Toyah

via The Drudge Report...

A white congressman who wished to join the Black Caucus has given up that bid due to the wishes of members who wish to keep the caucus all-black.

(Stephen) Cohen (D-Ten.) said he became convinced that joining the caucus would be "a social faux pas" after seeing news reports that former Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr., D-Mo., a co-founder of the caucus, had circulated a memo telling members it was "critical" that the group remain "exclusively African-American."

Other members, including the new chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., and Clay's son, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., agreed.

"Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. ... It's time to move on," the younger Clay said. "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear."

The bylaws of the caucus do not make race a prerequisite for membership, a House aide said, but no non-black member has ever joined.

Anybody out there expecting Martha Burke to protest the Black Caucus? I won't hold my breath.

that's what all the 'experts' say to tell your friends and loved ones.

AUGUST 4, 2007

that is the date. it has been written on my calendar...in ink. we have blocked hotel rooms for all those of you interested in that side of the planning and i have all that information if you need it.

as far as wedding planning goes, that completes my job, right?
ring...check
ask....check
announce....check
block rooms...check
now all that is left is to dress up and show up. it's great being a guy.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

Mild winter weather has something to do with it. So does heavy selling by financial funds. But a largely overlooked factor in the recent plunge in oil prices may portend an end to the multiyear rise in crude: For the first time in years, the developed world is burning less of it.

Fresh data from the International Energy Agency show oil consumption in the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development fell 0.6% in 2006. Though the decline appears small, it marks the first annual drop in more than 20 years among the OECD countries, which drain close to 60% of the 84.4 million barrels of oil used globally each day.

As demand rises, prices rise, until they rise so high that demand starts to fall, after which the price will fall to keep up (keep down?) with demand. Sound familiar? It's not rocket science.

This is probably not big news. Oil is so versatile that it will be a very important commodity for a very long time, I predict. But it's interesting, nonetheless. And it suggests to me that there is no such thing as an "oil addiction", just a normal supply-and-demand relationship. In other words, the best way to deal with the oil problem is to leave it to the market.

Some amazing political shenanigans have been going on in the Senate in the last few weeks. If you haven't been paying attention, basically Harry Reid proposed a very light pork-reform bill, which would have subjected about 5% of existing pork to public scrutiny. So Sen. DeMint proposed adopting the new House earmark rules (proposed by Speaker Pelosi) instead. Reid and some of the old-bull Democrats (like Ted Kennedy) fought hard to defeat that move, but they lost. The irony is rich here...

This won't make earmarks or corruption disappear. It will make it harder to secure funding for special pet projects, but Congresspeople and/or lobbyists will find other ways. And earmarks aren't illegal now, they're just visible. But it's a step towards better management of public money.

If you think about it, send a thank-you note to Senators DeMint and Coburn, who have been championing this cause since at least last summer.

A State News poll as of 11PM Sunday evening.

S'News Polls 'U'

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Are you going to attend a seminar, lecture or event to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Yes

 9%

No

 77%

I don't know

 5%

I don't care

 8%


total: 319

---

My favorite part is the 8% who answered the inappropriate "I don't care." Though the university is NOT closed on MLK Day, the students are given the day off so they can celebrate. Now, given the results (and I think these numbers are fairly accurate even though only 319 people answered), it seems another day of the year might be better suited to have off. If the U really felt that MLK Day was worthy of celebrating, it seems that they should close, thus giving all employees the chance to attend events. If they are giving this day off only because they want to accomodate those that wish to attend events, why not pick another day... one where greater than 14% of students are likely to take advantage of the day off? Examples: Election Day, Good Friday (or some other religious day of observance), the day of MSU's first round NCAA tournament game, the first day of hunting season, St. Patrick's Day, this Wednesday when the Tigers will be at the Breslin Center.

I'm sure there are more out there. And if you think the inclusion of St. Paddy's Day is ridiculous, I've had classes of students give me the sob story for having homework due or a quiz on March 17th. Certainly there is a good reason to take MLK Day off, but if the U really wanted to honor King, they would close entirely. If not, those students that are passionate about the day won't mind cutting classes to honor the man (just like I wouldn't mind cutting class to vote, attend Mass, veg out out in the Ethan Allen room, shoot a deer, enjoy a few pints, or meet Mike Maroth).

Bekah and I enjoyed a week off at Christmas in New Mexico with her family. I am blessed with some incredible in-laws, and we had a terrific time skiing, shopping, and hanging out. I've got a few random pics to post.

Bekah and I at the top of the mountain overlooking Red River, NM.


We went snowmobiling, and I experienced my first Napoleon Dynamite moment in over two-and-a-half months.


A road sign near Eagle's Nest, NM on the way back home. We left in the middle of a blizzard.

This is an interesting article about Blackwater USA, the world's largest private military contracting company, founded and owned by a Hillsdale College alum.

I had some things I wanted to say about Hessians and privatization of the military and the like, but I think I'll just say this: can you imagine having enough money to create your own private army? It's like something from some Bond movie where the evil over-lord has his own army of ominously dressed and disposable henchmen, except this one is in the hands of the good guys. I guess it is therefore a little more like the A-Team or Airwolf, or any other show where the heroes are a paramilitary force whose mission is to rid the world of bad guys and their 1969 Dodge Chargers and 1973 Monte Carlos.

Happy New Year!

It is the Year of the Pig, in case you were wondering.

There were 106 posts on Toyah last year. The most posts were in May (15). We talked about politics, gas, books, Legos, painting, Friday, alcohol, Sharpe, engagements, and laundromats.

I wish all my friends a successful, productive, happy 2007!