California Sinking

Writing in City Journal, Joel Kotkin looks at what happened to California. An excerpt:

What went so wrong? The answer lies in a change in the nature of progressive politics in California. During the second half of the twentieth century, the state shifted from an older progressivism, which emphasized infrastructure investment and business growth, to a newer version, which views the private sector much the way the Huns viewed a city—as something to be sacked and plundered. The result is two separate California realities: a lucrative one for the wealthy and for government workers, who are largely insulated from economic decline; and a grim one for the private-sector middle and working classes, who are fleeing the state.

Americana/Soul Food Update

Click and scroll down to see the menu for Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles.


Tell me you're not tempted by that red velvet cake.

Entertainment Break

From "The Commitments": At the Dark End of the Street.

Much Appreciated

Cultural Offering has posted a very nice review of How to Make Presentations to Councils and Boards.

It made my day.

When Can I Move In?

Eclecticity (whose motto should be "Where Does He Find This Stuff?") has found the perfect place for a blogger.

Said to be Smart: The Stages

• Stage One: "I keep hearing that he's really smart."
• Stage Two: "He's really smart."
• Stage Three: "Well, they said he's really smart."
• Stage Four: "Where is the evidence that he's smart?"
• Stage Five: "He's an idiot."

Leading and Hard Truths

Part of the leader's job is to remind us of hard truths. It is to wave away the spells cast by wishful thinking and to state what we know in our hearts but are reluctant to acknowledge.

When leaders fulfill this responsibility, they must avoid any cheap tricks, such as straw man arguments, and instead put forward what may seem to be an unpopular position. The leader who is in tune with the followers, however, will know that what is voiced is what is commonly thought and that the others have been waiting for those words.

Watch the reaction around the room. Once the leader has stated the previously unspoken thought, you will sense the relief. The truth has been spoken and nothing will ever again be quite the same.

Quote of the Day

To play it safe is not to play.

- Robert Altman

Blogger's Screening for Spam and More!

Blogger has a new spam screening system. I blissfully ignored it until tonight when, out of curiosity, I checked the spam tank to see what was screened and found some legitimate - and thoughtful - comments in the batch!

I apologize for comments that have been experienced a delay in posting. I'll do a better job of checking in the future.

Bear with me.

Subjects That Should Be Required in School

I've written before on certain subjects that should be required in elementary school. Since then, the list has expanded. Operating strictly from memory and with some additions, the list is:

1. Logic
2. Etiquette
3. Leadership (and then make them lead)
4. Economics
5. Industrial Arts
6. Cooking
7. Map Reading
8. First Aid
9. Self-Defense
10. Decision Making.

Any others?