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Our Dysfunctional Politics Are Ruining Our Economy
2008-05-03 03:46:00
Fareed Zakaria describes the major problem facing the American economy in the 21st century.  It is not the rise of China and other foreign powers as competitors in the global marketplace.  The real problem, according to his article “The Future of American Power,” is our dysfunctional political system that can’t solve problems. The problem today is that the U.S. political system seems to have lost its ability to fix its ailments. The economic problems in the United States today are real, but by and large they are not the product of deep inefficiencies within the U.S. economy, nor are they reflections of cultural decay. They are the consequences of specific government policies. Different policies could quickly and relatively easily move the United States onto a far more stable footing. A set of sensible reforms could be enacted tomorrow to trim wasteful spending and subsidies, increase savings, expand training in science and technology, secure pensions, create a wo...
More About: Politics , Economy

Horror On The Tracks | 2-Year-Old Hit By Train As Mom Watches
2008-05-02 14:05:00
It’s a horrific story that strikes at the heart of anyone with young children. A two-year-old Gary, Indiana boy was stuck and killed by a passing train after he ran onto railroad tracks near his home as his mom tries to save him. Reports Christin Nance Lazerus in the Post-Tribune: A 2-year-old boy was killed when he was hit by a train next to his home on Thursday afternoon. Ryan Watson sustained blunt force trauma, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. The coroner arrived on scene shortly after 5 p.m. Watson lived at Village Mobile Home Park, 1920 W. Ridge Road, with his mother, April, and 14-year-old brother, Ricky. A Canadian National train was heading west on the tracks that run along the north side of the mobile home park, near the intersection of Ridge Road and Cleveland Street. Video: Family Grieves After Toddler Struck By Train My prayers go out to the grieving family. Post from: Christopher Hedges Horror On The Tracks | 2-Year -Old Hit By Train As Mom Wa...
More About: Watches

I Went To See Bill Clinton Today
2008-05-02 06:58:00
Bill Clinton came to the Crown Point YMCA this afternoon and put on a good political rally for Hillary supporters and other curious onlookers enjoying the fact that Indiana is finally getting some attention from people who usually flyover the Hoosier state on their way to California or New York. Video: Bill Clinton in Crown Point Bill said that Hillary Clinton had put in some good words for Crown Point, so that was nice to hear. I have to admit it was fun to hear and see Bill Clinton do his magic for the crowd. It brought back the good memories of when I was still an undergrad and was living a relatively carefree life. When I was younger, I voted for Clinton when he first ran. I also helped make phone calls for the Monroe County Democratic Party back in the days before “bring your own phone” phone banks. I also wore an American Federation of Teachers for Bill Clinton pin along side of my UFCW Local 700 pin when I was working at the grocery store making $75 per wee...
More About: Bill Clinton , Today , Bill

John McCain’s Background Revealed
2008-05-01 20:22:00
With the horse race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continuing full steam as we head into the Indiana primary on May 6, it’s important to remember that John McCain is also still in the race for the United States presidency. A recent opinion piece gives us a glimpse into John McCain ’s background — a look that gives a better understanding about the GOP candidate for president.  H/T to Steve over at Hoosiers For McCain. Mr. Day relayed to me one of the stories Americans should hear. It involves what happened to him after escaping from a North Vietnamese prison during the war. When he was recaptured, a Vietnamese captor broke his arm and said, “I told you I would make you a cripple.” The break was designed to shatter Mr. Day’s will. He had survived in prison on the hope that one day he would return to the United States and be able to fly again. To kill that hope, the Vietnamese left part of a bone sticking out of his arm, and put him in a mi...
More About: Background

IU Gets Spike Of RIAA Notices
2008-05-01 19:42:00
IU Official Says Info Doesn’t Match Wired reports that Indiana University — as well as other universities around the midwest — are getting a lot of copyright infringement notices from the RIAA, but that the information contained in the notices doesn’t match what university computer records show. Indiana University says that starting on April 21, the Recording Industry Association of America began sending 80 legal notices a day to the university, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Typically, the university handles less than 100 such notices a month from the RIAA, the Motion Picture Association of America and HBO combined. The DMCA notices include information about a specific IP address, file sharing protocol and named infringing file. Indiana University’s tech staff routinely compare those details against the university’s logs to make sure that the allegations are accurate, according to Mark Bruhn, an associate vice president of IU&rs...
More About: Spike , Notices , Riaa

Is Brooke White Going Home? Idol Predictions
2008-05-01 00:38:00
Dial Idol is showing that Syesha Mercado and David Cook are predicted to be safe tonight on American Idol. Rounding out the predictions are David Archuleta and Jason Castro. At the very last spot is sweetie Brooke White . I was hoping she’d make it through for another night, but if Dial Idol’s predictions are correct, Brooke White might be one of the candidates to be sent home tonight. Post from: Christopher Hedges Is Brooke White Going Home ? Idol Predictions

Google Pagerank Updating
2008-04-30 21:19:00
Darren Rowse reports that Google is updating Pagerank . It will be interesting to see if any NWI blogs experience any changes as Google shakes things up. Update: I just noticed that my Google toolbar PR has gone up a unit since the last update on this site (3/10) and my Vocalo page now has a nifty 4/10 PR! More Updates of NWI sites of interest: Blue County in a Red State is 3/10. Northwest Indiana Real Estate is 4/10. South Shore Progressive is 4/10. Lake County Government is 4/10. City of Hobart is 4/10. United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana is 5/10. Post-Tribune is 6/10. NWI.com is 6/10. Valpo.edu is 7/10. IUN.edu is 8/10. Calumet.Purdue.edu is 8/10. Post from: Christopher Hedges Google Pagerank Updating

Invitation to Hillary Clinton
2008-04-30 13:21:00
I received a comment on a previous post about Chelsea Clinton ’s visit to East Chicago that is worthwhile to publish as its own post. Writes Bonnie L. Pollock of the Build Indiana Conference: Ms. Chelsea Clinton or former President Clinton, I am certain that this email may go unnoticed and is a stretch but….., I would like to extend an invitation to you to attend the Build Indiana Conference on May 1. It will be held in Merrillville Indiana. It is the first of its kind in the area. We will be speaking to the corridor development of our growing region featuring air, rail, port authority etc…. It would be a small platform of around 250 people that are very influential in this region. Many of the unions, trades, commercial developers, leading executives of the region will be speaking about our growth. This is an all day event and would love for you to stop in anytime. It is close to where you will be. We will slate whatever time is necessary for you to just say hello. We produ...
More About: Hillary Clinton , Invitation , Hillary

Brooke White | I’m A Believer
2008-04-30 02:19:00
I don’t know if Brooke White will stay much longer on American Idol — there are too many other singers – David Cook, David Archuleta and Jason Castro — who are going to get more votes than she’ll get, I always like seeing her sing. There’s something about her smile when she’s singing that is attractive. However, most of the people voting in American Idol are teen girls, so Brooke White has tough odds to beat. Brooke White has an advantage tonight. She sang close to the last — always a plum position that is guaranteed to get some votes. And, the judges loved her tonight! Maybe Brooke White will stay around for a little longer. Post from: Christopher Hedges Brooke White | I’m A Believer

Comcastic!
2008-04-29 20:12:00
My Comcastic — could that end up being a swear word one of these days — home network is back up to full strength after a little experimentation. Here’s a tip for people with the Netgear wireless router that seems to give everyone so many problems. It requires obtaining another router — I already had one from my DSL days just waiting to go back into service, so I didn’t have to put down any money. Since the Comcast supplied router seems to have issues getting to certain parts of the internet — I could get to Google properties to search, but couldn’t get out of Google and I could get into my ChristopherHedges.com domain but other areas wouldn’t load — I decided to experiment with solutions since we haven’t had a cable guy out yet to look at it. Comcast contractors did bury the cable at the house today, so kudos to them for doing that before we grade the yard for grass seed. A tech is supposed to come out later on to fix the...

The Cleveland of China
2008-04-26 06:14:00
I took my son to CCD the other day. My wife was busy working on something at the house, so we didn’t do our usual Wednesday night date while our son was in his class. (The grandparents always do a good job taking care of the littlest one, if we don’t bring him along with us). I stopped by the local bookstore and was looking at the various magazines. For some reason, the current edition of World Affairs Journal caught my eye — especially intriguing was an article by P.J. O’Rourke titled “The Cleveland of Asia. A Journey Through China ’s Rust Belt.” A limited abstract is available online, but a subscription is required for the full article. The thing that struck me is that there is great wealth being created in China these days. They are probably comparable to the way America was earlier in the 20th century when we were developing ways create and sell the items we produced. Doesn’t it seem strange to think that Russia and China are...

My Cable Modem Hasn’t Been Working Properly
2008-04-26 05:04:00
I would have been in more often, but my cable modem hasn’t been working properly for the last couple of days. I can get into my blog — which is a good thing — but I can’t check email or go to major websites. If I search for something on Google, I can get Google to work, but I can’t go to the sites listed in the search results. A tech is supposed to come by the house sometime tomorrow, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the problem can be fixed in a short period of time. One interesting thing — I went to Panera Bread today — I love their free wifi — and discovered that Vocalo.org is blocked by their free wifi service. I did see some posts that Comcast has been having DNS problems lately. I don’t know if it is better that the problem is something local that can be fixed on the pole or in some box in the neighborhood, or if it is the whole system that isn’t working right. Update:  I can get Google properties, inc...
More About: Modem , Working , Cable , Cable Modem

Carly Smithson | Going Home | American Idol
2008-04-24 04:03:00
Carly Smithson is going home tonight. I can’t say that I am surprised to see Carly Smithson go home from American Idol because she never really made a connection with me. Carly made it into the Top 6, so she should be proud of making it so far in American Idol’s 7th season. I am happy to see Syesha Mercado and Brooke White stay another week. The top dogs of American Idol going into the Top 5: 1. David Cook 2. David Archuleta 3. Jason Castro 4. Syesha Mercado 5. Brooke White Post from: Christopher Hedges Carly Smithson | Going Home | American Idol
More About: Carly Smithson

Indiana’s The Tie Breaker State
2008-04-23 12:51:00
Indiana Is The Tie Breaker State Indiana is now the “tie-breaker” state in the race to decide who will be the Democrat’s choice for their presidential candidate in Election 2008. That means that Northwest Indiana’s residents will get many opportunities to see the Democratic candidates — Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — in the run up to the May 6 primary. Barack Obama has already been to Evansville — even before the results of the Pennsylvania primary were back. And, Hillary Clinton rallies today in Indianapolis. Hillary Clinton’s campaign promises to have one member of the Clinton family somewhere in Indiana every day between now and May 6. Both Democratic candidates have already made multiple visits to try to win over Indiana’s democratic party voters. The Clintons Have Made 50 Indiana Visits Barack Obama has been to South Bend and Gary. Michelle Obama visited Merrillville. Chelsea Clinton made an East Chicago trip and Hil...
More About: Indiana

Barack Obama Is Back In Indiana
2008-04-23 04:59:00
Barack Obama is giving his Pennsylvania primary concession speech from Evansville, Indiana tonight after Hillary Clinton’s win in the Keystone State. Hillary’s win means Indiana is now the battle ground state — expect lots of visits from Hillary and Barack over the next coming days. Video: Barack Obama Moves On To Evansville Video: Barack Obama Looks Ahead To Indiana Primary Video: What does Hillary Clinton’s Pennsylvania Win Mean? Post from: Christopher Hedges Barack Obama Is Back In Indiana
More About: Barack Obama , Barack

Thoughts on American Idol | Top 6
2008-04-23 03:19:00
I’m not going to write up a huge liveblog of tonight’s American Idol like I usually do. I will say that I enjoyed seeing Syesha Mercado on the AI stage tonight. She was looking pretty good and was singing well. However, overall Syesha faces overwhelming odds with the popularity of David Cook and David Archuleta this year. Could Brooke White be going home tomorrow? I like Brooke White — there’s something about her — be she won’t make it through to be the Idol this year. With her mistake, Brooke White will probably be thrown off the island. I’ve never gotten into Jason Castro or Carly Smithson. I can’t really get into Jason Castro — he seems like a nice guy — but that’s not enough to be the American Idol. And, I’ve never seen what others have seen in Carly Smithson — she has never made a connection with me. But, tonight’s performance will keep Carly Smithson safe for another week. The real battle...
More About: Thoughts

Indiana GOP Isn’t Worried
2008-04-22 13:53:00
It has been exciting having all of the focus on Indiana this year as the Democratic candidates battle for delegates in their hotly contested race for their party’s nomination this year. Having all of the visits from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their surrogates — Ted Danson was in Hammond this weekend, a Kennedy relative was in Valparaiso, Smoky Norful put on a Barack Obama concert, Michelle Obama spoke in Merrillville, and Hillary Clinton is coming to NWI sometime this week — is great fun. Despite all of the Democratic party attention to the state this campaign season, the Indiana Republican party isn’t worried that the state will turn blue in November. Reports the Associated Press: The Republican grip on Indiana’s electoral votes has been so tight for so long that many in the GOP profess no preference for Clinton or Obama as the Democratic nominee. They also say that despite the front-page headlines and hours of television coverage the Clinto...
More About: Worried

Terror: Stuck In Elevator For 41 Hours
2008-04-21 23:11:00
Video: Time Lapse video of man stuck in an elevator for 41 hours. Post from: Christopher Hedges Terror : Stuck In Elevator For 41 Hours

McCain Proposes Gas Tax Holiday. Will It Work?
2008-04-21 09:00:00
John McCain proposes a gasoline tax holiday around the same time that Barack Obama started running commercials in Indiana proposing more taxes on gasoline companies (that likely will just be passed on to consumers). Will a gasoline tax holiday work to solve the problems motorists face with ever increasing gasoline prices? Should we focus on more domestic production as well as developing domestic alternative fuels? What is the solution to our dependence on fossil fuels that seems to threaten our way of life? Will we ever be able to have cheap oil now that China is buying up as much oil as it can — including oil drilled from the Gulf of Mexico? Videos: John McCain proposes gas tax holiday Post from: Christopher Hedges McCain Proposes Gas Tax Holiday . Will It Work ?

Free Google Wireless Internet Coming?
2008-04-20 14:00:00
Google wants to give away free wireless internet to Americans in exchange for letting them view their ads. Video: Google Wants To Turn Unused TV Spectrum Into Wireless Internet Sign me up. If Google wants to provide free internet service in exchange for advertising, it sounds like a good plan to me! Post from: Christopher Hedges Free Google Wireless Internet Coming?
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McCain Gains While Dems Fight
2008-04-20 13:45:00
An AP-Yahoo poll shows that John McCain is winning over independents, undecided Republicans, and some moderate Democrats as the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama threatens to continue at least through the end of the upcoming Indiana primary. Video: AP-Yahoo Poll Shows John McCain Gaining Post from: Christopher Hedges McCain Gains While Dems Fight

The Clinton - Obama Battle Continues
2008-04-20 13:30:00
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue their intra-party fight to win every Democratic party vote they can get in Pennsylvania before this Tuesday’s primary vote in the Keystone State. Video: Rhetoric Heats Up In Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama PA Battle Post from: Christopher Hedges The Clinton - Obama Battle Continues

Michelle Obama Audio
2008-04-19 16:01:00
I’ve posted some Michelle Obama audio from her Merrillville campaign stop over on my blog at Vocalo.org. I have about 2 hours of digital tape — maybe one of these days I’ll get it all broken down into manageable 2 minute or so slices so that it isn’t impossible to listen to over the internet (or on the radio). Also, make sure to tune into Steve Walsh’s radio show on Tuesday around the 7 p.m. hour on 89.5 MHz in Northwest Indiana or online at Vocalo.org. I’ve been giving a rundown on what’s happening in Northwest Indiana as it relates to the presidential contests since we’ve become the new Iowa and newer New Hampshire this year. Post from: Christopher Hedges Michelle Obama Audio

Have Bloggers Become Too Self-Centered?
2008-04-18 18:00:00
A Brazilian court bans WordPress blogs because one blogger posted a YouTube video the court found objectionable. Where’s the outcry?, asks Lorelle. I think bloggers around the world have become apathetic. Lazy. Uninspired. Dumbed down. Honestly. When the term echo chamber was coined, it was a good label for all the regurgitation of content spread all over the web, drowning individual voices. Self-interest blogging is pervasive. What happened to altruism and using the blog publishing platform to support freedom of speech and bloggers around the world? What happened to us? Why am I not seeing protests and opinions on this issue all over the web? Why isn’t the banning of three million WordPress.com blogs a big deal? Why aren’t we talking about this instead of the latest iPhone gizmo and useless SEO techniques? Why didn’t people get angry and protest loudly when WordPress.com blogs were banned in Turkey, China, and other countries? WordPress.com continues to be banned in pl...
More About: Bloggers

Midwest Earthquake Shakes Region
2008-04-18 13:43:00
Did you feel the earth move under your feet and the sky come tumbling down this morning? I didn’t. I was asleep and missed all of the excitement. Scientists — and the local news media — are reporting a 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook the earth in downstate Salem, Illinois this morning — about 40 miles northwest of Evansville, Indiana. Video: Earthquake felt in Chicago area Video: More on the Illinois - Midwest Earthquake Post from: Christopher Hedges Midwest Earthquake Shakes Region

Surrogates Campaign For Democrats in Indiana
2008-04-18 05:26:00
Michele Obama will come to Merrillville, Indiana tomorrow to campaign for her husband, Barack Obama. Reports the Northwest Indiana Times: U.S. Sen Barack Obama’s wife has announced a Friday campaign stop in Merrillville. Michelle Obama will visit the Merrillville Intermediate School’s Larry Martin Gymnasium at 5 p.m. Friday to boost visibility for her husband’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. Free tickets for the event will be available at www.barackobama.com. A ticket will be required for admission. Doors open at 4 p.m. The campaign asks people not to bring bags. No signs or banners will be permitted. It will be the fifth presidential campaign stop in Northwest Indiana in three weeks. Andrea Palm, a Hillary Clinton health care adviser, visited Valparaiso University on Wednesday. Also, stumping for Hillary Clinton — in a private event that you probably aren’t invited to attend — will be Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. Reports the ...
More About: Democrats , Campaign

Pope Benedict Comes To America
2008-04-18 04:46:00
A video recap of all of the latest happenings in Pope Benedict ’s visit to America . Video: Pope Benedict in America Pope Benedict in America links: Benedict in America Coverage of Pope Benedict’s Visit to the United States Pope Benedict Arrives in the United States Post from: Christopher Hedges Pope Benedict Comes To America

Paupers To Princess — Or Prisoners?
2008-04-17 13:48:00
Reality TV goes bad A Florida-based reality show producer of Pauper to Princess has been arrested for false imprisonment after the show’s contestants said a producer wouldn’t let them leave the house where they were being filmed. The women claim they had to escape after they weren’t paid, according to news reports. The Orland Sentinel writes about the reality show gone bad: “Shattered dreams, not riches beyond their wildest dreams, are the all that Pauper to Princess contestants took from the aborted reality show.” According to police and a neighbor’s account, Marc Brilleman, 33, held the women against their will and prevented them from calling their families. But Jim Johnson, the executive producer of the show and owner of the house, denied the allegations and said the women who asked to leave were allowed to do so. “Nobody was being held against their will at any time,” Johnson said. “This show was an honorable show. We took t...
More About: Prisoners

Kristy Lee Cook Is Going Home
2008-04-17 03:59:00
Kristy Lee Cook is going home tonight. American Idol counted the votes and Kristy Lee Cook didn’t have enough fan support to make it into the Top 6 next week. The Dial Idol predictions were a little off. The bottom three were Kristy Lee Cook, Brooke White and Syesha Mercado. Video: American Idol Mariah Carey Week Recap Post from: Christopher Hedges Kristy Lee Cook Is Going Home

American Idol Predictions | Top 7 | David Cook Safe
2008-04-16 21:07:00
Here are Dial Idol’s Predictions for the Top 7 on last night’s American Idol . Safe: David Cook David Archuleta Jason Castro Kristy Lee Cook At Risk of Going Home: Carly Smithson Brooke White Syesha Mercado I wouldn’t disagree with those predictions, but just as last week’s departure of Michael Johns shows us, sometimes American Idol fans can never predict what might happen. Post from: Christopher Hedges American Idol Predictions | Top 7 | David Cook Safe