Wednesday, February 9
Wednesday, February 2
Ever Wonder What Happens to Low-Skill Jobs When the Minimum Wage Increases?
With the legislature considering a minimum wage hike, I have been considering a post to put in my 2¢. Personally, I think that any hike is a very bad idea.
Why? Well, the net effect is to eliminate low-skilled, entry-level jobs from the workforce. As the productivity of higher-paid, higher-skilled employees increases, an employer will just not fill a minimum wage position, if the wage that must be paid for that position is greater than the benefit that will be accrued by the employer.
The traditional response to this view is to point out that there are a number of menial jobs that must be performed at any workplace. However, that is getting less and less true.
Today, when you talk to a customer service rep on the phone, the odds are that you are speaking to someone in a different state or in many cases even a different country. In fact, our low wage base is what brought telecommunication companies, like NEW, to Great Falls.
Nothing illustrates this better than this news report from the KIRO-TV station in Seattle. Apparently, a McDonald's in Oregon found a unique way of circumventing Oregon's $7.25/hour minimum wage -- they patched all conversations through their drive through to order-takers in Grand Forks, ND (a state with a $5.15/hour minimum wage). Is that the sort of thing that backer's of the minimum wage hike want here?
Thanks to Craig at mtpolitics.net for finding that gem or an article. It was originally posted on his blog here.
Why? Well, the net effect is to eliminate low-skilled, entry-level jobs from the workforce. As the productivity of higher-paid, higher-skilled employees increases, an employer will just not fill a minimum wage position, if the wage that must be paid for that position is greater than the benefit that will be accrued by the employer.
The traditional response to this view is to point out that there are a number of menial jobs that must be performed at any workplace. However, that is getting less and less true.
Today, when you talk to a customer service rep on the phone, the odds are that you are speaking to someone in a different state or in many cases even a different country. In fact, our low wage base is what brought telecommunication companies, like NEW, to Great Falls.
Nothing illustrates this better than this news report from the KIRO-TV station in Seattle. Apparently, a McDonald's in Oregon found a unique way of circumventing Oregon's $7.25/hour minimum wage -- they patched all conversations through their drive through to order-takers in Grand Forks, ND (a state with a $5.15/hour minimum wage). Is that the sort of thing that backer's of the minimum wage hike want here?
Thanks to Craig at mtpolitics.net for finding that gem or an article. It was originally posted on his blog here.
Monday, January 24
Too Warm for January
It is waaay too warm outside. Better than 60 degrees.
Skiing on Saturday was not too pleasant -- the hill had lost about 10 inches from the week before. I actually (gasp) took a snowboarding lesson rather than scratch up the bases on my skis.
Great Falls looks dry and dusty. We need cold weather and lots of precipitation. Anyone thinking that this weather is nice is not thinking ahead to the fires we will be having in August (or maybe June/July).
Anyone know a good snow dance? Here's hoping for 10 feet of snow and forty below.
Skiing on Saturday was not too pleasant -- the hill had lost about 10 inches from the week before. I actually (gasp) took a snowboarding lesson rather than scratch up the bases on my skis.
Great Falls looks dry and dusty. We need cold weather and lots of precipitation. Anyone thinking that this weather is nice is not thinking ahead to the fires we will be having in August (or maybe June/July).
Anyone know a good snow dance? Here's hoping for 10 feet of snow and forty below.
Wednesday, January 19
My Tu B'Shevat Gift to You!
In honor of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat (the new year for trees), I have created the following recipe. Enjoy!
This recipe is designed to be milchig (dairy), and as such does not include any meat products. To make a fleishig (meat) meal, simply replace to tofu with ground lamb and the veggie stock with beef or chicken stock. In that case, I would change around the spices (a little oregano would be nice; think Greek), sear the ground meat first and then use the lamb fat in which to cook the miripoix. Of course, if you use meat, ixnay on the eesechay!
This recipe is designed to be milchig (dairy), and as such does not include any meat products. To make a fleishig (meat) meal, simply replace to tofu with ground lamb and the veggie stock with beef or chicken stock. In that case, I would change around the spices (a little oregano would be nice; think Greek), sear the ground meat first and then use the lamb fat in which to cook the miripoix. Of course, if you use meat, ixnay on the eesechay!
Mediterranean Apples Stuffed with Dates and Figs
Ingredients:
- Apples (small and crisp bakers)
- Jasmine Rice
- Miripoix (diced). [You are reading this on a computer. Go to Google and look it up!]
- Dates (pitted and chopped)
- Figs (pitted and chopped)
- Extra firm tofu
- Fresh spinach (washed and spun-dried)
- Feta cheese
- Vegetable Stock
- Garlic (to taste, chopped fine)
- Walnuts (chopped and toasted, please)
- Crisp white wine (suggest Riesling or similar; since this is for a Jewish dish, keep it kosher!)
- Suggested Spices;
- NaCl (pref. kosher sized flakes)
- Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Ginger (powdered)
- Cumin
- Allspice
- NaCl (pref. kosher sized flakes)
Serve with the remainder of the white wine and a tabouli salad.
Tuesday, January 18
Is Schweitzer buffaloing us with his Bison Plans?
Sarpy Sam is spot on in his analyis of the Governor's newly announced plans to make the Yellowstone Bison herd brucellosis-free by depopulating Yellowstone of its sick animals.
Every report I have read on this situation since the late 1980s has indicated that the bison contract brucellosis from elk. The elk herd in Yellowstone carries brucellosis. I am far from an expert on the subject, but I would like someone to explain why the bison in the park will not just re-contract the disease from the Yellowstone elk herd.
Or does the Governor have a plan for the Yellowstone elk, as well?
Every report I have read on this situation since the late 1980s has indicated that the bison contract brucellosis from elk. The elk herd in Yellowstone carries brucellosis. I am far from an expert on the subject, but I would like someone to explain why the bison in the park will not just re-contract the disease from the Yellowstone elk herd.
Or does the Governor have a plan for the Yellowstone elk, as well?
Monday, January 17
*nix Powered, Temperature Controlled Brewing Chamber
I greatly enjoy my own homebrew, and am usually frustrated in my attempt to keep my wort at a specific temperature (which is absolutely necessary for lagering, and very helpful for brewing ale).
Anyway, today on /. is a link to the code and hardware instructions to convert an old fridge into a *nix-powered controlled temperature chamber. Slick!
Anyway, today on /. is a link to the code and hardware instructions to convert an old fridge into a *nix-powered controlled temperature chamber. Slick!
Listen to Another World
The European Space Agency has posted audio recorded by the acoustic sensors in the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI), taken during Huygens' descent to the surface of Titan on Friday.
The sound of another planet, and it sounds quite a bit like the wind on a cold day on a Montana prairie. If you take a drive out by Judith Gap this week you should hear something similar. The temperature there, at least last week, also bore a great deal of similarity to that experienced by Huygens on Titan!
The sound of another planet, and it sounds quite a bit like the wind on a cold day on a Montana prairie. If you take a drive out by Judith Gap this week you should hear something similar. The temperature there, at least last week, also bore a great deal of similarity to that experienced by Huygens on Titan!
Neither Red Nor Blue
|
You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian |
 You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel opressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything! |
EXIF data script
Happy Monday! The cold front broke yesterday, and now all of Great Falls is basking in the balmy 40ºF. Too bad. I love every part of the "bitter" cold, except the heat bill.
Anyway, I spent much of yesterday arm deep in my *nix box (Mandrake 10.1), trying to write a regular expression that would help organize my image directory. I just rebuilt the machine, and when I tranferred over my files, the file date/time was adjusted to system date/time of the transfer.
Anyway, I want write a script that will parse out the EXIF image creation date/time for every file in my image directory (including the entire subdirectory structure), and change the file date to the EXIF date. I would also like the file name prepended with the YYYY_MM_DD-hh_mm in those EXIF headers. The script should look at every file in the directory and only adjust those with a valid EXIF header. Because of the different programs/devices used to capture images, it should be able to find images with non-standard file extensions (i.e., *.JPG; *.jpg; *.jpeg; etc.)
I played around with jhead, to no avail so far. Any ideas?
Anyway, I spent much of yesterday arm deep in my *nix box (Mandrake 10.1), trying to write a regular expression that would help organize my image directory. I just rebuilt the machine, and when I tranferred over my files, the file date/time was adjusted to system date/time of the transfer.
Anyway, I want write a script that will parse out the EXIF image creation date/time for every file in my image directory (including the entire subdirectory structure), and change the file date to the EXIF date. I would also like the file name prepended with the YYYY_MM_DD-hh_mm in those EXIF headers. The script should look at every file in the directory and only adjust those with a valid EXIF header. Because of the different programs/devices used to capture images, it should be able to find images with non-standard file extensions (i.e., *.JPG; *.jpg; *.jpeg; etc.)
I played around with jhead, to no avail so far. Any ideas?
Saturday, January 15
My son Max, the only skier I saw today wearing a cape!
What a beautiful day! It is Saturday, so that means Youth Ski League at Showdown ski hill. My daughter skied her first intermediate-level run, and my son zoomed down the rope tow. More later ...
Thursday, January 13
Tax Dollars Should not be use to Advertise
Does our government now believe that its services and laws are products, to be puchased like a pack of diapers or a new bedspread?
George Will has a column in today's Washington Post describing the millions of taxpayer dollars that have been spent by our government to propogandize government programs, like the "No Child Left Behind" Act or the Medicate Prescription Drug expansion.
I submit that informing the public of the existence of programs, like the IRS' use of advertising to convince the public to e-file (presumably to save even more taxpayer dollars to process the paper forms), is a useful expenditure of tax dollars. However, to spend money on propaganda is both inappropriate and wasteful.
George Will has a column in today's Washington Post describing the millions of taxpayer dollars that have been spent by our government to propogandize government programs, like the "No Child Left Behind" Act or the Medicate Prescription Drug expansion.
I submit that informing the public of the existence of programs, like the IRS' use of advertising to convince the public to e-file (presumably to save even more taxpayer dollars to process the paper forms), is a useful expenditure of tax dollars. However, to spend money on propaganda is both inappropriate and wasteful.
The Blizzard was Oversold
Well, I spent the last few days battening down the hatches. With predictions of -35ºF before windchill, I have been closing down every crack and crevice where heat could escape both the house and the office.
Yesterday, I walked to work in a balmy 27ºF. By 10 a.m., the temperature had dropped to -5ºF. And then it stayed there ... all day.
This morning, it was a pleasant -14ºF, with a predicted high of -9ºF. Not exactly Hawaii, but not -40ºF with 50 mph winds, either.
Oh, for the skiiers out there; Showdown is expecting a high today of an almost tropical 10ºF. I just love that magical inversion on the Meagher/Cascade border!
Yesterday, I walked to work in a balmy 27ºF. By 10 a.m., the temperature had dropped to -5ºF. And then it stayed there ... all day.
This morning, it was a pleasant -14ºF, with a predicted high of -9ºF. Not exactly Hawaii, but not -40ºF with 50 mph winds, either.
Oh, for the skiiers out there; Showdown is expecting a high today of an almost tropical 10ºF. I just love that magical inversion on the Meagher/Cascade border!
Sunday, January 9
A Pleasant Weekend
What a wonderful weekend. Spent two days with the computer off and took the kids skiing.
My daughter did great in her first day of Youth Snow League. My son also did well, even if he seems to be against the whole notion of turning. I had a lot of fun, but twisted my knee into a position it really didn't like. Sometimes I miss being 18.
Anyway, to everyone in Great Falls freezing in the -5ºF, it is good to remember Showdown's famous inversion. About four miles past Neihart, a miraculous thing always seems to happen; the temperature skyrockets. That inversion seems be localized right around King's Hill.
Anyway, while the entire State shivered in the deep freeze, the temperature at the top of the double chair read 34ºF! Remember that next week, when Great Falls is supposed to dip to -40ºF.
My daughter did great in her first day of Youth Snow League. My son also did well, even if he seems to be against the whole notion of turning. I had a lot of fun, but twisted my knee into a position it really didn't like. Sometimes I miss being 18.
Anyway, to everyone in Great Falls freezing in the -5ºF, it is good to remember Showdown's famous inversion. About four miles past Neihart, a miraculous thing always seems to happen; the temperature skyrockets. That inversion seems be localized right around King's Hill.
Anyway, while the entire State shivered in the deep freeze, the temperature at the top of the double chair read 34ºF! Remember that next week, when Great Falls is supposed to dip to -40ºF.
Friday, January 7
Montana Now Has Two "Cardinals" Representing Us in DC
The news that Denny Rehberg won a spot on the House Appropriations Committee has received scant notice from the other Montana blogs today.
I suggest to you that this is a big deal, and a good thing for the economy of our State. It also suggests the pragmatic (dare I say, purple?) nature of the average Montanan's votes for our Representatives and our Senators.
Of our three delegates to the Congress, two are members of their respective Appropriations Committees, and one is the highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate Finance Committee. What's more, all three are smart, accomplished politicians with a reputation for impeccable constituent service.
For a rural State with a small population, such clout in DC is not an easy thing to accomplish.
I suggest to you that this is a big deal, and a good thing for the economy of our State. It also suggests the pragmatic (dare I say, purple?) nature of the average Montanan's votes for our Representatives and our Senators.
Of our three delegates to the Congress, two are members of their respective Appropriations Committees, and one is the highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate Finance Committee. What's more, all three are smart, accomplished politicians with a reputation for impeccable constituent service.
For a rural State with a small population, such clout in DC is not an easy thing to accomplish.
Hooplah Over Montana Bison Hunt is ... Well It is Stupid
Recent reports have focused on whether or not the State will authorize a hunt for potentially brucellosis-infected bison migrating out of Yellowstone National Park.
Well, this is all marketing and hooplah. The Yellowstone herd is almost 4,000 head, and this "hunt" is for a total of 10 licenses.
That is not a hunt. It is a marketing effort to get national attention on Montana. If this was a real hunting and fishing issue, I might be on the other side. However, I think it is just silly to get hot and bothered about this either way.
Well, this is all marketing and hooplah. The Yellowstone herd is almost 4,000 head, and this "hunt" is for a total of 10 licenses.
That is not a hunt. It is a marketing effort to get national attention on Montana. If this was a real hunting and fishing issue, I might be on the other side. However, I think it is just silly to get hot and bothered about this either way.
Thursday, January 6
US/Anglo Private Tsunami Aid Exceeds $360 Million
Slate is reporting that private donations for tsunami relief in the U.S. and the U.K. have now exceeded $360 Million. If you add that to the $445 Million donated by the U.S. and U.K. governments, I suggest that the resulting $805 Million in contributions, in scarcely more than a week, gives an example of the true generosity of which we are capable.
The Birthday of Relativity
George Will has a good piece in today's Post about the centennial of Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Good reading.
Love My Score!
Red v. Blue thinking in Helena
Sarpy Sam from "Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere" has an interesting post on a Gazette article about the new partisanship in Helena.
Unfortunately, it appears that the closer the divide between the parties in power, the more asinine “Red v. Blue” thinking we get.
I believe it is because the party not in power is close enough to winning power that they start thinking tactically instead of strategically. Unfortunately, that just gives us gridlock and infighting.
Unfortunately, it appears that the closer the divide between the parties in power, the more asinine “Red v. Blue” thinking we get.
I believe it is because the party not in power is close enough to winning power that they start thinking tactically instead of strategically. Unfortunately, that just gives us gridlock and infighting.
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