AFSCME Commercial on Youtube
People might ask you what AFSCME is really all about. This commercial on Youtube.com tells it all. (Language alert)
Monday, March 19, 2007
Can you have Too Many Homeowners?
The linked article from the New York Times (free registration required) looks at the philosophical arguments for limiting incentives for homeownership. Government homeowner subsidies through the tax code run about $100 billion per year, a little less than what we are spending on the Iraq war. I wonder how many of those who favor the Iraq war would still favor it if they had to give up their entire mortgage deduction and state tax deduction to pay for it?
The NYT should have also mentioned that by encouraging homeownership, the government is also encouraging urban sprawl and commuting, very energy-consumptive behaviors. Without the tax break, people would generally delay buying homes until they are in a stable long-term job, and would likely tend to live closer to where they work.
The linked article from the New York Times (free registration required) looks at the philosophical arguments for limiting incentives for homeownership. Government homeowner subsidies through the tax code run about $100 billion per year, a little less than what we are spending on the Iraq war. I wonder how many of those who favor the Iraq war would still favor it if they had to give up their entire mortgage deduction and state tax deduction to pay for it?
The NYT should have also mentioned that by encouraging homeownership, the government is also encouraging urban sprawl and commuting, very energy-consumptive behaviors. Without the tax break, people would generally delay buying homes until they are in a stable long-term job, and would likely tend to live closer to where they work.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Googleteer takes on J.K. Harris
Speaking again of unconventional superheros, Hof's Blog's own semi-resident-superhero, the Googleteer, has been looking into J.K. Harris. Here are a couple of the Googleteer's searches
J.K.-Harris (and) "did nothing"
= 169 hits (3/17/07)
J.K.-Harriis (and) "numerous complaints"
23 Hits (3/17/07)
The Ripoffreport.com has lots of complaints about JK Harris. Ditto Consumeraffairs.com. The BBB gives Harris an unsatisfactory rating.
Speaking again of unconventional superheros, Hof's Blog's own semi-resident-superhero, the Googleteer, has been looking into J.K. Harris. Here are a couple of the Googleteer's searches
J.K.-Harris (and) "did nothing"
= 169 hits (3/17/07)
J.K.-Harriis (and) "numerous complaints"
23 Hits (3/17/07)
The Ripoffreport.com has lots of complaints about JK Harris. Ditto Consumeraffairs.com. The BBB gives Harris an unsatisfactory rating.
Pale Force at NBC.com
Speaking of unconventional superheros, Jim Gaffigan's Pale Force videos are online at NBC.com. Jim Gaffigan stars as Paleman, a hero so pale that his whiteness is blinding. Conan O'Brien is his sidekick Weenieboy, who typically wets himself at the first sign of danger.
Speaking of unconventional superheros, Jim Gaffigan's Pale Force videos are online at NBC.com. Jim Gaffigan stars as Paleman, a hero so pale that his whiteness is blinding. Conan O'Brien is his sidekick Weenieboy, who typically wets himself at the first sign of danger.
The (not quite) Inside Dope on the Captain Underpants Movie
I have been waiting for baited breath for word on whether they really truly will make a movie out of the Captain Underpants childrens' book series. It's important that they make one before I age out of the role. (I still have nightmares about Nicolas Cage as Superman.) Wikipedia says yes, that Warner Brothers will make a C.U. movie with a release date in 2008. On the other hand, I found no mention of the Captain Underpants movie in the Cinematical blog or imdb.com. Also, Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey has stated on the record before that it ain't gonna happen. Since their people haven't contacted my people, I can only assume that the rumor of the 2008 movie is unfounded.
For more information on Captain Underpants, check out www.pilkey.com and play the games and watch the music videos with your kids.
I have been waiting for baited breath for word on whether they really truly will make a movie out of the Captain Underpants childrens' book series. It's important that they make one before I age out of the role. (I still have nightmares about Nicolas Cage as Superman.) Wikipedia says yes, that Warner Brothers will make a C.U. movie with a release date in 2008. On the other hand, I found no mention of the Captain Underpants movie in the Cinematical blog or imdb.com. Also, Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey has stated on the record before that it ain't gonna happen. Since their people haven't contacted my people, I can only assume that the rumor of the 2008 movie is unfounded.
For more information on Captain Underpants, check out www.pilkey.com and play the games and watch the music videos with your kids.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Operation Spamalot
The SEC has finally taken some action regarding stock spammers, suspending trading in 35 stocks that have been spammed. Since the spammers hide their identities, there's not much you can do about them. Finally they are taking action against the companies who are paying to have their stock spammed. Actually, the SEC must not have direct information of payments, otherwise more severe action would have been taken. A third party could "pump and dump" the stocks without a direct company affiliation, but you never know what's going on until you investigate it. I became acquainted with the penny stock markets about 18 years ago. I can tell you that most of these stocks have very few shareholders, so if you follow the shares, you will eventually get to the culprits. For more information, see this article at the great Spamnation blog.
The SEC has finally taken some action regarding stock spammers, suspending trading in 35 stocks that have been spammed. Since the spammers hide their identities, there's not much you can do about them. Finally they are taking action against the companies who are paying to have their stock spammed. Actually, the SEC must not have direct information of payments, otherwise more severe action would have been taken. A third party could "pump and dump" the stocks without a direct company affiliation, but you never know what's going on until you investigate it. I became acquainted with the penny stock markets about 18 years ago. I can tell you that most of these stocks have very few shareholders, so if you follow the shares, you will eventually get to the culprits. For more information, see this article at the great Spamnation blog.
Supreme Court to take up "Bong Hits for Jesus"
This coming Monday, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a First Amendment case brought by Joseph Frederick. Future law students will forever remember Frederick's case as the "Bong Hits for Jesus" case.
Frederick was a high school student in Juneau, Alaska in 2002 when he decided to unfurl a 14 foot banner saying "Bong Hits for Jesus" while on a school outing. He was suspended for 5 days, and his suspension was doubled to 10 days, when he quoted Thomas Jefferson in objecting to the suspension.
Here's my question. What kind of idiot principal suspends a student for quoting Thomas Jefferson?
This coming Monday, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a First Amendment case brought by Joseph Frederick. Future law students will forever remember Frederick's case as the "Bong Hits for Jesus" case.
Frederick was a high school student in Juneau, Alaska in 2002 when he decided to unfurl a 14 foot banner saying "Bong Hits for Jesus" while on a school outing. He was suspended for 5 days, and his suspension was doubled to 10 days, when he quoted Thomas Jefferson in objecting to the suspension.
Here's my question. What kind of idiot principal suspends a student for quoting Thomas Jefferson?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
AOL is up to its old Tricks
Back to the Cancellation Tango
America Online is like a roach motel, you can get in, but you can't get out. At least, AOL does its darnedest to keep you from cancelling. No trick, scheme or artiface is too low for AOL. Basically, when you want to cancel, AOL does everything not to acknowledge you short of sticking its corporate fingers in its corporate ears and saying "LA LA LA LA" like the Vancome lady on Mad-Tv.
One of my coworkers just finished (she hopes) dancing with AOL. Her cancellation experience was much like that experienced by Dave Taylor. Dave Taylor put his experiences on a web page along with advice to would-be-ex-Aolers.
Note, this is not a new phenomenon. It wasn't new in 2003 when the FTC entered into a consent decree with AOL. In the consent decree, AOL promised to make it easier to cancel. More importantly, if AOL purports to "save" the cancellation and continue the account in effect, AOL must record tangible evidence of the save and send a written notice to the consumer informing the consumer that the service is continuing.
Thanks to M.D. for the tip.
Back to the Cancellation Tango
America Online is like a roach motel, you can get in, but you can't get out. At least, AOL does its darnedest to keep you from cancelling. No trick, scheme or artiface is too low for AOL. Basically, when you want to cancel, AOL does everything not to acknowledge you short of sticking its corporate fingers in its corporate ears and saying "LA LA LA LA" like the Vancome lady on Mad-Tv.
One of my coworkers just finished (she hopes) dancing with AOL. Her cancellation experience was much like that experienced by Dave Taylor. Dave Taylor put his experiences on a web page along with advice to would-be-ex-Aolers.
Note, this is not a new phenomenon. It wasn't new in 2003 when the FTC entered into a consent decree with AOL. In the consent decree, AOL promised to make it easier to cancel. More importantly, if AOL purports to "save" the cancellation and continue the account in effect, AOL must record tangible evidence of the save and send a written notice to the consumer informing the consumer that the service is continuing.
Thanks to M.D. for the tip.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Spot Delivery -
From A Car Dealer Lawyer's Perspective
Gil Van Over, apparently a lawyer for car dealers, has posted a column on the dealer-magazine.com website on the problems with spot delivery car sales. For those who aren't familiar with spot delivery sales, we in the consumer law field refer to these sales as gimme-back, yo-yo, or puppy-dog sales. In these sales the car dealer sells the car to a customer, then several days later, calls the customer saying that there is a problem with the paperwork and the customer has to bring the car back and restructure the deal. In almost every case, the new deal is worse for the customer.
As Mr. Van Over points out, spot delivery sales could, in a given case, be illegal for violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the state Unfair and Deceptive Acts statute, Truth in Lending, and Article 9, U.C.C. (regarding repossessions). A full treatment of the subject is contained in the National Consumer Law Center's Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices manual. If you are a consumer victimized by a spot delivery sale, contact an experienced consumer attorney through the National Associations of Consumer Advocates website, www.naca.net.
From A Car Dealer Lawyer's Perspective
Gil Van Over, apparently a lawyer for car dealers, has posted a column on the dealer-magazine.com website on the problems with spot delivery car sales. For those who aren't familiar with spot delivery sales, we in the consumer law field refer to these sales as gimme-back, yo-yo, or puppy-dog sales. In these sales the car dealer sells the car to a customer, then several days later, calls the customer saying that there is a problem with the paperwork and the customer has to bring the car back and restructure the deal. In almost every case, the new deal is worse for the customer.
As Mr. Van Over points out, spot delivery sales could, in a given case, be illegal for violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the state Unfair and Deceptive Acts statute, Truth in Lending, and Article 9, U.C.C. (regarding repossessions). A full treatment of the subject is contained in the National Consumer Law Center's Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices manual. If you are a consumer victimized by a spot delivery sale, contact an experienced consumer attorney through the National Associations of Consumer Advocates website, www.naca.net.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Alex Vraciu for Congressional Medal of Honor
This weekend I was working with my son to find a famous Hoosier to be the subject of a class paper. Trying to think of somebody notable but unusual, I stumbled upon the fact that World War II ace Alex Vraciu was a native Hoosier. For those of you who aren't World War II history buffs, Alex Vraciu flew F6F Hellcats for the Navy during the last two years of WWII. He finished the war with credit for 19 enemy planes (4th highest among navy fliers), including six on one mission, plus a ship sunk.
Alex Vraciu is alive and well, enjoying retirement in California. I'm posting a link to a site for a campaign to give Mr. Vraciu the Congressional Medal of Honor that he has deserved all along.
This weekend I was working with my son to find a famous Hoosier to be the subject of a class paper. Trying to think of somebody notable but unusual, I stumbled upon the fact that World War II ace Alex Vraciu was a native Hoosier. For those of you who aren't World War II history buffs, Alex Vraciu flew F6F Hellcats for the Navy during the last two years of WWII. He finished the war with credit for 19 enemy planes (4th highest among navy fliers), including six on one mission, plus a ship sunk.
Alex Vraciu is alive and well, enjoying retirement in California. I'm posting a link to a site for a campaign to give Mr. Vraciu the Congressional Medal of Honor that he has deserved all along.
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