Gingrich Owes John King

Newt Gingrich owes John King a generous gift next Christmas. The stupid question King asked about Gingrich’s ex-wife and Newt’s powerful answer propelled him to the win in South Carolina. I wonder if King isn’t a closet Republican.

If Gingrich goes on to secure the nomination and then wins the presidency, I hope he will remember John King and offer him a prominent seat on the podium at his inauguration.

Long Live the Twinkie!

Yesterday the bankruptcy of the Hostess Company was announced. In case you’re unaware, Hostess is the maker of HoHos Ring Dings, Twinkies and other fine edibles. I have heard stories of runs on grocery stores and 7-Elevens by panicked consumers of junk foods who want to stock up on their favorite snacks.

There is no reason to panic. If Twinkies and HoHos are selling, they will not disappear with the bankruptcy. The situation is similar to that of the airlines, all of which seem to declare bankruptcy every few years. Their operating costs, union contracts, and debts get restructured, while their flight schedules and services remain uninterrupted.

Hostess will restructure. They might have to close some unprofitable plants or sell off some assets. Eventually they will come out of bankruptcy stronger than ever. The Twinnkie will live on. Long live the Twinkie!

Enough Already!

I am a big fan of reality TV shows. I enjoy American Chopper, Dangerous Catch, American Pickers, Pawn Stars, and many of the others. But the makers of these shows are killing the golden goose.

“Pawns Stars” is an interesting show about a pawn shop in Las Vegas Apparently it is a hit, so now we have “Cajun Pawn Stars” and a show about a pawn shop in Detroit.

“Kitchen Impossible” and “Restaurant: Impossible” are shows about expert chefs going into failing restaurants and reviving them These shows spawned shows about turning around unprofitable bars and reviving failing beauty salons.

“Storage Wars”, “Storage Wars Texas,” and “Auction Hunters” are all are based on the exact same concept.

A few years ago there were shows about a tattoo parlor in the Vegas Palms Hotel and another show taking place in a shop somewhere else. These led to “Miami Ink,” “LA Ink,” and “NY Ink.”

The airwaves are filled with shows about “real housewives.” Now we have 4 or 5 shows about housewives in major cities.

Judge Wapner and the People’s Court gave us Judge Judy, Jude Joe Brown Divorce Court, and Judge Alex.

There are several shows about life in swamps and life in jails.

“Dangerous Catch” is a show about crab fishing in the Bering Sea. This led to shows about swordfish and lobster fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, and two shows about shrimp fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.I ’m sure I could think of others if I tried.

My point is all of these copycat shows devalue the originals. The produces should concentrate on coming up with new ideas instead of figuring out how to copy old ones.

Europe vs. America vs. China

In the 1800s the Industrial Revolution came to Europe. It destroyed the old order which was based on monarchy, religion, and feudalism. It replaced it with an new system based on rationalism, science, and capitalism. The Nineteenth Century belonged to Europe.

During the European Century industry was created and advanced, the great cities were built, museums, universities and other repositories of knowledge were established, empires were acquired.

After WW I , Europe was in shambles and its people were traumatized. They were ready to trade the rough and tumble existence of pre-WW I life for serenity and security. They embraced the warm fuzzy comfort found in the arms of the nanny state that offered them peace, security, and surety in exchange for their abilities to create, think, innovate, and pursue person freedom and accumulate wealth. Bureaucracies were established to make and enforce rules that took the place of individual decision and imagination. Creativity was stifled by rules. Life was well ordered, and the order came from government decree.

The creative destruction of capitalism was replaced by the job security and the stifling work place laws of socialism. Irresponsible politicians began to spend their countries into bankruptcy to buy votes. Ever higher taxes began to kill the incentive to work. And overly generous social programs caused many to conclude it was easier to live as a ward of the state than it was to produce anything.

After WW I the locus of dynamic civilization shifted to America where innovation, capitalism, and hard work were still still celebrated and rewarded. The good life which was attained by the most successful Americans was considered something to be admired and emulated, not despised. This time saw the founding of great corporations, the rise of the best universities on the planet, while we attained the highest standard of living in the world. We witnessed the “brain drain” where the best minds on the planet were drawn to America where they could exercise their genius and be rewarded for its fruits.

But starting in the 1930s and accelerating in the 1960s, American turned down the road taken by Europe.

In American today equality of outcome is fast becoming more important that equality of opportunity. Stupidity, laziness and irresponsibility are being rewarded at the expense of those who practice the opposite traits. This can only lead to more of the former and less of the later. The poor are considered noble and oppressed. The rich and successful are seen as oppressors and cheats. Political correctness has replaced rationality.

A good example of what is happening in American today can be found in the pharmaceutical industry. It costs millions to discover, test and produce a new drug. Then it has to be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval. The FDA requires even more millions to be spent to pass their tests and meet their standards. The approval, if it ever is grated, might take years. During this lengthy process many people who may have benefited from the drug might die. Once approved, it might be discovered that a tiny percentage of patients who use the drug might have adverse reactions. The bottom feeding lawyers fill the TV airwaves looking for these people for their class action law suits, thus adding millions more to the cost of producing the drug, while making the manufacturers ever more reluctant to introduce new products. How can this be anything but harmful for future drug development?

Once within the welcoming caress of the nanny state people find it’s not necessary to learn to work, be responsible, or care for themselves. Those responsibilities fall to others. Hard work and idleness are rewarded more or less equally. Success and failure are viewed as equal outcomes, and usually occur through luck of the draw rather than personal behavior.

Just as Europe voluntarily ceded its world dominance to America, America now seems intent to give up its dominance to China as it sinks into the the warm, squishy bosom of the nanny state which gives much in return for little. Social justice is replacing social Darwinism. Coddling the under achievers has become more important than nurturing the achievers. As time passes these trends are accelerating. Soon America will join the rapidly failing European civilization.

Today the locus of creativity has shifted to Asia, especially China. Just as the parallels between Europe and America are not exact, the parallels between America and China are not exact. But in general terms, China has become the Europe of the 1800s or the America of the early 1900s.

In today’s China everyone is fighting to make their mark, to make their fortune, and to enjoy the unfettered good life. Playing it safe is less important than taking a chance to reap the possible rewards. Shortly before his death, Steve Jobs noted it was now easier to do business in China than in America, and he was correct. China has decided it wants to be friendly and welcoming to business.

Does China have problems? Of course there many problems, and some are severe. Foremost is the crushing bureaucracy that is already in place. However, few of its rules and regulations are regularly obeyed or enforced. Another thing is the single party system with no meaningful elections. This can lead to unchecked expansion of government power.

But in China the human dynamo of creativity, rewards for hard work, and the many benefits of unrestricted avarice have yet to be extinguished.

Casey Anthony on Headline News

As I was flipping through the channels I came upon a discussion of the new Casey Anthony video clip that’s on YouTube on the Headline News channel. Since I didn’t see the beginning of the piece I’m not sure how low they spent on the subject, but it was at least 30 minutes.

During the part I watched there were six experts, all more or less condemning Anthony and speculating how she was planning to make money from her story. They even had a body language expert to analyze the tape. One fat woman was interviewed about her new life’s mission to insure Anthony never profits from her murder. They all agreed that no reputable outlet would ever pay her anything for her story.

Give me a break. If HLN would devote 30+ minutes to her four minute video, they’d gladly pay Casey a million dollars for an exclusive 30 minute interview. They wouldn’t devote 30+ minutes if they thought anyone would turn flip channel in disgust. These self-righteous “journalists” are the worst kind of hypocrites.

I’m sure HLN is not alone. There is no doubt the major TV networks, countless magazines, and many book publishers would make sure she has a very merry Christmas next year if they had the chance. These bottom feeders are nearly as bad as Anthony.

Stupid News Stories

Stock futures fall on concern over Europe’s banks

This was a headline reported today by AP. Every day there is a similar story about why the market was up or down. These stories are both inaccurate and stupid, yet they continue to be written.

If futures are up tomorrow, will that mean concern over Europe’s banks has gone away? If so, what problems were solved? If futures are down the day after tomorrow will that mean concern over Europe’s banks has returned? If futures were up today, the headline would have been “Stock futures up on improving jobless claims.”

In actuality the market fluctuates every day, and barring some cataclysmic event, no one really knows why. Still every day some made up reason will be reported on the news.

Big Changes Are Coming to China

I lived in China for much of the last four years. The average person dislikes the corrupt government and loves America, Americans and American products. Most Chinese involved in commerce even take English names. The Chinese government, like all governments, exists only to keep itself in power.

Now that the economy is slowing and the housing bubble is collapsing I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see major anti-government movements as people see their life savings disappear. How things will end, I don’t have a guess. But it is certain that big changes are in store for China.

Government Innovation

I have an anecdote about government innovation.

Years ago I worked for a company that produced small high performance electric motors. When the engineers would come up with an improvement on a particular model, they would call the customers, describe the improvement, and usually get an OK on the spot. But if the same motor was also sold to the government it took reams of paperwork and months to wait for an approval, if it ever came at all. Consequently the motors we sold to the government ended up being several generations behind those we sold to private industry.

I see the same principles being applied to health care, energy, automobiles, and anything else the government is involved with. Government is the enemy of creativity and innovation.

R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens

The death of Christopher Hitchens was reported today. He was a truly great intellect and will be missed. While I seldom agreed with him, I always respected him and his opinions. He presented his arguments with great intellect and great wit. He never allowed politics cloud his vision. He was the William Buckley of the left. There is no one on the horizon who can replace him.

Useless Christmas Gifts

It’s Christmas time and the season when people purchase useless gifts to give to people who have everything. I found these items advertised on regular TV stations, not home shopping channels. If stumbled over these items watching about 2 hours of TV.

Grill Gloves. You can wear these gloves to turn food on a grill by hand. I have never considered tongs all that inconvenient or difficult to use.

Chef Basket. This handy device allows you to drain pasta and other things after cooking. Can you say colander?

Robo Stirrer. This is a battery operated wonder that automatically stirs food in a bowl or a pan. If you need help stirring you’re probably better off eating at McDonalds.

Memory foam pillows. When you lie down on them they conform to the shape of your head. Don’t feather pillows do this too?

Food Saver.  A large and cumbersome device that sucks air out of plastic bags, supposedly increasing the storage life of the contents. Doesn’t plastic wrap do the same thing at a tiny fraction of the cost of this device?

PenCam. A camera in a pen. What’s next, a camera in a phone?

Llama Ya! it was a Spanish language advertisement for some sort of skin care lotions. Without speaking the language I can guarantee it is bogus.

Houdini Verticle Wine Opener, Sealer.  On the infomercial, the thing failed to work properly three times. Don’t these shows have editors?

Ninja Pulse Food Processor. A real ninja would use his samurai sword to chop food.

Polaroid Camera.  Someone needs to introduce these people to the digital age.

InsanityChallenge DVD set. An expensive 12 DVD set that teaches you to do jumping jacks.

Walk Fit Shoe Inserts. A chiropractor in your shoes.

Shark Pocket Mop. Just what I always wanted, a mop in my pocket.

Energy Sheets. Put this paper-like product in your mouth for quick energy. No thanks, I’ll drink a cup of coffee.

Colon Flow. The name says it all.

Rejuva Sea. This is an expensive “skin nutrition” product. Let’s face it, if wrinkles could be removed by applying a lotion, there would be no wrinkles.

Eden Pure heaters. Defies the laws of physics by keeping heat from rising.

Sensa. You sprinkle it on your food and grow thin. I kept thinking the actors in the commercial would suddenly yell” “You’ve been punked!” in unison.

MicroPlus hearing aide. It allows you to overhear what people are saying behind your back. I really don’t want to know.

DermaWand. Give yourself a non-surgical face lift. Can you say “quack medicine?” How stupid do the sellers think women are?

30SecondSmile. For only two easy $29.95 payments you get an electric toothbrush. I think I get get a similar product for $6.99 at Walmart.

TheEasySheet. A fitted sheet. After watching the commercial I still don’t know why this is better than any other fitted sheet. But it must be better, it’s much more expensive.

CarMD. For only $120.00 you get a handy device that plugs into your car’s dashboard and diagnoses any problems or potential problems your car may have. The infomercial says it will keep you from being cheated with unnecessary car repairs. But will it save you from being ripped off by purchasing bogus devices?

Ninja1100. A $15.00 blender for only 4 easy payments of $39.95.

Worx Trivac. A vacuum cleaner for leaves. It also works well on spider webs.

Miracle Spring Water. Buy this from televangelist Peter Popoff and your bills will be paid, checks will show up in your mail box, and foreclosures stopped. It’s a miracle. And by the way, it also cures arthritis.

OmegaXL. Stops aging and prevents heart attacks. What more could anyone want?