Podcast 355

Nevada and Utah. Live from Park City, Utah in Mobile Podcast Command Unit 8, the Road Trip continues, leaving California and heading into Nevada, and Utah. Thursday was a tough day for the Mobile Unit. Damage was sustained after the driver — tired and hungry — attempted to enter a mall parking lot which inexplicably featured those concrete and steel ‘height regulators’. With damage nominally repaired, the Mobile Unit soldiers on, battered but unbroken. Updates for your weekend. Are you already sick of the Presidential campaign of 2016? What about Hillary’s bags? Is Rand Paul really crazy? Is Marco Rubio’s tax plan really a good idea? It’s Iowa’s fault. Iowa, that has no other reason for anyone to pay attention to it. Iowa, drenched in wind power and ethanol subsides, forcing the whole country to watch as these politicians traverse one end of it to another, just because Iowa has to have the ‘first in the nation primary’ in 2016. As a result, the media valve cannot be turned off. The result? People may just be burned out on political news and coverage, and one wonders whether by the actual election in November of 2016, anyone will have any stomach left for any of it. Is it possible too much coverage will suppress the vote? And, if it isn’t gyrocopters landing on the Capitol steps, its DEA agents who can’t be fired for having orgies, with prostitutes supplied by the cartels. Shouldn’t people who do these sorts of things be fired? Unfortunately, as the head of the DEA testified this week, the civil service employment laws prevent them from even being disciplined. And people say the government is efficient. Tax Day has come and gone, and at the same time one wonders whether the same anti-tax fervor that existed a few years ago, still exists. Touring the country shows people adapting. In spite of a moribund economy, and poor leadership in Washington, they seem to be doing pretty good. (Editor’s Note: Except for Reno, Nevada. They don’t seem to be doing pretty good on the East Side of Reno.) Plus some tips on camping out in Unit 8, emails and one more donation thank you. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. Also join me April 25th for the SD48 Annual Freedom Dinner. Follow the links for more info. 

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Podcast 354

The Napa Valley. As our time in California comes to a close, the Napa Valley is a perfect place to say goodbye. Whether it is Napa, Sonoma, Calistoga, finally ending up in Nevada City the Golden State is a seductive place. The so called ‘warm and dry end’ of the Napa Valley was the destination for the parties of pioneers, of which the infamous Donner Party was part of. This valley is where many of them settled, and prospered after that fateful winter of 1866. Calistoga was also the adopted home of Robert Louis Stevenson, a fact they would much rather talk about than the fate of the Donner Party. Some highlights of the Donner Party story, and an interview with Al Derrick, who minds the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga. What does this tragic story in the history of settling California tell us about decision making and democracy? This is the only subtly political moment in this podcast. In the end, its seems tawdry to taint a Road Trip podcast with the grease of political pontification. (Editor’s Note: It must be pointed out, however, that the Hillary Clinton ‘inevitable’ presidential campaign has apparently borrowed the idea of hitting the road, going to real places and talking to real people, but not in a repurposed ambulance! Whether she is actually in the creeper van which headed for Iowa or not is another question.) Wine country is an impressive, pastoral location. It wasn’t always wine country tho. At one time this valley also produced Walnuts, prunes and other agricultural products on smaller farms. Today, vineyards are everywhere — and they are perfect. Finally, a surprise in the mountains as we come upon a Bikram Yoga studio in the middle of nowhere! Sponsored by Baklund R&D.  

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Podcast 336

Monday Updates. The week kicks off with a reply to one North Metro Tea Partier upset by comments in the previous podcast ‘Political Crossroads’. The point of the podcast? Is this group punching above, or below its weight politically? Is a true friend someone who tells you what you want to hear, or what you need to hear in order to be more effective? Yes, the nation is at a crossroads politically, and especially on the right. Either grassroots groups will mature and develop the kind of political power that changes political fortunes and history, or they will fade. In this time frame, that means more moderate republican candidates and leaders like John Boehner, for example. People tea partiers don’t generally like. While for voters 2016 is an ocean of time away, for political operatives, the election is already on. Just this past weekend in Minnesota’s open political process, local Basic Political Unit and Congressional meetings were held, with delegates chosen and rules voted on. If you weren’t there, you missed a prime opportunity to set the tone for, yep, 2016. In the end, the proof will be in the pudding. It would be nice to be wrong about the influence of these grassroots groups, but right now – and it brings us no joy to say this – the state’s Bicycle Lobby looks more effective. Meanwhile Minnesota has a surplus, and while the DFL wants to spend that cold, hard cash on programs, the republicans want to spend it in targeted tax cuts and other nonsense. Republican Chair Keith Downey says the money should be given back to the people, and he deserves credit. As usual the Minnesota Chamber of Italian Fascism and Speaker Kurt Daudt wants to split hairs; spend some money on roads and bridges and old people. Republicans need to be a strong voice for spending cuts, and tax cuts. The surplus is not a sign of success, but a sign of fiscal mismanagement. Give the money back, cut spending and then cut taxes. Lots of talk about layoffs at Target, and General Mills. Lots of people will be free lancing. Surprise, lots of people already are, and it may become the new way to work. 53 million Americans are freelancing and some surveys suggest as much as half the work force will be freelancing suggesting new ways to work, live and contribute. Here’s to the 1099’rs; You’re making a great contribution to the future of this country. Freelancers, and people working from home are happier and more productive than those in offices. In Austin, Texas this weekend at the SXSW Tech Conference, protesters demanded something done about stopping robots and autonomous machines. “If man was meant to fly”, they shouted, “God would have given us wings”. Not really, but they may as well have. Technology is fueling the greatest revolution in the history of mankind, and will change everything in the world in the next twenty to fifty years. Get on board, or get out of the way. The coolest development? If you could take a pill that reversed your aging, and allowed you to live fifty, one hundred, one hundred and fifty, maybe three hundred years, would you do it? Sponsored by Complete Basement Systems. 

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