Reverse Googling

One of the really great things about the internet is its ability to locate people. I'm good at losing track of friends and then wanting to at least say hi to them again. It's some sort of separation anxiety I have with my past. I recently found a friend I had not seen or heard from in 30 years and contacted him. All thanks to Google.

"Googling" names, especially your own, is great fun. Ogged over at Unfogged has come up with a great idea for what he calls "reverse-googling" to locate hard to find people.

So, there was a woman in college, beautiful and elegant, who I really should
have asked out (who's elegant in college? exactly). But I was busy with my terrible
first, and never did. I've googled her since then, of course, but her name
is not only pretty common, but she shares it with another woman who graduated
from the same college in the same year. Google hell. But what I've realized is
that bloggers who are looking for long lost people can use reverse-googling:
mention the person on the blog, because everyone googles himself sooner or
later. You could just say "Hey, Betty Sue Gingersnaps, email me!" and sooner or
later, Betty Sue would see it. I'm not going to do it in this case, because I'm
pseudonymous, for one, and I don't want to embarrass this woman, but I think
it's a neat idea.

OK, so you need a blog to do this but that's easy enough. You can set up a blog in just a few minutes. If you're into to looking up people maybe setting up a blog with nothing but a lot of posts requesting individuals contact you would be the way to go. Include your email and maybe some indication who you are and just let it sit. Or, Google being Google, would you have to get some traffic on the blog lest it be relegated to page 45 of Google matches? I suppose it depends on how common the searched for name is.

(2) Billion Dollar Baby

My understanding of corporate management ranks up there with my understanding of hockey -not much- but why did AIG lay off workers here in Springfield while the CEO had billions of dollars worth of stock to give to his wife? Just asking.

Radio Free Springfield

Well, Springfield’s top radio talker looks at this blog. WMAY’s Jim Leach left a very kind comment to one of my posts. That’s assuming it’s really him and not one of ETK’s personalities emerging uncontrolled.

WMAY has the best local talk in town with pretty good to excellent on–air staff, especially for a market the size if Springfield.

I used to listen to Jim a lot when he did afternoons but I don’t get to listen as much now that he’s doing mornings. I have to be at work early and my AM reception is non-existent at my desk.

The thing I like most about Jim is how he forces callers to be factual even when leading up to a larger point. As someone who also did a radio talk show (20 years ago), I know how irritating it is to have a caller expressing an opinion or presenting “facts” based on flawed or completely inaccurate information. Jim doesn’t let callers get away with that.

Many (bad) talk show hosts just let the callers say whatever they want, virtually unchallenged. I know that sounds only fair, free speech and all, but good God there are a lot of falsehoods being perpetuated by talk radio. Well, the buck stops at Jim’s mic.

I’ve heard from a lot of people they think Jim is rude but it wastes everybody’s time when a caller gets repetitive or simply has no idea what they are talking about.

Predictably, the other reason I like Jim’s show is I happen to mostly agree with his views. (However, he’s totally wrong about the death penalty -wrong, Jim, wrong.) In a radio world dominated by conservative blather it’s nice to have another perspective.

No Blood for Wind

Ezra Klein wants more wars over energy. But not in the Middle East (too dusty). No, there are abundant energy resources very close and ripe for the taking.

ALPLM on the AP ASAP

The Associated Press has a story out on the ALPLM. CNN.com is featuring it in it's Travel section.

And it looks like my old prof Dr. Simon is getting to be the ALPLM critic of choice among media outlets looking for controversy. His dislike of the museum has been included in almost every non-SJR story I've seen.

The State of Abraham Lincoln

That's what at least one man would like to see as a new name for Illinois. Jim Nowlan, director of the civic leadership fellows program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and former Illinois legislator has this op-ed in the Chicago Tribune:

The opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in
Springfield this month can become the launch for an initiative to change the
name of Illinois to that of the State of Abraham Lincoln.

I'm serious.

Few in the world know what or where Illinois is. Some have heard of
Chicago. Yet the world knows Abraham Lincoln--the Great Emancipator; the rock
who kept our Union of diverse peoples from fragmenting; the homespun, virtuous,
self-educated man of the heartland; a hero, indeed, to all in the world who
yearn to be free.

[snip]

In modern parlance, Illinois is a weak brand name, a brand few residents
use when traveling abroad. "Near Chicago" is more likely our identifier. Nor do
we rally 'round our brand the way Texans do.

No better brand exists than Abraham Lincoln.

The name change would be especially good for Downstate Illinois. With only
a third of our state population (albeit spread across most of our 44,000 square
miles), Downstate Illinois has become largely irrelevant to politicians,
big-city media and economic development

In contrast, our citizens have never really resonated to "Illinois," the
name of a feckless confederation of tribes of so-called superior men, who in
fact fled time and again--and indeed out of our state--before smaller bands of
raiding Iroquois.

Of course, this name change would require the U of I to finally give up Chief Illiniwek and replace him with a dancing Native American dressed in authentic 19th century garb from European setters in South Dakota. All to honor the white settlers and pay homage to their culture.

Betting on the Pope

The BBC has this story on who's the odds-on favorite to become Pope.

If you think you know the identity of the next pope, Paddy Power
is waiting for your call.

The Irish bookmaker has risked the displeasure
of the Vatican by inviting punters to have a flutter on the papal election.

Here are the favorites:

Thanks to Kevin Drum for the pointer.

Food for Thought

These people are just nuts. My God, talk about a cause in search of a problem.

I saw their new ad on CNN last night and about laughed my ass off. Not because it was funny as intended but because this group’s issue so moronic. Basically, they are upset that the government, trail lawyers (but of course, what wingnut organization would leave out trial lawyers), and various health and dietary “extremists” are forcing them to consider eating a healthy diet.

Here’s CCF’s own description of their ad:

Washington, DC - Fans of the classic TV series Seinfeld should enjoy the latest Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) television commercial featuring Larry Thomas -- AKA the "Soup Nazi." The stern authoritarian stars as a "food cop," barking commands like "Salad Line!" and "No Food for You!" to a line of hungry restaurant customers, who must weigh in before ordering. They walk away thinking that maybe the war on obesity has gone too far.

Well, yes if such a scene were even remotely related to reality, the “war on obesity” would have gone too far. But that’s just it, the “war” doesn’t look anything like this stupid ad.

You know, rather than being forced to eat my carrots, I find it hard, very hard, not to eat junk all day. We are all surrounded by it, seduced by it in the form of advertising, packaging and retail placement. I can eat as much crap as I want to and no one is stopping me, except me. Anyone who finds they are having a hard time getting a Big Mac or a Krispe Kreme must be locked in a basement somewhere.

I think one of the finest regulations ever handed down was the food labeling requirement. Consumers should have the right to know what they are ingesting. I’m sure CCF finds this greatly offensive. Well, tough shit. Most people like it and appreciate the ability to make informed choices. CCF lauds “the role of personal responsibility in Americans' diets” and therefore should be glad the government stepped into to make that possible.

A Tale of Two States

Predictably, the Chicago Tribune article critical of Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Libray and Museum drew howls from local talk radio hosts and listeners. Listening to WMAY yesterday, I heard a number of callers suggest that Chicago residents hate downstate Illinois and just want to have the state capital moved to the Windy City.

This kind of talk really grates on me. This stupid intra-state provincialism is really unbecoming and downright childish. I have wanted to blog about this for a while but was waiting for a relevant opportunity.

First, let me present my credentials.

I have lived in many parts of the state from Carbondale to Springfield to a county in Northwestern Illinois that had no traffic lights to Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I’ve lived in farmhouses, middle class subdivisions, a house at the intersection of two dirt roads, a hotel, a dorm, a trailer, an old school house and many apartments. I know this state. I’ve never lived anywhere else.

Without exception, each part of the state eyes the others with some mix of mistrust and distain. And it’s usually without any merit.

Now, before I say anymore, keep in mind opinions and outlooks vary even within regions of the state and I don’t mean to over generalize. However, there are some prevailing attitudes that I think are held pretty widely within each region.

The biggest and most common divide seems to be between “Chicago and “Downstate”. In this case, Chicago is generally defined as Cook and the collar counties while downstate is everything else. This places the all regions of the state outside of the Chicago metro area in a large confederacy.

Downstaters wrongly believe Chicago is stealing all of their resources and it gets all the attention at their expense. There really is a bit of an inferiority complex in this even if downstaters aren’t willing to admit it. At least that’s how it comes off. Many downstaters fear Chicago, seeing it as overwhelming. They see it as crime-ridden, politically corrupt, loud, noisy and dirty. And, if you are from Springfield, you are convinced Chicagoans are conspiring to steal the capital.

Chicagoans (those in the Chicago metro area) do tend to look down on their downstate brethren as somewhat unsophisticated and less cosmopolitan. They can be dismissive at time (I’ve experienced this) when they dealing with what they see as a downstate hayseed.

To downstaters, I would say that Chicago is a great asset to the state at almost every level, culturally, economically, politically. Even if you have no desire to live in or near a city that size (and that’s OK), you can still revel in what the city has to offer. Go there. Have fun. Enjoy the people and places. Then come home and feel good that you have such a place so close to your more comfortable hometown.

Springfieldians, almost no one in Chicago thinks for even a minute about stealing the capital. Nor are they jealous you have the capital. Sure, if asked many Chicagoans would say they would favor moving it to their city but who wouldn’t. Ask anyone in Vandalia if they would like it back. Or check with Galesburg and see if they might not like it. I suspect there would be a lot of off-hand support for having the prestige and economic perks in any community in the state.

Chicagoans, downstaters are not hicks, hayseeds, and unsophisticated rubes. Well, some of us are but not most. It’s not all farms and little towns either. There are a number of medium sized cities that are quite urban with all of the associated benefits and problems. And there’s nothing wrong with farms or small towns if you like that sort of thing. Try it sometime.

I will say that I find the downstate resentment of Chicago more prevalent than I do any Chicago better-then-you-ism. I still say that has more to do with a conscious or unconscious feeling of inferiority among many downstaters. Or at least a (sometimes justified) perception that they are being looked down upon.

In any case, everyone in all parts of the state should just get over their prejudices and paranoia about other parts of the state. It’s really unwarranted and serves no good. Illinois’ diversity is a great thing.

As for the the Tribune's slam of the museum, it's just one man's opinion. Lat week, I blogged about a professor from SIU (you know, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS University) who didn't like the museum. Some people are just not going to like it. That does not mean these guys hate Springfield, or downstaters or are jealous of Springfield being the capital.

A Not So Critical Critic

DownLeft has been through the ALPLM and gives it a good review. Linked to here for the sake of balance.

By the way, I fixed the bad link to DownLeft in my Illinois Blog Roll. Sorry about that.

And Now a Word From The Critics

As long as I'm on a ALPLM roll, check out this review of the museum from an architectural critic in the Chicago Tribune. In short, he doesn't like it. OK, maybe he even hates it.

Yet a few isolated successes do not add up to a powerful whole, particularly
when the Lincoln museum is compared with another history museum of recent
vintage, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. There, unadorned materials such as rough brick walls and industrial forms such as steel
footbridges suggest the sense of foreboding in the concentration camps. Shoes,
eyeglasses and other pieces of personal property that the Nazis stripped from
victims provide an intense -- and palpably real -- connection between the
visitor and historic events. The building and its contents form a searingly
powerful whole.

At the Lincoln museum, what we get instead is clever artifice, as
in a mock TV newscast about the election of 1860 (anchored by NBC's Tim
Russert), or meticulously detailed but emotionally overdriven stage sets, such
as the one where Lincoln and his wife, Mary, watch over their deathly ill son,
Willie, in his White House bed. Lacking authenticity, the scenes are as
synthetic as the mannequins, which Simon, the Southern Illinois University
professor, has hilariously dubbed "rubber Lincolns."

For all the hype about the museum offering "immersive" exhibits that transport visitors to the era of gas lamps and hoopskirts, many of its are actually old-fashioned dioramas or conventionally arranged theaters equipped with the latest bells and whistles. There is, for example, the quill pen in the "Ghosts of the Library" program that flies through the air, Harry Potter-style.

Such thrills, the theory goes, will prep visitors for the museum's version of the crown jewels -- its "Treasures Gallery," which features a handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address and other rare artifacts. But the reverse seems equally likely: The real will be a letdown, upstaged by the fake.The flash of new exhibitry will obscure Lincoln's ringing phrase about "a new birth of freedom." When visitors go home, what are they going to tell their friends about, seeing an old piece of paper or seeing Lincoln's ghost?

There's much more. And it isn't any kinder.

Abe-a-palooza

Got my tickets to the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum which I see is now being referred to by the acronym ALPLM.

We arrived at the ticket outlet, the Prairie Capital Convention Center in this case, about 8:30. There were already about 200 people in line. We were required to fill out a form with our name, driver's license number and expirations date, and signature. We then waited in line for the 9:00 am opening of the ticket windows. Except the windows didn't open until 9:30. I think they were caught unprepared by the number of people.

By the time the windows did open, another 100 - 200 people had come in behind us. So, it was a good turn out complete with media coverage including Sinclair Propaganda's WICS-TV getting footage of the line and interviewing at least one ticket, ummm, getter.

Once the line started moving we were out of there in about 15 minutes.

The tickets allow us to enter the dedication ceremony to be held in Union Square Park a week from tomorrow. Union Square Park is next to the ALPLM and is about 3/4 of a city block. Problem is, right now its nothing but dirt. I guess the landscapers can work fast.

Anyway, rock on Abe Heads!

SIU Connection

This post prompted a TEH reader to post a comment asking what my connection is to Southern Illinois University. I do mention the school on occasion but I guess I've never explained why I care more about it than say, the U of I (didn't they do some sports thing recently?).

It's simple, I'm an SIU Carbondale grad. I spent five great years there from 1978 to 1983. Yes, that's five years. I have no regrets.

The reader also asked what my position is on the system president and if I think [Glenn] Poshard is selling out.

To be honest, I really don't follow the politics of the university (OK, universities since there's Edwardsville). Actually, I either didn't know or had forgotten Poshard had anything to do with SIU until I read the story on which I was posting. I lost track of him after his failed run for governor.

The purpose of my earlier SIU post was to trash talk Edwardsville just for fun. I have nothing against SIU-E. In fact, one of my SIU-C roommates and best friends went on to get his Masters from SIU-E after graduating from Carbondale. And I still talk to him despite that.

I do think it's silly to have them both SIUs but who really cares. I'm sure there are some serious issues involved with the relationship but I'm not all that concerned about them. Should a serious separatist movement get started, I'll lend my minimal, non-financial support. The Carbondale Liberation Front, anyone?

Reentering the World

I've been a bit out of touch this weekend. Mrs. Eleventh hour and I have been setting up our new PCs and network at Eleventh Hour HQ.

It's been over four years since either of us bought new machines. We decided to do a complete upgrade to get us up to date and enjoying the latest technology. It cost us - big time - but the results are impressive. We now have 19" flat panel monitors, media centers and lots of speed.

Sadly, all this time and expense will do little to improve this blog but at least I'll be doing it in style.

Tomorrow morning we head down to get our tickets for the April 19th dedication of the Lincoln Presidential Library. We are going early to get in line (I assume there will be one) to guarantee tickets that are being given out on first-come first-serve basis.

Indications are pretty strong that President Bush will be attending the dedication. I'm not all that thrilled with the idea and not just because I don't like the guy. No, it's mostly because a presidential visit of any stripe has a way of totally gumming up the works for everyone else. Security and all that.

They've already announced parking will be prohibited anywhere near the event and they will be shuttling people in from the State Fairgrounds parking lots. That's probably what I'll have to do, too.

I dunno, is it time presidents start thinking seriously about limiting public appearances? I know that sounds less than desirable but it really is a huge inconvenience to the residents of whatever city or town he's visiting. Again, this is any president not just Bush. How much does it cost annually to accommodate these visits nationally? A lot I bet. And I don't just mean the cost to the government (Air Force One, the Secret Service, etc.). I mean lost business, extended commutes due to traffic blockages, local security (police and fire), delayed flights at airports and so on. Just wondering.

Update: Another thing about presidential visits. When they happen in conjunction with another event, in this case the Presidential Library dedication, presidents tend to steal some of the thunder. That is, the event becomes about him, at least in part. What can make it worse is if the president uses an occasion to announce, or further, some policy or initiative. At a minimum, a president's attendance attaches themselves to the event, usually in a deliberate attempt to boost their standing.

I have no idea if Bush will use the occasion of the dedication to make news of his own, but I really hope not. Expect a groan from me if he tries to tell us Lincoln would have been all about Social Security privatization.

Hey, Get Back Here

Kevin Drum, a fellow of like mind on the Late Sunset issue, says he can't support the pending Congressional amendment extending Daylight Saving time. Bummer indeed, Kev.

SIU Hates God

DownLeft has the details.

Friday Beer Blogging: Non-Collector's Edition

I have never been a beer can collector. This was true even when everyone was doing it back in the 1970s. Well, I was never a collector - with one exception. Back about 1980 or 1981, I did go buy a six pack of a novelty beer - J.R. Ewing's Private Stock Beer. I had to buy for reason's those who know me understand - Hint: it's not because I was a fan of Dallas.

Since I was a college student with limited resources, I found it economical to drink all the beer and save a can. At some point, I lost the can. It was probably a casualty of my divorce.

Anyway, I found a bunch of these vintage cans for sale on eBay (where else) and decided to once again complete my collection of one.

Actually, I bid on a set: a can of JR Beer and a can of Billy Beer. Billy Beer, for those of you too young to remember, was another novelty beer that came out in the late 70s in honor of Billy Carter, the beer-drinking, good ol' boy brother of then-president Jimmy Carter.

I got both cans for $1.99 and I was the only bidder. I think that says a lot about how far beer can collecting has fallen as a hobby. I mean, neither of these beers has been made in 25 years and they're giving them away on eBay.

Both cans are full but I don't plan on dinking them this time for obvious reasons. J.R. Beer was brewed by Pearl Brewing Company back in the day and it wasn't very good then, so I can't imagine what 25 years of aging has done to it.

Does this make me a "collector" now that I have TWO cans?

Gunplay

Ever wonder where Barney Fife is these days? Apparently, he's been hired as a security guard at the soon to open Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

On Easter Sunday, a couple of museum guards added their own special touch -
real gunfire.

During that Sunday, when the museum was closed, a security officer was
completing the afternoon shift and was transferring a 9mm semiautomatic pistol
to the guard coming on duty.

At some point, "the weapon discharged toward the ground and (the bullet)
struck the floor," museum spokeswoman Christine Glunz said Thursday.

The incident occurred in the security room, which is away from the
exhibits. No one was injured, and Glunz said the guards were the only people in
the building.

The bullet did minor damage - a small hole in the carpet and a dent in the
concrete floor.

There is an internal investigation to figure out exactly what happened,
Glunz said.

"The security officer who discharged the weapon has been reassigned," she
said, adding that the guard was disciplined as well.

Posted without further comment.

DST To Be Extended?

If passed, this bill won't go as far as I'd like but it's a step in the right direction.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- If Congress passes an energy bill, Americans may see
more daylight-saving time.

Lawmakers crafting energy legislation approved an amendment Wednesday to extend daylight-saving time by two months, having it start on the first Sunday in March and end on the last Sunday in November.

"Extending daylight-saving time makes sense, especially with skyrocketing
energy costs," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan, who along with Rep. Ed Markey,
D-Massachusetts, co-sponsored the measure.

The amendment was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee
that is putting together major parts of energy legislation likely to come up for
a vote in the full House in the coming weeks.

OK, this limited measure hasn't even passed yet but I still smell victory in my ongoing campaign to forbid the sun to set before 8:30 PM.

I Only Have Pies For You

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper admonishes left-wing pie throwers to get a new shtick. He's right, it's a really dumb way to make a point.

Roeper frames the issue as lefties throwing pies at conservatives. But my only experience with pie terrorism actually involved lefty-on-lefty violence (piolence?).

Who was the victim?

Jerry Rubin.

I once saw the (now) late Rubin get a pie in the face at a lecture at SIU (circa 1979). Rubin got mad and asked the guy why he did it. The dumbass pie thrower says, "It was a very sixties thing to do" or some such. Rubin angrily called him a fascist, wiped himself off and continued the lecture.

Like I said, it's really dumb.

Even lamer, is using salad dressing. Pat Buchanan was assaulted with the stuff recently while speaking in Michigan.

Pat Buchanan after recent salad dressing attack

OK, the picture is funny and I'm glad i found a way top work it into my blog. God, I'm such a terrorist.

Of course, none of this compares to some of the tactics used by the right, like bombing federal buildings, abortion clinics and the Olympics. Not to mention plotting to kill judges (bye, bye Matt Hale).

Still, Rush Limbaugh sees the pie-throwers as the real threat:

[W]ho is it that is responsible for fomenting harm against others? Who is it
that cannot tolerate hearing things they disagree with, and who is it that
reports to heckling and throwing salad dressing or ice cream pies on
conservative Republican speakers? It's the left, my dear. It is the
left, my good friends, that is out there fomenting violence. --Rush
Limbaugh (4/1/05). (quote courtesy of Think Progress)

Indeed.

UPDATE: The pie terrorism continues unabated! Just last night, David Horowitz was pied in the prime of his life. Oh, the humanity!