» Current Events

JC Penny T-Shirt Scandal

Bill Bean — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:41:57 +0000

The J.C. Penny t-shirt scandal is ridiculous. I would say they need to grow a pair, but that might be interpreted as sexist (it’s a colloquialism).

This shirt was deemed offensive and degrading to young girls.

Thankfully, the Village Voice was on top of things and has prevented the downfall of civilization. They successfully bullied JCP in to removing the item. (see story here)

Does anyone at the Village Voice even shop at J.C. Penny?

Does anyone at the Village Voice object to the Junior Miss Hooker attire available at most clothing stores targeting younger girls?

If the shirt had said, “Too Beefcake To Do Homework So My Sister Does It For Me”, would there have been a similar outcry?

Why not go to the root of the problem and have Justin Beiber removed?

Hopefully, this shirt will become a hot commodity on the “black market.” If my daughter had a brother, I’d buy it for her. Kudos to JCP for this edgy, potentially viral, marketing campaign.

Conspiracy of Physics

Bill Bean — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:03:01 +0000

We need new technology breakthroughs in the energy field. Many green energy supporters have the best of intentions, and they really do want to believe. Unfortunately, science doesn’t seem to be on their (our) side.

Author Robert Bryce writes this regarding why, given current battery technology, electric cars are not a viable alternative to combustion engines.

“The problem is very simple,” Bryce said. “It’s not political will. It’s simple physics. Gasoline has 80 times the energy density of the best lithium ion batteries. There’s no conspiracy here of big oil or big auto. It’s a conspiracy of physics.”

The quote is pulled from John Stossel’s article Going Green on RealClearPolitics.com. Worth reading.

As on many issues, I find myself in the middle of two extremes. Although it over simplifies the issue I’ll pose it like this: either we stop using oil at all costs or we keep using it at all costs. No doubt, many vociferous advocates/investors in both camps stand to make a lot of money by winning, or at least maintaining, the debate.

The issues are much too politicized, though I’m not sure how that can be rectified.

Though I’m not sure how it lines up with classical Libertarian beliefs (still new to me), it seems that the government should be involved in the research process (interstate commerce?) I don’t believe depending solely on the private sector is best. Perhaps foundations, non-profits, etc… offer the best of both worlds.

No doubt, some combination of all available solutions will help until new technologies are discovered or further developed. I’d like to see us continue to do the things that will position us for possible breakthroughs. It can’t be done for free. Who’s going to pay? (that’s always the question) While that’s going on, I’d like to see us continue to become more efficient with gasoline and transportation. (this coming from a 4 car family)

Burress Mess

Bill Bean — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:37:19 +0000

I must confess that I feel a small measure of pity for Mr. Burress. Sure, he’s been paid a whole lot of money to play a game but this is tragic. I know I’m capable of similar idiocies. This is why you need to surround yourself with helpful friends.

Plax is still a young man. He can turn things around, and I hope that he does. Kudos to the Giants organization for their quick action. Thumbs down to the NYC Mayor. I think he’s exploiting the situation to help his own cause. Can anyone think of a good reason to keep Drew Rosenhaus around? I say he should do time everytime one of his clients does.

That’s what I think.

World’s Oldest Person Dies

Bill Bean — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:48:37 +0000

November 28, 2008

Edna Parker, world’s oldest person, dies at 115

Shelbyville woman is recalled as energetic, inquisitive, independent

By Heather Gillers
heather.gillers@indystar.com

SHELBYVILLE, Ind.
– Edna Parker was in her 80s the day she and her teenage granddaughter
found themselves stuck at home with no way to get to Parker’s son a few miles away.

“I said, ‘How will we get there?’ ” recalled granddaughter Vicki Kozlow,
now 47 and a resident of Mio, Mich. “She said, ‘Well, you got a minibike, don’t you?’ “

So the teen and the octogenarian hopped onto the minibike, Kozlow said, “and away we went.”

That was one of the recollections family members shared about the remarkable life of Parker — recognized for the past 15 months as the world’s oldest person — after her death Wednesday in a Shelbyville nursinghome.

She was 115 years and 120 days old.

Read the whole article here.

» Did you know? Edna
Parker lived in the same Shelbyville nursing home as Sandy Allen,
recognized in 1975 by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest
woman. Allen, who was 7 feet 7 inches tall, died Aug. 13 at age 50
after a long illness.

Who’s watching the kids?

Bill Bean — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:54:41 +0000

More ‘splainin’ of the bailouts via Masson’s Blog in Indiana. This may be my favorite.

This is a pretty awesome explanation :

• Lehman Brothers was like the little kid pulling the tail of a dog. You know the kid is going to get hurt eventually, and so no one is surprised when the dog turns around and bites the kid. But the kid only hurts himself, so no one really cares that much.

• Bear Stearns is the little pyro — the kid who was always playing with matches. He could harm not only himself, but burns his own house down, and indeed, he could have burnt down the entire neighborhood. The Fed stepped in not to protect him, but the rest of the block.

• AIG is the kid who accidentally stumbled into a bio-tech warfare lab . . . finds all these unlabeled vials, and heads out to the playground with a handful of them jammed into his pockets.

Certain Death

Bill Bean — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:52:07 +0000

“Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family one- or two-story homes will face certain death,” the National Weather Service said in a local bulletin. “Many residences of average construction directly on the coast will be destroyed.”

This from the New York Times.

Now I don’t know about you but when the phrase “certain death” is used in a warning I would tend to sit-up and take notice. The article goes on mention a few individuals who aren’t so concerned with all the hype.

I pray for the safety of those living in the area but apparently the community might be served by a thinning of the gene pool.