Are Republicans Anti-Science

This makes me wonder.

It's often true that Republican Party Members are the ones who are putting forth or supporting the most lame-brain of ideas when it comes to Science: Creationism is a Science, for example (It's not). Man cannot change the climate (Demonstrably False). Science Experts cannot testify in the own field of expertise. (Link).

I'm heartened to read this article that states more and more TV Meteorologists are more and more climate savvy. Climate Literacy is increasing in most undergraduate meteorology programs, even for people who are "just" into forecasting.

Of course, it begs the question: Who really watches TV to get their weather anymore? Only people who are at least 50, I'm guessing.

Consider this gem from the Republican Legislature in Wyoming. Signed by the Wyoming Governor. Hey! He's a Republican too!

Solutions and Fairness

In Isthmus this week, there's an article (link) about Bed and Breakfasts, and one of the things they talk about is airbnb.com -- a site I'd never heard of before that matches people with rooms in their houses with people traveling to a town to stay. Airbnb is apparently not legal in Madison (How they would enforce this? I don't know).

The Isthmus article notes a concern that airbnb is not fair. So naturally, Madison alders want to regulate users (landlords) of airbnb. It's a question of Fairness and the Regulatory Nature of Madison. B&Bs are licensed and regulated, and contribute taxes to the city (So do Hotels and Motels) Here's my question to alders:

Why not level the playing field by removing regulation and licensing of Hotels and Motels and B&Bs? What does the consumer get from City Regulation that they cannot get from yelp.com, or other similar online reviews? I understand the zoning issue (although I may not particularly agree with it; how is a revolving door of renters different from, say, a person with a large family that is perpetually visiting?).

It seems like the solution in Madison is always more Government -- more regulation, more oversight. In this case, I don't see how it is needed. Streamline the Government by getting rid of the oversight of Hotels/B&Bs/airbnbs and let Private Industry reviews -- that are widespread -- work.

Taxes, 2013

Federal Taxes, 2012: 6271 State Taxes: 2012: 4763 Property Taxes: Federal Taxes: 2011: 4515 State Taxes: 2011: 4004 Property Taxes: 9363

How Wisconsin Can Save Money

Why does the State of Wisconsin have a full-time Legislature?

I hear talk around town that the Collective Bargaining Restrictions that were passed, and are now holed up in Court, are going to be re-passed again as part of the biennial budget. I'm curious why the bill can't be passed as a separate entity. It seems like all these different laws get folded into budget bills, and it got me thinking: Why not have two month-long Legislative Sessions per year, when everything is passed, and then people can go home and stop drawing paychecks. Legislators can be paid for two months of work per year instead of 12. If you just load of Budget Bills with non-budget items, aren't you really arguing that you don't have to be in Madison at all, except to pass the budget?

A bonus to getting Legislators out of Madison: They are less likely to think up wacky ideas to put into law because they won't be lunching with Lobbyists all the time. A part-time Legislature would depress the local economy however.

I've also been thinking: Why aren't Counties in Wisconsin consolidated? My understanding is that Counties originally were sized the way they are so that a horse-ride of a couple hours would get you to the county seat if you had to take care of any business. Well, it takes less than an hour to get to Madison, Dane County's Seat from just about anyplace in the county. Why aren't counties merged together? Think of all the duplication in services and jobs that could be eliminated if, say, Sauk, Iowa, Rock and Dane County merged into SIRD county, or if Milwaukee/Racine/Kenosha Counties all merged. Seriously: Why the status quo with county size?

Taxes (2011 version)

Property Taxes: $9041 (9% increase)
State Taxes: $3769 (8% decrease)
Federal Taxes: $5366 (29% increase)

Income dropped about $6K last year, too.

Taxes

Property: $8300
State: $4100
Fed: $4160

The property tax is the one that's jumped the most. Next year the Fed Tax will jump, as we'll be losing a tax credit. On the other hand, I won't be earning as much either, so maybe it'll stay the same!

Diet ... 198.5 pounds

The New Year means a diet. Today I weighed myself: 198.5 pounds. I'm down 5 from where I was just before Christmas. We'll see how I do over the course of the year.