Oh Mama Care

Overhaul Not Expected to Change Health Spending (WSJ-sub req):

The health-care overhaul enacted last spring won't significantly change national health spending over the next decade compared with projections before the law was passed, according to government figures released Thursday.

The report by federal number-crunchers casts fresh doubt on Democrats' argument that the health-care law would curb the sharp increase in costs over the long term, the second setback this week for one of the party's biggest legislative achievements.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that insurance companies have proposed rate increases ranging from 1% to 9% nationwide that they attribute specifically to new health-law coverage mandates.

You mean that the Democrats' health care reform won't reduce health care spending AND our premiums are going to go UP? Noooo...Next thing you'll be telling me that we won't get to keep the same health care plans we have now. We do get to keep our plans still, right?

The fantasy world of Obamacare has even trickled down to the realm of child's play. Today, our eldest son (all of five), Mister-Doctor-Professor Nathaniel, saw my wife for a routine office visit. His bill? $100,000.

Beer of the Week (Vol. LXX)

Another edition of Beer of the Week brought to you by the jolly folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can have the wine, whisky, and beer to help put the two step into your polka.

In the fall a drinking man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of beer. At least they do for Larry Bell, founder of Michigan's renowned Bell's Brewery. Bell describes fall as his favorite time to drink beer. While I'm more of a man for all seasons when it comes to the question of when consuming beer is most appropriate, I can appreciate Bell's insights on why the advent of autumn increases one's yearning for a brew enjoy the changing conditions with.

So we continue our look at the beers of fall with Bell's Octoberfest:

Crafted as a flavorful session beer, Bell's Octoberfest Beer is perfect for a week-long wedding celebration in Germany or the start of the Michigan autumn.

As with Bell's Lager Beer, Octoberfest spends a full six weeks maturing in the fermentation vessels. Unlike its cousin, Octoberfest trades in the assertive hop presence for a focus on a light caramel malt note, lending body without too much sweetness.

Brown bottle. Attention getting blaze orange label screams fall with a leafy background at the peak of its color transformation and a Germanic font. Beautiful design.

Beer Style: Oktoberfest Marzen

Alcohol by Volume: 5.5 %

COLOR (0-2): Golden brown and clear. 2

AROMA (0-2): Mostly malty. 1

HEAD (0-2): White with good volume and retention. 2

TASTE (0-5): Mostly caramel malt flavors. Not overly sweet and has more bitterness than most Oktoberfests. You can also slightly taste the heat which is surprising given the relatively low ABV. Smooth and somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Sharp finish, medium-bodied, and definitely drinkable. 3

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Somewhat subdued with lingering malt flavor. 2

OVERALL (0-6): Oktoberfests are not one of my favorite styles of beer and the American varieties often go overboard with sweet malts. Bell's version however is a better rounded beer and while not overly complex has a nice balance of flavors. A solid fall offering. 4

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 13

Permanent Vacation

Just back from a week's vacation in Sedona, AZ. A beautiful city and beautiful people.

Obviously, a nice change of pace from hanging around the Fraters Libertas headquarters and crew.

One of the most beautiful buildings in Sedona is Red Rock High School. Located very near our posh resort location, we passed it daily heading into the city and its majesty and always drew pause. It was so grandiose, initially I thought it had to be a Fortune 500 corporate campus or MPR broadcasting facility. But no, it is a public high school, paid for with government money.

It's hard to begrudge the good people of Sedona such a facility, especially since they probably approved it via one referendum or another. If nothing but the finest money can buy is good enough for them, then let them eat cake!

I'm sure the students and staff are loving it, secure in the lap of tax payer approved, government provided luxury. Alas, it seems all is not well in paradise. Developments this week, as reported in the Red Rock News:

After a little more than two years on the job, Sedona-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Mike Aylstock resigned his position earlier this week.


Aylstock had been the superintendent of the district since July 1, 2008, and his retirement ends a 19-year tenure as a school district superintendent in Arizona and a 34-year career in public education.


He reiterated this decision was made for his own well-being.

Three decades teaching and sacrificing for our children. And not looking back in anger. A refreshing change from the increasingly bitter demeanor of public employees. Fare the well, good and faithful public servant.

Those expecting a feel-good ending should stop reading now. Conservatives and other masochists know there is another shoe to drop.

It turns out there was one reason for stepping away. And it's looking you in the mirror, you heartless budget cutters:

In his letter to the Governing Board, Aylstock stated the negative aspects of the superintendent job have grown to the point that his well-being has been adversely affected.


Education budgets have changed so much it causes districts to make cuts not in the best interests of students, he said. Facing bright energetic new teachers and laying off new employees because of budget concerns were difficult to do.


Laying off teachers and making cuts due to the state’s budget concerns took a toll on Aylstock, [Governing Board President Bonnie Surber] said. “That was certainly what he talked about,” she said. “He has been an extremely good superintendent.”

That is a shame. Budget cuts not in the best interest of students. Resulting in the bright and energetic new employees getting canned. If only there was a way to fire the dull and tired old employees instead. Of course, we all know that is an absolute impossibility.

If the budget cuts result in the firing of prized teachers, it's obvious they've already eliminated the fat in Sedona and they're down to cutting the bone. Right?

Wrong, cue another shoe:

The solar project at the high school and the construction projects, Aylstock said, are two main accomplishments he helped lead during his time as superintendent.

"The Performing Arts Center will be so nice for the school district and the community," he said.

I'm sure it will be nice. It would also be nice to find out if the tax payers in Sedona consider this more important than the bright, energetic new teachers getting axed for lack of funding.

How many new teachers might have been saved? Details on the new Performing Arts Center:

On Oct. 9, the [Sedona Oak Creek School District] board agreed to fund the $10.5 million design of the center, although it had originally budgeted $7.1 million of bond money for the project. In November 2007, district residents passed a $73 million bond for school construction and renovations.



According to ARCADIS project manager, Dave Young, the district has $4.7 million left over in a line item in the bond for energy efficiency. The district can put $3.4 million of that toward the performing arts center without affecting other projects to reach the $10.5 million.

You've got to like the shell game of appropriating money for "energy efficiency" and getting a performing arts center. But 10.5 mil! Even with their Cadillac health care plans and retirement benefits, that ought to pay for at least a few more teachers.

I suppose we can't dwell on past spending decisions. Let’s focus on what the citizens will be getting for their hard earned money:

The performing arts center will go from a 262-seat auditorium to a 750-seat, two-tiered, state-of-the-art performance venue. The stage will be enlarged by about one-third and the set construction area is being expanded.

The area above the stage - the fly loft - will be increased from 30 feet to 65 feet, Young said. Plans call for new men's and women's dressing rooms, a makeup room and a green room with a shower.

A practice room will be built the same size as the proscenium opening - the area between the curtain and the orchestra - so full-scale practices can take place while the stage is being used.

Over twice the fly space from the old performing arts theater! Maleducated children seem to be a small price to pay for that.

Party Like It's 1999?

Coming off a disappointing finish to the previous season when a team from the South dashed their Super Bowl hopes in overtime in the NFC Championship game, Vikings fans look forward to opening the new season with a road rematch of that still-all-too-painful-to-think-about contest. It's a chance for a small measure of revenge and also the first step in what fans hope will finally be the completion of the long march to a Super Bowl victory and redemption. I speak of course of the Vikings versus the Saints tonight, right?

Try September 12th, 1999 when the Vikings went down to Georgia to open the season against the Falcons, the squad that upended their Super Bowl express in the NFC Championship game the season before. The 17-14 victory in that opener was little consolation to Vikings fans, especially when their team went on to bumble and stumble to a 10-6 finish in 1999. A wild-card playoff win over the Cowboys was followed by a 49-37 loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Rams in the divisional playoffs. A season that had started out with high hopes of taking care of the unfinished business from the year before ended in disappointment and frustration.

I fear the same sort of fate lies in store for the Vikings this year. One of the things that I still remember from that 1999 campaign was how the Vikings struggled in the pre-season, especially offensively, and how we were all told that it didn't matter because once the season started they would right the ship. Of course they never really did, even after replacing Randall Cunningham with Jeff George at quarterback after starting 2-4. I get the same vibe from this year's squad. Too much internal turmoil, too many injuries, and too many unanswered questions form a black pall that hangs over this team.

Throw in a very difficult schedule, a fragile starting quarterback, a still-not-ready-for-prime-time backup quarterback, and a coach whose incompetence is only matched by his ego and you have a football team that will be lucky to finish 10-6 this year. Even if they do make the playoffs, an early exit is almost guaranteed. Having said all that, I still believe the Vikings will find a way to beat the Saints tonight. Of course, the win will do nothing to ease the lingering pain from the NFC Championship loss, especially later this season when we realize that the window to the Super Bowl that was so wide open for the Vikings last year has now been slammed shut.

UPDATE: But what about this year's Super Bowl you ask? While the Vikings will not reach the big game in Dallas, their divisional rivals will. Yes, the roar WILL be restored and the Lions will make one of the biggest turnarounds in...

...Sorry. Had to try to inject a little humor here. In reality, it will be the Packers who represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. And when they get beat by the AFC Champion Ravens, it will make edition XLV my second favorite Super Bowl of all time.

Whatcha Reading?

A few weeks back, the WSJ had an interesting Look at the Reading Habits of E-Reader Owners (sub req):

A study of 1,200 e-reader owners by Marketing and Research Resources Inc. found that 40% said they now read more than they did with print books. Of those surveyed, 58% said they read about the same as before while 2% said they read less than before. And 55% of the respondents in the May study, paid for by e-reader maker Sony Corp., thought they'd use the device to read even more books in the future. The study looked at owners of three devices: Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle, Apple Inc.'s iPad and the Sony Reader.

I have no doubt that when the day finally comes and I bridge the digital divide by procuring an e-reader, I too will read more than I currently do. The ease of getting what you want when you want it and always having something available to read with an e-reader almost makes in increase in your reading productivity almost inevitable. The only question now is when I will take the leap.

When it comes to embracing technological change, I'm what you might call an "early dreamer." Like the early adopters, I follow the development and release of new products with interest and enthusiasm. But unlike those who jump onboard the bandwagon immediately, I usually end up holding back and waiting to make sure that the new technology takes and, probably more importantly, for the price to drop to what I deem is an acceptable level. In my heart, I want to be an early adapter. In my head, I know that it's better to wait.

In the case of e-readers, my waiting may soon end. The prices on the Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook are now right. And we've also reached a point of acceptance where there is no going back on e-readers. The iPad is also a tempting option--I'm working my way through Beethoven: The Music and the Life by Lewis Lockwood right now and it would be slick to have one device to read the book while listening to the music--but it would be a more significant investment so I'll probably stick to a straight forward e-reader.

On my last few business trips, I've been observing my fellow passengers to see what kind of e-readers they are using. I've been a bit surprised by how few I've come across. While I've noticed a few Kindles and iPads in use, it seems that most people are still doing their travel reading the old fashioned way: in print.

With an e-reader, readers can hold and turn pages with just one hand. Some readers hail how the devices can become large-type books with the click of a few buttons—and back-lit devices like the iPad work in bed even when the lights are off. Free sample chapters, common on most online stores, make it easier to try out—and potentially give up on—books before committing to a 400-page tome.

But paper pages do have one benefit that electronic devices don't have: They don't need to be put away during takeoff and landing on airplanes. On a recent trip to Seattle, 64-year-old Jamie McKenzie, a Bellingham, Wash.-based writer, said he felt a sense of superiority when his seatmate was asked to turn off his Kindle to prepare for takeoff.

"That guy may have had access to 10,000 books, but I was the one who was able to keep reading," he says.

That probably says more about the silly regulations on using electronic devices on planes than it does anything else. I think I'd be more than content to pull out a magazine to while away the time until I could fire up an e-reader. In terms of tradeoffs, that seems like an easy one to make.

Darkest Before The Dawn?

Last week, I visited Chihuahua, Mexico for the first time in over two years. Considering all the bad news we hear coming out of Mexico these days (particularly the northern area of the country where the city and state of Chihuahua are located), I was curious to see how the city and its residents were faring.

The security situation has clearly deteriorated recently.

- Several restaurants have closed. The owners were given on offer they couldn't refuse by the drug cartels: sell X amount of drugs for us every week out of your establishment or else. Rather than agree to this perilous arrangement, they opted to shut their doors instead.

- Taxis no longer operate after dark because of similar threats. While you still could get a cab at the airport, we were told that very few operated freely about town after the sun went down.

- While there always has been a security presence at the airport, it's now bigger and beefier (weapons wise).

- More and more communities are becoming gated. You saw this previously in the wealthier enclaves of Chihuahua, but now even more middle-class sections of the city were trying to lock down.

- One former work colleague (whom I still keep in touch with) has in-laws in Juarez and his wife and kids used to visit them regularly. Now, they rent a hotel across the border in El Paso to spend the weekend together because Juarez is so unsafe.

- The Copper Canyon is a popular tourist destination about four hours away from Chihuahua City. While I've never been there, a number of people who visited our Chihuahua facility have made side trips there over the years. We were informed that the drive is now far too dangerous to make.

- One of my current work colleagues confided that if he could, he would move his family to a safer place to live.

- In the past, we've visited the Misercordia Orphanage which is on the outskirts of the city off the highway a bit. Usually we went there late in the afternoon and left at dusk or even early in the evening. This time around, we had a hard time making contact with the folks who run the orphanage. Normally, we would just drive out there to visit and drop off our donation anyway. But since our work colleagues were very wary about approaching the area anytime but in the middle of day we were not able to stop by.

Yet given all that. day to day life doesn't seem that different. I noticed signs of progress since my last visit as I have every time since I first went to Chihuahua twelve years ago. New businesses have sprung up. New roads and home are being built. Despite the increased violence and crime, most people seem to be continuing on with life as usual.

I had a lengthy conversation about the situation one evening with my fore-mentioned former work colleague. I've known him for probably ten years and we have frank and open discussions. He made several interesting points:

- In general, he supports President Calderon's efforts against the cartels. However, he believes that Calderon wasted time and resources because he didn't have a clear and coherent strategy early on.

- He said the local and state police forces are corrupt and not to be trusted. The federal police (federales) are mostly okay and whatever progress has been made so far is the result of their efforts.

- There is also still an unimaginable level of corruption at the state and local levels of government. While Calderon's efforts have lead to improvements at the national level, many local officials are cooperating and collaborating with the cartels.

- When I asked about legalization of drugs as an answer (either in Mexico or the US), he rejected the idea that legalizing the drug trade would drive the cartels away. He said they were too entrenched and too powerful and would merely move into other illegal activities.

- He does believe that the pain that Mexico is now going through is necessary for the country's long term gain. And he does mean long term. I asked him directly how long he thought it would take to turn things around and restore a sense of stability. He estimates ten years.

In some ways the current struggle against the drug cartels in Mexico is like a counter-insurgency effort. The victories are difficult to measure, while the defeats are all too apparent (and usually newsworthy). Progress comes in starts and fits and does not follow a straight line. At some point, things almost have to get worse before they can get better. And it's difficult to determine just when you've passed the mark where there are more steps forward than back.

Counter-insurgencies are typically long campaigns and it shouldn't be surprising to hear that it make take more ten years for the Mexican government to reign in the drug cartels. The key question in this battle as it is in all such long wars is whether the public will support such a drawn out and costly effort. Will the average Jose Six-pack buy in to a bitter ten-year struggle to move Mexico forward or find it easier to support an accommodation between the government and the cartels that reduces the violence, but keeps Mexico mired in corruption and criminality? The answer to that question may well determine what the future will look like for Chihuahua and the country.

You Got Nothin' To Lose

Not only has James Lileks' name been appearing on the prestigious back page of National Review of late, he's now been added to the roster for the National Review Post-Election Cruise:

One would think that the enthusiasm for any event peaks and then declines. Not so with the National Review 2010 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise. Last week 13 more cabins were booked. The pace does not abate.

You can see in the ad that runs to the right of NR‘s blogs that our saling's speaker line-up is superior. Well, we've just made it-- superior-ier. We are happy to announce that the wise and witty James Lileks will be joining us on the High Seas this November 14-21, mixing and mingling with our happy contingent (now over 700!) as we discuss the recent elections and the future of conservativism and America.

Not bad for a guy from Fargo. I expect we'll see lots of references to Titanic and The Poisedon Adventure in James' reports from the sea.

Separated at Birth?

Larry e-mails to submit the following SAB:

British woman decrying the horrors of Blair and...


...British comic singing the glories of Spam.

Ugly American

Last Friday, I returned from Chihuahua, Mexico after spending a week there on business. The American Airlines flight from Chihuahua to Dallas was delayed by about forty minutes because...

...the crew didn't arrive at the airport on time. This excuse didn't sit well with my fellow passengers because nearly every one of us was trying to make a connecting flight in Dallas. And it just seems like a really lame reason for delay. You can understand mechanical issues, the weather, or the fact that the plane you're going to depart on is late coming in from somewhere else. But the crew showing up late for work? There are jobs where being on time is absolutely critical and I would bet pilot would be at the top of that list.

When the crew finally did arrive, they weren't exactly hustling to make up for their tardiness. They strolled through the terminal with an air of ease and jocularity that hardly seemed appropriate considering the circumstances. Would it have been that hard to at least pretend to have a sense of urgency or a realization that YOU were the cause of widespread anxiety and worry among the passengers? You know, your customers?

After we boarded and taxied into takeoff position, the pilot came on to announce the flight information. You might think that this would have afforded him a perfect opportunity for a heartfelt mea culpa for the flight delay. I certainly did. Yet none was forthcoming. Neither was an apology provided later when he announced our approach into Dallas-Fort Worth. In fact, there was not a single word of regret expressed by any American representative (gate agent, flight attendant, pilot, etc.) for a delay that was by all reasonable assumptions completely their fault.

American's lack of concern and unwillingness to assume responsibility did not go unnoticed by the passengers. Especially by those like my work colleague who missed their connecting flights in Dallas and found their journeys home unexpectedly disrupted (I was fortunate enough to make mine). Just because someone didn't show up at work on time.

Fighting Words

Tomorrow, Notre Dame opens their 2010 football season at home against Purdue. Things have changed since last year. Jimmy Clausen, possibly the most talented quarterback in Notre Dame history, left early for the NFL, as did his primary receiving target Golden Tate. Head Coach Brian Kelly replaces another man who works in the NFL now, Charlie Weis. Weis was considered an offensive genius after winning three Super Bowls as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. However, his tenure as head coach of the Fighting Irish was a disaster.

Now, for the first time since Lou Holz led the Irish, the program has a head coach with extensive experience winning college football games. Weis had no head coaching experience. His predecessor, Tyrone Willingham, won only 55% of his games before coming to South Bend. Bob Davie, the coach before Willingham, had no head coaching experience. Kelly stands above the crowd, winning 75% of his games in twenty years as a head coach at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati.

Notre Dame's biggest problem in 2009 was a horrid defense. They will be better in 2010, simply because they can't be worse. In 2009 they gave up 26 points per game, despite having a powerful offense that seldom turned the ball over. Since Weis fancied himself an "offensive genius," his defensive recruiting left a lot to be desired. Still, there is some talent there, and sophomore linebacker Manti Te'o has a chance to become an All-American.

Notre Dame's offense should be powerful again in 2010. Red-shirt sophomore Dayne Crist will replace Clausen at quarterback, though it would be impossible for him to play as well as Clausen did last year, with 3700 yards passing and 28 TD passes against a mere 4 interceptions. Crist's offense will look different, as he is more mobile than the drop-back passer Clausen.

Other returners include two likely All-Americans: Tight End Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Michael Floyd, two Junior receiving targets that will present match up problems for every defense they face.

Notre Dame's weakness on offense last year was a mediocre line that looked slow and poorly conditioned. Coach Kelly has addressed that, as well as the general softness of the team, by trusting his strength and conditioning program to coach Paul Longo. Longo is generally considered the best in the business, so the softness should be beaten out of the Irish this year.

The Irish schedule is somewhat unfriendly, though not unreasonable. They open with six straight opponents from the Big 10, Pac 10, and Big East, before mixing in some weaklings during the second half of the year.

Notre Dame beat Purdue on the road in 2009, and if the team has improved they should beat them again to open 2010. On paper they should have a relatively easy win. However, the Irish haven't performed well on the field in a long time, so this game will likely be settled late.

Prediction: Notre Dame 27 Purdue 23

This team has enough talent to win eleven games. They also have an underachieving pedigree. I can't see them winning less than eight of their twelve regular season games. I imagine an 8-4 or 9-3 season would be an improvement over recent history, but it just isn't good enough at a school that used to be the top college football program in America.

Update: The opener wasn't quite as close as I expected, but it wasn't decided until late in the 4th quarter. The Irish jumped out to a 20-3 lead then tripped, stumbled and fumbled into a 23-12 win.

Beer of the Week LXIX

Another edition of Beer of the Week brought to you by the muchachos at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help you take a journey down Mexico way without leaving home.

This week's beer is an offering from the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery:

Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma Brewery (spanish: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma) is a major brewery based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, founded in 1890. Currently it is a subsidiary of Heineken International.

The company operates brewing plants in Monterrey, Tecate, Navojoa, Guadalajara, Toluca, Orizaba and, beginning in 2012, Chihuahua, producing the Dos Equis, Sol, Bohemia, Superior, Carta Blanca, Noche Buena, Casta and Tecate brands among others.

That's quite a lineup of Mexican beers, most of which I've enjoyed at one point or another along the way. One that standouts in particular is Bohemia:

Bohemia takes its name from the Czech region that is one of the most recognized brewing areas in the World. It was launched at the turn of the 20th century as Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma's finest beer. Over the years, it has become the most awarded of Mexican beers.

And now it is the Fraters Libertas Beer of the Week.

Stout brown bottle. Gold foil wrapper around the neck. Minimalist diagonal label across the body with brown background framed by gold. Bohemia lname in European font with Indian in headdress logo. Sharp design.

Style: Pilsener

Alcohol by Volume: 5.3%

COLOR (0-2): Light golden-brown and clear. 2

AROMA (0-2): Slightly malty, but not much there. 1

HEAD (0-2): Off-white color. Good lacing. 2

TASTE (0-5): Much better balance than you typically find in Mexican beer with sweet malt flavors offset with mild hoppy bitterness and citrus tones. Light to medium bodied. Dry and crisp finish. Decently drinkable. 3

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Nice combo of lingering sweet and bitter follow through. 2

OVERALL (0-6): Mexican beers don't have a great reputation among beer lovers and for the most part that rep is deserved. Bohemia however deserves better. It's not a great beer by any means, but it's solid and has some good bones. It makes for a great choice when you journey South of the Border or just decide you want to bring a bit of Ol' Mexico home. 3

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 13

Progress On The Cheap

We usually like to keep our beer and our politics separate. Especially since mixing in politics tends to taint the flavor of even the best brews. But sometimes the collision of worlds is unavoidable as in the case of this e-mail from an anonymous reader:

Alliance for a Better Minnesota has an office in the building where I work. As I was leaving tonight, two people went into the Alliance offices, each carrying a case of beer. The beer was Grain Belt Premium.

This is what a "Better Minnesota" is supposed to look like? Grain Belt Premium? I for one would be more than happy to pay more for a better Minnesota...

...beer.