The New Plague
Ahh... 1346. It was not really the best of times, but probably could be in many ways the worst of times. Europe was attempting to shudder off the dark Ages, but that would come in another 200 years or so!In the meantime, the process of mass animal domestication and production techniques had brought a bevy of diseases into the fore to attack the immune systems in the rural areas, and if that

What Made The Greatest Generation Better?
Startling to imagine that the people starting families, going to college and buying homes earned about 59% less than we do for homes that cost 217% less!So in other words, a male in 1950 (who made a median income of ~$20K) could buy a median home that would cost him three times his gross income (~$55K), and if the female of the nuclear family was also working she could add about $9K p.a. to the

California Dreaming about Legal Hemp
Some may not have heard that now California has four pending Propositions to the public with Jack Herer's (CHI) Cannibis Hemp Initiative link.The other three groups have filed proposed initiatives with the California Secretary of State for ballot measures that would legalize and impose a tax on marijuana:Joe Rogoway, Omar Figueroa and James J. Clark filed the language for 09-0022 on July 15,

Keeping Score
Trying not to get totally sidelined by the Obameter!My God I wish all the Presidents had one of these... It would have been amazing to watch the Bushes break promises, or see more clearly Reagan and Clinton's agendas.This is truly our first 21st Century President, now being held accountable to every campaign promise, in the golden light of free speech and public access. That is a good definition

New Tax Regime for California
The Commission on the 21st Century Economy released their report and recommendations - AP Release.Notably missing were the calculations showing that their ideas would create a sustainable level of tax receipts at the 4% Business Net Receipts Tax level. The concern is that it may be a number too low that creates additional fiscal restraint, where fiscal restraint is a somewhat separate issue.That