Blogging Blue » Random Stuff

Mark Fiore: Snuggly SOPA-PIPA!

Phil Scarr — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:30:51 +0000

Pulitzer winning animated editorial cartoonist Mark Fiore takes on SOPA-PIPA

Soccer Scores You Rarely See

Phil Scarr — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:00:38 +0000

The U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team really ran up the scores during the qualifying games.

27 goals in two games. Wow… Well done!

Do Unions Kill Prosperity? Not So Much!

Phil Scarr — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:56:13 +0000

With a correlation of .56, it appears the higher the union membership in a state, the higher that state’s GDP. Imagine that…

Contrary to the wingnut talking point that “unions destroy prosperity,” the exact opposite seems to hold.

Data is such a bitch…

Some Fun Observations:

Lower-Left = Red States
Upper-Right = Blue States
Sarah Palin’s Alaska is 2nd only to New York in percent of employees who are unionized

Data:

Union density: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.t05.htm

State GDP/capita: http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/

Is this thing on?

folkbum — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:01:49 +0000

G’morning, everyone.

First, I want to thank Zach for making a spare set of keys for this place for me.

Second, I want to introduce myself to the Blogging Blue audience. Many of you probably remember me from my days–was it just last week?–writing at my own blog for the last eight-plus years.

Why stop now? Several reasons. One, I got a great offer to produce content for onmilwaukee.com at their new School Matters MKE site, which would have significantly cut down on my posting frequency. Two, my posting frequency was already down, as my love affair with this form is not as hot and heavy as it was in, say, 2005. Which is not to say I am ready to stop entirely–in fact, just recently I broke the story of the “Mines for Wisconsin” recall petition fraud scheme.

But the fact is I am just not producing enough content to sustain a solo blog anymore.

So here I am.

About me: I am a Democrat, an English teacher, a singer-songwriter and improv comedian, and occasionally a spitfire commentator. Once a month something I write appears in the Bay View Compass. I hope that I can add something meaningful to this site, even though a lot of people I know and respect are already covering a lot of great bases.

There will be more from me later, but I just wanted to officially say howdy before we all got down to business. 2012 will be a tough year, with a lot of hard work ahead, and I look forward to sharing that work with the other writers here and the great audience this place has developed.

The Popularity of “Progressive”

Phil Scarr — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:45:16 +0000

More popular than Conservative, Progressive tops the list of popular political terms.

American’s love progress.

The poll found that the term progressive is viewed positively by a majority of all partisan groups — including 55 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of Independents, and 76 percent of Democrats.

52 Tips to Live a Happier, More Productive Life

Phil Scarr — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:43:34 +0000

I do a lot of these already, how about you? (click the link for the full list with descriptions)

Try rising early.

Do less.

Slow down.

Practice patience.

Practice compassion.

Find your passion.

Lose weight.

Exercise.

Eat healthy.

Meditate.

Get organized.

Think positive.

Simplify your finances.

Simplify your life.

Accept what you have.

Envision your ultimate life.

Set long-term goals.

Review goals.

Life mission.

Plan your big tasks for week and day.

Maintain focus.

Enjoy the journey.

Create a morning and evening routine.

Develop intimate relationships.

Eliminate debt.

Enjoy the simple pleasures.

Empty your inbox and clear your desk.

Build an emergency fund.

Keep a journal.

Use the power of others.

Read, and read to your kids.

Limit your information intake.

Create simple systems.

Take time to decompress after stress.

Be present.

Develop equanimity.

Spend time with family and loved ones.

Pick yourself up when you’re down.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

Focus on benefits, not difficulties.

Be romantic.

Lose arguments.

Get into the flow.

Single-task.

Be frugal.

Start small and slow.

Learn to deal with detractors.

Go outdoors.

Retire early.

Savor the little things.

Be lazy.

Help others.

My 2011 predictions in review

Zach W — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:37:08 +0000

Late last year, I made seven predictions for 2011. Now that the year is drawing to a close, I figured I’d take a look at my predictions to see how accurate (or more appropriately, how inaccurate) I was.

Here are the predictions I made for 2011:

In the race to succeed Chris Larson in Milwaukee County’s 14th Supervisory district, I’m going to predict that our good friend Jason Haas will prevail.
Though I hate to say it, the Green Bay Packers will prevail in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs only to lose the following game to the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaking of professional football, the New England Patriots will win Superbowl 45.
Following his thirty day stint as acting County Executive, Lee Holloway will name himself to serve as the interim County Executive (despite not having a “huge ego.”)
Speaking of the County Executive seat, Chris Abele will defeat Jeff Stone on April 5, 2011 to become Milwaukee County’s next County Executive.
The Milwaukee Brewers will win 90+ games, in the process winning the National League’s Central Division and qualifying for the playoffs, where they’ll lose in the NLCS.
Despite threats by Scott Walker and legislative Republicans, state employees will not see their collective bargaining rights legislated away, and despite his talk of “labor unrest” AFSCME Executive Director Marty Beil will agree to labor contracts that include concessions from state employees.

While I was dead on the money in predictions #1, 5, and 6, I was off base with predictions #2, 3, 4, and most unfortunately, #7. Clearly I’m no Nostradamus, but that won’t stop me from continuing to make some predictions as we head into 2012.

Because This Will Drive Them Crazy!

Phil Scarr — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:02:11 +0000

This picture is simply too awesome not to share. And that it will drive conservatives insane makes it double-plus awesome!

(h/t Ray Reynolds)

Attack of the Urinator!

Phil Scarr — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:25:38 +0000

If this is the quality of the Scott Walker defense team, this recall’s gonna be a cake walk! Such clever people… I suppose they use their own urine to make their tea as well seeing as how it’s such a purifying substance.

Happy Thanksgiving

Zach W — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:47:08 +0000

Today is a day to give thanks, and I’d like to give thanks for being blessed with an amazing family.

Have a great Thanksgiving!