Boulder is a Stoopid Place

Guess the newspaper. Right, the New York Times. The date, Jan 14, 1987. Here’s an excerpt from the NYT editorial…

“The Right Minimum Wage: $0.00.” So read an editorial headline in one of the most respected newspapers in America. The editorial stated: “There’s a virtual consensus among economists that the minimum wage is an idea whose time has passed. Raising the minimum wage by a substantial amount would price working poor people out of the job market.”

Here’s one of many points in the Aug 1st WSJ commentary (registration/subscription required) by David Henderson a research fellow at the Hoover Institution…

The reason goes back to the second sentence quoted in the above Times editorial. In raising the minimum wage, the government doesn’t guarantee jobs. It guarantees only that those who get jobs will be paid at least that minimum. But precisely by requiring this, the government destroys jobs. Someone to whom an employer was willing to pay only the current minimum wage of $5.15 might not produce enough to be worth paying, say, $7.25.

Repeat after me, “the government doesn’t guarantee jobs”. Perhaps when the USA becomes the US of France we might guarantee jobs. Oh wait, what’s the unemployment rate in France… maybe double the US rate?

http://bestofyt.com/video/breakdance-baby-2

Thanks to hedge fund manager James Altucher.

Castro, (almost 80) is undergoing gastroinstestinal surgery and has transferred power to his 75 year old brother Raul. One must wonder if all the Kings’ horses and all the Kings’ men can put Castro back together again?

Seems like Chicago isn’t interested in “big box” stores. Furthermore they don’t seem to care about the 20,000 people who applied for 500 Walmart jobs. Read more here.

It appears the answer is “YES”. In my opinion that’s a great thing.

Read about it at Radioblogger.

Wonder if I can come up with the same numbers for the Boulder Daily Camera?

They apparently think it’s against the law.

The family of Neftaly Cruz said police had no right to come onto their property and arrest their 21-year-old son simply because he was using his cell phone’s camera. They told their story to Harry Hairston and the NBC 10 Investigators. . . .

Read more here.

This isn’t the only post Instapundit has had on this matter. Crazy, seems like a major attitude adjustment is needed.

Ants get smarter, humans get dumber.

“And that’s all great and intuitive… until you get to humans. Humans, he said, demonstrate the opposite principle: more interactions equals dumber behavior. When we come together and interact as a group seeking consensus, we lose sophistication and intelligence. Ants get smarter while we get dumber.”

There are advantages if the group is diverse and argues!

Read more here. (Yes I know, it’s the same “guys”!)

Another great post from Creating Passionate Users. Read about “Girl Code” here…

I was reading this post, and discovered that one of the Creating Passionate Users bloggers is from Boulder too.

The post, about playing it safe (Safe is risky, risky is safe) is full of irony in that Boulder spends huge amounts of money trying to make everything safe.

No excuses, get out of your chair and become an expert. Get past the “Suck Threshold” and the “Kick Ass Threshold” as you become an expert.

Here’s the introduction over at Creating Passionate Users

The only thing standing between you-as-amateur and you-as-expert is dedication. All that talk about prodigies? We could all be prodigies (or nearly so) if we just put in the time and focused. At least that’s what the brain guys are saying. Best of all–it’s almost never too late.

Since I’m not a big fan of the minimum wage, needless to say I find this action disagreeable. I’m sure the law of “unintended consequences” will raise it’s ugly head. I find it somewhat amusing that Mayor Richard Daily doesn’t agree with the law…

Mayor Richard M. Daley and others warned the living wage proposal would drive jobs and desperately needed development from some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods and lead giants like Wal-Mart to abandon the city.

I want this t-shirt. Click on the back to enlarge.

Driving to work this morning Paul Harvey mentioned in his off-handed way that almost 1/2 of the American’s wanting to leave Lebanon had not been able to. This Fox News story implies a small number of American’s (and others) are still stranded. Who to believe, Fox News or Paul Harvey? Well I’ve heard Paul Harvey make a couple of mistakes lately, e-mailed him and received no response so my money’s on Fox News.

I’m sure this tool never left the Boulder County Land Use Department’s tool kit, but no doubt they are overjoyed that there is a new study out claiming that the Preble Mouse is a distinct species in danger of extinction. If true, this of course would keep it on the endangered species list. Not that I’m particularly against saving the Preble mouse, but it’s another tool for the County Commissioners to take away the property rights of the citizens of Boulder County.

The power troika doesn’t need any more tools to take away property rights, they do a “great” job with the ones the have.

Also, does this organization, the “Sustainable Ecosystem Institute” sound like one capable of a producing non-partisan study of the DNA of a preble mouse?

I’m certainly no fan of Arlen Spectre, but I’ll agree this issue needs to be explored. As stated in the article, Bush has issued more signing statements than all the other Presidents combined.

Bush has challenged about 750 statutes passed by Congress, according to numbers compiled by Specter’s committee. The ABA estimated Bush has issued signing statements on more than 800 statutes, more than all other presidents combined.

Even if your a fan of Mr. Bush, and I’m closer to a fan than 90% of Boulder citizens, this is a big problem. Without getting into the Stem Cell debate, you sure as heck have to wonder why it took him 6 years to veto a bill if he has so many issues with legislation he signs.

After what I’ve read, which may well be one sided and biased, combined with my general distrust of government, I can’t agree with the conclusion to this article.

“I don’t think they’re going to want to shackle Abraham to the table and try to give him chemotherapy,” he said. “If he’s uncooperative, he could wind up not getting treated. It’s hard for me to imagine the state police holding him in a straight jacket.”

When a Republican leader sides with Nancy Pelosi on an issue, you know there’s a big problem. The general public’s satisfaction with Congress is so low precisely because of the arrogant SOB’s that think they are better than everyone else. Hastert fertilizes this process with his special brand of BS. Mr. Hastert, read my lips, you and your buddies of either party are NOT above the law. Shut up and stand down.

I’ve wondered about this as well.

Boulder County bicycle laws from the Boulder Daily Camera. Laws that stand out to me (ed notes in parenthesis) ….

Bicyclists are subject to the same traffic laws as motorists. (this includes stop signs???)

Pedestrians have the right-of-way on sidewalks, paths and crosswalks.

Riding more than two abreast is banned. Cyclists shouldn’t ride two abreast on roadways unless necessary.

Bicyclists can pass cars in slowed or stopped traffic. But they can’t pass a vehicle signaling a right turn. Bicyclists must stop behind the first vehicle at an intersection.

Drivers should allow bicycles at least 3 feet of clearance on the side. On a narrow road, drivers should wait until it’s safe to pass. (How do you do that?)