Video Response to Common Sense with Dan Carlin's "Looking for a Left Hook" podcast

To listen to the podcast I'm discussing you can download the mp3 here.

My thoughts on Dan Carlin's Common Sense podcast on bringing back jobs to the US. Why is it we allow American corporations to off shore labor under conditions we would never allow here in the US? Because we don't like "those" jobs and we like cheap stuff. Ending trade agreements would certainly bring back jobs but would "cheaper" jobs raise income in the middle class? Where have all the "good" jobs gone?

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child

This is an interesting topic I actually struggle with. I am by no means opposed to spanking as I indeed find it to be a very effective means of discipline. In fact, just recently I've been encouraged to take up "the switch" as it is extremely effective. The struggle arises from many things. The first is the ability to discern what is worthy of discipline. Pretty much any disobedience is worthy of disciplining but deciding where to draw that line takes wisdom (something I often lack). Trying to judge that line with another adult is also very difficult as what may be inappropriate for one may not be for another.

Another area of struggle is the idea that using violence is the best means for behavior correction. Indeed it is effective at any degree in life but one has to question is it the best way to generate that sought after behavior change or obedience? Did its use in earlier eras explain some of history's brutality? The fear of what others may think or worse that someone might actually report you for abuse is always at the back of my mind. "Time outs" do prove somewhat effective and are the most common way I discipline. But I confess, sometimes it feels fruitless after 20 minutes of trying to force them to stay in one spot or they repeat their disobediance moments after being released from time out.

I find it ironic though that if we were to lock up our children like we do adults who disobey rules we would also be punished.  It takes surprising strength to withhold and restrain my anger when I feel an act is worthy of a spanking but at other times it takes tremendous courage and wisdom to strike a child in faith that it is for their own good. In the end, this aspect of life requires faith and God's grace to raise a child correctly. It requires me to overcome my flesh that desires me to be lazy and "let it slide" and to balance it with controlling my temper and not harming them. Truthfully, the method of discipline is as less important as compared to its consistent execution and its result.

Excel VBA: Ignore Merged Cell Warning

Excel can be annoying sometimes. Take for example the stupid alert letting me know I'm trying to do something with a merged cell. Sometimes this sort of thing is good to know but more often than not, I know what I'm doing and want to do it without being nagged about it. So, for future reference, if you want to suppress the merged cell alert just enter this VBA code in your workbook:

Application.DisplayAlerts = False

Pit Happens

This is why we can't have affordable health coverage and why malpratice lawsuits are often rediculous and in need of reform. Dennis Kucinich is suing House cafeteria for $150k because a pit in an olive in a sandwich caused him injury. Sorry Dennis, but pit happens.

Find Merged Cells in Excel without using VBA

1. Open a Find and Replace Menu (Ctrl + F).
2. Next to the Find What Field is a Format Box, Click it.
3. This opens the Find Format Menu screen which looks very similar to the Cell Format Tabs and screens
4. On the Alignment Tab, remove any ticks in the Wrap Text or Shrink to Fit boxes.
5. Leave a tick in the Merge Cells Box (tick mark should be bold) and click the OK Button to return to the Find and Replace screen.
6.Ensure you are searching Within: Workbook and Look in: Values and the Find what: box is not populated.

7. Now click the Find All Button and ALL merged cells are shown in the lower window and are selectable to jump to their location.

How does a non-tangible asset bubble burst?

The ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc. released this past years largest salary increases by profession. We all know that health care is expensive and is continuing to be more so but is it any wonder why when of the top 20 largest increases 70% of them (14) relate to the medical profession? Not so surprising 3 others relate to academics (fortunately 1 was a non-magement role). I can understand these increases in the medical field to a degree since they are concerned the new health care bill will eventually cap their salaries at some point (much like how insurance companies are franticlly trying to raise premiums). If the caps do hold (which they never do) then I guess it wouldn't be so bad but its unfortunate that we narrowly focus only on the money instead of the reasons why costs are so high. Sure doctors are highly educated and are worthy of their wages but many regulations exist that force up healthcare costs. Release the AMA and other governing bodies abality to control how many doctors are allowed into the field, end the war on drugs and drasticlly drop the price of drugs and peoples need to get a perscription are just two examples of how the government could restore freedom and lower costs and flip side is people will then have to be resposible of their new found freedom(s).

Tax Overhaul by Those Who Use Taxes the Most and Double Speak

I heard an article this morning on NPR about the New Chairman of House Tax Panel. There were several things I find laughable about the interview. First, I learned that the predecessor of the chairman of the House Tax Writing Committee was none other than Charlie Rangel (D), the guy who was found guilty of many ethical violations including failure to pay taxes for which he received on a slap on the wrist.  Second, he and his successor, Rep. Dave Camp (R) both agree the tax code needs an overhaul. I agree with this sentiment but laughed when he was asked "so you don't want to raise a bunch more government revenue in the process of rewriting this tax code?" to which Rep. Camp quickly changed directions to focusing on spending cuts which has nothing to do with changing the tax code. Third, I find it laughable how Republicans want to cut spending and the deficit and national debt yet they were the ones who passed such crazy spending bills as HR 1 (108 congress), Medicare & Medicaid Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 and the start-up Home Land Security, and two endless wars (4 if you include the war on terrorism and drugs).