Dakota Today

*** A tale of two bookstores.

We visited Rapid City for a day.  While there, I received an e-mail from BAM books indicating a 20% discount.  So, thought I would visit the store.  I ended up buying over $200 of books and CD's.  Got to the register and mentioned the PADDY discount.  Clerk said I had gotten it.  But, when I got back to my son's house, I looked at the receipt.  No 20% PADDY discount.  Went back to the store with a copy of the e-mail.  What I had not noticed was "online" buried in a fine print promotional into sentence.  The coupon ad was about 6 x 6 inches on my laptop screen and with type from about an inch and half high down to a half-inch or so high.  Nothing in the Irish green coupon to indicate it was only good online.  The clerk knew exactly what to look for and what I had missed.  She must have had this happen to dozens of customers.  I talked to other people who had been burned by this bit of deception and they indicated they were so pissed off that they would never buy anything at BAM books again.  I really think that business regulators should let BAM know that this kind of deception is not appropriate.

I did get some good books which I might never have seen on the AMAZON web site, but I did also compare the prices of the books.  Amazon was a bit higher on one or two and lower on the rest.  There was a $35 difference on the books.  Had BAM honored the PADDY coupon, the total price would have been nearly the same. 

I did get a couple CD's of old and deceased singers from my high school days.  The Marty Robbins album had "Singing the Blues", "A White Sport Coat", and "The story of my life"....all from late 1950's or early 1960's when our radio choice was almost only WNAX out of Yankton, SD...and now and then late at night KOMA from Oklahoma and a Chicago station or two.  Anyway, even if I can't remember what happened a week or two with great confidence, the words of those three songs were still buried somewhere in the recesses of my mind.  Had mostly the same effect with a Roy Orbison album titled something like "Black on Black" which I purchased mainly because we had watched the old black and white video of a Roy Orbison on SDPB-TV a week or two ago.  Years ago while at SDSM&T, my Logue friends and I attended a Marty Robbins concert at the old downtown auditorium in Rapid city which has since been demolished.

Well, enough of that.

****Stay tuned and read the damned fine print even if you won't find much of it here--- Doug Wiken

***Enhanced interrogation and local law enforcement

This may just be one of my one-day devil theories, but I suspect the enhanced interrogation (otherwise known as torture) utilized by the Bush administration CIA and contractors with a wink and nod from Cheney and the AG has also impacted police behavior in the US.  Might more than a few law enforcement types be thinking, "If the Bush administration approves of this, why can't we get tougher on those we suspect of misdeeds and law breaking"?

Some of the worst kinds of police were probably glad to see the excesses of the Bush Administration on the terrorists.  Before that administration was done, school kids were being charged with terrorism for bringing a paring knife to school with an apple and librarians were viewed as treasonous for not spying and reporting on library readers who might have been reading up on something besides Moses parting the sea. 

Of course, we might hope that those excesses of "enhanced interrogration" were viewed as so egregious by US law enforcement that they all decided to clean up their acts.  Me thinks that might be a bit naive however.

So, do you think that perhaps the worst effect of the acts now being reported in the Senate report may be what that did to inspire US law enforcement to do their very worst ?  Let me know.  And remember, it is not the Senate report which might cause more problems, it is the initial inappropriate behavior of US intelligence and anti-terrorism officials.

**** Stay tuned and keep your head down--- Doug Wiken

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***Site News--Alan Kent Haruf Obituary

A few days ago we heard on SDPB-Radio from NPR that one of my wife's cousins had died.  He was author Alan Kent Haruf of Colorado.  We really hadn't heard much from that end of the family since about 1985 when they sold the last of their family land here in Tripp County.  Kent's father was Methodist pastor Louis Haruf . He and  and another pastor married my wife and I too many years ago.  Anyway, you can view his obituary at SD Notebook Pages-- Obituaries.

*** Stay tuned for a bit more cheery news later today--- Doug Wiken

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*** Those Roosevelts on SDPB-TV

SDPB-TV has been running the 7-part story of the Roosevelts..Theodore, Franklin and their kin and cohorts.  It has been fascinating.  It also seems to be an incredible contrast to the greedy short-sighted Congress Critters we put up with now.

The nearly 14 hours in this set has been (as my wife said) very entertaining important information.  The series and the related book should be in every SD library and every SD school.  It might provide a bit of inspiration to many...even those so propaganized by GOP humbug in South Dakota since Theodore Roosevelt stopped roaming the plains. 

I have a political science degree with a minor in history and know a bit about what the Roosevelts did for the country, but I learned much from this show.   We still owe a great deal to the family whether or not we are aware of what they did and even if they were also deeply flawed humans in more than a few ways.

I have never understood the hatred of the Roosevelts that has now and then been evident in South Dakota even from some whose families and lives were literally saved by FDR and his programs.

More information at  PBS-- Roosevelts.

*** Stay tuned as you remember the New Deal brought you electricity so you could watch TV..even if nobody imagined it then--- Doug Wiken

 

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*** US Presidents and their Lies to US

The Bill Moyers show this week (June 22-29, 2014) featured an interview with Chuck Lewis who has written a book titled 935 Lies....    Here is Transcript etc of the show.

Found at the link for the transcript was a link to a database  of the lies that led to the Iraq War.  Search the database of liars by clicking on their photos:

Search the Database

For regular readers of Salon Online Magazine in those days and related comments in the now gone Table Talk Forum, the lies were obvious long before the war.  Our congress critters refused to look at the evidence and source of the lies.  Something in the area of 5000 US and other soldiers died, tens of thousands were injured, many will carry the emotional and psychiatric scars of that war for the rest of their lives.

As was powerfully indicated in the Moyers Show, the future of our system as a real democracy depends on determining truth and falsity in government propaganda.  That requires determined digging and prodding journalists who need our support when even a "liberal" President Obama goes after whistle blowers and truth tellers with the kind of bureacratic vengeance not even seen by the morally rotten Bush, Jr. Administration.

And, we still need explanations from our own Senator Tim Johnson on why he suckered for the lies or went along with them when he had been provided ample evidence that the Bush War Card was a nearly complete and total fraud.  We have let all of our congress critters in those days get off without an explanation for their incompetence or willing intelligence failure in the runup to the Iraq war.

And, in recent news is a bunch of partisan crap about how the IRS scrutinized right wing money-making schemes and propaganda devices when they went after tax exemptions.  Several hundred e-mails apparently disappeared when hard drives failed BEFORE the GOP demand which produced something like 70,000 e-mails despite the computer crashes.  In the Moyers show, is a note that the Bush-Cheney administration used corporate e-mail to avoid scrutiny inevitable with government e-mail systems and that 10,000,000 of those e-mails related to the Iraq war and presumably to the money-making schemes of the industrial war machine were destroyed.

*** Stay tuned...and never trust without proof and always verify--- Doug Wiken

 

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The lying liars are lying again. And the hawks are following. Again.

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*** Speech to text and text to speech

Dragon Dictate is commercial software that allows a computer user to dictate to programs and it converts a users speech into text.Going the other way from E-Book to audible speech can be done with free software developed by Ray Kurzweil for the American Society for the Blind.

If that BLIO program interests you or you know somebody perhaps in a nursing home who could make use of the program, you can download it from link below.

LINK: Download BLIO E-Book Reader

I heard about that software on SDPB-Radio a few years ago and tried it more or less as a curiosity,  It worked surprisingly well.  I then more or less forgot about it, but now have friends with severe vision problems or bored to tears in a nursing home and nursing home activity people have expressed interest in the program.  Of course, as they say, "Your mileage may Vary".

*** Stay tuned, so far my cold fingers work on a keyboard, and I hope you can keep using yours to get more and better information and utility.  Good Luck.--- Doug Wiken

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*** USD Prof. Donald Dahlin's book "We the People"

I don't know what is covered these days in grade, highschool, and engineering schools related to judicial review, but I managed to get through the above about 50 years ago and remain nearly clueless of the significance of US Supreme Court decisions as they related to the meaning and applications of our US Constitution.

Then I got into USD and Doc Farber's Constitutional Principles courses.and that brings me to a kind of cursory initial review of a new book by USD Professor Donald C. Dahlin. His recent book is WE THE PEOPLE.   The subtitle is "A brief introduction to the Constitution and Its interpretation" The book is introductory, but aimed both at showing how to brief cases and also stressing the importance of all WE PEOPLE to understand how the US Constitution is not simply a black and white product of our US founders.  It is also a product of our US Supreme Court and the impact of modern social and scientific reality.

We the people can use Dahlin's little book (186 pages) to get both a how-to on cookbook case briefing but also Dahlin's sample briefing of the "Top Ten Cases".  These cases reveal how landmark decisions interpret constitutional language over a range of issues delineating the powers of government and the limitations on those powers.  A copy of the US Constitution is also included in the book.

The "Top Ten Cases" are much more important to all of us than are any or all of the Dave Letterman Top Ten lists.

Click on image for a larger version.

If the names and implications of these cases are not already familiar to you, you may want to buy Dahlin's book or a similar textbook and inform yourself.  That bit of study on your part may put you political lightyears ahead of much of the US population (unfortunately including many legislators and media commentators).

The same kind of process Dahlin presents for case briefing and analysis can be somewhat applied to analysis and categorizing all kinds of other concepts, issues and events.

BUT, If the book gets into a second edition, I have a few suggestions. The book needs more varied type sizes and faces to make finding varying information, chapters, sections, etc easier to find rapidly. Also, in the case of the paperback, larger type would be a benefit to those of us with older eyes.

AND, court case production and briefing are processes..  As processes, Dahlin could add something like the flow charts of engineers and software programmers to make the legal and briefing processes he describes and discusses more obvious to those totally unfamiliar with the processes.

The paperback version of Dahlin's book is available from Amazon for around $20.;  Search Amazon for "  Donald C. Dahlin  We the People  " .  Simply searching for "We the people" will not work well as a search;

I may take a shot at using Dahlin's process for briefing on a case like Bush v. Gore in a future post here.It is not in Dahlin's Top 10.

I think you will find Dahlin's book interesting, informative, and useful; but, a disclaimer.  I was a student of Don Dahlin's at USD when he was nearly fresh out of graduate school in California.  I liked him then as both a person and as an instructor.  He has been doing something right at USD and in South Dakota for the last 40 years or so and I think his book shows some of that.

*** Stay tuned even if I should leave book reviews to the Prairie Progressive--- Doug Wiken

*** Vanity Fair article on Obama

The interviews of the writer of this article (Michael Lewis) have been somewhat interesting...especially when compared with Bob Woodward hyping his latest book --The Price of Politics.  I looked at Woodward's book and noticed that despite what the appearances on TV suggested, his contact with Obama, McConnell, and Boehner were each about 1 and a half hours.  The rest of the book was from off-the-record sources with names which could not be revealed.  It seemed to me to be rather meager basis for a book and putting it down was not all that hard..  Maybe when it is remaindered for $2.99.

The Vanity Fair link is below.  I have skimmed through it, but not really dug into it.  I hope you find it interedsting:  I will check it more carefully when the sun is shining tomorrow.

Vanity Fair Profile of Barack Obama by Michael Lewis

After watching a few elections, I have gotten the impression that many of the books that pop up right before and election that are reviewed with a lot of hype are usually much ado about not very much.  Perhaps we will be surprised this election, but so far, the fallout on Obama seems to be he is just too cool in relationships with fellow pols and just isn't effusive enough in the old back-slapping stereotypical view of politicians.  This also suggests that Obama is a bit more secure in his skin and less "needy" than many of his political friends and foes who apparently need nearly continuous flattery and stroking.

Of course, the "your mileage may vary" warning may also apply.  Let me know.

*** Stay tuned, but don't dive too deeply into shallow pools--- Doug Wiken

 

*** CBS Morning--News or Morning Shopper?

Years ago when CBS Morning was 30 minutes of actual news or one hour of it, I watched it nearly every morning.  Over the years watching that show seemed more and more like a total waste of time.  Recently, CBS dragged in Charlie Rose know primarily for his PBS Charlie Rose latenight interview show.  Then CBS started running ads about bringing the "news" back to the CBS Morning show.

I did not notice much improvement.  A bigger glass table seemed to be about it.  This morning I decided to try to sit through the whole show and take some notes.  I half-heard the first 20 minutes which did seem to be mostly news.  I then noted a 3-minute period of solid ads, but did not get the number or the advertisers listed.  Then I was done in the kitchen and sat down with note cards and started scribbling.

From 7:20 AM to 9:00 AM, CBS and KELO had something between 80 and 100 ads or promos for other CBS or KELO programs.  There was about 7 minutes of discussion with Peggy Noonan and Bill Bradley.  Bradley was hyping his book.  Everything he said is in the first paragraph of a column he has in the TIME magazine that arrived this morning.  Noonan was predictably Republican, but with some concerns about the far-right near total control of the GOP.

South Dakota weather dominated KELO's minutes in the two hours.  Rapid City low temperature was around 33 F degrees.  7 inches of rain in eastern SD caused flooding in Madison and hail damage at Mitchell.

During the last hour and 40 minutes of the show, The only thing even approaching serious news was about 4 minutes on the Fortune 500 report indicating those companies had $840 Billion of profit, but are primarily investing outside the US.  The GOP's favorite target GM (Government Motors to them)  had revenue of $150 Billion and net profit of $9 Billion.  Might it be that Obama and Democrats actually saved a few thousand jobs?  Not much mention of that at CBS.

From then to the end of the show there was nothing of significance.  Dr. Phil expressing opinions on "the Tanning lady", John Edwards trial jury, and Troubled Athletes...and of course, Teenage Bullying.  Even more insignificance was exemplified by reporting on Kristi Noem getting a political science degree from SDSU.

Following is a list of the ads that seemed to me to make CBS Morning into CBS Morning Shopper show.. some of my scribbled notes are no longer readable or translatable by the original writer however.

Cybutol? drug, Staples, Aveno, Activa, CBS sitcom hype, CBS news hype, Cerntal1?, CBS hype for Hawaii 5-0, Nespresso, Farmers Insur, Garnier hair dye, Hershey's Kisses, JuvedermXP, Kindle Fire, Walmart, CBS hype for upcoming "news", Advil, Garnier anti-wrinkle, Purina DogChow, Angie's List, Discover Credit Card, Banana Boat Sunscreen, Smuckers, CBS hype for Letterman show, local Lewis Drug, CBS Hype for upcoming news and Dr. Phil, Hype for CBS App, local ad for Scheel's, a KELO PSA for Learning Disability organization, local Audiology Associates, KELO "This is your home" hype, CBS hype for "Long Story-Short" coming up, CBS Late Show hype, CBS hype for Evening news, Lunch Break Combos, Walgreen alergy ad, Garnier Nutressa Hair, Ocean Spray Cranberry's, Hugs Benefel dog treats, Nutrium Dove Body lotion, Local Furniture Mart, local Avera, another local Furniture Mart ad, CBS hype for upcoming segment on Kristi Noem, Hallmark, Hershey's kisses, Garnier Moisterizer, CBS hype for evening sitcoms, Hype for NCIS, CBS hype for NCIS:LA, local ad Graham Tire, Lodestar Casino, CBS hype for CBS This Morning, local Windows World, Knology, CBS Hype for Two Broke Girls and 2 1/2 Men sitcoms, local ad Golden Buffalo Casino, Window World, Culligan's ad, Perkins, EyeMart Express, another Culligan's ad, CBS hype for "The Talk", CBS hype for upcoming "Dame Daphney segment", local Good Samaritan, Clinique makeup-Yonkers, JennyCraig weight loss, the Dame DaphneySheldrike segment was about elephants and ivory trade, but mainly hype for her book something like "Love, Life, and Elephants", local Spray your fat away, Deadwood, SD gambling and vacation, KELO hype for News Eye on KELOLAND Bakken oil, KELO PSA for WRDI disability aid, CBS hype for Erica tracking down a story somewhere, local Menards, Sanford Orthopedics, Heart attack info ad, Sleep Express, Lewis Drug, AAA Insurance, St. Mary's Hospital, general KELOLAND hype ad.

And then the "NATE BERKUS" show and a switch to PBS TV.

I guess my perception of CBS Morning dribble is more or less supported as appropriate when I actually took time to take some program notes.

CBS and Charlie Rose can do better and have done better in the past 30 years.  Taking notes on the whole show was more disappointing then normal viewing with coffee, snack,  and bathroom breaks.

*** Stay tuned, but you won't miss much on CBS between 7:00 AM and 9AM CDT.-- Doug Wiken

 

 

*** Eat S**** and Die?

This is kind of frightening.   I like cooked rice with some milk and a dusting ..well a dash..er several spoons full of sugar and a cup or so of milk for breakfast.   Also, I have not quite figured out how to swallow oatmeal without a little sugar. Most other prepared cereal is already loaded with sweetner.

CBS 60 Minutes this evening went after sugar as a killer with near narcotic effects on our brains.  Annual sugar and corn sweetner sales have taken off like rockets after a lot of fat was pulled out of prepared foods.  Sugar and corn sweetener took the place of the smoothing fat.

Tavis Smiley recently talked to Mark Human, MD who has written a book The Blood Sugar Solution.   He estimates that 95% of health problems result because of diet, environment and genes interacting.  Admitedly that seems to cover a lot of everything without explaining much.  Genetic research is making some progress in curing or preventing some serious diseases despite conservative retrogressive attacks on such research.  Current Republican retrogressives seem to also do their best to make such sure environmental poisoning can not be justified as a reason to control corporate rape of the environment. You can watch the show at the link above, or go to the Tavis Smiley link and select "View transcript" or "print" to get a text copy.  Compliments to Smiley for making such information available free.  It is a valuable education service.

Tavis Smiley...Mark Hyman, MD. On Sugar transcript

That leaves to us diet which we can control if we desire to enough. There does appear to be more evidence that we better decide we desire to improve our own diets.  Haymen says something to the effect that foods give our bodies information.  The wrong foods give us the wrong or conflicting information.  Then couple that with a medical system that seems to stress symptoms and then after-the-fact of whatever happens, such medicine works to fix the damage or relieve the symptoms.  "Functional medicine" on the other hand works to prevent disease by "treating" cause and system(s?) rather than symptoms.

Hyman claims 50% of US citizens have pre-diabetes.  Diabetes kills and maims.  Two weeks ago we were returning from the funeral of a family member who had survived juvenile onset diabetes for over 60 years.  His surgeon brother agreed that considering the severity of his illness, he was a "statistical outlier" for having survived as long as he had.  That may have been some consolation, but it did not negate the devastation diabetes causes.

Obviously, some of the 50% with pre-symptoms get it mostly because of their genes, but millions more get there because they and we eat to much sugar and corn sweetner.  Soda, pop, sweetened beverages add a bunch to the annual pounds of sugar many of us consume in a year.  Sugar in soft drinks generate $billions for the sweetner industries, but also generate $billions of needless medical costs.

Hyman gave an example of 15,000 people in some church that lost a total of 250,000 pounds by changing diet and exccise.  That works out to about 17 pounds of fat loss  per person..  We can do something ourselves without our government mandating it.

So, let's do it for ourselves and our families.  Drink water instead of sweetened, carbonated drinks.  Water may not trigger the same kind of response in your brain as do illicit drugs and sugar, but so what.  Good water costs less and does more good.

[[[ Note from Doug added April 3, 2012--- I finally checked Amazon about the book by Dr. Hyman.  The reviews there seem to raise some red flags.  Reviewers usually find something good about the book, but not usually the same things.  What is troubling is that it appears the recipes and foods he promotes are just plain not available in food deserts like Winner, SD.  He also promotes a lot of supplements and a program on his web site which costs something every month.  So, you may want to check the information below even if the book is available for $16 at Amazon;

Reader Reviews of The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman

I think I will see what I can cobble together that is edible yet at least a bit more healthy than my current diet and also made with what can be purchased locally. ]]]]]

*** Stay tuned even if nagging sends you to the refrigerator for Soda and ice--- Doug Wiken