FREE WHITEWATER

Libertarians, Politics

Crybaby Whiner Upset About Libertarian Popularity

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Over at FoxNews.com, Kevin McCullough disparages libertarians, and whines that libertarians somehow ‘hijacked’ the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll, a survey in which libertarian Ron Paul took first place.

McCullough sees libertarians as both disrespectful and dangerous. Oh, please; he should reflect on his own faction’s many shortcomings rather than cast aspersions on the conduct of a political movement far more popular than his own.

If McCullough wants to be taken seriously, he should first find a way to get one of his favored candidates to the top of the CPAC straw poll.

Libertarians are popular, by the way, because their ideas advance liberty, dignity, and prosperity.

See, Disrespectful Libertarians Hijack CPAC Poll — And Its Mission – FoxNews.com.

Press

The Beat Sweetener

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I first learned the term ‘beat sweetener’ from libertarian press critic Jack Shafer. It’s a reporter’s technique for ingratiating himself with one official or another. Here’s a definition, from the Urban Dictionary:

(JOURNALISM) using flattery to gain access to sources. The phrase is usually used in the context of White House or Congressional press corps, who use fulsome praise of high-ranking officials whose favor they need. Usually, officials like to be publicly represented as magnificent, selfless, tireless public servants; in exchange for such blurbs, they may invite specific reporters to exclusive events, thereby boosting the reporter’s status.

It’s irritating when occasionally used, but imagine a world where it’s simply the conventional posture of the press. That would be a world where newspapers printed, exclusively, All the News That’s Fit to Bolster and Re-elect. Such a fasle, closed world would have harmonious relations between press and politician, but would produce foolish, third-tier policies that would ignore genuine problems in favor of officials’ self-promotion.

A community, such as a small town of 14,454, would slowly waste away on a diet like that.



Holiday, Music

Monday Music: Sophie Milman’s So Long, You Fool

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I hope you’re having a Happy Valentine’s Day, as I am. But if not, it’s worth considering whether the person over whom you might be pining is, after all, worth pining over. Think carefully, and you may find that the answer’s no, not at all.

In that spirit of realism (and liberation from someone you’re likely better off without), I offer Sophie Milman’s So Long, You Fool.

Enjoy.



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Daily Bread

Daily Bread for 2-14-11

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Good morning,

Whitewater’s Valentine’s Day forecast calls for a mostly sunny day, with highs in the mid-thirties.

In the City of Whitewater today, there will be a meeting of the Planning Commission at 6 p.m.  The agenda for that meeting is available online.   At 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting of the Library Board.  That agenda is also online.

I’m overdue on posts about the mess that is tax incremental district 4.  I’ve not forgotten; it’s a work in progress (that is, the posts, not the district).

The Wisconsin Historical Society recalls that today is a memorable day in Wisconsin, American, and world history:

1819 – Typewriter Inventor Born

On this date the inventor of the modern typewriter, C. Latham Sholes, was born. Sholes moved to Wisconsin as a child and lived in Green Bay, Kenosha, and Milwaukee. In 1867, in Milwaukee, he presented his first model for the modern typewriter and patents for the device were taken out in 1868. Sholes took the advice of many mechanical experts, including Thomas Edison, and so claims that he was the sole inventor of the typewriter have often been disputed. [Source: Badger Saints and Sinners by Fred L. Homes, pg 316-328]



City, Politics

Our New Jeffersonian Era?

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Salena Zito offers a forecast:

Today we are in the midst of a cultural U-turn away from a Hamiltonian meritocratic-elitist, centralized-power society to a more Jeffersonian Main Street focus, with state and local governments as the primary powerbrokers.

I don’t believe that local government is less elitist; it’s just that the quality of municipal managers and bureaucrats (and their apologists) is so low that they don’t seem so elite.

Yet, if it should be true that even local government becomes more Jeffersonian, then so many of the middle aged (and older) bureaucrats and hangers-on who’ve made a such a mess will remain just long enough to see the rejection of their shabby policies and careers.

Via Our new Jeffersonian era – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  (Hat tip to Instapundit for the link, and following his view that ‘elite’ isn’t really that elite.)

Free Markets, Liberty

Executive Q&A: ‘I believe in the American dream’

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Yes — no better opportunities in all the world:

“I believe in the American dream,” said [accountant Julia] Arata-Fratta. “This is a country of opportunity. If you work hard, you are rewarded.”That meant learning the language and renewing her tax accounting skills to re-enter the work force. Now, she’s dedicated to making it easier for Latinos to grow their own businesses.

Via Executive Q&A: ‘I believe in the American dream’.

Uncategorized

On Wisconsin: In Fort Atkinson, an old library is made new again

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Done with mostly private funds:

This city of 12,190 along the Rock River in southern Jefferson County is accustomed to doing things on its own. And the impressive library project was no exception.

The city paid for $2.5 million of the work but the remaining $3 million came from the private sector, including $1.5 million from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, which challenged the community to come up with the balance.

See, On Wisconsin: In Fort Atkinson, an old library is made new again.

Via DAILY WISCONSIN » On Wisconsin: In Fort Atkinson, an old library is made new again.

Nature, Press

Deer, coyotes and turkeys, oh my!

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The Wisconsin Center for investigative Journalism‘s Kate Golden and Allie Tempus have a fine story about the number and cost of collisions between wildlife and aircraft in Wisconsin.

Just as Doug Drost was landing at the Shell Lake airport, his wife, Karen Drost, saw something hurtling out of the darkness toward their Cessna 210. Something big. “Deer, deer, deer!” she screamed.

“He just came running full bore,” she said. “It’s not like a car, where you can hit your brakes. We thought we missed him. And then we heard the clunk.”

That July 28, 2010 hit on the northwestern Wisconsin runway — which caused $12,000 in damage — is a story that plays out over and over in this increasingly deer-ridden country.

Deer-airplane damage by the numbers

1,155: The number of reported animal-aircraft hits or near-misses in Wisconsin since 1990, including birds, mammals and other creatures.

$1.5 million: Total cost (in 2010 dollars) of the 144 strikes that resulted in damage.

$1 million: Damage caused by the 35 deer strikes — two-thirds of the total.

Source: FAA Wildlife Strike Database

Via Deer, coyotes and turkeys, oh my! | WisconsinWatch.org.

Twitter

Recent Tweets, 2.6 to 2.12

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RT @BreakingNews: Ron Paul wins presidential straw poll at CPAC, earning 30 percent of the vote – Fox News http://fxn.ws/f2U6ub
12 Feb

When politician/bureaucrat says he or she aspires to be ‘an adult in the room,’ it really means: ‘I want to have chair when the music stops’
12 Feb

To be an ‘adult in the room’ is self-serving justification of politicians/bureaucrats who want to be in limelight w/o holding to principle
12 Feb

Blogging in Whitewater WI is part history, part advocacy: recalling what others selfishly forget & proposing reforms so one need not forget
12 Feb

Ridiculous isn’t inhibtion enough, though RT @radleybalko: Hilariously dubious anti-Walmart argument. http://tinyurl.com/69v2f5k
12 Feb

Whitewater’s city manager may invite Gov Walker to a grand opening Careful! Walker may use chance to ask for his state shared revenues back
11 Feb

Friday Catblogging: Making Your Own Cat Food » FREE WHITEWATER http://bit.ly/e2HcVW
11 Feb

Whitewater’s big projects don’t help needy They cater to middling manager’s idea of what’s impressive to similarly vain, selfish people
11 Feb

Whitewater has a way out: end cheerleading, end loans & big projects, reduce municipal govt, cut fees, taxes, redirect services to needy
11 Feb

If City Manager Brunner found job few years ago, he would have escaped predicament his fiscal policies exacerbated Not now
11 Feb

Whitewater’s city manager should have enacted moderate budget cuts in fat years Now he’ll be forced to cut more drastically & quickly
11 Feb

State reductions in shared revenue will compel Whitewater’s city manager, cheerleaders to make painful choices for which they are unsuited
11 Feb

Whitewater’s foolish & excessive reliance on shrinking state revenue means cuts, labor tension http://bit.ly/dFKJfd
11 Feb

Now assured to be most polarizing gov in memory Walker proposes stripping collective bargaining rights of state workers http://bit.ly/gkUTFB
11 Feb

If only all municipal issues were so simple Fort Wayne About To Name Its Government Center After Mayor Harry Baals? http://read.bi/gVNq65
9 Feb

Public Choice Theory and Its Opposite « FREE WHITEWATER http://bit.ly/h5U5S2
7 Feb

NFL teams may replace playbooks with iPads | Geek Gestalt – CNET News http://bit.ly/gk1UDa
6 Feb

Reagan’s Libertarian Spirit | Cato @ Liberty http://bit.ly/f4NNMp
6 Feb

Libertarians

Libertarians spoil Donald Rumsfeld/Dick Cheney reunion at CPAC

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It’s the second time this week that libertarians in the GOP have done something American lefties agree with. Earlier in the week, a startling temporary coalition of liberal Dems and libertarian Republicans squelched the re-authorization of parts of the Patriot Act, in protest of the law’s disregard for Americans’ civil liberties….

Via Libertarians spoil Donald Rumsfeld/Dick Cheney reunion at CPAC | theCLog.

Cats

Friday Catblogging: Making Your Own Cat Food

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Ever considering cooking for your cat?

There’s a story about doing just that, entitled, Try Making Your Own Cat Food, from Julian Bryant. Here’s a recipe:


Cat food

1 filet of catfish
1/4 cup of rice
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon finely grated carrot
1 egg yolk

Roughly chop the catfish and simmer it in 3/4 cup water for 4 or 5 minutes. Drain it but reserve the liquid.

Steam the rice with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid until tender. Add the egg yolk to the hot rice and stir. The heat of the rice will cook the yolk. Chop the fish a little finer and mix all ingredients.

Let cool before serving.

Bet your cat loves it.