FREE WHITEWATER

Monthly Archives: August 2010

Law, Liberty

Is a man’s home still his castle? | Washington Examiner

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But to arrest someone who is unmistakably on their own property, and doing nothing remotely illegal, is an abuse of power pure and simple. Even if it were true that Gibson was endangering herself by witnessing the traffic stop from the confines of her front porch, how could that possibly be construed as “resisting arrest” or “obstructing the police” without eviscerating everything that the concept of private property (not to mention plain old individual rights) stands for? Taking such a risk is not illegal. Doing it while occupying one’s homestead should be recognized as unassailably within one’s rights.

Since it appears that neither the police nor the district attorney’s office can be shamed into refraining from such power abuses, perhaps it will take a fat lawsuit for violations of Gibson’s (et al.) constitutional rights to get their attention. 

The castle walls may be crumbling and decayed, but they invaders can be fought back and the walls rebuilt.

Via Is a man’s home still his castle? | Washington Examiner.

Ample justification for an appeal and lawsuit…

Economy

Carmen Reinhart Warns That Economic Recovery Could Be Slow – NYTimes.com

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At the recent meeting of federal bankers in Wyoming, there was sobering news:

Ms. Reinhart’s paper drew upon research she conducted with the Harvard economist Kenneth S. Rogoff for their book “This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly,” published last year by Princeton University Press. Her husband, Vincent R. Reinhart, a former director of monetary affairs at the Fed, was the co-author of the paper.

The Reinharts examined 15 severe financial crises since World War II as well as the worldwide economic contractions that followed the 1929 stock market crash, the 1973 oil shock and the 2007 implosion of the subprime mortgage market.

In the decade following the crises, growth rates were significantly lower and unemployment rates were significantly higher. Housing prices took years to recover, and it took about seven years on average for households and companies to reduce their debts and restore their balance sheets. In general, the crises were preceded by decade-long expansions of credit and borrowing, and were followed by lengthy periods of retrenchment that lasted nearly as long.

Via Carmen Reinhart Warns That Economic Recovery Could Be Slow – NYTimes.com.

Press Release

Tickets Available at the Door: Jungle Jack Hanna Brings Live Animal Pals to Whitewater August 29, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

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Here’s a post that I’ve bumped up (appearing previously) as a reminder — and now with an update —

Tickets for this show are available at the door.

Here’s a list that I’ve received of animals that may appear at the show —

Cheetah, Lynx, Flamingo, Fennec Fox, Wallaby, Armadillo, Palm Civet, Python, Clouded Leopard, Gray Fox, Lemur, Red Tail Hawk, Coatimundi, Alligator, and a Macaw. These animals may change slightly, but it’s an impressive list.

Here’s what a fennec fox looks like:




Photo from Tom Thai

Adorable, isn’t he? Any of the animals appearing at the show are sure to be even more remarkable as they’ll be live and up close.

I received the following press release that I am happy to post. Tickets are now on sale and are available at GMA printing, Quiet Hut Sports, The SweetSpot Coffee Shoppe, K-9 Hair Care, Commercial Bank, and First Citizens State Bank.

Click for larger image

Government Spending, Planning

Chris Rickert: What problem would commuter rail solve?

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…. when I look around the Madison metropolitan area, I wonder, what problems would trains solve?

Relatively speaking, commutes to Madison are short and parking is not only plentiful but cheap. Plus, local officials seem more than willing to look kindly on the kind of dense, urban development trains inspire — even without any actual trains.

I’m left to deduce there is no mass tipping point in favor of mass train transportation, and, for now at least, the train argument seems confined to the politicos — and their competing versions of freedom.

Via Chris Rickert: What problem would commuter rail solve?

Charity, Press Release

Hundreds to Gather in Lake Geneva for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® on Saturday, September 18th in Lake Geneva

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I received the following press release that I am happy to post —



Hundreds to Gather in Lake Geneva for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®

Join hundreds of community members for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Library Park, 900 West Main Street in Lake Geneva. Over 600 people from Walworth and surrounding counties are expected to participate in this year’s event, which will feature both a three-mile scenic walk along the lakeshore path and a one-mile historic walk in the Maple Park neighborhood. In 2009, over $70,000 was raised to help individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, including the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline, support groups, research, education and training.

Pre-walk registration and entertainment begins at 9:30 a.m., with the walk starting promptly at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Britt Kolar, MD, a specialist in Geriatric Medicine at Aurora Senior Health and Wellness Clinic is the Honorary Chairperson. Post walk festivities will include music by the Petty Thieves, along with a hot-dog lunch, compliments of Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly and the Lake Geneva Jaycees.

ABOUT MEMORY WALK

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Champions include those living with the disease, families, caregivers, corporate and local leaders, who actively support Memory Walk in the community.

HOW TO REGISTER

Participants can register and get information online at www.alz.org/sewi. For a brochure, please call 414.479.8800. Registration is also available the day of the walk, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The walk begins promptly at 11:00 a.m.

SPONSORS

Key sponsors of this event include Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, the Cordon Family Foundation, The Mueller Family, Brookdale Senior Living and PyraMax Bank. The event is being presented by FOX6 News, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Newsradio AM620 WTMJ, 89.7 WUWM, and local radio station 96.1 WLKG “The Lake”.

LEADERSHIP

The event is being co-chaired by Andy Kerwin, principal and owner of Geneva Lakes Crossing, and Wendy Betley, Family Care Manager, Alzheimer’s Association. This event is supported by a committee of community leaders along with staff from the Alzheimer’s Association.

ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in www.alz.org/sewiAlzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and local services visit or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Uncategorized

Does Your Language Shape How You Think? – NYTimes.com

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Fascinating…

Some 50 years ago, the renowned linguist Roman Jakobson pointed out a crucial fact about differences between languages in a pithy maxim: “Languages differ essentially in what they must convey and not in what they may convey.” This maxim offers us the key to unlocking the real force of the mother tongue: if different languages influence our minds in different ways, this is not because of what our language allows us to think but rather because of what it habitually obliges us to think about.

Consider this example. Suppose I say to you in English that “I spent yesterday evening with a neighbor.” You may well wonder whether my companion was male or female, but I have the right to tell you politely that it’s none of your business. But if we were speaking French or German, I wouldn’t have the privilege to equivocate in this way, because I would be obliged by the grammar of language to choose between voisin or voisine; Nachbar or Nachbarin. These languages compel me to inform you about the sex of my companion whether or not I feel it is remotely your concern.

This does not mean, of course, that English speakers are unable to understand the differences between evenings spent with male or female neighbors, but it does mean that they do not have to consider the sexes of neighbors, friends, teachers and a host of other persons each time they come up in a conversation, whereas speakers of some languages are obliged to do so.

Via Does Your Language Shape How You Think? – NYTimes.com.

Public Meetings

Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®

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Hundreds to Gather in Lake Geneva for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®

Join hundreds of community members for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Library Park, 900 West Main Street in Lake Geneva. Over 600 people from Walworth and surrounding counties are expected to participate in this year’s event, which will feature both a three-mile scenic walk along the lakeshore path and a one-mile historic walk in the Maple Park neighborhood. In 2009, over $70,000 was raised to help individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, including the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline, support groups, research, education and training.

Pre-walk registration and entertainment begins at 9:30 a.m., with the walk starting promptly at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Britt Kolar, MD, a specialist in Geriatric Medicine at Aurora Senior Health and Wellness Clinic is the Honorary Chairperson. Post walk festivities will include music by the Petty Thieves, along with a hot-dog lunch, compliments of Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly and the Lake Geneva Jaycees.

ABOUT MEMORY WALK

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Champions include those living with the disease, families, caregivers, corporate and local leaders, who actively support Memory Walk in the community.

HOW TO REGISTER

Participants can register and get information online at www.alz.org/sewi. For a brochure, please call 414.479.8800. Registration is also available the day of the walk, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The walk begins promptly at 11:00 a.m.

SPONSORS

Key sponsors of this event include Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, the Cordon Family Foundation, The Mueller Family, Brookdale Senior Living and PyraMax Bank. The event is being presented by FOX6 News, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Newsradio AM620 WTMJ, 89.7 WUWM, and local radio station 96.1 WLKG “The Lake”.

LEADERSHIP

The event is being co-chaired by Andy Kerwin, principal and owner of Geneva Lakes Crossing, and Wendy Betley, Family Care Manager, Alzheimer’s Association. This event is supported by a committee of community leaders along with staff from the Alzheimer’s Association.

ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in www.alz.org/sewiAlzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and local services visit or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Public Meetings

Open Forum on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

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Open Forum on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia
“Coffee, Cookies and Conversation”

The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting “Coffee, Cookies and Conversation” in Elkhorn for community members who wish to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. This program will be offered on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at People’s Bank of Elkhorn, 837 N. Wisconsin Street. There is no charge to attend; the program is open to the public.

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia? If so, this open forum session will provide an opportunity to get questions answered and for participants to discover how the Alzheimer’s Association can help. Rather than a formal presentation, this program focuses on answering questions from the attendees. The presenter for this program is Bonnie Beam-Stratz, MA, MS, Regional Services Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association.

To register, please contact Bonnie Beam-Stratz at 920-728-4088 or send an email to bonnie.beam@alz.org.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and local services visit www.alz.org/sewi or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Twitter

Recent Tweets 8-22 to 8-28

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Spreading Hayek, Spurning Keynes – WSJ.com http://bit.ly/bmPj3X
about 21 hours ago

Generation X more loyal to religion http://bit.ly/9dhJgq
August 27, 2010 7:23:35 PM CDT

Amazon Kindle Third Generation With 3G + Wi-Fi | Wired.com Product Reviews http://bit.ly/cO24LZ
August 27, 2010 7:16:08 PM CDT

RT @nature_org: Start your weekend with Nature Photo of the Week! http://nature.ly/bqIdXM
August 27, 2010 3:39:09 PM CDT

Hard to believe they were rules that lasted so long – Miss. school reverses race-based rules for student elections http://bit.ly/coI3u7
August 27, 2010 2:40:42 PM CDT

Vicious English Hag Throws Cat in Trash Can » FREE WHITEWATER http://bit.ly/cTM1Hg
August 27, 2010 9:40:01 AM CDT

Live Tiger Found in Bag Full of Toy Tigers at Thai Airport | Wired Science | Wired.com http://bit.ly/asKYRm
August 26, 2010 9:34:24 PM CDT

RT @nature_org: A teeny tiny frog–Asia’s tiniest–was discovered inside pitcher plants in Borneo (via @Mongabay) http://nature.ly/cEegeV
August 26, 2010 1:38:29 PM CDT

Murkowski Options Limited If Loses Alaska GOP Primary http://bit.ly/bi5PdE Murkowski’s not libertarian, doesn’t deserve LP ballot line
August 26, 2010 11:58:05 AM CDT

School referendum extending taxes & spending 5 more years should be last resort, after public consideration of options http://bit.ly/cy8Yhb
August 25, 2010 10:41:06 AM CDT

@wsjfree: Coffins Made by Brothers Have Undertakers Throwing Dirt http://on.wsj.com/bFDT8n Greedy funeral directors stifle competition
August 25, 2010 10:33:04 AM CDT

Perhaps he’d consider an extended stay – @BreakingNews: North Korea says former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has arrived in Pyongyang – AP
August 25, 2010 10:30:18 AM CDT

Tax savings to taxpayers are not a gift from bureaucrats, but simply a return to people of money they already earned http://bit.ly/cy8Yhb
August 25, 2010 10:21:31 AM CDT

RT @radleybalko: Cash for Clunkers fallout: Price of used cars jumps 30%. Why does Obama hate the poor? http://tinyurl.com/3xo9aea
August 25, 2010 8:00:44 AM CDT

Vast solar system found 127 light years away – Telegraph http://bit.ly/cIjZyq
August 24, 2010 10:08:39 PM CDT

Abuse of mental patients in Milwaukee County: Journal Sentinel Calls for Administrator’s Firing https://freewhitewater.com/?p=11424
August 24, 2010 10:14:02 AM CDT

Can’t blame her: Ousted federal official Shirley Sherrod declines invitation to return to Agriculture Department – AP http://bit.ly/b8OyHA
August 24, 2010 9:44:31 AM CDT

Milwaukee County’s Immoral Utilitarianism: Update 15 (Officials Unaccountable for Abuse) » FREE WHITEWATER http://bit.ly/9C8gK6
August 23, 2010 1:13:57 PM CDT

Economy

Second-Quarter GDP Growth Revised Downward – WSJ.com

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The U.S. economy grew more sluggish than initially estimated in the second quarter, and corporate profits nearly dried up, further evidence that the recovery is losing steam.

Gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced, rose at an annualized seasonally adjusted rate of 1.6% from April to June, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Economic growth in the second quarter was revised downward, but came out better than expected, providing a glimmer of hope….

In the government’s first report of the economy’s benchmark indicator a month ago, the growth rate was estimated to have slowed to 2.4% after a 3.7% expansion in the first quarter….

Friday’s report also showed that companies barely managed to post profit gains, following several very profitable quarters. After-tax earnings edged up 0.1%, well off the previous quarter’s gain of 11.4%. First-quarter profits were revised down from the initial estimate of a 12.1% increase.

See, Second-Quarter GDP Growth Revised Downward – WSJ.com.

Liberty, Politics

Nat Hentoff on a Ground Zero Mosque

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Nat Hentoff writes about the New York City mosque controversy in Pols Clueless on Ground Zero Mosque:

The angry national debate over Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s intention to build a mosque two blocks north of the horror of 9/11 at Ground Zero has been further fueled by supporter Nancy Pelosi declaring, “I join those who have called for looking into how … this opposition to the mosque is being funded.”

If one of her sleuths knocks on my door, this opponent will readily state that I need no outside funding as a reporter who is deeply investigating the motivation of Imam Rauf’s choice of this site of mass murder for the mosque. I will add that, of course, all American Muslims have their First Amendment right to exercise their freedom of religion in their place of worship. There have been other mosques in New York City built without opposition. That freedom is not at stake here….

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg charges that opponents of Imam Rauf’s mosque “should be ashamed of themselves” and are bigots.

Me, too, Mr. Mayor?

If you want to join Speaker Pelosi in investigating me, your honor, I’d be glad to oblige. I’m just doing my job as a reporter. I wish more reporters had gone beneath the shouting on both sides. There’s another part of the First Amendment in addition to the free exercise of religion: The press is free to investigate the reasons for Imam Rauf’s fixation on the 9/11 location of his mosque.

And why does this location make Hamas glow?

Opposition to the mosque does not make a man or woman a bigot. The freedom to exercise is not at stake — Muslims worship in mosques across New York, and across America. That freedom to worship is secure, and it’s false and hysterical to contend otherwise. It’s secure even for those who would, if given the chance, deny freedom of worship to others.

(I don’t believe for a moment that Imam Rauf is a freedom-loving man — he’s a defender of so much that’s inimical to liberty — as Hentoff relates in his essay. Having pledged to take money from the Iranian and Saudi governments, both among the most tyrannical on earth, Rauf shows himself a willing, would-be supplicant of tyrants.)

There are general and unwelcome trends in all this. There’s been a change in America, these last few years, with many privileged Americans abandoning their support for democratic Israel in favor of a false, self-righteous fixation on radical Palestinians or radical Muslims as victims. In ways their well-heeled defenders in America won’t see, some Palestinians and Muslims are victims: of the violence, misogyny, and oppression of their own leaders.

This change in sentiment, against democratic Israel in favor of her violent enemies, has not possessed all Americans. Sensible people can still the difference between a mongoose and a cobra. (One may never find, by the way, a libertarian for whom the difference between Israel and her radical Muslim & Arab enemies isn’t obvious.)

Fortunately, Hentoff makes seeing the difference that much easier, for anyone willing to listen.