Fort Wayne Philharmonic

For those of you who love classical music in the Fort Wayne area probably know about the Philharmonic already. For those not in the Fort Wayne area or for whatever reason have not heard of them yet, their website is HERE. Enjoy!!

Trailer for Atlas Shrugged

I think the fact this movie is being made says a lot about the state of the country. I really hope people watch the movie, read the book, understand it and then make choices about where this country is going.

Candidates should not be allowed to office until they answer the question, "Who is John Galt?"

Gypsy Dance

This song is done by a Fort Wayne Celtic Rock Band called the Mimi burns band. the music truly rocks so enjoy!!

Hacker Public Radio

One of the podcasts I listen to is Hacker Public Radio. I generally like it. One of its biggest strengths is also one of its biggest weaknesses- it is run and done by its community. That lends itself to a variety of topics and a variety of quality. It lends itself to be like looking for diamonds in the rough but the diamonds are there. I am certain that there is plenty for just about anyone to both like and dislike. It has helped me quit a bit finding info that was most needed. their website is HERE.

Upcoming Municipal Elections

There will be municipal elections around Indiana this year. I do not know if i should make this a prediction or just throw it out as my opinion but I get the feeling that the throw the incumbent out sediment is not totally gone. There is not a lot that the municipal leaders can do when the greater economy is in a deep long recession. I realize their are some that say the recession is over and I have been seeing some signs of improvement but I really have not been feeling it except for my own better use of my own dollars and making them stretch like the dickens.

To the incumbents and any challengers, I will say this, do not for the love of God promise us the moon and stars and then reach around to my wallet to pay for it when the bill comes do. There are a lot of things I both need and want that I am already doing without. I do not need the politicians spending more of my money and calling it helping. Do more with less or do without like the American people have been doing for a long time already. The best advice I can give any local politician or any politician is whenever you spend your budget full of taxpayers money, ask yourself if those same taxpayers would think it was a good deal if they had to be billed and write a check for each individual thing you get.

You may be leaders of the community but you are also the stewards of the resources of that same community. Make the most of them. Make your area affordable for both people and businesses to stay in and move to the area. Make your area attractive enough and the finances will take care of themselves due to the fiscal responsibility and people and businesses flocking to the area. The details might be up for debate but the need for individuals, businesses and government to pinch their pennies until the scream and moan in pain is not. Now get to it, make your community the best it can for the best value on the dollar. (and that is not always the lowest price but that is another blog post)

February wine

This post is going to have a get yourself some cheese because I am going to wine warning.
It must be February because I am truly and fully sick of winter. It is not like I do not like cooler weather or do not know how to deal with all the cold and snow. I do not want to see any more negative Fahrenheit temps and I am tired of shoveling snow. My mood did not improve when I got home after dropping when wife off at work and found a roughly cubic yard snow boulder in the driveway left by the city snow plow drivers. In their defense, I understand that they will leave berms in driveways and I had dug out a path to the mail box which helped set up the formation of the boulder when they drove by. Having said this, it still took all my resolve not to yell at some poor city worker for having a snow boulder in my driveway on a single digit morning because they were widening what they plowed which I wished they had done earlier.

Warmer weather is in the forecast and I for one think it can not come fast enough.

Soul of the Machine

Soul of the Machine is a phrase I first heard on the Solder Smoke Podcast. As I roll my own computers out of old computers and spare parts, I am understanding this phrase more and more. My present laptop is the computer that feels most like mine. Some of that is due to the fact that is the computer that has been most exculsively used by me alone. However, since I resurrected it myself and have been setting it up for my use from the bottom up. There is something to be said about using something that you had a role in crafting. That goes for more than just computers. Things that you make take a life of their own; sometimes they can be quarky and definitely unique. That is not always a bad thing especially when they get a bit of soul about them because you left your touch on them. They are still just things but can become the best possessions and gifts.

House of Flavors

While visiting my in laws in Michigan, I was introduced to a restaurant in Manistee Michigan called house of Flavors. The food was really good and a 1950s style restaurant. Their website is HERE.