries for the headlamp 5) check the weather report 6) get in shape before the trip -really good shape 7) bring a day's worth of extra food 8) research the trip -find someone else who did it or something similar 9) bring a morale booster -lifesavers, pocket flask, etc.

Hurricane Lake

2010-03-14T20:36:00.001-07:00

One of the first adventures my friend Ian and I had was a spur of the moment over-night trip up to Hurricane Lake. I got hooked pretty quickly. During the last year or so of undergrad some of us would head up there every so often. Nothing too incredible happened; we would just split some wood, talk about music and tell some funny stories. The important thing about it was that it served as a manageable escape from everyday life.

Men need healthy escapes. Modern society has us pretty well mapped out and for the most part, we lead nice polite lives, rarely venturing very far outside of the lines. This goes against our basic instincts and in order to maintain healthy emotional balance, something needs to be done. Whether it is a golf course, poker night or camping trip, men need time away from the everyday order of things. There's no shortage of literature out there saying just that. For a season of my life, Hurricane Lake was that for me. So last week when I found myself briefly on the verge of collapse, I was fortunate enough to have my friend Josh around to head up there with me. It had been about 3 or 4 years since I'd been up that way, but it remained the same. Given the everchanging world in which the modern man finds himself immersed, it is pretty great to have a spot like that to come back to.

Discussion questions include: What is bogging you down? What are some unhealthy/healthy escapes? What is it about those escapes that make them worth experiencing? Why are they important? Are they worth fighting for? What are some ways to communicate the need for healthy escapes to your wife/girlfriend/family?

Papa Hemingway

2010-02-27T08:19:00.001-08:00

Ernest Hemingway was a complex man. Like Teddy Roosevelt, he was a man who suffered from a insatiable desire to prove himself a man to the point that history has made him a caraciture of himself. That's what your mom dressing you as girl and telling friends that you were her daughter for the first years of your life will do to a man. He was one of the first celebrity outdoorsman and spent considerable time on safari in Africa. George Plimpton was interviewing him for an article about boxing, when Hemingway flipped over the breakfast table and demanded they spar in the kitchen. He spent years marlin fishing in the Gulf. One one occasion swore off a man's friendship because the guy got seasick. He survived two plane crashes. The list goes on.

The late Hunter S. Thompson wrote a piece shortly after Hemingway's death on why he chose to live his final years in Ketchum, Idaho. In the late 50's, Hemingway was forced to realize his poor health and the changing world around him. Cuba was over. Likewise, the Keys as he knew them were a memory. Paris had changed decades earlier. Thompson pointed out that the only place that had stayed the same was Ketchum, Idaho and its people. These were simpler people in a relatively isolated location. My dad lived in the capital, Boise, in the early 50's and he swears that you could drive 15 minutes from downtown and see deer and bears. In the last days, he drank too much and treated family pooly. He was nothing more than a mean, old man.

Discussion questions include: Was Hemingway hiding? Is there anything wrong w/ hiding? Was his rugged masculinity a cover? Is that kind of masculinity a thing of the past? What are the demons which might follow you around until old age? How do you want to age in your final years? How does that start now?

Louis Auchincloss

2010-02-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

"Louis Auchincloss, a prominent Wall Street lawyer from a prominent New York family who became a prolific chronicler of Manhatten's old money elite died on Tuesday night. He was 92."

Auchincloss is an inspiration to anyone with an appreciation for the law, etiquette, civility and literature. His tales offer a rare glimpse into the urbane, Ivy-league, partician lifestyle of the early Twentieth century. Perhaps most noteworthy, he offered a brutally honest glimpse of this slice of society. Furthermore, any successful attorney who also has time to publish over 60 literary works is worthy of this blog's attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/nyregion/28auchincloss.html?pagewanted=all

The Undesirable Characters

2010-01-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays I had the pleasure of doing more recording w/ my friend Ian. I think the final cut was 5 songs, recorded in the same fashion as the Old Custer EP. Ian and I played guitar, Ben Gibson played drums. This recording was entitled The Undesirable Characters.

Ian and I have been playing music together in some form or another for almost 5 years and it's no exaggeration for me to say that there is no other person I'd rather play music with. It's easy to take for granted the fact that he and I can sit back down after not playing for a months and pick up where we left off. I'd estimate that over the years we've worked on over 30 songs together. I remember reading something Chris Staples wrote in a liner notes of some album about how he didn't own a photo album or a yearbook, but he did have recordings that served the same purpose for him. Likewise, every so often it's nice to go back and listen to one or play a riff and have it take me back to a fond memory.

Ian Bowling, Fall 2005

Gifts and Heirlooms

2009-12-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was given two wonderful items. The first was a handmade, made in the USA, Case pocket knife that I'd been coveting for sometime now. The second was a 98 year old copy of South Sea Tales, by Jack London. I was delighted and honored to have been given both. Not long ago, a friend and I were talking about how we were beginning to appreciate gifts that last -things you keep around forever and eventually pass down to younger generations. These will certainly fall into that category.

The Old Custer EP

2009-12-17T20:52:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I recorded some songs with my friend Doug (Studio A Photography). Recording was done in the spirit of old jazz records, with one mic and no more than two takes, errors and all. These songs together make up the Old Custer EP.

4 Songs entitled...
1) Old Custer
2) Rebel Yell
3) Garden Party Samba
4) Rainbows (Chris Staples cover)

That's All He Wrote

2009-09-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

This blog has served its purpose. Over the last year and a half I've focused of a handful of topics and themes that were and are areas of personal interest to me and a handful of others. The writing has allowed me to examine these topics from various points of view and clarify my own position when needed. I offer a special thanks to those who contributed in various ways.

Fat of the Land

2009-08-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

I've steered away from discussing Health Care Reform thus far, but this post is the one exception and discusses alternative methods of reform, regardless of political viability. The two categories of Americans which represent the largest drain on the American Health Care System are 1) the obese and 2) the poor/uninsured. Politics aside, one of the advantages to living in civilized society is the ability to pool resources for a greater good, whether that is infrastructure or the sanctity of human life. Of course, the disadvantage is the pooling of resources for someone else's greater good; particularly, their health when they have taken little responsibility for it on their own. Some economists suggest taxing the obese, non-diet drinks, fast foods and/or calorie-dense foods as alternatives. Another possible alternative is an increased focus on dietary education in schools. The Economist has a good summary of issues involved in the discussion of obesity's burden on American Health Care at http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348945&story_id=14120903. Also, as usual, Becker and Posner have an excellent discourse on the subject in their Aug 2nd post, in which Posner gives particular attention to Tomas Philipson's work on the economics of obesity (See Becker-Posner blog under Various Items)

Discussion questions include which, if any, of these or other alternatives make sense? Should healthy non-Diet Coke drinkers have to pay a tax as opposed to obese Diet Coke drinkers? Do public school systems have enough credibility/success to take on the added role of health educators? Should obese people be directly taxed? What about the high correlation between poverty and obesety? Aren't the obese the least likely to be able to take on that burden? Are any of these alternatives politically viable? Why or why not? How does that reflect upon the level of credibility of elected officials and their ability to serve the people?

New Acquaintances

2009-07-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Although this post might have been a bit more timely before wedding and graduation season, it is never too late to brush up social etiquette, specifically first impressions. Last evening, a friend and I were talking about how frustrating it can be to be the outsider among a group of old friends at a party, reception, etc. Such situations present a rare opportunity for old friends to catch up with one another. However, that aspect can overshadow the need for common decency and general respect for others. It is all too often the case that an outsider, having mustered up the courage to approach a circle of folks and introduce himself, is greeted with awkward silence and puzzled expressions before the group continues their discussion having made no effort to introduce themselves or incorporate their new acquaintance into the conversation. Few things are so insulting and I have been guilty of this.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to take genuine interest in other people. James Michener said that the quality of a human life is determined by the different experiences which impinge upon it. There is no doubt that one of the best ways to widen your horizon is to take interest in others and see what they have to offer. An old latin phrase also comes to mind, "Uva Uvam Videndo Varia Fit" which roughly translates to a grape is changed by other grapes, meaning a life is changed by those around it. Tying it all together, new acquaintances present an opportunity to better shape yourself.

During the same conversation, my friend and I recalled a guy we know who embodies this lesson. I met the guy a few years ago in such a situation while he was the outsider. A year later, while home after my first semester of law school, I ran into him after not seeing him since. Sure enough, this guy remembered my name, that I was in law school in Jacksonville and showed a sincere interest in what I was doing. That was an isolated contact 2.5 years ago but it had an impact on me. Along those lines, I remember reading one of George Plimpton's obituaries a few years ago penned by several of his friends. All remarked on his exceptional tact and one in particular told the story of how he had been invited to a cocktail party at George's home when he was unknown and new in town. He wrote that as soon as he arrived, George greeted him and one by one, introduced him to everyone at the party so that the man would feel welcome. That is social etiquette.

Discussion questions include: How would I like to be remembered when I die? What kind of first impression do I wish to make? What kind do I actually make? Who are some people who have made an impact on me after after a single meeting? What was it about that person? What are some interests you have but have never chased? Who are some people who can help you with those?

Mentoring

2009-06-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

Men need other men. There are a lot of guys who are lucky enough to have had a positive father figure in their lives and even older male friends who provided a similar example on how to make wise decisions and live good lives. But it goes without saying that most guys did not. The statistics aren't hard to find; men who go through life on their own, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, have a tough road ahead of them. Don Miller uses the analogy of young male elephants and how without older male elephants in the herd, they become excessively aggressive until they literally cannot control themselves. Yet, with the company of other male elephants, they remain healthy and under control. There is a great deal of life experience floating around and it would be a tragedy to let it go to waste and choose to learn through unnecessary error. The truly tragic part is that by the time most men realize they need help, it is pretty late in the game a lot of damage has been done. This doesn't have to be the case. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have had someone there who threw out a rope have a duty to do the same for others. It is disgraceful for a man to reap the benefits of others' investments in his life, yet remain an island to himself.

Discussion questions include: Who are some men who have influenced you positively? Who are some men you respect? What kind of man do you want to be? What is keeping you from being that man? Who do you know that can help you be that man? What kind of man do you NOT want to be? Are you hanging around that guy? Why? Are the people in your life supportive of you being a better man? What are some huge mistakes you have made that could have easily been avoided? What is keeping you from investing in the lives of others?

Bar Prep.

2009-06-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading List

For the next two months I'll be occupied with studying for the bar exam. As such seasons in life usually require consolidation of one's activities, I'm using it as motivation to become more organized in all areas of my life. This mostly involves being very deliberate with my time, which is something I should have learned long ago. In a week I'll reach 25 years of age and as birthdays have a way of doing, I'm reminded that I don't have an infinite amount of time to achieve that which I desire and although I've had a great life thus far, there is much more I wish to accomplish. Here's to being deliberate with my time in order to make the most of life.

Federalism

2009-05-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Dr. David Alvis once told me that the history of the United States is a picture of the decline of federalism. Due to some misunderstanding of the term, I'll clarify that federalism is nothing more than the sharing of political power among local, state and federal governments. Thus as the shift of power has changed over the course of American history, so has the face of federalism. Note that the Federalist Party of the founding era advocated the increase in power of the federal govt., because at the time the federal govt had very little and the states had very much. In contrast, in modern political life the term federalist is associated with an increase in state power because states have very little and the federal govt has very much. Thus, understanding the term is to understand its context.

That being said, the history of the United States has been one of federal usurpation of state and local power. In contrast to libratarian extremists who believe this is due to a conspiracy, I believe this process has largely been the result of voluntary state relinquishment, natural disasters, natural economic fluctutations and war. In sum, the person with the biggest pockets cleans up the mess and everyone is happy when they do. The problem of course is that each new federal act creates growing precedent for the next, or worse yet, implies continued or permanant federal action, regulation or spending.

A great example of this usurpation is the continued use/misuse of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Two examples come to mind: 1) the recycling of bailout funds (http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/22/news/economy/TARP_money/index.htm?postversion=2009052209) and 2) the redirecting of funds to municipalities (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/business/26muni.html?_r=1).

What does this mean and why does this matter? Where do the bailouts end? Should they? Is there really such a thing as municipal government if aided/funded by the federal govt? Is a real recession a thing of the past? Is it the role of federal govt to protect the people from natural fluctuations in a free market? Would the mortgage lending crisis have been so devastating had it not been for federal regulation? Should the funds go to paying down the national debt rather than being recycled into the TARP? Which is a greater threat and to who? The growing interest paid on the national debt or an economic depression?

Advice I Wish I'd Had

2009-05-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

I find that my law school career is quickly coming to a close. Despite the inevitable dark moments, the last three years have been very kind to me and I know that I made the right decision in continuing my education. Looking back on my time in law school, there are many things I would have done differently and some I would have done the same. Everyone has their own unique circumstances which makes a general list of dos and don’ts less than perfect, but I’ve listed some advice I would give to those interested in pursuing a legal education.

1) It all begins with your undergraduate education. If you are in the rare position of knowing early on that you are going to pursue law, make sure you are attending an affordable school. Unless you are blessed with rare circumstances, student loans are a simple reality and there is absolutely no point in spending that money on an unnecessarily overpriced undergraduate education. There are exceptions, but they are just that. Also, pursue a major in which you can excel academically. The fact that your major really captivated you doesn’t matter.

2) Consider taking at least one year between undergrad and enrolling in law school to build your resume. If you come from a relatively unmarketable liberal arts background, as I did, consider joining the Peace Corp or Teach for America. Otherwise, get the most professional job you can and make as many connections as possible. If at all possible, consider volunteering with a Legal Aid office the summer before you enroll in law school. This will give you a great advantage in seeking legal internships after your first year.

3) Go to socials and mixers. Even if you are not a social drinker, make an appearance and an effort to speak to people. You don’t have to spend all night in an uncomfortable situation, but these events are an important part of the camaraderie and an hour won’t kill you.

4) During the first couple of weeks of class everyone is scared of looking like a fool. Accept that you are in a new situation and are a fool and do your best. Read the assignments, think about them, and volunteer for a case. This will free you. Don’t be scared to ask questions, but do so with respect for your classmates. Don’t waste others’ time.

5) Get Barbri’s first year course outlines. Study them during the semester; do not wait until 2 weeks before finals. Make an effort to find a study group but if it is not working, do not hesitate to leave it. Also, give up a few Saturday mornings to spend outlining during the semester. It will save you time during the crucial last days of the semester when the world inevitable comes crashing down.

6) Go out for Law Review, Moot Court or Mock Trial. This will involve sacrifice, but it puts you at a great advantage during the job search. This is very important.

7) Do not underestimate the value of work or volunteer experience. To an impartial employer, you are only as good as your resume so build it up. If you cannot find a paying position, as most first year students cannot, humble yourself and volunteer with an office. That additional loan is less important than making yourself more marketable. If at all possible, do a Certified Legal Internship. This will allow you access to the courtroom and surely set you apart from many other applicants when the time comes.

8) Don’t hesitate to go to a courthouse and watch a few trials. It's free training.

9) If your school has a bar prep course for credit, take advantage of it. It will allow you to book dozens of prep hours before your real bar prep begins in May and you will be that much ahead of everyone else. If the class is a GPA killer, as mine was, accept that. Passing the bar on your first attempt is more important.

10) If you are a Christian, join a men’s or women’s Bible study. College and Singles groups are okay but you need to be around older, wiser people with careers and real lives. There should be a clear distinction between your undergraduate and law school life and you need to leave the dignified youth group that is college ministry behind and pursue the next phase.

11) Monitor your relationships and the company you keep. If you are blessed to have truly loyal friends, make the effort to keep in contact with them. These people will keep you in check and be there for you when you are struggling. Don’t hesitate to break off relationships which are bringing you down. Some people mean well, but cause more harm than good. It is very risky to maintain relationships with these people. Be very careful about pursing serious relationships during this time. Many people can handle committed relationships while in law school, but if you are the type of person who dates for marriage and fully commits to a relationship, I would not recommend dating while in law school. The next three years will be hard enough without the emotional baggage that a break up creates.

Westerns

2009-05-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

I count myself blessed to be one of the men of my generation to have had a Dad and Grandpa around during my formative years. As such, I have countless memories of watching old Westerns with them. As much as I hate the idea of watching tv, I admit that it has its place and there is a legitimate bonding experience in watching westerns with other men. At the very least, these movies serve as motivation to reclaim a combination of masculinity and honor which is constantly fading. Here are ten of my favorite Westerns, in no particular order.

1) Lonesome Dove
2) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
3) 310 To Yuma
4) The Searchers
5) No Country For Old Men
6) The Proposition
7) Appaloosa
8) Dances With Wolves
9) Open Range
10) True Grit

Discussion questions include 1) what themes and morals are traditionally associated with Westerns 2) whether those themes and morals live on in other modern genres 3) whether the Western is outdated 4) why or why not and 5) why the Western was the dominate genre for so many years.

Enron

2009-05-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Smartest Guys in the Room is a documentary about the what and how of the Enron scandal. In general, it merely serves as an overview for laymen; the sheer mass of the scandal prevents adequate discussion in any reasonable amount of time. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to others interested in the energy market, deregulation, stock options and the stock market in general. This documentary reinforces the lesson of vertical diversification and reasonable investment strategies. In the modern world of personal finance, no one has any business betting their entire savings (or even a majority) on one market, let alone one company.

Return of Masculinity

2009-04-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Theodore Roosevelt, Freshman at Harvard, 1877

This is generally a continuation of an earlier post entitled "Etiquette." As was discussed, for generations it was the duty and privilege of older and wiser men to correct and educate younger men on the appropriate manner of conduct. Included in this was the concept of authentic masculinity. One of the simplist but most important ways of raising a man is tied to appropriate gift giving. Not so long ago, it was customary to give a young man a tailored suit upon graduation from high school. It was considered a right of passage which signified his place in the man's world. Other gifts might have included a shotgun, a pocket knife or a straight razor. At what point did it become acceptable for a college aged man to ask for a Best Buy gift certificate for Christmas, or worse, Graduation?

Furthermore, at what point did it become acceptable for man to own multiple seasons of Family Guy and Southpark on dvd and not know how to get a decent haircut or shave? At what point did it become acceptable for men to treat college as a period of suspended adolescence? At what point did it become acceptable for a man to curse in a lady's presence? At what point did it become acceptable for a man to refuse to commit to anything and retain the respect of others? At what point did it become acceptable for the average man to walk around with his chest puffed out ready to throw down over nothing because he is so insecure in himself and his skewed concept of masculinity.

A friend of mine recently remarked that a picture of masculinity is a gentleman who can throw a punch. There is a balance between attitude and action. There seems to be a small garrison devoted to reclaiming authentic masculinity. Along with the "Etiquette" tab, I've included a "Masculinity" tab which links to a popular site on the subject.

Small Steps

2009-04-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Backporch, Spring 2009

Horticulture is one of the more underappreciated joys in life. About a year ago I began a meager effort to add some life to my otherwise neglected backporch. From left to right are my Hibiscus, Rose bush (not sure which kind), Aloe Vera, Cana Lily and Dipladenia growing up the white fence.

Social Etiquette

2009-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

One thing that concerns me from time to time is the lack of social etiquette in the modern South. For generations a social code was passed down from father to son which taught young men the appropriate manner of conduct. But at some point older men stopped holding the line and the bar has been lowered significantly. In general, everything in modern culture revolves around our independence (no one can tell me what to do) and accomodating the least common denominator (we only work hard enough to keep up with the worst of the group). The result is that it has become more or less unacceptable or pointless to correct someone on their conduct. This is a tragedy. The code of conduct was not necessarily a means to keep others out, but rather a deliberate effort to maintain civility and honor among men. The book of Proverbs was written for the same reason. I would encourage others to make an effort to redeem social ethics and honor without arrogance or condescension.

I've included an etiquette tab under "Various Items" which directs to an excellent social etiquette site Ian recommended.

Six Songs, Six Friends

2009-03-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Six Songs, Six Friends is a project I plan to record soon. It is a collection of instrumental songs I wrote over the course of 4 years, some deliberately, some by chance. Each song is titled after the individual. I didn't set out with these particular people in mind for this project, it's just came about that way. I plan to include these narratives in the liner notes.

Julie will always be to me the embodiment of carefree summer days. The way she walked in the room, her laugh, her huge hair. I wrote this song for her birthday a few years ago; it seemed to me to capture her personality. I miss the carefree girl living in her downtown dilapidated Spring St. loft, spending lazy afternoons with me skating at Bayview.

I met Heather Charlene when she was dating my best friend and even after that ended I think I always viewed her as a sister figure. We never had the break-up by association that usually follows. She has been a loyal friend to me, talked me through a rough situation or two. She is both the grace and energy in the room, the firecracker in heals.

My friend Molly will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t know if she’ll ever understand what playing music with her has meant to me. I miss seeing her dragging that monstrous amp through my front door or hearing her laugh echo through a room. The twin sister I never had.

I’ve been close with Emily for almost 8 years. I remember her loyally coming to hear my first band play downtown shows when we were in high school, spending my birthday at the beach, watching her beat me to countless seashells, her joy at showing me how she finally learned to ride a bike and awkward/hilarious moments too great to name. She has meant so much to me.

Simon was a friend and co-worker of mine several years ago. He was a few years older than me but I looked up to him for more than just that. We knew one another for 4 years, enough time to see one another change a lot. Sometimes friends take wrong turns and all you can do is watch in despair. I miss seeing his old red cavalier pull up to the parking lot in the predawn hour. I miss the way he smiled while golfing those spring days.

Chris was my closest neighborhood friend growing up. We met a week before third grade and played with water balloons behind his house. I spent endless afternoons of my youth kicking soccer balls or exploring fishing holes with him. He was a scientist trapped in a boy’s body; he had the most diverse interests of anyone I knew. We stayed in touch until college but I haven’t seen him in years. I hear he has traveled the world, that he is married somewhere in China. I wish we still kept contact.

A Prayer

2009-03-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

I wrote a four word letter
with post-script in crooked lines:
"Though I'd lived I'd never been alive."
And you know who I am.
You held my hem as I traveled blind,
Listening to the whispering in my ear,
soft but getting stronger,
Telling me the only purpose of my being here is to stay a bit longer.
Stealing a bicycle chain as the handlebars crashed to the ground,
And the back wheel detached from the frame, it kept rolling,
aimlessly drifting around.

Oh, doubters, let's go down,
let's go down, won't you come on down?
Oh, doubters, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.

"Oh, but I'm so small, I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside of me?"
Look at your eyes....they're small in size,
but they see enormous things.

Wearing black canvas slippers in our frog-on-a-lily-pad pose,
We sewed buttons and zippers to Chinese pink silk and olive night clothes.
If you could someday stop by, somehow we'll show you the pictures and fix you some tea.
See, my dad's getting a bit older now, and just unimaginably lonely!

Oh, pretenders, let's go down,
let's go down, won't you come on down?
Oh, pretenders, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.

"Oh, but I'm so afraid" or "I'm set in my ways"
But He'll make the rabbits and rocks sing His praise.
"Oh, but I'm too tired, I won't last long."
No, He'll use the weak to overcome the strong!

Oh, Amanda, let's go down.
let's go down, won't you come on down?
Mama, Nana, let's go down,
down in the dirt by the river to pray.

A wick to fit the wax, wood to fit the wire.
You strike the match, why not be utterly changed to fire?
To sacrifice the shadow and the mist of a brief life you never much liked?
So if you'd care to come along,
we're gonna curb all our never-ending, clever complaining,
As who's ever heard of a singer criticized by his song?
Though we hunger, though all that we eat brings us little relief,
We don't know quite what else to do;
We have all our beliefs,
but we don't want our beliefs.
G-d of Peace, we want You.

Four Word Letter, mewithoutYou.

Irrepressible Conflict

2009-03-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Shelby Foote, 1916-2005

Now that we have 130 years of hindsight, did the war have to be fought?

There's a lot of argument about that. The fact that it was fought seems to me to prove it had to be fought, but even at the time, Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State, called it "an irrepressible conflict." And indeed, the differences were so sharp, especially by the extremists on both sides: the Abolitionists in the North and the Fire-eaters in the South. The differences were so sharp that there was scarcely any way to settle it except fighting. Just as two men can get so angry at each other, the only way to settle a thing is to step out in the alley and have a fistfight. People don't do that much any more. They're more apt to take some blind-side swing at somebody instead of a real fight. But I think there probably wasn't any other way to settle it. Now if we were the superior creatures we claim to be as Americans, we would not have fought that war, but we're not that superior by a long shot.

Discussion questions include: 1) what factors led to secession, particularly economic, 2) whether the original colonies would have ratified the constitution if they believed they could never secede, 3) what were the soilders (not necessarily the governments) fighting for, 4) whether it was a civil war or a war between two nations, 5) what lessons can be learned from the war, and 6) was there really a right/wrong side?

American Conservatism?

2009-03-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

The U.S. has a two party political system which allows for most, if not all Americans to identify themselves as "conservative" or "liberal" on various political issues. In other words, the one or the other party approach applies to more than party affiliation. What do these terms (conservative/liberal) really mean? Are they really synonymous with party-politics? Has the use of the terms changed over time? Because I come from the Bible-belt and have more experience with "conservatism," I'll address it, rather than "liberalism," though the same analysis applies.

There are generally three ways of defining conservatism. The first reasons that conservatism is a value system. This position is best illustrated in opposition to abortion because it is morally wrong. The second and third are closely related: The second reasons that conservatism is an approach method. This position can be illustrated well in government action; government should approach an issue with caution, deliberation and by the least instrusive means. The third reasons that conservatism is merely support for the status quo. This position can be illustrated by support for prayer in schools in the latter half of the 20th century.

Examination of any given political issue shows the problem with multiple definitions. Again, abortion is a telling example. The value system position would oppose all abortion because it is morally wrong to kill a fetus and would support federal action prohibiting it. In, contrast, the approach method would advocate state/local regulation and the status quo position would likely uphold the 30+ year federal precedent permitting abortion.

Regulation of firearms is another example. The value system position approach would oppose any federal, state or local regulation because guns are essential to the defense of a free people. The approach system position would generally oppose federal regulation due to scarce federal precedent, but in many instances would support state and local regulation. In contrast, the status quo position would likely oppose the massive increase in the manufacture and sale of firearms of the latter 20th century, particularly automatic weapons.

Lastly, domestic economics is an excellent example. The value system position would advocate virtually unchecked massive spending for defense and health, safety, morals programs (as long as they are the right kind), oppose tax increases on the wealthy as well as government welfare programs. The approach method position would likely reason that a shift in tax and trade policy every political cycle is impractical and would advocate greater stability, whatever it may be. Up until the last 30 years, the status quo position would have advocated for smaller national debt and deficits, but this is rapidly changing.

As usual, this is a very brief summary of a much larger topic that should be further examined. The purpose was to demonstrate how a "conservative" position on an issue can mean different things to different types of conservatives (social, economic, libertarian).

Law and Scripture

2009-02-17T16:48:00.001-08:00

One topic in Scripture which has consistently perplexed me is the interrelation of God and the law, whether it be natural, divine or man-made. As is the case with any post, brevity is crucial, but the issues come down to comprehending why/how 1) God chooses to give man law, 2) adapt the law to His will or 3) adapt the law to the culture of man.

An example of the first (devine/mosaic) is generally isolated to the Old Testament, specifically Leviticus. It is worth noting that the breaking of one law (eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil) led to the others. In general, it can be stated that God gave man these laws to provide loving boundaries (protection) and illustrate man's fallibility in contrast to God's perfect nature (reconciliation). The mass of divine law in scripture is simply overwhelming. One perspective on this is the absolute inability of man to function in his natural/sinful state, thus the need for God to provide so many regulations. In other words, the reader's frustration with the seemingly endless list of regulations should be transfered to chaotic state of man which requires such regulation.

An example of the second is best illustrated in the New Testament and the specific freedoms granted to believers through the belief in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One delimma which modern Western culture has generally avoided is the purpose of the law after the resurrection. In sum, our culture has known nothing other than grace and forgiveness without works, in stark contrast to the Old Testament and countless other cultures. The result is often our inability to appreciate the justification of continuing to follow divine law after Christ fulfilled it.

An example of the third is illustrated by an assortment of instances in both the Old and New Testament (cities of refuge, inheritance rights of daughters, divorce, regulations of orderly worship). This is the most confusing for me, personally. What are the ramifications of the modification of divine law? Does it mean that God made a mistake? Does divine law have to change with culture? In the vast majority of instances, I would say not, yet scripture provides clear examples. Note that when questioned on divorce by strict followers of Mosaic law, Christ responded that Moses provided the law of divorce because of man's hardened heart -inability to follow divine law. What does this mean in modern culture? What role does this reasoning play in political life in a democracy? Is there justification for voting for a law which allows for accomodations which contrast divine law?

Discussion of topics such as these always led to mixed results, uncertainties and fear. Unfortunately, many believers choose to simply disengage in order to avoid the type of contemplation which the early church struggled with on a daily basis; thus the need for the New Testament. This is particularly ironic of a culture of believers who hold the first century church is such high regard. The emergent approach (embracing open theology for the sake of its openess, avoidance of absolutes/authority) is discouraged. Topics and questions such as these are important and deserve deliberate, disciplined, and pier-reviewed study.

Gay-Straight Alliances

2009-02-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, Floridians were presented with the option of constitutionally defining marriage as between one man and one woman. As expected, this spurred quite a bit of public debate on the issue or the role of homosexuality in society. One important aspect which went relatively undiscussed was a modern evangelical Christian response to homosexuality, specifically the appropriate relationship and interaction among evangelicals and homosexual groups such as Gay-Straight alliances. Perhaps this dilemma can be best illustrated by way of an evangelical who voted "no" on Amendment 2, yet chooses not to support Gay-Straight alliances. If the voter opposes such government regulation, why would he/she oppose interaction with these alliances? Is there something inherently contradictory here?

First, we must note that there are difference kinds of alliances, thus blanket-labeling in such a case is problematic. The purpose of the alliance should offer some help. When the alliance/interraction serves a neutral purpose (a Christian man enters into a contract for the sale of goods to a homosexual man OR a Christian man and an openly homosexual man are both members of a group which advocates a neutral purpose, free speech ), there is little doubt that such interraction is inherently reasonable and appropriate. Nowhere does Christ suggest such isolation from the secular world.

When the alliance serves a non-neutral purpose, the choice should be examined carefully. If the purpose is directly linked with a person/group's self-identification with a willfully sinful lifestyle, that interraction is rarely appropriate for an evangelical Christian. Note that this position reasons that there can be relationships and friendships in the absence of forming an alliance because meaningful friendships are not reasonably based on one trait (here, homosexuality). In contrast, an alliance based on one cause/purpose can be completely reasonable.

Due to the complexity of the topic, several presumptions were made, specifically that homosexual behavior is sinful, homosexual behavior is a choice while homosexual tendencies may not be, and Gay-Straight alliances serve the directed purpose of promoting accceptance of homosexuality. Interesting counter-points include 1) whether opposition to Amendment 2 is also promoting acceptance of homosexuality 2) whether protection of marriage rights is a neutral purpose and 3) whether membership in a 'Vote No on Amendment 2' group (which certainly included homosexuals) is any different.

Small Beauties

2009-02-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

A few summers ago some friends and I were in an old house that someone we knew was house-sitting for. Based on the contents of the home, the man who lived there was one of the most interesting people around. For instance, he had a collection of Spanish cannon balls, antique bricks from various Pensacola area brick companies, a book he authored on the Everglades and a stuffed duck suspended from the ceiling. The list could go on and on. Needless to say, this man also had an impressive collection of sea shells and it inspired me to start collecting as well. I've lived in Florida my entire life and taken for granted certain conveniences that come with it, such as this. I've started with the common ones and will branch out from here. Nerd Alert, don't care.

1) Florida Cone
2) Florida Fighting Conch
3) Scotch Bonnet
4) Buring Turret Shell
5) American Sundial
6) Netted Olive
7) Calico Scallop
8) Atlantic Cockle
9) Santooth Penshell
10) Lettered Olive

State Farm's Exit

2009-01-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

"They call it Stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad..." -Stormy Monday, Traditional Blues Piece

As if reading that some 50k people lost their jobs yesterday, Floridian State Farm home policy holders got news today that they would be dropped within 2 years. After a particularly harsh series of hurricanes a few years ago, insurance companies found themselves in the precarious position of actually having to make good on their end of the deal. The fact that many of them found themselves grossly overextended/exposed in a risky market would seem shocking, had the federal government not just bailed out an entire industry for far worse behavior. State Farm took the biggest hit and is now financially unable to continue performance under their current rates. After an adminstrative judge ruled that State Farm could not increase its rates by 47% on existing policy holders, State Farm announced that it was leaving the Sunshine State.

While it's easy to take the absolutist free-market approach and reason that the government should not be allowed to force a private company to continue to do business in a poor market or limit their ability to alter their rates, a freedom of contract approach reasons that State Farm was never obligated to do business in Florida to begin with, and having placed themselves in a risky market and reaped the benefits for many years, they should not be allowed to essentially break their contract. Both arguments are valid, but I side with the latter.

What now? There is a lot left out there. Is the surviving home insurance market able to absorb the dropped policy holders? How is a policy different than a contract? Could the policy holders have so easily left their policy behind? What does this say about the nature of the insurance business? Doesn't the fact that State Farm had to create a separate company, State Farm Florida, for the inherently risky Florida market lead to the belief that this was always an option?

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/27/news/companies/florida_insurance/index.htm?postversion=2009012716

Andrew Wyeth, 1917-2009

2009-01-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

"Christina's World" by Andrew Wyeth (1948)

Long ago, McAurthor Elementary School decided to hang prints of classic American paintings throughout its halls and library. I suppose the idea was to familiarize young minds with classic art or maybe cause them to associate the paintings with their youth. I can only speak for myself, but it worked. This painting has a special place in my heart for many reasons, but I suppose the fact that I cannot look at it without recalling innocent and simple days of yore is the most important one.

Resolutions

2009-01-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Books
Eudora Welty, William Faulkner

Recreation
Learn lap steel guitar, continue my map collection, keep my rose bush alive, improve shooting -sport clays and target.

Health
Weights and cycle routine, take daily vitamins, floss regularly.

Spirit
Read Utmost for His Highest throughout year, be deliberately contemplative, be a man of faith.

Finance
With the exception of gas and groceries, buy nothing at list price. Shop local whenever possible.

Back From Holiday

2009-01-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

Southeastern dunes, Cumberland Island

The last 6 weeks of the fall semester were relatively stressful for a few reasons. Upon completing my finals a friend and I immediately left for Cumberland Island for a few days of backpacking as documented on facebook. I would have to say high points included close contacts with wild horses and eating wild tangerines for breakfast. Cumberland Island is such a beautiful place and I plan on taking at least one more camping trip there before I leave Jacksonville. My Christmas break was longer than usual and I spent a great deal of time in Pensacola with family and friends and enjoying simple pleasures such as reading only the local section of the paper with morning coffee, taking my parents' dog on a walk most nights, shooting clays, playing soccer/tennis, bocce and learning to play my lap steel guitar, shooting pool and catching up on Andrew Jackson research.

Points to Ponder

2008-12-15T07:22:00.001-08:00

Another couple of rounds of the auto-bailout have passed with little progress. Some questions to ponder: 1) What is the purpose of the bailout? In other words, what would be success? Would it be the successful reorganization of the big three into modern business model and profitable companies, or would it simply be deterring a bankrupcty filing until the economy has begun to turn around? 2) What role does party politics play? Is it really as simple as the fact that the UAW is rooted in Democatic states while the foreign-owned domestic plants are rooted in the traditionally Republican south? Is Obama so deep into the pockets of the UAW that he cannot abandon them when he is in office? What role does campaign finance play? 3) What is the scope of the federal government's power to regulate the economy? Note that economics is not given much attention in the constitution. Furthermore, is forcing foreign-owned companies to compete with an artificial market anti-capitalist? Doesn't it stifle the future of American industry and lead to a less efficient market? 4) What does another bail-out plan lead to? Where does it end? This is closely tied to the political element in #2. 5) Lastly, is bankruptcy really a viable option? Note that a requirement of a chapter 11 plan is that it be feasible. Is that possible without completely destroying the unions? Could it survive while upholding their pension plans but slashing everything else? Is the argument that failure of the big 3 will lead to a mammoth collapse in the domestic economy credible? Does it really stand to reason that the 50% of the market that the big 3 represents will suddenly disappear, as opposed to being absorbed by the rest of the market?

Nights of Passed Over

2008-12-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

Nights of Passed Over is a collection of Mark Kozelek's lyrics from his days in Red House Painters through his current project, Sun Kil Moon. It was originally only released in Portugal but was recently re-released with new content and an updated introduction. The introduction serves as a brief explanation of the themes and purpose of his writing and also provides the background story of what has become the source of many of his songs. Tales of fear and loss haunt these pages but that generally creates the best art.

For most of my life, I was never much of a lyrics person. I guess that was mostly because I was not blessed with a fine voice and as a result always stuck to drums and later guitar. It was fitting that my most rewarding musical experience was starting an instrumental jazz/rock band. In school, we were taught to value poetry but that didn't stick. How are children supposed to appreciate the contemplative perspective that poetry takes? It seems ridiculous. But somewhere along the line I learned to appreciate quality lyrics and the consistent use of themes in an album. It is amazing to look back on Kozelek's lyrics written over the course of 15 years and see a relatively consistent level of craftsmanship. I recommend this highly to anyone who appreciates contemplative poetry riddled with themes of loss, fear, naustalgia or coping.

Pro Se Representation

2008-11-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Pro Se legal representation allows you to represent yourself in court. There are some limitations on a party's ability to represent themself but it is generally allowed at the state and federal level. There are basically two arguments in support of pro se representation. The first is economic. As anyone with experience in litigation will tell you, every step along the way generates fees, which increase drastically if a case actually goes to trial. The idea is to remove one of the middlemen, the attorney, and represent yourself. The second is based on democratic principles. There is something inherently antidemocratic about a legal system which does not allow self representation. Why should a citizen be brought into court against their will, only to be required to pay fees for services they otherwise do not require?

On the other side, there are basically two arguments against pro se representation. The first is economic. Lawyers want large and preferably mandatory fees. One of the most overlooked realities is the fact that a law firm is a business. While an attorney serves as an advocate for your cause and represents justice and so forth, only fees keep the power on. Another economic analysis suggests that mandatory representation could actually decrease the overall cost to the client via of effective pretrial representation and avoidance of the appellate process. The opposing party is much more likely to take a case to trial against an unrepresented party who will assuredly make errors. The second argument comes down to judicial efficiency. As many attorneys will tell you, a pro se case messes everything up and further slows down the already backlogged docket. To make a poor analogy, a pro se party is akin to throwing someone who has never played Hearts, Spades or Bridge into a game and expecting the game to continue as usual.

The practice of law is not something you can learn in your spare time with help from do-it-yourself guides. As arrogant as that sounds, it's just the truth. Even excellent attorneys avoid representing themselves and instead seek an attorney who specializes in a specific area of law. Pro se representation is inherently very dangerous and there are very few instances where it makes any sense whatsoever.

More discussion on this subject can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081124/ap_on_re_us/representing_yourself, and http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/11/28/pro-se-litigants-on-the-rise-and-mucking-things-up/

Labor Union Pains

2008-11-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

It should come as no surprise that the financial crisis is not isolated to the banking industry, specifically mortgage lenders. The current focus is on the big three auto companies, Crysler, Ford and GM, and their likely demise without a federal bailout plan similar to that enjoyed by the banking industry. The two options appear to be bankruptcy or yet another bailout plan. What are the policy arguments for and effects of each option?

There are two bankruptcy options for such companies: 1) Chapter 7, which is a liquidation plan where the companies would basically sell off all their assets (estate), and pay whatever could be paid to their creditors and 2) Chapter 11, which is a restructed plan whereby the debtor and creditors get together and try to work out a plan to maximize the debtor's chances at survival (usually in the form of secured loans) in order to maximize the creditors' chances at collecting more than they would under a liquidation plan. It is likely that if left unprotected (no bailout), the companies would be forced into a liquidation bankruptcy because of the lack of flowing capital and high risk in any loans under the current state of the economy. In other words, the loans which normally allow a Chapter 11 option to debtors and creditors are not available.

The reasonable arguments for a bailout plan come down to the extended effects in the supply-distribution line. These companies are not an island to themselves and any disruption which would normally cause a ripple effect will more likely resemble an earthquake in the current financial crisis. The reasonable arguments against a bailout plan note that bankruptcy is the only hope for a more effective business model for American automakers. It would allow them to basically destroy their union contracts which are a large part of their failure. Note that foreign (Japanese and South Korean) automakers with domestic plants and supply-distribution lines prosper because of a more effective business model. Why should these companies be forced to compete artificially inflated competitors? Isn't this anti-capitalist?

For further discussion of these principles, see George Will's column (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/17/AR2008111703101.html) and Becker and Posner's most recent post, which can be located in the right hand column. Also, a few weeks ago I added a link to the Bankruptcy Network, which is a great source for those interested in a very general discussion on some fundamentals of bankruptcy.

Little Mountains

2008-11-10T19:51:00.000-08:00

"For the most part, the slow constant seepage of molten rock was not violently dramatic. Layer upon layer of the earth's vital core would creep out, hiss hossibly at the cold sea water, and then slide down the sides of the little mountains that were forming. Building was most sure when the liquid rock did not explode into minute ashy fragments, but cascaded visciously down the sides of the mountains, for this bound together what had gone before and established a base for what was to come...For nearly forty million submerged years its subterranean volcano hissed and coughed and belched and spewed forth rock, but it remained nevertheless hidden beneath the dark waters of the restless sea, to whom it was an insignificant irritation, a small climbing pretentious thing of no consequence.

And then one day, an eruption of liquid rock occured that was different than others than had preceded. It threw forth the same kind of rock, with the same violence, and through the same vents in the earth's core. But this time what was thrown forth reached the surface of the sea. There was a tremendous explosion as the liquid rock struck water and air together. Ash fell hissing upon the heaving waves. Detonations shattered the air for a moment and then echoed away in the immensity of the empty wastes....The only thing significant about the initial appearance of this first island along the slanting crack was the fact that it held on and grew.... Remember this. It's emergence was nothing. But its persistence and patient accumulation of stature was everything." -James Michener, Hawaii

In the first section of the book, Michener uses geology to illustrate the themes of his story. Time is overwhelming and while one life represents a mere instant, the experiences and effects of that life can build on past generations and provide a foothold for the future. It's a timeless concept that never ceases to move me.

Registration Strategies

2008-11-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

"Why is that? Why should we cater to a group of people who are so 'howl at the moon,' lazy-ass stupid that they cannot bring themselves to raise their hand? Why should we encourage them to be a part of the process?" -Josh Lyman, West Wing

One of the biggest stories of this election cycle has been the near record percentage of registered voters. At 70-something percent, this represents the greatest percentage of Americans registered to vote since suffrage. Why is that? Perhaps the greatest success of the Obama campaign has been registering these voters. Note that this function is performed by many different groups; generally, the 'get-out-the-vote' campaign, which represents one of the highest costs, is carried out by 527 groups (named after the section of the IRS code under which they register). For whatever reason, these groups have been particularly effective this election cycle at registering voters.

Is this necessarily a good thing? The gutt reaction is that the United States is a democratic republic and thus it stands to reason that the greater the participation, the more genuine or credible the outcome. Federalist 10 (arguably the most influencial essay on American government) rests on the principle that the more people involved in the political process, the more pleasing (implied, safer) the result.

Is that really the case? Doesn't this theory rest on a few preconditions? In an ideal democratic republic, voters would be motivated by pure interests (the good of the whole, see Edmund Burke), willing to trade their immediate desires for the long-term good and (most importantly) be educated participants. Under these conditions, the government should prosper. But this isn't the case at all. It stands to reason that one who is not registered to vote is either apathetic or uninformed. Either way, why should that person be encouraged to become a part of the process at the last minute, if at all? These people are very likely to be influenced by the type of political games that actually cause widespread disgust with American politics to begin with. Is it even possible to make an eduacated decision under such circumstances? An economic perspective argues that encouraging such voters to join the process actually creates a greater demand for the type of politics which are looked upon so disfavorably (i.e. issue or attack ads).

Regardless of the effectiveness of such a strategy (having worked for Obama), merely flooding the market under such circumstances only reduces the overall level of credibility of the process. All this being said, I voted for McCain but am relatively content with an Obama win. It is a goal of mine to never discuss "politics" but rather themes and strategies behind the process. Thus, the position taken here is about the danger of 'get-out-the-vote' strategies, rather than discrediting an Obama victory.

She Can't Complain

2008-10-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

This text appears in Tortoise’s It’s All Around You

A girl sat sorting strawberries. They were all her's, a gift. She picked one up. "Too small," she said and threw it away. "Too bruised." "Too ripe." "Too green." "Too sour," throwing them all away. The girl was very hungry, so hungry that she did not want to settle for things she knew she did not want, for that would make her more unhappy with disappointment. "Fine, a little hunger. I know what I do not want." She sorted the berries for hours, disdainfully rejecting each one. She grew tired and the sun grew low. "I know what I do not want," she said, "and I will not be happy with it." This she knew above all else. If everything changed she would still be sure of that. She kept on peering at each strawberry, face pinched in hunger, and tossed them to the side. She knew what she did not want. And the sun set behind orange and apple and peach and lime and pineapple and kumquat and banana and tangerine and gooseberry and breadfruit trees.

It's all around you.

Something Real

2008-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

"Our demons are our own limitations, which shut us off from the realization of the ubiquity of the spirit. And as each of these demons is conquered in a vision quest, the consciousness of the quest is enlarged and more of the world is encompassed. Basically the vision quest involves getting past your own limitations which are within even as they appear to be without. They are symbolized in myths as monsters and demons, and in each age the characteristics change; because as people change, so do their limitations." -Joseph Campbell, An Open Life

For a while I wondered whether humans could really create the concept of God. There is no doubt that humans possess a level of intellect and creativity which allows great freedom to create coping mechanisms. All civilizations create/ed stories to explain the world around them. Could it be that man created the idea of a Sovereign which encompasses all that is pure and good, in contrast to his surroundings in order to survive?

Maybe the better question is why humans create coping mechanisms at all? A friend reminded me recently that sadness, loneliness, fear and anxiety do not have to be taught to children. They are natural. What does that tell us? Humans would not have these instincts if we were not aware that on some level something is wrong. That leads to the concept of something being complete or wholly right. The issue is then whether man created this idea or man is merely aware of and trying to come to grips with it. The former seems to be discredited by the fact that humans would not have created coping mechanisms without a void and that void would not exist without something real.

Fundamental Albums

2008-09-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

After three consecutive entries on economics, something lighter in is order. I made a list of some of my favorite albums and briefly explained what they mean to me. This list is by no means exhaustive but here goes.

Saves The Day –Can’t Slow Down
This album sums up teenage years to me, hands down. Chris Connelly’s lyrical content captures the balance between humor and raw emotion better than anyone has or will. Period.

Mars Volta –Tremulant EP
Eric from East Hill CD Exchange recommended this one to me the week it came out. The merging of so many styles, specifically the rhythms, raised the bar considerably for my musicianship. Literally made me a better musician.

Third Eye Blind –Third Eye Blind
Although some of the lyrical content was over my head at the time, this album was undoubtedly in the background during some defining times. Ten years later, I still believe that it is the best pop rock album of the 90s.

Sun Kil Moon –Ghost of the Great Highway
Between the themes, lyrics and music this might me my favorite album of all time. It’s one of the few that I honestly like more every time I listen to it. I was given a copy during a carefree time in my life and one of the happiest memories I have is driving up to Hurricane Lake for a camping trip with this album spinning in the background.

Iron and Wine –Endless Numbered Days
A special friend gave this to me during a transition phase. I didn’t appreciate the lyrical sophistication until much later, but it did provide something very comforting.

Pedro the Lion –Its Hard to Find a Friend
This was another album which marked a transition phase in my life. I believe its Dave Bazan’s best work. It seems much more mature than anything he’s done since and I remember the point of view of the songs being something I sought. There seems to be a consistent theme of coming to grips with leaving childhood behind while retaining hope.

My Morning Jacket –Z
This was really the soundtrack for the best summer of my life in 2007. Ian Bowling and I blasted the hell out of this album after our canoe trip down the New River, which marked the pinnacle of the summer.

Karate –Pockets
Easily the most important album I’ve ever bought. This album was the reason I started playing guitar seriously. It is responsible for a huge part of what became a band I played in, appropriately named Original Spies.

Death Cab For Cutie –Plans
I doubt I’ll ever listen to Plans and not remember my first year of law school, which is a good reason for it to be dismissed forever, but strangely that is not the case. I cannot explain why this album means so much to me but for some reason it seems to put things in perspective for me. There’s kind of an eerie calm to it.

The Band –The Band
My dad and I got into a debate about the best album of all time. He gave me a copy of this and he wins. It’s not my favorite, but I admit that through and through it is the best. The attitude of The Band, being proud of their roots and not being afraid to do something different was incredibly influential. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is the best song of its genre, whatever that is.

Vince Guaraldi –Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack
When I listen to this album I cannot help but think of the special place my friend Molly Hodges has in my heart.

Van Morrison –Astral Weeks
I freely admit that this album is way over my head and the fact that even Van Morrison can’t seem to coherently explain it makes me okay with that. “Sweet Thing” makes me happier than any song I’ve ever heard.

Economic Crisis.

2008-09-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

"Then the gods of the market tumbled and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew, and the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true; that all is not gold that glitters and two and two make four. And the gods of the copybook headings limped up to explain it once more." -Rudyard Kipling

Having developed into a full-scale crisis, the state of the economy is a popular topic. There is no shortage of excellent analysis and commentary out there. As usual, I recommend Gary Becker and Richard Posner's joint economics/law blog (See Sept 21 entry at http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/). Congressman Ron Paul recently wrote a piece for CNN.com which serves a summary of what he's been writing about and advocating in Congress for decades (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/23/paul.bailout/index.html).

The gutt reaction to a potential $1 trillion bailout plan is troublesome and getting it through the political process will be tough. The bad part about the democratic process is that it lets people decide things. In general, average people make lousy bankers. The whole idea is to de-politicize economics as much as possible, which is why he have an unelected Federal Reserve. One interesting thing that many people seem to be overlooking is that under the current proposal the Federal Government is essentially acting as a large bank who is buying out multiple failing banks' assets, in order to prevent a complete collapse of the private market. The idea is for the Government is strong enough to weather the crisis and once the market turns, it will then resell those assets. The return goes back into the Treasury. Unfortunately, people can't seem to get past the fact that the tax-payers are bailing out a private market when they're already hurting.

Isn't this creating yet another precedent that the Federal Government will bail out irresponsible lenders? What if the Federal Government does not weather the crisis? Won't this bailout further devalue the American dollar and further drive up the cost of oil? (Oil is priced on the U.S. dollar) What if foreign nations get worried and suddenly decide to call in their loans? Is a truly non-political bail-out plan even possible, especially in an election year? All of these are great concerns and are sure to be popular subject matter for a while.

Calling the Fed's Bluff

2008-09-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

This week the NY branch of the Federal Reserve met with the heads of the major Wallstreet firms to encourage the lenders to work out a plan to buy out Lehman Brothers. The Fed claims that it will not come to the rescue and lenders should "review their financial exposures to Lehman Brothers and work out contingency plans over the possibility that the government would need to orchestrate an orderly liquidation of the firm on Monday." (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/business/13rescue.html?th&emc=th)

The tone of the meeting was that failure to create a private solution to the problem would led to failure of their own banks. Banking is a particularly interrelated industry and individual failures have collective effects. In other words, the prediction that the demise of Lehman Brothers will worsen the economy is a reality, and thus, a warning. While several lenders have expressed interest, they all want the same government protection shared by Bear Sterns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And why shouldn't they? They watched the Fed back down before and what's to say that the Fed won't do it again. The economy is worse off and the Fed now has an established precedent of bailing private lenders out.

The Fed is finally having to come to grips with the fact that it can no longer put the weight of private sector failures on the tax-payers. But without the government support/protection (enjoyed by such lenders as J.P. Morgan's buyout of Bear Sterns) it is doubtful that other lenders will come to a solution. They claim that when Lehman Brothers collapses they will still be able to collect and liquidate the firm's assets, minimizing their losses. While that is true, it is obvious that they will collect only a fraction of their collateral and will be facing a worse market. Are they merely calling the Fed's bluff? Probably, and even if the Fed wins, which is incredibly unlikely, Lehman Brothers' successor will still enjoy some federal benefits, such as the Fed's emergency lending program for major investors. I believe that the point to take away from stories like this is that the Fed's efforts to manipulate the economy for short-term gain only prolong the disease and further irresponsible investment.

Diversification

2008-09-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

A re-occuring theme of this blog has been domestic economics, specifically the home-mortgage lending crisis. A friend sent me an article which briefly summarizes the causes and effects of the crisis and predicts the effect which the Federal Reserve's bailout of both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will have. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/08consumer.html?em) The article ends with noting the importance of diversification.

Any financial crisis inevitably leads to devastating effects for some investors, particluarly those who fail to diversify their investment portfolio. Diversification is a method of risk management whereby the natural fluctuations or markets and risks investing are minimized by spreading capitol among multiple investments. This takes two forms, horizontal (investment in multiple, but same-type, investments) and vertical (investment in different securities). The tech bubble of the 90's seems to be a good example, where horizontal diversification might lead to spreading my investments between Dell, Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Apple, etc, while vertical diversification might lead to scatterying my investments among different industries or different investment vehicles (stocks v. bonds).

Fannie and Freddie's stockholders have long enjoyed the benefits of their unique hybrid status. "They enjoyed the benefits of being publicly traded corporations with a government subsidy because of an implicit guarantee of their obligations. Supporters said the structure harnessed money from private investors to make mortgages more affordable. Critics maintained that the structure simply privatized their profits and socialized their risks." (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/business/09future.html) But all investments are subject to risks and stockholders have already suffered a devaluation in their stock and are now facing the possibility of a complete loss. The government interference created false stability. As stated above, this is another example of the importance of diversification.

Jacob's Fight

2008-08-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Like many Old Testament records, the story of Jacob has always confused me. Because he was one of the patriarchs and blessed by God, I've always forced my real opinion of Jacob to the back of my mind. But I can't get around my view of Jacob as a soft, cowardly, deceptive, disrepectful, momma's boy who stole from his brother, his father and his father-in-law. A simple reading from Genesis explains this characterization; it's all there.

To describe the first half of Jacob's like as troublesome is a bit of an understatement. Because his major troubles were the result of his own actions, it's rational to feel no sympathy for Jacob. He neglected God's promise multiple times, seeking wealth and blessings by manipulation and deceit, rather than trusting and obeying. Then he meets a man (angel) in the night who changes his perspective. We are told that Jacob gets into a fight with this angel which lasts all night and into the dawn. The angel dislocates Jacob's hip, rendering him unable to overpower his opponent. Jacob is beaten but will not let go; he is essentially holding on. The angel then blesses him and changes his name. Jacob meant "deceiver" while Israel meant "one who strives with God." That's really all we are told of the event.

A lot of questions come to mind. Was this just another example of Jacob getting what he wanted, afterall, didn't Jacob initiate the blessing? Did God lose the fight? Why was Jacob not killed? Wouldn't it have been fair? Weren't men killed for much less? Wasn't Jacob fighting against God, not striving with Him? These questions plagued me off and on for a long time and I still struggle with them. I've read a lot of commentaries on the event and there are a ton of interpretations on this story.

I've come to accept that the wrestling match was symbolic of Jacob's failure to trust God for the first half of his life. In seeking to fulfill the promise in stealing an inheritance, a blessing and accumulating wealth, Jacob was figuratively wrestling with God and man. He was obviously doubting God and fearful of his destiny. When Jacob is confronted by God through a fight with an angel, he forced to realize how chaotic his life has been because of his distrust. Note that at the time, Jacob was fleeing his father-in-law and now terrified to meet Esau after many years. Jacob is beaton and essentially holding on for his life. He is now totally weakened and forced to seek a blessing in its only valid place. The fight is both an inward and outward struggle for Jacob to come to grips with his faith and destiny. He had to surrender control. Once he did that, he was able to be blessed and his life began. Why is it so hard to surrender? Whether it's an evolutionary survival instinct or the original sin of pride, we are constantly battling our own attempts to make sense of things on our own when we should trust and obey.

James Michener

2008-08-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

"The quality of any human life is detemined by the differential experiences which impinge upon it." -James Michener

I just finished reading James Michener's "Chesapeake." James Michener is one of my favorite authors for many reasons but mostly because of his format, which was historical fiction. He selected specific regions of the world and wrote mammoth epics of their histories, usually told through a small handful of fictional families' geneologies. In this way the reader can see how the land and civilization was shaped by its inhabitants and their respective cultures, wars, settlements, etc. And while the books serve as introductory history lessons in the regions, they are extremely readable and some of the best fiction of the 20th century.

Time

2008-08-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

I wrote this close to a year ago after a trip to Marianna Caverns, FL. After my recent spelunking trip to Mammoth Cave, KY, I find it worth repeating.

Rains fall to the earth. Water collects and eventually seeps through the soil into the bedrock beneath. It is funneled through the earth dissolving minerals along the way, all the while carrying them and re-dispersing them through layers of the earth. Continuing through additional layers, it eventually finds caves created by the flow of such water deep beneath the earth. Emergence into an air filled cave alters the water's ability to hold these minerals and they are released, causing them to precipitate.

Tens of thousands of years pass, more rains fall and more water is funneled through the earth, further channeling this chemical reaction. The precipitates build on one another, slowly and definitely. Water pulls these minerals, depositing a portion here and there, drops through the air and continues this process. More time passes and eventually this process forms speleothems, the basis of cave formations. These take on many forms: stalagmites, stalactites, flow stones, dripstones and rimstone dams. Over time they collect to form underground cathedrals; glorious creations that are the simple result of pressure and time.

When viewed out of context, an event has a way of taking on an altered significance. The relevance of a course of action certainly has a contemporary element to it, but the greater significance is often far beyond our preception. Over time, things may become clear, the results having been spiraled and spiraled through many lives and a great deal of time.

Mammoth Cave

2008-07-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

At roughly 350 miles, Mammoth Cave is is longest known cave system in the world. While it is over 6,000 years old, the cave has only recently become a popular destination for naturalists. For ions of time it was a burial site for Indians and many mummified corpses have been located there. It's said that at the end of the 18th century, a hunter was tracking a wounded bear and followed it to the mouth of the great cave system. Almost immediately the cave began being mined for saltpeter and calcium nitrate, both ingredients in gunpowder. These deposits became particularly helpful during the War of 1812 when the British blockaded many U.S. ports. The most famous American naturalist John Muir was partially responsible for making the cave an international attraction. In 1926 the federal government seized the surrounding land via eminent domain and formed Mammoth Cave National Park. Many of the previous land owners felt that the land was stolen from them and they were given inadequate sums of money.

In two weeks I'll be taking a six hour expedition through Mammoth Cave with J.D. Cook.

Excess Profits Tax

2008-06-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that free market capitalism has allowed the U.S. to achieve superpower status, core American ideals such as equality and fair play sometimes call for a re-examination of its markets. Most recently, domestic oil companies have been targeted as greedy and there is a popular cry that they need to be disciplined. Why should oil, or any companies, make record profits while the economy is dangerously close to a recession? Some people see excess profits taxes as a valid remedy to a situation such as the rapidly rising fuel costs the U.S. is facing. The idea is to limit the amount of profit that a industry can make for a given term (while taxing that amount at a regular rate), and then super-taxing anything over that amount (that is, in excess of the threshold profit).

Is an excess profits tax a good idea? Domestic oil companies operate like other businesses. When a model is no longer profitable, they adapt to remain profitable. If they cannot adapt in that environment, they either move to another environment where they can make the desired profit, or close shop and their share of the market is absorbed by their competitors. Taxing domestic oil companies harshly only gives them incentive to move elsewhere. This creates two problems: 1) It causes a windfall in local and federal taxable revenue and 2) makes the U.S. completely dependent on foreign oil and oil refineries. This will only make oil most costly for domestic markets and the short term relief of having punished the rich kids will be eclisped by the greater rise in fuel costs and injury to the economy.

Mothers

2008-05-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Mother don't worry, I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed.
Mother don't worry, I've got some money I saved for the weekend.
Mother, remember being so stern with that girl who was with me?
Mother, remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body?

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten.
Sons are like birds flying upward over the mountain.

Mother, I made it up from the bruise of a floor of this prison.
Mother, I lost it all of the fear of the Lord I was given.
Mother forget me, now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to.
Mother forgive me, I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you.

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten.
Sons are like birds flying upward over the mountain.

Mother, don't worry, I've got a coat and some friends on the corner.
Mother, don't worry, she's got a garden we're planting together.
Mother, remember the night that the dog had her pups in the pantry?
Blood on the floor and the fleas on their paws and you cried 'til the morning.

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten.
Sons are like birds flying upward over the mountain.

Iron and Wine, Upward Over the Mountain

The maternal bond is such a strong and mysterious thing -half evolutionary instinct and half spiritual. They say mothers cannot help but watch over of their young and hope that one day they make the right decisions and live safe lives on their own. But I imagine that the metaphorical separation, the moment that she realizes that the bulk of her work is finished, is an indescribable pain. This song captures so well the son's attempt to give his mother peace throughout this realization. He reminds her that this separation has been progressive; that he has slowly been becoming more independent, whether it was killing a snake, having his first girlfriend, making it through a rough trial or coming to grips with his faith. He recognizes her sacrifices, acknowledging that she literally slowed down her life to watch over him (trading in her car for shoes). Finally, he realizes the meaning of a childhood memory (birth of the puppies). Like their own experience, there was pain in the birth (blood) and imperfection in the result (fleas on the paws), but it was a beautiful scene to his mother. He is thanking his mother and letting her know he hasn't forgotten all she did for him, while at the same time reminding her that it is natural for him to break free, like a bird flying upward, over the moutain.

Ham's Curse

2008-05-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

A few things have always confused me about Noah’s grandson’s (Canaan) cursed genealogy by way of his father Ham. I was talking with someone about it the other day and they suggested that it would have conflicted with my belief in free will, as the story might support some people’s belief in predestination. This is not necessarily the case as 1) this would just be another example of predestination in a specific context, a named individual’s genealogy, as opposed to traditional predestination’s blanket application to all man and 2) the curse came as a result of Ham’s own actions or his own free will. In other words, my traditional concern with classical predestination, that justice cannot be served by holding man accountable for something he has no control over, is not really present here, as this curse is the result of Ham’s voluntary actions. This is an interpretation of predestination which I can fully embrace: that sovereign God foresees the paths of men and chooses to apply that to His sovereign plan. So my confusion with the story of Ham’s, or rather Canaan’s curse, is not focused on free will v. predestination.

One concern is that Noah’s drunkenness doesn't seem to be an issue. It is almost as if it is excused because he is noted to be a grower of the vine. Biblically, drunkeness is a sin while alcohol itself is not. Note that ancient methods of fermentation and distillation yielded a far less potent result than modern methods. In other words, Noah didn’t get drunk to the point of passing out by accident. Yet, the focus of the section is on Ham’s supposed horrible sin of basically laughing at his father’s condition. I can’t get around the idea that this seems to be a disproportionate result. Is it?

Was it that bad? While Levitical law and Hebrew culture placed an importance on respect for parents which is disproportionate if not foreign to modern American culture, this act of disrespect seems to pale in comparison to others in the OT. Consider Jacob, who intentionally deceived his father Isaac and took advantage of his diminished capacity to steal a blessing. Yet Jacob is blessed and Ham’s genealogy is cursed.

Upon more research there appears to be many interpretations of Ham’s “uncovering of his father’s nakedness.” In some contexts this could imply that he slept with his mother. In another context it might mean that he castrated or sodomized Noah. Some commentaries even claim that this cursed Ham’s face black, reflecting his heart, and led to a darker complexion of the African tribes. But other commentaries suggest that God was simply acting in response to Ham’s existing nature, which is depicted here. Maybe this one seemingly small sin is noted because it was the final straw which forced God, through Noah, to curse Canaan’s seed. It would seem doubtful that God would hold a man’s genealogy in blame for this one incident so I tend to accept this view.

It must have been such a devasting event for Noah's entire family; to have to come to grips with the people Ham and Canaan had become. Ham was leaving a legacy for his sons. Some might have taken after him while others followed after their uncles' families. Canaan must have chosen to follow in the ways of his father. While the story of Ham is so sad, it presents a powerful lesson; that the people we are today affects the people we will become. We leave a legacy for those around us.

Ethanol Update.

2008-04-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about the mass production of ethanol's effect on the international price of grains. For anyone interested, two very good articles can be found at the International Food Policy Research site, http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/bp/bp001.asp or Gary Becker's April 13th article at http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/.

The Cost of Ethanol

2008-04-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

With growing concern over global climate change, increasing political instability in the Middle East and rising oil prices, alternative fuels has become a popular topic. Ethanol production has skyrocketed since about 2000 and it appears as if this trend will continue. While corn ethanol production is itself controversial due to the fact that it has about a 1.3 energy balance (it yields, at best, 30% more energy than it consumes to create), it continues to be federally subsidized and popularly supported. Why is this? One reason is that it is unquestionably cleaner. Another reason is that the U.S. is the Saudi Arabia of corn. While sugar ethanol has a higher energy balance (closer to 50%), the U.S. does not support a vast tropical climate in which sugar cane thrives (in contrast to Brazil). Another reason is that subsidizing corn ethanol today will provide the research to produce it more effectively tomorrow. While the latter argument makes the most sense, it does not withstand scrutiny; the necessary research does not require mass production of ethanol. Why then is it being mass produced? Again, corn is what the U.S. has and popular environmentalism is growing faster than the technology and research to support its own theory. Furthermore, the political rationale is too true to ignore: the Iowa (corn) caucuses enjoy a vastly disproportionate focus in American politics. Presidential races set the public discourse and candidates have a hard time getting started without big numbers in Iowa and that is literally impossible without endorsing corn ethanol.

So what are the costs of the sudden influx of corn ethanol production in the context of the recent sharp rise in fuel costs? Over the past month there have been riots in multiple countries. "Producing fuel from plant crops is supposed to be greener than drilling for oil, and biofuels generally burn cleaner, too. But the global biofuels industry now stands accused of a list of side effects that are said to be damaging lives, especially of the world's poorest people." http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/04/22/food.biofuels/index.html Farmers stand to make a greater profit from selling corn for ethanol production than selling it for food, which creates a shortage of food on the international market. Developing countries which import grains receive less or face paying more, which is probably not an option. Developing nations which export grains have responded by placing a cap on exports to keep their domestic prices stable. While this keeps the urban core from rioting, it starves out the peasant farmers and further drives up the price internationally.

While riots and the likely starvation crisis which U.N. experts see as imminent are both horrible consequences, they are arguably the only forces which can hault the alarming rate at which corn ethanol production is popularly supported. In other words, the environmentally conscious will be forced to reconcile their hope for cleaner air with its inevitable international ramifications. It is also worth noting that while ethanol production is typically thought of as green and more humanitarian, it will be responsible for more deaths than global warming within our lifetime.

Foxfire

2008-04-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Foxfire book series is the result young people caring about their roots. A series of school projects beginning in 1966 in the Southern Appalachians sought to document a rapidly dying way of life before it was too late. The students went to their grandparents and other elderly mountain people and through numerous field interviews completed articles on the old way of living. The results were complied into books with incredibly diverse topics under the banner of plain living. Such topics include fiddle making, horse trading, ghost stories, midwifing, burial customs, wagon making, revivals, baptisms, shape-note gospel singing, butter churns, hog-dressing, bear hunting, banjos and dulcimers.

"Daily our grandparents are moving out of our lives, taking with them, irreparably, the kind of information contained in this book. They are taking it, not because they want to, but because they think that we don't care. And it isn't happening just in Appalaicha. I think of numerous Indian reservations, black cultures near the southern coasts, Ozark mountain communities, and a hundred others. The big problem, of course, it that because our grandparents were primarily an oral civilization, information being passed by word of mouth or demonstration, little of it is written down. When they're gone, the magnificent hunting stories, the ghost stories that kept a thousand children sleepless, the intricate tricks of self-sufficiency acquired through years of trial and error, the eloquent and haunting stories of suffering and sharing and building and healing and planting and harvesting all go with them, and what a loss....They have something to tell us about self reliance, human interdependence and the human spirit that we would do well to listen to." -Introduction to Foxfire 1, 1972.

Roots

2008-04-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

The other morning I took some time to sift through some family records and do some research on the ones that came before me. It turns out that I come from a decent line of Thomas Hoods stretching back to colonies. One was a sharpshooter in the Virginia militia and fought the redcoats in the Revolutionary War. Another fought with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans as well as the Indian wars through Georgia and the Florida territory. Another was killed at Vicksburg in the War between the States when he was 17. Another was a veteran of both World Wars. He docked back in the U.S. at New York Harbor after the first War and worked his way through NYU Law School as a janitor and selling kitchen supplies door to door. All this made me a little disappointed that I am not serving in the military, but I am encouraged by the example these men set through available records.

Global Warming v. Economic Policy

2008-03-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

The concept of global warming has really taken off. Even with a relatively small amount of popularly accepted relevant scientific data, the concept has exploded like no other theory with comparable limited research. (Note that the theory is still very young and records less than a 1 degree fluctuation in global average temperatures -all from records which used mercury thermometers, now obsolete) On the other end of the spectrum lies the national debt and the Federal Reserve, with a very long record of factual data to support additional research and argue policy change. Given the magnanimous disparity in available research and data between the two topics, global warming is still a far greater concern among voters, specifically young voters, this election season. Why is that?

Like most things, it is probably a combination of several factors. It would be naive to ignore the power of sex appeal. Who has the desire or the energy to sit around and talk about monetary policy? Who is more interesting? An economist talking about financial responsibility or a guy who wears sandals, surfs, and records music at his eco-friendly solar powered studio? (see Jack Johnson) Popular culture has completely accepted global warming as a fact, so there is certainly an element of social peir-pressure. Which is more likely to result in public scrutiny? Talking openly about your financial irreponsibility and inability to settle your obligations or throwing your household trash in the middle of a park? It should also be noted that global warming might be the most popular of concerns because it's the one average people feel most likely to be able to affect. On the other hand, how are average people expected to affect monetary policy? Also, the sharp decline in intelligence and attention span cannot be ignored. The average person simply doesn't have what it takes to talk about one subject for more than 5 minutes. "I'm bored, give me my iphone." As a topic of conversation, global warming doesn't require what economic policy does. Because so little of global warming actually supported in fact, you can say just about anything and get away with it.

During this election season, a college student asked Ron Paul about his policy on global warming. She prefaced the question with (I'm paraphrasing) "I stay up at night and worry about global warming and the type of world I'll leave my children" to which Paul responded, "If you're going to stay up at night worrying about something, worry about the national debt and the over-inflated money you'll leave your kids." Not all of Paul's positions are the best, but here is an undisputed fact: In 2007, the US paid $430 billion on the interest of its national debt. Note that it was not paid on the national debt, only on the interest.

Global Warming v. Economic Policy: Which is more likely to have a greater effect on the next two or three generations? Hands down, economic policy. Does that necessarily mean that global warming is not a legitimate concern? Absolutely not, but it is troubling to see the vast majority of a generation ignoring the greater of the two issues.

Market Fluctuations.

2008-03-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

Subprime lending is not all bad. It basically allows for lenders to make loans to less than ideal borrowers at a higher rate than they would for more secure borrowers. Banning the millions of Americans with compromised credit histories from securing loans is simply bad policy and hurts the entire economy. But like everything (and especially economics), there has to be a fine balance so as not to throw off the whole system.

Like the borrowers, these loans are subject to greater risks, particularly fluctuating interest rates. Interest is calculated by the price of money and is therefore directly related to inflation. So when one of many possible causes of inflation occurs, it affects interest rates which affect the subprime loans which leads to lots of homes going up for sale. What the US is seeing now is a national mortgage lending crisis and worse yet, an oncoming economic recession. What caused this? Probably many things, but the most popularly accepted cause is the overextension of subprime loans. With so many failed loans, creditors are failing on their own creditors and soon everyone is screwed. What should the Federal Reserve do to correct this? Have their actions been wise? Should they do anything?

One popular view is that lenders and borrowers should not be shielded from the risk of their actions. Free markets naturally fluctuate and will balance themselves out; any artificial interference from the Federal Reserve (reducing the Federal interest rate) simply postpones an inevitable problem and further inflates the currency, adding the problem. Another view lies in the argument that the benefit of moving away from a fixed currency standard (the gold standard) is the ability to respond to the market and off-set any negative effects. Who is right? Economics is so complicated. I do not have the background or the time to even approach this topic properly, but it's a field that I wish I had devoted more time to in college and hope to become more familiar with in the future.

The New Republicans

2008-03-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Christian-Right loosely encompasses a core base of American Republican Party members who use their common beliefs and values to influence the Party in national, and to a lesser extent, state and local politics. Growing up in the Clinton years, my generation saw first-hand what this voting bloc was capable of on the national scale, for good and bad (see The Contract w/ America, Pres. Clinton's impeachment, etc.). Technically, the Christian-Right's values consist of freedom of religion and conscience; protection for families and children; protection of all human life, compassion and justice for poor people; global human rights; the pursuit of peace and restraint of violence; and biblically based creation care. However, their demographics (more economic than racial) and unintended bias result in some values getting more attention than others. For instance, criticism from rogue evangelicals generally consists of a lack of concern for social causes, domestic and international. Another illustration is the contrast in viewpoints over abortion, capital punishment and economic policy.

What we see then is that the Christian-Right really represents a fraction (albeit a decent one) of the evangelical base, and a lesser fraction of the Party as a whole. Simply put, their influence is strong, but they do not define the Party; those days are over. Indeed, Pat Robertson's failed 1988 nomination bid against George H.W. Bush makes one wonder if they ever really defined the Party.

The slight decline of their influence over the Party is balanced with the increasing power of the fiscal conservative, strong foreign policy bloc of the party: The New Republicans. I call them the New Republicans not because their ideas are new to the party, but because of their unapologetic and intentional separation from the Christian-Right. The emergence of the New Republicans was well illustrated and well received this primary season. John McCain, Rudy Guiliani and to a lesser extent Mitt Romney all represent a less religious, less socially conservative bloc of the Party which is increasing its base. In general, this is a shift of the entire political scale, where the center becomes the right and the far-left becomes the left. Is this a bad thing? Will the Party lose national elections by alienating this core base of its members? Does the Christian Right even have that type of influence, given the fact that the New Republicans still represent a large portion of the party as well as a large portion of independents?

Huck Finn

2008-02-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because I’d read that it’s the greatest piece of American literature and filled with heavy symbolism which will inevitably escape a 16 year old who is forced to read it over the summer. It’s probably not a good book for young people even if they had the proper time to discuss it with a professor throughout a semester, and I’m glad I could read it at my own pace and supplement it with various commentaries. All that said, it is probably my favorite piece of fiction due to its theme, style and context.

Huck and Jim’s escape on the river is a metaphorical escape from the rigid and stagnant social and political norms of the day. The river is ever-changing; its depths and boundaries shifting suddenly with little or no warning. It quite literally flows, in stark contrast to the world from which Huck and Jim escape, where any progress is painstakingly slow and political action is thwarted by intense adherence to tradition. This dichotomy is best illustrated with the return of Tom Sawyer.

Upon Tom’s return the story gets incredibly boring and seems to drastically lose its theme. Ernest Hemingway even suggested that the reader stop when Tom comes back into the story. But the dramatic shift that Tom brings to the text illustrates the incompatibility of the two worlds. Huck and Jim go from experiencing real freedom and cheating death to screwing around with Tom Sawyer playing childish games. When Jim is briefly recaptured, it is Tom who demands that he and Huck break Jim out of jail in various overcomplicated ways. When Huck asks Tom why they don’t just do it the easiest possible way, Tom explains that that would not be any fun and they should do it the way people in pirate stories do it. Jim’s freedom is a game to Tom. He is in no hurry. He wants drama. While trying to come up with the perfect escape plan that balances drama and grandeur, Jim is left in jail and nothing gets accomplished.

The problem of slavery could not be solved by looking to precedent. Though it had been eradicated throughout most, if not all, of Europe by the time Huck Finn was published, no nation shared the unique experience of American slavery. Solving this problem would have required something new. Twain’s critique of American social and political life depicts the U.S. as a pseudo-teenager who is constantly obsessed with how he or she will look to others; grossly self conscious and desperately ignorant.

Perhaps the greatest critique comes in the last chapter when it’s discovered that Jim had been set free shortly after his escape. Most readers probably grab their hair and yell at this point, like it was all for nothing. It is as if Huck and Jim should feel foolish for working so hard to protect Jim from a danger he never really had to face. And that’s the point.

Racial Undertones

2008-02-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

Generally I think that celebrating your Southern heritage is a great thing but there is a troubling tendency to group Southern pride w/ racism, specifically against African Americans. The answer is obviously traced to the Southern agrarian economies which continued to capitalize on slave labor after other regions and nations had it outlawed. Slavery is historical fact and it's our burden to bear. But the myth that Africans in the Northern colonies, and later states, enjoyed equal freedoms and privileges before, during and immediately following the Civil War is so misguided and naive that it barely merits retort. Racial tension has been a rich part of American sociological history since the first European set foot on this soil. But the South is a scapegoat for Americans' embarrassment for its treatment of Africans and I suppose it basically boils down to the fact that the South is an easy target. To other region's credit, it is not as if the South hasn't provided an arsenal of material to work with. But the "racist South" stereotype tends to allow Americans to overlook racist undertones in other regions. See the California Democratic Primary:

"Sen. Hillary Clinton can thank Latino and Asian voters for her projected victory in California. Early exit polls indicate that Sen. Barack Obama carried white voters in California because of his overwhelming support among white men. White women, as in other states, more often supported Clinton. Black voters overwhelmingly favored Obama but Asian voters, whose numbers are comparable to blacks, went overwhelmingly for Clinton. The deciding factor may have been Latinos, who make up roughly 30 percent of California's Democratic vote. They went for Clinton by a two-to-one margin." CNN.com 2/6/08

The next time California comes up in a conversation, try throwing out a joke about how backward and racist those people are. Polls don't lie. Men voted for a man. African Americans voted for an African American. All other minorities voted for whoever was not African American. Most women voted for a woman. Southern states had a similar race/sex breakdown.

But geez, those people down South....Gosh, they're racist.

FL Property Tax Amendment.

2008-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

I voted for the Florida Tax Amendment for a few reasons, but they all basically boiled down to Federalist principles. In general, it's better to let local people determine local issues. In contrast, issues that inevitably have a broad scope/effect are more suitable for a broad remedy. If issue A is truly a state-wide issue, let the state determine the outcome; if issue B is truly a nation-wide issue, let the fed determine the outcome. Blah blah blah, read Tocqueville's "Democracy in America."

Basically I saw this tax amendment as an optional tax redistribution plan. Prior to the amendment, all counties were taxed by the state as well as their respective county. A portion of the state property tax then went back to the counties to pay for county services (police, fire, infrastructure, etc.), commonly labled "essential services." Under the new plan, the state is decreasing its property tax as well as its funding of county services. Common sense tells you that if you pay less, you will get less.

There are basically 2 potential outcomes: 1) A county government will refuse to increase its county taxes to offset the loss of state revenue and the county employees will have to function on a much smaller budget OR 2) A county government will decide for itself which services are truly "essential" and increase their county taxes or fees to continue to fund those services at the previous level. If County A determines that their specific fire department does not manage their money as well as they could, then they can choose not to increase their taxes to continue to fund them at that level. If County B determines that its fire department does a hell of a job with the tight budget they have, then they can choose to raise their taxes to continue to fund the service at the previous rate.

This is a gross over-simplification of the plan summarized in a blog entry. It has its downsides. There are additional issues such as a state mandated limit on county tax rates which raise some concern, but overall I feel that this is basically a better tax scheme than Floridians had before. It is an imperfect symbol of Federalist principles.

Hope.

2008-01-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strenghten you with power through his Spirit in your innner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wise and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of G-d.
-Eph Chapt 3.

Intelligent Design and Ben Stein

2008-01-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ben Stein has a movie coming out in a few weeks that as far as I can tell criticizes the scientific community's refusal to acknowledge Intelligent Design. From what I read, it does not appear that Ben Stein is advocating classical Creationism, just ID: A God did it and chose evolution as its means.

I'm not an atheist or a scientist, but ID has never seemed problematic to me. While I understand the idea that teaching children a theory in a science class which has no application to the scientific method is a questionable use of time, I don't understand the scientific community's incredible and virtually unified attack on it. It's not as if the scientific community claims to have created the universe and is defending its creation. Does it have something to do with potential bias against Evangelicals and the perception that any progression in their favor is backward? Has man's historical realtionship with divinity as a fall-back explaination for how the universe works led modern science to reject acknowledgement of a Divine?

While I'm more of an advocate of ID than classical Creationism, I'm pretty sickened by both camp's attacks on one another. Whether it's one side being damned because they want physical proof for the origins of the universe or the other being damn ignorant because they want more than physical explainations for the way the world works, both accusations are lame. I hope this movie is more than an attack.

Tyson v. Douglass

2008-01-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

I was watching tv on this relatively lazy Sunday afternoon and came across ESPN's classic boxing, Tyson v. Douglass in Tokyo. Widely regarded as one fo the best sporting events of the century, it also served as the background for a Contracts case I has my first semester of law school. Basically Don King served as both fighters' manager, but under contract would make more money if Tyson won the fight. Tyson sent Douglass to the floor with an uppercut in the 8th round, but Douglass made it to his feet within a controversial count to 10. Douglass got his second wind and by the 10th round knocked Tyson out.

Japanese crowds are ridiculously quite and the 60,000 fans sounded like about 100 Americans. So after the controversial count to 10, King can be heard screaming frantically and making comments that his fighter was being cheated. As I recall, this case was relevant to Contracts under under Good Faith Performance of a Contract.

This loss marked the beginning of the end for Mike Tyson. Despite the ease at one can find reasons to hate Tyson, I still think that he was easily one of the greatest fighters of the century and overall, did more for boxing than anyone other than Ali.

Is Ron Paul Racist?

2008-01-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

I've switched over to blogspot because its layout is more attractive.

In less exciting news, is Republican Presidential Candidate racist? (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/paul.newsletters/index.html) Either he wrote these things and is lying or doesn't consistently edit or read his own newsletter. I'm leaning towards the latter because I already voted for him a few days ago. I've been a bit discouraged by people I know who have been waiving the Ron Paul/Libratarian flag for months and now that it's time to dance, they are discouraged because of his low poll numbers. I've always thought primaries presented a unique opportunity to break away from the "lesser of two evils" mentality that plagues politics and send a message. Anyway, economics and finacial responsibility is the message I tried to send.