Masson’s Blog on Rick Santelli’s Rant

Yeah, it sounded good on television but I had to choke a bit. The best criticism I have seen is this from Masson’s Blog, Rick Santelli’s Rant:

"The moral hazard of a homeowner paying a fixed rate mortgage instead of an adjustable rate mortgage just isn’t that worrying to me after reading about how loan originators were able to remove themselves from any real risk for the mortgages they arranged. I could have missed it, but I am not aware of public statements by Santelli about the moral hazard of bank bailouts."

Noting Some Indiana Blogs

Thanks to Tim Zank posting a comment, I ran across a few new Indiana blogs.

Mr. Zank publishes Just for the Record. It appears to be a hard Libertarian blog. I do wish I knew how he got Blogger formatted the way he has because it has the look I want for Trifles and why I want to move this over to WordPress. We will probably disagree about a lot but give him a look- he has enthusiasm and writes well. I was impressed a lot by his blogroll.

From Just for the Record, I found Fort Wayne Artists. Down this way we do get overwhelmed by Indianapolis and forget that Fort Wayne has culture. And it is not that far to drive. Scanning it, I see a lot of announcements for exhibitions that might be of interest. Now if I can find time from work and convince the wife to take a drive....

Just for the Record also lead me to Change Fort Wayne. Lot of interesting stuff happens in Fort Wayne and I am a little embarrassed not to know about it. I guess some of it is because I no longer have the Fort Wayne newspapers in my RSS reader. Give My Loopholes a look. I know why I have not seen this loophole used in Anderson but have some guesses why it is being seen in Fort Wayne, but it raises some issues that might apply generally to Indiana.

I also wandered over to Left of Centrist. I think it has been an embarrassingly long time since I dropped in there and I see the blog has gone on hiatus.

New Indiana Blog: Stop Governing Like This

Ok, not so new just that I have been less and less with this blog. Jennifer Wagner (formerly of Taking Down Words) started Stop Governing Like This. I think I made the point somewhere on this blog that I agree that reforming Indiana's governments (no, that is not a typo just the best way to describe our different levels of government). Which means I like what Ms. Wagner is doing on her new blog and agree with her points. Give it a good look and an equally good think.

Indiana Democratic Blogs

I notice that Taking Down Words is still showing and I am not writing much, but do check out Indiana Blogs from the Indiana Democratic Party's website.

Some notes on the Blog

I suppose some of you noticed that the blogroll kind of disappeared awhile back. Actually, it was here even if it did not appear to be here. I got a bit fancy and was working with what are called pipes. I pretty much botched it - or so I think. Fortunately, Blogger now has a capability sort of like pipes. So the blogroll is back and will be filled up as soon as I can get it done. I have tried this on my Divorce & Family Law and Indiana Civil & Business Law Blogs. It uses RSS to show the latest post on a blog.

New Blog Out of Fort Wayne

I just discovered Landfile Pointe. A collector of interesting reports from the wider world. Keep it up.

Excorciating the Republicans

No word describes what republican idiocracy is doing but excoriating.

Grandpa McShame was booed viciously in Memphis on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. The crowd screemed McCain is a racist, McCain is a racist at the old fart. McCain by the way voted NO on making Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday back in 1983. McCain is a turd on America's political system. Do we really need another president who can't find his own ass with both hands and a flashlight?

New Blog Out of Fort Wayne

I am not sure what to write about MY HUD HOUSE. Mr. Marx commented on a post below and that was how I learned of this blog. He sets out his purpose for writing in this post.

One citizen’s experience: the failure of HUD/FHEO enforcement of civil rights under the Fair Housing Act « A Citizen, Pro Se

I became aware of A Citizen, Pro Se through a comment left on my Indiana Civil and Business Law Blog. Reading her blog, I thought further discussion was more appropriate over here on Trifles.

Reading the following paragraph in One citizen’s experience: the failure of HUD/FHEO enforcement of civil rights under the Fair Housing Act « , I am wondering if this is not how Governor Daniels plans on balancing the budget:

"The larger issue here is the Indiana agency’s indifference to the case-handling requirements spelled out in 24 CFR — requirements which are the basis for their certification as a FHAP (enforcement) agency, as well as for their authority and their funding. The Indiana agency is treating the Federal law and regulations as optional — and the Regional and Federal levels of HUD/FHEO appear to be supporting them in this."

This is looking like a trend. See my IDEM Under Fire.

We have seen the Bush model of governance is to not govern unless the act profits their friends. I cannot disagree that the federal government has limits on its range of action. Unlike the federal constitution, Indiana's constitution imposes duties on the state government to act. The most important duty of either government is protection of its citizens. When the state governments refused to protect all of its citizens, the federal government moved into the vacuum. We are really screwed when both state nor federal governments neglect their duties to their citizens.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission has duties to perform. That it is not doing so needs to be laid at the feet of Mitch Daniels.

Found Another Indiana Blog

This one with a slant on Indiana radio and who said something nice about this blog. So take a look at Delicate Thatchers.

New Anderson Blog

We have a new blog from John Hulse of Anderson. A published poet and novelist, Hulse's blog includes poetry and political commentary. I think you can guess his political views by the name of his blog: republican idiocracy.

Some new Indiana Blogs

Well, new to me.

Thanks to The Indianapolis Star's Blogger does turnabout -- then nets kudos I found The Marketing Technology Blog.

I mentioned thinkbeta.com in another post and I hope you budding entrepreneur types take a look at it.

And while the content is very narrow, the Anderson Family Dental Blog has got to be mentioned - got to tout the locals.

Indiana Blog for Runners

I do not run. Nope, too old and too fat and knees to creaky, but for those who can and do take a look at Run Central Indiana. The blog does have an Anderson connection: Anderson Road Runners Newsletter.

Notes on some other Indiana blogs

I noticed today that both Paul Musgrave's blog, the blog for Tracy Warner and Indiana Blog Review appear dead. The IBR still has links to other blogs showing. Although some links there do not work such as Opening Arguments or as for INDIANA PARLEY are outdated. Indiana Parley now is Fort Wayne Observed.

Indiana Barrister remains alive, too.

If you want to keep up with the Indianapolis real estate market, the Indianapolis Business Journal has Property Lines.

I did find another directory of Indiana blogs at Blogflux. All I can say about this is that I found it and have no idea of the value of what I found. I find myself without much time to keep an active eye on more than two or three blogs. I am surprised by some - like Musgrave - that seem to have slipped away. I am wondering how long has it been since I looked past my usual suspects and wandered about to see what others are doing? I am feeling a bit overworked and underplayed today.

On a more positive note: I found the Indiana University Press Blog. Besides basketball, IU does have a University Press and it is well worth checking out.

Finally, from Blue Indiana comes good news about another Indiana blog The Bilerico Project:

I wanted to be the first to congratulate Bil Browning and Jerame Davis on their nomination for a Weblog Award for Best LGBT Blog for 2007. Their site has been a shining example of the growing Hoosier blogosphere and in the last year have transitioned themselves into a nationally focused and recognized leader in the LGBT blogging world. Keep up the fantastic work guys and I'll definitely be voting for you!

Bilerico is here.

I must update my blog roll!

Meet the Bloggers at noon

Thanks to Blue Indiana for the reminder. Meet the Bloggers LIVE! at 12 noon EDT

Join us for another edition of Meet the Bloggers as we discuss the 2008 Presidential candidates, their views on the war and other current topics. I'll be interviewing Robert Rouse, an antiwar activist member of Camp Casey and blogger from Left of Centrist about the war policies of the various Democratic and Republican candidates for President. We'll also be joined by Melissa Ryan of the Connecticut Local Politics and MyDD blogs as well as David "thereisnospoon" from Political Nexus.

All Mitch, all the time

I do not know much Mitch Daniels you can stand, but Technorati has a list of the blog articles on Indiana's Privatizer here. 2,226 posts so far. You can also subscribe to the topic's RSS feed.

Property Taxes

A round up of some blog posts:

From Masson's Blog:

• Why Property Taxes are going up

• Delaware County Confusion

• Tippecanoe County: “Model” Assessments

Both Masson's Blog and the Indiana Law Blog wrote about Indiana Tax Facts.

Larry Riley is blogging on government at the Muncie Star-Press and right now the subject is property taxes.

Taking Down Words has just too many to pick.

And from today's Muncie Star-Press: Angry taxpayers take aim at Muncie City Council

Blogathon 2007

I got this e-mail yesterday:

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Left of Centrist will be
involved in Blogathon 2007 to raise money for the Alliance for Climate
Protection.  I begin blogging at 9:00AM Saturday July 28 and continue
to 9:00AM the following day.  I would appreciate each and every
mention I can get.  The more sponsors I get, the more money we raise.
Help me blog for Earth!


Left of Centrist can be found here: http://leftofcentrist.blogspot.com/ 

For Purdue fans only?

Here is another Indiana blog, BlogEthics Purdue, which is very much interested in stem cell research and its ethics. Long posts and no information about who is running the blog. In fact, I am only assuming that it has a connection with our Purdue University.

Yesterday's Meet the Bloggers Show

Here is a link to the show and my participation, so go take a listen: http://blogtalkradio.com/meetthebloggers

For those interested in politics, I suggest you catch the forthcoming shows.