Today's WSJ had an article bewailing the poor showing of American school children on a geography test.
They taught geography when I was in third grade. By the time I reached sixth grade, they stopped teaching geography, in stead we had "social studies" None of my children had a geography book or class.
If you don't teach it, don't expect children to know it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Corporate Income Tax reform
Corporate income tax (at least for publicly traded corporations) should be a straight 20% (down from 35%) of the yearly profit from the corporation's annual report, the SEC approved, and audited report they show to Wall St investors. No allowances for domestic production, use of ethanol, purchase of electrical vehicles, green goodness or anything else. No loss carryover, loosing money last year is no reason to get a tax break this year.
Rationale. Accounting is so slippery that clever and crooked accountants can and do turn losses into profits, loans into income, phone bills into capital investments, and similar trickery that we might as well take advantage of all the rules and paperwork that attempts to limit accounting swindles for tax assessment. Plus companies are less likely to declare purely imaginary profits when they have to pay taxes on them.
Rationale. Accounting is so slippery that clever and crooked accountants can and do turn losses into profits, loans into income, phone bills into capital investments, and similar trickery that we might as well take advantage of all the rules and paperwork that attempts to limit accounting swindles for tax assessment. Plus companies are less likely to declare purely imaginary profits when they have to pay taxes on them.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Three D in the movies
I forgot to mention the last Harry Potter movie was in Three D, and we now have three D up here, unlike a few years ago when we had to watch Avatar in two D.
The effect was pretty good. At least everything looked three d, and the color was good, the focus was acceptable, and there were no artifacts. But it didn't really add much to the flick. The three-D glasses are uncomfortable, especially over eye glasses and they show odd reflections from theater lighting.
The director mostly refrained from having things fly out of the screen into the audience's lap. Showing mature restraint on his part.
The effect was pretty good. At least everything looked three d, and the color was good, the focus was acceptable, and there were no artifacts. But it didn't really add much to the flick. The three-D glasses are uncomfortable, especially over eye glasses and they show odd reflections from theater lighting.
The director mostly refrained from having things fly out of the screen into the audience's lap. Showing mature restraint on his part.
The Last Harry Potter Movie
So of course we went to see it. This is the third night it has been playing in Littleton, and apparently a good many townspeople had yet to see it. The Jax Jr was pretty full.
It was a good Potter movie, better than the last one. More action and less standing around thinking gloomy thoughts. The principles, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint did their usual competent acting. Plot continuity sucked, as is usual in Potter movies. If you haven't read the book, it's meaningless whirl of special effects. I have read the book, and the two hour movie manages to cover most of the book's plot. The ending is the same. There are some great scenes, like when the dragon rises up thru the floor of Gringotts bank, scattering Goblin tellers left and right and bringing down the biggest crystal chandelier in the world. Or when the underground rail car at Gringott's stops on a bridge, sets out anti collision flashers and then dumps all the passengers into the deep gorge below the bridge.
I'm gonna miss the yearly Harry Potter movie. Too bad we have reached the end of the line.
It was a good Potter movie, better than the last one. More action and less standing around thinking gloomy thoughts. The principles, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint did their usual competent acting. Plot continuity sucked, as is usual in Potter movies. If you haven't read the book, it's meaningless whirl of special effects. I have read the book, and the two hour movie manages to cover most of the book's plot. The ending is the same. There are some great scenes, like when the dragon rises up thru the floor of Gringotts bank, scattering Goblin tellers left and right and bringing down the biggest crystal chandelier in the world. Or when the underground rail car at Gringott's stops on a bridge, sets out anti collision flashers and then dumps all the passengers into the deep gorge below the bridge.
I'm gonna miss the yearly Harry Potter movie. Too bad we have reached the end of the line.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
What do Republicans do now?
The Republicans hoped to tie some spending cuts or even entitlement revision to the debt limit increase. It isn't working, Obama said no deal. In fact he is asking for tax hikes.
If the Republicans hang tough, let the money run out and shut the US government down, will it help them win in 2012? With the ever helpful main stream media blaming the republicans full time? Something like this happened back in Gingrich/Clinton time and it didn't work out for the GOP. That's why Gingrich is no longer Republican Speaker of the House, or even a Congressman.
Or, the Republicans can say, "Here is a $2.5 trillion hike to the national credit limit." Humiliating, but perhaps better than losing the blame game. And then spend the time to election refusing to pass porky spending bills. McConnell in the Senate is proposing just that policy.
What comes next? Film at 11.
If the Republicans hang tough, let the money run out and shut the US government down, will it help them win in 2012? With the ever helpful main stream media blaming the republicans full time? Something like this happened back in Gingrich/Clinton time and it didn't work out for the GOP. That's why Gingrich is no longer Republican Speaker of the House, or even a Congressman.
Or, the Republicans can say, "Here is a $2.5 trillion hike to the national credit limit." Humiliating, but perhaps better than losing the blame game. And then spend the time to election refusing to pass porky spending bills. McConnell in the Senate is proposing just that policy.
What comes next? Film at 11.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Speaking of chargers
Would not it be wonderful if all the chargers would intermate? So one charger could run your Kindle, laptop, cellphone, Ipad, and camera.
This is technologically possible, all these devices use DC, at some where between 5 and 12 volts. Define a standard plug and receptacle and spec 'em all to work on 12 volts.
The electrical industry managed this trick 100 years ago, which is why light bulbs all fit the same socket and all appliance plugs fit the wall outlets.
This is technologically possible, all these devices use DC, at some where between 5 and 12 volts. Define a standard plug and receptacle and spec 'em all to work on 12 volts.
The electrical industry managed this trick 100 years ago, which is why light bulbs all fit the same socket and all appliance plugs fit the wall outlets.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)