Speed Gibson

Not that we're short of them, but there is a big lie circulating, underpinning in fact the DFL's attempt to take over health care in Minnesota. They claim this will cut health care costs by 20% in just 3 years. How? By promoting healthier lifestyles that will reduce the need for medical care. The smoking ban is just the first step.

I've heard this before, when the HMO concept first came to town about 30 years ago. Routine expenses like annual physicals and vaccinations were now covered, practically free in fact. We now had no reason to avoid them. We would get physicals and flu shots. We therefore would detect maladies sooner, before they became expensive to treat, not to mention life threatening. We would not even suffer influenza. Most prescriptions were now more affordable, too, meaning we would indeed take them when prescribed, again avoiding the more serious and more expensive consequences of not taking our medicine.

It wasn't a bad idea. Great minds had studied it. It was intuitive. It provided for a better division of labor. It was easy to implement. No doubt some of the health goals were realized. But the bills still had to be paid, and within 10 years we found that financially, the HMO model was no better than the classic insurance model it replaced. By then the change was permanent. The HMO was here to stay, favored by corresponding changes to state regulations and the tax code.

Now the great minds have put that old wine in a new bottle. If we just switch from Big Macs to wild hickory nuts, we won't be fat and we won't have the corresponding heart attacks and arthritic joints. If we just trade butter for omega-3 fish oil, we'll avoid strokes and memory loss. If we ingest lots of anti-oxidants swimming in non-fat yogurt, we won't get cancer. Cut the salt and we can throw away our our blood pressure medication. There will be no smoking, no drinking, no bleached flour, and no refined sugars. We'll let you eat some red meat for now, but don't even ask about foie gras.

The flaw of course is that we're all going to die no matter what. And, we spend about half of our lifetime health care expenses in our last six months on average, whenever that happens. That being a given, the rest is largely a function of how long you live, much of that genetic. Look at Medicare. If everyone died by age 70 or so, it would be solvent into the next century. But most are making 80 these days and Medicare is therefore broke.

Don't fall for this - again. The government will get bigger. Its employees will get the first bite. The rest will be rationed.

I don't think I've disagreed more with the judges than this week. They were agog over Priscilla Presley; I wasn't. They were brutal to Marissa, so much so that even I picked up the phone and cast three votes for her. That took some time given a lot of busy signals, so maybe she's safe.

Otherwise, the performances were pretty steady. The only one who I truly thought came up a little short was Steve Guttenberg's tango, mostly because he was so clearly and so unconvincingly trying to appear serious.

But I'm thinking, hoping even, that the boorish Adam Carolla will be the one leaving.

UPDATE: The Results

Alas, Steve Guttenberg was indeed the one to go this week. The good news is that spunky Marissa will be back.

Several have commented, some with understandable glee, about the fine mess our Attorney General has gotten herself into. For the Office of the Legislative Auditor is on the case whose sterling reputation the DFL dares not challenge. If the OLA report comes out as we think it should, she's in big trouble, right?

She would be if she were a Republican, for enough Republican votes would be there for impeachment if necessary. But she's a Democrat, a very liberal Democrat at that. And being a liberal means never having to say you're sorry.

Short of any finding of a major felony, she'll be given a slap on the wrist at best. She will "welcome" the assessment and promise departmental changes to address the points raised. Party insiders will coach her on how to properly deal with them, something a truly qualified AG candidate should already know.

Barring something unexpected like embezzlement, she is very, very safe.

The T.G.I. Fridays in Brooklyn Center closed last year. We used to go there from time to time, until they dumbed down the menu and turned up the music too loud. A new "Oak CIty" restaurant has taken its place. It looked like a franchise, but read their press release:

March 5, 2008 (FPRC) -- Oak City Restaurant, a new restaurant concept, opened its first location on March 3, 2008, at 2590 Freeway Boulevard in Brooklyn Center in a renovated site that was formerly occupied by T.G.I. Fridays.

Oak City is committed to local dining and music. “Oak City will offer diners a locally owned restaurant featuring great food made from fresh ingredients,” stated owner Mike Tupa. “Our expansive menu features a variety of items, from unique appetizers and flatbread pizzas, to healthy organic salads, Certified Angus Beef burgers, and outstanding entree selections. Our goal is to provide our customers with a special dining experience along with a fun nightlife atmosphere,” he added. “We’ll feature a great mix of music played nightly as well as high-quality and diverse wines and creative cocktails.”

Oak City will present great-tasting food while providing superior service in a nostalgic, warm atmosphere. Customers will be able to reminisce and join in the fun by reading the many famous quotes, sayings and music lyrics that are incorporated into the interior design of the restaurant, completely renovated and redecorated by interior design firm Jeff Schreier & Associates.

We will strive to make dining out special for our customers, whether they’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a meal,” Tupa said. “We’ll provide tasty food, good music and nightlife, and a special atmosphere that will allow our guests to slow down, relax and reconnect.”

Tupa, an accomplished restaurant owner/operator with 20 years of industry experience, has overseen every aspect of the planning for Oak City, including the building renovation, menu selection, staffing and communications.

Founded in 2008, Oak City Restaurant is a casual restaurant offering great food made from fresh ingredients. A second Oak City location will open in Bloomington, Minn., in the spring of 2008.

Yes, it's a local operation, and this is the first one.

We had dinner there tonight and I was very impressed. The decor is darker and all that TGIF crap along the walls is gone, just some nice brass plates with some memorable quotes. There are big screen TV's all over, but tastefully integrated into the decor. And - the music is at just the right volume, enough to enjoy, but not such that you have to shout across the table to be heard.

I had their Tenderloin Peppercorn Salad. When I saw it coming, I assumed I would be boxing half as I often do as a dutiful Weight Watcher. This proved neither necessary nor desirable. It was perfect for me, especially as it was lightly dressed. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful, and not over-peppered as some pepper steak is. It was a nice collection of fresh greens, too. I would have been a shame to box them to have them wilt later. Service was prompt and attentive and not scripted, dare I say professional.

We will be back and soon. I'm thinking this would be a swell place to watch football and NASCAR, too, assuming they'll turn on the audio.

This is the last of three parts. In Part One I inferred from events that K-12 funding is at best number 4, behind pork, light rail, and socialized medicine. Maybe it's 5th, given the stadium bills. In Part Two, I observed that for all the lobbying and politicking, nothing much truly changes. The record shows that whatever money is allocated is spent.

If it's unproductive, why do it? Professor Paul S. Nadler once told the story of a big name accounting firm charging a large company $300,000 for their annual audit. Only they refused to certify it for some reason. "Why bother?" he asked. They were apparently uncertain how much they had or made, but whatever it was, they'd have $300,000 more without that worthless audit.

So why spend money on lobbying that ultimately changes nothing? There's no question that every public school district wants more money and lobbies directly and indirectly trying to get it. Only the amounts and percentages vary.

Take for example, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts. Near as I can see, this is a lobbying group. Oh, they have some other offerings, like Don Corleone also imported olive oil. They report using 4 registered lobbyists and somebody must be paying them. For what? Quit wasting time on them or any other such groups. Stop wasting your own staff's time on such activities. There's another way.

I guess I lied. There will be a part four.

We have installed 10 CFC bulbs to date, and just had one fail. For certain uses, I like them - assuming they last long enough to cover their significant costs.

One particular use is for a hallway fixture where the bulb hangs upside down, baking inside the glass enclosure. The high heat fries an incandescent bulb in 6 months or less. I assumed that the much lower heat of the CFC would solve the problem, but I didn't get a year out of this one either.

Maybe it's their aversion to being switched off too soon after starting, which no doubt happened many times here. So, back to incandescent here. I think I'll go back on a couple of others, too.

I do like them for the outdoor lighting, where yes, they stay on for extended periods. They save a lot of power but are plenty bright enough. These are specially rated for cold weather and have lasted over two years to date. And, no major problem if they break outdoors.

As I look at the calendar and the two glaciers still over three feet high guarding my driveway like palacial lions, I'm wondering if something resembling spring will ever arrive. Even though we unexpectedly reached 45 degrees today, the normal high is 46 degrees. The ten day forecast shows no days reaching normal either.

March 21 is no longer workable as a definition of spring. Last year we saw 70's, even one 80's reading. This year is the opposite. After some study, I have some new definitions based on the daily high temperatures. (Revised 3/27)

Spring shall start after 7 consecutive days reaching 42° F. And we're not there yet, so I'm putting some winter colors at the top. I'll change with the seasons, like the old Weatherball.

Summer starts after 7 consecutive days reaching 63° F. Fall starts after 7 consecutive days under 63° and winter starts after 7 consecutive days under 63°.

Monday, I posited that K-12 Education is at best the number four priority at the Legislature, behind pork, light rail (which is also pork), and welfare. The new DFL deficit-closing proposal again confirms that the DFL won't cut HHS; it's the foundation of their push for "universal" health care.

Add to that premise this next assertion. Had the Legislature somehow added $1 billion to the budget five years ago, we would now be in roughly the same situation today. Education Minnesota and the other unions would have negotiated accordingly. As a corollary, passing the equivalent in referendums would produce the same result.

There comes a time when you just have to say that this ain't working. By "you" I mean the School Boards. By "this" I mean the DFL "feed you with an eyedropper" paradigm. The DFL talks a lot about education funding, but not enough to put it ahead of stadiums, fish tanks, light rail trains, and hockey arenas. In a perverse way, given that the vast majority of the pork winds up in DFL districts, only in Republican districts does K-12 Education get a greater percent of the largess.

Here in District 281, a great deal of effort at several levels goes toward lobbying the Legislature. Again, this ain't working. So why are we (281) pretending that it does?

My question for the next post: what if we quit the game?

The theme was songs from their birth year. Not a bad idea, but it didn't seem to work very well.

Best of the night - again - was David Cook, with a creative adaptation of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." No complaints from me, as he left the guitar backstage.

Michael Johns came back from the dead for a pretty convincing chorus of Queen's "We are the Champions." Another surprise was Kristy Lee Cook's "God Bless the USA" that Simon said would carry her another week. I agree.

My favorite gal Syesha Mercado again had the right idea with a great song choice: "If I Were Your Woman." And once again, she somehow gets stuck with an unhelpful arrangement. Why does this keep happening to her? Is she demanding these treatments? Anyway, her strong voice, on key throughout, keeps her in the game another week.

Jason Castro, David Archuleta, and Chikezie got lost in poor song choices and weak, pitchy performances. But I think they're all safe.

Carly Smithson, Ramiele Malubay, and Brooke White did about the same, but a notch lower, putting them all at risk. But once again, Ramiele was easily the worst, ill or not, my pick to leave tomorrow night.

UPDATE: The Results

I'm about ready to quit the show until I hear that Ramiele is gone. She is weak and off key every week and has no stage presence. She never should have made the final 24.

Chikezie is gone, however. This wasn't his time, but he wasn't going to make the finals either. More concerning was that Syesha was in the docket with him. She's got to figure out what's going wrong with her arrangements and presentation. Her wonderful voice can't save her much longer it would appear.

I'm moving up in the blog world! I've made the Kool-Aid Report sidebar!


In honor of the occasion, here is my first-ever bacon post, from the "Paula Deen is trying to kill us" file.

Make a big pan of macaroni and cheese and refrigerate a while to make sure its firm. Be sure to use plenty of butter, eggs, and a little sour cream. Cut into squares and grab a pound of bacon.

Wrap each lump with a bacon strip, fastening with toothpicks. Dredge them in flour, egg wash, and bread crumbs, then into the deep fryer.

Move over, Scotch Eggs!

Basically, we've had "global warming" for 22 years, from 1976 to 1998. Before 1976, the earth was cooling. Since 1998, the earth has been cooling, especially this year.

If empirical data from those 22 years is somehow significant enough to predict global catastrophe, how about this winter that won't end? Looking at the extended forecast through next ten days, we'll be 3-10 degrees below normal throughout and probably beyond.

I just want to know: when is "our" data good enough?

Via Eckernet, the House GOP has a rather damning recap of the pork being proposed by the DFL, 85 items totaling $455 million, all but one to be part of the 2008 bonding bill. Let's not forget that the gas tax was raised to move needed transportation spending out of said bonding bill to make room for this unnecessary spending.

Just what are the DFL spending priorities this term? Number one would appear to be pork. Otherwise, Prime Minister Pawlenty's proposals were sufficient. But since it was passed first, even before the revised deficit forecast, isn't transportation second? Not exactly. Light rail is number two. Roads themselves are way down the list judging by the continued use of the long obsolete and ineffective requirement allocating most of the money outstate.

Blowback from proposed cuts in the mammoth $11 billion Health and Human Services bill passed last session makes it clear that HHS is probably third. Where is education, specifically K-12 education? By my reckoning, no better than fourth. Look at the strange end to the 2007 session, where Special Ed got most of the money, which, gosh, disproportionately helped the struggling Minneapolis and St. Paul systems. And Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller's district is where? And House Speaker Kelliher's district is where?

Fourth. Our public schools are at best fourth, behind pork, light rail, and health care for the able-bodied. To be continued ...

This is an interesting field of dancers this round, a bit stronger than season 5 in my estimation. But there is still a pretty wide gap from worst to first.

Kristi Yamaguchi is the gal to beat, but Shannon Elizabeth and Priscilla Presley are not far behind. It's even too early to close out Marissa Jaret Winokur or Marlee Matlin. The latter's handicap is only evident when co-host Samantha Harris tilts the microphone toward her in the interviews. (And that's why we love Samantha!)

Monica Seles is what Barack Obama might call a typical white dancer - no rhythm at all. She looks the part, but it's just not there. She'll be going home tomorrow night.

Which guy will join her is more difficult to say, but he has to either be Penn Jillette or Adam Carolla. Both are lousy and both are mouthy, a fatal combination. I'll say Adam simply because he's a relative unknown.

Jason Taylor and "Mario" are already in top form. Steve Guttenberg and Cristián De La Fuente are certainly in the game, assuming Steve learns to strike some different poses.

We're off to a good start on a good season. And it's still the best produced reality series on television.

UPDATE: The Results

Yes, Monica Seles was voted off, but Adam Carolla was too much for Penn Jillette, who is also now gone.

It's been a busy week, and I'm relaxing watching the 1948 "Berlin Express" that I had recorded last Saturday. "The neo-Nazi underground tries to kidnap a diplomat" it said. It's nothing great, but it is historically interesting, what with the various armies of occupation running everything.

What's really interesting are the cigarettes. They're as valuable as the military scrip issued as currency. Toss a half-finished cigarette on the ground and others dive for it. They smoke them with the rounded finger hold, not the casual pointer-index American way.

In this picture, almost every man smokes and maybe half the women, a cultural universal of sorts. It was one of the few pleasures they had amid the bombed out buildings. How stupid they were, right? We're so much smarter now, right?

And yet sixty years later, a GI who crawled up Omaha Beach can't light up at his VFW. Yes, we're so much more intelligent and caring these days.

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher says we don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. I'm sure the DFL Legislature agrees. They also think that Minnesota health care costs can be trimmed by 20 percent in less than four years, all while improving quality and with greater access.

Health care is rocket science. Advanced degrees and training are clearly required, as is continuing education. So is high tech equipment and laboratories, which in turn needs top flight engineers and researchers. Mistakes can be fatal.

K-12 education is not rocket science. Advanced degrees are of no significant value. Its best practitioners seem to in fact be those who respect proven techniques, e.g., phonics. Mistakes are correctable.

For these reasons, the Legislature is obviously much more familiar with K-12 education than health care. In fact, a significant number of the Legislators are or were teachers. And Education Minnesota has over 50 lobbyists at the Capitol, many times the second largest delegation. What is complicated is the finances, and the Legislature is the direct cause of most of that.

Yet, the Legislature is sure that there is significant waste in the health care system that they don't understand, yet cannot find any waste in the K-12 system that they do understand.

This does not compute.

Once again venturing out of my comfort zone to do national politics, I am amazed at the restraint and spin regarding Senator Obama's unabashed lying about his twenty year association with his church and pastor. Even - especially - "no spin zone" Bill O'Reilly is giving Obama every nuance, every break possible, only none of it explains anything about this situation.

I have no idea whether this will sink his candidacy or not. But I do know that Barack Obama is lying. In any other context, Obama would have no cover and no further credibility. You wouldn't accept such nonsense in your personal interactions. Why would you knowingly accept it from a Presidential candidate?

Geraldine Ferraro gently tells the truth, perhaps at the wrong time and place, and she's out. Barack Obama overtly lies and somehow it's our problem. Our ministers have all made similar statements and we didn't walk out. His mother was a bigot at times, as ours must have been too, but he loves her just the same. Our whole society is still too racist to understand Rev. Wright's message in the proper context. So what? Obama is lying just the same, on a very serious matter as regards the Presidency.

It's the second coming of Harold Hill. "When the man dances, certainly boys, what else? The piper pays him!"

I've always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic. Turner Classic Movies has just found another recount, a 1943 German motion picture of remarkable production quality given there was a war on. And yes it's in German with subtitles.

Apparently, Josef Goebbels decided not to release the film. The war was not going well, and he thought it wasn't what the German people needed to see at the time. Or prophetic.

There's a little German - English "politics" like this at the end: "Der Tod von 1500 Menschen blieb Ungesühnt, eine ewige Anklage gegen Englands Gewinnsucht" (The deaths of 1,500 people remain unatoned an eternal condemnation of England's quest for profit.)

But this was minimal, which is to say that the Nazi party didn't get involved in the actual production other than to execute the first director for an inopportune remark. Therefore, it was worth the time to get another perspective.

I just finished watching last night's competition, with minutes to go before the results show. I know, it should obviously be Kristy Lee Cook going home tonight. And yet, Brooke White might have found a way to keep Kristy on another week. Brooke's act was silly and thin, with a "whooo!" tossed in. Her big mistake was stepping on Simon's lines, trying to parry his comments. She just didn't look right on stage at all, and she's my pick to go tonight.

Best of the night was David Cook, despite the guitar, despite the voice box, his best to date. Runner up was David Archuleta

I'll give Amanda, Carly, Jason, Syesha, and Chikeze a "B" for tonight. I like how Amanda works the stage. Carly gets a big plus for not tagging Blackbird with a big ending note. Jason and Michelle seemed a good fit, though Paula pegged it when she said it had a polka beat at times. Syesha is too young for a reflective song like "Yesterday" but she always seems to have the talent to power through such problems. Chikezie went to the well too soon, but it was still entertaining.

Near bottom was Ramiele as usual, ruining one of my favorite John Lennon vocals, but that said, sucked less than usual. Her hat kept throwing shadows over her eyes. With her was Michael Johns, who sort of had the right idea but Simon was right, ulitimately a mess, too complicated a song to do in 90 seconds. I wouldn't mind if either of them went.

AMERICA VOTED: Doug was pretty much right again, though we both had picked Brooke by different reasoning. As for Amanda, it had to happen sometime; she was never going to be a contender. Carly got a wake-up call while Ramiele was safe in the dog pound? Justice must wait at least another week.

Too bad if you're too young to remember The Smothers Brothers, a pair of troubadours whose act you could trace back to Vaudeville with a touch of Abbott and Costello. Dick was the straight man, smarter, more serious, Tommy the fun-loving imp. They would often do folk songs like "Boil That Cabbage Down" during which one would say "take it" to the other, apparently when the other wasn't ready. The song would stop while they sorted it out, for big laughs of course, often ending with "Mom liked you best!"

Here's the DFL solution to education funding, tucked away in House File 3107 authored by Rep. Frank Moe (04A, Bemidji). As I read it, this repeals the existing referendum mechanism for school districts to raise property taxes.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.17, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7a, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13, are repealed. This section is effective for taxes payable in 2009.

But rather than proscribe its replacement, the bill says "take it" to the Governor:

The governor's proposed K-12 education budget for the 2010-2011 biennium must include recommendations to replace the school district funding that was previously raised through locally approved operating referenda. A preliminary draft of this portion of the budget must be publicly released prior to October 1, 2008. The draft must specify the revenue sources used to replace the operating referenda and provide details on the distribution of the replacement revenue among school districts. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

I suspect this bill has little direct chance, offered to help grease the skids for the coming P.S. Minnesota "reforms" that will no doubt propose raising education funding another $1-2 billion. On the other hand, the Governor could simply propose continuing the current system.

It does suggest that the DFL is stuck, unable to quantify or sell its K-12 reforms directly. Here, they can say they did something for schools in their 2008 campaign literature, even if the bill contains no ideas and no money. It only forces a decision.

My understanding of national politics is no better than most of the "drive by" media, but I think the Democratic Party is headed for the rocks, or would be if the Republicans didn't have its own problem. There are three Senators left running for President, each with significant problems.

Clinton has huge well-deserved negatives approaching 50 percent. Given her own limitations, her debate stumbles, her poor choice of campaign staff, and the help she doesn't need from her husband, it's possible those negatives are increasing. And wait until the GOP reminds us about Billy Dale, Cattle Futures, the looting of Vince Foster's office, the FBI files, flying ashtrays, Craig Livingstone, and of course, Hillary Care 1993. But while she's behind in the delegate race, it is still a close race and she is after all, a Clinton.

Obama has suddenly fallen from grace, his carefully worded explanation(s) for his 20 year association with a undeniably racist, America hating pastor wholly unsatisfactory to date. The super delegate quandary, Michigan, and Florida have party leaders wringing their hands and some donors sitting on their checkbooks. How do they avoid this going the distance to the Convention, one sure to end in some degree of acrimony for the losing side? Or will, say a Bill Richardson, return to save the day? (John Kerry, call your office and report for duty!) Me, I'm stocking up on popcorn.

It's comparatively quiet on the Republican front for now. The (true) Conservatives at least have the good sense not to push the Democratic in-fighting off the front pages, at least for now. But McCain still has much explaining to do of his own. I would think turnout would be his first concern, and his choice of running mate could be especially significant here. If he can't excite the base, he's in big trouble, too, no matter who runs against him. There just aren't enough undemanding supporters like our own Prime Minister Pawlenty to win out, even with some revenge votes from the disgruntled Democratic loser's faction.

I'm therefore speculating that this historically rare, incumbent-free Presidential election could have surprisingly low turnout. There are reasons for everyone to stay home if they want to, or vote third party, e.g. Ralph Nader. Clinton and McCain have trouble raising crowds as it is. Obama has his following, but it's the classic mile-wide, inch-deep variety that often doesn't deliver either.

What effect will this have on state races, especially in Minnesota, whose GOP caucuses went big for Mitt Romney, largely as an anyone but McCain candidate? I fear that DFL has more voters who will turn out no matter what than does the GOP, making the House elections as challenging as in 2006. It seems to me that the GOP will have to sell a package deal, us vs. the "big spending, tax raising, abortion-promoting, gay marriage-embracing, more-welfare-without-accountability-loving, school-reform-resisting, illegal-immigration-supporting Democrats" as the Governor once put it.

On the local front, the politics probably are local. I have heard that Presidential election years are tougher for getting public school referendums passed. We all know how these often pass when the voters aren't looking. They may not be in 2008 either if turnout is indeed uncharacteristically low, especially if their natural opposition is again unenthusiastic

The race that may ultimately affect Minnesota voter turnout is the U. S. Senate race now set between incumbent Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken. I can think of no better reason to urge GOP voters not to stay home this time.

I was out walking this afternoon, listening to the Final Word on AM 1280 The Patriot with King Banian and Michael Brodkorb. Despite what you might have read, Prime Minister Pawlenty was in town this weekend and spent some time with the lads.

I'm not exactly Pawlenty's biggest fan, but I do greatly admire his political skills. He was in top form, even when trying to explain his enviro-loon energy policies. But during that explanation, I could have been diagnosed with Tourette's disorder, shouting at my walkman radio. I think I'll transcribe and fisk this portion tomorrow.

This Governor is so good at this that both Michael and King were gushing for half an hour after he left. They all but appointed him President of the United States in a few years, slobbering like David Strom does over Mary Katherine Ham.

At times like these I almost feel sorry for Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller and House Speaker Kelliher, so hopelessly overmatched.

Somehow, the start of the Strategic Planning process in District 281 has restarted talk of school closings, one or more of three Elementary schools in Brooklyn Center, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale. We saw a prompt political response from the City of Robbinsdale last time, and I'm sure there will be a follow up this round. Now Plymouth has weighed in, passing a resolution on March 11 to protect its own.

After more than dozen WHEREAS's, the Plymouth City RESOLVED that it:

• Opposes the closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School because it would weaken a strong neighborhood school in a community that supported ISD 281's referendum.
  
• Urges the ISD 281 to make its decisions based on sound, long-term financial analysis.
  
• Encourages parents, students, and other Plymouth residents to attend and participate in public information meetings planned by the ISD 281 to discuss budgetary, cost-saving, and school closing/restructuring issues.
  

Actually, I imagine this is somewhat tame compared to whatever missives District 281 received from the Robbinsdale contingent. To my knowledge, Brooklyn Center is continuing to remain silent, at least for now.

The resolution reminds the District of past funding and cooperation by the City. In my opinion, while certainly helpful and appreciated, they aren't comparable to the impacts of a school closing, for reasons they cite.

The only item I object to is about supporting the referendum as a criterion for choosing which school to close. I think that's a poor reason to set one parent's child ahead of another. To borrow a phrase, it's for the children.

Mark Levin is ranting the way only he can on this story, via the Associated Press:

Contraband candy has led to trouble for an eighth-grade honors student in Connecticut.

Michael Sheridan was stripped of his title as class vice president, barred from attending an honors student dinner and suspended for a day after buying a bag of Skittles from a classmate.

School spokeswoman Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo said the New Haven school system banned candy sales in 2003 as part of a districtwide school wellness policy.

Michael's suspension was reduced from three days to one, but he has not been reinstated as class vice president.

Superintendent Reginald Mayo said Wednesday the principal was just trying to keep students safe, but he would review the decision to suspend Michael.

Michael says he didn't realize his candy purchase was against the rules, but he did notice the student selling the Skittles February 26 was being secretive.

I didn't know that Skittles were a threat to student safety. Maybe if they spill on the floor someone might slip and fall. It's certainly not because any nutritional danger.

A vending machine size bag of Skittles is 240 calories, with 2.5 grams of fat and 54 carbohydrate grams. It has a minimal 10 mg of sodium. And, it has 50% of your daily Vitamin C. Oh, but they're empty calories! No protein! No fiber! And the carbs are mostly simple sugar, not the superior complex carbs!

Well, let's compare that to something I'm sure the New Haven food police would approve, a 2 ounce serving of Barilla PLUS Multigrain Spaghetti topped with half a cup of Prego Heart Smart Italian Sauce. That has 300 calories, 60 more than the Skittles. It has 4 grams of fat, and unlike the Skittles, some of it is saturated fat. It has 53 carbohydrate grams, almost the same, admitted mostly complex carbs. It has 455 mg of sodium vs 10 for the Skittles. The only significant nutrient is a 35% thiamine (vitamin B1) dose.

True, the pasta dish has 12 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. A little tuna and shredded wheat with other meals covers that easily. Yes, Skittles can be part of a nutritious diet, especially if one serving of Skittles keeps you from ravenously eating multiple servings of something else, even the entree I described here.

But that's not what this is really all about.

The Osseo School District (279) has announced its budget cuts forced by the failure to get additional funding in November's elections. This includes closing two elementary schools, Edgewood and Osseo. Judging by the local Channel 12 coverage, the affected parents are seething, vowing to take their children out of the district.

These closings save little money. One report said that these closings will cover only about 5 percent of the projected $16 million shortfall. If the parents follow through on their threats, it may not cover even that.

As with District 281, these closings seem almost silly to me. You save pennies, not dollars, for which you draw the ire of the community. Plus, it seems like a race to the bottom. Enrollment drops, so you close a school, but only when the sword of Damocles looms overhead. Without a local school, fewer families move nearby, and enrollment drops further.

Public education will seldom live up to most parents' expectations and yet they storm the Board rooms when closings, even changes are mentioned. They're not the best schools they could want, but they're their schools. Even if they agree that their new school will be as good, it's usually a significantly longer distance away. It's no longer a home game.

This is simplistic advice, but I would raise class sizes to whatever is required to keep these schools open, not close them for the chump change savings like we're looking at here.

I bow to Doug at Bogus Gold who called this one right, that David Hernandez would be leaving tonight. My pick, Ramiele Malubay was there with him at the end, but I thought several others would go before Hernandez.

It was flashy and splashy, but otherwise we saw a rather typical American Idol competition, even with Beatles music. There was one first, though: Paula openly didn't like two performances.

Who'd have thought Chikezie and Amanda would steal this show? They were terrific, acts you wouldn't mind paying for.

Heading up my B list was Syesha with a surprisingly unsteady delivery of a concept. The "unrestrained" Carly Smithson did OK with "Come Together" and should be safe. I'm no David Cook fan, but I'll give him credit for leaving the guitar backstage and a great finish. Trouble was, the song controlled him the first half of the song.

I'll give Brooke White a pass this week. "Let it be" just isn't a song any Idol contestant should pick - too few notes, too few words, not much opportunity to embellish. But she looked confident on the piano, should be safe given the many dogs we have to choose from.

Ramiele was dull but she always is. Michael Johns peaked in the round of 24. David Hernandez looked silly and was off key almost the entire time. Kristy Lee Cook's full country overload of "Eight Days a Week" was absurd.

But what happened to Jason Castro? "If I Fell" is easy to sing and yet Castro seemed to struggle with every word, as if out of breath. I kept thinking he should have done "With a Little Help From My Friends" because it's upbeat mood suits him so well.

David Archuleta finally fell from grace, and hard, forgetting the words, even. He was pitchy and seemed only to be copying Stevie Wonder's version, not doing a fresh cover of his own like Chikezie did so well.

So who leaves? Country music fans can probably save Kristy for now, and we all know that Archuleta can do better. Michael Johns doesn't excite anyone anymore and could be in trouble, but since she has yet to show us any reason to even be in the top twelve, I'd say Ramiele Malubay leaves tomorrow night.

District 281 has begun its Strategic Planning process with the assistance of Dr. Bruce Miles. I was at the initial session with the Board at their work session this evening.

It's time to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, at least until after the completed plan is adopted May 5, just eight short weeks from now. Most of tonight's session was spent determining the most effective ways of reaching the widest range of what such a process calls stakeholders. If you live in the 281 District, that's you. If you have students attending 281 schools, that's you. If you voted against the recent referendum, that's you, too.

I have the Board's blessing to seek the participation of "the dark side" including those of you on "Care 281" committee. Numbers Guy in particular, we need to talk. Such an opportunity will not come again soon.

I'm not promising anything, but I've spent enough time with the Board to know that this is a sincere effort. They are of course limited in their range of actions, as much by state regulations as money. But it's a start.

If you're interested in joining one of the focus groups, please leave a comment or email me or contact the District directly.

Yes, I bought yet another portable flash mp3 player. I'll see how long this one lasts. Maybe my luck is changing, though, as this time it found me and was only $54, including 2 rechargeable AAA batteries and a charger.

I loaded up this week's David Strom Show to listen to in bed tonight. Hopefully I won't have to post announce another burial ceremony.

I recently found a blog by chef Miachel Ruhlman who observes:

We have a serious fat problem in America. It has nothing to do with our obesity problem. We also have a salt problem, and it’s not about hypertension. Fat and salt are the leading bugaboos in America’s on-going national diet program, the wrench in the spokes of our quest for good nutrition, the evil forces which, in our fearful helpless craving for them, prevent Americans from achieving their whole-grain, high-fiber, all-natural, Rocky Mountain health. And what can we do about it?

Eat more fat! Salt your food naturally. [Emphasis Ruhlman]

As a "Weight Watcher" and modest loser in the Anti-Strib contest, I can only say that I agree.

The word "consultant" is probably as loaded and derided as "lawyer" these days, especially the ones from out of town. Here's what an esteemed commenter observed about the District 281 Strategic Planning I described earlier.

It used to be that bringing in a consultant wasn't a bad thing: you hired a consultant to help your business/organization with a problem you had little knowledge and/or experience with. If a brick manufacturer wanted to expand into the industrial glass market hiring a consultant would be a reasonable action. However, hiring a consultant to help the company make brown bricks in addition to their existing line of red bricks would indicate severe problems with the brick company's management.

This is spot on. The District knows how to everything in the plan, if the Moorhead example is typical. Plus, they have ready access to many academic, professional, and governmental agencies to help refine and/or implement these specific proposals.

A consultant takes you into uncharted territory, like setting up the first Web site for an established business. This is different from a contractor who saves your staff time or a facilitator who helps them focus. Frankly, though, no matter where you draw the lines between these external services, the Moorhead plan is of little value to the Robbinsdale District.

Minnesota State Rep. Paul Marquart has been traveling, seeking public input on property taxes, as in reform. He represents district 9B. Also present were Rep. "Willie" Dominguez (58B) and Rep. Robin Brown (27A). All are Democrats. Given this was held at Minneapolis North High School, I thought sure that I was the only Republican present, but there was another.

Rep. Marquart is an engaging fellow and I appreciate his energy in going around the state, this being stop number seven. There were nine speakers, starting with Minneapolis City Councilman Paul Ostrow. I was number five, and to my surprise, followed by Eva Young, proprietor of the Lloydletta's Nooz and Comments blog.

We heard some of the familiar stories, of huge tax increases based in part on artificially high valuations. One speaker said that the City of Minneapolis Assessor's Office and the local realtors are at odds, that the former won't accept the reality of the big drops in property values.

In my remarks, I said that a good first step would be simplification, starting by getting rid of (moving) the separate line items for "solid waste" etc. Let's just have city, county, and education. I ended by suggesting that they consider allowing School Boards to set operating levies without referendums. The rest I have published here at various times.

Eva Young added two good points to consider. Should non-profits continue to be exempt? If property taxes strictly went to property related expenditures, I would say yes, perhaps at a special rate. She also cited Tax Increment Financing ("TIF") which distorts the flow of the tax money among the recipients.

Sadly, there were few more than the nine of us who spoke. Still, I'm glad the Representatives are doing this.

This certainly isn't the strongest field ever, but this week's results show was one of the most satisfying. Kady Malloy and Danny Noriega are finally gone.

I was mildly surprised to see Asia'h Epperson go, but she clearly had no shot at the finals. Luke Menard had no chance, either, but it's remotely possible that we haven't seen the last of him if he stays at it.

So, I'm 3 for 4 this week, but forget that. We have a workable group of 12 going into singles competition.

It wouldn't have taken much to beat the anemic showing by the guys yesterday. It turned out the guys never had a chance. As a group, the gals were great, with only one real klinker, Kady Malloy. She was painfully off key again this week.

The big surprise - the first A I've given this season - was for Kristy Lee Cook. She looked great and sang great, doing Journey's "Faithfully" with a distinctive and pleasing country lilt. Simon says she's forgettable. I'd rather buy this number than several others he liked better.

I liked Carly Smithson almost as much, but the song choice didn't quite suit her I thought. Punky Amanada Overmeyer did well also. Syesha Mercado has done better, but joins Asia'h Epperson as my B-List acts.

That leaves Ramiele Malubay and Brooke White on the C-list, one to join Kady on the way out. I'll it's say Ramiele, who had lots of small problems with her performance. Brooke got good press from the judges but I just didn't care for her "Love is a Battlefield" mumber.

For all its troubles, one thing I admire about the Robbinsdale District 281 School Board is that they know their current strategy has problems and willing to change it. They have resumed a strategic planning process interrupted by the referendum and subsequent budget cutting processes.

They have hired a consultant to help them craft a new plan. Again, the Board showed good judgment in picking someone capable of doing it quickly, in "chainsaw" mode as the consultant put it.

This consultant did this in 2006 for the Moorhead, Minnesota District (ISD 152). Various documents of that study are available at that school's web site in PDF format. I downloaded them and looked them over and I see a problem. This isn't the type of Strategic Planning we need.

The Moorhead plans calls for them to:

1. Promote high expectations for student achievement and behavior.
2. Enhance curriculum and instructional experiences to meet the needs of all learners.
3. Promote a safe, healthy and respectful learning environment.
4. Explore the effectiveness of the school day / school year.
5. Promote arts and 21st century learning, thinking and life skills.
6. Explore the efficacy feasibility of all-day kindergarten.

Do you see what's wrong with this? No? Let's go up a level.

• Guiding Philosophy: continuous improvement.
• Mission: develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world.
• Vision: be a school district where all students will become lifelong learners and productive citizens. We will work collaboratively with our community to provide the resources necessary to be a school district of excellence.

Still not seeing anything you disagree with? Let's review the underlying core values, their commitment to:

• creating a positive learning environment that values children and youth.
• supporting all learners.
• holding high standards and expectations for all learners.
• making research-based, data driven collaborative decisions inclusive of stakeholder perspectives.
• seeking continuous improvement and planning for the future.
• advocating for children and youth within our community and district.
• celebrating students and staff.
• promoting pride in the Moorhead community and schools.

How about now? What's wrong with this?

Nothing, actually, as far as it goes. It just doesn't go far enough and in the right directions. It's all "boiler plate" material that will generally apply anywhere. It's almost totally generic, tasks they should have been performing all along. And, it's an inside job, written by insiders for insiders, and therefore loaded with jargon and code words like "resources" when they so clearly mean money, which almost always means taxes. But the words "tax" and "taxpayer" do not appear at all in this 25 page document. There is nothing about budgets, payroll, financial controls, efficiency, return on investement, and so on.

Another word barely mentioned was "parent" and then only as a contributor to a goal or process. There is nothing about actually looking at them as customers to be pleased by their children's progress, like private and charter schools so obviously must do to survive, let alone succeed.

Accountability is apparently only for students. There is no talk of holding the staff accountable. The word "teacher" itself is another rarely found word. It wouldn't matter anyway. Despite a commitment to "SMART" (specific, measurable, attainable, results-based, time-bound) goals, the document is laced with weasel words. They will "promote" this or that, not firmly commit to "provide" it. They will review data quarterly, not necessarily act on it.

I'll be sharing this opinion with the Board from still another perspective. I hope that I can convince them that what I described above is of no real value to District 281.

This should be the gals' week. There wasn't one standout act tonight among the guys, even the ones Simon liked. If he had left his guitar backstage, David Cook might have really done well. Otherwise, bring on the ladies.

Danny Noriega was again nothing short of awful, completely missing the beat as well as the notes. But once again, I don't see a clear choice for the other one going home. But put me down for Luke Menard again.

That's the title of an Op-Ed published in the New York Times by a Rushford Minnesota farmer who has found that not every government agency wants you to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

As a small organic vegetable producer in southern Minnesota, I know this because my efforts to expand production to meet regional demand have been severely hampered by the Agriculture Department’s commodity farm program. As I’ve looked into the politics behind those restrictions, I’ve come to understand that this is precisely the outcome that the program’s backers in California and Florida have in mind: they want to snuff out the local competition before it even gets started.

Wasn't there something called a "Freedom to Farm" bill some years ago?

My annual tradition is to hang up the heavy winter coat and jackets on March 1, my declaration of winter's end. This should be no problem if Global Warming is real. But it isn't and yes, I was pretty cold coming out of the school board meeting after 9 pm tonight in my light spring windbreaker.

I see the extended forecast is for a high of 16 degrees on Friday, when we Biggest Anti-Strib Losers will weigh in downtown. If only I really did freeze my rear end off!

The normal high is 36 degrees for March 7, so we'll again be 20 degrees below normal.

I wish I could come up with a snappy caption for this: Charlie Rose is interviewing former Senator Tom Daschle.

The show is on channel 17, a second tier PBS station. They are relegated to a 10:30 pm time slot. Both are largely forgotten. Time and events have passed both of them by. What they think is of no serious account, especially the truth-challenged Senator.

Yet there they they sit talking as if their conversation matters.

I was at a meeting that included a couple of Legislators, talking about K-12 education funding, District 281 in particular. I am truly appreciative of them taking the time for us and therefore felt a little guilty posing the following paraphrased question. "Total state spending is rising well over the inflation rate under Pawlenty. You said that inflation-adjusted education funding has fallen 4 percent since 2003. If education lost, who won?"

This was a room full of Democrats, but I think most had not thought of it this way, maybe not even one of the Legislators. It was therefore an "E. F. Hutton" moment. The Legislators gave honest answers, citing Corrections, Public Safety, and of course, Health and Human Services.

My point was to show that there are always priorities, and maybe they aren't what we constituents (including Democrats) think they are, what common sense might otherwise suggest. Raising taxes isn't the only answer.

The St. Paul paper has a good article regarding a key downside to the Central Corridor: significant cuts to bus service.

The Route 16 bus is one of the most traveled and the MTC's least unprofitable line. So of course, when the Central Corridor comes rolling through, this service will be slashed (the word the PP used) to half or less of current levels. The alternate route 50 will be entirely cut. There's no word on the freeway routes 94B and 94D, but a reasonable expectation is that bus service will be adjusted to make Central Corridor ridership hit the desired targets. It's like health care: socialized medicine only looks good compared to no medicine.

The problem of course is that while the train will work for many, it will be a degradation of service for others. If for example you catch the 16 at Hamline and University, midway between Snelling and Lexingtion, you have to either accept the degraded bus service or walk up to half a mile more. Sure, they'll eventually add this and two other stations, but even so, the bus stops outnumber rail stops at least 2 to 1.

Don't forget that even with the same net ridership, the fare boxes will collect far less on Light Rail because there are no fare boxes, no turnstiles, and few if any conductors checking tickets.

The last caller to the NARN Volume II (Mitch and Ed) made a great point, another episode in "Follow the Money!"

Prime Minister Pawlenty's bonding bill recommendation had $225 million of (real) transportation spending. That of course moved to the "Transportation" Bill adopted this week by veto override. And what was it replaced with? Pork, like a $22 million gorilla exhibit at Como Zoo. As the caller said, you can read the details on the Legislature's web site (S.F. 3295).

So, what did raising the gas tax accomplish? It allowed the DFL to pull the transportation out of the bonding bill, to make room for the pork. To be fair, there is no doubt some GOP pork in there, too.

If the total budget and the total bonding amounts are the same, it makes no difference whether the pork is on one side or the other. All of the bank balances by all parties come out the same regardless. In either case, taxes have to be raised the same amount - unless of course you leave out the pork.

Therefore, the gas tax increase is really paying for the pork, not the roads and bridges, which were already covered.

This is a pet peeve of mine, that the penny should have been phased out at least ten years ago. I work for a retailer, and even suggested a "we lost our cents!" campaign by pricing such that sales tax works out to exact dollar amounts.

A penny wasn't much even in 1950's when I first recall handling money. You needed a nickel to buy anything worthwhile, a dime for a comic book. Frankly, you could argue that the nickel should be now be dropped, too.

And while we're at it, old George (paper) should be replaced by the new new George (coin).

But let's start with the pennies. It may take care of itself when enterprising scrappers melt them all down for a profit.