On...Various Stuff about our POTUS

Take these as you will.

I always want our nation to be successful and this goes for our President, but I wish him success if he handles things differently. For one I think he is too staged. I don't think he can handle a real back and forth with lots of curveballs [SEE the UK paper The GUARDIAN]. There will be events he can't prepare for, sit down and think about and sleep on. Professors are rarely generals. Especially when you must face down Russians, Koreans, and Persians.

Also I have real suspicion when it comes to his motives domestically. (Even beyond Socialism) It is beginning to seem that he desires real power as much as W but in a very different way. Not everyone has come down from Cloud 9 yet but I think they will see how much he is expanding presidential power to unheard of heights. He definitely sees power as something to use and he is just getting warmed up. [SEE WSJ and another Brit's take on power grabs] I don't think he understands business. He sees it as an outsider. He sees the possibilities and positives of capitalism, but he doesn't really grasp how it works and why it works. He's like a kid who finds this great toy but uses it all wrong then breaks it.

And lastly we'll see how Obama handles North Korea. This area I'm most concerned, not about our civil liberties, but our reputation for strength in the world. There will be one rookie mistake (beyond missile shields removal for peace) at least. I'd rather see it with NK than with Iran or Russia.

KOREAN ROCKET
Kim Jong-iL's Gamble
The Guardians Take on Historical Irony

On... Winning Your NCAA Office Bracket

SPARTA!!

I'd like to give myself kudos for winning my NCAA Office Bracket for the first time in 9 tries. Thank you, thank you.

Usually I start off strong then fade. This year I started off a bit weak (middle of the pack from about 30 entries after the Sweet Sixteen) then finished strong. I did pick MSU and NC to face off in the final. Based on point calculations I win regardless if NC wins or loses on Monday Night. This is very well because I'm rooting for Michigan State to win even though three weeks ago I picked NC to win it all. Who could have foreseen MSU actually beating Kansas AND Louisville AND UConn. What a run! Izzo deserves another raise.

On...Jedi Mind Tricks

May the force be with you!

Here's an article regarding how the whimsy of Star Wars conquers each new generation of kids. My guess it because it rocks. (Not counting the lame love dialogue of the prequels.)

SLATE: Why Does Star Wars Still Take Over the Minds of Little Boys?

On...Urban Farming

A New Fad? Something "Green" That Actually Intrigues Me

My wife Katie has been talking for years how Detroit could benefit from what she called Urban Farming. Maybe something like this could happen, though various hurdles like corruption of a racist and idiotic city council, safety/crime, and toxic pollution may be too much to overcome.
The Detroit Free Press and journalist John Gallagher had an article last Thursday about local businessman John Hantz and his dream of Urban Farming in Detroit. See it below.

URBAN FARMING

Urban Farming.org (I don't necessary endorse this group since I don't know much about them, but you can check them out.)

On...The Answer to Totalitarian Democratic Republics

Thanks Slate.com

Someone has finally given a decent answer to a question that has bugged me for some time. Why do the most oppressive nations use monikers like Democratic and Republic in their official names when they are anything but? Especially when the hate the West and all the traits that we stand for.

Well, here is the answer.

SLATE.COM: The Undemocratic People's Republic of Korea

On...Iran, Israel, Obama, & Bibi

This interview between the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making the rounds. Here it is below, along with Ross Douthat's blog-related post.

ATLANTIC: Netanyahu to Obama-Stop Iran or we will.

ROSS DOUTHAT: Deterring Iran