Strange Dog

Che T-shirts

Like these guys, I am no fan of Che t-shirts, but if ever I was happy to see somebody wearing a Che t-shirt, it is the guy in this video. Wow.  Worst halftime show ever. I have no issues with Che being associated with stuff like this.

(I picked up on the video via Allah. If you like the "Unemployable Radical" poster, click on the pic and it wil take you to the Cafe Press site of the guy who created it.)

Social Security Illusions

Since Social Security is a failure and won't be around when I retire, I have been a staunch proponent of the private accounts that have been proposed by W, basically because the less of my money they pour into a bankrupt system the happier I'll be.

After reading this post at Lone Star Reality, though, I'm going to have to re-think my position.

Some telling quotes:

I have long contended that the diversion of funds to government-controlled investments in the market would amount to the government becoming the single largest investor on Wall Street. This would inevitably result in the perversion of the market as a whole.

There is an inherent risk/reward dynamic to investing in that sometimes you lose money, while at other times your return on investment exceeds 15% or greater. Historically, over time, the gains offset the losses. But can anyone seriously argue that Congress could resist the impulse to investigate the "scandal"when the losses occur - which they inevitably would? Can you imagine the uproar when hundreds of thousands, or even millions of so-called "investors" complain to Congress about the temporary depreciation of their assets?

This would amount to a huge drain on the economic engine that runs our economy. Government-first partisans notwithstanding, it is the market, not the government which drives our economy. Only the imagination can conceive what bizarre regulations and restrictions Congress would dream up to"insure" private account "investors from losses. But the nasty fact is that without those losses, the market would become overburdened with non-performing entities artificially sustained by"helpful" regulations instead of undergoing the very necessary discipline that the free market imposes on people and companies who fail to perform.

The bottom line is that millions, who do not understand basic economics, will not understand 1) why their assets are depreciating in value, and 2) why the government is powerless to do anything about it. The proposition that having private accounts in Social Security is a cure for this dilemma is polyanish at best, and desperate at worst.

I really hadn't thought about it that way. In a rush to keep my money with me, I hadn't seen this aspect of the argument. He concludes:

Merging the welfare system and the market is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

Definitely a post worth reading.

(A side note worth mentioning, while searching around for a photo of a Social Security card to use for this post, I was amazed at how many I found that looked like real ones, with names and numbers. That is a little troubling.)

Money, What Money?

Caught this in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Hearing that Fidel Castro was upset with Forbes magazine for listing him as one of the world's richest dictators, Dennis Miller told his CNBC show's viewers, ''Castro says the listing is bogus, because in a communist country the Cuban people actually own everything, and he is simply watching over things while they're all in prison.''

Thanks Dennis, I couldn't have said it better myself. Val Prieto at Babalu had much more on Fidel's fortune a while back.

Of course, we all know the truth is that Castro got his fortune from C. Montgomery Burns.

One Born Every Minute

Apparently, somebody has devised a filter for your TV that will block out Fox News. The best part is that it costs $8.95. Whatever happened to changing the channel?

If that doesn't work for you, you can always close your eyes, stick your fingers in your ears and yell "lalalalalalala, I can't hear you" as loud as you can. You'll save yourself $8.95, and it always worked for me...

when I was 7.

A Success Story

In the 1950s and 60s, Peregrine Falcons were nearly wiped out thanks to DDT. There were no breeding pairs east of the Mississippi and there weren't enough birds for them to be able to repopulate naturally, so captive breeding plans were started. These have been very successful, to the point that Peregrine Falcons have been removed from the endangered species list. A by-product of these breeding programs are the Peregrine Falcons of Chicago.

Peregrine Falcons are naturally cliff dwellers, but they have adapted quite well to city life. Buildings substitute nicely for the cliffs they enjoy in their natural habitats. As recently as 1990, there was only one breeding pair in Illinois, and it produced no young. Now Chicago-area breeding pairs are located in Waukegan, Evanston, Edgewater, Uptown, Lake View, Wacker Drive, Metropolitan Correctional Center, UIC, Pilsen, Lawndale, Hyde Park and Calumet. The City of Chicago has designated the Peregrine Falcon its official bird.

This site has some great photos of the Uptown birds, Zoom and GG. More on the history of the project can be found here.

UPDATE (8 1/2 months later!) : 

After reading this post at Wizbang!, I was compelled to do a little follow up research on Chicago's Peregrine Falcons. As it turns out, Chicago Wilderness  Magazine has an in-depth story on the Chicago Peregrines that is worth reading.   

I was quite surprised that not all bird lovers welcomed the falcons:

Not everyone warmed to the idea of predatory birds in the neighborhood. When the plan was announced in the press, letters accused Mayor Harold Washington of bringing "Hitlerite" falcons to prey on "innocent, beautiful birds" and make pigeon lovers miserable. Any mayor who would do such a thing, wrote one critic, was "the meanest, meanest man in Chicago".

My wife works in a Loop high rise and has, on more than one occasion seen a Peregrine on the ledge right outside her window.  She always regarded a visit by the falcons as a pleasant occurence. I wonder how she'll feel now that the birds have been outed as National Socialists.

Note: Reposted to get this out of the archives and back on to the front page.

Do as I Say, Not as I Do.

This story astounds me.

For the large part of his tenure at United Airlines, Glenn Tilton has presided over a company in Chapter 11 bankruptcy that has suffered unprecedented financial losses. This fact, in and of itself, would seem to preclude any payments of an incentive based bonus, but let's consider the circumstances of this bonus further. 

While under his stewardship, the company has gone to its employees twice and asked them to take significant pay and benefits cuts. In addition to this, it seems very likely that before they exit bankruptcy protection, all of the defined benefit pension plans will be terminated.

I realize that in the grand scheme of CEO compensation in the United States today, a $366,000 bonus is a pittance. It is also clear to me that this is a benefit that Tilton is entitled to. What astounds me is the arrogance that allows him to completely ignore the overwhelming symbolic importance of this bonus and how it undermines his ability to lead.

One of the primary responsibilities of a President/CEO of a company is to lead. A basic tenet of leadership is to set an example for others to follow.  What kind of example does it set when you ask your employees to make significant sacrifices, while at the same time taking a bonus that is probably 10x the average annual salary of your line employees?

If you were interested in crushing the morale of your employees and ruining any good faith you may have had in your negotiations with labor, this is probably the way to do it. I just have to wonder how an experienced leader can do something like this without considering the overall implications. It defies common sense.

As a general rule, I can't say that I find myself agreeing with large industrial unions, but I think this response from the mechanics' union at United is spot on.

Bay of Pigs

Since moving from Miami to Chicago, I've found that one of the most misunderstood events in recent history is the Bay of Pigs Invasion.  Aside from a select few, nobody North of Miami outside the Cuban exile community really has an understanding of the event, especially the level to which the US Government, namely President Kennedy, betrayed the poor men of Brigade 2506. Recently, I found this book, by Grayston Lynch, the CIA case officer on the invasion. It is an interesting first person account which differs from some generally held assumptions about the Bay of Pigs. If you're interested in the event, it is worth reading.

It's Snowing in Southtown!

Looks like Mother Nature has had her way with Heat Miser this year. It's snowing in Houston and New Orleans!

Merry Christmas.

Every Vote Counts

Blackfive notes that Sports Illustrated is running a fan poll for "Sportsman of the Year". Blackfive urges you vote for Pat Tillman, and I couldn't agree more.

In an year when professional sports has given us such noble examples of sportsmanship as Ron Artest and Ricky Williams, a man who was willing to sacrifice fame and fortune for a greater cause that he believed in deserves our support. Currently, Pat is in third place behind Lance Armstrong and Michael Phelps. While I support the achievements of both of those men (especially Lance Armstrong) I think Pat Tillman's example shines above the rest. Take a second and vote for a great American who made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. 

Que Come Mierda!

Val Prieto at Babalu Blog has noted this pathetic attempt to kiss dictator ass. I had no idea there were people as idiotic as this Walter Lippmann.

I note that in his pile of nonsense, Lippmann uses an official statement from the Cuban government offering somewhat less than heartfelt condolences to the United States upon President Reagan's passing.  Lippmann seems to be saying that if the Cuban government can offer condolences, then the United States should be able to as well, all in the interests of chivalry and good manners, I guess.  I suspect he forgot about this:

In the first reaction to Reagan's death from the communist government, Radio Reloj said this, ``As forgetful and irresponsible as he was, he forgot to take his worst works to the grave,'' the government radio station said. "He, who never should have been born, has died,'' the radio said.

Take Val's advice and write Fidel a note. I know that every political prisoner being tortured in a Cuban jail would appreciate your politeness and courtesy.