Tip til it hurts

Now certainly doesn't seem like the time to be eating out a lot. The economy seems to worsen every day and we all fear for our jobs. Why on earth would I be advocating being a good tipper? Bear with me. Let's say you stay home slurping Ramen noodles and fearing the arrival of a pink slip. How is that going to help you, or the economy? Sure the noodle makers are happy, but what about the lost revenue for that locally owned restaurant you used to frequent? What about your own mental well-being? I survived many a black Friday in the 90's. Unfortunately at the time I was doing the very thing I now advocate against. I was worrying myself prematurely gray, not going out as much and in general living an unhappy life. It did me no good to worry and the money I saved by "scaling back" realistically would probably only have bought me an extra week or two before having to move into a cardboard box. This time around I'm refusing to let the Sword of Damocles rule my life. I still have my job so I'm trying to make sure everyone who depends on people like me still have their jobs too. I eat out at great places like Accurso's and Cafe Al Dente. I make sure I tip well for good service. Hopefully that tip goes right from the server's pocket and right back out into the economy. Economists call that the "Money Multiplier" effect. I realize I alone can't spend us out of an economic downturn, but unless I'm unfortunate enough to lose my job, the least I can do is help other people not to lose theirs. And if I have some really good meals and a good time doing it? That's just an added bonus.

Deep thoughts for a Friday

Just in case you didn't think the world was changing...

Happy Halloween

Izzy is ambivalent about her costume.

Where have you gone J.J. Maloney?

Of course I know J.J. Maloney passed away years ago. He's gone, but certainly not forgotten. What else is gone is the kind of journalism that had you waiting for the paper to hit the driveway so you could read an exciting story about happenings in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star spends no small amount of time blaming bloggers and the internet for its declining circulation. They themselves haven't seemed to notice that the Metro section has all the pop of a phone book. Nothing interesting. Nothing exciting. Is it because Kansas City has become inactive since the days of J.J. Maloney and the River Quay? Hardly. There's plenty going on. Granted there aren't many guys with flashy nicknames ending up dead in the trunks of their cars, but there's plenty of drama going on. You just have to look a little for it. A couple of years ago I was invited to a reader's feedback forum at the Star. One of the Star's editorialists was there, supposedly to "listen" to what we had to say. When they asked me what I would like to see in the paper I said "more investigative pieces" which they immediately took to mean KCTV5 type "investigative". When I replied that no, I meant more pieces like cellphone misuse by the City Council or yes even pieces like J.J. Maloney used to do. The editorialist quickly dismissed me by saying they did not have the budget to do those kind of stories. Telling him The Pitch does those kind of stories once a week was not what he wanted to hear. I'll soon be cancelling my subscription to The Star. Why spend money on something that most mornings goes into the recycle bin unread?

What to do?

What am I going to do with this blog? I barely come up with enough anymore to write on thekansascitypost.com. My one reader (Brent) is about the only person that still comes and checks this thing out. What say ye Brent? Should I keep this blog going? About what should I write? Inquiring minds want to know...

Friday Rant: The presidential election

This has been an interesting presidential election for me. In more years than I care to say I actually have a clear choice and look forward to November. In the past my vote has been for the candidate I perceived would do the least amount of damage. As an independent, I like to think that I can be objective as I watch and listen to the campaign messages and the opinions of the rabid partisans. It seems the vitriol has risen to new levels this time out. That's fine I guess. People certainly have the right to express their opinions in this country and candidates should be free to run their campaigns as they see fit. I only have one meager request. Please stop screaming at us, the swing voters about how bad the other guy(s) are. We don't want to hear your subjective rantings. Of course you have a poor opinion of the opposition. That's why they are the opposition! How about for the next few weeks you stop telling me about how awful the other side is and start telling me about how awesome your side is? After all, I think we'd all prefer to vote for a candidate instead of against one. That is all. As you were.

MO Clean Energy Initiative makes the ballot

The Clean Energy Initiative made it on the ballot! Now get out November 7th and vote for it! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 08, 2008 St. Louis, MO — - Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy (MCCE) announced today that the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot. The Cole County Circuit Court found that the initiative has the necessary number of signatures to be certified for the ballot in November. More than 400 Missouri volunteers statewide circulated petition pages for the initiative, which would require investor-owned utilities to generate or purchase 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources, such as wind and solar power, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects. Approximately 163,000 signatures were turned in from six US Congressional districts. “The Clean Energy Initiative will reduce the use of fossil fuel for electricity and encourage growth in Missouri’s renewable energy industries. The potential growth in these industries could lead to significant job creation and gains in income for Missourians,” said Dr. David Laslo of UM-St. Louis Public Policy Research Center. “The Clean Energy Initiative would diversify Missouri’s electricity supply by adding a significant amount of renewable energy, and potentially save Missourians $331 million over twenty years," said Martin Cohen, former Illinois Citizens Utility Board Executive Director. The Clean Energy Initiative is endorsed by a broad based coalition of industry, labor, faith, and environmental groups such as Kansas City Power & Light, United Steelworkers, Restoring Eden – Christians for Environmental Stewardship, and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Twenty-six other states have enacted similar renewable electricity standards to increase production of clean energy and promote energy independence. “Missourians support this policy because it cleans our air, creates jobs, invigorates the economy, and makes Missouri more energy independent,” said Erin Noble, Energy Policy Coordinator for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. “In fact, by 2022, the Clean Energy Initiative will have the same effect as removing 2 million cars from the road. This initiative moves us towards a cleaner and healthier future for Missouri families.”