The following is edited from a recent press release:
"The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Greater Des Moines Partnership are collaborating with local government, education, healthcare and other local business and community leaders on a strategic community and economic development planning process to create a shared vision and strategic plan for Greater Des Moines and Central Iowa. A community and economic development consulting firm will facilitate the work. The steering committee findings will generate an action plan with a long-term perspective, implementation strategies and a framework for measuring results and progress."
As someone with experience at a large Dilbert-like for-profit entity, as well as financially-inept non-profit entity, let me interpret this for you:
"As organizations that pay their employees from membership dues and/or taxpayers, we feel that every so often we need to act like we're doing something to justify our otherwise useless existence, not to mention our unnecessary jobs and salaries. Therefore, we're joining forces to have a bunch of meetings, which of course requires us to pay for the services of a consultant because that makes it look even more important. In the end, you can bet that we'll keep our jobs, the consultant will make a bunch of money, and nothing will actually come from this, except that members and taxpayers are going to get rolled."
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Lighten Up, France(is)
When most people think of the country of France, they might think of Paris or romance or food. However, when it comes to the people of France, all I can think of is a bunch of wine-sucking, chain-smoking, work-strikers.
Case in point this week: Many French citizens have been protesting for days against the proposed increase of their retirement age from 60 to 62, leading to riots, school closings, and the shutdown of a major airport.
That's tremendous, France. You're already part of a socialistic Euro culture with a poor work ethic. Might as well take a few more days off to protest this very small change that will save your society from itself.
I especially get a kick out of how stdents are so involved in these rallies. They say it's because this later retirement age will keep people in the workforce longer, meaning the younger generation will be less likely to find jobs. Of course, this makes no sense, because the lower retirement age also means the student will ultimately pay higher taxes on the wages from those jobs, to allow the goverment to subsidize the above-60 crowd. (I think the real reason the students are rallying is because they don't want to work anyway, and by getting behind this protest, at least they can miss class for several days. More time to drink wine and chain smoke.)
Like most protests in France, I suspect this one is nothing to worry about. Both sides will surrender soon - it's another part of their culture.
Case in point this week: Many French citizens have been protesting for days against the proposed increase of their retirement age from 60 to 62, leading to riots, school closings, and the shutdown of a major airport.
That's tremendous, France. You're already part of a socialistic Euro culture with a poor work ethic. Might as well take a few more days off to protest this very small change that will save your society from itself.
I especially get a kick out of how stdents are so involved in these rallies. They say it's because this later retirement age will keep people in the workforce longer, meaning the younger generation will be less likely to find jobs. Of course, this makes no sense, because the lower retirement age also means the student will ultimately pay higher taxes on the wages from those jobs, to allow the goverment to subsidize the above-60 crowd. (I think the real reason the students are rallying is because they don't want to work anyway, and by getting behind this protest, at least they can miss class for several days. More time to drink wine and chain smoke.)
Like most protests in France, I suspect this one is nothing to worry about. Both sides will surrender soon - it's another part of their culture.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A New Member Of The Tyson Zone
Today I'm naming a new political inductee into The Tyson Zone. (As a reminder, The Tyson Zone is named after former boxer Mike Tyson, and is the status an athlete or other celebrity reaches when his or her behavior becomes so outrageous that one would believe any story or anecdote about the person, no matter how shocking or bizarre. http://streffblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/politicians-in-tyson-zone.html)
It's social conservative and perpetual Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats. After another failed attempt this year at being nominated as the Republican candidate for governor, he is now leading a well-financed (by others outside Iowa) fight to remove 3 Iowa supreme court justices from the bench. Their sin? Being part of a ruling over a year ago that allowed gay marriage in Iowa.
I've said before I think it's up to the people of Iowa to decide this issue (http://streffblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/for-athiests-there-is-god-of-common.html),
but through legislative means, not this this way. Removing justices for a single and defensible, albeit controversial ruling is plain stupid.
However, simply trying to remove these justices isn't what gets Bob into the Tyson Zone. For that, you have to look at what he said this week in a debate on the issue, when he asserted the ruling opened the door to the possibility of polygamy, parents marrying their children, and other similar decisions.
Not sure if Bob really believes that, or if it's just more scare tactics from a bitter man. Regardless, after saying that, I don't see how there's anything more the guy can say or do that would surprise anyone. In short, social consevatives like Bob will say or do anything to get everybody to live in the same little box that they do, bordered only by their own idea of morality.
The truth is, regardless of how anyone feels about this ruling, Iowa's social climate and culture hasn't changed in the past 1+ year. Every once in a while, gay couples come here to get married, spend some money doing so, and then usually go back to their lives. It hasn't exactly become the Sodom or Gomorrah of the midwest, and on the plus side, at least we don't subsidize its economic impact with our taxes, like we do with ethanol.
Bob Vander Plaats, join your political soul mate Steve King in the Tyson Zone.
It's social conservative and perpetual Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats. After another failed attempt this year at being nominated as the Republican candidate for governor, he is now leading a well-financed (by others outside Iowa) fight to remove 3 Iowa supreme court justices from the bench. Their sin? Being part of a ruling over a year ago that allowed gay marriage in Iowa.
I've said before I think it's up to the people of Iowa to decide this issue (http://streffblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/for-athiests-there-is-god-of-common.html),
but through legislative means, not this this way. Removing justices for a single and defensible, albeit controversial ruling is plain stupid.
However, simply trying to remove these justices isn't what gets Bob into the Tyson Zone. For that, you have to look at what he said this week in a debate on the issue, when he asserted the ruling opened the door to the possibility of polygamy, parents marrying their children, and other similar decisions.
Not sure if Bob really believes that, or if it's just more scare tactics from a bitter man. Regardless, after saying that, I don't see how there's anything more the guy can say or do that would surprise anyone. In short, social consevatives like Bob will say or do anything to get everybody to live in the same little box that they do, bordered only by their own idea of morality.
The truth is, regardless of how anyone feels about this ruling, Iowa's social climate and culture hasn't changed in the past 1+ year. Every once in a while, gay couples come here to get married, spend some money doing so, and then usually go back to their lives. It hasn't exactly become the Sodom or Gomorrah of the midwest, and on the plus side, at least we don't subsidize its economic impact with our taxes, like we do with ethanol.
Bob Vander Plaats, join your political soul mate Steve King in the Tyson Zone.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Major League Baseball Still Sucks
In case you hadn't noticed, the MLB playoffs have started. The World Series starts in two weeks - it's the November Classic now, you know.
If you didn't know any of this, it's understandable, considering this is still true.
http://streffblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/reasons-why-major-league-baseball-sucks.html
If you didn't know any of this, it's understandable, considering this is still true.
http://streffblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/reasons-why-major-league-baseball-sucks.html
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Not Everyone Cares About What You Do
So there's this lawyer from Des Moines who really spends his time being Mr. Adventurer Guy. He's tried to climb Mount Everest. He's tried to swim the English Channel. Not sure when he practices law, but he must have a high hourly rate or have a trust fund to take all this time off.
Anyway, although he's never been successful at climbing Everest or swimming the Channel, this year he's trying to do both again, the old "Peak and Pond' they call it. And to top it off, after swimming the Channel he's biking over to Tibet to get ready for Everest. He's calling it his World Triathlon.
Sounds cool, doesn't it? And I give him credit, he swam the Channel, and he's making his way over to Everest on the bike. But here's the thing - how do I know so much about this guy and what he's doing?
I know about it because this guy is a media whore! He has to make sure everybody knows about what a great adventurer he is, like he's Sir Richard Branson or something. Every time the guy goes on one of his treks, the stories appear in the paper and on TV, and I'm pretty sure they don't get the stories by word of mouth. Between trips he speaks to groups about his adventures, something I've snoozed through myself.
This year's quest, while admirable, has been the worst. This time he actually went out of his way speaking to raise money for his trip, convincing schools they could follow his quest on-line as some sort of geography lesson. Then the dude ran out of money to do that, even before getting on the bike. Sorry kids, but thanks for the free publicity!
Look, I hope the guy accomplishes his goal, but I don't need to know about it until after it's done, and everyone can live a good life without knowing about it at all. It seems the tree is falling in the forest, and he's terribly insecure that it won't make a sound if we all aren't around.
Maybe this guy should start living his life with a quite confidence instead of banging a gong every time he attempts to reach a personal goal. Some folks just don't understand - strangers don't care about you as much as you do.
Anyway, although he's never been successful at climbing Everest or swimming the Channel, this year he's trying to do both again, the old "Peak and Pond' they call it. And to top it off, after swimming the Channel he's biking over to Tibet to get ready for Everest. He's calling it his World Triathlon.
Sounds cool, doesn't it? And I give him credit, he swam the Channel, and he's making his way over to Everest on the bike. But here's the thing - how do I know so much about this guy and what he's doing?
I know about it because this guy is a media whore! He has to make sure everybody knows about what a great adventurer he is, like he's Sir Richard Branson or something. Every time the guy goes on one of his treks, the stories appear in the paper and on TV, and I'm pretty sure they don't get the stories by word of mouth. Between trips he speaks to groups about his adventures, something I've snoozed through myself.
This year's quest, while admirable, has been the worst. This time he actually went out of his way speaking to raise money for his trip, convincing schools they could follow his quest on-line as some sort of geography lesson. Then the dude ran out of money to do that, even before getting on the bike. Sorry kids, but thanks for the free publicity!
Look, I hope the guy accomplishes his goal, but I don't need to know about it until after it's done, and everyone can live a good life without knowing about it at all. It seems the tree is falling in the forest, and he's terribly insecure that it won't make a sound if we all aren't around.
Maybe this guy should start living his life with a quite confidence instead of banging a gong every time he attempts to reach a personal goal. Some folks just don't understand - strangers don't care about you as much as you do.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The 'Secret' To Investing
It’s official. Again.
New objective research has confirmed what a mountain of prior evidence has long indicated. That is, investment fees are correlated to investment outcomes.
A new study by Morningstar, Inc. reveals the facts. In short, the lower the expense ratio – a measure of a fund’s total investment fees – the better the risk-adjusted performance.
What makes this study even more compelling is its source. Morningstar has long been considered the industry leader in mutual fund research and analysis, ranking funds using a star-rating system. Now, based on its own research, Morningstar admits their star-rating system takes a back seat to fees when determining the probability of a fund’s success.
So why do most ‘financial advisors’ continue to ignore the facts and invest in funds with higher expense ratios? Because their income is usually based on commissions received from the higher fees charged within the investment/insurance products and funds they sell. These higher fees mean a greater income for them, but a lower return for investors.
Lesson learn again: Don't pay more for something that adds no value.
New objective research has confirmed what a mountain of prior evidence has long indicated. That is, investment fees are correlated to investment outcomes.
A new study by Morningstar, Inc. reveals the facts. In short, the lower the expense ratio – a measure of a fund’s total investment fees – the better the risk-adjusted performance.
What makes this study even more compelling is its source. Morningstar has long been considered the industry leader in mutual fund research and analysis, ranking funds using a star-rating system. Now, based on its own research, Morningstar admits their star-rating system takes a back seat to fees when determining the probability of a fund’s success.
So why do most ‘financial advisors’ continue to ignore the facts and invest in funds with higher expense ratios? Because their income is usually based on commissions received from the higher fees charged within the investment/insurance products and funds they sell. These higher fees mean a greater income for them, but a lower return for investors.
Lesson learn again: Don't pay more for something that adds no value.
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